Bob Simpson

Changing the face of B.C. politics

I have to admit I had fun during this short session — even though I thought it was unproductive overall.

Stopping debate again

Under the current government, the B.C. legislature seems to have become a necessary evil to be used sparingly or otherwise avoided.

Legislators, regulators and validators

I had a fascinating exchange with the CEO of the Pacific Carbon Trust (PCT) last week. I’m troubled by the structure of the PCT and some of the projects it has approved for “carbon offsets.”

Crisis management

How can government more proactively respond to the vagaries of nature?

STV system debate reignited

The recent federal election has once again reignited debate about the need to reform our voting system and a National Day of Action for Electoral Reform has been called for May 14

Advice and consent

The introductory statement on every piece of legislation presented in the legislature reads: “Her Majesty, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows” (emphasis mine).

A new forest sector

Our need to have a definitive plan to revitalize B.C.’s forest sector has been lost in the political noise reverberating around us just now.

Where’s our money?

I attended the town hall on the status of Quesnel’s multi-centre project this week and listened to MP Dick Harris make a comment that got my Scottish dander up.

Does B.C. still have a climate-change agenda?

There’s a certain irony that the NDP leadership candidates have committed to continue with B.C.’s carbon tax, while it’s uncertain what the new premier is going to do with the tax.

Is a personal attack OK if it’s funny?

The B.C. NDP hit a home run with its Christy Crunch political attack ad.

Politicizing the budgeting process

If a federal election is called this week, British Columbians will be in the untenable position of having both a provincial and federal budget that have neither been debated nor voted on.

How did we end up with an un-elected premier?

This week Christy Clark was sworn in as B.C.’s 35th premier, along with 17 Liberal MLAs who will serve in her cabinet.

Are we serving our seniors well?

One of the saddest aspects of my job involves the issue of seniors’ care and hearing the heart-wrenching stories families bring to my office that highlight the inadequacy of our current system and approach to meeting the growing needs of seniors.

The answers lie in rural B.C.

I’m glad the Liberal leadership race is over; maybe we can get back to governing now, starting with a real budget as soon as possible.

A ‘political’ budget

Forgive me for thinking that the minister of finance is supposed to be the minister of finance for the Province of British Columbia, not the liberal minister of finance caught between two premiers.

Membership woes

On Feb. 26, British Columbians will get a new premier, but not all British Columbians will get to have a say in who that person is; only those who took out a B.C. Liberal party membership before last Saturday have that privilege.