British Columbia Hansard — Wednesday, April 9, 2014

20140409pm-Hansard-v10n7

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

Second Session, 40th Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (HANSARD) THE HONOURABLE LINDA REID, SPEAKER ISSN 0709- 1281 (Print) ISSN 1499-2175 (Online) Wednesday, April 9, 2014 Aft ernoon Sitting Volume 10, Number 7

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Her Honour the Honourable Judith Guichon, OBC Second Session, 40th Parliament SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Linda Reid EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council .............................................................................................................. Hon. Christy Clark Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing ......................Hon.

Rich Coleman Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation ......................................................................................................... Hon. John Rustad Minister of Advanced Education ............................................................................................................................................ Hon. Amrik Virk Minister of Agriculture ............................................................................................................................................................... Hon.

Pat Pimm Minister of Children and Family Development ....................................................................................................... Hon. Stephanie Cadieux Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development ........................................................................................... Hon. Coralee Oakes Minister of Education ..................................................................................................................................................... Hon.

Peter Fassbender Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Core Review .....................................................................Hon. Bill Bennett Minister of Environment ..........................................................................................................................................................Hon. Mary Polak Minister of Finance .................................................................................................................................................. Hon.

Michael de Jong, QC Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations......................................................................................Hon. Steve Th omson Minister of Health ............................................................................................................................................................... Hon. Dr. Terry Lake Minister of International Trade and Minister Responsible for Asia Pacifi c Strategy and Multiculturalism ..................Hon.

Teresa Wat Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour ...................................................Hon. Shirley Bond Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business ....................................................................................................Hon. Naomi Y amamoto Minister of Justice ...............................................................................................................................................................Hon.

Suzanne Anton Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation......................................................................................................Hon. Don McRae Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services ................................................................................... Hon. Andrew Wilkinson Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure ......................................................................................................................Hon.

Todd Stone LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Leader of the Offi cial Opposition ......................................................................................................................................................Adrian Dix Deputy Speaker .............................................................................................................................................................................Douglas Horne Assistant Deputy Speaker ...............................................................................................................................................................

Raj Chouhan Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole ....................................................................................................................................... Marc Dalton Clerk of the Legislative Assembly ................................................................................................................................................... Craig James Deputy Clerk and Clerk of Committees .................................................................................................................................

Kate Ryan-Lloyd Sessional Law Clerk ...................................................................................................................................................Roderick MacArthur, QC Sergeant-at-Arms ................................................................................................................................................................................. Gary Lenz

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS Anton, Hon. Suzanne (BC Liberal) .............................. Vancouver-Fraserview Ashton, Dan (BC Liberal).....................................................................Penticton Austin, Robin (NDP) ................................................................................ Skeena Bains, Harry (NDP) ....................................................................Surrey-Newton Barnett, Donna (BC Liberal) ............................................... Cariboo-Chilcotin Bennett, Hon.

Bill (BC Liberal) ...................................................Kootenay East Bernier, Mike (BC Liberal) ................................................... Peace River South Bing, Dr. Doug (BC Liberal) ................................ Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Bond, Hon. Shirley (BC Liberal) ........................... Prince George–Valemount Cadieux, Hon. Stephanie (BC Liberal) ................................Surrey-Cloverdale Chandra Herbert, Spencer (NDP) .................................Vancouver–West End Chouhan, Raj (NDP) ...........................................................

Burnaby-Edmonds Clark, Hon. Christy (BC Liberal) ........................................ Westside-Kelowna Coleman, Hon. Rich (BC Liberal) ...........................Fort Langley–Aldergrove Conroy, Katrine (NDP) .............................................................. Kootenay West Corrigan, Kathy (NDP) ..................................................... Burnaby–Deer Lake Dalton, Marc (BC Liberal) ............................................. Maple Ridge–Mission Darcy, Judy (NDP) ..................................................................New Westminster de Jong, Hon.

Michael, QC (BC Liberal) .............................. Abbotsford West Dix, Adrian (NDP)............................................................Vancouver-Kingsway Donaldson, Doug (NDP) ......................................................................... Stikine Eby, David (NDP) ..........................................................Vancouver–Point Grey Elmore, Mable (NDP) ................................................... Vancouver-Kensington Farnworth, Mike (NDP) ............................................................ Port Coquitlam Fassbender, Hon.

Peter (BC Liberal) ................................... Surrey-Fleetwood Fleming, Rob (NDP) .......................................................... Victoria–Swan Lake Foster, Eric (BC Liberal) .......................................................Vernon-Monashee Fraser, Scott (NDP) ............................................................Alberni–Pacifi c Rim Gibson, Simon (BC Liberal) .............................................

Abbotsford-Mission Hamilton, Scott (BC Liberal) ...........................................................Delta North Hammell, Sue (NDP) .................................................... Surrey–Green Timbers Heyman, George (NDP) .................................................... Vancouver-Fairview Hogg, Gordon (BC Liberal) ............................................... Surrey–White Rock Holman, Gary (NDP) .......................................Saanich North and the Islands Horgan, John (NDP) .......................................................................

Juan de Fuca Horne, Douglas (BC Liberal) ..............................Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Hunt, Marvin (BC Liberal) ....................................................Surrey-Panorama Huntington, Vicki (Ind.) ..................................................................Delta South James, Carole (NDP) .........................................................Victoria–Beacon Hill Karagianis, Maurine (NDP) ........................................Esquimalt–Royal Roads Krog, Leonard Eugene (NDP) .............................................................

Nanaimo Kwan, Jenny Wai Ching (NDP) ........................... Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Kyllo, Greg (BC Liberal) ........................................................................ Shuswap Lake, Hon. Dr.

Terry (BC Liberal) ....................Kamloops–North Th ompson Larson, Linda (BC Liberal) .........................................Boundary-Similkameen Lee, Richard T. (BC Liberal) ......................................................Burnaby North Letnick, Norm (BC Liberal) ........................................Kelowna–Lake Country Macdonald, Norm (NDP) ....................................Columbia River–Revelstoke McRae, Hon. Don (BC Liberal) ..................................................

Comox Valley Martin, John (BC Liberal) ..................................................................Chilliwack Morris, Mike (BC Liberal) ..................................... Prince George–Mackenzie Mungall, Michelle (NDP) ..........................................................Nelson-Creston Oakes, Hon. Coralee (BC Liberal) .............................................Cariboo North Pimm, Hon. Pat (BC Liberal) ...............................................Peace River North Plecas, Darryl (BC Liberal) ....................................................Abbotsford South Polak, Hon.

Mary (BC Liberal) .............................................................. Langley Popham, Lana (NDP) ...................................................................Saanich South Ralston, Bruce (NDP) ................................................................ Surrey-Whalley Reid, Hon. Linda (BC Liberal) ..................................................Richmond East Reimer, Linda (BC Liberal) ........................................

Port Moody–Coquitlam Rice, Jennifer (NDP) ........................................................................North Coast Robinson, Selina (NDP) .............................................Coquitlam-Maillardville Routley, Bill (NDP) .................................................................. Cowichan Valley Routley, Doug (NDP) ............................................Nanaimo–North Cowichan Rustad, Hon. John (BC Liberal) ................................................

Nechako Lakes Shin, Jane Jae Kyung (NDP) ...............................................Burnaby-Lougheed Simons, Nicholas (NDP) ................................... Powell River–Sunshine Coast Simpson, Shane (NDP) ..................................................... Vancouver-Hastings Stilwell, Michelle (BC Liberal) ........................................ Parksville-Qualicum Stilwell, Dr. Moira (BC Liberal) ........................................ Vancouver-Langara Stone, Hon. Todd (BC Liberal) .........................

Kamloops–South Th ompson Sturdy, Jordan (BC Liberal) ..................................West Vancouver–Sea to Sky Sullivan, Sam (BC Liberal) ...........................................Vancouver–False Creek Sultan, Ralph (BC Liberal) ..................................... West Vancouver–Capilano Tegart, Jackie (BC Liberal) ............................................................Fraser-Nicola Th omson, Hon. Steve (BC Liberal) .......................................Kelowna-Mission Th ornthwaite, Jane (BC Liberal) ..........................

North Vancouver–Seymour Th roness, Laurie (BC Liberal).................................................Chilliwack-Hope Trevena, Claire (NDP) .................................................................... North Island Virk, Hon. Amrik (BC Liberal) ............................................. Surrey-Tynehead Wat, Hon. Teresa (BC Liberal) .............................................. Richmond Centre Weaver, Dr. Andrew (Ind.) .......................................... Oak Bay–Gordon Head Wilkinson, Hon. Andrew (BC Liberal) ........................ Vancouver-Quilchena Y amamoto, Hon.

Naomi (BC Liberal) ................ North Vancouver–Lonsdale Y ap, John (BC Liberal) ......................................................Richmond-Steveston LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING Abbotsford-Mission ......................................................................Simon Gibson Abbotsford South ............................................................................Darryl Plecas Abbotsford West ...................................................... Hon. Michael de Jong, QC Alberni–Pacifi c Rim ..........................................................................

Scott Fraser Boundary-Similkameen ................................................................ Linda Larson Burnaby–Deer Lake ................................................................... Kathy Corrigan Burnaby-Edmonds ..........................................................................Raj Chouhan Burnaby-Lougheed .............................................................Jane Jae Kyung Shin Burnaby North .............................................................................. Richard T.

Lee Cariboo-Chilcotin ........................................................................Donna Barnett Cariboo North .................................................................... Hon. Coralee Oakes Chilliwack ......................................................................................... John Martin Chilliwack-Hope ....................................................................... Laurie Th roness Columbia River–Revelstoke .................................................. Norm Macdonald Comox Valley...........................................................................Hon.

Don McRae Coquitlam–Burke Mountain .....................................................Douglas Horne Coquitlam-Maillardville........................................................... Selina Robinson Cowichan Valley ................................................................................

Bill Routley Delta North ..................................................................................Scott Hamilton Delta South...............................................................................Vicki Huntington Esquimalt–Royal Roads .....................................................Maurine Karagianis Fort Langley–Aldergrove ...................................................Hon. Rich Coleman Fraser-Nicola....................................................................................

Jackie Tegart Juan de Fuca .....................................................................................John Horgan Kamloops–North Th ompson ............................................ Hon. Dr. Terry Lake Kamloops–South Th ompson ..................................................Hon. Todd Stone Kelowna–Lake Country ............................................................... Norm Letnick Kelowna-Mission .............................................................. Hon. Steve Th omson Kootenay East .......................................................................... Hon.

Bill Bennett Kootenay West ............................................................................ Katrine Conroy Langley.......................................................................................Hon. Mary Polak Maple Ridge–Mission ..................................................................... Marc Dalton Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows ........................................................ Dr. Doug Bing Nanaimo ........................................................................... Leonard Eugene Krog Nanaimo–North Cowichan .........................................................

Doug Routley Nechako Lakes ........................................................................ Hon. John Rustad Nelson-Creston ........................................................................Michelle Mungall New Westminster ............................................................................... Judy Darcy North Coast......................................................................................Jennifer Rice North Island .................................................................................. Claire Trevena North Vancouver–Lonsdale ........................................Hon.

Naomi Y amamoto North Vancouver–Seymour ..................................................Jane Th ornthwaite Oak Bay–Gordon Head ...................................................... Dr. Andrew Weaver Parksville-Qualicum .................................................................Michelle Stilwell Peace River North .......................................................................Hon. Pat Pimm Peace River South ............................................................................Mike Bernier Penticton............................................................................................

Dan Ashton Port Coquitlam ..........................................................................Mike Farnworth Port Moody–Coquitlam ................................................................Linda Reimer Powell River–Sunshine Coast ................................................. Nicholas Simons Prince George–Mackenzie ............................................................. Mike Morris Prince George–Valemount ................................................... Hon. Shirley Bond Richmond Centre ......................................................................Hon.

Teresa Wat Richmond East ..........................................................................Hon. Linda Reid Richmond-Steveston ..............................................................................John Y ap Saanich North and the Islands .................................................... Gary Holman Saanich South ................................................................................

Lana Popham Shuswap ................................................................................................Greg Kyllo Skeena .............................................................................................. Robin Austin Stikine ....................................................................................... Doug Donaldson Surrey-Cloverdale ....................................................... Hon. Stephanie Cadieux Surrey-Fleetwood ........................................................... Hon.

Peter Fassbender Surrey–Green Timbers .................................................................. Sue Hammell Surrey-Newton ................................................................................. Harry Bains Surrey-Panorama ........................................................................... Marvin Hunt Surrey-Tynehead ......................................................................Hon. Amrik Virk Surrey-Whalley..............................................................................

Bruce Ralston Surrey–White Rock ....................................................................... Gordon Hogg Vancouver-Fairview ..................................................................George Heyman Vancouver–False Creek ................................................................... Sam Sullivan Vancouver-Fraserview ......................................................Hon.

Suzanne Anton Vancouver-Hastings ....................................................................Shane Simpson Vancouver-Kensington .................................................................Mable Elmore Vancouver-Kingsway..........................................................................Adrian Dix Vancouver-Langara .................................................................Dr. Moira Stilwell Vancouver–Mount Pleasant .........................................

Jenny Wai Ching Kwan Vancouver–Point Grey .........................................................................David Eby Vancouver-Quilchena ................................................ Hon. Andrew Wilkinson Vancouver–West End ...............................................

Spencer Chandra Herbert Vernon-Monashee ...............................................................................Eric Foster Victoria–Beacon Hill .......................................................................Carole James Victoria–Swan Lake.........................................................................Rob Fleming West Vancouver–Capilano ............................................................. Ralph Sultan West Vancouver–Sea to Sky ..........................................................Jordan Sturdy Westside-Kelowna ................................................................

Hon. Christy Clark Party Standings: BC Liberal 49; New Democratic 34; Independent 2

CONTENTS Wednesday, April 9, 2014 Aft ernoon Sitting Page Routine Business Introductions by Members ..................................................................................................................................................... 3009 Royal Assent to Bills ................................................................................................................................................................ 3011 Bill 5 — Forests, Lands and Natural Reso urce Operations Statutes Amendment Act, 2014 Bill 7 — Laboratory Services Act Bill 11 — Protected Areas of British Columbia Amendment Act, 2014 Bill 12 — Natural Gas Development Statutes Amendment Act, 2014 Bill 14 — Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2014 Introduction and First Reading of Bills ................................................................................................................................ 3011 Bill M209 — Members' Confl ict of Interest Amendment Act, 2014 S.

Simpson Statements (Standing Order 25B) ......................................................................................................................................... 3012 Parkinson's disease Michelle Stilwell L. Krog Hospital infection control and research R. Sultan Immigrant professionals and credential recognition M. Elmore Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs senior boys basketball team Moira Stilwell Y outh volunteers at Burnaby-Edmonds constituency offi ce R.

Chouhan Oral Questions ......................................................................................................................................................................... 3014 Income assistance policy on child support payments M. Mungall Hon. C. Clark M. Karagianis Changes to community health care centres in Vancouver A. Dix Hon. T. Lake J. Darcy Auditor General review of Kwantlen University D. Eby Hon. A. Virk Hon. M. de Jong Position of former Lottery Corporation CEO with PV Hospitality partnership S. Simpson Hon.

M. de Jong Reports from Committees ...................................................................................................................................................... 3018 Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills J. Martin Orders of the Day Second Reading of Bills .......................................................................................................................................................... 3019 Bill Pr401 — Armstrong-Spallumcheen Student Assistance Association (Corporate Restoration) Act, 2014 G. Kyllo

Committee of the Whole House ............................................................................................................................................ 3019 Bill Pr401— Armstrong-Spallumcheen Student Assistance Association (Corporate Restoration) Act, 2014 Report and Th ird Reading of Bills ......................................................................................................................................... 3019 Bill Pr401 — Armstrong-Spallumcheen Student Assistance Association (Corporate Restoration) Act, 2014 Second Reading of Bills .......................................................................................................................................................... 3019 Bill 23 — South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Funding Referenda Act (continued) Hon.

P . Fassbender C. Trevena R. Lee D. Eby J. Yap K. Corrigan S. Sullivan S. Simpson J. Sturdy S. Hammell Hon. T. Stone Bill 19 — Animal Health Act Hon. T. Lake N. Simons D. Bing Proceedings in the Douglas Fir Room Committee of Supply .............................................................................................................................................................. 3051 Estimates: Ministry of Environment (continued) S. Fraser Hon. M. Polak D. Donaldson S. Chandra Herbert V . Huntington D. Routley D. Eby J. Shin

WEDNESDAY , APRIL 9, 2014 Th e House met at 1:34 p.m. [Madame Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Prayers. Introductions by Members Hon. C. Clark: Just a few minutes ago we reached a signifi cant milestone in our work to bring home the gen- erational opportunity of LNG with the fi rst two revenue- sharing agreements with First Nations.

Agreements like those are going to plant the seed for the prosperity that will benefi t communities in the north and across the country for generations — jobs, skills training and new infrastructure. [1335] We are joined today in the gallery, from the Metlakatla First Nation, by Chief Harold Leighton, councillor Alrita Leask, councillor Robert Ne lson and councillor Wayne Haldane; and from the Lax Kw'alaams First Nation by Mayor Garry Reece, councillor Andrew Tait, Wayne Drury and George Burke. Grand Chief Ed John is also in the gallery with us to- day. I hope the House will make all of them very welcome. R.

Austin: On behalf of the official opposition, I would also like to welcome those members from the Metlakatla and Lax Kw'alaams bands here today. I think it's fair to say that there is a lot of optimism everywhere in the northwest, not just amongst the First Nations but amongst non–First Nations as well, and we hope that these agreements that are signed will one day come to fruition. Hon. M. de Jong: Madame Speaker, when I arrived here a few decades ago, part of the province that you are very familiar with, Richmond, was represented by a very quiet but dignifi ed individual, Doug Symons.

He, in those days, taught me a lot about the role of an MLA. When I walked in the chamber today I was pleased to see Doug and to realize that he was, in addition to his other many talents, one of the few who planned his de- parture from this chamber on his own terms, and he re- turns on his own terms. I know all members will make him feel very welcome. M. Farnworth: It's a pleasure to follow the Minister of Finance and welcome Doug Symons back.

I remem- ber him from that time when he served in this chamber, and he sat on this side and I sat on that side, and he was always very respectful, understood this place and repre- sented his constituents well. But there is one footnote, and this is a really interest- ing one. In 2001, in the last question period of the then Dosanjh government, the last question asked in that question period was a question from him to me — so that was the last question asked of an NDP government. Would the House please make him most welcome. Interjections. M. Farnworth: It's his fault. Hon. P .

Fassbender: I would like to introduce four people that are visiting the House today: Danny and Louise Evans and Kent and Julie Sillars, who are from the Fraser Valley. Danny and Louise are in the real estate business, and Kent and Julie have a company called Vesta Properties. Not only are they very active in the Fraser Valley, but they are contributors to the community in so many ways, and I'd ask the House to welcome them. M. Elmore: I'm very pleased to welcome here mem- bers of the B.C. Nurses Union Workers Of Colour com- mittee and internationally educated nurses — and I hope my voice holds out.

We've got Mabel Tung, who's the BCNU treasurer; Y olanda Cutanda-Dela Cruz, the regional rep for BCNU; Mindy Derro; Shirley Oandasan; Getjeda Seet; Maria Villacrusis; Jessica Celeste, who's the chair of the workers of colour committee; Walter Lumamba, who is the chair of the men in nursing; Harwinder Gill; Anais Sophie; Nicola Hamilton; Melanie Mercado; Minda Lu; Monaliza Rosete; Marian Rose Sunglao; Carmen Rose Paterno; as well, joined by Baljit Sandhu and their daughters Jasreen Gill and Manreet Gill; and our friend Annette Beech, here from Victoria, a great advocate and president of the caregivers and yemporary foreign workers association of Victoria.

I ask you to please make them all welcome. Hon. C. Oakes: Today is a great day in this House and in British Columbia. We have Her Honour here today to talk about a proclamation that we presented to recognize and pay special tribute to the signifi cant achievements of authors and publishers in British Columbia.

I would like to thank everybody on both sides of the House that were involved in this process. [1340] I would like to recognize Ruth Linka, president, Association of Book Publishers of B.C. and associate pub- lisher of Orca Book Publishers; Margaret Reynolds, exec- utive director, Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia; Andrew Wooldridge, publisher of Orca Book Publishers; Kevin Williams, publisher of Talon Books; Karen Green, associate publisher of Anvil Press; and Randal Macnair, publisher of Oolichan Books. 3009

British Columbia Debates3010 Wednesday, April 9, 2014 May we all go out, buy a good British Columbia book and enjoy it over our Easter break. S. Fraser: I am very pleased to be able rise today in this House and recognize and welcome constituents, distin- guished visitors from the Huu-ay-aht First Nation. Th at's one of the key Maa-nulth treaty nations that were able to come out from underneath the yoke of the Indian Act a number of years ago. Visiting us today are chief council- lor Jeff Cook, Tom Happynook, Charlie Clappis, Derek Peters, Sheila Charles, John Jack and Jack Cook.

Would this House please join me in making them feel very welcome. Hon. T. Lake: I'm really pleased today to rise and introduce members from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. Th eir CEO, Diane Finegood, is here; board chair John O'Neill; and David Plug, who is the dir- ector of marketing and stakeholder relations. Th ese three individuals, along with their many mem- bers of the organization, play an important role for health research in B.C. by aiding in the development of new treatments and cures, responding to emerging health issues and improving the delivery of care.

Since 2001 over $360 million has been invested through the Michael Smith Foundation, allowing B.C. researchers the tools and training needed to produce in- novative solutions to health problems. Would the House please join me in welcoming the Michael Smith Foundation. M. Mungall: I have seven guests in the gallery today — Scott Nunn, Rachel Goodine, Tabitha Naismith, Crystal Pennicard, Diane Terrillon, Jennifer Brice and Michelle Tallico.

Th ey are all here today to see how our demo- cracy works, and as single moms with children, they're also here to advocate on behalf of their children and chil- dren all over British Columbia to reduce child poverty in this province. Hon. A. Wilkinson: I hope the House will join me in welcoming 58 guests to the gallery today. Th ey come, fortunately, in two batches. One is a grade 11 class from Prince of Wales Secondary School in Vancouver- Quilchena. Th ey're stewarded here by their teacher, Mr. Andrew Humphries.

Th e second is a grade 10 socials class from Sir Winston Churchill high school, who have been brought here by their teacher, Mr. Francois Clark. I compliment both these teachers for bringing 15 year olds this far. J. Rice: I, too, would like to welcome the members from Lax Kw'alaams and Metlakatla, two communities which fall within my constituency, the North Coast. As I have mentioned previously when I introduced guests, it's a hard journey to get here from the north coast. Metlakatla and Lax Kw'alaams are both only accessible by ferry or by seaplane.

But I would like to just put in a little bit of a plug for the Tsimshian access project, which would end that and make the journey to Prince Rupert and the larger communities a lot easier. J. Y ap: Th ank you, Madame Speaker. I, too, would like to add my welcome to Doug Symons, the former mem- ber for Richmond Centre, who brought with him a num- ber of your constituents and constituents of the Minister of International Trade. I'd like to welcome them to the gallery.

Th ey are Aileen Cormack, Corisande Percival-Smith, Daryl Whiting, Shams Jilani, Joan Haws, Hans Havas, Kathleen Holmes, Maggie Levine, Shirley Khong, Patti Gallacher and Sean Davies. Would the House please extend a warm welcome to these folks from Richmond. [1345] D. Horne: It's with great pleasure today that I intro- duce to the House Lisa McGuire. Lisa is the CEO from FIOSA-MIOSA Safety Alliance of British Columbia, representing food manufacturers and processors — great companies in the Tri-Cities area, like our local Coca-Cola bottler, Ann De Louis del Mis. May the House make her truly welcome. C.

Trevena: In the gallery — if not now, shortly — will be a group of grade 11 students from Campbell River Christian School. Th ere are 12 grade 11 students, eight accompanying parents and their teacher, Tammie Coon. I hope the House will make them all very welcome. R. Lee: I have a group of fi ve visitors in the gallery today. Th ey are from Vancouver and Toronto — and Victoria, for that matter: Mr.

Wang Qiang, consul for science and technology, Chinese Consulate-General in Vancouver; chief representative of the China Association for International Exchange of Personnel in Toronto, Wu Yunru, and also representative Chen Jie. I also have Y an Cheng, a member of the Canada-China Society of Science and Technology in Vancouver, as well as Mr. David Wang, global engagement offi cer from the University of Victoria. Would the House please make them welcome. I also would like to extend my welcome to the B.C. Nurses Union. I saw my friend Mable Tung over there and all her colleagues. Th ank you for visiting the House.

N. Letnick: We have many wonderful cities all across this province and many great leaders, and in the precinct today we have two of them: Ron Mattiussi, city manager for the city of Kelowna, and His Worship Walter Gray. Th ey're here to meet with the Transportation Minister and see how much money they can get out of him. Would

British Columbia DebatesWednesday, April 9, 2014 3011 the House please make them feel welcome. S. Hamilton: I'd like to take the opportunity to wel- come to the precinct today the city manager or the chief administrative offi cer for the corporation of Delta, Mr. George Harvie, who's here this aft ernoon to conduct meetings, as our friends from Kelowna are doing. Would the House please make him welcome. D. Bing: I would like to welcome to the House today a medical colleague, Dr. Mark Lupin, a resident of Victoria. Dr.

Lupin is a renowned dermatologist and a sought-aft er lecturer in the fi eld of non-surgical facial rejuvenation. He's a clinical instructor at the faculty of medicine at UBC, and he has many publications to his name and is oft en quoted as an expert in the media. Some of you may have met Dr. Lupin today at the Rattenbury Room, get- ting your skin checked. Please, I ask the House to make Dr. Lupin welcome. D. Barnett: I would like to welcome Roche Canada to the House today. Roche is a global leader in diagnos- tics and pharmaceuticals and the world's biggest biotech company.

Th eir B.C.-based staff are in the Legislature today hoping to better understand how our government works. I wish them well on this onerous task. Please join me in giving Roche Canada a warm welcome. Hon. J. Rustad: I also want to welcome the many First Nation Chiefs, leaders, councillors and other members that are here today. I also want to recognize and welcome a member of my team, Mark Loft house, who is our chief negotiator. He's in the building here today, and I just want the House to please make him welcome. Madame Speaker: Hon. Members, I'm advised the Lieutenant-Governor is in the precinct.

Please remain in your seats. [1350] Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor requested to at- tend the House, was admitted to the chamber and took her seat on the throne.

Royal Assent to Bills Deputy Clerk: Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Statutes Amendment Act, 2014 Laboratory Services Act Protected Areas of British Columbia Amendment Act, 2014 Natural Gas Development Statutes Amendment Act, 2014 Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2014 In Her Majesty's name, Her Honour the Lieutenant- Governor doth assent to these acts. [1355] Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor retired from the chamber. [Madame Speaker in the chair.] Introduction and First Reading of Bills BILL M209 — MEMBERS' CONFLICT OF INTEREST AMENDMENT ACT, 2014 S.

Simpson presented a bill intituled Members' Confl ict of Interest Amendment Act, 2014. S. Simpson: I move that a bill intituled Members' Confl ict of Interest Amendment Act, of which notice has been given in my name on the order paper, be introduced and now read for a fi rst time. Motion approved. S. Simpson: I'm pleased to introduce the Members' Confl ict of Interest Amendment Act.

British Columbians rightly expect politicians, their appointees and senior executive members of Crown corporations and govern- ment agencies to conduct themselves with the highest ethical standard and carry out their duties in the pub- lic interest. Th e Members' Confl ict of Interest Amendment Act, which will rename the legislation to the conflict-of- interest act, seeks to address this. Th is bill establishes more stringent confl ict-of-interest laws to restore public confi dence and promote greater accountability.

Th is bill broadens the scope of confl ict-of-interest laws and establishes cooling-off periods for ministerial staff , former Deputy Ministers and advisers, as well as senior executive members of Crown corporations and govern- ment agencies. Th is will ensure that these parties, includ- ing the CEOs of Crown corporations, do not improperly benefi t from their offi ce. Finally, this bill also requires members of cabinet, par- liamentary secretaries and Deputy Ministers to place their assets in a blind trust for as long as they hold that position. Th e opposition has put forward similar legislation in the past.

However, given recent events, it is being intro- duced once again in hopes that the government will fi nal- ly take action to toughen up confl ict-of-interest laws in British Columbia. I move that this bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting aft er today.

British Columbia Debates3012 Wednesday, April 9, 2014 Bill M209, Members' Confl ict of Interest Amendment Act, 2014, introduced, read a fi rst time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House aft er today. Statements (Standing Order 25B) PARKINSON'S DISEASE Michelle Stilwell: Many of us know someone who has Parkinson's disease. Michael J. Fox, Linda Ronstadt, Muhammad Ali — they are the celebrity faces that put a name to this disease.

It's the second most common neuro- degenerative disease aff ecting around 100,000 Canadians, including about 11,000 people in B.C. Chances are that you know someone personally with Parkinson's. Th e average age of onset is 60, but people as young as 30 can be aff ected. Th e symptoms of Parkinson's vary from person to person. Th e fi rst sign usually is a tremor in the right or left arm on one side of the body only. Over time the tremor usually spreads to the other side of the body. Muscles oft en feel stiff or weak, and the individual may have trouble with balance.

By the time a diagnosis can be made, people oft en have non-motor symptoms such as anxiety, depression or even trouble sleeping. Early diagnosis can give you more op- tions for trying to manage the disease. If you or some- one you know experiences symptoms of Parkinson's, especially prolonged tremors or limited movement, you should speak with your family doctor. Parkinson's is a progressive disease, and symptoms usually worsen over time. We don't know what the caus- es of Parkinson's are, and there is no known cure.

But people with the disease can still live long, productive lives by managing their diet and exercising, in conjunc- tion with other treatments. We're talking about this disease today because April is Parkinson's Awareness Month. We want to shine a light on what's being done to prevent Parkinson's and how we can help those diagnosed with the disease. Our government has provided more than $28 million in funding to the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health at UBC Hospital in Vancouver. Th e centre, which had its grand opening in February, includes a number of clinics that treat neurological conditions.

It's our hope that research being done there and across the world will lead to a cure. [1400] L. Krog: Following on the remarks of my friend from Parksville-Qualicum, one of my constituents, Gil Luckham, suff ers from Parkinson's. Along with his part- ner , Janet Irvine, they work very hard to deal with the issues arising from that disease. Gil was diagnosed with this complex neurodegenera- tive disease at the age of 51 and had to retire early. For several years his job has been dealing proactively with the personal and social consequences of receiving an earlier- onset diagnosis.

Both Gil and Janet are active members of the Parkinson Society B.C. self-help support group in Nanaimo. Parkinson Society B.C. is dedicated to providing re- sources and inspiration to empower the Parkinson's community to live well and has been promoting the benefi ts of exercise. Research shows that exercise is help- ful to living well with Parkinson's and that it may have a neuroprotective eff ect, perhaps slowing down the disease progression and reaping immediate benefi ts in mood and movement.

As part of Parkinson's April Awareness Month, Parkinson Society B.C. has launched Parkinson's Movement and is encouraging people with Parkinson's to exercise and take charge of their own well-being and fi ght back against this disease. Gil is fi ghting back and currently attends an exercise class twice weekly and uses his Nordic walking poles regularly. I encourage members of the assembly to recog- nize the eff orts of everyday heroes such as Gil.

During April the Parkinson's community asks all members to recognize the contributions of everyday heroes dur- ing National Volunteer Week, April 6 to 12, and World Parkinson's Day on April 11. I encourage all members of this assembly to think of how they can be an everyday hero. Indeed, the fi rst cam- paign I worked in was for a former member of this assem- bly, Bob Skelly, who served in this chamber from 1972 to 1988, and he is a suff erer of Parkinson's disease. So let us support all of those who suff er from this disease and compliment them for their courage. HOSPITAL INFECTION CONTROL AND RESEARCH R.

Sultan: My constituent Carolyn Cross did not let her broken teeth, ribs and pelvis from a plane crash at YVR about a year ago slow her down. She was focused on infection control trials at Vancouver General Hospital, demonstrating an approximate 50 percent reduction in Staphylococcus aureus infections post-operatively using laser light, not drugs, to kill the pathogens. Some say that hospital-acquired infections are Canada's fourth-leading cause of death, right up there with stroke. Dr.

Elizabeth Bryce, medical director for infection control at VGH, spearheaded the successful trials demonstrating MRSAid's eff ectiveness. VGH es- timates saving almost $2 million through this preven- tion protocol. Carolyn had another motive: the near-death of her own daughter with a tonsil infection from stubborn bac- teria not responsive to antibiotics. Hospital trials based on the photodisinfection system developed by Carolyn's company, Ondine, won the 2013 award for innovation

British Columbia DebatesWednesday, April 9, 2014 3013 by ICPIC, the International Consortium for Prevention and Infection Control, representing the world's leaders in infection control. Where do we fi nd these nasty colonies of Staphylococcus bugs for laser-zapping prior to operation? Mostly up your nose. Creepy. Congratulations, Carolyn. Let's hope that adoption of these life- and money-saving techniques can accelerate in operating rooms across British Columbia. Abbotsford's operating rooms are next. IMMIGRANT PROFESSIONALS AND CREDENTIAL RECOGNITION M. Elmore: Valuing internationally educated nurses.

Canada's annual immigration fl ow is one of the highest among OECD members. More than half of Canadian immigrants are highly educated. However, they face higher unemployment and underemployment rates, and they earn lower incomes. Th is achievement gap must be closed. Th ere are economic benefi ts to shortening the amount of time it takes for immigrants to integrate into the labour market. One example is the situation of internationally edu- cated nurses. I met with some, who are in the gallery today, who are feeling frustrated in their eff orts to meet the requirements needed to become registered nurses in B.C.

Th ey experience many obstacles, such as a limited and chronic shortage of placement opportunities that then result in a growing bottleneck of students waiting to complete 250 hours of preceptorship. One solution is the option of doing a group preceptorship to ease this back- log of students. Th ey'd also like to see the Skills Connect program continue.

Th ey said the program has helped many of them aff ord the costly process of registration. [1405] Considering that there is a considerable proportion of immigrants working in low-skilled occupations, even with their high levels of education, the possibility of being recognized as professionals here would be out of reach for many if the process is too expensive. Improving qualifi ca- tion recognition for internationally educated profession- als requires leadership from the provincial government to create and champion solutions to better integrate skilled immigrants into the labour market.

Ontario, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Quebec have all established fairness commissions by bringing together stakeholders to im- prove fairness and effi ciency of foreign credential rec- ognition. It's important that we convey confi dence to employ- ers about this accreditation process and that we ensure standards for public safety are met. Action is needed on this continuing underutilization of skilled immigrants, education, talent and experience in B.C.

Together we need to highlight that being an inclusive society means creating processes that ensure the full po- tential of the immigrants we welcome into our province are developed and maximized. SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL BULLDOGS SENIOR BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM Moira Stilwell: I, too, would like to share in the greet- ings to the students and teachers who are here today from Sir Winston Churchill high school and Point Grey high school, and I rise to congratulate the Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs senior boys basketball team for win- ning the 2014 high school AAAA provincial basketball championships.

Because of their impressive eff ort, teamwork and focus, the Bulldogs won 67 to 64 against the formidable Holy Cross Crusaders at the Langley Events Centre. With this win the Bulldogs captured their fi rst senior boys title in school history, becoming the fi rst public school from Vancouver, other than Kitsilano, to capture the provin- cial title since 1961. Th e Bulldogs were led to this inspiring victory by tour- nament MVP and Quinn Keast Foundation scholarship winner Mindy Manhas, a grade 12 student at Sir Winston Churchill with a sublime 30-point performance, and their best defensive player, Jason Claur.

Th is win would not have been possible without the eff orts and dedication of coach Rick Lopez along with coaching staff , chaperones, parents and volunteers. Th ey deserve considerable applause for their dedication, en- thusiasm, patience and skill in supporting our athletes. Th rough team sports our children build life skills, so- cial connections, teamwork skills, leadership, a healthy lifestyle and good decision-making. Congratulations to the Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs senior boys basket- ball team and to all of the coaches, chaperones, parents and students.

Also, since this week is National Volunteer Week, will the House please join me in conveying a special thank- you to all of the many volunteers who make school sports possible. Y our commitment and hard work towards sport and athletics is admirable and appreciated. YOUTH VOLUNTEERS AT BURNABY-EDMONDS CONSTITUENCY OFFICE R. Chouhan: I rise today to acknowledge the import- ance of youth engagement. In our office of Burnaby- Edmonds we are lucky to have many high school students who volunteer with us on a regular basis. Recently our offi ce participated in the Guru Ravidass parade.

I had fi ve dedicated students who gave up their Saturday to hand out treats and information outside our constitu- ency offi ce. It was a cold, wet day, and their assistance did not go unnoticed. I would like to thank Ylaiza Padua, Jasleen Subherwal, Agamroop Th andi, Mavis Peng and Karan Heer.

British Columbia Debates3014 Wednesday, April 9, 2014 In addition, I have a young man by the name of Khalid Boudreau who has been involved and engaged in my community offi ce since the age of fi ve. He has a keen interest in politics and oft en spends his time watching question period in both the Legislature and the House of Commons. He is well known for asking MLAs and MPs many intelligent questions. Everyone is impressed with his knowledge on political and environmental issues. Currently a grade 9 student at Moscrop Secondary, he is a bird-watching enthusiast and has just received the B.C.

Y oung Birder Award 2014 for his important ornitho- logical discovery. On a recent family trip to the Interior near Puntzi Lake, he spotted the second-known breeding spot in B.C. of the American white pelican. He was on a fi shing boat with his grandfather when he spotted eight adult pelicans and three young ones on the island. Later, a top ornithologist confi rmed the discovery. I would like to congratulate my constituent and friend Khalid on his important discovery and award. [1410] Oral Questions INCOME ASSISTANCE POLICY ON CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS M.

Mungall: Single-parent families in British Columbia who receive income supports, like disability, have their child support payments clawed back, dollar for dollar, every single month by this government. Last year the total amount taken from B.C.'s poorest kids was $17 million. Th at's the same amount that the Premier spent on self-promoting ads in the last election. So my question is to the Premier. How is this putting families fi rst? Hon. C.

Clark: We have to in this province do every- thing that we can to give every child, every young per- son and every adult all of the opportunities that they would wish for themselves. We have to make sure that we're growing the economy. We have to make sure that people have the skills that they need to participate fully in the economy. I was very proud today to be part of the signing, the historic signing, with the Lax Kw'alaams and the Metlakatla First Nations on agreements that are going to ensure economic development, economic growth, comes to their region of the province.

In those cases those leaders have a vision for their communities. Th ey have a vision for people in those communities, some of whom haven't been attached to the workforce for a long time. Healthy, wealthy, thriving communities where every young person gets a shot at a great job — that's what we are working toward. Madame Speaker: Nelson-Creston on a supplemental. M. Mungall: Rachel Goodine, Diane Terrillon, Jennifer Brice, Crystal Pennicard and Tabitha Naismith are all sin- gle moms with disabilities that prevent them from work- ing full-time outside the home.

Th ey receive income supports, and as we all know, the levels of support from this B.C. Liberal government keep them struggling to put food on the table. If they could keep their child support payments, the struggle of feeding and clothing their kids would be re- duced. Th at would reduce child poverty in their homes. Th ose moms are in the gallery today. My question, again to the Premier: can she explain to the mothers here today how taking child support pay- ments away from their kids is putting their families fi rst? Hon. C.

Clark: As I said in my previous answer, we are very much focused on growing the economy as a way to make sure that we look aft er people in the province for the long term, to make sure that communities are sustain- able, that families are sustainable, ensuring that people can look aft er themselves and each other in the way that they expect to and the way that they should. While we do that, we also have to maintain a strong so- cial safety net, and we are doing that in British Columbia. Since I became Premier, we have raised the minimum wage three times in our province.

We are proud to be able to say that we have one of the lowest overall tax lev- els, keeping more money in people's pockets. We have child care — $135 million invested in child care subsidies this year; 800,000 people in the province who pay no MSP premiums; $3.6 billion since 2001 in- vested in affordable housing; 98,000 households that benefi t from provincial social housing programs and ser- vices; and of course, the introduction of the early child- hood tax benefi t, starting in 2015, to make child care more aff ordable for 180,000 families. And that's just the beginning.

Madame Speaker: Nelson-Creston on a further sup- plemental. [1415] M. Mungall: Th e Premier needs to stop brushing these families off with all of her rhetoric and empty slogans and the various numbers that she likes to point out. Why doesn't she ever talk about the fact that B.C. has had the highest child poverty in this country for ten years run- ning? Th at's happening under her watch. Here's another stat for the Premier.

Half of B.C.'s single mothers are living in poverty with their kids right now — mothers like Tabitha Naismith, a Surrey mom who's struggling to raise her one-year-old daughter on $642 a month aft er rent. Th e B.C. Liberals are clawing the $100 that her daughter is supposed to be getting in child sup- port payments. Th ey are clawing that back every month, and it is wrong.

British Columbia DebatesWednesday, April 9, 2014 3015 Instead of doing the wrong thing, will the Premier do the right thing — end the clawback of child support pay- ments and give B.C.'s poorest kids their money back? Hon. C. Clark: We live in a rich country; we live in a rich province. And the sad fact is that many people still do not fully participate in that wealth. We have an obligation as a generation to ensure that everyone across the province has an equal opportunity to take

part in the economic growth that is coming in our province. We believe that the best way out of pov- erty is to make sure that people are participating in the economic growth and that they have the skills that they need to take those jobs. In the meantime, we also have to make sure that that social safety net is there to protect people who need that protection when they are endur- ing poverty in our province. I went through quite a number of the investments that our province has made in supporting people who live in poverty. We need to continue to do that, and at the same time, we need to give everyone a hand up.

We need to give everyone the help that they need to acquire the skills and the education that they're going to need to create a sustainable future for themselves and their fam- ilies through employment. M. Karagianis: Th e Premier is so completely out of touch with the reality for these families, it is shocking. Michelle Tallico is a First Nations woman who's here today, who is raising her nine-year-old daughter on her own. Her daughter loves fruit. But each month the gov- ernment takes away child support from Michelle's daugh- ter because Michelle is on income supports.

With a pacemaker and other chronic illnesses, Michelle is not able to work full time. She said that if she could keep the small amount of support that her daughter gets, she'd be able to buy her the fresh fruit that her daughter loves. She would also be able to help get some supports for her child, who has a learning disability, so that she could do better in school. Michelle is here, listening today in the chamber. Can the Premier explain to Michelle why the B.C. Liberal government is taking away the child support that would mean so much to her daughter? Hon. C.

Clark: In this wealthy society no one should have to endure the deprivation of poverty. I think all members in this chamber agree on that. What we disagree on oft en, though, is how we want to make sure that we address poverty in the long term. On this side of the House what we believe is that we need to grow the economy if we want to invest in the future. We need to invest in people through skills training if we want to make sure that they have an opportunity to fully participate. Interjections. Madame Speaker: Order. Hon. C.

Clark: We also need to make sure that through a growing economy, government has the revenue that it needs to be able to look aft er people through a strong social safety net when they are struggling with poverty. Again, First Nations as one example. Th e agreements that we signed today with the Lax Kw'alaams and the Metlakatla are real, real evidence of what we can do when we work together to create economic growth to lift com- munities that have lived in poverty, sometimes for years, into the full mainstream economy so that they can fully participate, as they have every right to do.

Th at is the bright future of economic growth in British Columbia. [1420] Madame Speaker: Esquimalt–Royal Roads on a sup- plemental. M. Karagianis: Y ou know, I think the families here in the gallery would like to hear no more rhetoric and maybe a more clear message from the government on taking away these clawbacks from their households. Every month the B.C. Liberals take money out of the hands of B.C.'s poorest children simply because their par- ents have a disability or are on income assistance. Th at's what's going on here. Th at money is clawed back out of their households.

By the end of the year the money clawed back from these families and others like them will amount to $17 mil- lion — coincidentally, the same amount of money that the government spent on self-promotion during the elec- tion campaign. I would like the Premier to explain to these fam- ilies — not the rhetoric — how this government can justify taking money out of the hands of B.C.'s poorest children while they're busy still spending money on self-promoting ads, ministerial pay raises, fake muni- cipalities and sweetheart deals with their friends.

Th at is not fair to these families and all the families across British Columbia that want them to stop clawing money back from the poor children in this province. Hon. C. Clark: Between 1990 and 2001 British Columbia's child poverty rates went up by an appalling 42 percent. Since 2003, 70,000 children have been lift ed out of poverty. What changed? Why were those two decades so starkly diff erent when it came to poverty rates in our province? A commitment to economic growth. A commitment to making sure that everyone had an opportunity to be able to participate in a growing, thriving economy.

Th at is the answer in the long term to poverty.

British Columbia Debates3016 Wednesday, April 9, 2014 Go ask the First Nations leaders who are signing on to agreements, who want to be a part of liquefi ed nat- ural gas and the 100,000 new jobs it will bring to British Columbia. Go ask the young people who are hungry for opportunities and the big wages that will be paid in the trades that will be in huge demand when liquefi ed natural gas becomes a reality in British Columbia. Th at is the reality of economic growth. It changes lives. It changes communities. It makes them better. It makes them sustainable. And it will do it for a long, long time.

CHANGES TO COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE CENTRES IN V ANCOUVER A. Dix: Y ou know, I think all of us agree with the Premier that we are profoundly against poverty. I think it's profoundly disrespectful to talk about being hungry for opportunity and to lay out political slogans of these kinds when we have children in this province who are hungry for food. I think it's profoundly disrespectful. My question is to the Minister of Health.

Frankly, we are tired of the Minister of Aboriginal Relations — given the poverty rate amongst First Nations in this province — and the Minister of Social Development — given the poverty rate in this province, the worst in Canada — bragging about these questions. Th ey should be doing something about them. Th ere are some people here in the House who would like to hear from the Minister of Aboriginal Relations. My question is to the Minister of Health. Th e Ministry of Health, the government, is closing down primary care services at Pacifi c Spirit, Evergreen and south Vancouver community health clinics.

Th is is contrary to the gov- ernment's policy. It's going to leave thousands of people without a family doctor. It will cost more money. How can the minister justify such a lousy decision? [1425] Hon. T. Lake: Well, despite lift ing 70,000 children out of poverty over the last 12 years and creating economic opportunities for people, there still are vulnerable people in this province that require interdisciplinary commun- ity health centres for their patient needs. Th ese commun- ity health centres were serving a vulnerable population.

Over time that patient population changed, and a less complex type of patient was coming to these clinics. It was important to refocus the service of these community health centres to the most vulnerable of our patients in British Columbia. Th e result will be longer hours, great- er access for the most vulnerable of our patients, which will reduce emergency room visits, and the other patients will have lots of opportunities for primary health care through their family physicians at their existing facili- ties. Th at transition period is ongoing.

We are commit- ted to looking aft er the most vulnerable in our province. Madame Speaker: The Leader of the Official Opposition on a supplemental. A. Dix: If one could only live in the world of B.C. Liberal press releases, where apparently everyone's go- ing to have a family doctor. Th ere are 100,000 people now in Vancouver without a family doctor, tens of thousands actively looking who can't fi nd them. Th e minister is cut- ting people off from family practice doctors.

He's doing so in an irrational way, and here we are, them listing off this glorifi ed situation where they're going to be able to fi nd family doctors. Th e people are being cut off . Many of them themselves are extremely vulnerable. How can the minister justify doing this? All that's hap- pening is that Vancouver Coastal Health is saving money in its budget and transferring those dollars to MSP . But what's happening with real people is that they're losing their family doctor. How can the minister justify such ludicrous health policy? Hon. T. Lake: Let me read some headlines from some stories from 1996.

"B.C. cancer patients…." Interjections. Hon. T. Lake: When the member opposite was chief of staff , these were the headlines in health care. Interjections. Madame Speaker: Order. Th e members will come to order. Proceed. Hon. T. Lake: We know what happened in the 1990s. What has happened since then: over $8.4 billion invested in hospitals around this province; the number of phys- icians being trained more than doubled; the number of nurses being trained more than doubled. I know the opposition members don't like change. Th at's evident from their leadership race.

But this side of the House believes in innovation and responding to the changing needs of the population, and that is what we will continue to do. J. Darcy: Th e Minister of Health ought to get rid of his briefi ng books for a few minutes and go out and talk to real people who are losing their family doctors as a result of these changes. Let me just talk about what's actually happening in these community health centres. Vancouver Coastal Health recently commissioned an independent external review of the community health centres that serve about 13,000 people across the city.

Th is independent review recommended against — against — cutting primary care services for anybody except the most at-risk 5 percent. Th ese independent re- viewers pointed out that there are literally thousands of

British Columbia DebatesWednesday, April 9, 2014 3017 other patients who also have very high needs — the frail elderly; at-risk youth; people marginalized due to poverty, addictions and mental health; refugees and new immi- grants; people with multiple chronic conditions. [1430] Th e Minister of Health's own priorities document that we looked at this morning at the standing committee on Health says: "We must fully implement access to phys- icians and primary care teams across all 62 geograph- ic service areas based on a system of interprofessional health teams." When will the minister step in and reverse these cuts to community health centres that are practising exactly what this minister preaches?

Hon. T. Lake: I have had the opportunity to travel around the province to visit with health care profession- als in hospitals. I've been to the Downtown Eastside and visited patients with a psychiatrist. I've been to the com- munity health centres in Prince George and Kamloops that serve the most vulnerable. Th is redesign…. As I mentioned, the opposition does not like change. We understand that. But it is important. Health care must be dynamic, must be responsive to the changing needs of the population.

Th ese changes will result in an expanded clinic, an ex- panded community health centre, that's open seven days a week, 12 hours a day. It will also allow more investment in inner-city youth clinics at Th ree Bridges care clinic and the East Van public health youth centre. Th is is the right thing to do using the right amount of resources, serving the right people at the right time at the right place. Th at's what we'll continue to do, look- ing aft er the most vulnerable people in the province of British Columbia. Madame Speaker: New Westminster on a supple- mental. J.

Darcy: I would suggest that the Minister of Health also go out and talk directly to some of the patients at these community health centres that are losing their doc- tors, people like Tita and Dosolo Tocol, who are patients at the Evergreen Community Health Centre. Tita has several chronic conditions. Dosolo has had open heart surgery, suff ers from congestive heart failure and needs to be checked weekly for blood clots. Th ey've been told they'll be losing their family doctor next fall.

Th e minister should also talk to the 90-year-old frail woman who's now served by the Mid-Main Health Centre, who now receives regular home medical visits, sometimes from a family doctor but also oft en from a nurse practitioner or a pharmacist. She won't any longer aft er these changes. Th e evidence is clear in this province, across Canada and around the world that these kinds of primary health teams lead to better health outcomes, and they reduce costs in the health care system. Why is the minister de- fending a decision to cut existing community health clinics in British Columbia's largest city?

How can he explain that? Hon. T. Lake: The member opposite is just wrong. Th ese patients will have access to primary care. Th e lower- complex patients will have access to family doctors and other facilities. Also, as the transition occurs, the oppor- tunity will be there for current physicians to utilize the community health centres on a fee-for-service basis for those less-complex patients.

Meanwhile, the more vulnerable patients that require an integrated primary care community health centre will have greater access to those services, reducing emergency visits and, in fact, serving that population much better than they are being served today. AUDITOR GENERAL REVIEW OF KW ANTLEN UNIVERSITY D. Eby: I bring this House some news from the year 2014.

On April 3, 2014, we sent a letter to the Auditor General requesting a truly independent investigation of Kwantlen University and the Minister of Advanced Education. [1435] I can advise this House that the Auditor General has written to confi rm that his staff will be performing fact- fi nding work on this matter. Th is will be a relief for all Kwantlen employees and board members, current and former, who have information but can only share that information in confi dence. Th ey may now send their in- formation directly to the Auditor General. Th e contact information is on his website.

Our offi ce, of course, will be cooperating fully. My question for the minister: will the Minister of Advanced Education confirm that he, too, will be cooperating fully with the Auditor General, starting by instructing the government's investigator to share with the Auditor General all documents and information that he has un- covered to date? Hon. A. Virk: Well, I intend to be to the point: yes. D. Eby: Hopefully, we can keep this trend going.

In a key series of e-mails that we tabled in this House involving the Kwantlen foundation, a troubling plan to funnel money — student scholarship money — into a secret payment to the president of Kwantlen University was discussed. Th e minister's RCMP e-mail address was used in relation to this plan. I wonder if the minister will confirm that he will cooperate by asking the RCMP to proactively disclose to the Auditor General all e-mail messages that the minis- ter sent and received concerning Kwantlen University at

British Columbia Debates3018 Wednesday, April 9, 2014 his former e-mail address. Will the Minister of Advanced Education do that as well today? Hon. M. de Jong: To the member, who has raised this matter on repeated dates in the House, as is certainly his right to do. Th e member will know that a number of weeks ago — almost a month now — in response to some of the matters that he has raised, I wrote to Mr. Rob Mingay. I asked him, in his capacity as assistant deputy minister of the public sector employers council secre- tariat, to examine the matter.

I asked him specifi c ques- tions, or to answer specifi c questions. I've laid those out. I've provided to the member and to the House the details. Th e member has today related additional information about submissions he has made to the Auditor General. Th e Auditor General, being an independent offi cer of the Legislature, makes his own decisions about the matters he chooses to examine, the manner in which he choos- es to pursue that examination. He reports to the House. Th ere is a mechanism for members to explore the results of his work.

As the member heard just a moment ago, my colleague and the entire government are pledged to cooperate, as always, in every way. POSITION OF FORMER LOTTERY CORPORATION CEO WITH PV HOSPITALITY PARTNERSHIP S. Simpson: In 2010, while Michael Graydon was the CEO of the Lottery Corporation, they made a submission to a legislative committee on Freedom of Information arguing that: "Commercial Crowns such as BCLC carry on in a business environment where sensitive commer- cial information should not be disclosed in any circum- stances because of the potential for fi nancial or economic harm." Y et we know that Mr.

Graydon, in trying to defend the deal that the Minister of Finance approved for him, said recently in the media: "Th ere's nothing from my perspec- tive…as a CEO that would be detrimental to any other operator or advantageous to Paragon." Clearly, there's a contradiction between these two positions.

Now, we know that the government's own confl ict- of-interest policy bars senior public servants from tak- ing a job for one year with an outside entity that you "had a substantial involvement in dealings with…at any time during the year immediately preceding the end of employment." Th is policy does not apply to the head of Crown corporations. [1440] My question to the Minister of Finance is: does the Minister of Finance agree with Mr.

Graydon's defence of his new position, or does he agree with the Lottery Corporation position to the legislative committee that they in fact do deal with very sensitive commercial in- formation? If he does, will he put a one-year cooling-off period in place for heads of Crown corporations? Hon. M. de Jong: Th e member has, I think it's fair to say, pursued several aspects of the employment relation- ship between Mr. Graydon and the Lottery Corporation and several aspects of his departure from that position. Today he is focused…. I should say this.

I think the mem- ber and I have a diff erence of opinion about the matter that he canvassed yesterday relating to the payments that were made to Mr. Graydon. Setting that aside for the moment, he has raised issues in this chamber previously about the circumstances both preceding Mr. Graydon's departure from the corporation and his ultimate destination following his departure. I have candidly advised the House and the member that I, too, have some concerns, particularly about the period preceding his departure, and for that matter, I have asked the internal audit division to examine that.

Th e member today, through another mechanism, the tabling of a private member's bill, has indicated a pre- ferred option that he has. Without getting into the de- tails, I'm not sure that I would mix these matters into the Members' Confl ict of Interest Act. But ensuring that there is a proper mechanism in place beyond the rules that exist in the common law for ensuring that those matters are dealt with both contractually and legally, and by policy, I think is an appropriate thing and something we're looking at. [End of question period.] Reports from Committees J.

Martin: I have the honour to present a report of the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills. I move that the report be taken as read and received. Motion approved. J. Martin: I ask leave of the House to suspend the rules to permit the moving of a motion to adopt the report. Leave granted. J. Martin: I would like to make some brief com- ments. Th e Armstrong-Spallumcheen Student Assistance Association was dissolved by the registrar of companies for failure to fi le annual reports for ten years.

It was un- aware that it had been dissolved and continued to operate. Th e purpose of the association is to provide non-interest- bearing loans to qualifying graduating high school stu- dents from the city of Armstrong and the township of Spallumcheen. Th e association wishes to transfer its current assets,

British Columbia DebatesWednesday, April 9, 2014 3019 approximately $65,000, to Pleasant Valley Secondary School, which will continue to manage and disburse these funds for the same purpose. As a society, the asso- ciation cannot transfer its assets unless it is restored. It wishes to be restored for one year so that it can transfer its current assets. On Tuesday, April 1, the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills met, considered the proposed private bill and asked questions of the solicitor for the association.

I am pleased to note the recommendation for this pri- vate bill to proceed was unanimously supported by the committee. Madame Speaker: Th e question is the adoption of the report. Motion approved. Orders of the Day Hon. M. de Jong: In Committee A, I call the ongoing estimates of the Ministry of Environment, and in this chamber, second reading of Bill Pr401. Second Reading of Bills BILL Pr401 — ARMSTRONG-SPALLUMCHEEN STUDENT ASSISTANCE ASSOCIATION (CORPORATE RESTORATION) ACT, 2014 G.

Kyllo: I move that the bill now be read a second time. [1445] As noted earlier, the Armstrong-Spallumcheen Student Assistance Association is a society previously dissolved by the registrar of companies for failure to fi le annual reports for ten years. Th e Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills has recommended that the bill proceed to second reading. As sponsor of the bill, I am pleased to assist with its progress today, and I hereby move second reading of the bill. Motion approved. G.

Kyllo: By leave, I move that the bill be referred to a Committee of the Whole House to be considered forth- with. Leave granted. Bill Pr401, Armstrong-Spallumcheen Student Assistance Association (Corporate Restoration) Act, 2014, read a second time and ordered to proceed to a Committee of the Whole House for consideration forth- with. Committee of the Whole House BILL Pr401— ARMSTRONG-SPALLUMCHEEN STUDENT ASSISTANCE ASSOCIATION (CORPORATE RESTORATION) ACT, 2014 Th e House in Committee of the Whole (Section

B) on Bill Pr401; D. Horne in the chair. Th e committee met at 2:46 p.m. Sections 1 to 5 inclusive approved.

Preamble approved. Title approved. G. Kyllo: I move that the committee rise and report the bill complete without amendment. Motion approved. Th e committee rose at 2:47 p.m. Th e House resumed; Madame Speaker in the chair. Report and Th ird Reading of Bills BILL Pr401 — ARMSTRONG-SPALLUMCHEEN STUDENT ASSISTANCE ASSOCIATION (CORPORATE RESTORATION) ACT, 2014 Bill Pr401, Armstrong-Spallumcheen Student Assistance Association (Corporate Restoration) Act, 2014, reported complete without amendment, read a third time and passed. Hon. S.

Cadieux: I now call second reading on Bill 23, the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Funding Referenda Act. Second Reading of Bills BILL 23 — SOUTH COAST BRITISH COLUMBIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY FUNDING REFERENDA ACT (continued) Hon. P . Fassbender: I'm delighted to rise again today to conclude my remarks on my support for Bill 23. Th ere was a lot of debate yesterday around this bill.

British Columbia Debates3020 Wednesday, April 9, 2014 Th ere were a lot of issues that were raised in this House. I do want to say again, Madame Speaker, as you leave the chair, that I know that we are going to continue to talk about the importance of this referendum bill to Metro Vancouver and, indeed, the entire province. [D.

Horne in the chair.] I again want to compliment the Minister of Transportation and his staff for working closely with the Mayors Council on regional transportation in Metro Vancouver to fi nd a process and a resolution to the im- portant question that will be put to the taxpayers, and that is: how will transportation be funded in the Metro area?

As I look at that this bill and, more importantly, what's behind the bill, I clearly see that there is a desire on the part of every single mayor in Metro Vancouver to move transportation forward, to move it forward in a way that's sustainable and aff ordable but meets the needs of the region in terms of moving people, goods, and services throughout the region. [1450] It also is critical in order to ensure that the major road network, the bicycling infrastructure and many other critical elements to the health and the future of Metro Vancouver is looked aft er by a funding formula and fund- ing tools that will ensure sustainability.

When I look at this bill, I also realize it is a unique ap- proach to have a referendum on a funding proposal. But in the 12 years that I served as a local government repre- sentative, the one issue and the one area that I heard the most debate about in Metro Vancouver was funding for TransLink, how that funding was being used.

As this House well knows, we had a comptroller gen- eral's report, we had the commissioner at that time do a report, and then we had another audit done to ensure that the mayors of Metro Vancouver and TransLink and the board that served both of those bodies could stand up with assuredness and say to the taxpayers that TransLink is run as an effi cient and eff ective organization. What was clear in all of that debate and all of that dia- logue and even the diff erence of opinion that existed amongst mayors and communities was that it was go- ing to be absolutely critical to move ahead.

I watched a number of Ministers of Transportation work very hard to fi nd a way to build that relationship with the local may- ors and the communities and, most importantly, the tax- payers. As we have said, there is only one taxpayer that funds any of the initiatives that any level of government has, so it is critical. I also heard, over those years, from the business com- munity, from stakeholders in the health care system, in the education system.

Th ey wanted the assurance that the transportation system in Metro Vancouver would meet the needs of every citizen, no matter where they were in life, no matter what stage of life they were in. I heard from seniors who said they wanted reliable transportation so that they could meet the needs that they have — their doctor's appointments and other medical appointments. Students in university said: "I need transportation. I do not want to have to buy a car.

I want to use transpor- tation." Behind this bill is all of that input and all of that comment from such a diverse group of people, all with the one goal: a sustainable, long-term transportation sys- tem that is aff ordable for people, no matter where they may be, no matter where they may need to go, and af- fordable for people in industry who need to move goods and services around the region. Th is government has invested millions upon millions of dollars in infrastructure that will help to facilitate that vision for the future.

As I conclude, I urge everyone in this House to recognize that the relationship between the Mayors Council and the government of British Columbia and all of the stakeholders is the best it's ever been.

We have a unique opportunity to work together to re- inforce the vision that already exists, to augment it as might be necessary, to develop a funding formula that the people who live in Metro Vancouver and the business community that serves us can look at and say: "Th at is the vision that we agree with, and we also agree with the funding recommendations that will be developed and put forward in a referendum to serve that need, not only now but into the future." It is without hesitation that I support this bill.

I know that there are many people in Metro Vancouver who are very optimistic that we have a unique opportunity at this stage, both in the governance changes under Bill 22 and the referendum and the funding envelopes that are go- ing to be developed under Bill 23, and they will have an opportunity to have their say. [1455] I also know that the Mayors Council is clear, as are TransLink and the board and our minister in this govern- ment, that people need to understand what that bill is all about, they need to understand what the funding mech- anisms are going to be, and they need to understand and be clear on the question they're being asked.

I believe we have the tools. We have the willingness. And I encourage all of us to put our shoulders to the wheel and to make sure that we do that job in the inter- ests of not only Metro Vancouver but the entire province. C. Trevena: I rise to speak about Bill 23, the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Funding Referenda Act. Rising again aft er the Minister of Education, who was one time, as he keeps telling this House, on the Mayors Council, I fi nd it very interesting that…. Well, I guess it's the promotion to cabinet that has allowed him to become the apologist for government.

Back in 2011, when the Premier was suggesting her

British Columbia DebatesWednesday, April 9, 2014 3021 set of proposals for how to fund TransLink at that time, which is obviously diff erent from today — because the Premier has changed her mind; I will go into that a little in my remarks…. At that time, when the minister was on the Mayors Council, he said about the Premier's apparent unilateral action when she rejected the funding proposals from the mayors without consulting her Transport Minister…. I do pity Transport ministers with this Premier. It must be very diffi cult to work with her .

But at that time the Minister of Education, who's now so fully behind this act, said: "I'm never surprised at things the Premier says. I think she makes decisions in isolation." We have, obviously, a change in perspective from the Minister of Education on this. He now is wholehearted- ly behind it and talking about the best-ever relationship with the Mayors Council. But as I understand it…. I don't live in the Lower Mainland, and my reason for speaking about this bill isn't specifi cally about this relationship, this very toxic relationship that is evolving here.

It's not so much on the relationship between the Mayors Council and the government. But the minister said earlier, when he was concluding his remarks, that the mayors…. He said that it's the best relationship there has ever been with the Mayors Council. Y esterday he acknowledged that the mayors don't al- ways sing from the same song sheet. And it's quite right. Th ey clearly don't sing from the same song sheet a lot of the time, but on this it appears that the government has managed to solidify the mayors in complete opposition to the referendum.

I think — now that we're starting to see mayors who realize that this is going to happen — that they have no option but to work with it. But the initial reaction aft er the election, when this referendum was dropped as an election ploy by a somewhat, at that stage, desperate gov- ernment, the reaction by the mayors was wholeheartedly in opposition. I mean, the government very quickly got the mayors singing from the same song sheet.

At that time, the mayor of Surrey said: "We've got to stop playing politics and get the job done." Th e mayor of Richmond said that it's "a recipe for disaster." "It'll div- ide the region." I think we're going to hear from some of my colleagues about how it will divide the region, how we're going to have the competing interests of the region all trying to vie for one another. White Rock was calling it an "absolute, utter and total mistake" and "a total abro- gation of responsibility." Devolve it. Just devolve it down to the mayors, and walk away from it.

The Port Coquitlam mayor described it as hyp- ocrisy: "Th e hypocrisy of this policy platform proposal is unbelievable." Th is is a former candidate for the B.C. Liberals. He obviously didn't win and did not end up in government and so is not now an apologist for the ac- tions of this government.

Th e mayor of Vancouver described it as "ridiculous." Th e North Van district mayor described it as "a defl ec- tion of the province's responsibility," and the mayor of Burnaby described it as "desperate measures." At that time we did get the mayors singing from the same song sheet, so the government achieved something there. As I say, now mayors are realizing this is going to happen and are going to start, clearly, trying to work with the government. But there are two areas I really want to focus on in my remarks. One is the issue of a referendum to be used to establish tax policy.

Th e second issue is, real- ly, the indecisiveness of this government about its policy. [1500] Th e fi rst issue is the question of referendum politics. We have mayors talking abrogation of responsibility, that it's a bad policy decision. I absolutely agree that it is both an abrogation of responsibility and a bad policy decision. To devolve the question of tax policy to referenda really does take away the authority of elected bodies. It's just saying…. If you have to go to the people every time you want to make a tax increase, you have to start question- ing why you have elected bodies in place.

We have governments in place who are there. One of the things they are charged with is to make tax policy and to make decisions on behalf of their electorate. To go back time and again to the electorate and say, "Th is is some- thing that is going back to you; you're going to have to make the decision," I think is bad policy. Th is is not the system of government we work in. We work in a system of government which respects those who are elected to make those decisions. If you use referenda and carry on using referenda pol- itics, you can end up in the situation that California is in.

I mean, it's the worst example of referenda politics. Y ou end up going broke, because people vote against it. People vote against tax increases. Th ey tend to vote against tax increases. With the best sales job in the world, you go to some- body and say, "Oh, by the way, are you willing to pay an extra 2 percent for your transit?" and a lot of people are going to say no. Th ey're going to say: "Why should I? I pay my taxes." It should be part of a greater debate. It shouldn't come down to referenda politics. What's exceedingly troubling in this bill is that this is going to be permanent.

For any new revenue that TransLink wants to raise, that the Mayors Council needs, as we discussed in the preceding bill, Bill 22…. Th ey are co-joined bills, as it were. Y ou've got the one about governance. Bill 22 is all about governance and the role of the Mayors Council, the TransLink board. Th is one is about how to raise money through these refer- enda. So this is going to be in perpetuity.

It's going to be that every time the Mayors Council wants to raise money for the growth of TransLink, for the investment into the infrastructure that they so desperately need to make sure that people are served well, that businesses are served

British Columbia Debates3022 Wednesday, April 9, 2014 well, that we have a Lower Mainland that can actually move, that people…. I mean, we've got the minister talking about all the wonderful things — about seniors being able to catch the bus, and students, and so on. I think my colleague from Vancouver-Fairview, in his remarks yesterday, the critic for TransLink, gave some very eloquent examples of how this isn't working, particularly for people who are trapped at home because there isn't handyDART. Th ere are huge needs.

Th is is not the way to deal with those needs — by tell- ing the Mayors Council that every time you need to in- crease your revenue, you're going to have to take it out for a vote. Y ou're going to have to go and take it to the electorate who has already elected you and given you that responsibility and that authority to make tax decisions, to make fi nancial decisions. It's really, I think, irresponsible. I think this is a huge problem when you get to refer- enda politics, when it devolves down to each attempt to raise money coming down to the individual voter.

I think it's a really exceedingly dangerous way of going, and it's not the system that we, in this province, have or should adopt. We should be allowing our elected representatives to have that authority. Th e mayors want that. Th ey're looking at the authority that is given to them in Bill 22 and are very wary about it because it does give them fi - nancial authority without the power over the budget. Th is doesn't give them power over the budget. Th is gives them a referendum, a referendum now and a ref- erendum in the future — and an ill-defi ned referendum now.

I think that what we have here is almost an example of making policy on the fl y without any real foundation. Th e government is so, really, desperate of trying to solve this, not wanting to include people and not wanting to embrace a proper discussion, not wanting to engage the mayors in: "How are we going to solve this?" It's like: "Okay. We'll put it back to the taxpayer. We're going to have a referendum." Th is whole notion of there being only one taxpayer…. I mean, to be honest, it's cant.

Th e fact that what the min- ister keeps talking about is there's only one taxpayer…. [1505] Th ere are actually lots of sources of revenue, and indi- vidual taxpayers are one source of revenue. But there are lots of other sources of revenue, and the minister, as a minister of the Crown, should recognize that — the dif- ferent ways that services in this province are funded. It's very clear from his remarks and his really narrow vision that he doesn't understand the way that systems work in the bigger sphere outside his former mayoral role.

I do think that what we have here, really, is the issue that we're having decisions made on the fl y with no real thought of what it's going to mean. As I say, we have ref- erenda in perpetuity. How is that going to unroll? I mean, how are the mayors supposed to work if there will be a permanent condition that the mayors have to always go to referendum to raise money? I think that what we are seeing is a government, as I say, that is just desperate to fi nd any solution. Th is has been troubling them for a long while. Th ey say: "Okay, we'll take it back to this one taxpayer.

We're going to take it to the one taxpayer, whether that one taxpayer is in Port Coquitlam, in Surrey, in North Vancouver. We're going to take it back to them, and they're going to make the decision for us." Clearly, the Premier and the Transportation Minister have been unable to make that decision. Th e Transportation Minister really has been left with a poi- soned chalice. He's got to deal with a lot of diffi culties. It's something that was unable to be resolved by for- mer Transportation Ministers.

Blair Lekstrom had real run-ins with the Premier on this, and we've had other Transportation Ministers dealing with it. But we have, I think, the unfortunate situation of a Transportation Minister who is continually being under- cut by a Premier who really just wants to win votes — you know, just get the ideas there and: "Okay, we've got the nice smile. We've made the nice slogan. Th is is what we're going to do today." I think what we have today is the result of something that was really ill-conceived by the Premier.

But as I say, we have had the Transportation Ministers being under- cut by the Premier several times, particularly on the ref- erendum. We know that the idea of the referendum for any new funding came up in the Liberal Party platform at the last election. Th e mandate letter that all ministers received, the one the Transportation Minister received, said that any new funding would not be approved unless it was approved by a referendum held no later than November 2014 — so this November — in conjunction with the municipal elections. In September the Premier, who earlier also didn't like referenda….

I've got to say I agree with her, back in 2011, when she said, "I never thought that tax issues are best outside the Legislature" — I guess, best sorted outside the Legislature. She was short-forming, I imagine, on a news station. Th en she said in a news release: "I think you have to be upfront with people, explain the circumstances, have a debate, and then you introduce tax policy. I will lead a government that consults and listens and then acts with the best interests of all British Columbians at heart.

When you do that, people are willing to accept changes to the tax system." Nice approach: consult, talk, lead, make decisions on tax policy. In 2011 that's what the Premier wanted. I con- cur. I think that tax policy should be done in legislatures. It should be done among elected offi cials. It should not be done through referenda. Doing it through referenda undermines the electoral system that we have in this

British Columbia DebatesWednesday, April 9, 2014 3023 province, and I think, as I mentioned, it's quite dangerous. Back in 2011 the Premier accepts it. Th e 2013 elec- tion manifesto — or rather election platform, using the English term — says that we're going to have the refer- endum. In September the Premier says that the transit referen- dum "is something that needs to be resolved by mayors. Th ey need to come together with a proposal. Th ey need to agree on it, and then they can put it forward to the public." At that time, the mayors said it was up to the govern- ment to formulate.

Th ey had already said very clearly they didn't want the referendum. Th ey were unanimous. Like the minister says, they got them to sing from the same songsheet. Th ey were all opposed to it. [1510] At the time the mayors said: "It's up to the government to come up with the questions.

If you're going to give us a referendum, you decide the questions." By October the Minister of Transportation — I've been referring at times to the Minister of Education, who was speaking before me — responded to a letter from the Mayors Council, committing to discussing the govern- ance changes and the referendum question but didn't give any details. But by November, about six weeks later, the minister, who was feeling very confi dent…. He'd just come for- ward and announced all the cuts to the ferry service and the damage that's going to be happening to our marine highway just that previous week.

In November the minister tells the media that his six conditions for a successful referendum say: "It cannot be a convoluted question with a whole bunch of boxes to tick off . Successful referendums tend to be yes or no, with one single question at the bottom.... In terms of tim- ing, we want to maximize voter participation. We want to minimize the cost of the referendum, and we want to set the referendum up for the maximum chance of success." Obviously, it's largely up to the mayors. Th e province has an important voice at that table, but it's largely up to the mayors themselves to set what their priorities are.

Th at was back in November. By this February we have the letter to the Mayors Council which says that there will be the referendum, and there will be the governance changes. Wait and see; this is all going to be coming up in the legislation. So what we have in front of us now is the legislation which does that. What it does is leave the decision up to the Mayors Council. Th ey've got to make the recommen- dations on the question or the questions. So they make the decision, but then the minister isn't bound by that.

So they go to all the work of committing to it and make the decision that they are going to be pull- ing together the referendum questions. But the minister then isn't bound by it. Despite saying previously that the referendum had to be held no later than the 2014 municipal election, now the timing is actually left up to regulation, which means it's not in this bill. It means this is going to be a deci- sion made by cabinet, by regulation.

It does allow for a stand-alone vote to be held by the end of June 2015 — not November 2014 — or even in conjunction with later municipal elections in 2018 or 2022, assuming that we're moving onto a four-year cycle. What we're left with is really, I think, something that I've got to say is absolutely unsatisfactory. We've had con- tradictions between the minister and the Premier on the date of the referendum and the nature of the provincial involvement. Th e minister is trying to engage with the Mayors Council. He's working very hard to try and en- gage but is being undercut by his Premier.

Th en we are left with this piece of legislation, which is leaving a lot to regulation and a lot with very upset mayors. We have a government here that's a new government with a Premier who was re-elected, and we have many new ministers. It is in many opportunities a way of start- ing afresh. Let's look at this in a new way. We have to fi nd out ways of funding TransLink. Th ere's no question that it needs extra money, but to do it through a referendum is not the solution. To look at one of the most densely populated…. It is the most densely populated area of our province.

As I mentioned in my re- marks on Bill 22, this is where goods fl ow through, where businesses are operating, and where people are living and going to work and making things happen. We've got diverse communities there. Working both east-west and north-south, we've got a very diverse geo- graphical structure. Th ere are a lot of things and a lot of diff erent demands. Th ere is a huge need for funding for a system. [1515] As I say, I represent the North Island.

I absolutely understand the needs of the Lower Mainland in making sure that they have a transportation system that works, because it's for the benefi t of all of the province. It's a bit like having a ferry system that works, that's fi nancially aff ordable, but it's for the benefi t of all of the province. Y ou've got to look at the provincial picture when you're talking about transportation. Y ou've got to look at the provincial picture, because transportation is so funda- mental to the economic and social and environmental well-being of our province.

To narrow it down to just a few blocks is not the way forward. Y ou've got to be looking at it in a provincial way, and you've got to take a provincial responsibility when you're talking about it, when you're devising policy and when you're thinking through policy. Y ou've got to really be aware of what is going to be in the best interests and the least-divisive approach for the province. What we've got here is a piece of legislation that it doesn't seem anybody really wants except the Premier. Th e minister is trying to stickhandle it through as best he possibly can.

British Columbia Debates3024 Wednesday, April 9, 2014 Th ere is an agreement that we need to get extra fund- ing for TransLink. Th ere is a defi nite agreement on this side of the House that the Mayors Council needs au- thority to be able to handle the responsibility that it's be- ing given under the preceding bill for fare increases and everything else. We've got to make sure, though, that this is being done in a responsible way, and this is not the responsible way forward.

Referendum politics is not a responsible way of establishing any way of raising revenue, any tax regime — particularly in an area such as this, particularly for an issue which is as vital for our economic, social and en- vironmental well-being as transportation. With that, I'm going to conclude my remarks. I do hope that the government does rethink this. I hope that they will look at, at least when we get to committee stage, seeing whether they can pull back on some of the areas.

I mean, we've had so many changes of ideas — whether it should be a referendum or shouldn't be a referendum, how it's going to be carried out, who's going to make the question — that maybe we can, before we get this bill passed, have yet another change of mind. The Premier will reflect on previous thoughts and think: "Okay, well, you know, it was a quick win for the election. I like my quick wins for the election. I'm now going to come up, and I'm going to have a quick change of heart, and I'm going to go back to saying I don't like referenda politics." We don't know with this Premier.

Th ere is a change of heart very rapidly. Th ere is obviously no real commit- ment to real, well-thought-out policy. I would hope that she has the courtesy of informing her Minister of Transportation before she changes her mind, but all we can hope is that the Premier does change her mind before we continue with this and before this becomes the law. Because to establish this as law, to en- trench referenda for every time that the TransLink may- ors need to raise money, is shortsighted and simply bad economic and social policy. R. Lee: I would like to rise today to support Bill 23, put forward by the hon.

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. Of course, the bill's title is South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Funding Referenda Act. Th is is essentially dealing with the Lower Mainland and, really, it talks about funding and also some kind of a referendum. I believe this is the way to go for, in this case, a direct democracy. It's a way for the mayors to put forward their 30-year vision regarding strategy and ten- year funding formula for how to get new infrastructure and new additional funding sources in order to support that infrastructure.

I would also like to point out that the member for North Islandsaid that she does not agree with tax policy in terms of a referendum. I think the same group of people supporting you…. [1520] Y ou supported a tax policy by referendum about two years ago, called the HST referendum, and campaigned on that. I think this is nothing new in terms of tax policy by referendum. I also would like to point out that this is an important issue for direct democracy. In many countries, of course, they go to vote almost every now and then, in very short intervals, to make local policy.

Th at's in terms of cast- ing their vote to make decisions on how to proceed with policies at the local level. I think in many countries in Europe they use that kind of vote — direct democracy — quite frequently. I think this is a decision for the mayors to make, as well, for them to cultivate a vision for the future of transporta- tion infrastructure in the Lower Mainland. It's an oppor- tunity for the mayors to take up more responsibility, for them to have more power and for them to also be more directly involved in transportation. Transportation.

Locally, of course, many cities have their local traffi c and local roads to control already. I think this is a way for them to integrate the local traffi c policy, transportation policy, into a regional network. I think that would be a good opportunity for them to have that kind of vision of how to do the integration, how to use their local authority, their local power given by the voters for them to control those local issues. So I think this is very positive development for them to have more involvement in this local transportation authority.

Of course, there is much funding actually existing al- ready to support local transportation — for example, in our Metro Vancouver region just recently, about two years ago, the proposal to increase the fuel tax by two cents. Th at decision was actually proposed by the Mayors Council and was accepted by the House, and we passed a bill in order to enable them to do that. Right now, locally, TransLink actually has a lot of re- sources already in terms of the dedicated motor fuel tax. A lot of people don't know that 17 cents for each litre of fuel is allocated to TransLink already.

So when we put gasoline in our cars, 17 cents per litre actually goes to TransLink. Of course, there are other infrastructures — roads, construction, bridge construction. We have the B.C. Transportation Financing Authority. Th ey actually are doing fi nancing for a lot of those infrastructures already — the Evergreen line, the Sea to Sky Highway, the Kicking Horse Canyon, South Fraser Perimeter Road, the William Bennett Bridge and, of course, the Canada Line. Th ose are under the authority to do some fi nancing regarding infrastructure in the Lower Mainland. I'll go back to the gasoline tax.

When you put a litre of gasoline in your car, 6.75 cents has been allocated for that fi nancing authority. Th ere are other revenues, as well, to the provincial gov- ernment. It's only 1.75 cents to general revenue. A lot of

British Columbia DebatesWednesday, April 9, 2014 3025 people don't understand. Th ey say: "Okay, we pay a lot of taxes on gasoline. But how are they allocated?" Th ey don't know. Th ey say that the provincial government is actually taking everything at the provincial level — all this tax. But actually, for general revenue, the province only gets 1.75 cents per litre. [1525] Y ou add all this together. Th e total motor vehicle tax in Metro Vancouver area is 25.5 cents already. Th is is not including the carbon tax as well as the GST and the fed- eral excise tax.

If you included everything, the tax portion of one litre of gasoline…. Suppose it's $1 only. Now, at 25.5 cents for the motor vehicle tax; carbon tax, 6.67 cents; ten cents for the federal excise tax; and GST of 5 percent. Th e 5 per- cent is on top of all of these taxes as well. I think, if it's $1 per litre, it adds up to $1.49. Th at's how we pay $1.49 at the gas pump. But I would like to emphasize, TransLink is actually getting one-third of that tax already, and the BCTFA, in terms of transportation, is 6.75 cents. So sometimes….

Deputy Speaker: Member, the member for North Island would like to seek leave to make introduction. Would you mind ceding the fl oor for a second. Proceed. Introductions by Members C. Trevena: Appreciate the member from Burnaby for giving me the fl oor for the moment. During question period I let the House know that there was going to be a group of students from Campbell River Christian School visiting the Legislature, and I believe they're in the gallery at the moment. We have 12 grade 11 students, some parents and their teacher Tammie Coon.

Th ey're here observing the workings of democracy, the intricacies of debate of the second read- ing of a bill about TransLink funding. I hope that they are enjoying it. Th ey would have had a lot of livelier debate watching question period, but this is the real meat of how our system works: a lot of debate, a lot of questions, a lot of respect. With that, I hope the House will make them very wel- come, and I thank the member from Burnaby for ceding the fl oor to me to make that introduction. Debate Continued R. Lee: It is my honour to continue the debate on Bill 23.

I think the bill is a way for us to show our support to the mayors, the Mayors Council, for them to actually pick up more responsibility. Th is is nothing new in introducing this bill. Our gov- ernment actually committed last year, when we had the election, and made promises that before new fees or taxes were used to expand the Metro Vancouver transportation system, there should be a referendum. So I think this is an issue we campaigned on, and the voters actually had their say already. Today is a promise made and a prom- ise to be delivered.

I think that it is very clear that this is something this side of the House is very committed to do. Our pos- ition has been really, really clear. If the people of Metro Vancouver are being asked to pay for new taxes and fees — this is for the new taxes and fees; I also talked about what TransLink has already been able to collect, in terms of tax, already, so beyond that collection of taxes — the taxpayer should have a say on new fees and new taxes. I think this is very democratic, and I think this is a way for us to let the people say what they want and what they are committed to, with a vote.

I think it is easier for the mayors to say: "Okay. Th is is a decision of the Metro Vancouver people. If you don't agree with that, this is a decision made by referendum." So I think it is easier for them to bring in policy to bring in infrastructure that way as well. I think today's legislation will enable the referendum to occur during the election — or maybe beyond the election, depending on what the Mayors Council will decide. Th ey have the control of this date, but not aft er June 2015. [1530] I think this is a reasonable time period for the Mayors Council to make their decision.

Y ou can save some dol- lars with a referendum if this is being held during the election so the voters don't have to go back another time to cast a vote. I think this is a way for the mayors to de- cide. Th e options are probably quite clear. Th is is also our commitment on this side of the House, of government — to reimburse the costs of a referendum. I think this would be helpful for the local governments to have a referendum without a burden on their local fi nan- cial situation. So I think this is a way to engage the public, to have the direct input for them to say what they want.

Also, the Mayors Council has the option and the au- thority to have the wording of what they want, what the question would be. Th ey can put the wording in a ques- tion. It's a lot of input for them to shape the questions. I think those are the options available to the mayors, and I think they should embrace those kinds of opportunities. I attended, actually, quite a few TransLink meetings during my 13 years as an MLA. I always enjoy listening to the opinions and attended quite a few with the mem- ber for Surrey-Panorama. When he was the TransLink chair, I was there.

I listened to the debate and the discus- sions together with some of the city councillors, of course. I think there was a lot of interest over those years in getting people's input. Sometimes people's options are discussed, but how to make a decision is not clear. I think that with the guidance of the referenda, the board will have more power to proceed with those plans. I think

British Columbia Debates3026 Wednesday, April 9, 2014 this is a good way for our infrastructure to be built in the Lower Mainland. Th is legislation also allows the Mayors Council to ap- prove TransLink's long-term strategies. I guess that this is the strategy. With the opinion of the mayors, it could be more complete, I believe. Th e mayors are elected locally, and of course, they also have a mandate to improve the infrastructure around their local region. But as everybody knows, the regions are not isolated. Th e cities are not isolated. Th e muni- cipalities are not isolated.

And some of the areas, even smaller regional areas, are interconnected. How to present a plan with the vision and the strategy so that in the future it is more sustainable for TransLink, for the lo- cal transportation authority? Th ose are the keys, I believe. Th e mayors have to dis- cuss it. Th ey have to present a vision. Th ey have to present the strategies. Also, they have to be somehow involved in the consequences of that decision. In the future the com- plaints, some of the issues that were brought up by the people in this region….

Th ey will go to the authority as well, to the Mayors Council as well, unless the Mayors Council will say: "Okay, we don't want to play the role of commissioner. We will ask someone else to do that." So I think this is the power within the Mayors Council — for them to decide what to do and how much they want to get involved in the day-to-day operation or policy. I think this is a way for them to engage with the residents. Of course, in transportation, we call them customers. Th e satisfaction of the customers is very important for them.

Th is is a way for those processes to go on in the future. [1535] We also would like to say that a clear understanding of these projects is very important before you go into a referendum. For the next few months, if possible, cul- tivate the projects — what you want, which area to de- velop, what kind of services, funding level, buses, SeaBus, SkyTrains, whatever. I think these are the issues. Th e Mayors Council has to decide and put forward the ques- tions on how the money would be raised if they are al- lowed to use these kinds of policies and the mandate passed by the referendum.

With that, I would like to say thank you to the Chair and to the House for the opportunity. D. Eby: I really hate traffi c jams. I live in Vancouver. It's a nightmare to drive around Vancouver. Ask anybody from Vancouver. It is a headache, and yet thousands of students that go to school at UBC drive their cars to school because the buses will not pick them up because they are at capacity. When you add the thousands of students at UBC who are already there to what is coming to UBC — we know that UBC will be increasing their daytime population to 87,000 people at the school — we've got a real problem in Vancouver.

It's a major, major problem. Like not a small problem; this is a crisis-level problem. I'll give you some scope on the crisis we face on the Broadway corridor. Th e UBC-Broadway corridor is at full transit capacity during peak hours, with 500,000 pass-ups a year. Off -peak services are up to 75 percent of capacity.

When you've got 500,000 times that a bus drives past somebody standing in the rain, not picking them up, you cannot blame that person for not taking the bus next time, for buying a car, for getting a parking pass at UBC and driving themselves to school so that they can make it to work, so that they can make it to their class on time. Now, obviously, that is not a sustainable approach. We're past the point of sustainability, and we're at the crisis level on the Broadway corridor. But it's not just the Broadway corridor. Th is is a systemwide problem.

Friends at CUPE prepared a study of the number of buses available to the system right now: 1,003 conven- tional buses and 105 community shuttle buses for a total of 1,108 buses serving Metro Vancouver during the a.m. rush hour. Y et TransLink's plan calculated that the region would require a bus fl eet of 1,600 buses. Even if you take out West Vancouver and the private operators in New West, Langley and Aldergrove, you're still 430 buses short for projections to 2006. As I noted in question period, this is 2014.

Th e 500 bus fi gure — these missing 500 buses — may actually be conservative, because the projections to come to 1,600 buses were based on population projections that have been exceeded in those years and didn't include the U-Pass program, which has dramatically increased the number of students on the buses. It didn't include the unprecedented rise in the price of gasoline, which has taken many people…. Well, it has encouraged them to get out of their cars and get onto the bus. We've seen a massive increase in people on the bus. When I visit schools…. It's not just UBC.

When I visit BCIT, they talk about lineups around the corner of stu- dents trying to get home on the bus and not being able to get home on the bus and not able to get to school on the bus. Th is is a major problem. [1540] Students who have the U-Pass. Th e idea behind the U-Pass, as I understood it, was t

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20140409pm-Hansard-v10n7
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20140409pm Hansard v10n7
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	6e552b8e0096e12da59ddb3cbb9d73e309bb38c9

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