News
March 8, 2006
VICTORIA — Robin Austin says the decision by the Coast Mountain School District to continue with a four-day school week is regrettable, but he says the blame lies with the provincial government.Tuesday evening, School District 82 voted reluctantly to continue with the four-day week for the fourth straight year. Austin, the New Democrat MLA for Skeena, says continued under-funding by the Education Ministry left the trustees with few options."What I've been saying, and what the...
March 7, 2006
VICTORIA — The Minister of Environment's recent announcement of 18 new seasonal conservation officers is an admission that the BC Liberals made a serious mistake when it cut back environmental agencies earlier in its mandate, NDP Environment Critic Shane Simpson said today. "In 2002, the cost-cutting Liberals cut conservation and environmental protection staff by 30 per cent," said Simpson. "The result has been a spotty compliance and enforcement regime. The government also...
March 7, 2006
VICTORIA — Question Period in the BC Legislature continues to produce the same old flippant remarks about long term care for seniors, and New Democrat Seniors Health Critic Katrine Conroy says that Health Minister George Abbott has really dropped the ball crying foul over being forced to manage his portfolio."Mr. Abbott said it wasn't fair that the opposition put forward real stories about seniors health in the West Kootenay – Boundary area, and he has said in the past that it...
March 7, 2006
VICTORIA — New Democrat Public Safety and Solicitor General Critic Jagrup Brar says gang violence in the Lower Mainland has become a very serious public safety issue and it is time that the Campbell government took it seriously and took leadership on the issue."Everywhere that I travel in my constituency, and throughout the Lower Mainland, the number one issue I am approached with is concern over gang violence," said Brar, the MLA for Surrey-Panorama Ridge. "In the past 10...
March 6, 2006
VICTORIA — The B.C. Liberal government must address immigration policy oversights that leave those seeking to escape abuse and domestic violence vulnerable, NDP MLA Raj Chouhan said today. Chouhan's comments followed a public meeting with victims of marriage fraud and immigrant sponsorship abuse, who have come forward with tragic stories that highlight key weaknesses in Canada's immigrant support network. They hope to convince both federal and provincial governments to make changes to...
March 3, 2006
VICTORIA — Five New Democrat MLAs and three NDP Members of Parliament from the North Fraser region have joined forces and formed a caucus to tackle issues important to their communities.This past weekend marked the first formal meeting of the Joint North Fraser Caucus, whose aim is to discuss local issues from both the provincial and federal perspective, and work together to address those issues across both levels of government. Their first meeting covered a number of topics, including...
March 2, 2006
VICTORIA — Nicholas Simons is disappointed Kevin Falcon wouldn't meet with island residents concerned about their ferry service. Simons, the New Democrat MLA for Powell River – Sunshine Coast, says the hundreds of concerned citizens who came to the Legislature had a message for Kevin Falcon, and the Transportation Minister should have taken the time to listen. "There seems to be a pattern with this government: pass along the blame and refuse to face the people who have been...
