41st Parliament of British Columbia explained

Jurisdiction:BC
#:41st
Type:Minority
Houseimage:British_Columbia_41st_Legislature_Seating_Plan.svg
Coaimage:Coat of Arms of British Columbia.svg
Status:inactive
Term-Begin:June 22, 2017
Term-End:September 21, 2020
Scterm:June 22–29, 2017
Sc2:Darryl Plecas
Scterm2:September 8, 2017 – December 7, 2020
Pm:Christy Clark
Pmterm:March 14, 2011 – July 18, 2017
Pm2:John Horgan
Pmterm2:July 18, 2017 – November 18, 2022
Lo:John Horgan
Loterm:May 4, 2014 – July 18, 2017
Lo2:Christy Clark
Loterm2:July 18 – August 4, 2017
Lo3:Rich Coleman
Loterm3:August 4, 2017 – February 3, 2018
Lo4:Andrew Wilkinson
Loterm4:February 3, 2018 – November 21, 2020
Ghl:Mike de Jong
Ghlterm:May 4, 2014 – July 18, 2017
Ghl2:Mike Farnworth
Ghlterm2:July 18, 2017 – present
Ohl:Mike Farnworth
Ohlterm:May 4, 2014 – July 18, 2017
Ohl2:Mike de Jong
Ohlterm2:July 18, 2017 – present
Party:Liberal Party (until July 2017)
Partynew:New Democratic Party (after July 2017)
Party2:New Democratic Party (until July 2017)
Party2new:Liberal Party (after July 2017)
Party3:Green Party
Political Groups1:Government (43)

Opposition (44)

Sessionbegin:June 22, 2017
Sessionend:September 8, 2017
Sessionbegin2:September 8, 2017
Sessionend2:February 13, 2018
Sessionbegin3:February 13, 2018
Sessionend3:February 12, 2019
Sessionbegin4:February 12, 2019
Sessionend4:February 11, 2020
Sessionbegin5:February 11, 2020
Sessionend5:September 21, 2020
Ministry:C. Clark III
Ministry2:Horgan I
Ministrybegin:June 12, 2017
Ministryend:July 18, 2017
Ministrybegin2:July 18, 2017
Ministryend2:November 26, 2020
Monarchterm:February 6, 1952 – present
Viceroy:Judith Guichon
Viceroyterm:November 2, 2012 – April 24, 2018
Viceroy2:Janet Austin
Viceroyterm2:April 24, 2018 – present
Members:87
Lastparl:40th
Nextparl:42nd

The 41st Parliament of British Columbia was in session from June 22, 2017, to September 21, 2020. It consisted of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, as elected by the general election of May 9, 2017, and subsequent by-elections, and the Queen in right of British Columbia, represented by the lieutenant governor of British Columbia. It was the first parliament following the increase in size of the legislature from 85 to 87 seats. Immediately following the election, Christy Clark, the incumbent premier, asked the lieutenant governor to remain governing until the final votes were counted and it would be known if there would be a majority or minority government.[1] Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon agreed and Clark appointed a cabinet of 21 ministers and 13 parliamentary secretaries, which were sworn in on June 12, 2017.[2]

Although the final vote confirmed that the British Columbia Liberal Party under Clark remained the largest party in the legislative assembly after the election, the British Columbia New Democratic Party under leader John Horgan and Green Party of British Columbia under Andrew Weaver combined had 44 seats (41 NDP and 3 Green) to the Liberals' 43.[3] On May 29, 2017, the Greens announced they had agreed to a confidence and supply accord with the NDP which would allow the NDP to form a minority government.[4]

Clark convened the Legislative Assembly on June 22, 2017, before losing a vote of confidence on June 29.[5] As leader of the second-largest party, Horgan was then asked to serve as premier by the lieutenant governor and was sworn in along with his 22-member cabinet on July 18, 2017.[6] [7]

The minority parliament lasted for three and a half years despite the small combined NDP and Green working majority. The longevity of this one-seat working majority was made possible, in part, due to the expulsion of Abbotsford South MLA Darryl Plecas from the Liberal caucus after Plecas accepted his election as speaker of the legislature. The 41st Parliament ended on September 21, 2020, after Horgan requested the lieutenant governor dissolve the legislature and call a snap election for October 24, 2020, almost exactly one year ahead of the planned fixed date of October 16, 2021.

Party standings

Standings in the 41st British Columbia Parliament
AffiliationHouse members
2017 election
results[8]
At dissolution
(September 21, 2020)
4341414132
02[9]
Total members8786
Total seats87

Election and appointments

The members of the legislative assembly were elected in the 41st general election, held on May 9, 2017. The election returned 43 BC Liberals, 41 BC NDP members, and 3 BC Greens. As the leader of the largest party, Christy Clark was offered, by Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon, the first opportunity to form a government, though the BC Green Party had announced they would support the BC NDP.[10] Clark accepted and appointed 21 members to her Executive Council[11] and 13 parliamentary secretaries.[12] The cabinet was largely the same as the 40th Parliament, but with Sam Sullivan and Linda Reid, as well as newcomers Jordan Sturdy, Ellis Ross, and Jas Johal replacing ministers who had retired or were defeated in the election. This cabinet only served during the Parliament's first session in which it lost a confidence vote and Clark resigned as an MLA, triggering a by-election in the Kelowna West riding.

After the government lost a confidence vote, the Lieutenant Governor refused Premier Clark's request to call an election and offered the second largest party, the BC NDP, the opportunity to form a government. BC NDP leader John Horgan agreed and appointed an Executive Council of 22 members and 6 parliamentary secretaries, including Carole James as deputy premier and Minister of Finance, Adrian Dix as Minister of Health, David Eby as Attorney General, Rob Fleming as Minister of Education, and Michelle Mungall as Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.[13]

First session

The first session of the 41st Parliament began on June 22, 2017, with the Speech from the Throne delivered by Lieutenant Governor Guichon on behalf of the Premier Clark and the BC Liberal government. Acknowledging the split results of the election, the speech included not only BC Liberal election promises but also some from the opposition parties, such as banning corporate and union political donations, a maximum donation limit for individuals, a referendum on electoral reform, repealing the referendum requirement for new TransLink revenue sources, eliminating tolls on the Port Mann Bridge, and raising the carbon tax to $50 a tonne.[14] When the throne speech finally came to a vote on June 26, both the NDP and Green parties introduced and voted for a motion of no confidence, defeating the government. In the meantime, the government had attempted to introduce two bills (one that would have reduced the number of MLAs necessary to form an official party within the legislative assembly from 4 to 3, thereby allowing the BC Green Party to gain such status and another addressing corporate and union political donations) but both were refused first reading.[15]

Second session

The second session began on September 8, 2017, and all bills were provided royal assent by November 30. On September 8, BC Liberal Darryl Plecas accepted the position of Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and a speech from the throne was delivered again by Lieutenant Governor Guichon, this time on behalf of Premier Horgan and the BC NDP government with the support of the Green Party. Plecas was expelled from the BC Liberal the following day as a consequence for accepting the Speaker position;[16] Plecas subsequently sat as an Independent and enforced more civility in the legislative assembly.[17]

Legislative amendments related to elections and governance, the Constitution Amendment Act, 2017 (Bill 5) reduced the number of MLAs necessary to form an official party within the legislative assembly from 4 to 2 and changed the fixed election date to October.[18] The Electoral Reform Referendum 2018 Act (Bill 6) requires a referendum respecting a proportional representation voting system be held no later than November 30, 2018. The ban on corporate, union and foreign donations was implemented with the Election Amendment Act, 2017 (Bill 3) and Local Elections Campaign Financing Amendment Act, 2017 (Bill 15) which required all political contributions be made by a resident of British Columbia and sets new maximum donation limits, including limits to third party sponsors, and political spending limits, as well as public subsidies until the year 2022 for the political parties who achieved 5% of the vote in their electoral districts (e.g. the BC NDP, BC Liberal and BC Green parties).[19] The Lobbyists Registration Amendment Act, 2017 (Bill 8) prohibited specified former public office holders (like former members of cabinet, deputy minister, chief executive officers, etc.) from lobbying activities for two years after leaving those positions.

Other bills that were adopted with support from all parties, included the Tenancy Statutes Amendment Act, 2017 (Bill 16) to limit the use of a vacate clause in fixed-term tenancy agreements, limit rent increases imposed at the renewal of fixed-term tenancy agreements to a specified amount (i.e. 2% plus inflation), and increase enforcement abilities against repeat and serious violators of tenancy laws; the Public Safety Statutes Amendment Act, 2017 (Bill 12) to create a system of e-Tickets for driving offences and e-Certificates of service, and validating the practice of impoundment of vehicles as a result of a roadside alcohol test; the Provincial Court Amendment Act, 2017 (Bill 11) to extend the term of judicial appointments from 10 years to 12; the Sheriff Amendment Act, 2017 (Bill 14) to enable sheriffs to collect personal information to a conduct threat or risk assessment; and the Pooled Registered Pension Plans Amendment Act, 2017 (Bill 13) to delete the requirement of print publication of new multilateral agreements.

Third session

The third session began on February 13, 2018, with a new speech from the throne. Ben Stewart joined the legislative assembly as a result of the February 14 by-election in Kelowna West to replace former-Premier Christy Clark. There were no changes to the Executive Council. The Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2018 amended the property transfer tax to cover bare trusts and exempt bankruptcy transactions while increasing the rate paid on the portion of a real estate transaction that is beyond $3million; created an additional school tax applicable to residential properties assessed above $3million; created the means for municipalities to issue "revitalization school tax exemptions" for newly constructed rental housing; made online accommodation platform subject to the Provincial Sales Tax and the hotel tax; eliminated the education tax credit and expanded the film incentive tax credit include to scriptwriting; exempted marine diesel fuel used in inter-jurisdictional cruise ships from the motor fuel tax; increased the PST rate payable on passenger vehicles priced over $125,000; increased the tax on tobacco, and made requirements for additional information regarding residency to claim homeowner grant and property tax deferrals for the purpose of better enforcement. The budget passed on a vote of 44 in favour, 41 opposed.[20] Another budget bill, Bill 44, created – on a 44 to 38 vote – a new payroll tax, on payrolls over $500,000, to replace the Medical Services premium.[21] In a 43 to 42 vote, Bill 51 was adopted to update and modernize the Environmental Assessment Act. In a 43 to 31 vote, the Insurance (Vehicle) Amendment Act, 2018 was passed to limit ICBC accident benefit coverage for minor injuries and to increase the maximum payable limit for other injuries, including adding new coverage for various health care services.[22] Related to the ICBC reforms, Bill 22 expanded the jurisdiction of the Civil Resolution Tribunal to include certain ICBC claim disputes.[23] [24]

Legislative amendments related to housing included Bill 45, which created the Speculation and Vacancy Tax, applicable to unoccupied residential properties in Metro Vancouver, the Capital Regional District, parts of the Fraser Valley Regional District and several other municipalities.[25] Bill 12 addressed "renovictions" by extending the mandatory notice of eviction from 2 to 4 months, legally giving evicted tenants the right of first refusal for the renovated unit, increasing compensation a landlord found guilty of a bad-faith eviction must pay from 2 to 12 months' rent, as well as increasing compensation evicted tenants of manufactured home parks receive from 12 months pad rental to a prescribed sum related to the cost of moving the dwelling.[26] Bill 25 amended the Real Estate Development Marketing Act to address pre-sale condo flipping by requiring developer consent to such activity and making it subject to property transfer tax. Amendments affecting local governments were contained in Bill 18, which requires local governments to collect and report information on housing, such as the available housing stock, and Bill 23, which gives local governments the ability to require, under a zoning regulation, that rental be the only form of occupancy permitted in specified units of multifamily residential developments.[27]

In preparation of the impending legalization of recreational cannabis by the federal government, the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act, the Cannabis Distribution Act, and the Motor Vehicle Amendment Act, 2018, created a legal framework, including a minimum age of 19 for possession, the province acting as the sole wholesale distributor, sales being accommodated in either public or private retail stores, prohibition of smoking in all the same areas where tobacco smoking is prohibited as well as within vehicles, provisions to deal with drug-affected driving, and the establishment of a new provincial cannabis safety unit.[28] Other legislation related to health included the creation of the Voluntary Blood Donations Act (Bill 29) to prohibit payment for blood donations, subject to certain exemptions; related to the opioid epidemic, the Pill Press and Related Equipment Control Act (Bill 27) to limit who can lawfully own a pill press and to allow for a registry of equipment to be maintained by the government; the Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act (Bill 38) to allow the provincial government to launch an aggregate action lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and wholesalers who misled the public concerning the addictive and harmful nature of opioids;[29] and the Workers Compensation Act was amended to add a new mental disorder presumption for first responders and, at the request of the federal government, extended cancer presumptions to federally employed firefighters.

Without division, Bill 47 repealed the 37th Parliament's Health and Social Services Delivery Improvement Act and the Health Sector Partnerships Agreement Act which enabled contract-flipping in the healthcare sector,[30] Bill 50 re-established the Human Rights Commission for British Columbia which had been abolished by the same Parliament, and Bill 41 repealed the 37th Parliament's Public Education Flexibility and Choice Act which had removed the BC Teachers' Federation ability to negotiate class size and composition, and had led to teacher strikes, but was mostly struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada.[31] Bill 55 created provisions to allow all types of vehicle for hire companies to operate in British Columbia.[32] The Public Interest Disclosure Act (Bill 28) was adopted to protect whistleblowers as recommended in the Ombudsperson's Misfire report concerning the inappropriate employment terminations within the Ministry of Health – Bill 13 was also implemented a recommendation of the same report, in this case to allow for the Merit Commissioner to review the process used in any dismissal within the public service. Bill 26 amended the Child, Family and Community Service Act to provide indigenous communities with the opportunity for greater involvement in child welfare decisions and to create a right, that must be considered in decision-making, for an indigenous child to learn about the practice of the child's indigenous traditions, customs and language. Bill 34 renamed the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act to the Climate Change Accountability Act and replaced the 2020 emission reduction target of 33 percent with a 2030 reduction target of 40 percent below 2007 levels.

Other significant legislative amendments, adopted with all party support, included the Employment Standards Amendment Act, 2018, which created a job-protected leave of absence that parents of a child who has gone missing can take (52 weeks unpaid leave) and extended the leave of absence parents of a child who has died can take from 3 days to 104 weeks, as well as amendments in response to expansions of compassionate care, maternity and parental benefits by the federal government. The Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act (Bill 48) created a licensing program for recruiters and employers of foreign worker and allows for the recovery of unauthorized fees charged by recruiters.[33] Bill 11 modernized the province's International Commercial Arbitration Act by bringing it in line with guidelines of the UN Commission on International Trade Law and Bill 21 brought the province's legislation concerning opting in or out of class action lawsuits into line with the Uniform Law Conference of Canada's guidelines. Bill 15 allows the Oil and Gas Commission to make regulations requiring restoration of inactive wells before the responsible organization claims bankruptcy and to cancel or suspend permits on the basis of applicant's history of non-compliance with restoration; Bill 16 enabled self-regulatory organizations to enforce their decisions with a court order; Bill 4 renamed the BC Innovation Council to "Innovate BC" and expanded its mandate.

Fourth session

The fourth session began on February 12, 2019, with a new speech from the throne. There were no changes to the Executive Council. Sheila Malcolmson joined the legislative assembly as a result of the January 30 by-election in the Nanaimo electoral district to replace Leonard Krog, who resigned to run for Mayor of Nanaimo. BC Liberal Ben Stewart sat as an independent for the two month he was being investigated for an irregular political contribution.[34] Legislative changes resulting from the 2019 budget were implemented in the Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2019, including replacing the "BC early childhood tax benefit" with the "BC child opportunity benefit",[35] making the "BC flow-through mining expenditure tax credit" and the "mining exploration tax credit" permanent,[36] extending or increasing tax credits relating to farmers' food donations, shipbuilding, and small business venture capital, and allowing TransLink to increase the Metro Vancouver fuel tax by 1.5 cents per litre to fund the Phase 2 portion of its 10-Year Investment Plan.[37] The budget passed on a vote of 44 in favour, 39 opposed. In a separate bill, Bill 45, the provincial sales tax payable on vaping products was increased from 7% to 20%.[38] On a 76 to 3 division, with only the Green Party members opposed, Bill 10 repealed the previous parliament's Liquefied Natural Gas Income Tax Act, with its "LNG tax credit" being moved into the Income Tax Act.[39] Three private member's bills, all introduced by Andrew Weaver of the Green Party, were adopted: Bill M-209 allows benefit corporations to be registered in the province, Bill M-206 allows a tenant to terminate a lease if experiencing household violence on the premises, and Bill M-225 makes the fourth Saturday in November Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (Holodomor) Memorial Day.[40] With no division, Bill 20 repealed the Medical Services Plan premium as a head tax (which had been replaced by the payroll tax created in the previous session).[41]

Legislative amendments related to money laundering included Bill 23, which created the Land Owner Transparency Act to require a land-owning corporation, trust or partnership to report beneficial ownership.[42] Relatedly, Bill 24 created the Transparency Register to provide records of registered owners and beneficial owners of corporations to police, regulators and tax authorities. Bill 33 expanded the British Columbia Securities Commission's investigative powers, its ability to collect fines, and its ability to protect whistleblower from retaliatory actions[43] Bills 26 and 37 dissolved the Financial Institutions Commission and created the BC Financial Services Authority, a new crown agency to jointly regulate financial institutions, insurance agencies, and mortgage brokers.[44] [45] Addressing threats from organized crime, the Witness Security Act (Bill 4) was adopted to establish a confidential, voluntary witness security program to supplement the federal version[46] and Bill 13 amended the Community Safety Act to allow a dedicated enforcement unit to accept and investigate confidential complaints about properties that are a threat to the safety of the community.[47]

New legislation, adopted with all-party support, included the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Bill 41) to implement the UNDRIP,[48] the Protection of Public Participation Act (Bill 2) to address strategic lawsuits against public participation;[49] the Ticket Sales Act (Bill 27) to ban the use of automated ticket-purchasing software, mandate secondary ticket sellers disclose the additional fees added to the original price, and provide refunds for cancelled events or unusable (e.g. counterfeit) tickets;[50] the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act (Bill 28), to create a framework with targets for increasing the proportion of new zero-emission light-duty motor vehicles that are sold or leased in BC;[51] and the Fuel Price Transparency Act (Bill 42), to require businesses involved in the transporting, marketing and supplying of gasoline and diesel to provide data to the BC Utilities Commission on how fuel prices are set.[52]

Other significant legislative amendments included Bill 7, which amended the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act to separately regulate "High-Cost Credit Products" and lower their maximum fees;[53] Bill 4, which amended the Interpretation Act to allow for the ending of daylight saving time;[54] and Bill 14, which created a duty to report discoveries of sites or objects with potential heritage value.[55] Addressing employment and labour standards, Bill 8 raised the minimum work age from 12 to 14, prohibited employers from withholding or deducting tips from wages, and created a new allowance of unpaid leave for victims of domestic violence or critical illness,[56] while Bill 30 removed teachers from the list of essential services and further addressed contract-flipping by extending protections to re-tendered service (janitorial, security, transportation, health) contracts.[57] Both on a 44 to 38 vote, Bill 15 amended the administrative procedures of the Agricultural Land Commission[58] and Bill 22 amended the Forest Act to require ministerial approval for companies to transfer a timber licence and to require public interest be considered in the disposition of forestry agreements.[59] Based on the government's comprehensive review of BC Hydro, Bill 19 amended several acts to, among other things, reinstate the BC Utilities Commission's authority to review BC Hydro's electricity supply and demand forecasting (Integrated Resource Plan), disapply the Utilities Commission Act from Powerex, and require BC Utilities Commission approval of new purchase agreements with independent power producers and feed-in tariffs.[60] Based on the coastal ferry services review, Bill 25 amended the Coastal Ferry Act to add that the BC Ferry Authority must consider the public's interest in safe, reliable and affordable service in addition to the other factors.[61]

Fifth session

The fifth session began on February 11, 2020, with a new speech from the throne. The legislature convened until March 5 before entering a recess which was interrupted by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the province. It reconvened for one day, March 23, with 10 MLAs in attendance, when they adopted a $5-billion aid package and amendments to the Employment Standards Act to create an unpaid "COVID-19-related leave".[62] The legislature re-convened in July and August. Additional COVID-19-related legislation included Bills 18 and 19 which postponed penalties for non-payment of several taxes, created a $1,000 supplement to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, and allowed provincial budget deficits for the next 3 years.[63] Legislative amendments arising from the 2020 budget (Bill 4) included the creation of a new top tax bracket that starts at $220,000, exempting electric aircraft from PST, three year extensions of the farmers' food donation tax credit and BC training tax credit, removing the PST exemptions that had applied to soda beverages and online streaming services, and making heated tobacco products subject to the Tobacco Tax Act.[64]

Other legislation adopted included Bill 2 to, among other things, allow ICBC to require training courses as a pre-licensing requirement for certain classes of licenses; Bill 5 to amend the fourth session's creation of a 10-day unpaid leave regarding domestic violence to instead be 5 paid and 5 unpaid days for workers claiming to be experiencing domestic or sexual violence;[65] Bill 8 to allow school boards to operate a before and after-school child care programs; Bill 9 as the government's response to Crowder v. British Columbia (Attorney General) regarding the role of expert witnesses in a vehicle injury lawsuits; and Bill 11 moving ICBC to moves a system of no-fault insurance.[66] The fifth session ended on September 21, 2020, after Premier Horgan called a snap election for October 24, therefore dissolving the 41st Parliament. The Parliament was ended nearly one year ahead of the fixed date of October 16, 2021.

Officeholders

Speaker

Other chair occupants

Leaders

House leaders

Members of the 41st Parliament

MemberPartyElectoral district
Darryl PlecasLiberalAbbotsford SouthIndependent
data-sort-value="de Jong, Mike" Mike de JongLiberalAbbotsford Westdata-sort-value="Gibson, Simon" Simon GibsonLiberalAbbotsford-Missiondata-sort-value="Larson, Linda" Linda LarsonLiberalBoundary-Similkameendata-sort-value="Kang, Anne" Anne KangNDPBurnaby-Deer Lakedata-sort-value="Chouhan, Raj" Raj ChouhanNDPBurnaby-Edmondsdata-sort-value="Chen, Katrina" Katrina ChenNDPBurnaby-Lougheeddata-sort-value="Routledge, Janet" Janet RoutledgeNDPBurnaby Northdata-sort-value="Barnett, Donna" Donna BarnettLiberalCariboo-Chilcotindata-sort-value="Oakes, Coralee" Coralee OakesLiberalCariboo Northdata-sort-value="Martin, John" John MartinLiberalChilliwackdata-sort-value="Throness, Laurie" Laurie ThronessLiberalChilliwack-Kentdata-sort-value="Clovechok, Doug" Doug ClovechokLiberalColumbia River-Revelstokedata-sort-value="Isaacs, Joan" LiberalCoquitlam-Burke Mountaindata-sort-value="Robinson, Selina" Selina RobinsonNDPCoquitlam-Maillardvilledata-sort-value="Leonard, Ronna-Rae" Ronna-Rae LeonardNDPCourtenay-Comoxdata-sort-value="Furstenau, Sonia" Sonia FurstenauGreenCowichan Valleydata-sort-value="Kahlon, Ravi" Ravi KahlonNDPDelta Northdata-sort-value="Paton, Ian" Ian PatonLiberalDelta Southdata-sort-value="Dean, Mitzi" Mitzi DeanNDPEsquimalt-Metchosindata-sort-value="Tegart, Jackie" Jackie TegartLiberalFraser-Nicoladata-sort-value="Milobar, Peter" Peter MilobarLiberalKamloops-North Thompsondata-sort-value="Stone, Todd" Todd StoneLiberalKamloops-South Thompsondata-sort-value="Letnick, Norm" Norm LetnickLiberalKelowna-Lake Countrydata-sort-value="Thomson, Steve" Steve ThomsonLiberalKelowna-Missiondata-sort-value="Clark, Christy" Christy Clark (to August 4, 2017)LiberalKelowna West
Ben Stewart (from February 14, 2018)Liberal (until August 1, 2019)Kelowna West
Independent (until October 1, 2019)
Liberaldata-sort-value="Shypitka, Tom" Tom ShypitkaLiberalKootenay Eastdata-sort-value="Conroy, Katrine" Katrine ConroyNDPKootenay Westdata-sort-value="Horgan, John" John HorganNDPLangford-Juan de Fucadata-sort-value="Polak, Mary" Mary PolakLiberalLangleydata-sort-value="Coleman, Rich" Rich ColemanLiberalLangley Eastdata-sort-value="Deith, Bob" Bob D'EithNDPMaple Ridge-Missiondata-sort-value="Beare, Lisa" Lisa BeareNDPMaple Ridge-Pitt Meadowsdata-sort-value="Fraser, Scott" Scott FraserNDPMid Island-Pacific Rimdata-sort-value="Krog, Leonard" Leonard Krog (to November 30, 2018)NDPNanaimo
data-sort-value="Malcolmson, Sheila" Sheila Malcolmson (from January 30, 2019)NDPNanaimo
data-sort-value="Routley, Doug" Doug RoutleyNDPNanaimo-North Cowichandata-sort-value="Rustad, John" John RustadLiberalNechako Lakesdata-sort-value="Mungall, Michelle" Michelle MungallNDPNelson-Crestondata-sort-value="Darcy, Judy" Judy DarcyNDPNew Westminsterdata-sort-value="Rice, Jennifer" Jennifer RiceNDPNorth Coastdata-sort-value="Trevana, Claire" Claire TrevenaNDPNorth Islanddata-sort-value="Ma, Bowinn" Bowinn MaNDPNorth Vancouver-Lonsdaledata-sort-value="Thornthwaite, Jane" Jane ThornthwaiteLiberalNorth Vancouver-SeymourAndrew WeaverGreen (until January 20, 2020)[68] Oak Bay-Gordon Head
Independentdata-sort-value="Stilwell, Michelle" Michelle StilwellLiberalParksville-Qualicumdata-sort-value="Davies, Dan" Dan DaviesLiberalPeace River Northdata-sort-value="Bernier, Mike" Mike BernierLiberalPeace River Southdata-sort-value="Ashton, Dan" Dan AshtonLiberalPentictondata-sort-value="Farnworth, Mike" Mike FarnworthNDPPort Coquitlamdata-sort-value="Glumac, Rick" Rick GlumacNDPPort Moody-Coquitlamdata-sort-value="Simons, Nicholas" Nicholas SimonsNDPPowell River-Sunshine Coastdata-sort-value="Morris, Mike" Mike MorrisLiberalPrince George-Mackenziedata-sort-value="Bond, Shirley" Shirley BondLiberalPrince George-Valemountdata-sort-value="Wat, Teresa" Teresa WatLiberalRichmond North Centredata-sort-value="Reid, Linda" Linda ReidLiberalRichmond South Centredata-sort-value="Johal, Jas" Jas JohalLiberalRichmond-Queensboroughdata-sort-value="Yap, John" John YapLiberalRichmond-Stevestondata-sort-value="Olsen, Adam" Adam OlsenGreenSaanich North and the Islandsdata-sort-value="Popham, Lana" Lana PophamNDPSaanich Southdata-sort-value="Kyllo, Greg" Greg KylloLiberalShuswapdata-sort-value="Ross, Ellis" Ellis RossLiberalSkeenadata-sort-value="Donaldson, Doug" Doug DonaldsonNDPStikinedata-sort-value="Hunt, Marvin" Marvin HuntLiberalSurrey-Cloverdaledata-sort-value="Brar, Jagrup" Jagrup BrarNDPSurrey-Fleetwooddata-sort-value="Singh, Rachna" Rachna SinghNDPSurrey-Green Timbersdata-sort-value="Begg, Garry" Garry BeggNDPSurrey-Guildforddata-sort-value="Bains, Harry" Harry BainsNDPSurrey-Newtondata-sort-value="Sims, Jinny" Jinny SimsNDPSurrey-Panoramadata-sort-value="Cadieux, Stephanie" Stephanie CadieuxLiberalSurrey Southdata-sort-value="Ralston, Bruce" Bruce RalstonNDPSurrey-Whalleydata-sort-value="Redies, Tracy" Tracy Redies (to August 31, 2020)LiberalSurrey-White RockGeorge HeymanNDPVancouver-Fairviewdata-sort-value="Sullivan, Sam" Sam SullivanLiberalVancouver-False Creekdata-sort-value="Chow, George" George ChowNDPVancouver-Fraserviewdata-sort-value="Simpson, Shane" Shane SimpsonNDPVancouver-Hastingsdata-sort-value="Elmore, Mable" Mable ElmoreNDPVancouver-Kensingtondata-sort-value="Dix, Adrian" Adrian DixNDPVancouver-Kingswaydata-sort-value="Lee, Michael" Michael LeeLiberalVancouver-Langaradata-sort-value="Mark, Melanie" Melanie MarkNDPVancouver-Mount Pleasantdata-sort-value="Eby, David" David EbyNDPVancouver-Point Greydata-sort-value="Wilkinson, Andrew" Andrew WilkinsonLiberalVancouver-Quilchenadata-sort-value="Chandra Herbert, Spencer" Spencer Chandra HerbertNDPVancouver-West Enddata-sort-value="Foster, Eric" Eric FosterLiberalVernon-Monasheedata-sort-value="James, Carole" Carole JamesNDPVictoria-Beacon Hilldata-sort-value="Fleming, Rob" Rob FlemingNDPVictoria-Swan Lakedata-sort-value="Sultan, Ralph" Ralph SultanLiberalWest Vancouver-Capilanodata-sort-value="Sturdy, Jordan" Jordan SturdyLiberalWest Vancouver-Sea to Sky

Party standings of the 40th Parliament

Seating plan during Liberal Party government

bgcolor=#FF7F00 Chouhan bgcolor=#FFFFFF bgcolor=#FF7F00 Kahlonbgcolor=#FF7F00 Beggbgcolor=#FF7F00 Brarbgcolor=#FF7F00 D'Eith
bgcolor=#FF7F00 Ricebgcolor=#FF7F00 Ebybgcolor=#FF7F00 Mungallbgcolor=#FF7F00 Chenbgcolor=#FF7F00 Bainsbgcolor=#FF7F00 Elmorebgcolor=#FF7F00 Kangbgcolor=#FF7F00 Pophambgcolor=#FF7F00 Trevenabgcolor=#FF7F00 Donaldsonbgcolor=#FF7F00 Krogbgcolor=#FF7F00 Heymanbgcolor=#FF7F00 Routleybgcolor=#FF7F00 Simonsbgcolor=#FF7F00 Bearebgcolor=#FF7F00 Simsbgcolor=#FF7F00 Deanbgcolor=#FF7F00 Routledgebgcolor=#FF7F00 Singhbgcolor=#FF7F00 Glumac
bgcolor=#FF7F00 Darcybgcolor=#FF7F00 Simpsonbgcolor=#FF7F00 Robinsonbgcolor=#FF7F00 Farnworthbgcolor=#FF7F00 HORGANbgcolor=#FF7F00 Jamesbgcolor=#FF7F00 Ralstonbgcolor=#FF7F00 Dixbgcolor=#FF7F00 Markbgcolor=#FF7F00 Flemingbgcolor=#FF7F00 Conroybgcolor=#FF7F00 Herbertbgcolor=#FF7F00 Chowbgcolor=#FF7F00 Mabgcolor=#FF7F00 Leonardbgcolor=#FF7F00 Fraserbgcolor=#99C955 WEAVERbgcolor=#99C955 Furstenaubgcolor=#99C955 Olsen
bgcolor=#FF0000 Cadieuxbgcolor=#FF0000 Stonebgcolor=#FF0000 Polakbgcolor=#FF0000 De Jongbgcolor=#FF0000 CLARKbgcolor=#FF0000 Colemanbgcolor=#FF0000 Wilkinsonbgcolor=#FF0000 Reidbgcolor=#FF0000 Bondbgcolor=#FF0000 Bernierbgcolor=#FF0000 Sullivanbgcolor=#FF0000 Leebgcolor=#FF0000 Tegartbgcolor=#FF0000 Yapbgcolor=#FF0000 Rediesbgcolor=#FF0000 Sultanbgcolor=#FF0000 Thornthwaitebgcolor=#FF0000 Martin
bgcolor=#FF0000 Stilwellbgcolor=#FF0000 Oakesbgcolor=#FF0000 Letnickbgcolor=#FF0000 Watbgcolor=#FF0000 Johalbgcolor=#FF0000 Sturdybgcolor=#FF0000 Rustadbgcolor=#FF0000 Rossbgcolor=#FF0000 Morrisbgcolor=#FF0000 Barnettbgcolor=#FF0000 Clovechokbgcolor=#FF0000 Isaacsbgcolor=#FF0000 Huntbgcolor=#FF0000 Gibsonbgcolor=#FF0000 Ashtonbgcolor=#FF0000 Daviesbgcolor=#FF0000 Patonbgcolor=#FF0000 Thronessbgcolor=#FF0000 Shypitkabgcolor=#FF0000 Plecas
bgcolor=#FF0000 Kyllobgcolor=#FF0000 Milobarbgcolor=#FF0000 Larsonbgcolor=#FF0000 Foster

Seating plan during New Democratic Party government

bgcolor=#FF0000 Reidbgcolor=#FFFFFF bgcolor=#FF0000 Watbgcolor=#FF0000 Larsonbgcolor=#FF0000 Foster
bgcolor=#FF0000 Polakbgcolor=#FF0000 Morrisbgcolor=#FF0000 Stilwellbgcolor=#FF0000 Ashtonbgcolor=#FF0000 Oakesbgcolor=#FF0000 Thomsonbgcolor=#FF0000 Sturdybgcolor=#FF0000 Rossbgcolor=#FF0000 Isaacsbgcolor=#FF0000 Milobarbgcolor=#FF0000 Thornthwaitebgcolor=#FF0000 Clovechokbgcolor=#FF0000 Yapbgcolor=#FF0000 Rediesbgcolor=#FF0000 Patonbgcolor=#FF0000 Gibsonbgcolor=#FF0000 Sultanbgcolor=#FF0000 Shypitka
bgcolor=#FF0000 Cadieuxbgcolor=#FF0000 Rustadbgcolor=#FF0000 Bondbgcolor=#FF0000 De Jongbgcolor=#FF0000 WILKINSONbgcolor=#FF0000 Colemanbgcolor=#FF0000 Kyllobgcolor=#FF0000 Stonebgcolor=#FF0000 Bernierbgcolor=#FF0000 Letnickbgcolor=#FF0000 Johalbgcolor=#FF0000 Leebgcolor=#FF0000 Huntbgcolor=#FF0000 Barnettbgcolor=#FF0000 Tegartbgcolor=#FF0000 Martinbgcolor=#FF0000 Thronessbgcolor=#FF0000 Daviesbgcolor=#FF0000 Sullivanbgcolor=#FF0000 Stewart
bgcolor=#FF7F00 Darcybgcolor=#FF7F00 Simpsonbgcolor=#FF7F00 Robinsonbgcolor=#FF7F00 Farnworthbgcolor=#FF7F00 HORGANbgcolor=#FF7F00 Jamesbgcolor=#FF7F00 Ebybgcolor=#FF7F00 Dixbgcolor=#FF7F00 Ralstonbgcolor=#FF7F00 Markbgcolor=#FF7F00 Flemingbgcolor=#FF7F00 Conroybgcolor=#FF7F00 Fraserbgcolor=#FF7F00 Herbertbgcolor=#FF7F00 Ricebgcolor=#FF7F00 Malcomsonbgcolor=#99C955 Furstenaubgcolor=#99C955 OLSENbgcolor=#FF7F00 Glumacbgcolor=gray Weaver
bgcolor=#FF7F00 Heymanbgcolor=#FF7F00 Donaldsonbgcolor=#FF7F00 Mungallbgcolor=#FF7F00 Bainsbgcolor=#FF7F00 Bearebgcolor=#FF7F00 Chenbgcolor=#FF7F00 Pophambgcolor=#FF7F00 Trevenabgcolor=#FF7F00 Simsbgcolor=#FF7F00 Chowbgcolor=#FF7F00 Kangbgcolor=#FF7F00 Simonsbgcolor=#FF7F00 D'Eithbgcolor=#FF7F00 Routleybgcolor=#FF7F00 Elmorebgcolor=#FF7F00 Mabgcolor=#FF7F00 Deanbgcolor=#FF7F00 Routledgebgcolor=#FF7F00 Singh
bgcolor=#FF7F00 Chouhanbgcolor=#FF7F00 Kahlonbgcolor=#FF7F00 Beggbgcolor=#FF7F00 Brarbgcolor=#FF7F00 Leonard

Standings changes

Standings changes in the 41st Parliament of British Columbia
Number of members per party by date2017201820192020
May 9July 18August 4September 9February 14November 30January 30August 1October 1January 20August 31434241424142414140413201212Total members878687868786010101
Government majority
 - 1 - 3 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3
Government with confidence-and-supply partners majority
 - 112101
+Membership changes in the 41st Parliament of British Columbia
DateDistrictMemberParty beforeParty afterReason
August 4, 2017Kelowna WestChristy ClarkLiberalVacantResigned her seat and as Liberal Party leader, following the defeat of her government and the swearing in of the NDP government.
September 9, 2017Abbotsford SouthDarryl PlecasLiberalIndependentExpelled from the Liberal caucus the day after being elected Speaker. He and the rest of the caucus had previously agreed not to serve as Speaker for a New Democratic Party government.
February 14, 2018Kelowna WestBen StewartVacantLiberalElected in by-election; Liberal hold.
November 30, 2018NanaimoLeonard KrogNDPVacantResigned seat after being elected mayor of Nanaimo.
January 30, 2019NanaimoSheila MalcolmsonVacantNDPElected in by-election; New Democratic Party hold.
August 1, 2019Kelowna WestBen StewartLiberalIndependentLeft caucus after Elections BC opened an investigation into whether he exceeded limits on donations in 2019.
October 1, 2019Kelowna WestBen StewartIndependentLiberalRejoined caucus after being cleared by Elections BC over donation limits.
January 20, 2020Oak Bay-Gordon HeadAndrew WeaverGreenIndependentLeft caucus to attend to family health problems.
August 31, 2020Surrey-White RockTracy RediesLiberalVacantResigned to become the next CEO of Science World.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Shaw . Rob . May 10, 2017 . B.C. Election 2017: Three leaders have backroom chats to find common ground . June 16, 2017 . Vancouver Sun.
  2. News: Brown . Scott . June 12, 2017 . B.C. Premier Christy Clark introduces new cabinet . . October 27, 2017.
  3. News: Hunter . Justine . May 24, 2017 . BC Liberals denied majority as final election count leaves government in danger . The Globe and Mail . October 27, 2017.
  4. News: McElroy . Justin . May 29, 2017 . B.C. Green Party agrees to support NDP in the legislature . CBC News . October 27, 2017.
  5. News: June 29, 2017 . B.C. Liberal government loses confidence vote 44–42, sparking either NDP government or election . CBC News . June 30, 2017.
  6. News: Kines . Lindsay . June 29, 2017 . Lieutenant-governor invites Horgan to take over, rejects another election . Times Colonist . October 27, 2017.
  7. News: Shaw . Rob . July 19, 2017 . B.C. NDP Cabinet 2017: Metro Vancouver MLAs handed key cabinet roles . . October 27, 2017.
  8. Web site: Courtenay–Comox heading to recount with 9-vote spread . May 13, 2017 . CBC News . CBC.
  9. News: January 15, 2020 . Andrew Weaver leaves B.C. Green Party to sit as independent . CBC News . August 31, 2020.
  10. Web site: June 12, 2017 . B.C. Premier Christy Clark and cabinet sworn in . June 16, 2017 . CBC News.
  11. Web site: June 12, 2017 . Order-in-Council 192/2017 . August 6, 2017 . British Columbia.
  12. Web site: June 12, 2017 . Order-in-Council 195/2017 . August 6, 2017 . British Columbia.
  13. Web site: June 18, 2017 . Order-in-Council 212/2017 . August 6, 2017 . British Columbia.
  14. Web site: June 22, 2017 . 30 throne speech pledges by the B.C. Liberals that weren't in their election platform . September 9, 2017 . CBC News.
  15. News: Leyne . Les . June 27, 2017 . B.C. Liberals hit opposition brick wall . A8 . Times Colonist . September 9, 2017.
  16. News: Smyth . Mike . September 9, 2017 . Darryl Plecas: Why I took the Speaker's job . . November 9, 2017.
  17. News: Shaw . Rob . November 7, 2017 . B.C. Speaker bars use of mock ministerial titles in legislature . . November 9, 2017.
  18. News: Shaw . Rob . October 5, 2017 . Province's fixed election date to shift from May to October; NDP bill also grants official party status to Greens, as per power-sharing deal . A8 . Vancouver Sun.
  19. News: Hunter . Justine . Tait . Carrie . September 23, 2017 . The long shadow of attack . S1 . The Globe and Mail.
  20. Web site: Yuzda . Liza . March 1, 2018 . BC NDP passes its budget on party lines . June 20, 2018 . Global News.
  21. Web site: Bill 44 – 2018: Budget Measures Implementation (Employer Health Tax) Act, 2018 .
  22. Web site: Bill 20 – 2018: Insurance (Vehicle) Amendment Act, 2018 .
  23. Web site: Bill 22 – 2018: Civil Resolution Tribunal Amendment Act, 2018 .
  24. Web site: May 8, 2018 . Position paper on the Civil Resolution Tribunal Amendment Act, 2018 . June 20, 2018 . Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch.
  25. Web site: Progress of Bills .
  26. Web site: McElroy . Justin . April 12, 2018 . B.C. government to give more rights and compensation to renovicted tenants . July 18, 2018 . CBC News.
  27. Web site: McElroy . Justin . April 24, 2018 . B.C. government to give cities power to create rental-only zoning, cracks down on presale flipping . July 18, 2018 . CBC News.
  28. News: April 26, 2018 . B.C. releases recreational pot rules – but prices and timelines still hazy . . June 20, 2018.
  29. Web site: Woo . Andrea . October 11, 2018 . B.C. tables bill to clear the way for lawsuit against opioid makers . November 11, 2018 . The Globe and Mail.
  30. Web site: Shaw . Rob . November 8, 2018 . B.C. to end contract-flipping wage cuts at senior care homes . January 27, 2019 . Vancouver Sun.
  31. News: Woo . Andrea . April 29, 2015 . Appeal court set to rule on teachers' union rights . S1 . The Globe and Mail.
  32. Web site: Bernardo . Marcella . November 19, 2018 . B.C. government introduces ride-hailing legislation . February 22, 2019 . City News 1130.
  33. News: October 23, 2018 . B.C. tables law to allow Temporary Foreign Worker employer registry . . February 15, 2019.
  34. News: Zussman . Richard . October 1, 2019 . BC Liberal MLA Ben Stewart returning to caucus after being cleared by Elections BC . Global News . December 1, 2019.
  35. News: Sherlock . Tracy . February 21, 2019 . Young families, student loan holders big winners in B.C.'s 2019 budget . A10 . . Vancouver.
  36. News: Bennett . Nelson . January 30, 2019 . Horgan announces incentives for mining . A2 . Prince George Citizen . Prince George, British Columbia.
  37. Web site: Bill 5 Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2019 .
  38. Web site: Fletcher . Tom . November 19, 2019 . B.C. to more than double sales tax on vaping products . November 30, 2019 . Victoria News.
  39. News: Shaw . Rob . April 2, 2019 . B.C. Liberals force change to LNG bill as Greens walk . Times Colonist . May 24, 2019.
  40. Web site: McElroy . Justin . December 27, 2019 . 'I'm happy to move on': Andrew Weaver expresses no regrets as he takes a step back . CBC News.
  41. Web site: Mangione . Kendra . March 28, 2019 . No MSP premiums by 2020: NDP introduces legislation years after campaign promise . May 24, 2019.
  42. Web site: Boynton . Sean . October 26, 2019 . B.C. government introduces rules to crack down on hidden business ownership . November 15, 2019 . Global News.
  43. News: Hoekstra . Gordon . October 21, 2019 . B.C. strengthens enforcement, fine collection with changes to B.C. Securities Act . Vancouver Sun . November 15, 2019.
  44. News: Wood . Graeme . April 5, 2019 . New Crown agency aimed at changing administration of financial services regulations in B.C. . Vancouver Courier . May 24, 2019.
  45. News: Penner . Derrick . November 13, 2019 . Finance minister steps along path toward single real estate regulator; 'It will take some time to transition' in fight against money laundering . A3 . Vancouver Sun.
  46. Web site: February 15, 2019 . B.C. proposes stronger security for witnesses testifying at criminal trials . November 15, 2019 . CBC News.
  47. Web site: Hainsworth . Jeremy . May 23, 2019 . Scrap Community Safety Act, civil society groups urge Victoria . November 28, 2019 . Vancouver Courier.
  48. News: Linnitt . Carol . October 24, 2019 . Unravelling B.C.'s landmark legislation on Indigenous rights . The Narwhal . November 30, 2019.
  49. News: Smith . Charlie . February 15, 2019 . Attorney General David Eby introduces legislation to ward off nuisance suits that stifle public debate . Vancouver Sun . May 24, 2019.
  50. News: Shaw . Rob . April 9, 2019 . New B.C. legislation bans ticket scalping bots . Vancouver Sun . May 24, 2019.
  51. Web site: Baker . Rafferty . May 29, 2019 . B.C. passes law to increase sales of zero emission vehicles . November 15, 2019 . CBC News.
  52. News: Little . Simon . November 28, 2019 . B.C. passes law to force oil companies to reveal how gas prices are set . Global News . December 7, 2019.
  53. Web site: June 25, 2018 . B.C. announces tougher rules to rein in payday lenders . November 15, 2019 . CBC News.
  54. Web site: Lindsay . Bethany . December 5, 2019 . Health risk warnings ignored as B.C. moves to permanent daylight time, researchers say . CBC News.
  55. Web site: March 6, 2019 . B.C. strengthens protections of heritage, archeological sites with updated law . CBC News.
  56. Web site: Zussman . Richard . April 29, 2019 . B.C. increasing minimum work age, adding protection for workers fleeing domestic violence . November 15, 2019 . Global News.
  57. News: Hager . Mike . April 30, 2019 . B.C. NDP government adjusts labour code, tipping balance in workers' favour . The Globe and Mail . November 15, 2019.
  58. News: Hunter . Justine . October 29, 2019 . B.C. government faces fierce criticism over new farmland protections . The Globe and Mail . November 15, 2019.
  59. News: Luymes . Glenda . May 3, 2019 . B.C. forest industry concerned about proposed changes to timber harvesting rights . Vancouver Sun . November 15, 2019.
  60. Web site: Shaw . Rob . April 2, 2019 . New legislation to boost oversight, reduce rate hikes at B.C. Hydro . November 16, 2019 . Vancouver Sun.
  61. Web site: Shaw . Rob . April 3, 2019 . NDP want to inject 'public interest' in decision-making at B.C. Ferries . November 16, 2019 . Vancouver Sun.
  62. Web site: Fletcher . Tom . March 23, 2020 . B.C. legislature meets briefly with minimum MLAs to deal with COVID-19 . Victoria News . Victoria, British Columbia.
  63. Web site: Chiang . Chuck . June 24, 2020 . B.C. government introduces bill to allow deficit budgets for next three fiscal years . Business in Vancouver.
  64. Web site: Chan . Kenneth . February 18, 2020 . 16 things you need to know about the BC government's 2020 budget . Daily Hive.
  65. News: Fletcher . Tanya . March 3, 2020 . New B.C. law to provide 5 days paid leave for workers facing sexual or domestic violence . CBC News .
  66. News: Woodin . Hayley . February 19, 2020 . Features, faults of no-fault auto insurance . Business in Vancouver .
  67. Web site: Andrew Wilkinson shaking up B.C Liberal leadership team . November 27, 2020 . Global News.
  68. Web site: Andrew Weaver leaves B.C. Green Party to sit as independent .