British Columbia Hansard — 9 December 2020, p.m., Issue 5 (42nd Parliament, 1st Session)

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British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

First Session, 42nd Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday, December 9, 2020 Afternoon Sitting Issue No. 5 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 Wednesday, December 9, 2020 Afternoon Sitting Page Routine Business Tributes ..........................................................................................................................................................................................73 John Fryer Hon. G.

Heyman Introductions by Members..........................................................................................................................................................73 Statements (Standing Order 25B) ..............................................................................................................................................74 Prevention of violence against women and COVID-19 impact on women J. Routledge Finnley Goddard S. Bond Reopening of schools in Surrey J. Sims Fundraising activities for Halle Krawczyk M.

Morris Community services in Maple Ridge–Mission during holiday season B. D’Eith Staffing and services at Menno Place during COVID-19 B. Banman Oral Questions..............................................................................................................................................................................76 COVID-19 impact on services for special needs children and youth and report recommendations S. Bond Hon. M. Dean K. Kirkpatrick COVID-19 response and mental health services S. Furstenau Hon. S. Malcolmson COVID-19 response for disability and income assistance recipients D. Davies Hon.

N. Simons C. Oakes Activation of Health Committee M. de Jong Hon. A. Dix Reports from Committees...........................................................................................................................................................81 Selection Committee, report, December 9, 2020 Hon. M.

Farnworth Motions Without Notice..............................................................................................................................................................81 Powers and role of Children and Y outh Committee Powers and role of Finance Committee Powers and role of Public Accounts Committee Appointment of Special Committee to Review the Personal Information Protection Act Appointment of Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act Hon. M.

Farnworth Tabling Documents......................................................................................................................................................................83 B.C. ferries commissioner, annual report, fiscal year ending March 31, 2020 Environmental Appeal Board, annual report, 2019-20 Gaming policy and enforcement branch, annual report, 2019-20 Labour Relations Board, annual report, 2019 Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia, annual report, 2019-20

Orders of the Day Second Reading of Bills ...............................................................................................................................................................83 Bill 3 — Finance Statutes Amendment Act, 2020 Hon. S. Robinson M. Bernier S. Furstenau T. Stone J. Rustad M. de Jong M. Lee T. Wat E. Ross

WEDNESDAY , DECEMBER 9, 2020 The House met at 1:34 p.m. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Prayers and reflections: Hon. S. Malcolmson. [1:35 p.m.] Tributes JOHN FRYER Hon. G. Heyman: On November 1, John Fryer died suddenly while watching TV at the side of his wife, Penelope Roy, an abrupt end to the life of someone who was used to shaking things up and making change, a native of England, who until recently had called Canada and Brit- ish Columbia his home for 49 years. While most members of today’s B.C.

Public Service and most B.C. workers would not recognize his name, his cre- ativity, his organizing skills, his strategic ability and his sheer drive forever changed their working conditions and their ability to have the value of their work and their ideas recognized and respected. John Fryer began his career on this continent with the Packinghouse Workers of America, where his job was to fully integrate Black workers into local unions, a job that resulted in his leaving a small Alabama town, hidden in a car trunk for protection. At age 30, John took over leadership of the B.C.

Gov- ernment Employees Association, whose members were the only Canadian provincial employees with no bargaining rights, and he turned it into a full union in both name and spirit. The BCGEU demanded and won recognition, collective voice and legislated bargaining rights. Along the way, he infuriated then Premier Bennett by submitting the traditional unilaterally imposed wage

schedule to a highly public membership ratification vote. The union that John Fryer envisioned and shaped, along with a cadre of committed young activists and organizers who influenced the labour movement in British Columbia to today, took its full place in the labour movement and began to influence the growing social unionism that became commonplace in the 1980s onward. He reorgan- ized the structure of the union to ensure that the voices of women were heard and their workplace issues taken ser- iously by ensuring those occupations where women pre- dominated had their own elected representatives.

John worked to create a modern, strong, socially active union that I was honoured to lead. While our paths crossed just briefly, I was regularly reminded of what he accomplished, often with controversy, often with grudging respect, always with strategy and effectiveness. My condolences to his family and to all those whose lives he helped improve. Introductions by Members Hon. S. Malcolmson:I have two introductions to make today. One is to my awesome nephew Ben, who is turning six today and celebrating with his big brother, Ross.

Secondly, I want to acknowledge how hard our tech sup- port teams are working on both sides of the House, the Legislature and government. They pulled off Canada’s first fully hybrid Legislature this summer flawlessly, and I know they’re working very hard for all of us right now. We’re grateful. Thank you. Mr. Speaker:Member for Vernon-Monashee. H. Sandhu:Good morning, Hon. Speaker. Mr. Speaker:Afternoon. H. Sandhu:Y es, good afternoon. I’m sorry. Is this the response to the throne speech after the intro- ductions? Mr. Speaker:Please proceed. H. Sandhu:It’s just a point of clarification.

I don’t have two minutes introduction…. Mr. Speaker:Member, hold it. Hold it. H. Sandhu:Okay. Mr. Speaker:Sorry, Member. I didn’t hear what you were asking. We’re only asking members to make intro- ductions. Throne speech will be dealt with sometime later but not now. Introductions, member for Columbia River–Revelstoke. [1:40 p.m.] D. Clovechok:Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. December 9 is a very special day for me. I’ve got two grandchildren who are turning…. Their birthdays are today. Shea MacDonald is watching and celebrating her seventh birthday in Saskatoon.

Parker Dubnyk is turning five today and is watching from Minnesota. I wish them the very best birthdays. I wish I could be there. Thank goodness for FaceTime. Would the House please join me in wishing them both a very happy birthday. 73

Statements (Standing Order 25B) PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND COVID-19 IMPACT ON WOMEN J. Routledge:Tomorrow is Human Rights Day, the last of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. It started on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. In Canada, we also recognize December 6, that day 31 years ago when 14 women were killed at École Polytechnique. The Montreal massacre remains the deadliest mass shooting in Canadian history. Separating men from women, the gunman screamed, “I hate feminists, ” while methodically executing only women.

I still remember how I felt when I heard about it on the news that night. I was overwhelmed with grief and fear. But I sought comfort and strength with other outspoken women, strong women who dared to make their mark in a man’s world. Every year since 1989, feminists come together to remember those who died and to recommit to a future in which our lives won’t be threatened simply because we are women. Safety is top of mind during this pandemic. We are reminded to stay home to stay safe. But for too many women, home is not a safe place, and the pandemic has made it worse.

One local crisis centre reports getting close to 100 calls a day since the start of the pandemic, an increase of 300 percent. We have a lot more work to do to keep women safe, and that’s why I support an important resource in my community: Dixon Transition Society. Dixon House offers transitional housing, counselling and resources to women and their children fleeing domestic violence. Other years, I’ d be looking forward to their annual Christmas jazz con- cert. But the pandemic won’t stop me from donating so that they can support even more vulnerable women. I hope others will do the same. FINNLEY GODDARD S.

Bond:I’m very pleased today to recognize an inspir- ational young man. On October 24, Finnley Goddard and his family were travelling on a back road covered in com- pact snow. The Goddard family’s Toyota was unable to make a corner, hit an embankment and rolled off the road into a field. The crash left Finn’s parents, Blake and Kristi, stuck and dangling from their seats and his eight-year-old brother, Oliver, pinned in the vehicle. Springing into action, 11-year-old Finnley lifted the door open, freeing his younger brother, and immediately went to help his parents.

Blake was able to get out of the vehicle with his son’s help. With some additional assistance from loc- al farmers, who had heard the crash, they were able to remove Kristi as well. While Finn did an amazing job lifting the heavy doors and helping his family, what was remarkable was how calm and reassuring Finn was during the entire ordeal. He kept encouraging his mom by telling her that she could do it and by repeating: “Y ou’ve got this, Mom. ” Finn has been honoured for his heroic efforts by the Prince George Cougars. He was recognized by Prince George Highway Rescue and by our local MP , Todd Doherty.

Both Finn and his brother, Oliver, received gifts and gift certificates from many generous donors. Finnley told reporters: “I didn’t want anyone to get hurt, so I stayed calm. I just took a deep breath, and I tried not to freak out. ” [1:45 p.m.] Well, Finnley, we want you to know that we are proud of you for showing bravery and courage beyond your years. Y our calm attitude and quick thinking stand as a powerful example to all of us. In difficult times like these, stories like Finn’s give us hope and a reason to celebrate. Well done, Finnley Goddard. Mr. Speaker:The member for Surrey-Panorama.

REOPENING OF SCHOOLS IN SURREY J. Sims: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and congratulations. To say that the start-up of the new school year has been challenging would be an understatement. Today I would like to thank everyone who has helped open our schools for our kids. Surrey is the largest school district in our province, and I’m in awe of how everyone has worked collaborat- ively to open our schools safely, develop teaching mod- els that meet the needs of students and families and establish some sort of normalcy in a world that is any- thing but normal.

When the decision was made to open schools in September, there were questions and con- cerns and a lot of uncertainty. I want to thank the Surrey Teachers Association, CUPE 728, and all of their members. These have been extraordin- arily challenging times, and you have our utmost respect and gratitude. Y ou are our front-line workers and heroes in our schools. I want to thank the administrators, who have worked to keep our schools safe and have overseen the implementation of our new protocols.

Thank you to Superintendent Jordan Tinney, a true hero in the eyes of many, and his staff, who have worked tire- lessly since schools closed at spring break last March. Sur- rey school district, led by Jordan Tinney, developed a cre- ative, thoughtful plan that allowed families to choose in- person classes, virtual learning or a hybrid model. All partners have worked to ensure that student cohorts are safe and consistent. COVID has taught us that nothing is perfect in the new 74 British Columbia Debates Wednesday, December 9, 2020

normal and that we are learning new things every single day. In response to feedback and in collaboration, changes need to be made. Through videos, emails and social media platforms, he has been transparent in his communications with students, parents and the community. By no means has this been an easy fall for anyone in education. I want to thank everyone for everything. Nothing is per- fect. These plans are not perfect. They are a work in pro- gress. But together we can, and we do. FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES FOR HALLE KRAWCZYK M.

Morris:She is only 12 years old, but Halle Krawczyk has already been through more than most people endure in a lifetime. Three years ago the Salmon Arm girl was dia- gnosed with a rare form of cancer. Poorly differentiated chordoma affects just one in 20 million people. Halle and her family have endured count- less stays at Ronald McDonald House while Halle under- goes surgeries, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, a trial drug, regular testing and the incredible emotional and mental side effects that go along with this disease — her parents, Matt and Carolyn, tirelessly by her side.

Doctors have told them that the best chance of con- trolling the disease is surgery and proton beam radiation. The surgery needs to take place in Pittsburgh, with a team skilled in pediatric neurosurgery. Unfortunately, this pro- cedure and all that goes along with it will cost well in excess of $100,000. Mark Neudorf, a local Prince George hunter, took it upon himself to create a social media page. His purpose was to make a difference. In 48 hours, Mark’s Facebook page, called Hunting Auctions for Halle, exploded with donations from around North America.

From Mennonite sausage to fully guided fishing charters to baked goods from grandma’s kitchen to a baseball bat Halle herself has donated, people have stepped up to help. Halle’s bat sold for $24,000, and to knock it out of the park, that $24,000 donation was matched, for a total of $48,000. As of last Saturday night, not even 48 hours after starting this movement, over 400 donations had come in, and over $100,000 has been raised. The strongest bonds are formed by the will to make a difference.

Hunters, trap- pers, anglers and guides and those that have just felt the need to help have all contributed. [1:50 p.m.] Friends, family and complete strangers came together with the compassion and the will to change the lives of people they have never met. Halle, from all of us in this House and around B.C., we know that you will beat this. COMMUNITY SERVICES IN MAPLE RIDGE– MISSION DURING HOLIDAY SEASON B. D’Eith:I rise in the Legislature today — figuratively, of course — in these difficult times.

I wanted to speak about notable community organizations that are operating holiday services to support those in need in my riding of Maple Ridge–Mission. Although things look different this year due to COVID-19, the need for support is even great- er than in past years. Now we’ve seen community service organizations stepping up to meet this need. This year marks the 48th anniversary of the Mission Community Services Society’s Christmas Bureau. Since 1972, the society has made a difference in thousands of lives, vulnerable families, by providing festive food ham- pers and toys at Christmas time.

This year, through the generosity of a community of individuals and businesses, the Christmas Bureau is continuing this tradition. Another wonderful organization, the Maple Ridge– Pitt Meadows Christmas Hamper Society, was estab- lished in the late ’60s. This year they’ve partnered with the Katzie Nation, Ridge Meadows Salvation Army, school district 42, Friends In Need Food Bank and the community services for their Christmas hamper pro- gram. The Christmas hamper program will serve over 400 families, providing gift cards for Christmas dinners and children’s gift cards.

These are from local Ridge Meadows stores, so it’s supporting families but also local businesses during this difficult time. Of course, it’s very important at this time, when we’re talking about vulnerable populations, to talk about our senior population. Community services in Maple Ridge is putting on a Christmas dinner drive-through where registered seniors will receive a pre-made Christmas din- ner and an amazing goody bag full of lots of wonderful things. It’s all prearranged and scheduled to accommodate appropriate safety measures.

I want to thank all of the community organizations in my community and, of course, across British Columbia who are doing such an amazing job to support individuals and families in need this holiday season and year-round. Happy holidays, everyone. STAFFING AND SERVICES AT MENNO PLACE DURING COVID-19 B. Banman: As we all know, care homes have been the epicentre of much of COVID-19. Seniors around our province are facing the brunt of this disease as they’re not only the most susceptible but also the most affected by visitation restrictions.

One of the other challenges facing long-term-care homes, brought on by COVID-19, is staff- ing shortages, especially as both staff and residents test positive. In Abbotsford, one such care home has found a novel solution to these issues. Menno Place, which is one of Wednesday, December 9, 2020 British Columbia Debates 75

the largest senior care campuses in B.C., is governed by the Mennonite Benevolent Society. It cares for nearly 700 seniors. So when staff and residents began to test positive, Karen Biggs, the CEO of Menno Place, decided to find a solution to continue the needed level of care the residents deserve. Menno Place is not alone with the challenges they face. Due to restrictions, family visits are severely limited, volunteers are banned, and finding staff is becoming increasingly difficult.

Karen Biggs’s idea was to reach out to families with loved ones who reside at Menno Place to see if they would want to temporarily work in areas like housekeeping, laundry and dietary services. Within days of the job posting, nearly 50 passionate family members rose to the task at hand, eager to support Menno Place and have the opportunity to work and care for the residents, with the added bonus of being able to see their loved ones. My understanding is that care facilities in B.C. and across the country are watching closely. Menno Place is working hard to ensure safety training protocols are being met.

I hope that other care homes can take a cue from Menno Place to better serve their residents and their fam- ily needs during these trying times. I am proud of this long-standing Abbotsford tradition, and I am pleased to share their story here in the House today. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and congratulations on your election. [1:55 p.m.] Mr. Speaker:Members, we’re going to commence ques- tion period in a moment. To maximize full participation in question period, I urge all members to watch the length of your questions and answers. I really appreciate your cooperation. Thank you.

Oral Questions COVID-19 IMPACT ON SERVICES FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN AND YOUTH AND REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS S. Bond:“It is the representative’s view that many fam- ilies and caregivers are reaching the breaking point. The disruption of the pandemic continues to reverberate in the lives of children and youth with special needs. ” These are the words of the Representative for Children and Y outh in the report entitledLeft Out, which was delivered last week. The stories shared by families are powerful and painful. The report calls for urgent and immediate action from this government.

To the government members today, will they commit to extending for one year all pandemic-related benefits and processes that are desperately required for children and youth with special needs? Hon. M. Dean:Thank you to the member for the ques- tion. I’ d just like to start by saying I’m thrilled and honoured to have been appointed as the Minister of Children and Family Development. I’ d like to thank all of the front-line staff, all of the staff at our partner agencies, delegated agen- cies, for all of their hard work and especially during this really, really difficult time of this pandemic.

I thank the Representative for Children and Y outh for her report and her team for all of the work that, again, in such difficult circumstances has been completed. I thank the families. Thank you for sharing your stories. Thank you for taking the time. Thank you for taking part. My heart goes out to you. I share the concerns of the representative. For too long, the system has been extremely fragmented. And that’s why, Member, you will have seen in my mandate letter that the Premier has asked me to move forward with the frame- work for supporting families with children and youth with support needs.

Already I have instructed ministry staff to move forward with the recommendation related to an advisory panel, and I’ve already asked them to accelerate work towards implementing the framework. Mr. Speaker:Leader of the Official Opposition, first supplemental. S. Bond:I appreciate the compassion and the caring in the minister’s answer, but what I didn’t hear was an answer to the question. The answer, in fact, the minister provided will provide little comfort and certainly no direct support that is desperately needed by these families.

The report outlines in detail the devastating impact that the pandemic has had on these families. Funding approval processes fell apart. Contact with professionals and CYSN workers became more difficult. And families themselves said there was a lack of meaningful communication. The report and families across the province are calling for immediate action to meet these urgent needs. An advisory committee is one step. But today we need the government to respond to the critical needs of these famil- ies. Will the minister commit to the extension of pandem- ic-related benefits until the fall of 2021? Hon. M.

Dean: Thank you again to the member. I appreciate her passion and advocacy on behalf of children and families across our province as well. Through the course of the pandemic, we have been improving our systems of communication with families. Y ou will know that some measures were put in place. That included measures like increased flexibility of use of bene- fits, which families have told us have actually been really, really helpful. That continues through until March.

There are other benefits and grants that are being announced that will be available to all families, depending on eligibility cri- teria, across the whole of the province. 76 British Columbia Debates Wednesday, December 9, 2020

This is really important work, and we have to get it right. We have to put children and youth at the centre of this sys- tem, and that is the work that I’ve asked the ministry staff to accelerate and expedite. We will be doing that along- side the voices and experiences and stories of families with children and youth with support needs. Mr. Speaker:Leader of the Official Opposition, second supplemental. [2:00 p.m.] S. Bond: Well, the report is painful to read.

Families shared their most personal stories about the impact of the pandemic on their families, and what needs to be exped- ited is an answer to these families. It is very clear that an election during a pandemic impacted these families in a significant way. In fact, when pandemic-related bene- fits for children and youth with special needs expired in September, there was no recourse for them for months. The report specifically calls on this government to extend all pandemic-related benefits and processes for special needs families until the fall of 2021.

Again to the minister, families deserve an answer, and they deserve support — not in the future, not two months from now. They deserve an answer now. Will the minister accept the recommendation and extend benefits to these families for one year, yes or no? Hon. M. Dean:Thank you again to the member. As she will know, we will be going into very intense planning pro- cesses to make sure that we actually build a system for chil- dren and youth. Some of the measures that were put in place because of the pandemic have been extended until March.

We’re going into a lot of hard work to make sure that we plan for a system that puts children and youth at the centre of these services. The member will know, because the member was actu- ally part of government itself, when the cutbacks were made to this ministry and to families such as these, who have shared their very powerful and worrying stories with us. I’m very proud to be part of a government that’s actu- ally looking at changing the system that has let down these families for so very long. K.

Kirkpatrick:One of the respondents to the CYSN survey that formed the basis of the Representative for Children and Y outh’s report is Victoria O’Connor. Victoria is a mother of twin sons, both of whom are non-verbal and have been diagnosed with autism. This is what Victor- ia said about her experience: “We are very much a family in crisis. I just sort of feel like it doesn’t matter how bad your situation is.

Y ou’re still going to have to jump through a million hoops. ” To government: when will you implement the recom- mendations in the report so that parents like Victoria can get the support that they so desperately need? Hon. M. Dean:Thank you to the member for the ques- tion, and thank you to people like Victoria who have shared their stories. There are so many families out there who have such a variety of experiences. Of course, in this pandemic, the struggle of caring for children with high levels of needs and with children and youth who have sup- port needs has really put added pressure on them.

I can assure the member that the staff in the ministry take this matter very seriously, and they themselves have worked really hard to be able to pivot and to be able to continue providing services. Again, Mr. Speaker, I have to say this system is fragmen- ted, and it has been for a very long time. Colleagues of this member were members of government that actually cut back services to this ministry. I’m very proud that in my mandate letter from the Premier I’m being asked to transform the system of support for children and youth with support needs and to put them and their needs at the centre of the system. Mr.

Speaker:The member for West Vancouver–Capi- lano on a supplemental. K. Kirkpatrick:Minister, I appreciate the commitment you say you’re making, but families are still waiting on this NDP government to follow through on the recommenda- tions made in the Representative for Children and Y outh’s 2018 report. The NDP government promised to have a comprehensive plan in place by the fall of 2019, and they failed to deliver this.

One of the consequences of this NDP failure was that the majority of these families did not know they were even eligible for the now expired monthly emergency benefit. [2:05 p.m.] The minister mentioned the increased flexibility of benefits. Some of these families did not know that they had alternative ways to use those benefits. To the government: will you admit the failings of this government and implement these recommendations im- mediately? Hon. M. Dean: Thank you again to the member. This is such an important matter. We know that families have been struggling.

They were already struggling because the system was so fragmented, and then with the pandemic on top, that really exacerbated the issues for many families. So the ministry staff and services really pivoted as much as they could to offer support and services, to provide reliefs as far as possible and to make sure that we heard the stories and were able to create that flexibility, which is what fam- ilies were asking us for.

It is really important that we actually create a system that’s fair and that supports children and youth with the needs that they have and puts them at the centre of the system, and that’s the work that we’re already doing. That Wednesday, December 9, 2020 British Columbia Debates 77

is recommended by the Representative for Children and Y outh. Another recommendation was to have an advisory council and to very quickly bring together stakeholders and families and advocates. We’re already doing that. We’ve already acted on that. And there are more grant programs that will be available for families across British Columbia. I encourage any family that’s still struggling to please reach out to your local MCFD office or reach out to your worker if you have one allocated, and please find out how much we can help you further. COVID-19 RESPONSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES S.

Furstenau:We know that the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting people in many ways. We are also, at this mo- ment, in an overwhelming and worsening mental health crisis that’s been called a shadow pandemic. The overdose emergency is continuing at a horrifying rate. Domestic violence rates are up; people are more isol- ated, more anxious and more depressed than ever; and we are now headed into the highest-risk season of the year. We know that our public health care system as currently configured, despite the best intentions, cannot adequately respond to this crisis.

My question is to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. Before the snap election was called, the former minister committed to working with the B.C. Psychologic- al Association on a pilot project that would better integrate psychologists into primary care, allowing them to work alongside their medical colleagues to provide much- needed mental health care to all British Columbians, regardless of income. Will the new minister confirm that the reforms needed to allow psychologists to become eli- gible providers through the government-funded billing system will go forward provincewide? Hon. S.

Malcolmson:Thank you to the member for the continued advocacy in this area. I share the member’s concerns about the double impact of the pandemic and exacerbating an already alarming mental health system. Anybody who’s watching, anybody who has family who is feeling isolated or anxious, please reach out. Since yesterday’s questions in the House, I have been able to confirm, through my colleagues within the mental health support system, that the online supports that we built up since the pandemic started have capacity.

If you phone 811, if you go to gov.bc.ca/covid, there are links to online mental health supports so you can stay safe at home, still have that access to the counselling that we need. I’m encouraged by the direct invitation in the man- date letter that the Premier gave me to expand access to mental health supports and to use all tools. So I welcome the conversation with the Green Party. The tool that they mentioned is certainly one of the ones that we can talk about. We need all the best ideas to be able to bring relief to families.

Maybe I’ll just finish by saying — going into the Christ- mas holiday and into the holiday season and solstice, where the hours are the shortest — that I just urge all of us to reach out, especially to friends and those who are isolated. It’s going to be a difficult time in the next month ahead, and all the support that we can give as individuals for our communities is going to make a difference. Mr. Speaker:The Leader of the Third Party on her first supplemental. [2:10 p.m.] S. Furstenau:Just to be clear, this is not a tool of the B.C. Green caucus. This is a tool of the B.C.

Psychological Association that had been working with government before the snap election and had been creating a pathway to ensure that all British Columbians could have access to mental health care through the provincial billing system. I’m going to hope that the minister can respond to that. As well, the B.C. psychological first aid call line that used to be in place as a result of the earlier stage of the pan- demic had registered psychologists volunteering to sup- port British Columbians with mental health issues, free of charge. It was closed in July.

So my additional question — in addition to the first question, which I’m hoping I can still get an answer to — is: will the minister also commit not only to working with the B.C. Psychological Association to provide mental health care to all British Columbians but to ensure that this psychological first aid line can reopen immediately and provide evidence-based psychological care to anybody who needs it, particularly as we go into this most stressful time of the year? Hon. S.

Malcolmson:People are hurting, and although we’ve made progress pulling together a mental health and overdose system — having inherited, in 2017, not much of a system at all — we’ve got a long way to go. I’ll say again to the member that the Premier asks me specifically, in my mandate letter, to continue to build a comprehensive system of mental health and addictions support, especially to support people through COV- ID-19. He invites me specifically to expand access to counselling using new e-health and other virtual tech- nologies.

I’ve confirmed that for that system — were people to need help today, tomorrow, in the weeks ahead — both our 811 line and the government COVID site are the best way to access that. I’ d be very happy to return to the member with an update on the specific consultation that was happening back in September. We need all tools applied to the crisis at hand. All options are on the table. I look forward to pick- 78 British Columbia Debates Wednesday, December 9, 2020

ing up that work again, to carry on the work of my prede- cessor, Judy Darcy. COVID-19 RESPONSE FOR DISABILITY AND INCOME ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS D. Davies: This is a stressful time for everyone, but especially for those who struggle to put food on the table at the best of times. In his first major policy announcement, the new Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction has chosen to slash disability income assistance. That’s awful — awful. Y esterday he cut the COVID-19 crisis supplement in half. Can the Premier tell British Columbians why he chose to claw back income assistance now? Hon. N.

Simons:I thank the member from Peace River for the question, and I’m pleased to offer a response. Quite clearly, this is a concern to everyone. We know that people who have been struggling are struggling a lot during this pandemic. That’s why our government, unlike the previous government, takes poverty reduction very seriously. On this specific issue, we recognized that in April, the government instituted a workers benefit. Since that was not open to people on income or disability assistance, the government decided at the time to institute a supplement.

That supplement was extended until the end of this month, in fact. So people on disability or income assistance or seniors receiving the supplement will, in fact, receive the full $300 crisis supplement, in addition. What we’ve done, because of the…. We’ve instituted a new benefit, a recovery benefit, which will go to everyone, including people on disability assistance and on income assistance.

In addition to that, we’ve created a supplement of $150 for January, February and March. [2:15 p.m.] Quite frankly, if the member did his research, he would realize that, in fact, all those in receipt of this assistance will be getting more than they otherwise would have. Mr. Speaker:The member for Peace River North on a supplemental. D. Davies:Well, it certainly doesn’t sound like this gov- ernment is taking this seriously. A cut is a cut — from $300 a month down to $150 less. We know that low-income people are disproportion- ately affected by this pandemic. I’ll use a quote here.

Michael Richards receives disability assistance, and he had this to say: “Today’s announcement frustrates me. It speaks of a government that is out of touch with the realities of disability and poverty. ” Again to the Premier, why is our most vulnerable popu- lation the target of this cut? Hon. N. Simons:Well, I could just reiterate, in fact, that this is a government that not only increased rates as soon as we formed government in 2017, after ten years of the member’s party ignoring the issue completely…. Not only did we increase it in 2017; we increased it again.

With the onset of the pandemic, sure, this has definitely caused things to be more difficult for everyone, especially those who are already vulnerable. That’s why we ensured that when the workers benefit was not made available to people on assistance, we instituted a supplement. The new benefit, the recovery benefit, is open to 3.7 mil- lion British Columbians. Considering that…. We’ve not only done that, not only brought in that — a promise that we’ve made — but we’ve also kept a supplement, albeit at a reduced rate — $150 for January, February and March.

But that will result in everyone receiving assistance to receive more than they otherwise would have. C. Oakes:The fact is that the NDP government is cut- ting supports for our most vulnerable populations in the middle of a pandemic, and it’s shameful. This minister’s hypocrisy is shocking. This is incredibly worrying for people who are con- cerned about paying their bills and putting food on the table when the government is actually cutting their assist- ance by $150 a month. Can the Premier please explain why he’s clawing back $150 a month from vulnerable people in the middle of a pandemic? Hon. N.

Simons: Well, I thank the member for her question. I’m not sure if she heard my previous responses. The citizens benefit, the recovery benefit that was an- nounced yesterday, will be a benefit to 3.7 million British Columbians, including those who are on social assistance and disability assistance. In addition to that, they will be receiving $150 as a supplement to that amount. I don’t think that the member has any reason to be so cynical with her approach.

I think that she’s quite aware of the fact that this government has done more for people liv- ing in poverty than her government had done in the previ- ous 16 years. Mr. Speaker:The member for Cariboo North, supple- mental question. C. Oakes: The NDP chose to announce this cut in disability income assistance on the same day that they announced the one-time recovery benefit. Government framed it in such a way that, apparently, vulnerable people, and those with disabilities, should be celebrating this clawback.

Vulnerable people are already sharing their frustration with this NDP government on Twitter using #300Claw- back. Will the Premier stop the clawback? Wednesday, December 9, 2020 British Columbia Debates 79

Hon. N. Simons:This is not how the member has char- acterized the situation. Quite clearly, if she’ d done the cal- culations, she would see that people on income assistance and disability assistance will be receiving the recovery benefit as well as a supplement of $150 above the rate of their assistance. [2:20 p.m.] In fact, the member’s premise is incorrect. Her ques- tion is based on that incorrect premise. The long and short of it is that with the supplement plus the recovery benefit, people receiving income assistance and disabil- ity assistance will, in fact, have more in their pocket at the end of March.

ACTIV ATION OF HEALTH COMMITTEE M. de Jong:We are obviously in the midst of the worst health crisis in our province’s history. The good news is that we also, I think, are on the verge of deploying the fruits of science, with the vaccines that are coming online very shortly. On the first day of this new parliament, the Premier did two notable things. He asked for the collaboration of the members of this chamber as we move through this second wave of the pandemic, and he also introduced the motion creating a standing committee on health. This House will likely adjourn next week.

We don’t know when it will reconvene. The Finance Minister and the government have introduced legislation that would allow it to remain adjourned until the end of April next year. We know also that there will be a host of issues asso- ciated with the distribution of the vaccine. Who better to assist with resolving those issues than the members and the talent in this chamber? My question is to the Premier. Will he activate the Standing Committee on Health so that it can assist with the work of ensuring that all British Columbians have equitable and reasonable access to the vaccines that are coming online? Hon. A.

Dix: What I can assure the member of, and he knows this…. Today, as has happened many times dur- ing the pandemic, Dr. Henry — in this case, Dr. Brown — and others have shared briefings. I want to say to the opposition how much we’ve appreciated and respect their approach, which has been to keep those confidential brief- ings, which are really often cabinet-level briefings, confid- ential and work with us and get a chance to ask directly to the leaders of this effort the appropriate questions. And we’re going to continue to do that.

There’s a new Health critic, a new critic for long-term care, also the Leader of the Opposition. I can provide him with my personal assurance that as we go through the peri- od, and not just on the issue of vaccines but on the issues related to provincial health orders and other supports and other responses in the health care system, we’ll continue to reach out every day or close to every day to opposition critics and opposition parties to have their voice heard in the process, their suggestions heard. As he knows, their suggestions are frequently adopted.

That’s been our approach from the beginning, and that will continue to be our approach with the new critics and with the new opposition and the new Legislature. Mr. Speaker:The member for Abbotsford West on a supplemental. M. de Jong:The Standing Committee on Health exists for a reason. I cannot think of a more appropriate time, especially in the aftermath of the words we heard from the Premier, to activate the talent and the goodwill that exists on that committee to assist with the challenge that lies before us.

Surely no one in this chamber is under health critic any illusions about the extent of that challenge. The good news is that vaccines are coming online. I think the minister and Dr. Henry will have more to say about that this afternoon. But that is going to give rise to a host of questions and a host of issues about where, when and how people are going to be able to access that vac- cine.

There is an opportunity here to breathe life into those words “collaboration and cooperation” by formally activ- ating the body within this body that can meet throughout and provide assistance in answering those questions. [2:25 p.m.] This chamber will adjourn and may not come back together again for months, during which time these issues will be front and centre for British Columbians. I cannot think of a reason why the government or the Premier would be hesitant about accepting the invitation to activate the Health Committee.

I hope the premier will stand here today — or if not today, tomorrow — and indicate his willingness to do so. Hon. A. Dix: Thank you, again, to the member for his question. I think the work that we have done together…. All parties — the Liberal Party and the Green Party; the pre- vious critics, the member for Kelowna–Lake Country and the member for Cowichan Valley; and the current critics, the member for Kelowna-Mission and the member for Prince George–Mount Robson and the member for Saanich North and the Islands — have worked together very closely on this and other issues.

I think we’ve broken new ground with respect to the work we’ve done together on health professional colleges. What I can assure the member is — certainly, his sug- gestion, I’m sure, will be taken into account by the Premier — that in the coming days and weeks, we will act together with all members of the Legislature, ensure that all mem- bers of the Legislature’s voices are heard. How does he know that? Because that is how we’ve acted from day one of this pandemic, and that has been reciprocated, has been 80 British Columbia Debates Wednesday, December 9, 2020

responded to positively by members on all sides of the House. This is our effort collectively. I agree with him. The extraordinary work of public health on issues of a vaccine, as on all other issues, is something to be respected and supported, and we need the support of all voices, and all voices in the Legislature, for what’s going to be a remarkably challenging immun- ization campaign and a remarkably important one. It’s not just immunization; it’s all elements of our pandemic response.

The member will know that it is my commitment to work with every single member of this House, not just a few but every single member, to ensure that we get the best possible response and that the whole country continues to admire the way that British Columbia has dealt with this issue. [End of question period.] Reports from Committees SELECTION COMMITTEE Hon. M. Farnworth:Hon. Speaker, I have a number of things that we’ve got to get through before we get to the formal orders of the day.

I have the honour to present the interim report of the Special Committee of Selection for the first session of the 42nd parliament. I move that the interim report be taken and read as received. Motion approved. Hon. M. Farnworth:I seek leave of the House to move a motion to adopt the interim report. Leave granted. Hon. M. Farnworth:I move that the interim report be adopted. Motion approved. [2:30 p.m.] Hon. M. Farnworth:I seek leave of the House to move motions to activate three select standing committees and two special committees. The full text of these motions has been provided to the two House Leaders.

Leave granted. Motions Without Notice POWERS AND ROLE OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH COMMITTEE Hon. M. Farnworth:By leave, I move the first motion regarding the Select Standing Committee on Children and Y outh: [That the Select Standing Committee on Children and Y outh be empowered to foster greater awareness and understanding among legislators and the public of the BC child welfare system, including the specific needs of Indigenous children, youth, families and com- munities, and in particular to: 1.

Receive and review the annual service plan from the Rep- resentative for Children and Y outh (the “Representative”) that includes a statement of goals and identifies specific objectives and performance measures that will be required to exercise the powers and perform the functions and duties of the Represent- ative during the fiscal year; 2. Be the Committee to which the Representative reports, at least annually; 3. Refer to the Representative for investigation the critical in- jury or death of a child; 4.

Receive and consider all reports and plans transmitted by the Representative to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly; and 5. Undertake, pursuant to

section 30(1) of theRepresentative for Children and Youth Act, (S.B.C. 2006, c. 29), a comprehens- ive review of the Act or portions of the Act before April 1, 2022 to determine whether the functions of the representative de- scribed in

section 6 are still required to ensure that the needs of children and young adults as defined in that

section are met. That, in addition to the powers previously conferred upon Select Standing Committees of the House, the Select Standing Committee on Children and Y outh be empowered to:

a) appoint of its number one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the matters referred to the Committee and to delegate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers except the power to report directly to the House;

b) sit during a period in which the House is adjourned, during the recess after prorogation until the next following Session and during any sitting of the House;

c) conduct consultations by any means the Committee con- siders appropriate;

d) adjourn from place to place as may be convenient; and

e) retain personnel as required to assist the Committee. That the Committee shall report to the House as soon as possible, or following any adjournment, or at the next following Session, as the case may be; to deposit the original of its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly during a period of adjournment, and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, the Chair shall pres- ent all reports to the Legislative Assembly.] Motion approved. POWERS AND ROLE OF FINANCE COMMITTEE Hon. M. Farnworth: By leave, I move the second motion, regarding the Select Standing Committee on Fin- ance and Government Services: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 British Columbia Debates 81

[That the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services be empowered to: 1. Examine, inquire into and make recommendations with respect to the budget consultation paper prepared by the Minister of Fin- ance in accordance with

section 2 of theBudget Transparency and Accountability Act(S.B.C. 2000, c. 23) and, in particular, to:

a) conduct public consultations across British Columbia on proposals and recommendations regarding the provincial budget and fiscal policy for the coming fiscal year by any means the Committee considers appropriate; and

b) prepare a report no later than November 15, 2021, on the results of those consultations. 2. Consider and make recommendations on the annual reports, rolling three-year service plans and budgets of the statutory of- ficers, namely, the: (

i) Auditor General (ii) Chief Electoral Officer (iii) Conflict of Interest Commissioner (iv) Human Rights Commissioner (

v) Information and Privacy Commissioner (vi) Merit Commissioner (vii) Ombudsperson (viii) Police Complaint Commissioner; and (ix) Representative for Children and Y outh 3. Inquire into and make recommendations with respect to other matters brought to the Committee’s attention by any of the afore- mentioned statutory officers. That the Committee be designated as the Committee referred to in sections 19, 20, 21 and 23 of theAuditor General Act (S.B.C. 2003, c. 2) and that the report in

section 22 of theAuditor General Act (S.B.C. 2003, c. 2) be referred to the Committee. That, in addition to the powers previously conferred upon the Se- lect Standing Committees of the House, the Select Standing Com- mittee on Finance and Government Services be empowered to:

a) appoint of its number one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the matters referred to the Committee and to delegate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers except the power to report directly to the House;

b) sit during a period in which the House is adjourned, during the recess after prorogation until the next following Session and during any sitting of the House;

c) adjourn from place to place as may be convenient; and

d) retain personnel as required to assist the Committee; and shall report to the House as soon as possible, or following any adjournment, or at the next following Session, as the case may be; to deposit the original of its reports with the Clerk of the Legislat- ive Assembly during a period of adjournment, and upon resump- tion of the sittings of the House, the Chair shall present all reports to the Legislative Assembly.] Motion approved. [2:35 p.m.] POWERS AND ROLE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE Hon. M.

Farnworth:By leave, I move the third mo- tion, regarding the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts: [That all reports of the Auditor General of British Columbia trans- mitted to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly be deemed re- ferred to the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts. For greater certainty, the following exceptions are provided:

a) the report referred to in

section 22 of theAuditor General Act (S.B.C. 2003, c. 2) shall be referred to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services; and

b) reports of the Auditor General respecting the Legislative Assembly prepared under the provisions of theLegislative As- sembly Management Committee Act(R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 258) shall be referred to the Legislative Assembly Management Commit- tee. That the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts be the Committee referred to in sections 6, 7, 10, 13 and 14 of theAuditor General Act (S.B.C. 2003, c. 2). That, in addition to the powers previously conferred upon the Se- lect Standing Committees of the House, the Select Standing Com- mittee on Public Accounts be empowered to:

a) appoint of its number one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the matters referred to the Committee and to delegate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers except the power to report directly to the House;

b) sit during a period in which the House is adjourned, during the recess after prorogation until the next following Session and during any sitting of the House;

c) adjourn from place to place as may be convenient; and

d) retain personnel as required to assist the Committee and shall report to the House as soon as possible, or following any adjournment, or at the next following Session, as the case may be; to deposit the original of its reports with the Clerk of the Legislat- ive Assembly during a period of adjournment, and upon resump- tion of the sittings of the House, the Chair shall present all reports to the Legislative Assembly.] Motion approved. APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE PERSONAL INFORMATION PROTECTION ACT Hon. M.

Farnworth: By leave, I move the fourth motion, regarding the Special Committee to Review the Personal Information Protection Act: [That a Special Committee be appointed to review thePersonal In- formation Protection Act(S.B.C. 2003, c. 73) pursuant to

section 59 of that Act and that the Special Committee shall have the powers of a Select Standing Committee and, in addition, be empowered to:

a) appoint of its number one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the matters referred to the Special Committee and to delegate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers except the power to report directly to the House;

b) sit during a period in which the House is adjourned, during the recess after prorogation until the next following Session and during any sitting of the House;

c) conduct consultations by any means the Special Committee considers appropriate;

d) adjourn from place to place as may be convenient; and

e) retain personnel as required to assist the Special Committee. That any information or evidence previously under consideration by the Special Committee appointed by order of the House on Feb- ruary 18, 2020 be referred to the Special Committee. That the Special Committee shall submit a report, including any re- commendations respecting the results of the review, to the Legisla- tive Assembly within one year of this motion being adopted by the 82 British Columbia Debates Wednesday, December 9, 2020

House; and shall deposit the original of its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly during a period of adjournment, and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, the Chair shall pres- ent all reports to the Legislative Assembly. That the said Special Committee be composed of the following Members: Mable Elmore (Convener),Garry Begg, Rick Glumac, Rachna Singh, Dan Ashton, Andrew Wilkinson, andAdam Olsen.] Motion approved. [2:40 p.m.] APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON REFORMING THE POLICE ACT Hon. M.

Farnworth:By leave, I move the fifth motion, regarding the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act: [That a Special Committee on Reforming thePolice Act be appoin- ted to examine, inquire into, and make recommendations to the Legislative Assembly on the following: 1. Reforms related to independent oversight, transparency, governance, structure, service delivery, standards, funding, training and education, and any other considerations which may apply respecting the modernization and sustainability of policing under thePolice Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 367) and all related agreements. 2.

The role of police with respect to complex social issues in- cluding mental health and wellness, addictions, and harm re- duction; and in consideration of any appropriate changes to rel- evant sections of theMental Health Act(R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 288). 3. The scope of systemic racism within British Columbia’s po- lice agencies, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in- dependent municipal police and designated policing units, and its impact on public safety and public trust in policing. 4.

Whether there are measures necessary to ensure a modern- izedPolice Actis consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007), as required by sec- tion 3 of theDeclaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (S.B.C. 2019, c. 44). That the Special Committee undertake the above examinations as it deems appropriate with regard to relevant reports, studies, and examinations. That any information or evidence previously under consideration by the Special Committee appointed by order of the House on July 8, 2020 be referred to the Special Committee.

That the Special Committee have all the powers of a Select Stand- ing Committee and in addition is empowered to:

a) appoint of its number one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the matters referred to the Special Committee and to delegate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers except the power to report directly to the House;

b) sit during a period in which the House is adjourned, during the recess after prorogation until the next following Session and during any sitting of the House;

c) conduct consultations by any means the Committee con- siders appropriate;

d) adjourn from place to place as may be convenient; and

e) retain personnel as required to assist the Committee. That the Special Committee report to the House by October 8, 2021, or following any adjournment, or at the next following Ses- sion, as the case may be; to deposit the original of its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly during a period of adjourn- ment, and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, the Chair shall present all reports to the Legislative Assembly.

The Special Committee is to be composed ofDoug Routley (Con- venor),Garry Begg, Rachna Singh, Grace Lore, Rick Glumac, Har- winder Sandhu, Dan Davies, Trevor Halford, Ian Paton andAdam Olsen.] Motion approved. Tabling Documents Hon. M. Farnworth:On behalf of the Attorney Gener- al, I rise to table the British Columbia ferries commission- erAnnual Report for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2020. On behalf of the Attorney General, I rise to table the Environmental Appeal Board2019-2020 Annual Report.

On behalf of the Attorney General, I rise to table the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch Annual Reportfor the year ending March 31, 2020. On behalf of the Attorney General, I rise to table the 2019 annual report of the Labour Relations Board. Finally, on behalf of the Attorney General, I rise to table the Public Guardian and Trustee 2019-2020 Annual Report. Orders of the Day Hon. M. Farnworth:I call second reading on Bill 3, Fin- ance Statutes Amendment Act, 2020. [2:45 p.m.] [N. Letnick in the chair.] Deputy Speaker:Could those leaving please do so? Thank you. Minister of Finance.

Second Reading of Bills BILL 3 — FINANCE STATUTES AMENDMENT ACT, 2020 Hon. S. Robinson:Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and welcome to your new role. I move that Bill 3 be read a second time now. This bill includes amendments to the Budget Transpar- ency and Accountability Act, the Financial Administration Act and the Home Owner Grant Act. This bill amends the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act to set a budget date no later than April 30 in a fiscal year following an October election to allow additional time for the budget and estimates development process.

The amendment extends the current date for presenting a budget and estimates from the fourth Tuesday in March to no later than April 30. The amendments also extend the timelines for presenting a budget and estimates when an election is held on dates other than the third Saturday in Wednesday, December 9, 2020 British Columbia Debates 83

October. These rules will allow an incoming government up to 150 days, from the current 120 days, to present a budget and estimates to the Legislative Assembly if they have not already been presented. This allows a modest amount of additional time to pres- ent a budget and fiscal plan, as well as the estimates. For consistency, the same up-to-150-days provision will also apply when there is a delay in the constitution of a final government following an election.

This would apply in cases where the first government after an election is replaced so that the period of up to 150 days for tabling a budget is available to both the first as well an immediately subsequent government constituted after an election, like we saw in 2017. The amendments extend the release dates for a quarterly report up to 60 days from the current 30 days if that report is to be included with the budget and estimates presented with 60 days.

This change will maintain the current prac- tice of including the third quarterly report with the budget, even though the budget and estimates are being presented by April 30 following an October election date. With Octo- ber election dates, it is possible that the second and third quarterly reports may not be required to be made public by their due dates due to the exemptions available under the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act. We recognize the importance of timely fiscal updates and reporting.

With these amendments, we are now intro- ducing a new rule that requires a post-election govern- ment to make public a report that provides a fiscal update within 90 days after the final cabinet is sworn in following the general election. The Financial Administration Act is proposed to be amended to complement the proposed amendments to the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act. First, the amendment extends the available special warrant spend- ing authority while the Legislature is not in session during an election year to 150 days, from 120 days, after the con- stitution of a new government.

The amendment also extends special warrant spending authority into a new fisc- al year, until the date that the main estimates for next fiscal year are presented in accordance with the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act, plus an additional approximately half a month to allow time for a new supply bill to be enacted for that fiscal year.

Again, the special warrant spending authority would only apply after general elections where the budget and estimates for the new fiscal year are presented very close to or after the start of the new fiscal year and where a supply act has not been enacted for the new year before April 1, or when there are unforeseen circumstances. The proposed amendment limits the amount of spend- ing authority to a portion of the voted appropriations of the previous fiscal year.

It is not intended to provide for new program spending but, rather, to provide for continu- ation of the operations of government until a supply act can be passed by the Legislative Assembly. Any spending authorized by the special warrants will be fully and trans- parently included in the final supply act approved by the legislative assembly. It will also be debated as part of the Committee of Supply. The amendments to the Home Owner Grant Act are the first step in ensuring that the province will meet its com- mitment to centralize the homeowner grant program, as included in Budget 2020.

The amendments to the Home Owner Grant Act will remove the burden from the muni- cipalities of processing homeowner grant applications. Beginning in 2021, all applications, including retroactive applications, will be made directly to the province. [2:50 p.m.] These amendments respond to concerns raised by municipalities and do not change the eligibility criteria for the grant. With that, I look forward to additional debate here in the House. Deputy Speaker:The Chair recognizes the member for Peace River South. M. Bernier:Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and congratula- tions again.

I also want to congratulate the minister on her appoint- ment. I’m also honoured to be appointed as the Finance critic during such a time when scrutiny and accountability of government spending and government plans are going to be so important and so paramount. As this is the first time I’m rising after the election, I hope the House will indulge me. As kind of practice, I just want to start by thanking a few people. I’ll first start by thanking the people of Peace River South, who have instilled their faith in electing me again to represent them, represent their issues and their con- cerns here in Victoria.

I also want to thank my outgoing constituency assistant, Terri Ketner, for the amazing work that she has done, representing and helping the people of Peace River South over the last four years in the riding. She did an amazing job. We formed such a great friendship supporting each other as well. We’ll miss her in the office, as I’m sure the people in the com- munity will as well who came forward and asked for her help and our help in the office. With that, I’ll welcome, as well, Shawna Clay, who is going to be my new assistant in the office going forward.

I’m looking forward to working with her as we continue to represent the people in the South Peace. Finally, on my thank-yous for now, I want to thank all my friends and family who have supported me through all of the years. It’ll be about 15, 16 years now as an elected official. I wish to thank all of them for their support and their grace, especially my wife, Valerie, of almost 30 years, who has put up with me and all my travels away from home as I represent the area. I’m glad to be rising in the House today. I think it’s 84 British Columbia Debates Wednesday, December 9, 2020

important that we continue this discussion on the bill. The minister has presented the bill and put it on the House here. We didn’t hear a lot of details, but I know we’ll have a chance, when we get to committee stage, to digest some of the actual wording within the bill, ask some very para- mount and important questions that we will have on behalf of the people here in British Columbia, because, frankly, the bill that was put in front of us doesn’t have a lot of substance.

But what it does have, obviously, is an expect- ation from the people of British Columbia that this gov- ernment actually do their job, the job that they have been elected to do. The main expectation of government is to be open and transparent. It’s to ensure that they’re reporting to the people of British Columbia the financial state of govern- ment, the plans that government has going forward. In fact, the main portion that they’re changing, ironically, is called the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act.

Now, normally I’ d say that’s perfectly named, but unfortu- nately, what this bill is doing is actually taking away a lot of that transparency and accountability that people are ask- ing for now, especially in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic. People need help. People need answers. People need a plan. The bill before us today, though, is offering nothing but a delay in what people are asking for from this govern- ment, which is that help.

The government is actually saying that they are not going to come forward with a plan and with what the future will look like for the people of British Columbia now until next April. The problem with that is people need to know now. People have expectations. This actually could end up being the longest period that we’ve gone without a fiscal update or a plan from a gov- ernment since — well, I’ll let you guess, Hon. Speaker — the last time the NDP were in government in the 1990s. It’s unacceptable. People expect this now. [2:55 p.m.] When I read through the bill….

And, frankly, it was quite easy to read through, if people choose to do it, because it’s only four pages long, not a lot of substance in there. But the only thing we see in this bill, for the most part, is that it benefits the NDP . It benefits the NDP gov- ernment. I see nowhere in this bill where it really benefits the people of British Columbia, which is what we want to see. This bill, unfortunately, is limiting the amount of accountability and transparency that the bill is supposed to actually be bringing to this House. It’s actually limiting it.

It’s extending the time where government has to actually be accountable to the people of British Columbia. I’ll talk about that a little bit further on. But we’re at a time right now where people are demand- ing more transparency from their governments. They expect more transparency and accountability of their elec- ted officials. We are at a point here, after a snap election, where government has called us back during the height of a pandemic, during the crisis that we’re hearing and the expectations from people all over British Columbia that are looking for help.

They call us back to the Legislature, and the one bill — looks like the only bill — that they are going to bring forward is to actually give them more time to hide, more time to not be accountable to the people of British Columbia. Of all of the things that are going on right now in the province of British Columbia, this should be one of the last things that’s brought to this House. People need to know what’s going on. We want to know what the fisc- al situation is for the people here in British Columbia. They deserve that. The taxpayers of B.C. deserve to know what’s happening.

Now, we know we’re in the midst of a pandemic. I’ll talk about some of the financial issues afterwards. But let’s talk about what’s most important, which is talking to, listen- ing to and understanding the concerns of the people of the province of British Columbia right now, not hiding away from the responsibility that is expected of a government. We’re less than three weeks away from Christmas. We’re a few weeks away from a holiday season where most of the time, in most years, it’s been a time of celebration. It’s been a time for family. It’s been a time to get together and a time to celebrate.

Celebrate the year that passed and welcome in the future. Welcome in what’s exciting for the next year. It should be a time of comfort by and for so many people in the province. We all recognize that it’s going to look different this year. We understand the challenges of making sure people stay safe. We support recommendations that are put forward to ensure that we can do our very best to slow down the COVID-19 outbreak here in the province so we can get back to whatever normal will be in the province and work together. We know it’s going to look different.

This government has been asking the people of British Columbia to make sacrifices for the greater good. With that, the people of B.C. have been asking government for a plan. That’s all they want. People have been willing to make these sacrifices that have been asked of them, but they want to know what is on the other side. What is the plan that government has put forward so people know there’s an end? They want to see government offering solutions. They want a government that’s offering hope.

More importantly, people are expecting a government to offer a plan, a clear plan, and a vision of how we’re going to get through this and how we’ll get through this together. We know that, for 2020, this has probably been one of the hardest years in many generations for many people, one of the worst years a lot of people have ever gone through. I know many people are thinking: “Thank God 2020 is almost over, and we’ll get to 2021. ” This has been a tough year. Many people have lost fam- ily members. They’ve lost loved ones.

I know everybody in this House, all of us, supports those grieving, and we send our prayers to those who have lost loved ones. There are Wednesday, December 9, 2020 British Columbia Debates 85

also so many people who have lost their jobs, jobs they had that were supporting their families. Many businesses have had to close. People have lost their dreams, the dreams of owning a small business, seeing it grow and employing people. They’ve seen those dreams shattered. [3:00 p.m.] We truly feel for all those that have been affected by this pandemic, but the fear I’m hearing from many people is that government has not provided any hope. They’ve not provided any plan. People are wondering if 2021 is actu- ally going to be better than 2020 under this government. Where is the plan? Where is the end?

Where are the true supports that the people of British Columbia need to help get through this crisis? Unfortunately, at this holiday season, all the govern- ment has to offer British Columbians is the assurance that help — well, help if it’s coming at all — will now be delayed by a few more months. It’ll be further away before people know what’s going on. Again, the people of the province…. Everybody deserves more than this from the government. People need to know what the plan is. They want to know where, when and how help will be coming and what those supports will be.

It’s our responsibility as this House, and it’s the gov- ernment’s responsibility as the leading body here, to give people hope. They had an opportunity, in calling this House back, to do that, hon. Speaker. Instead, it’s a bill in front of us, unfortunately, just to delay what needs to be done. I recognize and acknowledge that we have a new min- ister and again congratulate her on her role.

As the official opposition, though, our job is tasked with holding the gov- ernment and the minister to account, to ensure that they’re doing their best on behalf of the people of British Colum- bia and that they are serving the interests of the people of this province. It’s no surprise to anybody here, to any elected official — or to anybody, actually, in British Columbia — that people need help now. We all know that. In fact, they needed our help months ago. Unfortunately, instead of that help com- ing, government chose to call a self-serving election.

The people now have to wait for a minister to put together a plan, to put together a budget, right in the middle of a crisis. They don’t need delays right now. The people of British Columbia need leadership. They need a government that understands what people are say- ing and that there actually is a crisis. They need to hear those issues and address them here in the Legislature. They need those supports now, not next April when a budget will be presented.

We need to do everything in our power as elected officials, whether it’s government or opposition, to bring those supports out now, to have those helping hands out for people who genuinely need it and truly need it right now.

It’s no surprise to the minister, obviously, that we’ll be raising some questions and concerns around the bill later on, not only during the debate — as we hear from a mul- titude of other critics from our side of the House that are going to stand up with their concerns and comments on what they’ve heard — but also during committee stage, when we get into some of the actual lines of the bill to cla- rify what it actually means. Because the bill does not have any detail and it does not have any information, the only information we have right now is that the minister has presented a bill.

A few ministers and the Premier have gone out in front of the media and said, “Guess what. We have a one-time pay- ment coming to help you out. Y ou’ d better be careful how you ration that, though, because it’s a one-time pay- ment, and we’re not going to do anything else for you. Y ou’re not going to know what the plans are now until next April, ” if this bill passes.

Now, I’ll talk a little bit about that afterwards as well because, as the minister puts this bill forward — as we know in the House, and as the public will find out — it comes with a supp bill, a supplementary bill, which is going to allow the government to have more money — money that they’re asking for now, to come good on a last-minute election ploy that just came out during the campaign. [3:05 p.m.] We’ve seen the supplementary estimates, where the Pre- mier and the minister are asking for another $2 billion.

Putting that in context, that’s going to be putting us close to a $15 billion deficit, that we know of. I say “that we know of ” because we never did get a Q2 report from this government. There was an election called, and we never got into the process that past governments used to always put out in the fall so that the public knew when and how their money was being spent and what the fiscal state of the province was. Instead, in the middle of a campaign, a snap election that the NDP called, the Premier stands up and announces that everybody is going to get $1,000.

At the time, he said everybody was going to get $1,000, direct deposit. “Don’t worry; it will be in your bank account by Christmas. Vote for us. ” The results of the election, obviously, are obvious. What’s also obvious is how election promises by this gov- ernment seem to change after they get elected. It’s no longer $1,000 that’s a direct deposit in your bank account. It’s now $500 — if you apply. If you qualify. I’ll talk about some of that after, because that’s more around the financial part of the supplemental bill.

But I also find it interesting at the same time, actually, that they took the opportunity to say, “We only need $1.4 billion to $1.7 billion to come good on this election ploy that we had to buy votes, but we’re actually asking for $2 billion, ” with, again, no detail at all of why they need that money or where that money is going to go on behalf of the people of British Columbia. The supp bill is literally one page long, saying: “Please, trust us. Please give us $2 billion. ” 86 British Columbia Debates Wednesday, December 9, 2020

What scares me when I look at actual Bill 3 is that, yes, they’re asking for more money, but they’re also, again, ask- ing for a delay in the accountability of how they spend that money. There’s no transparency in that. What it shows me, and it probably shows most people in British Columbia, is that this government has no plan. This should not be a surprise to anyone. Have they had a plan at all? I don’t know. I have yet to see any kind of fiscal economic growth plan from this government that is sub- stantial and that will actually work and help the province grow.

The only thing I saw was, in the middle of an election campaign, the Premier stand up and say that he needed to announce $1,000 for everybody in their bank accounts because he needed something to counter the B.C. Liberals’ proposal of removing PST for one year to help the people of British Columbia — to put money back into people’s pockets to help spark investment, to give some confidence and to actually help small business in any way possible. Y ou know, issues around that — we’re going to raise some of those during the debate and during the estimates.

However, it’s important to mention the fact that the eligib- ility, again, on this will be based on 2019 criteria — before we were even talking about, before anybody even had a name for COVID-19 or this world pandemic and crisis we’re in. The government is putting forward now this, I would say, weird proposal that we’re going to base your eli- gibility on a time in space where there was…. Actually, people were working. Some people were work- ing, and they might have lost their jobs afterwards. I’ll give some examples of that afterwards.

But to base it on that time comes in complete contrast to what the minister and the Premier said not only during the election but after- wards — that this money was to go into the pockets to help people that were affected, truly affected, by COVID-19, who maybe lost their jobs, businesses suffering. This isn’t going to do that for so, so many people.

For the govern- ment to stand up and say that it will is just wrong. [3:10 p.m.] We have a chance right now, while the House is sitting, to actually talk about and for government to bring forward ideas and supports for what we are hearing right now: people that are pleading for help. What about the hospit- ality sector that’s in crisis? What about the tourism sec- tor, which was, for the most part, abandoned by the NDP government this year? What about the seniors that are pleading for help right now? What about the teachers that are asking for more supports, or the front-line health care workers who need help?

People are suffering right now during this pandemic and are reaching out to government for answers. They’re not asking government to delay responsibility and trans- parency. They are saying: “Look, all three parties, from what we saw prior to this call of a snap election, were working together. ” We all recognized that this was unique times. These were times when we needed to roll up our sleeves, put partisan politics aside, work together for the people of British Columbia. All three parties in this House did that. We knew it was the right thing to do.

What we didn’t agree to was, right in the middle of all of that work together, government calling a snap election. At the same time, they’re saying how great it is we’re working together, “but let’s call an election and put partisan politics behind us. ” Sounds a little contrarian. Sounds a little odd to me how those go together. Again, people are asking for supports now. So many people are saying, “Good. Get that election out of the way. We didn’t want it anyway, ” a lot of people. But they’re call- ing the House back. Let’s see some substance.

Let’s see how we’re going to be actually rolling up our sleeves again to put programs together, to put ideas together, to put a plan together for the people of British Columbia, who are ask- ing for it and who need it now. Now, this bill was put in front of us asking for a delay in when the minister has to respond and come forward to this House, which means coming forward to the public, with a proposed budget for next year. What makes it inter- esting for me, listening to the minister when she presented the bill today….

I’ll have to go back and double-checkHansard, but it sure sounded darned familiar, because last year we sat in this House with then Finance Minister Carole James, who read out almost the exact same speech that said we need to change the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act to give government, “Whether it’s us or another govern- ment, ” time in the future after an election, an extra 30 days, because this government changed the election cycle from being in the spring to being in the fall.

They wanted to change this act to give them or any new government that extra 30 days to be able to present the budget in the House, instead of the third week of February, which it normally has been. When that bill was put forward, they said: “We’re doing this because we might need extra time after an election. We may need a little bit of extra time instead of the third week of February. ” So they asked this House to support that legislation to give them that little bit of extra time that they said they needed in case, just in case.

Ironically, there was a snap election called in the fall, which they said they had no idea they were going to do, ironically, and did it right afterwards. But the problem is we just heard the minister now come forward and say: “I guess that wasn’t good enough. ” This is not a new government. These are the same people. It’s the same NDP . I’m going to assume a lot of the same bureaucrats, well-trained, well-versed bureaucrats within the ministry and within government. I don’t see what’s changed here.

The only thing that I see changing is that government is saying: “Give us another 30 days where we don’t have to be accountable to the public for how we’re spending our money. ” [3:15 p.m.] Wednesday, December 9, 2020 British Columbia Debates 87

Again, it’s not a new government. I’m sure if the House was full right now, they’ d be applauding at that, but they’re not here. My question is: why do they need more time? Again, I do find it quite a coincidence that the government, the NDP government, put forward the original bill to change the Transparency Act right before a snap election that came forward in September, just a month or two later. That could be a whole other speech on its own. I don’t know how much time I have, so I probably won’t get into that topic today. Interjection. M. Bernier:I have lots of time. Good to know.

But how is that fair to the millions of people in British Columbia that want answers and that need help, more importantly? This government, again, passed legislation to give them until the end of March, instead of the third week of Feb- ruary, to introduce a budget. Now that’s not good enough. Six months ago, not even six months ago, that was more than good enough. “We need 30 days, just in case. ” Now they’re in the House today. This is most important piece of legislation that they could bring forward in the middle of a pandemic, mind you.

The most important thing that we have to discuss and debate right now in this House is how do we look at a bill that they just passed six months ago…. I keep saying six months ago. It seems like it. It was probably only four. S. Furstenau:An eternity. M. Bernier:It feels like an eternity ago. Thank you to the leader of the Green Party. Y ou are correct. It does feel like that sometimes with this government. But of all of the things, you bring forward a delay. Really?

I would have expected the minister to stand up in the House in her opening comments, the chance that she had to speak to this bill before we get to committee stage — maybe she’ll do it in closing comments — to actually justify this. To actually say: “Look, we understand. We’re in a crisis. But we need this extra time, and this is why. This is how it’s going to benefit the people of British Columbia, and this is what we’re going to do for you. ” There’s none of that in the bill. There was none of that in the opening remarks.

Everything so far is: “Well, don’t know what I’m doing yet, so give me an extra 30 days to figure it out. ” How do we say that with a straight face to the people of British Columbia that are losing their jobs? We’re going into Christmas and businesses don’t know if they’re going to be able to reopen January 1, if they’re even lucky to get people through their doors right now.

People who are suf- fering right now with the mental anguish and separation from their loved ones — that are making those sacrifices because of this pandemic to try to figure out how to get to the other side so we can get back to what we enjoy, which is being with our friends, our families and our loved ones. Of all of the things to debate, it’s this. I don’t under- stand, in the midst of all of this, why we would be debat- ing and having to bring forward only a bill that’s about delay, delay, delay. Again, this is not a new government. There’s nothing new. I don’t think there are any surprises that are going on.

If there are surprises, that’s because we’re not listening, because people are speaking loud and clear of what some of the challenges are. I think it’s really important that we listen. If I was, and I used to be, a minister on that side of the House right now, I know I’ d be at the cabinet table banging my fist wondering what the heck is going on. I, as a minis- ter, would be hearing loud and clear right now from people in the public. Whatever ministry you have, you’ d be hear- ing from people in those sectors saying: “We can’t wait.

We need help now. ” As a minister of the Crown, it’s your duty and respons- ibility to go to that cabinet table and say that this is unac- ceptable. We need to give answers. We need support. Not a one-time $500 payment. We need to look at a plan to rebuild our economy. We need a plan to have supports for people who need them. [3:20 p.m.] But there are also so many other sectors out there that have their own deadlines and expectations from govern- ment, where we ask them to bring forward their plans and their budgets by February or March to show to us. Well now, how do they do that?

They don’t even know what they’re going to be getting. How does a school dis- trict put together their budget now for next year when they won’t even know until after they have to present their budget if they’re getting more or less and what the expectations will be? Again, I sure hope, as we go through this debate, that the other ministers and the other members on that side of the House, in government, are going to be standing up and actually saying what they have done to make sure that they get those supports out right away.

Now, we know they’re probably going to all stand up, obviously, and support a bill to delay the transparency and delay the answers, but that’s not fair to the different sectors, to the people in the province. Again, we could have…. If we were going to bring this House back together in the height of the pandemic, which I know a lot of people right now are shaking their head at…. With all of the restrictions around travel, around being close to people, that government would call this House back — I’m sure people would have looked at this and said, “Y ou know what?

It’s important to call it back if we’re going to be actually having those hard multiparty discussions of how we’re going to help people. ” How we’re actually going to roll up our sleeves again and bring for- ward those supports that people need, not put a bill for- 88 British Columbia Debates Wednesday, December 9, 2020

ward that dodges and weaves and hides from the exact things that people are asking for, which is accountability and a plan from this government. This legislation, when I read through it again, the only people I see it helping is the NDP . It’s delaying the chance for them to actually respond to the people of British Col- umbia on what the fiscal state is here in the province. And I’m sure, as the ministers across heckle…. Maybe they know what the fiscal plan is. Maybe they should be telling people. Maybe they should be letting the people of British Columbia know the financial state of the province.

It’s their responsibility. Their first piece of legislation and the only piece this session, and this is what they come up with. Look, we know that people are being hit hard from this pandemic, one of the worst pandemics in a few genera- tions. I don’t think anybody in this House is going to argue that. But what we will argue is that it is completely wrong for government not to be accountable and transparent of what they’re doing with the tax dollars for the people of British Columbia and why they’re not putting forward a legitimate plan to support people.

What the government is putting forward is that they want absolute authority just to delay the budgets and to be able to spend without scrutiny for the next few months, without any accountability of that and without any report- ing of what they plan on doing for the people of British Columbia. Again, all of us — not just this House, but the people of B.C. — deserve better. We should have actually just been finishing a fall ses- sion. We could have had two, 2½ months of continued dis- cussion, debate and support together in this House to help the people in British Columbia. In fact, two parties — I know the B.C.

Liberal Party and the Green Party — for the most part assumed that’s where we were going, because we had agreed to that. We had agreed that we would work together to help the people of British Columbia through these difficult times. Instead, we had to put everything on hold for the last two months while the NDP decided to call an unnecessary snap election — self-serving, I should say. I guess they looked at the polls and knew what the outcome would be. “Don’t worry about it, everybody who’s suffering out there.

This is about making sure we secure our majority govern- ment for the next four years, and then we’ll get back to not having a plan and trying to figure it out. ” [3:25 p.m.] When you look at this delay, again, that they’re asking for and the way this government is putting budget delays forward, this brings us right back…. I hate to use the ’90s approach of budgeting, but this is not how it’s been done for the last 20 years. And again, the question is: why? What’s changed? What’s the difference? There is none. There are no surprises.

The only surprise, again, was an election being called that nobody was expecting. But as far as the economic state over the last two months — well, we all know what that is. As far as the people who are needing supports — well, we all know what that is. So why do we need more time? The cynic in me or the crit- ic in me would say we need more time because this gov- ernment still does not have a plan.

They continue to come to this House and ask for more money, with a “trust us” approach but, at the same time, are unwilling to say where the money is going, how they’re spending that money and have any substantive reporting that shows that it’s actually benefiting people who need it. All we’re seeing is that the NDP are digging and digging a huge financial hole for this province. And what did they do? They called legislation back to ask for more shovels. That’s what they’ve done.

Ironically, this all comes on the heels of the Premier saying that we’re going to put politics behind us. “This is going to allow government to operate more effectively during a pandemic, ” I believe was kind of one of his quotes. In fact, one of the exact quotes from the Premier: “I’m grateful for all British Columbians that we have put the election behind us and we can get back to focusing on the things that matter to most to you. ” In the same breath, he talked about how we were work- ing together and there were no politics. So I’m trying to figure out which it was.

If we were all working together and there were no politics, why did we need the election? And then to have the election and win a majority government and say, “Thank God we did that. We can now put polit- ics behind us” — sorry, Mr. Premier. Y ou can’t have it both ways. It just shows that it was a self-serving call to have an election, and truly, unfortunately, it was all about politics rather than the people of British Columbia. It also is becoming very apparent and very clear to everybody that the election did nothing of the sort to stop any of the negative long-term implications.

It did nothing to help affect the daily lives of people right now in our province that are suffering. In fact, all it did was delay it again. Let me remind the government. Y ou know, it’s great to

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20201209pm-Hansard-n5
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20201209pm Hansard n5
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	6ce8f0381fdb85fa52a31707abec40d17da59b8e

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