British Columbia.

AuthorHill, Lisa
PositionLegislative Reports

General Election

The Legislative Assembly adjourned on March 16, 2017 and dissolution of the 40th Parliament occurred on April 11, 2017, with the provincial general election scheduled for May 9, 2017. Party standings at dissolution were: 47 BC Liberal Party; 35 New Democratic Party of BC; 3 Independents.

Speech from the Throne

The Fifth Session of the 40th Parliament prorogued on February 14, 2017, and the Sixth Session opened that afternoon with the Speech from the Throne delivered by Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon. This year's Throne Speech focused on housing affordability, education, job creation, and natural resource development--including partnerships with Indigenous communities. During the Address in Reply debate, Opposition Members criticized the Throne Speech for failing to provide affordable child care or address social inequities and poverty, and for not prioritizing improvements to the child welfare system.

Budget 2017

One week later, on February 21, 2017, Minister of Finance Michael de Jong, presented the government's budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year. The Minister noted that this was BC's fifth consecutive balanced budget, delivering "the dividends of a strong and diversified economy and prudent fiscal management." Highlights of the budget include reduced Medical Services Plan premiums, increases to funding for health care, education and social services, as well as incentives for first-time homebuyers. In her response to Budget 2017, Opposition Finance Critic Carole James argued that the budget does not address costs that will adversely affect low and middle-income families, such as planned rate increases to BC Hydro and Insurance Corporation of BC, nor does the budget provide minimum wage increases or measures to address BC's current housing affordability issues.

Legislation

In total, 10 government bills and 40 private members' bills were introduced this Session. Seven government bills received Royal Assent on March 16, 2017, including the Discriminatory Provisions (Historical Wrongs) Repeal Act. This Act, which was unanimously supported by Members, will permanently remove discriminatory provisions in 19 historical private Acts, including provisions based on a person's ethnicity or place of origin. The Information Management (Documenting Government Decisions) Amendment Act was also given Royal Assent. The Act requires the head of a government body to create and maintain certain records that document key business decisions...

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