British Columbia Hansard — 8 April 2019, p.m., Issue 234 (41st Parliament, 4th Session)

20190408pm-Hansard-n234

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

Fourth Session, 41st Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES (HANSARD) Monday, April 8, 2019 Afternoon Sitting Issue No. 234 THE HONOURABLE DARRYL PLECAS, SPEAKER ISSN 1499-2175

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Her Honour the Honourable Janet Austin, OBC Fourth Session, 41st Parliament SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Darryl Plecas EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council ............................................................................................................... Hon. John Horgan Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance............................................................................................................................Hon.

Carole James Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training..................................................................................................... Hon. Melanie Mark Minister of Agriculture.........................................................................................................................................................Hon. Lana Popham Attorney General.................................................................................................................................................................Hon.

David Eby, QC Minister of Children and Family Development ............................................................................................................ Hon. Katrine Conroy Minister of State for Child Care...................................................................................................................................... Hon. Katrina Chen Minister of Citizens’ Services.................................................................................................................................................... Hon.

Jinny Sims Minister of Education ............................................................................................................................................................ Hon. Rob Fleming Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources ...............................................................................................Hon. Michelle Mungall Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy............................................................................................. Hon.

George Heyman Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development ..............................................Hon. Doug Donaldson Minister of Health .....................................................................................................................................................................Hon. Adrian Dix Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation ......................................................................................................... Hon.

Scott Fraser Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology............................................................................................................................ Hon. Bruce Ralston Minister of State for Trade...............................................................................................................................................Hon. George Chow Minister of Labour ...................................................................................................................................................................Hon.

Harry Bains Minister of Mental Health and Addictions............................................................................................................................ Hon. Judy Darcy Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.................................................................................................................. Hon. Selina Robinson Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General ........................................................................................................... Hon.

Mike Farnworth Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction..............................................................................................Hon. Shane Simpson Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture.....................................................................................................................................Hon. Lisa Beare Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure................................................................................................................ Hon.

Claire Trevena LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Leader of the Official Opposition................................................................................................................................Andrew Wilkinson, QC Leader of the Third Party ....................................................................................................................................................Dr. Andrew Weaver Deputy Speaker................................................................................................................................................................................

Raj Chouhan Assistant Deputy Speaker................................................................................................................................................................... Joan Isaacs Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole ................................................................................................................

Spencer Chandra Herbert Clerk of the Legislative Assembly ....................................................................................................................................................Craig James Acting Clerk of the Legislative Assembly...............................................................................................................................

Kate Ryan-Lloyd Clerk Assistant — Committees and Interparliamentary Relations ..........................................................................................Susan Sourial Sessional Law Clerk...............................................................................................................................................Loredana Catalli-Sonier, QC Parliamentary Counsel ...................................................................................................................................................................... S.

Suzie Seo Sergeant-at-Arms ................................................................................................................................................................................. Gary Lenz Acting Sergeant-at-Arms......................................................................................................................................... Randall Ennis, MMM, CD

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS Ashton, Dan (BC Liberal) ........................................................................ Penticton Bains, Hon. Harry (NDP)...............................................................Surrey-Newton Barnett, Donna (BC Liberal) ................................................... Cariboo-Chilcotin Beare, Hon. Lisa (NDP).............................................Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Begg, Garry (NDP) ..................................................................... Surrey-Guildford Bernier, Mike (BC Liberal) .......................................................

Peace River South Bond, Shirley (BC Liberal)......................................... Prince George–Valemount Brar, Jagrup (NDP)..................................................................... Surrey-Fleetwood Cadieux, Stephanie (BC Liberal)....................................................... Surrey South Chandra Herbert, Spencer (NDP) ..................................... Vancouver–West End Chen, Hon. Katrina (NDP).....................................................Burnaby-Lougheed Chouhan, Raj (NDP) ............................................................... Burnaby-Edmonds Chow, Hon.

George (NDP)............................................... Vancouver-Fraserview Clovechok, Doug (BC Liberal) ................................ Columbia River–Revelstoke Coleman, Rich (BC Liberal) ...............................................................Langley East Conroy, Hon. Katrine (NDP)......................................................... Kootenay West Darcy, Hon.

Judy (NDP) ............................................................New Westminster Davies, Dan (BC Liberal) ..........................................................Peace River North de Jong, Michael, QC (BC Liberal) ............................................ Abbotsford West Dean, Mitzi (NDP)...............................................................Esquimalt-Metchosin D’Eith, Bob (NDP) ...............................................................Maple Ridge–Mission Dix, Hon. Adrian (NDP)......................................................Vancouver-Kingsway Donaldson, Hon.

Doug (NDP).....................................................................Stikine Eby, Hon. David, QC (NDP)............................................. Vancouver–Point Grey Elmore, Mable (NDP)....................................................... Vancouver-Kensington Farnworth, Hon. Mike (NDP) ...................................................... Port Coquitlam Fleming, Hon. Rob (NDP) .....................................................Victoria–Swan Lake Foster, Eric (BC Liberal)........................................................... Vernon-Monashee Fraser, Hon.

Scott (NDP) ................................................ Mid Island–Pacific Rim Furstenau, Sonia (BC Green Party) ........................................... Cowichan Valley Gibson, Simon (BC Liberal) ................................................. Abbotsford-Mission Glumac, Rick (NDP)........................................................Port Moody–Coquitlam Heyman, Hon. George (NDP) .............................................. Vancouver-Fairview Horgan, Hon. John (NDP) ...............................................

Langford–Juan de Fuca Hunt, Marvin (BC Liberal) .......................................................Surrey-Cloverdale Isaacs, Joan (BC Liberal) .........................................Coquitlam–Burke Mountain James, Hon. Carole (NDP)...................................................Victoria–Beacon Hill Johal, Jas (BC Liberal)...............................................

Richmond-Queensborough Kahlon, Ravi (NDP)..............................................................................Delta North Kang, Anne (NDP)..................................................................Burnaby–Deer Lake Kyllo, Greg (BC Liberal)............................................................................ Shuswap Larson, Linda (BC Liberal) .............................................Boundary-Similkameen Lee, Michael (BC Liberal) ......................................................

Vancouver-Langara Leonard, Ronna-Rae (NDP) ....................................................Courtenay-Comox Letnick, Norm (BC Liberal)............................................Kelowna–Lake Country Ma, Bowinn (NDP) ................................................... North Vancouver–Lonsdale Malcolmson, Sheila (NDP) .......................................................................Nanaimo Mark, Hon. Melanie (NDP) ..................................... Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Martin, John (BC Liberal)......................................................................

Chilliwack Milobar, Peter (BC Liberal).................................... Kamloops–North Thompson Morris, Mike (BC Liberal) ..........................................Prince George–Mackenzie Mungall, Hon. Michelle (NDP).................................................... Nelson-Creston Oakes, Coralee (BC Liberal) ...........................................................Cariboo North Olsen, Adam (BC Green Party)........................... Saanich North and the Islands Paton, Ian (BC Liberal)......................................................................... Delta South Plecas, Hon.

Darryl (Ind.) ..........................................................Abbotsford South Polak, Mary (BC Liberal) ............................................................................ Langley Popham, Hon. Lana (NDP)..............................................................Saanich South Ralston, Hon. Bruce (NDP) .......................................................... Surrey-Whalley Redies, Tracy (BC Liberal) ..................................................... Surrey–White Rock Reid, Linda (BC Liberal) ................................................

Richmond South Centre Rice, Jennifer (NDP) ............................................................................ North Coast Robinson, Hon. Selina (NDP) ....................................... Coquitlam-Maillardville Ross, Ellis (BC Liberal)..................................................................................Skeena Routledge, Janet (NDP) .................................................................. Burnaby North Routley, Doug (NDP) ................................................Nanaimo–North Cowichan Rustad, John (BC Liberal) ..............................................................

Nechako Lakes Shypitka, Tom (BC Liberal) .............................................................Kootenay East Simons, Nicholas (NDP) ........................................Powell River–Sunshine Coast Simpson, Hon. Shane (NDP)................................................ Vancouver-Hastings Sims, Hon.

Jinny (NDP) .............................................................Surrey-Panorama Singh, Rachna (NDP) ........................................................Surrey–Green Timbers Stewart, Ben (BC Liberal) ................................................................Kelowna West Stilwell, Michelle (BC Liberal)..............................................Parksville-Qualicum Stone, Todd (BC Liberal)........................................

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

North Vancouver–Seymour Throness, Laurie (BC Liberal) ..................................................... Chilliwack-Kent Trevena, Hon. Claire (NDP) .............................................................. North Island Wat, Teresa (BC Liberal) ................................................Richmond North Centre Weaver, Dr. Andrew (BC Green Party) ......................... Oak Bay–Gordon Head Wilkinson, Andrew, QC (BC Liberal) .............................. Vancouver-Quilchena Y ap, John (BC Liberal)..........................................................

Richmond-Steveston LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING Abbotsford-Mission ..........................................................................Simon Gibson Abbotsford South ..................................................................... Hon. Darryl Plecas Abbotsford West .................................................................... Michael de Jong, QC Boundary-Similkameen.....................................................................

Linda Larson Burnaby–Deer Lake ...............................................................................Anne Kang Burnaby-Edmonds ..............................................................................Raj Chouhan Burnaby-Lougheed................................................................... Hon. Katrina Chen Burnaby North................................................................................

Janet Routledge Cariboo-Chilcotin ............................................................................Donna Barnett Cariboo North .................................................................................. Coralee Oakes Chilliwack.............................................................................................. John Martin Chilliwack-Kent..............................................................................Laurie Throness Columbia River–Revelstoke........................................................

Doug Clovechok Coquitlam–Burke Mountain................................................................. Joan Isaacs Coquitlam-Maillardville..................................................... Hon. Selina Robinson Courtenay-Comox ................................................................. Ronna-Rae Leonard Cowichan Valley ............................................................................

Sonia Furstenau Delta North ...........................................................................................Ravi Kahlon Delta South.................................................................................................Ian Paton Esquimalt-Metchosin.............................................................................Mitzi Dean Fraser-Nicola........................................................................................

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

Steve Thomson Kelowna West.........................................................................................Ben Stewart Kootenay East .....................................................................................Tom Shypitka Kootenay West ...................................................................... Hon. Katrine Conroy Langford–Juan de Fuca............................................................. Hon. John Horgan Langley....................................................................................................

Mary Polak Langley East .......................................................................................Rich Coleman Maple Ridge–Mission ............................................................................ Bob D’Eith Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows ..........................................................Hon. Lisa Beare Mid Island–Pacific Rim .............................................................. Hon. Scott Fraser Nanaimo ....................................................................................

Sheila Malcolmson Nanaimo–North Cowichan.............................................................. Doug Routley Nechako Lakes ...................................................................................... John Rustad Nelson-Creston.................................................................. Hon. Michelle Mungall New Westminster ......................................................................... Hon. Judy Darcy North Coast..........................................................................................

Jennifer Rice North Island ............................................................................ Hon. Claire Trevena North Vancouver–Lonsdale ................................................................. Bowinn Ma North Vancouver–Seymour ......................................................Jane Thornthwaite Oak Bay–Gordon Head ..........................................................Dr.

Andrew Weaver Parksville-Qualicum .....................................................................Michelle Stilwell Peace River North.................................................................................. Dan Davies Peace River South ............................................................................... Mike Bernier Penticton................................................................................................ Dan Ashton Port Coquitlam .................................................................... Hon.

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

Shirley Bond Richmond North Centre ........................................................................Teresa Wat Richmond-Queensborough .......................................................................Jas Johal Richmond South Centre........................................................................ Linda Reid Richmond-Steveston..................................................................................

John Y ap Saanich North and the Islands............................................................Adam Olsen Saanich South............................................................................Hon. Lana Popham Shuswap .................................................................................................... Greg Kyllo Skeena ......................................................................................................... Ellis Ross Stikine ..................................................................................Hon.

Doug Donaldson Surrey-Cloverdale............................................................................... Marvin Hunt Surrey-Fleetwood ...................................................................................Jagrup Brar Surrey–Green Timbers ......................................................................Rachna Singh Surrey-Guildford ....................................................................................Garry Begg Surrey-Newton.............................................................................Hon.

Harry Bains Surrey-Panorama........................................................................... Hon. Jinny Sims Surrey South............................................................................... Stephanie Cadieux Surrey-Whalley........................................................................ Hon. Bruce Ralston Surrey–White Rock ............................................................................. Tracy Redies Vancouver-Fairview ............................................................ Hon.

George Heyman Vancouver–False Creek....................................................................... Sam Sullivan Vancouver-Fraserview .............................................................Hon. George Chow Vancouver-Hastings .............................................................. Hon. Shane Simpson Vancouver-Kensington ..................................................................... Mable Elmore Vancouver-Kingsway ................................................................... Hon.

Adrian Dix Vancouver-Langara .............................................................................. Michael Lee Vancouver–Mount Pleasant ................................................... Hon. Melanie Mark Vancouver–Point Grey...........................................................Hon.

David Eby, QC Vancouver-Quilchena ......................................................Andrew Wilkinson, QC Vancouver–West End....................................................Spencer Chandra Herbert Vernon-Monashee...................................................................................Eric Foster Victoria–Beacon Hill ................................................................ Hon. Carole James Victoria–Swan Lake .................................................................. Hon. Rob Fleming West Vancouver–Capilano .................................................................

Ralph Sultan West Vancouver–Sea to Sky ..............................................................Jordan Sturdy Party Standings: BC Liberal 42; NDP 41; BC Green Party 3; Independent 1

CONTENTS Monday, April 8, 2019 Afternoon Sitting Page Routine Business Statements ................................................................................................................................................................................ 8213 Andy Calitz E.

Ross Introductions by Members..................................................................................................................................................... 8213 Tributes ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 8213 Joe Enook L.

Reid Introductions by Members..................................................................................................................................................... 8214 Tributes ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 8214 Nils Jensen A. Weaver Hon. R. Fleming M.

Stilwell Ministerial Statements ............................................................................................................................................................ 8215 Green Shirt Day and organ donor awareness Hon. K. Conroy G. Kyllo S.

Furstenau Introductions by Members..................................................................................................................................................... 8216 Statements (Standing Order 25B) ......................................................................................................................................... 8217 Early Childhood Educators of B.C. R. Singh Joanna Wardley and Heart of Richmond AIDS Society L. Reid Volunteer firefighters in Courtenay-Comox area R. Leonard Richmond Centre for Disability J. Y ap Emergency service dispatchers J.

Rice Contributions of volunteers C. Oakes Oral Questions......................................................................................................................................................................... 8219 Tax policies and gas prices A. Wilkinson Hon. J. Horgan P . Milobar Hon. G. Heyman Access to family physicians and physician payment models A. Olsen Hon. A. Dix Funding for community social services organizations and worker wages S. Bond Hon. S. Simpson J. Martin T. Stone

Orders of the Day Committee of Supply .............................................................................................................................................................. 8224 Estimates: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure(continued) J. Sturdy Hon. C. Trevena L. Throness S. Gibson I. Paton T. Redies J. Thornthwaite R. Sultan A.

Olsen Proceedings in the Douglas Fir Room Committee of Supply .............................................................................................................................................................. 8241 Estimates: Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology(continued) Hon. B. Ralston G. Kyllo J. Johal S. Bond D. Barnett

MONDAY , APRIL 8, 2019 The House met at 1:35 p.m. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Statements ANDY CALITZ E. Ross:I rise today to make an announcement. As chief councillor, the only times I’ d meet with LNG Canada CEO Andy Calitz were when something was going terribly great or something was going terribly wrong. We’ d always come up with a solution. That’s full credit to Andy Calitz. In 2016, two weeks before it was made public, Andy requested a private meeting with me, where he told me LNG Canada would not be taking their FID.

He knew how devastating this would be to my council and my com- munity, and he showed it by breaking down and crying right in front of me. He promised not to give up. He lived up to his word, and today B.C. is now celebrating its first major LNG export facility. Today LNG Canada announced the planned transition of the role of current CEO Andy Calitz to incoming CEO Peter Zebedee, effective July 1, 2019. Andy Calitz is a class act. He’s a gentleman. Would the House please join me in thanking Andy Calitz for his six years of hard work in bringing an LNG FID to B.C. Introductions by Members N.

Letnick:When we have a medical emergency, we call someone. We think it’s the ambulance, but actually before it gets to the ambulance, it gets to the ambulance dispatchers. This week we’re celebrating ambulance dispatchers week. I know I’ve used it — both sides, calling for them and being the recipient of their service. I’m sure everyone in this House has had an experience with ambulance dispatchers and the benefit that they give us. Would the House please make welcome all the ambulance dispatchers throughout British Columbia and those that are here in the precinct. Hon. J.

Sims: Today we are recognizing Green Shirt Day in honour of Logan Boulet, whose selfless choice to become an organ donor saved six lives. I would like to recognize several volunteers with B.C. Transplant who have personal experience with organ donation: Stephen Farmer, liver recip- ient; Glenda Beecham, liver recipient; Erika Cancluza, whose friend is a double-lung recipient; Lisa Mackey, heart recip- ient; Leanne Appleton, provincial executive director, B.C. Transplant. I would also like to recognize Natalie Williams, a liver transplant recipient who so eloquently spoke at our Service B.C.

Victoria office this morning about the generous gift of life she received. Natalie is living life to the fullest. She’s studying at Camosun College and aspires to be a nurse. She won three gold medals in the 2018 Canadian Transplant Games, in road biking and swimming. She’s a whitewater rafter and is training for a triathlon this summer. I would like to recognize all the amazing Service B.C. staff from across the province for their work in registering 85,000 people to become organ donors.

I encourage all those listening today and all those sitting in this House to follow in Logan’s footsteps and register to become an organ donor. May I ask all those here to make these folks most welcome. S. Furstenau:In the gallery today is Dr. Katie McIntyre and her parents, Tom and Annie, who are visiting from Ontario. Dr. McIntyre is a Victoria GP and a labour and delivery doctor. Could the House please make them feel wel- come and thank Dr. McIntyre for her service, especially to Victoria’s moms and babes. Hon. M.

Mark:In the gallery is my cousin David Busch; his partner, Sophie; and their ten-month-old baby, Layla. David is Nisga’a and Gitxsan on his mom’s side and German and Scottish on his dad’s side. He’s a graduate with a bachelor of arts in psychology from Vancouver Island University. He’s a part of the Indigenous youth internship program. We know that all members of this side of the chamber recognize the value and importance of the Indigenous youth internship program. I want to quote what he’ d like to do in the future.

David hopes to one day be in a position where he can have a pos- itive and long-lasting impact on the health and wellness of Indigenous people. Currently he’s doing his practicum with youth forensics with the Ministry of Children and Families. Would the House please join me in welcoming David and his family. [1:40 p.m.] Tributes JOE ENOOK L. Reid: Joe Enook, the Speaker of Nunavut’s Legislative Assembly and longtime MLA, has died at the age of 61. He became the MLA for Tununiq after winning a by-election in 2011, and he was re-elected twice.

He is remembered by his colleagues and friends for his dedication to putting the needs of his constituents above all else. I would ask the House to join with me in extending con- dolences to his friends and family. 8213

Introductions by Members Hon. J. Sims:I want to welcome to this House Alex Arnic- ans. I first met Alex when he was in high school, and he star- ted to come to my office as a volunteer. I was always amazed by his commitment and his work ethic and his passion for getting to know about public policy. He was volunteering with me, as I said, when I was a Member of Parliament.

What I always remember is, on a snow day, him getting to my office on his bike through the snow and then staying quite late, even though I kept telling him he could go — “No, no, ” he said, “I’ve got to stay till the end” — and then riding his bike home. He is now a student at the University of Victoria, where he is studying economics and public administration. Would the House please help me welcome Alex to the House today. D. Barnett:In the House today, I have two very wonderful people from the Cariboo, Pat and Lee Granberg.

They were here today, and we met with the Minister of Agriculture over some of the salmon issues. Hopefully, in the not-too-distant future, Pat and Lee, who have a great idea on how to save and rebuild our salmon stocks, will have their dream come to fruition. Please welcome Pat and Lee. J. Rice: This week is Emergency Service Dispatchers and 911 Awareness Week.

On behalf of the Minister of Health and myself, I’ d like to welcome Leslie White, director of strategic policy and planning for B.C. emergency health services; Brad Mitchell, director of emergency dispatch operations, B.C. emergency health services; Neil Lilley, senior provincial executive dir- ector of patient care, communications and planning from emergency health services; Scott Mackinnon, manager of Vancouver Island dispatch operations; charge dispatcher for Vancouver Island dispatch operations, Mark McArthur; and Meagan Hougard, Dustin Griffiths and Ellen Cheetley, all from B.C. emergency health services.

Would the House please make them feel welcome. S. Gibson: I know all MLAs are incredibly thankful for their constituency staff, our assistants who daily meet with residents and help them navigate through myriad govern- ment agencies and ministries. They organize our schedules and ably represent us when we’re here in Victoria doing the people’s business. Today it saddens me to announce the retirement of my constituency assistant, Jean Hooge, who has provided incredible service since the very beginning, in 2013.

Iron- ically, even though I had taught human resources manage- ment at the local university, I never interviewed her, never asked her for a resumé or a letter of application. I just knew she would be perfect for the job. Jean had retired from being a pastor at a large Abbotsford church, and this experience proved to be ideal for the challenges of serving as a constitu- ency assistant. Jean and her husband, Al, are here with us in the gallery today. Please welcome her and wish her well as she embarks on the next adventure of her life. I will miss her. A. Kang: I have a few friends in the gallery here today.

They are the Global Federation of Chinese Business Women Association of B.C. They’re actively involved in local charity activities and, most importantly, in supporting women in leadership positions and training young women to be in leadership positions. Today I would like to introduce, here with us, Jessica Chen, who is the president; Angel Lee, who is the recording secretary; as well as Amy Huang, Leslie Hsieh and Judy Liao, all three who are directors. Would the House please join me in welcoming my friends to the Legislature. Tributes NILS JENSEN A.

Weaver: I rise today profoundly saddened by the news of the passing of Nils Jensen on Sunday, April 7, after a short battle with cancer. Nils left us far too young at the age of 69 years. [1:45 p.m.] Nils made significant contributions to our community in so many ways. He served four terms on Oak Bay coun- cil, two of them as mayor. He was always driven by the best interests of his community and served us with dignity and commitment. I was honoured to have the opportunity to get to know Nils well over these past few years. I’ve always held him in high esteem.

I enjoyed his sense of humour and positive out- look on the world. I’ll sorely miss our annual lawn bowling challenge, which he beat me at year after year, as we opened Carnarvon Park’s Oak Bay Lawn Bowling Club. I’ll also miss handing out candy with him at the Oak Bay Tea Party, when every year we would run out, and we would have to borrow from him. Nils loved Oak Bay and brought great energy to his polit- ical and community life. He also worked on critical infra- structure projects for the region during his tenure as the chair of the capital regional district and head of the regional water supply commission.

Under his visionary leadership, the Sooke reservoir was raised. Nils understood that Victoria actually had a water availability crisis emerging and showed the leadership required to ensure fresh drinking water for the region was available for generations to come. Nils was highly educated, with degrees in mechanical engineering and law degrees from Osgoode Hall and the London School of Economics. Nils had a long and distin- guished career as a defence lawyer and Crown prosecutor for the province of British Columbia.

Nils leaves his wife, Jean, and two sons, Nicholas and 8214 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 8, 2019

Stewart. Our hearts go out to his family for the loss of their beloved husband and father. Our community has lost a great leader, one who has left us far too soon, and I have lost a close personal friend. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, April 11 at 2 p.m. at the Oak Bay High School community theatre for Nils Jensen. Hon. R.

Fleming:I’ d like to follow the member for Oak Bay–Gordon Head, on behalf of the government of British Columbia, to also ask members in the House today to join people in the capital regional district and around British Columbia in honouring the legacy of Nils Jensen a day after he passed — a brief but brave fight — from cancer. Many of us will know Nils Jensen, on all sides of this House, as the dedicated mayor of Oak Bay and a long- serving local government official here and as the chair of the capital regional district. Our thoughts, indeed, go out to his wife, Jean, and his sons, Stewart and Nicholas.

As was noted, Nils was a dedicated provincial servant, but he was also a man who was very committed to public service throughout his political career in this region. He was respec- ted by community members and politicians of all stripes. Nils was also very proud of his Danish heritage. He cited it as a source of, in his words, “genetic pragmatism, ” in terms of his leadership style and his civic-mindedness. He actually arrived in Canada at the age of seven speaking no English at all — only knowing Danish. Obviously, he left a deep legacy in his community and was very, very successful throughout his life.

He knew his com- munity well, in large part because he knocked on every door in Oak Bay. Literally, every person that moved into Oak Bay was visited by the mayor with a personal welcome package to his municipality. He was a humble guy. He was humorous. He was a happy person. He was very down-to-earth. That’s all the more remarkable given how incredibly accomplished he was. He did hold a significant amount of higher education, as was noted — an engineering degree and law degrees from Osgoode Hall and the London School of Economics.

He served his province as a defence lawyer and Crown prosec- utor, and for many, many years, he taught law at the Uni- versity of Victoria. Nils was very, very proud of Oak Bay’s parks and recre- ation opportunities. He made sure that the new high school in Oak Bay was the community hub in that neighbourhood for kids and adults of all ages. It seems unthinkable that just a year ago, around this time of year, the member for Oak Bay–Gordon Head and I were opening yet another season of Carnarvon Park Little League, and he was throwing out the first pitch there.

He will certainly be missed on those kinds of occasions throughout his community. Indeed, I think it’s worth repeating again that among his many legacies in Oak Bay and in this region, one of the things he was able to solve was, indeed, getting around a pro- tracted debate around raising the Sooke reservoir. He has literally ensured, through his leadership, that for 50 to 100 years from now a clean drinking water supply is secured and protected in a watershed here that we own, in public hands. I think Nils should also be congratulated.

I know he worked with the previous government and the federal gov- ernment to make sure that the practice of dumping billions of litres of untreated sewage into our ocean each and every day has been addressed. If it were not for his leadership, I don’t think we could say that today. [1:50 p.m.] Again, on behalf of all members of the House and the province of British Columbia, I would ask members to spare a thought for the contributions of Nils Jensen and send our condolences to his family. M.

Stilwell:I’ d like to take this time to mirror the com- ments from both the member for Oak Bay–Gordon Head as well as the Minister of Education. It’s with great sadness that we say goodbye to Nils Jensen, a man who, amongst many things, left a very permanent mark here in the southern end of Vancouver Island. Nils was one of those local politicians who just got it. He understood how his actions could create a better com- munity.

His career, from 22 years on the Oak Bay city coun- cil, to the mayor for eight years, to being the former chair- man of the greater Victoria school board and his involve- ment as the chair of the capital regional district allowed him to create those changes for his communities. He oversaw countless decisions that have made Oak Bay and Victoria such a thriving and beautiful space to live, work and play in. His love of community was absolutely visible in the direction of his work. Nils was a staunch advocate for his community. He was easy to talk to. He was always open for interviews.

He was warm and welcoming — truly a soul that will be missed. I know personally, when I was first elected, he was some- body who reached out to me and always checked in on me and made sure he took the time to connect and see how I was doing. It’s something I’ll truly miss. So it is with great admiration, sadness and the utmost respect that we say goodbye to one of Vancouver Island’s greatest politicians. Ministerial Statements GREEN SHIRT DAY AND ORGAN DONOR AW ARENESS Hon. K.

Conroy: Y esterday, April 7, had been declared Green Shirt Day in honour of the Logan Boulet effect in sup- port of organ donor awareness and registration right across Canada. On April 6, last year, Canadians were heartbroken to hear the news of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash. Of the 29 passengers, 16 lost their lives, and 13 will all bear physical and emotional scars for their lives. The day after the crash, Monday, April 8, 2019 British Columbia Debates 8215

on April 7, Humboldt Broncos defenseman Logan Boulet died of his injuries. His parents, Bernadine and Toby Boulet, in this time of such personal tragedy, thought of others and donated his organs so that six lives could live on. They did this because Logan had told his parents he had registered to be an organ donor and that he was inspired by his coach and mentor, Ric Suggitt. Ric had died in 2017 and was also an organ donor. What happened following this selfless act of the Boulet family is nothing less than miraculous and became known across Canada as the Logan Boulet effect.

As news spread of the organ donation by this young hockey player, over 100,000 people registered to become organ donors in the days and weeks that followed. To date, this is the largest number of Canadians registered to become organ donors in Canadian history due to one event, one person. Green Shirt Day hopes to honour, remember and rec- ognize all the victims and families of that fatal crash and to continue Logan’s legacy by inspiring Canadians to talk to their families and register as organ donors.

In Canada, almost 90 percent of Canadians say they support organ donation, but only 23 percent have registered their intent to donate. Currently there are 680 people in B.C. alone waiting for a life-saving transplant. If you aren’t a registered donor, it’s a very simple pro- cedure to do. Just go to the B.C. Transplant website, click “Register to donate, ” enter your personal health number, and you can find out if you’re already registered or not or if you need to be. Be sure to tell your family of your wishes.

Y ou can also go to any Service B.C. office in the province and sign up in person, a simple procedure that can save so many lives and a wonderful way to honour Logan Boulet’s legacy and all those who lost their lives in that tragic accident. G. Kyllo:This weekend the entire nation marked the one- year anniversary of the tragic Humboldt Broncos bus crash. Sixteen people, many of them young hockey players with bright futures ahead of them, died in that collision, and 13 others were injured. The incident not only shook the town of Humboldt, Saskatchewan. It touched each and every one of us all across Canada.

From those horrific circumstances came one bright light, one individual. His name: Logan Boulet. At the young age of 21, Logan had already registered himself as an organ donor. That selfless act meant that in his untimely death on that tra- gic day, he gave the gift of life to six others. [1:55 p.m.] What happened next has become known as the Logan Boulet effect. As news spread about Logan’s heroic organ donation, more than 100,000 people registered their decision to become organ donors in the days and weeks that followed.

To date, this remains the single largest number of Canadians registering to become organ donors in Canadian history due to a single event. One person: Logan Boulet. That is why people across Canada have recognized and taken

part in Green Shirt Day. It not only acknowledges the victims of this terrible crash and the families who continue to grieve and struggle today, but it also inspires people across the country to discuss this important issue of organ donation with their families and to register as organ donors. Anyone may register, regardless of their medical condi- tion or age. I encourage all members of this House and all British Columbians to take action and to register with B.C. Transplant at register.transplant.bc.ca. On this inaugur- al Green Shirt Day, on behalf of the B.C.

Liberal caucus, we send our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the vic- tims, the families and the communities of Humboldt. S. Furstenau:I rise to echo the statements of the Minister of Children and Family Development and the member for Shuswap. One of the most heartwarming parts of the human con- dition is that even in the tragedy of death, there can be the opportunity for life. In these times of tragedy, as we saw a year ago in Humboldt, we can find solace in selflessness.

We can know that when death knocks on the door, expected or not, we can serve someone in need with the most valuable gift someone could ever give, which is life. Y esterday was Green Shirt Day. It is a day in honour of Logan Boulet, aimed at inspiring Canadians to register as organ donors. Logan was a Humboldt Bronco who passed away after the fatal crash in 2018. His decision to become an organ donor saved six lives, and he also inspired hundreds of thousands of others to sign up as donors.

Indeed, yester- day morning, upon hearing the reflections on CBC about Green Shirt Day, my husband and I both went on line and registered ourselves as donors. British Columbians have the highest rate of participation for organ donation in the country. Over 1.4 million people in B.C. are registered as organ donors. Despite this fact, 29 people died in 2017 while waiting for a transplant in B.C. One organ donor can save up to eight lives. This means that from one death, eight lives can continue.

Anyone, regardless of gender, religion, age or medical history, can register, and — I can attest to it — it takes less than two minutes. I encourage everyone on this day to register for organ donation in memory of the lives lost in Humboldt. J. Brar:I seek leave to make an introduction. Mr. Speaker:Proceed. Introductions by Members J. Brar:I’m very pleased to welcome the students from one of the best schools in Surrey. The name of the school is Cornerstone Montessori School. Visiting us today are 25 grade 4 students accompanied by nine teachers and parents.

We also have a second group coming: 22 grade 7 students accompanied by eight teachers and the parents. The trip is organized by Jenny Petropoulous. I would like to ask the House to please make them feel welcome. 8216 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 8, 2019

Statements (Standing Order 25B) EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS OF B.C. R. Singh: Today I stand in the House to congratulate an organization on their 50th anniversary, an organization which is working tirelessly to achieve their original vision of giving a voice to the people who care for B.C. children and pushing for our child care professionals to receive the recognition they deserve for the valuable work they do. I am talking about the Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia.

Since being founded in 1969 as the British Columbia Preschool Teachers Association, when a group of preschool teachers and child care professionals came together to build supports for the sector, early childhood educators have become the heart of B.C. ’s child care system. The organiza- tion has grown its membership from just over 100 in its first year to more than 1,000 now. Hannah Polowy, the second president of the Early Child- hood Educators of B.C., said that the people that work with young children are teaching every minute they are with chil- dren.

Whether it’s helping children to develop their language skills, encouraging them to learn through play or introdu- cing young minds to the wonder of nature, ECEs play a vital role in nurturing our future generations, inspiring them to dream big and make a mark on the world. [2:00 p.m.] We acknowledge and are grateful for the incredible sup- port that the organization provides to the ECEs. Their sup- port helps their members give their very best to B.C. chil- dren and raise this province as an example of delivery and support of quality child care.

Many jurisdictions are looking closely at what we are doing here in B.C. within the realm of child care. I ask all present to join me in celebrating the immense work that Early Childhood Educators of B.C. does and to congratulate them on their 50th anniversary. JOANNA W ARDLEY AND HEART OF RICHMOND AIDS SOCIETY L. Reid: Joanna Wardley, founder of the Heart of Rich- mond AIDS Society, has passed away at the age of 80. Ward- ley’s experience caring for her son Steve, who died from AIDS in 1991, led her to vow that she would do something about AIDS when she retired.

True to her word, Wardley retired early and went on to found the Heart of Richmond in 1997, which supports those living with HIV and AIDS. She and her husband, Brian Wardley, were also instru- mental in establishing the Gilwest Clinic in Richmond Hos- pital, which provides testing, treatment and counselling. When it opened in 1999, it meant patients who may have been in poor health no longer had to travel to Vancouver. Richmond News, back in the day, interviewed Joanna Wardley.

She said: “Thank heavens for family and friends, because there were absolutely no services in Richmond at that time. ” That’s why this couple formed a group to share information, support each other and liaise with health agencies in Richmond to improve awareness. That was in the year 1997. Brian said he’s proud of the work that Heart of Richmond AIDS Society and the Gilwest Clinic do for the community, and he’s glad the advancement in treat- ment is carrying on. Following Joanna’s death earlier this month, people have reached out to Brian, expressing their condolences and say- ing what Joanna meant to them.

One woman who works at Richmond Hospital said she credits Brian and Joanna with changing attitudes in Richmond. Another recalled how she laughed and cried together with Joanna many, many times. Simply said, she was very friendly and willing to help. Joanna was diagnosed with ovarian cancer two years ago and died on March 11 of this year. A celebration of life was held in March, and I was honoured to be in attendance. She was a Richmond treasure. Rest in peace, my friend. VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS IN COURTENAY-COMOX AREA R.

Leonard:A rash of fires in Courtenay recently des- troyed or severely damaged a number of businesses and homes and a hostel. And a man was discovered in the Cour- tenay River last month, reminding us of another tragedy at the same place a few years ago, when a mother drowned, but whose baby was rescued by Courtenay’s firefighters. Courtenay, Comox and Oyster River fire departments operate with large crews of volunteer firefighters, displaying an incredible community pride and saving communities three times the cost of a paid fire department. Most fire departments in B.C. are volunteer-based.

In some cases, they’re paid on call or when they are called out. In one recent fire, 22 Courtenay volunteers arrived on scene in just seven minutes. They receive professional train- ing, and today more firefighters are staying, as many jobs that keep them in the Comox Valley allow them to continue to be firefighters there. Lane MacDonald sets a high bar, though, with 55 years of volunteer service. Recruitment is a little harder in bedroom communities because of the need for timely responses.

A regional FireFit competition hosted by Courtenay on May 11 will see volunteers from all walks of life, including 20 percent women on Courtenay’s team, vying to be the fast- est, strongest and best. Full-service training makes for safe volunteers who are effective in fighting outdoor fires as well as structural fires. Comox is training up larger numbers to fight wildfires, as the past unusually dry months reveal that even the Wet Coast is at greater risk. There is another safety factor. Courtenay’s fire chief recog- nizes firsthand the value of the presumption of PTSD for first responders.

Today both he, with his support dog Gunny, and his crew are more open in dealing with their own trauma. Monday, April 8, 2019 British Columbia Debates 8217

Next time you see a firefighter, please say thank you. [2:05 p.m.] RICHMOND CENTRE FOR DISABILITY J. Y ap:On March 22, I had the privilege of attending the Richmond Centre for Disability’s, RCD’s, launch event for their supercyber project. This event was held in the centre’s new location at Lansdowne mall, which has been the home for RCD since January of this year. Moving to Lansdowne was the result of the joint efforts of members, volunteers, donors and community partners. I want to thank all of them for their support in providing such consistent and stable services in Richmond.

One of the innovative uses of this new space is the Super- cyber Room, where supercomputers and assistive techno- logies are showcased. The programs offered by RCD are important steps in the centre’s efforts to help people with dis- abilities gain valuable skills, learn college-level credit courses and help create jobs and other social benefits for the vulner- able population. Supercyber is just one of the services that RCD offers.

The centre also provides other services, including workshops on English language, financial literacy and public speaking, which allow people with disabilities to further participate in our community. The friendly environment, life skills train- ing and recreational activities provided by the centre have created opportunities to help people and families in need. There is much more we can do to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development. To help them meet their goals and reach their full potential, RCD has a great record of doing more.

I ask that this House join me in thanking the chair of RCD, Alan Hill; executive director, Ella Huang; and the team at Richmond Centre for Disability for all their great work in providing important services for some of Richmond’s most vulnerable community members and making Richmond an inclusive place to live in. EMERGENCY SERVICE DISPATCHERS J. Rice: This week we celebrate Emergency Service Dis- patchers and 911 Awareness Week in British Columbia.

We are recognizing the vital role B.C. emergency health services call takers and dispatchers play in providing interfacility and emergency medical care to British Columbians. B.C. emergency health services, emergency medical dis- patchers and call takers are knowledgable and highly trained. They work closely with partner agencies such as police, fire, search and rescue and Coast Guard. They ensure that British Columbians have access to timely and effective emergency health care.

Working in three dispatch centres in B.C. — Victoria, Vancouver and Kamloops — they also work closely with B.C. patient transfer services to coordinate all interagency patient transfers throughout the province. Call takers and dispatchers at three centres receive an average of 1,700 requests for emergency response every day. That’s a medical call nearly every minute of every day in B.C. The B.C. emergency health services, emergency medical dis- patchers and call takers have my, and government’s, utmost respect and admiration.

Working behind the scenes 24-7, 365 days a year, they are on the front lines of emergency health care and are the first point of contact for people in a time of crisis, yet they are often overlooked in the media and in the public eye. Emergency medical dispatchers and call takers work under extreme amounts of pressure. They must quickly decode information provided by often highly emotional and distressed callers, determine the patient’s level of illness or injury and make rapid-fire decisions in order to send the appropriate level of medical response.

They are the calm, reassuring voice on the line when a frantic parent’s six- month-old infant has stopped breathing, a bystander has witnessed a terrible car crash or a loved one has overdosed. They guide callers through performing CPR, relieving air- way obstructions and delivering babies. They help to save lives, and we are grateful for them. CONTRIBUTIONS OF VOLUNTEERS C. Oakes:It is with a great deal of enthusiasm that I rise in the House today to speak to the incredible work that volunteers do in this province.

There are 1.5 million volun- teers in British Columbia who devote 114 million hours a year, making a difference in their communities both loc- ally and broadly. April 7 to 13 marks National Volunteer Week. This week is an opportunity to recognize the selfless and generous con- tributions made by British Columbians through voluntary work. The theme this year is “The volunteer factor — lifting communities. ” [2:10 p.m.] In my eyes, the volunteer factor is the dedication that so many British Columbians demonstrate to causes that are so important to them, without any expectation of recog- nition or compensation.

I would also like to express my particular admiration for the vitally important work done by volunteer fire departments and first responders. Their tireless efforts in responding to fires, fire prevention, train- ing, education and FireSmart in communities across this province are invaluable. Forest fire season is already underway. In my riding, over this past weekend, we have already experienced several fires. Thank you to the firefighters for your response.

For our search and rescue volunteers, it is having that local volunteer you know and you trust answering the call and supporting you at a very difficult time. This week I encourage all British Columbians to thank the volunteers in their communities. Their altruistic spirit and passion are certainly lifting our communities and leav- ing this world a much better place. 8218 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 8, 2019

Oral Questions TAX POLICIES AND GAS PRICES A. Wilkinson:Of course, we now know that British Col- umbia has the distinction of having the highest gasoline prices in North America. This Premier has the dubious dis- tinction of presiding over the highest gasoline taxes in North America. Last Thursday the Premier was very generous. He said to British Columbians: “We’re going to monitor it and make sure. If we’re in a position to provide relief, we’ll do that. We’ll see how it goes through the summer. ” Prices are now at record highs yet again today.

Thirty-five cents a litre of that price comes straight out of the provincial government. Of course, the Premier can, with a flick of a wrist, change this. All he needs to do is sign a document. The obvious question. He’s promised relief six months from now. What will be the trigger price to generate some relief for British Columbians? How high does it have to go, Premier, before you act? Hon. J. Horgan:It’s great to have a question from the leader of the market forces party about market forces. As the member will know…. I could read out the quotes back to him, but he knows. He’s said it.

It’s part of his value base that the market is independent. It’s invisible with a hand that moves it around in the best interest of people, until today. Here we now have the member who raised taxes by 15 cents on the travelling public saying to the leader of the party who just raised it by a penny last week that somehow it’s our responsibility over here to take action. We will take action should the gouging persist through the summer. Interjections. Hon. J. Horgan:Again, do you want an answer, or do you just want to dial it up to Spinal Tap at 11, like you did last week and the week before that?

I said last week that we would monitor gas prices through the summer. If they continue to be well above the correlation between the price of a barrel of crude and the refining mar- gins that are completely out of whack, we’ll see what we can do to address that for the travelling public. In the meantime, we’re building transit. We’re putting people out of their cars into public transit so they can move around and save money and do what’s right for cli- mate action. Mr. Speaker:The Leader of the Official Opposition on a supplemental. A.

Wilkinson: Now we see the Premier dodging and weaving because he’s decided that, once again, the petro- leum companies are gouging,

whereas last week he said that there’ve been numerous studies done on price-fixing or gouging and there’s been no evidence of that, according to the Premier. Premier, 35 cents in every litre goes straight into your Fin- ance Minister’s pocket. Y ou have the choice of when to cap the price. Why don’t you tell British Columbians at what price you’ll actually cap the taxes and provide some relief?

Stop playing this game of flipping around, saying which pet- roleum company is gouging and then changing your mind, saying: “Just kidding. ” How high does the price have to go, Premier, before you give us a break? [2:15 p.m.] Hon. J. Horgan:It is getting into the Easter season, so conversions on the road to Damascus will be more common as we go by. Last week we heard from the Liberal opposition that they cared about the social service sector for the first time in a decade and a half.

Now the party of market forces is saying that market forces should be disregarded and that we should take action on the taxes that they raised over 15 years in government. What I said, and I’ll say it again for the member’s clarity…. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members, we shall hear the response. Hon. J. Horgan:On April 1, gas taxes in British Columbia rose one penny. Two days later prices at the pump went up 12 cents. I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist or a B.C. Lib- eral to figure out it’s not taxes. It’s money going to refining capacity elsewhere. Mr.

Speaker:The Leader of the Official Opposition on a second supplemental. A. Wilkinson:Well, the Premier’s crusade against reality continues. The price is up, Premier. Y ou’ve said you’ll give relief. When will you give relief? Let’s keep it in focus here. The Premier’s own staff, in sworn evidence before the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench, say all other sources of refined fuels available to British Col- umbia are more expensive than shipments through the Trans Mountain pipeline — the same pipeline the Premier wants to obstruct.

Five million British Columbians waiting for fuel deliveries, and where does half the crude go to? It goes to his buddy in Washington state for refining. Premier, we know you’re eager to get on your feet and explain why you send our crude to Washington state instead of refining it here. We know you’re eager to explain why you’re jacking up prices by keeping their taxes high. We know you’re keen to explain why the taxes are going up again on July 1 for the transit tax. Premier, maybe just one simple answer to all these ques- tions. What’s the dollar figure on gasoline where you’ll finally provide some relief?

Monday, April 8, 2019 British Columbia Debates 8219

Hon. J. Horgan:This must be the member for Richmond- Queensborough’s solution. Jam 47 questions together, chuck it at the wall, and maybe, just maybe, someone will pay atten- tion to what we’re saying over here. Maybe. I’ll say to the member again…. And again, although I’m surprised — a member of the bar and an Attorney General for a week and a half — that he would read selectively from judgments or rulings or submissions in courts outside of British Columbia…. Let’s go back to the reality that the member talked about. B.C. Liberals increased gas taxes by 15 cents a litre. New Democrats… Interjections. Mr.

Speaker:Members. Hon. J. Horgan:…raised gas taxes by two cents a litre, and we’re driving every single incremental penny from that into transit for people in British Columbia. What did they do? When they were in power, they said: “Maybe we will have transit, if the people in the region vote in favour of it. ” So what did we get for five years? No transit. We changed that. One penny is going directly into SkyTrain…. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Hon. J. Horgan:It’s going directly into buses. It’s going directly into the people of British Columbia’s transporta- tion needs. Mr.

Speaker:The member for Kamloops–North Thomp- son. Member, I should remind you that if you’re not going to be listening to the response to the question, you will not be allowed a supplemental. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Well, you’re not listening. Member, proceed. P . Milobar:So you’ d like me to proceed, then? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

With the confusion of the variety of answers coming today, I’m sure if we give it to the end of the week, we’ll somehow have the government mixing up fuel types and reasons for the increased costs, and it will be because it’s very expensive to drill 300 kilometres under the surface to get the oil. [2:20 p.m.] Let’s get this straight, though. In one breath, this Premier promises, in his own words, to provide relief — the Premier’s own words. Then he says, “We’ll see how it goes through the summer, ” knowing full well that he’s going to increase gas taxes again on July 1 for a large portion of the province.

Again, with this unbelievable hypocrisy coming from the Premier, when will he give a straight answer? He con- trols, directly, 35 cents a litre. When is he going to do something about it? Hon. G. Heyman:I’m pleased to see the member opposite is wearing a green shirt today, but unfortunately, listening to him, it’s clear that’s about as close as we can expect the mem- ber to get to taking anything resembling climate action for British Columbia. Our government understands and appreciates the deep frustrations people feel when they see gas prices shooting up, even while the price of oil stays flat.

We appreciate the frus- tration British Columbians feel because we share it, when we add one penny of carbon tax to the price of gas and the price of gas shoots up by five to ten cents. The explanation for that should be obvious to the mem- bers opposite, but perhaps it isn’t. What should be obvious is that Navius Research conducted a study, and they found that since 2008 the margins for refineries in British Col- umbia doubled, between 2008 and 2015, to the point where they were almost double the margins in the rest of Canada.

But that shouldn’t be a surprise to the members opposite, because Navius first reported that to the former government in 2015. I didn’t see them talking about margins or cost to con- sumers then, and I don’t hear them, really, talking about them now. Mr. Speaker:The member for Kamloops–North Thomp- son on a supplemental. P . Milobar:Let’s be really clear, though. B.C. has the highest gas prices in North America. B.C. today has the highest gas taxes in North America, and this government directly controls those gas taxes. This Premier won’t do any- thing about that, apparently.

All the way one year ago — one whole year ago, such a long time ago — this is what the Premier had to say. “We are monitoring gas prices, and we will take steps if necessary. ” Now, I know that might sound a little familiar to what was just said a few days ago, because one year later the Premier said pretty much the same thing. Now the Premier says: “The answer remains the same. We’re monitoring this. ” This hypocrisy is a complete joke. When will the Premier do something about it other than just monitoring gas prices? Hon. J. Horgan:I remember just a year ago, they were still on that side of the House.

Here it is, a year later, and they’re still on that side of the House. Their lack of sincerity on this issue has remained the same as well. I think that at some point in their time on that side of the House, they need to come to terms with the fact that they disregarded the public. 8220 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 8, 2019

They didn’t take evidence. They didn’t take action when they had an opportunity. Interjection. Mr. Speaker:Members. Hon. J. Horgan:Only now that they have the luxury of sitting in opposition do they care about the issues that they ignored for 15 years. We’ve been working very hard to make life more afford- able for British Columbians, like doing away with the unfair tolls that they put in place for people that live in one part of British Columbia, like eliminating medical services premiums that they doubled while they were on watch over here.

I appreciate it’s difficult work being in opposition, but con- sistency is not one of their problems. ACCESS TO FAMILY PHYSICIANS AND PHYSICIAN PAYMENT MODELS A. Olsen:At some point, I guess we’ll get back to address- ing global warming. As I’ve shared with the minister, I’ve been receiving a con- stant flow of advocacy from my constituents about the very real cost the crisis in primary care delivery is having on their health and well-being. There are between 10,000 to 14,000 people currently unattached to a primary care provider on the Saanich Peninsula.

In other words, about 30 percent of my constituents on the peninsula don’t have a family doctor. [2:25 p.m.] While the doctor shortage is a crisis in my riding, there is another problem lurking just under the surface. We know that 40 percent of the physicians in B.C. are over the age of 55, with the average age of retirement being 65. So this has the potential to get much worse. ACHEK News story last week highlighted that the Y ates Integrated Health Clinic, which services almost all of downtown, is expected to close this summer — thousands more without a family doctor.

In the end, government policy incentivizes doctors away from family practice. My question is to the Minister of Health. We need to change the incentives to make becoming a family doctor more appealing. What is the minister doing to address this challenge? Hon. A. Dix:Thank you to the member for his question. The member will know that when I became Minister of Health, about 18 percent of British Columbians were without a family practice doctor or nurse practitioner. The member is correct that many doctors are also preparing to retire.

In British Columbia, we’re 12th of 13 Canadian juris- dictions in the use of nurse practitioners. So what have we done? Working with divisions of family practice across British Columbia, the Premier and I announced a primary care plan that I think starts to address this situation. We’re establishing primary care networks around British Columbia, which, working with divisions of family practice, will establish team-based care across the province and improve services for people, who are in our mind’s eye. We’re establishing urgent primary care centres — seven so far, with more to come.

We’re establishing and sup- porting new community health centres, including many in the member’s constituency, who we’re supporting right now with direct supports. To support all of those initiat- ives, we’ll be hiring 200 new family practice doctors, 200 new nurse practitioners and 50 new clinical pharmacists to support these networks. In direct response to the exact question the member raises, they will be paid by alternate payment methods. And 85 percent of resident doctors in a recent survey in B.C., from UBC, said they wanted to see alternate payment meth- ods in primary care.

In direct response to that, all 200 pos- itions will have alternate pay methods, which we hope will support family practice medicine in the future. Mr. Speaker:Saanich North and the Islands on a supple- mental. A. Olsen:I’ d like to thank the minister for taking the time with me last week to discuss the issue on the Saanich Penin- sula and to canvass as many issues as you can on health care in a very short period of time. I’m glad that the minister raises the issue around the 200 salaried doctors and nurse practitioners.

I think how family practice doctors are remunerated — in fact, how many health care practitioners are remunerated — is an important part of solving this issue. Last week I asked about an issue in the social care sector where you have two different payment standards for people doing essentially the same work.

To the point of the alternative payment program, I’ d like to get the minister’s response to whether or not he feels that the APP system and doctors getting paid under that model working alongside doctors that are in fee-for-service is also creating the same effect — it’s about the question that I asked last week — and if he’s going to include family practitioners already practising under the APP model. Hon. A. Dix: I think there’s some good news, although I think these are significant challenges.

I think many British Columbians who are in need of family practice doctors — many British Columbians, many women who are seeking support in pre- and post-natal care, many frail seniors, many people addressing mental health and addictions — under- stand the real vulnerability of not having a family practice doctor or nurse practitioner. There is some good news. In terms of the 200 family practice doctors and 200 nurse practitioners, we’ve had 727 expressions of interest so far.

We’re established and have signed with local divisions of family practice — in other words, local divisions of family doctors — 18 primary care Monday, April 8, 2019 British Columbia Debates 8221

networks already, seven new urgent primary care centres, three new community health centres. We’re working hard in the member’s constituency to establish one there. [2:30 p.m.] The thing we have to do, in cooperation, I think, with divi- sions of family practice, with communities, with nurse prac- titioners, with other health professionals and with skilled health workers, is work together to solve this problem. We’re doing that step by step, community by community. I’m very optimistic and proud of the progress made so far, but we’ve got a lot more work to do.

FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY SOCIAL SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS AND WORKER W AGES S. Bond: Last week the Premier said: “Whether it be low- wage redress, whether it be equal pay for equal work, those issues are alive to me. ” Let’s be clear. The responsibility for this discriminatory low-wage redress policy rests squarely with the Premier. He has a chance today, since he has confirmed he is “alive” to the issue. He can stand up and direct his minis- ters to fix this mess.

Will the Premier end the discrimin- atory policy and ensure that non-union workers working right alongside union workers get the same wage for doing exactly the same work? Hon. S. Simpson:The member will know this. Demands in the service-provision sector, the non-profit service pro- viders, continue to grow. They grew over the years of the pre- vious government, and they continue to grow. We have thou- sands of contracts and agencies. We have tens of thousands of workers in that sector who are delivering essential services across the sector. Unfortunately, they have received little attention.

That’s what we inherited. That’s what we inherited in July of 2017. That attention…. It’s on financial matters. It’s on matters of governance. It’s in an array of areas. We are working with that sector. We are working closely with them. We’ve been working with them since 2017. We will continue to work with them to address an array of issues and begin to address the questions around certainty, sustain- ability, efficiency and effectiveness for that sector as we work collaboratively to meet the needs of the people who they serve and who the government serves. Mr.

Speaker:The member for Prince George–Valemount on a supplemental. S. Bond: For four days now, this minister has said the same thing. There is absolutely nothing he can say that legitimizes paying one group of workers less for the same kind of work — nothing. It is the Premier who is denying equal pay for equal work through this discriminatory low- wage redress policy. Let’s hear the words of Karyn Santiago with Communitas Supportive Care Society.

She calls the Premier’s decision “ideologically driven, putting politics before people and inconsistent with the platform that this provincial govern- ment campaigned on. ” Well, apparently the Premier broke yet another promise that he campaigned on. It’s time for him to do the right thing. Again, to the Premier, will he stand up today and end a discriminatory policy that sees one group of workers getting a lower raise than another group of workers doing exactly the same job? Hon. S. Simpson: Let’s remember: the other side is the side that tore up collective agreements.

The other side is the side that, in fact, allowed contracts to be ripped up, that diminished the value of workers in community health. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members, we shall hear the response. Thank you. Hon. S. Simpson: The litany of unfair treatment of the service providers by that side is 16 years long. It’s 16 years long. Interjections. Hon. S. Simpson:If I sat on that side, I’ d be wanting to say “never mind the last 16 years” too. The issue is this…. Interjections. [2:35 p.m.] Mr. Speaker:Members. Hon. S. Simpson: I have answered last week, and I will answer the same way this week.

The important question here is building a system that works for non-profit contract ser- vice providers. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Hon. S. Simpson:Building a system that engages them in discussion about how we move forward and making that sys- tem work, first and foremost, for the thousands and thou- sands of people who receive services from those organiza- tions, receive services from government. We are committed to that. We are doing that work. And we’ll continue to do it regardless of the failing efforts of political opportunism on the other side. J. Martin:Y ou know, hon.

Speaker, when our former col- 8222 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 8, 2019

league and good friend, our brother Bill Routley, retired, a lot of us were wondering who was going to step up and ascend to the chair of bullhorn-in-residence, but I think maybe that question has been answered. Still, it’s quite amusing, from my vantage point, watching the minister channel his inner George Orwell. All workers are equal, but some workers are more equal than others. Here’s the situation. Non-unionized workers are excluded from public projects. Now we have farmers not even being considered persons on their own property, and we can add workers and non-union agencies to the list of non-persons.

What we have is blatant discrimination. Unlike a lot of the files on the Premier’s desk, this one’s an easy fix. End the dis- crimination today. Hon. S. Simpson:I think I should take that as a compli- ment, comparing me to Bill Routley. But I’ d have to say to the member over there, for his comment, that the volume goes up to get over the din of caterwauling and that from the other side. Getting back to the question, though, this is about build- ing this sector. It is thousands of contracts that are held. It’s contracts to deliver services for people who are in need, a whole array of need.

It’s about making those contracts work. It’s about making them efficient, effective and sustainable. That’s the work we’re doing. We’re doing it in collaboration with the sector. We’re not delivering ultimatums and telling them what to do. We’re delivering it in collaboration. We will continue to do that. We will build the strongest sector we can build. I look forward to that work for many years to come on this side of the House. Mr. Speaker:The member for Chilliwack on a supple- mental. J.

Martin:We’re already experiencing a disgraceful situ- ation where you can’t work on a public project unless you join one of the 19 approved NDP unions. Now we have a situation in the public sector where social service workers are being denied equal pay for equal work. Think about it. Being denied equal pay for equal work. Y ou think about the legacy of the NDP and everything that they’ve stood for and spoken up for over the decades, and now they are defending unequal pay for equal work. It is an absolute disgrace, and it’s a shame on their legacy.

Y ou can’t get any more blatant than discriminating against work- ers working side by side. Some are being paid $4 an hour less than others for doing exactly the same job. Once again, this is an easy fix, and it can be corrected here and now. End the discrimination. Hon. S. Simpson:The member will know that in bargain- ing this year, across the board, everybody in the public sec- tor got 6 percent over three years: 2, 2 and 2. [2:40 p.m.] The member will also know…. I know he’s a bit of an his- torian. I know that he follows history.

So the member will also know about the cuts that happened under the previous government. The member will know about the $22 million of cuts to Community Living B.C. The member will know about group homes that closed under the previous govern- ment. The member will know that investments in services and people were cut and slashed year after year after year under that government, when they were government. That’s what this is truly about. It’s about building and fix- ing the services for the hundreds of thousands of people who need our help. That’s our commitment.

We’re doing it, and we’re doing it in collaboration and cooperation with the tens of thousands of good service providers out there working for non-profits. I look forward to continuing that work. T. Stone:Despite the minister’s rhetoric today and last week, I think what’s most telling is the fact that the Premier of British Columbia is not standing up today and responding to these very important questions about two workers, one being paid more than the other for doing the same job, which is called discrimination.

This is a Premier who has taken to a whole new level making an art form of picking winners and losers in this province. Forcing construction workers to join unions against their will — that’s the Premier’s decision. Changing the definition of farmers so they’re no longer considered per- sons. And now saying to non-unionized social service work- ers: “Y our work is not as valuable as your unionized col- leagues. ” That’s discrimination. But don’t take my word for it. Sandra Jorant is impacted by the Premier’s discrimination.

Here’s what she has to say, and I hope the Premier will respond to this: “Our son is non- verbal, and at 30 years of age, he is developmentally only a child. The compensation paid to his support staff should not depend on whether they are employed by a union or non- union employer. They provide the same service. ” A very simple question, one final opportunity today for the Premier of British Columbia to stand up and answer this question. Why has the Premier determined that the non- union social service workers providing support to Sandra’s son…?

Why are these workers undeserving of the same wages as their unionized counterparts? Hon. S. Simpson: What I would say to that member over there is he might recall that…. Y ou know, what I’m proud of is that I was able to stand with the Premier a couple of weeks ago… Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Hon. S. Simpson: …to announce that we had increased the rates for home-share providers by 15 percent. They deliv- er services exactly to the people…. Monday, April 8, 2019 British Columbia Debates 8223

Interjections. Hon. S. Simpson:That’s after they had not got a raise in over a decade under the bunch over there. The members over there talk about discrimination. Let’s talk about discrimination. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Hon. S. Simpson: I might remind the members here…. I think I might have referenced this last week. I’m not sure. The Caledon Institute of Social Policy — what did they say when they talked about that group over there? Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Members, please, we shall hear the response. Thank you. [2:45 p.m.] Hon. S.

Simpson: What did they say when they talked about their time in government? “The government’s social program agenda can be summed up as restricted eligibility; income-testing; rate cuts; off-loading to families and com- munity; user fees; withdrawal of home support services; cuts to long-term care beds, hospitals and hospital beds; school closures; program cuts to communities in crisis; cuts to child care; tuition increases; and cuts to legal aid, victim services and programs for at-risk youth. ” That’s discrimination against vulnerable British Columbi- ans.

Y ou should be ashamed. [End of question period.] Orders of the Day Hon. M. Farnworth:In this chamber, I call continued debate on the estimates of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. In

section A, the Douglas Fir Room, I call continued debate on the estimates of the Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology. Committee of Supply ESTIMATES: MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE (continued) The House in Committee of Supply (Section B); R. Chouhan in the chair. The committee met at 2:48 p.m. On Vote 43: ministry operations, $925,616,000 (continued). J. Sturdy:Nice to see you, Minister and staff, again, back in the House here. I think we just want to try and wrap up a little bit here with the rural highway piece. Just a few sort of general questions.

I understand that historically, the projects, in terms of side road rehabilitation…. The metrics on it were the number of projects or kilometres covered in a given year. The minister indicated that that was going to change to an as-needed basis versus the 30 projects or 500 kilometres per year of side road rehabilitation. [2:50 p.m.] The minister is looking quizzically at me, so perhaps she’s not familiar with those metrics. Fundamentally, I suppose, how many projects or kilometres were covered in side road rehabilitation improvements in the ’18-19 fiscal? Hon. C.

Trevena:Under the former government’s plans — obviously, we’ve developed our own plans; we’re not fol- lowing the former government’s plans, because we are a new government — there was the aim of doing approximately 500 kilometres of highway. In the last year, we completed 741 kilometres of highway. J. Sturdy:Thank you to the minister for that. Could the minister break that down into various regions? I think there are four highway regions in the province. Could you break that 741 kilometres down into where that took place? Hon. C.

Trevena:It’s safe to say that in every region of the province there was investment in side roads. If the member does want a breakdown, we can get back to him in writing. J. Sturdy:Y es. That’ d be great if we could be provided with the number of side roads, specifically, that were resurfaced in what regions in the province. The 741, to follow up — was that side road rehabilitation, or did that include provincial highways? Hon. C. Trevena:It was all side roads. J. Sturdy:How many kilometres of provincial highways were resurfaced? [2:55 p.m.] Hon. C. Trevena:Under the rehab category, there are 514 kilometres.

That’s 1,310 lane-kilometres. That is just rehab. That’s not any other works that we’re doing. Major projects aren’t rehab, but road building, highway building, obviously would extend that. J. Sturdy:Could the minister provide us with the same breakdown, in terms of regions, where those 1,310 lane-kilo- 8224 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 8, 2019

metres ended up happening? Did that include concessions — for example, the Sea to Sky Highway? Hon. C. Trevena:Again, we will provide the member that information. We’re just going through it, whether there might be some on Sea to Sky. We’ll provide the member that information in writing. J. Sturdy:Would the minister also provide us with the value of those 1,310 kilometres, in terms of the cost to the taxpayer for how much it costs to resurface that number of kilometres? Hon. C. Trevena:It’s $146 million. J. Sturdy:I take it that the $146 million would not include concession resurfacing. Hon. C.

Trevena:That’s correct. J. Sturdy:How does that compare with the number of kilometres resurfaced in the previous year? What’s the fore- cast for this year? [3:00 p.m.] Hon. C. Trevena:Bearing in mind the time constraint we have, I just wanted to let the member know that we’re still trying to track down that number but, again, letting him know that we are at the moment doing our spring assess- ment for what rehabilitation and repair work needs doing. There’ll be a list compiled. When we have that list, obviously, funding is allocated to it, but the funding is consistent with previous years.

There’s absolutely no reduction in funding. J. Sturdy:Okay. So it will be consistent — ’17-18, ’18-19, ’19-20 — in terms of the budget of $146 million that will be expended? Is that what I’m hearing the minister saying — give or take? Then what I’ d be really interested in is how that relates to kilometres resurfaced — how it relates to the amount of money we’re spending versus the amount of kilo- metres covered. [3:05 p.m.] Hon. C. Trevena:To the member, the dollar figure is con- sistent. As he’s very well aware, B.C. is a very vast and diverse province. I’m not going to specify the kilometres.

If you’re doing work on one of the arterial roads in the Lower Main- land or you’re working on Highway 37, it’s different as to the amount of work that you can do. As I mentioned in my previous answer, we are doing our spring assessment at the moment. We’ll have a list compiled, which we can later on share with the member. J. Sturdy:Thank you to the minister for that. I’ll look for- ward to receiving that.

Last year the minister mentioned that there were 2,900 structures, including bridges, culverts, retaining walls, etc., which the government inspects on an annual basis — which is a significant number, certainly. I see that in the highways maintenance

section of the ministry website, it references 2,800. Is that just an oversight, or are there some pieces of that infrastructure that are inspected and managed by some- body else? Hon. C. Trevena:Well spotted. There are 2,933 bridges, culverts and structures inspected annually. We still stick by that figure. However, the 2,800 number doesn’t include the concessionary ones. As the member is well aware, there are lots of bridges, retaining walls and everything along the Sea to Sky and other concessionary pieces of highway. J. Sturdy:Y eah, I suspected something along those lines.

Last year with regard to fires, the minister noted: “When there is a fire, this impacts the soil. It impacts the stability, and it changes the land. There is a potential for more erosion. We want to be able to go in there and make real repairs rather than…patch it up and have problems in the future.

We’re working with our colleagues in other ministries to ensure those repairs, but we are very conscious of the impacts that the fires have had, and we’ll be working to try to mitigate them into the spring. ” [3:10 p.m.] Given that set of circumstances and another issue last summer, could the minister let the House know what specif- ic steps, what actual steps have been taken by her ministry? What cross-ministry discussions and actions have taken place to mitigate such erosion occurrences? Hon. C.

Trevena:It’s following up a little bit on our dis- cussion of last week, I believe, on building resilience into the infrastructure. That has become a priority for the min- istry. This is now really a standard of building bigger and better, preparing for the likely climate change, the culverts and so on. There are a couple of things that we’re doing specifically. We are doing a lot of active monitoring. We are, then, doing extra work on clearing culverts, making sure that areas are free of debris. There’s a lot of work being done there.

There is working with other ministries, such as Forests, Lands, Nat- ural Resource Operations and Rural Development, on mak- ing sure that the high-priority areas are…. I was going to say protected. But we are working in conjunction with them, whether it is on clearing culverts or ditch clearing or reve- getating slopes where there has been a fire or, again, a flood, because we, obviously, also know the problems of slides. [3:15 p.m.] We are also working with the federal government, through the DFA, for mitigation work.

So the federal gov- ernment will give a certain amount of dollars, a certain per- centage of dollars, to look at how we can mitigate and prevent future problems. We are maximizing that availability too, to ensure that we are looking to the future there. Monday, April 8, 2019 British Columbia Debates 8225

J. Sturdy:Is there an actual budget that has been allocated for this type of work, for the issue of extra cleaning, for reveg or for whatever else — cooperation, identifying high-prior- ity areas, this sort of thing? Is there any actual budget associ- ated with that? Hon. C. Trevena:As I explained to the member for Cari- boo North last week — she was asking about the fires and culvert replacement, and so on — it is impossible to put a dollar figure on this, because it comes from a number of dif- ferent budget lines. Some comes from maintenance. Some comes from rehabilitation. Some comes from side roads.

There are also the federal dollars that we get. It isn’t a specific amount allocated to climate change resi- liency. It is pulled together from our other budgets when we know that we need to do the work, whether it’s done through rehab or through the maintenance contractor or whatever it is. It’s built into the budgets. We are looking at all our work now through a climate change lens, with the need to build resilient infrastructure. It is just part of our general thinking as a ministry. J. Sturdy:Okay.

I guess we had expected that there was going to be an allocation towards the issue of mitigation and prevention and the impacts of climate change versus trying to cobble things together within existing budgets. But we’ll move on. Just one question specific to my region in terms of high- ways. We have a road in the north part of my region called the Highline Road. Would the minister let me know if there’s an actual technical classification, or is there a number? I understand there’s a road classification matrix.

I wonder if the minister could make that available to me, and could the minister identify what the Highline Road is classified as? [3:20 p.m.] Hon. C. Trevena:I’ d first off like to disagree with the member. We don’t cobble together spending on climate change resilience. This is something that’s very important to the ministry. We’ve seen devastating floods, devastating forest fires. We make sure that there are dollars on hand to deal with that resiliency when we’re rebuilding. To the member’s question about the Highline Road: basic- ally, with 47,000 kilometres of highway, each road and each

section of the road is classed on a usage and volume basis. We can get back to the member about the specific classifica- tion on that specific piece of highway, but it is classed on the use of the road and the volume of use of the road. J. Sturdy:The ministry doesn’t have the current classifica- tion on hand. Is that what I’m hearing? Hon. C. Trevena:Right at this moment, no, the staff do not have it. That is to say, we have 47,000 kilometres of highway, and different sections of the different 47,000 kilo- metres have different classifications.

We’re not able to say what Highline Road is classified as right at this moment, but we can get back to the member and let him know. J. Sturdy:Thank you. I’ d certainly appreciate that. [3:25 p.m.] In terms of resiliency and cobbling together, one would imagine that if it were a real focus, then there would be a focused budget. Otherwise, it comes from here and there and in bits and pieces. I think we all understand what the definition is there.

The Highline is a MOTI responsibility, but there are many other communities across the province that are very much reliant on the road system — often FLNR roads, as I’m sure the minister is well aware. I could use an area in my region that is perhaps emblemat- ic of it, a road called the In-SHUCK-ch Forest Service Road. There are three First Nations communities — Samahquam, Skatin and Tipella — that are reliant on that road. There’s Blackwater Road, there’s Miller Bench Road, and there’s Squamish Valley Road. All of these are FLNR roads that all have significant populations adjacent to them.

My understanding, and I’ d love to hear the specifics if the minister has them available, is that the contribution that MOTI makes to the maintenance of those roads — some- where between 150 and 200 kilometres of road, some of which have contractors or prime tenure holders, and some that don’t — is about $85,000. As I think the minister well understands, the standards to which industrial users use these roads are not the standards which communities feel are needed.

In fact, in one case, the In-SHUCK-ch Forest Service Road, we’ve got a First Nation running a school bus all year round on that road and relying on snow clearing, dust control and grading. I think the minister would understand that $85,000 in that kind of situation is not a particularly significant amount.

I guess I’m not looking for an answer here, so much as more generally: is the ministry in discussions with FLNR and oth- ers to look for solutions to some of these remote communit- ies and the challenges that these communities face, recog- nizing that the interests of those communities are not well served, exclusively by the resource tenure holder? [3:30 p.m.] [J. Isaacs in the chair.] Hon. C. Trevena:Thank you to the member.

Y ou’ve got everybody talking about this “cobbling together” piece, where everybody is really concerned that that’s what the member takes away from it, when we actually do take a com- prehensive look in our planning when we’re doing any work — and looking provincewide. It really is building this into everything that we’re doing, as I mentioned. Whether it’s rehabilitation or expansion, we are considering climate change. It wouldn’t be appropriate to have a separate pot that just says: “That will deal with cli- mate change. ” It is in everything.

I think it is in everything 8226 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 8, 2019

that a lot of people are looking at. The analogy that’s given is if you are doing a seismic upgrade for a school, you’re also doing…. Y ou may be building new. Y ou may be building extra classrooms or what have you, but this is built in. To answer the member’s previous question about the Highline Road, it is a 6D. That is not a shoe size; it is a road. On the forest service road, I understand the member’s con- cern about communities at the end. I, in my constituency, have Indigenous communities and other communities liv- ing on forest service roads and expecting the same quality of roads that everybody else has.

But they are forest service roads. They are maintained by Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. Our ministry does invest $900,000 across the province in forest service roads. Whether it’s in the member’s constitu- ency…. I know in my constituency…. I know that the mem- ber for Mid-Island–Pacific Rim has some communities on forest service roads. I think right across the province, there are communities, whether Indigenous or non-Indigenous, along forest service roads, most of whom feel that they are not getting the quality of road that they would like to have.

It is a Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development issue, so I would suggest that the member also canvass this in the estimates of FLNRORD. J. Sturdy:Okay. Well, $900,000 for…. I think there’s some- thing in the neighbourhood of 1 million kilometres of FLNR roads. But that wasn’t really the question. The question was: has the ministry been in discussion with FLNR or other agencies as to how to better service these communities?

Or is the minister suggesting that the responsibility for com- munity access, now that the name has changed from FLNR to FLNRORD — that that responsibility is now the respons- ibility of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources Operations and Rural Development? [3:35 p.m.] To say it again, is the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure in discussions with the other ministries about how these communities can be better served? Hon. C. Trevena:Y es. We’re often in discussion. I’m sure the member is aware for his own roads.

I know that for the roads in my constituency, there are road-user meetings bringing together the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, often the licensee and the com- munities and the Indigenous communities. I know that is how it works in my constituency. I see it work in other constituencies in other parts of the province. It’s a constant conversation. We do invest in those roads, but they are the ultimate responsibility of the Ministry of Forests. J.

Sturdy:In our case, of the Sea to Sky, where we’re look- ing at 150-plus kilometres of roads to communities that these communities rely on, does the minister feel that $85,000 is an adequate contribution? Hon. C. Trevena:I spent many years in opposition asking the Minister of Forests pretty well exactly what the member is asking me about the standard of forest service roads serving communities, and frustrated because…. Y ou have a number of communities with people who are living there. Is there any access? Y ou’ve got emergency services using it. Y ou’ve got school buses using the roads.

There is that expectation from people that they want to be on a Ministry of Transportation standard, which, as we know, is a high standard, wider roads. Y ou don’t get the off- road logging trucks and other vehicles on Ministry of Trans- portation roads. So I can understand the member’s frus- tration. These roads are built because they are Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operation roads. They are built to that standard. We are working as a ministry to improve the standard with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.

This is something that we are very cognizant about — that we do need to bring both ministries together to find out how the Ministry of Forests can potentially improve the standard when there are communities there, but also being cognizant that they are roads that were built for indus- trial use, for logging use primarily. So it continues. Contributing to these roads is important for us. There are communities there. But we also have to look at the whole province and the needs of the whole province.

We continue to contribute to Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development in their roads, but this is something that we have to weigh against other investments. [3:40 p.m.] L. Throness:I have a few questions about my riding, and I’m sure the minister will be able to help. Maybe she has travelled on Highway 9, the Agassiz-Rosedale Bridge, which is an aging bridge. A couple of years ago there was an announcement that there would be seismic upgrades to that bridge of about $36 million. Really, nothing much has been done yet.

About 7,000 people live north of that bridge, and there is a lot of tourist and business traffic on that road. So it’s very important to them, because one lane will be blocked off for a period of two to three years. This is going to be a huge imposition on all those who live north of the bridge. So their MLA is very concerned about it.

I’m wondering, instead of asking questions today — spe- cific, factual questions like cost, timeline, public consulta- tions, results of engineering studies, which have been ongo- ing, and work — could the minister commit her staff to give me a transparent briefing of these issues on the bridge? Hon. C. Trevena:Just to clarify for the member, there has been a contract awarded for the seismic work on the bridge. Monday, April 8, 2019 British Columbia Debates 8227

That is getting underway pretty well immediately. That’s a $2.6 million contract that, as I say, has been awarded, and that’s going to be upgrading the piers on the bridge. I know there is some discussion about a second phase. Y es, ministry staff can give the member a briefing. L. Throness:I would also ask the same about a round- about just south of the Agassiz-Rosedale Bridge. It was an early roundabout and really made that corner, which is a very dangerous intersection, much safer. But it has become too small. It’s inadequate for the traffic volume. There are no appropriate places for large trucks to park.

They’re parking everywhere. It’s a chaotic situation and an unsafe situation. I’m wondering what the minister’s plans are to upgrade the roundabout and to deal with associated parking issues. Perhaps this could also be left to a briefing from staff, but I’m concerned about that roundabout. [3:45 p.m.] Hon. C. Trevena:Staff are aware of the problems that the member has raised. They are looking at them, and if it’s fine with member, it can be part of the briefing — looking at the bridge and the roundabout. But staff are well aware of the concerns. L. Throness:Just one final question for the minister.

The No. 1 is becoming potholed in a number of places on the No. 1 Highway between Chilliwack and the Mt. Lehman Road exit in Abbotsford. I would remind the minister that there are 19 million trips on this westbound portion of the high- way, and it is becoming a safety issue where people swerve to avoid them. When will the ministry be doing some upgrades and improvements to this part of the highway? Hon. C. Trevena:We’re obviously very well aware that this is a heavily travelled corridor. Maintenance staff have been looking. We’re doing assessments of the level of potholes. I hear the member’s concerns.

There are no safety issues. He can be guaranteed that there no safety issues, but there will be some significant patching work done to ensure that there is a smoother and, as they say in this ministry, more efficient ride through that section. S. Gibson:A privilege to be here today. I think we all, as representatives here of our constituents, advance causes or things that are troubling to the folks that live in our ridings. I know the minister will not be surprised that I bring up the widening of Highway 1. It’s been a lament that she has heard a number of times.

People approach me in the community, and I guess they’re bewildered because they don’t really understand the criteria involved with regard to widening and not widening. Clearly, it’s a safety issue. If the minister has had the opportunity to go out to the highway, through Langley and Abbotsford in particular, she’ll notice extraordinary bottlenecks that are frustrating for travellers, expensive for commuters and irri- tating for truckers. I’m wondering what criteria might be involved.

As she will know, the previous government had plans in place, working with the federal government for funding and with the township of Langley in particular, but the whole enterprise seems to have ground to a halt — very frustrating for local people who have to leave the community and com- mute far distances along Highway 1. So my request is for maybe just a bit of an update on the criteria. What can local residents in Langley and Abbotsford expect in order that we might expedite this highly congested Trans-Canada High- way through our province? [3:50 p.m.] Hon. C.

Trevena:The member asked about criteria and what sort of criteria we use when we’re assessing where work is going to be. There is, obviously, a limited number of dol- lars available. The public purse isn’t never-ending. We have a lot of different priorities that we are looking at as a govern- ment. But the criteria when we’re looking at our highways…. Safety is, obviously, the first and foremost. Anything that we do on our highways, we’ve got to put safety as the number one. That goes without saying.

We also look, when we’re looking at whether or not we’re going to be expanding highways and working on highways, at mobility — people’s ability to move. It’s not just people in single-occupancy vehicles but buses and every other vehicle. Also important, obviously, is the commercial sector — that trucks can go. That is an issue. I think part of that is traffic volume. I hear, obviously, and I’m very aware of the whole of Highway 1, basically out towards Chilliwack. I often hear from people concerned about this. So there is that. We also look at greenhouse gas impacts.

As I mentioned to the critic, everything we’re doing has a lens. We have to in this ministry, which is, sadly, such a contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. We have a climate change lens and a greenhouse gas emissions lens when we are looking at our highway system and our investments in transportation through B.C. As the member is aware, we are working at present on part of the Trans-Canada, on 202 to 216th. We’re working on that project, and we are in discussions with the federal govern- ment about the corridor. S.

Gibson: I appreciate the minister using the word “safety” in her remarks in response to my earlier queries. Clearly, safety is a concern when it’s brought to my attention by travellers who go along that route virtually every day. [3:55 p.m.] The minister will also know that there are bottlenecks there, which are safety factors where, especially in the win- tertime, you’ll suddenly get a cluster of cars and rear- enders. It’s my understanding that safety issues have 8228 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 8, 2019

reached your desk, and there are some issues that are worthy of canvassing. I think the other point I would like to make — and I appreciate this opportunity to speak today to this and ask the query — is that there are no alternatives to Highway 1. If you put on the traffic channel…. If you’re going into town or fol- lowing that route into the Metro, there are no alternatives. If somebody finds themselves in an accident, which is fre- quent along the highway…. The minister can get that infor- mation with ease from her staff. If there is an accident or bottleneck at 264th or 232nd, there’s no alternative.

The cars just sit there, congested, polluting the air. Of course, trucks delivering — perhaps they have refrigerated goods — make it really problematic. The 216th interchange, as the minister will know, is pro- ceeding. It’s coming along well. However, that creates addi- tional problems because the cars are now dumped onto Highway 1 in east-to-west direction, creating even more problems on the artery, which was built in 1962 for traffic for that era and which, of course, is vastly out of date.

The question that I would like to ask, on behalf of my con- stituents and also those in Langley township, is: when would the minister feel that that study would be completed? As you’ve mentioned, there is some studying going on. Likely, at least the bottlenecks on Highway 1 would be addressed, par- ticularly at 264th and 200th, where the bottlenecks are the most problematic. The request is: when could those bottle- necks be addressed in preparation for rebuilding the entire highway between 208th and Whatcom? Hon. C.

Trevena:I think on one of the things that the member is frustrated about — the lack of options — I’ d say that there are two alternatives to Highway 1. They’re not perfect. There’s Highway 7. We are working, reinvesting in Highway 7, at the moment, on four-laning much of Highway 7. That is underway. Also, around Langley, there’s, obviously, Highway 10. [4:00 p.m.] For the ministry, one of the things is to ensure that people are aware of potential problems and options that are avail- able to them in any part of our road network. We’ve got the dynamic messaging system.

That’s the big boards over the highway which will tell drivers where there may or may not be problems and inform drivers of alternatives and alternat- ive routes. There’s also social media, although I would plead with people not to check the mobile Drive B.C. on their phone as they are driving. But we do have social media that is very quick, very responsive to problems and directs people to alternate routes. The member cites 200 Street, congestion there. The work that is being done on 216 at the moment should be dealing with that sort of congestion. S. Gibson:I just want to thank the minister.

Thank you for your interest in our area. Traffic circulation on Highway 1 is critical, and I want to thank you for anything you can do to improve the situation on Highway 1, particularly in Langley township and in Abbotsford. I. Paton:To the Transportation Minister: I’m actually not going to talk about what you think I’m going to talk about. Shocking. Interjections. I. Paton:I might fit it in. Going back a few years was the building of the treaty at Tsawwassen First Nation and the building of this massive mall, Tsawwassen Mills, Tsawwassen commons. And then Tsawwassen Springs is across the street.

Before the mall actually went ahead and got built, they decided they needed to do some major upgrades to Highway 17. Originally, Highway 17 at 52nd Street in Tsawwassen was 35 metres in width. At the end of the renovations, it became 60 metres in width. It went from five lanes to nine lanes in width. It takes — it’s been timed — an average person approximately 60 seconds to cross from Tsawwassen Mills across the street, nine lanes of traffic, to the other side to catch buses to go back to Richmond or Vancouver or Surrey, wherever.

Could I ask the Minister of Transportation if there is the possibility of an overhead pedestrian walkway to take place at that intersection of Highway 17 and 52nd Street in Tsawwassen? One other thing I’ll add to this is, just for information, there are several pedestrian overpasses as examples. Such as, Highway 17A and Ladner Trunk Road is nine lanes, which has a pedestrian overpass for bicycles and wheelchairs. Upper Levels Highway, West Vancouver, five lanes wide, has a pedestrian overpass. Lougheed Highway at Dewdney Trunk Road in Coquitlam is only five lanes in width.

However, they have a pedestrian overpass for bicycles and, I believe, for wheelchairs or scooters. Lougheed Highway at Shaughnessy Street in Port Coquitlam is seven lanes wide. They have a pedestrian overpass. As I drive from Swartz Bay to downtown Victoria, I see endless pedestrian overpasses on the Pat Bay Highway — endless. I’m thinking that there are so many of them, why can’t we see one in Tsawwassen, going from the Tsawwassen mall across the street at Highway 17 and 52nd Street? [4:05 p.m.] Hon. C.

Trevena:Member, the engineers and staff have done a number of traffic counts and pedestrian counts in the area and would like to assure the member that that is a safe crossing. It may be frustrating to time it for the minute, but it is something that has been revisited a num- ber of times to make sure that it is safe. This is not new for us. We’re aware of it, but I definitely want to tell the mem- ber that it is a safe crossing. If we were to build a pedestrian overpass, it is typically Monday, April 8, 2019 British Columbia Debates 8229

done through a cost-share arrangement. We have ministry staff who have talked to the municipality of Delta about this, also reaching out to Tsawwassen First Nation to talk about it. It would be something that would be cost-shared. There would be the discussion of the precise location of it. This is something that ministry is exploring with Delta, with Tsawwassen First Nation. But, just to assure the mem- ber’s constituents and other people who are using that cross- ing to get to the buses, it is, according to our engineering staff, safe at the moment. I. Paton:Thank you, Minister.

My next question does move on to the George Massey Tunnel replacement. I think I’ d like to take credit for the 600,000 tonnes of sand terminology, because I actually went to a good friend of mine in the trucking industry that I went to school with that was part of the project. I said: “Could you estimate how much sand is actually piled up on the side of Highway 99?” He got together with some of his trucking buddies and came up with the figure of 600,000 tonnes. I think that’s where it, basically, came from. The question I’m asking doesn’t really need an answer right at the moment.

I have the farming community in Delta, which is currently planting cranberries. Traditionally, cran- berries were planted in peat, and then they felt that sawdust was a good medium to plant cranberries in. But now they all want to plant cranberries in sand. They’re asking: if and when the sand is going to be removed, could that sand be made available to local farmers for cranberry planting? [4:10 p.m.] Hon. C. Trevena: Cranberries or using it for golfing? Unfortunately, it has actually been identified. It will be used on ministry projects. One of the ones that it will be used on is Highway 91/17.

The preload has actually settled. I know that sometimes there has been such a rush to build that the preload hasn’t settled. In this case, the preload has settled, and it will be very valuable for other ministry projects. I. Paton:I’ll throw, perhaps, two questions in one. Ques- tion 1 is: what is the timeline for removing all the sand on the side of Highway 99, on the Richmond side and the Delta- Surrey si

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20190408pm-Hansard-n234
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20190408pm Hansard n234
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	322cbdec7e81660d3809caf08b2751e75c1d9f10

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