File Photo (Image Credit: Flickr / Don Craig Photography)

By Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Working toward a better 2024

Dec 28, 2023 | 10:30 AM

AS 2023 COMES TO A CLOSE, I hope you all had the opportunity to spend time with friends and loved ones and take part in the festivities. However, I also want to recognize those for whom this season is a difficult time. Whether you’re dealing with the loss of a loved one or working through other challenges, please know there is support available for you.

I think particularly of the many residents around the Interior who were significantly impacted by this year’s wildfire season. I also think about those struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and are finding it difficult to provide for their families. Worryingly, we have seen a nearly 60 per cent increase in food bank use in B.C. over the last few years as the price of everyday necessities has skyrocketed.

In light of these circumstances, it’s more important than ever for our communities to come together and support one another. Especially now as we face not just an affordability crisis, but also housing, public safety, and healthcare crises, too. I have been repeatedly encouraged to witness our region extend compassion and support to neighbours and strangers alike through these challenges, and it has reminded me how proud I am to call this place home.

But it also reminds me that it’s not just the responsibility of individuals to care for one another — our government also has a responsibility to address the crises facing our province. This year, I had hoped to see the government put forward legislation that would address these issues, but nothing has gotten better.

In contrast, our BC United team believes in delivering results. We announced that if elected, we would end the government’s reckless decriminalization experiment and focus on treatment and recovery for those struggling with substance use. In February, we put forward our ‘Better is Possible’ plan to show our commitment to saving lives and helping British Columbians get well.

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I was proud to have the opportunity to speak about the government’s Emergency and Disaster Management Act — legislation that failed to address key services for evacuees — and advocate for better support for people impacted by disasters. We spent weeks debating this legislation, as our BC United caucus felt strongly that British Columbians deserve more in times of crisis. That’s why we announced our own bold wildfire policy, which would not only revamp our approach to fighting fires, but also streamline processes and get financial help faster for those impacted.

BC United also relentlessly pushed on the affordability crisis this past session and highlighted the NDP’s costly CleanBC plan that will shrink our economy by $28 billion over the next ten years.

We’ve advocated for common sense measures that will put money back into your pockets. These include permanently removing the provincial fuel tax, saving you up to 15 cents per litre every time to fill up, removing the carbon tax on home heating, and driving down the cost of groceries by scrapping the carbon tax for all on-farm fuel use and lowering the cost of operations for our farmers.

We know the work isn’t over yet, and we plan to keep up the pressure on David Eby right through to election day in October of 2024. United, we will work to ensure that this coming year brings meaningful change and relief for British Columbians. I wish you all a healthy and safe, Happy New Year.

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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.