15 key takeaways from the BC NDP's election platform

Highlights of the British Columbia NDP’s platform in
the Oct. 24 election campaign:

Families with an annual household income under $125,000 would
get a one-time $1,000 COVID-19 recovery benefit, with the benefit
going to others on a sliding scale up to a household income of
$175,000.

Individuals with an income of up to $62,000 would receive the
$500 recovery benefit, with others getting help up to an income of
$87,000.

A 10-year plan would be launched to improve cancer care,
including in rural communities that would also see more money spent
on new equipment, screening, diagnosis and treatment services.

Once it is available and approved, the COVID-19 vaccine would
be free to everyone.

The province would build a new medical school to train more
doctors.

Rents would be frozen until the end of next year, followed by a
permanent cap on rent increases set at the rate of inflation.

The province would spend an additional $3 billion a year for
three years to build schools and hospitals, which would create
18,000 new jobs a year.

New platform spending would cost about $2.2 billion in the
2020-21 fiscal year, excluding the $3-billion annual capital
commitment to build new schools and hospitals.

The platform promises in the following 2021-22 fiscal year
would cost $2 billion and 2.7 billion in 2022-23.

The platform would increase the deficit in 2020-21 from a
projected $12.8 billion to $15 billion.

A previous pledge to bring in $10-a-day child care would be
expanded to include free transit for kids up to age 12.

The NDP would work with the federal government to decriminalize
simple possession of small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use
because of the opioid crisis.

ICBC surpluses during the pandemic would be returned to drivers
through premium rebates.

The provincial sales tax would be removed on the purchase of
electric bikes.

The province would begin phasing out single-use plastics.