MLA's Week: October 23-26, 2017

Working on the government side of the House seems to mean that the chance for individual MLA's to raise items of note about their home constituencies is somewhat reduced.

At least that appears to be the case of late, when it come to the speaking time for North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice, who has had limited engagement on themes for discussion since the Legislature returned in September.

For Ms. Rice, the work in the Legislature through the four days of this week's sessions offered up but one speaking engagement, that as the Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness provided some thoughts for the members on the work of the Disability BC Alliance.

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

On the week, Ms Rice was listed once  in the accounts of the sessions of the Legislature from October 23 to 26.

Ms. Rice's contribution to the Legislature discussion themes came Tuesday morning, with a brief statement related to the Disability BC Alliance.

MLA Rice hails the work of Disability Alliance BC with Legislature

Over last weekend, the North Coast MLA did have an opportunity to show the boss around the riding, accompanying Premier John Horgan to the AltaGas site on Sunday, part of the Premiers tour of industrial sites in the Northwest of last weekend.

Premier celebrates Rio Tinto anniversary, makes stop at AltaGas project in Prince Rupert

A topic of some note for the region also made some news this week, with an announcement of the expansion of the Highway Transit system for Highway 16, this time to introduce service between Terrace and the Hazeltons.

And while the North Coast remains off the transportation map (by it's own decisions) when it comes to the expanded Highway 16 plans, the roll out of the program to the rest of the Northwest is a theme that MLA Rice has expressed some interest about over the years.

Highway 16 transit plan continues to roll out across parts of Northwest

Down the road from Prince Rupert, Skeena MLA Ellis Ross had a productive week in the Legislature, tackling a number of major themes during the course of the House and Committee sessions in Victoria.

Skeena MLA tackles electoral reform proposals during Legislature discussion
Ellis Ross returns to themes on RBA initiative during Committee session
Skeena MLA Ellis Ross addresses poverty issues as part of Legislature debate

Mr. Ross also explored the themes of fish farm tenures and notes related to the UN declaration on rights of Indigenous peoples, speaking to those concerns as part of the Monday Afternoon legislature session.

The North Coast also played host to a pair of BC Liberal leadership candidates, with Todd Stone and Dianne Watts both holding meet and greet sessions in Prince Rupert over last weekend.

Liberal leadership hopefuls criss cross Northwest over weekend

The Legislature will return to their work on Monday morning, October 30th.

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.

A larger overview of provincial issues can be found on our political portal D'Arcy McGee