British Columbia is in the final push in what has been a difficult marathon, the speech said. Keeping people healthy and safe until we have crossed the finish line is our collective responsibility. It is an essential precondition for economic recovery and a return to normal life.
The NDP government promises to hire thousands of new workers for long-term care and fix cracks exposed in the system by COVID-19. It said it will improve surgery wait times and build new urgent primary care centres and hospitals, including one in Surrey.
The government commits to record spending on infrastructure including replacing the George Massey Tunnel and building the Broadway and Surrey-Langley SkyTrain lines, as well as legislation to support a fund to help B.C. companies scale up and hire local workers.
Dr. Bonnie Henry says about 50 per cent of COVID-19 cases are now variants of concern, as she announced 3,289 new cases over the weekend, including 167 in Island Health. There are now 9,937 . . .
Government pledges ‘record investments’ in infrastructure, help for people hit hardest by COVID-19.
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria and the author of
All Together Healthy (Douglas & McIntyre, 2018). Find him on Twitter or reach him at
. SHARES Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin’s read speech promising next week’s budget would help people now and create the conditions for a strong economic recovery that reaches every British Columbian.
Image from Hansard.
The throne speech opening the new session of the B.C. legislature today focused on the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the province’s response to it and the government’s commitment to building back better.
VANCOUVER The gun salute and honour guard that usually precedes the delivery of the government’s Throne Speech in Victoria has gone to the dogs. Due to the pandemic, the usual pomp and ceremony was gone, but Lt.- Gov. Janet Austin’s canine companion made a special appearance. After being coaxed to the historic stairs, Vice Regal Macduff Austin-Chester climbed up to greet Premier John Horgan, ahead of her honour. All of the adorable antics were caught on camera. Macduff is no stranger to the spotlight. His Instagram account has more than 1,500 followers. He’s described as the “charming and self-confident Vice Regal Canine Consort” to the lieutenant governor.