As a long-time Sidney business owner and the immediate past president of the Sidney Business Improvement Area Society, I am continually impressed with Adam’s commitment to our community and his dedication to making sure things get done!He is a true steward, not just of our environment, but of the needs and interests of the people who live, work...
Adam Olsen has proven to be one of the strongest leaders for Saanich North and the Islands ever. This is due to the genuine connection he develops with all residents. Beginning when I was only 15 years old, Adam has included my opinion in conversations that affect our riding and province.He has consistently proven to me that every voice does...
I am a proud WSANEC woman from Tseycum First Nation. I am pleased to endorse Adam Olsen, my WSANEC relative from Tsartlip, in his bid to be re-elected as the MLA for Saanich North and the Islands.Adam has worked hard for this place and I know he will continue to work hard. Please remember to vote on October 24th and let’s re-elect Adam...
I first met Adam several years ago at the Salt Spring Film Festival, where we shared a table at lunch. This was before Adam first ran as an MLA for the BC Green Party. At the time he seemed to me to be a person of integrity who not only had interesting ideas on how to solve some of society’s problems and challenges, but also someone who actively...
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE8Fi8FShBo[/embedyt] My name is Briony Penn, I'm a writer and a community organizer and I am voting for Adam Olsen again, as an MLA for Saanich and the Gulf Islands because he is so accessible and you can take any issue to Adam from local issues to reconciliation to climate change and he'll give you an...
Adam is very passionate about the Salish Sea. He has a deep connection and cares deeply about the place where we live and the people who live here.I really appreciate his work on the UNDRIP Act, because it is a critical issue right now and I feel he has taken the action and initiative needed to make something as big as this Act happen.It is also...
Adam is a tireless worker on our behalf, and on behalf of all the livingness of British Columbia. I am so happy and grateful to have him as our representative. He has made a practice of regularly speaking and listening with us, both on Salt Spring and throughout the islands. He takes our unique views into account. With Adam as our...
For our family, Adam Olsen is a candidate that makes sense. If you have a chance to meet Adam, you will feel his sincerity as someone that actually listens to understand and not just say what he thinks you want to hear.You will recognize his dedication to the issues our community faces. And you will recognize his confidence as the voice for his...
I am honoured to endorse Adam Olsen, BC Green incumbent candidate for Saanich North and the Islands riding for the upcoming Provincial election this October the 24th.Since my first meeting with Adam Olsen on a milk run ferry trip four or more years ago, I was swept up by his passion for this place where we live-his ancestral home as a member of...
I have lived in Canada for 13 years and this is the first time I have experienced a snap election. From September 21 when the NDP called the election until Election Day is less than five weeks. In that four week, five day time period, BC Elections must organize the elections, acquire polling places, hold advance polls, find and appoint staff...
I have an interesting story about Sonia Furstenau, Jan Carroll, Emily and Adam Olsen. In 2006 Emily and I were planning our mid-August wedding. I was given one important job - secure the person who would officiate. Part of the reason I had such a minimal workload for the wedding was that I was also the communications manager for Aboriginal Team...
Just as roads with power and telephone lines strung down the side were transformative for people and communities, the next evolution will be a robust digital grid connecting the Southern Gulf Islands and British Columbians in every community. Let’s use the opportunity of the current circumstances to develop our digital infrastructure.We have all...
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPG_2NjSBDI[/embedyt] Monday August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day. Long before the Covid-19 pandemic British Columbia was dealing with another public health emergency - overdoses and poisonings from toxic illicit street drugs. Since 2016 more than 5500 British Columbians - our friends,...
The provincial government is responsible for the provincial transportation network including our ferry system, the critical service connecting coastal communities. That is why the BC Greens advocate for BC Ferries to be brought back into government.The ferries system connects us to our homes, our businesses and our communities. They are critical...
The wildlife act should protect animals in British Columbia. Far too often incidents involving the conservation service end with the death of animals. For example many incidents we hear about involving bears could have been avoided all together if there was a much greater focus on preventing human/animal interactions by enforcing wildlife laws...
If you have been following my blog then you might feel this post is just recycling old content. Unfortunately, I am not. The bad news for the wild Pacific salmon is getting worse.This week a CBC reporter asked me to respond to the fact that the Pacific Salmon Commission has downgraded the 2020 Fraser River sockeye salmon forecast from 941,000 to...
As the fall approaches, there is growing tension in our province as we anticipate a second wave of COVID-19. Today I asked the Premier what this government will do differently if we face a second wave in the fall, and how we can ensure our systems and structures can protect the mental health and...
My work in budget estimates wrapped up with questions to Hon. Carole James (Minister of Finance).My B.C. Green Caucus colleague Sonia Furstenau canvassed issues relating to COVID-19. In the time I had allotted to me I asked about the decision to delay the 2020 scheduled increase of the carbon tax and if September 30th is still the target date...
The overall health of the Site C project has been classified as "red," facing serious cost overruns and schedule delays. Site C is proving to be a colossal waste of money, and we can't afford to just keep digging when we don't know how deep the hole will go. Today I asked the Minister of Energy,...
The B.C. Green Caucus had one hour in budget estimates with Minister Doug Donaldson (Forests, Lands, Natural Resources and Rural Development). It is a massive Ministry with responsibility for many aspects of our province. My colleague Sonia Furstenau and I have spent a lot of time over the past few years asking about the BC NDP's plans for...
This coming fall the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act will be convening to look at the decades old British Columbia Police Act. This is important work and I am thankful to be able to participate on this special committee.In this session of budget estimates I ask Minister Mike Farnworth about a few policing issues including...
Today I asked the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions for a detailed breakdown of how much of BC's health care budget is dedicated to mental and behavioural health care delivery. I also asked if the Minister agrees that increased mental health care would create better health outcomes and lower...
In this episode of The Public Circle Podcast I share a recording of the second reading speech I would have stood and delivered in response to Bill 22: The Mental Health Amendment Act (2020). You will find more details about the proposed legislation in the opening to the podcast and details about why we were challenged by the language in the bill...
In this round of budget estimates I had a brief opportunity to inquire with the Minister of Health, Hon. Adrian Dix, about an on-going healthcare challenge on the Saanich Peninsula and across the province - a lack of access to primary care or as many know it, a shortage of family doctors. Since the 2017 election the provincial government has been...
The wellbeing of our communities is threatened and solutions have been in front of provincial politicians for a long time. We must modernize local government legislation in British Columbia and provide local elected leaders access to the fiscal tools they need to build resilient communities. This is now even more urgently required as COVID-19 has...
Today I asked the Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development if he will introduce the promised reforms to Forests and Range Practices Act by this fall session. I also asked the Minister again if government will pause logging in old-growth ecosystems at the highest risk...