News
Wednesday, October 12, 2016 » Editorial
Need more than slogans to address domestic violence
The legislature was set to resume last week but the Christy Clark government cancelled the fall sitting. One of the questions I would have asked the Premier is whatever happened to her 2014 slogan of a “Violence Free BC?” Worthwhile slogan, with very little action backing it up two years on.
Wednesday, September 28, 2016 » Editorial
Our natural resources are going up in smoke
There couldn’t have been a much starker example to raise the question of how we best utilize local natural resources than what happened in the air last Thursday from Smithers to Hazelton and beyond.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016 » Editorial
Public confidence, investor certainty needed
This summer is the second-year anniversary of two major events in the province that are having significant impacts on mining.
Thursday, August 4, 2016 » Media Release
Two years after Mount Polley disaster, B.C. Liberals have abandoned local communities
Two years after promising to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with communities affected by the Mount Polley disaster the Christy Clark government has failed to address the disaster’s impacts on the local economy and failed to hold the company accountable for polluting Quesnel Lake, says New Democrat Leader John Horgan.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016 » Editorial
Depression widespread, access to treatment inadequate
Most of us know people who at some point in their lives have suffered as a result of clinical depression. It could be that you’ve experienced it personally, or with a family member, a neighbour, a friend.
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 » Editorial
Decisions make it difficult to access parks
Provincial parks are supposed to be places where B.C. residents can relax and experience the natural beauty of our province in an affordable way. Yet it’s getting harder and harder to experience that beauty in parts of B.C. through the publicly-owned provincial park system.
Wednesday, June 29, 2016 » Editorial
Families put through emotional wringer
As we rejoice in the high school graduation of many students in Stikine during the past week, it is hard to imagine a more chaotic approach to the public education system than that displayed by the Christy Clark government over the past month.
Wednesday, June 1, 2016 » Editorial
Locally-owned businesses key in rural economy
There is no doubt that locally-owned businesses are what create resilience and wealth retention in rural economies in BC.
Wednesday, May 4, 2016 » Editorial
Urgent and immediate action required on youth mental health
Statistics indicate 20 per cent of British Columbians will personally experience mental illness in their lifetime. In many cases there can be devastating consequences to the individual, their families, friends and society-at-large.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016 » Editorial
Banning corporate and union donations to B.C. political parties
In the last two weeks, we in the Official Opposition introduced two Private Members Bills in the legislature that would go a long way to taking big money out of our provincial political system and create a more level and fair playing field for all.
Wednesday, March 16, 2016 » News Coverage
“The addiction to social media” - winning essay by Nathan Steenhof
Walking into a coffee shop I take a minute to look around. The sight that greets me is very depressing, everyone is glued to their phones and there is almost no face to face interaction.
Wednesday, March 16, 2016 » Media Release
Donaldson announces “Score One for Solutions” contest winner
A winner has been selected by a panel of community judges in the Stikine MLA’s annual contest for youth. Nathan Steenhof, a grade 10 student at Bulkley Valley Christian School, wrote the winning essay for the “Score One for Solutions” contest that Doug Donaldson and a team of sponsors offered to young people in his riding.
Friday, March 11, 2016 » Media Release
Statement on flawed hair test being used to apprehend children
B.C. New Democrat children and families spokesperson, Doug Donaldson, issued the following statement on revelations that a flawed hair test was used as evidence to apprehend children.
Wednesday, March 2, 2016 » Editorial
Tax break to millionaires as school closures considered contrasts priorities
There was a very stark contrast in priorities that played out in the provincial legislature last week.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016 » Editorial
Budget and throne speeches are out of touch with northern realities
The recent throne and budget speeches demonstrate a stark lack of understanding of challenges faced by those living in rural, northern communities like we have in Stikine.
Friday, February 19, 2016 » Media Release
Stikine MLA named deputy spokesperson for Mining
Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson was named deputy spokesperson for mining yesterday by Official Opposition leader John Horgan, in addition to retaining his role as lead spokesperson in the children and family development portfolio.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016 » Editorial
PowerBC means more local jobs
PowerBC is an energy strategy released in November that is worth further consideration as our hydro bills hit their peak during even this warm winter.
Wednesday, January 20, 2016 » Editorial
Vision for children in care needs a higher bar
A significant news story broke last week related to the BC Liberals’ approach to a difficult issue associated with kids in government care in B.C.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016 » Editorial
Agriculture policy needed for BC grown food
All indications are that the trend for increasing food prices will continue in the coming year.
Wednesday, December 23, 2015 » Editorial
Themes of hope, peace, joy and love
Hope, peace, joy and love are the themes assigned to each of the four Sundays of Advent and activities associated with the symbolic meaning of the Advent wreath, including celebrating spreading light and shedding darkness.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015 » Editorial
No excuse for not taking action
I made this statement in the legislature on the need for public transportation along Highway 16 more than two years ago.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015 » News Coverage
CBC and CKPG interviews regarding youth found in drug house
Two interviews regarding the unacceptable situation of youth known to the Ministry of Children and Family Development frequenting a drug house in Prince George where 10,000 used needles were found during a recent RCMP raid.
Thursday, December 3, 2015 » Media Release
Answers needed about children staying in Prince George drug den
New Democrats are demanding answers from the Christy Clark government following reports that children involved with the Ministry of Children and Family Development were staying at a known drug den in Prince George.
Thursday, October 8, 2015 » Media Release
Alarming MCFD staff shortages putting children at risk
A new report from the Representative for Children and Youth reveals that the B.C. Liberals have been misleading the public in response to questions about children dying in government care.
Tuesday, October 6, 2015 » News Coverage
Lower Mainland mental-health facility for children faces delay: The Globe and Mail
The timeline for a new Lower Mainland facility that would provide urgent psychiatric care for children and teens has been pushed back, in part because corporate donors had not yet been lined up to back the project.
Friday, October 2, 2015 » Media Release
Cancellation of child protection committee meetings is the worst form of politics
The B.C. Liberals have cancelled parliamentary meetings aimed at protecting vulnerable children, say the New Democrats.
Thursday, September 3, 2015 » Media Release
B.C. NDP urging peaceful resolution at Unist’ot’en Camp
New Democrat spokesperson for aboriginal relations and reconciliation, Scott Fraser, and Doug Donaldson, MLA for Stikine, released the following statement on the ongoing situation at the Unist’ot’en camp:
Sunday, August 30, 2015 » News Coverage
Wet’suwet’en hereditary chief Namox and Doug visited the Unist’ot’en camp
Wet'suwet'en hereditary chief Namox and Doug visited the Unist'ot'en camp yesterday to check on safety and witness what they are experiencing.
Friday, August 14, 2015 » Media Release
Sexually abused children being revictimized by the B.C. Liberals’ continuing legal war
The B.C. Liberals misled the public last week when they said their decision to appeal a scathing sexual abuse case was about matters of law not about attacking the family, say New Democrats.
Friday, August 7, 2015 » Media Release
B.C. Liberals drag traumatized family back to court again
Premier Christy Clark’s minister of children and families made the shocking decision to appeal the second scathing B.C. Supreme Court ruling in a horrific child abuse case.
Friday, July 24, 2015 » Media Release
Children’s Ministry review puts protecting the minister above protecting children
The B.C. Liberals have designed the review of the Ministry of Children and Families to fail, say New Democrats.
Friday, July 17, 2015 » Media Release
Reality Check: Children’s ministry blocked help for children sexually abused in their care
New Democrats asked the Minister of Children and Families in the legislature this week if she would ensure children in the ministry’s care who were handed over to their sexually abusive father would receive the support they need to overcome the abuse they suffered.
Thursday, July 16, 2015 » News Coverage
NDP demands apology from B.C. minister after scathing child abuse ruling - CTV News
British Columbia's children's minister has announced a review into the case of a father who molested his toddler despite a court order banning unsupervised visits.
Monday, May 25, 2015 » Media Release
Liberals refuse to take action to protect youth in care
Despite a damning report into the life and death of Paige, a child in the government’s care - the B.C. Liberals plan to continue to throw vulnerable youth out of care and on to the street as soon as they turn 19 say New Democrats.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015 » News Coverage
Comment: Isabella’s death must not go unexplained
It’s difficult to imagine anything more heart-wrenching than the death of an infant child. Isabella Wiens was only 21 months old when she died.
Monday, April 20, 2015 »
“How do you take care of your Mental Health?” - winning essay by Hannah Trombley
Mental health affects how you think, feel and act. It determines how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices. It is equally as important as physical health, and is extremely important in every stage of life; from childhood to adult.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015 » Media Release
Hundreds of millions wasted on B.C. Liberal computer mess
An auditor general’s report shows the B.C. Liberals’ Integrated Case Management system (ICM) is an unfinished, dysfunctional mess that doesn’t accomplish what it set out to do, and fails to protect sensitive information about vulnerable children and their families.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015 » Media Release
Donaldson announces “Score One for Mental Wellness” contest winner
A winner has been selected by a panel of community judges in the Stikine MLA’s annual contest for youth. Hannah Trombley, a grade 12 student from Hazelton, wrote the winning essay for the “Score One for Mental Wellness” contest that Donaldson and a team of sponsors offered to young people in his riding.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015 » Media Release
Delay in MCFD placement harming children of murdered mother
It’s distressing that 10 months after their mother was murdered, the children of Angila Wilson remain in the care of strangers, rather than with their aunt and uncle, says Doug Donaldson, the New Democrat spokesperson for children and family development.
Monday, January 12, 2015 » Media Release
B.C. Liberals continuing to fail kids in care, report shows
A new report confirms that the B.C. Liberals are continuing to fail children in care, say the New Democrats.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015 » Media Release
BC Liberals water down New Democrat legislation that would rule out oil bitumen in gas pipelines
The B.C. Liberals refused to pass New Democrat legislation that would rule out pumping oil and diluted bitumen through natural gas pipelines, and instead watered down the legislation into a simple regulation that could easily be reversed.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015 » News Coverage
MLA wants tougher rules on B.C. pipelines earmarked for LNG projects: Globe and Mail
A proposed network of pipelines from natural gas fields in British Columbia’s northeast to liquefied natural gas export plants in the northwest will not be permitted to pump oil and diluted bitumen, the provincial government says.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014 » Media Release
B.C. Liberals failing B.C.’s most vulnerable children
The B.C. Liberals are failing to provide appropriate care for children and youth who have multiple vulnerabilities according to a new report from the Representative for Children and Youth.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014 » Media Release
New Democrat bill would prevent conversion of pipelines to transport bitumen
A private member’s bill introduced by New Democrat MLA Doug Donaldson would prevent the conversion of natural gas pipelines to transport heavy oil or diluted bitumen.
Thursday, November 6, 2014 » Media Release
B.C. Liberals are failing to protect B.C.‘s most vulnerable children
A report released today shows the B.C. Liberals are failing to manage B.C.'s child and youth protection system.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014 » News Coverage
B.C. child welfare program offer to First Nation backfires over LNG ties: The Globe and Mail
A ham-fisted attempt to win First Nations support for the province’s liquefied natural gas ambitions has backfired, threatening support for the Pacific Trail pipeline needed to bring natural gas to Kitimat for a proposed LNG plant.
Friday, September 26, 2014 » Media Release
B.C. Liberals must stop clawing back bursaries from youth in care
The B.C. Liberals must stop clawing back bursaries provided by colleges and universities to current and former youth in care say New Democrats.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014 » Editorial
Premier’s words and actions don’t match
Let’s make one thing perfectly clear. Premier Christy Clark is not in the corner of working people in this province. More and more it is apparent she knows what to say, then does what she wants.
Monday, September 8, 2014 » News Coverage
School board voices frustration as government closes door on binding arbitration: Vancouver Sun
The head of the Vancouver school board voiced her dismay Sunday that the school year is entering its second week with no sign of classes resuming.
Saturday, September 6, 2014 » News Coverage
Time for premier to set a new tone with teachers: Victoria Times Colonist
Tuesday should have been the first day of school in our province. Instead, it brought another day of frustration and disappointment for children and their families.