Prof. Stewart Prest on the budget options available to B.C.’s NDP
Professor Stewart Prest says the B.C. NDP can focus on quick wins or long-term sustainable solutions in their new budget. Their decision is particularly important given the upcoming election.
UBC Alumna Grace Lore is B.C.’s new Minister of Children and Family Development
MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill and UBC Alumna Grace Lore was promoted to B.C.’s Minister of Children and Family Development in a January 2024 cabinet shuffle. Lore is an alumnus of our Undergraduate and PhD programs.
Prof. Stewart Prest on the police review of West Vancouver Mayor Mark Sager’s campaign financing disclosure statement
Professor Stewart Prest says that the decision to forward the campaign financing disclosure statement to the police is rare, only happening “every year or two” across Canada.
Prof. Stewart Prest on Premier Eby’s “selectively aggressive” first year in office
Professor Stewart Prest says David Eby has become “more comfortable in the office” during his first year as Premier, adopting a “selectively aggressive” governing style in two key areas: a new police force in Surrey and housing.
Prof. Gerald Baier on the NDP’s government status advantage in the 2024 B.C. election
Professor Gerald Baier explains that the NDP can use their government status over the next year to remind voters of projects and ensure that they are judged on specific accomplishments.
Prof. Stewart Prest discusses the changing dynamics of Parties in B.C.
Professor Stewart Prest discusses how the Conservative Party of B.C. gaining official party status is changing the dynamics of parties in the province.
Op-Ed: the recent VPD social safety net report “isn’t about policing at all,” argues Prof. Carey Doberstein
“In fact, the report isn’t about policing at all,” says Prof. Doberstein on the recent VPD “social-safety-net” report. Rather, it “makes ignorant and oversimplified pronouncements about how funds are directed.”
Prof. Gerald Baier deliberates the BC Liberals’ decision to rebrand as ‘BC United’
“They’re doing an old thing that political parties have done for a long time,” Prof. Baier says, “which is to have a name that allows them to appeal to more than one narrow constituency.” Still, there are fears that this choice may backfire for Liberals worried about the party’s direction.
Prof. Kathryn Harrison on the boldness, riskiness, and power of activism in climate politics
“Civil disobedience is an act of public communication,” Prof. Harrison says in this CBC article. “It’s someone saying, ‘I am so frightened or I am so disturbed by an injustice that I am willing to put myself on the line to try to change your mind,’”
Prof. Gerald Baier comments on David Stuart serving as both North Vancouver District CAO and Port Moody councillor
David Stuart, already holding office as North Vancouver District Chief Administrative Officer, was recently elected as councillor for Port Moody. Few take on two civil service roles at once, but Prof. Baier acknowledges that Stuart is “allowed to have outside interests.”