Northern Beat Weekly 11
Williams Lake crime spree, a pediatric fiasco, legislative unity (but not how you think), and hope for fruit farmers
Why hello there!
The BC NDP capped off the week by proving once again if there’s a way to make governing look both overbearing and underwhelming at the same time, they’re on it.
From forcing two opposition MLAs out of their local government jobs under the guise of “focus,” to shrugging at a crime crisis in Williams Lake, to bungling yet another hospital staffing meltdown in Kelowna, the government continues to get swamped by problems in rural B.C.
Meanwhile, Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West is back in the political spotlight, offering his signature straight-talk on everything from working-class disillusionment to the NDP’s growing love affair with unchecked executive power.
Toss in a cattlemen’s rebellion over Bill 15, Uber finally rolling out past Hope, banning non-Indigenous visitors from provincial parks, a new beginning for Okanagan tree fruit farmers, a Prince Rupert sculpture getting its wing sawed off, key government legislation passing by one vote, and you’ve got yourself another perfectly normal week in our lovely corner of the planet.
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- Rob Shaw
Northern Beat Roundup
[PODCAST]: Mayor Brad West
He’s one of the most recognizable mayors in the province, and for good reason: Port Coquitlam’s Brad West has a lot to say on the major issues bedeviling the province today. West sits down to discuss why the NDP’s efforts to fast-track projects may not work, the party’s existential crisis and growing disconnect with its working-class base, foreign interference in politics, the effect of fixating on identity policies over core government services, and more. [Listen]
BC NDP bills are threat to democracy, warns cattlemen’s president
The ranchers and cattlemen on B.C.’s land base would like to see government cut red tape and be more efficient approving projects, but not if it comes at the expense of democracy and consolidates powers into the hands of the premier’s cabinet, writes Cattlemen’s Association president Werner Stump. [Read more]
The Legislature
New ‘double-dipping’ law forces 2 MLAs to quit other jobs
Two Conservative MLAs were forced to quit their roles on council and school board this week after the NDP government passed a new law that forbids MLAs from having a second job while serving at the legislature. The Eligibility to Hold Public Office Act came into effect on Thursday, with NDP MLA Darlene Rotchford, who sponsored the bill, saying it was intended to ensure MLAs give “110 per cent” to constituents.
The law forced rookie Langley-Walnut Grove Conservative MLA Misty Van Popta to resign from her councillor position at the Township of Langley, where she was elected in 2022 before winning her seat in legislature in October. Van Popta had said she was trying to spare the town a costly byelection, which would cost more than $500,000, and that town council was a part-time job she could do on top of her provincial responsibilities.
The law also forced Abbotsford West MLA Korky Neufeld to quit his local school board position, which he had held for five terms prior to being elected to the legislature for the first time in October. That byelection will cost approximately $300,000.
Both MLAs said they had intended to quit at a future date that would have spared the cost of a byelection. Abbotsford School District expressed alarm at the move, saying the byelection money could have been better spent on classroom education during a year in which the district is facing a budget shortfall.
Crime crisis in Williams Lake spurs legislature debate
The B.C. government was again put on the defensive over crime this week, amid news the City of Williams Lake was considering a state of emergency to respond to public disorder. Councillor Scott Nelson said the city of 20,000 people, south of Quesnel, said the municipality was overwhelmed by violence, drug use, vandalism and fires.
“The reality is that the government’s failed approach has led to nothing but disorder and chaos in my community,” Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson said in the legislature.
“In Williams Lake, people are being robbed. Businesses that you claim to support are being vandalized almost every single night. Families are afraid to go downtown. We’re dealing with arson almost every single night. What has this government done, specifically, to support Williams Lake? Because to my recollection, it is nothing.”
Terry Yung, the Minister of State for Public Safety, expressed concern but did not say what the province would do, if anything. “We reached out directly to the mayor and council, and I have a call with the mayor directly… to learn about what the issues are facing Williams Lake and how the province can help,” he told the legislature.
The NDP government has been facing criticism for the past two years over rising street disorder due to permissive drug policies like decriminalization and safe supply, causing rampant public drug use and govt-funded drug diversion into organized crime drug market.
Government scrambles over Kelowna General Hospital
B.C.’s health minister is under fire after doctors at Kelowna General Hospital warned their maternity ward is on the verge of collapse amid a shortage of family physicians. Interior Health has closed the pediatric unit at the hospital for at least six weeks.
“Physicians are raising the alarm,” Kelowna Centre MLA Kristina Loewen said during question period.
“There is no coverage plan, no extra support and no additional resources. Nurses are overwhelmed, and ER doctors are being forced to cover pediatric emergencies without training… Will the Premier finally take responsibility for this collapse and direct the Minister of Health to meet with frontline doctors immediately?”
Health Minister Josie Osborne said families shouldn’t be scared to take children to the hospital in case of an emergency, and the province is attempting to recruit more pediatricians.
“It is an incredibly challenging situation to be a pediatrician at Kelowna General Hospital right now, where a full staff complement would be 12, and there are six working,” said Osborne. “They are working as hard as they possibly can, and I know that.”
Kamloops General is supposed to be a regional referral centre for neonatal care. A group of doctors there released an open letter saying they had proposed solutions to Interior Health but received no engagement.
Access to provincial parks clear as mud
In April, the BC government announced it “supports land stewrdship” with yet another closure of Joffre Provincial Park, this time banning non-Indigenous visitors from using the popular public park for nearly a month. The closure was to allow two First Nations “the time and space” to “reconnect with the land and carry out cultural and spiritual practices.”
The National Post’s Tristin Hopper has a rundown of Joffre’s previous closures as well as similar bans in other parks. Dr. Caroline Elliot posted a viral video editorial explaining why people should care about this closure.
In Question Period on May 27, BC Conservative Scott McInnis asked Environent and Parks Minister Tamara Davidson to explain how long Joffre park would be closed in the future.
“It’s really important that we have very clear direction and answers, particularly when it comes to our B.C. parks,” began Davidson.
She then proceeded to not provide any direction or clear answers.
“We are working hand in hand on conservation and reconciliation,” she said, before implying there might be a safety issue. “When the park was established we needed to make sure that we had visitor safety as one of the biggest things.” There were previously up to 2,000 visitors to the park per day parking on a narrow access road which had caused a safety hazard, she said.
Her ministry is working with the First Nations and BC Parks to ensure “it’s the best experience.”
Best experience for who exactly, she didn’t say.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend
Premer David Eby shook off critics and rammed Bills 14 and 15 through the legislature despite criticisms they were an unnecessary power grab that over-extended govt’s reach across all manner of regulations and authorities. Rough ride and attacks aside, Eby did succeed in creating unforeseen unity when he galvanized his opponents against his legislation.
The president of the Union of BC Municipalities held a press conference with First Nations leaders, business groups and environmentalists found themselves on the same side of the issue. But the most surprising alliance was in the opposition parties’ ranks. Unified against the bill, opposition MLAs forced a very tight couple of votes.
With 46 NDP MLAs in favour of Bill 14 and 15, and a total of 46 BC Conservative, BC Green and BC Independent MLAs opposed, it marked the first time every opposition member voted in sync against government legislation. Speaker Raj Chouhan had to break the tie, which he did, unsurprisingly, in the govt’s favour.
One wrinkle in the process came when Rick Glumac, Minister of State for Trade voted by Zoom with a blurred background, a no-no under Chouhan’s own guidance to MLAs at the start of session. Conservatives argued the minister’s vote should be disallowed, but Chouhan would have none of it. Because it was a confidence vote, if the speaker had struck the MLA’s vote, government would have fallen and an election would have been called.
The Conservatives were not pleased, with Leader John Rustad leading a walk-out from the chamber while Chouhan was still talking. The point will likely be argued around water coolers into the future, with neither side agreeing. One thing’s for sure, Glumac won’t do that again.
Rural Reads from Around the Web
UBER launches in rest of province
Popular ride-sharing service UBER finally opened up in the rest of the province this week, with communities like Fort St. John now looking for drivers. It’s been a long, winding road for ride-sharing apps, which were at first resisted by a NDP government that wanted to protect the existing taxi industry. However, after limited openings in urban centres in 2018, service will now finally reach the rest of the province. [EnergeticCity.ca]
First Nations buy stake in Enbridge pipeline
Lheidli T’enneh First Nation and McLeod Lake Indian Band are among the 36 First Nations partnering to buy a $715 million minority stake in an Enbridge natural gas pipeline. [Prince George Citizen]
Fort St. John councillor fined for elections offences
Elections BC levied a $650 fine against Fort St. John councillor Trevor Bolin for overspending in the municipal election campaign. [EnergeticCity.ca]
Kamloops councillors appeal funding snub to housing minister
A group of Kamloops councillors attending a conference in Ottawa managed to buttonhole new federal Housing Minister Gregor Robertson to complain that their city was snubbed from federal funding under the Housing Accelerator Fund. [CFJC]
Prince George airport gets proper grub
After a lengthy absence, travellers through the Prince George Airport will once again be able to buy food and drinks. The airport authority partnered with Noir Food Services to open a cafe in the main terminal, with grab-and-go food options and prepared meals. It will also run the Altitude Restaurant and Lounge. The company already operates bars and restaurants in other Interior communities. [CKPG]
Vandals buzz off sculpture’s wing
Vandals took a chainsaw to a wooden sculpture of an eagle gifted from Chetwyn to Prince Rupert, as part of vandalism done to a nearby park. The city called it heartbreaking. [EnergeticCity.ca]
Former Interior Health top doc loses medical license after sex crimes convictions
The man who used to be the top doctor for Interior Health has lost his medical license and is serving a five-and-a-half year prison sentence after being convicted of sexual offences involving a young boy in Grande Prairie, Alberta. [CBC]
Good news for Okanagan tree fruit farmers
The BC Supreme Court approved the purchase of BC Tree Fruits assets for $22.75 million for Penticton-based Wildstone Construction Group and Ontario’s Algoma Orchards. The two companies partnered up to buy the Oliver processing plant and its branding after bancruptcy shuttered the operation last summer. The new owners are aiming to have things up and running again by July 1.
Yay for the farmers. Yay for us, their customers. [Castanet]
Short term rentals welcome here
Further south in the Okanagan, at everyone’s favourite sage-cactus-tumbleweed town – Osoyoos, of course! – 90 per cent of residents surveyed were in favour of short term rentals. Now the local council just has to figure out the rules. [Times Chronicle]
Bonus
Quote of the Week:
“Then on April 10th, the Prime Minister dropped all of our counter-tariffs. Elbows down. It’s left me wondering what part of the anatomy the Premier does have up in the air when it comes to dealing with Trump. When I look at…. [interjections]... well, you might have had your foot up. I don’t know. What do you think ends up in the air, Mr. Premier? I think that was perfectly fair language to use in this chamber. And if you don’t like it, well, I’m sorry. What could I say?” - Conservative leader John Rustad during estimates debate with Premier David Eby at the legislature on May 29, 2025.
Closing
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