Traffic sucks. It impacts everything here on the North Shore: our economy, our businesses, our services, and our quality of life. Time wasted in traffic congestion is time that we’re not spending with our loved ones. It’s frustrating. It’s been getting worse and something has to change.

That’s why I’ve initiated the Integrated North Shore Transportation Planning Project (INSTPP — pronounced “in step”) to bring the federal government, provincial government, TransLink, and three municipalities together to tackle the issue of traffic congestion head-on and work towards both short-term and long-term solutions.

It’s a huge step in the right direction to have all levels of government on the North Shore come together on this critical issue and work to identify how we can move forward as a region. This is an issue that everyone acknowledges impacts all aspects of life on the North Shore and together we’re going to do all we can to get the North Shore moving again.

Thank you to everyone who has written my office in support of this initiative. I’ll be working hard to make sure this project achieves its goals.

In your service,

Bowinn Ma,
MLA, North Vancouver-Lonsdale
Bowinn.Ma.MLA@leg.bc.ca

What Your MLA Has Been Working On

Since the fall session wrapped up, MLA Ma has been hard at work to build a better BC. Here are just a few of the things she’s has been up to…

• Bowinn has been serving as Chair of the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations. The Committee will be providing recommendations to the Legislative Assembly on how to best bring app-based ride hailing services to BC. The Terms of Reference, transcripts, and other information from the committee are available here. The final recommendations to the Legislative Assembly are due Feb. 15th.
• Bowinn has been serving as a member of the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts. This committee is tasked with reviewing Auditor General reports on behalf of the Legislative Assembly and questioning Ministry staff on the findings of the audit. Bowinn reads every report cover to cover and levels hard-hitting questions where they are needed. Transcripts are available here and MLA Ma’s social-media length summaries of the reports can be found here on her Facebook page. A new summary is shared every Thursday.
• Bowinn has been serving on the Treasury Board Committee and the Cabinet Housing Working Group. The results of their important work will be announced as part of the throne speech and budget later this month.
• Bowinn has been helping community members through her community office. Our office helps community members navigate our provincial government by helping people properly direct feedback, connecting low income constituents to community resources, and taking meetings to learn more about community groups or constituent priorities. You can see the services our office offers here.

• Bowinn spearheaded the development of the Integrated North Shore Transportation Planning Project (INSTPP). This is a new initiative which will get the City of North Vancouver, the District of North Vancouver, the District of West Vancouver, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, TransLink, and the federal government together to create a viable long-term solution to get the North Shore moving again. The Terms of Reference are available here.
  

B.C. Government Update

A number of recent steps have been taken by our province to make life more affordable, create good paying jobs, and improve the services you count on.

• Action on the overdose crisis in BC. The Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions has: invested $322 million to address the crisis and launch an overdose emergency response centre; begun the process of building a state-of-the-art care facility on Riverview lands; increased access to life-saving naloxone kits; launched a pilot project to expand drug testing for deadly fentanyl; funded community action teams (CATs) in the 18 areas of the province most affected by the crisis; and launched a campaign to fight stigma and stereotypes about drug users so they feel supported seeking treatment and recovery.
• High speed internet to rural communities. Through a $45.4 million combined investment in partnership with the Government of Canada, the Ministry of Citizen Services is connecting people to high speed internet. When completed, 3.5 million metres of fibre optic cables will connect 154 rural communities including 44 first nations to high speed internet.
• MSP rates cut by 50% starting January 1st. “I’m proud that we’re moving away from these regressive fees and creating a more equitable system by eliminating MSP premiums entirely within 4 years” said Hon. Carole James. The Minister of Finance has also established a task force comprised of experts in economics, law, and public policy to advise on the best path to eliminating MSP premiums. BC residents are also invited to submit their views on MSP elimination at the task force website.
• All grizzly hunting in BC is now banned. “Through consultations this past fall, we have listened to what British Columbians have to say on this issue and it is abundantly clear that the grizzly hunt is not in line with their values.” said Hon. Doug Donaldson. In an open letter to constituents who called for the ban MLA David Eby said, “You made a difference. Contacting our office and your government can make a meaningful difference in public policy.”
• Life-saving HIV medication PrEP is now covered in BC. Effective Jan 1st, 2018, British Columbians at high risk of HIV infection will be able to receive PrEP, a daily oral antiretroviral medication that prevents new HIV infection, at no cost. Health Minister Adrian Dix: “Making this medication free for people will prevent new HIV infections, remove barriers to care and services, and help people live longer and healthier lives.”
• A replacement school for Handsworth Secondary in North Vancouver. As part of a $522 million dollar plan to provide seismic upgrades to schools across BC, students at Handsworth Secondary will have a safe and expanded school by 2021.
• The first steps on housing affordability. The province has closed the fixed-term lease loophole and geographic rent increase provision; established a new compliance unit at the RTB to take action against landlords and tenants who are repeat or serious offenders; invested $291 million to support the construction of 2,000 modular housing units for the homeless; invested $208 million over four years to support the construction of 1,700 new units of affordable rental housing; and the OSRE has introduced new rules to prohibit realtors from acting on behalf of both the buyer and seller in the same deal.
• Protecting BC’s coast from diluted bitumen spills. Minister of Environment George Heyman has announced consultation on new coastal protections under the Environmental Management Act (EMA) which will: improve spill response times by mandating response time requirements; map geographic areas of particular concern for protection like sensitive ecological areas or cultural heritage sites; require spillers pay damages to the public if spills impact public use of beaches, cultural sites, or wildlife; broaden provincial authority to give powers to respond to significant spills quickly; and halt increases in diluted bitumen (aka “dilbit”) traffic while an independent scientific advisory panel works to create long-term recommendations for coastal protection based on the best available evidence.

The government is going to be taking further action on housing affordability, money laundering, child care, and other key issues that matter to British Columbians in the 2018 budget. Budget Day is February 20th.

Read the full February Newsletter.