News
March 14, 2006
VICTORIA — Robin Austin has taken northerners' concerns about natural gas hikes to a B.C. Utilities Commission session this week.The BCUC scheduled a negotiation session with Pacific Northern Gas, who are seeking rate hikes of 27 per cent for residential customers and 23 per cent for business customers.Austin, the New Democrat MLA for Skeena, brought a petition with more than 4,300 signatures of people from his riding as well as from neighbouring ridings of North Coast and Bulkley Valley...
March 14, 2006
NDP MLA Michael Sather is calling for the fair and equitable application of Translink's new parking stall tax, in the interests of businesses in the community.Last fall, the B.C. government passed enabling legislation that allows Translink to impose a parking tax on GVRD businesses to pay for transportation improvements. The impact of this legislation has hit business owners hard, as the new tax applies to parking stalls, loading zones, landscaping features, and bike racks. The legislation must...
March 10, 2006
VICTORIA — A string of fatalities on the Patullo Bridge is prompting NDP MLA Raj Chouhan to raise questions about the Campbell government's plans for the Gateway Program, which include the treacherous crossing.This past week, a 34-year-old Burnaby resident died in yet another serious accident on the Patullo, the fifth death on the bridge deck this year. This tragic accident also marks the 15 fatality on the bridge in the past five years. Translink has committed to build a centre lane...
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...
