Document I'm referencing: https://conservativebc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/20261016_BCC_Platform2026_8-5x11-Draft-17_compressed.pdf

I’ve been waiting to see the actual math behind the Cons campaign promises. Now that they have officially published their full platform document there are clear numbers to look at here. Several key takeaways that directly affect those of us on Vancouver Island.. and please y'all let me know if I'm reading this wrong:

1. No balanced budget or debt repayment on the horizon? The common belief seems to always be that voting Conservative means an immediate return to balanced books and debt reduction. The platform’s own tables show that isn't the plan: 2026/27 deficit: $13.7 billion 2027/28 deficit: $13.5 billion 2028/29 deficit: $12.3 billion 2029/30 deficit: $10.8 billion

That adds up to over $50 billion in cumulative new deficits over a four-year term, with no specific target year set for returning to balance. The argument presented isn't austerity; it’s running slightly smaller deficits than the NDP forecast while holding operating spending flat.

1. How the tax cuts are paid for: they're promising roughly $3.4B to $3.5B annually in broad tax relief (a $1,000 personal income tax cut and a 3-year PST pause on machinery/software). To balance those revenue losses against ongoing spending, the plan relies heavily on the following:

- Banking on $2.62B in new revenue over three years by assuming faster growth, a doubled natural gas sector, and a sharp increase in Crown timber harvests.

• Reducing the province’s contingency reserve fund from $5 billion down to $3 billion (saving $2 billion/year). Given our annual summer wildfire seasons and climate emergencies, reducing emergency reserves poses a notable risk.
• A hiring freeze and natural attrition on non-frontline public sector staff to save $1B annually by 2029/30.

1. Direct Vancouver Island & Rural Impacts

• The platform specifically flags the rising cost of the new Cowichan District Hospital ($887M to $1.45B) and pledges a mandatory 6-month audit of the entire provincial capital plan. While auditing cost overruns is understandable, holding up or reviewing regional healthcare projects creates local uncertainty.
• Promises a $50M Rural Health Emergency Fund to keep rural ERs and maternity wards open, plus a "Universal Health-Care Guarantee" (funding private clinic delivery if public wait times exceed benchmarks).
• BC FERRIES!! Pledges to establish a Passenger Charter of Rights, push Ottawa for Atlantic-level ferry funding formulas, and review fleet contracts to halt building vessels overseas.
• Commits to establishing a floor of 45 million cubic meters for Crown timber harvests to revitalize forestry jobs, while resolving remaining old-growth deferrals by returning non-rare tracts to the working forest.

If your main reason for voting Cons was an immediate return to balanced budgets and paying off the provincial debt, their own published costing shows that isn't happening.

The real choice on the ballot is between two very different philosophies: higher public spending funded by higher top-tier taxes, versus significant broad-based tax cuts funded by cutting contingency reserves and betting on rapid natural resource growth. Curious to hear how other Islanders are viewing these tradeoffs, especially regarding rural healthcare and local infrastructure.

edit: sorry I suck at formatting on mobile

I've lived on southern Vancouver Island for four years now. Not going anywhere. My sourdough starter is is named The Dough'ed. I think it's time.

Any recommendations for who I can contract to have a Cowichan sweater knitted? Money and time aren't obstacles. I am a lonely lady scientist approaching middle-age. 😭

I encountered this mola mola (ocean sunfish) while diving off Port Hardy, earlier this week. Such a bizarre and fascinating fish to see underwater!

I managed to get some close-up footage of it swimming, including a good look at some of the parasites attached to its body. Ocean sunfish are known for hosting an incredible variety of parasites, and seeing them up close was almost as interesting as the fish itself.

And despite their awkward-looking swimming style, they're surprisingly fast when they want to be!

More of my original underwater footage: https://www.youtube.com/@scubabc6701

Wanted to share some photos from our first (but almost certainly not last) visit to the island this summer. Thanks to the sub for all the infos to prepare the trip and to the residents for making the vacation extra nice!

We stopped at Victoria, Port Alberni, Ucluelet, Campbell River, Alert Bay, Port Hardy and made a 'quick' trip over to Bella Coola as well :) It was absolutely magical!

Happy to answer questions about the trip.

Are they running yet?

I want to go watch them, but I'm not sure if it's too early.

Calling all dedicated theatre goers and enthusiasts!

Join Triple Threat Performers for this magical musical in November at the Oak Bay High School Theatre.

INFORMATION

This mild October has been awesome for the vitamin D days

I cannot support the conservatives. Here are the core dealbreakers for me:

Uncosted Promises & Fiscal Reality: Many folks want a change in financial management, but the Conservatives’ math doesn’t add up. Tax experts from UBC have pointed out that their proposed tax cuts alone could blow a $3 to $4 billion hole in the provincial budget every single year, worsening the deficit by 20 to 25% without a plan to pay for it. With their total platform racking up nearly $5 billion in annual uncosted comitments, the only way to balance the books while aggressively cutting the deficit is through deep cuts to frontline services.. cuts they've already admitted healthcare would take the brunt of.

Healthcare Privatization & Crucial Services: In the leaders’ debate, interim leader Lorne Doerkson refused to rule out privatizing healthcare. When conservative governments cut spending (like we’ve seen in Alberta) it consistently falls on disability supports and front-line healthcare, leaving vulnerable people stranded.

Extremism & Culture Wars: Normalizing residential school denialism, attacking human rights protections, pro Trump rhetoric, an talk of repealing DRIPA and the Human Rights code are dangerous steps backward for our province.

Vetting Failures & Internal Disarray: In just the last couple of weeks, the party had to drop candidate Jordan McIntosh over offensive holocaust remarks, oust Joachim Agou for violent online comments, and defend campaign director Katy Merrifield despite public outcry over anti-Islam posts. It’s hard to trust a team to govern when basic veting keeps failing.

Local Representation: Local candidates like Bert Chen don't even live in the Cowichan Valley. Parachuting in out-of-town political operatives from Ontario aren't the local voices we need.

Interested to hear what everyone else thinks and please be genuine and respectful in the comments.

In case anyone needs a reason to smile and enjoy the beauty of life. Amazing sunset from Mystic Beach on the Juan de Fuca.