B.C. NDP wants to have a positive relationship with federal government

B.C.’s New Democrats, hopeful of governing after the May 14 election, foresee a largely positive relationship with federal Conservatives in Ottawa.

They point to many opportunities, particularly the economy. They also anticipate some challenges, especially on the environment.

“We’ll be able to find consensus,” Matt Toner, B.C. NDP candidate in Vancouver–False Creek, told the Georgia Straight in a phone interview. “While we may have different visions of how Canada should function, we all have the same basic goals: economic prosperity, strong environment, an educated population.”

It’s a bonus that federal New Democrats are the official Opposition in Parliament. According to Toner, they’ll help the B.C. NDP “effect the change we want or to prevent the change that we don’t want”.

“We are kind of going to have the best of both worlds,” Toner said.

Former federal Conservative cabinet member Stockwell Day emphasized that Prime Minister Stephen Harper draws clear lines between federal and provincial jurisdictions.

Although Day cited differences between Conservatives and New Democrats in economic and fiscal policies, he doesn’t see these getting in the way of a productive working relationship if the B.C. NDP wins on May 14.

“The federal government will be there to meet its obligations regardless of the political stripe of the provincial party,” Day told the Straight in a voice message.

NDP candidate George Heyman hopes the federal Conservative government will come to terms with B.C. on a number of issues, from funding for childcare and affordable housing to the implementation of recommendations by a commission of inquiry into the decline of sockeye salmon.

“It’s the responsibility of a B.C. government and, certainly, it would be the goal of a B.C. NDP government to have a respectful and constructive relationship with the
federal government,” Heyman, who is running in Vancouver-Fairview, told the Straight by phone.

There will be bumps. Within a week of forming government, the B.C. NDP will withdraw from a federal-provincial agreement on the joint review of the proposed Northern Gateway oil pipeline, and conduct a B.C. assessment of the project. The party has also declared its opposition to the planned expansion of the Kinder Morgan pipeline.

Speaking as critic for tourism, arts, and culture, Spencer Chandra Herbert wants to work with the federal government on issues like getting more international flights into B.C. The
Vancouver–West End MLA also looks forward to accomplishing some work with the national government on the province’s share in the film industry.

“No matter if we have disagreements, people expect their governments to work through those as best as they’re able,” Herbert told the Straight in a phone interview.

NDP Vancouver Kingsway MP Don Davies is looking beyond May 14. The likely election of a B.C. NDP government will bring to three the number of New Democrat–run provinces in the country. That’s good for the federal NDP come the next national election, Davies noted at the sidelines of a candidates’ debate in Vancouver-Kingsway, which included B.C. NDP Leader Adrian Dix.

“Whenever we have a chance to show British Columbians and Canadians that we can govern in a practical, effective, and compassionate way, that’s good for New Democrats everywhere, including federal New Democrats,” Davies told the Straight.

When Thomas Mulcair joined Dix at a campaign event in Surrey last month, the federal NDP leader declared that a B.C. NDP victory on May 14 is a prelude to New Democrats forming national government for the first time in 2015.

But with federal Liberals overtaking Conservatives in recent opinion surveys, a surge mainly attributed to the popularity of their new leader, Justin Trudeau, Liberal Vancouver Centre MP Hedy Fry is dismissive of these hopeful expectations.

“It tells me that Mr. Mulcair doesn’t have a clue about Canada,” Fry told the Straight by phone. “It’s traditional in British Columbia for starters that if British Columbia elects a left-wing provincial government, they look for a different set of people to go to Ottawa.”