Newsletter #13
In This Issue: Lots to cover this week – grab a coffee!
· Minister Josie Osborne’s visit to Salt Spring and Pender Islands and meetings with local leaders
· Insights from Dr. Jane Philpott on transforming primary health care
· Introducing my first Private Member’s Bill on vacancy control to protect renters
· Advancing reconciliation and standing against fearmongering following the Cowichan Nations title decision
· Legislative highlights: opposing flawed OneBC bills and progressing democratic reform
· Supporting local initiatives on housing, childcare, and climate action
· Updates from the First Nations Leadership Gathering and the CARGA report
I’d love to see you! Stop by my next Meet & Greets☕:
Friday, November 21 ⏰ 9:30am-11am
📍 Brentwood Bay Village Emporium
7103 W Saanich Road
Friday, December 5 ⏰ 10am-12pm
📍 Sidney Serious Coffee
102-2417 Beacon Avenue
The highlights of this week’s session are too numerous to mention, but here are some of the key updates:
- I introduced my first Private Members Bill on vacancy control, entitled “Residential Tenancy Amendment Act, 2025”. 🏡 It’s time to introduce limits on how much landlords can raise rent between tenancies. 1 in 3 British Columbians are renters and 85% of evictions are no-fault. We have to eliminate incentives of real estate investment trusts and other investors to evict renters and increase rents without justification. Rents can be increased by an amount related to inflation and landlords can apply for exemptions where increases are needed for major maintenance. Click here for my speech and click here for an interview I did on CFAX.
- I added my voice, on behalf of the Green Caucus 🌿, to those calling for calm and an end to fearmongering over the implementation of the Cowichan Nation’s decision granting Aboriginal title to a 750-acre parcel of land in Richmond. I called on the BC government to negotiate with Cowichan to reconcile aboriginal and fee simple title to the lands in question. On Tuesday there was a tense meeting in Richmond that I attended – the Cowichan case is a reminder that unlike other parts of Canada we still have not done the hard work to resolve these long-standing land issues. Check out my interview on CBC Vancouver and click here for question period.
- The OneBC party continues to advance legislation that is completely unacceptable on its face. Along with other MLAs, we have taken the hard decision to vote against first reading.
- We held 5 more hours of deliberations of the Special Committee on Democratic and Electoral Reform this week. The good news that we are on track to complete our report and table it in November before the Legislature completes its fall sitting.
- Jeremy Valeriote and the Green Caucus continued to raise serious concerns about Bill 31, entitled: Energy Statutes Amendment Act. This is another Bill that concentrates decision making without proper transparency and oversight. Click here to see our statement and click here to listen to Jeremy Valeriote. Bill 31 passed 2nd reading this week and now we will spend hours in the committee stage reviewing the Bill clause by clause and seeking substantive amendments.
- We continue to work with constituents to seek government resolution of a wide range of issues, everything from provincial approval for a much needed daycare 🧸 at Saanich Fairgrounds to approval to install climate change-fighting solar panels on balconies (as they do in Germany), to taking care of unhoused individuals in our community with winter coming. Click here to see my question period question on a constituent living in her car in Sidney because she has nowhere affordable to live.
The time between Saturday the 25th of October to November 1st was a great opportunity to represent my constituents and advocate on their behalf.
On Saturday, October 25th I spent the day on Salt Spring Island meeting constituents and community leaders to discuss local government issues, democratic reform, and preparations for the visit of Minister Josie Osborne. I topped off the day by attending an evening talk with Dr. Jane Philpott, who is transforming primary health care in Ontario so that everyone has access to a Doctor or nurse practitioner and team-based care. Her book, “Health for All” is a great read, click here to read more about it in CBC Books.
Thursday was a hat trick of great events. I started the day providing Rotarians with an overview of the past year at breakfast, hosted my constituency team at the legislature where they were introduced, and heard a statement about the important work all constituency offices perform, click here, and capped the day off with Royal Assent for 7 bills:
· Bill 9: Health Care Recovery Act
· Bill 10: AG Statutes Amendment Act
· Bill 12: Motor Vehicle Act
· Bill 17: Intimate Images Protection Statutes Amendment Act
· Bill 18: Sexual Violence Policy Act
· Bill 19: School Amendment Act (Childcare)
· Bill 27: Statutes Act No. 2 (Closed Meetings, INF School Act)
Friday, we released our Cooperation and Responsible Government Agreement Quarterly Update. We continue to make progress and look forward to renewing discussions beginning in December, following receipt of pending reports. Click here for the full report.
And if that wasn’t a full week, I joined our Leader, Emily Lowan and MLA Jeremy Valeriote for public release of proposals on tax reform. Tax reform so everyone pays their fair share is one of several key ways to tackle the ballooning deficit without relying on the export of LNG. Check out the news release and video of the press conference by clicking here.
🎉Saturday was a banner day for health care! Scroll to the end for a full account of the day! 🎉
The past two weeks, we’ve been on break from the Legislature, which provided a great opportunity to follow up on key legislative and constituency items, and it also gave me a great opportunity to go to the First Nations Leadership Gathering (FNLG) .
First Nations Leadership Gathering
The next morning started off with a press conference including Premier Eby, Grand Chief Stuart Phillip, AFN Regional Chief Terry Teegee, FN Summit Chief Shana Thomas, and Indigenous Relations Minister Spencer Chandra Herbert. He made his case for Bill 31 and the North Coast Transmission Line; the destructive, hateful and racist positions being taken by One BC and its leader Dallas Brodie; and he answered numerous questions from reporters on the Cowichan Decision. See the conference here.
The Premier emphasized how unique and important the First Nations Leaders Gathering is in bringing First Nations and government together. Though the meetings tend to be short, I agree with the Premier on how valuable these discussions are.
If there was one major takeaway for me from FNLG, it is the need and importance to find an interim resolution to the issue of application of the Cowichan decision to 150 private fee simple lots in Richmond. It is my view that Indigenous title and fee simple ownership can co-exist and while the Premier made it clear that the BC government has heard no reports of owners being unable to get bank loans or otherwise use their property as they see fit, there is still fearmongering going on among those who oppose reconciliation.
On Wednesday, the Premier and Coastal First Nations signed a declaration to the federal government affirming support for the West Coast tanker ban in the face of a proposed oil pipeline from Alberta to Prince Rupert. The conversations about a new bitumen pipeline are diametrically opposed to all the evidence I’ve seen about the feasibility of this pipeline, and it totally opposes the work environmentalists have done to stamp it out. Let’s hope Ottawa is listening to Coastal First Nations.
I attended a variety of sessions including panels on major projects, the economic and fiscal outlook of BC, the implementation of the Declaration Act and the Heritage Conservation Act Transformation Project. There’s lots of work to be done on each of these files, and I look forward to bringing mine and my BC Greens’ colleagues perspectives on these issues into the House.
By the end of the week, I began preparing and attending meetings of the Special Committee on Democratic and Electoral reform. And the good news: our report is nearing completion!
I leave you with a full account of Minister Osborne’s Health Care Tour to Salt Spring and Pender Islands on November 1st:
It was a very early, dark and wet start at Swartz Bay terminal and BC Ferries last Saturday, but the inclement weather didn’t stop Minister Josie Osborne and I from traveling together to Salt Spring and then to Pender Island, to tour health facilities and meet with constituents dedicated to health care delivery on both Southern Gulf Island communities.
There were so many highlights of the day! Firstly, I want to recognize the Minister for accepting my invitation and taking the time out of her extremely busy schedule to dedicate her precious time on a Saturday to our constituency. Thank you minister! I also want to thank all the people who helped coordinate and provide us with a great, firsthand view of health care delivery on both Islands. Without your help the day would not have been such a success!
On Salt Spring we were joined by Lady Minto Hospital Foundation (LMHF) Executive Director Eric Jacobsen. Eric, his board members and the talented team from Lady Minto Hospital and staff were integral to the many tours and visits.
Our first stop of the day was touring the amazing new health care worker housing at Heartwood House (the former Sea Breeze Motel). The beautiful $11 million facility will provide eighteen market units for healthcare workers on SSI. This first-class facility demonstrates the commitment of the community to supporting the housing needs of health care workers on the Island. An incredible feat considering the many challenges the project faced, but support from LMHF donors, local trustees, CRD Director Gary Holman and the Salt Spring Island Foundation made it possible. Heartwood House is a very impressive accomplishment for SSI that will serve the community in a positive way for generations and demonstrates what can be done when people work together for a common goal.
We then travelled to Lady Minto Hospital where we were met by Site Director, Erin Price-Lindstrom, and staff. We toured the new Emergency Department, the Laboratory and Extended Care Unit. The Emergency Department is an entirely new wing of the hospital and was made possible by the support of the community’s generous donations, through the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation, which paid for $8M of the $13M cost. Approximately 30 patients undergo treatment at Lady Minto each day, and the facility also houses 29 residents in extended care. Last year $1.1M was raised by the community to support the improvements and ongoing programs delivered at Lady Minto. I was so impressed with Lady Minto Hospital and know from my many discussions with constituents how important the facility is on SSI.
We also had the opportunity to visit Greenwoods Eldercare where we were warmly greeted by Board Chair Eleanor Dawson and Executive Director, Althea Humphreys. Greenwoods also plays a pivotal role in the SSI community and supports 51 senior residents from SSI. Salt Spring has a remarkably high percentage of seniors aged 65 years or older compared to the rest of the population and Greenwoods is an integral part of the community.
We toured the Salt Spring Island Health Centre, a primary care clinic operated by a team of highly capable and dedicated physicians. Dr. Christopher Applewhaite and Dr. Peter Verheul welcomed us and shared their vision for the future of care on the island.
The physicians have formed the Island Community Clinic Society (ICCS) to transition the clinic from a private practice to a community-governed non-profit. With support from the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation, ICCS plans to expand the clinic, bring on more family doctors, and add new services such as social work and mental health support.
We were also joined by Gary Holman, CRD Director. ICCS is working with the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation, the Gulf Islands Seniors Residence Association, the Salt Spring Island Foundation, the Divisions of Family Practice, and the Capital Regional District to strengthen primary care on Salt Spring Island. Together, these partners aim to attract and retain practitioners and transform the Health Centre into a modern, team-based community health centre.
It was inspiring to see the dedication of the ICCS team and the promise of this evolving community health facility.
Before heading over to Pender Island, the minister and I hosted a roundtable discussion with several SSI residents so we could listen and hear directly from them about their views on the current state of health care. From sharing individual stories of challenging health care issues, to improving services, the group provided a number of great suggestions and recommendations to the minister. One main theme that emerged was the benefit and efficiencies of team-based primary health care delivery, not unlike what exists currently at Shoreline Health in Sidney. Team based community health care is proven to be a positive model and more facilities operating with this model would be particularly beneficial in BC but especially in small rural communities such as Salt Spring Island.
Our final stop was on Pender Island. After a brisk, sunny, and beautiful boat ride provided by Corey Johnson, a constituent from SSI, we were met by Bruce Waygood, Board Chair of the Pender Islands Health Care Society (PIHCS) and a number of other Board members and staff at Pender Island Health Care. We toured the facility, which houses many health care related services including primary care, dental care, physiotherapy, massage therapy, and counselling services. So many health services supported by the facility all under one roof and very professionally managed by Executive Director, Jane Harrison. We toured the medical clinic and the treatment room which provides an amazing facility for emergency treatment on Pender Island.
My thanks go out to all involved in this jam-packed day! I was so impressed and proud to be able to share the state of health care on these two islands in my constituency with Minister Osborne. Although challenges exist and the system has flaws, our communities benefit from excellent facilities run by dedicated professionals, volunteers, and staff.
Photos:
Rob Lowery (SSI photos)
Theresa Ho (Pender Island photos)
