A list of promises in the B.C. government’s throne speech

VICTORIA – Some of the key promises made Thursday by British Columbia’s Liberal minority government:

— A comprehensive ban on corporate, union and third-party donations to political parties; and a maximum donation limit for individuals.

— A referendum on electoral reform.

— $1 billion to be spent over the next four years to create 60,000 new childcare spaces.

— A $100-a-month increase to social assistance rates while future annual increases in disability assistance rates would be tied to the consumer price index.

— Increase in legal-aid funding by 25 per cent.

— Increase in the number of RCMP officers dedicated to drug enforcement by 30 per cent.

— Create new minister of state for mental health, addiction and recovery.

— Work to fully eliminate medical service premiums.

— Establish a royal commission on education to ensure students and teachers have the resources, training and tools they need.

— Work to build light rail on southern Vancouver Island and a passenger ferry connection between Vancouver and Nanaimo.

— Conduct feasibility studies to connect the Lower Mainland and North Shore communities in the Vancouver area by transit and light rail.

— Eliminate tolls on the Port Mann Bridge and work with TransLink to eliminate tolls on the Golden Ears Bridge.

— Build 50,000 new units over 10 years as part of a new rent-to-own program for the middle class.

— Work to open eight new mines by 2022 to help rural communities.

— Continue construction on the Site C dam.

— Raise the carbon tax by $5 per tonne per year, starting in 2019, up to a total of $50 per tonne by 2022, but offset future increases by reducing the provincial sales tax by a corresponding amount.