Pandemic still top priority as B.C. NDP throne speech promises action on housing, climate change

Two years into the pandemic, keeping British Columbians healthy and safe from COVID-19 remains the top priority of the provincial government, according to Tuesday's throne speech.

Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin delivered the speech from the legislature in Victoria, laying out the province's record of accomplishments and some plans for the next year.

She pointed out that the last year has been a difficult one, with the challenges of a lingering pandemic compounded by a heat wave that killed hundreds of people, wildfires that destroyed a town, flooding that wiped out major highways and ongoing revelations about possible gravesites at former residential schools.

"At a time when these same challenges have increased polarization and division around the world, people here in B.C. have pulled together," Austin told the legislature.

She laid out a number of actions that the government is planning to take this year on issues including wages, unaffordable real estate, jobs, reconciliation, child care and land management.

Premier John Horgan characterized the plan as putting people first.

"After two of the most difficult years in our history, we know people are exhausted and families are feeling stretched," Horgan said in a news release. 

"That's why our focus has been, and will continue to be, on investing to help make life better for people."

The throne speech also included a pledge to "act with greater urgency" on climate change, promising more action to reduce emissions and a review of B.C.'s oil and gas subsidies.

"The climate emergency is here," Austin said. "If there was ever any doubt, the extreme weather events of this summer and fall should have erased them for good."

Some of the more specific actions the province is planning include:

• Tying minimum wage increases to inflation.
• Introducing a "cooling off" period on home purchases.
• Implementing the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
• Establishing Canada's first Chinese Canadian Museum and modernizing the Royal B.C. Museum.
• Moving responsibility for child care to the Ministry of Education.
• Creating a new ministry responsible for land management, with a focus on reconciliation, economic development and environmental protection.

Budget and long-range economic plan to come

The throne speech comes two weeks ahead of the government's budget, which is expected to include a financial accounting of last fall's floods and mudslides that devastated communities, farms and highways throughout southern B.C.

Economic Recovery Minister Ravi Kahlon says Horgan will unveil the government's long-range economic development plan next week that addresses future job opportunities and how the province plans to meet the challenges of a transitioning economy.

Horgan, who was diagnosed with throat cancer late last year, is back in the legislature after undergoing successful chemotherapy treatments.

Kevin Falcon was elected leader of the B.C. Liberals last weekend, but Shirley Bond will continue to perform leadership duties in the house as he tries to win a seat in a byelection.

Falcon announced Monday that he plans to run in Vancouver-Quilchena, a seat that former leader Andrew Wilkinson has decided to resign. The NDP government has six months to call a byelection after the seat is vacated.

On Tuesday, Falcon said the throne speech repeated previous NDP promises and was more of a look back than a look-ahead document.

"Frankly, it's disappointing,'' he said in a video statement. "We want to see how we're going to get into the future with real measurable outcomes.''

B.C. Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau said in a statement the speech acknowledges the loss and sacrifices B.C. residents made over the past year, but rather than offer a vision for the future, "the government patted themselves on the back for past initiatives and re-announced projects that have been underway for years.''