Dear Friends,
I've been working hard to help Ruth Horst get assistance to purchase bus passes for her children. Ruth is on long-term disability and is the sole provider for her five children. The family lives far from the kids' schools and they do not own a car. They need to take public transit to get to and from school, but the total cost of annual bus passes - $1750 - is beyond Ruth's means.
At first I assumed that the government would help out in such a situation...but they will not. We are continuing to explore every option we can think of. But with school starting in a few days, the children are running out of time.
If anyone is able to help, cheques - payable to BC transit - for any amount, can be dropped off at my office, 4085 Quadra. All funds donated will go directly towards purchasing bus passes for the children.
Below is a A channel news story about the situation that ran last night.
Thank you for your concern and support. Lana.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bUHbBU-wjE&feature=player_embedded
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Summer Update 2010 – Lana Popham, MLA for Saanich South
Dear Friends,
I hope you are enjoying the summer.
Last spring I visited 6500 homes, connecting with the people of Saanich South. This summer, I am again working hard to hear more about what you want, and to give you an update on what I’m up to.
Far and away, the most input I’ve received over the last year has been disappointment and anger about how the government introduced and is pushing forward with the HST. I want you all to know that I fought hard to stop it. I took a leadership role in organizing the opposition of thousands of cyclists, and I voted against it at every opportunity in the Legislature.
I believe the HST mess just emphasizes how overdue it is for us – the public – to have a good honest discussion about the “what and why” of our provincial taxes.
My own view is that one of the HST’s biggest flaws is that it is not grounded in the principles of sustainability. We need tax policy that addresses the environmental crisis we are in…and this tax fails that test.
A government that raises taxes on green transportation choices like bicycles is a government travelling in the wrong direction.
A question I get a lot is, “what do you do?”.
My job is to represent the 50,000 residents of Saanich South in the B.C. Legislature. I work in a non-partisan way to advance issues that are important the community. As a member of the official opposition, I also challenge and propose improvements to ongoing government policies.
Further, with my community-office team, I work directly with people in Saanich South who need assistance resolving provincial issues. We regularly help people with challenges relating to health care, education, small business, senior services, housing and transportation.
I also organize community events. For example, I recently organized a very well-attended forum about the dangerous intersection at Pat Bay Highway and Sayward Road, bringing together municipal politicians, community leaders and officials from the Ministry of Transportation. The Ministry is insisting on doing expensive, long-term plans for a possible overpass. The community is speaking largely with one voice: they consider safety improvements more of a priority. This is a file that I will continue working on until there is a good resolution. I recently filed a FOI request for all the maps and planning documents that government has, but is unwilling to share with the public. I’m also pulling together an experienced group of local residents to create a short-list of safety improvements that we want to see put in place in the short-term.
Please email me if you would like to help out.
I’m working hard on issues important to the community such as healthcare and education. For example, I am helping a young boy in Saanich South named Brandon. Brandon has Type 1 Diabetes. With just a little assistance, Brandon can use an insulin pump at school and have the same education opportunities as other children. For more information, please visit www.kidswithtype1.ca.
In addition, I want to share with you that farmers in our community are extremely concerned about recent changes to honeybee importation regulations. The government is needlessly putting these critical pollinators at risk. Click here for more information. My background is in agriculture and I am working actively on a number of files, including the flawed slaughter regulations, the need to strengthen the ALR, Site C, and the inadequate funding to the Ministry of Agriculture.
I look forward to continuing to serve the people of Saanich South and working with you to improve our quality of life. Thanks for your support and please keep in touch.
Sincerely,
Lana.
 |
| Community Office Aug 2010 |
Last spring I visited 6500 homes, connecting with the people of Saanich South. This summer, I am again working hard to hear more about what you want, and to give you an update on what I’m up to.
Far and away, the most input I’ve received over the last year has been disappointment and anger about how the government introduced and is pushing forward with the HST. I want you all to know that I fought hard to stop it. I took a leadership role in organizing the opposition of thousands of cyclists, and I voted against it at every opportunity in the Legislature.
I believe the HST mess just emphasizes how overdue it is for us – the public – to have a good honest discussion about the “what and why” of our provincial taxes.
My own view is that one of the HST’s biggest flaws is that it is not grounded in the principles of sustainability. We need tax policy that addresses the environmental crisis we are in…and this tax fails that test.
A government that raises taxes on green transportation choices like bicycles is a government travelling in the wrong direction.
A question I get a lot is, “what do you do?”.
My job is to represent the 50,000 residents of Saanich South in the B.C. Legislature. I work in a non-partisan way to advance issues that are important the community. As a member of the official opposition, I also challenge and propose improvements to ongoing government policies.
Further, with my community-office team, I work directly with people in Saanich South who need assistance resolving provincial issues. We regularly help people with challenges relating to health care, education, small business, senior services, housing and transportation.
I also organize community events. For example, I recently organized a very well-attended forum about the dangerous intersection at Pat Bay Highway and Sayward Road, bringing together municipal politicians, community leaders and officials from the Ministry of Transportation. The Ministry is insisting on doing expensive, long-term plans for a possible overpass. The community is speaking largely with one voice: they consider safety improvements more of a priority. This is a file that I will continue working on until there is a good resolution. I recently filed a FOI request for all the maps and planning documents that government has, but is unwilling to share with the public. I’m also pulling together an experienced group of local residents to create a short-list of safety improvements that we want to see put in place in the short-term.
Please email me if you would like to help out.
I’m working hard on issues important to the community such as healthcare and education. For example, I am helping a young boy in Saanich South named Brandon. Brandon has Type 1 Diabetes. With just a little assistance, Brandon can use an insulin pump at school and have the same education opportunities as other children. For more information, please visit www.kidswithtype1.ca.
In addition, I want to share with you that farmers in our community are extremely concerned about recent changes to honeybee importation regulations. The government is needlessly putting these critical pollinators at risk. Click here for more information. My background is in agriculture and I am working actively on a number of files, including the flawed slaughter regulations, the need to strengthen the ALR, Site C, and the inadequate funding to the Ministry of Agriculture.
I look forward to continuing to serve the people of Saanich South and working with you to improve our quality of life. Thanks for your support and please keep in touch.
Sincerely,
Lana.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
My Favourite Green Bean Salad
BC Green Beans are ready!
I most look forward to two vegetables in the summer. One of them is tomatoes and the other is green beans. Fresh, local or homegrown, green beans are incredibly delicious! This is my favourite recipe for green beans. It's a cold salad and is a perfect addition to a summer dinner and very easy to take to a potluck or BBQ.
Figure out how big a salad bowl you want to use and have the appropriate amount of beans to fill that bowl.
Start by taking the stems and pointy ends off the green beans. Snap them in half and put them into a bowl. While you are doing that you can put a large pot of water to boil on the stove.
When you have finished preparing the beans, drop them into the boiling water for 3 minutes. After 3 minutes, take them off the stove, drain them in the sink, and rinse them with cold water until the cool down. (Sometimes I even save the rinse water by having a bowl underneath the colander and then dump it onto my garden after.)
Once the beans have dripped dry, place them into your salad bowl.
Add 1/2 cup jarred sundried tomatoes in olive oil. They come cut-up or not. If they are not chopped, you will have to chop them.
Add a few swirls of good olive oil.
Add 3 cloves finely chopped garlic.
Add add 1 1/2 cups grated Asiago Cheese.
Add fresh ground pepper.
Add a pinch of salt.
Toss until beans are covered.
This is good the next day too!
 |
| Yum! |
Figure out how big a salad bowl you want to use and have the appropriate amount of beans to fill that bowl.
Start by taking the stems and pointy ends off the green beans. Snap them in half and put them into a bowl. While you are doing that you can put a large pot of water to boil on the stove.
When you have finished preparing the beans, drop them into the boiling water for 3 minutes. After 3 minutes, take them off the stove, drain them in the sink, and rinse them with cold water until the cool down. (Sometimes I even save the rinse water by having a bowl underneath the colander and then dump it onto my garden after.)
Once the beans have dripped dry, place them into your salad bowl.
Add 1/2 cup jarred sundried tomatoes in olive oil. They come cut-up or not. If they are not chopped, you will have to chop them.
Add a few swirls of good olive oil.
Add 3 cloves finely chopped garlic.
Add add 1 1/2 cups grated Asiago Cheese.
Add fresh ground pepper.
Add a pinch of salt.
Toss until beans are covered.
This is good the next day too!
Friday, July 9, 2010
For the Record!
I'm often asked what I do when I'm sitting in the House. Quite a lot! Here is a list of all the questions, statements and motions that I made in the Legislature during the last session. The links will take you to the Hansard transcript.
- As subject
- response to budget 3183-4
- Agricultural land reserve
- status 3187
- Agriculture
- Agriculture and Lands Ministry
- Autism
- early intervention program and treatment services, funding 3186
- Bees
- population health 5880
- Bike to Work Week
- B.C.
- B.C. Liberal Party government
- action on stated goals 3184-7
- Budget debate 3183-7
- Buy B.C. program
- California
- agriculture industry 3186
- Climate change
- impact on agriculture and food supply 4448
- Consumption Tax Rebate and Transition Act
- Cordova Bay Elementary School
- students and teachers 3184
- Cycling
- commuter cycling 5962
- Economy
- knowledge-based economy, government support 3186
- Education
- system, system during B.C. Liberal Party administration 3184
- Education, funding 4625
- Employment and unemployment
- job creation, government action 3186
- Environment
- Fires and firefighters
- firefighters, role 3291
- Food
- Forests and forest industry
- job protection, petition tabled 4566
- Girl Guides of Canada
- organization and activities 3788
- Harmonized sales tax
- Health, public health
- government promotion of healthy lifestyle and physical fitness 3184
- Highway 17 (Patricia Bay Highway)
- improvements, government investment 3185
- Infrastructure
- transportation infrastructure, government investment in sustainable transportation infrastructure 3185-6
- Literacy
- programs and services, funding 3184
- Lyme disease
- awareness and prevention 5541-2
- Motions
- NDP
- vision for sustainable B.C. 3452-3
- Olympic Games, 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver-Whistler
- athletes, accomplishments of Canadian athletes 3184
- Oral questions
- Pensions
- pension income, gender disparity 3765
- Petitions
- Poverty
- poverty among senior women, government action 3765-7
- Premier's Council on Aging and Seniors Issues
- report 3765-7
- Private members' statements
- Respecting seniors 3765-7
- Private members' statements (response)
- Industrial hemp 4790
- Saanich
- cycling trail system 3185
- Saanich fire department
- services and fundraising 3291
- Saanich South constituency and area
- issues and concerns 3185-6
- Sales tax
- School district 63 (Saanich)
- funding 4625
- Seniors
- Social Credit Party
- policies 3185
- Statements by members
- Vancouver Island
- Vancouver Island Technology Park
- role 3186
- Velox Rugby Club
- history and activities 4970
- Veterinarians Act
- Welfare
- support system for vulnerable persons 3186
- Women
- economic status 3765-6
Popham, Lana (Saanich South)
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Official Opposition Critic for the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
