Vancouver, B.C.- Delegates to NDP convention, wrapped up their  two day huddle in Vancouver  having selected Vancouver  Councillor Craig Keating to be  the new Party President, but there is still no  date for  a leadership  convention, to select  the replacement for Adrian Dix.

The delegates did put forward a total of 67 resolutions dealing with BC’s economy and environment to be discussed and approved but only  a handful of the resolutions, actually got to the convention floor for consideration.

Among those resolutions that have been approved was an “emergency  resolution regarding the Agricultural Land Reserve.  It notes that BC’s agricultural sector employs more than 300,000 people and generates $35 billion in revenue.  Yet the NDP say recently uncovered documents reveal that the Liberal government’s Core Review is being used as a cover for dismantling the ALR and putting it under the control of the Oil and Gas Commission.  “They want to frack our farms” said delegate and cattle rancher Harold Steves, in a reference to the  natural Gas extraction process called “fracking”.

Other resolutions  approved include:

• Temporary foreign workers:.  The resolution notes that over 70,000 temporary foreign workers currently reside in the province without the rights of other workers.  It states the federal and provincial governments are pushing this program in order to avoid training obligations and to aid employers in driving down wages.  Among other things, the resolution demands  governments “expand pathways to permanent resident status for migrant workers,” advocate for their rights, and enforce better employment standards.

• Privatization of public forest lands:  The NDP  will oppose what they say is a  plan by the BC Liberals to “to further privatize our public forests lands” by rolling over renewable volume based tenures into privately held Tree Farm Licenses.

• Red Seal Trades program: Ensure  the mandatory trades under this program have high quality of workmanship and skills.

• Protect coastal ecosystems and wild salmon  by supporting closed containment finfish aquaculture as an alternative o open-net cage  fish farming.

• Modernization of the BC Water Act to regulate  ground water and recognize First Nations water rights.