Fifth Session, 42nd Parliament

(2024) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Afternoon Sitting

Issue No. 425

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

Introduction and First Reading of Bills

Bill M215 — Ending Decriminalization Act

K. Falcon

Bill Pr401 — Vancouver Foundation Act

M. Dykeman

Statements (Standing Order 25B)

Child Care Month

D. Routley

Asian Heritage Month and Contributions of Asian Canadians

T. Wat

TJ Fest in Burnaby

M. Elmore

Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month

S. Bond

School district growth and housing in Langley

M. Dykeman

Okanagan College and accomplishments of students

R. Merrifield

Oral Questions

Drug decriminalization program and role of federal government

K. Falcon

Hon. D. Eby

Drug decriminalization program and substance use policies

K. Falcon

Hon. D. Eby

Drug decriminalization program and role of federal government

E. Ross

Hon. J. Whiteside

Saanich Peninsula Hospital and access to health care services

A. Olsen

Hon. A. Dix

Drug decriminalization program and substance use policies

B. Banman

Hon. D. Eby

Staffing and conditions at Surrey Memorial Hospital

T. Halford

Hon. A. Dix

E. Sturko

Rural health care services

L. Doerkson

Hon. A. Dix

M. Bernier

Orders of the Day

Second Reading of Bills

Bill 23 — Anti-Racism Act (continued)

T. Wat

S. Robinson

E. Ross

R. Parmar

E. Sturko

Hon. B. Bailey

Bill 21 — Legal Professions Act

Hon. N. Sharma

M. Lee

B. D’Eith

M. Morris

Proceedings in the Douglas Fir Room

Committee of the Whole House

Bill 25 — Haida Nation Recognition Amendment Act, 2024

M. Lee

Hon. M. Rankin

E. Ross

M. de Jong

A. Olsen

Proceedings in the Birch Room

Committee of Supply

Estimates: Ministry of Finance (continued)

K. Kirkpatrick

Hon. K. Conroy

P. Milobar

T. Shypitka

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2024

The House met at 1:33 p.m.

[The Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: T. Stone.

Introductions by Members

E. Ross: For Hansard’s purposes, so you don’t send me a note later, this is the

spelling, okay: A-c-y-n; Glenn with two n’s; Tayes — T-a-y-e-s; Henry. So no

emails later, okay?

Acyn Glenn Tayes Henry was born yesterday at Kitimat General Hospital

at 12:13 p.m.

[1:35 p.m.]

The mother is Lauren Alex from Gitxsan, and the father is Vincent

Henry, who is my nephew.

This is actually good news, but it also falls in bad news, because

April 28 was the two-year anniversary of my father-in-law passing away. It

was very traumatic. His name was Glenn Henry, so this is the namesake to

Glenn Henry.

I am not the grandfather, but most likely I will become the

grandfather, along with my wife being the grandmother, because all of our

parents are deceased. I will take on that role very proudly.

Would the House please join me in welcoming Acyn Glenn Tayes Henry to

B.C.

Hon. N. Sharma: It’s my pleasure to welcome to the House today Barbara Carmichael, the

Deputy Attorney General, and her team: Brianna Parrott, Emma

Valen­tinuzzi, Artashina Singh, Donna Keyes and Courtney Fast. I want

to thank them for all the work that they do, not only for justice in the

province but to help me along the way.

Thank you for being here.

K. Falcon: Dr. Claudine Storness-Bliss is a respected physician with deep roots

in Surrey and an established track record for health care advocacy. She is

an obstetrician and gynecologist at Surrey Memorial Hospital, clinical

associate professor at the UBC department of obstetrics and gynecology and

the former co-local department head at Surrey Memorial Hospital.

She also happens to be the next candidate in my former riding of

Surrey-Cloverdale.

I would ask the House to please make her welcome.

Hon. M. Dean: Happy Child Care Month, everybody. Today marks the beginning of Child

Care Month for the whole of the month of May. I’m really excited that we

have some people from the sector here today.

Firstly, I’d like to welcome two of our local child care resource and

referral coordinators, Daphne Raymond from Sooke and Belinda Macey from

Victoria. They play a vital role in our child care system by connecting

families with the early-years and child care services that families need. I

really appreciate all that they do every day to make this process more

seamless for the families that we serve.

We’re also joined in the Legislature today by instructors, students

and recent graduates of the Camosun College early learning and care program:

Jeanne Puritch, Saza Rose, Andrea Williams, Rebecca Wickington, Kari-Anne

Barr and Enid Elliot.

Having run a child care centre myself, I know how critical having the

workforce of early childhood educators is and what a critical role they play

in providing education and care for British Columbia’s youngest. I raise my

hands and want to express my appreciation for their work as well.

Especially during Child Care Month, would everybody please make them

very welcome.

Hon. G. Chow: I’d like to ask the House to help me welcome three visitors to the

House. Pal Dhindsa of Langley and his wife Navjyot of Langley are here in

the House, and they are bringing their good friend from India, Mohinder

Anand, who is visiting the House today from India.

Would the House make them feel welcome.

T. Wat: Today I am delighted to recognize a distinguished guest in the public

gallery, my good friend Mr. King Wan. King is the past president of the

Chinese Canadian Military Museum. King has dedicated himself tirelessly to

preserving the rich history of Chinese Canadians in military service,

ensuring that their contributions and sacrifices are never

forgotten.

King’s commitment to our community and country exemplifies the spirit

of service and sacrifice. I extend, on behalf of the B.C. United caucus, our

deepest gratitude to Mr. King Wan for his invaluable work and enduring

dedication to our province’s veterans.

Will the House join us in extending a warm welcome to King

Wan.

[1:40 p.m.]

Hon. M. Rankin: We are honoured today to be joined in the gallery by three important

Indigenous leaders. We have Cheryl Casimer of the First Nations Summit, Hugh

Braker of the First Nations Summit and also Katisha Paul, who is the youth

representative for UBCIC.

I want to say I have the opportunity to meet with them

later.

I hope the House will make them welcome at this time.

Hon. G. Lore: I heard from the Minister of State for Child Care that Enid Elliot is

here, and I wanted to also welcome her. She’s a friend and a constituent and

an incredible advocate for child care and outdoor child care. I’m really

grateful for her work in my community and beyond.

I join in welcoming her to this place.

D. Routley: My introduction is borrowed a bit from my dear friend, the member for

Powell River–Sunshine Coast.

I would like the House to help me celebrate the best day of my life,

which was May 1, 1974. I didn’t know it then, but that was the day my

sweetheart was born.

I’d like to wish Leanne Finlayson the happiest of 50th birthdays

today.

Would the House help me do that.

K. Paddon: I know we are all very excited about Ice Cream Day

tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I remember your comments last year about behaving, or

there was no ice cream for us.

I want to let the House know that today there are dairy farmers and

processors from across the province, including some from Chilliwack-Kent, on

the precinct, having meetings with all of my colleagues from all parties.

They are:

From Western Dairy Council, Dan Wong and Sarah

Cotton-Elliott.

From Vitalus, Travis Drew.

From Agropur, Tanveer Ahmed and Guillaume Bérubé.

From B.C. Dairy, it’s a longer list: Jeremy Dunn, Casey Pruim, Brian

Janzen, Henry Bremer, John de Dood, Sarah Sache, Mark Van Klei, Dave Taylor

and Natasha Mountain.

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

Hon. A. Dix: During question period, we’re going to have guests, grade five

students from St. Mary’s Elementary School, just a great elementary school

in my community of Vancouver-Kingsway. We’re looking forward to greeting

them in two sets, about 2:10 and 2:40.

I wish everyone in advance to wish them a great welcome.

T. Shypitka: Also another glorious day in the neighbourhood, Mr. Speaker. We have

representatives with us in the gallery from the Heating, Refrigeration and

Air Conditioning Institute of Canada. These folks keep us toasty warm in the

winter and cool as a cucumber in the summertime.

Would the House please welcome Martin Luymes, John Fekete, Alex Gibbs,

Leon Hawkins, Alex Hamilton and Gary Milligan to the House.

S. Chant: Next Sunday is Battle of the Atlantic Sunday, where naval groups on

two coasts and across the country commemorate the longest-running sea battle

of World War II.

Today members of the Naval Association of British Columbia are here

presenting a book that chronicles the lives lost from HMCS

Discovery throughout the years, including World War II, Korea

and other conflicts.

Joining us as guests today are Jodi Dahl, King Wan, Arthur Hastings,

Mark Fletcher, John and Helen Nozzetti and Tom Rendell, most of whom are my

shipmates from HMCS Discovery .

May you please make them very welcome.

Hon. B. Bailey: I, too, would like to recognize that Vitalus is in the House. Welcome

to Travis Drew.

It was only a week ago that our Premier, the Minister of Agriculture

and myself were announcing an investment into Vitalus to see this excellent

organization expand their manufacturing. They will be able to process 50

percent of the milk in the province, providing not only high-paying jobs but

also food security.

Welcome to the House, Vitalus.

[1:45 p.m.]

Introduction and

First Reading of Bills

BILL M215 — ENDING DECRIMINALIZATION

ACT

K. Falcon presented a bill intituled Ending

Decrim­inal­ization Act.

K. Falcon: I move that a bill intituled Ending Decriminalization Act, of

which notice has been given in my name on the order paper, be introduced

and read a first time now.

I am pleased to introduce the Ending Decriminalization Act. This

legislation would put an end to the current NDP government’s reckless

drug decriminalization experiment.

Last week the Premier feigned outrage over the impacts of his drug

decriminalization policy. He talked tough but doubled down on decrim. On

February 3, 2021, this NDP government independently requested a

vote here in the B.C. Legislature. There has never, not once, been a

vote on the policy of decriminalization in the B.C. Legislature despite

successive attempts by B.C. United opposition to force a

vote.

Since yesterday, the NDP decided to set a new precedent that first

reading votes by their caucus reflect their positions on an issue and no

longer follow parliamentary practice and tradition to support all bills

in first reading.

I will read the contents of this simple single-page bill into the

record so that their votes can truly reflect where each and every one of

their members stands in the policy of drug decriminalization.

The first section, of course, is simple

definitions and the third

section, commencement.

The substance of the bill,

section 2, states in full: “Termination

of exemption” from the federal act. “On or before May 10, 2024, the

minister must request in writing that the federal minister end the class

exemption for adults in the province of British Columbia to possess

small amounts of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA…under

subsection 56 (1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances

Act….”

It’s time to end this NDP government’s disastrous

decriminalization and taxpayer-funded drug diversion. B.C. United’s

Better Is Possible plan prioritizes treatment, recovery and enforcement

against drug trafficking to safeguard British Columbians.

The Speaker: Members, it’s the first reading of the bill.

Division has been called.

[1:50 p.m.]

Our guests in the public gallery up there, you must be wondering

why we are not doing anything. It’s required under our standing orders

that when a division is called, we wait for ten minutes before we

conduct the vote. So that’s what we are doing. It will be happening

soon.

Members, the question is first reading of the bill, Ending

Decriminalization Act.

Do we have the agreement to waive the time limit?

Leave granted.

Motion approved unanimously on a division. [See Votes and

Proceedings .]

[1:55 p.m.]

K. Falcon: I move that the Ending Decriminalization Act be placed on the

orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House

after today.

Bill M215, Ending Decriminalization Act, 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.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Take your seats. Shhh. Let’s move on, Members.

BILL P r 401 — VANCOUVER FOUNDATION

ACT

M. Dykeman presented a bill intituled Vancouver Foundation

Act.

M. Dykeman: I move that a bill entitled Vancouver Foundation Act, standing in

my name on the order paper, be introduced and read a first time

now.

The Vancouver Foundation was first established as a corporation by

the Vancouver Foundation Act in 1950 and has been amended a number of

times over the years. The Vancouver Foundation would like to replace the

existing act with a new act that continues the corporation, grants its

legal capacity and provides for changes related to its administration,

including the governance structure of the board of directors, as well as

other incidental changes.

The Speaker: Members, the question is first reading of the bill.

Motion approved.

The Speaker: Members, pursuant to Standing Order 105, the bill shall stand

referred to the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform,

Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills.

Bill Pr401, Vancouver Foundation Act, introduced, read a first time

and referred to the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform,

Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills.

Statements

(Standing Order 25B)

CHILD CARE MONTH

D. Routley: Today marks the start of Child Care Month in B.C. I want to say a

huge thank you to all of B.C.’s child care professionals.

I know, firsthand, the difference that these professionals make in

people’s lives. As a stay-at-home dad, I really won­dered if I

knew what I was doing. I didn’t. When I finally had child care, I

thought, “Well, now I can ride my bike more,” and that would be the

biggest part of it. But the biggest part of it, in fact, was the

connection I made with other families and the support I had learning

from them and from the child care professionals.

It’s good for parents, families and communities because more

people are able to participate in the workforce, particularly women,

pursue educational opportunities, contribute their skills and services

and boost local economies.

Childcare B.C. affordability programs provide signifi­cant

savings that are lightening the load and putting more money into the

pockets of families. Families with children, kindergarten age or

younger, are now saving up to $900 per month per child, and families

with children in school-aged care are now saving as much as $145 per

child per month. These are significant savings that are lightening the

load, putting more money in their pockets.

We recently hit our latest milestone and achieved over 15,000

$10-a-day child care spaces in British Columbia, and we are on track to

reach 20,000 spaces by spring 2026. Families making up to $111,000 a

year who need a little extra support may be eligible for the affordable

child care benefit. Through our Childcare B.C. plan, we have helped

create more than 34,000 new licensed child care spaces, with more than

16,000 of these spaces open and providing care for children throughout

the province.

I cannot thank child care providers and early childhood educators

enough for their hard work, sacrifice and dedication.

Join me in celebrating Child Care Month and recognizing the value

of child care to the social and economic fabric of British

Columbia.

ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH AND

CONTRIBUTIONS OF ASIAN

CANADIANS

T. Wat: This May, as we celebrate Asian Heritage Month, we pay tribute to

the immense contribution of the Asian community across British Columbia.

From building the railways that moved generations, to advancing

technology in Silicon Valley North, Asian Canadians have played a

pivotal role in shaping our province’s history and future.

[2:00 p.m.]

As the B.C. United caucus shadow minister for multiculturalism and

as MLA for Richmond North Centre, I am especially proud to acknowledge

the vibrant festivals, like the Richmond Night Market, which not only

showcase Asian culture but also foster a deep sense of community and

mutual respect.

Looking around this great hall, we continue to see Asian British

Columbians that are stepping up to help make B.C. a better place for

all.

But we also confront a harsh reality. Racism continues to persist

in our society. This month Anti-Racism Awareness Week is a crucial

reminder that we must actively work towards creating a world where

everyone is treated with dignity and respect regardless of their race,

their ethnicity or their background.

We must recognize the harmful effects of racism, both individual

and systemic. We must listen to the experiences of those who have been

marginalized and oppressed. We must take action to dismantle the

barriers that prevent equal opportunity and justice for all.

Let us use this month to reflect on our shared values of diversity

and resilience that drive us towards a more inclusive

society.

Happy Asian Heritage Month to all.

TJ FEST IN BURNABY

M. Elmore: I’m thrilled to announce the upcoming TJ Fest 2024 this weekend on

Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5, hosted by Burnaby’s Tian-Jin

Temple.

TJ Fest is a two-day multicultural festival where you’ll find live

performances, a Taiwanese food fair, local market vendors and games and

activity areas. Last year the event attracted over 20,000 attendees. It

has become a signature large-scale free street festival in the heart of

Burnaby for the past 12 years.

TJ Fest will be a memorable day out for all ages. There’s a range

of activities, markets and delicious food options. You can explore the

rich and varied flavours of Taiwan at the food fair; sample a wide array

of authentic Taiwanese dishes, from street food favourites to

traditional delicacies; and enjoy free live performances on the centre

stage, showcasing a dynamic mix of music, dance and cultural displays,

ensuring nonstop entertainment throughout the event.

TJ Fest was initially funded solely by the Chinese Taoism

Kuan-Kung Association. It has grown into a collaborative effort with the

city of Burnaby, Tourism Burnaby and numerous generous

sponsors.

In its 13th year, they extend gratitude to all contributors and

are sharing resources with non-profits, charities and community service

providers, offering free booths and a platform for engagement with

participants and local residents. Through this, they aim to foster

community engagement, support important causes and strengthen community

bonds. They believe in the power of collective effort to shape our

community for the better.

TJ Fest stands as a testament to this shared vision, serving as a

vital information hub for residents, service providers, businesses,

talents, vendors and government representatives alike. It embodies the

spirit of collaboration and underscores their commitment to building a

more interconnected and inclusive community where everyone can

thrive.

Everyone is invited to join TJ Fest.

I ask everyone in the House to please join me in wishing great

success for the 13th year of TJ Fest this weekend.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

AWARENESS MONTH

S. Bond: May is MS Awareness Month. Canada has one of the highest rates of

multiple sclerosis in the world. An estimated 90,000 Canadians live with

the disease. On average, 12 Canadians are diagnosed with MS every single

day.

You may be surprised to learn that most people diagnosed with MS

are between the ages of 20 and 49 years old, and women are up to three

times more likely to be diagnosed with MS than men.

MS is a neurological disease of the central nervous system, which

includes the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. The severity and

duration of symptoms and disability can vary, and it can be progressive.

MS is unpredictable and may cause symptoms such as extreme fatigue, lack

of coordination, weakness, tingling, im­paired sensations,

cognitive impairment and mood changes. Obviously, the effects can be

physical, emotional and even financial.

[2:05 p.m.]

Currently there is no cure. Despite decades of research, the cause

of MS remains a mystery. But every day researchers are learning more

about what causes MS, and they are determined to find ways to prevent

it.

Today MS Canada is asking us to help raise awareness about MS. We

have the opportunity to #TakeActionForMS and participate in the annual

the most recognized symbols of hope in the quest to find a cure for

MS.

There are many ways to make a difference, to show British

Columbians with MS that they are not alone. You can volunteer, join a

fundraising event like the MS Walk in May, or you can commit to run,

walk or roll 50 kilometres in May.

Together we can help change the future for people affected by

MS.

SCHOOL DISTRICT GROWTH

AND HOUSING IN

LANGLEY

M. Dykeman: It is such an honour to serve as the MLA of the best community in

British Columbia. I really am fortunate to have been able to raise my

children in this fantastic community, to live there and farm.

One of the things about Langley is that time and time again they

demonstrate that by working together, we are able to accomplish such

amazing things. Boy, have some incredible things happened over the past

four years.

As one of the fastest-growing school districts in British

Columbia, our community is bustling with young, eager students who are

going through their educational journey. Our fantastic board of

education and staff who work at the Langley school district each day

have worked so hard, in partnership with government and stakeholders, to

address the increasing demand. We have seen the creation of over 800 new

student spaces. These include Richard Bulpitt’s six-classroom expansion,

an expansion of R.E. Mountain Secondary School, a new 555-seat school in

northeast Latimer that’s about to get underway and the very soon

incoming new middle and high school. This is much needed in our

fast-growing community because people want to live in Langley, raise

their family, live, work and play there.

What I’ve appreciated about the partnerships that the school

district has created is that we’ve seen innovative things, a way to

address the fastest-growing district, while getting more school spaces,

while also seeing new schools come. We also have incredible non-profit

housing providers who have resulted in 1,000 new homes added. This

doesn’t even include the partnership with the township of Langley, with

the B.C. Builds announcement that was made this week.

It has been an incredible four years in Langley. I just want to

thank all the government partners, staff that I’ve had the privilege to

work with in my constituency office and the ministry and, most

importantly, the constituents of Langley, who I have the honour of

serving each day and who have made that all possible.

Together we accomplish so much.

OKANAGAN COLLEGE AND

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF

STUDENTS

R. Merrifield: Okanagan College is a great source of learning within the

Okanagan, providing so much for our province with the programs offered

and the community that they are able to create. The students being

trained at Okanagan College are simply exceptional, and they’re being

noticed throughout the province for their excellence.

Recently Okanagan College students showed that they are among the

best in B.C. when it comes to skills and trades and technology

competitions. Seven Okanagan College students won medals at the Skills

Canada provincials held earlier this month in Abbotsford. Three students

— Olivia Tinling, Hunter Campbell and Mark Holowachuk — have advanced to

the Skills nationals in Quebec. These students represent the future of

skilled labour in our province, a sector that is essential in solving

the challenges faced by our residents.

Their skills are not just award-winning; they are necessities for

building the infrastructure that our community is desperate for. This

recognition is more than just commendation; it’s a call to action to

continue supporting trades education vigorously. It is imperative for

our government and educational institutions to invest in such programs,

ensuring a well-equipped workforce ready to tackle our most pressing

issues. Our trade schools need greater support. Rather than the decrease

in funding seen last month and the cut of the Women in Trades program

through the provincial government, we need to see more investment in our

trade schools.

[2:10 p.m.]

As our economy continues to evolve and industries become more

technologically advanced, the demand for skilled tradespeople is

soaring. We need government to increase investment in trades education,

to help with the aging demographic of soon-to-be retirees, to support

economic growth, improve living standards and ensure the resilience of

our communities against future challenges.

Thank you again to Okanagan College, and congratulations to these

outstanding students, their teachers and the college for leading the way

in trades excellence.

Oral Questions

DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PROGRAM

AND ROLE OF FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT

K. Falcon: The Premier’s attempt at political damage control on his

decriminalization of crack cocaine, meth and fentanyl is failing

spectacularly.

On Friday, the Premier promised he had provided Ottawa with “all

the resources and support they need.” But today, incredibly, Ottawa

announced that it’s still waiting on details from British

Columbia.

My question to the Premier is: what exactly has Ottawa asked for,

why did the Premier fail to provide that information in the first place,

and why doesn’t he just end this decriminalization disaster right

now?

Hon. D. Eby: Thank you to the member for the question. This is an issue at

front of mind for British Columbians.

A couple of points. There are very few people in the province that

haven’t been touched by the toxic drug crisis, who don’t know someone

who has either been seriously injured or passed away as a result of

ingesting toxic drugs — also concern in our communities around public

drug use.

We have been working with the federal government on this specific

request that we’ve made to them. We’ve been providing them information

consistently. We got a letter from them this morning. We’ve already

provided responses to them.

We’re working together to make sure they can do this as quickly as

possible. We’ve asked that they act with urgency, and it certainly seems

they’re doing so. We look forward to their quick response to the

information we’re providing.

The Speaker: Leader of the Official Opposition, supplemental.

K. Falcon: It’s important to point out that everyone in this House is

horrified every time there is a tragic, unintended overdose death in

this province. There have been 36 tragic overdose deaths that have

occurred since the Premier’s failed attempt to partially backtrack on

this radical legalization of the open use of crack cocaine, meth and

fentanyl in parks, playgrounds, beaches and hospitals.

Fifteen months ago this NDP government and this Premier promised

robust data and even real-time information-sharing with Ottawa. Yet

Ottawa appears to be as much in the dark as everyone else in the

province of British Columbia.

My question to the Premier is specific. What exactly did the

Premier include in Friday’s request to Ottawa, what crucial details are

missing, and why won’t he adopt B.C. United’s policy to completely scrap

this decriminalization disaster?

Hon. D. Eby: I take the member at his word that he’s concerned about the safety

of people in our province, keeping them alive, which is why I would hope

he would reconsider his position on a key issue.

Our request to Ottawa exempts areas where people can go and test

their drugs and know what they’re about to use, and where they can go

and use their drugs under the supervision of medical professionals, to

make sure they don’t overdose, but also connect to care.

On his proposal, people would not use those services, because they

would fear arrest. I think that together we can agree we want people to

use these services. Why can’t we agree that in those places, police

should not be arresting people for the possession of drugs? I hope we

can agree on that. That’s part of the request we made to

Ottawa.

Ottawa is asking for information from us. We’re providing the

information, within hours, to make sure that they’re able to act with

urgency to implement this change that all British Columbians

want.

Even if their party’s position has changed since as recently as

September 2023….

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

[2:15 p.m.]

Hon. D. Eby: The Leader of the Opposition said: “Some of the chiefs of police

were supportive of decriminalization. What they were supportive of is

not charging people for small amounts of drugs, and I agree with that.”

That’s what the Leader of the Opposition said. His position is different

today.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members.

Hon. D. Eby: But maybe we can get him back to the place where we agree that in

these places where people can go and access medical services and stay

alive, we keep those places…

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, there’s no need for interjections, please.

Hon. D. Eby: …available and as open as possible for them.

The Speaker: Leader of the Official Opposition, second supplemental.

DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PROGRAM

AND SUBSTANCE USE

POLICIES

K. Falcon: You know the police chiefs were always right in that they were

rarely ever charging people with simple possession. But what you did

with your radical policy….

The Speaker: Through the Chair, Member.

K. Falcon: The Premier said he would fast-track it as part of their 2020

election platform, would strip away any ability of the police to be able

to control open drug use in our parks, playgrounds, beaches and

hospitals. That’s what you did.

Last week the Premier said: “If I had my preferences, it would be

in effect today, and frankly, it would have been in effect a while ago.”

Well, I’ve got some challenges believing that, because this is the same

Premier who radically believes the legalization of all illicit drugs

should be legal and unfettered. But every day for over a year, we have

warned the Premier about the deadly consequences of his policies. Six

people a day dying. Chaos in our hospitals, in our streets, in our

communities, everywhere. And he did nothing.

From the very beginning, the Premier’s and this NDP caucus’s

policy has been a complete and utter disaster, causing chaos and social

disorder. It was all evident from what we saw happening in Oregon.

Still, they did nothing.

My question to the Premier is: why don’t you just adopt B.C.

United’s policy to completely scrap this decriminalization

disaster?

The Speaker: All questions through the Chair, please.

Hon. D. Eby: If ever there was an issue that called for us to work together to

address it and to try to deal with the stigma around people grappling

with addiction so that they can get into treatment and the support they

need, this is the issue.

That’s why we struck an all-party committee that, actually, the

two Conservative members were part of supporting at the time. We heard

from people that were living with addiction. We heard from parents who

had lost kids. We heard from health professionals and came up with a set

of recommendations.

I’ve got to think that today, the Leader of the Opposition and his

party and our party could agree that when someone goes to test their

drugs to make sure they’re not going to die if they use them, that when

someone goes to a safe consumption site under the supervision of medical

professionals, we want to encourage that. We want to make sure that they

don’t get arrested if they do that.

The member appointed someone from his party to be the spokesperson

on this issue. Up until recently, at a minimum, that was their position.

March 3, 2023: “The NDP will try to tell you that we are backtracking on

decrim, which is not the case. We’re not backtracking on decrim. We’re

not backtracking on the need for harm reduction. Does it mean that our

party doesn’t support decrim or harm reduction? Absolutely not. We do.

With our whole hearts, we want to save people.”

We want to get back to that BCUP. Let’s work together and, at

least, acknowledge…

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, shhh.

Hon. D. Eby: …that when people access these services to save their lives, they

shouldn’t be arrested.

DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PROGRAM

AND ROLE OF FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT

E. Ross: The point is that this NDP government failed to report to Canada

on the decriminalization program that this NDP government asked for.

They promised to report in real time, to Canada, the progress of their

decriminalization experiment, and they haven’t. They failed.

Thirty-six tragic overdose deaths have occurred since the

Premier’s failed attempt at backtracking on his radical legalization of

open use of crack cocaine, meth and fentanyl in our parks, playgrounds

and beaches. Fifteen months ago, this NDP government promised robust

data and real-time information-sharing with Ottawa. But Ottawa is in the

dark, just like everybody else.

[2:20 p.m.]

My question is to the Premier. What exactly did the Premier

include in Friday’s request to Ottawa, what crucial details are missing,

and why won’t he adopt B.C. United’s policy to completely scrap this

decriminalization disaster?

Hon. J. Whiteside: Thank you to the member for the question. We’ve been working,

obviously, very closely with our federal counterparts with respect to

the changes that we requested on Friday. They sent a request for further

information this morning. We responded right away to provide further

information.

Let me be clear about what we’ve been doing through­out the

time period that decriminalization has been in place. We have been

working closely with Health Canada. We’ve been providing the quarterly

updates that they requested. We’ve provided all of the information that

they need. Certainly with respect to this last request for information,

it’s our expectation that they can respond expeditiously to

that.

I will say that our system is ever-evolving. Every day in our

health system, there are new services and new access points being stood

up. That’s some of the information that we are providing to Health

Canada today.

The Speaker: Member, supplemental.

E. Ross: Based on Ottawa’s request, it seems that the B.C. NDP have not

been working closely with Ottawa, because they’ve requested information,

because they’re in the dark. This decriminalization experiment is a

total mess and a failure. People are dying every day, and there’s total

chaos of open drug use.

The Premier said he gave Ottawa all they needed, but the federal

government is still waiting for details from the B.C. NDP government.

People deserve answers. British Columbians deserve answers. First

Nations deserve answers.

Again, my question to the Premier: what did Ottawa ask for, will

the Premier table the information today for everyone to see, and why

won’t he just adopt B.C. United’s policy to completely scrap this

decriminalization disaster?

Hon. J. Whiteside: I think what’s important to not lose sight of in this really

important discussion is the fact that British Columbians agree that we

need to support people who are struggling with addictions, and we need

to treat that as a health issue, not a criminal justice issue. That’s

what our policing partners strongly believe. That’s why they’ve stood

with us throughout this whole experience and throughout this whole

process of standing up, of drafting the exemption to begin with and

throughout this first period.

We know how important it is to ensure that we adapt projects, in

the context of the toxic drug crisis, to meet the expectations of

British Columbians. That’s what we’ve done in this case. We’ll continue

to work with our federal counterparts, with our provincial partners to

ensure that we can do everything possible to keep British Columbians

safe and connected to the health care that they need in the context of

the toxic drug crisis.

SAANICH PENINSULA HOSPITAL AND

ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

SERVICES

A. Olsen: Yesterday the Government House Leader said that he “lives in one

of the more beautiful ridings in the province, if not the country.” He

is, of course, speaking of my riding. I’ve checked it out, and he’s

right.

The Saanich Peninsula and the southern Gulf Islands attract

thousands of people from across the country and the province. They

retire here, and unfortunately, they don’t come with a family

doctor.

Even though we know this is the kind of community that exists on

the Saanich Peninsula, there’s no program to match newcomers with

primary health care. Their health care needs add pressure to the Saanich

Peninsula Hospital, making it an even more important part of the health

care system on the Saanich Peninsula. Yet the Minister of Health and

Island Health have failed to meet the operational and capital needs of

our hospital.

To the Minister of Health, why is he ignoring the Saanich

Peninsula Hospital?

Hon. A. Dix: Of course the member, because he is routinely briefed on these

issues, knows that’s not the case. In the last number of months, we’ve

hired a new emergency department manager, a clinical nurse educator,

clinical nurse leaders, respiratory therapists, nursing unit assistants

and unit aides. We have one of the most significant recruitment

campaigns underway across the country because we’re working together

with the community.

We believe in San Pen. We believe in Saanich Peninsula Hospital,

and we agree that the riding is not only beautiful, but it has wonderful

people in it. That’s why we want to ensure that care is

provided.

[2:25 p.m.]

In addition, the program the member mentioned, primary care…. The

new doctor’s contract and the recruitment efforts in British Columbia

have led to 21 percent more longitudinal family doctors on Vancouver

Island in nine months. We are progressing on both sets of issues,

working together with the community to ensure that San Pen delivers the

services it needs, and we deliver primary care services in the Saanich

Peninsula and across the member’s riding.

The Speaker: Member, supplemental.

A. Olsen: Every year the Saanich Peninsula Hospital and Health Care

Foundation raises thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of

dollars for our hospital. We do our part to keep our hospital updated.

It’s the ministry and the health authority who fail to meet the

operational and the capital needs of the hospital. The evening emergency

room closure — well, that was temporary at first. Now it appears that

it’s indefinite. Major capital investments that have been identified and

long-needed to key systems are being ignored.

The latest story: cockroaches. The dismissive response from the

Health Authority is: “Don’t worry. They don’t bite.” Well, frankly, it’s

inexcusable.

The ministry shouldn’t be letting this facility deteriorate. They

should be expanding it and enhancing it. Is the next step for this

hospital going to be closure? The capital region can ill afford to have

the Saanich Peninsula and the outer Gulf Islands residents going to the

other hospitals in our region.

Will the Minister of Health commit today to immediately meeting

both the capital and the operational needs of the Saanich Peninsula

Hospital?

Hon. A. Dix: To correct the member, that wasn’t the response of Island Health.

The report came in on the 17th. Immediately pest control was brought in.

Since April 22, there were no reports of further cockroaches. That was

the response — immediate and comprehensive action, as it should be in

every case.

We have 82 acute care hospitals across the province. Those issues

do come from time to time, and we have a protocol to do it, and we

respond. Island Health responded immediately. To suggest that they

didn’t is just incorrect. It’s factually incorrect.

The investments I talked about: incremental operating investments

of $2.95 million. The first physicians’ assistant program in British

Columbia will be at Saanich Peninsula Hospital. We’re adding associate

physicians to the hospital. We are fundamentally committed to Saanich

Peninsula Hospital, and we continue to be so.

DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PROGRAM

AND SUBSTANCE USE

POLICIES

B. Banman: While this NDP Premier chuckles about addicts breaking their legs

on talk radio shows, as he did earlier this week, seven British

Columbians are dying every single day from drug overdoses. People want

change from failing NDP policies that create chaos in our streets, cost

addicts their lives and taxpayers millions and make everything worse for

hard-working everyday British Columbians.

During his press conference announcing the NDP’s monumental

flip-flop on their failed decriminalization policy, this Premier stated:

“We” — the B.C. NDP — “leaned too heavily on the idea that public

intoxication could have been used as a tool.”

My question to the NDP Premier: exactly what outcome was this NDP

government trying to achieve by using public intoxication as a

tool?

Hon. D. Eby: Thank you to the member for the question. It’s an important

question, because it probably speaks to why the member supported the

all-party committee that supported decriminalization when he sat with

BCUP party and why his leader also supported that all-party committee,

because none of us — none of us — wanted to see the kinds of public drug

use that we saw post-decriminalization.

Our hope was that, among other tools, public intoxication could be

used by police to arrest people who were causing a disturbance in public

because they were using drugs, just like alcohol.

[2:30 p.m.]

That wasn’t the case. Police were unable to use that tool. It

wasn’t deployed in the way that they were able to use it to ensure that

some of the behaviours we were seeing were being addressed.

That’s why we brought in, then, a provincial law to address this,

which then was taken to court and stopped by injunction, which is why we

then went to the federal government and said: “Can you use your federal

authorities here?” This is a law that’s in place across Canada. It’s

challenged every day by defence lawyers. It’s found constitutional.

Surely, there will be no issue with the courts, in terms of the ability

of police to use this law to ensure in our public spaces that everybody

feels safe and comfortable.

We also want to make sure that those struggling with addiction are

supported as well. I hope the member supports that too. Just like I

asked the leader of the BCUP, I hope the House Leader of the B.C.

Conservatives will stand up and say yes, he agrees with the idea that

people should be able to attend facilities to test their drugs and, when

they use drugs, be supervised by medical professionals so they don’t die

— without being arrested.

We want to encourage people to use these facilities. I hope that

we’re able to produce some of….

The Speaker: Member, supplemental.

B. Banman: This unserious approach of this NDP government is too much to bear

for British Columbians who are watching their families, their

communities and their loved ones spiral into a drug-fuelled crisis under

this NDP government. News flash to the Premier: there isn’t a single

real-world problem that can be solved by promoting public

intoxication.

People getting high in public by smoking or injecting hard drugs

is bad for B.C.’s families, bad for their communities and bad for our

small businesses. It’s just common sense. To quote the Canadian

Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre, this is wacko.

The Speaker: Member. Member, you don’t have to follow their Ottawa

leadership.

Let’s stick with our issues here. I urge and encourage members to

be very respectful and not to use that kind of language in the House,

please. Thank you.

B. Banman: There is zero benefit to increasing public intoxication in B.C. It

sounds to me like the B.C. NDP made a deliberate decision to keep drug

users high.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, shhh.

B. Banman: Did the B.C. NDP spend taxpayer money to support and promote the

use of hard drugs, yes or no?

Hon. D. Eby: The member knows that in the budget we dedicated $1 billion to

increase treatment options for British Columbians. Part of our

announcement on Friday was a province-wide virtual clinic so that

British Columbians across the province can access treatment.

The member says that he doesn’t see any benefit in those kinds of

policies. Okay, well, that’s his position. I don’t see any benefit in

the member’s policies allowing violent protesters to bang on the windows

of our kids’ schools. I don’t see any benefit in the member’s policies

of compensating anti-vaxxers in our province who defy public health

orders.

I don’t see any benefit in the member’s initiatives that go so

contrary to the values British Columbians. When a nine-year-old kid at a

track meet in Kelowna who’s confronted by an angry man who insists that

she’s a boy and shouldn’t be allowed to compete in the track meet…. That

he would stand in this place and introduce a bill that would legalize

the conduct of that man bullying a little child…. Talk about zero

benefit. Talk about a lack of interest in public safety for

everybody.

The member claims to represent the values of British Columbians.

Well, he is completely wrong.

[2:35 p.m.]

STAFFING AND CONDITIONS AT

SURREY MEMORIAL

HOSPITAL

T. Halford: Front-line health care workers at Surrey Memorial have a dire

warning. The code blue team, critical for life-saving interventions, is

less than two weeks away from having no coverage. Without these experts,

a heart attack on a hospital ward means a death sentence.

Why has the Premier allowed it to come to this, and will he assure

people in Surrey right here, right now, that not a single life will be

put at risk by this dangerous understaffing?

Hon. A. Dix: Hospitals such as Surrey Memorial Hospital have code blue

protocols in place, especially for high-volume periods like long

weekends. At Surrey Memorial, we have a medical emergency team

contracted to provide 13,140 service hours of code blue coverage to

ensure patients are cared for during cardiac emergencies, for example.

Code blue coverage, under the contract, is provided 24 hours daily, 365

days per year. And 63 physicians are participating in that

contract.

To be clear, the contract is in place with our physicians to

provide full coverage of these services. And these teams are committed

to honouring these contracts, as you would expect such physicians to

be.

We work proactively, when issues arise around staffing, with our

physicians. I’d heard about this issue this morning. I talked to Dr.

Victoria Lee, the outstanding physician who leads the Fraser Health

Authority. She assures me that there will not be an issue on Victoria

Day weekend or any other time with code blue protocols.

E. Sturko: Surrey Memorial has the busiest emergency room in Canada, yet it

faced a critical failure five weeks ago when it was unbelievably forced

to go on diversion.

On diversion means critically ill patients needing urgent CT scans

would have been forced to transfer and potentially die as a result. This

crisis of unsafe conditions and chronic understaffing is a direct result

of seven years of NDP mismanagement.

My question is: how many more dangerous diversions will it take

until the Premier fires this incompetent Health Minister?

Hon. A. Dix: The member talks about diagnostic equipment, which I think was the

thrust of her question. She’ll know, and the House will know, when I

became Minister of Health, there was only one MRI machine in British

Columbia, operating 24-7. There are now nine.

She’s talking about MRI technicians and CT technicians. In terms

of FTEs, FTE responses have more than doubled, as I reported to the

opposition during estimates a week ago. CT has increased by more than 50

percent of the staff involved. We have added, in the last number of

years, 160,000 MRIs. That’s the addition. They only provided 170,000

MRIs. We’ve added more than 300,000 more CT scans.

We have, I think, by Canadian standards, the most successful

health human resources plan in the country — more doctors, more nurses,

more health sciences professionals. And today we announced, for rural

and remote areas who need support in allied health, new programs to

ensure that we recruit allied health professionals across British

Columbia.

That’s the record. That’s what we report to British Columbians

regularly, and that’s what we’ll continue to report.

RURAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES

L. Doerkson: You’re darn right we need support in rural British Columbia. We

are in big trouble there. The answers today are no comfort in

Cariboo-Chilcotin. Rural communities across British Columbia suffer

increasingly frequent ER closures under this NDP government.

Last fall a chilling sign at Cariboo Memorial Hospital warned:

“The ER is closed unless the patient is imminently dying.” This week,

that grim scenario was again a reality, as the ER was officially shut

down in Williams Lake again.

The results of seven years of NDP mismanagement in this province

are rampant drug use, violence, ER closures and patients left in filth

and cockroach-ridden conditions. Enough is enough.

When is this Premier going to fire this incompetent Health

Minister?

Hon. A. Dix: I think people across British Columbia always want to see action.

That’s what they’re getting.

[2:40 p.m.]

With respect to emergency rooms, it’s a significant issue across

our province. We’re committed to keeping emergency rooms open. We put

together a locum plan with emergency room physicians. There are more

than 190 physicians participating in that plan. A Health Match B.C. plan

that provides hundreds of thousands of hours to support emergency rooms

and other essential services across B.C. An ambulance plan that has

improved rural ambulance service, in particular, across the

province.

Specific plans, today announced plans, on allied health and on

nursing to ensure and support allied health and nursing across British

Columbia and, in particular, to assist retention with bonuses and

support in rural British Columbia — in other words, an investment in

rural health. That contrasts with decisions made by the previous

government to reduce the number of registered nurses, started by the

Leader of the Opposition.

We are committed to Cariboo Memorial Hospital. It’s why we are

building one of the most important capital projects in B.C. — one that

had been delayed year unto year by the previous government, right there

in Williams Lake.

The Speaker: The Chair will take one more question, but be brief,

Member.

M. Bernier: The only actions people are seeing under this NDP government and

this minister are hospital diversions and closures, closures affecting

northern communities like Chetwynd, Tumbler Ridge, Fort St. John,

Kitimat. I could go on and on.

In fact, in Chetwynd, a family’s nightmare took place when they

had a child that was suffering, an 18-month-old child with pneumonia,

and they had to have emergency care. They went to the hospital there in

Chetwynd, only to have a sign on the door that said: “Closed. Call

911.”

They did that. That child, luckily, got an ambulance that took

them to the Dawson Creek hospital. The child, luckily, was helped. But

to the family’s surprise, guess what.

The Speaker: Question, Member.

M. Bernier: A couple of weeks later they got a bill for the ambulance ride

because the hospital was shut down. So there’s no health care unless you

have a credit card, obviously, now in this province.

The Speaker: Question, Member.

M. Bernier: Will the Premier do the right thing and get rid of this minister

that has utterly failed for the people of British Columbia?

The Speaker: Members, the Chair allowed an additional question. Now I expect

everybody to be quiet when we hear the answer.

Hon. A. Dix: Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

We care in every case and for every child. I know members of this

House do — every case and every child. It’s why we’ve made dramatic

improvements to rural ambulance service in the very communities the

member talks about, why we put in place specific recruitment tools for

rural communities that have, across Northern Health, been successful in

recruiting staff, including in Chetwynd.

It’s why after it was promised in the 2005 election, after it was

promised in the 2009 election, after it was promised in the 2013

election by the governing party — which was winning 60, 70 percent of

the vote in the community — while it was promised in the 2017 election

by the governing party, we are building, finally, a hospital in Dawson

Creek.

[End of question period.]

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, question period has ended.

Hon. A. Dix: I seek leave to make an introduction.

Leave granted.

The Speaker: Please proceed.

Introductions by Members

Hon. A. Dix: One of, I think, the best schools in British Columbia, one that

contributes so much to our community and our life in Joyce-Collingwood — so

many friends are teachers at the school, and so many remarkable children go

to the school — is St. Mary’s Elementary.

We have children from St. Mary’s here in the gallery. We’re thrilled

about it, thrilled to have them here in Victoria. I want to wish them

welcome.

I hope everyone in the House gives them an even bigger applause than

we just did.

[2:45 p.m.]

Orders of the Day

Hon. R. Kahlon: In the main chamber, I call second reading for Bill 23, Anti-Racism

Act.

In the Douglas Fir Committee Room, I call Committee of the Whole for Bill

25, Haida Nation Recognition Amend­ment Act.

In the Birch Committee Room, I call Committee of Supply for the Ministry

of Finance.

[S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.]

Second Reading of Bills

BILL 23 — ANTI-RACISM

ACT

(continued)

Deputy Speaker: We’re here with Bill 23, Anti-Racism Act.

T. Wat: Just to give some context to my continuing debate on this second

reading of Bill 23…. As the MLA for Richmond North Centre and B.C.

United shadow minister for multiculturalism, anti-racism initiatives,

Arts and Culture, I rise in this House to continue discussing Bill 23,

the 2024 Anti-Racism Act, a bill that is presented as aiming to address

systemic racism across British Columbia, especially within Indigenous

and racialized communities.

I speak to Bill 23 not only as a representative of my constituents

and the people of British Columbia but also as an immigrant who has

called this beautiful province home for close to 35 years. As a Chinese

Canadian, I understand firsthand the deep-rooted nature of racism in our

society. It is a reality that I and many others like me have faced

throughout our lives, but it is a reality that I refuse to

accept.

It is with deep concern and a heavy heart that I address Bill 23,

presented by this NDP government. It is somewhat disappointing that this

NDP government has tabled what they called a plan to make a plan —

which, frankly, pro­vides little comfort to my community, other

racialized communities, the Jewish community, the Islamic community, the

Indigenous community and those British Columbians currently facing

racism every day.

The B.C. United caucus has long and tirelessly advocated for a

provincewide multilingual anti-racism hotline, a vital and safe platform

for victims to report hate incidents and seek support. Despite a 2021

NDP promise to establish this anti-racism reporting hotline,

unfortunately, it remains non-operational up till now.

The failure to deliver on a crucial commitment is simply

unacceptable and is once again indicative of this NDP government’s lack

of accountability. We must do better. The racialized community, the

Islamic community, the Jewish community and the Indigenous community

deserve better. Better is always, always possible.

[2:50 p.m.]

As an immigrant who has embraced British Columbia as my home, I’m

deeply disappointed and disturbed by this NDP government’s lack of

transparency, lack of responsiveness to public needs and lack of

commitment to democratic principles. The people of this province deserve

better — a government that listens, acts decisively and upholds the

values of equality and justice for all. Regarding this bill, Bill 23, we

have reservations. We need clarity and accountability in how this

legislation will be implemented.

Now we’d like to spend some time talking about the key aspects of

this bill.

The requirement for the government to develop a strategic approach

for the provincial anti-racism action plan is commendable, but I do have

deep reservations on the date of June 1, 2026. We need to ensure that

this plan is implemented in a timely and speedy manner, not only well

structured but also transparent and inclusive of the communities it aims

to support. The plan must include clear targets, measurable indicators

and regular progress updates to ensure it meets its objectives

effectively.

The formation of a provincial committee on anti-racism, comprising

experts and representatives from racialized communities, is a positive

step. However, it is crucial that this committee operates with the

highest standards of accountability and transparency. The code of

conduct and conflict-of-interest guidelines must be strengthened to

maintain integrity and public trust.

The bill outlines specific duties and actions to combat systemic

racism against Indigenous peoples. These measures must be not just

performative but translate into real, tangible improvements in their

lives. Consultations and cooperation with Indigenous communities must be

genuine and ongoing, rather than tokenistic or ad hoc.

While the bill proposes broad measures to address systemic racism,

the actual application of these measures requires close monitoring.

Training programs, recruitment strategies and community engagement

efforts must be robust and continuously evaluated for their

effectiveness.

Perhaps the most critical aspect of this legislation is its

compliance and review mechanisms. The annual reports from public bodies

and the minister, alongside an independent review every five years, are

vital to ensure that the bill does not become another forgotten document

but a living, effective tool in combatting racism.

The establishment of a grants program to support community

initiatives is a promising addition. However, the criteria for grant

allocation must be clear, fair and designed to truly empower those at

the grassroots level.

As we move to the committee stage, B.C. United commits to a

thorough examination of every single clause of Bill 23. We urge this NDP

government to engage openly with all stakeholders and to be flexible in

adapting the bill to meet the urgent needs of our communities much

better.

[2:55 p.m.]

Currently, what we have before us is a plan to make a plan. As I

have said time and time again, British Columbia deserves more, deserves

stronger and immediate action and deserves results.

In conclusion, while we acknowledge the necessity of addressing

systemic racism, Bill 23 falls far short of the urgent and timely action

required to combat this pervasive issue. The B.C. United caucus remains

steadfast in our commitment to advocating for real, meaningful change

that ensures the safety and dignity of all British

Columbians.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to speak on this

legislation. Let us move forward with a clear focus on creating a more

just, equitable, inclusive and prosperous society for every single one,

irrespective of your religion, your ethnicity, of where you come from,

for every British Columbian.

S. Robinson: I’m pleased to take my place in the debate on Bill 23, the

Anti-Racism Act. I’m also very pleased to be physically present in the

House in order to participate in the debate. You see, Mr. Speaker,

initially it was supposed to be debated at second reading last Tuesday,

the first day of Passover, when typically the first couple of days of

the holiday are non-work days for Jews as we celebrate our

holiday.

But this bill…. It’s about anti-racism, and this bill that greatly

affects the Jewish community, last Tuesday, it was put on the agenda for

debate. The only way, on that day, that I was able to consider

participating, while celebrating my holiday, was by Zoom. On my holiday,

I sat in front of my computer in my home so that I could participate,

because government put it on the agenda for that day. That, in and of

itself, is an interesting commentary on how public bodies make decisions

and the systemic racism that exists therein.

As it turns out, of course, second reading was pushed back, but

the damage was done. It serves to remind us that the words of this bill

don’t seem to quite match the actions of this government.

To be clear, I greatly value the intent of this legislation:

holding public bodies to account in order to address systemic racism by

collecting the data and requiring them to develop an action plan to

address inequities that might exist. This is meaningful work, and it’s

meaningful legislation. It’s about making us and our systems work better

for people, especially people of colour, Indigenous people and

marginalized and minority groups — groups of people perhaps who have

experienced systemic racism, oftentimes for generations.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge all the folks who have come

together to do this work over the past six or seven years. This has been

quite an undertaking that brought community leaders from numerous

ethnocultural and racial communities together to identify how to proceed

with this considerable undertaking. It was not easy work. I want to

thank all the community leaders who have contributed to the thinking and

the framework of this legislation.

I’ve been paying particular attention to how and for whom this

legislation is to be used, and I do have some concerns, some of which

I’ll raise at committee stage. But here at second reading, it’s

appropriate for me to speak to this legislation with broader strokes,

more at the conceptual level.

I notice that the framing for understanding and identifying who is

impacted by racism and how this legislation will be implemented is

oriented towards racialized communities. In other words, people of

colour, or people who don’t look white. I see throughout the document

that the focus is almost exclusively on racialized

communities.

I see this echoed in the comments of the Attorney General about

how she thinks of this legislation. I quote from the CBC article. This

is what she says: “The politicians who have come before her in the

Legislature, who passed laws designed to hurt people because of the

colour of their skin….”

[3:00 p.m.]

She then goes on to say: “The power that was wielded in that

place, that was directed towards racialized people in this province, you

just can’t even imagine the generations of pain and trauma and impact

that that’s had.”

I agree with her. I have to say, as a non-racialized person who is

part of a minority group and is now regularly attacked for being a Jew,

I can vouch for the impact, the pain and the trauma that hate can have

not just on one person but on an entire community.

Non-racialized communities, like communities of faith, also get

impacted by government policies. I think of the Doukhobors, for example.

The Doukhobors were just here and received an apology on behalf of all

of government.

Muslim communities aren’t made up of exclusively racialized

people. Neither are Jewish communities. We come in all colours. Yet we

experience hate and experience government policies that can exclude,

cause pain and trauma.

When I moved to British Columbia from Montreal in 1978, I was in

junior high school. I know that Mr. Speaker wasn’t yet born. I’d gone to

public school my entire life back in Montreal. I never experienced

discrimination or exclusion as a result of government policy while I was

living there. But here in B.C., I was shocked that the Lord’s Prayer was

said every morning over the public address system while I was going to

school in Richmond.

I didn’t know the words. It wasn’t my prayer. In order to

accommodate, and I use air quotes, my “unique Jewish needs” and the

needs of a Sikh classmate who was in my class at the time…. We were

instructed to stand out in the hallway for the two to three minutes of

the Lord’s Prayer so that we wouldn’t have to listen to it. However, it

didn’t help that the public address system was also out in the

hallway.

Singling us out as somehow different wasn’t seen as creating a

problem. I can vouch for those of us who were singled out as different

that it was very painful.

Now, this was a school board policy or a school policy. I don’t

know which. I can certainly say that it excluded and traumatized

children.

I think we need clarity about who this legislation is for. The

government says in the bill that it will work with racialized

communities on a go-forward basis. I happen to think that that’s a

problem. How are communities that experience discrimination who are

non-racialized participating in this process? Are they considered groups

to be addressed?

Another problem that government has around this legislation is the

fact that the organized Jewish community has very serious reservations

about working with the current Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism

Initiatives. She has a long history of perceived antisemitic comments.

The government’s response to those concerns has been to single out the

Jewish community to work directly with the Attorney General while all

the other communities work with the parliamentary secretary.

It sort of reminds me of my junior high days when I was sent out

to the hallway while the Lord’s Prayer was being recited. This is not

inclusion. It’s actually racism and discrimination.

I started my comments by highlighting the fact that this

government saw fit to debate a bill on racism on a Jewish holiday, when

the only openly identified practising Jew in this chamber would not be

available to participate in second reading debate given her

holiday.

Ignorance of the holiday, perhaps? Not likely. In fact, on Monday

of last week, before sundown and the beginning of the holiday of

Passover, the government put out Passover greetings to B.C.’s Jewish

community, which is nearly 40,000 members strong here in British

Columbia. In it, the government notes that the Jewish community has been

experiencing a troubling time.

This is what the Premier had to say to the Jewish community on

Monday night:

“This year, Passover comes at a painful time for many Jewish people.

Just over six months ago, Hamas terrorists invaded Israeli communities

and attacked innocent civilians in what was the deadliest act of

violence against Jewish people since the Holocaust.

“Since the October 7 attack, we have seen a deeply troubling rise in

antisemitism here in B.C. Our government condemns all forms of hate and

is taking action to make sure our province is safe and welcoming for

people of all faiths and backgrounds. This work includes” — and this is

the list that the Premier listed — “making Holocaust education mandatory

for all high school students, establishing an anti-hate community

support fund, launching a racist incident helpline and supporting

organizations that are doing anti-racism work.”

[3:05 p.m.]

It goes on to say:

“In these difficult times, we must stand together against all forms

of hate to ensure B.C. remains a place where everyone can celebrate

their culture and practise their religion with pride and without

fear.

“I wish a peaceful Passover to all who are marking the

occasion.”

I’m sure that the Speaker and everyone else who is listening to

this can see some of the contradictions in those greetings and then what

my experience was.

I do appreciate that the Premier and government acknowledged the

pain the Jewish community is experiencing at this very fraught time. I

appreciate the acknowledgment that the recent rise in antisemitism is

very troubling. It’s troubling indeed.

In fact, last Monday, as I was preparing for a Passover Seder, a

formal dinner — I was somewhere between making gefilte fish and setting

up a formal dinner table for 19 people that were coming to my home — I

decided I should check my work emails. As I scrolled through, I came

across a particularly disturbing email from a constituent who had

received a photo of antisemitic graffiti in the bus stop by Coquitlam

city hall. The graffiti read “kill Jews,” accompanied by a

swastika.

This is the third time in two months that this kind of

antisemitism in my community has been brought to my attention. In the 30

years that I have made Coquitlam my home, I have never seen anything

like what we are seeing today. Now the city of Coquitlam is spending

upward of $5,000 a month cleaning up hateful antisemitic graffiti that

continues to reappear on a weekly basis.

Last week I had a brief conversation with my local RCMP about this

hateful antisemitic graffiti that keeps appearing in my community. And

not just in my community. I know it is across all

communities.

I was told by this RCMP officer that they would be happy to arrest

these perpetrators. They know who they are, these perpetrators who

spread hate intended to intimidate and terrorize Jews. However, the RCMP

member said to me that the Crown isn’t interested in pressing charges.

“The graffiti just washes off and doesn’t cause damage.”

Well, I can vouch for the damage it causes. Perhaps the bench or

the wall or the bus stop can be hosed down. The pain that comes with

seeing those markings can be just washed away. But the damage to one’s

spirit is significant. As long as our public bodies don’t recognize and

take hate in all its forms seriously, we are failing to keep our

communities safe.

The Premier, in his note on Passover, provides a list of the ways

his government is “taking action.” This is the same list that he has

been using for five months to demonstrate government’s actions to fight

the rise in antisemitism.

Yes, the funds for additional security are welcome. But what other

community has to have extra police officers at community events in this

moment, right here, right now? What other community has to hire security

to escort speakers to venues right here, right now? What other community

has to advise their children not to wear their school uniforms or their

Jewish star in order to hide their Jewish identity because it is not

safe right here, right now? What other community has to train community

volunteers to help with security issues right here, right

now?

What about the other actions that the Premier notes in his

Passover message to the Jewish community? Well, the Premier, the House

Leader and the Attorney General continually point to Holocaust education

as part of their response to the dramatic rise in antisemitism. Well,

that work was well underway years before the increase in Jew hatred

started. So it’s not a direct response to the increase in hatred since

October 7. Furthermore, how the heck will mandatory Holocaust education

that won’t be mandatory until 2025 help those being terrorized today,

right here, right now?

And supporting organizations that do anti-racism work — also part

of the list? Well, government has always supported organizations in

anti-racism work. This isn’t a new response to the increase in Jew

hatred.

And that anti-racism hotline that the Premier refers to somehow as

a response to the rise in antisemitism? Well, that was announced and

promised back in April 2021, but it’s still not operational. That, too,

is not at all in response to or effective in addressing the rise in

racism here in the province, right here, right now.

[3:10 p.m.]

I just wish that the Premier would stop gaslighting the Jewish

community here in British Columbia right here and right now. The only

thing on the table from this government to address the rise in Jew

hatred is a bit of money for security, hoping to keep the community

quiet with dribs and drabs of money, so that they can take

responsibility for keeping our community safe. That’s it: “Sit to.”

There is no other action being taken to protect a community under siege.

There is no plan.

In fact, the Attorney General said, in her words, as she

introduced second reading…. I listened very closely. She said: “The

establishment of the requirement for government to develop and publish

an anti-racism action plan is for June 1, 2026.” That’s what this

legislation is about. “This action plan will be developed in

consultation and cooperation with Indigenous peoples and through

engagement with racialized communities. The action plan will include

actions to address the harms caused by systemic racism specific to

Indigenous people, Islamophobia and antisemitism.”

There are no real actions for government, at this point, to act on

the dramatic rise in antisemitism today, right here and right now. I

just wish the Premier would own up to it. Even this bill has no plan.

It’s a bill that requires public bodies to develop a plan. Government

isn’t even acting on what it wants other public bodies to act on. I have

to tell you, this is literally crazy-making. It’s gaslighting and it’s

crazy-making.

This week I read Rob Shaw’s

article contrasting the leadership

between the current Premier and the former Premier, John Horgan. It’s an

interesting analysis. I encourage people to read it. It’s analysis about

ownership and responsibility for decisions made.

Under Premier Horgan’s leadership, I was tasked, as a member of

caucus and as a member of cabinet, as an openly identified Jew, who is

well-connected to the Jewish community, to help government understand

the needs of the community, to translate when needed, and to help

facilitate a relationship with the community. In other words, I was

tasked to be the Jew in the crew, bringing all that I am, bringing my

relationships, my understanding, my history, my culture, to make sure

the government is doing right by the community.

In fact, John Horgan used to say, when he would meet with the

Jewish community, when he would meet with Holocaust survivors or he

would go to synagogue on Kristallnacht …. He would always check

in with me afterwards. Did I do okay? Was I a mensch ?

Mensch means “a good person with a good soul.” He wanted to

do right by the community. It was important to him, as a human being and

as a leader.

Under the current regime, the message to me has been: “Don’t be

too Jewish.” That creates a problem for us. I was told I needed to leave

a job I love because I was too Jewish. What’s more, as I think about it,

and I think about the pain it’s caused, not just to me, but to my entire

community…. They feel betrayed, let down, discouraged by the legislation

that we have before us. How can you trust the government to do right by

you when they don’t hear your cries for help?

I had said earlier in my remarks that I listened quite closely to

what the Attorney General had to say. In her opening remarks, she said

that this legislation is important because they are: “Confirming

investment in programs and services to heal communities affected by

racism.” It’s good. I think that is government’s job. Government’s job

is to help heal. It’s to help bring communities together. It’s to help

communities get over the hard parts.

I proposed to do just as the Attorney suggested in her remarks. I

proposed to the Premier and to this government, before I left caucus, a

program and an idea to heal two communities affected by

racism.

[3:15 p.m.]

What was I told by the Premier’s office? I was told it’s too

political. The political cost of doing that work in this moment, right

here, right now, was too threatening to a re-election. That’s how I

heard it. Doesn’t matter if communities are hurting. Doesn’t matter if

they are feeling isolated, if they are feeling afraid. Now is not the

time because we have an election in six months.

When the Government House Leader chooses to attack the member for

Vancouver-Langara when he asks what government is doing to address the

rise in antisemitism, and instead of answering the question, the

Government House Leader chooses to attack and bring up the quick-win

scandal, I say that this government is no different.

To date, the actions of the current government, this New Democrat

government…. When dealing with antisemitism, whether it’s on campuses

across our province or in our streets, the only thing — the only thing —

the Premier has done is to wring his hands and say that he condemns

these acts, condemns what people are saying. But he hasn’t actually done

anything.

He hasn’t gone to visit synagogues, Jewish day schools. He hasn’t

gone out to talk to Jewish community groups. Oh, I know he met with a

rabbi. I know that finally, he and the Attorney General met with the

special envoy on antisemitism. She started her job in November. The

Attorney General got the file in November as well. But only in April did

they met with her, only because people were saying: “You need to meet

with them.”

When the Premier does speak, when he does speak out, he acts as if

there’s nothing he and government can or should do. I was listening very

carefully to his words. He regularly leaves the actions to university

presidents or to the AMS leadership. He sort of pretends like he doesn’t

have a role or that government doesn’t have a role in stemming a tide of

hate, vitriol and violence directed toward a minority group.

There are six million British Columbians in this province. There

are 40,000 Jews in this province. They are a minority group. We are left

out of this legislation because it only talks about working with

racialized people throughout the document. Jews are not racialized

people. Now, most Jews are people of colour — most Jews in the world.

There are almost 16 million Jews in the world. Most of them are

darker-skinned. But here in British Columbia, that’s not the case,

necessarily.

I think there are some serious problems with the legislation as

it’s written. So I look forward to the committee stage of this

bill.

I have many questions about how this bill will be implemented in

many systems, like our public service, where I hear stories of employees

of this public service being told that their Jewish star that they wear

is offensive and should be removed. At a land acknowledgment, on

lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking people’s land,

they also include a land acknowledgment that has to do with someplace

far in the Middle East. That’s in our public service.

I’m interested in how this bill will be implemented in our public

school system, where teachers in the Coquitlam school district — and, I

know, other school districts as well — accuse Jews of apartheid,

genocide and ethnic cleansing. You heard right. It was on the website in

Coquitlam school district. I’ve received a letter from my school

district teachers saying just that.

I’m keenly interested in how this legislation will be implemented,

as well, in public post-secondary institutions, where, as we speak, mobs

of students and faculty are using fear and intimidation that harm Jewish

students, Jewish faculty and Jewish staff. Mr. Speaker, don’t for a

second think that it’s just Jewish people that are affected by this. It

affects everybody.

I’m also interested if government has any plan to ensure that

government members will be taking antisemitism training.

[3:20 p.m.]

It’s really important that government understand the insidiousness

of this hatred that appears and reappears and reappears at regular

intervals throughout history. It’s a hatred that just won’t go

away.

I wanted to take the Premier and the government at their word when

they wished me and my family, Jewish British Columbians, a peaceful

Passover. But if that was their intent, I would have thought they would

truly recognize my holiday by perhaps waiting until I was back in the

House before putting this bill on the agenda for the first day of

Passover.

Given that there wasn’t even a consideration, I can only conclude

that their greetings were simply performative, just like all the other

things they talk about when dealing with the Jewish community and

antisemitism. Simply performative.

Perhaps government ought to start with their own action plan

before the legislation is even passed. That would be a good start. From

my perspective, and I think I have the credibility to speak on behalf of

the 40,000 Jewish British Columbians, the Premier and his caucus have “a

lot of deep work to do.”

E. Ross: I don’t think I’ve ever talked about racism in any of my roles as

a political leader in the last 20 years. And here I am talking about it

in the B.C. Legislature in terms of the Anti-Racism Act that’s on the

floor of the B.C. Legislature right now.

I understand that the act actually speaks to a lot of the racism

in terms of minorities in Canada and B.C., but puts a focus on First

Nations, which is good. But it’s hard to believe we’re having this

conversation today. We’re proud to talk about Canada as a melting pot of

culture and races and religions, but you can’t ignore what’s happening

It’s in the television reports, and it’s antisemitism.

It took me a while to get off the reserve in Kitimaat Village and

to get a deep appreciation of what racism really meant in Canadian

society. I don’t like to talk about my interest in global conflicts like

war because you can’t be a fan of war.

If you look at the incidents and the politics that led up to war

and how it affected regular people during these conflicts and then

afterwards, you can’t help but think about the human condition.

Antisemitism is one of the oldest forms of racism and discrimination

that is still with us today. I find that very hard to believe. It’s

ingrained, not just in Canada which we’re seeing right now on the

streets, but all over the world.

Regardless of the conflict that’s happening in different parts of

the world, us as Canadians have got to do better. We can’t allow history

to repeat itself in Canada: a first world country who believes in

equality, the Charter of Rights and the freedom to pursue your life

without intimidation, racism or discrimination.

The most researched war I’ve looked into was World War II, and the

seeds of that were planted during World War I. The leader that created

World War II needed a scapegoat to get them over the top. And that

scapegoat he chose? Jews.

[3:25 p.m.]

If you look back at how that all came to be, it was horrible, the

propaganda he put out in regards to what a Jewish person was. He made

horrible caricatures of Jewish people and branded them as a subspecies

of human. That was pretty despicable. We can look back on that today and

criticize and know for a fact that that was wrong.

But Canada is not innocent in that respect either. During those

days, antisemitism was alive and well in Canada. Of course, there was a

lot of discrimination and racism against many minorities, but it was

really, really extreme in terms of what was happening with the Jewish

people in Canada.

There was an anti-Jewish speech in the House of Commons that urged

Canada to keep its gates shut to Jewish immigrants who were trying to

flee from Germany during World War II. The House of Commons. Henry Ford

agreed with some of this German sentiment toward Jews. In 1910, in

Quebec, some of the audience attacked Jewish storekeepers and damaged

their businesses. Four years later, the courts awarded the Jewish

business owners minimal costs, but the onslaught continued. This is in

Canada.

The worst of it was in 1933. One of the worst eruptions of ethnic

and antisemitic violence in Canadian history occurred in Toronto with

the Christie Pits riot. The riot was sparked by displays of swastikas to

provoke the Jewish community. In Canada.

For Canadian Jews in the 1920s and 1930s, quotas and restrictions

were a way of life. Many industries did not hire Jews. Educational

institutions such as universities and professional schools discriminated

against them. Jewish doctors could not get hospital appointments. There

were no Jewish judges or Jewish lawyers.

I identify with this, because this is how Canada treated First

Nations. First Nations didn’t have the vote. We weren’t allowed to hire

lawyers. I understand. It was blatant for all minorities.

But if there is ever an example of a racism act or practice that

we should all aspire to get rid of, it has got to be antisemitism. Just

based on their religion, based on their race, based on whatever it is,

we shouldn’t be allowing this. Canadians should understand their

history. They should understand the history of the Holocaust. Nobody

should be allowed to be put through this horrible experience.

Restrictive covenants on properties often prevented them from

being sold to Jews. This clause, I identify with, because my dad used to

joke about this. My dad went to residential school. He always joked

about the idea that some bars in B.C. had a sign: “No dogs or Indians

allowed.” Why he laughed is because they put dogs first.

Minorities are very resilient, very tough. They’re used to this

type of behaviour. But that doesn’t make it right.

[3:30 p.m.]

Many clubs, resorts and beaches were barred to Jews. Signs warned:

“No Jews or dogs allowed.” Is it any surprise that Canada had by far the

worst record of any western or immigration country in providing

sanctuary to the Jews of Europe in the 1930s and the 1940s?

[J. Tegart in the chair.]

Antisemitism goes back thousands of years, and I seriously doubt

we’re going to eradicate it here today with the Anti-Racism Act that

we’re talking about here today. But we’ve got to talk about the issues

regarding what is happening to our Jewish brothers and sisters at their

places of worship: graffiti, threats, obstruction.

I don’t need training on antisemitism or the Holocaust. I don’t

need a program on racism. I seriously doubt any minority in B.C. needs

any training to talk about the past in terms of how bad racism is — not

just in Canada and the United States but all across the world. We don’t

need that. Maybe the new generation does, but they’ve got that

information at their fingertips, literally. Google is just a touch away

with your phone.

Genocide is an extreme form of racism. It’s a global term. It’s a

global issue. We haven’t been able to resolve that globally, but the

worst example of that has been antisemitism. It’s one of the toughest

topics that I think I’ll ever talk about in this Legislature, but we’ve

got to talk about it. I don’t really care where you come from around the

world. I don’t care, because we’re all Canadians. We should protect all

Canadians, no matter where they came from.

To hear the member for Coquitlam-Maillardville talk about her plea

to the Premier, talking about how to address antisemitism…. The reply

was that the Premier said it’s too close to the election. That’s

politics. That’s the kind of politics that was alive and well leading up

to World War II. Probably the worst thing about it — for lack of a

better term — was that the public didn’t speak up.

Leaders allowed the German leader to annex different countries,

and they didn’t speak up. I get it. Europe didn’t want to go to war.

Great. I get it. They were tired of war. They wanted to rebuild after

World War I. I get it. But to single out a certain group of people and

condemn them to death is really unspeakable.

I really hope that today’s generation understands the extent of

what happened to a certain group of people. I certainly do. I can’t for

a minute think what it must have been like, even though people have told

me, to watch your family get murdered in front of you or taken away,

stuck in a train, never to be seen again — I can’t imagine that —

knowing full well they’re going to their death.

The member for Coquitlam-Maillardville begged the NDP government

and the NDP Premier to do something. Now she’s begging 87 MLAs in this

Legislature to do something, to speak up. She’s baring her soul to us,

because, in my opinion, she feels isolated and alone — apart from the

member for Vancouver-Langara, who’s trying to support her as much as he

can. Another minority is trying to support an MLA that has Jewish

ancestry and is Jewish.

[3:35 p.m.]

Canada is a great country if we live up to the principles it was

founded on — equality. We’re not perfect, but we should basically be

building towards that idea that we will one day live in a place free of

discrimination and racism. It’s going to take a lot of work, and it’s

going to take a lot of conversations just as hard and difficult as this

one we’re having right now.

To see the member for Coquitlam-Maillardville pleading for this

Legislature to understand where she’s coming from and not really get an

adequate response is heartbreaking. She said it herself. Her colleagues

in the NDP government broke her heart. I totally understand why. Any

minority should understand why she felt heartbroken, because she thought

people in this Legislature would stand by her no matter what.

Anybody can stand beside you through the good times; that’s easy.

But when stuff really gets bad, you like to count your friends who are

standing with you by your side. And she’s got nobody, apart from the

member for Vancouver-Langara, who travelled with the member for

Coquitlam-Maillardville to Israel, where they had to run away to the

bomb shelters every time there was a warning. I’ve been invited to

Israel this past week, and schedule-wise it just won’t work.

There was a two-minute statement made by the member for

Coquitlam-Maillardville. This is her statement.

“The Jewish community around the world is celebrating Passover this

week. It’s an eight-day holiday remembering and celebrating the

Israelites’ release from slavery in Egypt in the 13th century BCE. It is

the founding story, or the origin story, for the Jewish people.

“It’s a holiday that celebrates freedom — freedom from slavery,

freedom from oppression. More importantly, it’s a holiday that

acknowledges that none of us are free unless all of us are

free.

“Every year we gather for Passover Seders, or orderly meals, where

we eat special foods and read from the Haggadah” — excuse me if I’m not

pronouncing all these words right — “the telling of the story of our

exodus from Egypt.

“This year was a very hard year to celebrate this holiday, with over

130 Israeli hostages being held by Hamas — Israeli civilians who are

sons, daughters, grandparents and even two babies.

“At our Seder, we acknowledge that the people in Gaza are also not

yet free — free to live in peace and free from the oppressive Hamas

regime, a terrorist organization committed to the annihilation of Israel

and of the Jews. During our Seder, we also acknowledged others who are

not yet free: the people of Ukraine, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iran and so

many other regimes that are hurting people.

“During my visit to Israel last week, as I sat with others visiting

from British Columbia, we waited. We waited and waited for the hundreds

of drones fired by the Iranian regime toward civilians in Israel.

Listening for the siren….”

I apologize, but I didn’t bring the last half of that statement.

But I’m sure it’s pretty clear what she’s talking about. I can’t even

put into words what a Jewish person must be feeling out in the streets

or in the campuses. People they normally would have talked to are

shunning them.

I had felt isolated and alone in my previous job, but it wasn’t

because of racism. It was about small-town politics, and we ended up in

court. And it was the worst time of my life, because friends and family

who I thought would stand with me no matter what, were agreeing to the

things that were being said about me — that I was taking bribes, that I

was corrupt.

[3:40 p.m.]

It took a court date to prove that we were innocent, and the

people that accused us of all this stuff were found guilty of libel. But

in that two-year period, the isolation and feeling alone just weighed

heavily, not only on me but on the rest of the council. We had ten

councillors and one Chief, and it weighed heavily on us every single

day.

I played basketball with my basketball team from my village, and

half the team that I was playing basketball with on the court wouldn’t

talk to me or wouldn’t look at me. So I know what it’s like to think

that the people beside you have your back no matter what.

It’s going to be hard. I understand how hard it is to have

somebody’s back at the worst of times. I’ve always walked away from the

idea that it’s not worth politics for me. If I’ve got to make a stand,

and I don’t get elected, at least I can say I stood up for my

principles, and I stood up for those people that needed

support.

I don’t mind not getting elected just because I stood up for a

principle. Right now I think the principle is symbolic — that we stand

up beside the member for Coquitlam-Maillardville on behalf of the Jewish

people and say: “Yes. We don’t agree with this.” We don’t agree with

places of worship being littered with graffiti. We don’t agree with

Jewish people being intimidated.

We’re actually going through a bill right now — the idea of the

bubble zone bill that actually restricts protests from schools. Yet

we’re not really talking about places of worship, not only with the

Jewish community but the amount of Christian churches that have been

burnt in Canada and in B.C. Why don’t we talk about it? Because we’re

going to lose votes. It’s too close to an election.

I agree that what happened at residential schools was horrible,

but two wrongs don’t make a right. In fact, a lot of the people that

said that churches shouldn’t be burned were residential school survivors

asking for a stop to this violence. We still haven’t seen the results of

any investigations into these church burnings. We’ve got videos, but

we’ve seen nothing.

It’s all fine and dandy for us to promote a racism act, but if we

don’t back it up with action, it’s really just an empty political

promise to do better. The Anti-Racism Act is an agreement to come up

with an agreement by 2026. Regardless of if we vote on it or not, if it

passes or not, we’re not going to see any results for another couple of

years. We’re not going to see that final document.

This should represent what minorities have got to think about in

Canada. Because who’s next? The people of India, the ancestors of people

sitting in this audience, experienced racism when they came to

Canada.

Who’s next? We’ve already talked about, in the last couple of

years, people who come from China that experience racism in the streets.

We haven’t provided any real action to address that. We commemorate it,

but we don’t track down these people that are committing these racist

acts.

[3:45 p.m.]

On Thursday, April 25, 2024, the member for

Coquitlam-Maillardville asked a question of the B.C. government. Her

question was:

“On Monday, the Premier extended a Passover greeting, noting the

dramatic rise in antisemitism. Yet his touted response is Holocaust

education, antiracism funding and a racist incident hotline are all

long-standing initiatives that have been years in the making.

“We have a community under attack, and the only thing that

government can muster is financial help to hire additional security.

These measures do not address the immediate and escalating threats

facing the Jewish community today. And I know that the Premier and the

Attorney General spoke yesterday with a special envoy for Holocaust

remembrance and antisemitism — just yesterday.”

The question was: I want to know when the Premier will finally

take the rise of antisemitism seriously, put a real, actual act plan

together that specifically targets and combats antisemitism in our

schools, in our post-secondary institutions and in the public service.

The Premier didn’t answer. It was actually the House Leader for the NDP

government. The answer was: “The member knows that we take racism very

seriously. I’ve shared with the member, in the multiple times the member

has raised questions around this, the list of things we’ve done.” Then

they went on to provide all the money and funding that they contributed

to the issue. They didn’t really answer the member’s

question.

Right after that, the member for Vancouver-Langara asked a

question to support the member for Coquitlam-Maillardville, because he

went to Israel as well. He asked:

“When the member for Coquitlam-Maillardville stands up in this

House, as she did to remark upon the Passover statement yesterday in

two-minute statements, you need to hear her. All members of this House

need to hear her. She has taken the step to step off and resign from the

cabinet. She has taken the step to resign from the government caucus,

and she’s now on this side of the House asking some very important

questions on behalf of not just the Jewish community but for all

communities concerned about civil society.

“When we have any person in this province who has to live in fear

from being targeted on our streets, in our communities, on university

colleges and campuses for who they are…. And all we hear from this

government, from this Premier and this Attorney General, who doesn’t

have the common decency to stand up in this House to address the serious

questions that the member for Coquitlam-Maillardville has been asking….

It has been over six months.”

There’s a bit of chatter going on now, so he’s got to take a

break.

“The fact that the Premier and Attorney General have now reached out

to the special envoy to deal with antisemitism in Canada…. The member

for Coquitlam-Maillardville has been speaking with that special envoy on

a weekly basis since November, and that member had been leading the

charge to address antisemitism on university and college campuses with

other Ministers of Education across Canada.”

We have a community under attack, and all the government can

muster is financial help to hire additional security from that attack.

The Premier’s dismissive approach to evidence of antisemitism with his

government and caucus, as called on…. And he’s told to ask his

question.

I don’t know what more can be said. We can’t just keep on going

like the way we’re going and just use political answers for this. We

can’t condone this, not only just as Canadians but in deep

acknowledgment of the history, not just with the Jewish people but in

terms of genocide and racism around the world. I, for one, do not want

to see history repeat itself.

Where is this going to lead? If we don’t address this, if we don’t

target it directly, where does this lead? I don’t wish this on any race.

I don’t wish this on people from France, Germany, Africa, China, and I

definitely don’t want it on First Nations.

[3:50 p.m.]

If there’s ever an example of how MLAs should stand up and condemn

antisemitism, it’s now. We’re at a critical stage. If we don’t, we’re

just repeating history. Our silence on this is deafening.

I didn’t know what I was going to speak about in terms of the

Anti-Racism Act, but every time I open up my phone, it’s there in terms

of what’s happening to the Jewish community. It was there, just like it

was there when they were talking about the racism against Chinese people

in Vancouver. It was there. Mainly, the racism towards Chinese people

was because of the home-buying scandal. Chinese people were complaining

that they were being accosted and threatened.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

R. Parmar: Good afternoon to everyone. It truly is a privilege, any

opportunity I get, to be able to stand in this House, but particularly

to be able to speak to this very important piece of legislation, the

Anti-Racism Act.

I want to thank my colleague and friend the Attorney General and

the entire team for all of their work over the course of a number of

years to be able to bring forward this historic piece of

legislation.

I haven’t spent much time in this House. I always, when I walk

into this building, am really thankful for the opportunity that the

people of my community have given me, not only to walk into this House

and to be able to sit in this spot at my desk, but also the ability to

be able to represent them each and every day in this House. That’s

something I remind myself each and every day.

It truly is a privilege to be able to be the MLA for an incredible

constituency, an incredibly diverse constituency, and a growing

constituency. It’s something that I remind myself that I can’t ever take

for granted.

I was thinking about the day in which the Attorney introduced this

piece of legislation. I remember getting emotional sitting in this

House, looking up into the gallery and seeing so many people that I’ve

had the opportunity of knowing for a number of years who have been

fighting racism in their various sectors, in their employment, in their

communities, in schools, you name it. People that I’ve known over the

course of, it seems like, a lifetime.

But also so many other people that I hold in the highest of

regards, who I look up to as mentors, who have done so much, who have

been pioneers in our respective communities in the work that they’ve

been doing to break barriers and to ensure that our communities can be

inclusive.

For me, the Anti-Racism Act, in particular…. As I thought about

walking into this House, I thought about the fact that for a number of

years previously, there was a time when a person like me, who looked

like me, a person of colour, couldn’t walk into the Legislature,

couldn’t be an MLA. I thought of Moe Sihota, who is the former MLA for

much of the area that I now have the opportunity and privilege to

represent, and the barriers that he had to face as the first South Asian

MLA in Canada, let alone British Columbia.

I often think about the times, even as a staffer here, prior to

being an MLA, reminding myself and my colleagues how much of a privilege

it is to be able to be in this place, because there was a time when our

ancestors and our friends and family couldn’t walk into this

Legislature.

We often talk about this being the people’s House, and for a time

this wasn’t the people’s House. I want to talk a bit about the

Anti-Racism Act in that relation.

[3:55 p.m.]

As I thought about the Anti-Racism Act, as I saw the people in the

gallery and as the Attorney read out during her first reading speech, it

really reminded me the power that we all have as legislators. We all

come in here during question period and have fierce debates, but the

power that we have as individual MLAs to vote.

Again, I haven’t been here very long, but on that day, a day that

I will never forget, I truly understood the value and the role that I

have as an MLA and the power that I have to say aye and push forward on

behalf of my constituents my vote in favour of first reading for the

Anti-Racism Act.

I was chatting with the member for Richmond-Queensborough about

racism in relation to me in particular, because I know that much of the

legislation and much of the debate and discussion is based off of what

British Columbians have shared with the Attorney General, with the

Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism efforts, and all legislators,

all MLAs, over the course of this work. It’s so important that we all

reflect on our own personal stories and the stories that have been

shared.

I often think about the struggles that my parents, and my

grandmother in particular, faced when they immigrated here. Often when

they faced actions of racism, there was a desire just to brush it off

and just to fit in.

I often think about the challenges that even I faced growing up in

Langford, a community predominantly Caucasian at the time — it wasn’t

the diverse community it is today — being the only, it felt like, brown

boy in elementary school and how there were selected comments that were

made. It was my intention and my goal back in elementary school and

middle school and even much of high school to just fit in and not to

celebrate my culture, my beliefs, my traditions.

I often think about the kara that I wear and how my

grandmother gave that to me, and how in elementary school and middle

school, out of fear of people seeing it, I would just hide it underneath

my clothes. Everyone has a story as it relates to racism, and it’s so

important that through this work and through subsequent debate and

discussion, and after this legislation has passed, we continue to hear

those stories.

I had just, as we return to the Legislature this week, spent the

last week visiting many post-secondary campuses and talking to, in

particular, international students who have faced considerable racism

over the course of the last number of years, but in particular right now

with what we are seeing from the federal government in terms of them

cracking down on immigration and how they are feeling it in their

communities.

A lot of the emotion that I am feeling today is also the emotion

that I am feeling from the conversations that I had with people in

Kelowna. In particular, I want to acknowledge someone who I’ve gotten

the chance to know in my new role as the Parliamentary Secretary for

International Credentials, Mohini Singh, a councillor from Kelowna, who

is just doing incredible work and being such a strong voice and advocate

for international students, especially those that have been intimidated

and those who have unfortunately been attacked.

I’m not going to speak for very long, but I want to touch on the

importance of the Anti-Racism Act as it relates to the work that the

Attorney General has done. Firstly, in order for this legislation to be

developed, we really needed to open our doors and our minds and our

hearts to British Columbians. I want to acknowledge so many people who

took time out of their busy schedules to be able to ensure that they

could participate in this engagement opportunity.

I think of the Bangladesh community cultural society in the south

Island here and the work that they did by receiving a grant and holding

a number of sessions to be able to collect feedback that led to the

introduction of this legislation. I know the Bangladesh community

cultural society is just one of hundreds of societies across British

Columbia that received grants and held their own community engagement

sessions to be able to ensure that legislators and those who are

developing this legislation had the best data possible to be able to

ensure that what we were bringing forward was our best

intentions.

[4:00 p.m.]

Developing and introducing this anti-racism legislation is so

important because it was also developed and co-developed with Indigenous

peoples through the United Nations declaration on the rights of

Indigenous peoples.

I think it’s important to know that this legislation alone won’t

end racism. It requires all of us in this House to stand up against

hate, to stand up against the extremes in politics, to the Trump-style

politics that we’re seeing in our communities, and to stand up for

people from all walks of life.

I feel in my core that the work that our government is doing by

introducing this very important piece of legislation, holding ourselves

accountable as a government, holding our government bodies accountable

is a really important step in that direction of making sure that we are

striving towards ending racism. That is going to be a lifelong journey

for this province, for this country and for this world.

I want to acknowledge, as I mentioned earlier, the people that

have done incredible work on this legislation. When I think of that day

when the Attorney introduced first reading, I remember looking up and

seeing Sukhi Sandhu, someone who I hold in very high regard, who has

been a champion for anti-racism efforts, I would argue, probably for

most of his life, certainly in sport. He has been an international

leader and someone that governments have called upon to be able to ask

for advice.

I remember seeing my friend Amir Bajehkian, who I first met in

this chamber, to talk about the importance of our roles as young people

getting involved in politics when we participated in Model Parliament.

But to see his voice reflected in the voice of Iranians that he

represented through consultations in this bill was so important, as well

as Daljit Gill-Badesha and so many other people.

This legislation, again, is only possible because of the hard work

of so many British Columbians from all walks of life who had the

opportunity to be able to participate in the engagement, and it’s what

has led to the introduction of this bill.

I will just end, Madam Speaker, by saying that it brings me great

pride to be able to stand in second reading and share with you and the

members of this House that I proudly support this legislation. The

introduction of this bill reminded me, once again, how important my

voice is as an MLA on behalf of my constituents. I hope that I can

remember that day and carry that day for the rest of my life. I recommit

myself to the work that I need to do, and all MLAs should do, to fight

racism in our community.

I’m looking forward to the continued debate and discussion during

second reading and committee stage and, hopefully, coming to a point

very soon when this legislation is passed and we can, again, work

towards a more safe, inclusive world, where everyone can feel who they

are.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to the

Anti-Racism Act.

E. Sturko: I, too, rise to discuss Bill 23, the 2024 Anti-Racism Act, a bill

that is presented as aiming to address systemic racism across British

Columbia, especially within Indigenous and racialized communities. We

know, as we’ve discussed many times in this House, that instances of

racism and acts of hatred based on prejudice are increasing in British

Columbia.

Many people know that I’m a former police officer, and I worked

across Canada but also in Surrey. It was my last posting. And now I’m

very proud to represent South Surrey here in the B.C.

Legislature.

During my time as a police officer, I witnessed many

hate-motivated crimes, some of the most disturbing and egregious

hate-motivated crimes against racialized people, LGBT, hate against

women. I think to some of those incidents where I saw people who were

victims of assault. They had had their turbans knocked off. People with

their little girls having their hijabs pulled off. Assaults. Swastikas

painted on synagogues. It was really disturbing.

[4:05 p.m.]

I am happy to see efforts being made, of course, to address racism

and hate in our province. One of the things I’m concerned about with

this bill, is that it doesn’t have any deterrence. It has grants, which

I think are a good idea, to help collect information and to come up with

ideas to identify systemic racism. But when we see the news, or when I

was a police officer, or even now I’m a private citizen and a Member of

the Legislative Assembly, we see overt acts of hate. We know what they

are. We see the assaults. What we need is a deterrence to these

behaviours.

The Attorney General had introduced a directive to Crown counsel,

I believe it was in the fall, to recognize the Criminal Code does have

provisions for hate-motivated crime and for hate crimes. But it wasn’t a

directive to state that it should always be considered in the public

interest that we will prosecute these types of occurrences.

I think it was the member for Coquitlam-Maillardville that talked

about a recent incident of a swastika being painted on a synagogue, and

then it coming back without a charge approval because they said: “Well,

you know, it didn’t hurt anyone because the spray paint could be washed

off.”

I want to bring the House back to another study that was done by

this government. It is related in that it was a study to talk about

chronic repeat offending. It was the government’s LePard-Butler report

on chronic repeat offending. I’ve brought it up as an example before.

What it found was that, in many instances, where there was no

consequence, there was an emboldening of behaviour.

We need to have working groups, of course. We need to identify

racism that is both done by the person and by systems, based on

historical prejudices. But when they are identified, especially when

we’re talking about criminal acts that are motivated by hate, it needs

to be considered in British Columbia within the public interest for us

to seek prosecutions by the B.C. prosecution service, to go after people

to prosecute them, to try these cases in Provincial Court, to ensure

that we are creating a deterrence for people who would do this

behaviour.

We see it a lot. Actually, there are many things right now that

we’re dealing with in British Columbia where the lack of consequences,

the lack of actual deterrence, the lack of ability to follow through

with things in our court system create a situation where people simply

misbehave because they know they can get away with it. There’s no reason

that they’re being given not to do so.

You know, we cannot rely, unfortunately, on the goodness of

people’s hearts just to stop doing it because we’re telling them it’s

the wrong thing to do. People, unfortunately, sometimes do need a

consequence. They do need a deterrence to help curb disturbing and

problematic behaviour.

Whether it’s antisemitism, including allegations in the Premier’s

office and in his government, Islamophobia, anti-Asian hate or the

disproportionate barriers that racialized and Indigenous communities

face, there are serious concerns that have to be addressed

head-on.

It is heartening to know that there will be grant money, going

forward, for groups, as the member across the way spoke of, in the

Bangladeshi community and in other communities, to help do the important

work of identifying systemic barriers for people’s participation in

communities, to identify biases that prevent people from being able to

achieve equity within our province and to have access equally to

services that they are entitled to.

But it’s really hard to solve a problem that you haven’t

identified, and to identify a problem, you have to investigate

it.

I can think back to many times when this Premier and this

government were asked specifically why they wouldn’t investigate racism

and acts of antisemitism within their own government.

[4:10 p.m.]

They failed, at every opportunity to go and investigate within the

government, the public service and, indeed, within the Premier’s own

caucus allegations of antisemitism.

I find it disturbing and somewhat performative to then come

forward with legislation, in Bill 23, the 2024 Anti-Racism Act, looking

to root out racism and to solve this problem in B.C. without first

looking within. I guess you’ll have to excuse, maybe, the skepticism

that I feel, and the genuine concern, when we have a government that’s

so obviously and so blatantly unwilling to look at itself, to look

itself in the mirror, at its own actions of antisemitism.

B.C. United does recognize, though, the importance of addressing

racism and advancing a B.C. where everyone is treated equally and fairly

without prejudice. Of course, we can get behind the establishment of a

comprehensive provincial anti-racism action plan and the formation of a

provincial committee on racism and a guide to implement these efforts.

But it’s simply not enough.

We need a directive that will instruct our prosecution services

that when there are hate-motivated crimes, they are considered in the

public interest. Again, I just want to…. I think I’m making it clear,

but I really want to emphasize that it’s deterrence that will actually

help us turn the corner on some of these disturbing behaviours that we

have seen in our province.

The NDP has introduced what they call a plan to make a plan,

which, frankly, provides little solace to people who are facing, right

now, racism daily. In times of a 700 percent rise in anti-Asian

sentiment and similar increases in other forms of racial hostility, it’s

clear that immediate actionable steps are required, not a prolonged

phase of planning that delays meaningful change.

We can’t afford to be stuck in analysis paralysis. We do need to

have grants. We do need to have programs for people to come and identify

where the barriers are. But there are things that we actually can see

quite obviously happening now.

I mentioned it earlier: incidents where people have had turbans

knocked off, hijabs grabbed, swastikas painted. These are things

happening now. We don’t need a committee to tell us that there is a

problem with racism. We need action and to make sure that people who

commit these acts are held accountable for what they’ve done.

The B.C. United caucus has long advocated for a provincewide,

multilingual anti-racism hotline, providing a safe platform for victims

to report hate incidents and to seek support. But despite a 2021 NDP

promise to establish this anti-racism reporting hotline, it remains

non-operational. We have to do better. And what will happen if people

call the hotline and report incidents of racism? What is the plan for

the consequence? What is going to be the deterrence to these types of

activities?

Regarding this bill, I do have some reservations. I do believe

that there is need for clarity and accountability of how this

legislation is going to be implemented.

Some of the key aspects of this bill include a provincial

anti-racism action plan and the requirement for government to develop a

strategic approach by June 1, 2026. Here we are in May now of 2024, and

they are going to develop their strategic approach more than two years

from now. Two years from now on a problem that we know exists today. A

problem where people are suffering as a result of a rise in hate crimes,

hate-motivated incidents and assaults, hate propaganda.

That’s happening today, not two years from now. I hope not two

years from now. It’s hard to imagine that we’r