File photo (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

43rd BC Parliament

Kamloops MLAs arrive in Victoria for first session since October election

Feb 19, 2025 | 4:31 PM

VICTORIA, B.C. — The B.C. legislature has returned to session for the first time since the October election, which saw the New Democrats return to power with a slim, one-seat majority.

“We open this first session of British Columbia’s 43rd parliament at the most consequential time for our province since the Second World War,” read Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Wendy Cocchia.

In times past, the Speech from the Throne was used by governments to address specific measures and initiatives they planned to undertake. Now, there’s a cliche that often rings true in the world of political theatre — ‘High on rhetoric, low on substance.’

“We are all optimistic that we can work together here and that’s why we are here. But let’s be real — it’s not just (President Donald) Trump’s fault. It’s not just tariffs. We are going to hear that until they are basically blue in the face,” said Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Ward Stamer.

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Stamer is one of leader John Rustad’s gaggle of rookie MLAs getting their feet wet for the first time in the B.C. legislature.

The former mayor of Barriere has been tasked with focusing on forestry.

“In the throne speech, they talked about expanding our foreign markets, particularly in the Asia-Pacific. Well, why don’t we reopen those offices the NDP closed seven years ago?” asked Stamer. “We had offices in Japan, Korea and China. If i was the forests minister, I would be opening them today — or yesterday. Quite frankly, we need to be able to continue to expand our markets around the world.”

Peter Milobar is back in Victoria for his third term. For him, it’s about the follow-through from government.

“I guess what really stuck out to me is really how similar the throne speech was to our BC Conservative election platform in terms of what the government now says they are going to try to take action on. I guess the real big question is, ‘What the heck have they been working on over the last seven years if they are now going to get to permitting delays, if they are now going to get to healthcare issues, affordability issues and housing?'” said Kamloops-Centre MLA Milobar.

Milobar and Stamer are set to meet with new Health Minister Josie Osborne next week to highlight their concerns over the design of the Kamloops cancer centre.

“[They should] not renovate the inside of the hospital cancer area, but move those renovation dollars and that space an add a floor into the new building in the parking lot. If it takes one extra year to get a properly functioning cancer centre in Kamloops, that is needed. Otherwise, we are going to have a 30-year albatross around our necks,” Milobar told CFJC News.

Stamer finds himself near the top of the order paper, already eyeing a potential private members bill to tackle issues on the highways of B.C. with mandatory dashcams on commercial vehicles.

“If we had dashcams, then we would know exactly what is going on and not guess that, well, maybe the driver made an error. Maybe there was dangerous driving. Maybe there should have been a better opportunity to stop it before it happened. And [we would] not rely strictly on asking somebody else if they may or may not have that evidence,” said Stamer.

Stamer is currently 13th on the order paper.