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By Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo

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SOUND OFF: B.C. needs a private sector jobs plan and real inflation relief

Aug 25, 2022 | 10:40 AM

THIS WEEK, SASKATCHEWAN PREMIER SCOTT MOE announced a $500 affordability cheque that will go out to everyone in the province aged 18 and older this fall. This will help individuals and families coping with the rising costs of fuel, groceries and more.

Now, he made that commitment as Saskatchewan’s economy thrives — in particular, the resource sector which is so important here in B.C. as well. It got me thinking about our own government’s performance on economic recovery and financial relief for British Columbians.

While B.C. continues to see a massive and worsening labour shortage building across most sectors, the NDP government has yet to put forward a serious plan to tackle this problem. Instead, it appears to be solely focused on job growth in the public sector, which has seen 120,000 jobs created since the NDP took power in 2017 — at a $12 billion annual cost to taxpayers. The public sector accounts for two thirds of all jobs added under the NDP, and at that cost, is simply not sustainable. B.C. needs a private sector jobs plan, but this government has failed to deliver one.

Industries that have suffered the most under the NDP include hospitality and construction, which have lost a combined 23,600 jobs according to the latest monthly figures. Natural resource jobs have also fallen by nearly 6,000 over the past five years. When our resource sector is struggling, it doesn’t bode well for our economy or for workers trying to make ends meet.

The fact is, people everywhere are struggling with the costs of food, fuel, housing and more. B.C. inflation grew to 8 per cent in July, exceeding the national rate for the second time this year — and a recent Angus Reid survey paints a picture of more and more Canadians having trouble keeping up. In B.C., 58 per cent of respondents said they were cutting back on discretionary spending; 45 per cent reported they were driving less; and 43 per cent noted they were delaying a major purchase.

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Though gas prices have gone down a bit, they remain among the highest in Canada and the NDP’s $110 ICBC ‘relief’ cheque doesn’t go very far when you’ve got a family minivan to fill up every week or so. It also took an eternity for the NDP to deliver on this promise made in mid-March. The last batch of cheques finally got out the door in early August.

And what about the inflation measures promised by the NDP government? It was four months ago that the premier tasked Finance Minister Selina Robinson with bringing forward measures to provide people with some relief from the affordability crisis. Unlike Saskatchewan, which is taking action, people in B.C. continue to wait. The NDP could have listened to the suggestion our caucus offered up, as we advocated for increases to the Climate Action Tax Credit that is paid out quarterly to low- and mid-income households — but they would rather let people be squeezed financially than listen to their political opponents.

For all the NDP’s talk about making life more affordable for people, they sure have a funny way of showing it. It’s mostly all talk, but little action — and any action often comes far too late in the game anyway.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.