1984 Legislative Session: 2nd Session, 33rd Parliament

HANSARD

The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.

The printed version remains the official version.

Official Report of

DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

(Hansard)

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1984

Afternoon Sitting

[ Page

3221 ]

CONTENTS

Address to Legislature by Governor John Spellman –– 3221

Mr. Barrett

Hon. Mr. Bennett

Routine Proceedings

Oral Questions

Bus safety. Mr. Passarell –– 3223

Protection of St. Mungo site. Mr. Hanson –– 3224

Highways ferries. Mr. D'Arcy –– 3225

Taxation measures. Mr. Stupich –– 3225

Rent controls. Mr. Blencoe –– 3225

Speech from the Throne

Mr. Mowat –– 3225

Mr. Reid –– 3230

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1984

The House met at 2:05 p.m.

Prayers.

HON. MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, in the galleries and on the

floor of the Legislature today we have distinguished visitors to

British Columbia, our good friends to the south in the neighbouring

state of Washington. Governor John Spellman and members of his

delegation met this morning in one of continuing meetings on

outstanding issues, or areas in which issues may arise, between their

state and our province and between our two peoples. This is the second

official visit of Governor Spellman to this Legislature since he became

governor and since we were fortunate enough to have the governor

address us in 1981 as part of that visit. With the governor today in

the precincts and the gallery as part of the delegation are: Mr.

Richard T. Schrock, Director, Department of Commerce and Economic

Development; Mr. Donald W. Moos, Director, Department of Ecology; Mr.

Bill Wilkerson, Director, Department of Fisheries; Mr. Ed Devine,

executive director of the Expo 86 Commission; Mr. Paul O'Connor, press

secretary, office of the Governor; and Mr. Kirk Merrill, aide to the

office of the Governor.

This morning we discussed a number of items of mutual interest to

our people, dealing with fisheries, fishing enhancement and fishing

agreements, hydro power and natural gas, and the resolution that has

been achieved on the Skagit Valley as a result of previous negotiations

and discussions. We had discussions on environmental matters regarding

water and air, and we dealt with a major announcement — and one that's

important to British Columbia, but it's not surprising that it should

come from our closest neighbour — and that is the official

announcement, of course, that the first state from the United States to

announce their active participation in our Expo 86 is that of

Washington. For that we thank the Governor and the people of

Washington. Not only are they helping us to make our Expo 86 an

outstanding international success but in many ways they showed us the

way with the development of two expositions within their state in the

last number of years that were outstanding successes and were enjoyed

by many British Columbians, as well as by other visitors from around

the world.

I want to say that over the period of his term Governor Spellman has

not only been a good friend of British Columbia and Canada but has

taken the time to understand our problems as they may exist and where

the solution can be mutually arrived at. On many occasions he has

picked up the phone and called the government when issues were pending.

In many cases we have met together in delegations and as individuals,

and I think that the relationship between us and the people of

Washington, particularly in government, has been enhanced by his

personal, friendly style, one which has with it a wealth of

understanding because of his personal knowledge of our province and the

time he spends here both officially and unofficially. As I say, we are

honoured today to have this delegation here.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask leave of the House at this time to allow

our distinguished visitor to address the Legislature, and at the same

time I ask leave for the House to defer question period until the

conclusion of his address.

Leave granted.

GOVERNOR SPELLMAN: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Premier, Members of the Legislative Assembly, my fellow Americans: I am again

honoured to have the extraordinary opportunity to speak to this

Legislative Assembly of Canada's most promising province. I am indeed

grateful for the Speaker's neighbourly invitation. As I did in May of

1981, I stand before you, an old neighbour and friend, and I am again

pleased to bring to you the warm and neighbourly greetings of the

four million people of the state of Washington, who are the friends of

British Columbia.

When I first stood before you, I came to reaffirm and re-establish a

friendly and cooperative relationship that had sometimes been strained.

We are now all witnesses to a new

chapter in that historic saga of

kinship and progress between our province and state. We are again

working together in many areas of mutual benefit. We have shown that by

low-key, pragmatic hard work we are able to work out the differences, as

witnessed by the Skagit–Ross Lake treaty. There yet remain — and I

suppose always will remain — issues upon which we will find ourselves

initially divided. Premier Bennett and I engaged this morning in a

frank discussion of many of those issues.

I think there is one subject, however, upon which we all intuitively

and wholeheartedly agree: that is, that we are blessed to live in a

virtual Camelot of natural splendour and quality of life, and that this

equitable condition is not only good for our souls but very good for

our economies. We of the Pacific Northwest understand, I think better

than anyone else in the world, the economics of environmentalism. The

best young medical graduates of the best schools in our country come to

our state for their final training, because they want to live there.

The best people from all professions — arts and sciences — gravitate to

this northwest, because this is the place where they want to spend the

rest of their lives. And, indeed, our best executives frequently turn

down transfers to other parts of the nation, at a considerable monetary

loss, rather than leave this area, which is so special.

[2:15]

Our environment and our economy work closely together. Our

environment is our mainstay: agriculture, not airplanes, is Washington

state's number one industry. We as stewards must assure the continuous

bounty of our rich land and our clean water and clean air. We talked

about that this morning.

Tourists from all over the world come to share the breathtaking

stage upon which we are privileged to live out our lives. The whole

world will be coming to Expo 86, a visionary world's fair that this

province deserves the highest praise for putting together. Last year I

requested our Legislature to establish an expo commission. They did,

and I am indeed happy that we will be participating there. I hope that

we can encourage other states to participate too, because it will be a

grand international event. Like the Seattle World's Fair of 1962 and

the Spokane Fair of 1976, the well-conceived facilities of Expo 86 are

designed to be a continuous public resource, and that will be very good

for the province. Spokane has literally been reborn as a result of

their world's fair.

The forces behind Expo 86, and you, are to be congratulated for your

forward thinking. Our foresight as stewards of this magnificent land

does not always merit congratulations. There is one critical challenge

upon which I would like to concentrate for a minute or two this

afternoon. I come before you today with a plea to save the Chinook. A

plentiful stock

[ Page 3222 ]

of salmon has always represented the jewels and crown of our shared

and enviable quality of life. But the Chinook, which appropriately is

called the king, is an endangered species. Because of overfishing, half

a million Chinook per year never return to their spawning grounds along

our mutual coastlines. That means that every year our commercial and

sports fishing persons see about one million fewer kings in our waters,

and that's a very serious business. We're witnessing a chain reaction:

first, the Columbia River is overfished, then the Skagit, then the

Fraser, and resource enhancement declines step by step. While we debate

at the federal levels of our countries how 20 years from now we will

divide up the catch between the provinces and the states of our two

countries, we're watching the stock itself being reduced to almost zero

over that period of time. There will be nothing to divide up in 20

years' time if we're not very careful. Like the lawyers in Bleak House,

we may protract our contentiousness to the point that there will be no

inheritance to divide up.

It's easy to avoid dealing with this problem, because our

constituents — yours and mine, commercial and sports fishing people —

are divided themselves. They are suspicious of any solution to this

problem. The result of continued combined inaction, however, will be

the loss of our and their precious heritage. The absence of a treaty is

devastating to this natural resource, and our two countries must get

back to the bargaining table and get the job done. It is vital.

I've worked with the Governors of the northwest states Oregon, Alaska and

so forth — to gain support for a Canadian-U.S. treaty. I will be meeting with

Governor Sheffield of Alaska later this month on this same subject. But let

me formally, here today, call on the governments — not just our federal governments

but the Governors of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, this assembly and

the appropriate national officials of both countries — to act immediately to

save the Chinook. Without a treaty the future is bleak; inaction will get us

nowhere. I think we should adopt appropriate fishery regimes for the next two

years, with or without a treaty, if we're to avoid further catastrophic

results.

If we are wise stewards — and we have been — and continue to work

together to avoid the tragic errors that we could commit otherwise,

this great northwest has a glorious future. The people of Washington

join you in looking toward that future. The century of the Pacific has

finally dawned, and British Columbia and Washington are the two

jurisdictions of their respective nations that sit on the Pacific Rim

closest to the action of the new world economic order. Together we will

be the great transportation hubs of trade between the two nations and

the burgeoning countries on the Pacific.

It is a matter of significance, I think, that the Premier of China

came here to British Columbia to visit, just as it was significant when

in 1979 the leader Deng Xiaoping visited the state of Washington. China

and the rest of Asia recognize our corner of the world as the doorway

to the prosperity of the Pacific. Together we will be the crossroads of

the twenty-first century — our children and their grandchildren. Our

cosmopolitan cities will become multilingual service as well as

transportation centres for the world. Our lives will get better and our

children will face that boundless future. But today we must take the

action necessary to ensure that in their day the quality of their lives

and of the environment in which they will live will still constitute a

remuneration more important than any paycheque they could ever receive.

I am pledged to continue cooperation with you. It is in our mutual best interests;

it is in our interest as friends.

1 thank you for the opportunity to meet with you again, and I wish that God will bless each one of you.

MR. BARRETT: On a personal note, Mr. Speaker, it is rare in

this chamber that I have the opportunity to welcome a fellow graduate

of Seattle University. I think the House should also know that among

the esteemed achievements made by the Governor is the fact that he has

been awarded an honorary doctorate by Georgetown University, which was

the first Catholic university in North America. That singular honour is

a reflection of the commitment in the United States of a focus toward

Washington state as an area in which to be and to live.

I am particularly moved by the governor's comments about his fellow

Americans, and "fellow" North Americans is true. Would or could that

the world would live in the tranquillity that we share in a common

border. It would be an example for all others to follow, and there

would be no threat to peace internationally.

Mr. Speaker, the Governor continues a tradition of visits to this

province which has now been established for some time. His esteemed

predecessor, Governor Evans, now a U.S. senator, deserves the

congratulations and support of all people in the northwest, as he is a

common voice for this whole region in that remote capital — almost as

remote as our capital seems on occasion, Mr. Governor.

There is a memorial standing at the border in Blaine with an

inscription that says we are children of a common mother. It is true,

but like all people on earth, we have even a greater common mother. In

particular, the common mother that we share with Washington state is in

an inherited understanding of our different yet same political

processes and democracies. There is a move in our province now, long

due, to examine our parliamentary process. So we too, I think, could

look to our fellow child of a common mother and some of their

parliamentary practices in regard to the majority and the minority.

Their long-held tradition and their longer experience with an

entrenched bill of rights could indeed be useful to us as we examine

some changes here. On that basis your visit is more than welcome.

On a final note, Mr. Speaker, let me say in all seriousness that it

is absolutely essential, in my opinion, that political leaders of all

jurdisdictions and of all political philosophies, continue to meet

face to face to avoid the breakdown of communication that could lead to

the annihilation of mankind. We have a deep abiding support for the

president and the leadership in your country when it is committed to

peaceful actions to bring peace in this world. Our own federal

government has now embarked upon that course. Let it be said here

today, in our own small way in showing this shared friendship, that it

is sincere and it is well meant. Let us hope that it is a demonstration

to the rest of North America, and perhaps to other jurisdictions, that

the peace we enjoy here can be duplicated all over the world. Thank you

for coming.

HON. MR. BENNETT: Governor Spellman, the eloquent remarks of

the Leader of the Opposition indicate to you how much every member from

every political party in this province recognizes how important it is

that visits of this nature continue to take place, and that meetings

such as we hold from time to time, and on a regular basis as well,

continue to take place. While our two systems of government are

different — yours is representative government, ours is

[ Page

3223 ]

responsible government — there are similarities of democratic principle that

apply to both of our chambers and to our policies Therefore, Governor, we in

British Columbia welcome you and your delegation, and warmly respond to the

message you gave us today. Certainly the actions you are taking in Washington

state, positioned as you are on the Pacific, as concerned as you are about your

environment and your resources, whether it be wildlife or fish or those resources

that develop and create economic activity and jobs for your people.... What

is apparent is that there is something we share together. The thrust of your

policies has been to expand tourism. So has ours. The thrust of your policies

has been to expand international trade by personally led delegations to the

countries of the Pacific. Your search for high technology has already paid dividends

in attracting new industry to your area. These too are the thrusts and the goals

for us in British Columbia. As we watch each other and learn from each other,

let us rejoice in our differences but take pride in those many things we share

together.

MR. SPEAKER: Hon. members, at this time we will resume our normal course. I will ask if there are further introductions at this time.

[2:30]

MR. BARRETT: Mr. Speaker, I would like the House to welcome

two guests from New York state, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Shatzkin. Mr.

Shatzkin is in British Columbia speaking to a conference on book

publishing and other related matters. I would ask the House to welcome

him, and I hope he enjoys his visit.

HON. MR. McGEER: Mr. Speaker, this must be United States Day

in our Legislature. It's my pleasure to call the attention of the House

to the presence of Dr. Balmer and a group of students from Lewis and

Clark College, who pay an annual visit to this Legislative Assembly. I

think today they have witnessed a rare moment of harmony in the House.

Perhaps it would be well for us not only to bid them welcome but to ask

them to come back more frequently so that we can enjoy the tranquillity

of our own Legislative Assembly.

MR. VEITCH: Mr. Speaker, seated in your gallery this

afternoon is a good friend of mine, Mr. Dolphe Hoffman, president of

the B.C. Construction Association and director at large for the

Canadian Construction Association. I ask the House to bid him welcome.

HON. MR. RICHMOND: I have two or three introductions today.

First of all, let me add my welcome to Governor Spellman and his

entourage, and thank them once again for making me very welcome when I

spoke to both of their Houses in Washington state last year. I too

would like to see these reciprocal visits continue.

In the gallery today are several members of the B.C. Motels, Resorts and Trailer

Parks Association. I would like to introduce Mr. Gayle Jensen, their new president,

along with his son Neil; Mr. Earl Hansen, managing director of that organization;

and Mr. Bob Kerswell, representative from the Thompson Country Tourist Association.

I would ask the House to make them welcome.

Also, I would like to take a moment to introduce my wife Patricia to

the House. She is visiting this week from Kamloops, and, as I forgot

this morning, I would like to wish her Happy Valentine.

MR. CAMPBELL: In the gallery today from Vernon is the

president of my constituency association, Mr. Tom Moore, and his wife

Pearl. I would also like to welcome my own wife Isabel. I would like

you to give them a welcome.

HON. MR. SCHROEDER: Mr. Speaker. we don't usually take notice

of anniversaries, but today is an unusual anniversary. It is, after

all, St. Valentine's Day, and I wish the House would send its best

wishes to Austin and Louise Pelton. He's the member for Dewdney, and

this is their forty-second year.

MR. SEGARTY: In the gallery today, along with all of those

distinguished guests, is the wife of the member for West Vancouver–Howe

Sound (Mr. Reynolds), Yvonne Reynolds. I'd like the House to welcome

her, and also Marion Reid, wife of the second member for Surrey (Mr.

Reid).

MR. ROSE: Mr. Speaker, this is not necessarily an

introduction, but it is a kind of international day in this House. On

behalf of the House, I would move that the House extend its

congratulations to our first gold-medal winner in Sarajevo, Gaetan

Boucher, who won his medal in the 1,000 kilometre speed skating this

morning.

Interjection.

MR. ROSE: I'm informed that that's further than he actually skated. It's the 1,000 metre race, isn't it?

MRS. JOHNSTON: Mr. Speaker, in your gallery this afternoon I

have four guests: Adolph and Joyce Frey visiting from Wilkie,

Saskatchewan, my sister-in-law and her husband Pat and Dave Hopkins.

They were previously residents in that great Cariboo town of Quesnel,

represented by Hon. Alex Fraser, but they are now living in Surrey,

which is the future terminus of the ALRT. I would ask you to welcome

them, please.

HON. MR. HEWITT: Mr. Speaker, in your gallery is my

constituency secretary Mrs. Joan Konfederak, who is visiting the

Legislature for the first time. I ask the members to bid her welcome.

Oral Questions

BUS SAFETY

MR. PASSARELL: I have a question for the Minister of Human

Resources, who is responsible for transit in the province. On February

9 I asked the minister if she was aware of the concerns of passengers

and transit operators over the government's decision to close the

Burnaby testing station on March 9, 1984. The minister took my question

as notice, and I ask again: what provision has she made for regular

safety inspections of transit buses after this date?

HON. MRS. McCARTHY: Mr. Speaker, I took the question as notice so that

I could come back with a full and

[ Page 3224 ]

detailed report, rather than a quick report. If the member would be

just a little patient, I'll do that in the next couple of days.

MR. PASSARELL A question to the Minister of Highways and Transportation.

In the same week that a tragic bus accident took the lives of two students,

the minister announced that the last remaining testing station at Burnaby would

be closed on March 9, 1984. In view of the tremendous public concern over bus

safety and the government's failure to ensure safety testing after that

date, has the minister decided to reconsider his decision to eliminate the public

safety inspection stations in the lower mainland?

HON. A. FRASER: Mr. Speaker, the answer is no.

MR. PASSARELL: Why not?

PROTECTION OF ST. MUNGO SITE

MR. HANSON: Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister

of Transportation and Highways. Near the right-of-way for the Annacis

Island bridge, as the minister is aware, is one of the most important

archaeological sites remaining intact in the Fraser delta area, called

the St. Mungo site. This particular site is not on the right-of-way;

the bridge will pass 40 feet in the air above it. I'd like to ask the

minister why his ministry intends to bulldoze this site to store

construction materials, which is equivalent to running a bulldozer

through the Provincial Archives.

HON. A. FRASER: What I know about it is that we've dealt with

the people responsible — the heritage branch and everything else — and

I would assume that anything we're doing there is by agreement with

people who are interested.

MR. HANSON: A supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. It is

possible that you can encapsulate the site in gravel and protect it, to

store your materials. You don't have to destroy the accumulation of

4,000 years of human cultural activity in that area. It is true that

the provincial government has put some money into interpreting that

site for school children. In fact, thousands of children and thousands

of interested citizens have gone through there. Would the minister give

an undertaking to the House that he would speak to his colleague the

Provincial Secretary (Hon. Mr. Chabot) about measures to save the

remaining deposit and not destroying it forever and a day just to store

pilings on that site?

HON. A. FRASER: Well, Mr. Speaker, I thought we'd been doing that for the last two and a half years.

MR. HANSON: Mr. Speaker, the Provincial Secretary is aware of

this site, and his department has put some money into excavating and

interpreting this site. Would he meet with the Highways minister to

discuss ways of encapsulating this deposit with a gravel pad and

leaving it for excavation some time in the future?

HON. MR. CHABOT: Mr. Speaker, I'll take the question under consideration.

However, I think it is improper for a member to ask a question of a minister

which asks him to attempt to influence another minister of the Crown. So I think

if you have a question of the Minister of Highways, you should direct your questions

to him directly. If you have a question of me, direct it to me, and I will respond.

MR. HANSON: Mr. Speaker, the Highways ministry is planning to destroy this

site this week. Would the minister give an undertaking to this House that he

will meet with that minister at the earliest opportunity to save this precious,

non-renewable heritage resource of this province?

HON. MR. CHABOT: I will take the question under

consideration. I am sure that the member who asks the question, as an

archaeologist himself, is well aware of the activities of this ministry

at the St. Mungo archaeological site. The digging that has been taking

place there for some considerable time is for the purpose of recording

the activities that have been pursued there by our predecessors over

many thousands of years. We are doing everything, under the

circumstances of a new bridge being built there, to record those

activities that have been pursued in that particular part of British

Columbia.

No particular concern has been expressed to me about any activities

of the Ministry of Highways that is that pressing. I have a lot of

professional archaeologists in my ministry, and they have not come

forward to me to express any anxiety that I meet with the Minister of

Transportation and Highways this week.

MR. HANSON: If the minister had not fired the Heritage

Advisory Board, it would have made representations to him on the

heritage value of that particular site. You would have had plenty of

opposing opinion. It took 4,000 years to accumulate that evidence of

human occupation. Will the minister not give the Highways minister an

opportunity to change his crew's

schedule to save that site? You would

be fully acclaimed by the people of the province and all the academic

community if you would please do that.

HON. MR. CHABOT: I want to respond to the point made by the

member for Victoria regarding the Heritage Advisory Board and the fact

that their services are no longer required because the Heritage Trust

has been beefed up. Not only that — I want to comment as well on the

role fulfilled by the Heritage Advisory Board in the period of time

before their disbandment. At no time did I ever receive a report from

that advisory board to the minister in the approximately 12 to 13

months before they were disbanded. To suggest that now all of a sudden

because an issue is strong in the mind of the archaeologist member from

Victoria.... That does not suggest that I would have received a report

from this advisory group.

Not only is there no longer a need for the advisory board because of

the fact that the Heritage Trust and its role has been increased, but

we have beefed up the heritage group within the ministry as well. In

the ministry alone we now have 40 people with PhDs. Is the member

suggesting that they're inadequate? Is he suggesting that maybe we have

too many PhDs in the ministry? We don't need the Heritage Advisory

Board, because we have so many capable people within the confines of

the ministry, as well as a beefed-up Heritage Trust. So the disbandment

of that particular group was necessary and overdue.

[ Page

3225 ]

[2:45]

MR. HANSON: Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the heritage conservation part of

this government is a very small operation. They're being pushed aside by

that big Minister of Transportation and Highways over there. Unfortunately the

Provincial Secretary does not stand up for the heritage resources of this province.

My question is: stop your nefarious ways and protect this site.

HON. MR. CHABOT: Mr. Speaker, I thought question period was

for members to ask questions, not to make speeches. I want to say, Mr.

Speaker, that never before in the history of this province has heritage

been in better hands than right now.

HIGHWAYS FERRIES

MR. D'ARCY: Mr. Speaker, yes, there is a great deal of heritage in that minister.

To my friend the member for Cariboo in his capacity as Minister of

Transportation and Highways. The Castlegar-Robson ferry is one of the

most heavily utilized ferries in B.C., comparing in total traffic to

the Albion–Fort Langley ferry and to the major crossings of the Strait

of Georgia, this in spite of having only one vessel in service. Has the

minister decided to eliminate this run in spite of the high public use?

HON A. FRASER: Mr. Speaker, we're looking at all the ferry

operations of Highways. We're certainly looking at the one you

mentioned, but please don't get it confused with what you said, that it

has the usage by the citizens compared to Albion. There is no

comparison. We are looking at trying to economize, but no final

decisions have been arrived at.

I might also say, Mr. Speaker, that there is a road around, in the case of the Castlegar ferry — a very good road.

MR. D'ARCY: Mr. Speaker, most of the freshwater ferries in

the province, including all of those in the minister's own riding, have

alternative road routes, if he wants to inconvenience the public.

A further question to the minister: you have mentioned, I gather, in the corridor,

that this ferry and the North Bend–Boston Bar ferry are under consideration

for closure.

What other ferries are under consideration for permanent downsizing?

HON. A. FRASER: I don't know what you mean by corridors, but we're looking at all the Highways ferries operations to economize.

MR. D'ARCY: Mr. Speaker, is the minister saying that he

refuses to comment on what particular routes are under consideration

for permanent closure?

HON. A. FRASER: We're looking at downsizing the service we're

giving. We're also looking at permanent closures, and we haven't made

a definite decision on any. As an example, if a ferry is running 24 hours, maybe

under the conditions we're operating under today they can operate 18 hours

and the taxpayers of British Columbia can save some money and not inconvenience

too many people.

TAXATION MEASURES

MR. STUPICH: Mr. Speaker, a question for the Minister of

Finance. A high-level delegation is presently lobbying MLAs on both

sides of the House against proposals to amend the Assessment Act to

provide retroactively for taxation of unfinished commercial projects.

Will the minister reaffirm his commitment to provide for such property

taxation retroactively to cover such assessment in prior years?

HON. MR. CURTIS: I think that the question impinges on future government policy.

MR. STUPICH: I was asking the minister to confirm something

that he has said previously. By his answer, is he suggesting that it's

an open question now and that he has backed away and is reconsidering

his position?

HON. MR. CURTIS: No, the hon. member for Nanaimo is reading far more into his question than it deserves.

MR. STUPICH: The minister did suggest that the question

deserved something; perhaps it deserves a better answer than it has had

to this point. Would the minister reconsider his answer?

HON. MR. CURTIS: I have reconsidered the answer, Mr. Speaker.

RENT CONTROLS

MR. BLENCOE: I have a question to the Minister of Consumer

and Corporate Affairs. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reports

that apartment vacancies in Victoria fell by 50 percent between April

and October last year. In view of the notorious advantage to landlords

in a period of low vacancy, has the minister decided to reconsider the

removal of legislative protection for tenants under the Residential

Tenancy Act?

HON. MR. HEWITT: Statistics that we have received in my

ministry indicate that rent increases have been reasonable. As a matter

of fact, with rent controls at 10 percent under the old legislation, we

used to find that the ceiling became the floor and standard rent

increases were 10 percent. Interestingly enough, this year — late 1983

and even into 1984 — many tenants are experiencing rental increases of

less than 10 percent and in some cases no increase at all. In some

cases landlords are making substantial offers to attract new tenants

because they have many vacancies in their apartment buildings.

Orders of the Day

SPEECH FROM THE THRONE

MR. MOWAT: Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to move, seconded

by the hon. second member for Surrey (Mr. Reid), that we, Her Majesty's

most dutiful and loyal subjects of the Legislative Assembly of British

Columbia in session assembled, beg leave to thank Your Honour for the

gracious speech which Your Honour has addressed to us at the opening of

our present session. It is a personal honour for me to have the

opportunity to move this motion before the House.

His Honour's speech is one of realism and hope during troubled times in the life of our province. I also thought it

[ Page 3226 ]

appropriate — indeed humane — to inform the House in advance as to

the identity of the member who will be seconding these remarks, as this

will, as I can obviously see, allow the members of the opposition to

leave and return with icepacks and first-aid kits. They can rest

assured that I will be gentle in my remarks toward them, but they can

most certainly expect that I will be presenting them with several

serious challenges — challenges to which I trust they will respond with

sensitivity, courage and speed.

The year 1983 was a year unlike any other in the history of our

province. Therefore 1984 must be a year of new beginnings, building on

a firm base, realizing our immense potential, and, most importantly,

gaining in wisdom from the hard lessons we learned in the recent past.

If I have learned anything in my life it is this: you do not solve

problems by failing to recognize them or by running away from them.

Resolution is not found by dealing with problems in a superficial way

while ignoring basic, underlying causes. The first step toward

surmounting any difficulty is through a realistic appreciation of its

nature and dimensions, followed — and I mean followed — by an

open-minded inquiry as to the commonsense means available to solve it.

[Mr. Strachan in the chair.]

In 1983 our government tackled, with enlightened determination, the

enormous problems of readjustment faced by British Columbia. This

readjustment is not, however, due only to the recession, and I wish

most emphatically to stress this point. Far too many people still think

only in terms of temporary solutions to meet the demands of those

temporary problems brought on by a very severe recession. We must

project ourselves a great deal beyond the recession and address the

permanent changes in the global economy which are sweeping across the

world at an incredible rate. These changes are quite simply altering

the rules of the game as radically as the invention of the automobile,

the harnessing of electricity and the evolution of the factory system

did in the past. It should be noted that those great changes in the

past were not brought about by politicians; rather, the most common

scenario is that of political and legal institutions scrambling to keep

up with the profound economic technological and social changes swirling

around them, with their response time usually too slow and too late.

We all know of the immense human misery generated by governments who

fail to respond quickly and adequately to the great dislocations

occasioned by the Industrial Revolution. I firmly believe that we are

still in many ways paying a heavy price for past failures which are

being remedied only painfully and gradually over more than a century of

intense conflict and debate. As Alvin Toffler suggests, we are

beginning to feel the effects of a new wave, which he calls "the third

wave of change." This wave will lift all boats, if they are well

prepared, to distant horizons, but will crush and swamp them if they

are not prepared.

Most British Columbians, encouraged and supported the strength of

leadership shown by our Premier, who, fully backed by the Minister of

Finance, the Provincial Secretary, the cabinet and the strongest back

bench in history, tackled with honesty and tenacity the awesome task of

reducing the cost, size and burden of government. Most British

Columbians breathed a sigh of relief, saying: "Yes, this is the change

we have been waiting for, and what we voted for." Others, however, had

misgivings, either because they found themselves personally affected or

because of misunderstandings resulting from misinformation and

half-truths. People also faltered from some uncertainty as to those

seemingly urgent measures being taken by the government. This is only

natural in view of the considerable reluctance shared by all human

beings to face change. It has often been said that no fear is greater

than the fear of the unknown. It was made clear in the closing speech

of the last session that the government knew its massive jolt to

institutional inertia, to the status quo, would be challenged.

Moreover, it anticipated that it would be grossly misrepresented by all

those groups who serve narrow political or financial self-interests.

Coupled with all these factions were those who were taken in by and

swallowed the rhetoric of the extreme left. Their tactics were

described by one Vancouver columnist as those of the cause-of-the-month

club. Aware of all this, the government still went ahead in a

conscientious belief — rather, I should say, in the sure knowledge —

that our whole future prosperity and way of life depended on the

outcome. Even by beginning at once we might barely have enough time to

succeed.

The Premier expressed the gravity of the problems we faced in the

closing hours of the last session. I wish every citizen of British

Columbia could have been here to listen to that speech. By so doing

they would have gained an understanding of where we are going and why.

I will not repeat it for you, but I will say this: before, during and

after the election of '83 this government stood tall in principle, and

the majority of the British Columbia electorate stood firmly behind us.

Gradually, as the positive results of that unwavering stance are seen

over the next few years, more and more people will be heard to say:

"Thank God we had a government with the guts to do the right thing."

[3:00]

Positive signs of progress are already in evidence. His Honour noted

the sharp decline in inflation from 14.3 percent to 5.5 percent in the

past two years. Without question this is a major economic

accomplishment. It is also a major social achievement. While inflation

is a hidden tax which we must all pay, it is also the cruellest tax of

all, falling most heavily on the poor, the retired on low fixed incomes

and the disabled on limited pensions. Thus the decline of 8.8 percent

is of great significance in these people's lives. Let no one in this

chamber or beyond it suggest that this government has not reduced the

tax burden of the poor. We have helped to slash inflation by 62 percent

in two years, and inflation is the most burdensome tax that the poor

have to endure. We have made every tax dollar count as never before. It

is a record of which this government is proud. It is precisely why

today we have renewed confidence in the future of British Columbia.

We have proved that our thousand-year-old Anglo-Saxon parliamentary

system can work and is relevant to the needs of the people in the

1980s. Mr. Speaker, the constituency of Vancouver–Little Mountain,

which I have the privilege of representing together with the Minister

of Human Resources (Hon. Mrs. McCarthy), is one of incredible

diversity. I do not know for certain how many languages are voiced in

the streets or houses of our constituency; I do not think it would be

an exaggeration if I were to say 50 or even 100. Yet all of them share

one thing in common: a deep love for the freedom which is enshrined in

this institution and the House of Commons in Ottawa. At the same time

that I welcome the announcement of parliamentary reform, I believe that

our institutions do work so well because they grow and learn and

[ Page

3227 ]

change, and are therefore better able to serve the growing, learning and changing people of our province.

On a more personal note, I hope that, beyond changing the rules to

encourage more civilized debate, all members will be supplied with

wheels on their chairs so that they will gain a broader and more

down-to-earth perspective on access to our public buildings and

services across this huge province. I would also like to point out that

with wheels on their chairs it would be easier to move members in and

out of this chamber.

In addition to the intestinal fortitude needed to act swiftly and

persuasively, and thereby lead our country in breaking new ground in

controlling the cost overruns of this government — which is surely the

only way of ensuring our competitive position in world markets, and the

only way to guarantee jobs, prosperity and generous social services for

all — this government has demonstrated its willingness to listen, not

to the megaphones on soap-boxes but to responsible, constructive and

creative criticisms from those who are as concerned about the future of

this beautiful province as is this government. These individuals and

groups have their own positive suggestions and ideas about how we can

improve upon our legislation and work together for the shared goals of

a sustained prosperity and a humane society.

I am most particularly pleased that the government has consulted so

widely in the field of human rights. No fair-minded person could

justify the old system, yet there is probably no other field of

legislation which is more complex and delicate to formulate, often

creating injustice on the one hand while trying to eradicate it on the

other. Over the years I have had a great deal of personal involvement in

this arena, and I know of what I speak. If the law is too general, the

innocent are potentially exposed to harassment and even extortion, and

thus are denied the fundamental right to know in advance what conduct

is and is not permissible under the law; however, if the lines are

drawn too narrowly, many genuine cases of tangible abuse could go

without effective remedy. So I speak as one who looks forward with

anticipation and optimism to those modifications taken by a government

based on its broad consultation. I would like to applaud the Minister

of Labour (Hon. Mr. McClelland) for pursuing this course and proceeding

with dispatch to update the law in this most vital and complex area of

human rights.

As I have just made reference to the Minister of Labour, I think it

is in order that I now touch on the field of industrial relations. It

is at this juncture that I indeed, as promised earlier, issue a

challenge to the members of the opposition. I am sorry there are only

four members present in the House.

First, allow me a few moments to outline my perspective on these

matters. Historically I believe that our organized labour movement

shaped itself as a defence force which easily moved into the vacuum

left by governments — to which I alluded earlier — which have failed to

meet the unprecedented social needs created by our first Industrial

Revolution. In this it was largely successful, and we all — and I wish

to emphasize the word "all" — owe a great debt to the movement for its

hard-won victories in fostering so many of the benefits which we now

often take for granted. This took place in many different jurisdictions

under administrations of every conceivable political stripe and has

endured for more than a century. Indeed, it is a record of which to be

proud.

But records are to be built on, not to stand on. If we examine

closely the relative winners and losers among the industrial nations

since the Second World War, there is one striking and untenable thread:

the nations of the industrial world have won or lost any gains in

competitive position in almost direct proportion to their ability to

establish a cooperative and progressive climate of labour-management

relations. Hence West Germany and Japan have been clear winners, with

Great Britain and Italy net losers. We in Canada have fallen somewhere

in between. In the last 15 years we have tended to lag farther behind

in Canada, particularly in British Columbia, where labour-industrial

history began as an almost direct extension of that of Great Britain.

Even today the thinking and the atmosphere is more British than North

American. It is certainly light-years from where it could be and should

be,

I mentioned before that we are still paying for the failures of past

governments to deal effectively with the Industrial Revolution. I will

be more specific: I believe that in the confrontational climate of

labour relations in this province, which even spills over into our

politics, we are still paying, in 1984, for the sins of the British

coal-owners in the 1880s. The time has come to move beyond this

over-defensively fearful and even vengeful mentality at the bargaining

table, and to move to an open and cooperative mode of thought. We must

try to develop an attitude which forges together the common interest of

both employees and employers, thus helping them to present a united

front to the incredible tidal surge of the new industrial revolution.

We even face unprecedented competition in maintaining our traditional

national resource markets, which are not in any event the real growth

or targeted areas for future expansion in British Columbia.

Our Minister of Labour is to be congratulated on his initiatives in

bringing forward changes through a process of consultation which sets a

new course of labour-management relations in this province.

My challenge to the members of the opposition — through you, Mr.

Speaker — is that I most urgently appeal to them to join us in a quest

for solutions to the unique problems we are facing in this third wave

of change. Do not be persuaded by slogans, loyalties and perceptions of

another age. Do not oppose for the sake of opposing. Do not oppose out

of fear or rancour. Do not become like the British Labour Party, the

chief reactionary force in society and the chief stumbling block to

technological change, modernization, economic progress and social

harmony. This same party has loyally followed the banner of class

warfare as they march even today into oblivion.

It is not in our province's interest, and heaven knows I should not

be saying this, but it is not even in the interest of your partisan

political interest to oppose change in the direction and climate of the

labour relations in our province. I think that you do so not only at

the peril of your own political fortunes but undoubtedly at the peril

of the future of the province we are all sworn to serve. This, ladies

and gentlemen, is our first obligation, and it should be, as it must

be, above politics. You will always find things to criticize in

government proposals, no matter what they are. Fair enough. That is an

important part, but only a part, I hasten to add, of your role, as I

conceive it. My challenge to you — and my appeal — is to join with the

government in a spirit of mutual endeavour. Let us look forward and not

refight the battles of yesterday as if this were Belfast or Beirut.

Accept our good faith, for surely it is that, and supply us with

creative and dynamic suggestions. Help us to quickly resolve and dispel

the uncertainty as to the future stability of

[ Page 3228 ]

industrial relations in our province, so that the real investment

needed to stimulate job creations for all of our constituents will be

accelerated. Thusly the recovery can really take hold and the resultant

revenues can be used for the enrichment of all.

These are not idle words. I have never been more sincere in my life.

You, the opposition, currently enjoy a relationship with many powerful

and influential trade union leaders, which gives you an opportunity to

be a great force, either for progress and peace or conflict and chaos

in our community. Nothing that you have ever done before or will do in

the future may be as important as your response to this challenge.

Before I turn from my remarks to the opposition, Mr. Speaker, I want

to pay tribute to the Leader of the Opposition. He has told us of his

plans to retire from that position and eventually leave our company. I

am a new member in this House, as he once was many years ago. I must

say that I am glad to have had the opportunity to serve in the same

House with him and to witness in person his very well-known

parliamentary skills. He is the only self-described socialist ever to

serve as Premier of this province, and that is something we should

remember. Indeed, I hope and I trust that this distinction will never

be taken away from him.

His long record of public service deserves recognition by political

friend and foe alike, and we will no doubt hear from him even after he

leaves.

Mr. Speaker, I had the pleasure in the past of playing rugby against

the Leader of the Opposition. Yes, we were on opposite sides even in

those days. I can assure you that he is a better politician than he was

a rugby player.

I represent Vancouver–Little Mountain, which I call the heart of

Vancouver. His Honour's speech contained many vital interests to my

constituents. The Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs (Hon. Mr.

Hewitt) will soon be bringing forward modifications to legislation

regarding rental accommodations. These changes will be incorporated

with others which were already on the drawing board during the last

session. All of those will be much appreciated by the many tenants of

our constituency, especially those residing in the northern quadrant.

Also pleased will be the numerous landlords, who look forward to a

speedy means of resolving disputes at an affordable cost.

[3:15]

His Honour reaffirms the commitment of our government to health

care. This is clearly our number one priority. Our province leads all

of the provinces in Canada in its dedication to the maintenance and

improvement of the health system.

The Social Credit movement has, from its very inception, been a leader in hospital

construction, health services and the modernization and growth of medicare in

our country. I'd like to briefly expand on this point. In the past two years

the Minister of Health (Hon. Mr. Nielsen), who in my view deserves much praise

in his handling of this extremely sensitive portfolio, has been subject to hysterical

criticism and abuse, more often than not based on selectively erroneous misinformation.

Thus the impression has been fostered that we are callous towards the sick and

that somehow we are bent on undermining medicare and the public's access

to the health care programs. This is not only a patently undeserved insult to

our minister, but it is a slander upon our intelligence as well. All over the

world there is a health-care cost crisis. This is brought on by many interlocking

factors which are exaggerated by the political game of depicting responsible

and necessary efforts at cost control as evil and cruel, or at the very best,

callous and uncaring. Most of the fantasies tend, curiously, to mushroom at

election time, and to fade just as mysteriously the day after the ballots have

been counted.

The fact is that we have an outstanding health care system available

to everyone, and coping remarkably well with the needs of the public at

large. I invite anyone to come and look at the Vancouver General

Hospital in my constituency, as well as the new Children's Hospital,

the new Grace Hospital, the G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre and the

soon to be completed Shaughnessy Research Centre. Come, I say, and

witness first hand the improvements that have been instituted under

this government's stewardship.

Mr. Speaker, we are working with diligence to preserve our medicare

system in spite of the desperate sniping of the federal government, a

government in political ruins and financial shreds. I applaud our

minister. He knows, as I do, that the real enemies of medicare are

precisely those who would ignore all cost control accountability and

all abuses to the system.

When we speak of abuses, we do not attack the patients, the nurses

or the doctors, but rather those who, perceiving that the service is

free, abuse it. It is not, however, free. The public does not have a

bottomless pocket to fund the unheeding and unscrupulous. The minister

is to be commended for standing firm and reviewing facilities in order

to avoid duplication, and for initiating cost accountability measures

aimed at eliminating vast overruns in spending.

If the Minister of Health has been used to unwarranted abuse, then

my constituent colleague the Minister of Human Resources (Hon. Mrs.

McCarthy) is an all-time prize-winner in this ring. But they have both

proven that they can take it and keep on working and fighting for the

people. And the people remember, Mr. Speaker; the people remembered on

May 5, 1983.

Our Minister of Human Resources handles a complex and difficult job

with great skill, often dealing with the fragile emotions of those

bruised and rejected by our fast-moving mainstream. The staff of this

ministry is of the highest calibre, and many Canadians who have

migrated to our province from other parts of the country will attest to

their excellence. The minister has firmly taken the helm and steered in

the direction of independence. Her charted course exemplifies the firm

belief of this government that people should be encouraged to be as

independent as possible and as soon as possible, and for as long as

possible, and not herded into constituencies of dependency for the

cynical purpose of political manipulation fired by tactics of fear and

uncertainty.

Our Vancouver–Little Mountain constituency looks forward to a busy

and exciting year in 1984. We will soon be voting for a new Cambie

Street bridge. And, Mr. Speaker, it should be noted that this

government offered the citizens of Vancouver, through Vancouver city

council, $50 million to build the new Cambie Street bridge if the

council would work with us on rapidly approving the plans of British

Columbia Place. However, the Vancouver city council did not see fit to

cooperate fully, and now the citizens of Vancouver will have to pay $37

million towards this new bridge.

Speaking of Vancouver city council, Mr. Speaker, I'm surprised that

the Mayor of Vancouver has not yet contacted you, although I realize I

am not a statesman of the stature of Mr. Henry Kissinger. I was sure

he'd be asking for equal time in this chamber in order to express his

views and those of some of his Vancouver council colleagues about my

views I am expressing here today. My constituency is progressing at

[ Page

3229 ]

a great rate, and in the Little Mountain Neighbourhood Society we

are seeing a complex being built that will house many of our disabled,

our blind and our senior citizens. A complex costing $9 million is

situated on the grounds of the Canadian National Institute for the

Blind at 38th and Main.

We are looking for further improvements to take place at the

world-class facilities at B.C. Place. I see that both Toronto and

Edmonton are now green with envy when they think about our fabulous

B.C. stadium.

Our constituency is totally caught up in the preparation for Expo

86, which will present the largest single boost to our economy in

history, hosting an estimated 15 million to 20 million visitors and

generating 56,000 man-years of job opportunities and some $2.6 billion

in economic activity. All these will show off British Columbia to the

world as never before, and where better to do it than in

Vancouver–Little Mountain. Expo 86 will be a world-class state of the

art of transportation technology exposition, and where better than in

British Columbia, where successful Social Credit governments have

proved unparalleled leadership in this domain.

I was delighted by His Honour's reference to future transportation

initiatives throughout the province in 1984. Now is the moment to laud

the Minister of Transportation and Highways (Hon. A. Fraser) for the

realization of all the magnificent projects and particularly for his

initiatives in the Annacis crossing and Squamish Highway 99, which will

have encatchment basins. These are of vital importance to our lower

mainland residents and to the continued expansion of the fantastic

ALRT. Many of us have ridden on the demonstration model ALRT, and to

some of us it is one of the most exciting happenings in the lower

mainland. My colleague Hon. Grace McCarthy, the minister responsible

for the ALRT, tells me the ALRT is on track and on budget, and, with

her in charge, on time. The Highways minister is looking northwards.

There are several major projects to be completed in 1984, with a number

of first-ever bridge crossings, including those over the Fort Nelson

bridge on the Laird highway, over the Thompson River in Kamloops, and

over the Nass River at Greenville.

I know that a large number of my constituents have taken a keen

interest in the issue of the Skagit Valley flooding over the past

years, and I wish to convey to the Minister of Environment (Hon. Mr.

Brummet) their most profound satisfaction at witnessing the conclusion

of these negotiations, which have succeeded in guaranteeing us that a

precious part of our natural heritage will remain unflooded.

Also most welcome are initiatives in hazardous waste treatment — an

element ever so present in our industrial world and of considerable

worry to my constituents, as they are, I'm sure, to those of the

minister. The proposal for wetlands enhancement, in cooperation with

Ducks Unlimited, is likewise an undertaking in which I share a

longstanding personal interest, and it is to be hoped that the

imaginative suggestion in His Honour's speech that students be

encouraged to create their own summer jobs is followed through. They

would certainly find enormous satisfaction in working in environment

enhancement projects which would both stimulate and invigorate their

inquiring young minds.

The Minister of Education (Hon. Mr. Heinrich) has introduced the concept of

measurable performance standards in schools, and I am one of the most happy

that this practice is going on and going to be retained and extended even further.

Amazingly, some have protested that these exams are not to test the students

but rather to test the teachers. The amazing thing here is that there are people

in this province who think that for the enormous amounts we spend on education

we should not have some standard or measure of teaching quality. How on earth

are we, otherwise, to determine just what we are getting for our money? To use

the vernacular, Mr. Speaker, that kind of attitude blows my mind. His Honour

has emphasized quality and has noted that dollars spent are not a yardstick

of quality achieved. Amen to that. Enhancing the excellence of our classroom

teaching should be our paramount objective over all others. I roundly praise

this emphasis, as I am sure do most parents, students and teachers.

I'm looking forward, Mr. Minister, with hope and great expectations

to your sterling efforts in this area. The renewed emphasis on math and

science is a welcome part of our overall adjustment to the new

technical age. Government, education, labour and industry must consult

very closely on future skill requirements and job opportunities. I know

that some will accuse us of anti-intellectualism for this, but they are

tragically mistaken. Indeed, I believe such critics to be guilty of the

worst kind of stereotyping. I would like them to talk to the unemployed

university graduates who I know are very bitter today about how they

were left without guidance about the choice of realistic career

opportunities based on the various educational avenues open to them.

I have faith in people, but they must be given decent and honest

information when they need it. It is too bad that consumer protection

laws have never applied to post-secondary education. We cannot,

economically or socially, afford to waste the human resource of our

young people. We must not let them commit themselves to courses of

study while being ill-informed as to where these studies will equip

them to function in the real world. We all know MAs who are driving

cabs. I am appreciative of any initiative which will help clean up the

sorry state of affairs.

[3:30]

We are looking at a multitude of other needs too, such as providing

more serviced Crown land for residential housing construction and

streamlining land use deals for mining and commercial development. It

would be a surprise to no one that I was delighted to hear reference

made to an emphasis on disabled housing; to a record of 105 million

trees planted — the first time we have gone over 100 million trees in a

single year; to the speeding up of workers' compensation appeals; to

the new School Act; to the continued review of regional district

operation; to the encouragement of private trade zones; to continuing,

in an orderly but purposeful way, the downsizing of government; to

agricultural initiative; to liquefied gas and northern B.C.

development; to the new Asia Pacific Foundation to aid our most

vigorous world marketing drive ever; to northeast coal — on stream and

on budget; to the manufacturing of car parts in the lower mainland; and

to those initiatives and senate reform and aboriginal rights which are

now coming to fruition.

One of the continuing frustrations of western Canadians, Mr.

Speaker, has been the way in which the national economy policies

reflect an overly narrow and centralized conception of the national

interest — in particular, toward Canada's economic development

potential and prospects. I am therefore pleased by His Honour's

reference to the continued efforts to ensure better British Columbia

representation in the vital national decision-making bodies and, most

specifically, the exciting prospectus of initiatives in the area of

duty-free trade zones.

[ Page 3230 ]

Not only would such zones in British Columbia be an enormous

stimulus to the growth of trade and to the employment generated by it,

but it could also lay the foundation for manufacturing, processing and

assembling industry to serve our Canadian market in high technology and

other fields — all this giving the consumer some badly needed relief

from self-imposed inflation and protectionism.

In 1984 or early 1985 we will witness a Canadian federal election.

Let us use this rare opportunity to get solid commitment from all

contenders on British Columbia priorities such as western

transportation, the upgrading of Pacific trade development and federal

cost-sharing social programs, and federal contributions to such things

as the salmonid enhancement program. Mr. Speaker, I hope I have not

overlooked anything, but there is a great deal of substance here, and

all the ministers of government are to be congratulated for their

strong and positive efforts. I know that my constituents will support

these splendid and forward-looking recovery drives, and they will

support the deep measures of human concern such as the ever-widening

attack on the devastation of drunk driving — something for which my

colleagues in the Canadian Paraplegic Association have been pressing

for many years across the length and breadth of this vast country.

Before concluding, Mr. Speaker, I would like to extol our

government's several major contributions to community pride. Firstly,

there's the B.C. Festival of the Arts, which was so ably organized and

chaired by Mr. Norman Young in Kamloops in 1982, and will take place

with equal flair in Penticton in 1984. Then there are the Summer and

Winter Games of the Provincial Secretary's ministry. We have truly led

Canada in this field at a very moderate cost. My colleague the member

for Dewdney (Mr. Pelton) has spoken of the outstanding volunteer effort

— 3,600 in Maple Ridge — for the 1983 Summer Games. In March of this

year the Minister of Lands, Parks and Housing (Hon. Mr. Brummet) will

host 2,200 young athletes and thousands of visitors to Fort St. John

for the Winter Games. In July 1984 we will see the Summer Games again,

and this time in Burnaby. I am sure that our Whip will be there with

his track shoes on, and we can even hope that he may use them. It is my

understanding that a quarter of a million British Columbians will have

competed in the playdowns for these games, and this is a super

good-news story relayed around our province twice a year.

I left this rundown of the Summer and Winter Games until the last,

because more than anything else, I think they symbolize the hope of our

province — the spirit of meeting challenges in fellowship and friendly

competition, all of this within the context of great and deep pride in

community.

Within the short span of a few months, our shores have been and will

be graced with the presence of many foreign dignitaries: last month the

Premier of China visited us, later this year His Holiness Pope John

Paul II will be here, and even on this very day we are honoured by the

most welcome presence of Governor Spellman of the fine state of

Washington, who, I am sure, shares many of our dreams for this great

Pacific northwest, of which both our governments share responsibility

as caretakers.

Our Premier and ministers have gone out among the nations of the

world to sell our products and will be continuing to do so. As the

shining prospect of Expo 86 grows nearer, the eyes of the world will be

increasingly turned toward British Columbia.

I thank the House for its attention, Mr. Speaker, and in closing I

would like to thank the Sergeant-at-Arms for all their assistance to

this House, and particularly to me. To you, the members of the

opposition, I leave my challenge: join us in letting this province

attain the greatness of its destiny.

MR. REID: Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to second the opening speech of His Honour Lieutenant-Governor Robert G. Rogers.

Might I point out that I am quite disappointed that the elegant

speech given by my colleague was not witnessed by more members of the

opposition, especially the Leader of the Opposition, who has been

pleading to return to this House for two and a half months. At the

first opportunity we provide for him to hear two most elegant speeches,

he doesn't see fit to attend. That answers the question of why he's not

here. I hope he has his microphone on, because he'll probably be

running back in here by the time I finish my speech.

[Mr. Pelton in the chair.]

Mr. Speaker, this throne speech tells it like it is. Those who

ignore or misinterpret its messages are ignoring today's realities. I

commend my good friend and colleague the member for Vancouver–Little

Mountain (Mr. Mowat). Your excellent speech and thought-provoking

challenges to all members of this House demand action from many. I for

one accept your challenge of being on wheels only for a day, in order

that I gain a broader and down-to-earth perspective on access to public

buildings across this vast province.

Mr. Speaker, there's a renewed sense of purpose and determination on

this side of the House. As we discuss the throne speech in this

session, we're beginning to emerge from a period of economic recession

which seriously and severely tested the government's mettle and ability

to meet the challenges presented by the world financial and market

forces, which are largely beyond our control. As British Columbians, we

have met the challenges of 1983. Now we must push to '84 and the future

with optimism, confidence and purpose.

Mr. Speaker, the tendency for governments to grow and for taxes to

increase has been enormous. The public sector restraint program has

reduced much of the burden on our taxpayers. Our Premier has shown the

kind of leadership that's necessary during tough economic times, and we

thank him. We preserved essential services to the people and at the

same time cut size and cost of government.

The continuation and refining of the compensation stabilization

program is providing all parties with some breathing room. The

acceptance of voluntary guidelines within the framework of collective

bargaining should lead us with some hopeful result now into

productivity bargaining. Government employees, during our last session,

reached agreement on negotiations, layoff, recall and termination

procedures. This agreement allows the government to hold the line on

payroll costs and assists, in large measure, our economic recovery.

Working together in pursuit of recovery through restraint and the

preservation of our essential services requires the federal

government's cooperation and their determination to reduce the size of

their government. Streamlining and transfer of more functions to the

private sector and the commitment of further economies and efficiencies

as relief for the

[ Page

3231 ]

taxpayer should be the total commitment of all political representatives, federal, provincial and municipal.

Mr. Speaker, the private sector employers and employees create the

wealth in this province. Their dedication to productive, competitive

and profitable operations continues to preserve present jobs and create

more new ones. Our government will assist with job-creating activities

in large and small businesses, with joint task forces of labour,

management and the private sector to promote our products and

resources. We've got a lot going here in B.C., and it's up to us to

show the world what we have and what we can do.

Our economy is linked to exports of goods and services,

international trade, and bolstered by the private sector, its

confidence and its investment. In these times of slow world economic

recovery and the very explosive international debt, a challenge for us

now as British Columbians is to lead rather than follow. Our industries

and manufacturers must be kept competitive. We must aggressively

promote and market our goods around the world.

The free-trade and duty-free zones sound exciting. Their creation

should encourage foreign investment and much increased trade. Expansion

of our deep-sea port facilities and promotion of more activity in

manufacturing and assembly, distribution and finance, at the same time

allowing B.C. to be competitive on an international scale, sounds

exciting.

We have recently hosted the Premier of the People's Republic of

China, Zhao Ziyang, and our opportunities for commercial and cultural

trade with the world's most populous nation are now being fostered. Our

Premier will reciprocate the visit this May. At that time our Premier

will promote to the Chinese people our province as both a prime

provider of resource products and a very good place in which to invest.

[3:45]

Speaking of visits, we were honoured today to have Governor John Spellman of

the state of Washington visit our province. We were saddened by the recent passing

of Senator Jackson, who was a good friend and a good neighbour. I know that

the mutual respect and cooperation that existed with the late senator will continue

between our leaders and citizens on both sides of the border, as evidenced by

the good words and the message left by the Governor's visit here today.

Historically the United States has been our largest trading partner.

But we must now place more emphasis on the Pacific Rim countries, the

European Communities and developing countries around the world. I am

totally encouraged by the aggressive program that has been introduced

in the throne speech. Worldwide trade missions led by cabinet ministers

are lined up for the United States, ASEAN countries, China, Latin

America, Europe and others. They will create more interest in B.C.

products and services, thus creating more jobs and business

opportunities and more investment here at home. These trade missions

will include private sector participation in developing markets,

product upgrading and increased productivity knowledge, as well as

encouraging foreign buyers and investors to visit and see firsthand

just what we here in B.C. have to offer. In showing that B.C. is a good

place in which to invest, we also show that we're a good and reliable

trading partner, and we'll attract new technology and new interest in

our province.

We can all be proud of the largest resource project in Canada's history,

northeast coal. As you all know, the first deliveries are now being made from

this major project, which was on time and on budget. In its development the

project triggered 6,000 direct construction jobs last year. Now that's in operation,

we have a legacy of 3,000 permanent jobs, as well as the completion of the

Ridley Island port of Prince Rupert, which provides western Canada with another

major port to the Pacific Rim trading area. It is testimony to the world that

by working together, the government and the private sector can make good things

happen. Coal production from the southeast region is also now being shipped

in large quantities to the Far East and to the Scandinavian market. Our trade

missions will be seeking further international markets for B.C. coal, with top

level, hard-sell campaigns. That's leadership. These are two examples of

the B.C. spirit being alive in private and public sector cooperation.

Industrial relations and recovery deserve prominence. The Minister

of Labour (Hon. Mr. McClelland), in consultation with parties, is

bringing forward exciting and positive changes, which are long overdue,

in the labour legislation of the province of British Columbia. A

positive action, in my mind, would be to consider the ruling recently

brought down in Alberta by the chairman of the Labour Relations Board

that a union contract cannot remain in effect after its expiry date and

until a new contract is signed, being equally fair to management and

labour. Maybe it wouldn't be popular, but it sure as hell would be fair.

The Workers' Compensation Board changes are long overdue. The

backlog of appeals from injured workmen is embarrassing and a disgrace.

The financial policies of the Workers' Compensation Board have been

questionable and have required attention for some time. I welcome this

initiative. Any improvement or streamlining of the Workers'

Compensation Board process will be a welcome relief to thousands.

I was encouraged to hear in the throne speech that in 1982-83, for

the first time ever, B.C. foresters planted over 105 million new trees,

providing a stronger and competitive forest industry in this province

for the future.

Interjection.

MR. REID: That's plantership.

The anticipated recovery of residential construction in the United

States and Canada has not totally materialized. We all hope for some

accelerated growth early in 1984 to help shore up this industry.

Improvement in the Japanese and European markets is being aggressively

sought at this time.

Mr. Speaker, too many British Columbians are still without work. As the second

member for Vancouver–Little Mountain (Mr. Mowat) so aptly put it, we must forge

together the common interests of both employee and employer with a united front,

and that must be above politics, I would like to repeat that line, because there

is a member down to my right who might not have heard it. I said: "That

must be above politics."

Interjection.

MR. REID: You can read the Blues; they will tell you. I am

pleased to see that there are now four members of the opposition

listening to this great speech.

The pulp and paper industry, while currently totally shut down — much to the support of the NDP, I suppose....

Our hope is that their industrial relations will soon improve in

order that B.C. can once again be back in production and leaders in the

pulp and paper industry.

[ Page 3232 ]

Another B.C. industry is natural gas. Increased export sales and

market opportunities will be another top priority of this government.

We will be encouraging more transportation vehicles of all kinds to

convert to this form of fuel during the coming months, with government

fleets leading the way. It is also our hope that Vancouver Island will

be provided with B.C. natural gas with the completion of the proposed

pipeline.

I am encouraged by our recent large sale of surplus hydro power to

the United States and the additional discussions underway with private

power developers to further expand job-creating opportunities in

British Columbia.

The mining industry will be assisted with less regulation and more

encouragement. New and interesting developments in the northwest area

of our province by the private sector are encouraging.

We will project an attractive investment climate for the private sector, creating

job opportunities and promoting small business ventures. They are the true backbone

of our economy. Their resurgence in private sector activities triggers investment

and creates new jobs. Private risk capital to create new opportunities and support

enterprising young people with fresh ideas and enthusiasm will be developed.

We're going to help our young people with a support framework for those

with exciting, bright and challenging ideas for summer employment programs.

B.C. agriculture and food will be receiving a higher profile in the development

of further markets and advanced technology in areas such as production and much

more aggressive marketing.

The education standards and the basic values in this province must

be reaffirmed. Discipline must be restored, professionalism stressed

and challenging situations promoted, for without challenges there is no

achievement and without standards there is no excellence. The success

of grade 12 exams, which were introduced back into the system by our

minister this previous year, has paved the way for the system to

introduce similar exams for grade 11 students this coming year. The

challenge to seek quality education will continue to be a top priority

of this government. A further commitment to offer direction and

assistance, with preparation towards excellence and opportunity, should

prepare our youth to meet all the challenges of tomorrow.

Expo 86 is creating enthusiasm and anticipation for all of British

Columbia to host the world in 1986, with commitments from

international, provincial and corporate participants in transportation

and communication exhibits and special events including space

technology — old and new. What an exciting time ahead! Expo 86 will

showcase British Columbia to the world, and British Columbia expects

the world. Participation, as announced today, by the state of

Washington is certainly welcome. With over 15 million visitors

anticipated during the period of the exposition, the majority of these

visitors will be arriving in Surrey. The Surrey extension of the ALRT,

the Spirit of B.C., is a must. We can expect that extension to be the

most utilized

section of the whole system from day one. In this regard,

the first member for Surrey (Mrs. Johnston) and I expect the

announcement of the extension very soon, a wise decision that makes

economic sense. We must and will follow through and get on with the

job. Isn't that right, Mr. Premier?

I'm happy to see the Minister of Highways (Hon. A. Fraser) back in

the House. He's always active and is usually here, and I appreciate

that he's returned. Contracts are now being let for the Annacis

crossing. The estimates for the contracts came in $20 million under

engineering estimates, which was excellent news. This crossing will

provide a much-needed access for commuters both north and south of the

Fraser River. The benefits of easier access for residents, tourists and

the business community cannot be emphasized enough. Strong government

facility, especially in the North Delta and Surrey traffic corridors.

The B.C. Summer Games now receive close to 6,000 volunteers annually

in each community which hosts this fantastic event. Support for the

Fort St. John 1984 Winter Games in March is encouraging. Also, I would

encourage all of those members to support as well the Burnaby Summer

Games in 1984. I understand our Whip will be participating in those

games, and that encourages total participation. Participants and

communities alike would welcome your support. The interest in

competition for the 1986 Summer Games which are to be announced for

Surrey....

Interjections.

MR. REID: Sorry, that's a misquote. The interest in the competition for the 1986 Summer Games is nothing short of phenomenal.

The Spirit of B.C. welcomes with enthusiasm this year of tourism,

and it is our hope that more Canadians and British Columbians will

vacation here in British Columbia, helping to bolster B.C.'s tourist

industries, a wide range of accommodation, excellent food services and

all modes of transportation, with beautiful scenic and recreational

activities within the bounds of our beautiful British Columbia.

[4:00]

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Speaking of visitors, B.C. will be honoured this summer by thousands

of visitors before and after the Los Angeles Olympics. Our minister

will increase and intensify our efforts to sell British Columbia as a

mecca for those tourists at the Los Angeles Olympics. Then in

September, under the able chairmanship of the former minister, Bill

Vander Zalm, B.C. will host His Holiness Pope Paul II in Vancouver.

AN HON. MEMBER: John Paul.

MR. REID: John Paul — whatever.

AN HON. MEMBER: Whoever.

MR. REID: I didn't say whoever; I said whatever. We're going

to welcome him anyway; that's the spirit of British Columbia. You see,

I can be corrected.

I am encouraged by the proposal to put forward some legislative

reform in this session, and look forward to participation in this

much-needed process.

The visit of His Holiness the Pope will be a very significant event in the province of British Columbia for all people.

Mr. Speaker, with a sense of purpose and support we accept new

challenges and stand committed to build a stronger and vibrant British

Columbia, with good government and good leadership.

In closing, I ask everybody, this being February 14: will you be my valentine?

[ Page 3233 ]

MR. SKELLY: Mr. Speaker, I'm just responding to the last question. I'll have to take it as notice.

I move adjournment of this debate until the next sitting of the House.

Motion approved.

HON. MR. GARDOM: I move that the House at its rising do stand adjourned until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.

MR. HOWARD: It's the right of the government House Leader to

move that kind of motion if he so desires. He exhibited his desire and

the opportunity to do that last summer ad infinitum. But we did pass a

motion yesterday that says that there be one sitting on Wednesday from

2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The motion before the House now is a variation from

that, and it would seem incumbent upon the minister to advise the House

what's going on — why the extraordinary kind of approach to a meeting

tomorrow morning.

I've heard rumours that the government has another one of those

secret timetables that it's intent on imposing upon the House — that

it's not intent upon following the normal course of things in the

progress of the throne speech debate — and that that secret timetable

involves the budget and the desire of the government to have the budget

on a certain day, come hell or high water. I wonder if this is what

this motion before us is seeking to do — to accommodate that secret

timetable with respect to the budget.

HON. MR. GARDOM: Mr. Speaker, it's hardly a secret timetable,

because I informed the hon. House Leader of the opposition of that

fact, and now he is.... If it's a secret, I can assure you it's

only a secret to him. I guess I'd have to say: roses are red, violets

are blue, the NDP are awfully edgy and you are too.

Mr. Speaker, so that there is no confusion in the minds of the opposition —

at least of those who are present, and I can't really vouch for those who

are not present — I'd like to indicate to the House that, yes, we're

planning to sit tomorrow morning and tomorrow afternoon. We would very much

like to have the budget on Monday. So we can invite people to attend — get out

the usual protocol and attend to those kind of things.... If that's

not acceptable to the opposition — and we are all appreciative of the rules of

the House, which are that there be a maximum of six sitting days and eight sittings

— and, if we don't happen to finish Monday, we will have the budget at 10

a.m. on Tuesday. That, of course, could require us sitting on Friday, perhaps

Friday afternoon, and on Saturday as well.

MR. HOWARD: This is a point of order, because I can't engage

in the debate any longer, Mr. Speaker. I would have thought it

incumbent upon the government House Leader to have been open and honest

and to have revealed that information to the general public earlier.

The only reason I rose was to smoke him out.

HON. MR. GARDOM: Point of order, Mr. Speaker.

MR. HOWARD: Perhaps you would wait until one point of order is finished.

MR. SPEAKER: It must be a point of order, hon. member.

MR. HOWARD: Secondly, what the Minister of Intergovernmental

Relations said in the latter part of his remarks about Tuesday or some

other day was not the subject of the discussion between him and me.

HON. MR. GARDOM: On the same point of order, Mr. Speaker, I

don't have any difficulty whatsoever with my

interpretation of honesty

or openness — that's number one.

MR. HOWARD: Ever since you joined the Socreds.

HON. MR. GARDOM: Well, there's our friend: ever since I

joined the Socreds. You seem to enjoy mud more than you enjoy attending

to responsible policies and programs.

Interjections.

MR. SPEAKER: Hon. members, the question is adjournment until 10 a.m. tomorrow morning.

Motion approved.

Hon. Mr. Gardom moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

The House adjourned at 4:07 p.m.

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