By BOB MOFFATT
I was born and raised in the islands and other than a stint in Toronto, B.C. is my home. However, it’s not the place it used to be.
I agree with Jason Mogus, writing in last week’s Driftwood. A change in government is indeed necessary, but re-electing the NDP would be cruel and unusual punishment for British Columbians. Under David Eby, the government has evolved into a larger version of the Islands Trust: inefficient, excessive costs, incoherent policies and purpose and, in the case of the province, the highest debt in history.
Unlike the Islands Trust, we don’t need a governance review to change it. We just need to vote the government out on Oct. 19.
Climate scientist and former leader of the Greens, Andrew Weaver, recently said, “They (the NDP) have lost touch with the average person . . . Dave Eby is coming across as an ideological, know-it-all elitist, who surrounds himself with sycophants.” Weaver went on to predict a Conservative win in October.
I also agree with Jason that it makes little sense to vote for the Greens. We were indeed fortunate to have Adam Olsen as our MLA. However, as Jason notes, Adam and the Greens were peripheral actors in the big picture.
Mogus is critical of the Conservatives’ position on climate policy. You’d think that the NDP would set a better example. But here we are in the midst of a climate emergency (or existential threat) while the government exports millions of tons of coal transported to Asia from B.C.
It gets worse as the government commits to an enormous increase in production with the reopening of a massive coal mine in northern B.C. Why doesn’t the government develop our clean oil and gas reserves to generate revenues, rather than rely on an odious pollutant like coal? Coal is the dirtiest fuel and emits much more greenhouse gases than other sources. It’s baffling.
I’m opposed to the carbon tax mainly because I believe it doesn’t work and significantly diminishes the standard of living for workers, seniors and young families. Food banks are at full capacity and serving more people than ever before in the province’s history. Not only are individuals suffering but businesses are closing as a result of higher costs, debilitating inflation and excessive regulations. It’s tragic.
The climate experts think that if we ratchet up the carbon tax high enough (like tobacco), emissions could reach near zero. This is the absurd reality of progressive economics — a tax can fix everything regardless of if it incapacitates those it’s supposed to serve.
Perhaps Premier Eby and his activist team finally realize that. In a 180-degree reversal, Eby said the B.C. government will remove the consumer carbon tax if the federal government removes the requirement for provinces to have that part of the carbon tax.
The NDP continue to make things up as they go along. Ironically, they now agree with the BC Conservatives that the tax was a mistake. The hypocrisy is stunning.
Interestingly, Andrew Weaver said on X: “Let’s be very clear. The (federal) NDP can never be trusted to act on the climate file. They are walking hypocrites that put political opportunism ahead of principles. They have no plan, no substance and no credibility on climate. I am disgusted and so should anyone who cares about climate policy.” This applies to the BC NDP as well.
Weaver added that “Eby is clearly more concerned about politics than about people — British Columbians deserve a premier who will be straight up with them. It’s clear to me that John Rustad is to be trusted more on the climate file than Eby. I’ll be supporting John Rustad . . . in this upcoming election.”
The BC Conservatives are enjoying a surge in popularity. In fact, recent polls show the party tied or leading in the popular vote. People are fed up with the hypocrisy, lack of progress in critical areas and indifference to the punitive effects of government policies like the carbon tax.
Mogus’ argument relies on the dubious proposition that although the government has been a failure on certain files, it has good intentions and therefore should be given another four-year term. It’s as if feelings and progressive values are more important than results and real progress.
Among other things, we expect a provincial government to take our local problems seriously. Housing, infrastructure funding, cost of living and governance are clearly priorities. Arguably, the most egregious issue may be the status of the Islands Trust.
It was established with an undemocratic structure that remains impossible to fix, regardless of how many consultant reports are commissioned. Salt Spring, with the largest population in the Trust area, is allocated two representatives on the 26-member governing Trust Council. The Local Trust Committee adds a third representative from another island — an individual with no skin in the game, so to speak.
The Trust is bloated and dysfunctional as well as undemocratic. Only the province can fix it, but in spite of a formal request, the NDP appears uninterested or unwilling to address it. Unlike the NDP, the BC Conservatives will act and do something about it.
There’s no better individual to represent us than David Busch for the BC Conservatives. David is a practising lawyer and has been a critical care and pediatric cardiology registered nurse. He’s taught both law and nursing at university. He has two young sons and his wife is a cardiologist in Victoria.
David cares deeply about health care, the environment and the wellbeing of our communities. He brings an unlimited supply of common sense, passion for excellence, good judgement and intelligent ideas to the complex task of government. He is results oriented and will be an outstanding champion for Salt Spring and our interests.
To follow Jason Mogus’ thinking, but with a different conclusion, we need a new government, not more of the same. Vote for David Busch, John Rustad and the BC Conservatives on Oct. 19.
The writer is a Salt Spring resident.