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...
I had the opportunity to respond to the 2022 Speech from the Throne. The Throne Speech is an important part of our democratic process. It is the opportunity for the government to outline its vision, goals and direction for the province. When the government decides to instead use the opportunity to re-hash their list...
Hundreds of thousands of British Columbians do not have a family doctor. Despite the BC NDP working on this issue for the past five years with little success, there is a potential for big-tech to entirely disrupt our universal primary health care system. I continued the BC Green Caucus line of questioning asking...
The Minister of Health knows that solving the family doctor crisis is a priority of my constituents. With more than 800,000 British Columbians, 15,000 in my riding, we are now seeing growing inequity in access to a family doctor and comprehensive primary health care. I asked Minister Adrian Dix whether he believes in...
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...
I rose to share a two minute statement marking the 170th anniversary of the Douglas Treaties in the W̱SÁNEĆ territory. [Transcript] This February 14 marks the 170th anniversary of the agreement between the first British Columbia governor, James Douglas, and my ancestors, the SIÁM of the W̱SÁNEĆ people. Some history...
On behalf of the BC Green Caucus I rose to pay tribute to late-Hereditary Chief Delgamuukw. [Transcript] HÍSW̱ḴE SIÁM , Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to thank the Minister of State for his comments and also the member for Vancouver-Langara for his comments as well. Today I stand to pay tribute and...
During the Fall 2021 session of the British Columbia legislature substantial concerns were raised by Members of the opposition, media, and the public about amendments to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. There were many issues raised, the most contentious being a proposed new application fee...
As the BC NDP government attempts to move into the post-pandemic world, the scars from our global fight against this vicious virus have been revealed. The pandemic has exposed divisions in our society and as I prepare for the Spring 2022 session of the BC Legislative Assembly, a major focus will be the coming budget. At the beginning of the...
We have seen a troubling erosion of democracy under the BC NDP. My colleague Sonia Furstenau and I have raised our concerns several times. It feels like the government has a disregard for the democratic process. In the Spring sittings, we have seen less time provided for debate on Budget Estimates, the line-by-line...
Despite promises to embrace a new journey of reconciliation with Indigenous Nations in British Columbia, the provincial BC NDP government continue to act like a 19th century resource colony. In order to preserve Crown and corporate interests, the BC NDP government maintain a policy that utilizes Court injunctions to...
It appears that Hon. Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation believes the long-standing conflict over the Coastal GasLink pipeline currently being built in the Wet'suwet'en territory, is the result of "tension and division" among the Wet'suwet'en people. Let's be clear, the fully-armed RCMP...
This Fall sitting of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly Minister of Forests, Hon. Katrine Conroy, has tabled more than 150 pages of amendments to forestry policy. We have long awaited changes to forestry policy, however, tabling these Bills with only a few days to debate them is disrespectful to our democratic...
For weeks now Minister of Children and Family Development (MCFD), Hon. Mitzi Dean, has been defending her decision to change the funding model for children with autism and other neurodiverse conditions. I have asked her a few questions on this issue (here and here) and raised it again in the context of Indigenous...
The Official Opposition requested a Standing Order 35 emergency debate on the response to the severe weather events that have hit British Columbia in 2021. Both Sonia Furstenau and I stood to speak at this opportunity to address the significant impacts of climate change related extreme weather events. [Transcript] I...
During introductions I took the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate 15 years of marriage with Emily Olsen. [Transcript] Mr. Speaker, today I want to just pause and acknowledge that it's our 15th anniversary. Emily and I were married 15 years ago today, for the second time. That was because in August of the same...
As we paused last week to remember those Canadian service people I took the opportunity during Members Statements to recognize the heroism of Lt. Robert Hampton "Hammy" Gray. Hammy was a Canadian Naval pilot who flew in the Royal Navy, his valour was recognized with the Victoria Cross and recently with a memorial at...
I had the honour of standing and providing the BC Green Caucus response to the Ministerial Statement for Louis Riel Day. November 16th is Louis Riel Day. It was on this day in 1885 that Riel was hanged for treason for his role in leading the Red River Rebellion. [Transcript] I would like to first start by...
Three weeks ago, the Minister of Children and Family Development, Hon. Mitzi Dean, announced an overhaul of funding and supports for children with autism and other complex neurodiverse needs. Other than suggesting the BC NDP would adopt a hub model for service delivery, Minister Dean offered few other details. Parents...
I have heard from hundreds of British Columbians over the past few months deep concern about a perception that the RCMP, our provincial police service, is not accountable to the provincial government. We have witnessed an increase in police violence, the videos have been shared widely on social media. British...
The housing crisis continues to impact millions of British Columbians. In recent weeks, I have asked the BC NDP government how they are going to address the crisis in the housing market. Today, I inquired about the out-of-control rental market. The problem is growing quarter-over-quarter and now we see rental listings...
A lot has been said about Bill 22 - Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA) Amendment Act, 2021. It is rare that a Government Bill garners so much attention. Even controversial Bills move through the process smoothly. Bill 22 is unique because it sets back decades worth of progress on founding democratic principles like the...
Condoms are free and accessible and vasectomies are covered by MSP. However, prescription contraception is not covered. As Access BC writes, "free prescription contraception increases equality, improves health outcomes, and saves people and the government money!" The BC NDP made a commitment for free contraception in...
I welcome many of the much needed changes in the Forest Statutes Amendment Act. It was a mistake to turn forest planning over to the industry twenty years ago, so it is important that they no longer are responsible for the forestry operations and landscape plans. In this speech at second reading I recognize these much...
The BC Liberals moved a motion to Bill 22, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act, 2021, to stop the current process of amending the Act, and to send it to the Special Committee that has been established by the whole House to review the Act as per the statutory requirement of the legislation....
Sonia Furstenau and I have been asking the BC NDP government about their approach to solving the housing crisis in British Columbia. Each Minister who has responded to our questions have pointed to programs they have implemented in the past four years. Despite all the billion dollar programs I continue to hear how...