In this deadlocked campaign, the leaders have made big, expensive promises to woo voters. But some voters say they just don’t believe them
NDP Leader David Eby vowed to extend the SkyTrain to UBC, build rapid transit to the North Shore and add commuter rail in the Fraser Valley. On the same day, the Conservatives’ John Rustad said he would widen Highway 1, extend SkyTrain to Newton, and expand the under-construction replacement for the Pattullo Bridge to six lanes.
So what do voters make of these and other expensive promises, made in the final weeks of a too-close-to-call campaign?
Not much, according to five people from an exclusive voters’ panel assembled by Postmedia News and the Leger market research company.
“It was pie in the sky.”
“Whacko ideas.”
“Just try to be real.”
Those were the responses from voters’ as they weigh their political options before election day on Oct. 19. So, how are their political decisions influenced by major enticements offered during an increasingly polarized campaign?
Paulo, 36
Freelance auditor who lives in Kelowna
Leaning NDP
Paulo suspects the transportation goodies dangled last week by the NDP and Conservatives were last-minutes attempts to lure voters, given neither side released specific frameworks or budgets for the projects.
The Kelowna resident, who prefers the NDP’s stance on major issues, is skeptical Rustad can spend billions on infrastructure while also making his promised tax cuts.
“I don’t see how that’s feasibly possible. And even with the NDP, it was pie in the sky, the things they were saying, because they had no plan either,” he said.
“We all know in elections, people make announcements … but if there’s no actual information to go along with it, it doesn’t really mean much to me.”
He would like more transparency in politics, but acknowledges that will be difficult unless all sides agree to lower the rhetoric.
“You have to sift through the information and do your own research.”
Bijan, 61
A business consultant who lives in Vancouver with his wife
Leaning Conservative
Bijan is disillusioned with his political options, but believes the Conservatives will be better for the economy.
The NDP, he argues, racked up the deficit and hasn’t helped the middle class.
When making his decision about how to vote, though, he’s put little stock in grand campaign promises.
“Some of them may come through, but at the end of the day, I don’t think a lot of them will,” he said.
“We can’t do everything given the fiscal situation. Let’s be realistic in terms of what we can do and focus on a handful of campaign promises and deliver on those.”
The Conservatives and NDP both focus on “special interest groups” to woo extra votes, leaving people in the middle “choosing between the lesser of the two evils.”
Equally “ridiculous,” he added, was the NDP’s tax exemption for part of rent or mortgage interest, arguing housing affordability is best achieved by municipalities cutting development fees and red tape.
Bijan would have voted B.C. United, if that party hadn’t left the race. “They didn’t have these whacko ideas.”
Gwen, 70
Freelance writer from Abbotsford with four children and three grandchildren
Leaning NDP
Gwen is tired of the flip-flopping campaign promises and has one message for the party leaders.
“Just try to be real. Try to talk to us, the voters, like we’re thinking human beings who live in this province and really need to know what you’re going to do to just make it better.”
She takes the many promises made by both the Conservatives and the NDP “with about half a cup of salt,” as she has trouble believing them.
“I find it frustrating because I would really prefer a straight answer,” she said. “It makes it hard to follow the campaign because it’s just almost a waste of time.”
Gwen doesn’t agree with everything the NDP has said and done, and believes some of Eby’s recent campaign pledges are “over the top.”
She worries, though, the Conservatives “are inclined to ignore people’s welfare in favour of money,” citing the party’s policies around harm reduction, homeless camps, Indigenous issues and the environment.
In the past Gwen has supported the Greens because she admires their environmental focus, but will vote strategically this time to try to keep the Conservatives out.
Jonathan, 43
Prince George high school teacher and father of five children
Undecided
Jonathan, a busy father of five kids ages 10 to 20, isn’t sure how — or even whether — he’ll vote in the provincial election.
“I don’t know if ‘trust’ is the correct word, but are they actually going to follow through on what they’re saying they are going to do,” he asked of all the campaign promises. “I’m very disillusioned with the political process.”
He is concerned about drug addiction and crime, which he believes the Conservatives’ have been stronger on so far. He’s also worried about the high cost of living, but thinks none of the parties have delivered realistic platforms that will work.
For example, Jonathan doesn’t believe a government can require developers to build more-expensive, environmentally friendly housing and also make it affordable. “You can’t have it both ways,” he said.
“There’s going to either have to be cuts somewhere or they’re going to have to tax somewhere else,” he said.
Edwin, 38
IT product manager from Vancouver who is married with a toddler
Leaning NDP
Housing is the most important issue for Edwin, but he hasn’t been enamoured with the campaign announcements made by either of the two leading parties.
“I’m more hopeful because of the upzoning that the NDP has proposed,” said the longtime renter who just bought a home.
He feels, though, the Conservatives have the momentum. Even Rustad’s “funny” policies, like bringing back plastic straws, have “energized” some of his friends.
“The NDP must be feeling that as well. And it feels like they’re just trying something desperate to try to turn the tide,” he said of the tit-for-tat campaign announcements.
“I think without that, this is the expected result: you’re just going to get the lowest common denominator type of policies.”