Fourth Session, 41st Parliament

(2019) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Afternoon Sitting

Issue No. 196

ISSN 1499-2175

The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.

The PDF transcript remains the official digital version.

CONTENTS

Speech from the Throne

Introduction and First Reading of Bills

Bill 1 —

An Act to Ensure the Supremacy of Parliament

Hon. D. Eby

Motions

Appointment of Deputy Speaker

Hon. M. Farnworth

Appointment of Assistant Deputy Speaker

M. Polak

Appointment of Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole

Hon. M. Farnworth

Printing of Votes and Proceedings

Hon. D. Eby

Appointment of Select Standing Committees

Hon. J. Horgan

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2019

The House met at 2:04 p.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

This being the first day of the fourth session of the 41st Legislative

Assembly of the province of British Columbia for the dispatch of business, pursuant

to a proclamation of the Hon. Janet Austin, Lieutenant-Governor of the province,

hon. members took their seats.

Mr. Speaker: I ask Shirley Alphonse, elder of the T’Sou-ke Nation, to offer a

blessing.

[2:05 p.m.]

S. Alphonse: Creator, Great Spirit, as we gather here at the Legislature with our

Premier and our Lieutenant-Governor and the elected members of British Columbia

and guests, we say thank you. Thank you for the blessings of every day and for

Mother Earth and for family and friends.

Sacred Mother Earth, all that you are, all that you hold for us as living

beings upon your earth and around your earth, we say with deepest gratitude,

thank you.

For majestic trees — the Standing People; the sweet-scented flowers; the

medicine plants and shrubs, we say with deepest gratitude, thank you.

For the strong, protective mountains — the Stone People; for the rolling

hills of green grass, we say with deepest gratitude, thank you.

For the life-giving oceans so deep, so beautiful; for pebble beaches; for

the clear, sparkling waters of streams; rippling, babbling brooks; rivers of

crystal waterfalls; calming, serene lakes, we say with deepest gratitude, thank

you.

For the metals and stones, elements of the earth, we say with deepest

gratitude, thank you.

For the four-leggeds; the winged ones; the water-dwellers; insects;

creatures of land, sea and sky, we say with deepest gratitude, thank

you.

For Grandmother Moon, serene and calm; Grandfather Sun, energizing warmth;

Brother Star and Sister Star, sparking light; Father Sky, clear and blue; Mother

Earth, beauty and bounty, we say with deepest gratitude, thank you.

For refreshing rains and thunder beings, for cleansing winds of the four

directions, for purifying snow, for the four seasons, we say with deepest

gratitude, thank you.

Creator, Great Spirit, thank you with deepest gratitude. The footprints

Mother Earth holds of our ancestors of the four nations, once here, now guide us

with sacred teachings to carry on in a good way of respect, kindness, care,

generosity, compassion for the sake of all children now all over the world and

children who will come behind us, that they may live in a way of peace and

harmony with the beautiful Mother Earth, happy to look after us.

[SENĆOŦEN was spoken.]

Mr. Speaker: I now call on Rev. Dr. Keith Howard of the United Church of Canada to say

prayers.

K. Howard: Our God, we gather with the immediate knowledge of what we can control and

what we cannot, and humility is not a bad thing.

Holy God, you bring order out of the chaos that breeds disrespect, and you

bring chaos out of order that is unjust. So we ask your presence in this chamber

and building, which has known its share of both chaos and order.

You seek and show respect to all people, regardless of our cultural

background, sexual orientation, gender identity, the state of our closet or bank

account, and we are grateful, for we are all too aware of the many relationships

that are strained, the gaps that exist between our intention and implementation,

our rhetoric and reality.

[2:10 p.m.]

Our God, as a society and as a province, we face historic decisions that

will impact our children, grandchildren and our planet. The ethical challenges

are of biblical proportion. The political tasks are even more daunting. So it is

not out of custom or formality that we request your wisdom infuse these chosen

people and their conversation.

We ask for your blessing upon them, their staff and families, who continue

to sacrifice not only for their sake but for the good of we, the public. Give

them health — mentally, physically and spiritually.

Protect them, for they are subject to unwarranted abuse and flattery

intended to exploit. Keep them from the temptations of those with power and

profile. Do not dwell upon the trash-talking, high-sticking and cross-checking

that may occur, but call them, allow them, to be their best selves.

This is a lot to ask. But we do not discount the skills, intelligence,

integrity and goodwill in this chamber. We trust in the power of your

imagination and hope. All of these bold and outrageous things we dare to ask

because you said we could.

Amen.

Mr. Speaker: Thank you, Reverend.

On behalf of all members of the Legislative Assembly, I want to welcome

everyone here today. Thank you for being here.

Hon. Members, Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor is in the precinct.

Please remain seated while we await her arrival.

Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor requested to attend the House, was

admitted to the chamber and was pleased to deliver the following gracious Speech

from the Throne.

Speech from the Throne

Hon. J. Austin (Lieutenant-Governor): Good afternoon, everyone.

We are gathered on the territory of the Lekwungen-speaking peoples,

the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations. I wish also to acknowledge with

respect the long history, culture and wisdom of all of British Columbia’s

Indigenous peoples, including the Inuit and the Métis.

I want to thank, especially, elder Shirley Alphonse of the T’Sou-ke

First Nation for providing a blessing at today’s proceedings.

HÍSW̱ḴE .

[2:15 p.m.]

At the opening of this fourth session of the 41st parliament, we bid

farewell to some remarkable British Columbians. We mourn the 1,489 friends,

neighbours and loved ones lost to overdoses in 2018. We are grateful to the

community workers, first responders, health care professionals and peers who

are working together to respond to this emergency and to comfort those who

are coping with tremendous loss.

We stand in solidarity with the Women’s Memorial March and remember

the hundreds of women who died, are missing or were murdered in Vancouver’s

Downtown Eastside, many of them Indigenous. Tomorrow Moose Hide gatherings

throughout British Columbia will see men and women pledge to end violence

against women and children.

We are at a critical moment in history in the struggle for gender

equality. Your government is joining people around the world who are raising

their voices, telling their stories and fighting to end gender-based

violence.

We respectfully remember Hereditary Chief Andy Thomas of the Esquimalt

Nation.

We remember with affection former members of this Legislature,

including Bill Goodacre, Ray Parkinson, Barrie Clarke and Jim

Nielsen.

We mark the passing of Tahsis mayor Jude Schooner; former Port McNeill

mayor Gerry Furney, Duncan councillor John Horgan, Metchosin councillor

Moralea Milne and Vernon councillor Bob Spiers.

We thank the loyal public servants who serve us ably, including

curator emeritus Dr. Daniel Gallacher, former Chief Electoral Officer Robert

Allan Patterson, forester John Russell and the 31 active members of the B.C.

public service we lost last year.

We remember retired Sgt. Shinder Kirk of the Abbotsford police

department, whose 30 years of service in policing was dedicated to fighting

gang violence and keeping communities safe.

We pay tribute to Const. Ian Jordan of the Victoria police department,

who lapsed into a coma after a car accident in September 1987. Ian’s life

exemplified the sacrifice of service and the blessings of family, who spent

every day by his side.

We express our gratitude to Suman Virk, mother of Reena Virk, who

transformed the unimaginable pain of losing a child into a positive force to

end bullying.

We thank the journalists who informed us and raised our spirits: John

Ashbridge, Arthur Black, Angelo Iacobucci, Barb McLintock, Terry Moore and

Jim Taylor.

We celebrate leaders in sport, arts and culture: Brian Hughes, Larry

Kwong, David Chuenyan Lai and Ken Pickering.

Entrepreneurs and business leaders who believed in giving back:

Charles Diamond, Kazuko Komatsu and Ken Martin.

And Indigenous elders, leaders and community members: Henry Alfred,

Linda Bristol, Harry Chingee, Larry Derrickson, Mary Gouchie, Dr. Deborah

Jacobs, Justa Monk, Daniel Watts, John Webster and Dr. Ellen

White.

Too many British Columbians feel that no matter how hard they work,

they can’t get ahead. Today and every day your government is working hard to

make life better. The problems facing British Columbians today are hurting

people and leaving communities behind. Government is making choices to

change this.

Instead of letting costs rise uncontrolled, your government is making

life more affordable. Instead of leaving communities to fend for themselves,

your government is improving the services they count on. Instead of focusing

on some, your government is opening doors for everyone.

Making life better for people starts with the choices we make every

day. This government is putting people first. A belief in people is at the

core of the confidence and supply agreement negotiated with the B.C. Green

Party caucus, which provides strong and stable government for British

Columbia. This agreement, rooted in shared priorities and shared values, has

allowed government to make progress on the things that matter

most.

Affordability remains the biggest challenge facing B.C. families. Many

people are working two or three jobs, commuting farther for work and

spending less time with their families just to make ends meet. But no matter

how hard they work, they cannot seem to get ahead.

[2:20 p.m.]

Rather than letting costs rise uncontrolled, government is doing

everything it can to make life more affordable for families.

Last year government cut MSP premiums in half, saving people up to

$450 a year and families up to $900 a year. This year B.C. will eliminate

MSP premiums entirely, saving families up to $1,800 a year. This is the

largest middle-class tax cut British Columbians have received in a

generation.

Last year government froze ferry rates on major routes, reduced fares

on non-major routes and brought back the 100 percent weekday seniors

passenger fare discount. This year government will maintain its freeze on

ferry rates for major routes and discounts on minor and northern routes,

helping the 22 million passengers who use B.C. Ferries each year.

For too long, hundreds of millions of dollars were taken out of B.C.

Hydro while customers were stuck paying higher rates. Government is nearing

completion of its phase 1 review of B.C. Hydro and will be taking steps to

protect ratepayers and ensure proper oversight as the corporation provides

affordable, clean and reliable power for generations to come.

B.C. is a wealthy province, yet more than half a million British

Columbians are living below the poverty line. This year B.C. will deliver

its first-ever poverty reduction strategy to give people the opportunities

and supports they need to reach their full potential.

B.C. students are struggling with the costs of higher education. To

help ease the pressure, this government reduced the student loan interest

rate by 2.5 percent in 2017. Budget 2019 will help make life a little easier

for B.C. students.

Every person in this province deserves a place to call home, yet years

of inaction on the B.C. housing crisis have left people unable to find

affordable housing. Too many families face the impossible choice between a

home that meets their needs, paying for child care or buying groceries for

their family. Last year government made the biggest investment in housing in

B.C. history: $7 billion over ten years.

Government’s plan to build supply, curb speculation and improve

security for renters is starting to get results. More than 17,000 homes are

underway through government’s housing initiatives, including on-campus homes

for students, Indigenous housing on and off reserve, housing for women and

children leaving violence and affordable rentals for middle-income

families.

In Surrey, Nanaimo, Kamloops, Vancouver, Maple Ridge and many other

communities, hundreds of people who are without a home or were living in

tents and temporary shelters are living in new modular homes. Government’s

actions are cooling B.C.’s housing market and helping people.

Foreign and domestic speculation has dropped, and home prices in the

Lower Mainland are beginning to moderate. Vacancy rates for rentals are

forecast to rise, and government intervened to limit rent

increases.

This year government will take further steps to improve rental housing

by addressing the recommendations of the Rental Housing Task Force. Your

government will improve the development process by speeding up much-needed

rental housing and delivering more efficient and effective project

approvals. Your government will continue to work with partners to build the

homes that people need, improving housing affordability for young families,

renters, seniors and everyone who calls B.C. home.

British Columbians are rightly outraged by the possibility that our

province’s unacceptably high housing prices are fuelled by the profits of

crime, both at home and abroad. This government has worked quickly to

address money laundering in B.C. casinos. Two independent reviews are

underway examining the role of money laundering in B.C. real estate. Their

recommendations will provide the basis for immediate action to close

loopholes and defend against criminal activity.

Your government will identify the structural causes of money

laundering to hold accountable those who are responsible, and your

government will keep working with its federal partners to fight money

laundering in all its forms.

Automobile insurance costs continue to impose a heavy burden on family

budgets. Years of apparent inaction and neglect, combined with large annual

transfers of financial resources from ICBC to government, created a

financial crisis at the Crown corporation.

[2:25 p.m.]

Your government has undertaken the most significant reforms to car

insurance in a generation. There are new laws, new systems and a new

independent tribunal to resolve insurance disputes. British Columbians will

start to see the benefits as these reforms take place April 1. Government

believes these reforms will achieve the outcomes British Columbians deserve:

affordable car insurance, safer roads and a public insurer that isn’t losing

money.

However, it must be prepared to take further action to keep rates low.

Your government will continue to consider measures to improve the province’s

auto insurance system, informed by the experience in other provinces and

jurisdictions, coupled with ongoing evaluation of reforms implemented to

date. If further action is required, your government will be ready. British

Columbians are entitled to universally available high-quality public auto

insurance coverage at the lowest possible cost. Your government is

determined to deliver.

Last year government took its first steps to make quality child care

more affordable and more available to more B.C. families. A $1 billion

investment over three years, the most significant child care investment in

B.C. history, will reduce child care costs, increase the number of spaces

and deliver the highest-quality care.

Tens of thousands of B.C. families are already enjoying the benefits.

With child care costs reduced by hundreds of dollars a month, young families

can consider home ownership for the first time. More parents can participate

fully in the workforce, confident that their children are getting

high-quality care from early childhood educators who know that their work is

valued.

This year government will set the foundation for the full

implementation of B.C.’s affordable child care program. A key element of

this effort will be a collaborative process to develop new legislation to

give universal access to quality, affordable child care the force of

law.

High cell phone costs are a major burden for middle-class families.

Canadians pay some of the highest fees for phones and data in the world.

Consumers deserve to know the true cost of the services they buy. This year

your government will take action to improve billing transparency, beginning

with a consultation and legislative review. Your government will give

consumers the tools they need to get the least expensive option possible and

encourage the federal government to deliver more affordable cell phone

options for people.

When it’s impossible to make ends meet, some families need short-term

loans. Building on reforms introduced last year, government will take

further steps to crack down on unfair payday loan practices. New legislation

will cap fees for cashing government cheques, provide oversight for

instalment loans and improve consumer education.

Last year government heard from thousands of British Columbians about

the unfair sale and resale of concert and event tickets. People are

frustrated that companies will buy up large numbers of tickets and resell

them at sky-high prices. This year government will introduce new rules for

live ticket sales, including a ban on mass ticket-buying software and more

transparency for all companies selling tickets to live events.

Quality public services are the key to stronger, healthier

communities. Your government is investing in public services to make sure

they are accessible, reliable and affordable for everyone. After years of

underfunding, your government is making record investments in education,

with more support and better learning environments for students.

Your government has invested more than $900 million to build, expand

and upgrade schools and purchase land for future schools in growing

communities. Since September 2017, B.C. has approved 24 seismic upgrade

projects, with one-third of all projects completed or underway.

Many students in B.C. are enjoying smaller class sizes, with the

hiring of 3,700 new teachers, including special education teachers,

teacher-psychologists and counsellors.

Government is supporting Indigenous leaders by implementing a new

First Nations history curriculum and developing full-course offerings in

Indigenous languages.

Government is making sure schools are welcoming and inclusive by

expanding anti-bullying programs and making sure all school districts have

resources for mental health and wellness and sexual orientation and gender

identity.

Public health care is a right, yet too many British Columbians can’t

find a family doctor and are waiting too long for care. Your government is

making different choices in getting health care working for people. Last

year government cut or eliminated Fair PharmaCare deductibles for 240,000

people so they no longer have to choose between food and

medicine.

[2:30 p.m.]

To deliver better, faster care for people in all corners of the

province, government has opened a network of urgent primary care centres.

These new centres will come with 200 more family practice physicians, 200

nurse practitioners and 50 clinical pharmacists and other health care

providers.

Government is investing in health care across the board, including

building, renovating and expanding hospitals in Terrace, Fort St. James,

Surrey, Nanaimo, Kamloops, Richmond, North Vancouver, the Cowichan Valley

and many other communities. To make sure seniors are getting the quality

care they need and deserve, government is increasing staffing levels in

residential care homes. Your government has added thousands more surgeries

and MRI exams throughout the province, so people can get the procedures they

need faster and closer to home.

The overdose emergency is the worst public health crisis in our

province’s history. By the end of this day, four people in B.C. will have

died from a poisoned, illegal drug supply. It is difficult, and it is

heartbreaking, but there is also hope. Your government is working to save

lives by expanding harm reduction, increasing access to naloxone, addressing

the unsafe drug supply and connecting people to life-saving supports,

including treatment and recovery. More resources have been allocated to law

enforcement to control the criminal elements fuelling this

crisis.

We must not lose sight of services for people living with mental

illnesses, particularly young people. Your government is creating an

integrated, provincewide network of health and social services for youth,

including Foundry wellness centres. These vital services are part of B.C.’s

actions to help people living with mental health and addictions challenges,

where every door is the right door on the path to recovery and

healing.

British Columbia is a remarkable place, filled with unmatched natural

beauty and resources, hard-working people and a thriving economy. For too

long, choices were made to benefit the wealthy few. Your government is

taking a different approach and building a prosperous economy that works for

everyone. This government is making different choices so that people can

afford to live and work here, with action on affordable housing, lower costs

and fees and affordable child care for B.C. families. These investments are

good for people and good for business.

This government is investing in skills training to better meet the

demands of our labour market, and this government is rising to the

challenges of climate change to protect this beautiful province and create a

strong and sustainable future. In a world where climate action is

increasingly recognized as an emergency, demand is growing for low-carbon

products and energy to reduce emissions. The same ideas and technology that

drive carbon pollution and improve our quality of life can drive economic

growth and attract investment.

CleanBC is this government’s road map to reduce emissions and create

an innovative, low-carbon economy. Created in partnership with the B.C.

Green Party caucus, the CleanBC plan will change how British Columbians get

around, with a focus on clean energy vehicles, lower emissions, cleaner

fuels and active transportation. By moving to clean, renewable energy, like

our abundant supply of hydroelectricity, we will power our growing

economy.

CleanBC will improve where we live and work, through building

retrofits and new net-zero energy standards for new buildings. It will

promote industrial electrification and carbon capture and invite new and

existing industries to deliver cleaner operations. Most importantly, it will

create jobs and opportunity for people, businesses and

communities.

Climate change is the greatest challenge of our time. We can and must

reduce our emissions, but government can’t do it alone. First Nations

governments, communities and businesses are all partners on the path

forward. Your government will bring forward measures for the implementation

of CleanBC in Budget 2019.

Last year this government was proud to announce the largest private

sector investment in Canadian history. Enabled by government’s new financial

framework, LNG Canada’s liquefied natural gas project will create 10,000

construction jobs and 950 permanent jobs for B.C. The project will generate

$23 billion in government revenue that will be reinvested in the schools,

roads, hospitals, housing and services that families depend on.

This project can proceed because government’s four conditions are met:

a fair rate of return for our natural resources; job opportunities and

training for people in B.C.; meaningful partnerships with First Nations;

and, critically, the project fits within the government’s CleanBC

plan.

[2:35 p.m.]

The benefits of this investment will require your government’s full

commitment for many years. A continued focus on reconciliation with First

Nations, particularly those on whose territory the project will be built, is

critical to success. This spring your government will bring forward measures

to bring this historic project to fruition.

This government is committed to true and lasting reconciliation with

Indigenous peoples. Last year government and First Nations agreed to share

in provincial gaming revenue to support self-government, strong healthy

communities and services for families. This stable, long-term revenue will

make a substantial difference for people and communities.

This year government has begun working with First Nations to make sure

they are full participants in decision-making that affects their rights and

lands. B.C. will be the first province in Canada to introduce legislation to

implement the United Nations declaration on the rights of Indigenous

peoples, legislation co-developed with the First Nations Leadership Council

and other Indigenous organizations. This legislation will form the

foundation for the province’s work on reconciliation, mandating government

to bring provincial laws and policy into harmony with the

declaration.

British Columbia’s traditional industries — forestry and mining, oil

and gas, fisheries and farming, and renewable electricity — power our

economy and form the bedrock of our communities. This government is managing

the province’s natural resource economy and making it work for British

Columbians by increasing local processing, promoting Indigenous partnerships

and creating jobs and opportunities for local workers and rural

communities.

Forestry employs 57,000 British Columbians and supports over 7,000

businesses throughout B.C. In January, government announced the coast forest

sector revitalization initiative as part of government’s work to rebuild a

strong and healthy coastal forest sector. These reforms will reduce raw log

exports and see more logs and fibre processed in B.C., supporting B.C.

workers, their families and communities.

After two consecutive years of record-breaking and difficult

wildfires, government is standing with communities as they rebuild and

recover. Government has contributed over $100 million through the Canadian

Red Cross to help people and communities, and your government has invested

$50 million in wildfire prevention over the next three years to help local

governments and First Nations reduce wildfire risks in and around their

communities.

B.C. is a mining province, with mining and mineral exploration adding

more than $8 billion to the economy each year. Last year your government

created the Mining Jobs Task Force, to make sure B.C. remains an attractive

and secure place to invest. This year government is acting on their

recommendations, including improved oversight, more support for innovation

in mining and mineral exploration, and promoting Indigenous

partnerships.

Wild salmon are critical to the success of B.C.’s economy, to the

prosperity of coastal communities and to the lives, culture and history of

Indigenous peoples. Governments, communities and First Nations are charting

a path forward to protect and restore wild salmon stocks, implement a

transition plan for salmon aquaculture in the Broughton Archipelago and

create a more sustainable future for local communities and workers. The

Premier’s Wild Salmon Advisory Council was convened last year, bringing

together experts from around the province to develop a strategy for

restoring and sustaining B.C.’s salmon populations.

Agriculture is an important part of B.C.’s economy. Government is

working to protect farmland and develop new markets for B.C. agricultural

products. To maximize the benefits of B.C.’s rich agricultural land, your

government will launch a food security task force to consider how B.C. can

harness new technologies and innovation to produce more food, jobs and

prosperity while reducing waste.

British Columbia has one of the largest park systems in the world.

Last year government purchased ecologically sensitive land on Vancouver

Island, the Sunshine Coast, in the Okanagan and in the Kootenays. This year

government will designate these lands as class A parks, to make sure

everyone can enjoy these beautiful natural spaces for years to

come.

[2:40 p.m.]

The tourism sector supports over 133,000 jobs in British Columbia.

Government is working to attract visitors from around the world, while

supporting the arts, sport and cultural projects. Government will modernize

the Royal B.C. Museum, to protect its historic holdings and provide better

access to its collections. Government will also establish a new

Chinese-Canadian museum, to honour the community’s significant contributions

to our province.

Your government recognizes the incredible potential for B.C. to be a

global hub of connectivity and innovation. Borders that are open to trade

and immigration also create opportunities for people. B.C. is partnering

with the state of Washington to grow the region’s innovation and tech

sector, fight climate change, promote trade and improve transportation

connectivity. Your government is exploring the feasibility of an

ultra-high-speed corridor, connecting B.C., Washington and Oregon, an

initiative that holds great promise for the Lower Mainland.

Connectivity opens doors to new opportunities for every person in B.C.

Our government is helping connect people in rural or remote communities

through high-speed Internet. People in 190 rural and remote communities,

including 69 Indigenous communities, will soon have more bandwidth to run

their businesses, access public services and connect to the world. When we

support connectivity and growth in tech and innovation, we are encouraging

growth in every part of the economy.

Infrastructure and mobility are critical to our economy and the

livability of our communities. Rather than pick winners and losers or divide

people, this government is ready to collaborate and support local

governments to get people and goods moving. Government is investing in

infrastructure projects throughout B.C., including schools, roads and

transit improvements, which will create tens of thousands of jobs for

people.

To create good-paying jobs, better training and apprenticeships and

more trades opportunities for Indigenous peoples, women and youth around the

province, this government established community benefit agreements for major

infrastructure projects. These agreements make sure that public investments

create public benefits and strengthen local economies.

This year ride-hailing will enter the market, giving passengers

options and flexibility while making sure people are safe. From the Lower

Mainland to southern Vancouver Island, the Fraser Valley and our coast, the

Interior, Okanagan, Kootenays and the north, your government will work with

local partners to deliver transportation and mobility options that work for

people.

The strength of this Legislature does not come from stone, slate,

marble or granite. It comes from a foundation of public trust. That trust

was recently shaken. This government values transparency and takes very

seriously its responsibility to maintain the integrity of our public

institutions. Your government will work with this assembly to implement

reforms that restore trust in this core institution so that our democracy is

stronger going forward.

This government believes in British Columbians. Their determined

spirit, innovative potential and ingenuity fuels this government’s resolve

to build a better B.C., where we rise to the challenges of today to secure

the opportunities of tomorrow. Government is making different choices to

make life better so that B.C.’s bright future and unlimited potential is

shared with everyone.

The road ahead will not be easy. We will get there with open dialogue,

open hearts and an understanding that making life better can only happen

when all of us make progress together.

As you embark on this new legislative session, let every member of

this House be inspired by the hope and optimism of British Columbians, whose

lives are getting better every day.

Finally, as the Queen’s representative and on behalf of all British

Columbians, I want to express my personal gratitude to all of you for the

important work you do together and for the many, many sacrifices you make

for the privilege of serving us. We are fortunate, indeed, to have the

benefit of such a fine group of legislators, all of whom care deeply about

our province and our people.

HÍSW̱ḴE SIÁM . Thank you so

much.

Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor retired from the chamber.

[2:45 p.m.]

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members, in order to prevent mistakes, I’ve obtained a copy of

the speech from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor.

Introduction and

First Reading of Bills

BILL 1 —

AN ACT TO ENSURE

THE SUPREMACY OF

PARLIAMENT

Hon. D. Eby presented a bill intituled

An Act to Ensure the Supremacy

of Parliament.

Hon. D. Eby: I move that Bill 1, intituled

An Act to Ensure the Supremacy of

Parliament, be introduced and read a first time now.

The introduction of this bill prior to consideration of the throne

speech expresses the established right of parliament, through its

elected members, to deliberate independently of the Sovereign. As such,

it’s an important part of our parliamentary democratic process. It’s a

right that was first asserted by the Parliament of Westminster in the

year 1603, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Mr. Speaker: The question is introduction and first reading of Bill 1,

intituled

An Act to Ensure the Supremacy of Parliament.

Motion approved.

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

reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Bill 1,

An Act to Ensure the Supremacy of Parliament, 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.

Motions

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY SPEAKER

Hon. M. Farnworth: I move, seconded by the member for Langley:

[That Raj Chouhan , Member for Burnaby-Edmonds Electoral

District, be appointed Deputy Speaker for this session of the

Legislative Assembly.]

Motion approved.

APPOINTMENT

OF ASSISTANT DEPUTY

SPEAKER

M. Polak: I move, seconded by the member for Port Coquitlam electoral

district:

[That Joan Isaacs , Member for Coquitlam–Burke Mountain

Electoral District, be appointed Assistant Deputy Speaker for this

session of the Legislative Assembly.]

Motion approved.

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY CHAIR,

COMMITTEE OF THE

WHOLE

Hon. M. Farnworth: I move, seconded by the member for Langley electoral

district:

[That Spencer Chandra Herbert , Member for Vancouver–West

End Electoral District, be appointed Deputy Chair of the Committee of

the Whole for this session of the Legislative Assembly.]

Motion approved.

PRINTING OF Votes and

Proceedings

Hon. D. Eby: I move:

[That the Votes and Proceedings of this House be printed,

being first perused by the Speaker, and that he do appoint the printing

thereof, and that no person but such as he shall appoint do presume to

print the same.]

Motion approved.

[2:50 p.m.]

APPOINTMENT OF

SELECT STANDING

COMMITTEES

Hon. J. Horgan: I move:

[That the Select Standing Committees of this House for the present

session, be appointed for the following purposes:

1. Aboriginal Affairs;

2. Education;

3. Finance and Government Services;

4. Health;

5. Public Accounts;

6. Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders

and Private Bills;

7. Crown Corporations;

8. Children and Youth;

9. Agriculture, Fish and Food;

which said Committees shall severally be empowered to examine and

inquire into all such matters and things as shall be referred to them by

this House, and to report from time to time their observations and

opinions thereon, with power to send for persons, papers, and records,

and that a Special Committee be appointed to prepare and report with all

convenient speed lists of members to compose the above Select Standing

Committees of this House under Standing Order 68 (1), the Committee to

be composed of the Hon. M. Farnworth (Convener), Garry

Begg, Janet Routledge, Jagrup Brar, Ronna-Rae Leo­nard, Mary

Polak, Eric Foster, Jackie Tegart, Greg Kyllo and Sonia

Furstenau .]

Motion approved.

Hon. M. Farnworth moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

Mr. Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 1:30 tomorrow

afternoon.

The House adjourned at 2:51 p.m.

The Official Report of Debates ( Hansard ) and webcasts of

proceedings

are available on the Internet. Chamber debates are broadcast on

television.

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