He’s The Cariboo-Chilcotin’s Multi-tasking MLA

“Very excited and honoured.”

That’s how Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson summed up his new role as BC Conservative Assistant Deputy Speaker.

Doerkson said he’s had about two weeks sitting in the chair and looks forward to the debates and committees he will preside over.

“It’s been a great opportunity to listen to Throne responses and this afternoon (Wednesday) we will have some bill debates going on and committee work done on a couple of bills.”

Even though he has a new role within his party, Doerkson said he can still remain politically active.

“It’s the reason why I accepted the position in the first place. Yesterday (Tuesday) I delivered a speech about Atlantic Power, I certainly had concerns about some of the stumbling blocks that seem to be holding that up. I had an opportunity to share that with the Legislature and all of it’s members.”

Deorkson noted that his role will mostly be presiding over debates or potentially be presiding over committee stage bills.

“I won’t be in the House with respect to Question Period, presiding over Question Period will not be a task that I will be tasked with but certainly I can still ask questions and still be very political on just about every level.”

Doerkson said as Assistant Deputy Speaker he not only gets to learn so much about the province, Bills and different items that come before the House, he remains very political with respect to his role as MLA.

He’s also pleased that the Legislature is back in session.

“There is a massive amount of new MLA’s about 61 percent. There are a number of returning MLA’s but the mass majority are new. That’s created an interesting time here, many of the members are learning the ropes and trying to get their feet under them. It’s been a couple of weeks since we’ve been sitting and there have been some wholesome debate on the Throne Speech and of course the budget is next week. I think we’re off to what hopefully will be an exciting session,” Doerkson said.