BC Conservatives trying to come together - Eby's ferry promise - Labour code changes

0:00This episode is brought to you by PayPal. You know how a mom's bag has everything? Sunscreen? Snacks? A stapler? The new PayPal app is like that, but for your money. Shop, pay, manager account, and earn rewards all in one place. And with purchase protection on eligible items, biometric security, and pasquies, you're protected at every step. Download the new PayPal app to get started. See PayPal.com slash protection terms. This is The Mornings with Simmy Podcast. On Today's show, Are the BC Conservatives ready for a provincial election? All signs are pointing to a snap election call, but the opposition has had a tumultuous couple of weeks. So we'll hear from an MLA about why she feels they are ready and are raring to go. And if there is an election, we're building fairies in BC. Be an election campaign promise. David E.B. said he would make this happen. But if there is an election, all bets are off.

1:00So what will the parties promise and do they want to? And on the national scene, the carny government has moved to change Canada's labor laws. What kind of a difference is this going to make? And what does it mean for workers? It's all coming up on The Mornings with Simmy Podcast. Let's get started. The started moving forward with the process of pulling our party back together again. In preparation for the sneaky snap election that David E.B. seems to want to try to get away with. All right, that was BC Conservative MLA Gavin do on with us yesterday morning. Actually, he also during that interview predicted that the parties caucus would be bigger by the end of the day. And it certainly was a handful of MLA's returned to the BC Conservatives, such as John Rustad, Claire Rattade, Scott McKinnis, Linda Hepner, Trevor Helford, all back in the fold. And today we will hear for the first time from the interim leader of the BC Conservatives, Lauren Dirkson.

2:01Now that is convenient. And today there is an expectation that we may also be getting an election call. So let's check in with the BC Conservatives. Ms. T. Vampopta is a BC Conservative MLA for Langley Walnut Grove and Joins. Now, thank you so much for being here. Thank you so much to me for having me on how are things in caucus right now? You know what? There's a renewed energy. We're strong. We're ready for anything. And yeah, no, we're ready. We're ready for whatever today brings, which apparently might be a rumored election, a writ drop. So yeah, no, you know what? It's been fantastic having a team come back together and it's just added a renewed sense of energy with us. First of all, do you think that election call is coming today? I know there's a lot of rumors kind of flying out about that. Well, yeah, there's, I mean, we're all here in the same rumors, but you can hear things within your communities in terms of election readiness and things like that.

3:02So I, I wouldn't doubt it. I wouldn't be surprised. But you know what, this government is always full of surprises. So we're just ready always for anything with the MVP. Okay. So you mentioned, thanks. It's just fantastic right now, but what have the last few weeks been like? It must have been pretty challenging. It, well, clearly it has. And at the end of the day, it's, you know, it, we have to remember that MLA's and our caucus members were all human beings. And it has been an immense, an intense period for us. But you know what? We're, we're renewed and we're refocused on an, you know, just on a kind of turning of the page, moving forward, coming together. And with our new interim leader, Lauren Jerkson there, he's, he's a fantastic guy. He has universal support within our caucus. And I think that just knowing that that we're all just on the same page in, in moving forward together, it's, it's added that sense of peace and calm with us.

4:05And so, yeah, you know, it's been an intense period from a human perspective. But, you know what? That was yesterday and today is today. Right. So moving forward then, you said like Lauren Jerkson has universal support for that. What do you think is going to be important for the leader, any leader of the party moving forward to remember in light of what the lessons have been learned? Look, every leader has a different leadership style. John Rustedt was different than Trevor Halford. Trevor Halford was different than Carolyn Finley. He's different than Lauren Jerkson. And so it's going to be great to see Lauren come into this position, see how he would navigate this caucus. He has a different lens than Carrie Lynn did, which is he's been with us in this capacity as a caucus member for the past two years. And so he's going to know how we operate as individuals. He's going to know what our strengths and our weaknesses are. And I think that that's a great opportunity for him to kind of craft his own leadership style, which he already has.

5:06Don't forget he has been deputy speaker within the house. And just as one of the seasoned MLA's that was elected in 2024, he knows this stuff. And he knows really good strategy and he really just understands the operations of each MLA. But do you think the party needs a leadership race? Like how fast do you think that should happen? Well, I think it really depends on whether a snap election, an unnecessary election is called or not. I think right now everybody is just focusing on being ready for a snap election. And if that doesn't happen, then that's a different conversation that happens outside of my preview. What do you want to see happen with your party in the next few months? I want to see us defeat the NDP government. And we will. Let's not forget that in 2024, we only had QMLA. And we almost formed government and we are ready and ready to do it again. You know, I think that that's our focus is to defeat this disastrous government.

6:10And I think that it's something that's really attendable for us. Right, but if people have been following BC politics in the last little while, they would think I'm not sure this party is organized enough to do that. So what do you want people to keep in mind? That the true enemy here, the true problem is the NDP government. It's not the inner workings of a conservative party. We are shown repeatedly that we're ready to go. We have every single MLA that's on our team is a subject matter expert in the background that they come with. We have an immense depth bench. And I think that if we just don't, you know, don't focus on the things that have gone wrong, but we have performed repeatedly. In the house under both leaders that we've had up until this point. And that is something that we can and will take forward when and when we form government. And so I think that British Columbians just need to, you know, come on board and see that we are still the same conservative caucus.

7:10And we're going to take it to the government. We're going to fight them and we're going to defeat them and we're going to make some big changes here in British Columbia. You talked a little bit about behind the scenes there. Would you say there is more unity now? I mean, the caucus has been known. There's a lot of leaking going on, right? There's a lot of controversy about that too. Has that attitude behind the scenes changed now? Well, I mean, it's only been a day and a half, but. But you know what? Honestly, like we had obviously a caucus meeting Sunday night. And we, you know, we just all look at each other and we're like, OK, let's do this. Let's move forward. And, and I feel really confident that that's everybody's goal. And, you know, again, with more in here at the home, you know, and I think it's just we're all just focused, really, really focused on defeating the government and not each other. Well, thank you very much for your time this morning. Thanks so much for having me on. This episode is brought to you by PayPal.

8:10You know how a mom's bag has everything? Sunscreen? Snacks? A stapler? The new PayPal app is like that, but for your money. Shop, pay, manage your account, and earn rewards all in one place. And with purchase protection on eligible items, biometric security and pasquies, you're protected at every step. Download the new PayPal app to get started. See PayPal.com slash protection terms. When you think about Crocs, you think the classic clock. But, did you know there's also a canvas clock? A vegan sweet clock? A coastal inspired style? A style with studs, straps, and lots of sass. Honestly, I could keep going with the surprises. You've got to see them for yourself because there is literally a style for every kind of girl. So, do your thing and head to crocs.com or a store near you now. I will be directing BC Ferries to ensure that the next generation of BC Ferries vessels will be built right here in British Columbia.

9:13There was so much news on Friday from what was going on with the opposition that that little tidbit right there might have gotten by you. That was Premier David E.B. speaking at the conclusion of the Union of BC Municipalities Convention and making what sounds like a huge commitment that future Ferries will be built here in BC. Is this a promise that can be counted on and what's it going to take? Now, Eric and Dilly is the provincial president for the BC Ferries and Marine Workers Union and is with us now. Good morning, Eric. Good morning. Thanks for having me. How did it feel hearing that from the Premier on Friday? I think the short answer is good, but it does leave a lot of questions about how that will be action and how it will be checked to make sure that it does happen. It's been a little more than 20 years since BC Ferries became a pseudo-private company. In that time, every ferry with the exception of two has been built outside of Canada.

10:17Prior to privatization, every ferry built for BC Ferries was built here in BC. It seems like it makes a lot of sense to people and users because we're able to repair ferries that are built in Canada in a timely way. I'm at the Canadian Ferries Association Conference in Ottawa right now, where one of the concerns raised by operators is that response time for repairing ferries. I think the premier position makes sense. It's certainly one that labor and our union as well has been calling for, but the devil will always be in the details. Did you have any indication or was there any buzz that this was coming and what this would potentially mean? Well, it's certainly something we've been asking for, and I know there was quite a bit of pressure on Thursday prior to the premier's announcement at the UBCM BC Ferries and the BC Ferries Authority Board held their annual general meeting. And representatives from around the province labor workers industry were there calling for the very same thing through the build them here at CA Campaign.

11:21So there's certainly been public pressure mounting and I think a big part of that was the economic report done by the Center for Future Work that showed that, you know, it's potentially using the four new major vessels that have shine as an example. If those were built in BC, that the 10,000 person years of employment and one lost the 1.5 billion dollars back into GDP. Making economic case for building them in British Columbia as well as a practical consideration, meaning that less wait times for people waiting for Ferries to be prepared. But the premier did not give me a heads up about the statement, but we welcomed it for certain. Okay, so what is it going to take Eric in your mind? Like if they're serious about this, shouldn't we be planning for this like right now? Yes, yes, we should. And I think the way to do it is looking at a consortium of yards to build the Ferries. We look back into the 90s and we had the spirit class spirit built in British Columbia. And those were built at three different yards under one overarching management and then brought together in pieces and completed.

12:25And I think that's the build model that makes sense, likely going forward. But yes, that work does need to start and probably need to start today. I mean, the real question right now in the province probably, I think no surprises. Is there an election coming? And if there is a real bad slowdown potential, you know, opportunities to start this work right now. Right. Is that a concern then when you think, okay, there could be an election call. What good is that promise or that that vow last Friday? Yeah, I mean, I think that's one way to look at it. I think the other way to look at it is, you know, every political party in British Columbia should be looking at building BC Ferries in BC. And if there is an election call, I would like to see every political party have building Ferries in BC by British Columbians as part of their election campaign. All right. That's a good pivot on this then. So if there is an election call today, is that what you're going to be advocating for? That will definitely be one of the pieces we advocate for. And of course, I think, you know, we saw in the parliament yesterday.

13:31Some some language from the federal government looking on workers rights. And so I, you know, I want to see BC BC has led in labor rights in Canada for quite a while. And so I think maintaining that piece will also be those protections will be a big part of what the labor season valuable for an election platform as well. Eric, let's talk about training people for this. Do we have shipbuilders to do this? Do we have to train people and if so, how long is that going to take? So yes, we have highly skilled people in BC and there was also earlier this year, a big announcement on funding for the trades. I think both of those pieces, so maintaining the existing skill workforce and developing. And I was at the piping college earlier in August. And you know, that's one of the places where they're building the trades that will be needed to build Ferries. So I think continuing investment in skilled trades and continuous work. And it's not just building Ferries. We also need to look at refits and recycling.

14:40Now, there are hundreds of vessels and barges on the west coast that need recycling. And I think the combination of building, repairing and recycling can create a vibrant industry. And there's been a lot of work done around the province and one of the places that's been sort of out in front of it is in the Port Albany Valley, looking at doing a recycling facility there. And MP Gord Johns has been a championing that for quite some time. But I think if we look at not just what we have, but building more opportunities for that work in BC. And you hear us through operators across Canada that access to refit and dry dock spaces becoming a premium. So I think there's some opportunities to look at more sites and more capacity. Because we are the country of the largest coastline in the world. And we need that investment into our industrial policy. And frankly, into our industrial sovereignty. As we deal with trade wars and challenges with our neighbors to the south as well as looking to pivot towards Europe that there isn't through this or government.

15:42Do you think people would sign up for this? Like it's so competitive right now in terms of getting people into the trades and finding people to commit to this? Is that a doable thing? I think it is. You know, a lot of trades jobs and certainly ones in heavy industry. Those are jobs that support families and make a see you can buy a house. You know, it's hard work, but there is compensation there. So, you know, these are good jobs and with a long term look at career really. I think that's people will look at that. You know, I still talk to people these days that they built the, you know, the Queen of Calcium and the Queen of Full of Clillum. And they're proud of it. And you know, if you go with any trades person through a city where they've worked, they'll point out, you know, buildings or projects they built and it's no different with the fairies. And I think with consistent work, we can certainly maintain and improve the skilled workforce that is needed to do that work in British Columbia. Now, are you ready to lobby for all this in an election campaign then?

16:42We will certainly be advocating on behalf of our members and labor across the province. If there is an election. And I think again, every party should be looking at labor and looking at that construction recycling as part of any campaign that that occurs election campaign. Because it's something that we need on the west coast and will serve both the residents and travelers of British Columbia as well as the workforce. Alright, Eric, thank you so much for your time. Thanks to me. This episode is brought to you by PayPal. You know how a mom's bag has everything? Sunscreen, snacks, a stapler, the new PayPal app is like that. But for your money, shop, pay, manage your account and earn rewards all in one place. You can purchase protection on eligible items, biometric security and pass keys. You're protected at every step. Download the new PayPal app to get started. See PayPal.com slash protection terms.

17:43When you think about Crocs, you think the classic clock. But did you know there's also a canvas clock? A vegan sweet clock. A coastal inspired style. A style with studs, straps and lots of sass. Honestly, I could keep going with the surprises. You've got to see them for yourself because there is literally a style for every kind of girl. So do your thing and head to Crocs.com or a store near you now. Kick off the fall session. The government introduced a major bill. The Building Canada Strong Act expands on legislation from last year that fast-tracked major nation building infrastructure like pipelines. Today, we are applying the same urgency and efficiency to projects of all sizes across the economy. That was the big news out of Ottawa yesterday. And there is actually a lot to break down in that bill proposed by the current government, including changes to the federal labor code. Does speeding up project approvals mean that we're going to lose some workers rights along with that?

18:50Is that the price to be paid and our Canadians okay with it? So let's take a look at some of these changes. Nibbari Adlin is an associate professor of sociology and the director of the Industrial Relations program at McGill University and joins us now. Barry, thank you for being here. Thanks for having me, Sammy. What caught your attention with these proposed changes? Yeah, so what's striking to me is the degree to which the legislation doesn't actually seem to address the problems that it's trying to solve. It seems to be more about addressing checking items off an employer wish list, essentially, rather than actually solving the problem of dealing with real problems of labor disputes. Because as the government clearly says in all its statements about these laws, 95% of collective bargaining agreements in Canada are resolved without strikes. And then there's this 5% that are.

19:55What's important to recognize is why that is. And oftentimes it's because workers are able to exercise a credible strike threat that compels employers with a bargaining table and compels them to reach agreement. What this new proposal is doing is saying we need to sort of apply these special regulations to this 5%. So if you have a contract where the previous contract was resolved by arbitration and there was a strike involved, then there's this whole set of regulations that they come into play. And what they basically do is they create these timelines that actually will draw out the negotiation process. And then if you do get to a strike, there's this investigation process after which the labor minister can basically just order a back to work agreement.

20:58And then basically, you know, and then you're basically back to binding arbitration. And so what's happening here is that we're having an entrenchment of the process we saw with the invocation of section 107 in federal labor disputes in recent years, which has had the effect of shifting employer expectations. Because when you realize that if you wait long enough, you're going to have a back to work order, there's no incentive for employers to actually come to the table, which is what you saw with the air Canada flight attendance. Right. So do you think it's a that's what's going to happen as a result if these changes are passing it goes through as is. Do you feel like this is going to have an impact? That's certainly the risk, right. I think that one of the lessons of Canadian labor history and Canadian the history of Canadian labor relations that the carny government doesn't seem to understand is the lesson that his predisp, liberal predecessors like William McKenzie King and Lester B Pearson learned, which is that a stable labor relations framework,

22:18a stable collective bargaining framework rests on a robust, enforced right to strike. You can't have a stable labor relations machinery in place if workers don't have that leverage because otherwise the playing field is skewed and not only are there fairness issues, but just at a, you know, you sort of how do these things function? You need that counterbalance for the whole system to function and this type of law that risk restrict puts restrictions on workers charter protected right to strike risks coroning those very foundations of the labor relations machinery. So I read through this my feeling was it's a very glass half full, like very optimistic take on how things should work, but we also know Barry is you just illustrated it doesn't usually work out that way, does it?

23:19No, exactly, and I think what we need to think about here is why do these 5% fail right why do these 5% result in these disruptive strikes well often what's the case is that these are instances where there are fundamental workplace issues at, that are at stake right we're not just talking about we need a few dollars extra salary or one at whatever, you know, if you think about the ports or if you think about the rail there, the issue is stuff related to automation and subcontracting these are issues that affect Canadian workers across the across the country, not just in these industries, right. Remember the air Canada strike last year it was about unpaid work right these are fundamental issues that affect the basic business model of the company and also at the day to day lives of these workers, which is why they become these entrenched disputes and because they keep on getting legislated back to work or ordered back to work through other mechanisms, that's why we've seen the, you know,

24:31the current of these labor disputes because when you order workers back to work, it doesn't it doesn't resolve the underlying issue it just sweeps it under the rug, so you might have resolved the immediate problem, but you haven't resolved the underlying issue that is actually driving the conflict. Do you think this will be challenged then in the future. Well, that's the issue, right. I mean, we saw what happened we saw this sort of air counter flight attendant solution to the section 107 order, you know, will we see more air Canada solutions in the in the future that's certainly what the previous Canadian Prime Minister's feared or were presented with, right. The reason that we ended up with the framework that we have today is because previous liberal governments tried to regulate strikes by clamping down ever and ever more tightly on them and it kept on back firing and it was only after repeated efforts to clamp down that they realized, okay, we actually need to try different approach.

25:36And so now we see the current government basically turning back the clock to this previous era where they say why don't we try clamping down harder again. We'll see what happens Barry. Thank you so much for joining us. Thanks for having me. Thanks for listening to the Mornings with Simmy podcast. Don't forget to subscribe to the show on Apple Spotify Amazon Google podcast or wherever you get your podcast. And you can always listen to us live in the morning Monday to Friday from 5.30 to 9 on 7.30 CK&W. Brussels clean up nicely at sweet green maple glazed roasted and edges perfectly caramelized sweet greens fall harvest is back on the menu in the season's most overlooked little green vegetable is dressed to be devoured. You know what to do order on the sweet green app.