B.C. throne speech trumpets past successes, offers few new promises
Credit to Author: Rob Shaw| Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2020 22:43:09 +0000
VICTORIA — Premier John Horgan’s government delivered a throne speech Tuesday that trumpeting its accomplishments during two and a half years in office, but offered few new promises for the coming year.
The speech was largely overshadowed by protesters who blockaded the entrance to the legislature and disrupted the morning start of the spring session.
Nonetheless, Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin was able to read the speech at the scheduled time in the afternoon. It proved a 21-page rehash of the NDP government’s feats so far as a minority government. At one point, the speech even repeated an 2017 NDP election slogan of “putting people first.”
“At home, in our communities, and throughout our province, people are starting to make progress,” read the speech.
“They are more able to face the challenges ahead, because they know they aren’t alone. They have a government that is a partner in their future.
“It’s been two and a half years, but the hard work has only begun.”
The speech contained few promises for 2020, though it did mention additional measures to fight renovictions against renters, unspecified new investments for post-secondary training, more MRI machines for health diagnostics, and a plan to reduce plastic pollution that is expected to include a ban on single-use plastic shopping bags.
The government also pledged to expand upon last year’s legislation that gives people fleeing domestic violence up to 10 days of unpaid job-protected leave with “the next step and providing these workers with paid leave, for up to five days.”
Wet’suwet’en supporter Eva Grant with the St’at’imc Nation chants with protesters on the steps of legislature before the throne speech in Victoria, B.C., on Tuesday, February 11, 2020.
There were hints at new financial benefits to be unveiled in next week’s provincial budget, including “expand priority funding to children with mental-health challenges, and children from low-income families,” the start of a previously announced Child Opportunity Benefit payment in October and a new raise to the earned income threshold for people on disability and social assistance.
“When they review their bank statements, many families have more money left at the end of the month than they did three years ago,” read the speech. “As British Columbians open their front door, they can see progress taking root.”
The speech contained no update on how the NDP plans to achieve $10-a-day child care, which government has said will take a decade.
Saul Brown with the Helitsuk Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations speaks to protesters in support of Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs camped out in front of legislature before the throne speech in Victoria, B.C., on Tuesday, February 11, 2020.
However, the government did promise to extend its transportation capital planning from three years to five in a move that could give Metro Vancouver mayors more long-term certainty of government funding for transit than is currently provided.
On education, the throne speech listed previous funding that has boosted teacher hiring, but offered no commitments for extra money to settle an ongoing contract dispute with the BC Teachers’ Federation that could lead to classroom disruptions later this year.
The speech did, however, refer to new measures to forbid firearms in schools — though, specifically how that would be accomplished above and beyond existing federal firearms laws was not specified. “This spring, new legislation will give police more tools to block the use of illegal firearms and ban guns from schools, colleges, universities and hospitals,” read the speech.
The throne speech also recycled a promise from the 2019 speech to improve affordability on cell phone contracts. “Later this month, B.C. government representatives will travel to Ottawa to fight for more affordable cellphone plan options and transparency in billing,” it read.
Protesters in support of Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs block the entrance to the east wing entrance of legislature before the speech from the throne in Victoria, B.C., on Tuesday, February 11, 2020.
The government spent the past year conducting public surveys on cell phone affordability and appointing a backbench MLA from the battleground riding of Maple Ridge to champion the issue – while simultaneously admitting only Ottawa, and not the province, could actually reduce costs from mobile phone companies.
First Nations protesters who blockaded the legislature Tuesday were likely looking for new measures from the Horgan government on reconciliation and an end to the dispute at the Coastal GasLink pipeline in B.C.’s northeast, where Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs oppose construction of the pipeline.
The speech made no specific mention of the dispute, or protests.
Instead, the reconciliation section of the speech described a journey that will take “generations.”
“For two and a half years, this government has worked in partnership with indigenous peoples to make progress on reconciliation,” read the speech.
“Reconciliation is rooted in the recognition of indigenous rights as human rights. This government committed to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
“Many said it could not be done. But this government challenged the status quo.”
Wet’suwet’en protesters camp out in front of legislature before the speech from the throne in Victoria, B.C., on Tuesday, February 11, 2020.
Outside the legislature Tuesday, hundreds of protesters slammed the government for maintaining the status quo, which has seen First Nations protesters arrested by police in northeast B.C. for trying to stop a pipeline that Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs say they have not consented to being built on their traditional territories.
The Horgan government has said the pipeline is lawful, has achieved all necessary approvals and the project has the consent of elected First Nations councils, if not hereditary elders. The pipeline will be the sole provider of natural gas to a new LNG Canada terminal in Kitimat that the government has awarded $6 billion in tax breaks.
Earlier, crowds of anti-pipeline protesters successfully stopped provincial politicians from restarting the legislature for its spring session Tuesday by physically blockading the entrances to the capital building.
“What the protesters are trying to do is to get their point across, and part of that is obviously trying to disrupt the proceedings and the work here in this building,” said Public Safety Minister and government house leader Mike Farnworth.
“But I can tell you that we are continuing the day’s work.”
Farnworth said more than 30 NDP MLAs from the 41-person caucus managed to make it in to the building, though some clearly did not.
“Certainly it’s our intention for the session and the throne speech to be read,” said Farnworth.
Opposition Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson posted on social media that it was important to preserve safety at the building during the protest.
“While peaceful protest is part of our democracy, the safety, security and function of the legislature is essential so we can do our work for B.C.,” he tweeted. “We look forward to an orderly conclusion to the current blockade of the legislature and essential infrastructure throughout B.C.”
Protesters in support of Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs also set about physically confronting people who wanted to enter or exit the legislative building early Tuesday morning.
Agriculture Minister @lanapopham turned away at the door. #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/aPi6vooyNK
Similar demonstrations have occurred in recent days on highways in Victoria and Vancouver, as well as at Vancouver’s port.
Several MLAs, including Agriculture Minister Lana Popham, Jennifer Rice and Janet Routledge, were unable to enter the building from the usual side entrance, as dozens of protesters, some beating drums, yelled “shame” at passersby and linked arms to physically prevent passage into the building.
Education Minister Rob Fleming had to be pulled through a crowd by security. Protesters also blockaded the media from entering or exiting the building, in some cases physically pushing back against journalists. Staff who ran the gauntlet were screamed at by the crowd.
Education minister @Rob_Fleming and Liberal mla @jordansturdy struggle to get through entrance and protesters as security pulls them through 30m before legislature session starts. pic.twitter.com/M2F5hvHRFs
The crowd yelled “Fight back!” and chanted “UNDRIP.” At the front of the building, hundreds of protesters had built a fire, tents and gathered on the ceremonial front steps.