First Session, 42nd Parliament

(2021) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Monday, March 8, 2021

Morning Sitting

Issue No. 22

ISSN 1499-2175

The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.

The PDF transcript remains the official digital version.

CONTENTS

Orders of the Day

Private Members’ Statements

Violence against women

H. Sandhu

C. Oakes

Renewable energy

T. Shypitka

D. Routley

Economic recovery as it pertains to women

K. Greene

T. Wat

International Women’s Day

S. Cadieux

J. Rice

Private Members’ Motions

Motion 4 — International Women’s Day

M. Elmore

S. Bond

K. Paddon

J. Tegart

M. Dykeman

K. Kirkpatrick

A. Singh

D. Clovechok

J. Brar

R. Merrifield

J. Sims

MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2021

The House met at 10:03 a.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: J. Tegart.

Mr. Speaker: Before we start the day, Members, I would like to wish each and every one

of you a very happy and safe International Women’s Day.

[10:05 a.m.]

Orders of the Day

Private Members’ Statements

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

H. Sandhu: International Women’s Day has been recognized since 1911 and is

supported by countries around the world. It is a day when women are

recognized for their achievements, without regard to divisions, whether

national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. This year

the United Nations theme is “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal

future in a COVID-19 world.”

On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the achievements of all

women. We strive to remove the barriers that prevent many from achieving

their full potential. This year also marks a sombre milestone. As it is

almost one year since the World Health Organization declared the COVID

outbreak a global pandemic, celebrating International Women’s Day takes

on a new meaning.

This year we celebrate the thousands of people who became everyday

superheroes overnight to help us all see our way through the pandemic.

For many who already faced systematic barriers or oppression, the

pandemic has magnified the inequalities that still exist among genders.

This is further amplified for Indigenous women, women of colour, women

with disabilities and people in the 2SLGBTQ+ communities.

It is no secret that unfortunately, women around the world have

been facing a great deal of injustice, inequalities, violence and abuse

for centuries. Many women have lost their lives facing violence, human

trafficking or standing up for themselves or for other women. When we

hear the words “violence against women,” most people often think about

the physical abuse. Unfortunately, women experience violence in many

ways, from physical abuse to sexual assault and sexual harassment; from

financial abuse to trafficking; and in today’s world, digital abuse like

cyberbullying.

The sad and harsh reality is that most women start to experience

violence and abuse from childhood. Since many forms of violence against

women and girls have been normalized, most of these incidents never get

reported. Many women suffer silently, whether it’s due to fear, safety

for themselves and their children, or the fear of being judged. Women in

prominent positions are also affected by this, and many are reluctant to

share what they face regularly, in fear of seeming

vulnerable.

Let’s identify and encourage women among us who are silently

facing violence, and lend them a helping hand to ensure their safety and

well-being. COVID has disproportionately affected many women from

Indigenous and various ethnic backgrounds. The numbers are shocking. We

need all hands on the deck to address this serious and, in many cases,

deadly issue.

[S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.]

There are more ways we can help to end gender-based violence. It

all starts with us. We can teach good values to our sons, grandsons,

brothers and nephews — to respect women. We also need to encourage our

daughters and granddaughters and nieces to speak up against violence and

abuse.

On International Women’s Day, we should also reflect on and

celebrate the incredible contributions of women to the world we know

today. Women’s history day is especially important to me, as a mother of

two beautiful daughters and as a woman of colour in politics who broke

many barriers. I strive to empower other women in leadership roles and

help women facing domestic abuse and violence. I have personally faced

many challenges myself — and am somewhat still facing them, at times,

despite being empowered, educated and a strong woman.

I will end my remarks with hope and appreciation by applauding all

the girls and women out there for making strides each day and for

breaking many barriers despite your tough journeys. Happy International

Women’s Day to everyone.

[10:10 a.m.]

C. Oakes: Thank you to the member for Vernon-Monashee for the opportunity to

build on the member’s comments. I want to personally thank the many

organizations, on this International Women’s Day, in my riding of

Cariboo North, including the women’s resource centre and the Amata

Transition House, for their support of women experiencing domestic

violence.

I wanted to focus my remarks today on one form of violence against

women that continues to be prevalent, and it is likely more often than

we’re even aware of because of the shame and silence that often

surrounds it. I’m talking about sexualized violence on campuses. Every

student has a right to an educational environment that is free from

sexualized violence. Sadly, we know that it happens all too often, and

with devastating effects on the victim’s emotional, psychological and

physical well-being.

The Alliance of B.C. Students recently shared with me the findings

of an extensive Statistics Canada study. It looked at the prevalence,

characteristics and attitudes surrounding unwanted sexualized behaviours

and sexual assault. Here were the findings.

So 71 percent of students reported that they had either

experienced or witnessed unwanted sexualized behaviours in

post-secondary settings. Among them, 45 percent of women and 32 percent

of men had personally experienced at least one instance of unwanted

sexualized behaviour in a post-secondary environment. And 11 percent of

women reported having experienced a sexualized assault within the past

year in a post-secondary setting. That is approximately 110,000 women.

And 15 percent of women had been sexually assaulted at one point during

their time in a post-secondary setting. That’s estimated to be 197,000

women.

While students are generally not spending much time on campuses

right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sexualized and gender-based

violence continues to oc­cur at high rates. Social distancing and

quarantine orders limit opportunities for those experiencing

do­mestic violence to access support, leaving many peo­ple

trapped with their abusers.

The numbers are staggering. We know that many victims are too

fearful to come forward, so those numbers may not tell the whole story.

Victims worry that they’ll be blamed for bringing it upon themselves.

They worry they won’t be believed. They are worried that they’ll be

forced to defend themselves as they share their story and forced to

relive this very traumatizing event.

As a society, we have work to do to change our beliefs and

attitudes about unwanted sexual behaviour and consent so that more

victims feel safe to come forward — so that they will feel that they

will be believed. But what else can we do as legislators — as

representatives for those who have experienced sexualized violence on

campus?

I was incredibly proud when, under the B.C. Liberal government, we

brought in act 23, requiring institutions to have a policy under the

Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy Act. This was an important first

step. However, it is now incumbent on the current government to take the

required critical steps to commit the resources required to continue

this important work.

First, the government needs to renew the $760,000 it committed,

back in June 2019, to address campus sexualized violence on an annual

basis. The money runs out this year, and without resources, there’s

limited ability to continue this very important work.

Second, the government needs to recognize that most sexualized

violence, prevention and response education is designed to be delivered

in person. Smaller institutions do not have the capacity to develop

these programs themselves. The Alliance of B.C. Students would like to

see the government adopt into regulations the 11 minimum standards

identified by the students for consent culture under the Sexualized

Violence and Misconduct Policy Act.

These groups have done an outstanding job of educating government

representatives and the community at large about the prevalence and

effect of sexualized violence on campus and what needs to be done to try

and stop it.

Now it’s our turn. I urge the government to take steps now to help

put a stop to the violence and trauma that should not be a part of

anyone’s post-secondary experience. We can and must do

better.

[10:15 a.m.]

H. Sandhu: I would like to thank the member for Cariboo North for her great

remarks. No matter what our political beliefs are — no matter our

gender, race, class, sexual orientation, disability or ability — our

entire prov­ince is stronger when we help each other, celebrate

our women and find ways to ensure all people have an equal future during

these difficult times.

We see violence in many female-dominated professions like health

care. It’s happening, and it’s happening even more so. But it’s barely

talked about. We need to highlight the areas about women working in

other professions or sectors where they regularly get sexually harassed,

because as I mentioned previously, a lot of things have normalized, and

women are just afraid. We need to stop victim blaming as well. We need

to recognize the signs of violence, if women are facing it, and

encourage them to report.

I would like to share…. Guru Nanak Dev Ji, a founder of Sikh

religion, believed that men and women are equal, and therefore, women

cannot be considered inferior. Guru Nanak Dev Ji mentioned in Guru

Granth Sahib Ji, a Sikh holy book, ਸੋ ਕਿਉ ਮੰਦਾ ਆਖੀਐ ਜਿਤੁ ਜੰਮਹਿ

ਰਾਜਾਨ।। , which means: “Why call her bad

or inferior? From her, kings are born.”

[Gurmukhi text provided by H. Sandhu.]

Unfortunately, we have witnessed that in certain in­stances,

we’re going backwards instead of making progress. However, I am so proud

and grateful to all the great men out there who support and respect

women.

I’d like to congratulate all the women in this House, from all the

parties, for your courage, dedication, strength, sacrifices and

resiliency.

I hope all the members of this House will support ending the

violence against women.

Deputy Speaker: Thank you very much, Member. Welcome.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

T. Shypitka: As we all know, today marks International Women’s Day. While there

are many aspects to consider, ranging from basic rights and

discrimination and the act of preventative measures to eliminate

violence against women, I would instead like to concentrate on this

year’s specific theme and twist it into my topic of renewable energy.

That theme for 2021 is “Women in leadership: achieving an equal future

in a COVID-19 world.”

Our province’s greatest resource is our people — the people who

power our provincial economy, who fuel our households and communities,

who make British Columbia the best place to live. There is no greater

resource of renewable energy than our people power. Over 50 percent of

that power is in the hands of women, who make up a majority of our

citizenry.

As countries and communities start to slowly recover from this

global pandemic, we have a unique opportunity to finally end the

exclusion and marginalization of women and young ladies. Women in

leadership roles, therefore, have an important role to play in showing

the next generation how to make a true difference. In order to deliver

actual change, we must make every effort to remove the social and

economic barriers that prevent women from taking their seat at the

decision-making table.

The fact is, women remain concentrated in the lowest-paid jobs,

many in extremely vulnerable forms of employment. We know for a fact

that women are nearly twice more likely than men to lose their jobs

during the COVID-19 crisis. Unless we take this historic opportunity,

the pandemic will dramatically increase the poverty rate for women and

widen the gap between men and women who live in poverty. This should not

be happening in the 21st century.

There are women in leadership roles who are making a difference —

some very shiny examples I would now like to draw from. As I am the

opposition critic for Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, I could

speak indefinitely on how critical and beneficial our renewable energy

sector is. However, it being International Women’s Day, I think we

should highlight the renewable energy that women represent in our

industries and who are making great strides in the private sector and

corporate world.

Most British Columbians are fully aware that LNG Canada is one of

the major projects that will help reshape our economy and make British

Columbia a major exporter of cleaner energy to jurisdictions around the

world. It is, after all, the largest private infrastructure project in

Canadian history. Behind the scenes, there are women like Susannah

Pierce, director of corporate affairs at LNG Canada. Susannah has played

a crucial role in making this project one that will benefit the local

population as well as our province as a whole.

[10:20 a.m.]

In 2019, LNG Canada and its prime contractor JGC Fluor announced

the launch of Your Place, a provincewide workforce development program

aimed at attracting, recruiting, training, supporting and employing

women to work in the construction trades on the LNG project. First

Nations women belonging to local First Nations are a primary benefactor

of this program.

In that same year, 2019, the B.C.-based Association for Mineral

Exploration, or AME, appointed Kendra Johnston as its president and CEO.

This is after Kendra’s predecessor, Edie Thome, left AME to follow other

opportunities in Ontario. Both are very strong and experienced women

that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and seeing their leadership in

action.

Kendra is a registered professional geologist and mining

executive. She has more than 15 years of experience in various aspects

of mineral exploration and the mining industry. AME represents,

advocates and promotes the interests of almost 5,000 members who are

engaged in mineral exploration and development in B.C. and around the

world. Kendra is doing her

part in demonstrating leadership for women

and young ladies to be inspired.

Lindsay Kislock, with the Mining Association of British Columbia,

is another example of innovative leadership that is changing our

male-dominated corporate culture. Lindsay joined MABC in 2017 with

extensive public and senior management experience, after more than 30

years working for public service in B.C. and in Ontario.

Gavin Dirom, president and CEO of Geoscience B.C., owes a lot of

his success to his team, which includes vice-president of minerals

Christa Pellet. Christa has worked her way up the corporate ladder at

Geoscience B.C., first starting with the company in 2007 as project

geologist. Her role evolved over the years, becoming vice-president of

minerals in 2019. Christa holds a master of science in geology at Simon

Fraser University.

While these women are just a few shining examples for others to

follow, they do help lay the foundation for a new corporate culture that

is based more on equality and equal opportunity, based on merit and not

just gender.

I’m also very proud of the support systems in place for women in

the natural resource sector. Women in Mining B.C. is an organization

that provides women in the industry with a way to connect with others,

share knowledge and experiences and build relationships that encourage

growth and diversity. In recent times, organizations such as Women in

Mining U.K. and Women in Mining Canada have published reports on how the

mining industry can do more to attract, retain and advance the careers

of women in the industry.

I mention these women in mining because mining truly represents

how we all will move forward to a renewable energy future. Without

metals and minerals, we have no chance to build the infrastructure that

renewable energy sources need. Our steelmaking coal, copper, silver,

gold and aluminum, among others, are critical for moving to a low-carbon

and renewable energy tomorrow.

I am blessed with a wife who is a strong professional and a

15-year-old daughter who aspires to become one as well. I am optimistic,

given our trajectory on becoming more inclusive with not only women but

with all other demographics of our population that have seen barriers to

advancements in education and ultimately, positions of leadership. I

know we all will do better to see this come to fruition very

soon.

As my time is quickly coming to an end, I would like to ask the

hon. member from the government side to describe the efforts the NDP

have made to promote equality and leadership opportunity, specifically

in the private sector, for women.

D. Routley: Thank you to the member for his presentation. His challenge was to

describe how my party is promoting women.

Having the title of this presentation as “Renewable energy,” I

wasn’t exactly prepared for that, but I can tell the member that I come

from the first caucus in the country that is 50 percent female. Oh no,

that was last term. This time, we’re the first caucus that’s more than

50 percent female. We also govern with the first cabinet in Canada that

is 50 percent female. Oh, no, that was last term. This term, it’s more

than 50 percent female. Yeah, that is a commitment.

Also, the commitment could be reflected in the first Black

Canadian female member of this House, Rosemary Brown, or the first

self-identifying Métis female cabinet minister, Carole James, or

currently the first Indigenous woman cabinet minister who sits in our

caucus at the cabinet table. Or right on the screen, I can see the first

Canadian-Filipino woman, and I can see the first Korean-Canadian woman.

They are both from our caucus. Those are commitments.

[10:25 a.m.]

We’ve made the commitment…. We’ve also had the first openly gay

female MLA, and our commitment runs deeply in the NDP to promoting women

in politics in particular. We have an equity mandate that has worked to

ensure that women and people from other underrepresented groups have

made their way into our caucus, so our caucus is full of colour and full

of identification of all types. I’m very proud of that.

I’d like to turn to renewable energy. I would like to talk about

how a government can create a strategy that has the underpinnings and

foundations of success. When you look at the government’s approach to

mandating the sale of electrical vehicles in combination with

investments in training and technology for electricians and people

working in the zero-emission vehicle field; public outreach to promote

zero-emission vehicles; the creation, now, of over 2,000 public charging

spaces — and $227 million has been put out to subsidize the purchase of

zero-emission cars and vehicles.

This is an important combination of elements because it’s not

simply making rules for an economy or guiding an industry. It’s giving

the incentive, not only to the customers, but also to the industry

itself. When the industry looks at jurisdictions and they see the

commitment that B.C. has made in forcing and moving the industry towards

zero-emission vehicle sales, the support of the industry and research

and technology, the establishment of renewable energy projects that will

electrify our province, they then make the latest models and the highest

inventories available to jurisdictions like ours. So that’s how you

build a strategy to lead.

Getting back to the strategy to lead in diversity. I think it’s

important that we all celebrate the achievements of all the people in

our lives. When I think of…. I’m going to name one woman in particular,

of course. That’s my mom. She’s no longer with us. She was raised in a

very strict and conservative household but then blossomed into an

amazing artist, incredible teacher and someone who I consider to be my

hero for the way that she committed herself to our family.

She went through university with a couple of kids on her hips, me

one of them, and then later went through university to upgrade when I

was a teenager and probably a lot more trouble than a kid on her hip.

But this is the woman who inspires me to be courageous and true to

myself.

I’d like to thank her for that and thank all of the women of B.C.

for their great contributions they make every single day.

T. Shypitka: The member very eloquently pointed out a lot of firsts in the

province. I would like to remind the member that we have a lot of firsts

on our side, including a female Premier in the province and also the

first female Attorney General, and there are a lot of lists. I’m glad to

see that there’s a lot of progress being made on both sides of the

floor.

I mentioned renewable energy comes in many forms. People power

represents the best renewable source we have. Being International

Women’s Day, I thank this House for allowing me to speak to women being

a major factor in that renewable energy. As the member didn’t really

answer my question on initiatives that the NDP have put forward, I would

like to help him out at this point and mention the single-parent

employment initiative that was launched by the previous government and

has since proven to be a highly successful program that the current

government has chosen to promote. I thank them for it.

While not exclusively to women only, if you are a single parent

receiving income and disability assistance and find it difficult and

unaffordable to re-enter the workforce, you may be eligible for training

and support to secure a long-term job.

[10:30 a.m.]

The following includes parts of the program: up to 12 months of

funded training or paid work experience, continued income or disability

assistance while in training, child care costs covered during your

training or work placement and for the first year of employment, transit

costs to and from school, WorkBC Employment Services Centre supports and

health supplement coverage for a full year after you leave income

assistance for employment.

The vast majority of these single parents are, in fact, women.

There are a large number of success stories from women who have

successfully completed the single-parent employment initiative and are

now on their way to securing financial independence. This program ties

in nicely with science, technology, engineering and math, or the STEM

project.

As I wrap up this statement on renewable energy, slanted to favour

International Women’s Day, I would like to say that B.C. should be proud

of its renewable energy sources now and those we will see down the road.

B.C. is a 98-percent clean electricity producer, thanks to

hydroelectricity, which is providing us with a firm, reliable green

energy source. Projects such as Site C, as a continuation of the power

generation on the Peace River, will be there to provide electricity to

hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses, and will electrify our

LNG production and many other projects.

Our generous bounty of minerals and metals are extracted in a

safe, responsible way that is world-renowned. These minerals and metals

will provide us with all the components of building infrastructure we

need to support renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, tidal and

geothermal.

Our technology sector will benefit from not only producing

disruptive technologies to advance the renewable energy sector but to

assist in the technologies to extract our resources cleaner and with

less waste.

We are all renewable energy resources. I look forward to what our

future brings, as long as we can all see the same horizon. We all really

need to congratulate one another, rather than draw bold lines in the

sand of division.

I would like to close by wishing my six favourite women a happy

International Women’s Day: my two assistants, Heather and Christy, my

daughter-in-law, Julie, my mother, Lynne, my gorgeous wife, Carrie, and

my very smart and beautiful daughter Allie Shypitka.

ECONOMIC RECOVERY

AS IT PERTAINS TO

WOMEN

K. Greene: Today is International Women’s Day, a day to recognize the

leadership of women and the work that needs to be done for women to

achieve equality. On International Women’s Day, 500,000 Canadian women

are unemployed, and 100,000 women have left the workforce altogether.

They are no longer seeking jobs, and women’s employment levels are where

they were when I was six — six.

Women’s employment is disproportionately affected by the pandemic

because women disproportionately work in service work — hospitality,

tourism, retail, gig work. They’re more often part-time and low-wage

workers, and they’re the first to be let go when the economy

downturns.

There is also an intersectional impact. For women who are also a

visible minority, the employment gap averages almost 5 percent. Canada

has the highest pay gap among the OECD. We’re 31 out of 36. For every

dollar a white man earns, white women make about 82 cents, racialized

women make about 60 cents and Indigenous women make 57 cents.

The New York Times has declared this to be a she-cession,

and they’re right. The she-cession also puts to bed the myth that many

women choose to stay home and not work. Women are not voluntarily

leaving the workforce, or we wouldn’t have ten times as many women as

men exiting the workforce as a result of the pandemic. It’s often the

so-called “second shift” that is forcing women from the

workplace.

Women are providing unpaid labour for child care, seniors care and

caring for sick family members. Being laid off or leaving the workforce

can have long-lasting effects for women. The gap in employment makes it

harder to find a job or retraining, and skills erosion makes it harder

to re-enter the workplace.

Wages typically build year after year, and an absence from the

workforce will lead to permanent wage loss that will have a cumulative

lifetime impact. We need to have women participating in the workforce to

ensure we have a good economic recovery from the pandemic. It’s vitally

important that we tackle the root causes of inequality to ensure a

post-pandemic recovery is a recovery for everyone.

The B.C. Human Rights Commissioner, reinstated by this government,

is an important part of informing the government and society about the

changes needed to achieve equity. As the pandemic has shown,

unemployment and permanent job loss have not been equal. We need policy

that considers the intersectional ways in which people are affected. We

know that single parents are affected more deeply than two-parent

families. That’s why the B.C. recovery grant is for up to $1,000 for

single parents.

[10:35 a.m.]

We’re working on taking down obstacles to participation in growth

sectors, with supports for women retraining in trades. Overall, women

need support in the unpaid caring work they do. Seniors care is vitally

important. That’s why our government has invested an unprecedented

amount into ensuring that our seniors are cared for safely and with

dignity. It takes the burden from women who are doing this work in their

second shift.

Child care is also very important, as women with children under

six lead losses from the workforce. Our government has made this a

priority from day one, and the Minister of State for Child Care has led

an amazing transformation in our child care system. The pilot for

$10-a-day daycare in my riding meant that one of the mothers was able to

go back to school and forge a better future for her family. That is

transformation and will have a generational impact. In addition,

thousands of child care spaces opening up across the province mean that

thousands of women have opportunities to join the workforce and build a

better future for their family.

Equal access to health care is also an obstacle to the full

equality of women. In particular, access to reproductive care and

contraception can be a barrier to economic wellness for women and their

families. While there has been much done to improve the equality of

women, we still have a long way to go.

I am hopeful today because this International Women’s Day

recognizes the importance of women’s leadership. We have here in B.C. a

historic number of women elected to our caucus, which means we will be

able to work and build change for all women. We hear the call to act

from generations past and generations to come. We will not just be

counted. We will take action.

T. Wat: I thank the member for Richmond-Steveston for giving me the

opportunity to speak on this issue of economic recovery as it pertains

to women. This is something that myself and my colleague the member for

Kamloops–South Thompson, who serves as our critic for Economic Recovery,

Jobs and Innovation, have repeatedly been highlighting.

We are deeply concerned about the impact that COVID-19 has had on

women and the economy. We know that women have been disproportionately

affected by the pandemic in a variety of ways. Many report that they are

overwhelmed and stressed as they try to balance work and home life,

which for many have become intertwined. Some are trying to work from

home, but they may have reduced access to child care or the

extracurricular activities that kept their children busy. Others may

face increased caregiving responsibilities for their elderly parents,

bringing them groceries or running errands for them, to reduce their

interactions and protect them from COVID-19.

Of course, the only thing more stressful than juggling the

responsibilities of work and home is having no job at all. Sadly, this

is another area where we see a disproportionate impact on women in our

province. The most recent Statistics Canada figures show that since the

pandemic began, there are 26,900 fewer jobs for women in B.C. today

compared to February 2020. In just the past few months alone, women have

lost 7,500 jobs.

Meanwhile, the labour underutilization rate, a broader measure

that includes those involuntarily working fewer hours, has risen to 13

percent for women, up from December’s rate of 9.9 percent. Despite these

troubling numbers, a year into this pandemic, we have yet to see a plan

from this government to help women get back into the job

market.

[10:40 a.m.]

This is unacceptable. I will note that we need a concrete jobs

plan not only to help women who are unemployed or underemployed right

now. We need this for all British Columbians facing this hardship. The

government needs to foster an inclusive recovery to facilitate the

re-entry of women into the labour market. They simply cannot afford to

wait any longer.

Another group that cannot afford to wait much longer for

assistance are the many women who own and operate businesses in our

province. We all know how hard it is to start a business, not to mention

make it profitable and successful. These women have worked incredibly

hard to build their businesses, making numerous sacrifices and facing a

lot of uncertainty along the way. Now the pandemic has thrown their

operations into chaos.

In my critic role, I hear from many of them, in the tourism

industry in particular. We know that prior to the pandemic, tourism

provided $20.5 billion of revenue to B.C. Currently only 10 percent of

businesses in the industry have reported operating “business as

usual.”

Many of these businesses employ and are managed by women.

Specifically, the hotel industry employed 104,000 people, 60 percent of

whom are women. This industry saw 32,000 employees laid off.

Where do business owners in tourism or other sectors go for help?

The government offered up the small and medium-sized business recovery

grant. But sadly, this program has been difficult to access, and funds

haven’t been going out the door fast enough. Luckily, the application

deadline was recently extended by government, a move I applaud and

something that I have been calling for, along with my colleague from

Kamloops–South Thompson.

It’s my hope that further improvements will be made to streamline

the process and ease eligibility requirements so that more of our

business owners can benefit from the program and stay in business.

Otherwise, those jobs numbers are only going to get worse for women in

British Columbia and, indeed, for all British Columbians.

Deputy Speaker: Thank you very much, Member. Thank you for your

statement.

I apologize. There seemed to have been a bit of a technical

challenge, so if you are able to provide a transcript of your remarks to

Hansard, we’ll make sure that it’s completely clear in the record for

everybody’s benefit.

Now we return to the member for Richmond-Steveston.

K. Greene: I thank the member for Richmond North Centre for her comments. We

should not find it discouraging that we are finding an equity gap. We

should be energized to tackle the challenge and celebrate how far we

have come. Economic equity is necessary to ensure women and families’

health, education and well-being.

Ensuring we look at economic recovery with a gender and

intersectional lens will create opportunity for individuals and all of

society. We need to have women working in our economy to have a full

economic recovery. If women participate in the workforce at the same

rate as men, it would add $100 billion to Canada’s GDP every year. From

Stats Canada, there are serious long-term effects from job loss. One in

five laid-off workers, in previous downturns, had an over 25 percent

earning decline five years after the job loss — five years after the job

loss. This affects women more often than men.

Canadian women are on track to reach gender equality in 164 years

due to structural obstacles. We will do better. We must do better. As

much as we are standing on the shoulders of giants, the women who broke

barriers so we could be here, I would like to be the shoulders which

future generations stand upon. I look forward to working with everyone

in this chamber to ensure an equitable future for everyone.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

S. Cadieux: Happy International Women’s Day. It’s a day to celebrate the past

struggles, the accomplishments of women and society.

[10:45 a.m.]

It’s a day to celebrate individual women and collective action.

It’s a day to acknowledge progress and the work yet to be done. We’ve

come a long way, and I’m proud to be here in this Legislature, which

only a few years ago had a female Lieutenant-Governor, Premier, Speaker

and Attorney General, all at the same time. I’m proud to be here today

with a female Clerk and the greatest number of female elected members in

history. Congratulations and thank you to all of my female colleagues

here today. I want to acknowledge the success that we share.

We have an opportunity, because we’re here together to make

change, to highlight the issues that often go unaddressed that have yet

to be equalized from the perspective of gender. What do I mean? Well,

there are issues that have seemed intractable — pay equity and

gender-based violence, for two. Now, through the pandemic, further

inequity has been recognized. It’s here that we have the power to

address these issues.

If we look first at the wage gap in Canada, it’s clear that women

are systemically disadvantaged by our society. One of the most obvious

pieces of evidence is found in women’s wages. Stats Canada placed the

gender pay gap at 13.3 percent, and the OECD found that Canada had one

of the most egregious gender wage gaps. While one-third of the wage gap

can be explained by variables such as industry, position, type of

employment, and so on, two-thirds remains unaccounted for.

British Columbia may be one of the worst offenders. A 2019

Vancouver Sun

article written by David Carrigg wrote that

women in business “are earning, on average, almost 20 percent less an

hour than men, the largest gender pay gap in Canada.”

The wage gap also hurts our economy. As one 2017 report suggests,

steps to decrease the wage gap could lead to economic benefits of up to

$150 billion over nine years. These are things we’re hearing over and

over this morning. Eliminating the wage gap could reap real, substantial

economic benefits for British Columbia. It’s in the interest of us

all.

When we delve further, we find — not surprisingly, as members have

mentioned — that pay inequality is worse for those with intersectioning

experiences of marginalization. There are severe wage discrepancies, not

only along gender lines but ethnicity, physical ability and other

determinants of a person’s identity. In Canada, on average, Indigenous

women make 36 percent less than non-Indigenous men; racialized women, 34

percent less than non-racialized men; and women with disabilities, 48

percent less than men without a disability.

Ensuring pay equity for women would be a step in the right

direction towards correcting unjust practices — which, frankly, still

regularly occur. We’ve heard a fair amount about the need to diversify

the workforce and to diversify the executive and boards of our public

service and private companies. It’s not a new subject, albeit perhaps

re-energized by a number of movements over the last couple of years.

Certainly, the data still shows that we have a lot of work to

do.

Governments are including this on their agendas. The government of

Canada has been working together with the private sector and

diversity-focused organizations on an effort to develop the 50-30

challenge. Last I looked, more than 952 organizations of every size, in

every province and territory, have signed up for that challenge. I

certainly hope they’re successful.

Diversity in the workplace makes good business sense.

Organizations that are more diverse are more likely to outperform their

peers, are twice as likely to meet or exceed financial targets and eight

times more likely to achieve better business outcomes. And we know that

they’re more innovative. They foster fresh insights, new ideas and

creative solutions.

But we can’t pretend that barriers don’t still exist, both

systemically and unconsciously and situationally, and it’s evident when

we look at the impact of COVID-19 on the labour force. The pandemic has

exacerbated gender gaps in our labour force — women’s participation at

its lowest level now in three decades. Women are being hardest hit

because they tend to work in industries like hospitality and food

services, retail, education, health care and social assistance, most

affected by closures, earnings losses and layoffs. This is further

entrenching that gender pay gap in creating a gender employment gap in

B.C. and across the country.

[10:50 a.m.]

What response from government will address this, or will the

government just wait and see what the long-term impacts are? When the

government sees a shortage of workers in the trades, for example, what

does government do? It invests in trades training and targeted programs.

What will government do now with a clear disruption in the workforce for

women and for essential services like health care?

I want to applaud government for instituting a gender-based

analysis on policy. But at this point, I’m still going to question

whether or not it’s impacting decisions.

Women are more severely impacted by the pandemic because they

shoulder more child care and elder care responsibilities than their male

counterparts. They have to refuse work or seek a reduction in hours if

their kids require extra care or can’t go back to school or if someone

else in the family needs extra support.

Even before the pandemic, women in Canada did almost twice as much

unpaid care work as men. This inequality has had significant financial

and economic impacts on women and society at large and, of course,

brings into question another larger policy discussion. How do we, or

could we or should we, value caring?

Last but not least, we do have to acknowledge gender-based

violence. Currently Canada and B.C. are experiencing a second emergency

in what experts are calling the shadow pandemic: violence. The rate of

violence against women is rising as COVID-19 restrictions force

Canadians indoors and out of the public eye. Women and children are more

vulnerable to violence than ever before.

We’ve heard and will hear more about this, this morning, I’m sure,

but it bears repeating. More needs to be done, and it must be brought

into the light.

With that, I will await some comments from my

colleague.

J. Rice: Thank you to the member for her comments. I must say that I really

appreciate her championing women’s issues. I notice that she has become

quite a leader on this topic, and I appreciate her comments and her

remarks.

Today is International Women’s Day, a day to recognize the social,

economic, cultural and political achievements of women, girls,

two-spirit and non-binary people. This day has been recognized around

the world since 1911. It’s also a day to raise awareness of the work we

still need to do.

This year the United Nations theme is “Women in leadership:

Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.” For those who already

face systemic barriers or oppression, the pandemic has magnified the

inequalities that still exist among genders. This is further amplified

for Indigenous women, women of colour, women with disabilities and

people in the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

At the onset of the pandemic, women lost their jobs at a rate six

times more than their male counterparts. This is because women are more

represented in the service sector — such as education, food and

community services — and in health care, where they’re more susceptible

to being infected with COVID-19. The conditions for this type of work

are just not favourable to working from home.

Working mothers who remain in the workforce have lost an average

of six hours per week because of their caregiving responsibilities.

Sadly, reports of intimate partner and family violence are on the

rise.

Celebrating International Women’s Day has new meaning this year as

we celebrate the thousands of people who became everyday superheroes

overnight to help us through the pandemic. With vaccines on the horizon,

we have a positive path forward. But no matter our gender, race, class,

sexual orientation, disability or ability, our entire province is

stronger when we help each other, celebrate our superheroes and find a

way to ensure all people have an equal future during these difficult

times.

While we continue to focus on keeping people safe through the

pandemic, we are doing this with an eye to how we position our province

to seize the opportunities that recovery will offer. The path forward is

not the same for all people or sectors of the economy. Recognizing this,

our support and investment must be targeted now.

At the start of the pandemic, with greater uncertainty about how

the impacts would be felt, we invested with broad tools to quickly

provide support to as many people as possible. This included financial

supports for people whose ability to work was affected, help for people

facing violence, supports for vulnerable people who are homeless or at

risk of homelessness and funding to assist child care

providers.

[10:55 a.m.]

B.C.’s recovery plan goes even further to support families who

need it most — including Indigenous communities, young people and women

— by providing training for those who have lost work, including skills

training in Indigenous communities; investments in job creation;

investments to keep child care centres and schools safe; and supports

for hard-hit sectors such as the arts, culture, tourism, small business,

where so many women entrepreneurs and workers make their

livelihood.

We’re providing new grants to support businesses that hire people

living with disabilities; additional supports to fight racism, which has

no place in our communities; mental health supports; and youth suicide

prevention. As B.C. works to advance its COVID-19 economic recovery

plan, it’s vital that all people, especially those who already face

disadvantages, are supported and given the best possible opportunity to

move forward.

We have taken meaningful strides towards gender equality, yet the

pandemic has highlighted how much more work we still have to

do.

We will commit to advancing equality, commit to a world without

gender-based violence and to build a future for women, girls and

2SLGBTQ+ people in British Columbia and around the world.

S. Cadieux: Thank you to the member for her kind comments. There are many

things that we can agree on and work together to bring solutions to.

Starting on Friday and over the weekend, I participated in a number of

events to celebrate International Women’s Day. They were inspiring and

uplifting. They had women speaking about their lives, their shared

successes, their shared vulnerability. They exchanged advice. They

acknowledged progress. They championed each other. They encouraged the

next generation to be better, and they focused on what binds us as women

and on the strengths that we bring to leadership at all levels — public,

private, and community.

Again, I will use this time to remind us here where we have the

power to influence our society through example and law. Women are still

chronically underrepresented in Canadian industry and organizational

leadership, despite making up more than half the population. Just 8.5

percent of the highest-paid positions in Canada’s top 100 companies are

held by women. It’s a remarkable failure in representation. More so, of

the top 500 companies in the country, women make up just under 20

percent of board members. The numbers, not surprisingly, are worse for

women of colour or women with disabilities.

We also know we can have success. Women in leadership bring

significant benefits in pursuit of equality in the workplace. A study

found that 67 percent of women report they have learned the most

important lessons about leadership from other women, and 86 percent of

women report that when they see more women in leadership, they’re

encouraged they can get there themselves. That bodes well for this

Legislature.

It’s also so important to note our male colleagues as allies in

this work, as mentors, as friends, as champions of women and women’s

rights and of change. I know I have always had strong role models that

were male, strong mentors and champions of my success and abilities,

from my grandfathers to my father to teachers and bosses to a former

Premier and colleagues today, and I am grateful.

Overall, companies and organizations benefit from women’s

leadership, and a decrease of gender inequality in Canada can boost our

economy. Higher-performing businesses tend to have women in leadership

roles. Diversity at the table leads to financial returns above industry

average.

Today, on International Women’s Day, we could be addressing some

of the gaps in B.C.’s social programs for women and debating legislation

that would move the needle forward with pay and equality. The Equal Pay

Reporting Act is on the order paper. It’s time to get it debated. It’s

an issue and best practice for legislation that all parties can agree

on.

Today would be a great day to act together for change.

[11:00 a.m.]

[N. Letnick in the chair.]

Hon. J. Whiteside: I call Motion 4 on the order paper.

Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, unanimous consent of the House is required to

proceed with Motion 4 without disturbing the priorities of the motions

preceding it on the order paper.

Leave granted.

Private Members’ Motions

MOTION 4 — INTERNATIONAL

WOMEN’S

DAY

M. Elmore: I’m honoured to rise and speak to you today from the traditional

territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh

Nations.

I move:

[Be it resolved that this House recognize the accomplishments,

rights and challenges that all women face this International Women’s Day

and reaffirm our commitment to fighting sexism and gender-based

discrimination every day.]

The purpose of International Women’s Day is to bring attention to

the social, political, economic and cultural issues that women face and

to advocate for the advance of women, including trans women, within all

these areas. First celebrated in 1911 and entitled International Working

Women’s Day, a million men and women rallied in support of women’s

rights.

The history of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire in 1911 in New

York City resulted in the deaths of 146 mostly young immigrant women

workers, where the factory was locked and workers were unable to escape.

Some of these workers were as young as 12 years old, and it inspired

changes in industrial working conditions. B.C. no longer shares the

common history of allowing 12-year-olds to work, as marked in 1911, with

the previous government. Our government brought in changes to lift the

minimum age from 12 years old and, really, lift B.C. out of that

international embarrassment.

We know that today we’re coming this close to marking the sombre

milestone of almost one year since the World Health Organization

declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic. We know that the

impact of the pandemic has exposed and magnified deep social inequities.

Around the world, including Canada, we know that not everyone is

impacted the same way. Who gets sick? Who dies? Who’s suffering

financially or emotionally? We know that a closer look reflects the

power imbalances in society which predominantly result in immigrant,

racialized, migrant women being hard hit — particularly, undocumented

workers.

More needs to be done. Many of our essential workers on our

pandemic front lines are women. They are the ones unable to work from

home and often face systemic barriers. The measures that our government

has taken to support British Columbians and to move us forward through

the recovery to be able to face the pandemic, particularly in the

long-term-care sector, where we have lifted wages for the majority of

women working in this sector, also racialized.

We know that the previous government’s austerity measures really

targeted racialized women. We know that in the not unrecent history, the

previous government brought in changes for a record job loss in the

contracting out of workers in health care, in long-term care — the

largest layoff of racialized women in Canadian history — and really

broke up the system.

The steps that our government has taken to stabilize that system —

to raise wages, to ensure working conditions and also care levels in the

long-term-care sector — are key to repairing some of the damage and the

impact of these austerity measures of the previous government. This is

clear, in terms of how government policies and decisions

disproportionately impact women, particularly racialized women and

Indigenous women. We know that this is key, and this needs to be in

clear focus and a priority.

I’m proud that our government has put women — Indigenous and

racialized women, women with disabilities, people with disabilities and

folks in the 2LGBTQ community — squarely at the centre. Our government

has taken steps to bring in child care, to implement child care, to

ensure that women and people fleeing domestic violence have homes to go

to.

[11:05 a.m.]

Our government has committed to raising the minimum wage and

including liquor servers, over 80 percent women, as well to be included.

A number of steps have been taken. More needs to be done. I would like

to close my remarks — so much more to say — with a quote from the great

Audre Lorde: “I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her

shackles are very different from my own.”

I want to wish everybody happy International Women’s Day. Much

more work needs to be done, and I look forward to working with all

members in the Legislature across British Columbia to ensure that we

have equal opportunities for all.

S. Bond: Today I rise to join other members of the Legislative Assembly in

celebrating and recognizing the accomplishments and contributions of

women in our province and beyond. While progress has been made, there is

much more to do. Since the late 1800s, critical issues like the right to

vote and the right to equal pay for equal work have been debated. Sadly,

these are still issues today, a century later.

As I stand in the chamber on International Women’s Day, I think

about what it would have been like to have been the first woman elected

to sit in this Legislature. Mary Ellen Smith laid the groundwork for

people like me to become an MLA, to become the first female Attorney

General in British Columbia’s history and now to be one of two women,

alongside the member for Cowichan Valley, who lead parties in this

House.

Mary Ellen Smith laid the groundwork for a woman to be elected as

Premier of British Columbia. Mary Ellen Smith laid the groundwork for

young girls to see themselves as politicians and leaders in our

province. But can you imagine what would have been like in January of

1918 for Mary Ellen Smith to set foot in this House as the lone woman in

the Legislature? How intimidating it must have been, as the first female

MLA, just two years after women won the right to vote in our province.

But while the papers of the day debated whether it would be appropriate

for her to wear a hat in the chamber, Mary Ellen got to work.

Mary Ellen ran her election campaign using the slogan: “Women and

children first.” She kept her election promises, and she advocated on

behalf of women, children and the underprivileged. She introduced a bill

that established a minimum wage for women and supported measures to

create juvenile courts and allow women to sit as judges. She quickly

became a champion of women’s issues and established equal recognition

for women in B.C. politics. Just three years after her election, Mary

Ellen Smith became the first female cabinet minister, not just in B.C.

but anywhere in the British Empire.

Seven years later, in a strange turn of events with the Deputy

Speaker absent, the Speaker of the House called on Mary Ellen Smith to

briefly preside over a budget debate in 1928. With this, the first-ever

use of a new term, “Madam Speaker,” a phrase that we used for many years

when our former colleague Linda Reid, the longest-serving female MLA in

B.C.’s history, sat in the Speaker’s chair.

It is indisputable that women have significantly contributed to

this chamber and to our province over the past 103 years since Mary

Ellen Smith first smashed that glass ceiling. Just by being here, she

instantly became a role model, because if you can see it, you can be it.

So today, on International Women’s Day, we celebrate Mary Ellen Smith

and the incredible women in our province who have worked hard for

decades in the pursuit of progress toward a truly equal and inclusive

society.

This past year has seen us face unprecedented challenges, and

women have been at the forefront of many of the COVID-19 efforts in

British Columbia. They have also been deeply impacted. A recent study

pointed out that the pandemic has had a regressive impact on gender

equity. Women’s jobs are more vulnerable to the crisis. There has been

an increase in gender-based violence. Women are balancing the need to

care for children and ensure that educational expectations are met. And

that list goes on.

Now more than ever, we need to work together. Achieving gender

equity takes women and men working together to challenge stereotypes,

fight discrimination and create a future where generations to come have

endless possibilities, regardless of their gender.

[11:10 a.m.]

We can only expect positive change when we work together to ensure

that our schools, our workplaces and our communities understand and

value the role that women should play in every aspect of our society.

The official opposition is continuing to make equality a priority, which

is why we have tabled the Equal Pay Reporting Act, and why we continue

to call on this government to bring it up for debate.

With women disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 economic

downturn, there is no time to delay these important discussions on how

we can achieve pay equity. This International Women’s Day, let’s

celebrate the female role models, past and present, who have made a

difference in British Columbia.

At the same time, let’s commit to ensuring that there are more

women at decision-making tables in politics, non-profits and in the

private sector, because without women in the picture, it’s just that

much harder for young women to see themselves in those roles. I can’t

wait to see future generations of pioneers like Mary Ellen

Smith.

K. Paddon: I want to thank my friend from Vancouver-Kensington for bringing

forward this motion, calling for our recognition and reaffirmation

today, on International Women’s Day. Today is a day when women are

recognized for their achievements, where we look at the progress that

has been made and where we gaze aspirationally forward to where we can

go from here.

As I speak on this day in support of this motion, I am keenly

aware of the privilege I stand with, a privilege made possible only by

the women who came before me and in service to those who will come next.

I rise as part of the first caucus to be made up of a majority of women

and as part of a team committed to acknowledging and challenging

gender-related issues that marginalize and create barriers. I am

grateful for this.

However, I also reflect today on the barriers that remain,

barriers that have been highlighted and magnified by COVID-19. This past

year, as we have faced this global pandemic, we can’t help but recognize

that for so many who already face systemic barriers or oppression, the

pandemic has magnified the inequalities that continue to exist among

genders. We know that this is further amplified for Indigenous women,

women of colour, women with disabilities and the LGBTQ2S+

community.

The pandemic has also highlighted for us the unappreciated and

disproportionate work of women. As always, women rose to the challenge

and need of our communities and led during this unprecedented

time.

Work traditionally and overwhelmingly done by wo­men was the

very work that contributed to our health and our success as well as to

our hope and recovery. Work that is precarious, low-paid and highly

demanding of emotional labour. Work that is critical to our common

well-being, our safety, our health, our children and our loved ones.

Work that requires women to stretch themselves between multiple roles,

to sacrifice themselves to the needs of others and to offer not only

their time and labour but their hearts and passion for the benefit of

others.

If nothing else, we must not forget that when we needed leadership

and comfort and science, when we needed safety and kindness and

resilience, compassion and innovation and determination, it was our

mothers, sisters and daughters who stepped out of the shadows their work

is so often reduced to and worked alongside our brothers who stand with

us.

We saw more than the work come out of the shadows during the

pandemic. We saw the increase in gender-based and domestic violence. We

saw the increase of women who were trapped in their own homes, which

were no longer safe. We saw the impact of child care being borne by

women when schools and daycares closed and as the demand for caregiving

increased across our province. We have had realities brought to light by

this past year that can no longer be relegated to the status of “simply

a woman’s issue,” or reduced to being “other” and “up for

debate.”

We now know beyond a doubt that women’s issues are not a special

interest category. These are issues of health, education and economy

that impact everyone. I am proud to be part of a government committed to

moving all British Columbians forward and on a recovery that includes

everyone.

[11:15 a.m.]

As has been so well put by others this morning, no matter our

gender, race, class, sexual orientation, disability or ability, our

entire province is stronger when we help each other and find a way to

ensure that all people have an equal future.

This year the United Nations theme is “Women in leadership —

achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.” With that in mind, and

with gratitude, I borrow and share the words of the poet Rupi Kaur: “I

stand on the sacrifices of a million women before me, thinking, ‘What

can I do to make this mountain taller so the women after me can see

farther?’”

J. Tegart: I rise in this House today to speak on the motion: “Be it resolved

that this House recognize the accomplishments, rights and challenges

that all women face this International Women’s Day and reaffirm our

commitment to fighting sexism and gender-based discrimination every

day.”

I’d like to start off by saying how proud I am to be standing in

the House today, to honour such an important day alongside many of my

colleagues from both sides of the House, who are taking the challenge to

choose to challenge, to seek out and challenge discrimination against

women and celebrate the many amazing achievements of women in this

province, in this country and all over the world.

As many in this House know, our mission for women’s equality goes

beyond challenging individual instances of inequality and discrimination

when we see them. It means challenging the workplaces and institutions

that perpetuate gender discrimination and addressing the challenges that

our female-dominated fields are currently facing.

COVID-19 has thrown many of our female-dominated industries onto

the front line. Not only has it created unprecedented challenges for our

front-line workers, including the thousands of doctors, nurses and first

responders who are women, but it also put our teachers, educators and

support staff on the front line of our fight against the

pandemic.

For generations, women have made up the majority of our

educational workforce, largely because it was one of the first

workforces that women were allowed to enter because of the stigmatizing

image of women as nurturers suited to care for children. Even today, the

B.C. Teachers Federation cites that the percentage of teachers in B.C.

public schools who are women has steadily increased from approximately

62 percent in 1991-92 to 72 percent in 2016. This trend is still on the

rise.

This is not to say that it is not because many women choose these

careers. British Columbia enjoys one of the highest qualities of public

education anywhere in the world, thanks to the tireless work and passion

of our many men and women in our schools. Unfortunately, this pandemic

has put the health and well-being of a disproportionate amount of women

in our province at risk as more and more schools report exposures to

COVID-19, including the more infectious U.K. and South African

variants.

Last month a BCTF survey highlighted that half of all teachers

working in classrooms still don’t feel safe under the current working

conditions. The work of so many of our teachers and support staff…. The

work they’ve done to keep our children safe while continuing their

education will never be recognized enough.

We hope that government will listen to the calls of teachers and

educators for more widespread use of COVID rapid tests. Implement

mandatory mask policies. Provide greater transparency in our COVID data

collection and reporting. Grant our school districts the flexibility to

create additional layers of protection that go beyond provincial

protocols to protect themselves against the rising exposures to COVID

variants.

[11:20 a.m.]

Together we can all ensure that women working as front-line

workers, regardless of which sector they work in, continue to overcome

the incredible challenges they are facing, carry out the crucial work

they are doing and continue to inspire our younger generations, keeping

our communities safe and driving our mission for gender equality

forward.

It is a great honour to join those in the House today, and those

on the screen, to celebrate International Women’s Day. Thank you for the

opportunity to speak.

M. Dykeman: It is an honour to speak in favour of this motion today —

especially as today is International Women’s Day and the theme for this

year is “Women in leadership” — and having the privilege to be one of 29

women who are part of the first majority-women caucus with official

party status in British Columbia.

International Women’s Day is a global day of celebration of the

social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. First

recognized internationally in 1911, International Women’s Day is also

about everyone having the right to feel safe, respected and included in

their community and their home.

We are at the nearly one-year mark since the World Health

Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic. The

challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly exacerbated the

obstacles that women were already facing. One in three women experience

gender-based violence in their lifetime. Over half of women in B.C. have

experienced physical or sexual violence since the age of 16. That is

more than one million women in our province. In B.C., there are over

1,000 physical or sexual assaults against women every week.

Indigenous women are 3.5 times more likely than non-Indigenous

women to experience violence, and the homicide rate, unfortunately, is

seven times higher. LGBTQ2S+ individuals are much more — more than two

times — likely to be a victim of violence. More than half of transgender

people have experienced intimate-partner vio­lence, and nearly

half of transgender people have been sexually assaulted in their

lifetime.

Unfortunately, there has been a sharp increase in these

challenges. Several help lines for women experiencing violence at home

are reporting dramatic increases in calls since public health measures

aimed at fighting the spread of COVID-19 came into effect last spring.

This is also coupled with an increase in the urgency and severity of

many caller situations. With restrictions and smaller networks, the

situation for many women is like a pressure cooker, and isolation is

leaving women even more vulnerable.

The United Nations has called violence against women and girls a

shadow pandemic, as the COVID-19 crisis fuels social isolation and

tensions caused by concerns over health, safety and financial security.

In B.C. the Battered Women’s crisis line received more than 1,800 calls

in March of 2020, doubling the number of calls received in the same

month a year ago. Calls in April 2020 more than tripled those in the

same month in 2019.

Domestic violence isn’t just about physical abuse. It includes any

form of violence within a relationship, marriage, common-law or dating —

sexual, emotional, financial and psychological abuse, including threats.

Violence against women hurts everyone and has long-term effects on

families in our communities. Each year 20,000 women in B.C. experience

violence in their relationships, and this must change. Gendered violence

is an issue we all must confront in our communities.

I’m proud to be part of a government that recognizes the urgency

of these supports for those who are in vulnerable situations. Our

government has invested in these supports and is committed to providing

the help that’s needed. Women and children facing violence need safe

places to go. Building B.C.: women’s transition housing fund provides

$734 million over the next ten years to build 1,500 new transition homes

for women leaving violence, including new housing options in remote

First Nations communities.

[11:25 a.m.]

Jobs training specifically for survivors of violence and abuse is

also being offered. Tens of thousands of people who need help with

gender-based violence are getting counselling and other assistance they

need through over 400 victim services, and $10 million has been provided

to Ending Violence Association of B.C. to support emergency sexual

assault services.

To keep students safe and informed on consent, our government

launched a provincewide campaign to pre­vent sexualized violence

and misconduct on public post-secondary campuses. There’s also increased

cellular service and building of a new cell tower along Highway 16 to

keep women and girls safe along the Highway of Tears, and $100,000 for

the Be More than a Bystander campaign to support violence

prevention.

Our world is better when we’re all equal. Although great strides

have been made, there is still much work to do. So yes, I fully support

this motion on International Women’s Day. On this International Women’s

Day, let’s reaffirm our commitment to fighting sexism and gender-based

discrimination every day.

K. Kirkpatrick: Women around the globe should be celebrated for their

extraordinary commitments in all areas of society — as professionals, as

wage earners, as cultural leaders, as mothers, caregivers and

caretakers. I support the motion put forward by the member and commit to

fighting sexism and gender-based discrimination every day.

I’m going to share a couple of examples of my own experiences with

gender discrimination. When I was 16, I won an award sponsored by a

local business chamber. I was invited to come to that chamber’s luncheon

and provide them with an update on what that award meant to me, which

was all about being a Canadian.

I was young. I was nervous. When I arrived, I was ushered into a

room, where I was served my lunch alone. I found this a bit confusing,

as I had been invited to a luncheon. After I ate, I was brought into the

main room, where I was able to give my five-minute talk. Then I was

again ushered out.

It was only afterwards that I realized there were no women in that

audience. The man who ushered me out again said to me that they were

surprised that a girl had won the award. It kind of confused things, and

they didn’t know what to do. It was an all-male business

club.

The second time, I was a few years older. I’d been sent to my

boss’s club to help make catering arrangements for his board meeting. I

began to walk in the front door and was practically accosted by the

doorman, who held out his arm to block my way. He said: “Not in this

door.” I didn’t understand what he meant. Then he pointed to a sign that

said: “Women must enter from the side door.” This was the 1990s, not the

1950s.

Both of those experiences…. I was young. But I was woken up to the

reality that all things are not created equal. You begin to believe that

this is the natural order of things, and it opens your eyes to all of

the other comments and innuendos that you never noticed before. It also

gives women a sense of self-doubt that they carry through the rest of

their lives.

It is a reality that women suffer more than men from poor access

to health services, discrimination, the effects of war and victimization

by harmful cultural traditions. “Human rights are women’s rights, and

women’s rights are human rights.” That was a quote from Hillary Rodham

Clinton.

Here are some things I’d like you to pause and think about.

According to UNAIDS, an estimated 52 million girls under the age of 18

are married off by their families each year. Several hundreds of

thousands of girls are trafficked each year as illegal workers, or they

are forced into prostitution. An estimated 140 million women and girls

undergo female genital mutilation, and more than 530,000 women die in

childbirth each year, largely as a result of not having access to simple

and cost-effective health care. However, women around the world have an

undying spirit. They overcome obstacles and are committed to making

their lives, their families and their communities better.

[11:30 a.m.]

I’m the mom of a young woman who loves chemistry and physics. It

had never occurred to her that she could not pursue a career in science.

But I wonder about a woman like Marie Curie, who was born in the late

19th century. In 1903, Madame Curie was the first woman to be awarded

the Nobel Prize and, quite extraordinarily, a second Nobel Prize only a

few years later — one in chemistry and one in physics.

Can you even begin to imagine what she had to overcome and how

hard she had to work to be taken seriously? How many times was she told

to go away, to do a woman’s work, that if she wanted to study, perhaps

she should consider literature or gardening? If it was not for her

persistence, not only might my daughter not pursue science, but we might

not have isotopes for the treatment of certain types of

cancer.

Think of all the accomplishments that women have brought. I can’t

list them all because we simply don’t have enough time. Then there are,

of course, all of the accomplishments where they had to do it and use a

man’s name.

A recent PwC report says that losing women from the workforce “not

only reverses progress towards gender equality. It affects economic

growth.”

Now, I keep quoting American politicians, but this one is a good

one. President Obama stated: “We must also recommit ourselves more

broadly to ensuring that our daughters have the same rights and

opportunities as our sons: the chance to attain a world-class education,

to have fulfilling careers in any industry, to be treated fairly and

paid equally for their work, and to have no limits on their dreams. That

is what I want for women everywhere.”

That’s what all men should want. I added that last

sentence.

A. Singh: Thank you to everybody who has spoken before.

Especially, thank you to the member for Vancouver-Kensington for

the motion, which I, of course, wholeheartedly support.

On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the achievements of all

women as we strive to remove the systemic barriers placed in front of

them. I want to make it clear that we include and acknowledge trans

women. So many still seek to exclude them.

The question I ask myself is: how do we challenge sexism and

patriarchy? We listen. We listen to women. We listen. Whether it’s white

supremacy and racism, we listen to Indigenous voices and the voices of

people of colour. Whether it’s homophobia and transphobia, we listen to

2SLGBTQ+ voices. We listen. We take our cues from women, and we

act.

It’s not just the responsibility of women or IPOC or 2SLGBTQ+

people to act. It’s all our responsibilities to act and to do something

about it.

Many times, in the moment, when there’s a disparaging remark or an

attitude of oppression…. If we sit back and say or do nothing, then we

are as complicit. We must put our words and our thoughts into action. We

must also strive to do the same with systemic oppression that is built

within our system. We still live with that every day.

Many speakers before have spoken about the disproportionate

impacts that we’ve seen in the pandemic. I’m thrilled to be part of a

government that has started to recognize this. There is still a lot of

work to do, but I’m confident that this parliament will help us move

forward and do some of that work.

That’s why we are focusing on removing systemic barriers and

tackling some of the biggest challenges facing women. We’re investing in

housing for women creating a life after violence. We’re raising B.C.’s

minimum wage and liquor service wages. The majority of these wage

earners are women.

We’re making historic investments in British Columbia’s child care

plan. Child care has often been one of the systemic barriers that has

been built in, preventing women from achieving their potential. We’re

giving extra support to women through employment and skills training so

that women stand to benefit from good-paying jobs. This government is

committed to helping people achieve what they need to be successful

every day in everything we do, including dealing with gender-based

violence.

My friend, earlier, has spoken about this. Women are more than

seven times likely to report a sexual assault than men. Young women, 15

to 24 years old, are more likely to report sexual assaults than any

other age group. Indigenous women are 3½ times more likely than

non-Indigenous women to experience violence — 3½ times more likely. The

homicide rate, shockingly, is seven times higher.

And 2SLGBTQ+ individuals are more than two times more likely to be

victims of violence. More than half of transgender people have

experienced intimate partner violence, and nearly half of transgender

people have been sexually assaulted in their lifetimes. This is

unacceptable.

[11:35 a.m.]

One in three women experiences gender-based violence in their

lifetime. Over half of women in British Columbia have experienced

physical or sexual violence since the age of 16. That’s more than a

million women in our province. Violence against women hurts everyone and

has long-term effects on families and our communities. Each year, 20,000

women in British Columbia experience violence in their relationships.

This has to change. This is not acceptable. Gendered violence is an

issue that we must all confront in our communities. We’ve started to do

that. Again, as I say, there is a lot more to do.

Marginalized people are much more likely to be targeted for

gender-based violence. The appointment of a new, independent Human

Rights Commissioner marks the start of a new year of human rights

protections for all British Columbians. What an incredible step. It’s a

major step forward in combating gendered violence and intersectional

violence.

Women and children facing violence need safe places to go, so

we’re building B.C. women’s transition housing. We’ve funded $734

million over the next ten years to build 1,500 new transition homes for

women leaving violence, including new housing options in remote and

First Na­tions communities.

We’ve provided $10 million to the Ending Violence Association of

B.C. to support emergency sexual assault services. To keep students safe

and informed on consent, we’ve launched a provincewide campaign to

prevent sexualized violence and misconduct on post-secondary

campuses.

We’ve introduced paid leave for people facing domestic or sexual

violence. Today, all 60 school districts in British Columbia and several

independent schools have joined the B.C. SOGI Educator Network to help

schools be more inclusive for students. To make sure that women can

safely access abortion services, we’ve increased bubble zones around

abortion clinics.

I see my time is out. I reaffirm my commitment as a man, and I ask

all men to stand with me in challenging sexism and putting an end to

gender-based discrimination and violence. I’m going to end quickly with

this quote from Joy Harjo. “The rising sun paints the feet of

night-crawling enemies, and they scatter into the burning hills. I have

fought each of them. I know them by name. From before I could speak,

I’ve used every wea­pon to make them retreat.”

D. Clovechok: I just wanted to begin by saying I want to recognize that I live

on the shared traditional territory of the Shuswap Indian Band, the

Akisqnuk First Nation and the home of the Métis Nation of British

Columbia.

I also want to recognize my friends Chief Barb Cote of the Shuswap

Indian Band and Debra Fisher, who’s an elected board member of the Métis

Nation of British Columbia. Both of these people are phenomenal

leaders.

I am honoured to speak today about the importance of International

Women’s Day and our ongoing commitment to fight sexism and gender-based

discrimination. I am absolutely privileged to work with incredible women

on both sides of this House. Our amazing Clerk, my CA back at home —

women who inspire me, who teach me and challenge me to continually grow

to become a better politician and a better person.

As a father, a grandfather and a husband, I’m a big proponent of

gender equity. I raised my daughters to know that there is no such thing

as ceilings. I’m proud to say that my daughters have become very

successful in all that they have chosen to do. My daughter Stephanie was

recently appointed as the CEO of Tourism Saskatoon and is helping lead

the Saskatchewan tourism sector through this pandemic. She is also an

accomplished bow hunter and a rifle hunter.

My daughter Jen is a graduate of the Haskayne School of Business

with honours and distinction. Today she’s got the full-time job of

raising my three grandsons. I’m also proud to say that my two

granddaughters, age 11 and seven, are becoming strong, fearless and

independent human beings. They both are already accomplished horsewomen,

and one has the potential of becoming a great barrel racer.

In addition, I look to my wife every day for guidance and input.

She is my rock. She in her own right has achieved many things, from

being a successful senior leader in many businesses and organizations

throughout Canada to today being the elected director of area F with the

regional district of East Kootenay, the vice-chair of the regional

district of East Kootenay and an elected director-at-large for UBCM. I

am blessed to have these women in my life.

While we’ve seen women across our province and our country smash

through glass ceilings, one after another, we do have to recognize that

so very many women face obstacles that are invisible to men.

[11:40 a.m.]

Gender equity should not come as a call for just the women that we

know but as a call for all women, because they are whole and equal

citizens. There is such great value in having more women in politics.

Women look at issues differently than men, bringing completely different

perspectives to the conversations. They bring a whole different set of

skills to the table, both because of their lived experiences and — if

you’ll allow me a generalization — because they are better listeners.

This is where, I believe, we as men need to do better — being willing

and open to listen to and learn from our female colleagues, our

constituents and our friends.

We’ve got a lot to gain by pushing our conversations further,

recognizing that women in our province have experiences, opinions and

values as varied as those of women in this House. Women of colour,

Indigenous women, LGBTQ2+ — all women will face different challenges

alongside sexism, like burdens of racism and homophobia. Although not

all gendered discrimination and misogyny looks the same, gender equity

requires us to understand that it is all connected and that if we have

the privilege of being safe from these challenges, we must work that

much harder to support those who are not.

My mother and father taught me from an early age that power is

never found in your words alone, but in the truth of those words. It’s

found in the action that comes from those words. Our truthful actions

speak volumes. We must demonstrate every day that the principles and

values that are embedded in International Women’s Day become our daily

truth.

J. Brar: I’m delighted to support the motion, introduced today by the hon.

member for Vancouver-Kensington, to celebrate International Women’s Day.

International Wo­men’s Day has been recognized since 1911 and

supported by countries around the world. On this day, we celebrate the

achievements of all women as we strive to remove the barriers that

prevent many from achieving their full potential.

This day reminds me of the struggle and achievements of my mother,

raising six children and supporting the family farm operation day in and

day out. Those were the days when girls in India and many other

countries were not sent to school. Their only role was to be a housewife

and support the family business. Times have changed, and women now play

leadership roles in every sector of our economy and society. We have

made huge progress, but we still have a long way to go.

This year the United Nations theme about International Women’s Day

is “Women in leadership: achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.”

For many who already face systemic barriers or oppression, the pandemic

has magnified the inequality that exists among genders. This is further

amplified for Indigenous women, women of colour, women with disabilities

and people in the 2SLGBTQ+ communities.

Celebrating International Women’s Day takes on a new meaning this

year as we celebrate the thousands of women who became everyday

superheroes overnight to help us all see our way through the pandemic.

These are the women who came forward to play a leading role during

COVID-19, who made sure we could safely go to the grocery store, leave

our children in safe and loving care to go to work, who picked up

travellers and brought them safely home.

Our entire province is stronger when we help each other, celebrate

our superheroes and find a way to ensure that all people have an equal

future during this difficult time and after COVID-19. Therefore, the

path forward is not the same for all people or sectors of the economy.

Recognizing this, our support and investment must be more targeted and

future-looking to create a future that is more equal for all.

[11:45 a.m.]

B.C.’s recovery plan is designed to support families who need it

most — including Indigenous communities, young people and women — by

providing training for those who have lost work, including skills

training in Indigenous communities; investment to keep child care

centres and schools safe; support for hard-hit sectors such as arts,

culture, tourism and small businesses, where so many women entrepreneurs

and workers make their livelihood; new grants to support businesses that

hire people living with disabilities; and additional support to fight

racism.

As B.C. works to advance its COVID-19 economic recovery plan, it

is vital that all people, especially those who already face

disadvantages, be supported and given the best possible opportunity to

move forward. I would like to conclude by saying that the future must be

better than the past. We are not able to change the past, but we can

change the future for the better.

I want my daughter, Noor, to live in a world where there’s no

limit to what she can accomplish, so that she can realize her full

potential, achieving an equal future. The global village can realize its

full potential only when women are equal partners.

Happy International Women’s Day, Mr. Speaker. Thanks for the

opportunity.

R. Merrifield: I am honoured to speak in support of the motion today, as I

believe that challenge can create change. When I was in grade 4, living

in the United States as a Canadian, I marched into my house with such

incredible energy that my parents certainly knew something was amiss.

You see, I had just learned the names of the presidents of the United

States. Attempting to hold back, as much as any eight-year-old could,

hands on my hips, head leaned forward, I demanded an answer: why are

there no female presidents?

My parents looked at me, and my dad said, with all seriousness:

“Honey, you could be the first president of the United States of

America.” Now, he didn’t know that you needed to be a naturalized

citizen, or at least a citizen, because he wasn’t actually predicting my

career. Instead, he was instilling in his daughter, on that day, the

belief that she could do anything, she could become anything, regardless

of gender.

Now fast-forward 22 years. As I was launching my company after

working for others as a consultant, I went to give notice to one of the

owners. He looked at me and declared that I would never be as good a

business person as he was. Well, I thought it was from a lack of

knowledge or education. Wanting to better myself, or at least to be

self-aware, I asked him: “Why?” He looked at me, shrugged and said:

“Because you’re a woman.”

Well, although I could tell you numerous stories of difficulties

being in business as a woman, stories that so many women can relate to —

being asked for male co-signers, having to work harder and prove myself

— I believe that I have made a difference for women who will come after

me. Throughout my career, I have worked to create fair hiring practices,

flexible working hours and time off, parental leave and personal days,

as well as equal pay for equal work, because I believe that challenges

create change.

What gives me confidence that change is happening? Well, I need to

look no further than my lifetime to see this change. The year before I

was born, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act came into being. That act

allowed women for the first time to have a credit rating on their own.

Well, that’s not that big of a deal, you might think. But without a

credit rating, women could not get loans. They couldn’t have a credit

card. They couldn’t own properties without paying outright with cash, or

have businesses on their own. They were not financially

independent.

[11:50 a.m.]

My grandmother was one of those individuals. She was 36 years old

when my grandfather passed away suddenly, leaving her with six children

between the ages of two and 16. My grandmother went to the bank to try

and keep the farm. She wanted to take over the loans that my grandfather

had signed, but she could not. She was forced to sell, move to the city

and work two jobs. Well, the silver lining is that she worked, she

saved, and she eventually bought not one but two homes: one for her

family to live in and one to supplement her income and provide for her

children.

We have come so far since those days, but we have so much further

to go. Societal norms, jobs, workplace culture, how we treat each other

and how much we are all paid — all of this requires work, especially

now. In the middle of this pandemic, the gaps are showing. Women are

doing more of the child raising and housework while still trying to

provide for their families. They’re losing their jobs at higher rates

than their male counterparts. We need to work together to close those

gaps.

Challenge creates change. The challenge of an eight-year-old

learning about historical norms. The challenge of a woman being cursed

as she started her career but persevering through difficult times. The

challenge of a woman and single parent to six children attempting to

give them a better tomorrow. The challenges of the women during this

pandemic.

The challenges, the courage and the change will emerge, because

already, in my lifetime, I’ve seen that change, from the equal credit

opportunity and financial institutions changing; to the first Black and

Asian female becoming Vice-President; to the incredible, successful

businesswomen in our province; to changes in our workplaces. Even here

in this House, two out of the three party leaders are women.

I am pleased to see the members of this House join together to

recognize the progress we’ve made and the very important work that still

needs to be done to make sure that challenge creates change.

J. Sims: Let me start off by acknowledging that I am speaking today from

the unceded territory of the Kwantlen, the Katzie and the Semiahmoo

people, and I raise my hands in gratitude.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

I also want to wish all of my colleagues in the House; everybody

working at the Legislature, on both sides of the House; and everybody

else who is watching around the world, because I’m sure there is

somebody watching us in some other country as well: happy International

Women’s Day.

It is an honour and a privilege to be able to speak in the

people’s House on this topic today. Let me start by thanking my

colleague from Vancouver-Kensington for bringing this motion forward and

giving us an opportunity to highlight the achievements and the

challenges that women continue to face.

I want to start off by acknowledging a huge mentor in my life, my

mother. I think in her 96 years, she saw quite a change. She was born in

India in a small village and lived through the partition of India, when

three countries were formed. Then, as an adult, with four little kids

all under the age of 9, moved to a new country, a new way of living —

new food, new language. The incredible way she raised us…. The key thing

I want to acknowledge was her love for life and family and instilling in

us that we could achieve anything.

I would also like to acknowledge my dad at this stage, because he

supported me in my wildest of things. If I wanted to take judo, even

though it wasn’t the thing done by girls to take judo back in the mid

’60s, he was right there to support me. When I wanted to go to

university, he was saying: “Why not?” And I went.

So besides my parents, I think one thing I’ve realized over the

years is that the people who played a critical role in my life were my

teachers, teachers who instilled in me the fact that I did have the

capabilities and that there were no doors that I could not walk through.

If I didn’t like them, I could close that door and go and walk through

another door. So to Mrs. Rowe and Lady Ponsonby-Duck, a huge thank you.

lot of the time feel included and gave her the support she needed back

in 1962.

[11:55 a.m.]

Now I want to thank all the amazing women, both in Canada and

around the world, who have gone before us, who have fought so that we

could have the privilege that we have today and some of the gains that

have been made for women. When I was a Member of Parliament and I had

the privilege to serve in the House of Commons, one of my favourite

spots to visit was the Famous Five. I did a lot of reading around the

Famous Five. Being a history teacher, I was really interested, and

because they were women I was interested as well. I kept thinking how

far we have come yet how far we still have to go.

I’m always reminded that there was a time right here in Canada

when women were thrown out of the House of Commons, the people’s House —

pulled by their hair because they dared to ask for the right to vote and

to have a say. I raise my hands in thanks and gratitude to all those

women who fought during a period when their personal health and security

were at risk as well. They were the warriors who have created and carved

out this place for us.

Now as I look at the women in the House right here in B.C., on

both sides, we have a huge responsibility to make sure that we look at

the glass ceiling that still exists, look at the gender-based violence

that exists, look at equity issues, look at the need for more concerted

child care. We need to have more targeted resources to make sure that

our girls and young women can fulfil and live their dreams.

We all have an amazing opportunity, and I invite each and every

one of us on all sides of the House: let’s take a look through a woman’s

lens. Let’s see what we need to focus on, and let’s move forward. I’m a

mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother coming from five

generations of first-born women, and I can tell you that I want to leave

the world a place where my great-granddaughter can live her dreams

without anybody telling her she can’t do it because she is a

girl.

J. Sims moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. M. Farnworth moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

Mr. Speaker: The House stands adjourned until 1:30 this afternoon.

The House adjourned at 11:58 a.m.

Copyright © 2021 Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

The Official Report of Debates (Hansard) and webcasts of

chamber proceedings are available at www.leg.bc.ca .

For inquiries contact:

Hansard Services

612 Government Street

Victoria, BC V8V 1X4

Telephone: 250-387-3681

Email: hansardservices@leg.bc.ca

Published by Hansard Services under the authority

of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.