B.C. Conservatives strike first as party launches pre-election platform

VANCOUVER – With less than eight weeks until B.C. voters go to the polls, the B.C. Conservative party is first out of the gate in launching its election platform.

The 23-page document addresses issues ranging from balanced budgets to reinvigorating northern B.C., but makes only a handful of promises.

Among them, party Leader John Cummins pledges a Conservative government will abolish the Carbon Tax, calling the levy unfair to those living outside Victoria or Metro Vancouver.

He says, if elected, the Tories would create a new office to pass judgement on the fairness and accuracy of the provincial budget and track the spending of Crown corporations, hospitals and universities.

He’s also promising to overhaul the legislative calendar so MLAs have more time each fall to quiz senior officials about government and Crown corporation expenditures.

Cummins says the document shows Conservatives are serious about campaigning on substantive issues and he’s promising further policy proposals in the weeks leading up to the May 14 provincial election.