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British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

4th Session, 37th Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (HANSARD) Monday, February 17, 2003 Afternoon Sitting Volume 11, Number 6 THE HONOURABLE CLAUDE RICHMOND, SPEAKER ISSN 0709-1281

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Honourable Iona Campagnolo 4TH SESSION, 37TH PARLIAMENT SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Claude Richmond EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council................................................................................. .........................Hon. Gordon Campbell Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations.............................................................................. ..................... Hon.

Greg Halsey-Brandt Deputy Premier and Minister of Education ....................................................................................... ..................................Hon. Christy Clark Minister of Advanced Education................................................................................................. ...........................................Hon. Shirley Bond Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Treaty Negotiations.............................................................. .................... Hon.

Geoff Plant Minister of Children and Family Development.................................................................................... ..............................Hon. Gordon Hogg Minister of State for Early Childhood Development.............................................................................. .................................Hon. Linda Reid Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services......................................................................... .................. Hon.

George Abbott Minister of State for Community Charter........................................................................................ .................................. Hon. Ted Nebbeling Minister of State for Women's Equality ......................................................................................... .................................... Hon. Lynn Stephens Minister of Competition, Science and Enterprise ................................................................................ ..................................Hon.

Rick Thorpe Minister of State for Deregulation ............................................................................................. ............................................ Hon. Kevin Falcon Minister of Energy and Mines................................................................................................... ....................................... Hon. Richard Neufeld Minister of Finance ............................................................................................................ ....................................................... Hon.

Gary Collins Minister of Forests ............................................................................................................ .................................................. Hon. Michael de Jong Minister of Health Planning .................................................................................................... ............................................ Hon. Sindi Hawkins Minister of Health Services.................................................................................................... ................................................ Hon.

Colin Hansen Minister of State for Mental Health ............................................................................................ ...................................Hon. Gulzar S. Cheema Minister of State for Intermediate, Long Term and Home Care ............................................................................. Hon. Katherine Whittred Minister of Human Resources.................................................................................................... ............................................Hon.

Murray Coell Minister of Management Services................................................................................................ .........................................Hon. Sandy Santori Minister of Provincial Revenue................................................................................................. ................................................Hon. Bill Barisoff Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General ................................................................................ ..................................Hon.

Rich Coleman Minister of Skills Development and Labour...................................................................................... .............................Hon. Graham P. Bruce Minister of Sustainable Resource Management and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries ..................................Hon. Stan Hagen Minister of Transportation..................................................................................................... .................................................... Hon.

Judith Reid Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection..................................................................................... ....................................Hon. Joyce Murray LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Deputy Speaker................................................................................................................. ..............................................................

John Weisbeck Leader of the Opposition ....................................................................................................... ...........................................................Joy MacPhail Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole ........................................................................................... .............................................. Harold Long Clerk of the Legislative Assembly .............................................................................................. .........................................E.

George MacMinn Clerk Assistant ................................................................................................................ ................................................................... Robert Vaive Clerk Assistant and Law Clerk .................................................................................................. ........................................................ Ian D. Izard Clerk Assistant and Clerk of Committees........................................................................................ ............................................Craig H.

James Clerk Assistant/Committee Clerk................................................................................................ ............................................ Kate Ryan-Lloyd Sergeant-at-Arms ............................................................................................................... .........................................................A.A. Humphreys Director, Hansard Services ..................................................................................................... ........................................

Anthony Dambrauskas Legislative Librarian.......................................................................................................... ............................................................. Joan A. Barton Legislative Comptroller ........................................................................................................ .................................................................Peter Bray Published by British Columbia Hansard Services, and printed under the authority of the Speaker by the Queen's Printer, Victoria.

Rates: single issue, $2.85; per calendar year, mailed daily, $298. GST extra. Agent: Crown Publications Inc., 521 Fort St., Victoria, B.C. V8W 1E7. Telephone: (250) 386-4636. Fax: 386-0221. www.leg.bc.ca/hansard In addition to printed transcripts, Hansard Services publishes transcripts on the Internet and broadcasts Chamber debates on television.

Party Standings: Liberal 75; New Democratic 2; Independent Liberal 2. ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS Abbott, Hon. George (L) ....................................................................... Shuswap Anderson, Val J. (L) .............................................................Vancouver-Langara Barisoff, Hon. Bill (L)............................................. Penticton–Okanagan Valley Bell, Pat (L).........................................................................Prince George North Belsey, Bill (L).................................................................................

North Coast Bennett, Bill (L) ........................................................................... East Kootenay Bhullar, Tony (Ind. L) ................................................................. Surrey-Newton Bloy, Harry (L).................................................................................. Burquitlam Bond, Hon. Shirley (L).........................................Prince George–Mount Robson Bray, Jeff (L)......................................................................Victoria–Beacon H ill Brenzinger, Elayne (L) ...............................................................

Surrey-Whalley Brice, Susan (L) ............................................................................Saanich South Bruce, Hon. Graham P. (L)................................................ Cowichan-Ladysmith Campbell, Hon. Gordon (L)............................................. Vancouver–Point Grey Cheema, Hon. Gulzar S. (L) ..........................................Surrey–Panorama Ridge Chong, Ida (L)................................................................ Oak Bay–Gordon Head Christensen, Tom (L) .............................................................

Okanagan-Vernon Chutter, Dave (L) ........................................................................... Yale-L illooet Clark, Hon. Christy (L) ..................................................Port Moody–Westwood Cobb, Walt (L) ............................................................................. Cariboo South Coell, Hon. Murray (L) ........................................ Saanich North and the Islands Coleman, Hon. Rich (L) .............................................. Fort Langley–Aldergrove Collins, Hon.

Gary (L).........................................................Vancouver-Fairview de Jong, Hon. Michael (L)....................................... Abbotsford–Mount Lehman Falcon, Hon. Kevin (L) .......................................................... Surrey-Cloverdale Hagen, Hon. Stan (L) ................................................................... Comox Valley Halsey-Brandt, Hon. Greg (L) ..................................................Richmond Centre Hamilton, Arnie (L)............................................................Esquimalt-Metchosin Hansen, Hon.

Colin (L) .....................................................Vancouver-Quilchena Harris, Roger (L)......................................................................................Skeena Hawes, Randy (L) ............................................................ Maple Ridge–Mission Hawkins, Hon. Sindi (L).......................................................... Kelowna-Mission Hayer, Dave S. (L) ................................................................... Surrey-Tynehead Hogg, Hon. Gordon (L) ........................................................

Surrey–White Rock Hunter, Mike (L) ...................................................................................Nanaimo Jarvis, Daniel (L)...................................................... North Vancouver–Seymour Johnston, Ken (L)............................................................ Vancouver-Fraserview Kerr, Brian J. (L).............................................................. Malahat–Juan de Fuca Krueger, Kevin (L).................................................

Kamloops–North Thompson Kwan, Jenny Wai Ching (NDP) ...............................Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Lee, Richard T. (L).......................................................................Burnaby North Lekstrom, Blair (L)................................................................. Peace River South Les, John (L) .......................................................................... Ch illiwack-Sumas Locke, Brenda (L) ...........................................................

Surrey–Green Timbers Long, Harold (L) ...................................................Powell River–Sunshine Coast MacKay, Dennis (L)....................................................... Bulkley Valley–Stikine McMahon, Wendy (L).............................................Columbia River–Revelstoke MacPhail, Joy (NDP) ..........................................................

Vancouver-Hastings Manhas, Karn (L) .............................................Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Masi, Reni (L) ...................................................................................Delta North Mayencourt, Lorne (L) ..........................................................Vancouver-Burrard Murray, Hon. Joyce (L) ........................................................... New Westminster Nebbeling, Hon. Ted (L) .......................................... West Vancouver–Garibaldi Nettleton, Paul (Ind. L)..................................................Prince George–Omineca Neufeld, Hon.

Richard (L)...................................................... Peace River North Nijjar, Rob (L)...................................................................Vancouver-Kingsway Nuraney, John (L) ...............................................................Burnaby-W illingdon Orr, Sheila (L) ...........................................................................Victoria-Hillside Penner, Barry (L)....................................................................... Ch illiwack-Kent Plant, Hon. Geoff (L) ......................................................... Richmond-Steveston Reid, Hon.

Judith (L)............................................................Nanaimo-Parksv ille Reid, Hon. Linda (L) ................................................................... Richmond East Richmond, Hon. Claude (L) ................................................................ Kamloops Roddick, Valerie (L)..........................................................................Delta South Sahota, Patty (L).....................................................................Burnaby-Edmonds Santori, Hon. Sandy (L)..............................................West Kootenay–Boundary Stephens, Hon.

Lynn (L) ........................................................................ Langley Stewart, Ken (L)...................................................... Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Stewart, Richard (L) ...................................................... Coquitlam-Maillardville Suffredine, Blair F. (L) ................................................................Nelson-Creston Sultan, Ralph (L)....................................................... West Vancouver–Capilano Thorpe, Hon.

Rick (L) ..........................................................Okanagan-Westside Trumper, Gillian (L)................................................................Alberni-Qualicum van Dongen, John (L).........................................................Abbotsford-Clayburn Visser, Rod (L).................................................................................North Island Weisbeck, John (L).........................................................Kelowna–Lake Country Whittred, Hon.

Katherine (L) ...................................North Vancouver–Lonsdale Wilson, John (L)........................................................................... Cariboo North Wong, Patrick (L)............................................................Vancouver-Kensington LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING Abbotsford-Clayburn................................................................John van Dongen Abbotsford–Mount Lehman ..............................................Hon.

Michael de Jong Alberni-Qualicum.......................................................................G illian Trumper Bulkley Valley–Stikine ..............................................................Dennis MacKay Burnaby North..............................................................................Richard T. Lee Burnaby-Edmonds............................................................................Patty Sahota Burnaby-Willingdon......................................................................

John Nuraney Burquitlam ........................................................................................ Harry Bloy Cariboo North ..................................................................................John Wilson Cariboo South .................................................................................... Walt Cobb Chilliwack-Kent ............................................................................. Barry Penner Chilliwack-Sumas .................................................................................

John Les Columbia River–Revelstoke....................................................Wendy McMahon Comox Valley .......................................................................... Hon. Stan Hagen Coquitlam-Maillardville .............................................................Richard Stewart Cowichan-Ladysmith .......................................................Hon. Graham P. Bruce Delta North.......................................................................................... Reni Masi Delta South................................................................................

Valerie Roddick East Kootenay .................................................................................. Bill Bennett Esquimalt-Metchosin...................................................................Arnie Hamilton Fort Langley–Aldergrove ..................................................... Hon. Rich Coleman Kamloops ....................................................................... Hon. Claude Richmond Kamloops–North Thompson ........................................................Kevin Krueger Kelowna–Lake Country...............................................................

John Weisbeck Kelowna-Mission ................................................................ Hon. Sindi Hawkins Langley ............................................................................... Hon. Lynn Stephens Malahat–Juan de Fuca .....................................................................Brian J. Kerr Maple Ridge–Mission ................................................................... Randy Hawes Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows .............................................................Ken Stewart Nanaimo..........................................................................................

Mike Hunter Nanaimo-Parksville ...................................................................Hon. Judith Reid Nelson-Creston.......................................................................Blair F. Suffredine New Westminster ..................................................................Hon. Joyce Murray North Coast ........................................................................................Bill Belsey North Island........................................................................................Rod Visser North Vancouver–Lonsdale.......................................... Hon.

Katherine Wh ittred North Vancouver–Seymour .............................................................Daniel Jarvis Oak Bay–Gordon Head .......................................................................Ida Chong Okanagan-Vernon .................................................................... Tom Christensen Okanagan-Westside.................................................................Hon. Rick Thorpe Peace River North .............................................................Hon. Richard Neufeld Peace River South .......................................................................

Blair Lekstrom Penticton–Okanagan Valley ....................................................Hon. Bill Barisoff Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain.................................................... Karn Manhas Port Moody–Westwood......................................................... Hon. Christy Clark Powell River–Sunshine Coast.......................................................... Harold Long Prince George North................................................................................Pat Bell Prince George–Mount Robson................................................Hon.

Shirley Bond Prince George–Omineca................................................................Paul Nettleton Richmond Centre......................................................... Hon. Greg Halsey-Brandt Richmond East .......................................................................... Hon. Linda Reid Richmond-Steveston ................................................................ Hon. Geoff Plant Saanich North and the Islands ............................................... Hon. Murray Coell Saanich South...................................................................................

Susan Brice Shuswap .............................................................................. Hon. George Abbott Skeena.............................................................................................Roger Harris Surrey-Cloverdale ................................................................. Hon. Kevin Falcon Surrey–Green Timbers .................................................................. Brenda Locke Surrey-Newton ............................................................................... Tony Bhullar Surrey–Panorama Ridge................................................. Hon.

Gulzar S. Cheema Surrey-Tynehead .......................................................................... Dave S. Hayer Surrey-Whalley ...................................................................... Elayne Brenzinger Surrey–White Rock ...............................................................Hon. Gordon Hogg Vancouver-Burrard................................................................. Lorne Mayencourt Vancouver-Fairview............................................................... Hon.

Gary Co llins Vancouver-Fraserview ...................................................................Ken Johnston Vancouver-Hastings .......................................................................Joy MacPhail Vancouver-Kensington...................................................................Patrick Wong Vancouver-Kingsway..........................................................................Rob Nijjar Vancouver-Langara....................................................................Val J.

Anderson Vancouver–Mount Pleasant............................................Jenny Wai Ching Kwan Vancouver–Point Grey ................................................... Hon. Gordon Campbell Vancouver-Quilchena............................................................ Hon. Colin Hansen Victoria–Beacon Hill.............................................................................Jeff Bray Victoria-Hillside.................................................................................. Sheila Orr West Kootenay–Boundary.................................................... Hon.

Sandy Santori West Vancouver–Capilano ..............................................................Ralph Sultan West Vancouver–Garibaldi ................................................. Hon. Ted Nebbeling Yale-Lillooet .................................................................................. Dave Chutter

CONTENTS Monday, February 17, 2003 Afternoon Sitting Routine Proceedings Page Introductions by Members....................................................................................................... ............................................... 4809 Introduction and First Reading of Bills ........................................................................................ ......................................... 4809 Museum Act (Bill 2) Hon. G.

Abbott Statements (Standing Order 25B).............................................................................................................................. .............. 4809 Eid-ul-Adha festival J. Nuraney Economic opportunities in North Coast area B. Belsey Olympic spirit team K. Manhas Oral Questions................................................................................................................. ......................................................... 4810 Approval of Tulsequah Chief mine project J. MacPhail Hon. S. Hagen Collection of unpaid sales taxes J. Kwan Hon. B.

Barisoff Incident at Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre S. Brice Hon. R. Coleman Addiction services and safe injection sites in Victoria S. Orr Hon. G. Cheema Liberal MLA response to e-mail on education funding J. Kwan Hon. C. Clark Secondary school apprenticeship program B. Penner Hon. S. Bond Hon. C. Clark Role of immigration in B.C. economy J. Nuraney Hon. G. Abbott Petitions ...................................................................................................................... ............................................................... 4813 J.

Bray Tabling Documents .............................................................................................................. .................................................... 4813 Chief electoral officer's annual report, 2002

Throne Speech Debate (continued)............................................................................................................................... ........... 4813 S. Orr P. Sahota R. Harris J. Wilson K. Manhas Hon. G. Abbott R. Stewart V. Anderson D. Hayer B. Penner

4809 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2003 The House met at 2:03 p.m. Introductions by Members J. Nuraney: It gives me great pleasure today to rec- ognize some of the members of the Ismaili council who are present with us today. We have our president of the council, Mr. Malik Talib, the good doctor Haneef Alibhai, Farah Jinnah, Farid Damji, Iqbal Ahamed and Talib Nur Mohammed. May the House please make them all welcome. J. Bray: I have the pleasure of introducing two guests to the House today, Terry Colburn and Burl Fischer.

Terry has, for those of us in the local commu- nity, become a very well-spoken advocate for persons living with mental illness. Terry has appeared in a lot of columns recently in the local paper and is really do- ing an outstanding job. I'd like to have the House make him and Burl feel very welcome. B. Locke: It's my privilege to welcome Nina Rivet and Tina Thorpe to the House today. Nina is the sister of Irene Thorpe, and Tina is the daughter. Would the House please make them welcome. Hon. G. Halsey-Brandt: It's my pleasure to intro- duce and to recognize Mr. and Mrs. Mahmood Awan, who are in the precinct today.

They're here for the celebration of Eid. Mr. Awan has been very active in the city of Richmond and the community safety com- mittee and the intercultural committee and has numerous other responsibilities of bringing our dif- ferent cultures together. May the House please make them welcome. [1405] Hon. G. Abbott: We have in the gallery today some representatives from one of the really great institutions in British Columbia, certainly one of the great jewels in the provincial crown, the Royal B.C. Museum.

The rea- son why, of course, we have a museum that is world- renowned and which every British Columbian is very proud of is the great leadership that we enjoy at the Royal B.C. Museum. Among the folks in the gallery today are Pauline Rafferty, the chief executive officer of RBCM; Grant Hughes, who is the director of curatorial services; Brent Cooke, who is the director of public programs; Gary Mitchell, who is the provincial archi- vist; David Mulroney, who is the president of the Friends of the Royal B.C. Museum; and Bill Barkley, who is a former CEO of the museum.

It's appropriate they're all here today, because we are going to shortly be introducing some changes which members of the museum have been looking for, for some ten years. Would the House please make them welcome. D. Hayer: I am pleased to introduce my wife, Isa- belle Martinez Hayer. This is her first time visiting the House, though she has come to the parliament build- ings many times. She is my right hand, and she is the one who has always supported me. Would the House please make her welcome. Mr. Speaker: Hon. members, I have a special guest that I'd like to introduce today.

It is my pleasure to ad- vise you that we have a visiting Clerk from another ju- risdiction on attachment to our House this week, Mr. John Quirke, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Nun- avut. This visit is one of a continuing series of attach- ments whereby our Legislative Assembly hosts Clerks from other jurisdictions. Please join me in welcoming John Quirke to British Columbia and to our House. Introduction and First Reading of Bills MUSEUM ACT Hon. G. Abbott presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Mu- seum Act. Hon. G.

Abbott: I move that Bill 2 be read a first time now. Motion approved. Hon. G. Abbott: I am pleased to present the Mu- seum Act. This legislation provides the mechanism to the Royal B.C. Museum to successfully respond to the challenges of managing a cultural treasure that is also a significant public attraction. It's a high priority for the museum. In fact, they have been actively seeking this transformation for ten years. This change in governance will allow the museum to maintain its international, national and certainly provincial reputation for excellence.

It will create new partnerships in communities, increase opportunities for public participation, ensure that British Columbians remain invested in the safekeeping and significance of the museum's ten million specimens and historic treas- ures, and achieve its vision of improved self-sufficiency through diversified fundraising and endowment funds. By introducing this legislation we're ensuring the mu- seum remains a cultural institution of which we can all be proud, now and for generations to come.

I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today. Bill 2 introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today. Statements (Standing Order 25B) EID-UL-ADHA FESTIVAL J. Nuraney: Over 1.4 billion Muslims around the world, including seven million in North America and

4810 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2003 over 100,000 in British Columbia, celebrate the end of the annual hajj — the pilgrimage to Mecca — with a festival of Eid-ul-Adha, the second of the two major Muslim festivals. Muslims throughout the world cele- brate this festival of sacrifice. [ 1 4 1 0 ] A s r e v e a l e d i n t h e K o r a n , t h e h o l y b o o k o f I s l a m , the festival commemorates the prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son as a demonstration of piety and love for the almighty God.

However, just before the sacrifice he received a revelation stating he had already fulfilled the mission and instead of his son, a goat was sacrificed. Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated not only as an anniversary of symbolic sacrifice but also as a juncture that links Islamic history with that of other monotheistic faiths — namely, Judaism and Christian- ity — through the figure of the prophet Abraham. The Muslim communities of British Columbia will be celebrating this occasion this evening at the Legisla- ture in the lower rotunda, and I invite all the members of the Legislature to please participate.

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN NORTH COAST AREA B. Belsey: The first time I had the honour of rising in this House, I said that the people of North Coast want to be valued contributors to the recovery of our province's economy. The way to do this is through job creation, by stimulating coastal economies, through recognizing challenges and understanding that not all solutions come from Victoria and go north. The good news is that economic opportunity is opening up in my communities.

The daily ferry to Prince Rupert is a major commitment, and one that will provide tourism and the industry with certainty and the chance to show off the entire region. This spring we began to welcome cruise ship traffic to Prince Rupert. This winter we started heliskiing in the Bella Coola Valley. We have containerization for the Port of Prince Rupert. This has been identified as an important com- ponent of renewal, and it's not only for the Pacific Northwest, but it will be good for the entire north of this province.

This government has put in place many regulations to govern aquaculture and to ensure that jobs and the environment can co-exist. First nations communities such as Kitkatla and Kitasoo are supportive of the di- rection this government has taken and appreciate the economic benefits that will come from aquaculture. Offshore oil and gas has shown potential to pro- duce revenue that can support education and health care services. It is an opportunity to provide good- paying jobs that will keep families in the northwest.

The return of Skeena Cellulose to the private sector, where it belongs and where they can work together — labour and the company — to produce a strong, viable industry…. This government is not about saying no to the heart- lands of B.C. It's not about saying no to mining, aquacul- ture or forestry. This government is about working with people to give them opportunities to succeed, and I am proud of being part of this government. OLYMPIC SPIRIT TEAM K. Manhas: This week B.C.'s first 2010 Olympic spirit team is being launched in the Tri-Cities area.

The team is building on a broad base of community leaders and innovators representing all sectors of the region. The Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce and the ARC Arts Council are bringing together local businesses, arts and culture groups, athletes, sports organizations, service groups, multicultural groups, youth, seniors, Paralympians and local governments to show their support to focus on how our region can support the 2010 Winter Olympic bid and, of course, benefit from the Olympics when they are awarded to British Co- lumbia.

Their mandate is to embrace the Olympic ide- als of sport, culture and sustainability, and to foster it in the tri-cities of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody as well as Anmore and Belcarra. My riding of Port Coquitlam is the hometown of one of Canada's most inspirational heroes, Terry Fox. Terry Fox was a young man with a dream. His dream inspired a nation and created a legacy of hope around the world. That sense of legacy inspired me and con- tinues to inspire the people in my community.

It is that s a m e k i n d o f l e g a c y o f h o p e a n d s p i r i t t h a t T e r r y l e f t with us, which this Olympic spirit team believes is a real potential of the 2010 Winter Olympics — a legacy this team intends to be a part of creating for themselves and those who follow. [1415] The Olympics is not just about Vancouver. The team believes that every person in our province has an opportunity if we win the bid to host the Winter Olympics in 2010.

We have the opportunity of a life- time to seize the world stage and create a lasting legacy — a launching pad for Vancouver to become one of the world's great cities and for B.C. to be one of the most recognized and talked-about places in the world. To see what we have to offer is to fall in love with it and to want to be here to experience it. The team will launch its activities on Thursday at the very appropriate location of the Coquitlam innova- tion centre, a joint project of various levels of govern- ment that is also making dreams come to life.

On Thursday people will see the face of the Tri-Cities communities. That face is diverse, and that face is united. It is firmly grounded in community and looks forward to a huge opportunity to show our colours — colours that radiate like Olympic gold. Oral Questions APPROVAL OF TULSEQUAH CHIEF MINE PROJECT J. MacPhail: When the Minister of Sustainable Re- source Management takes a decision to grant approval

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 4811 to a mine project in B.C., can he tell this House who knows about that decision prior to his announcement? Hon. S. Hagen: No one until the press release goes out. J. MacPhail: Maybe I should be a little more spe- cific. Can the minister tell us who knows about a deci- sion to approve a mine before it's made public? Who in industry would know? Which political staff in his of- fice would know? Who at public affairs bureau would know? Which staff in the Premier's office would know?

How many would know about a decision to approve a project before the approval is made public? Hon. S. Hagen: I'll take that on notice. Mr. Speaker: The Leader of the Opposition has a supplementary question. J. MacPhail: On December 13, 2002, the Minister of Sustainable Resource Management granted approval to Redfern Resources to proceed with the Tulsequah Chief mine project. In the four days preceding that announcement, Redfern stock soared on very heavy trading.

A few months earlier, the day before the B.C. environmental assessment office forwarded documents to the Minister of Sustainable Resource Management for a decision on the mine, Redfern stock more than doubled with the volume of 1.3 million shares traded. This is a stock that often didn't trade at all but would suddenly spike just prior to a government decision. Today shareholders in Redfern have filed a complaint with the Canadian securities commission. They are asking for an investigation into insider trading.

Again to the minister: now that he knows the specif- i c s , c a n he t e l l t hi s H o u s e w ho he i nf o rm e d o f t he d e c i - sion to approve Redfern's proposal to develop the Tulse- quah Chief mine before he made the decision public? Hon. S. Hagen: I'll take that on notice. COLLECTION OF UNPAID SALES TAXES J. Kwan: Last week the Minister of Provincial Revenue said the Premier gave him specific instruc- tions to take aggressive measures to collect unpaid taxes. The minister has a number of tools at his dis- posal to do that.

Can he tell this House the difference between a lien and a writ of seizure of sale? Hon. B. Barisoff: I think I'll take that question on notice. J. Kwan: I'll save the minister the trouble. A writ of seizure is much more serious than a lien. A lien allows the debtor to pay off his or her debt voluntarily once an asset is sold.

A writ of seizure orders a sheriff to seize assets against the debtor's will. [1420] Last week the minister said he could not say if the debt owed to the province by the Minister of Forests' former law partner, Philip Derksen, had been paid af- ter it was cancelled on the Minister of Forests's behalf. Public documents, which I have here, show that the debt remains unpaid, and a lien has been put on Mr. Derksen's assets. Can the minister tell the House why the government didn't refile the writ of seizure with the Supreme Court against Mr.

Derksen, the former partner of the Minister of Forests, once they had cor- rected the name? Hon. B. Barisoff: I think last week I answered this question of the member opposite that I can't comment on individual cases. Interjection. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Hon. B. Barisoff: I think the member opposite knows full well that I cannot comment on individual cases. I gave you assurance that we treat all taxpayers fairly and equitably when it comes to collecting mon- eys for government. INCIDENT AT VANCOUVER ISLAND REGIONAL CORRECTIONAL CENTRE S. Brice: My question is for the Solicitor General.

In late January there was a disturbance at the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre on Wilkinson Road in my riding. Media sources reported that the damage to the jail was estimated at $40,000. What can the Solicitor General tell my constituents about this event? Hon. R. Coleman: It was on the night of January 21 that we had an i ncident i n one of the rem and units at Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre. It started at about 10 p.m. It was over within a couple of hours. Some inmates refused to be locked down. They did some damage in the living unit, and the matter was settled peacefully. S.

Brice: I thank you for that background. I under- stand there was considerable damage. Was there at any point in the incident any danger to the neighbourhood surrounding the institution? Hon. R. Coleman: No, there was not. Our staff handled this in a very professional manner in coopera- tion with the Saanich police department. The incident is still under investigation by the police with regard to any possible charges, so I won't comment on the details of that. There is also a review taking place internally to the branch, but at no time was the community at risk.

ADDICTION SERVICES AND SAFE INJECTION SITES IN VICTORIA S. Orr: M y q u e s t i o n i s t o t h e M i n i s t e r o f S t a t e f o r Mental Health. Like many other communities in B.C.,

4812 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2003 Victoria faces a growing number of people who require addiction services. However, with limited resources available to support patients that are leaving detox facilities, especially in my riding of Victoria-Hillside, these patients often find themselves back on the street with little or no follow-up. Can the minister explain what actions are being taken to improve addiction ser- vices? Hon. G. Cheema: As of last April, and for the first time, addiction services have been placed within the health care system.

The health authorities are now managing addiction services to improve delivery. We found there were not enough resources in Victoria to support patients leaving detoxification centres. To solve this, the Vancouver Island health authority is strengthening its supportive housing resources. We have just opened two new supportive recovery group homes: one for male patients and one for female patients. We are also starting an intensive day treat- ment program for men, the first in Victoria.

With $6.5 million of new funding for mental health on Vancouver Island, we are also going to see more outreach workers and more supportive living beds in Victoria. Mr. Speaker: The member for Victoria-Hillside has a supplementary question. S. Orr: Thank you for that. I'm glad to hear what I just heard. My supplemental is that intravenous drug use and, more importantly, public disposal of needles are on the rise in Victoria. Many of the people I repre- sent believe that the use of these supervised injection sites would help to resolve these problems.

To the min- ister: can he tell my constituents how they can bring a supervised injection site to Victoria? [1425] Hon. G. Cheema: A working group on supervised sites is presently meeting. This group includes repre- sentatives from city and police departments of Van- couver and Victoria, health authorities, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control and the Ministry of Health Ser- vices. Proposals for the site will be sent to Health Can- ada to consider the applications. Ultimately, it's up to the individual municipality and the health authori- ties… Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Hon. G.

Cheema: …to determine if the supervised injection sites would be appropriate in their area. LIBERAL MLA RESPONSE TO E-MAIL ON EDUCATION FUNDING J. Kwan: The opposition caucus has obtained a copy of an e-mail correspondence between a constitu- ent and the MLA for Esquimalt-Metchosin. The con- stituent writes to the member asking serious questions about the effects of cuts on the Sooke school district — its ability to deliver education for special needs chil- dren. If I could, I'd like to read from the member's re- sponse, and I quote part of it: "Yes, I'm aware of the seriousness of the drinking and driving.

The Premier's actions were wrong, and I don't agree with what he did. The Premier has recognized that he made a terrible mistake and has apologized." The letter goes on, but I think you get the flavour. To the Minister of Education: is this the response she recommends for all backbench MLAs when they're called to account for her government's failure to deliver quality education? Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Order, please. Hon. C. Clark: Here is the response that I recom- mend for anyone who inquires about what's going on with education funding.

First, we have maintained education funding, even though there is declining en- rolment around British Columbia. Second, last year we granted $42 million in new money to school districts. Third, this year we've granted $50 million in new money for school districts. Lastly, the Premier made a public commitment in his address on television to Brit- ish Columbians last week that we will be committing a further $100 million to our education system to benefit every child in British Columbia. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Order, please. Order. SECONDARY SCHOOL APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM B.

Penner: That's a tough act to follow. My question is to the Minister of Advanced Education. The secon- dary school apprenticeship program… Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. B. Penner: …provides 140 Chilliwack students a chance to start an apprenticeship while still attending school. It's truly a great example for the rest of the province, and it's one that I and many members of our community are very proud of. However, I've heard concerns that under the new industry training model, this very successful program may not continue after March 31.

I wonder if the Minister of Advanced Educa- tion can tell us what the future is for this and other similar programs. Hon. S. Bond: As we begin to look at a new train- ing model in the province of British Columbia, we

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 4813 want very much to encourage more participation ear- lier in the school system. We think the secondary school apprenticeship program is actually a template and a model. It demonstrates flexibility. It encourages the youth of the province to consider a skill or a trade. We expect it to continue, and in fact, we'd like to en- hance it as we continue to develop our new model in this province. Mr. Speaker: The member for Chilliwack-Kent has a supplementary question. B. Penner: Yes, Mr.

Speaker, I do, and my supple- mentary question is for the Minister of Education. As members may well know, B.C. is facing a looming skills shortage. In fact, by 2010 it's projected that the number of people retiring from the workforce will ex- ceed the number of young people entering the work- force. To the Minister of Education: could she tell the people of Chilliwack and, indeed, British Columbia what she is doing to promote trades training in schools? [1430] Hon. C. Clark: It's true we are facing a looming skills crunch in British Columbia.

We need to make sure that we value the trades and that kids in our high schools look to the trades as an equally rewarding pro- f e s s i o n . W e n e e d t o m a k e s u r e t h a t o u r g r a d r e q u i r e - ments reflect the value that we put on it. That's why we're reviewing the grad requirements that are cur- rently in place. We'll be making some announcements about that this spring, and I'm sure it will include some ways that our high school system can place equal value on the trades with other professions. ROLE OF IMMIGRATION IN B.C. ECONOMY J.

Nuraney: My question is to the Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services. We are very fortunate to have the ethnic diversity that we are experiencing in our province, and increasingly it is becoming our strength. Yet to vitalize and revitalize our economy, we must aim to maximize the benefits of the skills and the abilities that recent immigrants bring with them to our province. Will the Minister of Com- munity, Aboriginal and Women's Services tell us what government is do ing to e nsure that recent immigrants can make the largest possible contribution in revitaliz- ing our economy? Hon. G.

Abbott: The member is certainly correct t h a t w e d o h a v e s o m e c h a l l e n g e s d e m o g r a p h i c a l l y i n British Columbia, as we do in the rest of Canada. We are becoming an older society. I know I'm growing older unnaturally quickly these days, and I'm sure other members are as well. But we are becoming an older society.

We are experiencing some skills gaps as w e s e e p e o p l e r e t i r e f r o m t h e w o r k f o r c e , a n d i t i s e n - tirely clear that immigration is going to be playing an increasingly important role in economic development in British Columbia in the twenty-first century. The province is attempting to address the situation, in part, through an instrument called the provincial nominee program. This actually started back in 1999, but notwithstanding the fact that the NDP had a free- standing Ministry of Multiculturalism and Immigra- tion, they weren't able to get it off the ground.

I'm happy to say that we have got it off the ground. We are now more than 200 people…. Interjections. Hon. G. Abbott: More than 200 new British Co- lumbians have gone through the PNP now. They've provided us with doctors, with nurses, with important skills across the province. It's been a tremendous suc- cess. All we needed was a new government. [End of question period.] Petitions J. Bray: I rise to present a petition signed by 1,015 residents of Victoria. These petitioners oppose the reas- sessment and reapplication process for disability bene- fits level 2. Tabling Documents Mr.

Speaker: Hon. members, I have the honour to present the 2002 annual report of the chief electoral officer to the Legislative Assembly. Orders of the Day Hon. G. Collins: I call continued debate on Ad- dress in Reply to the Speech from the Throne. Throne Speech Debate (continued) Mr. Speaker: The Address in Reply continues with the member for Victoria-Hillside. S. Orr: It is again a great pleasure and honour to rise here today representing the people of Victoria- Hillside and respond to the Speech from the Throne delivered by British Columbia's first-ever female Lieutenant-Governor, the Hon. Iona Campagnolo. Mr.

Speaker: Perhaps, hon. member, we could wait for a moment until members make their way else- where. Please proceed. [1435] S. Orr: L a s t y e a r i n m y r e s p o n s e t o t h e t h r o n e speech, I spoke about it being a historical document, because it was setting out a new course that would change direction for this province. Well, let's look at

4814 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2003 that. It's now a year later, and that change in direction is actually happening — 81,000 new jobs. B.C.'s average weekly wage is now the highest in Canada, three times higher than the national average. We have record hous- ing sales, up 27 percent from 2001. Housing starts ex- ceed all forecasts, up 25 percent. Retail sales are up. Wholesale sales are up. Mineral exploration is up. Our ministries are all coming in below or on budget, and the list goes on.

This wonderful province of ours is starting to break free from a decade of groaning under mismanagement. For a time there I felt sometimes like that little train in that wonderful children's book called The Little Engine That Could, saying: "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can." Now I know we can, because I listened to this throne speech. I heard what is so important to me. This throne speech had real meat attached to its bones. We again have a good, solid plan. We have a commitment. We are moving forward.

I have listened to my colleagues from across this province respond so enthusiastically to this throne speech because of a wealth of new opportunities for their communities like the new B.C. heartlands economic strategy, revitalizing the forest industry and the mining industry and open- ing up B.C. 's transportation infrastructure. I'm going to interject here and tell the House about my personal experience when I was travelling with the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Govern- ment Services on the prebudget consultation tour, lis- tening to the people in those areas about their issues.

Transportation was huge, and I witnessed firsthand how desperate they are for new roads. On our way into Fort St. John for a hearing, our bus had to physically m o v e a s f a r o v e r a s i t c o u l d o n t h e r o a d t o l e t t h i s enormous rig pass with its resources needing to get to market. It could barely get by us. That poor driver who was hauling our resources has to put up with those conditions daily. He or she should have safer and bet- ter roads to work on. Let's remember that a good chunk of the wealth of this province comes from those areas, and they need to be serviced.

The throne speech talked about new partnerships with our first nations, and we finally talked about a true understanding and recognition of the injustices of the past. I was very pleased, and I am sure our aborigi- nal people were too, to hear those words. They have been a long time coming. Now, some of my constituents may ask how all of this relates to an urban riding like mine. As I said before, a good chunk of the wealth comes from the heartlands, and certainly, as they grow and the resources of the province grow, all that money flows to every corner of British Columbia.

The richer the heartlands are and the richer the heartlands become, the richer we become. My riding is not a resource-dependent community. In fact, we have a good, strong economy. We have low unem- ployment, a very, very strong real estate market and lots of construction. But we are still in need of the revenues that are generated by those communities. Victoria-Hillside is a very diverse and interesting place to live, and whenever I get a chance like this I like to extol the virtues of living in the best place in B.C.

We have many parks, and finally, thanks to the municipal- ity of Saanich and their hard-working mayor and council, we've seen the final phase of Rutledge Park completed. We have great trails, many cherished Garry oak groves, golf courses and rec centres. We have his- tory and culture. We have a very active Indo-Canadian community. I, in fact, have three temples in my con- stituency. We have a Jewish community. The Jewish C o m m u n i t y C e n t r e o f V i c t o r i a i s i n m y c o n s t i t u e n c y , and the synagogue is only 20 feet outside my bounda- ries.

It is, in fact, one of the oldest synagogues in Can- ada, and they are just completing a wonderful new extension, which should be ready very soon. We had the pleasure of our new rabbi, Harry Brechner, who gave the blessing on opening day. [1440] I am also happy to welcome into my riding the Vic- toria Christian Centre Association, which just had its grand opening on January 25 with Pastors Wayne and Penny Smith. They not only serve their congregation; they are also involved in extreme outreach to the rest of the community. I have a large Chinese community.

Victoria's China- town, with its rich history, is in my constituency. We have many Latin, Vietnamese and Iranian people. We have great restaurants, great shopping — just a won- derful mix of cultures. When I listened to the throne speech and indeed the speech the Premier made on Wednesday night, it was with all these people in mind. I listened very intently, because I had to be assured that it covered some of their issues, issues that I deal with daily in my community office. I was very pleased at some of the things I heard, like education. I have a declining enrolment.

It is inter- esting to note that since 1998, our student population has plummeted, but we have increased per-student funding by $662. Today we spend $6,455 per student in the province, and next year we are projecting spending $6,506. Last year we put $42 million into education. This year we have put another one-time funding of $50 million and, over the next three years, another $100 million. My school district and my school board know what the y ne ed to m anage their schoo ls, and we have given them those tools and that autonomy to do this. Social issues are being addressed.

The social equity package, which includes inner-city schools, school- based counsellors, lunch programs…. These will be funded until the end of this school year and beyond. That is a very important piece and an issue that I have worked on over the past year. I was pleased to hear that. Income assistance has dropped by 55,000 people, and 92 percent of people surveyed told us that they had found work or are furthering their education or that their financial situation has changed.

We are pro- viding $300 million in job training, and because the caseloads are down, we have been able to focus the resources on those people who need it the most. People with disabilities who are on income assistance, people who are genuinely in need, will now have an earning

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 4815 exemption of $400 a month. This has doubled over the past two years and is very crucial to those people. The new Fair Pharmacare plan is to be introduced. Some 280,000 low-income families will now pay less for their drug costs. Many of these families live in my riding, and this will be a great help to them. I n m y r i d i n g w e h a v e a d r u g p r o b l e m . E v e r y s o often I go out with Chief Battershill for a ride overnight just to see things for myself, and it is a problem.

I am fortunate to have a forward-thinking mayor and for- ward-thinking councillors. Mayor Alan Lowe is ad- dressing this issue before it gets really out of hand, like it has in Vancouver east side. Along with the police chief Paul Battershill, the medical health officer Rich- ard Stanwick and other stakeholders, they came up with a downtown drug strategy which was introduced a couple of weeks ago to look at an integrated ap- proach to deal with these downtown issues.

They have already put more police onto the streets, and we are hearing from people that it is working. [1445] It's very important to understand that 50 to 70 per- cent of people with mental illness have a substance use disorder. I have found there has been very little sup- port for people leaving detox, and quite often these people are back on the street again and again. What the city is doing links very well with our approach. Fund- ing has now been transferred in its entirety to the health authorities, and for the first time addiction ser- vices have been placed within the health care services.

Two new recovery group homes have been opened: one for men and one for women. For women, we are now starting an intensive day-treatment program. You know, I want to go back on that because these facts are wrong. I know this stuff really well; so I'm just going to revisit this. We've opened two recovery group homes. One has been opened for men, and one has been opened for women, and we are starting an intensive day-treatment program exclusively for men. This has never happened before in Victoria. We have a program for women, and we have a program for men and women, but we've never had a program for men.

That is very important. We are also going to see up to half a dozen more out- reach workers and more supportive living beds. Also, we talked about day care — again, very im- portant to me. Many of my constituents are single working parents. These parents are proud and hard- working, and it is very hard for many of these people to get ahead financially. When you are a single parent putting in a full day's work, and then you have to go home and tend to the children and the housework and the cooking, it's hard. So I am especially pleased that we have raised the child care subsidy income threshold.

Would I have liked to see it raised back to where it was? Absolutely. But I believe my constituents can live with this for now as we, as government, start to get our finances in order. We are working very hard to do that right now, and we are starting to see the benefits. We are now starting to live within our means, and as the huge interest payments start to come down and money gets freed up, I will keep working with our government to get the day care subsidy back to its original level. We have increased child care spaces very substan- tially. This is so important because parents now have a choice.

In the past we only funded larger day care cen- t r e s . N o w w e a l s o f u n d l i c e n s e d h o m e d a y c a r e . T h i s choice is very important because some parents prefer a home environment for their child, and some prefer larger centres because of their facilities. But best of all, the parent can now decide what suits their child. Small business — and I have a lion's share in Victoria- Hillside — by all accounts…. The people that I talk to tell me business is good. These people are the ones that see me on the street and call me at my constituency office and at home and say: "Stick with the program.

It's working." We have been working very hard to get government out of their way so they can get on with doing their business. If we do get in their way — and sometimes we do — they now feel very comfortable with us as a government to call and let us know, and we get on it right away. These people are truly the backbone of our economy. They're the ones that take the financial risk and the responsibilities. Mr. Speaker, I have only skimmed the surface of things that I would like to talk about in my riding. Many things have been achieved, and I have just high- lighted some things.

It is always my greatest pleasure to talk about my riding, and I thank you for allowing me to do this. P. Sahota: I t i s a p l e a s u r e t o r i s e o n b e h a l f o f m y constituents of Burnaby-Edmonds and reply to the throne speech delivered last week. The throne speech sets the tone for the future to come. It sets the vision of a government. The message delivered was clear — new approaches, new solutions, new partnerships, new ways of doing things. That was the message delivered in the throne speech.

I am fortunate to live in Burnaby, where the people are always looking to do things differently and crea- tively because we are a diverse and vibrant community — diverse and vibrant in business, diverse and vibrant in culture. We have a vibrant board of trade. In 1999 the board of trade had 200 members. Now there are over 700. We have international businesses coexisting with small businesses. [1450] Our technology industry is second to none in B.C. Who hasn't heard of Ballard?

Ballard Power is develop- ing environmentally friendly fuel cells that will change the way we think about powering vehicles and appli- ances. Electronic Arts, Creo, Xantrex, MDS Metro and Delta-Q Technologies all call Burnaby their home. These technology businesses are vital to the strength of B.C.'s communities, and Burnaby is no different. The Premier understands this, and that's why he appointed the Premier's Technology Council, which is co-chaired by Paul Lee of Burnaby based at Electronic Arts Can- ada. In total the council has three Burnaby members, which I believe is a testament to the importance of

4816 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2003 Burnaby's technology industry to the province as a whole. We have a thriving film industry in British Colum- bia, and my constituency is home to two studios that I've had the opportunity to tour: River and MJA stu- dios. I am advised by the owner of River Studios that Scooby-Doo,

part 2, will be filmed by his studio in Bur- naby. That's great news for my riding. Our government believes in the potential of both the high-tech and the film industries. Last year our government kept its commitment to dramatically cut personal income taxes — a decision that's helping B.C. companies attract and retain more knowledge-based, skilled workers. Not only is the government committed to making sure we have a tax regime that helps keep our best and brightest here, but we're also making sure that our post-secondary education system delivers the best and the brightest.

We in government are very excited about our commitment to double the number of graduates over the next five years. We have already announced that we will be creating 825 new spaces in computer tech- nology, electrical engineering and computer science. Government is creating opportunities for young peo- p l e , a n d i n t u r n w e ' r e m a k i n g s u r e t h a t c o m p a n i e s have the access to the skilled workers. This will have a tremendous impact on BCIT, which also calls Burnaby its home. We have a vibrant Chinese community in Burnaby.

As my colleague from Burnaby North noted last week, it's Chinese New Year, the year of the ram. Thousands of people from the Chinese and non-Chinese commu- nity attended several events, celebrations for the Chi- nese New Year. It is indeed a diverse city. All I have to do is walk a few blocks from my office, and the variety of restaurants that are within a ten-to-15-minute walk is amazing. Simba's Grill, Lhy Thai, Baba Sweets, Oliver Twist and Balkan House are just a few that are a few minutes away from my office. Burnaby is a dynamic city.

It has an ex- citing spirit and an energy that has managed to sustain a feeling of community. It is diverse, from the people to the businesses that call Burnaby home. We're perfectly situated to take advantage of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic bid. The Olympics would bring unprecedented attention to the province and what it has to offer, particularly in terms of tour- ism. For our community, there are some benefits that will happen directly during the Olympic Games.

For example, Olympic experience shows that hotel and motel accommodation within a two-hour radius of Olympic venues can be expected to be fully booked. Our very own Simon Fraser University will certainly be a very important part of the bid as it offers a venue a n d s i t e f o r s o m e o f t h e m a n y 2 0 1 0 W i n t e r O l y m p i c competitions. We can also expect our local ice surfaces will be used for training facilities for visiting hockey and speed skating teams from other countries as they get ready to compete in the Olympic venues. We can make Burnaby their home during the 2010 games.

More important than the immediate spinoffs from hosting the games are the long-term benefits that come with the games when they are over and the Olympic flame is long extinguished. Olympic opportunities are about profile, trade and investment, and showcasing our community and country to the world. How do we build on the profile that comes with hosting the Olym- pic Games? How do we maximize the exposure that comes with a TV audience you measure in the billions?

It is estimated that the 2010 games will generate up to $10 billion in economic activity, create 228,000 jobs and result in more than $2 billion in government tax reve- nue. More than two billion people tuned into the open- ing ceremonies of the 2002 games in Salt Lake City. No marketing budget can buy that much publicity for Brit- ish Columbia. During Calgary's Olympic year, tourism in Alberta grew by 12 percent, and those gains were retained with an average annual growth of 3.25 percent for the next five post-Olympic years.

Those in the construction industry and the realtors in my area are also excited, because they know the Olympics will provide a catalyst for the construction of a new convention centre, which will bring more busi- ness to B.C. In 2001 we turned down 53 conventions with a spending potential of $146 million. Just today the province announced it was completing the pur- chase of land for the Vancouver Convention and Exhi- bition Centre expansion in Coal Harbour. This is fan- tastic news not only for the Olympic bid but also for the businesses in the lower mainland.

I, along with many others in Burnaby, am very much looking forward to us winning the 2010 bid. I believe the 2010 Olympics will bring so much to our province. This is an exciting time for us. At the end of the day, the Olympics are about legacies for sport, for businesses and for communities. [1455] While the city of Burnaby has developed a strong high-tech industry and is ready to take advantage of future economic development through the 2010 bid, we also know that what happens in the resource-based industries also affects Burnaby.

We see the contribution of the mining sector and the forestry sector, from the newly approved southeast Burnaby high school to funding for community organizations like the South Burnaby Neighbourhood House to the launch of Sky- Train's new Millennium Line. These things happen because revenue from our natural resources directly contributes to these very important services. The fact is that B.C. has a resource-based economy, and forestry is its foundation. When the forestry indus- try suffers, our ability to pay for important services like health care and education also suffers.

A lot has been said about the heartlands of this province and the government's heartlands economic strategy. I am lucky to have lived in hugely different parts of the world, having lived in India for ten years and moved to Merritt with my family, and now repre- sent the riding of Burnaby-Edmonds, an urban riding. I know the heartlands are hurting. My family still lives

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 4817 in Merritt. I know the small towns of British Columbia are hurting. The forest industry isn't thriving as it once was when my father was working in it. When my fa- ther first came to this country in the 1960s, he worked in the forest industry and did so for close to 30 years. His paycheque as a forest worker helped pay for the education of his four daughters and helped sustain our family. Those kind of jobs have been dwindling in small-town British Columbia.

The government has taken a number of steps which will help restore inno- vation in our forest practices so that B.C.'s forest indus- try can compete globally. The first step was the intro- duction of the Forest and Range Practices Act to estab- lish a results-based, workable forest code to untie the hands of our province's foremost industry and to revi- talize an industry that is the backbone of this province. We made a commitment to the people of British Columbia that we would give the forest industry the tools it needed so that it would once again be competi- tive in the global field.

The old Forest Practices Code was too costly, too complex and overly prescriptive. Under the NDP a billion dollars' worth of costs were added to doing forestry business in British Columbia. Under the NDP close to 8,000 jobs were lost through the Forest Practices Code. It was also during the NDP era that our forest industry became the highest-cost producer of fibre in the world. Every community in B.C. is a forest-dependent community. The Vancouver Board of Trade recently reported that nearly 25 percent of our entire economy is driven by the forest industry.

From paper products and transporting forest products on our roads and wa- terways to sustaining communities and families all over this province, the industry's importance should not be underestimated. The revenues derived from our number one industry help pay for hospitals and for our schools. When our forest industry's held back, we're all held back. For too long it has been held back with a needless regulatory burden and heaps of paperwork.

The government has a responsibility to make sure that our forest industry remains competitive, so industry can provide the jobs for the many forest-dependent communities and families. British Columbians have long recognized the bene- fit of being open to the world. Ours is a province built through the strength and hard work of people from different cultures working together. As the B.C. gov- ernment moves ahead with its new-era agenda, I feel even more optimistic about the changing face of our province. Our policies and the changes we're making are all about openness.

We want the creative resources that come from a diverse community drawing from differing perspectives. That's why I believe it is impor- tant that we look at the Asian subcontinent as we seek ways to reduce our reliance on the U.S. market. We have to make sure that we never become so reliant on one industry, on a single market, that we feel beholden to it. Let's look at other parts of the globe. Let's diver- sify this province. With diversity comes strength. India and China, with a combined population of over two billion people, are the ideal marketplaces for the forest industry to look at.

We know that China has banned logging in its nation, and they're looking to other parts of the world for their wood consumption. The B.C. Liberal government is vigorously pursuing these opportunities. The government is pursuing the overseas market not only in forestry but also in other sectors. The Minis- ter of Competition, Science and Enterprise's trade mis- sion to India was an indication that our government is committed to finding partnerships around the globe. The minister was there to promote partnerships be- tween British Columbia's high-tech firms and compa- nies on the subcontinent. Why shouldn't we?

We know the Indian subcontinent offers us many opportunities. We know that the industry in India is looking for op- portunities to invest in Canada and British Columbia, and we want to capitalize on that. We are making those inroads now with that trade mission and letting the investors abroad know that we want British Columbia to be a technology destination also. We know how important the private sector econ- omy is for essential services like health care and educa- tion.

Revenues from our forests, from the mining sector and from all other sectors such as technology are key to securing funds we need for important services like health care and education. [1500] In the face of the fast-paced changes taking place around the globe, it is incumbent upon all of us in this House to ask: how do we compete, how do we do it better, and how do we maintain our standard of living? It is important to ask: how can we deliver care in a more efficient and most effective manner? How do we care for our elderly?

We are right to ask these questions now, and we're right to look at how to find creative solutions to address these challenges. In my own riding we have already begun on the plans in the long-term intermediate care side. As we all know, there is a growing need for assisted-living hous- ing for seniors. I have spoken with many seniors in my riding who agree that the majority of elderly want to keep their independence for as long as possible.

Hous- ing projects like the Nikkei Home give seniors the abil- ity to continue to live independently with added sup- port services such as meals, housekeeping, recreation and 24-hour emergency response. Seniors who live in the Nikkei have a home, and their families have peace of mind knowing their loved ones will be taken care of in the best possible way. This is the first subsidized, non-profit, supportive- living development of this magnitude in the lower mainland. The partnership between the Nikkei Seniors Health Care and Housing Society, the Fraser health authority and the B.C.

Housing Management Commis- sion has proven to be successful, and I believe it can be used as a prototype for future developments around the province. This facility consists of 59 units and is a model of expanded-care options providing the seniors with the alternatives. I'm very pleased this project was built in my community and, in particular, with the partnership of the Japanese community.

4818 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2003 We also know that educating our young people is b e c o m i n g m o r e o f a c h a l l e n g e . H o w d o w e p r o v i d e education to a population that is becoming more and more diverse when more and more of our citizens have English as their second language? How do we make sure everyone still receives education that is second to none? The most recent census statistics show the lower mainland's immigrant population is on the rise.

Chi- nese and South Asians top the list of new immigrants to our area, but the range of people from different ori- gins calling B.C. home is enormous. When I first came to Canada as a ten-year-old, I hardly spoke any English and moved directly with my family to Merritt. It was a culture shock. ESL classes were not easy to come by those days, especially in Mer- ritt, but I did have an excellent ESL teacher, Mrs. Turnbull, who helped me tremendously. B.C.'s school system was and still is, I believe, sec- ond to none, and the support I received from the teach- ers was incredible.

But as many immigrants say, suc- cessfully learning a new language and adapting to a new culture takes hard work and perseverance, and it doesn't happen overnight. This government takes it seriously, and that's why we have set education as our number one priority. We have protected education funding despite declining enrolments. As the Premier noted in his state-of-the- province address, since 1998 our student populations have plummeted in British Columbia. We have in- creased the student funding, though. Today we spend $6,455 on each student in our province. We have added $50 million.

Another $100 million over three years will be made available to the school districts. We have been able to find savings within the ministry that will now go directly to the students. This year a one-time grant of $50 million was achieved through prudent fiscal management and lower debt-servicing costs. It will be allocated on the basis of student population. The community schools in my area, such as Ed- monds, Stride Avenue and Second Street, have told me how important it is to maintain the community school programming and the funding.

In the Premier's ad- dress he informed us that the province would also be funding our inner-city school and community pro- grams to the end of this school year and beyond. Hope- fully, this will create the kind of certainty that's re- quired to make sure that our children fully benefit from these programs. It is now up to school districts to decide how they want to spend this additional money and not up to Victoria. Our society is diverse and much more welcoming than when my great-uncle first came here in the early 1900s. One thing hasn't changed, though.

People from all over the globe still want to come to this country and this province. Look at this government. We truly repre- sent the face of British Columbia. It is a government that elected eight MLAs from the South Asian commu- nity. Where else in the western hemisphere has that taken place? Nowhere. Three MLAs from the Chinese community — nowhere else has this taken place in the western hemisphere. You know, this says something about this place called British Columbia.

We have peo- ple of vision in our community — people who work tirelessly and people who have stayed in British Co- lumbia despite the tough economic challenges faced by them in the previous decade. [1505] People voted for strong and decisive actions to get us out of the mess the NDP government left the prov- ince in. And make no mistake. The ten years of mis- management do not disappear overnight. We were elected to turn this province around, and we will not shy away from our job. We have made the tough deci- sions that are necessary to restore this province back to its rightful place as the best in Canada.

British Colum- bians deserve nothing less. R. Harris: I t g i v e s m e a g r e a t d e a l o f p l e a s u r e t o stand in the House today to respond to the throne speech. Just a little less than two years ago we received permission from the people of this province to govern. With that permission, though, came the responsibility to honour our commitment to the public, to get B.C. moving again and to bring a sense of hope back to every community across this province. Over the decade of the nineties the previous gov- ernment took this province from being the number one economy in Canada to the last.

By 1999, B.C. qualified for transfer payments from the federal government. We had officially become a have-not province within Con- federation. Yet during this same period every province in Canada except B.C., including the territories, experi- enced the largest growth in their economies in history. The lost decade, or decade of despair as it's become known, is well documented. We can never allow such a travesty to happen again here. Nowhere were the results of the previous govern- ment's policies felt harder than in rural communities.

The '96-2000 census confirmed what those of us living in rural B.C. already knew: our economies were shrink- ing. Our home and land values were dropping. Our young people were being forced to move to Alberta to look for work. We were losing the critical mass of peo- ple to maintain our education facilities and support our small businesses. This is the legacy of rural B.C., and over the last 20 months much has been said and writ- ten about this trend. With this throne speech there is a change in the air for the heartland communities of our province.

We as a government have always recognized the roles that every community in B.C. must play if we are to rebuild this province. This throne speech has laid out a priority for our government that will open up and unleash the spirit of every community to start to take advantage of all of the opportunities this province has to offer. Twenty months ago the Premier appointed me chair of the northern caucus. Last year I spoke about how I felt that group of MLAs, acting through the northern caucus, had the potential to really make a difference in how rural concerns, priorities and values were represented.

Over the last decade we've seen far too many decisions made in Victoria to soothe the ur-

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 4819 ban conscience at the expense of our rural communi- ties. As a caucus we have met and worked with a num- ber of groups to identify and prioritize the needs of the north. We have established a formal working relation- ship with the northwest treaty tribal group, an organi- zation representing over 60 first nations communities across the northland. We sit as one of the directors on the Northwest Corridor Development Corporation, a business and political organization with members in Alberta, B.C. and Alaska.

We established working committees on transportation and economic development as well as participated in the annual general meeting of the North Central Municipal Association, an organization repre- senting all of the municipalities and regional districts from 100 Mile House north. I know that they are as pleased as our group to hear our government's focus on a B.C. heartlands economic strategy, a strategy to open up the rural regions of this province. The state-of-the-province address by the Premier continued to build on that strategy. The rural transpor- tation plan is exactly what we need.

It will start to build the much-needed new roads as well as improve existing highways. The jobs created by these activities will be in the north, but more importantly, the oppor- tunities of these initiatives will directly benefit all of our rural communities. The plan for B.C. Rail and the participation of the mayors' council will ensure that B.C. Rail will once again become an economic driver in this province. Pro- jects like the Stewart-Omineca resource road hold tre- mendous promise for rural communities. This road would create a new east-west connector across the province.

It would open up the lower Bowser basin to oil and gas and coalbed methane exploration, extend the life of the Kemess mine as well as bring renewed exploration in this mineral-rich region. It would provide the Gitxsan with access to their traditional territories as well as offer new opportunities around tourism. It will bring increased activity and products to the docks in Stewart, helping that commu- nity rebuild.

It could give the mill at Carnaby potential access to an interior profile of timber, providing it with a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o b e a s u c c e s s f u l e m p l o y e r i n t h e r e - gion again. [1510] The government's commitment to seeing the port in Prince Rupert fully utilized offers tremendous oppor- tunities and excitement for every community along Highway 16. The potential benefits around containeri- zation are staggering.

The ability to move products out of the north and into the global marketplace in a cost- effective and timely manner will allow every commu- nity along the north line an opportunity to market themselves to the value-added industries — industries that not only complement the existing resource indus- tries but, as well, attract entirely new businesses into the north.

The daily ferry service from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, as well as the development of the cruise ship dock, will bring a significant increase in tourists right along the corridor, benefiting every community along the highway, whether it's Highway 16, 37 or 97. These recent infrastructure announcements will be beneficial to everyone, whether we live in the Cariboo, the Peace or the northwest. All of us will benefit as these new infrastructure projects begin to open up our heartlands.

I know that every member of the northern caucus is excited about the priority and focus that this throne speech places on a B.C. heartlands economic strategy. I'd like to take a little time to talk about the changes and opportunities that exist in Skeena, my riding. With the restructuring of health care in the province, in Skeena we are starting to realize the benefits of that reorganization. Retention and recruitment of health care professionals have always been difficult in small t o w n s .

T h e p r e v i o u s g o v e r n m e n t ' s d e c i s i o n t o r e d u c e the number of training seats for LPNs, RNs and doc- tors, as well as other health care disciplines, had only made a bad situation worse. We have, and are putting in place, training recruit- ment regimes that are dealing with the short-term cri- sis. But more importantly, it addresses the long-term needs of the province so that future generations will not need to go through what we are experiencing to- day. We have reintroduced the LPN program at Northwest Community College in Terrace and in 2003 have seen our first graduation class.

Most of those stu- dents already have placements, and many are in rural hospitals. The hospital in Terrace at Mills Memorial and in Prince Rupert are two hospitals that have taken on recent graduates this year. The doctors program at UNBC in Prince George will have doctors using facili- ties across the north for their training, including the hospitals in Terrace and Kitimat. Experience tells us that professionals who train in rural communities tend to stay and practise there. We have introduced a forgivable loan program for nurses and doctors who choose to move and practise in the underserviced areas.

We have made our health care professionals the highest paid in Canada and specifi- cally recognize the on-call issues and demands that our rural doctors face. These are just some of the initiatives that specifically recognize the unique problems we have in attracting professionals to rural communities. As a result of restructuring the northern health au- thority, they have alleviated the concerns of the com- munity of Kitimat, as they have set a bed complement level that will ensure the continued specialist comple- ment there is maintained.

In Terrace we've seen the introduction of renal dialysis to the northwest. I cannot understate the importance of this service to the region. With diabetes being one of the fastest-growing illnesses in the northwest, families had to either split up or move to Prince George or Vancouver if this procedure was required. In my riding, the story of Ruth Magnusson is well known. Ruth and her husband, Chuck, are a retired cou- ple, and they have been living apart for years as a result of Chuck's diabetes. She lives in their home in Terrace, and

4820 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2003 Chuck must live in a basement suite in Prince George. But as a result of this service now being made available in Terrace, Chuck will be able to come home. The introduction of shock therapy to the northwest removes the need to travel to Prince George or Van- couver for this procedure and, again, specifically bene- fits the people of the northwest. In Terrace last year not only was the number of surgeries up by 17 percent, but more importantly, the types of surgeries were up by 18 percent.

This means fewer people having to leave the region for medical procedures either in Vancouver or in any other major centre. The effects have been profound to say the least. It reduces the need for air ambulance service. It puts less pressure and demand on lower mainland facilities. It reduced the cost to families that would have had to travel outside the region for that treatment or proce- dure, and it makes it more affordable for family mem- bers to be with their loved ones, which creates a health- ier situation for everyone.

There is still a long way to go and many more hurdles to climb, but this throne speech continues the reforms of health care that are starting to respond to our local needs in a manner that makes sense and is sustainable, as well as affordable. [1515] This year's throne speech clearly puts the emphasis on getting this province moving again. Nothing could c o m e a s b e t t e r n e w s f o r t h e p e o p l e i n m y r i d i n g o f Skeena.

If super royalties were the bullets to the mining industry in the seventies, the Windy Craggy decision in the nineties was the bomb that sent the mining indus- try into full retreat. By the end of the nineties, while B.C. was recognized as one of the top regions for min- ing potential, we were in fact third from the bottom as a place to invest. Only Wisconsin and P.E.I. were con- sidered less desirable than B.C. to invest in. P.E.I. has no mining, and Wisconsin has a ban on mining. But things are changing.

Over the last 20 months the changes we have made around taxation, regulation and the permitting process are being recognized. Over the last year exploration investment in the north grew from a low of $6 million in 2001 to over $36 million in 2002. Although this is still a long way from the $116 million we were seeing in 1990, it is a good beginning, and there's every indica- tion that 2003 will be even better. Across the northwest the forest industry has been especially hard hit. I am extremely pleased to hear that 2003 will be the year of forestry for our government.

Softwood lumber, the poor Asian economy and the uncertainty around SCI have all contributed to the challenges facing the entire northwest, but the issues facing the northwest are as fundamental as they are in every other region of the province. A question of how we take an industry that was the lowest-cost fibre pro- ducer in the world in 1990, and now is the highest in North America, to one that is competitive again must be addressed. One of the obstacles to investment, whether in the value-added or harvest sectors, has been access to tim- ber. Nowhere has this been more evident than in the northwest.

With the new NWBC providing a limited increase in market logging activity, we have seen the emergence of new low-cost players operating in the marketplace. We have seen the creation of open log yards in Terrace. In a forest district with the lowest- value timber profile in the province, their ability to operate successfully is impressive. As market logging increases, the development of local log yards will also increase. It will provide the secure access to timber for the value-added industries. It is this secure access to fibre that has been the obstacle to the growth and de- velopment of this sector.

I am pleased to see our government move to pass forest reforms that will diversify tenure and move us toward a market-based stumpage system that is re- gionally sensitive and socially responsible. It is espe- cially gratifying to see the province establish a $275 million forest transition fund to help forest workers, contractors, industries and communities deal with the changes that must be made. For me, the most important aspect of the throne speech was our government's commitments to finally making real progress with our first nations.

First na- tions communities desire no less for their communities than we do for our own. Their participation in rebuild- ing the economy of the heartland is not critical; it's es- sential. Our statement of reconciliation is important. As we move to find that economic equality that is critical to developing respectful relationships, I am proud to be part of a government that takes this first step. The throne speech lays out a number of areas that will improve opportunities for first nations. The $30 mil- lion economic measures fund will be extended for an- other year.

Revenue-sharing arrangements will be nego- tiated with the first nations that wish to be involved in revitalizing the forest industry. Our government is committed to involving first nations in comanagement of parks and recreational services. As part of the $7.5 mil- lion regional innovation chairs program at B.C. colleges, two of the seats will focus on research into aboriginal early childhood development. Funding has been ap- proved to support aboriginal involvement in oil and gas, tourism and forestry as well as the Olympics bid.

Over the last two years I've had the pleasure of meeting often with the first nations communities in my riding. I've had the opportunity to hear clearly the dreams they have for themselves, and I have enjoyed the chance to sit down with these communities and support their efforts to develop economic strategies that work for them. They have for far too long been kept out of the mainstream economy that most of us take for granted, and that has to stop. [1520] If we are to create the certainty that the investment community and industry are looking for, we must be forward-thinking and we must be bold.

We must have an economic plan that incorporates the views and val- ues of our first nation and non-aboriginal communities alike. We must give their communities a sense of hope and opportunity. We do it not just to create jobs; we do it because it's the right thing to do.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 4821 Over the last year all of us have had to make tough d e c i s i o n s , b u t a s w e m o v e t o c r e a t e a l e g a c y f o r o u r children as great as the one we inherited, this throne speech provides the framework and the vision. I am pleased to be part of a government that has its eye firmly placed on the next generation, not the next elec- tion. J. Wilson: It's a pleasure this afternoon to be able to address our throne speech.

As most of us are aware, the throne speech is a road map that the government is intending to take this province on in the future, and this throne speech is all about opening up British Co- lumbia to reach out in the province and touch every region, every community. That means change. It means a great deal of change in this province, and to a lot of people, change is a scary thing. It's the unknown that they fear. When we make change, as government we are also vulnerable to making mistakes. We recognize that, and we will do our very best to make sure this is done in a manner that doesn't miss the needs of people.

At this point we have, as government in the last two years, done a great deal. We have started down this road. We recognized that all aspects of government had to be addressed and opened up to make it more accountable and workable for people. I think I'll take a moment here and just touch on a f e w o f t h o s e . A s g o v e r n m e n t i t s e l f , w e h a v e t a k e n a first step in this province to bring in free votes in the Legislature. We have open cabinet meetings. We have GCCs that are working very well, and we have legisla- tive committees that continue to do ongoing work.

Some of these things have not been done yet in other provinces, and they look to B.C. as a leader there. We will set up a citizens' assembly to find out what the people of British Columbia feel they need for the best electoral reforms. That's an issue that comes back every election. There are people that are not happy with our present system, so we need to find out what would work better. On the social side of things, education is the key to our success and advancement in this province. We rec- ognize that, and it's our number one priority.

We have already added in $90 million to the school boards to continue to provide quality education, and in the next three years there will be an additional $100 million going into our education system in this province so that we are successful here. It is extremely important. Another area that ranks right up there with educa- tion is health care. We have already made some major changes in the way the system is addressed. We have set up health authorities.

Those health authorities have been working now for several months, and their focus is to take the taxpayer's dollar that goes into health care and direct it right to the patient level. They've done a lot of work. It's a difficult chore, but we are starting to see the results now. [1525] It is, as I say, difficult. To get there, it's taken several months to reorganize, because over the last few years the health care system had become a thing that grew. We could throw as much money into it as we wanted to, and it would just consume it as fast as you added it.

The end result was that our waiting lists got longer and longer, and patient care continued to deteriorate. Now we see it turning the other way. Pharmacare is something that is extremely impor- tant to many people, especially those that are seniors and on low income. This government, I would like to say, is bringing in a new plan, and that will provide benefits to 280,000 low-income families. That is a good- news item. Child care is another area that affects many young families.

Our intention here is to add over 50 percent more spaces so that people who need this service, if they want to continue in education or advance in their work, will have those services available to them. Our policing in this province needed some help, and here we have another area that we can help in. We can provide more high-tech to our police forces so that they can better protect the citizens. One of the things that has been a real, real problem for a long time in British Columbia is the issue with first nations, and I'm proud to say this is the first gov- ernment that has addressed this serious problem.

It is a complex set of issues, and it has been plaguing us for decades. Finally, we are on the road to doing some- thing about it. One of those things is the maintenance of a $30 million economic measures fund to help those people achieve some of the dreams they would like to, to make money available so that they can pursue their dreams. We have an opportunity coming up in 2010, and that's the Olympics. This is a huge opportunity. It will open up B.C. to the world, and it has the potential of doubling the tourist industry in this province.

There has been some negative reaction to this, but there will b e n o p a r t o f t h i s p r o v i n c e t h a t w i l l n o t b e n e f i t f r o m the Olympics. The benefits will be huge. B.C. Rail. That has been a very hot topic in the inte- rior and the north. It's not working as well as it should. We have had meetings with municipalities, municipal leaders and industry, and they tell us it must be put on a more competitive footing. We've embarked on that road to do that, at the same time listening to the people when they say, "Do not privatize B.C.

Rail," so we are going to maintain the lines and the beds and the rights- of-way as a Crown resource. The ferry system needs to be refocused to make it more competitive, to serve the people in the coastal communities. [1530] In this session, forestry is going to be front and cen- tre on our agenda. It is the most important industry in this province. It has been for a long time and will con- tinue to be. Lately it has got in some serious trouble for a number of reasons, one of those being the softwood lumber dispute.

We intend as government to bring in a working forest land base that will provide stability for industry. However, it will also protect the values and the uses that exist out there on that same land base that the forest industry works on.

4822 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2003 There's a whole array of things that have to be dealt with in forestry. We have to address a market-based stumpage system. We need to increase the amount of timber available to small business through an ex- panded timber sale program, and there are issues like waterbedding, which have had really severe economic impacts on this industry. Cut controls are another area of pertinence. Those have to be dealt with. All of those things have to be addressed this spring. Log exports — we have listened to the people, and the status quo will remain there.

Through all of these changes that we need to bring about, we will bear in mind that first nations have an interest out there, and they will be asked to become involved in the forest industry. Anytime the changes are made, we want to be able to consider those people. It's just as important that they access some wood and create some of their own economic activity as it is for anyone else. All of these things are what we call the B.C. heart- lands strategy. It's focused on economic growth in for- estry, agriculture, energy, gas and oil, coalbed meth- ane, tourism and new technology.

But there's one thing I haven't mentioned — and all of these things rely on it — and that is our transportation system. Without that, none of this is possible. This province has watched our highway infrastructure deteriorate for the last ten or 11 years. It takes a certain amount each year to put into maintenance on our highways just to keep them so that they are in a condition that is safe for use. When you forget to maintain something, it's not long until you end up with a road that needs to be re- placed, and that is expensive. That costs money, and yes, in order to get there, someone has to pay for it.

The users of the highways are the ones that will have to pay for these highway improvements through an increase in their fuel tax, but for the very first time I can ever remember in this province, the money that we collect on our highways is going back into our highways where it's needed. That is the key that will make all of this B.C. heart- lands strategy a success. As government, we are going to put back $362 million into rehabilitation of rural and remote roads.

There will be $210 million for rural and resource roads, because we have to get those resources out, get them to market, and the only way you can do t hat i s i f y o u hav e a ro ad t o hau l i t o n. W e al s o hav e $37 million earmarked for the gas and oil industry so that they can access their resources out there. It all adds up to $609 million, and that's just the beginning. We can keep right on going from there. [1535] There is another part of this transportation equation that I haven't mentioned, and that's the Port of Prince Rupert. It's the gateway to the world for western Can- ada — an excellent port.

It has to, in our mind, be de- veloped if we are going to succeed in this province. Not only does the north and the interior of British Co- lumbia need that access to foreign markets, but so does the rest of western Canada — Alberta, Saskatchewan. All of the grain that goes out can go that way. We can develop the corridor along Highway 16. It's a gateway to the Asian rim and the rest of the world, but you know, it's also a gateway for the rest of the world to come to British Columbia. And they will. When I think about us as government and the job, it's really a huge job we've tackled here.

We have the resolution to see it through. It sort of reminds me of a supertanker sitting there. You don't turn it on a dime. It takes a few tugboats and a long time to turn that ship around. Well, the ship is turning, and in the next two years that ship will be turned around. Then we will be recovered in this province. B. Belsey: I seek leave to make an introduction. Leave granted. Introductions by Members B. Belsey: It gives me pleasure to introduce two people that have joined us from my hometown, Prince Rupert: Steve and Tina Smith.

It's especially gratifying to introduce Tina, as her father, Bill Murray, was Speaker of the House many years ago. I wonder if you would all join me in making them welcome. Debate Continued Mr. Speaker: Address in Reply continues with the member for Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain. K. Manhas: Before I begin, I must say it's incredible how time passes. This is now the third Speech from the Throne that I have had the great honour of responding to.

Each year I have stood up and reflected not only on how our government's policies held opportunity for my community of Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain but also on the time we are living in. Each time I have re- flected on the events and choices facing our time. I've come to the conclusion that we are at a crossroads, and we are still at a crossroads. Our world today looks poised for war. The picture of conflict is muddy and the motives unclear. Security is at stake. Here at home we are also at a crossroads.

We con- tinue to make adjustments in this province that other jurisdictions in Canada already finished and com- pleted. We face major decisions. At home in this prov- ince there is great opportunity. There is opportunity for innovation. There is opportunity to build a strong eco- nomic future for my community of Port Coquitlam and Burke Mountain by building the economic base of the Tri-Cities region.

There's opportunity to open up B.C. by building better transportation infrastructure that can better tie together this incredible province to increase the quality of life for British Columbians and leverage more eco- nomic activity in the province. There's also an oppor- tunity to host one of the world's most beloved and hal- lowed institutions of achievement and human excel- lence. Almost ten years ago or so a group of British Columbians dreamed of getting the Olympics. It is

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 4823 2003, and we have an opportunity to host the games in 2010. We are indeed at an important crossroads. History will judge us on the decisions we make and the paths we choose. The crossroads means that new paths are available. It means that new opportunities are available and that new horizons and opportunities can be opened up. [1540] Over the course of its history this province has seen tremendous change. The winds of human effort have shaped and sculpted this province to the state it is to- day.

Sometimes those efforts have moved people for- ward, and sometimes we've been swept back. We have an incredible opportunity now ahead of us. With sus- tained commitment and belief in our future, we can provide the gusts of change that can lift the people of my riding of Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain and the province to fly and to soar.

This province started as a land of opportunity for all p e o p l e w h o c a m e t o i t t o m a k e i t t h e i r h o m e , f r o m t h e earliest of settlers — our aboriginal nations who crossed Bering and prospered in British Columbia as their home — to the seafaring nations who settled later, the British who colonized and the immigrants who came to this place from varying corners at varying times over the last 150 years and more. The reason all these people came and stayed, the reason they all — we all — made British Columbia our home, is because of the opportunity they saw in this province.

I truly believe, as the Premier says, that we live in the best province in the best country in the world. The reason people will stay in British Colum- bia, and the reason people will come to B.C., is because we will again have that opportunity in the province, and the opportunity that built the province will continue to ensure our prosperity. Our government laid out a direction for the coming y e a r s i n o u r t h r o n e s p e e c h . P a r t o f t h a t i s t o o p e n u p our province's regions to opportunity.

I feel confident t h a t e a c h a n d e v e r y r e g i o n i n t h i s p r o v i n c e s t a n d s t o gain from this direction. My own region is no different. We have to decide where we want to be in the fu- ture, individually and collectively. We have to dream about where that could be and find a way to make it a reality. It's time to dream those big dreams and reach for lofty goals again in this province. This is way more than just something the government needs to do.

As citizens and business owners, as investors and entre- preneurs, as students and teachers, we have to dream those big dreams and have lofty ambitions. We have to think big and remove the problems and the barriers. With confidence and effort we can be bigger and better than any place in the world — be it Boston, San Jose, London, Stockholm, Seattle or Beijing. Here in the North Fraser region, in the northeast sector of the lower mainland, we have almost a quarter million people — more than all of greater Victoria.

Often overlooked, this is the area of the lower mainland that has the potential to be the next Redmond, Washington, or San Jose, California. In Redmond multibillion-dollar corporations are tucked into the hills and forests of the area, and software companies have sprouted up around Microsoft's international headquarters. The effect has been a natural centre of expertise in and around Redmond, and the growth of secondary indus- try — suppliers to the major companies — has led to more jobs and more clean industry. Former employees have left and created their own companies.

Competi- tors and collaborators have located there, near the area of action. This has, in effect, created a zone of growth potential, innovation and expertise in software tech- nologies in the Redmond area. That is possible — and more — here in the Tri- Cities and the northeast sector of greater Vancouver. Areas like the Mary Hill bypass corridors and the Do- minion Triangle can help get us there. Opportunities like Burke Mountain add fuel to the imaginative fires that can help take us there.

Burke Mountain has tre- mendous potential for the area with over 7,000 housing units planned, housing over 25,000 people, and a pro- jected billion dollars injected into the area's economy. The possibilities are huge. Our government has made the land available for that kind of economic develop- ment to take place in our community. My riding of Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain forms the eastern edge of what many in the area refer to as the Tri-Cities. The Tri-Cities are made up of three cities: Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody.

It also tends to refer to the township of Anmore and the village of Belcarra, which sit edging Port Moody. The name Tri-Cities came about in or about the 1970s, when the community newspaper owned by David Black's chain was trying to find a name for itself. As many who have lived in the area have discovered, the Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody "any- thing" is a rather unwieldy name. Although Coquitlam was still officially a district at the time, the newspaper decided to call itself the Tri-City News. The other local paper serving the same communi- ties calls itself the Coquitlam Now.

It is now simply called the Now, explaining in a byline that it serves the five communities in the area. There is no question that the combined communities make up an interdependent region. The municipalities are separated not by geog- raphy but rather by political boundaries. [1545] As the region has grown up in the past two decades from a nearly rural-like setting to a bustling urban cen- tre, so has the number of organizations that serve the area. Many, realizing that there are no longer just three communities, have decided not to use the word Tri- Cities.

Last year, at a conference of businesswomen held in the area, the mayor of Port Moody mentioned that his office does not use the term Tri-Cities and dis- courages its use. Some have begun using terms such as the northeast sector. However, that is commonly used to include all the communities in the northeast quad- rant in the GVRD, including Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge. Therefore, it causes some confusion. To add to the identity problem, various other terms have popped up and are being used by local organizations, including Fraser Burrard, Fraser North, North Fraser. In fact, the

4824 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2003 Now community paper is not the only local institution without geographic identity as part of its namesake. The local community service organization and food bank are a SHARE family service. For too long the area has been divided by multi- jurisdictional boundaries and municipalities, along with the personalities and egos of political actors. We have an opportunity to break past that. In the GVRD's strategic plan the area's dense urban core is to be cen- tred around the Coquitlam town centre; however, all communities feed into that.

There is no question there are very strong interdependencies among the munici- palities in the region. It is now time to start attracting people and businesses to the area, because the benefits will flow to all cities in the area. I bring this to the attention of the House and to the people at this time because I think it's timely that we think about this now, as the area is still maturing as a regional hub. Now is the opportunity to put our com- munity on the map. Vancouver has a strong bid in for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

When we win that bid, we have an opportunity to have the world lens drop on British Columbia. In order for the region to achieve its economic potential, it must have a clear identity that draws people, tourism and investment. I'm going to repeat that. In order for the region to achieve its eco- nomic potential, it must have a clear identity that draws people, tourism and investment. On its own, each municipality has a smaller chance of attracting the attention of the investment community and the world. Most visitors to the area would not know when they moved from one municipality to an- other.

By promoting the development of the entire re- gion, each municipality will benefit. By attracting jobs and investment to the area, we can create a success region. No city can do it alone; together there is strength. By creating a strong centre, each city will see more benefits and investment than by competing with each other. We are part of the global market. It's time for us to work together as a region to promote our- selves to the world. W e m u s t w o r k t o g e t h e r i n t h e r e g i o n t o p r o m o t e ourselves if we are to promote ourselves to the world.

I think the time is now for folks living in the community to brand the region, to find what it is that ties us together so we can sell ourselves. Branding the region does not mean losing the individuality of each municipality. It simply means that attention can be focused to the area. Once the attention is captured and focused in the area, then potential visitors or investors can learn about the municipalities that make it up and the individual quali- ties each of those municipalities bring to the table. [H. Long in the chair.] I've thought long and hard on what that new branding could be possibly called.

For example, one suggestion is a take on the word "foothills." Foothills is defined as the hilly land on the lower slopes of moun- tains or a hilly region at the base of a mountain range. That seems to perfectly describe the area. It could be branded as Vancouver's foothills, the coastal foothills region, technology coast mountains or just the foothills. Whatever it is, we need to brand the strengths of the area — what we are known for or what we could be known for.

I encourage individuals and organizations in the area to take up the challenge and begin thinking about how we can create a strong brand for our region. Let's create an identity for the region we can be proud of and a brand that will take us to great heights in the future. With a brand that is identifiable, each munici- pality can accentuate the individual characteristics that makes them unique, but first we must get the attention of those outside.

For the sake of argument I will use the term "foot- hills" for the rest of my speech to indicate our region of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra to sound it out. I'm not biasing the job of branding. Let's just try out the concept. Better transportation and transit benefits us all, because it means a better quality of life for our resi- dents and a healthy sustainable environment. It means an increased ability to attract jobs, investment and business to Port Coquitlam and the foothills. It moves us towards a sustainable urban plan where people can live and work in the same community.

That is why this government is going to invest substantial dollars over the next three years in improving our transportation plan and our transportation system. Transportation af f e c t s u s al l . W e c an no t wai t t o m ak e i m p ro v e m e nt s . We must begin immediately. [1550] Over the coming year our government will be lev- eraging other governments and private dollars to build the infrastructure we need. In Port Coquitlam we need fast, reliable access to other areas of the city. We also need good connections to the south Fraser and the Trans-Canada Highway.

We need good access to the U.S. and Canadian markets. The foothills are well posi- tioned in the centre of the lower mainland. With proper investment, that will maximize the opportunities we are capable of. I've talked to many residents in Port Coquitlam. Consistently I've gotten the message that people don't mind paying a little more if they know they're getting something solid for their money, if they know the money's being used where it should, if it makes their lives easier and saves them time. That is a choice we are given. Not everyone will agree with this. However, roads and transit don't come for free.

If we want to build the type of city and province that build opportu- nity and that we can be proud to leave to future gen- erations, we must invest in it. That is what we need to do. That is the direction this government is taking over the next year. That was outlined in the

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	H0217pm 06
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	H0217pm 06
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	2dc6b3742b7566b4bb6190c5eccd9afae54d213e

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