B.C. Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon touched on affordable housing, the cost of living, health care and crime during a speech at a Kelowna Chamber of Commerce lunch on Monday (Jun. 27).

He told the crowd that the NDP is failing British Columbians in every category.

sa国际传媒淗ousing is not getting cheaper, gas is not getting cheaper,sa国际传媒� said Falcon. sa国际传媒淥ur streets are not getting safer, the opioid, overdose problem is not getting better.sa国际传媒�

If we donsa国际传媒檛 hold the government to account then wesa国际传媒檙e not doing our jobs, Falcon added.

sa国际传媒淲e have the highest housing prices in North America right here in British Columbia,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淭hird highest on the planet.sa国际传媒�

Falcon said the NDP has finally figured out that supply is the problem when it comes to housing in B.C., and it will take all levels of government to solve it.

sa国际传媒淏ut wesa国际传媒檝e got to be aligned, and wesa国际传媒檝e got to be focused on results.sa国际传媒�

Falcon also challenged the NDP regarding their record on affordability for British Columbians.

sa国际传媒淭he challenge we have in B.C. right now is 46 per cent of families are $200 away from being able to meet their monthly budget. The rise in fuel prices isnsa国际传媒檛 making it any easier. We have to think about how we make everything affordable for families.sa国际传媒�

He then brought $10 a daycare into the conversation, and said the Liberals donsa国际传媒檛 view it as a social program, but as an economic development initiative. Falcon said the NDP believes daycare seats need to be government-owned and run, with no involvement from the private sector.

sa国际传媒淭he private sector has been delivering most of the new seats,sa国际传媒� he added. sa国际传媒淚f yousa国际传媒檙e going to get to $10 daycare yousa国际传媒檙e going to need to have a lot more seats available.sa国际传媒�

The Liberal leader then talked about crime, noted that more street crime and social chaos are taking place throughout the province, and criticized the NDPsa国际传媒檚 plan to have consultants study the issues and develop recommendations.

sa国际传媒淚f somebody came to me with a problem that has been festering that long and said my solution is I want to study it for four more months, Isa国际传媒檇 fire that person on the spot,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淭he problem is there is no accountability in this government for results.sa国际传媒�

Falcon also said the government needs to look after those with mental health issues.

sa国际传媒淭hat doesnsa国际传媒檛 mean buying hotels and motels, overpaying for them, and stuffing people in them with very little supports and pretending yousa国际传媒檙e solving the problem.sa国际传媒�

Falcon added people who are severely mentally ill and genuinely require help need to be compassionately removed from the streets, put into mandatory care and be properly looked after so that they are not a danger to themselves or others.

Health care is another category Falcon says the NDP is failing.

sa国际传媒淭he premier correctly describes our health care system as sa国际传媒榗rumbling and teeteringsa国际传媒� and hesa国际传媒檚 absolutely right. Right now, one in five British Columbians cannot access a family doctor.sa国际传媒�

He pointed out B.C. has the longest wait times at walk-in clinics in Canada. Falcon added that even though the next provincial election is set for Oct. 2024, given the NDPsa国际传媒檚 election call in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Liberals are planning as if there might be an election next spring.

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gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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