Main party leaders in BC to square off on economy at Board of Trade event

The three main party leaders in British Columbia’s provincial election are participating in the same virtual event today on the economy.

The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade is hosting a discussion on how the candidates will help the economy recover from the pandemic.

• See also: 
  • BC Greens promise to support tourism sector through the pandemic
  • Liberals promise funding for mental health workers to partner with police
  • BC Green Party pledges $500/month for families with stay-at-home parent, children under 3

The party leaders campaigned on different issues on Wednesday, with BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson promising to expand a program that pairs police officers with mental health workers.

Wilkinson said a Liberal government would provide $58 million to hire 100 psychiatric social workers and registered nurses to staff joint teams with police to answer mental health calls.

NDP Leader John Horgan touted his party’s 10-year cancer care plan, saying cancer care centres will be opened in Kamloops and Nanaimo if the New Democrats win on Oct. 24.

At an event in Whistler, Green Leader Sonia Furstenau announced part of the party’s platform that’s focused on supporting small businesses with a six-month rent subsidy program.