Shannon Waters
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sobittersosweet.bsky.social
Shannon Waters
@sobittersosweet.bsky.social
7.5K followers 2.7K following 1.1K 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
Been a minute since I was this enchanted by a book this quickly, wow!
A photo of th cover of after taste by Daria Lavelle
November 27, 2025 at 5:35 AM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
Another firm no on Smith's pipeline dream 🤷‍♀️
Over a decade ago the community of Kitimat voted to oppose the Northern Gateway project. The Haisla Nation, who were firmly against that proposal at that time, still maintain that same position today regarding an oil pipeline and export facility in their territory. This position was articulated clearly to Premier Smith during the meeting.
November 26, 2025 at 10:04 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
Here's Smith's full response to my question, lightly edited for clarity:
Me: When the original clean BC plan was launched, there was a phrase that I have quoted many times over the years with the government talking about this plan, and that was "world leading" - that it was a world leading climate plan, that it really put BC on the cutting edge of things like emissions reduction, climate action, that kind of thing. So having gone over the plan in detail recently and making a bunch of recommendations about how we should move forward, does BC still have a world leading climate plan in 2025? Smith: I've been focused on getting the policies in place and the targets, and the endless debate about targets has been less of my personal focus over the last 20 years of my life. In 2018, what was put forward and then updated a few years later was world leading and BC won a lot of awards for its world leading plan, but it's 2025, and many other jurisdictions are doing the same or even more than we are doing at this point. For example, we're seeing a lot of support on fuel shifting and uptake in the UK and some of the policies that they have in place and the emphasis that they are putting on helping their citizens and businesses shift to electricity. And there's others. So I would say BC has a suite of policies that are good - they're good - and in order to be a leader, we need to do more. And that's what we've outlined here. We need to pick up the slack on places that we did not act. The policies that we've outlined that are working are actually successful and reducing emissions. The ones that never got put in place obviously can't do anything and so we need to fill in those gaps. I'd say there's a lot of opportunities for BC to be amongst the leaders. But if you look globally now, you'll see other jurisdictions that are moving much more quickly, in part because of energy security. Jurisdictions that don't have fossil fuels to depend on are more quickly advancing on electrification because it creates energy security for nations.
November 26, 2025 at 8:04 PM
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There's a chapter in the review titled, Squaring the circle of LNG expansion with climate security and economic diversification

It notes BC has nowhere near the electricity supply needed to electrify LNG production #bcpoli
Achieving net-zero emissions, or even being prepared to do so, would compel proponents to electrify nearly all aspects of their supply chains. However,British Columbia does not have sufficient electricity supply to enable them to do so. A recent estimate of the electricity needed to fully electrify all proposed LNG terminals except LNG Canada Phase 1—and partly electrify upstream gas production—concludes that the industry would need 40,000 GWh/year. To put that into perspective, that quantity of power roughly matches the output of 7.5 Site C dams
November 26, 2025 at 5:26 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
For context, here is the draft transcript of Boultbee's point of order and the Speaker's initial response, followed by the Speaker's addendum:
Point of Order Amelia Boultbee: I stand on a point of order. During her introduction of the bill, the member for Vancouver-Quilchena stated that there was no wrongdoing by Canada against First Nations and Indigenous people during settlement. This is factually untrue, and there is no historical debate about this fact. It is extremely damaging to have factual inaccuracies such as this go unrepudiated in this House, and I would ask that the Speaker ask the member to withdraw. [10:35 a.m.] Draft Segment 008 The Speaker: Members, thank you very much for your point of order. At this point, this is a matter of debate, and the Chair will not intervene. Point of Order (Speaker’s Ruling) The Speaker: Hon. Members, with respect to the point of order raised by the member for Penticton-Summerland earlier, the Chair did not intervene as the Chair cannot adjudicate matters which constitute disagreements between members on beliefs or matters of debate that come before the House. The Chair will provide the following guidance to the House. Practice recommendation No. 5 states: “Permit a statement not to exceed two minutes by the member in charge of introduction of a bill to explain its purpose. No further debate shall be permitted at this stage.” Earlier today, the Leader of the Fourth Party introduced a bill that appeared to propose to remove the designation of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a statutory holiday in British Columbia. However, the member introduced several arguments that appeared to the Chair to be completely unrelated to her bill. [11:25 a.m.] That is inconsistent with practice recommendation No. 5, whose provisions are not to be abused to allow for the introduction of arguments that should otherwise be presented by members in subsequent stages of debate. The Chair is prepared to intervene should this occur Draft Segment 018 to her bill. That is inconsistent with practice recommendation No. 5, whose provisions are not to be abused to allow for the introduction of arguments that should otherwise be presented by members in subsequent stages of debate. The Chair is prepared to intervene should this occur at the introduction of a bill in the future.
November 20, 2025 at 8:56 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
BC NDP caucus decides to spin the passage of Bill 31, Energy Statutes Amendment Act, claiming it will "fast-track construction of the North Coast Transmission Line"

This spring's Bill 14 did that and the government says it will bypass a BCUC review of the project but that's not in the bill 💁‍♀️#bcpoli
November 20, 2025 at 7:01 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
Coastal First Nations say the federal government hasn't been talking to them about Alberta's pipeline proposal, despite multiple requests for nation-to-nation meetings

"We are tired of learning about these discussions regarding our traditional territories in the press," reads a press release
“As the Rights and Title Holders of the Central and North Coast and Haida Gwaii, we are incredibly alarmed to read media reports about alleged negotiations between the federal government and the province of Alberta regarding proposals to build an oil pipeline to the northwest coast. “We have been very clear that we do not support this proposed project and Coastal First Nations, along with the province, have called on the federal government to uphold the tanker ban. Any discussions around an exemption to the current ban on oil tankers triggers the honour of the Crown and requires our consent. “We are tired of learning about these discussions regarding our traditional territories in the press. Both the Prime Minister and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson have repeatedly stated that such a project would require the support of First Nations and of the government of British Columbia. “We have put forth multiple requests for nation-to-nation meetings with both the Prime Minister and Minister Hodgson. It is time for them to live up to their commitments and set up a respectful table that includes Coastal First Nations and the province of BC. This approach is only building mistrust, and Canada should commit to talking with us directly instead of deliberately sidestepping our communities.” On November 5, 2025, Coastal First Nations and the Province of BC signed the North Coast Protection Declaration, calling on the federal government to uphold the oil tanker ban as a matter of national responsibility and an investment in Canada’s treasured marine environment and the economic prosperity of future generations. The oil tanker ban is the result of over 50 years of advocacy from First Nations and coastal communities and is supported by federal and provincial governments of all political stripes.
November 19, 2025 at 10:07 PM
sobittersosweet.bsky.social
A press release from the Heiltsuk Nation, which is currently dealing with a floundering freight barge in its territorial waters, responds directly to reports about the MOU:
This adds insult to injury. A tanker ban is not a ban if it includes exceptions. Our nation is still recovering from the Nathan E. Stewart spill, which took place nice years ago, this same time of year. Our cultural and harvesting areas have remained closed since then. That was a spill under 700 barrels in size and polluted over 1500 acres of our territory. In contrast, supertankers can carry 2 million barrels of oil. We cannot imagine and will never allow that kind of risk in our territory.
November 19, 2025 at 8:37 PM
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All this and a glass of scotch, post crab dinner 🙌
A brass and iron wood stove with a healthy fire I side
November 16, 2025 at 4:39 AM
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Yesterday, I was struck by how MPO CEO Dawn Farrell described what the office does

In the context of markets, "competitive" is a synonym for cheap
A quote from Major Projects Office CEO Dawn Farrell: "Our job is all about making sure that people get across the line, get everything they need to get built on time and on budget, and ensure that Canadians have competitive mines, competitive pipelines, competitive LNG facilities, because the world only pays a certain price for our goods, and we need to meet them at those prices."
November 14, 2025 at 6:21 PM
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Fall does come with some killer flavours 😋
Me holding three Kerr's molasses caramel candies
October 24, 2025 at 4:03 AM
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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