British Columbia Hansard — Wednesday, May 14, 2014

20140514pm-Hansard-v13n3

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

Second Session, 40th Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (HANSARD) THE HONOURABLE LINDA REID, SPEAKER ISSN 0709- 1281 (Print) ISSN 1499-2175 (Online) Wednesday, May 14, 2014 Aft ernoon Sitting Volume 13, Number 3

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

Rich Coleman Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation ......................................................................................................... Hon. John Rustad Minister of Advanced Education ............................................................................................................................................ Hon. Amrik Virk Minister of Agriculture ........................................................................................................................................................ Hon.

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

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

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

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

Suzanne Anton Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation......................................................................................................Hon. Don McRae Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services ................................................................................... Hon. Andrew Wilkinson Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure ......................................................................................................................Hon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Don McRae Coquitlam–Burke Mountain .....................................................Douglas Horne Coquitlam-Maillardville........................................................... Selina Robinson Cowichan Valley ................................................................................

Bill Routley Delta North ..................................................................................Scott Hamilton Delta South...............................................................................Vicki Huntington Esquimalt–Royal Roads .....................................................Maurine Karagianis Fort Langley–Aldergrove ...................................................Hon. Rich Coleman Fraser-Nicola....................................................................................

Jackie Tegart Juan de Fuca .....................................................................................John Horgan Kamloops–North Th ompson ............................................ Hon. Dr. Terry Lake Kamloops–South Th ompson ..................................................Hon. Todd Stone Kelowna–Lake Country ..................................................... Hon. Norm Letnick Kelowna-Mission .............................................................. Hon. Steve Th omson Kootenay East .......................................................................... Hon.

Bill Bennett Kootenay West ............................................................................ Katrine Conroy Langley.......................................................................................Hon. Mary Polak Maple Ridge–Mission ..................................................................... Marc Dalton Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows ........................................................ Dr. Doug Bing Nanaimo ........................................................................... Leonard Eugene Krog Nanaimo–North Cowichan .........................................................

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

Naomi Y amamoto North Vancouver–Seymour ..................................................Jane Th ornthwaite Oak Bay–Gordon Head ...................................................... Dr. Andrew Weaver Parksville-Qualicum .................................................................Michelle Stilwell Peace River North ................................................................................

Pat Pimm Peace River South ............................................................................Mike Bernier Penticton............................................................................................ Dan Ashton Port Coquitlam ..........................................................................Mike Farnworth Port Moody–Coquitlam ................................................................Linda Reimer Powell River–Sunshine Coast ................................................. Nicholas Simons Prince George–Mackenzie .............................................................

Mike Morris Prince George–Valemount ................................................... Hon. Shirley Bond Richmond Centre ......................................................................Hon. Teresa Wat Richmond East ..........................................................................Hon. Linda Reid Richmond-Steveston ..............................................................................John Y ap Saanich North and the Islands .................................................... Gary Holman Saanich South ................................................................................

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hon. Christy Clark Party Standings: BC Liberal 49; New Democratic 34; Independent 2

CONTENTS Wednesday, May 14, 2014 Aft ernoon Sitting Page Routine Business Statements ................................................................................................................................................................................ 3939 New Denver boating accident K.

Conroy Introductions by Members ..................................................................................................................................................... 3939 Statements ................................................................................................................................................................................ 3939 Mental Health Week S.

Hammell Introductions by Members ..................................................................................................................................................... 3940 Tributes ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 3940 Leslie Karagianis M.

Karagianis Introductions by Members ..................................................................................................................................................... 3940 Tributes ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 3941 Victims of mine explosion in Turkey H.

Bains Introductions by Members ..................................................................................................................................................... 3941 Statements (Standing Order 25B) ......................................................................................................................................... 3942 ERASE Bullying strategy J. Th ornthwaite Kimberly's law M. Karagianis Donation by Nanaimo millworkers and response to shooting at mill Michelle Stilwell Chinese and aboriginal placer miners heritage site J.

Kwan Valley Christian School and independent schools M. Dalton Cultural diversity and cultural festivals in Burnaby J. Shin

Oral Questions ......................................................................................................................................................................... 3944 Income assistance policy on child support payments J. Horgan Hon. C. Clark M. Mungall Hon. D. McRae B.C. Ambulance Service changes to call classifi cations J. Darcy Hon. T. Lake K. Corrigan Education funding policies for public and independent schools R. Fleming Hon. P . Fassbender Release of report on investigation into executive compensation at Kwantlen University D. Eby Hon.

M. de Jong Petitions .................................................................................................................................................................................... 3949 J. Horgan S. Chandra Herbert J. Th ornthwaite Orders of the Day Second Reading of Bills .......................................................................................................................................................... 3949 Bill 24 — Agricultural Land Commission Amendment Act, 2014 (continued) M. Farnworth M. Mungall On the amendment M. Mungall Hon. N. Letnick N. Macdonald L. Popham L.

Krog D. Donaldson C. Trevena M. Farnworth Proceedings in the Douglas Fir Room Committee of Supply .............................................................................................................................................................. 3984 Estimates: Ministry of Energy and Mines (continued) Hon. B. Bennett J. Horgan M. Farnworth

WEDNESDAY , MAY 14, 2014 Th e House met at 1:35 p.m. [Madame Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Prayers. Statements NEW DENVER BOATING ACCIDENT K. Conroy: On Saturday aft ernoon tragedy struck in the tiny community of New Denver. A canoe overturned with four young people aboard. When rescuers arrived, the only person found in the canoe was 19-year-old Lily Harmer-Taylor, who later died in hospital despite inten- sive resuscitation attempts, both at the scene and at the hospital. Th e RCMP continued to search for the other three boaters — Hayden Kyle, 21; Skye Donnet, 18; and Jule Wiltshire-Padfi eld, 15.

Th is has hit the small community very hard, and every- one has come together to support each other in this very diffi cult time. On Sunday night residents gathered for a community healing ceremony on the shore of Slocan Lake. I ask the House to join me in sending our thoughts and prayers to the families and friends of the missing young men and our condolences to Lily's family. Introductions by Members Hon. T. Lake: It's my pleasure to introduce two guests with us here today in the gallery.

Marilyn Orr is a retiree from Th under Bay, Ontario, spends her winters here in Victoria and happens to be the mom of one of our splen- did assistant deputy ministers, Lindsay Kislock. Also, Marilyn's granddaughter Allison Eggert is visiting from Sudbury, Ontario. She's just completed her second year of school at McMaster University where she studies busi- ness. Will the House please make them very welcome. J. Horgan: Joining us in the gallery today are some very special people from my constituency of Juan de Fuca. Fred and Lucy Proctor are here today with their son Rob.

Joining them are Bob and Linda Proctor, Jo-Anne Kent, Marissa and Marina Landolt. Th ey're here to join with us in observing the presen- tation of a series of petitions by myself and the member for North Vancouver–Seymour, to try and introduce some sense into the tragic loss of Kimberly Proctor in March of 2010.

I know that this is a very moving issue, and we're going to be talking about this briefl y today, but I want to just say to everyone assembled here and everyone watching how proud I am of the Proctor family for their courage- ous stand to try and improve the lives of families here in British Columbia aft er their tragic, tragic loss. Would the House please make them very, very welcome. Hon. A. Virk: In the House today is the Technology Education and Careers Council.

Th e council is a group of leaders from industry and education that were brought together by the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia to align common inter- ests in engineering, technology, education and careers. In the House today we are joined by Chair Sid Siddiqui, the vice-president of Stantec; Sandy Innes, VP at Telus; and other members of the board. Also, from the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of B.C., we have President Dave Rutherford and the CEO John Leech. Please join me in welcoming them to the House today. G.

Heyman: It gives me pleasure to join the minis- ter today in welcoming representatives of the technol- ogy and science industries in British Columbia and, in particular, the people who hosted many of us today at lunchtime — the associations of the ASTTBC and, in particular, John Leech, the CEO, and Dave Rutherford, the president, as well as Sid Siddiqui. Th ank you very much, and join me…. Hon. N. Letnick: Joining us in the member's gallery this aft ernoon is His Excellency Niels Boel Abrahamsen. He is the ambassador of Denmark to Canada. [1340] Also joining us is Mr.

John Petersen, the honorary con- sul of Denmark in Vancouver. Th ey will be meeting with myself and several members of this House today to dis- cuss issues of great importance to our two governments, including trade, aboriginal relations and resource de- velopment. Would the House please extend a warm wel- come to the ambassador and the honorary consul. Statements MENTAL HEALTH WEEK S. Hammell: I rise to acknowledge that this week is Mental Health Week and to explain to those in the gal- lery that the green ribbons we are wearing are a gesture of support to those who have suff ered from mental illness.

As many of you know, one in fi ve will suff er some kind of mental illness in their lifetime. If you do the math, that means 17 of us sitting here. People with mental illness have suff ered for centuries under a dark stigma and have been labelled and shunned by many communities. Fortunately, that is changing as we learn more about the disease that aff ects the mind and body. But we still have a long way to go. Would the House please join me in acknowledging Mental Health Week. 3939

British Columbia Debates3940 Wednesday, May 14, 2014 Introductions by Members Hon. C. Clark: We are joined in the gallery today by an incredible group of women, all with very impressive resumes — a tremendous list of accomplishments be- hind them. All of them are dedicated to transforming their communities, and I think — just as importantly, if not more importantly — are dedicating themselves to be- ing role models and mentors for young women who also want to succeed in a world where sometimes it is a little bit harder for women to get ahead. Th ey're sharing what they've learned.

Th ey are mak- ing sure that they make a very real diff erence across the province. Th ere are quite a few here. I'd just like to introduce the board members: Julia Kim is the president of the International Women's Forum Vancouver, Lynne Kennedy is the past president, Nancy Laughton is a board member in Vancouver, and Vicki Kuhl is a board mem- ber in Victoria. Th ey're joined by a long list of very, very accomplished women. I hope that the whole House will make them very welcome today. B. Ralston: I would like to welcome a delegation of Taiwanese Canadians here on behalf of the offi- cial opposition.

I'd like to name several of them per- sonally: John Tsai, who is the president of the Greater Vancouver Taiwanese-Canadian Association; William Tsai, the executive director of Maple Overseas Cultural Foundation; Paul Chen, director of the Taiwanese- Canadian Association; Jonathan Y ang; Po-Chan Chang; Michael C.L. Hsu; Caroline Hu; Chih Lung Chan; Jaiu Mei Ho; Y a Chuan Chan; Helen K.C. Ho — all of the Greater Vancouver Taiwanese-Canadian Association. And finally, Lily Dyson, president of the North America Taiwanese Professors Association. Hon. T.

Wat: Joining us in the House today are James Fong and Raymond Y ee from Sing-Tao Daily, as well as Eric Chang from Ming Pao Daily News . Th ey are all re- porters here visiting and observing the Legislature today. Would the House please make them welcome. Tributes LESLIE KARAGIANIS M. Karagianis: On May 5, 2010, I made an intro- duction here in the House as part of a statement on the celebration of the Canadian Navy that celebrated its 100th anniversary that year. I introduced my uncle, Les Karagianis, who was with us in the gallery that day.

Th e House was particularly gracious to him when I com- mented that he, too, was 100 years old at that time. Th e House gave him a standing ovation, which touched him very deeply, and we gave him a presentation folder from Hansard. Uncle Les signed up with the Canadian Navy in 1930. He was a supply lieutenant and was involved in numer- ous convoys in World War II, among many other events in a long and very illustrious career in the navy. His nephew, Gerry Karagianis, asked me particularly to include these words today: "Les was the kindest, most gentle and funny man. He led his life with grace and dig- nity.

Les was a dear friend, a role model and a hero to all members of his family." Leslie Karagianis passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday. He would have celebrated his 105th birthday in August. I'd like to mark his passing here today. [1345] Introductions by Members Hon. A. Wilkinson: I'd ask the House to welcome in the gallery Mr. T. J. Parhar, who has worked tirelessly for a series of ministers during his 12 years in this House working in the buildings. He's about to get married in Mexico and then run off to the private sector. May we wish him well as his future unfolds. R.

Chouhan: I would like to join my colleague from Surrey-Whalley to welcome all my good friends from the Taiwanese community, and specially John Lee, Naome Lee, Douglas Chiang, and William and John Tsai. Th ey're like family friends to me. Particularly, I want to wel- come my constituents Wilson Lee, Tina Fan and Victor Yu. Please join me in welcoming all of these wonderful people here today. D. Horne: In the galleries this aft ernoon we have a pol- itical science class from the University of Victoria spend- ing the aft ernoon with members learning about civic engagement.

Th is course, "Public Policy and Analysis: the Art of Engagement," is led by Prof. Sarah Wiebe, who's a former British Columbia intern from 2007. May the House make them truly welcome. J. Darcy: I would like to join with the member oppos- ite in welcoming our guests from Denmark. Velbekomme. Katrine Conroy's family is from Frederikssund, and I was born in Grindsted in Jylland. Mange tak and goddag. Hon. N. Y amamoto: It's an honour today to wel- come a school group visiting from my riding. I would like to introduce — and I believe they're just entering the gallery right now — Mrs.

Pam Spadavecchia's grade 5 class from Holy Trinity school in North Vancouver. I hope they enjoy question period today, and I would ask the House to please make them feel welcome. M. Mungall: I have two guests in the gallery this aft er- noon. Jessica and Rosalie — her 14-year-old daughter —

British Columbia DebatesWednesday, May 14, 2014 3941 Sothcott are with us today. Th ey're here at the Legislature to share their personal stories of what it is to have child support clawed back. May the House please make them very welcome. J. Thornthwaite: I join the Leader of the Official Opposition in welcoming the members of the Proctor family. I look forward to meeting with them later on, along with the member for Coquitlam–Burke Mountain and people from the Ministry of Children and Families, as well as Justice. Tributes VICTIMS OF MINE EXPLOSION IN TURKEY H. Bains: I'd like to take this opportunity….

I'm sure I can speak on behalf of every member of this House to pay tribute to those victims of a mine explosion in Turkey. I think the last count is about 270, and many are still miss- ing. I just want to say our thoughts, our prayers, our sym- pathies are with the families and the people of Turkey. I can't even imagine the pain that the families are going through whose loved one went to work and never came home. Others are still missing. I just want to say that our thoughts are with them. Introductions by Members Hon. B. Bennett: Today in the gallery we have the full executive of B.C.

Hydro — here in anticipation of the inquisition that the Leader of the Opposition will bring down upon me later this aft ernoon in estimates. Actually, they all asked me to not introduce them. Th ey'd like me to focus on introducing Charles Reid, the president of B.C. Hydro, who is retiring at the end of June. Let me just say quickly that Charles Reid joined B.C. Hydro in 2008 as the company's executive vice-president for fi nance and the chief fi nancial offi cer. He was ap- pointed president and CEO of B.C. Hydro in July of 2012. Charles has been the chief fi nancial offi cer for com- panies like Canfor Corp.

He's held many senior fi nancial and operational positions, including 14 years in the fi eld at pulp and paper operations in Prince George. He's a cer- tifi ed general accountant and a chartered director. He's done many, many things that would bring commenda- tion in his career. [1350] I can tell the House that it really is an honour for me to get to work with people of the calibre of Charles Reid. With all the education, with all of the skills, with all the experience, he's a really good guy, and I think that's also important. Let the House help me make him welcome and thank him. G.

Heyman: It gives me pleasure today to join some of my colleagues in welcoming representatives of the Taiwanese-Canadian community. In particular, join- ing us in the gallery today from the Greater Vancouver Taiwanese Seniors Association are Huan-Chang Cheng, Chi-Te Hsiao, Pi-Y en Chiang, Fang Eui Lu and Hsiu Pao Chen Lu. Also in the gallery is Douglas Chiang, the secretary general of the Taiwanese-Canadian Association, and from the Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society, the CEO, Cecilia Chueh, who I had the pleasure of meeting last Friday and who gave me a wonderful tour of their cen- tre, showed me the exhibits.

I urge anyone in the Lower Mainland to go see them. It's a wonderful display of art, and it's a wonderful display of the culture of Taiwanese Canadians in the Lower Mainland. Th ank you, and will the members of the House join me in making them very, very welcome. Hon. N. Letnick: Like many in the House, it's not too oft en we get to see people from our hometown. I'd like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Premier and the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, who share the Kelowna region, to welcome Dr. Andrew Hay to the House — vice-president academic of Okanagan College.

Please help me make him welcome. J. Shin: I'm very blessed to have so many friends from the Lower Mainland visiting me today. I hope the mem- bers will bear with me. In the precinct is Guy Frederick Black. Guy is a local history enthusiast, and it was both my honour and pleas- ure to be able to assist him in some of his many noble pro- jects over the years. It was also through Guy, at a Hastings Lake naming ceremony, that I met another community legend, Tim Jones, who is greatly missed.

I look forward to joining Guy again on June 21 for his 2014 Walk for Veterans, along with the member for Port Coquitlam, as well as the member for Port Moody– Coquitlam. Would the House please make Guy and his wonderful family — Melanie, Shawn and Cameron — feel very welcome. I can't quite see her, but also in the gallery today is my sister from another mother, Emma Wan Chin Lee. Emma and I have many things in common. While we both stud- ied science at UBC, our entrepreneurial drive took us to a life as small business owners. It looks like politics found both of us, and that's how our paths crossed last year.

Emma is one of the most intelligent, hard-working, diligent, caring people that I've had the pleasure to work with. She's a wonderful advocate for our residents in Burnaby-Lougheed, and I couldn't ask for a better team- mate to serve the community with. Would the House please welcome my distinguished colleague and my new BFF , Emma Lee. Lastly but not least, I would like to also welcome my family from the Taiwanese community. Not only did over

British Columbia Debates3942 Wednesday, May 14, 2014 100 from our Taiwanese community sign up as members to nominate me for my candidacy in Burnaby-Lougheed; they both have, before and also aft er the elections, sup- ported me in every way that a politician can ever dream to be supported.

In the large delegation with us today, also my constitu- ents, are my Uncle John Lee and Auntie Naome Lee, the directors from the Greater Vancouver Taiwanese-Canadian Association; as well as the president, Fa-Kuan Fan, of the Greater Vancouver Taiwanese Seniors Association and his partner, Lo Kuei-Chiu; and of course, the amazing Cecilia Chueh, the CEO of the Taiwanese Cultural Society. Could the House please give them a very, very warm welcome. S.

Simpson: I am pleased to join with my colleagues on this side to welcome our friends from the Taiwanese community, particularly, from the Greater Vancouver Taiwanese Seniors Association, two constituents of mine who are here — Show Y ang Chao and Sue Chu Chuang. Please make them welcome. Hon. A. Wilkinson: I hope we can welcome the members of the Fraser Basin Council, who are here in the buildings today, chaired by none other than Colin Hansen. [1355] M. Bernier: It's not often I get to introduce some- body from my riding as well.

I'm very honoured to have a young man from Dawson Creek who is learn- ing down here at university with the public policy class. Will the House please welcome Sanjay Bowry to the House. L. Reimer: It's my pleasure to also welcome my con- stituent Mr. Guy Black. I look forward to working with him in the coming months on an event that he's organ- izing. Statements (Standing Order 25B) ERASE BULLYING STRATEGY J. Th ornthwaite: Bullying is not a rite of passage. Every child should feel safe at home and at school, and as par- ents and educators, we do our best to ensure that our children are happy and healthy.

But too oft en we hear tragic stories of young people being tormented by their peers. Sometimes these stories end in suicide, some- times murder. Under the ERASE Bullying strategy, British Columbia has become a leader in bullying prevention and is the fi rst province in Canada to develop a comprehensive ap- proach to the issue. We believe that eff orts focused on early intervention and prevention are key to protecting youth. To that end, the ERASE provincial advisory coun- cil has created a committee to develop the provincial guidelines for violence threat risk assessment.

Th is is something that many have been calling for — in particular, the proponents of Kimberly's law, who are here today. Th is assessment, which will be used in con- junction with the codes of conduct adopted by all 60 school districts, will help administrators identify stu- dents who have made threats or engaged in threatening behaviour. Th ese guidelines will also help administrators clearly defi ne the diff erence between confl ict and bullying and identify the conditions of bullying activities, which in- volve an imbalance of power, intent to harm and repeat- ed behaviour.

Th reat assessment training will not only be made available to schools but also to post-secondary in- stitutions as part of the curriculum for teachers. Th e goal is to ensure the safety and well-being of all students and, perhaps most importantly, to resolve prob- lems before they escalate. By developing a safe school culture and by providing teachers and staff with broad threat-assessment skills, we can reduce the incidence of threatening behaviour and empower those suff ering from bullying to seek help. I encourage anyone who is interested and wants more information to check erasebullying.ca. KIMBERLY'S LAW M.

Karagianis: I rise today in the House to acknow- ledge the work undertaken by the Proctor family in de- veloping Kimberly's law. As many of you may know, in March of 2010, the life of 18-year-old Kimberly Proctor, lovingly known as Kimmy, a vibrant young woman about to graduate and explore the life before her, was brutal- ly cut short. She was assaulted and murdered by two Langford teens. In the days that followed Kimmy's murder, the inves- tigation and court process brought many issues to light for the family, issues that we could only imagine and ones that no family should ever have to face.

Th e Proctors dis- covered that while the increasingly aggressive behaviour of the teens raised red fl ags, it did not trigger any kind of integrated system which would respond to those warn- ing signs and ensure mandated treatment. In moving forward, the family felt that they needed to advocate for reforms. They developed Kimberly's law, with a provincial emphasis on identifying potential threats before such attacks occur, rather than trying to remediate them aft er the fact.

In the wake of this unthinkable tragedy, this family has worked tirelessly to bring forward reforms which would help families before violence occurs and subsequently bring about change so that what happened to Kimberly Proctor would not happen again.

British Columbia DebatesWednesday, May 14, 2014 3943 Today I ask, as this House continues its work, that all members refl ect on what the Proctor family has had to endure these past few years and thank them for their amazing courage and their tireless eff orts to make our society a better place.

Th ey have taken their daughter's death, and they have moved forward with action to pre- vent these kinds of tragedies from happening again. [1400] DONATION BY NANAIMO MILLWORKERS AND RESPONSE TO SHOOTING AT MILL Michelle Stilwell: I would like to share an example of a remarkable act of compassion that happened in my riding. In the midst of a terrible tragedy that has left an entire community in mourning, workers at the Nanaimo Western Forest Products mill were able to come togeth- er and to follow through with a promised donation to Habitat for Humanity.

Western Forest Products' dona- tion to the Campbell River ReStore was delivered on time as promised. Th is is an example of community strength, compassion and selfl essness that shows us the best of what it means to be an Islander and a British Columbian, even in dark times. In the wake of senseless violence in their work- place, the men and women who work at this mill were able to recognize the need of the other people in the com- munity. Th e selfl essness and compassion will make a real diff erence in the lives of others.

We may never know why the Nanaimo tragedy oc- curred, and we'll probably never fi nd an answer to ex- plain why it happened. But we do know this. We can move forward — as a community, as a team — as we continue to make our world a better place. We must honour the memory of those who lost their lives on April 30 in Nanaimo. Th e thoughts of this House are with the families and friends of those who died and those who were hurt in this senseless attack. Frederick McEachern and Michael Lunn were killed simply for being in their workplace. Th ey leave behind spouses, children and co-workers.

Th is past Saturday hundreds of people gathered to honour these two men and off er solace to their loved ones. We recognize their loss and the need for community support. Th at support is also extended to Tony Sudar and Earl Kelly, who are recovering from their injuries that they suff ered that day. It is the strength of our community coming together that helps us to realize how strong we truly are when we stand together and support one another. CHINESE AND ABORIGINAL PLACER MINERS HERITAGE SITE J.

Kwan: On Monday, May 12, 2014, Bill Chu from Canadians for Reconciliation showed the member for Vancouver-Kingsway and I, along with seven other media outlets, an important heritage site dating back to the 1858 gold rush near Lytton. It was a three-hour drive from my home constituency across the Fraser River to a living testament of our shared Chinese and aboriginal heritage in B.C. When we arrived, we were introduced to local resi- dent Bill Paul. Together, they led us through the sites and told of their signifi cance.

Bill Paul shared moving hist- ories that were passed down by his ancestors of how the Chinese and First Nations workers mined for gold and platinum in the area by hand under deplorable condi- tions. He told us stories of how poorly the Chinese work- ers were treated and described their abysmal living and working conditions. He said his great-grandfather recalled how mem- bers of the aboriginal community helped and supported the Chinese people with friendships, food and lodging.

Th rough these diffi cult conditions, members of the two nations developed an everlasting bond that many in the community today still remember. As to the physical site, it stretches 2.5 kilometres, and the visible rock piles were moved mostly by Chinese workers' own hands. It remains in pristine condition to- day with the odd artifact still visible on the surface. Bill Paul showed us his collection of the artifacts that he himself found at the site, which included things like a shovel, fork, knife, spoon, cups, pots, a small weigh scale, parts of a wristwatch and medicine bottles.

Bill Paul even showed us a couple of Chinese coins from the Qing dy- nasty era that he found on the site. As Mike Kennedy, one of the few B.C. authorities on placer gold mines, noted: "Th e Fraser corridor is satur- ated with historic-era heritage sites, of which this is one of the most important." Th e site is also a key stop on his- torical study tours on which hundreds have been awed by the epic landscape created by early Chinese settlers in B.C.

I ask the House to please help me thank Bill Chu for his dedication over the years in educating and advocat- ing for the recognition and preservation of these Chinese historical artifacts and sites. V ALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS M. Dalton: I rise in the House today to recognize one of the province's excellent independent schools, Valley Christian School in Mission.

Valley Christian School, or VCS, is hosting an open house and grand opening of its new facilities on Th ursday, May 22, with youth activities, classroom tours and a community barbecue. [1405] Valley Christian School fi rst opened in 1983 to educate students in a nurturing environment of faith and values inclusive of the broader community. From VCS sprang

British Columbia Debates3944 Wednesday, May 14, 2014 other schools located in Chilliwack and White Rock. Today Valley Christian School offers a faith-based curriculum for students from kindergarten-to-grade-12 through innovative and fl exible methods, including a main campus, technology-based distance learning and home school educational opportunities. Institutions like Valley Christian School provide excellence in education and off er choice for families. Th ey have B.C.-certifi ed teachers and follow the B.C. education curriculum.

Parents choose to send their kids to independent schools because of religious, cultural, philosophical and educational approaches that off er meaningful alterna- tives. In 2013 B.C. had over 350 independent schools, and 78,000 students, or approximately 13 percent, of B.C.'s kindergarten-to-grade-12 population were enrolled in independent schools this year. Today I stand in this House to recognize the dedica- tion and hard work of all of the students, teachers, par- ents, staff and supporters of Valley Christian School.

Special acknowledgment goes to Principal Kevin Honey as well as to the visionary and committed board led by Paul Burns and Kelsey Manning. I warmly congratulate the school on the grand open- ing of their new facilities and the positive impact that VCS has had and will continue to have in the lives of so many students. CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND CULTURAL FESTIV ALS IN BURNABY J. Shin: I expressed this sentiment several times al- ready in this House, but I've got to say it again — that what I really adore about my community in Burnaby is our diversity.

I'm grateful that I see that diversity repre- sented here in the chamber also with my colleagues from Burnaby–Deer Lake, Burnaby-Edmonds and, of course, Burnaby North all being proud Canadians with diverse ethnic backgrounds. Again this summer I am looking forward to seeing Burnaby do what Burnaby does best, which is celebrat- ing our mosaic community with a full buff et of festiv- ities coming up.

We have the European Festival on May 31, the Multicultural Festival on June 21, the Fiji Festival on July 19, the Korean festival on August 16, as well as the Ethiopian festival and Bosnia-Herzegovina festival — all slated to take place in various locations in Burnaby, from our Swangard Stadium to Burnaby Lake West Park. We have the whole world in Burnaby, really. I never have to travel far to fi nd my piece of Punjab or get my dose of Italian. In particular, I am looking forward to one of the biggest festivals.

It's the weekend-long TaiwanFest, which will be organized by many of my friends that are in the gallery today. As we all know, Taiwan is a beautiful island coun- try on the Tropic of Cancer in the west Pacifi c between Japan and the Philippines. It's only a little bigger than Vancouver Island, but it boasts a population of nearly 30 times ours here, with over 23 million people. Our Taiwanese Canadians in B.C. brought with them their warm, friendly and fun-loving ways.

So this August I invite all of the members to join us for an entire week- end of Taiwan in B.C. — to get your share of bubble tea, stinky tofu and my favourite, beef noodle soup. Oral Questions INCOME ASSISTANCE POLICY ON CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS J. Horgan: Th is past weekend single mothers and their children rallied across B.C. to draw attention to the child clawback that's been conducted by this government over the past ten years. Hon.

Speaker, $17 million is taken out of the hands of children every year by this government — $17 million that could go to basic things like school sup- plies, nutritional food, clothes and other things. Th e Minister of Social Development says that we can't aff ord, at this time, to give back mandated child support payments. Th e courts have said that these child support payments must go to children, and the government im- mediately claws it back. It's not Liberal money. It's children's money. My ques- tion is to the Premier. She's had time to refl ect on this. She's answered the question once before.

Will she do the right thing today and end an egregious program that takes money out of children's pockets? [1410] Hon. C. Clark: May I start just by saying that because of my travels, this is the fi rst opportunity that I've had to face the new Leader of the Opposition, so I'd certainly like to welcome him to his new role in this Legislature. In answer to the question I'll say this: being a single parent is diffi cult. Any of us who experiences that on a day-to-day basis knows how hard it is, but for some par- ents it is a lot more diffi cult than it is for others.

People who are struggling to fi nd work that can support them to the extent that they need to be able to care for their children struggle more than most of us can ever imagine. We do need to support those parents, but what we need to do is also make sure that we are fair to all of the people in the province that are paying taxes and that are depend- ent on the system. Th e reason that the government asks for that money back is because it's income. It's declared as income. Some people garner quite a bit of income in child support, while others don't garner quite so much.

We want to make sure that we are fair across the system and recog- nize that income assistance is a service that's provided to try and help people get from social assistance back into the workforce. We intend to try and do that as broadly as we possibly can, making sure that parents have the

British Columbia DebatesWednesday, May 14, 2014 3945 opportunity to get to work, which is what we know all of them want to do. Madame Speaker: Recognizing the Leader of the Offi cial Opposition on a supplemental. J. Horgan: I appreciate the sentiment from the Premier that she wants to respect taxpayers. Well, I would argue that the $17 million that this government spent on par- tisan advertising last year would have been better spent for children living in poverty.

So $342 million in cost overruns on the northwest transmission line; $341 mil- lion in cost overruns on the Vancouver Convention Centre; $464 million in cost overruns on the South Fraser Perimeter Road. Th at would pay for the clawback for 60 years. How is that respecting taxpayers? How is a billion dollars of cost overruns while people are going without in this province…? How is that respecting taxpayers? Families fi rst doesn't mean families are the fi rst to pick up aft er Liberals make mistakes. It should be put- ting people in need at the top of the line, not the bottom of the line.

Madame Premier, you could make a diff erence today in thousands and thousands of people's lives by ending the clawback, ending it right now. Hon. C. Clark: Having answered the question a num- ber of times already, I'd like to refl ect on this. Th at is the fact that we believe on this side of the House that the best and the only way to lift people out of poverty, to lift fam- ilies out of poverty, is to grow our economy. It's to make sure there are opportunities for people to access mean- ingful and useful job training that will put them into the workforce.

It's to support people moving from social as- sistance to work, and it's to make sure that there are jobs for them when they get there. Th at's why we are embarked on a generational oppor- tunity to transform our economy, to ensure that we cre- ate more jobs in our province so that more people have an opportunity, a real opportunity, to participate in our workforce in a meaningful way and to bring home a family-supporting wage. We believe in getting to yes on economic development. Th at's how you resolve poverty. One day I think the op- position will catch on.

Madame Speaker: Recognizing the Leader of the Offi cial Opposition on a further supplemental. J. Horgan: I thought it was impossible, but somehow the Premier just said that liquefi ed natural gas is going to help people on disability income assistance feed their children today. I don't know how that's going to happen, but in the world the Premier lives in, apparently that's the case. Jessica Sothcott is here today with her 14-year-old daughter. Jessica was injured at work. She's on a dis- ability assistance pension right now.

She receives min- imal amounts of money from the province to pay for her basic needs. [1415] Th e court has mandated that Rosie's father pay $187 a month for basic necessities — school clothing so she can participate in active, ordinary things that kids like to do. It's $187, and this government is clawing that back every single month. Jessica can't go fi nd work. She's on a dis- ability pension. She's unable to work today. What's the Premier's solution in her one-size-fi ts-all, LNG-will-save- the-day world for Rosie and Jessica? What is she going to do today for families like that? Hon. C.

Clark: Today all across our government we are working to make sure that people who are living with disabilities have more opportunities to work. Th at means, across ministries, fi nding ways to change the way we de- liver services, to change the way we deliver training, so that we can help lift people up who are living with a dis- ability, most of whom would love to be able to fully par- ticipate in the workforce, but there are many government barriers in the way of that happening. We are working across government to make sure we can lift people out of poverty and into the workforce.

We are working across government to support people through social assistance and a variety of other programs. We want to make sure that every British Columbian has a chance to participate in the workforce. We know that's important. Since 2003 the child poverty rate has declined by 41 percent, the most signifi cant decline in child pov- erty in decades in British Columbia. Th ere's no question we have more to do, and we are going to continue to do just that. M. Mungall: It's a real shame.

The Premier's com- ments are callous at best, not just because the jobs plan is a total failure but because Jessica, who is here today, goes hungry, goes without food, so that her daughter Rosie doesn't. All the same, while Jessica is reducing her food, she can't aff ord enough nutritious food for her daughter Rosie. She has diffi culty getting Rosie's school supplies, and there's certainly no money for things that most teenagers like to do, like trips to the movies.

Next year Rosie is go- ing into high school, and Jessica knows that book fees and other expenses are going to go up, and Jessica is going to have to say no more oft en. Th e $187 each month Rosie is supposed to be getting from her father would make a huge diff erence in their lives. Th at's what they have been saying all day, and that's what they want the Premier to hear. Th e question is: will the Premier stop telling everybody to just go get a job and recognize that there are diff erent reasons in people's lives? Th is clawback is keeping kids

British Columbia Debates3946 Wednesday, May 14, 2014 in poverty, so will she end the clawback today? Hon. D. McRae: I have stood in this chamber, and we've addressed this question. I never want to belittle the challenges that these individuals face, these vulner- able British Columbians. I am proud that we made in- come assistance reforms going forward in the past. Why? Because income assistance is there to support vulnerable British Columbians, and their needs change, so we bring in things like earning exemptions, or we bring in things like annualized earning.

Th ese are opportunities for us to make sure we do those reforms. I've also stood in this chamber and said that I'm not go- ing to make reforms that we don't have the ability to pay for. It is a balance. We want to make sure we are address- ing the needs of vulnerable British Columbians. Now, I'm a little confused as well, I may add. Just last week, I believe, the Leader of the Opposition stood in the chamber and said that it's a stroke of a pen to fi x this, and it's not. Th at's why I stood in this chamber and said that we want to make sure we make reforms we can af- ford to pay for.

Th en just this morning, I read in the paper…. When asked how the Leader of the Opposition would meet ex- pectations for more and better services in health care and education and social ministries, his response was: "Y ou grow the economy." Because you know what? Y ou have to support good projects. [1420] I'm not sure. I'm a little confused. Is it a stroke of the pen, or is it growing the economy? One of the things….

I think, maybe, if this is an opportunity to support good re- source opportunities, to give jobs to British Columbians and opportunities for British Columbians, maybe we're on the same page, or maybe we can't fi gure where you're coming from, Leader of the Opposition. M. Mungall: No one in this province thinks it's okay to grow the economy on the backs of kids except for the B.C. Liberals. Th at's absolutely wrong to be taking $17 million out of the hands of B.C.'s poorest kids. Th e min- ister ought to know that every time he says that the gov- ernment can't aff ord it, it's not his money.

It's money that belongs to the kids. Rosie is here today. She admires her mother. Th ere's no doubt about it; she admires her mother and her mother's will to stand up for her and her daughter. Rosie wants to stand up for herself as well, and she wants the Liberal government to hear that that $187 that her father sets aside for her would make a huge diff erence in her life. Rosie has severe allergies. She can't eat a lot of the things that they get at the food bank. If her mother could keep that $187, Rosie would be able to eat more nutritious food. Th at's what this boils down to.

Again, to the Liberal government: taking money out of the hands of B.C.'s poorest kids is wrong. Full stop. So when will you stop doing it? Hon. D. McRae: We have a broad range of supports for vulnerable British Columbians. I've said in this House before that we have over 70 programs to assist. Th ere are opportunities we want to do to make sure we reach out to talk to individuals and fi nd out these challenges. I talked about how we had phase 1 reforms in income assistance. I never said we were done our work.

One of the things we're going to do is we're going to continue to look at opportunities to evolve our income assistance programs, looking for opportunities to make sure that we are supporting vulnerable British Columbians. But at the same time, when we make those changes, we want to make sure that we are able to pay for those changes. Th e issue the member opposite raised and has raised in the past is an important one.

It's also important, like I said to the member opposite when we were in estimates, that we also talk about: should we raise the bus pass — that's a $40 million cost — raise the number of individ- uals there? Every time you change policy, it comes at an expense. I'm a big fan of making sure our policies are the most robust possible for British Columbians, but we have to make sure we're living within our means and not making commitments we can't aff ord to pay for. B.C. AMBULANCE SERVICE CHANGES TO CALL CLASSIFICATIONS J.

Darcy: Last fall this government made major chan- ges to the way ambulance paramedics respond to emer- gency 911 calls. These changes have resulted in the downgrading of thousands of calls from code 3, the most urgent — responded to with lights and sirens — to "rou- tine" code 2. As a result, we are now seeing longer wait times for many patients as fi refi ghters are dispatched and then have to wait an hour, and sometimes two, for ambu- lance paramedics to arrive.

A few days ago the Lower Mainland Local Government Association, representing 33 municipalities from Squamish to Hope, unanimously passed a resolution stating that this government's policy has "created an un- precedented downloading of costs and risks onto local government fi rst responders." Is the minister finally willing to listen to Lower Mainland mayors and recognize that this reckless policy is putting patients at risk? Hon. T. Lake: The member, I know, does not like change of any kind.

We have to respond to the needs of the population, and this resource allocation plan is in fact designed to ensure that the most urgent patients get care in the most rapid way possible. An ambulance is an emergency room on wheels. Th at means the right patient has to be provided with the right care by the right pro-

British Columbia DebatesWednesday, May 14, 2014 3947 vider at the right time, getting there faster for the most urgent patients. [1425] Th is was a rigorous review. In fact, a review of the methodology by an outside expert, Alan Craig, said that this is best practice and is based on strong clinical evi- dence. We are consulting with Lower Mainland repre- sentatives as well as all local governments to help them understand that this is in fact providing better service to those patients that are most in need. J.

Darcy: This plan may look good to the number crunchers, but for people on the front line and patients whose lives are being put at risk, it's entirely a diff erent story. Let me give you a few examples. A 90-year-old woman was bleeding uncontrollably from a cut at the back of her head as the result of a fall. A 77-year-old man had been on the fl oor for two days with no food and no water. A 103-year-old man fell from his wheelchair and suff ered a head injury.

All of these people were forced to wait be- tween one and two hours before the ambulance arrived because of this government's policies and for no other reason. If the minister isn't willing to listen to the mayors in the Lower Mainland, will he listen to the ambulance paramedics and fi refi ghters on the front line, and will he fi nally listen to the evidence itself, which shows that this reckless plan is putting patients at risk? Hon. T. Lake: It's evident that when it comes to evolv- ing health care policy, the members opposite are last re- sponders.

Th e resource allocation plan has been shown to shorten the response to urgent patients by, on average, one minute. Th ose patients that do not require emergent care have to wait, on average, six minutes longer. It's important that emergency vehicles save lives, but they can also put lives at risk if they are going to an ac- cident scene or a patient inappropriately with lights and sirens — in fact, in the last month alone, over three re- ports of injuries caused by emergency vehicles with lights and sirens.

Th is is not only about making sure the right patient is treated by the right provider at the right time but ensuring public safety and safety for the employees of the B.C. Ambulance Service. K. Corrigan: Last month emergency services were called to a case of severe internal bleeding, but due to the downgrading of the call by ambulance dispatch, fi re- fi ghters responded rather than paramedics. Aft er the fi re department arrived this already very sick man's health quickly deteriorated.

Despite four separate follow-up calls at 15:38, 15:42, 15:46 and 15:52, an ambulance didn't arrive until 25 minutes later, aft er the patient went into cardiac arrest. Will the Minister of Health immediately order an in- vestigation into this matter as well as the many others that have compromised patient health as a result of his policy change? Hon. T. Lake: Whenever a change like this is made, we are certainly interested in making sure that it is re- viewed and that any concerns are, in fact, evaluated.

Th e Ambulance Service has informed our ministry that they have reviewed, operationally and clinically, 77 concerns that they have received from municipalities. Of those 77 concerns, they have found no negative patient outcomes for any of the calls reviewed. If the member opposite or any other member has in- stances that they want to come and see me about and we can investigate, we'd be happy to do that. In fact, this resource allocation plan is about providing the best service in the shortest time possible to those in need while keeping the public and the B.C.

Ambulance employees safe. [1430] Madame Speaker: Burnaby–Deer Lake on a supple- mental. K. Corrigan: Well, a letter with the details of this case has been in the hand of Dr. Dick of the emergency health services for more than two weeks with no response other than: "We're putting it in the queue of letters of cases that need to be reviewed." We have a broken assessment system, and we have a broken communications system, obviously, if this minister does not know about this and other cases.

In a report to Burnaby city council, the fi re department said: "At 15:52 dispatch was again called to let them know that we were losing the patient and needed B.C. ambu- lance service now, when the patient collapsed and went into cardiac arrest." I invite the minister to follow up on what happened in that case. Dr. Dick is responsible for implementing this policy change. I want to know why the minister does not know about that case and what he is going to do to fi x this very dangerous system that is putting patients' lives at risk. Hon. T.

Lake: As I said earlier, this is about providing the right service to the right patient at the right time. It is important that we always review the way we provide medical services. It's an evolving fi eld. It's important that we use our resources in the best way possible to make sure that the patients who need us — and need us ur- gently — get that kind of service. Now, fi rst responders may decide to go to what they'd consider comfort calls.

I have spoken to many local government leaders about this, and in fact, many local government leaders do sup- port this resource allocation plan change because it's an effi cient use of resources to ensure that the people who need an ambulance get one as soon as possible and that

British Columbia Debates3948 Wednesday, May 14, 2014 the people who are driving those ambulances, the people on our streets, are kept safe. We will always look at the best ways to provide care for the people of British Columbia. We'll continue to do that. EDUCATION FUNDING POLICIES FOR PUBLIC AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS R. Fleming: Th e Minister of Education has repeat- edly told this House and the public that there is "no new money for public education." Th at's his stock answer every time the subject of unfunded cost pressures on school districts is raised.

But there is one area of his budget that is growing rapidly — private schools operating distance learning businesses. Apparently, they didn't get the memo that said: "No new money." In fact, government subsidies have actually been increased for private on-line courses, and this generous increase comes at a time when there is no money for public education. We've seen enrolment in these private businesses grow by 125 percent thanks to the subsidy increase introduced by this government.

Can the Minister of Education explain why there's one rule of unbending budget restraint for students, parents, teachers and trustees in public education but a complete- ly diff erent set of funding rules in his ministry for on-line independent schools? Hon. P . Fassbender: I think what I've seen in terms of opposition budget analysis is fl awed at best. Th e reality is that this government has invested in education at record levels since 2001. We have added an additional $1 billion a year to public education in this province.

In addition, that has been at a time when enrolment in public schools has been declining by 70,000 students. We have said clearly, as a government, that we support choice for parents in our education system. Independent schools provide that choice, and they are funded at the same level that they have been in our block funding for- mula. [1435] We support independent schools and what they pro- vide but not at the expense of the public education sys- tem, with a clear understanding that public education is fundamental to the future of this province. R.

Fleming: Well, despite what the minister said, there is a funding double standard going on here. We've just been through estimates debate. Th e minister confi rmed on the record that public education funding has been frozen for the last two years and will be frozen for three more years to public schools and school districts. We've just received a freedom-of-information request released this week that shows that the Parliamentary Secretary for Independent Schools was "infl uential" in getting approval for three funding policy changes that will give a $6½ million increase to independent schools.

Now, I'll give credit to the member for Maple Ridge– Mission. He seems to be a far more eff ective advocate for his sector than the Minister of Education seems to be for public education.

But I would ask the Minister of Education this — and speak directly to teachers who are being laid off in dis- tricts right across British Columbia and kids who are losing their programs in public education, if you will: at a time when operating grants are being frozen in school districts, how can this government somehow manage to direct more funds to private schools while refusing the same consideration and fair treatment to public schools? Hon. P . Fassbender: I have the opposition's educa- tion funding formulas. Oh, I'm sorry. It's a blank sheet of paper. I will say this very clearly.

When you look at the invest- ments of this government in public education, if you look at the investment in all-day kindergarten at $120 million a year, if you look at our investments in special educa- tion, if you look at our learning improvement fund that has hired 500 new teachers, 400 new special education assistants, increased the hours in classroom for special education assistants…. Th e policy of the members opposite, when it comes to budgeting, is spend, spend, spend — but no policy on how to generate the revenue.

Th is government is work- ing to generate a balanced economy so that we can invest in the future of education, health care and other social services. Not only are we talking about the future; we are doing it. RELEASE OF REPORT ON INVESTIGATION INTO EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AT KW ANTLEN UNIVERSITY D. Eby: On March 5 in this House we raised ques- tions about the Minister of Advanced Education's role in schemes at Kwantlen University to hand over tens of thousands of dollars in hidden payments to executives at the school. Th e minister said our questions were "outlandish." He was wrong.

Th ere are now two investigations underway. Th e minister said the unreported payments were due to "pre-employment" contracts. He was wrong. We've tabled documents in this House that show they were part of the employment off er. The minister said he felt like "Eddie Murphy" in Groundhog Day. He was wrong. Bill Murray is the star of Groundhog Day. Interjections. D. Eby: We're not done yet, hon. Speaker. Finally, fi nally….

British Columbia DebatesWednesday, May 14, 2014 3949 Th e minister was wrong, yet again, when he said we'd have the investigation report by "mid-April." He was wrong. It's mid-May, and there's still no report. Will the minister fi nally say something that this House can rely on and promise us that the investigation report will be tabled before the end of this session? [1440] Hon. M. de Jong: I thought Bill Murray was great in the movie, by the way. Th e member has raised the issue before. I think I've explained and advised the House that I asked Mr. Rob Mingay to look into the matter.

What I can assure the member of at this stage is that I have had no conversa- tions with Mr. Mingay about this matter. I'm hopeful that he is close to having completed his report. I gave the undertaking in the House that when the re- port is completed, it would be released publicly. But I'm not in a position to authoritatively advise the member or the House as to the status of the report. [End of question period.] Petitions J. Horgan: Hon.

Speaker, I rise to table a petition signed by 2,776 individuals calling on the provincial government to take action to implement the elements of Kimberly's law that are within provincial jurisdic- tion. Th ey include such things as ensuring that there are mandatory intervention services in the K-to-12 system, ensuring that there are mandatory counselling services available to children with mental health issues and, most importantly, ensuring that children are tried in adult court if the charges warrant. N. Macdonald: I ask leave to make an introduction. Leave granted. Introductions by Members N.

Macdonald: It's rare to have an opportunity to welcome guests to the Legislature from Golden. It's par- ticularly special to welcome students from the school I worked at, Nicholson Elementary School. Th ere are 19 grades 6 and 7 students with the following teachers and parents: Kara Hunt, Kim Cibulka, Larry Lindequist, Dale Shular, Lance Jones, Karen Jones, Wanda Anderson, Jodie Magnusson, as well as Lorna Higginson. Th ey have wonderful days planned here in Victoria. I'm really pleased part of those plans include a visit to this Legislature. Will the House join me in making them welcome. Petitions S.

Chandra Herbert: I rise to present a petition of 166,000 names, all in eight-point font here, to oppose Bill 4. Madame Speaker: Member. S. Chandra Herbert: Y es, hon. Speaker? Madame Speaker: Th at would constitute a prop. S. Chandra Herbert: It's a petition, but thank you, hon. Speaker. I will hand this off to the appropriate parties. Madame Speaker: Th e member will roll it up. Th ank you very much. S. Chandra Herbert: I will roll it up. J. Th ornthwaite: I also have, on this side of the House, petitions to do with Kimberly's law, and I'd like to present them. J. Y ap: I seek leave to make an introduction.

Leave granted. Introductions by Members J. Y ap: On your behalf, Madame Speaker, I'd like to introduce some visitors joining us in the gallery this aft ernoon. Would the House please welcome the students from Richmond Christian secondary school from your riding, who are visiting with their teacher, Mrs. Christy Simpson, and accompanying adults. Would the House please make them welcome. Orders of the Day Hon.

M. de Jong: In Committee A, Committee of Supply, for the information of members, the ongoing estimates of the Ministry of Energy and Mines, and in this chamber, ongoing second reading debate of Bill 24. [1445] Second Reading of Bills BILL 24 — AGRICULTURAL LAND COMMISSION AMENDMENT ACT, 2014 (continued) [D. Horne in the chair.] M. Farnworth: It's a pleasure to rise and continue my remarks on Bill 24, the Agricultural Land Commission

British Columbia Debates3950 Wednesday, May 14, 2014 Amendment Act, and continue my comments from yes- terday. Y esterday I closed my remarks with a mea culpa and what that meant in terms of consultation. I think it's im- portant to continue in that vein for a few minutes, be- cause I think it's extremely important when you look at this particular piece of legislation and the impact that it will have on agriculture and agricultural land in this province and why this bill deserves to be defeated. Th e government says that this bill is here to improve the state of agriculture.

Th ey say they're concerned about protecting agricultural land. One would think, as I stated yesterday, that one would have talked to the agricultur- al community in detail. One would have consulted with them and found out exactly what the real issues of agri- culture are in this province and brought in legislation and policies to deal with specifi c issues. Unfortunately, for some reason, this particular bill deals with the land commission in a way that, frankly, does not support agriculture. Currently we have one zone in this province. All land is treated equally.

Th e province is one zone for the purposes of assessing agricultural land. Th is particular piece of legislation will divide the prov- ince into two zones, which is really interesting. The government is saying: "Oh, don't worry about prime agricultural land. Don't worry, you in the Lower Mainland who are concerned about the loss of agricul- tural land. Nothing's going to change. It'll be just like it always has been. Don't worry.

Nothing's going to change." Th e Minister Responsible for Core Review is the one who says: "Y ou know, 85 percent of agricultural output and the value comes from the Lower Mainland, and 90 percent of the land is outside. It's beyond Hope, and all it's good for" — in some of his comments — "appears to be growing hay, certainly in the Nelson-Creston area or the Kootenays." Th at's what his comment was. But he says: "No, no. We need a diff erent approach outside of the Lower Mainland." Th ere, other issues need to be ad- dressed in terms of how we deal with agricultural land.

Well, go talk to people on the ground, and you get something diff erent. What they want to see is the land commission strengthened, not weakened. [1450] Th ey like the approach that Richard Bullock, the chair, has taken, where you're less reliant on regional consider- ations and the pressures that go along with them, and a more centralized approach that allows for full and com- prehensive evaluation — not just of the parcels of the land in question, not just of their capabilities but also of all the various components that go into making good agricultural land.

I said yesterday that we have some of the best soils in the country that can grow a wide variety of crops, and we do. We have remarkable soils in this province. We have podzolic soils. We have chernozemic soils. We have brunisolic soils. We have luvisolics. We have regosols. We have a range of soils that can…. I see that my friend the Chair is smiling there, won- dering: what does that mean? Well, I'll tell him in a nut- shell, not using this scientifi c terminology. It means we have things such as sandy soils, peaty soils, alluvial soils, clay soils, silty soils.

All of those can grow diff erent var- ieties of crops. For example, in my own community of Port Coquitlam we have a lot of peaty soils. I know the member knows where I'm talking about. It's in the northeast part of Port Coquitlam, and part of it spills over into his riding on the other side of De Boville Slough. Th ose soils are ideal for growing blueberries. We have some signifi cant blue- berry farms. We can grow Christmas trees in other parts of the province because the soils are uniquely geared and grow amazing Christmas trees.

I remember my former colleague when we were gov- ernment, Bill Barlee, Minister of Agriculture, and stand- ing in awe and listening as he was able to list off the facts. I know the member for Chilliwack-Hope down there will know this. I see I've got his attention. Th at's always good, to know he's there listening. We grow hazelnuts in this province. Out where he is from is some of the prime hazelnut-growing land in the province of British Columbia. Some people go: "Oh yeah, what's the big deal? It's just a hazelnut.

Squirrels like them — right? — and some people like them at Christmas." But I remember Bill Barlee standing in this House, saying that there are 74 value-added products made from hazelnuts in British Columbia. He then proceeded to list off all 74. I can't do that, but I can tell you this. It's an example of the divers- ity of crops we have in this province, and it's an example of the opportunities for agriculture we have in this prov- ince when we protect and promote agriculture in British Columbia. Over the last two decades we've seen a significant change in the demographic composition of British Columbia.

We've seen immigrant communities from all over the world settle here. With them, they've brought much of their culture, and a big part of their culture is cooking and food production. We're now growing crops that we never dreamed of growing in this province — vegetables unique to Asian cuisine, particular herbs that grow here. Shiso leaf, for example, is something that's grown here now. We have all these niche markets and the land available to do that. We should be protecting it, not being dismissive, as the Minister for Core Review is — that the only thing that grows in the Kootenays for a 100-mile diet is hay.

It's simply not true. That comes back, again, to my issue that I'm talk- ing about, which is consultation and having talked to people who work the land and talked to farmers in the agricultural organizations in this province. It's why the

British Columbia DebatesWednesday, May 14, 2014 3951 Agriculture Council of British Columbia has rejected this particular piece of legislation as not meeting the needs of agriculture in B.C. I want to come back to this idea of zone 2, which is causing particular concern — splitting the province into two zones. Why? Why is this taking place? What is the government trying to accomplish? Th is is a question that's particularly acute and appro- priate in the Kootenays. Th e Kootenays is a geograph- ical area where there is important agricultural land, but there's not a lot of it.

At the same time, it's an area of the province that is attractive for people to retire to, from here in British Columbia, but also from other provinces — neighbouring Alberta being the biggest pressure in terms of people wanting to retire there and have second homes that are recreational property. What you're seeing is signifi cant development pres- sure in those areas, and on agricultural land. It is the easy land to develop, and that's what is so concerning. It's not just the fact that you build on it, if you weaken and make it easier to take land out. It's not just that that takes place.

It's that when that happens, it impacts the land that stays in. [1455] Y ou build on it, and the people move in, and the next thing you know, they're complaining about the smell from dairy cattle or beef cattle or goats or sheep or llamas — you name it. Th ey're upset when proper agricultural practices are taking place. All of a sudden they're going: "Well, wait a second. We moved here. We bought this wonderful piece of recreational property. Why is this happening?

We've got to do something about these agri- cultural practices." We hear it in the Lower Mainland, but you also hear it when you talk to farmers in other parts of the province. Th e Kootenays is a prime example. I was up there earlier this last year.

I met with a dairy farmer who was very concerned about the ability to ac- cess good agricultural land to keep their farm, to grow their farm, to meet the demand of the organic milk that they are supplying and the organic cheese that they are making in production on that farm, which is employing not just the family that has lived in the Kootenays for generations but is employing new people. It is employing young people who want to get into farming. Th ere is pressure on that.

Th e biggest source of concern for her and her family is development pressure on land next to their farm — land that they would like to see have an opportunity to be able to bring into agriculture and to add to their farm. It causes price rises, and it makes farm- ing uneconomic. Th at's not what should be taking place. We need to be listening to the agricultural commun- ity and addressing the issues that matter to them. Th at's what should have been taking place, not this particular piece of legislation.

Had they spoken to farmers and had they spoken to the agricultural community, they would have found out what a lot of those issues are. Access to land, the ability to access land at a reason- able price. Th e Agricultural Land Commission, when it's strong, when it's resourced, when it's able to enforce the rules that are there now, allows that to continue. Th e fact that government supports enforcement of the act sends a strong message both to communities, people who would want to ignore the act, and to farmers that we value farm- land. Th e changes in this act will weaken that.

Th at will impact the issue of accessibility and aff ordability of land. Marketing. We could be paying, and should be paying, more attention to the marketing of the products that we make here in British Columbia. We had a very successful buy-B.C. program. It was scrapped by this government and has yet to this day to be replaced by something that is even remotely comparable or remotely as successful as that program was. Th e agricultural community would like it back. Th at would have been something that this side of the House and the agricultural community could have supported.

Th at is something that would have had a real impact on the farming community and on the ability of farmers to make a living — not just large farmers but small farm- ers as well. I mean, one of the things…. It's a story I have told be- fore, and I'll tell it again here in this House. It was a couple of years ago, during a leadership contest. We were tour- ing the province. It was late at night, and I pulled into Creston. I'm hungry. It's been a long day. A lot of the res- taurants were closed. We pulled in and go into a store. It was a 7-11. I looked around for something edible to eat. I thought: "Ah, apples.

I'll have an apple." I got some beef jerky and an apple. Well, the beef jerky turned out to be made in Alberta. But the apple…. I looked at the apple. It had a label on it. It said from Washington State. Now, I'm in Creston, one of the best apple-producing regions in British Columbia, and the only apple I can get is one from Washington State. I ask you: what is wrong with that, hon. Speaker? Th ere's lots wrong with that. Washington State is mar- keting their apples up here, but I can't get a B.C. apple in Creston. Th at's not right. Th at is not right. Interjection. M.

Farnworth: Th e member from Surrey says: "Talk to the member from Creston." Well, I did talk to the member from Creston, and she told me one of the big- gest problems that farmers in Creston were facing was the elimination of the buy-B.C. program to get people to buy local. [1500] Y et without the buy-B.C. program, what we also see is a renewed interest, in part, to many people in British Columbia, around the concept and the idea of eating lo- cal, of buying local — supporting our own producers,

British Columbia Debates3952 Wednesday, May 14, 2014 supporting our own farmers. Y ou've seen the growth of the 100-mile diet. Lots of ordinary British Columbians are working with farmers to promote British Columbia products. The reaction of the government…. Well, from the Minister for Core Review, it was: "Huh. I get a kick out of the 100-mile diet, because up my way it's mostly hay." Well, maybe if you're a mule, you might like a diet of hay, but the reality is that people in the Kootenays grow a lot more than that, as my colleague from Nelson-Creston has so ably put it.

As I said, that's an issue that we should have been ad- dressing, that this government could have been address- ing, instead of bringing forward a piece of legislation that is going to make it more diffi cult for the agricultur- al community as opposed to dealing with the real issues that they're facing. Other issues that they should have been dealing with.

Again, we could talk to grain farmers and dairy farmers and cattle farmers about the ability to get feed — feed for their chickens, their turkeys, their cattle, feed for dairy, and it's a real challenge because of the lack of action, if you will, of real action by the federal government in get- ting grain moving in this country and the ability to ac- cess grain for feed. Interjection. M. Farnworth: What we could…. And I see my col- league down the way agreeing with that. Y ou know, what's really required is a government to stand up and say to Ottawa: "Hey, this is a priority.

How about supporting British Columbia farmers?" How about supporting Canadian farmers who need to, one, get their grain shipped and two, buy grain here in this country by rail so that they can continue to produce the food that we as consumers demand and need. Th at's what they could have been doing instead of put- ting forward a piece of legislation like that. Th at's what they could have been doing if they had gone out and con- sulted with the agricultural community.

But I guess when all you can say, when you are asked, "Did you consult?" is "Mea culpa, I didn't, I'm guilty, I'm sorry," that should be a wake-up call. If you wanted to make a real diff erence, how about having a government that actually stands up and says to Ottawa: "Th is is a priority and needs to be addressed"? Instead, we have a minister who brought forward a piece of legislation who quotes one of the supporters: "Well, I think if I want to put a hotel on a piece of land, I should be able to do it." No.

Th e land reserve was brought in place to protect agricultural land and to promote agriculture, and a key part of that is supporting farmers. Th at should have been the priority, and it hasn't. Water. We're seeing some changes in terms of new water legislation, but again, farmers have concerns around this particular issue, and government needs to be working with them.

Again, they could have spent more time working with farmers — dairy farmers, for example — who have made it really clear on their support for the agricultural land reserve and the land commission as it is currently structured, as opposed to the changes that are being put forward in this particular piece of legislation. Th e whole range of agriculture in this province, I think, could have done with a lot more consultation than what we have seen. Enforcement. Talk to farmers. Talk to people con- cerned about agricultural land.

And one of the top issues, one of the top-of-mind issues, is the ability of the land commission to do its job eff ectively. Th e key part of that is ensuring that it's resourced. Y ou know, it's really something sad when there are two trucks for enforcement offi cers for the whole of the province of British Columbia. Two trucks. I mean, we are a province of — what? — 400,000 square miles, and we have two enforcement trucks, two enforcement offi - cers to deal with those who would like to skirt the law of this province as it exists when it comes to the agricultural land reserve.

Government could have been supporting agriculture by focusing its attention there and giving it the resources. [1505] One of the biggest challenges that we have is those who would use agricultural land for illegal fi ll sites. Fill farm- ing, it's called, taking good, productive land and cover- ing it with demolition material or fi ll, knowing full well that — guess what — the odds are they're not going to get caught. If they do, they can delay, and prosecution, if it takes place, is years down the road. In the meantime, land is alienated from agriculture.

People who are law-abiding and who are farming see this taking place, and they won- der what's going on. Why is it that somebody is allowed to get away with something and I'm not? A couple of years ago I ran into someone in my own riding in Port Coquitlam. I was looking at a piece of land, and a fellow came up to me. He recognized me. Turns out he worked for the Land Commission. He was an en- forcement offi cer, and he was telling me just how pleased he was that a site that we had seen, which was an illegal fi ll site….

It had taken ten years, but they had fi nally got a prosecution, and the illegally placed fi ll was having to be removed. Hon. Speaker, I note that the green light is on, and that means I have not much longer — I think about three minutes or two minutes or even a minute. One and a half minutes, they've said. Th at's unfortunate, because I could talk on this particular piece of legislation for a lot longer. I want to say this. It is a bad bill. We will not be sup- porting it. We ask the government to withdraw it. Rather than this particular piece of legislation, they should have

British Columbia DebatesWednesday, May 14, 2014 3953 been out doing real consultation with farmers in the agricultural community and addressing a number of the issues that I raised as they relate to real issues that will impact farmers, allow them to make a better living in this province, to expand the range of agricultural products that we can grow and market in British Columbia and deal with some of the real obstacles and impediments they face in terms of getting product here to feed their cattle, for example, or chickens or turkeys, as I talked about, on the grain or getting product to export.

It's been my pleasure to rise and to speak in this de- bate. I hope I get another opportunity, because there was so much more that I wanted to talk about. I know the members would really like…. I see the Minister of Environment smiling too. So I would really have enjoyed the ability to do that. But I don't have that, and I notice the green light is on, and so I will take my place, because I know my colleague from Nelson-Creston has a lot more to say on this particular piece of legislation as well. M. Mungall: My colleague from Port Coquitlam is ab- solutely correct.

I have a lot to say about Bill 24, and that's because a good chunk of my constituency in Nelson- Creston is ALR land, and this bill has a direct conse- quence on the lives of the people that I represent, on their well-being, on their way of life, on how they make their living. Th is particular bill is very important to the people in Nelson-Creston and to all of the Kootenays. What they have said unequivocally is that they want to save the ALR and they want to get rid of Bill 24 because this bill does absolutely nothing to protect their way of life. It does absolutely nothing to protect their economic sector.

It does absolutely nothing to protect the way in which they make their living, they earn their money and they contribute to our communities. Th is bill, in fact, hin- ders all of that and puts their lives in jeopardy. Th erefore, they don't support it, and as their representative, I don't support it. I want to talk fi rst about what this bill does. If we look at it, it changes the ALR and the way in which it is managed. It does two very signifi cant things.

One of the things that it does is it creates two zones of agricultural land reserve. [1510] Historically, the ALR, the agricultural land reserve, was one zone, and it was managed provincewide by the Agricultural Land Commission. Now, under Bill 24, the ALR is put into two zones. One zone will be managed the way it pretty much has been since 1974, when the ALR fi rst came into being. Zone 1, as you know, hon.

Speaker — as I'm sure you've heard from many other MLAs who have spoken before me — is consisting of the Island panel region, the Okanagan panel region and the south coast panel region, and zone 2 is everywhere else. For people who might be just tuning in and wondering what this panel region business is about, that's actually the second change that's being made in this bill, which is amending the Agricultural Land Commission Act. What it does is it devolves decision-making power over the land to regional panels. Th ese regional panels…. Th ere are six of them.

Th ere's the Interior regional panel, the Island panel, the Kootenay panel, the north panel, the Okanagan panel and the south coast panel region. Each one of these panels is going to be making decisions, and they're going to be looking at these particular things. Under

section 4.3 of this bill, what we read is: "When exercising a power under this Act in relation to land lo- cated in Zone 2, the commission must consider all of the following: (

a) the purposes of the commission set out in

section 6; (

b) economic, cultural and social values; (

c) regional and community planning objectives; (

d) other prescribed considerations." The place those "other prescribed considerations" come from is the minister. Th e minister of the day may decide that something must be considered by these regional panels. For example, perhaps exploratory re- search for mining has to be considered or developing recreational vehicle, RV , parks needs to be considered. Whatever the minister of the day has decided in his or her wisdom, that needs to be considered by these pan- els. Th ey have to consider it. It's in no descending or ascending order; these are all the things that must be considered equally as of today.

What this means ultimately is that regional panels who are appointed by the minister from people that live amongst that region have to consider alternate uses. Th ey must consider alternate uses to the land other than agriculture. Now, this inherently, at its core, changes the very pur- pose of what the ALR is — agricultural land reserve. It is land that is supposed to be reserved for agricultural pur- poses.

Instead, this bill is changing that very purpose and saying we can do a whole host of other activities on this land, and it's going to be decided by a group of people who have been appointed by the minister of the day. All of this has my constituents extremely concerned.

Th e things I've heard they're concerned about are that the regional panels will not be free from political manipula- tion, free from political interference and that the very people that will be appointed will be partisan in nature and will have their own agenda to drive, rather than an independent approach that we have seen for the last 40 years with the Agricultural Land Commission. Th ey particularly are concerned, as I mentioned, that this will negatively impact their way of life.

I'll give you an example later on as I talk about some of the people that live in my riding. [1515] But for now I want to make it clear that the people of Nelson-Creston, the people in the Kootenays do not trust

British Columbia Debates3954 Wednesday, May 14, 2014 that this type of legislation is as benign as the government claims it to be. Rather, they believe that this is a backdoor approach to degrading the ALR and ultimately putting into jeopardy the 5 percent of land that we have set aside for agricultural use. Th at's not a lot of land. When we look at all that is here in British Columbia, it's only 5 percent. Th at means that 95 percent of our land base is not being used within the ALR. Some of it might be being used for agriculture, but not very much of that 95 percent. Hon.

Speaker, 5 per- cent of our land is being used for agriculture, to grow our own food, to feed ourselves, to ensure our food security. Without that, we are putting not only people's lives in jeopardy, but we are putting our broader provincial econ- omy in jeopardy. Th is is an important economic sector in our province.

When we think about climate change, the long-term impacts of climate change, and we see droughts occur- ring right now in California and the increases to food prices as a result, we are very concerned that when we are putting 5 percent of our land base — the 5 percent of our land base that is set aside for agriculture and that is set aside for our food security — into jeopardy, we put our own well-being into jeopardy. We put our ability to feed ourselves into jeopardy, to make sure that food is at a reasonable, aff ordable cost. We put that into jeopardy.

Earlier today I was talking about a single mom and her daughter and the struggles they have to put food on the table and how they have to rely on food banks because food costs are going up and up and up. It's a conversa- tion in every coff ee shop in my riding — how food costs are going up. I have no doubt it's a conversation in the coff ee shops of the other 84 MLAs here, in their ridings. Food prices are going up.

When people are struggling to make ends meet and they're relying on food banks and we are creating a bill that will systematically — in a very short time frame, I have no doubt, of a few years — have a negative impact on our local food prices, we're doing absolutely nothing for people living in poverty. We're do- ing absolutely nothing for people all across this province, regardless of their income. One of the things that is particularly disturbing to people in my area is that the Kootenays have been put into zone 2, which is so bizarre, because the Creston Valley is class 1 agricultural land.

Now, the Minister for Core Review and the MLA for Kootenay East has com- mented — I have no idea what he was thinking when he said this, and perhaps he doesn't know what he was thinking when he said this, either — saying that the only thing you can get in the Kootenays, if you want to eat a 100-mile diet, is hay. Hon. Speaker, you should have heard the outcry in Creston. Y ou can grow everything in Creston — much more than hay . Th ere is somebody right now who is ex- perimenting with citrus fruit in his greenhouse. Could you imagine? Lemons and limes grown here in B.C.

Right now, just on the news this morning, I heard about the lime shortage and how restaurants all across the province are now paying $200 a case for limes be- cause of a drought in South America and in the southern part of North America. Th ey are paying $200 a case for limes when they used to pay $30 a case for limes. Th at's a huge jump. Th at's going right back to the consumer. The Creston Valley, able to grow everything — in- cluding limes, as it turns out — certainly should not be considered as zone 2, which is somehow a second-class citizen to zone 1. Creston Valley is absolutely prime ALR land.

It's beautiful agricultural land. It's no surprise. It's really no surprise when you take into consideration how they were selected as class 1. [1520] Recently, Fred Harper and Ray Demarchi wrote an

article for the Times Colonist. Who are they? Th ey were both people who were involved in the original mapping of the ALR as biologists looking at the soil and the qual- ity of the soil. What they found in the Kootenays and in other places where it's been designated ALR is that it's incredibly rich soil. Th is is what they say in their article. "A specifi c soil's described profi le is used to determine the agricultural capability of a given unit of land.

Because the scientifi cally based description of a soil profi le is ad- missible in a court of law as evidence of an area's agri- cultural value, soil capability was chosen as the basis for the reserve boundaries." Now, that contradicts some of the things we've heard from the opposite side, where they say that on large chunks of the ALR you can't grow anything on them, anyway, and all you can grow is hay, and they're rocky territory, and it's not ideal farm use, and so on. Th e sci- ence would suggest otherwise.

Back in the '70s, Fred Harper and Ray Demarchi re- mind us, "the province had a well-studied and under- stood basis for determining where the best soils and, therefore, the best farmlands existed throughout the province." Creston Valley is one of those best places for farmland, without a doubt. In the Creston Valley, I've mentioned, there's much more than hay. Cherry season is coming up, hon. Speaker. If you get the opportunity, please do come down to the Creston Valley and get yourself a beautiful bowl of cher- ries. Y ou'll have none like it anywhere else in the world.

Recently I was just there picking up beautiful Creston Valley asparagus from Sutcliff e Farms — the best aspara- gus, bar none, that you'll ever have. Th e carrots out of the Canyon valley — excellent. I could go on and on — pota- toes, the dairy, everything that's grown in Creston. Some people might say I'm biased, but I really don't think I am. I'd like to think I come to this objectively, as an eater; that food out of the Creston Valley is by far some of the best food in B.C., if not the best food in B.C. Why is that?

It's because of the soil, it's because of the water, it's because of the land base, and it's because it's been pro-

British Columbia DebatesWednesday, May 14, 2014 3955 tected under ALR. Now, I brag about this to my colleagues all the time, about how great the Creston Valley is, so whenever I get an opportunity, I invite them, just as I did you. I in- vite them to come down to the Creston Valley and see for themselves, see what all the fuss is about. Don't just take my word for it. Let me feed you some food from the Creston Valley. Th is April my colleague from Coquitlam-Maillardville came for a visit, and we did a tour of some of the farms.

At the fi rst farm that we went to, Mo and Mikey Farms, we learned about the transferring of knowledge from elder farmers to younger farmers. Of course, the access to land is a big deal for young farmers. What the young farmers were telling us about Bill 24 is a real fear that they have that land prices will skyrocket as greater de- mand pressure is put on ALR land to do things other than grow agriculture. Th is is exactly why we have ALR in the fi rst place. It's to protect our food security, to protect our farmland and to protect farmers into future generations so they can af- ford to buy land.

It's already very diffi cult, so why would we want to make it even more diffi cult? Why would we want to do that? Th at's something that young farmers Laura and Nigel asked me. Why would we want to make it more diffi cult for them to access land so that they can do something that they love doing, which is farming? I know that the Minister for Core Review has said that this is all about letting older farmers stay on their land longer.

However, when you talk to some of the older farmers in the Kootenays — in my riding, particularly, where most of them are — what you fi nd out is that they want their land to continue on for farming use, and they want to be given an opportunity to transfer their experi- ence and their expertise on to younger farmers and to fi nd aff ordable ways to do that. [1525] One of the ways that is possible, and only possible if the land is protected, is exactly what Mo and Mikey have done with Laura and Nigel. Laura and Nigel are sharing land.

Th ey're sharing Mo and Mikey's land, and Mo and Mikey are now able to expand their farm to the full cap- acity of their land base because they have two younger people who are there to help them with that. In the process, the young people are making an invest- ment in their knowledge base, in their experience and in their expertise by learning from others who have gone before them. Eventually, the hope is that Laura and Nigel will be able to buy that land from Mo and Mikey. These types of connections are happening already.

Th ere are places and incubators that we can create to grow that, but Bill 24 doesn't allow that to happen. Bill 24 doesn't stimulate that type of transfer from genera- tion to generation, the long-term economic viability of the family farm. It doesn't do that at all. In fact, it hin- ders that. It makes that nearly impossible to do, because the almighty dollar will say: "Y ou can get more money by building an RV park on your land." When someone goes to apply to get their land taken out of ALR for an RV park, according to this new bill, that's exactly what the new regional panel will have to okay.

According to the farmers in my community, and according to Mo and Mikey and Laura and Nigel, that's not going to be good for them. Th at's not going to be good for the region. From there, we heard from Laura and Nigel and from Mo and Mikey, and we went on. Of course, as we got in the car to drive around the beautiful Creston Valley, Selina was blown away at the incredible farmland that she saw…. Interjection. M. Mungall: Th ank you very much for reminding me, hon. Speaker.

Th e member for Coquitlam-Maillardville pointed out just how beautiful it was and how much she loved the scenery and how much she could see in the vista just out of the car window — all that was growing in the Creston Valley. Th en for our next stop, we came to Kootenay Meadows Farm, which is a value-added farm. Th ey are doing value- added from feed — from the Minister for Core Review's favourite product, hay — right to bottling milk. Th ey've got the whole picture. Th ey are doing it all on Kootenay Meadows Farm, but they're not doing it all on one chunk of land. Th ey ac- tually have 27 landlords.

All of those 27 landlords have to ensure that agriculture is being produced on their land because it's ALR. If they no longer need to do that, be- cause they can take their land out of ALR and put in an RV park or have it opened up to some exploration for mining and natural gas, whatever it is, or put on a chalet or invest in the tourism industry, then it puts their en- tire production at risk. Th ey need those 27 pieces of land. Th ey need those 27 landlords to work with so that their business is viable — th eir job-producing business.

Taking that land out of the ALR would mean that they don't have an income, that the people that rely on them don't have an income. It would mean that people in Nelson don't have milk at their local Kootenay Co- op, or cheese. Mr. Speaker, I will apologize. I only brought cheese from Kootenay Meadows Farm for Madame Speaker. I will be sure to do the same for you next time. It's deli- cious; it's amazing. It's the best cheese you'll ever have, be- cause it's grown in the Creston Valley. But they won't be able to do that if this bill goes through. Th is bill will hurt their family farm.

Th ey are three generations of farmers on that land, and this will hurt them. [1530] Th e third farm we went to taught us a lot about pro- ducing for the farmers market. Th at was Jessica Piccinin.

British Columbia Debates3956 Wednesday, May 14, 2014 She's somebody I go to every single week at the farmers market to buy all my fresh fruits and vegetables coming from the Creston Valley, whether she's in Nelson or in Creston. What this bill would mean for her and all her neighbours that give her food to sell at the farmers mar- ket is that she no longer would have a business as well. What I'm hearing from my constituents is that this bill — trying, at its core, to destroy the ALR — is anti- business. It is anti-farm business.

Under the guise of trying to promote other industries, it's throwing this industry under the bus, and that has dire consequences for people in my riding. Th ey have been absolutely clear. Th ey do not want this bill to go through. Th ey do not want to see the ALR put in jeopardy. Th ey do not want government making these massive land use decisions without any consultation with people across British Columbia. How do you do that, actually? How do you go about making such a massive land use decision that aff ects every single corner of this province and not have a con- sultation process?

It is enraging my constituents. Th ey deserve better than this. British Columbians all across this province deserve better. Th ey deserve to be part of a discussion, a conversation, that will then decide what we will do with our land base, with our agricultural land base — the very land base that determines our prov- incial food security, which is integral to a provincewide economic sector that benefi ts us all. Th at's why I feel it's absolutely necessary at this point to move a motion that we refer this.

I'll read my motion. [Th at Bill (No. 24) not be read a second time now but the subject matter be referred to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services and further that the committee be empowered to invite witnesses to appear before it to assist in its deliberations.] Deputy Speaker: Th e member proposes an amend- ment, and the amendment is in order. Proceed. On the amendment. M. Mungall: It's at this time that I would like to speak to that amendment. What I'm proposing to do here, for those who may be watching at home, is….

I'm asking that that consultation process — the consultation process that I've heard from my constituents and that I know British Columbians all across this province would have expected for such a major land use decision — take place. Th e reason why I'm suggesting that we refer this bill to the Finance Committee is because we need that consulta- tion. Why is the Finance Committee the right place, the right body to actually take on this consultation process? Now, I've talked about my bias for the Creston Valley and all its good food there because of my own person- al experience.

Maybe it's a similar situation with the Finance Committee. I sat for two years on the Finance Committee, and I know it does exceptional work. It does exceptional work in engaging British Columbians all across the province in a consultation process that it does on the budget. It's able to do that. It already has the function of being able to go out and talk to British Columbians all around the province. It has the experience and the expertise. It has the know-how. It has the ability, and they'll be doing it this fall. Perhaps the Finance Committee could make this a par

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20140514pm-Hansard-v13n3
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20140514pm Hansard v13n3
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	2b2b28aecaf6b8ff5a1f5d47148a2e7b098ce19b

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