Premier David Eby, with the government caucus behind him, talked to the media Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Nelson Star Wolf Depner November 14, 2024
Eby says NDP will not tolerate hate, discrimination, ‘conspiracy theory garbage’
B.C. Premier David Eby continued his outreach to rural B.C. Wednesday after he and 46 other New Democratic MLAs participated in their oath ceremony at the provincial legislature.
But Eby also reiterated an earlier promise to limit his government’s cooperation with Conservative MLAs, many of whom represent rural seats, under certain circumstances.
“Our hands are out-stretched to any MLA that wants to work with us on these key priorities with just one bright line exception,” Eby said. “We will not tolerate hate, discrimination, conspiracy theory garbage. That is not something that we will tolerate.”
Eby’s comments came during a media appearance, where he identified affordability, healthcare and public safety as key issues of the incoming government. On healthcare, he specifically singled out the issue of emergency room closures in rural communities.
“We have heard that loud and clear.”
Eby highlighted that issue as part of a larger promise to bridge the rural-urban divide in B.C. He returned to that theme Wednesday when asked about comments from late premier John Horgan, who had said in 2014 that the party had “lost” its way to speak to people in resource-based communities.
“We have become dependent on particular points of view, focused largely in the Lower Mainland,” Horgan said at the time. “If we are going to win, we need to speak to people, not just in a pandering way, but in a positive way to people in resource-based communities. There is a chasm between the coast and the Kootenays that does not represent anybody in-between.”
Eby said those words “resonate” with him and continue to be a “priority” for his government.
“We need to be a government for the entire province of British Columbia and the priorities of people that live in rural communities need to have the same weight and have the same influence here in the chamber and in our government as they deserve,” Eby said. “So we are going to make sure that those voices are heard across the province. We know we need to do a better job of ensuring that people in rural B.C. and remote communities are heard in this place, that their priorities are seen.”
