Michele Babchuk: Becoming our MLA

On October 24th, more than 50% of North Island’s electorate chose Michele Babchuk to represent them in the Provincial Legislature. Though more than a month has passed, she has only just stepped down from her previous roles as a Campbell River councillor and Chair of the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board. Though yet to sit in parliament, she has been made the Deputy Government Whip and a member of the Appointment Orders Committee. I recently asked Michele about becoming our MLA .

The Transition to becoming our MLA

She attended her last SRD Board meeting, as a Director rather than Chair, on November 4th.

Last Monday, she attended her last meeting of the Campbell River City council.

“It has gone relatively smoothly. I think I have accomplished everything that I wanted to do with those organizations before I move on. The transition into the legislature is still ongoing. We’ll see what that looks like because the Premier is going to call the session back in order on December 7th,” said Babchuk.

She has not gone to Victoria yet and, thanks to COVID, may be attending the next session virtually from her home in Campbell River.

“We haven’t seen the schedule for next year but, with COVID and the way the legislature is working on a hybrid model right now, we’ll see what the legislature is going to look like on December 7th,” said Babchuk.

Only a minimal number of people actually went to Victoria during the last session. Most meetings were on ZOOM.

Babchuk wants to visit the legislature, to ‘learn who’s who in the zoo,’ but does not intend to rent an apartment just yet. A hotel room will suffice for occasional visits. She can always find something more permanent should it become obvious this is needed.

She will have constituency offices in Campbell River and Port Hardy.

Garry Beg, MLA for Surrey-Guildford and Government Caucus Whip – Courtesy New Democrat BC Government Caucus

The Deputy Party Whip

Babchuk spoke about her new role, as Deputy Government Whip in general terms.

She and Garry Beg, the Government Caucus Whip, have not yet discussed how they will divide up responsibilities.

“In a general focus, it is making sure that this very large caucus of 57 members are all where they need to be, when they need to be and that they have everything they need to be able to perform …” she said.

This is not as crucial in a majority government, where a couple of unexpected absentees could make the party vulnerable in a crucial vote.

However, when an MLA needs to be absent from a session they ask the party whip if this is possible.

Moving towards a Green economy

“I believe that most people have an environmental, or Green ethic .. I haven’t spoken to anybody who says ‘no,’ when I ask ‘is the environment top of mind for you?'”

” The precursor for me, is what I get with the ‘but’ – But how will we move from here to here, without affecting here and here.”

“ … We have a lot of resource sector people who we automatically think of as not environmental, but still have that ethic. They still want to make sure that the environment is taken care of and we are leaving a legacy for our children. It’s just not at the same level as someone who puts the environment as their first priority above everything,”

She added, “I think there is a way we can work through that. Do we need a Green economy? – Sure. Is it going to happen as fast as some people want? – probably not. Is it going to happen faster than some people want? – YES!”

Bringing everyone to the table

In the podcast above, Chair Babchuk mentions some of the complexities of our riding.

The key to addressing controversial situations, is to bring everyone to the table and have “ … those really good hard discussions.”

“Respecting everyone’s opinion around the table will help us move forward with those types of decisions. I really do believe that a community, for lack of a better analogy, is like a three legged stool. In order for that community to be healthy, it has to have economic health, environmental health and social health,” she said. “We really need to bring those into balance and to be able to respect the diversity within our own riding.”

” …. I hope that when you have a concern, you can pick up the phone and we can can have that discussion and look at your concern … Depending on where those concerns are … I can access … information or help after that, if it is with the Minister of Forests, Lands or Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, or Economic Recovery, or the Ministry of Environment … Those are the kinds of channels that, as your local MLA, I would hope we could open the door to and get those conversations happening.”

Family ties

Q: How does being an MLA affect your roles as wife, mother and grandmother?

“I am extremely fortunate to have a family that has been 100% supportive of all my endeavours since I started with the school board, to when I went on to council, to when I became the [SRD] Chair and now into the MLA role. They’re getting used to the transition as we move along,” replied Babchuk.

“… My family are all extremely proud of me, and where I have ended up here, and I am proud of myself and hope I can continue doing the good work for the constituents of North Island, that I have done for the citizens of Campbell River and the School District.”

“… Be patient with me …”

“I ask that people be a bit patient with me, as the legislature rolls out all of our technology and our email addresses, which are not all there yet. We are trying to get the office up and going as fast as we can. I know I am a little ‘unplugged,’ at this particular point. As soon as all the contact information and everything is in place, I will be shooting them out to everybody I know.”

Links of interest:

Top photo credit: Michele Babchuk being sworn in as an MLA, virtually, on November 24, 2020 – courtesy her constituency office.

This program was funded by a grant from the Community Radio Fund of Canada and the Government of Canada’s Local Journalism Initiative.

Cortes Currents