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...
This week the BC Green Caucus has been asking Ministers in Question Period about the level of preparedness of their specific Ministry for climate change. In order for the provincial government to address climate change it must happen across the whole of government. Ministry by ministry, sector by sector. I had the...
In the 2017 election, the BC Green Party campaigned on increasing accountability and transparency in our democracy. Last fall we worked with the BC NDP government to take the initial steps to ban big money from provincial and municipal elections. We also played a key role in keeping electoral reform on the agenda with...
I had the opportunity to stand and acknowledge the work of Character Canada and Character Abbotsford. The focus of this powerful organization is to "inspire character, enable leaders and influence community." As they state it is not about being the character police or demanding perfection but rather "living through...
Bill 52, The Agricultural Land Commission Amendment Act is an important piece of legislation that moves to protect food security and restrict speculation on agricultural land by not allowing the construction of homes in the ALR over 5200 sq/ft. In addition, this Bill reverts the ALR back to a single zone, thus...
Ken Curry is the last living veteran of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry and the ill-fated Canadian contingent that raided the beaches of Dieppe. He is 96 years old and lives in Sidney, BC. In a few days we will be honouring our veterans on Remembrance Day. I stood in the house and spoke to the sacrifice they make on...
For the past 38 years, Saanichton farmer Mike Fleming has donated the Christmas tree to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. At the end of October Mr. Fleming died suddenly of a heart attack while harvesting Christmas trees in the Kootenays. I had the honour of remembering Mike Fleming on behalf of the whole...
The BC Green Caucus continues to raise questions in Question Period about the impact of open net pen fish farms in British Columbia waters. We have covered growing concerns over viruses, blood water discharge and the overall impact of aquaculture on wild Pacific salmon. This past Spring we heard about an unprecedented...
I have been invited to many meetings from forestry experts and advocates since my election to the British Columbia legislature. Each and every group has strongly criticized the approach of the Ministry and past decisions. When I have asked Ministry officials about these issues they have assured me that everything is...
I, and my BC Green caucus colleagues, have been canvassing initiatives on innovation from various government ministries in question period this week. There are so many opportunities for the provincial government to grow our economy through unleashing the creative power of British Columbians if we take tangible steps...
In Bill 46, government is amending the South Coast Transportation Act to increase the ability of TransLink to increase the allowable parking rights tax rate as per the request of the Metro Vancouver Mayors' Council. The change increases the percentage rate to 24% from 21% and providing up to $10 million more revenue...
British Columbians are the last people in Canada paying a highly regressive medical services plan premium. They are regressive because no matter your income you pay the same amount. Andrew Weaver has been working to try to get government to change their approach and create a more progressive system. Shortly before the...
The provincial government is moving to amend the BC Assessment Act to allow them to continue qualifying properties based on their current use rather than their highest and best use. There is no question that assessment, mill rates and tax rolls has the ability to make eyes roll, glaze over and to put you to sleep....
Since my election as the MLA in May 2017, I have had many meetings in my office and hundreds more emails, from constituents who do not have a family doctor. The lack of access to primary care is not just in Saanich North and the Islands but in ridings all across British Columbia. This long-standing issue was even the...
After many months of speculation about what was going to be contained in the bill enabling the speculation and vacancy tax that was proposed by the BC NDP government it was finally tabled and I stood and spoke at second reading. [Transcript] I rise to take my place in the debate on the speculation and vacancy tax...
BC Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver called for an emergency debate in the BC Legislature to respond to the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the United Nations (http://www.ipcc.ch/) "on the impacts of global warming of 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and related global...
It's about fairness The referendum on proportional representation is about fairness. It is about ensuring that the will of British Columbians on election day is reflected in legislature. Under the current first-past-the-post system our power, the power of the people, is consolidated into one party, usually through a false majority. Meaning, that...
When the BC NDP government announced they were finally changing the medical services premiums (MSP), they were lauded by British Columbians who have been calling on for more than a decade. They struck a task force to advice government on the best approach to changing a system that generates billions of dollars each...
While in Official Opposition the BC NDP were highly critical of the BC Liberals plan for LNG. Perhaps they were not outright opposed to dumping megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions into the environment, but they were incredibly vocal on the former government's plan to sell-out future British Columbians for...
I welcomed leaders of the Salt Spring Island Chamber of Commerce into the Legislature to discuss workforce housing challenges on the Island. Addressing this critical issue is just one part of the complex housing and community sustainability challenges facing rural, remote and coastal communities, especially on the...
There have long been discussions about better connecting the Capital Region and Cowichan Valley Regional District by building a bridge across the Saanich Inlet. There is no doubt that we need better connectivity on Southern Vancouver Island but a bridge is not the solution. Not only will it cost billions of dollars to...
This week the BC Green Caucus has been celebrating and highlighting business in BC. Technology, innovation, education, investment in post-secondary skills training have all been front and centre. Entrepreneurs work hard and shoulder tremendous risk to realize their ideas. In many cases they put their staff and...
Climate action starts with setting goals and accountability measures. British Columbia was a leader in climate action. Former Premier Christy Clark decided not continue the work of her predecessor Gordon Campbell. We have a responsibility to future generations to do our absolute best to make decisions today on their...
The government has committed to funding 40% of the Metro Vancouver Mayors' 10-year transportation plan. Investments in transit and alternative transportation options to the single-occupant vehicle are greatly needed in the lower mainland, capital region and other areas in the province. We could be doing much better...