B.C. legislature fall session starts with fiery exchange between premier and Conservative leader
Premier David Eby calls newly-minted Conservative Leader John Rustad's question on SOGI policies 'outrageous'
B.C. MLAs returned to the legislature Tuesday to mark the start of the fall session, which saw a flurry of new legislation — including on emergency management and plans to penalize B.C. Ferries for late sailings — and a war of words between the premier and the B.C. Conservative leader.
Four parties are now represented in the fall sitting: the ruling NDP, B.C. United, Green Party and Conservative Party of B.C.
The Conservative Party of B.C. now has official party status after former B.C. United MLA Bruce Banman crossed the floor to join party leader John Rustad last month.
Rustad provoked a strong reaction from Premier David Eby after he zeroed in on the province's Sexual Orientation Gender Identity (SOGI) policies in provincial schools during question period, saying it is divisive and concerning to parents.
"Will the minister admit this SOGI 123 has been divisive and an assault on parents' rights and a distraction to student education?" said Rustad, who called on the government to replace the program.
He said he was speaking on behalf of the people who have been staging protests in communities and at school board meetings.
SOGI 123 is a resource endorsed by the provincial education ministry, which includes a guide focusing on addressing discrimination and bullying, creating a supportive and inclusive environment for LGBTQ students, and acknowledging there are people of varying genders and sexual orientations.
Eby said Rustad, who was ejected from the B.C. United caucus in August 2022 for questioning the science behind climate change, has not made an "auspicious" start with his first question in the legislature as the Conservative leader.
"To come into this place and use the authority of his office, his new party, to find a small group of kids to leverage that, to make them feel less safe in our schools, less safe in our communities, to feed the fires of division in our province and bring a culture war to B.C., it is not welcome," said Eby.
"Shame on him. Choose another question," said the premier to thunderous applause.
Rustad was recently criticized for a social media post that appeared to equate the SOGI policy with the abuse of Indigenous children in residential schools.
Eby said it was "outrageous" for the Tory leader to stand in the legislature and pose questions that could result in harm to children.
"[Rustad] sees political advantage in picking on kids and families and teachers and schools who are just trying to do their best for kids who are at risk of suicide," he said.
The Office of the Clerk has said it appears to be the first time four parties will be represented in B.C.'s legislature with "official status," but not the only time four parties have had MLAs in the legislature.
The governing NDP has 56 of the 87 seats in the legislature. B.C. United has 26, the B.C. Greens and Conservatives have two each, and there is one independent MLA.
Emergency management legislation introduced
Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma said Tuesday that newly-introduced emergency management legislation will deliver a modernized disaster management approach that is aligned with international best practices.
"The Emergency and Disaster Management Act moves toward a holistic four-phase approach of mitigation, preparation, response and recovery," she said in the legislature.
"It embraces disaster risk reduction and will require that climate risk be assessed so that entities can better mitigate the impacts of climate-related emergencies before they happen."
The proposed changes come as B.C. experienced its worst wildfire season on record, with as many as 400 structures lost and a price tag nearing $1 billion.
A 14-member premier's emergency expert task force, made of Indigenous and community leaders, government officials, firefighters and academics, will provide advice on preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery opportunities that could be ready for the 2024 wildfire season, she said.
Modernized emergency management regulations, developed in consultation with First Nations, will be phased in, starting later this year.
Conservative rise could concern B.C. United: prof
UBC political scientist Stewart Prest said having Conservative MLAs in the legislature could create a challenge for the province's other right-of-centre party, B.C. United.
"They are now vulnerable on this right-wing flank to continue to bleed support to this upstart B.C. Conservative Party," said Prest.
Housing will be a key focus this session, with government house leader and Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon promising new legislation to address permitting and zoning challenges, to strengthen enforcement of short-term rentals, and to deliver more small-scale, multi-unit housing.
Prest said by focusing on B.C.'s housing crisis, the NDP is looking to build political support for the next general election, due to be held on Oct. 19, 2024.
"They're starting to put their cards on the table, I think, in the run up to next year's election ... to say they're doing as much as anyone can to deal with the housing affordability crisis."
With files from Meera Bains, BC Today and Chad Pawson