Campaigning B.C. party leaders speak on trades, energy, health

Skilled labour, energy and health care defined election campaigning Thursday as the province's three main party leaders spoke across B.C.

In Chilliwack, NDP Leader David Eby promised to double apprenticeships for skilled trades, before he made a campaign stop in Nanaimo for a health-care announcement. Conservative Leader John Rustad headed to Prince George with a platform on power generation, and Green Leader Sonia Furstenau announced her mental health plan.

Eby — who was stung by a wasp during his news conference in Chilliwack — said his government would spend $150 million over three years to double the number of trade apprentice seats from the current 26,000 to more than 50,000.

The additional apprenticeships would include training to become a bricklayer, an industrial electrician, a machinist, a plumber and others.

At a town hall in Nanaimo, Eby promised a new patient tower for the local hospital.

"We are building a new cancer care centre right here, and I'm committing today to continue improving access to quality health care in this community with a new tower for the hospital" Eby said in a statement to press.

NDP and Conservatives campaign on housing

At a campaign stop on Vancouver Island Friday, Eby said his government would fast-track factory-built homes as part of its strategy to ease the province's housing crisis.

Eby says pre-built homes cut waste,  reduce emissions, and the advances in the industry mean the homes are "beautiful and high-quality."

A statement issued by the NDP said its government would work with the industry, municipalities and First Nations to create a provincewide framework so builders know what's required in every community.

It said there would be a pre-approved set of construction designs to reduce the permitting process, and it would also work with the industry to develop the skills training needed to support pre-fabricated home construction. 

"By growing B.C.'s own factory-built home construction industry, everyone from multi-generational families to municipalities will be able to quickly build single homes, duplexes and triplexes on land they already own," Eby said.

On Thurdsay, Rustad said he plans to invest in municipal infrastructure to facilitate housing construction. 

"We're going to commit to putting a billion dollars annually toward communities to deal with things like water and sewer upgrades so we can get homes built," he said. "People want to have affordable quality homes."

The Conservatives issued a statement promising increased local power generation in the northwest to bring down costs and increase energy security.

They say wood waste would be used to generate power locally, and natural gas could provide a stable and cost-effective energy supply.

At a news conference in Creston, B.C., Furstenau promised every B.C. resident would get six visits per year with a mental health professional under the provincial medical services plan, if her party is elected.

"We need to ensure we remove the barriers to accessing mental health care," she said in a statement. "It affects all of us, either personally or through someone we love. But too often, people can't find or afford the help they need."

The party's mental health platform also includes promises to regulate psychotherapy, which would add a specific mental health option for 911 calls alongside police, ambulance or fire, and introduce a mental health advocate.

Health care advocates asking for clarity

Meanwhile, a health-care advocacy group wants to know where B.C. politicians stand on six key issues ahead of the election, which it says will decide the future of public health in the province.

The B.C. Health Coalition wants improved care for seniors, universal access to essential medicine, better access to primary care, reduced surgery wait times and sustainable working conditions for health-care workers.

It also wants pledges from the leaders to protect funding for public health care by phasing out contracts to profit-driven corporate providers, which the coalition says are draining funds from public services.

Ayendri Riddell, the group's director of policy and campaigns, said in a statement Thursday that British Columbians need to know if parties will commit to solutions "beyond the political slogans" in campaigning for the Oct. 19 election.