B.C. MLAs clash yet again

The two largest parties in B.C.’s legislature had yet another screaming match.

MLAs of the British Columbia New Democratic Party and the Conservative Party of British Columbia have had clashes in the past.

This time, the issue was a seemingly simple one: answering emails.

“This is, to some extent, a function of the institution of a parliament where it is by design oppositional,” explains UBC political science professor Stewart Prest. However, he says the way they are going about things is not appropriate.

Prest acknowledges politics is human and everyone has a boiling point. Also, it is worth mentioning how far apart both parties are.

But it is all about how you handle yourself going forward, Prest argues. “It is an opportunity for politicians on all sides to step back and reconsider what it really means to represent the province in the best possible way.”

Heated exchanges in the past

Just a few days ago, a heated exchange erupted in the legislature when Premier David Eby and Conservative MLA Peter Milobar clashed over the premier’s public statements regarding the suspect of the Lapu-Lapu Day tragedy.

Ever since the election last year in October, the two parties have bumped heads, like they did in March over the NDP’s emergency power bill.

As of the 2024 election in B.C., the NDP has 47 seats in the legislature in Victoria and forms the provincial government. David Eby, the party’s leader, has been the premier of B.C. since November 18, 2022.

The Conservatives, with their leader John Rustad, have 41 seats. The legislature currently also has two MLAs from the Green Party and three independent MLAs.

The next election in the province is scheduled for sometime before October 21, 2028.