Northern Beat Weekly 6
The 'moment' BC forgot $3 billion, Valemount needs a hand and a Quesnel song
Why, hello there!
BC politics served up a full buffet of topics this week — and we’re digging in. From filmmaker and rising BC Conservative MLA Á’a:líya Warbus opening up in a new Northern Beat podcast, to CentreBC officially launching as a centrist lifeboat for disaffected BC United and Conservative members, the political world was anything but dull. The NDP faced growing criticism over its missing-in-action carbon tax budgetary math. Meanwhile, a ghost of Bill 7 returned in a private member’s bill from a former BC Conservative.
Outside the chamber, federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre pledged to shut down B.C.’s overdose prevention sites, setting up a clash with Victoria. All this plus a children’s song about a crumbling Quesnel bridge making it to Hansard. Yes, it’s been that kind of week.
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- Rob Shaw
Northern Beat Roundup
PODCAST: In Conversation with Á'a:líya Warbus
There are a number of new MLAs at the legislature, but few quite as interesting as Á'a:líya Warbus. A filmmaker, musician, mother, member of the Stó:lō Nation, daughter to former Lieut.-Gov. Stephen Point and now MLA for Chilliwack-Cultus Lake and Opposition house leader, Warbus is a fresh new voice in provincial politics. But why get into the political arena, why for the BC Conservatives and what does she hope to accomplish? Northern Beat founder Fran Yanor sat down with Warbus for the first in a series of podcast interviews she’ll be doing with notable figures from across the province. It’s an in-depth dive into the motivations of one of the most consequential political figures of this legislature.
Have a listen here
Businesses need $1.5 million after helping Jasper evacuees, says mayor
Valemount’s mayor says the province needs to step up with an estimated $1.5 million in financial aid to prevent the community from economic collapse after it took in evacuees from last year’s wildfires in Jasper. Valemount’s population ballooned to ten times its normal rate, as it helped feed and house thousands of people during its high tourist season last August — leading to cancellations and lost revenue. The province says it doesn’t have programs to help. So now what?
Read more
MLA fireside chat: Larry Neufeld
As part of an ongoing feature of new MLAs, Northern Beat sat down with Conservative Peace River South MLA Larry Neufeld early in the BC legislative session to discuss his natural gas and LNG critic portfolio. Neufeld said it’s an honour to represent Peace constituents, but likened the learning curve to “drinking from three fire hoses” at once.
The Legislature
CentreBC launches
Former BC United MLA Karin Kirkpatrick officially launched CentreBC on Thursday, which she is billing as a mainstream alternative to the BC NDP and BC Conservative parties. Kirkpatrick, who was the MLA for West Vancouver-Capilano from 2020 to 2024, said the new party will be more fiscally responsible than the NDP, but less socially extreme as the Conservatives. The goal is to run 93 candidates in the next provincial election (scheduled for 2028), she said. Kirkpatrick said she has so far not officially talked to any of her former BC United colleagues who joined the BC Conservatives about switching over, but would welcome members from all parties.
Fudge-It Budget
Opposition BC Conservatives spent the week hammering the NDP government for not re-tabling a more accurate budget in light of its decision to cancel the consumer carbon tax and forgo $3 billion in revenue. Finance critic Peter Milobar said the decision makes it almost impossible for MLAs to accurately debate how the government is spending money during a legislative process called estimates. He said Finance Minister Brenda Bailey’s vague statements that the government would be conducting an efficiency review and cutting some provincial spending further muddies the waters. Milobar tried to force Bailey to bring forward new figures but was rebuffed by Speaker Raj Chouhan who sided with the government in his ruling.
Read the Vancouver Sun Vaughn Palmer’s astute analysis of Finance Minister’s $3 billion “moment in time” defence.
Poilievre pledges to shutter overdose prevention sites
Federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre visited the Okanagan and Terrace this week, promising to fast-track Phase 2 of the LNG Canada project into construction and also eliminate B.C.’s ability to create overdose prevention sites. Poilievre said the low-barrier sites create public disorder issues and are part of failed federal Liberal drug policies. He said he’d remove federal exemptions that allow B.C. to create them, and bring in stricter new requirements for the higher-quality supervised consumption sites. B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne defended the overdose prevention sites and said she’d fight to keep them if Poilievre won the election.
Bill 7 part two
Former BC Conservative MLA Dallas Brodie used her platform as a new independent MLA to introduce private member’s legislation that would give Premier David Eby’s cabinet the power to bypass environmental and First Nations consultations that hold up economic projects needed to respond to U.S. tariffs. Brodie’s bill would give Eby the same sweeping powers to use cabinet orders to amend laws that he proposed to give himself (but then later backtracked on, amidst complaints it was undemocratic) in Bill 7. The only difference is that it would expand those powers to the two areas the NDP had refused to touch: Environmental assessments and Indigenous consultation. The bill is set to be debated April 14.
Rural Reads from Around the Web
BC NDP gives companies an escape hatch on making LNG plant carbon 'net-zero'
The BC NDP government’s post-election conversion to support natural resource projects continues, with Energy Minister Adrian Dix writing the CEO of the province’s environmental assessment office to clarify that government’s net-zero emission requirements for 2030 would not apply to projects that cannot access clean electricity due to the fact government has yet to expand the electrical grid to those areas. The move is welcomed by the LNG industry and communities that rely on the sector economically, but makes it possible for some companies to proceed with less environmentally-friendly construction plans, until (or if) BC increases power capacity. [Vancouver Sun]
Province extends rural recruitment, retention incentives for healthcare workers
B.C.’s health ministry is extended a program that offered up to $8,000 in financial incentives for healthcare staff to work in rural communities until June 30th, while it reviews what to do next. The move, while welcome, doesn’t address concerns by Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Scott McInnis about why some communities, such as Kimberley and Cranbrook, are ineligible for the aid. [EnergeticCity.ca]
Prince George councillors want answers after city staff ask RCMP to monitor public meeting
Two Prince George councillors want to know why city staff called the RCMP without council’s knowledge to have officers attend a public debate over the city’s updated official community plan, calling it a waste of resources and a troubling decision. [CBC]
Judge rules BRFN counsel in ‘conflict of interest’
Former Blueberry River Nations Chief Judy Dejarlais won a partial victory in the court challenge against her former council following their ousting of her, when the council’s lawyer was ruled in a conflict of interest. [EnergeticCity.ca]
Bonus
Singsong of the Week:
“I rise today to present a ditty that’s becoming, well, somewhat popular in the central Interior along Highway 97. If you’ll indulge me, sir:
“Quesnel River Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down,
Quesnel River Bridge is falling down, Mr. Premier.
Broken concrete, holes and girders, holes and girders, holes and girders,
Broken concrete, holes and girders, Mr. Premier.
Quesnel River Bridge is past its time, past its time, past its time.
Quesnel River Bridge is past its time, Mr. Premier….”
- Sheldon Clare, Prince George-North Cariboo MLA.
(It’s a long song, watch the full video here)
Closing
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