Close X
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
ADVT 
National

The hallways look the same and where are the bathrooms, say B.C.'s newly elected MLAs

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 04 Nov, 2024 11:19 AM
  • The hallways look the same and where are the bathrooms, say B.C.'s newly elected MLAs

A record number of first-time provincial politicians are about to descend on British Columbia's legislature, looking to make positive contributions for the province and trying to find the washrooms in the 127-year-old building.

Fifty-seven new members from three parties, New Democrats, B.C. Conservatives and Greens, were elected to serve first terms in the 93-seat legislature in B.C. last month. 

The number of new faces could be 56 if New Democrat Jodie Wickens isn't counted. She was elected in a 2016 byelection but subsequently defeated in the 2017 provincial election.

Voters in British Columbia elected 49 women, the first majority female legislature in provincial history.

The legislature's hallways exuded a first-day-of-school atmosphere last week as Premier David Eby's New Democrats, including his cast of newly elected MLAs, gathered for their first caucus meeting just hours after final counts from Elections BC confirmed a one-seat majority government for the NDP, pending two judicial recounts.

There were smiles, handshakes and hugs as the 47 elected New Democrats, including 18 new members, congratulated each other.

"It was definitely a really great feeling to be in the room with our caucus partners meeting everybody," said rookie MLA Diana Gibson, who won the Oak Bay-Gordon Head riding previously held by retired New Democrat Murray Rankin.

"It's certainly different coming in on your first day of work as an MLA," said Gibson, acknowledging there was a first day of school feeling "except with an incredible amount of honour and responsibility."

Of the NDP's new caucus, 29 are returning members of the legislature and 18 are newly elected, while 31 of them are women and 16 are men. 

Gibson, an entrepreneur, business leader and social planning advocate who has never held elected office, said the mix of new and experienced caucus members can produce results.

"That balance does create a new kind of energy," she said. "The new caucus coming in has some incredible bench strength and really great skills."

Debra Toporowski, the newly elected New Democrat for Cowichan Valley, who has previously been elected to local councils for Cowichan Tribes and the community of North Cowichan, said going to the legislature made everything "more real."

"I felt at home," she said. "I felt very comfortable. I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work."

But the layout of the legislature building will take some getting used to, said Toporowski who needed directions to the washroom.

"Yes, I felt very welcomed by the staff," she said.

Gibson said navigating the legislature's halls will require some practice.

"Every hallway looks just like the last hallway. But the staff have been fantastic about giving directions," she said.

B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad said he expects his party's caucus to be sworn in on Nov. 12, days after the last of the ballot recounts. 

Elections BC said it would hold judicial recounts in the ridings of Surrey-Guildford and Kelowna Centre on Nov. 7 and Nov. 8. 

The B.C. Conservatives elected 44 members, 26 men and 18 women, pending the recounts.

"A year and a half ago we had, what, two per cent in the polls, and no MLAs," said Rustad. "It's quite an accomplishment for our party. I'm very proud of the team that has been elected and put together."

MLAs and party staff have been participating in virtual orientation sessions over the past week.

The legislature has also scheduled two days of in-person orientation sessions for Nov. 14 and 15, which will involve having all 93 MLAs from the three parties gathered together in the legislative chamber to take part in a mock sitting.

"It's an exciting time for us," said Legislature Clerk Kate Ryan-Lloyd. "We're happy to help the members with all their needs as they establish their new offices and take on their new responsibilities."

But while many new MLAs are preparing to settle in at the legislature, others are packing up and moving out.

Staff and members of the former Official Opposition BC United were expected to vacate their offices by Friday evening to make room for the B.C. Conservatives.

"It feels surreal," said former BC United press secretary Andrew Reeve. "I've been part of this building for almost eight years of my life. Next week it's a place that's not my home anymore."

BC United Leader Kevin Falcon suspended the party's campaign in late August and urged party members and candidates to support the B.C. Conservatives in a move to prevent a split vote on the centre right that would benefit the NDP.

Eby said his early priorities involve swearing in a new cabinet, recalling the legislature for a brief sitting and electing a Speaker.

He said the date for the sitting has not yet been set.

MORE National ARTICLES

Canada has become 'playground' for foreign interference, Tory MP Chong tells inquiry

Canada has become 'playground' for foreign interference, Tory MP Chong tells inquiry
A Conservative MP who was targeted by Beijing told a federal inquiry Wednesday that Canada has become "a playground" for foreign interference.  Michael Chong, the Tory foreign affairs critic, said the federal government should shed its culture of secrecy and disclose more information about threats to better inform the public. 

Canada has become 'playground' for foreign interference, Tory MP Chong tells inquiry

Ottawa announces it's further reducing the number of international student permits

Ottawa announces it's further reducing the number of international student permits
The Liberal government will slash the number of internationalstudent visas it processes by another 10 per cent. The government says the new target for 2025 and 2026 will be 437,000 permits. In 2024 the target was 485,000 permits.

Ottawa announces it's further reducing the number of international student permits

Nurse-patient ratios at B.C. hospitals set to expand in fall, says health minister

Nurse-patient ratios at B.C. hospitals set to expand in fall, says health minister
British Columbia Health Minister Adrian Dix says minimum nurse-to-patient ratios meant to improve care and strengthen the health-care system have now been established for most hospital settings. He says the nurse-to-patient ratios have been determined for more hospital settings, including emergency departments, maternity units and operating rooms.

Nurse-patient ratios at B.C. hospitals set to expand in fall, says health minister

Conservatives' non-confidence motion will make no mention of carbon price

Conservatives' non-confidence motion will make no mention of carbon price
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has confirmed he will ask the other opposition parties to bring down the Liberal government next week with a non-confidence motion. A Conservative spokesperson said the motion will simply say the House has no confidence in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government.

Conservatives' non-confidence motion will make no mention of carbon price

Account tweaks for young Instagram users 'minimum' expected by B.C., David Eby says

Account tweaks for young Instagram users 'minimum' expected by B.C., David Eby says
Premier David Eby says new account control measures for young Instagram users introduced Tuesday by social media giant Meta are the "minimum" expected of tech companies to keep kids safe online. The parent company of Instagram says users in Canada and elsewhere under 18 will have their accounts set to private by default starting Tuesday, restricting who can send messages, among other parental controls and settings.

Account tweaks for young Instagram users 'minimum' expected by B.C., David Eby says

Targeted stabbing in Langley

Targeted stabbing in Langley
R-C-M-P in Langley are investigating a stabbing that sent a 26-year-old man to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Mounties say officers responded to a stabbing report in the 203-hundred block of Douglas Crescent just after 8:15 a-m this morning.

Targeted stabbing in Langley