Monday August 1, 2021 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, Editor | Island Social Trends
Today Premier John Horgan has issued a statement in celebration of BC Day.
This leadership reflection comes in the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, as climate change impacts are escalating, and as his retirement from the position of premier looms.
Horgan has arguably weathered some of the greatest challenges in his five-year term, including the pandemic and associated economic recovery, social and civic protests (racial, economic, vaccines), wildfires and climate change, a heat dome (though government response missed the mark), and flood recovery with related economic impacts.
Last year’s message was strong on BC’s natural beauty, the pandemic response by government and citizenry, as well as Indigenous reconciliation (and a muted 150-year anniversary of Canada). This year the message is shorter and sounds much the same — big issues have not changed in magnitude and on the eve of his retirement the premier has pulled back from lobbing out new directions.
The premier’s message does not mention food security or supply chain challenges, or the influx of refugees from Ukraine. There is no mention of the huge health care funding challenge that has been his leading political issue in 2022, and no mention of inflation or cost of living which is likely the biggest immediate issue for everyone right now.
BC Day is celebrated in British Columbia on the first Monday of August each year. BC Day is one of 10 statutory holidays in BC.
BC Premier John Horgan’s full statement on BC Day 2022:
“B.C. Day is a time to celebrate this magnificent place we call home.
“Our province is blessed with a stunning natural beauty that attracts visitors from around the world. We also enjoy the bounty of natural resources. We have so much to be grateful for. As stunning as our province is, it is the people who call B.C. home who make it such a special place.
“By working together and caring for our neighbours, we have faced a global pandemic, as well as the ravages of climate change. We have been through some tough years, but we are resilient, hard-working and caring people who address challenges with common purpose.
“We all share responsibility for seeking reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, on whose territories we live. The legacy of colonialism continues to inflict pain, while perpetuating systems of racism and discrimination.
“It is in our shared interest to collaborate in eliminating barriers to make this an even more fair, just and inclusive province. By working together, we can make this a better province for us all.
“We have so much to celebrate. I wish you all a happy B.C. Day.”
Premier John Horgan is the MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca on the west shore of Vancouver Island.
===== RELATED:
2022 Order of BC to 14 recipients (August 1, 2022)
Premier’s statement on BC Day 2021 during pandemic economic recovery (August 2, 2021)
Premier’s Statement on BC Day 2020 – during year 1 of the COVID pandemic (August 3, 2020)
July 31 COVID: 50 more cases in BC on eve of 2020 BC Day long weekend (July 31, 2020)
===== GOVERNMENT LINKS:
BC Centre for Disease Control – COVID-19 information and statistics
===== ABOUT ISLAND SOCIAL TRENDS:
Island Social Trends has been publishing socioeconomic news insights since 2008 (first as MapleLine Magazine 2008-2010, then Sooke Voice News 2011-2013, then West Shore Voice News 2014-2020), launching fully online at islandsocialtrends.ca in mid-2020.
Founding editor and publisher is Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., Cert PR.