B.C. Conservative interim leader Lorne Doerkson announced his party’s wildfire strategy Friday, including a pledge to commit $400 million toward down payments on new water bombers and other firefighting aircraft.
Doerkson made the announcement in the Summerland area, which was heavily affected by the Bald Range wildfire this summer. The fire forced about 20,000 people to evacuate and damaged or destroyed about 150 structures.
Doerkson said B.C. relies too heavily on short-term aircraft contracts, raising concerns about whether water bombers will be available when they are needed.
He said the province could lease out the Crown-owned aircraft to other jurisdictions during the winter months.
The Conservatives’ are also promising a $100 million fund to develop and procure wildfire detection technology, and plans to streamline the permitting process for controlled burns.
Meanwhile, B.C. NDP leader David Eby highlighted plans to improve grocery affordability and increase competition in the sector.
Eby said, if re-elected, his government would put a cap on the amount of profit that large, corporate grocery retailers can make on essentials, including milk, eggs, cheese, butter and poultry.
Speaking in Kelowna on Friday, Eby said an NDP government would also ban real estate deals and property controls that big grocery chains use to limit competition from independent and smaller food retailers.
Meanwhile, B.C. Green leader Emily Lowan was in Victoria to released the party’s artificial intelligence safety plan, including a moratorium on AI data centres until a regulatory regime is in place.
