First Session, 41st Parliament

(2017) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Morning Sitting

Issue No. 8

ISSN 1499-2175

The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.

CONTENTS

Orders of the Day

Throne Speech Debate (continued)

On the amendment (continued)

Hon. D. Barnett

Hon. S. Cadieux

A. Olsen

J. Tegart

M. Lee

Hon. M. Polak

THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017

The House met at 10:02 a.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers.

Orders of the Day

Hon. T. Stone: Good morning, Mr.

Speaker. I call continued debate on the throne speech.

Throne Speech Debate

(continued)

On the amendment (continued) .

Hon. D. Barnett: I will

continue on my journey from yesterday. The cattle industry is an important

one for the Cariboo-Chilcotin. It’s a proud part of our heritage, and we are

a key supplier of first-class beef to markets across Canada and around the

world. That is why I was very happy to be able to support the development of

the applied sustainable ranching program at Thompson Rivers University in

Williams Lake, the only program of this kind in British Columbia.

[R. Chouhan in the chair.]

This program

is unique. It provides students with hands-on experience in sustainable

cattle ranching, which will help the next generation to keep the industry

growing strong and environmentally friendly. In partnership with the B.C.

Cattlemen’s Association, the province has invested $14 million since 2010 to

construct nearly 900 kilometres of fencing to help farmers and ranchers keep

their livestock.

I’m also glad

that we acknowledged the importance of agriculture in the throne speech. Of

course, food security also matters in British Columbia. It is an issue that

is important in every community across the province. As we continue to grow,

we need to protect and preserve agricultural land. That’s why we will double

the Grow Local program and make it permanent, putting B.C. products in

stores and on tables, bringing an additional 91,000 hectares of good

agricultural land into production by 2020, building on our food security and

growing the industry.

[10:05 a.m.]

We’ll activate

an all-party select standing committee to study how B.C.’s agricultural land

can be used and stewarded, and we will ensure that all high-quality farmland

lost as a result of the Site C project is replaced with comparable land in

other parts of the province.

Mining is one

of the key industries in our province and in the Cariboo-Chilcotin. It

supports many families and creates good jobs. That is why we are committed

to bringing eight new mines on line by 2020, creating new prosperity all

across the province. We are also going to invest $18 million to improve

B.C.’s world-leading mine permitting, oversight, compliance and enforcement,

so that we can ensure our mining industry does not have any tragic incidents

that may harm our environment.

Our forest

industry has been the backbone of the Cariboo-Chilcotin for years. It is

diverse in the Cariboo-Chilcotin, and it is the home of the famous

Timber Kings .

The LNG

industry is another emerging source of clean energy for our province. We

have a generational opportunity to lift families out of poverty and

strengthen their ability to shape their communities and our province’s

future, as well as help communities that have been hurt by the collapse of

global oil prices. We can do this by helping the world transition away from

dirtier forms of fuel, like the coal plants that continue to be built in

China and India. LNG has always included First Nations through a bottom-up,

from the ground floor, process of consultation.

British

Columbians have the rare and unique opportunity to electrify the economy by

using B.C.’s vast clean energy sources. We need to build on the work of

generations before us who had the vision to create hydroelectric dams,

enabling the clean, renewable power we use today.

The Site C

energy project is another generational opportunity to further electrify the

economy and power the future. On time and on budget, we know the Site C

project is a generational opportunity that will create 10,000 jobs, reduce

greenhouse gas emissions and make sure our economy and our homes are powered

by clean, renewable and affordable energy.

We will stand

up for B.C. workers and protect their jobs from being sacrificed to suit the

political agenda of the opposition members.

On average,

this side of the House works with all sectors, ensuring that the environment

is taken into consideration, ensuring our First Nations are included in our

consultation.

We have laid

out a clear vision for stability. I will be voting against the amendment, as

I support the throne speech.

Hon. S. Cadieux: I am pleased

to take my place to speak against the amendment.

Everyone who

runs for public office knows the important support of family, and I’m

ever-grateful to my husband, Daniel, for supporting me and my extended

family during the long absences.

As many of us

also note when we rise in this House, we can’t do our jobs here if we don’t

have people in our offices back home assisting us. I would certainly like

to thank Annie Christiaens and Sharon Crowson for their

ongoing support and excellent work.

I’d also like

to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who offered help and encouragement

and supported me during the last campaign. My campaign team was second to

none, and I owe them much gratitude.

I am humbled

once again by the opportunity given to me by my constituents of South Surrey

to serve as their representative, and I’ll endeavour to see that they are

well represented in this House.

It’s an honour

to have been selected for a third time, in a third constituency, and I’m

humbled to have served since 2009. I’ve loved the opportunity to shape

government policy, to help people access information and government services

and to bring the views of my constituents forward in this House and in

discussions of caucus and cabinet.

[10:10 a.m.]

I’ve been

given an opportunity to get to know the community I call home on the deepest

level, and in doing so, meet hundreds of people who are making enormous

contributions to our province and our world.

I expected

that the spotlight of service would come with opposition — for people to

dislike and disagree with the positions that I would take or decisions that

I would be asked to make. But I did come to politics to bring a thoughtful,

pragmatic and cooperative approach. It’s how I have worked for years with

people with differing views. I have always believed that debate and

discussion bring better results.

Admittedly, I

have never liked the highly partisan attacks waged by anyone. It’s not that

the attacks on different policy or positions aren’t fair. They are,

absolutely. But the ones lodged at individuals personally are not. I’m often

surprised that so many are comfortable stating what they believe my values

to be — that, in fact, because I am a fiscal conservative, I can’t possibly

care about social programs or people. To those people, I say: “Are you

serious?”

I’m a

Canadian. I hold Canadian values. In the lead-up to a celebration of

Canada’s 150th birthday, we are bombarded by expressions of Canadian values:

equality, inclusion, compassion, multiculturalism, global citizenship,

safety, and so much more. But as a fiscal conservative, I do also believe in

not spending more than we have and that we have responsibilities as

citizens, not just rights, and part of that responsibility is to participate

and to contribute to our communities and to reach out a hand to others when

they need it. So when the opposition continues to profess that we on this

side of the House can’t possibly care about people or make investments in

people, I am offended, because they are wrong.

That’s why I’m

opposed to this amendment. It’s why I’m proud to support a speech from the

throne that shocked so many on all sides of the political spectrum. It’s a

speech that reflects that my leader, our Premier, our first re-elected

female Premier, acknowledges what the voters have said. They said: “Hey,

it’s great that through fiscal discipline and a focus on the economy, we’ve

had success.” But they also said we didn’t get it all right and that we

needed to listen, embrace some new ideas and invest some more in areas of

concern. That is exactly what was presented in the throne speech.

I am proud to

be one of nine representatives from Surrey. Congratulations to all of them

on their election, especially the five newly elected members. As you will

have heard before, Surrey is one of the fastest-growing jurisdictions in

North America. So many people from far and wide are calling Surrey their

home. It’s these new residents that are excited about the vibrant, diverse

community we share in Surrey. They are seeing the opportunities that are

available in Surrey and in British Columbia and are choosing to make this

their home.

There are a

few people and a few organizations I’d like to recognize, which are a part

of my constituency, that illustrate this vibrancy. Also, I will come back

and circle back to explain why I’m not in support of the

amendment.

Just last week

the NHL had its draft, and Michael Rasmussen, who has been my neighbour for

many, many years, was drafted ninth to the Detroit Red Wings. I want to

congratulate Michael. Michael has devoted his entire young life to hockey. I

can remember many a night wondering what that thumping sound was, only to

finally discover it was Michael hitting pucks into the wall of his garage, a

wall that his father had to replace many a time. He was dedicated, he was

committed, and he has reached his dream. Congratulations,

Michael.

Brenden,

another young man, had benefited from Easter Seals camp. He believes that

every child with a disability should have that opportunity. On June 17,

Brenden’s Ride had over 100 motorcycle riders ride from Cloverdale to the

Easter Seals camp in Squamish to raise over $34,000 to send kids with a

disability to camp this summer. Brenden, it’s not the first of those rides,

but we hope you keep them up.

[10:15 a.m.]

In March, I

unfortunately had to miss a presentation of a Medal of Good Citizenship to

two of my constituents: Wayne McGill and Chad Farquharson. These two are the

parents of Grayson. They adopted Grayson. He has significant health

challenges with a rare disease. They have become passionate advocates, not

just for their son but for all who share that disease and for all families

who spend, as they do, many, many days a year, many months a year, at

Children’s Hospital. They are active volunteers. They are selfless. Although

they had already so much on their plates, Wayne has now become the president

of the Sunnyside Elementary School PAC.

This year the

Surrey Women in Business Awards were held, and two women from my

constituency were awarded recognition. Sonia Virk, co-founder of Virk Viyas

and Associate Lawyers in Surrey, won. Sonia has two law degrees — one from India, one from Canada. She was the first woman to hold

the seat of president for the Indo-Canadian Business Association. She’s also

a director of G&F Financial and a member of the board of the College of

Dietitians. She gives back to the community she lives in and has chosen to

make home in so many ways.

Louise

Tremblay was awarded the Not-for-Profit Leader Award this year for her work

with Semiahmoo Foundation and Semiahmoo House. She’s an advocate for people

with disabilities and other vulnerable adults. She’s a tremendous human

being, and we’re so lucky to have her, along with the foundation she works

for and the organizations she works for in our community.

The Surrey

Children’s Foundation has helped vulnerable children to heal for many, many

years. They have now, just recently, moved into the new innovation boulevard

in Surrey. That organization, in partnership with my ministry, has programs

that focus on early childhood development, neurodevelopment, trauma and

attachment. It’s tremendous work, and we’re so fortunate to have them in our

community.

Charles Wang

and Spencer Zezulka each claimed one of four Youth Can Innovate Awards this

year. They’re both grade 11 students. They won $8,000 prizes to recognize

their ingenuity, originality, development and potential of social and

economic benefits. They won science fair bronze medals for Big Bertha. It’s

a prototype for solar-powered production of biofuel, which they believe

could be integral to the future of travel to Mars. I don’t fully understand

the science that these young people are doing, but I know they are bright,

and their future is bright here in British Columbia.

On June 4, I

attended the 307 Mariner RSCC annual ceremonial review and had the privilege

to fulfil the role of their reviewing officer. It was clear that the young

cadets embody many of the key principles of citizenship, leadership and

community. During the review, the marching band also performed. They had

placed sixth in C division at the Lower Mainland Marching Band Competition

this year, and they had only been together for just three months. What a

tremendous honour.

That review

was held at the local Semiahmoo Fish and Game Club. They are celebrating

their 60th anniversary this year. They came together 60 years ago, concerned

about Little Campbell River and the fish stocks. Now, at 730 members on

their anniversary, they dedicated the club’s hall as the Archie McNair

education centre to recognize one of their long-standing members.

Now, I

mention all of these people and these organizations because they illustrate

the type of people and the type of community that we have in Surrey. I’m

speaking against the amendment because I believe the throne speech presents

a vision for our future that ensures the economy and job creation remain

strong and that there’s support through social programs and environmental

protections. All of those groups and individuals that I mentioned help make

the community great. We all share an investment in our future.

The young

people, with so much promise, will undoubtedly expect us to invest wisely,

to make smart decisions to help them succeed so that when it’s their time to

lead, we’ve left them with a province they’re proud of. Strong, proven

leadership is necessary now more than ever if we’re to achieve stability and

shepherd all of these investments into being in a responsible and balanced

way. Strong leadership is needed because governing is not easy. The work of

governing, the work of building an economy…. Certainly, we saw yesterday

that we are the envy of not only Canada but most of the developed world with

our growth rate.

[10:20 a.m.]

The work of

improving the supports in our social safety net in health care, education

and other social ministries is not a simple task. It’s hard. It’s

complicated, and it involves trade-offs.

It’s about

negotiations. It’s about planning, consulting, executing, rejigging,

altering, meeting, debating and amending. It’s about balancing and

rebalancing, and acting and reacting — a fact that the opposition and

independent members of this House don’t seem to understand as they mock what

has been presented in the throne speech, because it’s exactly

that.

It is exactly

that appreciation that sometimes you need to rejig, and you need to rethink,

and you need to react. British Columbians spoke clearly, and we listened.

The changes, reforms and investments in the throne speech reflect

this.

A strong

leader needs to exhibit courage, tenacity and patience — having the courage

to stand, the tenacity not to succumb and the patience to keep fighting

because you know what you’re doing is the right thing.

The throne

speech isn’t about delaying time in government. It’s about doing the right

thing. It’s about having the courage to make the changes people asked us to.

The citizens of British Columbia spoke, and we listened. We heard loud and

clear that people wanted us to reform the political donation system, so we

tried to move forward with that reform. We tried to introduce comprehensive

reforms that would get big money and external influence out of B.C.

politics.

We listened

to the families and employers that told us that government needed to provide

better supports for early childhood education and child care. That access to

child care is an important part of finding that balance for

families.

That’s why

we’re investing $1 billion over the next four years in child care, guided by

three core principles: the highest quality care by expanding our bursary

program, which has already trained 1,000 early childhood educators, to train

4,000 more; by reducing wait-lists and creating more spaces — 60,000 on top

of the 4,100 we’ve created in the last couple of years through our

capital program and the 111,000 that are already in

place; and making child care more affordable by ensuring that families with

incomes up to $100,000 have access to a subsidy.

The

government believes that every child should have the opportunity to reach

their full potential no matter what their life circumstances are and where

they come from. As a society and as a government, we must do everything we

can to help children along as they grow and develop. That starts with

helping their parents.

The very

successful single-parent employment initiative that I championed is being

expanded to include low-income families in transition — LIFT — to help

families who are underemployed make that next step to better support their

families. LIFT is going to build on the success of that single-parent

employment project where over 5,000 single parents have already signed up to

move forward with their careers and over 1,000 are already working. That’s

innovation, that’s success, and that’s a government that invests in

people.

As the

Minister of Children and Family Development, I support the throne speech

also, because it contains significant supports for a group that I have

advocated for passionately in my 4½ years as the minister.

Now, no other

province in Canada today matches the level of support that we provide to

young people leaving care today, but we know it’s not perfect. Those youth

who are transitioning out of care deserve better. They deserve more support,

and that’s why we’ll introduce a basic income support for youth aged 18 to

24 and free tuition for kids in care, because we want them to have a

successful future.

By together

working in this House, we can support an agenda that will make a huge impact

on the lives of the most vulnerable, especially at-risk youth and

families.

As the MLA

for Surrey South, I support the throne speech because there are initiatives

in it that will be beneficial for my community, that support Surrey’s growth

and help our community with the pressures we’re facing as a rapidly

expanding community.

Our

government understands that a growing population means that we have to

enable the movement of goods and people efficiently, and that’s why we’ll be

working with the mayors of Metro Vancouver to ensure that they have the

tools they’ve asked for. We will match the federal funding immediately to

move ahead with expansions in Surrey and conduct feasibility studies on new

projects, including expansions into South Surrey where it’s also

needed.

We will

ensure that people south of the Fraser are treated equally and move as

quickly as possible to eliminate tolls on the Port Mann Bridge and work with

TransLink to accelerate the timetable for the replacement of the Pattullo

Bridge. And we need a tunnel replacement, so we’ll work with municipalities

to make sure that that happens.

In the area

of mental health and addictions, we’ll have a minister of state whose sole

focus will be mental health, addiction and recovery and help us to respond

to the immense challenges in this area.

[10:25 a.m.]

We’ll

fast-track a centre for mental health and addictions in Surrey so families

can have access to care when and where they need it most.

We know one

of the largest investments people will make in their lifetime is their home,

but one of the biggest struggles is coming up with that first down payment.

That is why we introduced the HOME partnership program to provide first-time

homebuyers with a long-term down payment–assistance loan that’s interest-

and payment-free for the first five years.

We’ll build

5,000 units of new housing that can become 5,000 new homes for British

Columbians over ten years, through a new rent-to-own program — a program

available to middle-class families who will be able to grow equity in their

homes through monthly rent payments until they’re in a position to actually

own the home themselves.

We’re

committed to work with local governments to increase housing stock,

particularly family and starter housing for middle-class British Columbians

in areas that connect to transit corridors. This only makes sense. And for

those who are more vulnerable, we’ve invested $758 million this year in

affordable housing.

We believe

that by working together, we can ensure that more and more British

Columbians have a secure place to call home. That’s why we’re proposing an

all-party housing affordability summit for this fall. The summit would

address the different sides of the housing issue across British Columbia and

bring together all ideas for debate and discussion.

Now, B.C. has

always been a leader in barrier-free living and a model for many other

jurisdictions to follow. Creating an environment where having a disability

does not limit the quality of life one can achieve is a priority for our

business and community to create a more accessible and inclusive British

Columbia.

But in my

riding today, there are more than 27 new home developments underway. In

precious few, if any, have they considered the needs of 15 percent of the

population — those with physical disabilities. Is it intentional? I expect

not. It’s overlooked. Is it overlooked or not understood? Most likely. And

why? Because many people who will need homes that can accommodate a

wheelchair or other device don’t need them yet. That’s our aging

society.

There are

also families who don’t know that their child may be born with a disability,

like the family in Cloverdale that recently was lucky enough to have B.C.

Ferries supply a wheelchair lift for their son — good job, B.C. Ferries — so

that they could get him up and down the stairs in their

home.

The throne

speech is going to take action to move forward in this area by increasing

spaces to improve upon the access that already exists, and to increase the

minimum number of suites in a multi-unit residential building designed with

throughout the building and represent the types and sizes of suites

otherwise available to all buyers. And government is planning to double the

home-renovation tax credit.

All of these

measures will help ensure that people can stay in their homes or buy a home

in the area where they’d like to live. This is planning for the future and

meeting the needs of today.

When we speak

of the future, government is committed to ensuring that the next generations

of British Columbians benefit from a healthy, livable planet. For that

reason, B.C. is a leader globally in the fight against climate change. We

have always been at the forefront, and we’re committing to continue to

strengthen our efforts while maintaining the principles we’ve always

had.

In the throne

speech, the Liberal government committed to an ambitious emissions-free

target for all new non-commercial vehicles registered in Metro Vancouver by

2035. Many people have already embraced these vehicles — like Frankie, from

my riding, who, during the campaign, when I spoke with her, was concerned

about the lack of charging stations and the fact that, often, the ones that

were there were out of service. I’m sure drivers of electric vehicles will

be pleased that the throne speech committed to an additional $50 million

over the next five years to fund the expansion of residential and workplace

charging infrastructure.

My values:

fiscal responsibility, not spending more than I have, compassion, treating

others the way I would wish to be treated. Those are not mutually

exclusive.

wholeheartedly support the Speech from the Throne and therefore will vote

against the amendment. The Minister of Finance’s fiscal update yesterday

proved that B.C.’s strong economy will have the ability to fund our goals

and still allocate funds to debt repayment.

[10:30 a.m.]

I’ve been

clear in my previous speeches that the strong economy is vital to the work

that’s needed to support B.C. families. I truly believe it. I’ve experienced

it in my career in the not-for-profit sector and in my volunteer work with

many different charities and organizations.

A strong

economy allows us to support our most vulnerable citizens and the causes we

care about, to keep British Columbians safe, educated and healthy, and to

provide the countless other services that assist and support families when

they need it most. That is the reality. That’s why I’m in full support of

this government’s direction, and I’m opposed to the amendment that would

prevent it from happening.

A. Olsen: HÍSW̱ḴE , Mr. Speaker,

SI¸ÁM . I rise today to speak for the first time in this place,

to speak in support for the amendment, put forward by the Leader of the

Official Opposition, that Her Honour’s present government does not have the

confidence of this House.

I felt it was

important to speak to this amendment to explain why I cannot support this

throne speech and why this B.C. Liberal government does not have my

confidence. Before I do so, I would like to offer some sincere thanks to my

family, my friends and supporters. To everyone who worked so hard for the

months and months leading up to the election: thank you.

HÍSW̱ḴE .

I’m honoured

to acknowledge my wife, Emily, who is here with us this morning, and my

incredible kids, Silas and Ella, for supporting my work over the past eight

years that I’ve been in governance. I love you, and I’m honoured to walk

this journey with you. HÍSW̱ḴE .

I would like to recognize my parents, Carl and Sylvia; my elders; my

S¸ELELW̱ÁÁN , my

ancestors; my grandparents, Laura and Ernie Olsen, and Phyllis and Don

Snobelen.

Their

guidance, their love, their commitment to their values and their principles,

their actions — not just their words — laid a solid foundation on rock, not

sand, for me to build on.

HÍSW̱ḴE . It is because of

you all, because of them, that I have the privilege to sit in this House and

represent my home community of W̱SÁNEĆ,

of Saanich North and the Islands.

HÍSW̱ḴE .

I would like

to acknowledge all the chiefs, mayors and councillors, Islands trustees,

regional directors and school board trustees in Saanich North and the

Islands, for doing their best to govern our communities. I raise my hands to

them. Thank you. HÍSW̱ḴE,

SI¸ÁM .

I would also

like to acknowledge my cousin Len Morris Jr., who represented Canada

yesterday in the world outrigger championships in Tahiti. Len is the

Canadian champion and finished 14th in the distance race yesterday. Len is a

Saanich paddler. We are mariner people — the Saltwater People, they call us

— and Len has carried the tradition of his family, the Morris family,

proudly, all the way to Tahiti and represented all of us very proudly.

HÍSW̱ḴE to

him.

Later today

you’ll meet my daughter Ella, who’s going to be here visiting the

Legislature with her grandma Sylvia. She and her brother Silas, their

classmates and their friends are my inspiration.

When I ran to

represent Saanich North and the Islands, I ran on a commitment to make

decisions based on principles and evidence, not political calculation and

opportunism; to put people’s interests first, ahead of the special interests

and corporate donors.

considering my vote, I have these commitments, which I made with my

constituents in mind. First and foremost, my responsibility, our

responsibility, is to our constituents. My responsibility is to the people

of Saanich North and the Islands, who gave me a mandate to sit in this House and advocate for their needs, the needs of their

loved ones and the needs of our community.

[10:35 a.m.]

Eight years

ago I ran for local government because I believe in community service. I was

the first person to step off W̱JOȽEȽP,

the Tsartlip reserve, to run in Central Saanich, because I believe we have a

responsibility to bring people together, to bring communities

together.

We’re

stronger together. This House is stronger together, and I believe in our

democracy. I believe we have a responsibility to make this House work, not

to tear it down until we have the right amount of power we believe we

deserve or we feel we are owed.

Ultimately,

in considering the throne speech and the amendment tabled by the Leader of

the Opposition, the official opposition, I have to ask myself: can I trust

this government to act on principle and put the interests of people first

and foremost in their decision-making? The Premier keeps talking about

working across party lines, but everything that the B.C. Liberal government

has done in the past few weeks — and, particularly, in the past few days —

has undercut this sentiment.

This entire

week has been designed to try to confuse not only the MLAs of this House but

the public at large. Let me offer just a few examples.

The Premier

delayed bringing the Legislature back for weeks longer than was necessary

and has needlessly delayed testing the confidence of this House.

The bills

they introduced on official party status and banning big money were intended

to try to buy our support. They’ve now said over and over again that our

votes against those bills show an unwillingness to work together. But we

know that these are nothing but cynical games.

We have been

clear from day one that we are willing and eager to work with all sides of

the House, both the Liberals and the NDP, to bring forward good public

policy. However, we’ve also been clear that the first step for this

government is to humbly test the confidence of this House.

Just

yesterday the Premier said that she will essentially be advising the

Lieutenant-Governor to call an election, despite the fact that most British

Columbians do not want this.

Ultimately,

my concern is that I do not see that this government is truly acting in good

faith working across party lines for the benefit of all British Columbians.

I cannot, in good faith, feel that I’m serving the needs of my constituents

if I vote to prop up this government that has, for 16 years, put their own

self-interest and the interests of their corporate donors ahead of the

people’s interests.

One reason

that’s close to my heart for why I cannot have the confidence in this

government at this time is because of their approach to indigenous people

[SENĆOŦEN was spoken] over their past terms as government. They’ve taken a

disrespectful and litigious approach to their dealings with indigenous

people.

My father is

an example of that. My father spent more than a decade defending his rights

against a government that wanted to take them away, his treaty rights that

have been acknowledged by courts over and over and over again. It was this

government that forced him to defend his humanity. Unbelievable.

For months we

toiled to have this government protect a Coast Salish grave islet on

Saltspring Island. For months, the minister told us he had no mandate to

stop the construction of a mansion overtop of gravesites, a sacred place.

Finally, only after that place had been buried under concrete, did the

minister finally gain access to the resources needed to buy the islet, and

for an astronomical amount. The taxpayers of this province paid an

astronomical amount for that islet, unnecessarily.

This

government has consistently not addressed the principle of free, prior and

informed consent. The ministers of this government are still using the

outdated language of “consultation and accommodation.” These days when

indigenous leaders hear the words “consultation and accommodation,” they

wonder if we’re asking what hotel they want to stay in, or if the housing in

their communities is sufficient.

This

government has not declared any intention to fully adopt the UNDRIP, the UN

declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. They raise concerns about

consent, claiming a fictitious veto power granted indigenous people, despite

that fact that consent is the very notion that courts have been toiling over

for generations and, finally, coming to some resolution in

Tsilhqot’in.

[10:40 a.m.]

We have a

responsibility to all British Columbians to renew our relationship with

indigenous people and begin an honest dialogue about what consent means to

them. We must come to terms in a meaningful way with the reality that has

always existed here in British Columbia. Ignoring this is wrong, and it will

cost all British Columbians and our economy now and in the future. It’s just

bad policy. It is for this and many reasons on this file that I cannot

support this government, and they do not have my confidence.

As a former

municipal councillor, this government’s relationship with local government

has been frustrating. Local governments are the closest to the people. They

need a provincial government that supports them. Their initiatives are

frustrated as soon as they get to this provincial government, often losing

momentum or fizzling out entirely. They don’t have access to the resources

that they need and have been downloaded extra responsibilities without any

way to pay.

The Metro

Vancouver mayors have been ignored, and the governance on the Gulf Islands

has been ignored. Saltspring Island, a beautiful gem of a community, has

been split in half and gutted over an incorporation program that has been

less than ideal, to put it mildly, and all this because they and the other

islands have had sufficient infrastructure challenges under

the watch of this provincial government. Their roads have deteriorated,

ferry access has become unaffordable, their economies significantly damaged.

It’s clearly time to hit reset on this government.

More

important than the election platform that we ran on are the values that

those platforms are based on. We’ve been clear that we have a hopeful vision

for the future of British Columbia, which has the health and well-being of

British Columbians at its centre. I am who I say I am. I asked voters in

Saanich North and the Islands to entrust their vote to my care for this

term, and I promised them that I would be responsible with the mandate that

they have entrusted with me.

I am deeply

committed to honouring our responsibility to those who come after us.

Thinking through the effects of our actions on the next seven generations

and putting the principle of intergenerational equity first and foremost are

the values that I was raised with, and they are reflected in the B.C.

Greens’ approach to governance.

Considering

my values and principles, I do not feel that I have — in fact, I know that I

don’t have — any confidence in this government that they are going to work

in the best interests of all British Columbians.

I hope that

the B.C. Liberals will put much of the gamesmanship of the past week behind

them as we move forward, because I believe that we have an incredibly

exciting opportunity in front of us. During the election, people told me and

my campaign team day in and day out on the doorstep that they wanted change,

not just a change in government but a change in how politics works in

B.C.

The riding

that I represent isn’t some left-wing riding. It’s a riding that’s been held

by B.C. Liberals and federal Conservatives for decades. But I heard day in

and day out that they wanted change. They wanted change from the current

leadership and direction that we had. They wanted change in the way

decisions are made in this place. And now we have an opportunity to deliver

on that change.

But not only

do we have an opportunity, I believe and I stand here today certain that we

have a responsibility. Our job…. All 87 of us in this chamber have a job to

make this work in the best interests of all British Columbians. Ultimately,

we have everything we need in this House to make it work.

For the first

time in years, we have agreement from all parties on dozens of major

policies that will improve the lives of all British Columbians from north to

south, east to west. These policies will enhance the lives of our senior

citizens and create a bright future for our children. As my colleague from

Cowichan Valley said yesterday, it is time for a compassionate government,

humbled by the duty that we have to govern this province for all British

Columbians.

[10:45 a.m.]

SI¸ÁM , I will be supporting the Leader of the Official

Opposition’s amendment to the throne speech. I look forward to returning to

this chamber with a renewed optimism, a renewed sense of hope, a renewed

sense of confidence in our government and the future of our great

province.

Thank you.

HÍSW̱ḴE,

SI¸ÁM .

J. Tegart: Thank you

very much, to the member opposite, and congratulations on your first address

in the House.

I will be

speaking against the amendment put forward. Before I begin my remarks, I

want to talk a little bit about how I feel it important that we as MLAs

stand up in this House and speak to whatever the business of the day

brings.

I believe we

were all elected because we care. We care for our constituents, our

communities and our province. And yes, we also care for our political

parties, but I would suggest that that is not the priority that should be in

this House. It should be the people who voted for us and put their trust in

us who are the priority.

We are

elected to bring a voice from our ridings to the House. It helps inform

debate, it lets our constituents know why we are voting a certain way, and

it can often provide input for change. It makes us accountable.

To choose to

not participate in a debate as important as the one on the floor of this

House today, to me, is disrespectful in so many ways — to this process and

to the people who elected each and every one of us. In the words of a former

member of the opposition, I would suggest there’s a little jiggery-pokery

happening around here.

It is an

honour to respond to the government’s throne speech today on behalf of the

constituents of the beautiful riding of the Fraser-Nicola.

Interjections.

J. Tegart: Would you

like to stand up and speak?

Interjections.

Deputy Speaker: The member

has the floor.

Continue,

please.

J. Tegart: I would like

to first take time to acknowledge some of my hard-working constituents and

staff. My constituents are well served by my office staff in Fraser-Nicola,

including Lori Pilon, Nicole Tattam and Andrea Graham.

I would also

like to acknowledge my family, my four children and nine grandchildren, who

support me in everything I do.

I am also

supported by a strong team in Fraser-Nicola, who worked so hard to ensure

that we have strong representation in this House. It is

because of their support that I have the honour of being here

today.

It’s an

honour to rise in this House today to speak in support of the Speech from

the Throne and to indicate that I will not be supporting the amendment. It

is a speech — the Speech from the Throne — that is reflective of what we

heard during the election and is one that all in this House can

support.

It is clear

that our constituents have sent us back here to pursue an agenda with a

better balance between economic, social and environmental priorities. I

believe this throne speech demonstrates that our government has listened to

that result with an agenda to gain this House’s confidence and the

confidence of the people of British Columbia.

The election

result uncovered a growing gap in understanding between rural and urban

British Columbia. As elected representatives, we have a responsibility to do

everything we can to bridge that gap. Urban and rural communities cannot

succeed without one another. This connection between urban and rural is why

B.C.’s economy has been so successful, and this election shows why we must

increase our efforts to bridge that divide.

[10:50 a.m.]

The majority

of economic indicators in B.C. continue to paint a vibrant economy that

carries a lot of momentum. The labour market is on fire. Employment growth

at 3.6 percent is spectacular — far stronger than in any other province.

That is the economy that our government has built. We have built an economy

that is leading the nation and setting records. British Columbians are

enjoying prosperity and growth unparalleled in this nation.

Fraser-Nicola, I have two major centres — Merritt and Hope. I serve six

villages, over 25 First Nations bands, three regional districts, three

school districts and lots of unincorporated communities. Fraser-Nicola is

the gateway to the Interior for folks who live in the Fraser

Valley.

Highway 3

takes you through beautiful Manning Park, a jewel in our parks system, with

camping, hiking, climbing and skiing all within a few hours’ drive from the

Metro area. Highway 1, through the Fraser Canyon, is second to none for

incredible scenery, stops of interest and history. The Yale museum is a

must-see, and the native village at Boston Bar shares culture and First

Nations stories with tourists. Highway 5 will take you to the city of

Merritt to enjoy ranching, golfing and general de-stressing as you

experience a more laid-back approach to life. Highway 99 will take you

through Whistler over to Lillooet — great hiking, biking, farming, logging

and endless vistas.

All of this

is within a few hours of downtown Vancouver. If you want to explore the

interior of B.C., I invite you to travel above Hope and get to know the

great people of Fraser-Nicola.

Rural

communities such as mine are the backbone of British Columbia’s economy, and

I’m proud to be part of a government that is taking action to strengthen

these small communities. This year our government released the province’s

rural economic development strategy. This strategy details the immediate

investments and a long-term action plan to build, strengthen and diversify

our rural communities. New investments announced in the strategy are

expected to support up to 26,600 direct and indirect jobs, with an overall

impact of $2.8 billion to provincial GDP. The strategy is a key commitment

of the five-year jobs plan update.

Last year our

government introduced the rural dividend, designed to help rural communities

diversify their economies. Funding is available in four categories —

community capacity-building, workforce development, community and economic

development, and business sector development. The rural dividend program had

a highly successful first year. In total, the program distributed over $24

million in funding in that first year.

Under the

rural dividend, our government is providing $60,000 this year to new grants

to the communities in Fraser-Nicola region. Community Futures Sun Country in

Ashcroft was awarded $10,000 to create a business plan for the short- and

long-term management of the McAbee fossil beds heritage site east of Cache

Creek. I would suggest to all in this House that this is a project well

worth supporting.

The Lillooet

Agriculture and Food Society was awarded $10,000 to create an agricultural

sector market access and growth strategy to take advantage of the

significant agricultural land holdings in Lillooet. The Lillooet and

District Chamber of Commerce was awarded $10,000 to develop a business plan

to examine the creation of a regional destination tourism organization and a

tour bus coordination pilot project. The Lillooet Regional Invasive Species

Society was awarded $10,000 to provide workshops and training sessions on

natural resource topics, including invasive species, bear safety and

archaeology.

[10:55 a.m.]

The

Squamish-Lillooet regional district was also awarded $10,000 to form a

community economic development committee partnership with the St’át’imc

communities. The St’át’imc Eco-Resources Ltd. is getting $10,000 to

determine the feasibility of a new power transmission and distribution line

company.

Under the

leadership of this government, my community and the outstanding

organizations and businesses in it will continue to see the benefits of the

rural dividend fund. That’s because, with the strong economy and the

strongest balance sheet in the country, our government will double the rural

dividend, returning more revenue to rural communities responsible for

creating so much of our province’s wealth.

Rural

education and skills training. Our government invests over $2.2 billion each

year in skills training and education for rural communities across B.C. We

are investing $15 million over three years in trades training for high schools through the youth trades capital program to

create more opportunities for students to discover, train and work in the

trades earlier in their school years. In 2017-18, up to $10 million is being

invested to the aboriginal skills-training development fund. More than 2,200

members of 45 First Nations have received skills training through 40

training programs.

The throne

speech commits to review the funding formula for schools. This is long

overdue. We also commit to a royal commission on education. As a former

school trustee and a strong advocate for public education, I look forward to

discussing with people across this province the opportunities for what

schools of the future might look like.

Our

government is also investing $40 million to expand the connecting British

Columbia program to improve Internet access to remote communities

provincewide. As an MLA for a rural riding, I’m always amazed at how many

people have difficulty understanding that I am often in areas that have no

cell service. Many people in rural B.C. are amazed that we actually have no

signals. Perhaps that’s something that we should be proud of, because it’s

kind of nice when the phone isn’t always ringing. But we are investing money

to provide Internet access, and 200 communities have benefited from improved

connectivity for economic growth, health and education.

I want to

share a story of a small non-profit in the Fraser Canyon, a group of young

people who looked at connectivity in the Fraser Canyon and the fact that no

large company would commit to providing that service. They formed a

non-profit. They have the skills to do the work, and they are providing

connectivity throughout the Fraser Canyon with a small group of ten young

people out of Lytton. It is a great employment opportunity, but the

innovation and the excitement of those young people to provide this service

is just inspiring.

When we talk

about connectivity in rural British Columbia, we naturally go to roads. I

have to say that I’ve learned more about roads and road conditions than I

ever in my life wanted to know. Roads are that connectivity between

communities of ten people and communities of hundreds of thousands of

people. I have a number of roads in my riding that are a real

challenge.

I want to

tell you the story of the ten-mile slide. Ten-mile slide is located on

Highway 99. It has been moving for about 40 years. It is monitored on a

daily basis. In the fall of 2016, it shifted significantly. The road was

closed for approximately eight days, cutting off a major route to the

community of Lillooet.

[11:00 a.m.]

[G. Kyllo in the chair.]

We were

fortunate enough to have the Minister of Transportation come and visit the

site. He hiked the mountain. He talked to the First Nations chief of the

Xaxli’p, Chief Darrell Bob, talked to local community leaders.

I was so

pleased to see that this government committed a $2 million short-term fix on

the road to get it open in two lanes but also committed to a $60 million

long-term fix. The people of my riding are so, so appreciative of this

government and how we have committed to a small, rural British Columbia

community to deal with their issue and to commit $60 million to a long-term

fix.

Over $270

million is being invested over the next three years in the B.C. side-roads

program to support rural road infrastructure. This is critical as my small,

rural communities work towards economic development for sustainability.

Although, in numbers, not many people live in the communities, jobs, quality

that are valued no matter where you live or what the numbers are.

Fraser-Nicola

also has a lot of forestry, in my riding. Our government believes strongly

that supporting rural communities also means making sure that industries

they depend on continue to thrive. Forestry is an important part of the

Fraser-Nicola riding. It employs 60,000 people in over 140 communities

around the province.

As mentioned

in the throne speech, B.C.’s forest industry built our province, and now our

forest products are building houses and towers around the world. Our

government will increase its efforts to promote the use of B.C. wood abroad.

We will also fight to defend B.C. workers in the forest industry from U.S.

protectionism. In the interim, B.C. will pre-purchase wood for construction

of public housing at home.

Just a few

days ago, the United States announced anti-dumping duties to be applied to

the majority of Canadian softwood lumber shipments entering the United

States. Our government is working hard on behalf of forest-dependent

families and communities to ensure that this industry can thrive. This has

been a challenging file, and despite numerous discussions during 2016

between Canada and the U.S., attempts to reach a softwood lumber agreement

were unsuccessful.

Our view is

this issue can be resolved only with a fair, negotiated trade agreement with

the United States, not more litigation. We know B.C.’s forest policies are

trade-compliant, and with a forecast for a continued increase in U.S.

housing starts, the U.S. needs our lumber. Penalties only hurt housing

affordability for middle-class Americans by raising building costs. It is in

the best interests of both sides to quickly come to terms on a deal and get

back to focusing on growing our respective economies rather than wasting

time and energy in costly litigation.

That said, we

are prepared to fight, alongside Canada, on behalf of British Columbians and

the 140 communities that rely on the forest sector. We will continue to work closely with the federal government to support forest

workers, communities and companies that may be adversely impacted by these

softwood lumber tariffs. Rural communities know that they can rely on our

B.C. Liberal government to defend their natural resource sector, upon which

they rely for their livelihood.

When I look

at communities in my riding that rely on the forest industry, Merritt comes

to mind. The mountain pine beetle has devastated forests throughout

Fraser-Nicola. A number of years ago, in order to get the wood out of the

forest before the pine beetle devastated it, the annual allowable cuts were

increased to get the wood out.

[11:05 a.m.]

Everyone knew

that the cuts would have to go down eventually as the pine beetle

devastation was dealt with. That means less wood for our mills. That means

fewer jobs in our communities. In Merritt last fall, Tolko announced that it

would shut its mill — 230 people out of work, 230 families worried about how

they would pay for their homes, support their families and answer all those

questions that come with a significant announcement like this.

Tolko made

their announcement in regards to the mill closure on a Thursday evening, and

by Friday morning, our government had a transition team in the community to

support those workers affected by the announcement. We worked with the mayor

and council, chamber of commerce, Community Futures, Nicola Valley Institute

of Technology and a number of other groups that could provide support and

services during the transition.

Our first

focus was the workers. Members of the team sat down with the union and each

worker to identify what was needed. This work was seen as a top priority:

how can we support these families? We also worked with community leaders,

because not only are employees affected, but the community as a whole is

impacted. We provided planning support and discussed a number of initiatives

to help the community transition.

I can say

that whenever I visit the city of Merritt and address council, the mayor is

so thankful for the work that has been done by this government to support

his community and those that were affected by the mill closure. I think it’s

important that we acknowledge that that support is so important, and it is

ongoing, because forestry in British Columbia is challenged at this

time.

Another major

industry in Fraser-Nicola is mining. In addition to protecting the forest

sector, this government is more committed than ever in growing an

environmentally responsible mining industry. This industry creates

family-supporting jobs that are critical to B.C.’s economic success. That’s

why I’m happy to see that our government will work to open eight new mines

by 2022 and will support B.C.’s world-leading responsible mining standards

with $18 million to improve mine permitting, oversight, compliance and

enforcement.

Fraser-Nicola

is fortunate enough to host Highland Valley Copper. My dad went to work

there in 1962. It has provided long-term, family-supporting jobs to people

in my region. It has provided apprenticeships to young people. It has been

an incredible corporate citizen and provided support to so many of our small

communities. It allows the workers to actually live at home, be part of a

family and also provide volunteers and leadership at their community, which

is quite different from people who have to travel out of community and do a

fly-in, fly-out lifestyle.

Mining is

critically important to British Columbia, and I am proud to be part of a

government that continues to commit to supporting that industry.

Another major

industry in my riding is agriculture. Food security is an important issue in

B.C., one that bridges the urban-rural divide. As our economy grows, we need

to ensure that we continue protecting and preserving agricultural land. That

is why our government will double the Grow Local program and make it

permanent. We’ll bring an additional 91,000 hectares of agricultural land

into production by 2020. We’ll activate an all-party select standing

committee to study how B.C.’s agricultural land can be used and stewarded,

and we’ll ensure that all high-quality farmland lost as a result of the Site

C project is replaced with comparable land in other parts of the

province.

[11:10 a.m.]

Agriculture

is alive and well in Fraser-Nicola. One of our best success stories is the

winery in Lillooet — Fort Berens Winery. Who would have ever thought grapes

could grow outside of the Okanagan? But we’re finding that grapes love the

dry heat in Fraser-Nicola, and Fort Berens Winery is well worth a visit, if

you drive through the Lillooet area.

We’re also

seeing an influx of young people interested in providing food and locally

grown produce to farmers markets and, in particular, in Lillooet. We’re

seeing young people who step out into the field and take a picture of the

zucchini or cucumber or whatever is ready on the vine. They post it on their

farmers market website. You can order it, and they’ll deliver it to the

farmers market for you to pick up. There is nothing fresher than that. They

are committed to the land, they are committed to good food, and they’re

committed to community.

We’re also

seeing an interest in growing hops in Lillooet. I would suspect that the

natural progression may be a brewery at some time, and we certainly would

welcome that progression.

If you happen

to come through Ashcroft and Cache Creek area, you will see fields and

fields of food being grown. We can grow anything, because we have an

incredible dry heat, and we have an abundance of water. You have not tasted

a tomato until you have tasted a tomato from Ashcroft. It is absolutely

incredible. I would invite you, as you drive up above Hope, to stop in, in

Ashcroft and Cache Creek, at Horsting’s Farm and Desert

Hills Farm to taste some of the best locally grown food you’ll ever

taste.

When we look

at some of the major projects in British Columbia, Site C is a generational

opportunity for our province. It provides clean, renewable, hydroelectric

power for tomorrow’s generations while providing jobs for today. It’s clear

that our government stands up for B.C. workers in all parts of this

province. We support economic development and projects that create jobs for

British Columbians. I’m proud that our government continues to support Site

C, a project that is a crucial part of our government’s plan to address

growing energy needs.

When I talked

to people at the door, as I ran in this past election, they talked to me

about Site C. They talked about the future needs of electricity. People in

my riding have lived at the end of the electrical grid. They have

experienced brownouts.

I think

sometimes it’s hard for people to understand that if we don’t have the

electricity capacity in our communities, it affects our economic

development. I was quite surprised to talk to the city of Merritt and talk

to them about some of the challenges that they have in regards to economic

development and to find out a number of years ago that until they got the

improvement in their electrical grid, they were unable to support new

economic development. That is unheard of, to me, in our province.

I see that

the two-minute warning light is on, so I want to touch on Kinder Morgan. We

also have the Kinder Morgan pipeline that will be going through my riding.

I’m pleased to be part of a government that supports Kinder Morgan Trans

Mountain pipeline. The NDP candidate that ran against me in the election in

2013 declared that the flip-flop on Kinder Morgan was the reason he lost the

election.

Well, guess

what. In the 2017 election, he, himself, flip-flopped to no longer support

the project, which I can tell you is again the reason why I won my election.

People in my riding understand the importance of job creation. Our

government has worked hard to ensure we get the economic benefits from this

project while protecting our precious environment.

[11:15 a.m.]

I also want

to acknowledge the work that we are doing with First Nations. I have over 25

bands in my riding. I have been so pleased to be a part of signing

ceremonies for economic development projects and sharing of the economy with

First Nations in my riding. Our First Nations people are interested in

growing. They’re interested in jobs, and they’re interested in a government

that respects their culture and the work that they do.

In closing,

it is always an honour to be in this House. I vote against the amendment,

but I support the throne speech.

M. Lee: I wish to

speak against the amendment in question.

It’s an

honour and privilege to be in this House today as the MLA for

Vancouver-Langara. I’m grateful to my constituents for the opportunity to

represent them in this Legislature. I look forward to being a strong voice

for them in this House.

I would like

to recognize several individuals who are a significant part of why I’m here

today. First to my mother, Pauline, who is watching it on television at

home, and my late father, Luke, who is watching from above. Their example

and work ethic are truly part of my DNA. For that, I am truly thankful and

want them to know how much I appreciate everything they’ve done for me,

taught me and given me.

To my wife,

Christina, who is in this House today — I think up there: I love you dearly,

and I cannot do this without you. I value our partnership every day of our

lives. We’re in this together, for sure.

My three

children — Justine, Graham and Andrea — who were here for the swearing-in

ceremony but, like many young British Columbians, are working in their jobs

today to save for housing and their future.

Those of you

with children know that a decision to enter into politics or public service

is really a family decision, and their patience, dedication and unflagging

support are truly appreciated.

I would also

like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of my volunteers, donors and

supporters during this past campaign. It is truly because of your dedicated

efforts, contributions and shared vision for a better British Columbia that

I have the privilege of rising in this House today. We certainly worked

together in a broad-based effort, covering the diversity of

Vancouver-Langara, with countless hours of door-knocking, phoning and

engaging with residents.

I also know

that I’m standing on the shoulders of MLAs from Vancouver-Langara who came

before me — women and men, like Dr. Moira Stilwell, Carole Taylor and Val

Anderson. Each of them contributed greatly to our community and riding, and

they set the bar high when it came to community service. I thank them for

forging a path before me.

I would also

like to speak about my riding of Vancouver-Langara, which is a vibrant and

diverse part of Vancouver and, by any measure, a look into Vancouver’s

future. It includes Queen Elizabeth Park, across from where I grew up. This

park is 130 acres and is graced by some of the most beautiful and

well-maintained gardens in the world.

We’re also

home to Langara College, with more than 21,000 students. Langara is one of

B.C.’s leading post-secondary institutions, particularly in helping students

successfully make the transition to universities such as UBC, SFU and

Queen’s.

Langara is

also known as the house of teachings, which is the name given to it by the

Musqueam First Nation on whose unceded traditional territory it is

located.

Langara has

four university degree-granting programs and one of the largest and most

effective continuing education programs in the city, helping people retrain

for the new economy that’s already here.

Vancouver-Langara is home to multiple centres of community that reflect

the diversity of the riding, places like the Jewish Community Centre, the

Taiwanese Cultural Centre, the Scottish Cultural Centre, as well as the

Punjabi Market, where there are ongoing efforts to revitalize this historic

commercial district.

The

Vancouver-Langara community recognizes the value of public transit. It is

blessed by the Canada Line, running through the heart of the riding, a real

stimulus for the creation of new homes and density that are being built

along the Cambie corridor.

[11:20 a.m.]

Over the

course of the campaign, I heard loud and clear from the people in my riding,

particularly on their doorsteps, what they expect from me and from those in

Victoria. They want more cooperation and less bickering. They want less

politics and more performance. And they reminded me that B.C. should come

first, not political parties. Time and again, they let me know that at the

end of the day, when everything is said and done, we are all in this

together. And by we…. That is this entire province, all 87 ridings

represented in this House.

Now, I know

I’m new to this House — and not been here for 16 years — but I know enough

to recognize that when my voters take time to talk to me on one of their

doorsteps, I’d better listen and take their comments to heart. And that’s

what I see in this unique and compelling throne speech and why I’m not in

favour of the amendment.

As I

mentioned in my Canada 150 motion in the House this past Monday, my parents

came from Hong Kong in the ’50s and ’60s. I grew up on the northern border

of Vancouver-Langara until my early 20s and attended preschool at the Jewish

Community Centre and Vancouver College for grades 1 to 12 — all in this

riding. Among other things, Vancouver College taught me a lot about public

service.

In my

university days, volunteering with youth at risk in Chinatown and being on a

national youth advisory committee led me to focus my studies on political

science at UBC, including public policy and environmental regulations. I was

involved in student politics at UBC, served on the board of SUCCESS, an

immigrant service organization, and worked for Kim Campbell for three and a

half years, starting when she was Minister of Justice.

I share these

early experiences with you — before I went to law school — because they

helped to shape my belief in our political system. And frankly, I still

believe in our system. It’s the reason I stepped forward this past election

so that I could help to improve the trust and confidence in who we elect, at

any level of government, regardless of their political party. But more

importantly, it was to come to this House, to do what every one of us wants

to do, no matter our political stripe, and that is to keep our province

moving forward as we work to build a better B.C.

It’s the

reason why those hundreds of hours of doorstep conversations during the

election mean so much to me today. I want to protect what’s worth protecting

and change those things where gaps may exist. The decrease in confidence and

trust in our political process needs to be addressed. That includes the

concerns of those who might feel they are being left behind or feel that

their interests may not make it to our provincial political agenda, of those

who are disillusioned by the political process and do not come out to vote

and leave those decisions to others.

That’s what

makes this throne speech so unique and different. None of our political

parties received a majority in this House. Instead, our fellow citizens have

given us the task of seeing if we are smart enough, mature enough and

innovative enough to do the right thing.

Our fellow

British Columbians spoke loud and clear during the election, and they told

us what they wanted. They wanted a strong economy, one that can afford the

social programs we need. They want less division and more cooperation, the

kind that pulls people and communities together. They made it clear that

they value our economic success, which we have built together. And they want

the success and prosperity to be shared with — and that we look after —

every British Columbian, including our children, our parents and those

British Columbians who need our help most.

As the

Premier has said, it was a message we heard loud and clear and one we have

delivered on in the throne speech. It is a throne speech that will test all

of us to see if we are up to the challenge voters have placed in front of

us. Do we do the right thing or the political thing? Do we recognize the

priorities of our fellow citizens or the priorities of our three

parties?

For instance,

trust and confidence in political fundraising are important issues raised by

our voters. We listened, and we acted. The reforms to political fundraising

in the throne speech included banning corporate, union and third-party

donations and imposing maximum donation limits for individuals — which would

be truly important to regain some of that public confidence. It’s

unfortunate that members on the other side of this House did not see fit to

even consider or vote in favour of these reforms this past week.

For many,

it’s important that we conduct a third referendum on electoral reform to

give British Columbians an opportunity to consider once again what is the

best electoral system for this province and its people. Again, we listened,

and we’ve acted.

[11:25 a.m.]

Hopefully, by

dealing with these political reform processes, we can refocus on providing

better government to British Columbians. Throughout the

history of B.C. politics, the polarizing positions that political parties

often take are challenging for our constituents to understand, and

unfortunately, it tends to shake their confidence in our political

process.

The throne

speech provides an opportunity to articulate a plan and build consensus

within this House for our province. Overall, this throne speech rebalances

the priorities of our provincial government and reframes how we protect our

environment, continue to build and diversify our economy and provide further

social programs to address current gaps. So much of what makes this province

work is maintaining the right balance alongside a longer-term vision of

where we want to go.

We don’t want

a government that borrows money to pay for services we can’t afford and puts

our children and grandchildren further into debt. By the same token, we

don’t want our children and grandchildren to suffer the consequences of not

protecting our environment in the best possible ways, but again, this needs

to be done in balance and in a thoughtful manner with a long-term plan. As

reflected in the throne speech, it’s about continuing to make decisions

today that we can afford, with a view to future generations.

I would like

to address a few areas of the throne speech which demonstrate this — for

example, setting ambitious emissions-free targets for all new non-commercial

vehicles registered in Metro Vancouver by 2035, which advances the previous

goal of 2050 by 15 years. These are important targets in order to continue

the necessary low-carbon transition, particularly when 61 percent of B.C.’s

greenhouse gas emissions come from Metro Vancouver, a third of which comes

from transportation. Coupled with this is the forward-looking plan for a $50

million expansion of vehicle-charging infrastructure.

Looking

forward, B.C. requires plentiful, reliable and affordable clean electricity.

More sources of renewable energy like wind, solar and geothermal will help,

but they will not be enough. Site C will give us the opportunity for an

abundance of clean energy, enabling us to meet our obligation to transition

our economy from carbon to fight climate change.

Despite

opposition at the time, we were the first jurisdiction in North America to

put a price on carbon. Our carbon tax framework has been recognized by

global institutions as one of the best in the world. The federal government

has been clear in its desire to see all provinces implement a $50-per-tonne

carbon tax by 2022, outlined in the pan-Canadian framework on clean growth

and climate change. It’s the reason why we will meet this goal by raising

the carbon tax by $5 per tonne per year starting in 2019, up to a total of

$50 per tonne by 2022, but maintain revenue neutrality by reducing the

provincial sales tax by a corresponding amount for all future carbon tax

increases.

I know that

change is not easy, and I believe we need to find better ways to work with

how change occurs and some of its consequences. This includes protecting

workers and businesses in energy-intensive, trade-exposed industries by

ensuring that new costs from the carbon tax are offset by other taxes. We

want to give companies with strong ties to British Columbia good reasons to

innovate and reduce their emissions.

Forestry and

mining are pillars of our economy, but the reason B.C. has been able to

withstand the volatility of a fragile global economy is because we have a

diversified economy in this province with other sectors, including natural

gas, agriculture, biotech and health sciences, advanced manufacturing, clean

tech, film and tourism. Our province has created more jobs than anywhere in

Canada since the start of the B.C. jobs plan, as you well know.

British

Columbians have worked hard to build a solid financial footing. It wasn’t

easy — spending your tax dollars is the easiest thing any politician can do

— but our prudence has paid off, and today this province is in terrific

shape. We did it together, and its benefits should be shared. That’s what we

heard from voters, and that’s what we know. So we’ve listened, and we’ve

acted.

Today we are

in an even better financial position to continue to make the kinds of smart

investments we all want in health care, education, housing, transit and

social programs, as set out in the throne speech. We should always demand

that good government and leaders demonstrate continued fiscal discipline.

Without a solid financial footing and a strong economy, our options and

choices become limited. None of us want to spend money paying the interest

on borrowed money, when these dollars should be spent on British Columbians

instead.

[11:30 a.m.]

Yesterday’s

fiscal update reflects this very important principle: to properly fund

public services. The Finance Minister confirmed that in addition to

presenting the fifth balanced budget in a row, the fiscal update reveals

that B.C. has a surplus of $2.8 billion. This is the result of careful

fiscal management and a provincial economy that’s performing well above

expectations. B.C.’s GDP growth of 3.7 percent was the highest rate among

the provinces for the second year in a row, and B.C. had some of the

greatest and fastest job growth in more than 20 years.

From

listening to British Columbians like those in Vancouver-Langara and by

meeting them on their doorsteps, it was clear what people want. Their focus

is their families, good jobs, their neighbours, child care, their aging

parents, education for their children, affordable places to live, a more

effective health care system and the quality of life in their communities.

Again, we listened, and we’ve acted.

For instance,

when it comes to housing affordability, British Columbians want even more

government action at every level, including the municipality where so many

of these affordability decisions rest. This is not a challenge that any single level of government can solve on its

own.

That’s why

we’ve put forward a housing summit in the fall to bring together every level

of government, together with developers, city planners, transit authorities,

bank and credit union leaders, social innovators and experts from the

private and not-for-profit sectors. We need this housing summit to examine

and develop innovative solutions to all of the issues that have made

affordability such a priority for families, not only in Metro Vancouver but

also in other parts of our province.

As set out in

the throne speech, it is important that our provincial government works with

and supports municipalities to remove obstacles and eliminate backlogs to

speed up the construction of new housing supply, especially for families. We

have a supply problem in B.C. It’s an issue that needs every level of

government to pitch in, and it definitely needs innovation and a fresh look

at all of the available options.

As a further

step alongside the other provincial initiatives that this government has

already implemented to address housing affordability, we plan to build

50,000 units of new housing across B.C. over ten years under a new

rent-to-own home program. Intended for middle-class families, it will help

renters grow equity through their monthly rental payments until they are in

a position to own their own home.

Working with

local governments in the private sector to increase the supply of family and

starter housing for middle-income earners, especially along new transit

lines and corridors, will also be a critical focus for our provincial

government. For some British Columbians, increasing density and access to

market rentals isn’t enough to make housing affordable. For example, some

seniors on a fixed income need more support, ranging from independent social

housing below market rates to assisted living in supportive seniors units to

rent supplements to help them pay their market rent.

Seniors are

just one example of the diverse range of people who benefit from the work of

B.C. Housing. Over the past year, we’ve also seen a historic level of

investment in creating new, affordable rental housing across B.C. Our

government committed $920 million to build housing for seniors, low-income

families and individuals, aboriginal people and many others. Over $500

million was invested in just one year — the biggest housing investment by a

province in a single year in our country’s history.

The fact that

B.C. Housing was able to deploy that funding and begin work on important

projects across this province right away speaks to the amazing work that the

organization does. In the short time that I’ve been the Parliamentary

Secretary for Housing Affordability, I’ve had the opportunity to visit

supportive and social housing projects in Vancouver and Victoria. This has

been a good opportunity for me to broaden my understanding and perspective

around social housing and housing affordability around major

centres.

From these

visits, I’ve gained a strong appreciation for the professionalism and work

of the B.C. Housing team. They are at the heart of these housing projects,

and during my site visits, I have seen staff who have come back to work on

the project site even on their days off and staff who speak with pride about

their organization, the meaningful work they do and the satisfaction of

getting things done. I learned about the holistic approach taken by B.C.

Housing when it comes to meeting and addressing the complex needs of so many

of its clients.

[11:35 a.m.]

B.C. Housing

places an emphasis on putting a roof over peoples’ heads, providing them

with regular meals and setting them on a better path with counselling, job

placement and other assistance.

I’ve also

heard stories about people who have been in the Victoria courthouse camp and

were then successfully moved to housing facilities, like Mount Edwards

Court, where they received services that helped them stabilize and move on

to living in rental accommodations. These are the types of success stories

that folks who work at B.C. Housing create on a regular basis. It’s why our

government has made B.C. Housing such a priority over the years.

I also gained

a better appreciation of the leadership and innovation that B.C. Housing

continues to demonstrate. Take, for example, the partnership approach that

B.C. Housing brings to working with municipalities, developers and

not-for-profit organizations. By working with these partners, B.C. Housing

is able to leverage our public investment to construct more units and

provide more affordable housing for people than would otherwise be

possible.

These

partnerships and innovative financing models lead to construction of

projects like Woodward’s Community Housing development, which provides more

than 200 affordable rental properties for singles, families and people with

disabilities in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

This is the

kind of success that requires leadership — the kind we see in the team at

B.C. Housing but also in the leadership and commitment of our Deputy Premier

and former Minister Responsible for Housing. It’s truly remarkable what’s

been accomplished under his tenure.

Leadership

and innovation in housing, including with B.C. Housing, means continuing to

look for achieving more in the face of an affordability challenge in Metro

Vancouver. Housing is also tied to transit, as both are essential to

building stronger communities, economies and families. That’s why the

commitment in this throne speech to immediately conduct feasibility studies

to connect communities by rapid transit, light rail and other means of

expanded transit, particularly along key transit corridors in the region, is

so important to affordability. We need to think more broadly, with a

longer-term view, of what we would like to see for this region out to

Mission, into Surrey, Langley, Abbotsford and

Chilliwack and, of course, out to UBC and the North Shore and

Squamish.

It will give

people looking for homes more options in more places and still allow them to

connect across the region to their jobs in a timely and efficient manner.

More and better transit will support much-needed housing for employees in

this region so that we can continue to diversify our economy and give people

the chance to live closer to where they work, giving them more time with

their families, friends and communities.

Just as

importantly, this effort will be an important step to better connect the

lives and economies of our urban and rural regions, particularly across

Metro Vancouver, where more than half of our population lives and works. The

importance of housing and transit only serves to underline the fundamental

importance of our education system, which is tied to communities, families

and, ultimately, the future of our economy.

For 15 years,

I have served on the boards of children and youth organizations — namely,

Science World British Columbia and Arts Umbrella, which have looked to

augment our education system in science- and arts-based learning. These

organizations and others reflect the changing nature of education, the

importance of technology to our students in the ever-evolving world in which

we will live.

We have

watched the world become a smaller and more interconnected place, and it’s

happening faster than ever before. We’ve seen the influence of technology on

the lives of our children, both inside and outside the classroom. They will

grow up and live in a very different world than the one we inherited from

our parents, so it’s incumbent on us to prepare them to take their place and

make their mark in that new world and not be overwhelmed by it.

All of this

serves to reinforce the importance of education, in all its shapes and

forms. But it also means it is time to take a fulsome review of our

education system under a new royal commission, particularly as our society

continues to grow and change. The experience and innovation of educators,

parents, students, as well as community and business leaders are critical to

this review to make our successful education system even better and more

relevant for the years ahead.

B.C.’s

post-secondary and creative sectors are also responding to the major shifts

in digital technologies. In response, the government will double funding for

the B.C. Arts Council to build capacity to lead in the new economy and

uphold our province’s commitment to the value of creativity and

innovation.

[11:40 a.m.]

For lifelong

learning, the throne speech sets out a commitment to have fully funded adult

basic education and ESL programs.

Another key

concern that I heard repeatedly on the doorstep is the need for more child

care in support of working families. Taking care of children and young

families is a pressing priority for our government, and with a proposed

amendment in the throne speech to the 2017 budget, it calls for a

billion-dollar investment in child care and early childhood education over

the next four years.

This would be

the single-largest boost to child care in B.C.’s history, with the

objectives of delivering the highest quality care, reducing wait-lists by

creating more spaces, and making child care more affordable. These are just

a few examples of the strong, forward-looking elements of the throne speech

that should be worthy of support by this House.

On both sides

of this House, we have said that we’ve heard British Columbians when they

said they want less division and more cooperation. Now we have a throne

speech before us which builds on a strong economy and provides the broad

range of programs and benefits British Columbians are looking for —

particularly after working hard together to afford them.

In this

throne speech, we have told British Columbians in no uncertain terms that we

are listening and we are acting. Their priorities will shape government’s

priorities.

Voters did

not give us a majority. It’s why we have built a throne speech that

represents the priorities of our people. British Columbians have told us

that they want a better balance between economic, social and environmental

policies. Well, we listened and we’ve acted. We’ve produced a throne speech

that does so in many ways, but in ways that we can absolutely

afford.

This

government has taken the election results and the message that came with

them to heart. I hope that every member of this Legislative Assembly will do

the same. With the confidence of this House, this government has every

intention of meeting the expectations of our citizens by delivering for

British Columbians.

I do hope

members on both sides of this House will also let British Columbians know

that we heard you. We get you, and we’re committed to continue to put you

first.

We’re at a

time in this province where I’m concerned that many opportunities continue

to pass us by. We can’t afford to have a situation where investors in this

province lose their confidence in this province. We need to continue to work

together to build a strong economy as we go forward. That’s what this

government has been best able to do, and it’s worthy of support in the ways

that have been set out in the throne speech.

I just hope

that all of us, truly, are listening to British Columbians. For this reason,

I am not in favour of the amendment, and I’m fully in support of the throne

speech.

Thank you,

Mr. Speaker, for this time.

Hon. M. Polak: I rise today

to speak in opposition to the amendment. In so doing, I am reminded that the

work we do here is one that we do because we are passionate

about issues, passionate about things we believe in for our province,

passionate about the opportunity to do something for our communities, for

our families and for the people that we love. As such, I know that all of us

come here inspired by individuals — both in our lives and also individuals

we’ve watched in community service.

I want to

spend a little time talking about a few people who have inspired me. First

is my dad. My dad is 88 years old. Some of you have met him, on occasion,

when he has been to this House. He’s a Korean War veteran. He’s eccentric.

He’s watching right now, so I have to be well-spoken and careful. He’s one

of only….

Comparing

notes with the Minister of Transportation, we’ve calculated that between my

family and his, there is probably about a half a dozen people watching right

now. I jest. Although, I’m certain the ratings for Hansard are going to rise

significantly around about 5 p.m. or so today. But my dad is

watching.

[11:45 a.m.]

I often

describe my dad as the professor from Back to the Future , for those

who are familiar with that film, and I say that with absolute admiration and

love. My dad has been inventing things and sometimes blowing up things for

my entire life. He continues to do so. He has often said he has never seen

anything that he didn’t think could be better, modified. It meant for a very

incredible childhood, a childhood where I was taught that I could learn

anything.

My dad gave

up a lot to raise my brother and myself. My mother was a paraplegic. She

passed away about 20 years ago. They did not expect to have children. As my

dad tells it, after they got married, ten months later I was born, 15 months

later my brother was born and then they figured out what was doing

it.

What it meant

though, for them, was that they suddenly had to embrace a life that, while

I’m confident they enjoyed it, was not the path they thought they were going

down.

My dad just

has always been the dad who’s there with you, the dad who’s looking after

you. You know, these days being a Mr. Mom is not that uncommon. In those

days, it was pretty uncommon. I just owe so much to him and his inspiration

that whatever twists and turns life takes you down, it’s all in how you

respond to it. My dad has always been the one who responds to it with such

grace. I thank him for that inspiration.

I also want

to talk about my daughter. My daughter was 17 when I was first elected to

this place. I can hardly believe it. She’s 29 now. What is going on? That

was tough. It was at a point when she and I were starting a very different

kind of life for the two of us. At 17, you know, life is not all that

settled. To have your mom suddenly gone and away, locked in these buildings

for weeks at a time…. She had to do a lot of her own growing up.

We had a lot

of sensitive conversations over what used to be MSN at the time. Remember

MSN messaging? I’d be sitting in the House, and she’d be sending me messages

commenting on people who were speaking or asking me very important life

questions that I was trying to answer. She had to deal with that.

Yet here she

is now, a young lady I so admire. She is a staunch vegan and animal rights

activist. She is the client services coordinator at the Greater Vancouver

Food Bank. She has such a firm ethical grounding. And she has only ever

signed one petition against me when I was Environment Minister, so I’m doing

okay.

Interjection.

Hon. M. Polak: I’ll tell you

later. But she called me to tell me about it.

She inspires

me each and every day, because whatever topics we end up discussing, she has

a firm opinion. She’ll listen to other people, but she has a firm opinion,

and it’s based on those ethics that she holds so dear.

I want to

talk about someone else who has inspired me, and now whose role I have taken

on over these last couple of weeks. That is Terry Lake. I think it’s fair to

say that, on both sides of this House, Terry Lake was a much-admired Health

Minister. [Applause.]

Yes. And

because we don’t get time to go on at length in the course of question

period, which is usually when I’m standing in this House, I want to share

with this House something that happened after we rose.

Some people

might be aware of this, but I bet most aren’t. Terry was given a very

important award. The Canadian Public Health Association gave him their

National Public Health Hero Award.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Here’s what

they said:

“The hon. Dr. Terry Lake, former Minister of Health for British

Columbia, has accomplished many things, but nothing with more impact on the

lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our province than the

unwavering support he provided for the declaration of a public health

emergency and the subsequent actions to stem the tide of tragic deaths from

illegal drug overdoses in B.C. His understanding and compassion has helped

move the public discourse on this issue from one of stigma and blame towards

empathy and support. He has tirelessly spent his political capital to move

his provincial, municipal and even federal counterparts to action.

[11:50 a.m.]

“These actions have undoubtedly saved many lives and made access to

overdose prevention, care and treatment available to many more. His

knowledge of and support for a public health approach to addressing this

crisis has enabled a broad, multifaceted response and unique partnership

with Public Safety that addresses the myriad issues surrounding mental

health and substance use.

“Our actions in response to this crisis are building a system of

prevention and care for the future in B.C. and Canada. Arguably, his most

groundbreaking policy initiative was his ministerial order of December 8,

2016, requiring the establishment of overdose prevention sites where

individuals could use drugs in the presence of responders trained on

overdose recognition and naloxone administration. Scores of

deaths have been averted in these sites. For this exceptional support for

public health, he is most deserving.”

It’s hard to

imagine, when we’re in this House debating, that the things that we discuss

could be of such import. I am so proud of someone like Terry, who should

inspire us all to remember that for all of the seemingly unimportant things

we discuss here, this is our opportunity to have a dramatic impact for

history, for saving lives. How many of us wouldn’t take the chance, if given

it, to save many, many lives?

The things we

do here are important, they are historic, and we have the opportunity to be

a part of that.

Mr. Speaker,

I don’t know if you want me to break now or continue on. I’ll take a

nod.

Mr. Speaker: Noting the

hour.

Hon. M. Polak: I’ll take

that signal. Noting the hour, Mr. Speaker, I will reserve my right to

continue in debate, and I move adjournment of debate.

Hon. M. Polak moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. T. Stone moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

Mr. Speaker: This House

stands adjourned until 1:30 this afternoon.

The House adjourned at 11:52 a.m.

The Official Report of Debates ( Hansard ) and webcasts of

proceedings

are available on the Internet. Chamber debates are broadcast on

television.

Copyright © 2017: British Columbia

Hansard Services, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada