Tuesday October 21st and Wednesday October 22nd were a blur!  Here are the highlights:

·      I spoke to Bill 29, the Child Family and Community Service Act at 2nd reading. This Act will clearly outline the legal authority and parameters for safety plans. These plans are a voluntary agreement between the Ministry and parents to keep the child safe and very importantly in the home. Removing a child from the home should always be a last safety measure. I took the opportunity to outline the fraught history of child welfare systems, the ground breaking work of the Independent Representative for Children and Youth , Dr. Jennifer Charlesworth, who I have known for many years, and the many areas still requiring work to ensure the safety and wellness of all children in BC. Click here to watch. 

·      I spoke to the Bill 20, Construction Prompt Payment Act at 2nd reading. Up until now, unlike other provinces, BC has lacked specific laws to ensure timely payment in construction. This Act will close this legislative gap. All too often delay and disputes over payment mean that subcontractors, suppliers and tradespeople can wait 90 to 120 days for payment. Imagine trying to make ends meet or run a business and having to wait 3 or 4 months. An astonishing 88% of the construction industry (260,000 employees and $29 Billion in economic activity per year) reports late payments on invoices. Click here to watch.

·      Jeremy and I held a “scrum” with media to answer questions on Bill 31 , the Energy Statutes Amendments Act and the recent Cowichan court decision. A scrum is immensely fun – each of us is peppered with questions by the media  - it gives us a great opportunity to relay the Green Caucus position on key issues. I spoke to part of the BC supreme court decision which held that Cowichan has proven aboriginal title to a parcel of private fee simple land in Richmond. The court directed BC and Canada to uphold the honour of the Crown and negotiate in good faith with Cowichan to resolve this issue and reconcile the competing interests of Cowichan and the fee simple landowners.  To listen to the ensuing media coverage you would think that all British Columbians were going to be kicked off their land and the business activity would come to an end. My message was take a deep breath, fee simple ownership and aboriginal title can co-exist and as the courts have noted repeatedly it is up to BC and Canada to negotiate an mutually satisfactory resolution and reconciliation of the competing interests when and where it arises. Read what my colleague Jeremy Valeriote had to say about Bill 31, here.

·      In Question Period I zeroed in on cuts to overtime and agency staffing at Greenwoods near Ganges on Salt Spring Island. I highlighted the devastating impact this will have and call on the Minister to postpone the cuts and work on a solution. In my supplementary I took the government to task for abandoning low income British Columbians below the poverty line who are suffering even more because of cuts to the grocery rebate and elimination of the climate action tax credit. Click here to watch.  

·      Another highlight was joining the Carl Olsen, former MLA Adam Olsen, W̱SÁNEĆ Leaders, and the Wilderness Committee on the lawn of the legislature for the Save Goldstream Protest. Since 2018 the government has plans to to spend $162 million on pedestrian improvements and medians at Goldstream which will gravely endanger the salmon run. There are other alternatives that are much less costly and which respect the title, rights and interests of the W̱SÁNEĆ people

·      The balance of the last two days was spent attending meetings of the Legislative Assembly Management Committee, meetings with our Leader Emily Lowan and the Premier, update meetings on the Cooperation and Responsible Government Agreement, and follow-up on constituency issues with Ministers….A full 2 days.  

Lots happening across the riding… and always more to do! Hope to see you at the Meet & Greet in Brentwood Bay for good coffee and great conversation.

See you soon,