Third Session, 42nd Parliament

(2022) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Afternoon Sitting

Issue No. 162

ISSN 1499-2175

The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.

The PDF transcript remains the official digital version.

CONTENTS

Routine Business

Introductions by Members

Tributes

Kerry Park Islanders hockey team

D. Routley

Introductions by Members

Introduction and First Reading of

Bills

Bill 8 — Attorney General Statutes (Hague Convention

on Child and Family Support) Amendment Act, 2022

Hon. D. Eby

Bill 9 — Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act,

Hon. D. Eby

Statements (Standing Order 25B)

Nanaimo Affordable Housing Society

A. Walker

Awareness of rare diseases and disorders

S. Bond

Zoe Clemens

J. Routledge

Haisla Nation wild salmon protection

E. Ross

Peace and values of respect and

cooperation

S. Chandra Herbert

Retirement of fire chief Jim Miller

D. Clovechok

Oral Questions

International energy supply and B.C. LNG

projects

E. Ross

Hon. J. Horgan

T. Stone

Divestment from Russia and Russian involvement in

B.C. pipeline projects

A. Olsen

Hon. J. Horgan

Action on gas prices

P. Milobar

Hon. B. Ralston

S. Cadieux

L. Doerkson

Hon. J. Horgan

Orders of the Day

Budget Debate

(continued)

R. Russell

B. Banman

Hon. L. Beare

D. Ashton

S. Chant

D. Clovechok

Hon. R. Fleming

M. Elmore

Hon. M. Rankin

Hon. A. Kang

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022

The House met at 1:33 p.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: L. Doerkson.

Introductions by Members

Hon. B. Ralston: Joining us in the members’ gallery this afternoon is His Excellency

Jon Fredriksen, the ambassa­dor of Norway to Canada. His Excellency is

here on his first official visit to British Columbia and has already had the

pleasure of meeting with you, Mr. Speaker, I understand.

He will be meeting with the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills

Training and the Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation later

today. I will have the opportunity to meet with him tomorrow.

Will the House please make His Excellency feel very

welcome.

Hon. R. Kahlon: We have today with us five students and a professor from the Vancouver

Island University. They are here in the Legislature getting a tour and

getting a sense of what happens here. They’re going to be watching question

period. I’m going to have a chance to speak with them after question period

today.

[1:35 p.m.]

We have with us Prof. Amber Hieb, Sofia Johnson, Paige Lum, Brian

Robinson, Olivia Wright and Claire Tomalty. I’m hoping that the House can

join me in making them feel very, very welcome today.

R. Glumac: I would like to introduce in the House today my partner, Haven

Lurbiecki, her sister Tanya and Tanya’s partner, Shane. Tanya and Shane are

imminently expecting the birth of their baby boy Henry — hopefully not too

imminent, not during question period, although we do have the Minister of

Health here. So I’m sure we’ll be fine if that happens. Would the House

please make them feel welcome.

Tributes

KERRY PARK ISLANDERS HOCKEY TEAM

D. Routley: I have to explain my voice. These days if you have a hoarse voice,

you must explain. It’s because I yelled all night. Yeah, I yelled at a

hockey team. The Kerry Park Islanders last night dispatched the Victoria

Cougars in four straight games with the able play of my dear stepson,

Matthew Baird.

I have to say a couple of words. The Kerry Park Islanders

qualified last for the playoffs. The Cougars were first. A four-straight

sweep was not expected but really amazing. Matt is the captain of the

team. He’s a 20-year-old. This is the end of his junior career. He is a

great kid.

The Kerry Park Islanders retired his jersey. It’s the only jersey

they’ve ever retired. Matt is a great defenceman, fourth all-time in

their scoring as a defenceman. He’s a great centreman. He plays every

position. I call him duct tape because he can do everything. He’s

generous. He’s a good soul. So is the team. They’re generous. They’ve

donated almost $1,200 over their last two games to the Red Cross in

Ukraine.

I would ask all the members to help me congratulate the Kerry Park

Islanders. I understand if the Victoria area MLAs may not clap quite so

loudly.

Well done, Matt and the Kerry Park Islanders.

Introductions by Members

E. Ross: In the gallery with us today is Daryl Jones. Daryl Jones is 72 years

old. I met him on the campaign trail. He was actually getting involved with

the leadership race because he was concerned about where forestry is

heading, as he’s been in the logging industry his entire life. He owns

Chemainus towing and has owned it since 1968.

When we first started talking on the phone, we realized we actually

had some common history. Amongst all his many jobs, he was also a

beachcomber and a hand logger. I was a beachcomber and a hand logger for the

better part of the ’80s and ’90s. It’s a very hard job to do. It’s a young

man’s job. It’s a very dangerous job. We didn’t start talking for like 45

minutes about bundles, about cables, about toll lines, about chokers —

everything but the leadership race.

He’s here today. Would the House please make welcome Daryl

Jones.

B. Stewart: It’s an honour to rise in the House today after my colleague Relic,

who I had no idea had done all those things. I wanted to introduce a couple

of friends of mine that have joined us here today in the precinct — Anne and

Mike Murphy from West Kelowna as well as Allan and Linda Edser.

Linda was somebody that I met back in 2008 who had previously worked

for Premier Lougheed in Alberta. We worked together. She was my campaign

manager in 2009. She’s also known for her gardening skills in the area. More

importantly, she told me over lunch today about a small item when Premier

Lougheed was in the Empress, about a small fire that they had to evacuate in

the middle of a meeting.

Anyways, Linda, Allan, Mike and Anne, welcome.

[1:40 p.m.]

Introduction and

First Reading of Bills

BILL 8 — ATTORNEY GENERAL STATUTES

(HAGUE CONVENTION ON

CHILD AND

FAMILY SUPPORT) AMENDMENT ACT, 2022

Hon. D. Eby presented a message from Her Honour the

Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Attorney General Statutes (Hague

Convention on Child and Family Support) Amendment Act, 2022.

Hon. D. Eby: I move the bill be introduced and read a first time

now.

I’m pleased to introduce the Attorney General Statutes Amendment

Act, 2022. This bill would amend….

Pardon me, hon. Speaker. Did you introduce Bill 8 or Bill 9? I

thought I heard you say the Hague amendment act.

Mr. Speaker: Bill 8.

Hon. D. Eby: Okay.

Bill 8 is the Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act. It is not

the Hague amendment act, which is Bill 9, which I’ll introduce

shortly.

I’m pleased to introduce the Attorney General Statutes Amendment

Act, 2022. This bill would amend the Civil Resolution Tribunal Act to

replace the current judicial oversight mechanism for civil resolution

tribunal small claims disputes and give the tribunal authority to

resolve disputes about Insurance Corp. of B.C. decisions assigning

responsibility for vehicle accidents.

This bill would also amend the Legal Profession Act and the

Notaries Act to provide the boards of governors of the Law Foundation

and the Notary Foundation, respectively, with authority to approve the

interest rate and service charges on lawyers’ and notaries’ pooled

client trust accounts.

Mr. Speaker: Members, the correct title of the bill was Bill 8, Attorney

General Statutes (Hague Convention on Child and Family Support)

Amendment Act, 2022. The question is first reading of the

bill.

Motion approved.

Hon. D. Eby: I move the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second

reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Bill 8, Attorney General Statutes (Hague Convention on Child and

Family Support) Amendment Act, 2022, introduced, read a first time and

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

sitting of the House after today.

BILL 9 — ATTORNEY GENERAL STATUTES

AMENDMENT ACT,

Hon. D. Eby presented a message from Her Honour the

Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Attorney General Statutes Amendment

Act, 2022.

Hon. D. Eby: We’ll get there, hon. Speaker.

I move that the bill be introduced and read a first time

now.

I’m pleased to introduce Bill 9, the Attorney General Statutes

Amendment Act, 2022. This bill makes amendments to the

Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act that are needed to implement the

2007 Hague convention on the international recovery of child support and

other forms of family maintenance in British Columbia. This bill also

makes minor, related amendments to the Family Law Act. It will

facilitate the expansion of the ministry’s child support recalculation

service.

Mr. Speaker: Members, the question is the first reading of Bill 9.

Motion approved.

Hon. D. Eby: I move the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second

reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Bill 9, Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act, 2022, introduced,

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

reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Statements

(Standing Order 25B)

NANAIMO AFFORDABLE

HOUSING SOCIETY

A. Walker: I want to recognize the Nanaimo Affordable Housing Society for all

the important work that they do bringing to market and managing

affordable housing in our community.

Earlier this week I spoke with Andrea Blakeman, the CEO of the

society. She shared with me a story of a woman who came into their

office recently. This petite and cheery older woman was well dressed,

articulate and all-around well put together, but she had no immediate

family in this province and was being pressured to sell her car to cover

her living expenses. At 73 years old, this woman couldn’t sell her car,

because for the last year and a half, this car was where she lived. It

was her home. Sadly, this story is not unique in our

community.

What we are seeing in our community is this society and other

incredible groups working in partnership with all levels of government,

collaborating on affordable housing solutions and helping make sure that

people have access to the quality housing that they deserve. The Nanaimo

Affordable Housing Society now manages 700 units of affordable housing,

including 130 units of housing under construction right now in our

community. One project on Hammond Bay Rd. in Nanaimo will create 53 one-

and two-bedroom rental homes for low- and moderate-income individuals,

families, seniors and people living with diverse abilities.

The work that this society does reminds me that no matter how

difficult the challenge is, when we work together, we can accomplish

great things. We can make life better for all people in our community,

including those that need a little extra support.

Would the House please join with me in congratulating the

incredible work of the Affordable Housing Society and for all that they

have done, bringing affordable housing into our community.

AWARENESS OF

RARE DISEASES AND

DISORDERS

S. Bond: This week marked Rare Disease Day. Every year on the last day of

February, people in organizations around the world take

part in Rare

Disease Day with the primary goal of raising awareness about rare

diseases and their impact on patients and working to improve lives

through greater access to treatment.

[1:45 p.m.]

People from 106 countries took part this year, hosting more than

600 events to increase knowledge and further support for the 300 million

people around the globe who live with a rare disease.

According to the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders, about

one in 12 Canadians are affected by a rare disorder. Two-thirds of them

are children. Because these diseases are so uncommon, many of them are

not well understood and can be under-researched, with any available

expertise being limited and often fragmented across the country and

around the world. This can severely limit patients’ access to

much-needed treatment and care.

In Canada, we lag behind other nations in our ap­proaches to

rare disorders. Only 60 percent of new treatments make it into the

country, and those that do get approved an average of six years later

than they do in the U.S.A. and Europe. It is clear that this needs to

change.

Today I want to say thank you to all those working to raise

awareness of rare diseases, expanding knowledge and improving access to

new and effective treatments. There is still so much to do to ensure

that all people with rare conditions have equitable access to the

medical care that they need, but I know that together, as Canadians, we

can continue working to make a difference.

Today, as we recognize and reflect on Rare Disease Day, we have

the opportunity to join others around the world as, together, we work to

raise awareness, build support and inspire hope.

ZOE CLEMENS

J. Routledge: I rise to honour the life of Zoe Clemens.

I met Zoe about 15 years ago. She was teaching a watercolour

course at the Community Centred College for retirees in Burnaby. While

we painted, she told us stories, like how she met Tommy Douglas at her

mother’s kitchen table in Saskatchewan when she was a little

girl.

She taught us to practise our watercolour technique by drawing a

calendar on a large piece of watercolour paper and then painting

something in a square every day, like a diary. I remembered her advice,

and that’s how I documented my experience of the first few months of the

pandemic. I think it may have saved my sanity.

Zoe and I met again after I became an MLA. She was part of the

Burnaby Arts Council. In fact, my office has become an art gallery,

where local artists can exhibit their work. Zoe’s work is hanging there

today, and it’s Burnaby-themed.

When she came to my office to hang her art, she told me more

stories. She was present at the Saskatchewan Legislature to witness

Tommy Douglas being sworn in as the first CCF Premier. And you know that

famous painting of the suffragette presenting of a petition in 1916?

That was Zoe’s grandmother. Zoe was a stand-up comic, a Lafflines

regular. She was a black belt karate instructor. She even showed me some

of her moves.

I think what her children most want us to remember is that she was

a hard-working single mother of four who might sit all evening sewing

sequins on their costumes, who slipped poems into their school lunches

and who turned them into a marching band with kitchen pots to distract

them during a hurricane. She was someone who created a world of magic

for them, who taught them to seize life with both hands.

Zoe died peacefully on January 1, 2022, at the age of

HAISLA NATION

WILD SALMON

PROTECTION

E. Ross: For over 60 years, the preservation of wild salmon has been a

cause for Haisla Nation leaders. Habitat damage and overfishing,

combined with little feed as well as predation and poaching, have led to

a deeply challenging issue.

[1:50 p.m.]

As the world population grows, so does the insatiable demand for

seafood and salmon. It is becoming increasingly difficult to protect our

salmon stock. Steelhead are in danger of going extinct, and Alaskan

fishers are again intercepting salmon destined for B.C.

rivers.

As elected chief and council, we realized how efforts at the local

level, no matter how passionate, just weren’t enough, as there are many

factors to consider. Sometimes you need a partner.

Over the years, members of my community in Kitimat have worked

incredibly hard to rebuild the Kitimat River as we saw the river’s

degradation for 60 years, until we were finally able to find a

surprising partner and ally in the LNG industry. As part of their

habitat offsetting commitment, LNG Canada helped repair habitats in the

Kitimat River estuary and Minette Bay by creating salt marshes and rock

reef habitats.

Chevron also constructed 13,000 square metres of new aquatic

habitat at the Cecil Creek ponds. These efforts allow salmon and marine

biodiversity to return to healthy levels, making rivers accessible to

juvenile salmon for spawning, overwintering and creating rearing

habitats.

B.C. salmon stocks are declining to historic lows, and it will

take many more partners and allies to ensure plenty of salmon in our

rivers, lakes and oceans. Salmon are an important part of our ecosystem,

economy and culture.

Thank you to the volunteers and the corporate partners who work

tirelessly to ensure that our rivers and B.C. salmon are protected today

and for future generations.

PEACE AND VALUES OF

RESPECT AND

COOPERATION

S. Chandra Herbert: I listen to the radio with my son, and on the radio, we hear of

war. We hear of invasion. We hear of violence. He asks me questions. He

has lots of thoughts. How do you explain war to a child? “It doesn’t

make any sense. They’re taking other people’s things. You’re not allowed

to do that, Papa. That doesn’t make sense.”

We were reading a kid’s book the other day on a student council

election. Somebody wanted to run to be on the council, so they put up

posters saying: “Don’t vote for the other guy, because he’s a….” I won’t

say the word, because I’d have to withdraw it. Again, he looked

confused. “Why would somebody do that? Why would we use insults? Why

would we be mean?” He has a list that he reminds us of: “Don’t be mean.

Don’t shout at other people.” He teaches me, “No all or nothing,”

although he likes to use that sometimes. “I will never do this

again!”

It’s an important reminder to me and, I think, to us all, as we

are in a time of turmoil, that we have to seek the best in each other.

We have to seek to do what we want others to do as well. We must lead by

example, not make it personal, not prey on the anxieties of others but

seek the best. Seek the honour in all of us for this place. Who do we do

this work for? We do it for our children. We do it for the future. We do

it for those that we don’t even know about yet.

We try to build a better province for the vulnerable, for each

other. But we’re funny creatures. Sometimes what binds us together also

divides us so that we can’t see each other’s humanity and the common

good in all of us.

I ask that we seek the goodness and that we try to see beyond each

other so that we can have that future that our children

deserve.

RETIREMENT OF FIRE CHIEF JIM MILLER

D. Clovechok: I rise in this House today to acknowledge one of my constituents

on the occasion of his retirement from the regional district of East

Kootenay’s Columbia Valley Rural Fire and Rescue Service.

Fire chief Jim Miller started with the Windermere fire department

in 1994 as a volunteer firefighter, and was elected by his peers to be

the chief. When the fire position became permanent, Jim was the natural

choice. Chief Miller went on to amalgamate Windermere, Fairmont,

Panorama and Edgewater departments into what is known as the Columbia

Valley Rural Fire and Rescue Service.

Over the last 28 years, Jim has made sure that all of his

volunteer members received professional firefighter–level training and

mentored many of them on their journey to become professional

firefighters. There have been too many rescues, too many milestones to

cover today, but the many successes are due to the part of Jim’s

passionate and tireless dedication to his craft.

I would be remiss not to acknowledge Jim’s family — particularly

his wife, Pat, who has stood beside him all this time — and thank them

for their support and sacrifice, for the countless late nights and

practice days, with the dispatch radio going on unexpectedly at all

hours of the day and night.

[1:55 p.m.]

You only have to spend a moment with Jim to know that it’s far

more than a job for him and that he has truly poured his heart and soul

into every day and every call that he’s been out on. Jim leaves very big

shoes to fill, but like all great leaders, he has mentored his

replacement by preparing incoming fire chief Drew Sinclair to easily and

naturally step into that role and Jon Tames to become the new deputy

fire chief.

Chief Miller truly leaves a legacy to be proud of. I am proud to

take this opportunity and moment to thank him for his service and his

commitment to all of our commun­ities and to wish him and his

wife, Pat, at all the very, very best in their retirement.

Oral Questions

INTERNATIONAL ENERGY SUPPLY

AND B.C. LNG

PROJECTS

E. Ross: Vladimir Putin and his authoritarian regime are not going away. We

face a long-term energy challenge. Countries around the world are

looking for a safe transitional fuel, but the bottom line is they do not

want to get it from Russia. B.C. can be a leader in this transition by

pro­viding a secure source of clean and ethical LNG.

Currently B.C. has multiple projects on the books that are waiting

for permits: Nisg̱a’a LNG, Woodfibre

LNG, Haisla Cedar LNG, Chevron’s KM LNG, Skeena LNG, Totem LNG, Port

Edward LNG. You would think that a government — which owns the resource,

by the way — would, at a minimum, have conducted an inventory on what

additional capacity can be brought online.

My question is to the Energy Minister. Which of these proponents

has this minister called to make sure we do our part to end Russia’s

stranglehold on Europe’s energy needs?

Hon. J. Horgan: Again, another day, another question from the official opposition

about circumventing due process, putting aside our climate action plan,

saying to inves­tors that they should invest right now when final

investment decisions have not been made.

I do believe that the intent of the member is to highlight the

abundance of natural resources here in British Columbia. All of us here

are acutely aware of that.

In a time of crisis internationally, certainly British Columbia

wants to play a role, but we can’t do that unilaterally. We have to do

that in concert with investors, in concert with communities and, most

importantly, by abiding by the principles and rules that we have put in

place over many, many generations to protect the land, to protect the

people and to protect these resources going forward.

Again, I understand that the member would want us to get our

products to market in a week and a half, but that’s not going to happen.

It just isn’t going to happen.

I would suggest, instead, that we could be collaborating on other

ways to help those that are becoming refugees in central Europe, by

working collaboratively with communities. I know in my community….

Indeed, I’m sure everyone in this House has families who are opening

their hearts and their homes to those who need help. Let’s focus on

that. Let’s focus on something real and practical for right

now.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Skeena, supplemental.

E. Ross: I don’t know where that answer came from. The question was: which

of these proponents did the minister call? That was the question. I gave

a whole list of projects on the books awaiting permits. The question

is…. Mention just at least one proponent that the Energy Minister

called. That’s it, even if it’s just one.

LNG is a critical transition fuel democracies around the world

will have to rely on as they move towards clean power and energy

independence. At a time of crisis — I’m glad the Premier mentioned that:

crisis — people expect and deserve leadership. Instead, what we get from

this government are excuses.

I quote from the Energy Minister himself when asked about this

yesterday, in terms of B.C. doing its part to help Europe and Germany.

This is what the answers were — that it’s “just not feasible.” The

production is already under contract, “in the hands of investors…. They

would have to consult with their consortium. No one has called

me.”

[2:00 p.m.]

Those are the minister’s words, not mine. Those answers just

aren’t good enough in a time of crisis.

My question. At the very least, has the minister calculated just

how much more LNG capacity can be brought online, including the two

additional trains at LNG Can­ada, and what steps is he taking

today to make that happen as quickly as possible?

Hon. J. Horgan: The member will know that the first two trains of LNG Canada are

not up and running today, and they won’t be for the foreseeable future.

So again, the solutions that are needed right now do not reside in the

minds of the people on that side of the House, clearly. You’re talking

about a five- or ten-year horizon.

This used to be the party that used to say they would not pick

winners and losers in the economy. Yesterday it was: “The economy

doesn’t matter; markets don’t matter. We’ve got an idea.” Well, I’m

grateful for the idea. The idea has been around since the 1980s, and not

one gigajoule of LNG is being exported from Canada in 2022. We have a

lot of work to do, and a lot of it’s being done right now in Kitimat, in

his constituency, because we closed the deal and brought $40 billion to

British Columbia.

T. Stone: The Premier talks about picking winners and losers. The official

opposition and, I would hazard a guess, the government — at least, we

would think — as well as British Columbians are on the side of the

Ukrainians. They’re on the side of the Germans. They’re on the side of

the Europeans. They’re on the side of wanting to ensure that democracies

and freedom-loving nations in this world have the energy that they need

to power their economies and that they’re not dependent on a dictator

and an authoritarian regime like Vladimir Putin’s.

If B.C. doesn’t show leadership, the world will be looking at more

coal — more coal instead of using LNG as a cleaner, ethical transitional

fuel. Gas analysts from Wood Mackenzie say that as Russia disrupts gas

supply, competition for LNG from Europe would force countries like Japan

and China to burn more coal. A climate disaster.

German chancellor Olaf Scholz has started a seismic shift in

German and European policy. He says: “Responsible, forward-looking

energy policy is decisive not only for our economy and the environment.

It is also decisive for our security.”

Germany is now accelerating the construction of two LNG terminals,

but without more ethical LNG, Germany may be forced to run their coal

power plants well past their 2030 deadline to phase them out. That last

piece is not my words. Those are the words of the German Economy

Minister, Robert Habeck, who also happens to be a member of the German

Green Party.

The question is this. Will the Premier show some leadership and

take some action today to provide the world with our clean, ethical LNG,

or is he fine to sit idly by and watch democracies like Germany and

others have to continue to rely on coal power?

Hon. J. Horgan: If the members on the other side want to help the Ukrainian

people, they should open their wallets and make a contribution to the

Red Cross. If they want to help the people of Ukraine, they should make

a contribution to the UN commission on refugees. If they want to help

people today, they should be taking action that can help today, not some

mythical dream down in the future.

I know that the members on the other side understand how gas is

extracted from the ground. It then has to be liquefied, put on a vessel

and taken somewhere, and that doesn’t happen in a week and a half. That

happens over a long period of time. I would think they would know that

because they spent ten years talking about it and didn’t deliver one LNG

plant.

Mr. Speaker: Leader of the Official Opposition, supplemental.

T. Stone: Again, the Premier always has a knack for boiling this down into

the most simplistic terms possible — winners and losers. He makes it

sound like it’s an either-or — that you can’t, on the one hand, be fully

supportive of providing funds to the Red Cross to support refugees and

others in need and, at the same time, stand up strong and say that

you’re not going to support anything that serves to accelerate the

invasion by Russia in Ukraine.

Interjections.

[2:05 p.m.]

Mr. Speaker: Members. Let’s listen to the question, please.

T. Stone: We have European nations, allies of ours, that don’t want to be

dependent on Germany anymore…. They don’t want to be dependent on Russia

today. They don’t want to be dependent on Russia in three to five years

from now.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members will come to order.

T. Stone: Let’s see who is stepping up to the plate.

The Australian Minister for Trade said: “Australian LNG exporters

are ideally placed to meet any demand that may arise globally, as

Australia stands ready to support our friends and allies.”

Liz Truss, the secretary of the United Kingdom, says: “We’re also

pushing for alternatives in energy supply so that nations are less

reliant on Russia for their gas. What happens in eastern Europe matters

for the entire world.”

We haven’t heard any solidarity like that from this Premier or

this government.

The question again to the Premier is: why won’t the Premier show

some leadership and ensure that B.C.’s clean, ethical LNG can serve as

the transitional fuel that democracies of the world can rely

upon?

Hon. J. Horgan: Again, I’m amazed that I have to give these lessons after all

these years. A member of the former executive council would, I’m

assuming, know this.

Australia can make those statements because they are now, at this

moment, today, exporting LNG into the international marketplace. British

Columbia is not, because for 16 years, you on the other side talked

about it but didn’t deliver any of it. We’ve had five years, and there’s

a plant underway in that guy’s riding to deliver $40 billion to the

private sector, coming into British Columbia, creating jobs, creating

wealth, and we want to continue to do that.

Let’s get real. The challenges in Europe are today, right now, not

five years from now, not ten years from now. Does British Columbia stand

ready to assist any citizens of the world who have democracies in place,

who want to make sure we’re focusing on the real issues of the day here

in British Columbia, which is climate action, making sure that our

permitting processes are robust, protecting people for this generation

and generations to come…?

That used to be something those people on that side of the House

stood for. I’m surprised the party of Gordon Campbell, the creator of

the carbon tax, has just completely jettisoned any interest in climate

action to get a headline on something they know cannot happen

today.

Support refugees, support an anti-war movement by standing up,

with us, holding hands together with the Green Party, and making a

statement about freedom and democracy. That would be a useful

contribution.

DIVESTMENT FROM RUSSIA

AND RUSSIAN INVOLVEMENT IN

B.C. PIPELINE PROJECTS

A. Olsen: I couldn’t hear the last part, but it was pointed down this way.

Anyway, I thought what was happening yesterday was going to stay in

yesterday, but apparently it’s kind of crept on into today.

On Monday, the Premier called on the B.C. Investment Corp. to

divest from Russian investments. He said the events “unfolding in Europe

right now are unprecedented in our lifetimes” and need to be stopped. “A

message, a clear and united message, from all Canadians has to go

forward. The whole point of sanctions…is to make with one voice a call

to the international community to stand up to a brutal

dictator.”

It was encouraging to see the parties united in support for the

democracy in Ukraine.

Aside from encouraging the B.C. Investment Corp. to divest, what

specific actions have we taken to divest from Russia in support of

Ukraine?

Hon. J. Horgan: I’m not aware of any investments the province of British Columbia

has in central Europe or Asia. I think we were all speaking with one

voice, including the Green Party, encouraging the trustees responsible

for pension funds and the billions of dollars to make the right choice.

It appears not only are they making the right choice, but they have been

doing so over a period of weeks. That’s good news for

everybody.

If the member’s got a secondary question that can lay out what

moneys or what investments he’s talking about, I’ll be in a better

position to answer the question.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Saanich North and the Islands, supplemental.

A. Olsen: Today in question period, the Premier said that we should be

focusing on actions that can happen today. Specifically, the Premier

said let’s focus on something real and practical right now, in response

to the previous questions.

[2:10 p.m.]

The solutions we are using as a global community right now are

sanctions and divestments of Russian assets — Putin’s assets and the

assets of Russian oligarchs.

Since the beginning of the week, members of this assembly have

been positioning oil and gas development in British Columbia as ethical

alternates to Russian sources. B.C.’s supposedly ethical oil and gas

isn’t so ethical, though. Not only is it associated with human rights

abuses against Indigenous people in our own country; it is still a

profit machine for those Russian oligarchs that, globally, the world is

divesting from.

Evraz plc is a company supplying steel for both the Coastal

GasLink LNG project that the members here have been talking about and

the Trans Mountain pipeline project. The owner, chairman and former CEO

of Evraz are all Russian oligarchs, who the world is divesting from. In

2018, the United States placed these owners on a Putin list of Russians

who had benefited from their close relationships with Putin. Yes, four

years ago the Americans identified these individuals as

dangerous.

To the Premier, will we do our part to relieve ourselves from

Russia’s stranglehold, as the member said earlier, and immediately order

Coastal GasLink to divest themselves of their relationship with Evraz

plc?

Hon. J. Horgan: If I understood the member’s first question, it was: what

investments does the government of British Columbia have in Russian

assets or Russian resources? I’m confident the answer is

none.

What private sector companies operating in British Columbia are

doing is not known to me. I’ll take the member’s research as given, and

we’ll take a look at that. These are not B.C.’s investments. These are

private sector investments that were certainly not known to me until the

member stood in his place. I’ll take that under advisement, and then

I’ll get back to him.

ACTION ON GAS PRICES

P. Milobar: As the cost of everything seems to be sky­rocketing these

days, under this NDP government and this Premier’s watch, drivers are

now faced with close to $2 a litre in gas, not for premium gasoline but

for regular. British Columbians have been paying the highest prices in

Canada for weeks, and that’s due to the fact that we have the highest

gas taxes in North America, to go with those prices.

When asked about it on Friday, the Premier’s response was a very

flippant: “Take a bus if it costs that much.” Well, news flash to the

Premier. For a great many people in British Columbia, that doesn’t work

for them. But I guess it’s pretty easy to say that when you just gave

yourself a $40,000 raise in the budget. British Columbians are desperate

for help as everyday costs keep rising, and the Premier is simply not

delivering.

Will the Premier take steps today to help British Columbians deal

with the high price of gas?

Hon. B. Ralston: There is no doubt that Russia’s attack on Ukraine has completely

upset and changed global energy markets. Absolutely. It’s had an impact

here, and as economies continue to reopen, demand for gas supply is

increasing across North America as well. There are record high prices —

I acknowledge that — as the critic has said.

Unlike the opposition, unlike the Liberal opposition, we believe

that gas companies should be publicly accountable for unexplained

markups and cost increases. That’s why we brought in the Fuel Price

Transparency Act, to force companies to come clean. We look forward to

the B.C. Util­ities Commission, the energy watchdog, expand the

public reporting on the causes of higher gas prices.

In addition, let’s not forget that we have reduced the cost of

operating a passenger vehicle here in British Columbia, saving drivers

$500 a year on their car insurance through lower ICBC rates. In

addition, particularly for the member for Abbotsford West, whose

constituents drive across the Port Mann Bridge, they’re saving $1,500 a

year because we took the tolls off.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Kamloops–North Thompson, supplemental.

[2:15 p.m.]

P. Milobar: A couple of quick things. We’ve had record gas prices before the

conflict in Ukraine, and we continue to have the record and the highest

gas prices in North America, despite the conflict.

The BCUC report. In that report, they were forbidden from looking

at any government taxation or regulations as part of the cross-pressures

of gas prices. Just another way for this Premier to pass the buck on to

someone else.

Let’s look at another gem of a quote from the Premier. “We are

monitoring gas prices, and we will take steps if necessary…. We have

talked about a range of options, and we will look at them…should the

prices remain high over the next number of weeks.”

Well, that was March 21, 2018. It’s now been 206 weeks, and all we

have to show for it is a website. That’s it. That’s what the Premier’s

action is over 206 weeks.

Today, on the backdrop of the Premier giving himself his $40,000

raise….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Please continue.

P. Milobar: Under that backdrop of that $40,000 raise, regular people going

out to fill their minivan are paying $50 more to fill that minivan up

under this Premier’s watch. A pickup truck, which most people use to get

to and from work, is $75 more to fill under this Premier’s

watch.

These are families simply trying to get by, trying to move their

kids around to events and trying to get to work, and the Premier is

completely dismissive of them.

Fifty-seven percent of British Columbians report they can’t keep

up with the cost of living under this NDP government. One of the

reasons: they seem to have instantly decided to make the carbon tax no

longer revenue neutral. That was one of their first acts when they came

into government. As a result, there is $1 billion that could be going to

transfer back into people’s pockets, but instead, this Premier wants to

just rake it back into general revenues.

Again, instead of the glib talk, will the Premier actually deliver

on his words 206 weeks later and show us what action he was going to do

to lower the price at the pumps?

Hon. B. Ralston: The planned increase in the carbon tax April 1, a cent a litre,

doesn’t explain the increases that British Columbians are seeing at the

pump. I know the member for Kamloops–South Thompson wants to attribute

the cost increases to that tax increase. It’s not the

explanation.

Really, it’s disappointing, I think a major policy reversal, to

see the member try to argue against a measure that is proven to produce

lower emissions and funds that continue investment in low-carbon

innovation.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members will come to order.

Hon. B. Ralston: The member quoted, back a few years ago, the Premier. Let me quote

the Minister of Transportation, Kevin Falcon, further back. He himself

has said there is no easy solution to address rising fuel prices. Let me

quote him: “I don’t want to…pretend that there’s any magic solutions to

the fact that fuel prices have doubled in the past 12

months.”

S. Cadieux: The minister can go off on bizarre tangents, but let’s remind the

minister….

Interjections.

S. Cadieux: Wait for it. Wait for it, folks.

Mr. Speaker: Members, let’s listen to the question, please.

S. Cadieux: We’re talking about the fact that the Premier is making comments,

telling people to just take the bus. It shows exactly how out of touch

the Premier is with how people are feeling about the cost of living

under the NDP government.

In Surrey today, gas costs $1.86. It’s predicted to be $1.94

tomorrow. In other parts of the province, we’re facing similar hikes.

The Premier doesn’t care.

Here’s Jess, from Victoria: “Some people, like those living with

disabilities or immune-compromised, can’t han­dle being on a bus,

or the walk to and from the stop, or the long waits at the stops, or the

buses that don’t come at all. Premier, you’re awfully entitled if you

think it’s a solution to rising gas prices.”

What will the Premier do, besides talking, to actually help

drivers?

[2:20 p.m.]

Hon. B. Ralston: It’s interesting to reflect upon the comments of the members of

the opposition and the suggestions that they have offered.

Clearly, as Werner Antweiler, professor of business at the Sauder

School has said, focusing on tax increases…. If those were taken away,

it would simply boost the profits of the oil companies, and it would do

absolutely nothing for consumers — absolutely nothing. That seems to be

the solution that’s offered.

The member for Surrey South has referred to it as a bizarre

tangent. I commend to her the words of her leader: “I don’t…pretend

there’s any magic solution to the fact that fuel prices have doubled in

the past 12 months.”

Mr. Speaker: Member for Surrey South, supplemental.

S. Cadieux: When asked about high gas prices last Friday, the Premier said:

“Everything’s on the table,” and “I’m certainly prepared to look at any

opportunity that we have.”

That should sound familiar to people, though, because the Premier

promised that same thing in 2018 and 2019. Here we are, years later —

nothing but a website to show for it.

In fact, many of my constituents, under the NDP, have it a lot

worse. Instead of it taking 45 minutes and $240 a month in gas to drive

to work at YVR, it now takes twice as long and costs $400 a month.

That’s almost $2,000 a year more because of NDP gridlock and the highest

gas prices and taxes in North America.

Instead of posturing and ducking and weaving, can the Premier tell

us specifically what he meant when he said: “Everything is on the

table”? What exactly is it that the Premier is prepared to

do?

Hon. B. Ralston: The opposition has opposed the ef­forts of the government to

bring transparency and defended the interests of the big oil companies

to hide this information. We had a debate…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. B. Ralston: …about the Fuel Price Transparency Act, and they opposed that.

They were concerned about corporate interests rather than the interests

of working families here in British Columbia. For years, they turned a

blind eye to the industry, the gouging of using gas prices in secret,

and refused to take action.

We took action. We introduced the Fuel Price Transparency Act. The

BCUC, the energy watchdog, is working on that.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, let’s hear the answer, please.

Hon. B. Ralston: And we will have solutions coming forward very soon.

L. Doerkson: The Premier, fresh off a $40,000 raise, has a solution for British

Columbians for dealing with the high cost of gas. His solution is to

take the bus.

Kim from Duncan seems a little skeptical. I quote Kim: “Sure. I’ll

pile all four kids on the bus and somehow get them all off to their

respective schools on time. I’ll carry ten bags of groceries

too.”

A user on Reddit said: “Sorry, Premier. I have to drive to

different sites throughout the week for work, and I’m pretty sure my

employer will not understand a week’s work taking a month if I have to

take the transit. Not everyone works at a desk all day long or is given

a company car or a gas card.”

The Premier keeps promising to all British Columbians to use all

the tools, but so far, nothing.

Can the Premier tell Kim and British Columbians just like her what

real actions he is taking?

Hon. J. Horgan: Clearly the official opposition doesn’t like the real action of

legislation that ensures that companies can’t gouge British Columbians.

They had 16 years to do that, and they did not a darn thing. When they

had the opportunity to vote in favour of it, they voted against it.

Instead of protecting consumers, they wanted to protect the interests of

oil companies.

The member for Surrey South asked what we’re doing about

affordability. What are we doing about affordability?

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. J. Horgan: One of the first things we did was reduce ferry fares. One of the

first things we did was…. We eliminated the tolls that Kevin Falcon and

his government put in place in the first place.

What we also did…. We eliminated medical services premiums, which

went from just being a small part of a family budget to a big part —

annualizing increases, year over year. Who did that? Kevin Falcon did

that.

[2:25 p.m.]

We reduced the baked-in increase in rents that the Liberals put in

place by only keeping it to the cost of inflation. We reduced ICBC

costs. We gave…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. J. Horgan: …two rebates to ICBC. They don’t want to hear about it, because

their record….

Interjections.

Hon. J. Horgan: They don’t want to hear about it.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. J. Horgan: When British Columbians hear B.C. Liberals stand up and talk about

affordability, they can’t get out of their head MSP, tolls.

language education while they were acting like loan sharks when it came

to students, putting the cost of the student loan plus interest, plus 2

percent. We eliminated that interest. We had the party of tolls, the

party of premiums and the party of loan-sharking to students telling us

about affordability. Really hard to take. That’s why there are so few of

them on that side of the House and so many of us on this side of the

House.

[End of question period.]

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: It’s over, guys. It’s over. Calm down. The question period is

over.

Orders of the Day

Hon. M. Farnworth: For the members who will be participating this afternoon, I call continued

debate on the budget.

[S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.]

Budget Debate

(continued)

R. Russell: I spoke yesterday of the long list of ways the province is helping

Lytton to navigate their recovery, both with many millions of dollars and

dozens of people helping their community.

I will be very clear that the member for Cariboo-Chilcotin’s comment

about me “leading the recovery efforts for Lytton” is wrong, and his

comments send the wrong message. Local communities know what they need far

better than us in Victoria. I have lived this. So unless the community asks

us to, we do not tell them what to do. We do whatever we can to support, to

resource the needs that they identify as priorities. We believe we should

support, not dictate.

Earlier this week, the Minister of Indigenous Relations and

Reconciliation and I had a discussion with Chief Gabriel of Penticton Indian

Band. Central to his conversation were his concerns, shared by the entire

Okanagan Nation Alliance, on the recent prevalence of racist behaviour in

society and two specific events tied to the convoy protests.

Hopefully, we in this House are in consensus, and we all unambiguously

agree that action to defuse and to diminish racism is part of the future we

want to see. So I’m pleased that it’s a common thread through our

budget.

We’re continuing to build upon other efforts underway to combat

racism, including modernization of the Police Act, developing a K-to-12

anti-racism action plan and tackling anti-Indigenous racism in health

care.

[2:30 p.m.]

Funding continues to support an anti-racism awareness campaign and

provincial anti-racism network Resilience B.C. as well as more than 190

community organizations that are working to address racism and diversity in

B.C.

This government is also engaging and working in partnership with B.C.

communities to help draft anti-racism legislation to help to provide better,

more equitable services, and to help to identify gaps in services to

racialized communities. This is all part of how we help move the dial and

advance our movement and action on anti-racism.

Official opposition seems to feel that inaction on issues fixes us

forever in the current state we’re at. It is clear that didn’t work for them

with their loss of 30,000 forestry jobs in rural B.C. under their watch of

inaction. It’s also clear with the wicked problems of climate change or,

indeed, racism.

In the context of racism, the member for Vancouver-Hastings described

it very well yesterday morning: “We remember the Japanese Canadians who

suffered many losses and how fear and racism can lead us down a path that

destroys our ideals of equality and democracy. We reflect on the many

casualties of wartimes to remind ourselves to hold strong to our values and

the integrity of our democratic institutions.” That’s why our action

matters: ideals like equality and democracy.

This budget and the economic plan and throne speech shine a light on

the importance of helping people prepare for the jobs of the future. Of

course, my lens on this is focused on the opportunities for our rural

communities. Looping back to my introduction, employment in our rural

communities goes far beyond just metrics. Employment helps give us some

sense of identity as rural British Columbians. It provides hope and

purpose.

Three weeks ago the member opposite from Prince George–Mackenzie asked

an astute question about what happens when big projects such as LNG, CGL,

TMX, Site C are done. Those are important jobs, 100 percent. How­ever,

what I want for rural B.C., and the budget highlighted for me, is that we

want a commitment to generational work to develop the talent B.C. needs for

the future.

I look to the inspiring work of JERI, Advanced Education, Forests and

exciting discussions I’ve had with our parliamentary secretaries for

Technology, Skills Training, Fisheries. Merge that with the bold steps

coming from our Minister of Environment that identified a road map to

CleanBC and the goals therein, and what I see from this convergence is an

ambition on the part of this government to skill up and inspire rural

British Columbians to be leaders in markets that we know aren’t short term

and don’t come with negative, long-term environmental price tags but rather

will check the three boxes of economic prosperity, environmental health and

social vibrancy.

This is a great example of how broken this old and corrupt narrative

is about jobs versus environment. It’s simply not true upon any deep

inspection of the situation. As the member pointed out, the traditional

business models are short-lived. I hear an unfortunate lack of vision from

the other members, the members opposite, about the future for rural B.C. If

we do shallow accounting, these projects are great.

When my partner Christine and I are making decisions about our future,

we don’t plan on a short-term cycle. We think about the impacts we have on

children’s future. We think about our friends, our extended family and our

community. We think about our health. We think about the impact on our

environment.

I suspect that almost all of us in this House when making decisions

that matter to us in our own lives, use some form of mental accounting that

includes not just dollars and cents, but includes the social benefits and

the impacts on our health or the nature of how our decisions impact our

environment. This is how it ought to be in this House as well.

In any version of long-term proper accounting, inaction — looking at

the long-term costs of inaction on climate, for example, as we have seen in

spades in this last year, even if we set aside the indirect social and

environmental costs, that inaction is an enormously expensive

choice.

David Reay from the University of Edinburgh said: “Like taking a

wrecking ball to a set of global dominoes, climate change in the 21st

century threatens to destroy the foundations of food and water security,

smash onwards through the fragile structures of human and ecosystem health

and ultimately shake the very pillars of human civilization.”

Yes, I’m pleased that Budget 2022 builds on $2.3 billion in funding

for CleanBC, with more than $1 billion in new funding for CleanBC and the

road map ahead. There’s a lot more to do, but given where we are today, here

and now, and where we’ve come from, I’m proud of the investments we’re

making to build the scaffolding for more good jobs in rural communities,

building upon clean and inclusive growth, including investing $289 million

more in connectivity, bringing the total investment to half a billion. This

will connect another 280 rural communities, bringing us to 800 remote, rural

and First Nations communities connected by 2027.

[2:35 p.m.]

Establishing a new $76 million fund for local government climate

action program to help local governments tackle these challenges ahead, $22

million over three years to improve the province’s forests’ ability to

sequester carbon and expand the Indigenous Forest Bioeconomy Program, $15

million over three years for the BMP program. The farmers in the House will

know what that means.

Advancing our circular economy by investing $13 million for further

development of the circular economy strat­egy to remove more plastics

from our waste stream. Providing $185 million to support forestry workers in

communities. Focusing dedicated energy on watershed planning and on our

resource stewardship so that we have healthy jobs and a healthy environment

for generations to come.

Investing $25 million in clean tech innovation and partnership

opportunities with the federal government to support CleanBC objectives.

Increasing access to venture capital for clean tech investments for small

businesses by providing a temporary top-up to the small business venture tax

credit.

Providing $200 million for R and D and the life sciences sector or $25

million to clean tech innovation or $50 million to growing the manufacturing

and agricultural sectors while continuing our commitment to ESG values and

developing integrated marketplaces. Those are the kind of investments that

do matter for rural B.C.

To borrow a term that one of the bright and impressive minds from EMBC

used the other day, we need to set the stage for rural British Columbia to

re-dream what our future looks like. We don’t dream in short-term political

cycles. We dream for our families, for our friends and for our economies,

for now and for the future, for generations.

I’m absolutely convinced that as we manage our carbon emissions to

avoid incomprehensible future economic and environmental and social costs,

we will see changes to our traditional resource industries that with some

creativity and passion to create real jobs in rural B.C., we can build jobs

that fit the dream that our communities want and need.

That future won’t be short term but will provide sustainable and

desirable employment for our future loggers, fishers, miners and farmers, as

well as the new and inspiring opportunities that await. We need to provide a

foundation for redreaming what rural B.C. can and will be.

B. Banman: It is, indeed, a privilege to be able to get up in this House and

debate the budget.

I am reminded, of late, of the struggles and perils my grandparents

went through approximately 100 years ago when they escaped from Ukraine.

They escaped Ukraine to the freedom of Canada. They escaped here and were

always thankful that they could worship in the manner that they saw fit and

that they could live in peace and provide for their families.

I heard your words today, Mr. Speaker. As a child, I don’t know that I

could get my head around why people would go to war either. I think it’s one

of those struggles that we have gone through every time there is a

war.

I will get to the point, Mr. Speaker, but what’s important and what I

hope you relay to your son is that discussion, argument — heated argument,

in fact — is actually okay, that it’s actually important. Democracy itself,

freedom itself, allows for that discourse. It allows for us to learn how to

agree to disagree. It allows for us to try and express our concerns so that

we can, perhaps, move someone’s thinking from here over to here.

[2:40 p.m.]

I remember, as a child, the arguments that were around the dinner

table of my grandparents, as my aunts and uncles would debate politics. At

the end of every family dinner, we would all hug one another, say we loved

one another, and we looked forward to the next time.

I listened to my grandparents talk about the values of democracy, in

particular in Canada. When it comes to this budget, there are many, many

areas where I just simply do not agree with this government.

One of the things about democracy that is so incredibly important is

transparency. In fact, good democracy demands lots of sunlight. It sanitizes

it. Things should not happen behind closed doors, without it going onto the

floor of this particular hallowed House, so to speak. One of the things that

I find the most disturbing is the lack of transparency when it comes to

spending the taxpayers’ dollars. I find it incredibly troubling. It’s a

slippery slope.

Now the Finance Minister herself is giving herself, with­out the

blessing of this House, without the discourse of this House, the authority

to bypass the scrutiny of the Treasury Board. There’s an amendment to the

Financial Administration Act that is proposed to enable the Treasury Board

to delegate some of its functions to the chair or vice-chair of the Treasury

Board. It’s alarming.

I am reminded — respectfully, the minister is sitting in the House —

when it came to the FOI debate, that this government has now been awarded

the most secret government in Canada.

Deputy Speaker: If I might just remind the member, our practice is not to comment on

who is or who is not in the chamber. Thank you, Member.

B. Banman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I stand corrected. Nonetheless, this

government has been awarded the most secret government in Canada.

Furthermore, when it comes to enacting committees, I’ve heard the

Premier talk about how we’re all in this together, how we need to be

collaborative. I wholeheartedly agree. His actions, however, are 180-degrees

the opposite direction. He refuses to enact many of the committees where we

can have all members of this House, as is proper in democracy, to help come

up with solutions in extraordinarily difficult times. We’ve gone through a

pandemic, and we are now what many think is on the brink of World War III,

and to not enact those committees is shameful and undemocratic.

The citizens of British Columbia did not elect one party into this

House. They elected three. This is not: “We have more than you, so we get to

do whatever we want.” Yeah, I guess you can, but then don’t thump your chest

and say that you want us all to participate. It’s hollow. In fact, it just

does not ring of the truth, because actions do speak louder than words. So

far, it’s just words.

Much of this budget is words, words we have heard before in previous

budgets. I call this the budget of broken dreams, the budget of over-tax,

the budget of overspend and the budget of underdeliver.

[2:45 p.m.]

This government has been in power for half a decade. Yet every time

challenged, they look in the rearview mirror and point: “Well, when that

side was in power for 16 years….” Our citizens need people to look forward,

not backwards, not in the rearview mirror.

Quite frankly, the mistakes of the past…. And every government will

make mistakes. Nobody that I know of on the face of the earth gets it right

100 percent of the time. I’m reminded of my grandfather, whose heart was as

tender as his hands, who would take me aside and say: “Two wrongs don’t make

a right.” This budget, and under this government for the last half decade,

has failed to fulfil its promises. The other thing that my grandparents

taught me was to do what you say you’re going to do. They would often tell

me to underpromise and overdeliver. Sadly, that’s not what this government

has done.

It’s all fine and well to call a snap election during a pandemic, to

say you’re going to make life better for those of low income and even middle

income, to promise $400 to help out with rent, yet it hasn’t been delivered.

I don’t know how anyone on that side of the House has the unmitigated

audacity to think they stand on hallowed ground and higher moral authority

when they can’t keep a simple promise of $400 to those renters who need

it.

The NDP claims: “Hey, we are the champions of the lower-income and

middle-income people. We are the cham­pions of the working Joe. We are

here to help you. We’ll promise you this to get elected, but we’re not going

to deliver.” Go ask renters how well they’re doing underneath the leadership

of this government for the last half a decade. Rents have skyrocketed. In my

area, they’ve gone up almost $4,000 a year.

Gas prices is another one. This government could, during extraordinary

times, say: “Hey, you know what? We’re going to lower the gas taxes to make

it more affordable, currently, right now, just so we can get through this

together.” So that you can get to work. So that a single mom who has to

decide whether she’s going to put $50 in her minivan or buy new clothes for

her child….

What does this government decide they’re going to do in the budget?

“Hey, here’s an April Fools’ joke. We’re going actually to increase the tax

on gas by one cent a litre.” How does that sound like it’s helping the

middle class and the poor? It’s not. It’s not in any way, shape or

form.

They promised that they were going to build over 100,000 affordable

housing. They’ve managed to get just a fraction of that.

Then I heard, with glee, actually…. I am a bit of a car fanatic

myself. I grew up around many that were car enthusiasts, and when I listened

to the member for Vancouver–False Creek talk about that she does her own oil

changes, I thought: you know what? I would love to twist wrenches one day

and discuss the common goal and bond that we have, which is that my parents

and grandparents were car enthusiasts as well.

[2:50 p.m.]

Then she basically said that you’re closing a loophole to stop tax

evaders — that this government doesn’t believe the price and the value you

put on the vehicle that you bought. She used an example of where someone

declared half of the value that they actually purchased it for and that this

government was going to rake in a whopping $15 million.

Basically, what I heard was the member accuse the vast majority of

British Columbians who buy a used car as being tax dodgers and evaders, that

somehow they were cheating — it’s shameful — and that this government was

now going to decide what they felt the value of that used car was going to

be so that they could extract their pound of flesh from a poor single mom

just trying to find a good deal on a used car. How is that helping the poor

and the middle class? It’s not.

The real question is: why the heck is there a tax on a used car to

begin with? You want to help them? Remove it. It has already been paid

once.

I was looking on Facebook — you know, I’m a car guy — and it said:

“Fun in the sun in ’71.” A Plymouth Cuda was advertised at just under $5,000

— total retail. That’s before you went in there and haggled for the price.

That car would have changed hands many, many times. Under the current value

of that car, you would actually pay more in tax than the original purchase

price of the car.

How many times does a government need to collect a tax? It’s bad

enough that we’re paying tax on tax, which is happening. Somehow we sit on

that side of the House and say: “Hey, we’re here to help you.” That doesn’t

sound like help to me. Go ask a single mom if that sounds like help to her.

If the neighbour decides to give her an exceptionally good deal and says:

“You know what? You’re a single mom. I’ll help you out. I don’t really need

this mini van anymore, but you do. How much do you have?”

For those that think that doesn’t happen, it happens in my area fairly

often. I am proud to say that Abbotsford is the most giving community in all

of Canada.

Interjection.

B. Banman: Exactly right. As my colleague just said, you’re taxing

goodwill.

There are car lots that will give away a vehicle to someone who is

worthy. There are organizations who give away cars to someone who is worthy.

Yet this government de­cided that somehow, that’s cheating.

Actually, you know what would be really good is if you paid too much

for a vehicle, do you only pay the tax on what the average price of the

vehicle is? I think not. This government wants its share of flesh. It wants

its taxes. It wants to close that loophole. It doesn’t protect you if you’ve

paid too much. It wants the tax on what is declared, and if they don’t think

it’s high enough, you’re going to get penalized for hunting around and

finding a good deal.

[2:55 p.m.]

This is a budget of broken dreams and lost hope. Under this

administration, rents and the prices of homes have skyrocketed out of sight.

Now, earlier, one of the members decided to blame the skyrocketing prices of

homes on Chinese drug lords. In their passion to discredit the other side —

this is why what gets happened in here matters — they discredited an entire

race of people in the process. For those that scoff, it was in Vancouver

that we saw a 700 percent rise in Asian hate crime.

Deputy Speaker: Sorry, Member. If you’ll just take your seat.

I recognize the Minister for Social Development.

Hon. N. Simons: I think that the words chosen by the hon. member opposite are

inappropriate for this chamber, and I ask that he withdraw

them.

Deputy Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Just let’s work on getting the best of each

other, shall we?

B. Banman: I’ll take it under advisement, Mr. Speaker.

Deputy Speaker: Thank you, Member.

B. Banman: The fact remains that more and more citizens are deciding that being

able to own a home is out of their reach. More and more citizens are

deciding that that dream is not ever going to happen.

In fact, one of their own members has stated publicly that they are

probably the last generation that will ever own a home. British Columbians

need more than that from their government. British Columbians actually want

to know that their children can be successful. They want to be able to go

out and get a good job, be able to have their dreams.

One of the ways I think is great is in skills training. This

government has proposed some directions with skills training. Yet, as per

normal with this government, they missed the missing link. How the heck are

we supposed to have certified electricians if there isn’t anywhere to train

them? How the heck are we supposed to have health care workers if we don’t

even open up enough spots in the schools to replace those that are retiring,

let alone add two?

Then, if you don’t happen to live in the Lower Mainland and you come

from upcountry, you have to send your child to one of a couple of places

where they can go get the education they need — if they can actually get in

there to get their education. In some cases, it’s a ten-year process to be

able to get that. No wonder we are losing hope. No wonder our children are

questioning what we do in this House.

This government, rather than to listen to the opposition, doubles

down, goes ahead and does what they want. That’s not good governance. That’s

not listening, asking for us all to be in the same boat and looking for

solutions. I have, and many British Columbians have, little hope that this

budget is going to help the poor or the middle class. In fact, it’s only

going to make their lives worse. There’s very little substance in here. Lots

of words, but very little.

[3:00 p.m.]

Even when it comes to child care, $10 a day. You know what? I know a

lot of single moms could do with $10-a-day daycare. Who wouldn’t? Yet it’s

five years late and double the price.

It’ll be $20 a day. “No, no, no. We can’t keep our promise of $10 a

day. We’re going to make it $20. Oh, and by the way, if you have a child

now, by the time we get around to getting it actually off the ground, your

child will no longer be old enough to need it.”

Then we have the opioid deaths, 6½ a day. We’re losing more people to

opioids than we are to the pandemic, and there’s very little in this budget

to help them. What is in the budget went to advertising and communications.

What we need is a path to recovery. We need a way out for these people who

are challenged in so many ways. We need a place for them. I don’t see that

in this budget.

If your child has autism, this is actually going to claw back.

Government is going to do what this side of the House does, which is

government knows best, and take the ability for many parents who have found

a way to help their child with autism. Now it will become this big

bureaucratic mess. Mark my words.

This government, the NDP, says that they’re there for the downtrodden,

for the weak and the middle class, but their actions and this budget speak

much louder than that. It’s not for the people. It’s not. They haven’t

delivered on most of the promises that they’ve made. I would suggest that

instead of coming up with new taxes, new ways of extracting that extra pound

of flesh out of people, that they go back to their original promises and try

to fulfil those first.

The people of this province deserve a lot better than what they’re

getting. I would suggest that this government, especially during these

turbulent times, actually enact the committees that are here and that do

great work. Unfortunately, the public sees the 30 minutes where we debate

back and forth, and they never get a chance to see what actually goes on in

the committees themselves.

The people on the other side are not enemies. They’re colleagues.

We’re supposed to work together.

Interjection.

B. Banman: Again with the rearview mirror.

This is the history of this government….

Interjections.

Deputy Speaker: Members.

B. Banman: I would say to those that are chirping in the background: this is not

question period.

I’ve got one of my own chirping in there. The two of them are going at

it, but that’s, again, that healthy discourse that I was talking

about.

If this government wants to make a difference, if it really wants to

have something to be proud of, considering all that the world has gone

through with the pandemic and all that the world is currently going through,

enough with the partisan nonsense. Let’s start working together. Open up the

committees. There is value to both sides. I learned it as a child watching

my family over the dinner table. I think there are a lot of lessons that we

could learn from my grandparents, who escaped, came here with nothing but

what they could carry in their pockets and lived a very safe, beautiful,

fulfilling life.

[3:05 p.m.]

Anyway, thank you. It’s been a privilege to be able to talk about this

budget. I’d love to say I saw a lot in this budget that I approve of. Sadly,

I do not, and I just cannot support this particular budget.

Hon. L. Beare: It is my absolute pleasure to rise in the House today to speak to

Budget 2022 as the MLA for Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows and as the Minister of

Citizens’ Services.

Before I begin my speech today, I do want to give a couple thank-yous

and a couple shout-outs to my team. In my constituency office, we have

Thyra, Hudson and Gabe, who are working hard every single day to serve the

constituents of Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows, and I want to thank them very much

for their work. We have Kate from my office as well, who is on mat leave

right now, and just last night gave birth to a beautiful boy. It’s not my

job to introduce that baby in the House, so I will let that be, but

congratulations to Kate.

On my ministry team, I would like to truly thank Kass, Korleen, Kari,

Lisa and Shay for all the hard work they’re doing to help all British

Columbians access the services that they need under the Ministry of

Citizens’ Services. I really want to give a congratulations to the Minister

of Finance and her team, who have put together a fantastic budget that

invests in the people of British Columbia and builds an even stronger B.C.

here.

I do want to also acknowledge that we are on the traditional

territories of the Songhees and the Esquimalt First Nations, the

Lək̓ʷəŋin̓əŋ people.

I’m going to begin my budget speech by, of course, acknowledging the

challenges that we have all been faced with over the past few years here in

British Columbia. These are challenges that none of us could have imagined.

I want to thank every single person in B.C. for the incredible resilience

that you have shown. It has been incredibly humbling to watch all the

stories unfold across the province. I want to share my sincere thanks for

your support and your kindness to one another during this time.

Our government, through our budget, has made investments in people.

We’ve made investments in health care, child care, connectivity investments.

We’re investing in Indigenous, rural and remote communities. We’re investing

in affordable housing. It’s all these important building blocks that have

supported British Columbians through the pandemic and will help see us in

through the recovery.

As we begin to see the COVID-19 restrictions lift and we begin to

return to a sense of normal, some may argue that we should roll back these

investments and cut support programs, but I believe that approach would hurt

those who are trying to get back on their feet, and it will slow down our

economic recovery.

With Budget 2022, we’re building an even stronger British Columbia.

We’re making life better for people because we’re investing in our

economy.

We’re investing in the environment. We’re investing in our social

strengths here in the province. We are, through the budget, supporting bold

actions to fight climate change to protect people and communities from

climate-related disasters. We’re helping with the cost of living by reducing

child care costs, and we’re delivering a comprehensive approach to respond

to and prevent homelessness. We make investments needed to close the digital

divide and grow an inclusive and sustainable economy. We continue to

strengthen the public service that British Columbians rely on.

Now, we’re going to continue to respond to the effects of the

pandemic. We will be building on our strengths to prepare us for the

challenges as well as the opportunities of tomorrow.

I am incredibly proud of the work being done around the province

around affordable, accessible, quality child care, especially in my home of

Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows. As the mother of a small child myself, I know

firsthand how important it is to have access to accessible, affordable,

quality child care. Since launching Childcare B.C. in Budget 2018, we have

been working towards our vision of child care as a core service to families

that want it and when they need it and at a price that they can afford. More

families in Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows now have access to child care, as we

have funded an additional 363 spaces in my community since 2018.

[3:10 p.m.]

With Budget 2022, we’re saving families more money, as we move closer

than ever to our planned $10-a-day child care. Average fees are being

reduced in half, and we know that we are increasing training seats for early

childhood educators, and delivering 40,000 new licensed spaces in the next

seven years. This is transformational to families that need it.

We are further assuring more certainty and reliability of child care

by moving it into the Ministry of Education. This will better support

children and families with the transition into the kindergarten-to-12 system

and ultimately make life easier for parents. This is great news. This is a

fantastic move for families.

Now, one of the things we hear a lot on in my community, as well, is

the need to strengthen health and mental health services across communities

— not only mine but all across the province. We know that investing in

people means supporting their health and their mental health wellness.

Budget 2022 commits $3.2 billion over three years to build an even stronger

health and mental health care system for British Columbians.

It includes funding for new urgent and primary care centres, speeding

up emergency response times, supporting First Nations primary care centres

and bringing services closer to the home. We’re also continuing to fund

Pathway to Hope, which is a $500 million investment to improve mental health

and addictions care across the province. That’s half a billion dollars

invested in people to improve their mental health.

We are improving how we prevent and respond to homelessness with

better supports for youth in care — more rent supplements, integrated

supports and 20 new complex care sites around the province to support people

with the most complex needs. I stand here today very proud of our

government, that Budget ’22 is addressing the increased risk of homelessness

faced by former youth in care by improving how we support the thousands of

young adults aging out of government care by providing $35 million over the

next three years to care for these youth up to the age of 27.

One of the most important and impactful pieces of our budget is

reversing cuts that were made two decades ago by the members opposite, by

supporting survivors of sexual assault and by providing core funding to

approximately 50 community-based sexual assault response organizations

across the province to support victims of sexual and gender-based violence.

The safety and the well-being of all people depend on taking action to help

end gender-based violence and sexualized violence. We know that service

providers that deliver care, services and supports after sexual assault

cannot continue to be funded by unpredictable grants.

Work to support survivors of sexual assaults means we must recognize

the needs of experienced and compassionate, community-based services that

deserve stable annual funding when they do their work. That’s why Budget

2022 includes $22 million over three years to support the survivors of

sexual assault and gender-based violence. This will include stable annual

funding of over $10 million for community-based sexual assault response

services to support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, starting

in 2023-2024.

This might not be the largest announcement within the budget, but I

truly believe it is one of the most impactful. It’s one of the pieces I’m

hearing most on from the members in my community. It’s these investments,

this recognition of the damage that was done in the past and how we are

fixing it and taking action, that resonate in my community. I am so proud

that we’re able to support the survivors of assault through these

investments.

We are building a stronger environment for our future, and we are

fighting climate change, through our CleanBC plan. This Budget 2022 is

making strong investments to fight climate change and secure a low-carbon

future for B.C. Budget 2022 makes more than $1 billion in new investments

through CleanBC and the Roadmap to 2030 to make clean energy transportation

the more affordable option for people and businesses to support industry, to

decarbonize our economy and to provide funding to help local governments

reduce emissions.

[3:15 p.m.]

This could begin an entire other 30-minute speech on its own — the

investments that we’re doing in CleanBC and how we are fighting to protect

our environment and fight climate change within the province. I know other

people will focus more on that piece. I’ll save another 30-minute speech on

that one, because I want to talk about something very important for my

community and my neighbouring communities. That’s protecting people and

communities from climate-related disasters.

Now, we have all experienced the changes across our province over the

past year, whether it be wildfires, the heat dome or the floods that we

experienced this fall. Climate-related disasters have challenged British

Columbians and reinforced the need for action.

My community was one of those communities hit by flooding, as well as

neighbouring communities all around me. To witness the resilience of these

communities, to witness the resilience of my community and how everyone

banded together to support those impacted, was absolutely inspiring. We know

we need to do more to make a change, which is why that $1 billion investment

into CleanBC and the Roadmap to 2030 is so important.

I don’t think that we can talk about these disasters and not take a

minute to thank all of the hard-working members of the public service who

stepped up to help British Columbians through all of these disasters. Within

my ministry, we have Service B.C., and their offices played an integral role

in delivering services to the people and businesses during the pandemic and

the catastrophic weather events. I am proud of their support to help British

Columbians.

During the recent flooding events, Service B.C. was able to stand up

the flood response centre and support callers by connecting them with vital

information on financial support, road updates and essential travel orders.

Between mid-November and the end of January, flood response web content was

viewed over 400,000 times, and the Service B.C. flood response centre

received 5,000 calls. Each of those calls is a person, and each of those

people needed help in a time of crisis. The valuable public servants who

support us every single day were there for them.

Budget 2022 includes $2.1 billion to support the recovery of

communities as we build back better from recent disasters and to strengthen

our defences to make sure people and communities across B.C. are protected

from future climate-related disasters. This will make a difference to my

community. This will make a difference to those neighbouring communities and

all across the province — those affected by wildfires, by floods, by heat

domes.

When the flooding hit, our digital experience team, known as GDX

within government, liaised across government ministries, including emergency

management B.C., Environment, Transportation, and Agriculture to develop

timely and action-oriented updated content for not only the website but for

the call centre scripts and for the information that we were providing to

citizens.

We made sure that those 5,000 people who called had the most

up-to-date, informative, valuable information they needed each time they

called. Between mid-November and January 26, 2022, the web content was

viewed, as I said, over 400,000 times.

This is important. This is great work from the public service, again,

to ensure that the government of British Columbia is there for people when

they need it.

Our government has a vision, as well, for our economic future. When we

talk about recovery, we talk about our economic future and what that looks

like. We need to make sure that we are investing in growing sectors. We want

an inclusive, sustainable and innovative economy that works for everyone. So

Budget 2022 is making strong investments to ensure that people across B.C.

are poised to benefit from sustainable economic resource development today

and into the future.

[3:20 p.m.]

Now, this includes investing in growing sectors like life sciences and

supporting the recovery of sectors that continue to be impacted by the

COVID-19 pandemic. Very true and near and dear to my heart — like tourism,

the non-profits, the arts and culture sector, the music sector. As the

previous Minister for Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, I know how important

this investment is in building a strong economy but also in building vibrant

communities.

Another one of these investments that…. Just like the investment into

sexual assault centres — again, not one of the bigger investments that’s

talked about within the budget but, to me, truly one of the most impactful.

One of the reasons I ran in 2017 was my connection to education. I was a

school board trustee. Every single day I saw firsthand the impacts that

education had on our society, including adult basic education.

One of the cuts that the previous government made was to cut funding

for adult basic education. This was a service that people needed to get a

hand up, to get that step up, to help better their lives, to maybe get that

next job, to continue their pathway towards a better future for them and

their families. It was such a cruel and vicious cut to cut funding from

adult basic education. It’s one of those moments that inspired me, in 2017,

to put my hand up and say that this isn’t how it needs to be, that we can

change this. I can change this. We can make a difference.

I was thrilled, in 2017, when one of the first things we did, as a

government, was reverse those cuts and restore funding to adult basic

education — to give people a hand up instead of keeping them down. Budget

2022 meets the growing and important demand for that adult education with an

additional $21 million over the next three years for graduated adult

programs.

I get emotional when I talk about this, because it is truly, again,

not one of those big shiny things we talk about in a budget, but it makes

such a difference in those people’s lives who are affected, in those

families who want to make a difference, who want to do better and are trying

to better their future through education. I’m so thrilled that we are able

to support that.

I talked about some of those smaller pieces making a bigger

difference, but here’s one of those bigger pieces. I’m thrilled to talk to

it, because it actually is part of my ministry, and that’s

connectivity.

Connectivity is foundational to economic recovery. It has become

integral to absolutely everything we do in today’s world. We know,

especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, how important it was to be able to

access Google Classroom and continue your education online; how important it

was to be able to talk to your doctor and use telehealth to be able to

continue on your health journey; how important it was, when we were socially

distanced from one another, to be able to connect with your families, all

across the province.

Not everyone had the same access to those services as I am fortunate

to have. It is one of those pieces that is a powerful socioeconomic driver

that supports the delivery of services. It supports the delivery of economic

recovery. It’s something that people count on.

I am so proud to say that we are continuing the work that we’ve done

since we formed government. To date, we have invested $190 million in

connectivity. We are adding another $289 million to connect another 280

First Nations and rural and remote communities to high-speed Internet. That

makes our total investment in connectivity over half a billion dollars. This

is a significant acceleration in our commitment to close that digital

divide, to help communities who don’t have access to this vital service be

able to participate in the economy, be able to access those services they

need and be able to stay connected with their loved ones.

[3:25 p.m.]

We know connectivity is also foundational to reconciliation.

Connecting all First Nations with high-speed Internet aligns with the

Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and is included as 4.27

in the DRIPA draft action plan. It states that we need to ensure “every

First Nations community in B.C. has high-speed Internet services.” We

already, as a government, have committed, through the draft action plan, to

connecting First Nations across this province.

Feedback has been consistent on the draft action plan, best captured

by our Coastal First Nations, who said: “All DRIPA outcomes for the

2021-2026 actions are reliant on Internet access and affordability.” This is

key in almost every aspect of implementation, and I look forward to

continuing that important reconciliation work.

Budget 2022 also invests in rural economic supports. I mean, you can

count connectivity as one of those big ones, but we’re building a stronger

British Columbia by making life better for people in rural areas. We want to

make sure they have the connectivity they need to succeed in that

post-pandemic economy.

We’re investing $27.4 billion in building infrastructure everywhere

across the province. That includes schools, hospitals, housing, transit,

highways and bridges that are needed for growth all across this province so

that we can have economic strength, so that the entire province can

participate in our economic activity. This is a record level of spending for

capital projects, the highest ever here in B.C. I know it will help deliver

those services that people need while supporting 100,000 jobs across the

province.

There are so many more pieces of Budget 2022 that I am extraordinarily

proud of, and I know I’m going to get the ability to talk about them over

the next year as we implement these pieces of our budget. I’ll take my place

here — I thank you so much for the time — because I know I have colleagues

waiting in line who also want to share the good news to their communities of

how this is going to affect British Columbians. Thank you for the

time.

D. Ashton: I appreciate the opportunity to speak to the minister. I might not be

giving you what you just asked for if I’m one of your colleagues in the

House. You just had mentioned that there might be some good words coming.

I’ll keep them tepid and say that there are some issues that we face in here

together for all British Columbians.

[J. Tegart in the chair.]

Real compassion and benefits to the citizens of British Columbia are

really contingent, in my thoughts, on B.C. remaining competitive, healthy

and productive. With this budget cycle, we, the citizens of British Columbia

and future citizens — our children, our grandchildren and people,

immigrants, that come to British Columbia — are going to owe over $120

billion.

Remember, growing up, $1 million was so much. You thought about it. I

remember when the lottery started, and it was, like, $1 million — the 6/49.

Now it fluctuates between $1 million and $10 million or $12

million.

We owe $120 billion at the end of this budget cycle. My god, that’s a

lot of money. But a day of reckoning is coming. A day of reckoning is coming

for all British Columbians. This is going to cause all of us to suffer, even

much more than what many are suffering today.

It’s an honour to be able to talk to the budget. Before I get into the

budget, there are a couple of people that I would just like to say thank-you

to. Maybe it should be done when we’re talking about the throne speech, but

very quickly, I have three individuals that work with me hand in hand:

Susan, Rudy and Dick.

Those individuals make such a difference to all the people in the area

that I’m so fortunate to represent. It’s actually called Penticton, but I

always say from Penticton to Peachland. The area is Peachland, Summerland,

Penticton, Naramata and all the points in between. Those individuals, no

matter what causes bring people to our offices, bend over backwards to make

and, hopefully, help those individuals come to some resolution on their

troubles.

[3:30 p.m.]

I have to say this. They have always had and, hopefully, will continue

to have a very good working relationship with the ministries that are

represented in the area that I represent, but also, through myself, there

has always been an open door with the current government, where I’ve had the

opportunity to take some of those issues directly into ministerial staff and

sometimes to the ministers in the hallways. I have to say that makes a huge

difference.

There are a couple of individuals that had mentioned some comments

yesterday. I just want to direct, quickly, to the member for Vancouver–False

Creek, a lovely young lady that had made some comments yesterday about

health care and, specifically, hospitals…. I would just like to assure her

that this current government had nothing, zero, to do with the initiation

and the construction of the Penticton Regional Hospital financially. I was

incredibly fortunate to be on Treasury Board, with many of my peers on this

side of the House. That decision was made. That was implemented. That

construction is well underway and, actually, almost finished.

It has made a huge difference to the people of the Penticton area.

That hospital casts a huge shadow out past Princeton, almost over to

Greenwood, down to Osoyoos in the south and, I would say, up as far as and

maybe including parts of Peachland, although Peachland sometimes does go to

Kelowna.

It’s made a big difference. But one of the interesting things that the

member for Vancouver–False Creek might not realize is that we — and I look

at yourself, Madam Speaker — outside of Hope, north of Hope, east of Hope,

pay 40 percent of the costs, the capital costs, of those health care

facilities that are built. In the Lower Mainland, zero. The citizens are

responsible for zero percent.

That’s another tax that goes on. It comes on our regional district

bills. It’s a capital cost. It’s not only when you go to build a new

hospital; it’s when the health authority comes and asks you for additional

capital improvements. We, as the taxpayers of the region that I represent

and everybody outside of Hope represents, are responsible for 40 percent of

those capital costs. It’s an additional burden, a substantial additional

burden.

I really think that if the government wants to make a fair and

equitable landing for all of us in British Columbia…. They did it with those

that cross over that beautiful new bridge in the Lower Mainland. They’re

doing it with the new construction of the Pattullo Bridge, where there’s no

cost to the residents down here, none. I would like to see a fair and level

playing field where we don’t have to pay, in the Interior and northern

British Columbia, additional hospital costs. It is a factor in affordability

for many people.

One other thing — Surrey. Great. Beautiful, new emergency facility

attached to the Surrey hospital. Beautiful. I got the opportunity to see it.

It’s gorgeous. But let me tell you something, folks, the gentleman that has

his name on it, a huge contributor, both business, financially…. A huge

contributor to many needy causes in British Columbia has his name on that

emergency centre. It cost him $1.5 million to put his name on that

centre.

It cost him, also…. I’ll retract that, not a cost. He issued a

challenge for 50 percent. Here it is. “I’ll put up $1.5 million, and

somebody else has to incur the debt and make the contributions up for

another $1.5 million, a total of $3 million for the Surrey emergency

centre.”

Well, I can tell you about a gentleman in Penticton, a man that has

been a huge contributor to our economies, a man that is such a benefactor in

his life — in the Oka­nagan, in the North. He paid $8 million to have

his name put on the Penticton Hospital. What a difference. Another inequity

that takes place.

I just hope the government realizes that there are a lot of things

that happen outside of the Lower Mainland that affect individuals a lot more

than they do down here in the Lower Mainland. I would just, personally, like

to be able to see an opportunity where there is a balance.

[3:35 p.m.]

Before I carry on a little bit, Madam Speaker, I would just like to

extend a quick thanks to the Minister of Transportation. You, yourself, have

experience, and the people that you represent saw incredible climate issues

that took place with the flooding. That flooding made a difference to an

awful lot of people. They affected the highways — Highways 3, 7 and, more

importantly, Highway 5, to me, the Coquihalla, and what it did.

I know that everybody got together to make a difference to try and get

those highways back up and running. Again, I have thanked him personally,

but I’d like to thank him publicly. And I would like to thank his staff and

thank the ministry staff and thank all those people that pulled machinery

off of other jobs to be able to get that highway back open again.

You know what I have to also say? It wasn’t done with CBAs. It was

done where we all worked together. We didn’t specialize or select an entity

or entities of a workforce. Everybody got together and made a difference. I

just hope that that’s a good learning experience for the government, because

you don’t need to specify and select who should do work in this province and

who shouldn’t do work in this province. The Coquihalla refurbishment and the

Coquihalla emergency opening proved that we can all work together and we can

all make a big difference in it.

Please, to those MLAs that are in the gallery here and that are

represented at your caucuses, bring that up. Mention it. Just say it. I just

look, and I hear the Premier of the province in the last couple of days

where we should all be working together…. We should all be trying to do

things to make it better for the people of British Columbia. There’s a

perfect example. Let’s not be selective. Let’s all work together and make

through some real big changes that are coming forward.

Back to the budget. Disappointed isn’t the right word, but I’d hoped

for a lot more. I’d really, really hoped for a lot more for all British

Columbians in this current budget. A government that unfortunately has been

renowned — not only this current government, but previous New Democratic

governments — for taxation. I think we’re up to 25 now? Or 26 new taxes

since the NDP government got into place?

Again I’m going to state that I’m talking about the government. I’m

not talking about individual members of the government. I’m talking about

the government collectively — those visible here in the chamber and those

that that are operative behind the scenes for the government and trying to

bring some of these things forward. This is not the time. It is not the time

for additional taxes.

The taxes now…. I think they’re more of an irritation for people. A

tax for online marketplaces and all that. I’ve always said to everybody to

please shop local first. I’ve spent a lot of money — pushing to a lot of the

people of British Columbia’s money — to shop local first. Let’s do our best.

Let’s support our local businesses and our local individuals first of all,

but there is a tax on online purchases.

There’s a tax on used cars. You know, it was interesting today. I see

the Auditor General brought forward something that the government in their

property purchases got a good deal. There was an assessment, if I remember

correctly, of about $220 million of purchases that had just taken place, and

the government’s total expenditures were $200 million. Hmm. No new tax on

that kind of thing. Although the government doesn’t pay, but let’s talk

about fairness and equity.

When all of a sudden, somebody…. I’ve only owned one brand-new car in

my entire life. I’ve always bought used cars. That’s how I was brought up.

But if I wheel and deal and do my best to get a good deal on a vehicle…. Now

all of a sudden, it seems that if I take it in to get it registered and

somebody opens…. I think we call it the Blue Book or Black Book. It’s blue

in the States and black up here. I can’t remember — one or the other. All of

a sudden, they open it up and say: “Oh no, Mr. Ashton. You paid X, where we

show it should be X plus. So we’re going to charge a tax on

that.”

Whoa. Hang on a minute here. I’ve done my best to get a good deal on

it. I’m not a person, ever, that is going to forge something on a document

of a fictitious price that I paid.

[3:40 p.m.]

There are more ways to check to see that a person actually paid what

they’re stating they paid other than to look in a book and say: “Here’s an

average price. We’re going to tax you on that.” I just really wish the

government would take a look at it. As some of my peers have said, this is

going to affect people that probably need every one of those pennies, that

really need that help of those additional funds instead of it going to the

government. They would prefer and probably need to keep it in their pocket

for their own expenditures.

Home heating systems. Boy, if you live in a temperate climate like

Victoria or you live in a temperate climate like the Lower Mainland, that’s

great. But let me tell you, it got darn cold in the Okanagan again. I know

for a fact that heat pumps don’t work in these lower temperatures. To have

the opportunity of having a gas furnace….

As a matter of fact, I put a gas furnace in a year and a bit ago, a

brand-new furnace, because my other one was getting old. I was being

proactive. It was six and tax…. You know, I would have paid another $400 or

$500 almost in taxation on that. Why? I’m just trying to keep my house warm

for my kids when they’re home. Please, take a look at this, government. This

is a regressive tax on the people that you actually claim to represent on

it.

I really hope that they also take a look at how long it is now

taking…. We’ve heard the government talk about the opportunities that they

want to bring forward to protect homeowners from skyrocketing prices and to

try to make British Columbia more affordable.

I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’ve heard rumours or I’ve seen

printings of 35, 36, 37 years now to come up with a home, for the down

payments, and to be able to get into it. I look at…. By the way, other than

a bit of my working career, I’ve lived in the same house since 1963. For me,

it would be a massive challenge, even today, without the sale of my

property, to move to something else.

I would really hope that…. The government has said that we’re going to

be taking a look at this. I think there are lots of ways, through the

Minister of Municipal Affairs, to have a look at this and to work…. Not

heavy-handed but coming from municipal politics.

I think there’s lots of opportunity for the provincial government and

for municipalities and regional districts to work together to lower some of

the obstacles and some of the costs that transpire for new construction and

new development. Development isn’t a bad word. I’m not talking about

speculation. I’m talking about individuals that put an awful lot of money

forward to create new properties.

I think, if I’ve heard correctly, Kelowna, just north of me, is the

fastest-growing municipality in Canada. There is a lot of development up

there. Development is not a bad word. Those individuals are making a big

difference.

Again, as I go through a quick list, some of the things…. You know,

mental health. Mental health requires a lot more investment. It needs to be

done through the Ministry of Health. It needs to be done through the

Ministry of Mental Health. It needs to happen sooner than later.

One thing that I would like to see and that I’ve heard the government

talk about — 20 new facilities that possibly will be created in the years

coming forward, in two or three years. It’s about the opportunity to bring

those that have incredible mental health challenges, probably some because

of drug addiction, etc., into a safe harbour and try to get them the

supports that they need.

In my opinion, those facilities cannot have an open door. Those

facilities have to be able to have those individuals remain there and ensure

that they are treated properly, are helped properly and that they’re not

preyed upon again when they have the decision to come and go or go out.

There needs to be some formal period of stay that needs to be agreed upon.

If they don’t have the capacity themselves to agree on that, then it needs

to be done through the judicial system or it needs to be done through

another government agency.

I had a young lady phone me — today is Wednesday — from a care home in

Penticton, in tears. She’s a single mom. Her daughter is now out in the

workforce. She came out at lunchtime in horror to see that her car had been

damaged severely on both sides, along with four other vehicles all parked in

the same proximity, by an individual that has terrible

challenges.

[3:45 p.m.]

That individual that owns that vehicle and the other four individuals

are now responsible for the deduction on those cars, and it wasn’t their

fault. I am going to put a direct appeal in to the minister, the Attorney

General, to say that in circumstances like this, where we have individuals

that don’t have the ability themselves to make good cognitive decisions and

that have done something like this, it shouldn’t be at the cost and the

penalty of those that have suffered the damages.

I hope somebody in the minister’s office is listening. I’d love to

have them come and talk to me, and I’d love to have the opportunity to

introduce them to the individuals that this took place with.

This is one of the issues, and this is not an isolated occurrence.

This is an occurrence that is taking place, similar occurrences, all through

British Columbia. I think what we need to do collectively…. We need to work

together to try and get help to these individuals that need it. Yes, there

have been lots of roofs put over people’s heads, but the services aren’t

there. I would hope through the budget process that the current government

takes a look at this and tries to get additional funds in so that these

people would have the ability to have some additional help and to try and

make a difference in their lives.

As we get down to the deficit, it’s my understanding that currently

the government is forecasting a $5.5 billion deficit, which includes $3

billion in contingencies — $3 billion. That’s a lot of $400 rent promises

that could be fixed. And $3 billion can contribute to a lot of those 20

facilities that are pledged; $3 billion can go a long way to additional

health that’s required in some of the fastest-growing areas in British

Columbia, including the Lower Mainland, including Surrey. It’s an awful lot

of money. I hope — and I’m just going to be frank — it’s not keeping powder

dry for the future, possibly another election in the close future where it

can be doled out for election promises. I’m just being upfront and

frank.

That’s money right now. It’s a contingency. It’s money that should be

going…. Yes, I know there’s damage from the climate issues that we faced

over this past winter. There’s going to be some extremely large costs on the

Coquihalla, on the highways, Madam Chair, through your area, what happened

in the Abbotsford area. There are an awful lot of things that that money

could be put to good use for, and I really, really hope that it is done

quite quickly.

You know, there are a few minutes left. My peers have gone through

very well and talked directly about some of the issues and some of the

things that they’ve seen in the budget. As a kid growing up, my dad always….

Because of our stores and when I had the fortune to travel with my dad, one

of my favourite things, and he always let me do it, was to stay awake and

watch the Johnny Carson Show . That tells you how old I

am.

Then there’s the Dave show, and Dave had a list. This isn’t Dave’s

list, but this is my list about some of the things that I think the

government could have done better and should do better. Under Dan’s list,

I’m going to start off. Number 10 — the new emergency program is set to be

tabled in the House in the fall of 2021. It was postponed again until spring

2022. It’s now been postponed again until fall 2022. The Emergency Program

Act is something that this province needs, and it needs it a lot quicker

than what is being proposed.

An Alert Ready system. We don’t have one. Those across the border from

Abbotsford in the United States have one. It’s my understanding that they

could hear the flood warnings coming from the Sumas area, but we didn’t have

that. If we had had that early warning system in place, it would have saved

the government probably a whole bunch of money.

Small business. Small business has faced massive delays and red tape

in COVID. I know that people have been trying to help, but there isn’t

enough. You know, there were gyms that they said were going to be eligible

for lockdown grants, and it turned out they weren’t. Grant programs have

come with a lot of red tape, and I really think that small business relief

and some of the circuit breaker grants need to be addressed a lot quicker. I

really do.

[3:50 p.m.]

There are an awful lot of people…. I come from private business. I can

tell you that in our 16 stores, if I had to have gone through the COVID

situation, I’m not so sure that we would be functioning and have the

finances to carry on. Retail was literally destroyed on it.

The benefit packages for COVID recovery, which is No. 7…. To me it’s

let’s get the cheques out. Let’s get those people that some are saying are

ineligible for support…. Let’s get those cheques out. I know that they were

promised for Christmas. They never arrived.

Site C. We all know that Site C is required if we’re going to

electrify our province’s vehicles. Coming from municipal government, the

costs are incredible, absolutely incredible, to municipalities. I want to

see Site C. It is going to make a huge difference. I think, if I remember

correctly, B.C. contributes one-half of 1 percent to the pollution of the

world. Let’s try and knock that down, but for right now, we have the

capacity. We have unbelievable opportunities with hydro. Let’s get that up

and running.

I have a gentleman in Penticton that built some equipment for Site C.

He keeps getting delayed and delayed because the project gets delayed.

Here’s an individual that had a whole bunch of money that he put out, and

Hydro is saying: “Hold on a minute. We’re coming for you.” But in the

meantime, he’s having to carry those capital costs of

construction.

The heat dome. It was an incredibly unfortunate incident. It’s an

unfortunate incident that we have to address and make sure that it doesn’t

happen again. We had a warning. There was a terrible loss of life — just

under 600 people in British Columbia. If we do get the warnings from the

meteorologist, let’s make sure that we’re ready for it and that we allow

those people that could be affected ample notice to ensure that we don’t

lose those types of lives again.

The Lytton wildfire. You’ve heard me speak about this here before —

No. 4. Please, government. Please, let’s get these people back into their

homes. We have people staying in Penticton from that fire, still. So please,

let’s work with a concerted effort. If it involves B.C. government, involves

the federal government, involves First Nations, let’s collectively sit down

and work together immediately to get those people back in so that they can

recover what they’ve lost and not in the sense of material, but recover a

place that they call home. Lytton is a huge catchment area. Let’s get these

people back in, and let’s get Lytton rebuilt.

Overdose deaths — terrible what’s been going on. I can remember a

member from the NDP government, when they were in opposition, like this,

waving her finger continually about these deaths.

Interjection.

D. Ashton: Not waving her finger? Oh yes, she was. She was pointing across the

aisle like that, Member — yes, she was — about how we weren’t paying

attention.

Well, you know what? We all are not paying attention. Opioid deaths

are going through the roof, and we, as government — both the government in

place and the government that used to be government — need to work together

and make a big difference. Opioid deaths, drug deaths don’t need to be

happening.

Building houses and building affordable housing units. I know that

numbers have been passed round, and there were some fictitious numbers, as

far as I’m concerned, being passed around. If I remember correctly, 170-plus

units were built in Penticton during our tenure of government — just in

Penticton. We had the minister at the time, Minister Coleman…. I think I can

say it, because he’s not in here anymore. He had to step forward. We did

create the units. Then more services were required, and we had to do

that.

Let’s make a difference, collectively, and do our best to ensure that

we do get those roofs over those people’s heads.

I hear 5 percent of the 100,000 plus that were promised of affordable

housing units…. Let’s get those in, please. I’m asking the government. Let’s

get the red tape out of the way. Let’s work together with the

municipalities, not like this with the municipalities. Let’s get these

places put in place, and let’s get these people housed, but let’s get the

supports in there.

Massey Tunnel. Boy, we could have used a Massey Tunnel. We could have

used a Massey Tunnel sooner than later. We had a bridge that was planned for

$900 million plus, if I remember correctly, under budget. There are a lot of

people that commute. I can’t answer for that area, but let me tell you

something, government. In Penticton, 42 percent of the people that voted in

the last election voted NDP.

[3:55 p.m.]

If it’s a similar balance south of the Fraser, government is just

making them mad. So I would just ask the government: let’s get together.

Let’s make a difference on it.

I have a few quick minutes left. We have disaster recovery. Again,

I’ve spoken about Lytton. We have the secrecy, the cone of silence where

we’ve heard…. Or code of silence, as somebody wants to say. Let’s open this

up. I had the incredible opportunity to work on PIPA, the Personal

Information Protection Act. Let’s not make government close in. Let’s open

government up. It belongs to the people here.

One of my pet things that I would like to see is the autism funding.

Let’s install it back, bring it back. Let’s bring it back so that those

kids…. Those little kids and I…. I was so fortunate. For six years or seven

years, I was on the board of an autism facility in Penticton. I’m so

fortunate, touch wood, that our family didn’t face the issue that many of

those families are facing.

There is an opportunity for government to step forward. There is an

opportunity for government to listen to the people that are out there saying

that the direction that they’re going is wrong. Let’s get together and make

sure that we do take the right direction. Let’s make sure that the

government is listening to those people, and let’s get those kids looked

after. Let’s get them looked after right now.

We come, at the last minute, to affordability of driving. I commute

back and forth. I cannot believe how much it costs now to fill my gas tank

up coming back and forth to Victoria by driving. I’m lucky. I can afford it,

with my salary here, but there are an awful lot of people that can’t afford

what’s going on.

We have an opportunity to work together on that, and I would really

hope that the government steps forward and does make a promise come true.

They had said years ago that they would take a look at this, and they would

take a look at this to ensure that it was fair and equitable, while keeping

their climate considerations in place. But I got to tell you. When you start

outpricing people, it’s an issue.

My last comment is…. I can remember, a long time ago, when the

government of the day was the government back then. In 30 seconds…. The

government of that day didn’t do things right and didn’t follow through with

what they said. They were reduced to two individuals in here. History

repeats itself.

To my friends on the other side — and please don’t nod your head —

listen to the population out there. Listen to the people out there. If you

don’t, there could be a day of change coming a lot sooner than you

think.

S. Chant: I appreciate this opportunity to address the members of this House on

Budget ’22-23.

Before I begin my remarks, I would like to acknowledge that I’m

currently working and staying on the unceded lands of the Songhees,

Esquimalt and Lək̓ʷəŋin̓əŋ-speaking

people and that North Vancouver–Seymour, my riding, where I live, work and

learn, is in the Coast Salish territory, specifically the Squamish and

Tsleil-Waututh Nations. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to work with

these Indigenous communities.

I would also like to thank Ireland Bellsmith, caucus intern, and Jakub

Hoffman, a grade 10 work experience student in my constituency office, for

their contributions to this discussion.

I think British Columbia’s story will always reflect, somehow, on the

years that were spent in the COVID pandemic, the challenges that were faced

and compounded by climatic disasters and an overdose crisis that has daily

deaths. Throughout this time, and going forward, the people of the province

rely on the government through representation and advocacy to meet the

challenges head-on, ideally in a proactive fashion. This is what Budget

’22-23 will do, through recognizing what is needed and preparing to meet

those needs in a broad spectrum of ways.

I and my community are looking for the same things that people and

communities throughout B.C. are looking for — a home, food on the table, a

meaningful job and the ability to spend time with my friends and loved ones.

All of these things need to be affordable, reliable and safe.

This budget looks at strengthening our society overall, promoting

positive growth in the economy going forward, all the while ensuring that

the environment is being cared for and remediated to deal with climate

change.

[4:00 p.m.]

Additionally, in keeping with the government’s commitment to UNDRIP,

the Indigenous leaders and communities throughout the province continue to

be integrated in an ongoing component of planning and implementation of

legislative process.

In my throne speech reply, I laid out how the cycle of support works

at municipal, provincial and federal levels, starting with a high-level

outline of the aspirations, needs and priorities of the people of British

Columbia, as brought forward through their duly elected representatives,

which are reflected in the throne speech, and then reviewing the resource

plan that will be used to address those priorities, which is where we are at

now with the release of Budget 2022.

How can anyone argue against investing in people, with the intention

of improving day-to-day life now and in the future? We all want to finish up

COVID, sort ourselves out and resume a life that is not overshadowed by the

spectre of an out-of-control disease — things that we used to be able to

predict, like Christmas, Easter, Diwali, Hanukkah and other traditions with

specific time frames, celebrations, foods and activities. We want to be able

to do those things again freely, and we will, in time.

This budge