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Shannon Waters
@sobittersosweet.bsky.social
7.4K followers 2.7K following 1K posts
Stubbornly sesquipedalian, just not at work

B.C. politics reporter with The Narwhal

She/her

Recent work: https://thenarwhal.ca/author/shannon-waters/

🏳️‍🌈 🐈‍⬛ 📚 🌊 🌱
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sobittersosweet.bsky.social
Here's Energy Minister Adrian Dix sounding pretty definitive that LNG Canada Phase 2 will not use BC Hydro's grid to power its LNG production, if/when it goes ahead

That may be good news for BC's power supply but it will have major repercussions for BC's emissions profile #bcpoli
Hon. Adrian Dix: Well, I think the member is incorrect. Cedar LNG is going forward with existing facilities, the existing lot. LNG Canada 1, of course, is not. While it uses electricity for some of its functions, it’s not an electrified line, nor will be LNG Canada 2. So if you look at the list of projects that would be potentially affected by that line, there’s only one, and this is not the result of an LNG lobby. It is in part, though, I would say, part of our commitment to electrification, and electrification in this whole region. This is part of the debate we had
November 5, 2025 at 10:01 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
I know spooky month is almost over but if you want to keep the eerie vibes going, here are my top 4 horror reads from the past year 📚💙
Old Soul by Susan Barker, author of The Incarnations The Hollow Places by TJ Kingfisher Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey, author of The Echo Wife The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw
October 31, 2025 at 3:53 AM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
More info about the anticipated jobs from projects that will connect to the North Coast transmission line in this NDP caucus press release than government has offered so far

Electrifying 3 of these projects - Cedar, Ksi Lisims and Galore Creek - could take +1,200 MW

More on that soon #bcpoli
The North Coast Transmission Line will bring electricity to the Northwest, supporting projects that will generate 10,000 new jobs and $10 billion in GDP, such as: Red Chris Mine expansion: 500 permanent jobs Cedar LNG: 500 jobs during construction, 100 permanent jobs Ksi Lisims LNG: 800 jobs during construction, 250 permanent jobs Eskay Creek: 800 construction jobs, 400 permanent jobs Galore Creek: 4,500 construction jobs, 1,200 permanent jobs
October 29, 2025 at 2:50 AM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
Here's a draft transcript of the Speaker's remarks (with alt text)

"An allegation that a member is racist clearly imputes what most members would regard as an offensive personal characterization and as such it is out of order." #bcpoli
Speaker’s Statement The Speaker: Members, before we recognize members to ask questions, I’m going to make a statement. Hon. Members, last week the Chair made a commitment to return to the House with guidance on language, given the use of unparliamentary language by some members in debate over the course of the current sessional period. The rules of this House prevent members from engaging in debate in a manner that leads to disorder. In the current circumstances, the most applicable rule is Standing Order 40, which provides guidance and states: “No member shall use offensive words against any member of this House.” An allegation that a member is racist clearly imputes what most members would regard as an offensive personal characterization and as such it is out of order. For the Chair to permit allegations of racism to be directed at other members would encourage what is already a regrettable reality of this place — an undue personalization of issues and debate. As someone who has fought against racism for decades, the Chair does not address this topic or the word lightly. The Chair understands the feelings of members who believe that the policies or views of other members are objectionable, but in the Chair’s view, personal name-calling or labels are not a robust or effective debating tactic. An allegation of being a racist, if it is levelled against a member or a group of members, clearly leads to disorder and does not encourage productive debate and distracts us from discussion of issues critically important to those we represent. That said, the use of strong language in terms that relate solely to policy or positions taken by members or party may be permitted in debate at the discretion of the Chair. But rather than directing personal insults at one another, members are asked to focus their comments on the policies and issues that are the subject before the House. The Chair is reminded of the wise words of Speaker Gretchen Mann Brewin, who delivered the following guidance to the House on December 3, 1998: “It is very important in this House that we not reflect badly on this institution by the language that we use. It seems to the Chair that opinions can be expressed by members without resorting to certain terminologies, like implications of racism, or personal attacks. The Chair wishes to encourage all members to take that under advisement and to give more thought to the English language, which is indeed enormously rich and provides infinite scope for the expression of views in this chamber.” The Chair thanks all members for heeding this direction and for always being mindful of the words they choose to use in the course of debate in this House. Thank you.
October 28, 2025 at 7:40 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
Latest additions to the TBR shelf are very #bcpoli relevant 🤓
Two books sitting on a blue couch Empowering Electricity: Cooperatives, Sustainability and Power Sector Reform in Canada by Julie L MacArthur Unceded: Understanding British Columbia's Colonial Past and Why it Matters Now by George M Abbott
October 25, 2025 at 9:55 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
Agree very much with Andrew's take here.

Until this spring, I'd never seen such broad and immediate backlash to legislation as there was to the bill to hold minors who experienced overdose

It clearly pissed Horgan off but claiming THAT was the main reason for the 2020 snap election call? Nah
Perhaps the largest misdirection is the rationale Horgan gives for calling the 2020 election early, in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and despite the continued co-operation of the BC Green Party. In Horgan’s telling, “The other event which finished it off for me was the Greens’ opposition to a bill we wanted to bring forward that would allow hospitals to detain and provide medical treatment to young people for up to seven days following a drug overdose. That really, really bothered me.” However he felt about the bill, it wasn’t important enough for him to reintroduce it after the NDP secured a large majority in the election and could have passed any bill it wanted to. There were clearly other reasons to go to the voters, starting with that Horgan and the people around him must have seen a chance to win a large majority and snuff out the Greens, and it would have been nice to see that addressed more frankly in the memoir.
October 24, 2025 at 5:23 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
Fall does come with some killer flavours 😋
Me holding three Kerr's molasses caramel candies
October 24, 2025 at 4:03 AM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
There are very few options for removing a BC Conservative Party leader, per the party's constitution. Basically, it's:

Resignation;

Death or incapacitation; or

Getting less than 50% support in a leadership vote
#bcpoli
ARTICLE 11 - THE LEADER 11.01 The Leader shall: (a) be the chief political spokesperson of the Party and shall interpret to the public the policies of the Party; 11.02 The Leader can only be removed from office by resignation, death, incapacitation, or the leadership review vote resulting in less than fifty percent (50%) support of the Party Members in good standing who vote in a universal secret paper ballot.
October 22, 2025 at 9:38 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
You know there's big #bcpoli drama when
Almost a dozen reporters and cameras stand on a hallway landing in the BC legislature. Some are looking at their phones, other chatting to kill time
October 22, 2025 at 9:09 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
Mining Association of BC's Michael Goehring is one of th validators here to talk up Bill 31

The mining industry is likely to be the single biggest beneficiary of the North Coast transmission line

In March 2024, the province was expecting 900MW from the line to go to mines #bcpoli
October 20, 2025 at 6:00 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
BC is also making its ban on power for crypto mining permanent and restricting access for AI and data centres

Projects can apply for a limited amount of power every 2 years, starting in Jan 2026

300 megawatts for AI centres, 100MW for data centres

#bcpoli
October 20, 2025 at 5:47 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
To ensure the project proceeds as quickly as possible, the BC gov plans to order the BC Utilities Commission to deem it in the public interest

This will save BC Hydro going through the application process for a certificate. It also removes a layer of oversight and public accountability #bcpoli
October 20, 2025 at 5:43 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
House is gonna be sitting into December this year

The November 3 sitting week has been scratched to accommodate the annual meeting of First Nations and cabinet ministers #bcpoli
BC legislature calendar for the months of October, November and December. It shows the house sitting the weeks beginning Oct. 6, 20 and 27; Nov. 17 and 24; and Dec. 1
October 9, 2025 at 9:20 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
BCGEU folks now outside the government caucus room at the BC Legislature making some noise

Chants of "David Eby, can you hear me?" "Hi, Brenda!" and "Shannon Salter, we won't falter!"

MLAs are now in the chamber #bcpoli
October 8, 2025 at 8:48 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
BC wants Ottawa to pick the North Coast transmission line in its second round of nation-building projects, which could be selected as soon as November

BC has previously sought federal funding for NCTL

A nod from the Major Project Office would kick things into high gear #bcpoli
“It enables Indigenous partnership, protection of wild spaces [and] low carbon metals shipped at low cost out of Canada to global markets, driving our economy and employing thousands of people. It checks off every box that you can possibly imagine in terms of federal and provincial government priorities, as well as the priorities of every Canadian. It’s a project that we'll all be incredibly proud of and I'm very hopeful that the feds include that on their list and that is our full push right now with the feds is that particular project.”
October 7, 2025 at 8:52 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
Eby also said Smith's government has been contacting BC First Nations about the pipeline proposal, something the BC government does not welcome
#bcpoli
“The premier of Alberta struck a Crown Corporation and began calling coastal First Nations, whose support we rely on for billions of dollars of projects, saying this [pipeline] is coming. And they're calling me and saying, 'Is this coming? What's happening? If you do this, all your other projects we're going to have to review, because of the impacts on the coast.’ And I have to say, enough. Enough. We need, as a country, less politics and more projects.”
October 7, 2025 at 8:36 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
Interesting presser today with Premier David Eby, who seems to be hitting his rhetorical stride in response to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's push for the feds to prioritize a new pipeline through BC to the north coast
#bcpoli
“If Alberta gets a $50 billion publicly funded pipeline, then I want a $50 billion federal guarantee for projects in British Columbia as well. And I want $50 billion for every province across Canada and every territory, because their projects are just as damn important as Alberta’s pipeline is.”
October 7, 2025 at 8:26 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
Here's what the chamber looked like during the Yay vote (in support of Arora's motion to condemn ARPA's views

Conservative side was empty (the head you can see in the foreground on the right is Green house leader Rob Botterell)
The interior of BC's legislative chamber for a standing vote on Motion 38, Views and Policies of Association for Reformed Political Action The chairs on the opposition side of the house, where the Conservative caucus would sit, are mostly empty
October 7, 2025 at 1:16 AM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
Here's Hansard's draft transcript of the exchange
www.leg.bc.ca/hansard-cont...
Dallas Brodie: I have a point of order to raise. I’m looking at section 40(2) and 40(3) of the standing orders. The first one is: “Disrespectful or offensive language forbidden.” That’s sub 2. “Irrelevance in debate.” That’s sub 3. Sub 2 says: “No member shall use offensive words against any member of this House.” The Premier has repeatedly referred to me as being racist, denialist and hateful. Am I now allowed to use words like “stupid,” “incompetent,” “financially illiterate” and “anarchist”? How far does this go? The second one is: “No member shall be irrelevant in debate.” He takes shots at me sideways whenever he can, and I’m not accepting it anymore. It’s unacceptable language in this House. I could call him lots of names — believe me — but I’m not taking this anymore. Raising questions about public expenditures of money in this province is not against the rules. Anybody who takes public money is open to questioning, and you shouldn’t be questioned about whether you’re racist. If you want no questions, don’t take public money. I would like a declaration from the Speaker about whether people can call each other names in this House anymore. Hon. David Eby: I feel like I should be paying the member rent for the amount of space I’m occupying in her head. Interjection. The Speaker: Shhh. Please. Hon. David Eby: In my answer, I was specifically referring to the staff member that was hired by the Leader of the Opposition who was fired recently for being a racist residential school denialist — properly fired, by the way. I congratulate him for taking that appropriate stand. A little late, but he did take it. I support it. You wouldn’t find me hiring people like that. If the member thought I was talking about her, perhaps that’s her issue.
October 6, 2025 at 10:49 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
Big crowd out on the legislature lawn today for a rally in support of striking workers

The public sector strike escalated today with the addition of government licensed professionals, members of the Professional Employees Association, per the PEA executive #bcpoli
The lawn of the BC legislature full of protesting public sector workers with yellow and blue flags and aignd
October 6, 2025 at 7:18 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
MLAs considering a motion condemning the Association for Reformed Political Action's views, tabled by NDP MLA Rohini Arora

MLAs Elenore Sturko (Ind), Rob Botterell (Green), Susie Chant and Steve Morisette (NDP) spoke in favour

Conservative MLA Larry Neufeld and Ind Jordan Kealy spoke against
38 Rohini Arora to move — That this House condemns the intolerant views of the Association for Reformed Political Action (ARPA), including its harmful discrimination against transgender people, its belief that homosexuality is “immoral” and its explicit policy goal of restricting abortion access in British Columbia.
October 6, 2025 at 6:43 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
Extra security measures in place as the fall session starts at the BC legislature
A security official paces outside an entrance to the BC Legislature. They're standing behind a chain with a sign that reads, "Entry Prohibited." It's a sunny October day
October 6, 2025 at 4:38 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
I'd call Eby's responses pretty blunt but he said he was being polite

Here's his response to a question about whether BC will oppose Alberta's application to the federal Major Projects Office
Let's cross that bridge when we come to it. We'll see what the premier comes up with. I'm being polite. I am being polite. There is no project. There is no bridge to cross unless the Albertan government and the federal Canadian government are committing billions of taxpayer dollars to build this project and if that is the plan, then they should be transparent about it. Don't mistake my politeness for weakness on protecting our economy and our coast.
October 1, 2025 at 10:09 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
Eby took multiple questions about the possibility of a new pipeline across BC (and a repeal of the tanker ban) and he didn't seem inclined to hold much back

(lightly edited transcript below)
Premier Smith continues to advance a project that is entirely taxpayer funded, has no private sector proponent, is not a real project and is incredibly alarming to British Colombians, including First Nations along the coast ... We need a major projects office at the federal level. Not a major distractions office. Not a major politics office, but an office that advances real, shovel-ready projects that will move this economy forward in British Columbia and nationally. What I am seeing from Alberta directly threatens that. I am all for working closely with Alberta on electrical intertie that's going to drive down electrical rates for Alberta consumers; on the hydrogen sector, [where] we both need the federal government to assist us with getting hydrogen to market; to build that economy on other major infrastructure projects and projects that have real private sector backing, that aren't entirely taxpayer funded wedge politics.
October 1, 2025 at 10:06 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
Return of the nog 🤤🤤🤤
Crates of Island Farms brand egg nog sit in a commercial freezer space
September 29, 2025 at 10:11 PM