Latest news with #B.C.Greens
Vancouver Sun
29-05-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. bill fast-tracking infrastructure projects passes as Speaker Raj Chouhan breaks tie
A controversial bill in British Columbia responding to American tariffs has passed with Speaker Raj Chouhan casting the deciding vote Wednesday evening. Bill 15 fast-tracks public and private infrastructure projects, and Chouhan's vote means that the bill has passed third and final reading by a 47-to-46 vote. All New Democrats voted for the legislation, while all 41 Conservatives, both B.C. Greens and the three Independents opposed it. The passage of Bill 15 comes after it has faced weeks of criticism from Indigenous groups, municipal officials, environmentalists and some business leaders, who say the legislation gives cabinet too much power when it comes to designating provincially significant projects. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Critics say the bill also undermines environmental standards and constitutional obligations to consult First Nations. Premier David Eby's government says it will consult broadly when it comes to developing the regulations to implement the legislation. Chouhan's vote also pushed Bill 14 — which would speed up renewable energy projects and transmission lines — through the legislature. Provincial legislators earlier also passed the budget implementation act, as well as legislation that allows B.C. to break down internal trade barriers among other measures. That bill passed by four votes, as all 46 New Democrats and the two B.C. Greens voted in favour, with all 41 Conservatives and the three Independents voting to oppose. All four bills that passed now await royal assent from B.C. Lieutenant-Governor Wendy Cocchia.
Hamilton Spectator
29-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Bill fast-tracking infrastructure projects passes as Speaker Raj Chouhan breaks tie
VICTORIA - A controversial bill in British Columbia responding to American tariffs has passed with Speaker Raj Chouhan casting the deciding vote Wednesday evening. Bill 15 fast-tracks public and private infrastructure projects, and Chouhan's vote means that the bill has passed third and final reading by a 47-to-46 vote. All New Democrats voted for the legislation, while all 41 Conservatives, both B.C. Greens and the three Independents opposed it. The passage of Bill 15 comes after it has faced weeks of criticism from Indigenous groups, municipal officials, environmentalists and some business leaders, who say the legislation gives cabinet too much power when it comes to designating provincially significant projects. Critics say the bill also undermines environmental standards and constitutional obligations to consult First Nations. Premier David Eby's government says it will consult broadly when it comes to developing the regulations to implement the legislation. Chouhan's vote also pushed Bill 14 — which would speed up renewable energy projects and transmission lines — through the legislature. Provincial legislators earlier also passed the budget implementation act, as well as legislation that allows B.C. to break down internal trade barriers among other measures. That bill passed by four votes, as all 46 New Democrats and the two B.C. Greens voted in favour, with all 41 Conservatives and the three Independents voting to oppose. All four bills that passed now await royal assent from B.C. Lieutenant-Governor Wendy Cocchia. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2025.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
B.C. Greens, NDP working constructively despite challenges, accord updates say
VICTORIA — New Democrats in British Columbia under Premier David Eby and the provincial Greens say an agreement between the two parties has yielded challenges, but the two sides are committed to keep working with each other. The first quarterly update on the two parties' Cooperation and Responsible Government Government Accord did not specify the challenges, only that both sides are planning to resolve them in "good faith." The agreement seeks to stabilize Eby's slim one-seat majority with the two B.C. Greens supporting the government, in exchange for specific actions in 12 policy areas including health care, housing, environment, electoral reform and B.C.'s response to American tariffs. The accord differs from the confidence-and-supply agreement that the two parties had signed in 2017 because it allows the B.C. Greens to disagree with government in areas not explicitly covered by the accord. A number of disagreements have risen between the New Democrats and the Greens since last fall's election, including the government's decision to axe the consumer carbon tax and Bill 15 — which proposes to speed up public and private infrastructure projects as a response to American tariffs. Neither disagreement appears in a joint statement signed by Eby and interim B.C. Green leader Jeremy Valeriote. The statement instead says Eby and Valeriote are "pleased to report" that a "number of policies" and reviews have been implemented and launched. They include enhanced rental supports for low-income seniors, $50 million for heat pumps for low- and middle-income households in each of the next two years, and the recently started review of CleanBC programs one year ahead of schedule. Both parties also say that they have so far "largely" lived up to their commitment to consult each other on legislation, adding that "when challenges arise, both parties are working to address them in good faith." The progress report specifically points to the talks that happened around Bill 7 -- the Economic Stabilization Tariff Response Act, whose initial wording would have given cabinet unprecedented powers to sidestep the legislature in response to tariffs from a foreign jurisdiction. The report says this regular communication between the two parties "was largely tested" during the debate around Bill 7, with the resulting agreement between government and the B.C. Greens leading to the removal of "certain clauses" and the government accepting "certain amendments." The B.C. Greens said in a separate statement that they are "confident" in the progress described in the first quarterly report, pointing to "wins" around key Green priorities such as "democratic reform, expanded rental assistance for low-income families and seniors and accelerated investments" in climate-friendly technologies. Valeriote says much of the work outlined in the two parties' agreement is still in progress, adding that the Greens are aware that "there is far more to do on health care, on housing, on climate, and on building a democratic system that earns people's trust." The four-year-long agreement includes an annual renewal clause and includes a provision for quarterly updates. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 23, 2025. Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
B.C. Greens to make leadership announcement at 11 a.m. PT
A "significant announcement" is coming about the leadership of the B.C. Green Party today. That's according to current Leader Sonia Furstenau, who is holding a news conference on the topic Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Victoria. Furstenau, 54, has been leader of the B.C. Greens since 2020 and was an MLA from 2017 until 2024, when she failed to get elected in the riding of Victoria-Beacon Hill. She had previously represented the riding of Cowichan Valley but decided to run in Victoria-Beacon Hill in the last election, saying she wanted to be closer to her adult children. However, she lost to incumbent NDP cabinet minister Grace Lore by 3,688 votes — a margin of 13.7 per only two Green MLAs were elected: newcomers Jeremy Valeriote and Rob Boterell. The party announced Furstenau would stay on as party leader to help manage the transition and to play a role in negotiating with the NDP, which won a narrow majority. In December, the two parties announced a co-operation agreement outlining a list of priorities agreed upon by both sides, including health care, affordable housing and the economy. WATCH | NDP and Greens pen 4-year agreement to work together on major provincial issues: Teacher-turned-politician Raised in Edmonton, Furstenau attended the University of Victoria and earned a degree in teaching, a career she pursued for several years before entering the political fray in 2014 as a Cowichan Valley Regional District director. There, she was a fierce opponent to the waste discharge permit that allowed a quarry upstream from Shawnigan Lake to receive and store contaminated soil. The dumping permit was cancelled in 2017 just a few months before she was first elected as an MLA. B.C. Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau arrives to cast her ballot at Sir James Douglas Elementary School in the Victoria-Beacon Hill riding in Victoria, B.C., on Oct. 19, 2024. (Chad Hipolito/The Canadian Press) She became deputy leader of the B.C. Green Party, and under then-leader Andrew Weaver and alongside Adam Olsen, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, the three MLAs struck a deal to prop up John Horgan's NDP minority government. The party helped draft the province's Clean B.C. plan which set targets for greenhouse gas emission reduction. Weaver and Furstenau would later clash after he stepped down as leader, with Weaver publicly criticizing Furstenau for moving the party too far to the left. Weaver endorsed the NDP in the 2020 election after Horgan called a snap election. During her time in the legislature, Furstenau pushed for an end to old-growth logging, worked with Indigenous communities to end the practice of birth alerts (in which hospitals alerted child welfare authorities about newborns at risk which disproportionately affected Indigenous families), as well as advocating for mental health services to be covered under MSP. B.C. Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau, joined by MLAs Rob Botterell, left, and Jeremy Valeriote, answer questions from the media on Oct. 23, 2024. (Chad Hipolito/The Canadian Press) Speaking to CBC ahead of the 2024 provincial election, Furstenau said she felt her party had successfully pushed the government to do more to address major crises facing the province, including the toxic drug supply, affordability and the climate crisis. Furstenau was praised for her performance in the televised leaders' debate, with many pundits saying she offered a long-term vision for the province while the other two leaders, David Eby and John Rustad, took swipes at each other. Furstenau and her husband, Blaise Salmon, have a blended family of five kids. She welcomed her first grandchild at the beginning of December.
CBC
28-01-2025
- Politics
- CBC
B.C. Greens to make leadership announcement at 11 a.m. PT
A "significant announcement" is coming about the leadership of the B.C. Green Party today. That's according to current Leader Sonia Furstenau, who is holding a news conference on the topic Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Victoria. Furstenau, 54, has been leader of the B.C. Greens since 2020 and was an MLA from 2017 until 2024, when she failed to get elected in the riding of Victoria-Beacon Hill. She had previously represented the riding of Cowichan Valley but decided to run in Victoria-Beacon Hill in the last election, saying she wanted to be closer to her adult children. However, she lost to incumbent NDP cabinet minister Grace Lore by 3,688 votes — a margin of 13.7 per cent. WATCH | A profile of Sonia Furstenau: Who is Sonia Furstenau? A profile of the B.C. Greens leader 4 months ago Duration 3:54 As the province heads to the polls on Oct. 19, B.C. Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau is making her pitch to voters and outlining her position on the key issues facing British Columbians. Provincewide, only two Green MLAs were elected: newcomers Jeremy Valeriote and Rob Boterell. The party announced Furstenau would stay on as party leader to help manage the transition and to play a role in negotiating with the NDP, which won a narrow majority. In December, the two parties announced a co-operation agreement outlining a list of priorities agreed upon by both sides, including health care, affordable housing and the economy. WATCH | NDP and Greens pen 4-year agreement to work together on major provincial issues: B.C. NDP and B.C. Greens announce co-operation agreement 2 months ago Duration 2:22 Teacher-turned-politician Raised in Edmonton, Furstenau attended the University of Victoria and earned a degree in teaching, a career she pursued for several years before entering the political fray in 2014 as a Cowichan Valley Regional District director. There, she was a fierce opponent to the waste discharge permit that allowed a quarry upstream from Shawnigan Lake to receive and store contaminated soil. The dumping permit was cancelled in 2017 just a few months before she was first elected as an MLA. She became deputy leader of the B.C. Green Party, and under then-leader Andrew Weaver and alongside Adam Olsen, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, the three MLAs struck a deal to prop up John Horgan's NDP minority government. The party helped draft the province's Clean B.C. plan which set targets for greenhouse gas emission reduction. Weaver and Furstenau would later clash after he stepped down as leader, with Weaver publicly criticizing Furstenau for moving the party too far to the left. Weaver endorsed the NDP in the 2020 election after Horgan called a snap election. During her time in the legislature, Furstenau pushed for an end to old-growth logging, worked with Indigenous communities to end the practice of birth alerts (in which hospitals alerted child welfare authorities about newborns at risk which disproportionately affected Indigenous families), as well as advocating for mental health services to be covered under MSP. Speaking to CBC ahead of the 2024 provincial election, Furstenau said she felt her party had successfully pushed the government to do more to address major crises facing the province, including the toxic drug supply, affordability and the climate crisis. Furstenau was praised for her performance in the televised leaders' debate, with many pundits saying she offered a long-term vision for the province while the other two leaders, David Eby and John Rustad, took swipes at each other. Furstenau and her husband, Blaise Salmon, have a blended family of five kids.
