B.C. party leaders address residents’, businesses’ call for better economic vision

B.C. party leaders respond to the results of a new survey of residents and businesses in Greater Vancouver, showing that most of them think the province lacks a sufficient economic vision or strategy.

The Mustel group released the results of the survey conducted in September 2024 on Tuesday at an event hosted by the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade where all three party leaders for the upcoming provincial elections were present.

The results they shared indicate that the top priorities for businesses ahead of the provincial elections on Oct. 19 are economic vision (with 40 per cent responding), housing (31 per cent) and affordability (25 per cent).

For residents, the results show that the top priorities are healthcare (42 per cent), housing (41 per cent), affordability (31 per cent) and public safety (33 per cent).

The survey also found that 33 per cent of residents and 20 per cent of businesses want to move out of B.C. or reduce their investments and a total of 68 per cent of residents and 74 per cent of businesses think more investments in addiction treatment and housing could improve public safety.

Finally, 69 per cent of businesses and 68 per cent of residents feel the provincial government is “not doing enough” to make affordable housing available.

In response to the survey results ahead of the provincial elections, BC Conservative Leader John Rustad says people who want to move out of B.C. are people who can’t hope for a future.

He says we need a strong economy, so we need to remove some barriers in place, such as getting rid of heat pump and electric vehicle (EV) mandates. He also added that businesses that face crime are a serious issue, and prolific offenders need to face consequences and he will push for guaranteed minimum sentencing.

Meanwhile, BC NDP Leader David Eby says he believes the province has a role to play in building affordable housing and making sure sectors like the film industry are competitive.

Eby also added that British Columbians are facing big challenges like global inflation and food costs. And with a growing population, he says we need to ensure we build schools, and hospitals and hire doctors and nurses to address staffing shortages.

On the other hand, BC Greens Leader Sonia Furstenau says we need to ensure highly skilled people can afford to live here and go to school.

Furstenau says that BC has an inequality problem.

“If you’re making less than 44 thousand dollars right now, you’re barely holding on, and that’s half our province,” Firstenau said.

She stressed that B.C. needs to solve homelessness.

“Poverty is a huge drop on our economy, on our society on our social fabric, we lose our compassion,” she said.