Scrap the Carbon Tax. A growing backlash is developing across Canada against the federally-imposed carbon tax, and we are adding our voices to the fight against this green-washed money grab that hurts the poor and doesn't do what it's designed to do. The Saskatchewan Party, the United Conservatives in Alberta, and even the Liberal Party in Nova Scotia are refusing to accept Trudeau's carbon tax, and we will stand with them.
Reform ICBC. We agree with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation that ICBC should be turned into a co-operative owned by BC drivers. Competition also must be opened up to private companies for basic insurance in order to reduce insurance rates for everyone. It is completely unacceptable that BC drivers now pay the highest insurance premiums in Canada.
Electoral Reform. The BC Conservative Party supports the right of all British Columbians to decide how their Members of the Legislative Assembly are elected. We demand a referendum that is clear, objective, and specific. The BC Conservative Party will fight any attempt to sidetrack the question into any consultation mechanism that does not include a referendum.
Resource Development. The BC Conservative Party is in favour of all carefully regulated resource development projects, including pipelines, mines, LNG, and forestry. In spite of the most rigorous regulatory framework in the world, the GreeNDP coalition is still trying to kill pipelines, stop mining, and generally say no to the resource economy we depend on in BC. We will streamline the regulatory process and put our northern and interior resource sector back to work.
Marijuana legalization. Federal Liberal Bills C-45 and C-46 will legalize cannabis for recreational use effective August, 2018. The BC Conservatives will:
Create and advance a robust education plan to alert the citizens of BC to the serious risks of both primary and secondhand cannabis smoke, and in particular on developing children and teens.
Put restrictions on consumption of recreational cannabis.
Give municipalities the power to decide when, where, and if cannabis can be sold within municipal jurisdictions.
The BC Conservatives will set the age limit for legal purchase and consumption at 19.
Increase penalties for illegal distribution.
Looking to the future
Ride-sharing. The BC Conservative Party supports ride-sharing in BC and will implement an immediate pilot project. Ride-sharing legislation is long overdue in BC and it's time to let people decide if they will support this innovation in transportation by voting with their wallets.
Autonomous Vehicles. We are at the cusp of a revolution in transportation that will rival the transition from horse to automobile in importance, and autonomous vehicles are coming far faster than we think. The BC Conservatives propose legislation to allow autonomous vehicle testing on BC streets, similar to the legislation enacted in Ontario, but further reaching so that autonomous vehicles can be tested in real-world conditions.