Gary Coons

VICTORIA – The B.C. Liberals are marking the memorial for missing and murdered aboriginal women by refusing to convene a public inquiry into these disappearances and deaths, say the New Democrats.
“Despite forty years of aboriginal women going missing or being found murdered along provincial highways, B.C. Liberal Minister George Abbott still insists it is not [...]

VICTORIA—The B.C. Liberals have failed to provide an economic vision for British Columbia beyond the 2010 Olympic Games, says New Democrat Leader Carole James.
“Today B.C. is facing significant challenges, including heavy job losses, persistent child poverty rates and an extended recession in which families are struggling to make ends meet. Not only did the Liberals [...]

Racism cited as a reason the murders and disappearances have not received more attention
B.C. needs a public inquiry and a multi-agency police task force to examine the many cases of girls and women who have met violence on B.C. highways, say two community leaders who have been vocal about the so-called Highway of Tears case.

For Immediate Release
VICTORIA – Community groups have every right to be worried that the B.C. Liberals will use a potential shake-up of community gaming grants as an excuse to slash funding for charities even further, the New Democrats said today.

Will MLAs be taking a free ride to the Games?
Prince Rupert– British Columbians have the right to know if they will be footing the bill for BC Liberal MLAs to watch coveted Olympic events from a luxury suite during the Games, the New Democrats said today.

B.C. Children’s Minister Mary Polak faced a new round of criticism yesterday for sacking the senior advisers to two programs that help disabled children.

For Immediate Release
 VICTORIA – The B.C. Liberal government should be ashamed now that British Columbia has the lowest minimum wage in the country, New Democrats said today.
As of September 1, B.C. now has the distinction of having the lowest minimum wage in Canada at $8 an hour, and a training wage that starts at [...]

North Coast MLA Gary Coons and Skeena MLA Robin Austin say that child-protection workers in the northwest are the latest victims of Gordon Campbell’s pre-election budget deception. 

British Columbia has had the highest child poverty rates in Canada for five years in a row. During those years the British Columbian economy was apparently booming. I t seemed like all the government ever talked about was how rich we all were getting, and how much better everything was than it used to be. [...]

Homelessness Must be a Priority
 
Homelessness is a province wide issue. It exists in communities large and small throughout the province. It exists here in Prince Rupert. 
 
Shelter spaces are urgently needed, but they are just the barest of essentials needed to provide for those in need. Ultimately we must aim towards increasing our supported affordable [...]