Fifth Session, 42nd Parliament

(2024) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Afternoon Sitting

Issue No. 439

ISSN 1499-2175

The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.

The PDF transcript remains the official digital version.

CONTENTS

Routine Business

Introductions by Members

Introduction and First Reading of Bills

Bill M227 — Social Workers Amendment Act, 2024

S. Furstenau

Bill M228 — Victims of Crime (Publication Ban Choice and Awareness) Amendment Act, 2024

K. Kirkpatrick

Statements (Standing Order 25B)

Kim Black and cystic fibrosis awareness and fundraising

M. Babchuk

Energetic County Fair

D. Davies

Des Wilson

R. Glumac

Prince George Cougars hockey team and head coach Mark Lamb

S. Bond

Asian Heritage Month and poetry

A. Singh

Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers

B. Stewart

Oral Questions

Cancer care services and hospital project in Surrey

K. Falcon

Hon. A. Dix

T. Halford

Wild salmon population and habitat protection

A. Olsen

Hon. G. Heyman

Building code energy regulations for new housing units

B. Banman

Hon. R. Kahlon

Government action on repeat offenders and crime in communities

E. Sturko

Hon. M. Farnworth

Crime in communities and gang activity in Kamloops

T. Stone

Hon. M. Farnworth

Petitions

P. Milobar

M. Lee

D. Routley

Reports from Committees

Finance and Government Services Committee, interim

report, statutory offices, May 2024

M. Starchuk

T. Shypitka

Human Rights Commissioner Appointment Committee, May

J. Phillip

N. Letnick

Motions Without Notice

Appointment of Human Rights Commissioner

J. Phillip

Tabling Documents

Report on the administration of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2023-24

Petitions

S. Chandra Herbert

Orders of the Day

Government Motions on Notice

Motion 33 — Committee of the Whole to sit in

Section C

Hon. R. Kahlon

Third Reading of Bills

Bill 25 — Haida Nation Recognition Amendment Act, 2024

Committee of Supply

Estimates: Office of the Premier

Hon. D. Eby

K. Falcon

Report and Third Reading of Bills

Bill 27 — Municipalities Enabling and Validating (No. 5) Amendment Act, 2024

Motions Without Notice

Amendment to standing orders for Thursday sitting hours

Hon. R. Kahlon

Time allotment for farewell addresses by retiring MLAs

Hon. R. Kahlon

Committee of Supply

Estimates: Office of the Premier (continued)

K. Falcon

Hon. D. Eby

Report and Third Reading of Bills

Bill 26 — Name Amendment Act (No. 2), 2024

Bill 21 — Legal Professions Act

Proceedings in the Douglas Fir Room

Committee of the Whole House

Bill 27 — Municipalities Enabling and Validating (No. 5) Amendment Act, 2024

Hon. R. Kahlon

K. Kirkpatrick

A. Olsen

R. Merrifield

Bill 26 — Name Amendment Act (No. 2), 2024

Hon. A. Dix

S. Bond

Proceedings in the Birch Room

Committee of the Whole House

Bill 21 — Legal Professions Act (continued)

M. Lee

Hon. N. Sharma

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2024

The House met at 1:35 p.m.

[The Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: S. Robinson.

Introductions by Members

Hon. A. Dix: Today in the galleries is Jason Jackson, the president of the

Ambulance Paramedics of B.C.; and Warren Leeder, director of health and

wellness for the Ambulance Paramedics of B.C., CUPE Local 873. They lead a

union that’s playing an extraordinary role in transforming our ambulance

system in B.C. They represent ambulance paramedics and dispatchers. They do

an extraordinary job. I’d like you to wish them welcome.

I have another introduction as well, so I’ll go through and have

people welcome both sets of guests today.

From the Arthritis Society of Canada, president and CEO Trish Barbato

is here, and volunteer Mireille Compton.

Trish is the chief executive officer. It’s the leading national health

charity contributing to arthritis research, advocacy and

innovation.

Mireille is a longtime Arthritis Society Canada volunteer who lives

with arthritis. Her teenage daughter was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis

at two years old, and she and her mom live with arthritis and are

extraordinary advocates for people living with arthritis.

I’d like all the House to welcome our ambulance paramedics and the

representatives of the Arthritis Society of Canada.

S. Bond: I wanted to join the Minister of Health today in welcoming our

ambulance paramedics here to Victoria and to extend our thanks, as well, for

the incredible job they do every day. We see the heroic efforts they make in

our province. And also to extend our welcome to Trish Barbato and Mireille

Compton.

Nine hundred thousand people in British Columbia actually are affected

by arthritis — one in six men, one in four women. We know how significant

the impacts are. In fact, the Arthritis Society of Canada recently released

a report card, and we know that British Columbia certainly has more work to

do.

I join with the Minister of Health in welcoming these two very

important groups of representatives here to the chamber today.

Hon. H. Bains: Hon. Speaker, in the gallery today is our good friend, your and my

good friend, Daljit Singh Sidhu of Punjabi Market from Vancouver, and Balbir

Singh Changiara, the community activist. They are here to watch the question

period and watch the proceedings of this House. They have been active in the

community for many, many years.

Please join with me and give them a very warm welcome.

M. de Jong: I’d like the House to welcome a group with whom, I have to admit, I’m

not well acquainted. In fact, probably to an extent greater than most

members, I’ve avoided this group fairly religiously over the last 35 years,

but I still would like to welcome the New Car Dealers to…

[1:40 p.m.]

I actually haven’t seen that many car dealers since the last Social

Credit government.

They, of course, perform a vital service. They are key to our economy.

They provide a product and extended service that virtually all British

Columbians depend upon.

I know my colleagues will make them feel very welcome here in the

assembly.

Hon. J. Whiteside: I have two sets of introductions today.

In the gallery joining us this afternoon are members from my

ministry’s government communications and public engagement team.

I’d like to give a warm welcome to Art, Arianna, Abhinaya, Kris,

Jhosseline, Marie-Helene, Preet and Tracy and thank them for the incredible

work that they do to bring to life all of the projects and the work that we

do in the ministry and across our health system when it comes to the work we

do in Mental Health and Addictions.

Secondly, not quite on the precinct yet but joining me for a meeting

later this afternoon will be Dr. Nel Wieman, the acting chief medical

officer for the First Nations Health Authority; and Dr. Nolan Hop Wo, also

from FNHA.

I want to say that Dr. Wieman’s leadership has been particularly

important during the impact of the toxic drug crisis on Indigenous

communities. She is the first female Indigenous psychiatrist in Canada. I am

very grateful for the collaboration that we have in the ministry with FNHA

and with First Nations in trying to turn the dial on this crisis.

Would the House please join me in welcoming both sets of guests to the

precinct.

Hon. G. Chow: In the gallery are three members of my constituency staff, who are

sitting behind me. They are Forest Chu, Navleen Virk and Kayla Charchuk, who

are visiting the House for the first time.

I’d like to express my deep appreciation for the work they do in the

constituency helping the citizens of British Columbia. I think they chose

the right time to visit. They said: “Well, after tomorrow, you may not be in

the House.”

So thank you.

R. Merrifield: I hope so.

I do want to extend my greatest welcome to Steve Johnston. We said his

name yesterday, but I just wanted to correct for the record. It’s Steve

Johnston. Also, his wife, Leah, is here today.

Also, Dr. Michael Humer is here. I actually had a situation a couple

of weeks ago in which a woman came up to me and said to me: “Do you know how

Dr. Humer is in my phone?” I said: “No, I don’t.” She actually showed me.

“Dr. Mike, the man who saved my husband’s life.”

Dr. Humer is actually a thoracic surgeon, so I asked her: “Oh, did he

perform surgery on your husband?” She said: “No, my husband was suicidal.

He, on his day off, walking with his wife, stopped in our city park and

actually sat down.” For the next three hours, he literally saved this man’s

life.

He is our candidate for Kelowna Centre.

Would the House please join me in welcoming Dr. Michael

Humer.

Hon. N. Sharma: I have a few introductions today.

First, I just want to acknowledge…. I see Cathy Stock from the

Indigenous justice secretariat is joining us.

Also, our Human Rights Commissioner, Kasari Govender, is sitting up

here.

I’d also like to welcome the Native Courtworker and Counselling

Association of B.C. They’re celebrating their 50th anniversary.

With us today are Hugh Braker, KC, president of the Native

Courtworkers. Mr. Braker has been president of the courtworkers for almost

30 years.

We have Mr. Darryl Shackelly, the CEO of the Courtworkers. Mr.

Shackelly has been with the Courtworkers for 27 years.

Mr. Shane Johnson has been with the Victoria Courtworkers for 18

years.

Ms. Rae Alcock, director of court services for the Courtworkers, has

been with the association for two years.

Ms. Lurdes Balfour is the office manager and has been with the

association for four years.

For 50 years, the Native Courtworkers have been providing culturally

appropriate services to Indigenous people in conflict with the law by

explaining to people their rights and responsibilities under the law, by

arranging legal aid, by answering questions about the law, by arranging

translation when necessary and by providing culturally appropriate services

and workshops.

[1:45 p.m.]

It has been 50 years. I just want to thank the Native Courtworkers.

It’s estimated they’ve served over 100,000 people so far.

Congratulations to you. Happy anniversary.

Hon. M. Rankin: Joining us in the gallery for third reading of Bill 25 today are a

number of special guests: Gaagwiis, who is the president of the Council of

the Haida Nation; Guujaaw or Gidansda, Haida Hereditary Chief; Stephen

“Buck” Grosse, the vice-president of CHN; Peter Lantin, former president of

the Council of the Haida Nation; Catherine Rigg and Kat Sanderson of the CHN

negotiating team.

Also in the gallery are Chief Councillor Marilyn Slett of the Heiltsuk

Tribal Council and on the First Nations Summit political executive; and Mr.

Hugh Braker, who has already been introduced by the Attorney

General.

Would the House please make them very welcome.

P. Milobar: I rise to introduce Lianne, a Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in member of the Hän

Nation, also my wife for the last 30 years, who I’ve been told loves me more

than I’ve actually annoyed her, so you know she must love me a lot. She is

the proud mother of our children, Kayleigh, Dylana and Ethan, and

Shëtsǫ to our granddaughters, Zoey

and Azalea.

Will the House please give Lianne a warm welcome.

Hon. P. Alexis: I’ve been up a few times this week, but I’m out of kids. However, I am

pleased to introduce several employees from the Ministry of Agriculture and

Food who have come to watch the proceedings today.

Two co-op students, Melanie Procyshyn and Jillian Kennedy, are

accompanied by Zofka Svec, Riley Chappell and Zac de Vries.

Thank you for the work that you do each and every day.

Would the House please make them welcome.

The Speaker: House Leader of the Fourth Party.

B. Banman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Will you please bear with me. I have

a few introductions to make, the first of which I’ve introduced

before.

My charming wife, Sharon, is here to watch the procedures today. She’s

actually, believe it or not, looking forward to having me return for the

summer. I know. It comes as a big surprise for me too.

We also have John and Elaine Lichtenwald, who are trying to bring

affordable housing, actually, to the Cowichan Valley for some hospital

workers.

I have John and Nora Koury. John may or may not be a candidate for a

certain political party, which I understand we’re not allowed to talk about

anymore.

Would the House please welcome all of the guests that are here today

and make them feel most welcome.

Hon. L. Popham: I’ve got a few introductions today.

I just wanted to say that it’s also nice to see Zac de Vries here

joining Agriculture and Food. He’s also a councillor for Saanich.

Thanks for your public service, Zac.

It is also B.C. Museums Week, and I have two special guests here. I

have Lorenda Calvert, who’s the program manager, and Ryan Hunt, the

executive director of B.C. Museums. I’ll be meeting them after to give them

a proclamation.

Thank you for everything that you do.

Then, on a personal note, I’ve got four guests here today, the first

one being my LOML, the love of my life. Dr. Sealey is in the

House.

My stepdaughter Hope, who’s going to Camosun College, is planning on

being a dental hygienist. She wants me to remind everyone to floss or use a

Waterpik. I hear it all the time.

Her roommate, Kayla Liseaut, has just come here from Alberta. She has

come to get a job here in British Columbia.

Thank you for that.

Then we have a legislative assistant, a really good friend to my

stepdaughter, Helena Keenliside.

Everybody says you’re a real favourite.

Thank you, all, for being here.

S. Furstenau: I have two sets of introductions.

In the gallery today…. Well, on Monday, my colleague from Saanich

North and the Islands introduced his A-team from his constituency office.

I’d like to introduce my A-team from my constituency office.

[1:50 p.m.]

Tricia Datene, Julie Kay, Theresa Coles and Laura Boyd-Clowes are in

the gallery. They are powerhouse women. They make a powerhouse team. I

respect and admire them so much, and I’m so grateful for the service that

they bring to the people of Cowichan Valley.

Also in the gallery today are the parents of one-half of our

communications team. The parents of Amy Attas — Jackie Sturton and Mike

Attas, all the way from Manitoba — are in the gallery.

Would the House please make them most welcome.

Hon. J. Osborne: I have two sets of introductions. I was going to space them out, but

seeing the field is full here, I’m going to take the time to do both of

them.

Also, I just want to note that you learn something new every day. The

member for Abbotsford West…. I’m thrilled to know that there’s actually one

thing I know more about than him, and that is new cars.

I do want to welcome the New Car Dealers, who are absolutely pivotal

in moving our province to a cleaner and greener economy as more and more

British Columbians are making that choice to buy a plug-in hybrid or a fully

electric vehicle. Today, of course, was the annual EV ride-and-drive day,

and I hope that members got out during the lunch hour to see some of the

many makes and models of electric vehicles that are available for sale at

the 400 franchise new car dealerships in 55 communities across British

Columbia.

I’m delighted to introduce some of the folks who not only serve on the

board of the New Car Dealers Association, but they also serve their

communities, supporting sports teams and community organizations and

employing thousands of people across the province.

With us today are the chair, Ann Marie Clark from Nanaimo; past chair,

Anthony Lunelli from Kelowna; Dave Bare from Parksville; James Carter from

North Vancouver; Deryl Griffith from Richmond; Mike Hacquard from Surrey;

Peter Heppner from Langley; Darren Johnson from Victoria; David Jukes from

Maple Ridge; Peter Sia from Prince George; John Wynia from Nanaimo; and last

but not least, of course, their president and CEO, Blair Qualey.

Would the House please help me make them feel very welcome.

K. Greene: Yes, I feel like I’ve won the lottery.

I’d like to introduce two people to the chambers today. One is Judia

Pelech. She was a teacher in White Rock for 38 years. She’s a constituent of

mine and a wonderful supporter.

I’d also like to introduce Savanna Pelech, her daughter-in-law, who

I’m very pleased to be able to call a friend.

Please make them welcome.

The Speaker: My apologies to the minister. Please continue.

Hon. J. Osborne: Quite all right, hon. Speaker.

I’m really pleased to introduce another set of guests today. These are

people who are making a huge difference in the lives of children and youth

and their families through their roles as educators and professionals in our

public school system. These are members of the Alberni District Teachers

Union, who work hard to advocate for the professional and personal

well-being of teachers and to influence the legislation and policies that

impact education funding, curriculum standards and classroom

conditions.

I’m grateful that they take time with me, as their MLA, to make sure

that I have the information and understanding that I need to advocate for

public education and to address the issues that are facing students and

schools in Port Alberni, Tofino, Ucluelet, Bamfield and nearby

communities.

Joining us in the gallery today we have Ryan Dvorak, who is the

president of the ADTU; Wendy Arnett, vice-president; Mark Garand, who is

president of the Ucluelet-Tofino Teachers Union, which is a sublocal of

ADTU; and Lindsay Kolba, the ADTU’s professional development committee

chair.

Would the House please join me in making them feel very

welcome.

K. Paddon: I have the pleasure of sharing that May 16 is the birthday of my

daughter Aurora. We call her Rory. She is all of the most amazing pieces of

me, and my best friend. I am so privileged to be her mom. She’s at a job

interview right now. I can’t answer my phone, but I think maybe she’s

letting me know how it went. She starts the ECE program, the dual-credit

program, next year.

I am immensely proud of how she creates and dances through life and

takes things on. She is only 17 but teaches me so, so much and is going to

be a teacher someday for elementary school.

Would the House please join me in just celebrating this amazing human

and wishing her a happy birthday.

[1:55 p.m.]

Hon. R. Kahlon: Two sets of introductions.

First, we’ve got five amazing individuals who have been working with

our government caucus this spring. They have been doing amazing

work.

I want to recognize Aza Bryson, Jiven Lal, Victor Lucy, Anna-Elaine

Rempel, Alexa Van Cuylenborg and thank them for their amazing work within

our ministries, working with our caucuses, and hope they enjoyed their time

here in the Legislature.

I also want to recognize three constituents that are here today. I’ve

got Dhaljit Singh Varaich, Sukhwinder Singh and Baldev Singh, who are

visiting from North Delta for the first time.

Can the House please join me in making them feel very

welcome.

R. Glumac: I have three introductions to do today.

First, I would like to introduce Jason Spotswood, who was a friend of

mine from my university days. It’s been almost 30 years since we’ve seen

each other. He’s disappeared off to Australia, living a wonderful life, but

he’s come back today. Would the House make him feel welcome.

My second introduction. I think the last time she was in the House was

when I surprised her with a speech that was a proposal. She’s back today.

Now there are no surprise speeches, but I want to introduce her as my wife,

because we got married on the weekend.

Would the House make her feel welcome — Haven.

And the third one. I’d like to just acknowledge that today is my son’s

birthday, Nico Glumac. He’s becoming a teenager now. He was the best man at

my wedding. Amazing little guy. He’s going to do amazing things in

life.

Happy birthday, Nico.

The Speaker: Now I’m thinking between the two ministers.

Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation.

Hon. M. Rankin: There you go.

I’d like to present to the House two long-serving public servants —

Doug Caul, who is the deputy minister in the Premier’s office; and Sarah

Plank, who for 20 years has been working in the Ministry of Indigenous

Relations, now the senior director of consultation and engagement. Both of

these individuals have worked tirelessly to bring to the House today Bill

I want the House to please make them feel welcome.

Hon. M. Farnworth: Best for last, right?

I’m honoured to introduce four members of my deputy minister’s office,

whose hard work and dedication help keep my ministry running smoothly. They

do amazing work.

I’d like the House to make most welcome Carly Parry, Alexis Di

Georgio, Katelyn Bennie and Kelsey Highsted.

Would the House please make these four dedicated public servants very

welcome.

D. Davies: I do have a couple of sets of introductions to make.

Before I read the introduction here first, the individual I’m going to

introduce and his partner, he used to be a staffer for the opposition

caucus. I better read his prepared introduction that he prepared for me, or

he might be upset if I don’t read it.

Joining us today in the public gallery is a familiar face to many of

us in this chamber. Neil Parkinson-Dow is a former legislative staffer in

the opposition caucus and now serves as a staff officer in the Canadian

Coast Guard. He is joined by his partner, Andrew George, a military musician

who plays in the navy band of the Royal Canadian Navy and who recently

placed first class at the Vancouver Island Showdown bodybuilding

competition.

Would the House please join me in welcoming them both here

today.

I know this is a bit long-winded, but my second introduction is an

interesting story. A few weeks back I walked into our office, and I saw

these two young men sitting there. I was told to introduce myself, and we

started talking. They were, I think, brought here by the Deputy Speaker or

the Assistant Deputy Speaker, two fellows from Mongolia who were just

wandering through and were very interested in our caucus and this

legislative place.

[2:00 p.m.]

Anyways, I gave them my card, and I said: “Well, if you’re ever back

in Victoria, look us up.” They arrived today and looked me up.

The two introductions are Amar-Erdene Altan Ochir — he is from

Vancouver, studying there, from Mongolia; and Tengis Luvsandorj, who lives

in Los Angeles right now, studying there. I think he’s the one who said…. He

wants to be the president of Mongolia, I think is what he told me, one

day.

Would the House please make all of our guests welcome.

J. Sims: I want to introduce and thank three amazing women. These women work in

my constituency office. As you know, when we’re away, they actually have our

backs. Not only that, their commitment to their work and their dedication,

not just during work hours, and the tremendous amount of outreach they do

into the community and their depth of knowledge about my

community.

Anyway, these three women make me look good, and I’m always so

grateful to have them back at the office. That is Mindy Bansal, Jennifer

Campbell, Pamela Sidhu, the best CAs in the whole province.

J. Rice: My apologies to my colleague. She’s been standing way longer than I

have.

Forgive me, Joan.

I have two introductions.

First, I wanted to introduce my legislative assistant, Helena

Keenliside, who does a phenomenal job of keeping me on track and on time.

Well, most of the…. Not often, okay? She has no control. I am late for

everything.

The second introduction I wanted to make was to introduce someone

who’s on the floor with us today, former MLA for North Coast Gary Coons, who

served as the MLA from 2005 until 2013. He was my predecessor. He is a

well-known, beloved community member, a former teacher of math and phys ed,

former president of the Prince Rupert and District Teachers Union. He’s a

lifelong and talented hockey player and coach, having played Junior A hockey

on to playing for the University of Western Ontario, where Coons claimed a

university league record for the most penalty minutes.

As MLA, I was very inspired by the work that he has done. I was a

tenant. I lived in his basement suite, where we became friends. I learned so

much about politics in British Columbia, which is a motivating factor for

why I’m here today. He was instrumental in helping improve the Fair Ferries

Act, lots for ferries. He pushed the government of the day to be more

accountable for the tragedies on the Highway of Tears. He has done so many

things.

I owe it to him for my place in this House. We bonded over the

expansion of open-net fish farms, which was a threat that was moving to the

north coast, to the mouth of the Skeena River. Collectively with many

others, we successfully secured a moratorium for the expansion of open-net

finfish aquaculture in the North. That’s how we bonded on the environment.

That’s why I’m here. I don’t know if to thank him or kick him for

that.

Lastly, my favourite anecdote, or one of many anecdotes, because

everyone knows he’s a joker. When Gordon Campbell was Premier, he was

visiting in Prince Rupert one time, and Gary popped up a pop-up shop out of

every meeting that he attended, every building, with his placards, trying to

do better for children in education and getting a fair deal for

teachers.

The Speaker: Thank you, Member.

J. Rice: I’m sorry for the length. Thank you.

Hon. B. Ma: I rise on a point of privilege against the comments made by the member

for Surrey-Panorama. You see, I actually have the best constituency

assistants in all of the province.

We’re joined today by Joshua Saville and Camille Mantilla in the

gallery. They do amazing work handling the correspondence for constituents,

guiding them through the numerous litany of government processes and

services available to them and, of course, helping to keep me organized and

well informed of matters going on in the community when I am doing work

here.

Will the House please join me in making them feel very

welcome.

[2:05 p.m.]

J. Phillip: Today in the House, we have with us the Downtown Eastside SRO

Collaborative, a group of tenants and organizers who are here with us today

to bear witness to the debate of Bill 27.

The SRO Collaborative is organizing peer programs in 60 of the

privately owned hotels with a goal of helping tenants gradually gain more

voice and autonomy over their homes. Their work prevents homelessness,

builds community and improves habitability and safety for the 3,500 tenants

in these privately owned hotels.

Please make them feel welcome here today.

M. Lee: I wish to join the Minister of Labour in welcoming Mr. Balbir Sahota

of Surrey to our chamber here — Mr. Sahota, good to see you — as well as Mr.

Daljit Sidhu, who is a pioneer of the Punjabi Market in South Vancouver. He

has been a great friend to the community.

Many of you know his work, as well, with the Insurance Brokers of

British Columbia, and the fact that Mr. Sidhu has done many great things in

the community to bring all of us together. He continues to talk about

multi-faith, interfaith discussions and bringing many ethnocultural

communities together and the good benefit and the support of a more

inclusive society, including in South Vancouver.

All members, please join me in welcoming Mr. Sidhu. Thank

you.

G. Begg: I rise today to introduce three guests of mine in the gallery. They

are the family of my former constituency assistant, who is now our current

caucus constituency support manager, Priyanka Krishna. Her father, Gopal,

her mother, Betty, and her aunt Shirley are visiting her now.

This family moved here to Canada in 1998 and began their journey of

becoming Canadian citizens. Before moving here, Betty was a teacher in India

and Dubai, and Gopal was a pilot and business owner. Gopal is now a retired

TransLink bus driver and a union brother. He retired after 15 years of

service. However, he still works as a tax advisor, and when he isn’t

working, he air models or helps out at their local church.

Betty is a retired child care provider. She ran her home daycare in

Burnaby for over 20 years and just had her last cohort of kids leave at the

end of the year. She now spends her time busy in her garden and her church

and community groups. Shirley is a retired head emergency nurse who, after

40 years of service, has finally come to Canada for a holiday.

Would the House please make them feel welcome.

Hon. S. Malcolmson: Mr. Speaker, allow me to introduce more people from Nanaimo who are in

the House today.

Across the way, my friend Kwul’a’sul’tun, former Chief of Snuneymuxw

First Nation, Doug White III, now special counsel to the Premier.

Also, one year ago today she joined my constituency office team in

Nanaimo, Anna Bosa. She’s here for the first time with her family-in-law,

Lynne Wilson and Kevin Banks.

Will the House please make them all very welcome.

D. Routley: Joining us today in the gallery are representatives from two

organizations on Gabriola Island: Kristina Baerg, Rob Brockley, Hugh Skinner

and Ann Landry.

The first organization is the Gabriola Land and Trails Trust, which

this year celebrates two decades of working to conserve areas of

environmental, historical and social importance on Gabriola and which has

been instrumental in developing a network of sustainable parklands and

trails throughout the island.

[2:10 p.m.]

The second, more recently established group is the Gabriola Island

Memorial Society, which was formed with the goal of establishing a green

burial and memorial park on Gabriola Island.

These two groups have partnered with the vision of creating a green

burial site surrounded by a network of trails and areas for quiet

reflection, and they are currently working together to acquire a piece of

land known as Honeysuckle Woods.

They are joined with an amazing CA, my CA, no stranger to many on both

sides of the House, Pam Cooling.

Would the House please join me in welcoming these amazing community

volunteers and my CA to the Legislature.

D. Ashton: I’ve served 11 years here, and believe it or not, I always say this is

my Victoria family. Just like my family at home, we don’t get along all the

time, but you know what, we’re still family — those past and present on the

floor. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be home today, but today my mom turns

Let’s all wish her a happy birthday.

Thank you. I really appreciate it, seriously.

Before I sit down, I have two friends — I’ve never had anybody from

Summerland — the gentleman and his lovely wife up here, Doug MacDonald and

Donna MacDonald. I grew up with Doug MacDonald. From grade 1, we’ve known

each other. Along came a beautiful lady in his life, Donna. They married,

have two wonderful children. They are both incredible teachers. Doug

finished his career as a principal. Donna taught kids with special needs and

also taught kids from the Penticton Indian Band and did a wonderful job at

it.

Could my Victoria family make the two individuals up there that I call

friends welcome, please.

The Speaker: If anybody was left out, not introduced, on behalf of all members, we

welcome you. Thank you so much for coming. I think this was the longest

introduction session on record.

Introduction and

First Reading of Bills

BILL M227 — SOCIAL WORKERS

AMENDMENT ACT,

S. Furstenau presented a bill intituled Social Workers Amendment Act,

S. Furstenau: I move that a bill intituled the Social Workers Amendment Act,

2024, be introduced and read a first time now.

Oversight, accountability and ethics are crucial to protecting the

health and safety of those working in social services and the people

they serve. While social workers are regulated across Canada, in B.C.

only a fraction are required to register with the College of Social

Workers. Those employed by the B.C. government in the Ministry of

Children and Family Development and the Ministry of Social Development

and Poverty Reduction are exempt.

This bill would amend the Social Workers Act to require all people

using the title “social worker” to hold a degree in social work and be

registered with the B.C. College of Social Workers. Properly regulating

social workers in B.C. would strengthen the profession and protect the

public. The First Nations Leadership Council and the B.C. Association of

Social Workers have long called for this change. This bill would require

all social workers to adhere to the established code of ethics and

standards of care established by the profession. It would help minimize

the risk of fraud and harm, and it would provide recourse for those

experiencing abuse in the systems, paving the way for greater trust and

accountability.

We know the problems in our social welfare systems have been

urgent and ongoing. This is one small step to improving the delivery of

services, protecting the profession and title of social worker, and most

importantly, protecting the public.

We hope the government recognizes the value of this important

legislative change.

The Speaker: Members, the question is first reading of the bill.

Motion approved.

S. Furstenau: I move the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second

reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Bill M227, Social Workers Amendment Act, 2024, introduced, read a

first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading

at the next sitting of the House after today.

BILL M228 — VICTIMS OF CRIME

(PUBLICATION BAN CHOICE

AND

AWARENESS) AMENDMENT ACT, 2024

K. Kirkpatrick presented a bill intituled Victims of Crime

(Publication Ban Choice and Awareness) Amendment Act, 2024.

K. Kirkpatrick: I move that a bill intituled Victims of Crime (Publication Ban

Choice and Awareness) Amendment Act, 2024, of which notice has been

given in my name on the order paper, be introduced and read for the

first time now.

I rise to address a significant oversight in our current justice

system that has left survivors of gender-based violence without the

support and rights they critically need and without their

voice.

[2:15 p.m.]

This bill I am introducing seeks to empower survivors of

gender-based violence by ensuring they are fully informed about

publication bans that might apply to their own case. This legislation is

about giving survivors the ability to make informed decisions regarding

their privacy and how their cases are discussed publicly.

It aligns with federal bill S-12, and it will mandate that all

provincial justice system personnel, including police officers, must

inform survivors if a publication ban is in place. More importantly, it

will guide survivors on how to request a variation or revocation of such

bans, giving them more control over their own personal information.

While publication bans are meant to protect victims, in many cases it

just works to protect the perpetrators.

This piece of legislation was developed in close consultation with

Jade Nielsen and her colleague Kelly, originally working with My Voice,

My Choice. It reflects the needs and recommendations directly from

survivors and those who support them daily. By amending the provincial

Victims of Crime Act, we ensure that every victim of sexual offences in

our province can have a voice and a choice in the matter of publication

bans. We have to strengthen protections for victims of gender-based

violence and defend their rights strongly.

The time to act is now. We must not delay in making these

essential changes that support victims of violence. I urge my colleagues

across the aisle to stand with me in supporting this bill and in

ensuring that our justice system is truly just and supports

survivors.

The Speaker: Members, the question is first reading of the bill.

Motion approved.

K. Kirkpatrick: I move that this bill be placed on the orders of the day for

second reading of the next sitting of the House after today.

Bill M228, Victims of Crime (Publication Ban Choice and Awareness)

Amendment Act, 2024, introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed

on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House

after today.

Statements

(Standing Order 25B)

KIM BLACK AND CYSTIC FIBROSIS

AWARENESS AND

FUNDRAISING

M. Babchuk: May is Cystic Fibrosis Month, and I’d like to take this time to

highlight an inspirational woman in Campbell River and her remarkable

family.

Kim Black was diagnosed with CF at 16 months of age. The family

was devastated, but they weren’t just going to sit back and watch her

health decline. So they started an official

chapter of Cystic Fibrosis

Canada in Campbell River to raise awareness of the disease.

The family was very strict with Kim’s treatments at home and

travelled to the CF clinic in Vancouver every three months for

specialized care. As she got older, she spent more and more time in

hospital on IV antibiotics. She was diagnosed with CF-related diabetes

the year she graduated from school but then went on to graduate with a

bachelor of science in nursing. She worked for several years in

Vancouver, but eventually the disease worsened, and she had to

stop.

Kim works daily to maintain her level of health and continues to

raise awareness and fundraise. She’s been awarded the Courage to Come

Back Award and several CF Canada provincial and national awards in

recognition of her advocacy. Approximately six years ago, she was lucky

enough to participate in the clinical trials for Trikafta. She saw

immediate and significant improvement in her lung function and overall

health. Today she lives back in Campbell River with her family and

six-year-old son along with her husband, and she is continuing her

efforts.

The Black family and the Campbell River

chapter of Cystic Fibrosis

have raised well over $2 million from their Brind’Amour Nugent-Hopkins

Golf Classic. This year the CF Campbell River group is hosting the Walk

to Make Cystic Fibrosis History. It takes place on Sunday, May 26 at

École Willow Point Elementary School, registration at 10:30, start

walking at 11, and the Kinsmen will be doing a barbecue lunch following

the walk.

Please go to the Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis History website,

sign up or donate.

We’ve come a long way with this disease and the treatment for CF,

but we still have no cure. Let’s make cystic fibrosis

history.

ENERGETIC COUNTY FAIR

D. Davies: The Energetic County Fair is coming back to Fort St. John for a

third year, and it’s bigger and better than ever. The three-day festival

includes performances from headlining international music stars joined

by our world-class local and regional performers that will provide music

and song from different genres and styles to provide entertainment for a

wide range of music lovers.

[2:20 p.m.]

This year’s headliners include the classic rock icon April Wine

and country music star Terri Clark. Chapel Hart is back by popular

demand. We have American Idol sensation Cameron Whitcomb; a

Bryan Adams tribute band called Reckless; an ’80s rock band, Witchazel;

and none other than our own Peace River South’s HAVEN, who will be

performing at the festival this year. It’s a great opportunity to share

the stage with big names, large audiences and to showcase the amazing

talent we have.

The festival will take place this July 18 to 20. It’s situated

just a few minutes from town in Charlie Lake. It’ll be full of vendors,

a local craft beer market, activities for kids and, of course, the 20

musical performers entertaining everyone for all three days. There’s a

campground to stay beside the fairgrounds and, of course, there will be

shuttles back and forth to Fort St. John.

Four years ago the organizer of the county fair, Dale Plourde,

moved back to Fort St. John and wanted to use his skills and background

that he had honed in Vancouver by hosting such events. And he wanted to

bring it back to the Peace region. He aimed high, and his first

Energetic County Fair was a great learning experience. By the second

year, he had sold 3,500 tickets. This year they’re well on their way to

reaching 4,500 tickets from folks right across the continent.

The festival has brought tourism dollars to the region and helps

make Fort St. John a destination for travel. It is food, art, music and

culture at its best.

Please do not miss this historical event.

DES WILSON

R. Glumac: There can be a lot of division out there in the world, and how we

handle differences of opinion says a lot about who we are.

I knew a man of incredible principle who was also one of the

kindest men I’ve ever known. Des Wilson became president of my riding

executive and was always the steady voice of calm, no matter what issue

arose. When the party he supported went forward with building Site C, he

calmly resigned on principle.

His care for the environment was uncompromising. He started early

in his career as a geologist working in the field but extended, through

his time at Douglas College, as an educator, where he started the

college’s first environmental science course with the love of his life,

Adrienne. It was there, always striving for fairness, that he reformed

the college to allow more educators to have job stability.

Later in life he turned his time to the arts. I first met Des when

I joined the board of the Port Moody Arts Centre. He was an accomplished

woodturner, and he firmly believed that art is fundamental in community.

And community is something he nurtured every day of his life, whether it

be music nights at his home or when he created an art-in-the-garden

event to bring art lovers out to visit their neighbours.

Des showed all those around him that we are all people. We all

deserve to be treated with respect. His disagreements were never

personal but always principled.

We’ll miss him, but his wisdom will carry forward in all the

people whose lives he has touched.

PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS HOCKEY TEAM

AND HEAD COACH MARK

LAMB

S. Bond: Well, it was a season for the record books, and while it didn’t

end quite the way we hoped it would, we could not be more proud of the

Prince George Cougars hockey team and organization.

I’ve been a proud supporter of the team since they arrived in

Prince George 30 seasons ago. My colleagues on this side of the aisle

certainly know that, as I rarely miss a chance to rub a little salt in

the wound when one of my local team humbles one of theirs.

As B.C. division champions, the WHL Cougars gave me plenty of

those opportunities this season. It was clear from the beginning of the

season that this was a special group of players poised to take the

Cougars to new heights. Led by league-leading goal scorer Zac Funk, of

Coldstream and rookie goaltending sensation Josh Ravensbergen of North

Vancouver, the Cougars earned a B.C. division crown and the best record

in the Western Conference.

The excitement that was building throughout the season erupted as

the playoffs began, and Prince George showed up as they always do,

selling out the CN Centre, wearing white and loudly cheering on our

team.

Through the first two rounds, the Cougars fed off the excitement

of the home crowd and defeated their opponents from Spokane and, yes,

Kelowna.

The Cougars fought hard in the Western Conference finals against

Portland, but unfortunately, the bounces did not go our way.

Despite the heartbreaking defeat, the Cougars made us all proud of

them this season. It truly was a season to remember.

[2:25 p.m.]

I want to also acknowledge the accomplishments of head coach and

general manager Mark Lamb, who won both the WHL’s Executive of the Year

and Coach of the Year awards for his tremendous success in building and

coaching this roster. And while some players will move on to

professional leagues or on to college scholarships, Coach Lamb will be

back with a strong core of returning players who will ensure that we

have lots to cheer about next season.

Thank you for an amazing hockey season.

Go, Cats, go!

ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH AND POETRY

A. Singh: May is Asian Heritage Month in British Columbia and a chance for

us to celebrate the numerous contributions Asian Canadians have made to

our province.

Poetry is the language of the heart, and I wanted to share some

poems that illustrate the diversity of talent that B.C. has given

us.

The first is “My dad cuts fruits for me.” It’s by Harman Kaur, who

now lives in the Bay area but was born right here in Abbotsford, B.C. It

speaks to undertones of discrimination that exist in stereotypes, and it

hits close to the heart, as I also cut fruits for my daughter, Leni, and

she’s the absolute centre of my life.

Where my parents come from,

the men do not lift a finger

in the kitchen,

but my dad cuts fruits for me.

My people prefer

to have sons over daughters,

but my dad cuts fruits for

me.

Punjabi dads are supposed to be cold and removed from their

daughters,

but my dad cuts fruits for me.

Daughters are going to

leave one day and go to their real homes,

but my dad cuts fruits for

me.

The second is by my friend Rita Wong, who is an accomplished poet

and well-known environmentalist and teaches in the critical and cultural

studies program at Emily Carr University. It’s “Q’élstexw.” I hope I get

that right. It’s Halq’eméylem.

stubborn

Halq’eméylem springs up

among the newspaper boxes and mail

receptacles

in the shade of the thqa:t

along the

sidewalks lined with grass and pta:kwem

waiting to grow

anywhere they can

around the supermarkets full of transported food

kwukemels , tomatoes, chocolate and chicken

under

the wet green shelter of chestnut and p’xwelhp

leaves

carried on the tricky wings of skwówéls ,

also

known as qukin , gaak , gwawis ,

setsé7

and more in the languages of this land

more to

tree & bracken & cucumber & oak & raven

than meets

the stiff I

root & stomach & seed speak glottal, gut &

gift

return

CENTRAL OKANAGAN CRIME STOPPERS

B. Stewart: Imagine a quiet evening in the heart of the Central Okanagan.

Families are gathered around dinner tables. Children are playing in

their yards. The tranquility of our community seems

unbreakable.

But suddenly the pieces shatter. A masked figure storms into a

local convenience store, demanding cash and other valuables. Fear grips

the hearts of the innocent bystanders, and the sense of security that

once enveloped our community is threatened.

In the face of chaos, our story takes a turn. As the perpetrator

flees into the night, a concerned citizen, witnessing the crime from a

safe distance, picks up their phone. They call a number that has become

the beacon of hope in our community, the number for the Central Okanagan

Crime Stoppers. This call sets off a chain of events that will ensure

justice is served and peace is restored.

For over 37 years, the Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers has been a

cornerstone of community safety. Staffed by two dedicated individuals,

the program has processed over 32,600 tips, recovering over $94 million

in stolen goods and drugs and clearing thousands of cases.

The Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers Society, with its dynamic

board, spearheads fundraising and educational initiatives that further

empower our residents. There are innovative approaches, including Make

Bail — admittedly something that I’ve been arrested for and had to make

bail; bike safety rodeos; the integration of the Project 529 app; and

actively advancing crime prevention.

The Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers doesn’t merely respond to

threats; they proactively prevent and dismantle them, safeguarding our

community and tranquility and ensuring a legacy of safety for

generations to come.

[2:30 p.m.]

Oral Questions

CANCER CARE SERVICES AND

HOSPITAL PROJECT IN

SURREY

K. Falcon: This Premier promised the people of B.C. results that people could

see, feel and touch. Well, the results are in. Health care outcomes in

this province have never been worse than they are today.

Shocking new documents obtained by the opposition reveal that

Surrey patients suffer the longest cancer treatment delays in the

province. The documents also reveal: “Today B.C. cancer system capacity

is insufficient to meet patient needs, and in Surrey, only 42 percent of

new patients see an oncologist within the clinically recommended time

frame.”

My question to the Premier: cancer is a disease that doesn’t wait.

After years of promising results, why has this Premier failed to deliver

better results for cancer patients in Surrey?

Hon. A. Dix: It’s why, in B.C., we’re on a ten-year cancer plan; why last year

we added, across British Columbia, 92 new cancer doctors; why we’ve

increased investments; and why in Surrey, at a hospital in Cloverdale

that the Leader of the Opposition, a former MLA for Cloverdale,

opposed…. You can’t go home again, I guess. He opposed.

We’re ensuring that Surrey will have two cancer centres, to ensure

that the growing size of Surrey and the growing demand for cancer

treatment in Surrey are reflected by the resources in the

system.

The Speaker: Leader of the Official Opposition, supplemental.

K. Falcon: Well, this is the same NDP government that is currently sending

cancer patients to the United States of America, to the evil private

health care system that they always decry. Why? It’s because they can’t

deliver basic radiation treatments here in British Columbia.

The fact of the matter is that the last time this ever happened in

British Columbia was the last time the NDP were in power. It is

literally a self-created crisis.

Let’s be clear. It is under this NDP government that cancer care

wait times in Surrey have become the worst in the province. The member

mentions the second hospital. For seven long years, the NDP has been

promising Surrey a new full-service hospital. Instead, residents will

get a shockingly inadequate facility that is already $1.2 billion over

budget and three years behind its scheduled construction

start.

New freedom-of-information documents reveal that this inadequate

168-bed facility is projected to be way over capacity before the doors

even open. The clinical services plan admits that the entire facility,

along with the operating rooms and procedure rooms, will be outdated and

inefficient years before a single patient even walks through the

doors.

My question to the minister, since the Premier won’t answer any

questions: with skyrocketing costs and endless delays, when will this

government end this disastrous NDP mismanagement and actually deliver

the full-service hospital Surrey desperately needs?

Hon. A. Dix: A lot of people can ask legitimate questions about health care,

but the person who decided to sell the land for Surrey’s second hospital

to a Liberal donor…. Yes, there should be a second hospital today, and

they sold the land. They sold the land.

We need more medical professionals in British Columbia. We’re

building a new medical school in Surrey with SFU. Who stopped that from

happening when he was Minister of Health, Minister of Finance? The

Leader of the Opposition.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh, Members.

Hon. A. Dix: We’re building a cardiac catheterization lab in Surrey. A new

renal centre in Surrey is being built now as the hospital is being

built.

Interjection.

The Speaker: Member.

Hon. A. Dix: We’ve added, at Surrey Memorial Hospi­tal — 180 positions, full

new positions at Surrey Memorial Hospital; a new urgent and primary care

centre in Newton; a new urgent and primary care centre in North Surrey.

The list goes on and on. There is more investment in health care in

Surrey than ever before.

[2:35 p.m.]

The contrast with a political party on the opposite side, which

sold out Surrey and sold their land for the hospital, could not be more

stark.

T. Halford: Only this NDP government can continually overpromise and

underdeliver when it comes to health care, especially in

Surrey.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh, Members.

T. Halford: After seven years of broken NDP promises, we are still waiting. By

2030, this project will have dragged on for 13 years since it was first

announced. Worse yet, 168 beds, no ICU, no maternity ward, no pediatric

care — 13 years, and they can’t even deliver that.

If someone suffers a heart attack or has a serious illness just a

block away, are they going to go there? No, they’re not, because it’s a

triage centre for minor treatments. This is all confirmed in FOI

documents. The minister should know that, and he should be transparent

in this House when he stands up to answer a question.

Why does the Premier continue to fail Surrey with inadequate and

delayed half-measures instead of giving Surrey a full-service hospital

that they deserve?

Hon. A. Dix: It’s the new Surrey hospital and cancer centre. They stand up, and

they ask a question about cancer. Surrey will be the only community in

B.C., the only one with two cancer centres. Why? It’s going to be our

largest community — our fastest-growing population, our fastest-growing

seniors population over the next 15 years.

Cancer is today the leading cause of death in Surrey.

Interjection.

Hon. A. Dix: Well, hon. Speaker, they may be opposed. I know they’re opposed to

a new cancer centre in Surrey. They’re opposed to a second hospital in

Surrey. They’re opposed to the medical school in Surrey. They’re opposed

to the new tower at Surrey Memorial Hospital. They’re opposed to urgent

and primary care centres.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, shhh. Members.

Hon. A. Dix: They’re opposed to new MRI machines, and they’re opposed to the

cardiac catheterization lab, but we are delivering all those, and we’re

going to continue to deliver them.

The Speaker: Surrey–White Rock, supplemental.

T. Halford: The minister wants to get up in this House and talk about cancer

care in Surrey? Well, let me tell him about a constituent.

A gentleman goes in and is diagnosed with cancer in January. He

can’t get in to see his oncologist. When he finally gets in, they tell

him: “We can operate, and we can get rid of the cancer.” In April, he

goes in and spends three days in Surrey Memorial, in the hallway by the

ambulance bay, where his wife has to bring him in a blanket and a pillow

because he’s freezing.

At the end of that visit, the doctor comes and tells him: “We’re

sorry. Your cancer has progressed. There is nothing more that we can

do.” He’s telling him that story in a loading bay in a hallway at Surrey

Memorial Hospital. That is this minister’s record when it comes to

cancer care in Surrey.

This new, promised hospital is already $1.22 billion over budget

and three years behind schedule, and we know it’s disastrously

undersized. With such obvious gaps, this hospital is full before it even

opens.

When will the Premier take responsibility, fix these major

failures caused by this minister and actually give us a project and a

hospital Surrey deserves?

Hon. A. Dix: In every case, when people raise cases to my attention…. Members

know this. We consider every case important, in the health care system,

and we act that way.

One of the ways you deal with that in the future is to have a

health human resources plan that leads the country, which we do. We were

sixth in family doctors per capita when I became Minister of Health.

We’re first now. We’ve got to do more. We’ve led Canada in new

registered nurses over the last seven years. We were, of course, tenth

in that category when I became Minister of Health — which would be great

if there were 100 provinces.

We have invested in health sciences professionals who are needed

to support diagnostic care across our health care system. Working with

the Health Sciences Association, working with the Doctors of B.C.,

working with doctors in Surrey and everywhere else, we are delivering

the most effective health human resources in our country, and we are

going to continue to deliver.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members.

[2:40 p.m.]

Hon. A. Dix: Hon. Speaker, the facts are the facts. The only time….

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members.

Member for Surrey South.

The minister will continue.

Hon. A. Dix: Thank you, hon. Speaker.

Yes, we are building a second hospital in Surrey. Yes, we are

building a new tower at Surrey Memorial Hospital. Yes, we are building a

Surrey medical school. Yes, we’re building a cardiac catheterization

lab. Yes, we’re building a new renal centre. Yes, we’re adding to

maternity care at Surrey Memorial Hospital. Yes, we’re adding primary

care in Surrey. We’re going to continue to do that because we put

patients first, on this side of the House. We put patients first on this

side of the House.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh, Members. Members.

Hon. A. Dix: When they decided to sell out Surrey patients, sell out Surrey

patients and sell off the land for a hospital, they put Surrey back ten

years. We’re putting it back on the right track.

WILD SALMON POPULATION

AND HABITAT

PROTECTION

A. Olsen: SĆÁÁNEW̱ , salmon, are

the backbone of this province. They’ve nourished the land, the economies

and cultures of these territories for thousands of years. Despite their

importance, the draft ecosystem health and bio­diversity framework did

not include wild salmon or recognize the urgent need to stem land use

activities that degrade and destroy salmon habitat.

The province once celebrated salmon, dedicating a panel in the

rotunda just outside here to this iconic species and the industry. But

habitat loss, overfishing, logging in watersheds, fish farms and climate

change have pushed salmon stocks to the brink of collapse.

My question is to the Premier. When he decides to replace that

mural out there in that rotunda, the wild Pacific salmon mural, will he

replace it with a fracking rig and the massive welded pipes or a

hellscape of wildfires and hungry, thirsty British

Columbians?

Hon. G. Heyman: I would hope the member would realize that this government has put

significant work into rehabilitating habitat for wild salmon, into

taking measures to protect wild salmon. I want to pay particular tri­bute

to the Parliamentary Secretaries for Fisheries and Aquaculture, as well

as for Watershed Restoration.

The member should know that we are developing a wild salmon

strategy. The member does know that we are developing a watershed

security strategy and fund. The member should know — I’m sure does know

— that we had a healthy watersheds initiative, and that we continue to

take action to rehabilitate wild salmon stocks, to protect them, to work

with First Nations to accomplish that.

There are a range of initiatives under my colleague, the Minister

of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship that are designed to do just

that.

The Speaker: Member, supplemental.

A. Olsen: What I do know is that it’s clear that this government is

strapping all their environmental woes to the former head of the Sierra

Club, on his way out of this place.

My dad, ZȺWIZUT, Carl Olsen,

successfully defended his Douglas treaty hunting and fishing rights

against this province in the Supreme Court of Canada. He’s actively

protesting a plan to build a highway on top of Goldstream, our critical

salmon habitat pushed to the brink by both deforestation and increased

traffic, standing each Tuesday with his signs and his allies,

ZȺWIZUT now defends the trees

that provide cover to the spawning beds.

This is the story of so many creeks, streams and rivers in this

province that would be lucky to have a

ZȺWIZUT standing in their

defence. We wonder where our salmon are. Instead of slowing traffic down

through the park or modifying human behaviour like the hundreds of

drivers mindlessly texting as they speed past

ZȺWIZUT, it’s the salmon who are

going to pay the price.

To the Premier, with the fishing industry all but extir­pated in

this province from this B.C. economy, will the Premier lease that mural

space out there depicting the fishing industry to the fossil fuel

lobbyists for advertising so that the Minister of Energy can be very

clear who’s calling the shots and so that the visitors of this place

will know exactly what the members of this House have done to a once

glorious industry in this province?

Hon. G. Heyman: Every member on this side of the House knows how important wild

salmon are to the people of this province and to the First Nations who

have lived here for millennia and their people. We have heard that

directly from the nations with whom we meet. I heard that as recently as

yesterday.

[2:45 p.m.]

We are in the midst of an overarching project to ensure that we

look at things holistically. Whether it’s changing the parameters of the

Forest Act to put ecosystem health first, whether it’s ensuring that

land use planning is inte­grated in the Ministry of Water, Land and

Resource Stewardship and that we bring together a wild salmon strategy,

watershed security strategy and a coastal restoration strategy, we are

taking actions because the way that we’ve done things in the past just

did not work.

You cannot make decision by decision in isolation and expect to

protect the ecosystems on which we depend. We’re changing the paradigm.

We’re working hard at it. There are a number of people on this side of

the House who work together on that and will continue to do that

work.

BUILDING CODE ENERGY REGULATIONS

FOR NEW HOUSING

UNITS

B. Banman: When looking for a new home, how many B.C. families say: “Gee, I

really hope our next home has tiny windows, poor airflow, a bad layout

and also cost 30 percent more”? My bet is none. Not a one. But this is

exactly what this NDP government is doing with a pile of NDP red tape

called the step code. This NDP Premier’s red tape is forcing builders to

build dark, stuffy homes that cost way more.

My question to the Minister of Housing: why is this NDP government

punishing B.C. families struggling to find a new home with red tape that

makes new homes less livable and less affordable?

Hon. R. Kahlon: No doubt people across British Columbia — in fact, across the

country — are struggling to find affordable housing.

I’m pleased to hear the B.C. Conservatives, for the first time,

ask a question about housing. I’m pleased to see that they’ve got some

interest in this important topic. We have been taking steps to increase

the amount of housing, different types of housing, available for British

Columbians.

The member, I’m sure, knows that last session, we brought in a

whole host of legislation to ensure that we can get more types of

housing being built, cutting red tape so that decisions can be made

faster. He opposed it all. He opposed all of it.

To the member’s question about building code, the building code is

an important piece to ensure that when a home is built and someone has

the opportunity to own that home for a long time, it is built at a high

standard. Surely the member is not talking about getting rid of codes so

that there is no certainty for anyone buying a home whether their home

is going to last them a long time.

The member should be aware that we had a situation recently that

was canvassed by the official opposition, not by the Conservative Party,

in this House, when we were talking about a project that had people in

Langford having to be evicted from their brand new home because the

project didn’t meet basic code. That’s what’s at risk if you compromise

the building code in British Columbia.

So yes, we want housing for people. Yes, we want affordable

housing. But we will not compromise safety in any way.

The Speaker: House Leader of the Fourth Party, supplemental.

B. Banman: This NDP Premier’s CleanBC plan states that B.C. will mandate the

most extreme level of step code, net-zero-ready, for every new home in

B.C. by 2032. Right now, this NDP Premier is letting NDP-aligned

municipal politicians mandate net-zero insanity today in the middle of a

housing crisis.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Let’s hear the question.

B. Banman: This is yet another example of how this NDP Premier and NDP

government has zero common sense.

My question….

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members. The Member for Abbotsford South has the floor,

please.

Please continue.

B. Banman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My question to the Minister of Housing: Minister, can you please

tell this House why you think it is a good idea to have policies that

jack up construction costs and force B.C. families to live in dark,

narrow homes with tiny windows and less fresh air?

The Speaker: Through the Chair, Member.

Minister.

[2:50 p.m.]

Hon. R. Kahlon: Thank you, hon. Speaker. Every time I stand up to answer a

question from the member, it seems to get a little more bizarre every

single time. Surely the member is not advocating for us to build homes

that are not safe for people over the long term. Surely that’s not what

he’s advocating for.

I looked for the housing policy of the B.C. Conserva­tives and just

found empty pages and random rhetoric, and that’s what we’re hearing

here today.

I think it’s important for anyone that’s buying a home to know,

when they buy that home, that it’s up to the highest standards, that

it’s built to the highest standards, that it has got energy efficiency.

They may have bought the home, but then the cost to maintain the home is

so high.

I know it’s hard for the member to understand. He doesn’t believe

climate change is real, so I appreciate that it’s hard for him to

understand why we focus on sustainability. But when people buy homes, we

want to make sure that not only can they afford their first home, but

also that the costs to operate that home are the lowest

possible.

We’re going to continue to do that work. If he has any thoughtful

or helpful suggestions, those would always be welcome, but I don’t think

he has any of those.

GOVERNMENT ACTION ON REPEAT

OFFENDERS AND CRIME IN

COMMUNITIES

E. Sturko: Eighteen months ago the Premier promised safer communities, saying

that the big indicator is “when British Columbians feel safer.” That

promise is utterly broken.

Today nobody feels safe. Just days ago on Commercial Drive, a

young mother breastfeeding her four-month-old baby was violently

assaulted in her car by a stranger, who then attempted to grab her baby.

This is someone that was already known to police. This is a person who

was making and posting videos online about killing women, yet he was

allowed to roam the streets and attack a breastfeeding

mother.

My question is: when will the Premier stop enabling prolific

offenders and put the rights of victims ahead of an offender’s right to

reoffend?

Hon. M. Farnworth: I appreciate the question and, obviously, share the same concern

when a case like this is raised.

It’s why this government has and continues to take action on the

public safety front. That’s why we have in place the safer communities

action plan that has given additional resources for police to be able to

deal with repeat violent offenders, a program that we put in place and

have given permanent funding to, a program which once existed, when they

sat on this side of the House, and that they cancelled.

It’s why we’ve pushed for bail reform so that we can ensure that

those who are a risk in terms of being violent can be denied bail and

kept off the streets. It was this government that led that initiative to

get that expanded so that it wasn’t just about firearms, but it was

about people who use violence, whether it be knives or other

weapons.

We will continue to work with local governments. We will continue

to work with police. We will continue to work with the federal

government to make the changes necessary to the Criminal Code to help

keep our com­munities safe.

The Speaker: Surrey South, supplemental.

E. Sturko: I have heard minister after minister today answering questions by

standing up and talking about programs, talking about promises, but

never taking responsibility for their results. These are their

results.

The NDP Premier promised. He promised that people would feel safer

in their communities, and 18 months later, nothing could be further from

the truth. We have an escalating gang conflict, random stabbings, social

disorder and rampant taxpayer-funded drug trafficking. Violent crimes

have increased 37 percent under this soft-on-crime Pre­mier’s

catch-and-release policies.

My question: why has the Premier failed to deliver the safe

communities he promised?

Hon. M. Farnworth: Again, I appreciate the question from the member.

One of the things that we always want to do is to ensure that we

have a good understanding of statistics. I can inform the member, for

example, that in Delta, violent crime is down over the last three years

by 9 percent, robberies down by 71 percent, other offences by persons

down 28 percent. That’s not just unique to Delta.

Prince George, bike theft down 83 percent.

Interjections.

[2:55 p.m.]

The Speaker: Continue.

Hon. M. Farnworth: They proclaim to be concerned about public safety. I’ve just read

out statistics from a community in Delta around assaults and violent

assaults against people showing a downward trend.

Now, there are other things that they have raised in the past

about theft. Again, I’m pointing out that in the case of Prince George,

bike theft is down 83 percent, break and enters are down 19 percent, and

mischief under $5,000 is down 8 percent.

In Kamloops, overall crime is down 2 percent, breaking and

entering in businesses is down, and theft of motor vehicles is down 18

percent.

The reality is that the initiatives that this government has put

in place are tools that police have asked for. That’s why we’ve made a

push for changes to the Criminal Code. That’s why we’ve put in place the

ReVOII program for repeat violent offenders. That’s why we’ve put in

place the SITE funding, special investigative funding that communities

across this province and police have been praising.

The Speaker: Thank you. Thank you, Minister.

Hon. M. Farnworth: We are going to do everything we can to keep communities safe, and

it’s working.

CRIME IN COMMUNITIES AND

GANG ACTIVITY IN

KAMLOOPS

T. Stone: Well, tell that to the young mother who was breastfeeding her

four-month-old and was violently assaulted by a stranger. Nobody

believes this minister. He can rattle off all the statistics that he

wants to. The fact of the matter is that the results on crime are

terrible.

In Kamloops, we have an open gang war and unchecked violence, with

five brazen shootings over four days. The RCMP have issued unprecedented

warnings telling people in Kamloops to watch out for flying bullets in

broad daylight in neighbourhoods across our city, from the south shore

to the north shore. Parents are, frankly, terrified to let their

children play outside, fearing that any street could become the next

gang battleground.

My question to the Premier is this. Why has this soft-on-crime

Premier so badly failed to protect so many communities, leaving people

in cities like Kamloops fearing for their safety?

Hon. M. Farnworth: I heard the comment from the Leader of the Opposition, which once

again illustrates just how little he really does take public safety in

the province of British Columbia. What I can tell….

Interjection.

Hon. M. Farnworth: The member says he doesn’t care about bike theft. Tell that to a

kid who worked really hard to earn money to save for a bike. He says he

doesn’t care if the bike gets stolen. That is shameful.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members, shhh. Shhh.

Members.

Hon. M. Farnworth: In the case of the gang activity in Kamloops, what I can tell the

hon. member is that police have devoted significant resources in terms

of…. The gang enforcement unit is up in Kamloops. They are providing

additional resources to police on the street. The warning that was put

out was put out deliberately in terms of two individuals. A number of

arrests have been made already, and there’s a surge of resources into

that community.

It’s one of the reasons why this side of the House put in place

the first witness security program so that police have the tools and

resources they need to be able to deal with gang violence. It’s why we

just announced the creation of the new integrated gang homicide team,

which brings together resources to focus specifically on gang

activity.

We’re putting in place the resources that communities have asked

for. We’re putting in place the resources, the tools, that police have

asked for. We will continue to do that to keep communities

safe.

The Speaker: Opposition House Leader, supplemental.

T. Stone: The recent announcement from the minister, devoting some resources

to a new integrated gang homicide team, made very clear that this team

does not provide resources to anywhere outside of the Lower Mainland.

It’s to disrupt gang activity in the Lower Mainland.

The minister and this government have forgotten that there’s

actually gang activity taking place all across the province. Our beef is

not with the RCMP in Kamloops. It’s not with the hard-working men and

women in the police that are doing their jobs. Our beef is with this

minister, who’s not doing his job.

[3:00 p.m.]

Now, 18 months ago it was this NDP Premier who again promised that

people would feel safe in their communities. Yet in Kamloops, in

addition to this unprecedented gang activity that’s taking place, this

gang warfare, there are continuous residential break-ins from repeat

offenders that have left residents in the Dufferin, Pineview and

Brocklehurst neighbourhoods of Kamloops feeling terrorized and

helpless.

Known criminals are brazenly entering homes and stealing property.

They’re facing no consequences under this Premier’s catch-and-release

policies. Residents have had to go to the extreme lengths of

establishing their own community patrols out of sheer

desperation.

My question again to the minister is this. When will this

soft-on-crime Premier stop prioritizing the rights of repeat offenders

over the rights of honest, hard-working, law-abiding citizens to be safe

in their homes and in their neighbourhoods?

Hon. M. Farnworth: I appreciate the question from the member.

This government takes

public safety in the communities extremely seriously. That’s why, since

the very beginning, our plan was to put in place a witness security

program to allow the RCMP to solve many of the kinds of violent,

difficult types of crimes that have taken place that the member refers

to, something that they failed to do when they sat on this side of the

House.

That’s why we funded sexual assault centres, unlike the cuts that

were made when they sat on this side of the House. That’s why this side

of the House put in place the repeat violent offender program, the

ReVOII program, which used to be a program which they cut when they sat

on this side of the House.

That’s why we’ve spent more than $230 million on hiring 277 RCMP

officers…

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh, Members.

Hon. M. Farnworth: …something they could have done, again, which they failed to

do.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members.

Minister.

Hon. M. Farnworth: Thank you, hon. Speaker.

Major crime unit impacts Kamloops. Highway patrol impacts

Kamloops. Small rural communities that surround Kamloops are benefiting

from those investments. The freeing up of resources around IHIT, because

of the creation of the new gang homicide unit helps Kamloops. We have

put significant resources into communities right across the program. The

site fund….

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, let the minister conclude.

Hon. M. Farnworth: The only thing missing in action on public safety was that side of

the House when they sat on this side of the House. They all made cuts.

We make investments, and we’re going to continue to do that.

[End of question period.]

Petitions

P. Milobar: I have a petition on behalf of the Kamloops white cane club asking

that all residents, seniors and persons with disabilities in B.C. have free

access to eye exams through their own registered optometrist. These user

fees charged by the optometrists will cause hardship and do cause hardship

on our seniors and persons with disabilities. They consider this to be a

preventative measure for health care down the road, and they’ve managed to

collect quite a few signatures…

The Speaker: Thank you.

P. Milobar: …in just a short period of time to make it in before the end of this

sitting.

M. Lee: I rise to table two petitions.

The first petition is on behalf of 425 residents, to date, calling for

new and improved transit services in South Vancouver. The petition states

that with new home-building projects that are reshaping our community and

with them, the need for improved public transit has never been more needed.

With 32 percent of South Vancouver residents, including in Marpole, relying

on transit, among the highest in Vancouver, the services are being

overstretched. Despite the rapidly growing community, transit services lag

far behind.

The petition calls for introducing a new bus service on 57th Avenue,

rapid transit supports on 41st and 49th avenues and a new Canada Line

station…

The Speaker: Thank you.

M. Lee: …at 33rd and 57th avenues. With that, I table these 425

petitions.

The second petition I’d like to table…. This petition is provided by

5,900 concerned B.C. parents and others who have signed this petition,

including constituents of mine in Vancouver-Langara. They are petitioning

and opposing the BCTF motion that was passed back in March of 2024 to lobby

the Ministry of Education and Child Care to add Nakba and the military

occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip to the curriculum.

[3:05 p.m.]

The petition calls on the Ministry of Education and Child Care to

outright reject this proposal. The BCTF motion is seeking to bring

polarizing and isolating political agenda into our classrooms. That’s what

the petitioners are concerned about, creating a hostile learning environment

and targeting and marginalizing particular students or groups.

D. Routley: I rise to present a petition. This petition…

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

The member will continue, please.

D. Routley: …is signed by 1,182 residents of Gabriola. That represents

approximately 25 percent of the population of the island. They seek the

opportunity to acquire 40 acres known as Honeysuckle Woods for a green

burial memorial park.

Reports from Committees

FINANCE AND GOVERNMENT

SERVICES

COMMITTEE

M. Starchuk: I am pleased to present the first report of the Select Standing

Committee on Finance and Government Services for the fifth session of

the 42nd parliament entitled Interim Report on Statutory

Offices .

I move that the report be taken and read as received.

Motion approved.

M. Starchuk: I ask for leave of the House to move a motion to adopt the

report.

Leave granted.

The Speaker: Please continue.

M. Starchuk: In moving adoption of the report, I’d like to make some brief

comments. This report summarizes the committee’s discussions with the

province’s nine statutory officers at the spring update meetings. It is

our committee’s responsibility to exercise…

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

M. Starchuk: …general oversight of the statutory officers. As part of this

work, every spring we meet with the statutory officers to receive

financial and operational updates.

The report also includes our recommendations on several

supplementary funding requests that we received during these meetings.

These requests resulted from legislative changes, project delays,

workload pressures and inflationary cost pressures.

The committee recognizes that some of these budgetary impacts were

not known to the offices when they prepared their budget proposals last

fall. However, the committee continues to emphasize the importance of

accurate budgeting and forecasting, and requesting supplementary funding

only in exceptional or extenuating circumstances.

On behalf of the committee and all the members of the Legislative

Assembly, I extend my appreciation to all the statutory officers and

their staff for the important work that they undertake in support of the

members of the Legislative Assembly and all British

Columbians.

I would also like to acknowledge and extend our appreciation to

the staff of the Parliamentary Committees Office for the support that

they provide to our committee, including Katey Stickle, Mary Heeg,

Jonathon Hamilton, Danielle Migeon, Mary Newell and Alexa

Neufeld.

Our appreciation also goes out to the Hansard staff who supported

the long hours of the committee, including Amanda Heffelfinger, Dwight

Schmidt and Danielle Suter.

I want to make special thanks to Jennifer Arril, who makes the

work that I have to do so much easier on a daily basis.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the committee

members: in alphabetical order, the members for Cariboo North,

Courtenay-Comox, Kelowna West, Langford–​Juan de Fuca, North

Vancouver–Seymour, Powell River–​Sunshine Coast and Richmond South

Centre.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the Deputy Chair,

the member for Kootenay East, for the support and dedication in the work

of this committee.

T. Shypitka: I would also like to extend my gratitude to committee members,

including the Chair, the member for Surrey-Cloverdale, for their

collaboration and diligent work on this committee.

This year during the spring check-in meetings, the committee

requested that each office speak to their workplace culture and the

respectful workplace policies and procedures they have in place. The

committee appreciates those offices that have implemented a fulsome

approach to ensuring a healthy workplace for staff and looks forward to

further updates in this area.

The committee also recognizes the significant work that statutory

officers perform for British Columbians and recognizes the efforts of

many statutory offices to engage with Indigenous, newcomer and ethnic

each office provides.

[3:10 p.m.]

Finally, I would like to echo the comments from the member for

Surrey-Cloverdale and extend a thank-you to the staff from the

Parliamentary Committees Office and Hansard Services, who have helped

the committee in its work.

The Speaker: Members, the question is adoption of the report.

Motion approved.

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER

APPOINTMENT

COMMITTEE

J. Phillip: I have the opportunity to present the report of the Special

Committee to Appoint a Human Rights Commissioner.

I move that the report be taken and read as received.

The Speaker: Members, the question is that the report be taken and read as

received.

Motion approved.

J. Phillip: I ask leave of the House to move a motion to adopt the

report.

Leave granted.

J. Phillip: I move that the report be adopted and, in doing so, I would like

to share some of the remarks about our work.

I am pleased to share that this report contains the committee’s

unanimous recommendation that Kasari Gov­en­der be reappointed as B.C.’s

Human Rights Commissioner for an additional five-year term.

When our committee began our work in January, we learned that the

incumbent Human Rights Commissioner, Kasari Govender, was interested in

serving for a second term. We carefully considered her qualifications,

her experience and her achievements during her first term as

commissioner. After interviewing Ms. Govender, we reached our unanimous

recommendation.

Ms. Govender was appointed as British Columbia’s first independent

Human Rights Commissioner only six months before the start of the

COVID-19 pandemic and faced challenging circumstances while setting up a

new statutory office. The committee was impressed with her work to build

and operationalize the organization, which now has almost 40

staff.

As commissioner, Ms. Govender has provided strong leadership to

the office. We appreciated her focus on authenticity and creating a

respectful and equitable work environment, and value her dedication to

fairness, equality and compassion. In her first term, Ms. Govender

successfully led a range of inquiries, interventions in court cases and

education and research activities. She also demonstrated a commitment to

building relationships and credibility with Indigenous Nations and

communities, government, media and other diverse organizations and

community groups.

The committee particularly appreciated Ms. Govender’s pragmatic

approach and focus on ensuring that her office’s work leads to concrete

improvements in human rights in British Columbia. Ms. Govender had

dedicated herself to advancing and advocating for human rights

throughout her career. Given her expertise and her accomplishments in

her first term, we are confident that she will continue to do excellent

work promoting and protecting human rights upon her

reappointment.

I understand that Ms. Govender is in the House, in the gallery

today, and she’s joined by her son. I would ask that all members join me

in congratulating our recommendation for her reappointment. On behalf of

all members of the House, I’d like to sincerely express our gratitude to

Ms. Govender for her commitment to serve in British Columbia.

[3:15 p.m.]

I would like to thank all the committee members for their

collaborative spirit and commitment to this important work, and

particularly Brittny Anderson, Ravi Parmar, MLA Teresa Wat and

particularly Norm Letnick, who is our Deputy Chair. I thank him for his

leadership.

I would like to ask the House to move a motion that Kasari

Govender be appointed as Human Rights Commissioner. Oh,

sorry.

The Speaker: Thank you, Member. Take a seat. We are not finished

yet.

N. Letnick: Thank you to the Chair for her comments.

I’d like to concur that Ms. Kasari Govender has demonstrated a

commitment to upholding human rights throughout her career. The

committee, unanimously, is confident she will continue to be an

effective Human Rights Commissioner during her second term.

In particular, I want to thank all the Clerk staff, Hansard staff

that worked with us during this process and, of course, the members for

Richmond North Centre, Langford–Juan de Fuca, Nelson-Creston; and our

fabulous, very flexible and open-minded Chair, the member for

Vancouver–Mount Pleasant.

The Speaker: Members, the question is adoption of the report.

Motion approved.

Motions Without Notice

APPOINTMENT OF

HUMAN RIGHTS

COMMISSIONER

J. Phillip: I ask leave of the House to move a motion that Kasari Govender,

KC, be appointed as Human Rights Commissioner.

Leave granted.

J. Phillip: I move:

[That Kasari Govender, K.C., be reappointed as Human Rights

Commissioner for one additional five-year term, effective September 3,

2024, pursuant to

section 47.01 of the Human Rights Code

(R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 210)]

The Speaker: Members, you’ve heard the question.

Motion approved.

The Speaker: On behalf of all the members of this Legislative Assembly, I want

to congratulate the commissioner on accepting her second

term.

We really want to say thank you, and we appreciate your service to

British Columbia. Thank you so much.

Tabling Documents

G. Chow: I have the honour to present a report entitled Report on the

Administration of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy

Act .

Petitions

S. Chandra Herbert: I rise to present a petition to remove the additional rent increases

for capital expend­itures, Residential Tenancy Regulation

section 23.1, ARIC,

signed by 756 British Columbians, respectfully requesting that the

honourable House repeal regulation 23.1 in its entirety because of

significant, disproportionate negative impact on renters in B.C.

Orders of the Day

Hon. R. Kahlon: I call Motion 33 on the order paper.

Government Motions on Notice

MOTION 33 — COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

TO SIT IN

SECTION

Hon. R. Kahlon: I move Motion 33, standing in my name on the order paper, which

seeks to enable

Section C to consider bills at committee

stage:

[That the Sessional Order adopted by the House on March 4, 2024,

enabling certain proceedings of the House to be undertaken in three

sections, be amended by

a. adding the underlined text in

section 6, as

follows: “Section C be authorized to examine all Estimates and any

public bill appearing on the Orders of the Day at committee

stage , which may be considered in the order determined by the

Government House Leader in accordance with Standing Order 27 (2).”

and,

b. adding the underlined text in

section 12, as

follows: “The Members of

Section C be: the Minister whose Estimates are

under examination or who is in charge of the bill under consideration

and Michele Babchuk, Hon. Adrian Dix, Hon. Mike Farnworth, Hon.

Rob Fleming, Hon. Bruce Ralston, Hon. Rachna Singh, Norm Letnick,

Coralee Oakes, Tom Shypitka, Adam Olsen and Bruce

Banman .”]

Motion approved.

Hon. R. Kahlon: In this chamber, I call third reading for Bill 25, Haida Nation

Recognition Amendment Act.

Third Reading of Bills

BILL 25 — HAIDA NATION RECOGNITION

AMENDMENT ACT,

Hon. M. Rankin: I move third reading of Bill 25, intituled the Haida Nation

Recognition Amendment Act, 2024.

After rigorous debate at committee stage, I encourage members from

all sides of the Legislature to vote in support of British Columbia’s

recognition of Haida’s Aboriginal title to Haida Gwaii.

The Speaker: Members, the motion is third reading of Bill 25, Haida Nation

Recognition Amendment Act, 2024.

Division has been called.

[3:20 p.m. - 3:25 p.m.]

Members, do we have the agreement to waive the time?

Interjections.

The Speaker: We don’t have an agreement. That’s okay. It’s only 90 seconds

left, so it’s okay.

Leave not granted.

[3:30 p.m.]

The Speaker: Members, the question is third reading of Bill 25, Haida Nation

Recognition Amendment Act, 2024.

Bill 25, Haida Nation Recognition Amendment Act, 2024, read a

third time and passed on the following division:

YEAS — 53

Chandra Herbert

Parmar

A. Singh

Babchuk

Lore

Chow

Beare

Kang

Heyman

Osborne

Cullen

Bains

Malcolmson

Bailey

Mercier

Russell

Routledge

Starchuk

Rice

Phillip

Yao

Leonard

R. Singh

Whiteside

Farnworth

Kahlon

Eby

Conroy

Sharma

Dix

Popham

Fleming

Dean

Rankin

Alexis

Sims

Simons

Elmore

Glumac

Routley

Furstenau

Olsen

D’Eith

Donnelly

Greene

Anderson

Chant

Sandhu

Dykeman

Paddon

Begg

Walker

Robinson

NAYS — 25

de Jong

Doerkson

Milobar

Stone

Falcon

Bond

Halford

Oakes

Paton

Davies

Banman

Morris

Kyllo

Shypitka

Sturko

Merrifield

Wat

Lee

Kirkpatrick

Stewart

Clovechok

Ashton

Sturdy

Letnick

Tegart

Hon. R. Kahlon: In the main chamber, I call Committee of Supply for the Office of

the Premier.

In the Douglas Fir Committee Room, I call Committee of the Whole

for Bill 27, Municipalities Enabling and Validating Amendment

Act.

In the Birch Committee Room, I call Committee of the Whole for

Bill 21, Legal Professions Act.

[3:35 p.m.]

Committee of Supply

ESTIMATES: OFFICE OF THE PREMIER

The House in Committee of Supply (Section B);

S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.

The committee met at 3:37 p.m.

The Chair: All right, Members. Let’s call this committee to

order.

On Vote 11: Office of the Premier, $16,754,000.

Hon. D. Eby: I’d like to begin by acknowledging we’re on the territory of the

lək̓ʷəŋən people, the Songhees

and Esquimalt First Nations.

I appreciate the opportunity to discuss the Premier’s estimates

with the House today.

I’m joined by several members of my staff. I’ve got Matt Smith,

chief of staff, here; Shannon Salter, Deputy Minister to the Premier;

Aileen Machell, deputy chief of staff; and Doug Caul, deputy minister

for policy and coordination.

The estimates today are taking place in a serious context.

Families in Fort Nelson and Doig River have had to flee their homes. The

wildfires are serious and ongoing, not just in our province but in

Alberta and Manitoba as well, as we see the impacts of climate

change.

It is a reminder of the challenges we have faced as British

Columbians: climate emergencies, floods, the heat dome, forest fires,

the toxic drug crisis, the global pandemic and the impacts that has had

globally, including on British Columbians. In times like these, there

are tough choices to be made.

Now, there is a group of people who advocate that this is the time

to leave people to fend for themselves. It’s the time to cut services,

to withdraw services, to turn people over to their own devices and to

hope for the best.

We’ve seen what that movie looks like in British Columbia. We’d

welcome speculators back into our housing market. We’d increase fees and

tolls and the cost of everyday life for British Columbians. We’d slash

the health care that people need now more than ever, with an aging and

growing population. It’s a risk we can’t afford. The government has to

have peoples’ backs.

Over the last year, British Columbians will have seen the actions

we’re taking to address the big challenges we face. In the example of

housing, we’re turning short-term rentals into long-term homes for

people, speeding up permitting to get housing built to respond to the

massive population growth we’re seeing in the province, fixing the

zoning rules that slow down the development of new housing at a time

when our population is setting a record for growth that we haven’t seen

for 30 years, a flipping tax to stop speculation in the housing market

and using public land to build actually attainable housing for the

middle class.

Every step of the way, every initiative we have introduced, the

opposition parties, and it doesn’t matter if it’s the BCUP or the

Conservatives, have opposed these measures. They are siding consistently

with those who are using homes as investments instead of as a place to

live. We take a different approach.

[3:40 p.m.]

We’re also acting to ease the costs of daily life. Rising interest

rates are impacting British Columbians. This is a global inflationary

context that we’re seeing, which is impacting British

Columbians.

For our government, supporting people with the cost of daily life,

just recently an ICBC announcement: two more years of zero percent rate

increases. That brings it to a total of six years, the fourth rebate

from ICBC. We’ve saved drivers $2,000 since reforming that Crown

corporation.

Cutting child care fees in half for British Columbians. Free birth

control, and, starting next year, one round of IVF free in this

province.

The B.C. electricity credit — putting $100 back, as a credit, on

the invoices that people received from B.C. Hydro, both businesses and

individuals.

The climate action tax credit — increasing the amount that

we’re sending back to people.

Supporting small businesses with the

employer health tax, removing that for businesses with payrolls under $1

million.

Members opposite consistently made different choices. They

promised tax support for small businesses, and then, once they were

elected, they didn’t implement it. They cut taxes for the top 2 percent

but raised fees and costs for everybody else, including tolls on bridges

— actions that they still defend today. We couldn’t afford that then,

can’t afford it now, and certainly, British Columbians don’t need to see

that kind of activity in our province again.

I want to express my appreciation to health care workers across

the province who rose to the pandemic challenges. But where we’re seeing

significant new challenges in our health care system…. We’re adding

10,000 people to this province every 37 days. These folks need health

care.

They’re also some of the health care workers that we need. We’ve

recruited internationally trained doctors and nurses and sped up the

process to get them approved, resulting in 700 more doctors — family

doctors, supporting people in those long-term relationships people are

looking for — and 6,300 nurses just last year. We’ve cut our COVID

surgery backlog, and 300,000 people visited a pharmacist for support

with minor illnesses.

We’re building hospitals across the province, hospitals that

should have been built a long time ago. Care homes for seniors and

cancer centres right across the province. The members across the way did

the opposite. It doesn’t matter which party. If you’re talking about the

Conservatives or the BCUP, that is what they did. They cut health care

for British Columbians, and the impacts are plain to see.

The good news is that our economy is growing. We’re leading

Canada, and we’re doing so well supporting people. We recently got the

news: in the last 12 months, 93,000 jobs created for British Columbians,

mostly private sector, full-time jobs. Some of the highest wages in

Canada. The lowest unemployment rate in Canada.

Our biggest strength is the people of British Columbia, their

resilience and their talents. Any time we can bring people together, we

will do so, rather than following the example of those across the way

who want to drive people apart. We want to deliver a B.C. where everyone

can build a good life.

I look forward to the discussion we’re going to have

today.

K. Falcon: I want to thank the Premier for that very non-partisan beginning

there. My very, very quick, high-level response to that would just be to

remind the Premier that as I canvass Premier’s estimates, what he will

find is that there will be a theme, and that is the difference between

announcements and actual results. I think that the Premier will find

that there is a yawning chasm between the announcements that this

government likes to make and the actual results we see on the

ground.

Very quickly, to summarize some of them…. The Premier is part of

the government, after all, that announced — in fact, it was a major part

of their campaign platform in 2017 — that they were going to make

housing more affordable for British Columbians. In fact, as part of

that, they were going to build 114,000 affordable homes within ten

years.

So I always say: “Okay, well, here we are, and they’re in year 7

of their government. How did they do?” Well, of the 114,000 promised

affordable homes, sad to say that only 16,000 actually got built, with a

mere three years left.

The government’s response is that they stopped talking about that

promise now, and they renamed the program to BC Builds. Now we are

supposed to believe that because they have renamed a program, they are

going to get different results. The fact of the matter is that in

addition to not building the promised 114,000 additional units, what we

have seen is that British Columbia…. This is not just the Leader of the

Opposition saying this. These are the actual facts.

[3:45 p.m.]

We’ve ended up, after seven years of this NDP government, with the

most unaffordable housing in North America — not just in Canada, but in

North America. That’s quite an achievement, but not a good one for the

public.

Same with rents. We’ve got the highest rents in the entire country

here in British Columbia. Now that, Premier — just to be clear, so you

understand it — is called an outcome. You can give all the excuses you

want about why that outcome is there. But the fact of the matter is you

have to own the outcome, because you’ve been the government that

promised that you were going to make housing more affordable.

So too with food prices, with the highest grocery prices in the

country. As I mentioned the other day in question period, a $73 random

bag of groceries here in British Columbia is 24 percent cheaper when

you’re buying it in Calgary. Fuel prices in British Columbia. Again, the

highest, not just in Canada, but indeed in North America. We’ll canvass

that a little later, too, I can assure you.

But also just the rate of overdose deaths, the highest we’ve ever

seen in the history of the province of British Columbia. The Premier’s

catch-and-release crime policy has been a disaster for communities

across the province.

I would just remind the Premier that a lot of our focus is going

to be on results, outcomes, measurables and things that, in the real

world, you get held accountable for. I can assure the Premier that in

the private sector, you do not get held accountable, and you do not

receive your paycheque and any bonuses for the announcements that you

make. It’s actually for the results that you get.

If you get really bad results, then you likely are not going to be

either employed or running a business for very much longer. I know

that’s a bit foreign to this government and these members, but that’s

the real world out there.

Now, where they are getting some good results, admittedly, is that

they are leading the country in terms of lineups at food banks. That’s

not a good result for the people that have to line up for those food

banks. A 60 percent increase in food banks usage is…. Well, that is a

dramatic increase. It’s certainly not good for the folks that are

suffering and having to go utilize those food banks.

We will canvass this in the areas that we intend to cover, but

where I want to start off is to visit the issue that I don’t think we’ve

had proper conclusion on. That’s the issue of the rampant antisemitism

which is rife within the Pre­mier’s caucus, his cabinet, and

indeed, his party.

A little backup for the folks that are watching. There’s a history

here. The Premier will recall that at the last time that we met last

year to talk about the Premier’s estimates, I was talking about the

unfortunate pattern that this Premier has of creating a situation where

blame is provided to particular identifiable ethnic commun­ities.

I used the example of the Premier’s unfortunate, very flawed

“study.”

I put “study” in air quotations because it was his own study that

he did with one other individual that said, based on 122 homes on the

west side of Vancouver, that the majority of them had non-anglicized

last names and therefore leaped to the conclusion that the housing

crisis is therefore caused by Chinese foreign investors.

That created a huge negative impact on the Asian community in

British Columbia and led to a lot of the anti-​Asian sentiment

that, unfortunately, has risen to very unacceptable levels in B.C. I

asked the Premier last year to at least apologize to the community and

do the right thing. The Premier chose not to do so.

But it’s tied to the antisemitism. As the Premier will recall,

consistency around how we deal with these kind of issues is very

important. When some local First Nation members complained about the

treatment that they were receiving in the health care system — there

were very serious allegations of racism — the Premier moved

appropriately with light speed to deal with that. He immediately called

for an independent investigation into the challenges that some of these

First Nation folks were receiving, and we applauded that quick

response.

However, that contrasts very, very differently to the response

that the Premier had when his own senior cabinet minister from his own

government made, admittedly, an inappropriate comment with respect to

the historical nature of the lands of Israel and apologized multiple

times and even offered to the Premier to take an anti-Islamophobia

course.

[3:50 p.m.]

The Premier’s decision was to remove her from cabinet in his

government. Now, that was a rare moment of action by the Premier, and it

was on the heels of multiple examples — which we have pointed out

repeatedly in this House — from members of his own caucus, his own

party, his own cabinet that have made extremely irresponsible,

antisemitic commentary that has been very hurtful for the Jewish

community.

Now, when the Premier fired the member for Coquitlam-Maillardville

from cabinet, she wrote a letter that outlined and exposed the

antisemitism that she’d witnessed and had had to live through in the

cabinet caucus and, indeed, spreading throughout the government. Her

words were clear, and I quote them into the record here. “Antisemitism

is the double standard that we have consistently shown.” She gave

multiple examples to back that up.

Even recently with the horrific event of October 7 that took

place, within days of that massacre, when that same member, the member

for Coquitlam-Maillardville, sent out an email to her colleagues asking

for everyone to stand with the community, which was feeling very fragile

at that horrific time, the member for Richmond-Queensborough felt it

necessary to respond to all of them by saying: “Well, what we need to do

is make a public statement about the plight of the

Palestinians.”

The timing of a request like that, within days of that massacre

taking place, was certainly inappropriate, according to the member for

Coquitlam-Maillardville. The member for Richmond-Queensborough also, on

Yom HaShoah — a day that commemorates Jewish victims of the Holocaust,

one of the most sombre days you can possibly imagine, when we had

members of the Jewish community here, steps away from this chamber,

commemorating that horrific event — felt it appropriate to quote from

fringe Jewish groups that excused the antisemitism that was taking place

at the UBC campus protests for Palestine, which was deeply offensive to

the community.

I could list through all the examples here, but really, what we

need from this Premier is an answer to a pretty straightforward

question, something that we and members of the Jewish community have

been asking for, for many months. That is simply this: will the Premier

commit to an independent investigation — as he did, appropriately, in

the case of the First Nations racism that I referenced ear­lier —

into antisemitism within his own cabinet, in his own caucus and, indeed,

his own government? Will the Pre­mier do it, and if not, why

not?

[3:55 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.]

Hon. D. Eby: This is a profoundly challenging time for the Jewish community,

not just in British Columbia but across North America and around the

world. We’ve seen a rise in antisemitic incidents. I’ve had a number of

meetings with the Jewish community, both pre- and post-October 7.

There’s no question that the community is on edge.

I heard a story from a principal at a school, who described coming

to school with running shoes on for fear that there would be an attack

on her and her students post-October 7. At places of gathering for

worship, at community centres that serve the Jewish community, that

anxiety is present right now, all around the world. For us here in

British Columbia, we know we have a responsibility to support the Jewish

community with ensuring that they feel safe in every part of every

community.

We’ve taken some actions to that end, specifically post–October

On February 16, we announced a new B.C. prosecution service hate

crime policy. The policy includes specific provisions about the wilful

promotion of antisemitism. This is the policy that the prosecutors use

to guide their decisions about approving charges, a long-standing

concern of not just the Jewish community but many community members that

for prosecutors, the guidance that they were using to determine whether

or not to charge someone with a hate offence was not sufficient to

respond to the realities they were seeing in the community.

We made security funding available for Jewish organizations and

synagogues. A number of organizations dramatically increased their

security post-October 7, taking money from services meant for the

community in order to pay for security. The support provided by the

province enables them to be able to use that money for its intended

purpose rather than for security.

On October 30, we announced at the Jewish Community Centre that we

would make Holocaust education mandatory in high schools in British

Columbia — one of the first provinces in Canada to do that.

[4:05 p.m.]

At that event, I met with Holocaust survivors who do this work at

schools, and they talked about their class visits that they do. But

these are quite elderly people, and they won’t always be able to do this

work. So ensuring that students in our province have access to and are

taught about the Holocaust will be one of the ways we fight against

misinformation or Holocaust denial or any other forms of

antisemitism.

The racist incident helpline will be established soon in the

province. This will be another tool. Sometimes people have one of these

incidents, and they just don’t feel like they can come forward to

police. They’re anxious about reporting to police, or they just feel

like it doesn’t rise to the level, although it’s personally upsetting

and deeply traumatizing, that they don’t want to report it to

police.

This gives them another way to report these incidents, where there

will be counselling and support for them if they wish to come forward to

police or just to say: “Look, this happened. I want you to know that it

happened.” That will enable us to respond to spikes in hate in different

parts of the community.

We also have updated policing standards to help support police

investigations involving hate crimes to ensure that police have the

tools that they need to address these issues.

It’s important to note that it’s not just the Jewish community

that’s seen a spike in hate, and certainly not just British Columbia and

Canada. Between, and this is the most recent data we have, ’19 and ’20,

the number of police-reported crimes motivated by race or ethnicity

increased 80 percent, from 884 to 1,619. The East or Southeast Asian

populations saw a 301 percent increase; Indigenous populations, a 152

percent increase; Black populations, a 92 percent increase; South Asian

populations, a 47 percent increase.

Members will remember that during the pandemic, we also had a

social epidemic of anti-Asian hate crime. The anti-Asian hate crime rose

by 717 percent in Vancouver alone, from 2019, when there were 12

incidents, to 2020, when there were 98 incidents.

I don’t think it would be a surprise to any British Columbian to

hear that the rise of the far right in the United States and in other

parts of the world is contributing to this.

It is our obligation to fight that at every corner in this

province, and we continue to do the work. Members will remember that we

re-established the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner, who we just

reappointed today — congratulations to the commissioner, and thank you

to her for her work — fully independent of this Legislative Assembly and

able to provide recommendations to government about how we can fight

hate.

The member mentioned the In Plain Sight report, fighting

anti-Indigenous hate in our health care system. The anti-racism base

funding — this is funding for community organizations to be able to

respond to incidents in community and support people. It’s critically

important support. We will continue to do this important work with

communities across the province.

We’re coming up, I think, in the next couple of days to the

international day of recognition in the fight against hate against the

queer community in British Columbia. This is a really important day to

recognize the rising hate against that community. I’m very sorry to say

that we are seeing that right across the country — the targeting of

vulnerable kids, and parents afraid for their kids being safe. It

doesn’t matter the community; we’re going to make sure that we’re taking

that action.

The member made a number of very serious allegations in his

question, and he knows they’re not right.

What I’d like to do, though, is underline for British Columbians

from all different communities who are feeling particularly vulnerable

right now: we’re going to be there for you, and we’re going to keep

doing that work to fight racism in our province. Our strength in this

province is us working together and fighting hate.

K. Falcon: I must confess. I am troubled that a very straightforward question

about the double standard taking place with this Premier and his

government with respect to antisemitism, which is clearly rife within

his cabinet, caucus and party and, sadly, seems to be spreading through

government, cannot be answered without a large interval where the

Premier then stands up and talks about a lot of other issues that are

completely unrelated to the question I asked.

[4:10 p.m.]

The Premier mentioned hate from the far right. That’s true, but

there’s hate from the far left too. That’s part of the problem that

we’re facing. As I talked about in my opening comments, this is another

example where results matter, not the promises and commitments that were

made but the actual results.

I’ll just use one of the examples he talked about. He talked about

a help line. Well, the problem is they promised that three years ago —

still no hotline in place for those that are dealing with racist

incidents. The Premier needs help on how to set up a line. It’s not that

complex. I’m happy to offer assistance. But surely to god, it doesn’t

take three years in order to get that done.

Again, the Premier’s not going to answer the question about

whether he will do the right thing and call a full, independent

investigation, as he did with those First Nation individuals that were

dealing with racist incidents within the health care system. He refuses

to do that with respect to his own cabinet and caucus and party. That’s

unfortunate, because that undermines trust.

I understand that there’s racism against other groups out there. I

gave an example of the explosion in anti-Asian racism, sadly in part due

to some of the comments that this Premier himself has made that made it

very, very challenging for the Chinese community, when people were

blaming them, solely, for the housing crisis when that clearly is not

backed up by the data.

I’ll try another angle. One of the most important requests, and

the Premier has heard this from the Jewish community…. Their number one

request is that the Premier will at least commit to having his cabinet

and caucus undergo mandatory training that is founded under the IHRA

definition, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition

of antisemitism, for his own caucus and cabinet. That is the number one

request that the Jewish community has made of this Premier.

There are six other provinces that have adopted that IHRA

definition, including Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick,

Saskatchewan, Newfoundland, the federal government. Will the Premier at

least agree to doing that?

[4:15 p.m.]

Hon. D. Eby: I’ve had a number of opportunities to meet with leadership from

the Jewish community. That’s one of the ways that we knew about this

issue, about the security funding, and we were able to provide that

support. That dialogue continues, and we’ll do all we can to support the

community during what is a really challenging time, without

question.

To the member’s question, I agree it would be a very good thing

for all MLAs to have anti-racism training that includes clear

antisemitism training to fight against racism and to recognize ways that

we can ensure that this place is welcoming for everybody. That’s why

we’re proceeding with a recommendation that was made from the

Legislature report on anti-racism for that training for all MLAs that

come to this place. It must include content on antisemitism. We’re going

to continue those conversations with the Jewish community.

With respect to the resignation of Minister Robinson, at a media

availability on February 5, 2024, I said: “The depth of the work that

Minister Robinson needs to do in order to address the harms that she has

caused is significant, and it is incompatible with her continuing as

Minister of Advanced Education, given the volume and depth of the work

that she needs to do.”

Members will remember that this was taking place at the time of

the discussions with the federal government around international student

numbers and accommodation and ensuring that our institutions here in the

province were prepared for the changes the federal government was making

around that program.

I would like to share with the member some correspondence I

received from people who self-identified as being from the Jewish

community: “Dear Premier, my name is Gideon. I want to thank you for

holding firm on denouncing antisemitism and for making Holocaust

education mandatory in B.C. schools. Your actions and your concerns for

the safety of B.C.’s Jewish community have shown that you are a sincere

friend and supporter. For this, I am very grateful. I was particularly

moved by your attendance and speech at the Kristallnacht commemoration

on November 9.”

Another letter: “Dear Premier, as expressions of antisemitism are

increasing and concerning, it’s more important now than ever to do what

we can to ensure all students coming through our schools have

well-developed curricula from which to learn. Thank you for your

leadership and your clarity on these issues.” From Esther.

Another one. “Dear Premier, I’m writing to express my profound

appreciation for your recent efforts to make Holocaust education

mandatory in our schools. Your commitment to this important initiative

is commendable and reflects your dedication to preserving the memory of

the Holocaust and ensuring that future generations learn from this dark

chapter in history. Thank you for your commitment to this crucial

cause,” and so on. From Daniel.

[4:20 p.m.]

Now, I understand the Jewish community is diverse and that these

are just a few individuals. But it’s important for the Jewish community

to know that, to the best my knowledge, every single member of this

House is committed to their safety, to standing with them in this really

challenging time.

We’ll do all we can to make sure that they feel safe in our

province and welcome in this province. That’s my commitment to them, and

it’s important to put on the record.

K. Falcon: I’ll try again. I’m just trying to get a very straightforward

answer. It doesn’t require five minutes of huddling with staff. This is

just a straight-up question for the Premier that shouldn’t be too hard

to answer.

I’m suspecting it’s because the Premier doesn’t like the IHRA

definition of antisemitism. It’s the only possible conclusion I can come

to. I know the Premier intervened in May 2022 to prevent the adoption of

the IHRA definition in the Anti-Racism Data Act. I’m concerned that this

may be underpinning his resistance to answer a straightforward

question.

Again, this is not about training for all the MLAs. Thankfully,

all the MLAs in this esteemed institution have not been expressing

antisemitic tropes or antisemitic language. It’s actually come from your

party, your government and your caucus. I don’t have time, but I could

go through a long list, and the Premier is well aware of

this.

Again to the Premier, will the Premier follow the leadership of

six other provinces and the federal government, and use the IHRA

definition as the working definition with respect to mandatory

antisemitism training for his caucus? Yes or no?

[4:25 p.m.]

Hon. D. Eby: The member