BC Greens say they will not support Bill 15

Premier David Ebby government’s proposed Bill 15, which would speed up approvals for new schools and hospitals in the province, will not receive support from the Green Party. West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA Jeremy Valeriott says the provincial government wants to take more power through Bill 15.

He said that we agree that unnecessary red tape should be eliminated to speed up the development of hospitals, schools and other public infrastructure, but with Bill 15 as it stands, we are concerned that the government could bypass environmental assessments, municipal authorities and First Nations jurisdiction to approve any project it deems provincially important.

It is noteworthy that the opposition from the BC Greens comes at a time when it has a four-year supply-and-confidence agreement with the ruling NDP.