theBreaker.news Podcast: Despite Natural Disasters and Pandemic, Horgan government guts FOI law

When British Columbia was plunged into a state of emergency in March 2020, due to the global pandemic, the Legislative Assembly put debating and lawmaking aside, except for a special sitting to pass a $5 billion spending bill. The NDP, Greens and BC Liberals united for the common good in the early days of the crisis.

After the mid-November flood disaster in Southern B.C., the NDP kept the house open to ram through several bills, including an amended freedom of information law opposed by the Information and Privacy Commissioner, B.C. Freedom of Information Association and Democracy Watch. They even shut down debate on Nov. 25 and rejected proposed amendments from the opposition BC Liberals and BC Greens.

The BC Liberals and BC Greens also pleaded to be part of the province’s disaster relief and rebuilding efforts, but the NDP rejected their calls for an all-party emergency committee. They say the task demands an all hands-on-deck approach, especially after the transportation and agriculture ministers offered such a bleak assessment.

Thirteen months after Premier John Horgan turned a minority into a majority in a snap election, B.C. politics is divided as it ever was.

On this edition, hear highlights of the week that was, featuring Deputy Premier Mike Farnworth, BC Liberal interim leader Shirley Bond, NDP Citizens’ Services Minister Lisa Beare, BC Liberal MLAs Lorne Doerksen and Coralee Oakes, Transportation Minister Rob Fleming and Agriculture Minister Lana Popham.

Plus commentary and Pacific Rim and Pacific Northwest headlines.

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