Kelowna MLAs, left to right, Norm Letnick, Ben Stewart and Renee Merrifield are seen at a chamber luncheon, Friday, Dec. 10, 2021.

(ROB MUNRO / iNFOnews.ca)

An attack on the NDP government by Kelowna’s three Liberal MLA’s did come up with some solid advice during a Kelowna Chamber of Commerce luncheon meeting today.

“We have the opportunity to press the government,” Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick said in answer to a question from the floor today, Dec. 10. “The biggest time we can do that is either in Question Period or in something called Estimates. So, once the budget is brought in in February, then each minister has to stand and defend their budget. Over the years, some issues actually get moved on because of Estimates.”

The question was from a chamber member who works near Kelowna's Gospel Mission and sees a big need for help for the homeless who have complex needs. Letnick said the government seems to want to move on that issue.

“Just don’t stop,” Kelowna-Mission MLA Renee Merrifield advised. “Don’t stop telling your stories, working with media to tell your stories, working to voice what needs to happen, how it needs to happen. Use you voices and have ours amplified so it’s not just us coming with our great ideas but it’s, actually, this is what needs to happen in our community.”

“They do listen to us,” Westside-Kelowna MLA Ben Stewart added.

The budget is scheduled to be tabled in the legislature on Feb. 22.

The business luncheon was billed as a review of what happened in the Legislature in 2021 and the three opposition MLA’s had a litany of complaints about government legislation, and a lack of consultation.

Letnick was the exception. He said, as Deputy Speaker of the House, he’s supposed to be non-partisan so he gave updates about highway and rail re-openings.

Merrifield opened with an attack on the NDP for adding 24 taxes, since 2017, to the business community and taking other actions to make B.C. less competitive than other provinces and making it harder to attract workers.

She said the NDP has a plan to eliminate all private sector daycares and needs to take action immediately to deal with the opioid crisis.

READ MORE: Interior has second highest overdose rate in B.C.

Stewart focused his attack on two forestry sector bills that were rushed through the Legislature this fall that will cut the timber supply and, consequently eliminate jobs – 4,500 by the government’s estimates, 18,000 by the industry’s estimates.

READ MORE: B.C. announces plans to defer old-growth logging across 26,000 square kilometres

He also said only 5,296 of a promised 114,000 promised housing units that are affordable for low and middle income people have been built.

As for what’s coming up next year? The B.C. Liberals will have a new leader on Feb. 5.

“Going into the new year with a new leader – obviously I hope that new leader will be me,” Merrifield, who is running for the leadership, quipped. “Membership cut-off is next Friday. Make sure your memberships are activated so you can vote for me. But, if you’re not planning to vote for me, do not renew your membership.”

READ MORE: B.C. Liberal Party leader hopeful Renee Merrifield on leadership, taking hits and colouring books

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