Since the beginning of the COVID-19 global pandemic British Columbia has needed a paid sick leave benefit so workers who are feeling sick do not go to work. Advocates have long stated that this is a critical program that will limit transmission of the disease in the workplace. The program covers three days pay. Three...
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...
For the past four years the BC NDP government has been working on accessibility legislation. The project was started by Shane Simpson, the former Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, and after a lot of consultation the government has finally tabled their new law. It is enabling legislation. In other...
Over the past year, we have heard many stories on the nightly news about the tragic COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care homes. Throughout the first wave of the global pandemic our elders, specifically those living in care facilities, were the most threatened by the virus. As a result of changes to staffing protocols, limited access and a...
I had the honour of responding on behalf of the BC Green Caucus to the Ministerial Statement delivered by Premier John Horgan on the passing of Thomas Berger. Mr. Berger was a powerful advocate for Indigenous rights and title, former B.C. Supreme Court Justice, Member of Parliament and Member of the British Columbia...
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...
All governments have a responsibility to support each other in the collective effort to build welcoming, diverse and inclusive communities. Communications is critically important. Bad communications that lacks information can often turn a difficult situation into an impossible one. I address this in this statement....
2020 was a year of monumental disruption. The COVID-19 pandemic played one part. The profound impacts of the deaths of George Floyd in Minnesota, Regis Korchinski-Paquet in Toronto and Chantel Moore in New Brunswick, in addition to allegations of racist “games” in the British Columbia healthcare system, shook our business-as-usual public...
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...
In her budget speech Finance Minister Selina Robinson told British Columbians that her fiscal plan is proof that the BC NDP "has our backs." "Making life more affordable" is an oft-used BC NDP refrain in their throne speeches, budgets and question period responses. Budget 2021 is the BC NDP's first budget with their...
I had the honour of responding on behalf of the BC Green Caucus to the Statement from Minister George Heyman on Earth Day. [Transcript] Today on Earth Day national governments are meeting to announce new climate targets. They acknowledge that a certain amount of global warming is already locked in. This is already...
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...
When the BC NDP called a snap election in the Fall 2020, they spoke publicly about wanting a majority government so they can implement their agenda. The Speech from the Throne is the opportunity for the BC NDP government to lay out for British Columbians their agenda. Unfortunately, the 2021 Throne Speech did not lay...
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...
In my two minute statement I spoke to a critical teaching from my home territory W̱SÁNEĆ about the importance of looking after each other, all species as if they are our relatives. [Transcript] There is an important teaching in W̱SÁNEĆ. We are reminded of the teaching through the stories of the Creator, XÁLS. Landing...
Special Online Event "Inside and Out" Two perspectives for protecting the natural environment of the Saanich Peninsula A special online evening with Ian Bruce and Bob Peart Hosted by Adam Olsen, MLA Tuesday April 20, 2021 7:00pm RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/rsvp-saanichenvironment Event hosted by the Saanich North and the Islands BC Green Party...
ÍY SȻÁĆEL (Good Day), Welcome Spring! Welcome light! Welcome PEXSISEṈ. The third moon of the W̱SÁNEĆ calendar, PEXSISEṈ is the moon of the opening hands. Intrigued? Learn more here. In December, the new BC NDP government opened the first session of the 42nd Parliament with a Throne Speech and eight days of debate on two finance bills, one that...
We have been asking questions of the provincial government about their response to the growing mental health crisis in British Columbia. Every one of their responses have been framed with sincere condolences. Yet, urgent action is lacking. We have heard from numerous community advocates that the provincial programs to deliver a safe supply of...
Normally, a Supply Act is an inconspicuous bit of procedure. The media and the public hardly pay any attention. While it’s process largely goes unnoticed, it’s purpose is important as it enables government to continue paying the bills in between one fiscal year and the next. Other articles on this issue. Vaughn Palmer: Budget delayed, B.C. NDP...
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...
When I was a municipal councillor in the District of Central Saanich, I remember well the relationship between local and provincial government. It was, and still is, top-down with the provincial government dictating to communities their priorities and holding a vast majority of the financial tools that are needed to...
This podcast was originally published on The Green Exchange podcast from the BC Green Caucus on March 19, 2021. This podcast is a MUST LISTEN if you are concerned about old-growth in British Columbia. In this episode of The Public Circle Podcast I connect with Ken Wu, the former Executive Director of the Ancient Forest Alliance and the current...
In this two minute Statement I reflect on the culture of territorial acknowledgements that is now become common practice in the British Columbia legislature. These acknowledgements lack meaning when they are not followed with the concrete actions of reconciliation. I used the example of the eagerness of the Members to...
During the debate on Clause 5 of Bill 4, the Firearms Violence Prevention Act, I raised numerous concerns with the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Hon. Mike Farnworth, regarding the potential impact and overreach on Indigenous hunting rights. Our debate went more than an hour. In the end Minister...