From the fiscal challenges of the NDP government under Premier David Eby to the recent exodus of B.C. Conservative MLAs and staffers, Wednesday night’s Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce byelection debate had plenty of intrigue. “The people I’m talking to in Abbotsford and Mission simply don’t believe the NDP anymore when it comes to taxes and taxation,” B.C. Conservative Leader and Abbotsford-Mission candidate Kerry-Lynne Findlay said during the debate. “They’ve expanded the PST on yes, accounting and bookkeeping, I mentioned. That really hurts small business, but they’ve expanded it into everyday life like shoe repair and yarn.” That was a theme from Findlay throughout the evening – critiquing NDP tax policy and the government’s fiscal performance. Twice during the debate, she brought up the late John Horgan – Eby’s NDP predecessor as premier – referencing his ability to post surplus budgets in contrast to the significant deficits posted in recent years. The NDP’s candidate in the riding is Pam Alexis, a former mayor of Mission and agriculture minister. Alexis didn’t hesitate to highlight the recent controversy involving Findlay’s party. “If the people who have worked alongside you and know you don’t trust your leadership – why should the people of Abbotsford-Mission and British Columbians trust you to lead them?” Alexis asked Findlay during the debate. That prompted a response from Findlay, who referenced the mandate given to her by party members during the B.C. Conservative leadership contest. “It’s a good question because probably key to what you’re asking there is the people who worked alongside me – and unfortunately they haven’t worked alongside me –or given me the opportunity to show what can be done,” Findlay said. Beyond accusations about the NDP’s fiscal performance and the series of departures from the Conservative camp, the debate explored a wide range of local issues. That included transportation, with highway congestion a major talking point. “But the bigger question is why does the construction stop at Highway 11? We need to expand because there’s 80,000 vehicles (a day) and $56 billion in goods go through the highway (a year),” suggested Lakhwinder Jhaj, Centre B.C.’s candidate for the riding. Green Party candidate Stephen Fowler instead suggested more rail and transit expansion in general is needed to address the congestion. “We need to get more people into transit so we’re not constantly rebuilding the highway just so we can build it again – because they cost a lot of money,” Fowler said, referencing the idea that the more highway you build, the more cars you attract. Alexis had the last word in the debate, using her closing statement to take a final dig at Findlay – who had no opportunity to respond. “There are candidates in this race who don’t know our community at all, and there’s a candidate who seems more intent to sow division and hate than bring people together,” Alexis said, in reference to the Conservative leader. Advance voting starts next Friday and Sept. 26 the final voting day.
