Eby promises to protect renters

Throne speech hints that budget will be heavy on social spending

With the provincial election eight months away, Premier David Eby's throne speech on Tuesday doubled as an early election platform, with promises to protect renters from bad-faith evictions and new legislation to protect kids from protests at schools.

The speech, however, was heavy on previously announced B.C. NDP government priorities and light on specifics about upcoming legislation.

The throne speech, read in the legislature by Lt.-Gov Janet Austin, kicks off the 10-week spring legislative session. It comes just two days before the budget, which will be unveiled Thursday, a compressed timeline to accommodate a session that's two weeks shorter than usual.

The throne speech did give a hint that the 2024 budget is expected to be heavy on social spending “because leaving people to fend for themselves does not work. It did not work before. And it will not work now. It would mean deep cuts that weaken the services we rely on.”

B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon said the throne speech presented a “parallel universe” of political slogans and “flowery words” that present a rosy picture in B.C. “when the reality is quite different.”

“I just note the complete lack of any sense of focus on outcomes or results,” Falcon told reporters in the legislature after the throne speech was presented.

B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad said he was “very disappointed” that the throne speech “did not set the stage for something new, but is just a continuation of the same actions that have led to the crisis that we have today.”

Because of the election on Oct. 19, there won't be a fall session, which means opposition parties have only 10 weeks this spring to grill the government during question period and debates over the budget.

Here are the key take-aways from Eby's second throne speech:

HOUSING

The throne speech promises to take action to “protect renters from bad-faith evictions” but did not offer details on the exact measures.

During a news conference after the throne speech, NDP house leader Ravi Kahlon said too many landlords are evicting people under the pretence that they're using the space for a family member but end up bringing in another tenant at a far higher rent.

Kahlon, the minister responsible for housing, said B.C.'s seniors advocate Isobel Mackenzie told him a “significant number” of seniors are at risk of homelessness because of that scenario.

Following a report that found B.C. is the eviction capital of Canada, the First United Church Community Ministry Society has called on the government to require landlords to apply to the residential tenancy branch with evidence to support an eviction before it's served to tenants.

The government also pledged to help more first-time homebuyers, but with no details on what kind of supports would be offered.

Last week, Falcon released his housing platform, which included a proposed rent-to-own program that would be available in 15 per cent of new housing units.

Falcon said the throne speech doubles down on the NDP's approach that “the solution to the housing problem is government to the rescue. Well, God help us all, because nobody in that government actually has any background or experience in housing.”

PROTECTION FOR KIDS

As schools have increasingly been the site of protests against sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) education, the throne speech promises that new laws will protect schools and kids from disruptive protests. In September, an Abbotsford school board meeting was disrupted by hundreds of anti-SOGI protesters.

“While everyone has a right to freedom of expression, including peaceful protest, we will not tolerate attempts to disrupt children learning in the classroom,” the speech read.

Rustad, who has pledged to end SOGI policies in schools, said protests must be respectful and not cause destruction, but he doesn't support a ban on protests around schools, citing examples where students exercised their voices by protesting things that are important to them.

HEALTH

Despite hundreds of thousands of British Columbians without a family doctor and health-care staffing shortages that have shuttered emergency rooms in rural communities, the throne speech boasts that B.C. added more than 700 doctors and almost 6,300 new nurses over the last year.

However, the B.C. Nurses' Union, citing Statistics Canada figures, stressed there are 5,745 nurse vacancies, a record high.

The B.C. NDP government, through the speech, promised to “continue the work it has started to attract, train, and retain the doctors and nurses we need.”

It also promised new investments for home and community, long-term care services for seniors and actions to fulfil the 10-year cancer plan.