BC Election Update: Recent Policy Announcements Impacting Housing, Public Safety, and Women’s Rights

In Canada, the right to vote is fundamental, yet for many victim-survivors of intimate partner violence, this right is overshadowed by fear and control.

Victim-survivors of intimate partner violence experience unique obstacles when voting, including isolation from essential election information and materials, intimidation, coercive control, and violence for expressing their voting preferences, as well as privacy concerns related to voter registration.  

At BWSS, we want to ensure victim-survivors of intimate partner violence can make their voices heard during the BC provincial election and the Canadian federal election in 2025, without fear of retaliation from an abusive partner.

Victim-survivors of violence—whether intimate partner violence or sexualized violence—continue to bravely share their stories, making visible what has been rendered invisible.

As one domestic violence survivor described, “When I was in an abusive relationship, my abusive partner told me that I didn’t need to vote.”

Abusive partners may intimidate victim-survivors with physical or sexual abuse if they vote, or don’t vote in a specific way. Examples of this type of retaliation date back to when women achieved the right to vote in Canada. Since the early 1900s, women have cited ‘objections of husband’ as a reason for not voting, including the threat of divorce if they voted or didn’t vote according to their husbands’ wishes. 

Upcoming Election 

In this provincial election, we want to ensure that victim-survivors have access to the electoral process and feel empowered to participate safely and have their voices heard.

Isolation is one of the common tactics of power and control that abusive partners use against victim-survivors, isolating them from their family, friends, employment, and community. It is a calculated choice by the abusive partner, intended to make it harder for victim-survivors to disclose or report the abuse while increasing their emotional and physical reliance on the abusive partner for basic needs and practical support. Abusive partners’ use of coercive control includes restricting and monitoring victim-survivors’ access to the external world via phone, internet, email, and social media.  

During election times, isolation is a key factor for victim-survivors experiencing intimate partner violence who are considering voting. In a tangible way, isolation prevents victim-survivors from gathering or receiving election information, voter registration details, candidates, and party platforms. Ultimately, through isolation, abusive partners can enforce their political control over victim-survivors of intimate partner violence, effectively silencing their voices. 

For many British Columbians, the upcoming provincial election is a key moment to ensure their voices are heard. Although voter registration has increased, according to Elections BC, voter turnout has declined since 1996, dropping from 71.5% to 53.86% in 2020. 

There are likely numerous reasons why people don’t make it to the polls. For victim-survivors of intimate partner or domestic violence, those reasons are uniquely tied to the dynamics of the abuse experienced in the relationship. For instance, isolation is a key feature of an abusive relationship and is interwoven with control, meaning that victims of domestic violence are isolated by their abusive partners and prevented from exercising their right to vote.  

Domestic violence victims and survivors have the right to participate and deserve to participate in all aspects of our province’s and country’s political processes without fearing further abuse or violence from an abusive partner. It is also essential that survivors have the information they need regarding how their voter information is collected and used to help them make informed decisions about their safety. 

As we approach the upcoming elections, we must recognize and address the significant challenges and oppressive violence that victim-survivors face in Canada. We will continue to provide vital information and resources to ensure that all women and femmes’ voices are heard and their rights are upheld. 

Housing: Relief Plans for Renters and Homebuyers

• John Rustad (BC Conservatives) has introduced “Rustad Rebates,” aimed at alleviating housing costs. If elected premier, Rustad promises to exempt up to $3,000 per month in housing costs from BC income tax. This will start at $1,500 per month and gradually increase over the next three years.

• David Eby (BC NDP) has revealed the Opening Doors to Homeownership plan, which will help first-time homebuyers purchase homes at 60% of market value. The province will finance 40% of the purchase price, with the contribution repaid after 25 years or when the home is sold. This plan is designed to combat rampant speculation and make homeownership more accessible to families.

Both plans aim to address BC’s housing affordability crisis, though their approaches differ in their focus on tax relief versus affordable ownership options.

Public Safety: Conservative Focus on Crime Prevention

Public safety remains a key pillar of the BC Conservatives’ platform. Rustad has pledged to increase funding for police forces, apply a “zero tolerance” policy for violent repeat offenders, and appoint judges who prioritize victims’ rights. The focus on tough-on-crime measures could have significant implications for how we address violence and safety in our communities.

Reproductive Health: NDP’s Continued Support for Women’s Rights

Women’s reproductive health remains a cornerstone of the NDP’s platform. Premier David Eby has promised to expand access to birth control, abortion pills, and one round of IVF treatment for families starting next year. This is in addition to ongoing efforts to connect more BC residents with family doctors and nurse practitioners. Eby’s healthcare plan also proposes allowing pharmacists to test and prescribe treatments for common conditions, potentially alleviating strain on the healthcare system.