WEEK ONE: Feb 20th

🏛️IN THE HOUSE

• Bill 5: Trade Recognition Act

• • Turns Part 1 of Bill 7 from Spring 2025 into a standalone piece of legislation, largely to give other provinces and territories assurance that their goods can be bought, sold, and used in British Columbia, and vice versa

• Bill 6:Motor Vehicle Amendment Act

• • Digital drivers licensing renewal.

• Bill 7: Post-Secondary International Education (Designated Institutions) Act

• • Regulating colleges and universities to better protect international students.

🗣️Speeches in the house, in order of occurrence:

• Statement: MLA Valeriote on Tumbler Ridge and his reflections on attending the vigil

• Introductions: MLA Botterell introduces the B.C. Legislative Internship Program Greenterns™ Jenna Inch and Kaden Anderson-Hancock

• Question Period: MLA Botterell on DRIPA

• Introductions: MLA Valeriote introduces Policy Analyst Leif Douglass

• Budget Debate: MLA Botterell’s response to the BC Budget for 2026

• Introductions: MLA Valeriote thanks Policy Analyst Emily Bishop for her service

• Statement: MLA Botterell celebrates Celebrations (Ramadan, Lunar New Year, Lent)

• Question Period: MLA Valeriote questioning Minister Adrian Dix (Energy and Climate Solutions) on the health effects of LNG

• Budget Debate: MLA Valeriote’s response to the BC Budget for 2026

WEEK TWO: Feb 27th

🏛️IN THE HOUSE

• Government Bills

  • Civil Forfeiture Amendment Act, 2026 (Bill 8)

  • Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act, 2026 (Bill 9) RB likely to speak at 2nd reading

• Private Members Bills

  • Long Term Care Access and Transparency Act (Bill M 232) JV likely to speak at 2nd reading

  • MLA Armstrong’s PMB to end Human Rights Code did not pass 1st reading, but is a hot topic in the media (why do we keep giving her attention???

🗣️Speeches in the house, in order of occurrence:

• Bill Debate:MLA Valeriote responds to Private Members Bill (PMB) on reckless driving (Bill M226).

• Bill Debate: MLA Valeriote responds to PMB on Veterans and First Responders Act.

• Introductions: MLA Botterell welcomes North Saanich Middle School to the legislature.

• Question Period: MLA Valeriote on psychologists under MSP and counsellors in schools.

• Introductions: MLA Botterell welcomes Pender Island Food Bank to the legislature.

• Question Period: MLA Botterell on rising food bank usage (and corporate subsidies).

• Question Period: MLA Botterell on conservation financing and protecting old growth.

• Introductions: Bidding farewell to Gud Takin Jaad (Rose Williams)

• Statement: MLA Valeriote on Whistler’s role in the Olympics, Paralympics, and his family’s fitness.

• Question Period: MLA Valeriote on the toxic drug supply.

• Bill Debate: MLA Valeriote responds to Bill 5, the Trade Recognition Act.

WEEK 3: March 6th

🏛️IN THE HOUSE

• Government Bills

  • First reading:

    • Labour Statutes Amendment Act, 2026 (Bill 10) – attempts to improve workers’ rights, might do the opposite.🚩

    • Residential Tenancy Amendment Act, 2026 (Bill 11) – Addresses issues in SROs, might give landlords more power to evict.🚩

  • Second reading:

    • Motor Vehicle Amendment Act (Bill 6) – digital drivers license renewal

    • Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act, 2026 (Bill 9) - Claims to improve transparency, actually does the opposite.🚩

    • Budget Measures Implementation Act (Bill 2)

  • Third reading (Committee of the Whole):

    • Post-Secondary International Education (Designed Institutions) Act (Bill 7)

    • Civil Forfeiture Amendment Act, 2026 (Bill 8)

  • Complete (just need Royal Assent):

    • Budget Measures Implementation Act (No. 2), 2026 (Bill 3)

    • Supply Act (No. 1), 2026 (Bill 4)

    • Trade Recognition Act, 2026 (Bill 5)

• Private Members Bills

  • Second reading:

    • Long-Term Care Access and Transparency Act (Bill M232)

    • Veterans and First Responders Month Act (Bill M231)

🗣️Speeches in the house, in order of occurrence:

• Bill Debate:MLA Valeriote responds to Private Members Bill M 232 - Long Term Care Access and Transparency Act.

• Question Period: MLA Valeriote on Vancouver General Hospital diverting pregnant patients.

• Introductions: MLA Botterell welcomes affordable housing organizations from the Southern Gulf Islands to the legislature.

• Statement: MLA Valeriote responds to the Ministerial Statement on Iran.

• Question Period: MLA Botterell on cancelled funding for Gulf Islands affordable housing.

• Budget Estimates: MLA Valeriote questions Minister of Infrastructure, Bowinn Ma, about Budget 2026.

• Introductions: MLA Botterell introduces the SAN Constit team, who were visiting the Leg!

• Introductions: MLA Valeriotel introduces the WVS Constit team, who were visiting the Leg (and also Canadian Hydrogen Delegation)

• Question Period: MLA Valeriote questions Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and New Technologies, Rick Glumac, on the governance and use of AI in British Columbia.

• Budget Estimates: MLA Botterell questions Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Spencer Chandra-Herbert, about Budget 2026.

• Private Members’ Statement: MLA Botterell on Balcony Solar (Salt Spring connection)

• Question Period: MLA Botterell on 30x30

• Bill Debate: Greentern Kaden’s first amendment! The BC Greens got some great guardrails on Bill 7 last year, and we tried to get them applied to this year’s similar legislation (Bill 5). The BC NDP didn’t go for it. But we did get a Minister apology on the record.

WEEK 4: March 13th

🏛️IN THE HOUSE

• Government Bills we’re watching

  • Bill 9 - Amending FOI Act (MLA Botterell spoke at 2nd reading, and we’ll have questions at committee)

  • Bill 11 - Amends Residential Tenancy Act and might reduce renters’ rights.

  • Bill 13 - Safe Access to Places of Worship

• Other business

  • Buncha garbage Private Members Bills from Independents, that were voted down at 1st reading.

  • A Government motion “to affirm human rights” gave members hours and hours to grandstand and finger point.

🗣️Speeches in the house, in order of occurrence:

• Bill Debate: MLA Valeriote responds to a Private Members Motion on access to clean water.

• Question Period: MLA Valeriote on WLRS Permitting delays – 10 year wait!

• Question Period: MLA Botterell on Indigenous safety risks stemming from Government mismanagement of Aboriginal Title cases.

• Estimates: MLA Valeriote questions the Minister of Education and Child Care.

• Introductions: MLA Botterell introduces Saanich Peninsula healthcare workers and faith leaders from S.P.O.T.

• Question Period: MLA Botterell on the closure of S.P.O.T.

• Introductions: MLA Valeriote gives Policy Analyst Liza Brechbill their official welcome to the Legislature.

• Bill Debate: MLA Botterell’s barn burner of a 2nd Reading on Bill 9 (FOI Act)

• Estimates: MLA Botterell questions the Minister of Housing.

• Statement: MLA Valeriote celebrates French Language Day… speaking French!

• Question Period: MLA Valeriote on corruption, scandal and student fees at Quest University.

• Statement: MLA Botterell responds to Government Motion affirming Human Rights