David Eby's first throne speech delivered without him
David Eby's first throne speech delivered without him
Homes for the middle class and investments in health-care were among the priorities the B.C. government outlined Monday in the first throne speech with David Eby as premier – delivered without him in attendance.
The sounds and sights in Victoria were, for the most part, typical for a throne speech. But instead of the premier, his deputy greeted Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin ahead of the highly anticipated speech.
Observers were watching to see if Eby would veer off the course set by his predecessor John Horgan. The government priorities stuck very closely to those set out by Eby in his 100-day plan, including health care, housing affordability, community safety, climate change and economic growth.
Unlike many throne speeches of the past, this one offered some hints of what's ahead. Some initiatives include:
Help for lower income people and parents
New laws to go after gangs, money launderers and those who share intimate photos without consent
An action team targeting repeat violent offenders
Job training for a green economy
Faster action on health care
Austin read the government's blueprint, as per tradition, but without the premier in the house.
ECONOMIC HEADWINDS
After noting the many challenges facing British Columbians, including inflation, health care woes and a toxic drug crisis, Austin said the government is choosing to continue to invest in services, despite warnings of a global economic slowdown.
In the speech, the government said child care savings delivered for kids under six will be extended to parents with school-aged children. Details of the program and others are expected in the spring budget, due later this month.
Speaking in place of the premier, government house leader and Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon wouldn't say if the next budget would be balanced or in deficit. He told reporters he'd leave the details to the finance minister.
“British Columbians have been clear to us that it's vitally important for us to find ways to support them in their needs now," Kahlon said.
The government will deliver its next budget at the end of February, and is already warning this year's surplus likely won't be repeated.
HEALTH CARE
Eby and other premiers are in Ottawa to meet with the prime minister and get more money for health care.
The throne speech outlined several measures already underway to alleviate strain on the system, including faster credentialing for health care workers educated outside Canada, as well as a new payment model for family doctors.
The speech also promised the recruitment of new health-care workers to "fight cancer with new investments to enhance access to screening and early detection, diagnostic imaging, and treatments," said Austin.
Many of the other measures have already been announced, or are underway, including a new medical school, new hospitals, and a new agreement with family doctors to keep them in the field.
HOUSING
The province will also outline a new housing strategy this fall. Kahlon told reporters it would build on what he insisted were successes on the housing file.
"We have launched a one-stop shop for expediting permit times for projects that meet a certain criteria," Kahlon added.
The throne speech also promises to help middle-income earners with affordable housing.
Yet opposition leader Kevin Falcon pointed out the NDP is falling short on another housing promise: building affordable homes.
"Now they're saying the solution to middle class housing is government? Give me a break - this is a government who promised 114,000 units," said Falcon. "We have less than 16,000 built."
Echoing the Liberals' critique, the Greens said the NDP hasn't delivered a plan to measure whether its policies are working.
In a statement, leader Sonia Furstenau writing in part, “It’s not about measuring construction starts, but how many fewer people are homeless or precariously housed. It’s not about how much money it has invested in healthcare, but how many more people are attached to a family doctor."
U.S. President Joe Biden arrived Thursday evening in Ottawa for a whirlwind 27-hour visit expected to focus on both the friendly and thorny aspects of the Canada-U.S. relationship, including protectionism and migration on both sides of the border.
Canada and the United States are negotiating a deal that could see asylum seekers turned back at irregular border crossings across the border, including Roxham Road in Quebec.
Amid renewed questions over the pervasiveness of alleged interference by China in Canadian elections and affairs broadly, opposition MPs voted Thursday afternoon to affirm a parliamentary committee's call for the federal government to strike a public inquiry.
A majority of Canadians have seen a mistake on their grocery receipts in the last year, according to a new survey conducted by Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University.
An asteroid discovered just last week will pass closer to the Earth than the orbit of the moon this weekend, an occurrence so rare it happens only once in a decade, according to NASA.
The number of Canadians receiving employment insurance benefits are at record lows and down 44 per cent from last year, new figures from Statistics Canada show.
Two Kanien'keha:ka (Mohawk) sisters from Montreal are on a mission that is close to their hearts: to save their ancestors' first language by developing video games young and old can play.
Zellers has opened the first of 25 new locations within Hudson's Bay stores across the country. The Canadian retail chain launched 12 stores in Ontario and Alberta Thursday, along with a new e-commerce website.
A Victoria man’s life of crime has turned into one of survival, hope and advocacy amid ongoing conversations in the community about how best to tackle public safety matters.
The Alberta Energy Regulator has cited an energy company for causing a series of earthquakes, including the largest recorded tremblor in the province's history.
The Alberta Energy Regulator has cited an energy company for causing a series of earthquakes, including the largest recorded tremblor in the province's history.
Edmonton-born actor Holly Cinnamon describes the Emmy Award winning HBO series Succession as a "cutthroat version" of The Office and "a joy" to work on. She makes her on-screen debut in the upcoming fourth and final season of the show.
An Ontario man said he was shocked when his truck was stolen not once but twice, and the second time it was taken he was surprised to discover he was no longer covered for theft.
For the first time, the owner of a building in Old Montreal has responded to questions about the fire — through his lawyer — addressing allegations that the building was unsafe.
The political class at the National Assembly has condemned the 'violent' and 'hateful' remarks that columnist Gilles Proulx allegedly made about Quebec solidaire MNAs during Richard Martineau's show on Qub radio in recent weeks.
Manitoba First Nation police have arrested a man connected with a shooting on March 19 on Long Plain First Nation that resulted in the community going on lockdown.
Manitoba’s labour force is growing at a rate to supply enough workers for available positions into 2026, according to the province’s labour market outlook.
An alleged victim of a former staff member of Legacy Christian Academy can now be identified after she successfully petitioned in court to have a publication ban lifted.
In the weeks leading up to Wednesday’s provincial budget, school divisions in Saskatchewan were expecting funding levels to increase, with the province repeatedly touting its $1 billion surplus.
A recent report from the province’s privacy commissioner says the Métis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan Inc. (MACSI) failed to take appropriate steps after patient treatment files were discovered in a recycling bin.
The Tim Houston PC government remains firm in their promise they'll fix the health-care system by spending more taxpayer money on health than any previous government before.
Potato farmers on Prince Edward Island are taking the federal government to court due to the decision to restrict the movement of P.E.I. seed potatoes.
The new provincial budget features items specific to southwestern Ontario, including a new English public elementary school in London, Ont. that will serve 556 students and include 88 licensed childcare spaces.
A young Strathroy, Ont. man believes there's a promising way forward in the effort to fight his disease. But, he's being told, right now, that path isn't open to him. Friends and family are stepping up to try and make a case for Kyle McPhee to receive immunotherapy treatments.
The co-owners of a new liquidation store in North Bay, Samuel Quesnel and Chloé Boivenue, say they want to bring a treasure hunt shopping experience to the city.
Amid renewed questions over the pervasiveness of alleged interference by China in Canadian elections and affairs broadly, opposition MPs voted Thursday afternoon to affirm a parliamentary committee's call for the federal government to strike a public inquiry.
The ‘Catch the Ace’ jackpot is still up for grabs in Hagersville. There was no winner Thursday night so the total prize money is now an estimated $1,526,067.
The resurrection of Zellers is officially underway with the Cambridge location opening its doors to eager shoppers who lined up ahead of the store's official reopening.
