B.C.’s Energy Minister is hoping that people will continue to tune in to proceedings at the Legislature, which returns in a largely virtual setting today.
Bruce Ralston says the Legislature Clerk and the House leaders of all three parties have done a tremendous amount of work to get ready for the sitting that gets underway today.
“I think there will be public scrutiny, maybe in a more intense way just because people will be looking to how we do it safely, and observe all the protocols that Dr. Henry has talked to us and reminded us of for these last few months,” he said, on NL Newsday.
Ralston admits there may be a few bumps and technical glitches in the early days of the session, which is scheduled to continue until August 12th.
“I know we are doing rehearsals to try out the technology. You know things like taking yourself off mute and how to be recognized by the speaker if you’re remote. A number of those details will have to be worked out,” he added. “We’ll see how it goes, I think it’ll work well.”
“People will also be expected to be participating online even though they may not be required to be there physically. So there will be that same discipline. It will certainly be a whole new world with the Legislature that we’re going to start.”
NDP House Leader Mike Farnworth says the 87-seat chamber will be limited to 24 politicians, noting that most meetings and news conferences will conducted virtually from locations inside or outside of the legislature.
“People will be impressed by what’s in place. Its going to allow every member to participate either in the chamber or by Zoom,” Farnworth said. “There will be question period, there will be debates on legislation.”:
Interim Green Leader Adam Olsen says the COVID-19 pandemic adds another chapter to the unique period of political history that has been ongoing since the 2017 election.
“Just when you thought it wasn’t going to get any weirder, a global pandemic happens, and so I am often finding myself marvelling at how unique at time it is, being that I was elected to the legislature to this particular parliament,” he added.
Both Kamloops Liberal MLAs – Peter Milobar and Todd Stone – previously told NL News they plan to be in Victoria when the Legislature resumes.
“It’s going to be an innovative time, its going to be a challenging time, I think it will be an exciting time,” Premier John Horgan said last month.
– With files from The Canadian Press
