Issue #3- March 7/25

We have now completed the first three weeks of the Spring Legislative Session!  

By the time you read this newsletter, we will know whether Trump has made good on his threat of tariffs. As I noted in my response to the Speech from the Throne, we have a strong province with a strong economy. I am confident we can take this moment to build a diversified 21st century economy, while also fighting climate change, advancing reconciliation, and most importantly, ensuring we take good care of everyone in these uncertain times. I will be working tirelessly on your behalf to ensure that is the case. 

Over the past two weeks, I have been attending the Spring Session, meeting Constituents, and advancing implementation of our Accord with the NDP.  Some highlights: 

The Opening of the Legislature:  On February 18th, 2025, the Spring Session got underway with the Speech from the Throne and responses to the Speech,  following which we all settled into the daily routine of the House. It was great to be in the Legislature to begin the work you elected me to do.  Check out these links to watch your Rookie MLA at work! 

• Question Period: MLA Botterell asks about affordability and poverty elimination. 

• Question Period: MLA Botterell on street sweeps, encampments, and the need for safe shelter and  housing. 

• Speech: MLA Botterell gives his response to the Speech from the Throne, sharing some of the lessons from his personal life and career which will shape his work as an MLA. 

• Statement: MLA Botterell celebrated Black History Month and the work of the BC celebrates Black History Awareness Society (BCHAS). 

• Question Period: MLA Botterell asks about funding for 9-1-1 services – on April 1, the Province will stop funding this service for 10 municipalities (including Sidney and North Saanich) downloading the financial burden onto local government,  while every other local government in BC has those costs covered by the province.  

• Bill 4 response: MLA Botterell responds to Bill 4, the Business Practices &  Consumer Protection Amendment Act will increase protection of seniors and all consumers from predatory and unscrupulous business practices.  

Constituency and Accord Work – Everything is connected. Over the past two weeks we have continued outreach to address constituency issues and advance work on our Accord with the NDP. My amazing constituency staff continues to work hard to respond to numerous inquiries and requests for help. Your patience is appreciated - our three staff are handling over 150 active files and 500 inquiries while conducting outreach to all constituents. For my part, in between my duties in the House I have participated in a wide range of meetings, including: 

• Meetings with Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions Adriane Dix on climate change measures, Minister Sheila Malcolmson on reducing poverty, Minister of Finance Brenda Bailey on the financial outlook, Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar on the upcoming Forests review, and Minster Ravi Kahlon on the critical issue of affordable housing.  

• Attended a special showing held by the Pender Island Museum. 

•   Attended the Tripartite Signing with W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council, BC, and Canada of the ŦE,ITḴEN,IST I SȽEW̱ÁL,NOṈET SĆȺ,Í Agreement. It’s been a long time coming, and a very powerful event to attend. The agreement title translates in English to “Moving Forward and Speaking the Truth and Peace of Mind at Last.” There was a major emphasis on “at last”– from W̱SÁNEĆ leaders, Minister Boyle, and the federal representative. The signing of this agreement is a recognition from the provincial and federal governments that the W̱SÁNEĆ Nation is the beneficiary and successor to the North Saanich and South Saanich Treaties of 1852. Along with this recognition, comes the commitment to work together to come to a shared understanding and create  a path forward. This is a long overdue and critical step towards advancing reconciliation and revitalizing the W̱SÁNEĆ way of life.  

The signed joint statement may be viewed here. 

• Meeting with concerned citizens regarding plans for Riprap on Baker Beach on Saltspring Island.  

• Attended Pink Shirt Day at the Legislature - an important reminder to never condone bullying.

• Made a cameo appearance at the Rotary Club Breakfast at the Shoal Centre in Sidney – looking forward to providing a full update on my MLA work at a future breakfast.  

• Attended a luncheon meeting of the BC Teachers Institute on Parliamentary Democracy. Events south of the border remind us more than ever that we must continue to strengthen the representativeness of our democratic institutions including thorough proportional representation.  

• Met with Garry Merkell, one of the respected authors of the Old Growth Strategic Review to discuss the path forward to build consensus on the future of our Forests and ecosystem health.  

• Liaised with the organization Southern Gulf Islanders for Collaboration and Reconciliation to ensure progress is being made on the issue of dock management.  

• Met with the BC Value Added Coalition – one of the keys to vibrant ecologically sustainable forests that support communities is to expand value added forest products.  

• Met with Salt Spring Island stakeholders to continue discussions on how to improve access to primary health care on Salt Spring Island.  

• Finally, I attended a wonderful community meeting held by Elizabeth May. The Federal Election is just around the corner, and we are so lucky to have Elizabeth as our MP. Her depth of knowledge, experience and wisdom is unparallelled! 

The Speech Premier Eby Could Have Given  

Excerpt from my maiden speech in the Legislature. For the full text click here. For the full video click here.  

Honourable Speaker, while we face the threat of an economic trade war, now is not the time to double down on status quo economic solutions, which hardly pay lip service to accelerating climate change or worsening living standards & services for the most vulnerable. Nor is this the time for lethargic action on reconciliation.   

 Further, solutions to the current economic threat that rely on the panacea of unlimited economic growth in a world of finite resources are not solutions at all.    

 Too often in the past 50 years, when faced with adversity, our leaders have relied on familiar short-term fixes.  They’ve convinced us that the world is full of difficult trade-offs – so we should accept limited progress on the multiple challenges we face.   

 We put off real progress on climate change, and accept continued environmental degradation because, we are told, that is all we can afford.    

 We delay full implementation of DRIPA and turn a blind eye to our society’s most vulnerable, rationalizing that we are making some progress.  And when we do make real progress, for example the Haida Act – it’s not long before it is denounced – falsely I should add -- as a threat to private property and freedom.   

Honorable Speaker, we need to build a 21st century economy that fosters innovation, creativity, knowledge and skills in each part of this province, and in all key economic sectors. We need to build an economy that generates returns for everyone, not just the top 1% and major corporations.  And we need to do it now, not sometime over the next 50 years.  

We have been on the “promise and never deliver” plan for far too long. That must change now.    

We can build a 21st century economy that turns challenges into opportunities.   

Over the last few years in this Province, we have seen floods and fires with disastrous consequences. Instead of reporting tragedies, we should be making headlines as a world leader on climate action and environmental protection.  Let’s build infrastructure to adapt to our current climate, while investing in sustainable projects that make our future brighter. By investing in energy efficient buildings, renewable energy projects, and efficient public transportation we can support economic growth that is long-term and sustainable. BC’s green building sector employed over 20,000 people in 2020 alone with stable full-time jobs. This work is not just good for our planet, it’s good for us – it generates well-paid jobs that support families and protect our wealth.  

 We need to continue the hard work of reconciliation.  We have already seen how partnerships with First Nations in this province have generated economic wins for all British Columbians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike. B.C. is home to the second largest number of Indigenous entrepreneurs in Canada, with over 2,000 Indigenous-owned businesses across the province. Economic growth in Indigenous communities through entrepreneurship creates opportunities for innovation and independence.  

 When I was a boy in Victoria, there were no tent cities or visible homelessness on our streets. Now, even middle-class families live in fear that one missed paycheque will force them to lose the roof over their heads. In a province as rich as ours, that is beyond shameful.   

 Mr. Speaker, being world leaders in the fight against climate change, fully supporting those most vulnerable to unemployment and poverty, completing the hard work of reconciliation, is not part of the problem, it is the solution.   

• A 0-carbon economy is the future, and BC can be a spectator or an active, engaged participant,   

• Protecting the environment of this special province will be our legacy to future generations.    

• Eliminating unemployment and poverty will not only be a visible demonstration of dignity and compassion, but it will also reduce costly demands on our overstretched health and social support systems.   

• Advancing indigenous reconciliation will create the certainty needed for indigenous people across BC to take their rightful place at the centre of our future together.   

To succeed in the face of adversity, we must take risks, make fiscally responsible investments and innovate in every sector of the economy in a way that enables us to fight climate change and preserve the environment, end poverty once and for all, ensure every British Columbian has the health care and housing we expect and deserve, celebrate indigenous sovereignty, and rely minimally on US markets.   

 Now is not the time for incremental change; now is the time to take bold courageous action. To transform our society so that the next generation has every opportunity to thrive.  

This is our moment. There’s so much we can accomplish … and we know this government can do more.  

Website Update

Great news! My new website is now up-and-running at www.MLABotterell.ca, providing another way for you to connect with myself and my staff and stay up-to-date with everything I’ve been up to at the Legislature and out in our constituency. I’ll be posting my current and past newsletters, links to videos from the Legislature, important updates, and more – please be sure to click on by!

Conclusion 

With the start of the Spring Session, we are now tackling the issues facing British Columbians through debating legislation, asking tough questions in Question Period, responding to the Throne Speech and using every tool in the tool kit to speak truth to power and keep the government on course. 

Over the Next Month: 

• Community Meetings:  

Salt Spring Island: March 7th, 5-6:30pm, Fulford Community Hall 

Pender Island: March 14th, 6-7:30pm, Pender Island Community Centre 

Mayne Island: March 17th, 6-7:30pm, Mayne Island Community Centre 

Galiano Island: March 18th, 6:30-8pm, Galiano Community South Hall 

Saturna Island: March 19th, 6:30-8pm, Saturna Community Centre 

Saanich Peninsula: March 20th, 5-6:30pm, 9828 Fourth Street, Sidney 

• ASK Salt Spring 

Please  reach out to our office at 250.655.5600 or Rob.Botterell.MLA@leg.bc.ca with any questions, concerns, event notices and community news…

 Until next time,