Legislature opens today

BY CAROLYN GRANT
Kimberley Daily Bulletin

MLA's from across the province returned to Victoria today as the Legislature opend for the Spring Session.

The Throne Speech was to be delivered today, with the budget following next Tuesday.

After spending much of his time off travelling the constituency, Columbia Ri ver - Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald says he is looking forward to the session opening although he had no great hopes for ground breaking Throne Speech or budget.

"We'll see what the government has in mind, but the Throne Speech is never filled with much detail," Macdonald said. "As for the budget, we've had a children's budget, a green budget, a housing budget and they never seem to change very much. This year is supposed to be the green budget.

"Last year we had a green throne speech and a housing budget. I'd like to see something really tangible, not promises to do something in 2020 or 2030."

After the formalities of throne speech and budget, Macdonald says there are all kinds of issues his party wants to talk about in the Legislature.

"I have a long list of things from the riding including the Sullivan Mine Inquest. We need to follow that up. We've heard some from the Ambulance Service, but we need to follow up with the Ministry of Mines. It's been nine months and my expectation is it should be clear now what they plan on doing. The families have been reasonable and patient. Nine months is plenty of time. My expectation is we should hear some firm answers, not 'we're working on it'."

Macdonald says the NDP is also looking for action on independent power projects, health and seniors issues, hunter allocations and land use.

"There's been a real lack of action on the forest industry and housing policies and child care policies." Macdonald said. "Highway maintenance is an issue, as is local control in land use decisions."

Macdonald is also interested to see what the government response to the Electoral Boundaries Commission report will be. The report is to be delivered to government next week.

"It will be interesting to see what they do with it," he said. "What the government properly should do is present it to the Legislature. But they've played around with this so much and what should be done and what will be done are two different things."