While BC election contenders have been releasing major platform items on the campaign trail, some of the issues that have gotten the most attention have to do with smaller everyday items such as plastic straws and pet-friendly rentals.
Among them, the Conservative Party of B.C. is promising to bring back plastic straws, while the NDP is promising to provide more pet-friendly rentals.
Conservative Leader John Rustad said he supports bringing back plastic straws and cutlery. His party said it would also eliminate the shopping
bag fee, which has been in effect since July 15.
B.C. businesses are
required to charge customers $2 for each new reusable shopping bag and $0.25 for paper bags. Plastic bags are banned from use in the province.
Single-use plastic products, like straws and utensils, have been banned since December 20, 2023. Restaurants and other food providers are only permitted to offer customers disposable items like wooden spoons, and only on request, according to the B.C. government
website.
“The ban on plastic straws has been nothing but a nuisance for families and businesses across BC,” Rustad said in an Oct. 3
news release.
“It hasn’t achieved any significant environmental goals, but it has certainly made life worse for people. We will bring back plastic straws and cutlery, and eliminate the unnecessary bag fees that do little but add costs to everyday shopping.”
The Conservatives said they would allow customers to choose the shopping bags that work best for them, adding that the party is “committed to reducing government overreach.”
“By bringing back plastic straws, cutlery, and removing the bag fee, we will restore freedom of choice and focus on real solutions for our environment,” Rustad said.
The NDP laid out their plans if re-elected in a 65-page platform that included more rental options for those with pets.
The
platform said the NDP would eliminate “no pet” clauses for purpose-built rental apartment buildings.
“This move will also bring down the rate of pet abandonments across the province, as renters no longer have to make the difficult choice between the housing they need and the pet they love,” the policy states.
Other promises include offering free transit for seniors during non-peak hours, planting more than 300 million trees each year, and a ban on employers’ requirement for doctor’s notes.
“Doctor’s notes waste time in our health care system, and often result in you paying personally to get one. We’ll eliminate them,” the policy says.
The NDP also say they’d add more campsites across the province to boost recreational opportunities and provide more funding for kids’ amateur sports programs.
In recent days, the two parties have also made major announcements on their platforms.
The NDP released its fully costed platform, saying it'll total $2.9 billion over the next three years. One of the biggest promises is a $1,000-per-household grocery rebate to be introduced in 2025. The Conservatives meanwhile said they'll end the ICBC monopoly on insurance, and also build infrastructure, including a new bridge across Okanagan Lake in Kelowna and expansions for Highway 1 to Chilliwack. On Oct. 3 the Green Party
announced affordability measures that included raising rates of social and disability assistance to $2,400 per month. They also said they would provide a guaranteed income for youth that are aging out of the foster care system, and deliver “affordable, accessible child care for all British Columbians.”
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
