The major take-aways from Premier David Eby's first throne speech

The B.C. NDP government's priorities for the year ahead include promises to increase the stock of housing for middle-income families, crack down on gangs and money launderers, pass pay transparency legislation, expand access to addictions treatment and reduce waiting times for cancer care.

While short on specifics, David Eby’s first throne speech as premier promised to increase the stock of housing for middle-income families, crack down on gangs and money launderers, pass pay transparency legislation, expand access to addictions treatment and reduce waiting times for cancer care.

The throne speech, read by Lt.-Gov Janet Austin, kicks off the 11-week spring legislative session. The provincial budget will be released on Feb. 28. Here are some of the key take-aways:

Housing for middle class

The speech said the rising cost of living is by far the biggest source of anxiety for people and promised a refreshed housing strategy which will build more housing and services near public transit hubs in the province. The strategy will be backed up by legislation to be introduced in the fall session.

Eby has promised a rethink of the province’s social housing program which would see government-subsidized housing no longer just for lower-income earners but for middle-class families who can’t afford to buy a home in the current overheated market.

Health 

The throne speech doubled down on the government’s opposition to private health care as a solution to reducing surgical waiting times, calling privatization a “dangerous step towards a two-tiered system we know British Columbians do not want.”

Given people waiting for cancer treatment through B.C. Cancer have been plagued by potentially life-threatening waits, the speech promises to add workers and fight cancer by improving access to screening and early detection, diagnostic imaging, and treatments.

The speech acknowledged a need to improve access to substance use care by expanding treatment and recovery services.

B.C. Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon unveiled last week his party’s $1.5 billion plan for expanding substance use treatment should he become premier in the next election. Falcon promised to open regional treatment centres, increase bed capacity in current treatment facilities and subsidize beds in privately-owned treatment facilities to people can get free access to treatment when they need it.

Public Safety 

The government, which has been accused of being soft on crime and overseeing a “catch-and-release” system that lets violent repeat offenders out on the streets, said it is partnering with the provinces and territories to press for Ottawa for urgent reform to Criminal Code bail rules.

The government said it will introduce legislation to crack down on gangs and money laundering.

Climate action

In an acknowledgment that B.C. is a long way from meeting its greenhouse gas emissions targets, the speech pledged to “act with increased urgency” on climate change.

The government will introduce legislation this spring to ensure polluters foot the bill for environmental cleanup on abandoned sites. New legislation will also improve access to electric vehicle charging stations in condo buildings.

There was no mention of ending subsidies to fossil fuel companies, which Eby promised to do in an effort to win over the support of disqualified B.C. NDP leadership hopeful and climate activist Anjali Appadurai.

Gender equity

The government will introduce pay transparency legislation that would require some private companies to disclose their wages to ensure women are being paid the same as their male counterparts.

The province began consultation on the issue in the spring, talking to Indigenous organizations, public and private sector employers, business and union organizations, equity-seeking organizations and advocacy groups.

B.C., one of four provinces without pay transparency or pay equity legislation, has one of the largest gender pay gaps in Canada with women making, on average, 20 per cent less than men.

Child care

The throne speech said that by this fall, the child-care savings that rolled out Dec. 1 for children who are kindergarten age and younger will be extended to after-school care programs for kids in Grade 1 and older. The B.C. NDP’s partnership with the federal government has meant the average child care costs have been cut in half to $21 a day but some have criticized an uneven roll out of the program which has left some parents behind and squeezed child care operators through mandatory fee caps.

kderosa@postmedia.com