PolitiCoast

The BC Legislature wraps up its spring sitting with a couple rare private members bills passing, as well as the NDP’s two controversial infrastructure bills. Federally, King Charles himself delivered Mark Carney’s first Throne Speech but did so without the crown. Links * Spring legislative session focuses on standing strong for B.C., growing economy [https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025PREM0060-000514] * B.C. MLAs banned from holding municipal office after bill passes | CBC News [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-mlas-local-office-bill-1.7546298]  * MLAs who are now less employed [https://bsky.app/profile/sobittersosweet.bsky.social/post/3lqcuhbqhxc27] * B.C. Conservative MLA’s private member’s bill on perinatal, postnatal mental health care passes | CBC.ca [https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6777069] * B.C. NDP government narrowly passes controversial bills to fast-track projects | CBC News [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-ndp-bill-15-1.7546636] * B.C. gravel truckers’ union suing Conservative MLA over alleged defamation [https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/bc-gravel-truckers-union-suing-conservative-mla-over-alleged-defamation/] * Elections B.C. says 2024 election ‘free and fair’ but marred by ‘false narratives’ | CBC News [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/elections-b-c-2024-election-1.7545306] * 2024 Provincial Election Report Available [https://elections.bc.ca/news/2024-provincial-election-report-available/] * Throne Speech: Building Canada Strong: A bold, ambitious plan for our future [https://www.canada.ca/en/privy-council/campaigns/speech-throne/2025/building-canada-strong.html] * Ottawa planning ‘up-front’ approval for projects deemed in the national interest | CBC News [https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/national-interest-projects-approvals-legislation-1.7547435] * Carney says Canada is looking to join major European military buildup by July 1 | CBC News [https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rearm-europe-deal-canada-carney-interview-1.7545303]

BC hires then fires a DTES czar, Carney releases the mandate letter to rule them all and Danielle Smith plays with fire. Links * B.C. scraps controversial appointment of Downtown Eastside ‘czar’ | CBC News [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-scraps-downtown-eastside-czar-1.7539559] * Liberals will table a budget this fall, Prime Minister Mark Carney says | CBC News [https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/federal-budget-mark-carney-1.7538248] * Mandate Letter | Prime Minister of Canada [https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/mandate-letters/2025/05/21/mandate-letter] * Canada wants to join Golden Dome missile-defence program, Trump says | CBC News [https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/golden-dome-trump-us-missile-defence-canada-1.7539390] * Prime Minister Carney pressed on housing prices [https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/05/19/prime-minister-carney-pressed-on-housing-prices/] * Housing Policy Is Mark Carney’s Mission: Impossible [https://www.davidmoscrop.com/p/housing-policy-is-mark-carneys-mission] * Alberta separatist group releases proposed referendum question, plans to push for vote this year [https://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/alberta-separatist-group-referendum-question] * What if Alberta did vote to leave? – by Stewart Prest [https://stewartprest.substack.com/p/what-if-alberta-did-vote-to-leave] * Opinion: It’s time for a centralization movement in Canada – Emmett Macfarlane [https://open.substack.com/pub/emmettmacfarlane/p/opinion-its-time-for-a-centralization] * Jen Gerson: Danielle Smith is destroying my kitchen [https://www.readtheline.ca/p/jen-gerson-danielle-smith-is-destroying]

Remember that leaked safe supply presentation? The Director of Policing Services does as the RCMP questions BC Conservative MLA Elanore Sturko over the leak, while Solicitor General Garry Begg flubbs questions about the appropriateness of such investigations. BC is also considering ways to fund Translink but congestion pricing is already off the table. And are the BC Greens having a leadership race if no one joins it? Federally, Mark Carney unveils his cabinet, or “ministry”, with a mix of ministers and secretaries of state. And a few ministers are already off to a not great start. They won’t be having a budget though and we may be seeing a byelection in Terrebonne as well. Links * Solicitor General official orders investigation of safe supply whistleblower – Northern Beat [https://northernbeat.ca/news/solicitor-general-official-orders-investigation-of-safe-supply-whistleblower/] * B.C. minister’s performance in key portfolio leaves much to be desired | Vancouver Sun [https://vancouversun.com/news/ministers-performance-in-key-portfolio-leaves-much-to-be-desired] * B.C. minister clarifies position on police investigation into leaked document [https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/eby-defends-investigation-into-leaked-documents-that-alleged-opioid-diversion/] * Rob Shaw: B.C. considers vehicle levy to help fund Translink – Business in Vancouver [https://www.biv.com/news/commentary/rob-shaw-bc-considers-vehicle-levy-to-help-fund-translink-10659333] * BC Green Party Leadership Race 2025: A New Era [https://bcgreens.ca/leadership-contest/] * Why is no one running to lead the BC Greens? – Shot of Ry [https://itsryanclayton.substack.com/p/why-is-no-one-running-to-lead-the] * Prime Minister announces new Ministry [https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2025/05/13/prime-minister-announces-new-ministry]  * Guilbeault: ‘As far as I know’ no companies want to build east-west pipeline | CBC.ca [https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6760171] * Canada’s new housing minister doesn’t think prices need to come down [https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/we-need-to-deliver-more-supply-canadas-new-housing-minister-doesnt-think-prices-need-to-come-down/] * New housing minister’s comments on home prices raise eyebrows [https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/05/15/canada-housing-minister-home-prices/] * New housing minister’s comments on maintaining price of homes are politically, mathematically off-base: experts – iPolitics [https://www.ipolitics.ca/2025/05/15/new-housing-ministers-comments-on-maintaining-price-of-homes-are-politically-mathematically-off-base-experts/] * Congrats to the new cabinet – Nate Erskine-Smitht [https://substack.com/home/post/p-163489035] * Mark Carney signs something to promise us a tax cut [https://x.com/MarkJCarney/status/1922732808943923706?t=IpwiMfTAufDNSwd0mDMfhg&s=19] * Liberals aren’t planning to table a budget this year, finance minister says | CBC News [https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/liberals-won-t-table-budget-1.7534962] * Elections Canada says Terrebonne vote is final, despite ‘error’ with special ballot [https://halifax.citynews.ca/2025/05/14/elections-canada-says-terrebonne-vote-is-final-despite-error-with-special-ballot/] * Bloc Québécois to challenge Terrebonne election result in court [https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/05/15/bloc-quebecois-challenge-terrebonne-election-result-court/] * Bloc Québécois pushes for byelection in Terrebonne, after 5 more ballot issues declared in riding | CBC News [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/bloc-quebecois-blanchet-recount-challenge-terrebonne-1.7535613] * Review of Special Ballot System – Elections Canada [https://elections.ca/content.aspx?section=med&dir=pre&document=may1425&lang=e]

Mr. Carney goes to Washington but first a look at David Eby’s infrastructure fast tracking stumbles and new interim leaders (kind of). Links * FNLC Questions Regressive, Conflated Infrastructure Projects Act; Alarmed by Province’s Backsliding on Reconciliation Efforts – UBCIC [https://www.ubcic.bc.ca/fnlc_questions_regressive_conflated_infrastructure_projects_act] * Far from cutting red tape, B.C. NDP fast-tracking law hands big overriding powers to cabinet [https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/far-from-cutting-red-tape-bc-ndp-fast-tracking-law-hands-big-powers-to-cabinet] * Rob Shaw: NDP’s infrastructure fix risks derailing Indigenous reconciliation [https://www.biv.com/news/commentary/rob-shaw-ndps-infrastructure-fix-risks-derailing-indigenous-reconciliation-10625264] * B.C. government appoints former chief justice to review festival safety measures | CBC News [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-festival-safety-review-1.7529283] * B.C. premier steps over a line in condemnation of Lapu Lapu Day driver | Vancouver Sun [https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/bc-premier-condemns-lapu-driver-adam-kai-ji-lo]   * BC: Conservatives Lead NDP, 47% to 45% [https://press.liaisonstrategies.ca/bc-conservatives-lead-ndp-47-to-45/] * 2025 First Quarter Interim Financial Reports Available | Elections BC [https://elections.bc.ca/news/2025-first-quarter-interim-financial-reports-available/] * Province takes energy action to electrify economy, increase resilience [https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025ECS0018-000412] * King Charles III to open Parliament at end of May, Carney says – National | Globalnews.ca [https://globalnews.ca/news/11160932/canada-king-charles-parliament-opening/] * Conservatives signal they are willing to back Carney’s Liberals on some legislation | CBC News [https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-support-some-liberal-legislation-1.7526468] * Conservative Damien Kurek says he’ll step aside for Poilievre — but by law he has to wait | CBC News [https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/damien-kurek-poilievre-byelection-1.7526895] * Mark Carney says he would quickly call byelection for Pierre Poilievre [https://toronto.citynews.ca/2025/05/02/pierre-poilievre-mark-carney-byelection-call/] * Longest ballot group takes aim at byelection where Poilievre plans to run [https://toronto.citynews.ca/2025/05/05/longest-ballot-group-takes-aim-at-byelection-where-poilievre-plans-to-run/] * Conservatives choose Andrew Scheer as interim Opposition leader | CBC News [https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-conservative-caucus-meeting-1.7527562] * NDP choose Vancouver MP Don Davies as interim leader | Globalnews.ca [https://globalnews.ca/news/11165745/ndp-don-davies-interim-leader/] * Leah Gazan’s Tweet: Great finding out through the news…. Go “team” NDP [https://x.com/leahgazan/status/1919566729530790189?s=46&t=VCt52D6OFCFYNBW1xGZUWA] * Mark Carney tells Donald Trump ‘Canada is not for sale’ in a high-stakes Oval Office meeting [https://theconversation.com/mark-carney-tells-donald-trump-canada-is-not-for-sale-in-a-high-stakes-oval-office-meeting-255931] * Over 800 special ballots ‘mistakenly’ kept in B.C. riding: Elections Canada | Vancouver Sun [https://theprovince.com/news/local-news/over-800-special-ballots-mistakenly-kept-bc-riding-federal-elections-canada/wcm/1c43792e-f661-4770-b2d1-92313fabd274] * Issue with some special ballots in Coquitlam–Port Coquitlam – Elections Canada [https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=med&dir=pre&document=may0725b&lang=e]

The results are in. We break down the election results and why the LPC and CPC each have reasons for happiness and disappointment. Plus the NDP’s disastrous night. You can donate to support the victims and survivors of the Lapu-Lapu attack at:  Filipino BC – United Way Fundraiser [https://filipinobc.com/]  Public invited to sign condolence books for victims of Lapu-Lapu Festival attack [https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025PREM0050-000388] Links * Elections Canada: Election Night Results – National [https://enr.elections.ca/National.aspx?lang=e] * Canada federal election 2025 live results | CBC News [https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/elections/federal/2025/results/] * An emotional Singh steps down with NDP set to lose party status | CBC News [https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/jagmeet-singh-ndp-election-results-1.7520955] * ‘That number is arbitrary’: NDP to fight for official party status despite only 7 seats [https://www.ctvnews.ca/federal-election-2025/article/that-number-is-arbitrary-ndp-to-fight-for-official-party-status-despite-only-7-seats/] * B.C.’s NDP premier says he’s not interested in Jagmeet Singh’s job [https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/bcs-ndp-premier-says-hes-not-interested-in-jagmeet-singhs-job/] * Pedneault’s Resignation Letter [https://x.com/j_pedneault/status/1917564010951573652] * Green Party co-leader Jonathan Pedneault resigns [https://www.ctvnews.ca/federal-election-2025/article/green-party-co-leader-jonathan-pedneault-resigns/] * Green Party’s Elizabeth May open to running for House Speaker, joining Carney cabinet [https://www.ctvnews.ca/federal-election-2025/article/green-partys-elizabeth-may-open-to-running-for-house-speaker-joining-carney-cabinet/] * Doug Ford shrugs off attacks by Pierre Poilievre’s Tories: ‘I’m done with all this stuff’ [https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-shrugs-off-attacks-by-pierre-poilievres-tories-im-done-with-all-this-stuff/article_62bfad22-16e8-4509-9abc-9703ff3286ed.html] * ‘It’s an unmitigated disaster’: Conservative insiders debate Pierre Poilievre’s future as leader after election defeat [https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/its-an-unmitigated-disaster-conservative-insiders-debate-pierre-poilievres-future-as-leader-after-election-defeat/article_77df57e9-4da1-4eba-8d22-1904f4cfe309.html] * Poilievre is making calls to shore up support as Conservatives take stock of election results | CBC News [https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-future-conservatives-take-stock-1.7522939] * Mark Carney to install new cabinet, recall Parliament early to cut taxes and open U.S. trade talks – The Globe and Mail [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-mark-carney-to-install-new-cabinet-recall-parliament-early-to-cut/] * ‘I lost my legal right to vote’: Booths closed early — or didn’t open at all — in some Nunavik villages | CBC News [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/planes-leave-nunavik-no-vote-1.7521042] * B.C. Premier Eby says province will overhaul Mental Health Act after Lapu-Lapu Day festival attack – The Globe and Mail [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-bc-premier-eby-says-province-will-overhaul-mental-health-act-after/] * B.C. Premier promises public inquiry into vehicle attack if suspect’s criminal trial fails to answer questions – The Globe and Mail [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-bc-promises-public-inquiry-into-vancouver-festival-attack-if-trial/] * B.C. streamlines permitting for renewable-energy projects [https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025ECS0018-000397] * New legislation will deliver key infrastructure faster, strengthen economy [https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025PREM0018-000403]