BC NDP leader the only one with a clear plan, Doerkson won’t say what he’ll cut

VANCOUVER –David Eby came out of tonight’s debate as the only leader with a real plan for the challenges B.C. is facing, and the clear winner on the issues people care about most: costs, health care, and standing up to Trump.

“I know I haven’t been perfect, but I will always fight for you: capping excess profits of the grocery giants to drop the cost of the basics, taking on big oil companies to cut gas prices, and asking those at the top to chip in a bit more to strengthen health care,” said David Eby. “Lorne Doerkson would double your car insurance and would make deep cuts to health care to pay for his uncosted promises. I love this province, I love Canada, and we're going to stand shoulder-to-shoulder to build up our country at this crucial time."

Eby had the best command of the issues, spoke directly to British Columbians, and connected with them on the issues. Meanwhile, Doerkson struggled:

• Didn’t even attempt to explain how he would pay for his plan, despite being challenged repeatedly by Eby, Lowan, and Shachi Kurl.
• Claimed that his campaign director only made one mistake, despite a pattern of racist tweets.
• Admitted that the behaviour of his MLA Heather Maahs towards Elenore Sturko was hateful – even as he keeps her on his team.
• Acknowledged he couldn't keep the car insurance freeze, but couldn't say how much car insurance would cost.

In one of Eby’s strongest moments of the debate, he contrasted Doerkson’s secret deal with personal injury lawyers to double drivers' car insurance with the BC NDP plan to keep rates frozen.

“The idea that you're going to open up the doors to personal injury lawyers again – I want to take British Columbians back to the dumpster fire of ICBC losing a billion dollars a year, 30% rate increases slated for British Columbians in a single year," said Eby. “Lorne, you want to move British Columbia to the Alberta system or the Ontario system? It's more than double.”

At the debate, David Eby outlined his plan to lower costs and protect services, which includes:

• Saving drivers up to 30 cents a litre, as much as $20 a tank
• Freezing ICBC rates for another three years
• A price guard on basic groceries like milk, eggs, cheese, butter and poultry
• Asking those at the top to pay a bit more to fund health care for everyone
• Building on more than a million more people connected to a family doctor, 800 health care workers recruited from the U.S., and the new medical school at SFU Surrey