Long on promises, short on detail

One didn’t need to read too far into the David Eby government’s first throne speech to discover that the new premier feels he inherited a mess.

“Food prices are going up. It’s hard to find a doctor. People of B.C. are working harder than ever … But many feel they are just getting by, not getting ahead.” And that was just the bottom of the second page.

Later on there was this: “Finding a decent place to call home is a challenge right now.”

This: “Communities in B.C. are seeing our streets change for the worse.”

And this: “We’ve seen a rise in violent and repeat offending … what’s happening now isn’t working for anyone and your government is determined to change.”

The throne speech, drafted in the premier’s office and delivered Monday by a dutiful Lt. Gov. Janet Austin, didn’t lack for excuses for this sad state of affairs.

The pandemic. Global economic forces. Predatory investors. Money launderers. Climate change. And, inevitably, the previous B.C. Liberal government were all named and blamed.

There was also the ritual acknowledgment of the accomplishments of the NDP government, including some well-worn actions from the first term, now five years distant.

Say, did you know the New Democrats got rid of the bridge tolls? Dang mainstream media has been covering it up.

Still, there was no shaking the impression that the Eby government sees itself as revitalizing an NDP administration that had lost its sense of mission and begun to drift during John Horgan’s long goodbye from the office of premier.

The Opposition capitalized on that drift during the fall session. The Liberals highlighted the shortage of family doctors, soaring housing prices, the rising cost of living and the street-level damage done by a “catch and release” policy toward repeat and violent offenders.

Eby himself acknowledged the damage done when he made affordable housing, access to health care, safer streets and cost-of-living relief top priorities for his government.

He’s on record as saying he has a maximum of 18 months to show results that people can see, touch and experience in their lives before the provincial election scheduled for October 2024.

But the throne speech, more vague even than usual, didn’t offer many clues as to when and where those palpable results might manifest themselves.

The biggest single item, flagged by Eby himself in a news conference Sunday, was the promise of “a refreshed housing strategy.” Badly needed.

The NDP’s 30-point housing strategy, announced five years ago this month, presided over a record decline in housing affordability and a record rise in the cost of rent.

The strategy was top heavy with demandside measures – increased taxes, tougher regulation, and protection for renters.

It barely addressed what Eby regards as the biggest challenge, namely increasing the supply of market housing, particularly for middle income earners.

Hence the makeover. But notwithstanding the new premier’s sense of urgency, the revised strategy won’t be ready for public consumption until the legislature resumes after next Thanksgiving.

“In the fall session – after working with local governments, homebuilders and communities – new laws will be introduced to turn that strategy into new affordable homes,” said the throne speech. “More homes for middle-class families – instead of profit for speculators. More homes for seniors. More homes and support for people with the greatest need.”

Even with the most expedited implementation schedule, hard to imagine the new strategy will deliver many units before Eby finds himself in the throes of the 2024 electoral cycle.

The throne speech promised other legislative changes, some scheduled for introduction in the spring session ending May 11.

There will be measures to: “Shine a light on the gender pay gap. Crack down on gangs and money laundering. Address the malicious and exploitive non-consensual sharing of intimate images. … Ensure polluters pay the cost of environmental cleanup on abandoned sites.” And “Improve access to electric vehicle charging stations in condo buildings.”

The New Democrats are working on “a new model of addictions care … with expansion of treatment and recovery services so more people can access care.”

By coincidence, the B.C. Liberals promised a similar emphasis on treatment and recovery in their $1.5 billion mental health and addictions program announced last week.

Either the Liberals guessed where the government was headed or the New Democrats decided the Liberals were onto something and followed suit.

Other items in the speech echoed the NDP penchant for programs disguised as slogans (or vice versa) and government-staffed centres of this, that and the other.

So, there’s the promise of a “future ready” skills training program, a “goods management strategy” and a “centre of excellence” devoted to the latest vogue in investing – ESG (environmental, social and governance) standards.

The government will resume overseas trade missions, which were interrupted by the pandemic and the not entirely groundless fear that if China were included, members of the provincial delegation might be taken hostage.

All in all, the throne speech stayed the course with Eby’s priorities.

But in the absence of much detail, none of the promised measures is likely to influence the government’s political fortunes one way or another.