[BCMA] BC Election 2024 BCMA Member Update

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv]

BC Election 2024 BCMA Member Update

For months, pundits have said that the 2024 BC General Election was shaping
up to be something unique. Between British Columbians voting early in
record numbers, braving flooding to vote on election day, and resulting in
a near tie, this year’s election cycle was truly unprecedented on many
levels.

What Happens Next

Assuming that recounts and mail-in votes do not change the balance of power
in the newly-elected government, the NDP will use their incumbent status
and one-seat lead to attempt to form the government. As a minority
government, the NDP will need to work with either the BC Green Party or the
BC Conservative Party to approve budgets, pass legislation, and make
governing decisions. Given BC Conservative Leader John Rustad’s pledge to
make life “as difficult as possible”
<https://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-politics-have-changed-forever-rustad-says-vowing-to-keep-battling-ndp-1.7080141>
for the NDP, it appears that David Eby’s new government will rely on the
support of the Green Party to govern.

Until the results are finalized by Elections BC between October 26 and 28,
David Eby remains the premier. The previous cabinet which was dissolved by
the dropping of the writ in September, will remain dissolved until the new
government is formed and a new cabinet is appointed. It is likely that the
formation of the next cabinet, which will determine which MLAs will be
appointed as ministers, will happen between now and December.

What the BCMA is Doing

The BCMA is supporting both individual outreach to key MLAs and government
representatives and collaborative advocacy through the BC Coalition of
Arts, Culture, and Heritage <https://www.coalitionbc.ca/> in the
post-election period. We are sending welcome/congratulatory emails to the
key MLAs and government representatives who have a relationship with our
association, like former Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sports
Lana Popham and former Speaker Spencer Chandra Herbert.

We are also working with the Coalition to share template letters of
introduction that arts, culture, and heritage organizations can use to
reach out to the new/returning MLAs and begin to either build or strengthen
their relationships. Find these template resources later this week by
visiting www.coalitionbc.ca.

While the NDP did not incorporate the Coalition’s full advocacy platform
into their party’s arts, culture, and heritage platform, we will continue
to advocate to the next government to prioritize:

   -

   Developing a Provincial Arts, Culture, and Heritage Action Plan
   -

   Increasing the Annual BC Arts Council Budget to $55 Million
   -

   Maintaining COVID-Era Recovery and Resilience Funding



How You Can Help

In conversations with professional government relations consultants, they
have made clear that the next six months will be one of the most impactful
times for advocacy. If we hope to increase our sector’s profile with the
next government, we will need to mobilize around shared messaging and key
goals as soon as possible.

We strongly encourage all sector professionals and volunteers to reach out
to their newly elected and returning MLAs using the new templates and
resources that will be made available at www.coalitionbc.ca this week.

Collective advocacy makes a difference. From the BC Green’s endorsing the
recommendations of the BC Coalition of Arts, Culture, and Heritage, to the
advocacy of our colleagues at BC Live
<https://bclive.ca/resources/advocacy/> to renew BC’s Fairs, Festivals &
Events Fund helping to get a commitment for this action in the NDP’s
election platform, our sector can influence government. It is critical that
we work together to advocate for a brighter future for BC’s arts, culture,
and heritage sector.

-Ryan

*Ryan Hunt*
Executive Director
Pronouns: He/him To learn why pronouns are important, click here
<https://equity.ubc.ca/resources/gender-diversity/pronouns/>
-
The BC Museums Association office is located on the traditional, unceded
lands of the Lekwungen <https://vimeo.com/275788251> peoples (Songhees and
Xwsepsum Nations). We respect past, present, and future Indigenous stewards
and recognize that we are uninvited guests on this territory.

BC Museums Association || 675 Belleville Street  || Victoria, BC || V8W 9W2

Direct: 250-884-0499 || Office: 250-356-5700  || www.museum.bc.ca
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