Fifth Session, 41st Parliament

(2020) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Afternoon Sitting

Issue No. 308

ISSN 1499-2175

The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.

The PDF transcript remains the official digital version.

CONTENTS

Orders of the Day

Presentation of Estimates

Estimates of sums required for the service of the province

Budget Debate

Hon. C. James

S. Bond

Introduction and First Reading of Bills

Bill 4 — Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2020

Hon. C. James

Tabling Documents

Strategic plan, 2020-21–2022-23

Budget and fiscal plan, 2020-21–2022-23

Service plans, 2020-21–2022-23

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

The House met at 1:36 p.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Mr. Speaker: Good afternoon, everyone. On behalf of all Members of the Legislative

Assembly, I would like to welcome the many distinguished guests, friends and

family joining us here today. By agreement, I now invite Shirley Alphonse, Elder

of the T’Sou-ke Nation, to offer a blessing.

S. Alphonse: [SENĆOŦEN was spoken.]

Creator, Great Spirit, as we gather here this afternoon, we say thank you.

Thank you for each one here, for the work you do for the good of all people, the

words that are shared to help us make a difference for the sake of our children,

our grandchildren, who are the future stewards of Mother Earth.

Creator, Great Spirit, thank you for the blessing of family, of relatives,

of friends. Thank you for teachers, mentors, Elders, knowledge-keepers. Thank

you for the blessing of Mother Earth, beauty and bounty to sustain us every day

so we may live. Thank you for the mountains, the oceans, the rivers, forests,

medicine plants, flowers, the oceans that connect the world, the rivers, the

lakes that provide life-giving water. Creator, Great Spirit, thank you for all

creatures that coexist with us.

Thank you for the sun, the moon, the stars. Thank you for refreshing rain

and cleansing winds, for the four directions, the four seasons, the four nations

of the world. Creator, Great Spirit, help us each day we walk this earth to do

the best we can to look after Mother Earth, who looks after us. Help and guide

us on our paths to be kind to one another, to be caring.

HÍSW̱ḴE. ÍY SȻAĆEL

SIÁM.

Orders of the Day

Hon. C. James: Hon. Speaker, I move that the House at its next sitting resolve itself for

the session into a committee to consider supply to be granted to Her

Majesty.

Motion approved.

[1:40 p.m.]

Presentation of Estimates

ESTIMATES OF SUMS REQUIRED

FOR THE SERVICE OF THE

PROVINCE

Hon. C. James presented a message from Her Honour the

Lieutenant-Governor: Estimates of Sums Required for the Service of the

Province for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, and a supplement to the

estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, recommending the same

to the Legislative Assembly.

Hon. C. James moved that the said message and the estimates

accompanying the same be referred to the Committee of Supply.

Motion approved.

Budget Debate

Hon. C. James: I move, seconded by the hon. Premier of British Columbia:

[That the Speaker do now leave the Chair for the House to go into

Committee of Supply.]

I want to begin by acknowledging that we’re on the traditional

territory of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations and thank them for the

ability to meet on their land.

I also want to give a warm welcome to everyone here today.

A budget is built with the work and input of many. Thanks to all the

staff in the Ministry of Finance and my office for their extraordinary

efforts. Thank you to everyone who wrote and took

part in the Select

Standing Committee on Finance’s budget consultations. Thank you to the many

people who shared their ideas and their hopes for the future of our

province.

Working together will help us build a stronger B.C. for everyone, and

that’s what Budget 2020 is all about. It’s about the fundamental changes our

government has been making for the people of British Columbia. It’s about

continuing to fix the problems facing families today. It’s about delivering

the results that keep us moving forward together.

The changes we’ve made are all about making lives better today and

creating opportunities that last a lifetime — opportunities to put down

roots, contribute to your community and have a job that provides a good

quality of life. These are the things that drive us, and my family is no

exception.

In the 1950s, my grandparents left England and moved to Saskatchewan

with my mom. Like so many others who immigrated to Canada, they left the

only home they’d ever known in search of a better life for their family.

Times were tough. Money was tight. My grandmother soon found a job at the

local hospital. Together she and my grandfather worked day in and day out to

put food on the table and keep a roof over our heads.

Now, for my grandparents, family was never just immediate family. It

was anyone in our community who needed a hand up. Over the years, our family

grew to include dozens of foster kids. Growing up alongside children of all

ages and all abilities showed me that while everyone has something to

contribute to this world, not everyone is given the opportunity to be able

to make their mark.

While my grandmother possessed a quiet, solid strength, my mother is

the trailblazer and the fierce community advocate. As a young parent with

two kids, my mom enrolled in teachers college about two hours away from our

family home in Saskatchewan. During the week, my grandparents would take

care of us while my mom put herself through school.

Looking back, I can see the barriers that she faced as a single parent

to two young girls living in a small prairie town. I also recognize that

that access to education created opportunities that span generations. It has

the power to change a family forever. Had the door to opportunity remained

closed for my mother, I have no doubt that my life would have looked very

different.

These personal experiences also reflect what I’ve heard from so many

British Columbians. People want to do for themselves. Sometimes they just

need a door to open for that to happen. As Finance Minister, it’s my job to

make sure that the benefits of B.C.’s strong economy are felt by everyone,

not just a few at the top.

After nearly three years of choices that put people first, we’re

starting to see the results. From new roads, hospitals, schools and housing

to new services and job opportunities, life in B.C. is getting better every

day. Our economy is stronger because we’re putting B.C. on a path to a

cleaner, better future.

This is my third full budget as Finance Minister. As with previous

years, our government continues to work from a balanced budget. Our fiscal

strategy lays out a solid plan, with layers of planning and foresight. B.C.

remains an economic leader in Canada. We’re the only province with a

triple-A credit rating from the three major international rating agencies.

We have the lowest unemployment rate in the country and zero operating

debt.

[1:45 p.m.]

Our fiscal foundation remains strong, as does our commitment to making

life more affordable, to delivering the services British Columbians depend

on and to building a sustainable economy with opportunities for everyone. We

know that delivering on these priorities means strong climate action,

meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and a commitment to

equity, diversity and inclusion. Supported by the confidence and supply

agreement with the B.C. Green Party caucus, our government is advancing

these priorities. Together we’ve made a lot of progress, and I’m presenting

our plan to keep B.C. moving forward.

Budget 2020 breaks down barriers to opportunity for you, your children

and your neighbours. Budget 2020 delivers access to a good education,

quality health care and vital community supports. Budget 2020 supports

British Columbians who are working hard to get ahead by making life more

affordable.

We’re not here to deliver the largest surplus possible at all costs.

The point of a budget is to plan ahead, to set priorities and to make

responsible decisions that are good for people over the long term. That’s

what we’ve done for the last 2½ years, and we can’t afford to turn

back.

Over the last decade, our province’s economy has remained strong, but

many people and communities fell further behind. There was a bright future

in British Columbia, but only for a few who could afford it. I’m proud to

say that as a province, we are now on a different path. We’re making

different choices, and Budget 2020 backs up our choices with

action.

The days of cashing in on a speculative real estate market at the

expense of hard-working British Columbians are done. Instead of turning a

blind eye to money laundering and the housing crisis, we’re acting so that

everyone can afford a future in our province. Money laundering in our

economy must end. Our goal is to ensure balance, and it’s not balance to

have an economy that is distorted by dirty money. Budget 2020 delivers on

our commitment to conduct a public inquiry and get people the answers they

deserve.

The old practice of hoarding surpluses at the expense of people is

over. Instead, we’re choosing a balanced fiscal approach, one that maintains

a reasonable surplus while investing in people, because we understand that

when the door to opportunity closes one too many times, people can lose

hope.

A little support can be life changing. Building on our government’s

poverty reduction plan, Budget 2020 in­creases earnings exemptions for

people receiving income and disability assistance. This gives people a

chance to increase their household income, to remain connected to the

workforce and to build up the kind of valuable work experience that can lead

to a good-paying job.

After years of cuts that hurt people most in need, Budget 2020

provides new funding for children in care and adults with diverse abilities.

A commitment to ongoing funding, as well, for the cultural connections

program will provide more support for Indigenous children to stay connected

with their communities and their families.

In partnership with Indigenous peoples, we are choosing a more stable

and prosperous path for everyone. We got right to work when we became

government with new money for language revitalization, a historic

revenue-sharing agreement and changes to the child welfare system that keep

more Indigenous children in their communities. Aboriginal friendship centres

now have long-term stable funding, and we stepped up as the first and only

province to fund on-reserve housing in Canada.

[1:50 p.m.]

I’m proud to say that the human rights of Indigenous people are now

enshrined in law as the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

Now, there is no single path to what reconciliation can or should look like.

Reconciliation is hard work, and we recognize that the road ahead is not

without its challenges. But if we invite the conversation, if we work from a

place of respect, we will build a better future together.

Now, to achieve that future, Mr. Speaker, our government is not

waiting to take action on complex problems that defy simple solutions. Our

government has taken significant steps to help address sustainability at

ICBC and affordability for British Columbians. While the old government

ignored the problems with auto insurance, we’re transforming ICBC to make it

work for you. Instead of pushing the problems down the road, we’re standing

up for the best interests of British Columbians.

I want to recognize that right now, the people who depend on B.C.’s

forest industry are hurting. A thriving forest sector has provided good,

stable jobs for many families going back generations. However, over the last

number of years, the mountain pine beetle infestation, wildfires and the

softwood lumber dispute have reduced timber supply and triggered a wave of

mills to close their doors or scale back shifts.

These changes didn’t happen overnight, but that doesn’t lessen the

hardship that forest workers and their families are facing right now. As a

government, we will not turn our backs on the people who have helped power

our province for so long.

Our government’s priority is to provide the help that people need to

get on with their lives, to support their families and to plan for a good

future in our province. Workers are now getting job placement and skills

training, equipment loans for coastal logging contractors, grants for

hard-hit communities, and programs to support early retirement.

Investments in public infrastructure are building a better B.C., and

wherever possible, B.C.-engineered wood will serve as the

foundation.

These are important steps. But a healthy and sustainable forest

industry also depends on bringing together in­dus­try, First

Nations, unions and government to find solutions. Budget 2020 takes another

step forward with new funding to begin developing opportunities for B.C.’s

bio­economy and revitalization within the forest sector.

We’ll keep working hard to make sure that forest workers, contractors

and communities get the support that they deserve, because we are all in

this together. Only when we work together will we succeed in the kind of

fundamental change that provides relief from the problems facing people now

and inspires hope for a better future, a future where your opportunities

aren’t defined by your age or your income bracket or your home address.

Instead, our plan creates a lifetime of opportunity for everyone in British

Columbia.

For my family — as it did for so many others, and as it does for so

many others — it started with a good education. Going back to school and

building up her career meant that my mom was able to put away a little money

each month and build a better future for herself and her family. Growing up,

we didn’t always have a lot, but we had enough for both me and my sister to

know that nothing was out of reach for us. As Finance Minister, I’m

unwavering in my commitment to deliver the opportunities that our children

and our grandchildren deserve.

For far too long, families were left to struggle as their monthly

bills kept going up while the health, education and community supports they

counted on were slashed. In a prosperous province like British Columbia, we

can and we must do better, and we are.

Launching this fall, the new B.C. child opportunity benefit will help

lift up thousands of kids and give them the opportunity they deserve, now

and down the road. Families with one child will be eligible to receive up to

$1,600 annually. For two children, that goes up to $2,600, and it’s $3,400

for three kids. People can also bank on this tax-free support up until their

child’s 18th birthday.

On top of the new benefit, this will be the first full year that

people won’t have to pay the unfair MSP premium. Together these two measures

could save families thousands of dollars that they can put towards what

really matters: setting up the next generation for success.

[1:55 p.m.]

For many, that starts with access to affordable, high-quality child

care. Child care for all who need it is closer than ever to becoming a

reality in our province. Thousands of new licensed child care spaces are

opening, and some parents are saving nearly $20,000 annually. Budget 2020

builds on that progress, with total investments reaching $2 billion over

three years for child care here in British Columbia. We know that child care

is critical to achieving equality in the workplace, helping to close the

gender gap and giving more parents, particularly women, the opportunity to

take their careers to the next level.

We’re also investing in B.C.’s early childhood educators, again almost

all women, with more bursaries and increased wages. Additionally, B.C.’s

minimum wage will rise again to more than $15 an hour by 2021. For the

almost 140,000 people who currently earn minimum wage, more than half of

them women, this will provide a much-needed boost. We’re also investing over

$12 million to provide more opportunities for women to become today’s

electricians, carpenters and heavy-duty mechanics while opening the doors

for the next generation of girls.

Our government is putting children and families first. Child care for

all is a fundamental change that will redefine an entirely new generation of

children and their parents. Not only does quality child care give parents

peace of mind; it can also help kids with the solid start they need for a

smooth transition to school. Record investments in education mean B.C.’s

kids are learning in some of the smallest class sizes in a decade, with more

supports available for children of all ages and all abilities. New schools

are opening in some of our fastest-growing communities, from Surrey to Fort

St. John, Chilliwack to Langley, to inspire hope, curiosity and confidence

in young learners.

As Finance Minister, but also as a mother and grandmother, I know the

success of our province depends on giving our kids the best possible start

in life. Inside government, we’ve grown education spending by over $1

billion per year. Inside the classroom, we’re supporting students with 4,200

teachers, including 700 new special education teachers and nearly 200 new

teacher-psychologists and counsellors. I’m proud to say that Budget 2020

includes new funding of $339 million over the next fiscal term to be able to

continue improving B.C. schools and set our students up for

success.

Together these investments add to the work already underway to

strengthen our K-to-12 system, to build better and safer schools and prepare

students for life after graduation. We’re making sure that our young people

have the skills and training to excel in the economy of tomorrow. In the

next ten years, there will be more than 800,000 job openings in health care,

early childhood education, skilled trades, tech and much more. There are

good things happening in our province, and we want everyone to be a part of

it. That’s why our government has focused on breaking down barriers and

creating pathways to opportunities.

1,200 former youth in care are now attending college, university and trade

schools for free. B.C. student loans are now interest free, and we’re

partnering with post-secondary institutions to build thousands more student

beds, because we want to make sure that our young people focus on gaining

the skills, the knowledge and the experience they need to provide for

themselves and to power B.C.’s economy.

For my own experience, I saw how being able to go to school and build

up my mom’s career changed her and my family. As a single parent, it put her

on the pathway for economic independence and opened doors for me and my

sister. At the same time, being able to rely on the support of family helped

my mom overcome the obstacles that otherwise might have kept her out of

school. She was able to seize that opportunity and build a better life for

herself and our family. These are the kinds of opportunities that every

person and every family deserves.

[2:00 p.m.]

As part of Budget 2020, I’m proud to announce a new B.C. access grant

for post-secondary students. Starting in September, the new B.C. access

grant will provide upfront funding to more than 40,000 students who may

otherwise struggle to pay for post-secondary education.

Between the new access grant and the Canada student grant, students

can receive up to $4,000 a year to help them with the cost of tuition, and

for the first time, provincial grants are going to be available to part-time

students and to students enrolled in programs of less than two years. This

will help people land good-paying jobs in high-demand fields like early

childhood education, health care and the skills trades.

This grant is about investing in our shared future, a future where

B.C.’s workforce is flexible, innovative and ready to thrive in a world

shaped by advancing technology, global trade and climate action. I know B.C.

will rise to the challenge thanks to the passions and talents of the people

who call our province home.

Building up a skilled workforce is one part of the equation, but we

also need to build affordable housing to keep people in the neighbourhoods

where they live, work and learn. Sweeping change is on the way thanks to the

largest investment in affordable housing in B.C.’s history — $7 billion over

ten years to deliver 114,000 homes for people in our province. In just

two-and-a-half years, almost 23,000 new homes are underway or complete

across B.C.

We started where the impact was most immediate. More than 2,000 people

who were homeless now have stable housing and access to 24-7 support.

Another 800 supported homes are on the way. This year’s budget provides

additional funding for more emergency shelter spaces, supportive homes and

navigation centres to provide wraparound services and supports for people in

need.

Overall, our government is delivering more than $4 billion over the

next three years to help bring affordable housing within reach for people of

all ages and all income levels in every corner of B.C. We have a long way to

go. But we know we’ll get there in partnership with all levels of

government, with Indigenous peoples, with not-for-profits and with the

private sector. Our government is delivering the homes British Columbians

need, along with the infrastructure and services that people count on, from

our kids to our parents to our grandparents.

We know there’s nothing more important than being able to access

high-quality health care when you or your loved one needs it the most. As

B.C.’s population grows and ages, we need to make sure we’re ready to meet

the demand, and Budget 2020 delivers. We’re providing an additional $1

billion over three years for British Columbia’s health care system. This new

funding will bring down surgical wait times and address the growing demand

for services.

Budget 2020 delivers better care for you and your family by building

on the steps we’ve already taken to transform B.C.’s health care system. New

or upgraded hospitals are coming to Fort St. James, Surrey, Williams Lake,

Burnaby, Quesnel, Vancouver, Trail, Richmond, Nanaimo, North Vancouver,

Dawson Creek, the Cowichan Valley and Terrace.

Now, that’s a long list, but we’re not done yet. New urgent and

primary care centres are now open in Kamloops, Quesnel, Langford, Surrey,

Vancouver, Nanaimo, Prince George, Burnaby, North Vancouver, Kelowna,

Vernon, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and another two centres opening in

Victoria and East Vancouver.

After years of cuts, investment in long-term care and respite services

are giving seniors and their caregivers a well-deserved boost.

No one should be forced to decide between buying groceries or

prescription medication. This year marks the first anniversary of

eliminating or reducing Fair PharmaCare deductibles for 240,000

families.

[2:05 p.m.]

Soon every post-secondary student will have access, 24-7, to mental

health support services. This builds on a provincewide expansion of Foundry

centres to provide youth and families with a one-stop shop for mental health

and substance use supports, because we know it’s crucial to reach out to

people early, before challenges escalate.

We also know there is more to do, especially when it comes to keeping

our young people healthy. As part of Budget 2020, B.C. will begin charging

PST on sweetened carbonated drinks to help address the health and economic

costs of those beverages. Research is clear: teens between the ages of 14

and 18 are the top consumers of pop. This is a step that health

professionals and the Select Standing Committee on Finance, an all-party

committee, have long supported for seven years, because this is about

keeping young people healthy, while taking in a bit of revenue to continue

to pay for enhanced health care services for everyone.

We know that people work hard to build a good life for themselves and

their family. In turn, people deserve an economy that works hard for them by

delivering good, stable jobs in all corners of the province, by building a

connected and resilient network of communities and by recognizing that a

prosperous future must mean a clean future. To do that, we need an economy

that works for people, because when people thrive, our economy

thrives.

As Finance Minister, I often speak about the importance of building a

diverse, sustainable and resilient economy, but what does that mean? Again,

I come back to my own story. My grandparents were able to find good jobs

that allowed them to provide for our family. My mom was able to go back to

school and build up her career, because my grandparents were willing and

able to look after me and my sister.

To me, this gets to the heart of what resilience looks like for

families and communities. It doesn’t come down to our own individual

strength, but rather the strength of the community that we build around us.

This comes back to the core values that guide us as government. It doesn’t

come down to a choice between investing in a strong economy, a clean

environment or the people who call B.C. home. Investing in people,

communities and a clean future is fundamental to building a strong and

sustainable economy.

This is a significant departure from what people experienced

throughout most of the past decade. While B.C.’s economy remains strong,

community and people fell further behind. Now, together, we’re building a

better future, grounded in an economy that works for everyone, not just

those at the top.

As part of Budget 2020 and our government’s ongoing work to improve

the services and infrastructure we all depend on, a new tax bracket is being

introduced for the top 1 percent of income earners in our province. Nearly

half of the revenue will come from people making more than $1 million

annually. This will help us to deliver the infrastructure and services that

create good jobs and keep B.C.’s economy moving, while continuing to

maintain B.C.’s tax system as one of the most competitive in the

country.

As I’ve said before, we also need to do our part as government and

look carefully at spending all across government, because this is simply

part of responsible budget management.

No matter where you call home — whether it’s our province’s north,

south, east or west — our plan creates opportunities for you. I know that as

proud British Columbians, there is much more that unites us than divides us.

We all want life to be more affordable. We all want a quality education for

our kids. We all want access to health care when we need it. And we all want

to feel the benefits that come with a strong provincial economy.

These are the priorities that have shaped our province’s historic

capital plan. The scale of change is staggering: $18 billion worth of work

is happening in every corner of British Columbia. By building the schools,

roads, hospitals, housing, post-secondary facilities and more that our

growing province needs, our plan is supporting 100,000 direct and indirect

jobs during construction.

Together we’re building our way to a better quality of life, no matter

where you live. For urban centres, parents taking their kids to soccer

practice will be able to hop on the Broadway subway.

[2:10 p.m.]

An electrician travelling from her home in Surrey to a job in New West

will get to where she needs to go because of the new Pattullo Bridge. Metro

Vancouver is home to one of the top transit systems in the world, and our

government is committed to building on that momentum, creating

transit-oriented housing, good jobs and a path towards a cleaner

future.

Looking to our rural communities, Highway 1 upgrades between Kamloops

and Alberta will improve travel for locals, visitors and commercial drivers.

East of Golden, we’re on the final phase of the Kicking Horse Canyon

project. Investments in rural B.C. and B.C. Transit are shortening daily

commutes for people, while the B.C. Bus North connects our northern

residents to jobs and services, along with family and friends.

After years of cuts to ferry service, our government is prioritizing

coastal communities. Sailings have been added, fares have been frozen on

major routes and the seniors discount is back in effect.

But infrastructure is about more than ferries, roads, bridges and

transit. It’s also about the flow of ideas, knowledge and opportunity. We’re

very close to bringing our 500th connected community on line. This means a

digital world of opportunity is now open to people in Deka Lake, Clinton,

Tofino and Haida Gwaii. British Columbia is growing, and we need to ramp up

infrastructure investments, digital and otherwise, to keep goods, services

and people moving and B.C. businesses thriving.

As government, we’re working closely with the Business Council of

British Columbia and the B.C. Chamber of Commerce to foster a competitive

environment, and I want to say thank you to all the businesses and the

entrepreneurs who have chosen to set up shop in B.C. We know that our

economy must provide opportunities for business to succeed, and they

are.

Named as one of 2019’s top Global Cleantech companies, Semios gives

B.C. farmers real-time data on their crops. This kind of innovation feeds

into the work of our government’s food security task force, which aims to

unlock the potential for agritech in B.C., creating more jobs and reducing

waste.

We’re making good progress. Thanks to the hard-working people who make

up B.C.’s agriculture sector, 2018 was a record year for revenue. Another

boost is going to come from new regional food hubs in Surrey, Port Alberni,

Quesnel and Vancouver.

Mining, another one of B.C.’s key industries, is joining forces with

clean tech to give local companies a global advantage. As one example,

Saltworks has created new energy-efficient technology that turns

contaminated water from resource extraction into clean, fresh

water.

In the rapidly expanding field of biotech, homegrown talent like

Stemcell Technologies is on track to create hundreds of new jobs in

Burnaby.

As work scales up on LNG $40 billion project, our province is going to

benefit from an estimated 10,000 construction jobs and 950 permanent jobs.

This new industry will create a legacy of skills and economic opportunity to

sustain people and communities from the northeast to the north

coast.

It’s clear that good things are happening in B.C. In 2019, more than

45,000 jobs were added in the private sector, along with continued wage

growth. In partnership with the B.C. Green Party caucus, the emerging

economy task force will help keep B.C. at the cutting edge of clean tech,

artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

As I’ve said before, we can’t have a strong economy without creating

opportunities for B.C.’s rural regions to prosper. Tourism has become a

major provincewide employer and an economic driver for many small and rural

communities. Growing the tourism industry can help boost local businesses

and provide lifelong careers for people right around our

province.

New and upgraded infrastructure delivered through the investing in

Canada infrastructure program is also helping to build healthy and resilient

communities. We’re working with the federal government, local governments

and First Nations to deliver projects that support local growth, a green

economy and inclusive communities. Projects are underway, and there are more

coming this year.

Now, our government knows that for many communities, paying for the

infrastructure that people and businesses need can be tough or almost

impossible on their own. That’s why we’re investing in rural communities in

a way that works for them.

[2:15 p.m.]

Soon people in Williams Lake will be able to connect at a new

community centre. For Osoyoos and Prince Rupert, this new funding will

resolve long-standing problems with the quality of their drinking

water.

Investing in green infrastructure is part of our government’s plan to

grow the economy, while protecting the clean water, land and air that we

all, as British Columbians, cherish.

Harnessing the power of a greener future to help grow our economy is

at the heart of CleanBC, our government’s commitment to climate action. As

part of last year’s budget, we backed our plan with approximately $900

million over three years. Budget 2020 builds on CleanBC with an additional

$419 million over the fiscal plan. This will go towards making our schools,

our universities, our colleges and our hospitals more energy-efficient,

along with increased support to help industry move towards clean, low-carbon

solutions.

This year’s budget maintains increases to the climate action tax

credit for families and adds $20 million to the province’s program to make

purchasing a zero-emission vehicle more affordable. I’m proud to say that

we’ve almost hit our 2025 electric vehicle target, four years ahead of

schedule. We know that this new funding will help accelerate the clean

energy transition.

Our economy remains resilient. But every year we must plan for and

adapt to a changing climate. Recent years have seen wildfires rage across

our province. Natural disasters devastate people, homes, communities,

businesses and industry. In response, the province is boosting total funding

to $519 million over the fiscal plan to help B.C. prepare for, respond to

and recover from wildfires, floods and other emergencies, because, again,

we’re stronger when we work together.

In partnership with Indigenous peoples, we’re choosing a more

prosperous path forward for everyone. Passing the Declaration on the Rights

of Indigenous Peoples Act was truly a historic day. It was the culmination

of many years of hard work for many people — and a very long wait for

Indigenous peoples.

We know we have a lot of hard work to do. The act is a significant

step forward and will serve as the foundation for a new way of living and

working together. Funds are flowing to First Nations through a historic

revenue-sharing agreement for an estimated $3 billion over 25 years. For

many communities, being able to count on stable, secure funding long into

the future is making a real and meaningful difference.

The funds are being put to good use already — building youth community

centres, supporting forest management to protect peoples’ homes from

wildfire and launching language programs that are key to the health of

communities. For the Nadleh Whut’en, it means building up to 30 new homes.

This is the first new housing that the community has had in years. As we all

know in this House, finding a place to call home in the community you love

is transformational.

It’s a true privilege to stand here today and table our government’s

third full budget that offers stability and opportunity. I’m honoured to

come to work every day to make life better for the people of British

Columbia.

Together we’ve accomplished a great deal. Families are saving

thousands of dollars thanks to investments in child care, the elimination of

MSP premiums, the soon-to-launch B.C. child opportunity benefit and the new

B.C. access grant. Families will benefit from new funding to strengthen our

schools and hospitals while delivering essential community

supports.

Meanwhile, landmark investments in roads, bridges, hospitals, housing

and schools are delivering a better quality of life while creating jobs.

Together, as government, we’ve chosen a fundamentally different path, a

choice we can all be proud of. We’re making life more affordable. We’re

improving the services that people count on. We’re creating opportunities

for you and your children to be able to build a good life in British

Columbia.

[2:20 p.m.]

Yes, significant progress has been made, but there is no shortage of

work still to do. You, the people of British Columbia, have always been

working hard to get ahead, and we, as a government, are working hard for

you.

I want my grandkids to know the sense of pride that comes from putting

down roots, contributing to your community and building a good life for

yourself, your family and others.

This is at the heart of what I believe British Columbians want: a

stronger province for everyone.

A province where the next generation won’t face a housing crisis, but

people will be able to find a more affordable home with space for their

family to grow.

A province where equal opportunity and access to education will put

people’s dreams within reach and end the cycle of poverty.

A province where the heroes of our communities — early childhood

educators, our parents, our health care workers, teachers, tradespeople —

will see the recognition they deserve for keeping our province

running.

A province where everyone will have access to the health and mental

health services they need, no matter where they live and no matter the size

of their bank account.

And a province with a strong economy, where future generations,

together, can enjoy our clean water, our land and our air.

Our government is working hard every day for you. Budget 2020 is our

plan to keep B.C. moving forward. Together we will build a stronger B.C. for

everyone.

S. Bond: It is my privilege today to deliver an initial response to Budget 2020

on behalf of the official opposition. Before I begin, I would very much like

to acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory of the Songhees and

Esquimalt Nations.

Additionally, I would like to acknowledge the hard work of the

minister and the ministry staff, who we know have worked very hard putting

together a budget. We recognize that it’s about making difficult decisions.

I can assure the minister that we will agree to disagree on many of the

outcomes of the work that she and her team have done, but I do certainly

appreciate the time spent in the service of British Columbians.

Today, as designated speaker, I will provide a few very brief comments

and will reserve my remaining time for further remarks after we’ve had a

chance and some additional time to actually review the budget documents in

detail. I also want to note that my co-critic, the member for Surrey South,

will provide her remarks later in the debate. Over the course of the budget

debate that will follow, my colleagues, in their roles as critics, will

present specific, detailed questions and comments related to program areas

and policy decisions that the government has presented in their budget

today.

After a lacklustre throne speech, the government has delivered a

budget that we simply cannot have confidence in, one which shows that all

key economic indicators are headed in the wrong direction and one that fails

to live up to the most foundational promises that were made to British

Columbians.

When the NDP took office more than 2½ years ago, they raised the

expectations of the people of British Columbia like few other governments

before them had, and then they raised their taxes too. In Budget 2020, we

have seen this trend continue, with now 22 new and increased taxes since

this government took office.

The Premier told the people of B.C. that they could expect decisive

action on affordability and climate change. He told them they could expect

significant improvements in housing and child care and an open and

transparent government. However, Budget 2020 confirms that this Premier has

no intention of keeping many of the promises that he made directly to

British Columbians 2½ years ago, and in many cases, those promises have been

abandoned.

[2:25 p.m.]

The throne speech foreshadowed the budget that the government has

delivered today. In fact, the minister warned people ahead of budget day not

to have high expectations. On that point, she delivered.

In addition to recognizing that the budget falls far below the high

expectations that this government laid out, a closer examination of the

budget details suggests that there are some deeper problems. The NDP has a

history of presenting what looks to be a rosy financial picture at first

glance but is later found out to be a patchwork of increased taxes,

out-of-control spending and unfulfilled promises.

Last year the government would have been in deficit if not for

collecting both the MSP and the employer health tax at the same time — in

other words, double-dipping in taxpayers’ pockets to the tune of over $1

billion.

The tax-and-spend policies of this government have resulted in $5.8

billion in taxation revenues, which will increase to $8.8 billion each and

every year. Yet despite the NDP’s rhetoric that would lead you to believe

otherwise, little has been gained for British Columbians from an $11.4

billion increase in annual spending. Even with these projections, we see an

incredibly thin surplus, the most recent in an ever-shrinking series of

surpluses from this government. Now, I’m not sure about you, but this

situation has a remarkably familiar feel to it.

Not long ago we learned that the Premier was asking what happened to

the B.C. dream in a strategy document now quietly posted on the government’s

website. Only 2½ years since the Premier has been in power, I can assure him

many British Columbians are asking exactly the same question.

While the NDP raised the hopes of people in British Columbia, this

budget confirms that this is a government that has walked away from the

promises they made and, frankly, has run out of the money they require to

reach their own lofty rhetoric.

We were looking for a comprehensive strategy to address the worst

forestry crisis in over 40 years, which is devastating thousands of

hard-working families and communities in this province. It would have been

nice to see some kind of solution to address the fact that Metro Vancouver

renters are now paying $2,064 more per year in rent today than they were

when the NDP took power only 2½ years ago.

We would have liked to have seen a plan, a plan with some action, to

deal with the looming crisis in strata insurance. We hoped that there was

going to be some sort of relief for small businesses struggling to pay

skyrocketing property taxes, dealing with issues related to regulation and

lack of competitiveness.

Most of all, we needed a budget that would repair B.C.’s reputation as

a competitive place to do business. But we are currently being eroded by,

now, 22 new and increased taxes, labour uncertainty and declining confidence

in our province. Unfortunately, none of those things, none of them, can be

found in Budget 2020.

Even though we’ve only just started the process of combing through

this budget, we’ve identified many obvious gaps that continue to be

overlooked by the NDP, illustrating an ever-growing gulf between what they

said they would do and what they are actually doing.

For example, what happened to the government’s promised $10-a-day

daycare program? We heard language in the throne speech, which is reflected

in Budget 2020, showing that this government has abandoned their commitment

to universal $10-a-day child care for those who need it and want it. Even

with their claim of 10,400 new child care spaces, their own documents say

that fewer than 2,000 are actually functioning.

Moreover, six years into the government’s ten-year child care plan,

the child care budget will flatten at one-third of the projected cost of a

$10-a-day daycare program as promised by the NDP, promised to British

Columbians in 2017.

[2:30 p.m.]

What about that $400 renters rebate that was promised to British

Columbians? It’s also completely absent from this budget. As the real estate

market starts to heat up again, we’re left wondering when, if ever, this

government will understand that until it takes action to unleash more supply

of housing, all types of housing, housing will remain unaffordable for far

too many British Columbians. Yet Budget 2020 shows that housing starts are

down. Housing starts are down by 22 percent in our province.

Increased supply must be an essential component of any housing

strategy, but with only 2,400 units of affordable housing opened by this

government to date, it’s going to take them almost 100 years to keep their

promise to build 114,000 affordable homes. A hundred years is a long

time.

We’ve also seen there is still no clearly articulated strategy for

economic growth, nor is there a jobs plan. The inaction on these fronts is

impacting the private sector in real and damaging ways. In November, we saw

B.C. business confidence hit its lowest point since 2009, during the

financial crisis, and it’s no wonder why. B.C. is at the back of the pack

when it comes to supporting small business, the very heart of our economy.

Sixty-four percent of businesses are now saying that taxes and red tape are

causing them difficulty. No mention of that in this minister’s

budget.

As part of the Budget 2020 consultations, the B.C. Chamber of Commerce

submitted to this Finance Minister that there is a “growing lack of

confidence in B.C…as a place to invest thanks to unclear regulatory

processes and the shifting goalposts thanks to provincial government

actions.” Yet this government, in this budget, fails to provide them with

any relief or reassurance.

The lack of a jobs plan has become even more serious as we tell the

rest of the story. Over the last eight months, this province has lost 32,800

private sector jobs, many of them from resource industries. We watched month

after month last year as mills were curtailing shifts, laying off workers or

closing altogether, affecting individuals, families and their communities.

In the hopes of inspiring government action, truck loggers and forestry

workers held rallies in Vancouver. They drove their trucks hundreds and

hundreds of kilometres to send a message to this government, and today in

Victoria, and they have been met with silence by this government.

Yet despite supposedly being a government focused on people, this is

the government that ripped the rural dividend fund, worth $25 million, out

of rural and forest-dependent communities last year. Despite our best

efforts to look for it today and to pledge to restore it, there is no

mention of the rural dividend fund in this budget, let alone a plan to

adequately address the needs of forestry communities, who are struggling to

get by.

The question of whether the current government is truly meeting the

needs of the people of B.C. is an important one, and it is worth detailed

consideration. As my colleagues and I dig deeper into this budget over the

next few days, it will be on the top of our minds. How does Budget 2020 make

the lives of British Columbians better? The short answer is that it doesn’t.

We’ve already mentioned the broken promises that this budget represents,

with the disappearance of beneficial policies and programs, but this budget

also lays bare other ways this government is falling short.

Affordability has been the central theme of political discussions in

B.C. over the last number of years, and though this government continually

proclaims that it is making life more affordable for British Columbians, we

have seen that for most people, affordability is worsening.

[2:35 p.m.]

The government’s now 22 new and increased taxes are placing a larger

burden on people and small businesses. ICBC rates have continued to

increase, but hey, you might get a break in an election year. And rents

continue to climb higher than ever.

British Columbia needs real action on affordability, but instead, we

are left with Budget 2020. It is our job as elected officials and

legislators to work to provide the best quality of life for all of the

people of this great province. More importantly, it is the job of the

government to set out a plan for success for the entire province, for small

business owners and for forest-dependent communities. I think most British

Columbians would agree with that premise.

After our initial look at Budget 2020, it seems like that strategic

plan to do just that is missing — no jobs plan, no economic growth strategy

at a time when British Columbia is losing in terms of competitiveness. We’ve

yet to see a credible jobs plan or an economic growth strategy despite the

fact that over the last eight months, we have seen thousands of jobs lost in

our province.

If you look at the measures that indicate a strong economy, all of

them in this budget — and I would encourage everyone to look through the

budget documents — are trending in the wrong direction. There is declining

employment, retail sales have flatlined despite population growth, exports

are declining, and there is slowing growth in real business investment — all

of the key and essential pieces to maintaining and growing an economy so

that we can afford to provide for British Columbians without taking the

money out of their back pocket.

The word “trade” has been deleted from the ministry profiles, and the

only revenue generation plan this government appears to rely on is the back

pockets of hard-working British Columbians.

One year ago this Finance Minister asked British Columbians to have

confidence in the budget she tabled that day. But Budget 2020 raises some

serious questions about that request. In the minister’s own budget

documents, Budget 2020, we can see that she has overspent her budget

projections by more than half a billion dollars. She failed to follow

through on promises to build infrastructure, to the tune of over $1billion.

How can she possibly ask British Columbians to have confidence when

employment is dropping and economic indicators are trending in the wrong

direction?

While the minister feels comfortable increasing spending at an

exponential rate, British Columbians are having to make tough decisions

every day. They’re asking themselves: can they afford to think about

household good purchases or, in fact, purchase a new car? The lack of

consumer confidence is reflected directly in the budget revenue

numbers.

It’s also very telling that even the government’s own coalition

partner described the throne speech as underwhelming and backward-looking. I

certainly look forward to hearing what they have to say about this budget

and hearing their rationale for why they continue to support this government

despite the concerns they regularly express both inside this House and

beyond.

The people of British Columbia are looking for this government to

demonstrate that they meant what they said, whether it was $10-a-day child

care and support for renters, for more affordable housing and the

opportunity to have a well-paying family-supporting job. For many British

Columbians, simply put, there is no relief. There are only unmet

expectations and broken promises, and sadly, this budget makes it clear that

those promises made to British Columbians just 2½ years ago will not be kept

— not now and not in the future.

Most British Columbians likely have no idea that today is budget day.

They’re just trying to get through the day. They’re taking care of their

families, and they keep hoping that things will get just a little easier.

The budget tabled today will provide very little relief when it comes to

making life more affordable for their families, no matter how often the

government repeats the word.

Today’s budget represents a lost opportunity, and it includes a litany

of broken promises: escalating rents, fewer jobs, less affordable housing

options, increasing congestion. The list goes on.

[2:40 p.m.]

What today’s budget should have represented was a blueprint for

creating more opportunity for all British Columbians. By that measure, it

misses the mark, and sadly, it fails many British Columbians.

I will conclude my remarks for now and ask to reserve my remaining

time for tomorrow, as we adjourn debate.

S. Bond moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

Introduction and

First Reading of Bills

BILL 4 — BUDGET MEASURES

IMPLEMENTATION ACT,

Hon. C. James presented a message from Her Honour the

Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Budget Measures Implementation Act,

Hon. C. James: I move that the bill be introduced and read a first time

now.

The bill consists of two parts.

Part 1 amends a number of statutes

in order to implement the tax measures in Budget 2020. The Provincial

Sales Tax Act is amended to remove the PST exemption on sweetened

carbonated beverages. This bill also amends the Provincial Sales Tax Act

to provide additional registration requirements for the e-commerce

sector and to authorize regulations that will provide targeted relief

from the sales tax for machinery and equipment used for pollution

control and waste management, electric aircraft and electric aircraft

conversions, and rural property contractors working outside of British

Columbia.

Effective January 1, 2020, the Income Tax Act is amended to

introduce a new top marginal personal income tax rate of 20.5 percent.

The Income Tax Act is also amended to extend or make adjustments to

various tax credits. For example, the training tax credit is extended

for three years. The farmers food donation tax credit is extended for

three years. A production services tax credit pre-certification

notification is introduced, and, Film Incentive B.C. and production

services tax credit certification fees are set.

The Carbon Tax Act is amended April 1, 2020, to align B.C.’s

carbon tax rates with the emission factors used by the federal

government to calculate its carbon pricing backstop rates. This change

ensures that B.C.’s carbon tax is based on newer science and that the

methodology is consistent with other provinces.

The Tobacco Tax Act is amended effective April 1, 2020, to

introduce a tax rate for heated tobacco products to ensure they do not

receive preferential treatment compared to other tobacco

products.

The Ports Property Tax Act is amended effective January 1, 2020,

to provide greater flexibility to municipalities to set a class 4 tax

rate for designated ports.

Finally, a number of statutes are amended to improve tax

administration through expanding appeal delegation authority; clarifying

the application of taxes, credits and treatment of certain goods through

a centralization of tax programs; and to ensure finding necessary

consequential amendments to various taxations.

Part 2 of the bill includes amendments to three acts, starting

with an amendment to the Balanced Budget and Ministerial Accountability

Act and followed by the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act and

the Financial Administrations Act. The Balanced Budget and Ministerial

Accountability Act is proposed to be amended to update and clarify the

rules, mainly to accommodate changes we’re proposing to the Budget

Transparency and Accountability Act.

This bill was built to allow for a May fixed election date. We are

proposing that the bill be amended to address the recent change in the

fixed election date to the third Saturday in October, as well as

post-election changes like what we saw in 2017. The proposed amendments

set forth a budget date on the fourth Tuesday in March following the

October fixed election date to allow additional time for the budget and

estimates development process. The amendments also provide clearer rules

for budget and estimate presentation dates when an election is held on a

date other than the third Saturday in October.

These rules will then allow any new incoming governments up to 120

days to present a budget and estimates to the Legislative Assembly if

the budget and estimates have not already been presented. The rules also

allow for adjustments to release dates for quarterly reports and annual

service plans and reports as a result of elections in a fiscal

year.

[2:45 p.m.]

We also propose to amend the act to extend by one week the regular

budget annual date for non-election years to the fourth Tuesday in

February, which allows slightly more time for a government that is

coming in to complete due diligence and also recognizes the impact of

Family Day on the budget development schedule.

Finally, the Financial Administration Act is proposed to be

amended to complement the amendments to the Budget Transparency and

Accountability Act. This amendment includes extending the special

warrant spending authority provisions while Legislature is not in

session during an election year from 90 days to 120 days.

It also introduces a very limited short-term special warrant

spending authority while the Legislature is in session to recognize,

again, the tabling of the budget and the estimates on the last Tuesday

of March.

This amendment helps ensure that limited funding remain available,

should an interim supply act not be enacted by March 31, and would only

apply to address election year impacts.

Motion approved.

Hon. C. James: I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second

reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Bill 4, Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2020, 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.

Tabling Documents

Hon. C. James: I have the pleasure to rise to table government’s overall strategic

plan and the Budget and Fiscal Plan 2020-21–2022-23 , which together

fulfil the requirements of sections 7, 8, 10 and 12 of the Budget

Transparency and Accountability Act. I also table, on behalf of the

ministers responsible, the service plans, as required under

section 13 of

the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act.

The service plan documents are presented in two binders. The first

binder contains the service plans for the Office of the Premier and 20

ministries. The second binder contains service plans for the 31 service

delivery agencies and Crown corporations. The second binder includes a

listing of organizations that are exempt from the reporting requirements of

section 13 of the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act.

Hon. M. Farnworth moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

Mr. Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 1:30 tomorrow afternoon.

The House adjourned at 2:47 p.m.

The Official Report of Debates ( Hansard ) and webcasts of

proceedings

are available on the Internet. Chamber debates are broadcast on

television.

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