VICTORIA, B.C.: Debate on Bill 9 continued through the night and into the early morning hours, with the House sitting until approximately 4:00 a.m. after the Official Opposition introduced a hoist motion to delay the bill for six months to allow for greater public consultation on legislation Conservatives view as an assault on British Columbians’ right to freedom of information, transparency, and government accountability. The motion was voted down by the NDP government before further debate was shut down and the House adjourned by the government to silence further discussion on the bill.
Trevor Halford, Interim Leader of the Official Opposition, released the following statement:
“We are not tired because we stayed up until 4:00 in the morning debating Bill 9. We are tired of this NDP government.
“Tired of a government that keeps concentrating more power in its own hands while making it harder for the public to hold them accountable.
“Tired of watching transparency eroded piece by piece while British Columbians are told to simply trust the same secretive government that continues to break promises and dodge scrutiny.
“Last night, we used a democratic tool available to fight for the public’s right to know. We introduced a hoist motion to delay this bill because British Columbians deserve transparency, consultation, and accountability, not another rushed power grab pushed through in the dark of night.
“But the NDP voted it down.
“Every MLA who voted against that motion voted against giving British Columbians more time, more scrutiny, and more accountability.
“And after hours of debate, the government chose to shut it down and adjourn the House. That is the real betrayal here.
“On behalf of the people of British Columbia, we fought to keep this debate alive. We fought to keep asking questions. We fought to defend transparency, and British Columbians were silenced.
“This government may have the votes, but that does not make them right. We will continue fighting this bill, and we will continue standing up for the democratic accountability that British Columbians deserve.”
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Media Contact:
Francesca Guetchev, Press Secretary
Francesca.Guetchev@leg.bc.ca
+1 (672) 922-0948
