BC’s most unique legislative session recently concluded and Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons said it has been busy and unusual.
“It was interesting,” said Simons. “I got to see it from both angles, as a participant in the legislature virtually and as a participant in person in the legislature for a couple of weeks.”
Simons said the province’s just-concluded legislative session is being called the summer session. The spring session was interrupted by COVID-19 in early March.
“Essentially, we have been there since March and we returned virtually about six weeks ago,” said Simons. “It was a long session but we passed 20 pieces of legislation so it was a pretty active session.
“The government made an important decision early on. It reflected our philosophy that the science and medical professionals would lead this response. While we were focusing on the medical concerns and protecting the public, we had to maintain flexibility in terms of other programs and policies. It was a complicated time but I think the government has done pretty well to weather the storm, such as it’s been so far.”
Simons said not all focus was on COVID-19. He said bills were being debated regarding the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, workers’ compensation act changes and mines act changes, to name just a few. He added that there have been issues on the Sunshine Coast, such as ferries, that have also been important on residents’ lists of important matters during the summer session. For example, on the lower Sunshine Coast, medical travel has been impacted by the reduction in service there.
“Local and regional issues remain important,” said Simons. “I’ve obviously had to have some focus on those issues as well.”
Simons said he is pleased the government has listened to regional concerns about gas prices and looking forward to the old-growth forest study, which was undertaken in part because of advocacy from his constituency.
However, a lot of the legislative assembly time involved addressing provincial issues such as funding requirements and support programs the province needs to work on with the federal government.
“We’re trying to make sure we have a strong economic recovery,” said Simons. “The province has to consider all of the impacts. We’ve looked at what other jurisdictions are doing and there’s a different benchmark of what’s expected of government right now.
“The primary focus in most people’s minds is we continue to have a strong focus on making sure we are healthy so our economy, school system and health care system can get through the most challenging of times. I think the strategy we have employed has been successful.”
Moving ahead, as chair of the special provincial committee on reforming the Police Act, Simons is looking forward, prior to the next legislative session in October, to meeting with his colleagues on the committee.
“We are a large committee and one that has garnered considerable public attention,” said Simons. “We’ve always been aware of the importance of this issue and I’m really looking forward to hearing the testimony from people from all walks of life.
“The first step is to make sure the committee has the base important understanding of how the system works. It will be an interesting process and I’m excited to be a part of it. I know the province is looking at this issue carefully as part of our overall efforts to promote reconciliation, to promote understanding and celebrate diversity.”
Looking back on the concluded legislative session, Simons said he thinks the province has been effective and responsive to community needs. He thinks it’s been effective in its consultations with various sectors to make sure it makes decisions in the best interests of whole communities.
“I’m pleased the province has been effective in getting the federal government to listen to us with respect to travel restrictions and funding requirements,” said Simons. “We are doing well. We just have to stay focused on our strategy and be confident that our health professionals are the best in the world.”
While the legislative session has concluded, Simons said his constituency offices in Powell River and Sechelt remain open and continue to advocate for his constituents.
