BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU)
| Specific Topics of Lobbying Communications | Intended Outcomes | Associated Subject Matters |
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1. Overhauling the compensation model for wildland firefighters, with an emphasis on guaranteed full-time pay and benefits rather than the current overreliance on overtime provisions;
2. Developing a coherent recruitment and retention strategy that rewards expertise, provides strong career paths, and compensates operational staff fairly;
3. Accelerating the transition to a year-round wildfire prevention and mitigation model, with more full-time and seasonal regular staffing, including officers and crew;
4. Establishing enhanced early retirement provisions for BCWS members under the Public Service Pension Plan; and
5. Reforming relationships with First Nations, including strengthening engagement with Indigenous wildfire crews.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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Emergency Preparedness, Forestry, Labour/Labour Relations
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1. Return the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital to direct government.
2. Direct FPH management to work with frontline staff and the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee to review and strengthen all policies, procedures, and systems that impact the safety of workers and the public.
3. Direct FPH management to ensure that FSOs are allowed to do their jobs. This should include training for staff on the role of FSOs and how they fit into the larger team, as well as the creation of new policies and/or better compliance with existing policies.
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Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation, Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Justice and Law Enforcement, Labour/Labour Relations, Mental Health and Addictions
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Accelerated transition of all currently licensed childcare programs to a provincially funded support model based on the prototype childcare sites.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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Children and Families
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Advocating for the expansion of home support services, improved standards of care in residential care facilities, better occupational health and safety for workers, and strengthened mental health and addictions services. Advocating for the public provision of health services.
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Introduction, amendment, passage or defeat of any Bill or resolution in or before the Legislative Assembly, Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly
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Health
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Advocating for various improvements in government procurement practices, including successorship in contracts, bringing outsourced work back in house, and public ownership of infrastructure.
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Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly, Awarding, amendment or termination of any contract, grant or financial benefit by or on behalf of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Government Procurement
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BCGEU would like to be included in consultations regarding the cannabis store system.
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Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation, Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Cannabis, Labour/Labour Relations
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BC Sheiff Service issues, including:
• Recruitment and Retention issues, including compensation
• Extended Work Week: (moving to a 37.5- or 40- hour work week)
• Expanding sheriffs’ duties
• Moving sheriffs out of the Court Services Branch into its own branch under the Ministry of Attorney General
• Instituting supervisory and management changes
• Implementing an early retirement program for sheriffs
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Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation, Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Justice and Law Enforcement, Labour/Labour Relations
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BC Wildfire Service: potential for off-season employment for wildfire fighters in ministry mandated wildfire risk reduction, forest health and silviculture work, and keeping this critical work in direct government as opposed to devolving it to contract agencies.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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Forestry, Labour/Labour Relations
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BC Wildfire Service working conditions and recruitment and retention issues, including:
-Health and safety and hazards on the job
-Protecting infrastructure
-Overtime and hours of work
-Mental health concerns
-Lack of adequate on-the-job training
-Lack of danger tree fallers
-Work-life balance
-Lack of access to childcare
-Pay and compensation
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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Emergency Preparedness, Environment, Forestry, Infrastructure, Labour/Labour Relations, Mental Health and Addictions
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Building on the Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement program from 2019, the government should implement a provincial wage grid and ensure a comprehensive package that includes benefits and pension
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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Children and Families, Labour/Labour Relations
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Childcare capital spending should be focused on public providers, and efforts should be made to remove funding barriers for First Nations communities and other public/non-profit providers
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Awarding, amendment or termination of any contract, grant or financial benefit by or on behalf of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Children and Families
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Concerns contracting out at BC Place.
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Decision by the Executive Council or a member of the Executive Council to have the private sector instead of the Crown provide goods or services to the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation, Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Government Procurement, Labour/Labour Relations
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Consultation as a stakeholder on the current audit of BC Housing.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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Housing, Labour/Labour Relations
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Enacting a rent freeze or capping the maximum allowable rent increase until inflation is back within the Bank of Canada’s target zone.
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Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation, Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Housing
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Ensuring a seat at any appropriate tables where consultation regarding the BC Provincial Government Child Care Strategy stakeholders is happening.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly, Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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Children and Families, Education, Labour/Labour Relations
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Ensuring BCGEU is consulted regarding changes to services that employ our members, including BC wildfire service and supportive housing delivery.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Labour/Labour Relations
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Equity and fairness in compensation
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Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation, Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Human Rights, Labour/Labour Relations
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Expanded childcare as Part of BC’s Economic Recovery.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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COVID-19, Children and Families, Economic Development and Trade
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Expanding Section 135 of the Workers’ Compensation Act to cover more frontline workers— specifically those in mental health and addictions and community social services.
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Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation, Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly
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Health, Labour/Labour Relations, Mental Health and Addictions
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Governance improvements in Workers Compensation, including increased representation for workers.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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Health, Labour/Labour Relations
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Improved compensation, training, supports and safety measures for mental health workers, addictions workers, shelter staff and workers in related sectors.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Labour/Labour Relations, Mental Health and Addictions
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Improvements to the workers compensation system, act, related regulations and operations to better support injured workers and their families.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation, Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly
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Health, Labour/Labour Relations
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Improving communication with the Ministry and having input on operational regulations as they are developed.
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Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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Children and Families, Labour/Labour Relations
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Improving LDB recruitment and retention
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Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation, Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Labour/Labour Relations, Liquor Control/Alcohol
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Including workers at Atira Women’s Resource Society in the Community Health Agreement
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Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation, Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly
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Health, Labour/Labour Relations, Mental Health and Addictions
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Increase and stabilize funding for post-secondary education. Fairness for international students.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Advanced Education
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Increases in wage rates (Labour Component of the Annual Price Adjustment) for Highway Maintenance contracts; Recruitment and Retention; Enforcement of Highway Maintenance Contract standards.
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Awarding, amendment or termination of any contract, grant or financial benefit by or on behalf of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Infrastructure, Labour/Labour Relations
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Moving forward and resolving the myriad of issues experienced by those housed and working in the supportive housing sector.
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Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation, Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly
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Health, Housing, Labour/Labour Relations, Mental Health and Addictions, Poverty
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Presumptive clause for psychological injury – issues of trauma from covid and opioid crisis.
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Decision by the Executive Council or a member of the Executive Council to have the private sector instead of the Crown provide goods or services to the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation, Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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COVID-19, Health, Labour/Labour Relations, Mental Health and Addictions
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Priority issues for BCGEU members within Adult Corrections, including:
-Recruitment & Retention;
-Reduced Recruits in Training Classes and Impacts;
-Extended Work Week;
-Increased violence;
-Post Covid-19 & Disciplinary Hearing Process;
-Staff shortages and Impacts.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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Justice and Law Enforcement, Labour/Labour Relations
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Professionalization of wildfire fighting in BC, including: recruitment and retention of skilled wildfire fighters employed year-round; addressing low pay and lack of job security; making BC self sufficient in wildfire fighting; properly resourcing the service; improving integration with Indigenous communities and incorporation of Indigenous-led fire management practices.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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Emergency Preparedness, Environment, Forestry, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Labour/Labour Relations
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Promoting the training, recruitment and retention of childcare and social services workers. Seeking improvements in services for children, youth and families, including establishing a universal childcare system, ensuring Indigenous families receive an equal level and quality of care, and expanding programs for youth transitioning out of care.
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Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly
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Children and Families
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Promoting the training, recruitment and retention of workers in the justice system. Advocating for improved access to the justice system, including by expanding legal aid, First Nations legal services, and family justice centres. Seeking changes that will reduce prison violence, including reduced staff-to-inmate ratios.
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Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly
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Justice and Law Enforcement
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Repatriation of housekeeping services at the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital.
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Decision by the Executive Council or a member of the Executive Council to have the private sector instead of the Crown provide goods or services to the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Awarding, amendment or termination of any contract, grant or financial benefit by or on behalf of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Health, Justice and Law Enforcement, Mental Health and Addictions
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Requesting a meeting with our union to discuss potential consequences of a recent regulatory change and offer solutions to best mitigate any negative impacts to BCGEU members at the BC Liquor Distribution Branch (BCLDB).
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Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation, Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Labour/Labour Relations, Liquor Control/Alcohol
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Requesting that government recognize the BCGEU as a community of interest related to the recommendations from “A Rapid Investigation into Repeat Offending and Random Stranger Violence in British Columbia," and that government include the BCGEU in any work undertaken towards implementation of the report’s recommendations.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Justice and Law Enforcement, Mental Health and Addictions
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Seeking changes to enhance BC Liquor Stores and to end the sale of grocery store wine licenses.
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Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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Liquor Control/Alcohol
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Seeking improvements in compliance and enforcement programs across government and changes to environmental and natural resource laws that strengthen public oversight. Advocating for more funding and to protect BC Parks from commercialization/ privatization. Advocating for actions to address climate change, including just transition measures for affected workers and communities.
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Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly
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Environment
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Seeking improvements to postsecondary education, including funding increases and changes to trades training in BC.
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Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly
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Advanced Education
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Seeking improvements to the Labour Code, Workers' Compensation Act, Worksafe BC and employment standards, including stronger protections for workers, strengthened health and safety regulations, and strategies to address precarious work.
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Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly, Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation, Introduction, amendment, passage or defeat of any Bill or resolution in or before the Legislative Assembly
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Labour/Labour Relations
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Seeking support for strategies to address the housing affordability crisis in BC, including tax changes, stronger protection for renters and investment in new affordable public housing.
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Introduction, amendment, passage or defeat of any Bill or resolution in or before the Legislative Assembly, Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly
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Housing
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Sheriff service issues, including:
-Recruitment and retention / Extended work week
-Expanding duties
-Moving the Sheriff Service out of the Court Services Branch
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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Justice and Law Enforcement, Labour/Labour Relations
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Supportive housing should be recognized as a distinct sector in the health field, and covered by HEABC and and the Community Health agreement.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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Health, Housing, Labour/Labour Relations, Mental Health and Addictions
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The BCGEU requests that the ministry include our union in discussions related to reconciliation measures and strategies for K-12 education
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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Education, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
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The government should implement Vacancy Control, a form of rent control that ties allowable rent increases to a housing unit, rather than to individual tenancy agreements, which is the current model of rent control in B.C.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly
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Housing, Poverty
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The inclusion of Sheriffs within the scope of the "public safety occupation" category for the purposes of early retirement benefits as per the Income Tax Act.
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Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation, Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly, Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Justice and Law Enforcement, Labour/Labour Relations
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The ministry should include our union in discussions related to reconciliation, particularly with respect to strategies for child welfare.
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Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation, Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Children and Families, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
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The ministry should include our union in discussions related to the planning and implementation of childcare initiatives.
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Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation, Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Children and Families, Education, Labour/Labour Relations
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The vital role of religious, cultural, and needs-based independent schools as a supplement to a robust public K- 12 education system.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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Education
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The Workers Compensation Act should be reviewed and amended to alter provisions that harm injured workers.
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Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation, Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly, Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Health, Labour/Labour Relations
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Understaffing and lack of necessary resources contributing to backlog in environmental assessments needed to move forward on affordable housing projects.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Environment, Housing, Labour/Labour Relations
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Union representation and jurisdictional issues in the context of sectoral reorganizations.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity, Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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Labour/Labour Relations
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