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BC VOTES 2020: BC NDP candidate Ronna-Rae Leonard hoping to serve Courtenay-Comox for a second term

The Comox Valley Record will be running candidate submissions for every candidate running in the two local electoral districts. The following is the submission filed by Courtenay-Comox NDP candidate Ronna-Rae Leonard.
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The Comox Valley Record will be running candidate submissions for every candidate running in the two local electoral districts. The following is the submission filed by Courtenay-Comox NDP candidate Ronna-Rae Leonard.

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I am running for re-election on a record I am proud of. John Horgan’s leadership, the endless work of Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry, and the stewardship of our economy by Finance Minister Carole James have built confidence in the government’s ability to manage the pandemic, rebuild the economy, care for our most vulnerable, and expand healthcare. We need to keep moving forward for everyone in B.C.

Since day one of our forming government, for over three years, we have been focused on what matters most to the people of British Columbia, and not just those at the top. We’ve been addressing 16 years of cuts and woefully underfunded services, to building new systems and addressing important matters that had been ignored by the previous BC Liberal government. This election, we seek a stable BC NDP government to build on our work to protect our health, and provide a safe and secure future for all of us.

It is clear that people are what fuel the economy, from passionate small business owners, to grocery store clerks and healthcare professionals. John Horgan continues to demonstrate that the BC NDP is committed to investing in the people of B.C.

Building on the work of our CleanBC plan, the BC NDP is committed to achieving a target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. We will create 2,000 more post-secondary technology spaces, in addition to the 2,900 we have already created. Tech jobs are the future.

A post-secondary education is key. Interest-free B.C. student loans began in February 2019, and this fall, the BC Access Grant provides 40,000 students with up to $4,000/year, depending on income, for certificate and diploma programs as well as post-secondary degree programs. A re-elected John Horgan government will extend the BC Access Grant to more students, by lowering the threshold for family income.

The affordable housing crisis was long in the making and continues to be a priority of the BC NDP. With our $7 billion, 10-year plan, we know there is still a long way to go. We will maintain the Speculation and Vacancy Tax, which has turned 11,000 empty condos into new rental units, while adding revenues to help build affordable housing.

And, we’ll continue to cap rent increases to the rate of inflation.

Building an affordable, safe and accessible childcare system would continue, as John Horgan will work with the federal government to expand the number of $10/day childcare spaces, so more parents, particularly women, can go to work.

For three years, our government has been working hard to build more spaces and improve the standard of care for our seniors, to stabilize the workforce, and make sure our investments in seniors care are providing the care they need and deserve. John Horgan continues to support a stronger system of seniors care with more investments in community home care, single rooms for all long-term care residents, and making permanent the levelling wages for health care workers.

Moving forward for everyone in B.C.!