Her financial blue print would provide for the foundation for much of the discussion on the week as MLA's began the response process towards the document, providing their endorsement if on the NDP or Green side, while the Liberals took a critical eye to many of the elements introduced on Tuesday afternoon.
For the Northwest, in addition to the budget, this was the week that the Passenger Transportation Board made its decision on Greyhound, issuing a decision which approved the bus lines plan to abandon its service in northern BC, a move which gave Northwest politicians at all levels something to weigh in on.
Skeena MLA Ellis Ross used an opportunity to speak in the Legislature to raise questions with on the issue of bus service in the region with Transportation Minister Claire Trevena, while North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice used her facebook page to share some of her thoughts on the topic
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 19 to 22.
Ms. Rice's first contribution to the Legislature discussion list came Monday morning, with her statement on the Physician's shortage in BC and the NDP approach towards health care.
More focus on urgent care, nurse practitioners among notes from MLA Rice's statement to Legislature on NDP plans for Health Care.
Ms. Rices' thoughts on health care proved timely, with the Auditor General of British Columbia delivering her report this week that offered a ranger of observations on the staffing situation for Northern Health.
Auditor General report on Northern Health flags nursing vacancy rates; Prince Rupert among highest when it comes to shortages
Monday afternoon Ms Rice took note of the work of the Love Haida Gwaii campaign, providing some observations on the program for the Legislature.
Haida Gwaii joins in on the Love Fest!
Her final notes for the Legislature on the week came on Thursday morning, with a short review of her visit to the Living and Learning school on Haida Gwaii
MLA Rice shares Lessons Learned from visit to Haida Gwaii's Living and Learning School
The North Coast MLA also issued a short statement on Wednesday that provided for her response to the decision by the Passenger Transportation Board to allow Greyhound to end its service to the North.
'Disappointment' makes for the main theme to Northwest commentary on PTB's Greyhound decision
More on the PTB decision can be found here.
Ms. Rice is also a member of the committees listed below, Transcripts of their work are available on the individual pages for each Committee.
Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs
Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth
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For our readers from the Terrace-Kitimat region, this week found Skeena MLA Ellis Ross taking to the theme of Greyhound cuts in the North, as he raised the topic with Transportation Minister Claire Trevena on Wednesday afternoon.
Skeena MLA Ellis Ross, Mayor Lee Bran weigh in on PTB's Greyhound decision
Mr. Ross is also a member of the Standing Committee on Legislative Initiatives, Transcripts of the work of that committee are available on the Legislature website
As we observed in our opening notes, this was also Budget week, with Finance Minister Carol James providing the NDP government's financial blue print to the Legislature, our notes on that document can be found below:
NDP Budget puts focus on Housing, Child Care, Education, Health and Transportation; along with new taxation plans
Northwest BC Resource Benefits Missing from BC Budget overview
Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver put some focus on Northwest issues this week as well, with Mr. Weaver speaking to a range of themes on Northwest development as part of the Wednesday afternoon session as he provided for the Green Party response to the Budget.
Green's Weaver puts focus on Northwest development as part of Budget response
The Legislature will return to their work on Monday morning, February 26th
There is more background on the North Coast and Skeena MLA's available from our MLA's Week Archive as well as our General Archives on the Legislature below:
North Coast constituency
Skeena and Stikine Constituencies
A larger overview of provincial issues can be found on our political portal D'Arcy McGee
To return to the most recent blog posting of the day, click here.
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