Clark, Horgan grilled on our hot seat
NDP would review B.C. Labour Code and hold a referendum on electoral changes, he says
B.C. NDP party Leader John Horgan said an elected NDP government would change B.C.’s Labour Code and reform the electoral system within its first term.
Horgan outlined two items, not detailed clearly in his party’s platform, to the editorial boards of The Vancouver Sun and The Province on Monday, which could prove contentious in the business community and among the public.
The first would be a review of B.C.’s Labour Code, with the intention to remove the current rule that sees employees who want to unionize take a vote by secret ballot. Employers have said it’s key to preventing workers from being intimidated by co-workers into union certification. Horgan said he prefers a system called card check, in which a union is certified if a majority of members sign union cards.
The idea will be contentious among the business community, and was roundly criticized by the B.C. Liberals for not being in the NDP platform. Horgan said he’s spoken publicly about it in the past.
“We’ve seen this playbook before — it’s exactly what the B.C. NDP did in the 1990s. It’s costly to the economy and will cost thousands of jobs,” said Liberal candidate Andrew Wilkinson.
“Most disturbing is that John Horgan tried to hide this from voters — it’s not in the B.C. NDP platform — and this secret scheme only came to light under questioning from journalists.”
The Independent Contractors and Business Association of B.C. also criticized the idea.
“There is nothing more fundamental to democracy than the secret ballot,” said president Chris Gardner.
Horgan said he’d also like to see other unspecified labour law reforms, by striking a review group to discuss changes with employees, employers and the province.
“I think we’ve had 16 years of the B.C. Liberals having their way,” he said. “I certainly know the labour relations board needs to be retooled, I believe the labour code will be revamped and we have a plan to do that.”
Horgan also said he’d hold a referendum within the first two years of his government on changing B.C.’s electoral system from the current first past the post method to another option, which government will present after consultation. To pass, the referendum will require a vote of 51 per cent. B.C. voters previously rejected changing the electoral system in 2005 and 2009, but Horgan said he’d go back and re-evaluate that research to come up with one alternative proposal, which he’ll then campaign in favour of.
“Where we failed in STV (single transferable vote) in 2005 and 2009, the government and opposition, quite honestly, said that’s up to the public to decide,” said Horgan.
“And the public chose not to. I’m going to put forward a solution whether it be another variation on STV or some other form of proportional representation, I’m going to campaign on it. And if it doesn’t succeed it won’t proceed.”
Horgan rejected the B.C. Liberals’ attempt to characterize his platform as high cost and tax, saying it’s his “expectation” there’d be no further tax increases during his first term other than the tax increase on the wealthy and corporations already proposed.
Horgan also shot down changing the 50 per cent funding formula for private schools, saying it will remain. And he reiterated that his plan for $10 a day daycare will be funded by re-allocating money within the existing children and education budgets, and will ultimately boost the economy.
On the issue of forestry, Horgan said he intends to improve domestic use of B.C. logs, so that they aren’t shipped as frequently to other countries in raw form.
On other issues, Horgan said he would rely on some type of review panel to guide him after winning the election. Those issues included: The $9-billion Site C dam, which he’s said he’d ask the B.C. Utilities Commission to review; whether to sell legal marijuana in liquor stores, which is supported by public unions that back the NDP but which Horgan said must be reviewed; and how to fund a $1.7 billion elimination of Medical Services Plan premiums, which Horgan said will be handled by a postelection review panel.