Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Today, BC NDP forest Minister Ravi Parmar made this pronouncement; ‘Removing red tape has sped up permitting, allowing for more wood to be salvaged, quicker’. 4.5 million hectares of forest lands have burned since 2023, and the best they can do is point to a 90-hectare block?    ~~ BC Conservative Forests Critic Ward Stamer While acknowledging the NDP government has recognized improvements were needed in permitting and accessing burnt fibre in a timely fashion, the reality is, they are barely making a dent in the problem.  This government's recognition that only seven percent of pulp mill fibre came from burnt timber in 2024-25, quite simply put, is a failure. And the recent announcement, just three weeks ago, that the Crofton Pulp Mill would be permanently closing, is proof of that.     Instead of Premier David Eby’s government addressing core issues being faced by British Columbia’s forest industry, they are doing little more than manipulating the facts, ...

“ It’s time for the NDP government to start treating people as their first priority .” ~~ Rosalyn Bird, BC Conservative Shadow Minister for Children and Family Development While many British Columbians desperately struggle to access essential supports after seven weeks of BC’s ongoing public sector strike, the NDP government continues to dismiss the consequences of managing the economy with callous disregard. The resulting BC General Employees Union strike is disrupting application and payment processing for a number of essential programs relied upon by the province’s most vulnerable. Seniors, people with disabilities, students relying on grants, and those on social assistance are all being forced into desperate measures to make ends meet amidst the current chaos. BC taxpayer-supported debt has tripled since the NDP took power in 2017 and now stands at over $134 billion. Operating deficits continue to break records annually, with an expected $11.6 billion shortfall for the 2025/26 fisc...

Conservative Caucus of BC MLAs say the destruction of CrossRoads Brewing is a tragic example of repeat offenders devastating communities, small businesses, and local economies. “This wasn’t just a fire, it was the loss of a community hub, dozens of jobs, and years of investment,” said Rosalyn Bird, MLA for Prince George–Valemount and Critic for Citizens’ Services.  “The accused has made at least 19 court appearances since 2021, and was even convicted of sexual assault back in 2009. Small businesses are telling me they’re ready to shut down and leave Prince George because crime is out of control. That is a tragedy for families, workers, and our economy.” Bird added: “CrossRoads was exactly the kind of business BC needs more of - building community, creating jobs, and drawing people downtown. Just last Thursday, we heard directly from Craft Brewers and distilleries in Prince George about how rising taxes are making it harder to hire and keep staff, and that evening Prince George MLAs...

PHOTO CREDIT:  Interior Health   “News that gaps in physician coverage could lead to reduced access to maternity care in Kamloops has been met with shock and disbelief across the city and the broader region. “Just last week, we learned that pregnant women in Prince George would be diverted to Kamloops due to reduced obstetric services throughout August. Now, with a potential service interruption in Kamloops, expectant mothers are left with even fewer options for care and support across northern and Interior BC. “These dual crises come on the heels of weeks of turmoil at Kelowna General Hospital, where the pediatric unit was closed for six weeks. They also follow the Official Opposition’s revelation that 141,961 British Columbians left emergency rooms in 2024–2025 without ever being seen. “The ongoing and expanding collapse of our health-care system rests squarely on the shoulders of Premier David Eby and Health Minister Josie Osborne. Poor planning, a failu...

Rosalyn Bird, MLA for Prince George-Valemount and Critic for Citizens’ Services, has given notice of two bills to be introduced in the next legislative session. The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act will ensure that British Columbians can engage with, and scrutinize, government operations. It will also reinforce trust between the public and government institutions, encouraging ethical governance. “The importance and relevance of this legislation cannot be overstated. In recent years, several recommended changes to Freedom of Information and Privacy legislation in BC. have been presented to the government through committee work and stakeholder engagement, with no action resulting,” said Rosalyn Bird. “When government loses its grounding in truth, transparency, and accountability, it endangers not only its legitimacy, but also the well-being, unity, and future of residents. Upholding these principles is not optional – it is essential for our province to thri...

The following statement is released by Kiel Giddens, MLA for Prince George – Mackenzie, on the introduction of his Private Members Bill, the Low Carbon Fuels Amendment Act. “ Today, we take a critical step toward preserving jobs, protecting British Columbia’s energy security, and ensuring fairness in our fuel markets. I have introduced the Low Carbon Fuels Amendment Act in the Legislature to address the serious flaws in the NDP’s Low Carbon Fuels Act, which has put Canadian workers and businesses at risk .” “ Tidewater Renewables in Prince George — a critical asset producing renewable diesel —is facing insolvency due to unfair government policies that allow American fuel producers to flood our market with subsidized diesel while claiming BC’s  Tidewater Renewables in Prince George . This policy failure has created an noncompetitive and unsustainable market that threatens to shut down BC’s only renewable diesel refinery .” “ Losing this facility would not only cost goo...

The New Democrats were put on the defensive last year by mounting evidence that government-approved safer supply drugs were being diverted to the illicit market. “More BC detachments report having seized suspected safe supply drugs,” read a March 2024 headline in the Northern Beat online news service, summarizing evidence from the RCMP in Prince George, Campbell River and Nanaimo. Reporter Fran Yanor later expanded the list to five detachments after she herself witnessed drug transactions outside pharmacies in Victoria and Duncan. The shocking details of what was happening emerged from a search warrant obtained by reporter Jason Proctor of the CBC. He disclosed how Prince George RCMP spent 10 days in March “mounting a surveillance operation on a woman who stood outside a downtown pharmacy each morning trading illicit drugs for safer supply medication ... CLICK HERE for the full story

An NDP government has had no small part in breaking BC’s forest industry, if you believe a number of industry observers and analysts. But can an NDP government now fix it? The pledge to do so came from back-to-back resource conferences last week—the BC Resources Forum in Prince George and BC Truck Loggers Association Convention in Vancouver ... ... “This is the most comprehensive review that the Ministry of Forests has been done,” Parmar said. At last week’s Trucks Loggers Association Convention, Eby gave assurances the review would not be “just another study,” and hinted that B.C.’s stumpage system could be reformed ... CLICK HERE for the full story

PRINCE GEORGE : Rosalyn Bird, Conservative MLA for Prince George – Valemount, says Starlink satellite internet service is the superior solution for northerners.   “Although I was very pleased to hear today that another Northern BC community has reached completion, I recognize many other northern, rural, and remote communities in British Columbia continue to face connectivity challenges," Bird said in response to the completion of the Upper Viewmount (Smither) fibre-optic project. Access to reliable, high-speed internet has become an essential element in progressing economic growth and providing access to education and health care, while improving community well-being. No longer a luxury, we now recognize its importance as our work, school and personal lives increasingly shift online. One of the main hurdles in expanding cellular services is the availability of power, as cellular infrastructure requires electricity. Additionally, many remote areas and highways ...

“British Columbians expect MLAs to be working on their behalf, and the Conservative Party is ready and willing to fight for BC jobs. The Low Carbon Fuels Amendment Act could be passed now if David Eby called back the Legislature.”  – John Rustad, Leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia The Conservative Party of British Columbia is extremely concerned with flaws in the Low Carbon Fuels Act that are putting British Columbia’s fuel refineries at a disadvantage. As written, the current legislation has inadvertently subsidized American renewable diesel production with credits from British Columbia at a time when the US Government is already subsidizing their own domestic renewable diesel production. Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Kiel Giddens has drafted a Private Member’s Bill to fix the issue that he is hoping to present in the Legislature.   “The current Act has created an unfair and uncompetitive renewable diesel credit market in BC leading to dumping...

The Conservative Party of BC calls on the province to supply Mackenzie following yet another extension of shortages to ongoing physician and nursing staff. Conservative candidate for Prince George-Mackenzie Rachael Weber said the following: “This is my home–I’ve lived in Mackenzie for over 20 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this. This NDP government does not care about rural communities and our needs. The shortage of hospital staff is not sustainable, and it puts lives at risk,” said Weber. “We need to get serious about this problem. I am calling on this NDP government to immediately take action by supplementing our shortages with nurses and doctors. Conservatives Call For Action Following Hospital Closure In Mackenzie They can do this tomorrow by hiring back our healthcare workers, just like every other jurisdiction already did in this world. Or they can incentivize healthcare workers to move to Mackenzie and other rural areas. We need to make it easier to come and live here–...

Statement from John Rustad, Leader of The Conservative Party of British Columbia   Friday, May 10, 2024 — Vancouver, BC:   John Rustad, Leader of The Conservative Party of British Columbia released the following statement on the announcement of the Canfor Pulp investment suspension in Houston and subsequent layoffs in Prince George:   “First and foremost, my thoughts are with the 220 employees and their families who were impacted by the investment suspension of Canfor Pulp in Houston and the additional job losses across Prince George and in the North. This follows the announcement of 180 jobs lost after the Polar Sawmill closure in Bear Lake and the curtailed production that was announced at the Northwood Pulp Mill.    This news across the region was a direct result of the NDP’s failed leadership when it comes to making British Columbia a more attractive place to live, work and invest in our natural resource sectors. It is unacceptable tha...

The Conservative Party of BC is campaigning on common sense in anticipation of a fall election. Retired Navy Lieutenant and rookie candidate for Prince George-Valemount Rosalyn Bird was recently in Valemount and shared her time with the Goat to dive into some of the issues the party platform identifies as needing this common sense . . . . CLICK HERE for the full interview

The BC United are voicing concerns over cuts to the provincial eyecare program. MLA for Prince George-Valemount Shirley Bond raised the issue in the legislature Tuesday, after receiving a letter from a resident in her riding that is at risk of going blind. The letter from Prince George resident Christina Watts, enrolled in the province’s Retinal Disease Treatment Program, was informed by her ophthalmologist that coverage for eye injections to treat wet-macular degeneration would be significantly reduced, and she should have to pay out-of-pocket for the treatments . . . . CLICK HERE for the full story

The leader of the BC United Party has committed to build the long awaited interconnector in Quesnel should his party form the next government. Kevin Falcon made the announcement on Thursday (Jan 18) during a visit to Quesnel. “I am here to say that one of the very first things that we will get moving is, I know that the Ministry has done early design work on it, so really the only thing holding up this project is committed dollars and the Ministry moving forward, and we are going to hit send and make sure that that interconnector gets built" ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Joanne Dally, 63, says she doesn't know when she will be able to host her next dinner party — she hasn't had running water at home since mid-October because the well on her property, her only source of water, has run dry. "We have to go to relatives to shower, we have to haul our water in totes, go to the laundromat," said Dally, who has lived in her home, a few kilometres west of the Fraser River near Prince George, B.C., since 2013. This year is the first time she's experienced a water shortage, one that has persisted now for six weeks ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Conservative Party of BC leader John Rustad has weighed in on Canfor’s decision to curtail production at its Polar Sawmill in Bear Lake for six months. He says there is a common sense fix to the situation, and that’s to issue the necessary harvesting permits ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Canfor has confirmed 190 people will be impacted by the six-month shutdown at their Polar Sawmill north of Prince George. United Steelworkers 1-2017 President Brian O’Rourke told MyPGNow.com the announcement came out of the blue but the company did provide more clarity on when it will take effect. “That is going to start sometime in January. So, they are going to run out of their inventory from what we are told as of right now so we should be meeting with them in the next couple of weeks and see what is on the books there. What we have been told is the BC Timber Services haven’t gotten to put permits out yet. Albeit, when they do that, those permits are open for bid and could go to anyone" ... CLICK HERE for the full story

School District 57 board chair Rachael Weber is rejecting a call for her resignation from union president Daryl Beauregard ...  ... In an interview following Tuesday's school board meeting, Weber said that Beauregard is entitled to his opinion. “It's unfortunate that he's lost sight of his position being president of the teachers’ association. You know, there's a lot of other concerns and issues that you should be addressing. Unfortunately, that's not happening. So, we just move forward,” said Weber ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Kiel Giddens has been announced as the BC United candidate for the riding of Prince George-Mackenzie in anticipation of the next provincial election. Giddens was formerly the president of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce and has worked at the legislature in Victoria as a staffer ... CLICK HERE for the full CKPG news story