SOUND OFF: Making progress for people in the legislature

Jun 1, 2022 | 10:40 AM

PEOPLE ARE AT THE HEART of everything we do as MLAs. As our province tackles challenges, New Democrats are working hard each and every day to improve the services people count on, make life more affordable by saving people money and build a strong, clean economy.

This week, we are wrapping up a legislative session where we passed 22 pieces of legislation focused on making our province a better place for people. I want to highlight a couple of these pieces.

We passed B.C.’s very first anti-racism data law, focused on improving justice, equity and fairness for people in B.C. It is unacceptable that people in our province are experiencing systemic racism when using services like education or healthcare or finding employment – but we know it is happening. This historic legislation will allow government and other public bodies to better identify where those gaps are, by safely collecting demographic data. This will help us tackle systemic racism wherever it is found.

We also introduced a made-in-BC system to support and train apprentices in the skilled trades. Skilled trades certification will ensure tradespeople are recognized for their knowledge and skills. It also gives them greater security if they have to find a new job, because certification provides a clear demonstration of their expertise, and certified workers also tend to make higher wages.

For most people, the biggest financial decision of their life is buying a home. In our current competitive housing market, buyers are feeling serious pressure and waiving important conditions, like inspections, only to face unexpected costs after the sale closes. We want to make sure that people are protected when buying a home, so we passed legislation to enable a homebuyers protection period. This will give people time to complete inspections and get financing in place so they can make the right decision. As a homeowner myself, I know how difficult the process is. A protection period like this would have saved my family and me a huge amount of stress.

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This spring we also passed Budget 2022, which includes new investments to address some of the most pressing challenges facing British Columbians. The budget includes reducing child care fees, creating complex care housing spaces, protecting people and communities with year-round wildfire services, and building more resilient infrastructure, including in health and education.

These are just a few of the issues we’ve tackled through legislation this spring. Through other bills, we added 352 hectares of land to provincial parks, helped Lytton replace bylaws lost in the fire, protected workers’ rights to unionize and much more.

Whether inside the legislative chamber, at the cabinet table, or out in our communities, our government is working every day to ensure everyone can thrive in British Columbia. We have made a lot of progress together, and I know there is much more work ahead for us to do.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.

by Richmond-South Centre MLA Henry Yao

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SOUND OFF: Making progress for people in the legislature

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