Sunday, April 22, 2018

MLA's Week: April 16-19, 2018

Housing issues on the North Coast would make for a major theme for MLA Jennifer Rice over the course of the week.

From some early notes of Monday through to a long awaited announcement on Friday, Ms. Rice explored a pair of housing initiatives of note.

Included in the review was the Housing Hub program from BC Housing, and then the delivery of an update on the BC Governments plans for 36 supportive housing units in the city.

The success of the Port of Prince Rupert as a gateway to Asia also made for a discussion theme in the Legislature this week, with the North Coast MLA providing some background on the footprint that the Port has when it comes to trade.

Skeena MLA Ellis Ross had a prominent role in the Liberal oppositions approach to the TransMountain debate and a range of other issues that put a focus on Aboriginal themes on government to government relations.

Mr. Ross engaged in a number of those points over a wide ranging discussion over the course of the final two days of the Legislature work week.

Earlier in the week, he also raised concerns over the fate of Oil Response plans in British Columbia in the wake of the current level of controversy over the TransMountain issues.

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 April 16 to 19 .

Ms. Rice's contribution to the Legislature discussion list came Monday morning with some commentary related to Pacific Gateway and the Port of Prince Rupert

Port of Prince Rupert among the talking points in Legislature discussion on Pacific Gateway

The North Coast MLA also offered a greeting to a visiting delegation from Kenya during the opening moments of the Tuesday morning session.

Ms. Rice made news back on the North Coat on Friday, providing some background on the announcement from the Provincial government that sets the timeline for construction of 36 supportive housing units in Prince Rupert.

Much anticipated supportive housing proposal will see summer time build set for property on Park Avenue

Earlier in the week, she had highlighted a number of elements related to the new Housing Hub initiative through BC Housing.

Housing Hub plans make for the focus for North Coast MLA Rice

The North Coast MLA is also a permanent member of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs

Transcripts of the work of her remaining Committee commitment are available on the individual pages for each Committee.

Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs


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For our readers from the Terrace-Kitimat region, this week found Skeena MLA Ellis Ross mentioned three times for his work in the Legislature from April 16 to 19.

The controversy over how the NDP government is handling the TransMountain issue and ab ongoing delay in implementing the Ocean Spill Response plans for the waters of British Columbia was one of a number of themes that the Skeena MLA explored on the week.

Skeena MLA notes concerns over delays in British Columbia spill response protection plans in Legislature

With the TransMountain debate consuming much of the discussion time in the Legislature in recent weeks. Mr. Ross had a number of questions  for the government on the impact of the current controversy on First Nations benefit agreements.

Uncertainty of First Nations Benefits Agreements; theme of questions from MLA Ellis Ross in Knder Morgan debate

The Skeena MLA was also a participant in a wide ranging discussion over two days on Reconciliation, UNDRIP provisions, and the impact of changes on First Nation communities

Themes on Reconciliation, UNDRIP, First Nations and TransMountain make for lively debate in legislature

He also made mention of visitors to the Legislature a number of times through the week, making note of the presence of members of his family in attendance as well as that of officials both current and past local governments from areas of the Northwest.

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


MLA's will return to their work on Monday, April 23rd.

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


Cross posted from the North Coast Review

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