British Columbia Hansard — Tuesday, February 17, 2015

20150217am-Hansard-v19n7

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

Fourth Session, 40th Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (HANSARD) THE HONOURABLE LINDA REID, SPEAKER ISSN 0709- 1281 (Print) ISSN 1499-2175 (Online) Tuesday, February 17, 2015 Morning Sitting Volume 19, Number 7

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Her Honour the Honourable Judith Guichon, OBC Fourth Session, 40th Parliament SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Linda Reid EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council .............................................................................................................. Hon. Christy Clark Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing ......................Hon.

Rich Coleman Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation ......................................................................................................... Hon. John Rustad Minister of Advanced Education ............................................................................................................................... Hon. Andrew Wilkinson Minister of Agriculture ........................................................................................................................................................ Hon.

Norm Letnick Minister of Children and Family Development ....................................................................................................... Hon. Stephanie Cadieux Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development ........................................................................................... Hon. Coralee Oakes Minister of Education ..................................................................................................................................................... Hon.

Peter Fassbender Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Core Review .....................................................................Hon. Bill Bennett Minister of Environment ..........................................................................................................................................................Hon. Mary Polak Minister of Finance .................................................................................................................................................. Hon.

Michael de Jong, QC Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations......................................................................................Hon. Steve Th omson Minister of Health ............................................................................................................................................................... Hon. Dr. Terry Lake Minister of International Trade and Minister Responsible for Asia Pacifi c Strategy and Multiculturalism ..................Hon.

Teresa Wat Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour ...................................................Hon. Shirley Bond Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business ....................................................................................................Hon. Naomi Y amamoto Minister of Justice ...............................................................................................................................................................Hon.

Suzanne Anton Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation..............................................................................................Hon. Michelle Stilwell Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services ................................................................................................ Hon. Amrik Virk Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure ......................................................................................................................Hon.

Todd Stone LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Leader of the Offi cial Opposition ...................................................................................................................................................John Horgan Deputy Speaker .............................................................................................................................................................................Douglas Horne Assistant Deputy Speaker ...............................................................................................................................................................

Raj Chouhan Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole ..................................................................................................................................................Vacant Clerk of the Legislative Assembly ................................................................................................................................................... Craig James Deputy Clerk and Clerk of Committees .................................................................................................................................

Kate Ryan-Lloyd Sessional Law Clerk ...................................................................................................................................................Roderick MacArthur, QC Sergeant-at-Arms ................................................................................................................................................................................. Gary Lenz

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS Anton, Hon. Suzanne (BC Liberal) .............................. Vancouver-Fraserview Ashton, Dan (BC Liberal).....................................................................Penticton Austin, Robin (NDP) ................................................................................ Skeena Bains, Harry (NDP) ....................................................................Surrey-Newton Barnett, Donna (BC Liberal) ............................................... Cariboo-Chilcotin Bennett, Hon.

Bill (BC Liberal) ...................................................Kootenay East Bernier, Mike (BC Liberal) ................................................... Peace River South Bing, Dr. Doug (BC Liberal) ................................ Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Bond, Hon. Shirley (BC Liberal) ........................... Prince George–Valemount Cadieux, Hon. Stephanie (BC Liberal) ................................Surrey-Cloverdale Chandra Herbert, Spencer (NDP) .................................Vancouver–West End Chouhan, Raj (NDP) ...........................................................

Burnaby-Edmonds Clark, Hon. Christy (BC Liberal) ........................................ Westside-Kelowna Coleman, Hon. Rich (BC Liberal) ...........................Fort Langley–Aldergrove Conroy, Katrine (NDP) .............................................................. Kootenay West Corrigan, Kathy (NDP) ..................................................... Burnaby–Deer Lake Dalton, Marc (Ind.) ......................................................... Maple Ridge–Mission Darcy, Judy (NDP) ..................................................................New Westminster de Jong, Hon.

Michael, QC (BC Liberal) .............................. Abbotsford West Dix, Adrian (NDP)............................................................Vancouver-Kingsway Donaldson, Doug (NDP) ......................................................................... Stikine Eby, David (NDP) ..........................................................Vancouver–Point Grey Elmore, Mable (NDP) ................................................... Vancouver-Kensington Farnworth, Mike (NDP) ............................................................ Port Coquitlam Fassbender, Hon.

Peter (BC Liberal) ................................... Surrey-Fleetwood Fleming, Rob (NDP) .......................................................... Victoria–Swan Lake Foster, Eric (BC Liberal) .......................................................Vernon-Monashee Fraser, Scott (NDP) ............................................................Alberni–Pacifi c Rim Gibson, Simon (BC Liberal) ............................................. Abbotsford-Mission Hamilton, Wm.

Scott (BC Liberal) .................................................Delta North Hammell, Sue (NDP) .................................................... Surrey–Green Timbers Heyman, George (NDP) .................................................... Vancouver-Fairview Hogg, Gordon (BC Liberal) ............................................... Surrey–White Rock Holman, Gary (NDP) .......................................Saanich North and the Islands Horgan, John (NDP) .......................................................................

Juan de Fuca Horne, Douglas (BC Liberal) ..............................Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Hunt, Marvin (BC Liberal) ....................................................Surrey-Panorama Huntington, Vicki (Ind.) ..................................................................Delta South James, Carole (NDP) .........................................................Victoria–Beacon Hill Karagianis, Maurine (NDP) ........................................Esquimalt–Royal Roads Krog, Leonard Eugene (NDP) .............................................................

Nanaimo Kwan, Jenny Wai Ching (NDP) ........................... Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Kyllo, Greg (BC Liberal) ........................................................................ Shuswap Lake, Hon. Dr. Terry (BC Liberal) ....................Kamloops–North Th ompson Larson, Linda (BC Liberal) .........................................Boundary-Similkameen Lee, Richard T. (BC Liberal) ......................................................Burnaby North Letnick, Hon.

Norm (BC Liberal) ..............................Kelowna–Lake Country Macdonald, Norm (NDP) ....................................Columbia River–Revelstoke McRae, Don (BC Liberal) ............................................................ Comox Valley Martin, John (BC Liberal) ..................................................................Chilliwack Morris, Mike (BC Liberal) ..................................... Prince George–Mackenzie Mungall, Michelle (NDP) ..........................................................Nelson-Creston Oakes, Hon.

Coralee (BC Liberal) .............................................Cariboo North Pimm, Pat (BC Liberal) .........................................................Peace River North Plecas, Dr. Darryl (BC Liberal) .............................................Abbotsford South Polak, Hon. Mary (BC Liberal) .............................................................. Langley Popham, Lana (NDP) ...................................................................Saanich South Ralston, Bruce (NDP) ................................................................ Surrey-Whalley Reid, Hon.

Linda (BC Liberal) ..................................................Richmond East Reimer, Linda (BC Liberal) ........................................ Port Moody–Coquitlam Rice, Jennifer (NDP) ........................................................................North Coast Robinson, Selina (NDP) .............................................Coquitlam-Maillardville Routley, Bill (NDP) .................................................................. Cowichan Valley Routley, Doug (NDP) ............................................Nanaimo–North Cowichan Rustad, Hon.

John (BC Liberal) ................................................ Nechako Lakes Shin, Jane Jae Kyung (NDP) ...............................................Burnaby-Lougheed Simons, Nicholas (NDP) ................................... Powell River–Sunshine Coast Simpson, Shane (NDP) ..................................................... Vancouver-Hastings Stilwell, Hon. Michelle (BC Liberal)............................... Parksville-Qualicum Stilwell, Dr. Moira (BC Liberal) ........................................ Vancouver-Langara Stone, Hon. Todd (BC Liberal) .........................

Kamloops–South Th ompson Sturdy, Jordan (BC Liberal) ..................................West Vancouver–Sea to Sky Sullivan, Sam (BC Liberal) ...........................................Vancouver–False Creek Sultan, Ralph (BC Liberal) ..................................... West Vancouver–Capilano Tegart, Jackie (BC Liberal) ............................................................Fraser-Nicola Th omson, Hon. Steve (BC Liberal) .......................................Kelowna-Mission Th ornthwaite, Jane (BC Liberal) ..........................

North Vancouver–Seymour Th roness, Laurie (BC Liberal).................................................Chilliwack-Hope Trevena, Claire (NDP) .................................................................... North Island Virk, Hon. Amrik (BC Liberal) ............................................. Surrey-Tynehead Wat, Hon. Teresa (BC Liberal) .............................................. Richmond Centre Weaver, Dr. Andrew (Ind.) .......................................... Oak Bay–Gordon Head Wilkinson, Hon. Andrew (BC Liberal) ........................ Vancouver-Quilchena Y amamoto, Hon.

Naomi (BC Liberal) ................ North Vancouver–Lonsdale Y ap, John (BC Liberal) ......................................................Richmond-Steveston LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING Abbotsford-Mission ......................................................................Simon Gibson Abbotsford South ..................................................................... Dr. Darryl Plecas Abbotsford West ...................................................... Hon. Michael de Jong, QC Alberni–Pacifi c Rim ..........................................................................

Scott Fraser Boundary-Similkameen ................................................................ Linda Larson Burnaby–Deer Lake ................................................................... Kathy Corrigan Burnaby-Edmonds ..........................................................................Raj Chouhan Burnaby-Lougheed .............................................................Jane Jae Kyung Shin Burnaby North .............................................................................. Richard T.

Lee Cariboo-Chilcotin ........................................................................Donna Barnett Cariboo North .................................................................... Hon. Coralee Oakes Chilliwack ......................................................................................... John Martin Chilliwack-Hope ....................................................................... Laurie Th roness Columbia River–Revelstoke ..................................................

Norm Macdonald Comox Valley.....................................................................................Don McRae Coquitlam–Burke Mountain .....................................................Douglas Horne Coquitlam-Maillardville........................................................... Selina Robinson Cowichan Valley ................................................................................ Bill Routley Delta North .........................................................................Wm.

Scott Hamilton Delta South...............................................................................Vicki Huntington Esquimalt–Royal Roads .....................................................Maurine Karagianis Fort Langley–Aldergrove ...................................................Hon. Rich Coleman Fraser-Nicola.................................................................................... Jackie Tegart Juan de Fuca .....................................................................................John Horgan Kamloops–North Th ompson ............................................ Hon. Dr.

Terry Lake Kamloops–South Th ompson ..................................................Hon. Todd Stone Kelowna–Lake Country ..................................................... Hon. Norm Letnick Kelowna-Mission .............................................................. Hon. Steve Th omson Kootenay East .......................................................................... Hon. Bill Bennett Kootenay West ............................................................................ Katrine Conroy Langley.......................................................................................Hon.

Mary Polak Maple Ridge–Mission ..................................................................... Marc Dalton Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows ........................................................ Dr. Doug Bing Nanaimo ........................................................................... Leonard Eugene Krog Nanaimo–North Cowichan ......................................................... Doug Routley Nechako Lakes ........................................................................ Hon.

John Rustad Nelson-Creston ........................................................................Michelle Mungall New Westminster ............................................................................... Judy Darcy North Coast......................................................................................Jennifer Rice North Island .................................................................................. Claire Trevena North Vancouver–Lonsdale ........................................Hon.

Naomi Y amamoto North Vancouver–Seymour ..................................................Jane Th ornthwaite Oak Bay–Gordon Head ...................................................... Dr. Andrew Weaver Parksville-Qualicum .......................................................Hon. Michelle Stilwell Peace River North ................................................................................ Pat Pimm Peace River South ............................................................................Mike Bernier Penticton............................................................................................

Dan Ashton Port Coquitlam ..........................................................................Mike Farnworth Port Moody–Coquitlam ................................................................Linda Reimer Powell River–Sunshine Coast ................................................. Nicholas Simons Prince George–Mackenzie ............................................................. Mike Morris Prince George–Valemount ................................................... Hon. Shirley Bond Richmond Centre ......................................................................Hon.

Teresa Wat Richmond East ..........................................................................Hon. Linda Reid Richmond-Steveston ..............................................................................John Y ap Saanich North and the Islands .................................................... Gary Holman Saanich South ................................................................................

Lana Popham Shuswap ................................................................................................Greg Kyllo Skeena .............................................................................................. Robin Austin Stikine ....................................................................................... Doug Donaldson Surrey-Cloverdale ....................................................... Hon. Stephanie Cadieux Surrey-Fleetwood ........................................................... Hon.

Peter Fassbender Surrey–Green Timbers .................................................................. Sue Hammell Surrey-Newton ................................................................................. Harry Bains Surrey-Panorama ........................................................................... Marvin Hunt Surrey-Tynehead ......................................................................Hon. Amrik Virk Surrey-Whalley..............................................................................

Bruce Ralston Surrey–White Rock ....................................................................... Gordon Hogg Vancouver-Fairview ..................................................................George Heyman Vancouver–False Creek ................................................................... Sam Sullivan Vancouver-Fraserview ......................................................Hon.

Suzanne Anton Vancouver-Hastings ....................................................................Shane Simpson Vancouver-Kensington .................................................................Mable Elmore Vancouver-Kingsway..........................................................................Adrian Dix Vancouver-Langara .................................................................Dr. Moira Stilwell Vancouver–Mount Pleasant .........................................

Jenny Wai Ching Kwan Vancouver–Point Grey .........................................................................David Eby Vancouver-Quilchena ................................................ Hon. Andrew Wilkinson Vancouver–West End ...............................................

Spencer Chandra Herbert Vernon-Monashee ...............................................................................Eric Foster Victoria–Beacon Hill .......................................................................Carole James Victoria–Swan Lake.........................................................................Rob Fleming West Vancouver–Capilano ............................................................. Ralph Sultan West Vancouver–Sea to Sky ..........................................................Jordan Sturdy Westside-Kelowna ................................................................

Hon. Christy Clark Party Standings: BC Liberal 48; New Democratic 34; Independent 3

CONTENTS Tuesday, February 17, 2015 Morning Sitting Page Routine Business Introductions by Members ..................................................................................................................................................... 5831 Statements (Standing Order 25B) ......................................................................................................................................... 5831 Colliery Dam Park D. Routley Heritage Week and historic role of river systems in Prince George area M. Morris 75th anniversary of Naden Band M.

Karagianis Ruben’s Shoes initiative by Kelly Strongitharm L. Reimer Leadership of Ron Pears at University Endowment Lands D. Eby Proposed Audain art museum in Whistler J. Sturdy Oral Questions ......................................................................................................................................................................... 5833 Access to primary health care and hospital services in Fraser Health Authority J. Darcy Hon. T. Lake Surgical services at Delta Hospital S. Hammell Hon. T. Lake Permit for soil dumping in Shawnigan Lake watershed B. Routley Hon. M.

Polak Multi-Material B.C. program and funding for recycling facilities on Gulf Islands G. Holman Hon. M. Polak Genetically modifi ed apples and reputation of B.C. apple industry L. Popham Hon. N. Letnick Funding for infrastructure improvements in Prince Rupert J. Rice Hon. C. Oakes Fees for groundwater use by private companies S. Chandra Herbert Hon. M. Polak Improvements to McKenzie interchange on south Island highway R. Fleming Hon. T.

Stone Orders of the Day Th rone Speech Debate (continued) ....................................................................................................................................... 5838 On the subamendment (continued) K. Corrigan Hon. S. Bond V . Huntington D. Bing M. Elmore

TUESDAY , FEBRUARY 17, 2015 Th e House met at 10:03 a.m. [Madame Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Prayers. Introductions by Members Hon. B. Bennett: It’s a great pleasure this morning to introduce two friends. One is the mayor of Revelstoke, Mark McKee, who was just elected in November. Mark has had this job before and is very good at it. With Mark McKee is Doug Clovechok, who will be our candidate in that riding in the next election as the regional organizer for the B.C. Liberal Party.

Th ey’re here in Victoria, actually, meeting with the Minister of Transportation, having constructive conversations about helping with Highway 1. Can the House please help me make these two gentle- men welcome. [1005] K. Corrigan: It gives me a great deal of pleasure to introduce one of the many wonderful young leaders in the student leadership movement: Brittany Barnes, from Capilano Students Union. My eyes aren’t good enough to remember who her partner is up there today. I want to welcome them both, and I hope the House will also make them both very welcome. Th anks for joining us. Hon. N.

Letnick: In the House today we have Fred Steele, the president of the B.C. Fruit Growers Association, who’s come to watch our hard work and, hopefully, get some nuggets from this aft ernoon’s budget. Would the House please make him feel welcome. N. Macdonald: I’ d just like to join in welcoming Mark McKee, the mayor of Revelstoke and Doug Clovechok, who’s the administrator at the Invermere campus of the College of the Rockies. It’s not very oft en we get visitors here, but this is two days in a row. It’s lovely to see that you made the trip. I hope you enjoy yourselves here. Hon. A.

Wilkinson: It’s a great pleasure today to intro- duce the new chair of the Vancouver school board, Mr. Christopher Richardson, and his colleague on the board and vice-chair, Janet Fraser. Will the House please give them a warm welcome. S. Hamilton: I’ d like to take this opportunity to wel- come a long-serving volunteer in my community — as well as the wife of my constituency assistant. Would the House please make welcome Isaac Kendall. J. Th ornthwaite: My colleague introduced Brittany Barnes from Capilano University. Her partner there is Sacha Fabry.

I’ d like to make them also equally welcome to the precinct today. J. Rice: I do look forward to the day that my father will be able to come and participate in the proceedings of the Legislature. In the meantime, while he is freezing his toes off in Ottawa right now with a windchill of minus 40, I do want to wish my father a happy 60th birthday. J. Sturdy: In the precinct today is Mr. Stuart McLaughlin. While Mr. McLaughlin is my constituent both residentially and with businesses in the Sea to Sky, he is likely best known as the owner of Grouse Mountain Resorts. Mr.

McLaughlin is involved in a surprising num- ber of business ventures and contributes on numerous volunteer boards and social enterprises. Will the House please join me in making him feel welcome. Statements (Standing Order 25B) COLLIERY DAM PARK D. Routley: In Nanaimo there is a lovely place where the sunlight fi lters through green trees along soft paths treaded quietly by runners and those who walk their babies. It’s a place where grandchildren are walked by grandparents who were once grandchildren walking with their grandparents. It’s a place called the Colliery Dam Park.

In the words of the Nanaimo city website, it is a rare link with Nanaimo’s industrial heritage. In 1910 and 1911 it was built by the Western Fuel Co., which built dams in order to create a water body to provide water for coal washing. It has this deep and historical connection for our community. Th e role of Colliery Dam Park has morphed over the years. Th e Snuneymuxw First Nations, who were left out of many of the decisions around resource issues in our communities, are now full partners in determining the fate of the dams. Th at isn’t by accident.

Th e provin- cial government had designated the dams as needing to be removed because they posed the greatest risk of any dams in the province. Well, the people of the community did not accept that, and we saw what was a great demonstration of the mar- vellous capacity that exists within all our communities. When people are challenged, we fi nd out just the kind of human resources we represent. Experts from all fi elds stepped forward, groups were founded, and people be- came deeply involved in saving this wonderful park. Aft er due consideration it was found that in fact the 5831

British Columbia Debates5832 Tuesday, February 17, 2015 dams did not pose the risk that was identifi ed by the province. Th e people of Nanaimo thanked the province for being fl exible in their application of standards and waiting long enough to fi nd out the truth. [1010] Th e truth is that the Colliery dams are strong. Th e Colliery dams will remain. Th e people have organized in a way that I think represents the best spirit of our dem- ocracy. People of Nanaimo were told by experts that they should be torn down. Th ey didn’t accept it, and I thank them for that.

HERITAGE WEEK AND HISTORIC ROLE OF RIVER SYSTEMS IN PRINCE GEORGE AREA M. Morris: I’m pleased to rise in the House today to speak in support of Heritage Week in B.C., which runs from February 16 to February 22. Th is year’s theme is “Main street: at the heart of the community. ” In my part of the world main streets started out as the river systems that were used extensively to connect our communities. In my riding I have one of the fi rst communities that has been continually inhabited by Europeans west of the Rocky Mountains.

Fort McLeod, now known as McLeod Lake, 140 kilo- metres north of Prince George, was established by Simon Fraser in 1805. Th is site is on the traditional territory of the McLeod Lake Indian Band, who were residents in the area at the time the fort was established. Another heritage site in my riding connected by our main street river systems is Giscome Portage. Giscome Portage was fi rst used by the Lheidli T’ enneh First Nation of Prince George as a trade route with McLeod Lake First Nations and trappers living in Fort McLeod.

Now known as a Giscome heritage trail, this portage crossed the continental divide separating the Pacifi c and Arctic watersheds. In the early 1900s the Hubble homestead was estab- lished along the banks of the Fraser River where the Giscome Portage connected the Fraser River to Summit Lake. Summit Lake was connected to the Crooked River which connected to McLeod Lake and onto the Peace River systems and the Arctic.

Heritage Week is a great opportunity for families to fi nd their main streets and explore and understand the historic signifi cance of some of the heritage sites that are core to their communities and B.C. ’s rich history. 75th ANNIVERSARY OF NADEN BAND M. Karagianis: For 75 years the Naden Band has been a proud part of naval history in Esquimalt. Th e Naden Band was formed during World War II as a way to keep up military and civilian morale during some very dark days.

Over the years they’ve done all that and more with concerts, dances, hundreds of radio broadcasts, and per- formances at base ceremonies and at parades both here and around western Canada. Th e band has represented the navy throughout the country. In travels abroad, the Naden Band became an am- bassador for Canada with performances at Expo ’70 in Osaka; in Fiji, Australia and New Zealand in 1972; and in Russia in 1991. Last June the band proudly participated in the 60th anniversary of D-Day at Normandy. Today the band has 35 professional full-time musi- cians, and they take an active

part in fundraising for non-profit organizations such as the Salvation Army Christmas Toy Drive, the Military Family Resource Centre and the United Way. Th e ceremonial component of the band supports gov- ernment events that we’re familiar with here, including the Victoria Remembrance Day ceremonies, the opening of provincial Legislature and the Canadian visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in 2003. Th e end for the band nearly came in 1994 when it was one of fi ve military bands that were cut in the federal budget. Th ree years later the music branch was restruc- tured and the Naden Band was reinstated.

Over the past 75 years the band has presented audi- ences at home and abroad with musical performances of the highest calibre. Under the direction of Lt. Matthew Clark the band performs in a variety of large and small ensembles, and performs at parades, ship departures and arrivals and military dinners. I hope the House will join me in saying congratula- tions to all the members past and present on this occa- sion of the 75th anniversary. Here’s to another 75 years of making beautiful music together. RUBEN’S SHOES INITIATIVE BY KELLY STRONGITHARM L.

Reimer: It is with great pleasure that I stand in front of the members of this House and speak to you about Kelly Strongitharm, a Port Moody resident who has served as an inspiration to our community and has helped thousands of children across the world. Kelly is the force that struck an entire movement called Ruben’s Shoes that was born from a simple realization that most of us in this room probably take for granted — that kids need shoes and kids have shoes.

Through sponsoring a child named Ruben in the Dominican Republic, Kelly realized that many children did not have a pair of shoes and that this oft en served as a barrier for them to go to school and even for them to play safely. So she came up with the idea to collect a few hun- dred pairs of shoes to send to Ruben and to his community. [1015] Kelly’s goal for a few hundred has long been reached. In fact, since February of 2013 Kelly has raised over 24,000 pairs of shoes.

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, February 17, 2015 5833 Kelly has done countless presentations at local schools, educating kids about the diff erences in life around the world and the importance of giving. Moreover, she has brought hundreds of kids into the Ruben’s Shoes ware- house and involved them in volunteer work. Ruben’s Shoes has brought together classes and teams all working together toward a common goal of giving back. Kelly and her team make it very easy for people to get involved. Th ey don’t just give away your lightly used shoes.

Th ey hand-deliver them and encourage commun- ity service in exchange for the shoes, in turn creating community pride wherever they go. Today I stand to thank Kelly Strongitharm for her posi- tive inspiration, and I encourage all the members in this House to look up Ruben’s Shoes and to let someone walk in your gently used shoes and allow them to take steps towards a better, meaningful future. LEADERSHIP OF RON PEARS AT UNIVERSITY ENDOWMENT LANDS D. Eby: Th ere’s a very unique neighbourhood in my constituency called the University Endowment Lands.

Th e UEL is not part of the city of Vancouver or UBC, de- spite being located next to both. Instead, it’s part of what’s called electoral area A, which includes several small islands and remote rural areas and is ably represented regionally by Maria Harris at Metro Vancouver. In law, for almost all municipal functions, the may- or of the UEL is the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.

In fact, for most who live at the UEL, their mayor is not the minister but has been for many years retired architect Ron Pears, despite the fact that Ron has no legal powers under the current govern- ance structure. When there are media interviews to be given on be- half of the UEL, Ron steps up to speak on behalf of the community. When the provincial government needs to be advised of issues impacting UEL neighbours, Ron de- livers the message until the matter is addressed.

Ron has always presented a balanced, careful, articulate view on behalf of his community to the minister, the media and the general public while serving on various committees of the UEL since 1991. But his most important job, until his recent retirement from the role, has been to serve as president of the UEL community advisory committee. Despite a very limited legal role as president, Ron used the position to pursue relentless advocacy for governance reform, in partner- ship with his fellow community advisory committee members.

Th eir eff orts have drawn attention from all quarters and action from this provincial government. Th e Minister of Community, Culture and Sport has initiated a governance study which has the potential to truly democratize life at the UEL. Th is study has come about in large part due to Ron’s work, and if it reforms local government at the UEL, it will be the legacy of his 24 years of volunteering. On behalf of Vancouver–Point Grey, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ron Pears, a committed community leader, for his tireless eff orts and countless volunteer hours to improve life in his community.

PROPOSED AUDAIN ART MUSEUM IN WHISTLER J. Sturdy: I would like to draw your attention to an unlikely spot in West Vancouver–Sea to Sky. While the day skier parking lots in the heart of Whistler are a loca- tion that you have all likely visited, the particular spot I want to draw your attention to has a somewhat disagree- able reputation, for what once occupied the site was the vehicle impound lot.

But as we speak, work is progress- ing rapidly on a philanthropic endeavour that will change the landscape and further the community goal of de- veloping not only a four-season resort but also a centre for cultural tourism. Vancouver businessman Michael Audain and his wife, Y oshiko Karasawa, are contributing upwards of $30 mil- lion to build the Audain art museum. Th is 56,000-square- foot facility will house a permanent collection of British Columbia art dating from the early times to present day.

Particular strengths will be an outstanding collection of 19th-century northwest coast First Nations masks, one of Canada’s strongest Emily Carr collections and a selec- tion of Vancouver’s celebrated photo-based art. Room for temporary exhibits is also amply accommodated for. Th e building is elevated above the Fitzsimmons Creek fl oodplain, uniquely oriented to embrace the feeling of being in the forest canopy.

Th e museum will be inter- connected to a pedestrian cultural corridor consisting of pathways and outdoor exhibits, and you will be able to freely transit parts of the museum on your way to and from the mountain. [1020] I had the pleasure of joining Mr. Audain last week for his regular inspection of progress, and construction is proceeding steadily. We will all be the benefi ciaries of the Audains’ intense interest in British Columbia’s rich cul- tural and artistic history with the opening of the Audain art museum later this year.

I hope that you’ll all take the opportunity to visit and enjoy this wonderful facility. Oral Questions ACCESS TO PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AND HOSPITAL SERVICES IN FRASER HEALTH AUTHORITY J. Darcy: Last week we tried to get the Health Minister to explain why he had failed to live up to his commitment that every British Columbian would have a family doc-

British Columbia Debates5834 Tuesday, February 17, 2015 tor by 2015. We know that when people don’t have timely access to primary care, whether that’s a family doctor or a nurse practitioner, they very oft en end up in the emer- gency rooms. When Stats Canada suggests that up to 600,000 British Columbians don’t have a family doctor, it’s not surprising that we have extremely overcrowded emergency rooms in British Columbia. In Abbotsford Hospital the overcrowd- ing has gotten so bad that one senior spent one month in a shower room with no window and lacking basic facili- ties — not even a toilet.

Can the Health Minister explain how this government has failed so badly that vulnerable seniors are left in such a deplorable situation? Hon. T. Lake: It is not acceptable to have people being cared for in hallways for prolonged periods of time. It’s not acceptable to have people being cared for in settings that are not up to standard. Th is occurs at certain times of the year when there is congestion. Th at is true. Health authorities work extremely hard to try to increase the fl ow of patients from the hospital into the community to decrease the congestion in the hospitals.

I’ d like to note that the member opposite is referring to a hospital that the NDP promised for ten years to build and did not build. Th is is the government that built the Abbotsford Regional Hospital. We’ve spent over $12 bil- lion in hospitals in this province over the last 12 years. Madame Speaker: Th e member for New Westminster on a supplemental. J. Darcy: Perhaps if the extra $300 million that this government wasted by insisting that this hospital be a P3 were put into patient care instead, we wouldn’t be facing this situation in the Abbotsford Hospital today.

Patients in Abbotsford deserve better care than they’re getting. Fraser Health’s own report card gave it the low- est possible rating in several categories. Th e key stat was this: two out of three patients were waiting more than ten hours to be admitted. Th is is unacceptable, and it is unacceptable that this minister refuses to accept respon- sibility for what’s happening to our seniors. Will the Health Minister explain why seniors in Abbotsford are having to pay the price for his govern- ment’s mismanagement of our health care system? Hon. T.

Lake: As I mentioned in an earlier response earlier this week, in terms of physician supply, if the NDP had increased the physician training spaces, over double…. Interjections. Hon. T. Lake: Ten years of doing nothing. Ten years of doing nothing on that side of the House. Interjections. Madame Speaker: Members. Hon. T. Lake: In the last 12 years we have over doubled the capacity of physician training. We have doubled the capacity of nurse training. We have spent $12 billion on health care capital, hospitals all around the province, that that government never, ever did.

Th e Conference Board of Canada has just reaffi rmed that we have the best out- comes in all of Canada, third-best in all of the world. Madame Speaker: Th e member for New Westminster on a further supplemental. [1025] J. Darcy: I could repeat what I said last week, and maybe I should for the minister. It’s clear that the best health outcomes in British Columbia…. We’ve had them since 1993 when the NDP government was in power. Th e minister should stop dining out on the coat-tails of the previous NDP government.

The fact is that emergency rooms aren’t just over- crowded because of the lack of access to primary care. According to the Fraser Health review, the government’s own review, a lack of residential care beds, a lack of men- tal health care beds and an absolute decline in home sup- port hours in Fraser Health are all putting pressure on our emergency rooms and our acute care hospitals. Y et last week, when a 68-year-old man recovering from major surgery went public about the indignity of lying in a hospital hallway at Royal Columbian Hospital for three weeks on end, what did the minister say? “Be pa- tient.

We did a top-level review. We’re hoping to become more effi cient. ” Th e government has been asleep at the switch, and this minister tells seniors that they should be patient. Will the Health Minister please explain to these seniors how he plans to fi x the mess that forces them into shower rooms and hospital hallways for weeks and weeks on end? Hon. T. Lake: I know that the members opposite have very, very selective memory about the 1990s. Let me help them remember. In 1991 the Seaton commis- sion on health care warned of an insuffi cient number of long-term-care beds.

Between 1994 and 1999 the num- ber of seniors in B.C. aged 70 and over increased by 25 percent. What did the NDP government of the 1990s do? Th ey cut long-term-care beds by 18 percent and reduced home supports by 19 percent. On this side of the House we are dramatically increas- ing the number of residential care beds to look aft er the people that have built this province. We are increasing home support. We are providing other supports to keep people in their homes longer, to provide the kind of sup- port they need in the community and reduce the pres-

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, February 17, 2015 5835 sures on the acute care system. We will continue to invest to ensure that seniors in this province have the very best health care available to them. SURGICAL SERVICES AT DELTA HOSPITAL S. Hammell: At the Delta Hospital — meanwhile, in the present — the problem is surgical beds. Twenty years ago there were 25 surgical beds. Now, thanks to the Liberal government, the surgical program is basically non-existent, according to Dr. Robert Shaw, the head of medicine at Delta Hospital.

Can the minister explain why his government refus- es to put resources into surgical beds at Delta Hospital? Hon. T. Lake: Th e member opposite is just quite sim- ply wrong. Delta Hospital has an excellent day-surgery program — 5,000 surgeries performed at Delta Hospital each and every year. Delta Hospital is indeed very proud of the surgical services that they have there. Less than three surgeries per week need to be transferred to a high- er level of care — three surgeries per week out of 5,000 surgeries that are performed there each and every year.

Fraser Health has met with Delta Hospital and the physicians there. Th eir commitment is to maintain that day surgical program as well as establishing a preadmis- sion clinic as well as an orthopedic services clinic. Th e services at Delta Hospital are excellent and will continue to be excellent into the future. Madame Speaker: Recognizing Surrey–Green Timbers on a supplemental. [1030] S. Hammell: A meeting of 250 people in Delta on Saturday disagree with you, as well as the doctors. Here’s what Dr. Shaw told the media about the im- pacts of these reckless cuts to the hospital.

He told the story of a doctor who had to put a patient in his own car and drive him to Richmond to take out his bladder be- cause he was bleeding profusely and the surgical beds were not open, due to Liberal cuts. Imagine a 30-minute drive while bleeding and in pain in the back of a pri- vate vehicle. We know the Liberals don’t like to be reminded of all the promises they’ve broken. But how does the minis- ter think this fi ts with his party’s promise of health care where you live and when you need it? Hon. T. Lake: Again, the member opposite is sim- ply not correct. Delta Hospital has received no cuts.

Th e surgical program will continue at Delta Hospital. In fact, resources have been increased for a preadmission clinic, and Fraser Health is performing 650 additional surger- ies. Delta Hospital will receive some of those additional surgeries.

Let me just remind the members opposite what we’ve done for health care — $325 million for a new patient care tower that is committed to the city of Penticton, the Penticton Regional Hospital; $660 million for hos- pitals in the north Island; $80 million in Kamloops for the Clinical Services Building; $11 million for the ICU at East Kootenay Regional; $55 million for the beautiful Lakes District Hospital which we opened in Burns Lake. We’ll continue to invest in health care in the province of British Columbia. PERMIT FOR SOIL DUMPING IN SHAWNIGAN LAKE W ATERSHED B.

Routley: In 2013 this Minister of Environment issued a permit to dump fi ve million tonnes of contam- inated soil in the Shawnigan Lake watershed, which is the drinking water source for 7,000 people. Local residents have now spent over $1.2 million on legal fees fi ghting this decision. Will the Minister of Environment tell this House how much this government has spent to date on its own legal bills to fi ght the people of Shawnigan Lake who are sim- ply trying to protect their own drinking water? Hon. M.

Polak: I know that the members on the other side are not big fans of process, but let me remind them of the process. Th ose decisions are made by statutory decision-makers who review criteria that are set out in regulation that has been longstanding. Th e member will also know that that decision is currently in front of the Environmental Appeal Board, which is the longstanding process. We will await their decision and deal with those matters as the case may be. Madame Speaker: Th e member for Cowichan Valley on a supplemental. B.

Routley: Th is government has put the interests of one business above the Shawnigan Lake community. Local realtors have reported that potential purchasers are nervous about investing in real estate in Shawnigan be- cause of their concerns over safe drinking water. Will the Minister of Environment do the right thing and cancel this permit to dump contaminated soil, and protect the drinking water of 7,000 people living around Shawnigan Lake? Hon. M.

Polak: I’m sure the member knows that we have in government, and working for governments of all stripes over many years, an incredible civil service in British Columbia. Th ese decisions are made by civil servants. [1035] To suggest that a dedicated civil servant who gets up every day and makes decisions based on the science

British Columbia Debates5836 Tuesday, February 17, 2015 around what is the best for health and human safety…. To suggest that that civil servant would make the decision based on some connection to some company or other… Interjections. Madame Speaker: Members. Hon. M. Polak: …is absolutely unacceptable. MULTI-MATERIAL B.C. PROGRAM AND FUNDING FOR RECYCLING FACILITIES ON GULF ISLANDS G. Holman: Recycling services on the southern Gulf Islands have been provided very effi ciently for many years by non-profi t societies operating small depots.

Th ese so- cieties have informed the Minister of Environment that Multi-Material B.C. ’s funding formula for rural depots will cover only a fraction of their operating costs, even aft er incentives for transportation and bundling. Th is means that recycling depots in the Gulf Islands will be bankrupt within two years if MMBC doesn’t increase its funding. Will the Minister of the Environment assure com- munities in the southern Gulf Islands that MMBC’s inadequate funding won’t result in the closure of local recycling facilities? Hon. M.

Polak: I know that the signifi cant change that has taken place in the packaging and printed-paper- recycling world has been challenging, just as many of our EPR programs have been over the years. I’ll remind members that when Encorp Pacifi c began its work, it was a fairly bumpy ride as well. Y et we were able to celebrate a milestone with them just this past year in terms of their 15 billionth beverage container recycled. I am happy to continue working with local govern- ments. Our ministry has been working with local gov- ernments to ensure that we assist with ironing out the diff erent bumps in the road.

We are committed to ensur- ing that those who produce the packaging and printed paper in British Columbia should be the ones who pay for its disposal. G. Holman: Let’s hope these bumps in the roads don’t result in the closure of recycling facilities in the south- ern Gulf Islands. Th is government has given MMBC the responsibility to fund recycling in all parts of British Columbia.

Th e minister now knows, if she didn’t know before, that MMBC funding to the CRD essentially only covers the blue box program, that rural depots have a diff erent funding formula and that this funding formu- la leaves southern Gulf Island depots with a shortfall of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. Gulf Islanders are contributing to MMBC’s coff ers — those product purchases that the minister mentioned — just like other British Columbians. Y et the funding being off ered is going to result in their closure — facili- ties that have been providing excellent, effi cient service for many years.

Will the minister assure Gulf Islanders today that the B.C. Liberals’ recycling scheme, these bumps in the road, won’t leave them without this essential service? Hon. M. Polak: Of course, the goal is to get to a place where all communities have a suffi cient blue box recyc- ling service that they can enjoy and that they can partici- pate in keeping our province clean and green. In fact, as a result of the MMBC program, we have communities all around the province which have curbside recycling for the very fi rst time.

As with any of our extended producer responsibil- ity programs, it takes time for the changes to be worked out in the local communities. We’re committed to work- ing with those local communities — and happy to work with the member’s local community, as well — as we go through these changes and get to the best-possible recyc- ling situation in British Columbia. GENETICALLY MODIFIED APPLES AND REPUTATION OF B.C. APPLE INDUSTRY L. Popham: In response to genetically modifi ed apples being approved in the United States, the B.C.

Fruit Growers president, Fred Steele, said there could be a backlash against all apple producers if these apples are allowed to be grown in B.C. [1040] Is the minister prepared to be a strong voice for the B.C. apple industry, and will he send a message to the feder- al approving agency telling them that we don’t want the Arctic apple in British Columbia? Hon. N. Letnick: It’s indeed an honour to stand up to- day. What a great day it is — the third balanced budget, which we’ll be introducing this aft ernoon. Specifi cally on the question….

Will we have an op- portunity to share the opinions that the members op- posite have explained in the House today? As I have said before in the House and in other places…. When the Arctic apple was fi rst proposed, we identifi ed that it was a federal matter, federal jurisdiction. I communicated our intent to respect that with the federal minister, both in terms of a letter and also verbally. But what I’ d like to say on top of that is that we have to…. Interjections. Madame Speaker: Members will come to order. Please continue.

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, February 17, 2015 5837 Hon. N. Letnick: We have to continue to help the in- dustry grow. Th at’s why we put $8.4 million into a replant program that will be channelled over the next seven years. L. Popham: It’s the minister’s job to stand up for B.C. industry. Our B.C. apple indust ry is concerned that al- lowing GMO apples in B.C. will destroy the reputation of our product on our international market. Fruit grow- ers asked consumers, and they overwhelmingly rejected the idea of GMO apples. Th is is not news for the minister. Th is has been raised numerous times.

Will the Minister of Agriculture lis- ten to B.C. apple growers and preserve the reputation of B.C. apples? Hon. N. Letnick: Th is government has stood up for the B.C. apple industry, andnot only for the apple in- dustry but for agriculture throughout British Columbia. We have a $2 million Buy Local program that the B.C. apple industry is using, as well as other people. We’ve in- vested in the school fruit and vegetable snack program. We go out throughout the world to expand our markets not only in apples but in blueberries and cherries.

We’ve signed a deal with the government of China to see open access to cherries. Th at’s going to be $20 million a year. Hopefully, we’ll have blueberries for another $65 million a year. We don’t need to be lectured on this side of the House on how to expand agriculture. We’re doing it now for apples, and we’re doing it for all our commod- ities throughout British Columbia. FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINCE RUPERT J. Rice: If you ask the residents of Prince Rupert, they will tell you that our infrastructure has been neglected for far too long. We have 100-year-old wooden water pipes.

We have an airport that doesn’t have potable water. And while it’s great that our airport will soon see toilets that actually fl ush, access to that airport is a major challenge. My question is to the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. When are you fi nally going to step up and invest in the infrastructure Prince Rupert so badly needs? Hon. C. Oakes: Th ank you very much for the ques- tion. I look forward to meeting with the mayor of Prince Rupert today to talk about the Build Canada project that supports local governments with infrastructure that is necessary. We’re encouraging everyone.

February 18, for every- one in the House, is the deadline for the Build Canada project. Local governments can put in for needed infra- structure such as water, wastewater and pipes in the ground. If you need any support with that, we’ d be happy to assist. Madame Speaker: Th e member for North Coast on a supplemental. J.

Rice: Prince Rupert’s infrastructure has crumbled while this government has ignored it for the past dec- ade and a half. [1045] Our water systems are dangerously outdated, our bridges and roads need massive improvements, and though we will soon see toilets that fl ush at the airport, it still takes residents and business owners hours to even ac- cess that airport on our hopelessly outdated transporta- tion system. Th at’s driving business away to other towns. Again to the minister, when will her government fi x the serious infrastructure defi cit in Prince Rupert? Hon. C.

Oakes: It’s always a delight to have the op- portunity to stand in the House to talk about import- ant programs that support communities across British Columbia. Th is past summer we had the opportunity to work closely with local governments and with the federal gov- ernment to have a $2.76 billion agreement for a gas tax for the next ten years. Th is will support local govern- ments with needed infrastructure that we’ve heard from local communities — whether it’s water or wastewater, whether it’s airports, whether it’s needed infrastructure.

Gas tax — the deadline for local governments to put in an application is in April. Again, we are meeting with lo- cal governments from throughout the province of British Columbia to ensure that they know the deadlines so that they can put the applications in to meet the needs of com- munities right across British Columbia. FEES FOR GROUNDW ATER USE BY PRIV ATE COMPANIES S. Chandra Herbert: British Columbians tell me that they’re angry that this government is giving our water away for next to nothing — next to nothing — to com- panies who can then turn around and sell it for millions and millions of dollars.

How can this minister stand in this House and defend giving away a million litres of water for just $2.25? Hon. M. Polak: Th e member will know, because it’s been true throughout the history of British Columbia, that in British Columbia we don’t sell water. We charge administration fees for the management of that resource. We manage it very well, and even better now that we have a new Water Sustainability Act. I think what I am hearing, as I’ve listened to the op- position’s comments, is that they believe that industry should be charged through the nose for water — indus- try like forestry.

British Columbia Debates5838 Tuesday, February 17, 2015 Interjections. Hon. M. Polak: Oh, they scoff . So then maybe it’s not that. Maybe it’s just industries they don’t like that should be charged through the nose. S. Chandra Herbert: What I’m hearing here is the minister thinks it a-okay for a British Columbian to go to the store, spend $4 or $5 for a litre of water while she gives her friends a million litres of water for $2.25. I think that’s what I am hearing from this government. Th ey think that’s how it should go. British Columbians pay more; a corporation pays less.

How can the minister stand in this House and sell out B.C. resources to such a large extent? Can the minister answer this question? Hon. M. Polak: British Columbians, throughout the consultation, told us they were quite proud that British Columbia, throughout its history — throughout succes- sive diff erent governments, diff erent parties — has never engaged in the selling of water as a commodity. In fact, we’ve always charged an administration fee to support the program of managing water. Th e member is wrong with respect to citizens of British Columbia.

Groundwater domestic wells are exempt from the new fees, and for those on a municipal water system, their increase will be — get this — between $1 and $2 an- nually. When it comes to Nestlé, bottling companies, beer companies, forestry, mining, oil and gas, they are treated equally. Nestlé is charged at the highest industrial rate. If the members opposite think that we should jack up rates on companies that they don’t like, there’s a new policy position. [1050] IMPROVEMENTS TO McKENZIE INTERCHANGE ON SOUTH ISLAND HIGHW AY R.

Fleming: As the Minister of Transportation well knows, safety improvements are urgently needed at the McKenzie interchange and Trans-Canada Highway 1, at this stretch of this area. In 2013, ICBC reported the McKenzie–Admirals Road intersection as the deadliest on Vancouver Island with the highest crash count. My constituents want a safe intersection. Th ey want their safety concerns addressed by the Ministry of Transportation. Th e business community in the south Island wants a smoother, more effi cient transportation route for their goods and services.

I would ask the minister today if he would commit to a request he has already received from the district of Saanich to immediately establish a community consul- tation about this intersection and to appoint a working group that has a mandate to make the Trans-Canada Highway at this location safer, to reduce deadly crashes at this intersection in particular. Hon. T. Stone: First off , I always relish the opportun- ity to stand and talk about the record $17 billion which we have invested over the last 12 years in transportation. Th at’s a lot of money.

I also love to stand on my feet and talk about the en- gagement opportunities that are very common with this government, including the Vancouver Island transporta- tion engagement that was done. I want to thank my col- league, the member for West Vancouver–Sea to Sky, who met with hundreds of organizations and individuals up and down Vancouver Island. Indeed, we heard all kinds of priorities involving roads and transit, airports and the like. We are working our way through all of those priorities. Th e member is quite cor- rect.

Th e McKenzie interchange did fi gure prominently in terms of the feedback received from folks, actually, right up to about Campbell River. We will be working through those priorities, and we’ll have lots of great news to announce in the coming months and years that will build on the record level of transportation investment from this government. [End of question period.] Orders of the Day Hon. T. Stone: I call continuing debate on the throne speech. Th rone Speech Debate (continued) [R. Chouhan in the chair.] On the subamendment (continued). K. Corrigan: I’m happy to continue my remarks.

I spent the first portion of my time to respond to the throne speech largely talking about my community and issues in my community that were not addressed, un- fortunately, by this throne speech. I’m looking forward with great anticipation to see whether anything is in the budget today for my com- munity with regard to things like the Burnaby Hospital, seismic upgrading of schools that has not occurred in my community despite promises from this government, and other projects and programs that are a great priority in my community.

I started to talk a little bit about my critic area or my spokesperson area, which is Advanced Education, so I will continue on, with my remaining time, to talk a little bit about some of the areas that are not being funded in post-secondary.

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, February 17, 2015 5839 [1055] In fact, all of post-secondary is not being appropriately funded. But it’s ironic that at a time when our universi- ties and colleges and institutes are not being funded…. In fact, it’s the only ministry where there’ve been actual cuts — $51 million of cuts from the system — at a time when costs are increasing signifi cantly and tuition fees are taking up a larger and larger portion of the budgets, making it very, very diffi cult for students.

At the same time as that is happening, this government has made the decision that it is going to hand out $230 million in tax breaks to B.C. ’s top 2 percent of income earners, for those people over $150,000. We’re talking individuals — we’re not talking families — with individ- ual incomes of $150,000 who are going to be receiving a total of $230 million across that group of people, which is rewarding and is helping the richest people in our society. Y et at the same time, our post-secondary institutions — our colleges, universities and technical institutes — are being squeezed and squeezed.

It’s harder and harder for students to go to school. It’s harder for institutions to be able to fi x crumbling walls. Student debt is going up in- creasingly. We now have the highest student debt. I think we’re going to get an update on that soon. Th e BMO numbers indicate that students have debt of an average of $35,000, in a province that is very expensive to live in. We end up with students having debt averaging $35,000. The bottom line of what this means is that post- secondary education is getting harder and harder to achieve and harder and harder to access.

What we know is that that means those that come from wealthy families — those same families that are going to benefi t, the rich- est families that are going to benefi t from a $230 million giveaway — are the kids that are going to be able to go to university. Th e kids who really need it, the families who need it and want the help and want their kids to do better — im- migrants, middle-class families…. Th ose people are go- ing to have less ability, and those kids are going to have less ability. Th e facts, the data are very clear on this.

As university becomes more and more expensive as it is, as more and more of the cost is being dumped on the backs of the stu- dents that go, what simply happens is that kids that come from families that have limited income simply don’t at- tend university. I think that is wrong. It’s not a good de- cision for this province. It’s not the right way to go, and it hurts families. We’re supposed to be, and I think we all aspire to be, a province where everybody has equal opportunity. It’s not that everybody’s lives are going to be equal, but every- body should have an equal opportunity.

Nobody is asking — although certainly Obama has talked about this — for all university and college to be free. But what we’ve said is that it needs to be acces sible. It is becoming inaccess- ible, or very diffi cult, for wide swaths of our society, and that simply does not seem right. So $51 million in cuts to post-secondary education at the same time as costs are increasing. Just for the research universities, which has the largest portion of students in this province, there’s $130 million of unfunded cost pres- sures over a three-year period.

What that means is that programs are being cut in colleges, universities and tech- nical institutes around this province. Programs are being cut. Buildings are falling down. I just heard they’re going to be closing one of the resi- dences at Simon Fraser University simply because they can’t keep it up, because they don’t have the money to do it anymore. It seems inappropriate to me. I have to say that one of the areas where the impact is being felt the most is in our community colleges.

Particularly, that aff ects our rural areas of the province. [1100] Not only is post-secondary education becoming less accessible to people who don’t have high incomes, that are not the wealthiest, but it’s also disproportionately im- pacting our smaller communities, where students used to be able to go to their local college, community college, for one or two years and either get a diploma or have this be a pathway to a university degree or a career. What is happening is that those programs are being disproportionately squeezed, because they’re not the big universities.

Th e alumni associations don’t bring in huge swaths of money. So what’s happening is that the pro- grams are being cut. Th e impact of this, of rising tuitions and of less and less courses being off ered at the colleges and universi- ties, is that it’s taking longer and longer for students to get a degree — if they get them at all, because they’re dropping out. I see that I only have a couple of minutes. I want to mention fi nally, then, two particular areas that are be- ing particularly hurt: adult basic education and English language learning or ESL, as some of us would know it as.

Th e government has cut the funding signifi cantly and said to universities and colleges — largely colleges — that they can charge. Th e bottom line — what this is going to mean — is that less people are going to school. Less people are taking that pathway. Th ose that had a small hurdle in their way, that need- ed help with their English language training or needed some help to upgrade so that they could do what they wanted to do, which was become productive members and work hard and make a life for themselves in British Columbia….

Both those groups of people are having their pathways to success cut off by a very shortsighted government that has made the decision that it is going to take away the funding for advanced basic education and ELL. Now, I know the government announced last week a small amount of money going back in, but this is a sys- tem which is in crisis. It’s a system which is in crisis be-

British Columbia Debates5840 Tuesday, February 17, 2015 cause the money was taken away. Now there’s going to be short-term, gap funding, but the students and the teachers and the colleges are beside themselves, because they can’t plan. Y ou can’t add some money, take it back, get enough people concerned about it, and then you put a little bit back in. It puts the system into chaos. Unfortunately, the result of that is that we have a system in disarray, and we have many, many less students that are going to be go- ing to those classes. I want to, if I…. Deputy Speaker: Th ank you, Member. K.

Corrigan: I do not have a minute…. Well, thank you. Hon. S. Bond: As always, I am delighted to be able to stand in the House to respond to the Speech from the Th rone. Mr. Speaker, I can assure you that even aft er being in this place for more than a decade, I never take lightly the opportunity and the responsibility that we have as people elected by our constituents to stand and speak in this place. I look forward to sharing some com- ments and some of my perspective around the throne speech that was introduced.

I, like others in this House, want to start by recogniz- ing the amazing family that I have, who have indulged my career for more than two decades in elected offi ce of one form or another: an amazing husband, Bill, who I so appreciate — the fact that in this many years we’ve spent a lot of time apart, and I’m very grateful for the support that he always provides — our children; our two grand- sons, Caleb and Cooper. I also want to recognize the staff that I have. I’m very blessed to have incredible staff both here in V ictoria and in my constituency offi ce at home.

We’re so fortun- ate, those of us elected, to have great people around us. I want to recognize Katrina, Dorothy and Tegan, who are at home working hard today, and my ministry team here: Katy, Mark, Cole, Jordan, Monica, Jessica, Blake and others who work so hard to make sure that we ’ re doing the best possible job that we can for the people of British Columbia. I think people would understand how important for me it is today to talk a little bit about what’s going on at home while I am here with my colleagues.

I can tell you that on Monday morning at 4 a.m., when I left Prince George…. [1105] It’s always hard leaving family and home, but it was additionally hard because my community is playing host to the 2015 Canada Winter Games. I can’t begin to describe adequately the fantastic job that the people of Prince George and the north have done in hosting our country to date. Th e opening ceremonies were remarkable, full of tal- ented young people and not-so-young people, a very strong shared story, with the fi rst time that we’ve had a First Nations host as a partner in the Canada Winter Games.

I want to say to Chief Dominic Frederick and the people of the Lheidli T’ enneh how this has given us a new opportunity to work with one another on the land that we share on their traditional territory. It was incredibly inspiring and emotional to watch the little children of the Lheidli T’ enneh sing the national an- them in front of thousands of people at the opening cere- mony in their own language. It was something I will not forget.

And I know this, that as I watched Chief Frederick and the leaders of the Lheidli T’ enneh, you could just see the pride that they feel being legitimate and meaningful partners in the Canada Winter Games. I’m very grateful for that. I am hopeful that the momentum will continue. It is a fantastic opportunity. I would also like to make sure that people know that Team B.C. is doing a remarkable job in Prince George. I’m sure that many, if not all, in this House are famil- iar with athletes that are participating on behalf of our province. As of this morning, when I looked at the medal total….

Y esterday I had to watch one of my favourite sports, wheelchair basketball. I did manage on the lunch hour to get some of it streamed on the computer. B.C. lost a heartbreaking game there. Th ey won in the morning and lost in the evening. Th e medal count as we speak, as of this morning — B.C. has 13 medals, nine of which come as a result of female athletes. We’re very proud of that. Th ird place overall, two back of Quebec and one behind Ontario. So I would say that British Columbia is certainly holding its own and doing very, very well.

I want to give a special shout-out to Emily Dickson, who lives in Prince George, who won bronze in the fe- male individual biathlon. We’re so proud of Emily, and it was a very exciting aft ernoon on Sunday. Lots of great things. When we talk about events like the Canada Winter Games, I think it’s also important to recognize that it is about more than sport and culture — because there’s also a cultural component to the games. It’s also about the economy .

I t’ s about making sure that as we have more than 15,000 people come to Prince George and to the north, there will also be an economic benefi t from the games as a result of the enormous infl ux of people par- ticipating in our community. Th at’s important. It’s also important that we recognize that as people come to northern British Columbia and to Prince George in particular, so oft en communities in our part of the province don’t have the story on the national stage that is one that truly refl ects the place that we live and where we love to live.

I am hopeful that as people come to Prince George and to the north, they will understand what a

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, February 17, 2015 5841 great place it is to live, to work, to learn, to raise a family. If there will be legacies…. And there will be. Th ere will be, obviously, sporting legacies. Th ere will be infrastruc- ture legacies. But I am hopeful, as a lifelong resident of a community that I absolutely am passionately working hard on behalf of every day. I hope it’s that they see us diff erently, that they see a thriving, incredible place to live with supports for families, with opportunities that include amazing geographic assets and aff ordability. Living in Prince George today….

It’s a place where a family can still buy a three- or four-bedroom house and a home with a backyard where kids can play. It’s just a mat- ter of telling our story. For us, the Canada Winter Games is very much about that legacy. It’s an unbelievable year in our community. Prince George will celebrate later this year its 100th birthday. Th e University of Northern British Columbia is celebrat- ing. It’s hard to imagine. I still remember the drive it took to bring a university to northern British Columbia. It’s 25 years for the University of Northern British Columbia.

We also celebrated just this past January the tenth year where the northern medical program was actually…. It’s ten years that we’ve actually seen the northern medical program in place, where physicians are being trained in the north of British Columbia for fi rst time in the history of this province. [1110] What our program was designed to do was to en- sure that as we see that growing demand for physicians, they’re actually being trained in the places where we need them to consider living and working. So we celebrated that as well. It is a momentous year for the city of Prince George.

I am delighted to be working with mayor Lyn Hall and his new council as we work on initiatives together to talk about how we can grow the economy, create well-paying jobs and support families who would make the decision to live or to work in northern British Columbia. We’ve heard a great deal about the content of the throne speech. We’ve listened to speaker aft er speaker and, yes, members of the media talk about the content of the throne speech. But I want to harken back to a head- line that was in the Vancouver Sun on May 15, 2013. I will quote directly from that headline.

Th is is what the head- line read: everyone had it wrong “except for the Liberals and the voters. ” All along they said voters would prefer the party with a steady economic hand. While we’ve heard much discussion and debate about what’s in the throne speech and what’s not in the throne speech, we know this: that in Canada today and around the world we still are in the position of having a fragile economy.

We look at economic predictions for British Columbia in the years ahead, and we know that there is steady and modest economic growth — which, in fact, when we look at what’s going to happen in the rest of Canada, might well continue to elevate British Columbia’s position economically in the country. Now is not the time to move away from those import- ant principles and the discipline that we have demonstrat- ed for more than a decade that gives British Columbia a pretty special place to be in Confederation today. What bond-rating agencies look for is stability, cer- tainty and continuity.

Th ey want to make sure that the people making the economic decisions are looking not just at the short term but at the long term. As we have worked tirelessly for more than a decade to position British Columbia pretty much precisely where it is today…. In this province, despite all that you have heard, today British Columbia has a strong, a growing and a diversifi ed economy. What that means is that we have a triple-A credit rating. Th at might not mean a lot to people who don’t understand the importance and how hard it is to get one.

We are in a very small group of juris- dictions that actually can say they have a triple-A credit rating, and we’re going to have to continue to work very hard to make sure we maintain it. What it means is that instead of increasing the inter- est payments that we have to make, we can actually in- vest those dollars in important infrastructure. We also have…. I can’t begin to tell you the work it takes to, later today, present to British Columbians the third consecu- tive balanced budget.

Perhaps the words come easily, but I can assure you that what it takes to be able to do that is discipline, hard work and saying no when it would be much easier to sim- ply try to say yes to everything. What we say yes to on this side of the House is growing the economy and creating more well-paying, family-supporting jobs. As we look at the focus that we’ve had through our jobs plan, which was refl ected in the throne speech, the message we’re sending is this. We have a plan. We’re go- ing to stick to the plan.

We’re going to continue to send that message, not just to bond-rating agencies, not just to businesses, but to investors — people who look at those things when they decide where they’re going to chose to bring their head offi ce or to move their company to British Columbia or to expand their project. [1115] What they’re looking for is a government that’s pre- pared to say: “Y es, having a responsible and reasonable tax regime matters to us. ” Y es, it matters that a govern- ment is prepared to say no when it would be a lot easier to say yes.

From my perspective, when we talk about the content of the throne speech it’s a pretty simple principle. We have a plan, it’s working, and we’re going to stick to it. I think that’s what British Columbians recognized when I quoted the headline that day. “Everyone had it wrong ex- cept the voters, ” who decided they wanted the party that had a steady economic hand. I think that is precisely what the throne speech is talking about: a steady economic hand today and in the

British Columbia Debates5842 Tuesday, February 17, 2015 future. As we look at our economy, while we are antici- pating modest growth, now is not the time to be mov- ing away from a plan that is focused on job creation and growing the economy. When we look at the diverse economy that we have, we can just go through the entire list. One of the sectors that I want to talk about a little bit this morning is B.C. ’s technology and innovation sector. As we talk about our abundance of natural resources in the province…. We should be proud of the fact that we are a province with an abundance of natural resources.

It’s what built our prov- ince. It’s what allowed us to be in this very special place that we fi nd ourselves. The technology and innovation sector in British Columbia brings $23.2 billion in annual revenue to the province. How did that look in 2012? It’s actually up by 3.5 percent. Th ere are over $3 billion in exports. Th ere are over 9,000 established technology companies operat- ing today that refl ect almost 85,000 jobs in our province. So to suggest…. We’ve had others that have been in this place talking about how, in fact, we don’t have a diversifi ed economy.

I would suggest that when you see a 3.5 percent increase in annual revenue in the technology and innovation sec- tor alone, refl ecting almost 85,000 jobs…. Technology is the third-largest economic contributor to B.C. ’s gross domestic product. Th e fact of the matter is that for those of us who believe in and support a green economy, there’s a lot of room for us to be paying attention to technology, to animation, to the green economy in the province. Th at’s what divers- ifi cation is all about.

When we look at technology wages in the province, it’s almost $6.3 billion in technology wages and salar- ies, up 7.7 percent since 2012. Th at is almost double the 4.1 percent growth in total wages and salaries across all sectors and industries in the province. Wages in the tech sector are 66 percent higher than the average wage in British Columbia.

While we are working as hard as we can to attract the liquefi ed natural gas industry to British Columbia, and while we continue to support mining, forestry, tour- ism — all of those sectors — we know this: that we have the ability to leave an unbelievable legacy by focus- ing on technology and innovation in British Columbia. Certainly, that’s why it’s a key element of the jobs plan. When I look at British Columbia in technology and innovation, in particular compared to growth and tech- nology revenues, I look at how we are outpacing overall Canadian high-tech revenue growth.

Th ere are reasons for that — a stable economy, a reasonable and appropri- ate tax regime in the province. In 2012 the number of technology companies in B.C. grew by 2.9 percent, but we continue to outpace Canada when it comes to high- tech revenue growth. As we look at the future, we know that technology and innovation will play a critical role in the future of our province. Let’s turn for a moment to a more traditional sector in the province, and that would be the forestry sector. [1120] In 2014 B.C. forest export production was $12.4 billion, up 63 percent since 2009.

When we look at that, we had a very strategic plan about how we were going to make sure that we diversifi ed our market. We intentionally went to China and said here’s a place where, when the U.S. econ- omy is struggling, we can fi ll some of those gaps by ac- tually looking at our Asian partners. We know that 57 communities, for example, have a community forest or are very close to getting one. Th ere are 864 active woodlot licences in the province, but our focus has been in expanding Asian markets.

I live in a part of the province that is resource- dependent, and I can assure you that our communities have gone through very diffi cult circumstances as we saw the downturn in the forest sector. But they are bouncing back, and people are resilient. Th ey are working hard. Th ey are fi nding new ways to operate a forest industry in British Columbia. It may not be the same as it was. We certainly know that with the advancement of technology, we are see- ing a diff erent way of doing business, and that does im- pact jobs in the province, as we see in the way that we are modernizing mills across the province.

So we have technology that’s grown. We have a forest industry that is rebuilding and in fact doing very well at the moment. One of the things that we know is absolutely critical to the success of British Columbia is small business. Small businesses are the heartbeat of this province. I want to, certainly, take a moment to recognize the Minister of State for Small Business. She, as a business owner herself, is perfectly positioned to lead the initiatives that we have undertaken here in government. Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that we have done some fan- tastic work to support small business in British Columbia.

In 2008 we obviously cut the small business corporate income tax rate. We remain the third lowest in Canada, and we are committed to continuing to fi nd ways to low- er the rate. One of the things that has been an enormous chal- lenge for businesses is useless and unnecessary red tape. It’s really important to put this in context. Of course, regulations to protect health and safety and workers in British Columbia are critical, but we also know that we need to be sure that we’re being diligent about reducing those barriers that create success for small businesses in British Columbia.

Our small businesses make up 98 percent of all busi- nesses in the province, and they employ over one million people. Small business provides nearly 55 percent of all private sector jobs in our province, and that is the high- est percentage in the country. When we look at confi dence in terms of small busi-

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, February 17, 2015 5843 nesses, we have ranked among the top provinces in the country over the last number of months in terms of busi- ness confi dence, where businesses are saying: “We feel better. We feel like we’re in a position to consider hir- ing new individuals. ” All of these things are refl ective of the need to ensure that we have a steady economic hand, making sure that it’s about consistency and continuity. Let’s turn to tourism for just a moment.

Th e tourism sector in British Columbia employs more than 132,000 British Columbians, almost one in every 15 jobs in our province. In 2013 the tourism industry paid $4.5 billion in wages and salaries to tourism workers, an increase of 3.8 percent over the year before. Th e tourism industry generates $13.9 billion in rev- enue, and we have an aspirational goal of seeing that in- crease. We’ve certainly seen some challenges in a number of the past years with some of the global circumstances that we faced economically, but now, with the dollar in the position that it is, we’re seeing some really strong growth.

When I looked at the fi rst 11 months of 2014 — very strong months for the tourism sector, and certainly, from some of our key markets. [1125] We saw overnight U.S. entries to B.C. increase by 2.9 percent. Th at translates to more than 80,000 additional visitors. We saw 50,000 additional visitors from China. Th ose are all incremental numbers. So, again, the tourism sector — an important part of a diversifi ed economy. We have technology, clean and green. We have forestry. We have mining. We have tourism in the province.

As we look at the mining industry, we do have to be concerned about the nature of commodity prices in our province. It’s an enormous challenge. Th ere are people in British Columbia today that are not working because their mines have had to move into a maintenance phase. Of course, we’re concerned about that, and we immedi- ately send a transition team into those communities to provide important and necessary support. Th e mining industry is important to British Columbia’s families.

When we look at the wages that are generated, an average salary today in the mining industry is over $114,000 a year, up from $81,000 in 2001. We read frequently about the importance…. Looking, for example, at increasing the minimum wage. Th ere’s a campaign as we speak to raise it to $15 an hour. Well, we need to put that in context. Today the average hourly wage in British Columbia is nearing $25 an hour. When you look at the youth average hourly wage in the prov- ince, it is almost $15 an hour. Y es, there are people for whom the minimum wage is their salary.

But as I look at the trends, that number is getting smaller every year, and that’s an important trend. What we say in the throne speech is that we need to stay focused. We need to maintain economic discipline. Th e priorities that we have as a government are to ensure that we have the environment that attracts new invest- ment, that sends that message to investors that are in this province today as we speak. When we look at the possibilities for liquefi ed natural gas, we have 18 proposals, some of the largest compan- ies in the world that are in British Columbia today. It is about being competitive.

It is about being disciplined. It is about being aspirational. As we look at the timelines, we’re going to continue to drive as hard as we can to make sure that British Columbia has done everything it possibly can to assure those proponents and other investors that this is a place where it is safe to invest, where there are incredibly amaz- ing opportunities for people. Whether it’s support through post-secondary insti- tutions…. I listened to the member previous to me talk about the post-secondary system being in disarray. I visit my institutions regularly.

Unlike the suggestion that was made by the Leader of the Opposition yesterday that gov- ernment MLAs just sit in their offi ces and don’t talk to people in British Columbia…. I don’t actually think that’s a helpful piece of dialogue in this place, because I know this — that every single person elected to represent their constituents is proud of doing just that. Th ey get out and they talk about the issues that are comfortable and the ones that are not so comfortable. Th ey visit institutions. Th ey go and they speak on behalf of their constituents.

And it doesn’t mat- ter whether you sit on this side of the House or that side of the House. Th at matters. I can tell you I know my colleagues on this side of this House that work tirelessly on behalf of British Columbians. I don’t think it contributes to this place to suggest that one side of the House does their job as MLAs and the other side simply doesn’t. Mr. Speaker, I can assure you of this: in our commun- ities we care about what happens on the ground.

We want to make sure, as we set the stage for our children and our grandchildren, that, for one thing, we’re going to do our best to attract new investment to make sure that people see British Columbia as a beacon of hope. [1130] I can tell you that I meet regularly with my ministerial colleagues across the country. Today we’re going to be in a position to introduce our third consecutive balanced budget. When I was in Ottawa very recently with other ministers…. I can tell you that very, very few of them will be in a position this year or years ahead of being able to say that.

And I can tell you that when it comes to things like our skills-training plan, we are actually being asked to present across the country about the kinds of changes that we’ve stepped up to the plate to actually talk about in British Columbia. It hasn’t been with comfort for some post-secondary institutions. But we know this: if we’re going to grow the economy, we need the skilled workforce that we require,

British Columbia Debates5844 Tuesday, February 17, 2015 and British Columbians need to come fi rst. Whether that’s women, persons with disabilities, First Nations or others who are currently underrepresented in the work- force, we need to do everything we can to make sure that we’re providing them with the support, the training and the opportunity that they need. We’ve started to celebrate job-makers in British Columbia. On Sunday night in Prince George I was so very pleased to be able to recognize a job-maker.

It was the result of a partnership between a company and a First Nation, Britco and the Lheidli T’ enneh. Th e Lheidli T’ enneh were so proud of the fact that they had partnered with this company, giving their members opportunity. Now, that was only four jobs, but every job matters. We’re going to continue to highlight those people in our province who create jobs, and we’re going to continue to be that steady economic hand. While we may be listening to the commentary about the content, it’s a pretty simple message. We have a plan.

We have a balanced budget, a triple-A credit rating, rea- sonable tax rates in British Columbia. We are one of the few jurisdictions in Canada that will be able to say that. I think that’s a very important message to send, and I think that’s exactly what the throne speech said. V . Huntington: I do enjoy listening to the Minister for Labour almost every time she stands and speaks. She has an amazing ability to put the government plan into a context, and much of the context is one that I can sup- port wholeheartedly.

However, I do rise today to speak in response to the priorities in vision that the government didn’t attempt to set out for this session or for the future of this prov- ince. We know that this throne speech, like the one last fall, off ered little and was critiqued by many as an empty speech that demonstrated a lack of vision for the prov- ince. Mike Smyth called the speech “a lot of vague and ill-defi ned commitments to just keep muddling along, ” and that’s just about right. Th e speech was notable not for what it said but rath- er for what it did not say.

What we heard were bits and pieces of what the government is intending instead of the innovative leadership so badly needed in British Columbia. Now, we heard the Deputy Premier and the Minister of Natural Gas Development reply to the universal criti- cism — that the government already has a plan and is simply working through it, that you don’t have to change the world each time a throne speech is delivered. I agree. Housekeeping is good. Finishing off policy decisions is good. Trying to pretend that LNG will proceed in the near future is good.

It would also be good if we were preparing a new vi- sion, a plan that provides people with some sense of hope and direction beyond the ebbing promise of the LNG bonanza. Th ere is no indication that government is looking to new visions. In fact, what we see in the throne speech is a bits-and-pieces approach to governing that fi lls in some blanks but which is not much more than busywork.

To quote the member for Powell River– Sunshine Coast: “Y ou can only run an ad for so long be- fore suspicion grows that there are no more ideas. ” I will state at the outset that I do applaud the govern- ment’s desire to balance the budget. It is an important ac- complishment and will certainly be received well by the provincial creditors and B.C. ’s investors. I worry, how- ever, about the short-term dollars being generated by the sale of provincial assets.

Balancing a budget on wisps of smoke does not give a lot of confi dence in the govern- ment’s ability to sustain that fi scal balance. [1135] Further, as we impoverish provincial agencies that are forced to forward millions of dollars to the provincial coff ers, the government is knowingly adding to the pres- sure on the taxpayer. Fees are skyrocketing, and I warn the government that one day there will be a revolt. Th e value of hidden taxation in this province is over $4 billion a year, a staggering number. Who is watching the cumu- lative impact on our citizens?

Does government care that the taxpayer, that single taxpayer the government likes to talk about, is feeding the outstretched hand of govern- ment at an alarming rate? To stop that enormous demand on the citizen’s purse, government has to go beyond bits and pieces and has to revolutionize the way services are delivered. It isn’t simply a matter of constantly centralizing services or of insisting that citizens deal with government through websites. Th ese are just the bits and pieces of real effi ciency.

To ac- tually slow the demand on the citizen’s purse will require dedicated and directed study and creativity to develop a truly visionary approach to the issues before us. Th ese issues are grave ones: food security, economic survival in a world that responds to cheaper overseas costs of production, health care delivery, protecting the vibrancy and beauty of B.C. ’s environment.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful, for instance, if the govern- ment actually understood that the people of this province want a vision for the environment that they can trust, a vision that would put our land, our waters, our moun- tains, our beautiful and extraordinary British Columbia fi rst? An environmental vision that all of us could trust, that we could know had the values of protection and miti- gation uppermost in mind.

Now, the members opposite will say that is exactly what we do have, but they are wrong, because right now their Minister of Environment has a mandate to say yes to development, to streamline or gut every eff ective piece of meaningful environmental legislation and regulation on the books — a mandate to eff ect “process improve- ments that will ensure that the timelines are appropriate for economic development. ” What if government made an about-face? What if it

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, February 17, 2015 5845 actually did what the people yearn for? What if it be- came truly responsible for and protective of our land and our water and our wildlife? Just think what we could accomplish with a framework of environmental stan- dards that were absolute, development guidelines that say, unequivocally: “Y ou will use best practice. Y ou will construct with the smallest possible footprint. Y ou will not impact a waterway. Roads and transmission lines will respect the land.

Y ou will underwrite the salary of an independent enforcement offi cer who will be on site, who’ll have real power to enforce the standards and the assessments. ” Right now our laws enable so much compromise that people have lost trust in the assessment process. Th e law is so biased in favour of the project that the system has no public legitimacy. The schedules of environment- al commitment aren’t enforced. Fines are meaningless, even if they are levied. Mitigation routinely fails. Habitat replacement oft en has nothing to do with the land and habitat destroyed in the fi rst instance.

Assessments allow projects to impact species at risk, and in my own riding actually impact a species that was even thought to be ex- tirpated in British Columbia. Let’s initiate a new vision for B.C. Let’s develop a framework of do’s, a framework which defi nes the de- velopment boundaries and expectations we have of a pro- ject, a framework which then permits a true, independent environmental assessment of whether that project lives up to the fundamental standards and requirements of British Columbia.

Let’s rewrite the legislation for the environmental assessment office and create a truly independent of- fice staffed with technical specialists that can make uncompromised decisions — not an offi ce within the ministry and which reports to the minister — a truly in- dependent offi ce that has the sole function of protecting the environment that is British Columbia. Such frameworks — for there can be separate frame- works for distinct environments — would, in my opin- ion, actually speed up the assessment process.

Industry would clearly understand that best practice is the cost of doing business in British Columbia. If they don’t like the additional cost, then our framework is the document that simply says the people of British Columbia will wait for a developer that respects our collective will, a will that says that life, and the land and waters that support it, comes fi rst. [1140] Instead, this government marches forward — or per- haps stumbles forward is a better description — on an unstable fl oat of bits and pieces. I will repeat what I said during the last throne speech debate.

Can you imagine what we could accomplish with the Health fi le, for in- stance, if we focused on the issue without silos, with a de- termined single priority directive to all deputies, ADMs and administrators? We would probably solve our great- est public policy problem. Th at’s what would happen. Even a devastating review, a signifi cantly edited one at that, of Fraser Health Authority didn’t evoke a recogni- tion by this government that visionary change is in order.

Data showed that Fraser Health Authority had some of the worst results in the country, that in several areas of assessment some of its hospitals had the worst outcomes in quality of care and patient safety in all of Canada. Surely, this signals to government that something is seriously wrong in the state of Denmark. Surely, it sig- nals that a new way of doing business in the health sec- tor is in order. But no, bits and pieces attack the problem. Even as we see big problems surfacing everywhere in health, from the B.C.

Cancer Agency to the outrageous, egregious, scandalous fi rings in the ministry itself, it’s business as usual — a bits-and-pieces approach that re- minds me of the gopher game: “Quick, bop that head back into its burrow. ” What if there was an eff ort to take apart every single aspect of health delivery — from air ambulance to sub- stance abuse — lay it out horizontally and rebuild a sys- tem where every penny is accounted for, where the health authorities must be sensitive to costs across the health spectrum, a visionary review that puts patients fi rst and enfolds that patient with a delivery model both effi cient and sensitive and creative?

How much do the health silos cost us? What are the administrative costs and impacts of silos throughout the system? What is the real cost to society of addiction and mental health? How are we doing in all areas of health care delivery? Are the silos talking to each other? Are there real redundancies in staff , in delivery models? Are all the hundreds of programs and services we contract out actually delivering? How much do they cost? Are we listening to our doctors, or has centralization driv- en listening out of the system and put administrators in charge? What does that cost us in terms of health care delivery?

What does that mean to the patient?

What would happen if we looked at the entire deliv- ery model from a patient-fi rst perspective, not just lip service to the principle, as we have now, but a true revo- lution in our delivery model, a review which looked at best practice and health care delivery models through- out the world, that swept aside special interests and self- interests and commitments to the way things have always been done, that focused on the development of a modern, compassionate approach to delivery of services to those who need assistance, a system that would reduce com- plexities, reduce costs and provide enriched care?

We have wonderful health care in British Columbia. We have committed medical staff . We have committed ministry offi cials. But we also have big problems, both in the present health care delivery system and certainly in the future levels of quality health care. Unless we act now and revolutionize the system, we will fl ounder on that sinking fl oat.

British Columbia Debates5846 Tuesday, February 17, 2015 In the throne speech delivered last fall the minister mentioned his pride in how government diverted all ministries to the overwhelming need to rapidly sup- port the development of the LNG promise. Now that that promise is in hiatus, we must do the same in other areas. We could divert our energies to the development of a new health care model or a new environmental as- sessment framework or a new system to deliver social assistance to those in need; get rid of redundancies, silos, ineffi ciencies and self-interest; and consider the taxpayer fi rst.

We can do it, we have to do it, and it is unfortunate the throne speech did not contemplate it. I can only stand here and say to government, hoping that someone is listening, that there is still time to lead and there is still time to develop visions that will change B.C. for the bet- ter. Th ere is still time to direct that the vast policy appar- atus of government be dedicated to the development of a whole new approach to health or to social development or to the environment, an approach that could make B.C. a world leader in effi cient, eff ective governance.

With that, I would like to comment on the amendment proposed by the member for Oak Bay–Gordon Head. If we really want the best for this province, if we really want to see the people be part of the future of B.C., then my colleague is absolutely right. Leadership in govern- ment requires a commitment to seek out and incorpor- ate ideas from others. [1145] Th e opposition, both offi cial and independent, also have a duty to off er solutions and to critique government when it does not listen or when options are off ered that better represent the people or better resolve a problem.

Th e member’s amendment calls upon this House to collaborate on a new vision for British Columbia, to can- vass the ideas of all members of this place, regardless of their affi liation. We can do that. We can create a vibrant, excited atmosphere in this place. We can have commit- tees operate properly, independently or with mandates to provide government and this House with the best pos- sible advice on the grave issues of today. We can do that, and government should have the vi- sion and the self-confi dence to make it happen. I whole- heartedly support the member’s amendment. D.

Bing: On behalf of my constituents in Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows, it is a great pleasure and an hon- our to provide my comments in response to the Speech from the Th rone during this fourth session of the 40th parliament. Before I start, I would like to wish all members of this House a very productive and rewarding legislative ses- sion. We had a very good sitting of the Legislature this fall, passing historic legislation in relation to the world’s cleanest and safest liquefi ed natural gas export industry. Also, last fall we made history in my own riding of Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows.

We celebrated the 140th an- niversary of the founding of Maple Ridge. On September 4, 2014, we made history again by changing Maple Ridge from a regional district to the city of Maple Ridge. We were honoured to have the Premier attend this celebra- tion and designate Maple Ridge as the 50th city of the province, with a population of 80,000 people. Th is is more than just a symbolic change of status. It is a signal that Maple Ridge has grown up and is ready to join other cities in British Columbia in becoming an eco- nomic driver in the provincial economy.

Th is means that Maple Ridge, which had a humble beginning as a small farming community settled by Scottish immigrants, is more than just a bedroom community. While many of our residents commute to work in outlying communities, we do possess a number of com- petitive advantages in the form of lower land costs and geographic access to many other local markets. Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows are now considered to be the most desirable communities to live in, precisely because of our gateway proximity to other communities located in the Lower Mainland.

In late January I had the opportunity to participate in the release of the Invest North Fraser labour market study. It is predicted that over the next ten years employ- ers in fi ve major industry sectors…. Th ey predict a de- mand of between 12,000 and 15,000 new highly skilled jobs located directly in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. In fact, population growth and current levels of migra- tion are only suffi cient to cover approximately 56 to 59 percent of all new hires. Th is translates into a prosperous local economy that will be competing for new workers to come to Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.

Because of that, all three levels of government are working closely together with indus- try and the private sector to ensure that local people are trained and prepared to fi ll those new jobs. Th is means greater access to post-secondary education and vocation- al training, giving people all the technical skills they need to succeed, and launches Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows on the right path to becoming one of the most business- friendly and desirable places to live and work. Th is is exactly what the throne speech addresses.

We need to ensure that British Columbians are fi rst in line for the one million job openings that will be here by 2022. Th is is the reason why the government launched the skills-for-jobs blueprint, which includes $7.5 billion worth of investment in education and training every year. It forms a part of the jobs plan that the government an- nounced in 2011, and it is working. Hon. Speaker, 77,000 new jobs have been created as a result of a diligent and well-conceived plan to chart the pathway to prosperity in British Columbia. But the world does not stand still.

While students in British Columbia are top-ranked in reading and science compared to other provinces, we know we can do more.

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, February 17, 2015 5847 We are ranked second in math compared to the rest of the country, and these types of skills will be needed to qualify for the jobs of tomorrow. While our education system produces some of the best student outcomes in the world, we know we can do better. [1150] Not only that. We must ensure that no British Columbian is left behind. Since 2001 the number of aboriginal students graduating from our schools has increased by 103 percent, but we must still do more to ensure that no one gets left behind.

In fact, the gov- ernment is making a special eff ort to reach out to First Nations and make them partners in future resource development. Th e government started this work with a historic meeting last fall between cabinet and First Nation elders. Since 2006 the government has signed 250 signifi cant agreements with First Nations. Th ey range from treat- ies and reconciliation agreements to economic develop- ment agreements. It all comes down to having a plan and sticking to the plan. As a whole, Canada is hurting from the dramatic drop in oil prices that we have witnessed in the last few weeks.

No one predicted that the price of oil would drop half its value in a matter of months. It has caused the fed- eral government to re-examine its own fi nances. Other jurisdictions, like neighbouring Alberta, are predicting a signifi cant fall in government revenue due to depend- ence on oil. Consequently, Alberta is predicting a large budget defi cit and cuts to program spending. While some might characterize our throne speech as boring, I think British Columbians will appreciate the fact that we are poised to pose a third consecutive balanced budget with no prospect of cuts to services or programs.

Th at is a diff erence that sets British Columbia apart from the rest of Canada. We have a diversifi ed economy, and we are far less exposed to the price of oil than other jurisdictions. By practising fi scal prudence we have preserved our triple-A credit rating. Th is gives us the fi scal fl exibil- ity to make strategic invest ments in infrastructure like highways and building schools or hospitals. Th at is the B.C. diff erence. While some might consider that boring, I think we have a very exciting future ahead of us.

In conclusion, I would like to reiterate my wish for a productive and successful session of the Legislature. M. Elmore: I’m very pleased to rise and deliver my remarks with respect to the throne speech and very pleased to be standing on behalf of constituents from Vancouver-Kensington. When we heard the throne speech just a short week ago, I was waiting for some good news that I could de- liver and share with my constituents and folks who come into my offi ce, who have raised concerns with me on a wide variety of issues.

I was, to say the least, disappoint- ed with the lack of substance and, I think, the lack of signifi cant programs or policies that would go towards alleviating a number of the signifi cant concerns that constituents in Vancouver-Kensington face, particularly around the rising inequality we’re seeing, the decreasing aff ordability for families in British Columbia. [Madame Speaker in the chair.] To sum it up, the throne speech highlighted a tax cut for the most wealthy, and again, it’s families who are left without recourse.

We’re seeing that families are paying more and getting less, and it’s really an incredibly lop- sided — and not only shortsighted, but misdirected — emphasis in terms of the throne speech. I have a number of folks who have come to my of- fi ce for help and assistance to deal with one of the most pressing issues in Vancouver, in our city, as well as across the province. Th is is the need for aff ordable housing.

Stories of desperation, of Chinese seniors in their 80s who are desperate for adequate housing; stories, as well, of seniors living in mouldy basements and of a young family with three children and a new baby who has just arrived — all on the waiting list for social housing. [1155] I see and hear that there is not much coming from the throne speech to address the desperate need and plight of individuals and families needing to access aff ordable housing. It’s a very pressing issue.

On the one hand, we see that there’s rhetoric and talk about needing to stimulate the economy, but we’re see- ing that there’s a complete lack of support for families who are facing an aff ordability crunch, facing a crisis in being able to fi nd aff ordable housing, and really seeing just increasing pressures and costs being downloaded onto families. We’re going to be seeing another increase in the Medical Services Plan, as well as families paying more for the basics that all families and individuals are required to pay. We’re seeing B.C. Hydro costs going up. Rates will exceed 74 percent.

Ferry fees, camping fees are in- creasing. ICBC rates continue to increase. Tuition fees are also on the rise. And that juxtaposed…. Wages are not keeping pace to address these costs. As well, there are deteriorating services that are pro- vided to families, in terms of hospitals, schools, seniors centres that families depend on. Th ey are in decline be- cause of a lack of signifi cant investment. As well, a pri- ority for many of my constituents — concern around the imminent loss of a number of advanced basic edu- cation and English language learning courses. We’re see- ing cuts to that.

Noting the hour, I’ d like to reserve my place to con- tinue my remarks in the future and move adjournment of the debate.

British Columbia Debates5848 Tuesday, February 17, 2015 M. Elmore moved adjournment of debate. Motion approved. Hon. T. Lake moved adjournment of the House. Motion approved. Madame Speaker: Th is House, at its rising, stands ad- journed until 1:30 this aft ernoon. Th e House adjourned at 11:57 a.m.

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Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20150217am-Hansard-v19n7
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20150217am Hansard v19n7
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	1d850bd37bf3fe78e2c0b0ae054048b1d773e573

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