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Addressing Booth Bay shellfish harvesting proposal
In late October, I began receiving emails expressing substantial concerns about an application for a shellfish aquaculture proposal in Booth Bay, on Salt Spring Island. The application is to the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) by Penelakut Seafoods Ltd. Their request is for a License of...
Working for wins on ride-hailing
The politics of winning or good public policy. What is more important? I can tell you what is more exciting. Winners and losers! Earlier this week I wrote about how the debate in the Legislature on ride-hailing went down. I described how on my way into question period I was stopped by the media and asked whether I was going to help the BC...
Steps forward on reconciliation and expectations growing
As the week draws to an end Sonia, Andrew and I have been honoured to be invited to attend the First Nations Leadership Gathering at the Vancouver Convention Centre. A lot has changed since the gathering started as a super-secret meeting between then-Premier Christy Clark, her cabinet and the Chiefs. There are many partially-told stories that...
Making a difference in a minority government that works
In the summer of 2017 the main question on the mind of British Columbians was "how long will this government last?" As we close out the fall sitting 18 months later, we have shown that minority governments can work and make a difference. Success is based on a commitment to negotiate, communicate and compromise. It comes from looking through and...
How much is food producing land worth?
As I sit in the Committee of the Whole debate for the Agricultural Land Commission Amendment Act I listen to an all familiar debate about the value of agricultural land in British Columbia. It goes back to my first day as a municipal councillor in the District of Central Saanich. How much food do the villagers need? What is the value of food...
Ride-hailing. Setting the record straight!
So, on my way up to Question Period today I was stopped by the press gallery for a scrum. The question was whether the BC Green Caucus would be supporting a Private Members' Bill (PMB) brought forward by the BC Liberals that would "enable ride-hailing in British Columbia by Valentines Day." Who is Bill? Of course this line of questioning ignores...
Discussing transportation in the Capital Region
Transportation challenges continue to near the top the list of issues for people in Saanich North and the Islands. Our Community Dialogue series brings community members together to have a deeper discussion about a topic. As someone who is responsible for creating good public policy and influencing government decision-making, these Dialogues are...
031 – The Public Circle LIVE! (Weekly wrap-up)
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrpPcLWDi_M[/embedyt] 031 - The Public Circle LIVE! Friday, November 23, 2018 This week in The Pubic Circle LIVE! I am alone and providing an update on the ride-hailing legislation, ALR amendment Bill and providing an update on my attendance at the Good Food Summit and hanging out with the UVic...
Salmon stories and Howard English Hatchery
I have stood and spoke on behalf of wild salmon in the Legislature dozens of times in 2018. This was possibly the last time I would be able to advocate for them this year. In my final statement of this year I highlight the stories about our relatives the wild salmon, the work at the Howard English Hatchery and my hope...
Ride-hailing in British Columbia. What is the timeline?
British Columbians have waited for ride hailing for a long time. The pace of change in our province is ridiculously slow on this issue. There are certainly issues about security that need to be addressed but these services have been hijacked by political wrangling rather than good public policy. This is not the first...
Ride-hailing is slowly creeping to reality in British Columbia
For the past half decade British Columbians have patiently awaited their provincial government to regulate ride-hailing. After three unsuccessful attempts at private members' legislation from BC Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver, two by the former BC Liberals and one by the BC NDP, we finally have a Bill to debate that...
Preparing for climate change takes an all of government approach
This week the BC Green Caucus has been asking Ministers in Question Period about the level of preparedness of their specific Ministry for climate change. In order for the provincial government to address climate change it must happen across the whole of government. Ministry by ministry, sector by sector. I had the...
Lobbying reform continues in British Columbia
In the 2017 election, the BC Green Party campaigned on increasing accountability and transparency in our democracy. Last fall we worked with the BC NDP government to take the initial steps to ban big money from provincial and municipal elections. We also played a key role in keeping electoral reform on the agenda with...
Celebrating Character Abbotsford
I had the opportunity to stand and acknowledge the work of Character Canada and Character Abbotsford. The focus of this powerful organization is to "inspire character, enable leaders and influence community." As they state it is not about being the character police or demanding perfection but rather "living through...
Going local to protect, restore and enhance our watersheds
There was a time not so long ago that the creeks and streams of the Capital Region boiled with salmon returning to spawn. These watersheds are critical to the health and wellbeing of our communities. But, neighbourhoods in every community, have been built on top of the watersheds, choking them out. Protect. Restore. Enhance. So, a good place to...
Community Builders: Feeding the people
"Feeding the people" Did you know that every Thursday at the Central Saanich campus of the Saanich Baptist Church (on Wallace across from Centennial Park) that volunteers gather to distribute free food to anyone who needs it? No questions asked! If you say you need food you are welcome to do a little "shopping" and in the process receive a kind...
030 – The Public Circle LIVE! (BC Transit)
https://youtu.be/yZBTP3JadNc 030 - The Public Circle LIVE! (James Wadsworth and BC Transit) Friday, November 16, 2018 This week in The Public Circle LIVE! I am chatting with James Wadsworth, Senior Transit Planner with BC Transit. We are discussing transit and transportation planning on the Saanich Peninsula and Southern Gulf Islands. Check out...
Column: Congratulating the newly elected officials and more…
First off I would like to congratulate the newly elected and inaugurated Mayors, Councillors, CRD Directors and Islands Trustees across Saanich North and the Islands. And, raise my hands to the Chief Rebecca David and her new Council recently elected in Pauquachin as well. There are more than 60 elected officials in local and first nations...
Regulating mega-mansions on agricultural land
Bill 52, The Agricultural Land Commission Amendment Act is an important piece of legislation that moves to protect food security and restrict speculation on agricultural land by not allowing the construction of homes in the ALR over 5200 sq/ft. In addition, this Bill reverts the ALR back to a single zone, thus...
Honouring Dieppe veteran Ken Curry
Ken Curry is the last living veteran of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry and the ill-fated Canadian contingent that raided the beaches of Dieppe. He is 96 years old and lives in Sidney, BC. In a few days we will be honouring our veterans on Remembrance Day. I stood in the house and spoke to the sacrifice they make on...
Paying respects to Mike Fleming
For the past 38 years, Saanichton farmer Mike Fleming has donated the Christmas tree to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. At the end of October Mr. Fleming died suddenly of a heart attack while harvesting Christmas trees in the Kootenays. I had the honour of remembering Mike Fleming on behalf of the whole...
Controlling sea lice and fish farms
The BC Green Caucus continues to raise questions in Question Period about the impact of open net pen fish farms in British Columbia waters. We have covered growing concerns over viruses, blood water discharge and the overall impact of aquaculture on wild Pacific salmon. This past Spring we heard about an unprecedented...
Championing Local Business: Nicholson Manufacturing
There’s more to a log than meets the eye: how a local debarking company contributes to producing quality products in BC and around the globe Do you ever wonder what goes on in that mustard building next to the Victoria International Airport in the West Sidney Industrial Park? Well Nicholson Manufacturing makes some of the toughest and most...
029 – The Public Circle LIVE! (Emilie de Rosenroll)
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWuTBDLlT4E[/embedyt] 029 - The Public Circle LIVE! Friday, November 2, 2018 The Public Circle LIVE! is a weekly live broadcast by Adam Olsen from the Saanich North and the Islands Constituency Office in Sidney, BC. Adam discusses various issues in British Columbia politics and the riding of Saanich North...
Innovating forestry in British Columbia
I have been invited to many meetings from forestry experts and advocates since my election to the British Columbia legislature. Each and every group has strongly criticized the approach of the Ministry and past decisions. When I have asked Ministry officials about these issues they have assured me that everything is...
Innovation and processing in agricultural industry
I, and my BC Green caucus colleagues, have been canvassing initiatives on innovation from various government ministries in question period this week. There are so many opportunities for the provincial government to grow our economy through unleashing the creative power of British Columbians if we take tangible steps...