1986 Legislative Session: 4th

Session, 33rd

Parliament

HANSARD

The

following electronic version is

for informational purposes only.

The printed version remains the official version.

Official Report of

DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

(Hansard)

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1986

Afternoon Sitting

[ Page 7277 ]

CONTENTS

Ministerial Statement

Hotel evictions. Hon. Mr. Ritchie –– 7277

Mr. Blencoe

Oral Questions

Hotel evictions. Mr. Barnes –– 7278

Mr. Blencoe

Fishing fleet safety regulations. Mr.

Gabelmann 7280

Tabling Documents –– 7280

Throne speech debate

Mr. Reynolds –– 7280

Mr. Passarell–– 7286

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1986

The House met at 2:05 p.m.

Prayers.

HON. MRS. McCARTHY: Mr. Speaker, I take

pleasure today in

introducing guests to our House who are all representatives of the

British Columbia and Yukon Community Newspapers Association: Mr. Peter

Speck, president of the association, is here with Mrs. Speck and

daughter Patrice; Vic Swan, Sidney

Review ; Bryson Stone, Prince George

Citizen ;

David Black, Williams

Lake Tribune ; Bill McGown, North Shore

News , together with Mrs. McGown; John Arnett, Sooke

Mirror; Joyce

Carlson, Powell River

News ; Mr. Howard Mitchell, Northern Sentinel ;

Jim

Schatz, Langley Advance ;

Mr. Brian McCristall, Peace

Arch News and

Surrey Leader ;

Mr. Dean Miller, the public relations counsel for the

Newspapers Association, together with Mrs. Miller; Mr. Stanley Burke,

Nanaimo Times ;

Mr. Bill Lam, Richmond

News ; and Mr. John Pifer of the

Langley Times .

I would ask the House to give a very warm welcome to

these communicators.

MR. GABELMANN: Mr. Speaker, I have several

introductions.

There is a group in the gallery representing the United Fishermen and

Allied Workers' Union. They are with the president of that union, Mr.

Jack Nichol. Also in the gallery this afternoon, Mr. Speaker, is

Glenyce Johnson, who is the widow of Gordon Johnson, the UFAWU member

who was killed last year because of obsolete equipment in the fishing

industry. I'd also like to introduce Josephine Leer, who is the mother

of Allan Leer, who lost his life in that industry in the last little

while. I'd like the House to make all of these people welcome.

MR. REYNOLDS: Mr. Speaker, I would like the

House to welcome

this afternoon the youngest lifetime member of the Social Credit Party.

With us today is my son Christopher, who is eight months old. He is

here with my wife Yvonne.

HON. MR. RITCHIE: I would like the House to

welcome two

ladies who are visiting with us today — my sister, Freda Munch, and my

daughter, Laurna Harrington, who are accompanied by my executive

assistant from the constituency, Christine Haley.

HON. R. FRASER: I'd like to introduce a

very special lady

from West Vancouver, Jone Brodie. Would the House please make her

welcome.

MR. REID: I'd like to introduce the very

special lady in my

life, my wife Marion. She's also special to this place today — she's in

your gallery.

HON. MRS. McCARTHY: Mr. Speaker, I would

like to share with

the House today the accomplishments of a young man who has been a guest

and visitor to Victoria. Richard Beecroft has been cycling the world

for the past three years and has visited 14 different countries, and he

has accomplished all this while coping with multiple sclerosis. Richard

has a very difficult balance problem, like many individuals who suffer

from MS, and he rides a bicycle. He has done this to show other MS

patients that they don't have to give up; that they can accomplish

great things.

So today I would like to ask the House to join me in paying

tribute

to Richard Beecroft in his quest for a greater awareness on behalf of

all multiple sclerosis patients.

HON. MR. RITCHIE: Mr. Speaker, I wish to

make a ministerial

statement.

MR. SPEAKER: Please proceed.

HOTEL EVICTIONS

HON. MR. RITCHIE: Mr. Speaker, members will

be aware of the

situation of hotel tenants in the city of Vancouver in recent weeks.

They will also be aware of the corrective measures which the provincial

government is taking in conjunction with the city of Vancouver social

planning staff and other interest groups, including officials of Expo

86, so that no British Columbian will be without housing. I am pleased

to advise that the matter is well in hand and surveys show a good

supply of alternate housing. In addition, the British Columbia SAFER

program is most effective and is a model for other jurisdictions.

Mr. Speaker, we can all be assured that Expo 86 will be of

benefit

to all British Columbians. However, in the course of my investigations

into the issue, particularly as it relates to social housing, I have

become aware of information which indicates in the strongest possible

terms that aspects of the delivery of social housing in Vancouver are

being subjected to shameful abuse. There are significant implications

that should be investigated immediately. I've been made aware of the

excessive costs of social housing, with units in the Fleck Building,

for example, costing close to $100,000 per unit; and other projects

costing in excess of $180,000 per unit. This is far beyond what the

ordinary British Columbian can afford to pay for housing.

I've been made aware of vacant units in social housing being

denied

to those who need housing. I've been made aware of inadequate

disclosure of financial arrangements, and the appearance of potential

conflict of interest involving contractors, suppliers and community

groups.

While the immediate situation affecting the people of

Vancouver is

in hand, I am concerned about the long-term impact of these issues on

the supply of social housing for our people. I therefore submit that

the whole scheme of social. housing in British Columbia, as it pertains

to federal programs and local delivery, be the subject of an

independent inquiry to determine the extent of these problems. In that

regard I have asked my colleague the Hon. Jack Kempf, the Minister of

Lands, Parks and Housing, to address this matter without delay. I am

also suggesting he consider and clarify these matters prior to signing

the pending federal-provincial housing agreement.

In closing I wish to make it very clear that the inquiry

proposed is

intended to ensure that social housing provides greater benefits to

those truly in need.

[2:15]

MR. BLENCOE: It is unfortunate that this

minister has decided

to try to deflect this issue, which has become an international

scandal. Mr. Speaker, the issue we have in Vancouver is one that is

symbolic to democratic government and justice. What we have in

Vancouver is a human story of

[ Page 7278 ]

immense proportions. It is a story

that many people in responsible

positions tried to bring to the attention of this government for a

number of years, that if this government didn't show some competency in

protecting the most disadvantaged, the poorest and some of the longest

residents of the province of British Columbia, and some of the people

with some of the longest war records.... This government has decided

that they are expendable, that they can be put aside and no action can

be taken.

Mr. Speaker, this issue requires leadership from the Premier's

office. It requires the Premier of this province to tell the people of

British Columbia that he no longer wants international shame poured on

this province, that he is prepared to clear this up and deal with the

issue effectively and cleanly in the interests of all those people who

are in trouble in that area.

Mr. Speaker, British Columbians are deeply offended by what is

happening in Vancouver. This issue is bringing shame on our province.

It's bringing heartbreak to those seniors, the disadvantaged, and it

has the ultimate potential to be the sad legacy of Expo 86, which we

all know has to be a success. This could be the legacy.

Government has to be sensitive. It has to care, and this total

lack

of compassion for some of the oldest British Columbians, in a

neighbourhood that has pride and dignity and integrity, requires

fairness and justice. And it requires action, immediately. The minister

is trying to defuse the issue. This issue is not politics; it's not

partisanship. It is justice for those people who are in trouble. The

Premier of this province should take action to recommend to his cabinet

that those people be allowed to stay in their homes. This neighbourhood

is their home, and if there is anything fundamental that could

symbolize what this government has come to represent in the last few

years in the province of British Columbia, it is this very act that is

happening in Vancouver today. You are turning, you are spurning, you

are throwing out people that are entitled to better treatment.

AN HON. MEMBER: Expo.

MR. BLENCOE: Expo, yes, Mr. Speaker, but

not at the expense

of the homes of some of the most disadvantaged people of our society

and of this province. Not at that expense.

People in this province — and you ask all members in this

House —

are speaking up on this issue, and they want to return to justice and

fairness. They want this issue cleaned up, and they want this symbol

that stands against Expo removed. Mr. Speaker, we want action.

Oral Questions

HOTEL EVICTIONS

MR. BARNES: Mr. Speaker, I want to address

a question to the

Premier. I had intended to

preamble my question differently, but in

light of the statement by the Minister of Municipal Affairs (Hon. Mr.

Ritchie) and the response by the critic, I'll just get to the point and

ask the Premier: in light of the devastating and debilitating effects

that the evictions are having on long-term residents in hotels in the

downtown east side, to the extent that the chief medical officer of the

city of Vancouver has ordered his staff to investigate the claims and

concerns that people's health is at risk, will the Premier himself

personally investigate to determine that none of these frail, aged

senior citizens, pensioners, people on social assistance or people

without means to fend for themselves is being abused by owners of

hotels, who have for years escaped their responsibility to their

tenants because they are covered under an innkeepers' act which exempts

them from the responsibilities of residential tenancy operators? Will

he ensure that these people have the same rights, the same protection,

as do people in normal residency in this province, and go down and

investigate himself?

HON. MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, nobody is

more concerned for

those tenants, not only as has been brought to light with the holding

of Expo and tenants being asked to move as hotels respond to both other

opportunities and upgrading.... That's why the Minister of Municipal

Affairs very quickly moved in on my behalf and this government's, but

really on the people's behalf, in partnership with the city of

Vancouver and others who are concerned, to resolve the problem.

The problem is not going to be just Expo. It's going to be

social

housing for people at all times — how it's delivered and whether all

the available units really are being offered to those most in need. I

think one of the concerns, without elaborating on the minister — and I

believe probably the minister should rise in response to your question

as well, as he covered this — that he expressed was that units that are

available now were not made available to those people. Quite frankly,

it concerns me that those most in need may not be the ones who are

getting an opportunity to stay in social housing, which the public

quite rightly expects from their tax dollars to be offered first to

them.

Therefore that is one of the reasons I'm glad to respond to

the

question: "Will the Premier investigate?" Yes, the minister has

announced the independent inquiry that he's seeking from the Minister

of Lands, Parks and Housing — to name an inquirer to do this very

thing, to look not only at this but really on behalf of all

disadvantaged people at all times, starting with the conditions

outlined that the Minister of Municipal Affairs found in that delivery

within the city of Vancouver.

MR. BARNES: I appreciate the Premier's

response. Is the

Premier saying that the Minister of Municipal Affairs will, on his

behalf, personally be escorted by me throughout the downtown east side

to investigate the serious impact that these evictions are having on

the people of the province of British Columbia?

HON. MR. BENNETT: No, I'm not saying that I

wanted a

political visit. What I said is that I wanted the type of independent

inquiry that would get to resolving the problem. While I know you are

concerned and that's adjacent to your constituency and you're willing

to do that within your constituency and on its borders, quite frankly

we've moved beyond that. We're already in the stage where we want not

only to have dealt with the immediacy of this problem — which the

minister has tried to do in conjunction with those who want to resolve

the problem — but to move the step further into the type of inquiries

talked about.

So no, I didn't say yes, we'd have a political walkthrough.

What I

said is that we really have moved beyond that process. The minister has

been there; he's visited the area; he's dealt with meetings with the

mayor of Vancouver and Expo and others, and therefore he has announced

this further

[ Page 7279 ]

concern that he found in the delivery

of social housing, and he

wants to make sure that we resolve it. Not just because this may recur

prior to Expo; it may recur at any time, and it may mean that a lot of

taxpayers' dollars that have gone into social housing that is available

aren't meeting the need of the most needy of our people. That is why we

want to get an immediate answer to this problem.

MR. BARNES: Well, I'm not sure if we're

getting very far, Mr.

Speaker, because what I'm really trying to address to the Premier and

to this House is that this is an emergency. There are concerns. I

appreciate the need for social housing in the future, but I think that

on the basis of this government's reputation, we all know full well

that it is contrary to this government's policy to invest in social

housing. We know that. So, Mr. Speaker, I'm asking the Premier: will he

respond to the concerns of the medical officer of the city of Vancouver

that health may be in danger, that people's homes are being upset, that

people are being displaced at that age who do not have the resources to

defend themselves? Their health, their future, their lives in fact are

at risk. That is the urgent situation that we are dealing with. We're

talking about today; people are being turfed out right now. That what I

think we should be addressing in this Legislature.

HON. MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, I take

offence at that

member's remarks that this government doesn't care about the concerns

of those people. Quite frankly, the most enlightened program for

helping our disadvantaged — and particularly the seniors — has been the

Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters, which does not put thousands of

dollars to contractors or bricks and mortar, but assists the rental

accommodation of those most in need in this province. That member

should be ashamed — one of the most fair-minded members — for saying

that about this government. That program was brought in by this

government. It is the most effective assistance to those most in need

in this province.

I want to tell that member, who has always been fair, that I

resent

that part of his statements, and so does any fair-minded person. I know

that the member, on reflection, will want to modify that. He may be

encouraged by some of his members to take a difficult situation and

make it inflammatory, but that's never been the style of the member for

Vancouver Centre, and that's quite frankly why I raise this fair

assessment of how we've tried to deal with people.

It is immediate. And what the minister has said is that he has

identified now, for any emergency, social housing that's empty and

vacant in Vancouver that is not being made available to these people,

and he's said he wants to get the answers and know why they have not

been accommodated in accommodation that costs up to, in some cases,

around $100,000 per unit, and why they aren't allowed to be in that

accommodation...

MR. WILLIAMS: It hasn't been built yet.

HON. MR. BENNETT: ...or to be considered

for others.

MR. WILLIAMS: You don't even know.

HON. MR. BENNETT: My friend from Vancouver

East...

Interjections.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please.

HON. MR. BENNETT: ...when it comes to not

knowing, you have a

record of poor research that spans many years in this province. You've

been wrong so many times.... Mr. Speaker, that member doesn't know up

from down, right.... Oh, yes, he knows left from right, but he's....

Interjections.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please.

Interjections.

[2:30]

[Mr. Speaker rose.]

MR. SPEAKER: Hon. members, order, please.

Hon. members, clearly, when we digress from the intent of

question

period and we begin argumentation and debate, we can expect question

period to evolve to this process. Now I would ask members again to

remember the purpose of question period, which is to ask questions and

to elicit answers. We can keep the debate for another forum.

[Mr. Speaker resumed his seat. ]

HON. MR. BENNETT: Apparently the member for

Vancouver East,

who is speaking from his seat, knows about the Fleck Building and

doesn't know about other social housing within Vancouver that's being

looked at as part of this inquiry. Quite frankly, once again. he has a

single area of discussion which, rather than debate, he shouts from his

seat. I'm answering the member for Vancouver Centre.

We are concerned. That was an emergency. The minister has been

there. We are taking action. He has announced further action to make

sure that we identify all the areas so that we can act quickly. He's

going to set means in place by which that can be done. I want you to

know that that is the purpose of the minister's statement. We're

looking for answers. We've seen the questions. We've seen the

situation, and it does not all relate to Expo. It relates to whether

this housing is made available to those most in need and where money

can best be spent. Quite frankly, the member for Vancouver Centre has

helped me raise a point. Programs like SAFER help people more by giving

them money directly to keep them in their homes than by expensive

bricks and mortar. And we want to help people first.

MR. BARNES: The simple question is: will

the Premier or his

designate — or any single member on that side of the House — accompany

me to the downtown east side to investigate personally...? Not at arm's

length or this so-called impartial stuff you're talking about. We're

talking about people's lives and those communities that are being

disrupted. We're talking about an emergency situation. Is there anyone

on that side of the House who is willing to go down there personally,

in a hands-on way. and find out what's going on down there?

MR. BLENCOE: I have a question for the real

minister in

charge of consumer and corporate affairs and residential

[ Page 7280 ]

tenancy. I'd like to ask that minister

whether he is prepared to

bring in regulations providing for protection of residential tenancy

laws to long-term residents in hotels, and specifically the issue in

Vancouver?

MR. SPEAKER: Future action, hon. member,

requiring

legislation is not in order in question period.

MR. BLENCOE: I have a new question. Has the

minister decided

to consider this situation and bring before this House actions that

would take care of the evictions in Vancouver?

MR. SPEAKER: That's a similar question,

hon. member. However,

the minister might wish to respond.

Interjections.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please.

MR. BLENCOE: I contend that that minister

who is responsible

for this act is scared to answer this question.

Interjections.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please, hon. members.

HON. MR. VEITCH: I am prepared to answer

any question

relating to a responsibility of this ministry at any time. But perhaps

it would be incumbent upon someone to teach that member the rules of

this House. His question was clearly out of order.

FISHING FLEET SAFETY

REGULATIONS

MR. GABELMANN: I want to change the topic.

I want to ask the

Minister of Labour a question. Workers' compensation regulations now

apply to the B.C. ferries, which are under federal jurisdiction.

B.C. has for some years accepted financial responsibility for

fishing industry accidents, through the WCB. In the past ten years just

over 100 fishermen have died, five of them this year alone. My question

to the minister is this: how many more fishermen have to die before the

minister will bring in safety regulations for the fishing fleet?

HON. MR. SEGARTY: Mr. Speaker, I thank the

member for North

Island for his question. I had a meeting with the representatives of

the fishermen's union today, and that very topic was brought up for

discussion. I will say to the member for North Island what I said to

them at that time. In British Columbia we have the toughest regulations

in Canada governing drinking and driving. Nobody likes it when people

go out and get hurt or get injured or get drowned or whatever the case

may be. When somebody goes out and gets into a car, knowing that

they're in violation of the law, knowing that they're in violation of

existing regulations.... What I'm saying is that people have to take

some responsibility for their own health and their own welfare in

British Columbia, and indeed, throughout the country.

Interjections.

HON. MR. SEGARTY: I feel indeed sorry for

anybody who's

involved in that type of situation, but quite clearly the government of

British Columbia or the Workers' Compensation Board, according to the

legal opinion that we have received to date, does not have jurisdiction

in that particular area.

The member talked about the B.C. Ferry Corporation. I would

expect a

Crown corporation of the government of British Columbia to comply with

the regulations of a Crown corporation of the province of British

Columbia, namely the Workers' Compensation Board, in dealing with

industrial health and safety regulations on our own ferry fleet.

MR. SPEAKER: Hon. members, on the desks of

members is a

green-bound book, the Standing

Orders of the Legislature . This might be

an appropriate time for members to once again familiarize themselves

with the contents.

Hon. Mr. Curtis tabled the Ministry of Finance annual report

for the

year ending 1984; the statement of certificates served and issued under

the Crown Proceeding Act as required by

section 15 of that act; and the

1985 Assessment Appeal Board report as required under

section 66 of the

Assessment Act.

MR. LAUK: On a point of order, with respect

to the ruling of

Mr. Speaker during the questioning of one of the ministers during

question period by the hon. second member for Victoria (Mr. Blencoe).

The second member for Victoria did rephrase his question to

say:

"Has the minister decided on action with respect to the evictees in the

downtown east side?" That has been historically a question in order.

The first question was clearly a question, "Is the minister planning

something?" and was out of order. But the member rephrased his

question. I would submit that that second question was in order.

MR. SPEAKER: I will review the Blues, hon.

member.

Hon. Mr. Nielsen tabled the thirteenth annual report, for

1985, of

the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia.

Orders of the Day

SPEECH FROM THE THRONE

MR. REYNOLDS: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded

by the hon.

member for Atlin (Mr. Passarell): "That we, Her Majesty's most dutiful

and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in

session assembled, beg leave to thank Your Honour for the gracious

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

present session."

Mr. Speaker, it certainly is a pleasure to be back here in the

Legislature after a number of months of travelling around the province

of British Columbia listening to the people of British Columbia tell me

their thoughts of what is happening here in the Legislature and what is

happening in our province.

One overwhelming message that came across from the people that

I was

talking to was: "How do you put up with the gloom-and-doom people from

the other side? Don't they ever see anything positive happening in

British Columbia?"

Mr. Speaker, that not only came from supporters of our party,

but

from supporters of their party. They're looking for some more positive

action from their party. Even members of their own party, with the

announcement of Mayor Harcourt

[ Page 7281 ]

running in Vancouver Centre, see a

challenge to the present

leadership of the NDP.

We see resignations of their members, who say: "We're not

going to

run in the next election." Mr. Speaker, over half their front bench

won't be back again; over half the back bench here won't be back again.

Why is that, Mr. Speaker? That isn't because the electorate defeated

them. It's because of the leadership of the NDP right now and the way

it stands. The most disappointed member was the second member for

Vancouver East when he heard that the mayor of Vancouver was running

next time, because he thought he had the leadership after the next

election.

Can't you see the battle, Mr. Speaker, the gloom and doom

after the

next election when they come back here in decimated numbers and we've

got three leaders, the second member for Vancouver East, the Leader of

the Opposition — and that's if they get re-elected — and the mayor of

Vancouver.

Mr. Speaker, all the people of British Columbia are talking

about

Expo. Everybody in this province is positive about Expo. Mr. Speaker,

the SkyTrain, what a tremendous success. We could go on and on, list

all the positive things that this government has done, but let's look

at what is part of the problem in this province, the gloom-and-doom

boys who change their mind all the time. Who was against the SkyTrain?

The gloom-and-doom boys. Who was against Expo? Those who are now saying

they are in favour of it, those who will get up in this House and

support the activities of a Jim Green, the anti-American who threatens

to get out and picket people at Expo and keep them off the site — the

anti-everything, that's who they support. They want to try to ride to

power on the backs of the poor. That's what the gloom-and-doom people

do. They don't look at the positive things that could happen in the

province. They don't support the positive things that happen in the

province. They try to ride to power on the backs of the poor and the

unfortunate in this province with the support of people like Jim Green.

Mr. Speaker, let's go back a few years when the Premier of

this

province had an idea. That idea was Expo 86. It was called Transpo 86

at the time. It was an idea of something that would build this

province, lead us into a new generation of prosperity.

Mr. Speaker, 54 nations are coming; that's right, one more

announced

yesterday. That's 80 pavilions, 81 now with the other one coming as

announced yesterday. But what did one of the people who wants to run

for the NDP in the next election, a man who aspires to be leader of

this province say about that idea when the Premier proposed it? What

did

he say? Let me read you a telegram. It says:

DEAR MR. REID AND FELLOW COMMITTEE

MEMBERS OF THE

BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITIONS. PLEASE STOP PLANS FOR TRANSPO 86

ON THE NORTH SIDE OF FALSE CREEK IN DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER. MOST VANCOUVER

CITIZENS DO NOT WANT TRANSPO 86 TO PROCEED ON THIS SITE. INSTEAD FIVE

OUT OF TEN ALDERMEN, TWENTY SIX OUT OF FIFTY SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA...

The NDP members, Mr. Speaker

...A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CONCERNED

VANCOUVERITES

AND MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA FEEL THAT HOUSING, PUBLIC AMENITIES AND

TRANSPORTATION SHOULD RECEIVE GREATER PRIORITY. A LETTER DATED JUNE 5

IS ON ITS WAY TO YOU WITH BACKUP MATERIAL. DO NOT MAKE A DECISION UNTIL

YOU HAVE READ THAT MATERIAL AND HAVE INVESTIGATED FURTHER. MICHAEL

HARCOURT, ALDERMAN, CITY OF VANCOUVER.

Mr. Speaker, you can understand now why members of this NDP

caucus

are announcing they're not running in the next election. They're

embarrassed over this type of switch. Here's a man who wants to run in

Vancouver Centre, who is now saying Expo is the greatest thing in the

world. This is his telegram; he can't deny it.

The second member for Vancouver Centre (Mr. Lauk) has

announced he's

not running again in the next election. That's unfortunate. He's served

this province very well. But I've got a feeling that he's done it for a

reason. His friend Mikey wants to run, so he's opening up a safe seat

for him. The mayor has run twice before and never been elected; now

he's trying to get a safer seat. But it wouldn't even surprise me, when

they get into that great leadership battle after the next election, if

we see that second member for Vancouver Centre try to get back in this

House with changed leadership in the NDP.

[2:45]

AN. HON. MEMBER: John, be positive.

MR. REYNOLDS: Mr. Speaker, I want to be

positive. I'm just

trying to point out to the member for Coquitlam-Moody (Mr. Rose) what

the problem is with this province, with his party. But they can't be

positive. They knock everything. They're the doom-and-gloom boys.

They're against Expo but then when Expo is successful they're saying:

"But what's happening after Expo?" They can't be positive. The Leader

of the Opposition....

AN. HON. MEMBER: You're the perennial

backbencher.

MR. REYNOLDS: And I love it. Unfortunately,

the Leader of the

Opposition should have stayed there himself, because he certainly knows

how to put his foot in his mouth as Leader of the Opposition. I

remember the second-last day of the last session. The Leader of the

Opposition was up there, trying to get his questions at the Premier,

and what slipped out of his mouth about the circus in Vancouver?

"People don't want a circus in Vancouver." That's the Leader of the

Opposition. He puts his foot in his mouth; he's the clown in this

province; and the people are going to show him in the next election.

Let's talk about the NDP in this province and the little game

they

played with the New Democrats in Manitoba. I think it's really

unfortunate that Manitoba is not coming to Expo — the only western

province that's not going to be there. They were going to come until

the local NDP got together with them and said: "Hey, you could

embarrass our government by opting out of this thing." They came out

with a few figures and said, oh, they just couldn't afford it; other

things were more important. They spouted the NDP-in-British-Columbia

line and forced their colleagues out of Expo.

I think that's so unfortunate. The president of my

constituency

association is in charge of the Manitoba Days taking place in the

Pacific Coliseum. It holds 10,000 people; they're going to be sold

out. You won't be able to get a ticket. Those are Manitobans who now

live here in British Columbia, plus those who will be visiting here.

Manitobans want to be in Expo, but their government won't allow them to

be in Expo.

[ Page 7282 ]

Politics is their game. They don't think of the good of the

people

of British Columbia, the good of the people in Manitoba, the good of

all Canadians. The NDP, the doom-and-gloom boys, play politics even

with Expo and another province that wanted to attend, and I think

that's a shame. I think that British Columbians should get on the phone

this weekend and phone everyone they know in Manitoba and tell them

that they're welcome to come to British Columbia, tell their government

that we want them here.

Politics should not be used in the manner that the NDP in this

province have used it. They've been against every turn, every curve, at

Expo. But they can't stop the success; it will be the most successful

world's fair that we've seen in the history of this continent. More

countries are attending than have ever attended a world's fair before.

The three major countries of the world have pavilions. But the NDP

opposed it, opposed it, opposed it. They can't stop it now, so they're

saying: "It's fine. We'll go along with it. But we'll pick on other

issues to try to sideline this Expo thing because it's so popular with

the people."

MR. SKELLY: Call for an election now.

MR. REYNOLDS: The Leader of the Opposition

says: "Call for an

election." You know, he's wrong about so many things. He said there was

going to be an election in the spring. He knew there was going to be an

election every time you saw him on TV. This government was going in the

spring; he saw it. And then when we weren't going in the spring, what

was his answer? "Oh, they were afraid to have an election."

This party has never been afraid to have an election. I'll

save all

the years you've lost for the member for Point Grey when he gets up and

does his annual speech. This party is not afraid to have an election.

We're going to enjoy the next election because the thing that this

government is doing for the province of British Columbia is building a

stronger province, and the people of this province are seeing that as

the months and weeks go by.

They're not in favour of the negative doom and gloom of the

Leader

of the Opposition and that image he's trying to portray within his

party that has forced close to half of his city members to announce

that they won't be running in the next election.

I think it might be interesting, while we're talking about

Expo and

the Leader of the Opposition, to quote some of the things he's said

since being Leader of the Opposition and see how he changes his mind.

He talks about many things. I remember that great trip he took to

Australia. He was going to solve all of British Columbia's problems in

Australia.

MR. REID: He went to France first.

MR. REYNOLDS: He went to Nicaragua too. He

goes to a lot of

different places.

But he went to Australia to solve our problems, and came back

and

told us that he could bring labour peace to the province if he put

things into place. He didn't want to tell the people that we've had the

most peaceful labour province in North America over the last three

years of Social Credit government. That didn't seem to mean anything to

him. What he didn't tell the people is that right now Australia has 19

percent interest rates. If you implement the plan that the Leader of

the Opposition wants to implement, we'd have 19 percent interest rates

in British Columbia also. You can't relate a country to a province, but

that's the game they play. It's doom and gloom.

On the Webster program this morning, the Leader of the

Opposition

made a number of comments. He said the lack of upgrading of our

communities is causing us to lose companies to areas such as Montreal.

I've lived in this province for 23 years, but I lived the first part of

my life in the city of Montreal. I can remember growing up there. I can

also remember going back there just before the Olympics. He talks about

the upgrading of communities, the quality of life. I remember being on

a housing committee in the House of Commons and travelling to Montreal

just prior to the Olympics, and within sight of the Olympics lived over

100,000 people who didn't have toilet facilities in their apartments.

The total sewage on the island of Montreal goes into the St. Lawrence

River. And this morning the Leader of the Opposition gets on a

television program that goes around this province and talks about the

upgrading of communities and the fact that we're losing business to

Montreal!

He's sort of wincing right now. Read your comments. I've got

them

typed, right off your own words. That's one of your problems — you say

things and you don't remember them later on. But the people of this

province will remember. The people who have moved out to this province

from Montreal and Quebec, and the people who will visit this province

this summer from Montreal and the rest of the province of Quebec, will

see that this is the most beautiful province in all of Canada; that

this province has services second to none in Canada. You may fool some

of your supporters, but you can't fool all of the people of this

province.

The Leader of the Opposition also said this morning that he'd

like

to see legislation to protect the rights of people. Well, Mr. Speaker,

today we heard the Minister of Municipal Affairs announce his inquiry.

I think that's a very positive manner to go after some of the serious

housing problems taking place in that area.

If the Leader of the Opposition and his future colleague, the

mayor

of Vancouver, and other people in that area, were serious about the

problems of the poor people, and didn't just want to try and ride to

power on their backs and abuse these poor and unfortunate people,

wouldn't the mayor of Vancouver have solved this problem a long time

ago? He's the mayor of the city of Vancouver. He has the powers to look

into this issue and solve some of the problems.

I wonder if the first member for Vancouver Centre (Mr. Barnes)

has

been to visit the new DEEDS social centre, which is operating in the

downtown east side area. Its phone number is listed in the paper:

689-9536. It's a shelter-crisis line operated by some of the hotel

owners and businessmen in the downtown east side who don't agree with

the politics of Mr. Jim Green. They're not anti-American; they're

pro-people; they want to assist people. But we don't see Mayor Harcourt

or the Leader of the Opposition.... We see them saying: "Come and

take a walk through the area so that the media can follow us around."

They don't want to talk to the people at this shelter-crisis line. They

don't want to assist them. These are business people —

free-enterprisers — who are just as concerned about the poor and

unfortunate as everyone in this House.

Being an NDPer doesn't give you some sort of privilege to help

the

poor. It's the policies of free-enterprise governments in North America

that have given our poor the best standard of living in the world. It's

so easy to complain. Nobody likes to see someone moved out of their

home, but

[ Page 7283 ]

we shouldn't play politics with it. We

should work to assist those

people, to help them.

The Leader of the Opposition also talked this morning about

conflict-of-interest legislation. I quote him: "The conflict of

interest problems are with the Social Credit members. We will have to

wait and see what new legislation produces." That statement surprised

me. I've looked at this disclosure situation very closely, as I'm sure

all members of the House have, because twice a year we all must file

our disclosure forms. I don't think even the Leader of the Opposition

would suggest that any member elected to this Legislature would try to

hide something by not putting it on a disclosure form. They're there

for the public to look at.

What's his solution to the problem? Is it the Manitoba

solution?

Looking through the different ones across Canada and the States, theirs

had to be the funniest of all. You put in your disclosures, but then

nobody can look at them — only the Clerk of the Legislature. They're

not open to the public. What could be more open than the types of

disclosure that we have here in British Columbia, where every member

files what he owns? I'm sure there may be some changes that we can

debate in this House during the next session, and I'm sure we'll have a

clean and open debate on that. But, Mr. Speaker, I had to listen to the

Leader of the Opposition, when this House wasn't sitting, talk about

members of my party who should resign because they had a few shares in

a company that supported British Columbia.

MR. SKELLY: Which party is that?

MR. REYNOLDS: The Social Credit Party, in

case the Leader of

the Opposition doesn't remember. He doesn't remember what he's said,

you see; that's the problem he has. He makes statements one day, and

forgets that he makes them. But he wanted the Minister of Finance (Hon.

Mr. Curtis) to resign. He wanted the minister of something else to

resign and.... But, Mr. Speaker, does he look back at what his own

party did when they were in power? I did. I went into the Clerk's

office and said: "Give me all the material so I can have a look at it."

And I did. I found some very strange things. Nothing illegal.

AN HON. MEMBER: Just strange.

MR. REYNOLDS: Just strange. Strange, when I

saw them, because

of what I'd listened to from the Leader of the Opposition. I saw over

50 percent of the cabinet ministers in the NDP government holding

shares in co-ops and credit unions; yet they passed legislation that

favoured credit unions. Now I would suggest that there's nothing that

they've seen on the other side right now that would compare to that.

AN HON. MEMBER: Hear, hear! They all stood

to make a profit.

MR. REYNOLDS: He said: "They all stood to

make a profit."

Mr. Speaker, are you accusing — the Leader of the Opposition;

I'm

asking him — any member of this House of making a profit that is not

declared on these disclosure forms? I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, that

he would like to indicate that to the public. He'll say that in the NDP

meetings, but he wouldn't dare say it in front of a camera or in this

House.

If you go back through the declarations of the NDP cabinet,

they

have companies in there.... They talked, and some of our members

when we filled in.... Holding companies. One member had some stock

in a company called Beban Holdings Ltd., D.R.A. Holdings Ltd....

AN HON. MEMBER: Is that Bevan?

MR. REYNOLDS: Beban. I don't know how you

pronounce it.

Mr. Speaker, many of their members held shares in companies

that

were holding companies.

[3:00]

AN HON. MEMBER: NDP members?

MR. REYNOLDS: NDP members, Mr. Speaker. I

would suggest that

the NDP like to jump on the bandwagon on something, but they don't want

to go back. I guess they were in power such a short period of time that

maybe the Leader of the Opposition forgot that they'd been in power

that period of time, and what had they done.

AN HON. MEMBER: Oh, but they've divested.

MR. REYNOLDS: No, they haven't divested.

They have members

who have holdings, and I see nothing wrong with that. Every member in

this House files his form and puts out what he owns. I guess if you own

nothing it's very simple to do, and if you're wealthy you've got to put

it all down there. Your constituents know that, when they elect you,

because you fill in the same form when you file to run in this House,

and it's open to the media and open to the public. It's an open system,

Mr. Speaker. I would suggest that the Leader of the Opposition should

be careful when he talks about conflicts of interest. He has members in

his own party who have shares in the Bank of British Columbia. Does

that preclude them from making comments about the Bank of British

Columbia? He has members in his party who have shares in different

forestry companies: B.C. Forest Products, BCRIC, Doman Industries. I

think it's a positive thing that members of the opposition — especially

the second member for Vancouver East (Mr. Williams), who knocks the

forest industry so much — have caucus members who have shares in the

forestry companies.

AN HON. MEMBERS: It's confusing.

MR. REYNOLDS: It is confusing. It must be

confusing to the

public, when they want to pick on a minister in our government who has

some shares supporting the province of British Columbia. But they do

it. They did it when they were in power. So let's see what they would

like. Why doesn't the Leader of the Opposition, when he came out last

year with his...? Wasn't it the alternate budget? Why isn't he

putting up an alternate program right now, before the government does,

to let us know what they think we should be doing in this area?

Interjections.

MR. REYNOLDS: It's pretty tough, Mr.

Speaker. I've got some

people here, but they're all resigning anyway, the ones who are left in

here, so it won't matter too much.

[ Page 7284 ]

Also, when you listen to the Leader of the Opposition and the

different topics that he brings up, he was quoted in the Times-Colonist

on May 18, 1985....

Interjection.

MR. REYNOLDS: Certainly.

He said: "Tell me one major democracy in the world today that

didn't

begin with defiance of the law, because the principle of democracy is

not simply respect for the law. It is based on respect for the law, but

not blind obedience to bad laws." Mr. Speaker, I suggest to you that

that's not the kind of talk we need going around this province from a

leader of a party which would pretend that they could become the

government of this province. I would suggest to the Leader of the

Opposition that that's why he's being challenged by the mayor of

Vancouver in running in the next election — because of those types of

statements. That's why the big battle will be on between him and the

second member for Vancouver East (Mr. Williams) after the next election.

Mr. Speaker, let's go back and look at some of the situations

in his

party. I mentioned some of the things the second member for Vancouver

East said. The Leader of the Opposition has been talking about native

land claims and his position in that area. That's an important topic,

Mr. Speaker, because he has made it very plain that he'd give the House

away.

Let me quote what some of his party members said the last time

they

were in power, when they were sitting on the side of the House that

laid the laws down in this province. This was on May 21, 1975. It's a

question from Gordon Gibson — then a Liberal in the House, I understand

— to the Minister of Human Resources. He says:

Mr. Speaker, I think the late June

meeting he was discussing earlier

on relates particularly to cutoff lands. But I'd ask him a question on

the more general case of the so-called B.C. land question. Since the

NDP convention adopted a resolution for the immediate joining of the

provincial government to the negotiations between the Indian people and

Ottawa, is this now government policy?

The NDP minister at the time, Mr. Levi, announced: "No, it's

NDP

policy."

What it meant, Mr. Speaker, was that the NDP say one thing

when

they're in opposition, but when they're in power, they change their

minds. The doom-and-gloom boys will say anything to get there, but once

they get there, it's tough.

I relate to all these things because of the positive things

that

were in the throne speech. The members of this House, Mr. Speaker, who

have been touring across the province over the last few months have

gotten great coverage, and they have positive vibrations back from

their constituents. We're here to have some positive debate. We'd like

to get it from the NDP, but under their new leader it's all negative.

Let me quote what the second member for Vancouver East said

when

they were debating native people. On May 2, 1974, he said: "B.C. Indian

leaders are harassing the majority of the population in order to

achieve their objectives. The government will not accept that. We will

not be harassed." That's the second member for Vancouver East, a

cabinet member in the NDP government. They would not be harassed by the

native people; they would not be harassed by a minority group. That's

what they say when they're in government, Mr. Speaker. What's the

Leader of the Opposition saying now?

Another quote from the same member for Vancouver East, Mr.

Speaker:

"Do minority groups have the right to harass the majority to the extent

these people suggest?" He said: "I think not." Mr. Speaker, this is a

good example of what happens when they're in opposition. The Leader of

the Opposition will say one thing now. It's disagreed on by numbers of

members in his caucus. Some of them take the positive way out. They

announce that they're not running in the next election. Some of them

have other problems, like the member for Coquitlam-Moody (Mr. Rose),

who is being challenged by someone on the leader's side. He is a man

who has served his country federally as well as provincially, a very

reasonable man and a good debater in this House, as well as a good

debater when he was in Ottawa. But the Leader of the Opposition doesn't

want him, so he puts one of his boys in to fight him for the nomination.

Mr. Speaker, I hope the people in that party will overrule

their

leader and make sure that that member gets a chance, at least, to seek

re-election. I'm not sure what his chances are, but at least he should

have a chance to seek re-election after the service he has given to his

country and to the people of this province.

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition talked about

economic

development and how this government had only placed it all at Expo and

in no other places around the province. I had the opportunity to do a

little research and look into the different projects that this

government has assisted industry in starting around this province.

These are not government projects, Mr. Speaker; these are private

enterprise projects. I'm sure that the Leader of the Opposition, when

he gets his research department adding up the dollars that we're

spending and looks at the government spending estimates, will find that

not all the money of this government is going into the lower mainland.

It is being well spread around British Columbia.

It's unfortunate that the second member for Victoria (Mr.

Blencoe)

isn't here, because he complains a lot about everything that we do. In

the city of Victoria we have the Original New York Seltzer of Canada

Ltd. — 35 local jobs, and 35 across Canada. We have the Victoria

convention centre — 600 construction jobs and 400 operating jobs that

this government has announced. We have the Songhees project, Mr.

Speaker, that we know will be announced in the very near future, with

another few hundred jobs there. I could go on and on. There are pages

of new jobs in Victoria. Certainly we would all like it better, but we

are in a province with markets for its natural resources being down in

the world, and it's taking a little longer to come back in those areas.

But because of the foresight of this government, and the foresight of

the Premier in bringing Expo to British Columbia, we're building our

tourism business a lot faster than it would have been built. Victoria

will benefit immensely from that, as will the rest of the province when

those millions of people come here for Expo.

Mr. Speaker, I would suggest to the Leader of the Opposition

that he

take some time to sit down. If he just phoned our research office and

asked, we'd supply him with the list of new industries in British

Columbia. I have pages and pages of them. I could go to every region of

the province and name industries that are helping us grow: the Fernie

Snow Valley Ski Ltd. In Fernie employs 96; the CPR car repair shop in

Golden supplies 100 full-time jobs and 300 person-years of

construction; Westmin Resources Ltd. near Campbell River — 631 jobs, an

increase of 331 from 1985; Brenda Mines

[ Page 7285 ]

Ltd.,400 jobs restored by Art

Phillips, our commissioner; Noranda

Mines, 230 jobs restored; Byron Creek Collieries Ltd. In Fernie — 250

jobs and $50 million. These are industries that not only supply jobs in

the plant, but add on all the service jobs that go with it. We're

rebuilding British Columbia, Mr. Speaker, with positive policies.

The Mascot gold-mine in Hedley, $43 million and 142 jobs;

Serem Inc.

in the Toodoggone area near Smithers — the first gold-mine in that

area, but once the road is in, there will be major work in there this

spring by hundreds of British Columbia companies spending money raised

in British Columbia to find mines in British Columbia; Tackama Forest

Products in Fort Nelson,100 jobs; Smallwood Lumber in Salmo, 47 jobs;

Canaspen Manufacturing Ltd. In Prince George, 107 jobs;

Louisiana-Pacific Corp. waferboard plant in Dawson Creek, 125 jobs in

the mill and 275 in harvesting. As I said, I could go on and on. These

industries are all over this province because of the good work done by

the Social Credit government of British Columbia.

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition talked about an

election.

This party is prepared for an election, but an election is not due yet.

We were elected last time with a good majority to run the province.

We're doing that. Why doesn't the Leader of the Opposition forget about

his election and worry about getting the job done in the province of

British Columbia?

MR. REID: He should quit spending his money

in Australia.

MR. REYNOLDS: He shouldn't worry about what

the Australians

are doing, what they're doing in Nicaragua, what the Americans are

doing with their nuclear bombs somewhere else in the world, but worry

about building British Columbia, welcoming people to Expo and sitting

in the Legislature. Here we are, the first day, and two members.... I

know I may not be that exciting to listen to, Mr. Speaker, but my

goodness, they have to do their job. I've got to listen to them; they

should have to listen to me. We're here — cabinet ministers too — to do

business. But where's the NDP? It's shameful! And both the members

sitting here are not running in the next election. So it's hard to

explain. How do you deal with a party like that? It's the

doom-and-gloom boys, or the doom boys and the gloomy girls — I don't

know which way you put it.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to finish up by talking about some of

the

positive things that this government has done in my constituency. These

are related to the throne speech because all the things that we've

announced in the throne speech are being done all over this province.

In my constituency, starting from the northern end — not quite the most

northern end, but Pemberton — we're building a new airport. The runways

are in. We're putting in the most modern radar system in the world,

which was developed in the eastern part of Canada; it's one of the top

radar systems in the world. We'll have Air B.C. flying in there this

fall on regularly scheduled flights. The Pemberton airport will be

servicing Whistler with up to four flights a day out of Seattle and

Vancouver — a great tourism boon to that area. We will probably also

increase the industrial base, because you will now be able to fly

directly in there and not have to drive the one hour and 45 minutes or

two hours it takes.

The Minister of Lands, Parks and Housing has given them land

in the

Pemberton area to develop another golf course because tourism in that

area is expanding so fast, especially with the excellent golf course we

built at Whistler. They're building another golf course at Whistler

because tourism is booming in that area. It's booming because this

government is working with the people of that area to bring tourists to

that area, to bring industry to the area, and it's working.

Talking of Whistler — and this is a plug for those of you who

don't

know yet — the world championship in downhill skiing is in Whistler

this weekend: Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This member will

be there for the weekend. Even members of the opposition will be

welcome to my room. I'll show them around. It's one of the greatest ski

developments in the world. It isn't just Socreds who say that. Go and

talk to the people from Europe. Go and talk to the Americans who come

to Whistler. They will tell you it is the finest ski resort in the

world right now — and it's growing, it's full. It's vibrant; it's full

of positive people who don't understand the doom and gloom we're

getting from the other side of this House.

We're building a new hospital in Whistler. We're actually

going to

the official opening there next Tuesday or Wednesday. Highway 99 is

being widened to four lanes. That's a highway that people didn't think

we could do the job on, but our great Minister of Transportation and

Highways (Hon. A. Fraser) said: "We'll get that highway through. We'll

build it. We'll have a four-lane highway going up there so that

tourists will be able to get to that area and have access to it. And

the people who live in Squamish and want to work in the lower mainland

won't have to worry about the slides and the two-lane highway anymore."

That job is being done, and it's being completed a lot quicker than we

thought it would be.

[3:15]

Downtown revitalization was another item in the throne speech.

The

Minister of Municipal Affairs (Hon. Mr. Ritchie) is here. West

Vancouver has just completed their first phase of downtown

revitalization. The minister just allocated the money a couple of days

ago for the Horseshoe Bay area. The ferry coming into the terminal from

Vancouver Island.... When all these tourists coming this summer get

off at Horseshoe Bay, they're going to see Partners in Enterprise when

they get off at Horseshoe Bay. They're not going to see the doom and

gloom, the negatives, they hear from some parts of this province.

They're going to say: "That's how partnership works." Revitalization

has taken over in Horseshoe Bay. That's because the people are working

with the government. They're not trying to fight the government. They

say: "Let's work together for this province. Let's work together for

the benefit of all people in British Columbia."

Mr. Speaker, the Lions Gate Bridge was lit up this year. The

minister was just going to get up and leave. The Provincial Secretary

did a great job in getting the Guinness family to donate the money.

It's a sight to behold, and a great tourist attraction. All those extra

cruise ships coming into Vancouver harbour next summer are going to see

Lions Gate Bridge lit up. I think that's exciting; the people of my

constituency think it’s exciting. It's a positive step. We're also

building a new hospital in Squamish. We completed a long-care hospital

a year and a half ago. Positive things for jobs in that area also. Even

Bowen Island. The NDP says: "They only do things in the Socred areas."

Bowen Island has been a well-known NDP area, but we built a new ferry

dock for them this year.

It's also quite interesting when the NDP talk about elections.

They

want to have an election, and I tell them I'm

[ Page 7286 ]

happy for an election. Let me tell you

what happened on Bowen

Island. We've had a GVRD rep there for a few terms; we've got two

Islands Trust reps — all members of the NDP. It was an active socialist

area. I said to Gail Taylor, one of the directors of my party: "Why

don't you run for the GVRD? You make a lot of common sense, you can

talk to people. We should get rid of this divisiveness on Bowen Island

and start building the island in a positive manner." Gail Taylor sought

the nomination on Bowen Island for the GVRD representative, and on

election day, after everything from death threats to a lot of other

things, she won that election, and not by a squeaker. She got more

votes than the other two candidates combined. They used the fact she's

a Socred. They said: "You can't vote for her, she works with Reynolds."

She was proud of being a free enterpriser. She espoused working

together, partnership, and that's why she got elected.

I think that should be a message to the NDP if they look at

the last

elections. They get very proud of one here and one there, but look all

over the province and see what happened. Talk about Vancouver if you

want, but look at the school board in Cowichan. I wonder what's going

to happen there in the next election. A new NDP member running. We've

got a good member. I would take bets we might win that seat. So I say

to the NDP, read the throne speech. Read it carefully, because it's a

positive message.

This government has taken some tough stands. I know it must be

frustrating for the NDP members to be sitting there in the opposition.

I sat on that side when I was in Ottawa — very frustrating at times. I

think if they all turned on, became a little positive, like my

colleague from Atlin.... There's a man who got the message. He

didn't sit back and say, "I'm not going to run in the next election

because I don't like the leader," like most of the other NDP members

have done. He said: "I'm not a quitter, I'm a fighter, and I'm going to

fight for the people of Atlin and I'm going to do it on the government

side." There's a partner in enterprise. He knows how to do it. He'll

get the action for the people of Atlin because he's always positive. I

used to say to my colleagues when I first came to this House: "That

fellow shouldn't be over there, because every time he gets up he talks

about something positive." He doesn't knock what the government's

doing, he talks about his constituency and the positive things for it.

He's a good member of this Legislature and I'm looking forward to his

speech.

MR. PASSARELL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

[Applause.] That's

great. We'll save the big one for the end. Mr. Speaker, it's good to

see you on the chair again.

I take great pleasure today in rising to second the acceptance

His Honour's address. This is a new experience for me and it's an

experience that I would commend to all members of the House to be able

to do some day.

In the past few months I've had the opportunity of travelling

and

visiting throughout British Columbia and in all regions of our great

province. I was impressed by the frank way in which individuals can

exchange ideas in our democracy, and equally by the faith which people

have in the future potential of British Columbia. What I found

travelling throughout this province is that people are positive. They

want to see something happen, and they're tired of being negative. I

think nowhere is that faith in British Columbia more evident than in

the north, an important part of our province.

I feel proud that I've been able, in seven years, to represent

the

far north for their ideas, their aspirations and their dreams. In

listening to His Honour's address, I was impressed by the number of

issues which it did address, from native people's concerns to improved

health care, excellence in education, job creation, reforestation,

youth and industrial development. The Premier was quite right in saying

that there is a plan for our future, a plan not of words but of action.

That is our top priority — action for British Columbians seeking career

opportunities, jobs, a better quality of life in all senses of the word.

I've learned in the years of observing government that there

are

essentially two kinds of plans. On the one hand there are plans which

dictate. On the other hand there are plans which encourage and inspire.

Our plan is to help people with their plans for the future, and the

future of their communities, their province and this great country.

As I listened to His Honour's address, I noted a good balance

between economic and social priorities. In the economic sense I was

particularly pleased to note the recognition of the need for increasing

innovative...strengthening the small business sector, which is the

backbone of the economy — diversifying our economy, aggressively

pursuing markets for our products and skills, which all northerners

have come to accept, and the jobs that that brings about.

A main aspect for the north is a renewal, a commitment to our

mining

and forestry industries. To build, we must build on strengths — natural

strengths — such as our unique abundance of water resources, which are

a natural home for aquaculture.

Our forest resources.... An expanding of our first-class

transportation system, which is vital to the economic development of

this province, and the recognition of opportunities which are

encouraged by our position to the expanding of the Pacific Rim

countries.... Opportunity really is the key to economic development.

This year Vancouver is celebrating a centennial. A hundred

years ago

it probably looked more like Stewart than San Francisco. There are

people alive today that were alive at that time. It's hard to believe

that much could have changed in one human lifetime. But the facts speak

for themselves: anyone who wants to sell Atlin short today, as the

member for Vancouver East probably would have sold Vancouver short a

hundred years ago....

I'd like to talk about some of the specifics from the point of

view

of Atlin and of the people who believe that our only limit is the limit

to our own imagination. Issues pertinent to the Atlin constituency

raised in His Honour's address are the following. I put for number one

probably one of the biggest economic developments that this province

and this country will have, and that's the Mount Klappan project.

I know that the member that I mentioned earlier — the second

member

for Vancouver East (Mr. Williams) — attacked this project in this

House. The Gulf Canada project east of Iskut — anthracite coal, which

is a very different type of coal than is produced in the southeast of

this province — will provide much-needed employment to northerners.

While he goes and attacks this project, he fails to realize, or even to

accept publicly, that in phase one the majority of workers on this

project are native people who have never had the opportunity in that

area to have a job before.

This coal will be shipped from the Klappan project down

through

Stewart, which will give opportunities in Stewart for port development

that have never been seen before on the

[ Page 7287 ]

west coast. This coal will be loaded

by British Columbians. It's a

British Columbia project, for Europe, eastern Canada and the Orient.

When this project is in full operation, over 600 people will be

employed in the northwest, and the jobs generated from this project

will employ another 500 people in the surrounding area along Highway 37

in the Dease area, the Stewart area and the Terrace area.

It was ironic that the previous mayor of Terrace, who is

affiliated

with the New Democratic Party, also attacked the Klappan project, but

the voters spoke in that riding in the last election. An individual who

supported the Klappan project was elected in that area. That says

something about northerners. Jobs for British Columbians in northern

B.C.: that is a policy of this government, and it's happening today.

I was also pleased with the throne speech regarding the aspect

mining activity. This is a priority of this government. I found it very

difficult at times while I was in the New Democratic Party with the

mining issue. Any of us who live in this province know that mining

activity and development is a backbone of this province. We can't

revert to times where we run mining companies out of this province.

Small placer operators in the area that I live in in Atlin are the

backbone of the local communities. Last year alone placer operators in

the Atlin and Dease Lake areas contributed over $1 million to the local

economy through their fuel costs, buying food and equipment, and the

wages that they provided to people in that area. Without these private

entrepreneurs the historical makeup of our province would lose an

important element, and, more importantly, the jobs to young people that

they provide. Placer operators hire young people to do the jobs, and

it's the only opportunity these young people have to be able to work

for the summertime. They provide jobs for young people when they have

no other opportunities to have a job.

[3:30]

Another aspect on mining — and I'd like to congratulate the

Minister

of Mines (Hon. Mr. Brummet) on this — was the regulations he brought

forward in the last couple of weeks that will provide opportunities for

these entrepreneurs to be able to continue working this summer. Without

these regulations that this minister acted quickly on, northern placer

miners would not be able to work and would not be able to contribute to

the local economy. That, to me, is progressive.

On page 3, the throne speech discussed small and large

business

ventures, and I would like to congratulate the Minister of Industry and

Small Business Development (Hon. Mr. McClelland) for granting $500,000

to the district of Stewart for port development for phase one. The

development of Stewart port facilities will have a tremendous impact on

the economies of northern British Columbia and the Yukon. Stewart is

the most northerly ice-free port in western Canada. Products passing

through Stewart will improve the standard of living for all

northerners, where many of us have to rely on the Alaska Highway for

food shipments. Negotiations are in process right now with the NDP

government in the Yukon for minerals to be trucked through the port of

Stewart, because they're having problems with the Alaska government.

Interjections.

MR. PASSARELL: Bring it down, that's right.

I look upon the all-Canadian route with British Columbians

unloading

these minerals in Stewart.... This government has plans for the

future of northern British Columbia to improve the standard of living

for all northerners regardless of their political stripe.

Another aspect of the throne speech that I was pleased to see

small bridge replacements. I'd like to congratulate the Minister of

Transportation and Highways (Hon. A. Fraser) for this aspect, which

will benefit northerners — particularly on Highway 37, which is the

main transportation link in the far north. Highway 37 is the

transportation link that will take the resources from the north to the

port of Stewart, and jobs that will be associated with that. And with

Expo coming on in another 51 days, if I'm not mistaken, and the

thousands....

HON. MR. RITCHIE: Fifty-four countries.

MR. PASSARELL: Fifty-four countries.

HON. MR. RITCHIE: Eleven million tickets

sold.

MR. PASSARELL: Eleven million tickets sold

as of today. The

thousands of tourists who will be coming into our province and will be

going into the far north.... The improved road conditions that this

government has brought with its bridge replacements will show those

people that they're welcomed here, and they'll come back the next year

and the year after that and the year after that.

An issue I'd like to discuss from the throne speech is the

positive

nature with which this government addressed self-government. This is a

positive move, and it's not just a move that the province can deal with

by itself. The federal government has to be involved, as is often the

case — and how they like to push it off just simply onto the province.

Self-government provides self-respect, self-respect in the arena to

plan for the future in the context of the Canadian mosaic.

Self-government is similar to municipal status, and for the native

people I've talked to, to be able to regulate zoning or to set their

taxes and, more importantly, to have discussions that affect the

residents of that community from within the community and not from

Ottawa is what people want to see.

MR. REID: Partnership.

MR. PASSARELL: That's right, partnership.

That's what

self-government is all about.

Another aspect is the wilderness report. There've been many

critics

of the wilderness report that was brought down last week, but in the

context of this report I'd like to deal with page 50 and discuss the

Stikine. On the Stikine is a marvellous place called the Grand Canyon

of Canada, and this report, which deals from the headwaters to the

Alaska delta, will guarantee that the Tahltans and the residents of the

Stikine will see the Stikine preserved in its natural state. Anyone who

accuses this government of not having concern about the environment

should read the report before they make those statements.

The youth advisory council is another issue that was discussed

the throne speech. Already a number of applications have been forwarded

from schools up in the Atlin constituency. These students have ideas.

They have suggestions, and this government is listening to them.

Last week I was quite upset when I received a letter from a

union

head in Terrace who wrote to the district of Stewart regarding youth

employment programs for the summer. In that letter it said: "We don't

want you to accept any program

[ Page 7288 ]

for hiring youths for the summer until

it's been approved by the

union in Terrace." To me, unions should not tell young people that they

cannot work during the summer without their approval. This Big Brother

mentality has no place in our society when so many young people want to

work. They shouldn't be told by unions that they can't.

This government is putting more emphasis on health care, and

in the

constituency of Atlin priority has been placed on the diagnostic and

treatment centre in the Nass Valley, an area that had no prior centre.

This will provide improved health services to the Nishga, as well as to

all residents of the Nass. A few weeks ago the first payment went out —

of $25,000 — to Chief Gosnell of the Nishga. The D and T centre has

been in planning for many years, and because of the cooperation between

the Nishga and the provincial government, this centre is now going to

become a fact.

British Columbians have shown an immense desire, a dream and a

great

concern for world peace. I think Expo will show that world peace can be

advanced. All you have to do is look at what Expo is bringing together

for the first time in history at an Expo: U.S.S.R., U.S.A., China,

Cuba. For the first time these countries are sitting down together.

We're promoting world peace in our own province. To me, that's a step

in the right direction.

The tenth issue I would like to discuss in His Honour's speech

the inclusion of property rights in the constitution. I don't think

there is anything more dear to Canadians than the right to own

property. Years ago in the Legislature an NDP member stood in his

place, the member for North Island (Mr. Gabelmann), and stated publicly

that no one should own land, as they should not own the air. That

member owns property. I wonder if this is the same issue that goes out

to native people, that you shouldn't own land. I doubt it, since it

would contradict the NDP policy. Canadians have the right to own land,

and it should be included in our constitution.

The Expo legacy fund will be beneficial to the north as well

as to

the south. After Expo ends in October, which will show it will be a

great success, communities across this province will be able to benefit

from the exposition with capital projects that will continue to bring

forward the theme of Expo throughout years for the benefit of all

British Columbians.

The last issue I would like to discuss from His Honour's

speech is

the electoral challenge to the north. The B.C. Civil Liberties Union

has recently brought a suit in the B.C. court, more or less to have the

constituency of Atlin dropped — a historical constituency, a

constituency that at one time had two members. Who is standing up and

defending the rights of residents of the Atlin constituency? It's the

provincial government, that's who is standing up, defending their

rights as northerners living with small populations, to have

representation in this Legislature. I am pleased to belong to a

government that would stand up for the rights of northerners.

Let us not forget that in this Legislature on February 14,

1985, the

second member for Vancouver East (Mr. Williams) stood in his place and

stated publicly that there should not be an Atlin constituency because

there weren't enough people, in his belief. Well, I can just tell that

member, as he is sitting in the first member for Vancouver East's seat,

that there will be an Atlin constituency long after that member has

departed from this Legislature. We have a right and, more important, we

have the will to succeed in keeping the Atlin constituency in existence.

Mr. Speaker, Canada has a unique position in the world, and I

believe that as British Columbians we are on the edge — a position of

developing understanding internationally in bringing together optimism

and economic prosperity with a deep and abiding concern for the quality

of life and social services. We are still a young province in many

ways, and I see that as a great advantage, being the youngest member of

the Legislature.

We are not afraid to try new solutions to problems old and

new. We

do not accept the idea that all issues must be resolved in terms of

winners and losers. We believe that imagination and goodwill and

enterprise can lead us to solutions based on cooperation. Mutual

respect and a sense of the unlimited potential of ordinary human beings

can make this province a better place for all of us.

You don't have to be a lawyer or a millionaire to be a member

this House. I am not the only proof of that today. Our people have open

minds and have welcomed new arrivals to our province with an open hand

of friendship and a desire to get acquainted and to benefit from the

diversity of our people, their insights, their skills and their

experiences. We should all be very proud of the newness of our province

and the openness of our people.

Labels and categories, whether of class or ideology, in the

long run

are counterproductive. The world is changing too fast for any single

set of notions to retain much validity. Our people want action based on

cooperation, imagination and vision. That is our purpose and our duty

here, regardless of party and regardless of political affiliation.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, there is a plan. Our plan is to help people

with

their plans for their futures, for their communities, for our province

and for our country. I'm very pleased and I'm proud to be able to

second the throne speech.

Mr. Skelly moved adjournment of the debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. Mr. Nielsen moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

The House adjourned at 3:45 p.m.

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