A fiery allegation from BC’s Housing critic, and Kamloops South Thompson MLA Todd Stone, during Question Period in the Legislature today.

“Budget 2020 shows that the NDP will collect an additional $75-million in tax revenue on insurance premiums over the next three years, ” Stone said. “The NDP are actually profiting on this strata insurance crisis.”

Stone was asking about his proposed bill to try and reduce skyrocketing strata insurance rates, when the Minister of Finance, Carole James, fired back.

“I don’t know if its entertainment for the other side to be able to have the member stand up and talk about gouging when we know exactly the work he did that gouged taxpayers at ICBC for years,” said James.”

Stone posed a question to the Finance Minister, asking her why the government is gouging B.C. residents with these taxes and high insurance premiums, instead of taking ‘swift, decisive action’ to address the skyrocketing costs.

“Unbelievable. To hear the member talk about profits and taking profits – that’s exactly the problem we ran into at ICBC because of the work of that member,” replied James.

“I will take no lessons from that member on the other side, nor will the taxpayers or the ratepayers of ICBC because they know what happens when they listen to the other side. That’s why you’re on the other side member.”

James says the government is working with strata associations on a solution, but Stone says the government can’t sit back in a full-fledged crisis.