Eby tells B.C. cities and towns he's listening ahead of election

A day before B.C. Premier David Eby is expected to launch his campaign to retain his job, he spoke to local elected leaders saying he would continue to try to find ways to help them solve problems of housing, social disorder and unaffordability in B.C.

Eby spoke to a packed convention hall of more than 2,200 delegates at the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in downtown Vancouver Thursday morning.

"I know that you're seeing in your communities, what I'm hearing about too from British Columbians. They're under a lot of pressure. Financial pressure, they're feeling the strain," he said.

Eby said the province's ongoing challenges include unaffordability tied to inflation; a lack of affordable, appropriate housing; gaps in health care; and challenges to B.C.'s resource sector, which is a key economic driver for the province.

He also listed off his government's achievements — many of which were tied to the last legislative session in May — during his two years as premier, after taking over from John Horgan in 2022.

Specifically, he told the crowd that 250,000 B.C. residents have been connected to a family doctor in the last year and another 160,000 will be connected to GPs in the next six months.

"This is the first time in 20 years that the number of people looking for a family doctor in the province of British Columbia has gone down," he said. "And we will continue to do that work to make sure that every single British Columbian gets access to a family doctor."

Platform coming, says Eby

Premiers often make policy or funding announcements from the annual UBCM event, but Eby refrained from doing so, citing the convention's proximity to the Oct. 19 election.

He did, however, highlight items to look for in the B.C. NDP's platform, such as increased policing for smaller communities struggling with social disorder.

Eby told local politicians that public safety is a priority for cities, especially in downtown cores, where many people are "visibly" struggling with addictions. 

He said 250 RCMP officers have been added in smaller communities that have historically been understaffed as complaints grow from business owners about vandalism and street disorder. 

He said policing is only part of the solution and needs to be paired with social supports, mental-health resources and housing.

Eby said several city governments are on board with having a "secure site" to house and treat severely mentally ill and drug addicted people.

He did not, however, use the words "involuntary care" when discussing housing people detained under the Mental Health Act throughout the province.

The premier spoke for about 20 minutes before taking questions for another 30 minutes from community leaders. Sprinkled throughout his answers were digs at his political rival John Rustad, who will address delegates on Friday at the UBCM convention.

"There's a pretty stark choice ahead," said Eby. "The question right now is to support people, to support the constituents that we all represent — British Columbians. Now is the time that we need to be building, not cutting."

Eby's most direct message to local elected leaders was that if returned to office, he would be collaborative with local governments, something he's faced criticism for over policies around housing that forced local communities to change zoning bylaws to allow for more density.

"We need to be listening and we need to be working together," he said. "That's my commitment to you now and that's my commitment to you, if we are returned to office following the election."