BC Today – Daily Report July 23, 2020

Quotation of the day

“New Democrats Got Talent.”

One of a suite of quirky digital fundraisers the governing party has planned this summer.

Today in B.C.

On the schedule Premier will hold his weekly media availability at 10 a.m. ​ ​

The house sits virtually today to continue debating ministry estimates. Section A of the Committee of Supply is set to continue its consideration of the estimates for the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness with the estimates for the Ministry of Attorney General on deck.

Section C will continue debating the estimates for the Ministry of Health.

Wednesday’s debates and proceedings

Finance Minister introduced a new set of supplementary estimates, adding $1 ​ ​ billion to fund the province's portion of municipal and transit services assistance as required to obtain matching funds from Ottawa — part of the federal government’s $19-billion “safe restart” package.

Details on how the federal funding will flow — and precisely how much B.C. will receive — have not yet been determined, James told reporters.

Liberal MLAs put forward a pair of private member’s bills — the first to be introduced during the summer session:

● Liberal MLA introduced M205, Building Amendment Act, which ​ ​ ​ ​ would require all new multi-unit housing in B.C. to be built with accessibility in mind, with a percentage required to meet federal accessibility standards; and ● Liberal MLA introduced M206, Home-based Craft Food 2.0 Act, which would ​ ​ ​ ​ allow small, home-based businesses to sell food products year round.

Both are reintroductions of similar PMBs introduced in previous sessions.

The house spent the day at committee on Bill 14, Municipal Affairs and Housing Statutes ​ ​ Amendment Act (No. 2), which the government has described as a “first step” to addressing the cost of strata insurance premiums.

BC NDP gets creative with pandemic fundraising push The BC NDP is banking on a series of light-hearted fundraisers to get supporters to open their wallets this pandemic summer.

From early aughts nostalgia to riffs on a popular game show and nods to the province’s deep-rooted cannabis culture, the party seems keen to engage the under-40 demographic as it redoubles fundraising efforts that were put on hold when the pandemic hit.

The ruling party had a solid fundraising first quarter this year, pulling in $679,200 from 6,865 ​ ​ donors between January 1 and March 31.

The pandemic may have temporarily stalled the party’s fundraising momentum — all scheduled events were cancelled in mid-March — but efforts to re-establish cash flow are now underway.

The cheekiest event on the summer circuit might be “Mike and Michelle’s Grow Show” featuring Jobs Minister and Public Safety Minister showing off their ​ ​ ​ ​ green thumbs.

The event’s donation levels are cannabis themed — $100 for “rolling support,” $420 for “buddy supporters” and $710 for “blazing trails supporters” — in a nod to Mungall’s Kootenay riding’s reputation as a cannabis hotspot and Farnworth’s cabinet responsibilities.

This Saturday, Citizens’ Services Minister will take those who are willing to shell out ​ ​ at least $50 for the privilege on an MTV Cribs-style tour of her home. ​ ​ ​ ​

Next week, Attorney General is set to deliver his best Alex Trebek impression as he ​ ​ ​ ​ hosts “JeopardEby,” a night of “skill-testing questions” and “special guests.”

The party is also planning to capitalize on the appeal of its youngest MLA — North —Lonsdale’s will host a virtual 35th birthday bash. A “New Democrats ​ ​ Got Talent” event is also in the works.

Liberals stay serious while soliciting support The BC Liberal Party’s events page remains bare save for the virtual summit set for October 17, but the party has been soliciting donations from supporters through email.

The official Opposition is fundraising off the NDP’s lack of a detailed recovery plan, and casting a stone at the party for “putting over a quarter million people out of work, shutting down thousands of small businesses, and creating a massive $12.5 billion deficit.”

The Liberal Party pulled in 5,072 donations totalling $638,200 in the first four months of 2020 — mostly from higher level donors — nipping on the heels of the New Democrats.

At a particularly lean time for fundraising efforts, the parties may be playing to their strengths, suggested Stewart Prest, a lecturer with Simon Fraser University’s political science ​ ​ department. The NDP — riding high on praise for the government’s handling of the pandemic — seems to be looking to “tap into a younger demographic ... where they're going to have more support in general.”

One potential pitfall to that approach could be the disproportionately tough time younger British Columbians are having due to the pandemic — facing higher rates of unemployment than older voters alongside other financial stressors — but the NDP could still benefit from connecting with voters who are “relatively more satisfied” with the current state of affairs, Prest said.

For the Liberals, Prest argued it “makes sense to be taking a ... serious critical tone” as the party looks to lock down support from voters unhappy with the NDP.

“It would make sense for them to take that oppositional tone — they want to take advantage of those who are really critical of the government's approach and the lack of definitive plans on how to reopen other aspects of the economy,” he said.

Today’s events

July 23 at 12:30 p.m. – Online ​ ​ Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister will provide an update on Covid in B.C. ​ ​ ​

July 23 at 2 p.m. – Online ​ ​ Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training Minister will make a funding ​ ​ announcement for health education and training for post-secondary students in B.C.

Topics of conversation

● B.C. confirmed 34 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. ○ There were 285 active cases (up 19) with 17 people in hospital, three of them critical. No new deaths were reported, leaving the provincial toll at 189. ○ Health officials have now linked more than 70 confirmed cases to exposure events in Kelowna and more than 1,000 people are now self-isolating after coming into contact with someone who was infected, according to Dr. Bonnie ​ Henry. ​ ○ The provincial health officer announced the reintroduction of some restrictions on restaurants, pubs and night clubs in a bid to minimize exposure events in those settings. Patrons will have to be seated, with no bar service, and strict limits on party size and interactions between tables. Dance floors will be banned and

establishments will have to take measures to “to reduce lineups and gatherings and pressure points.” An amended public health order will be posted soon.

● The BC Centre for Disease Control’s new tips for safer sex during the pandemic sent ​ ​ Twitter into a tizzy this week. The agency’s explicit advice includes staying solo if ill and selecting “sexual positions that limit face-to-face contact.” ○ Social media chatter focused on just two words — “glory holes” — and sent the term trending on Twitter. The CDC says “barriers, like walls” can “allow for sexual contact but prevent close face-to-face contact.” ○ The recommendation even got the TMZ treatment. ​ ​ ​ ​

● The Union of BC Indian Chiefs has “numerous concerns” about proposed changes to the ​ ​ Mental Health Act, saying they could have “dangerous impacts on the health, safety and ​ rights of youth.” Bill 22, Mental Health Amendment Act, would allow for minors who ​ ​ experience overdose to be held in hospital for up to one week of involuntary “stabilization care.” ○ “Our families and communities require culturally-safe, wraparound services — not additional legal mechanisms to detain our youth and ignore our rights,” Kukpi7 Judy Wilson said in a statement. “We will not accept unilateral processes ​ ​ imposed by provincial government that places additional risks on our children’s lives, including increased fatalities and the further intrusion of child welfare agencies.” ○ B.C. chief coroner Lisa Lapointe has also expressed concern that the bill could ​ ​ have “negative unintended consequences.”

● “If Queen Charlotte Lodge had ever been welcomed, it has lost its welcome on Haida Gwaii,” reads a statement from the Haida Hereditary Chiefs’ Council. Tensions between ​ ​ the nation and the fishing lodge have been rising since the province moved to Phase 3. ○ The islands remain under a state of emergency issued by the nation, but the lodge has pushed ahead with reopening, welcoming paying guests to its facility at Naden Harbour.

News briefs

Province still making progress on universal child care, minister says ● The coronavirus pandemic has not stopped the B.C. government from making progress in its efforts at “building a universal [child care] system,” according to , ​ ​ minister of state for Child Care. ○ Chen joined representatives from the Nanaimo—Ladysmith School District to celebrate the creation of 536 new licensed child care spaces in the region — the lion’s share of the 700 spaces approved for funding this month across the province.

○ Since March, the NDP has provided funding for 3,160 new licensed child care spaces under the Childcare BC’s New Spaces Fund. ​ ​ ​ ​

Day passes to be required for some of B.C.’s most popular parks ● Beginning next week, day passes will be required to access six of B.C.’s most popular provincial parks as the Ministry of Environment looks at ways to manage overcrowding. The free passes will be required for entry to entire parks in some cases — such as Golden Ears Provincial Park — and specific trails in others, including the Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Provincial Park. ○ The passes will be available daily from the Discover Camping website beginning at 6 a.m. on July 27. Campers with backcountry bookings can use their camping permits in place of the day passes.

Funding announcements

● Clean energy projects in seven rural, remote and First Nations communities will share more than $470,000 from CleanBC’s Community Energy Leadership Program. The ​ ​ ​ ​ winning projects include building retrofits, as well as heat pump and solar panel installation that will help “reduce pollution, lower energy bills, stimulate economic activity and support resilient communities,” per the environment ministry. ○ This round of funding from the program provides up to $175,000 per project with recipients required to cover at least five per cent of total project costs.

Question period On Wednesday, the Liberals continued to grill Labour Minister on changes to ​ ​ the workers’ compensation system proposed by Bill 23, Workers Compensation ​ ​ Amendment Act. Meanwhile, the Greens returned to the issue of old-growth forests and sustainable forest management practices.