Legislature

Imagining a future with Indigenous riding names & a farewell to the Keating Neighbourhood

In April, I responded to the Electoral Districts Act which added six new ridings to the province and changed the boundaries of dozens more. While my riding, Saanich North & the Islands, remains largely unchanged, we will be losing the Keating neighbourhood to South Saanich. I've represented this community in one...

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Recognizing the Haida Nation’s inherent right to self-governance & my dear friend, Gut Takin Jaad

In April, I had the pleasure of responding to Bill 18, the Haida Nation Recognition Act, and reading the words of my dear friend, Gut Takin Jaad, a Haida member, former legislative intern with the BC Green Caucus, and a current Constituency Assistant for MLA Sonia Furstenau. [Transcript] A. Olsen: I appreciate this...

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Bill 11 takes a misstep — British Columbians are represented by their local MLA, not party leaders

In April, I responded to Bill 11 and supported two amendments proposed by the Official Opposition which would've prevented party leaders from having more power in our elections. [Transcript] A. Olsen: Speaking to the amendment, I appreciate the member from the official opposition for raising it. It’s a concern that we...

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Will the BC NDP ensure its conservation service is accountable & subject to independent oversight?

BC's Conservation Service is a police service. They dress like police, drive similar cars, carry assault rifles & have police-like powers under the Police Act. But conservation officers have no independent oversight. This must change. The lack of oversight has created space for the abuse of power & toxicity...

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Will the BC NDP put an end to over two decades of underfunding in our public education system?

Public schools in B.C. have been chronically underfunded for years. Now, multi-million budget shortfalls are forcing school boards to choose between combining classes, cutting programs, or relocating students. The BC NDP must put the needs of students first. Vancouver School Board is facing a $5.9 million deficit this...

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470 foster children go missing each month ⁠— are kids safe under the care of Premier Eby & the BC NDP?

A new report from BC's Representative for Children & Youth revealed that 470 children in foster care go missing each month. Today I asked Premier David Eby to explain if the kids under his care are safe. He could not be bothered to stand and answer. The BC NDP are failing to protect our most vulnerable children....

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Indigenous communities must be properly resourced to participate in consultation processes

Last Thursday, I rose in the House to address the lack of funding for Indigenous communities participating in government consultations. For the last several years, a steadily increasing number of referrals have fallen on the desks of First Nations, creating an overwhelming, psychologically intense workload. Meaningful...

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Will the BC NDP commit to a comprehensive review of BC’s outdated Mental Health Act?

The Mental Health Act has not been substantially updated since 1964. Our understanding of mental health and substance use disorders has changed since the last century. Our laws need to reflect that. I asked Premier David Eby if he'd commit to a full review. He refused to stand up and answer. Instead Minister Jennifer...

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When will the BC NDP reform the Police Act & deliver better accountability for our communities?

Our policing services have grown increasingly authoritarian, militaristic & out of reach of oversight. The Vancouver Police Department Chief bragged about answering to nobody, saying “I don’t report to any politician. I don’t report to the City, the province, or the federal government." The VDP restricted media...

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We must do better: Reflecting on the findings of the St. Augustine Residential School investigation

Yesterday, I stood and responded to the statement provided by the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation in acknowledgement of the pain and tribulations that are being felt from our relatives in Shíshálh, Chief Yalxwemult Lenora Joe, and the leadership in the community, acting on the information provided...

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7 years into the toxic drug crisis — will the NDP expand safe supply for every person who needs it?

Since the toxic drug crisis was declared in 2016, more than 11,000 British Columbians have died. It’s the leading cause of unnatural deaths. But these deaths are preventable. Less than 1% of people who use drugs in this province have access to safe supply. Hundreds of thousands of British Columbians use drugs —...

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Will the BC NDP step up & regulate ship breaking — one of the most hazardous industries in the world?

Baynes Sound produces half of all BC shellfish. It is an important site for the K’omoks First Nation and is federally designated as a Biologically & Ecologically Sensitive Area. Despite this, the province has allowed ship breaking - one of the most hazardous industries in the world - to occur on its shores. Ship...

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Broken promises — when will the BC NDP suspend logging activity in Kwakiutl territory?

The BC NDP have repeatedly promised to protect old growth forests & meaningfully engage with First Nations. They promised a paradigm shift & a deferral on all at-risk old growth. Yet, old growth within this deferral area is actively being logged on Kwakiutl territory. These culturally significant &...

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Will the BC NDP provide dignified housing for every person displaced by today’s encampment removal?

Earlier this week, Premier David Eby stood in front of a million-dollar townhouse to announce his new affordability plan, "Homes for People". Today, he is scattering the homeless population in Vancouver's downtown eastside (DTES). This is not leadership — this is policing poverty. Today marks the 7th encampment...

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$20,000 per month for addictions treatment? The BC NDP need to regulate private treatment centres.

The addictions treatment system in this province is failing to meet the needs of British Columbians. A lack of public treatment beds has forced hundreds of desperate families to turn to costly, unregulated private facilities to try to help their loved ones. This is unacceptable. Private facilities are the wild west of...

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Our children need help — when will the BC NDP hire enough counsellors to meet the needs of students?

Since the pandemic, mental health referrals and hospitalizations for youth have hugely increased, yet the BC NDP only provide our schools with 1 counsellor for every 693 students. At a time when we need to invest in our children's mental health, we're letting them down. Today in Question Period, I asked when the...

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A step forward — legal penalties for non-consensual sharing of intimate images, videos & deepfakes

On Tuesday, I had the chance to speak to Bill 12, the Intimate Images Protection Act. This critical piece of legislation makes it unlawful to distribute, or threaten to distribute, intimate images without consent. The Bill includes provisions allowing survivors to seek monetary damages and have their images removed...

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Bill 13 does not go far enough in ensuring pay equity for women and other marginalized groups.

Last Tuesday, I spoke to Bill 13, the Pay Transparency Act. While this Bill makes moderate steps forward, pay transparency alone does little to change the discrimination women and other marginalized people face at work. What we need in BC is pay equity. The cost of not addressing pay inequity is borne by women. They...

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