Once again, I am endorsing the BC NDP.
I’ll admit it hasn’t been as easy as it was in 2024. They’ve delivered on some promises and failed to deliver on others. They’ve made some decisions I agree with, and some I don’t.
It’s easy to focus on the negatives: running a deficit, vacillating on natural gas and DRIPA, perhaps not doing enough for affordability or the drug crisis. It’s easy to forget the positives: overhauling family doctor pay, expanding pharmacist prescribing, and matching six hundred thousand patients with primary care. Changing zoning rules, imposing housing targets, restricting short-term rentals to open up more housing for people.
In the end, I think they’re alright. In this day and age, I’ll take alright over the alternative any day.
We’ve seen what right-wing governments are doing in Alberta and in the United States. To the east: transphobia, climate change denialism, allusions to debunked conspiracy theories and indulging a fringe secession movement. To the south: conflicts of interest, fringe theories informing policy, xenophobia, and blatant political favouritism.
The BC Conservatives are cut from the same cloth. They’ve made some attempts to clean up their act, but the membership that elected Kerry-Lynne Findlay to leadership is still there, and divisive culture war ideas are still on their platform. If they form government, our province will be the worse for it, and the most vulnerable among us will suffer the most.
We can’t beat them unless we vote, and vote smart. In most ridings, that means voting orange.
I understand the frustration. I understand not wanting to cast another vote for a government you’re no longer keen on. I wish we had a better voting system where every vote mattered equally and voting for your preferred party didn’t mean potentially getting one you can’t stand. I wish we had a slate of great candidates and solid parties all looking to make BC the best it can be instead of chaos and controversy.
We don’t live in an ideal world. We live in a messy, fearful era where perfection truly is the enemy of good enough.
No matter who you ultimately choose to cast your ballot for on October 24 (or in advance), I encourage everyone to get involved. Meet your local candidates, get a measure of them personally, volunteer with a campaign and keep in touch with your MLA once they take their seat.
