Rob Shaw

Should BC MLAs get a pay increase to $119,533 salaries on April 1? It's supposed to be automatic 'cost of living' increase — but with a gov hiring freeze, internal cost cutting, a record $11b deficit + tariff uncertainty, BC NDP have put MLA pay on agenda for snap meeting Fri.

Raeside today on @bcndpcaucus.bsky.social's Bill 7 in The Orca: www.theorca.ca/commentary/a...

Stung by criticism, the NDP government weighs changes to the sweeping legislation that would let it bypass the legislature to respond to US tariffs. My latest in the Orca/Glacier Media: www.theorca.ca/commentary/r...

NEW: @davidebybc.bsky.social has named Jim Rutkowski his permanent chief of staff. Rutkowski had moved from DM GCPE to serve as interim COS after departure of Matt Smith in Nov. He's a former principal sec to Rachel Notley, COS to @carolejames and longtime BC NDPer. Has a good rep in #bcpoli

🚨NEW Political Capital - Extraordinary tariff bill, Cons defections. In audio extras: Involuntary care guidelines + carbon tax. Oh and an MLA’s new office cat + baby voting + more! Apple: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/p... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/5arc... YouTube: youtu.be/Duef0NKfgZ8?...

NEW - @davidebybc.bsky.social says he'll introduce legislation to repeal consumer carbon tax this spring, in wake of PM Mark Carney's order today for federal repeal. Eby also says prepping bill to eliminate April 1 tax increase, though finance min told me this week that's not possible. 🤷‍♂️

NEW - @davidebybc.bsky.social new tariff bill gives cabinet vast new emergency powers to make new laws on anything that supports BC's economy during US tariff war, w/out approval of legislature, including retroactive measures, with sunset clause of May 28, 2027. Extraordinarily sweeping.

NEW - @davidebybc.bsky.social has tabled a tariff response bill in the legislature that gives cabinet extraordinary powers to set tolls on any types of American travellers at roads, bridges and ferry terminals, including based on day, time, type of use, type of traveller and more.

Cattle ranchers, guide outfitters and even some environmentalists urge @adriandix.bsky.social not to exempt wind and solar farms from environmental assessment, due to concerns about wildlife, land use and construction. My latest for Northern Beat: northernbeat.ca/opinion/catt...

A surprising pivot from @davidebybc.bsky.social on real estate investors that buy and flip properties for profit: The BC government wants to work with them to build housing and create rental units. My latest in the Orca/Glacier Media: www.theorca.ca/commentary/r...

BC doesn’t want to raise the carbon tax April 1 but says it has to under federal law, as the NDP’s carbon reversal collides with a troubling fiscal reality. My latest in Orca, Glacier Media: www.theorca.ca/commentary/r...

@davidebybc.bsky.social says he has cancelled his family’s trip to Disneyland - despite paying $1,000 in ride tickets prior to the tariffs - because he wants to follow through on his suggestion people avoid holiday travel to the US where possibility. Admits move was unpopular with his kids.

NEW - American wine coming off liquor store shelves after @davidebybc.bsky.social announces new all American liquor purchasing ban. Private stores can sell off remaining product but B.C. liquor distribution branch won’t be restocking their supply.

NEW - @davidebybc.bsky.social expands BC liquor ban to ALL American liquor, not just red state alcohol. Policy now mirrors that of other provinces. Says with Trump so obsessed with Canadian water now, he can keep his watery beer.

Weak opening presser by new 'freedom' caucus. MLAs read statements, took very few Qs and got ushered away from cameras. Accused Conservatives of "doctoring" Brodie video. 3 MLAs not yet a party. Appear staffed by Paul Ratchford and Tim Thielmann, who were behind failed AGM bids earlier this month.

The exodus of 3 far-right MLAs could be an opportunity for BC Conservative leader John Rustad to refocus the party back on more solid footing as an Opposition without the internal drama and pull towards extreme issues. My latest Orca/Glacier Media: www.theorca.ca/commentary/r...

Expecting at least one more resignation from the Conservatives…

NEW - Peace River North MLA Jordan Kealy quits the BC Conservatives over the Dallas Brodie firing, pledging to help start a new party.

Raeside: www.timescolonist.com/opinion/adri...

David Eby slams Dallas Brodie for latest residential school video and says Rustad must fire her. “He's been missing in action on this, and said there's a big tent. Well, a big tent that has space for racism is not a political tent. That's a circus tent. And he's got to get a clown out of the tent.”

BC is not following Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s 25% tariff on electricity exports to the United States, says @davidebybc.bsky.social Any effort to curtail or stop electricity exports to USA would be complicated for B.C. and lead to rate impacts for BCers, he says.

NEW - @davidebybc.bsky.social says B.C. will introduce legislation to apply fees to commercial trucks en route to Alaska, and remove inter-provincial trade barriers. Will also let gov “respond rapidly” to US president as he signs executive orders.

As @davidebybc.bsky.social prepares to speak on US tariff issue today, #bcleg Speaker @rajchouhanbc.bsky.social has ordered the front of the BC Legislature be draped with a large Canadian flag for the foreseeable future.

BC's finances are in a weak position to respond to US tariffs, as part of a budget that does little for communities outside of Metro Vancouver in the Interior and North. My latest in @BeatNorthern: northernbeat.ca/opinion/reco...

NEW - @davidebybc.bsky.social to outline BC's response to US tariffs at 9am. Will be a very odd announcement, occurring inside BC's budget lockup, where reporters under embargo, but Eby live. BC expected to follow suit on its US alcohol and US contract procurement ban, among other steps.

🚨NEW @CHEKPolitics EPISODE: BC Budget, Conservative AGM. In audio pod extras, Conservative QP, successes, Pink Shirt Day. With special guest this week Mike McKinnon. Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/p... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7sie... YouTube: youtu.be/dHkmYmec7BA?...

Despite concern over Delta Hospital's ER closures, rural BC continues to get hammered by healthcare diversions, closures, shortages + outages. Conservatives spent the week, and a highly-effective QP, focused on rural health. My latest in Northern Beat: northernbeat.ca/opinion/rura...

That was a HIGHLY effective question period, with MLAs from across BC listing off almost 20 examples of ER closures in their communities, in some cases spanning as long as two years. And the health minister, while expressing sympathy, had little defence.

The latest Raeside cartoon in the @timescolonist.bsky.social nails the larger public sentiment around BC Conservative infighting: www.timescolonist.com/opinion/adri...

Deep in deficit, wrestling with a stalled economy and under the threat of American tariffs, B.C.’s eco-focused New Democratic government has turned to an unlikely economic ally: the mining sector. My latest in @nationalpost.com.web.brid.gy nationalpost.com/opinion/rob-...

Nothing wrong w/ BC Conservatives having free votes. But if MLAs don't speak first about why they're voting a certain way on a contentious issue, then appear defensive afterwards — well, that's not a recipe for success. My latest The Orca/Glacier Media: www.theorca.ca/commentary/r...

In interviews today, most of the 5 MLAs said they disagree with Trump's tariffs and could have voted for motion if it had stopped there, but the NDP added on support for their liquor and retaliatory moves and they oppose those for various reasons.

The United States is using BC ports as a launching pad to export dirty thermal coal — but the @bcndpcaucus.bsky.social have twice refused to target this as leverage to push back against American tariffs. My latest in Orca/Glacier: www.theorca.ca/commentary/r...