B.C. Premier David Eby talks with his cabinet at legislature in Victoria, on Nov. 27.CHAD HIPOLITO/The Canadian Press
British Columbia’s legislators last appeared inside the marble-clad chamber on May 16, before ducking out the door to prepare for a fall election. That election has now come and gone, but the 93 men and women chosen to represent their constituents won’t return to the House until Feb. 18.
Lieutenant-Governor Janet Austin invited David Eby to form a government on Oct. 26, confirming the NDP leader’s victory after a cliffhanger of an election.
Since then, Mr. Eby has talked a lot about respecting the verdict of voters, who came very close to tossing out his New Democrats. He says he heard a clear message that British Columbians want action on issues of affordability, health care, housing and public safety, but they also wanted a government that would listen.
“The message I took from the election and the narrow majority was that people wanted us to get on with this work, but they also wanted us to consider other perspectives.”
Those are nice words, but the fact remains that Mr. Eby has hit the mute button on the Official Opposition until February, since he has decided there is no rush to convene the legislature and let the province’s MLAs get to work.
That contrasts both with B.C.’s recent political history, and other provinces.
It took fewer than six weeks for the NDP government to deliver a Throne Speech after B.C.’s snap election in 2020. Saskatchewan voted on Oct. 28, and legislators there are already in the House debating a Throne Speech that lays out Premier Scott Moe’s agenda for change.
Mr. Eby is not offside with the law, but the B.C. Constitution Act sets a very low bar for attending the people’s House: The chamber cannot be vacant for more than one year.
Meanwhile, there are matters that do require attention since the provincial government went into hiatus for the fall election campaign.
British Columbians who have struggled with the rising cost of living were promised “immediate” relief if the NDP won re-election. That relief is to take the form of a middle-class tax cut, but the NDP platform noted such a measure would take more than a year to deliver. So in the interim, there would be a $1,000 payment per household delivered early next year.
Mr. Eby acknowledges the measure, which will cost an estimated $1.8-billion, will require legislation. Because the legislature is not returning this fall, those cheques will not be delivered before March at the earliest.
Access to health care was a major election issue, and the NDP have said they will move to address emergency room closings and the shortage of family doctors. The BC College of Family Physicians says B.C. can’t wait until the legislature returns in February to take action.
Meanwhile, the looming trade dispute with the United States may have a profound impact on the B.C. economy.
John Rustad, leader of the opposition Conservative party, wants the House recalled now for an emergency session to debate solutions, and to speed the grocery rebate on its way. Mr. Eby was quick to dismiss the request. But voters sent a strong opposition to Victoria. They deserve to be heard.
Mr. Eby says his government is busy at work, even if its actions are not visible to the public.
“We’ve got a bunch of new ministers that are learning their ministries, and are coming up to speed,” he said by way of explaining the delay.
The more plausible reason for dragging his heels, however, is the behind-the-scenes negotiations with the two-member Green caucus.
Mr. Eby hasn’t assigned his cabinet ministers mandate letters yet, hoping to craft their assignments to please the Greens, whose support would ease the burden of governing with a bare majority of 47 seats. But courting the Greens is not the priority for British Columbians, and that should not be getting in the way moving forward after such a long period in limbo.
The NDP have governed B.C. for the past seven years. Mr. Eby has many veteran cabinet ministers to lean on. The challenges his government are tackling are not new.
In fact, his 64-page election platform offers many solutions to stimulate housing, to hire more family doctors and to help make life more affordable for British Columbians.
Mr. Eby needs to get on with it.