BC NDP candidate calls out Rustad’s refusal to take certain questions from media

The BC NDP candidate for Vancouver-West End, Spencer Chandra Herbert, spoke out Tuesday against BC Conservatives Leader John Rustad over his refusal to answer media questions on topics unrelated to his press conference.

While unveiling his party’s plan to address mental health and addictions Tuesday morning, Rustad’s team cut off a question from a reporter who asked a question about a different topic — normally, a common practice when politicians make themselves available to the media.

“Given the severity of today’s announcement, I will only be taking questions related to the announcement. Anyone who asks off-topic questions will be immediately cut off,” said a member of Rustad’s staff, adding that there would be time later to ask other questions.

But Chandra Herbert says, “That’s a problem.”

“When you want a job, you show up for the job interview, and you take the tough questions,” said Chandra Herbert.

“It’s a problem because British Columbians deserve answers. They deserve answers to his conspiracy theories about climate change, vaccines, LGBTQ, and human rights, and they deserve answers about his plans to cut taxes to the top, richest two per cent.”

Chandra Herbert says the BC Conservatives candidate for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, Yuri Fulmer, “went on a tear” about how the richest two per cent face bigger challenges than the rest of British Columbians.

In a video dated Oct. 2, Fulmer can be seen apparently advocating for tax cuts for people whose marginal tax rate is 53.5 per cent.

In B.C., the maximum combined federal and provincial tax rate is between 20.06 per cent and 53.5 per cent. That figure only affects earnings made after a person’s first $240,716.

According to 2021 Canadian census data, a British Columbian making $236,000 would be in the 98th percentile of the highest earners.

Someone achieving the marginal tax rate of 53.5 per cent would be well above the top two per cent in the province.

Rustad took to social media Monday, in response to a sign posted outside the home of B.C.-based billionaire Chip Wilson.

“Sorry Chip,” Rustad wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “A Conservative Party of BC government isn’t going to give billionaires special tax breaks.”

Chandra Herbert says Rustad should take every opportunity to clarify his stance on any subject.