Your quick guide to election issues

In less than a week British Columbians will decide what the future will look like with their decision for the province’s next election.

In the past few weeks, our researchers have published articles casting light on issues of most importance to voters and evaluated solutions being floated on the campaign trail by the major parties.

Read their analyses on climate, health care, affordability pillars like housing and transit, and an analysis of political discourse that misdirects BC’s very real economic anxiety by scapegoating already marginalized people.

Phasing out fossil fuels is a conversation we need to have this election, but Marc Lee notes there are candidates floating policies that will make climate change worse. He analyzes the state of climate policy in BC and outlines why some of the candidate pitches are not up to the challenge.

Read about the perils of flirting with further privatization of the health care system and that better public health care can be achieved at less cost than by adding private care.

BC needs bold solutions to address the congestion clogging up our cities, to shrink our societal dependence on cars and to improve affordability of transportation. Marc Lee outlines the paths to get us reliable, affordable transit in BC—including a roadmap for free transit throughout the province—and says free public transit is possible.

In Building equity: lessons for affordable housing in BC, Marc Lee and Alex Hemingway note that all governments have been slow to deliver the type of community or social housing that was built from the 1960s to the 1990s, and which remains a cornerstone of housing affordability decades later. And they say providing affordable housing for all is not only necessary but possible. As an example of putting up barriers to affordable housing, Alex asks why Vancouver bans apartments on ¾ of residential land? He skillfully outlines seven ways the apartment ban is hurting renters and perpetuating the housing crisis and notes that zoning reform alone won’t solve the housing crisis, but that this ban must end.

A convenient distraction: Is racist messaging being used in BC’s provincial election? is an analysis of political discourse that misdirects BC’s very real economic anxiety by scapegoating already marginalized people. From blaming migrants for lowering wages to floating the idea of “involuntary care” for drug users and posing reconciliation as a threat to the economy—Véronique Sioufi and Iglika Ivanova outline how racist messaging is being used in the provincial election to evade responsibility for failed policy and divert attention from the fact that we need evidence-based policies to address the underlying issues for everyone in BC.

These articles will help you to learn more about these vital issues as you cast your vote.

Whether you have already voted or will do so on Saturday, elections are only one of the many ways we engage in the democratic process.

Once the votes are cast and the results declared, CCPA–BC researchers will continue to provide you—and the new government—with evidence-based research and policy solutions to help get us to the equitable and healthy future that people who call BC home deserve.

Topics: Election commentary