British Columbia Hansard — 26 April 2021, p.m., Issue 58 (42nd Parliament, 2nd Session)

20210426pm-Hansard-n58

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

Second Session, 42nd Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES (HANSARD) Monday, April 26, 2021 Afternoon Sitting Issue No. 58 THE HONOURABLE RAJ CHOUHAN, SPEAKER ISSN 1499-2175

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CONTENTS Monday, April 26, 2021 Afternoon Sitting Page Routine Business Statements (Standing Order 25B) ......................................................................................................................................... 1417 Opioid crisis and multilingual Overdose Intervention app M. Starchuk Cancer awareness and Daffodil Month during COVID-19 R. Merrifield COVID-19 response and resilience J. Sims Kootenay East community response to COVID-19 T. Shypitka Health care services project by grade 7 students at St. Catherine’s Elementary School A.

Mercier Friends of False Creek and water quality protection E. Ross Oral Questions......................................................................................................................................................................... 1419 COVID-19 travel restrictions and enforcement S. Bond Hon. J. Horgan COVID-19 travel restrictions and tourism accommodation reservations T. Wat Hon. R. Kahlon COVID-19 response and use of rapid testing A. Olsen Hon. A. Dix COVID-19 travel restrictions and enforcement T. Stone Hon. M. Farnworth M. de Jong Hon. J.

Horgan Addiction services in Interior Health Authority and status of Pathways Centre T. Halford Hon. S. Malcolmson P . Milobar Orders of the Day Budget Debate(continued) .................................................................................................................................................... 1425 D. Davies Hon. A. Kang S. Cadieux Hon. B. Ralston B. Banman S.

Chant Committee of the Whole House............................................................................................................................................ 1443 Bill 3 — Employment Standards Amendment Act, 2021(continued) G. Kyllo Hon. H.

Bains Report and Third Reading of Bills......................................................................................................................................... 1450 Bill 3 — Employment Standards Amendment Act, 2021 Budget Debate(continued) .................................................................................................................................................... 1450 S. Chant K. Kirkpatrick

MONDAY , APRIL 26, 2021 The House met at 1:35 p.m. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Statements (Standing Order 25B) OPIOID CRISIS AND MULTILINGUAL OVERDOSE INTERVENTION APP M. Starchuk:Last year 1,724 individuals in British Col- umbia lost their lives due to illicit drug overdose. This represents the highest number of overdose-related deaths recorded in a 12-month period in B.C. ’s history. As a form- er firefighter, I have seen firsthand the pain and loss of this crisis. Individuals are suffering, families are hurting, and the impact on our communities is devastating.

Amongst those that we’ve lost to this crisis, racialized communities have been disproportionately represented in terms of overdose deaths. Racial disparities are deepened by the many systemic barriers faced by marginalized com- munities in accessing the health care and social support networks which are so essential in both harm reduction and long-term recovery. It’s clear that there are ways that we can all help save lives in overdose emergencies. However, the sheer lack of resources available in culturally relevant formats is a huge barrier.

For this reason, I’m introducing a grassroots ini- tiative which was developed in my home riding of Sur- rey-Cloverdale, the Overdose Intervention App. It’s a free, multilingual tool that empowers individuals to identify the symptoms of opioid-related overdose and call 911 directly through the app’s built-in feature, and it provides instruc- tions for emergency first aid and delivery of naloxone. The app is currently available in English, French, Filipino, Punjabi and simplified Chinese, with plans to add more. This app has over 32,000 downloads in Metro Van- couver.

The Overdose Intervention App enlists the entire community in responding to this crisis, a vital step in our collective response. This afternoon my thoughts and deepest condolences are with the friends and families of those who are no long- er with us. Intervention is urgently required now more than ever. To address this crisis, we need a diverse set of approaches and tools. Inclusive and culturally relevant resources now exist. We must act swiftly, and we must act now. CANCER AW ARENESS AND DAFFODIL MONTH DURING COVID-19 R.

Merrifield:Every spring, as the world wakes up from winter, we watch as daffodils fill our gardens with colour for the first time in months. A sure sign of spring, of hope and of determination, these first flowers have been a sym- bol for cancer awareness in Canada since the 1950s. That’s when the Canadian Cancer Society held the first Daffodil Days to raise money for cancer treatment and research. Since then, the Canadian Cancer Society recognizes April as Daffodil Month. This year the campaign has gone virtual, finding innovative ways to fundraise and bring awareness to this cause in a COVID-19 environment.

The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that one in two Cana- dians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes. We have all been impacted by this disease in some ways. For me, it’s my aunties, my uncle, my best friend and my dad. All have battled cancer. Cancer has not taken a break during the pandemic, so it’s vital that the hard work of the society does not take a break either. In fact, the changes in the way that hospit- als and clinics have operated during this pandemic have created new challenges for those diagnosed with and get- ting treated for cancer.

As the Cancer Society says in their description of the daffodil campaign, this year they need our help more than ever before. I hope that every member of this House can take

part in this year’s daffodil campaign in some way. Let’s join oth- er Canadians and together make a real difference for those affected by cancer. COVID-19 RESPONSE AND RESILIENCE J. Sims: Just over a year ago we started to understand that this COVID pandemic was going to be a marathon, not a sprint. What happens as we head towards the end of this marathon? We get tired. We can see the finish line, but we haven’t crossed it yet.

This is where we are today. [1:40 p.m.] As we question whether we will ever go back to what we once knew to be normal, it’s worth taking a step back to see how we can build on what we have learned. It’s worth remembering that every challenge we have in life, whether personal or collective, also provides the other side, which is opportunities. COVID has taught us that we are resilient. We all have strengths that we took for granted and courage we didn’t know we had.

It has taught us that regardless of how chal- lenging the times are, there is core goodness and generos- ity in our society and that British Columbians rise to the challenge. It has reminded us to be creative and flexible, reinvented the way we play and encouraged us to explore our immediate surroundings, encouraged us, and almost forced us, to eat home-cooked meals. We have learned to make the most of what we have and appreciate that we live in a beautiful province. Perhaps the most important lesson we have learned is that even the smallest act of gratitude can make a huge dif- ference.

So I remind each and every one of us to reach out 1417

to all in our lives and all we come across and say a thank- you for their resilience. As today is cancer awareness week — I didn’t know I was going to do this, but I am — I also want to do a huge shout-out to all the survivors and to all who are battling this disease in this pandemic. My daughter went through her surgery at seven o’ clock this morning, and we have our fingers and toes crossed. So a huge shout-out to all the health care workers who are not only dealing with the COVID pandemic but with cancer and so, so many other health issues. I raise my hands in gratitude to each and every one of you. Thank you.

KOOTENAY EAST COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO COVID-19 T. Shypitka: We all celebrate our front-line workers during this pandemic, but there are also those private cit- izens and groups that have also upped the ante in provid- ing services and care for many of us suffering from the angst that this health crisis has presented us. Most of these folks and groups do this without financial gain or recogni- tion. It is at this time I would like to highlight just a few in Kootenay East that have made our region a better place to be during these anomalous times.

In Kootenay East, a group called the Elk Valley COV- ID Support TEAM, created by the Mountainside Com- munity Church, has successfully coordinated about 200 volunteers between Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford to bring together a coordinated approach to helping hun- dreds of COVID-affected people in the Elk Valley, in just over a year of operation. Elkford, a city that’s celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is also celebrating this year’s Citizen of the Y ear, Christine Caville, and her volunteer work in hand-sewing and donating over 2,700 masks to fellow community members.

Christine has also held two community fun- draisers to assist families that faced unexpected financial hardships. As a Rotarian, the Cranbrook and Fernie Rotary sup- port Rotary COVID Bingo, which was first started in April 2020 by Greg, Kristie and Madison Ehman from the Gold- en Rotary Club. It was started to keep people entertained during the stay-at-home provincial health order. This project has grown from a living room with a hand- ful of people to now including rotary clubs from Cran- brook, Creston, Rossland, Trail, Waneta, Grand Forks, Nelson, Kimberley, Nakusp, Castlegar, Radium, Invermere and Fernie.

The money raised from COVID bingo goes to support rotary community projects. There are more than 10,000 members now playing Rotary COVID bingo, and it is now the biggest online bingo in B.C. The progressive Bingo on Friday this week is over $100,000. Check out the Rotary community online bingo Facebook page to win. Under the B, wonderful. I would like to thank all our Kootenay COVID heroes for making Kootenay East the greatest place to live. HEALTH CARE SERVICES PROJECT BY GRADE 7 STUDENTS AT ST. CATHERINE’S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL A. Mercier:Recently I had the honour to attend the grade 7 class at St.

Catherine’s Elementary School in Lang- ley. Their teacher, Mr. Jason Jones, had the students enga- ging in a project for understanding public health services and had all of the students identify a public health service in Langley where they felt that there was a gap in delivery.

I’m proud to report to this House that the kids are all right. [1:45 p.m.] I received over 27 letters from these students on all ranges of issues on health care services in Langley, from blood services and guide dogs to the need for more med- ical specialists, particularly an identified need among the students for dermatologists, more imaging services, hos- pice beds, chemotherapy and a new cancer centre.

Well, we had a great discussion about all of the good things that have been happening in Langley to help resolve these issues, from the new MRI suite at Langley Memorial Hospital that’s now running two shifts, 16 hours a day, to provide imaging services to folks in Langley, to the new hospital upgrades at Langley Memorial which are now substantially complete, to the construction of a new hos- pice just below the Langley Memorial campus and, of course, a new hospital in Cloverdale with a cancer centre only five minutes away from Langley city hall.

I think of particular interest to the students was the no- tion that when they’re ready to begin their medical stud- ies, they can take the SkyTrain from Langley all the way to SFU in Surrey to attend medical school. This was a room filled with the future leaders of this province. I’ d also like to give a shout-out to their vice-principal and teacher, Mr. Jason Jones. I’ll just say to Mr. Jones: a SkyTrain to south Delta right now isn’t in the books, but we’re going to work on fixing that Massey Tunnel problem. FRIENDS OF FALSE CREEK AND W ATER QUALITY PROTECTION E.

Ross:Quite recently I was invited to visit False Creek in Vancouver and, more importantly, to meet the False Creek Friends, who are a fledgling group that has deep concerns with the health of our waters, whether it be creeks, groundwater or oceans. More importantly, they want to do something about it, and they want to start in their own backyards, specifically False Creek. The issues they want to tackle are huge, overlapping in historical nature, but their dream is achievable if we do it with a mindset of what our world can look like in five, 20 or 100 years. Y es, there are jurisdictional issues.

Y es, there are problems with past treatment of the original Indigen- 1418 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 26, 2021

ous Peoples. And of course, we have pollution problems. But now, more than ever, this is the time to dream and, somehow, turn these dreams into visions and, ultimately, some day a reality. I’ve been invited to help. I will help where I can, but the one area that I’ve always been interested in, since 2004, is water quality — specifically, sewage in amounts so great that Vancouverites couldn’t go swimming in our waters because of E. coli levels, which, I’m glad to say, Vancouver is starting to address. This is a worldwide problem as our population grows.

But there are very smart and keen people that have been working to address this in a cost- effective manner using newer technologies. B.C. ’ ers and Canadians have been the leaders in trying to do better in terms of the world around us. What I’ve noticed is we’re not a country that rests on our laurels. Is the plan to clean up False Creek going to be easy? No. Will it take time? Y ep. But can we do it? Y es, if we put aside our differences and focus on the goals. Is it worth it? Definitely — for the world that we plan to leave to our descendants, and they will thank us for it.

In the meantime, the False Creek Friends are off to a good start. Oral Questions COVID-19 TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AND ENFORCEMENT S. Bond:Well, it’s been a week with the Premier taking zero accountability for the confusion and anxiety that he caused with his botched rollout of the travel restrictions in British Columbia. How bad was it? Well, it was so bad that the key people responsible for implementing these orders on the ground are still confused about how they will be enforced one week after it was announced.

Rob Farrer, B.C. director of the National Police Federa- tion, said: “Well, there was sort of a quasi announcement about roadblocks and audits and stopping the public and determining if they’re leaving their health zone, and we’ve had a week of people trying to figure out exactly what that means. ” The Premier has his opportunity today, because he has been MIA since he made the announcement. Maybe he can stand up today and tell British Columbians exactly what information a person is expected to provide when they are stopped at a roadblock. Hon. J. Horgan:I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question.

I appreciate…. As we’re in the 14th month of a global pandemic, when we’ve seen case counts rising in British Columbia, I would have expected the official opposition to be supportive of the measures that are being brought for- ward. [1:50 p.m.] I would have thought that being able to have a discus- sion and a bit of runway so people can understand what’s expected of them…. The Minister of Public Safety did that very clearly last week and will be doing more as the week unfolds.

With respect to E division, for example, the head for the RCMP here in British Columbia — fully supportive of making sure that they do everything that they can to keep people safe, making sure that they do everything they can to do so that does not make racialized communities feel like they’ve been put upon. We’ve gone as far as we possibly can to make sure people understand that this is not to be punitive. This is to protect people. This is saying, forcefully, with orders to back it up, that it’s time for British Columbians to stay home.

Four more weeks and we will have achieved significant immunity through the immunization program so we can have a safe summer. I know the Leader of the Opposition supports that. Mr. Speaker:The Leader of the Official Opposition on a supplemental. S. Bond:To be clear to the Premier, this isn’t about the mandate. It isn’t about the opposition’s view of the merit of travel restrictions. This is squarely about the Premier’s botched rollout a week ago. And let’s be clear.

Most British Columbians, including the opposition, would be happy to have a definitive position, if they could figure out exactly what the Premier was talking about. There is confusion across British Columbia. Let’s just remind the Premier what happened. Last Monday he stood up, he messed up, and he disappeared. So let’s be clear. Here is what the Premier said — his words, not mine. This is what he said: “This will be con- ducted through random audits…roadside stops for… all travellers, not just a few travellers.

And again, they will be random. ” Once again, the Premier made an announcement, caus- ed mass confusion and then disappeared. As Harsha Walia of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association said…. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members, let’s hear the question, please. S. Bond:Let me repeat that. As Harsha Walia of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association — not the B.C.

Liberal opposi- tion — said: “It is alarming that we now have three public announcements in the span of one week about increased police enforcement powers, but we still do not have the details…and the public still has no answers about what precisely to expect. ” The members opposite can laugh and giggle all they want. That is what B.C. Civil Liberties are concerned a- bout. It is up to this Premier to get on his feet today, and Monday, April 26, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1419

he should start with an apology to British Columbians for the mess he created. Let’s try it again. Could the Premier explicitly tell British Columbians exactly what information will be required? Because no one has been able to figure it out since his botched announcement. Hon. J. Horgan:I always worry when the Leader of the Opposition gets so exercised about what are pretty basic premises. On Monday, I said by the end of the week, we would have orders in place to ensure that we were restrict- ing travel between health authorities. What did we do?

By the end of the week, the Minister of Public Safety stood up and told people this is how we’re going to proceed. And he said at that time… Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. Let’s listen to the answer, please. Hon. J. Horgan:He said at that time we will come for- ward with enforcement measures next week. Now, I appreciate that the B.C. Liberals want to rush to the end of the mandate. But we want to slowly and meth- odically bring British Columbians along. If the group on that side is so obtuse that they don’t understand “more details coming on Friday…. ” Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Hon. J.

Horgan:When those views come forward on Friday, that’s not good enough either. “We want to know now, now, now, now, now. ” Hurry up and wait. That’s the Leader of the Official Opposition, Mr. Speaker. What we have been doing for the past 14 months is listening to British Columbians. We’ve been listening to public health officials as we lay out a plan to get all of us together through this. Now, I appreciate that must be very vexing for those in a diminished size on the other side of the Legislature.

But we on this side are focusing on people, making sure they’re safe, and we’ll never apologize for that. [1:55 p.m.] COVID-19 TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AND TOURISM ACCOMMODATION RESERV ATIONS T. Wat:So here’s more mess and confusion from this Premier. A week ago the Premier announced: “We have been working to reduce — in fact, to eliminate — hotel and campground bookings from people outside of a par- ticular area. ” Tyson Solmonson, manager of Kilby Provincial Park in the Fraser Health region, took the Premier at his word and cancelled dozens of bookings of people in Vancouver.

It turns out that he didn’t have to, and he blames the Premi- er for the confusion: “It’s at the expense of the public. They are bearing the biggest burden of this fiasco. ” Can the Premier explain exactly how the hotel and campground ban he announced a week ago is supposed to work? Hon. R. Kahlon: Thank you to the member for the question.

I think we all should congratulate that business owner that did the right thing by making sure that the people that are coming to visit his business, his com- munity, are local — that they’re not travelling from out of the health zones that have been announced, that they wer- en’t travelling from out of province. That business owner should be applauded. Today we announced $75 million, additional dollars, to support businesses.

Part of that is dollars that are available for hotels, resorts — businesses that the member just men- tioned — that are doing the right thing, that are ensur- ing that people from outside their jurisdiction don’t come. The dollars are available for them so that they have the supports to offset some of the costs that they would have incurred by that. Again, we encourage more hotels to follow the lead of the business that the member just mentioned. That’s what we’re going to need to do to get through this pandemic. Mr. Speaker:The member for Richmond North Centre on a supplemental. T.

Wat:I’m afraid the minister hasn’t really responded to the question. I guess we need the Premier to respond to that. On Friday, the Minister of Public Safety said: “The tourism sector is cancelling reservations from out-of- area people. That’s taking place. ” The very next day Bry- an Pilbeam of the B.C. Hotel Association said: “Origin- ally, we were asked that we would be calling people and cancelling their reservations. That’s not realistic. Not going to happen. ” To the Premier, is there a booking ban or not? Hon. R.

Kahlon:I want to take this moment to thank the leaders in the tourism and hospitality industry for stepping up to the plate, knowing that this was a challenge, and listening to Dr. Henry when she said that reducing travel, reducing contacts, is the best way to get through the pandemic. We’re grateful for them to step up and say, “Y ou know what? We’re going to take proactive action” — to work with the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, to work with the Solicitor General to ensure that their mem- bers are following the rules and, in many cases, as the member has mentioned, cancelling all their bookings.

We know that comes with a financial impact. We respect that. That’s why we announced the additional $25,000 — 1420 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 26, 2021

up to $20,000 for hotels that have stepped up to take this action to keep our communities safe. We want to thank them for their efforts. We want to encourage more busi- nesses to follow their lead. COVID-19 RESPONSE AND USE OF RAPID TESTING A. Olsen:British Columbia has a stockpile of 2.7 mil- lion rapid tests. Those tests produce results in 30 minutes. Out of those tests, we’ve used 24,000. It’s less than 1 per- cent. This period is critical as this third wave, with multiple variants of concern spreading like wildfire around the province…. We’ve only used 1 percent of the rapid tests available to us.

My question is to the Minister of Health. Why has this government not used 99 percent of the rapid tests at our disposal? Hon. A. Dix: Thank you very much to the member for his question. Our policy with respect to rapid testing has been determined by the public health experts who we use to guide this policy. When we received rapid tests origin- ally from the federal government in November, we moved to have them validated, because the federal government doesn’t have the ability to do that. We did more than 40 pilot projects. [2:00 p.m.] Then we established a policy for their use on March 4.

This policy was determined by public health and determ- ined by the recommendations of the national committee, which had provided advice on how to use rapid testing. Unlike other jurisdictions which had politicians setting testing policy, here in British Columbia we followed the excellent advice that was provided by Dr. Bonnie Henry and others in public health as to when it is appropriate to do this testing. We are using rapid tests more in British Columbia, and we will do in the future.

But the gold-standard test, the PCR test, the one that we’ve used millions of in B.C. — that continues to guide policy, while rapid testing, in many cir- cumstances, can help support that gold-standard testing. Mr. Speaker:The member for Saanich North and the Islands on a supplemental. A. Olsen:Thank you to the minister for the response. We see the Prime Minister standing, I think, in front of Canadians just a week and a half ago or so, talking about the need to use rapid tests in Ontario. We have the Prime Minister of this country extolling the benefits of rapid tests.

We see, in the United Kingdom, that they’re offering twice-weekly rapid tests and that they have identified 120,000 COVID-19 cases through the use of these rapid tests. In fact, the U.K. government is framing the rapid tests as an essential element of their response to COVID- 19 and the eventual complete reopening of their country and of their economy. We have 2.7 million rapid tests at our disposal. This gov- ernment is sitting on them. These tests have been arriving since October, as the minister responded, according to our federal government.

Y et only 13 percent of those tests have been distributed, and only 1 percent of those tests have been used. My question is again to the Minister of Health. What is his plan? How and when will the remaining 2.7 million rapid tests be used as a part of his government’s strategy for asymptomatic infections? Hon. A. Dix: There’s a lot to unpack there, but I would say this: that over the past year, our policies with respect to specific issues such as testing has been guided by public health. I appreciate the advice of the Prime Minister, but I appreciate even more the advice of the epidemiologists of the B.C.

Centre for Disease Control. I would further say that the tests that the member refers to in the United King- dom and the home-based tests are not licensed in Canada as of yet. Finally, I’ d say this: rapid testing will play, and is playing, a role. The member wants to know where the policy is. The policy was delivered, provided to him, on March 4 of this year. It’s clearly on public view. It’s been guided by public health direction, and I think it’s the right approach. COVID-19 TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AND ENFORCEMENT T.

Stone:Well, the Premier has still failed to explain the basic elements of his travel ban, including random police roadblocks, that he announced a week ago. British Colum- bians, frankly, have no idea what the Premier was talking about. Neither do the police. Brian Sauvé, president of the National Police Federation, says they are “opposed to this proposal” as there is a “risk of public backlash, legal ambi- guity and risk of exposure and possible infection due to the continuing slow immunization roll-out for police. ” My question to the Premier is this.

What information does a person need to provide at a roadblock, and will they be turned away if they can’t prove that they are travelling for essential reasons? Hon. M. Farnworth:I thank the member for the ques- tion. What was made clear on Friday was that the details and further information would be coming out later this week, in terms of what is going to be required. What I can tell you is that we have been working very clearly…. Interjections. Hon. M. Farnworth:Do you want the answer, or do you not want the answer? If the…. Monday, April 26, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1421

Mr. Speaker:Members, let’s listen to the answer, please. Hon. M. Farnworth:We have been working very close- ly with police agencies, both municipal and RCMP at E division, on how the kind of enforcement would take place, what would be required and the right approach to do that. What we have made clear is that we want to get it done right. So do the police. They’re acutely aware of all the issues. When that’s done, then we will have an announcement.

But what I can tell you, right now, is that enforcement has already been taking place. [2:05 p.m.] We have seen how it works this weekend, for example, with the ferries. Police were in attendance when required, and it went quite smoothly. There were a number of people turned back. What’s also been clear is that this isn’t all over the place. This is about key checkpoints, in particular in the Hope area, where the No. 1 — as the member quite rightly knows; I know he’s driven it many times — diverges into the canyon, the Coquihalla and the Hope-Princeton. That’s where you would put a place.

We’re working with the police, and the details will be coming out later. Mr. Speaker: The member for Kamloops–South Thompson on a supplemental. T. Stone:Well, I appreciate the highways geography les- son from the Solicitor General, but the fact of the matter is this: the Premier made this announcement a week ago. A week ago, he said that there were going to be roadblocks. The Solicitor General then stood in this House last Thurs- day and said: “Just wait. Just wait.

The details are coming tomorrow. ” The Solicitor General then holds his press conference last Friday, and the reality is that we still don’t have all the details — simple things like: if a ticket is issued, are drivers required to immediately turn around and go back home? We’re told that that question has been asked. We’re told that we have to wait more time this week to get an answer. What grounds would initiate a police officer to pull over a vehicle? That’s a pretty simple, basic question. We’ve asked it. We’re being told that we’ve got to wait as more work is done on this.

British Columbians are rightfully confused, and they’re rightfully frustrated. Again, this speaks to a pattern of the Premier going out and announcing stuff and then others having to try and come in and make sense of it for British Columbians.

Ralph Kaisers, the president of the B.C. police associ- ation, said this: “It puts police in a very tough position. ” I say that because again…. “We’re not supposed to be doing random and arbitrary stops, ” police checks, but now the government is “wanting us to do it. ” Again to the Premier, can the Premier tell British Col- umbians why he just blurted out a half-baked idea without first consulting the police? Hon. M. Farnworth:I appreciate the member’s ques- tion, and I’m glad that he doesn’t need a geography lesson. I just hope that this weekend he doesn’t need a speeding reminder.

Now, having said that, look, I appreciate the member’s question. We have been really clear. This is not about arbitrary or random stops. What it is about…. The Premier also made it clear. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members, come to order. Members. The minister will continue. Hon. M. Farnworth:It's similar to the CounterAttack program, which is infrequent and periodic — or if you want to say the word, random — but the point is, we all know how it works. The police know how it works. We also want to make sure it’s done right.

What has been made very clear, right from the beginning, is that, on the announcements, the Premier said that details would be coming. I also said what the announcement is, and I explained that there would be details on the enforce- ment side coming out later this week. That’s exactly what’s going to happen. We have been working very closely with the police on this, the people who make the operational decisions. I’ll remind the member: it’s not the Solicitor General that dir- ects the operations of the police; it is the police. They want to make sure that we’re going to do it right.

We want to make sure that it’s going to be done right. That’s exactly what we’re doing. I would put it this way: the only confusion is not the public of British Columbia; it’s on that side of the House. M. de Jong:The only thing becoming clear, I’m afraid, is the reputation that the Premier is acquiring — steadily acquiring — for causing confusion. Look, on Monday, he said this three times. Road checks, he said, will be random. “In my mind, ” he said, “it’s random. ” We’re going to be randomly checking.

Then, just a few days later, on Friday, the Solicitor Gen- eral, the Minister for Public Safety, steps forward and says: “Well, they’re not roadblocks. They’re not road checks, and they’re not random. ” The question people want an answer to, because it has become a recurring trend, is: why did the Premier cause mass confusion, in the middle of a pandemic, by announ- cing something when, apparently, he didn’t have a clue what he was talking about? [2:10 p.m.] Hon. J. Horgan:It’s good. I guess I got the member be- tween his testimony to have the question today. It is clear….

Interjections. 1422 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 26, 2021

Mr. Speaker:Members. Interjections. [Mr. Speaker rose.] Mr. Speaker:Members will come to order now. [Mr. Speaker resumed his seat.] Hon. J. Horgan:It is clear that there’s a pattern emer- ging in the questions brought forward by the official oppo- sition. Heap scorn and invective upon me and avoid the whole point, which is to protect British Columbians in the middle of a global pandemic. Now, I want not just the member from Abbotsford West but all members of the Legislature…. I’m quite happy to have you heap your scorn and your ridicule upon me, but let’s be clear about one thing.

That is that the whole object- ive, from the beginning of this global pandemic, was to protect people, businesses and communities. That’s what we’re doing. If you want to make political points punching me in the nose, fill your boots. Mr. Speaker:The member for Abbotsford West has a supplemental. M. de Jong:I’m thrilled to know that the Premier wasn’t offended that I ceded way at the commission so his Attor- ney General could give testimony as well. Look, police don’t seem to know what the Premier was talking about last Monday.

Health officials didn’t seem to know what the Premier was talking about when he made his announcement last Monday. But most importantly, British Columbians didn’t know what the Premier was talking about when he made his announcement. We are in the third wave of a pandemic. Lives are at stake, and people’s individual freedoms are being cur- tailed. People need information that is accurate and infor- mation that is precise. If the Premier can’t provide inform- ation that is accurate and precise, will he make this prom- ise today, and that is: to stay silent and let people talk who know what they’re talking about?

Hon. J. Horgan: “I demand you stand up and give me an answer. I demand you sit down and not give any answers. ” I think that that summarizes the B.C. Liberal opposition. “We demand to know something. We’re not sure what it is, but we want to know it right now. Unless we don’t like what we hear, and then we want you to sit down. ” We have been talking about movement of people and physical distancing for 14 months in this province and across this country.

I appeal to Premiers across the country to say to the citizens: “Please stay home. ” We’ve been talk- ing to British Columbians about staying close to their neighbourhoods and staying within their bubble for months and months and months. The only people that are resisting this good advice from public health officials are the official opposition. Mr. Speaker:Before I recognize the next member, I just noticed that people who are participating virtually are also trying to show some signs, which are not allowed. Be care- ful.

If members have any issue or point of order, they can indicate and tell us, then we will deal with it. ADDICTION SERVICES IN INTERIOR HEALTH AUTHORITY AND STATUS OF PATHW AYS CENTRE T. Halford:Well, I think the Premier needs to answer for this. When the government defunded Pathways recov- ery centre, the Premier and his minister tried to deflect the blame: “It wasn’t our call. Entirely a decision of Interior Health. ” In fact, the minister said the following.

The Interi- or Health Authority assures us that “when the existing contract with Pathways ends on May 31, there will be no disruption in service for people that are reliant on it. ” Well here’s a problem. The Interior Health Authority says that recovery won’t be coming to Penticton. In fact, what we get from a senior member of Interior Health is the following: “Residential treatment is not effective. ” And: “This is not what first-line treatment will look like in Pen- ticton. ” Can the Premier tell us why this government is defund- ing recovery beds in Penticton? [2:15 p.m.] Hon. S.

Malcolmson:The most unfortunate part of that question is that it spreads misinformation. First of all, Pathways did not operate any recovery beds in Penticton. Secondly, Interior Health has stood up, just in the last two months, 20 Interior Health youth treatment beds, part of our doubling of youth treatment across British Colum- bia, and has stood up 27 new adult beds just in the last two months, funded by the province and implemented by Interior Health. Harm reduction is a focus of our government. But abso- lutely — building more treatment beds. That’s a belief of our government.

That’s a belief of Interior Health. If we didn’t believe that treatment beds would help with addic- tions treatment and the overdose crisis, we wouldn’t have just committed another $330 million to overdose response and addiction recovery, and we wouldn’t have just an- nounced an additional 195 treatment beds for British Col- umbia. Mr. Speaker:The member for Surrey–White Rock on a supplemental. T. Halford:Here’s the fact. It’s that this government has Monday, April 26, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1423

closed recovery beds. Y ou’ve closed them in Penticton, and you’ve closed them in Vancouver, and you’ve closed them in Pathways. Interjection. T. Halford:Do you want to listen for it? Mr. Speaker:Members. T. Halford:We’re talking about overdoses. We’re talking about recovery. Interjection. Mr. Speaker:The member has the floor. Continue, please. T. Halford:I heard the minister’s remarks. But what she didn’t address is the remarks from the Interior Health Authority. “Residential treatment is not effective. ” That is from a senior official of Interior. They’re saying residential treatment is not effective.

My question is to the Premier. Does this rhetoric match why we are actually closing recovery beds? Hon. S. Malcolmson:This government and Interior Health are opening treatment and recovery beds. We’ve opened them already: 27 adult, 20 youth, just in the last couple of months. Just last week, as part of our historic half-a-billion-dollar investment in mental health and addiction services, we announced another almost 200 treatment beds, which is part of our half-a-billion-dollar commitment to furthering the continuum of care that people need both for mental health and addictions.

The official that the opposition member cites — quotes from Interior Health — was talking about the continuum of care and has said persuasively to the newspaper that her comments were quoted out of context. She assures the media reporter that she absolutely believes that recovery beds and treatment facilities are one of the vital parts of addictions treatment and support. The

article has been updated. I am reaffirmed by Interi- or Health and by this employee, in particular, that they agree with the province and with addictions specialists across B.C. — that we need to invest across full continuum of care, and treatment and recovery beds are an important part of that. P . Milobar:Well, the confusion lies when the minister stands in this House and says: “Hands off. It’s all Interior Health Authority’s. The Interior Health Authority is in charge of this. I’m just the minister. ” Just the minister.

A minister whose budget has stayed static this year, while the Premier’s budget, for his office, has gone up by 30 percent. But just the minister, nonetheless. So the problem arises when we have Interior Health senior officials saying one thing about recovery and treat- ment beds and not correcting and not seeing anything from this government until today correcting that. When we look at Pathways in Penticton being defunded by this government, for around a half-a-million dollars. Well, I guess they couldn’t even have paid for the toilet in Vancou- ver for that half-a-million dollars.

The residents of Penticton are rightfully concerned a- bout the services they’re going to see provided in their community. They hear the minister saying one thing and the heads of the health authority, of which she has deflec- ted things to, say something totally different. We’ d like some confirmation. Again, to the Premier: does the Premier support that position around treatment beds in Penticton? Or will Penticton actually see no loss whatsoever of services in their community? [2:20 p.m.] Hon. S.

Malcolmson:As I have said in the House many times, Interior Health has assured me that there will be no loss of care as a result of Interior Health choosing not to renew the contract of Pathways. As I’ve said before in the House, Interior Health assures me that this is part…. Bringing services in-house and inside the primary care system is intended to broaden the range of supports and broaden the regional reach of sup- ports. They say it’s better for patient care, when they’re accessing mental health and addiction supports.

That’s what it is that we’re working towards as a province, build- ing that continuum of care and having people be able to access mental health and addiction support on a level that’s equal to physical care. An example is all the urgent primary care centres that our government has opened across the province, where people can get seven-day-a-week immediate access to mental health and addiction support. In March, in Interior Health,we funded 20 new residential treatment and recov- ery beds for youth. We have publicly funded 27 adult treat- ment and recovery beds in Interior Health.

Interior Health is innovating, in particular, with integ- rated treatment teams — nowhere else in the province is doing this yet — where workers go out and meet individu- als where they’re at, where they can receive addiction treat- ment and recovery treatment where they’re at, where, in the past, they might not have been able to access it. Interior Health and the addictions team are innovating, and we’re proud to work with them. [End of question period.] Orders of the Day Hon. M. Farnworth:I call continued debate on the budget. 1424 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 26, 2021

[S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.] Budget Debate (continued) D. Davies:I take pleasure, again, to continue my debate on Budget 2021. Of course, I made it roughly halfway through my remarks last time. Just a little bit of a recap. I was just actually starting to get into the nuts and bolts of this budget. I briefly talked about the lack of support for farmers and businesses, lack of support in the resource sector, you know, which are really a direct attack on the livelihoods of the residents of Peace River North, the residents that I represent. I touched base, as well, on the grant program.

Just a little over a fraction of the $340 million that was put towards supporting businesses that were in dire needs has barely been put out the door — in fact, now is looking for another year to move that forward. Just recently, of course, the government has put a ban in place on in-restaurant dining. No new money, no new supports for the restaurant industry that has already been brought to its knees across our province. This business grant program has so many barriers in place that make it nearly impossible. I can’t remember if I mentioned them last time.

I’m actually dealing with two restaurants in my home community of Fort St. John that are struggling to get access to this grant. I think I had also touched briefly on…. We hear the government often bragging about job creation. We know that there have been upwards of 60,000 public sector jobs created, but where has the protection been for the 45,000 private sector jobs? Where’s the protection for those? [2:25 p.m.] Where’s the program? Where’s the plan to build these jobs? We’re not complaining about public sector jobs.

We realize that we need many of them, but British Columbians also want to know where these jobs are. Is it increasing the bureaucracy? Is it increasing red tape? We understand, and I think we all agree, that we need social workers. We need teachers. We need doctors. I think that is the big worry around this massive increase of public sector jobs. Forestry is another issue, something that’s very import- ant to my riding, at a time when we not only need to be promoting our forest sector, but we need to be looking at ways to do it better. I think that there is a direction toward that.

The government only lightly alluded to promoting and looking at doing forestry differently. But they’ve been cut $41 million this year, and nearly the same amount next year, which, again, does not make sense at a time when…. This is one of the founding resource sectors of our pro- vince and one of the major resources of our province. There’s a cut in the budget at a time when the government is talking about how we can do things better, how we can promote value-added, how we can, again, promote private sector jobs, which are extremely important. Our communities need help — our communities across the province.

Forestry impacts not only rural communities. It has a massive impact on our urban com- munities as well. In fact, another thing tied in, speaking briefly of rural communities, that’s not in here…. The rural dividend fund has not been brought back. Again, something that…. Ma- ny rural communities that have been devastated by the downturn in forestry need this support, and it is not in the budget. Unfortunately, instead of these big ideas and this excite- ment and vision that British Columbians are looking for- ward, all we’ve got is enormous debt for the next decade.

Enormous deficits for the next decade, with, overall, few supports. Enormous deficits that all of us are going to have to pay, as well as future generations. When we see a budget ballooning…. Let’s be honest. This happened pre-COVID as well. We saw the budget bal- looning. In fact, it started in 2017. Let’s see what happened in 2017. Oh, an election. A new government happened in 2017. We now look at these massive deficits with no end in sight. We cannot tax our way out of this, but this gov- ernment is trying. It’s hurting British Columbians.

In fact, by the time this government is finished, there will be an additional $10,000 per person of additional debt in British Columbia. That’s going to be owed by, again, not only us — not even my kids, probably not even my great-grandkids. That’s looking at just what it looks like today. Affordability. I just don’t understand that buzzword that comes from government, because everything in this bud- get is quite the opposite. Vancouver is now the most un- affordable housing market in the world, and only increas- ing.

We see this in other urban areas across our province. [2:30 p.m.] Affordability — 23 new taxes and fees that have been levied by this government. Affordability — the new Netflix and soda tax. Well played, government, at a time when everyone is promoting that you stay home, you watch Net- flix, and you avoid your interactions with people. I, like most others, do watch streaming devices. I have my fa- vourite shows on Netflix and Crave. I drink my soda water, Bubly. I don’t know if that’s an endorsement or not. It’s not meant to be an endorsement, but I like Bubly. There’s tax on that soda water now.

There’s tax on this Netflix at a time when government is telling people to stay home. Affordability? Affordability. Air tax. Applying a specu- lation and vacancy tax to the air above businesses — talk about a gut punch to small businesses, a punch in the guts for our non-profit groups, our arts groups that are already struggling. Many of them have already collapsed, unfortu- nately. They’ve shut down. Y et this government continues to throw sandbags on people’s shoulders, pushing them down. Affordability. Hmm. Another thing that was mentioned in this budget was Monday, April 26, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1425

the community benefits agreement. These community be- nefits agreements that we’ve seen over the past little while are creating project delays. They are increasing, and we’ve seen this. This isn’t just us saying this. We’ve seen costs skyrocket. We’ve seen the scope of projects being reduced because of these community benefits agreements. The Illecillewaet four-laning project is just one example — a 143 percent increase in its overall budget. This is just one project. Someone has to pay for these overruns. Com- bine that with everything else. There is zero affordability in this budget.

In fact, there is zero affordability for the fore- seeable future. This is just the start, I’m afraid. The worst part about this — if there is a worst part; I guess there is a worst part — is 85 percent of B.C. construction workers are being told that they can’t work on these projects because they are not part of one of B.C. ’s handpicked unions — completely discrim- inated by this government. Just a little piece out of theJournal of Commerce where they talk about…. And this is not new information. We know that we are going to need a significant increase of tradespeople across our province.

Sixty thousand more are going to be needed by 2030. I want to bring forward a little piece the member from Chilliwack had mentioned last week, if you recall that. The community benefits agreement is going to be the solve-all, the fix-all, the be-all and end-all to get people into trades. Well, that’s not true. That is not true. In fact, today more than 85 percent of the men and women working in con- struction, including 82 percent of trades apprentices, are learning their craft in open-shop construction companies.

I’m not sure where the member from Chilliwack got his information — or other members, for that matter. This is not helping families. This is not helping British Columbians. This is not helping businesses. This is not helping build British Columbia forward to a better future following this pandemic. We are all going to continue to pay the price of this NDP incompetence, unfortunately. [2:35 p.m.] Our party had put forward a plan calling for a private sector jobs plan, a plan for women, a plan for youth. These are missing in action on this budget.

Infrastructure, as I mentioned a little bit earlier, is also severely lacking again in my riding — the rural resource roads, a four-laning program for the Alaska Highway. I do want to recognize the former Minister of Transportation for the help that they did in getting an additional wash- room and pullout between Fort St. John and Fort Nelson, but we need a lot more. There are ten hours of highway north of Fort Nelson without cell service, without, really, a formalized pullout.

We need to make sure that we are looking at improving those and getting some cell service, or even some little hotspot areas, north of Fort Nelson on the highway. Since I was first elected in 2017, I’ve been fiercely advoc- ating for the replacement of the Taylor Bridge. In fact, I’ll read a little piece. This was one of the very first letters I ever wrote as an MLA in 2017, to the then minister, Claire Trevena. The letter is basically saying: “We are in critical need of a new bridge. ” I’ll just read this. “On the inspec- tion report, the Taylor Bridge was given an urgency rating of 4 out of 5.

While the highest score could indicate that the bridge is a danger to life and limb, a 4, which is our bridge, alerts to the dire issues that would arise should a span be closed. ” This was written four years ago. We need the Taylor Bridge in the budget. In a pandemic budget, again, I was absolutely shocked to see cuts to education, cuts to school district budgets.

As the former Education critic myself, I had the chance to talk to many school districts across the province, and I com- mend school districts, trustees and teachers for working within the tight confines of the moneys that they receive from this provincial government. But this was a blow, again, to them during the pandemic to see this cut. In fact, interestingly enough…. This is just one news report from schools here in Victoria protesting this gov- ernment’s cuts. School districts are having to make the choice: are they cutting band programs? Are they cutting sports? What are they cutting?

Maybe the Minister of Edu- cation needs to reach out and tell these school districts what programs they need to cut because of this govern- ment’s cuts to education. Unbelievable from a government, a party, which has always talked about this. Y et, in the middle of a pandemic, they cut education. Homeless numbers are up. We’ve seen that. In fact, this was actually…. Homeless numbers were up before the pandemic.

This is the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction issue note from 2020, just before every- thing started: “Preliminary results from the 2020 homeless counts conducted just prior to COVID-19 public health measures showed a provincial increase of 10 percent from previous counts. ” There is very little in here to really be supporting and getting people into housing and the sup- ports that they need. I see my time is quickly ticking away, so I guess a bit of a

summary. On affordability, which is kind of funny…. There’s no renter’s rebate that was promised. And 23 new taxes and fees. No $10-a-day child care. The $300 clawback from persons with disabilities has still not been returned. Failed to address rental housing costs and supply. Affordability. This budget is anything but affordable to British Columbians. Rather than take ownership of these failures inherent to British Columbians, this government has blamed everything on everyone but themselves. To the government: people are worried about their health. People are worried about their economic well- being.

This government continues to fail to put forward a plan. We need a plan. We need those supports. The future of British Columbia depends on it. [2:40 p.m.] 1426 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 26, 2021

Deputy Speaker:Recognizing the Minister of Advan- ced Education and Skills Training on her birthday. Happy birthday, Minister. Hon. A. Kang:Thank you so much, hon. Speaker. I am grateful to be here on the traditional territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh people, and I thank them for the ability to gather and work on their land. I am honoured to rise today to speak on and support Budget 2021. Last year was extraordinarily difficult as each of us learned how to cope with the new reality of COV- ID-19.

I am proud to be part of a government that con- tinues to work tirelessly to support British Columbians through the global pandemic. Budget 2021 is about mak- ing life better for all British Columbians. It includes fund- ing for more health-related education programs, economic recovery initiatives and post-secondary capital projects, and it is my privilege to talk and speak in support of Budget 2021. I’m going to begin by talking about housing. Burn- aby–Deer Lake is a beautiful community that over 60,000 people call home.

I know that times are tough right now and that many families, seniors, young adults and indi- viduals are struggling to afford rent. As the MLA for Burn- aby–Deer Lake, constituents often share with me sad stor- ies that they are about to become evicted because they can- not bear the high rents in addition to their daily living expenses. I am so glad to know that in Budget 2021, our govern- ment is working with B.C. Housing to provide $11 million of capital funding through the supportive housing pro- gram, adding 43 units to the property at 3986 Norland Avenue.

This is a direct response to combatting the grow- ing risks of homelessness in the area. I know that many of my constituents are also members of B.C. Housing, and with this valuable and important investment, it will provide many families a safe and afford- able place that they can call home. Since 2017, we have made historic investments in edu- cation and towards the health and safety of elementary and high school students in Burnaby.

At University High- lands Elementary, a school that is located in my colleague’s riding at Burnaby-Lougheed, our government invested $6 million in expanding eight classrooms to offer 195 more student spaces. This means that more students were enrolled in this school and benefited from these new infra- structures to enhance learning experiences. We also implemented new seismic upgrades in Burnaby North Secondary School, which included their neighbour- hood learning centre space for child care and language development program spaces.

We also invested in seismic upgrades at Seaforth Elementary, at Parkcrest Elementary and École Armstrong Elementary. Today our government continues to put education and the health and safety of our students as a top priority. With this new budget, Budget 2021, we will also be investing in a seismic replacement for Stride Avenue elementary school. As a longtime resident of Burnaby, I am so proud of Burnaby Hospital and all its staff, the leadership team and especially their service of care during the many months of this unprecedented pandemic. I am also proud that my two kids were born in Burnaby Hospital.

The level of ser- vice that I received in the maternity ward was excellent, and I am forever grateful for the team, the state-of-the-art patient care that helped deliver my babies. Our government has made record investments in mod- ernizing, upgrading and implementing safe infrastructures throughout B.C. ’s hospitals, and Burnaby Hospital is one of them. Our government has successfully completed the emergency department and community health services renovation at Burnaby Hospital, which includes a new mental health and substance use department and com- munity health service area.

We continue to develop the phase 1 upgrade of the hospital so patients can receive the best and the most efficient care possible. [2:45 p.m.] I have been living in Burnaby since 1986. That was a time even before the SkyTrain was built here. I have seen this community develop from a quiet city to a vibrant and stimulating city. Burnaby now has four city centres, each with its own unique neighbourhoods, SkyTrain and transportation hub.

The community around Brentwood city centre is the riding of my colleague in Burnaby North, and it is becoming an exciting new central location with new mixed-use towers, malls and new amenities. Burnaby residents can look forward to increased station capacity, escalator upgrades and improved elevator services to sup- port accessibility and the increasing ridership. I am so excited to see investments such as these made to Burnaby to modernize and improve the safety of our pub- lic infrastructures. This supports the concept of safe and walkable neighbourhoods with convenient access to pub- lic transit.

As MLA for Burnaby–Deer Lake, I am incredibly proud to serve my constituents. The livability and the strong sense of community in Burnaby are a result of many great investments that our government has put in place to build a stronger and better city. In my role as Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training, I am so excited for the work that is ahead of us during this mandate. For 16 years, the B.C. Liberals had the chance to make life easier for students, but they chose to do nothing while B.C. students struggled with the highest student loan interest rate in Canada.

All the while, the cost of tuition tripled. As a mother, as a former elementary school teacher and a lifelong learner, empowering people through education is a value I hold close and dear to my heart. That is why I will be doing things differently. I will be working dili- gently with my colleagues to make post-secondary educa- tion more affordable and accessible. The opposition would Monday, April 26, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1427

undo our progress and make life more expensive for stu- dents. Our government will be doing things differently. In 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, our government responded quickly to the needs of post-secondary students — financial needs — and introduced the B.C. access grant. The B.C. access grant is the first new provincial post-sec- ondary grant in 15 years. It provided up to $4,000 per year, upfront support, so that students can focus on their stud- ies rather than worry about paying their bills.

This doubled the number of students supported by previous grant pro- grams to more than 40,000 students annually. Now our government is working to expand eligibility so that even more students are able to access the high-qual- ity education that our province has to offer. While some students pursue a degree or certificate, many students are choosing a career in trades. Moreover, many of the work- ers in our communities are tradespeople. These are our restaurant cooks, electricians, painters, carpenters, beauti- cians, hair stylists, builders, automobile mechanics and so many more.

They are essential to our B.C. economy. In fact — a little-known fact — my mom was a certified esthetician, and my aunt is a certified hair stylist. She is the only hair stylist that I will allow to cut my hair, style it, col- our it. Ever since I can remember, and even until this day, my aunt is my only hair stylist. Before my family immigrated to Canada, my parents knew life would be hard in a new country. My dad immig- rated our whole family to B.C. because he was a theology student at the Vancouver School of Theology.

So, before we left Taiwan, my mom studied to become a certified esthet- ician to ensure that her skills would be recognized and val- ued, that she would be able to find a job and support our family in a new country. With their certifications, both my aunt and my mom started a small business in Vancouver, which my aunt still has today. [2:50 p.m.] In 2003, the old government, the B.C. Liberals under Gordon Campbell, made a choice to eliminate the com- pulsory trade system, with no thought to the long-term impacts on our trade system in the province.

Since then, B.C. was the only province without compulsory trade, and that is wrong. That devalues skilled trades. Our government will be righting the wrong. We are going to be putting value back into the trades. Together with my good friend the Parliamentary Secretary for Skills Training and with my colleague the Minister of Labour we will be working to restore the compulsory trade system to add value back into our trades jobs. The previous government imposed tuition for adult basic education and English-language-learning programs, preventing thousands of people from upgrading their skills.

Our government made this free again. Furthermore, we expanded a tuition waiver program to all public post- secondary institutions for former kids in care under the age of 26. Right now we are working to expand this to all former kids in care, regardless of age, because education is a life- long journey. Sometimes this journey for former kids in care takes a bit more time and has many more detours. Expanding this program is a step towards breaking down barriers and ensuring that education is accessible and affordable for all. I am so proud of the team I have in my ministry.

My ministry is working hard to deliver the res- ults that make a difference in people’s lives. Our post-secondary education system serves over 500,000 students in every corner of the province. Students are our future scientists, trades workers, leaders, care- givers, creators and innovators, who will find the 21st-cen- tury solutions our province needs to rebuild and thrive.

After years of neglect by the old government, our govern- ment, since 2017, has worked hard to increase access to education so businesses, industry sectors and service sec- tors throughout the province can meet the demands of the future for highly skilled workers. Health care. Next, I want to talk about health care. All of us, at one time or another, need to call upon our health care, whether it is to welcome a new baby into the world; have a routine health checkup; or address emerging issues, chronic issues, aging issues and, of course, those unexpec- ted issues.

As a benefactor of B.C. ’s high-quality health care system, I am graciously thankful. Health care is one of B.C. ’s fastest-growing fields of employment and is an important part of a strong and resilient economy. Our government is making meaning- ful and impactful investments in our health care system by training more front-line workers to provide people the care they need, when and where they need it.

Since 2017, our government has provided steady, ongoing annual funding for health education programs to public post-secondary institutions across B.C. and also pro- vided one-time additional investments to respond dir- ectly to health workforce demands.

I would like to highlight some examples of recent fund- ing for health care education, which includes: new sono- graphy programs at College of New Caledonia and Camo- sun College; an expansion of the nurse practitioner pro- gram at UBC, the University of Victoria and the University of Northern British Columbia; 311 additional specialty nursing seats at the British Columbia Institute of Tech- nology, BCIT; a new northwest nursing program in Fort St. John; physiotherapy program expansion and distribu- tion to Prince George; and occupational therapy expan- sion.

Budget 2021 builds on this health education program growth with major new investments in nursing, allied health and targeted physician training programs. [2:55 p.m.] My ministry will be working closely with post-second- ary institutions, the Ministry of Health and other partners in the coming months to finalize the details of where these expansions and new programs can make the most differ- ence. Budget 2021 commits more than $65 million over three years to fund these key training investments for the 1428 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 26, 2021

health sector. Programming, training, re-skilling and up- skilling are just some of the ways our government is invest- ing in and enhancing B.C. ’s health care. We are also making significant and necessary capital investments, which means that there will be more seats in nursing programs, rehabilitative therapy programs, med- ical laboratory science programs, the midwifery program and the list goes on. As Mahatma Gandhi said: “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver. ” B.C. puts the health and safety of all British Columbians first.

We will benefit for decades to come from the investment that is being made now to open up more training spaces for people who will be our future health professionals. Technology has been able to connect our communities when we have been physically apart during this pandemic. B.C. is a leader in technology. Investing in technology and tech seats each year, we are supporting the important developments in our province. In 2018, our government announced an additional 2,900 technology-related spaces that will produce 1,000 additional tech graduates by the year 2023. The B.C.

NDP government plans to increase investments of up to a steady state of $42 million a year. We are looking forward to working with partners to devel- op a plan for an additional 2,000 tech-relevant student spaces. To help graduate students focus on their studies, since 2018 we have allocated over $15 million to graduate schol- arships at ten public post-secondary institutions, which will support more than 1,000 awards of $15,000 each by 2023. This fund represents the largest investment in the province’s history in scholarships for graduate students.

Our post-secondary institutions have been a critical beacon of stability throughout COVID-19, and they will continue to be an essential part of propelling B.C. ’s eco- nomic recovery. It is important that we continue to invest in our facilities and institutions to educate and train the workforce of the future for the emerging economy and to bolster economic development. Some of the projects underway will provide jobs and economic boosts to our communities, including student housing at SFU, BCIT and Okanagan College and the new national centre for Indigenous laws at UVic.

For instance, in Burnaby, there will be new capital investments at BCIT on a 464-bed mass timber student housing project that will cost $114 million. This process will create job oppor- tunities across sectors and increase affordability and envir- onmentally friendly student housing for students to study and live on the Burnaby campus. Ensuring that this work continues is why we’re investing $1.7 billion over the next three years in new and expanded buildings on public post- secondary campuses, as an investment in recovery and our future. Budgets are about choices.

The previous government chose to refuse to expand affordable student housing dur- ing their time in office, completing only 130 beds in their 16 years in office. We are making different choices. Our government is building 8,000 student housing beds with nearly 6,000 completed or under way. When British Col- umbians can access affordable post-secondary education and housing, we all benefit. [3:00 p.m.] COVID-19 sent us down an irreversible path, one with formidable obstacles. B.C. ’s economy is facing unpreced- ented challenges.

Everyone in British Columbia deserves a seat at the table, so that they can fully participate in British Columbia’s economy. We know education levels the playing field, especially for underrepresented and vulnerable people. Times are changing. Nowadays, most of the good-paying jobs re- quire some sort of post-secondary education. I am deep- ly passionate about education and about improving the accessibility of post-secondary education, so that all learners can have the opportunity to be equal participants of our economic recovery. I want to share two of my favourite quotes.

One is by Kofi Annan, who says: “Education is the great equalizer of our time. It gives hope to the hopeless and creates chances for those without. ” Similarly, Jim Clyburn said: “Education is a great equalizer and shouldn’t be limited to the wealth- iest few. ” To help the people most impacted by COVID-19, our government committed $47.5 million in 2020-21 as part of the immediate response through StrongerBC, B.C. ’s eco- nomic recovery plan to help thousands of people upskill or re-skill and to find their place in the post-COVID eco- nomy. The old government chose to leave people behind.

Now more than ever, we need to build an economy that includes everyone. These investments include short-term skills training for in-demand jobs, Indigenous community skills training and education, targeted training for health and human services jobs and micro-credentials. New short-term training programs are giving British Columbi- ans the tools they need to get back to work quickly. Budget 2021 will provide further funding of $29.5 mil- lion to continue the work of the economic recovery plan.

These investments are in addition to the ministry’s ongo- ing investments into post-secondary education, which are vital to B.C. ’s economic development, and last September’s commitment to include a $20 million investment to sup- port short-term skills training for almost 2,500 unem- ployed or precariously employed British Columbians. The new short-term skills training projects will help people upskill, so that they can access in-demand jobs in the com- munity and get back to work more quickly.

In addition, we invested $15 million to support the ex- pansion of community-based skills training, an education program for approximately 1,700 Indigenous people whose employment has been impacted by COVID-19. These new training projects align with in-demand jobs in the community and will empower Indigenous learners to upskill so that they can access jobs and get back to work more quickly or pursue further education. Programs Monday, April 26, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1429

have been designed to respond to communities’ needs and priorities and are delivered in accordance with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action and B.C. ’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Health care systems are critical to ensuring that vulner- able residents in long-term care and assisted-living facil- ities get the care they need. That is why we invested $8.4 million in 2020-2021, and Budget 2021 commits an addi- tional $30 million, so that more people can access training for 3,000 positions as health care assistants across the province.

We are working with the Ministry of Health to ensure that people who want to retrain or upskill as health care assistants will be able to receive a comprehens- ive health care education, as well as essential on-the-job paid training, for a high-demand career through the health career access program. [3:05 p.m.] New short-term-duration, easy-access micro-credential programs are helping learners re-skill or upskill so that they can prepare for high-demand jobs in their com- munities and get back to work more quickly.

A total invest- ment of $9 million over two years is helping to support micro-credential programs for more than 9,500 British Columbians who want to re-skill or upskill to take advant- age of opportunities in high-demand sectors. As a part of the immediate response last summer, we invested $1.26 million in 2020-2021 to continue to provide training opportunities for people to build a good career in the high-demand field of early childhood education.

To continue supporting B.C. ’s ten-year health care B.C. plan, we will be investing an additional $1.32 million in 2021-2022 to continue the expansion of early childhood education programs at public post-secondary institutions. To help provide support to our most vulnerable citizens, we’ve invested $800,000 in 2020-2021 so that more people can access training to become community mental health workers.

These members of our communities provide invaluable supports, such as mental and physical health promotion, shelter support and addiction counselling to individuals who struggle with mental health and addiction issues. Budget 2021 expands our COVID-19 investments to include $5.5 million for the new work-integrated learn- ing opportunities that will ensure that valuable, practical experience is a part of post-secondary training. While the fight against COVID-19 continues, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The work of the largest mass vaccination in B.C. ’s history continues.

Our institutions did amazing work throughout the pandemic to ensure that British Columbia’s post-secondary students could contin- ue their studies. As a result, we have seen very few cases of COVID-19 transmission at our universities and colleges in B.C. While most classes are being delivered remotely to limit the spread of COVID-19, hundreds of thousands of students continue to receive the high-quality post-sec- ondary education that B.C. is known for and are working towards a valuable credential. There are some wonderful examples of pandemic partnerships and collaboration that I would like to share.

Camosun College loaned a portable X-ray unit from its medical radiology program to Island Health and began manufacturing face shields. BCIT’s health sciences department donated ventilators, gloves, masks, gowns, face shields and sanitizing wipes to local health authorit- ies. SFU students 3D-printed hundreds of medical mask ear-savers for Vancouver General Hospital staff, and VCC opened their kitchens to provide food for people in the Downtown Eastside and other food-insecure areas in Vancouver.

These are just a very few of some of the amazing and heartwarming stories that came out of our post-secondary institutions and communities this past year. I am so proud of all of our universities and colleges for the contributions they have made to the communities and around the pro- vince during the pandemic. I am so proud of the faculty, staff, leadership team and all the students and learners for their steadfast perseverance and resilience. They have all risen to the challenge and supported our communities when times of need were there.

My role as Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training continues to humble me. I am genuinely touched by the stories of students, faculty and staff who have gone beyond extraordinary expectations to give back to their campus communities. Ryleigh, a master of arts student specializing in Fre- nch at the University of Victoria, is a recipient of the B.C. graduate scholarship. Ryleigh had intended on completing their master’s in one year, instead of two, to avoid the financial burden. When informed about their nomination, they were intrigued and began reorienting their research goals.

Instead of narrowing their research path, Ryleigh embraced their opportunities, participat- ing in two additional composite and graduate work- shops, to prepare for their future. [3:10 p.m.] I continue to hear from students and stakeholders about concerns for issues such as racism, sexual violence, student debt, housing and mental health. Many thanks to everyone in my ministry, and thanks to all of our students, faculty and staff — our post-sec- ondary institutions who are coming together every day to ensure that B.C. ’s post-secondary sector continues to be one of the best in the world.

As Helen Keller ex- pressed so beautifully and eloquently: “ Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. ” Thank you, hon. Speaker, for this opportunity to speak on and support Budget 2021. S. Cadieux:I will, as we do oftentimes with these budget and throne responses, just say a few words about some people that mean a lot to me. The small but mighty team that got me re-elected this fall in the middle of a pandemic. It was truly bizarre cam- 1430 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 26, 2021

paigning virtually. But the team pivoted so nicely, and I appreciate their assistance so much. A thank-you, as well, of course, to my husband Daniel for putting up with me 24 hours a day for the last year, taking over the den, as my makeshift office, with piles of books and papers everywhere. To my constituency assistants, who have remained flex- ible and pivoted to working remotely as needed. They are a terrific support to me. Both Kiran Dhaliwal and Ekamjit Ghuman do tremendous work for the residents and con- stituents of Surrey South.

I want to make a special mention, as well, to Ekamjit’s brother, Kamalveer, who has been working through the pandemic on the front lines and as a COVID contact tra- cer. So a thank-you to him, specifically, and to all of our health care heroes that are really putting it all out there for us. Lastly, to my parents, who I miss terribly — not being able to get together for our regular visits — but who reg- ularly drive out and drop off Mom’s homemade soup and lots and lots of baking. It’s been a long year, and we’re not there yet.

Y ou know things have gotten really bad when trips to medical ap- pointments become welcome outings. We’re all wishing for brighter days ahead. So please, if I can do a little PSA here, when it’s your turn, get vaccinated. And remember to con- tinue to wash your hands, to social-distance, to wear a mask and not touch your face. With all of the talk on vac- cinations, it seems we’re not hearing that much about the basics, and the basics still matter. So it’s worth repeating those facts.

Now, as I start my critique of the budget, I must com- ment first on my astonishment at the content of most of the government members’ speeches. Not the comments about how great they think the budget is, which are com- pletely not surprising. But it’s been four years since they’ve been government, and they still seem to be spending a sig- nificant amount of time referencing B.C. ’s Liberal govern- ments, including Premiers who haven’t governed for more than ten years. It seems they’re incapable of standing on their own merits but, instead, must find time to dredge up their complaints from ten years ago and more.

They still, after four years, sound more like an oppo- sition than a government. The “B.C. Liberals don’t care” message is old. It’s tired, and it’s just plain offensive. Think that if you want, but don’t insinuate that I don’t care about people. It makes the otherwise pleasant and respect- worthy ministers sound like trolls on Twitter. I would think ministers of the Crown could rise to their level of office. But then again, they also sound ridiculous repeating “the former government” over and over. These members are not able to recognize that they are the former govern- ment. Really. Get better writers, folks.

But I digress, because we should move forward, and I will move on and address the contents of the budget. First, I will give credit where I believe credit is due. I’ve done this in every budget the NDP has presented, and I will contin- ue today. While I don’t support much of the budget, and I’ll get to why, there are a few things that are supportable at first blush. Reconciliation funds to continue our work with First Nations on a government-to-government basis. Absolutely necessary. Child care worker wage enhance- ments.

These can really make a difference in communities, and I think they’re the right thing to do. The expansion of Foundry centres. Of course I support these. I was one of the ministers that helped establish them in the first place. [3:15 p.m.] Mental health supports in schools. We know these are needed. Continued investment in CLBC. We know these investments are also needed. An income assistance in- crease, absolutely. I do support it, as the former minister.

Now, I recognize it isn’t what the people were hoping or expecting from this government, and for that they will have to answer to the people, but I do think investments in income assistance were due. Improvements to access to justice for vulnerable groups, especially for women and women fleeing violence. We need these things in place, and it’s good to see that govern- ment is looking to make that happen. That said, though, that leaves a lot undone, promises unmet and priorities to question. Largely, I would suggest this second-term NDP government has let down British Columbians.

Instead of big ideas, we’re getting big deficits and bigger government. Think about it for a minute. If the economy is recover- ing so well on its own, as government keeps saying, and we don’t need a plan for economic recovery, then why on earth does government plan to spend $9 billion more than they have this year? Why are they predicting so many more years of deficits if the economy is growing? It’s because they’re planning excessive spending and doing it under the cover of the pandemic. It’s COVID cam- ouflage at best, because that’s what it is.

In a year where the pandemic has decimated jobs across the country, the B.C. government is boasting pre-pandemic employment levels. Of course, what they neglect to tell you is that that’s because they have grown the public sector by 60,000 jobs, while the private sector has lost 40,000 that haven’t re- turned. Where’s the plan to grow back the jobs in the private sector? Where is the post-pandemic economic plan?

This government has been completely ineffectual at getting help to businesses, and now the money we approved more than a year ago is being pushed over to this next year because it still isn’t out the door. At a time when British Columbians are looking for opt- imism and light at the end of the tunnel, as the Premier has quoted, the NDP has abandoned all commitment to affordability. They’re balancing the budget on the proceeds of a hot and hotter housing market. I don’t have to tell you Monday, April 26, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1431

or the folks that may choose to listen how absolutely hypo- critical that is. Every time they’re asked how added taxes on housing have helped make it more affordable, they talk about units and rentals, but they won’t tell you about how many of those units are rented and how many were affordable. They certainly are not there to discuss housing purchase prices because, despite all of the posturing of this NDP gov- ernment over the years, they haven’t done a thing. Prices are up everywhere 20 percent over last year. Rents are up $2,500 a year. The time for “Trust me” has passed for this government and this Premier.

While British Columbians are facing rising counts of COVID and the spread of variants, people are worried about their health. They and businesses are worried about their economic well-being. This government fails to put forward a real plan. The budget has no new supports to help people immediately. There is no new comprehensive funding for jobs and re- covery. In fact, the budget for that ministry has been lowered. Now, admittedly, the NDP is sitting on 1.1 billion un- allocated dollars in recovery funding that they have no plan on how to deploy.

I remember many a budget and many a year where they would call money put aside in contingencies a slush fund. We don’t hear them using that language today. The $500 million InBC Investment fund is designed to exert government control over start-ups and ensure they meet NDP priorities like staying in B.C., which is, of course, great in theory but, if you’re a start-up, could be, potentially, very limiting. Time will tell. [3:20 p.m.] There is no new money for a struggling restaurant in- dustry under new restrictions, just the reworked and bot- ched business grant program.

Maybe a little bit of money here or there to cover some lost money on the food costs at the beginning of this closure, but definitely not enough to support businesses from closing their doors. This gov- ernment’s inability to get supports out to those who need them most and a failure to put forward any economic recovery plan is putting the future prosperity of British Columbians at risk. In my riding, there’s a new restaurant that had the mis- fortune to open right at the beginning of the pandemic. It’s a beautiful restaurant. They serve wonderful food. They have great staff. They had a great staff.

They haven’t been eligible for government programs because they weren’t in business the year before the pandemic. Meanwhile, they have overhead costs they can’t meet while they’re closed by government order. Women and youth most affected by the pandemic. Ma- ny of them are from the restaurant and tourism sector. Well, there’s no plan to get them back to work or to support them in the meantime. When asked about how laid-off restaurant workers would be helped to pay their bills, the minister boasted about a minimum wage increase coming. Well, news flash to the minister. If you aren’t working, you don’t get a raise.

Let’s focus on women for a minute. In fact, the word “women” is mentioned 19 times in this budget document. It’s recognized or mentioned as beneficiaries of the lack- luster supports provided for the tourism sector. The budget document assumes, somehow, that 15 percent of investment is somehow going to save all of the women working in the sector their jobs. Investing what 15 percent of the sector needs to remain viable is somehow going to save all the jobs, and women are going to benefit. We’ll see.

It’s mentioned again as one in a group of beneficiaries of investment in access-to-justice programs, as I mentioned — much-needed programs. Not specific, though, to wo- men. They are just one of the beneficiaries of these poten- tial new programs. It’s mentioned once in the $3 million investment in trails infrastructure, which will provide exactly 72 jobs for women, Indigenous people and youth. Not a lot there for women. Women are mentioned as a beneficiary of the $26 bil- lion capital plan. They’re mentioned there because, on CBA capital projects, of course….

Let me just say, as an aside, it’s great if we can get more women into skilled trades. I’ve been a big supporter of that my whole time in government. But at this point, CBAs are only on seven projects, and at what cost? Is there a better way to ensure that we get more women into the trades without freez- ing out 85 percent of the construction workers in this province? This is in no way a big investment in women, nor an option for getting the majority of women dis- placed by COVID back to work.

Women are mentioned once as part of a group of groups that might benefit from a $5 million investment in micro- credentialling, if they need to go back to school or upgrade to get back to work. I was talking about micro-credential- ling four years ago, when I was the critic for Advanced Education. The government hadn’t yet picked this up. So I’m glad to see this investment, but it certainly is not in- vesting in women. Women are mentioned as a reason for the tax-free status of e-bikes, believe it or not, because fewer women ride bikes to work. Maybe if they had e-bikes, they would move to active transportation.

Okay. So not the focus, just maybe a benefit. Women are mentioned twice in the name of Women’s Hospital in an update of capital projects — nothing new there — and once in the note that women are more likely to be…. In fact, they’re 57 percent of the self-employed recipients of the B.C. recovery benefit that will not be asked to repay the grant if they accessed it in error — oh, whoopee. And three times as recipients of child care investments. This seems to really be the NDP go-to as sup- port for women. I guess if you don’t have kids, you’re not 1432 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 26, 2021

important to government. I’ll come back to child care in a bit. [3:25 p.m.] Women are also mentioned once in a group of target groups for affordable housing investments. Of course, we know that four years into the NDP government, the NDP has only opened about 3,500 of the 114,000 units they promised. And they’re dealing with a homelessness crisis, not the low- and middle-income affordability that I believe the NDP was talking about when they talked about hous- ing affordability. So no progress there.

Women are mentioned four times in the discussion of economic projections in the labour market, which all times notes women have been adversely and more affected by pandemic job losses. Y et no programs at all to target women in the workforce and get them back to work. What is this government thinking? Where is the plan? There is no mention of the need to deal with wage in- equality for women in B.C. There’s no transparency about GBA+, gender-based analysis, measures in the budget this year, contrary to previous years.

There’s no dollar promise to support the NDP’s promise in the election of free pre- scription contraception. That would be an investment in women. But it’s not there. Government has a responsibility to be a leader and to guide our province through this pandemic and into eco- nomic recovery. But delaying vital relief, failing to imple- ment policies necessary to protect and support families, communities and businesses and taking actions that serve their own self-interests before the well-being of British Columbians means they’ve failed our province and the people they’ve been elected to serve.

The Premier says he called a snap election in the middle of a pandemic so we could put politics behind us and B.C. could have a clear path forward. But it still seems he can’t find that path forward, even with a majority government. After failing to get the COVID relief to families and botch- ing the small business supports and not providing a budget on time, by the end of this government’s second term, the NDP will have added the equivalent of $10,000 in addi- tional debt for every British Columbian. That’s one heck of a plan to get ahead as a province. This government is making a habit of breaking prom- ises.

There’s no renters rebate. Rents are up around the pro- vince, but no renters rebate. It’s absolutely vanished from the commitments. Now, let’s come back to childcare. For years, the NDP has overpromised and underdelivered on its $10-a-day child care plan. This uncertainty is only adding to the stress that families are feeling. The current $10-a-day plan funds about 2,500 spaces in the pilot program. This budget adds 3,750 spaces.

So my quick math, based on the data I saw as minister when looking at all the options for expand- ing child care in B.C. and on the plans put forward by the child care advocates who wanted the $10-a-day plan…. The promise for universal daycare is based on 63 percent of children zero to five, by the way — not every child, and nothing about before- and after-school care, but again, I digress — and would need to fund more than 150,000 spaces and cost more than $1½ billion a year. [N.

Letnick in the chair.] So four years into the plan, even being generous and including the spots that are announced and not yet open, they will be at 6,250 $10-a-day spaces. That’s just over 4 percent of the way to their ten-year plan. At this rate, they must be taking lessons from the Housing Ministry, because they’ll take another 100 years to meet this promise too. Thank goodness for the federal government planning to sweep in and save them.

In this budget in the middle of a pandemic, where, on a relatively regular basis, the ministers of government tell us they can’t focus on that question or they can’t get you that answer because they’re focused on COVID, health author- ities are going to see a cut of $1.1 billion. Families are struggling to find a doctor that’s taking patients. Others are scrambling as they learn theirs is retiring. There’s a clinic in my constituency that has been des- perate to recruit new doctors. They found a young couple from the U.K. willing to relocate to Surrey.

But one of the doctors is pregnant, and this government won’t waive their MSP wait time to ensure she has medical coverage for her delivery. [3:30 p.m.] It’s these kinds of bizarre stories we hear about a govern- ment that’s unable to pivot and get creative to solve prob- lems that British Columbians are facing today. The Surrey hospital won’t be completed until 2028. Oh, wait, or is it 2027? The budget doesn’t even know. There is no plan. There is no money in the three-year fiscal plan to support it. An NDP member was out talking about it today and trying to explain away the differences and

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20210426pm-Hansard-n58
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20210426pm Hansard n58
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	1f0683f016f81345c5353a1c0ae9493d9bf401f1

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