Thoughts on BC Politics and More

The BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George this past week brought together resource industry leaders, provincial government officials and Indigenous leaders to discuss how we can enhance sustainability and competitiveness in British Columbia’s resource sector, and, for the first time the BC Greens attended. Natural resources have been the foundation of the British Columbia economy. In the rotunda at the legislature there are paintings depicting agriculture, fishing, forestry and mining, four industries that have been the source of much of the prosperity of our people, communities and province. The BC Greens are not opposed to resource use. However, we have long been critical of how our natural resources have been managed. We are concerned about a model of natural resource development in BC that has for too long relied upon simply extracting and exporting non-renewable resources, often in a way that benefits the shareholders of major multinational corporatio...

A group of large frogs in a small puddle are convinced that their croaking can shake and shape world affairs. They rule with the haughtiness of anointed royalty, forgetting they are elected to and serve in a constitutional monarchy with serious constitutional obligations to Canada’s people. This cadre within our federal government has its heart set on a seat on the UN Security Council and is spending billions in its efforts. Besides a squadron of bureaucrats campaigning full time on gaining a seat, the cadre is spending billions in foreign aid to enhance its image in UN ranks. A Security Council seat entails limited power. Any resolution that Canada puts forward or supports can be vetoed by any of the big five members of the Council; it is a prestige position of very limited practical use for Canada or Canadians. The same government has pronounced that global warming or cl...

Columbia River - Revelstoke MLA Doug Clovechok After almost three years in office, Premier John Horgan finally took his first tour to a region that has seen a lot of hardship over the past year. From months of dwindling job numbers, countless setbacks for a forestry sector in crisis, to a sham-filled caribou consultation; northern B.C. residents had hoped to hear some good news from their Premier. However, not only did relief not materialize during his tour, John Horgan doubled down on his disconnect through missed opportunities and several tone-deaf comments. At a round-table meeting of northern mayors, the Premier remarked that “ quite frankly we don’t hear from [Opposition MLAs] about the positive initiatives that are happening in the community .” This assertion is just flat-out false — I’d instead argue that perhaps the Premier has just failed to listen to the concerns of British Columbians outside of NDP held ridings . As an opposition MLA, I h...

Just two days ago, Shane Simpson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, announced that up to 25 British Columbians, affected by the downturn in the forest sector, were going to receive training and work experience in asphalt paving and heavy construction. In making the announcement he commented that, “ We know that heavy equipment operators and similar construction occupations will be in great demand over the next 10 years.  The provincial government is working with industry and unions to hire trainees and provide training for new career path opportunities that will allow British Columbians to support themselves and their families ”. With a government grant of nearly half a million dollars ($450,000) the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 115, in partnership with Emil Anderson Construction , Dawson Blacktop and Dawson Group will be delivering road-building and heavy-construction training programs for 25 individuals ...

Conservative Party MP Dan Albas With Parliament now actively underway the new dynamics of having a minority government are beginning to become more defined. Back in late December, despite the Liberal Government voting against it, a special Parliamentary Committee with the mandate to “ conduct hearings to examine and review all aspects of the Canada-China relationship including, but not limited to consular, economic, legal, security and diplomatic relations ” was created. This new Canada-China committee is now established with meetings being held this week. I was also honoured to be one of the twelve Members of Parliament to be named to sit on this important all party committee. Much as the Canada-China committee was created by an opposition day motion, this week another opposition motion was tabled from the official Conservative opposition. This week’s motion is summarized as: That, given the Parliamentary Budget Officer posted on March 15, 2018, that -- “Bud...

Having been a firm critic of fracking and the pursuit of LNG in BC for many more years than the NDP have been in power, I can still recall the time John Horgan said Christy Clark needed to do the LNG math and warned about focusing on LNG too much. Even though he was very open then about being a supporter of LNG, he wasn’t convinced it was prudent to invest so much into it, at the risk of leaving other sectors behind. Even back then he expressed concern about whether or not the world would actually need the supply and criticized the money being invested into communities that may ultimately suffer when the boom goes bust. “Horgan said that while he supports the industry “in principle”, there are many questions that must be answered before the government can claim success. “What are the greenhouse-gas consequences of expanding the industry?” he said. “Will that blow our legislated targets out of the water? Quite possibly.” “Horgan also stated that recent inter...

USED with permission – originally published in Resource Works Social media channels continue to sizzle with people claiming to be “right” on the issue of Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs, the Wet’suwet’en council, and the Coastal GasLink (CGL) pipeline. Our pages, like others, have been flooded with arguments supporting those hereditary chiefs opposed to the pipeline, or backing the elected council that supports the pipeline and its promised benefits. Many of them, though, strike us as more “righteous” than right. Some comments are thoughtful and intelligent. But many are stunningly simplistic, and are often emotional, and / or romanticized. Some, sadly, are outright racist. And, above all, they come in copious amounts from those who have no real stake in the outcome. We know that not all hereditary chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en oppose the pipeline, although sloppy reporting in news media often omits the word some , and thus implies t...

BC Education Minister Rob Fleming - photo BC government YouTube video A media release from the BC governments Education Ministry, this morning, stated: Hundreds more Vancouver students will soon be learning in a safe school  as seismic upgrades are coming to David Livingstone Elementary. “ Nothing is more important than the safety of our students ,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Education. So, what exactly does “ soon be learning ” mean to the government, when it comes to the “ safety of our children ”? Well apparently soon , at least to this government, means work will begin over a year from now (Spring 2021) ... and being completed will take nearly two and a half years (Fall 2023). Which is why I find this statement from Vancouver – Kensington NDP MLA Mable Elmore little more than propaganda ... and an excuse, at taxpayer expense, to take a shot at the opposition party.   “ People in our community have been waiting for Dav...

This is good news I am happy to share ... In a media release late this morning, Melanie Mark (Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training), announced the province has selected Morneau Shepell to develop a free mental health counselling and referral service for post-secondary students throughout British Columbia. Morneau Shepell was chosen to create and operate a 24 / 7 mental health counselling and referral service for post-secondary students at all public and private post-secondary institutions in BC. The company will provide on-demand, immediate counselling and referral support to almost half a million students in BC’s public and private post-secondary institutions.  Commenting, Melanie Mark stated, “ Mental health is an issue our government takes seriously. Post-secondary students have told me there is a gap in mental heath support services.  The stress students feel at university or college can be significa...

Former Chief Councillor of the Haisla Nation, & now Skeena MLA, Ellis Ross Originally published, on January 26 th , in the Vancouver Sun – reprinted with permission of the author, Skeena MLA Ellis Ross The heated debate over who holds authority over the territory of First Nations — be it hereditary chiefs or elected band leaders — may serve the interests of those seeking to disrupt construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline, but it does absolutely nothing for the well-being of an average Aboriginal living on reserve. As an elected councillor for the Haisla First Nation, and later chief councillor, I grew up experiencing dismal employment prospects, children being raised in poverty, tragic suicides, and horrific rates of Aboriginal youth ending up in the prison system. We’ve always had to cope with outsiders and so-called experts telling us who best represents First Nations, or what we should do within our own territory. Yet none of these people...

Sonia Furstenau, MLA for Cowichan Valley, is now in the running to be the next leader of the BC Green Party. In making the announcement in Victoria this morning Furstenau stated, “ BC needs a new style of leadership that listens to evidence and to communities ,” Furstenau said. “ I got into politics because I saw a disconnect between the decisions made at higher levels of government and how they affect peoples’ day to day lives. I have seen time and time again how good ideas get stalled at the provincial level due to old ways of thinking and partisan divisiveness. But, the past two and a half years in office have also made it clear to me that it does not have to be this way ”.  She then continued, “ We need a plan for the future that embraces new ideas and MLAs who have the courage to implement it. We need to embrace solutions to the climate crisis that will improve quality of life and create opportunities for British Columbians. We need to shift away from century-o...

Used with permission – originally posted in CFJC Today HOW MUCH IS a municipal politician worth? A common answer among taxpayers is likely to be, less than they’re getting. It’s a serious question, though, and a challenging one. Councils have the unenviable job of deciding how much they should pay themselves. Unenviable, because while setting your own salary might seem like a dream come true, in politics it’s a deadly proposition. Councils are often justifiably criticized for the size of those pay raises, and they approach pay-raise time with trepidation.   Revelstoke City Council Take Revelstoke, for example. The council there is desperately trying to keep from being hanged, drawn and quartered in the town square — if they have one — in a storm of public outrage over a pay increase. It’s a problem of their own making, beginning with a bizarre decision to increase the mayor’s pay 134 per cent and councillors’ pay 67 per cent....

Canada’s health care system has prominent features that distinguish it from virtually all other high-income countries that provide universal health care coverage.  One such feature is the absence of private insurance markets for medically necessary services. The Canada Health Act, along with the potential loss of federal government funding if the Act is violated, has resulted in provincial governments either prohibiting or severely discouraging health care providers from treating patients under both public and private insurance schemes. Providers are also prohibited or discouraged from operating completely outside of the public insurance scheme. Consequently, there is little legal scope or economic opportunity for suppliers of private insurance to operate in Canada, either by offering insurance coverage that replicates coverage under the public scheme or by supplementing coverage under the government insurance scheme. Conversely, in most high-income count...

Hello again, and welcome to Day Seven ... a look back at the top ten post which you read the most this past week. Starting us off this Sunday we have now retired Reform and Canadian Alliance MP Paul Forseth ... #10 ... PAUL FORSETH:   Iran will make international deals and promises, but as soon as the Regime sees an opportunity, it will break promises and again push forward its aggressive ideology (January 20 th ) ... the fall of an ideological regime starts with the collapse of its fundamental myths.  A central one is that their Islamic political system from the years of the 600's, has any relevance or utility for societies in a modern world #9 ... ADAM OLSEN:   While I must defend the right to peacefully demonstrate, it’s also important to use encourage people to us tactics that advance the interests they’re demonstrating for (January 23 rd ) ... living in this vibrant democracy is not easy. We all recognize the constitution...