Liberals introduce seniors, pest, fish, forests and booze laws and amendments

VICTORIA – British Columbia’s Liberal government introduced a flurry of legislation today ranging from the creation of an advocate for senior citizens to officially honouring Pacific salmon as the provincial fish.

The Liberals introduced 15 pieces of legislation that include the year-old promise of a seniors advocate following a highly critical seniors-care report by Ombudsperson Kim Carter.

Changes introduced under a sweeping miscellaneous bill include plans to promote schools as after-hours day-care sites, extend medical services plan coverage for B.C. residents who take long-term vacations and offer more protection for children exposed to domestic violence.

B.C. already has a provincial flower, mineral, tree, bird and mammal, and now the government is moving to make the Pacific Salmon the provincial fish emblem in recognition of the salmon’s high ecological, cultural and economic significance.

An additional piece of proposed legislation was introduced by Independent MLA Bob Simpson who wants B.C.’s fixed election date to be changed from the spring to the fall in time for the 2017 vote.

Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid says B.C.’s seniors advocate will be the first of its kind in Canada and the advocate will work in collaboration with seniors by focusing primarily on all-embracing issues as opposed to individual cases.