Blogs

New Democrat advanced education critic Michelle Mungall and skills training critic Gwen O’Mahony will be visiting institutions across the province this fall to listen to the concerns of students and promote the New Democrat plan to improve access to learning opportunities for British Columbians.

“New Democrat Leader Adrian Dix has committed to bringing in a $100 million needs-based, non-repayable student grant program as a way to equalize opportunities to access advanced education,” said Mungall. more »

A comprehensive justice review report shows that years of B.C. Liberal government neglect and mismanagement have led to a broken system too overwhelmed to cope with the current pressures on our courts and trial backlog, say New Democrats. more »

The B.C. Liberals’ claim that they could withhold permits to stop the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline after signing away jurisdiction to Ottawa is irresponsible and legally untenable, say the New Democrats.

“The Liberals are taking the wrong approach on this critical issue,” said New Democrat environment critic Rob Fleming, “And they have no real mechanism to stop the pipeline from being built.” more »

A New Democrat government will withdraw from the federal government’s Enbridge Northern Gateway Project review process and set up a “made in B.C.” environmental assessment to ensure the province’s interests are protected, B.C. New Democrat leader Adrian Dix announced.

“Within a week of taking office, we will serve the federal government with 30 days’ notice to terminate the 2010 deal in which the Liberals signed away B.C.’s interests,” Dix said. more »

“Today, British Columbians of all political stripes will be taking time to remember and honour Jack Layton.

“When Jack passed last August, our province and nation came together. We shared how he inspired us with his optimism, and resolve to help make Canada more fair and equal.

“Jack was of course a remarkable political leader – one deeply committed to social justice and a sustainable environment. And his optimism, humour and spirit inspired many to get involved in politics – particularly young people. more »

A new proposal for an Alberta oil sands refinery on B.C.’s coast would still rely on the same Enbridge oil pipeline that poses environmental risks to British Columbia’s rivers and lakes, and still means an end to the tanker moratorium, say the New Democrats.

“This refinery wouldn’t change the pipeline of oil that would traverse British Columbia’s rugged land, and healthy rivers and lakes,” said New Democrat energy critic John Horgan . more »

The Liberals failed to notice dramatic increases in the size of management and spikes in executive wages and bonuses at ICBC for half a decade. It is just one more symptom of the Liberals' mismanagement of the province and its finances, say New Democrats.

“The fact that it took five years for the B.C. Liberals to notice that management levels and executive pay and perks at ICBC were spiraling out of control shows that they have been asleep at the switch,” said Mable Elmore, the New Democrat critic for ICBC. more »

National progress on energy issues vital to British Columbia was derailed by the Liberals’ desperate publicity stunt at the Council of the Federation, say the New Democrats. more »

The Liberal government still refuses to protect B.C.'s best interests in its latest attempt to recast the Enbridge pipeline proposal, said New Democrat leader Adrian Dix today.

“New Democrats are in favour of sound economic development, but the Enbridge pipeline does not meet that test. This is one of the key reasons our caucus formally told the Joint Review Panel that we do not support the project. more »

Serious concerns about a new government computer system raised by the province's children's watchdog point to a pattern of Liberal mismanagement and a failure to put the needs of vulnerable people first, say New Democrats.

"The Representative for Children and Youth confirmed the serious concerns we've been hearing and raising for months about the new Integrated Case Management System," said New Democrat critic for children and family development Claire Trevena. more »