B.C. NDP signed own 'death warrant' with Royal Museum project, Liberals say
As British Columbians continue to face affordability challenges and serious issues in the health-care system, opposition leader Kevin Falcon is making a bold prediction: that the Royal B.C. Museum project will be the end of the John Horgan government.
Since becoming a sitting MLA, Falcon has hammered the government on the $789 million project with phrases like "billion-dollar boondoggle" and "the premier's billion-dollar vanity museum project." Rounding the price tag up, the Liberals have whipped up concerns about why the project is so costly.
Thursday, on the last day of the spring legislative session, Falcon took it one step further.
"Mark my words, Friday, May 13th is the day that the NDP really have signed their own death warrant as a political party," he told reporters.
The prediction may be more of a hope, but Hamish Telford, an associate professor of political science at the University of the Fraser Valley, said there's a chance the project could provide the opposition fodder to embarrass the government.
"If it runs into further delays, cost overruns then yes, it could affect them like the fast ferries fiasco of the 1990s," said Telford in an interview with CTV News.
Telford believes the province has done a good job of handling the pandemic, and the decriminalization of small amounts of illicit drugs was another win. Yet, he said the museum project and health-care woes continue to dog the party.
On Monday, Horgan told reporters the health-care system was vibrant but "teetering."
The spring session also saw Horgan and his caucus under fire for hospitals closing emergency rooms due to staffing shortages, plus the ongoing doctor shortage and health-care delays.
For the Greens, transparency is another key issue. After accusing ministers of "gaslighting" opposition MLAs who asked for answers, the leader of the party, Sonia Furstenau, accused them of sticking to message boxes instead of admitting what British Columbians are facing.
During question period, she stood up and asked, "To the premier: Can he be honest about the state of affairs in this province?"
That prompted a passionate response from government house leader, Mike Farnworth.
"Questioning the integrity of any member of this house, particularly the premier, through a rambling statement without a question attached to it, quite frankly, I find offensive."
That prompted heckling and cheers, and a warning from the speaker for MLAs to "not cross the line."
The session ended with the government declaring victory for passing bills tackling racism and discrimination, to taking steps to cool the housing marking through a cooling-off period, and upholding a commitment to reconciliation. Both the Liberals and Greens disagree, saying the province hasn’t done enough to tackle affordability issues.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
DEVELOPING Israel says Hamas deal is 'far' from meeting its demands as Rafah offensive looms
Israel said the terms of a ceasefire deal Hamas accepted on Monday remained 'far from' meeting its demands and warned its military operations in Rafah would continue, even as it sent negotiators to talk to mediators.
2024 Met Gala: Everything to know about fashion's annual soiree
Fashion's biggest night out — hosted at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York each year on the first Monday of May — is both a forever-evolving spectacle and a carefully crafted event.
Concern over speeding in Fredericton neighbourhood grows after 2 teens, young adult killed in crash
Three people – including two teens – are dead, and two others are injured after a crash that has left a greater Fredericton community shaken.