Cash coloured Tuesday’s debate as three West Vancouver-Capilano candidates tried to reach voters’ minds through their wallets.
The undue influence linked to unlimited campaign donations needs to be addressed. However, it’s “risky to put this question to politicians,” according to Liberal incumbent Ralph Sultan, who touted his party’s plan to leave the matter to a bipartisan panel of “ordinary people.” He added: “I think we’d be bound to accept their recommendations.”
A panel isn’t needed, according to NDP candidate Mehdi Russel, who promised his party would ban corporate and union donations.
The lack of rules puts democracy at risk, countered Green Party candidate Michael Markwick, who reminded the crowd his party only accepts individual donations. Markwick noted the B.C. Liberals returned more than $174,000 in political donations dating back to 2010 in the wake of an RCMP probe into donors being reimbursed.
The NDP doesn’t escape scrutiny on the issue, noted Sultan. Three NDP staffers are paid for by the United Steelworkers union, which Sultan accused of being “in league” with the U.S. decision to slap duty on Canadian softwood lumber. “It’s shocking, it’s shameful. I’m embarrassed,” Sultan said.
“I personally don’t agree with what NDP’s done by receiving this amount,” Russel said. However, the NDP needs to accept donations to compete against the B.C. Liberals, he said.
Addressing the fact Metro Vancouver homeowners pay three times more school property tax than the rest of the province, Sultan suggested the system needs an overhaul. However, Metro Vancouver should pay more than “our fair share,” due to the prosperity created by the “huge run-up in real estate” prices, he said.
The escalation of real estate prices has created an unsustainable economy, Russel argued, citing increasing homelessness as evidence.
Russel touted his party’s plan to raise taxes on corporations and vacant homes to fund $10-a-day childcare, which he said would spur the economy.
NDP and Green Party spending promises may be financed by: “The rich, meaning you folks,” Sultan warned.
Many British Columbians are grappling with a “gig economy,” Markwick argued, noting a 10-year freeze on income assistance rates as well as tuition rates that have “gouged” students and reduced universities to: “being cash cows for a rapacious government.”
Markwick also predicted a “revolutionary shift” away from fossil fuels, which Sultan incorporated into his defence of the Site C dam.
If the electric vehicle industry accelerates, “We’re going to need all the electricity we can generate and this particular project may turn out to be a brilliant masterstroke,” Sultan said.
Asked about the province’s lengthy legal battle with the B.C. Teachers’ Federation, Sultan blamed B.C.’s former premier.
“Knowing how Gordon (Campbell) operated, he made the calls about tearing up contracts and so on, not Christy (Clark),” he said, despite protestations from the audience that Clark was Minister of Education.
The legal fight benefited all involved, according to Sultan. “Thank you Supreme Court, you showed us the path,” he said.
Despite those settlements, Handsworth Secondary has been awaiting a replacement for a decade, Russel noted.
During the 16 years Sultan has served the riding, voters have paid high taxes “and received the least,” Russel said.
Discussing health issues, Russel advocated stringent regulations around marijuana sales, saying he didn’t support legalization.
Going door to door, Sultan said he’s “received an earful” regarding surgical wait times.
Sultan advised voters to give the system time to respond to the “hugely elevated set of expectations,” of today’s active seniors.
“Nowadays, they want a new knee or a new hip if necessary, and they want it like, right now,” he said.
The election is May 9.
