Northern Beat Weekly
Rural health, safe supply keep BC govt on defensive
Welcome to our very first instalment of Northern Beat Weekly – a continuity upgrade from Northern Beat Whenever (i get around to it).
A week-to-week shotgun smattering of the latest legislative entanglements and rural happenings, Northern Beat Weekly will be brought to you by everyone’s favourite radio/television/online news big-deal correspondent, Rob Shaw, and will magically appear – ta da! – in your inbox every Saturday morning.
I’ll still write the odd newsletter (emphasis on odd), and we’ll of course continue emailing select hot-off-the-press stories, plus provide other cool political news products (more on that in the coming weeks).
Thanks as always for your support of independent journalism.
Without further ado, I give you Mr. Shaw and our inaugural edition of Northern Beat Weekly…
Enjoy!
Fran
Why, hello there!
The new spring session has sprung at the legislature, and we’re kick-starting things off with a dive into an extraordinary question period that highlighted continued failings in rural healthcare, as well as more concerns about the province’s safe supply and decriminalization policies.
And to catch you up on the week that was, we’ve combed through the interwebs to bring you some of the top headlines around the province.
Let us know what you think! Share, subscribe and we’ll see you next week.
- Rob Shaw
Northern Beat Roundup
Rural BC hospitals closed more than 1,407 days in two years
The week began with anger and fear in the suburban Metro Vancouver community of Delta when the local hospital ER closed for two nights, leaving more than 120,000 people without access to walk-in emergency healthcare. It’s an old story for rural mayors, who have been dealing with similar (and worse) healthcare closures for years. A record 20 rural MLAs stood up in the legislature on Thursday to raise story-after-story about healthcare failures in their communities — culminating in an extraordinary question period dedicated to the issue.
Top BC officials backed DULF as part of radical legalization agenda
Addictions specialist Dr. Julian Somers makes a compelling case for a public inquiry into the B.C. government’s many failures on drug policy, with an in-depth breakdown of the problems around decriminalization, safe supply and the Drug Users Liberation Front.
The Legislature
Giddens Saves Renewable Diesel Refinery
Credit where credit is due: Prince George MLA Kiel Giddens has been an unrelenting champion for the Tidewater Renewables refinery to stop it from closing in March. (Northern Beat covered this in December).
Giddens pushed Energy Minister Adrian Dix to close loopholes in low-carbon fuel credits which allow American biodiesel companies to double-dip on financial aid and undercut Canadians. Giddens introduced a private member’s bill on Wednesday and the next day, Dix announced his own changes — praising Giddens for his advocacy.
“This has always been about supporting jobs and families in Prince George,” he said. “This is going to be a good outcome. This is how parliamentarians are supposed to function – the Opposition brings forward issues and tries to spur government action. I’m really pleased today Minister Dix has made this announcement.”
Tidewater Renewables CFO Ian Quartly said the changes will help, but did not commit to keeping the plant open in the long term. The Tidewater facility opened more than 20 months ago and employs 150 people. Dix said he hopes the changes will help grow the B.C. renewable fuels industry.
The Man in Black
Jordan Kealy desperately wants to wear his black Stetson cowboy hat in the legislature. The farmer and MLA for Peace River North has strongly lobbied Speaker Raj Chouhan to get permission — so far without luck.
That’s not the only dress code issue for Kealy. He refused to wear a pink shirt on annual Pink Shirt Day this week, posting a video on social media saying he was bullied as a child, doesn’t think awareness of bullying can be limited to a single day and believes people should be able to wear what they want.
“I’ve got nothing against pink shirts, red shirts, blue shirts. People should feel free to wear whatever they want and not be hassled for it,” he said.
Editor’s note: Every BC NDP MLA wore the same pink shirt beneath their suit jacket during question period, where some BC Conservatives wore a pink accent like a tie, collared shirt, or scarf, and some did not.
Non-Non-Confidence Vote
The Opposition BC Conservatives tried to bring the government down Wednesday evening by inserting a non-confidence amendment to the Throne Speech (which itself is a confidence vote).
It failed.
Forty-six BC NDP and two BC Green MLAs teamed up to vote down the 44 Conservatives. Speaker Raj Chouhan (a New Democrat) did not vote. The move was a promise by Conservative leader John Rustad following the election campaign.
The Good and the Bad about Thermal Coal
Despite initially mocking an idea from Conservative leader John Rustad to tax dirty American thermal coal exported through British Columbia, the BC NDP government did end up taking the proposal to the prime minister.
Rustad said the move could help leverage the United States, with the revenue being held in escrow until the Americans move on the softwood lumber dispute.
No word on whether Ottawa will follow through.
Ferry Frustrating
Exasperation over the almost five-month-long strike at the inland ferry service between Kootenay Bay and Balfour made its way to the legislature, with Conservative critic Harman Bhangu raising the issue in question period.
“This strike has cost people their jobs,” said Bhangu. “A business owner lost $2,000 in one week because people simply couldn’t get to him. Ten sailings have been scaled back to three. A father cannot get his autistic son to medical appointments in Nelson. It’s very critical.”
Despite the appeal, the BC government will not intervene, said Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside.
“I have urged both parties to be at the bargaining table, to work hard, diligently and with urgency to end this dispute,” she said. “We know that negotiations are right now taking place between the operator and their employees. Government is not at the table in these talks.”
Rural Reads from Around the Web
Fort St. John slowly restores services after cyber attack
The city struggles to restore services including accepting payments and receiving emails and phone calls, after a cyber attack. [EnergeticCity.ca]
Site C Dam now at half its generating capacity
The third generating unit of the $16-billion megadam has come online, putting the much-needed project at half capacity. [Business In Vancouver]
Prince George asks court for OK to clear out Moccasin Flats
Prince George has gone to court to get an order to clear the encampment known as Moccasin Flats. It represents an interesting test of the BC government’s efforts to create more supportive housing and shelter spaces in the area, following as it does on a 2021 court decision that allowed for homeless people to camp at the location indefinitely until the province created enough low-barrier shelter spaces. [Prince George Citizen]
Pipeline protesters win reprieve
BC Supreme Court reduces sentences for Coastal GasLink pipeline protesters. [EnergeticCity.ca]
Dozens could be homeless in Kamloops with motel demolition
The destruction of the Tournament Inn forces the eviction of 50 remaining residents, as the provincial social housing program ends. [Castanet]
New agriculture task force
BC Premier creates a new task force with food and agriculture leaders to address economic competitiveness, support for farmers and how to navigate American tariffs. [100 Mile Free Press]
Tree fruit farmers get some just desserts
Frustrated tree fruit farmers have been waiting since August for one-time financial relief promised by the province. The government finally came through with $10 million in the face of US tariffs. [Infotel]
More offloading onto municipalities
Fraser Fort George Regional District joins a long line of municipalities burdened by provincial offloading – it must either raise taxes or cut funding for healthcare projects. [Prince George Citizen]
$25M for fire-ravaged Lytton
The federal government comes through with funding to help build a much-needed new community hub as part of the Village of Lytton’s recovery from devastating fires in 2022. [Global TV]
Bonus
📌 Quote of the Week:
“Farmers take pride in the products that they produce, but it is not easy to be a farmer. If it isn't the economy, taxes, Mother Nature, Murphy's law can come and kick you where the sun doesn't shine.” — Peace River North MLA Jordan Kealy, Feb. 26, during a member's statement in the legislature in support for agriculture.
📌 Political Calendar:
● March 1-2, 2025: BC Conservatives gather in Nanaimo for their first AGM since almost winning October’s provincial election, with much drama and controversy over new board elections, policies and whether to hold a future leadership vote.
● March 4, 2025: BC Budget day
Closing
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Lots of good stuff; interesting stories you won't find in your local newspaper, not mine anyhow. Keep it up!
Fran, Rob - this is terrific. Hard to source this information without a resource like this. It is really important.