David Eby becomes BC's new premier

Promising a better, fairer province for everyone, British Columbia’s 37th premier, David Eby, was sworn in Friday.

While the formal oath to the King and office followed tradition in that it was conducted by the Crown’s representative, Lieutenant-Governor Janet Austin, the venue for the occasion did not.

The event took place not at Government House in Victoria, but at the Community Centre of the Musqueam First Nation in Vancouver, a move noted as more than symbolic by Chief Wayne Sparrow, who said his people share the same difficulties and challenges as cities, provinces and the nation.

Eby, 46, replaces New Democrat Premier John Horgan, who announced in June he was leaving office due to health concerns.

“We need a province for our kids, for their friends, for their families, their grandparents, where everyone can build a good home, where everyone can afford a decent place to live,” Eby said, adding the province needed to be somewhere to pursue dreams, and get the training and opportunities to succeed.

“Services, healthcare [needs to be] delivered effectively where and when you need it, an environment that’s protected for future generations and an economy that works for all of us,” he said.

Eby promised British Columbians he and his team would earn their trust.

“Businesses, unions, non-profit organizations, governments; all of you together in partnership with First Nations. We’re going to deliver a stronger, a better, a cleaner, a fairer British Columbia.”

He was acclaimed NDP leader after the only other candidate in the leadership race was disqualified by the party last month for breaking membership rules.

He brings to the premier's office a reputation for tackling complex and contentious issues that include a crackdown on money laundering, restructuring the financially challenged public auto insurer, and housing policy reforms.

Eby, the former head of the BC Civil Liberties Association, said one of his major plans as premier will be leading a government push to transform Vancouver's Downtown Eastside from a neighbourhood of desperation into one that's healthy and safe.

Cost-of-living credits

During his speech Eby announced two new cost-of-living credits for B.C. residents and businesses to help people with bills, groceries or transportation costs.

The first is a one-time $100 cost-of-living credit for BC Hydro customers. That's equivalent to one month of electricity charges for most single-family homeowners.

In addition there will be a new BC Affordability Credit to help low- and middle-income earners with rising costs. It will provide up to an additional $164 per adult, and $41 per child, or as much as $410 for a family with two children earning $43,051, with a sliding scale of credits for families earning as much as $150,051.

-- With files from The Canadian Press