The year 2016 is a wrap and it is safe to say it was one for the books. In keeping with the spirit of the season, though, it’s time for a few New Year’s resolutions list for B.C.’s political parties to consider in their on-going quest for self-improvement.
1. Anticipate more, scramble less: The B.C. government would be well-advised to do far more thinking about the days to come than they’ve done in the past.
Some of the issues they should have put more thought into, include questions like: Is it possible that an opioid crisis will lead to increased demand for addiction treatment? Could rising home prices lead to an affordability crisis and is there a chance that a regional foreign-buyers tax will simply move the problem on to another region (hello, Victoria)?
2. Don’t develop policy on the fly: It took all of about 30-minutes for most economists in the province to conclude that the government’s plan to provide $37,500 interest-free loans to first-time home buyers isn’t such a bright idea. Economists in near total agreement, a feat in itself.
As University of British Columbia economics professor Tom Davidoff put it: “We’re telling people we want you to stretch to buy a property. That puts the buyer at risk potentially.”
3. Banish doublespeak: Case in point: The government’s recently announced four-point plan “to address homelessness in Maple Ridge.”
Point one? Scrub plans for a permanent-supportive housing facility. Points two and three? Implement improvements to the operation of the temporary shelter and then make its closure a priority. Point four? Host a town hall meeting in late January. Try as you might, that’s not a plan to address homelessness.
4. Don’t hold the most in need hostage to election cycles: Finance Minister Mike de Jong recently hinted that people with disabilities may see a hike in their assistance rates in the upcoming budget.
Why wait?
De Jong may recall this pledge from the BC Liberal party’s 2013 election platform: “We believe that British Columbia should be the most progressive jurisdiction for the people and families living with disabilities in Canada. But there is much more that we can, should, and will do.”
Words to live by.
5. Don’t spin humiliating defeats as victories: When you set a policy that ends up getting tossed by the Supreme Court of Canada in near record time, it doesn’t play well to try and take credit for the court’s decision, as Premier Christy Clark attempted to do with the landmark ruling in the B.C. Teachers’ Federation case.
6. Don’t make election promises you don’t plan to keep: Just ask Prime Minister Justin Trudeau how well those cash-for-access events are going down, after campaigning on a promise that “there should be no preferential treatment” for organizations that have made contributions to politicians or political parties. Bet the provincial government would have found those 500 new addiction treatment spaces mighty helpful right now, if the follow through had been there after making the promise in 2013.
Just a few resolutions for B.C.’s political class to ponder in the final days of 2016.
Dermod Travis is the executive director of IntegrityBC.
www.integritybc.ca
@integritybc
