The issues of crime and health care dominated B.C.’s election campaign trail Tuesday, with both parties swapping attacks on how they’d pay for their campaign promises.

The mid-way point of the campaign saw BC NDP Leader David Eby promise eight new MRI machines, 10 new CT scanners and a coordinated surgical wait times list at an event in Coquitlam.

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He said the current wait time of up to 50 weeks or more for some surgeries is “totally unacceptable,” prompting a retort from the Conservatives that the NDP is claiming to be the only party able to fix the health care mess it created over the last nine years.

“I want to do more,” said Eby. 

“I want to ensure that we’re bringing forward plans to ask the richest British Columbians to pay a little bit more, so we can put in the MRI machine here that we know Eagle Ridge hospital needs, and to recruit the healthcare workers we need to have the bold initiatives that we need and to get them through the legislature.

“I need representatives in the legislature that are there to help us do that, not to run the clock, not to fight culture wars.”

BC Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson promised to hire 500 new RCMP officers, 50 new crown prosecutors, end safe supply, enhance involuntary care for people with addictions on the street, and ban drug use inside shelters, hospitals and supportive housing projects. 

“Folks, something feels broken in British Columbia under David Eby and the BC NDP,” he said at an event in downtown Vancouver.

“Compassion has become indulgence. What was promised to be a policy of care has turned into an era of unchecked crime, open drug use, and public violence. Basic law enforcement has been sidelined, and the result is disorder on our streets.”

Neither side provided exact costing. The Conservative plan could cost hundreds of millions of dollars for new policing alone. There were no estimates by the NDP for the new health care machinery or staff.

Eby reiterated he would raise taxes on rich people — which his party defines as anyone making over $190,000 — to help fund health care improvements, but the extra $1 billion annually that’s expected to generate does not go very far during a $14 billion deficit.

“I’ve heard the current Conservative leader talk about health care, and I can’t explain to you what magic he is aware of that I am not aware of that allows him to slash the deficit, not ask wealthiest British Columbians to pay a little bit more, and maintain health care spending,” said Eby.

“Unless he has a magic wand, this is just not something that is real.”

Doerkson said right now costs are being borne by local businesses and residence who are victims of crime.

“The constant vandalism, the constant destruction of so many communities throughout British Columbia, including right where we are right now, is massive, and we cannot ignore that anymore,” he said.

“The cost is absolutely out of control on the other side of dealing with this. So, in my opinion, this is an investment. We will obviously have more information about this in our platform.”

The BC Greens meanwhile voted more money for nurse to patient ratios, phasing out private nursing agencies and granting loan forgiveness or paid practicums for health care students.

“The BC Greens believe in better for patients and its healthcare workers,” said Lowan, who was in Squamish where the Greens hold one of their two seats in the legislature.

“That’s why our plan will establish an integrated community health center in every riding all across the province. We’ll create a consolidated health authority for the whole province to put an end to these constantly growing administrative costs.”

It’s unclear when the parties will produce fully costed platforms. Advanced voting begins Oct. 16, with final voting day Oct. 24.

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