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B.C. party leaders square off on televised debate tonight

Sonia Furstenau, John Rustad, David Eby,

Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau, from left to right, Conservative Leader John Rustad and NDP Leader David Eby pose for a photograph together before a debate at radio station CKNW, in Vancouver, on October 2, 2024. File photo by The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

The leaders of British Columbia's three major political parties are set to debate the key issues of this provincial election campaign to be broadcast tonight on all major TV networks. 

The only televised debate of the election campaign will gives viewers a chance to size up the leaders and their policies with less than two weeks to go before election day on Oct. 19.

NDP Leader David Eby, B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad and Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau will make their case from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the event that is being moderated by Angus Reid Institute president Shachi Kurl.

Rustad said at an event in Vancouver Monday that he was expecting "more of the same" from Eby at the debate, accusing him of attacking the Conservatives as individuals, rather than over their policies.

David Eby says his message will be straight forward for an NDP vote for those concerned about affordability, health care, and safer communities, unlike Rustad's proposals that side with the billionaires in the province. 

A person takes a selfie with a sign seen outside the house of billionaire Lululemon founder Chip Wilson, in Vancouver, on Monday, October 7, 2024. Photo by The Canadian Press/Ethan Cairns

The sign put up by Lululemon co-founder Chip Wilson outside his $81-million home that referred to the NDP as "communists" was vandalized over the weekend and has now been replaced, saying Eby gives away money he has already taken from voters. 

Rustad issued a statement on social media last night saying that a B.C. Conservative government would not be giving billionaires special tax breaks. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2024

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