B.C. party leaders trade jabs at televised debate

The leaders of the three major B.C. political parties traded jabs in a televised debate that mirrored much of the campaign thus far.

B.C. NDP Leader David Eby, B.C. Green PartyLeader Sonia Furstenauand B.C. ConservativeLeader John Rustadfaced off in the campaign's only televised debate ahead of the Oct. 19 provincial election.

CBCcarried it live on TV, CBC Radio One, YouTube, TikTok, CBC Gem andCBC News B.C., the 24/7 streaming channel. It is now carrying post-debate coverage live until 9p.m. PT.

WATCH | Reaction to B.C. party leaders' televised debate:

BC Leaders Debate 2024

Started 2 hours ago

Live

The leaders of the three main parties debate on key issues that matter to British Columbians.

In his opening answer to a question posed by debate moderator Shachi Kurl about government spending, Eby said he believed that now was not the time to reduce services, and his party's policies would provide people support.

"I believe that people need support now through things like our middle-income tax cut, through affordable child care and car insurance," he said.

Rustad was asked aquestion about his past controversial comments regarding sex education in schools, climate change and the COVID vaccines.

The Tory leader said that therewere many things being said about him but that his party was "laser-focused" on British Columbians, and his promises to cut the carbon tax would provide families with cost savings.

Furstenau said, in response to a question about why voters should consider her party, that both Eby and Rustad were offering either more of the same or a return to the past referring to Eby's premiership and Rustad's run in the legislature since 2005, most of it as a member of the B.C. Liberals.

"We find ourselves now 23 years downstream from a B.C. Liberal government and seven years downstream from an NDP government that hasn't been willing to do enough to change things," she said.

While British Columbians are scheduled to head to the polls on Oct. 19, advance voting will also take place Oct. 10-13, 15 and 16.

Anyone who wants to vote on election day can choose the most convenient voting station onthis list. Instructions on how to check your voting eligibility can be found here.

This wasEby and Rustad's first televised debate as party leaders, while it's Furstenau's second.