MLA's Week: May 13-16, 2019

It was another fairly light workload for the two Northwest MLA's in the Legislature this week, as the elected officials for the province put in their last week of work before they were to take a two break from the Legislature around the May Long weekend.

North Coast MLA Ms. Rice was noted once in the listings of the Legislature minutes on the week, with comments towards a private members motion on the practice of conversion therapy.

As for Mr. Ross there were no notes of interest marked in the index for the MLA from Skeena during  the four days just passed in the House, but he was a key participant this week in a Committee session on electricity deliver to the LNG industry.

There was however, some news of note for the Northwest surrounding the much discussed plan to ban oil tanker traffic on the North Coast, though not from the Legislature, but from the nations capital.

The Senate Committee that had been tasked to review the Bill from the House came to a split decision on the fate of the bill, recommending in the end that the Federal government abandon it's plan to move forward on the Ban on oil tankers in the waters of the North Coast.

The Committee engagement process in Prince Rupert and Terrace last month,  which had brought a wide array of politicians and local officials to the discussion, included contributions from Ms. Rice, who was expressing her disappointment in the Senate decision by weeks end.

Some of our notes on the developments can be found below:

Lax Kw'alaams Mayor and Government welcome latest Senate moves on Tanker Ban Bill

Nathan Cullen speaks out on Stalled tanker bill and the 'promise of democracy'

Tanker Ban bill takes on water as Senate Committee recommends against proceeding

Turning back to the provincial political scene the week just ending looked as follows:

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For the week just passed, North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice had a fairly light agenda for commentary in the Chamber.

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 May 13-16

The North Coast MLA participated in the Monday morning House debate related to a private members motion speaking against the practice of conversion therapy.

Jennifer Rice shares personal notes as part of Legislature discussion in opposition to Conversion Therapy

Ms. Rice also served some portion of Thursday afternoon sitting as the Chair for a portion of the Committee of Supply on Health

She also held similar duties on Wednesday during a Committee session on the Energy Statutes Act.

Monday afternoon saw the North Coast MLA serving as the chair once again for a portion of a Committee session related to Health spending.

The North Coast MLA is also a permanent member of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, serving as the convener of that forum.

Transcripts of the work of the committee are available on the Legislature page for the Committee.

Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs


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For our readers from the Terrace-Kitimat region, Skeena MLA Ellis Ross had a very quiet week when it came to participation in the House, with no mentions in the Legislative Chamber listings  from May 13-16 

The Skeena MLA did however take part in an extensive Committee debate related to the supply of electrical energy in the province, with a focus on plans to deliver electric power to the LNG industry in the Northwest.

Powering up Northwest LNG prospects part of Committee debate for Skeena's Ellis Ross

Mr. Ross is also a permanent member of the Standing Committee on Legislative Initiatives.

Transcripts of the work of that committee are available on the Legislature website

The Skeena MLA is also a member of the Special Committee for Review of the Police complaint process, you can follow their work here.

There is more background on both the North Coast and Skeena MLA's available from our MLA's Week Archive, as well as our constituency archives below:

North Coast constituency

Skeena and Stikine Constituencies

The Members of the Legislature now head out for a two week break from their duties starting with this long weekend, they return to their work on Monday, May 27, 2019.

The full schedule for the Legislature for 2019 can be viewed here.

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.