Editor:
At a time when the world is witnessing the erosion of democracy in the U.S. in favour of centralized control within the presidency, I am deeply concerned about Premier Eby’s proposed Bill 15.
This Infrastructure Projects Act would give the province the power to deem any project as “provincially significant,” and to “expedite” its environment assessment at the discretion of the Minister.
Bill 15 is being marketed to us as a way to fast-track new schools and hospitals, which few of us would oppose. However –– as written –– it also allows regulatory shortcuts on mines, LNG facilities and pipelines. Government claims that exclusions will defined after the bill has been passed, forcing MLAs to vote on it without knowing the final scope of the bill.
The problem is not just that the bill itself centralizes control and weakens checks and balances; the process by which Eby aims to pass it does too.
Eby aims to pass Bill 15 before May 29 and is manipulating his party’s MLAs into voting for it by making this a confidence vote. That means any NDP MLA whose constituents don’t support the bill will be pressured to vote in favour of the bill anyway, in order to prevent another election being called.
Eby has also ordered the closure of debate on the bill by May 28, and will force a vote.
Finally, he and Minister Ma have acknowledged the bill was drafted without the usual level of consultation with First Nations, who are pushing back against the bill.
Everything about this bill speaks of a premier who wants to centralize control, weaken checks and balances, and limit public oversight. This does not bode well for democracy in B.C.
I hope to see our local MLA, Randene Neill, vote against this bill.
Alison Taylor
Halfmoon Bay
