British Columbia Minute: Speaker Situation, Judicial Recounts, and the Halloween Treat Count

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

This Week In British Columbia:

• Business groups are urging the incoming NDP government to prioritize economic stability. A coalition of business organizations has requested swift action to address economic challenges, including a rising unemployment rate and increasing operational costs. Specific demands include increasing the payroll cap for the Employer Health Tax and reducing permit wait times. The groups emphasize that while factors like inflation are uncontrollable, the government can alleviate the cost of doing business within the province. Additionally, they are calling for an “ease of doing business review,” as promised by the NDP, to include input from small businesses.
  
  
• The new NDP government faces a challenge in appointing a Speaker for the legislature, a required step before proceeding with legislative business. With only 47 seats, the NDP risks losing its slim majority if one of its members takes the role. Historically, opposition parties have occasionally filled this position, but BC Conservative Leader John Rustad has ruled out nominating someone from his party. The BC Greens, with only two MLAs, are also unlikely candidates, leaving the NDP to possibly negotiate a support agreement with them to appoint a Speaker from within their own ranks.
  
  
• Judicial recounts are pending in two closely contested ridings, which, while unlikely, could alter the NDP’s majority status. The BC Supreme Court has scheduled those recounts for November 7th and 8th. In Kelowna Centre, the Conservatives currently hold a narrow 38-vote lead over the NDP, while in Surrey-Guildford, the NDP leads the Conservatives by 27 votes. Elections BC will release the official outcomes once the recounts are completed.

Last Week In British Columbia:

• The 2024 BC Treat Count, conducted by CBC News in partnership with SFU's City Program, tracked trick-or-treater activity across British Columbia, revealing high participation levels in traditional hotspots like Douglas Park, Trinity Street, and Queens Park. Neighbourhoods in Fraser Valley, including Abbotsford and Langley, saw a notable increase, with some homes receiving over 1,000 visitors. The data suggests that areas with more affordable family-sized housing attract higher trick-or-treater numbers. Most respondents felt inflation didn’t impact their Halloween experience, though some scaled back on candy and decorations.
  
  
• The RCMP discovered what they described as Canada’s largest and most advanced drug superlab in the small town of Falkland, a community of under 1,000 residents. Located on a remote 66-hectare property, the lab yielded a massive haul: 54 kilograms of fentanyl, 390 kilograms of methamphetamine, 35 kilograms of cocaine, and numerous firearms, including AR-15-style rifles. Local residents, surprised by the discovery, noted the property had previously been raided for illegal cannabis before legalization. Police also found explosives, high-capacity magazines, and nearly half a million dollars in cash.
  
  
• BC port employers have issued a lockout notice to over 700 foremen in response to a strike notice from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514. The BC Maritime Employers Association announced that it will begin a lockout today, halting all cargo operations, citing the need for an “orderly wind-down” due to the union’s planned job action. The union states it had only intended limited actions, such as an overtime ban, and accuses the employers of overreacting and failing to negotiate key issues like staffing in light of increased automation.