Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Ottawa’s EV mandate rules are so broken they’re forcing a BC clean-tech company back to diesel. Yes - you read that right. Canada’s first hybrid-electric semi-truck is being killed by red tape. The company is Edison Motors in Golden, BC. They built a world-first hybrid-electric semi; it runs on electric motors + batteries and is recharged by a small ultra-efficient generator. Transport Canada certified it. It slashes emissions. It’s Canadian-made. But Ottawa’s Environment Canada says they can’t sell it. Why?  The generator is certified as “off-highway” instead of “on-highway.” Here’s the kicker ... there’s NO “on-highway” generator of this kind in existence in Canada. This isn’t policy - it’s just crazy. Instead of backing Canadian innovation, Ottawa’s rules are forcing Edison to go back to building diesel trucks. It’s like banning solar panels because the bolts aren’t “approved” for rooftops. And it’s not just an environmental loss.  Edison is hiring dozens of skilled workers...

On Wednesday (June 19 th ) I provided a few examples of the federal government's mismanagement of our oceans. My focus was on protecting resources and its preparation and response to oil spills. If you need more evidence then check out the absolute disaster that is our salmon fisheries. To be fair to the current administration, they inherited a gutted ministry, with a gutted budget and gutted legislation. However, they are seeking the confidence of British Columbians to manage a dramatic increase of shipments of diluted bitumen. So, we must start from the basis that their track record is miserable. Active Pass -- Southern Gulf Islands Another frustrating example of mismanagement is the vessel parking in the Salish Sea.     In October 2018 I wrote Transport Canada asking the Minister to address the longstanding concerns of Southern Gulf Island residents and Penelakut Nation about the challenges with vessels anchoring for prolonged periods of time. The ba...