Free vaccines, MMIWG taskforce lead B.C. Greens election platform

BritishColumbia'sGreen Party has unveiled its complete election platform, which coverspolicies ranging from climate change to public safety.

Greens Leader Sonia Furstenaureleased the platform on Tuesday morning, as her party aims to challenge the B.C. NDP and B.C. Conservatives in the Oct. 19 provincial vote.

The release came on the same day asNDP Leader David Eby pledged a pair of health-care initiatives and Conservatives Leader John Rustad vowed to change course on energy policy.

The Greens had already laid out a number of commitments, including promises to establish a network of 93 community health centres, cover six visits per year with a mental health professional under the provincial medical services plan, and maintain carbon pricing inB.C. while increasing the rebate residents receive.

Tuesday's platform announcement included a policy that wouldmake all vaccines free and available to British Columbians.

The party has also promised a special taskforce to investigate missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people, andsays it would continue to support the implementation ofSOGI 123 in classrooms.

If elected, the Greenswould require supervised consumption sites to be set up in all public hospitals.

There would be tax increases for homes valued at over $3 million, and the carbon tax would be increased for companies creating the most pollution in B.C.

No new permits for fracking, pipelines or LNG would be granted and gas production would be phased out under a Green government.

NDP health-carepledges

At a campaign event in Castlegar, B.C., NDP leaderEby said his government would cover travel costs for cancer treatments and extend employment protections for people with serious illnesses.

He said rural residents face "unique challenges" accessing health care, and bolstering travel assistance would allow them to be reimbursed for mileage if they can't get a flight to access treatment.

The New Democrats saidin a statement that changes to the province's travel assistance program would allow people to receive "upfront payments."

An NDP government would also extend the "job protection" period for people with illnesses to 27 weeks, up from the current eight days, with Eby saying people shouldn't fear losing a job "when they're fighting for their life."

Conservatives'energy plans

Meanwhile,B.C. ConservativeLeader John Rustad saidhis party will reverse course on provincial policies on vehicle electrification and heat pumps brought in by the B.C. NDP.

Rustad saidthose policies are "pushingB.C.'s energy system to the brink," adding that a Conservative government would look at building the infrastructure needed to supportB.C.'s electricity demands, including conducting a feasibility study on nuclear power.

The Conservative leader also said his party will support alternative energy sources such as solar, wind and geothermal, but only when the projects "make practical, economic sense."

Neither the NDP nor the Conservatives have yet released their full platforms.

As part of the second week of the election campaign, all three major party leaders are expected to come face-to-face for multiple events on Wednesday.

They will debate live in the morning onVancouverradio station CKNW, followed by an event hosted by the GreaterVancouverBoard of Trade.