Wednesday May 27, 2020 ~ VICTORIA, BC
by Mary Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
Today Premier John Horgan was pleased to announce that starting Monday June 22 MLAs will be back in the BC Legislature “to conduct the business of the province”.
Addressing media by teleconference from Victoria, Horgan said “there will be debates, votes will be cast, and democracy will be well served”.
He explained that the three parties working together found “a way to mix in-person with technology and ensure physical distancing can take place”. He noted that for any MLAs who have illnesses or reasons for not mingling (even by physically distancing at 2 metres) “we can find accommodations”.
And with that: “I’m excited to get back to work,” said Horgan who has always appreciated the higher purposes that are achieved by democracy in the legislative chamber.
Thanking MLAs for not being partisan during COVID-19:
Horgan thanked MLAs for “focussing on British Columbians” during the many contortions of government and society that the COVID-19 pandemic commanded of people and elected representatives.
With his usual wry commentary about the rough and tumble of politics, he said he was glad that during the initial phases of COVID-19 that “partiationship has left the building”, but added that it “may well return in June”.
Horgan thanked all MLAs for “taking this challenge on not as partisans but as people”, and he “hopes it will continue as long as possible”.
Summer sitting dates not yet posted:
Perhaps indicating how fresh the premier’s decision was today about the actual re-start date for MLAs to be actively sitting in the legislative assembly (and the overload of legislative staff), the Summer 2020 sitting dates of the BC Legislative Assembly are not yet posted on the Legislative Assembly of BC website (as of 4:15 pm May 27). The Parliamentary Calendar dates are expected to be posted soon.
Gender equity is well-maintained:
Today Horgan responded to a media question that appeared to challenge the gender-equity aspects of his government. Horgan replied that his cabinet and caucus have been gender-balanced since taking office in July 2017.
Horgan very promptly after taking office three years ago appointed Mitzi Dean, MLA (Esquimalt-Metchosin) as BC’s first Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity.
Dean yesterday was part of an announcement of $10 million in government funding for support services in the efforts in BC that work against sexual and domestic violence.