2003 Legislative Session: 4th Session, 37th Parliament

HANSARD

The following electronic version is for informational purposes

only.

The printed version remains the official version.

Official Report of

DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

(Hansard)

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2003

Afternoon Sitting

Volume 11, Number 6

CONTENTS

Routine

Proceedings

Page

Introductions by Members

Introduction and First Reading of

Bills

Museum Act (Bill 2)

Hon. G. Abbott

Statements (Standing Order 25 b )

Eid-ul-Adha festival

J. Nuraney

Economic opportunities in North Coast area

B. Belsey

Olympic spirit team

K. Manhas

Oral Questions

Approval of Tulsequah Chief mine project

J. MacPhail

Hon. S. Hagen

Collection of unpaid sales taxes

J. Kwan

Hon. B. Barisoff

Incident at Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre

S. Brice

Hon. R. Coleman

Addiction services and safe injection sites in Victoria

S. Orr

Hon. G. Cheema

Liberal MLA response to e-mail on education funding

J. Kwan

Hon. C. Clark

Secondary school apprenticeship program

B. Penner

Hon. S. Bond

Hon. C. Clark

Role of immigration in B.C. economy

J. Nuraney

Hon. G. Abbott

Petitions

J. Bray

Tabling Documents

Chief electoral officer's annual report, 2002

Throne Speech Debate (continued)

S. Orr

P. Sahota

R. Harris

J. Wilson

K. Manhas

Hon. G. Abbott

R. Stewart

V. Anderson

D. Hayer

B. Penner

[ Page 4809 ]

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2003

The House

met at 2:03 p.m.

Introductions by Members

Nuraney: It gives me great pleasure today to recognize some of the members

of the Ismaili council who are present with us today. We have our president of

the council, Mr. Malik Talib, the good doctor Haneef Alibhai, Farah Jinnah,

Farid Damji, Iqbal Ahamed and Talib Nur Mohammed. May the House please make them

all welcome.

J. Bray:

I have the pleasure of introducing two guests to the House today, Terry Colburn

and Burl Fischer. Terry has, for those of us in the local community, become a

very well-spoken advocate for persons living with mental illness. Terry has

appeared in a lot of columns recently in the local paper and is really doing an

outstanding job. I'd like to have the House make him and Burl feel very welcome.

Locke: It's my privilege to welcome Nina Rivet and Tina Thorpe to the House

today. Nina is the sister of Irene Thorpe, and Tina is the daughter. Would the

House please make them welcome.

Hon. G.

Halsey-Brandt: It's my pleasure to introduce and to recognize Mr. and Mrs.

Mahmood Awan, who are in the precinct today. They're here for the celebration of

Eid. Mr. Awan has been very active in the city of Richmond and the community

safety committee and the intercultural committee and has numerous other

responsibilities of bringing our different cultures together. May the House

please make them welcome.

[1405]

Hon. G.

Abbott: We have in the gallery today some representatives from one of the

really great institutions in British Columbia, certainly one of the great jewels

in the provincial crown, the Royal B.C. Museum. The reason why, of course, we

have a museum that is world-renowned and which every British Columbian is very

proud of is the great leadership that we enjoy at the Royal B.C. Museum. Among

the folks in the gallery today are Pauline Rafferty, the chief executive officer

of RBCM; Grant Hughes, who is the director of curatorial services; Brent Cooke,

who is the director of public programs; Gary Mitchell, who is the provincial

archivist; David Mulroney, who is the president of the Friends of the Royal B.C.

Museum; and Bill Barkley, who is a former CEO of the museum.

It's

appropriate they're all here today, because we are going to shortly be

introducing some changes which members of the museum have been looking for, for

some ten years. Would the House please make them welcome.

D. Hayer:

I am pleased to introduce my wife, Isabelle Martinez Hayer. This is her first

time visiting the House, though she has come to the parliament buildings many

times. She is my right hand, and she is the one who has always supported me.

Would the House please make her welcome.

Mr.

Speaker: Hon. members, I have a special guest that I'd like to introduce

today. It is my pleasure to advise you that we have a visiting Clerk from

another jurisdiction on attachment to our House this week, Mr. John Quirke,

Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut. This visit is one of a continuing

series of attachments whereby our Legislative Assembly hosts Clerks from other

jurisdictions. Please join me in welcoming John Quirke to British Columbia and

to our House.

Introduction and

First Reading of Bills

MUSEUM ACT

Hon. G.

Abbott presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill

intituled Museum Act.

Hon. G.

Abbott: I move that Bill 2 be read a first time now.

Motion

approved.

Hon. G.

Abbott: I am pleased to present the Museum Act. This legislation provides

the mechanism to the Royal B.C. Museum to successfully respond to the challenges

of managing a cultural treasure that is also a significant public attraction.

It's a high priority for the museum. In fact, they have been actively seeking

this transformation for ten years.

This change in

governance will allow the museum to maintain its international, national and

certainly provincial reputation for excellence. It will create new partnerships

in communities, increase opportunities for public participation, ensure that

British Columbians remain invested in the safekeeping and significance of the

museum's ten million specimens and historic treasures, and achieve its vision of

improved self-sufficiency through diversified fundraising and endowment funds.

By introducing this legislation we're ensuring the museum remains a cultural

institution of which we can all be proud, now and for generations to come.

I move that

the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next

sitting of the House after today.

Bill 2

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) EID-UL-ADHA FESTIVAL

Nuraney: Over 1.4 billion Muslims around the world, including seven million

in North America and

[ Page 4810 ]

over 100,000 in British Columbia, celebrate the end of the annual hajj —

the pilgrimage to Mecca — with a festival of Eid-ul-Adha, the second of the

two major Muslim festivals. Muslims throughout the world celebrate this festival

of sacrifice.

[1410]

As revealed

in the Koran, the holy book of Islam, the festival commemorates the prophet

Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son as a demonstration of piety and love

for the almighty God. However, just before the sacrifice he received a

revelation stating he had already fulfilled the mission and instead of his son,

a goat was sacrificed. Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated not only as an anniversary of

symbolic sacrifice but also as a juncture that links Islamic history with that

of other monotheistic faiths — namely, Judaism and Christianity — through

the figure of the prophet Abraham.

The Muslim

communities of British Columbia will be celebrating this occasion this evening

at the Legislature in the lower rotunda, and I invite all the members of the

Legislature to please participate.

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES

IN NORTH COAST AREA

Belsey: The first time I had the honour of rising in this House, I said that

the people of North Coast want to be valued contributors to the recovery of our

province's economy. The way to do this is through job creation, by stimulating

coastal economies, through recognizing challenges and understanding that not all

solutions come from Victoria and go north.

The good news

is that economic opportunity is opening up in my communities. The daily ferry to

Prince Rupert is a major commitment, and one that will provide tourism and the

industry with certainty and the chance to show off the entire region. This

spring we began to welcome cruise ship traffic to Prince Rupert. This winter we

started heliskiing in the Bella Coola Valley. We have containerization for the

Port of Prince Rupert. This has been identified as an important component of

renewal, and it's not only for the Pacific Northwest, but it will be good for

the entire north of this province.

This

government has put in place many regulations to govern aquaculture and to ensure

that jobs and the environment can co-exist. First nations communities such as

Kitkatla and Kitasoo are supportive of the direction this government has taken

and appreciate the economic benefits that will come from aquaculture.

Offshore oil

and gas has shown potential to produce revenue that can support education and

health care services. It is an opportunity to provide good-paying jobs that will

keep families in the northwest. The return of Skeena Cellulose to the private

sector, where it belongs and where they can work together — labour and the

company — to produce a strong, viable industry….

This

government is not about saying no to the heartlands of B.C. It's not about

saying no to mining, aquaculture or forestry. This government is about working

with people to give them opportunities to succeed, and I am proud of being part

of this government.

OLYMPIC SPIRIT TEAM

Manhas: This week B.C.'s first 2010 Olympic spirit team is being launched in

the Tri-Cities area. The team is building on a broad base of community leaders

and innovators representing all sectors of the region. The Tri-Cities Chamber of

Commerce and the ARC Arts Council are bringing together local businesses, arts

and culture groups, athletes, sports organizations, service groups,

multicultural groups, youth, seniors, Paralympians and local governments to show

their support to focus on how our region can support the 2010 Winter Olympic bid

and, of course, benefit from the Olympics when they are awarded to British

Columbia. Their mandate is to embrace the Olympic ideals of sport, culture and

sustainability, and to foster it in the tri-cities of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam

and Port Moody as well as Anmore and Belcarra.

My riding of

Port Coquitlam is the hometown of one of Canada's most inspirational heroes,

Terry Fox. Terry Fox was a young man with a dream. His dream inspired a nation

and created a legacy of hope around the world. That sense of legacy inspired me

and continues to inspire the people in my community. It is that same kind of

legacy of hope and spirit that Terry left with us, which this Olympic spirit

team believes is a real potential of the 2010 Winter Olympics — a legacy this

team intends to be a part of creating for themselves and those who follow.

[1415]

The

Olympics is not just about Vancouver. The team believes that every person in our

province has an opportunity if we win the bid to host the Winter Olympics in

2010. We have the opportunity of a lifetime to seize the world stage and create

a lasting legacy — a launching pad for Vancouver to become one of the world's

great cities and for B.C. to be one of the most recognized and talked-about

places in the world. To see what we have to offer is to fall in love with it and

to want to be here to experience it.

The team will

launch its activities on Thursday at the very appropriate location of the

Coquitlam innovation centre, a joint project of various levels of government

that is also making dreams come to life. On Thursday people will see the face of

the Tri-Cities communities. That face is diverse, and that face is united. It is

firmly grounded in community and looks forward to a huge opportunity to show our

colours — colours that radiate like Olympic gold.

Oral Questions

APPROVAL OF

TULSEQUAH CHIEF MINE PROJECT

MacPhail: When the Minister of Sustainable Resource Management takes a

decision to grant approval

[ Page 4811 ]

to a mine project in B.C., can he tell this House who knows about that

decision prior to his announcement?

Hon. S.

Hagen: No one until the press release goes out.

MacPhail: Maybe I should be a little more specific. Can the minister tell us

who knows about a decision to approve a mine before it's made public? Who in

industry would know? Which political staff in his office would know? Who at

public affairs bureau would know? Which staff in the Premier's office would

know? How many would know about a decision to approve a project before the

approval is made public?

Hon. S.

Hagen: I'll take that on notice.

Mr.

Speaker: The Leader of the Opposition has a supplementary question.

MacPhail: On December 13, 2002, the Minister of Sustainable Resource

Management granted approval to Redfern Resources to proceed with the Tulsequah

Chief mine project. In the four days preceding that announcement, Redfern stock

soared on very heavy trading. A few months earlier, the day before the B.C.

environmental assessment office forwarded documents to the Minister of

Sustainable Resource Management for a decision on the mine, Redfern stock more

than doubled with the volume of 1.3 million shares traded. This is a stock that

often didn't trade at all but would suddenly spike just prior to a government

decision. Today shareholders in Redfern have filed a complaint with the Canadian

securities commission. They are asking for an investigation into insider

trading.

Again to the

minister: now that he knows the specifics, can he tell this House who he

informed of the decision to approve Redfern's proposal to develop the Tulsequah

Chief mine before he made the decision public?

Hon. S.

Hagen: I'll take that on notice.

COLLECTION OF UNPAID SALES TAXES

J. Kwan:

Last week the Minister of Provincial Revenue said the Premier gave him specific

instructions to take aggressive measures to collect unpaid taxes. The minister

has a number of tools at his disposal to do that. Can he tell this House the

difference between a lien and a writ of seizure of sale?

Hon. B.

Barisoff: I think I'll take that question on notice.

J. Kwan:

I'll save the minister the trouble. A writ of seizure is much more serious than

a lien. A lien allows the debtor to pay off his or her debt voluntarily once an

asset is sold. A writ of seizure orders a sheriff to seize assets against the

debtor's will.

[1420]

Last week

the minister said he could not say if the debt owed to the province by the

Minister of Forests' former law partner, Philip Derksen, had been paid after it

was cancelled on the Minister of Forests's behalf.

Public

documents, which I have here, show that the debt remains unpaid, and a lien has

been put on Mr. Derksen's assets. Can the minister tell the House why the

government didn't refile the writ of seizure with the Supreme Court against Mr.

Derksen, the former partner of the Minister of Forests, once they had corrected

the name?

Hon. B.

Barisoff: I think last week I answered this question of the member opposite

that I can't comment on individual cases.

Interjection.

Mr.

Speaker: Order, please.

Hon. B.

Barisoff: I think the member opposite knows full well that I cannot comment

on individual cases. I gave you assurance that we treat all taxpayers fairly and

equitably when it comes to collecting moneys for government.

INCIDENT AT VANCOUVER ISLAND

REGIONAL CORRECTIONAL CENTRE

Brice: My question is for the Solicitor General. In late January there was a

disturbance at the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre on Wilkinson

Road in my riding. Media sources reported that the damage to the jail was

estimated at $40,000. What can the Solicitor General tell my constituents about

this event?

Hon. R.

Coleman: It was on the night of January 21 that we had an incident in one of

the remand units at Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre. It started at

about 10 p.m. It was over within a couple of hours. Some inmates refused to be

locked down. They did some damage in the living unit, and the matter was settled

peacefully.

Brice: I thank you for that background. I understand there was considerable

damage. Was there at any point in the incident any danger to the neighbourhood

surrounding the institution?

Hon. R.

Coleman: No, there was not. Our staff handled this in a very professional

manner in cooperation with the Saanich police department. The incident is still

under investigation by the police with regard to any possible charges, so I

won't comment on the details of that. There is also a review taking place

internally to the branch, but at no time was the community at risk.

ADDICTION SERVICES AND

SAFE INJECTION SITES IN VICTORIA

S. Orr:

My question is to the Minister of State for Mental Health. Like many other

communities in B.C.,

[ Page 4812 ]

Victoria faces a growing number of people who require addiction services.

However, with limited resources available to support patients that are leaving

detox facilities, especially in my riding of Victoria-Hillside, these patients

often find themselves back on the street with little or no follow-up. Can the

minister explain what actions are being taken to improve addiction services?

Hon. G.

Cheema: As of last April, and for the first time, addiction services have

been placed within the health care system. The health authorities are now

managing addiction services to improve delivery. We found there were not enough

resources in Victoria to support patients leaving detoxification centres. To

solve this, the Vancouver Island health authority is strengthening its

supportive housing resources.

We have just

opened two new supportive recovery group homes: one for male patients and one

for female patients. We are also starting an intensive day treatment program for

men, the first in Victoria. With $6.5 million of new funding for mental health

on Vancouver Island, we are also going to see more outreach workers and more

supportive living beds in Victoria.

Mr.

Speaker: The member for Victoria-Hillside has a supplementary question.

S. Orr:

Thank you for that. I'm glad to hear what I just heard. My supplemental is that

intravenous drug use and, more importantly, public disposal of needles are on

the rise in Victoria. Many of the people I represent believe that the use of

these supervised injection sites would help to resolve these problems. To the

minister: can he tell my constituents how they can bring a supervised injection

site to Victoria?

[1425]

Hon. G.

Cheema: A working group on supervised sites is presently meeting. This group

includes representatives from city and police departments of Vancouver and

Victoria, health authorities, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control and the

Ministry of Health Services. Proposals for the site will be sent to Health

Canada to consider the applications. Ultimately, it's up to the individual

municipality and the health authorities…

Interjections.

Mr.

Speaker: Order, please.

Hon. G.

Cheema: …to determine if the supervised injection sites would be

appropriate in their area.

LIBERAL MLA RESPONSE TO

E-MAIL ON EDUCATION FUNDING

J. Kwan:

The opposition caucus has obtained a copy of an e-mail correspondence between a

constituent and the MLA for Esquimalt-Metchosin. The constituent writes to the

member asking serious questions about the effects of cuts on the Sooke school

district — its ability to deliver education for special needs children.

If I could,

I'd like to read from the member's response, and I quote part of it: "Yes,

I'm aware of the seriousness of the drinking and driving. The Premier's actions

were wrong, and I don't agree with what he did. The Premier has recognized that

he made a terrible mistake and has apologized." The letter goes on, but I

think you get the flavour.

To the

Minister of Education: is this the response she recommends for all backbench

MLAs when they're called to account for her government's failure to deliver

quality education?

Interjections.

Mr.

Speaker: Order, please. Order, please.

Hon. C.

Clark: Here is the response that I recommend for anyone who inquires about

what's going on with education funding. First, we have maintained education

funding, even though there is declining enrolment around British Columbia.

Second, last year we granted $42 million in new money to school districts.

Third, this year we've granted $50 million in new money for school districts.

Lastly, the Premier made a public commitment in his address on television to

British Columbians last week that we will be committing a further $100 million

to our education system to benefit every child in British Columbia.

Interjections.

Mr.

Speaker: Order, please. Order, please. Order.

SECONDARY SCHOOL

APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

Penner: That's a tough act to follow. My question is to the Minister of

Advanced Education. The secondary school apprenticeship program…

Interjections.

Mr.

Speaker: Order, please.

Penner: …provides 140 Chilliwack students a chance to start an

apprenticeship while still attending school. It's truly a great example for the

rest of the province, and it's one that I and many members of our community are

very proud of. However, I've heard concerns that under the new industry training

model, this very successful program may not continue after March 31. I wonder if

the Minister of Advanced Education can tell us what the future is for this and

other similar programs.

Hon. S.

Bond: As we begin to look at a new training model in the province of British

Columbia, we

[ Page 4813 ]

want very much to encourage more participation earlier in the school system.

We think the secondary school apprenticeship program is actually a template and

a model. It demonstrates flexibility. It encourages the youth of the province to

consider a skill or a trade. We expect it to continue, and in fact, we'd like to

enhance it as we continue to develop our new model in this province.

Mr.

Speaker: The member for Chilliwack-Kent has a supplementary question.

Penner: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I do, and my supplementary question is for the

Minister of Education. As members may well know, B.C. is facing a looming skills

shortage. In fact, by 2010 it's projected that the number of people retiring

from the workforce will exceed the number of young people entering the

workforce. To the Minister of Education: could she tell the people of Chilliwack

and, indeed, British Columbia what she is doing to promote trades training in

schools?

[1430]

Hon. C.

Clark: It's true we are facing a looming skills crunch in British Columbia.

We need to make sure that we value the trades and that kids in our high schools

look to the trades as an equally rewarding profession. We need to make sure that

our grad requirements reflect the value that we put on it. That's why we're

reviewing the grad requirements that are currently in place. We'll be making

some announcements about that this spring, and I'm sure it will include some

ways that our high school system can place equal value on the trades with other

professions.

ROLE OF IMMIGRATION IN B.C. ECONOMY

Nuraney: My question is to the Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's

Services. We are very fortunate to have the ethnic diversity that we are

experiencing in our province, and increasingly it is becoming our strength. Yet

to vitalize and revitalize our economy, we must aim to maximize the benefits of

the skills and the abilities that recent immigrants bring with them to our

province. Will the Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services tell

us what government is doing to ensure that recent immigrants can make the

largest possible contribution in revitalizing our economy?

Hon. G.

Abbott: The member is certainly correct that we do have some challenges

demographically in British Columbia, as we do in the rest of Canada. We are

becoming an older society. I know I'm growing older unnaturally quickly these

days, and I'm sure other members are as well. But we are becoming an older

society. We are experiencing some skills gaps as we see people retire from the

workforce, and it is entirely clear that immigration is going to be playing an

increasingly important role in economic development in British Columbia in the

twenty-first century.

The province

is attempting to address the situation, in part, through an instrument called

the provincial nominee program. This actually started back in 1999, but

notwithstanding the fact that the NDP had a freestanding Ministry of

Multiculturalism and Immigration, they weren't able to get it off the ground.

I'm happy to say that we have got it off the ground. We are now more than 200

people….

Interjections.

Hon. G.

Abbott: More than 200 new British Columbians have gone through the PNP now.

They've provided us with doctors, with nurses, with important skills across the

province. It's been a tremendous success. All we needed was a new government.

[End

of question period.]

Petitions

J. Bray:

I rise to present a petition signed by 1,015 residents of Victoria. These

petitioners oppose the reassessment and reapplication process for disability

benefits level 2.

Tabling Documents

Mr.

Speaker: Hon. members, I have the honour to present the 2002 annual report

of the chief electoral officer to the Legislative Assembly.

Orders of the Day

Hon. G.

Collins: I call continued debate on Address in Reply to the Speech from the

Throne.

Throne Speech Debate

(continued)

Mr.

Speaker: The Address in Reply continues with the member for

Victoria-Hillside.

S. Orr:

It is again a great pleasure and honour to rise here today representing the

people of Victoria-Hillside and respond to the Speech from the Throne delivered

by British Columbia's first-ever female Lieutenant-Governor, the Hon. Iona

Campagnolo.

Mr.

Speaker: Perhaps, hon. member, we could wait for a moment until members make

their way elsewhere.

Please

proceed.

[1435]

S. Orr:

Last year in my response to the throne speech, I spoke about it being a

historical document, because it was setting out a new course that would change

direction for this province. Well, let's look at

[ Page 4814 ]

that. It's now a year later, and that change in direction is actually

happening — 81,000 new jobs. B.C.'s average weekly wage is now the highest in

Canada, three times higher than the national average. We have record housing

sales, up 27 percent from 2001. Housing starts exceed all forecasts, up 25

percent. Retail sales are up. Wholesale sales are up. Mineral exploration is up.

Our ministries are all coming in below or on budget, and the list goes on.

This wonderful

province of ours is starting to break free from a decade of groaning under

mismanagement. For a time there I felt sometimes like that little train in that

wonderful children's book called The Little Engine That Could , saying:

"I think I can. I think I can. I think I can." Now I know we can,

because I listened to this throne speech. I heard what is so important to me.

This throne

speech had real meat attached to its bones. We again have a good, solid plan. We

have a commitment. We are moving forward. I have listened to my colleagues from

across this province respond so enthusiastically to this throne speech because

of a wealth of new opportunities for their communities like the new B.C.

heartlands economic strategy, revitalizing the forest industry and the mining

industry and opening up B.C. 's transportation infrastructure.

I'm going to

interject here and tell the House about my personal experience when I was

travelling with the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services

on the prebudget consultation tour, listening to the people in those areas about

their issues. Transportation was huge, and I witnessed firsthand how desperate

they are for new roads. On our way into Fort St. John for a hearing, our bus had

to physically move as far over as it could on the road to let this enormous rig

pass with its resources needing to get to market. It could barely get by us.

That poor driver who was hauling our resources has to put up with those

conditions daily. He or she should have safer and better roads to work on. Let's

remember that a good chunk of the wealth of this province comes from those

areas, and they need to be serviced.

The throne

speech talked about new partnerships with our first nations, and we finally

talked about a true understanding and recognition of the injustices of the past.

I was very pleased, and I am sure our aboriginal people were too, to hear those

words. They have been a long time coming.

Now, some of

my constituents may ask how all of this relates to an urban riding like mine. As

I said before, a good chunk of the wealth comes from the heartlands, and

certainly, as they grow and the resources of the province grow, all that money

flows to every corner of British Columbia. The richer the heartlands are and the

richer the heartlands become, the richer we become. My riding is not a

resource-dependent community. In fact, we have a good, strong economy. We have

low unemployment, a very, very strong real estate market and lots of

construction. But we are still in need of the revenues that are generated by

those communities.

Victoria-Hillside

is a very diverse and interesting place to live, and whenever I get a chance

like this I like to extol the virtues of living in the best place in B.C. We

have many parks, and finally, thanks to the municipality of Saanich and their

hard-working mayor and council, we've seen the final phase of Rutledge Park

completed. We have great trails, many cherished Garry oak groves, golf courses

and rec centres. We have history and culture. We have a very active

Indo-Canadian community. I, in fact, have three temples in my constituency. We

have a Jewish community. The Jewish Community Centre of Victoria is in my

constituency, and the synagogue is only 20 feet outside my boundaries. It is, in

fact, one of the oldest synagogues in Canada, and they are just completing a

wonderful new extension, which should be ready very soon. We had the pleasure of

our new rabbi, Harry Brechner, who gave the blessing on opening day.

[1440]

I am also

happy to welcome into my riding the Victoria Christian Centre Association, which

just had its grand opening on January 25 with Pastors Wayne and Penny Smith.

They not only serve their congregation; they are also involved in extreme

outreach to the rest of the community.

I have a large

Chinese community. Victoria's Chinatown, with its rich history, is in my

constituency. We have many Latin, Vietnamese and Iranian people. We have great

restaurants, great shopping — just a wonderful mix of cultures. When I

listened to the throne speech and indeed the speech the Premier made on

Wednesday night, it was with all these people in mind. I listened very intently,

because I had to be assured that it covered some of their issues, issues that I

deal with daily in my community office.

I was very

pleased at some of the things I heard, like education. I have a declining

enrolment. It is interesting to note that since 1998, our student population has

plummeted, but we have increased per-student funding by $662. Today we spend

$6,455 per student in the province, and next year we are projecting spending

$6,506. Last year we put $42 million into education. This year we have put

another one-time funding of $50 million and, over the next three years, another

$100 million. My school district and my school board know what they need to

manage their schools, and we have given them those tools and that autonomy to do

this.

Social issues

are being addressed. The social equity package, which includes inner-city

schools, school-based counsellors, lunch programs…. These will be funded until

the end of this school year and beyond. That is a very important piece and an

issue that I have worked on over the past year. I was pleased to hear that.

Income

assistance has dropped by 55,000 people, and 92 percent of people surveyed told

us that they had found work or are furthering their education or that their

financial situation has changed. We are providing $300 million in job training,

and because the caseloads are down, we have been able to focus the resources on

those people who need it the most. People with disabilities who are on income

assistance, people who are genuinely in need, will now have an earning

[ Page 4815 ]

exemption of $400 a month. This has doubled over the past two years and is

very crucial to those people.

The new Fair

Pharmacare plan is to be introduced. Some 280,000 low-income families will now

pay less for their drug costs. Many of these families live in my riding, and

this will be a great help to them.

In my riding

we have a drug problem. Every so often I go out with Chief Battershill for a

ride overnight just to see things for myself, and it is a problem. I am

fortunate to have a forward-thinking mayor and forward-thinking councillors.

Mayor Alan Lowe is addressing this issue before it gets really out of hand, like

it has in Vancouver east side. Along with the police chief Paul Battershill, the

medical health officer Richard Stanwick and other stakeholders, they came up

with a downtown drug strategy which was introduced a couple of weeks ago to look

at an integrated approach to deal with these downtown issues. They have already

put more police onto the streets, and we are hearing from people that it is

working.

[1445]

It's very

important to understand that 50 to 70 percent of people with mental illness have

a substance use disorder. I have found there has been very little support for

people leaving detox, and quite often these people are back on the street again

and again. What the city is doing links very well with our approach. Funding has

now been transferred in its entirety to the health authorities, and for the

first time addiction services have been placed within the health care services.

Two new recovery group homes have been opened: one for men and one for women.

For women, we are now starting an intensive day-treatment program. You know, I

want to go back on that because these facts are wrong. I know this stuff really

well; so I'm just going to revisit this.

We've opened

two recovery group homes. One has been opened for men, and one has been opened

for women, and we are starting an intensive day-treatment program exclusively

for men. This has never happened before in Victoria. We have a program for

women, and we have a program for men and women, but we've never had a program

for men. That is very important. We are also going to see up to half a dozen

more outreach workers and more supportive living beds.

Also, we

talked about day care — again, very important to me. Many of my constituents

are single working parents. These parents are proud and hard-working, and it is

very hard for many of these people to get ahead financially. When you are a

single parent putting in a full day's work, and then you have to go home and

tend to the children and the housework and the cooking, it's hard. So I am

especially pleased that we have raised the child care subsidy income threshold.

Would I have liked to see it raised back to where it was? Absolutely. But I

believe my constituents can live with this for now as we, as government, start

to get our finances in order. We are working very hard to do that right now, and

we are starting to see the benefits. We are now starting to live within our

means, and as the huge interest payments start to come down and money gets freed

up, I will keep working with our government to get the day care subsidy back to

its original level.

We have

increased child care spaces very substantially. This is so important because

parents now have a choice. In the past we only funded larger day care centres.

Now we also fund licensed home day care. This choice is very important because

some parents prefer a home environment for their child, and some prefer larger

centres because of their facilities. But best of all, the parent can now decide

what suits their child.

Small business

— and I have a lion's share in Victoria-Hillside — by all accounts…. The

people that I talk to tell me business is good. These people are the ones that

see me on the street and call me at my constituency office and at home and say:

"Stick with the program. It's working." We have been working very hard

to get government out of their way so they can get on with doing their business.

If we do get in their way — and sometimes we do — they now feel very

comfortable with us as a government to call and let us know, and we get on it

right away. These people are truly the backbone of our economy. They're the ones

that take the financial risk and the responsibilities.

Mr. Speaker, I

have only skimmed the surface of things that I would like to talk about in my

riding. Many things have been achieved, and I have just highlighted some things.

It is always my greatest pleasure to talk about my riding, and I thank you for

allowing me to do this.

Sahota: It is a pleasure to rise on behalf of my constituents of

Burnaby-Edmonds and reply to the throne speech delivered last week.

The throne

speech sets the tone for the future to come. It sets the vision of a government.

The message delivered was clear — new approaches, new solutions, new

partnerships, new ways of doing things. That was the message delivered in the

throne speech.

I am fortunate

to live in Burnaby, where the people are always looking to do things differently

and creatively because we are a diverse and vibrant community — diverse and

vibrant in business, diverse and vibrant in culture. We have a vibrant board of

trade. In 1999 the board of trade had 200 members. Now there are over 700. We

have international businesses coexisting with small businesses.

[1450]

Our

technology industry is second to none in B.C. Who hasn't heard of Ballard?

Ballard Power is developing environmentally friendly fuel cells that will change

the way we think about powering vehicles and appliances. Electronic Arts, Creo,

Xantrex, MDS Metro and Delta-Q Technologies all call Burnaby their home. These

technology businesses are vital to the strength of B.C.'s communities, and

Burnaby is no different. The Premier understands this, and that's why he

appointed the Premier's Technology Council, which is co-chaired by Paul Lee of

Burnaby based at Electronic Arts Canada. In total the council has three Burnaby

members, which I believe is a testament to the importance of

[ Page 4816 ]

Burnaby's technology industry to the province as a whole.

We have a

thriving film industry in British Columbia, and my constituency is home to two

studios that I've had the opportunity to tour: River and MJA studios. I am

advised by the owner of River Studios that Scooby-Doo,

part 2, will be filmed

by his studio in Burnaby. That's great news for my riding.

Our government

believes in the potential of both the high-tech and the film industries. Last

year our government kept its commitment to dramatically cut personal income

taxes — a decision that's helping B.C. companies attract and retain more

knowledge-based, skilled workers. Not only is the government committed to making

sure we have a tax regime that helps keep our best and brightest here, but we're

also making sure that our post-secondary education system delivers the best and

the brightest.

We in

government are very excited about our commitment to double the number of

graduates over the next five years. We have already announced that we will be

creating 825 new spaces in computer technology, electrical engineering and

computer science. Government is creating opportunities for young people, and in

turn we're making sure that companies have the access to the skilled workers.

This will have a tremendous impact on BCIT, which also calls Burnaby its home.

We have a

vibrant Chinese community in Burnaby. As my colleague from Burnaby North noted

last week, it's Chinese New Year, the year of the ram. Thousands of people from

the Chinese and non-Chinese community attended several events, celebrations for

the Chinese New Year.

It is indeed a

diverse city. All I have to do is walk a few blocks from my office, and the

variety of restaurants that are within a ten-to-15-minute walk is amazing.

Simba's Grill, Lhy Thai, Baba Sweets, Oliver Twist and Balkan House are just a

few that are a few minutes away from my office. Burnaby is a dynamic city. It

has an exciting spirit and an energy that has managed to sustain a feeling of

community. It is diverse, from the people to the businesses that call Burnaby

home.

We're

perfectly situated to take advantage of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic bid. The

Olympics would bring unprecedented attention to the province and what it has to

offer, particularly in terms of tourism. For our community, there are some

benefits that will happen directly during the Olympic Games. For example,

Olympic experience shows that hotel and motel accommodation within a two-hour

radius of Olympic venues can be expected to be fully booked. Our very own Simon

Fraser University will certainly be a very important part of the bid as it

offers a venue and site for some of the many 2010 Winter Olympic competitions.

We can also expect our local ice surfaces will be used for training facilities

for visiting hockey and speed skating teams from other countries as they get

ready to compete in the Olympic venues. We can make Burnaby their home during

the 2010 games.

More important

than the immediate spinoffs from hosting the games are the long-term benefits

that come with the games when they are over and the Olympic flame is long

extinguished. Olympic opportunities are about profile, trade and investment, and

showcasing our community and country to the world. How do we build on the

profile that comes with hosting the Olympic Games? How do we maximize the

exposure that comes with a TV audience you measure in the billions? It is

estimated that the 2010 games will generate up to $10 billion in economic

activity, create 228,000 jobs and result in more than $2 billion in government

tax revenue.

More than two

billion people tuned into the opening ceremonies of the 2002 games in Salt Lake

City. No marketing budget can buy that much publicity for British Columbia.

During Calgary's Olympic year, tourism in Alberta grew by 12 percent, and those

gains were retained with an average annual growth of 3.25 percent for the next

five post-Olympic years.

Those in the

construction industry and the realtors in my area are also excited, because they

know the Olympics will provide a catalyst for the construction of a new

convention centre, which will bring more business to B.C. In 2001 we turned down

53 conventions with a spending potential of $146 million. Just today the

province announced it was completing the purchase of land for the Vancouver

Convention and Exhibition Centre expansion in Coal Harbour. This is fantastic

news not only for the Olympic bid but also for the businesses in the lower

mainland.

I, along with

many others in Burnaby, am very much looking forward to us winning the 2010 bid.

I believe the 2010 Olympics will bring so much to our province. This is an

exciting time for us. At the end of the day, the Olympics are about legacies for

sport, for businesses and for communities.

[1455]

While the

city of Burnaby has developed a strong high-tech industry and is ready to take

advantage of future economic development through the 2010 bid, we also know that

what happens in the resource-based industries also affects Burnaby. We see the

contribution of the mining sector and the forestry sector, from the newly

approved southeast Burnaby high school to funding for community organizations

like the South Burnaby Neighbourhood House to the launch of SkyTrain's new

Millennium Line. These things happen because revenue from our natural resources

directly contributes to these very important services.

The fact is

that B.C. has a resource-based economy, and forestry is its foundation. When the

forestry industry suffers, our ability to pay for important services like health

care and education also suffers.

A lot has been

said about the heartlands of this province and the government's heartlands

economic strategy. I am lucky to have lived in hugely different parts of the

world, having lived in India for ten years and moved to Merritt with my family,

and now represent the riding of Burnaby-Edmonds, an urban riding. I know the

heartlands are hurting. My family still lives

[ Page 4817 ]

in Merritt. I know the small towns of British Columbia are hurting. The

forest industry isn't thriving as it once was when my father was working in it.

When my father first came to this country in the 1960s, he worked in the forest

industry and did so for close to 30 years. His paycheque as a forest worker

helped pay for the education of his four daughters and helped sustain our

family. Those kind of jobs have been dwindling in small-town British Columbia.

The government has taken a number of steps which will help restore innovation in

our forest practices so that B.C.'s forest industry can compete globally. The

first step was the introduction of the Forest and Range Practices Act to

establish a results-based, workable forest code to untie the hands of our

province's foremost industry and to revitalize an industry that is the backbone

of this province.

We made a

commitment to the people of British Columbia that we would give the forest

industry the tools it needed so that it would once again be competitive in the

global field. The old Forest Practices Code was too costly, too complex and

overly prescriptive. Under the NDP a billion dollars' worth of costs were added

to doing forestry business in British Columbia. Under the NDP close to 8,000

jobs were lost through the Forest Practices Code. It was also during the NDP era

that our forest industry became the highest-cost producer of fibre in the world.

Every

community in B.C. is a forest-dependent community. The Vancouver Board of Trade

recently reported that nearly 25 percent of our entire economy is driven by the

forest industry. From paper products and transporting forest products on our

roads and waterways to sustaining communities and families all over this

province, the industry's importance should not be underestimated. The revenues

derived from our number one industry help pay for hospitals and for our schools.

When our forest industry's held back, we're all held back. For too long it has

been held back with a needless regulatory burden and heaps of paperwork. The

government has a responsibility to make sure that our forest industry remains

competitive, so industry can provide the jobs for the many forest-dependent

communities and families.

British

Columbians have long recognized the benefit of being open to the world. Ours is

a province built through the strength and hard work of people from different

cultures working together. As the B.C. government moves ahead with its new-era

agenda, I feel even more optimistic about the changing face of our province. Our

policies and the changes we're making are all about openness. We want the

creative resources that come from a diverse community drawing from differing

perspectives. That's why I believe it is important that we look at the Asian

subcontinent as we seek ways to reduce our reliance on the U.S. market. We have

to make sure that we never become so reliant on one industry, on a single

market, that we feel beholden to it. Let's look at other parts of the globe.

Let's diversify this province. With diversity comes strength.

India and

China, with a combined population of over two billion people, are the ideal

marketplaces for the forest industry to look at. We know that China has banned

logging in its nation, and they're looking to other parts of the world for their

wood consumption. The B.C. Liberal government is vigorously pursuing these

opportunities.

The government

is pursuing the overseas market not only in forestry but also in other sectors.

The Minister of Competition, Science and Enterprise's trade mission to India was

an indication that our government is committed to finding partnerships around

the globe. The minister was there to promote partnerships between British

Columbia's high-tech firms and companies on the subcontinent. Why shouldn't we?

We know the Indian subcontinent offers us many opportunities. We know that the

industry in India is looking for opportunities to invest in Canada and British

Columbia, and we want to capitalize on that. We are making those inroads now

with that trade mission and letting the investors abroad know that we want

British Columbia to be a technology destination also.

We know how

important the private sector economy is for essential services like health care

and education. Revenues from our forests, from the mining sector and from all

other sectors such as technology are key to securing funds we need for important

services like health care and education.

[1500]

In the face

of the fast-paced changes taking place around the globe, it is incumbent upon

all of us in this House to ask: how do we compete, how do we do it better, and

how do we maintain our standard of living? It is important to ask: how can we

deliver care in a more efficient and most effective manner? How do we care for

our elderly? We are right to ask these questions now, and we're right to look at

how to find creative solutions to address these challenges.

In my own

riding we have already begun on the plans in the long-term intermediate care

side. As we all know, there is a growing need for assisted-living housing for

seniors. I have spoken with many seniors in my riding who agree that the

majority of elderly want to keep their independence for as long as possible.

Housing projects like the Nikkei Home give seniors the ability to continue to

live independently with added support services such as meals, housekeeping,

recreation and 24-hour emergency response. Seniors who live in the Nikkei have a

home, and their families have peace of mind knowing their loved ones will be

taken care of in the best possible way.

This is the

first subsidized, non-profit, supportive-living development of this magnitude in

the lower mainland. The partnership between the Nikkei Seniors Health Care and

Housing Society, the Fraser health authority and the B.C. Housing Management

Commission has proven to be successful, and I believe it can be used as a

prototype for future developments around the province. This facility consists of

59 units and is a model of expanded-care options providing the seniors with the

alternatives. I'm very pleased this project was built in my community and, in

particular, with the partnership of the Japanese community.

[ Page 4818 ]

We also

know that educating our young people is becoming more of a challenge. How do we

provide education to a population that is becoming more and more diverse when

make sure everyone still receives education that is second to none? The most

recent census statistics show the lower mainland's immigrant population is on

the rise. Chinese and South Asians top the list of new immigrants to our area,

but the range of people from different origins calling B.C. home is enormous.

When I first

with my family to Merritt. It was a culture shock. ESL classes were not easy to

come by those days, especially in Merritt, but I did have an excellent ESL

teacher, Mrs. Turnbull, who helped me tremendously.

B.C.'s school

system was and still is, I believe, second to none, and the support I received

from the teachers was incredible. But as many immigrants say, successfully

learning a new language and adapting to a new culture takes hard work and

perseverance, and it doesn't happen overnight.

This

government takes it seriously, and that's why we have set education as our

number one priority. We have protected education funding despite declining

enrolments. As the Premier noted in his state-of-the-province address, since

1998 our student populations have plummeted in British Columbia. We have

increased the student funding, though. Today we spend $6,455 on each student in

our province. We have added $50 million. Another $100 million over three years

will be made available to the school districts. We have been able to find

savings within the ministry that will now go directly to the students. This year

a one-time grant of $50 million was achieved through prudent fiscal management

and lower debt-servicing costs. It will be allocated on the basis of student

population.

The community

schools in my area, such as Edmonds, Stride Avenue and Second Street, have told

me how important it is to maintain the community school programming and the

funding. In the Premier's address he informed us that the province would also be

funding our inner-city school and community programs to the end of this school

year and beyond. Hopefully, this will create the kind of certainty that's

required to make sure that our children fully benefit from these programs. It is

now up to school districts to decide how they want to spend this additional

money and not up to Victoria.

Our society is

diverse and much more welcoming than when my great-uncle first came here in the

early 1900s. One thing hasn't changed, though. People from all over the globe

still want to come to this country and this province. Look at this government.

We truly represent the face of British Columbia. It is a government that elected

eight MLAs from the South Asian community. Where else in the western hemisphere

has that taken place? Nowhere. Three MLAs from the Chinese community — nowhere

else has this taken place in the western hemisphere. You know, this says

something about this place called British Columbia. We have people of vision in

our community — people who work tirelessly and people who have stayed in

British Columbia despite the tough economic challenges faced by them in the

previous decade.

[1505]

People

voted for strong and decisive actions to get us out of the mess the NDP

government left the province in. And make no mistake. The ten years of

mismanagement do not disappear overnight. We were elected to turn this province

around, and we will not shy away from our job. We have made the tough decisions

that are necessary to restore this province back to its rightful place as the

best in Canada. British Columbians deserve nothing less.

Harris: It gives me a great deal of pleasure to stand in the House today to

respond to the throne speech. Just a little less than two years ago we received

permission from the people of this province to govern. With that permission,

though, came the responsibility to honour our commitment to the public, to get

B.C. moving again and to bring a sense of hope back to every community across

this province.

Over the

decade of the nineties the previous government took this province from being the

number one economy in Canada to the last. By 1999, B.C. qualified for transfer

payments from the federal government. We had officially become a have-not

province within Confederation. Yet during this same period every province in

Canada except B.C., including the territories, experienced the largest growth in

their economies in history. The lost decade, or decade of despair as it's become

known, is well documented. We can never allow such a travesty to happen again

here.

Nowhere were

the results of the previous government's policies felt harder than in rural

communities. The '96-2000 census confirmed what those of us living in rural B.C.

already knew: our economies were shrinking. Our home and land values were

dropping. Our young people were being forced to move to Alberta to look for

work. We were losing the critical mass of people to maintain our education

facilities and support our small businesses. This is the legacy of rural B.C.,

and over the last 20 months much has been said and written about this trend.

With this

throne speech there is a change in the air for the heartland communities of our

province. We as a government have always recognized the roles that every

community in B.C. must play if we are to rebuild this province. This throne

speech has laid out a priority for our government that will open up and unleash

the spirit of every community to start to take advantage of all of the

opportunities this province has to offer.

Twenty months

ago the Premier appointed me chair of the northern caucus. Last year I spoke

about how I felt that group of MLAs, acting through the northern caucus, had the

potential to really make a difference in how rural concerns, priorities and

values were represented. Over the last decade we've seen far too many decisions

made in Victoria to soothe the ur-

[ Page 4819 ]

ban conscience at the expense of our rural communities.

As a caucus we

have met and worked with a number of groups to identify and prioritize the needs

of the north. We have established a formal working relationship with the

northwest treaty tribal group, an organization representing over 60 first

nations communities across the northland.

We sit as one

of the directors on the Northwest Corridor Development Corporation, a business

and political organization with members in Alberta, B.C. and Alaska. We

established working committees on transportation and economic development as

well as participated in the annual general meeting of the North Central

Municipal Association, an organization representing all of the municipalities

and regional districts from 100 Mile House north. I know that they are as

pleased as our group to hear our government's focus on a B.C. heartlands

economic strategy, a strategy to open up the rural regions of this province.

The

state-of-the-province address by the Premier continued to build on that

strategy. The rural transportation plan is exactly what we need. It will start

to build the much-needed new roads as well as improve existing highways. The

jobs created by these activities will be in the north, but more importantly, the

opportunities of these initiatives will directly benefit all of our rural

communities.

The plan for

B.C. Rail and the participation of the mayors' council will ensure that B.C.

Rail will once again become an economic driver in this province. Projects like

the Stewart-Omineca resource road hold tremendous promise for rural communities.

This road would create a new east-west connector across the province. It would

open up the lower Bowser basin to oil and gas and coalbed methane exploration,

extend the life of the Kemess mine as well as bring renewed exploration in this

mineral-rich region.

It would

provide the Gitxsan with access to their traditional territories as well as

offer new opportunities around tourism. It will bring increased activity and

products to the docks in Stewart, helping that community rebuild. It could give

the mill at Carnaby potential access to an interior profile of timber, providing

it with an opportunity to be a successful employer in the region again.

[1510]

The

government's commitment to seeing the port in Prince Rupert fully utilized

offers tremendous opportunities and excitement for every community along Highway

16. The potential benefits around containerization are staggering. The ability

to move products out of the north and into the global marketplace in a

cost-effective and timely manner will allow every community along the north line

an opportunity to market themselves to the value-added industries — industries

that not only complement the existing resource industries but, as well, attract

entirely new businesses into the north.

The daily

ferry service from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, as well as the development of

the cruise ship dock, will bring a significant increase in tourists right along

the corridor, benefiting every community along the highway, whether it's Highway

16, 37 or 97. These recent infrastructure announcements will be beneficial to

everyone, whether we live in the Cariboo, the Peace or the northwest. All of us

will benefit as these new infrastructure projects begin to open up our

heartlands. I know that every member of the northern caucus is excited about the

priority and focus that this throne speech places on a B.C. heartlands economic

strategy.

I'd like to

take a little time to talk about the changes and opportunities that exist in

Skeena, my riding. With the restructuring of health care in the province, in

Skeena we are starting to realize the benefits of that reorganization. Retention

and recruitment of health care professionals have always been difficult in small

towns. The previous government's decision to reduce the number of training seats

for LPNs, RNs and doctors, as well as other health care disciplines, had only

made a bad situation worse.

We have, and

are putting in place, training recruitment regimes that are dealing with the

short-term crisis. But more importantly, it addresses the long-term needs of the

province so that future generations will not need to go through what we are

experiencing today. We have reintroduced the LPN program at Northwest Community

College in Terrace and in 2003 have seen our first graduation class. Most of

those students already have placements, and many are in rural hospitals.

The hospital

in Terrace at Mills Memorial and in Prince Rupert are two hospitals that have

taken on recent graduates this year. The doctors program at UNBC in Prince

George will have doctors using facilities across the north for their training,

including the hospitals in Terrace and Kitimat. Experience tells us that

professionals who train in rural communities tend to stay and practise there.

We have

introduced a forgivable loan program for nurses and doctors who choose to move

and practise in the underserviced areas. We have made our health care

professionals the highest paid in Canada and specifically recognize the on-call

issues and demands that our rural doctors face. These are just some of the

initiatives that specifically recognize the unique problems we have in

attracting professionals to rural communities.

As a result of

restructuring the northern health authority, they have alleviated the concerns

of the community of Kitimat, as they have set a bed complement level that will

ensure the continued specialist complement there is maintained. In Terrace we've

seen the introduction of renal dialysis to the northwest. I cannot understate

the importance of this service to the region. With diabetes being one of the

fastest-growing illnesses in the northwest, families had to either split up or

move to Prince George or Vancouver if this procedure was required.

In my riding,

the story of Ruth Magnusson is well known. Ruth and her husband, Chuck, are a

retired couple, and they have been living apart for years as a result of Chuck's

diabetes. She lives in their home in Terrace, and

[ Page 4820 ]

Chuck must live in a basement suite in Prince George. But as a result of this

service now being made available in Terrace, Chuck will be able to come home.

The

introduction of shock therapy to the northwest removes the need to travel to

Prince George or Vancouver for this procedure and, again, specifically benefits

the people of the northwest. In Terrace last year not only was the number of

surgeries up by 17 percent, but more importantly, the types of surgeries were up

by 18 percent. This means fewer people having to leave the region for medical

procedures either in Vancouver or in any other major centre.

The effects

have been profound to say the least. It reduces the need for air ambulance

service. It puts less pressure and demand on lower mainland facilities. It

reduced the cost to families that would have had to travel outside the region

for that treatment or procedure, and it makes it more affordable for family

members to be with their loved ones, which creates a healthier situation for

everyone. There is still a long way to go and many more hurdles to climb, but

this throne speech continues the reforms of health care that are starting to

respond to our local needs in a manner that makes sense and is sustainable, as

well as affordable.

[1515]

This year's

throne speech clearly puts the emphasis on getting this province moving again.

Nothing could come as better news for the people in my riding of Skeena. If

super royalties were the bullets to the mining industry in the seventies, the

Windy Craggy decision in the nineties was the bomb that sent the mining industry

into full retreat. By the end of the nineties, while B.C. was recognized as one

of the top regions for mining potential, we were in fact third from the bottom

as a place to invest. Only Wisconsin and P.E.I. were considered less desirable

than B.C. to invest in. P.E.I. has no mining, and Wisconsin has a ban on mining.

But things are changing.

Over the last

20 months the changes we have made around taxation, regulation and the

permitting process are being recognized. Over the last year exploration

investment in the north grew from a low of $6 million in 2001 to over $36

million in 2002. Although this is still a long way from the $116 million we were

seeing in 1990, it is a good beginning, and there's every indication that 2003

will be even better.

Across the

northwest the forest industry has been especially hard hit. I am extremely

pleased to hear that 2003 will be the year of forestry for our government.

Softwood lumber, the poor Asian economy and the uncertainty around SCI have all

contributed to the challenges facing the entire northwest, but the issues facing

the northwest are as fundamental as they are in every other region of the

province. A question of how we take an industry that was the lowest-cost fibre

producer in the world in 1990, and now is the highest in North America, to one

that is competitive again must be addressed.

One of the

obstacles to investment, whether in the value-added or harvest sectors, has been

access to timber. Nowhere has this been more evident than in the northwest. With

the new NWBC providing a limited increase in market logging activity, we have

seen the emergence of new low-cost players operating in the marketplace. We have

seen the creation of open log yards in Terrace. In a forest district with the

lowest-value timber profile in the province, their ability to operate

successfully is impressive. As market logging increases, the development of

local log yards will also increase. It will provide the secure access to timber

for the value-added industries. It is this secure access to fibre that has been

the obstacle to the growth and development of this sector.

I am pleased

to see our government move to pass forest reforms that will diversify tenure and

move us toward a market-based stumpage system that is regionally sensitive and

socially responsible. It is especially gratifying to see the province establish

a $275 million forest transition fund to help forest workers, contractors,

industries and communities deal with the changes that must be made.

For me, the

most important aspect of the throne speech was our government's commitments to

finally making real progress with our first nations. First nations communities

desire no less for their communities than we do for our own. Their participation

in rebuilding the economy of the heartland is not critical; it's essential. Our

statement of reconciliation is important. As we move to find that economic

equality that is critical to developing respectful relationships, I am proud to

be part of a government that takes this first step.

The throne

speech lays out a number of areas that will improve opportunities for first

nations. The $30 million economic measures fund will be extended for another

year. Revenue-sharing arrangements will be negotiated with the first nations

that wish to be involved in revitalizing the forest industry. Our government is

committed to involving first nations in comanagement of parks and recreational

services. As part of the $7.5 million regional innovation chairs program at B.C.

colleges, two of the seats will focus on research into aboriginal early

childhood development. Funding has been approved to support aboriginal

involvement in oil and gas, tourism and forestry as well as the Olympics bid.

Over the last

two years I've had the pleasure of meeting often with the first nations

communities in my riding. I've had the opportunity to hear clearly the dreams

they have for themselves, and I have enjoyed the chance to sit down with these

communities and support their efforts to develop economic strategies that work

for them. They have for far too long been kept out of the mainstream economy

that most of us take for granted, and that has to stop.

[1520]

If we are

to create the certainty that the investment community and industry are looking

for, we must be forward-thinking and we must be bold. We must have an economic

plan that incorporates the views and values of our first nation and

non-aboriginal communities alike. We must give their communities a sense of hope

and opportunity. We do it not just to create jobs; we do it because it's the

right thing to do.

[ Page 4821 ]

Over the

last year all of us have had to make tough decisions, but as we move to create a

legacy for our children as great as the one we inherited, this throne speech

provides the framework and the vision. I am pleased to be part of a government

that has its eye firmly placed on the next generation, not the next election.

Wilson: It's a pleasure this afternoon to be able to address our throne

speech. As most of us are aware, the throne speech is a road map that the

government is intending to take this province on in the future, and this throne

speech is all about opening up British Columbia to reach out in the province and

touch every region, every community. That means change. It means a great deal of

change in this province, and to a lot of people, change is a scary thing. It's

the unknown that they fear. When we make change, as government we are also

vulnerable to making mistakes. We recognize that, and we will do our very best

to make sure this is done in a manner that doesn't miss the needs of people.

At this point

we have, as government in the last two years, done a great deal. We have started

down this road. We recognized that all aspects of government had to be addressed

and opened up to make it more accountable and workable for people.

I think I'll

take a moment here and just touch on a few of those. As government itself, we

have taken a first step in this province to bring in free votes in the

Legislature. We have open cabinet meetings. We have GCCs that are working very

well, and we have legislative committees that continue to do ongoing work. Some

of these things have not been done yet in other provinces, and they look to B.C.

as a leader there.

We will set up

a citizens' assembly to find out what the people of British Columbia feel they

need for the best electoral reforms. That's an issue that comes back every

election. There are people that are not happy with our present system, so we

need to find out what would work better.

On the social

side of things, education is the key to our success and advancement in this

province. We recognize that, and it's our number one priority. We have already

added in $90 million to the school boards to continue to provide quality

education, and in the next three years there will be an additional $100 million

going into our education system in this province so that we are successful here.

It is extremely important.

Another area

that ranks right up there with education is health care. We have already made

some major changes in the way the system is addressed. We have set up health

authorities. Those health authorities have been working now for several months,

and their focus is to take the taxpayer's dollar that goes into health care and

direct it right to the patient level. They've done a lot of work. It's a

difficult chore, but we are starting to see the results now.

[1525]

It is, as I

say, difficult. To get there, it's taken several months to reorganize, because

over the last few years the health care system had become a thing that grew. We

could throw as much money into it as we wanted to, and it would just consume it

as fast as you added it. The end result was that our waiting lists got longer

and longer, and patient care continued to deteriorate. Now we see it turning the

other way.

Pharmacare is

something that is extremely important to many people, especially those that are

seniors and on low income. This government, I would like to say, is bringing in

a new plan, and that will provide benefits to 280,000 low-income families. That

is a good-news item.

Child care is

another area that affects many young families. Our intention here is to add over

50 percent more spaces so that people who need this service, if they want to

continue in education or advance in their work, will have those services

available to them.

Our policing

in this province needed some help, and here we have another area that we can

help in. We can provide more high-tech to our police forces so that they can

better protect the citizens.

One of the

things that has been a real, real problem for a long time in British Columbia is

the issue with first nations, and I'm proud to say this is the first government

that has addressed this serious problem. It is a complex set of issues, and it

has been plaguing us for decades. Finally, we are on the road to doing something

about it. One of those things is the maintenance of a $30 million economic

measures fund to help those people achieve some of the dreams they would like

to, to make money available so that they can pursue their dreams.

We have an

opportunity coming up in 2010, and that's the Olympics. This is a huge

opportunity. It will open up B.C. to the world, and it has the potential of

doubling the tourist industry in this province. There has been some negative

reaction to this, but there will be no part of this province that will not

benefit from the Olympics. The benefits will be huge.

B.C. Rail.

That has been a very hot topic in the interior and the north. It's not working

as well as it should. We have had meetings with municipalities, municipal

leaders and industry, and they tell us it must be put on a more competitive

footing. We've embarked on that road to do that, at the same time listening to

the people when they say, "Do not privatize B.C. Rail," so we are

going to maintain the lines and the beds and the rights-of-way as a Crown

resource.

The ferry

system needs to be refocused to make it more competitive, to serve the people in

the coastal communities.

[1530]

In this

session, forestry is going to be front and centre on our agenda. It is the most

important industry in this province. It has been for a long time and will

continue to be. Lately it has got in some serious trouble for a number of

reasons, one of those being the softwood lumber dispute. We intend as government

to bring in a working forest land base that will provide stability for industry.

However, it will also protect the values and the uses that exist out there on

that same land base that the forest industry works on.

[ Page 4822 ]

There's a

whole array of things that have to be dealt with in forestry. We have to address

a market-based stumpage system. We need to increase the amount of timber

available to small business through an expanded timber sale program, and there

are issues like waterbedding, which have had really severe economic impacts on

this industry. Cut controls are another area of pertinence. Those have to be

dealt with. All of those things have to be addressed this spring. Log exports

— we have listened to the people, and the status quo will remain there.

Through all of

these changes that we need to bring about, we will bear in mind that first

nations have an interest out there, and they will be asked to become involved in

the forest industry. Anytime the changes are made, we want to be able to

consider those people. It's just as important that they access some wood and

create some of their own economic activity as it is for anyone else.

All of these

things are what we call the B.C. heartlands strategy. It's focused on economic

growth in forestry, agriculture, energy, gas and oil, coalbed methane, tourism

and new technology. But there's one thing I haven't mentioned — and all of

these things rely on it — and that is our transportation system. Without that,

none of this is possible. This province has watched our highway infrastructure

deteriorate for the last ten or 11 years. It takes a certain amount each year to

put into maintenance on our highways just to keep them so that they are in a

condition that is safe for use.

When you

forget to maintain something, it's not long until you end up with a road that

needs to be replaced, and that is expensive. That costs money, and yes, in order

to get there, someone has to pay for it. The users of the highways are the ones

that will have to pay for these highway improvements through an increase in

their fuel tax, but for the very first time I can ever remember in this

province, the money that we collect on our highways is going back into our

highways where it's needed.

That is the

key that will make all of this B.C. heartlands strategy a success. As

government, we are going to put back $362 million into rehabilitation of rural

and remote roads. There will be $210 million for rural and resource roads,

because we have to get those resources out, get them to market, and the only way

you can do that is if you have a road to haul it on. We also have $37 million

earmarked for the gas and oil industry so that they can access their resources

out there. It all adds up to $609 million, and that's just the beginning. We can

keep right on going from there.

[1535]

There is

another part of this transportation equation that I haven't mentioned, and

that's the Port of Prince Rupert. It's the gateway to the world for western

Canada — an excellent port. It has to, in our mind, be developed if we are

going to succeed in this province. Not only does the north and the interior of

British Columbia need that access to foreign markets, but so does the rest of

western Canada — Alberta, Saskatchewan. All of the grain that goes out can go

that way. We can develop the corridor along Highway 16. It's a gateway to the

Asian rim and the rest of the world, but you know, it's also a gateway for the

rest of the world to come to British Columbia. And they will.

When I think

about us as government and the job, it's really a huge job we've tackled here.

We have the resolution to see it through. It sort of reminds me of a supertanker

sitting there. You don't turn it on a dime. It takes a few tugboats and a long

time to turn that ship around. Well, the ship is turning, and in the next two

years that ship will be turned around. Then we will be recovered in this

province.

Belsey: I seek leave to make an introduction.

Leave

granted.

Introductions by Members

Belsey: It gives me pleasure to introduce two people that have joined us

from my hometown, Prince Rupert: Steve and Tina Smith. It's especially

gratifying to introduce Tina, as her father, Bill Murray, was Speaker of the

House many years ago. I wonder if you would all join me in making them welcome.

Debate

Continued

Mr.

Speaker: Address in Reply continues with the member for Port

Coquitlam–Burke Mountain.

Manhas: Before I begin, I must say it's incredible how time passes. This is

now the third Speech from the Throne that I have had the great honour of

responding to. Each year I have stood up and reflected not only on how our

government's policies held opportunity for my community of Port

Coquitlam–Burke Mountain but also on the time we are living in. Each time I

have reflected on the events and choices facing our time. I've come to the

conclusion that we are at a crossroads, and we are still at a crossroads. Our

world today looks poised for war. The picture of conflict is muddy and the

motives unclear. Security is at stake.

Here at home

we are also at a crossroads. We continue to make adjustments in this province

that other jurisdictions in Canada already finished and completed. We face major

decisions. At home in this province there is great opportunity. There is

opportunity for innovation. There is opportunity to build a strong economic

future for my community of Port Coquitlam and Burke Mountain by building the

economic base of the Tri-Cities region.

There's

opportunity to open up B.C. by building better transportation infrastructure

that can better tie together this incredible province to increase the quality of

life for British Columbians and leverage more economic activity in the province.

There's also an opportunity to host one of the world's most beloved and hallowed

institutions of achievement and human excellence. Almost ten years ago or so a

group of British Columbians dreamed of getting the Olympics. It is

[ Page 4823 ]

2003, and we have an opportunity to host the games in 2010.

We are indeed

at an important crossroads. History will judge us on the decisions we make and

the paths we choose. The crossroads means that new paths are available. It means

that new opportunities are available and that new horizons and opportunities can

be opened up.

[1540]

Over the

course of its history this province has seen tremendous change. The winds of

human effort have shaped and sculpted this province to the state it is today.

Sometimes those efforts have moved people forward, and sometimes we've been

swept back. We have an incredible opportunity now ahead of us. With sustained

commitment and belief in our future, we can provide the gusts of change that can

lift the people of my riding of Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain and the province

to fly and to soar.

This province

started as a land of opportunity for all people who came to it to make it their

home, from the earliest of settlers — our aboriginal nations who crossed

Bering and prospered in British Columbia as their home — to the seafaring

nations who settled later, the British who colonized and the immigrants who came

to this place from varying corners at varying times over the last 150 years and

more. The reason all these people came and stayed, the reason they all — we

all — made British Columbia our home, is because of the opportunity they saw

in this province. I truly believe, as the Premier says, that we live in the best

province in the best country in the world. The reason people will stay in

British Columbia, and the reason people will come to B.C., is because we will

again have that opportunity in the province, and the opportunity that built the

province will continue to ensure our prosperity.

Our government

laid out a direction for the coming years in our throne speech. Part of that is

to open up our province's regions to opportunity. I feel confident that each and

every region in this province stands to gain from this direction. My own region

is no different.

We have to

decide where we want to be in the future, individually and collectively. We have

to dream about where that could be and find a way to make it a reality. It's

time to dream those big dreams and reach for lofty goals again in this province.

This is way more than just something the government needs to do. As citizens and

business owners, as investors and entrepreneurs, as students and teachers, we

have to dream those big dreams and have lofty ambitions. We have to think big

and remove the problems and the barriers. With confidence and effort we can be

bigger and better than any place in the world — be it Boston, San Jose,

London, Stockholm, Seattle or Beijing.

Here in the

North Fraser region, in the northeast sector of the lower mainland, we have

almost a quarter million people — more than all of greater Victoria. Often

overlooked, this is the area of the lower mainland that has the potential to be

the next Redmond, Washington, or San Jose, California. In Redmond

multibillion-dollar corporations are tucked into the hills and forests of the

area, and software companies have sprouted up around Microsoft's international

headquarters. The effect has been a natural centre of expertise in and around

Redmond, and the growth of secondary industry — suppliers to the major

companies — has led to more jobs and more clean industry. Former employees

have left and created their own companies. Competitors and collaborators have

located there, near the area of action. This has, in effect, created a zone of

growth potential, innovation and expertise in software technologies in the

Redmond area.

That is

possible — and more — here in the Tri-Cities and the northeast sector of

greater Vancouver. Areas like the Mary Hill bypass corridors and the Dominion

Triangle can help get us there. Opportunities like Burke Mountain add fuel to

the imaginative fires that can help take us there. Burke Mountain has tremendous

potential for the area with over 7,000 housing units planned, housing over

25,000 people, and a projected billion dollars injected into the area's economy.

The possibilities are huge. Our government has made the land available for that

kind of economic development to take place in our community.

My riding of

Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain forms the eastern edge of what many in the area

refer to as the Tri-Cities. The Tri-Cities are made up of three cities:

Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody. It also tends to refer to the township

of Anmore and the village of Belcarra, which sit edging Port Moody.

The name

Tri-Cities came about in or about the 1970s, when the community newspaper owned

by David Black's chain was trying to find a name for itself. As many who have

lived in the area have discovered, the Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody

"anything" is a rather unwieldy name. Although Coquitlam was still

officially a district at the time, the newspaper decided to call itself the

Tri-City News .

The

other local paper serving the same communities calls itself the Coquitlam

Now. It is now simply called the Now , explaining in a byline that it

serves the five communities in the area. There is no question that the combined

communities make up an interdependent region. The municipalities are separated

not by geography but rather by political boundaries.

[1545]

As the

region has grown up in the past two decades from a nearly rural-like setting to

a bustling urban centre, so has the number of organizations that serve the area.

Many, realizing that there are no longer just three communities, have decided

not to use the word Tri-Cities. Last year, at a conference of businesswomen held

in the area, the mayor of Port Moody mentioned that his office does not use the

term Tri-Cities and discourages its use. Some have begun using terms such as the

northeast sector. However, that is commonly used to include all the communities

in the northeast quadrant in the GVRD, including Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge.

Therefore, it causes some confusion. To add to the identity problem, various

other terms have popped up and are being used by local organizations, including

Fraser Burrard, Fraser North, North Fraser. In fact, the

[ Page 4824 ]

Now community paper is not the only local institution without

geographic identity as part of its namesake. The local community service

organization and food bank are a SHARE family service.

For too long

the area has been divided by multi-jurisdictional boundaries and municipalities,

along with the personalities and egos of political actors. We have an

opportunity to break past that. In the GVRD's strategic plan the area's dense

urban core is to be centred around the Coquitlam town centre; however, all

communities feed into that. There is no question there are very strong

interdependencies among the municipalities in the region. It is now time to

start attracting people and businesses to the area, because the benefits will

flow to all cities in the area.

I bring this

to the attention of the House and to the people at this time because I think

it's timely that we think about this now, as the area is still maturing as a

regional hub. Now is the opportunity to put our community on the map. Vancouver

has a strong bid in for the 2010 Winter Olympics. When we win that bid, we have

an opportunity to have the world lens drop on British Columbia. In order for the

region to achieve its economic potential, it must have a clear identity that

draws people, tourism and investment. I'm going to repeat that. In order for the

region to achieve its economic potential, it must have a clear identity that

draws people, tourism and investment.

On its own,

each municipality has a smaller chance of attracting the attention of the

investment community and the world. Most visitors to the area would not know

when they moved from one municipality to another. By promoting the development

of the entire region, each municipality will benefit. By attracting jobs and

investment to the area, we can create a success region. No city can do it alone;

together there is strength. By creating a strong centre, each city will see more

benefits and investment than by competing with each other. We are part of the

global market. It's time for us to work together as a region to promote

ourselves to the world.

We must work

together in the region to promote ourselves if we are to promote ourselves to

the world. I think the time is now for folks living in the community to brand

the region, to find what it is that ties us together so we can sell ourselves.

Branding the region does not mean losing the individuality of each municipality.

It simply means that attention can be focused to the area. Once the attention is

captured and focused in the area, then potential visitors or investors can learn

about the municipalities that make it up and the individual qualities each of

those municipalities bring to the table.

[H.

Long in the chair.]

I've

thought long and hard on what that new branding could be possibly called. For

example, one suggestion is a take on the word "foothills." Foothills

is defined as the hilly land on the lower slopes of mountains or a hilly region

at the base of a mountain range. That seems to perfectly describe the area. It

could be branded as Vancouver's foothills, the coastal foothills region,

technology coast mountains or just the foothills.

Whatever it

is, we need to brand the strengths of the area — what we are known for or what

we could be known for. I encourage individuals and organizations in the area to

take up the challenge and begin thinking about how we can create a strong brand

for our region. Let's create an identity for the region we can be proud of and a

brand that will take us to great heights in the future. With a brand that is

identifiable, each municipality can accentuate the individual characteristics

that makes them unique, but first we must get the attention of those outside.

For the sake

of argument I will use the term "foothills" for the rest of my speech

to indicate our region of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and

Belcarra to sound it out. I'm not biasing the job of branding. Let's just try

out the concept.

Better

transportation and transit benefits us all, because it means a better quality of

life for our residents and a healthy sustainable environment. It means an

increased ability to attract jobs, investment and business to Port Coquitlam and

the foothills. It moves us towards a sustainable urban plan where people can

live and work in the same community. That is why this government is going to

invest substantial dollars over the next three years in improving our

transportation plan and our transportation system. Transportation affects us

all. We cannot wait to make improvements. We must begin immediately.

[1550]

Over the

coming year our government will be leveraging other governments and private

dollars to build the infrastructure we need. In Port Coquitlam we need fast,

reliable access to other areas of the city. We also need good connections to the

south Fraser and the Trans-Canada Highway. We need good access to the U.S. and

Canadian markets. The foothills are well positioned in the centre of the lower

mainland. With proper investment, that will maximize the opportunities we are

capable of.

I've talked to

many residents in Port Coquitlam. Consistently I've gotten the message that

people don't mind paying a little more if they know they're getting something

solid for their money, if they know the money's being used where it should, if

it makes their lives easier and saves them time. That is a choice we are given.

Not everyone will agree with this. However, roads and transit don't come for

free. If we want to build the type of city and province that build opportunity

and that we can be proud to leave to future generations, we must invest in it.

That is what we need to do. That is the direction this government is taking over

the next year. That was outlined in the Speech from the Throne.

I recently had

the opportunity to read to some elementary students at Lincoln Elementary in

Port Coquitlam. I thought back to when I was going through that period. I was in

grade 7 when Calgary hosted the Winter Olympics. Those Olympics galvanized my

[ Page 4825 ]

thoughts and those of my classmates. They showed the meaning of commitment.

Interjections.

Manhas: I see my colleagues laughing.

They showed

the meaning of commitment and achievement. They kindled pride and spirit and

inspired a generation of Canadians to pursue their dreams. I think of the

Olympics, and I see and hear things going on around me, and I am amazed at the

number of people who get lost in the barriers. Now, I'm not advocating getting

caught up with an idea and ignoring the challenges, but let's look at what

happened in Calgary when they lit the Olympic flame in 1988. Yes, I am old

enough to remember.

The community

and the country got behind Calgary. It lit a flame in our hearts. My parents

still use those Petro-Canada Olympic flame glasses. It united the city and its

people. People from all around the world watched as the province showcased its

assets and focused the world's lens on what they wanted to show off. Investment

increased and spirits increased. They were left with the enviable legacies of

world-class athletic facilities that allowed more young athletes to train to

Olympic gold. In Calgary, Canada won no Olympic gold medals. In Salt Lake City,

Canada came in the top five nations for Olympic gold medals. That's what

training facilities can do for a country.

It left the

country watching Brian Orser, Elizabeth Manley, Gaetan Boucher, women's curling

and men's hockey. In Salt Lake City the Canadian women's hockey team and then

the Canadian men's hockey team touched a chord that pulled the entire country

together. That dream has ignited the fires of hope in many people that I speak

to in my community.

We have an

incredible opportunity to host the Olympics in 2010. We have the opportunity of

a lifetime to showcase our city and our province and our innovations to the

world, to challenge the most skilled athletes around the world and to inspire

scores of young British Columbians and Canadians to excel on their own.

The Olympic

dream is taking flight in the imaginations of people in Port Coquitlam–Burke

Mountain and throughout the foothills. Arts, culture, business organizations,

sports groups, governments, politicians and citizens alike have gotten together

to show their support, their pride in their city and their strong support for

the Olympics in Vancouver, and to build on the opportunity the Olympics afford.

The foothills

are filled with people who believe in making a difference. We have a wealth of

volunteer organizations and individuals who give their time and work hard to

shape our community and shape our future. The formation of the 2010 Olympic

spirit team is a significant development. Individuals in the community have

stood up and said: "This is something that is good. This is something that

is great. We are going to do something to make sure that this dream comes true.

We're going to take this future into our own hands."

The Olympic

spirit team is built from a broad base of community leaders and innovators

representing all sectors of the region. Team members are some of the most

enthusiastic, proactive and creative people in our region, whose positive

attitudes open minds and community networks. Those open minds and networks help

call out the best in our people and our region. The team's mandate is to embrace

the Olympic ideals of sport, culture and sustainability and to foster them in

the foothills of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra.

[1555]

The team's

goal is to inspire and develop a community spirit that will shape how the region

can support the 2010 Olympics and benefit from them, and that will carry our

region forward in the years to come as a unique, creative, profitable and

desirable place to live, do business and visit. They're looking at how this

region can support the 2010 Olympics to be the most successful ever and the most

prolific in its legacy of improved quality-of-life opportunities in British

Columbia — how this region, its people, businesses, sports, arts, cultural,

environmental and multicultural life and economic development and sustainability

can be enhanced. It is encouraging that people in the community are working to

build that future.

I believe that

fostering a climate of innovation and ingenuity is our key to developing a

competitive advantage in the world market. Our investment in our human capital

— the education, training and development of our people — will build the

foundation we need to ensure the success of our province. Education is still our

number one priority. Although we spend more money on just mandatory interest

payments and our health and education budgets combined than everything we

collect in revenue to the government, we have still made money available to

ensure that children who are growing up in this province will have the kind of

education they need to compete in an ever-changing world.

When we talk

about value added, we often refer to the processing of our raw resources in

B.C., but before we are truly able to add value to our products, we must ensure

that we've added value to our people. Our people and made-in-B.C. innovations

will determine our province's future standpoint and stature in the global

market. We must each — community leaders, business people, educators and

citizens — realize and act on our important role in achieving a future filled

with opportunity and prosperity in British Columbia. Our government is

continuing to invest in the long-term education and innovation that will ensure

our people have great opportunities so that our province succeeds, so that we

maintain and develop a competitive edge. That is one of our key strategic plans

as outlined in this government's throne speech.

In fact,

innovations fostered in B.C. are already changing the world and creating huge

social and economic benefits to the province. Innovations in fuel cell

[ Page 4826 ]

technology, biotechnology, information technology, telecommunications

software and others are creating economic and competitive advantages for B.C.

The reality is

that like begets like. Success attracts further success. The innovative

successes in the fields I mentioned are prompting more research and development,

attracting more businesses to B.C., and they're generating spinoffs and spinoff

ventures. That must be fostered. The ideas have generated knowledge. The

knowledge amassed in B.C. will pave the way for new B.C. ventures, create more

jobs and build B.C. as a world-class place to invest.

Changes to the

Small Business Venture Capital Act will increase access to the seed capital,

eliminate red tape and provide funding opportunities for all regions of the

province so those innovations and innovative ideas are allowed to take seed in

British Columbia.

We have

tremendous riches in our natural resources, and we must capitalize on that

wealth. How we do that depends on our ability to innovate, to sink our teeth in,

to find and test different techniques and ideas, different products and

solutions. For example, B.C., a province synonymous with its forests, should be

a world leader in forestry technology. B.C. should be on the leading edge of the

world in advanced wood-processing technologies. We have the natural advantage.

Let's use it.

In this

session our government will bring in forest reforms to diversify tenure and move

towards market-based stumpage that is regionally sensitive and socially

responsible. These measures will ensure that British Columbians get top value

for every log harvested from their public forests. More timber will be available

for innovative, small local operators through the B.C. timber sales program.

That will be good for businesses in Port Coquitlam, throughout the foothills and

also for first nations.

We will be

establishing a one-time-only, $275 million forest transformation fund to help

forest workers, contractors, industries and communities deal with the changes

that must be made.

I know that

young people in this province are looking to this government to turn the table

on economic opportunity in this province to establish possibilities for our

future. We need to rekindle that free enterprise spirit that made British

Columbia the best place in the world to live and raise a family.

For years B.C.

was a place that drove away investment, prior to this government. We need

investment in B.C. We need capital and venture capital to realize B.C. is a good

investment, and we will invest in the strategies that will make that happen.

Investment in B.C. leads to investment in B.C. innovations, which leads to

better products and better solutions, greater productivity, greater efficiency

and, therefore, not only a better economic situation but an environmentally

friendly one too.

[1600]

The

direction outlined in the government's throne speech continues to pave the way

to creating a can-do province that believes in itself and helps itself with

regions that complement each other and work together in unison so that B.C. can

take its place as a prosperous, leading-edge and thriving province pumping at

the centre of a strong and united Canada.

Hon. G.

Abbott: Mr. Speaker, i t's a pleasure to rise today and join in the

response to the Speech from the Throne. This being the first opportunity, I do

want to salute you and the Speaker for your continued excellent leadership in

this chamber and, of course, in the precincts as well. Thank you for that.

There are a

couple of things I would like to talk about today in terms of the throne speech

response. I want to talk a little bit about the impact that the programs and

initiatives contained in the throne speech will have on my constituency of

Shuswap. I also want to talk a little bit about the role of my Ministry of

Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services in delivering some of the key

elements that are contained in the throne speech. I also want to take the

opportunity — again, this being the first opportunity — to again thank my

constituents in Shuswap for the continued honour I enjoy of representing them in

the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. It is a tremendous honour and one

I never want to take for granted. Even with the large turnover that we had in

this assembly in the last provincial election, there are still considerably

fewer than 1,000 people who have had the opportunity to serve in this chamber

since the province joined Confederation over a century ago. It's a great honour

that we all enjoy here, and I do want to thank my constituents for that honour.

Hon. G.

Bruce: And a fine choice they made.

Hon. G.

Abbott: Yeah. Friendly heckling is always welcome, isn't it, Mr. Speaker?

It makes me

strikingly old, I know, but I'm now in my twenty-fourth year of elected office

— not in this chamber but in local and regional and provincial politics. I've

had the opportunity to serve for a long time, and I do appreciate that folks in

the district of Sicamous, the Columbia-Shuswap regional district and Shuswap

have extended me the opportunity to serve for a long time. I've had the

opportunity to serve for 16 years as a director and, for ten years of that, as

chair of the Columbia-Shuswap district board and about half a dozen years on the

council of the district of Sicamous. I've been an opposition MLA in this great

chamber and now have the great opportunity to serve as a government MLA as well

as a member of the executive council.

Having been at

it now almost 24 years, I know that I'm much closer to the end of my political

career than I am to the beginning of it. I don't know whether that career is

going to end in 2005 or 2009, but it is something that doesn't concern me

particularly. The end of a political career certainly holds no terrors for me.

I've had the opportunity in many local and provincial elections to take office.

In fact, I must say that a lot better people than me have never had that

opportunity, and I

[ Page 4827 ]

really do appreciate that I've had many and varied opportunities to serve in

political office.

There is a

life beyond politics, I understand, and someday I hope to explore that and

explore some of the opportunities in the private sector and elsewhere —

perhaps not too soon. We never know. We never know about that.

[1605]

I did have

the opportunity over the last few weeks to address some newly elected folks at

seminars convened by the Union of B.C. Municipalities — one in Vancouver and

one in Penticton. I had the opportunity to speak to them in the context of my

role as minister responsible for municipal affairs in the province. Indeed, at

the one in Penticton I had newly elected constituents from Salmon Arm, Sicamous,

Enderby, Armstrong and Spallumacheen there. What I attempted to do was impart

some advice, observations and hard-earned lessons from my years in elected

office. I think it was appreciated.

One principal

observation I would make, based on my time in office, is that virtually everyone

I have ever met in either local government or provincial government —

regardless of political stripe — is in this business to leave their community,

region or province a little bit better place when they leave politics than when

they arrived in politics. I think that's occasionally something that escapes us.

People don't

go into this business for monetary gain. They make a spectacularly bad choice if

they do. They go into this to serve their communities and their province. While

we in this chamber may have disagreements between political stripes about how to

achieve that better province, people should remember that they step up and serve

to make this a better place, not to serve their own interests.

One of the

themes I talked about when I met with the newly elected folks from the UBCM was

not something that's original to me, but it's an idea that I talked about a lot

when I used to teach political science. That is, politics is the allocation of

scarce resources. I think that is currently very true of all levels of

government, whether it's local, provincial or federal. I think the notion of

politics as the allocation of scarce resources is very much the case today.

I had the

opportunity last Friday to meet with the board of the North Okanagan–Shuswap

school district to talk about some of the challenges they face. They've been

very good about meeting with me on a regular basis and telling me about the

challenges they face as a school district. They do have some very serious

challenges. They do have, in their role, some very tough decisions to make.

One of the

reasons why they are going to continue to have difficult decisions to make was

contained in a graph they gave me, which I thought was very informative in terms

of the challenges ahead. No one can see this graph, obviously, from where they

are, but I just note that the graph shows the actual class distribution in

school district 83 for 2002-03. It shows 714 students are in grade 12 in

Shuswap. In grade 5 there are 577 students, and in kindergarten there are 423

students.

We find that

in terms of the distribution of students, we are going to be faced with

continuing smaller and smaller class distribution as we get away from…. My

kids, I guess, are the late product of late baby-boomers like me. We're going to

see continued reductions, in all probability, in the school population. That's

going to be a big challenge for the school districts.

[1610]

The fact

that there's a smaller number of students won't diminish the expectations that

parents have of the education system. For every parent, their child only goes

through the education system once, and they appropriately demand the best

possible education they can for their child. Indeed, this is a very special time

for parents and their kids. I don't remember everything in life, but I still

remember my daughter getting on the school bus to go to kindergarten for the

first time. It was one of those kind of special moments. She's in fourth-year

university now, and I still remember that. For the parents of the 423 kids who

are in kindergarten today in Shuswap, they have great expectations of the

system. Obviously, we're going to have to work, and the school district's going

to have to work, to try to meet the expectations those parents have.

I'm glad to

note from the Premier's recent announcements an additional infusion of $50

million out of the current fiscal year and an additional $100 million on top of

that $50 million over the next three years. That's going to go a long way to

meeting that demand or those expectations from parents, but it's still going to

produce some tough decisions for the board.

The school

district has to do something, as all local governments have to do, which is

balance their budgets on an ongoing basis. That's not a discipline, curiously,

that provincial governments have imposed on themselves — at least until our

government chose to impose the discipline of a balanced budget. We're going to

have to make some difficult decisions; local governments are going to have to

make some decisions and hopefully move ahead.

I'm feeling at

this point, I'd say, much more optimistic than I have for a long time —

certainly since 1996. I think we had a tough 2002 — no question about that. It

was certainly one of the toughest years in my life, but I'm feeling renewed and

optimistic as we move forward into 2003. I think what we are seeing are the

rewards, the benefits, of the kind of fiscal discipline that we have shown in

our first 19 months in office and certainly the fiscal discipline the Minister

of Finance and the Premier have shown in respect of that. By being fair, by

being responsible, we are now in a position to see some of the rewards of good

fiscal management in this province.

Sometimes

people liken politics to a roller-coaster, and I'm not sure that the metaphor is

entirely appropriate. I know roller-coasters go up and down — no question

about that. The one time I was foolish enough to go on one, though, I must say

the trip was uniformly terrifying. The only good part that I could see was the

[ Page 4828 ]

end, so I'm not going to use the roller-coaster metaphor, even though there

have certainly been lots of ups and downs. I think, at this point, we are going

into a new and better period in our provincial history, and I'm very gratified

to be a part of that.

I think we're

turning a corner economically. We see, as well, because of turning that corner,

the positive programs which were outlined in the throne speech. I fully expect

that when we hear the provincial budget from the Finance minister tomorrow,

there are going to be lots more reasons to feel optimistic, to be proud of being

a British Columbian.

Now, among the

elements in the throne speech that I particularly want to note, I was very

pleased to see the emphasis on forest reforms. Forestry remains very much the

economic backbone of the constituency of Shuswap. Like operators in other parts

of the province, excessive regulation and excessive taxation under the former

regime have contributed, in some cases, to chronic losses. I'm very proud to be

part of a government that's brought in a new Forest Practices Code that's

eliminated a lot of that unnecessary burden on our forest industry. I'm proud to

be a part of a government that's set about to protect the continuing harvesting

of portions of the province through working forest legislation. I think that's a

huge step ahead. I'm very confident that the Minister of Forests, when he

introduces new forest legislation into the province, will see the forest

industry — not only in Shuswap but across the province — once again be the

dynamic, competitive industry that we all want to see forestry be in British

Columbia.

[1615]

I was also

very pleased to see in the throne speech a lot of emphasis on transportation,

because certainly in the Shuswap this has been a huge issue over recent years.

Obviously, there is lots of public concern around the Trans-Canada Highway, the

need to undertake strategic improvements in a number of areas along the

Trans-Canada Highway so that it is a safer highway not only for people who live

in British Columbia but for the many people who visit this province on an annual

basis. I was delighted to see the emphasis.

Obviously,

with the new dedicated funds for the gasoline tax, 3.5 cents, we are going to

have some opportunities to accelerate a number of highways projects which would

otherwise be waiting a long time — things like the Kicking Horse Pass, which

the Premier on a few occasions now has told us is the number one provincial

transportation priority. I strongly salute that. Kicking Horse Pass is widely

acknowledged to be one of the most dangerous stretches of highway in the entire

nation. I'm delighted that we're going to be able to move forward with that

project based on the dedicated fund.

I know there

are a lot of transportation projects — I'm sure there are in all the

constituencies of this province — but the Swan Lake interchange is very

important to people in Armstrong, Spallumcheen and Vernon. There are smaller

projects, a bridge at Swansea Point over Hummingbird Creek and so on. We have

been able, through the 3.5 cent levy, to create a fund that will allow us to

proceed with those important transportation infrastructure projects without

throwing it — as, again, the former government did — into the laps of our

children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to pay for it. It's a great

plan, and I'm proud that we are moving forward with it.

I also wanted

to talk a little bit today about a number of the areas in which the Ministry of

Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services helps deliver key elements in the

throne speech. My ministry — Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services —

helps enrich the province in a broad range of areas. For example, we're

responsible for municipal affairs in this province. We have a number of

initiatives that are underway, certainly most notably the community charter

which the Minister of State for Community Charter is leading.

In housing we

have undertaken a very important partnership, I think, with the Ministry of

Health to undertake Independent Living B.C. Over the next four or five years we

will see the construction of 5,000 new units for low-income frail elderly in the

province. It is a huge undertaking, a huge commitment on the part of our

government, to ensure that every elderly citizen — particularly low-income,

frail elderly — has the kind of housing they need in this province to ensure

that they aren't obliged to, for example, find themselves in institutional care

inappropriately or in acute care beds. So that's an important partnership and an

important new-era commitment that we are delivering.

The Minister

of State for Women's Equality — I'm sure she's going to be telling the House

in due course about programs in her area. In immigration and multiculturalism

we've got important work underway with the federal government. In arts and

culture programs we've got a lot of exciting stuff going on — heritage

programs, safety engineering, fire commissioner. All of these are important

areas in the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services.

[1620]

I wanted

particularly to talk about two areas of the ministry, sports and aboriginal

services, because they are certainly featured in the throne speech. Before I do

that, I want to salute the very exceptional public servants in the Ministry of

Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services who I have the great fortune to work

with on a daily basis.

I've had the

good fortune in my 24 years to work with a number of exceptional public

servants. We had a great team at the Columbia-Shuswap regional district. I'm

particularly grateful for the opportunity that I have to work with folks in the

ministry who are not only knowledgable and capable and skilful in the way they

undertake their duties, but they are…. I think just as importantly or perhaps

more so, they are very excited, very enthusiastic and very hard-working. They

are, I think, appreciative of being part of a team that is delivering many

exciting new initiatives to the people of British Columbia. We too often take

for granted the work that our public servants do, and I don't want to

[ Page 4829 ]

overlook them in this case. We have great people in the ministry, and they

are part of a great team that delivers some very important initiatives for the

people of British Columbia.

Among those, I

want to talk about sports a little bit. Sports has always been a very important

part of my life and continues…

Hon. G.

Bruce: You're quite a basketball player.

Hon. G.

Abbott: Yes, I'm quite a basketball player, although never drafted in the

NBA and never taller than 5 foot 10 ½, which limited my…. And I can't jump,

either, but apart from those few inadequacies, I do love sports.

Hon. G.

Bruce: I heard you were very, very fast.

Hon. G.

Abbott: Yes, indeed. The friendly heckling is coming fast and furious here

now, Mr. Speaker, and I'll try to ignore it for a time so that I can get through

my remarks.

Sports has

always been an important part of my life, and I'm delighted to have the

opportunity to be the minister responsible for amateur sports in the province.

Amon