Dallas Brodie: Vancouver-Quilchena residents fed up with NDP’s top-down housing policies

Rampant crime, failed drug policies, rising taxes, housing policies created without public consultation and a health care system that doesn’t seem to be working.

Dallas Brodie, the BC Conservative candidate for Vancouver-Quilchena, hears this daily from people in her riding, which has inspired her to run as an MLA candidate in Vancouver-Quilchena. Brodie, who previously ran for BC Conservative in the 2022 by-election, says the NDP’s current policies have affected quality of life and will be their undoing.

No consultation on Housing Policies

The MLA candidate from Vancouver-Quilchena also highlighted NDP’s housing policy as a significant issue, criticizing the government’s top-down approach to zoning and development. She says people are angry that recent housing-related legislation has stripped local communities of their ability to influence housing decisions, resulting in high-density developments being approved without adequate public consultation. Brodie also gets angry feedback for a low-barrier addiction housing tower proposed on Seventh and Arbutus.

“People are waking up to find an 11-story tower going up next door, and they’re in shock,” Brodie said. She argued that the top-down approach has left residents powerless and blindsided by rapid neighbourhood changes.

Concerns About Crime and Community Safety

Like others, Dallas Brodie was shocked about a crime where someone with mental health issues murdered a man in his 70s and severed another person’s hand in Downtown Vancouver.

Safety has become a top concern for voters in Vancouver-Quilchena. “People are very worried about the uptick in crime,” she says, citing frequent car break-ins and a general sense of unease. According to Brodie, residents feel the city has changed dramatically, with more visible signs of social disorder, such as graffiti, overflowing garbage, and increased drug use in public spaces. “This was not the Vancouver most of us grew up in,” she remarked.

Healthcare and Taxation

Healthcare is another crucial concern for Brodie and her supporters. She emphasized that many residents feel anxious about the state of the healthcare system, fearing that they won’t receive the care they need if they fall ill. Brodie believes that the healthcare system is failing to meet the needs of the public, and she sees this as a call for change.

Brodie also touched on the growing discontent with the province’s tax policies. She noted that high taxes are a burden for many, including professionals like doctors, who feel they are paying more than half of their income in taxes. She says this is driving some residents to consider leaving Canada for lower-tax jurisdictions like Arizona. “People want smaller government, lower taxes, and respect for their rights as individuals,” Brodie stated.

BC Conservatives are a “Refreshing Change”

Brodie sees the BC Conservative Party as a clear alternative to what she describes as an ideologically driven status quo. Brodie believes the BC Conservatives can fill that gap by focusing on common sense policies over ideology.

As she campaigns, Brodie is hearing from voters who are tired of what they see as ineffective policies on drug use, housing, and taxation. She argues that people want a government that will listen to their concerns and deliver practical solutions. “People feel ignored by the government,” Brodie said. “They want a departure from the past and politicians who will keep their promises.”

With a commonsensical message of lower taxes, increased local control, and improved public safety, Dallas Brodie says people are reposing trust in the Conservative Party of BC.