Furstenau: Fiscal update shows B.C. can afford to invest in urgent social needs
VICTORIA, B.C. – Today, Finance Minister Katrine Conroy gave a fiscal and economic update on the province’s second quarterly report followed by the Auditor General’s release of the Summary Financial Statements Audit. Sonia Furstenau, Leader of the B.C. Greens and MLA for Cowichan has issued the following statement:
“It is difficult to have confidence in a government that does not effectively manage its financial affairs. Each year, this government announces unexpected surpluses, and yet we have seen a steady decline in basic government services. People in B.C. can’t count on health care when they need it, students continue to attend school in portables, and the social safety net is in tatters.
B.C. Greens call for transformative change in the foster care system
VICTORIA, B.C. - The B.C. Green Caucus is calling for a fundamental shift in the foster care system, advocating for direct family support as the primary approach.
“The Ministry continues removing children from homes due to poverty-related social conditions, and failing to provide the care and services they need,” said Sonia Furstenau, Leader of the B.C. Greens and MLA For Cowichan Valley. “Children suffer from inadequate housing, food, and medical care while their parents struggle. The Ministry's role should be to support these families, yet often assistance arrives too late or not at all due to budget constraints and narrow definitions of need.”
B.C. Greens call for immediate investments in non-market housing
VICTORIA, B.C. - The B.C. Green Caucus is calling on the provincial government to significantly ramp up investments in non-market housing including co-op, non-profit, government-run, and supportive housing, to address British Columbia's escalating housing affordability crisis.
"This unprecedented crisis demands the necessary amount of housing, not just an increase,” said Sonia Furstenau, Leader of the B.C. Greens and MLA for Cowichan Valley. ”British Columbians deserve the truth behind the numbers - how much affordable housing by when? This should be tracked and reported.
Jonah Timms announced as B.C. Greens candidate for Fraser-Nicola
VICTORIA B.C. – The B.C. Green Party announced Jonah Timms as their candidate for Fraser-Nicola today. Leader Sonia Furstenau expressed her excitement for the party’s slate of candidates ahead of the 2024 provincial election.
“I am so excited to welcome Jonah Timms to the B.C. Green team as our candidate for Fraser-Nicola”, said Furstenau. “Jonah has a wealth of experience in conservation advocacy and emergency response policy that will be invaluable to the party. He has focused much of his career on ensuring all voices are heard in policy decisions, such as organizing efforts between First Nations, British Columbia, and Canada during the Big Bar Landslide emergency. He helped form a committee where all three sit together as equals, and has continued that legacy in his work with the Ministry of Forests. This kind of collaborative thinking is crucial for the future of B.C., and I can’t think of anyone better to serve the people of this riding as MLA.”
B.C. Greens announce Arzeena Hamir as candidate for Courtenay-Comox
VICTORIA B.C. – The B.C. Green Party is pleased to announce the nomination of Arzeena Hamir as the candidate for the Courtenay-Comox riding. Leader Sonia Furstenau enthusiastically welcomed Hamir to the team ahead of a community event taking place on Friday in Courtenay.
"We are thrilled to have Arzeena as our candidate for Courtenay-Comox,” said Furstenau. “Arzeena has been a dedicated community leader for decades, and her passion for positive change is evident in her extensive contributions as an organic farmer, as well as her work with Young Agrarians, Comox Valley Community Health Network, and many more community boards. She will be an exceptional representative for the people of Courtenay-Comox and a powerful advocate for B.C. Green values. "