Second Session, 42nd Parliament

(2021) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Afternoon Sitting

Issue No. 47

ISSN 1499-2175

The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.

The PDF transcript remains the official digital version.

CONTENTS

Routine Business

Statements (Standing Order 25B)

Ramadan

G. Begg

Filming of A Great North Christmas in Prince

George

S. Bond

Bhimrao Ambedkar

R. Singh

West Coast Seeds “Bonnie Henry” blend fundraiser for food banks

I. Paton

Digital media industry and IM4 Media Lab

K. Paddon

Staff in education system

J. Tegart

Ministerial Statements

Fifth anniversary of public health emergency on opioid crisis

Hon. J. Horgan

S. Bond

S. Furstenau

Oral Questions

Government plan on opioid crisis and funding for mental health and addiction services

S. Bond

Hon. J. Horgan

T. Halford

Hon. S. Malcolmson

Access to mental health and addiction services and coverage of counselling services

S. Furstenau

Hon. S. Malcolmson

R. Merrifield

Mental health services for youth

D. Davies

Hon. S. Malcolmson

Progress report on mental health and addictions

J. Tegart

Hon. S. Malcolmson

Government plan on opioid crisis

P. Milobar

Hon. S. Malcolmson

Opioid crisis and supports for first responders

P. Milobar

Hon. J. Horgan

Orders of the Day

Throne Speech Debate

(continued)

S. Chant

T. Halford

J. Brar

J. Tegart

Hon. M. Rankin

R. Merrifield

R. Leonard

I. Paton

R. Russell

S. Furstenau

A. Singh

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

The House met at 1:34 p.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: Hon. S. Malcolmson.

[1:35 p.m.]

Statements

(Standing Order 25B)

RAMADAN

G. Begg: All around the world, Muslims are observing Ramadan. To those who

are not of the Muslim faith, Ramadan may simply seem to be a month in

which Mus­lims fast from dawn till dusk and perform nightly

prayers in the practice of their faith. However, to Muslims, this month

means much more than just that.

Ramadan is a time of reflection, not only on one’s self but on

one’s role in the broader community. But self-reflection is not enough.

The importance is stressed on how one acts to better themselves. This is

done through abstinence from worldly desires, impulsive behaviours and

addictive tendencies; speaking in positive language; and feeding and

giving back to the community. Mending broken ties, forging new ties,

practising forgiveness and providing hope to each other are crucial

parts of this holy month.

The goal of Ramadan is to carry these positive behaviours beyond

the month and throughout the rest of the year to develop positive

attitudes which last a lifetime. Through acts of restraint, Muslims

strive to purify their hearts and renew their positive

mindsets.

B.C.’s Muslim community has been steadfast in ob­serving and

practising precautionary health measures throughout the past year.

Undoubtedly, this Ramadan will look different, as compared to how it is

usually observed. However, our Muslim community is resilient,

disciplined and selfless and will continue to reap the benefits of

Ramadan, just as they have before.

Many of my Muslim constituents describe to me that in the last few

days of Ramadan, a bittersweet sense of longing is felt for a Ramadan

that is soon to end. This feeling is a testament to all of the good that

can be gained from a month of self-reflection, prayer and

giving.

I know that all members of this House will join me in commending

our Muslim community as they embark on their observance of this holy

month and wish them a blessed Ramadan.

Ramadan Mubarak .

FILMING OF A Great North Christmas

IN PRINCE GEORGE

S. Bond: This week we are very proud to celebrate the creative industries

sector in British Columbia. Who doesn’t love a great book or a magazine,

a memorable movie or a song that you just can’t get out of your head?

This week also reminds us that we have the opportunity to shop local to

support this critical economic and job-creating sector.

My community had the chance to do just that a few weeks ago, with

the filming of a movie called A Great North Christmas . Close to

100 people were involved in making the movie, and almost all of them

were local residents.

In the movie, the lead character is sent on a pre-Christmas

holiday, by her friends from Los Angeles, to central British Columbia.

She has incredible experiences, cross-country skiing, dogsledding and

snowmobiling. And of course, she falls in love along the way.

Filming took place over a two-week period and will feature many

locations in Prince George. As some of you may know, Prince George is no

stranger to film production, having been featured in the Hollywood

productions Double Jeopardy , Reindeer Games and

Dreamcatcher .

This simply would not be possible without the passion and drive of

Prince George resident Norm Coyne, who produced the film, and his Barker

Street Cinema business partner James Douglas, who directed the movie.

Sarah Shaak, who grew up in Prince George, used to lead the P.G. Film

Commission. Though she now lives in Calgary, she has worked continuously

to bring film production back to northern B.C.

The movie is getting the final touches, and we will look forward

to a local premiere before Christmas. Distribution has already been

locked down. A Great North Christmas will be showing on a major

TV network and streaming on a prominent platform.

[1:40 p.m.]

Our community was proud to be the location for the filming of this

movie. Word has it that there is already interest from other producers

about working in Prince George.

Prince George has special reasons to celebrate this Creative

Industries Week. We can’t wait to see what film will be produced next in

our beautiful part of British Columbia, the true Hollywood

North.

BHIMRAO AMBEDKAR

R. Singh: Throughout history, there have been proverbial giants who, through

their work for greater good, have left their indelible imprints on the

world. Today I feel particularly privileged, standing here, to highlight

and celebrate one such force, who not only transformed the lives of

millions of people during his lifetime but who also left behind a

memorable legacy of equality and social justice.

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was born in India into a family relegated to

a menial life for no other reason but their inherited caste. Despite

severe challenges at every turn…. Because of that, he made it his life’s

work to fight for the rights of the so-called Untouchables and

minorities. He stood up to a pervasive caste system at every opportunity

and uplifted those who suffered at its hands.

From putting his education in law, economics and humanities to use

for the good of the people, to authoring a seminal work, to drafting the

constitution for the largest democracy in the world, his life presents

abundant ex­amples of the impact he had on society. His life was

an offering to equality and justice for the underprivileged. To this

day, his work remains a beacon for anybody who aspires to unshackle from

unjust laws and oppressive traditions, and he continues to inspire the

activism of many on a global stage.

Two such organizations that have fashioned their volunteerism on

principles he promoted are the Chetna Association of Canada and the

Ambedkar International Social Reform Organization, both of which have

chapters here in British Columbia.

Today, April 14, is Dr. Ambedkar’s birthday. In light of his

dedication to social justice and equality, I feel that there could not

be a more fitting date to be proclaimed as Equality Day here in our

province. So I call on you all to join me in acknowledging Dr. B.R.

Ambedkar Equality Day and, like him, to stand for humane values and true

justice.

WEST COAST SEEDS “BONNIE HENRY”

BLEND FUNDRAISER FOR

FOOD BANKS

I. Paton: Today I would like to recognize the incredible work of a local

seed company in my riding of Delta South. Family owned and operated,

West Coast Seeds was founded in 1983 in Vancouver. Their mission is to

source and supply seeds of a higher quality than previously available to

home gardeners. By following the traditions of organic farming and

gardening, untreated and certified organic seeds are their

focus.

West Coast Seeds is owned by a fourth-generation B.C.-based

family, the Diamonds. They purchased their first business in 1940, and

Mr. Craig Diamond continues to follow the principles of community and

philanthropy set by his grandfather, Jack, all those years ago. West

Coast Seeds has enjoyed so much success that they acquired the

Ontario-based company Pinebush Garden Ltd. and have totally restored the

historic Pybus barn in Ladner and are using it as a warehouse and

headquarters here in Delta.

To acknowledge the work of provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie

Henry and our outstanding front-line workers over the course of the

pandemic, Aaron Saks, CEO of West Coast Seeds, teamed up with Food Banks

Canada to organize a fundraiser in her honour. The Dr. Bonnie Henry

pollinator blend is on sale at West Coast Seeds, and 100 percent of the

proceeds are donated to Food Banks Canada. Over $200,000 has already

been raised, and the blend remains a top seller.

I’m also happy to report that in coordination with the Clerk’s

office, I have organized several packets of these seeds to be planted on

the legislative precinct.

COVID-19 has impacted British Columbians disproportionately. Food

banks are a source for many people to receive fresh food, and we must

continue to support families during this time of need. This is just one

small act to show our collective appreciation for the work of our

provincial health officer, her staff and all front-line workers across

the province as well as to give back to those who are struggling through

most of the pandemic.

[1:45 p.m.]

With spring upon us, let’s all take some time to get outdoors and

enjoy our beautiful gardens. In doing so, the packet’s design reminds us

to “bee kind,” as in honeybee, “bee calm,” as in bumblebee, and “bee

safe.”

DIGITAL MEDIA INDUSTRY

AND IM4 MEDIA

LAB

K. Paddon: I’m pleased to rise in the House to celebrate Creative Industries

Week in B.C.

I gratefully acknowledge that I’m speaking from the traditional,

unceded territory of the Stó:lō people.

Today we’re shining the spotlight on the interactive and digital

media industry, also known as creative technology. It’s a rapidly

growing industry in B.C. that supports good-paying jobs from video game

designers to software engineers. Back in 2015, when virtual and

immersive reality was just getting started, there were only a dozen

companies. Today there are hundreds. That means there are lots of

opportunities for people close to home.

I want to share the story of one organization, IM4 Lab. The work

they are doing is to encourage Indigenous creators to work in immersive

media. IM4 Lab works with Emily Carr University. The IM4 stands for

Indigenous media as well as the Indigenous Matriarchs who lead the IM4

Lab: Loretta Todd, Doreen Manuel, Cease Wyss and Tracey Kim

Bonneau.

Recently they taught a workshop to Indigenous artists on how to

use web VR, virtual reality, to make music videos. This is one of more

than 20 free workshops they have taught to over 150 participants. This

is all part of IM4’s mandate to bring an Indigenous world view to

immersive technologies while creating opportunities for Indigenous

people working in the field. So we are proud to support them through

Creative B.C.

Creative Industries Week is a time to celebrate B.C. creators like

IM4 Lab. I encourage everyone to join the sector showcase happening this

week and to join me in celebrating the digital media

industry.

STAFF IN EDUCATION SYSTEM

J. Tegart: I rise today to acknowledge Education Week in British Columbia. I

don’t think there is anyone in this chamber that cannot think back to

their school days and identify someone in the system that made a

difference in their life.

Was it the school bus driver, who was the first face of the

education team that you saw every day? No matter what the weather, dark

in the morning and in the winter evenings, who waited when your ride was

a little bit late? Always a smile, sometimes a seasonal treat, committed

to make sure you made it safely to and from school every day.

Or was it the school secretary, who let you call home when you

asked or found you a pen or pencil when you forgot yours? Perhaps it was

the custodian, who made sure the building was ship shape, an important

face in the hallway with a big smile. Oh, yes. They were the person who

also picked up the team shirt that you forgot and returned it to

you.

Perhaps it was the librarian, who saved you the favourite book

titles that you liked to read, who supported your love of reading, a

lifelong skill no matter where you are. Maybe it was your classroom

teacher or the special teaching assistant, who could see when you were

struggling and just knew when to step in.

Think back. I urge you, this week, to write a letter, a short note

of thanks, to someone who made a difference.

I’d like to do a huge shout-out to our education teams during

Education Week. Know that you make a difference in a child’s life every

day.

Mr. Speaker: I recognize the hon. Premier to make a ministerial

statement.

Ministerial Statements

FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF PUBLIC

HEALTH EMERGENCY ON OPIOID

CRISIS

Hon. J. Horgan: Thank you, hon. Speaker.

Thank you, colleagues.

As we all know, today marks a solemn anniversary here in British

Columbia. It has been five years since the British Columbia government

declared the overdose crisis a public health emergency.

Since 2016, more than 7,000 people have lost their lives to toxic,

illicit street drugs in communities right across British Columbia. But

we’re not talking just about numbers here. My colleagues know that.

We’re talking about brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, sons and

daughters, teammates, colleagues, friends, people who had hopes and

dreams, and people who we will be losing forever.

[1:50 p.m.]

On behalf of this House, I want to express my sincere condolences

to all of those who have been affected directly by the overdose crisis.

None of us is immune to the challenges this scourge has brought to our

communities, whe­ther we be in the north, in urban centres or in

rural parts of British Columbia.

On this fifth anniversary, I think we can all reaffirm our

commitment to fight this crisis together, collectively. Although it is a

monumental challenge that successive go­vernments have tried to

address, what it will take is all of us tackling this together, focusing

on what we can do to save each and every life going forward from this

day.

Four years ago my government introduced the first Ministry of

Mental Health and Addictions here in Canada, starting a trend that has

been duplicated across the country. We’ve made great strides. In the

first few years, we were making significant progress, and by 2019,

overdose deaths had come down for the first time since 2012, when this

data was being tracked. Then COVID-19 hit. The illicit dirty drug supply

got dirtier. People were asked to be in isolation, and the toxicity and

the isolation led to the worst year on record, in 2020, when we saw more

deaths than ever before.

I know everyone in this House feels deeply about these issues. I

know that in my bones. I know each and every one of us will do whatever

we can as individuals and as legislators to make a difference in the

lives of those struggling with mental health and addictions.

Every week there are new services coming online. We’ve been doing

our level best as a government, with the cooperation of all members of

this House, to bring forward issues like the continuum of care so we can

address chronic homelessness and the challenges that are faced by those

who are living in vulnerable situations, in encampments and in other

parts of British Columbia.

Here in B.C., we’ve been trail-blazers, going back decades. The

first safe injection site, safe consumption site in the country was here

in Vancouver. But it’s not just a Vancouver issue, hon. Speaker and

colleagues. We know that. Wherever you come from, you know someone who

has been touched and affected by the opioid crisis. We’ve made progress

on things like prescribed safe supply, allowing nurses to do prescribing

and also, of course, taking action to try and move the federal

government to decriminalization.

My colleague the Solicitor General — one of his first acts when he

was sworn in to the position was to advise law enforcement across the

province that this government was not interested in making criminals of

people with simple possession of opioids. We’ve done that measure, and

it’s made it difficult for law enforcement to do their work because the

Criminal Code needs to be changed if we’re going to effect real change,

not just here in British Columbia but, indeed, across the

country.

We’ve seen significant evidence that best practices here have been

adopted by others around the world. I’ve had my colleague the Attorney

General bring forward a litigation against the prescribers or the

creators of opioids in the medical health profession so that we can try

and come at this from a whole bunch of different directions, because

it’s going to be a whole bunch of tools that will get us to the place

that not only we want to get to but where British Columbians want to get

to as well.

Currently there are more than 23,000 people receiving treatment

for opioid addictions here in British Columbia, the largest number ever.

Since 2018, 6,000 deaths have been avoided because our front-line

workers, our firefighters and our paramedics and our law enforcement

officers are trained in what they need to do when they come upon someone

who’s suffering from an overdose. The advent of naloxone has made a

transformative difference in the lives of thousands of people, yet

despite that, the numbers continue to rise.

I know that everyone in this House is focused on the same thing:

making sure that we don’t have to talk to a friend or a colleague who

has lost a loved one because we didn’t take the extra step. Today we

formally requested the federal government give a

section 56 exemption

under the Canada Health Act so that we can decriminalize possession of

drugs here in British Columbia.

I wrote to the Prime Minister last June. We have been working on

this, in my opinion, collaboratively, on the advice of the Canadian

Association of Chiefs of Police.

This is an issue that transcends politics. It’s an issue that

transcends vocation. All of us need to work together to destigmatize

opioid addictions, to destigmatize mental health challenges. In working

together in this Legislature, we can take the appropriate steps going

forward, working with our colleagues at the federal level and, most

importantly, working in our communities with our neighbours and our

friends — those who are as concerned about this as we are, wanting to

see more action as we move forward.

[1:55 p.m.]

Five years since the proclamation of a public health emergency.

Successive governments focused on trying to solve a problem. All parties

in this Legislature focused on making sure that five years from now we

can stand in this place and say triumphantly that, collectively, British

Columbians worked together to eradicate opioid addictions by making sure

that services were there for people, supply was safe and stigma was

eliminated by decriminalizing what is clearly a public health issue. It

is not a criminality issue.

Let’s stand together, all of us in this place, and say with one

voice to British Columbians: “We will do everything we can in the days

and weeks and months ahead to turn the tide on the opioid crisis, to

make sure the services people need now are there for them when they need

them.”

S. Bond: Today we gather in this House to recognize a solemn and painful

anniversary. It’s now been five years since B.C.’s declaration of a

public health emergency with regard to opioids and overdose in our

province. In that time, we’ve lost over 7,000 British Columbians to

overdose — over 7,000 people from every walk of life, over 7,000

families and loved ones impacted.

This parallel pandemic, one of overdose and death, has impacted

every region of our province and impacted so many lives — our

neighbours, our friends, our brothers, our sisters, our children and our

parents, who are facing an increasingly toxic drug supply and the risk

of overdose. Every one of us in this chamber, those elected to serve all

British Columbians, know someone impacted by this heartbreaking crisis.

Some of us have lost loved ones. Others have comforted friends or family

who have lost someone they love.

For more British Columbians, the past year has been the most

challenging and difficult in our collective memory. However, it has been

particularly challenging for those simultaneously experiencing two

public health emergencies. The weight of parallel pandemics has been

severe throughout our province, and more lives have been lost to

overdose in the past year than any other crisis since it was first

declared.

Today we reflect on those lives lost. We extend our

heart­felt condolences to the thousands of families who are left

to mourn, some of whom I had the opportunity to speak with on the steps

of the Legislature earlier today.

For many who used substances and suffered behind closed doors in

silence, families only learned of that addiction once it was too late to

help. People are using and dying at home alone, ashamed of their

addictions, unable to get treatment or help.

On this day of mourning, we must also acknowledge the constant

efforts of front-line workers during this crisis. Nurses, doctors,

paramedics, first responders, rehabilitation and addiction centre

employees, counsellors, therapists, community advocates and so many more

have worked tirelessly throughout this five-year crisis. They continue

to dedicate their time and their efforts to reducing overdoses in

British Columbia, helping some of our most vulnerable British

Columbians. In this last year, they did all of that while facing a

global pandemic.

Today we express our deep gratitude to all who work to keep

British Columbians healthy and who work to save the lives of those

struggling with mental health and addictions issues.

When our government first declared the crisis, we immediately

deployed $100 million in measures to help save lives, funding additional

emergency health services, establishing the B.C. Centre on Substance

Use. We increased access to life-saving naloxone kits and opioid

substitution therapies, like Suboxone, and worked to de­crease the

stigma in our communities. Despite ongoing efforts, as the Premier has

noted, those challenges have persisted during the last four years, and

there is still much more work to be done if we want to truly turn the

tide on the opioid epidemic.

[2:00 p.m.]

The mothers who I met today, many of whom have lost sons and

daughters to this epidemic, said to me that few of us can imagine what

it’s like to lose a child. They’re right. Many of those mothers

experienced frustration and desperation when seeking support for their

children.

These parents gathered here to send a clear message to this

Legislature. We have more work to do. This House owes it to them to take

action, to identify barriers, to close the gaps in services, to reduce

wait times and to create systemic change. A comprehensive mental health

and addictions system, one that just isn’t reactionary or offers

services that are, often, too little and too late. A system that invests

in prevention and education and also works to ensure that people have

access to appropriate treatment, to care and to the supports necessary

to create a pathway to recovery.

We need to establish an adequate continuum of care for those

living with addiction which includes more treatment beds, stepped-up

prevention and, yes, even early intervention in our schools. That full

spectrum of care must have effective and accessible treatment and

recovery programs. It isn’t enough to just deal with safe supply. It’s

imperative that we take our responsibility to all British Columbians

seriously and that we invest in harm reduction, prevention, treatment

and enforcement.

Five years, over 7,000 lives, and each loss so much more than a

statistic. Today I met Morgan’s mom, Kathleen, here at the Legislature.

She reminded me that we need to treat this as the disease that it is,

that we need to end the stigma and support families like

hers.

As we grieve today for those who have tragically lost their lives

in this epidemic, we reaffirm our commitment to work to ensure that it

comes to an end. We want for all of those who have suffered to know that

we hear their voices and that we share their pain.

The challenges ahead are still great. The loss of life is still

too high. We must all do more to ensure that people receive the

treatment and the supports that they need and deserve in a timely

way.

S. Furstenau: I appreciate the comments and the commitments made today by both

the Premier and the Leader of the Official Opposition. We are, indeed,

truly united in this Legislature on this day that marks five years since

the overdose crisis was declared in British Columbia, making it one of

the longest and deadliest health emergencies in our history.

As both of the other leaders have pointed out, in the last five

years, we have tragically lost over 7,000 beloved British Columbians to

illicit drug toxicity. The anniversary occurs at a time where a record

number of people are dying from a poisonous drug supply. At this moment,

we are losing five British Columbians a day. The COVID-19 pandemic has

worsened the crisis, with deaths spiking and drugs becoming increasingly

more toxic.

But where the pandemic has taken centre stage with media and

government intervention, the drug toxicity crisis has quietly worsened

in the background. The more than 7,000 British Columbians who have died

and those who have lost their friends, family members and loved ones

deserve our sympathy. There are thousands upon thousands more who are

alive right now, who deserve our immediate action and our collective

commitment to do a better job at preventing future deaths.

We understand that those we have lost have died from bad drug

policy, not just bad drugs. We talk a lot about data and how it needs to

inform policy and decision-making in this province. Sometimes it’s also

essential to talk about the people who are suffering and

dying.

Sarah DeRoo was the same age as me, and when I read about her in a

thread put together by her friend, Kevin Partridge, a few weeks ago, she

was someone I wish I could have known. She was “smart, kind, generous,

beautiful. She strove to make the world a better and more caring place,”

wrote Kevin.

[2:05 p.m.]

Her advocacy started in the 1980s. She attended peace rallies,

where she would share her food with others. Sarah was an artist and a

poet, and she would give “everything she could to her friends and the

community around her. She was kind, one of the most gentle people I

knew,” said Kevin. “She helped me cope with loss and grief, and we

struggled closely together for several years. She needed care and

compassion in a community that would support people with multiple

traumas.” Instead, she was criminalized because she used

drugs.

Sarah died in December, a few months before her 51st birthday. She

died from a poisonous drug supply.

In Jen St. Denis’s Tyee

article about artist Alan Sayers,

his children describe him as “super dad. He was our hero. He taught us

to do everything. He taught us how to skate. He taught us how to play

sports. He taught us to be powerful and to be strong but not in an

egotistical way. He was a really naturally loving, naturally devoted,

caring person.”

Alan lived in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, where his studio is

filled with his drawings and photographs. He’s remembered by his friend

Trey Helten, who manages the overdose prevention site, as one of the

people who was always there for him, even in his most difficult

struggles with addiction, someone who became like a second

father.

Alan was a casual drug user. He would “have a few drinks and smoke

crack cocaine late in the evening and stay up through the night, working

on his art.” On March 9, the drugs that he smoked were

contaminated with fentanyl and carfentanil, and they killed him. He was

The B.C. Greens will continue to advocate for compassionate,

evidence-based policies that treat those who use drugs as people and

their addictions as part of the systemic issues of stigmatization,

insufficient mental health supports, inequality, lack of housing and

lack of wraparound services.

As has been said by the other two leaders, we must all act with

urgency to decriminalize simple possession; to expand the safe,

regulated supply of pharmaceutical-grade substances; and to treat

addictions as a health care issue, not a criminal one. We are five years

overdue for a significant change in policy, and we cannot afford to lose

any more ground in the fight for non-stigmatized, accessible and

long-term support for people who use drugs.

Oral Questions

GOVERNMENT PLAN ON OPIOID CRISIS

AND FUNDING FOR MENTAL

HEALTH

AND ADDICTION SERVICES

S. Bond: Five years ago today a public health emergency was declared to

battle the overdose crisis in B.C. Since then, the tragedy has gotten

worse. There’s not a corner of this province that has not been impacted

by this deadly addiction.

The Premier once said he would fix the problem. Today he announced

funding of what will mean about $3 million per health authority to keep

people alive. We need to do that, but we need to do more than that. We

need to find a way to give people a life.

What people need and want is a meaningful plan for access to

counselling and treatment. People are crying out for support, for

meaningful action and a specific, detailed plan.

Can the Premier today assure British Columbians that there will be

significant additional funding in the upcoming budget that will provide

specific funding for affordable and accessible treatment

options?

Hon. J. Horgan: I very much thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. I

know her passion for this issue. In fact, as I said — as all of us have

said, from the three major parties that are represented here — all of us

are committed to this.

It will require resources. It will require training of new

personnel to deliver those services. Creating spaces in our

post-secondary institutions is an investment in the well-being of those

with addictions and mental health challenges. Creating other

opportunities to remove stigma is another step towards that.

The dedicated funding that was announced today by the Minister of

Mental Health and Addictions will help guide people to those supports,

some $2.7 billion that is distributed through the health authorities

across British Columbia for mental health and addiction

issues.

[2:10 p.m.]

More prevention sites are required, in my opinion, and safe

consumption sites. We need to use all pillars on the stool. It’s not

just about safe consumption. There have to be alternatives. There has to

be treatment. Most importantly, there has to be enforcement on those

that prey on the vulnerable.

These are all areas that we’re going to be focusing on in Budget

2021. I know the Minister of Finance will be speaking about those issues

next week. I look forward to that debate.

Mr. Speaker: The Leader of the Official Opposition on a

supplemental.

S. Bond: As I said earlier, today on the steps of the Leg­islature, I

met with Jordan’s mom. She’s here today to tell us that we need to do

better.

This is a family who did everything they possibly could. In fact,

she said: “You write whatever size cheque is necessary, if you’re able

to do that.” This family spent tens of thousands of dollars on treatment

for their son. They faced wait-lists and a lack of access for

treatment.

The heartbreaking story is that Morgan didn’t make it.

All of us need to do better. The moms outside are telling us that

we are not doing enough. We owe it to that mom, and every other family

across British Columbia that’s been impacted, to ensure that there is a

proper system of supports. That includes prevention, education. It

includes access to treatment and counselling. Families should not have

to choose between putting food on the table and finding counselling

support for their children. And if they’re in a position to be able to

do that, we need to make sure that we have the resources in

place.

Again to the Premier, will he promise British Columbians today

that there will be a funding system in place that allows for there to be

affordable, accessible options for families, including the counselling

and treatment services so desperately needed?

Hon. J. Horgan: I thank, again, the Leader of the Opposition for her

questions.

She said in her remarks earlier that for too long reactive

services have been the order of the day. We need to be more proactive.

We need to make sure that there’s early intervention. That means talking

about these issues in our K-to-12 system, making sure that there are

supports there. Early intervention for young people is critical to

success in the long term. I fully endorse the official opposition’s

position with respect to that issue.

Again, I say to you that throughout, I hope, this next half an

hour, we can have the discussion, back and forth, about what is needed —

ideas from all sides of the House and responses from the minister

responsible as we carry on this discussion. At a very minimum, we

deserve to show the respect that the people outside expected us to show

as legislators and as successive governments, how we should be standing

up to make sure that we do not leave a stone unturned.

We have had this debate for too long. I have been in this place

for 15 years. We’ve been talking about these issues for a long, long

time, sometimes with me on that side of the House, sometimes with you on

this side of the House. I don’t doubt the commitment of any person in

this place to address these issues. What we need to do is not wait for

solemn anniversaries. We need to act each and every day. That’s why we

have a minister responsible. We will provide the resources available to

make those things happen.

Again, I applaud the Leader of the Opposition. Reactive services

is what we do. That’s what our health care system is built upon. Making

a seismic shift away from what we’ve always done to what we have to do

now is going to be a challenge. I’m confident that we’re up for it.

Let’s do it together.

T. Halford: Five years ago the Premier said: “Why has our provincial

government refused to meet the needs of people and families desperate to

find help when it comes to addiction?” and “Addictions don’t wait.” The

unfortunate irony in that comment is those that are suffering from

mental health and addictions are forced to wait in this province for

help.

The Premier said moments ago that we are doing our

best.

Premier, I say this with the utmost respect. Our best is not good

enough right now.

Will the Premier release a fully funded plan to get people on a

pathway to recovery?

[2:15 p.m.]

Hon. S. Malcolmson: Before the COVID-19 pandemic began, the measures that the province

of B.C. had brought in were starting, for the first time, to bring

overdose deaths down. That does tell us that intervention and building

up that continuum of care that B.C. did not have when we first formed

government in 2017…. It was starting to work.

The terrible loss of life that has resulted from the culmination

of more people experiencing social isolation, a lot of supervised

consumption services having to go to half capacity because of COVID-19

and the accelerated and terrible increased drug toxicity that has

resulted from border closures…. All are things that, across Canada, have

exacerbated the overdose crisis and brought the loss of life to a

terrible spike.

That British Columbia is now fighting two public health

emergencies at the same time, while also building that system of mental

health and addictions care that did not exist before we formed

government, has been a great pressure on the people on the front line

and on the people working and the families that have lost loved ones.

We’re grateful to all of them for their work.

That we have been able to build up new treatment and recovery

beds…. We’ve doubled the number of supervised consumption sites. We’ve

expanded enormously access to prescribed medication-assisted treatment

and safe supply.

There is much more to do. It sounds like, from the tone of the

House today, there’s going to be great cooperation to do that work

together.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Surrey–White Rock on a supplemental.

T. Halford: To the minister, now is not a day to do a victory lap. I’ll tell

you one thing. We have committed in this House to do everything we can

to help support this government.

For too long, British Columbians have called for a plan to deal

with this crisis. For four years, this government has failed to deliver

that plan.

Again to the Premier, will he commit today to properly fund mental

health programs to ensure all British Columbians are getting the support

they need?

Hon. S. Malcolmson: I believe that my colleague across the aisle will be very pleased

to see the budget that the Finance Minister will reveal next

year.

An Hon. Member: Next year?

Hon. S. Malcolmson: Sorry, next week. Apologies.

I am pleased to give him a copy of Pathway to Hope , which

is our government’s plan to build a system of care for mental health and

addictions — informed, with great thanks, by all of the people working

on the front line, the medical community, academics in addiction

medicine and mental health care.

British Columbia did not have a plan. Now there is one. Together

we are building it up and working to save lives. There is much more work

for us to do, if we do it together.

ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND

ADDICTION SERVICES AND

COVERAGE OF COUNSELLING SERVICES

S. Furstenau: Following on the questions from the mem­ber of the official

opposition, mental health is a significant issue, a significant root

cause for many of the challenges that we see with the deaths from this

illicit toxic drug supply. What doesn’t exist for a lot of people is

access to mental health services when they need it, where they need it,

in a way that there aren’t barriers of affordability,

The Premier, earlier in his comments, said that today is a day for

ideas from all parties in the House. We have put an idea forward about

how to ensure that there is accessible mental health care for everybody

in British Columbia. That is to bring psychologists under the Medical

Services Plan so that they are part of the primary care network and so

that nobody in B.C. has to wonder how they’re going to get access to

mental health care in this province.

My question to the Premier: is that an idea that will be

considered; is it going to be in the budget; will we see mental health

care be a part of our Medical Services Plan system?

Hon. S. Malcolmson: Our government agrees with the opposition that access to mental

health care and addiction support should not depend on the size of your

budget. I’m very encouraged that, in cooperation with the health

authorities, we’ve been able to announce, just in the last month, 100

new publicly funded adult addiction treatment beds. That’s just one

example of the plan that we are building out.

[2:20 p.m.]

The Third Party’s suggestion from the B.C. psychologists

association is a generous one. The Premier has asked me, in my mandate

letter, to investigate removing barriers to access to mental health

counselling.

Psychologists are an important part of B.C.’s mental health care

system. They are not the only practitioner, but we are very grateful for

their work. Most particularly right now, they are employed at a great

many of our new urgent primary care centres, which are delivering

seven-day-a-week access to people in mental health and addictions

treatment and crisis.

We need to bring the great diversity of approaches — for example,

the $15 million that we have just put into 49 community counselling

organizations. All of these efforts work. We need all hands on deck to

face this crisis.

Mr. Speaker: The Leader of the Third Party on a supplemental.

S. Furstenau: I appreciate the minister’s response in recognition of this

proposal and, importantly, the recognition of how important mental

health care is to everybody’s health.

I think that the challenge that a lot of people in British

Columbia have right now is that if they are experiencing mental health

challenges, one of the biggest barriers they have is: “Can I afford to

pick up the phone and make an appointment with a counsellor in this

moment that I need it?”

When that isn’t available to people, what we find is that people

are in crisis when they finally seek care for their mental health

struggles. They end up in hospitals, end up in psychiatric units. They

end up costing the system quite a bit more than had they had the

proactive ability to be able to get the counselling when they need it

and where they need it.

My question, again, to the Minister of Mental Health and

Addictions, recognizing that, even in her title, mental health and

addictions are recognized as being connected: what further steps can we

see to ensure that every British Columbian can have immediate,

no-barrier access to mental health care when they need it?

Hon. S. Malcolmson: Meeting, I think two weeks ago, with the parents in Moms Stop the

Harm, some of the parents urged us very much to think of addiction as a

mental illness. They don’t make any separation between the two. So I

appreciate the member opposite drawing, again, that link so

strongly.

That we, especially during the time of COVID, have been able to

move, in the greatest transformation, I think, in B.C.’s history,

because of this crisis of COVID, mental health counselling to an online

and on-phone platform is a great testament to the community

organizations and the B.C. psychologists association that helped us with

some of that early counselling access.

Anybody that is watching who is in crisis or needs help or is

feeling anxious — as the member says, we do want to deal with problems

while they are still small ones — please reach out for help. I have

confirmed and reconfirmed that there is help available. You can go to

gov.bc.ca/covid19mentalhealthsupports. There is a great variety of

services available at low cost and no cost. We are continuing to invest

to build out the supports that people need. There’s more for us to

do.

R. Merrifield: I just want to remind this House that B.C. had a plan in 2010

called Healthy Minds, Healthy People. It was a ten-year plan that went

from 2010 to 2020. But that plan was adjusted when this Premier came

into power.

Under the last four years, things have gotten worse under this

Premier — the cost of counselling, the cost of treatment, the lack of

access to these services. It all makes it so much more difficult for

people to get the help they desperately need. The Premier might think

it’s a choice, but people do want to heal. The financial struggle

doesn’t need to be yet another hurdle.

I’m going to further the Leader of the Third Party’s question. I’m

going to ask: will the Premier commit today to ensuring that counselling

services are available and that people aren’t turned away simply because

they can’t afford it?

[2:25 p.m.]

Hon. S. Malcolmson: That we both remove the stigma that prevents people from calling

out for help when they need addictions counselling support or are in

mental health crisis…. We want people to feel they have the same access

to the health care system, whether it’s a physical problem or a mental

health problem. That is the end goal. That is the system that we are

working hard to build up.

As Dr. Bonnie Henry said, it has been hard to fight a pandemic,

for example, when there was no system of mental health and addictions

care when we formed government. We are building that system. It’s not

just a plan that we have put in place, but it is the implementation of

the plan. The expansion of access to services is unprecedented in

British Columbia’s history.

There is so much work to do. That we have brought down wait times

for children and youth accessing mental health needs by 20 percent is a

measure, but it is no comfort to the families and children that are

still waiting too long for care. That is the work that we are determined

to do, and we’ll have more news in the budget next week.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Kelowna-Mission on a supplemental.

R. Merrifield: Once a person has made that decision for help, they need a bed.

Right now you have two choices. One is a bill for about $30,000, or the

second is a wait-list for public treatment. In Alberta, the government

has removed all patient fees for residential addiction

treatment.

To the Premier, will British Columbia consider removing this

barrier to health?

Hon. S. Malcolmson: Our government removed the fees associated with the medical

services premium — a great removal of a real barrier to access to health

care that went on in British Columbia for much too long. We have

unfolded 23 new urgent primary care centres that give seven-day-a-week

access to mental health and addictions. We have stood up 123 new youth

treatment beds, a doubling of publicly funded youth treatment and

addictions and recovery beds.

We have a continued investment and continued commitment to build

out that system of care that did not exist when we formed government in

2017. It’s work that we are determined to do in cooperation with all

parties.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR YOUTH

D. Davies: Well, this Premier has been in charge for the last four years of

this public health emergency. Things have gotten worse, not

better.

The throne speech has offered nothing but platitudes. I’ll quote:

“People everywhere are experiencing increased anxiety, stress, and

depression.” But nothing practical to people who are desperate. Youth

are disproportionately im­pacted by this pandemic. They have no

jobs, have bills to pay, and then the Premier goes on to blame them for

the pandemic spread.

Here’s the Premier’s chance not to blow this. Will he actually

provide the mental health supports that young people need?

Hon. S. Malcolmson: We’re putting a priority on mental health supports and addiction

supports for young people. We are bringing those services to young

people in their communities and their schools in five school districts.

We have piloted integrated youth and child treatment teams. We’re

bringing mental health teams into schools, two different programs, one

delivered by MCFD and one delivered by Ministry of Education.

We have funded and expanded enormously the very successful Foundry

program, designed and built by youth for youth, expanded it across the

province and supported Foundry moving to a virtual platform during

COVID. There are more and more pieces identified in the Pathway to Hope,

our ten-year plan, and I look forward to the op­position members’

support for continued investments in Pathway to Hope.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Peace River North on a supplemental.

D. Davies: Unfortunately, we’ve lost confidence when we hear this government

use the word “priority.” The province’s response recently…. A hub of

resources nicely collated doesn’t do anything. There is no new

assistance as the need grows. There is no financial support with people

who are struggling. People need something more substantive. They need

something more substantive than a hub.

[2:30 p.m.]

As the Leader of the Opposition said recently, people should not

need to choose between groceries and mental health support.

Again, can the Premier explain to us here today — can the minister

explain to us here today — how the increased funding will provide the

desperately needed support?

Hon. S. Malcolmson: I share the member’s concern about access to mental health and

addictions support. The old government had 16 years to build up that

system of care, which they chose not to do.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. S. Malcolmson: It was disappointing to me that the opposition pledged only 25

percent of the investment in mental health and addictions during the

October election campaign that we did. That does suggest to me that

their priorities, as reflected in their 16 years in government, would

have carried on should they have won the election in October.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Order.

Hon. S. Malcolmson: We owe more to the families of British Columbia than that. This is

the work that we’re determined to do.

PROGRESS REPORT ON

MENTAL HEALTH AND

ADDICTIONS

J. Tegart: The Premier has been in charge of this forgotten public health

emergency for four years now, and we’ve seen things get

worse.

The Premier and his minister like to talk about Pathway to Hope,

the government’s failed plan to improve mental health and

addictions.

Can the Premier tell us why the Pathway to Hope annual progress

report has not been released as scheduled?

Hon. S. Malcolmson: The work continues to implement Pathway to Hope, focusing on youth

counselling, on building out new youth treatment beds, on building out

the child and youth support teams and mental health programs in schools

— working with counsellors, with families, with all of the communities

that affect young people, in particular, to make sure that we can

address small problems before they turn into big ones.

We had committed to deliver the progress report on the Pathway to

Hope, I believe, at the end of December. Like a lot of things in the

pandemic, because the people working on the front line are

understandably consumed with two mental health emergencies, we are going

to be delayed in providing that report.

I’m very happy to brief the member on the elements that we are

working on. The report is being drafted. My apologies to the members of

the Legislature. It is going to be late. I hope that everyone will agree

this has been an extraordinary year in health care provision. We look

forward soon to delivering the results of our program.

GOVERNMENT PLAN ON OPIOID CRISIS

P. Milobar: Let’s be clear. It was in the transition binder that it was

supposed to be delivered by the end of 2020 — the transition binder that

was created because of an unnecessary election that delayed government

by two months. It’s delayed this budget by two months, which is why no

one knows what funding may or may not be for mental health and

addictions currently.

The minister continues to say that we did nothing. Frankly, that’s

quite disrespectful to Dr. Perry Kendall and his 2IC at the time,

someone named Dr. Bonnie Henry, who was advising the government back in

What the previous government did in 2016 in 12 months was an

immediate $100 million deployed with the declaration of the public

health emergency, which was five years ago today. We established the

B.C. Centre on Substance Use, operating hundreds of additional treatment

beds, mass distribution of naloxone and substitution therapies such as

Suboxone. And as the minister keeps talking about Foundry, we also set

up the Foundry network for youth.

It doesn’t exactly sound like nothing was happening in that 12

months. In fact, for that 12 months, then Minister Terry Lake received

the B.C. provincial health officer’s award for excellence in public

health and the Canadian Public Health Association’s public health care

hero award for his 12 months’ worth of work. This Premier has had 48

months, and what we have seen is the numbers double in that

time.

When will we see a plan that properly funds treatment options and

the supports people need so they’re not trying to find second and third

mortgages on their houses to try to save their kids?

[2:35 p.m.]

Hon. S. Malcolmson: If I said anywhere this afternoon or in any of our debates here

that the previous government did nothing, then I

unequivocally….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Okay, Members. Let’s move forward.

Hon. S. Malcolmson: Mr. Speaker, shall I continue?

Mr. Speaker: Just a second.

Yes, please, Minister. Continue.

Hon. S. Malcolmson: What I have said repeatedly is that we did not have the continuum

of care for mental health and addictions and the system of care which

would have put us in a position to better fight the dual public health

emergencies. There are a great deal of ideas on both…. There is a great

deal to look back on in the previous government and across Canada of

what has made an impact on people’s lives. No question.

Do we have more to do? No question. Have the investments under

this past four years been exceptional in British Columbia’s history,

about building out new publicly funded access to treatment? Yes, they

have. Is there much more to do? Yes, there is.

Today I say again, on behalf of the province, my deepest

condolences to those who have lost loved ones, my deepest thanks to

those who are working hard on the front lines to save lives. I look

forward to everybody in this House working together, in cooperation, to

make the investment and build up the system of care that we need to save

lives in British Columbia.

Mr. Speaker: The Opposition House Leader on a supplemental.

OPIOID CRISIS AND

SUPPORTS FOR FIRST

RESPONDERS

P. Milobar: I think the minister better go back and read all of her

Hansard clips. She repeatedly — repeatedly — goes on,

trying to make it sound as if this side of the House has never done

anything and there was no program in place. This from a minister whose

budget is smaller than the budget to operate the Premier’s

office.

Let’s talk about another group.

Interjection.

P. Milobar: I’m sorry. I’ll let the Premier finish his heckling, and then I’ll

continue. Thanks, dude.

Let’s talk about another group of people that have been impacted

by this crisis that seem to have been forgotten by this government:

first responders — paramedics, fire, police. All have been on the front

lines for the last five years, four of those years under this Premier’s

watch. Second-term government.

Now, with COVID, many are feeling burned out, and it’s not just

the death numbers that are burning them out. Let’s remember there’s been

an incredible spike in non-fatal overdoses, which all of these women and

men are responding to on a regular basis. That’s burning them

out.

Troy Clifford, president of the Ambulance Paramedics of B.C.,

says: “This is definitely impacting their fatigue, their

stress.”

To the Premier, what supports can the first responders like

paramedics, fire and police expect to find in the two-month delayed

budget?

Hon. J. Horgan: This has been half an hour in our day, and much of it was useful.

Much of the suggestions that were made were helpful, and I’m hopeful we

will be able to build on that going forward.

I do also want to pay homage to those first responders that the

member of the opposition just brought to our attention. Of course, we

are so, so grateful for the work that they do each and every day, not

just within a global pandemic but each and every day. Before COVID-19

hit our shores, first responders were there, answering the bell, going

into harm’s way to protect British Columbians.

All of us annually meet with firefighters, we meet with

paramedics, we meet with law enforcement, and we say: “Thank you.” I say

today: “Thank you.”

With respect to what will be in the budget to improve the lives of

British Columbians, a lot is what’s going to be in that budget. What

we’ve been doing for the past four years, but most specifically for the

past 12 months, is focusing on making sure that people are whole, making

sure that businesses can survive and making sure communities have the

services that they need.

The member can shake his head as if this is some sort of a

partisan game. It’s not. It’s people’s lives. You started on the right

track, man, and then you went into the ditch. We have to respect not

just people on either side of this House but people outside of this

House that respect and expect better from us.

[2:40 p.m.]

We need to stay on message not just for a couple of minutes at the

start of question period but every day. We need to work together,

wherever we come from, whatever point of view we may have. We need to

work together to lift everyone out of this crisis — not just the opioid

crisis, not just the COVID crisis but the aftermath of all of that on

the psyche of British Columbians, on families in every part of this

province.

I hope tomorrow we do a better job than we just did in the last

five minutes.

[End of question period.]

Orders of the Day

Hon. M. Farnworth: I call continued debate, throne speech.

Throne Speech Debate

(continued)

S. Chant: I rise to continue my support of the throne speech this afternoon.

When I spoke yesterday, I spoke about the misery, the mystery and the magic

of the first two waves of COVID: the misery in the losses, the mystery in

how to go forward and the magic of what people de­monstrated as the

resilience grew. We’re now in the third wave, yet we’ve got another piece in

the puzzle. We’ve got vaccines now, and we’re moving forward.

[S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.]

I also wanted to thank the Minister of Health, Dr. Bonnie Henry and

the Premier for their unwavering compassion, integrity and commitment to the

people of B.C. as we work through the dual pandemics that we are dealing

with.

So the next question is: how do we recover? How do we move forward?

How do we put this behind us?

We need to commit to learning from this experience — recognizing and

embracing the positive aspects, such as the rapid implementation of

telehealth that we were discussing this morning with the rural health group.

It has a spectacular applicability in a province as large and diverse as

British Columbia, such as the realization by many that they can work

productively and effectively from home, thereby regaining some significant

quality time and reducing commuting congestion and emissions. I’ve seen so

many more family groups out walking, bicycling, hiking together and heard

from many families how dynamics have improved in a variety of

ways.

We also need to take an inventory of the many gaps in resources and

supports that have been revealed, or further widened, and work together as a

society to fill them. An example that has become particularly apparent to me

is what I call “the invisible population”: those people who, for some reason

or another, remain in the home and are cared for by their family or

caregivers. COVID has brought to light just how fragile the supports are for

these folks and for their families, whether it is children with disabilities

or young adults who have finished at high school and there is not further

appropriate programming available or adults who live with debilitating onset

of disease, such as ALS.

Our communities have demonstrated resilience and strength in so many

ways, and our government is committed to maintaining and supporting this

strength through investment in people, business, health and environment.

This provides a very broad spectrum of work to be done.

Another area of work that needs to be addressed by us all is that rise

of significant racism and acts of hatred which have escalated tremendously

in the past year. Whether it’s speaking out or taking action, we all have a

part to play when it comes to tackling racism. Initial progress has been

made through creating Resilience B.C., a network across the province to

respond to racism and provide anti-racism tools. Again, more work to be

done.

Many of B.C.’s businesses have been hard hit by the pandemic. Our

government is helping them adapt so that they can grow and hire and rehire.

Access to grants and support in establishing online presence are just a

couple of examples.

Also, projects, such as having some of our ecotourism companies help

clean up our shorelines, have demonstrated innovation and an ability to

adapt. Distilleries moved to making hand sanitizer as soon as it was

recognized that a critical shortage loomed. Curbside pickup became an

efficient part of shopping. In the year ahead, we will continue to support

businesses while we build towards a more innovative, sustainable and

inclusive economic future, one that also includes some of the many changes

we’ve already made to do things better.

[2:45 p.m.]

As part of our plans to achieve economic recovery goals, our

government will pass legislation to support the operations of an InBC

Investment Corp., a strategic fund to help promising B.C. companies scale

up, anchor talent and keep jobs and investment in home. I don’t know how

many of us have seen the brain drain of people going to other provinces and

other countries because the job that they are looking for isn’t available in

their community or in their province. We need to stop that drain.

We’ve got many nurses who work out of country. We saw it in Ontario,

where the nurses were going across to Michigan to work in the COVID and

providing their work to other parts. We’ve got to stop that. We’ve got to

make it so that our youth stay here and work here, and we’ve got to give

them that opportunity. In order to help with that, the province is providing

more than 5,000 youth and young adults across British Columbia with access

to skills training and well-paid jobs through the almost $45 million

StrongerBC future leaders program.

How do we increase affordability? There are a couple ways we could do

that. How about cutting ICBC rates by 20 percent? How about expanding access

to $10-a-day child care spaces? How about helping to get thousands more

affordable rental housing across British Columbia and increasing disability

and seniors income assistance, therefore putting more money into local

economies? Those are some of the ways that we can help with

affordability.

In health, we want to improve health care to ensure that we’re

prepared for future health challenges, by fixing cracks in our long-term

care that COVID-19 has exposed, by reducing our surgery wait times and

building more hospitals and urgent primary care centres all across B.C. This

week our Minister of Health indicated that our surgery times are going to be

looked at again, because we need that time for other things right now in our

third wave. However, this time, we’ve learned from wave 1 and wave 2 how to

do it in a systematic and effective fashion so that we’re not increasing

wait times. What we’re doing is managing it in a way that we never did

before.

We have made permanent the largest-ever increase to income and

disability assistance rates and the first-ever increase to the seniors

supplement, which is a little different from our predecessors, who didn’t

manage to change a lot of that stuff. Significant changes and

im­provements in the provision of mental health services we have

discussed in question period. A lot of work has been done; there’s still

lots to go.

the range of treatment options. One of the things that I think is really

important that maybe we’ve been missing in some of our discussions — and I

come from a place of health care — is that a lot of times we look at

somebody and say: “Holy crow. They need help. How are we going to help them

change the path that they’re on?” But they’re not ready for us to offer that

help. We need to figure out different ways to offer that help so that it can

be meaningful to them and to their families and support their

families.

I don’t know how many times I’ve had parents of young adults say to

me: “What do we do? How do we do this?” And we have to say: “They’re young

adults. They have to make their own decisions. You can’t make decisions for

them anymore.” That feels very wrong to a parent of young adults if they see

something is endangering them. This is something we need to think about and

figure out.

We also, of course, are having an intense focus on the opioid overdose

crisis, with a multi-layered, cross-governmental approach.

COVID has also highlighted the importance of keeping people connected.

The work our government has done and continues to do to increase

connectivity in the province is helping to improve safety right across our

province.

Making these connectivity improvements is also an important component

of our government’s commitment to reconciliation as well. For example, the

work on improving cellular connectivity along Highway 16 was among the

Highway of Tears Symposium reports, 33 re­commendations aimed at

enhancing safety for Indigenous women and girls. This recommendation from

the symposium was echoed in the report from the national inquiry into

missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

[2:50 p.m.]

Our work to support reconciliation in B.C. also includes supporting

Indigenous families and children in the province. I’m proud of our

government’s decision to give a boost of $109 million, over three years, to

foster parents, adoptive caregivers, family members caring for Indigenous

children, and Community Living B.C. home-share providers — their first pay

increase in a decade. As we continue to combat the disproportionate number

of Indigenous children in the foster system, this is an important step in

supporting those that are still there.

Too often economic growth in our province has come at the expense of

our environment. In North Vancouver–Seymour, we’re lucky to have some of the

most beautiful forests, mountains and streams in the province, including

Lynn Canyon Park and Mount Seymour Provincial Park. Some of my constituents

are bears and owls. North Van–Seymour is home to many organizations and

individuals who recognize the full importance of sustaining and fostering

our environment through a variety of active and proactive

measures.

I’ve had the opportunity to meet with Seymour Salmonid Society, who

work with the salmon hatchery in our headwaters, supporting the salmon stock

and providing education in conjunction with our Indigenous colleagues, and

also our North Shore Streamkeepers, who find and rehabilitate the many

streams that have been affected by residential and commercial development.

Seymour Mountain provides access to the outdoors for many folks from Metro

Vancouver, and COVID has impacted the ability to absorb the numbers of

key.

I support our throne speech, as it shows the way to get beyond COVID,

to get herd immunity established and recalibrate our lives so that we’re

able to get on with being part of our family, part of our community and part

of our society. I’m a proud member of a government that is committed to

keeping B.C. and supporting B.C. in achieving that goal. We will keep

working together as a province to keep ourselves and each other safe,

connected and posi­tive.

At the end of my discussion, I would just like to make a brief

shout-out to our interns, Kala, Arian and Rachel, who helped put together

this response to the throne. I appreciate their help.

Thank you for the opportunity to support the throne speech.

T. Halford: I rise today to speak to the throne speech. I’ve actually got to speak

to something first that’s a bigger priority for me, and that is to wish my

daughter Sasha a very, very happy seventh birthday.

I know that members in this House from every party…. We all will make

sacrifices, and they’re important sacrifices, but it is not just us making

those sacrifices. Today I’m reminded that those that we love very, very much

have to make sacrifices as well.

To Sasha, I say happy birthday. I say that I will see you soon, and I

will come bearing gifts, maybe some flowers and some chocolates.

When I talk about Sasha and when I’m reminded of my other kids…. And I

do have other kids. They’re boys, but Sasha is always the one that somehow

ends up stealing dad’s heart.

I will say that we have a very, very important job to do. Whether

we’re on the government side of the House or the opposition side of the

House, we have the utmost responsibility to our constituents and to those in

this province to do our level best to provide everybody with a better life.

I say that with respect, and I have to say that I think this throne speech

missed a part of that.

I think when we’re looking at where we’ve come from and where we’re

going and that we’ve faced this global pandemic for over a full calendar

year now, we must realize the amount of British Columbians that are

struggling at all levels. We must realize the amount of British Columbians

who have experienced loss, who have lost loved ones in this pandemic. And we

must realize the British Columbians that have lost loved ones in our other

pandemic that we’ve just been discussing on the sombre fifth anniversary of

our opioid crisis.

[2:55 p.m.]

We owe it to all British Columbians to do our level best, when we’re

in this House or when we’re outside of this House, to get up each day and

pursue a better British Columbia. We need to ensure that we are striving to

make significant investments in areas where we’re experiencing growth or

areas where we’re experiencing extreme shortage. I’ll talk about a few of

those areas right now.

When we talk about small business support and about the front-line

workers that have been there for us from day one of this pandemic, it’s our

obligation to be there for them. When we look at what we’ve done for small

businesses…. When we came out of this election in October, many, many

commitments were made. I think a lot of hope was given.

I remember setting up my constit office. I would usually do between

five and ten meetings a day with constituents who were trying to get their

economic recovery benefit. I understand the intentions of the government. I

understand what they were trying to do. But it was that false sense of hope.

I was talking to single moms. I was talking to grandparents. I was talking

to an individual that just lost his job or lost his business. They said: “I

can’t access this. I can’t access this grant.”

When we look at what we were doing for the small business recovery and

how we stumbled getting that out, I think we can all agree that the last

number of months have been incredibly difficult. The last year has been

incredibly difficult for all British Columbians. But this throne speech was

an opportunity to deliver. It was an opportunity to give British Columbians

a better hope.

We talk about transportation. I was somewhat enthused to see that the

Massey replacement was discussed. But it’s 2021. The previous government had

already committed millions, hundreds of millions, of dollars to that

project, which was put on hold. We’re back at square one. We're talking

about it, but we are not seeing a shovel in the ground. We’re not giving

families the relief they deserve in times of their commute.

Quite often I hear from parents. I know my colleague does as well.

Whether it is a missed soccer game or whether it’s a missed appointment, a

missed surgery, we have to view that as a failure to act. We have to view

that as a failure on this government to prioritize the needs of British

Columbians in my community and the neighbouring com­munities that

depend on that transportation.

It gives little faith when we hear that the replacement for the

Pattullo Bridge is further delayed. That gives us little comfort.

It gives us great strain when we hear that support for mental health

is coming. “Be patient. Hold tight.” Well, for a number of families in

British Columbia, they’ve run out of time. They’ve run out of patience. In

some instances, lives have been lost. Now, I know that the intention of this

government is to provide solutions and support for British Columbians in

every community. But when we’re talking about parents having to make a

choice between having groceries in their fridge or paying for their child’s

counselling or psychiatric treatment, we’re missing the mark.

[3:00 p.m.]

Too often we talk about what we can do. We talk about what is needed.

But this government has had a very, very difficult time in terms of

executing what’s needed. I think we’ve seen that. All the intentions that

this government has are well intended. But at the end of the day, it

continues to miss the mark.

Now, I can say with confidence, as a dad of three, that there is no

more important health in my child’s life than their mental health. We look

at what our children have come through over the last year. Children have not

been able to see their grandparents, on many occasions. They have not been

able to play hockey, play soccer, have sleepovers, travel, see their

cousins.

We understand why. I’m not making the argument that that’s…. We’re not

making the argument that that shouldn’t happen. What we’re saying is that

the toll that that takes on our youth is enormous. What my fear is, as an

MLA and as a dad, is that we will see a tsunami of our youth needing mental

health support. The two biggest fears I have are that the support is not

there, in terms of counsellors and psychiatric treatment, and then the

second is affordability.

British Columbians, many of them, are struggling to pay the bills.

Many of them are struggling to pay their mortgages and pay their rent, so a

$120, a $150, a $200 bill for mental health services, whether it’s

counselling or psychiatric treatment, sometimes is enough to push them

financially over the edge. Unfortunately, I think that’s happening more

often than not. We, on both sides of the House, need to find a way to do

better. We owe it to our kids to do better.

When we talk about youth and mental health, the other point I wanted

to point out was that in my riding of Surrey–White Rock, predominantly a

senior riding…. I’ve got a lot of senior citizens in White Rock, a lot of

grandparents in White Rock, a lot of individuals and seniors that are on

fixed incomes, that don’t have disposable income. When we’re talking about

the economic recovery benefit that was committed to British Columbians, a

lot of them were counting on that money for Christmas gifts. They were

counting on money to pay the bills, pay hydro, pay rent.

It’s important that when we’re talking about our seniors, we also

consider our seniors in terms of mental health. Our seniors are not able, in

many cases, to access mental health via Zoom or Teams, which we are so

accustomed to, as we can see here on the screen today. Many of the seniors

in my riding don’t own a computer. This government references gov.bc.ca or

this hub here, and the support there or this network here. I’ll tell you, in

my riding, very few and far between seniors are able to access those

supports online.

We in this House need to do a better job of supporting our seniors for

mental health. When we talk about grandkids not being able to see their

grandparents, there’s a pretty big flip side to that, and that is

grandparents not being able to see their grandkids, or their own children,

who many times they’re dependent on to get them to an appointment or to get

them groceries or to talk.

In my riding, I really, really worry about the effects of mental

health on seniors and the effects that they will feel on the limited budget

that they have. I think that’s something that I am hoping, optimistically,

this government will address in the upcoming budget.

[3:05 p.m.]

I grew up in a family where my parents both owned small businesses. My

mom still does, in White Rock. She’s got a coffee shop, and it’s inside a

curling rink. I’ve never curled before, but it’s inside a curling rink in

White Rock. This has been the most difficult year, in terms of keeping that

business open. I know that that story is not uncommon with the other

thousands of small businesses that we all share in our own

communities.

I ask ourselves, and I ask this government: in this throne speech, are

we doing our level best to offer those businesses support? Are we

communicating well enough with those businesses?

I think we need to do better. I know small businesses are struggling

right now. We need to find ways to make sure that we can support them, in

any means necessary. I know that in our house, we’re enjoying takeout a

little bit more often than we’ve done in the past. But we need to find ways

to support our small businesses that were there for us yesterday. We need to

be there for them today so that they can be there for us

tomorrow.

I also want to take the time to speak about some of the other issues

that we’ve seen. We haven’t really talked a lot about it, but you know what?

Every British Columbian right now needs a little bit of help, whether it’s

financial help, whether it’s help in mental health, whether it’s help in

transportation needs. Every British Columbian needs a bit of

help.

I know it’s something that we…. Some jokes have been made about it,

but I’ll give an example: a Netflix tax. Why now? When British Columbians

are…. We’re asking them to choose to be at home. We are asking them not to

travel. We are asking them to do the right thing and stay with their

immediate family.

As a dad, I can tell you that I’m not sure I get through this without

Netflix and Disney+ in my house with our three kids. It’s a challenge. It’s

a challenge for a lot of parents. But to tax Netflix right now? Come on. We

can do better than that. Do you think that’s what a parent needs right now —

a tax on a streaming service? I don’t know. I find it a little bit

disingenuous that when we’re trying to make life easier for British

Columbians, we tax a streaming service, but okay.

We have our work cut out for us on a number of files. We talked about

economically…. From a health perspective, we’ve talked about the

affordability issues that we’re seeing with mental health that my colleagues

raised today. I will put out a challenge, and I guess it will be kind of a

direct challenge to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. On a file

of such importance — and I say this with respect, because I do believe the

minister understands how important the file is — we need a concrete,

coherent, well-funded plan to address mental health and addictions. Full

stop. That’s it. I think all members in this House can agree with

that.

I can tell you that mental health was not an item that was talked

about a lot when I was growing up. It wasn’t talked a lot in a lot of the

houses that I knew growing up. I think it’s talked a lot — I hope it is

talked a lot — in a lot of the houses in British Columbia today.

[3:10 p.m.]

When we’re talking about reducing stigma, when we’re talking about

giving support and giving people a pathway to a better life, we need to hold

up our end of the bargain. We need to do a better job, and we are not doing

that. The intentions are there, the words are there, but there is not a

policy or a plan in place that seismically addresses the gaps that we are

seeing in mental health and addictions.

My challenge to the minister today is to commit to a plan that shows

us that we are on a path to a better tomorrow — that shows the moms outside

and the dads outside and the sisters and the brothers outside who have

experienced devastating losses. I’ll be there to support it, if it’s a plan

that addresses all the issues that we need to talk about.

When we are talking about mental health and addictions…. To the

Premier’s point, there are more legs on that stool than what we’re talking

about today. We need to ensure, all British Columbians, that we are taking

the issue seriously. The only way to do that is to have a plan in place and

to have it funded appropriately.

I am cautiously optimistic that is being considered for next week’s

budget. I know that it was addressed in the throne speech, but this

government has talked about mental health services for four years. I think

we can all agree that we’re not in a better place today than we were

yesterday.

As I wrap up here, I want to say thank you. I want to say thank you to

all of those people who have been on the front lines of this pandemic and

who have put their lives on hold to better us and to protect us. Whether

it’s firefighters, paramedics, police, grocery workers, doctors, nurses,

there’s a lot of tired British Columbians out there. I think we’re all proud

of them.

I ask you this: does this throne speech provide relief for them in a

meaningful way, when we emerge from this pandemic?

J. Brar: I’m really pleased to respond to the 2021 throne speech, delivered in

this House this week on Monday.

This throne speech outlines our work to put the pandemic behind us and

our plans to build a strong recovery for everyone. Our government’s top

priority is protecting people’s health and livelihoods as we accelerate

B.C.’s vaccine rollout.

The COVID-19 pandemic, the toughest challenge we have faced in

generations, caused an unprecedented health and economic crisis for the

people of this province. British Columbians have come a long way by looking

out for each other. We can finally see the final line in sight.

Over a million people in B.C. have already received their first

vaccine, with thousands more getting it every day. But as in a marathon, the

final push is the hardest. The threat of a new variant means we must not let

down our guard or give up on our layers of protection.

[3:15 p.m.]

Keeping people healthy and safe until we have crossed the finish line

is our collective responsibility, and it is our government’s top priority.

We are all in this together. People, businesses and health care workers have

stood up to this challenge to help people of this province go through this

difficult time.

I would like to thank Dr. Bonnie Henry and the Minister of Health for

doing a remarkable job to keep our people safe and to sustain our economy in

the best possible shape during this very difficult time. That will serve us

as a springboard for a fast economic recovery after the pandemic is

over.

I would also like to acknowledge the commitment of health care workers

and other front-line workers that have helped keep British Columbians safe.

The staff at Surrey Memorial Hospital have done a super job to deal with

this unknown and extremely challenging virus.

Dr. Jaspinder Ghuman, an emergency room physician at Surrey Memorial

Hospital, shared his experience in the Surrey Now-Leader newspaper

on April 3, 2021.

“There was a ‘lot of fear’ when going into work during the first wave of

the pandemic last spring….

“‘It felt like so long ago, but initially, when we first started, you

thought, “Okay, yeah. This will be over in a few months, and we will be back

to normal,”’ he noted.

“‘You can see the slow progression of the changes that were happening in

the Surrey Memorial emergency room. We went from wearing no masks to then

wearing masks when we saw patients to wearing masks all the time….’

“‘I haven’t seen my colleagues’ faces for almost a year, and we have so

many new staff members in the hospital now. I actually have not seen their

full face yet.’

“The last year, since the pandemic was declared in B.C., has been a

‘difficult year. There’s been a lot of ups and downs. We’ve learned a lot in

the past year. It is difficult to go back into where we started from, but I

think we’ve come a long way, even regardless of where we are now.’

“But now Ghuman said he feels safe coming into the hospital.

“‘It’s amazing how much we’ve learned about the virus over the past year

that I feel safe. I actually feel really safe coming into the hospital.

Everybody has a mask on. The risk of transmission is so low if both people

have a mask on. I feel comfortable.’

“‘We’ve made so many strides to make the ER safe…. It’s a completely

safe environment to come into, regardless if you have COVID or

not.’”

This story tells us the challenges and sacrifices our health care

workers have made and continue to make to keep us all safe. My sincere

thanks to Dr. Ghuman and the other health care professionals at Surrey

Memorial Hospital for providing the best care to the people of Surrey during

this difficult time and for keeping us all safe.

This throne speech states that we will take action to help people now

and create the conditions for a strong economic recovery that works for

everyone.

[3:20 p.m.]

When the pandemic hit, B.C. was an economic leader in Canada. B.C. was

among the leaders in employment growth across the nation. Four consecutive

years prior to the pandemic, B.C.’s unemployment rate remained the lowest in

Canada, at 4.7 percent. We had a triple-A credit rating. Budget 2020 was a

balanced plan focused on the priorities of British Columbians. We were one

of the country’s fastest-growing economies, with a low unemployment rate and

steadily rising wages.

Despite the challenges of the last year, our strengths remain. B.C.

enjoys abundant natural resources, is a gateway to Asia and has highly

skilled people. We are already seeing positive signs for recovery. B.C.

created 2,800 jobs in January 2021, and B.C. has seen nine consecutive

months of job growth, bringing the employment numbers to more than 98

percent of pre-pandemic levels.

We understand that there’s more we need to do. We understand that.

Later this month we will introduce a new budget that will improve health

care, help businesses grow and hire and make record investment in

infrastructure. Help is on the way.

Our focus from day one was on putting people first. That focus has not

wavered during the pandemic, and we will continue through the recovery. When

COVID-19 first struck, our government moved quickly to provide relief for

renters, middle-class families, hard-hit small businesses and the most

vulnerable people.

Our government was quick to provide a recovery ben­efit to the

people in need. Families with a combined household income of less than

$125,000 per year were eligible to receive $1,000. Families earning above

that, up to $170,000, received payment on a sliding scale. Individuals

earning less than $62,000 a year were eligible to receive $500, with those

earning up to $87,000 eligible for a payment on a sliding scale. The

emergency benefit for workers provided a $1,000 payment to people who lost

their income.

A top-up of the B.C. climate action tax credit was pro­vided, up

to an additional $451 in July for a family of four. A temporary rental

supplement was provided up to $500 to reduce the cost of rent and ensure

landlords continued to receive income. There was a three-month credit for

B.C. Hydro customers who had lost income, an average credit of $477. All

student loan payments were suspended until September 30. People receiving

income or disability assistance were given a $300-per-month COVID-19 crisis

supplement.

Our government also provided much-needed support to small and

medium-sized businesses. We cut property tax bills for businesses by 25

percent, providing $700 million in immediate relief. An average urban

business saved $5,600. We moved quickly to defer many business taxes until

the end of September. This included the EHT, the PST, the tobacco tax, the

municipal and regional district tax, the motor fuel tax and the carbon tax.

Hydro bills were forgiven for three months for small businesses that were

forced to close, saving an average of $363.

[3:25 p.m.]

We moved to enhance the commercial rent relief program, which provided

a 75 percent reduction in rent for hard-hit businesses by preventing

evictions of commercial tenants that could qualify. We allowed restaurants

to purchase alcohol at wholesale prices, saving them up to 25 percent. We

also provided emergency funding to support child care centres — over $150

million to support more than 4,500 child care centres.

The list goes on. There are more programs we offered to the people of

British Columbia to go through this very difficult time. In fact, B.C. has

delivered more direct help for people throughout the pandemic than any other

province in the country. We understood from the very beginning that while

everyone was affected by the pandemic, not everyone was affected evenly. We

are all in the same storm, not in the same boat. So as we move forward

towards better days, our government will make targeted investments to ensure

the recovery does not leave people behind.

Local communities have been on the front lines of COVID-19, and our

government has been there to support them from the start. Through the

pandemic, we en­sured local governments could continue providing

services and keep the people who provide those services working. As we turn

towards recovery, investing in strong communities will be a key priority for

us.

The upcoming budget will make record investment in infrastructure to

keep people and our economy moving forward. Roads, bridges, rapid transit,

as well as schools, hospitals and community centres will continue being

built across the province. Training programs and community benefit programs

will ensure these investments support good job creation where it is needed

most. Projects like the Broadway subway, Pattullo Bridge replacement in

Surrey and the Highway 1 expansion in the Interior will keep moving

forward.

This throne speech also highlights the commitment to build much-needed

infrastructure for the fast-growing city of Surrey. Finally, steps will be

taken towards building the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain, ensuring the line fully

ex­tends to Langley, excellent news for the people of

Surrey-Fleetwood.

A new hospital for the people of Surrey is also moving forward. We are

building this hospital. The B.C. Liberals were never, ever serious about

building a new hospital in Surrey. I’m not saying it; history speaks for

itself. The B.C. Liberals sold a parcel of property near 152 and Highway 10

in Surrey that was acquired by the B.C. NDP government in 1990 for a new

Surrey hospital. Our government made the promise to the people of Surrey to

build a new hospital, and this throne speech specifically mentions that the

new Surrey hospital is moving forward. That’s our promise.

We are building, in Surrey, the Pattullo Bridge replacement, the

Surrey-Langley SkyTrain, a new hospital and many, many much-needed schools

that will be built in the near future.

[3:30 p.m.]

Many of B.C.’s businesses have been hard hit by the pandemic. Our

government is helping them adapt so they can grow and hire. Many small

businesses had to make the tough decision to close or reduce services to

protect their workers and customers. From the outset, our government made it

clear we would help small businesses and their employees get through it.

Early on we cut property taxes, prohibited commercial evictions and forgave

B.C. hydro bills, and we introduced incentives for businesses to hire

workers and make new investments.

[N. Letnick in the chair.]

In the year ahead, we will continue to support businesses that have

been hard hit by the pandemic, while we build towards a more innovative,

sustainable and inclusive economy for the future of British Columbia. Record

investment in infrastructure will help support a resilient economy for B.C.

by putting people to work and helping businesses get goods to

market.

Investing in affordable housing and child care is part of the economic

and development strategy because they help businesses attract and retain

talent by lowering the cost of living.

Over the next year, we will take concrete steps to ensure British

Columbia comes back from the pandemic stronger and more resilient. Steps

will be taken to improve health care to ensure we are prepared for future

challenges by fixing cracks in long-term care that COVID-19 has exposed,

reducing surgery wait times and building more hospitals and urgent primary

care centres all over B.C.

Just yesterday a Surrey non-profit organization known as PICS, or

Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society, had a very successful

fundraising to build a di­versity village for seniors. It’s a

completely new kind of senior care home, and it will be built in Surrey.

It’s good news for the people of Surrey. PICS is moving very fast, working

with the provincial government to make sure construction starts soon. My

congratulations to the leadership and staff members of PICS for raising, I

heard, over half a million dollars yesterday. A good job done

there.

We will also take steps to make life more affordable by cutting ICBC

rates by 20 percent, expanding access to $10-a-day child care spaces and

helping get thousands of affordable rental homes. Steps will also be taken

to support businesses with grants to help them build online stores and by

supporting the InBC strategic investment fund, which will help promising

B.C. firms scale up and keep jobs here.

Steps will also be taken to build more inclusive communities by

developing B.C.’s first antiracism law, reforming the outdated Police Act

disability.

We will also protect the environment by reforming for­estry

legislation, continuing to take action on recommendations to protect

old-growth stands and improve waste management for plastic. We will bridge

the digital gap with new investment to boost connectivity in more rural

communities, build on progress made to bring better Internet to thousands of

our households.

I feel proud to support this throne speech delivered this week in this

House. That’s the best way, moving forward, in this province.

[3:35 p.m.]

I would like to spend a few minutes to thank the people of

Surrey-Fleetwood, my team and my family. First, I would like to convey my

sincere thanks to the people who have been part of my political journey. I

exist in this House because the people of Surrey elected me as their

representative five times. That is certainly a rare honour for me.

Therefore, I would like to convey my sincere thanks to the people of

Surrey-Fleetwood for giving me the opportunity and for putting their faith

in me.

Huge thanks to my staff members, Navneet Kahlon and Deanna Fasciani,

at the Surrey-Fleetwood office for their exceptional services to the people

of Surrey-Fleetwood and their day-to-day support to me. I also want to thank

Paige Falkins for her timely and extraordinary support to me on a day-to-day

basis. Thanks to all members of the Surrey-Fleetwood Riding Association for

their ongoing support to me for many, many years.

Last but not least, thanks from the bottom of my heart to the love of

my life, my friend and my beautiful wife, Rajwant Brar, and to my daughter

Noor and my son Fateh, for their unconditional support to me. I love you

all.

J. Tegart: It is a pleasure to stand in the House today and give my response to

the Speech from the Throne.

The throne speech starts by acknowledging the passing of a number of

British Columbians over the last year. I’d like to add my sincere

condolences to anyone who has lost a loved one in the last year. Whether

their passing was due to either of the two pandemics that are raging through

our province or not, to lose a loved one under COVID conditions has been

particularly difficult.

As an MLA, I’ve had the opportunity to speak to people who have shared

their stories of what it was like to experience a loss during COVID. Not

being able to be with the loved one who is sick. Not being able to advocate

in a way that is comfortable and supportive. Limited opportunity to say

goodbye. Not being able to be with family, to comfort one another after the

death. Not being able to host and share a celebration of life of a person

who meant so much to so many.

COVID has changed our lives. We have had to find new ways to mourn. It

has not been easy. People say we are resilient, but it doesn’t feel very

resilient on those sad, sad days that so many people are experiencing. We

have a lot of citizens who are mourning, many all alone with limited contact

with family. We need to support and care for those people in our

communities.

Again, sincere condolences during this very difficult time. Not only

are loved ones affected by the COVID changes; so are our front-line workers.

To hear story after story from people on the front lines, who are trying

their best to provide comfort and support at end of life — a special thank

you.

As I listened to the Speech from the Throne, I must say that I was

disappointed. This throne speech offered little help or hope for people and

small businesses who are struggling right now, no plan to deal with economic

recovery, unemployment or the worsening opioid crisis. The time for “trust

me” has passed for this second-term Premier.

[3:40 p.m.]

British Columbians are facing rising case counts and the spread of

COVID-19 variants. They’re worried about their heath and economic

well-being. Government fails to put forward a real plan for recovery. Small

businesses are struggling. Non-profits are worried about their futures.

Parents are concerned for their kids. British Columbia has nearly 40,000

fewer full-time jobs than before the pandemic hit.

The government’s inability to get supports to those who need them most

and its failure to put forward any economic recovery plan is putting the

future prosperity of our province at risk. Government has a responsibility

to be a leader and to guide our province through this pandemic and into our

economic recovery at the other end. But by delaying vital relief, failing to

implement policies necessary to protect and support B.C. families,

communities and businesses, and taking actions that serve their own

self-interests before the well-being of British Columbians, they have failed

our province and the people they were elected to serve.

British Columbians were looking for hope. COVID cases continue to

surge, and 53 percent of British Columbians today are $200 or less away from

not being able to pay their monthly bills. We’re in a crisis. We’re looking

for leadership. In a speech that should have laid out a path forward, I see

very little to hang our hats on.

Responding to the throne speech gives each of us the opportunity to

share information about the amazing areas that we represent. The riding that

I represent is Fraser-Nicola. It starts south of Hope, goes to north of 70

Mile House, east to almost Kamloops, over to Gold Bridge and Bralorne

outside of Lillooet, between Merritt and Princeton, and down Highway 3 to

the U.S. border.

I have five nations, including Secwépemc, Nlaka’pamux, Stl’atl’imx,

Stó:lō and Syilx; and eight municipalities; three regional districts; three

school districts; two health authorities; and probably none of those

agencies have common borders. Agriculture, mining, forestry, tourism are

some of the main economic drivers in Fraser-Nicola, and it is support for

the people of my riding that I search for in the throne speech.

I don’t think anyone in this chamber would have told you a year ago

that we would still be living with a pandemic and be in the third wave of

it. We left Victoria last March for spring break, thinking we would be back

in session shortly. Little did we know. At first, it was a few weeks, then

we’d get back to normal. Then a few months. Now we’ve been living with COVID

for over a year. Many wonder when we will see an end. Or do we just need to

adapt to the new normal?

In listening to the throne speech, I was looking for hope. I’m hearing

from people in my riding who are COVID-weary. They have followed the rules.

They have stayed apart. They have stayed home, and still the case numbers

are escalating.

[3:45 p.m.]

The throne speech suggests we are in the final push of the pandemic.

We’re at a turning point, and still the case numbers keep growing. As

vaccinations roll out, people are extremely hopeful. But again, the numbers

are not slowing down.

The Premier says he called a snap election in the middle of a pandemic

so we could put politics behind us and B.C. could have a clear path forward.

But it seems he can’t find a path forward, even with a majority government,

and we only have to look at the history of the pandemic numbers to know what

an impact that snap election had on where we are today with our

pandemic.

The people I talk to are calling for more data. They want more

transparency from government. They want clarity on the health orders, and

government is not responding. Trust is earned, and this government needs to

listen, to respond, and to be transparent about what is

happening.

Businesses in my riding are hurting. As we all know, small and

medium-sized businesses are the job creators and the backbone of our

communities. Sadly, we’ve seen them shut down on a moment’s notice, pivot to

respond to public health orders on demand, and try everything they can do to

keep their employees working. Government has promised help over and over,

but the botched small business support program has provided little relief.

Programs that are bogged down in paperwork and bureaucracy are of small

comfort to a business trying to keep their doors open and their lights

on.

Yesterday in the House, government boasted about putting together a

new program to support businesses during this circuit breaker stage. They

claimed it only took a week to put it together. Well, if you could do it in

a week, why the year delay in supporting businesses? Really? Businesses have

been hurting for over 12 months. Boast about this program to the small

business owner who just closed her business doors and is now facing the

possibility of losing her home.

As we’re talking about those most affected during this past year,

let’s talk about the impact of job loss on women and youth. The opposition

has been calling for a specific job plan for women and youth, but there is

no plan to be found. Women and youth were mentioned once in the throne

speech — once — yet we know that those are the demographics that are most

affected during the pandemic. It seems government is most reluctant to put a

plan together or anything in writing, because they may be held

accountable.

In my role as critic for Education, I looked through the throne

speech, looking for action from government that is responding to the voices

of concern in the education field. Throughout the pandemic, government has

put a disproportionate amount of stress on teachers, educators, support

staff and others in B.C. schools. Government has ignored many of the calls

for greater COVID data-gathering and reporting.

[3:50 p.m.]

It is that data-gathering that helps build trust in the system. It

helps parents and families make good decisions on the safety of their

children and their families, yet government has not responded.

For months, government ignored school districts’ re­quests to

give them the freedom to implement additional layers of protection against

rising variants. We know, from our experience with COVID, that there are hot

spots in the province. We know that there are strategies to deal with that,

yet we tied the hands of people in charge of their local schools. We did not

allow them to put protective measures in place.

Government also ignored calls for more widespread use of rapid tests

in classrooms, for months. They also ignored the calls for mandatory mask

policies, for months, only implementing after the rise of variants and the

start of a third wave. Parents, school staff, school boards — anyone

associated with the education system — continued to ask for data. The best

data available came through Facebook, run by volunteer parents, with the

information being gathered on a daily basis and shared with parents across

the province.

Shame on government. It is your job to share that data and to ensure

that it is accurate, timely and transparent. Thank you to so many parents

who participated in ensuring that letters of transmission were sent in to

the Facebook group and that that data was the most up to date that we could

find.

Schools also receive mixed messaging. New school guidelines in late

March announced new guidance, with recommendations that students from grade

4 up should wear masks while in school. Well, I don’t know about you, but

“should” is kind of a little bit of an interpretive word. There was a great

deal of confusion. Did it mean “must”? Can we enforce it? What would it look

like in school? It created unnecessary confusion for students, staff and

families, where they did not understand whether it was actually a public

health order mandating masks or not. This shows the lack of direction and

leadership coming from this government in their education plan.

Now, I seem to recall debate in this House in regard to a delay in the

budget and assurances from government that there would be little impact on

those who depend on government for their budgets. Well, I can tell you that

the people I’m talking to in the education system are sharing, with me, very

grave concerns about the delay in the budget and the fact that it has pushed

back budget consultations, public consultations, and made it very, very

tight for deadlines around staffing, around programs, around cuts that may

have to be made within budgets.

[3:55 p.m.]

Because of that two-month delay, we again have confusion within the

system. The disorganization of this government is creating another layer of

uncertainty for teachers, parents, staff and administration.

The other concern that I’m hearing from parents and schools is that

$242 million came from the federal government to help our public education

system to ensure safety during COVID. School boards have been asking: is

government going to continue that funding? That funding went towards PPE. It

went towards additional staff. It went towards additional cleaning. It also

went towards ventilation upgrades for clean air in schools.

There’s been no word on whether that will be continued. If it’s not

continued, school boards will have to do a lot of work to find that money,

because September is not going to look that different than the schools we’re

in right now. They know that we’re going to still need safety protocols in

our schools. How will it be paid for? Those questions are

unanswered.

I notice that this throne speech also has a lot of old promises in it,

but one of the ones that is missing is the elimination of the Surrey

portables. That seems to be an election campaign promise that is on every

platform that the government has run on — certainly since I’ve been an MLA —

since 2013. Not a word in the throne speech.

I searched to see if there was any additional funding or any talk of

hybrid learning, because I think one of the things we’ve learned during

COVID is that kids learn in different ways. For some of our students, hybrid

learning has been very successful. Parents have been asking for options. I

found nothing in this throne speech that talks about that.

This government also did a cut of 20 percent in the funding for

independent distributed learning in May of 2020, during the first wave of

the pandemic, at a time when parents were asking for options. Is that 20

percent going to be replaced?

What about youth mental health supports? Students’ social development

has been challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic. For many students in

kindergarten in September, they will have spent 18 months in isolation. I’ve

had teachers talk to me and say: “How do we prepare for that?” COVID has

impacted students of all ages at crucial points in their academic and social

development. We’ve had many talks in this House in regards to stories shared

by parents who have grave concerns about their 13- and 14-year-olds and the

impact of COVID.

The restricted student access to vital supports that schools offer has

affected their academic and social growth. There is no doubt about that. A

great many parents and a great many professional staff are talking about

what happens when we come out at the other end of the pandemic. Government

has painted their plan for student mental health supports in broad strokes,

but there is no mention of what investments they are going to make to put

our children on the path to heal and grow after the pandemic.

[4:00 p.m.]

Our young people have had a year of incredible disruption. I think so

many of us can think back to our high school years and how important those

years were in cementing friendships, in developing good habits for learning,

in connecting with adults in a meaningful way and in celebrating

successes.

How many of our young people have not had a graduation? How many of

our young people are worried about scholarships? About university next year?

About whether they will qualify? I think we have no idea what the impact has

been, and I think we’re going to be very surprised, as we come out of COVID,

what impacts we’re going to see in the system and on individuals.

When I look at this throne speech, I also look for promises that will

help people in my riding. I searched through­out the throne speech to

identify support for issues that have been brought forward to government

from my riding. I searched for the rural dividend, a program that so many

small communities depended on for seed money to start projects in their

area.

Forestry. Barely a mention, certainly no plan. Mining is so critically

important in my riding, hosting Highland Valley Copper and good jobs for

young people in our area. Barely mentioned, again. Agriculture. Food

security has become so incredibly important during COVID. People have become

so aware of where their food comes from. Is there a plan?

Tourism. Our small businesses that count on tourists are struggling.

They need a plan. They need stability. They need leadership from government.

They employ our young people, and they are hanging on by a

thread.

I’ve talked about flood relief in this House many times, about the

effect of wildfires and a challenging spring freshet. I see nothing in this

throne speech about being proactive with climate change and with the effects

that we’re going to see this spring and beyond.

Child care spaces. That’s an old promise. The $10 universal child

care, nowhere to be seen. The $400 rental re­bate is missing in

action. Seniors housing.

“Disappointed in the throne speech” is an understatement. I was

looking for hope, for a plan to pull us out of the pandemic, to give people

a vision for where government would like to go. We got platitudes and old

promises that the government has not fulfilled in its four years in

government. At a time when we need bold, new ideas, this speech fell

flat.

We have one more opportunity to show British Columbians where

government would like to go. Being an optimist at heart, I’m hopeful that

budget day will be that day and it will address the gaps that are so obvious

in this throne speech.

It is always a pleasure to respond to a throne speech in this House.

It is such an honour to serve the people of Fraser-Nicola.

I’d like to thank you for the opportunity to speak today.

[4:05 p.m.]

Hon. M. Rankin: It’s always an honour to stand in this place and speak on behalf of

the good people of Oak Bay–​Gordon Head.

I want to start by saying how fortunate I am to live and work in the

territory of the Lək̓ʷəŋin̓əŋ-speaking

peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, from whom I’ve learned so much

over the years. I acknowledge that debt of gratitude to them

today.

As the Lieutenant-Governor said on Monday when she delivered the

Speech from the Throne, for the last four years, this government has worked

to go beyond those important land acknowledgements to really forge new

partnerships with the Indigenous peoples of our province. Working together I

believe we are advancing the meaningful reconciliation and the work of

decolonization that we are here to do. I’ll say more about that in a

moment.

Also, as I rise, I want to say thank you to Butch Dick for his

powerful opening on the second session of the 42nd parliament of the

province of British Columbia.

I have three goals today, if I may, in responding to the Speech from

the Throne. First, it’s the tradition in speeches from this throne to start,

as the Lieutenant-Governor did yesterday, by celebrating and commemorating

important residents of our province who’ve passed away over the past year. I

want to start, if I may, with a tribute to a friend and neighbour and great

British Columbian who passed away over the last year.

Secondly, I want to speak directly in response to the Speech from the

Throne by amplifying some of the key messages and foreshadowing other

matters that will come forward in the days to come.

Thirdly, I want to speak about the work underway in my ministry, as I

have the honour of serving as the Minister of Indigenous Relations and

Reconciliation and the privilege of spearheading an all-of-government

response to the challenge of our times — namely, reconciliation.

Her Honour began her Speech from the Throne on Monday by acknowledging

the passing of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the

age of 99. This was a remarkable person, much loved in my community for his

devoted service, not just in support of Her Majesty the Queen, but to the

broader community. Fundamentally, Prince Philip was a public servant in the

best sense of that word.

I’m here to salute another public servant, one of the many who live

and work in my community of Oak Bay–Gordon Head and who quietly go about

their work, literally, to serve the public. Paul Geoffrey Jarman was one of

those devoted public servants. During the pandemic, we’ve come to remember,

perhaps more than in ordinary circumstances, the vital work of our public

servants. Allow me to tell you a little bit about one of them.

Paul Jarman passed away last year on October 26, on the day of his

choosing. Paul died peacefully with the love of his life, Ruth Wittenberg,

by his side. Ruth was his partner and spouse of 40 years and is with us

today in the gallery.

Paul was a neighbour and was also a great friend. After moving to

Victoria from his home in Edmonton, he articled and then joined the legal

services branch of the Ministry of Attorney General. Paul practised

primarily environmental and resource law for 35 years until he retired in

Almost immediately after that retirement, sadly, Paul was diagnosed

with myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, which is bone marrow cancer. But that

didn’t stop him from enjoying life to the full. Ruth and Paul managed to

travel around Russia, South America, Asia and Europe.

Paul was an early adapter to the world of e-bikes. I followed suit

shortly afterward. He adapted and adjusted without complaint to his new

circumstance and remained focused on quality of life. Then he was diagnosed

in Sept­ember with pancreatic cancer. But his spirit never wavered. He

made decisions about end of life with courage and determination.

[4:10 p.m.]

At law school, Paul was part of a community-based legal services

group, helping disadvantaged or underfinanced individuals, attending at city

cells and advising on rights of detention, Provincial Court trials, etc. He

had a great sense of fun, a wicked and dry sense of humour that never

descended, however, into cynicism.

Richard Fyfe, the Deputy Attorney General for the province, recalls

Paul’s involvement in high-profile matters, including the Chilcotin justice

inquiry and the Kemano completion project, with his encyclopedic knowledge

of environmental law, on which he drew regularly to ensure that government

was able to fill its obligations and still move forward with projects in the

public interest.

The Hon. Judge Brian, a former Deputy Attorney General, spoke of Paul

in these terms: “He was patient, calm and professional at all times, skills

that served him well as a senior lawyer, dealing with the uniqueness of B.C.

politics and the ever-changing client group in the bureaucracy. Paul was

always the calm at the centre of the storm, with a broad smile and eternal

wisdom born of many years of keeping clients and governments on the straight

and narrow.”

Now, I can attest to that sense of fun. In the 1980s, Paul tells the

story of having been dispatched by the provincial government to Salt Spring

Island to advise the then-chair of the Environmental Appeal Board that his

services were no longer required.

Apparently, to confirm that a certain herbicide was environmentally

benign, the former chair had famously drunk the herbicide in public and

proclaimed that it had no effect whatsoever on his health. Paul calmly

explained to the chair that there might have been a conflict of interest

there, and there may be problems with optics. For his efforts, Paul was

appointed the interim chair of the Environmental Appeal Board, during which

time he wrote a very useful report with reform proposals that were

subsequently implemented.

Colleagues from the AG’s ministry, and from government generally,

recall Paul’s dry wit and his demeanor during what he used to call the “flap

du jour,” his deep knowledge to recall facts and details and consequences of

past decisions and his role as a mentor.

Let me conclude by referring to a young lawyer who worked with Paul in

his division in the ministry. She said this:

“Paul was a true and stalwart mentor to me over the years at the branch,

and then afterwards during his retirement. He was always possessing of a

well. They were introduced once, and from then on, whenever Paul would see

them passing on the street, he would go out of his way to stop, greet them

each by name, shake hands and chat for a few minutes. To immigrants of a

certain generation, this courtesy was enormous.”

Throughout this pandemic, we have been constantly reminded about our

public servants. Paul was simply one of the best. He did his work with grace

and humour but always in the best interests of the Crown and honouring the

Crown — the duty to honour the Crown. He cared deeply about justice and

Indigenous Peoples and lived his professional life with their interests in

mind. Paul Jarman will be deeply missed and always remembered.

Now I want to turn, secondly, to the Speech from the Throne itself,

which, of course, represents a road map — like any Speech from the Throne

would be — of what the government intends in the years to come, and

especially during the next session of this parliament. But this can be a

road map like no other.

There couldn’t be an ordinary Speech from the Throne because of the

COVID-19 emergency that’s turned all of our lives upside down. But we never

must forget that there were two pandemics going on. There was the COVID

pandemic, and the shadow pandemic of which we’ve heard so much today, the

opioi