BC Conservative leader announces complete platform at UBC

BC Conservative Party leader John Rustad announced the party’s complete platform on October 15 at the UBC Rose Garden.

The announcement was initially planned for 10 a.m. in West Vancouver, but was rescheduled to UBC for 11 a.m. the same morning, according to tweets by Vancouver Sun reporter Alex Lazenby.

“When you think about UBC, you think about our future," said Rustad. "Youth should be able to look at this province with hope and optimism."

The party’s platform said the Conservatives intend to “put BC at the forefront of research” in economically-advantageous fields and “provide students with in-demand skills” by committing a “greater share” of funding programs that work toward these goals, but does not specify how.

The Conservative Party's platform also committed to protecting free speech and academic freedom on campus, and said the party will base funding for post-secondary institutions based on whether it upholds student safety.

“Provincial funding will be tied directly to ensuring universities protect their students from antisemitic harassment and violence on campus," read the platform. "Institutions that fail to protect students from hate will not receive a penny more of taxpayer money.”

The platform said a Conservative government will adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemetism — which has been adopted by the federal government elsewhere in Canada, notably in Ontario and Quebec, but attracted criticism for potentially curtailing freedom of expression.

In May, UBC President Beniot-Antoine Bacon was asked at Parliament Hill if he would support the IHRA definition and the application of the IHRA’s handbook on post-secondary campuses. Bacon said the definition “is one of the tools we consider going forward on cases of antisemitism.”

One protester interrupted Rustad’s speech by shouting “bug eating communists” and was dressed in a cockroach costume. There was also RCMP and Campus Security present at the event.

When asked about criticism surrounding candidates not attending forums to speak with voters, Rustad said “our candidates have been out, knocking on doors every single day and meeting with people in their riding.”

On October 11, the AMS hosted a mixer and debate for students to meet provincial candidates. No representatives from the BC Conservative Party were in attendance. At the event, AMS VP External Ayesha Irfan confirmed Conservative Party candidates were invited, but declined to attend.

Reporters also asked Rustad about his intention of balancing the province’s budget, pointing out the Conservatives’ platform was projecting a deficit of $11 billion compared to the NDP’s $9.6 billion for the same first budget period. Rustad said the investments are necessary to counteract the affordability issues facing the province.

“I would say the strategic investments that we are going to make, both the capital investments as well as the operating investments, are specifically designed to address these many problems that David Eby has created in British Columbia.”

This article is part of The Ubyssey's 2024 provincial elections coverage.

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