Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Did you know? More than 5,000 hunters visit BC each year, generating approximately $116 million in annual revenue. The guide outfitting industry is a major part of our economy here in Cariboo-Chilcotin, providing 2,000 jobs. This week in the Legislature, I had to immediately speak out against the NDP government’s Bill 14 – the Renewable Energy Projects (Streamlined Permitting) Act. On the surface, this bill appears to simply accelerate the permitting of projects like wind-farms in our province.  Of course, “streamlining” and “cutting red tape” always sound nice. But the claws of this legislation dig much deeper. Under Bill 14, guide outfitter, hunting, angling, and other Wildlife Act licenses can be suspended or cancelled indefinitely, without any chance for a hearing, appeal, or compensation.  Let’s imagine that you operate a small guide outfitter business in the Cariboo, and that is how you earn your income and support your family. You consider yourself a steward o...

L orne Doerkson, Conservative MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin, raised serious concerns today regarding Bill 14's unprecedented powers, which allow unelected bureaucrats to indefinitely suspend or cancel guide outfitter, hunting, angling, and other Wildlife Act licenses without hearings. " The NDP’s Bill 14 grants far-reaching powers to David Eby and his NDP Government Ministers, allowing them to indefinitely suspend or cancel guide outfitter, hunting, angling, and other Wildlife Act licenses without a hearing ," said Doerkson. " There must be limits and protections for guide outfitters, hunters, anglers, and others against NDP government overreach ." Doerkson highlighted specific concerns with Section 18(1)(d) of Bill 14, emphasizing the lack of clear criteria, no clause for a fair appeal process, and the absence of statutory guarantees for compensation if licenses are suspended indefinitely without a hearing. " Thousands of jobs and family-owned ...