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What's this you ask? It's BC's Parliamentary
Calendar. Did you
know we have legislation that states the BC Legislature will have a full Spring session and a full Fall session. In fact, we should be
returning to work in the legislature on 1st Monday in October until
the last Thursday of November
PARLIAMENTARY CALENDAR ACT, 2007 HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the
Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia,
enacts as
follows:
Fixed Calendar Established 1 (1) In each calendar year the Legislative Assembly shall meet: (a) second Tuesday in February to the last Thursday in May inclusive; and (b) the first Monday in October to the last Thursday in November inclusive. |
The Finance Minister and House Leader held a news conference today to present a quarterly budget update.
He also stated the Legislature will not sit this Fall.
With respect to the budget update: just a few short months ago the BC Government claimed the
Budget would have a $197 million surplus. By this June, that surplus estimate
was reduced to $153 million. Today it was again re-adjusted downwards to $136 million.
And don’t forget, this razor-thin surplus includes a fire-sale of public assets
- a one-time infusion of cash that creates a permanent loss to the BC public.
At the same time as the government misses its budget targets, the private
sector continues to lose jobs and people continue to leave the province to find
work.
I also want to address the announcement that the Fall Session of the Legislature will be cancelled.
Legislative Sessions are a fundamental part of the
democratic process. It is a time when all the elected representatives of the province gather together to debate and advance the interests of the province. It is a time when
the governing party can be held publicly to account and forced to face tough questions. And it is the ONLY time
the critical work of governing – passing laws – can take place. And yet
the BC Legislature will sit for only thirty-six days this entire year.
As the party holding a majority in the Legislature, the BC Liberals decide when the House sits. In my opinion, their choice to cancel the Fall session is disrespectful to British Columbians.
And it is not as if there isn’t any work to do! As a few
examples, the Opposition is calling for critical changes to the Water Act, clarity on the LNG revenue
framework, action to deal with the likely double-digit BC Hydro Rate hikes and
new rules to reign in the excessive executive bonuses at BC Ferries.
Regardless of when the House next sits, I will continue to speak
out on such issues, work hard on the priorities of my constituency and pursue
progressive change in the areas of Critic portfolio: Small Business, Tourism,
Arts & Culture.
Please contact me if you require assistance with the BC
government or have concerns regarding provincial affairs.
Cheers,
Lana
Lana Popham
MLA, Saanich South