ÍY SȻÁĆEL (Good Day),
Welcome to my weekly update for February 25, 2022! It was budget week in British Columbia. It takes some time to digest the hundreds of pages put on the table by the Ministry of Finance. Understanding the budget evolves over weeks as Members of the opposition, special interest groups and researchers dig into the material. I will deliver my response to the budget next week.
I rose twice in Question Period. On Tuesday I asked the Minister of Forests about species protection and biodiversity legislation and on Thursday my question was to the Minister of Children and Families about funding for children with disabilities.
My statement this week was on the state of democracy in our legislative assembly. I am concerned that our provincial government is not open, transparent, or inclusive and I will continue to raise these concerns.
For example, there are many debatable motions that are often passed unanimously with little thought. Last week, my colleague Sonia Furstenau voted against a motion to populate the Select Standing Committees. Not because she disagrees with committees, to the contrary, it is because the BC NDP were going to leave the Select Standing Committees unpopulated, essentially ignoring an important function of collaborative and inclusive governance. On Wednesday, we spoke to the motion, and you can see my response below.If you have any questions or concerns, please provide your feedback at Adam.Olsen.MLA@leg.bc.ca or 250-655-5600.
Regards,
Adam Olsen, MLA
Saanich North and the Islands
QUESTION PERIOD
Tuesday, I asked a question about protecting the rare speckle-bellied moss that inhabits old growth forests on much of BC’s west coast.
● Transcript (10:35 am)
● Blog post
● YouTube (Hansard video)
● Twitter (post-QP explainer)
On Thursday, I asked about changes to the services and funding models available to families with neuro-diverse children.
● Transcript (10:45 am)
● Blog post
● YouTube (Hansard video)
● Twitter (post-QP explainer)
STATEMENTS
On Thursday I gave a statement on government responsibility and the need to respect the processes and protocols on our democratic institution.
● Transcript – (10:20am)
● Blog post
● Twitter – (Post-QP Explainer)
● YouTube (Hansard video)
● Gallery coverage
SPEECHES
Thursday February 24, 2022
On Thursday I spoke to motion 3 – Adoption of Report of Special Committee of Selection. Please, check out the video below.
● Transcript – (11:25 am)
● Blog post
● YouTube (Hansard video)
BILLS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
Bill 3
Each year the provincial government tables a Bill to adjust parks and protected areas in British Columbia. Mostly the Bill makes minor adjustments to boundaries, adding new lands, and makes name changes official.
Unfortunately, this edition of the Bill does not add any new Indigenous names to protected areas and in my second reading speech I note that the budget for parks and protected areas is not near enough.
● Transcript – (2:45 pm)
● Blog post
● YouTube (Hansard video)
Bill 2
Last summer during the peak of the heat dome Lytton, BC registered the highest temperatures ever recorded in Canada, 49.6C (121.3F). Just a day later the entire town burned to the ground.
Lytton residents want to move home and eight months later and the provincial government is still struggling to get the recovery effort under way. This Bill is one step forward to assist the local government.
● Transcript – (3:00 pm)
● Blog post
● YouTube (Hansard video)
EVENTS AND PRESS
Media coverage and events from this week.
● BC Green caucus budget response
● Government lacks vision for dealing with overlapping crises
● BC Today
CONSTITUENCY OFFICE
Contact my Community Office. We are here to advocate on behalf of residents of Saanich North and the Islands.
If you need advocacy or you have a question, concern, suggestion or idea, please do not hesitate to contact me at Adam.Olsen.MLA@leg.bc.ca or 250-655-5600.
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