The BC Conservatives’ platform lays out a plan for infrastructure cuts and project cancellations with a pledge to cut capital spending from BC NDP plans.

The Conservative platform says currently planned infrastructure spending is too high and promises a review while setting no targets of their own – a sure sign of hidden cuts to come.

They promise to "Conduct a thorough, comprehensive review and audit of the provincial capital plan” (p. 10).

The platform complains:

“Capital spending has nearly tripled. Taxpayer-supported capital spending was $4.8 billion in 2019/20. This year the NDP budgeted $13.7 billion, and $37.7 billion over the three years to 2028/29.” (p. 56)

The BC NDP’s planned $37.7 billion investment over the next three years, that the Conservatives say is too high, includes hospitals, schools and transportation projects across the province.

The Conservatives’ capital review puts projects across the province on the chopping block, and raises doubts about Conservative promises on any capital projects - like the Skytrain to Newton - when they are clearly laying out a plan for cuts and cancellations.

They’ve already announced they would cancel the Massey Tunnel that is already under construction, with 200 workers currently on the site. Teamsters Local 213 who is working on the project said that “scrapping this project would be a huge mistake and a giant waste of money” and “leave frustrated commuters stuck in traffic for years longer.”

Last summer, BC Conservative Harman Bhangu said the Patullo replacement crossing should be “shelved” - when it was almost done.

The Conservatives need to be clear about how much of the planned $37.7 billion they would cut and which projects they would cancel.