2017 ISLAND PLATFORM

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LETTER FROM PREMIER CHRISTY CLARKToday’s economy on Vancouver Is-land is getting stronger. Balanced budgets and long-term, affordable labour agreements with B.C.’s val-ued public service have created stability and the platform for job creation by the private sector.

Now, a new team of energized BC Liberal candidates want to be a stronger voice for Vancouver Is-land to advocate for Islanders from inside government.

Today’s BC Liberals have a bal-anced vision for a strong regional economy based on emerging sectors like technol-ogy, tourism, agrifoods and our natural resource industries, which continue to be the backbone of many communities. Key to our plan on Vancouver Island are in-vestments in our universities and colleges, and our partnerships with First Nations, which are unlocking economic opportunity across the Island.

For too long, the BC NDP have represented the majority of ridings on Vancouver Island. They haven’t brought any fresh ideas to the table. And neither the BC NDP nor the BC Greens have a plan to grow the economy. We can’t afford political par-ties that don’t have economic plans at a time when jobs are at risk from a rising tide of global protectionism—especially in the United States.

We want to create new, family supporting jobs—allowing our young people, in all Island communities, the opportunity to stay and work here at home.

A strong economy has allowed us to make unprecedented investments in new hospi-tals, hospice, and health care across Vancouver Island. And we’re just getting start-ed. We have a plan to grow our economy and let people keep more of the money they work hard to earn.

It’s an exciting time for Vancouver Island. Opportunity is here and our new and diverse team of candidates is working hard to bring its expertise to building a strong B.C. and bright future for all—from Port Hardy, to Tofino, to Esquimalt.

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DELIVERING FOR VANCOUVER ISLAND COMMUNITIESStrong BC, Bright Future – that’s our plan and vision for British Columbia and Vancouver Island. Since Christy Clark became Premier in 2011, B.C. has been on a roll. We are first in economic development, first in job growth, and we have the low-est unemployment in Canada. That means opportunities right here on Vancouver Island.

Thanks to a plan that is creating jobs, growing the economy, and controlling gov-ernment spending, our party has been able to afford to make significant investments across Vancouver Island.

Highlights include:

Economic development and trades training: » Opened new trades training centres at Camosun College in Victoria

» Technology is Victoria’s number 1 industry with ViaTech supported by the BC Innovation Council. Victoria’s tech community generates $3.15 billion in reve-nue, $4 billion in economic activity and employees 23,000 employees through 884 companies.

» Injected $10 million into the Island Coastal Economic Trust

» Tofino named Sunset Magazine’s Top Beach Town in North America in 2016

BC Leads Canada

1st

in Economic Growth

in Job Growth

LOWEST Unemployment

1st

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Hospitals and health care: » Opened the new $300 million, 500-bed Royal Jubilee Hospital in 2011.

» Invested over $39 million at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital to expand pa-tient care.

» Provided funding for new hospice beds in Campbell River, Comox Valley, Sooke and the Cowichan Valley to continue our commitment to double the number of hospice beds in British Columbia.

Transportation and infrastructure: » Investing in a new McKenzie interchange in Victoria.

» $248 million for the Capital Regional District Wastewater Project.

» Over $50 million has been committed for safety improvements on the Malahat highway over the past 4 years.

» $2.2 million for safety upgrades on Highway 19-Nanaimo Parkway.

» Since 2012, invested over $7 million in Highway 14 improvements between the Westshore and Sooke.

» Opened the new Belmont and Royal Bay Secondary Schools in the Sooke School District.

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THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT A CHOICE – move forward with Today’s BC Liberals to create jobs in a growing economy while controlling spending to keep taxes low, or back-wards with the BC NDP or BC Greens to bigger government, job losses, and higher taxes.

We cannot lose focus. We’re surrounded by risk – a rising tide of protectionism south of the border, fragile economies around the world and across our country, even right next door. Now, more than ever, it is important that we continue to stick to our plan. Let’s keep Vancouver Island working.

For a full account of how Today’s BC Liberals will create jobs, grow the economy, and control spending to keep taxes low and invest in the services that British Co-lumbians need, see our full platform at BCLiberals.com.

On Vancouver Island, we have a new, strong team of candidates that are bringing unique solutions forward. Islanders are looking for strong local voices inside gov-ernment working to deliver a bright future for their communities. And for the first time, your Island champions have developed a made-on-the-Island platform that speaks to our Island-specific commitments. These commitments represent our con-tinued support for growing the Island economy, creating jobs, and investing in the services people need.

STRONG BC, BRIGHT FUTURE – 2017 ISLAND PLATFORM

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Five Highlights of our Plan:1. A TAX BREAK FOR ISLAND RESIDENTS USING BC FERRIES. We

know that getting on and off the Island can be expen-sive for families who commute regularly across the water. Today’s BC Liberals will work with BC Ferries to develop a frequent use/loyalty program that will give a break to people moving back and forth on BC Ferries. Until that program is up and running, we will implement a new tax deduction for people living in ferry dependent communities. Individuals will be able to deduct 25% of the value of their ferry fares up to a maximum amount of $1000 annually from their net tax payable to the province. This means that Island residents can reduce their ferry fares by up to $250 per year if they spend $1000 on BC Ferry fares.

And as a special bonus for frequent users frustrated by intermittent WiFi on BC Ferries vessels and in their parking lots, we will provide $1 million to im-prove capacity and reliability of BC Ferry WiFi services.

2. A VICTORIA 2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES BID. The 2022 Commonwealth Games were supposed to be held in Durban, South Africa. Unfortunately, Durban was un-able to meet its commitments and the Commonwealth Games are in search of a new location for 2022. We all remember the community spirit in the South Island that made the 1994 Commonwealth Games a huge suc-cess. The legacy investments of those games remain in use today—from the Commonwealth Games pool in Saanich to the student housing that was created at UVic—the Games left a lasting imprint on our Island. We want to work with the communities of the South Island to put together a bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games and create more legacy housing for Island residents.

3. SUPPORTING ISLAND COMMUNITIES. Today’s BC Liberals want to make sure communities across the Island are supported in creating jobs and opportunities for the people that live in them. Our plan provides a num-ber of new targeted investments to keep growth going. From the new BC Salmon Research Centre in Camp-bell River, to investing in Tourism Vancouver Island’s hiking tourism master plan, to supporting the Mid-Island Forest Strategy put forward by the Snuneymuxw and their forest-ry partners, and providing resources to the proposed Comox Valley Agriplex, BC Liberals have plans to invest in and grow Island communities.

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4. A REVIEW OF CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT GOVERNANCE. The Capital Regional District governance structure needs modernizing to ensure that decisions are being made effectively, and that residents are getting the services and accountability they deserve. We will undertake a full review of CRD governance and work with commu-nities on possible service integration or amalgamation, should residents support these initiatives. No community that does not wish to participate in integration or other gover-nance changes will be forced to participate.

5. INCREASE VICTORIA CRUISE SHIP OPPORTUNITIES. Victoria is on the map as one of the premier destinations for cruise ships as they transit between Vancouver, Seattle, and Alaska. We want to take it to another level. To-day’s BC Liberals will work with the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority to execute their plan to revitalize our Ogden Point cruise ship terminal and facilities and secure a minimum of two cruise ships using Victoria as their home port by 2021.

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It all starts with a job

DRIVING FORWARD – COMMITMENTS ON VANCOUVER ISLAND

Job Growth by Province since BC Jobs PlanRate of Change (%) from August 2011 to February 201715

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12.5%

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Growing B.C.’s agrifood and seafood sectors: » Create a new Centre for Salmon Research in Campbell River.

» Provide support to construct a new ‘Agriplex’ in Comox with $5 million

» Increase support for Grow Local and Buy Local programs that support local farmers

» Commit $500,000 to North Island College to investigate ways to improve the commercialization of closed-con-tainment aquaculture production.

Standing up for B.C.’s forest industry: » Stand up for BC forestry communities, workers

and companies as Canada continues to negoti-ate a new Softwood Lumber Agreement with the United States.

» Work with the federal government to support workers, communities and forest companies as they fight the impacts of the unfair countervailing and anti-dumping duties.

» Create a new Truck Logger Training Credit to recognize cost to train people on the job.

» Phase out the PST on electricity to help make our pulp and paper mills, and sawmills, more competitive.

» Support the Snuneymuxw and their partners to bring the Mid-Island Forestry Initiative to life.

Jobs of the future, today » Ensure that Vancouver Island post-secondary institutions are prepared to take

their share of the 1000 new technology grads committed by Today’s BC Liberals.

» Provide $100,000 to the South Island Prosperity Project.

1000 new grads in STEM studies

trade in 2015

$36 b

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Destination, British Columbia – tourism: » Work with the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority to re-

develop Ogden Point, and secure a minimum of two cruise ships using Victoria as their home port by 2021.

» Continue to grow B.C.’s tourism industry through stable and consistent funding for Destination BC.

» Work with Tourism Vancouver Island to contribute $500,000 over the next two years to help implement their hiking tourism master plan for Vancouver Island and the coast region.

» BC Parks will undertake a new Cathedral Grove provincial park master plan to protect the park and the people who visit it.

Supporting B.C.’s rural communities – Rural Economic Plan » Ensure all Vancouver Island communities are connected to support our goal of

100% high-speed internet connectivity before 2021.

» $100,000 to fund a business case for the Alberni Aquatic Centre.

Keep more of your hard-earned money

Billion-dollar middle class tax cut » Phase out Medical Service Plan (MSP) premiums, starting with cutting premi-

ums in half for families and individuals with family net income of up to $120,000 per year.

Billion-dollar middle class tax cut

Families <$120 K

½2 million pay no MSP

MSP premiums in half

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Cutting or freezing all taxes » Freeze personal income taxes for all British Columbia taxpayers for the next

four years.

» Maintain our carbon tax freeze until 2021, and ensure our principles of afford-ability, competitiveness and revenue neutrality are confirmed and respected as we implement the Pan-Canadian Framework on Climate Change.

» Ensure British Columbia decides the best way forward to meet our climate goals, working with Canada.

Helping seniors and families: » Introduce an Active Seniors Tax Credit to support and promote seniors leading

active healthy lifestyles.

» Introduce a Respite Tax Credit of up to $2,500 for people caring for seniors or family members with disabilities to offset the cost of the provision of additional care for people living in their homes.

» Double the Home Renovation Tax Credit available to make home improvements to house seniors or family members with disabilities from $10,000 to $20,000.

Spending within our means – our balanced budget promise » Commit to providing another four balanced budgets during the next term of

government.

» Protect BC’s AAA credit rating.

» Eliminate our operating debt by 2021—the first time that has occurred since the mid-1970’s.

» Maintain affordable public sector wages and high quality public services by ne-gotiating with our public-sector unions in good faith to secure long-term afford-able contracts.

Plan for Small Business

Small business tax ra

te

2%

4.5%

Phasing Out PST on Electricity

Increasing Small Business Venture Capital Tax Credit

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Smart, modern British Columbia

Embracing the sharing economy – bringing ridesharing to B.C.: » Introduce legislation to enable ridesharing com-

panies to operate by December 2017.

» Implement a new tax credit for people who use carsharing services.

B.C.’s booming wineries, craft breweries, cideries, and distilleries » Work with craft brewers, cideries, wineries and distillers to ensure British Colum-

bians and visitors can find and enjoy new homegrown producers with increased marketing support and new, creative apps showcasing locations and products across Vancouver Island.

Moving people and goodsOn BC Ferries:

» Create a loyalty program to reduce costs for users in ferry dependent com-munities by 2020

» In the interim years, create a tax deduction of 25% of ferry fares up to $1000 to offset the cost of ferry use on taxable income for users in ferry dependent communities.

» Provide $1 million to boost coverage and reliability for WiFi services on board BC Ferry vessels and in parking lots.

» Re-introduce a new, sustainable ferry service between Port Hardy and Bella Coola to be operational in time for the Summer, 2018 tourist season for Is-land and Interior communities.

NEW natural gas powered ferry

$1 m for improved WIFI

NEW loyalty program by 2020

NEW fare tax deduction

$

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On BC Transit: » Increase funding to BC Transit and Handy-Dart services in communities

across B.C. based on population need and transit usage.

» Complete and assess the study of using the E&N railway corridor for a dedi-cated commuter service between Victoria and the Western Communities.

On roads, highways, airports and passenger ferries: » Invest a minimum of $25 million over the next two years on upgrades to the

Malahat and Pat Bay Highways working with local governments to deter-mine the areas of greatest importance.

» Complete: › Interchange work at Admirals Road / McKenzie Avenue in Greater

Victoria. › Ongoing upgrades to the Belleville Ferry Terminal. › The North Courtenay Connector. › The West Shore Parkway Extension.

» Contribute $500,000 to fund a study to improve access to all airports north of the Malahat.

» Contribute half of the $27 million upgrade to Highway 4 near Kennedy Lake providing better access to Ucluelet, Tofino and Pacific Rim National Park.

» Continue the $24 million BC Air Access Program funding for airports across BC, including more than $1.3 million this year for projects at Campbell River, Port Alberni and Comox Valley

» Invest in the Meadowood connector business case pre-feasibility study.

» Continue to assist in establishing passenger only service between Nanaimo and Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver.

Modern, transparent, accountable government » We recognize that the current structure of the Capital Regional District gov-

ernance requires modernizing to reflect population changes in the CRD. We will undertake a full review of CRD governance structure and implement im-provements to make CRD decision-making more accountable to South Island residents.

» Work with municipal governments and citizens in the South Island to identify service integration and explore options for municipal amalgamation for commu-nities wishing to participate in such discussions. Communities deciding not to participate will be free to continue as stand-alone municipal entities.

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Creating opportunity

Education and training for the jobs of today, and tomorrow » $2.6 billion in capital spending by post-secondary institutions for new buildings

and renewal of infrastructure at campuses across the province

› $9.5 million towards the marine, automotive and trades complex expansion at Vancouver Island University.

› $31 million for the Health Sciences Centre at the Interurban campus of Ca-mosun College.

» Provide a 50% tuition rebate for Canadian Armed Forces veterans to help them upgrade their education at B.C. public post-secondary institutions and transi-tion into civilian life.

Healthy, strong communities

Building on a strength – health careSupporting medical professionals and expanded scope of practice

» Increase the number of medical professionals in BC by: › Adding to the number of graduating doctors from B.C.’s medical pro-

grams to 400 by 2025—ensuring additional students are distributed at the University of Victoria

› 500 nurses per year across the province by 2022. › Train and place an additional 100 Nurse Practitioners across British

Columbia. › Create additional spaces for in-demand professions, such as physiothera-

pists and speech therapists › Identify retention programs to ensure these health care providers remain

in rural communities.

Investing in hospitals » Capital spending on infrastructure in the health sector will total $2.7 billion

over the next three years. › North Island Hospitals Project building 2 new hospitals in Courtney-Co-

mox and Campbell River › Complete placement of the new MRI machine in Nanaimo

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» Receive and assess the concept plan for the re-development of Cowichan Dis-trict Hospital.

» Work with Island Health and the Victoria Hospice Society to re-locate the hospice from the Royal Jubilee site to a new location.

Healthy people and children » Launch an integrated youth service centre in Campbell River through

Foundry.

Climate change, the environment, and parks » Execute on our BC Climate Leadership Plan and hit our climate change tar-

get of reducing 2007 greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050.

» Invest $149 million for parks and environmental protection, including $36 million for the BC Parks Future Strategy

» Continue to implement the internationally-acclaimed land use plan for the Great Bear Rainforest

Boosting B.C.’s athletes, artists and our history » Support the hosting of upcoming International Ice Hockey Federation

(IIHF) World Junior Championships

» Work with the communities in the South Island and federal government to explore the possibility of a bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Victoria.

» Work with the community of Paldi to provide funding to commemorate it as an historic site and provide support for the restoration of the Gurdwara, in celebration of its 100th anniversary.

Authorized by David Goldsmith, Financial Agent for the BC Liberal Party | 1-800-567-2257

2017 ISLAND PLATFORM