VICTORIA, B.C.: Statement from Conservative Party of BC Leader John Rustad, MLA for Nechako Lakes:
“Last night, the NDP forced through the Energy Statutes Amendment Act (Bill 31), legislation that gives Cabinet sweeping new powers over BC Hydro and electricity planning. This comes after Premier David Eby spent days threatening British Columbians with an early election if his bill didn’t pass. This is the Premier’s pattern of governance, intimidation over consensus. For the third time, the Premier got lucky because the speaker had to save the Premier.”
“This legislation hands even more unchecked power to Cabinet, weakens oversight, and still doesn’t guarantee B.C. has the electricity required for the very projects the Premier is promising. British Columbians deserve energy security, transparency, and responsible long-term planning, not political ultimatums and manufactured crises.”
“When every other party in the Legislature votes against a government bill, and the Premier’s only path forward is threatening an election and relying on the Speaker to save him, it sends a clear warning sign that the Premier’s credibility is collapsing and the public is losing confidence.”
“The truth is simple: the NDP already had the authority to build the North Coast Transmission Line. The Premier manufactured a crisis to ram through legislation so his government can continue making reckless, unilateral decisions British Columbians are opposed to.
“He tried to scare the province with election threats. We called his bluff. We were ready then, and we’re ready now. Let’s dance.”
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Media Contact:
Ryan Painter
Communications
Ryan.Painter@leg.bc.ca
