File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Provincial Politics

MLA Stamer chomping at the bit for legislative session to begin

Jan 3, 2025 | 3:12 PM

KAMLOOPS — The newly minted MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson says he wants to put his nose to the grindstone in Victoria, but the legislative calendar won’t let him.

Ward Stamer issued a statement Friday (Jan. 3) bemoaning the 67 sitting days scheduled in the 2025 legislative calendar, blaming it on Premier David Eby’s government.

“One thing is abundantly clear — the NDP government of David Eby simply does not want to be transparent, or accountable, to the people of BC,” said Stamer. “Sixty-seven days. That’s how long the BC Legislature will be in session this year — and remember, the legislature hasn’t been in session since last May.”

Stamer, the former mayor of Barriere, was elected to represent Kamloops-North Thompson for the BC Conservative Party last October. The next month, Conservative Leader John Rustad appointed him the critic for the Ministry of Forests.

“I can’t imagine explaining to my friends and family that this is my work schedule; it certainly won’t be mine,” said Stamer. “I’ll continue working hard every day, as I have been, to hold David Eby’s radical NDP accountable for the mess they’re creating.”

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CFJC Today requested a response from the government and received this statement from Nina Krieger, parliamentary secretary for arts and film:

“It’s a shame that the BC Conservatives are waiting for a calendar to begin doing their jobs. Days after being sworn in, our MLAs were taking acting on the issues that matter to people in BC. We met with studio executives about bringing more film and TV productions to our province. Weeks later, we announced substantially increased tax credits for productions in BC that create good jobs here. This is how we will attract more of our favorite TV shows and movies to be shot here, and how we grow our economy especially as we face the threats of tariffs from President-Elect Donald Trump. Unlike John Rustad and the BC Conservatives, we aren’t waiting to get to work for British Columbians.”

The government noted the 67 sitting days in 2025 are more than 2024 (30), 2023 (65) or 2022 (66).