Middle class still waiting on Horgan’s magic

Affordability was the NDP’s big buzzword in last year’s election campaign, helping propel John Horgan into the premier’s office.

The Horgan government hit the same theme in a throne speech on Tuesday that emphasized affordable housing and child care.

It all sounded great once again, just like it did last May. Who wouldn’t want to buy an affordable home in one of the most unaffordable cities in North America, while paying just 10 bucks a day for quality child care?

But I wonder how much of this rose-coloured vision will actually come true for people when it comes time for the government to stand, deliver and pay for it all.

On child care, the government promised to make “the largest investment in child care in B.C. history.”

But what about that famous $10-a-day child care Horgan promised every day on the campaign trail? That bargain price was not mentioned in the throne speech, though Horgan later said $10 is still the goal.

How much will the government spend? That will have to wait until next week’s budget, but I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for $10 child care to show up in your neighbourhood any time soon.

For one thing, the government keeps talking about “licensed” child-care spaces, at the same time promising to make it easier to certify trade unions in the province.

It could be great for unionized child-care workers, maybe not so great for the tens of thousands of working families that actually need to get their kids into care.

How long could it take for $10-a-day to child care to become a reality? An entire decade, the government said, meaning you may have to elect the NDP two or three more times before it happens.

Then’s there’s affordable housing, on which the government promised more breathtaking spending: “The largest investment in affordable housing in B.C. history,” the throne speech said.

But the speech indicated the spending will focus on “social housing, student housing, seniors housing, Indigenous housing and affordable rentals for middle-income families.”

Targeting spending on the most needy is laudable, though I wonder how many middle-class families will be left disappointed with a real-estate market that will still be unaffordable and out of reach for non-millionaires.

On the real-estate affordability crisis, the NDP has refused to play the most powerful card in the deck: An outright ban on offshore property purchases by foreign buyers, something Green party Leader Andrew Weaver has bravely called for.

Meanwhile, one of the Horgan’s most eye-catching housing promises was conspicuously absent the throne speech: The $400-a-year renters rebate.

Horgan got a lot of attention — and a lot of votes, no doubt — by promising to give renters 400 bucks, cash in their claws, every year.

The Liberals mocked him for it. He mocked the Liberals right back, encouraging renters to vote for the NDP and wait for their $400 cheques.

They’re still waiting.