BC legislature

Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong (shown here on provincial election night in October 2020) has given his final speech in the B.C. legislature. (Abbotsford News file photo)

Mike de Jong gives farewell speech after 30 years as Abbotsford MLA

Former lawyer retiring from provincial politics, hoping to become area MP

 

Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong is questioning why the government has spent “a fortune” on court proceedings related to churches that said their constitutional rights were violated during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Wolfgang Depner/Black Press Media)

Abbotsford MLA Mike de Jong questions why government is ‘targeting’ churches

Says ongoing court proceedings related to COVID-19 lockdowns have cost ‘a fortune’

 

B.C. Housing Minister and Government House Leader Ravi Kahlon says the spring legislative session has seen government made progress on improving health care and government housing legislation has already started to make an impact. But political scientist Stewart Prest sees government on the defensive heading into the fall election. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

NDP wraps last B.C. session of this government on the defensive: analyst

UBC political scientist says province moves into pre-election summer with opposition in attack mode

 

The provincial government is implementing the new Reconciliation Action Plan, which aims to recognize the need to address historical injustices by acknowledging the past and working to build new relationships with Indigenous people in B.C. (Bailey Seymour/The News)

B.C. to implement Reconciliation Action Plan for legislative assembly

The plan aims to further reconciliation within the provincial government

The provincial government is implementing the new Reconciliation Action Plan, which aims to recognize the need to address historical injustices by acknowledging the past and working to build new relationships with Indigenous people in B.C. (Bailey Seymour/The News)
A Vancouver Canucks flag was raised at the B.C. Legislative on Tuesday, May 7. (Jake Romphf/Vic News)

Vancouver Canucks flag raised at B.C. Legislative ahead of second round series

Premier David Eby and many MLAs were in attendance

A Vancouver Canucks flag was raised at the B.C. Legislative on Tuesday, May 7. (Jake Romphf/Vic News)
B.C.’s Public Safety and Solicitor General Minister Mike Farnworth speaking to the media in Victoria on April 9, 2024. Farnworth says the City of Surrey has turned down the province’s final offer that was on the table to help aid the city’s police transition. (Photo: Wolf Depner)

Surrey rejects B.C.’s $250M ‘final offer’ for transition to city police

B.C. Solicitor General says Surrey policing transition will still continue, despite city opposition

B.C.’s Public Safety and Solicitor General Minister Mike Farnworth speaking to the media in Victoria on April 9, 2024. Farnworth says the City of Surrey has turned down the province’s final offer that was on the table to help aid the city’s police transition. (Photo: Wolf Depner)
BC United MLA, Kelowna-Mission, Renee Merrifield. (B.C. Legislature video)

Effort to save Kelowna’s Childhood Connections makes it to Legislature

Kelowna-Mission MLA Merrifield presented a 2,500-signature petition to her colleagues

BC United MLA, Kelowna-Mission, Renee Merrifield. (B.C. Legislature video)
Michael Pickup appears at the legislature in Halifax, N.S., on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. Now the B.C. auditor general, Pickup says the provincial government is using more up-to-date information to forecast income tax revenue, something he expects to improve financial estimates that are routinely off by more than $1 billion every year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Changes aimed at fixing B.C.’s $1B tax estimate errors

B.C. auditor general says accounting fix should improve tax revenue estimates

Michael Pickup appears at the legislature in Halifax, N.S., on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. Now the B.C. auditor general, Pickup says the provincial government is using more up-to-date information to forecast income tax revenue, something he expects to improve financial estimates that are routinely off by more than $1 billion every year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
Ombudsperson Jay Chalke speaks during a news conference in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, April 6, 2017. Chalke says a decades-old portion of the Transportation Act has holes big enough that a logging truck could drive through. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C.’s ‘unjust’ Transportation Act has holes you could drive a truck through

Ombudsperson critical of laws dealing with private roads and how they can be made public

Ombudsperson Jay Chalke speaks during a news conference in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, April 6, 2017. Chalke says a decades-old portion of the Transportation Act has holes big enough that a logging truck could drive through. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix speaks in the legislature Monday, Feb. 26, about the recent death of a 23-year-old homeless shelter worker from Nanaimo. (Legislative Assembly of B.C. image)

Nanaimo shelter worker’s death raises health-care debate in legislature

Health minister says province continuing to try to add doctors and improve primary care

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix speaks in the legislature Monday, Feb. 26, about the recent death of a 23-year-old homeless shelter worker from Nanaimo. (Legislative Assembly of B.C. image)
Indigenous leaders in British Columbia say opposition political leaders derailed a plan that would have cleared the way for shared decision-making between the province and First Nations about the use of public land in their territories. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, says they are "disgusted" that the leaders of BC United and the B.C. Conservatives "leveraged" the province's plan "as a shameless opportunity for partisan political gain." Phillip speaks during a news conference in Vancouver, on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

‘Disgusted’ First Nations say Land Act talks hijacked by B.C. politics

First Nations Leadership Council ‘extremely disappointed’ with the decision to pause proposed changes

Indigenous leaders in British Columbia say opposition political leaders derailed a plan that would have cleared the way for shared decision-making between the province and First Nations about the use of public land in their territories. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, says they are "disgusted" that the leaders of BC United and the B.C. Conservatives "leveraged" the province's plan "as a shameless opportunity for partisan political gain." Phillip speaks during a news conference in Vancouver, on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
The legislature building in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023. The political agenda for British Columbia Premier David Eby’s NDP government heading into an election this fall will take shape today with the delivery of a throne speech starting the spring legislative session. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Election year throne speech sets up this NDP B.C. government’s final budget

Premier expects the government to table about 20 pieces of new legislation during this session

The legislature building in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023. The political agenda for British Columbia Premier David Eby’s NDP government heading into an election this fall will take shape today with the delivery of a throne speech starting the spring legislative session. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Kootenay West MLA Katrine Conroy addresses members of the Doukhobor community gathered to hear an apology from Attorney General Niki Sharma. Photo: Submitted by the family of a New Denver School survivor

Doukhobor apology comes with $10M compensation package from B.C.

Apology delivered, package announced by the province during ceremony in Castlegar

Kootenay West MLA Katrine Conroy addresses members of the Doukhobor community gathered to hear an apology from Attorney General Niki Sharma. Photo: Submitted by the family of a New Denver School survivor
BC United Leader Kevin Falcon speaks after the former B.C. Liberal Party unveiled their new name and branding, in Surrey, B.C., on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Falcon, who championed the name change during his leadership campaign, said it was a bold bridge-building move and voters would have 18 months to become familiar with the new name before the 2024 fixed election date. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Falcon dismisses Conservatives, says B.C.’s choice is BC United or NDP

BC United leader says Conservative polling strength is a reflection of federal party

BC United Leader Kevin Falcon speaks after the former B.C. Liberal Party unveiled their new name and branding, in Surrey, B.C., on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Falcon, who championed the name change during his leadership campaign, said it was a bold bridge-building move and voters would have 18 months to become familiar with the new name before the 2024 fixed election date. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau speaks to media ahead of the throne speech at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, February 6, 2023. Green Leader Sonia Furstenau says the approaching 2024 election is an opportunity for her to put forward issues that raise the bar for the province without worrying about wins and losses. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. Green leader eager for 2024 to showcase a vision ‘rooted in reality’

Sonia Furstenau says next year’s election campaign will be focused on raising the bar

B.C. Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau speaks to media ahead of the throne speech at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, February 6, 2023. Green Leader Sonia Furstenau says the approaching 2024 election is an opportunity for her to put forward issues that raise the bar for the province without worrying about wins and losses. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Left to right, Mike Hudema and Mary Stuart member of Climate Justice Victoria stand beside massive ice sculpture at climate protest. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Climate protesters leave ice sculpture to melt on B.C. Legislature lawn

The rally is a response to the provincial government’s fracking and LNG expansion plans

Left to right, Mike Hudema and Mary Stuart member of Climate Justice Victoria stand beside massive ice sculpture at climate protest. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
Elder Mary Ann Thomas and Charlie George, of the B.C. Association of Aboriginal Centres, welcome the new Indigenous signage unveiled on the grounds of the B.C. legislature, once the site of an Indigenous village, in Victoria on Wednesday Nov. 29, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dirk Meissner

B.C.’s ‘largest symbol of colonialism’ now lined with Indigenous signage

Signs in region’s Lekwungen language unveiled as legislature aims to be more welcoming and inclusive

Elder Mary Ann Thomas and Charlie George, of the B.C. Association of Aboriginal Centres, welcome the new Indigenous signage unveiled on the grounds of the B.C. legislature, once the site of an Indigenous village, in Victoria on Wednesday Nov. 29, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dirk Meissner
Adam Olson, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, here seen in 2021, says government’s “chaotic legislative agenda” gives MLAs little, if any time to assess bills.

Democracy ‘teetering’ in B.C. due to NDP’s mad rush of legislation: Olsen

Green house leader questioned government’s handling of legislative agenda

Adam Olson, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, here seen in 2021, says government’s “chaotic legislative agenda” gives MLAs little, if any time to assess bills.

BC United fears new density legislation will jack up housing costs

Leader Kevin Falcon said his party will ask “lots of tough question” about new upzoing legislation

Wolfgang Depner, legislative reporter for Black Press Media. (File photo)

PODCAST: Wolfgang Depner reports from the B.C legislature

TODAY IN B.C.: SOGI, housing, safety issues highlight opening of session

Wolfgang Depner, legislative reporter for Black Press Media. (File photo)