MLA's week: February 20-24, 2017

The Provincial budget dominated much of the news flow out of Victoria this week, as Finance Minister Mike de Jong outlined his financial blue print for the year ahead, though in reality it was very much a document crafted with a provincial election but months away.

Jennifer Rice made note of some of the finance Minister's comments through social media as the week came to an end, marking a busy week for the North Coast MLA.

Her work in the Legislature also included a Monday address to the Chamber where she delivered a response to the Government's Speech from the Throne, and touched on a number of other themes related to the Prince Rupert area.

Our look at the work week that just concluded, can be found below:

On the week, Ms Rice was listed three times in the accounts of the sessions of the Legislature from February 20-24.

Basketball was on the mind of the North Coast MLA this week as she took to the Chamber to offer congratulations to competitors in the recently completed All Native Tournament in Prince Rupert.

MLA's Rice and Donaldson exchange All Native Tournament Toasts in the Legislature
The Strike Force get a Legislature shout out from MLA Rice

The main thrust of her contribution to the Legislature this week came from her review of last week's Speech from the Throne, where the MLA outlined a  number of areas where she noted how the BC Liberals have not addressed issues in the North.

Prince Rupert issues make for Throne Speech response from MLA Rice

The week came to an end with the North Coast MLA making a few observations through social media and with notes to local media sources, about some of the themes of Tuesday's provincial budget from Finance Minister Mike de Jong

North Coast views on Budget highlight different opinions  on similar themes

Ms. Rice is also a member of the Committee on Children and Youth, that committee met on February 22nd, you can review her contribution to the proceedings from the Report from Committee here.

The North Coast also featured into some of the announcement parade out of Victoria this week, with the Province announcing an increase to the BC Ferry schedule for the Prince Rupert to Skidegate run, as well as to name the successful contractor for this spring's major road work plans for the Prince Rupert.

Province awards contract for Prince Rupert's Big Pave Project to Okanagan firm
B. C. Ferries to increase sailings for Prince Rupert-Skidegate run

The Legislature will return to its work on Monday morning, February 27.

There is more background on the North Coast MLA available from our MLA's Week Archive as well as our General Archive on the Legislature.

The Spring Session is taking place as the run up to the May election looms on the horizon, you can review some of the campaign themes that are developing on the North Coast from our North Coast Votes Archive page here.