Days before the final voting day on Oct. 19, BC Conservative leader John Rustad was in Richmond calling on his supporters to turn Richmond and B.C. blue.
“Enough is enough,” was his catchphrase as he reiterated his party's plan for B.C. and the issues he claimed were caused by the current BC NDP government.
Rustad's address to a crowd of about 150 at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel on Tuesday started with the message of “getting rid of drugs” and “drug dens.” He also called for the end of the decriminalization of drugs and a safe supply of drugs for people in addiction.
Rustad went through the talking points that he’s been focusing on during the provincial election: creating a renter/owner tax rebate, elimination of the carbon tax, spurring the economy, getting rid of the sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) educational resources, preparing kids for the future, bringing back letter grades and making the “collapsing health-care” system more patient-centred.
The crowd chanted “shame, shame” when Rustad claimed Eby supported "mobs" who burned the Canadian flag and said "death to Canada," in reference to a pro-Palestinian rally in Vancouver on Oct. 7 by a group who's now been classified as a terrorist organization.
In fact, Eby came out with a statement after the group, Samoudin, was listed as a terrorist organization by Canada, saying “there is no place in British Columbia for groups inciting and glorifying violence.”
In a further attack, Rustad noted Eby, who used to work for the BC Civil Liberties Association, wrote an arrest handbook and another handbook on how to sue the police.
“This is who we have as a leader in this province, it’s absolutely crazy to see what’s happened,” Rustad said.
Rustad called for an end to hate in B.C., to rid the province of anti-Palestinian sentiment, antisemitism, anti-Muslim sentiment and Islamophobia.
“We’re going to make sure we bring an end to this hate in British Columbia,” Rustad said. “People should be able to be safe in this province, no matter who you are, no matter who you love, no matter what your faith is, no matter where you came from — British Columbia is a melting pot of so many different cultures — it is the value that we are as a society.”
Rustad also claimed that crime is rising, and said he’s been told 20 per cent of criminals are committing 80 per cent of all crimes in B.C. His solution is bail reform but also adding more judges and sheriffs and having a separate court system to deal with prolific offenders.
“Enough is enough. These people need to be taken off our streets so that we can have safe communities in British Columbia,” Rustad said.
Rustad told the News his party is also venturing into issues that aren't traditionally "conservative," such as supporting food banks, something he said is just the right thing to do when there's a need in society. He added his focus is on "common sense and looking after people."
"The federal Conservatives think I'm too liberal, and the federal Liberals think I'm too conservative," Rustad told the News. "So, that means I'm probably right where I need to be."
As for issues facing Richmond, Rustad said Richmond voters are focused on drug issues, affordability — that taxes are too high and government is in the way — and that parents want to know what's going on in their kids' education.
"I'm hearing those in spades all through the community," he added.
General voting day for the B.C. provincial election takes place on Oct. 19.
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