Wednesday October 25, 2023 | VICTORIA, BC [Updated 3:30 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Keeping an eye on the BC Legislature for our readers, both at the legislature in downtown Victoria and watching the debates online.
This week and last, several announcements have been held by the Premier and other ministers in the Hall of Honour at the Legislature (compared to previous sessions where the press gallery theatre was more frequently used); this allows for more observation by staff and members of the public who might be in the building, but the acoustics present challenges and logistics are awkward.
Halloween festivities outside the parliament build will run from 3 to 4:30 pm on Tuesday October 31; that returns after a few years pause during the pandemic. [Halloween event list]
Wednesday October 25:
Decorum in the chamber had to be insisted upon several times by the speaker today. BC United Leader Kevin Falcon called Premier David Eby a “condo king”, and there were other vitriolic exchanges.
Housing spat: Official Opposition Leader (BC United) Kevin Falcon again today referred to the ‘middle class squeeze’ with regard to housing affordability in BC, saying this province has the “worst housing affordability in North America'” to which Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon retorted that under the previous government (BC United used to be the BC Liberals) there were two decades of under-investment in housing. Premier David Eby took the opportunity to chime in that BCU looks for investor loopholes.
Helping farmers: BC Conservatives House Leader challenged Agriculture Minister Pam Alexis that farmers aren’t getting enough support; she replied that $7 million in targeted payments have been issued thru AgriStability this year. Premier Eby added that it’s important to recognize climate change is real as a dig against the Conservatives who are resisting that idea. Alexis mentioned that there had been a $200 million investment in food production, but that amount was announced in March 2023 and covers much more than food production (e.g. targeted contributions to food banks and also the food security program in schools). Two other farmer-support programs were announced this summer: B.C. Food Storage, Distribution and Retail Program ($15.5 million) and B.C. Small Food Processor Scale-Up Program ($2 million).
While these back-and-forth whammies across the aisle are worth noting for political importance, without knowledge of the minutia and history of various issues the process can become tiresome for the general public. However, realizing the amount of study, preparation and policy decisions behind all these issues that rise to ‘moments’ in the house, it’s impressive that the comments are as short and tight as they are.
A standing vote was taken (followed by an oral aye/nay vote) regarding Bill 36 Police Amendment Act. BC United MLAs stood up against the bill. The bill passed 56 to 27. Key amendments include how municipalities may potentially shift from RCMP to municipal policing.
Bill 35 Short Term Rental Accommodations Act — was up for debate this afternoon. If passed, this bill will require units being used for short-term rentals to be instead leased out as long-term rentals or otherwise sold back into the regular marketplace. | Short-term rentals legislation introduced on October 16, 2023
On a point of privilege, BCU MLA Mike de Jong suggested that splitting up debate about bills into three separate committee rooms was contributing to minimized or no participation by some of the smaller political parties (the BC Greens have only two members, as do the BC Conservatives). NDP House Leader Ravi Kahlon conceded that de Jong had “an interesting point” and would look into it.
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POLITICS | VANCOUVER ISLAND | HOUSING | FOOD SECURITY
