The kids are paying attention. Yes, the kids are paying attention and see a lot more than perhaps the adults think! Ella, my six year-old daughter, said to us, “do gases make it not snow? Because, if they do then we need to go to the gas station and tell them to stop selling gases." On balance, she has it just about correct. They listen intently...
My friend John has been encouraging me to keep a journal. Capture the political drama from inside the big stone house at 501 Belleville. It is good advice. Unfortunately there are not a few hundred journal entries capturing those early days. But, thankfully journaling can start at any time. You start writing and commit the discipline to keep...
It was good of Michael Stelzner to introduce Seth Godin on his show Social Media Marketing. Seth was familiar to me, but the timing was right. It happened on the perfect morning walk a few weeks ago.Social Media Marketing is about "navigating the social media jungle." Seth's podcast, Akimbo, is about the big ideas, and small, powering meaningful...
032 - The Public Circle LIVE! (Talking salmon!) Friday, December 7, 2018 In 2018, I stood and spoke about wild salmon many times. I and my colleagues addressed fish farms . It is an issue that I am passionate about. As the year winds down I decided to make this episode of The Public Circle LIVE! a...
As we reach the deadline for referendum ballots on Pro-Rep to be delivered to Elections BC, it is the perfect time to pause... Thank you to all the volunteers who have spent thousands of hours working on the Pro-Rep campaign. You all are champions! Fighting for electoral reform is important work in British Columbia. But, the work for this...
During the 2017 election I committed to working to strengthen the relationships between the provincial, local, first nations and federal governments. There is only so much that a single MLA can do, but I remembered back to my time as a municipal councillor and the need for more opportunities for cross government connections. When we opened the...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
[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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
"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...
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...
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...
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...
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...