Videos
by Adam Olsen
BC NDP Throne Speech is a squandered opportunity to lay out a vision
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...
Questioning government communications on COVID-19
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...
QEN,T TŦEN SĆÁLEĆE (You look after your relatives)
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...
BC NDP won’t protect old-growth in Fairy Creek
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...
What is the future of the provincial relationship with local government?
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...
Territorial acknowledgements cannot be just hollow words
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...
Amendments to Bill 4 address concerns about Indigenous hunting rights
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...
“You can’t consult about trees that are already cut!”
My colleague Sonia Furstenau and I continued to ask questions about old-growth logging and specifically pressed government on the claims made by the Minister of Forests that they "are committed to government-to-government discussions with Indigenous nations in this province as the number one recommendation from the...
2021 Supply Act: Nothing to see here, except there is!
In December the BC NDP used their majority to delay budget 2021. They claimed they needed more time due to the challenge posed by the global pandemic. In reality, it was their self-serving fall election that caused the new government to immediately begin trampling on the budget process, eventually pushing the annual...
Will the BC NDP talk and log until all old-growth is gone?
Since 2017 the BC Green Caucus have been pressing the BC NDP to take action to protect the grandest, high productivity old-growth forests in our province. Unfortunately, the talking points from the new Minister are the same as the talking points from the last Minister responsible for our forests. Both have routinely...
Supporting firearms violence prevention while protecting Indigenous hunting rights
For decades Indigenous people in British Columbia have been arrested while undertaking their treaty-protected hunt. As a result they are forced into provincial courts to defend their long-established hunting rights. This has been the pattern, generation after generation. Even when the courts decide in favour of...
Addressing stigma, discrimination and judgement of people experiencing a mental health crisis
Over the past week we the BC Green Caucus has been asking government about safe supply, decriminalization, mental health and addictions. We have heard condolences but what is missing is the urgent provincial action the mental health crisis requires. There too many stories of British Columbians who have presented to a...
As illicit drug toxicity increases, what about safe supply?
As a response to the increasing toxicity of drugs in the illicit market, the provincial government took steps to be one of the first jurisdictions to provide illicit drug users access to a safe supply of a pharmaceutical grade opioid alternative. With more than 1700 British Columbians perishing to a drug poisoning...
Legislation for province to administer home owner grant
In general terms, Bill 6 provides the provincial government the responsibility to administer the home owner grant. In the past, this is a provincial program however it has been administered by municipal governments across the province. In my second reading speech I note support for this change and express my hope that...
Questioning government about data collection and use
For the past week, my colleague Sonia Furstenau and I have been focused on data collection and how data is informing the decisions government is making about the COVID-19 pandemic. We agree with statements made by the Minister of Health that vaccine response should go to the most vulnerable people. However, if...
Two public consultations open for Saanich North and the Islanders
The provincial government has opened community consultation on the Keating X Road flyover project and wants your feedback. Also, with a third Salish class vessel ready to serve the Southern Gulf Islands BC Ferries is seeking public input into a new ferry schedule. In this two-minute statement I thank the people of...
Taking steps to support renters in British Columbia
More than two years ago I had the honour of participating in the Rental Housing Task Force with Vancouver West-End MLA Spencer Chandra-Herbert and Courtney-Comox MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard. We held community engagement sessions across the province and heard from both renters and landlords as well as other stakeholders. In...
Few details on $300 million program to support small business
In September the BC NDP announced a $300 million program to support small businesses in British Columbia survive the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been eight months since the public health and economic crisis began. Small business owners continue to contact me to tell me that the provincial government has been slow to...
Is it a Throne Speech or the Throne Speech?
British Columbians need clarity from the BC NDP government whether the Throne Speech that opened the 42nd Parliament is the plan for 2021, or if there is another Throne Speech planned for the Spring. As it stands right now it's unclear what the plan is, and it's not really certain that there is a plan. We know we are...
Site C boondoggle buried in secrecy
Site C is a mess! From investigative reporting we know that the government has had information for at least a year about significant geotechnical problems with the project. In this round of questions, Minister of Energy, Hon. Bruce Ralston, continues his desperate attempt to blame this project on the former BC...
Ready to govern?
When Premier John Horgan pulled the legislature down around him causing the snap pandemic election, he claimed it was because British Columbia needed a strong majority government that was ready to govern through COVID-19. He said the BC NDP were ready to lead. He claimed that his election would not delay economic...
COVID-19 impact and work of food banks
In the first Members Statement of the 42nd Parliament I turn my attention to the responsibility we have as MLA's to govern for all British Columbians, the impact of COVID-19, and the fragility of our services. I turn my attention to the important work of food banks and then state my commitment to work toward poverty...
Cruel omission: A deliberate act or oversight?
For nearly a decade Capital Regional District (CRD) Electoral Area Directors from Salt Spring Island, the Southern Gulf Islands and Juan de Fuca have been advocating for a change in their designation from urban to rural. There is no doubt that these unincorporated communities are rural, however because they are...
If BC faces a second wave of COVID-19, what will this government do differently?
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...
Where will government draw the line on the cost overruns at Site C?
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,...
How much of BC’s health budget is dedicated to mental health care delivery?
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...