“You can’t build a provincial economy on whale watching and coffee shops.” We need to be a province that builds, makes and creates. We need a provincial industrial strategy and we need to get serious about the loss of industrial land to real estate speculation. Once industrial land is converted to other uses, it is extraordinarily difficult, if not impossible, to get it back. And without that land, where exactly do we expect the next generation of manufacturers, skilled tradespeople and industrial employers to go? This is one of the most consequential challenges we face in British Columbia, with a lot of damage already done. I hope the new government makes it an urgent priority.

I’ve been sounding the alarm about the Chinese Communist Party and its efforts to interfere in our democracy and undermine Canada’s interests for years. I’ve never cared whether the politicians involved were Conservatives, Liberals or New Democrats. The CCP is an authoritarian regime that does not share our democratic values. Its efforts to cultivate influence in Canada must be confronted, not accommodated, excused or overlooked because of partisan loyalties. This reporting raises serious questions that deserve clear answers. Standing up to the CCP isn’t about being left-wing or right-wing. It’s about standing up for Canada. And when it comes to defending our country, there should be no blue team, red team or orange team. There should only be Team Canada.