Shannon Waters

I'm looking forward to seeing the regulations eventually

And I'm curious whether the government's claim that it would repair its consultation failure with the law in developing the regulations will be proven

Guess we'll start to see in a few months #bcpoli

Note that only 1/3 of the regulations needed to fully implement Bill 15 (now the Infrastructure Projects Act) are expected this spring

The ones for:

- alternate environmental assessment processes
- qualified professionals

are still TBD nearly 1 year after the bill passed with closure #bcpoli

Asked about the rush to pass the bill and the time passed since, Ma notes the volume and complexity of the fast-tracking regulations and that other parts of the bill are in effect

She also said some permits are already being delivered faster "through the signal sent by" passing the bill last year

Instead, Bill 15 went from intro to passage in just over 2 sitting weeks with the government invoking closure to end debate

Only NDP MLAs voted for it, so the Speaker had to break a tie vote to pass it

Nearly a year later, the controversial fast-tracking provisions are not yet in effect #bcpoli

B.C.’s Bill 15 becomes law amid First Nations backlash | The Narwhal With B.C.’s controversial Bill 15 now law, First Nations leaders are warning of lawsuits and protests

The government rushed to pass the legislation, even after Ma and Premier Eby admitted they had failed to fulfill obligations to consult First Nations while developing the bill

Many First Nations leaders called for the government to scrap Bill 15 so proper consultation could be done #bcpoli

B.C.’s controversial Bill 15, explained | The Narwhal Bill 15 would give the B.C. government sweeping powers to fast-track major projects, from mines to highways

Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma expects regulations empowering cabinet to designate "provincially significant" projects for a variety of fast-tracking measures will come into effect this spring

Remember Bill 15? The bill the government said absolutely, urgently had to pass last spring? #bcpoli

M 204 Brennan Day to move — That the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia be amended by deleting the text shown as struck out and adding the underlined text in Standing Order 78 as follows: First reading not debatable; Bill added to Order Paper. 78. When a Bill is presented by a Member, the question, “That this Bill be NOW read a first time,” shall be decided deemed to have carried without amendment or debate and the Bill shall be placed on the Order Paper for second reading.

Should private members' bills automatically get first reading?

BC Conservative MLA Brennan Day has put forward a motion that would make it so

His ask for leave to introduce the motion was not granted so it's kind of a moot point, if relevant to recent proceedings in the house #bcpoli

Partisanship is a helluva drug, folks

When the BC Conservatives voted for a bill to repeal the human rights code, the NDP caucus promptly put out a press release slamming the Cons who "couldn’t muster the courage to stand against it."

Today, 0 NDP MLAs mustered the courage to vote against a bill to close all BC's safe consumption sites

A picture of the BC legislative chamber, looking toward the Speaker's chair. A count of votes is sumperimposed, showing 84 Yeas and 2 Nays

There are a few empty seats in the house this morning (6 MLAs missing total, per the clerk's count of the vote)

One bill was from BCC MLA Kiel Giddens

The second was from independent MLA Jordan Kealy

NDP and Conservative caucuses vote for the bill, as do the independents

Greens vote against

The bill passes first reading

MLA Jordan Kealy has introduced the School Amendment Act, 2026, legislation designed to strengthen the safety of students in schools across British Columbia by establishing controlled entry points to school buildings during school hours. The proposed legislation comes in response to the recent tragedy in Tumbler Ridge, which highlighted concerns about how easily school buildings can sometimes be accessed during the school day. “The purpose of this legislation is straightforward: to strengthen the safety of our children while they are at school,” said Kealy. “No parent should ever have to worry that someone could simply walk into their child’s school without oversight while students are in classrooms trying to learn.” The bill would require schools to implement controlled entry systems so that visitors must be monitored before accessing students or staff inside school buildings. Many schools across British Columbia already use controlled entry systems where visitors must check in before entering the building. The proposed legislation would ensure that this level of protection is applied consistently across the province. “Controlled entry points create a moment of pause,” Kealy said. “They ensure that individuals cannot simply walk into a school unnoticed. In an emergency, even those few minutes can matter, giving staff time to call 911, initiate a lockdown, and protect the children in their care.” Kealy noted that controlled entry is already a standard safeguard in many other places. “Courthouses control who enters. Government buildings control who enters. Even in our own homes, we lock our doors and check who is outside before allowing someone in,” he said. “Yet the places where our children spend most of their day are often among the most accessible buildings in our communities.” Kealy said he has spoken with individuals closely connected to families affected by the tragedy in Tumbler Ridge, and that the message from parents has been clear. “No one should b…

Oops: One of these bills was proposed by independent MLA Jordan Kealy

Here's his blurb on the bill

Division at first reading

Benefit recipients would be required to complete an approved drug recovery program post-conviction in order to have their benefits reinstated, per Armstrong

Armstrong said her proposal would end funding for safe consumption sites in BC and close all existing sites in 6 months

It would also create "consequences" for people who receive provincial benefits and are convicted of drug-related offenses, she said...

Two private member's bills proposed by BC Conservative MLAs passed first reading this morning and then independent MLA Tara Armstrong got up...
#bcpoli

“Some of these people that are poisoning our food supply, they should help us with trying to have good food here” : West Moberly First Nations Councillor Clarence Willson

In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, 23% of British Columbians say they would “definitely” or “probably” consider voting for the BC Conservatives with former leader John Rustad at the helm. Only four leadership candidates can count on the consideration of at least one-in-five British Columbians: Darrell Jones (25%), Caroline Elliott (22%), Kerry-Lynne Findlay (21%), Iain Black (20%) and Peter Milobar (also 20%).

Maybe Rustad should have run to replace himself as BC Conservative leader 🤷‍♀️

What really matters is who the party's membership puts their faith in

Going to be an interesting 12 weeks!

"I've got my tentacles on the ground."

Yeah, question period is weird #bcpoli

I'd accept making them sing all QP questions and responses

It's already a ridiculous circus most of the time

Today's hot take: Singing should be banned in the legislative chamber 🙅‍♀️

Everyone can have a little time chaos, as a treat!

Quote from Dr. Baiwan on areas of focus for the upcoming coroners inquest into the Tumbler Ridge tragedy: “A key area of examination will be how individuals in crisis are identified and supported, including access to mental health supports and services in rural and remote and small communities across British Columbia, such as crisis intervention and wraparound supports. This will include consideration of how mental health services and public safety systems work together to support people experiencing complex mental health crises, including broader issues of community awareness, education and support, and matters relating to gender diversity, where relevant to the evidence.”

It was from the coroner before media questions

Here's the full quote:

Statement from the chief coroner here:

...and how tech (like AI) interacts with law enforcement

The specifics of the inquest, including whether it will take place in Tumbler Ridge, are still being determined

Also: emergency response and coordination, communication with families and the school community

Opportunities of strength and preparedness and response in rural settings

The inquest may also look at how mental health and public safety systems intersect with firearms oversight...

Other areas the coroners inquest will consider:

how mental health services and public safety systems work together to support people experiencing complex mental health crises and related matters of community awareness, education and support, and gender diversity, where relevant to the evidence

A coroners inquest is a public inquiry that serves three primary functions: To determine the facts related to a death, including the identity of the deceased, and how, when, where and by what means the individual came to their death, as well as a classification for the death To make recommendations, where appropriate and supported by evidence, to prevent deaths in similar circumstances To ensure public confidence that the circumstances surrounding the death of an individual will not be overlooked, concealed or ignored

BC Coroner Dr. Jatinder Baidwan will launch a coroner's inquest into the Tumbler Ridge tragedy

"A key area of examination will be how individuals in crisis are identified and supported, including access to mental health supports and services in rural and remote and small communities across BC"

People in northeast B.C. say rest of province should embrace living in a single time zone year-round | CBC News "You'll love it," is the message Oliver Hachmeister of Fort St. John has for British Columbians who will soon be joining B.C.'s Peace region in a single, year-round time zone.

People in northeast B.C. have operated on a single, year-round time since the 1970s. They love it, and say you will, too
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...