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B.C. Premier David Eby kicked off the first day of advance voting in the 2024 provincial election by hosting a healthcare roundtable in Coquitlam.

This morning, Oct. 10, the NDP leader was at a table in the on Westwood Plateau, in the Coquitlam–Burke Mountain constituency, with candidate Jodie Wickens, seniors and healthcare professionals.

A family doctor from England, Dr. Habib Rehman, who plans to move to the province with his physician wife if the NDP is re-elected to government, also beamed in via Zoom for the talk.

With the theme “Hiring More Doctors,” Eby led the conversation about the NDP’s plan to have enough family physicians for every British Columbian by the end of next year, as well as his platform to train and hire 45,000 more healthcare practitioners over the next four years.

This, he vowed, would be done by building a medical school at SFU’s Surrey campus, starting a new loan forgiveness incentive program and moving internationally trained physicians and nurses into hospitals.

In Coquitlam this AM, BC NDP leader David Eby unveils party’s plan to hire 45,000 new health care workers in the next 4 years 馃┖ He said gateway has already started with 800+ family doctors & nurse practitioners hired this past year |

— Tri-City News (@TriCityNews)

Eby heard from the speakers about how politics destabilized the healthcare systems in their countries and they warned against spending cutbacks and privatization, which Eby claimed his opponent, BC Conservative leader John Rustad, will do as premier.

In fact, much of Eby’s comments centred on the “stark contrast” between his party and Rustad’s, which, at times, were repeated by the roundtable speakers.

“The B.C. medical system is stupendous,” gushed Bill Barazzuol, a retired 麻豆传媒映画teacher.

“It’s John Rustad we shouldn’t be voting for. He’ll destroy this system […] My recommendation to British Columbians is put your vote where it counts. Vote for David Eby.”

Eby, who often referred to Tuesday’s, Oct. 8, televised debate with Rustad and Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau, also touched on his investments in childcare and the need to build long-term care facilities.

The roundtable was held as Rustad was also holding a press conference on his party’s plan to overhaul BC Ferries and defending South Surrey candidate Brent Chapman, who has apologized for past remarks about Muslims and Palestinians.

In a Facebook post from 2015, Chapman described Palestinians as “inbred walking, talking, breathing time bombs.”

Eby argued Rustad’s decision to keep the BC Conservative candidate is not acceptable; however, the premier claimed the move falls in line with Rustad’s views against gay, Indigenous, women and people of colour.

At the media gathering this morning, Rustad also accused Eby of being a liar.

“I think it’s remarkable that he thinks everybody is a liar,” Eby retorted. “I find myself in great company.”

The healthcare roundtable came a day after Wickens and NDP Coquitlam–Maillardville candidate Jennifer Blatherwick announced $10 million toward the building of Coquitlam's , which is expected to open on Burke Mountain in 2028.

Time to vote

You can beat the crowds on Election Day, Oct. 19, by casting your ballot early in the 2024 provincial race.

Advance voting starts today, Oct. 10, across B.C. and also runs on:

• Friday, Oct. 11
• Saturday, Oct. 12
• Sunday, Oct. 13
• Tuesday, Oct. 15
• Wednesday, Oct. 16

This year, there are five electoral districts in the Tri-Cities:

• Coquitlam–Burke Mountain
• Coquitlam–Maillardville
• New Westminster–Coquitlam
• Port Coquitlam
• Port Moody–Burquitlam

If you are unsure what reorganized constituency you live in, you can type your address into the .

Where to vote early

Coquitlam–Burke Mountain

• Douglas College (Coquitlam campus)
• Evergreen Cultural Centre
• Victoria Community Hall

Coquitlam–Maillardville

• Coquitlam Public Library (Poirier branch)
• Maillardville Community Centre

New Westminster–Coquitlam

• Alderson Elementary School
• Fraser River Middle School
• Riverbend Housing Co-op
• Sapperton Pensioners Hall
• Skwo:wech Elementary School

Port Coquitlam

• PoCo Inn and Suites
• Riverside Community Church
• Royal Canadian Legion (branch 133)

Port Moody–Burquitlam

• Coquitlam Presbyterian Church
• Old Orchard Hall

Who's running?

Here’s who is campaigning in the Tri-Cities’ five electoral boundaries (asterisk indicates incumbent):

Coquitlam–Burke Mountain

•  (Conservative)
•  (NDP)

Coquitlam–Maillardville

•  (NDP)
•  (Independent)
• (Conservative)
•  (Green)

New Westminster–Coquitlam

•  (Green)
• Ndellie Massey (Conservative)
• * (NDP)

Port Coquitlam

•  (Conservative)
•  (Green)
• Lewis Dahlby (Libertarian)
• * (NDP)

Port Moody–Burquitlam

•  (Green)
• * (NDP)
•  (Conservative)

You can learn more about the candidates and watch their videos via tricitynews.com >> News tab >> .

Who can vote?

To make your mark on a ballot, you must be:

• a Canadian citizen
• 18 or older
• a B.C. resident for the past six months
• not disqualified from voting

ID needed to vote

Voters are required to prove their identity and residential address.

Typically, this is done using one of these pieces:

• a B.C. driver’s licence
• a B.C. Identification Card (BCID)
• a B.C. Services Card (with photo)
• another card issued by the Government of B.C. or Canada that shows your name, photo and address
• a certificate of Indian Status

If you don’t have these forms, you can also show any two pieces of ID or documents that show your name (at least one piece must have a current address).

Electronic documents (e.g., eBills) and electronic scans of a paper document are allowed.

Vote by mail

You can request a vote-by-mail package until Sunday, Oct. 13. It can be mailed to you or you can pick it up at a district electoral office.

The completed package must be with Elections BC by 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19 to count.

To order a vote-by-mail package online, you can .

馃摚 Got an opinion on this story or any others in the Tri-Cities?  or email your thoughts or story tips to [email protected].

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