Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. premier to make swearing-in announcement

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 25 Feb, 2022 10:52 AM
  • B.C. premier to make swearing-in announcement

VICTORIA - British Columbia Premier John Horgan will be at Government House today for an announcement that involves a swearing-in ceremony.

A statement from the premier's office provides few details about the nature of the announcement other than to confirm Horgan will be available to answer questions after the swearing-in.

Earlier this month, the NDP government highlighted the launch of a new ministry in its throne speech as it outlined its political agenda for the coming months.

The speech said stewardship and management of British Columbia's lands and resources are two of the government's greatest responsibilities.

It said the government has spent more than one year planning a new ministry to support those goals.

This week's B.C. budget includes funding for a new Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship, but an announcement about a minister to oversee the portfolio has not been made.

UPDATE:

VICTORIA - The British Columbia government announced the creation of a new ministry Friday that will focus on reconciliation with Indigenous people, economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Premier John Horgan appointed Josie Osborne as the new minister of land, water and resource stewardship. She will also be the minister responsible for fisheries.

The new ministry reorganizes several of the government's natural resource ministries and is the result of a more than a year of talks with municipal and First Nations leaders, business, environmental and labour groups, and land-use experts, Horgan said.

"The fundamental part of being British Columbians, with our abundant natural resources, is ensuring that we're stewarding those effectively," Horgan said at a news conference at Government House.

"For too long the development of our resources have not focused on the people who own them, British Columbians."

The Opposition B.C. Liberals criticized the new ministry, saying the government is building more bureaucracy when people in resource industries, especially forestry, are concerned about their futures.

“At a time when communities, loggers, contractors, employers, workers and First Nations are all looking for stability, John Horgan and the NDP have decided that adding uncertainty and more bureaucracy is the way to go," John Rustad, the Liberal forests, lands and natural resources critic, said in a statement.

Nathan Cullen, who represents the Stikine riding in the legislature, will take over for Osborne as minister of municipal affairs. Nanaimo-North Cowichan legislature member Doug Routley will be the parliamentary secretary for forests.

A government statement said the natural resource sector ministries, including forests, environment, agriculture and energy, were not set up to implement the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, which aims to advance reconciliation and share decision-making with First Nations.

"The government's goals of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, economic stability and environmental sustainability are best achieved through restructuring and a new Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship," said the statement.

Among the responsibilities of the new ministry are working with First Nations on co-managed land and resource issues, developing land-use policy that ensures certainty for investors, and co-ordinating strategies to protect drinking water. The new ministry will also be responsible for provincial species at risk, and fish and ecosystem management.

Horgan said the ministry restructuring and the creation of a stewardship branch of government is a concept he's been supporting "for many years. This is an exciting time," he said.

Earlier this month, the New Democrat government highlighted the launch of the new ministry in its throne speech, saying stewardship and management of B.C.'s lands and resources are two of the government's greatest responsibilities. This week's budget included funding for the department.

Osborne, who represents the riding of Mid-Island-Pacific Rim, was the mayor of Tofino and is a biologist who holds a master's degree in natural resource management.

"Josie comes from Tofino, which is a place that has been the centre of many land-use discussions," said Horgan, citing the Clayoquot Sound forestry protests during the 1990s that led to hundreds of arrests. "It puts her in a good position to understand the consequences of land-use planning."

Horgan said Cullen has vast experience with local government and First Nations as a former New Democrat MP in the Skeena-Bulkley Valley riding. Cullen's provincial Stikine riding in northwest B.C. covers some of the same territory, he said.

"Nathan is a superior communicator, which means, in my mind, he listens, he synthesizes complex issues and he's able to communicate those back in a way the public can understand," Horgan said.

MORE National ARTICLES

Ottawa police arrest 70 in sweeping operation

Ottawa police arrest 70 in sweeping operation
Interim chief Steve Bell says the plan is "deliberate and methodical" and police are in control on the ground, but clearing the area will take time. Police began enforcing against the protest on Thursday night, setting up about 100 checkpoints and arresting key organizers.

Ottawa police arrest 70 in sweeping operation

B.C. sets out funding plan for child care teachers

B.C. sets out funding plan for child care teachers
Katrina Chen, B.C.'s minister of state for child care, announced Friday that $25.5 million will provide bursaries for students entering the field over the next three to four years.

B.C. sets out funding plan for child care teachers

Glimmer of hope in Lytton rebuild after wildfire

Glimmer of hope in Lytton rebuild after wildfire
Denise O'Connor is back in Lytton, B.C., living in the home where she spent her childhood years. The fire on June 30 roared through Lytton just one day after the temperature in the village hit an all-time Canadian high of 49.6 C.

Glimmer of hope in Lytton rebuild after wildfire

Leaked data prompts news backlash in Canada, U.S.

Leaked data prompts news backlash in Canada, U.S.
Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar sparked a Twitter firestorm earlier this week when she criticized an Ottawa Citizen story about a local business owner who was harassed after her $250 donation became public.

Leaked data prompts news backlash in Canada, U.S.

Canada is past peak of Omicron wave: top doctor

Canada is past peak of Omicron wave: top doctor
Wastewater surveillance also showed the wave is on its way down. Tam said that modelling indicated the true number of infections from Omicron during the wave has been much higher than reported.

Canada is past peak of Omicron wave: top doctor

Surrey RCMP need public's help in finding missing woman Amita Minhas

Surrey RCMP need public's help in finding missing woman Amita Minhas
Amita Minhas is described as a 36 year old South Asian female, 5’4” tall, 110 lbs. She has shoulder length black hair and brown eyes. There is no clothing description at this time. 

Surrey RCMP need public's help in finding missing woman Amita Minhas