B.C. Greens call for raise in shamefully low disability rates
VICTORIA, B.C. - With nearly a quarter of people with disabilities living in poverty in British Columbia, the B.C. Green Caucus is calling on the BC NDP to raise the shamefully low disability rates to above the poverty line while waiting for federal funding.
“By some estimates, persons with disabilities (PWD) experience poverty at twice the rate of persons without disabilities,” said Sonia Furstenau, Leader of the B.C. Greens and MLA for Cowichan Valley. “It’s time for the BC NDP to step up and support some of B.C.’s most vulnerable people.”
Greens respond to Tseshaht First Nation findings
VICTORIA, B.C. – Adam Olsen, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands and a member of the Tsartlip First Nation has issued the following statement in response to Tseshaht First Nation announcing its findings of 17 more potential unmarked graves, and the deaths of at least 67 children at the former site of Alberni Indian Residential School.
“Our thoughts, prayers, and hearts go out to the families of residential school students and survivors of Alberni Indian Residential School.
“We remain fully committed to advocating for Indigenous communities to have the resources available to them to do this important work in a good way.”
Gandhi responds to B.C. Green caucus letter to bring Bill 36 back for debate
VANCOUVER B.C. – B.C. Green Party deputy leader Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi responded to the B.C. Green caucus’ letter to Premier Eby asking for controversial Bill 36 to be brought back to the legislature for debate:
“Bill 36 (the Health Professions and Occupations Act) is a complex 300-page legislation. The government's actions to limit debate and force a bill through the legislature in a flagrant rejection of promises previously made for open and reasonable debate serve no purpose other than to upend self-regulatory professions and subject them to tighter government control. Almost two-thirds of Bill 36 was not adequately scrutinized by the legislature before it was passed.
Forestry announcement long overdue but a welcome relief
VICTORIA, B.C. – The B.C. Green Caucus has issued the following statement in response to today’s forestry announcement:
“After six years of our caucus pushing for these changes, I am relieved and grateful to see substantial and transformative changes to forestry in B.C.,” said Sonia Furstenau, Leader of the B.C. Greens and MLA for Cowichan Valley. “It is important to recognize that these changes are the result of decades of tireless work by First Nations and environmental advocates.”
“The Premier’s decision to remove ‘unduly reducing the supply of timber’ from regulations is a game changer. This will allow the Chief Forester to consider other values on the land including biodiversity and water quality.
B.C. Greens repeat call for psychologists to be covered under MSP
VICTORIA, B.C. - With mental health in decline, the B.C. Green Caucus is calling for the BC NDP to cover psychologists under MSP. This would help expand the access and affordability of mental health services and ensure all British Columbians can access the health care they require.
“People need early intervention in their mental health,” said Sonia Furstenau, Leader of the B.C. Greens and MLA for Cowichan Valley. “With all the talk on involuntary care, nothing has been said by the Premier or the Leader of the Opposition on proactive, preventive mental health care. While treatment options must absolutely be expanded, we must also recognize that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It’s time to treat the brain as part of the body.”