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Surrey-White Rock MLA says BC Liberals received message from urban voters

Redies responds to Premier Christy Clark’s throne speech on YouTube

The Semiahmoo Peninsula’s newest MLA released a Youtube video – her first such social-media posting since winning the May 9 election – responding to Thursday’s throne speech.

In the nearly two-minute post, Tracy Redies, BC Liberal MLA for Surrey-White Rock, reiterates key components of the vision for the province that was laid out by Premier Christy Clark – which includes everything from creating child-care spaces to reforming the political-donation system.

At the outset of her response, Redies concedes that election results – which left the BC Liberals with a minority government and sparked a co-operation agreement between the BC NDP and the BC Green Party – sent her party a message.

“While our government received strong support from rural British Columbia, it’s clear that urban British Columbians expect us to do some things differently,” she states.

In addition to child- and health-care investments, Redies names creation of a poverty-reduction strategy, a plan to appoint a minister dedicated to mental health, addiction and recovery, and a new hospital for Surrey as among highlights of the BC Liberals’ plan.

Clark’s speech was criticized by opposition parties as taking from their handbooks.

Exactly how long the BC Liberals will remain in power to deliver on their promises remains uncertain.

NDP Leader John Horgan has said he will make a motion of non-confidence in the throne speech on Monday.

Elections BC spokesman Andrew Watson confirmed following the throne speech that the agency is preparing for the possibility that voters could soon be heading back to the polls.

“We are conducting preparatory activities in case we are called upon to administer a snap election this year or before the next scheduled date in 2021,” Watson told Black Press.

“These activities include inquiring about space availability for district electoral offices and voting places, restocking supplies [such as] ballot boxes, training materials and preparing to recruit election officials.

“These activities in no way presume that another election will be called this year, but recognize that this is a possibility.”



Tracy Holmes

About the Author: Tracy Holmes

Tracy Holmes has been a reporter with Peace Arch News since 1997.
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