BC government serves corporate interests, not public — Macdonald

MLA Macdonald responds to BC Liberal Throne Speech.

Following the presentation of the BC Liberal Throne Speech on Tuesday, February 9th, Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald was the first opposition member to respond. Each member of the House has thirty minutes to respond to the Throne Speech and to speak specifically about how the government’s agenda relates to their local communities.

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Public consultation on pensions until Apr 1

Province seeks public input on pension options.

Ministry of Finance.

The B.C. government is seeking public input on ways to strengthen the pension system and expand pension coverage for the majority of workers currently without occupational pension plans.

Through an online pension consultation paper, British Columbians are being asked for their views on how to best address anticipated future shortfalls in Canada’s retirement income system. At present, three in four private-sector workers are not covered by an employer-sponsored pension plan.

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MLA report, Columbia River – Revelstoke

January has been a very busy month as I have focused my time on speaking with constituents in preparation for my return to Victoria for the Spring Session of the Legislature which begins on February 9th.

I have been able to spend my time visiting not only the larger centres of Revelstoke, Golden, Invermere and Kimberley, but also Field, Canal Flats, Edgewater and Fort Steele. I have also travelled with the Olympic torch throughout the area, joining with you to celebrate not only the Olympic spirit but the uniqueness of each community.

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“Water defines British Columbia” — Penner launches water blog

Living Water Smart Blog launches.

Ministry of Environment.

The B.C. government has officially embarked on a process of modernizing B.C.’s Water Act with the launch of the Living Water Smart blog, Environment Minister Barry Penner announced today.

“Water defines British Columbia, and over the next 25 years we expect B.C.’s population to grow by another 1.4 million people,” said Penner. “Our water will have to go a lot further without compromising nature’s needs. The Living Water Smart blog is an interactive way to encourage open dialogue on this important topic. Together, we can determine the steps we must take to protect our water both for today and the future.”

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BC politics — a third choice emerges

BC Conservatives soar to 14% voter support.

BC Conservative Party.

A recent poll conducted by Innovative Research Group for the Canadian Restaurant and Food Services Association shows BC Liberal party support collapsing under the weight of their proposed HST legislation.

The poll, which was conducted between Nov. 14 and Nov. 19, 2009, shows the BC Conservative Party at 14% support, just 8% behind the governing Liberals who have plummeted to 22% voter support. The NDP hold a slim lead at 25%.

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BC wants your thoughts on green energy, carbon trading

Green energy advisory task force seeks input.

Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.

B.C.’s Green Energy Advisory Task Force has launched a website that invites British Columbians to submit their ideas and input on the future of clean and renewable energy in B.C.

Following its first meetings, on Nov.27 and 28, the advisory task force has launched the website, www.greenenergyadvisorytaskforce.ca. The website asks British Columbians to submit their ideas and input on the following subjects: clean energy procurement and regulatory reform; carbon pricing, trading and clean energy export market development; community engagement and First Nations partnerships; and clean energy resource development.

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Revelstoke MLA report

The fall session of the Legislature came to an end this week. By the time you read this report, I will be back in the constituency, spending time in each of the communities I represent.

The House has been in session since August, one of the longest sittings that I have participated in since I was elected in 2005. Much of our time in the Legislature was focussed on scrutinizing the budget, a budget that the BC Liberals promised prior to the election would result in a $495 million deficit. In fact, the real deficit was $3.5 billion.

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Liberal coverup of stolen personal information?

BC Conservatives call for minister’s resignation over missing documents.

BC Conservative Party.

The BC Liberal government has just revealed that it knew about a very serious security breach involving allegedly stolen information from 1,400 British Columbians on income assistance, but did nothing to notify those people to protect their personal information.

It was the RCMP who found missing documents inside of a Victoria home of a government worker last April, and those documents were handed to the BC Liberals in May. Yet it was not until seven months later that the victims were informed.

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Bill C-391 to abolish the long-gun registry

The British Columbia Conservative Party applauds the Federal Government for their unswerving commitment to eliminate the hated and wasteful Long Gun Registry enacted by the Federal Liberal Government in December of 1998.

Bill C-391, a Private Members Bill introduced by Conservative MP Candice Hoeppner, amends the Firearms Act by removing the requirement to register millions of common rifles and shotguns. With a majority vote which crossed party lines, this bill passed second reading on November 4 and will now go to committee for further study.

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Giant cedars near Revelstoke to be logged

NDP MLAs ‘overwhelmed’ by ancient forest of the Upper Incomappleux Valley — call for protection.

by Valhalla Wilderness Society.

Two NDP MLAs, Michael Sather and Guy Gentner, are calling upon the provincial government to take the initiative to protect BC’s rarest inland temperate rainforests. They are making the call after a tour of the Incomappleux River valley in southeastern BC hosted by the Valhalla Wilderness Society (VWS) on Friday, October 16.

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