British Columbia Hansard — 22 April 2021, a.m., Issue 55 (42nd Parliament, 2nd Session)

20210422am-Hansard-n55

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

Second Session, 42nd Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday, April 22, 2021 Morning Sitting Issue No. 55 THE HONOURABLE RAJ CHOUHAN, SPEAKER ISSN 1499-2175

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Her Honour the Honourable Janet Austin, OBC Second Session, 42nd Parliament SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Raj Chouhan EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council ............................................................................................................... Hon. John Horgan Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training...........................................................................................................Hon.

Anne Kang Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries......................................................................................................................Hon. Lana Popham Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing .............................................................................................Hon. David Eby, QC Minister of Children and Family Development ....................................................................................................................Hon.

Mitzi Dean Minister of State for Child Care...................................................................................................................................... Hon. Katrina Chen Minister of Citizens’ Services.....................................................................................................................................................Hon. Lisa Beare Minister of Education .................................................................................................................................................. Hon.

Jennifer Whiteside Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation ........................................................................................Hon. Bruce Ralston, QC Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy............................................................................................. Hon. George Heyman Minister of Finance .......................................................................................................................................................... Hon.

Selina Robinson Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development ................................................ Hon. Katrine Conroy Minister of State for Lands and Natural Resource Operations................................................................................. Hon. Nathan Cullen Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs.............................................................................Hon.

Adrian Dix Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation .......................................................................................... Hon. Murray Rankin, QC Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation....................................................................................................... Hon. Ravi Kahlon Minister of State for Trade...............................................................................................................................................Hon.

George Chow Minister of Labour ...................................................................................................................................................................Hon. Harry Bains Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.............................................................................................................. Hon. Sheila Malcolmson Minister of Municipal Affairs ............................................................................................................................................. Hon.

Josie Osborne Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General ........................................................................................................... Hon. Mike Farnworth Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction........................................................................................... Hon. Nicholas Simons Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport .................................................................................................................. Hon.

Melanie Mark Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure................................................................................................................... Hon. Rob Fleming Minister of State for Infrastructure ................................................................................................................................... Hon.

Bowinn Ma LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Leader of the Official Opposition...................................................................................................................................................Shirley Bond Leader of the Third Party .......................................................................................................................................................... Sonia Furstenau Deputy Speaker..........................................................................................................................................................

Spencer Chandra Herbert Assistant Deputy Speaker..............................................................................................................................................................Norm Letnick Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole .......................................................................................................................... Ronna-Rae Leonard Clerk of the Legislative Assembly ...........................................................................................................................................

Kate Ryan-Lloyd Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel.............................................................................................................................. Seunghee Suzie Seo Clerk Assistant, Parliamentary Services........................................................................................................................... Artour Sogomonian Clerk of Committees.......................................................................................................................................................................

Jennifer Arril Clerk Assistant, Committees and Interparliamentary Relations ..............................................................................................Susan Sourial Senior Research Analyst ................................................................................................................................................................... Karan Riarh Acting Sergeant-at-Arms..................................................................................................................................................................Greg Nelson

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS Alexis, Pam (BC NDP) ............................................................Abbotsford-Mission Anderson, Brittny (BC NDP) .........................................................Nelson-Creston Ashton, Dan (BC Liberal Party) ............................................................... Penticton Babchuk, Michele (BC NDP)...............................................................North Island Bailey, Brenda (BC NDP).................................................. Vancouver–False Creek Bains, Hon. Harry (BC NDP).........................................................

Surrey-Newton Banman, Bruce (BC Liberal Party) ............................................ Abbotsford South Beare, Hon. Lisa (BC NDP) .......................................

Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Begg, Garry (BC NDP).................................................................Surrey-Guildford Bernier, Mike (BC Liberal Party) ...............................................Peace River South Bond, Shirley (BC Liberal Party).................................Prince George–Valemount Brar, Jagrup (BC NDP) ................................................................Surrey-Fleetwood Cadieux, Stephanie (BC Liberal Party) .............................................

Surrey South Chandra Herbert, Spencer (BC NDP).................................Vancouver–West End Chant, Susie (BC NDP) ..............................................North Vancouver–Seymour Chen, Hon. Katrina (BC NDP) ............................................... Burnaby-Lougheed Chouhan, Hon. Raj (BC NDP).................................................Burnaby-Edmonds Chow, Hon. George (BC NDP) ..........................................Vancouver-Fraserview Clovechok, Doug (BC Liberal Party)........................Columbia River–Revelstoke Conroy, Hon.

Katrine (BC NDP) ....................................................Kootenay West Coulter, Dan (BC NDP) .......................................................................... Chilliwack Cullen, Hon. Nathan (BC NDP) ................................................................... Stikine Davies, Dan (BC Liberal Party)................................................. Peace River North de Jong, Michael, QC (BC Liberal Party)....................................Abbotsford West Dean, Hon. Mitzi (BC NDP) ...............................................

Esquimalt-Metchosin D’Eith, Bob (BC NDP) .........................................................Maple Ridge–Mission Dix, Hon. Adrian (BC NDP) ................................................ Vancouver-Kingsway Doerkson, Lorne (BC Liberal Party) ........................................Cariboo-Chilcotin Donnelly, Fin (BC NDP) .......................................... Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Dykeman, Megan (BC NDP)............................................................... Langley East Eby, Hon. David, QC (BC NDP).......................................

Vancouver–Point Grey Elmore, Mable (BC NDP) ..................................................Vancouver-Kensington Farnworth, Hon. Mike (BC NDP) .................................................Port Coquitlam Fleming, Hon. Rob (BC NDP) ...............................................

Victoria–Swan Lake Furstenau, Sonia (BC Green Party) .............................................Cowichan Valley Glumac, Rick (BC NDP) ..................................................Port Moody–Coquitlam Greene, Kelly (BC NDP) ........................................................Richmond-Steveston Halford, Trevor (BC Liberal Party) .........................................Surrey–White Rock Heyman, Hon. George (BC NDP) .........................................Vancouver-Fairview Horgan, Hon. John (BC NDP) ......................................... Langford–Juan de Fuca Kahlon, Hon.

Ravi (BC NDP) .............................................................. Delta North Kang, Hon. Anne (BC NDP) .................................................. Burnaby–Deer Lake Kirkpatrick, Karin (BC Liberal Party) ........................West Vancouver–Capilano Kyllo, Greg (BC Liberal Party)....................................................................Shuswap Lee, Michael (BC Liberal Party) ..............................................Vancouver-Langara Leonard, Ronna-Rae (BC NDP)...............................................

Courtenay-Comox Letnick, Norm (BC Liberal Party) .................................. Kelowna–Lake Country Lore, Grace (BC NDP)........................................................... Victoria–Beacon Hill Ma, Hon. Bowinn (BC NDP).....................................North Vancouver–Lonsdale Malcolmson, Hon. Sheila (BC NDP)........................................................Nanaimo Mark, Hon. Melanie (BC NDP).................................Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Mercier, Andrew (BC NDP) ........................................................................

Langley Merrifield, Renee (BC Liberal Party)......................................... Kelowna-Mission Milobar, Peter (BC Liberal Party) .......................... Kamloops–North Thompson Morris, Mike (BC Liberal Party) ................................. Prince George–Mackenzie Oakes, Coralee (BC Liberal Party).................................................. Cariboo North Olsen, Adam (BC Green Party)............................ Saanich North and the Islands Osborne, Hon.

Josie (BC NDP)........................................Mid Island–Pacific Rim Paddon, Kelli (BC NDP) ................................................................Chilliwack-Kent Paton, Ian (BC Liberal Party) ............................................................... Delta South Popham, Hon. Lana (BC NDP)........................................................ Saanich South Ralston, Hon. Bruce, QC (BC NDP) .............................................Surrey-Whalley Rankin, Hon.

Murray, QC (BC NDP) .............................Oak Bay–Gordon Head Rice, Jennifer (BC NDP) ...................................................................... North Coast Robinson, Hon. Selina (BC NDP)...................................Coquitlam-Maillardville Ross, Ellis (BC Liberal Party)......................................................................... Skeena Routledge, Janet (BC NDP) .............................................................Burnaby North Routley, Doug (BC NDP)...........................................

Nanaimo–North Cowichan Russell, Roly (BC NDP).................................................... Boundary-Similkameen Rustad, John (BC Liberal Party)......................................................Nechako Lakes Sandhu, Harwinder (BC NDP) .................................................Vernon-Monashee Sharma, Niki (BC NDP)..........................................................Vancouver-Hastings Shypitka, Tom (BC Liberal Party) .................................................... Kootenay East Simons, Hon. Nicholas (BC NDP).........................

Powell River–Sunshine Coast Sims, Jinny (BC NDP) ................................................................. Surrey-Panorama Singh, Aman (BC NDP) .............................................Richmond-Queensborough Singh, Rachna (BC NDP)...................................................Surrey–Green Timbers Starchuk, Mike (BC NDP) ......................................................... Surrey-Cloverdale Stewart, Ben (BC Liberal Party) .......................................................

Kelowna West Stone, Todd (BC Liberal Party) ...............................Kamloops–South Thompson Sturdy, Jordan (BC Liberal Party) ............................. West Vancouver–Sea to Sky Tegart, Jackie (BC Liberal Party)....................................................... Fraser-Nicola Walker, Adam (BC NDP) ....................................................... Parksville-Qualicum Wat, Teresa (BC Liberal Party) ....................................... Richmond North Centre Whiteside, Hon. Jennifer (BC NDP) .........................................

New Westminster Wilkinson, Andrew, QC (BC Liberal Party)......................Vancouver-Quilchena Y ao, Henry (BC NDP) ..................................................... Richmond South Centre LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING Abbotsford-Mission................................................................................. Pam Alexis Abbotsford South...............................................................................Bruce Banman Abbotsford West......................................................................

Michael de Jong, QC Boundary-Similkameen........................................................................ Roly Russell Burnaby–Deer Lake....................................................................... Hon. Anne Kang Burnaby-Edmonds......................................................................Hon. Raj Chouhan Burnaby-Lougheed .................................................................... Hon. Katrina Chen Burnaby North .................................................................................

Janet Routledge Cariboo-Chilcotin ..........................................................................Lorne Doerkson Cariboo North.................................................................................... Coralee Oakes Chilliwack ...............................................................................................Dan Coulter Chilliwack-Kent .................................................................................... Kelli Paddon Columbia River–Revelstoke .........................................................

Doug Clovechok Coquitlam–Burke Mountain...............................................................Fin Donnelly Coquitlam-Maillardville ...................................................... Hon. Selina Robinson Courtenay-Comox................................................................... Ronna-Rae Leonard Cowichan Valley ............................................................................. Sonia Furstenau Delta North................................................................................... Hon.

Ravi Kahlon Delta South ..................................................................................................Ian Paton Esquimalt-Metchosin .................................................................... Hon. Mitzi Dean Fraser-Nicola .........................................................................................

Jackie Tegart Kamloops–North Thompson .............................................................Peter Milobar Kamloops–South Thompson..................................................................Todd Stone Kelowna–Lake Country .....................................................................Norm Letnick Kelowna-Mission ...........................................................................

Renee Merrifield Kelowna West ..........................................................................................Ben Stewart Kootenay East.......................................................................................Tom Shypitka Kootenay West........................................................................ Hon. Katrine Conroy Langford–Juan de Fuca .............................................................. Hon.

John Horgan Langley .............................................................................................Andrew Mercier Langley East....................................................................................Megan Dykeman Maple Ridge–Mission.............................................................................. Bob D’Eith Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows............................................................Hon. Lisa Beare Mid Island–Pacific Rim............................................................ Hon.

Josie Osborne Nanaimo.............................................................................Hon. Sheila Malcolmson Nanaimo–North Cowichan............................................................... Doug Routley Nechako Lakes........................................................................................ John Rustad Nelson-Creston ............................................................................. Brittny Anderson New Westminster.............................................................. Hon.

Jennifer Whiteside North Coast ........................................................................................... Jennifer Rice North Island................................................................................... Michele Babchuk North Vancouver–Lonsdale......................................................... Hon. Bowinn Ma North Vancouver–Seymour...................................................................Susie Chant Oak Bay–Gordon Head..................................................Hon.

Murray Rankin, QC Parksville-Qualicum........................................................................... Adam Walker Peace River North ................................................................................... Dan Davies Peace River South ................................................................................ Mike Bernier Penticton ................................................................................................. Dan Ashton Port Coquitlam...................................................................... Hon.

Mike Farnworth Port Moody–Coquitlam.......................................................................Rick Glumac Powell River–Sunshine Coast..............................................Hon. Nicholas Simons Prince George–Mackenzie....................................................................Mike Morris Prince George–Valemount ..................................................................

Shirley Bond Richmond North Centre..........................................................................Teresa Wat Richmond-Queensborough..................................................................Aman Singh Richmond South Centre .......................................................................... Henry Y ao Richmond-Steveston ............................................................................

Kelly Greene Saanich North and the Islands .............................................................Adam Olsen Saanich South .............................................................................Hon. Lana Popham Shuswap...................................................................................................... Greg Kyllo Skeena........................................................................................................... Ellis Ross Stikine........................................................................................ Hon.

Nathan Cullen Surrey-Cloverdale .............................................................................. Mike Starchuk Surrey-Fleetwood.....................................................................................Jagrup Brar Surrey–Green Timbers........................................................................Rachna Singh Surrey-Guildford......................................................................................Garry Begg Surrey-Newton ..............................................................................Hon.

Harry Bains Surrey-Panorama ...................................................................................... Jinny Sims Surrey South ................................................................................ Stephanie Cadieux Surrey-Whalley ................................................................. Hon. Bruce Ralston, QC Surrey–White Rock .......................................................................... Trevor Halford Vancouver-Fairview.............................................................. Hon.

George Heyman Vancouver–False Creek...................................................................... Brenda Bailey Vancouver-Fraserview...............................................................Hon. George Chow Vancouver-Hastings ..............................................................................Niki Sharma Vancouver-Kensington....................................................................... Mable Elmore Vancouver-Kingsway..................................................................... Hon.

Adrian Dix Vancouver-Langara................................................................................ Michael Lee Vancouver–Mount Pleasant..................................................... Hon. Melanie Mark Vancouver–Point Grey ............................................................Hon. David Eby, QC Vancouver-Quilchena........................................................Andrew Wilkinson, QC Vancouver–West End .....................................................Spencer Chandra Herbert Vernon-Monashee .....................................................................

Harwinder Sandhu Victoria–Beacon Hill............................................................................... Grace Lore Victoria–Swan Lake.................................................................... Hon. Rob Fleming West Vancouver–Capilano...........................................................Karin Kirkpatrick West Vancouver–Sea to Sky................................................................Jordan Sturdy Party Standings: BC NDP 57; BC Liberal Party 28; BC Green Party 2

CONTENTS Thursday, April 22, 2021 Morning Sitting Page Routine Business Introductions by Members..................................................................................................................................................... 1345 Introduction and First Reading of Bills................................................................................................................................ 1345 Bill M201 — Assessment (Split Assessment Classification) Amendment Act, 2021 T.

Stone Statements (Standing Order 25B) ......................................................................................................................................... 1346 West Vancouver Streamkeeper Society K. Kirkpatrick Community Savings Credit Union J. Routledge Mark Deeley and student projects at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School M. Bernier Physicians and health care professionals H. Y ao Volunteers S. Furstenau Earth Day and action on climate change B.

Anderson Ministerial Statements ............................................................................................................................................................ 1348 Earth Day and transition to clean economy Hon. G. Heyman E. Ross A. Olsen Oral Questions......................................................................................................................................................................... 1349 COVID-19 travel restrictions and enforcement P . Milobar Hon. M. Farnworth M. Bernier Budget provisions for protection of old-growth forests A. Olsen Hon. S.

Robinson COVID-19 travel restrictions and enforcement R. Merrifield Hon. M. Farnworth T. Stone B. Banman S. Cadieux G. Kyllo Petitions .................................................................................................................................................................................... 1355 A.

Olsen Tabling Documents................................................................................................................................................................. 1355 Report pursuant to the COVID-19 Related Measures Act regarding Order-in-Council 247/2021, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Orders of the Day Budget Debate(continued) .................................................................................................................................................... 1355 A. Mercier L. Doerkson

THURSDAY , APRIL 22, 2021 The House met at 10:05 a.m. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Prayers and reflections: N. Letnick. Introductions by Members Hon. A. Dix:Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to acknowledge members of the Armenian-Canadian community in B.C., who are joining us, virtually, this morning. This year April 24 marks the 106th anniversary of the beginning of the Armenian genocide, an event that obvi- ously affected every member of the Armenian-Canadian community and that profoundly affected the world in the 20th century.

On April 24, 1915, 2,400 Armenian com- munity leaders and intellectuals were rounded up in what was then the Ottoman Empire and killed. In the eight years that followed, 1.5 million Armenians were killed because of who they were — an event that was made worse, if that seems possible, by decades of denial by the Ottoman and successive governments that the genocide had even occurred. In April 2006, members on both sides of the House unanimously passed a motion recognizing the Armenian genocide as a crime against humanity and designating April 24 as a day of remembrance.

The Armenian com- munity has joined other groups to promote understanding of the Armenian genocide and to educate the community on the ongoing need to oppose crimes against humanity everywhere. A crime against humanity that occurs on our planet is a crime against humanity, against all of us. We must take action, and the Armenian community, in the midst of ongoing grief, has been a leader around the world in doing just that. I am so honoured that they’re with us today.

Tomorrow I will be joined by the Leader of the Oppos- ition and other members of the House, with the Armeni- an community, for a virtual event to commemorate the Armenian genocide. This year especially, in light of events in Armenia and in Artsakh, it is important to show our solidarity with the Armenian people. I welcome everyone to join us tomorrow at 4:30. H. Y ao:I’ d like to take a moment and ask the House to help me celebrate the belated birthday for one of my con- stituency assistants.

For us to be MLAs and to be able to serve in this House, we definitely need a staff to represent us, to serve our constituents, to represent our government and our interests, to help in supporting our population. Please join in wishing David Y ang, my constituency assistant, a belated happy birthday. Hon. H. Bains:It gives me a great deal of pleasure to wish a happy birthday to my executive assistant Jasmeet Sangha. I have worked with my staff since 2005, and I’ll tell you that she comes to work every day full of energy, full of advice.

She gives everything she has in order to make me look good, and she does a really good job in the com- munity, helping those who have issues with our ministry. So to Jasmeet — as her birthday is tomorrow, it’s early — I say happy birthday. Enjoy the day tomorrow. Y ou can actually take a day off tomorrow. Introduction and First Reading of Bills BILL M201 — ASSESSMENT (SPLIT ASSESSMENT CLASSIFICATION) AMENDMENT ACT, 2021 T. Stone presented a bill intituled Assessment (Split Assessment Classification) Amendment Act, 2021. T.

Stone:I move that the bill intituled the Assessment (Split Assessment Classification) Amendment Act, 2021, of which notice has been given in my name on the order paper, be introduced an read a first time now. I’m pleased to introduce this bill today for the fourth time. While businesses are struggling to stay alive amid the third wave of the pandemic, they are also being hit hard with dramatically increasing property taxes on the airspace over their heads.

Adding insult to injury, this is the last straw for many small businesses as they make the painful decision to lay off employees and close their doors permanently. Mom-and-pop cafés, restaurants and retail- ers in communities such as Vancouver, Surrey and Coquit- lam, to name a few, are disappearing, changing our neigh- bourhoods forever. [10:10 a.m.] A number of years ago a working group, including Van- couver, Burnaby, North Van, Richmond, Surrey, West Van and Coquitlam, among others, came up with a solution to this problem.

These local governments are supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders, including arts, cultural, neighbourhood and small business organizations, as well as the UBCM and the B.C. chamber. The solution proposed includes two parts: the creation of a new commercial subclass for the airspace above small businesses and other affected organizations, and maxim- um flexibility for local governments to set the property tax rate on this new subclass as they see fit, from zero dollars to just below the existing commercial property tax rate.

This bill provides for the exact solution that local gov- ernments and small business organizations have asked for, an optional tool that they can choose to use or not at a rate that they determine makes the most sense for each unique situation they’re trying to address. It will also 1345

eliminate the nonsensical application of the speculation tax on the airspace over the heads of the same struggling small businesses, unlike the government’s interim per- missive tax exemption tool that, one year since imple- mentation, has not been used by a single one of the 162 municipalities in B.C. We urge the government to call our bill for debate so a lifeline can be thrown to small businesses hit hard with skyrocketing property taxes now. Mr. Speaker:Members, the question is first reading of the bill. Motion approved. T.

Stone:I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today. Bill M201, Assessment (Split Assessment Classifica- tion) Amendment Act, 2021, introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today. Statements (Standing Order 25B) WEST V ANCOUVER STREAMKEEPER SOCIETY K.

Kirkpatrick:I’m honoured to address the House today, on Earth Day 2021, to speak about a group doing great work in my riding of West Vancouver–Capilano, although the work that they do extends far beyond the borders of our riding. The West Vancouver Streamkeeper Society is a volun- tary-based organization, with its members actively engaged in streamkeeping projects to work on programs in the 22 creeks and tributaries in the district of West Vancouver. The society manages a fish hatchery producing approximately 180,000 coho and chum fry each year, which they then stock in the local streams.

Streamkeeper targets the community at large with a broad range of engagement and education programs. Their goal is to raise awareness of the importance of local creeks for salmon spawning and rearing and of the hazards that threaten those creeks. Several programs that they do…. They’ve got an adopt-a-fish program, a community day, and many of you may have heard of our Coho Festival, which attracts people from across the Lower Mainland. These events are all designed to raise awareness of the sensitivity of our streams and fish stocks, as well as to encourage active participation and conservation through education.

The society manages the Nelson Creek hatchery and as- sembles a large team for fry releases. Just to clarify, these aren’t the kinds of fries that you have beside your burger. When salmon have developed to the point when they can feed themselves, they are called fry. Other undertakings are the monitoring and gathering of data on the number of returning adult salmon and surveys on spawning salmon and emerging fry. This information is imperative for us to understand how to keep our creeks healthy and safe.

As well as being a traditional food source, Pacific salmon plays an important role in providing nutri- ents to our forests. I’ d like to extend my appreciation to Mike Perley, Keith Pelletier and John Barker, to the 250 society members and to hundreds of volunteers. COMMUNITY SAVINGS CREDIT UNION J. Routledge:Community Savings Credit Union has been serving working people in British Columbia since 1944. There’s a branch in Burnaby North on Hastings Street.

It was created by members of the IW A, and its founding mission was “to serve those neglected by big banks. ” [10:15 a.m.] The New Westminster credit union, as it was known then, lent my father-in-law the $400 he needed to buy the lot in Coquitlam on which he built the family home. In 1978, it took over the Federal Civil Servants Credit Uni- on, where my father banked in Ontario, and it’s where I opened an account when I moved to B.C. Today Community Savings continues to lead the way in ensuring that the B.C. economy works for working people.

For example, concerned about the looming skills gap, Community Savings conducted a study about community benefits agreements. It was able to confirm that CBAs are an effective way to upskill the underrepresented work- force. Groups such as women, Indigenous people, youth and local residents already account for 46 percent of employment so far at CBA sites. Community Savings launched the 7:01 movement last summer to ask those who banged pots for our health care workers at 7 p.m. to sign a petition at 7:01 p.m. to support fair and equal pay for all health care workers.

It was the first financial institution to offer an interest-free emer- gency line of credit to laid-off workers, months before the federal pandemic stimulus packages were initiated. It also set a standard by providing paid leave to its own staff if they need to self-isolate or get their COVID-19 vaccines. I want to thank them for all they’ve done to support generations of working families, as well as the ones they will be supporting in the future. MARK DEELEY AND STUDENT PROJECTS AT TUMBLER RIDGE SECONDARY SCHOOL M.

Bernier:We can all remember that one teacher who make an impact in our lives, the one that inspired us to 1346 British Columbia Debates Thursday, April 22, 2021

reach for our goals or maybe think outside the box while we’re reaching for the stars. We’re lucky to have one of those teachers at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School: Mark Deeley. Every year Mark gets creative and looks for ways to inspire his students by bringing unique, hands-on pro- grams into the classroom. For the last few years, Mark has started up a fish farm in the school, using large tanks and assigning different duties to every student, from feeding to cleaning to testing the water, changing the water, investigating why a fish might have died or monitoring the growth progress for other fish.

The main lesson was that every student had a job, but if one person neglected that job, hundreds of fish would die and you would let your class down. This year the idea came to try something a little bit dif- ferent, with the idea of working together continuing for classroom success. Mark and his students have created their own broadcasting show — a radio show similar to the ones that we’ve seen in the ’40s and the ’50s. They’ve named itThat Little Bit ExTRa.

Again, in order to be suc- cessful, everyone has a job, from being an interviewer to being the set-up tech, the recorder or the mixer to sound effects or producing. This creates positive peer pressure and absolute teamwork to be successful. Last week I was lucky enough to be interviewed for one of their radio shows, and what I saw was that students are now learning about things that they never thought they would be a part of — an opportunity to show students a variety of what’s possible.

I want to thank those students — Destiny, Taylor, Vin- cent, Kyra, Nick, Brady, Zaina and Kokoa — for welcom- ing me to their classroom last week and for the chance to be interviewed. And a special thanks to their amazing teacher Mark, a teacher that students will always remem- ber. PHYSICIANS AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS H. Y ao:May 1 is National Physicians Day in Canada.

More than ever, we are reminded of the dedication, sacri- fice and contributions of the physicians and all health care professionals who are fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting the largest vaccine rollout in B.C. ’s history alongside our government and the public. This pandemic has been a stark reminder of the dangers and uncertain- ties physicians and health care professionals place them- selves in to perform their professional skills and care for our neighbours, our friends and our loved ones.

Thanks to our robust health care system in B.C., we often walk into a physician’s office and receive top-notch services without a second thought. For example, on a weekly basis, I go visit my family doctor, whom I consider as just a general practitioner, to get my allergy shots. However, thanks to my conversation with Dr. Matthew Chow, president of Doctors of B.C., I’ve developed a deep- er appreciation of family doctors. [10:20 a.m.] As technology improves in the medical field, physicians and health care professionals are also forced to keep up and adapt to all the new challenges and advancements.

Due to the ever-increased complexity, expanded protocols and advancing knowledge that family doctors must keep up with, we should no longer consider them just as general practitioners. Instead, let us all acknowledge that family doctors today are primary care specialists. Let us, as the recipients of their great care and commit- ment, continue to modernize our health care system and express our appreciation and gratitude for physicians and health care professionals.

Finally, I hope that all my colleagues in this House can find their own unique ways to say thank you to our phys- icians and health care professionals on May 1, National Physicians Day in Canada. I know I will express my sincere gratitude to my primary care specialist at my appointment this Friday. VOLUNTEERS S. Furstenau:Where do we find identity, meaning and purpose, a sense of autonomy, pride and utility? The answer, according to British writer and philosopher George Monbiot, is in volunteering. Monbiot came to this conclusion after spending time serving in Britain’s Nation- al Health Service.

He found that there are two national health systems, as he puts it — the official one, performing daily miracles, and the voluntary network that supports it. I’m sure many of you will recognize the same structure in your own communities as I can in mine. We have two social support networks — the official one, performing daily miracles, and the volunteer network that supports it. I can recall no other year when volunteers rose to the enormous and risky challenge of providing services to our community.

Last year, within minutes of the province imposing restrictions to mitigate COVID, the volunteer Cowichan networks went to work. They partnered with service providers to create a task force that organized food hamper delivery, elder care and housing for the most vul- nerable, among countless other acts of kindness that kept our community members safe, connected and well. Volunteers are quiet heroes who put service above self, and they contribute enormously to all of our communities. Y et our economic framework doesn’t measure the positive value that unpaid work has on society.

However, when we apply genuine progress indicators where social and environmental impacts are included in measuring eco- nomic success, volunteerism is recognized and valued as an essential component, improving the quality of life for the community as a whole and the individual volunteer. Monbiot suggests we turn on its head the idea that work defines us and volunteering is something we do on the Thursday, April 22, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1347

side. He says: “I would love to hear people reply, when asked what they do: ‘I volunteer at the food bank…. In my time off, I work for money. ’” The volunteers in Cowichan inspire me to want to see their work valued and recognized as essential. All of our lives are made better for it. EARTH DAY AND ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE B. Anderson:Today is Earth Day. The theme this year for Earth Day is “Restore our Earth. ” I find this call to action both necessary and hopeful. According to scientists, we’re currently in the sixth mass extinction. Wildlife is dying due to habitat destruction and climate change.

We also know that COVID-19, which has caused the global pandemic, jumped into the human population via the wildlife trade. We know that environmental destruction has serious economic and social consequences, but ultimately, the cause of all of these factors is overconsumption, especially by the wealthy. That is us. We are the problem, not as individuals but as a collective. That is why it is critically important that we work aggressively to reduce our GHG emissions while we work on adaptation efforts. The time is now — not tomorrow, not next year or next decade. The time is now.

I am hearing this clearly from sci- entists and from young people — young people who are desperately worried about their future. But despite all of that, I have hope, and I draw my hope from the young people of this province that are standing up and demand- ing ambitious action on climate change. We have seen groups, like Fridays for Future, who held the largest rally I have ever seen in my life in Nelson. We also have the youth climate corps that is working on wild- fire risk reduction, food security and riparian restoration. [10:25 a.m.] We used to talk about sustainability.

We cannot just sustain what we currently have. We need to regenerate — regenerative farming, regenerative forestry. We need to regenerate our fish stocks as we phase out fossil fuels. Recycling or saying no to plastic straws is not going to cut it. We need each sector to achieve their GHG emission reduction targets as we phase out fossil fuels. With CleanBC, we have the most ambitious climate action plan in North America.

It is going to take all of us, across every ministry and every business and every NGO, to ensure we are ambitiously working to make the changes we need to make on climate action in this province. We must do this work. We owe it to today’s youth and to the generations to come. Happy Earth Day. Mr. Speaker:I recognize the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy to make a ministerial statement. Ministerial Statements EARTH DAY AND TRANSITION TO CLEAN ECONOMY Hon. G. Heyman: Today we join with people across British Columbia and around the world to celebrate Earth Day 2021.

While this year’s celebrations reflect the require- ment that we all have to stay apart due to COVID-19, today is a day to recommit to the work ahead, tackling the threats of climate change and unlocking the twin benefits of cleaner communities and clean energy economies that will determine the future of our planet. As world leaders commit to further action on climate change, we, in British Columbia, remain more committed than ever to protecting and enhancing our environment and building a cleaner, better future for everyone.

This past year has seen remarkable changes in the clean economy, despite the global pandemic. Major automakers have increased their commitments to produce electric vehicles, pledging to phase out fossil fuel cars. Global investors are moving trillions of dollars to build a net- zero economy, and more than 110 countries have already pledged to meet net-zero emissions. In B.C., our government continues our significant investments in our CleanBC plan to build a cleaner, stron- ger economic recovery and reach net-zero emissions by 2050. We’re expanding clean transportation options that are affordable and convenient.

We’re helping people, busi- nesses and communities build energy-efficient homes, buildings and schools. We’re working with B.C. industry and clean tech companies to reduce emissions, support good jobs and build on our advantages for the clean eco- nomy of the future. COVID-19 has highlighted just how interconnected we all are, both within and beyond our borders. It has also shown how much can be accomplished when we work together to achieve a common purpose. These are important lessons in our work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build a better future for our kids and our grandkids.

Climate change knows no borders. By working to- gether, we can help make sure we’re ready for the enorm- ous opportunities ahead as the world makes the neces- sary transition to a cleaner economy that supports the biodiversity and healthy ecosystems we need to survive and to thrive. Happy Earth Day 2021. E. Ross:I am the official opposition critic for Environ- ment and Climate Change Strategy.

I rise to commemorate the 51st annual celebration of Earth Day, an opportunity to celebrate the natural beauty of the wonders of this great planet and a chance to reaffirm our commitment to pro- tecting that for future generations to cherish and enjoy. That commitment is something that all parties in this 1348 British Columbia Debates Thursday, April 22, 2021

House uphold. Today, billions of people in 193 countries around the world now participate in Earth Day, in activ- ities all shared by everybody, recognizing the collective responsibility we all have to this planet, our shared herit- age and bond to the pale blue dot that we call Earth. In 2009, April 22 was also proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly as International Mother Earth Day.

After a year of people all around the world staying home and not travelling, those of us who call British Col- umbia home have more reasons than ever to be thankful to Mother Earth and to live in this great province, one of the most beautiful places on earth. We all recognize the importance of combatting climate change, reducing emis- sions and working to secure a clean future for our children and grandchildren. [10:30 a.m.] As the MLA for Skeena, representing one of the most stunning areas of the planet, my constituents and I care deeply for the environment.

And as former chief coun- cillor of the Haisla people, my people have a deep rever- ence for the natural world. We know what it means to be stewards of the land in the 21st century and how to work towards balancing economic development with environ- mental protection. We are practical and know that pro- gress isn’t measured in terms of months when it comes to humanity’s relationship with nature. Progress takes time, but stewardship is a lifelong commitment. Taking care of the land we call home is our collective responsibility, no matter your race, religion, gender or eth- nicity.

We can practise environmentally friendly habits, not just today but every day. Even small acts of conser- vation can add up to big impacts over time and support initiatives to reduce emissions, including supporting and encouraging innovation and research into lessening our carbon footprint. Together, we can make a difference. Many of us on both sides of the House started in local government because we wanted to make a difference and find common solutions to make life better for everyone.

I believe, in spite of the past year that we’ve all experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and perhaps even because of it, we’ve grown to appreciate what really matters and how vital it is that we find those common solutions at the international level as well as the local level.

Since 2004, I’ve come to see the sincerity and good work that B.C. has done to mitigate and remediate our impacts to our lands, and we should be sharing our best prac- tices with the world and vice versa to make progress on a worldwide scale, step by step, to continue protecting our environment for the future while achieving prosperity for all. That should be the goal we all seek: to be united to safeguard this planet for the next generation and to bring prosperity to our loved ones and neighbours who call this planet home.

This is the fight that I joined in on in 2003 as an elected councillor in Kitamaat Village, and I am proud to be able to continue that fight every single day in this House. I know British Columbians will, as they have in the past, rise up to this fight again. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and happy Earth Day, B.C. A. Olsen: Today on Earth Day national governments are meeting to announce new climate targets. They ac- knowledge that a certain amount of global warming is already locked in.

This is already having devastating effects, especially for less wealthy nations experiencing increased events like flooding, droughts and storms. Here in Canada, we’re warming at twice the natural average. But we have already had climate targets for decades. Canada remains the only G7 nation that has increased emissions since signing the Paris climate agreement, lar- gely because of our continued expansion of the fossil fuel sector. Here in B.C., our emissions are growing as well. This is simply incompatible with halting global warming and the devastating impacts that go along with it.

We need to seize the moment to build a clean economy and embrace a just transition that takes care of every com- munity. Today we join people around the world in recognizing this amazing planet we call home, which gives us every- thing we need. As I reflect on the importance of this day to focus our attention on the global effort, I return back closer to home to theW̱ SÁNEĆ teachings about how we relate to each other, how we relate to our planet and to all other species that live here, big and small. Last week I shared a coreW̱ SÁNEĆ teaching describing the responsibility that we have to look after each other.

I have in the past and will continue to in the future demand that we do better. We cannot take refuge in rhetoric. What’s missing here is action. As my ancestors well knew, everything here on earth is interconnected, creating a beautifully diverse web of life. It’s that biodiversity that this government promised, with their words, to protect in legislation — now, silence. So what will future generations say about their ancestors?

As we celebrate Earth Day, let’s remember that the people elected to sit in this chamber — the policy- makers, the decision-makers, the lawmakers who make the decisions — will shape our future. We must, with urgency, make better decisions that preserve our natural ecosystems. HÍSW̱ ḴE SIÁM. Thank you. [10:35 a.m.] Oral Questions COVID-19 TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AND ENFORCEMENT P . Milobar:The Premier has completely failed to explain the basic elements of his travel ban since his botched announcement on Monday. Thursday, April 22, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1349

Y esterday 11 legal and First Nations groups wrote to express their outrage — groups like the B.C. Civil Liber- ties Association, Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, B.C. First Nations Justice Council, British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, First Nations Summit society and Pivot Legal Society, to name a few.

I quote from the letter: “The lack of information and details about the order has raised many alarm bells, especially in the middle of a global and local reckoning about systemic racism in policing and policing powers. ” Can the Premier explain exactly what he announced four days ago, or does the Premier still not know? Hon. M. Farnworth:I appreciate the question from the member. As the member knows, there is a pandemic going on, and one of the issues around the transmission of the virus has been travel. What was indicated on Monday is that we would be needing to bring in travel restrictions.

We have made it clear that there would be information coming out later this week, which will be tomorrow. The opposition has already been informed that they will be being briefed on the proposed changes that are taking place. We are very mindful of the issues that have been raised in that letter and by others, and I note that many of those concerns have been raised at earlier points in the pandemic when government has had to put in place health orders. We will be doing everything that we need to do to ensure that not only are those concerns addressed, but we’ve already made it clear that there will be….

And I note that the opposition, when the measure of the need for travel restrictions came out, automatically jumped the gun and said: “Oh, they’re going to be preventing people from going about their business, going to work. ” Nothing could be further from the truth. As I’ve said, we will have more details coming out on Friday, and the opposition has already been scheduled for a fulsome briefing on the issues involved. Mr. Speaker:The Opposition House Leader on a sup- plemental. P .

Milobar:The letter points out exactly what concerns many in the province have been expressing this week, including many constituents, to our office, because an announcement on Monday about measures that will take effect on Friday — but no information till Friday — leads to confusion. Again, this letter from the 11 legal societies as well as First Nations groups points out that announcing orders to regulate the movement of people should have the con- sent of First Nations. But, once again, this Premier has completely ignored UNDRIP .

This is what the letter from those 11 groups has to say: “It is concerning to us that the government would make two public announcements…in such a vague way and with no accompanying details. ” The comments of the Premier and the Solicitor General “are different from one another, which adds to the confusion. ” Again, can the Premier tell British Columbians why there are conflicting comments and total confusion com- ing from him and his government? Hon. M. Farnworth:There are no conflicting com- ments coming from the Solicitor General or from the Premier or from this government.

What has been made clear right from the very beginning is that there are health orders that need to be in place to deal with the spread of the virus. That means limiting travel between health authorities as one of the most effective ways to do that. That’s what has been announced. What was also made clear…. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members, a question was asked. Let’s listen to the answer. Hon. M. Farnworth:Thank you, hon. Speaker.

I think that illustration of not wanting to hear the answer just confirms, in fact, what took place on Monday, when the opposition went out right away on Twitter to say: “Oh, the government intends to prevent people from being able to go to work. ” Nothing could be further from the truth. [10:40 a.m.] They’re clearly not really interested in wanting to try and control a pandemic when they make statements like that. We have made it clear (1) that they will be briefed tomorrow and (2) that that will be before the order goes out.

But most importantly, there is a need to be able to control transmission, and that means recognizing that travel restrictions have to be put in place. We have also made it clear that essential travel will still take place, and this will also be coming out on Friday. But use some common sense on the other side of the House. That does not mean preventing people from being able to go to work. That does not mean preventing people from going and getting groceries, for example. What it means is asking people to do what we are already asking them to do, which is to stay in their own health authority, stay local.

That’s what the travel restric- tions are about. The details will be announced on Friday. The Premier, on Monday, as myself, foreshadowed what is to come. It’s been made clear that that’s what’s taking place. It’s unfortunate that the opposition is choosing to play politics on such a serious and important matter. M. Bernier:I mean, the messaging coming from this minister and the Premier and this government is about as clear as mud. I mean, there is endless flip-flopping that has taken place from the Premier on travel restrictions. 1350 British Columbia Debates Thursday, April 22, 2021

First he said he needed legal advice. Then he said he couldn’t do it. Then he let skiers travel here from all across the continent to go skiing. Then two weeks ago, he shrugged and said: “Well, what are we going to do? Arrest them?” Now the flip-flopping Premier is at it again, announcing essential travel only, with police-enforced travel bans, with no details. But worse, he caught the police completely off guard, and they knew nothing about this. It’s no wonder every time the Premier opens up his mouth, everybody in the province gets confused with his comments.

Can the Premier define easily today: what does he mean by essential travel? Hon. M. Farnworth:Well, I must admit the only flip- flopping is coming from that side of the House. Clearly, they’ve decided they’re not really interested in working with this side of the House or the House together in terms of dealing with the pandemic. That’s what…. Interjections. Hon. M. Farnworth:I can inform…. Mr. Speaker:It’s important that we hear the question…. Hon. M. Farnworth:Thank you, hon. Speaker. I can also inform the member that he is factually wrong on one of his statements in his question.

That is, we have been working very closely with police in terms of how an order on travel between health authorities could be enforced. That work has been ongoing. Like I said, you’re being briefed tomorrow. Y ou knew you were being briefed tomorrow. So it’s unfortunate…. But I guess it’s to their advantage, in a way, to say, “Oh well, we don’t know any details, so we’ll go in there and play politics, ” as opposed to waiting until the scheduled brief- ing they’re supposed to be getting tomorrow. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Okay. One question at a time. The member for Peace River South. M.

Bernier:Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. The confusion starts because of the flip-flopping that has taken place on that side of the House. The confusion starts every time the Premier opens up his mouth. We asked for a briefing, an explanation, starting Monday. Instead, they wait until a few minutes before question peri- od today. “Don’t worry. We’ll brief you tomorrow as we’re making the public announcements to the province. ” Here’s the confusion the government is causing. Last Friday the Minister of Health claimed that there would be no travel restrictions in British Columbia.

Then on Monday the Premier announced full travel ban, complete with police checkpoints. He said: “These will be conducted through random audits, not unlike any roadside checks. ” Ever since then, this Solicitor General has been trying to clean up the Premier’s mess with different messaging yet again, adding more confusion for the people of British Columbia who are trying to understand the direction this province is trying to go. [10:45 a.m.] Can the Premier let the people of B.C. know who is right? Is it the Minister of Health, is it the Solicitor Gener- al, or is it the Premier? Who should they be listening to?

Hon. M. Farnworth:As the members on that side of the House well know, the pandemic creates a very fluid situation. We respond to the needs that happen as that pandemic is evolving and that pandemic is changing. We listen to the advice of the provincial health officer. It has become clear that what needs to be in place are travel restrictions. We have indicated that that is what is going to take place. That work on how that will happen has been underway. It has involved police agencies, for example, on how something could take place. What tools are required? It’s involved working with B.C. Ferries, for example.

Again, that work has been taking place. I want to again correct the member across the way. They were informed yesterday — not a few minutes before ques- tion period today — that you would be getting briefed, and we will brief you when there’s information in place. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Hon. M. Farnworth:Y ou were told yesterday, and your opposition leader asked me. She said: “I’ve written you a letter, and I want to have a briefing. ” I said: “We are setting one up for you. ” Y our critic was also informed. Once again, they proved that they’re only interested in playing politics. Interjections. Mr.

Speaker:The member for Saanich North and the Islands. Members, that part of the question-and-answer is over, please. Let’s continue with the next question. BUDGET PROVISIONS FOR PROTECTION OF OLD-GROWTH FORESTS A. Olsen:The Premier promised during the recent snap election to implement all the old growth review panel’s recommendations, including immediate protections for at-risk old growth and a paradigm shift with fully funded transition plans for communities. As the Union of B.C.

Indian Chiefs and conservation groups have made extremely clear, a shift away from old- Thursday, April 22, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1351

growth logging simply will not happen without adequate funding, including conservation financing and funding for Indigenous-led protected areas. Y et there is nothing in this budget. The Wilderness Committee called this lack of funding “a recipe to increase division and conflict over old-growth forests in this province. ” My question is to the Minister of Finance, who ulti- mately is responsible for what is and what is not in the budget. Where is the funding needed to support the prom- ises made to protect old growth and support communities through a shift in our forestry sector? Hon. S.

Robinson:I want to thank the member for the question. Our government is committed and dedicated to imple- menting the recommendations of the independent panel on old growth. Y ou will see in the budget that we have increased forestry’s budget by $44 million this year, over the previous budget. Again, I want to say that this important work has already begun. The important work of engaging with all interested parties is absolutely critical. We want to have a solution that works for everybody.

And making sure that we engage with Indigenous governments across the regions is absolutely critical to making sure that we can do this important work. Mr. Speaker:The member for Saanich North and the Islands on a supplemental. A. Olsen: The Minister of Finance, when pressed by the media on how they would fund enhanced old- growth protection, said it would come from within FLNRO’s budget. This morning the Finance Minister, on CBC, said the forestry budget was increased but just not highlighted.

But the Finance Minister knows that the FLNRO budget is actually decreasing $41 million this year, $30 million next year. As Andrea Inness from the Ancient Forest Alliance said: “Despite promising a complete paradigm shift in the way B.C. forests are managed, the NDP government’s 2021 budget is bereft of meaningful solutions to make it hap- pen. ” This budget confirms what many have been worried about: that the B.C. NDP’s promises to do things differ- ently on land use, on forestry and on old-growth protec- tion are just empty words. My question is actually Andrea’s question, from their press release yesterday.

Again to the Minister of Finance, who is responsible for these decisions: “How does the province expect to protect ancient forest ecosystems, sup- port communities and overhaul its forest management regime with less funding than it had before?” [10:50 a.m.] Hon. S. Robinson:Again, I want to point out just how important that work is and that the work has already begun. The Forests Minister is diligently engaging with all interested parties. We have increased the forestry budget by $44 million this year over last year. It is in the budget.

I also want to point out that we did provide — and per- haps this might be helpful to the discussion — emergency funding for an additional $85 million last year in the midst of the pandemic, because it was a pandemic. I do want to point out that we do have a significant pandemic and recovery contingency should we need to continue to sup- port the forestry sector as part of the pandemic and as part of our recovery. COVID-19 TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AND ENFORCEMENT R. Merrifield:The Premier has flipped, flopped and bungled when it comes to travel restrictions for B.C.

The Solicitor General, the Health Minister and the pub- lic health officer have all provided advice to the public that directly contradicts him. But the Premier just keeps blowing it. People are wondering: “Can we go to work? Can we visit ailing parents? What if I have a medical appointment?” How are people expected to provide evidence that their travel is essential? Will people have to produce sensitive personal information at these checkstops? Hon. M. Farnworth:No. Mr. Speaker:The member for Kelowna-Mission on a supplemental. R. Merrifield:Well, that’s the first straight answer we’ve received.

This is what the Premier said on Monday: “Everybody who goes by will be asked where they’re going and where they came from. ” The words of the Premier. But accord- ing to the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, they say: “Police do not have the legal authority to ask questions like: ‘Where are you going? Where are you coming from? For what purpose?’” Can the Premier explain what specific powers, then, the police will have to enforce this order at a checkpoint? Hon. M.

Farnworth: As has been made clear on Monday, this is about restricting travel to deal with the pandemic and the spread of the virus, and in particular, what we’ve seen over the last while, which is the increase in variants in this province. Now, the opposition is all of a sudden opposed to dealing with that? Let the public of British Columbia know. If the opposition doesn’t believe that the government should be doing everything it can to deal with this virus and the spread of this virus… Interjections. 1352 British Columbia Debates Thursday, April 22, 2021

Mr. Speaker:Members, the Chair would like to listen to the answer, please. Hon. M. Farnworth:…by keeping British Columbians safe, let the public know now. T. Stone:What the public is looking for, what British Columbians are looking for, is clarity and honesty, not a bungling Premier and a blustering Solicitor General. This is what the Premier said on Monday: “The Minister of Public Safety will be using the Emergency Program Act to restrict people’s ability to move from one health author- ity to another.

It will be done in a way that includes every- one, and there will be consequences if you are outside of your area on non-essential business. ” Since the Premier winged it on Monday, our constitu- ency offices have been flooded with calls from frustrated and confused constituents. British Columbians want to know what the Premier actually meant, but we don’t know what to tell them. The question is this. Can the Premier explain why, four days later, he still can’t explain what’s happening with checkpoints and travel restrictions? Hon. M.

Farnworth:It’ d be nice if the opposition would be honest with its constituents when they call in, because the provincial health officer has already said a travel advis- ory is in place, which is: “Stay in your own community. ” If you have to ask about going somewhere else, don’t do it. If that’s the kind of misinformation that they’re giving their constituents when they phone their office, then I say shame on them. The travel restrictions… Interjections. [10:55 a.m.] Mr. Speaker:Members. Members. Hon. M. Farnworth:…that we have been talking about, that we have indicated, need to be put in place.

We’ve made clear those will be announced on Friday. What the Premier did, appropriately, was to foreshadow that we are having to take this step. We don’t want…. Y ou know, he would rather not have to take this step, but the virus and the variants are spreading through this province. Travel is one of the ways in which they are transmitted, and one of the most effective ways to deal with that is to bring in travel restrictions. The provincial health officer has indicated that between health authorities is the most effective way to do that. That will ensure that in the Lower Mainland, you stay in the Lower Mainland.

If you’re in the Interior and Northern Health, that’s where you need to stay. It is not about…. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Members, let’s listen to the answer. Hon. M. Farnworth:It has been clear it is not going to impact on essential travel, such as medical appointments and going to work or commuting, you know, between Burnaby and Vancouver. It is unfortunate that, once again, they’re not interested in working together. They’re more interested in playing politics. Mr. Speaker: The member for Kamloops–South Thompson on a supplemental. T.

Stone:I would say the definition of playing politics is calling an election in the middle of a pandemic. That’s on all of you. I would also say to the Solicitor General that I know it must be frustrating that the Premier’s press con- ferences these days can basically be summed up as: show up and screw up. He shows up, and then he puts stuff out there and leaves it to the Solicitor General to come in behind and clean up the Premier’s mess.

I understand that that must be frustrating, but it’s also frustrating for British Columbians to have no idea what the Premier meant when he said, again: “The Minister of Public Safety will be using the Emergency Program Act to restrict people’s ability to move from one health author- ity to another. ” That’s the Premier’s quote. That’s not some- thing that we said, and we also know that that’s not some- thing that the Solicitor General said. Does the Premier think it’s essential for people to get to their jobs that cross a boundary that he’s drawn?

Does the Premier think it’s essential for people to take care of their frail elderly parents in another health authority? The Premier can’t define “essential. ” He can’t explain the con- sequences, and he can’t explain why there’s one set of rules in the Lower Mainland and, apparently, another set of rules in other parts of British Columbia. Again, the question to the Premier is this. Will the Pre- mier tell British Columbians more about these check- points that they can expect, and what they can and can’t do when it comes to travel within British Columbia? Hon. M.

Farnworth:I’ll resist the temptation to say that if you want to talk about screwups, let’s just consider the former member’s record when it came to…. Interjections. Hon. M. Farnworth:The Premier and the health officer have been very clear. People need to stay local. They need to stay in their own community. At the same time, right from the get-go with this pandemic, there has been put in place what is essential, what is essential travel, and there is a long and exhaustive list. That is still in place. That has not changed, and it’s not going to change. Thursday, April 22, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1353

I wish the opposition would just stop this fearmonger- ing and get on with the fact that we are working as hard as we can to keep British Columbians safe. That is the job of this side of the House, and we will continue to do that. [11:00 a.m.] B. Banman: In spite of what we’ve just heard in this House a few minutes ago, the police are not pleased with the Premier’s bungling and lack of consultation. These officers are in the middle of fighting a deadly and escalat- ing gang war. But what does this Premier do? He tells the police to divert their focus from fighting crime to fighting campers.

This is what the National Police Federation says: “Parti- cipating in enforcement roadblocks puts even greater pres- sure on limited resources. ” To the Premier, how many police resources will be diverted away from stopping this dangerous gang war in the Lower Mainland? Hon. M. Farnworth:None. Mr. Speaker:The member for Abbotsford South on a supplemental. B. Banman: So the Premier was mistaken, then. This Premier has no idea what he’s doing. Just yesterday there was a targeted shooting on the front steps of an ice rink in Langley, right next to families and children who were using the play area inside.

To make matters worse, most of the officers enforcing the Premier’s checkpoints have not been vaccinated yet. The New West- minster Police Officers Association says, “We would cer- tainly ask that the government make us a priority for vac- cination before they start asking us” to enforce their public health orders. Question to the Premier, how many unvaccinated police officers will be put at risk on the front lines of the Premier’s checkpoints? Hon. M.

Farnworth:If any question wanted to show that this opposition is not even interested in the facts or working with people, it is that kind of approach that we are just seeing right now. We have been working with police in terms of how travel restrictions could be put in place and what would be the most effective way to ensure that they work. We have been engaged with ferries to ensure how that would work at terminals, for example. We have been engaged with the tourism industry in terms of dealing with bookings and how that would work.

We have been working with the people who actually know what needs to happen and what needs to take place. What the Premier has said is that there will be travel restrictions coming and that we need to have them. We need to have them to control the virus. We need to have them to help keep British Columbians safe. That’s what we are doing. That’s what we’re going to continue to do. They will be briefed tomorrow, and there will be fur- ther announcements on what exactly will be taking place tomorrow. S.

Cadieux: Since the Premier surprised the province with his police checkpoints, people are worried that Black, Indigenous and people of colour will be racially profiled. The head of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, Harsha Walia, has raised concerns. “The concern is that BIPOC people will face more questioning, more interrogation, have to produce more proof and will be more likely to face fines in this process. ” That’s the problem. Absolutely no one knows what the Premier was thinking, including the Solicitor General and the Minister of Health.

That leaves everybody won- dering which BIPOC organizations were consulted on this measure and which ones signed off on the Premier’s checkpoints. These groups want to know who has been consulted. Will the Premier answer their very legitimate questions? Hon. M. Farnworth:I thank the member for the ques- tion. I understand very much the concerns of the BIPOC community. As a matter of fact, after question period, I will be meeting with a number of groups and organiza- tions, in terms of hearing from them on the issues around the implementation of travel restrictions. G.

Kyllo:It appears that no one in government under- stands what the Premier meant to say, including him. The Solicitor General had to try and walk back his comments. Both Dr. Bonnie Henry and the Health Minister have giv- en different advice. [11:05 a.m.] The police have no idea what the Premier is talking about. Now we have the Vancouver police objecting to enforcing the checkpoints they’ve been told they will be running: “The VPD is not conducting random checks for compliance with travel restrictions.

We have not seen spe- cific details of these pending restrictions. ” British Colum- bians who want to do the right thing are confused. It is the Premier who has created this mass confusion. Will the Premier stand up and apologize to British Colum- bians for creating this unnecessary stress and anxiety? Hon. M. Farnworth:I think that opposition needs to stand up and apologize. Stand up and apologize to British Columbians for some of the most fearmongering ques- tions that we have seen.

What has been made clear right from the beginning is that this is about ensuring the safety of British Columbians by limiting the spread of the virus. Interjections. 1354 British Columbia Debates Thursday, April 22, 2021

Mr. Speaker:Members. Order. Hon. M. Farnworth:It is not about checkpoints in downtown Vancouver. Nobody has told the VPD that they will be doing checkpoints at any point. To suggest that they have is simply wrong. What has also been clear…. This opposition knows full well that they were going to be briefed tomorrow. They were told yesterday that they were going to be briefed. The bottom line is this. Interjections. Hon. M. Farnworth:Y ou most certainly were. Y our leader said to me: “I’ve written you a letter. ” I said: “What’s it about?” “I want a briefing, ” she said. I said: “Don’t worry. It’s in the works.

Y ou’re going to be briefed. My office con- tacted your critic. ” Y ou were told yesterday. Mr. Speaker:Through the Chair. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Order. Order, Members. Hon. M. Farnworth:Hon. Speaker, this is about public safety. This is about keeping British Columbians healthy and safe and stopping the virus. They may not want to do that. We will. We are going to do it right. [End of question period.] Mr. Speaker:The member for Saanich North and the Islands is seeking leave to present a petition. Is leave gran- ted? Leave granted. Mr. Speaker:Please proceed. Petitions A.

Olsen:I’ve got a petition of 180 signatures, I believe, with respect to a situation on Saltspring Island, on Beddis Road. Residents of the neighbourhood are requesting the Ministry of Transportation to address a long-standing issue with respect to the road and road ownership. This has been going on for a long, long period of time. This is the neighbourhood asking MOTI to step in and assist the neighbourhood. Tabling Documents Mr. Speaker:Hon. Members, I have the honour to table a report pursuant to the COVID-19 Related Meas- ures Act. Orders of the Day Hon. L. Beare:I call continued budget debate.

Budget Debate (continued) A. Mercier:It’s an honour to stand up and rise in this House and continue my speech on the debate on the budget. [N. Letnick in the chair.] I left off by speaking about the previous Liberal approach to budgeting, which was to sell the furniture, pretend you have a balanced budget, and to make sure, above and beyond all else, that you address the issues that are of primarily of concern to your friends and not the people of British Columbia.

That’s an approach that led us to land fire sales, that led the government to reach into the pockets of working British Columbians and families with things like MSP fee increases. We’ve heard, throughout this budget debate so far, from the members of the opposition…. I call them the Wild West coalition, but from the members of the Wild West coalition, the opposition… We’ve heard from them so far in this debate, in question period and in this House, that they are more concerned with the fact that they lost an election than they are with delivering services to British Columbians in a pandemic.

This is a good budget. This is a pandemic budget. It is a breath of fresh air compared to what we’ve seen in the past. I’ d like to take a little walk down memory lane. I know for our friends in the opposition, they’ve done a lot of things that they don’t really want to remember or talk about. But I think it’s important that we remember the history of how we got to here. I want to talk about the fudge-it budget of 2009.

That’s the budget that Gordon Campbell’s Finance Minister, Colin Hansen, introduced right before an election, in the middle of an economic crisis, that said that there was going to be a $495 million deficit. Fast-forward a few weeks later, after the election, and the deficit was actually 3½ times greater than that. It was $1.8 billion. [11:10 a.m.] I can understand the disbelief coming from the other side of the House. Here’s a government that went through an election in the middle of a crisis and came through with a budget deficit that’s actually significantly less than forecast.

So it’s not a surprise they want to know how it was done. It’s not a surprise that they’re asking to see a jobs plan so they can see how we’re going to create all these jobs. What is somewhat surprising, as I mentioned previously, is the outrage from the member for Peace River South on the fact that we’re creating so many jobs. Thursday, April 22, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1355

This is a budget that’s going to serve the interests of British Columbians. It is a credit to the Minister of Fin- ance and her team — the Deputy Minister of Finance, the staff at Treasury Board and everyone that has done the hard work to make this budget happen — because it hasn’t happened in isolation. It has happened while this government has been creating a plethora of new pro- grams to address issues that we’ d never dreamed existed 12 months ago. The B.C. recovery benefit went from an idea to cheques in people’s hands and in their bank accounts in record time.

To do all of that while also preparing all of the necessary work for a budget like this, that has come out this soundly, is really a credit to their professional- ism, to their talent and to the civil service here in Brit- ish Columbia — and to the oversight of the Minister of Finance. I should add that it’s not a surprise, because that’s the approach that we’ve taken to governance in this province in the past 3½ years.

It’s not a surprise that we’re able to attract record- setting private sector investment like LNG Canada, the largest private sector investment in the history of Canada, right here in B.C., and all of the jobs that that’s creating, all throughout this supply chain. That is a dir- ect result of the work that we have done. Now, the oppo- sition, the B.C. Liberals, spent a lot of time, a lot of hot air, talking about liquefied natural gas. We got it done. We didn’t just talk about it. I’ d like to move now to the budget, and to the issues that this budget addresses, for the people of British Columbia.

This is a pandemic budget, and at its core, at the centre of it, is public health and the health care system. We are in the final push of COVID-19. We cannot let up. We need to listen to the restrictions, listen to our public health officers and the Minister of Health, and make sure that we’re doing everything we can to bend the curve, to break the circuit and to get this virus under control while we roll out the largest vaccination program in B.C. history, in Canadian history, with the work and partnership of so many.

I am so thrilled to have heard yesterday that Fraser Health is rolling out vaccinations for all school-based employees in K to 12 in school district 35 in Langley — here in my and my colleague the member for Langley East’s constituencies. That’s just a credit to how well the vaccination program is going and how well the nurses, the civil service and all of the health care workers that are behind that program of public health are doing in getting that done and making sure that we’re getting as many shots in people’s arms as we can, as fast as we can.

Ultimately, that is going to be what helps get us through to the other side. We’re doing this. What we’re doing is putting 1,400 people, previously working in tourism and hospitality, who have lost their jobs because of this crisis — this is an economic crisis, but first and foremost, this is a public health crisis — to work during the rollout, through these community partnerships and partnerships with businesses and the industry. That is just phenomenal. It’s not something this province has ever seen before, and it is a hallmark of our government’s approach.

Managing the public health crisis is the key to resolving the economic crisis. Before we can talk about supports to businesses — and we are…. We’re supporting businesses in more ways than any other region in North America right now, but before we can even talk about that, we need to talk about what we’re doing to get the public health crisis under control. [11:15 a.m.] It is easy to come up with manufactured outrage over public health orders that are sensible and reasonable and that react to the situation as it evolves.

It is easy to stand up and to yell and scream about those kinds of things, but what we need to do is have cool heads, to make sure that we’re setting a good example for the public, and to make sure that we get beyond this crisis so that we can start focusing on what comes next. Budget 2021 includes $900 million for our ongoing COVID-19 response. That’s the vaccination program mak- ing sure that everyone who wants a vaccine will be able to get a vaccine. That goes to fund all of the contact tracers and all of the testing that we’ve been doing, which has just been phenomenal.

Y ou know, the Kwantlen Polytechnic University parking lot and the Langley Events Centre in Langley and Langley East have been turned into mass test- ing centres. It’s just totally remarkable. It also includes increased capacity for the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, the BCCDC, because if this has taught us anything, it’s that we need to build capacity in organiz- ations like the BCCDC so that we’re ready when situations like this occur.

That $900 million also includes ongoing supports for increasing safety for our seniors in long-term care — for making sure that there’s screening, additional personal protective equipment and all types of measures. That’s not to mention the $585 million put aside for the health career access program, a program that I’m proud to be a part of in my mandate from the Premier as the Parliamentary Secretary for Skills Training, a program that is helping folks become health care workers and health care assist- ants, including in long-term care.

We’re doing this by targeting folks who have lost their jobs as a consequence of the pandemic. We are putting people back to work, and we are putting them back to work in a way that is going to help improve the system and help paper over the cracks that we have seen emerge as a result of this pandemic. I can say something that my constituents are very happy about in this budget is the new Surrey hospital. That piece of land that the government has acquired…. We had to acquire a piece of land, of course, after the B.C.

Liberals sold off the land set aside for a Surrey hos- pital so they could pay for tax breaks for their friends. But that piece of land is five minutes away from Langley 1356 British Columbia Debates Thursday, April 22, 2021

city hall. It is going to serve the people of Langley, the people of Langley city and the people in Brookswood, and it is going to take pressure off Langley Memorial Hospital. That’s just incredible. This is such a contrast — this approach to health care of building hospitals, of investing in people, of creating training opportunities and of coordinating the labour market to maximize value for the community. This approach is so different than the approach that we saw in the B.C. Liberals’ 16 years of bungling on this file. Six- teen bungled years.

The Liberal approach to health care was about ripping up collective agreements, ripping up contracts and laying people off — outsourcing work. The B.C. Liberals, the last time they were in, laid off more women in a single day in health care than any government in the history of this country. That is the approach that the B.C. Liberals took to this file. That is the approach that the B.C. Liberals have taken to health care. We’re investing in people. They did the opposite. This budget, in particular in terms of health care, is building on the work that we have already been doing in Langley.

I can’t say how thrilled I am with the amount of times that my friend the Minister of Health has come out to Langley and come out to Langley East. There have been so many funding announcements for Langley Memorial Hospital, for the MRI suite, on issues that were ignored by the previous government.

We were, just the other day — my colleague the member for Langley East and I — announcing the substantial com- pletion of the Langley Memorial Hospital upgrades: $29.3 million from the provincial government combined with funding from the Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation and funding from the Langley Memorial Auxiliary to sub- stantially upgrade our emergency department, which is going to be open this coming May.

I can tell you that it is a credit to the professionalism of the folks at Fraser Health — of Jason Cook and his team; of the folks at the Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation — Heather Scott; and all of the construction workers — that that work continued throughout the pandemic. This is so needed for our growing community. And that’s in addition to our new MRI suite, which is running 16 hours a day for two shifts. [11:20 a.m.] That’s an NDP investment. That’s an NDP government investment in Langley. It just wasn’t a priority for the B.C. Liberals. This isn’t just a pandemic budget. This is a recovery budget.

This is an economic recovery budget. There are $26 billion of capital investments in this budget. We are building more hospitals right now than I think any government in the history of British Columbia has ever done at one time. It’s just phenomenal. We’re upgrading hospitals all over the place. We’re building new towers, and we’re building new hospitals. Over 16 years, there was so little movement on the file and, particularly in the Lower Mainland, so much growth that these projects are desperately needed right now. That’s not the only thing that’s going on with the capital plan.

Of course, we’ve got community benefit agreements, so that a whole generation of young people can get skilled apprenticeship opportunities and complete their appren- ticeships. It’s so that there is value-added from our capital plan into the labour market. Y ou’re just seeing those projects now really start to take off. The Pattullo Bridge, something that should have been done decades ago, is something that we’re funding in this budget. The Broadway corridor — increasing transit access in the busiest bus corridor in North America, down Broadway, extending the SkyTrain down there.

Cowichan Hospital, making sure that the people of the Cowichan Valley have access to a new hospital in the same way that Surrey is going to have — desperately needed. The Massey Tunnel replacement. I’ d just like to say a word here. We’ve heard a lot of talk from the members of the Wild West coalition about the Massey Tunnel replace- ment — how far along it could have been and how all the work was ready to go, etc. Well, I can tell you, I was talking to some pile drivers just this morning about that project.

The reality of the test piling was that they were not able to find the type of foundation that they needed in the water to put a bridge on the engineering specs that they had. So the idea that that was a shovel-ready project, ready to go, is just, frankly, laughable and not in accordance with the reality of it. Most importantly, as the MLA for Langley and as a Langley boy, and for my constituents in Langley, SkyTrain to Langley is in this budget. This has been something that has been floated since the late ’90s: extending the SkyTrain down King George and all the way to Langley Centre.

We’re going to make it happen. We’re going to make this a reality, and this is going to be a game-changer for Langley. It is going to be a game-changer for Langley city. It is going to be transformative. I had a great talk at Kwantlen Polytechnic University the other day about their Langley campus and their plans, and the changes that are going to happen there as a con- sequence of SkyTrain, which are going to be so positive and so beneficial to the community.

Right now Langley city is passing its new official com- munity plan, which is going to see a very intentional and coordinated approach to zoning, particularly around SkyTrain stations, to add density but also to focus on affordability and livability, so that we don’t just get this kind of urban sprawl that happens around SkyTrain sta- tions but that it actually happens in a very deliberate way that builds on the changes that are already occurring in Langley. I am so proud to be part of a government that is funding that kind of investment, and I know our municipal part- ners are too.

I know that the mayor of Langley city, Val Thursday, April 22, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1357

Van den Broek, and the mayor of Langley township, Jack Froese, have done so much work on the SkyTrain file, in terms of pushing it ahead, with the Mayors Council. I’m so proud of that work, and their communities are going to benefit. Our community is going to benefit so much from this investment. That’s an investment that the B.C. Liberals, the Wild West coalition, just couldn’t get done. Hearing from the other side and hearing the comments during this debate and in question period by the members from the oppos- ition, it is very clear that the B.C.

Liberals do not under- stand the communities south of the Fraser River. They didn’t invest in them. When they did, their solution was tolls — tolling roads, putting unfair mobility taxes on commuters south of the Fraser, without other options and without other investment options or ways to move around. [11:25 a.m.] They tolled the Port Mann Bridge. They tolled the Golden Ears, which meant that if you were a single mom in Maple Ridge, trying to cross the bridge to take your son to football — I’ve talked to folks in that situation — you were just paying through the nose in tolls to pay for B.C. Liberal contracts.

That’s not right. It’s not an approach we agree with, and it’s not an approach we’re taking. I’m happy to say the new Pattullo Bridge is going to be toll-free. The first thing we did when we got into office, in addition to eliminating MSP , was eliminating tolls on those bridges. Now, an issue that’s near and dear to my heart and in going about my life in Langley — and to so many people in my age demographic and younger — is child care. Invest- ments in child care are absolutely critical. Langley is a growing community. Langley is a young community.

In order for young families, for women and men, for parents to participate in the labour market, to go to work every day, they need to know that they have a way for their chil- dren to be taken care of, so that they can go out, earn an income, support their family and create a better life for their kids. We are investing in that, and Budget 2021 builds on the work that we have already done in this sector. We have supported a $1 billion child care plan. My friend, the Min- ister of State for Child Care, has done tremendous work on that, funding nearly 26,000 new spaces.

We’ve reduced parent fees by up to $350 a month, for almost 70,000 chil- dren and their families. That’s through the child care fee reduction initiative. We’ve reduced fees by up to $1,250 a month through affordable child care benefits for low- and middle-income families.

In total, over the last four years, in my constituency of Langley alone, we have spent $25 million either creating new spaces or putting money back into the pockets of fam- ilies, through child care benefits, rebates and incentives, so that people can put their head on the pillow at night and rest assured that their children are taken care of during the day. We are building on that work right now. We’ d also introduced a $2-an-hour wage increase for early childhood educators, for ECEs in licensed facilities, to make that a more competitive place to work, with stable employment.

The work that people are doing, taking care of our children and teaching our children — we’re moving that from the Ministry of Children and Family Develop- ment to the Ministry of Education, because early child- hood learning is so critical. That’s what child care is. It’s not just a place to drop off your kids. It’s a place for your child to go and grow and self-actualize and become socially accultured. We need to value that work. This budget invests in child care by doubling the $10-a- day program, by doubling the wage enhancement for ECEs, for early childhood educators, from $2 an hour to $4 an hour.

We’re giving early childhood educators a raise. That’s not just good for child care centres that are going to have an easier time attracting ECEs and preventing turnover. It’s good for those families that depend on those wages to go out and make their living and to support their own kids. It’s the right thing to do economically, and it’s the right thing to do morally. I am so proud to be part of a government that’s doing that. We also include here, in investment, 400 new Aboriginal Head Start spaces and thousands of new spaces through the childcare B.C. new spaces fund.

So in many ways, this is a budget focused on economic recovery and a capital plan that is going to create tons of jobs. But we’re also cre- ating more jobs in child care and investing in child care, so that people can go and work in those jobs, so that we can allow for more participation by women and by equity- seeking groups and by parents in the workforce. That’s very important, because we have a skilled-trades shortage in this province. By 2029, we’re forecast to have 73,000 job openings in the skilled trades — 77 percent, or 55,800, of which are from retiring trade workers.

We are working hard to make sure that people can access skills training and complete their apprenticeships, and child care is a part of that. But making sure that there are apprentice- ship opportunities and funding is a part of that as well. [11:30 a.m.] We’re building a future workforce by advancing tech- nology and trades training, investing in Indigenous skills- training development, supporting programs that encour- age women in the building trades and partnering with col- leges and other levels of government to ensure 21st-cen- tury training facilities and tools to support our students.

Those are students that attend university colleges and teaching universities like Kwantlen Polytechnic in my riding who are studying to become millwrights, indus- trial mechanics, studying carpentry and all kinds of trades programs, or students at the University of the Fraser Valley Trades and Technology campus, a uni- versity that has an amazing team, an amazing president in Joanne MacLean. I used to sit on the board there, and I can tell you that the leadership there is very strong.

Y ou’ve got students that are studying electrical trades, joinery, plumbing and all types of programs. 1358 British Columbia Debates Thursday, April 22, 2021

The investments we are making in skills training are going to benefit apprentices, like my friend Chelsea French, who’s studying to become a commercial transport- ation mechanic. This is what employers want to see in our economy. They want to see investment in skills train- ing. When you get large companies that are looking to invest…. And I know we heard from the member for Peace River South that he doesn’t want to invest in British Col- umbia. He said, during his response to the budget, that he would look elsewhere to put his money.

I don’t think that’s a confidence-building thing to say about the province of British Columbia. I know that LNG Canada looked at B.C. Then a con- sortium of companies involved in that said: “Hey, this is somewhere we want to invest. ” It’s because we invest in our people. They look to whether or not we have a work- force that is capable of doing the work, and that’s our comparative advantage in an economy based on global investment. In this budget, the 2021 budget, we’re going to continue building on that, with $96 million over three years for new training spaces to build out the health workforce, for instance.

We’ve got $32 million in one-time funding for continued training initiated by the StrongerBC restart plan and $17 million for partnering with Indigenous com- munities and organizations to expand access to programs through Indigenous skills-training programs. Because we’ve got a changing economy, we need to have a resilient workforce. We’ve got $5 million set aside to expand micro-credentialing to allow training to help workers looking to retrain.

I was fortunate to be able to do an announcement with my friend the Minister for Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation on micro-credentialing programs for auto techs looking to upgrade so that they could work on elec- tric vehicles. As we’ve heard from the Minister of Environ- ment and Climate Change Strategy today, we are becom- ing a world leader in electric vehicle sales. Well, we need mechanics that know how to deal with those kinds of vehicles.

I was heartened to see Scott Waddle, from Precision Auto, an automotive mechanic, an automotive technician, in my friend the member for Langley East’s constituency, in Aldergrove, who is carving out a business exclusively focusing on electric vehicles. He’s doing that so that he can have a business that he can leave to his son, realizing that the world is changing and that he needs to get ahead of it. He is a red seal automotive tech. He’s benefiting from that retraining. It’s just an example of how the entrepreneurial spirit can thrive, if we support it.

There is so much more I’ d like to say about the budget, and obviously, there’s only so much time I can take. But to conclude, I would like to say that I strongly support this budget. I think it is a breath of fresh air over the land fire sales and what I would characterize as highway rob- bery that happened in the past, in the 16 years of Liber- al bungling when the Wild West coalition was in power. I think that this is exactly what B.C. needs at this time. I think that’s why the voters told us that in October. L.

Doerkson:It’s indeed a pleasure to be here to rep- resent the riding of Cariboo-Chilcotin and, of course, our constituents. I did want to just clarify one thing right off the bat. As much as I appreciate the previous member’s comments, I certainly wanted to clarify that the B.C. Lib- erals, for certain, have the interests of all British Columbi- ans in mind. [11:35 a.m.] I did also pick up on one other thing that seemed a little confusing to me. I think the previous member referred to record timing of delivery of the B.C. recovery benefit.

I can assure you that constituents in my riding are still wait- ing for that $500 benefit that was promised by Christmas time. Certainly, the small business recovery has not come off exactly flawless. So thank you for those comments. I want to start by saying that I’m not surprised, but I can’t help but be somewhat disappointed by the budget speech that we all heard this week. Honestly, I feel a little bit frustrated. I think that every taxpayer in this province was hoping for greater things.

I know that, personally, I was shocked to see the plan of our debt rising by $39.5 bil- lion to a staggering $127 billion by the plan’s end. I’m not as shocked by the debt as much as I am shocked at what we will receive in exchange for this debt. As critic for Rural Development in this province, I must say that I’m shocked at the disconnect that this govern- ment has with rural B.C. While there are numbers of pro- jects planned throughout the province, none appear to be the size of what the people in rural parts of this province were hoping for.

We heard, in the budget, promises for funding models that I sincerely hope will work this time and will work — unlike the last failed attempts — before we see success, getting dollars where they are needed to be most in this province. I was disappointed to hear the word “rural” only one time in the speech. There were other words that were not mentioned often, words like “forestry” and “mining” — a small oversight, I’m sure. This has been dubbed a big- spending budget, but certainly, from my perspective, it doesn’t look that way in my riding.

There are certainly things that were hoped for and certainly hundreds of mil- lions of dollars that could have helped rural B.C. and the Cariboo-Chilcotin. On a number of occasions, I’ve spoken to this House with respect to flooding in my riding. I spoke at length about areas like Dog Creek, Frizzi Road, Canim Lake and other areas. I have referred to specific people, like the Kuttnicks, Bette McLennan, the Bednars and others that are paying the price for this government’s inaction.

When I refer to Dog Creek, in case you haven’t heard it before, there is a culvert there that was placed decades ago and is Thursday, April 22, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1359

flowing water that is causing so much damage to taxpayers that it is absolutely astonishing. I will continue to try and have these issues heard, as will, I’m certain, my colleagues who are suffering similar issues. It’s not just that this damage continues to happen that is so frustrating, but that it continues to cost the taxpayers of this province so much in repairs, and it never solves the actual problem. It might surprise you to know that we have repaved Dog Creek Road and Highway 20 multiple times in the last year alone.

The cost over the years would have to be absolutely mind-blowing, rather than just fixing the problem. Last year the province helped Williams Lake in another moment of need with respect to flooding and damage caused by a massive landslide in the river valley system. This slide caused severe damage to infrastructure and the environment. I think that the contribution was around $10 million. Trust me, we were grateful for that help. I will always give credit where credit is due. But at the time, experts warned that more slides in this area were immin- ent and that there was a need for more help.

But after applications by the city of Williams Lake were denied, those predicted slides actually did occur. As a matter of fact, they happened two weeks ago. Much of the recent damage has been ignored. It’s just been left at the base of this cliff. I never heard about any funding for this major project that will likely cause severe losses to businesses and to personal property. Trust me, I listened very closely and pored over the books presented as well, and there was nothing. This isn’t unique to the Cariboo-Chilcotin. This is hap- pening all over rural B.C.

While more severe throughout the Cariboo, there is broken and ignored road all over this province. It’s pleasing to me to see that that ten-mile slide area has been slated, finally, for repair as well. But much work is needed for the balance of rural B.C. [11:40 a.m.] It’s not just culverts that have got my focused attention. The roads of our riding in the Cariboo-Chilcotin are abso- lutely appalling. Again, this isn’t unique to my riding. I’m not sure how to even paint a clear picture of how bad the roads are, but I’ll try.

Last week I had to alert the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure that we had a school bus stuck on a paved road at a place in my riding called Frost Creek. When a constituent has exhausted all avenues by reach- ing out to offices and can’t get an answer or action, that is generally when we hear from these individuals. One such constituent has reached out to me, expressing his concern that he feels could cause a serious accident. I have to say, I don’t disagree. The situation here is another culvert that has not received service.

What has happened in this case is that rather than the culvert break free from the pressure of a lake that has built up behind it, it’s the earth and rock under the culvert that has actually let go. Of course, what that’s done is remove all of the support for the culvert in question. This culvert is at the base of a hill on a high- way that often has logging trucks and other heavy trucks, like fuel, cattle, hay, etc. Of course, this constituent wor- ries, and rightly so, that a heavy load going over this cul- vert could cause it to collapse. As serious as this is, it’s one of so many serious prob- lems.

I listened and scoured the budget books, but I can’t see any major projects for the riding I represent of Cari- boo-Chilcotin with respect to roads and/or slide areas, even though we have spoken at length on this subject. Trust me when I say that we need these projects. We need major help with some of these problems. We have areas where we are using what MOTI would describe as rig mats on some of our roads. In case you don’t know, these are rubber mats that are laid across broken road to help vehicles navigate over the damaged area. Other roads are simply impassable.

As we speak, it appears to me that in this budget, the capital expenditures are actually going down in this min- istry, from $5.3 billion to $3.5 billion. Out of the major projects, while we completed some of them in 2020 and we’ll start a handful of projects this year, there are very few projects in rural B.C. I am pleased to see that West Fraser Road is finally on the list, which has been a nightmare for the residents there. After local politicians and different governments met last week to discuss rising levels of water in our creeks and have issued warnings for swift water and potential flood conditions….

I know at this point I’m going to sound like a broken record, but it’s almost unbelievable what the residents of the Cariboo-Chilcotin have had to endure since 2017 as a result of the most serious fires our province has seen, in 2017 and ’18. It has truly changed our landscape, and it’s changed in a way that will not be repaired for decades. The change has brought very serious issues.

Those issues are flooding, from Sheridan Lake and Bridge Creek in the south to Borland and Valley Creeks to the San Jose River — which, by the way, now looks more like a lake at points along its path into Williams Lake — and, of course, west to the Chilcotin. There are not enough trees in the area to absorb all of the water. They’re all flooding as we are present here, and I heard nothing significant in the budget speech for Cariboo-Chilcotin with respect to this, even though we’ve reached out to ministries and ministers, even though our local governments have applied for funding.

In some cases, our local governments have simply acknowledged that some of these projects are simply beyond their ability to repair, beyond their financial ability. At the taxpayers’ level, when they suffer damage to their own property due to things well beyond their control, they’re often referred to the DFA, which is the disaster fin- ancial assistance funding application. With all due respect, it doesn’t, in most cases, work. Even when the stars align 1360 British Columbia Debates Thursday, April 22, 2021

perfectly for one of these applications, the funding often doesn’t come through. [11:45 a.m.] This is federally funded money, administered by the province, which has to be related to a declaration of dis- aster made by a local government and linked to a weather event in a location of the incident. I can’t imagine what could go wrong with that process. I hope you understand that the program has multiple levels of complexity that, in the end, serve very few people. As I said before, I will give credit where it’s due.

I am also happy to see the announced upgrade to Cariboo Memorial Hospital, which, of course, serves our entire region. This project was announced by our government years ago, and I’m happy to see it finally come to fruition. We will see an investment of more than $200 million into this facility. I’m thankful that the project will start this year, and I look forward to lobbying for a local workforce to be the recipients of millions of dollars of wages and income for local businesses.

I want to be sure that these funds get every opportunity to flow through our community, rather than seeing big labour forces coming from outside of the area to complete the work that our very skilled residents are completely cap- able of completing at far less cost than having workforces be compensated for living-out expenses, along with travel expenses and delays of lost time due to that travel. We have a very abundant supply of capable contractors and workers that can, for sure, complete much of the work on a project like this at a great savings to our province.

But make no mistake about it, we are all very excited about this overdue project. Loss of timber supply has also been an effect of the mul- tiple fires. This will result and has resulted in not only the start of losses in our economy and our jobs market but will also translate to the loss of revenue for this province. I had also hoped to hear something more significant with respect to our forestry industry. Don’t get me wrong. I was happy to hear about the planting of 300 million trees. But this is an economy that benefits the entire province and, particularly, rural B.C.

While the budget remains pretty much flat — approx- imately a 5 percent increase in spending — it’s clear to me that this government does not see this industry as an investment. Economically, I can’t imagine that in this province, oth- er than the effect that COVID is playing on our economy, there is a more important and concerning industry. The pressure this industry has experienced over the past half decade is alarming. It’s not just the loss of cuts, but loss of forests also. These losses are not just from fires but also from the ravaging effects of mountain pine beetle and also spruce beetle.

To add to this, of course, there has been very volatile pressure of world lumber markets, which at this point are very strong, but that was not the case a year or so ago. It has been a struggle, and we rely, very much so, for the eco- nomy that this industry provides in our communities. I have heard about the loss of tenure for forestry com- panies over the past weeks. I’ve heard about reductions in tenures and cuts for these companies so important to the well-being of our residents and our communities.

As crit- ic for Rural Development, I had hoped for more — and, believe me, the residents had hoped for very much more — in this budget for Cariboo-Chilcotin, particularly with respect to such an important industry. The budget had suggestions of added connectivity throughout the province. Our government referred to hundreds of added kilometres of connectivity in last week’s throne speech. I can’t even begin to suggest how little of an impact that could have on a riding and, for that matter, for rural B.C. I have concerns with respect to my role as critic for Rur- al Development as well.

There has only been $40 million dedicated to this very important and much-needed pro- ject. It will affect all of rural B.C., but that amount has also been spread out over four years. Connectivity, in recent meetings of our rural commit- tee, has been identified as our number one issue. It trumps all other issues. But this does not seem to be a priority in any way to this government. I will be very interested to understand what hundreds of kilometres actually means, because in my riding, it’s very close to 500 kilometres from Deka Lake to Anahim Lake.

That is only from the south- east corner to the northwest corner. I would say that that is hundreds of kilometres that need to be serviced. [11:50 a.m.] My riding is massive, but when you look at the rest of the province, we need to be talking about improving con- nectivity to thousands of kilometres of roads, if not tens of thousands. Honestly, it’s not enough to do hundreds of kilometres.

Not only is this connectivity important for those busi- nesses that are trying to conduct commerce from rural locations for their home-based businesses — their ranches, tourism operations — but this connectivity has a need for improvements in some of our larger communit- ies, like 100 Mile House, which has actually had businesses struggle with this connectivity issue for years, right down- town. This community is anything but remote, but they have had big struggles when it comes to connectivity. Also, for independent learning — this is learning that would be similar to our distance education program.

I heard nothing about this, and this is a budget item that has actually received cuts to it in 2020, if you can ima- gine, during a time of COVID. But because of the vast- ness of my riding, there are a great many people that have relied on independent education programs. This is not something new in my riding or, for that matter, in rural B.C. But the need has never been greater than dur- ing these trying times. As well, this is of great importance to our emergency Thursday, April 22, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1361

workers in the region, and of course, once again, throughout rural British Columbia. Currently our emer- gency responders must rely on ham radios and satellite phones to communicate in the Chilcotin and other remote areas. When I say that, I’m somewhat tongue-in-cheek, because this isn’t really remote. It’s 15 minutes or so west of Williams Lake, which is a major area in our riding. Noting the hour, I would move for adjournment and would ask to reserve my spot after lunch. L. Doerkson moved adjournment of debate. Motion approved. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] Hon. L. Beare moved adjournment of the House. Motion approved. Mr. Speaker:This House stands adjo

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20210422am-Hansard-n55
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20210422am Hansard n55
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	10c52d5e0fdccf93f9ed40066c96c6d1846613ef

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