Newsletter from MLA/Finance Minister Conroy
Last week Premier David Eby issued a heartfelt apology for historic wrongs against the Sons of Freedom children, including the effects on the descendants and community. The Government of British Columbia has committed to a $10 million recognition package and also recognizes the immediate need for these resources, especially for the elderly. In the coming months the […]
FROM THE HILL: MP speaks to Pharmacare Act
Last week Canada took another major step forward truly universal healthcare with the tabling of the NDP’s Pharmacare Act. When fully implemented this legislation will allow all Canadians to use their health card to obtain their prescription drugs, just as they use it to see a doctor or use hospital facilities. And it will save Canada as […]
Weekly newsletter from MLA/Minister Conroy
This week, I returned to the legislature for a new session of presenting, debating, and passing legislation alongside my colleagues. In our first week, we presented our Throne Speech and 2024 Budget, sharing some of the priorities of our government for the year ahead. We know that people are facing challenges, like global inflation and high interest rates. […]
Provincial Government announces Budget 2024
Budget 2024 takes on the big challenges people are facing today by helping with everyday costs, delivering more homes faster, strengthening health care and services, and building a stronger, cleaner economy. “Wherever we live – city, town, rural or First Nations community – we all want a decent, affordable home, quality health care, help when […]
BC Builds to deliver thousands more homes with Canada contribution
BC Builds, the Province’s new initiative to build more housing for people with middle incomes, will benefit from $2 billion in additional financing from the Government of Canada to help deliver thousands more homes that people with middle incomes who live and work in B.C. can afford. “All levels of government need to work together to […]
Court criticizes Minister Stephen Guilbeault's interpretation of law
A Federal Court Justice has ruled in favour of conservation groups that challenged the federal Environment Minister for failing to take action to protect the critical habitats of at-risk migratory birds across the country. This includes the threatened Marbled Murrelet, a seabird that relies on coastal old-growth forests in B.C. for nesting. Ecojustice lawyers, on […]
Parliamentary secretary’s statement on support for B.C. wine sector
Roly Russell, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development, has released the following statement regarding recent actions by the Government of Alberta that affect B.C.’s wine producers: “I am fortunate to live in and represent one of the most exciting and highly acclaimed wine regions in the country and indeed, even in the world, where our vineyards and […]
FROM THE HILL: Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling at Teck Resources Smelter
I’ve written in a previous column about the exciting developments in battery recycling in Trail. There, KC Recycling is one of western North America’s largest lead-acid battery recyclers and Cirba Solutions (formerly Retriev) is a major recycler of literally every other kind of battery. Both these businesses are important components of the circular economy we […]
BC Government issues apology for historic wrongs against Sons of Freedom
Community programs, research, education, wellness and mental-health supports are part of a $10-million compensation package announced to provide lasting recognition of historical wrongs committed by the Province of B.C. against the Sons of Freedom Doukhobor and their families. Attorney General Niki Sharma announced the package, on behalf of Premier David Eby, at an event held Thursday […]
FROM THE HILL: MP speaks to Palestine/Israel war
For the past three and a half months the world has witnessed the devastating situation in Palestine and Israel. Since the horrifying Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7 and the beginning of this latest assault on Gaza by Israeli forces, tens of thousands of innocent people have been killed, of whom two-thirds are women and […]