Platform & Policy
Pandemic Response: A Revisit of Mandates and Lockdowns
The government’s reaction to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was disproportionate, causing more harm in it’s wake than the virus itself.
Housing Affordability
The BCLP believes the government has had a detrimental impact on the housing supply and the overall cost to build homes, which is the main driver of high housing prices. The Province has the ability to influence local governments through the Municipal Act and would advocate for a simplification of complicated regulations. And the BCLP sees opportunities within the ALR to increase housing development opportunities.
End ICBC's Monopoly
ICBC is consistently rated as the worst insurance provider in the country, yet consumers are powerless to choose a competing insurer for their basic auto insurance needs.
Modernize Liquor Laws
The BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) takes close to $2 Billion annually from consumers by artificially raising the prices of beer, wine and spirits by up to 170% of their original price before distributing it to retailers.
Reduce Taxation, Cut Spending
Any sensible fiscal policy needs to look at both sides of the ledger. The BC Libertarian Party will cut government spending significantly, and return the savings to taxpayers as well as paying down the nearly $100 billion provincial debt.
Restore Patient Choice in Healthcare
The BC Supreme Court’s recent decision to disallow private surgery clinics is very disappointing. Patients have to right to take care of their health, and while public healthcare is important, wait times are too long. Other options must remain legal so that British Columbians can access timely care.
Get BC Moving!
The BC Libertarian Party would repeal the Passenger Transportation Act and dissolve the Passenger Transportation Board that fixes prices for the taxi industry, shuttle buses, limousines and for inter-city bus services.
Government Accountability
The only true way to ensure taxpayer money is not wasted, is to reduce the size and scope of government. We will identify programs and ministries that are not consistent with a free society, and scale them back so that civil society organizations can expand.
Liberate Energy
The NDP’s radical CleanBC program is an elaborate scheme that, while doing little to help the environment or address the effects of climate change, will drive up energy costs, limit poverty-reducing opportunities in rural and First Nations communities, and generally make life miserable for individuals and businesses across the entire province – hitting our world-class resource industries particularly hard.
Education
Our plan is to move as much decision-making as possible away from the Ministry of Education and toward local school districts, where parents can have more input. We will consult with educational providers on how to introduce a system whereby education funding follows the student, and can be used at parents’ discretion within an expanded menu of educational options.
Free Speech in the age of “Cancel Culture”
Freedom of speech and thought is the foundation of all freedoms. It has inherent value; every individual experiences life in a unique way and should be free to share that experience with others.
Legalize Unpasteurized Milk
The current law in British Columbia forbids distribution of a product – unpasteurized milk – which is legal in 43 US states plus England, Ireland, New Zealand, and all European nations.
Addressing the Drug Crisis
Despite increased efforts and funding being directed toward reducing Fentanyl deaths, the numbers have risen each year. The black market drug supply is toxic. It’s time to bring drug use out of the shadows so users can more easily obtain support in rehabilitation.
Crown Land - Action is needed
British Columbia’s provincial government owns 94% of all land within our boundaries To avoid the Tragedy of the Commons, the BCLP advocates for dispersing of this as efficiently as possible.
PST on Private Vehicle Sales
Every time a vehicle is sold privately in British Columbia, ICBC collects 7% of the vehicle value in Provincial Sales Tax.
The BCLP aims to end that immediately.
Employer Health Tax (EHT) Elimination
On January 1, 2020, the NDP put a halt to individuals’ Medical Services Plan fees, and put the burden on businesses instead, calling it the Employer Health Tax. British Columbia is the only province that has an extra levy for medical services.
Stop the Abuse of Civil Asset Forfeiture
Civil Asset Forfeiture is no longer used to reunite victims of theft with their stolen goods, but has morphed into an abuse of justice, civil liberties, and property rights.
Forestry & Wildfire Management
Decades of poor wildfire management by the NDP and Liberal governments have brought us to a boiling point. It’s time to liberate B.C.’s forestry industry and empower them to protect our province.
PST - It's time to convert it to a Value Added Tax (VAT)
Here in B.C. it adds 7% not just to all retail, but also layers of business inputs. It is obvious that end-users bear the higher cost of living, but what about the lost economic opportunities?
Reforming Social Assistance
Government should support British Columbians in genuine hardship who cannot otherwise support themselves. It should play a limited, but important, role in protecting the vulnerable. However, social assistance can become a trap, preventing people from living independent, productive lives.