We may still see some more policy flip-flops and revisions from Eby. Pictured: British Columbia Premier David Eby. Photo Credit: David Eby/X.
It’s amazing how an impending election loss can focus the mind – and often change the mind too! Rather dramatically, in the case of British Columbia’s current Premier, David Eby. Eby has changed his mind on some pretty important issues in the last few months as the upstart B.C. Conservative Party led by John Rustad is running neck-and-neck with him in public opinion polls.
Just months ago, Eby was looking like a shoo-in for election as B.C. premier after winning the NDP leadership contest in late 2022, following former premier John Horgan stepping down for health reasons. A member of the B.C. legislature since 2013, Eby has not yet had to face the electorate as premier.
Eby has had a gaffe-ridden premiership to date. In the wake of the horrific Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, Eby got in a conflict with a Jewish colleague, Selina Robinson. Robinson resigned from her cabinet post as post-secondary education minister after being criticized by pro-Palestinian groups and being accused of racism and Islamophobia. Shortly thereafter, Robinson resigned from the NDP caucus and said she would sit as an independent for the rest of her term, after which she would step away from politics. She said she felt unsupported by the NDP as a Jewish woman in her party and that there were many anti-Semitic voices in the NDP caucus. This is hard to argue against as the NDP across Canada has been a shameful source of anti-Semitism at all levels of government. Eby’s behaviour during this dispute did not cover himself with glory, to put it mildly.
On several other issues, Eby has reversed his initial stance by 180 degrees. One example is the so-called safe supply issue, where B.C. was the first province in Canada to request that the federal government decriminalize the possession of illegal drugs for personal use in the province. The federal Liberals acceded to this request, and the change took place in early 2023. The federal Liberals boasted about their agreement with the B.C. government on this issue, with then-Mental Health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett claiming that “eliminating criminal penalties for those with small amounts of illicit drugs will reduce stigma and harm and provide another tool for BC to end the overdose crisis.”
Boy was she ever wrong! This experiment has been an unmitigated disaster, with drug overdoses, deaths, massively increased crime and other drug-related problems skyrocketing after the policy change. B.C. sadly became Canada’s poster child for urban decay and major social problems because of their belief that legalizing drugs and providing “safe injection sites” for addicts would be a solution to this serious and escalating problem. The only upside is that other provinces are learning this is not an example to emulate.
Earlier this year, Eby reversed B.C.’s initial request and asked the federal government to reinstitute the ban on illicit drugs. Although he made it clear that his initial position on decriminalizing drugs was one of strong personal belief, the fact that he was falling in political polls and the increasing popularity of his Conservative rivals seemed to be the impetus for his total reversal on this issue. More recently, Eby has now endorsed “involuntary care” for drug addicts. In other words, forcing addicts into care – a very controversial position that had not previously had any NDP support.
Another issue on which Eby has completely changed his views is the carbon tax. The carbon tax in Canada had its inception in B.C. in 2008 before any other jurisdiction in Canada had such a tax in place. The original carbon tax was introduced by the BC Liberal government of Gordon Campbell and adhered to the proper structure of a carbon tax in the opinion of its adherents. In other words, the tax was imposed on carbon but completely offset by income tax reductions – in other words, revenue neutral. Subsequent B.C. governments have perverted this initial structure such that the provincial carbon tax is now a cash cow for government, which was never the initial intent.
The B.C. NDP had consistently supported the carbon tax until very recently as the tax’s unpopularity became increasingly clear. Just last week, Eby said he would scrap the carbon tax. This is clearly a major reversal and one that does not conform with the policies of other NDP parties elsewhere in Canada.
Another black mark that has been recently publicized about the B.C. NDP is how they have contributed to a serious deterioration in the finances of the province. A recent Fraser Institute report noted how the province’s finances since fiscal 2016-2017 have gone from among the best in Canada to one of the worst. In 2016-2017, B.C. had the second lowest net government debt per capita. Sadly, this metric has doubled since then under the NDP. The B.C. government has added more debt per capita than any other province. B.C. is now on course to become the most indebted province in Canada within the next five years unless something changes significantly.
There are still a few more weeks before the Oct. 19 B.C. election, so we may still see some more policy flip flops and revisions from Eby. Mind you, he’s running out of issues to reverse himself on. In one respect, however, Eby continues to tower over his opponents – he’s six foot seven inches tall.
She has published numerous articles in journals, magazines & other media on issues such as free trade, finance, entrepreneurship & women business owners. Ms. Swift is a past President of the Empire Club of Canada, a former Director of the CD Howe Institute, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, SOS Children’s Villages, past President of the International Small Business Congress and current Director of the Fraser Institute. She was cited in 2003 & 2012 as one of the most powerful women in Canada by the Women’s Executive Network & is a recipient of the Queen’s Silver & Gold Jubilee medals.
