The spring session of the B.C. legislative assembly convenes at 2 p.m., Feb. 11 in Victoria and local MLA Nicholas Simons expects it to be a lively session.
The NDP MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast said BC Ferries will be a hot topic of discussion.
"It's the first full session really since the last election. We're done licking our wounds and we have an important job to do," said Simons. "We have a lot of issues to bring forward, not least of which is the ferries situation. It's our job to hopefully force the government to change its ill-advised plans. I think people on the Sunshine Coast are fully united in this issue and it's my job and our job as the Loyal Opposition to challenge the government."
But BC Ferries is only one issue Simons expects to be a forefront of debate.
"We have BC Hydro, ICBC - all sorts of fees that are hitting middle-income earners hard," he said. "Another thing of concern not only as my role as this riding's MLA, but as my role as agriculture critic, is the agricultural land issue. There have been some musings that this government is going to change the agricultural land reserve. We must hold this government to account and make sure they are making decisions that don't impact our land and our food security. This is an issue that should concern all of us."
Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon will open the session with the speech from the throne. According to the parliamentary calendar, the budget will be read on Feb. 18.
The legislature sat for 36 days in 2013, the fewest session days in a year since 2001, when MLAs also sat for 36 days.
The spring session will run until May 29, with four one-week breaks.
- With files from Victoria Times Colonist
