Thoughts on BC Politics and More

The following commentary references a story this morning (December 29th) from CBC News:    Why this Independent MLA wants to make it easier for MLAs to be ousted by voters   Amelia Boultbee’s private member's bill seeks to lower the threshold for a successful recall... To be fair, there needs to be a careful line drawn between voters who are unhappy with a MLA's genuine work, and voters whose choice for MLA lost, and who won't accept that the majority of voters didn't vote the same way they did.  I've changed my opinions on recalls. It was one of the first things I asked Chief Election Officer Ms Campbell at the Thompson Nicola Regional District (TNRD) as I signed the paperwork as an election candidate; what are the processes of a recall if residents don't find me accountable so I can tell voters during election I am about accountability. I was told for the local order of government, there aren't any legislated recall processes and remember being...

  Following his ouster from NDP caucus, Parksville-Qualicum MLA Adam Walker says his primary concern is clearing his name. “I’m looking at options for that, but it sounds like arbitration is the best way to achieve those goals,” he said. Walker was removed from caucus after the conclusion of a misconduct investigation ... ... said he cannot share any details because the allegations are related to an “HR matter” and he would like to see an arbitration process begin as soon as possible. He added that often a public report will be issued as a result of an arbitration process, which he hopes will address his concerns and potentially the human resources matters as well ... CLICK HERE for the rest of the story

BC Finance Minister Carole James Late last week, British Columbia became the first province in Canada to create the option of ‘benefit companies’ ... a new way to do business that benefits people, communities and future generations. “ As government, we’re proud to support B.C. businesses that not only want to do well for their stakeholders, but also give back to their communities in important ways ,” said Carole James, Minister of Finance. This afternoon a spokesperson from the Finance Ministry indicated that by becoming the first jurisdiction in Canada to create benefit companies, British Columbia can ... position our economy for success as we work to recover from the impacts of COVID-19, and beyond . This change to the Business Corporations Act will give businesses a new option when choosing a corporate structure for their company. A benefit company is a for-profit corporation committed to conducting its business in a responsible and sustainable manner, as well as promoting public ...

Kamloops South Thompson BC Liberal MLA Todd Stone While COVID-19 has posed a very serious public health risk, we have also watched it become a considerable threat to people’s livelihoods. To address the financial hardships brought on by this pandemic, the province has introduced several measures to support British Columbians through these difficult times. Included among these measures is the new temporary rental supplement, announced by the government on March 25 th .  Support for renters and landlords is certainly a necessary step to provide relief, but it is becoming clear to many British Columbians — including the Official Opposition Caucus who are hearing from countless constituents — that the temporary rental supplement falls short. It is overly restrictive, the application process is complicated and time-consuming, and it provides less support than what was expected by renters.  Because of its strict eligibility requirements, many people who genui...

I have been taking the time to learn about myself. However, as I near my 44th birthday, I'm still a complex puzzle that requires patience, long-suffering and stick-to-it-iveness to figure out. Totem In The Mist We are not born with an operating manual and, adding to the challenge, are the countless influences of all the other humans around us who are also trying to figure out how to best optimize their operations as well. It really set in on me when one of my children was having challenges balancing their emotional response, to a disappointment; euphemism for having a melt down. It was becoming increasingly clear that I did not have the necessary skills to de-escalate the situation as I would have liked. The last thing I wanted was for a counsellor much later in life to uncover this particular event as the root of "the problem." Understanding how to get the best performance out of our minds and bodies is a process of trial and err...

Nechako Lake MLA, and Forestry Critic, John Rustad The following was posted on social media yesterday, by Nechako MLA John Rustad – he granted his permission to share it here: Ian Paton and I attended a rally in Campbell River on Monday in support of forest dependent families and communities. About 150 people attended, braving the blustery, wet evening. Speakers talked about the challenges they are facing, the strike that is in its 6th month and the need for HELP! Why is Horgan’s NDP government so hell bent on destroying BC’s forest industry? And now that negotiations have broken down, this will be a very bleak Christmas for thousands of forestry dependent families. Forestry feeds my family. One hundred and twenty thousand (120,000) workers in the province depend on a healthy forest sector. The north Island is getting the worst of it. Horgan’s NDP should immediately bring help to those struggling families. They need to bring in bac...