B.C. NDP's election promises face test as party readies to present new budget at legislature
NDP under pressure to deliver on election promises amid economy changed by U.S. tariffs
On the campaign trail, David Eby made big promises, pledging that an NDP government would build new hospital towers, expand rapid transit and invest in schools.
But with a looming tariff threat, and pressure to dig the province out of its $9.4 billion fiscal hole, some are worried those election promises will evaporate before they make it into the budget.
Finance Minister Brenda Bailey will present the NDP's budget on Tuesday at the legislature, the same day U.S. President Donald Trump's 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods are set to take effect.
Eby's throne speech indicated the budget will focus on kitchen table issues, such as health care, affordability and the economy.
Calling it a "meat and potatoes" budget would be generous, says Andy Yan, an urban planner and director of the City Program at Simon Fraser University.
"It was meat and potatoes, maybe even in January. But [now] we're trying to protect the plate. It's a plate [that's] precarious, it's on the edge of the table," he said.
"[People are] concerned about having a plate to eat off," said Yan, who paid close attention to the NDP's housing and transit promises during the election.
The NDP has already backtracked on its signature election promise, the $1,000 grocery rebate and middle-class tax cut which would have applied to 90 per cent of British Columbians by this spring.
"It was kind of a gimmick to begin with and a costly one at that," said Marc Lee, senior economist for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternative.
Lee says he hasn't seen a big backlash so far to that broken promise, and he thinks the $1.8 billion that the grocery rebate would have cost taxpayers should be put aside in contingencies to brace against the economic fallout of tariffs.
"It's a different world right now" compared to the election campaign, Lee said. "Now everything's been taken over by Trump and the tariff threat."
Health care
Health care was a major issue in the election, amid a backdrop of frequent emergency room closures in rural communities and a backlogged cancer care system which has forced some patients to seek radiation therapy in Bellingham, WA.
Adriane Gear, head of the B.C. Nurses Union says she knows the government is under pressure to strengthen the economy, but she believes a strong economy requires a good healthcare system.
Gear said she expects to see an investment in the sector and an improvement in nurse-to-patient ratios.
"We need to invest in nurses, we need to retain them – because many are leaving due to the working conditions – and we have to recruit many more to this province."
The province spent $1.8 billion on health care administration in 2022, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
The B.C. Conservatives and the B.C. Greens have pointed to the 70 presidents and vice presidents heading the province's six health authorities as an example of administrative bloat.
For seniors, the NDP promised to redevelop the Oak Bay lodge as a new residential care home and increase the seniors' supplement to $149 a month.
There were also big promises on hospital infrastructure, including new hospital towers in Nanaimo and Langley.
Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog, a former NDP MLA, says he's "somewhat worried" that the new hospital tower in Nanaimo could be put on the backburner.
"But I am also confident of the fact that it is such an absolutely necessary piece of infrastructure for our community and for the North Island … that the government will come through," he said.
Education
On education, the NDP promised mental health counsellors in every school, and educational assistants in every kindergarten to Grade 3 class.
Clint Johnston, president of the B.C. Teachers' Federation, says those measures are key to ensuring both students and teachers have the support they need – something that is currently lacking in many B.C. classrooms.
"I'd be lying if I said that the context that we're living in right now didn't cause me concern," says Johnston, referring to the fiscal conditions. "The one context that hasn't changed is the needs of the children who drove those promises."
Transit and infrastructure
To address clogged roads and overcrowded buses, the NDP promised to extend Vancouver's SkyTrain line from Broadway to UBC, expand rapid bus transit to the north shore, and extend the West Coast Express rail line to Chilliwack.
Yan predicts that many of those projects will go ahead – but at a much slower pace.
"At a time when we need to ensure we're building up our self sufficiency and resiliency, we do need to be investing in the core services that allow our province to function and prosper... [and] infrastructure is key to that."
Public safety and mental health
Amid random violent attacks in Vancouver and other urban centres, Eby pledged to expand B.C.'s involuntary care system for people with mental health and addiction issues.
That includes a promise to build a second Red Fish Healing Centre for Mental Health and Addiction and additional satellite locations.
Jonny Morris, head of the Canadian Mental Health Association, says if the throne speech is any indication, the NDP's main focus will be on expanding the involuntary care system.
Eby has repeatedly pointed to an expansion of B.C.'s involuntary care system to deal with people who have mental health and addiction issues and also commit violent offences.
However, Morris said that to ensure people aren't harmed while in government care, there needs to be proper oversight and accountability.
"If the government is heading in this direction, we've registered some concerns about that," Morris said.
'Path back to balance'
Beyond Eby's core promises, many of which don't yet have a price tag, some in the business community say the province needs a clear plan to reduce its $9 billion deficit and to reduce red tape to encourage investment in B.C.
"The election does feel like decades ago," said Laura Jones, president of the B.C. Business Council. "I think everyone understands there's a real pivot needed."
Jones says the council wants to see the province spur investment by lowering taxes. It also wants to see the province reduce its deficit over the next several years.
Eby said the budget will show a "path back to balance" without cutting essential services.
"We have to ensure for British Columbians that we're spending responsibly, delivering those frontline services that they're counting on while reducing costs related to administration," he said.
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