NowMedia video host Jim Csek welcomed Kelowna businesswoman and former MLA Renee Merrifield back into the studio for another episode of Beyond the Ballot on Tuesday
In a recent KelownaNow live stream, hosts Renee Merrifield and Jim Csek delved into a recent court decision on Indigenous land rights, escalating provincial debt, and a failing healthcare system.
The conversation kicked off with the BC Supreme Court ruling in the Cowichan Nation case, which Merrifield described as prioritizing Aboriginal rights over Crown-granted property rights.
"This is monumental. It is absolutely frightening for anyone that owns property of any sort," she said, noting the decision's potential $500 billion impact.
Merrifield warned of a "slippery slope" under the NDP government.
"When you have 3% of the population asserting ownership of 100% of the land base, that's a very precarious position," she added.
Merrifield criticized the NDP's delayed appeal, suggesting it only came after pressure from Conservatives. She emphasized the need for legislative fixes, including clarifying Section 35 of the Constitution and enacting a comprehensive claims act.
Shifting to the economy, Merrifield slammed the NDP's fiscal management, pointing to a Fraser Institute report showing BC's shift from fiscal soundness to heavy debt.
"Eby has done more damage in a very short amount of time," she said, accusing the government of overspending without stimulating growth.
She highlighted declining revenues from resources and business, driven by policies like employer health taxes and environmental regulations.
"There is no sector that is thriving right now in BC," Merrifield stated. "The only source they're going to have is taxation... We're seeing wealth flee the province right now.”
Merrifield also addressed youth exodus, linking it to high costs and lack of opportunities.
"We are simply not sustainable. We're losing our youth," she warned, noting how this erodes the tax base needed for services like healthcare.
Healthcare emerged as a "scary" crisis, with Merrifield questioning recent CEO firings, including Dr. Victoria Lee's $600,000 severance after being fired from Fraser Health this year.
"This is not a move that seems super smart... You're not actually saving any money," she said.
She predicted healthcare would be Canada's top issue in the next decade, tied to economic woes.
Federally, Merrifield criticized Liberal silence on China's 75% canola tariffs and Mark Carney's inaction.
"The silence is deafening," she said.
On mandatory national service, she opposed conscription, suggesting incentives like housing instead.
"Give them a house when they leave... I would strongly recommend that they leave [Canada]."
Merrifield urged transparency and policy shifts to restore confidence, warning of broader instability without change.
