Chris Sankey: Trump isn’t responsible for the well being of British Columbians

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Since when did U.S. President Donald Trump become responsible for the well-being of British Columbians? I watched Premier David Eby explain his reasons for calling a snap election last week, and I was less than thrilled with what I heard. The last election cost British Columbians more than $80 million. In that same news conference, Premier Eby announced a $15-million commitment to attract medical professionals from the United States, meaning the cost of the election will keep rising if the NDP is returned to power on high spending promises.

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Now, I was never the best student in math during high school, but even I can see the accumulative cost of Eby’s extravagant self-interest. The province is broke. We lost another triple AAA credit rating, and Eby will have to borrow just to pay for his unnecessary election.

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The premier has demonstrated that he is willing to spend significant public money to attract American medical professionals. Meanwhile, British Columbians who have committed their careers to our health-care system are watching their own government struggle to retain and support them. Trump isn’t responsible for Eby’s financial decisions. David Eby is. The lack of accountability is astounding.

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The NDP has been in government since 2017. Donald Trump isn’t responsible for British Columbia’s health-care challenges, housing shortage, public-safety concerns, crime, affordability problems, education challenges, or the consequences of any decisions made by the provincial government. Has Eby even been to a grocery store lately? The cost of living facing British Columbians isn’t Donald Trump’s fault. How disconnected from reality do we have to be to not recognize that?

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Trump is pursuing the priorities he told American voters he would pursue: putting American interest’s first and prioritizing economic growth. And much like Prime Minister Mark Carney, he recognizes the need to look at new markets for Canadian resources. British Columbia needs to start putting British Columbians first. That means putting the economic foundation before the social cart.

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And as for DRIPA, which applies UNDRIP principles to B.C. laws, it isn’t Trump’s fault that many British Columbians have become frustrated with the way reconciliation has been handled in this province. I don’t believe the answer is for B.C. to repeal DRIPA. I believe it needs to be reviewed, improved and implemented in a way that British Columbians can understand, support and have confidence in. Trump isn’t responsible for mishandling the messaging of DRIPA and UNDRIP back to British Columbians.

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The province’s handling of land transfer negotiations with First Nations and Aboriginal title issues has contributed to uncertainly and frustration for many over property rights, which cannot simply be dismissed as racism. I have met and spoken with both hereditary and elected Indigenous leaders. I have also spoken with grassroots Indigenous people who have become deeply frustrated with the word “reconciliation” itself. And let’s be honest: Indigenous people have lost support on these issues. But, it isn’t just non-Indigenous British Columbians who are frustrated. Many Indigenous people are frustrated too.