B.C. politicians switch things up with morning question period in legislature

VICTORIA – British Columbia’s politicians are getting early wake-up calls to make it to the legislature on time for their experiment with morning question periods.

The traditional afternoon question periods which have been known to quickly degenerate into 30-minute matches of finger-pointing and screaming now start at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

So far, politicians say they are adapting to the morning schedule, with Attorney General Suzanne Anton saying she and her Liberal government colleagues are prepared to face New Democrat questions day or night.

B.C. politicians who returned to the legislature last week after a seven-month break are expected to sit until late May, and — in contrast to recent years — will return again in the fall.

Opposition finance critic Mike Farnworth started today’s session by asking the Liberals to explain how life is getting easier for British Columbians when medical services premiums, hydro rates and ferry fares are rising.

The morning question period experiment is up for review in the fall.