Government pledges ‘record investments’ in infrastructure, help for people hit hardest by COVID-19. Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee's Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria and the author of All Together Healthy (Douglas & McIntyre, 2018). Find him on Twitter or reach him at . SHARES Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin’s read speech promising next week’s budget would 'help people now and create the conditions for a strong economic recovery that reaches every British Columbian.' Image from Hansard. The throne speech opening the new session of the B.C. legislature today focused on the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the province’s response to it and the government’s commitment to building back better.