Premier David Eby admits he didn’t get the balance right on legislation that would allow his government to react quickly to U.S. President Donald Trump’s attacks.
Eby says his government will be reworking part of the bill that has resulted in numerous groups expressing concerns about government overreach.
“My commitment to British Columbians is – I will continue to ensure that we have the ability to response quickly, but if there’s a chance to retool this and ensure that the safeguards are in place to make people feel comfortable, that there’s democratic and legislative oversight of these incredibly important provisions, then we will do so,” said Eby in a March 28th press conference.
Critics have said the legislation would give Eby’s government unprecedented powers to override provincial laws. Among them, Peace River South MLA Larry Neufeld who over the past week has been encouraging residents to stop by his constituency office to sign a petition to stop the bill.
The Change.org petition garnered 735 signatures at the time of publication.
“It is crucial at this time that we don’t allow Bill 7 to pass, or you can say good-bye to the BC you once knew,” said Neufeld in a Facebook post.
Speaking with CJDC-TV after the announcement, Neufeld remarked that power-hungry individuals tend to take a mile when given an inch.
A sentiment shared by opposition leader John Rustad who described Eby’s partial retreat as a small win for democracy but called for the full repeal of the bill to safeguard local rights and prevent the centralization of power.
“David Eby’s initial attempt to grant himself sweeping, unchecked powers was an affront to our democratic principles,” said Rustad.
Eby says he still wants to be able to act quickly, but it’s clear from the level of anxiety from key stakeholders that they need to take another look at the legislation.
*With files from the Canadian Press