Gary Coons

G. Coons: It’s an honour to rise in response to the Speech from the Throne. I want to begin by acknowledging that tomorrow will be one of the biggest events in B.C. history, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, or those cool sporting events that take place in B.C. between 2009 and 2011. I want to offer my best to all of the international athletes, the media and the guest spectators, and give some advice to those visiting athletes that they better keep close to the red and white because they aren’t going to be getting any closer.

I want to acknowledge all the help, the support, the enthusiasm, the energy and the support of all the volunteers that are participating. Throughout the chamber we’ve heard the excitement and the thrill of the relay torch going through communities. Read the rest of this entry →

British Columbia Transportation Minister Shirley Bond said British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. needs to consult more with the public before she’ll approve a controversial plan to run ferries from Tsawwassen to Prince Rupert.

“There’s been no final decisions made about that,” said Bond. “What I want to make sure is that communities have adequate opportunities to be consulted about that and there’s obviously been some expression of concern in the Prince Rupert area in particular and along the northern corridor.” Read the rest of this entry →

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 fail to mention these challenges in the Throne Speech, they failed to put forward a plan to address them,” said James. Read the rest of this entry →

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Approximately 25 people came out to the Fishermen’s Hall in Prince Rupert on January 23 to join a national protest of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s decision to prorogue Parliament, something that rally-goers called “an obscene abuse of power”. Read the rest of this entry →

VICTORIA — An arbitrator’s ruling has found the B.C. Liberals’ failure to invest in public education has left children struggling to learn in overcrowded classrooms across the province, say New Democrats. Read the rest of this entry →

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. Read the rest of this entry →

VICTORIA – A report released this week by the Government of Manitoba confirms that the HST is a bad tax that will hurt consumers, say the New Democrats.

“This report confirms what the B.C. Liberals continue to deny,” said North Coast MLA Gary Coons. “The HST will hurt consumers in provinces that implement it.” Read the rest of this entry →

B.C. Ferries is launching an internal investigation into safety concerns on board the Northern Adventure after the 6,000-tonne vessel was forced to abort a sailing this week due to bad weather in Hecate Strait. Read the rest of this entry →

Less than three weeks after the release of a finance ministry report that said the same people should not serve on the boards of both the B.C. Ferry Authority and B.C. Ferry Services Inc., at least one director has been reappointed to both. Read the rest of this entry →