The legislation is coming through fast and furious now – with the introduction of more bills this week, including changes to the way resource industry roads are managed and amendments to the wildlife act.

It was also a chance to debates some of that Legislation. A number of bills have been up for debate and have moved into the detailed discussion of committee stage.

The Official Opposition tried to lift the veil of secrecy which covers much of what this government is doing when we debated the bill which will introduce a cap and trade regime to cut greenhouse gases. The bill was tabled is enabling legislation – that means it provides a framework and allows Cabinet to fill in the details. On something as important as this, we wanted to have a broader discussion so we tried to refer the bill to a legislative committee so those all important details on could be filled in. I was able to raise my concerns during that debate; unfortunately our motion was defeated. I continued to question the amount of trust we could have in the government on this issue when we debated the bill the following day.

The impacts of this government continue for many years. Cuts which came down in 2002 are continuing to be felt: some of the damage has been reflected in the continuing levels of domestic violence. That was examined in a report published this week, and during question period I challenged the Solicitor General to invest monies in re-establishing a network to help to prevent and counsel on domestic violence.

With another round of ferry fare increases, the Opposition was not the only ones aghast that the Board of Directors of BC Ferries spent $700,000 to increase their own stipends. There was robust questioning of the Minister of Transportation during question period, during which I suggested that the minister might want to come to visit ferry dependent communities.

I was able to engage the Minister of Education on two issues of import to the north island: a realisation that the physical condition of Alert Bay school is appalling and a commitment that her deputy will talk to the superintendent of School District 85 to find ways to maintain Quatsino and Echo Bay schools.

I also explored the government’s plans for early learning, talking with the Minister about the Strong Start programmes as well as the Early Learning Agency, being established to look at the possibilities around all day kindergarten.

And I had the chance to talk about a successful Quadra Island business – Naked Bicycle and Design. The small custom build bike company recently sold one of their designs to Lance Armstrong.

I am back in the constituency this coming week and plan to be in Campbell River, Port McNeill, Port Hardy and Zeballos.

On Tuesday evening I am hosting a meeting in Port McNeill on ICBC and Arrowsmith claims, at 7 p.m. at The Haida-Way Motor Inn.

On Thursday evening I will be joined by our Environment Critic, Shane Simpson, and our Energy Critic, John Horgan, for a town hall meeting on Energy and the Environment, at 7pm at the Discovery Inn, in Campbell River.

I can always be reached by phone on 250 287 5100 /1 866 387 5100 or any time by email at claire.trevena.mlaleg.bc.ca.