The high drama and suspense last Thursday in Victoria involving the outgoing and income premiers is over.
With the NDP/Greens now forming the B.C. government, and the Liberals becoming the opposition, Mission’s two MLAs are preparing to get down to business in their new roles.
Bob D’Eith, the new NDP MLA for Maple Ridge-Mission, said the past two months have been “exciting and nail-biting,” adding that last Thursday’s non-confidence vote was historic.
“Obviously, we are very excited to form government. That’s something that hasn’t happened in 16 years and, of course, this is the first time the government has transitioned in 16 years so there’s a lot to do.”
His first order of business is to open his office. D’Eith is going to take over former MLA Marc Dalton’s office in Maple Ridge.
However, because he is an NDP MLA, D’Eith will not be sharing office space in the Abbotsford- Mission riding with Liberal MLA Simon Gibson.
“Obviously that won’t work.”
Instead, a new plan is being created to serve the needs of Missionites.
“What we’re going to be doing is create a mobile office situation in Mission. We will be out there often. I was out there all the time during the election and there is a lot of time and energy that needs to be put into Mission issues,” said D’Eith.
He plans to offer case work and advocacy to people in Mission through the new mobile office.
D’Eith said he’s excited to get to work, now that the NDP has formed government.
In the Abbotsford-Mission riding, Simon Gibson had the opposite reaction to last week’s change in government.
“Obviously, it was quite disappointing. We had felt the Greens may be open to the two pieces of legislation we proposed – one providing significant reductions in the manner in which parties can raises funds and the second giving party status to the Greens – but they opposed that given the agreement they had with the NDP,” Gibson said.
Being a member of the opposition is a new experience for Gibson.
“I know I’ll still be able to represent people in this community in Victoria and I’ll continue to do the best work I can under the circumstances,” he said. “But my opportunities to engage with ministers will be significantly reduced.”
While Gibson won his seat by a large margin during the May 9 election, he said that experience is “bittersweet given my party was not successful in securing a majority.”
However, he did say the Liberals won more seats than either of the other parties and earned the most popular vote.
During the election campaign, Gibson and the Liberals promised to provide funding to create a $15 million, 40-unit transitional housing and shelter space for men and women in need in Mission.
It’s a promise that may not happen now that the Liberals are out of power.
“I will pursue that to the best of my ability with the new government. However, it is unclear at this point what their aspirations may be with regard to this initiative,” Gibson said.
D’Eith said everyone realizes there are critical issues that have to be dealt with.
“One of the key pieces in our platform, provincially, was to tackle homelessness with poverty reduction, with planning, with affordable housing, with increased services for mental health and addictions. Those are all part of tackling the problem, not just dealing with the symptoms,” said D’Eith.
He added the NDP government is setting up a new ministry of mental health and addictions.
D’Eith plans to look at all of the issues that came up while he was campaigning in Mission. He said concerns about the Mission Hospital, safety on Highway 7, ICBC and MSP costs, and transit services for seniors were all on Mission voters’ minds.
“We are really committed to tackling affordability and restoring services. How that applies specifically to Mission is what I’m going to advocate for,” D’Eith said.
He is hoping to be able to work together with Gibson on all issues that impact Mission.
Gibson said he hopes the relationship will be cordial.
“I’m sure Bob and I will do our best to secure the needed services and attention for the people of Mission.”