Claims of India interference, new children’s hospital on B.C. election campaign

VANCOUVER — There was no holiday for British Columbia’s party leaders as the Oct. 19 election draws near with talk of foreign interference and vehicle insurance rates from the NDP and a promise of a new Children’s Hospital in Surrey.

In Surrey on Monday, where there are 10 ridings both major parties want to win, B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad announced that if elected, his government would build a new children’s hospital in the fast-growing city.

Rustad says the new hospital would feature a pediatric emergency room and intensive care unit, a maternity ward and women’s health centre, and would be built near the planned Bakerview SkyTrain station along the Surrey-Langley expansion line.

He said the new hospital’s cost is unknown and would be figured out “at a later date,” although Rustad is expected to release his party’s election platform Tuesday with a costing of promises.

NDP Leader David Eby says British Columbia has the some of the lowest car insurance rates in the country, and the B.C. Conservatives promise to allow the big insurance companies, a move he says would see rates potentially double.

Both election events were overshadowed by revelations from the RCMP, alleging the Indian government’s involvement in murders, violence, election interference and acts of intimidation on Canadian soil, “specifically” targeting members of the separatist Khalistan movement.

Eby said Monday that he’s “profoundly concerned” about the safety of the Sikh community after the RCMP’s announcement, though the interference allegations didn’t address the upcoming B.C. election.

“I have not been made aware of any specific concerns about this election aside from obviously today’s announcement from the RCMP,” Eby said on Monday. “They have credible information that the Indian government is attempting to interfere in democratic processes in Canada.”

Rustad said there should be an immediate and thorough investigation into foreign interference following the announcement from the RCMP.

The B.C. Conservatives said in a statement that the Sikh community “deserves to live in safety without fear of intimidation or harassment by foreign governments.”

“This is a violation of Canada’s sovereignty and a threat to the rights and freedoms of every citizen,” the statement said.

Rustad said at a news conference in Surrey that he was “quite disturbed” by the RCMP’s announcement, and said people and their families should feel safe “regardless of their faith.”

The B.C. Conservative Leader also faced more questions about social media posts of candidate Brent Chapman, who posted about mass shootings in the United States and in Quebec, questioning whether anyone actually died.

Rustad said he found the comments “offensive” and not reflective of the party’s values, and Chapman himself posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he would not comment further on old social media posts after getting legal advice.

The NDP said on Sunday that it was responsible for a parody social media post that has B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad promising to bring back McDonald’s McRib sandwiches.

The post appeared as an NDP news release under a Conservative Party of B.C. logo with the headline, “John Rustad Unveils Plan to Bring Back the McRib.”

An NDP spokesman who declined to be publicly named said in a statement, “This news release is a joke to make fun of John Rustad repeatedly announcing things he cannot do, with no plan and no opportunity for media to ask questions.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 14, 2024.

Darryl Greer, The Canadian Press