British Columbia Minute: MLA Salaries, Foreign Ferries, and Notes Not Required

British Columbia Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of British Columbia politics.

This Week In British Columbia:

• BC Ferries plans to have four new major vessels built by 2029, but none will be constructed in Canada. No domestic shipyards submitted proposals, though the corporation says local industry may still contribute in other ways. BC Ferries expects to award the contracts by June and is focused on finding a builder with a strong safety and performance record.
  
  
• British Columbia will change its employment standards law to stop employers from requiring sick notes for short-term absences. The move aims to reduce administrative burdens on doctors and prevent unnecessary clinic visits by ill workers. Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside said the change will clarify that workers do not need to provide sick notes for minor illnesses. Health Minister Josie Osborne noted that such paperwork often wastes clinical time and increases the spread of illness. New regulations will be in place before the upcoming respiratory illness season.
  
  
• Premier David Eby is calling for an end to western separation rhetoric, dismissing it as a “tired trope” that undermines national unity and plays to a narrow base. Eby linked the resurgence of separatist sentiment to perceived inequities in federal funding, arguing that unequal treatment fuels resentment. He emphasized that special programs for provinces like Ontario and Quebec contribute to western alienation and urged the next federal government to ensure fair distribution of resources. What do you think? Is BC treated fairly?

Last Week In British Columbia:

• The Province proposed to eliminate one of the two road tests required in its graduated licensing system. Currently, drivers must take a road test to earn their Class 7 licence and another after two years to obtain a full Class 5 licence. Under the new plan, only the first test would be needed, streamlining the process. Public Safety Minister Garry Begg says the change would ease pressure on ICBC, which is facing long test wait times due to staffing shortages and high failure rates. The goal is to reduce delays for new drivers trying to book their initial road test.
  
  
• The BC Health Coalition urged the Province to cancel its contract with Quest Diagnostics, the US-based owner of LifeLabs. Quest acquired LifeLabs last year for $1.35 billion and has since faced an ongoing strike by 1,200 BC workers. In an open letter, the coalition called on Premier David Eby to follow through on his directive to cut ties with US firms amid a tariff dispute. Protesters rallied outside the Legislature, arguing public control of lab services would improve care. The Ministry of Health responded that cancelling the contract now would disrupt testing and impact patient safety.
  
  
• BC Conservative Leader John Rustad called for an independent review of MLA salaries, arguing that current pay is insufficient to attract skilled professionals in their prime earning years. Despite supporting a freeze on MLA raises for 2025, Rustad called for salaries to be tied to average wage growth rather than inflation. Currently, BC MLAs earn a base salary of about $119,500, with top-ups for roles like Premier or Cabinet Ministers. Compared to other provinces, BC MLAs are among the higher-paid, though Alberta and Quebec offer more. Federally, MPs earn significantly more, with a base salary of $209,800.