VANCOUVER ISLAND

NDP, Liberals makes free COVID-19 vaccine promise on B.C. election trail

Published Tuesday, October 6, 2020 7:59AM PDT

In this three panel photograph, from left to right, Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau, NDP Leader John Horgan and Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson wear face masks to curb the spread of COVID-19, during campaign stops in September 2020. (Darryl Dyck / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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VANCOUVER -- The NDP and the B.C. Liberals are promising to make the COVID-19 vaccine available for free to anyone who wants it in British Columbia.

John Horgan, who is scheduled to release his party's platform Tuesday, announced the plan to make the vaccine available once it is approved and available at an online town hall meeting on Monday evening with other NDP candidates.

Shortly after, Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson said on Twitter a “life-saving vaccine” should be made available to everyone for free in matching the NDP promise.

Earlier, Wilkinson resurrected a previous party plan to build a 10-lane bridge over the Fraser River to replace the aging Massey Tunnel if the Liberals are elected on Oct. 24.

The NDP government cancelled the former Liberal government's bridge proposal shortly after taking office in 2017 and has indicated support for a twin-tunnel instead.

Green Leader Sonia Furstenau is promising improved mental health services, promising to spend $1 billion to ensure services are more completely covered by B.C.'s medical services plan.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 6, 2020.