<div dir="ltr"><div><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-c9ef92fd-7fff-9a76-5bb4-9e0ea65f9815"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">BC Election 2024 BCMA Member Update</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">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.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">What Happens Next</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">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 </span><a href="https://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-politics-have-changed-forever-rustad-says-vowing-to-keep-battling-ndp-1.7080141" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">“as difficult as possible”</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> for the NDP, it appears that David Eby’s new government will rely on the support of the Green Party to govern.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">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.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">What the BCMA is Doing</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">The BCMA is supporting both individual outreach to key MLAs and government representatives and collaborative advocacy through the </span><a href="https://www.coalitionbc.ca/" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">BC Coalition of Arts, Culture, and Heritage</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> 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.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">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 </span><a href="http://www.coalitionbc.ca" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">www.coalitionbc.ca</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">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:</span></p><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Developing a Provincial Arts, Culture, and Heritage Action Plan</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Increasing the Annual BC Arts Council Budget to $55 Million</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Maintaining COVID-Era Recovery and Resilience Funding</span></p></li></ul><br><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">How You Can Help</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">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.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">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 </span><a href="http://www.coalitionbc.ca" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">www.coalitionbc.ca</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> this week.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">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 </span><a href="https://bclive.ca/resources/advocacy/" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">BC Live</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> 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.</span></p></span><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div>-Ryan</div><div><br></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Ryan Hunt</b></font><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Executive Director</font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">Pronouns: He/him </font><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:x-small">To learn why pronouns are important, click </span><a href="https://equity.ubc.ca/resources/gender-diversity/pronouns/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);font-size:x-small" target="_blank">here</a></div><div><div><font color="#888888">-</font></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136)">The BC Museums Association office is located on the traditional, unceded lands of the <a href="https://vimeo.com/275788251" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">Lekwungen</a> peoples (Songhees and Xwsepsum Nations). We respect past, present, and future Indigenous stewards and recognize that we are uninvited guests on this territory.<br></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136)"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);margin:0in 0in 1pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49);font-family:Arial,sans-serif">BC Museums Association || 675 Belleville Street  || Victoria, BC || V8W 9W2</span></p><p style="color:rgb(136,136,136);margin:0in 0in 1pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49);font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Direct: 250-884-0499</span><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49);font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> || </span><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49);font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Office: 250-356-5700</span><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49);font-family:Arial,sans-serif">  || <a href="http://www.museum.bc.ca" target="_blank">www.museum.bc.ca</a></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>