MLA Rice marks third year of NDP government with update on recent work of the Legislature

North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice has made use of her Social media feed this weekend to make note of the third anniversary of the NDP government, making note of the May 2017 election which saw John Horgan leading the party to victory over then Premier Christy Clark and her Liberal party.

From that victory at the polls came an appointment as Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness, which Ms. Rice remembers below:




As well, Ms. Rice used the forum to provide an update on the return to work for MLA's at the Legislature, a process which owing to COVID has been through a hybrid format program, with Ms. Rice participating by video connection from the North Coast.

Her July newsletter provides some notes related to the Third phase of the BC Restart program, with the MLA making note of some of the concerns from some residents when it comes to opening their part of the constituency up to visitors.

At this time, Haida Gwaii and parts of the Central Coast are requesting that travelers not visit their communities. I recognize that these local travel restrictions are causing some community tensions between those who want to reopen and those who want to remain closed. 

I am working with various Ministries, and local communities to come up with an arrangement that respects the desires of the community, while also supports local businesses struggling from the closures.

Her observations also offer up a reminder that finding a solution to the range of concerns is not an easy one, but that it is important not to let differences in opinion divide communities.

The Update also provides a listing of some of the funding programs that the province has announced for the North Coast and Haida Gwaii.

Among the communities that Ms. Rice notes have received funding this year are, Hartley Bay, Klemtu, Masset, Lax Kw'alaams and Prince Rupert.

Ms. Rice also highlights some of the legislation that has been moved forward by the government since the return of the Legislature, including work of the Police Act Reform Committee, ICBC reform and WorkSafe BC reforms.

The MLA also charts some of the statements that she has delivered to the Legislature since the June return.

You can review her talking points for July here or from her Facebook page post.

For a bit more detail on some of the themes she explores see our Legislature Archive, where we put some focus on many of those elements as they were rolled out at the time.