Horgan sticks to affordability mantra
Weaver derides throne speech as full of ‘bubble gum toys,’ missing a ‘vision’
Premier John Horgan’s government set out a grab bag of reforms on ferry fares, concertticket scalpers and the high cost of cellphone bills in a throne speech Tuesday that even his chief ally conceded was light on substance and dominated mainly by populist promises.
Horgan began a new session of the legislature with a speech heavy on references to “affordability” for taxpayers, his party’s mantra since the 2017 election and during its first 18 months in office. But the speech offered few new details on housing affordability and $10-a-day child care, which were also key promises from that election campaign.
“The throne speech is the aspiration road map for the government for the year ahead,” Horgan told reporters. “The budget is where you’ll find the resources to fund the initiatives we talked about.”
The budget is to be delivered on Feb. 19.
Tuesday ’s speech did announce a second year of frozen fares on major B.C. Ferries routes and a “ban on mass ticket-buying software” for live event ticket sales, a reaction to complaints about scalpers and the high cost of ticket resales.
The government also promised to improve the transparency of cellphone bills for consumer protection, which could include a cooling-off period for customers to reconsider the purchase of a contract.
“We want to make sure that cellphone providers here in B.C. are open and transparent about the packages that they are putting forward,” said Horgan. “It’s a significant cost for families, and a significant cost particularly for young people.”
B.C. Green Leader Andrew Weaver, who is Horgan’s powersharing partner in the minority government, derided the speech as full of “bubble gum toys” rather than serious issues.
“It seemed like a laundry list of populist issues,” he said. “What was really missing was a vision, a vision for a prosperous future, grounded in innovation, grounded in an economic agenda. So we’ll continue to do what we can to ensure government has such a vision.”
While he was pleased to see mention of the CleanBC plan to promote electrification and reduce pollution, Weaver said the Greens continue to oppose liquefied natural gas and any further legislative or regulatory changes this year to accommodate the $40-billion LNG Canada project in Kitimat.
Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson questioned whether the B.C. government has any jurisdiction over the federally regulated world of telecommunications companies and cellphone bills. He said those types of “token” issues in a throne speech showed a disappointing lack of substance.
“This is a government running out of gas,” said Wilkinson, the leader of the Opposition. “They took 20 minutes to mention the word jobs.”
The throne speech did promise historic legislation this year to enshrine into law the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Horgan government had made UNDRIP part of every cabinet minister’s mandate letter since 2017, though consultation with First Nations on issues of resource development, LNG, Site C and pipelines continues to be an area of provincial and federal uncertainty.
“I know it will be more than symbolic,” Horgan said of UNDRIP legislation. “We need to address reconciliation in British Columbia, not just for social justice but for economic equality for citizens.”
On child care, the throne speech said that: “This year, government will set the foundation for the full implementation of B.C.’s affordable child-care program.”
However, Horgan admitted that is not the full rollout of the $10-aday child-care plan promised by the NDP in the 2017 election. Instead, he said it is the continued development of the government’s fee-reduction subsidies of up to $350 a month and pilot projects on the $10-a-day model.
The government also pledged to roll out its poverty-reduction strategy this year. It was initially promised for last year.
On housing, the speech promised to “improve the development process by speeding up much-needed rental housing and delivering more efficient and effective project approvals” as well as enact other recommendations of a recent Rental Housing Task Force.
“Government’s actions are cooling B.C.’s housing market and helping people,” said Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin, who read the speech on behalf of the government. “Foreign and domestic speculation has dropped, and home prices in the Lower Mainland are beginning to moderate. Vacancy rates for rentals are forecast to rise, and government intervened to limit increases.”
Last year, the government introduced a speculation tax and a tax surcharge on homes valued at more than $3 million, part of a 10-year plan to help build up to 114,000 new affordable homes.
The throne speech did not call for a public inquiry into money laundering in B.C.’s casinos. Horgan told reporters he has not ruled the idea out, but wants to see the results of two in-progress reports first.
Both of B.C.’s cash-strapped Crown corporations, B.C. Hydro and ICBC, were served notice in the throne speech they will be reformed if they can’t continue to keep rates low. ICBC in particular was singled out for its worsening financial situation, which could see it lose $2.5 billion over two years despite proposed caps on minor pain and suffering injury claims and on the use of expert reports in court proceedings.
“If further action is required, your government will be ready,” read the throne speech.
The throne speech occurred despite heavy snowfall in Victoria. The event had less ceremonial flourish than usual, after the traditional military honour guard and band were cancelled due to the weather.