Back in 2014 my community was facing a big problem. Wait times at Eagle Ridge hospital were stretching for hours. Overcrowding left patients waiting for care from beds in the hallways. Health care providers were stretched thin. It was clear that the Emergency Room was in desperate need of expansion, but the path forward was […]
Services
Addressing the root causes of poverty
Like all Canadians, I was saddened to hear the recent news of another life lost in a clothing donation bin. Vulnerable people are getting seriously injured or killed in an attempt to address their basic needs. Access to warm clothing and proper footwear are essential for those who are homeless or precariously housed. The contents […]
Improving opportunities for former children and youth in care
This month, young people across B.C. went back to college and university for the spring semester. It’s an exciting time as young adults see new experiences and new opportunities. I’m sure we can all remember thinking about all the things we could be when we grew up. Our families would nurture and support our curiosities […]
Filling the gaps: transportation solutions for northern and rural B.C.
When I was first elected in 2013, one of the first letters I received was from three Indigenous women who had tragically lost female family members on the Highway of Tears (Highway 16). Their message to me was simple: “Don’t forget about our loved ones.” Since the Highway of Tears Symposium in 2006, families and […]
Ensuring Our Communities Have the Infrastructure They Need
British Columbia is a geographically large province, with diverse and important infrastructure needs. From transportation to education, healthcare to housing, public infrastructure allows us to provide the services people need, all while building our economy. Government has a responsibility to invest in provincial infrastructure, apprenticeships and skills training and we know communities from the coast […]
Helping women get ahead
We all want B.C. to stand for fairness and equality, and that means we need action on women’s issues. In 1970 I joined women travelling across the country in advocating for a woman’s right to choose, and to change the laws so that a woman’s safety and health was a priority concern. I’ve been an […]
British Columbians are Resilient and so are Our Forests
British Columbia is world renowned for our forests. They serve as a global carbon sink, are home to incredible biodiversity, and are a desirable location to hike, camp, and play. But for the past two years, the pristine beauty of our forests have been overshadowed by back to back wildfire seasons. With over 2,000 fires […]
After years of inaction on child care, help is finally on the way.
When it comes to child care, families deserved much more than what they got under the previous BC Liberal government. I have heard countless stories over the years from couples who were forced to raise their families on just one income because the cost of child care was as much or more than the […]