2005 Legislative Session: First Session, 38th Parliament

HANSARD

The following electronic version is for informational purposes

only.

The printed version remains the official version.

Official Report of

DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

(Hansard)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2005

Afternoon Sitting

Volume 1, Number 16

CONTENTS

Routine Proceedings

Page

Introductions by Members

Introduction and First Reading of

Bills

Teachers' Collective Agreement Act

(Bill 12)

Hon. M. de

Jong

Statements (Standing Order 25 B )

Union of B.C. Municipalities

N. Macdonald

Horse culture in Langley

M. Polak

Book by Clinton Elementary students

C. Wyse

Rights of victims

D. Hayer

Marj White

J. Kwan

Simon Fraser University

H. Bloy

Oral Questions

Call for reinstatement of children's

commissioner

C. James

Hon. S. Hagen

Hon. G.

Campbell

A. Dix

D. Thorne

M. Karagianis

Government policy on investigation of

child deaths

M. Farnworth

Hon. S. Hagen

Call for reinstatement of children's

commissioner

J. Kwan

Hon. S. Hagen

Terms of sale of Terasen Gas to Kinder

Morgan

C. Evans

Hon. C. Hansen

Hon. R.

Coleman

S. Simpson

Hon. B. Penner

Power sales from Alcan smelter in

Kitimat

R. Austin

Hon. C. Hansen

Tabling Documents

Chief Electoral Officer, annual report,

2004-2005

Petitions

S. Fraser

Budget Debate (continued)

V. Roddick

H. Bains

S. Hawkins

J. Horgan

A. Horning

K. Conroy

R. Hawes

Second Reading of Bills

Revenue Statutes Amendment Act, 2005

(Bill 2)

Hon. C. Taylor

J. Kwan

B. Simpson

C. Evans

R. Fleming

M. Karagianis

G. Robertson

Hon. C. Taylor

Budget Measures Implementation Act (No.

2), 2005 (Bill 3)

Hon. C. Taylor

J. Kwan

Hon. C. Taylor

Greater Vancouver Transportation

Authority Amendment Act, 2005 (Bill 9)

Hon. K. Falcon

D. Chudnovsky

Proceedings in the Douglas Fir

Room

Committee of Supply

Estimates: Ministry of Economic

Development and Ministry Responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative and

the Olympics

Hon. C. Hansen

M. Farnworth

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2005

The House met at 2:03 p.m.

Introductions by Members

Hon. C. Richmond: It's indeed a pleasure for me to introduce Dr. Chiara Anselmo, who's in the gallery with us today. She teaches grades six and seven in Kay Bingham Elementary School in Kamloops. She's been a teacher in the school district since 1988. Would the House please make her welcome.

C. James: I'd like to introduce to the House today Stewart Soward. Mr. Soward is a teacher at Victoria High School, a high school that is in my riding and is also the high school both my children graduated from — a fine institution. He's here representing the alternative education teachers, and I'd like the House to please make him welcome.

Hon. J. Les: I, too, have the pleasure of introducing a teacher this afternoon from my riding of Chilliwack-Sumas.

Britt Hailstone is a teacher at Mount Slesse Middle School in Sardis. She not only teaches, but she also lives in my riding. I would ask members of the House to please help make her feel welcome.

J. Brar: I am pleased to welcome to the House an accomplished individual who has taken the time to be in the House today. Carl Beach is a resident of my riding of Surrey–Panorama Ridge. He's a teacher at the North Surrey Secondary School. He's visiting the House today as a representative of the BCTF Educators Against Racism, a professional specialists association. He has also served as a board member of the Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of B.C., shortly known as AMSSA, and Vancouver Multicultural Services and is a sponsor of the Harmony in Action school club. He has also served on BCTF's social justice advisory committee.

In all of these roles Mr. Beach has done commendable work to promote multiculturalism and social justice while helping build bridges with people belonging to different places and cultural backgrounds. I would ask the House to please make him feel welcome.

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D. Hayer: I'm pleased to introduce to this House today some special guests and friends: Jessa Singh Grewal, Ajaib Singh Johal and Mohinder Singh Brar with his 11-year-old grandson, Gursimren Singh Brar. They are all from Surrey. Their friend Kuldip Singh Sandhu is visiting here from Toronto. Would the House please make them very welcome.

D. Chudnovsky: I note in the gallery today two of my oldest and dearest friends. Please welcome the president of the British Columbia Teachers Federation, Jinny Sims, and one of the directors of the BCTF, Moira Mackenzie.

Hon. S. Hagen: I rise to introduce a special guest who is joining us this afternoon in the public gallery. Sandy Morley is a long-time foster parent here in Victoria. Sandy and her husband Bob are among the outstanding people who open their homes to children who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to live with their own families. Unfortunately, Bob is unable to join us today. He is at home looking after the three children he and Sandy are currently fostering. Those children are among hundreds for whom Bob and Sandy have provided a nurturing, caring home over their 25 years as foster parents. Please join me in extending a very, very warm welcome to Sandy today.

I would also like to acknowledge October as Foster Family Month. This is a month-long opportunity to show our appreciation and thank the over 3,000 foster families across British Columbia who, like Sandy and Bob, provide care and support to children and youth who are unable to live with their own families. Foster parents are outstanding people. They open their hearts and homes to offer the kind of nurturing family environment that is so critical to children's healthy development and long-term success. Please join me in taking this opportunity to acknowledge and thank foster parents from across British Columbia for their invaluable contribution to the lives of thousands of children.

N. Simons: I would just like to call the attention of the House to a special guest from Elphinstone Secondary on the Sunshine Coast, a teacher who is also participating in trying to find some solutions to the current issues: Sharon Wood.

J. McIntyre: I believe that joining us in the gallery of the House today are Judy and Deane Wareham from Santa Barbara, California. I would like to ask you to make our neighbours from the south feel welcome today.

J. Horgan: I would like to acknowledge in the gallery with us today a number of teachers from across British Columbia. Leanne Buteau is a teacher of special education from Coquitlam. Ellen Bornowsky is a teacher of modern languages in Langley. Louise Gonsalvez is a teacher from Fernie, and

Britt Hailstone is also a teacher from the Chilliwack-Sumas area. Would you please make those educators welcome.

J. Yap: It is my pleasure to introduce a constituent who is a long-time educator, a teacher at Grauer Elementary in my riding and a long-time social justice and anti-poverty advocate. Please welcome Roz Johns.

K. Whittred: I, too, have a teacher from my community to introduce today. It is my pleasure to introduce Ieke Giese. Ms. Giese is a teacher-librarian from Queen Mary community school. I have had the pleasure of visiting Queen Mary a number of times.

In fact, Ms. Giese has been good enough to invite me as a resource person into her class. I must say that

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they asked some very challenging questions. Please join me in welcoming Ms. Giese to the House today.

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Hon. B. Bennett: It's my pleasure to introduce my constituent Louise Gonsalvez who in fact, although she was introduced a second ago, is from Sparwood and not from Fernie. Sparwood happens to be the centre of the $1 billion coal industry in southeastern B.C. and home of the biggest truck in the world.

The East Kootenay had the highest graduation rates in B.C. last year. Sparwood high school's graduation rate was 96 percent, and Sparwood Secondary was ranked 21st in academic performance in all of British Columbia. Please join with me to welcome Louise Gonsalvez from Sparwood.

J. Nuraney: We have in the gallery Joy Wild. I would like the House to please make her welcome.

Introduction and

First Reading of Bills

TEACHERS' COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT ACT

Hon. M. de Jong presented a message from His Honour the Administrator: a bill intituled Teachers' Collective Agreement Act.

Hon. M. de Jong: Mr. Speaker, I move that the bill be read a first time now.

Motion approved.

Hon. M. de Jong: Everyone in this House is aware that the B.C. Teachers Federation and their employers have been unable to reach a collective agreement. Students are once again facing the prospect of losing access to educational programs. I and the government are disappointed, but I cannot tell you that I am totally surprised, given the history.

Since 1993, successive B.C. governments have been obliged to impose settlements on teachers and school districts on numerous occasions — in '93, '96, '98 and then, most recently, in 2002. It's not a record that anyone can be particularly proud of.

The report of the fact-finder, Mr. Connolly, confirmed that we have a broken bargaining system and that we are not going to see a negotiated settlement until that system is fixed. Without any prospect of settlement, we could, as some have suggested, let the situation drift into strike or lockout. That, of course, would cause nothing but harm to students.

Regardless of what employers and unions do, we've made a clear commitment to ensuring that our children are not held hostage to labour disputes in the school system. This government is also committed to fixing the bargaining structure so that we will actually get to a point where government interference is no longer the norm.

Extending the collective agreement will give both the BCTF and BCPSEA some breathing space before they come back to the table. By that time there will be a structure in place in which negotiated settlements can occur. Teachers will be in a position to bargain effectively for a fair and reasonable wage increase when bargaining resumes in the spring.

I am certain that no one set out to construct a bargaining structure that would fail, but that's what has happened. I will say in this House that I and this government will do everything we can to work with stakeholders in the weeks and months ahead to change that fact.

I move that the bill be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

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Bill 12, Teachers' Collective Agreement Act, introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Statements

(Standing Order 25b)

UNION OF B.C. MUNICIPALITIES

N. Macdonald: It was my pleasure to attend the 100th anniversary of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities over the past week, this time as the NDP critic for local government.

I always leave these gatherings feeling it was a success, and this was the case again this year. I attended six in the '90s as a councillor and mayor. It was good to see many of the same people — in many cases, I hadn't seen them for years — and also to meet with new leaders in local government.

As a mayor, I always appreciated the formal opportunity to meet with ministers. I know for those across the floor who sit in cabinet that this was a particularly

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long week. But it is an important thing to do, and it's an important tradition to follow, so I appreciate that.

I didn't come to the Legislature with a long list of things that I wanted to emulate from the Liberals. There is one. In the '90s I watched as the Premier built on strong UBCM roots in a very systematic and effective way. The official opposition also has many with lengthy backgrounds in local government. We come here through strong grass-roots organizations and recognize two things about the UBCM.

First, with an obligation and commitment to hold this government to account, we have and will raise community concerns. This gathering allowed us to match names to faces, to show our presence and to meet people who are going to help us in doing that. It was a chance to build relationships that we need to speak effectively.

Second, we have the responsibility as the official opposition to prepare to govern — to offer ourselves as the alternative. The relationship with local government, I believe personally, is crucial to effective governance, and we need to develop those relationships and that understanding now.

We had all 33 NDP MLAs in attendance. The words of our leader about the importance of the UBCM were matched by our actions.

Mr. Speaker: Time, member.

N. Macdonald: Okay. We on this side look forward to the UBCM next gathering here in Victoria in October 2006.

HORSE CULTURE IN LANGLEY

M. Polak: The history of Langley is closely tied to the history of horses and those who love them. Langley is home to dozens of equestrian-related clubs, associations and enterprises, including the internationally renowned Canadian Clyde Ride.

Horses thrive in Langley amidst a geography that supports their physical well-being and a horse culture that nurtures the development of excellence. The horse industry in British Columbia — whether amateur, competitive or professional racing — provides thousands of employment opportunities and a broad range of other economic benefits, not only in Langley but throughout the province.

Those who interact regularly with horse people know them to be, first and foremost, crazy about horses. But they're also very committed to supporting their communities and striving for excellence. Most, like Joy Richardson, president of the Langley Horse Federation, recognize that their relationship with horses played a significant role in shaping their commitment to excellence and personal growth.

In recognition of the unique relationship that exists between man and horse, the Spirit of the Horse memorial garden was created. Located in Campbell Valley Park, the garden offers a serene environment in which inscriptions and personal messages convey the heartfelt sentiments of horse owners who support the garden's mission statement: to embrace the majesty of animals who have forged the lives of many and to employ their generous spirit to promote fellowship, hope, courage and strength within our community.

This fall the garden was host to an event that expanded on that mission. Four young ladies — Kimberly Heruing, Sara Sim, Ashley Livingstone and Amanda Ellison — were each recognized for their outstanding achievements in academics and equestrian prowess with a $50 award, and Rose Rogawski was awarded the inaugural Spirit of the Horse memorial scholarship of $500.

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Through economic contributions and the commitment to the development of excellence, the horse community in British Columbia is helping us to achieve our five great goals. I hope the members of this House will join me in congratulating these deserving young people along with British Columbia's horse community whose history and future are so closely tied with those of our great province.

BOOK BY CLINTON ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

C. Wyse: I rise today to recognize a special group of students at Clinton Elementary in Clinton, British Columbia. Last year the grades three and four students at this school, under the guidance of teacher Jim MacQueen and his wife Linda MacQueen, created their own book telling an unusual story with historical links to the Cariboo. The children did their own research for the book at the Clinton Museum and through interviews with people in their community. Their story, Camels in the Cariboo , was written and illustrated completely by the students and won an award in the Kids Are Authors contest sponsored by the Scholastic Book Fair.

Their book chronicles the disastrous plan to bring Bactrian camels from China via the United States to be used as pack animals in the Cariboo gold rush. While the camels died in the inhospitable climate, their story ensures a successive generation of children will learn about B.C.'s gold rush history from a unique perspective.

Today, October 3, the students are receiving their award in a special ceremony in Clinton. Each child receives a copy of the book, a special commemorative medallion and a T-shirt. Their school receives a plaque and a $1,000 prize. But the more valuable prize is the satisfaction each child feels in being part of a literacy project that is relevant to themselves and their community.

I am grateful for the invitation to be part of this momentous occasion, but I'm unable to be with them due to my work in Victoria. However, I ask the House to join with me today in congratulating these future historians, authors and illustrators who have, through this project, developed an appreciation and understanding for the unique heritage of their community.

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RIGHTS OF VICTIMS

D. Hayer: I want to speak today on the rights of victims and how they must take precedence over the rights of criminals. Today many feel our rights are not in balance. They are tipped too far toward the criminals. The rights of the innocent, the victims and their families must be paramount in court and in our society. The punishment or the sentence that criminals receive for the often horrific crimes is nothing like the punishment that victims' families face. For many victims and their families, that sentence is for life, while the criminal essentially walks free.

I speak with personal experience on this. My family will never recover from the loss of my father, gunned down by criminals who have never been brought to justice. Almost everyone I talk to in society agrees with me that our courts and justice system are weighted heavily in favour of the criminals. We must reassert the rights of victims and establish that the time fits the crime and ensure that those who perpetrate these violent acts receive almost as much punishment as they inflict on their innocent victims. At times the punishments seem to have little relevance to the pain, injury and death caused to others.

Families need to have the comfort that the punishment reflects almost the same pain they have felt.

Our society needs the support of all political parties to return balance to the rights of the innocent and to make our communities, our parks and our homes a safe place to be. We, as the lawmakers, must change the system and reassert the rights of victims as paramount. We owe it to our society, to our families and to the future of this province and our country.

MARJ WHITE

J. Kwan: I rise in this House to honour a woman of great integrity, understanding and leadership abilities. Although small in stature, Marj White is a towering figure in my community and for aboriginal people throughout British Columbia. I had the honour and privilege to attend her retirement celebration recently. There were hundreds of people there to pay tribute to this amazing woman.

[1425]

For over 35 years Marj has been a mainstay of the Vancouver aboriginal community. In fact, she has been instrumental in helping get organizations off the ground by lending her expertise to committees in their incubation stages.

A former citizenship judge, Marj exemplifies the values we as Canadians cherish — values of honesty, courage, community service and responsibility to each other. Not only did Marj live by those values, she challenged those around her to live up to them as well. She graduated from nursing school in 1957 and went to work as a nurse in Vancouver General Hospital, a remarkable accomplishment for a young aboriginal woman at the time. However, she found her true calling in working to better the lives of her people.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s Marj was instrumental in organizing the Aboriginal Friendship Centre movement across Canada and was a key leader in the development of the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre.

Today she continues to provide many activists, both aboriginal and non-aboriginal alike, with the benefit of her wisdom, leadership and experience. Marj has received dozens of honours and awards in her career, including the recognition as a Woman of Distinction from the YWCA. She also sits on many boards, including Lu'ma Native Housing and Access.

This is Marj's last week on the job, and she has done the work of many lifetimes. I would ask that the members of this House send our congratulations on her retirement and recognize her, her achievements and her outstanding contributions to our province.

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

H. Bloy: A great time was had by all last weekend at Simon Fraser University as it celebrated its 40th anniversary. Simon Fraser University is the heart and soul of Burnaby in the riding of Burquitlam. Designed by architect Arthur Erickson, SFU has grown rapidly over the past 40 years and is recognized around the world for its high academic standards and achievements.

Over the past four years I've had the pleasure of putting shovel into ground to help build some of those new buildings: the health sciences buildings, new resident building, a cafeteria, a new sports facility. There have been many other initiatives over the past four years.

The whole weekend was a success. The original graduating class was there, and the luncheon was oversold. Festivities continued throughout the day. Dr. Michael Stevenson, the president, spoke. Many departments and faculty held reunions. A dance featuring the band Wager, fronted by two SFU members, including vice president Warren Gill, played late into the evening.

At SFU there has been more than a fair share of luminaries over the years, including our Premier; our Minister of Transportation; other members of this House; Terry Fox, a Canadian hero; Barbara Mowat; Francesco Aquilini, co-owner of the Canucks; Peter Legg, an honorary degree who's leading a capital fundraising campaign with Brandt Louie for the Joe Segal Graduate School of Business.

I would ask the House to please join me in congratulating SFU for the first 40 years of achievement and wishing them all the best for the next 40 years of continued development and progress leading British Columbia into the future.

Oral Questions

CALL FOR REINSTATEMENT OF

CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONER

C. James: It was ten years ago that Judge Thomas Gove presented his report into the death of Matthew Vaudreuil. Today would have been Matthew's 19th

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birthday. Ten years ago the Premier supported every one of the recommendations contained in the Gove Report — every one. More importantly, the Premier supported the creation of a Children's Commission. My question is to the Premier. Why did the Premier support the findings of the Gove Report in 1996 and then dismiss them in 2002 by eliminating the Children's Commission?

Hon. S. Hagen: Today the Premier and I met with Justice Gove to discuss his position on child death reviews. While this meeting identified that we do have a strong system in place to review children's deaths, there may be areas where we can improve. Following that meeting, we as government have asked Justice Gove to sit on a panel with the children and youth officer, the chief coroner and others to be decided to look at the current process for child death reviews and the respective roles of all of those involved and to recommend any improvements.

[1430]

This panel will report back by the end of this calendar year in time for any consideration, if necessary, for the spring legislative session. Our goal is to ensure the independence of these important offices and to make the best possible system to protect our kids.

Mr. Speaker: The Leader of the Opposition has a supplemental.

C. James: I'm certainly pleased that finally, finally the government has sat down with Mr. Gove and has taken a look at the problems we see in the system today. But that doesn't take away from the fact that Judge Gove has made a recommendation that doesn't need another study, that doesn't need more people to review it and that could be implemented today if the government cared about children in care.

Again I ask the Premier: will he reinstate a Children's Commission as recommended by Judge Gove to resolve the issues facing children's deaths?

Hon. S. Hagen: This government will implement any recommendations that come from this panel when they bring forward the recommendations by the end of this year.

Mr. Speaker: The Leader of the Opposition has a further supplemental.

C. James: I'm continuing to hear from the minister the same kind of responses. The recommendation is there. We have a recommendation from Judge Gove. What has changed from the recommendations that came forward ten years ago to today? Nothing has changed. Those recommendations, as the judge has pointed out, are just as important today as they were in 1996 when the Premier himself said he supported every one of those recommendations, including creating a Children's Commission.

Again I would like to ask the Premier: will he show some leadership and reinstate the Children's Commission as recommended by Judge Gove?

Hon. G. Campbell: I'm sure the Leader of the Opposition understands that many things have changed in the last ten years. First of all, I think what's important is that what Judge Gove recommended was exactly what we've got: an independent person who is there looking at and reviewing the deaths we have.

Also, what I think is very clear from my discussions with Judge Gove today is that he recognizes that as we move forward, we want to be as open as we can, we want to be as thorough as we can, and we want to make sure every child's death in British Columbia is properly reviewed.

There was a review that took place in 2001, which suggested there were ways we could do it that would eliminate duplication and that would add to the effectiveness of the review. And as I'm sure the Leader of the Opposition knows, there was to be a legislative review in 2007. There's no question that we can move that review up, and we will.

There is no question that Mr. Gove and the independent children and youth officer should be part of that, as should the chief coroner. There's no question that everyone in this House wants to be sure that we take care of children in care of the government and that we treat every death of every child in care in British Columbia with the kind of responsible, sensible and effective action that's necessary. That's our goal, that's our objective, and I believe that's what we can meet.

A. Dix: With great respect to the Premier, when he was Leader of the Opposition he said it much more simply than that. He said that when a child dies, investigate; when a child dies, care. There have been over 200 children who have died since he broke his word and got rid of the Children's Commission three years ago, and there have only been two public reports. We don't need another commission. We need legislation now.

I say to the Premier: will he act today to bring back an independent children's commissioner who will automatically review all child deaths?

Hon. S. Hagen: As the Premier said, many things have changed in the last ten years. We had a very, very good discussion with Justice Gove this morning. Justice Gove does not care what the position is called, as long as the positions are looking after kids. That's the purpose of the panel: to make sure that what we've done is what is needed. If there is something in addition that's needed, then the panel will bring forward that recommendation.

Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

[1435]

A. Dix: I agree that many things have changed. The government cut funding for the Ministry of Children

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and Family Development more than any other ministry of government. They've stopped automatically reviewing child deaths and injuries. They've taken away the independence of that office. If the Premier needed an example of that, he could have seen his two ministers giving contrary orders to his so-called independent commissioner two weeks ago.

I ask the Premier…. He made the commitment to the children of British Columbia. He broke that commitment. It's time to come clean. It's time to respond. It's time to bring back an independent commissioner. Will he do that today?

Hon. G. Campbell: Let me start by saying that I think the role the opposition has played with regard to this has been important and constructive. For an important and constructive conversation to take place, it is required that we all do our review of what the facts are.

The fact is that there are more dollars spent today on child protection than there were when this government was elected. The fact is that the independent children and youth officer is independent. In fact, the member opposite should understand this. Certainly, the member opposite should understand this.

The youth and child officer is appointed exactly the same way as the children's commissioner was appointed. There was an effort made to try and ensure that we did things as effectively as possible, and that we eliminated duplication so that we could in fact provide for systemic improvements and move those systemic improvements forward on behalf of all members of this House and all British Columbians. That effort will continue.

A full review by the panel, including the child and youth officer and Judge Gove as well as the chief coroner, will help do that. I welcome the opposition's comments and their concern, and I want the opposition to understand that we are all striving to achieve the best possible system for children in British Columbia.

D. Thorne: The minister continues to refuse to acknowledge the facts. The current child and youth officer can only act under the direction of the Attorney General. In an e-mail dated January 11, 2005, the child and youth officer responded to a question on whether she would investigate the tragic death of a child in Maple Ridge. She said: "There is no provision for me to investigate the death of any child unless asked to do so by the Attorney General."

All of this controversy and all of this confusion could be eliminated. Why won't the Premier reinstate the children's commissioner so that all the deaths and all of the injuries to children in British Columbia are investigated and reported automatically to the general public?

Hon. S. Hagen: First of all, I am sure the member opposite knows that all deaths in this province are investigated by the coroner's office. That's a fact. The coroner's office is also independent, just like the child and youth officer.

We do welcome the opposition's comments on this particular matter. But you know, we have now asked Judge Gove and a panel to look at all of these issues. If there's something that is not being done under the present system by the child and youth officer and/or the coroner's office, then we welcome the suggestions that will come out of the panel.

Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

D. Thorne: While we welcome the fact that Judge Gove is going to take

part in an investigative panel, it doesn't make a lot of sense that we have to redo the work of Judge Gove when pretty much everybody in this House at one point in time agreed with his recommendations.

The issue here is the automatic part of an investigation. There were 200 deaths of children in this province. There were only two investigations since '02. That is shameful, and we should hang our heads in shame. We need automatic investigations. We need a children's commissioner in order for that to happen. The coroner's work, while good, does not take care of that issue.

Hon. S. Hagen: I'm not sure if I heard a question there. I don't think I did, but I'd like to remind the member that the coroner does in fact investigate those deaths.

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M. Karagianis: The bottom line here is that if the government hadn't cut the Children's Commission in 2002, we wouldn't be having the controversy that we see here today. I'd also like to add that in fact the government cut the coroner's budget as well. If the government had not cut the Children's Commission in 2002, we would have seen 237 reports on 237 deaths of children in the care of or known to the ministry.

My question is to the Minister of Children and Family Development. Will the minister agree that under the former model, all 237 of those children's deaths would have been reported out to the Legislature and the public? A yes or no, please.

Hon. S. Hagen: All of those deaths are investigated by the coroner's office.

Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

M. Karagianis: Five of those deaths were homicides. This argument is not about the independence of the child and youth officer or about the coroner's report. This argument is about the fact that if the children's commissioner was still in place today, reviews of those deaths would be automatic.

Today I would like to ask the Premier, the Minister of Children and Family Development or the Attorney General: will someone stand up in this House and

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show some real leadership and reinstate the Children's Commission immediately so that all of these deaths will be reported on automatically?

Hon. S. Hagen: All of those deaths are being investigated by the coroner's office. I know the coroner's office has in their plans to make regular or annual reports to the Legislature, at which time all of that information will come out. In some cases there may be an investigation, a criminal investigation, going on. They have to wait for that to take place.

GOVERNMENT POLICY

ON INVESTIGATION OF CHILD DEATHS

M. Farnworth: The coroner reports on the cause of death, not on the role that agencies or government may have played in that. That's an important distinction.

What I want to ask the minister is this. We saw last week, day after day, the opposition asking questions of the minister and the Attorney General. Each day we saw the government move a bit. By the end of the week we had an expanded mandate and three investigations underway. Over the weekend Judge Gove, who founded the system we took so much pride in over the last ten years, came out with some recommendations and comments. Again, the government went into damage control.

Does the Minister of Children and Family Development believe that's the appropriate way that public policy concerning the safety of children in British Columbia should be conducted?

Hon. S. Hagen: That's why the Premier and I met with Judge Gove this morning. We can't take statements from Judge Gove as what's reported in the media. We wanted to meet face to face so we could have the discussion. We had a great discussion this morning. Judge Gove has agreed to sit on a panel together with the child and youth officer, together with the coroner and others — to be announced shortly. All we're looking for is to make sure that the system we have in place is the best system we can find to deal with children and families.

Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

M. Farnworth: Again to the minister, it took four days of questioning last week. It took comments by Judge Gove this weekend to get the government to ask. It took four years since the cutbacks were made. Why has it taken so long?

My question to the Premier: why did it take the Premier four years to invite Judge Gove back to the table to discuss the problems in the system?

Hon. S. Hagen: Let me state the facts about the budget for child protection in this ministry. Since we became government, we've refocused resources and changed policy to reduce the number of children in care by supporting children in their families, which all the research shows is the best place for them to be. We're supporting aboriginal agencies, and we're supporting adoptions.

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Let me give you some concrete examples. For adoptions, for the term that we've been in office, we've increased the budget from $3.3 million, where it was when we started, to $17.3 million. That's a 400-percent increase. In out of care and alternatives to care — that is kith and kin and other tools for keeping families together, like counselling — we've increased it from $400,000 a year when we became government to $2.4 million. That's a 450-percent increase. For aboriginal services, from $7.8 million to $18.7 million — a 139-percent increase.

The results speak for themselves. We've had a 15-percent reduction in children in care, who now are staying with their families or with close families. That is compared to the 45-percent increase that took place from '95 to '01.

CALL FOR REINSTATEMENT OF

CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONER

J. Kwan: Well, then, the results are clear, aren't they? Two investigations out of 237 deaths — that's the result of the policy of this government.

Let us be clear. Judge Gove was invited to meet with the Premier not because it was the right thing to do, but because this government wanted to fix the political issues that have arisen.

The children's commissioner had a clear mandate — when there was one. When a child dies, investigate. The government wants to remove politics from the process but continues, instead, to deal with the issue on a reactionary basis. Judge Thomas Gove said in the media last week: "That report would have been made public not in reaction to the front-page stories but as a matter of course." That is the issue at hand.

My question is to the Premier: will the Premier remove politics from the deaths of children and implement the Children's Commission — put it back in place where it was when it was recommended by Judge Gove back in 1996?

Hon. S. Hagen: Regardless of what the member opposite says, every member in this House and indeed all British Columbians care about kids, care about the safety of children. Nobody can take ownership of that, because we all care. Because of that, that's why we approached Judge Gove on Friday, last week, to sit down and have a discussion with him about his comments and to see if he would help us — as we're asking anybody who cares about this to help us — to make sure that we do have the proper system in place, that we do in fact have the best system in place to look after kids and to keep kids safe in the province.

Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

J. Kwan: Today all the government has done is find ways to deal with the issue in a reactionary approach, ways to actually cover their political hide. If the gov

[ Page 320 ]

ernment wants to do the right thing, then reinstate the children's commissioner. It's that simple.

This government said they want to eliminate duplication. We have an ombudsman's report. We have two reports from the child and youth officer. We have a report from the coroner. Now we have another investigation involving Judge Gove. Which part of the piece doesn't the government get? The minister and the government could have eliminated all of this duplication if they reinstated the children's commissioner. If that was in place, this would have dealt with the issue that's been raised today.

Why won't the Premier do the right thing and reinstate the children's commissioner today?

Hon. S. Hagen: It's not about reinstating a position. It's actually about making sure that we cover all of the needs of kids in care. We want to make sure that between the child and youth officer and the coroner's office, all of the things that need to be done are being done. That's why we've asked for the panel to review what happens in the system. Judge Gove has said it doesn't matter what you call the position. It just matters that all of the things that need to be done are being done. That's all we're trying to do.

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TERMS OF SALE OF TERASEN GAS

TO KINDER MORGAN

C. Evans: On September 9 this year a really unusual thing happened in Vancouver. I don't know if it had any precedent before. The B.C. Utilities Commission held a pre-hearing to decide whether or not to accept the request of a Texas gas company, Kinder Morgan, to be allowed to buy Terasen Gas of British Columbia without any hearings.

The Utilities Commission ordinarily would go to Fort Nelson, Kamloops, Kelowna and Vancouver and hold hearings to see what the people of B.C. thought. Kinder Morgan's lawyers got up and said: "We don't think there need to be any hearings from the people. We just want to have written submissions." On that day the Ministry of Energy sent an employee to get on an airplane, a floatplane, and fly over to Vancouver. He got in a taxicab, went to the office building, went to the front of the room, walked forward and delivered 29 words — a message from the Ministry of Energy.

My question is for the Premier. That civil servant's message was that the government of British Columbia, or at least the Ministry of Energy, had no opinion on whether or not British Columbians should be allowed to attend hearings to discuss the sale of Terasen to Kinder Morgan. Was that the Ministry of Energy employee's opinion? Or did you, Mr. Premier, and your cabinet take a government position on whether or not British Columbians deserve hearings on the sale of Terasen Gas?

Hon. C. Hansen: I would be pleased to take the question on notice on behalf of the Minister of Energy.

Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

C. Evans: That's a great answer. I appreciate it, minister, because it means you might come in here tomorrow and say that it's not the government's position. You might….

Mr. Speaker: Member, there are no supplementals when they take it on notice.

C. Evans: I'll ask another minister. I've got a new question for another minister, and my House Leader says it's okay.

My question is for the Minister of Forests. Politics, especially international politics and trade, is a question of symbols and facts and timing. Hon. minister, we've got $5 billion trapped at the American border. We have this company that comes to Canada and says: "We want to buy your most valuable resource — energy." Wouldn't you agree that at this moment, this would be the perfect timing to send a message to Washington and say: "No, you can't buy our oil company and gas company until you settle the softwood deal"?

Mr. Speaker: Could you pose the question, member.

C. Evans: Hon. minister, stand up and say that you agree with the Minister of Energy and this can happen without any discussion, or have the guts to say: "Put it off for 90 days, until they solve softwood, before we talk about Terasen."

Hon. R. Coleman: Thank you to the member for his question. I think he should understand that negotiations on softwood are at a very sensitive time right now. We have more back-channel things happening on that file…

Interjection.

Mr. Speaker: Order, please.

Hon. R. Coleman: …than have happened in a long time. We have some very interesting opportunities in front of us, and we're not going to cloud the waters with some rhetoric from the member opposite.

S. Simpson: To the Minister of Environment, again on the question of the Terasen sale. The minister may know that Kinder Morgan has recently been dubbed the poster child for pipeline problems by the Pipeline Safety Trust organization out of Washington. They've received that moniker largely because, in addition to facing over $5 million in fines for environmental violations, the U.S. Department of Transportation on August 24 issued a corrective action against Kinder Morgan for 44 environmental violations and has directed them to take a number of actions to rectify that. If they don't do it within 120 days, they'll face $100,000-a-day fines.

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Given Kinder Morgan's environmental track record and the latest actions of the U.S. government to protect their interests in regard to Kinder Morgan, my question to the minister is: does he agree that the environmental record of Kinder Morgan should be part of the B.C. Utilities Commission's review of the application to purchase Terasen Gas?

Hon. B. Penner: I would expect the member opposite would know by now that any company operating in British Columbia, regardless of where they're headquartered, is required to abide by our strict environmental standards, which are among the toughest in the entire world. It is worth remembering, too, that the NDP had a record of interfering with the BCUC process during the 1990s. For example, they froze electricity rates at artificially high levels in the 1990s. They directed B.C. Hydro…

[1455]

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Order, please.

Hon. B. Penner: …around all electricity generation or lack thereof, preventing the public from having input into a public process like the BCUC when it came to important decisions around electricity and other energy issues in British Columbia.

Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

S. Simpson: The minister may not find it important to protect the interests of British Columbians in this case, but we do on this side. In early August I wrote to the minister and to the Attorney General, who has responsibility for the Utilities Commission, asking them to do the only thing that we could do to get the Utilities Commission to look at an environmental question. That was to provide a special cabinet direction.

I didn't receive an acknowledgment of the letter from either minister, let alone an answer. What that says to me is that maybe this government doesn't place much importance on environmental considerations on these questions. I would note that over 2,000 letters have been sent to the Utilities Commission on this question — 2,000 letters opposed to the sale and not one letter in support of the sale.

My question to the minister is: can he tell the House why he didn't see fit to accept the request to provide a special cabinet direction to the Utilities Commission to do an environmental review of the Terasen sale? And if he isn't going to ensure that the Utilities Commission does that work, then just who is going to do the environmental review on behalf of British Columbians?

Hon. B. Penner: As I stated earlier, any company operating within British Columbia's borders is required to comply with our strict environmental standards, which are among the best in the world. The BCUC hearing is open to the public. I understand that a number of members of this Legislature are involved in that process, so it's an open and transparent process. The BCUC makes decisions based on the best interests of B.C. ratepayers.

Back when the NDP was in office and was busy interfering with the BCUC, they didn't just freeze electricity rates at artificially high levels in the 1990s. They actually directed the BCUC to approve the Vancouver Island generation project. They also directed the BCUC to approve the GSX pipeline. That's the kind of interference that people on Vancouver Island and across British Columbia didn't appreciate and don't want to see in the future.

POWER SALES FROM

ALCAN SMELTER IN KITIMAT

R. Austin: Today in B.C. our precious natural resources are being sacrificed for international corporate profit. Alcan has an agreement with the province that allows them use of the waters of the Nechako River to produce aluminum in exchange for creating jobs in the region. But instead of using the power to create local jobs at its Kitimat smelter, Alcan is selling it off in order to reap windfall profits and invest in projects outside of Canada.

To the Minister of Energy and Mines: what is his government doing to ensure that local natural resources are benefiting B.C. residents rather than padding the pockets of multinational corporations?

Hon. C. Hansen: I'm sure the member knows that this is a matter that is before the courts and that therefore it would be entirely inappropriate for any member of executive council to answer that question.

Mr. Speaker: Does the member have a new question?

R. Austin: Yes.

When they were in opposition, the members opposite were concerned about the province's deal with Alcan. They wanted to make sure that local economic development and job creation came first. How times have changed. These cuts at the Alcan smelter in Kitimat spell big losses for B.C. Each year we lose $168 million in industrial output and $9.6 million in provincial tax revenue. All the while, Alcan reaps massive private corporate profits.

Again to the Minister of Energy and Mines: will he commit to putting B.C.'s jobs first and order, create, a review of all private power sales in B.C. — all private power sales?

Hon. C. Hansen: As I indicated earlier, it would be inappropriate to respond, because that matter is before the courts.

I would like to remind the member that B.C. is actually leading all of Canada in terms of job creation. We see it not just in the northwest but in every single region in British Columbia. We're almost approaching

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record-low unemployment rates — that have ever been recorded in this province.

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I'm glad the member is interested in job creation. Let's celebrate the fact that for the first time in B.C. history, we have over 2.1 million British Columbians employed.

[End of question period.]

Tabling Documents

Mr. Speaker: Hon. members, I have the honour to present the annual report of the Chief Electoral Officer for 2004-2005.

Petitions

S. Fraser: I have a petition, if I may. It's signed by Vancouver Island residents, and the petition speaks to grave concerns about monopoly control of a water utility. It opposes the sale of the Breakwater Enterprise's operation to EPCOR North Island Water Inc. I'd like to table this petition, please.

Orders of the Day

Hon. M. de Jong: On orders of the day, for the information of members, I call continued debate on the budget.

Budget Debate

(continued)

V. Roddick: I continue from last Thursday.

Our province is now moving towards a golden decade and Balanced Budget 2005 and its update that will ensure all British Columbians share in the opportunities ahead.

With long-term investments in our environment and our communities, new measures to strengthen the economy, new support for children with special needs and people with disabilities, thousands of new post-secondary spaces, the highest budgets ever for health care and education, the largest-ever annual reduction in provincial debt, income tax and MSP premium charges that over three years will leave $480 million in the pockets of those who need it most, the September budget update confirms all of the measures announced in the February budget, including a significant tax reduction for people with low and modest incomes.

Seniors, first nations and jobs have been initially targeted as step one in this four-year rollout vision. We now have the opportunity to build on social supports that many of our seniors depend on: seniors supplement, approximately $50 more a month; SAFER programs — Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters — $90 in all categories, $180 a month in high-rent areas; plus the opening up for an additional 7,200 seniors who own manufactured homes, recognizing that many pay monthly pad rentals.

We are on track to deliver 5,000 new residential assisted-living and supportive housing beds by the end of 2008. We have the resources and the added flexibility we need to support a smooth transition and to allow more of our seniors to age in place, where appropriate.

We are working to deliver on the government's commitment to build a new relationship with first nations which is built on openness, transparency and collaboration. We must reduce uncertainty, litigation and conflict — in other words, work together collaboratively. A strong new relationship based on respect will ensure we navigate that road together, to the ultimate benefit of all British Columbians.

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Everything that we have been able to accomplish over the past amazing four years has been due to our success in keeping B.C. competitive and turning our fiscal position around. Since day one this government has worked to encourage growth and has taken steps to make B.C. an even more attractive centre for research and development. The tax changes in this budget update will save businesses almost $400 million over three years, supporting our goal to create more jobs per capita than anywhere else in Canada.

Jobs build communities; communities build our province. That is our challenge: to deliver infrastructure and services at a pace that meets people's needs without burdening future generations with a debt load we cannot afford. Each and every single constituency in our province faces its own unique challenges that will require innovative solutions, both social and financial, over the next four years and beyond. Whinging simply does not cut it. Working together does.

[S. Hammell in the chair.]

Delta South, for example, is facing several major issues. Power lines to the Gulf and Vancouver islands, Tsawwassen First Nation in treaty mode, Roberts Bank port expansion, agricultural bylaws, our overall health services, B.C. Ferries, massive transportation infrastructure, dredging on the Fraser River and last, but certainly not least, our beleaguered fishing industry. It is imperative that Delta maintains its local atmosphere while developing as a gateway to British Columbia and to Canada.

I, along with all my colleagues, will be working determinedly to deliver to the people of British Columbia, — i.e., the shareholders, our shareholders, the vision and goals put forth in the September budget and throne speeches. By working collaboratively, we can and will deliver.

H. Bains: Madam Speaker, I can't tell you enough what a humbling experience it was for me when I walked into this chamber for the first time on June 15 of this year — a moment I never even imagined was possible when I first arrived as an immigrant to this country. Today I want to tell you how very proud I am to stand up in this chamber as a worker, as a labour

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activist, as a representative of Surrey-Newton and as an Indo-Canadian.

[1510]

I came to Canada in 1971. One of the first things I learned about our history was the work that was done by the labour movement and many others to help secure the right for Indo-Canadians, Chinese and other immigrants to participate as citizens of this province. For 40 years, from 1907 until 1947, we were denied the right to citizenship. We were denied the opportunity to exercise a fundamental human right, the right to vote.

Even after 1947 some covenants existed in some cities where Indo-Canadians and coloured people could not buy properties. As late as 1972 those covenants still existed, and it wasn't until the leadership of Dave Barrett's government that they outlawed those covenants.

As I was preparing to come to the Legislature for the first time as a new member, I reflected on that history of our province and the injustices that existed, but more importantly on the hard work of others in this House to bring fairness and justice. I thought about those legislators who came here before us and who helped enshrine those injustices in law and how, decades later, our history and our province's citizens judge them today.

I thought about the issues that will face us here in the Legislature and the ideas, values and vision that we will put forward. I hope we will stop to think and wonder and ask ourselves how we will be judged some 50 years, 100 years down the road.

What will be the lasting impact of the decisions we make in this House now? Will our children and their children and their children say that our great-great-great-grandparents who were in this House made those laws that embarrassed them some hundred years down the road?

It gives me enormous pride to stand here knowing that I can be part of that history and that I can work to make this province more just and more fair for all British Columbians.

During the election I pledged to the people of Surrey-Newton that I would fight hard for health care in our communities, that I would fight alongside other members from Surrey to ensure that our hospital has the resources it needs to meet the growing demands of our community. So far, based on the budget that this government has tabled, I know how disappointed my constituents are. I want to assure them that I'll continue to fight for the fair funding that Surrey Memorial Hospital requires.

I pledged to my constituents that I would be their voice, demanding that we improve the education system for our children. Instead, we're watching the government resist any meaningful mandate or talks with teachers — the backbone of our education system. Parents in Surrey are concerned at growing class sizes, fewer resources for students with special needs, more fees for textbooks and supplies, and fewer teacher-librarians.

The Premier talked about improving literacy. What the Premier didn't tell us was that only 2 percent of B.C. schools have a full-time teacher-librarian, and instead of putting together a plan to fix it, this government is more interested in picking fights with teachers. In Surrey we have more students than in 2001, and we have fewer teachers, fewer teacher-librarians and fewer teachers for special needs kids.

I heard the member opposite, the member from the government side, argue that enrolment is lower in the province, and that's why they closed schools. Come to Surrey. Talk to those parents. Talk to those students. Talk to those teachers. We do have growing enrolment in Surrey, but we have fewer teachers. So that argument doesn't wash in Surrey.

We are quickly learning that this government likes to set goals but won't put the plans and resources in place to reach them. Let's talk about apprenticeship. The Premier talked about apprenticeship and skills training — another great goal, but without a proper plan or resources to get there.

[1515]

This government dismantled our trades training program. Apprenticeship completions are down, tuition is higher, and fewer classes at Kwantlen University College offer the courses that are required. In particular, with my background on the former board of governors of Kwantlen University College, I promised my constituents to contribute my knowledge and experience to the debate about the future of the post-secondary education system, because it is so important that all British Columbians have access to the skills and training that they need to succeed in today's economy.

We have a long way to go and a government that doesn't seem to understand the pieces that need to be brought together. Every day, families in B.C. bore the brunt of this government's actions — more and more fees for fewer and fewer services, paycheques getting stretched harder and harder, and real wages falling behind. Just talk to the volunteers at the Surrey Food Bank about the growing need and the lineups. Or talk to the senior that I talked to when I was door-knocking during my campaign, who told me that he has stopped taking a cholesterol-lowering drug because he can't afford it anymore.

I ask this government why it is forcing the most vulnerable in our society to make choices between buying food or medication for their ailments. Why? That's the question on the doorsteps of Surrey-Newton constituents that I heard day in and day out. Is it because they can give their millionaire friends a corporate tax break, to the tune of close to half a billion dollars, that they didn't even ask for?

This government budget surplus isn't even offering much support to those seniors. Now, the government claims times are good — good enough to reward the corporate backers with another big tax break but leave the working families in the cold. This government is riding the tide of commodity prices and more federal dollars than B.C. has ever seen. That's great. That is

[ Page 324 ]

great, but where is the economic vision that ensures opportunity for all, not just more big raises for CEOs?

This government talks about a gateway strategy for the Surrey area, but forget the gateway if they can't even solve issues like the south perimeter road. I see the pattern becoming clearer and clearer — big goals and lofty statements, but no plans or resources to back them up.

We will have an opportunity to showcase our province in 2010. If done right, we will show our strength in diversity and economic opportunity available to the rest of the world. However, I have my concerns on that as well — concerns around whether the economic benefits are realized by all regions of this province, not just the lower mainland or the Whistler corridor.

There are serious concerns of spending overruns on the Kelowna bridge, the convention centre, the RAV line. Now we hear that the Olympics spending is also going higher and higher. That's why it is essential to give the Auditor General the authority and resources to monitor and report back on Olympics spending.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

This government is really missing out on the opportunity to deal with our skills shortage by not including apprenticeships in the construction of the Olympics. It's a real opportunity that we can use to deal with the shortage of skills in this province. The mining industry just told us the other day that it will be hiring 80,000 new workers in the next ten years. They said that out of those 80,000, 60 percent are skilled trades — skilled trades that we don't even have today. They're lacking enough to go around.

I come from the forest industry, working in the mills and then later in my union. In fact, many of my constituents also work in the mills. Talking to them, they seem to have a better sense of the B.C. economy than this government has.

[1520]

They understand the connection between the lower mainland and our larger population centres with the people and economic activity generated by British Columbians in rural B.C., in the north and in the interior. They understand that it is the forest sector that helped drive the technology sector or the transportation sector. I know they are concerned that this government couldn't even put forward forestry as a standing committee of this House.

You know why? I think it's because years ago they decided to give that industry to their friends and multinational corporations through the so-called Forestry Revitalization Act. They justified at that time that it would enable the industry to reinvest in the mills and in the industry. Therefore, they would create jobs. That was then, but what followed was the story of thousands of forestry workers on the coast being laid off — community after community devastated.

Eleven sawmills have been closed in the last four years — 11. Two more have announced closures by the end of October. They said at that time that this new forest policy is good for B.C., good for B.C. workers, good for the forestry industry. They said: "Don't worry about it. We will look after you."

As a part of the Forestry Revitalization Act, they said that the industry, which will be losing their timber as a result of the 20-percent takeback, will be compensated. They said the workers, who will lose their jobs as a direct result of the 20-percent takeback, will be paid severances. They took away the social contract on the Forest Act, a social contract that requires that in return for our resources — our logs that the industry will be using to make profit — they will be creating jobs in the logging sector and manufacturing sector and providing community stability. That connection is gone now.

The companies are becoming log brokers rather than job creators in the forest industry. That is wrong. There was no intention, at that time, when we gave our resources to these big companies. There were safeguards put in place through the social contract, safeguards that would ensure that the forest-dependent, smaller communities will have certain activities year-round, even when the industry wasn't doing great. The minimum cut that was there…. They had to provide jobs for at least 50 percent of the workforce, or up to 150 percent if the times weren't great, but over a five-year cycle they had to be within ten percent. That connection is also gone.

Now what the companies are doing is shutting their operations down for two or three years, the workers are losing their seniority, and the industry goes back and takes all of its cut in the next two years. That is wrong. There was never, never that intention when we gave those resources to those companies. What that means is that we have given away the industry to the industry, the way they wanted it and how they wanted to harvest it. We have allowed the industry to do whatever they wanted to do — with no regard to the communities, no regard to the workers who are losing their jobs as a result of that.

Let's talk about the investment that was promised during the time when the forest revitalization was brought in. Did they invest? Yes, they did. They did invest. You know where? Does anyone want to take a guess? I'll tell you where: they invested in the United States.

[1525]

Let's use Interfor for an example. The first thing they did was shut down a sawmill in the Fraser Valley, move 20 kilometres down south and open up an operation there in Washington, laying off hundreds of workers here and creating jobs in Washington. Then what they did was continue to invest because they were making loads of money as a result of our policy here. They again went south, under the leadership of this government that was supposed to be attracting investment into this province.

Interfor took money from the industry here, went to Washington again and purchased sawmills in Washington, creating jobs in Washington, not in B.C. That's where the investment history of this province is in the forest industry.

[ Page 325 ]

At a time when the interior is also going through a major pine beetle infestation, the coast is going through a major transition, aboriginal land claims are unresolved and our province has no solution to the softwood lumber dispute — and has, I might add, given away all the cards in negotiations to the Americans — there's no forestry committee to deal with the single largest economic issue in this province — no forestry committee.

I referenced aboriginal land claims, and I do want to say that it is about much more than land. It is about building a new relationship. I want to commend the government on this one for some of the steps they have taken in this area. But I want to remind them that we will be watching, and so will the natives. We do remember this government's illegitimate attempt to hold a referendum on the question of aboriginal rights. We remember that, the people of this province remember that, and our aboriginal people remember that.

I want to come back to Surrey-Newton for a while here. I am optimistic about our province and where we can go, knowing that success only comes from working together. When I look for inspiration, I look to my riding, to the people of Surrey-Newton, a diverse and proud people — neighbours and families committed to building a strong, healthy community.

In particular, I look to our seniors and our young people. Far too often both of these groups are excluded from our discussions and consultations, and I know I will be working to change that. Because seniors built this province, we owe it to them to be mindful of the goals they set out, the vision they put forward. We need to measure ourselves against it. Our youth sure challenge us to think of new ideas and new ways of tackling what often appear to be very old or at least recurring problems that won't go away. They challenge us to look at the world in different ways — two generations that have so much to offer and, in my view, aren't heard from enough.

I'm privileged to fight for these issues and for social and economic justice for the people of Surrey-Newton and the rest of the province. I'm proud to stand here as a New Democrat, representing the party of someone like Penny Priddy, who fought so vigorously for the principles and ideals of social and economic justice. I'm proud to be a representative of the party of Dave Barrett, who led a government that recognized, among other things, the need to recognize human rights through legislation and to ensure that all British Columbians are treated with dignity and respect.

It is with great pride that I stand here as a trade unionist in the footsteps of a former MP from my union, Brother Frank Howard. I know, like he did, that my union, the IWA and the Steelworkers now, set the standard for me and for many others in this province. My union provided me not only with a voice on the job but also with great opportunities to learn and grow as a citizen. I was also fortunate that the members of my local union saw fit to elect me to work on their behalf for what I believe in and to help working people improve their daily lives. I am proud of my history in the union, and I want to thank my union for the support they have provided to me over the years.

I would also like to take a moment to pay my respects to a former MLA, Mr. Tony Bhullar, who spoke on behalf of his constituents while his party tried to silence him. I want to thank him for having the courage to speak against his own party because he recognized that they were moving in the wrong direction.

[1530]

I would like to thank hundreds of supporters who showed confidence in me to be their representative and worked day and night to get me elected — three people in particular: Jessie Uppal, my campaign manager; Lambher Sidhu, my good friend; and Emily Zimmerman. They brought these hundreds of volunteers together, showed leadership and put on a campaign that was based on hard work and honesty, and I thank them for that.

Whether it's campaigns, my work in the union or standing here before you today, I know that I wouldn't be here without my family. I think we all know the enormous sacrifices we ask our families to make so we can serve in these offices, and my family is no different. I can't say that it's no questions asked, but my wife Rajvinder and my children Kulpreet, Jasmeen and Parveen are my bedrock. On top of that, I'm blessed to have my parents, my brothers and the rest of my extended family — there are about 2,000 of them around here in the lower mainland — always, always showing they are unwavering in their support.

In conclusion, I want to once again thank the people of Surrey-Newton for putting their trust in me to represent their interest here in the Legislature. I look forward to the responsibility and the opportunity of serving as MLA for Surrey-Newton.

S. Hawkins: It's a great honour to rise in reply to the budget update. First of all, let me offer my congratulations to you, Mr. Speaker. I'm very honoured to serve as your deputy this session. Congratulations to the Assistant Deputy that was appointed from the opposition benches as well.

I want to congratulate all of the members in this chamber, the ones that were re-elected and the ones that are newly elected. Certainly, congratulations to the new member for Kelowna–Lake Country, who is now my partner in Kelowna in representing that wonderful constituency. Thanks, as well, to all of the constituents of Kelowna-Mission for their continued support, for having the confidence in me to return me to this wonderful place as their MLA for a third term. I am very grateful to them.

I also want to thank my volunteers. I've heard it mentioned many times in this chamber how the democratic process works when we have people that give freely of their own time, and I certainly have people in Kelowna that are very loyal. I want to thank my riding association and my executive and my campaign team that worked so hard.

I, too, want to thank my family and friends. This is probably one of the few times I've had occasion to

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stand in the chamber over the last year and a half. I was struck with an illness last year, and I'm grateful to family and friends who helped pull me through a particularly tough year and helped me get back on my feet and back to what I love and what I want to do.

Last but not least, I want to thank my two constituency assistants Del Scovil and Shirley Hut for their incredible public service and for their devotion to the constituents of Kelowna-Mission. They put in long, hard hours. I can't believe they've been with me…. We're going on ten years now, and I'm truly grateful, as I know my constituents are, for their loyalty, their dedication and certainly their friendship with me.

[1535]

As we start this new parliamentary session, I do want to acknowledge my colleagues who I served with for the past four years. Many have returned, but I know that many have gone on to new challenges, and others fought an election campaign and were not successful. I want to say that all of them made an incredible and important contribution in putting our province back on its feet. If not for their hard work and the heavy lifting and the tough decisions we had to make over the last four years, we wouldn't be where we are today here in this province, leading the country.

We're back on our feet, and I have to say I'm very grateful for all the hard work the members in the last parliamentary session put in, getting B.C. back to where it is today.

I don't think we can forget where we started in May 2001. We had deficit budgets. We inherited a province that really didn't have a plan. There was no direction. We had the worst economy in the country. We started in 2001 ranked number ten in Canada. We had high unemployment. We had low investment. We had low investor confidence. We had high debt. I can tell you that everywhere we travelled in the province, people weren't that confident and there wasn't a lot of optimism or hope.

You know, one of the things I think people were the most ashamed of, and you heard this when you traveled around the province…. People were not very proud of the fact that we had slipped into a have-not province status. In the last four years…. I can say they were not easy years. They were not easy years at all. We were all in tough times, and we needed to do something fairly bold. We needed to do things to make sure we dealt with the challenges we had facing us.

Then we had added challenges. I mean, we had 9/11, three or four months after we took office. We had SARS. We had the West Nile virus risk. We had BSE, or mad cow disease, as it's known. There were fires, floods and, of course, the ongoing softwood lumber dispute. But we came through the fire, so to speak, and I'm proud of what our government has accomplished in the last four very short years.

We have balanced our budgets, which have been based on generally accepted accounting principles. We're the only jurisdiction in North America to adopt this method and to be held accountable for it. I think that is something we can all be very proud of as British Columbians. We have three-year service plans for every ministry in government. Every ministry has to come in on budget every single year, and they have in the last four years. I think we can be proud of the leadership shown in each of those ministries to be able to do that.

We've been able to make our debt payments, and we've been able to lower our interest rate on borrowing. Our bond-rating agencies have approved our plan of fiscal responsibility and have given us upgrades instead of the downgrading we saw in the decade before we were in power. And we have the highest rate of employment in 20 years. We can all be grateful and proud of that.

In a word, our taxes are down, our investment is up, and our unemployment is the lowest in 24 years. Health spending is up. Education spending is up. Investing in children's health and literacy is up. Housing starts are up. People leaving B.C. — down. People moving to B.C. — up. We're seeing an amazing amount of in-migration. Business confidence is up, and I can tell you that optimism is sky-high. People are confident. They're moving back to B.C. instead of leaving this province.

I've only to look at my own neighbourhood and my own neighbours as proof. My new neighbours moved in last summer. It was a young family with four beautiful little girls. Steve, who's the father, works in construction as a framer. I watched this young couple with three little girls and a baby move in. He said that he and Brenda moved to Alberta five or six years ago when the NDP were running the province. There was no work. There was no investment. Both their families were in B.C. They really didn't want to leave. They didn't want the kids to be so far away from uncles and aunts and grandparents. But they had to, to survive, so they moved to Calgary.

The last few years he watched as the province turned the corner, and they returned because he was able to work again in B.C. They could make a living and a life here again. They're home, they're close to family, they're happy, and we are happy to have them back. They are contributing to our economy, and they're making us a province that's leading in Canada again. We are happy to have those kinds of workers back.

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You can feel the optimism everywhere you go. There's hope. There's a feeling that we're going in the right direction. Every member who has spoken in the past few weeks — and I've listened intently — certainly has mentioned that this is a great province. Every corner of the province that people talk about, they say it's the best place to live, and I agree. I know, and I really believe, that we do live in the best place on earth, and it is found in every corner of the province.

Let me say that I do, as well, live in one of the most beautiful places in the world in the Okanagan Valley. It's an incredibly breathtaking place. We live on this fabulous lake. We're surrounded by vineyards, orchards, mountains, beaches. It really is paradise, and I

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believe it's populated by the most generous, caring and supportive citizens you could ever hope to know.

I live in the city of Kelowna, and how lucky I am to live there. A working paradise is what I like to call it, really — a destination resort town. We lovingly refer to it as a year-round playground. We have, as I mentioned, ski hills, beaches, golf courses. We can often get a rise out of our relatives — and I've been guilty of that a few times — by telling them how we can ski in the mountains in the morning, water-ski around lunchtime and then golf in the afternoon. I know they don't want to hear about that, and I'm almost sorry I mentioned it.

Unfortunately, we brag too much about it, because the secret's out, and we've seen a flood of new people moving into our community and into our valley. The growth has been short of explosive. Kelowna's population is almost 106,000 people today, and that's up 10,000 in only four years. Really, our population grew by 2.4 percent last year, where the provincial average was 1.4 percent. So we have seen a lot of growth.

We have seen, as well, just incredible economic growth — 11.1 percent in 2004 — and it is growing. It's still booming. We have a very well-diversified economy, which includes manufacturing, tourism obviously, a wine industry, forestry, agriculture, high-tech, mining, a booming housing and construction market, just to mention a few.

But we have a huge problem. It was on the Noon News today, and I hope we can do something about it. I'm going to speak up about this problem, because it has a huge impact on my community. We have too many jobs and not enough workers. Can you believe that? The Okanagan is begging for jobs. You know, it's interesting. The reporter on the Noon News talked about the southern interior's retailers facing a huge problem with a shortage of employees.

At Orchard Park mall, which is a big one in the riding, there are 31 positions advertised, and many businesses have signs in the windows looking for workers, it says. They say it's hard right now, because there are lots of jobs. There's a lot of competition for workers. One company — Okanagan Fireplace Den — is offering its staff a three-day paid trip to Las Vegas as a bonus for their loyalty, and more than anything, the owner says the company offers the promise of long-term work in a well-paying trade with limited experience to get in.

Can you imagine? I love having that problem in the Okanagan. We really are an economic engine, and I'm really proud that our government has been able to turn around the economy in this province so that we can have a problem like too many jobs and not enough workers. I'm so proud of what our Premier and our government have been able to help me deliver in my community in the last few years.

Certainly, in the five years that I sat in opposition, we felt there was not enough happening and not enough attention being given to projects in the community that had been planned for a long time. But there was no plan for them, really, and there was no management of how the plan was going to proceed.

One of them, honestly, Mr. Speaker, is the new five-lane Okanagan Lake Bridge, and I can tell you that my community is so grateful that this government has got a plan and that the bridge is going to be built. We're going to be opening it in 2008. It's long overdue, and I can thank all of my colleagues and the government for getting that on line for us. We are very, very appreciative of that.

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We also established a new world-class university in the Okanagan and a new college, so we've got UBC Okanagan and Okanagan University College in Kelowna, which is going to be adding 5,500 new student spaces. I mean, what an accomplishment. The constituents are absolutely thrilled about that. Our students get to stay closer to home. Again, their cost-of-living expenses, all that kind of stuff, are going to be a lot more affordable with a university finally close to home. We are very grateful for that.

We have seen in the last few years increased funding for Kelowna General Hospital. We've opened a ninth operating room. We've allocated funds for additional surgeries and procedures. We've added more renal dialysis machines. The new MRI now is fixed in Kelowna General Hospital. We've given an investment for digital imaging, which means that around the Interior Health Authority radiologists can look at computer screens and look at X-rays from patients that might be hundreds of miles away. It saves patients from travelling, and it certainly saves health care costs. We're very proud of that.

In November we will be opening a new adolescent psychiatric in-patient unit for our youth who have psychiatric concerns and problems. The community raised, I believe, $1 million towards this. The government also contributed, and the Minister of Children and Family Development also contributed. We are very, very grateful for this new facility.

We have added new assisted-living facilities for seniors. I can tell you that when we started in 2001, there were 200 assisted-living beds in the whole province. That was it. We felt that our seniors needed other options. We felt that our seniors needed the options of staying home and being as independent as possible. Then if they needed to be in some kind of a facility, it should be one that offers them a measure of independence. We feel that the assisted-living model is one that meets that requirement, and we are very proud of the number of beds that have been opened in our area.

In 2001 the option was basically: either you stayed at home, or if you couldn't stay at home, you went into a residential institution facility. So I think this is a great option for our seniors. I've been to quite a few in the last couple of years that have opened, and some very happy seniors are living in those facilities.

We had, in 2004, 2003…. I have to get my dates right. In 2003 we had a firestorm, and we had fires all over the province. It just shows you what an amazingly big province this is when you see floods on one end of the province and fires and drought on another. Unfortunately, our area was hit with fires. There was quite a

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bit of building and damage repair to be done afterwards. Again, the assistance with post-fire funding for our sewer infrastructure, for fire prevention pilot projects and disaster recovery plans has been very gratefully received by our region. Certainly, the fire recovery plans for Okanagan Mountain Park and Myra-Bellevue Park have been gratefully received. This summer we reopened the Okanagan Mountain Park — the trails — and people had the benefit of getting back into that park and just seeing how it can come back to life after the fire.

The Myra Canyon trestle's reconstruction. Again, the government has given funding for that, and it's coming along beautifully. We had the Minister of Environment there a few weeks ago and were able to show the minister how much work has been done.

I believe about three or four trestles are now rebuilt and redecked. In 2008, I believe — it might even be 2007 — we will be opening the trestles again for the public. It's going to be just a fabulous asset for tourism and for historical purposes for our province.

We have also been generously given funding for an Olympic legacy aquatic centre and an all-weather, 1,000-seat stadium at the Mission sports field site, and our community certainly is embracing the opportunities around the 2010 Olympics. It's something our children and everyone in the community are really looking forward to and is quite excited about.

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For K-to-12 we've seen school funding for new textbooks, new computers, Internet upgrades and computer pilot projects to improve student achievement. The funding was doubled for parent advisory councils. We now have the highest per-pupil funding in the history of B.C. in our school district.

In four short years I think that is an incredible amount of gain for our constituency, and we're still seeing some good things happening. I think the budget update is really good news for my constituents. It improves support for seniors, and I certainly appreciate that. I think a lot of the community sees that as a very positive step.

Renewing the seniors supplement will benefit 40,000 low-income seniors across the province. It also doubles the annual Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters, which was the SAFER program funding. I think what's really appreciated is that it expands the coverage to seniors who own manufactured homes and face significant monthly pad rentals. With the increase in SAFER funding and increasing the seniors in manufactured homes, a total of 8,400 seniors will benefit from that. I think that's really important.

As I mentioned, the budget also, I believe, adds $150 million over the next few years to update seniors health facilities and to help seniors live as independently as possible. I just want to say a few words about that, because I know we did have a commitment to deliver X number of beds — 5,000 beds — in our first term, 2001. We were going to deliver them by 2006.

Frankly, when we got in — and I was the member of the health team that looked at that as Minister of Health Planning then — we found that there was never a real overview done of all of the facilities across the province. What we found was that there were a lot of buildings that needed to be refitted and a lot of beds that needed to be redone so that they actually met the requirements for delivering care and providing good care to seniors in the 20th century. Many of these facilities had bathrooms where you couldn't fit a wheelchair. There were a lot of problems with the existing facilities.

The funding and the plan was to make sure that some of the ones that could be taken care of would be rehabilitated and renovated, and the new ones then would come on line. Disappointing as it is, the 5,000 beds will not be met by 2006 but will be met shortly after that. I'm proud that the government was able to actually do a master plan and look at all of the facilities and look at which beds we could fix right away. Now we have a plan for the next three years to make sure that we're on line and that we deliver that commitment. It will be done. I'm very confident of that.

We have the lowest income tax for lower- and middle-income earners in this province. In fact, 330,000 people making less than $15,500 pay no provincial income tax at all, and 400,000 people saw their taxes reduced since the last budget. We've reduced or eliminated MSP premiums for low-income people. We've increased child care subsidies for 16,000 children, and we moved more than 40,000 income assistance recipients into jobs where they're earning two to three times what they earned on welfare. That's good news for people in this province.

In health care we're doing more surgeries than ever before. In 2003, 63,000 more surgeries were conducted over 2001. For example, knee replacements have increased by more than 65 percent, and hip replacements have increased by more than 35 percent.

You know, as a former nurse and someone who worked in health care, it is important to make sure that people are getting the care they need. In a population that is continuing to age and in a population that is growing, that demand is obviously growing as well.

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I'm very proud of the Premier and the leadership that he showed last year in securing more health care dollars and securing a health accord with the other Premiers and with the federal government. We're seeing that money flow through now. Certainly, we're going to see the benefits of that to our constituents as well.

I was in the gym this summer working out, and one of my neighbours was in there. He's a senior. I believe he needed a knee replacement. He said to me: "You can tell this story because I hear all this about people waiting and not getting the care and that they're getting longer and longer wait-lists. I think it's important to tell you. Last winter I wanted to ski. The doctor said, 'It's going to take at least a year for you to get your knee

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replacement,' and I said that I don't want it now. I'll wait."

He said he had a winter skiing and went back in January and said to the doctor: "Okay, put me on the wait-list now." He said that the year before he would have had to wait a year. When he got on the list with the doctor now, he said, "I'm getting my surgery in June" — so in six months.

I know there have been improvements made. He noticed it himself, and this is a patient that needed the surgery. He said: "Actually, I'm glad I waited. I got another year of skiing." This guy is in his 70s, so he's quite an active senior. That's the other thing. Some of these surgeries we never did ten, 15 years ago. Our seniors are healthier. They're more active. They're out there doing stuff.

We're living longer, which is a good thing. I'm going to live as long as I can and enjoy that kind of stuff. The demand is there for more of these surgeries. I'm glad he noticed that when he went back to the doctor a year later, the wait-list had decreased. I hope that is the case for other people as well.

I know that our government has committed around $46 million in additional funding in 2004 to provide more heart surgeries, more orthopedic surgeries, more cataract procedures and the like, and more diagnostic procedures. Obviously, our commitment is to try and reduce the wait-lists in the areas where there is the greatest need. We've also committed another $100 million to reduce wait times in other key surgical and medical priorities.

I want to get back to the jobs again, because I think that's really important. When we look at how a person, how they go through their life and are able to contribute and feel good about themselves and have good health and everything else…. I think it's really important that they feel they have a way to earn their living and make a living. I think it's important to note that there are more people than ever working today in this province and that we lead the country in job creation.

I heard the minister just a little while ago saying that there were 2.1 million people working in the province of B.C. today. I think that is really good news. I think that's good news for everybody. Since 2001 we've seen over 238,000 jobs created in this province, and we now have the lowest rate of unemployment ever. In every region of the province we've seen good-news stories about job creation and low unemployment.

We have also had the greatest overall drop in consumer bankruptcies in the whole country in 2004. I think that's good news too. People are moving back to B.C. There are more jobs. There is more opportunity. I think we need to recognize that we are going in the right direction here.

The budget update. As well, I think it's important to note that it increases funding for K-to-12 education. Since 2001 our government has added to the education budget despite declining enrolment. I think people forget that. There are fewer students in the classroom, and yet we continue to increase funding and up that budget.

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In this '05-06 budget school districts will see the single largest funding increase in a decade. There's $150 million to improve school libraries and quality learning resources for music and arts programs, and resources to support every special needs student. I think that's really important. The Advanced Education budget will see an additional $15 million in this budget. That's to help expand the number of post-secondary seats and to keep tuition fees affordable.

The budget update also keeps the commitment to provide $450 million over three years for student financial assistance, including loan reductions for students in need for debt relief, a loan forgiveness program and grants for students with disabilities. I believe the Minister of Advanced Education made an announcement today forgiving some student loans. Obviously, that program's on track as well. I'm pretty proud of that, actually.

The Health budget has seen an increase every year since we formed government in 2001. By 2008 it will see a $3.7 billion increase in health spending since 2001.

I see my time is running short, and I did want to mention, as well, that I'm very pleased with the $100 million for the First Nations New Relationship fund. I know that we will set up a partnership with them, and there will be consultation on how that will proceed. I'm looking forward to that.

On that note, in closing, I must say that I'm very proud to be from Kelowna, home of the Kelowna Rockets, the Memorial Cup champions.

I know you're going to tell me to be quiet, so I will do this in two seconds, hopefully. There is an Okanagan wine festival going on right now, and I invite all members to come and enjoy life in the Okanagan and see how we live.

R. Hawes: I seek leave to make an introduction.

Leave granted.

Introductions by Members

R. Hawes: In the gallery today we have Mme. Sophie Bergeron. She's a francophone teacher in Coquitlam and coordinator of French programs for the Coquitlam school district, as well as being president of the French immersion and francophone teachers provincial specialists association. Could the House please make her welcome.

Debate Continued

J. Horgan: Mr. Speaker, I have to say that I still find it odd every time you say that — that I'm standing up. But here I am. I want to respect and honour your role now as Speaker of the House. You have done a fantastic job to this point in time, and I know you'll continue to do that through the term of this session.

It's truly an honour and a privilege for me to stand here today and address this chamber as the New De-

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mocrat member for Malahat–Juan de Fuca. I want to take the opportunity to thank some of the many volunteers who helped me get here.

But before I do that, I want to acknowledge the member for Vancouver-Kingsway, who is sitting beside me. He and I met in the House of Commons almost 20 years ago, and at that time I never thought I'd be sitting or standing beside you. Good to see you.

I do also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the patience and contribution and love of my family: my wife Ellie and my two sons Nate and Evan. Like other members in this House, my family will be making sacrifices over the coming years. I'm hopeful that they'll bear with me, and I know that they'll want to help when they can and get out of the way when they can't. Thank you, Nate, Evan and Ellie.

I also want to thank Bruce Fogg for managing my campaign and working so well with the many dozens of volunteers who came to Langford and to other points in Malahat–Juan de Fuca to re-elect a New Democrat in this constituency. Over the course of the campaign I made hundreds of new friends, and among them was a young lawyer named Kevin MacGillivray. His passion and youthful exuberance were reminders to all of us of the importance of involving young people in the political process. His idealism and commitment to social justice and his genuine interest in seeing the democratic process from the ground up kept us all young over the course of the campaign. I want to thank him for that.

[1605]

He became a fixture at my side, whether it be knocking on doors, attending meetings, handing out leaflets — and even the dreaded Burma Shave. We even actually got out on the highway and waved at people, and there were no accidents caused, I'm happy to say. The Minister of Transportation will also be happy to hear that.

I want to just thank Kevin again for all of his efforts and wish him well in his law career. He became one of what we called Horgan's heroes over the course of the campaign, one of the scores of people who gave of themselves so that I could have the honour to sit in this place and represent the people of my community.

There were many ups and downs during the campaign, as we all know. One person in particular was always there with his quick wit and his booming radio voice, and that was Richard Hughes, a former regional director in the Cowichan Valley regional district and our candidate for election in 2001. I want to thank Richard for his contribution to this campaign and his tireless work to get me into this chair. I appreciate it. Thanks very much.

If anyone was driving through my constituency from Duncan to Langford or Port Renfrew to Sooke in April or May of this year, they would have seen a sign or two with my name on it. My sign crew was extraordinary, many of them in their 70s. They answered the bell for the campaign, as they had time after time after time. They blanketed our constituency, as distant and diverse as it is, with my name. I'm told that you could even catch a glimpse of a Horgan sign if you logged onto the Ministry of Transportation website and looked at the Malahat webcam. They did their research, and they did the best they could.

I'd like to thank regional director John Middleton and Bill Nelson, who managed the south Cowichan portion of my constituency. Councillor Ed Cooper, Jack Howe and Russ Bertram handled the lookout of the Malahat down to Langford and through to Metchosin. Bobby Woodford, Bill Wilson, Howard Reagan and Frank Mitchell swung their hammers from East Sooke past Otter Point to Shirley and beyond. These guys did a tremendous job, and I want to thank them for helping me get to this place.

I could mention dozens of other Horgan's heroes. But I could not stand in this House without recognizing a pillar in our party and an inspiration to me and many others who have come before me.

[S. Hawkins in the chair.]

Without the support of Kay Mitchell, I would likely not have sought the NDP nomination in Malahat–Juan de Fuca. Kay has been working on campaigns and fighting for those without a voice all her life. She and her white-haired husband kept me on track and continue to remind me that the people who elected me are my first obligation. Constituency work is the primary job of an elected politician. As we all know, all politics is local. I intend to stay connected to the needs and views of my neighbours as my highest priority, and I hope I'll never forget that.

While I'm on the subject of Kay's husband, I'd like to acknowledge those that have represented our community in this Legislature over the decades. Most recently we were represented by Brian Kerr. Brian served from 2001 to the most recent election, when he retired to enjoy more time with his family. I want to thank Brian for his contribution to public life and to Malahat–Juan de Fuca.

From 1991 to 2001 we had a vocal and popular politician in this House, Rick Kasper, who worked tirelessly for the people of our riding. I am hopeful that I can make as much noise as he did and accomplish as much in my time here.

Before 1991 the riding of Malahat–Juan de Fuca was cut into two. The Cowichan Valley portion was represented by such notable MLAs as Sam Guthrie from 1937 to 1949; Bob Strachan from 1952 to 1975; and most recently Barbara Wallace from 1975 to 1986. Only three times in the past 70 years has the Cowichan Valley been represented by anyone other than a New Democrat or CCF member — quite a legacy.

The south of my constituency was held by Jimmy Gorst during the Barrett governments from '72 to '75, and before that the seat was held by Kay's husband Frank. Frank Mitchell was first elected in this constituency in 1951 and re-elected in the 1970s and the 1980s. At the age of 79 he and his sidekick, the mayor of Leechtown, Billy Wilson, kept me front and centre in the public mind in the communities of Sooke, Otter

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Point, East Sooke, Shirley and Port Renfrew. They even had time for a cold beverage now and again, and I certainly was prepared to oblige.

Following Frank's retirement, the southern portion of Malahat–Juan de Fuca was represented by a fellow named Moe Sihota. That's a familiar name to many in this House. I can see the Minister of Finance shuddering at the prospect of having to deal with Moe Sihota. He's not here anymore, and I'm sure the member from Langara can rest easy for now.

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At the federal level my constituency has been represented by two NDP Premiers: Dave Barrett for British Columbia and Tommy Douglas, who represented this constituency from 1968 to 1975. Also, of course, the riding was represented by my friend and former employer Jim Manley. The elected representatives in this riding have always provided leadership, a commitment to social justice and have been champions for their community. I am daunted by this legacy of outstanding Canadians, and I commit to give my very best to meet the high standards they've set before me.

I believe strongly in public service and the importance of collective responsibility. My world-view was shaped by my family, as many others in here will say. When I was growing up here in Victoria….

I'm going to have to miss this part, Mom. Sorry, maybe another day.

It's quite unusual for me to be here at all. It wouldn't have happened had it not been for the sacrifices of my widowed mother, my two brothers and my sister Kathy. They have been a constant source of inspiration to me and have made numerous sacrifices so that I could stand here today.

I want to thank my friend from Kingsway for getting me out of that one, and I will now move on. Thank you, family. I appreciate it very, very much.

From north to south, east to west, Malahat–Juan de Fuca is one of the most spectacular ridings in this province. I know we're all going to say that when we stand up. We've seen commercials over the past 12 months that tell us that this is the most beautiful place in the world, but you know, we all know it is, and Malahat–Juan de Fuca is the pinnacle. My caucus colleagues are tired of me saying that, but I invite you all to drive through to see some of the spectacular scenery and the cultural traditions of my community.

It's a rich and long history, going back millennia. The first people to settle in my region were the Salish- and Nuu-chah-nulth-speaking people. Today the Cowichan tribes to the north are the most numerous, and across the Saanich Inlet are Tsartlip, Tseycum, Tsawout and Paquachin first nations. Living south of my riding are the Songhees people, the Esquimalt people and the Beecher Bay band. In my constituency the people of Malahat, Sooke and Pacheedaht are proud and part of my constituency. I am committed to work with these first nations to improve economic and social opportunity in the South Island, as it has been ignored for far too long.

The government has initiated a reconciliation program in this budget to accelerate the treaty process that was begun by the Harcourt government, and I want to applaud the government for this about-face on first nations issues. The early days of the Liberal administration were tarnished by what appeared to me to be a racist referendum on the terms of treaty-making. This new direction is welcome, and I am delighted that the government has gone this course.

But I put the minister responsible and the Premier on notice that those on this side of the House want to ensure that progress is made on treaties and other measures to address the long-standing issues of fairness and justice for first nations that they expect and deserve.

As I said, the Cowichan Valley is made up of several distinct and vibrant communities. Mill Bay is the northern terminus of the scenic Mill Bay–Brentwood Bay ferry route. Shawnigan Lake was once a holiday destination but has transformed into a vibrant year-round community growing faster than many residents would like. I recall my summers there, at the Hutchison property, chopping wood, swimming, canoeing — not a care in the world. I had no idea that one day I would represent that area in the Legislature, but my memories of that simpler time have shaped my perspective today.

Growth must be tied to the ability of the land to sustain that development. After I left high school, I worked in the pulp mill in Ocean Falls, one of the more interesting places I have laid my head over the years, I have to say. When the fibre supply dried up, the Social Credit government of the day shut the town down in 1979. Based on that experience, I should have had an inkling, when I lived in Cobble Hill in the early '80s, that a transformation was beginning in the forest industry. I worked summers at the Cowichan joinery as I went to university.

At that time I had no notion that hundreds and hundreds of trucks of raw logs would be leaving my community. It seemed impossible at the time in a community dotted with mills and forest land as far as you can see, but that's the reality of today. That is what the forest sector faces in my community: trucks driving from the valley, not supporting millworkers, not supporting the community.

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In the valley, in Sooke, in Jordan River, in Port Renfrew, fewer families are supported by the forest industry than ever before. The industry continues to make enormous profits on the coast but employs fewer and fewer workers. Instead of developing value-added industries and linking access to wood to increased employment, the current government takes donations from large operators and streamlines processes so profits can continue.

Growing up, I also marvelled at the vast tracts of farmland from Dougans Lake, just north of Cobble Hill, through to Cowichan Station and Glenora — all vibrant communities today. Again, I never expected to be supporting and representing agricultural communities. I've never been much of a farmer. My brother raised a few pigs in Cobble Hill back in the '80s. I

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found that a challenge. They always got out; I could never get them back in the pen. I'm proud and honoured to be representing agriculturalists in the Cowichan Valley today.

The Farmers Institute is a vibrant organization. The 90th annual Cobble Hill fair took place this September. There were pigs there, and somehow they managed to keep them in the pen. I watched, and I just can't figure it out. It's beyond my capacity, I suppose.

There are new opportunities in the valley, new agricultural opportunities, vineyards galore — Malahat Estates, Cherry Point Vineyards — all doing very, very well and establishing a wine industry similar to yours, Madam Speaker, on the southern portion of Vancouver Island.

Agritourism is a new and exciting opportunity in the valley as well. Coupled with the lakes, rivers and trails throughout the region, the south Cowichan is one of the hottest tourist destinations on the Island.

The development of the Trans Canada Trail has opened up the region to cycling tours and other ecotourism opportunities. However, a major impediment to this is the historic-to-some, dilapidated-to-others Kinsol Trestle, which spans the Koksilah River just north of Shawnigan Lake. This gap in the trail is impassable, unsafe and in need of immediate attention.

Cowichan Bay, on the east side of the riding, is also rich in history and tradition. An abundance of salmon and shellfish make the waterfront the centre of activity during the annual spawn of the Cowichan and Koksilah rivers. On the highway you'll find the historic Whippletree Junction, a commercial area designed to take customers back to a simpler time. Cow Bay is also home to the famous South Cowichan Lawn Tennis Club. Established in 1887, it is the last tennis club in Canada to still play on lawn.

The natural beauty and abundance of Malahat–Juan de Fuca is not limited to the Cowichan Valley, of course. Port Renfrew, at the mouth of the San Juan River, is the foot of the world-renowned West Coast Trail. I have committed to lose ten pounds so that my friend from Alberni-Qualicum can carry me on his back the length of the trail into his constituency in the town of Bamfield.

The Juan de Fuca Trail was created in the 1990s as a recreation area for locals and visitors to enjoy. French Creek, China Beach and other provincial parks in the Sooke area are highlights for anyone who is visiting the riding, and I encourage you to do so.

Similarly, surfing at Sombrio Beach attracts boarders from around the world. When I lived in Australia — I was doing my master's thesis there — I would go to Bondi Beach to do some surfing. They'd say: "Where are you from, mate?" I'd say: "I'm from Vancouver Island." They would say: "Do you ever surf Sombrio?" I said: "No, I haven't, and no, I won't." I've been there. The kids are good, boarders are plenty, and it's a contribution to the tourist economy in Sooke and regions around there.

A magnificent location, also, to look at would be Point No Point, or the Sheringham lighthouse in Shirley, and lastly, and most importantly to me, the newly created Sooke Potholes Regional Park. As a kid I used to go to the Sooke potholes and dive off the cliffs, and my children went there and wanted to dive off the cliffs, and I said: "No chance." My spouse, the great enabler, said: "Go ahead, dear. Your father's not watching." There they were, jumping off the cliffs.

It's a fantastic place, and I invite all members to take a trip to Sooke and visit the potholes next summer. We used to gauge our summer success on the number of times we were able to take a dip in the cool waters of the potholes. I now know that as an enshrined regional park, I will be able to spend my Julys and Augusts, well into the future, making my pilgrimages to the potholes.

Over the course of the campaign I made a pledge to the people of my region and constituency that I would work tirelessly and relentlessly to advance issues in their communities. I outlined some key objectives, and you'll all be aware that health care and education are foremost among those. I also focused a good deal of my attention on transportation infrastructure in the south Island.

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Let's start with health care for a moment. It's easily the number-one issue facing our generation, and all of us in this House will have to work very, very hard over the next four years if we're going to be prepared for the bubble of baby-boomers wanting to access health care services into the next decade.

As our citizens age, the need for seniors care is increasing. In Sooke, particularly, community leaders have been seeking government commitments for extended care beds from VIHA and B.C. Housing for some time. This is not a spur-of-the-moment idea in Sooke. The Sooke Elderly Citizens Housing Society has been in existence since the 1960s. The Ayre Manor site now has 18 independent living units and there are plans for many, many more. Local government has waived development cost charges and other local taxes. Volunteers have donated time and labour. All of this is in aid of seeking some assistance from B.C. Housing, in particular, in a solid commitment to fund some of these beds.

Support for increased seniors housing is the highest priority I have in the community of Sooke, and dreams of a health campus and primary care and other health care facilities in that distant west coast community are also high on that priority list.

I have the honour of being the education critic for my party, and based on legislation tabled today, I suspect I will have a lot to say about that in the next couple of days. So I won't go on too long now, but I would like to mention one thing that is very important to me, my family and the people of Sooke, Langford and school district 62, and that is the urgent need for a new high school in our community.

My children are currently housed with 1,700 other students in a school built for 1,200. The situation is critical. School board plans are in place. Growth studies have been completed. Land acquisition is at hand.

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What our growing community needs is for the provincial government to advance capital spending so that we can break ground earlier than the plan provides for. During the election campaign a Liberal candidate in the adjoining riding alleged to have extracted a commitment from the Premier to advance this project by one year, and I'm hopeful that the Minister of Finance and I will be able to have a discussion about that in the very near future.

Improved transit in Sooke, Langford and south Cowichan — very high priority for me. Linking the Cowichan and Victoria services is long overdue and will help reduce automobile traffic in our community. The growth in Langford over the past ten years has been nothing short of extraordinary. Every corner of that community is bustling with new subdivisions — thousands of houses in the east, thousands in the west, thousands in the north, thousands in the south. A vibrant and dynamic community led by a council that committed itself to growth and progress and perhaps has met the enemy of all growth, and that is chronic gridlock.

I know my colleagues from the city of Vancouver speak passionately about the important issues of transportation in the lower mainland. I believe that my colleagues are probably getting a little bit tired of me speaking about transportation issues in the South Island, but that's our job. That's why we're here: to advance issues of importance in our community. Nothing is more important in the South Island than addressing the growing transportation problems from Nanaimo, south.

As I said earlier, development cannot exceed the ability of the land to absorb change. That also means planning transportation before subdivisions are completed, not after. The time has arrived, I believe, for a serious assessment of rapid transit in the lower Island and the Western Communities of Victoria. The E&N rail corridor is an obvious starting point for commuter rail and rail service from south of Duncan into Langford and the downtown core.

There is much work to be done, but a commitment from local governments and the province to an honest dialogue on this important matter is critical during this session of the Legislature. I'm ready to meet with the minister and his officials any time, anywhere, any place, to advance this cause, as are my colleagues from Esquimalt-Metchosin and Cowichan-Ladysmith.

You may have heard me speak — I know my colleagues have — about a certain portion of the highway in my community. That is the only portion of highway that connects the North Island to the South Island. I see the member from Comox here. He travels it regularly. I know he is as concerned about this issue as I am. As I say, my colleagues in caucus are also very much tired of me mentioning, but the Malahat drive is the single most important issue for me in this session of the Legislature.

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I know the Minister of Transportation has begun a study. I'm very pleased by that. I spoke with him briefly in the corridor yesterday. He is committed to making that study as broadly based as possible so that we don't reduce our options but, in fact, expand upon our options.

I have no favoured position. I think it's important that I say that, based on the volume of mail, e-mail and telephone calls I've been getting on the question of the Malahat. There are a number of options available. I'm prepared to talk to my constituents about them, but I don't believe it's appropriate to rule issues out before we have a full costing and a full engineering analysis of what can and can't be done.

In the short term, of course, I want to appeal to commuters, transport companies and other road-users to slow down, obey posted limits, drive defensively and respect other drivers. Behaviour will solve some of our problems, but safety improvements are also critical. In the short term, I appeal to the Minister of Transportation to institute some safety measures like dividers at key points on the highway so that we can reduce accidents and save lives.

I have heard countless times during this short session about the dark decade of the '90s. I realize that members opposite are bound by their public affairs colleagues to spew that out from time to time, but I'm compelled to challenge some of that mythology here today while I have the opportunity, free from the heckling I'm sure will accompany my speeches in the future.

During the 1990s I was proud to have worked in the Premier's office, first as a policy analyst and later as chief of staff, helping implement what I believed at the time and continue to believe today was a positive agenda that was highlighted by such policies as hot lunch programs for inner-city schools; significant infrastructure developments like the Vancouver Island Highway project, which again, the member from Comox, I'm sure, is grateful for; comprehensive land use planning; the environmental protection act; the Forest Practices Code; the Columbia Basin Trust; the Nisga'a treaty; and many, many more issues that deserve more attention than they get in this House or in the media.

The annual growth during our time in government was over 3 percent. Real economic growth exceeded 3 percent in 1993, 1997, 1999 and 4.5 percent in the year 2000. The government of the day faced changes in the economy, as does the government today. The transition from resource dependence to a more diversified economy required tough choices, targeted investments and a commitment to see the projects through.

The decisions and policies of the NDP government of the day did not answer all of the problems of a softening export market in Asia or global restructuring, but it did get balanced budgets by the end of the decade and enormous growth in the service sector, particularly tourism, film and high technology.

While the economy grew, we invested in housing, social programs and built new infrastructure — new schools, new health facilities and new universities. You might think, Madam Speaker, listening to me talk now, that I was on the other side of the House, based on the

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speeches we've heard about the past four years and the contributions and accomplishments of the Liberal government.

That's where I would like to focus my attention at this point, because there's not a great deal o