BY CONSTANCE GIBBS
On Oct. 20 we will wake up to a newly elected premier of our province. It will be either Premier David Eby again, or Premier John Rustad. Perhaps it will be a minority or majority Conservative or NDP government. If it’s Premier Rustad in the leader’s seat, I doubt there will be any common ground between him and Green MLAs. He will see no reason to pay any attention to them. This is the risk voters who mark their ballot for the Green Party are taking, and it’s a big one. The same is true for any independent candidates. Vote splitting between the NDP and the Green and independent candidates could deliver this election to Conservative leader John Rustad.
When I realized that Eby and Rustad were running neck and neck, I spent a few minutes reading the Conservative platform to check their direction for B.C. (After I got rid of the mental image of the two men’s heads on top of two sweaty, galloping horses tearing around the track to a photo finish.)
There is no mention on the Conservative website of protecting old-growth forests. (conservativebc.ca) There is not a single word about protecting the environment. There is no mention of climate change. Because John Rustad doesn’t believe it’s a big deal.
What is the NDP’s record on the environment?
The Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA)published their Annual Report for 2023 recently. (ancientforestalliance.org) Here’s what they had to say:
“Since the inception of the Ancient Forest Alliance in 2010, there hasn’t been a year that has seen more progress toward protecting old-growth forests in B.C. than 2023.”
The AFA rightly criticized the NDP for not doing enough when they first came to power. Under David Eby, that changed. The NDP has been making important and measurable progress on protecting the environment in recent years. They’re working with First Nations on exciting stewardship and conservation projects. At last, there is movement towards reconciliation and respect.
Similarly, the NDP have taken action to address the monster healthcare crisis. They listened and responded to family doctors who had been complaining about their fee schedule for many years. B.C. now has the best compensation plan for family doctors in Canada. This is a valuable incentive in recruiting more doctors. Sarah Riddell, the NDP candidate for our riding, was a key member of the team that made this crucial change.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information reports that surgical wait times in B.C. have improved since 2020. BC ranks #1 among all the other provinces for shortest wait times for cataracts, and #2 for joint replacements. This is real progress.
I volunteer at Lady Minto Hospital. Every week I see administrators, doctors, nurses, technicians, cleaners, healthcare assistants and other staff working flat out to care for vulnerable residents and patients. It’s the same at Greenwoods.
Healthcare assistants are key staff at Lady Minto and Greenwoods. They don’t earn a lot for all the heavy lifting and essential intimate personal care they do. People aren’t beating down the door to do this hard work. Recruitment is never-ending, as it is for all positions in healthcare.
The NDP brought in a new program, the Health Career Access Program, that gives recruiters a powerful tool. The Healthcare Assistant Certificate Program, an entry-level healthcare training program, is now free. This change removed a huge financial barrier. Before the NDP brought in this program, students without family financial resources had to go into debt to train for this basic healthcare certificate. Now they don’t. That’s a big step forward. I worked for 35 years as a student financial aid advisor in B.C. I know that removing barriers to all healthcare training is a key part of the solution to the healthcare staffing crisis.
We’re living in a time of crisis. People are frustrated that not enough progress is being made to fix the problems with affordable housing, the environment, healthcare, mental health and addiction, cost of living, deficit budgets, small business. Frustrated voters can be tempted to take out their anger in the voting booth and not recognize the progress that’s been made. Just something to think about when you’re at the polling station Oct. 19.
For me, the way forward is to choose the candidate and party that best aligns with my values and who can actually get things done. I ask myself: Does this candidate AND their party share my values? Can they take the necessary action that supports my values?
I’m looking at what direction the three parties are charting for B.C. for the next four years and beyond. It’s about direction and progress because there are no quick fixes to any of these problems. They’ve been decades in the making. I’m voting for Sarah Riddell, NDP, to represent our riding. As a potential member of Team Eby, she can bring new energy and a great track record to continue the progress that is finally happening.
Let’s not slide back or veer so far right, we end up in a ditch. Let’s keep moving forward.
The writer is a Salt Spring resident who volunteers in the island’s healthcare sector.