BC Conservatives Promise to Reduce Power Costs in NW, NDP Says It'll Boost Trades Training

(L–R) B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad speaks in Surrey, B.C., on Sept. 23, 2024; B.C. Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau listens to questions from Union of BC Municipalities members during a convention in Vancouver on Sept. 20, 2024; B.C. NDP Leader David Eby speaks in North Vancouver on Sept. 22, 2024. The Canadian Press/Ethan Cairns

On the campaign trail in B.C. on Sept. 26, the provincial Conservative Party released a plan to cut power costs for communities in the Northwest, while the NDP said it'd boost the number of people who could train for a trade, and the Greens announced a plan to cut the cost of carbon taxes.

Conservative Party Leader John Rustand announced his party’s plans to reduce the cost of power by creating a locally generated supply.

He said his plan would include using wood waste, which would support the region’s forest industry, and using natural gas as a cost-effective energy supply.

“We will produce the power locally, make it cheaper, and ensure that the people of the Northwest get the energy security they deserve while reducing natural gas delivery charges for everyone,” Rustad said.

“The solution is to increase local power generation in the Northwest to bring down costs and increase energy security.”

The NDP previously announced plans to build out the electricity grid across the province, to support, among other things, the mining industry.

NDP Leader David Eby on Sept. 26 said his party would help expand the training opportunities for those interested in the trades.

His plan includes doubling the number of trade apprentice seats to 50,000 from the current 26,000. It would cost $150 million, the NDP said. Apprenticeships would include training to be a bricklayer, industrial electrician, machinist, or plumber, among others.

“By training more people for great careers in the skilled trades, we’ll help them get ahead and give them the skills they need to build the things our growing province needs,” Eby said.

Meanwhile, the B.C. Green Party committed to bringing down the cost of the carbon tax by increasing the rebate.

“We promise that as the government collects more money from polluters through the carbon tax, British Columbians will see more money in their rebate cheque,” the party said in a news release.

The party also said it would focus more on taxing the oil and gas industry, with plans to increase the price of carbon emissions by $15 each year. The Greens’ plan would see prices increase from $80 per tonne in 2024 to $110 per tonne in 2026.