Fourth Session, 42nd Parliament

(2023) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Morning Sitting

Issue No. 270

ISSN 1499-2175

The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.

The PDF transcript remains the official digital version.

CONTENTS

Routine Business

Introductions by Members

Tributes

Ray Haynes

Hon. H. Bains

Introductions by Members

Statements (Standing Order 25B)

Joel Ewert and athletic accomplishments

S. Bond

Community support for displaced Ukrainians in Comox Valley

R. Leonard

Hospice care in Quesnel and area

C. Oakes

Langley Meals on Wheels and Aldergrove community hub

M. Dykeman

Crystal Cup hockey tournament in Charlie Lake

D. Davies

SUCCESS immigrant and social services agency

H. Yao

Oral Questions

Police services in Surrey

T. Halford

Hon. M. Farnworth

S. Bond

Funding for Island Coastal Economic Trust

A. Olsen

Hon. B. Bailey

LNG projects and First Nations economic development

E. Ross

Hon. G. Heyman

M. Lee

Government policies on LNG development and status of project proposals

T. Stone

Hon. D. Eby

Motions Without Notice

Powers and role of Finance Committee

Hon. R. Kahlon

Orders of the Day

Second Reading of Bills

Bill 8 — Real Estate Services Amendment Act, 2023

Hon. K. Conroy

F. Donnelly

P. Milobar

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2023

The House met at 10:03 a.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: R. Russell.

Introductions by Members

Hon. J. Whiteside: Mr. Speaker, joining us in the gallery today are Vicky Waldron, Lee

Loftus and Bill Tieleman from the Construction Industry Rehabilitation Plan,

or what we call CIRP. CIRP is a non-profit program providing mental health

and substance use treatment to B.C. Building Trades and Construction Labour

Relations members and their families. It’s a vitally important service,

because we know that the toxic drug crisis has a disproportionate impact on

the trades sector and the construction sector.

I’m so grateful to Vicky and CIRP for bringing an industry-led

approach to the drug toxicity crisis, focusing on building resiliency and

ongoing support for workers. I look forward to building this relationship

and our continued work together.

Would the House please join me in making them feel welcome.

[10:05 a.m.]

F. Donnelly: I’d like to welcome Sebastien Anderson, who is a labour lawyer with

Labour Rights Law in Coquitlam. They provide legal advice to people, unions,

small businesses and non-profits. He’s here with Madeline.

Please, will the

House make both of them feel welcome. Sebastien is one of my all-time

favourite friends and a great guy. So please welcome him.

Hon. G. Lore: I’m really thrilled to introduce some students from UVic that are part

of the UVic NDP: a friend and former intern, Kala Bryson; Nathaniel Hope

Tucker; Solomon Yi-Kieran; Calum Galloway; and James Fraser. The Minister of

Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and I are joining them for lunch

today. I’m really looking forward to connecting.

Will the House please help

me make them welcome.

Tributes

RAY HAYNES

Hon. H. Bains: I rise today to mark a sad occasion. Our province has lost a giant

and influential leader that we had here for a long time, a longtime

executive of the B.C. Federation of Labour, an important part of the

labour movement in our province. Ray Haynes, former president of the

B.C. Federation of Labour, passed away this past weekend.

Those who worked with Ray will remember his passion for tireless

advocacy for working people in this province. He started his career at a

sawmill on the Fraser River — it’s called Canadian White Pine — where he

learned the basics of trade unionism. Not long after that, he started as

a tea blender in a wholesale division of the Hudson’s Bay Company, where

he didn’t like the way the workers were treated, and he organized a

union.

Those were tough days for unions in B.C. It was a time when labour

leaders regularly went to jail for defying court injunctions against

picketing and exerting workers’ rights. In those days, labour was in

almost constant warfare, and Ray and the federation were everywhere —

deep into it. He galvanized the federation to treat every dispute as its

own, rallying support when they needed it and enforcing policy that even

remains today.

In 1971, he called on the union workers to stop working for 30

minutes to protest the United States plan to test an atomic bomb in

Alaska. He said this: “For the first time in North America, workers are

downing tools not over wages, not over working conditions, but for a

danger to all mankind.” Under Ray’s leadership, in 1968, the federation

fought against Bill 33, one of the most anti-union laws in Canadian

history.

He was considered one of the influential labour advocates in B.C.

Through his advocacy and activism, he has made a significant impact on

the lives of countless workers and helped to shape labour laws and

policies in this province. Ray was highly regarded for his major

contributions to the labour community, and he will be sadly missed by

all who knew him.

As we work towards creating a more just and equitable society for

all workers, his legacy will guide us and will continue to inspire and

motivate labour advocates for generations to come.

I ask this House to join me in sending our thoughts and prayers to

his family and his friends and colleagues.

Introductions by Members

S. Chandra Herbert: I don’t wish many happy birthdays, but this one I hope everybody will

want to celebrate with me. The West End had a very special person celebrate

a very special birthday yesterday: Merle Millicent Romney O’Hara. I want to

wish her a happy 111th birthday. She’s the fifth-oldest person in Canada,

with an incredibly large heart, huge humour, great joy.

It’s a pleasure to have her in our community and to wish her a very,

very happy birthday. I hope you’ll all join me next year, when we wish her a

happy 112th. But happy 111th.

[10:10 a.m.]

Statements

(Standing Order 25B)

JOEL EWERT

AND ATHLETIC

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

S. Bond: With the Canada Winter Games underway on Prince Edward Island,

Prince George athlete Joel Ewert will be part of the Team B.C.

wheelchair basketball team. This will be Joel’s third time participating

in the Canada Winter Games, and this time B.C. is considered to be a

contender for the gold medal.

I’m pleased to report that they won their first game

yesterday.

Joel was just 15 when he played in the 2015 Canada Winter Games we

hosted in Prince George, and he also competed in the games in Red Deer

in 2019. Obviously, during the pandemic, tournaments and competitions

were cancelled, but 2022 was a hectic year as Joel resumed play in

wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby. Joel travelled

internationally with the Canadian men’s team and, in fact, was

co-captain of the team. The Canadian squad went two and one and earned a

spot in the IWBF U23 World Championships in Thailand.

Joel was born with cerebral palsy, and that affects his ability to

move and maintain his balance. He was introduced to wheelchair

basketball when he was five by Prince George resident Pat Harris and his

son, Avril. Pat Harris has been a driving force in wheelchair basketball

for decades and, in fact, founded the Prince George Titans wheelchair

basketball program and is an inductee in the Prince George Sports Hall

of Fame for his career as an athlete and a coach.

Joel has also excelled at wheelchair rugby and has played at the

provincial, national and international level. And if that isn’t enough,

Joel also has a passion for education. He has already completed his

first degree in biomedical studies at UNBC and continues to study with

the goal of becoming a cardiologist.

I know that Joel would want to recognize his family for their

tireless support. They have been alongside him the entire way, cheering

him on and providing the support that has helped him become a highly

successful world-class athlete.

Joel, we want to wish you and Team B.C. the very best at the

Canada Winter Games and continued success in your athletic and

educational goals.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR DISPLACED

UKRAINIANS IN COMOX

VALLEY

R. Leonard: On Sunday, I had a great opportunity to meet displaced Ukrainians

who’ve settled in the Comox Valley.

Oksana Moisieieva, herself a displaced Ukrainian, translated in a

room eager to speak with me. Oksana is the integration coordinator hired

by the Comox Valley Ukrainian Cultural Society with funding from the

provincial refugee readiness program.

The meet-and-greet I attended is held monthly in the Comox Valley

Presbyterian Church, thanks to congregant Mary Bitroff. I first met Mary

at a meeting sparked last year by Courtenay’s mayor, Bob Wells, in

expectation of an influx of Ukrainians. Those who had something to offer

came out, and a network began to grow.

Relentless Eugene Hrushowy, from the Comox Valley Ukrainian

Society, was quick to connect. With a proud Ukrainian heritage, the

small group of 17, with no Ukrainian language, could not have foreseen

the critical role they would play. Their numbers have grown to about 60

members, and their efforts are nothing short of a miracle.

Janette Martin-Lutzer, president, Donna Baydock,

secretary-treasurer, and Leah Carlos, along with Eugene, are all

hands-on leaders with the society, working to support 145 displaced

Ukrainians.

undertaken the organization of a perogy and holubtsi dinner fundraiser

through COVID-19, with cars lined around town to pick up their dinners.

When the food ran out, people still donated. Ongoing fundraising saw

3,400 perogies made in one day this past weekend.

Before he died, Russ Arnott, as Comox mayor, made sure town

facilities were available to support our new Ukrainian neighbours, and

there’s so much more that’s been done.

A candlelight vigil is planned for 5 p.m., on Friday, February 24,

at Comox Marina Park, the first anniversary of the war — a time to stand

in solidarity and join in community efforts to help displaced Ukrainians

build their new lives here.

[10:15 a.m.]

HOSPICE CARE IN QUESNEL AND AREA

C. Oakes: On February 11, I had the opportunity to attend the Hearts for

Hospice artisan gala, raising important funds for the Quesnel and

District Hospice Palliative Care Association. It was the 20th

anniversary of the gala, and after three years of not having the event

due to COVID, people were excited to come together for this very

important cause.

I would like to thank every single volunteer who worked tirelessly

to make this massive undertaking a reality. I would also like to thank

all of the artists that contributed items for this auction.

High-quality hospice palliative end-of-life care is an integral

part of the health care system. I would like to take this opportunity to

acknowledge the passionate advocacy of Cariboo North constituent Carol

Weremy. Society should see end of life as a time of compassion and

caring, but depending on one’s finances, sometimes it’s not. Carol has

been advocating for the elimination of the hospice per diem, a

requirement of the Ministry of Health.

Whether one’s end of life is at Quesnel’s hospice facility or at

G.R. Baker Hospital, past 30 days of being deemed palliative, they are

charged a fee. Why, at the end of one’s life, when one gets deemed

palliative, does one get added a financial burden on them? Why, on one

of the most difficult days, when families have their care meeting to

discuss end-of-life care, does the conversation then turn to fees and

payment? For married seniors that own their own home, there are even

less avenues to access financial support.

With all the money that is being spent on health care programs,

why are people being charged $1,337.80 a month to die?

Listen to Carol and so many others and eliminate this financially

burdensome fee.

LANGLEY MEALS ON WHEELS

AND ALDERGROVE COMMUNITY

HUB

M. Dykeman: I rise in the House today to highlight a fantastic community

organization in Langley, British Columbia.

Meals on Wheels Langley is a non-profit organization that prides

itself on delivering services to our community, for all to be fed,

connected and supported. I had the opportunity to tour their Aldergrove

community station hub facility and was just thrilled to see how much

work has been done in expanding the facilities and services they offer

since I’d last been there.

Langley Meals on Wheels offers important programs, like the “home

from the hospital” program; “meals on foot,” where local school-age

students deliver meals; Boutique Finds, a social enterprise; and a new

outreach kitchen.

When I toured the Aldergrove facility, I had the opportunity to

enjoy a lovely lunch at the Firehouse Cafe, which incorporates a

Neighbourhood House model and community food centre under one roof. They

provide support for children, youth, families and seniors living with

food security issues, offering access to food services in a welcoming

place run completely by a team of dedicated volunteers.

This type of community hub is only possible because of the hard

work and dedication of the fabulous team that makes it happen each and

every day. Thank you to executive director Shannon Woykin, board chair

Deanna Horn, vice-chair Kathy Reddington, treasurer Kelly Goto,

secretary Paul Crump and directors Amanda LaBoucane, Dan Dente and

Pauline Buck.

There are also a team of fantastic volunteers, like Karen Long,

who has been a long-time volunteer in our community.

I applaud the innovation, community dedication and fortitude of

all those involved in building this important community hub.

We are so fortunate in Langley to have such generous people, who

are willing to step forward to create community spaces like this

one.

CRYSTAL CUP HOCKEY TOURNAMENT

IN CHARLIE

LAKE

D. Davies: The Crystal Cup is returning for the eighth time after a

three-year hiatus. The Crystal Cup pond hockey challenge and the Sid

Davis youth memorial challenge are back February 24 to 26 at Charlie

Lake, just north of Fort St. John. This year’s event will once again

feature the crystal, sapphire and coal cup divisions and the Sid Davis

youth memorial cup.

The weekend will feature true Canadian pond hockey, with over 100

teams participating. There’ll be lots of great family fun, including the

hockey tournament, with four divisions on ten ice surfaces, live music,

ice bar, public skating, helicopter rides and kids events, such as

colouring contests, snow art and prize giveaways.

I can tell you, it is quite the scene, if you ever envision the

south end of a lake all set up with ten ice rinks and an entertainment

venue. It is quite the sight to see.

[10:20 a.m.]

At the tournament, there will also be contests for passing

accuracy, shootout, hardest shot and sharpshooter, and like every year,

there are special guests. This year’s special guests are none other than

YouTube sensations Jacob Ardown and Olly Postanin, of On the Bench, as

well as the authors of The Fundies: The Essential Hockey Guide from

On the Bench .

The coordinator of the Crystal Cup, Neil Evans, is excited for the

return of this year’s event. As one of the original founders of the pond

hockey challenge, Neil believes the Crystal Cup reaches beyond just the

hockey community. He says: “It’s something that me and my hockey buddies

basically created, and it brought the community together. Not just the

hockey community but families and friends alike. It’s this feeling of

not only being involved in your own community but creating your

community.”

Of course, the biggest challenge facing any outdoor event in

Canada is the weather. They’ve had years where the temperature plunged

to minus 45. They’ve had years where it was plus 7 and soaking wet, and

still they managed to make this the premier hockey pond event,

regardless of what Mother Nature threw at them.

Finally, events like this do not happen without volunteers and

sponsors. I’d personally like to thank each and every one of

them.

We hope to see you come up to the Peace region, even if it’s minus

45, and participate in this great event.

SUCCESS IMMIGRANT AND

SOCIAL SERVICES

AGENCY

H. Yao: So 2023 marks the 50-year golden anniversary for SUCCESS. SUCCESS

started in 1973 as a small group of volunteers. Today it is one of the

largest social service agencies in Canada.

SUCCESS serves clients from over 150 countries through 40-plus

service centres. The organization serves immigrants, refugees,

newcomers, women, children and families, youth and seniors. Basically,

SUCCESS serves, on average, 73,000 people each year.

For starters, SUCCESS supports our community by providing a wide

range of programs in the area of integrated settlement services for

immigrants and transitional support for refugees and newcomers,

specifically orientation to Canada, language training, employment and

entrepreneurship programs. It also provides affordable housing, senior

care, culturally sensitive and appropriate residential and

assisted-living facilities, adult day programs, Chinese Meals on Wheels

and community programs. Regarding advocacy, SUCCESS focuses their fight

against anti-Asian racism and community safety and services in Vancouver

Chinatown.

SUCCESS is one of the success stories from the non-profit sector.

It’s an organization that started in the area of specialized support,

helping and empowering Chinese newcomers to settle in Canada, to now a

diverse national organization that utilizes its years of experience and

expertise to support people from over 150 countries. From fundraising

galas to community engagement, SUCCESS is well-supported by the

community, organizations and business leaders.

I also want to take the opportunity to express my gratitude and

congratulations to Queenie Choo. Queenie is celebrating her ten years of

leadership in SUCCESS. SUCCESS, under Queenie’s leadership, has grown

and achieved so much, from being a voice for individuals’ language

challenges to advocating for individuals who are not able to advocate

for themselves. SUCCESS, under Queenie Choo, championed inclusivity,

equity and collaboration.

Thank you, Queenie. Thank you for your leadership, and I wish

another 50 years of successes for SUCCESS.

Oral Questions

POLICE SERVICES IN SURREY

T. Halford: For years, this NDP government has tried to avoid taking any

responsibility for the future of policing in Surrey. Last month, instead

of providing leadership, they simply kicked the can down the

road.

Their inaction has resulted in continued uncertainty and now

skyrocketing costs for the citizens of Surrey. Surrey residents are now

facing the biggest tax increase, nearly 20 percent, the largest tax

increase in the history of that city.

My question is a simple one to the Premier. When will he finally

make a decision on the future of policing in Surrey?

Hon. M. Farnworth: I thank the member for his question. As the member is well aware,

the city of Surrey made a decision some four years ago that they wanted

to move from the RCMP model of policing to having their own police

service. That is their right to do that. That transition was

underway.

[10:25 a.m.]

In the last election, a new mayor and council were elected. They,

in a 5-to-4 vote, said they wanted to return back to the RCMP from the

Surrey Police Service. As the member will know, the transition to where

we are today has taken the better part of that four-year time. It meant

working with the federal government. It meant working with the RCMP and

the city of Surrey to ensure that there was an orderly transition in

place. That transition was about halfway through.

The city of Surrey now wants to transition back. They have the

ability to do that. They have made the decision that that’s what they

want to do. But in order to do that, they have to be able to provide a

transition plan that ensures that there is safe, effective and adequate

policing. That’s the responsibility of the Solicitor General and the

director of police services.

Subsequent to that, the city of Surrey worked on a plan on how

they saw it going. The RCMP also showed how they would re-staff, in

terms of going back to the RCMP model. We received that information just

before Christmas. My staff have been working hard and analyzing that.

They identified a range of gaps in both plans that needed to be

addressed.

We have just received the responses to the questions and the

concerns we had from the city of Surrey on Thursday. We have received

the RCMP’s plan, in terms of how they plan to re-staff. That work is

being analyzed as quickly as possible.

The bottom line is this, Member. Any plan has to ensure safe and

effective and adequate policing. If it doesn’t do that, it cannot be

approved. That work is underway. I want it done as quickly as possible.

I was asked on the weekend whether this is going to take months or

weeks. I said that I expect it in weeks.

My staff are doing everything they can, working with the city of

Surrey, working with the RCMP and the Surrey Police Service to get the

answers to the questions that they need so that we are able to make a

decision that puts public safety first in the city of Surrey.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Surrey–White Rock, supplemental.

T. Halford: The minister talks about his responsibility. So let’s talk about

the minister’s responsibility.

In August of 2019, this government gave a green light to the

Surrey police transition. The minister just spoke about that. At that

time, the project was approved, with little transparency, numerous

unanswered questions and an uncertainty about true costs.

Now, yesterday, and the minister would be aware of this, Mayor

Brenda Locke said: “There is a poison pill inside of that contract that

says there is an 18-month severance clause after as little as six months

of work.” Let me repeat that: “an 18-month severance clause after as

little as six months of work.” This minister must have known about that.

This government and this Premier signed off on it. Now Surrey residents

are stuck with it.

Will the Premier stand up today and tell the people of Surrey why

this government, this minister and this Premier signed off on a clause

on a contract that had an 18-month severance clause?

Hon. M. Farnworth: I thank the member for the question. The member will know that the

contracts are negotiated between the police board and the city of Surrey

and their police department.

Policing is a local government responsibility, hon. Member.

Policing is a local government responsibility.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh. Members.

The minister will continue.

Hon. M. Farnworth: The key in this whole thing…. I noticed that when this whole issue

came about, the opposition’s view was very clear — that this is a local

government responsibility, that this is a local government decision. And

it is.

My decision as Solicitor General is to ensure that if Surrey wants

to do a transition, any transition, whether it’s going forward or

backward, ensures there is safe and effective policing in place. The

plans for that were signed off by the federal government, the province

and the city of Surrey in order to move forward to the Surrey Police

Service. That transition has been well underway.

[10:30 a.m.]

I’ll remind the member of what his own leader said around the

Surrey transition, which was that he will work hard to ensure that there

is a smooth and successful transition for Surrey’s own police force.

That’s what the Leader of the Opposition said.

I’ll repeat for the member. My responsibility is to ensure that if

Surrey goes back, there is a safe and effective plan. The city of Surrey

has said and acknowledged that….

Interjection.

Mr. Speaker: Member.

Hon. M. Farnworth: Do some homework, hon. Member. I don’t sign off on the

contract.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh, both sides.

Hon. M. Farnworth: As I was saying, the transition…. My responsibility is to ensure

that there is a safe and effective transition that ensures safe and

effective policing for the city of Surrey. That work is underway. I want

that work to be done as quickly as possible, the city of Surrey wants it

to be done as quickly as possible, and I know the residents of Surrey

want it to be done as quickly as possible. The city of Surrey has

acknowledged that those costs are their costs.

Hon. Member, that work is underway. I want to make it clear. A

transition has to ensure safe and effective policing. As a former

Solicitor General, you should know that that is the key priority. That

is the key priority, Member. You may not think that, but we certainly

do.

S. Bond: I can assure the member opposite that the debate in this chamber

today is not about public safety. We agree with that. We agree that that

has to be a priority.

What we are arguing about is the fact that this minister

studiously avoided answering the question. He feels very free to point

fingers at everybody else for the mess that’s taking place in

Surrey.

Let’s be clear. This is a total mess. The people that are going to

have to pay for this government’s incompetence and delays are the people

of Surrey, a nearly 20 percent increase in their taxes. That would be a

record tax hike in the city of Surrey. Every single day that this

minister delays making the decision on the future of policing in Surrey

only serves to increase anxiety about the cost to Surrey

residents.

Let’s talk about those costs. Those would be on top of sky-high

inflation, which leads the country again today. They have the highest

gas prices, the highest gas tax prices in North America and the highest

housing prices in North America. Many British Columbians are at the

breaking point.

Will the minister get up and give us a specific timeline,

especially to provide relief for the people of Surrey? Will he fix the

mess?

Hon. M. Farnworth: Well, I’ll disagree with the member. This is about public safety.

This is very much about public safety. If it was just about saying,

“Yes, your plan is fine. Go ahead and do what you want….” It’s

not.

This is about ensuring a safe transition, both forwards and

backwards. The transition forward was proceeding. The council made a

decision that they want to go back. In order to do that, they have to

put in place a proper plan that ensures safe and effective

policing.

They submitted an initial proposal. It was lacking. We have been

working with the city of Surrey and the RCMP on the gaps that were

identified to ensure that we have the answers in place, which will

satisfy the statutory responsibility that I have and that government has

to ensure safe and effective policing, and that a transition takes place

that people understand and that ensures safe and effective policing not

only for the city of Surrey but also for the rest of the

province.

I’ll tell that member this. If a plan came forward that said,

“We’re going to restaff Surrey by taking members from Prince George or

taking members from Coquitlam or taking members from the North Shore,”

it would not pass muster on this side of the House and, I expect, on

that side of the House. We are going to do the work that needs to be

done to make sure it’s done properly.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Prince George–Valemount, supplemental.

S. Bond: Let’s be clear. The minister can’t have it both ways. He talks

about scrutinizing a plan. Apparently, he did know that there was an

18-month severance clause in that contract. He can’t have it both ways.

The minister can’t do that.

[10:35 a.m.]

In fact, let’s be clear. This mess landed on his desk. He said,

clearly, that the government approved the transition, which means he was

aware that there was an 18-month severance clause in that transition

plan after, potentially, as little as six months of work. That is what’s

driving the unbelievable costs that Surrey residents may

face.

The minister can’t have it both ways, so would he like to stand up

today and answer the specific question? Was he aware of the fact that

there was an 18-month severance clause in the case of the transition in

Surrey policing?

Hon. M. Farnworth: The contract is one that’s negotiated at that level. I don’t sign

off on the contract.

The city of Surrey voted to move from the RCMP force to a

municipal police force, the Surrey Police Service. They subsequently,

after almost three years of transition, decided to move back to the

RCMP. In order to do that….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. M. Farnworth: In order to do that, there has to be a plan that ensures safe and

effective policing. Within the contracts that the Surrey police

department puts in place and that the city of Surrey agrees to, there

will be terms of employment, just as there are for every other police

department in this province and, indeed, across the country.

We have seen that the RCMP have negotiated a contract that’s

resulted in a 25 percent salary increase. That has added significant

costs to policing right across this province.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, shhh. Members.

Hon. M. Farnworth: The bottom line is this. I am responsible for ensuring a safe

transition for policing. Whether they want to go forward or whether they

want to go back, that work is underway. That’s what’s being

done.

FUNDING FOR

ISLAND COASTAL ECONOMIC

TRUST

A. Olsen: The Island Coastal Economic Trust was capitalized with $15 million

in 2006 by the former B.C. Liberal government. This B.C. NDP government

bought themselves some time by adding $10 million to that in

We’ve seen the $56 million assist in the member communities on

Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast, attracting upwards of about

$250 million in new investment into the region. Rural communities on

Vancouver Island and on the coast have been waiting months to hear

whether this vital economic driver for the region will be a priority for

this government.

My question is to the Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and

Innovation. I and, I imagine, my B.C. NDP colleagues will be interested

to know: will the minister recapitalize the Island Coastal Economic

Trust in Budget 2023?

Hon. B. Bailey: Thank you to the member for the question. The Island Coastal

Economic Trust has played a very important role in stimulating economic

development throughout Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast since

2006. Building resilient communities is a key action of our StrongerBC

economic plan, which helps move B.C. forward by tackling the challenges

of today while growing an economy that works for everyone.

In 2018, our government provided an additional $10 million in

recapitalization of the trust to ensure it continues to support

communities. We’ve also provided ICE-T with almost $3.3 million in

funding through two rural rounds of community recovery initiative

funding. This funding has supported the trust to hire business advisers,

to help diversify local economies through the pandemic and to help

mitigate changes in the forestry sector.

Communities in ICE-T’s region are also able to apply for funding

through our new $33 million REDIP program to, again, drive economic

diversification. The first intake just closed, and we’re very excited

about the quality of the applications that have come in.

We’ve got more work to do. The focus on local communities

continues, and it’s incredibly important to us.

[10:40 a.m.]

Mr. Speaker: House Leader of the Third Party, supplemental.

A. Olsen: I think the communities on Vancouver Island and in the coastal

region deserve better than just the minister replying with the same

information that I provided in the

preamble to my question.

There are 500,000 people in this region who depend on this trust

to be able to fund important projects in their communities. Our local

government colleagues rely on these funds to be able to fund local

projects.

Resilient communities, as the minister framed, require reliability

in the government funding. They need to know how they’re going to be

able to plan. Unfortunately, according to the act, ICET is about to have

to shutter their doors because their funding is coming to an

end.

We’ve received letters from community leaders outlining how these

investments have supported initiatives; developed community identity,

Indigenous-led and nature-​based tourism, entrepreneurialism,

sustainable innovation. Twenty-eight communities including Courtenay,

Nanaimo, the shíshálh Nation,

’Na̠mgis First Nation, Campbell

River, North Cowichan, Port Alberni, Powell River, Saltspring Chamber of

Commerce, the Rural Islands Economic Partnership. Just among 28

commun­ities who have written this government.

I look to my colleagues on the other side who represent these

communities and wonder out loud how it is that we even got to this sort

of brinksmanship situation.

To the Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, will

she be reinvesting in these communities, or will she be telling them

that they’re on their own?

Hon. B. Bailey: Thank you to the member opposite for the question. I myself am an

Island girl. These communities matter deeply to me, and they matter

deeply to our government. There are many examples I can share of the

investments we’re making on the Island in this community and

others.

For example, an investment in 2020-2021 in the goods movement

strategy, tens of millions of dollars invested in the Port of Nanaimo

expansion at Duke Point. We have received ICET’s proposal, and we’re

considering it. Since its inception, ICET has operated on a spend-down

model, and we understand the timeline that the board is working

with.

We’re continuing to have discussions with the new CEO to explore

funding options for ICET. We’ll have more to announce in future

days.

LNG PROJECTS AND

FIRST NATIONS ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT

E. Ross: Haisla-Cedar LNG is one of the largest First Nations-led

infrastructure projects in Canadian history with the potential to create

thousands of jobs and reduce global emissions by replacing coal-fired

power in Asia. But under this Premier, the project has been trapped in

political purgatory since last November.

The Premier is afraid to even talk about it. He’s ashamed of our

natural resources and LNG. He has no clear explanation or timeline for a

decision on the Haisla-Cedar project.

A simple question for the Premier: when will a decision be made so

Haisla-Cedar LNG can start exporting clean and ethical LNG to the

world?

Hon. G. Heyman: Thank you to the member for the question. I’ll keep my answer

short. The issue, the project, is complicated. It has a number of

features. My colleague, the Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon

Innovation, and I are the decision-makers. The material is before us for

a decision. We are looking at it thoroughly. We are working toward a

decision, and that is all I can say.

E. Ross: That answer doesn’t make any sense. LNG Canada was complicated.

Phase 2 was complicated. When I was chief councillor of Haisla Nation,

we actually put together Haisla-Cedar LNG as an accommodation of rights

and title.

[10:45 a.m.]

I mean it’s clear that the NDP are still ashamed of our natural

resource economy, including LNG. We hear it in their debates every day

in this Legislature. First Nations are doing their part to seize

opportunities and lift their people from poverty. But there is growing

frustration over the Premier’s delays and political

purgatory.

Chief Councillor Crystal Smith from the Haisla Nation said last

month: “In regard to the approval of the environmental assessment, it

has definitely been frustrating, to say the least.”

By law, the deadline for this government to decide on Cedar LNG

was 45 days, but it’s been over 100 days with no clear explanation or

timeline. There was less timeline for LNG Canada.

When will the Premier stop delaying and actually support one of

the largest First Nations–led infrastructure projects in Canadian

history?

Hon. G. Heyman: On this side of the House, we take reconciliation, including

economic reconciliation, with First Nations very seriously. I would just

simply add that the Premier isn’t delaying or ducking a decision,

because it’s not his to make. It belongs to me and to my colleague, the

Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.

We take economic reconciliation seriously, as I said. We’re taking

the proposal seriously in all of its aspects and in all of its impacts,

and we are working towards a decision very soon.

M. Lee: This government, under this Premier, needs to act on economic

reconciliation with First Nations. It’s a nation-to-nation relationship.

This Premier knows that, and he is failing on this file. He’s failing

these First Nations.

The minister’s answer about Cedar LNG is just another example

about how this government is failing on economic reconciliation with

First Nations. First Nations, Indigenous peoples, want to be full

partners in the economic development of B.C., including on clean and

ethical LNG projects like Cedar LNG. The Musqueam Indian Band has

partnered with Fortis on a project to unlock LNG as a marine fuel

through the Tilbury LNG project in Delta. But just like Cedar LNG, the

project has been caught in an NDP political purgatory.

Despite a legislated deadline of 45 days for a decision on the

Tilbury marine jetty, this government has remained silent, and this

Premier sits there and lets that minister stand up and answer the

questions. This has been a delay for over 130 days.

When will the Premier provide answers and make a decision that

respects the rights of First Nations to pursue economic

opportunity?

Hon. G. Heyman: Once again, the member opposite raises an issue of a decision

under the Environmental Assessment Act. As a lawyer, the member should

know that I or any of my colleagues are very limited in what we can say

in response to a decision that is currently before us.

But what I will say is that we take economic reconciliation very

seriously. We take the rights of Indigenous peoples very seriously.

That’s why when we rewrote the Environmental Assessment Act in 2018, we

put in a provision that stated that if there were nations with

legitimate interests who did not give consent to a project or raised

concerns that we would meet and hear from those nations.

Despite the fact that Tilbury marine jetty is a project under the

old act — because that is our commitment in the new act; because it is

our commitment in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Act that this government brought in, that every member of this House

voted for unanimously — we, my colleague the Minister of Transportation

and Infrastructure and I, the decision-makers on this project, are

respecting every Indigenous nation who wants to be heard and wants to

ensure that we take their points of view and their concerns seriously

and into account for the decision.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Vancouver-Langara, supplemental.

M. Lee: Nations in our province are asking for respect, and quite frankly,

that answer shows a real lack of respect for the Haisla Nation and for

the Musqueam Indian Band.

[10:50 a.m.]

They are looking for the partnership to move forward with major

economic development projects like Cedar LNG and Tilbury LNG. The delays

and lack of support only further demonstrate this government’s failure

to move forward with economic reconciliation. Yes, I am a lawyer. I have

been, but this project and these decisions have been delayed beyond the

legislated time frames of 45 days — 100 days and counting for Cedar LNG,

130 days and counting for the Tilbury LNG project.

It seems that this Premier is choosing his extremist base,

including members of his own cabinet, over Indigenous reconciliation and

economic opportunity — for instance, his Attorney General, who was a

senior campaigner for the U.S.-based Stand.earth. She wrote a

fundraising email opposing Tilbury LNG and said: “This is just the

beginning of our fight to expose LNG for what it truly is — another

climate catastrophe.”

Why has this Premier chosen to side with extremists at Stand.earth

over the Haisla Nation and the Musqueam Indian Band?

Hon. G. Heyman: It is just regrettable that the member opposite is choosing to

label anyone who disagrees with his position as an extremist. That is

not how we have dialogue in this province.

Interjections.

Hon. G. Heyman: I’m familiar with my record. I’m familiar with my colleagues’

records, and I’m proud of all of them. My colleagues and I are

proceeding…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh. Members.

Hon. G. Heyman: …in a respectful, thorough manner to make the decisions that are

before us. In making those decisions, we consider environmental impacts,

we consider our commitments, we consider economic reconciliation, and we

consider the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Act.

Among the nations with whom we met on Tilbury marine jetty were

the Musqueam.

GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON

LNG DEVELOPMENT AND STATUS

OF PROJECT PROPOSALS

T. Stone: Well, the words of the minister are cold comfort to First Nations

and, indeed, to the thousands of hard-working British Columbians who

contribute so much to the provincial economy and put food on the table

for their families through the hard work that they do in B.C.’s natural

resources sectors. It’s time for this government to start respecting

those families.

I would suggest that doesn’t come through comments, attributable

to the Attorney General, that were just read into the record. They don’t

come from comments from the current Minister of Emergency Management —

who said, during the Premier’s run for leadership, that the Premier

would “take an unambiguous stance against LNG.” They don’t come from

comments made during the throne speech from the Premier’s own appointed

Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development, who said that supporting

our natural resource sector was uninspiring and “a vision for what rural

communities were 100 years ago.”

Later this week, on February 24 to be exact, it will have been one

year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine — a war that has underscored

the need of the Western world to stop relying on oil and gas sold by

dictators like Vladimir Putin. In Germany, six new floating LNG

regasification terminals are expected to come online by the end of this

year, and growing demand for LNG is forcing countries like Japan and

South Korea to turn to coal power plants as a future energy

source.

B.C. should be a leader in providing a secure source of clean and

ethical LNG, reducing emissions in Asia by 50 percent. We have

everything that it takes for this to be the case, except for the

political will. The Premier seems to be more interested in pandering to

ideological extremists, saying, in his very first speech as Premier: “We

cannot continue to expand fossil fuel infrastructure.”

My question to the Premier is this. Why isn’t the Pre­mier

seizing the opportunity to support our allies with safe transitional

fuels like LNG, which also happen to promote reconciliation and reduce

globe emissions?

[10:55 a.m.]

When will this Premier stand up? When will he indicate that he’s

going to approve, expeditiously, Haisla Cedar LNG, Tilbury LNG and phase

2 of LNG Canada?

Mr. Speaker: Before the Chair recognizes the Premier, I want to remind all

members not to use electronic devices during the question period,

please.

Hon. D. Eby: I thank the members on the other side for the questions. These are

important projects that have been brought forward by First Nations

partners. They’re challenging questions for British Columbians, even if

the opposition pretends that they’re not.

British Columbians are seized with the issue of climate change.

They see the smoky summers, the wildfire seasons that have destroyed a

huge portion of our forest base, the floods that we’ve seen through

atmospheric rivers and the heat dome. LNG is, let’s be frank, a fossil

fuel that contri­butes in part to global climate

change.

We have brought in a CleanBC plan with clear targets for carbon

emissions. Projects have to hit those targets. We’ve been clear about

LNG targets: fossil fuel emissions generally have to hit our carbon

pollution targets. Now, illustrating some of the complexity of this, one

of the proudest moments I’ve had since being Premier was the agreement

we signed with Blueberry River First Nations.

The complexity that that nation faces of wanting to preserve the

land base, also recognizing the economic opportunities that the biggest

private sector investment in B.C.’s history, LNG Canada, brings to them

and other nations — which our government delivered, by the way — is

important. That’s why the agreement talks about reducing disturbance on

the land by half but making sure that we’re meeting our international

commitments, including around carbon pollution.

These are not simple, black-and-white issues. These are complex

issues. We’ll work closely with nations on economic development. We’ll

work closely with fossil fuel producers around LNG, to ensure that we’re

hitting our carbon targets, but all of us in this House need to be

focused, as well, on the fact that the world is transitioning rapidly

away from fossil fuels and to make sure that, for our kids and for the

future of our economy, B.C. is part of that, through clean hydrogen and

through our clean electricity. Across the province, these are huge

advantages.

We have critical minerals. In getting our permit times down, I

accept the critique of the opposition. They struggled, while in

government, to deal with this. We’re going to take it on. Permit times

are a huge issue for resource proponents that need to get at those

critical minerals. We’re proud of our resource industries. You see our

work on forestry, at a time when so many forests burned down and the

forests aren’t available.

We’re going to do that work. That’s why we have one of the lowest

unemployment rates in Canada. That’s why we gained 63,000 jobs last

year, the vast majority of which are in the private sector —

three-quarters of the job growth from women, thanks for our investments

in child care. In 2017, we led the country in small business job growth.

We had the highest credit rating of all the provinces in Canada. Our

economy came back faster than other provinces’ because we supported

people. Natural resources are a part of that.

We’re going to continue to do the work to deliver for British

Columbians. We’re going to keep building the strongest economy in

Canada, and B.C. will be a leader in the clean energy future of the

world.

[End of question period.]

Motions Without Notice

POWERS AND ROLE OF

FINANCE

COMMITTEE

Hon. R. Kahlon: I seek leave to move a motion to provide the Select Standing

Committee on Finance and Government Services with their terms of

reference.

The full text of the motion has been provided to the other House

leaders.

Leave granted.

Hon. R. Kahlon: I move:

[11:00 a.m.]

[That the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government

Services be empowered to:

1. Examine, inquire into and make recommendations with respect

to the budget consultation paper prepared by the Minister of Finance in

accordance with

section 2 of the Budget Transparency and

Accountability Act (S.B.C. 2000, c. 23) and, in particular,

to:

a. conduct public consultations across British

Columbia on proposals and recommendations regarding the provincial

budget and fiscal policy for the coming fiscal year by any means the

Committee considers appropriate; and

b. prepare a report no later than November 15, 2023,

on the results of those consultations.

2. In conjunction with general oversight of the following

statutory officers, namely, the:

i. Auditor General

ii. Chief Electoral Officer

iii. Conflict of Interest

Commissioner

iv. Human Rights Commissioner

v. Information and Privacy

Commissioner

vi. Merit Commissioner

vii. Ombudsperson

viii. Police Complaint Commissioner

ix. Representative for Children and

Youth

a. consider and make recommendations on the annual

reports, rolling three-year service plans and budgets;

b. inquire into and make recommendations with respect

to other matters brought to the Committee’s attention by any of the

aforementioned statutory officers; and

c. consider and make decisions, on behalf of the

of any of the aforementioned statutory officers arising as a request of

an officeholder during their term of appointment.

That the Committee be designated as the Committee referred to in

sections 19, 20, 21 and 23 of the Auditor General Act (S.B.C.

2003, c. 2) and that the report in

section 22 of the Auditor General

Act (S.B.C. 2003, c. 2) be referred to the Committee.

That the Committee be designated as the Committee referred to in

sections 47.02 and 47.03 of the Human Rights Code (R.S.B.C.

1996, c. 210).

That, in addition to the powers previously conferred upon the Select

Standing Committees of the House, the Select Standing Committee on

Finance and Government Services be empowered to:

a. appoint of its number one or more subcommittees and

to refer to such subcommittees any of the matters referred to the

Committee and to delegate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers

except the power to report directly to the House;

b. sit during a period in which the House is

adjourned, during the recess after prorogation until the next following

Session and during any sitting of the House;

c. adjourn from place to place as may be convenient;

and

d. retain personnel as required to assist the

Committee;

That the Committee report to the House as soon as possible; and that

during a period of adjournment, the Committee deposit its reports with

the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and upon resumption of the

sittings of the House, or in the next following Session, as the case may

be, the Chair present all reports to the House.]

Motion approved.

Orders of the Day

Hon. R. Kahlon: I call second reading of Bill 8.

[S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.]

Second Reading of Bills

BILL 8 — REAL ESTATE SERVICES

AMENDMENT ACT,

Hon. K. Conroy: I move that Bill 8 be read a second time now.

The purpose of this bill is to amend the Real Estate Services Act,

removing the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia, the foundation,

from government reporting entity to allow it to better deliver on its

mandate.

The Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia was established in

1985 and operated at arm’s length to government for many years. However,

in 2016, changes to the foundation’s governance model resulted in it

being brought into the government reporting entity. Prior to 2016, three

foundation board members were appointed by government and four members

were non-government appointments, including one made by the Real Estate

Council of British Columbia, a professional self-regulatory

organization.

In 2016, the former government replaced the entire Real Estate

Council of British Columbia with government appointees, making the

council a government entity. Because of this change, the council’s

foundation appointment became an indirect government appointment, as the

Real Estate Council of British Columbia was now an agent of the Crown.

At this time, the foundation became part of the government reporting

entity.

Government control of an entity is determined in several different

ways. If the province appoints more than 50 percent of a governing

board, the entity is automatically within the GRE.

[11:05 a.m.]

Other indicators in providing evidence of control of an entity

include the ability of the province to appoint or remove the chief

executive officer or other key personnel, to establish or amend the

mission or mandate of an organization, to approve the business plan or

budget for the organization, to establish borrowing or investment

limits, to restrict the revenue-generating capacity of the organization

and establish or amend the policies that the organization uses to manage

operations and personnel — for example, accounting procedures, staff

compensation, collective bargaining or deployment of

resources.

While the province’s control of the foundation’s board is the

primary mechanism by which it may exert control over the foundation’s

operations and businesses, provisions contained under

section 93 of the

Real Estate Services Act enable the minister to influence the

foundation’s activities and initiatives. Furthermore, the RESA allows

the minister to join the foundation’s board and impose

conditions.

Therefore, the proposed amendments to the act are necessary to

change the composition of the foundation’s board and limit the amount of

control the minister has over the foundation’s business operations, with

the intention of removing the foundation from the GRE.

Over the past six years, the foundation has experienced several

issues stemming from its government reporting entity status. For

example, the foundation is no longer perceived as a neutral organization

by those who wish to partner with them. This could impact the

foundation’s ability to continue its important work, including

conservation projects, land stewardship and food security.

Removing the foundation from the government reporting entity is

also consistent with the oversight approach of similar organizations

like the Law Foundation of B.C. and the Notary Foundation of B.C., which

share a similar structure and whose revenue is also derived from

interest earned on deposits held by financial institutions in lawyers’

or notaries’ trust accounts.

To remove the foundation from the government reporting entity,

this bill proposes to amend the Real Estate Services Act to replace one

ministerial appointment to the foundation board with an appointment by

the B.C. Non-Profit Housing Association. This change will remove the

Minister of Finance or a delegate from the foundation’s board. Currently

the foundation is governed by a seven-member board, including the four

appointments by the province. If the proposed amendments are passed and

brought into force, the province will be responsible for appointing only

three individuals to the board.

This addresses a key element regarding ministerial influence and

control of the board contributing to the foundation’s government

reporting entity status.

Additionally, the amendments will remove the Minister of Finance’s

ability to provide written directions and impose conditions in relation

to the foundation’s projects and initiatives. Essentially, the proposed

amendments will remove the foundation from the government reporting

entity by limiting government’s control of the foundation.

The foundation has confirmed that the proposed changes will

address the issues and improve the diversity of its board, with the help

of the B.C. Non-Profit Housing Association. The B.C. Non-Profit Housing

Association’s mandate, key activities and strong commitment to

reconciliation with Indigenous peoples are a few reasons why the

province has proposed that the organization be made an appointing body

under the act. Indeed, the two organizations are closely

aligned.

Founded in 1993, the B.C. Non-Profit Housing Association is an

umbrella organization for non-profit housing providers in B.C. They

provide leadership, advocacy and support to non-profit housing

providers, and their members develop and operate affordable housing

throughout the entire province. The B.C. Non-Profit Housing

Association’s key activities include capacity-building, policy research

and analysis, as well as housing advocacy.

While government’s control of the foundation will be limited, the

province will still have the opportunity to provide direct input into

the organization’s activities and finances. The foundation is required

to provide an annual report, including audited financial statements, to

the Minister of Finance. This ensures an additional layer of oversight

and accountability.

An outside-of-government governance model is aligned with the

foundation’s mandate and key activities. By introducing this bill, we

will restore the foundation’s arm’s-length relationship to government

and ensure that it is positioned to be accessible, efficient and

effective.

[11:10 a.m.]

Indeed, the proposed amendments will help the foundation to

continue to advance the funding of projects, build relationships and

share knowledge to advance sustainable, equitable and socially just land

use and real estate practices across the province.

There are many examples of the incredible work the Real Estate

Foundation of B.C. has done, and I have some personal experience I want

to share with the members today. In my past life, I worked for an

organization called Kootenay Family Place, which was previously called

Kootenay-Columbia Child Care Society. During our work in the’90s, we

began expanding our services.

We bought an empty church that was up for sale beside us. We

renovated that. We opened up care for children under three years of age

— child care. We opened up support for young moms. We opened up services

for children with special needs who required additional physiotherapy,

occupational and speech pathology support.

Then we recognized that we needed more supports for young people

in our community and in our region. So we looked at what we could do to

achieve this, and we bought a building that we thought was really

appropriate for a youth centre. We actually bought the local RCMP

station, which was up for sale. So imagine a youth centre with a jail

cell in it. That brought quite a bit of chuckles, and in fact, it was a

huge hit amongst the youth.

We brought youth on board to look at this building, to say: “What

can we do with this building to make it so that it’s a functioning youth

centre, providing services to youth in our community?” Unfortunately,

even though the youth weren’t crazy about the idea, we did remove the

jail cell, and we turned it into a small café.

By doing that, the youth came to the centre and got to learn the

skills needed to actually go and work in cafés around the community.

They learned how to be a barista. They learned how to make food in the

café. They all agreed that it was okay to lose the jail cell, which

became a bit of an anomaly in the community, to have this

café.

While we were doing that work, youth really excelled with the

training they were experiencing. We kept doing the renovations on the

building. We came to the upstairs of the building, which, when it was an

RCMP station, had been used to house RCMP officers who were staying

overnight.

When we looked at this area, we thought: “What can we do to

support youth?” The youth said that what they would like was a place

that they could actually come to when they needed housing, they needed

some supports or they needed some additional supports from adults in the

community — or just a safe place to go.

We started looking for more funding, and one of the saviours for

us was the B.C. Real Estate Foundation. We started having discussions

with them on what they could do. They agreed, because they were not a

government reporting entity at the time…. They did provide grants

throughout the province to various initiatives. They liked the concept

of providing temporary housing for youth in a community that didn’t have

any.

So with their great support, we were able to complete the

renovations to the top floor of the former RCMP centre, and it became a

really safe place. It became a safe haven for the young people in our

community who needed that space on a temporary basis.

The B.C. Real Estate Foundation came to the grand opening. They

were thrilled with what they had been able to provide. It was a

significant grant for our organization in those days. It just made us

realize that you can reach out beyond your own community, your own area,

to regional provincial groups like the Real Estate Foundation to get the

support that we needed.

The organization continues to provide supports right across the

province. They have done some incredible work on watersheds — again,

right across the province. They’ve created jobs with those projects that

they have done with watersheds.

I know they’ve done some incredible work over in the East

Kootenays with the Elk Valley and with other watersheds over in the East

Kootenays. I know they’ve done work in the Cariboo-Chilcotin, some

really good work. I’m sure the member opposite, representing the

Cariboo-Chilcotin, will know of those projects.

They, too, have provided significant employment across the

province and have done work, as I said, right across the province,

looking at the watersheds that needed the support.

[11:15 a.m.]

They also have done some really innovative work with Indigenous

peoples across the province. They have an advisory board made up of

Indigenous peoples, representing voices across the province, again, on

how they can work together to ensure that the Indigenous values of those

people are included in the B.C. Real Estate Foundation’s

work.

Now, we want to make sure that this work can continue in a way

where they’re not feeling that they’re part of a government entity. We

heard from the Real Estate Foundation that there were times when

Indigenous peoples felt that because they were seen as a government

entity, they weren’t seen as an independent entity. So this is a way of

moving forward with that, to make sure that we are providing the

supports but also doing it in a way that’s done by a stand-alone

organization like it used to be.

I think that the amendments to this act will do this. It will do

just that, and it will ensure that this organization continues to

provide the incredible work that it has provided for many years. It has

been around since the’80s and provided the good work in the’90s and to

our organization in the Kootenays. It continues to provide really good

work right across the province and in many different ways.

I know a number of my colleagues would like to speak about some of

those projects and how it has affected them in their constituencies but

in other parts of the province as well, as they’ve been involved quite a

bit with some of those projects.

I’m going to say that I’m really happy with these amendments that

are moving forward. I look forward to the debate on the floor and the

comments from colleagues on both sides of the House. I’m sure members on

the other side of the House have some really great examples of the work

that the B.C. Real Estate Foundation has been doing, and I certainly

look forward to hearing about them.

F. Donnelly: I rise in support of Bill 8, the Real Estate Services Amendment

Act. I want to start by thanking the Minister of Finance for bringing

this forward and her staff for doing the work that’s needed to ensure

that this bill comes forward in a timely manner.

Just to outline this bill, it removes the Real Estate Foundation

of B.C., which was established in 1985, from the government reporting

entity in order to better deliver on their mandate. It operated at arm’s

length from government until 2016, when changes to the foundation’s

governance model brought it into a government reporting entity.

Following review and consultation, it was determined that there was no

rationale to keep it in the entity, and it would be more effective if

removed.

You may be wondering a little bit more about the Real Estate

Foundation. I know that the Finance Minister spoke about the foundation,

but let me just highlight what the foundation does. It’s a philanthropic

organization, working to achieve sustainable, equitable and socially

just land use across British Columbia. They have been playing, as the

minister pointed out, a critical role in administering the healthy

watersheds initiative.

You may also be wondering why the Real Estate Foundation of B.C.

is interested in watersheds and water. Well, realtors have told the

foundation that clean water is vital to complete communities, and it is

critical to attracting and keeping people and businesses in communities.

Water and watershed security is absolutely essential to healthy

communities and for healthy community living. It’s why the foundation is

focusing on clean water and secure watersheds.

Why is it important to secure watersheds in B.C.? I’m sure the

Speaker is wondering about that. Well, Speaker, let me give you a little

more information about that.

Rich and abundant watersheds such as the Fraser, the Skeena, the

Peace, the Columbia and the Cowichan, just to name a number, bring life,

health and prosperity to communities in every corner of British

Columbia. B.C.’s rivers and lakes are the cornerstone of local

economies, forests, fish and wildlife, food crops, our quality of life

and, in fact, our survival.

[11:20 a.m.]

B.C.’s watersheds provide critical natural defences to floods,

droughts and wildfires but are increasingly degraded in many parts of

the province.

I want to just talk a little bit about watershed security — what

it is. I’ve mentioned a little bit about that, and why Bill 8…. It’s

critical that we get this passed so that more projects like this can

happen.

Watershed security is about two things. Our watersheds provide

essential benefits that underpin our economy, health and well-being:

clean drinking water, thriving salmon runs, water for growing food and

natural protections against climate disasters. Again, Bill 8 is

critical. If this passes, it will allow British Columbia to invest in

watershed security, with the Real Estate Foundation of B.C. playing a

key role.

Also, watershed security is the stewardship and actions that we

take to keep our watersheds healthy, strong and productive so that they

continue to provide these services. Again, it’s why realtors have drawn

this focus to the foundation.

We can’t wait to invest any further. In fact, in 2021, it was a

devastating reminder of the costs of our changing climate and increasing

severe floods, droughts and forest fires. Poorly planned development

over the past 20 years has compounded these impacts and caused other

problems: polluted drinking water, reduced food security, destruction of

salmon habitat and loss of cultural and spiritual values.

I should explain why Bill 8 is so critical. It will allow the Real

Estate Foundation of B.C. to administer funding aimed at securing B.C.’s

watersheds, which will allow First Nations, municipalities and community

organizations to do the needed work at securing B.C.’s watersheds. There

are three priority investment areas that will strengthen communities’

resilience and support better decisions for the benefit of all British

Columbians.

Firstly, rebuild natural defences. Healthy watersheds provide

critical natural defences against a changing climate.

Interjections.

Deputy Speaker: We have…. One member has the floor, and the member is speaking to

Bill 8. If members want to speak to the bill, they have their chance

when the member is finished.

This is bill debate on Bill 8. If the member has a point of order,

then I would ask her to bring it. Otherwise, just shouting at the

Speaker is not working in a cooperative way.

Point of Order

P. Milobar: Mr. Speaker, since you wanted an official point of order — and fair

enough; I respect that wish — I raise a point of order. Bill 8 is about

switching out one specific board member. I would ask that we could actually

have debate that is relevant to the bill around switching out a specific

board member from one agency to the other.

Deputy Speaker: If the member wants the Chair to be very, very strict about every

debate in this House and ruling everything out of order except exactly

what’s in the bill and only the words in the bill, the Speaker could do

that. But I have been very broad in allowing members of the opposition and

members of the government to speak in relation to bills. As long as members

can show the Chair and show those listening the relevance to the bill, then

we will proceed as we have been.

So please, I take the note, and I would ask all members. of course, to

demonstrate to the House the relevance of the points they are making to the

legislation. I thank the member for his point.

Debate Continued

F. Donnelly: I appreciate the interjection. I look forward to the members

opposite and their remarks and how they think Bill 8 will play a key

role in making changes in British Columbia, in investment.

[11:25 a.m.]

I’m highlighting one important element: that the Real Estate

Foundation of B.C., should Bill 8, this amendment act, be adopted in

this House, it will change the investment in British Columbia through

the administration of the funding that this organization has been able

to provide, but not been able to provide after they were a

GRE.

It’s critical that Bill 8 be approved and that these members

support this bill. I’m highlighting some of the great work that the Real

Estate Foundation of B.C. has done in the past and why this is so

important. Actually, the Real Estate Foundation of B.C. has been working

on this bill for quite some time, working behind the scenes with staff.

Now we’ve got it up to the point where it’s finally at the Legislature

for the House to debate and to discuss the importance of this bill and

why we need to vote on it. Hopefully, all members here will support this

important change.

I would say, too, that sometimes the smallest changes can make the

biggest difference, and that’s, I think, the case here. I don’t mind

saying that the foundation was quite frustrated in the pace at which

this change took to actually come to fruition. Here it is, and I think

we should allow members an opportunity to express how important not only

Bill 8 is, but how important Bill 8 is when it’s implemented, and the

work that the Real Estate Foundation will continue or get to continue to

do, should this be approved.

I’m highlighting the one element of their work, which is on

watershed security. I was talking about three pathways. I mentioned what

watershed security is. So one of them is rebuilding natural defenses. I

was outlining what those natural defenses are. Healthy watersheds

provide critical natural defenses against the climate crisis. Wetlands

act as natural sponges, absorbing and purifying water. Natural stream

banks filter polluted runoff and provide shade to spawning salmon.

Mature forests hold back snow and rain in the winter and release when

it’s needed most.

A second pathway is watershed governance. Bill 8 will allow the

Real Estate Foundation to play a key role in strengthening watershed

governance in British Columbia. Governance is organizing the way we work

together to better make decisions at the right scale, involving the

people that live in watersheds and that know them best. It’s

relationship-building in a deep way between the Crown and Indigenous

nations, governments and communities, and the various interests that

have a stake in our watersheds.

Finally, a key part of securing our watersheds is bolstering

collaborative monitoring. We can’t effectively manage what we don’t

measure. Collaborative watershed monitoring, grounded in both Indigenous

knowledge and Western science, is the only way to ensure that we are

making the right decisions at the right time and investing where we need

it most.

If Bill 8 passes, it will allow more jobs and training

opportunities. B.C.’s existing watershed sector supports 27,000 jobs

across a diversity of professions, from planners to heavy machinery

operators, from Indigenous guardians to industry technologists, from

ecologists to software developers.

Dedicating a portion of the watershed security fund and training

will allow for skills and training programs to grow the watershed

sector. A B.C. centre for watershed security would align with B.C.’s new

economy and support youth employment and better transition for

unemployed resource workers in the resource sector, in the forestry

sector.

Interjections.

The Chair: Members.

Could the member draw the debate to Bill 8 and help the House

understand the relation? That would be appreciated.

F. Donnelly: Absolutely, Speaker. Thank you.

I’ll just talk about some of the…. If Bill 8, again, passes, the

Real Estate Foundation of B.C. will play a key role in addressing a

climate crisis that’s intensifying year over year. Just let me provide

some costs that happened in 2021, for instance.

[11:30 a.m.]

Floods: $9 billion was projected to be spent on the November

floods — $9 billion.

Fires, wildfires: half a billion dollars, $500 million, was spent

in fighting those fires.

Drought: $20 million in the drought package for farmers in

September of 2021.

Those are just some examples, again, of the work that’s happening

because of the climate crisis and the way we’re dealing with this

crisis. We need to change the governance. We need to be proactive. We

need to look forward in applying watershed security in new ways — which,

again, the Real Estate Foundation of B.C. is doing and would like to

continue to do with Bill 8 being approved in the House.

I’ll give some examples of the benefits of having approved Bill 8.

Hopefully, we’ll hear if members opposite support Bill 8 and hear their

comments on this important amendment.

I’ve talk about climate resilience. I’ve talked about job

creation. I’ve talked about Indigenous rights and less conflict with the

kind of work that’s happening. I want to just also mention who supports

watershed security in British Columbia. Just talking about the First

Nations Leadership Council, here’s a quote….

Deputy Speaker: If I might, Member. If you can help the Chair again understand the

connection of what you’re saying to the bill, that would be

appreciated.

F. Donnelly: Absolutely, Speaker.

Again, if Bill 8 is approved and the Real Estate Foundation of

B.C. is able to operate not as a GRE but now as a non-profit

organization, which has started the work — this is one example, the

watershed security work that they’ve been doing — they will continue to

have the funds to work with First Nations, with communities, with

municipalities, with community organizations, with those that want to

secure our province’s future.

That’s how critical Bill 8 is for the Real Estate Foundation of

B.C. and for many of these organizations who have been working with the

Real Estate Foundation, including…. I was going to mention the First

Nations Leadership Council. What they say is: “We applaud the province

for taking steps towards launching this long-awaited watershed security

fund, and we look forward to working with the province to advance the

United Nations declaration on the rights of Indigenous peoples in the

co-development and co-implementation of this fund.”

So they’re talking about the work that the province is doing and

how the province is working with the Real Estate Foundation of B.C. as

one administrator who is working on a watershed security strategy and

agenda.

When it comes to local government, they also see the importance of

this amendment. UBCM “requests that the province of B.C. create a

dedicated, sustainable, annual funding source for the watershed security

fund that provides” — they say — “$75 million annually for

community-driven watershed security initiatives.” That’s from the UBCM

resolution of September 2021.

Finally, I just want to mention about the public, because we have

to, as legislators, take into account what the public thinks about

important issues such as this. The public is: 78 percent of British

Columbians hold the view that B.C. needs to make major investments in

watershed security to protect fresh water in this province. That was

from McAllister Opinion Research done in September of 2021.

I’d like to, if I could, spend some time about how, if Bill 8 is

approved, support not only from the Real Estate Foundation but other

organizations that the Real Estate Foundation supports will be allowed

to continue their good work. I want to highlight some of those

organizations. I know my colleagues, who work with many of these

organizations, like watershed organizations, First Nations,

municipalities in their part of the world or their part of British

Columbia, also want to talk about those organizations and the good work

that they’re doing.

Again, these are organizations that have had funding from the Real

Estate Foundation of B.C. In order for them to continue doing this good

work, we as legislators need to support this bill, Bill 8.

[11:35 a.m.]

Interjections.

Deputy Speaker: Members, we have one member who has the floor. That member is

Coquitlam–Burke Mountain, and I ask you to please let him make his

remarks.

F. Donnelly: Thank you, Speaker.

I want to highlight one of the First Nations, or a First Nation,

in British Columbia that’s doing tremendous work, and a nation in my

community, the Kwikwetlem First Nation. They have an element of their

nation called the KFN resource stewardship program. They were awarded

$435,000. The nation is hiring and training four full-time resource

guardians who will enforce conservation regulations, restore

environmentally compromised sites and monitor development activities to

protect archaeological, environmental and cultural assets.

This project supports ten jobs. In our community, that nation

doing that work, that’s a significant number for our small nation. So

it’s fantastic that we support them and that the Real Estate Foundation

is administering the funding to ensure that they get the almost $500,000

to do this.

Another organization, the Squamish River Watershed Society,

received a grant of $10,000 to do some work on fish friendly flows in

the Cheakamus generating station. The Squamish River Watershed Society

is conducting water flow monitoring to ensure that communities,

fisheries, First Nations and other regional decision-makers have access

to data on appropriate minimal flows for an upcoming water use plan in

the in the Squamish and Cheakamus watershed. This project will support

three jobs.

I’ll turn to another area of the province, where the Upper Fraser

Fisheries Conservation Alliance is doing a couple of projects that I

want to highlight. One is the First Nations–led water monitoring in the

Nechako watershed. They received $250,000.

The Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance, in partnership

with Carrier-Sekani First Nations, developed, implemented and managed a

First Nations–staffed water monitoring and data management system. Once

operational, this system will be used to centralize, analyze and share

up-to-date water monitoring data that’s on the Endako River to support

informed decision-making. This project supported 18 jobs.

I also want to talk about another project that they did in a

different part of the Fraser River Basin, the Fraser watershed, called

the Chilako River demonstration project. Again, UFFCA received $700,000.

The Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance is implementing a

riparian and floodplain ecosystem restoration project on the Chilako

River.

Moving south to the lower Fraser, the Rivershed Society of B.C.

has received an $820,000 grant to do the foodlands corridor restoration

pilot project. So the Rivershed Society of B.C. is piloting the

development of a foodlands corridor that restores sustainable food

systems throughout the Fraser watershed. This project is being

implemented in partnership with local First Nations, farmers and

ranchers. So I’m sure many of those with farming interests are paying

close attention.

Again, to Bill 8, if amended, these projects that I’m highlighting

will continue to be eligible to work with the Real Estate Foundation as

they transition from a GRE to non-profit status.

Moving upcountry to the Skeena area, the SkeenaWild Conservation

Trust was granted $48,000, nearly $50,000, to do riparian restoration

surveys on streams near Terrace. SkeenaWild Conservation Trust is

conducting riparian restoration surveys on four fish-bearing streams

north of Terrace, namely Willow Creek, Spring Creek, Lean-to Creek and

Deep Creek.

[11:40 a.m.]

These surveys will identify priority areas for future restoration

work and provide baseline for future monitoring of stream

characteristics. This project supports four jobs.

You’re getting the sense of different areas of the province,

different priorities, different organizations all connected to the Real

Estate Foundation, all connected to Bill 8 and this amendment. They will

again continue to do the good work that they are doing. You can see how

many jobs this supports. You can see that this is an emerging industry,

a sector that we, I think, need to continue to support, and that’s why

the legislation that’s in front of us today, Bill 8, is absolutely

critical.

Moving to the Island, another area that I wanted to highlight is

an organization, the Central Westcoast Forest Society, and the Clayoquot

Sound Watershed Recovery Initiative. So $1.14 million was a grant that

was awarded to the Central Westcoast Forestry Society in support of the

Hesquiaht, Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations’ initiative to

restore critical salmon populations in Clayoquot Sound by reconstructing

rearing habitat.

The work involves implementing bioengineering approaches — woody

debris structures, riparian planting — to stabilize banks, reduce

erosion and create habitat support of migrating salmon. This project

will support at least 25 jobs and support technical training and the

certification of workers.

Another area of the Island, Port Alberni…. I’m talking about the

city of Port Alberni, which received $195,000 to do the Port Alberni

Wastewater Lagoon Restoration Project. The city of Port Alberni is

decommissioning its wastewater treatment lagoon and restoring the area

as a natural tidal marsh. This project will restore habitat in the

Somass Estuary, improve wastewater treatment and stormwater management,

and it supports 15 jobs.

Moving south on the Island, I want to talk about the Cowichan

Tribes and the good work that Cowichan Tribes does. Again, with the

changes to Bill 8, to the amendment act, if that is able to come into

play, then the work that the Cowichan Tribes is doing will be able to

continue. This is an example of where they received $2.3 million.

They’re just getting started. They need more funding to continue to

secure their watershed.

The Cowichan River and Koksilah River Sediment Removal Project.

Cowichan Tribes is performing extensive work to rehabilitate the

Cowichan and Koksilah Rivers by focusing on sediment management and

habitat rehabilitation. The work involves removing 90,000 cubic metres

of sediment across six sites, repairing the hatchery and the old

Southside Dikes, excavating and reactivating side channels and

monitoring of sites for flood and drought management. This project

supports 41 jobs and is an integral part of the Cowichan Tribes’

five-year river management plan.

It’s critical again that Bill 8 is approved to…. And I’m just

highlighting a few of these 61 projects.

Interjection.

F. Donnelly: The Minister of Health is asking for more. He’s going to get more,

because I’m excited about talking about this next project, which is in

the lower Fraser, in the Pitt watershed.

That’s a grant of $375,000 that went to World Wildlife Fund

Canada. It was an Indigenous-led watershed restoration project in the

upper Pitt watershed. Again, $375,000 for WWF Canada to support the

Katzie First Nation in the next phase of restoration work on four

critical salmon habitats in the upper Pitt watershed.

[11:45 a.m.]

This work includes installing intakes, creating new channels for

smolt habitat, reconnecting historical hydrological systems and

constructing bio-berms to protect spawning habitat. The project supports

28 jobs.

Moving upcountry again to the Nechako….

Deputy Speaker: If the member could again remind the House and help connect us to

understand his remarks to this bill, I think the relevance is important.

I’ve reminded him a few times, and I just ask that he keep that in his

mind so that we can have relevant debate.

F. Donnelly: Absolutely, Speaker. I’m just highlighting a few of these projects

that are doing amazing work in the province of British Columbia that….

In order to have the Real Estate Foundation of B.C. connected with

healthy watersheds and the healthy watersheds initiative, they need to

play a key role like they were. I’m highlighting the work that they were

doing in the past and that they need to continue doing in the

future.

In fact, these organizations — and you’ll hear from my colleagues,

who will talk about organizations that have done good work in their

communities — need to continue to do this good work. The Real Estate

Foundation of B.C., which has been working at this amendment for the

past year, is playing a key role in making this change.

I’m again very excited to hear members opposite so interested in

this change. I look forward to hearing their interventions and how

highlighting the work that’s happening in their communities will play a

key role, again, in advancing watershed security.

I’ll just finish with commenting about how the Real Estate

Foundation of B.C., last year, held an annual dinner and awards, and

they highlighted…. I’ve highlighted only a few of these organizations.

Many of these organizations were up for awards. They received awards for

the good work that they’re doing in many nations, many cities, many

community organizations. I was able to participate and hear the very

emotional stories that these organizations, when they received their

award, shared with the audience.

It’s work like this that…. Again, I thank the Real Estate

Foundation of B.C. for initiating their work, putting on this dinner,

this gala. They brought organizations from across the province to

highlight the good work that needs to continue in order to secure the

watersheds and our water in all of our communities.

I know this is…. I’m sure the opposition will join with me in

highlighting this important agenda that not only these groups do every

day in their own and our own communities but also the Real Estate

Foundation and the key role it plays in providing these services to

British Columbia, and, again, the key role that Bill 8 will play if

approved.

It sounds like there’s a huge amount of support for this bill,

which is fantastic. I look forward to hearing, again, what members

opposite have to say. I’m glad to have been able to share and shed some

light on these amazing projects and the good work of the Real Estate

Foundation of B.C.

P. Milobar: It’s day 95 of the Premier’s 100 days of action. You would have

thought this is actually — what? — day 75 or so, when it was Groundhog

Day, because this feels like last Thursday all over again.

The reality is that Bill 8 is a very light piece of legislation.

In fact, if the member, instead of reading the B.C. Real Estate

Association’s website, had actually read the bill, he would have

realized that everything he was saying is actually contrary in the bill,

because changing out the member in this bill takes it away from a

government.

For the member to talk about all the projects that will happen

with the changes of Bill 8 would indicate that the member thinks that

government will have more control over the Real Estate Association than

after this bill.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

In fact, I fail to see how the B.C. Non-Profit Housing Association

will further enhance, with expertise, fresh water.

I know we’re a little short on time today. I was actually

contemplating being the designated speaker of this massive,

consequential bill that the government actually wouldn’t even provide a

briefing for.

[11:50 a.m.]

In just a couple of minutes before we break for lunch, and then

I’ll pick this back up so it doesn’t break the train of thought here, I

thought I would just read into the record…. Normally, reading a bill

into the record would take quite some time. But I thought, just before I

break for lunch, I’d read this Bill 8, because I know the people in the

chamber must be wondering.

“His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the

Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as

follows:

Section 91 (1) (

e) of the Real Estate Services

Act, S.B.C. 2004, c. 42, is repealed and the following

substituted:

“(

e) one member appointed by the British Columbia Non-Profit

Housing Association.

Section 93 is amended

“(

a) in subsection (1) by striking out ‘and’ at the end of

paragraph (

a) and by repealing paragraph (b), and

“(

b) by repealing subsection (2).

“Commencement

“3 This Act comes into force on the date of Royal Assent or

March 31, 2023, whichever is earlier.”

That is the bill, to the members at home. That is the entire bill.

That is what we waited three weeks for. This is the bill we waited three

weeks for in this House to try to debate to look at. This is a long list

of nothing but housekeeping bills that we’ve seen to this point on day

95 of this Premier’s 100th day of action.

With that, I will note the hour, reserve my place and adjourn

debate.

P. Milobar moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

Interjections.

Hon. A. Dix: Don’t worry. He’s sending in the plays to me here.

I move that the House do now adjourn.

Hon. A. Dix moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

Mr. Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m.

The House adjourned at 11:52 a.m.

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