At the conclusion of the spring session of the legislature, Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons reflected on his highlights from the latest sitting.
One of his highlights was restoring some strength to the Agricultural Land Commission.
“We need to continuously look at ways of protecting our farmland,” said Simons. “We made some changes with respect to the Agricultural Land Commission.”
Changes were made to the labour code, which Simons said are fundamentally important. He said the safeguards that used to be in place regarding child labour were removed under the previous government.
“Restoring them is going to promote healthier working relationships for young people who wish to enter the labour force as young as the age of 12,” said Simons. “The safeguards we put into labour law and protection of the farms are two key issues of importance to me.”
Simons said the government has continued to do other things well in the legislature, such as providing more housing and working on childcare spaces. He said the committee that he has chaired, the child and youth committee, has begun to undertake a study of the needs of families with children with special needs.
“The work will continue,” said Simons. “The session may be over and the 18 pieces of legislation have been passed, but MLAs are still busy with committee work, doing things in advance of the next session. It’s a never-ending task.”
As for the matter raised by speaker of the house Darryl Plecas regarding Craig James, the clerk of the house, and Gary Lenz, the sergeant at arms, who were investigated by former chief justice of Canada Beverley McLachlin into allegations of misuse of taxpayers’ dollars, Simons said there are reviews being undertaken. McLachlin ruled that James engaged in misconduct and Lenz was cleared of any wrongdoing.
“I’m confident that our democratic institutions are robust,” said Simons. “They have encountered headwinds in the past and it’s something that we’ll get through. Our system of governance, with its flaws, will continue to operate.”
Premier John Horgan said that making life better and more affordable for British Columbians, while building a strong economy, was at the core of government work inside and outside the parliament buildings this spring.
“Our government is continuing to make choices that put people first, every single day,” said Horgan. “We’ve been tackling the housing crisis, providing more affordable childcare and making sure quality public services like health care and education are available in every community, and it’s starting to yield results for people.”
