You might remember the controversial firings of health researchers in 2012. It ended very poorly! Bill 13 amends the Public Service Act implementing recommendations empower the Merit Commissioner to review just-cause firings. In summary, four health workers were publicly dismissed and the government announced that...
Corporate welfare expanding... This week in Question Period my colleagues, Andrew Weaver and Sonia Furstenau, and I have been asking the government about their energy policy which is nothing more than an extension of the BC Liberals policy. Instead of establishing a visionary transformation to a low-carbon 21st...
There is a shocking and growing disconnect between human beings and all the other species that we share planet earth with. It is time to sharpen the edge, sharpen the focus and apologize to our ancestors and frankly do better for our children and grandchildren. Thank you to Emily Olsen for sharing these beautiful...
Following a six-month pilot project for a youth health clinic started by Dr. Kate Evans, it appears it is here to stay! There was need not just for physical but also for mental health support and Dr. Evans' program not only got the support of the South Island Division of Family Practice, Peninsula Medical Clinic, the...
What is up with the advertising spending? During the last four years of the BC Liberals the BC NDP harshly criticized the former government for spending millions of dollars of taxpayers money on what amounted to partisan campaign ads. Well, recent reports have come out that even though we have an NDP government, the...
In Budget 2018, the provincial government proposed several measures in an attempt to deal with a massive housing affordability crisis in British Columbia. One of the measures was a "speculation tax" which was part of the BC Green Caucus housing policy announced in earlier this year. There have been many concerns...
I had the opportunity to celebrate the provincial government's commitment to Indigenous language revitalization. I thank BCNDP MLA Bowinn Ma for her powerful response. This is a transformative step in our long journey of reconciliation. [Transcript] Adam Olsen My name is SȾHENEP. I grew up in the WJOȽEȽP village of...
For four straight days in Question Period me and my BC Green colleagues have been asking government about their wild fish policy. We have noted that up to six different provincial ministries and one federal department all have responsibility for this file. Essentially, the policy is fractured, leaving wild salmon and...
In our ongoing series, about how government plays an essential role in working to support the dedication and passion of people and organizations in our communities, I turn my attention to the Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust. Their project called "The Root" received a $100,000 grant from the Rural Dividend Fund last...
Budget 2018 has some good news on transportation. There are a handful of policy changes that will help decrease the costs for people who live in ferry dependent communities. Commitments were made to invest transit which I welcome in Saanich North and the Islands and the Capital Regional District. [Transcript] This...
In Budget 2018, the British Columbia government makes a transformative investment in the restoration of Indigenous languages. Our province is the most linguistically diverse in Canada and many Indigenous languages have been lost or are near extinction. Reconnecting to language is a critical step forward in...
The BCNDP government laid out their priorities in Budget 2018. I have laid out my initial thoughts on the budget, both positive and negative, in this video. Our goal shouldn't be just to simply fix the shortcomings of the last 16 years. As leaders, we need to champion a clear plan for British Columbia. We need a...
I remain concerned about the government's response to rapid decline of Steelhead trout in the Thompson and Chilcoten Rivers. These fish have been listed as near extinction with only a few dozen fish returning to spawn. Many Steelhead are caught inadvertently, as by-catch, in the Chum salmon gill-net fishery. In...
My colleague Andrew Weaver asked the government about the objective of the housing policy announced in Budget 2018. He did not receive a clear answer. I continued to press government through Finance Minister, Hon. Carole James, on the objective of her budget. Is the goal to stabilize demand, bring down the curve of...
We need a plan! The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife of Canada has recently initiated a seldom used fast track process and concluded that the Thompson and Chilcoten Steelhead trout are at imminent risk of extinction. I asked the Minister of Forest, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural...
Throne Speech 2018: We are ready! Today I responded to Throne Speech 2018. I am happy with the direction our government is taking. I support the approach. Despite the speech being light on details, I outlined several opportunities in Saanich North and the Islands where we can work with government on many of the...
Making smiles on the Saanich Peninsula The Oral Care for Children and Adolescents Dental Clinic Society (ORCCA) helps children who do not have dental insurance or whose parents cannot afford dental care. In short, they do great work out of an annex at Sidney Elementary. Today, I not only celebrate ORCCA but also what...
On October 25, 2017 students from the Gulf Islands Secondary School visited the legislature. They each wrote me letters with extensive feedback on their experience in Question Period. In my last statement of the Fall session, I read a sampling of their responses into the record. [Transcript] A few weeks back I...
The BC NDP Cabinet will be making a decision on Site C before the end of 2017. There are so many reasons for the government to cancel the project. Over the past few weeks the BC Green Caucus has highlighted many of the reasons in Question Period. Today, I asked Hon. Michelle Mungall (Minister of Energy, Mines and...
Question to Hon. Michelle Mungall about Site C Site C is a major source of contention in British Columbia. Muskrat Falls in Newfoundland & Labrador is an example of government throwing good money after bad and resulting the cost overruns and the doubling of electricity rates to ratepayers. Adam Olsen asks Energy,...
I rose in question period to press Premier John Horgan on the whether his government was going to follow the BC Liberal approach to energy policy or embrace a 21st century energy policy? [Transcript] This week in the House, British Columbia's energy policy has been canvassed in great detail. In doing so, we've spoken...
I rose in the House to offer a two minute statement about my amazing constituency, Saanich North and the Islands. We have a massive opportunity in our riding to embrace the 21st century economy and I look forward to working with our business community! [Transcript]Saanich North and the Islands is home to amazing...
I rose to speak at second reading to Bill 15 (Local Elections Campaign Financing Amendment Act, 2017). Local government officials have been calling for the changes in this Bill for a long time and I am happy to support them! [Transcript]Thank you. Wow. That never gets old.I come to this House from local government. I...
In question period I asked Hon. Michelle Mungall, the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, about the Oil and Gas Commission and dozens of unregulated, unapproved dams for use in fracking operations in Northern British Columbia. [Transcript]A. Olsen: There is an inherent conflict when a regulatory agency...
Recognizing the dramatic housing affordability crisis and a lack of stability for renters in the current marketplace, this Bill provides renters more security. It is important that we strike a fine balance between landlord and renter rights to ensure renters are protected and landlords are encouraged to keep their...
Adam Olsen's statement highlighting the incredible work of the Peninsula Streams Society and habitat restoration. Human activity is heavily impacting ecosystems and the work of stream keeping organizations across British Columbia is successfully reversing the negative impacts. [Transcript]Saanich North and the Islands...