British Columbia Hansard — Monday, February 24, 2003 (37th Parliament, 4th Session) (H0224pm-13) (H0224pm 13)

H0224pm-13

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

4th Session, 37th Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (HANSARD) Monday, February 24, 2003 Afternoon Sitting Volume 11, Number 13 THE HONOURABLE CLAUDE RICHMOND, SPEAKER ISSN 0709-1281

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Honourable Iona Campagnolo 4TH SESSION, 37TH PARLIAMENT SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Claude Richmond EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council................................................................................. .........................Hon. Gordon Campbell Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations.............................................................................. ..................... Hon.

Greg Halsey-Brandt Deputy Premier and Minister of Education ....................................................................................... ..................................Hon. Christy Clark Minister of Advanced Education................................................................................................. ...........................................Hon. Shirley Bond Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Treaty Negotiations.............................................................. .................... Hon.

Geoff Plant Minister of Children and Family Development.................................................................................... ..............................Hon. Gordon Hogg Minister of State for Early Childhood Development.............................................................................. .................................Hon. Linda Reid Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services......................................................................... .................. Hon.

George Abbott Minister of State for Community Charter........................................................................................ .................................. Hon. Ted Nebbeling Minister of State for Women's Equality ......................................................................................... .................................... Hon. Lynn Stephens Minister of Competition, Science and Enterprise ................................................................................ ..................................Hon.

Rick Thorpe Minister of State for Deregulation ............................................................................................. ............................................ Hon. Kevin Falcon Minister of Energy and Mines................................................................................................... ....................................... Hon. Richard Neufeld Minister of Finance ............................................................................................................ ....................................................... Hon.

Gary Collins Minister of Forests ............................................................................................................ .................................................. Hon. Michael de Jong Minister of Health Planning .................................................................................................... ............................................ Hon. Sindi Hawkins Minister of Health Services.................................................................................................... ................................................ Hon.

Colin Hansen Minister of State for Mental Health ............................................................................................ ...................................Hon. Gulzar S. Cheema Minister of State for Intermediate, Long Term and Home Care ............................................................................. Hon. Katherine Whittred Minister of Human Resources.................................................................................................... ............................................Hon.

Murray Coell Minister of Management Services................................................................................................ .........................................Hon. Sandy Santori Minister of Provincial Revenue................................................................................................. ................................................Hon. Bill Barisoff Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General ................................................................................ ..................................Hon.

Rich Coleman Minister of Skills Development and Labour...................................................................................... .............................Hon. Graham P. Bruce Minister of Sustainable Resource Management and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries ..................................Hon. Stan Hagen Minister of Transportation..................................................................................................... .................................................... Hon.

Judith Reid Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection..................................................................................... ....................................Hon. Joyce Murray LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Deputy Speaker................................................................................................................. ..............................................................

John Weisbeck Leader of the Opposition ....................................................................................................... ...........................................................Joy MacPhail Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole ........................................................................................... .............................................. Harold Long Clerk of the Legislative Assembly .............................................................................................. .........................................E.

George MacMinn Clerk Assistant ................................................................................................................ ................................................................... Robert Vaive Clerk Assistant and Law Clerk .................................................................................................. ........................................................ Ian D. Izard Clerk Assistant and Clerk of Committees........................................................................................ ............................................Craig H.

James Clerk Assistant/Committee Clerk................................................................................................ ............................................ Kate Ryan-Lloyd Sergeant-at-Arms ............................................................................................................... .........................................................A.A. Humphreys Director, Hansard Services ..................................................................................................... ........................................

Anthony Dambrauskas Legislative Librarian.......................................................................................................... ............................................................. Joan A. Barton Legislative Comptroller ........................................................................................................ .................................................................Peter Bray Published by British Columbia Hansard Services, and printed under the authority of the Speaker by the Queen's Printer, Victoria.

Rates: single issue, $2.85; per calendar year, mailed daily, $298. GST extra. Agent: Crown Publications Inc., 521 Fort St., Victoria, B.C. V8W 1E7. Telephone: (250) 386-4636. Fax: 386-0221. www.leg.bc.ca/hansard In addition to printed transcripts, Hansard Services publishes transcripts on the Internet and broadcasts Chamber debates on television.

Party Standings: Liberal 75; New Democratic 2; Independent Liberal 2. ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS Abbott, Hon. George (L) ....................................................................... Shuswap Anderson, Val J. (L) .............................................................Vancouver-Langara Barisoff, Hon. Bill (L)............................................. Penticton–Okanagan Valley Bell, Pat (L).........................................................................Prince George North Belsey, Bill (L).................................................................................

North Coast Bennett, Bill (L) ........................................................................... East Kootenay Bhullar, Tony (Ind. L) ................................................................. Surrey-Newton Bloy, Harry (L).................................................................................. Burquitlam Bond, Hon. Shirley (L).........................................Prince George–Mount Robson Bray, Jeff (L)......................................................................Victoria–Beacon H ill Brenzinger, Elayne (L) ...............................................................

Surrey-Whalley Brice, Susan (L) ............................................................................Saanich South Bruce, Hon. Graham P. (L)................................................ Cowichan-Ladysmith Campbell, Hon. Gordon (L)............................................. Vancouver–Point Grey Cheema, Hon. Gulzar S. (L) ..........................................Surrey–Panorama Ridge Chong, Ida (L)................................................................ Oak Bay–Gordon Head Christensen, Tom (L) .............................................................

Okanagan-Vernon Chutter, Dave (L) ........................................................................... Yale-L illooet Clark, Hon. Christy (L) ..................................................Port Moody–Westwood Cobb, Walt (L) ............................................................................. Cariboo South Coell, Hon. Murray (L) ........................................ Saanich North and the Islands Coleman, Hon. Rich (L) .............................................. Fort Langley–Aldergrove Collins, Hon.

Gary (L).........................................................Vancouver-Fairview de Jong, Hon. Michael (L)....................................... Abbotsford–Mount Lehman Falcon, Hon. Kevin (L) .......................................................... Surrey-Cloverdale Hagen, Hon. Stan (L) ................................................................... Comox Valley Halsey-Brandt, Hon. Greg (L) ..................................................Richmond Centre Hamilton, Arnie (L)............................................................Esquimalt-Metchosin Hansen, Hon.

Colin (L) .....................................................Vancouver-Quilchena Harris, Roger (L)......................................................................................Skeena Hawes, Randy (L) ............................................................ Maple Ridge–Mission Hawkins, Hon. Sindi (L).......................................................... Kelowna-Mission Hayer, Dave S. (L) ................................................................... Surrey-Tynehead Hogg, Hon. Gordon (L) ........................................................

Surrey–White Rock Hunter, Mike (L) ...................................................................................Nanaimo Jarvis, Daniel (L)...................................................... North Vancouver–Seymour Johnston, Ken (L)............................................................ Vancouver-Fraserview Kerr, Brian J. (L).............................................................. Malahat–Juan de Fuca Krueger, Kevin (L).................................................

Kamloops–North Thompson Kwan, Jenny Wai Ching (NDP) ...............................Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Lee, Richard T. (L).......................................................................Burnaby North Lekstrom, Blair (L)................................................................. Peace River South Les, John (L) .......................................................................... Ch illiwack-Sumas Locke, Brenda (L) ...........................................................

Surrey–Green Timbers Long, Harold (L) ...................................................Powell River–Sunshine Coast MacKay, Dennis (L)....................................................... Bulkley Valley–Stikine McMahon, Wendy (L).............................................Columbia River–Revelstoke MacPhail, Joy (NDP) ..........................................................

Vancouver-Hastings Manhas, Karn (L) .............................................Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Masi, Reni (L) ...................................................................................Delta North Mayencourt, Lorne (L) ..........................................................Vancouver-Burrard Murray, Hon. Joyce (L) ........................................................... New Westminster Nebbeling, Hon. Ted (L) .......................................... West Vancouver–Garibaldi Nettleton, Paul (Ind. L)..................................................Prince George–Omineca Neufeld, Hon.

Richard (L)...................................................... Peace River North Nijjar, Rob (L)...................................................................Vancouver-Kingsway Nuraney, John (L) ...............................................................Burnaby-W illingdon Orr, Sheila (L) ...........................................................................Victoria-Hillside Penner, Barry (L)....................................................................... Ch illiwack-Kent Plant, Hon. Geoff (L) ......................................................... Richmond-Steveston Reid, Hon.

Judith (L)............................................................Nanaimo-Parksv ille Reid, Hon. Linda (L) ................................................................... Richmond East Richmond, Hon. Claude (L) ................................................................ Kamloops Roddick, Valerie (L)..........................................................................Delta South Sahota, Patty (L).....................................................................Burnaby-Edmonds Santori, Hon. Sandy (L)..............................................West Kootenay–Boundary Stephens, Hon.

Lynn (L) ........................................................................ Langley Stewart, Ken (L)...................................................... Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Stewart, Richard (L) ...................................................... Coquitlam-Maillardville Suffredine, Blair F. (L) ................................................................Nelson-Creston Sultan, Ralph (L)....................................................... West Vancouver–Capilano Thorpe, Hon.

Rick (L) ..........................................................Okanagan-Westside Trumper, Gillian (L)................................................................Alberni-Qualicum van Dongen, John (L).........................................................Abbotsford-Clayburn Visser, Rod (L).................................................................................North Island Weisbeck, John (L).........................................................Kelowna–Lake Country Whittred, Hon.

Katherine (L) ...................................North Vancouver–Lonsdale Wilson, John (L)........................................................................... Cariboo North Wong, Patrick (L)............................................................Vancouver-Kensington LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING Abbotsford-Clayburn................................................................John van Dongen Abbotsford–Mount Lehman ..............................................Hon.

Michael de Jong Alberni-Qualicum.......................................................................G illian Trumper Bulkley Valley–Stikine ..............................................................Dennis MacKay Burnaby North..............................................................................Richard T. Lee Burnaby-Edmonds............................................................................Patty Sahota Burnaby-Willingdon......................................................................

John Nuraney Burquitlam ........................................................................................ Harry Bloy Cariboo North ..................................................................................John Wilson Cariboo South .................................................................................... Walt Cobb Chilliwack-Kent ............................................................................. Barry Penner Chilliwack-Sumas .................................................................................

John Les Columbia River–Revelstoke....................................................Wendy McMahon Comox Valley .......................................................................... Hon. Stan Hagen Coquitlam-Maillardville .............................................................Richard Stewart Cowichan-Ladysmith .......................................................Hon. Graham P. Bruce Delta North.......................................................................................... Reni Masi Delta South................................................................................

Valerie Roddick East Kootenay .................................................................................. Bill Bennett Esquimalt-Metchosin...................................................................Arnie Hamilton Fort Langley–Aldergrove ..................................................... Hon. Rich Coleman Kamloops ....................................................................... Hon. Claude Richmond Kamloops–North Thompson ........................................................Kevin Krueger Kelowna–Lake Country...............................................................

John Weisbeck Kelowna-Mission ................................................................ Hon. Sindi Hawkins Langley ............................................................................... Hon. Lynn Stephens Malahat–Juan de Fuca .....................................................................Brian J. Kerr Maple Ridge–Mission ................................................................... Randy Hawes Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows .............................................................Ken Stewart Nanaimo..........................................................................................

Mike Hunter Nanaimo-Parksville ...................................................................Hon. Judith Reid Nelson-Creston.......................................................................Blair F. Suffredine New Westminster ..................................................................Hon. Joyce Murray North Coast ........................................................................................Bill Belsey North Island........................................................................................Rod Visser North Vancouver–Lonsdale.......................................... Hon.

Katherine Wh ittred North Vancouver–Seymour .............................................................Daniel Jarvis Oak Bay–Gordon Head .......................................................................Ida Chong Okanagan-Vernon .................................................................... Tom Christensen Okanagan-Westside.................................................................Hon. Rick Thorpe Peace River North .............................................................Hon. Richard Neufeld Peace River South .......................................................................

Blair Lekstrom Penticton–Okanagan Valley ....................................................Hon. Bill Barisoff Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain.................................................... Karn Manhas Port Moody–Westwood......................................................... Hon. Christy Clark Powell River–Sunshine Coast.......................................................... Harold Long Prince George North................................................................................Pat Bell Prince George–Mount Robson................................................Hon.

Shirley Bond Prince George–Omineca................................................................Paul Nettleton Richmond Centre......................................................... Hon. Greg Halsey-Brandt Richmond East .......................................................................... Hon. Linda Reid Richmond-Steveston ................................................................ Hon. Geoff Plant Saanich North and the Islands ............................................... Hon. Murray Coell Saanich South...................................................................................

Susan Brice Shuswap .............................................................................. Hon. George Abbott Skeena.............................................................................................Roger Harris Surrey-Cloverdale ................................................................. Hon. Kevin Falcon Surrey–Green Timbers .................................................................. Brenda Locke Surrey-Newton ............................................................................... Tony Bhullar Surrey–Panorama Ridge................................................. Hon.

Gulzar S. Cheema Surrey-Tynehead .......................................................................... Dave S. Hayer Surrey-Whalley ...................................................................... Elayne Brenzinger Surrey–White Rock ...............................................................Hon. Gordon Hogg Vancouver-Burrard................................................................. Lorne Mayencourt Vancouver-Fairview............................................................... Hon.

Gary Co llins Vancouver-Fraserview ...................................................................Ken Johnston Vancouver-Hastings .......................................................................Joy MacPhail Vancouver-Kensington...................................................................Patrick Wong Vancouver-Kingsway..........................................................................Rob Nijjar Vancouver-Langara....................................................................Val J.

Anderson Vancouver–Mount Pleasant............................................Jenny Wai Ching Kwan Vancouver–Point Grey ................................................... Hon. Gordon Campbell Vancouver-Quilchena............................................................ Hon. Colin Hansen Victoria–Beacon Hill.............................................................................Jeff Bray Victoria-Hillside.................................................................................. Sheila Orr West Kootenay–Boundary.................................................... Hon.

Sandy Santori West Vancouver–Capilano ..............................................................Ralph Sultan West Vancouver–Garibaldi ................................................. Hon. Ted Nebbeling Yale-Lillooet .................................................................................. Dave Chutter

CONTENTS Monday, February 24, 2003 Afternoon Sitting Routine Proceedings Page Introductions by Members....................................................................................................... ............................................... 4977 Introduction and First Reading of Bills ........................................................................................ ......................................... 4977 Agrologists Act (Bill 4) Hon. S. Hagen Auditor General Act (Bill 9) Hon. G. Collins Energy and Mines Statutes Amendment Act, 2003 (Bill 10) Hon. R.

Neufeld Statements (Standing Order 25B).............................................................................................................................. .............. 4978 Blockade in Hazelton area D. MacKay Alberni-Qualicum area youth commended G. Trumper High-technology industry in Burnaby R. Lee Oral Questions................................................................................................................. ......................................................... 4979 Rules for salary holdback for cabinet ministers J. MacPhail Hon. G. Collins Fair Pharmacare program J. Kwan Hon. C.

Hansen Extended care services at Mount St. Francis Hospital B. Suffredine Hon. K. Whittred Recall legislation J. MacPhail Hon. G. Plant Fee increases in parks B. Kerr Hon. J. Murray Ministerial Statements ......................................................................................................... .................................................... 4982 2010 Olympic Winter Games Hon. G. Campbell J.

MacPhail Tabling Documents .............................................................................................................. .................................................... 4983 Auditor general report No. 9, A Review of Government Oversight of Multi-Employer Public Sector Pension Plans in British Columbia Auditor general service plan 2003-04 – 2005-06

Budget Debate (continued) ............................................................................................................................... ........................ 4983 W. McMahon J. Kwan Hon. S. Hagen Hon. G. Bruce V. Roddick Hon. L. Reid Hon. S. Hawkins Hon. G. Halsey-Brandt Hon. S. Santori

4977 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2003 The House met at 2:03 p.m. Introductions by Members Hon. R. Thorpe: Today visiting the buildings we have the executive of the British Columbia Wine Insti- tute: Tony Stewart, the chairman; Rod King, represent- ing the growers; Harry McWatters from Summerland; and Olivier Combret. Just to show you their commit- ment to the industry, Olivier Combret and his wife had a baby, a son, last night at 6:30 p.m., and his name is Remi. I understand they're going to be meeting with the opposition and the government later today. Would everyone please make them welcome to Victoria. Hon. G.

Campbell: Today in the gallery we have four citizens from the Arrow Lakes region who are donating generously of their time to help develop solu- tions to the age-old problem of how we can create fixed links across the Arrow Lakes. They are not asking for money, but they're doing something even better. They're making suggestions for how we can solve that problem. They include Bill Cowan, the mayor of Na- kusp; Helmut Klughammer, former director of the re- gional district of Central Kootenay; Ralph Allen, a prominent Nakusp business person; and Rod Power of Vernon. D.

MacKay: In the gallery today visiting from the province of Ontario, where it is extremely cold at the present time, I have some friends who are in Victoria. I took them on a tour this morning through the Legisla- ture. I would like to introduce Jim and Mary Roberts and Jerry and Lorraine Woods. I would ask the House to please make them welcome. [1405] P. Sahota: Joining us in the House today are two wonderful young people. One is Desiree Dupuis, who just started working with the government caucus as an ALA.

Desiree is a dedicated and hard-working indi- vidual, who recently graduated from UVic with a bachelor of commerce in international business, and it's a pleasure to have Desiree join our team. The other is my legislative assistant, Frank Costa. Would the House please make them welcome. Hon. S. Santori: It gives me a great pleasure to in- troduce to the House today someone who has been contributing significantly to the economy of Victoria for the past couple of days, and one who is doing a real good job of spending the money I'm going to get from my ministry for meeting my targets.

I would ask the House welcome my wife, Wendy, here to Victoria B. Suffredine: In addition to the Arrow Lakes group mentioned by the Premier, we have two addi- tional guests here today from the Kootenays. One is the chairman of the Columbia Basin Trust, here today wearing his hat as regional district director — that's Josh Smienk — and also my constituency assistant, Stephen Harris. Would the House please make them both welcome. W. McMahon: I think it's the day for the Kootenays.

Although I don't have anybody to intro- duce this afternoon, I would like to acknowledge the 88 students from David Thompson Secondary School in Invermere who were here earlier today. They are ac- companied by five adults and their band teacher, Mr. Greg Constable, who actually taught my son to play the saxophone many years ago. They're on their annual band trip. Their next stop is Mission, and I know that they enjoyed themselves today. I'm sure they'll enjoy the rest of their tour. Introduction and First Reading of Bills AGROLOGISTS ACT Hon. S.

Hagen presented a message from Her Hon- our the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Agrolo- gists Act. Hon. S. Hagen: I move that Bill 4 be read a first time now. Motion approved. Hon. S. Hagen: 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 4 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. AUDITOR GENERAL ACT H o n . G .

C o l l i n s p r e s e n t e d a m e s s a g e f r o m H e r Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Audi- tor General Act. Hon. G. Collins: I move that Bill 9 be read a first time now. Motion approved. Hon. G. Collins: I am pleased to introduce the Auditor General Act. This act will confirm in statute practices that have evolved since the first Auditor Gen- eral Act was passed back in 1979. It will also support the changing information needs of the Legislative As- sembly.

The new Auditor General Act will confirm the independence of the auditor general in such matters as the auditor's appointment, the approval process for the auditor general's budget, access to information and the

4978 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2003 ability to report the results of his or her work to the Legislative Assembly. The new act also strengthens the auditor general's accountability to the Legislative Assembly. The mechanism, frequency and standards of reporting to the Legislature have been clearly defined. There will now be a requirement to provide annually, to a com- mittee of the Legislature, a three-year audit plan as well as a service plan. Other important issues addressed are the scope of audit coverage and audit services provided by the auditor general.

I would like to congratulate the audi- tor general, the previous auditor general, members of various Public Accounts committees as well as numer- ous staff people, who have worked on this piece of legislation over the last decade. With that, I move the bill be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today. [1410] Bill 9 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. ENERGY AND MINES STATUTES AMENDMENT ACT, 2003 Hon. R.

Neufeld presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled En- ergy and Mines Statutes Amendment Act, 2003. Hon. R. Neufeld: I move that Bill 10 be read for a first time now. Motion approved. Hon. R. Neufeld: This bill makes several minor amendments to six statutes: the Coal Act, the Hydro and Power Authority Act, the Mineral Tenure Act, the Mines Act, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Act, and the Utilities Commission Act.

The amendments that I am introducing today illustrate our commitment to cutting red tape and creating a thriving private sector economy that supports high-paying jobs for British Columbians. The Coal Act will be amended to streamline the coal reserve creation process and to repeal a redundant requirement. Amendments to the Hydro and Power Authority Act will define what constitutes support services for the purposes of outsourcing and the role of the B.C. Utilities Commission with respect to agree- ments for support services.

Consistent with the energy plan, the goal is to obtain cost-efficiencies and better service for B.C. Hydro customers. The Mineral Tenure Act is being amended to assign to the chief gold commissioner the authority for regula- tions to establish and rescind no-staking reserves. It is also being amended to remove duplication of review for small projects that would otherwise be exempted by the reviewable projects regulation. Amendments to the Mines Act will allow for in- creased environmental protection through enhanced compliance and enforcement authority.

There will also be changes to reduce the workload for minesites that are not considered to be mines by the chief inspector, and changes are being made to prevent the duplication of permitting processes. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Act is being amended to reduce regulatory burdens on industry by making the rules and processes clearer and more effective. The Utilities Commission Act amendment clarifies that the entity that enters into a support service agree- ment with B.C. Hydro is not a public utility.

The amendments that I'm introducing today are small but important steps towards meeting our new-era commitment to cut the regulatory burden by one third within three years. They are part of the government's overall plan to restore sound fiscal management in Brit- ish Columbia. Several changes also support the prov- ince's new energy plan announced November 25, 2002 — Energy for our Future: A Plan for B.C. I move that the bill be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after to- day.

Bill 10 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 25

B) BLOCKADE IN HAZELTON AREA D. MacKay: I take this opportunity to advise this House of a serious situation occurring in the riding of Bulkley Valley–Stikine. Near the community of Hazel- ton, a blockade has been set up by native Indians, pre- venting over 70 loggers — some of whom are also na- tive — from going to work. Following the collapse of SCI, the loggers' economic lifeline became and remains fragile. Our government authorized a 35 percent export quota to keep the banker at bay.

To date, only 2,095 cubic metres, 45 truckloads — not enough to keep the Carnaby mill at Hazelton going for one day — have been exported. The Gitxsan natives appealed the transfer of the tenure to the new company. The subsequent ruling by the court was that the transfer tenure would be ac- cepted, subject to further consultation. The unemploy- ment rate in the Hazeltons is over 60 percent and as high as 90 percent in the Gitxsan communities. With the impending March breakup, the loggers need these extra continuous weeks of seasonal employment to qualify for employment insurance.

The Hazeltons need the certainty of continuous employment for its citizens in order to provide an economic base. The frustration with the seeming inability to deal with these issues in a timely manner has resulted in a potentially volatile situation. For our new heartlands economic strategy to work, we need to find solutions to these types of crises.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 4979 It is my understanding that the community will gather tomorrow evening to discuss this matter. I hope the results of Tuesday night's meeting in Hazelton will bring an end to this crisis. [1415] ALBERNI-QUALICUM AREA YOUTH COMMENDED G. Trumper: Today, as Vancouver and British Co- lumbia celebrate the positive results of the plebiscite for the Olympics, I want to introduce three young peo- ple in my community who are an example to young people when you have a dream. Jimmy Pelk is 17 years old and is a grade 11 stu- dent.

He is an eight-time B.C. provincial karting cham- pion and the 2000 Canadian junior karting champion. He competed in the Fran-Am sporting event in Phoe- nix, Arizona, and placed in the top five based upon speed, attitude, teamwork and racing ability. He will compete this year in British Columbia and throughout North America. Carly Haggard is 21 and is a senior at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. She was a member of the Canadian under-22 national hockey team and was in the top ten in scoring in division 1 for the past four years and last year placed first in scoring.

She has been nominated twice for the Patty Kazmaier Award, and her future plans include making the Canadian Olympic women's hockey team. Cody Morton is 14. He was the Saturday morning h o s t o n C H O O - F M i n T o f i n o f r o m J a n u a r y t o M a r c h 2000 and is now hosting the Saturday afternoon show on AV 1240. In addition, he has co-hosted On the Island with Lisa Cordasco of CBC radio. He was the master of ceremonies at the annual salmon festival in Port Al- berni, and he was voted Port Alberni's best radio DJ in 2000 and 2001.

These have been submitted to the Guin- ness Book of World Records in the new category of youngest radio host. These are just three young people who are shining examples to the young people in this province who are going to be out there working and striving to be part of the 2010 Olympics. HIGH-TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY IN BURNABY R. Lee: I have the great honour to rise in the House today to speak about the tremendous economic poten- tial of my community of Burnaby.

Many of you heard the news last week that eBay, a major Internet auction service, announced it will open its first Canadian call centre in my riding of Burnaby North. This call centre will employ more than 600 people, and recruitment already began last Saturday in a BCIT job fair. This new employment will certainly be a welcome boost to our local economy, but beyond that, having a top-notch Internet company like eBay setting up operations rein- forces Burnaby's place on the international information technology map. We in Burnaby knew before that our community was the destination for technology.

With companies like Ballard Power Systems, PMC-Sierra, Creo Products and Electronic Arts Canada, there was certainly no doubt in my mind. Indeed, B.C. is open for business, and because of that, so is Burnaby. Through this government's com- mitment to building a new era for knowledge workers, we have been successful in getting that message out to the international high-tech community. I have stood in this House in the past and spoken about the need for British Columbia to add to our tradi- tional resource-based economy, by diversifying our economy and attracting new investment.

We must adapt to the new global economy. B.C. is well suited to become Canada's leader for the research and development sec- tor, and Burnaby's ready to lead the charge. Down the road I see not just eBay opening its doors in Burnaby but many other companies, large and small, that recognize the exceptional climate Burnaby has to offer. Oral Questions RULES FOR SALARY HOLDBACK FOR CABINET MINISTERS J. MacPhail: Last week we learned that the Minister of Finance has created a $210 million salary protection slush fund for ministers.

Can the Minister of Finance tell this House when he will approve and disburse sal- ary payments to himself and other ministers for com- ing in on budget? Will he do that once the final public accounts for last year have been prepared and signed off by the auditor general or sooner than that? [1420] Hon. G. Collins: The answer to her question exists in the legislation, for which she was here in the House and debated a little over a year ago. The answer is: when the public accounts come out.

I want to make note, however, because I think it's important — I've been getting some advice over the weekend and am about to get more from the member opposite — for the House to put this in con- text to determine whether or not they think I should take that advice. In the three years that the member opposite was Minister of Finance…. In the 1997-98 fiscal year, Budget '98, five ministries were over budget, and the gov- ernment had to bring in a number of special warrants in order to meet its spending target.

I n B u d g e t ' 9 9 , f o u r m i n i s t r i e s w e r e o v e r b u d g e t , and the government had to bring in…. I think the total that year was about $236 million over budget. In 1999-2000, the final public accounts showed total CRF spending for the year was $1.4 billion over budget. I await with eager and bated breath the advice from the member opposite. Mr. Speaker: The Leader of the Opposition has a supplementary question. J. MacPhail: Well, actually, I wouldn't have to give advice if this minister were operating under the same

4980 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2003 rules that existed during that period of time. The dif- ference is that the minister changed the rules. He used this big majority to change the rules. He's absolutely right. The Balanced Budget and Ministerial Accountability Act says that salary hold- back will not be paid to ministers until the day after the final public accounts are made public. But here's what the system used to be. In years past, public accounts distributes spent contingency money to the minister who spends it, as it should — unless the minister is deciding to change that rule as well.

Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order. J. MacPhail: We know now that the final audited books for the budget 2002-03 will show at least six minis- ters coming in over budget, unless this minister is going to stand up and change the way public accounts operate. Why is the minister claiming that the ministers have come in under budget when, in fact, we won't know — and he doesn't know for sure — who has overspent until the final audited books are made public? Hon. G.

Collins: I would encourage the member to go back and check her facts and read the legislation, as well as go back and look at the budgets she presented to this House. Let me just read into the record the description of vote 48 in the 1999-2000 budget year, which the mem- ber opposite introduced as the Minister of Finance. That's the contingencies vote. It says: "This vote provides additional funding for items budgeted in other votes to accommodate the financial consequences of unanticipated and contingent events.

Unanticipated events include developments during the year that could not be reasonably anticipated when the budget was prepared. Contingent events include developments that could be anticipated, but not with enough certainty to make a reasonable estimate of budget costs, or where final costs are dependent on a pending decision of government or another party. "This vote also provides for unanticipated events not budgeted in other votes but which are consistent with the general purpose of those votes. This includes natural disasters, emergency relief and assistance for those in need.

Ex gratia payments are also provided for. In addition, this vote provides for funding of new government programs." I believe that if the member checks, she'll find that's the exact wording in the budget this year and last year as well. Mr. Speaker : The Leader of the Opposition has a further supplementary. J. MacPhail: I k n o w t h a t M r . B o n d h a d w o r d s t o describe this Minister of Finance, but I think today that even Mr. Bond will be amazed at what that minister just stood up and said.

In the past, regardless of what contingencies were used for, the public accounts allocated that spending to the bottom line of ministers. This government changed the rules so that their salary protection fund is there solidly for them. It doesn't get allocated to the minis- ters' bottom line, so even if they overspend, they all get their money, as the Minister of Management Services was so gleefully doing. If the same rules had applied as in the past, at least six of them would have overspent.

The Minister of Fi- nance claiming that the six ministers underspent is like awarding the Grey Cup based on the betting line in Las Vegas rather than the actual final score of the game. Will the minister admit that the government's claims that all ministers came in on or under budget is fiction and that based on past accounting practices, at least six ministers — maybe more — will come in over budget once the final books are audited and released? [1425] Hon. G. Collins: H e a v e n f o r b i d w e s h o u l d k e e p our books according to past accounting practices in the province.

If the rules that are in place today had been in place through ten years of NDP government, that member would owe money to the taxpayers of British Columbia. We have put in place… Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Hon. G. Collins: …the most open, the most trans- parent, the most clear set of financial documents any- where in Canada, if not within the Commonwealth. I am more than proud of the work that the members of this caucus and the staff have done, the Ministry of Finance, in order to get there.

I would just remind that member opposite that in each of the three years that she was Minister of Fi- nance, the contingencies vote was fully spent… J. MacPhail: And allocated. Hon. G. Collins: …and ministries still had cost overruns within their ministries which had to be paid for in special warrants or statutory spending authori- ties. J. MacPhail: You're lying. You're misleading…. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Order, please. J. MacPhail: You are misleading…. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order! Would the Leader of the Opposition please retract the word "lying."

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 4981 J. MacPhail: I withdraw. Mr. Speaker: Thank you. Please continue. J. MacPhail: You are misleading the public when you say…. Hon. G. Collins: Mr. Speaker, I will put the credi- bility of this government and our reputation and our ability to manage the books up against that minister's record any day of the week. FAIR PHARMACARE PROGRAM J. Kwan: The Minister of Finance didn't answer the question. Let's try a different minister. Today the Minister of Health Services has an- nounced his new scheme to cut government spending on medicine by some $90 million.

That's a huge cut — no way to sugar-coat it. Under the old system, prior to 2001, a senior woman with a fixed income of $31,000 paid $200 de- ductible. Since then, the Liberal government has in- creased that deductible to $275. Can the minister please advise us what — let's say a woman named Barb — a woman born in 1940 with a fixed income of $31,000 can anticipate paying per year for her medicine once she turns 65? Hon. C. Hansen: Actually, this is a great news story for Barb — the example the member just used. If Barb was born in 1940, that means she's 63 years old today.

Today, with an income of $31,000, she would be facing an annual maximum ceiling of $2,000 a year. Under the new Fair Pharmacare program that takes effect on May 1, her annual ceiling will come down to $600 a year. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Order, please. The member for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant has a supplementary question. J. Kwan: The fact is that the minister actually didn't answer the question. The minister did not answer the question. The question to the minister was…. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Please. Order. Let us hear the ques- tion, hon. members. J.

Kwan: My earlier question to the minister was: what can she anticipate paying per year for her medi- cine once she turns 65? Barb's deductible will increase to $1,200 a year under the new Liberal scheme. Based upon the government's own data, Barb, as an average senior, can anticipate somewhere in the neighbourhood of $900 a year for prescriptions once she turns 65. That means this Liberal government just kicked Barb off Pharmacare, but it won't be until… Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. J.

Kwan: …the end of 2005 that Barb bears the full i m p a c t o f t h i s n e w p o l i c y . I t h a p p e n s t o b e e l e c t i o n year. Can the minister please tell us how important the fixed election date was in determining the implementa- tion of this new policy? [1430] Hon. C. Hansen: First of all, it wasn't a factor at all.

W h a t t h i s n e w F a i r P h a r m a c a r e p r o g r a m s a y s i s that seniors who are already locked into fixed incomes, seniors that have planned their retirement based on knowledge of what the Pharmacare program in place is, can be reassured that low- and middle-income sen- iors will either remain the same or the vast majority of those low- and middle-income seniors will in fact see their costs come down under this new plan.

Unlike the previous government, which couldn't plan even a month ahead, never mind a year ahead in terms of planning for the future, this government is positioning our health care plans so that they are sus- tainable as the baby-boom generation starts to reach retirement years. Quite frankly, as that member knows and as everybody knows, the current health care sys- tem will be under serious strain in the future with the growing number of seniors that are coming into the system.

We're structuring something that is fair, that can be anticipated, that older British Columbians can plan for as they get into their senior years, and I'm quite proud… Mr. Speaker: Thank you, hon. member. Hon. C. Hansen: …of where this government is coming from in Fair Pharmacare. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. EXTENDED CARE SERVICES AT MOUNT ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL B. Suffredine: I'm from the heartland community of Nelson. In Nelson there is great concern about the future of extended care at Mount St. Francis Hospital.

Existing providers are being allowed to submit pro- posals to replace care beds first. My constituents are concerned that the private facility six miles out of town will be given preferential treatment. Can the Minister of State for Intermediate, Long Term and Home Care

4982 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2003 assure my constituents that preferential treatment will not be given to any proposal? Hon. K. Whittred: To the member: I want to ac- knowledge how important this issue is to his commu- nity and certainly that quality care is the number one priority not only of the ministry but also of the com- munity of Nelson. When facilities are being upgraded, there are many qualities that are put in place. First of all, all operators who submit proposals must have a history of quality care.

We also need to ensure that the process passes a fairness test so that private and non- profit operators are in fact encouraged to submit pro- posals and to partner with the health authority. Part of the insurance of that fairness is that current operators are given first opportunity to submit proposals in new developments. RECALL LEGISLATION J. MacPhail: The Minister of State for Deregulation was reported on the weekend to have said that recall legislation in B.C. is unworkable.

I remind the Attorney General that his party campaigned on a promise to make it "easier to hold your MLA accountable" as part of the new-era promise. Now that the former non- partisan recall advocate, who has become the Minister of State for Deregulation and who has perhaps more experience with this legislation than anyone else in B.C., has come out against the current legislation, can the Attorney General tell us when he will keep his promise and introduce amendments to the Recall and Initiative Act to make it more accountable? Hon. G. Plant: The new-era commitment was to make recall and initiative workable.

If the member has some suggestions in that regard, I would, as always, be happy to hear from her. FEE INCREASES IN PARKS B. Kerr: M y q u e s t i o n i s t o t h e M i n i s t e r o f W a t e r , Land and Air Protection. Last month the minister an- nounced her intention to raise and introduce new fees for B.C. provincial parks.

At the time she stated: "Noth- ing we're announcing changes our system of full public control of our park, fish and wildlife recreation services and full public ownership of B.C. parks." My question to the minister is: how does she justify these fees and increases, and can she explain to British Columbians how they can expect to benefit by paying more to visit recreational sites around the province? [1435] Hon. J. Murray: Our government grappled with a challenge. That challenge is that our park system dou- bled in the last decade, but funding for parks had been declining since the late 1980s.

We really had two choices. We could continue to see services deteriorate in our parks, or we could find another management and funding model for parks, as well as fish and wild- life recreation. We chose that second option. What I am very pleased to tell the public — and I've seen a tre- mendous amount of support for it — is that, finally, fees for parks, fish and wildlife are being dedicated to maintaining and improving those services. That's something that people — user groups and the public — have asked for, for many decades — that those fees go directly back into providing those services.

And that's what we're doing with this new model. [End of question period.] Ministerial Statements 2010 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES Hon. G. Campbell: I rise to make a brief ministerial statement with regard to the 2010 Olympic and Paralym- pic Games. In short, we're out to win that bid on July 2. On Saturday the people of Vancouver gave a re- sounding "yes" to hosting the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. That was a resounding…. It was a record-breaking turnout: 134,000 Vancouverites at- tended the polls, and 64 percent supported the bid for the 2010 Olympic Games.

I just want to take a moment to congratulate all who participated in this activity. I want to congratulate the communities of Whistler and Vancouver, the Squamish first nation, the Lil Wat first nation and all of those who put their time, effort and energy into bring- ing this bid together. I can report to you today that there was a nation- wide poll that was released on Sunday. Ninety-one percent of all Canadians who had an opinion on whether this should be going forward voted yes for the Winter Olympics for Canada.

Over the last number of weeks I have visited com- munities all over our province, from Rossland to Trail, Revelstoke, Invermere and Cranbrook. I've been in Kamloops. I've been in Fort St. John. We've been in Terrace, Smithers, Courtenay. All over this province people are excited about the opportunities that the 2010 Olympic Games present to them. Olympic live sites give special opportunities to communities all over this province to make the Olympics their own. We know as we do this that our young athletes are excited about the future.

They are excited about work- ing hard, dedicating themselves and disciplining them- selves so that they can stand on the number one posi- tion on the podium right here in the province of British Columbia. This week the International Olympic Com- mittee will be visiting our province to go through the site to see what's taking place. They'll be meeting with the Prime Minister, the mayors and the bid committee. We are now in the last stretch.

On July 2 of this year the decision will be made in Prague by the members of the International Olympic Committee as to whether or not we are going to be given the honour of hosting the Olympics. This is an opportunity for all of us to strengthen our province. It's an opportunity for all of us to show our

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 4983 pride in this great nation and our commitment to the Olympic spirit. This is an opportunity for all of us to come together and do what British Columbia can do best — think about the future of this province, think about the young people of this province and think of what we can do when we work together.

As Mike Leavitt pointed out to us when he visited in December from Utah, this is an opportunity for all of us, in all walks of life, in all regions of this province to come together to do something that will be a true leg- acy of excellence for the future of the province of Brit- ish Columbia. [1440] J. MacPhail: Yes, it was a very active, engaged city that we had on Saturday, with conclusive results that are good for the Olympics, good for British Columbia.

It is true what the Premier says — that now is the time for us to join together, because here's what happened i n V a n c o u v e r w h e n t h e y h a d a s a y : p e o p l e b e c a m e actively engaged. Things changed around the Olympic bid from the time the COPE city council promised the plebiscite to when the plebiscite was actually held. Things changed for the city. They got better and better and better.

Here are just a couple of things that happened while that plebiscite was being held: $10 million more for HIV/AIDS in Vancouver; hundreds of units of so- cial housing dedicated to Vancouver; a commitment — a commitment verbally, but one that's being embraced by the IOC itself — to not rent-gouge during the Olympics. That's great news for the city of Vancouver, and that's what happens when a city gets actively en- gaged in an issue that touches their hearts.

Now is the time for the Premier, in his role, and his caucus, who are responsible for the entire province, to engage them on the same level, to get them involved in the Olympics and to make sure the benefits that Van- couver has as a result of holding that plebiscite go to all others in British Columbia. Wouldn't it be…? Interjection. J. MacPhail: God, they don't even like it when you agree with them. [Laughter.] Mr. Speaker: Let's have order, please. J. MacPhail: The Premier says it's hard to tell.

I don't think it's that hard to understand when people in the rest of British Columbia want to be actively en- gaged the same way the city of Vancouver was and that the people in the rest of the province want to un- derstand what the Olympics mean for them. My colleague and I will be working on giving them that forum through the Public Accounts Committee to allow the rest of British Columbia — the mayors, who may have some concerns or have some issues — to come down to the Public Accounts Committee, meet with the auditor general and meet with the bid com- mittee, like they have not yet been.

What's good for Vancouver should be good for the rest of the province. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order, please, hon. members. Tabling Documents Mr. Speaker: I have the honour to present the fol- lowing reports: auditor general report No. 9, A Review of Government Oversight of Multi-Employer Public Sector Pension Plans In British Columbia, and auditor general Service Plan, 2003/04-2005/06. Orders of the Day Hon. G. Collins: I call budget debate. Mr. Speaker: The budget debate will resume in a moment with the member for North Vancouver– Seymour.

The debate was adjourned by the member for Columbia River–Revelstoke. Budget Debate (continued) W. McMahon: Continuing with my remarks of late Thursday last week before the close of the day, I was discussing education, forestry, transportation, mining and tourism, and acknowledging the hard-working, dedicated and resourceful people who live in Columbia River–Revelstoke who have given me the privilege of representing them as MLA. I would like to expand on my infrastructure com- ments that I made earlier.

The long overdue upgrading of the transportation network has been a priority of mine since being elected to this House. Without a doubt, the biggest area of concern in both Golden and Revelstoke, and actually through the whole riding, is the safety of the Trans-Canada Highway from the west side of Revelstoke through the Rogers Pass to the Al- berta border. More specifically, I think that improve- ments to all of the Trans-Canada Highway are in order. The stretch that I'm talking about has been neglected for far too long. [1445] Since being elected, we've worked hard to change that.

At this time last year, I accompanied the Minister of Transportation for a tour along the stretch of high- way so the minister could see firsthand the concerns shared by residents. In March last year, I was fortunate to be part of a $10 million announcement for improve- ments to the Victoria Road intersection on the Trans- Canada Highway in Revelstoke, as well as the $50 mil- lion announcement for improvements to the Five Mile Bridge on the Trans-Canada Highway just outside of Golden. These projects began this past summer. Now, with more discussion around improvements to the Kicking Horse Canyon

section of the highway, it is welcome news not only for the residents of British

4984 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2003 Columbia and for our visitors but for commercial transports who either enter or leave B.C. via this im- portant transportation corridor. In August of 2001, I was confident that we would have lights in the tunnels in the Rogers Pass, a big project which I'm happy to say is almost complete, since all but two have lighting now. It has been approximately 40 years since the road was opened, and it is with thanks that I acknowledge our Minister of Transportation for listening.

In doing so, I must also acknowledge the federal government for its commitment to lighting their tunnels through Rev- elstoke and Glacier National Parks. It is in this spirit of cooperation that I am confident that more improve- ments will be announced soon.

I have lobbied for transportation improvements for both the Trans-Canada Highway and the Cranbrook Airport so that tourism industry stakeholders, such as Panorama Mountain Village near Invermere, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies in both Kimberley and Fernie, and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden would have the ability to grow their businesses and encourage tourists to come and spend their money in the region. More importantly, I've lobbied for improvements to the Trans-Canad a Highway s o that lives can be saved on this very dangerous stretch of road.

There have been approximately 12 deaths a year between the Al- berta border and Revelstoke, and the cost is too high to ignore. As I stated previously, the needed expansion of our Cranbrook Airport is important to the entire region as it would open the door for both business and tourists to discover our region. The hard-working individuals involved in moving this project forward should be commended.

As my colleague from East Kootenay said last week, the recognition that regional airports are economic engines is very good news for rural B.C. and in particular the Kootenay region, which is looking forward with great anticipation to the expansion of the Cranbrook Airport. We have a dedicated fuel tax to promote invest- ment in transportation. This fuel tax will end the de- bate over tolls on the inland ferries. Our government has listened and has responded to ferry users, and we will continue to cooperate with users to meet our transportation demands.

The forest industry is the primary employer in my riding and has been through difficult times. The impor- tance of this industry throughout the province really cannot be described in words. Forestry has supported families for generations, and we are going to make sure it continues to be a strong supporter of our communi- t i e s . A s g o v e r n m e n t w e p l a n t o o p e n u p a r e v i t a l i z e d forestry industry. We are going to introduce legislation to create a working forest land base.

We will pass forest reforms to diversify tenure and move toward market- based stumpage that is regionally sensitive and socially responsible. We will ensure there is more timber avail- able for innovative, smaller local operators through the B.C. timber sales program and also for first nations. We want our forest workers to look to their future with confidence and optimism. We must revitalize the industry. I'm told it will not be easy, nor will it be painless or welcome by all, but it must be done. It cannot wait.

As much as things have changed over the years, and more noticeably over the past decade, many things have stayed the same. Tour- ism is huge in my area of the province. It is critical to the government's heartlands economic strategy. Over the next seven to eight years the government wants to see our tourism industry more than double in size. Think of the opportunities, and believe in the chal- lenge. I was pleased to see the positive vote for the 2010 Winter Olympics on Saturday. We have tremendous opportunities to give the Kootenays the tourism expo- sure it deserves.

Two billion people watched the open- ing and closing ceremonies of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. It's impossible to buy that type of exposure for British Columbia, and I know that the 2010 Olym- pics provides tremendous opportunity to let the world know what we have to offer in the Kootenays. B.C. parks will play a big role in tourism opportuni- ties. The final report of the independent stewardship recreation panel was recently released and recognizes that parks need to serve their visitors. To do this, there will be a user fee. As we expect more amenities in our parks, there is a price attached.

The money we collect from users will go back into the parks. We have some of the best places in the world to recreate. I have spo- ken with tourism operators who do not think the higher camping fees will keep tourists away; nor do they think the increase in licensing fees for anglers or hunters will deter participants. They are willing to pay their fair share. What has been done through this rec- reational model is put parks, fish and wildlife recrea- tion on a sound financial footing.

We have a great product to sell, and through fees we will protect and enhance what we have to offer. [1450] Health care continues to be the central focus of this government. As we recognize and focus our efforts on the need for a healthy economy, we must also recog- nize that without one, there are many, many opportu- nities we may miss as we struggle to provide necessary services within a limited framework. The East Kootenay has seen significant changes in the way health care is delivered. Many people are angry, and many people are concerned.

Everyone recognizes that we need sustainable health care now and in the future. The question I am asked most frequently is: how? How do we provide sustainable health care? The interior health authority was given responsibil- ity for managing health care in our region last April. They have been busy implementing changes to provide services within their budget. Unfortunately, many people do not understand why the changes are neces- sary and how they will create a sustainable health care system that will be there for the long term. We still have a lot of work to do, and part of our job is to get our message out.

We are moving forward in British Columbia, and this budget proves it. We have implemented change,

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 4985 and change is never easy. The past 18 months have been both challenging and exciting for all members of t h i s g o v e r n m e n t . T h i s b u d g e t s h o w s w e a r e o n t r a c k . Our projected deficit is now $600 million lower than forecast. We have more resources for students. We will have better transportation infrastructure and a revital- ized forest industry in a stronger and more competitive economy. It's good news, and I'm proud to be part of the process. J. Kwan: Vancouver–Mount Pleasant is the riding that I represent.

I rise today to engage in the budget debate. It is interesting — what I've heard today so far and over the last week. The MLAs in this Legislature have risen up — the government MLAs, that is…. Liberal member after Liberal member has stood on their feet and paid homage to a budget that raises taxes on their constitu- ents and continues to cut their services. If the Liberals actually ran on such a platform, you can be sure that there would be a lot fewer of them in this House to defend this budget. In fact, there was one person who ran on such a platform, and that was Daniel Lee.

He ran in my colleague's riding, Vancouver-Hastings — the Leader of the Opposition. Guess what. He didn't get elected. He's not here today. Can you imagine? Gordon Campbell and his B.C. Liberal team will raise your taxes and cut your ser- vices. They might have been laughed at, but at least they would have been honest. That's exactly what this budget does: $600 million in new taxes in the next two years. What are these taxes?

From the budget book: the gas tax; the Tobacco Tax Act; school property taxes, both in the urban centres as well as the rural communi- ties, where the school property tax in the rural com- munity is under the rural area tax act; and insurance premiums. In fact, when you go and buy insurance for your property, as one example, you'll find that tax has gone up. It will be going up effective January 1, 2004. [1455] Those are the things that we have not heard in this House from any Liberal MLA from the government side.

Of course, that's on top of sales tax increases last year, the MSP premium increases, tuition fee increases, ICBC increases and Hydro increases — just to name a few. For all those new taxes and fees, the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection just said: "Hooray, we increased fees for park and recreational services." You've got to ask the question, and I think most British Columbians are wondering: what do we get in return? Actually, nothing — less than nothing. What they get are cuts — $90 million worth of cuts to Pharmacare. That was just announced today.

If you were a person born in 1940 who turns into a senior in 2005, your Pharmacare costs would increase by $1,200. You will no longer pay what was, under the NDP government, $200 worth of deductible, which has subsequently been increased by the Liberal govern- ment to $275. Under this new scheme, you would pay over $1,000 for your Pharmacare coverage. That is the reality. A $250 million cut to the income assistance budget. Little wonder the Deputy Minister of Human Re- sources, it was reported in the paper today, got a $16,000 bonus for cutting people off income assistance.

I would venture to say, based on the experience I have had in my own constituency office, that it's irrespective of need. People who need support from the govern- ment cannot get it, because the rules have changed. The government has the audacity to come into this House with the MLAs thumping their desks, cheering and saying that 55,000 people are off income assistance. I hesitate to ask this question, because it appears to me that nobody cares how many people got cut off income assistance, not because they don't need it, but because they can't access it.

I can't tell you how many people have come into my office with that scenario — people who are single parents, people who are struggling on a day-by-day basis and could not get that minuscule support from the government. Yet the government will say: "We will give a bonus of $16,000," — that's almost two income assistance recipients' income for one year for a single person — "to the deputy minister because people got cut off of income assistance." Shocking. Then, in the public school system, you wonder what's going on there; $13 million got cut from the public education system. That's the public school sys- tem.

These are programs that provide for, I would ar- gue, much-needed dollars in the classroom — whether it be ESL programs; whether it be teacher assistants for children who are faced with challenges; whether it be teacher-librarians whose hours have been cut back, and therefore access to school libraries is reduced; whether i t b e j u s t j a n i t o r i a l s u p p o r t i n m a k i n g s u r e t h a t t h e school environment is clean; whether it be making sure that the size of the classroom is manageable because of the mixture and the diversity of the students, the range of students, that now appears in our classes. [1500] Inner-city schools, which get school-based fund- ing.… Guess what.

The budget will be cut by some $6 million or $7 million. What do those programs pro- vide? They provide anti-bullying programs. They pro- vide assistance for parents who are challenged — ESL parents — to get involved in the school system for their children. It provides hot meal programs, lunch and breakfast programs, for particularly low-income fami- lies who often send their children to school without food. It provides for assisting children who are highly marginalized to stay in the school system, so that they have a better opportunity to graduate.

Those are just some of the programs — counselling programs for children. That budget is being cut $6 million to $7 mil- lion. On the environmental side, what have we got? Well, with the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protec- tion, the environmental stewardship program is being cut — over $5 million. The park, fish and wildlife rec- reational program is being cut — some $6.7 million.

4986 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2003 Child protection — $12.5 million is being cut. Ser- vices for victims of crime — $5.8 million. Programs for women — there are significant cuts in programs for women's services, over $3 million. It's a strange combination: huge tax increases and then huge service cuts. The Liberal MLAs who've spo- ken in this House are saying: "That is just excellent." They're thumping their desks, they're clapping, and they're getting up to say: "This is the best budget we have ever had. How can we not clap?" [Applause.] M y v e r y c a s e i n p o i n t , M r .

S p e a k e r . T a x i n c r e a s e s and service cuts, and the Liberal MLA backbenchers are happy: "Hurray for those British Columbians who have to take more money out of their pockets to buy the services that they formerly had available to them." That makes them happy. That makes them clap. That makes them say, "That is a good job," in terms of what the government is doing. [J. Weisbeck in the chair.] Of course, this is not a very good explanation for the sad state of affairs.

The middle class and the poor are being asked to shoulder a greater tax burden to pay for huge high-income and corporate tax cuts that the Premier gave away in the first hours of his mandate. Thanks to the Premier's foresight, British Columbians are paying more for less in order to give more to British Columbians who already have the most. It's the kind of logic that is working so well in the United States under President Bush, where budget surpluses have been turned into huge deficits, where unemployment is on the rise and where the promised economic boom never seems to materialize. Sound familiar?

It's good, old-fashioned, right-wing supply- side economics. The effect is always the same: the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and the middle-class income gets squeezed trying to pay for it all. In this budget and the one that preceded it, all the Liberals have done is transfer a huge amount of wealth out of the hands of the many into the hands of a few. In so doing, they're taking hundreds of millions of dollars out of the economy and taking away hope for a solid economic recovery.

Of course, the basic facts about who wins and who loses with this budget never cross the lips of the Liberal MLAs, who stand on their feet day after day and drone on. No, they want to put a much kinder and gentler spin on the budget, a compassionate spin on their neo- conservative cuts. One of them even had the gall to stand in this chamber and invoke the just society. Al- though I didn't hear his whole speech, a tortured de- fence of this budget it must have been. Invoking the just society to defend this budget is a tactic that Orwell would have understood well.

I t ' s j u s t t h e k i n d o f n e w s p e a k a p p r o a c h t h a t t h e Liberals are mastering. Only those well versed in the art of doublethink could claim, without fear of contra- diction, that a $6 million cut to inner-city schools will actually help poor kids. It will help them learn some- how. Pitting school district against school district to fight for reduced funding in that envelope of critical money will somehow be a good thing. That's what the Liberal MLAs would have you believe.

That's what the Minister of State for Early Childhood Development would have you believe. [1505] Only those who spend too much time reading Lib- eral press releases would herald an increase to the edu- cation budget when, in fact, it's being cut this year. Only those for whom politics is a cynical exercise would patronize poor people by saying that, in the end, they're better off without any help at all. Only those for whom spin matters more than reality would defend a budget that pours millions of dollars into the Premier's advertising budget when everyone else is experiencing pain.

Just imagine this for one moment. The budget book actually increases what is known as the public affairs bureau — the Premier's communications shop, spin- doctoring shop, advertising shop — by $7 million. Quite incidentally, that $7 million, if transferred to the Ministry of Children and Family Development, would actually provide for the funding for inner-city school kids so that you don't have to pit school district against school district to fight for that fund. Yes, the storyline the Liberals have constructed to d e f e n d t h e i r b u d g e t i s w e l l w r i t t e n .

I ' m s u r e s o m e o f the best communication hands money could buy edited the copy, but it's still a piece of fiction. There is no men- tion of the surplus budget that they inherited and squandered with fiscally irresponsible tax cuts. There is no recognition of the fact that the 6.8 percent un- employment rate that was left to them, under the new Liberal government's brilliant leadership has risen to above 8 percent. There is no acknowledgment that the GDP growth in the last full year of the previous ad- ministration exceeds anything they have been able to achieve.

There is no mention of the fact that when they took over, most families in B.C. already paid the second- or third-lowest taxes in the country. And of course, there is complete silence on whether high- income tax cuts pay for themselves. Yes, this government has a story to tell. It has handed itself millions of extra taxpayer dollars to make sure it's told just right, with all half-truths, failures and mistakes taken out, and it is sticking to that story no matter what the facts are. It might be a bit amusing to watch, but it is having serious consequences for peo- ple's lives.

I see the effects every day in my constitu- ency — in the story of a young mother who had to quit school at Vancouver Community College because she could not afford skyrocketing tuition fees; in the faces of the homeless, exhausted and beaten down by a gov- ernment that seems intent on making their hard lives even harder; and in the pain and humiliation of a fa- ther's voice who can't find a job and has to walk miles to the food bank to feed his two children.

Of course, I'm not blaming the government for poverty — it existed when the NDP was in power — but I am blaming this Liberal government for thinking that the best way to fight poverty is to make it a bit

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 4987 m o r e s e v e r e f o r p e o p l e t o g e t h e l p . I t s p e a k s t o o u r worst instincts. It dehumanizes and it marginalizes even further. It's creating a have and a have-not soci- ety, a society where economic opportunity is in the hands of the few, where one's life chance is determined by one's condition at birth and where some are more equal than others.

It's a narrow, ideological approach t h a t s t r a y s f r o m t h e c o r e v a l u e s o f c o m p a s s i o n , t o l e r - ance and social solidarity that are central to our prov- ince's self-identity.

If it continues, I fear it's an approach that will end up destroying our shared sense of the collective good which, together with individual ambition and entre- preneurial spirit, has built B.C.; a sense of shared be- longing, shared responsibility to others that has given rise to so many things that we cherish and without which we would not recognize our province — medi- care, public education, our social safety net, public power, public auto insurance, the B.C. family bonus and so many other collective enterprises that we take for granted but that are being chipped away at by this Liberal government. [1510] B.C. is more than just close to four million people sharing the same chunk of land.

It's an idea; it's a re- sponsibility. It's a covenant among those that are living and those that will come after us. This budget — driven as it is by a simplistic, nar- row, right-wing ideology and prescribing it as a mas- sive transfer of wealth into the hands of the few — does not measure up to the greatest of our aspirations and does not provide the vision we need to enter this new century.

It only takes us further down a path to- wards division, uncertainty and social exclusion, to a society where the schism between those at the bottom and at the top is unbridgeable; where opportunity is the preserve of the privileged few; and where the ab- stract rights of equal citizenship are given no practical expression or meaningful application in the way we choose to divide up the pie. Budget 2003 hurts the middle class and the poor. It hurts the people I represent in this Legislature: the rid- ing of Vancouver–Mount Pleasant.

By taking away opportunity and wealth from the many and putting it into the hands of the few, it hurts our economic recov- ery. By widening the equality gap, it diminishes our shared sense of citizenship and belonging. As my col- league from Vancouver-Hastings has said before me, this budget is not a recipe for recovery. It's a blueprint for a less compassionate, more unequal and ultimately less prosperous British Columbia. I want to just touch on, for a moment, my own per- sonal experience being an immigrant.

My family and I i m m i g r a t e d h e r e i n 1 9 7 5 , a f a m i l y o f e i g h t — not a wealthy family by any stretch of the imagination. We managed to struggle through in the early years when my mother, for the first time, went out into the work- force and earned $10 a day as a farmworker, while my father went to community college to learn English as a second language. We grew up living in poverty. We lived in substandard housing, a 700-square-foot base- ment suite for a family of eight, but we managed. T h e r e a s o n w e c a m e h e r e , I w a n t t o s a y , i s t h i s .

Above all else, my parents valued two things that make us uniquely Canadian: our public education system and our public health care system. They wanted their chil- d r e n t o h a v e a b e t t e r o p p o r t u n i t y t h a n t h e y d i d . M y mother has a grade 6 education. My father has a grade 11 education. Above all else, they wanted their children to have a post-secondary education and an opportunity for life, to improve their lives — to not be labourers, as they have been over the years, and to not be minimum- wage earners, as they have been. Now they're retired.

They wanted, above all else, for the children to have an opportunity. They knew that education was central to that. They could not provide for that in Hong Kong, where I was born, because the private system domi- nated. Access to education would only be allowed or be available to those who could afford to pay for it. With six kids, with an average family, they could not afford to pay those kinds of tuition fees. So they came here. T h e y a l s o w a n t e d t o m a k e s u r e — as I think we from all cultures believe in…. Without your health, you've got nothing.

The one thing you depend on more than anything else is — good grief, should you be ill or be sick — that you would actually have access to a health care system that will provide for you even if you didn't have a whole lot of money, that you would be able to get medication. Those were the things that they treasured above all else, anything else, and that's why they made the hard move to come here. [1515] You know what, Mr. Speaker? Bit by bit those things are being eroded, as we see before our very own eyes and I see it before my own eyes. I see that tuition fees are going up.

I see that in the K-to-12 system, the public education system, the budget is being reduced by $13 million. At the same time, independent schools' budgets — those are the private schools — are being increased. By how much, you may ask? By $10,000 this year. That's in addition to what was increased last year in the independent school system. With the cuts for the public education system, there is an increase in addition to what was already de- creased last year. Never mind post-secondary educa- tion.

Never mind an increase in tuitions — 30 percent last year, 30 percent again this year and some even higher than that, depending on what kind of program you're involved with. Never mind the post-secondary education system. Even in the K-to-12 public education system, it is becoming hard on families. I just met with parents from my community — PACs, parent advisory committees — and they told me they made a list of things that they have to pay more into now. Every little fee counts and is adding up. It's hundreds of dollars that people have to pay, which they cannot afford.

Nonetheless, if they want their children to have an education, they have to somehow find a way to do it. That's within the public education system. I met with principals, people who are trying to fig- ure out how to meet the demands of their students, to

4988 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2003 ensure the best educational system for the children in their own schools and to make ends meet. They are sitting there telling me it's nearly impossible, if not impossible. Some of them are people who have been in the system for so long, who believe so much in making the classroom a little bit better to enhance the educa- tional opportunities for all children.

They are saying: "Boy, I never thought I'd think this, but I'm looking forward to retirement because I cannot make this sys- tem work for the children." This is just a couple of weeks ago when I met with them, and that is what they told me. People are struggling, and they're out there trying to do the best they can. You know what? The sad

part is that the government is not there to help them. They're not there to help the people who need it the most, in spite of what the Liberals campaigned on dur- ing their new-era campaign, in spite of the fact that they said they will prioritize the people who have the greatest needs and who are most marginalized. In- stead, they've abandoned them in a way that, quite frankly, shows no compassion at all.

I want to talk about health care changes, MSP pre- mium increases and people who have had services delisted, whether it be diabetes — people who have diabetes now have to buy their own strips — whether it be eye care or whether it be a range of services that people depend on. Those services were cut last year, and further cuts are being made this year — Phar- macare cuts to the tune of $90 million. Make no mistake about it. It has to come from somewhere, and it's the patients and the families who will get hurt. I've already used one example earlier.

If somebody turns 65 in the year 2005, the increase for Pharmacare is somewhere in the amount of $1,200. Those are just a few examples. Actually, last week, as I was listening to some of the debate from members in the House, I sat in front of the computer and tabu- lated the changes in terms of funding cuts from the year 2002-03 to '03-04 to see what the differences are. This is not even an exhaustive list of all the cuts of al- most a billion dollars — not an exhaustive list by any stretch of the imagination. I only sat down and made some notes on what some of the changes are with some of the ministries.

I found over a billion dollars' worth of cuts. [1520] It's not only the ministries either — and I men- tioned a couple of them earlier — but also with what we call the watchdogs, the people who watch what this government is doing and who attempt, of course, to hold them accountable. It's people like the auditor gen- eral. There are cuts in the auditor general's office, cuts in the information and privacy commissioner's office, cuts in the ombudsman's office, cuts in the police com- plaint commissioner's office.

That's what's in this budget brought in to this House, which no MLA from the government side has mentioned. Not one of them has talked about what is really in the budget book, what is really in the estimates in a ministry-by-ministry breakdown. If you sat down and worked through those numbers, you would find how great the impacts are. Of course, I just want to caution that this is not in addi- tion to what was already cut last year. We have to add up all of those numbers so that the cumulative number becomes clear, and the picture becomes clear. That is the truth of Budget 2003-04.

For all those MLAs who are sitting there praising the government for what a great job they have done with this budget, I ask them to actually look in the budget book and see what the cuts and the real impacts are for their own constituents. I challenge every one of them to rise up in this House and tell their Premier and their ministers the real story of how it is impacting their communities — those who cannot get the services they need and who depend on the government for that kind of support — and how, quite frankly, no matter how the government dresses it up, it isn't compassion. It isn't.

Humanity does not mean just walking by, watching someone who does not have food on the table, who does not have housing or a roof over their head, and saying: "I'm sorry, our policy is that you can have ac- cess to services if you can pay, and you cannot have access to services if you cannot pay." That is not choice. That's not what I believe British Columbians believe in. That's not what I believe British Columbia Canadians believe in. Hon. S. Hagen: It is with great pleasure that I rise today to speak to the 2003 provincial budget.

I have to tell you, I'm proud to be a member of a government that has the courage to lay out a plan and stick to it. The challenges we were presented with when we were elected were formidable. I want to tell you, I was out in Abbotsford on Friday night, and dozens of people c a m e u p t o m e a n d s a i d : " Y o u g u y s a r e o n t h e r i g h t track. Stay the course. Tell your Premier and your Fi- nance minister that you guys are all doing a great job." I was in Courtenay on Saturday night — same thing. People came up to me. They're excited. They know that we're on the right track. An Hon.

Member: Courtenay's a good community. Hon. S. Hagen: It's the best community. Ten years of mismanagement have left British Co- lumbia with one of the worst economies in the country. I don't think any British Columbian is happy with the fact that we are a have-not province. I don't think any- body who lives here would dream that would happen. Only after ten years of mismanagement by the NDP has that happened. We were given an overwhelming mandate to change that, and we are delivering. With the 2003 budget, we're beginning to see the benefits of our fiscal discipline.

For the first time in more than a half cen- tury, every cabinet minister has been able to come in on or under their operating budget. For myself, that means the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Manage- ment kept its spending at $117 million, and the Minis-

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 4989 try of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries also met its budget of $64 million. I told you that we're starting to see the benefits of such fiscal discipline. Now let me highlight some of the specific things we've been able to do. British Columbia now has the lowest personal income tax rate in the country on the first $60,000 of income. Our business taxes are competitive, and our economy grew at three times the rate many economists had predicted.

Our deficit is a full $600 million lower than planned, and we're on track to bring in a surplus budget of $50 mil- lion by the third full year of our fiscal plan. Restoring sound financial management has meant that we've been able to refocus tax dollars in the areas where they're needed most — for patients, students and people in need. We've been able to increase health care funding by more than $1.1 billion. Education fund- ing has been protected, and per-student funding will rise by $127 per student. [1525] Let me talk a little bit more about the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.

As I already men- tioned, we were able to bring our spending in on budget at $64 million. Next year we'll bring in a budget of $49 million, and by 2004-05 we'll be on target for a budget of $45 million. The bulk of the reductions over the coming year — $9 million — comes from the re- moval of the Okanagan Valley Tree Fruit Authority grant. That money is still being paid, but it's coming out of contingencies and does not show on the MAFF budget. The other reductions will come as no surprise. That's the beauty of a government that lays out a three- year plan and sticks with it.

As my colleague told this House last year, six district offices were to be closed by March 31 of this year. Those included Courtenay, Cres- ton, Dawson Creek, Vanderhoof, Sidney and Smithers. Much of that work has already taken place, and the long-planned closures result in more than $1 million in savings. Other savings already announced include almost $3 million for a reduction of the whole-farm insurance program and close to a million dollars for the crop in- surance subsidy.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries is now able to focus on its vision of a competitive and profitable industry providing safe, high-quality food for consumers and export markets. Our focus is on six key areas. Industry competitive- ness. We want to see an agriculture, fisheries and aqua- culture, and food sector that is competitive in a global economy while providing economic benefit and stabil- ity to British Columbia's rural and coastal communi- ties.

We can do that by taking on an advocacy role to ensure that B.C.'s farm and fisheries interests are con- sidered in government programs, services, regulations, international and interprovincial trade, negotiations and a fair share of federal funding. Another core business area is fisheries and aquacul- ture management. Our goal is to see an optimum eco- nomic benefit to B.C. from fisheries and aquaculture while protecting the environment. We're already on that path, and we have one of the most comprehensive regulatory regimes in the world for our aquaculture industry.

There is tremendous opportunity here with first nations on the coast particularly. We now have six agreements signed between first nations bands and industry, and we have another two ready to go. Food safety and quality is another core business area of the ministry. Quite simply, we want a food sys- tem that provides consumers and customers with greater confidence in the safety and quality of B.C. food, agriculture and seafood products while protect- ing the provincial economy from risks.

The remainder of our core business areas includes environmental sus- tainability and resource development, risk manage- ment, and executive and support services. I want to talk a bit about the B.C. heartlands eco- nomic strategy. Our Premier recently outlined our gov- ernment's new economic strategy for the heartlands and how it will open up new opportunities for eco- nomic growth throughout our entire province. Turning now to my other portfolio, I can tell you that the Minis- try of Sustainable Resource Management can facilitate much of that economic development through our on- going land use planning.

Whether it's in Lillooet, the central coast, the Rocky Mountains, the north coast or Queen Charlotte–Haida Gwaii, we're striving to come up with land use plans that strike the right balance between economic, social and environmental concerns. The Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management will help to diversify the economic base of the heartlands, and look for innovative ways to add value to natural resources, by exploring new economic opportunities like wilderness-based tourism and others.

Reduced conflict, more clearly defined areas and overall certainty on the land base are all essential for economic development and supporting the goals of the B.C. heartlands economic strategy. The sustainability principles currently being developed will also play an important role in the B.C. heartlands economic strat- egy. They do that by improving public and investor confidence in resource development activities that are crucial to the well-being of our heartland communities.

They will help lead to greater and more secure access to international markets to sell resources developed in British Columbia's heartlands. [1530] Let's take a look at the ministry in a little more de- t a i l . S p e n d i n g f o r t h e f i s c a l y e a r j u s t e n d i n g w a s o n budget at $117 million. That would be held to $92 mil- lion next year. Some of that reduction reflects a transfer to Land and Water B.C. for the administration and li- censing of Crown water resources. That means water and Crown land allocations are now fully integrated into Land and Water B.C.

Land and Water B.C. funds the water management program directly from water revenues. Another part of our budget reduction came when we transferred the capital and operating budgets for park and ecological reserve acquisitions to the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. We're working hard to realize our ministry vision of a vibrant economy

4990 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2003 supporting the social and environmental values of Brit- ish Columbians. We do that by focusing on four broad points: sustainable economic development of land and resources; effective delivery of integrated, science- based land resource and geographic information; sound governance of land and resource management; and organizational excellence. There will be a number of strategies to support these goals.

Among them are developing a sustainable resource management framework for working forests, protected areas, mining, and oil and gas development through ap- plication of sustainability principles; establishing land- scape objectives to increase access to timber while main- taining biodiversity; and expediting resource-based tour- ism opportunities in rural British Columbia by coordi- nating activities in Land and Water B.C., the Ministry of Forests, the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protec- tion, and Tourism B.C.

Also, we want to support min- ing and oil and gas development in the Muskwa- Kechika and other land use plans. Land and Water B.C. also plays a key role in pro- viding the basis for economic development throughout British Columbia. It's managed to eliminate the backlog and delay in Crown land and water applications. The application process has been redesigned and simplified to achieve a 50 percent reduction in processing time. The Crown corporation is providing faster decisions and greater access to Crown land and water resources to protect and create jobs.

Ninety percent of new land applications are processed within 140 days or less. Since June of 2001 more than 1,700 non-power water licence applications have been processed, and 51 power licence applications have been processed. Land and W a t e r B . C . i s c r e a t i n g g r o w t h i n a s u s t a i n a b l e , b a l - anced manner. In that same time period, they have attracted $72 million in capital investment, and they're optimizing the financial return to the province, provid- ing a $45 million dividend to government in fiscal 2002. Working forest.

Under the direction of our Premier, our government is setting aside $275 million to assist in the transition to a revitalized and sustainable forest sector. Despite the challenges of that industry, and they've been formidable — the softwood lumber dis- pute, a forest practices code that strangled the industry with red tape and other misguided policies that saw close to 13,000 people lose their jobs between 1997 and 2002 — it's still our number one industry. Our govern- ment is taking bold steps to ensure that we have a lead- ing-edge forest industry once again.

We've already brought in the new Forest and Range Practices Act, or results-based code. It streamlines the old, bureaucratic Forest Practices Code. We continue to work with the federal and U.S. governments and B.C. industry to set- tle the softwood lumber dispute. This session, legislation will be introduced to create a working forest land base, something our government committed to in its New Era document.

The Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management has already un- veiled a discussion paper, and we're encouraging stakeholders and the public to respond by March 14 of this year so we can create the best public policy. The working forest is about providing greater certainty for the forest industry, communities and all other uses and values from the land — whether it's tourism, recrea- tion, mining, oil and gas initiatives, agriculture oppor- tunities or ranching.

We believe the land base can provide sustainable j o b s f o r p e o p l e w h o w a n t t o l i v e a n d w o r k i n t h e i r communities, and the working forest simply recognizes that fact. The working forest is one step in helping re- build forest-dependent communities, along with a new results-based code, resolution of the softwood lumber dispute and the first nations land claims. The goal of the working forest initiative is to enhance land-based certainty for the forest sector, to improve the invest- ment climate and to balance with the needs of other sectors and the environment.

This means jobs, a variety of different jobs in a variety of different industries. It means that we will have a working forest for working people. All of the existing land use planning that's go- ing on, efforts to secure treaties with first nations where the province is obligated to consult with first nations and all current parks, protected areas and pri- vate land are not impacted by the proposed working forest designation. [1535] In conclusion, let me sum up by recounting some of the highlights from the 2003 budget. Our government's fiscal plan is working. It's on track and ahead of sched- ule.

There is no doubt that we've had to make some tough decisions since June of 2001. While it hasn't al- ways been easy, we promised change, and British Co- lumbians are beginning to see the benefits of our strong fiscal discipline. We're now able to free up more re- sources, to encourage further growth and investment, and to continue putting patients, students and people in need first. We need to recognize that these strategic investments and priority programs are taking place within the context of the government's overall fiscal plan. Make no mistake.

We are keeping the province on track for a balanced budget in '04-05. We're doing our best to make the most of the scarce resources that are available. We plan and budget to spend those dollars where they will do the most good, to help people and to pave the way for the economic growth that pays for everything government delivers. Budget 2003 is a plan for prosperity that is prudent, responsible and focused on the future. It meets our objectives and the mandate people elected us to de- liver: revitalize the economy, restore sound fiscal man- agement, and put patients, students and people in need first.

After a decade of decline, British Columbia is truly on its way to a new era of hope and prosperity. Hon. G. Bruce: It's a pleasure indeed to stand today and speak about the budget and the work that's been done by the members of this House in bringing in a budget now that clearly shows that in respect to '04-05 and the financial affairs of the province, the budget itself will be balanced.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 4991 You know, that's not done without a great deal of effort by many, many people. I heard the member for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant talk in some respect to the members of caucus about the fact that they perhaps are not participating. I think it's very important that we understand clearly what is taking place in this House and how it is that these budgets today are built, where they weren't constructed this way in the past.

The Premier of the province made it very clear that there was to be a very active role by all members — not just the cabinet, but private members. There have been structural changes to that. We have private members who now sit on a variety of cabinet committees, which is something that's very unique in the British parlia- mentary process. Indeed, several private members sit on Treasury Board. It's Treasury Board, under the guidance of the Minister of Finance, that puts in a fair amount of hours reviewing a number of these issues as the budget is built.

It is a good measure, indeed, that there are private members who are part of that process. Of course, the government caucus committee is another vehicle which has been brought into play in the workings of our government by the Premier of this province so as to provide greater representation by private members into the policy direction. These five committees have been set up in such a manner that all ministers go to one of those five government caucus committees to present what it is they're intending to do. Their service plans are under review.

If there's leg- islation being brought forward, it's first vetted through those government caucus committees on the basis of policy, not the actual legislation itself. I don't think there's a private member in this House today that would tell you they've got copious hours to sit around and do nothing. In fact, every private mem- ber would find their workload is huge, and combined with that which needs looking after in the affairs of their own constituents, this makes for a very sizable workload. The important point to note is the leadership of the Premier of British Columbia. He said he would revamp things.

He's done that. He said we would bring free votes to the Legislature as well. We did that. [1540] In fact, a year ago I had to bring in a piece of legis- lation. It was with that piece of legislation, in January of last year, that the real test of how free the free votes were going to be in regard to this House was met. We had several private members that stood and spoke against different sections of that legislation. It was a very serious piece of legislation, Bill 29. Then, in fact, some of them voted against sections, and one member voted against the entire bill.

All of those members are still very active and in- volved in the affairs of caucus, in the government cau- cus committees that they sit in. Some, indeed, are part of cabinet committees of which they are private mem- bers. There's been a major transformation. I think the people of British Columbia ought to know that it's be- cause of the leadership of the Premier and the under- standing that once again we need to make this session, this Legislative Assembly, work in a manner that it was meant to. We here in British Columbia are leading the Commonwealth in that respect.

In regards to the other legislatures across Canada, they have nowhere near the type of involvement of private members as we do; nor do they have the free- dom to speak and debate in the same way that we do in this Legislative Assembly. People will say to me: "Yes, but that's easy, because there are 77 of you and only two of the other guys." Well, that may be the case, as it is today. Hopefully, in the future it may be 79 to zero.

Given the fact that the electorate have their own way of judging as to what the turnout is going to be in the House, the steps that we take now are very impor- tant in re-establishing what this Legislative Assembly was meant to be: a house of debate. By virtue of the steps that are being taken today and the debate that's been had, we're building in conventions that I think future governments, regardless of what the numbers may be in the House, will hold to. We'll see that the assembly itself becomes more effective and reflects, really, what it was meant to be.

A very good friend of mine who sat in this House for a number of years was one that espoused much of this. Cyril Shelford was his name. He was a member from up north. Cyril died several years ago — a gen- tleman that I have great admiration and respect for as one that truly believed in the parliamentary process and the aspect of how debate should take place; an individual who understood the rights and the necessity for a clear and unfettered debate in the House and in bringing issues to the House. He wrote several books. I have one here that he wrote.

It was his first one: From Snowshoes to Politics, by Cyril Shelford. It is, as he claims, a British Columbia adventure. When you read this book, it is in fact a Brit- ish Columbia adventure. For other private members or other members who haven't read his book, it's interest- ing to note what he and others during that era had to go through to represent the taxpayers of British Co- lumbia and their own constituents in this riding.

Liter- ally walking on snowshoes, as some of my friends from the north would know, to get out to the main road so he could get a car, so he could get to a big city, or big- ger city, so he could find a bus. As he recalls, his first trek from home to Victoria took six days — six days to get here so that he could take

part in the debate in rep- resenting his constituents. I'd just like to read the overflap of his book here, because it does sum up much about Cyril Shelford and those who have gone before us in this House and what I think we all strive to emulate and to represent, re- gardless of party. "He was renowned for his honesty and integrity, and he was known as the maverick of the north. Cyril Shelford served as MLA from 1952" — a good year, 1952; that was the year I was born, actually —"to 1972, and from 1975 to 1979. He was Minister of Agriculture from 1968 to '72, and also then from '78 to '79.

During his political career, he also ran his ranch. He was a big-game hunting guide. Whether he was shooting grizzly bears in the wilderness, fighting it out with big-name lawyers

4992 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2003 during the gas inquiry or, as Cyril could do, sharing a joke with Queen Elizabeth, Cyril Shelford saw life as an adventure, and he lived it to the fullest." [1545] E a c h o n e o f u s s h o u l d r e f l e c t b a c k , i f w e h a v e a moment, on individuals such as Cyril that have gone before us, the honour that it is to serve in this House and the reputation that we have to live up to when we think of individuals like Cyril Shelford.

I know that Cyril would be proud of the changes that have been made to this Legislative Assembly in the issue of how it runs and works, and how it was meant to run and work, and would be there cheering us on and encour- aging all of us — be it members of cabinet and, more specifically, private members — to rise and speak, as our private members are today, in support or against, or in debate or in support of the people of the province on those issues that affect each of them in their own constituencies and, in a larger way, the people of Brit- ish Columbia.

This budget, as I mentioned, is a compilation of many, many hours and the leadership of the Minister of Finance and the plan that was first put together last year. In fact, when we present budgets today here in Victoria, it's not as it was in the past. It's not just a one-year budget. It's a three-year revolving budget. The transpar- ency acts so all can see the factual listing of the numbers that have been put there and how they forecast out.

We can no longer have the manner in which gov- ernments in the past could put an expenditure in a budget and not forecast out how all the revenues were going to be there to look after those expenditures. We now have to very clearly show, if we're embarking upon a road program as was announced just recently, how those improvements — whether it's Kicking Horse Pass, the Sea to Sky Highway or one of the many other rural and northern road projects that have to be under- taken…. We then have to show how it is that we're going to pay for those particular projects. We're doing that.

That presents for the people of the province a much better view as to the budgeting process that takes place, those expenditures that are coming in line and those revenues which are going to offset those expendi- tures as we move forward over the next three years. In fact, the budget that we brought in this year was the one that's three years out. We brought down last year's budget with three years to it. This year we've added that additional year. What's so very, very impor- tant about this budget is that we said as a government it was very important to get our financial house in or- der.

Expenditures were out of hand. The former NDP administration had spent literally millions-cum-billions of dollars in such a reckless manner that it put this province into have-not status, as my colleague from the Comox Valley said earlier — not something that makes us proud. British Columbians are a proud people. They have not been in a have-not status ever before. We intend, as a government, to work our way through so that we will in fact again be not only a contributor to the national econ- omy but a leader in the national economy.

It is shameful, indeed, that after the work — if you want to call it that — of the former administration of the NDP government, we would find ourselves in a have-not status. This assembly of government members has worked hard and diligently to present a budget with three years rolling to it, so that we can see where we need to get to and how we can go about getting there. We've worked so that you can see that in the year '04-05, the budget in the province will be balanced. That is a great undertaking from where we were first faced with the huge impacts of the former administration.

The $500 million that was blown by the NDP gov- ernment on building fast ferries isn't just $500 million. That's half a billion dollars. It's not just that you can say: "Well, there's half a billion gone, and too bad." In fact, that half a billion dollars has gone out of the gov- ernment source of revenues, providing nothing to the people of the province. It was an experiment, a very ill- founded experiment in building these ferries, but the problem is that we still need those ferries.

We still need ferries to run between the mainland and Vancouver Island — t h a t g r e a t a r e a o f l a n d o n Vancouver Island, my home, Cowichan-Ladysmith. We need good ferry service, but that's gone. So we have to go, and we have to get the Ferry Corporation recon- structed. Moneys have to be found. In addition to that half a billion dollars that was blown by the former ad- ministration, those moneys have to be found. [1550] I heard the member for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant going on about different adjustments that were being made to the budget in British Columbia.

Many of those adjustments have to be made because of the fact that half a billion dollars was blown, because it impacts all the way down through the budget. It was money just completely lost. So then you have to go find other ways of regaining the revenues to be able to do, first of all, what they were attempting to do, but then you have to find additional revenues, as well, to look after many of the social services that we enjoy in B.C.

I think it's also extremely important to understand that our social benefits in the province, as proud as we can be that they are literally the highest of any jurisdic- tion in Canada…. The problem is that we have the worst-performing economy of any other jurisdiction in Canada. Anybody who tries to balance their own budget understands that you have to be able to balance off your expenditure, or that which you would like to have, with the revenues that are coming in on the other end. Unfortunately, the former administration didn't understand that.

We have the task and the challenge of attempting to get the expenditure side of the budget under control in such a fashion that we can still provide good services to the people of British Columbia, but also understand- ing on the other side that we need revenues to support that. You hear this thing about tax cuts and that, within minutes of tax cuts, the economy would take off and rocket through the stratosphere. After ten years of being hammered…. Look at what was hammered in that ten years; look at the forestry

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 4993 sector. The forestry sector is the engine of the economy of the province, if not a huge generator to the economy of Canada — absolutely thrashed by the former ad- ministration. That's your revenue side. That's what makes the province go. It was blown. The IWA used to have 10,000 more members — 10,000 more IWA mem- bers — good, solid, union, well-paid jobs in B.C. They were the most powerful and the strongest in the hey- day of the Social Credit administration.

They were the weakest and have been broken by the former actions of the NDP administration, the very party some of them thought actually represented the little guy and, in fact, we found out has got nothing to do with the little guy at all. They just thrashed the little guy. Let me tell you.

The changes we're attempting to bring through the forestry sector, and the work that Mike de Jong as Minister of Forests is undertaking, is in an effort to again inject life into the forestry sector — to inject life into that forestry industry so that all through the hinterlands, all through small-town British Colum- bia, we can again have a strong and vibrant forestry sector that provides jobs. In fact, I believe that you'll see the IWA become a strong union again in the prov- ince because of good investment policies, because of good environmental policies, because of good forest policy here in British Columbia.

Then, you turn around and look at the other sector they thrashed — the former NDP administration. Take the mining industry, a huge contributor to the econ- omy of the province — virtu

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	H0224pm-13
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	H0224pm 13
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	573bfc9f96fea3868bea4b732a79507d92bb494b

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