For the first time since 2001, B.C. will have an NDP government.
Surrey and North Delta voters were key in making this happen – sending seven NDP MLAs to Victoria. In doing so, they defeated two members of the BC Liberal government’s cabinet (Peter Fassbender and Amrik Virk) and Delta North incumbent Scott Hamilton.
Premier-designate John Horgan’s promise to end bridge tolls was an important factor in the NDP getting more votes here, but there were many others.
The basic message of trying to make life more affordable for working people – who have seen sharp increases in BC Hydro and ICBC rates, inflationary boosts to Medical Service Plan premiums and higher costs in almost all areas of their lives – resonated.
People in Surrey also knew the state of the city’s schools – overcrowded, often in classrooms with too many special-needs children and not enough assistants, and far too many portable classrooms. This has been mainly due to relentless development and ever-increasing population density.
The BC Liberals were slow to respond to the obvious need for more schools and paid a price for that. They did come up with a system to help expedite money for capital projects in the district, and hopefully that will survive.
There will likely be several cabinet ministers from Surrey and Delta in the new cabinet, to be announced in mid-July. Horgan will face a tough balancing act, trying to select ministers based on areas they represent, gender, ethnicity and other factors.
One priority for many in this area will be an end to bridge tolls, which will again allow traffic to flow naturally to whatever crossing works best. It will also be a quick start to rapid transit here, which has been delayed by the awkward transition to a new government, almost two months after the election.
Another priority in the entire South Fraser region is health care. There is a significant shortage of hospital beds, emergency rooms are badly overcrowded, many people cannot get family doctors, waiting lists for many surgical procedures are long, mental-health services fall short and the provincial response to the fentanyl crisis, while improving, is still inadequate.
The new government will also have to act decisively to deal with housing issues. This includes taking a look at rent increases, non-profit housing, the pressure on manufactured-home parks and the actions of a small number in the real estate and development industry who take advantage of vulnerable people.
Anita Huberman, CEO of the Surrey Board of Trade, said last week that there needs to be certainty for business people who are making investment decisions. We have that now, although the shape of the cabinet is still unknown.
The Horgan government has much to do. The sooner it gets down to work the better.
Frank Bucholtz writes Fridays for the Now-Leader. Email frank.bucholtz@gmail.com