Bob Mackin
During the fall session of British Columbia’s Legislature, Premier David Eby’s NDP government has routinely used its majority to block the tabling of private member’s bills from OneBC, the two-MLA, Conservative splinter party.
That changed Nov. 26 when OneBC house leader Tara Armstrong’s “Secure Procurement in Respect of China Act” passed first reading by a vote of 84-4.
Premier David Eby and China’s ambassador to Canada, Wang Di, at the 2025 Chinatown Lunar New Year parade in Vancouver. (BC Gov/Flickr)
Armstrong proposes banning the B.C. government from buying goods and services from China when comparable goods and services are available from Canadian or democratic allies. Armstrong also proposes the government disclose the dollar value of contracts with Chinese businesses.
The only four MLAs to vote against were three members of the John Rustad-led Conservative caucus who represent Richmond ridings — Hon Chan, Steve Kooner and Teresa Wat, — and Conservative opposition house leader Aaliya Warbus.
Tara talk
“British Columbia has a choice: stand with Canada or enrich a hostile communist dictatorship. This bills ensures that we choose Canada,” Armstrong said in her introductory speech.
She cited the Hogue Commission findings that China interfered with Canadian elections, the targeting of British Columbian activists, such as Victor Ho of Richmond, with a bounty, Chinese tariffs on Canadian goods and China’s threats to invade democratic Taiwan.
Armstrong did not mention the BC Ferries contract to buy four new vessels from China state-owned shipyard, CMI Weihai. But the NDP continues to face criticism from ferry workers and building trades unions that want Canadians to do the job.
Xi’s man and Putin’s friend in Canada
Armstrong tabled the bill just two days after the NDP government welcomed China’s ambassador Wang Di to the Legislature on Nov. 24. Wang is the top diplomat in Canada for China, whose biggest ally is Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
Chan, Kooner and Wat often socialize with heads of groups that support the Chinese consulate: Canadian Alliance of Chinese Associations, Canadian Community Service Association and Chinese Benevolent Association.
Wat and Chan attended a Sept. 23 party at the Chinese consulate to celebrate 76 years of communist rule in China. When they attended the Taiwan National Day reception on Oct. 4, Wat arrived late and Chan left early. Neither joined fellow politicians and Taiwanese diplomats on stage for speeches and a toast to Taiwan.
Chan, Kooner and Wat did not immediately respond to theBreaker.news for comment.
Three stages
Only one week remains in the fall session, so the likelihood of the NDP government calling Armstrong’s bill for debate is remote.
The fact that it passed first reading is significant. Until last year, it was a formality.
That changed when the Eby NDP blocked Rustad’s “Fairness in Women’s and Girls’ Sports” bill.
It continued this fall when the left-wing NDP targeted several OneBC bills for first reading defeat, using about 15 minutes each time to call a recorded vote. Bills blocked at first reading included proposals to: ban Indigenous land acknowledgements; repeal the Truth and Reconciliation Day statutory holiday; and ban the display from provincial property of any flag that isn’t the flag of Canada, B.C. or a municipality.
A vote for a bill at first reading is not a vote for the bill to become law. It merely opens the door to second reading debate and potential clause-by-clause study. Should it get that far, it could be put to a vote at third reading to become a law.
Most private member’s bills, however, go no further than first reading.
Sean Holman’s 2013 documentary “Whipped” explains how party discipline trumps all in B.C.’s polarized, premier-controlled parliament.
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