Paper straws stir up B.C. election campaign as leaders spar over taxes and communism

British Columbia's main party leaders wanted to talk taxes Friday during the provincial election campaign, but couldn't divert the conversation away from plastic straws and communism.

 At a Vancouver event his party organized to discuss plans to increase a housing tax to spur more rental properties, New Democrat Leader David Eby fielded questions about the possible return of plastic straws and being called a communist by a business leader.

B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad waded into the housing tax debate, but not before saying he agreed with Lululemon founder Chip Wilson, who placed a large sign at the front of his Vancouver waterfront home saying Eby and his New Democrats are "communist."

"Well, I happened to see that sign," Rustad said at a news conference in Kelowna. "I don't disagree with them when he calls David Eby a communist. But however, having said that, you know, people are free to do whatever they want to do, in terms of that."

WATCH | How spending is approached by B.C.'s political parties: 

How finances and B.C.'s budget factor into the provincial election

2 months ago

Duration 4:09

B.C.’s finances have gone from stable surpluses to deep deficits, and leaders contesting the provincial election are debating whether the next government should keep spending or seek austerity.

The sign was posted outside Wilson's waterfront home, which B.C. Assessment says is worth more than $81 million.

Green Leader Sonia Furstenau, who has been critical of both the NDP's and B.C. Conservative's campaigns, took issue Friday with Wilson's sign on an ideological level.

"First of all, I think Chip Wilson should study history a little bit more than he has. If he has a sign like that in front of his house, we couldn't be further from communism in this province," she said. "And in fact, what we've seen from the NDP is them pretty much adopting wholesale the [former B.C. Liberal government agenda] and carrying on with the status quo for the last seven years."

Rustad rolled out a promise Thursday to get rid of paper straws and bring back plastic bags to stores.

"By bringing back plastic straws, cutlery, and removing the bag fee, we will restore freedom of choice and focus on real solutions for our environment," he said in a statement. "The ban on plastic straws has been nothing but a nuisance for families and businesses across B.C."

Eby acknowledged there are inefficiencies associated with the effectiveness of paper straws, but said there are more pressing issues in the Oct. 19 election than promising the return of plastic straws, like taxes.

"The big challenges that British Columbians face right now are around affordability, which is why we have the middle-class tax cut," he said. "Yes, I mean, paper straws suck. You know they do, but like there are issues in this province, and when I think about how to make life better for people it's about having access to a house, affordability."

Eby said he will defend his plan to increase B.C.'s Speculation and Vacancy Tax on empty homes because it works.

The tax, implemented in 2018, saw 20,000 vacant homes in Metro Vancouver rented out since its introduction in 2017 and more rental opportunities will result from the increase, he said. 

The NDP's election platform calls for the tax on vacant second properties to increase to one per cent of assessed value for Canadian owners from the current 0.5 per cent.

The New Democrats say the tax will increase to three per cent of assessed value for foreign property owners from the current 1.5 per cent.

Eby said they don't actually want people to pay the tax.

"We have a very giant loophole you can walk through, and there's an arrow pointing to it: rent out your vacant home, don't pay the tax," he said.

Eby said when Rustad was in government with the B.C. Liberals "he sided with speculators over families looking for a place to live."

"When we introduced the Speculation and Vacancy Tax he had a very specific accusation to make, he said, quote, 'we were stopping the profits made on real estate,' unquote. Well, guilty as charged," said Eby.

"Billionaires like Chip Wilson, I understand I might not be your guy," he said. 

Rustad avoided questions Friday about Eby's statements that the B.C. Conservative Party leader would drop the tax.

"What I've seen from the NDP is to blame everybody but themselves on housing," he said. "The reality is, the NDP have failed on housing. They failed to deliver the houses that are needed in British Columbia."

Furstenau, in Cowichan Bay on Vancouver Island, announced the Green Party forest policy, "a new vision for B.C.'s forests," which includes a ban on old-growth logging and making big firms pay their fair share in taxes, while stopping industry subsidies.