What to Expect
The race to replace NDP leader and B.C. Premier John Horgan is officially underway. Candidates have four months to make their case to the party’s base, with the new leader (and Premier) being announced on December 3. Although he hasn’t formally announced, Attorney General and Minister of Housing David Eby has given the strongest indication to date that he will run for the top job. The relatively low entrance fee of $15,000 increases the chances that a candidate from outside of caucus may run. The cut off for new memberships is September 4.
The Week That Was
B.C. is encouraging the parents/gradians to register their child under the age of five for an approved mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Approximately 208,000 infants and children between the ages of six-months to four years old will soon become eligible for the vaccination.
The federal and B.C. governments have announced an additional $870 million in funding will be dedicated to the B.C. government via Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements. This is in addition to the already announced $207 million to support wildfire recovery efforts announced last month.
To increase surgical capacity and decrease wait times, Interior Health will be adding five new operating rooms in addition to increasing support for staff. Two of the new operating rooms will be at the Kelowna General Hospital and the other three will be added to the Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.
Orders in Council
OIC 425/2022 – Makes the following appointments:
- Samuel Brockington Brownell Godfrey as a Senior Ministerial Advisor to the Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.
- Melissa Leanne Maher as a Ministerial Advisor to the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General and Deputy Premier
OIC 427/2022 – Appoints Kristy Key Anderson as an Assistant Deputy Minister within the Ministry of Health.
OIC 428/2022 – Appoints David Hume as an Assistant Deputy Minister within the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, effective September 6, 2022.
OIC 429/2022 – Appoints Keith M. Godin as an Assistant Deputy Minister within the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
