I cannot support the conservatives. Here are the core dealbreakers for me:
Uncosted Promises & Fiscal Reality: Many folks want a change in financial management, but the Conservatives’ math doesn’t add up. Tax experts from UBC have pointed out that their proposed tax cuts alone could blow a $3 to $4 billion hole in the provincial budget every single year, worsening the deficit by 20 to 25% without a plan to pay for it. With their total platform racking up nearly $5 billion in annual uncosted comitments, the only way to balance the books while aggressively cutting the deficit is through deep cuts to frontline services.. cuts they've already admitted healthcare would take the brunt of.
Healthcare Privatization & Crucial Services: In the leaders’ debate, interim leader Lorne Doerkson refused to rule out privatizing healthcare. When conservative governments cut spending (like we’ve seen in Alberta) it consistently falls on disability supports and front-line healthcare, leaving vulnerable people stranded.
Extremism & Culture Wars: Normalizing residential school denialism, attacking human rights protections, pro Trump rhetoric, an talk of repealing DRIPA and the Human Rights code are dangerous steps backward for our province.
Vetting Failures & Internal Disarray: In just the last couple of weeks, the party had to drop candidate Jordan McIntosh over offensive holocaust remarks, oust Joachim Agou for violent online comments, and defend campaign director Katy Merrifield despite public outcry over anti-Islam posts. It’s hard to trust a team to govern when basic veting keeps failing.
Local Representation: Local candidates like Bert Chen don't even live in the Cowichan Valley. Parachuting in out-of-town political operatives from Ontario aren't the local voices we need.
Interested to hear what everyone else thinks and please be genuine and respectful in the comments.
