B.C. election campaign: Parties talk jobs, data centres, royalties

Candidates running in this month’s provincial election spent the start of the long weekend on the campaign trail. Here are some of the latest developments:

NDP PROMISES FERRY SPOTS FOR LOCALS

The NDP says it would launch a “locals-first” ferry reservation pilot that reserves portions of advance booking spaces for local residents.

The announcement says 10 per cent of advance booking space would be saved for locals up to four days before sailing, as well as another two per cent up until 24 hours before sailing.

The party says the pilot would start with the Horseshoe Bay – Langdale (Sunshine Coast) and Westview (Powell River) – Little River (Comox)  routes.

CENTREBC PROMISES A BALANCED BUDGET BY 2034/35

CentreBC Leader Elenore Sturko says her party would cut the deficit every year after the first budget and balance the budget by 2034/35.

The party released its costed platform and says they have a plan to cut income taxes, get homes built faster and give everyone who wants one a family doctor or care team.

It says the deficit would fall every year after the first budget, to about $9 billion by 2030/31.

GREEN CANDIDATE WITHDRAWS IN BURNABY NEW WESTMINISTER

Elections BC says Greg DePaco has withdrawn as a candidate in Burnaby-New Westminster for the BC Greens.

A statement says candidates can withdraw from an election at any time up to 48 hours before the start of advance voting, which in this case begins on Friday.

The ballots for the riding have already been printed but Elections BC says officials will inform voters at voting places that DePaco has withdrawn.

No reason has been given for his decision.

CONSERVATIVES TOUT ‘YOUTH JOBS PLAN’ 

The B.C. Conservatives have rolled out a campaign promise to create a “first job tax credit” which they say will reward businesses that hire young British Columbians for their first job.

The Conservatives say nearly 14,000 of the 20,000 jobs lost in British Columbia last month were young people.

The announcement does not specify how much the tax credit would be for.

Earlier in the campaign, the NDP promised a $5,000 refundable tax credit for small businesses that employ someone aged between 18 and 30.

NDP FOCUS ON DATA CENTRES, WATERSHED PROTECTION

NDP Leader David Eby presented some of his party’s environment-related promises which include water-use standards for AI data centres and spending $30 million a year to continue the watershed protection fund.

Eby says his government would make AI data centres covered under the Water Sustainability Act to ensure water use is strictly regulated.

He says the government would set new water-efficiency standards, have mandated public reporting of water use, and require data centres engage with local communities on conservation and drought planning. 

GREENS TALK OIL AND GAS ROYALITIES

The BC Green Party says it would reform the province’s oil and gas royalty framework to collect 50 per cent of net profits after production costs, with “clear rules for allowable costs and public reporting on the royalties collected.”

The party estimates that getting to the 50 per cent objective would generate approximately $4.09 billion.

The Greens say they would end provincial subsidies, tax preferences and public financing “that encourage the expansion of fossil-fuel production” and require the oil and gas sector to reduce emissions in line with provincial climate targets.

The latest platform announcement says the Greens would introduce a windfall profits tax on “extraordinary corporate profits,” including in the fossil-fuel sector.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 10, 2026