From the Legislature 2016

Items of note from our elected officials at the Provincial Legislature and developments in the northwest ridings .


North Coast
MLA Jennifer Rice (NDP MLA)
Member of the Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth
Expense Listings for 2016

MLA's Week Legislature Archive 
(our review of MLA Rice's contributions at the Legislature)

Jennifer Rice MLA Constituency Page
Jennifer Rice Twitter feed
Jennifer Rice Facebook page

General Overview Notes on the British Columbia Political Scene

2016

December

December 21 -- Four officially in race for Skeena NDP nomination
December 20 -- Province 'disappointed' Prince Rupert won't be part of transit plan
December 20 -- North Coast Liberals to select candidate in late January  NCR
December 16 -- A Christmas Gathering with Mr. Cullen and Ms. Rice  NCR
December 12 -- Former Premier, North Coast MLA Dan Miller weighs in again on resource development  NCR

November

November 25 -- NDP bearish when it comes to grizzly protection  NCR
November 24 -- Province to extend implemenation period for new curriculum; shift timetable for FSA tests  NCR
November 16 -- The following is a free time political podcast ...   NCR
November 10 -- B. C. government's hopes for Prince Rupert elements in Ocean Protection Plan, seemingly left on the shelf after roll out  NCR
November 9 -- Herb Pond to launch second quest for the Legislature for B. C. Liberals  NCR
November 7 -- Premier makes note of Pacific NorthWest LNG decision and theme of cooperation in letter to City council  NCR

October

October 24 -- MLA Rice outlines concerns over Bella Bella fuel spill NCR
October 18 -- Dismissal of Vancouver School Board could set the tone on larger education issues for Spring election  NCR
October 17 -- MLA Rice on Bella Bella fuel spill (video)
October 12 -- Empty promises are disappointing, dangerous ( Guest Editorial)
October 7 -- Demographics key to northwestern B.C. Liberal candidate's hopes
October 7 -- John Horgan in the Northwest (video)
October 7 -- SQCRD receives Provincial approval on proposed name change  NCR
October 6 -- British Columbia government approves transportation funding for Prince Rupert  NCR
October 6 -- Teachers union outlines challenges for education on North Coast for Finance Commitee NCR
October 6 -- BC NDP leader John Horgan visiting Northwest BC
October 6 -- BC Minister Fassbender is ready to look over Municipal spending  NCR
October 6 -- Continued growth and opportunity seen for Port facilities in Prince Rupert  NCR
October 5 -- Stark statistical count provided for BC Finance Committee when it comes to housing concerns in the NorthWest  NCR
October 5 -- Hays 2.0 and Airport access the focus for City in Finance Committee presentation NCR
October 5 -- UFAWU delivers call for Provincial support on adjacency concepts for North Coast Fishery NCR
October 4 -- UFAWU message for Budget consultations in Prince Rupert (video)
October 4 -- Fourteen delegations make presentations to Provincial Finance Committee in Prince Rupert  NCR
October 3 --  No word on Terrace hospital funds just yet
October 3 -- Prince Rupert sessions for BC Budget consultation (video)
October 3 -- UFAWU members to press their employment concerns for Government panel today  NCR
October 3 -- Provincial Budget consultation session in Prince Rupert today  NCR
October 1 -- North Coast MLA Rice joins chorus of comments on Pacific NorthWest LNG approval NCR


September

September 30 -- Province releases Prince Rupert Air Shed Study; states region can accomodate industrial growth  NCR
September 30 -- NDP's John Horgan offers up a shift in provincial/municipal relations for UBC M members NCR
September 29 -- Premier Clark test drives a few electoral themes for UBCM gathering NCR
September 28 -- For Pacific NorthWest LNG project, all roads now lead to Kuala Lumpur  NCR
September 27 -- BC Government invests 1.6 million dollars in Trades Funding for NWCC  NCR
September 20 -- Dear Mr. Minister ... MLA Rice takes Prince Rupert housing concerns to Rich Coleman  NCR
September 20 -- Province announces $500M Housing program, but with few details on which communities will benefit  NCR
September 18 -- Brooks again BC Conservative leader
September 16 -- Fourth person enters northwestern B.C. NDP nomination race
September 12 -- Premier Clark introduces Haisla Chief Councillor Ellis Ross as Liberal candidate for Skeena  NCR
September 7 -- Central Coast to see return of summer ferry services in 2018  NCR
September 7 -- NWCC to share in 2.3 million dollars for First Nations Education Plan NCR
September 1 -- North Coast MLA steps in to seek answers for Prince Rupert patients  NCR 

August

August 28 -- Government ducking its duties for a new Terrace hospital
August 26 -- Third person makes bid for northwestern B.C. NDP nomination
August 25 -- Second Potential Skeena NDP Candidate Steps Forward
August 25 -- NDP leader backs call for a new Mills Memorial Hospital
August 24 -- Royal Tour of Haida Gwaii announced (video)
August 24 -- A second potential NDP candidate for Skeena steps forward
August 23 -- Sarah Zimmerman declares for NDP candidacy in Skeena (video)
August 23 -- Bearer of Bad News
August 23 -- Time isn't right for LNG: Horgan
August 23 -- Zimmerman Hoping to represent in Skeena in 2017 BC election
August 22 -- First declaration for NDP nomination in Skeena
August 22 -- Horgan hears the issues during tour by motorhome
August 20 -- Election year carrots
August 19 -- John Horgan tour of the Northwest (video)
August 18 -- John Horgan Northwest tour (video)
August 18 -- John Horgan answers questions about LNG, Highway 16 and Liberals (audio)
August 18 -- BC NDP leader John Horgan at Terrace City council
August 18 -- New Democrat Leader John Horgan comes to Prince Rupert
August 17 -- Horgan on the road this week touring Highway 16 corridor
August 17 -- NDP Leader cruising Highway 16
August 17 -- B.C. NDP leader John Horgan on "Camping" Tour Through Highway 16 corridor
August 16 -- Horgan to embark on Week-Long Highway 16 Camping Tour
August 10 -- MLA to host final Brown Bag Lunch in the Park session with constituents this Friday NCR
August 4 -- MP and MLA hosting community BBQ today  NCR
August 3 -- Status of the Prince Rupert Airshed Study report  (video)



July

July 28 -- Bruised MLA wins lawsuit for nasty campaign defamation
July 27 -- MLA celebrates local brewery with comments to Legislature  NCR
July 27 -- Jennifer Rice takes to Legislature floor to speak on Bill 27 changes to Human Rights Act  NCR
July 26 -- NDP outline Power BC energy plan for British Columbia  NCR
July 22 -- Austin awarded $75,000 in defamation suit
July 21 -- MLA Rice on Voice of BC (video)
July 21 -- Skeena MLA awarded $75,000 in civil supreme court defamation case
July12 -- LNG Canada announcement latest setback for Northwest LNG plans  NCR
July 12 -- Vancouver housing issues on the agenda for recall of Legislature  NCR
July 6 -- BC Liberals begin to ramp up their election machine  NCR

June

June 16 -- MLA Rice awaits details on Province's transportation plans for Highway 16  NCR
June 15 -- Community to Community transportation listed among the items in funding for Highway 16 plan  NCR
June 6 -- Housing issues dominate inquiries at MLA Rice's office  NCR

May

May 26 -- Premier Clark takes trade discussions to Asia once again, with LNG one of the main topics on the agenda  NCR
May 20 -- School District 52 to receive $225,000 in provincial money from "fix-it" fund  NCR
May 20 -- Spring session at BC Legislature comes to an end  NCR
May 12 -- Rural health themes mark lengthy exchange in Legislature between MLA Rice and Health Minister Lake  NCR
May 11 -- Adoption issues subject of Legislature Statements Monday  NCR
May 11 -- Alaska raises its concerns over BC mining oversight  NCR
May 6 -- North Coast NDP to host AGM on May 14th  NCR
May 4 -- MLA Rice raises Banks Island Gold Mine issues in Legislature  NCR
May 3 --  Rice speaks out on Banks Island gold Operation (video)
May 3 -- NDP MLA Robin Austin will not run in the next provincial election (video)
May 3 -- Northwestern B. C. MLA won't run again

April

April 28 -- MLA's civil case wraps up after two weeks
April 20 -- MLA Rice leads provincial health tour
April 18 -- Rice channels Horgan and Cullen in recent newspaper interview  NCR
April 13 -- LNG is possible on North Coast: Rice (pg 3 N View e edition)
April 12 -- MLA Rice speaks to the need for better staffing at Seniors facilities  NCR
Aprl 8 -- BCTF provides strong support for Jennifer Rice's Safe Water for School's Act   NCR
April 7 -- MLA Rice introduces private members bill on water testing for Schools  NCR
April 6 -- Rice speaks to need for better forest fire fighting resources and funding  NCR
April 5 -- MLA seeks provincial support for Prudhomme Lake Recreation area  NCR
April 1 -- BC Conservative announce leadership convention this fall
April 1 -- Province preparing to launch 75 million dollar BC Rural Dividend  NCR

March 

March 23 -- NDP would cast wide net should Skeena MLA Robin Austin retire
March 23 -- Friday, March 18 ... a good day for all of us
March 17 -- MLA Rice speaks in support of Bill Two on Great Bear Rainforest, but urges caution on future use  NCR
March 11 -- Cabinet Minister John Rustad speaks to Tsimshian agreement, Lelu Island project and other First Nations issues  NCR
March 11 -- At the Legislature, Jennifer Rice salutes Chamber of Commerce Award winners  NCR
March 10 -- MLA Rice on water testing in Prince Rupert (video)
March 10 -- MLA Rice tests the water at local social housing units, finds levels of lead as too high  NCR
March 8 -- Premier says Petronas not threatening to walk away from LNG project
March 8 -- Province of British Columbia commits 9 million towards Tsimshian Roundtable initiative  NCR
March 8 -- Rice tackles Disability issues and Red Tape reduction themes in late Monday Legislature Session NCR
March 8 -- North Coast MLA returns to theme of testing of water for Northwest  NCR
March 4 -- Haida Gwaii's Mount Moresby Adventure Camp raised in Legislature Committee Session NCR
March 2 -- In Committee Session, North Coast MLA raises three questions on environmental concerns NCR
March 1 -- Provincial rainforest regulation (video)
March 1 -- Donaldson sending local teen to Canucks game for problem solving

February 

February 25 -- BC School Water Tests (video)
February 25 -- Lead worries prompt more tests of water in schools
February 23 -- MLA calls for expanded testing of water in Northwest schools  NCR
February 23 -- MLA Rice speaks out in support of Representative for Children and Youth  NCR
February 19 -- Rice celebrates Cow Bay Marina completion and opening  NCR
February 19 -- NDP continues to make SD52 water concerns part of Legislature debate  NCR
February 18 -- Prince Rupert Water update (video)
February 18 -- Parents fear impacts of lead on children in northern B. C. schools: NDP
February 18 -- MLA Rice raises School District lead levels issue in Legislature  NCR
February 17 -- North Coast MLA on Prince Rupert water issues (video)
February 17 -- "How long have they known?" North Coast MLA wants answers after high levels of lead found in Prince Rupert schools' water (audio)
February 17 -- School District 52 sends out advisory to parents over elevated lead levels ine water at four local schools  NCR
February 13 -- MLA expands on themes from Legislature speech; calls for apology from Premier Clark NCR
February 12 -- MLA Rice dissects Liberals Speech From the Throne talking points  NCR
February 11 -- Skeena NDP MLA hints at retirement
February 10 -- British Columbia Government holds to LNG ambitions, sets positioning points for year ahead  NCR
February 9 -- Throne speech fails to impress NDP
February 4 -- NDP Leader John Horgan becoming a man of letters, opinion and LNG Observations  NCR
February 3 -- Melanie Mark's Nisga'a and Gitxsan roots provide Northwest connection to by-election success Tuesday Night  NCR
February 2 -- B. C. LNG not the 'greenest'
February 2 -- Province, First Nations and Industry sign Great Bear Rainforest Agreement NCR

January

January 29 -- Provincial population estimates for Prince Rupert at odds with those of the City NCR
January 28 -- Northwest B.C. NDP MLA at odds with First Nations over LNG site
January 27 -- Clark needs Trudeau to approve Pacific NorthWest LNG project
January 27 -- Expect LNG to remain a B. C. political football
January 26 -- B. C. Premier Christy Clark strikes back at LNG opponents
January 25 -- Premier Clark battles B. C.'s forces of No,' on LNG, trade deal; says she's no quitter
January 25 -- Clark battles 'forces of No' on B. C.  LNG project
January 25 -- NDP MLAs sign anti-LNG declaration
January 25 -- Tsimshian Nations take issue with lack of consultation on Lelu Island Declaration  NCR
January 25 -- BC Premier says "Forces of No" behind Lelu Island Declaration (audio)
January 25 -- Coalition says No to LNG project at Lelu Island
January 25 -- Salmon Nation Summit ends with signing of Lelu Island Declaration  NCR
January 19 -- Elections BC on the search for local officials for 2017 Provincial election  NCR
January 16 -- North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice hails court judgement on Northern Gateway  NCR
January 11 -- Skeena MLA urges affordable transit

Archive of items from 2015
Archive of items from 2014
Archive of items from 2013 and before