B.C. Greens call for regulation of private treatment centres
VICTORIA, B.C. - Adam Olsen, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, is calling on the BC NDP to begin the process of regulating private mental health and addictions treatment facilities.
“Public and private mental health and addictions facilities are failing thousands of British Columbians. It is our responsibility to ensure that these facilities are not causing more harm than good. We are trying to address a mental health crisis and the government needs to reform mental healthcare in this province. Properly regulating private treatment centres is one part of that.
Homes for People Plan provides good scaffolding with few details
VICTORIA, B.C. – Today, the BC NDP introduced the Homes for People action plan. Adam Olsen, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands has issued the following statement:
“There are a lot of positive promises in today’s housing action plan. I’m pleased that there will be legislation permitting more density zoning, a one-stop shop permitting process, and increased funding for social housing programs. These are good policy choices.
“At face value, the pilot financial incentive program for secondary suites, the flipping tax, and the promise of better regulation for short-term rentals, are policies that we need to explore. However, the BC NDP have not provided enough detail for us to evaluate the impact of these policies.
B.C. Green Party calls on B.C.NDP government to end fracking
VICTORIA B.C. – B.C. Green MLA Adam Olsen today called on the B.C. NDP government to end fracking.
“We’re in a climate crisis – approving new LNG projects and increasing fracking is the wrong direction for the province,” Olsen said. “It’s time for the B.C. NDP government to stop approving new oil and gas projects and move to end fracking.”
“The B.C. Greens are concerned with the B.C. NDP’s direction for the province. If completed, the five LNG projects that are currently in various phases of development would require the province to more than double its fracked gas production. Premier Eby’s aspirations to expand the LNG industry and increase fracking is incompatible with meeting our legislated emissions reduction targets for 2030 and 2050.
Christina Winter nominated as candidate for Victoria-Swan Lake
VICTORIA B.C. – The B.C. Green Party announced today that Christina Winter has been nominated as its candidate for Victoria-Swan Lake in the next election.
“I am thrilled to introduce Christina as the B.C. Green candidate for Victoria-Swan Lake,” leader Sonia Furstenau said. “She is a fearless political organizer, who has been key to electing candidates at all levels of government; I am so happy she’s now running to be a B.C. Green MLA herself. Christina was an important part of my own leadership campaign and election campaign in 2020, and her ability to lead will make her a force to be reckoned with in the legislature.”
MLA Olsen tables amendments to Island Coastal Economic Trust funding
VICTORIA, B.C. - Today, Adam Olsen, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, tabled an amendment to the North Island Coastal Development Initiative Trust Act (the Act).
“The Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICE-T) funds important community projects across the coast, like the Hornby Island Arts Centre, the Parksville Outdoor Theatre, the downtown revitalization in Campbell River, the Cortes commercial commons, and the Gabriola Island Quick Start Projects,” said MLA Olsen.
“This trust was funded through a one-time allocation amount, and that’s running out. Despite serious advocacy showing the need for the continued funding, the BC NDP have chosen, just today, to kick the can down the road. It will only be a matter of time before ICET is at risk of closing once more.