Thoughts on BC Politics and More

As a father of two children in elementary and middle school, childcare has been a constant concern for our family over the last decade.  Like many of my peers, balancing the demands of work and family is difficult and requires many sacrifices. In addition to increasing cost of living – housing, food, transportation, clothing, hydro etc. – the cost of childcare and lack of spaces has been a growing challenge for young families. As a result, childcare was a primary issue for voters and political parties during the 2017 election. That is why the BC Green Caucus made sure that increasing access to childcare is a priority in the Confidence and Supply Agreement with the BC NDP. My colleague Sonia Furstenau has worked closely with the Minister of State for Child Care, Hon. Katrina Chen. Although we have differing opinions on how to deliver childcare programming, we agree that action must be taken to relieve the pressure on families. The lack of childcare ...

When NDP Premier John Horgan gave official recognition to the BC Green Party, he also gave them tens of thousand in additional financial resources that would not have normally been available to them. This included extra pay, on top of the regular salary all MLA’s receive, amounting to an annual $26,470 for Weaver as leader of the third party, and $10,588 each for Adam Olsen and Sonia Furstenau for their roles as a House Leader and Party Whip. Late this morning, BC Conservative leader Trevor Bolin commented on what he believes should be the new political reality in the BC legislature, following Andrew Weavers resignation from the BC Green Party; “ I believe if Premier Horgan had British Columbians best interests at the forefront, like he has said he does, this additional funding would have ended upon the recent announcement from Dr. Weaver, to sit as an independent member of the BC legislature ”, Conservative leader Bolin stated. Part of the Green ...

It was a remarkable week in the Legislature in Victoria . On Tuesday, just two days before the fall session adjourned for the decade, all Members of the British Columbia Assembly voted in favour of Bill 41, The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). The Bill was introduced with much ceremony, and celebration, on October 24th. Following second reading speeches, a two-week break for Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day, and extensive scrutiny at committee stage, Lt. Governor Janet Austin gave the Act Royal Assent with a simple nod on Thursday morning. The occasion marks the end of my two-year effort to ensure the government followed through on the commitment they made to British Columbians during the 2017 election, and to the BC Greens in our Confidence and Supply Agreement, to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It marks the beginning of the next effort With the Act receiving support from all Members,...

Yesterday (October 24 th ) was one of the most important days in the history of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, and for all British Columbians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike. When the Honourable Scott Fraser stood and introduced the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, it signified the most substantial change in Indigenous relations in the history of our province. This bill is the right thing to do because it pays respect to basic human rights and provides a path forward for British Columbia to ensure economic prosperity to all of our citizens. This legislation is a foundational piece of the BC Green Caucus Confidence and Supply Agreement with the BC NDP. It's an initiative I've been championing with the Minister for over two years. Few are the days in which legislation has been introduced that upholds the basic human rights of Indigenous Peoples. Indeed, the sad reality of the history of parliaments in our country is that they h...

A public engagement on British Columbia’s workers’ compensation system ... how to shift the system to become more worker centred ... as well as how to increase worker and employer confidence, is open for feedback. The public and interested stakeholders are invited to share their views at meeting taking place around the province. People will be able to submit written feedback by email to Info@wcbreview.ca -- or by filling in a questionnaire online. Details of the engagement process and a link to the questionnaire can be found here : Public hearings will be held in 14 communities -- anyone wishing to present their views in person is asked to book a time in advance, using the email address above or by phoning toll free to 1 (833) 633-6790. These meetings will be open to the public, and half the times will be reserved for injured workers to ensure their views are heard about what an improved workers’ compensation system should look like. Dates and locations for these...