Bill 24 consultations ignore voices of farmers

Dear Saanich South,

I'm writing today from Cranbook, where I am attending another one of the government's sham "consultations" on changes to the Agricultural Land Commission. The consultations were scheduled for the middle of summer – that’s when farmers are farming. I've heard from many in the agriculture community that they just don’t have the time to participate at this time of year so their voices will not be heard.

Let’s not forget that 90 per cent of our ALR lands are now open for development because of Bill 24.

If the B.C. Liberals really wanted an authentic process they wouldn’t have chosen the time of year when participation would be lowest. At a minimum, the Minister of Agriculture should extend the consultation process until the end of the year.

As it stands, this process is deeply flawed, and will result in a report and regulation changes to the ALC that agriculture stakeholders can’t even review before it is final.

Bill 24 removed protections for 90 per cent of ALR land, opening it up for development. The B.C. Liberals failed to consult with farmers before bringing in the bill and pushing it through in the spring legislative session.

Public schools are worth fighting for!

Dear Saanich South,

Check out this video with a message about public education, from John Horgan, MLA and Leader of the Official Opposition – it really speaks to his values and why public schools matter.

As the MLA for Saanich South, I remain actively engaged with efforts to resolve the dispute between the B.C. Liberals and public school teachers.

I’m also a parent of a grade eleven student in public school. And I’m a citizen who believes passionately in the importance of accessible high-quality K-12 education for all, regardless of one’s ability to pay.

That is why I argue strongly that the BC government must pay teachers fairly and address widespread concerns over class size and composition.

It is also why I am disgusted with the BC Liberal’s efforts to undermine public education in this province. Premier Clark is starving our schools and harming the education of a generation of public school students. Diverting funds allocated for public education to off-set the child-care costs for parents is an attack on the foundation of public education and a poisoning of negotiations that will only make it harder to find common ground with teachers.  

There is a sliver of hope in the recent news that another round of negotiations between the parties to this dispute will begin tomorrow. I wish them well. A resolution must be found immediately, the new school year is supposed to start in less than a month.

Public pressure is required to force the government to understand that they will be held to account if they cannot provide fundamental public services, including a vibrant and successful public education system.

Please continue to make your voices heard – in letters and phone calls to the Premier, on social media, by attending rallies and joining teachers on the picket line, and speaking up for public education with your friends, neighbours and colleagues. Public education is a cornerstone of democracy and with the BC Liberals in power we have no choice but to fight to protect it.

Keep in touch: lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca or 250 479 4154.

Lana

Lana Popham, MLA Saanich South

Other recent posts on education:

Inside Saanich South: Public Education is the foundation of ...

Jun 20, 2014

Public Education is the foundation of Democracy. Dear Constituents of Saanich South,. As you know, public school teachers across the province are out on strike. They are demanding improved wages, smaller class sizes and ...

BC Government failing to respect public school teachers

May 27, 2014

Premier Clark has been a constant factor in this government's decade of conflict with teachers in B.C. As education minister in 2002, she passed a law that led to larger classes and less support for students with special needs.

Inside Saanich South: School kids used as political pawns

Feb 03, 2014

Dear Saanich South, Last week a BC Supreme Court Judge exposed the rotten underbelly of the BC government's relationship with teachers and the public education system. The BC Supreme Court reviewed secret cabinet ...

Inspiring community effort to help young Dacian!

Dear Friends,

Please join your neighbours in the Lakehill community as they fundraise in support of  Dacian, a wonderful 9 year old boy. 

There are lots of way to help - this Saturday, for example, Dacian's friend, Maia, is hosting a lemonade fundraiser between 11am and 3pm at 935 Ambassador Ave. How inspiring!

Dacian has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. This is a rare and very severe type of MD; it is progressive, there is no cure or effective treatment, and the average life expectancy is around 25 years.

Dacian

A wheel-chair adapted van is very important for Dacian to attend school, medical appointments and remain active as his MD progresses.

Dacian’s parents’ income, while modest, is above the cut-off for the kind of charitable and social assistance that he needs. The BC government has refused to help his parents offset the cost of a van. In fact, the BC government recently cut the program which was designed to help in situations like this. 

The Lakehill Community is stepping up. Dacian’s friend Shaya, and her family raised over $1500 with a lemonade stand earlier this month. Check out this Chek TV story about it! 

Please consider encouraging your kids to get involved and do their own fundraiser… or make a donation on your own: http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/a-van-for-dacian/191432

Warm regards, Lana

MLA Saanich South

Star-gazing tops expectations

Reprinted from the Saanich News, by Travis Paterson, July 25, 2014

Saturday night stargazing at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory has taken off with a total of more than 500 people showing up at the last two events.

Nearly 350 visited the Centre of the Universe for a tour of the Plaskett Telescope on July 12, with another 200 braving the windy conditions on July 19 for a super moon viewing.

“Unfortunately the wind kept us from opening the dominion roof, but those who stuck it out and stayed late finally got to peek through the telescope a little before 11 p.m.,” said Lauri Roche, a volunteer with the Victoria Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society.

“Other than being blown off the hill by winds it was another great night,” Roche said.

With wind up to 50 km/h, the Plaskett’s fragile lenses couldn’t be exposed, Roche said.

“It’s safe to say the free admission is drawing big numbers, but as long as we’re around the 200 to 300 mark, we’re okay,” she said.

“Anything over 300 and it does start to get a little crowded with lineups.”

Saanich South MLA Lana Popham – who launched a petition to save the facility’s outreach programs after the federal government announced it was pulling funding last year – said the early turnout has been encouraging.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done in terms of the longevity of the centre, but it’s worth doing. And it’s gathered the community together,” Popham said.

Community Gathering to commemorate the tragedy of the Komagata Maru.

Click to see this photo album

Dear Friends,

More than 100 people gathered last night at the Saanich South Community Office to commemorate the Komagata Maru incident.

It was a truly special evening because there was so much warmth, affection and good-will in the air.

Despite the fact that we had gathered to remember a historic moment of injustice defined by racism and intolerance, people were very happy and in a mood to celebrate.

I think that was because it was undeniable to everyone there just how much has changed in a 100 years and that gave us all so much hope for the future.

Special thanks go out to Samuel Godfrey, James Taylor, Chandar Sundaram, Sonia Manak and Mona Malik.

More info here.

Regards,

Lana

MLA Saanich South

From Expulsion to Embrace: Komagata Maru 100 years later, 1914 - 2014

Dear Saanich South,

You are invited to a community gathering at the Saanich South Constituency Office: 6pm – 8pm, Wednesday July 23, 2014.

On this day, exactly 100 years ago, a steamship called the Komagata Maru left Vancouver Harbour for Calcutta. On board were more than 300 would-be immigrants from India. They had spent the last two months trapped on board the ship in the Burrard Inlet, desperate for food and fresh water, as they tried and failed to get the same right to enter Canada given freely to “white” immigrants.

By learning this history we can appreciate how the Indo-Canadian community has thrived over the last 100 years, and how the restrictions and discrimination of the past have been steadily replaced with opportunities and multiculturalism.

There will be historical displays, Indian food, chai and sweets.

We will celebrate how far we've come and reflect on the challenges which remain.

Hope you can make it!

Please RSVP: rsvp@saanichsouth.ca

Lana

Lana Popham, MLA Saanich South

The Komagata Maru, 100 years ago

1914 – 2014: from Expulsion to Embrace

  

The Komagata Maru was a steamship that sailed from Hong Kong to Vancouver, arriving on May 23, 1914.

On board were 376 passengers, all members of the British Empire. They arrived to start a new life in BC, like hundreds of thousands of other warmly welcomed immigrants in the years before the First World War.

However, these new arrivals received a hostile reception because of who they were: migrants from India. 340 of the passengers were Sikh Punjabis, the rest were Muslims or Hindus from other parts of the sub-continent.

The passengers were unwanted and “illegal” because they were not “White”.

As offensive as this sounds to us today, that was a ‘moral’ position and popular view at the time. Such sentiments were openly stated by everyone from the BC Premier, the local Member of Parliament, the Chief of Police and Military Officials, to the editors of the major newspapers and most in the general public.

Law and regulations were in place to legalize this discrimination. Non-whites must be severely restricted from immigrating to Canada, the logic was, to ensure the dominant culture prospered and the resources and jobs of this bountiful part of the world were reserved for those in power.

For two months a dramatic conflict played out in Victoria, Vancouver and Ottawa. In fact, the story was leading news around the world. It spoke to major world issues of the moment, including the British occupation of India. It led to direct action by the Prime Minister and Members of his Conservative Cabinet …not to mention a dramatic murder and a hanging in Vancouver.

When the Komagata Maru arrived outside the harbour of Vancouver in May 1914, the Canadian government acted aggressively. The Immigration Ministry denied the passengers permission to land and ordered the ship to leave BC waters.

The leader of the passengers was Gurdit Singh,a successful businessman and activist based in Singapore. He believed with good reason that he and his passengers had a legal right to immigrate to Canada as Members of the British Empire. He planned this journey, charted the boat and crew, and sold one-way tickets. In his view this would be put the first of regular such voyages. 

Gurdit Singh refused to leave the Burrard Inlet. However, he had only brought enough water and food for a one-way voyage. As their supplies quickly dwindled, the passengers took stock of their dire predicament. Canada would not let them land. The government refused even to take them into custody on land while while their claims were adjudicated.

After a long and uncomfortable voyage, the passengers found themselves in an anchored and floating prison.

The passengers’ plight brought together a diverse group of supporters, including the nascent Indo-Canadian community and a disparate minority of socialists and progressives.

Funds were raised and a lawyer was hired to fight the government in court. (He later had to flee as his work on behalf of the Komagata Maru generated credible death threats to himself and his wife and child.) The passengers wanted equal treatment with immigrants from other parts of the world, especially north-west Europe, who happened to be welcomed into Canada with open arms by the Canadian Government at the time.

Soon after the Komagata Maru arrived, a rally was organized by Vancouver mayor Truman Baxter in which he and other speakers like Member of Parliament H.H Stevens urged the government to force the ship to leave port immediately. The Immigration Official in charge, Malcolm R.J Reid, worked tirelessly to keep the passengers off-shore.

Meanwhile a "shore committee" was formed which raised funds for the ship and helped hire a lawyer to fight the case in court. Gurdit Singh agreed to file a representative case on behalf of all the passengers in the name of a farmer named Munshi Singh. On July 6th, the full bench of B.C court of appeal gave a unanimous verdict that under new Federal orders-in-council it had no authority to interfere with immigration department.

On July 19, 1914, the ship Sea Lion, with 35 special deputised immigration officers along with 125 Vancouver police officers approached the boat in order to force it from Vancouver harbor. The angry passengers defended themselves by throwing chunks of coal that was onboard as cargo. The Sea Lion was forced to retreat.

On July 21^st, the Federal government mobilized its new Royal Canadian Navy and brought in a warship, the HMCS Rainbow to force the Komagata Maru to leave.

By this time the passengers were close to starving and suffering from a lack of drinking water. On July 23, they chose to leave port peacefully. They were not allowed to take on food and water and other supplies they needed for the return voyage until they were well out to sea.

The passengers of the Komagata Maru struggled non-violently for the chance to live in Canada. After exhausting all legal options they agreed to leave, and set a course for Calcutta India on July 23, 1914. The dramatic story continues in India as many were arrested or killed by British-India police soon after their return. Gurdit Singh escaped and went into hiding. Six years later he voluntarily surrendered to the police on the advice of Mahatma Gandhi and spent five years in prison. 

In Canada, the story of the Komagata Maru resonates deeply with many people, especially the Indo-Canadian Community. In many ways it marked a turning point in the long struggle for equality in Canada. Today this moment is celebrated by many Sikh Punjabis because Canada has truly become their home, a place where they live in freedom and strive for what is good.

100 years after the expulsion of the Komagata Maru much has changed. Canadians have become more pluralistic, welcoming of diversity and respectful of human rights.

  

May this anniversary be celebrated in the spirit of accepting new challenges: we can best honour the Komagata Maru by advancing freedom and justice for all.

Lana Popham

Public Education is the foundation of Democracy

Dear Constituents of Saanich South,

As you know, public school teachers across the province are out on strike. They are demanding improved wages, smaller class sizes and better support for students with special needs.

As a parent of a grade 10 student in the public system I know how urgently improvements are needed in our schools …and I know how harmful this strike is to students, especially those in grades 11 and 12.

It is time for the government to come to the table and negotiate better terms for teachers. 

Instead, we see the government turning away from the breakdown in our public school system. In fact, we know from testimony made under oath in Court by the BC Liberal government’s own chief negotiator that the government’s explicit goal was to provoke the teachers into striking.

They pushed the teachers into this strike in order to create a crisis that they can use to justify forcing teachers back to work through punitive legislation.

No less an authority than the Supreme Court of BC has ruled – not once, but twice -- that the BC Liberals broke the law when negotiating with teachers. In the last ruling, made in January of this year, the Court even fined the BC government two million dollars for acting in bad faith.

This dispute has severely disrupted the school year and schools are now shut down with no end in sight.

That is why BC’s Opposition Leader John Horgan today called on the government to bring in an independent negotiator to help settle this dispute.

If the BC Liberals think teachers will put their tail between their legs and slink back to the classroom they are delusional.

Teachers have tried bargaining patiently for years. They have tried modest job action. They have tried rotating strikes. All of it has been answered by the BC Liberals with hostility and political manoeuvring.

To the BC Liberal Government, inflicting pain on students and parents and teachers in the public school system is better than paying the cost of addressing sub-standard class size and composition.

Thank you BC teachers for fighting for what is right!

With the public’s help, public educators will teach the BC Liberals a lesson:

British Columbians expect their government to fund a healthy public education system.

Email Premier Christy Clark a message and help her learn this lesson.

And join me in speaking out in support of public education. It is the foundation of democracy.

Sincerely,

Lana Popham, MLA Saanich South

7 free Saturday Night Star-Gazing Parties confirmed for 2014!

Guests waiting to enter the Observatory on what was
scheduled to be the final night of public viewing, Aug 24 2013 

Dear Friends,

The Dominion Astrophysical Observatory will be open for public observing on seven Saturday nights this summer.

The grounds of the DAO will open from 8:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. for the Saturday night observing sessions on July 5, 12 and 19, August 2, 9 and 16, and September 6.

On these evenings, volunteers will use their telescopes to show visitors the Moon, planets, stars and other objects in the sky. As well, these evenings will include audio-visual presentations and astronomy lectures inside the historic Plaskett Telescope. These inside activities will take place regardless of the weather conditions.

Gov't revamp of recycling sector should be subject of Auditor General investigation

To Whom it May Concern,

The BC Ministry of Environment has set up a scheme which uses recycling regulation to compel business people to pay over 100 million dollars annually to a corporation that is outside of public accountability mechanisms. The corporation is called MMBC, and is run by three people, two of whom are Vice-Presidents of Loblaws and Unilever respectively.

It is a matter of grave public concern when significant funds are collected through regulatory authority but are diverted outside of the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act, the Financial Administration Act and the Auditor General Act.

Last month I laid out my concerns in detail to the Auditor General in a four page letter. My position has been endorsed by successful business-people across industry sectors and across the province, including Mr. Kelvin McCullloch. Mr McCulloch is a former forensic auditor and current Chairman of the Board and CEO of Buckerfields, an award-winning BC
business with eight stores, over 110 employees and annual sales receipts above twenty million dollars.

We all understand that the BC Liberal Government's scheme should trigger action by the Auditor General because it is consistent with other attempts to funnel taxpayer funds outside of public accountability mechanisms that were eventually found to be illegal. The sponsorship scandal in Ottawa and the McKim advertising scandal in BC are just two examples.

Defend our Coast!

Yesterday the Federal Government gave significant approval to the Enbridge pipeline proposal.

This is definitive evidence that Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative Government are not acting in the best interests of British Columbia.

The Northern Gateway Pipeline Proposal must not proceed. 

I join millions of others to demand that Premier Christy Clark respect the will of BC and oppose this project. 

It time for her to be true to her word: her “5 conditions” have not been met and therefore this project cannot move forward.

Then the BC Liberals can cancel a few meetings with their Big Oil lobbyist/donor friends and find more time to focus on what will create diverse long-term economic benefits: helping industry create more good-quality jobs that benefit BC communities, respects First Nations and protects our land, air and water. 

BC Government failing to respect public school teachers

Lunch time and locked out at South Park today

Dear Saanich South,

Many of you have contacted me about the current labour dispute impacting public schools. I'm very concerned about this, and the impact of this disruption on hundreds of thousands of kids and their families.

I'm also angry at how the BC government is treating our teachers and the school system. Premier Clark and her government have not only failed to negotiate an agreement with teachers, they have escalated the conflict with a “partial lockout,” that disrupts school activities, including academic field trips, graduation activities, exam marking and report card updates.

Premier Clark has been a constant factor in this government’s decade of conflict with teachers in B.C.  As education minister in 2002, she passed a law that led to larger classes and less support for students with special needs. The B.C. Supreme Court struck down this law in 2011, and when the BC Liberal government introduced virtually identical legislation in 2012, they struck that down as unconstitutional as well.

In the court ruling released earlier this year, the judge chastised the government for bargaining in bad faith and attempting to provoke a full-scale strike in B.C. schools. Regrettably, recent attempts to provoke teachers and escalate tensions show the government has not changed its tactics.

Along with my colleagues, I will continue pressing the government to turn the page on twelve years of political failures that have harmed the education of a generation of kids and worsened the quality of employment of public school teachers. We will continue to support all good-faith efforts to reach a negotiated settlement.

Lana 

Moms like Us

Dear Saanich South,

After years of painfully watching children fall through the cracks in our so-called mental health system in BC, a group of Victoria mothers are advocating for a new approach.

Last week, a group called Moms Like Us hosted an over-flowing meeting about an intriguing new model for community-based mental-health supports.

Moms Like Us invited the Executive Director of Richmond BC's Pathways Clubhouse for a presentation about this ground-breaking organization.

"Clubhouses" offer residences and supportive services to people with mental health challenges. Despite the title of "clubhouse" these facilities are about much more than fun: they offer a structured and safe place with a focus on transitional employment programs and support to help members access the mental health services they need, where such programs exist.

Small Business and MMBC

Dear Saanich South,

As many of you know, I am the Official Opposition Critic for Small Business, Tourism and Arts and Culture.

With respect to Small Business, one issue I have worked hard on is the impact of a ‘red-tape monster’, Multi-Materials BC (MMBC).

MMBC is a registered BC Non-Profit Society that has been given power by the Ministry of Environment to demand over $100 annually from businesses and take over the BC residential recycling sector.

For a balanced analysis of MMBC, see this article by Don Cayo in the Vancouver Sun.

Over the past few months I’ve raised many objections to this program, both within the Legislature and in meetings and correspondence with constituents, business-people, Chambers of Commerce, municipalities, MMBC, and the Auditor General of BC. [See here, and here.]

I’m pleased to note that the government has at last responded to one of the objections raised by myself and others, namely the excessive red-tape and financial burden MMBC would place on small business in BC.

Yesterday, the government finalized changes to the recycling regulations to exempt small producers of packing and printed paper (PPP). An exemption is granted if any one of the following four criteria is met:

• Under one million dollars in annual revenues.
• Under one tonne of packaging and printed paper supplied to B.C. residents.
• Operate as a single point of retail sale and are not supplied by or operated as part of franchise or chain
• Is a registered charity.

According to the BC government, these changes will exempt 99% of businesses in BC from MMBC.

In addition, medium-sized businesses which are not exempt but are still low-volume producers of PPP can now pay an annual fee instead of assuming the cost of detailed PPP accounting and cyclical reporting.

Although these changes are incomplete – many small businesses in BC will still be hit with excessive MMBC red-tape and exorbitant fees collected by an organization which is not financially accountable to the provincial government – they do improve a profoundly flawed system. This change is a great relief to many small businesses. 

I will continue to work on this file. There is much more to be done to ensure that BC has a regulatory residential recycling system in place that includes accountability mechanisms for funds collected through the authority of the government, encourages BC businesses, and protects the environment.

Lana

Community gathers to commemorate the Komagata Maru

On board the Komagata Maru. Front left is the organizer of the 

voyage, Gurdit Singh, who said: “We are British citizens and we 

consider we have a right to visit any part of the Empire.” 

Dear Saanich South,

Today marks the 100 year anniversary of an important moment of our history, the arrival and immediate on-board detention of 376 would-be new Canadians, mostly Sikhs from Punjab in India. This incident is known by the name of the ship they travelled on, the Komagata Maru.

All are invited to the Saanich Commonwealth Place this Wednesday, May 28^th, 11am-12pm for: Echoes of Courage: Komagata Maru 1914-2014.

Community leaders will gather to commemorate the 100 year anniversary with a ceremony and the opening of a week-long educational exhibition. Light refreshments will be served.

This event is being organized by the India-Canada Cultural Association of Victoria with assistance from the municipality of Saanich and my office. I want to note with appreciation the volunteer leadership of Mr. Sabba Sall in organizing this event.

Mr. Sall writes:

The purpose of the exhibit on May 28th is to raise awareness about this incident so that injustices like it can be talked about honestly and so that they do not happen to any race regardless of colour or culture. We must be ever vigilant to ensure equality for all in Canada --our home.  

The Komagata Maru was anchored in the Burrard Inlet, as a fierce public and legal dispute raged over the right of those on board to enter Canada.

The passengers’ treatment was unquestionably defined by the racist sentiments of the time. They were deprived of due process, fair treatment, and even food and water. The ship was eventually forced to leave after a two month stand-off.

The incident marked a unifying moment for the now-vibrant and successful Indo-Canadian community, and it remains an historic event for Canada worthy of study and commemoration.

To learn more about the Komagata Maru incident, visit: http://komagatamaru100.com/

Warm regards, 

Lana

Lana Popham, MLA Saanich South

Confidential letter from ALC Chair has public steaming

Dear Saanich South,

Thank you for all the emails about Bill 24. I've received over 150 emails (and counting) on the topic. So far only 2 have been pro, all the rest have been against Bill 24. There is no doubt in my mind that the changes proposed by the BC Liberal government to the Agricultural Land Commission will harm farming, farmers and food security in BC.

In my opinion, the confidential letter referenced below completely invalidates the BC Government's attempt to turn Bill 24 into law. I call on Premier Clark and Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick to pull this Bill from the Order table and begin an open and transparent consultation process before attempting any further changes to the Agricultural Land Reserve.

The government intends to put Bill 24 up for a final vote in less than a week. With your help I believe it can be stopped.

Sincerely,

Lana

Confidential Letter from ALC Chair exposes hypocrisy of BC Liberal’s plan to ram through Bill 24

May 22, 2014

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Today I am releasing a confidential letter from the Chair of the Agricultural Land Commission to the Deputy Ministry of Agriculture, dated December 23, 2013. This letter is a detailed response by the ALC Chair to proposals made by the BC Liberal government during the highly-secretive Core Review process.

This document, never seen publicly before today and sent anonymously to me last week, exposes the utter hypocrisy of the BC Liberals.

In eleven scathing pages, the ALC Chair Richard Bullock rips apart the BC Liberal plan that is now known as Bill 24.

Example 1.

The BC Liberals claim Bill 24 is to help farmers. However, Bullock states on page 7:

Example 2

The BC Liberals claim that land in “Zone 2” is of lower value as farmland then in “Zone 1”.

However, on page 8 Bullock states:

In addition, Bullock points out:

Example 3.

The BC Liberals dishonestly claim to have consulted. However, Bullock states:

This letter proves that the BC Liberal government introduced Bill 24 without meaningfully consulting with the most senior and knowledgeable person available. Mr. Bullock was appointed by the BC Liberals themselves, and has won widespread praise for his work as Chair. To exclude him from genuine consultations and to completely disregard the advice he gave is shocking and outrageous.

Furthermore, I know from  my own consultations that none of the groups he mentioned above were consulted before the Bill was introduced  and none of them have endorsed the Bill since.

The complete letter from the ALC Chair can be viewed here. An article published today about this letter by Andrew McLeod of the Tyee is available here.

Sincerely,

Lana Popham, MLA Saanich South

Art Show & Open House: Friday, May 16th

Dear Saanich South,

I have always been a supporter of the arts. Since first being elected as Saanich South MLA in 2009 I have invited local artists to show their works at my community office.

Presently, the acrylic landscape and nature paintings enriching my office space are by Peter Van Giesen.

I am pleased to invite you to the first Art Show & Open House of 2014.

FRIDAY, MAY 16th, 2014
5:00pm - 7:00pm
4085-B Quadra Street (corner of Nicholson)

We will serve light refreshments and both myself and Mr. Van Giesen will be in attendance.

I hope to see you there.

Lana

No taxation without representation!

Dear Saanich South,

I rose in the House yesterday to challenge the BC government on their widely-panned scheme to change BC's successful recycling system. 

Starting May 19, the BC Government intends to force businesses to pay an onerous recycling tax to Multi-Materials BC. MMBC is a dummy corporation registered under the Society Act as a non-profit. It is in fact run by Ontario-based Vice Presidents of Unilever and Loblaws and it lacks basic financial accountability mechanisms. 

Nevertheless, the government has given it the authority (under Ministry of Environment regulations) to collect approximately $100 million dollars from businesses every year. Business owners are expected to pay this new tax but the government is refusing to ensure the monies are spent consistently with the rules of representative government.  

This is about government being accountable.

I asked the Minister of the Environment to address business owners concerns by ensuring that the Auditor General has jurisdiction to review MMBC. 

This was a straight-forward and legitimate question. 

Regrettably, Minister Polak’s response was to smear the Opposition, utterly misrepresent my own views and completely ignore the question.

This issue is of huge importance to many business people in BC right now...and they deserve much better from their government than this. 

I am continuing to actively work on this file. 

Background information here. 

Lana

Agricultural Land Reserve - Update

Today we received news that the government is close to capitulating ...but the fight is not over yet!

Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick has done the right thing and stated that Bill 24 is on hold - it may be changed or withdrawn. He is going to do a whirligig of consulting over the next couple of weeks. This is going to be a critical moment that everybody must participate in.

For the record, this is not the way to govern. Consultation should be done before tabling a bill....but now we are here.

Minister Bill Bennett tried to get away with something deceitful in this province. Under the cover of a phony "core review" he conjured up a mandate to destroy the ALR. Bill 24 opened a back door to remove land from 90% of the ALR for any 'prescribed reason'.

If the government wants to change critical legislation to improve how BC protects agricultural land and strengthens agriculture it must be transparent and consultative.

Minister Bennett's approach was the opposite of that.

In my opinion, the only option is to kill Bill 24.

It's not time to stand down, it's time to fight harder until we get official word that the people of BC won this fight.

Lana

Put down your phone and drive!

My 'public service announcement' in today's Saanich News:

Here is an interesting article on the factoid cited above:

http://www.theprovince.com/news/Distracted+driving+kills+more+than+drunk+driving+considers+higher/9694064/story.html

Stop Bill 24 to save the Agricultural Land Reserve

This week we see some major developments around Bill 24.

The BC Agriculture Council has reversed it's support, the grassroots groundswell of opposition to the Bill is growing by the day, and the Agriculture Minister is signalling that he is maybe hearing what we are saying.

This is not the time to let up, in fact it's time to crank it up!

We have one week until we return to the legislature. Bill 24 could come up for second reading on Monday.....and worst case get passed that day. This week is critical for getting the Bill withdrawn. Continue to write to the Agriculture Minister, Norm Letnick. norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca.

Can the people of British Columbia affect change?

Yes we can! Keep up the great work and let's finish strong!

Lana

Starry Nights Again!

Petitioners and Lana at public demo to save the Saanich Observatory,
August 24, 2013

Dear Friends of the Saanich Observatory,

I am very happy to share with you three pieces of good news about public access to the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory and the Centre of the Universe.

1. Star-Gazing Saturday Night on International Astronomy Day!
On Saturday May 3rd, from 8-11pm, the Centre of the Universe will be open! Volunteers with the Royal Astronomical Society (RASC) will have their telescopes set-up for public gazing and there will be tours of the Observatory itself. The powerful Plaskett Telescope will be operational, weather permitting. There will be lectures by National Research Council (NRC) astronomers later in the evening.

This free evening event will cap a full day of astronomy activities at the Royal BC Museum. More information available at www.victoria.rasc.ca

2. Summer Camp is back at the Saanich Observatory!
 This July and August, UVIC’s much-loved Science Venture is offering eight week-long Astronomy Camps at the Centre of the Universe! If you have kids in grade 3-8, check out the “spaceTECH” or “astroLAB” camps. SpaceTech will teach campers how technology makes it possible to live and work in space. AstroLAB focuses on stars, planets, galaxies, and hands-on building projects. The goal of both camps is to deepen knowledge and inspire our youth to learn about astronomy, physics and space technology – in a fun way, and now at a truly awesome location! Registration opens April 22nd. More information at scienceventure.ca/spaceventure.