Thoughts on BC Politics and More

The British Columbia government is moving forward with controversial legislation to allow it to fast-track major projects deemed to be of provincial significance, but Premier David Eby says none will be built without First Nations’ consent – and financial benefits. The only way forward with major projects in the province is through Indigenous partnership, he said in an interview. Federally designated projects that would cross into BC should expect to meet the same standard, he added. “For us, it’s about actual ownership by the Nation whose territory the projects are going on.” Mr. Eby’s New Democratic Party government wants to pass Bill 15, the Infrastructure Projects Act, by the end of May. The proposed legislation would grant sweeping powers to cabinet to designate priority projects that would jump the queue for regulatory review for approvals ... CLICK HERE for the full story

After more than eight years of promises, $300 million spent and almost nothing to show for it, there’s not a lot for the NDP government to brag about when it comes to the George Massey Tunnel project. Which is perhaps why Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth didn’t try that hard to do so when quizzed about the issue recently during his ministry’s estimates. Farnworth had to deploy all the ducking and dodging at his discretion for more than an hour to get out of the simple and obvious questions about why the NDP government continues to slow play the Massey project, despite promising in three elections now to solve what is the largest traffic bottleneck in the province ... CLICK HERE for the full story

B ritish Columbia Premier David Eby announces new legislation that aims to speed up building permit approvals to allow the province to deliver key infrastructure projects faster. Priority projects will include schools, hospitals and major transportation infrastructure. He is joined at the news conference in Victoria by Bowinn Ma, the province’s infrastructure minister ... CLICK HERE for the full story