It’s mind-numbing to try to keep up with all the decisions politicians in Ottawa made about the British Columbia coastline last week.https://twitter.com/AdamPOlsen/status/1142096979742220289First, on Monday the Members in the House of Commons voted 186 to 63 to support a motion from Hon. Catherine McKenna (Minister of Environment and Climate...
In the 14th episode of The Public Circle Podcast I connect with Briony Penn. It was wonderful to sit on her front porch in the middle of a South Salt Spring forest. It's been the home of five generations of Briony's family. The warm early summer sun, birds chirping and even the odd handsaw working in the background provide an excellent setting...
According to Wikipedia, "a disturbance is a temporary change in environmental conditions that causes a pronounced change in an ecosystem. Disturbances often act quickly and with great effect, to alter the physical structure or arrangement of biotic and abiotic elements. A disturbance can also occur over a long period of time and can impact the...
![National [insert new name here] Peoples Day](https://adamolsen.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/welcome_1920.jpg.webp)
What Canadians call the indigenous people of this land has been constantly evolving over the decades. Savage, Indian, Native, Eskimo, Aboriginal, First Nation, Metis, Inuit, and Indigenous. I'm certain there are plenty of others. In the past, people like me, from an exotic mixed heritage, have been not-so affectionately known as "halfbreeds."...
Yesterday 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,...
The Canadian Government has approved the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project - again. For the past five years, I have participated in the National Energy Board's (NEB) Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion regulatory hearings. I intervened in the process as an individual member of the W̱SÁNEĆ people, and throughout I expressed my deep concern...
Geronimo Canoe Club is from Tsartlip First Nation. They have been a paddling juggernaut on the Coast Salish canoe race circuit since the early 1970's. Every summer, Indigenous canoe clubs from around the Salish Sea gather in coastal and inland communities to compete in canoe races. Recently, Geronimo canoe pullers have taken their expertise to...
I have great kids and it was a wonderful day.We went on our first hike as dog owners (owners of a tiny dog) and Emily made delicious butter chicken. Mmmmmmm, butter chicken. However, the best part for sure was the my gift from Silas and Ella. [siteorigin_widget class="SiteOrigin_Widget_Image_Widget"][/siteorigin_widget][siteorigin_widget...
When I first thought of transitioning my weekly Public Circle LIVE! broadcasts from Facebook to a weekly podcast, I had it in my mind to invite Raffi as a guest. We have run into each other a few times now at the Salt Spring Island Saturday Market and I appreciate his forthright political commentary on Twitter.It all came together at Elizabeth...
I grew up on the marina docks in Brentwood Bay. Kicking around the Brentwood Inn and fishing at Jimmy Gilbert’s are fond memories for me. A lot has changed since then, but I was brought back to the days of my childhood when my "Championing Local Business" tour stopped in at Canoe Cove. Tucked into the trees just east of the Swartz Bay ferry...
Wildfire season is becoming synonymous with summer. As we celebrate my daughter's 7th birthday, it comes with the somber realization that 50% of the summers of her life have been choked out by the smoke of raging wildfires. Escaping fire and evacuating communities is an increasing reality for British Columbians.Saanich North and the Islands is a...
I have been thinking about the initiative to lower the voting age in Canada and British Columbia to 16. My colleague Andrew Weaver has introduced a Private Member's Bill about this three times in the British Columbia legislature. His most recent attempt was on March 13, 2018 and Premier John Horgan agreed to consider it. Despite this, the voting...
Tension is growing in the forests across British Columbia so I thought it was appropriate to reflect on my work in the Spring session of the legislature standing up for our most treasured ancient creatures. Fresh images of devastating clearcuts hacked from the valley walls of Schmidt Creek, Naka Creek, Tessium Creek and Upper Tsitika Watersheds...
It's been awhile since Emily and I were parents of a baby.A couple of weeks back we brought Tui into our family. She is just a mini little puppy and only ten weeks old today. As a parent of 11 and 7 year old kids she's reminding me of a time slipping further into our past.Puppies are sooooo cute! The people who follow my Instagram posts agree....
I have mixed emotions today. The Raptors are in Toronto, and they are on the brink of winning the NBA championship.For those of you who have been following my blog for awhile you might remember this post about my lifelong support for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Game 6, in Toronto, championship on the line. It's a thing. Except, it's not the Larry...
Greens have always said they would not have a Whip. So, why do the B.C. Greens have a Whip? It's a good question. I'm the Whip and my role within the B.C. Green Caucus is important - especially in a minority government. However, it is not likely important for the reasons many people think.The Party Whip has a bad rap and for good reason....
There is a rhythm and flow to legislative and constituency life. There is no handbook to show MLAs how to be an MLA. We learn from our constituents, respond to the needs of our communities and proactively reach out through meetings and dialogues to learn how we can improve our representation. Finding the fulcrum to balance the diversity of work...
This coming week, I am speaking at a couple of sessions about running for public office. It gets me to thinking about my own path to the British Columbia legislature. I grew up on Tsartlip First Nation. Our family property on Stelly's is right across the street from the municipality of Central Saanich. While I'm a Central Saanich kid, there is an...
I am fully aware of how lucky I am for being able to represent a riding in the Capital Region.The travel requirements of many of my colleagues when we are in session would make it difficult for me to do this job. When we are sitting, many MLAs will travel into town on Sunday afternoon or evening. Most stay in hotels in the downtown inner harbour...
Here are my initial comments on the findings of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Inquiry. I have not yet had the opportunity to read the full report and will be taking time in the next few days to look at it in more detail. However, here is the statement I made as the spokesperson on behalf of the B.C. Green Caucus. The...
[siteorigin_widget class="SiteOrigin_Widget_Image_Widget"][/siteorigin_widget] LinkedIn sent me an email recently with a little reminder about the ever-evolving nature of the workplace.My first job was at the local McDonald's. I worked the front window and it was the beginning a rewarding career in customer and public service.It's been a long...
As the MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, I spend a lot of time traveling on ferries. Not as much as my constituents, but I have come to understand the ferry service differently since my election. For my Gulf Island constituents the ferry is their connection to home. Life on Vancouver Island is similarly connected but we are a little more...
We are at the end of our second Spring Legislative session. It has been an interesting few months. There have been range of emotional issues and a few legislative firsts. While we were disappointed that the B.C. NDP government and B.C. Liberal official opposition partnered up to pass a massive subsidy for the fossil fuel industry, I am very...
I feel I must circle back around and address the recent explosion of sea lice on the west coast and the continued persistence of open-net pen fish farms in British Columbia waters.First, I must restate my dissatisfaction with the decades of poor resource management in our province.In recent months, I have been working on several fronts, primarily...
It's National Tourism Week, so let's celebrate SuperNatural British Columbia!When I was a teenager I would go to downtown Victoria in the summertime with my friends. We would hang out on the causeway watching the buskers and mixing and mingling with the tourists. Victoria is an incredibly warm and welcoming place to visit.Following high school, I...
Over the past several weeks the B.C. Green Caucus has been asking government about the lack of protection of old-growth forests in British Columbia. Our work culminated in a call for a moratorium. Another troubling aspect of forest management in the province is on private land. We have been inundated with...