VICTORIA – Courtenay-Comox MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard said Premier John Horgan and the New Democrat government outlined their vision for a better British Columbia that puts people first in a Speech from the Throne Friday.

“For too long families in the Comox Valley have been left behind by the choices of the previous B.C. Liberal government, even though there was a sitting B.C. Liberal minister in the area,” said Courtenay-Comox MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard. “It didn’t seem to matter. Families have been struggling to make ends meet in my community of Courtney-Comox, find good-paying jobs, and get the quality health and education services they deserve.

“Our government is making different choices, and putting people first for a change.”

Leonard said Friday’s throne speech set the direction for the fall legislative session, where the B.C. New Democrat government will take action on immediate priorities, including those of people in the Comox Valley.

Throne speech highlights include stopping unfair rent increases and increasing the stock of affordable housing, getting big money out of B.C. politics, revitalizing our resource sectors and delivering a new capital investment plan that will focus on building new schools, hospitals and roads, while helping to create well-paying jobs throughout the province.

“We’re getting to work on the things that matter most,” said Leonard. “Making life more affordable, fixing the services people count on and a strong, sustainable economy that creates good jobs.

“After 16 years of neglect from the B.C. Liberal government, it’s going to take time to fix the problems they left behind,” said Leonard. “But we’re rolling up our sleeves and getting to work to build a better B.C..”