British Columbia Hansard — 8 December 2020, a.m., Issue 3 (42nd Parliament, 1st Session)

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British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

First Session, 42nd Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES (HANSARD) Tuesday, December 8, 2020 Morning Sitting Issue No. 3 THE HONOURABLE RAJ CHOUHAN, SPEAKER ISSN 1499-2175

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Her Honour the Honourable Janet Austin, OBC First Session, 42nd Parliament SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Raj Chouhan EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council ............................................................................................................... Hon. John Horgan Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training...........................................................................................................Hon.

Anne Kang Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries......................................................................................................................Hon. Lana Popham Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing .............................................................................................Hon. David Eby, QC Minister of Children and Family Development ....................................................................................................................Hon.

Mitzi Dean Minister of State for Child Care...................................................................................................................................... Hon. Katrina Chen Minister of Citizens’ Services.....................................................................................................................................................Hon. Lisa Beare Minister of Education .................................................................................................................................................. Hon.

Jennifer Whiteside Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation ................................................................................................ Hon. Bruce Ralston Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy............................................................................................. Hon. George Heyman Minister of Finance .......................................................................................................................................................... Hon.

Selina Robinson Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development ................................................ Hon. Katrine Conroy Minister of State for Lands and Natural Resource Operations................................................................................. Hon. Nathan Cullen Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs.............................................................................Hon.

Adrian Dix Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation .......................................................................................... Hon. Murray Rankin, QC Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation....................................................................................................... Hon. Ravi Kahlon Minister of State for Trade...............................................................................................................................................Hon.

George Chow Minister of Labour ...................................................................................................................................................................Hon. Harry Bains Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.............................................................................................................. Hon. Sheila Malcolmson Minister of Municipal Affairs ............................................................................................................................................. Hon.

Josie Osborne Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General ........................................................................................................... Hon. Mike Farnworth Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction........................................................................................... Hon. Nicholas Simons Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport .................................................................................................................. Hon.

Melanie Mark Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure................................................................................................................... Hon. Rob Fleming Minister of State for Infrastructure ................................................................................................................................... Hon.

Bowinn Ma LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Leader of the Official Opposition...................................................................................................................................................Shirley Bond Leader of the Third Party .......................................................................................................................................................... Sonia Furstenau Deputy Speaker..........................................................................................................................................................

Spencer Chandra Herbert Assistant Deputy Speaker..............................................................................................................................................................Norm Letnick Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole .......................................................................................................................... Ronna-Rae Leonard Clerk of the Legislative Assembly ...........................................................................................................................................

Kate Ryan-Lloyd Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel.............................................................................................................................. Seunghee Suzie Seo Clerk Assistant, Parliamentary Services........................................................................................................................... Artour Sogomonian Clerk of Committees.......................................................................................................................................................................

Jennifer Arril Clerk Assistant, Committees and Interparliamentary Relations ..............................................................................................Susan Sourial Senior Research Analyst ................................................................................................................................................................... Karan Riarh Acting Sergeant-at-Arms..................................................................................................................................................................Greg Nelson

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS Alexis, Pam (BC NDP) ............................................................Abbotsford-Mission Anderson, Brittny (BC NDP) .........................................................Nelson-Creston Ashton, Dan (BC Liberal Party) ............................................................... Penticton Babchuk, Michele (BC NDP)...............................................................North Island Bailey, Brenda (BC NDP).................................................. Vancouver–False Creek Bains, Hon. Harry (BC NDP).........................................................

Surrey-Newton Banman, Bruce (BC Liberal Party) ............................................ Abbotsford South Beare, Hon. Lisa (BC NDP) .......................................

Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Begg, Garry (BC NDP).................................................................Surrey-Guildford Bernier, Mike (BC Liberal Party) ...............................................Peace River South Bond, Shirley (BC Liberal Party).................................Prince George–Valemount Brar, Jagrup (BC NDP) ................................................................Surrey-Fleetwood Cadieux, Stephanie (BC Liberal Party) .............................................

Surrey South Chandra Herbert, Spencer (BC NDP).................................Vancouver–West End Chant, Susie (BC NDP) ..............................................North Vancouver–Seymour Chen, Hon. Katrina (BC NDP) ............................................... Burnaby-Lougheed Chouhan, Hon. Raj (BC NDP).................................................Burnaby-Edmonds Chow, Hon. George (BC NDP) ..........................................Vancouver-Fraserview Clovechok, Doug (BC Liberal Party)........................Columbia River–Revelstoke Conroy, Hon.

Katrine (BC NDP) ....................................................Kootenay West Coulter, Dan (BC NDP) .......................................................................... Chilliwack Cullen, Hon. Nathan (BC NDP) ................................................................... Stikine Davies, Dan (BC Liberal Party)................................................. Peace River North de Jong, Michael, QC (BC Liberal Party)....................................Abbotsford West Dean, Hon. Mitzi (BC NDP) ...............................................

Esquimalt-Metchosin D’Eith, Bob (BC NDP) .........................................................Maple Ridge–Mission Dix, Hon. Adrian (BC NDP) ................................................ Vancouver-Kingsway Doerkson, Lorne (BC Liberal Party) ........................................Cariboo-Chilcotin Donnelly, Fin (BC NDP) .......................................... Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Dykeman, Megan (BC NDP)............................................................... Langley East Eby, Hon. David, QC (BC NDP).......................................

Vancouver–Point Grey Elmore, Mable (BC NDP) ..................................................Vancouver-Kensington Farnworth, Hon. Mike (BC NDP) .................................................Port Coquitlam Fleming, Hon. Rob (BC NDP) ...............................................

Victoria–Swan Lake Furstenau, Sonia (BC Green Party) .............................................Cowichan Valley Glumac, Rick (BC NDP) ..................................................Port Moody–Coquitlam Greene, Kelly (BC NDP) ........................................................Richmond-Steveston Halford, Trevor (BC Liberal Party) .........................................Surrey–White Rock Heyman, Hon. George (BC NDP) .........................................Vancouver-Fairview Horgan, Hon. John (BC NDP) ......................................... Langford–Juan de Fuca Kahlon, Hon.

Ravi (BC NDP) .............................................................. Delta North Kang, Hon. Anne (BC NDP) .................................................. Burnaby–Deer Lake Kirkpatrick, Karin (BC Liberal Party) ........................West Vancouver–Capilano Kyllo, Greg (BC Liberal Party)....................................................................Shuswap Lee, Michael (BC Liberal Party) ..............................................Vancouver-Langara Leonard, Ronna-Rae (BC NDP)...............................................

Courtenay-Comox Letnick, Norm (BC Liberal Party) .................................. Kelowna–Lake Country Lore, Grace (BC NDP)........................................................... Victoria–Beacon Hill Ma, Hon. Bowinn (BC NDP).....................................North Vancouver–Lonsdale Malcolmson, Hon. Sheila (BC NDP)........................................................Nanaimo Mark, Hon. Melanie (BC NDP).................................Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Mercier, Andrew (BC NDP) ........................................................................

Langley Merrifield, Renee (BC Liberal Party)......................................... Kelowna-Mission Milobar, Peter (BC Liberal Party) .......................... Kamloops–North Thompson Morris, Mike (BC Liberal Party) ................................. Prince George–Mackenzie Oakes, Coralee (BC Liberal Party).................................................. Cariboo North Olsen, Adam (BC Green Party)............................ Saanich North and the Islands Osborne, Hon.

Josie (BC NDP)........................................Mid Island–Pacific Rim Paddon, Kelli (BC NDP) ................................................................Chilliwack-Kent Paton, Ian (BC Liberal Party) ............................................................... Delta South Popham, Hon. Lana (BC NDP)........................................................ Saanich South Ralston, Hon. Bruce (BC NDP)......................................................Surrey-Whalley Rankin, Hon.

Murray, QC (BC NDP) .............................Oak Bay–Gordon Head Rice, Jennifer (BC NDP) ...................................................................... North Coast Robinson, Hon. Selina (BC NDP)...................................Coquitlam-Maillardville Ross, Ellis (BC Liberal Party)......................................................................... Skeena Routledge, Janet (BC NDP) .............................................................Burnaby North Routley, Doug (BC NDP)...........................................

Nanaimo–North Cowichan Russell, Roly (BC NDP).................................................... Boundary-Similkameen Rustad, John (BC Liberal Party)......................................................Nechako Lakes Sandhu, Harwinder (BC NDP) .................................................Vernon-Monashee Sharma, Niki (BC NDP)..........................................................Vancouver-Hastings Shypitka, Tom (BC Liberal Party) .................................................... Kootenay East Simons, Hon. Nicholas (BC NDP).........................

Powell River–Sunshine Coast Sims, Jinny (BC NDP) ................................................................. Surrey-Panorama Singh, Aman (BC NDP) .............................................Richmond-Queensborough Singh, Rachna (BC NDP)...................................................Surrey–Green Timbers Starchuk, Mike (BC NDP) ......................................................... Surrey-Cloverdale Stewart, Ben (BC Liberal Party) .......................................................

Kelowna West Stone, Todd (BC Liberal Party) ...............................Kamloops–South Thompson Sturdy, Jordan (BC Liberal Party) ............................. West Vancouver–Sea to Sky Tegart, Jackie (BC Liberal Party)....................................................... Fraser-Nicola Walker, Adam (BC NDP) ....................................................... Parksville-Qualicum Wat, Teresa (BC Liberal Party) ....................................... Richmond North Centre Whiteside, Hon. Jennifer (BC NDP) .........................................

New Westminster Wilkinson, Andrew, QC (BC Liberal Party)......................Vancouver-Quilchena Y ao, Henry (BC NDP) ..................................................... Richmond South Centre LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING Abbotsford-Mission................................................................................. Pam Alexis Abbotsford South...............................................................................Bruce Banman Abbotsford West......................................................................

Michael de Jong, QC Boundary-Similkameen........................................................................ Roly Russell Burnaby–Deer Lake....................................................................... Hon. Anne Kang Burnaby-Edmonds......................................................................Hon. Raj Chouhan Burnaby-Lougheed .................................................................... Hon. Katrina Chen Burnaby North .................................................................................

Janet Routledge Cariboo-Chilcotin ..........................................................................Lorne Doerkson Cariboo North.................................................................................... Coralee Oakes Chilliwack ...............................................................................................Dan Coulter Chilliwack-Kent .................................................................................... Kelli Paddon Columbia River–Revelstoke .........................................................

Doug Clovechok Coquitlam–Burke Mountain...............................................................Fin Donnelly Coquitlam-Maillardville ...................................................... Hon. Selina Robinson Courtenay-Comox................................................................... Ronna-Rae Leonard Cowichan Valley ............................................................................. Sonia Furstenau Delta North................................................................................... Hon.

Ravi Kahlon Delta South ..................................................................................................Ian Paton Esquimalt-Metchosin .................................................................... Hon. Mitzi Dean Fraser-Nicola .........................................................................................

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

Renee Merrifield Kelowna West ..........................................................................................Ben Stewart Kootenay East.......................................................................................Tom Shypitka Kootenay West........................................................................ Hon. Katrine Conroy Langford–Juan de Fuca .............................................................. Hon.

John Horgan Langley .............................................................................................Andrew Mercier Langley East....................................................................................Megan Dykeman Maple Ridge–Mission.............................................................................. Bob D’Eith Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows............................................................Hon. Lisa Beare Mid Island–Pacific Rim............................................................ Hon.

Josie Osborne Nanaimo.............................................................................Hon. Sheila Malcolmson Nanaimo–North Cowichan............................................................... Doug Routley Nechako Lakes........................................................................................ John Rustad Nelson-Creston ............................................................................. Brittny Anderson New Westminster.............................................................. Hon.

Jennifer Whiteside North Coast ........................................................................................... Jennifer Rice North Island................................................................................... Michele Babchuk North Vancouver–Lonsdale......................................................... Hon. Bowinn Ma North Vancouver–Seymour...................................................................Susie Chant Oak Bay–Gordon Head..................................................Hon.

Murray Rankin, QC Parksville-Qualicum........................................................................... Adam Walker Peace River North ................................................................................... Dan Davies Peace River South ................................................................................ Mike Bernier Penticton ................................................................................................. Dan Ashton Port Coquitlam...................................................................... Hon.

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

Shirley Bond Richmond North Centre..........................................................................Teresa Wat Richmond-Queensborough..................................................................Aman Singh Richmond South Centre .......................................................................... Henry Y ao Richmond-Steveston ............................................................................

Kelly Greene Saanich North and the Islands .............................................................Adam Olsen Saanich South .............................................................................Hon. Lana Popham Shuswap...................................................................................................... Greg Kyllo Skeena........................................................................................................... Ellis Ross Stikine........................................................................................ Hon.

Nathan Cullen Surrey-Cloverdale .............................................................................. Mike Starchuk Surrey-Fleetwood.....................................................................................Jagrup Brar Surrey–Green Timbers........................................................................Rachna Singh Surrey-Guildford......................................................................................Garry Begg Surrey-Newton ..............................................................................Hon.

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

George Heyman Vancouver–False Creek...................................................................... Brenda Bailey Vancouver-Fraserview...............................................................Hon. George Chow Vancouver-Hastings ..............................................................................Niki Sharma Vancouver-Kensington....................................................................... Mable Elmore Vancouver-Kingsway..................................................................... Hon.

Adrian Dix Vancouver-Langara................................................................................ Michael Lee Vancouver–Mount Pleasant..................................................... Hon. Melanie Mark Vancouver–Point Grey ............................................................Hon. David Eby, QC Vancouver-Quilchena........................................................Andrew Wilkinson, QC Vancouver–West End .....................................................Spencer Chandra Herbert Vernon-Monashee .....................................................................

Harwinder Sandhu Victoria–Beacon Hill............................................................................... Grace Lore Victoria–Swan Lake.................................................................... Hon. Rob Fleming West Vancouver–Capilano...........................................................Karin Kirkpatrick West Vancouver–Sea to Sky................................................................Jordan Sturdy Party Standings: BC NDP 57; BC Liberal Party 28; BC Green Party 2

CONTENTS Tuesday, December 8, 2020 Morning Sitting Page Routine Business Tributes ..........................................................................................................................................................................................13 Katherine McParland Hon. S. Robinson Joe Arvay Hon. D. Eby Hon. M. Rankin Cecil Paul Hon. N.

Cullen Introductions by Members..........................................................................................................................................................14 Introduction and First Reading of Bills.....................................................................................................................................14 Bill 3 — Finance Statutes Amendment Act, 2020 Hon. S.

Robinson Presentation of Estimates ............................................................................................................................................................15 Supplementary estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021 Statements (Standing Order 25B) ..............................................................................................................................................15 Murray United Church in Nicola Valley J. Tegart 411 Seniors Centre Society M. Elmore Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives program and Christmas fund T.

Wat A Tale of Two Citiesand work of Legislature G. Begg Salvation Army programs D. Davies Election of Raj Chouhan as Speaker J. Brar Oral Questions..............................................................................................................................................................................17 COVID-19 rapid testing program for long-term-care facilities S. Bond Hon. A. Dix R. Merrifield COVID-19 impact and disaggregated data collection S. Furstenau Hon. A. Dix COVID-19 response and mental health services T. Halford Hon. S.

Malcolmson COVID-19 rapid testing program for long-term-care facilities J. Tegart Hon. J.

Horgan Tabling Documents......................................................................................................................................................................22 Office of the Auditor General, information report,Summary of COVID-19 Pandemic Funding Allocations and Other Financial Relief Measures Office of the Conflict of the Interest Commissioner, annual report, 2019-20 Office of the Human Rights Commissioner, report,Disaggregated Demographic Data Collection in British Columbia: The Grandmother Perspective Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, annual report, 2019-20 Office of the Ombudsperson, special report,Course Correction: The Ministry of Education 2019 Provincial Exam Errors Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, annual report, 2019-20 Office of the registrar of lobbyists for B.C., annual report, 2019-20 Office of the registrar of lobbyists for B.C.,Investigation Report 20-01, B.C.

Salmon Farmers Association, designated filer: John Paul Fraser, September 24, 2020 Office of the Representative for Children and Y outh, report,A Way to Cope: Exploring Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in B.C. Youth Office of the Representative for Children and Y outh, annual report, 2019-20, and service plan, 2020-21 to 2022-23

Tabling Documents(continued) Office of the Representative for Children and Y outh, financial statements, 2019-20 Office of the Representative for Children and Y outh, report,Left Out: Children and Youth with Special Needs in the Pandemic Office of the Representative for Children and Y outh, report,Illuminating Service Experience: A Descriptive Analysis of Injury and Death Reports for First Nations Children and Youth in B.C., 2015 to 2017 Report pursuant to the COVID-19 Related Measures Act regarding Ministerial Order M314/2020, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Report pursuant to the COVID-19 Related Measures Act regarding Ministerial Order M324/2020, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Report pursuant to the COVID-19 Related Measures Act regarding Ministerial Order M358/2020, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Report pursuant to the COVID-19 Related Measures Act regarding Ministerial Order M425/2020, Attorney General Report pursuant to the COVID-19 Related Measures Act regarding Ministerial Order M425/2020, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Report pursuant to the COVID-19 Related Measures Act regarding Order-in-Council 475/2020, Attorney General Report pursuant to the COVID-19 Related Measures Act regarding Order-in-Council 475/2020, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Report pursuant to the COVID-19 Related Measures Act regarding Order-in-Council 477/2020, Attorney General Report pursuant to the COVID-19 Related Measures Act regarding Order-in-Council 485/2020, Attorney General Report pursuant to the COVID-19 Related Measures Act regarding Order-in-Council 492/2020, Attorney General Report pursuant to the COVID-19 Related Measures Act regarding Order-in-Council 566/2020, Attorney General Report pursuant to the COVID-19 Related Measures Act regarding Order-in-Council 579/2020, Attorney General Report pursuant to the COVID-19 Related Measures Act regarding Order-in-Council 586/2020, Attorney General Report pursuant to the COVID-19 Related Measures Act regarding Order-in-Council 593/2020, Attorney General Orders of the Day Throne Speech Debate .................................................................................................................................................................23 G.

Begg G. Lore M. Elmore J. Rustad

TUESDAY , DECEMBER 8, 2020 The House met at 10:02 a.m. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Prayers and reflections: Hon. Anne Kang. [10:05 a.m.] Tributes KATHERINE McPARLAND Hon. S. Robinson: I rise today with some sad news. Katherine McParland, a well-known and well-loved res- ident of the Kamloops community and a good friend of mine, passed away suddenly this weekend. I first heard of this remarkable young woman when I was Housing Minister and saw an

article in the Kamloops local paper about the work she was doing. Shane Simpson, the Minister of Social Development at the time, and I invited her to make a presentation about the work she was doing. She shared her story of bouncing around the foster care system for most of her childhood. It was followed, as she aged out of that system, by years of homelessness. It was from this that she was able to find her calling.

After Shane and I met with her, we introduced her to the Minister of Children and Family Development, the member for Koo- tenay West, so that she, too, could hear from Katherine’s experience and her wisdom. I know that the members from Kamloops who are here in this House knew her well also. Katherine was unwavering in purpose and committed to lasting change. She’ d lived experience, and she married that with academic rigour by completing her master’s degree earlier this year. In the few years that I have known her, she became the co-chair of the B.C. Coalition to End Y outh Homelessness.

She became a member of the federal Advisory Committee on Homelessness, and she became a dedicated member of the board of B.C. Housing. Katherine was courageous and warm, compassionate, thoughtful and funny. She had an ability to draw people to her that would help her in her mission. Someone on social media this weekend noted that she had social chutzpah. I think that’s a completely accurate description of her. I will miss her midday texts asking if I had a moment for a check-in. She would often say that she was in awe that she had the ability to talk with ministers of the Crown and do work with the ministers.

I can really say, and I think I speak on behalf of my col- leagues and all members of this House, those that knew her, that the truth is that we were the ones who were actu- ally in awe of her. I ask the House to join me in recognizing Katherine’s efforts on behalf of British Columbians and the tragedy of her untimely passing with just a brief moment of reflection on how we can honour her work and legacy on behalf of vulnerable youth through our work as legislators here in this place. May her memory be for a blessing. JOE ARV AY Hon. D.

Eby: It is very unfortunate news that I have to bring to the House of the sudden and unexpected passing of Joe Arvay, Queen’s Counsel. He was an exceptional law- yer. He was an exceptional person. As a law student, I studied his cases. He revolutionized the understanding of

section 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that guarantees equality to all Canadians, and his work was especially influential in recognizing the rights of the LGBTQ community. He fought the censor- ship of children’s books that promoted tolerance and understanding. He fought for the rights of same-sex spouses to the same benefits that every other person was entitled to in the country. He stood up for survival sex workers to say that they had a right to appear in court without having to put themselves in jeopardy. He was respected not just throughout the legal com- munity but across the country.

He was the kind of guy that had every right to be unapproachable and to come across as condescending. He was brilliant, yet he was the excep- tion to the rule of never meet your heroes, because if you had the opportunity and the honour, as I did, to meet Joe and to know him, he was kind. He was thoughtful. He never made you feel like you didn’t understand what he understood. [10:10 a.m.] He was an excellent teacher. He brought that ability to communicate the law to the courts, to his clients and to the public.

He was unapologetic and unafraid in assert- ing the rights of even unpopular groups at the time and to say things that now are common sense but at the time were quite revolutionary. He dramatically reformed the legal landscape in Canada. I am so grateful for the chance to know him. But more importantly, as a British Columbian and as a Canadian, I am so grateful for his work promoting the rights of all Canadians. He left an indelible mark. He will leave a gap that will not be filled.

But I will note, and I hope it is some comfort to his family and friends who are reeling right now, that he was an inspiration to generations of lawyers about the need to be committed to public service in the work that we do and the need to recognize the rights of everybody in the work that we do. He changed the world. He changed our country, and he changed our province in incredibly positive ways. I’m very grateful that I knew him. I hope that other members 13

had the opportunity. I’m very grateful for his life, very well lived. He will be sorely missed. Hon. M. Rankin:All of us in this historic place are here in our own way because we want to make the world a bet- ter place. We want to leave a legacy of accomplishments that help change peoples’ lives for the better. Y esterday a giant of Canadian law left us — a tireless giant who truly changed the course of history for so many people facing discrimination and injustice. Joe Arvay was my former law partner and dear friend.

To read Joe’s cases over the last forty years is to chronicle the sweep of social justice and law reform. Were it not for Joe Arvay, marriage equality in this country would not exist. Were it not for Joe Arvay, dis- crimination against LGBTQ2+ people in our schools and in our bookstores would have persisted. Were it not for Joe, the rights of Indigenous people would not have advanced to the degree that they have. And were it not for Joe, people suffering with interminable pain would not have been able to avail themselves of medical assist- ance in dying.

A month ago a widow of a dear friend of mine came with tears in her eyes and asked me to thank Joe because he had made it possible for her husband’s suffering to come to an end. In that historic case, Joe persuaded a unanimous Supreme Court of Canada to reverse the Susan Rodriguez decision that had been rendered not 20 years earlier. That is the stuff of legal legend. Joe was widely recognized as perhaps Canada’s most brilliant and successful constitutional and human rights lawyer.

He appeared in the Supreme Court of Canada over 75 times on some of the defining cases of our generation, including access to legal safe injection sites, the right of workers to associate in pursuit of workplace goals and countless cases advancing equality. At the time of his death, Joe was representing 15 children from across the country seeking more urgent government action to address climate change. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms came into force during his career, and Joe was recognized for building its foundation case by case. Joe’s passion for justice was in his DNA.

He didn’t care whether there was case law with him or against him. He believed that if he worked hard enough and long enough, he’ d find a way. He usually did, and often all of this without fees. I believe that Joe’s greatest legacy was that he inspired an entire generation of young lawyers to try to change the world and make it a better place. Y esterday a justice of the Supreme Court of Canada reached out to me. He said this: “What a fine man, and what an absolutely exceptional lawyer, perhaps the very finest appellate law- yer I ever saw. And what a record of achievement.

I’m not sure how he persuaded my colleagues of some of the things he persuaded them of. I used to call him the court whisperer. ” British Columbia and Canada have lost a leg- al warrior and a legal giant. [10:15 a.m.] He was like a brother to me. He was the bravest person I ever knew, and he made all of us better for having lived in our world. CECIL PAUL Hon. N. Cullen: I would like the House to join me in also recognizing the passing of a giant amongst us. Recently Wa’xaid, Cecil Paul, from the Xenaksiala Nation passed away at the age of 90.

Cecil was an author, a con- servationist, a cultural leader and also a very dear friend to me and to many. He was born in the Kitlope, in northern British Colum- bia, in 1931 and soon after was torn away from his family and, like so many of his generation, sent off to residential school, where he experienced abuse that most of us can’t even imagine. For years — for decades, in fact — Cecil struggled with addictions. Only in returning to the Kit- lope, the place of his birth, was he, in his own words, even- tually healed by that place.

He then dedicated his life to protecting the Kitlope, the world’s largest intact temperate rainforest. He worked with many great leaders like Gerald Amos, Bruce Hill and oth- ers to make sure that that place that had healed him, the place of his birth, would be protected for generations and generations to come. Cecil once said: “Build a canoe and it will be supernat- ural.

No matter how many people will come aboard to help you paddle to save your place of birth, it will never be full. ” To Cecil’s family, to his entire nation, I would like the House to join me in recognizing his contribution to the north, to British Columbia and, in fact, to our entire coun- try and world. Introductions by Members S. Furstenau:I just want to take a moment to celebrate. It is my son’s 15th birthday today. Peter is remarkable in so many ways — inquisitive, curious, joyful, funny, always challenging us — and makes the most incredible meals that we can imagine. Happy, happy birthday, Peter.

I can’t wait to see you this evening. I’m so grateful to have you in my life. Introduction and First Reading of Bills BILL 3 — FINANCE STATUTES AMENDMENT ACT, 2020 Hon. S. Robinson presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Finance Statutes Amendment Act, 2020. 14 British Columbia Debates Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Hon. S. Robinson:I move that the bill be introduced and read a first time now. I am pleased to introduce the Finance Statutes Amend- ment Act, 2020. The bill includes amendments to the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act to allow additional time for the budget and estimates development process. The amendments provide that the budget and estimates will be tabled no later than April 30.

While the proposed rules will also allow for modest extensions to release dates for quarterly reports in a fiscal year when there is a general election, the amendments still ensure that fiscal updates are publicly provided so that there is not a lengthy gap in public reporting. The bill also proposes amendments to the Financial Administration Act to complement the amendments to the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act. This amendment ensures that limited funding remains avail- able should a supply act not be enacted by the start of a new fiscal year and would only apply to address election year

schedule impacts. Finally, the bill includes amendments to the Home Owner Grant Act, which is a first step in ensuring that the province will meet its commitment to centralize the homeowner grant program administration as planned for in Budget 2020. Beginning in 2021, all applications, including retroact- ive applications, will be made directly to the province. [10:20 a.m.] Mr. Speaker:The question is first reading of the bill. Motion approved. Hon. S. Robinson:I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Bill 3, Finance Statutes Amendment Act, 2020, introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today. Presentation of Estimates SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2021 Hon. S. Robinson presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: supplementary estimates (No. 3) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021. Statements (Standing Order 25B) MURRAY UNITED CHURCH IN NICOLA V ALLEY J. Tegart:Today I want to share a story about com- munity commitment and resilience.

It’s a story about a beautiful church located in the Nicola Valley that was burned to the ground in 2019 by an arson. The Murray church was built in 1876 as a Presbyterian church and was the oldest building in the Nicola Valley built with Nicola Valley lumber. If you took a peek through the windows, you got an idea of what a 19th century church looked like back in the day. There was a pulpit at the front, pews waiting to be filled and stained-glass windows at the back. In 1927, the church became the Murray United Church, named after its founder, Rev. George Murray.

As you can well imagine, many families in the Nicola Valley have fond memories of church events. Weddings, Christmas ser- vices, special occasions and funerals all happened at the quaint little white church. In January of 2019, the community was devastated when the church burned down by an arson. The com- munity came together and decided to raise $200,000 to rebuild the church. I’m pleased to report that the fundrais- ing has reached nearly $170,000 of their $200,000 goal. They recently held a ground-breaking ceremony, with hopes of construction starting next year.

They also an- nounced that an anonymous donor has offered to match every dollar of the last $15,000 needed if this can be accomplished by January 11, the second anniversary of the loss of the church. This project is a beacon of hope during a very challen- ging time in our province and our country. I hope that this chamber will join me in congratulating the people of the Nicola Valley for their commitment to renewal. 411 SENIORS CENTRE SOCIETY M. Elmore:The grey tsunami has arrived, and they’re working to change the world.

The 500-member-strong 411 Seniors Centre Society activates the talents, strengths, expertise and skills of older adults. Their peer-led services since 1977 include supporting seniors; navigating the health care system; resolving pen- sion issues; skills training in the digital revolution; to their podcast,Powered by Age. Programs are delivered by mem- bers.

Y ou can take art classes, yoga, Spanish and other lan- guage courses, including ESL, and also join town hall and advocacy campaigns. [10:25 a.m.] During this pandemic, they’re working especially hard to ensure seniors are connected and that they get the help they need. Along with providing these important services, Tuesday, December 8, 2020 British Columbia Debates 15

the 411 Seniors is a community of vibrant, passionate and critically engaged elders committed to bringing their wis- dom to current-day challenges. I’m so excited to welcome the 411 Senior Centre Society to their new location in Vancouver-Kensington. They’ll have a new centre, as well as a seniors housing co-op, part- nering with the city of Vancouver, B.C. Housing, the Com- munity Land Trust. This modest but mighty organization is an inspiration for their dedication to taking care of those needing the most help amongst us.

They’re always pushing boundaries to create a just, equitable and respectful world for all. Please join me in recognizing the exceptional service and leadership of the 411 Senior Centre Society. RICHMOND CARES, RICHMOND GIVES PROGRAM AND CHRISTMAS FUND T. Wat:The holidays are a time for joy but can also be a very challenging time, especially for the most vul- nerable individuals and families.

This season brings with it more challenges than ever before due to COVID-19, which is why it is more important than ever that we rec- ognize and support amazing programs like the Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives Christmas fund. A couple of weeks ago I joined a joint drive-through toy drive with Richmond RCMP in the parking lot of Lans- downe mall in my riding of Richmond North Centre. Over 300 people drove by to drop off toys and donations. This year this charitable campaign is able to help 3,000 Rich- mond families, children, teens and seniors with food vouchers, gift certificates and over 10,000 toys.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my most sincere appreciation to CEO Ed Gavsie; co-chairs Wayne Duzita, Rob Howard, Michael Chiu; and the committee. I’ d also like to thank the nine angel donors who have stepped up with $10,000 each to support those in need. Special thanks must be given to the 200 volunteers and, of course, the many charitable donations from our community. Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives, which runs this program every year, has been an integral part of Richmond for more than 40 years.

Their work to support those in need and their efforts to promote philanthropy and the spirit of giving cannot be celebrated enough. This season I urge you all to give the extra mile to sup- port an amazing initiative like the Christmas fund. Help a family in need and offer our communities that little bit of extra holiday cheer. A TALE OF TWO CITIES AND WORK OF LEGISLATURE G.

Begg: “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom; it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief; it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of light; it was the season of darkness; it was the spring of hope; it was the winter of despair; we had everything before us; we had nothing before us; we were all going direct to heaven; we were all going direct the other way — in short, the period was so far like the present period that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. ” That memorable passage is, of course, the opening paragraph fromA Tale of Two Cities, an 1859 novel by Charles Dickens set in London and Paris before and dur- ing the French revolution.

Those words, penned more than 160 years ago, sound eerily like where we find our- selves today. Times are tough, and our future is uncer- tain. But is there hope? [10:30 a.m.] At the start of this legislative session, in facing the enormous challenges we all face together, let us all commit to working together to bring the house of hope to all our citizens who are looking to us. The task ahead of us is enormous and unprecedented. Let us join each other in finding that path forward together.

The last paragraph ofA Tale of Two Cities is not as well known but just as memorable: “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is far better rest that I go to than I have ever known. ” It is my hope that we can all collectively say that at the end of our tenure here together. We can curse the dark- ness, or we can light a candle. The choice is ours. May we all, in this House, be candle-lighters. SALV ATION ARMY PROGRAMS D. Davies:Today I’m going to be talking briefly on an organization that all of us know and appreciate, the Salva- tion Army.

This is an international organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social ser- vices in our country. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, providing shelter for homeless people or supports for those in addiction. In Fort St. John, their food bank operates on a drop- in basis. People can come in, have a cup of coffee, grab a snack or sign up for a food bank slot.

The community meal program brings guests in to enjoy fellowship, games, and access to case workers or just a hot lunch. In addition to food, many people are in need of clothing or household items and can find support there. Additionally, the Salvation Army’s Northern Centre of Hope in Fort St. John has designed a proactive program for those who have reached a point in their lives where they are ready to move forward out of poverty and address the barriers that prevent the acquisition of sustained hous- ing and career employment.

The primary goal is to integ- rate these individuals back into the community as self-suf- ficient citizens. There is little doubt that 2020 has been one of the most 16 British Columbia Debates Tuesday, December 8, 2020

challenging years ever, which has presented significant hurdles for the Salvation Army and many organizations like it. Christmas can be an extra hard season for people with low income, and much worse under COVID-19 con- ditions. Thank you to all the Salvation Armies across the pro- vince. I want to give special thanks to our local executive director, Cameron Eggie, and all of his staff and volunteers who are very thankful for the generosity of residents in our community for their continued support. The request for service remains high and ongoing.

There is greater diversity of food bank users than ever before, from people that were not prepared for layoffs or revenue interruption. The same theme is taking place across our province. Christmas kettles will be out this year. They may or may not have a volunteer. Some will have a $5.00 tap feature for your debit card or credit card. Whatever the case may be, please give generously. ELECTION OF RAJ CHOUHAN AS SPEAKER J. Brar:Once upon a time, a young Punjabi man came to Canada in 1973 for a better life for himself and his fam- ily.

He spent his entire life fighting for the rights of every person and working to end discrimination and inequality. As a result of his work, he was first elected in 2005 as MLA for Burnaby-Edmonds, and yesterday he made history in B.C. Mr. Speaker, your long walk to the Speaker’s chair reminds me of Nelson Mandela’s words: “It always seems impossible until it is done. ” Y ou may have thought the same for many years until it was done yesterday, Mr. Speaker. It was a historic day for the people of British Col- umbia, and specifically for the people of the Punjabi com- munity and, of course, for you, hon. Speaker.

All members of this House worked together to make this historic choice and a positive change in this House. A long-serving member of this House from Burnaby- Edmonds was elected unanimously as the Speaker of this House, a rare milestone for all of us and for the Member for Burnaby-Edmonds. It was rare because you, hon. Speaker, are the first Punjabi person from India to be ever elected as a Speaker of a legislature in North America. [10:35 a.m.] It is so because Canada is a country of immigrants, who come to this country with big dreams for a better life.

But it is almost impossible to dream of becoming a Speaker of the House, because it seems something beyond reach. Not anymore. It is not a remote possibility anymore. In fact, it can be done now. Y our story, Mr. Speaker, will inspire every immigrant and person of colour to dream even bigger. Y our story, Mr. Speaker, will also send a message to the global community that people in this country not only open doors to new immigrants but embrace them as equals.

My sincere thanks to the Premier, the Leader of the Official Opposition, the Leader of the Third Party and all members of this House for your support to show that we are committed to making this province more inclusive, more equal and more fair for all. In the end, Mr. Speaker, my sincere congratulations, mubarakan, and good wishes,shubhechhawan, to you and your family — your beautiful wife, Inder, and your kids. Der ahe drusat aae. Oral Questions COVID-19 RAPID TESTING PROGRAM FOR LONG-TERM-CARE FACILITIES S.

Bond: Day after day British Columbians, including every member of this assembly, feel heartbroken when we hear about transmission, about outbreaks and, ultimately, about deaths in our long-term-care homes. The images of families being separated from the seniors that they love and the fear of losing that loved one should compel all of us to do absolutely everything possible to lower transmis- sion rates and protect our most vulnerable citizens. Y esterday the government announced the limited use of rapid tests in a small number of long-term-care homes in two health authorities.

My question is a straightforward one to the Premier. Rapid tests would provide an additional level of protection for vulnerable seniors. Knowing that, will the Premier immediately commit to the implementation of a rapid- testing program in long-term-care homes across the entire province? Hon. A. Dix: Thank you very much to the Leader of the Opposition for her question. She’ll know that out- breaks in long-term care, the situation in long-term care, affects everyone in the province, from Rotary Manor in her hometown to Three Links in my constituency.

I think it’s fair to say that every day, everybody in the health care system, including Dr. Bonnie Henry and all of us, are working and doing everything we can to both assist people in long-term care and to stop outbreaks in long-term care. It’s for that reason that a number of measures have taken place in B.C. that have not taken place in other places in the country, and we’ve had relative success compared to other jurisdictions in dealing with it. But I don’t think people are that concerned with what happens in other jurisdictions. They want us to do everything we can here, and we are.

The fact is that rapid testing, as Dr. Henry has explained many times…. The rapid tests that have been sent to us are not successful or effective in dealing with asymptomatic testing and, in any event, haven’t been sent to us in the numbers available to put in place such a system. It would not be effective. That said, as with everything else, we are trying abso- lutely everything, including a pilot project, to see in what ways they could be effective in our province. Rapid testing Tuesday, December 8, 2020 British Columbia Debates 17

is also being used and being piloted in other areas where vulnerable people live, from the Downtown Eastside to rural communities. [10:40 a.m.] I just want to assure her that the reason why we’re pur- suing the pilot is that we’re pursuing absolutely every option to keep people protected. The reality is that these particular tests will not do what the hon. member is asking us to do. If they were able to do that, there would be no reason not to do them. We are following the evidence, we’re following the science, and we’re doing absolutely everything we can to protect everyone in long-term care.

I appreciate the member’s concern and the seriousness of her question. We will continue, I hope, to work together to provide as safe a solution as possible for everyone living in long-term care. Mr. Speaker:The Leader of the Official Opposition on a first supplemental. S. Bond: I certainly want to let the Minister of Health know that the members of the opposition absolutely appreciate the exceptional and outstanding work being done by health care workers and particularly those in long-term care across British Columbia.

The Health Min- ister himself has just pointed out how important it is that we do absolutely everything possible. For weeks now, families, seniors organizations and even the B.C. seniors advocate have been calling for additional action from this government. In her recent comments, the seniors advocate had this to say about rapid testing: “We’re going to catch some of those people, maybe not all of them, but some of them. We have nothing right now.

The question is: what is the harm in using them?” I am sure that the Premier would agree with me that we must make every single effort possible to protect our most vulnerable seniors. The Premier has the opportunity today to take additional action and implement a provincewide rapid-testing program that has the potential to make a dif- ference in long-term-care homes right across British Col- umbia. Will the Premier commit to doing that today? Hon. A. Dix: Thank you again to the member for her question.

As noted — and it has been a disappointment to us over the term of the pandemic — the technology involved in rapid-testing has not been as effective as we would have hoped by this point. The fact is that these tests are not licensed for what’s called asymptomatic testing. So that is not an appropriate means, and in any event, that isn’t an effective method. The people who say that are the people who are expert in this area.

I am with the seniors advocate, and I am with everyone in this province that wants to do everything they can, but the people who know testing have drawn this con- clusion, because they, too, care about people in long-term care, and their first principle of action is to do no harm. The member will know that this week we will be pres- enting our rollout plan for vaccines in British Columbia.

She will know — I’m not letting anything out of the bag early in this regard — that the priority of long-term care, of long-term-care workers and residents, in that vaccine plan will be key to managing the pandemic for long-term care in the coming weeks, and I mean immediate weeks. We are going full effort on that, just as we are in ensur- ing and finding ways to use rapid tests in the most effective way, to save lives of people across British Columbia. There is no issue more important to me personally and, I know, to the member and also to the critic for seniors for the opposition, the Leader of the Opposition.

That’s why we’re going to continue to follow the science, to follow the advice we’ve received from our leaders in terms of testing in the province and make all the decisions necessary to protect our seniors. Mr. Speaker:The Leader of the Official Opposition on a second supplemental. S. Bond: As we continue to battle COVID-19, every day matters, and every action matters.

No one is suggest- ing that the implementation of a rapid-testing program will guarantee the end of transmission or outbreaks, nor is the suggestion that we would replace the existing testing regime, but it would add an additional layer of protection. To the point that the Health Minister made, just yes- terday his government announced the fact that they are going to use rapid testing in a small number of long-term- care homes. Our question is: what is the harm in looking at a provincewide rapid-testing program if it even adds a simple extra layer of protection for vulnerable seniors?

The time for that action is now. [10:45 a.m.] If implementing a provincewide rapid-testing program has the potential to provide any additional protection for our most vulnerable British Columbians, there should be no hesitation in putting a provincewide program in place. Families are frightened. Seniors are vulnerable. Will the Premier take the action that they deserve and immediately implement a provincewide rapid-testing program? Not just in a few long-term-care homes. As the seniors advoc- ate said: what is the harm in putting a rapid-testing pro- gram in place?

So to the Premier: will he make a commit- ment today to expand the rapid-testing program to long- term-care homes across British Columbia? Hon. A. Dix: We have been using rapid tests in appro- priate circumstances, and that action is guided by the lead- ing experts in public health that we have. With great respect to the seniors advocate, who the Leader of the Opposition cites as evidence, this is not her area of expert- ise.

The fact is that the rapid tests are not licensed, even, for asymptomatic people and that we have a better overall plan to address symptomatic people in long-term care. 18 British Columbia Debates Tuesday, December 8, 2020

The purpose of the pilot project, the reason that we are pursuing even that option, is to see under what circum- stances you could use rapid testing to help — not to hinder but to help — our overall protection of long-term care. That’s why we’re proceeding, because every day we look at every possible option to assist people in long-term care and to deal with outbreaks in long-term care, which, right now, in active, long-term-care outbreaks in B.C., involve a total of 1,401 people. Regularly, I talk to the families of those people, as the member will know.

I hear their concerns, their worries, the fact of their separation, so we are taking the steps neces- sary. But those steps have to be effective, and they have to follow the science, and that’s why I’m following, in this case, the advice of Dr. Henry, the advice of the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, the advice of those who know these areas of testing and have worked in them all their lives to guide our policies and will continue to do so. R. Merrifield:The minister has referenced science. We know from science that rapid tests can break stubborn bottlenecks. They can contain infection.

They can sever the chain of transmission. They can reduce morbidity and mortality and diminish debilitating economic costs — these tests, which can deliver results in minutes rather than days. Other jurisdictions such as Ontario have called these a game-changer. Two weeks ago the federal government gave B.C. 131 rapid-test machines, 27,000 test kits and 500,000 antibody tests. Can the Premier confirm that B.C. has these tests and tell us how many have been deployed in long-term-care facilities? Hon. A. Dix: We’ve received 131 of the machines with respect to the Abbott ID NOW tests, with about 27,000 tests.

One might understand in the case of those machines that 27,000 tests would only be able to do the tests being suggested by the hon. member one time, or less than one time, for a long-term-care resident and less than one time per worker in long-term care equally. They’re not licensed, as we said, for asymptomatic testing. Dr. Bonnie Henry has given the response on this ques- tion multiple times, as the member will know — that her response is founded on the science in this area.

What Brit- ish Columbia is doing in terms of piloting with respect to rapid testing is not dissimilar to what they’re doing in Ontario, and we’re going to continue to act, including ensuring that early access to vaccine, especially for long- term-care workers, which will hopefully ring-fence long- term care, will be a key part of our vaccine plan. [10:50 a.m.] For the member…. I think the member is incorrect in suggesting that those tests, the 500,000 Panbio antigen tests, are the answer in long-term care. They are being used in British Columbia.

We’re taking the very steps required to ensure the best use is made of them so that people in long-term care and in other vulnerable circumstances such as rural communities, such as vulnerable communit- ies, such as the Downtown Eastside…. So that they can be effective. We’re following the science. We’re following the advice of the people in epidemiology who lead this effort, this specific effort, of testing. We’re going to continue to do so. Mr. Speaker:The member for Kelowna-Mission on a supplemental. R.

Merrifield:I can appreciate the minister’s comments, but there are still many voices calling for a widespread rap- id-testing program to reduce the number and extent of the current outbreaks in long-term care and to protect one of our most vulnerable populations. That includes families like Lesley Telford’s, whose mom, Sandy, is in long-term care. She says: “I do believe that we can do more testing. We do have to pay more attention to their quality of life.

We can’t just lock people away indefinitely. ” Again to the Premier, how many rapid tests does B.C. have today, and how quickly could they be deployed to our long-term-care facilities? Hon. A. Dix: Well, I believe I just answered that ques- tion. I’m happy to answer it again. We have 27,000 tests of the Abbott ID NOW system and 131 of the machines. We’ve received approximately a little under 500,000 of the Panbio antigen tests. All of them, of course, require a nasopharyngeal swab. All of them require a health care worker to do the swab.

All of them are not licensed for use except in people who are symptomatic, and even in the case of people who are symptomatic, they are not as able to pick up the virus as the regular NAT tests that we do on an ongoing basis in B.C. I absolutely agree with the member, and people frequently want this: they would like there to be a magic solution or a single solution or an easy solution. There is not an easy solution to this worldwide pandemic. We have to do the work. We have to trust in the epidemiologists who have led us so extraordinarily well in this area.

We absolutely have to do testing on a systematic basis, and we have significantly increased our capacity to do testing in B.C. We have to ensure, as we have done in B.C., our single-site model for staffing, ensure that we’re adding health care workers — more than 1,000 of the 7,000 already hired, as proposed by the Premier in September. We have to ensure that infection control procedures are in place, and that effort is being made by health care workers everywhere in the province. I am with the hon. member. I am with the families in this area. In fact, I am one of the families in this area.

I can tell the member that we are doing absolutely everything we can, but wishing doesn’t make [audio interrupted]. We have to follow [audio interrupted] the Tuesday, December 8, 2020 British Columbia Debates 19

best advice of people such as Dr. Bonnie Henry and will continue to do so. COVID-19 IMPACT AND DISAGGREGATED DATA COLLECTION S. Furstenau:I just want to say that I’m glad that we have the opportunity to be asking questions of govern- ment after this time and being in the depths of the second wave of COVID-19. The public has a lot of questions, and it’s important we have this opportunity to be able to ask them. And as we come to terms with being in the depths of the second wave, we must recognize that COVID-19 has not only exposed the inequalities in our society but con- tinues to deepen those inequalities.

We’re not actually all in it together. Some of us have the certainty of jobs that are not at risk because of COVID-19 and can work safely from home, even relying on delivery of groceries as a buffer from the risk. Others work in jobs that don’t allow them that secur- ity. Health care workers, teachers, principals, custodial and cleaning staff; people working in retail, food service, trans- portation — none of them are able to stay home while con- tinuing to earn a salary. We also know that this virus has disproportionate race-based impacts, but we don’t know exactly to what extent. My question is to the Premier.

Telling people to stay home is not good enough. We need targeted supports that match the realities that different British Columbians face. To create those supports, we need disaggregated data about who is getting sick and where, including income and ethnicity. When will the Premier make this a priority and make the call to start collecting this critical data? [10:55 a.m.] Hon. A. Dix:Thank you to the member for her question and her assistance and advice during the many months of the pandemic.

The member will know that British Colum- bia was the first to provide information around modelling, the first to do a provincewide survey to see the effects of COVID-19 on groups across B.C. All of that information is publicly available, and we’ve continued to do so. It is the case that right now, we are not providing unique case counts, disaggregated data. But we know what the facts are. We know precisely what the facts are with respect to Indigenous people. We know that people who are doing essential work and others who are vulnerable are most affected from COVID-19.

I agree with the member that COVID-19 affects people differently. It clearly does. We only have to look at long- term care. We only have to look at people with chronic dis- eases. We only have to look at people who are doing essen- tial work to know that. But I disagree to say we’re not all in this together. I think people in B.C. have come together in extraordinary ways, and we have to continue to do so. We will continue to add and provide information and more information to people. But we have a pretty strong idea.

That’s why the host of measures taken by the gov- ernment across government ministries has supported people who are renting, supported people on income assistance and disability, supported people in vulnerable circumstances, raised up the wages of workers in long- term care, and so on. We understand the scope of the situation, and everyone understands that the impact on some is greater than the impact on others. But I believe we can best respond by coming together as a province. I know the member agrees with that, and I know we’ll continue to do that. Mr. Speaker:The Leader of the Third Party on a supple- mental.

S. Furstenau:I agree absolutely with the Minister of Health that British Columbians have indeed come togeth- er in the face of COVID-19. But that doesn’t mean that it is impacting us equally. I heard him agree with that as well. It is government’s job to put policies in place that recog- nize that the impacts are not being felt equally and respond to that unequality of impact, and to do that, government needs evidence and data.

We need to heed the voices of countless community leaders who are calling for this change and to collect disaggregated data from Black and Indigenous community leaders to the Human Rights Commissioner to the South Asian Mental Health Alliance. Visible minority communities have been hit harder by COVID-19 than the general population across the coun- try. But in B.C., we know very little about what is actually going on. We are one of the least transparent provinces in Canada when it comes to COVID-19.

Most other provinces are far ahead of us in providing more detailed information about where cases are occurring and who is affected, yet this doesn’t seem to be a priority. My question again is to the Premier. Why isn’t B.C. heeding the calls of the leaders of communities who are asking that we collect more disaggregated data and be transparent in our explanations about COVID-19 and its impacts? Hon. A. Dix:I simply disagree. I do so respectfully with respect to the collection of data.

What B.C. is doing — what many other jurisdictions in the country are not doing — is continuing to do case management and systematic contact tracing, which means we’re treating cases of people not just as groups, but as individuals. We’ve hired, for example, over 1,100 contact tracers since August in addi- tion to the team of contract tracers, more than 500, that we put in place before. I think British Columbia and the British Columbia health system have a greater understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on communities and how to address it, and that understanding informs our decisions.

I simply dis- agree with the member that we aren’t being transparent. 20 British Columbia Debates Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Well, I think one important consideration, to the hon. member, because sometimes people did… This was true at the beginning of the pandemic, and it’s true now. There is a desire for more information about where COVID-19 is in communities. But it’s also critical for us — including for all of the people most affected by COVID-19, including the very people that the member talks about — that privacy be maintained, that people be protected, that they trust their health care system, that they can come forward so we can contact-trace.

Those are critical values that we’ve put in place and have balanced here. [11:00 a.m.] We were the first to provide our modelling. We provide regular, detailed information, respond to questions virtu- ally every single day, either in press conferences or in other forums, and we are in the Legislature. I’m always looking to do better. Clearly, on the case of taking disaggregated race-based data, we have a direction from the Premier and the government to do better, and we will.

But at the moment, the effort we’re making in Brit- ish Columbia, the extraordinary effort of our whole system and our whole province, is second to none in Canada. We must continue to make that effort together because this pandemic isn’t going away any time soon, although there is some good news on the horizon, and we’ve got a lot of work to do together. COVID-19 RESPONSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES T. Halford:This pandemic is having a profound effect on the mental health of British Columbians.

For many, the increase in social isolation and uncertainty is leading to the increased levels of distress, worry and anxiety. There is a critical need for more mental health services than what is available today. Unfortunately, the need is only going to get worse in the coming months. My question is to the Premier. Where are people strug- gling with their mental health supposed to go for help today? Mr. Speaker:The Minister of Mental Health and Addic- tions. Hon. S. Malcolmson:Thank you, Mr. Speaker. May I first congratulate you on your historic election. It’s a proud moment for British Columbia.

I thank the member so much for his first intervention in the House, and for his first opportunity to speak, to talk about this double whammy of the pandemic. We know how much people in British Columbia were hurting, and we know that COVID-19 has made everything in the pan- demic worse, so I share the member’s concerns about the impacts.

Let me say, more than anything, if you are someone who is thinking about suicide, someone who is suffering in isol- ation, if you’re a family member of someone, I want to take this opportunity to reach out and let you know there are supports especially designed through the pandemic to be safe. Y ou can go to gov.bc.ca/covid-19 or call 811. There are so many online and person-to-person virtual supports that are available. Foundry, there’s no cost. Addictions. Counselling support. We have an expanded the Bounce Back program, particularly focused on youth.

I’m so encouraged that this spring we launched a 24-7 mental health support line for students in post-secondary, a very strong call that came particularly from Nanaimo. But I’ll say, in a more focused way, we had started the work of building up a strong mental health and addictions system in British Columbia before the pandemic hit. We know even more now how badly that is needed. I want to assure all members in the House of our government’s deep resolve to invest more deeply in people and encour- age anybody who needs help to reach out and ask for it. We need to do more. We will do better. T.

Halford:To me it’s clear that there are not enough mental health resources in B.C. Last week the Canadian Mental Health Association reported that 42 percent of British Columbians said their mental health has deteriorated since the start of the pan- demic. People need more help than they are getting, and the time is of the essence to get people the support they need. My question, again, is to the Premier. How do people connect to the mental health supports they need today? [11:05 a.m.] Hon. S. Malcolmson:Again, I say to the member that we agree there was a great hole, as Dr. Bonnie Henry said.

When our government inherited government in 2017, there was no mental health and addictions system in place. We have worked hard to pick up the slack from the front line, the amazing families and service providers that had been holding the system together. But we have already, in the time that we’ve had before the pandemic hit, been able to get more supports on the ground. We opened B.C. ’s first mental health and support team focused through the urgent primary care centre in Surrey, an urgent response centre. We’ve opened a 75-bed mental health and substance use division at Royal Col- umbian.

That was opened in August. We’ve opened new Foundry centres focused on youth, a fantastic model, and we’ve announced the locations for eight more. That will be a total of 19 across British Columbia. If you ask me three more questions, I’ll be able to carry on the list of the work that we have done. There’s more being rolled out right now. Towards the end of the sum- mer, all of the health authorities across British Columbia received the funds to be able to expand supports for men- tal health on the ground. We’ve got more to do and more underway. Tuesday, December 8, 2020 British Columbia Debates 21

COVID-19 RAPID TESTING PROGRAM FOR LONG-TERM-CARE FACILITIES J. Tegart:The pandemic is taking a toll healthwise. It’s also taking a toll on the mental health of British Columbi- ans — seniors who are separated from their families, par- ents who want to know if a school exposure was in their child’s classroom, teachers who can’t find out if they’ve been exposed for several weeks, isolation that’s impacting all of us in many negative ways.

Today we’ve expressed the worries and stresses being felt by many British Columbians, and we’ve asked the Pre- mier to implement a number of practical, thoughtful actions to address these concerns. Again, will the Premier embrace the feedback that we’ve shared today and commit to rapid testing broadly across British Columbia? Hon. J. Horgan:I thank the member for her question. I also welcome the new members for their first question period today.

I’m grateful for the line of questioning from the new Leader of the Opposition with respect to focusing on the challenge of our time, the number one issue for British Columbians wherever they live — whether it be on the Island, in the north, in the Kootenays, in the Lower Main- land — is addressing COVID-19 and making sure that we’re there for people, for businesses and for communities, and we have been doing that for the past nine months. I’m grateful for all of the questions today.

I’m grateful for the coherent answers from ministers responsible for the particular issues that were raised by all of the members in this House. I understand that politics are now behind us, and we can, all together, focus on bringing forward the issues that matter to the people in our communities and matter to the people of British Columbia. With respect to the final point that the member for Fraser-Nicola made with respect to rapid testing, pilot projects are in place, consistent with the response the Health Minister gave to the Leader of the Official Oppos- ition.

We will build on that if the science takes us in that direction. With respect to race-based information and data, that is being collected. We’re working with the human rights commission. We’re working with the federal government on those issues.

With respect to the issues around mental health and addictions — again, one of the first provinces in the coun- try to have a stand-alone minister to focus on these issues, establishing urgent primary care centres with mental health components attached to them, expanding acute care facilities across the province, making sure that our schools have the counsellors and social workers they need for young people who are distressed at the upheaval in their lives. All of those issues raised by the official opposition today are valid issues, valid questions.

I’m grateful that they were asked, and I want to continue to reach out and appeal to all members of this House to bring those issues forward and take the responses from the people that have been des- ignated on the executive council to manage those issues going forward. We have a lot of work to do, but I’m confident this new and invigorated Legislature is up to that task. [11:10 a.m.] [End of question period.] Tabling Documents Mr. Speaker:Hon. Members, I have the honour to pres- ent the following reports.

Auditor General information report —Summary of COVID-19 Pandemic Funding Allocations and Other Fin- ancial Relief Measures. Conflict of the Interest Commissioner —2019 Annual Report. Human Rights Commissioner report —Disaggregated Demographic Data Collection in British Columbia: The Grandmother Perspective, September 2020. Information and Privacy Commissioner — Annual Report 2019-2020. Ombudsperson — special report No. 45,Course Cor- rection: The Ministry of Education 2019 Provincial Exam Errors, August 2020. Police Complaint Commissioner — Annual Report 2019-2020.

Registrar of Lobbyists —Annual Report 2019-20; and Investigation Report 20-01, B.C. Salmon Farmers Associ- ation, September 24, 2020. Representative for Children and Y outh reports —A Way to Cope: Exploring Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in B.C. Youth; Annual Report 2019-20 and Service Plan 2020-21 to 2022-23; Financial Statements 2019-2020;Left Out: Children and Youth with Special Needs in the Pandemic, December 2020; Illuminating Service Experience: A Descriptive Analysis of Injury and Death Reports for First Nations Children and Youth in B.C., 2015 to 2017, December 2020.

Fourteen reports pursuant to the COVID-19 Related Measures Act. Orders of the Day Hon. M. Farnworth:I call Address in Reply, Speech from the Throne. [S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.] Deputy Speaker:We will just take a moment while 22 British Columbia Debates Tuesday, December 8, 2020

members get to where they need to go so we can get on to the throne speech reply. Nudge, nudge. Throne Speech Debate G. Begg: I move, seconded by the member for Victoria– Beacon Hill: [That we, Her Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legisla- tive Assembly of British Columbia in session assembled, beg leave to thank Y our Honour for the gracious speech which Y our Honour has addressed to us at the opening of the present session.] G.

Lore: I rise to second the motion “that we, Her Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in session assembled, beg leave to thank Y our Honour for the gracious speech which Y our Honour has addressed to us at the opening of the present session. ” [11:15 a.m.] M. Elmore:I join you virtually from the traditional ter- ritories of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish Nations. I’ d like to start by congratulating you, hon. Speaker, on your election as the Deputy Speaker. It’s great to have you there in the chair. Congratulations.

I’m so honoured to rise and take my place here virtually for my fourth term as the MLA for Vancouver-Kensington. I’m very pleased to be speaking in reply and support to the throne speech. First, I’ d like to thank everyone in Vancou- ver-Kensington for their trust. I’m humbled for this oppor- tunity to serve them again as their representative. I espe- cially look forward to my role as Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors Services and Long-Term Care.

I’ d also like to thank my family; my partner, Natalie; and my incredibly dedicated and enthusiastic campaign team and volunteers, who put in a lot of time and effort during this unprecedented election.

As I look back to all the province has been through since my first election in 2009, through two terms in opposition, a minority government in 2017, and now with the major- ity, I’m hopeful today — even as we’re in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic — when I reflect on the throne speech, the highlights of which pledge the priorit- ies for the government to continue fighting the COVID-19 pandemic by taking steps to protect the health of British Columbians and ensuring that people, communities and businesses are supported.

The situation we find ourselves in today, reflected in the throne speech, is really in the grips of an unpreced- ented global pandemic of COVID-19, the likes of which we haven’t seen — I certainly haven’t seen, no one has seen — for the last 100 years. It’s really laid bare the fault lines of those most vulnerable. They have been the ones who have really borne the brunt — most vulnerable by poverty, due to racism and those who really bear the brunt as well, seniors. We know across British Columbia, across Canada, just the incredible hardship and the fear of folks meeting the challenge of COVID-19.

We know the steps that our province, under the leadership of the provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry; and, of course, our very able Minister of Health, Adrian Dix; and, really, the whole health care team; elected leaders right across the province; all of my colleagues in the Legislature; and Indigenous leaders, community leaders and British Columbians com- ing together to really work in solidarity, to really play a leading role here in British Columbia, to ensure that we get through….

We got through the first wave of COVID-19, and now we find ourselves in the current wave, with the throne speech looking at how we emerge. It’s a global pandemic with global challenges here in British Columbia. We have come together to meet those challenges. The global pandemic has also really brought devastation to individuals, families and businesses. We’ve seen that here in British Columbia, certainly in Vancouver-Kens- ington.

I want to reference, also, the grief that is born out of this difficulty and challenge that I’ve heard from so many families, certainly through the tragedy of people who have succumbed to COVID-19, exacerbated by the distance, not being able to mourn. Here in British Colum- bia, folks who have passed away across Canada and around the world, there’s really a very deep grief.

It’s really been an incredible difficulty for individuals, families and busi- nesses struggling. [11:20 a.m.] It’s an incredible challenge to meet the needs, to ensure that the health of British Columbians is safeguarded and to get us through this current wave and through to the oth- er side. I think that there are some promising signs on the horizon, but certainly, much more needs to be done. The issue, as well, that I have heard here in Vancouver- Kensington around the disproportionate impact of those in the COVID-19 pandemic…. I’ve heard from workers on the front lines, essential workers, health care workers.

I think British Columbians have come together to really heed the provincial health orders so that we support those front-line workers in our health care sector. Their stories have come to light. Many of them are racialized, on the front lines, in essential services, lower wages — really bearing the brunt of ensuring that all British Columbians are safe and are cared for. That has really brought up the reality of the racialized nature of those on the front lines.

We’ve now come to appreciate the important role of, for example, migrant workers and undocumented workers doing that work and the need to ensure that everyone’s rights are protected. So that’s one area that I’m also proud of the leadership from our government on and the support from all sectors and British Columbians to ensure that we do more to bring Tuesday, December 8, 2020 British Columbia Debates 23

COVID-19 under control and ensure that we can protect the most vulnerable and that that’s the basis for rebuilding our economy. We also heard about, and I had so many reports into my office about, incidents of racism, of people being tar- geted, really feeling the brunt of attitudes of white suprem- acy either through verbal attacks or physical attacks on our streets, in our parks, on buses. This is one area, I think, where we’ve seen British Columbians come together and, certainly, folks in Vancouver-Kensington come together in solidarity to stand up against systemic racism in all the forms.

That’s another area, moving forward, that we have to integrate and ensure that those most impacted are con- sidered and included, in terms of policy discussions. I’m very pleased to hear the commitment of our government to move forward for disaggregated race-based data as a key component. When we look at the issue of solidarity, the throne speech talks about where we are now and how we move forward. In my role as the Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors’ Services and Long-Term Care, our province has taken decisive action to ensure that those most vulner- able….

Often, it’s been seniors — not only in British Col- umbia, across Canada, around the world — who are most vulnerable to COVID-19. We’ve seen the most deaths from our seniors. A very tragic circumstance. It was with early, decisive action that our government, under the leadership and direction of our provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, took steps to ensure that those in long-term care were protected through addressing the supply of personal protective equipment, to ensure that we had a single-site order, to raise wages and standardize wages across the sector. These were key.

When we look at the commitments in the throne speech ensuring that British Columbians are protected, moving through this period into the new year, this is going to remain a key sector and a key area to prioritize. Certainly, the commitment from our provincial health officer, through all of the front-line staff, everyone in the health care sector, to really ensure that our seniors are protected in long-term care and in society is a key priority. It’s some- thing that I’m very proud of here in British Columbia.

We also know that the commitment towards the single site so that workers don’t move between multiple sites and possibly bring infection between those work sites…. That was key. The incredible effort of all stakeholders, the com- plexity of the whole sector, to come together to work and to implement that directive has really been an incredible testament in terms of the commitment in this sector. [11:25 a.m.] We achieved…. As of June 18, 100 percent of sites across all health authorities in British Columbia were compliant with the single-site staffing.

In addition, the Minister of Health has referenced the need to ensure that long-term care sites are adequately staffed. So we’ve put in a com- mitment to ensure that we hire more workers — front-line health care workers and those also doing infection con- trol. The commitment has been made, and that’s under- way. We’re seeing more folks come on board, and we need to continue that, moving ahead, in terms of how we ensure that seniors in the long-term-care sector are protected.

One of the issues, as well, with respect to the necessary direction to restrict visits to long-term care to limit the potential exposure from the community…. I know I’ve heard from families and seniors the great toll this takes — the difficulty of not being able to support seniors and seniors missing that contact and support from their family members. That has taken a big toll on seniors. It was a decision not made lightly, and in the context of the COVID-19 life-or-death situations, that was a neces- sary decision.

But with increased investments to ensure that long-term-care facilities can put additional protective measures in place to ensure that there is a more effective infection control, this has allowed more visitors to visit their loved ones and provide that quality of care that’s so important to our seniors in the long-term-care sector. We have additional resources going towards enhanced infection protection. Also, a key component to ensure our seniors are kept safe is that they’ve been prioritized with respect to the fall flu immunization program.

Now we have 98 percent of residents in long-term care who have had their Fluzone vaccination. These are some concrete steps that are happening now and every day. Every day is an intense effort to ensure that seniors are protected, that they’re safe and that we’re doing all we can to ensure that their safety and well-being is paramount. I’m very proud of that. We have the reality of seniors in long-term care but also across the spectrum. We have seniors now with an increas- ing demographic. More people are aging. We have the sup- port to ensure that more seniors can live in their homes and in community.

So that’s the spectrum. Initiatives have been taken in long-term-care homes, to ensure in assisted- living facilities that measures are put in place — the neces- sity to ensure that seniors are supported in community. Some of the key programs that came in…. I’m sure many of my colleagues got calls from seniors right across British Columbia who were scared, who needed to isolate but were restricted, who needed to get groceries or needed to have their prescriptions filled.

So the partnership with the safe seniors, strong communities program, a collabor- ation between the Ministry of Health, the United Way of the Lower Mainland and bc211, was a key program. I know that folks here in Vancouver-Kensington availed of and participated in it. I thought it just a great initiative to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a program that supports community-based seniors whose regular network has been disrupted — seniors who need support with virtual wellness checks, grocery shop- ping and delivery, meal preparation, prescription drop-off, medication pickup, etc.

It’s a unique program, and I think it really showcases that commitment and the great spirit of 24 British Columbia Debates Tuesday, December 8, 2020

British Columbians. In a time of unprecedented challenge, we just saw so many volunteers come forward and want to help — British Columbians who were worried about seni- ors, who were worried about supporting those most vul- nerable. [11:30 a.m.] The 211 program and the safe seniors, strong com- munity allowed for volunteers. Since the program launched just in March, there were more than 11,000 volunteers who put their names forward. They have delivered over 425,000 services to around 16,600 seniors.

So just a great example, I think, of that spirit coming together from community; leveraging support; working with stakeholders, government, the non-profits, the civic sector and also British Columbians to ensure, in these unprecedented times, that we support seniors in com- munity. Another good example which is so important now and ensures that we move forward through this time in terms of how we overcome COVID-19 and support seniors in their homes is the Better at Home program. That’s an exist- ing community-based program, in partnership, working with the United Way of the Lower Mainland.

It’s a network hub model, where it’s in place in over 75 communities, I’m sure, right across the province. Many of my colleagues know about these programs. They partner with neighbourhood houses, they partner with non-profit organizations, and they deliver programs and supports to seniors in their communities to ensure that they have that support.

These are some of the meas- ures that our government — working in collaboration, right across the political spectrum, through all sectors of British Columbia — has come together to ensure that seni- ors are safe, that they’re supported and that their health is paramount. It’s a key commitment. There’s more to be done.

Certainly in my role as Par- liamentary Secretary for Seniors Services and Long-Term Care, I look forward to engaging with seniors, engaging with families, working right across the sector, getting sug- gestions and ideas on how, together, British Columbians do everything we can to ensure that seniors, wherever they be in British Columbia, are safe, supported, happy and healthy. With respect to the throne speech, looking at the snap- shot in time where we are now into this current wave of COVID-19, the throne speech lays out the commitment that the government will support people.

The priority is to ensure the health and well-being of British Columbians. Through COVID-19, we will put…. The government, I’m pleased, through the throne speech, has continued the commitment to ensure that people, families, communities and businesses are supported. There’s a recovery benefit for individuals and families. That will be a grant that goes towards families who need it the most. That will also benefit local businesses. We know that local businesses are so hard hit, and many different sectors of our economy are impacted, some more than others.

Across the board, unquestionably, it’s the greatest challenge. It’s the greatest challenge for all of us, right across the board. I just want to conclude. I’m pleased with our throne speech — the commitment that it dedicates to British Col- umbians to ensure that the government will support them. People will support families and communities to ensure that the health and well-being of British Columbians is paramount.

We will take steps, all the steps that we can take, to ensure that British Columbians are safe and that those most marginalized — particularly, especially, seniors — are protected and working in partnership, as well, with businesses. We can’t separate that.

They’re interconnected, so we have to ensure that supports go hand in hand with the per- spective that once we establish the foundation of health and well-being for British Columbians, that certainly is the foundation for economic recovery — an economic recov- ery that benefits all British Columbians. [11:35 a.m.] In conclusion, there’s a great challenge ahead of us. Cer- tainly, we can see, with the development of vaccines com- ing and other treatments, that that is looking positive, moving forward. But the challenge still remains.

This is my commitment, and I know it’s a commitment from all my colleagues in the House as well as all leaders across British Columbia and individuals — for us to come together and to heed the advice of Dr. Bonnie Henry. Observe physical distancing, wear a mask, wash our hands, limit social interactions, and ensure that we follow provincial health orders — not just for ourselves but for those we love, for those most vulnerable, coming together.

This is what I’ve been so inspired to see in British Colum- bia to get us through the first wave, and I know that’s what will take us through this current wave and into recovery. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m so proud to be speaking here with you today on the commitment from the throne speech to move forward. Deputy Speaker:Thank you very much, Member. I appreciate your remarks. J. Rustad:As always, it’s an honour to be able to rise in this chamber and to be able to represent my riding, Nechako Lakes, and respond to the throne speech. I do want to start with some thank-yous.

Perhaps even before that, though, I want to congratulate you in your position, and especially to our new Speaker in his appointment. It is historic, and it is great to see that appointment. I want to thank, of course, the constituents of mine in Nechako Lakes for having the confidence in me to send me back here to this Legislature for the fifth time. When I think back to my time in starting politics, I would never have imagined even going into politics, let alone now being elected for the fifth time to represent Nechako Lakes. Tuesday, December 8, 2020 British Columbia Debates 25

It is truly an honour to have the opportunity to be able to carry on with that work. Of course, it’s never possible to be involved in politics without support from your family, so I want to take a moment to thank my wife, Kim, very much for her ongo- ing support and long-suffering support, you might say. In politics, you spend a lot of time away from home. It’s often very tough on family, far tougher than it is on you as a politician. As well, I want to just mention my parents. My mom, Molly Rustad — Mary, as she was born — God willing, will be 99 coming up just after Christmas this year. It’s quite remarkable.

My dad is 93½. We have them both in their home, and we’re providing care for them in their home still, as they aren’t able to provide care for themselves due to their health issues. I think we’re really blessed to be able to do that and be in that situation, where our family is able to support them being at home, given the situation we have with COVID and the impacts that we’re seeing today. We’re very fortunate for that, but when we went into the election, my dad, who’s got significant mobility issues and many other health challenges….

The first thing he said to me was: “What can I do to help?” He wanted to go out and put up signs, knock on doors or whatever it was, because that’s what he’s always done in the past. Of course, he wasn’t able to do that. Just knowing that he was there to support me and to support Kim in this process — as well as my mom, of course — was very special, to be able to have them there as part of it. I want to take a moment to also thank Charlie Rensby, who was my campaign manager. He’s a councillor in Burns Lake, and he works very hard for his community and for the whole area. He’s very passionate about issues.

I was very fortunate to have him be able to help me in my cam- paign. As well, of course, there’s Peet Vahi. This is now the fifth campaign that he’s worked on for me, taking care of signs in the area. He’s currently recovering from surgery, but he was a big support in my campaign. There are so many other people to thank, but I just want to quickly also mention my constituency assistants. They have been working tirelessly through COVID-19 and before.

Both Carrie Smith and Lory Derksen have been doing a great job for me in my office, making sure that the needs of my constituents are looked after, and of the people that are contacting my office. [11:40 a.m.] Nechako Lakes is an interesting riding. It’s made up of very small communities, the largest community being 4,300 people, which is very different from the vast majority of people in this chamber. All the small communities are very spread out. My riding is about 2.2 times the size of Vancouver Island, with about 30,000-plus people that live in it.

It makes it very challenging both for services that they want and need as well as, of course, for representing, in terms of being able to get around and connecting with people in those communities. One of the challenges that’s come up, though…. I was happy when the throne speech talked about refocusing on rural care and faster care, shorter times. I thought: “Well, that’s good. I’m happy to hear that government is going to do that kind of focus. ” But here’s the reality of what’s happening on the ground.

In Fraser Lake today, things have never been worse in terms of seniors needing to go in and get lab work done and get testing done. Seniors often, because of the drugs that they’re on, need to have a regular opportunity to go in and get lab work done to make sure the drugs are tuned properly for their blood work. They’re being told now in Fraser Lake that they may have to wait two or three weeks to get in to see a lab tech to get the blood work done. The reason for that is because they only have somebody there part-time — a few hours a day, three days a week or thereabouts.

They’re told: “Well, sorry, but you have to drive to the next community. ” We’re in the middle of winter. We’re in the middle of a pandem- ic. They’re worried about travelling to begin with because of the conditions and because of the pandemic, and they can’t get these services in their community. I just think that is unacceptable. It’s an unacceptable level of care that we’re seeing in communities like the ones that I represent — you know, small rural com- munities. Those services were readily available in the past.

We’ve never seen a situation like this under this current government, so I’m happy to hear they’re focus- ing on that. But I can tell you that over the last three years, they’ve been failing. The services have gone down in terms of what’s needed. I had some seniors reach out to me in tears because of the stress that this is causing. We’re in the middle of a pan- demic. They shouldn’t have to worry about something like this kind of service and these kinds of challenges. These kinds of services should be readily available.

Once again, I heard it in the throne speech, and it was an opportunity for me to be able to talk about the realities of what is facing in the communities with COVID and the issues across my riding. I’ve been fortunate in some ways in that some of the retail outlets in my riding that have been able to stay open have actually see an increase in business during COVID-19. Instead of travelling down the road to a lar- ger community, like Prince George, they’re staying and doing things more locally because they don’t want to take the risk. So that’s actually been a bit of a benefit for some of the retail.

However, that is not widely distributed across other retails. Of course, they’ve been struggling. Some have had to close. The lack of aid…. In particular, there wasn’t much in terms of support for and recognition of those impacts on those retail outlets, as well as, of course, on the restaur- ant sector. There was nothing in the throne speech of sub- 26 British Columbia Debates Tuesday, December 8, 2020

stance to be able to support them, and that was disappoint- ing because there have been months and months of this going on. The government has well known about it, and it didn’t seem to make that a priority. When you’re talking about the small businesses in my riding, you’re talking about mother-and-father, mom-and- pop operations — a small family where one or two people are trying to run a business, trying to make a go of it in small communities. They’re proud of what they do. They’re proud of the services that they bring forward, but it is a real struggle.

There just hasn’t been the support, and there aren’t the avenues, I think, for them, and that’s disappoint- ing, to say the least. Across my riding, as well, I often think about, of course, the critic role I’m in, because it’s also one of the most important industries in my riding. It’s about 40 percent, 45 percent of the economic activity in my riding, which is forestry. Forestry, of course, struggled significantly in the previous years. We’re blessed at the moment because lumber prices are in the vicinity of $700 per thousand board feet, so every- body is working. It’s been good. It’s been solid.

Y ou know, the contractors are out. They’re pretty worried about the stumpage increase coming in January. But even with that increase, because of prices, they’re still going as much as possible. [11:45 a.m.] However, there’s a big problem, and that is the cost structure that’s in this province. We are not competitive. At this price, everybody is competitive, where you can make money. But companies aren’t doing the reinvestment that’s needed. We need mills to be retooled for the change in the fibre flow that’s coming in, for the amount of fibre that’s coming in. We need those significant investments on the ground.

Companies aren’t willing to make those invest- ments. That’s going to hurt us, because all that does is con- tinue on with inefficiencies within mills. Coupled with the cost structures that have been put in place by this government and the increased costs, it means that at some point those lumber prices come back down, and we will be the first to feel that impact. My riding feels it significantly because that is a risk. Our people are mak- ing hay when the sun is shining, but it is a real challenge, I think, going forward. That’s something that I wish government….

When they talk about economic recovery, they need to be thinking about that cost structure. They need to be thinking about the confidence that needs to be brought into this province to be able to attract those kinds of investment dollars. Once again, unfortunately, over the last number of years, that hasn’t been there, and I haven’t seen any direction out of the throne speech to suggest that direction will change. I also think, in my riding, about agriculture. The sector is probably 25 to 35 percent of the economic activity in my riding — primarily cow-calf ranching operations.

I’ve talked about it many times in the Legislature here. I’ve had many town hall meetings in my riding. Many times I’ve had opportunities for the various groups to come forward. We did one, about a year ago now, in the riding, and we had over 70 people come out for it. That has never happened for anything along these lines, but that just goes to show how worked up the ranching sector, the agricul- ture sector, is at changes that have happened to the ALR, changes that have happened to the way that the ALC is doing things, and the new rules and components that have been brought in by this government.

What’s missing from the government’s approach is the farmers, the people that actually work the land. They’re concerned about all these other things, but it’s the people who are working the land that are producing the food, that are feeding our province and exporting the foods to oth- er areas. Those are the ones that we need to be thinking about. Y ou can change all kinds of rules, but if you make it so hard that people can’t do the work on the land, what have you done? Y ou’ve ended up killing a sector, or hurting a sector or hurting the opportunities of a sector. That’s not the right approach.

Once again, I recognize that this is a short throne speech, to be focused on one thing, but there’s a compon- ent that has been going on around the province. Quite frankly, many people in the province, of course, are out protesting in support of what’s going on in other places in the world. It just goes to show the level of engagement that people have on this sector, which unfortunately has not had the kind of focus that I think is needed. Going back to COVID-19 and the impact, particularly on long-term-care facilities. I mean, it’s tragic.

I think everybody in this chamber understands the complexity of the issue, the seriousness of the issue and the seriousness of the approach that’s needed. We’ve got outbreaks con- tinuously happening in long term or in various care facil- ities, and the vast majority of the tragic fatalities that have come from COVID-19 have come in these facilities. Y et I wonder. Y ou know, today in question period we talked about testing. We talked about the kinds of approaches that could be taken, the suggestions that came from the seniors advocate and the apparent lack of will- ingness to go and do some of those suggestions.

But here’s something to think about when it comes to long-term-care facilities and our response to COVID-19: why is it that the film sector requires everybody involved in the film sector to be tested every day — every person, every day — to keep people protected and to make sure that there aren’t outbreaks? Why isn’t that same standard being applied to our long-term-care facilities?

I don’t get it. [11:50 a.m.] We’re talking about wanting to be able to protect our most vulnerable, to protect the seniors, to protect the people that built this province, and we are not taking the same standards and approaches as they do for the film sec- tor, to try to prevent outbreaks, to try to catch them early, Tuesday, December 8, 2020 British Columbia Debates 27

to try to be able to contain them. I don’t get it, and I hope we’ll get an opportunity to be able to debate that at some point in this chamber. I’m not an expert on COVID-19, but if these are the standards that are being applied to a sector that has lots of interactions, to try to prevent…. A majority of people involved in that are healthy, engaged people. That should be a minimum standard if we’re talking about protecting our seniors in care facilities. Why is it not being con- sidered? Why is the question not even being asked or the comparison even being made? It does make me wonder where the priorities are.

We’re here being called back in this chamber to give $2 billion out in $1,000 cheques to everybody as part of an election giveaway when that money could be used and be spent on increasing capacity and being able to do that testing and protecting seniors in our long-term-care facilities. Where are the priorities? And where are the priorities of this gov- ernment and this Legislature when we are letting down the seniors that are in those facilities by not taking those steps? Like I say, I’m not an expert. Maybe that wouldn’t help, but I think we should be doing everything we possibly can.

I think it’s not unreasonable to be thinking that that is an approach we should be considering doing. We’re here in the Legislature, and we’re debating the throne speech. We’ve had a bill introduced today that, quite frankly, caught me by surprise. My understanding is that the Legislature was called back to be able to pass a bill that would enable government to carry on the election giveaway, the $2 billion election giveaway that was prom- ised. I get it. That was part of the campaign. They’re going to have to do it. That’s fine. It is what it is. But that’s not the bill that we’re here to debate.

The bill we’re here to debate is actually to delay introducing a budget, which will create all kinds of other challenges that I’m sure I’ll get an opportunity to speak to in the debate on that bill. But I was surprised — I was very surprised — by that. I’m really going to be curious to see how government explains that piece given that the whole stated purpose of being here was the $2 billion election giveaway. As we go through, I look and think about my riding, and I think about approaching Christmas. My riding has many, many churches, many faith-based organizations.

I’ve heard from many of them with regard to the standards and rules put in place. I’m not an expert, so I’m not going to question the orders that Dr. Bonnie Henry put in place. But I do know the struggles that those faith-based communities are going through right now, particularly at this time of year, with Christmas — not being able to get together, not being able to share with one another, not being able to support one another. We heard today about questions about mental health and some of the challenges that are being brought up by COVID-19.

These faith-based organizations, the churches, play a big role in supporting families and supporting each other. It really is tragic. We need to be able to find some way for them to get together. I had one of the organizations reach out to me from a community who said: “Y ou know, we’ve been following the rules. We have no more than 40 people in a very large room. Everybody is more than six to 12 feet away from each other. We go through; we do this. We have multiple sittings.

We make sure everything is clean — the whole process, following all the rules. ” They haven’t had any problems, but they’re being shut down. Like I say, I’m not questioning Bonnie Henry. But there is that question that’s nagging in the community, and people are very disheartened by this. At this time of the year, it can be very stressful. It’s a time of celebration, in terms of celebrating Christmas, but it can also be very stressful on families, for loved ones, for people that have health issues, for people that are away. Sometimes it can be very challenging for them.

I think some consideration needs to be given for our faith-based communities to be able to support one another through activities. At the end of the day, COVID is one issue, but it’s not the only issue. It’s not the only thing that needs to be considered in terms of the broad support.

So with that, I’ve just got a few more comments I’m going to make, and then I’ll wrap up my comments and allow somebody else to be able to continue fresh after the lunch break that we’re approaching. [11:55 a.m.] I also want to just mention, in terms of what we’re supposed to be here for, which is the $2 billion that will be going out to people, I do also know that food banks are struggling, and the demand is there as people have been impacted by COVID-19.

It’s disappointing to hear that there isn’t an additional provision being thought of by this government to be able to support the food banks and communities, particularly in the small communities out and around. Y ou know, in small communities…. Deputy Speaker:Sorry, Member. Just noting the hour, I believe the member was going to move adjournment of the debate and return after the lunch hour. J. Rustad:I’ve got another two minutes of comments, if I may, Mr. Speaker. Deputy Speaker:Thank you. Please proceed, and we’ll wrap it up. J. Rustad:Thank you.

Just in terms of, as I was mentioning, food banks, in small communities, the communities I represent, people are always there to be able to support each other. I mean, that’s just the way we are, because we don’t have the broad services that we do in large urban areas. That’s, quite 28 British Columbia Debates Tuesday, December 8, 2020

frankly, some of the uniqueness and some of the things I really appreciate about my riding. But I do know that there’s some support needed, both on the mental health side and on the food bank side. So I hope that’s something that government will consider. It was disappointing, once again, to see that it wasn’t in the throne speech. I’ll close, then, by saying this. Once again, it’s a tremend- ous honour to represent my riding of Nechako Lakes, to be able to be in this chamber to debate and to bring the voice of my riding through our representative system.

I just want to say, to everybody out there who is listen- ing and to people around the province, I do wish that everybody does have a merry Christmas, to the best of their abilities, given the restrictions. I hope that they will follow the health restrictions, because this is a serious issue, but I hope they take some time to reflect and to appreciate our province and each other and our families. Once again, thank you for the opportunity to be able to speak today. J. Rustad moved adjournment of debate. Motion approved. Hon. L. Beare moved adjournment of the House. Motion approved. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] Mr.

Speaker:This House stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m. The House adjourned at 1

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20201208am-Hansard-n3
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20201208am Hansard n3
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	69d49b5927576cbbcc648820734f7cc339a55401

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