The three main B.C. party leaders stretched the truth at times or made misleading statements on issues related to heath care, housing affordability, the carbon tax, Indigenous relations.
NDP Leader David Eby, Green Leader Sonia Furstenau and Conservative Leader John Rustad faced off Wednesday in the first debate of the B.C. election.
Over the course of an hour-long, sometimes messy exchange on radio, the three main party leaders stretched the truth at times or made misleading statements on issues related to heath care, housing affordability, the carbon tax and Indigenous relations.
We fact-checked their claims:
Housing affordability
“Unlike Mr. Rustad’s proposal, where they (have) to wait until 2029, collect all their mortgage documents and receipts from landlords in order to benefit from (the rebate), people need support right now, not in 2029.” — Eby
This is misleading.
Hiring back health-care workers
“It’s not done. Mandates that have been brought in by David Eby, the restrictions he brought in, will not bring back health-care workers.” — Rustad
This is misleading.
The requirement will be phased in, beginning with new hires and the terminated health workers who return. If there is another outbreak, health-care workers who aren’t immunized could face modified duties or exclusion from work.
Land Act changes
“Then you said, ‘No, we are going to pull it (Land Act changes), and we’ll do it after the election.’ That’s what your words were in the Legislature.” — Rustad
This lacks evidence.
The withdrawal of the changes came after government consultations with over 650 representatives of stakeholder groups including mining, forestry, oil-and-gas and clean energy, cattle ranchers, adventure tourism operators, snowmobilers, hunters and anglers.
During the debate Wednesday, Eby said he wasn’t going to bring the Land Act changes back.
Carbon tax
“First (Eby) spent several years defending the carbon tax, attacking any suggestion we should remove it. And then what he wants to do is increase it for truckers and farmers and industry.” — Rustad
This is misleading and needs context.
It’s true that Eby has now said he would remove the consumer portion of the carbon tax if Ottawa does so, a move highly expected if federal Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre’s poll-leading Conservatives win the 2025 general election.
The industry portion of the carbon tax would remain and Eby has said he would continue to ensure big polluters are paying their fair share.
Health care
“Now is not the time to cut health care, John.” — Eby
This lacks evidence.
The Tory plan includes reducing waiting times, including sending patients outside of B.C. for care if needed, expanding education and other measures to produce more health workers and physicians, increasing access to family doctors for hundreds of thousands of British Columbians and stopping emergency room closures.
All of that will cost more money.
Climate change
“John has said climate science is a hoax. He’s said it over and over again.” — Eby
This needs context.
Rustad was kicked out of the B.C. United caucus in August 2022 for sharing a Facebook post that called into question the role of carbon dioxide in climate change.
However, he has said that climate change is real and humans are having an impact on the climate.
Rustad has said he will eliminate the carbon tax and the low carbon fuel emissions standard.