A six week period that seems destined to be a bit stormy, with many unresolved issues of the spring and summer still to be fully resolved.
The ongoing investigations into Spending and practices of the Speakers' office dominated some of the preamble to the return to work, with some new focus now directed to the recent announcement that NDP cabinet Minister Jinny Sims would be stepping down as an RCMP investigation into her office gets underway.
Legislature re-opening steeped in many sub plots today
It was also a week where the Legislature learned that Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver would be stepping away from his duties and elected life in 2021.
BC Green's Andrew Weaver to step away from politics in 2021
The latest developments related to the negotiations between the Ministry of Education and the province's teachers is also an underlying theme of interest to watch for this fall.
And that topic made for some news in the North Coast constituency as MLA Jennifer Rice provided a response to a recent teachers' rally at her office by way of a letter to the editor of the local paper.
An apple for teacher, as MLA Rice brings NDP talking points to Teachers' Contract Dispute
The week in Victoria also provided a glimpse at how the two Northwest representatives in the Legislature have some very different views on the direction that they believe government should follow.
The latest example on those themes, came from the discussion related to the NDP government's proposal on the sharing of Gambling revenues, which found the both MLA Rice and MLA Ross offering up some very differing themes to explore.
As for the first week of work in the House for the fall, the four days unfolded as follows:
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For the week just passed, North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice had opportunity to make a statement on Fire Prevention Week, speak to the NDP government's Gambling Act changes and to make an introduction of guests in the gallery
On the week, Ms Rice was listed on three occasions in the accounts of the sessions of the Legislature from October 7-10.
Monday afternoon, Ms. Rice delivered a statement recognizing the week as Fire Prevention Week, urging residents to make home preparation plans.
MLA Rice sends message of preparation as part of Legislature salute to Fire Prevention Week
Wednesday, saw the MLA express her strong support for the Government's planned changes to the Gambling Act, changes which will give First Nations Communities a 7 percent share in gambling revenues.
MLA Rice hails changes, challenges Skeena MLA"s comments on Gaming Act proposal that will benefit First Nations communities
Friday morning, she asked for a warm welcome from the Legislature for two former Prince Rupert residents, Mae Jong and Marty Bowles, the couple was in the Legislature gallery that morning.
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 noted once in the Legislature Archive for the week of October 7-10.
That as the Skeena MLA delivered one major presentation in the Legislature, as he spoke to the proposed changes in the Gambling Act by the NDP government.
MLA Rice hails changes, challenges Skeena MLA"s comments on Gaming Act proposal that will benefit First Nations communities
Mr. Ross is also a permanent member of the Standing Committee on Legislative Initiatives.
He has also been appointed to the Standing Committee on Children and Youth
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
Just four days into the new session, the MLA's will now get a week off after their return, with the Thanksgiving Weekend and the four days to follow serving as their first of two - one week breaks this fall.
The full schedule for the Legislature for 2019 can be viewed here.
To return to the most recent blog posting of the day, click here.
A larger overview of provincial issues can be found on our political portal Archive
Cross posted from the North Coast Review.
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