Political Leaders Campaigning Over Thanksgiving Weekend in 3 Provinces

(L-R) B.C. Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau; Conservative Party Leader John Rustad; NDP Leader David Eby. The Canadian Press/Ethan Cairns, Tijana Martin, Darryl Dyck

Campaigning continues over the Thanksgiving long weekend for political leaders in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick, with parties in B.C. releasing more campaign promises, full platforms being publicized in Saskatchewan, and leaders casting early ballots in New Brunswick.

With the election in B.C. just a week away, leaders of the three main political parties are working through the holiday to attract more votes.

The NDP’s David Eby was campaigning in the Fraser Valley, where he touted his party’s plans to expand public transport to the area.

During a stop in Langley, Eby talked about the Skytrain expansion.

“Traffic jams are the worst. We need to make sure you can get to work and back to loved ones quickly to a home you can afford,” he said on Oct. 12. “Under our plan, we’ll deliver homes you can afford, an expanded highway, and the first rapid-transit project south of the Fraser River in three decades.”

Eby was referring to a project that will see 16 kilometres added to the current Expo Line, expanding the Skytrain from Surrey to Langley. Major construction is anticipated to start in late 2024, according to a provincial government news release dated Aug. 15.

B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad voiced his concerns about the growing number of people using food banks, and the organizations struggling to meet the demand.

“Food banks and community kitchens play a critical role in supporting vulnerable British Columbians, yet they are facing unprecedented financial strain,” Rustad said on Oct. 12.

He said if elected, his party would ensure adequate funding to these organizations.

“We will not allow these essential services to fail. The Conservatives are committed to delivering the financial support required to ensure food banks and community kitchens across the province can continue their invaluable work, and we will provide the stable, ongoing funding needed to keep them running,” Rustad said in the release.

B.C. Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau was canvassing in Victoria. She also announced plans related to the economy, saying her party intends to focus on innovation and research for the technology, hospitality, and retail sectors.

Advanced polls in some areas of the province were open on Oct. 10. Election Day is scheduled for Oct. 19.

Saskatchewan Campaign Platforms

(L) Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe. (R) NDP Leader Carla Beck. The Canadian Press/Heywood Yu

In Saskatchewan, both main parties used the long weekend to release full platforms of promises to voters.

Incumbent Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe said that, with his party’s plan, the budget would be balanced by 2027.

“The Saskatchewan Party has a strong record of taking action and getting things done,” he said in an Oct. 12 video posted on the X platform.

Moe said a summary of their platform would be mailed to every home in the province.

One of the promises the party makes is to increase the Low Income Tax Credit by 5 percent over four years, a total of 20 percent. The benefit is paid out to lower-income households to offset taxes, such as the Provincial Sales Tax (PST).

Saskatchewan’s NDP released its 16-page platform on Oct. 11, with Leader Carla Beck saying her party was offering change.

The NDP said its plan will see $3.65 billion in spending over the next four years, and said it expects to achieve a surplus budget in the fourth term due to an anticipated growth in revenues.

“In Saskatchewan, we take care of each other, and we aren’t afraid to do the hard work to get big things done,” Beck said in an Oct. 11 NDP news release.

Beck’s plan would see an end to the gas tax in the province, and the PST on certain items by Christmas, the party says.

Voters go to the polls in Saskatchewan on Oct. 28.

New Brunswick Leaders Cast Ballots

(L-R) New Brunswick Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs; Green Party Leader Davin Coon; Liberal Party Leader Susan Holt. The Canadian Press/Ron Ward

In New Brunswick, party leaders cast their ballots in advance polls on Oct. 12.

Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick Leader Blaine Higgs voted at St. Mark’s Catholic Church on Oct. 12.

He also touted his party’s platform and talked about his commitment to keeping nurses in the province.

In an audio recording posted to the X platform on Oct. 12, Higgs acknowledged that a collective agreement has not been reached between the province and nurses. He said that his party would focus on the needs that nurses have expressed.

“A re-elected Progressive Conservative government will pay 50 percent of your long-term disability premiums for two years,” Higgs said in the recording. “Second, we will strike a working group dedicated to identifying and solving issues around working conditions for nurses.”

He said the group would be co-chaired by a member of his government and an individual with frontline experience as a nurse.

New Brunswick Liberal Party Leader Susan Holt also cast her ballot on Oct. 12, posting a photo of herself at the election booth on the X platform.

Her party has also focused on nurses during the campaign, promising retention pay in a Sept. 20 news release.

“Our healthcare plan is rooted in solving the most pressing challenges in primary care. We will do that by retaining the incredible healthcare workers we have now and by establishing 30 new community care clinics across the province so that New Brunswickers can have access to the care they need when they need it,” Holt said.

The Liberals say their retention payment would be $10,000 for the first year and $5,000 in the second year. It would be available to nurse practitioners and licensed practical nurses, according to the party.

New Brunswick Green Party Leader David Coon focused his recent announcement on the party’s plan for senior care.

“A Green government will make investments to ensure seniors receive the care they need, where they need it and when they need it,” Coon said in an Oct. 11 Green Party news release. “Everybody deserves to live with dignity.”

The party says its plan would see long-term care residents get more than four hours of care a day, increase the comfort and clothing allowance, and expand nursing home programs.

New Brunswick’s election day is Oct. 21.