Saturday, November 24, 2018

MLA's week: November 19-22, 2018

The Legislative Chamber found itself the main story this week, not for anything that the MLA's might have said in debate, but from events related to the inner workings of the bureaucracy of the Legislature and the subsequent suspension of two officials from their duties.

The dramatic and somewhat chaotic week for the political institution began on Tuesday, as House Leader Mike Farnworth alerted the members of the Legislature of the situation, which by weeks end had engulfed the Speaker's office into much of the controversy and launched a criminal investigation into the situation in its wake.

Controversy swirls around Legislature Speaker over ousting of officials

The surprising developments of the week, were steeped in controversy and provided many of the province's top political observers with no shortage of material to work with as they delivered column after column of review of a most confusing week.

Some of that work can be explored from our BC archive from  our political blog D'Arcy McGee.

By comparison, the drama surrounding the speaker took the heat off what had been up until Tuesday the rather controversial ending to the referendum campaign in the province.

And while it's time in spotlight was dimmed, it still had its share of the news flow on the week as well.

Final day for registration for electoral process referendum, as mailing deadline gets an extension until December 7th

Meanwhile, the work of the Legislature continued despite all the drama, our review of the efforts of both North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice and that of Skeena MLA Ellis Ross can be found below

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Ms. Rice, had a quiet week with no exchanges in the Chamber on the topics of the four days of Legislative sessions.

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 November 19 to November 20 .

That making note of her comments of welcome on Monday afternoon for visitors to the Legislature from the Kitasoo/Xai'xais territory .

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 was mentioned five times for his work in the Legislature from November 19 to November 22.

And while the North Coast MLA may have had a quiet week at the Legislature, the member from Skeena was fully engaged on a range of topics during the week.

The Skeena MLA continued to explore some of the themes related to the NDP government's new Environmental Assessment process (the details of which are available here), with debate continuing this week on the new legislation proposed by the Horgan government.

Skeena MLA Ross questions Minister on elements of new EA Process plans

The influence of organizations outside of Canada on both the political process and resource development made for another theme on the week for the Skeena MLA.

Ellis Ross warns of Foreign influence on resource development

Mr. Ross started the week off with a look at the need for the government to address infrastructure issues related to large scale development, with the Skeena MLA seeking supports for such areas as health and transportation in the Terrace-Kitimat region as LNG development ramps up.

With LNG moving forward in Northwest, MLA Ellis Ross calls for community supports from NDP government

And like the North Coast member, Mr. Ross as well called attention to visitors in the gallery making note on Thursday afternoon of a visit by Chris Sankey to the Legislature. With the former Lax Kw'alaams Council member in Victoria for meetings related to plans for a fish farm and greenhouse project. The comments for the House also included some basketball talk, taken from the past competitions of the All Native Tournaments.

Wednesday afternoon the Skeena MLA made note of three visitors to the gallery, included on the list was Haida Gwaii elder Roy Jones Jr.

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

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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