October 3, 2005 I would like to rise and offer my support of the motion of the member for Vancouver-Burrard. We realized a lot of lessons from the firestorm situation in Kelowna, and I think it sensitized us to the catastrophic events that can occur at the hands of nature. The people of British Columbia were therefore very quick to respond with their expressions of concern to the victims of this horrific disaster in New Orleans and the Bay Area. They responded quickly with a call to action and with dollars in support. Throughout British Columbia we witnessed the spontaneous giving of significant dollars to agencies such as the Red Cross, and I would encourage all those British Columbians who have not yet helped to help through the Red Cross and agencies like that. [read more]

I'm happy to speak to this bill today, Bill 13. I think the number is perhaps pernicious, and I hope it will bring bad luck for all those involved in criminal activity and that they'll lose what they'd hoped to gain by their proceeds. [read more]

I rise today to speak about Small Business Week. We have heard an array of numbers this week providing statistical evidence of the importance of small businesses to B.C., but it isn't just about the numbers. It celebrates what is at the core of what has built this great province. It celebrates individual entrepreneurship and people with a vision, a dream, who are willing to take the risk of putting their dreams on the line in that crucible of public judgment — the marketplace. [read more]

I rise to enthusiastically support the North Island–Coast Development Initiative Trust Act. I bring my support from the perspective of a city councillor for six years in the city of Nanaimo. Many is the time we travelled the long road down here to Victoria, cap in hand, to meet various ministers to seek funding for one of our projects in our local area — very successfully on many occasions. In fact, I want to compliment and thank the government for their support of our Vancouver Island conference centre, where they contributed $8.3 million, a significant amount, towards the project in Nanaimo. That's a significant contribution that makes the project viable. [read more]

It is a great honour and a privilege to be recognized in this House this morning, and I rise to second the Speech from the Throne. The speech lays out a comprehensive approach to building on the success that the economy has achieved in recent years. [read more]