Thursday November 14, 2024 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
As the 43rd BC Parliament begins to unfold, there are more women than ever in the BC Legislative Assembly.
Women are now the majority gender in the BC Legislative Assembly for the first time, following the results of the October 19, 2024 BC provincial election.
Eby returned as premier with 47 MLAs (the slimmest of majorities), the BC Conservatives won a remarkable 44 seats (up from two in the previous legislature), and the BC Greens remained steady at a count of two MLAs.
BC NDP Premier David Eby is pleased that 65 percent of his caucus (47 MLAs including himself) is comprised of women.
Why does this matter?
Reflected in the legislature:
First off: “We want to work to make sure that this legislature works for the people of British Columbia… the province is stronger when we all work together,” said Eby in his media availability yesterday after the swearing-in reception at the legislature.
“And we fight against racism and discrimination. And when we stay focused on the priorities that people sent us to work on. If (other) MLAs want to work with us on those things, then great. If those MLAs that want to work on opposite things, if they want to promote hate, racism and division, we’ve just got no time for that.”
“One of the important things for British Columbians is that they see themselves reflected in the legislature. That’s one of the things, that the caucus behind me are a team,” said Eby, referring to the 46 MLAs standing behind him for his swearing-in-day scrum in front of the second-floor rotunda at the BC Parliament Buildings.
Elected and re-elected:
Notable return of re-elected MLAs to the BC Legislature include Lana Popham (Saanich South) for a fifth term, Mable Elmore for a fifth term (Vancouver Kensington), Lisa Beare (Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows) for a third term, Sheila Malcolmson (Nanaimo-Gabriola Island) for a third term and Brenda Bailey (Vancouver-South Granville) for a second term.
Popham held the high-profile portfolio for tourism, sport, arts and culture in the previous cabinet under Eby, and before that the Agriculture and Food flle under former Premier John Horgan. Mable Elmore most recently held the role of Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives. Lisa Beare held the Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills portfolio in the past year under Eby; before that she handled the sports, arts and tourism file.
Josie Osborne has been returned to the legislature for a second term. She held the complex file of energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation under Eby for two years.
New women MLA names that people are quickly getting to know include Darlene Rotchford (Esquimalt-Colwood), Nina Krieger (Victoria-Swan Lake) and Diana Gibson (Oak Bay-Gordon Head).
Diversity in representation:
“You see the diversity of the province in our team. You see strong representation from women, you see people with experience in business, in labour, the non-profit sector, Indigenous leadership. The diversity of the province is reflected in this team,” said Eby on the festive day for new MLAs.
“And what that means is, the policies that are put forward will be better and more effective because there are people around the table ‘hold on a sec, we need to make sure we’re considering (these constituents)’.”
“And that is the great advantage of having a diverse team at the table. We can assure that the changes take into account and into consideration the impact on many diverse groups in this amazing province,” the Premier said.
Past the tipping point:
It wasn’t too many years ago that women getting into elected office was still an unusual or exceptional thing.
Now it seems a tipping point has been reached and surpassed; women in elected politics is very much the norm now.
There was even a baby in the Chamber during the swearing-in ceremony (re-elected MLA Bowinn Ma was there with baby Azalea) and another baby at the reception afterward (new MLA Darlene Rotchford was there with baby Evie).
Issues for his team:
The MLA caucus will be addressing these things, said Eby yesterday.
Eby itemized “cost of living, housing, ensuring our health-care system is there when people need it, building strong and safe communities and ensuring that our economy is clean and strong and providing those good family-supporting jobs.”
Horgan had passed the day before:
“I feel like he was there with us today,” said Eby, about the mood of the swearing-in of his NDP MLAs. “He’s very much in our thoughts today.”
All the MLAs wore corsages of white flowers with green ribbon — the colours of the Victoria Shamrocks lacrosse team that Horgan enjoyed so much.
===== RELATED:
Former BC Premier John Horgan has passed away (November 12, 2024)
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