Newsletter Vlog #19

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Time Stamps here:

WEEK FIVE: March 30th

🏛️IN THE HOUSE

Government Bills:

  • Bill 14 Forest Statutes Amendment Act - will provide BC Timber Sales a new tool to provide more fibre more quickly outside of traditional auction system through "contract logging authorizations"

  • Bill 15 Environmental Assessment Amendment Act - will make changes to dispute resolution process from input gained through consultation and engagement with First Nations 

  • 🚩Bill 16 Misc Statutes Amendment Act - proposed changes to multiple ministries: (AG) Judicial Reviews, (ECS) Fuel Prices and Zero-Emission EVs,  (HMA) Sewage + drainage, Manufactured Home parks, University Endowment Lands, Residential Tenancy Act, (PSSG) Corrections Act amendments with involuntary treatment

  • Bill 17 Housing and Municipal Affairs (Code of Conduct) Amendment Act - will create a provincewide, mandatory code of conduct for municipal and regional district elected officials

  • Bill 18 Housing and Municipal Affairs (Parental Leave) Amendment Act - will establish a provincial minimum parental leave entitlements for local elected officials

Debated:

  • Bill 2 Budget Measures Implementation Act (FIN) passed committee, third reading (confidence, sought tie breaking vote from the speaker)

  • Bill 6 Motor Vehicle Amendment Act (AG) passed committee, third reading 

  • Bill 8 Civil Forfeiture Act (PSSG) passed committee, third reading 

  • Bill 10 Labour Statutes Amendment Act passed committee, third reading

  • Bill 11 Residential Tenancy Act passed second reading

  • Bill 12 Safe access to schools Act (AG) passed second, committee, third reading

  • Bill 13 Safe access to places of public worship act (AG) passed second, committee, third reading 

Passed:

  • Bills 2, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13 will be up for Royal Assent on April 16th

Private Members Bills:

Introduced:

  • M239 Aboriginal Title Transparency Act - MLA Scott McInnis

  • M240 Transparency of Advocacy Organizations Act - MLA Tara Armstrong

Debated: 

  • M201 passed - adjourned debate with respect to affirming commitment to affordable, equitable and accessible clean water as an important component of Canadian Sovereignty (Greens supported)

  • M203 failed - debate adjourned with respect to affirming the application of the merit principle within B.C. Public Service be overseen by an independent officer of the Legislature (Greens supported)

Other:

  • M214 Firefighters Health Act (MLA Misty Van Popta) was reported back to the House from Committee with amendments, will be debated on April 13th

Video will go here

Week Five: IN THE NEWS

  • Comment from MLA Botterell: B.C. NDP no longer cares about access to information. In 1991, Rob l led the team that developed B.C.’s Freedom of Information (FOI) ­legislation for Mike Harcourt’s NDP ­government. In this Op-Ed for the Times Colonist, he gives his take on Bill 9. (Times Colonist)

🗣️Speeches in the house, in order of occurrence:

WEEK SIX: In The News

  • B.C. Green MLA Botterell said it’s clear that Eby and the B.C. NDP is at a crossroads.  “Do they want to be on the side of history where we’re back in court and stepping everything back 20 years, or do they want to be on the side of history where we’re actually going to do the work that’s not getting done working with First Nations?”  His and the Green Party’s view is that there is “really no need for the amendment of DRIPA.”  Botterell pointed to comments from Olsen that MLAs in the legislature “really need to think carefully about what they’re going to do, and particularly the ones that were there in 2019,” meaning the MLAs who helped bring in the act six years ago. (Black Press)

⛰️ RIDING NEWS

  • Woodfibre LNG plans massive expansion: federal minister. Energy minister Tim Hodgson told investors that Woodfibre LNG has ambitions to double and triple its size—raising critics' fears that the project could act as a 'regulatory Trojan horse'. (BiV)

WEEK SIX: April 13th

🏛️IN THE HOUSE

Private Members’ Bills:

  • Kiel Giddens M233 Public Sector Construction Projects Procurement Act - started second reading

  • Misty Van Popta M214 Firefighters Health Act received royal assent 

  • Gavin Dew introduced M242 Brain Injury Support Act

  • Tara Armstrong introduced M243 Speculation and Vacancy Tax Repeal Act

  • George Anderson M216 Professional Reliance Act  - PMB committee recommended that the Bill not continue

Government Bills:

Introduced: historic moment first new treaty legislation introduced in 10 years

  • 20 K'omoks Treaty Act

  • 21 Kitselas Treaty Act

We support negotiation over litigation, and largely support the Modern Treaty process. Some concerns about overlapping land claims, but we hope these can be resolved Nation-to-Nation

Second Reading:

  • 14 Forestry Statutes Amendment Act completed

  • 15 EAA completed

  • 16 Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act (AG, ECS, HMA, PSSG amendments) started

Committee:

  • 11 RTA completed

  • 15 EAA completed

Royal Assent:

  • 2 Budget Measures Accountability Act

  • 6 Motor Vehicle Amendment Act

  • 8 Civil Forfeitures Act

  • 10 Labour Statutes Amendment Act

  • 11 Residential Tenancy Amendment Act

  • 12 Safe Access to Schools Amendment Act

  • 13 Safe Access to Places of Worship Act

  • 15 Environmental Assessment Amendment Act 

🗣️Speeches in the house, in order of occurrence: