[LabComm] New Democrats Force B.C. Liberals to Extend Legislative Session

[BC NDP Newswire]

New Democrats Force B.C. Liberals to Extend Legislative Session



VICTORIA -- B.C.'s Official Opposition is forcing the Campbell government to extend a hastily-called legislative session, holding them to account for their choices and raising issues important to British Columbians, NDP Leader Carole James said today. 

"The Campbell government has called back the Legislature to appoint a Child and Youth Representative for the province of British Columbia," said James. "New Democrats will be giving that Representative our full support. But it is just not good enough for the government to sneak in, conduct a single order of business, and then sneak out. 

"It is not up to the B.C. Liberals to decide what issues are important to debate in the people's house, and which are not," said James. "It is not up to the Premier to decide which questions he is going to answer and which he is not. As the Official Opposition, we have a responsibility to raise important issues on behalf of British Columbians, and to hold the government to account for its choices. We intend to do that." 

James added that it was regrettable the Premier chose not to return from his trip to the Asia Pacific to oversee the appointment of the Child and Youth Representative. 

"Had the Premier been in the Legislature today, perhaps he could have answered for his government's willful dismantling of our child welfare system," said James. "He should have been there to explain why his government eliminated the office of the Children's Commissioner in 2002, leaving our most vulnerable children without an independent advocate.

"We are excited at the prospect of having a Child and Youth Representative once again in B.C. Our understanding is that the appointee will not be available until early next year, so extending the session for a couple of days will not hamper this process," said James.

James said that there are a number of issues of urgent public importance that the Legislature must address including homelessness, affordable housing, health care wait lists, climate change and the ongoing problems in our child protection system. 

"Passing this motion by Monday will ensure that the Representative for Children and Youth can begin her work as planned.  In the meantime, we are committed to doing our democratic duty by speaking up for ordinary British Columbians in their legislature," said James.

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