By Jane Seyd – North Shore News

Sept. 7th, 2017 –  North Shore MLAs head back to the legislature Friday for the first throne speech and budget under the new NDP government.

“The message is that help is on the way,” said North Vancouver-Lonsdale NDP MLA Bowinn Ma. But Ma cautioned with only half of the fiscal year left and multiple election promises to keep, this throne speech and budget “will be an incremental step to meet our commitments.”

Ma pointed to recent decisions to increase welfare and disability rates, fund adult basic education and English language learning and seek intervenor status in the Kinder Morgan pipeline court challenges as recent accomplishments.

Ma, named parliamentary secretary on TransLink, said transportation is very much top of mind for her North Shore constituents – both in terms of funding for public transit and taking steps to ease traffic congestion. Ma said she’s been busy speaking with ministry officials about the North Shore’s transportation challenges and getting good feedback from the public on recent bus expansion.

Ma added she’s confident the new government will be able to move faster on approving capital projects still waiting for approval from Victoria. “Public education investments have always been a priority for the BC NDP,” she said. “I’m optimistic we will see funding for (local projects) soon than we would have.”

Read the full story here: http://www.nsnews.com/news/help-is-on-the-way-says-north-vancouver-lonsdale-mla-1.22523437