British Columbia Hansard — 29 October 2018, p.m., Issue 171 (41st Parliament, 3rd Session)

20181029pm-Hansard-n171

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

Third Session, 41st Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES (HANSARD) Monday, October 29, 2018 Afternoon Sitting Issue No. 171 THE HONOURABLE DARRYL PLECAS, SPEAKER ISSN 1499-2175

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Raj Chouhan Assistant Deputy Speaker................................................................................................................................................................... Linda Reid Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole ................................................................................................................

Spencer Chandra Herbert Clerk of the Legislative Assembly ....................................................................................................................................................Craig James Deputy Clerk and Clerk of Committees.................................................................................................................................

Kate Ryan-Lloyd Clerk Assistant — Committees and Interparliamentary Relations ..........................................................................................Susan Sourial Sessional Law Clerk...............................................................................................................................................Loredana Catalli-Sonier, QC Sergeant-at-Arms ................................................................................................................................................................................. Gary Lenz

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CONTENTS Monday, October 29, 2018 Afternoon Sitting Page Routine Business Introductions by Members..................................................................................................................................................... 5973 Introduction and First Reading of Bills................................................................................................................................ 5974 Bill 54 — Lobbyists Registration Amendment Act, 2018 Hon. D.

Eby Statements (Standing Order 25B) ......................................................................................................................................... 5974 Anne Balding D. Routley Shooting at synagogue in Pittsburgh M. Lee Nancy Sinclair A. Kang Sage Transition House J. Thornthwaite Stephanie Dunlop M. Dean Nina Graham J. Y ap Ministerial Statements ............................................................................................................................................................ 5976 Shooting at synagogue in Pittsburgh Hon. J. Horgan A. Wilkinson A.

Weaver Oral Questions......................................................................................................................................................................... 5977 Referendum on electoral reform S. Bond Hon. M. Mark Hon. D. Eby M. Polak Hon. J. Horgan Old-growth protection and forest industry jobs on Vancouver Island S. Furstenau Hon. J. Horgan Referendum on electoral reform J. Johal Hon. D. Eby M. de Jong Hon. R. Fleming Hon. J. Horgan J.

Thornthwaite Orders of the Day Second Reading of Bills .......................................................................................................................................................... 5982 Bill 46 — South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Amendment Act (No. 2), 2018 Hon. S. Robinson T. Stone A. Olsen Hon. S. Robinson

Second Reading of Bills(continued) Bill 48 — Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act Hon. H. Bains J. Martin A. Weaver M. Elmore S. Thomson L. Throness B. Stewart N. Letnick Hon. H. Bains Bill 44 — Budget Measures Implementation (Employer Health Tax) Act, 2018(continued) M. Morris D. Barnett Hon. J. Sims N. Letnick M. Bernier R. Sultan J. Rustad J. Thornthwaite S. Thomson G. Kyllo T. Redies Hon. C. James

MONDAY , OCTOBER 29, 2018 The House met at 1:35 p.m. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Introductions by Members L. Reid:I am delighted to welcome to the gallery today a very special woman. Coral Bowman has joined us. I would ask the House to please make her very, very welcome. Hon. D. Eby: I’m going to introduce someone here today that a number of members will recognize. Tom Perry was a member of this place. He was a member of the cabinet under Mike Harcourt. He’s a hard-working doctor with the therapeutics initiative at UBC, doing work on pharmaceut- ical safety.

Will the House please join me in making this former member welcome. I have two more introductions. Bev Ramey is here. She is a constituent of mine, representing B.C. Nature. Tori Ball is also here, representing the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. She’s from the member for Vancouver–Mount Pleas- ant’s neighbourhood. Would the House please make all of these guests feel wel- come. Hon. M. Mark:It is my pleasure to rise in the House today to give a warm welcome to the Alliance of B.C. Students, the B.C. Federation of Students, the UBC Alma Mater Soci- ety and the Simon Fraser Student Society.

These organiza- tions collectively represent 253,000 students in 19 colleges and universities across British Columbia. Students studying in our colleges, universities and insti- tutes are passionate advocates. They are here to meet with members of these chambers to advocate for greater access- ibility and affordability. I welcome their advocacy. They are truly champions for change. Will the House please join me in welcoming our members. Hon. J. Horgan:As I scan the precinct, I see two former members of this place.

One, of course, is the mayor of Ques- nel, Bob Simpson, former member for Cariboo North, who I think might well get a second introduction. It’s good to see Bob back in the chamber, with his hawk eye looking down on the proceedings. Here on the floor is an old colleague of mine, someone who I was very excited to see sworn in here not that long ago. The then member for Coquitlam–Burke Mountain, Jodie Wickens, is here. Any time Jodie is in the House is a good day. Would the House please make both of them very wel- come. J.

Rustad:It’s a great pleasure this afternoon to be meeting with a number of people that I know are here in the Legis- lature. Some have already been introduced, but I want to add my welcome, as well, to Al Martin, who is the director of strategic initiatives with the B.C. Wildlife Federation; Dr. Tom Perry, of course, a former MLA; Ken Farquharson, who is a retired engineer; Bev Ramey; Mark Worthing; Joe Foy; Tori Ball; and Mr. Kim Reeves, from the Outdoor Recreation Council. They’re here to meet and discuss a number of top- ics, and I look forward to meeting with them this afternoon.

Would the House please make them welcome. C. Oakes:I have two separate guests that I’ d like to intro- duce today. First is the mayor of Quesnel — I’m delighted that you’re here talking about the importance of forestry in our community — and former MLA for Cariboo North. Welcome, Bob. Thank you very much for coming down and bringing the concerns of our region. Dave and Donna Campbell are here. They’re from Kersley, British Columbia — amazing volunteers, brought all sorts of wonderful baked goodies and just the loveliest people, incredible volunteers in our community, eight children, 17 grandchildren.

Every Wednesday Donna gets up at 5 a.m. to cook muffins for the teachers in her school. These are the wonderful people that they are, and they do so much for the community. Would the House please welcome all our guests. Hon. L. Beare:I’ d like to introduce Mr. Kim Reeves, who is the vice-chair of the Outdoor Recreation Council of B.C. He’s from my community. Would the House please make him feel welcome. Hon. J. Darcy:It’s not often that I get visitors from New Westminster. He’s not actually here to meet me. He’s here to meet the Minister of Environment and the Minister of Forests.

I’ d like to also take this opportunity to welcome Joe Foy, who is with the Western Canada Wilderness Commit- tee. He was a longtime volunteer and then the first full-time campaigner. We don’t see a lot of him in New Westminster because he’s busy campaigning for the wilderness and our environment everywhere across the province, but I would ask the House to give him a very warm welcome. [1:40 p.m.] Hon. C. Trevena:I would like the House to welcome two constituents of mine. Brenda McNair and Bill Burr are in the gallery. They are very active in the constituency association in the North Island.

In fact, I would say they’re quite central to it. Brenda is the secretary, and Bill is the treasurer. They are also real political animals who want to make sure that we have a democracy that works. They’re extremely excited to see an NDP government. This, however, is the first time they’ve been to the Legislature. They asked me a few questions about question period, but I said that they had to really witness it themselves to get the full experience about 5973

true politics in British Columbia. I hope everyone in the House will make them very welcome. Hon. L. Popham:Like many of us, I watched with great interest on October 20 as municipal elections were held throughout our province, and I am pleased to report that we have a very special guest joining us in the gallery today. Saanich mayor elect Dr. Fred Haynes is here. Dr.

Haynes has been, among other things, a professional publisher, an entre- preneur, an educator, a Commonwealth scholar, an incred- ibly active community volunteer, an eighth dan shihan and Shioda aikido and Saanich councillor, and now he can add mayor of Saanich to that list. Please give him a very warm welcome. N. Simons:On a similar theme, Matt McLean was recent- ly elected to the Sechelt council. He is the former execut- ive director of the Sechelt Downtown Business Association and the Coast Car Co-op. He’s here as a representative of the Capilano Students Union.

It’s nice to see new people on the council, and I hope he enjoys his visit here to the House. M. Dean:I’m very pleased to introduce a guest from my community of Metchosin, coming to share his knowledge and discuss important ecological matters with ministers from our government. Would everyone please welcome Ken Farquharson. A. Kang: I have two sets of introductions today. I have a group of friends who I’ve befriended here in Victoria. They are Mei Lee, Renee Lai, Jolynn Chiu, Coco Chiang, Mia Tsao, Rose Lee, Amy Sun, Kuei Hsiang Chi.

As well, from my con- stituency, a very active community member and a passion- ate member of the auxiliary RCMP is my friend Michael Wu. He’s here with his wife, Joanna Liu, and his two children, Kayden Wu and Ariana Wu. Would the House please make them feel very welcome today. S. Furstenau:I have a couple of introductions as well. It gives me great pleasure to introduce Mark Worthing, from Sierra Club B.C. Mark has been involved for many years in campaigns that work to protect the important ecosystems and places of wonder in our province. Also, there are two classes from École Mount Prevost here today.

They are coming in for question period. Mme. Sandrine Goble’s and Mme. Wanda Y ounge’s 57 grade 5 stu- dents and over 20 parents are here today. I’ve met with both the groups. They’re excited and keen young learners. Would the House please make them feel most welcome. Introduction and First Reading of Bills BILL 54 — LOBBYISTS REGISTRATION AMENDMENT ACT, 2018 Hon. D. Eby presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Lobbyists Registration Amendment Act, 2018. Hon. D. Eby:I move the bill be introduced and read a first time now.

I’m pleased to introduce the Lobbyists Registration Amendment Act, 2018. The bill makes significant amend- ments to strengthen the Lobbyists Registration Act, builds on the two-year cooling-off period introduced last year for former public officeholders and closes a loophole in the cool- ing-off period.

The major changes being proposed include introducing monthly reporting of actual lobbying activity; eliminating the 100-hour registration threshold for in-house lobbyists and harmonizing other requirements for in-house and consultant lobbyists; increased reporting of the ultimate client and known beneficiaries of lobbying; new gift-giving rules, with reporting of gifts and of reportable Election Act contributions to those being lobbied; new requirements to report contingency fee arrangements and whether a lob- byist is governed by a relevant code of conduct; expanding the administrative penalty regime to include a registrar’s ban on lobbying for up to two years; and mandatory peri- odic review of the act. [1:45 p.m.] Mr.

Speaker:The question is first reading of the bill. Motion approved. Hon. D. Eby: 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 54, Lobbyists Registration Amendment Act, 2018, 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) ANNE BALDING D. Routley:I’ d ask you, Mr. Speaker: how could you sum up the life of a volunteer in two minutes? Y ou don’t have to answer. It’s a rhetorical question. It’s not question period yet.

I’ d like to describe my friend Anne Balding, who moved from Ontario to the Cowichan Valley about the same time I was first elected in 2005. This is an incredibly dedicated per- son. I could read a laundry list of her accomplishments, but that wouldn’t tell you what I need to tell you about her. She’s a fantastic person who introduced herself to our community by volunteering, as so many do when they come to new communities, targeting housing and homelessness challenges in the community — a very prescient and vision- ary person. She organized webinars.

She organized public 5974 British Columbia Debates Monday, October 29, 2018

forums. We together waged a campaign of empathy in order to convince the community that it was in all of our interests to take care of each other. That’s not a hard thing to do, to convince a community of that, when you are absent of fear. She’s a human resource manager in a way, but you really don’t know you’re being managed. She’s a human asset man- ager, but you don’t really know you’re an asset until you real- ize you’re a resource in one of her plans. This a very complex person who tackles vexing, complex problems with goodwill and a spirit of unity. I have so much respect for her. She’s a force of nature.

She came to our community to meet folks, to lend a hand, to help the most vulnerable in our community. She came to be a friend, who has come now to be Volunteer of the Y ear in Duncan. That’s Anne Balding. This job gives us a platform, and I’ d like to use the pulpit of that platform to speak on behalf of 55,000 voters and say to Anne Balding, on behalf of all of us and even people who don’t know how much they benefit from her service: “Thank you, Anne Balding. ” SHOOTING AT SYNAGOGUE IN PITTSBURGH M.

Lee: This past Saturday an armed man entered a Pitts- burgh synagogue and opened fire on the congregants, killing 11, wounding many. This was a brazen act of domestic ter- rorism and murder and a blatant act of hate towards the Jewish community. Y esterday afternoon I joined with other members of our Legislative Assembly to attend a truly mov- ing service with close to 1,000 people at the Jewish Com- munity Centre in my riding. Today in this House, we stand in solidarity with Pitt- sburgh’s community and the Jewish community in our province, our country and around the world.

We offer our help in any way possible to those reeling after what was the third mass shooting in a house of worship over the last three years in the United States. Bigotry, violence and hatred directed toward religious groups has no place in a modern, civilized world. Y et mem- bers of the Tree of Life Congregation came face to face with the ugly embodiment of anti-Semitism, bringing with it a torrent of memories of oppression, hatred and violence. Their greatest fear came to pass, and it breaks my heart. This is something no community — ethnic, religious or otherwise — should have to fear.

When tragedies such as this occur, we must remind ourselves of our responsibility in this world not just to condemn hatred and violence but to act- ively promote peace and justice. Together we have to build a world we aspire to live in, because as events like this remind us, there is still so much more work to be done. [1:50 p.m.] Please join me today in sending our love to Pittsburgh, in standing up to anti-Semitism and condemning the violence and hatred, and in pledging, as elected representatives, all of us, to stand for good and peace and to always offer a helping hand. That’s my commitment. NANCY SINCLAIR A.

Kang: This weekend was the weekend before Hal- loween. In the mall and along the streets, I saw so many children dressed in costume. Many were in superhero cos- tumes, such as Captain America, Black Panther and Wonder Woman. But those are not the only superheroes we have in Burnaby. Many of the heroes in our community are not dressed in fancy costumes. As the MLA for Burnaby–Deer Lake, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a very special teacher in my riding for her contributions to her school community. Nancy Sinclair is a teacher at Lakeview Elementary School. Ms.

Sin- clair has been a teacher in Burnaby for more than 30 years. Her school community describes her as kind, patient, loving, talented, generous and the best teacher ever. She coaches the intermediate cross-country team, primary skipping club, stitchery and knitting club, runs lunch-hour intramurals, oversees the recycling club and helps to raise funds for camps and field trips. Whether these clubs were before school, during school or after school, Ms. Sinclair was there. Ms. Sinclair is magical. She doesn’t just touch the lives of the students in her class.

Over the course of the school year, with all the extracurricular activities she volunteers in, she would have touched the lives of all the stu- dents in the school. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the parents, staff, students, teachers, principal and all Lakeview community members who took the time and initiative to put together Nancy’s nomination this year. Y our submission efforts are also a form of community involvement and com- munity celebration. Thank you, Nancy, for your volunteerism and your pas- sion, because that is what makes Burnaby schools special.

Y our love for the community, your selflessness, makes B.C. special. Thank you, Nancy. SAGE TRANSITION HOUSE J. Thornthwaite:On September 14, I attended a fund- raiser for Sage Transition House in North Vancouver. Sage Transition House started as a small room in Chesterfield House in North Vancouver, offering emergency accommod- ation for women and children fleeing abuse.

That was way back in 1977, when a handful of dedicated and fierce fem- inists — including my good friend Rosalie Grills, who has earned an honorary doctorate at Capilano University because of her work — got together and realized there were women and children in our own community that needed to escape domestic violence in their own homes. Fast-forward to today. Sage Transition House is an 18-bed transition house that provides safety and support to women and their children fleeing abusive situations.

They provide shelter; food; clothing; personal items; referrals; outreach, including multicultural; homeless prevention programs; Monday, October 29, 2018 British Columbia Debates 5975

advocacy; individual and group support; and adolescence and child empowerment programs. They even accept pets. This September fundraiser was organized by my good friend Leona Acaster. She’s the owner of Shoppers Drug Mart in Parkgate in North Vancouver. I was happy to see my own daughter and her friends at the event, and it was really fun to see many, many generations helping other generations that need our help in the community. I’ d like to take this opportunity to thank Rosalie Grills and her friends for having the vision to help abused women four decades ago.

And to Leona Acaster and her family, for choosing Sage Transition House for this year’s fundraiser…. They raised almost $6,500. Congratulations to them. If you would like to help Sage Transition House, this is what you could do. Y ou could donate on the North Shore Crisis Services Society website at nscss.net. Y ou could volun- teer at the crisis society at the many fundraisers they hold around town. Or you could donate clothing, toys or other items to their Good Stuff Connection store on 3rd Street in the city of North Van.

My hat goes off to Rosalie and Leona for helping vulner- able women and children in North Vancouver. STEPHANIE DUNLOP M. Dean: Metchosin’s fire chief receives her 20-year fire service award this year. Stephanie Dunlop is one of only a small number of women fire chiefs in B.C. She started volun- teering with a fire department in Peachland in 1998 and con- tinued volunteering in Metchosin after moving here. [1:55 p.m.] In 2008, she was appointed part-time fire chief, and this became full-time in 2010. She now oversees a department of 36 members, comprised of volunteers and professional fire- fighters.

While women make up less than 4 percent of fire- fighters in Canada, Stephanie wants young women to know that they can pursue a career in firefighting. It isn’t just about strength. It’s about training, knowing the equipment, tech- nique and teamwork. She believes that being a woman also has advantages, and she is always ready to step up. During the wildfire seasons of 2017 and ’18, she answered calls from northern B.C. for help, including leading a com- mand post in Fort St. James.

Other community service roles have included secretary of Firefighters Without Borders, Canada, with two deployments in Peru to provide training and assistance to local firefighters; board member of the Transportation Emergency Rescue Committee; and presid- ent of the B.C. Extrication Society. Her commitment to our community is truly immeasur- able. As she says: “I truly love this community and the emer- gency services. So I have the perfect job. Not many people can go to work each day loving what they do. I’m very lucky to be serving this community. ” Stephanie, thank you. We’re very lucky to have you.

NINA GRAHAM J. Y ap:I rise today with great pleasure to pay tribute and congratulate Richmond’s Nina Graham, who was last month awarded the Governor General’s Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers. This award honours the exceptional volunteer achievements of Canadians across the country, and Nina is one exceptional person. She has been a dedicated volun- teer in Richmond for nearly three decades, helping out with donor clinics for Canadian Blood Services and assisting trav- ellers at YVR, Vancouver International Airport, in her capa- city as a Green Coat ambassador.

She is, perhaps, most well known for her role as a fitness instructor at the YMCA. Did I mention she will soon turn 90 years of age? Y es, you heard that right. Nina is almost 90 years, but that’s just a number, and it’s not slowing her down. She became interested in fitness later in life, in her 40s. So there’s still time for the rest of us. She hasn’t stopped ever since. In fact, she works out just about every day. A few years ago the YMCA teamed up with UBC re- searchers to test out an active seniors program. Nina signed up as a participant and was trained to teach fitness to others.

She now leads a class for adults 55-plus in Richmond. The seniors who take her classes report that they are healthier and happier, thanks to her great example. I ask all members in this House to join me in congratu- lating Nina Graham on her latest accolades and thanking her for inspiring all of us to a healthier lifestyle. It is truly never too late. Ministerial Statements SHOOTING AT SYNAGOGUE IN PITTSBURGH Hon. J. Horgan:I rise to make a ministerial statement.

I want to join with the member for Vancouver-Langara in say- ing that all of our hearts were broken this past weekend with the news of the tragic shootings at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, where 11 people lost their lives and six oth- ers were wounded. It’s not just the tragedy and the horrific events in the synagogue that captured our attention, but it’s the recurring theme of people in places of worship being at risk and worshipping in fear. It was not that long ago….

Members will remember the tragic death of 26 Christians in the church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and the deaths of six Muslims here in Canada in Quebec City just last year. Muslims, Christians and Jews — all affected by violence in their places of worship. Abso- lutely unacceptable to the people of this House and to the people of this province.

I want all members to stand with me — and I know they will — as well as with the member for Vancouver-Langara, to express our profound disappointment that violence, hatred, bigotry and anti-Semitism continue to exist and thrive, cer- tainly here in North America and, indeed, around the world. 5976 British Columbia Debates Monday, October 29, 2018

All of us, as political leaders, have a responsibility and an obligation to stand up and say no when we see intolerance, to stand up and speak with one voice, regardless of our partis- an stripe — with one voice — about the fact that we in Brit- ish Columbia are proud of our inclusion. We’re proud of our diversity. [2:00 p.m.] It’s the multi-faith dynamic in this Legislature and in this province that makes this an extraordinary place to be and to worship, regardless of your faith.

To the Jewish community in British Columbia particu- larly, I want to say how profoundly sad I am for the fact that we can no longer, with confidence, go into a place of worship without fear. It’s certainly a reminder of what happened this past weekend in Pittsburgh; or a reminder of what happened in Quebec City, in the mosque there; or in the church in Texas, just a year ago. All Canadians and all British Columbians stand against intolerance, stand against bigotry, stand against hate.

I would think it would be a grand gesture if all of us in this place today — and I know others will speak to this ministerial statement — put our voices to paper and sent a loud signal to Pittsburgh and to Quebec and to Sutherland Springs that here in British Columbia we will not tolerate intolerance. A. Wilkinson:We all thank the Premier for his remarks, which were very insightful. The Pittsburgh news on the weekend was depressing, dis- illusioning and truly shocking. In 2017, there was a 57 per- cent spike in hate crimes against Jewish people in the United States.

That’s the largest annual increase on record, since records began. That same year saw bomb threats against syn- agogues and Jewish community centres. No person, no mat- ter what their religion, should feel unsafe in their place of worship. This climate of fear and anger continues to propagate, par- ticularly in the United States. We must remain resilient, as Canadians. Anti-Semitism and hate spread quickly, and we know the toxic effects of social media. We know the oppor- tunities exist for this kind of viciousness in our society.

We must stand together, in this chamber, with the people in Pitt- sburgh, with all of the people in our world who are affected by these things, particularly the Jewish community here in Canada. Here in Canada, we’ve seen episodes of vicious graffiti on synagogues in eastern Canada. This is only a reminder that the Jewish community itself embraces the concept of Tikkun Olam — the commitment to have a better society, to behave constructively and to be acting beneficially for all. Truly something worth standing for and something worth fighting for, because anti-Semitism truly has shown it knows no borders.

We have a responsibility to ensure the safety and security of our own population and to make sure that these things are not tolerated in our society and are simply unac- ceptable. This phenomenon is not going away. We have to do every- thing we can as a society, as a chamber, as the government of the day to make sure that this is not, in any way, deemed to be acceptable or tolerable in this society. We must stand together as a community, including our Jewish members, and commit to ensuring that this kind of hatred and fear is not allowed to take root here.

As someone whose closest family members are Jewish, I feel this very deeply. All of us must stand together against hate. A. Weaver:Thank you to the Premier and to the Leader of the Official Opposition for your thoughtful words moments ago. News of the Tree of Life Synagogue massacre, the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in U.S. history, prompted condemnation from around the world. Today we add our voices to that chorus. I stand with my colleagues from all sides of the House in solemn solidarity against hatred, intol- erance, racism, anti-Semitism and violence.

The victims of this horrific attack were cherished com- munity members, respected elders, dear friends and beloved family members. Reading about their lives this morning, I was humbled by their devotion to serving oth- ers, their kindness, generosity, compassion and love for those around them. To echo our Premier, we know that the rise of intolerance isn’t just in the United States. It’s here in Canada too.

We know that the words of elected representatives can fan the flames of hatred. [2:05 p.m.] In memory of those lost, we renew our devotion to serving others and commit to embodying the compassion- ate values of Bernice and Sylvan Simon, David and Cecil Rosenthal, Melvin Wax, Jerry Rabinowitz, Joyce Fienberg, Daniel Stein, Rose Mallinger, Richard Gottfried and Irving Y ounger. I’ll also add 69-year-old Maurice Stallard and 67-year- old Vickie Lee Jones to the list of people murdered in hate crimes this week.

A shooter attempted to enter the Jefferson- town, Kentucky, First Baptist Church, which has a predom- inantly African-American membership, before turning to a nearby grocery store and racially targeting victims. Maurice was shopping with his grandson, helping him get a poster for a school project. He died shielding the 12-year-old during the attack. Vickie was shot walking to her car. We must be vigilant in our communities and fight against the hatred that can fester and rot into violence.

We stand with the government of British Columbia, the offi- cial opposition and all British Columbians, united in love and compassion. Our thoughts today are with the loved ones of those targeted. Oral Questions REFERENDUM ON ELECTORAL REFORM S. Bond: Somehow the transition to question period Monday, October 29, 2018 British Columbia Debates 5977

seems so much more difficult today, after the very touching and personal comments that we’ve heard from our leaders. But we begin. As we speak, British Columbians are receiving voter pack- ages in their mailboxes and being asked to vote on the critic- al issue of electoral reform. I am very confident that every member of this House has heard concerns from their constituents about the challenge they face understanding the options that are on the ballot. On the weekend, we learned that they are not the only ones that face that challenge.

Despite having a degree in political science, as she quickly pointed out to reporters, the Minister of Advanced Education admitted that she couldn’t describe the systems that she is urging British Columbians to adopt. Details matter. Perhaps, today, the Minister of Advanced Education can provide some of the specific details that voters need and deserve before they vote. Hon. M. Mark:Over the weekend, I took the opportun- ity to connect with my constituents of Vancouver–Mount Pleasant. I am a proud member of this Legislative Assembly. I take my duties seriously. I think that voters….

I believe with all of my heart that voters take their vote seriously, their right to vote seriously. Right now we have a system, first-past-the- post, where you can have 40 percent of the vote and 100 per- cent of the power. We are asking British Columbians wheth- er or not they want the status quo or if they want a different system, a system that might be better, where their vote might be more reflected in these chambers.

I am very proud of our government’s approach to bring- ing forward this referendum to British Columbians and that they will have their say on November 30 about wheth- er or not we keep the status quo or we vote for something that is more proportional in terms of representation in these chambers. Mr. Speaker:Prince George–Valemount on a supple- mental. S. Bond: Of course voters in British Columbia take their right to vote seriously, but apparently, this government and this minister don’t.

The decision to change an electoral system is one of the most significant decisions that British Columbians can be asked to make, but apparently, the minister and the govern- ment believe that citizens should make that choice without all the necessary details. We are told that the ballot question was approved by cab- inet, despite the promise that the Premier made that it would be an independent process. [2:10 p.m.] I’m assuming, as are British Columbians, that this minis- ter sat at the cabinet table and was part of that decision-mak- ing process.

Can the minister stand in this House today and provide even the most basic details about any one of those models? Let’s start with this. How many MLAs will have seats in the chamber, how many ridings will there be, and how big will those ridings end up? Hon. D. Eby: We engaged British Columbians across the province — the biggest engagement in the province’s history — to ask them how they wanted this referendum process to roll out. This is a process where the questions on the ballot have been approved by Elections B.C. It’s a ref- erendum where the process has been the subject of a B.C.

Supreme Court challenge where a party is attempting to stop British Columbians from being able to vote on their preferred system.

Here’s what the court had to say about the process in responding to the arguments put forward: “There is no evid- ence to support their assertions that the referendum process is intended to produce a particular result which the govern- ment favours or that it is a rushed process or that the provin- cial respondents in the application delayed the hearing of the petition. ” “There is no evidence, ” not “there is some evidence” or “it could be argued. ” “There is no evidence. ” Elections B.C. is providing information to British Colum- bians that is non-partisan, third-party.

Any British Columbi- an can find this information on line. It was mailed to their homes. I hope they take advantage of the opportunity to vote on how we send people to this place. Mr. Speaker:Prince George–Valemount on a second sup- plemental. S. Bond:It’s ironic that the supposedly neutral arbiter, the Attorney General, stood up to answer that question. Let’s be clear. The Attorney General stands in this House and claims credit for engaging British Columbians.

It’s mira- culous, then, that two of the options that the minister can’t describe actually were not included in the engagement with British Columbians and miraculously showed up as two of three on the ballot. Zero consultation with British Columbi- ans about those models. This flawed referendum was not designed, as it should have been, by a citizens’ assembly. Instead, the questions were decided behind closed doors by a Minister of Advanced Education and her cabinet colleagues. Y et when asked for even basic information, not one detail about the specific models was provided.

British Columbians deserve answers — specific, detailed answers — on systems like the rural- urban model. Here is another one for the minister. I represent a large, dispersed riding. Can she or anyone tell my constituents today whether the communities in Prince George– Valemount will be considered urban, semi-urban or rural? My constituents deserve to know before they mark their ballots. 5978 British Columbia Debates Monday, October 29, 2018

Hon. D. Eby: I thank the member for the question. She has a bunch of questions. First of all, she asks: how did all those systems get on the ballot? We asked British Colum- bians about what values they wanted to see in systems that were put forward on the ballots. Actually, it was the mem- bers of the opposition who repeatedly raised the issue of rur- al representation that resulted in a number of these models being put forward. These are models that emphasized rural representation. The member says: how will my constituents’ interests be represented in this process?

Well, in fact, the member, in rising and speaking on this, ensured that there were models put forward on the ballot that will ensure rural representa- tion if British Columbians choose to move in that direction. It’s not a mystery how they ended up there. There was a forum at SFU. There was a lot of discussion about different models and the different values. It was one of many sub- missions that came forward to my office, including speeches from the opposition and including submissions from every- one from the Fraser Institute to the No B.C. Proportional Representation Society.

They were all incorporated in the models that went forward. The information is available to British Columbians on the Elections B.C. website. It was also literally mailed to their doors. M. Polak:The member can’t have it both ways.

He can’t stand in the House and tell us here’s a system that is going to protect rural representation and then refuse to divulge the information that the previous member asked for. [2:15 p.m.] If you can’t answer the question, “Is her riding urban, rur- al, semi-urban?” then you cannot, at the same time, stand in this House and say that that particular method of PR is going to protect rural representation. What I fear is happening here is not that the Attorney or that other members of cabinet who’ve been involved in these discussions don’t know the answers.

Clearly, the Min- ister of Advanced Education didn’t know. But I think, over- all, they do know the answers. The really disturbing

part is that they’re not providing them to British Columbians before they vote. Here’s another easy one, or it should be, for members who are purporting to provide to us the option to save demo- cracy in B.C. for every fair vote. That would be…. We have a by-election happening in Nanaimo under our current sys- tem. I wonder if any of the members on the other side could explain, under proportional representation, how a seat would be filled in a by-election. Hon. D. Eby: It’s a pretty straightforward thing. This is a vote that’s going forward to British Columbians.

There are three specific systems that are being considered for propor- tional representation. If they feel they have enough inform- ation to vote in favour or against a PR system, then they’re going to do that. If they feel there’s not enough information, then they’ll vote to keep the existing system. It’s a referen- dum. It’s a vote. British Columbians will make the decision. Now, I understand that the members on the other side want to have it both ways as well.

They want to say that my office has made all the decisions in secret, and they also want to say that no decisions have been made and there aren’t enough details. It can’t be both. The information is available to British Columbians. They’ll look at the information. If they have enough inform- ation, they will vote to perhaps change the system, perhaps keep the existing system. If they feel they don’t have enough information about the new systems, then they’ll vote to keep the existing system. It’s a referendum. Mr. Speaker:The House Leader for the Official Opposi- tion on a supplemental. M.

Polak:I think what we heard right there was an admis- sion that this is a gamble for British Columbians. It’s a gamble. Roll the dice, and see what kind of system you end up with. The Attorney is happy to just say: “Look, I’m sorry if you don’t feel you have enough information. If you feel you do, you might want to support it. If you don’t, that’s okay. ” That’s not good enough. People not only have a right to vote in a referendum; they have a right to the information before they vote. Take my constituents, for example. Langley is a commu- nity much smaller than Surrey.

In all likelihood, though, based on the scant information that is available about pro- portional representation systems around the world, there is a possibility that Langley gets lumped in together with a large riding, including Surrey. This is really important information, because it could potentially mean that candidates running to represent a rid- ing that includes Surrey and Langley together would be cam- paigning in the urban centre. The concerns of my current riding would probably be forgotten or, at least, minimized.

For a riding like mine, Langley, will the member tell them if they will be put together in a riding with Surrey, only to have their issues ignored? Hon. J. Horgan:I continue to be surprised at the lack of faith the people on that side of the House have in the people of British Columbia to use their good judgment. This will be the third referendum on proportional representation held in British Columbia since 2005. If any jurisdiction in Canada is well versed in first-past-the-post versus other models, it would be this place right here. Elections B.C. has put out a very comprehensive guide.

I encourage the members on that side of the House to take a slide through. They’ll determine that every member elected to this place under any of the systems — whether it’s mixed- member, dual-member or rural-urban — will be elected by the people who were voting in their community. Now, when I was first elected to this place, I represented Malahat–Juan de Fuca. Then I represented Juan de Fuca. Monday, October 29, 2018 British Columbia Debates 5979

Now I represent Langford–Juan de Fuca. Every time I remain the same. The voters remain the same. The bound- aries were different. The members know that. The members understand that things change over time. [2:20 p.m.] What I think really gets them…. This was provided to me by the Twitter box today from a gentleman named Jordan Bateman. I think he might be familiar to some on that side of the House. He is communications guru for the ICBA, currently in court trying to stop the referendum. In response to the Conservative Party of British Columbia having a leadership contest, he urged them to hold off. He said….

I’m glad the school kids have left. I don’t want to affect their sensibilities. He tweeted: “Hell, if pro rep passes, half the B.C. Liberal caucus may split off. ” That’s the real issue on that side of the House. They don’t know whether they’re Conservative or Liberal. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Thank you, Members. House Leader, Third Party. [Applause.] OLD-GROWTH PROTECTION AND FOREST INDUSTRY JOBS ON V ANCOUVER ISLAND S. Furstenau:Thank you, hon. Speaker. It’s a very grateful crowd in here today.

A new Sierra Club review of government data and satellite images has found that logging of old-growth forests on Van- couver Island is increasing. It was more than 10 percent higher in 2016 than the annual average in the ten-year peri- od between 2005 and 2015. The amount of old growth on Vancouver Island logged in 2016 alone was the equivalent of more than 26 Stanley Parks. In its 2017 election platform, this government committed to modernizing land use planning to effectively and sustain- ably manage B.C. ’s forests and old growth.

This government committed to “an evidence-based scientific approach that uses the ecosystem-based management of the Great Bear Rainforest as a model. ” The intent of ecosystem-based man- agement is to have a fully functional and intact ecosystem while maintaining the ability of residents to work and make a living in the area, but old-growth forests are a finite resource that will not provide long-term, sustainable jobs. To the Premier, what is the government’s vision for the future of old-growth forests on Vancouver Island? Hon. J. Horgan:I thank my Vancouver Island colleague for the question.

We certainly do support protecting biod- iversity in our old-growth forests, not just here on Vancouver Island but on the coast, as well, and in the Interior. I recall a significant stand of old-growth forest just outside of Prince George that was protected not that long ago. All of us in this place have an obligation to ensure that we are doing our level best to protect these natural resources, this abundance that belongs to all British Columbians for all time. The member will know….

She and I were together in Pacheedaht territory, working on an agreement between the cooperative forest licence at Lake Cowichan in her constitu- ency and the Pacheedaht First Nation in my constituency, whereby we could manage and rationalize the development of old-growth forests and continue to have jobs on the land base. That’s why the Minister of Forests is working on a coastal revitalization program that will take into considera- tion new land use planning strategies. Keep in mind, hon. Member, that 500,000 hectares on Vancouver Island are already protected from development.

We want to make sure that that grows over the next number of years, and that’s our commitment as a government. Mr. Speaker:The House Leader, Third Party, on a supple- mental. S. Furstenau:I thank the Premier for pointing out that we want to see old-growth forests grow on Vancouver Island, or the protection of them grow. The problem is that once they are cut down, they’re gone forever. As we log our old growth, we have also watched our for- estry industry suffer. Over the past two decades, the number of people directly employed by the forestry industry fell by over 25,000.

When adjusted for inflation, forest revenue fell by over $650 million. We have also been exporting more and more raw logs. In 2016, nearly one in three trees logged on the coast left B.C. in raw log form. Raw logs are the lowest value of all tree-derived products, yet our export of them has grown. Meanwhile many mills, mills that provide long-term, well-paying jobs and create higher value-added products, have closed or cut production. To the Premier, calls for improvement in forest manage- ment, especially for protection of old-growth forests and caribou habitat, have only grown more urgent over the past year.

What steps exactly is the Premier taking to achieve the vision of forestry that he is speaking to? [2:25 p.m.] Hon. J. Horgan:Again, I thank my colleague from Van- couver Island for the question. We have been working dili- gently over the last 15 months to try and repair some of the damage that was done by changes to the Forest Act back in 2003. At that time, appurtenancy, which, for those who don’t understand what that means, is the connection of logs to communities, disappeared. It had been in place for 50 years of forest practices in British Columbia, and it disappeared on the watch of the previous government.

The consequence of that is that about 23 percent of the logs taken from our forests on Vancouver Island are now exported without any added value whatsoever. Members in Cowichan, Port Alberni and Powell River will know that Catalyst Paper is in the process of selling to Paper 5980 British Columbia Debates Monday, October 29, 2018

Excellence. One of the challenges wasn’t just the costs put upon that industry, the pulp and paper sector on Vancouver Island, by U.S. tariffs that were seen to be unnecessary and were removed by a U.S. tribunal. It was also access to fibre. The big challenge for getting fibre to our pulp sector is that we don’t have any sawmills anymore. Those sawmills were closed on the watch of that side of the House, and we need to rebuild that integrated system so that every bit, every scrap in our forest is used for job cre- ation and vital economic activity on Vancouver Island. That’s our commitment.

We’ll continue to work with the member and anyone on that side of the House who wants to see a vital forest sector here on the coast. REFERENDUM ON ELECTORAL REFORM J. Johal:The Premier promised a simple yes-or-no ques- tion when it comes to electoral reform. Residents in Rich- mond and Delta, like all British Columbians, have said they want a system that’s easy to understand. Can the minister, or the Premier, tell the House how many directly elected MLAs Richmond and Delta will have under prop rep? Hon. D.

Eby: I think the member knows that there will be an electoral boundaries commission after the referendum if, in fact, British Columbians choose to move to a different electoral system. That is a process by which districts will be determined, and MLA representation. But the important piece, one of the principles that was set forward that was adopted by cabinet, is that no area will see less representation under the old system than they would under a new system. Mr. Speaker:Richmond-Queensborough on a supple- mental. J. Johal:That’s the challenge here.

At the end of the day, British Columbians want transparency and clarity. In fact, there are 29 items to be decided after the prop rep vote. That’s the challenge here. Voters deserve to know what type of rep- resentation they’ll get under prop rep. Surrey currently has nine MLAs to represent a growing city. This government has hidden so many aspects of PR that we don’t know how many ridings we’ll have in Surrey and how large those ridings will be as well. Can the minister tell the people of Surrey how many dir- ectly elected MLAs would represent their city under prop rep? Hon. D.

Eby: One of the principles that the members on the other side emphasized in many of their speeches was the importance of local representation, of maintaining rural rep- resentation. That’s why one of the principles that came out of the con- sultation process that was in the document that was adopted by cabinet was that no area would see less local represent- ation than they do now under any new system. I hope that answers the member’s question. M. de Jong:Have you seen the ad for the Q-Ray bracelet? Apparently, you put on this miraculous piece of ionized met- al.

Every ailment known will be cured, and you’ll feel 20 years younger. That’s the claim. There’s this great testimonial on the infomercial — it’s a great testimonial — where this older fellow looks into the camera and earnestly said this. This is what he says: “I don’t know what it does, but it sure works. ” That is precisely the scam that the NDP and the Green Party are purporting to pull on British Columbians. This K-tel coalition doesn’t actually want British Columbians to have the details of how proportional representation would work in British Columbia.

My question to the spokesperson for the K-tel coalition is…. People in Abbotsford, fifth largest city in British Columbia, presently directly elect three MLAs. They’ d like to know, under any of the systems of proportional representa- tion: how many fewer MLAs would they elect, and how big will the constituencies be? [2:30 p.m.] As they say in the commercial: “ Answer now. Constituents are standing by. ” Mr. Speaker:Member, may you direct your question to a specific person, please, rather than the K-tel group you referred to. Hon. R.

Fleming: As a former K-tel record subscriber who doesn’t get enough questions in the House, I’m happy to take this one, Mr. Speaker. The Opposition House Leader mentioned earlier, in the same line of questioning as we’ve just heard from this member, accusing the government of wanting to have it both ways…. I have to ask the opposition the same ques- tion: both ways? This is a government that held two referendums on voting reform during their term in office, and when our govern- ment holds a referendum on a new voting system, they scream blue murder.

On the opposite side is an old govern- ment that as recently as June 2017…. Guess what they did. They promised to hold a referendum, in their fake throne speech, on proportional referendum. That was 15 months ago. But when our government goes ahead and gives the people of British Columbia a voting choice on what the future of their democracy looks like in British Columbia, somehow it’s wrong. We don’t know what the position will be day to day from the opposition. It’s interesting where they are at now, sup- porting court injunctions, casting aspersions on the inde- pendence of the Chief Electoral Officer.

All kinds of non- sense is being thrown into a debate that British Columbians deserve to have as an informed process, and that’s sad. It’s sad that they’ve stooped to that low. Monday, October 29, 2018 British Columbia Debates 5981

What we’re proud of is that we made a promise to British Columbians to give them a say. We’re giving them that say. The ballots are in the mail. British Columbians get that choice. They can be returned by November 30. We believe in the independence of the Electoral Boundaries Commission, and we believe in the process that we committed to. M. de Jong:Has the minister ever taken so long to say so little? Look, I don’t want to disparage K-tel — and apparently, the member is familiar with the now-defunct company — but when I bought my patty stacker, at least I knew how it worked and what it was supposed to do.

Y ou know, the Education Minister had his crack at it. He didn’t offer any answers. Maybe the Premier can do better. British Columbians don’t want slogans. They don’t want flim-flam. They actually want facts, and the Premier and his government’s refusal to provide facts to people who are being asked to make an important choice speaks volumes for how this government and its Premier feel about British Columbians themselves. Again, on behalf of the people of Abbotsford, how many constituencies, what size constituencies, rural or urban?

The key features that would determine the workability of propor- tional representation. Will the Premier, the Attorney General, the Minister of Education, the Advanced Education Minister — any one of them — offer British Columbians some useful information upon when they can make their selection? Hon. J. Horgan: Now, we’ve determined that the real anxiety on that side of the House is that the Liberals will have to decide whether they’re Liberals or Conservatives under a first-past-the-post system. Their extra-parliamentary wing, the ICBA, is diligently trying to stop allowing citizens to have a voice.

We’re trying to give people a voice. I would have thought that after all the referenda hysteria over ensuring that people voted on build- ing transit that the people on that side of the House actually liked referenda, but apparently, they don’t. [2:35 p.m.] To the member, one of the senior members of this place, he knows full well that from time to time electoral boun- daries commissions come together. They redraw maps, and it changes and transforms who we represent and how we do that. At the end of the day, proportional representation means every vote matters.

If you get 40 percent of the votes, you get 40 percent of the seats. I don’t know how that’s so hard for the member. He should know way better after 24 years in this place. J. Thornthwaite:Here’s what I’m hearing from constitu- ents on the North Shore. Currently there are four ridings on the North Shore. How big will the North Shore ridings be after proportional representation — North Van, West Van, Sea to Sky, all combined? How big will the ridings be, how many MLAs will represent the North Shore, how many MLAs will actually be elected by North Shore residents, and how many will be appointed off of party lists?

My question is to anybody that wants to stand up and answer. We know that the government knows these answers; they’re just not telling us. Why is the government hiding this information from the North Shore? Hon. D. Eby: A number of commitments were made by government when they adopted the recommendations that were based on the consultation and that came from speeches like the member opposite who just asked the question. No area of the province will see less local representation than they do under the existing system. If we move to a new sys- tem, it doesn’t matter which of the three they choose.

The second piece is that there will be an electoral bound- aries commission that draws the boundaries. The members know what that process looks like. They’ve been through that process many times. People provide submissions. It’s an extensive process. It’s independent of government. I don’t know why the member would suggest it has been predetermined when electoral boundaries commissions, by definition, are independent. They take submissions from all sides of the House, and they would this time if people do in fact choose to change how we send members to this place.

I thank the member for the question. [End of question period.] Orders of the Day Hon. M. Farnworth:Hon. Speaker, I call second reading of Bill 46, South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Amendment Act. [R. Chouhan in the chair.] Second Reading of Bills BILL 46 — SOUTH COAST BRITISH COLUMBIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY AMENDMENT ACT (No. 2), 2018 Hon. S. Robinson:I move that Bill 46, the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Amendment Act, 2018, be now read a second time.

I’m pleased to introduce this legislation, which will help meet our commitment to support regional funding efforts to improve transit and transportation services in Metro Van- couver. This bill will allow TransLink to set a rate of parking rights tax up to a maximum of 24 percent of the purchase price for off-street parking. The amendments directly support TransLink’s ability to invest in and expand the regional transportation system. In June of this year, the Mayors Council approved its phase 5982 British Columbia Debates Monday, October 29, 2018

2 investment plan. That plan includes major transportation and transit investments in TransLink’s service area, which includes major bus and rapid transit improvements. [2:40 p.m.] In order to meet its regional revenue requirements to fund phase 2 of the Mayors Council 10-Y ear Vision, Trans- Link included a 3 percent increase in parking rights tax in its investment plan. Parking rights tax is a sales tax paid on the purchase price of off-street parking in TransLink’s service area. The existing legislation caps the tax at 21 percent.

This bill will enable TransLink, by bylaw, to set a parking rights tax of up to 24 percent. That 3 percent increase would mean, for example, an additional 15 cents on $5 of off-street parking. Along with other measures, this modest increase will fund increased bus and handyDART services, better and more SkyTrain service and rapid transit options and better roads, bridges and other infrastructure for residents, for transit users, for drivers and for businesses. TransLink consulted with Metro Vancouver residents on the proposed increase during its phase 2 investment plan consultations.

The increase is scheduled for July 2019, and TransLink calculates that it will raise an additional $10 million a year for these investments. As a government, we are doing things differently. That is why we committed to fund 40 percent of the capital costs of every phase of the Mayors Council 10-Y ear Vision. We also committed to work with the mayors and support regional funding efforts to improve the transit and transportation ser- vices that people need.

Our government is making life more affordable, deliver- ing the services that people can count on and building a strong, sustainable and prosperous economy that delivers benefits for everyone. Working together with communities and the federal government, we are investing in transit and transportation infrastructure to get people and goods mov- ing more quickly, more safely and more affordably. The investments in the Mayors Council 10-Y ear Vision are essential for people throughout the region, especially as Metro Vancouver is expected to grow by over a million more residents in the next 25 years.

This legislation provides TransLink with the ability to raise revenue for phase 2, which is making investments in transit and transportation infra- structure to help people spend less time stuck in traffic and more time with their family and with their friends. It’s important that we get moving on phase 2, which is why we have worked with TransLink and with the mayors to give them the ability to increase the parking rights tax rate. This bill also includes some housekeeping amendments to remove obsolete references to the Social Service Tax Act.

Prior to 2010, the parking rights tax was administered by the province as part of PST. References to the Social Service Tax Act were added to the legislation in 2010 as part of the transition of the parking rights tax to TransLink. The Social Service Tax Act was then repealed in 2013, and the replacement provincial legislation, the Provincial Sales Tax Act, does not contain provisions per- taining to parking rights tax. These housekeeping sections only remove the obsolete language. They do not alter the administration of the parking rights tax in any way.

With this legislation, we are supporting TransLink’s ability to invest in Metro Vancouver’s transport- ation system. I hope that everyone here joins me in support of Bill 46. With that, I move second reading. T. Stone:I rise today to speak to second reading of Bill 46. We all agree that working with the Mayors Council in Metro Vancouver and funding their ten-year plan is to be applauded. In fact, I’m proud of what a strong record of transit investments, in Metro Vancouver and across B.C., we were able to make in our former government, which I was a part of.

Our former government was the first in Canada to sign a bilateral agreement with the federal government to pave the way for the most significant injection of federal invest- ment in transit infrastructure and in transit service in Brit- ish Columbia’s history. I was fortunate to be the minister responsible at that time when we got that deal done. We were able to work with the Mayors Council to assist them in the development of a very good plan. The mayors put some exceptional work on the table, and they came up with a plan for transit investment across the Lower Mainland.

Phase 1 was fully funded, as per all the partner contributions. [2:45 p.m.] The service improvements that have flowed from those investments have been significant. We’ve seen an increase in handyDART service across the region, enhanced SkyTrain service, more B-lines, dozens of new SkyTrain cars and upgraded stations. Of course, prior to these investments, we also know that the Canada Line, the Evergreen Line and other significant investments represented important investments, though more is needed to address and deal with the growth that Metro Vancouver is experiencing.

In fact, we all know that about one million more people are expected to come to and live in Metro Vancouver over the next 25 years. I’m very proud of the work that we did when we were in government and very supportive of the work that is being done by the Mayors Council in working with TransLink. Again, that has culminated in what is a very good ten-year plan. That all being said, as we saw last week, those transit plans can change dramatically.

We do know that this Bill 46, while there is a partial housekeeping portion to it, as the minister previously noted, does bring yet another additional cost that will hit British Columbians in their bottom line. That’s this increase in park- ing fees. On top of increased property taxes and, of course, ever-increasing development cost charges, community amenity fees, and so forth, folks in Metro Vancouver must now get ready to pay more for parking. Monday, October 29, 2018 British Columbia Debates 5983

We are told that what this bill enables, which is to provide TransLink with the authority to increase the parking tax from 21 percent to 24 percent…. We are told that this provides TransLink with the revenues that it will need to, in part, fund the major investments that are planned for the region, including LRT in Surrey. Well, we know that the new mayor of Surrey, seemingly backed by the new mayor of Vancouver, has been very clear that he plans to revoke his council’s support and his city’s support for the use of LRT, in favour of a SkyTrain extension instead.

That revocation of support within the city of Surrey could take place literally any day. Now, I know that the gov- ernment and the Premier, in particular, have been asked about this rapidly unfolding reality, but they’ve waved it off so far. However, in the context of this Bill 46, it seems that we should explore this a little bit further. The government has often touted the claim that they will work with the mayors.

I would suggest that dismissing the claims of the new mayor of Surrey — less than a few weeks after he was elected on a signature campaign platform prom- ise to replace LRT in favour of SkyTrain in Surrey — is not working with mayors. Dismissing the new mayor’s inten- tions — and, indeed, the tens of thousands of Surrey resid- ents who voted for him — certainly doesn’t represent a col- laborative approach. This government needs to listen to their concerns, as Sur- rey is the fastest-growing community in British Columbia.

The voters there deserve to know whether this government will fund Surrey’s transit expansions utilizing SkyTrain tech- nology. Of course, this is assuming that the city of Surrey goes through with its stated intention to revoke their previ- ously granted approval for LRT technology. We also see that the government is continuing to fail to collaborate with Delta with respect to the Massey bridge tunnel replacement project. Of course, I think everyone in this House knows that this is the largest bottleneck in the province and that it needs to be fixed now.

Y et we continue to see — and, of course, the commuters and the residents in the Delta region continue to face — unbelievable gridlock and congestion each and every day, as this government continues to dither on moving forward. We know that a report is sitting on the Minister of Trans- portation’s desk. In fact, she had it last summer. She has opted not to make the contents of that report public, let alone act upon its recommendations. The new mayor of Delta is making it his number one priority to get a new crossing built, and this government hasn’t even released that report that they received last summer.

Back to Bill 46, which increases the parking tax. This increase comes on the heels of similar increases in the fuel tax earlier this year, which has resulted in the Lower Main- land having amongst the highest fuel taxes in North Amer- ica. That’s not affordability. [2:50 p.m.] Frankly, so much for making life more affordable. It’s in- creasingly hard for folks in the Lower Mainland to not feel like they’re under siege. This parking tax is yet another attack on those taxpayers. In fact, it’s an attack on drivers across Metro Vancouver. The government says: “Don’t worry.

It’s only 15 cents per hour on $5 of parking. ” In reality, it’s expected to raise $10 million of additional revenue per year. That’s $10 million per year that will be extracted out of the pockets of Metro Van- couver’s drivers. I’m very concerned about where the level of those charges actually are today and where they may go in the years ahead. We know that this parking tax has increased in the past from 7 percent to 21 percent, and now the objective of this legislation is to authorize TransLink to increase it again to 24 percent. We know how this government is fond of increasing taxes.

I don’t see this government standing up to TransLink in the years ahead and saying to TransLink: “No. Y ou know what? We’re not going to authorize additional increases in fees and charges like the parking tax. ” I just don’t see that happening. I certainly hope that I’m wrong. The other context here is the overall cost of the projects in the mayors’ ten-year plan, which remains…. I would sug- gest the word “fluid” is probably an apropos description at this point. I’m worried about TransLink’s appetite for reven- ue.

I’m paying close attention and the opposition is paying close attention to how the costs are escalating, particularly with respect to the major rapid transit projects. It wasn’t that long ago that the total cost of the three major rapid transit lines was $6.3 billion. It was only about four years ago that that number was the estimated or the projected cost of these major projects. Just months ago, the TransLink CEO, Kevin Desmond, released further details of these transit investments.

As part of that, he indicated that the total cost of these rapid transit projects has actually bal- looned from $6.3 billion to $7.3 billion. The Broadway line cost has escalated to $3 billion. That’s up 20 percent since the cost projection in 2015. The Surrey L-line is now estimated to cost $1.65 billion. That’s up con- siderably. The proposed rapid transit line to Langley is now estimated to cost $2.83 billion. Where it gets really worrisome is when you hear a com- ment like the one that was made publicly by the TransLink CEO, who, I will say for the record again…. I have said this many times.

I do have tremendous respect for him. I think he’s doing a very good job for the organization. It’s certainly not an easy job, but he’s doing a good job. He was asked: “What’s your level of confidence with these costs, considering they’ve gone up $1 billion in the last cou- ple of years?” Mr.

Desmond’s exact response, his answer to that question, was: “By the time we go through the procure- ment process, the numbers could change again. ” I’ll say that again: “By the time we go through the procurement pro- cess, the numbers could change again. ” I would suggest that they’re probably going to change again and again, certainly following on the significant change coming out of Surrey during the recent municipal election. 5984 British Columbia Debates Monday, October 29, 2018

What’s going to happen if the costs of these projects con- tinue to escalate? Is TransLink simply going to come back to the well again? We all know that when we refer to the well, we’re talking to the taxpayer. TransLink will be provided, through this legislation, an increase in parking tax revenue to raise the revenue that they need. Is this where it ends? Is this as high as this parking tax is going to go? Again, it’s $10 million of additional revenue per year that this measure alone will enable. Is this it? I think that we should be asking that question.

We should be worried about further increases that might be in the offing in the years ahead. How will this increase in the parking tax impact job cre- ators?

During Small Business Week, of all weeks, the gov- ernment introduced legislation that did absolutely nothing to provide relief to small businesses via potential changes to class 5 and class 6 assessments. [2:55 p.m.] In fact, I moved an amendment to legislation that would have required the government to appoint a task force to look at how accommodation could be made for class 5 and class 6 assessments, particularly in the context of the Lower Mainland, where assessed values have skyrocketed 200 to 300 percent in the West End just in a couple of years, as one example.

Of course, this has resulted in small businesses having to lay off employees and/or close due to dramatically increasing property tax bills. Beyond that…. I mean, the government voted against that last week. They opted not to provide that relief to small busi- nesses. But then, to add insult to injury, or perhaps in their way of showing further appreciation for small business, a week later, this government follows up by introducing this legislation — Bill 46 — which, frankly, is just another slap in the face of small businesses across the Lower Mainland.

By increasing the parking tax to 24 percent, downtown Vancouver businesses are concerned that the increased cost of parking will simply make it too expensive for people to visit. That’s a concern that I hear in Port Coquitlam. It’s a concern that I have heard in Surrey, as well, and other com- munities across Metro Vancouver. As Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Associ- ation CEO Charles Gauthier expressed: “What we’re sensit- ive to is whether it’s going to impact people’s discretionary visits to downtown. ” I think he has reason to be concerned.

According to a recent survey, 40 percent of people said that the cost of parking certainly impacts their choice of whether they will go downtown in Vancouver. It’s just another example of how B.C. is losing its competitive edge and how many small business owners are worried for their future under this government. Of course, this all comes as the government brings in a new MSP replacement tax, which hits small businesses very, very hard. Operating in a world of tight margins, the aver- age small business owner will be on the hook for more than $15,000 under the employer health tax.

Now the government is hitting them and their customers with higher parking fees as well.

That’s in addition to all of the new and increased fees and taxes that this government has brought in, including increases to the fuel tax; the gas tax; the Airbnb tax; the luxury vehicle tax; an increase in the property transfer tax; their phony speculation tax; their rein- troduction of photo radar — I call it photo radar 2.0, com- ing to a community near you; increases to the carbon tax; of course, the removal of the carbon tax’s revenue neutral- ity; income tax increases; increases to the corporate tax; and many, many others.

Many small businesses have expressed a deep concern about the slew of taxes that this government is hitting them with — again, particularly the employer health tax and increases to the carbon tax, both of which will seriously impact their bottom lines. Of course, by driving away customers through increased parking costs — thanks to this government — this piece of legislation will also impact a small business’s bottom line as well. Y ou’re going to pay more to see your doctor in down- town Vancouver.

Y ou’re going to pay more to park at the hospital, whether it’s Surrey Memorial, Jim Pattison Out- patient Care and Surgery Centre, Langley Memorial, Royal Columbian, Burnaby, Eagle Ridge, Peace Arch, Lions Gate, Richmond Hospital, and on and on the list goes. Parking costs…. Interjection. T. Stone:The minister is doing a lot of chirping, so we’ve obviously touched a nerve here on this issue of taxes, taxes, taxes. The NDP have not met a tax that they don’t like. That’s what British Columbians are worried about. They’ve seen $8 billion worth of increased taxes since this govern- ment took power. Interjections.

Deputy Speaker:Members. T. Stone:This represents another attempt by the govern- ment to reach deep into the taxpayer’s pocket and extract even more out of them, and $10 million per year is no laugh- ing matter. Parking costs for students and staff at schools and universities will go up. We already know that many stu- dents live close to the line. This is one more example of how the government is squeezing British Columbians for every penny. This bill will make life just a bit more unaffordable for British Columbians.

On top of that, we don’t have any certainty at this point whether the projects that TransLink has mapped out in their ten-year plan, in light of the very significant changes that have taken place in the recent municipal elections and the change of direction that seems to be flowing from a number of the mayors of the largest communities that represent or make up the Mayors Council…. We don’t know if these sig- nature projects and priorities will remain intact. Monday, October 29, 2018 British Columbia Debates 5985

Therefore, out of respect for taxpayers, out of respect for drivers, out of respect for small businesses, the official oppo- sition will not be supporting Bill 46. [3:00 p.m.] A. Olsen:Thank you for this opportunity to speak to Bill 46, the South Coast B.C. Transportation Authority Amend- ment Act, and just to provide my comments, our comments, on behalf of the B.C. Green caucus. After hearing the member of the official opposition speak to this bill, it really does kind of make your….

It’s quite shocking, frankly, to hear the perspective that was put forward, this perspective that we are going to be one of the only metropolitan areas in the world that’s going to be fighting for parking and not taking the money that we need to be and investing it in transit and moving people around metropolitan areas like Metro Vancouver in a more efficient and effective way.

To the member’s comments, “How are we going to sup- port small business?” or “How does government support small business?” well, it provides proper transit and trans- portation infrastructure in this province, something which hasn’t happened over the years. Part of the reason why we’re facing congestion in getting into the areas of Surrey and Delta is because there isn’t a proper long-term transporta- tion plan in this province that was inherited by this govern- ment just a few, 15 or so, months ago. To hear this ridiculous argument that was made just a few minutes ago about how the impact on job creators….

Y ou know, the impact on job creators has been tremend- ous — the fact that there hasn’t been enough investment in the Lower Mainland. Frankly, the former government forced the people into a referendum just because they simply could not bear to have a discussion about raising the money that was needed to be raised in order to make the investments that needed to be made to support the families and the people — frankly, my generation — and those that need the transit and the transportation net- works. Those investments weren’t made.

It was really difficult to stand up here and speak to Bill 46 and not get dragged into the swamp and have to make some of these comments in direct response to, frankly, the ridicu- lous arguments, the absurd arguments that were made about Delta and about Surrey — dragging me into issues around the Mayors Council and what a new mayor of Surrey’s cam- paign was about, ignoring the fact, of course, that that new mayor of Surrey has got a council. They’ve got to work through those issues. Then that mayor has got to go and have the conversation at the Mayors Coun- cil with all the other mayors.

The Mayors Council actually has a job to do, and we here in this place, or at least this member from this seat and maybe even representing the two other seats to my left here, respect the fact that the Mayors Council has a job that it will do. It will sit down, and it will take a look at what the Mayors Council ten-year plan will be. It will maybe revise some of those things. Maybe it won’t. Maybe it will come forward and say: “Look, we still stand on this plan that we’ve got. ” I expect that for the most part, we’re going to hear that the vast majority of that Mayors Council plan is going to be moved forward.

There might be some amendments, and that’s the job they have to do. To have members opposite here stand up and speak on behalf of the Mayors Council, like has been going on in the last few days, to me is, frankly, completely inappropriate. It should be called out for that. The mayor of Surrey will stand up and speak on behalf of what he heard during the election and speak on behalf of his constituents. But frankly, he’s got a very important job ahead as he and his new council sit down.

Unless things have changed since I got from the council table just a few short years ago, the mayor has to also reflect the will of his council. As well, the Mayors Council, which is the broader group in Metro…. The chair of that Mayors Council will have to reflect the will of the council in its entirety. It’s really critical here that we’re not standing up in this place and inappropriately reflecting views that I think have yet to be formulated, frankly. I find that very problematic. [3:05 p.m.] To the point of increasing the cost on parking, the real- ity is that the world is changing.

The former member who spoke was the former Minister of Transportation. The fact that during his time in this place as the Minister of Trans- portation…. That we don’t have ride-hailing, to me, is absolutely ridiculous. The fact that that was allowed to just continue to go on the way it was, that we’re not providing people in our society, people in the Lower Mainland, the answers to the transport- ation questions that they have, the needs that they have…. Then you can stand in this place and talk about what the cost of this is going to be. What’s the cost of congestion for those families?

What’s the cost of congestion for a father or a mother, my peer group, who are sitting in their car because they couldn’t get access to the right kind of transportation infrastructure because the former government wouldn’t make those invest- ments in improving the transit system? They’re sitting in their car while the dance class is going on or while the soccer practice is going on. We hear a lot of bluster about it, but the fact of the matter is that there’s an incredible cost to congestion.

While we’re here fighting for more parking, we’re not making the invest- ments and the decisions that are needed to generate the rev- enue to invest right back into the community in transporta- tion and transit. We look across North America, and we see other metro areas that have been able to do this in a responsible, respect- ful way, been able to generate the revenue that’s necessary to invest back in. This is what Bill 46 starts to do. It starts to rec- ognize that we are actually in a changing world. I know that some members opposite don’t like to admit that the world is changing.

They’ d like to just see the world 5986 British Columbia Debates Monday, October 29, 2018

remain in the status quo, the same way that it’s always been for the last 16 years or whatever it was, to just stay right where it was. The fact of the matter is that the world is changing. We have got to get on with being a part of that world that’s chan- ging and not dig our heels in and still fight for the same old things that we’ve been fighting for, like the dinosaur world. We need to actually start to embrace the change that’s here. This is one part of it. Transit will be a major part of the changes ahead. I’m going to sit down.

I think that, from my comments, you might sense that I and my colleagues will be supporting this bill. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to it. Deputy Speaker:Seeing no further speakers, the minister to close the debate. Hon. S. Robinson:I really appreciated hearing the vari- ous perspectives in this House. I just want to take two minutes to close off here. I really want to express appreciation for the member for Saanich North and the Islands, who asked a very good ques- tion. The question is: what’s the cost of congestion? It has a real cost.

When he said that and he talked about the moth- er and the father and the car and missing the dance class…. There are nods, certainly, on this side of the House, because I think it’s exactly what people have experienced. They exper- ience it today. I can remember that cost when my children were in day- care — working in Kerrisdale and having to get right across into Coquitlam because there were no transit options. Con- gestion was pretty significant. The promise of investments in the Port Mann Bridge promised me that there would be no more congestion. Well, that certainly didn’t happen.

There was significant congestion. It cost a dollar a minute that I was late, so it had some real, tangible costs when I was trapped in congestion and couldn’t get to my children. It wasn’t just missing a dance class or missing a soccer practice. It also cost me dearly in the times that I was trapped in congestion. We’ve committed to working together with the Mayors Council and with TransLink to deliver on significant transit infrastructure that has been missing for years. We’re about a decade behind in terms of where we should be at. The opposition member talked about businesses.

Well, businesses and their customers will benefit greatly from the investments in transit and transportation projects that are going to be funded with this new parking rights tax revenue. We also need to remember that the Mayors Council and TransLink went out and did a significant consultation. They talked with businesses. This is their plan that they put for- ward in order to raise the kind of revenue that we need in order to invest in transportation. [3:10 p.m.] This is an investment. It’s an investment so that we don’t all suffer the costs of congestion.

It matches quite well what we’ve done around also making sure that we remove bridge tolls, which were essentially a tax for people south of the Fraser, and in line with getting rid of MSP , which was anoth- er tax that we eliminated. We’re working hard to make sure that British Columbians have the opportunities to get home to be with their families in a timely way. That’s what this is about at the end of the day. With that, I move second reading of Bill 46. Motion approved. Hon. S. Robinson:I move that the bill be referred to a Committee of the Whole House to be considered at the next sitting after today.

Bill 46, South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Amendment Act (No. 2), 2018, read a second time and referred to a Committee of the Whole House for consideration at the next sitting of the House after today. Hon. S. Robinson:I now call second reading Bill 48, Tem- porary Foreign Worker Protection Act. BILL 48 — TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKER PROTECTION ACT Hon. H. Bains:I move that Bill 48 be read a second time now.

As Minister of Labour, it is my job to ensure that the B.C. employment standards and the worker safety laws are under- stood, followed and enforced, to ensure that the workers are treated fairly and with respect. This includes workers that come here from outside of Canada. B.C. ’s workforce is bolstered by international workers. Our economy and our province are stronger and more diverse because of these workers. But temporary foreign workers can be vulnerable to abuse. The people that come to us as temporary foreign workers come seeking opportunities that don’t exist at home.

They apply or are recruited to fill jobs that would otherwise go empty, jobs that without workers would shut down businesses, scale down businesses in orch- ards, restaurants, retail, service sectors, construction, hotels and live-in care facilities. I remember how I felt as a newcomer to this country. Y ou have challenges with the language. Y ou have challenges with the system. Y ou have no clue who to turn to, what laws pro- tect you, because you are still thinking about your old coun- try and how those types of situations are handled there. In many countries, the workers’ voices are not heard.

I clearly understand that. Temporary foreign workers face even greater challenges, different than many who come to Canada for a better life, because the work permits are tied to one single employer. They know that if they lose their job, the next thing is deportation. The thousands of dollars that they paid to come here for that job — and their family depended on that — would be forever lost. Monday, October 29, 2018 British Columbia Debates 5987

These temporary foreign workers often pay recruiters illegal fees for the promise of a job, and they arrive here with- out a safety net. Once here, they are sometimes underpaid or not paid at all, sometimes working or living in conditions that are unfit and unsafe, sometimes bullied or intimidated by employers that threaten to deport them if they don’t com- ply with their demands. Sometimes passports are illegally taken so people feel trapped.

If you have paid thousands to get here for a promised job, if you and your family’s financial well-being depend on it, if you don’t know that our laws extend to all workers regardless of your immigration status, or if you don’t have the language skills to ask for help or are afraid of the repercussions if you do, you remain in these situations that should never exist in the first place. [3:15 p.m.] This is unacceptable. For far too long, their unique situ- ation and vulnerability to abuse have been overlooked.

As a government, we are stepping up to increase provincial oversight that will help prevent these situations of abuse. That’s what the Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act will enable us to do — to better protect vulnerable workers in B.C. Y es, the temporary foreign worker program is federal. Y es, the issues can span multiple ministries, including Health, Housing and, within the Ministry of Labour, employment standards and occupational health and safety. But the province has an important role to play, one that has been overlooked for far too long and at the expense of far too many.

As a host province, we need to ensure that those coming here feel equally protected as any other worker would. This legislation is needed because foreign workers who come to work in our province under the temporary foreign worker program have a work permit that does not let them leave their employer and work elsewhere. This has led to situations of foreign workers feeling they must endure violations of the law in order to stay working in B.C. That is not acceptable.

The Ministry of Labour is where we can make a change with direct impact, where we can address many of the issues of injustices — first, by requiring foreign worker recruiters to be licensed. Licensing will require recruiters to be responsible for all work entrusted to their employees, partners, affiliates and agents, including those based in other countries. The far-reaching nature of this licensing requirement in legislation is unique in Canada, and it will help to ensure the recruitment process complies with B.C. laws from start to finish.

For a licensed recruiter, you will not only need to comply with the law, but you will need to act with integrity and hon- esty. Licensed recruiters will be made public, on line, so that employers and workers will know which recruiters will meet the standards. Second, we are requiring employers who hire temporary foreign workers to be registered with our province. That means that if you are an employer who wants to hire a for- eign worker, you must be registered with the province before moving ahead with a labour market impact assessment with the federal government.

Right now, because responsibility for the well-being of foreign workers is spread throughout many agencies and jur- isdictions, it can be difficult to get the needed information to hold exploitive or abusive employers accountable. This registry will allow us to allow which employers are hiring foreign workers. It will also provide the tools to allow us to gain new information that will help to prevent abuse and provide practical and meaningful solutions.

For example, if we learn of temporary foreign workers housed in unsafe living conditions, the registry can serve as a hub to alert other ministries and agencies like Health and WorkSafeBC. On top of that, this legislation allows us to pro- actively monitor, audit and investigate workplaces to ensure compliance with the law. Because, as I have said, we have all heard the stories about recruiters and employers who take advantage of vulnerable people trying to make a better life in our province. When I go back into my constituency office….

I’m sure those in the Lower Mainland and other places, all MLAs from both sides, have heard these stories — how temporary foreign workers, first, have paid tens of thousands of dollars in their home country to a recruiter. Then when they come here, they pay additional tens of thousands of dollars to a recruiter here, and that money then is shared with the poten- tial employer. Many times you’ve heard stories that the jobs that they are promised, with tens of thousands of dollars, don’t even exist. If they do, they’re not paid according to what they were promised in that contract, if at all.

In 2018, in British Columbia, in Canada, that should nev- er have been allowed to happen. But it happened under the watch of the previous government. This was brought to them time and again by their advocates, by the workers them- selves, by the opposition, by the public, but those pleas for help were ignored. [3:20 p.m.] Why, you have to ask yourself, in British Columbia, in this day and age, did you allow some kind of slavery under your watch? We said no to this. We will not allow that anymore. That’s why we’re bringing in a temporary foreign worker act. How will this work?

Recruiters and employers expressly will be prohibited from charging foreign workers fees for recruitment services and for employment — as I said, what they have been doing now — misrepresenting employment opportunities, taking possession of a person’s passport or other official documents, threatening deportation and mis- treating workers for filing a complaint or participating in an investigation under the act.

Through licensing and registration, recruiters and em- ployers will need to meet new requirements, including writ- ten contracts for recruitment services, including details on the services provided and fees charged. Foreign worker recruiters — to ensure that their partners, affiliates or agents, 5988 British Columbia Debates Monday, October 29, 2018

including those located outside of B.C., comply with the act, we will hold them accountable here in British Columbia so that they comply with the act. Recruiters and employers are to retain records related to foreign workers for four years. When recruiters or employers are found to be in violation of the law, this legislation will put enforcement tools in place to deliver swift and severe con- sequences. If you are a bad recruiter and are charging illegal fees to workers to obtain a job, you could be stripped of your licence to recruit in B.C.

Y ou could also pay a monetary penalty for your breach of the law, and you will be made to repay the worker for those illegal fees. If you are an employer who doesn’t maintain a safe workplace and doesn’t comply with B.C. labour laws, you could be banned from hiring foreign workers. On top of this, if you are con- victed of an offence as a recruiter or employer, you could even face up to a year in jail. For far too long, unscrupulous recruiters and employers have gotten away with abusing foreign workers. This legisla- tion allows us to deliver penalties that match the seriousness of these offences.

Responsibility for administering the act — including licensing and registration, maintaining the regis- tries, investigation and enforcement — will rest with the dir- ector of employment standards. We know that most employers are good, fair and law- abiding in their business practices. Most treat their workers with dignity and respect. The same can be said about most recruiters. But the few that don’t follow the rules garner an unfair competitive advantage over those who do.

This act, the Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act, also puts us on the side of good employers, because those bad apples — the bad actors, a few of those employers and a few of those recruiters — take unfair competitive advantage over good employers. We are creating a level playing field to be on the side of good employers by holding those bad apples accountable for their actions. The temporary foreign worker act establishes greater authority to address the issue unique to this particular work- force.

It goes beyond the requirement that currently exists within the Employment Standards Act and other provincial legislation. Once the legislation receives royal assent, the Minister of Labour will take the next steps to establish the foreign worker recruiter and employer registry. We are allowing time for implementing these new registries to ensure this is a seamless transition. It is important to me — and we have heard from various employers and advocacy groups that it is important to them — that this registration be cost-free and simple. Good, law-abiding businesses are critical to our economy.

They drive our industries that contribute to our growth and competitiveness. Our government is committed to helping them to succeed. [3:25 p.m.] With this legislation, we can both support our vital busi- ness community and combat the illegal and abusive prac- tices that have so negatively impacted some of the tempor- ary foreign workers who have come to B.C. to help us grow our economy. I look forward to the debate on this bill, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much for listening, but I must stress the point that in British Columbia, regardless of your immigra- tion status, every worker dese

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20181029pm-Hansard-n171
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20181029pm Hansard n171
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	5494365ff880647ee637e05272c6cb51ce90bbe8

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