New Liberal leader attacks NDP for increasing unaffordability in BC


Kevin Falcon was sworn in as leader of the official Opposition on Monday.

Article content

VICTORIA — Minutes after being sworn as leader of the official Opposition Monday, Kevin Falcon signaled he’s already got his sights set on the 2024 election, saying if elected premier he’d cancel the $1 billion “vanity museum project.”

Advertisement 2

Article content

During his first performance in question period, the Liberal leader said it was “tone deaf” and “outrageous” for Premier John Horgan to announce a new provincial museum when one in five British Columbians are without a family doctor and many are struggling to pay the rising prices for gas, rent and groceries.

Horgan on Friday unveiled a plan to shutter the 54-year-old Royal BC Museum on Sept. 6. It will be torn down and rebuilt by 2030. The total $1-billion price tag includes $789 million for the new museum plus $224 million already announced for the museum’s new archives and collection building in suburban Victoria.

The government has not yet released a detailed business case outlining how they arrived at $789 million, money that was not part of the capital project funding announced in the February budget.

advertisement 3

Article content

The money would be better spent, Falcon said, on giving motorists a three-month tax break on record gas prices which he estimated would cost $500 million.

Opposition BC Liberal Party Leader Kevin Falcon shares a moment with his daughters Rose, 9, Josephine, 12, and his wife, Jessica, after being sworn in inside the Hall of Honor at legislature in Victoria, Monday, May 16, 2022.
Opposition BC Liberal Party Leader Kevin Falcon shares a moment with his daughters Rose, 9, Josephine, 12, and his wife, Jessica, after being sworn in inside the Hall of Honor at legislature in Victoria, Monday, May 16, 2022. Photo by CHAD HIPOLITO /THE CANADIAN PRESS

“I spent some time up at the pumps talking to people that were filling up their cars and I think the premier needs to spend a few minutes frankly doing that because he’s completely out of touch with how people are feeling,” Falcon told reporters.

Horgan came under fire last week for telling British Columbians to “think before you hop in the car,” with critics responding that those living outside of urban cores don’t have access to reliable public transit.

On Monday, Horgan again ruled out cutting the 8.5 cents a liter provincial excise tax but said the government has spent $1.3 billion giving ICBC customers an average of $500 per driver in rebates.

advertisement 4

Article content

Horgan justified the museum replacement expenditure by pointing out that the current building is not seismically safe and that artifacts and archival materials are in a building that is below sea level. The museum has been “ignored by governments for the past 20 years…(and) something needed to be done to protect and preserve our collective history,” he said during question period.

Falcon is confident that by the time the 2024 election rolls around, construction on the new museum will not have started, so it won’t be a hit to taxpayers to scrap the plan.

“Frankly they don’t understand what they’re doing. So I feel very confident that the project will not have launched construction,” he said.

I have acknowledged the aging museum needs some upgrades but that could be done for around $100 million.

advertisement 5

Article content

Before the political jousting during question period, Falcon was sworn in as MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena in the hall of honour, joined by his wife, Jessica, and their daughters, Josephine and Rose. He swore the Oath of Allegiance and signed the parliamentary roll, which has been signed by every elected MLA since 1917.

Falcon is now the leader of the Opposition, replacing Shirley Bond who served in an interim role after Andrew Wilkinson resigned as leader. Wilkinson also resigned his seat in Vancouver-Quilchena, triggering the April 30 election that Falcon won with 59 per cent of the vote.

Falcon has eight days in the spring session in which to spar against Horgan and the New Democrats in the legislature.

Falcon said the NDP’s central plank in the last two elections was making life more affordable for British Columbians and he’s “never seen a time where there is such a large chasm between what was promised and what we’re getting.”

advertisement 6

Article content

Falcon spent 12 years in the BC Liberal government, which included cabinet posts under the governments of Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark. He left politics in 2012 to work in the private sector, most recently at Vancouver-based real estate development and private equity firm.

[email protected]


More news, fewer ads: Our in-depth journalism is possible thanks to the support of our subscribers. For just $3.50 per week, you can get unlimited, ad-lite access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province.

advertisement 1

Comments

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user follows comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your e-mail settings.


Leave a Comment