Main party leaders in B.C. to square off on economy at board of trade event

VANCOUVER — The three main party leaders in British Columbia’s provincial election are participating in the same virtual event today on the economy.

The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade is hosting a discussion on how the candidates will help the economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The party leaders campaigned on different issues on Wednesday, with B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson promising to expand a program that pairs police officers with mental health workers.

Wilkinson said a Liberal government would provide $58 million to hire 100 psychiatric social workers and registered nurses to staff joint teams with police to answer mental health calls.