What is going on in British Columbia?There are a couple of shocking stories unravelling in our province that deserve a high level of public attention.Yesterday, I wrote about the Speaker's investigation of expenses and the management of the peoples' house.The culture of entitlement uncovered by the Speaker, and outlined in his report, is...
It is an interesting time to show up on the political scene in British Columbia. Thinking back to election night, shortly after the networks called my victory in Saanich North and the Islands, we were looking up at the big screen as the numbers were tightening. At the time, it was 42 Liberal, 42 NDP, 3 Green. "What do you think of that?" A...
It is important to acknowledge progress. We tend to focus on the work still ahead without raising our hands to incremental steps we have taken together. It's good to check-in. When it comes to Indigenous relations in British Columbia we have a long way to go. So it might be difficult to recognize incremental change. But when we stop and point it...
Housing is the most difficult challenge we face. There are so many fuses attached to this issue. It is charged on all fronts.Homes are the centre of our lives. They provide us emotional safety and financial security.People respond powerfully when their housing is threatened or destabilized.The current housing crisis in British Columbia is...
By now you have likely heard about UNDRIP. It is the UNDRIP, and it stands for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This post is to provide an overview of the document, a little Canadian/British Columbian context and the actual content. Yes, it is a lot of words. But, they are important words and they represent a...
This week, politicians from the provincial and federal governments stood on the sidelines while the RCMP threw Indigenous people to the ground and arrested them at a peaceful protest. Thousands gathered across the country to express their anger and frustration. It is the latest in the long history of the ugly Indigenous/Crown relations in British...
In short, it has been a crazy week.It was supposed to be a week to ease back into work after a nice break. But, that was not to be the case.Instead, all of the attention has been focussed on Northern British Columbia. Enforcing an injunction ordered by a BC Court back in mid-December, the RCMP descended upon the Unist'ot'en protest camp. They are...
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy4l8QzHGII[/embedyt] This has been an exceptionally tough few days. I am deeply saddened by the actions, or inactions, of our governments to respectfully address the decade long Unist'ot'en protest camp in Wet'suwet'en territory. To see the RCMP rolling up on Indigenous people in their territory and...
Transportation is a high priority of residents of Saanich North and the Islands. As the home of the Victoria International Airport and the Swartz Bay ferry terminal, our riding connects the Capital Region, to the rest of the world. There are transportation challenges on each of the Gulf Islands. And, there are challenges with the ferry service....
Why do we close doors that are better left open?This question came up in a recent coffee chat with a friend who works at an environmental non-government organization (ENGO). The question was why ENGO's limit their advocacy to only certain political parties? (So much fodder for future posts!)Individuals also do this. We are intensely tribal. We...
John Elliott (STOLȻEȽ) is my uncle. He is a beautiful story teller.He generously shares the stories of the W̱SÁNEĆ people. His stories of creation, transformation, and relationships, describe a connected world. But, his connections are not digital, they are analog.Indeed, his stories capture his audience. They are an invitation to explore an...
It comes up for me when someone defends a proposal, program or policy as a "win-win.""It's win-win," they say. Cut and dry.Of course there are many lenses to look at something through. But, it is a black/white, good/bad, world. It is polarized and divided between us and them. So, win-win is sufficient.Win-win's are exclaimed, often with a sense...
How much is a click worth? Google, and many other platforms, make it a competition, an auction for how much your attention is going to cost. In my line of work, your attention is also very important. Many decisions are driven by the amount of attention from the public. Politicians are very sensitive to scrutiny and criticism. Therefore, decisions...
It is a simple question. Ok, maybe not so. The balance of power or responsibility? In an interview on CFAX 1070 with Pamela McCall, in the middle of the dramatic summer of 2017, she asked me straight. "What does it feel like to hold the balance of power?" My response surprised her. It was quick and sharp and went something like this....
Governments fixate on housing units. People create homes. There is a big difference. Housing is the most controversial issue in British Columbia. What is the provincial government doing about it? People demand less! People demand more! The home provides security and comfort. It is a primary factor in the health and wellbeing of an individual and...
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...
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...
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...