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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
In the first six months of 2021 more than 1200 British Columbians have perished as a result of a highly toxic illicit drug supply. That is approximately 6 people per day. For months, I and my colleague Sonia Furstenau, have been encouraging the provincial government to provide a safe supply of illicit substances...
The red hot housing market is deeply concerning. The housing crisis is a global issue but as we develop measures to address the extreme inflation of housing prices in British Columbia it is important to understand the underlying philosophy that is informing the decisions of the provincial government. So I asked...
Today I asked Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Hon. Mike Farnworth, what specific actions he is taking to ensure that the civil liberties of British Columbians are protected at Fairy Creek. The Minister refused to answer because the matter is before the courts. The videos of the conduct of the RCMP at...
Premier John Horgan and Minister of Forests Katrine Conroy are on the record clearly stating their support for Aboriginal rights, title and sovereignty. When the protests heated up in the forests on Southern Vancouver Island they agreed to the demands of the Huu-ay-aht, Ditidaht and Pacheedaht by deferring some...
There have been far too many stories of Indigenous youth who have died while under the guardianship of the provincial government. Last week, the Representative for Children and Youth released another report outlining how the system let down Skye. As has been the case for decades, our child welfare system repeatedly...
When it comes to reconciliation with Indigenous People in British Columbia the BC NDP say the right words. However, their actions fall well short of what is acceptable. This week, I have been pointing out how they continue to use Forest and Range Consultation and Revenue Sharing agreements and how those agreements are...
We have learned about a temporary reprieve with deferrals of old growth logging in Fairy Creek and the Central Walbran. This was achieved in the most difficult way possible: injunctions, protests and arrests. For months my colleague Sonia Furstenau and I have been raising these issues in Question Period and the BC NDP...
In Question Period on Monday May 31, 2021 Premier John Horgan said "we have an obligation to release resources where we can, to improve people's lives, and we're committed to doing that. I know that the member opposite will hold us accountable for that. I look forward to it." On Tuesday I pressed this issue further by...
Over the past couple of weeks I have asked the BC NDP government why they are not following their own policy on conservation and maps from experts highlighting the last remaining endangered forests that should be deferred as per the old growth review panel recommendations. The responses from the Minister of Forests...
The BC NDP continue to talk and log. They make big promises to protect high productivity old growth forests with no follow through. The Minister of Forests is increasingly dismissive of our questions, but we will not stop asking. This week another embarrassing report was released from the three independent scientists...
For several years the BC Green Caucus has been raising significant concerns about how the British Columbia government is mismanaging our forests. Each time we raise the issue we have heard that the Minister and Ministry are doing the work. They make promises and yet do not follow through. With the backdrop of the RCMP...
Due to the death of two very young British Columbians, Bill 22 - Mental Health Amendment Act (2020) has reemerged. The Bill, introduced but not passed last summer, would seek to involuntarily restrain youth. It faced strong opposition from the Chief Coroner, the Representative of Children and Youth, Union of BC Indian...
A successful pilot project at the University of British Columbia for self-administered rapid tests found 25 asymptomatic cases of COVID-19. Health Canada has been clear that rapid tests are an important part of our pathway out of the global pandemic. They continue to encourage provinces and businesses to use rapid...
In Question Period I raised concerns about BC Housing's process for announcing and engaging the community for their proposed supportive housing project at Prosser Road in Central Saanich. Instead of accepting the community engagement process has been lacking, the Minister responsible for housing instead tried to...
We see examples of jurisdictions around the world who are effectively using rapid testing regimes to identify asymptomatic COVID-19 cases. This information can be used to better inform government decision-making. The provincial government has 2.7 million rapid tests. To date 13% of the tests have been allocated and...
During the snap election last fall Premier John Horgan promised to implement all the recommendations from his Old Growth Review Panel and a paradigm shift in landscape and ecosystem management. I expected to see these promises reflected in budget 2021. So, it came as a surprise when reviewing the budget that the...
I have heard frustration from my constituents on the Southern Gulf Islands with the ongoing clear-cut logging in their communities since my election as the provincial representative of Saanich North and the Islands in 2017. Entire forests are falling. Working with my Islands Trust colleagues, we learned that there is...
The provincial government response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been very challenging. One of the most difficult aspects has been communicating information to the public for a prolonged period of time. In the first wave of the pandemic Minister Adrian Dix and public health officials gave daily briefings, they were...
I continue to ask the BC NDP government about their willingness to follow the recommendations of their own panel to "defer development in old forests where ecosystems are at very high and near-term risk of irreversible biodiversity loss," and to put mechanisms in place to ensure there are a variety of options for...