Shannon Waters

Victoria! It's really windy here tonight

The wind is making our house scream 😱

So that's fun. Definitely gonna sleep well tonight!

The bill included a clause that said it would take effect "notwithstanding sections 2 and 7 to 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms."

But bills that deal with the constitution have to come from government or have "the sanction of the government”

So Armstrong's bill is dead

Today, the Speaker ruled Armstrong's bill out of order and struck it from the order paper

He also put her at the bottom of the list for private members' business #bcpoli

UBCM seeks intervenor status in Cowichan Tribes appeal The Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) has provided approval for its solicitor to apply to the Court of Appeal to intervene in the pending proceedings related to Cowichan Tribes v. Canada.

The Union of BC Municipalities intends to seek intervenor status in the appeal of the Cowichan Tribes decision

"UBCM’s goal is to ensure the Court understands the unique implications this ruling will have on local government’s ability to regulate, tax and service within its jurisdiction" #bcpoli

Hard to decide whether this offends me more as a journalist or as a citizen, but then I guess I don't need to choose.

Canadian governments hate and fear the public, a continuing series.

I hear what you're saying but that level of detail about requests isn't publicly released, to my knowledge. Assessing the "quality" of requests from the perspective of a public body vs, say, a journalist trying to understand how a decision was reached would probably prove difficult

Meanwhile, my inbox is full of extension requests from ministry FOI teams to produce briefing notes that the government likes to imply it proactively releases 🙃

There is no reason to believe this time will be different, other than the minister's say so

You'll have to forgive me for being able to muster exactly zero faith in those words #bcpoli

The commissioner noted the government was taking longer to respond to fewer requests and failing to meet legislated response timelines frequently

In 2022-23, 43% of requests filed by media were unlawfully delayed

Note that businesses and law firms were getting the fewest unlawful delays #bcpoli

And not, like, a little bit worse. The FOI system took a nosedive

The number of requests dropped by HALF from 2020-2023 and requests filed by media organizations went from 756 to 286

"It is an understatement to say this downward trend is not a positive one," the FOI commissioner said at the time

BC Government Accused of a Stealth Attack on Freedom of Information | The Tyee The new bill includes ‘some really bad stuff,’ warn advocates and opposition.

Citizens' Services Minister Diana Gibson says proposed changes to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act will improve how the FOI system functions

Her predecessor said the same thing while defending new filing fees for FOI requests

Spoiler alert: the system got worse #bcpoli

Had my first appointment with a family doc this morning 🙌🏻

First time in 15 years

I wish I could say it was because of the health connect registry but it was because my dad begged a favour from a rugby buddy 🫠

B.C. NDP allow Armstrong bill on closing all consumption sites to pass 1st reading - Oak Bay News Government house leader explains where “red line” is for bills he does not think merit debate

If you're curious about how NDP MLAs see their first reading vote for the bill to close all supervised consumption sites in BC, this story has quotes from Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon and Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth, who is also gov house leader and most experienced member of the legislature

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

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

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

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...