Missed opportunity to secure B.C.’s economic futureRe: What The Throne Speech Didn’t Tell You About British Columbia, Feb. 14

Op-ed - Feb. 21, 2017 - By Josha MacNab

Published in The Globe and Mail (February 21, 2017)

On February 14, 2017, the speech from the throne opened the sixth session of the 40th Parliament of the Province of British Columbia. Photo: Province of B.C.

British Columbia’s pre-election throne speech is the latest missed opportunity for the provincial government to stand up for B.C. families and communities amid the global shift to a low carbon economy (What The Throne Speech Didn’t Tell You About British Columbia, Feb. 14.)

British Columbians have been waiting far too long for the government to secure B.C.’s economic future in today’s changing world.

With last year’s weak climate plan, the government made little progress on laying the groundwork for a clean growth century in British Columbia and failed to get rising carbon pollution under control. As other provinces and countries make plans to reduce carbon pollution and take advantage of new economic opportunities, the B.C. government’s inaction risks B.C. being left behind. With last week’s throne speech, we were disappointed to not see a renewed commitment to get British Columbia back on track.

British Columbians deserve a government with the courage to say yes to the clean growth and green jobs that will safeguard our economic future.

The throne speech did little to advance the certainty and stability that British Columbians are looking for.

Josha MacNab, B.C. director at the Pembina Institute, Vancouver

This letter to the editor appeared in the Globe and Mail on February 21, 2017.


Josha MacNab
Josha MacNab

Josha MacNab was the national director of policy and strategy for the Pembina Institute from 2005 to 2022.


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