B.C. Today – Daily Report September 10, 2019 Quotation of the day “We are not the concerned environmental stewards that we think we are, ​ and it is because we have had governments that fail to regulate industry and fail to implement a vision for a new, green economy rooted in sustainable practices.” ​ B.C. Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver reacts to provincial statistics showing B.C.’s 2017 ​ ​ greenhouse gas emissions were just two per cent lower than 2007. Today in B.C. B.C.’s 2017 greenhouse gas emissions slightly higher than 2016: environment ministry Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in British Columbia have barely decreased from 2007 levels despite a decade of government efforts to fight climate change. The province’s 2017 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were only two per cent lower than 2007 levels, and were 1.2 per cent higher than the province’s 2016 emissions, according to data released Monday by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy through its provincial GHG inventory. ​ The province’s total emissions in 2017 were 64.5 million tonnes (Mt). After accounting for one million tonnes of carbon offsets from forest management projects, provincial net emissions were 63.5 Mt. Over the past decade, B.C. has managed to reduce its emissions by less than half a per cent, according to the inventory, and the three-year trend from 2015 through 2017 shows an emission increase of 2.4 per cent. B.C. introduced the first broad-based carbon tax in North America in 2008, and last year the government's CleanBC climate plan said the province intends to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent by 2030. Some heavy-emitting industries — including petroleum and refining industries, oil and gas extraction, forestry, road transport, and public electricity and heat production — have reduced their emissions, while others — manufacturing, off-road transport and agriculture — have seen their emissions increase. B.C. has improved its economic performance relative to its GHG emission profile, according to the ministry: In 2017, the province produced 251 tonnes of GHGs for every million dollars of GDP, a 2.5 per cent reduction compared to 2016 levels and an improvement of nearly 20 per cent compared to 2007. Green Party reaction The numbers show B.C. has “failed to correct its emissions trajectory,” according to Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver. ​ ​ “Looking at this data, [British Columbians] should be enraged that the lack of regulations in the oil and gas sectors means their footprint is two to three times larger than that of the average person living in the UK, Norway, New Zealand, Denmark and Sweden,” Weaver said in a statement. “The average British Columbia emits about 29 times the CO2e compared to an average citizen in Bangladesh.” Weaver called out the NDP government for its focus on developing a liquid natural gas industry in the province, noting that a deputy minister with B.C.’s energy ministry will attend an LNG ​ forum in Tokyo at the end of this month “to tout the potential export of highly subsidized LNG” ​ from the province. “We cannot expand investment in the fossil fuel sector and hope to reduce our domestic emissions to promised levels,” he said. Today’s events September 10-11 – Cranbrook ​ The eighth round of negotiations between Canada and the United States on the Columbia River Treaty begins in Cranbrook today and will continue through tomorrow. September 10 at 9:30 a.m. – Victoria ​ NDP MLAs Bob D'Eith (Maple Ridge—Mission) and Lisa Beare (Maple Ridge—Pitt Meadows) ​ ​ ​ ​ will be joined by project partners for a tour of Garibaldi Ridge, the new modular, supportive housing building in Maple Ridge. September 10 at 11 a.m. – Victoria ​ Finance Minister Carole James will release the province's First Quarterly Report for 2019-20 at ​ ​ the B.C. legislature. September 10 at 7 p.m. – Campbell River ​ The B.C. Liberal Party’s North Island riding association will host Liberal MLAs Ian Paton, Ellis ​ ​ ​ Ross and John Rustad at a reception in the Cortez Room at the Coast Discovery Hotel. ​ ​ ​ Topics of conversation ● The B.C. Liberal caucus is in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island this week. Liberal MLAs met yesterday and will spend today visiting local businesses and non-profit organizations. “Victoria may only be a three hour drive away, but you wouldn’t know it by ​ how out of touch the NDP government is with the problems facing people here,” Leader Andrew Wilkinson said of the visit. “In particular, we’re hearing a lot of concern from ​ residents about homelessness and supportive housing, water supply, and the NDP’s controversial changes to the Agricultural Land Reserve.” ○ Yesterday evening, the B.C. Liberal Courtenay—Comox riding association hosted Wilkinson and caucus MLAs at a “Cobs and Dogs” meet and greet barbecue at the Dove Creek Community Hall in Courtenay. ● Green Party of Canada Leader Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands) stirred up some ​ ​ ​ controversy yesterday when she told CBC she would not prevent Green MPs from ​ re-opening the abortion debate. “I could say it would be unfortunate ... but I don't have ​ the power as leader of the Green Party to whip votes, nor do I have the power to silence an MP," May said. "And frankly, I think that's a good thing because democracy will be healthier when constituents know that their MP works for them and not their party leader." May added that she herself believes “A woman has a right to a safe, legal abortion.” ○ Soon after, the federal Green Party issued a statement saying there is “zero chance” a Green MP would introduce or support anti-abortion legislation because all Green candidates “must endorse the Green Party's values, including a firm support of a woman's right to choose.” ● Starting “late October,” B.C. Ferries will begin a year-long trial run of offering beer and ​ wine at the Pacific Buffet on its Tsawwassen—Swartz Bay route. Passengers 19 years ​ and older will be able to purchase one drink when they buy a meal at the buffet. The trial period will provide “the opportunity for BC Ferries to review customer and employee feedback, as well as revenue numbers to evaluate the pilot,” according to a news release. ○ Beer and wine are available on some northern and central coast routes, but the trial will be the first alcohol sales on B.C. Ferries’ Vancouver to Victoria sailings. The Pacific Buffet is available on three vessels: Spirit of Vancouver Island, the Spirit of British Columbia and the Coastal Celebration. Appointments and employments Ministry of Finance The ministry’s Government Communications and Public Engagement (GCPE) unit has several new appointments, title changes and promotions, effective August 21, 2019. ● Justin Smith was appointed a freedom of information analyst. ​ ○ Smith served as a freedom of information coordinator since 2016. Seven of the appointments have no termination date: ● Pamela Hafey was appointed a communications manager; ​ ● Lisa Pilling and Lauren Mulholland were appointed senior public affairs officers; ​ ​ ​ ● Alison Antrobus and Megan Lowry were appointed public affairs officers; and ​ ​ ​ ● Linda Reed and Becky Hamilton were appointed human resource officers. ​ ​ ​ Eight appointments include termination dates: ● Janet Stewart was appointed a senior public affairs officer for a term ending September ​ 13, 2019; ● Suzannah Kelly was appointed a senior public affairs officer for a term ending ​ November 1, 2019; ● Roxanne Kropp was appointed a senior public affairs officer and Cassandra Togneri ​ ​ and Kirsten Youngs were appointed communications managers; ​ ​ ○ The terms for all three appointments end January 1, 2020. ● Andrea Blasco was appointed a senior advisor with recruitment and workforce planning ​ for a term ending April 1, 2020; and ● Leah Koehle and Alexa Walker were appointed senior public affairs officers for terms ​ ​ ​ ending May 1, 2020. Ministry of Health ● Amanda Van Baarsen was appointed a senior ministerial assistant in the minister’s ​ office, effective September 4, 2019. ○ Van Baarsen served as a senior ministerial assistant with the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training since December 2018. Ministry of Labour ● Jasmeet Sangha was appointed an executive assistant with the minister’s office, ​ effective September 9, 2019. Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing ● Linda Adams was reappointed as a member of the Islands Trust Conservancy Board for ​ a term ending August 27, 2021, effective September 6, 2019. Funding announcements ● The widening of 2.5 kilometres of Highway 1 — west of Golden, between the Golden Weigh Scale and Forde Station Road west — is now complete. The estimated ​ ​ $19.4-million project cost was shared: Ottawa is contributing up to $7.27 million through the Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure stream of the New Building Canada Fund, ​ ​ ​ ​ and B.C. is providing the remaining $12.13 million. ● Over the next six years, Ottawa will invest up to $6 million to fund the Nisga'a Lisims ​ ​ ​ Government's language revitalization plan. The plan, which was established based on ​ Nisg̱a'a Nation priorities, includes information gathering on the Nisga'a language, culture and traditional practices. ● Advanced Education, Skills and Training Minister Melanie Mark announced $2.4 million ​ ​ ​ to support community adult literacy programming offered by 69 organizations around the province. The funding will support “a variety of learning opportunities,” including one-on-one tutoring and small group instruction, and supports all levels of literacy from basic to high school completion level. .