The BC Green Party is promising income security with a move toward a basic income program if elected on Oct. 24.
In addition to income security, the platform proposes support for those who pay more than 30 per cent of their income toward rent, an accessible mental health-care system and a clean recovery plan that includes a $1-billion innovation fund.
The platform also includes
- support for small business owners by helping with rent payments through the winter
- better quality care and an end to the privatization of our long-term seniors’ care
- affordable childcare, income for stay at home parents, and more flexible work arrangements
- ending funding scarcity in K-12 education
Green Leader Sonia Furstenau says the platform would target people who need help now by building a stronger, more equitable and sustainable province.
Furstenau, who is hoping to build on the three Green members voted in during the 2017 election, says her party is focusing on issues that will help B.C. residents in the long term.
She says both the previous Liberal and NDP governments have failed to make life better for all B.C. residents.
Campaigning in New Westminster, Furstenau says the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the economic insecurity many B.C. residents face.
Here are the highlights of the Green party platform in the B.C. election:
- Spend $24 million to support student mental health by increasing the number of school counsellors.
- Extend leases for existing housing co-ops that are about to expire while also creating a land bank for new co-ops.
- Create a capital fund to help acquire and maintain rental housing by non-profit organizations.
- Provide a basic income for youth aging out of care.
- Create a rental support program for those paying more than 30 per cent of their income in rent.
- Develop a plan to phase out public funding that goes to for-profit long-term care facilities.
- Provide universal early childhood education for three and four year olds.
- Create a $1 billion innovation fund to shift to a zero-carbon economy as part of a clean recovery plan that includes help for workers.
- Review procedures for wellness checks with a goal of expanding the use of integrated mental health crisis teams.
- In the first year, the platform’s promises would cost about $3.8 billion.
- The party says it would spend more than $10 billion over three years to “deliver a green and inclusive recovery from COVID.”
- About $1 billion a year would be saved by ending oil and gas subsidies and revenue would rise by increasing the carbon tax.
- The province would recognize the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, which says people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected.
- Introduce equal pay legislation.
- Make prescription contraceptive products free for those under 25 and remove the PST on them.
- Allocate $300 million for a six-month rent subsidy program for small businesses.
- Promote neighbourhood car co-ops with insurance coverage and designated parking areas.
- Make BC Ferries a Crown corporation.
- Commit to make B.C. carbon neutral by 2045, which would match California.
You can read the full platform here.
With files from The Canadian Press
CHEK News
