VICTORIA, B.C. - Today, the BC NDP called time allocation on multiple bills before the Legislature, forcing them through and subverting the democratic process. Sonia Furstenau, leader of the B.C. Green Party and MLA for Cowichan Valley has issued the following statement:
“I am extremely disappointed to see the BC NDP government use these tools to end debate on very significant pieces of legislation. Throughout the fall session we have heard a consistent message from stakeholder organizations, First Nations, and the general public: the public consultation on proposed legislation was insufficient.
“The BC NDP have leveraged their majority to bypass the democratic process. The legislation they are using this tactic on includes bills that impact forest management and freedom of information and protection of privacy.
“Over the past several weeks my colleague MLA Adam Olsen and I have been raising questions and engaging in debate on the pieces of legislation before the Assembly. Too often we are getting communications rhetoric instead of real answers, being stalled and stonewalled by the government while we attempt to hold them accountable for the impacts of their proposed legislative changes.
“Committee stage is an essential component of the legislature. The committee exchange on each clause is entered into the official record to be used in the future by the courts as they interpret and uphold the legislation. The BC NDP has just demonstrated a clear disregard for the province they represent, the legal system, and their colleagues from other parties. Worse, they have further imperiled the trust and efficacy of our democratic system.”
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Media contact
JoJo Beattie
Press Secretary
B.C. Green Caucus
+1 250-882-6187 | [email protected]