As B.C.害羞草研究所檚 legislature Thursday (May 16) rose for the last time before this fall害羞草研究所檚 provincial election, a UBC political scientist says Premier David Eby害羞草研究所檚 team will head into that campaign on the defensive.
害羞草研究所淭he B.C. NDP has spent much of the spring playing defence, at a time when they would have much rather be going on the attack and really making more assertive statements to British Columbians about what they will do in the future,害羞草研究所� Stewart Prest said.
He points to the 害羞草研究所渁bout-face害羞草研究所� on decriminalization.
害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 a significant turn-about on a significant policy issue,害羞草研究所� he said.
Other issues that contributed to the B.C.害羞草研究所檚 NDP defensive posture included the ongoing saga of the Surrey Police transition as well as growing opposition to carbon tax.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 an environment in which we see the B.C. NDP vulnerable in ways that perhaps that害羞草研究所idn害羞草研究所檛 seem likely a year ago.害羞草研究所�
This vulnerability has shown up in recent opinion surveys where British Columbians have expressed concern about the state of the economy and the overall direction of the province. At the same time, those polls also show the NDP heading toward another majority government with the public for now favouring the proposed remedies of Eby害羞草研究所檚 government.
But time might not be working in favour of New Democrats, Prest said.
害羞草研究所淪ome of their bold proclamations, statements and budget commitments on things like housing, like additional funding for health care have not had time to have any kind of impact. So this is a government betwixt and between a little bit.害羞草研究所�
B.C. Housing Minister and Government House Leader Ravi Kahlon said Thursday government made real progress on improving health care across B.C., pointing to the hiring of 700-plus new doctors and thousands of new nurses during the last year. He also pointed to a range of measures to improve housing 害羞草研究所� the top issue on the minds of British Columbians, according to multiple surveys.
The end of the session 害羞草研究所� which saw government table and pass 27 pieces of legislation 害羞草研究所� does not also spell end of government efforts, Kahlon added.
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When asked about government害羞草研究所檚 changes to decriminalization, Kahlon said court rulings left government with no choice .
害羞草研究所淭here is no set formula on how to address the mental health and addictions crisis that we害羞草研究所檙e dealing with,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲e are doing our best to work with healthcare professionals with our police to ensure communities stay safe and yet people get can get access to what they need.害羞草研究所�
B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon described the last session as 害羞草研究所渘ightmarish害羞草研究所� for the B.C. NDP.
害羞草研究所淭hey completely lost the confidence of British Columbians,害羞草研究所� he said.
He praised government害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所減artial backtrack害羞草研究所� on decriminalization as 害羞草研究所済ood害羞草研究所� but repeated his party害羞草研究所檚 promise to scrap decriminalization within 30 days of coming to office.
B.C. Greens Leader Sonia Furstenau said Wednesday the decriminalization issue shows the reactive nature of the Eby government.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 all scramble, no strategy,害羞草研究所� she said.
Thursday marked not only the end of the current legislative session, but also the end of B.C.害羞草研究所檚 42nd parliament elected in October 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic just seven months old with several more crises to follow.
Eby said New Democrats have always been able to weather challenges, while sticking to government as a tool for improving the lives of others.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檇 like to quote a famous philosopher,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克鶚We cannot direct the winds, but we can adjust the sails.害羞草研究所� Some of you may recognize that philosopher as the late, great Dolly Parton. I have been alive for 47 years and Dolly Parton has never steered me wrong,害羞草研究所� he said.
Parton, for the record, is still alive.
