Image Credit: Flickr / Province of B.C.

By Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Peter Milobar

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: NDP’s ‘new normal’ is unacceptable

Jul 6, 2023 | 11:14 AM

WHILE SUMMER IS SUPPOSED TO BE a relaxing time, it was anything but for travellers who endured sheer chaos at BC Ferries terminals this past long weekend. Mechanical problems, cancelled sailings, long waits, parking issues and website outages left people stressed, stranded and scrambling at Swartz Bay, Tsawwassen, Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay.

BC Ferries’ CEO Nicholas Jimenez acknowledged people’s frustrations but instead of providing any reassurance these issues will be resolved anytime soon, he just warned they will be the ‘new reality’ for those travelling by ferry on long weekends. Asked for his assessment of Mr. Jimenez’s remarks, NDP Transportation Minister Rob Fleming agreed with him.

It’s simply not good enough for this government to shrug this off as the ‘new normal’ for British Columbians wanting a glimpse of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and other scenic destinations, or for those who use the ferries to travel for work, medical appointments or emergency situations that arise.

But this is an NDP government that is also content with the ‘new normal’ of not having a family doctor. While one-in-five British Columbians remains without a primary physician, that number is even higher — two in five — here in Kamloops. Expectant families in Kamloops are also struggling to access maternity care. Hospitals here in the Interior and beyond continue to see few rapid solutions to resolve the tremendous overload they are facing. Our ERs are stretched to the limits, and hours-long waits to access care have become the ‘new normal.’

Premier David Eby has also been utterly dreadful on the housing file, both during his tenure as the minister responsible and now, as premier. After abandoning his government’s promise to build 114,000 housing units over ten years, he’s now presiding over higher-than-ever housing and rental prices. The ‘new normal’ price to buy a home in B.C. has hit an average of $1.019 million. In Kamloops, the average home price is about $600,000 which is up nearly $250,000 from July 2017. Rental costs are equally bleak. Rentals.ca says the average rent in B.C. is nearly $2,500 per month. CMHC’s annual rental market report notes the average rent in Kamloops has gone up by $365 per month.

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And what about the lack of childcare? The NDP’s 2018 ChildCareBC Plan promised 24,000 net new spaces in three years. Yet six years after making that commitment, they’ve only created about 6,000. A recent report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) notes most communities in B.C. have less than 33 per cent of the spaces they need. Kamloops is indeed among the communities deemed a ‘childcare desert’ by the CCPA — and the ‘new normal’ for families is an intense uphill battle to find a childcare spot. If they are unsuccessful, they face incredibly tough choices that will invariably affect their household income, career trajectory, early learning opportunities for their kids and more.

Children also need safe spaces to play and learn, but our parks and public spaces have become ground zero for the NDP’s decriminalization experiment, which they launched without meeting the commitments they made to the federal government to safeguard our communities. The ‘new normal’ is finding drug paraphernalia on the playground, not to mention the lack of treatment options and long wait lists for those seeking help with their addictions.

The NDP wants British Columbians to simply accept all of this, but frustration is mounting — and rightfully so. People deserve accessible health care, addictions treatment, mental health support and child care. They deserve a roof over their heads they can afford, and a reliable and efficient transportation system they can depend on. David Eby and the NDP’s ‘new normal’ isn’t working for anyone.

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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.