Wilkinson now Horgan’s ‘buddy’

VANCOUVER — The records of past and present British Columbia governments and their roles in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic were the targets Thursday of a spirited election campaign radio debate.

New Democrat Leader John Horgan focused on past Liberal government policies, saying deep tax cuts left B.C. poorly prepared to face the COVID-19 crisis, while Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson said the NDP failed as government to prepare for a pandemic and implement an economic recovery plan.

The CKNW debate also heard the two leaders clash verbally, with Horgan referring to Wilkinson as “buddy,” “dude” and “my friend,” and the Liberal leader describing his New Democrat counterpart as not truthful and a double-crosser for breaking his agreement with the Green party by calling a snap election for Oct. 24.

Green Leader Sonia Furstenau criticized Liberal and NDP support for the oil and gas industry, then joined the fray when she challenged Horgan’s statement that one of the reasons he called the election a year before the fixed date was because the Greens were not supportive of several government initiatives.

“You’re making the case that that was sufficient to call an unnecessary election during a global pandemic,” she said.

Shortly after the debate, Liberal Chilliwack-Kent candidate Laurie Throness resigned after making comments comparing the NDP’s plans to offer free birth control to eugenics.

He made the comments during a debate in his riding.