BY AMAN SINGH

NDP MLA for Richmond-Queensborough

OVER the legislative spring session, my colleagues and I have been working hard to make progress on the issues British Columbians care about most. We’ve heard from people in our communities that the cost of living, access to health care, and public safety are top of mind – these are priorities our government has worked on this spring.

Now, I’m looking forward to returning home to Richmond to meet with community members, local leaders, organizations, and to attend some of our exciting upcoming summer events, to get into our community and hear more from you.

This spring, we passed 25 pieces of legislation and invested in programs and services that are making life better for British Columbians. This includes launching a plan to better detect and prevent cancers and implementing a new payment model for family doctors, which has added 482 more family doctors in B.C.

We made strides for gender equity by passing pay-transparency legislation to help close the gender pay gap and made prescription contraception free, which will save people hundreds of dollars per year. In February, we made National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a statutory day of commemoration so we can best honour those impacted by the ongoing harmful legacy of residential schools.

In our community, we’ve made huge progress at the new patient care tower at Royal Columbia Hospital, improved access to Steveston Harbour, and provided over $20 million to the City of Richmond and $16 million to the City of New Westminster to fund key projects and infrastructure. We also created public safety hubs in New Westminster and across the province, bringing together police, prosecutors and probation officers to better address repeat violent offenders.

Next week, on June 1, B.C.’s minimum wage will increase to $16.75 per hour. As we continue to feel the impact of inflation, this will help make sure that the most vulnerable workers and their families don’t fall behind.  We recently launched the Future Ready Plan, which is focused on giving people the skills and knowledge needed for in-demand, good-paying jobs now and into the future.

The past few years have been difficult, and we’ve all faced new challenges that require creative and innovative solutions. Work in the legislature is only part of the work we are doing to help people across B.C. to thrive. I’m proud to have accomplished so much during this spring legislative session, and I’m looking forward to connecting with many of you over the summer months.