Fourth Session, 41st Parliament

(2019) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Morning Sitting

Issue No. 287

ISSN 1499-2175

The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.

The PDF transcript remains the official digital version.

CONTENTS

Routine Business

Introductions by Members

Tributes

Vickie Sangster

I. Paton

Introductions by Members

Tributes

Thomas Ambrose Fahy

M. Dean

Introduction and First Reading of Bills

Bill 40 —

Interpretation Amendment Act, 2019

Hon. D. Eby

Statements (Standing Order 25B)

Poppy campaign by Harper Lawrence

J. Tegart

Carbon monoxide awareness

J. Rice

Daylight saving time and introduction of legislation

N. Letnick

Hospital Employees Union

R. Kahlon

Protection of watersheds

S. Furstenau

Down syndrome awareness

G. Begg

Ministerial Statements

Remembrance Day

Hon. J. Horgan

A. Wilkinson

A. Weaver

Oral Questions

Ride-sharing services

J. Johal

Hon. C. Trevena

P. Milobar

Hon. J. Horgan

Soil disposal site in Shawnigan Lake watershed

S. Furstenau

Hon. G. Heyman

Affordable housing targets and construction of new units

T. Stone

Hon. S. Robinson

J. Thornthwaite

WorkSafeBC review and participation of employer groups

J. Martin

Hon. H. Bains

Consultation on caribou protection

M. Bernier

Hon. J. Horgan

Tabling Documents

B.C. ferries commissioner, annual report, fiscal year ending March 31,

Orders of the Day

Second Reading of Bills

Bill 41 — Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (continued)

T. Stone

Hon. M. Mark

J. Rice

N. Simons

Hon. S. Fraser

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019

The House met at 10:06 a.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers.

Introductions by Members

Hon. A. Dix: It’s my honour today…. I know members on both sides of the House have

met this week with representatives of the Hospital Employees Union. We met

last night at the event they held here in Victoria and in meetings,

including meetings involving the Premier and many, many, many other

MLAs.

I want to acknowledge, here today with us, Barb Nederpel, the

president of the Hospital Employees Union, Jennifer Whiteside, the

secretary–business manager, Betty Valenzuela, the financial secretary, and

many other members of the executive and staff of the Hospital Employees

Union.

Hospital health care workers mean so much to our health care system

and to people who need care. They are the people who provide the care that’s

needed. We are so, so honoured to have them with us today.

N. Letnick: I’d like to join the Minister of Health in thanking the members of the

Hospital Employees Union for hosting us last night. It was a great event. I

got to meet a lot of people, including a lot of people from the Okanagan,

which was really a benefit.

I imagine they are sitting above me on this side of the House, because

I can’t see any of them on that side of the House. Maybe we’ll fix that for

another year, after the next election.

In particular, I’d like to thank Mike Old, the coordinator for policy

and planning at HEU, for meeting with us today. I’ll be meeting with him

this afternoon, along with my colleague from Richmond.

Would the House please make them all feel very welcome.

Hon. J. Darcy: I really feel I do need to join with the Minister of Health and the

member opposite in welcoming the Hospital Employees Union and hoping that

they stay on that side, while we’re on this side for many years to

come.

I just want to add to what has been said and wish the members of the

Hospital Employees Union a happy 75th anniversary. This is an organization….

These are health care workers who have been through such ordeals over the

years. They are standing united and stronger than ever before.

[10:10 a.m.]

Happy 75th birthday to the Hospital Employees Union.

Hon. S. Robinson: I’m pleased to introduce a team visiting from the IMIT policy and

legislation branch of the Ministry of Citizens’ Services. Joining us today

in the gallery are Sarah Bose, Andrea Bingham, Erin Grant, Meghan Jezewski,

Emily Jones and Dean Sutton.

These folks work hard every day to support key government initiatives

related to information management and information technology. Could I ask

the House to please welcome these wonderful people to the

gallery.

C. Oakes: I’m very pleased today to have in the House David Black, representing

the Canadian Franchise Association. The Canadian Franchise Association

supports building the dreams of small businesses across this great country.

It contributes $100 billion per year to the Canadian economy and creates

jobs for more than 1.9 million Canadians. There are 40,000 franchisees in

the country.

We’ll be meeting this afternoon to talk about red-tape reduction and

regulatory reform that will reduce the amount of red tape small businesses

face while protecting public interests.

Would the House please help me welcome the Canadian Franchise

Association.

Hon. K. Conroy: I just looked up in the gallery and saw a fellow person from Castlegar

that is near and dear to our family. He is a teacher from Castlegar that

taught many — I think all — of our kids and even some of our grandkids. He’s

shaking his head: “Oh my god.” Yes. An excellent teacher who is well loved

in the community, Doug Hickey. Would you please all join me in making him

very welcome.

Tributes

VICKIE SANGSTER

I. Paton: On a solemn note, I’d like to pay my condolences today on behalf

of the residents of Delta. One week ago today we lost an icon in Delta

South by the name of Vickie Sangster. Vickie was so well known in our

community. She was a legend. She was a good friend of mine, the same age

as I am. She was a community-builder, a volunteer ambassador and a great

Rotarian. She was also Citizen of the Year a few years back in

Delta.

Vickie fell ill several years ago. They didn’t give her much time.

But she fought and battled for two and a half more years and had some

good times in the last couple of years.

My condolences to the Sangster family in Tsawwassen.

Introductions by Members

G. Kyllo: Tomorrow we turn over a new page in our calendars and mark the first

day of November. In Canada, we recognize November as Diabetes Month, a time

for increased awareness and advocacy efforts across the country. Diabetes is

a serious condition that affects the body’s ability to produce or use

insulin and can lead to many other serious health issues. Worldwide it is

the leading cause of blindness, heart disease, amputation and kidney

failure.

In my riding, there is an individual by the name of Nel Peach whose

generosity, kindness and dedication to community service has made a

significant impact with the advocacy for diabetes in our

province.

J. Rice: Today in the gallery, I have a constituent and a dear friend, Maggie

Kerr, who is visiting here from Prince Rupert. Maggie is a spry 81-year-old

and the most progressive recovered Mennonite I have ever met. Would the

House please make her feel welcome.

S. Malcolmson: I invite the House to extend a special welcome to Nanaimo resident Ken

Bennett, a member of the Hospital Employees Union and a real advocate for

nurses’ safety and health care in Nanaimo. I’m honoured to represent

him.

Tributes

THOMAS AMBROSE FAHY

M. Dean: Today my heart is with everyone attending the celebration of life,

and now the wake, of Thomas Ambrose Fahy. He was the second of seven

children born in Kilkerrin, County Galway, Ireland in 1942. Eventually

he settled in England and married Jenny in 1983. He was strong and

resilient, he was kind and gentle, and he was a really hard worker. He

leaves behind seven grandchildren, one of whom was born right here in

British Columbia.

[10:15 a.m.]

Jenny nursed him through a tragic illness for the last few years

of his life, with much-appreciated support from Russell and Sterling

Wakefield. At least now, he rests in peace.

Iechyd da , Tom.

Introduction and

First Reading of Bills

BILL 40 —

INTERPRETATION

AMENDMENT ACT,

Hon. D. Eby presented a message from Her Honour the

Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled

Interpretation Amendment Act,

Hon. D. Eby: I move that the bill be introduced and read a first time

now.

I’m pleased to introduce the

Interpretation Amendment Act, 2019.

This bill would amend the

Interpretation Act to put British Columbia on

year-round daylight saving time and end the practice of changing our

clocks twice a year.

The bill acts on the clear message we received from British

Columbians during last summer’s public engagement. Ninety-three percent

of respondents said they want to stop changing our clocks twice a year.

It was the biggest response to a public engagement we’ve ever had in

this province, with over 220,000 people participating.

The bill would create a new name for our time zone, Pacific Time,

which would be the equivalent of our current daylight saving time. I

should note that the bill would not make any changes to the current

practice in certain parts of the province that customarily observe

Mountain time.

Because we are monitoring similar initiatives with our neighbours

in Yukon, Washington, Oregon and California, the change in the bill

would not take effect immediately but would be brought into force later

to create the opportunity for a coordinated approach with these other

jurisdictions.

I note that this is a particularly special day for the member for

Boundary-Similkameen and the Premier, who have a great interest in this

issue. I congratulate the member for her initiatives on this.

Mr. Speaker: The question is first reading of the bill.

Motion approved.

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

reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Bill 40,

Interpretation Amendment Act, 2019, 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)

POPPY CAMPAIGN BY HARPER LAWRENCE

J. Tegart: With Remembrance Day occurring while we are in our constituencies,

I’d like to take a few minutes and share a heartwarming story about the

importance of making sure our youth understand Remembrance

Day.

Last year, in the kindergarten class at Clinton School, the

teacher talked to the children about poppies, why they are important,

why we wear them and how the money raised helps to support programs for

veterans.

Harper Lawrence is five years old. She loves school, and she is a

sponge for knowledge. She recounted to her mom the poppy story and that

everyone was to wear one on Remembrance Day. A short while later Harper

was sitting at her drawing desk and asked her mom to help her draw a

poppy. She had decided that she would make her own paper poppies to sell

at school.

Harper made one dozen poppies the first day. Mom posted to social

media, and half were sold before Harper woke up in the morning. She

asked $1 for a poppy, and many generous souls gave $5 and even $10 to

her great cause. That evening Harper made more poppies. The next day she

made more again.

At the end of this adventure, this five-year-old kindergarten

student presented $59.75 to the legion members who were presenting at

her school. She made a further $26.60, which she presented at the

Remembrance Day ceremony. A grand total of $86.35 was raised by a

five-year-old kindergarten student.

I want to thank all the legion members for their willingness to

share the important stories and for inspiring our youth. A big shout-out

to Harper for her hard work and dedication. We will remember

them.

CARBON MONOXIDE AWARENESS

J. Rice: I’m proud to announce our government has proclaimed November 1 to

7 British Columbia’s first-ever Carbon Monoxide Awareness

Week.

[10:20 a.m.]

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas that can cause

illness and, in severe cases, death. We can all take this week as an

opportunity to learn more about the dangers of carbon monoxide

poisoning, how to prevent it and how to keep ourselves, our families and

our friends safe. We can achieve this by knowing the symptoms and what

to do in the event carbon monoxide is present in a home or

workplace.

Carbon monoxide is produced when fuel — such as propane, gasoline,

natural gas, heating oil or wood — does not burn completely in

fuel-burning appliances and devices. Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause

flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, confusion and

drowsiness. At very high levels, it can cause death. Unfortunately, here

in B.C., carbon monoxide has been a silent killer. According to the B.C.

Coroner Service, 119 people have died due to carbon monoxide poisoning

between 2008 and 2017.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can be preventable. It’s important for

British Columbians to have a working carbon monoxide alarm in their

homes or workplaces and to test the alarm annually. It’s important to

properly maintain fuel-burning appliances and have them inspected

annually by a licensed contractor.

If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds or people are suffering from

symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, get everyone out of the home or

workplace immediately, and then call 911 or a local emergency number

from outside.

This Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week I urge everyone in this

chamber and all British Columbians to install carbon monoxide alarms and

have fuel-burning appliances inspected. Visit the office of the fire

commissioner’s website for more information on carbon monoxide poisoning

symptoms and how you can prevent carbon monoxide buildup. It’s worth it.

The few minutes we all spend educating ourselves and preparing now could

make all the difference for our families and loved ones.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME AND

INTRODUCTION OF

LEGISLATION

N. Letnick: This coming Sunday British Columbians across the province will

turn their clocks back in time. So two o’clock in the morning will

become one o’clock in the morning. Sleep schedules and routines will

once again be disrupted all in the name of an antiquated and obsolete

process first proposed by a New Zealand entomologist in 1895.

We began the practice in 1918 in response to a coal shortage after

the First World War. Times have changed in the last 100 years. Daylight

saving time ends on Sunday, and it’s our hope that this will be one of

the last-ever clock changes in British Columbia.

Two years and three private members’ bills later, the member for

Boundary-Similkameen must be pleased and proud to see Bill 40 introduced

today. This is truly a non-partisan issue for the people of British

Columbia, but someone had to lead. The changing of our clocks twice a

year affects all of us, regardless of age, culture, economics, rural or

urban.

Since first introducing the bill, the member for

Boundary-Similkameen received letters and emails from across the

province supporting her position. Flowing from her leadership, the B.C.

government engaged in public consultation on daylight saving time and

received over 223,000 responses from every corner of our province. The

response was crystal clear. More than 93 percent of British Columbians

want to move to permanent daylight saving time.

All members want to thank the government for listening. The people

have spoken. Today in this House, we table the bill for daylight saving

time. We look forward to the day soon when we can live in plain, simple

Pacific Time all year round.

We’d like to thank the member for Boundary-Similkameen for her

leadership and all British Columbians for making this happen.

HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES UNION

R. Kahlon: In 1944, separate men’s and women’s unions representing 300

hospital staff voted to form a single union at the Vancouver General

Hospital. Today the Hospital Employees Union represents more than 50,000

members working in direct patient care and support services across

B.C.

Over the past 75 years, HEU members have become an integral part

of B.C.’s health care system. The union grew rapidly with the postwar

construction of hospitals across this province. By the 1970s, the union

had begun organizing the nursing home sector, grappling with sometimes

deplorable care and conditions and low wages. By the late 1990s, they’d

established standard wages and working conditions throughout the

sector.

More than 80 percent of the HEU membership are women. So the union

also tackled gender-based wage discrimination and bargained a historic

pay equity settlement in the 1990s.

[10:25 a.m.]

My connection to the HEU story is very personal. Like many HEU

members, my mother was an immigrant. She took great pride in working as

a housekeeper at a Victoria long-term health care facility. In 2003, she

was fired along with her friends, co-workers, thousands of HEU members,

in the wake of legislation that voided contracting-out protection. Her

work was contracted out at nearly half the pay.

I have so much respect for the HEU members who responded during

this moment of crisis for many workers and their families. They were

resilient. They reorganized thousands of privatized workers and led a

five-year court challenge that established collective bargaining as a

Charter-protected right for all workers.

I was proud to have my mom present when members on both sides of

the House voted to repeal the legislation last November.

I want to extend my special congratulations to members of the HEU

on the 75th anniversary of their union and thank them for all they do to

support their members and their families.

PROTECTION OF WATERSHEDS

S. Furstenau: For most of my life, I had the luxury not to really have to think

about watersheds. I lived in cities — first Edmonton, then Victoria. I

turned on the tap. Water came out. I drank it. I never worried about it.

Then, in 2011, I moved to Shawnigan Lake, and my watershed awakening

began.

Outside of Victoria and Vancouver, most British Columbians do

think about their watersheds and are often worried about their water. In

Sechelt, the community holds its collective breath through the hot

summer months, watching the reservoir levels. In Ymir, the residents are

desperate to protect their small Quartz Creek watershed, the community’s

only source of potable drinking water. In Peachland, boil-water

advisories and turbidity have become all too common. As of September 30,

there were seven boil-water advisories and four do-not-consume

advisories for First Nations across British Columbia.

Watersheds truly are the lifeblood of B.C. towns and communities,

and in far too many places, they are at risk, especially in a changing

climate. Droughts, forest fires and flooding, exacerbated by industrial

activity and ecological degradation, not only disrupt our lives. They

disrupt our watersheds.

We can begin to create a new story for watersheds across B.C., a

story in which communities are empowered to create water security,

working collaboratively with First Nations and local governments to

ensure that we are restoring and stewarding our watersheds so that they

are resilient and healthy. We know that this is the essential foundation

for all of us and our local economies to also be resilient and healthy.

A watershed security fund would help us to achieve this.

I’ve learned a great deal about watersheds over the last eight

years, and while the journey has, at times, been a challenging one, I’m

grateful to know and love the Shawnigan watershed, and I’m determined to

do all I can to restore and protect it.

DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS

G. Begg: November 1 to 7 is Canadian Down Syndrome Week, an opportunity for

us to recognize the children and adults with Down syndrome as well as

their families and loved ones and the health, education and employment

professionals who work to increase inclusion in our

communities.

There are over 45,000 individuals in Canada with Down syndrome. In

British Columbia, approximately one in every 691 live births is a child

with Down syndrome.

The greatest challenge for many individuals with Down syndrome is

perceptions that underestimate their potential and their abilities. To

better support people with Down syndrome, we need to continue building

inclusive, supportive communities where everyone feels welcome to fully

participate. This work includes shifting attitudes, supporting people

with Down syndrome in the workplace and focusing on empowering British

Columbians with Down syndrome and their families.

The Lower Mainland Down Syndrome Society works to provide

information, support and resources to individuals with Down syndrome.

Established in 1989, the LMDSS circulates information, resources and

support to a membership list of over 600 self-advocates, parents and

professionals.

[10:30 a.m.]

The LMDSS helps to bring awareness to life with Down syndrome and

helps to dispel myths and stereotypes. The organization also does

advocacy work that supports the community to ensure diversity through

inclusion. From the classroom to the workplace, people with disabilities

must have similar and equitable opportunities to succeed at their chosen

tasks.

hashtag #seetheability. The thread is aimed at encouraging the inclusion

and celebration of people with Down syndrome and dispelling myths and

stereotypes.

Ministerial Statements

REMEMBRANCE DAY

Hon. J. Horgan: To all members of the House: as we look to the two-week break, I

know all of you will be attending a Remembrance Day ceremony in your

community, recognizing and remembering those who put down their lives,

as many have said today, to protect the democracy that we have the

honour and privilege of perpetuating here as individuals and as a

collective group.

When I was a youngster and a Cub and a Scout, I would be taken to

a cenotaph here in Victoria, and there would be a handful of people. I

continued that tradition by bringing my children to what was then the

parking lot. The member for Esquimalt-Metchosin will remember that the

cenotaph in the Juan de Fuca area for the Langford legion was literally

in the parking lot of the arena — a collection of stones, a place to

remind us of the sacrifices of those who came before us.

There would be dozens of people at that time. I lamented the fact

that as generations started to pass and our memories started to fade,

these traditions that were so critically important to pass on, the

traditions of remembering and reflecting on those who gave such great

sacrifices, would be lost.

Here we are, 2019, and I can tell you that last year, at the new,

revitalized Veterans Memorial Park in Langford, dozens of people didn’t

show up. Thousands of people showed up. Here in Victoria and across

British Columbia, in Vancouver and in every town in this great province,

people will gather on the 11th of November, and at 11 o’clock, we will

bow our heads and will reflect on those who came before us.

We’ll reflect on the responsibility we all have to never forget.

“Lest we forget” means more today than it ever has before. All of us

here, all 87 members, are proud to sit in this place. All 87 members are

proud to represent the traditions of this great country and this great

province.

On the 11th of November, at 11 o’clock, as we hang our heads, as

the sun goes down, we will remember them.

A. Wilkinson: On Thursday, the 18th of April, 1918, my great-uncle Arthur

Wilkinson was shot and killed by a sniper in Flanders. His body lies

buried near Ypres.

A mere 26 years later my uncle was the navigator on a Stirling

bomber across from the Danish coast to drop supplies to the Danish

underground on October 7, 1944. Their aircraft was struck by a night

fighter, the right wing caught fire, and they crash-landed at high speed

in Denmark. The pilot was burnt to death on impact. My uncle and the

flight engineer suffered burns. The survivors walked across Denmark. My

uncle was lucky enough to get to Sweden and made his way back to

England.

After 44 night missions bombing the Nazis in Europe, he was told

he was too experienced, and he needed to go back in the air for another

15 missions. He was shot down again on his 59th mission. They

survived.

My parents served 13 years in the military — my mother at fighter

command and my father in Algeria, Tunisia and Italy. They never saw

combat. They were the lucky ones.

And we are the lucky ones. It’s important, on a day like today,

for all of us to know that we are the beneficiaries of those people who

so bravely served this nation for freedom.

We put on the poppy, we go to the ceremonies, and we must never

forget.

A. Weaver: I would like to join the Leader of the Official Opposition and the

Premier in spending some time to reflect upon what we will be

experiencing on the 11th hour of November 11, in two weeks.

[10:35 a.m.]

On the 11th hour of the 11th month in 1918, World War I came,

officially, to an end. A year later King George V declared that November

11 would be Armistice Day. Ever since then, we’ve taken a time and a

moment to reflect upon what those before us have actually accomplished,

done and given to make us have the ability to live the lives that we

live today.

I hear the stories from the member of the official opposition, who

talks about his family. Earlier this week we had a very important moment

in my family’s life, where we passed a bill memorializing Holodomor, a

dark period in Ukrainian history. So many of our Canadian relatives have

experiences through that.

To the Second World War. Many of us here will have ancestry in

England. My father grew up, as a little boy, in Birmingham at a time

when Coventry — the cathedral, as you all know — was bombed. They had a

bomb shelter in their yard. His father worked building military planes.

Outside of the house, they had smokestacks to fill the skies with black

smoke so that the bombers wouldn’t see the lights down below.

These are the stories that we have, but as time goes on, we begin

to forget these stories. That is why November 11 is such an important

day. It makes us all, each and every one of us, reflect upon what has

happened so that we might collectively say: “Never again.”

As such, I think it would be entirely appropriate, hon. Speaker,

with your leave, for all of us to take a moment of silence, in that we

won’t be here together on that day.

Mr. Speaker: Thank you, Member.

Let us do that. A moment’s silence, please.

[The House observed a moment of silence.]

Oral Questions

RIDE-SHARING SERVICES

J. Johal: British Columbians were promised by the Premier that ride-hailing

would arrive by Christmas of 2017. Then he promised by December of 2018.

But it seems the NDP are intent on spoiling everyone’s party. We are now

here in 2019, and new documents show the NDP is creating even more

delays.

To the minister, will she tell British Columbians whether they

will have ride-hailing by the holiday season?

Hon. C. Trevena: We are in the midst of bringing in ride-hailing to this province.

Something the opposition failed to do for five years. We have 19

companies wanting to operate in B.C., from the big internationals — the

Ubers and Lyfts — to Canadian companies, to small companies that want to

operate right across this province. We are confident that ride-hailing

will be operating in B.C. later this year.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Richmond-Queensborough on a

supplemental.

J. Johal: The reality is that the government has caved, and it’s putting up

even more roadblocks to the introduction of ride-hailing in

B.C.

I want to remind this House that it was the minister who sent an

intimidation letter to the PTB. If that wasn’t enough, her cabinet

colleagues all piled on. It was the then Citizens’ Services Minister who

piled on. It was then the Environment Minister. Then, of course, it was

the Solicitor General who also piled on.

The only people they don’t listen to are members of the

ride-hailing committee on their side. They haven’t listened to the

member for Vancouver–West End. They haven’t listened to the member for

North Vancouver–Lonsdale. They clearly have no clout in the

caucus.

[10:40 a.m.]

The NDP have modified the application process for one simple

reason: to help their friends. People are demanding ride-hailing and now

face a much longer delay.

Minister, why are you stopping ride-hailing from coming to

B.C.?

Hon. C. Trevena: We have 19 companies coming to British Columbia or from British

Columbia, ready to provide ride-hailing services. The independent…. I

know that the opposition doesn’t quite get this concept, but the

Passenger Transportation Board is independent, an independent tribunal.

They are doing their job, reviewing those applications to ensure

everyone is well served — the customers, the drivers, other drivers on

the road.

We are working hard to make sure we have ride-hailing this year.

If the opposition wants to talk about delays and putting things off,

they’ve just got to look at their own record. They had five years —

nothing.

P. Milobar: The minister seems to not want to take any responsibility for

anything under her purview, but she is very clearly in charge of the

ride-hailing file.

In fact, the letter from the transportation board said this:

“We’re going to introduce an application process

modification.”

Now, the minister is right. There are 19 ride-hailing companies

that want to get operating in B.C. However, the minister and the rest of

the NDP government and the Premier seem to want to block them from being

able to operate in British Columbia. They have stalled. They have

ignored everyone, including the travelling public that wants to have

ride-hailing services by the holiday season. Now we have one more

roadblock, which means we will not see ride-hailing by the holiday

season.

Again to the minister, when will the minister keep the Premier’s

promise of having ride-hailing by the holiday season and get on with

it?

Hon. C. Trevena: The member opposite talks about stalling. I find this ludicrous

from a government…. When they were government, they had five years and

stalled and stalled and stalled.

Interjection.

Hon. C. Trevena: The member for Langley, who is happily heckling at the moment, had

the unique distinction of driving out Uber from this province. When Uber

came into the province, she offered a level of service cost — $75 — that

forced the company out.

I think we are 19 to minus 1 on the ride-hail file. We are

confident that ride-hail will be delivered this year.

Mr. Speaker: Kamloops–North Thompson on a supplemental.

P. Milobar: With that answer there, even the peanut gallery is starting to

have trouble supporting this minister and her answers and lack thereof,

trying to come up with excuses for why we’re not having

ride-hailing.

The simple reality is…. And we shouldn’t be surprised that this

government fails to take responsibility for anything. Not one minister

or the Premier over there has decided to take responsibility for

anything in this House over the last several months.

This is very simple. The minister and the Premier…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

P. Milobar: …are protecting their friends and insiders. That’s the only reason

for this extra delay, which has been heaped upon all of the extra

regulations that have already been put in place, in spite of the

all-party committee, chaired by the member for North Vancouver–Lonsdale

— its recommendations being totally ignored by this Premier. Again, all

they are doing is protecting their friends and, I guess, catering to

other friends when it comes to ride-hailing.

Again, when will the minister end these delays, get on with it and

get our ride-hailing in place for the holiday season?

[10:45 a.m.]

Hon. J. Horgan: I appreciate the member for Kamloops–North Thompson wanting me to

take responsibility for something, and I’m happy to do that. I’m happy

to take responsibility for $1 billion invested in child care in British

Columbia. I’m happy to take responsibility for $7 billion invested in

housing in British Columbia. And I want to spread the responsibility

around to all members on this side of the House for saying that we’re

not going to have medical services premiums in British Columbia anymore

after January 1.

Successive triple-A credit ratings. The lowest unemployment rate

in the country. And I can’t take responsibility for this. I’ll have to

pass it on to my colleague the Minister of Jobs and Technology.

Vancouver now is rated No. 1 for tech jobs in North America.

SOIL DISPOSAL SITE IN

SHAWNIGAN LAKE

WATERSHED

S. Furstenau: Well, no treats for Shawnigan today, just the same old

tricks.

In June of this year, the Minister of Environment approved a

closure plan for the contaminated landfill site on Stebbings Road in the

Shawnigan drinking watershed with a dozen conditions and an October 31

deadline.

Let’s get a sense of where we’re at. Conditions have not been met.

Deadlines have not been met. The consultants who made the closure plans

sued the landfill owners and put builders’ liens against the property.

Property taxes have not been paid, and the possibility of forfeiture to

the Crown looms in one short month from now.

There’s another new twist. In their most recent detailed

construction plan, the company proposes to first import capping soil to

this site, which would be stockpiled until all of the other closure plan

activities have been completed. This, of course, overlooks the fact that

there are well over 100,000 tonnes of soil sitting a few hundred metres

away on the adjacent lot owned by the same people — soil that they were

ordered to remove by the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum

Resources and an order that was ignored. What a tangled web.

My question is to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Strategy. Does the minister intend to allow this company to import and

stockpile soil to sit unused in piles on this site during the winter

rains, leeching sediment into the watershed?

Hon. G. Heyman: I believe that the member and I share the same goal, and that’s

that the people of Shawnigan Lake continue to have access to clean, safe

drinking water — in fact, that all British Columbians have access to

that.

This issue has been going on a long time. The issue of reviewing

the closure plan by me went on a long time because I continued to check

the details, including having ministry staff, who are not directly

involved with the decision-making, review the closure plan and including

having the work of the proponents’ qualified professional reviewed by an

independent qualified professional. As a result of that, I added

conditions, significant conditions, to the full extent allowed under the

Environmental Management Act to ensure that the closure was done

properly and that drinking water would be protected.

As the member knows, we have allowed an extension because the

process of reviewing the closure plan over a long period of time to

ensure that it would be adequate and adding conditions did not allow the

work to be completed this year. But in doing so, we added additional

conditions, including new shallow monitoring wells and work to ensure

that the site was secure over the winter rains.

That work has begun, I’m informed by ministry staff. No additional

soil has been placed on the site, nor will it be until we are assured

that it is not containing contaminants.

Mr. Speaker: The House Leader of the Third Party on a supplemental.

[10:50 a.m.]

S. Furstenau: Perhaps we share the same goal, but we have certainly different

approaches to how to achieve that. I and the community have been

abundantly clear from the very beginning. Leaving contaminated soil

halfway up a mountain in a drinking watershed, with groundwater

underneath it and surface water circling around it, does not achieve the

goal of protecting drinking water for the citizens of Shawnigan

Lake.

There is another deadline looming, and I can’t help but think that

the pattern will continue. In June, the minister did put out the

condition that he just spoke about. Two new shallow groundwater

monitoring wells need to be installed at this site. In his letter

granting the landfill closure deadline earlier this month, the minister

stated that those two wells must be installed on or before 30 days of

the receipt of his letter, which puts it right around the middle of

November.

These wells are essential for understanding what impacts the

landfill has had to the aquifer directly beneath the site. In the deep

monitoring wells, levels of sodium and chloride continue to rise, and

there has been a steady increase in concentrations of the polycyclic

aromatic hydrocarbon acridine since February of this year.

My question is for the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Strategy. What will the consequences be for this next missed deadline?

And what assurances can the minister give to the residents of Shawnigan

Lake that these monitoring wells will be installed?

Hon. G. Heyman: I’m very happy to give this assurance to all of the residents of

Shawnigan Lake and this House. Our ministry continues to monitor the

area, the site and the water and will take whatever action is required

to protect drinking water.

With respect to the deadlines to take measures, like the

monitoring wells and securing the site before the winter rains, we have

every expectation that work will be completed. We will ensure it is

completed. We have a range of measures under the Environmental

Management Act to ensure it will be completed, and we will ensure it is

completed.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING TARGETS

AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW

UNITS

T. Stone: It’s becoming abundantly clear to British Columbians that the

Housing Minister is failing miserably to deliver on the 114,000 new

units of housing commitment that has been made by her Premier. But you

don’t have to take my word for it. I actually have in my hands here the

affordable housing investment plan report from B.C. Housing. On page 4

of this 2019-2020 first-quarter report, it reads: “This update features

an update on the overall progress against targets.”

My simple question to the minister would be this: can the minister

confirm what percentage of projects in her plan are currently on

schedule?

Hon. S. Robinson: I’m very proud. I’m very proud of the work that we have done. We

have over 22,000 units that have actually been initiated. They are in

progress. I think it’s important to remind everybody, to remind British

Columbians, that the previous government, under their 16 years — 16

years — did only 22,000. We’re already doing more in two

years.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Kamloops–South Thompson on a

supplemental.

T. Stone: Well, you know, that’s wonderful flourishing rhetoric from the

minister.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

T. Stone: But let me tell the House and tell British Columbians, and perhaps

this will inform the minister as well, that of the projects under

construction — this is on page 12 of this report — 59 percent are behind

schedule. These are your numbers. These are the numbers that are in the

minister’s B.C. Housing

summary document here.

Interjections.

[10:55 a.m.]

Mr. Speaker: Members.

T. Stone: Now, of the units that this minister claims are initiated or

underway, according to page 5 of the first-quarter update from B.C.

Housing…. It says over half of the units “have been announced, but no

commitment has been made towards them.” No money. Lots of photo-ops,

lots of announcements, lots of flourishing rhetoric, but over half these

projects have no funding attached to them.

My question to the minister would be this: can the minister please

take another shot here at explaining the difference between the numbers

that she talks about and the numbers that are actually in the B.C.

Housing

summary document?

Hon. S. Robinson: I want to point out, yet again, that when they were on this side

of the House….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. S. Robinson: When they were on this side of the House, they built nothing for

women and children fleeing violence. Nothing. Nothing. In fact, they

slashed programs.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. S. Robinson: They slashed programs. They slashed funding for women and children

fleeing violence.

Our government is building housing for those women and those

children. The member from Abbotsford was up here earlier this week

talking about women fleeing violence, when they did nothing. They built

nothing for those women. We are building….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. S. Robinson: We are building 1,500 homes for those women and those

children.

J. Thornthwaite: The minister can deflect all she wants, not answering the

questions, but I’m wondering if she’s equally misinformed about the

number of units created under the community housing fund, which we also

found in the affordable housing investment plan report by her own

ministry. As of June 30, 2019, there were zero projects complete. Zero.

And it gets worse. Eighty-three percent of those units don’t have any

funding committed to them.

Let me ask the minister about another program. Can the minister

confirm how many units have been completed under her affordable rental

housing program?

Hon. S. Robinson: Well, clearly, they don’t understand how long it takes to build

housing, because they didn’t do it. We have thousands of units that are

in progress and under construction right across this province, but they

wouldn’t understand that it takes several months — in fact, a couple of

years — to actually get them completed. The fact that they would think

that in nine months you would have housing completed is absolutely

ridiculous.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

The member for North Vancouver–Seymour on a

supplemental.

J. Thornthwaite: Mr. Speaker, it’s quite clear that the minister doesn’t have a

handle on this file. The answer to my question is 71 — not 71 percent

but 71 actual units. After two years of this government, the NDP has

built only 71 units in the entire province. At this rate, it’s going to

take 100 years for you to fulfil your campaign promises.

[11:00 a.m.]

The minister needs to be honest. With so few new rental units

opened under this minister, how did she expect, how does the public

expect, anybody to believe their promises of 114,000 new

homes?

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. S. Robinson: When I talk with people who are moving into their new homes, when

I talk with the thousands of people that we have moved into supportive

housing, when I talk to the women who are moving into safe and secure

housing, when I talk to the young children who now have a safe place

that their parents can afford, they’re the ones that remind all of us

how critical it is to have housing that people can afford. We’re

continuing to deliver on our commitments to have housing that people can

afford in this province.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, we ought to let the minister an­swer­ing at

least get the sentence out of their mouth without interruption,

please.

WORKSAFEBC REVIEW AND

PARTICIPATION OF EMPLOYER

GROUPS

J. Martin: Earlier this year 46 major employer groups resigned en masse from

the Labour Minister’s biased review of WorkSafeBC. They were quite

clear. “The employer community is taken aback and dismayed with an

apprehension of bias in the review process. Accordingly, we have reached

the decision not to participate in a process which we believe lacks

independence, impartiality and balance.”

Well, that sham review is due today. Will the minister ensure

these voices are heard before acting any further on this bogus

process?

Hon. H. Bains: Thank you for the question. You know that we all in this House

believe that the workers who go to work come home safe and healthy at

the end of their shift. That’s our goal. That’s what we are trying to

do.

The comprehensive review of the WCB — the last time it was

conducted was 2002. That’s 17 years ago. We asked Janet Patterson, who

is a renowned health and safety lawyer, to review the policies and the

procedures so that we could improve the confidence of the employer and

the workers in the WCB system that they rely on when they need it. Janet

Patterson is a renowned lawyer. She has experience, expertise and

understanding of the system. That’s why I appointed her.

We had very, very wide-ranging input from individuals, workers,

their families, employers. And 360 employers participated in this. I am

disappointed that they decided to pull out at the final consultation

process. But I’ve got a letter — again, yesterday — that they want to

participate again, to give them the opportunity so that we could,

together, put a system that is good for workers — the health and safety

— and that the employer could rely on. That’s what our commitment is.

That’s what we’re going to do.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Chilliwack on a supplemental.

J. Martin: Okay. Well, let’s try this one more time. In reference to the

letter that the minister received yesterday from the 46 major employer

groups, all they’re doing is they’re asking for a fair hearing. Here’s

what was in that letter. “The employer community urges you to provide

stakeholders with a structured opportunity for feedback, framed by a

consultation paper, before proceeding any further with these legislative

changes.”

This is a simple question, Minister. Will you agree to this

request?

[11:05 a.m.]

Hon. H. Bains: Mr. Speaker, absolutely. If you look at our track record,

everything that we take on as the Ministry of Labour and this

government, we have consulted widely. Compared to government before us….

They hired one person, one person in 2002, rewrote the labour laws of

this province, rewrote WCB — by one person, no consultation. It was

rammed through….

Interjections.

Hon. H. Bains: We are going around the province. We have a wide range of

consultations. Their track record is nothing for them to suggest to

anybody about workers and their rights.

I’m actually amazed that somebody stood up after two and a half

years on that side and talked about workers. Workers were not even part

of their vocabulary, except when they were ripping up their collective

agreements, removing and eliminating the benefits for the injured worker

and eroding the employment standards branch by cutting half the staff

and half of the offices.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members.

Hon. H. Bains: Workers matter to this government and to me. We value their work.

We respect those workers. Their health and safety is important to us,

unlike that government.

CONSULTATION ON CARIBOU PROTECTION

M. Bernier: We all know that the Minister of Forests has completely mishandled

the mountain caribou file. It was so bad that the Premier actually had

to come in and try to rescue him, but that seems to have not worked

either.

The Premier said he would do better. He said that he would listen.

He said that local governments and people in the Peace region would have

a voice and that voice would be heard. But now he’s broken that promise

as well.

The regional district has recently written to the Premier to

complain about this very issue, about the fact that he’s broken his

promise. But here’s the thing. The Premier actually went as far as

bringing in Blair Lekstrom to try to fix his mistakes and his minister’s

mistakes.

The local government and the regional district have written to the

Premier, and this is what they’ve said in a recent email: “We write to

you to express our extreme disappointment that our board did not even

receive an invitation to participate.” After the Premier came up and

promised that would happen.

The Forests Minister has ignored all of rural British Columbia.

Now the Premier seems to be doing exactly the same thing and breaking

his exact promises of what he would do for the people in my

region.

What is the Premier going to do to fix this problem and make sure

there’s an opportunity for all of the people in the Peace region to

participate?

Hon. J. Horgan: If I could recap the last half an hour, there seems to be a theme

here. Opposition party….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. J. Horgan: Opposition party takes issue with something they did nothing about

for a long period of time and then somehow blames the government of the

day.

When it comes to ride-hailing, in 2012….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. J. Horgan: In 2012, the government of the day had an opportunity to do

something, and they ragged the puck for five years. Now they have the

audacity to blame someone else for their incompetence.

When it comes to housing, they were quite all right…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. J. Horgan: …to have dirty money in hockey bags pay for high-end real estate,

while they let tent cities proliferate all over the province.

Now the member for Peace River South has the audacity to stand up

and say: “We just found out there aren’t any caribou. Why aren’t you

doing something about it?”

[11:10 a.m.]

The species was declared at risk in 2003. By my math, that’s 16

years, 14 of which they were on watch, and they didn’t do anything about

it.

For those watching at home: ride-hailing, B.C. Liberals fail;

housing, B.C. Liberals fail; and mountain caribou, B.C. Liberals fail.

You want something done, you need to have people like us on this side of

the House.

[End of question period.]

Tabling Documents

Hon. D. Eby: I have the honour to present the annual report of the B.C. ferries

commissioner for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019.

Orders of the Day

Hon. M. Farnworth: I call continued second reading debate on Bill 41, Declaration on the

Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

[11:15 a.m.]

[J. Isaacs in the chair.]

Second Reading of Bills

BILL 41 — DECLARATION ON THE

RIGHTS OF

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ACT

(continued)

T. Stone: It does give me a great deal of pleasure to continue my remarks,

which I adjourned last evening. I am very pleased to stand and speak

here in second reading to Bill 41, Declaration on the Rights of

Indigenous Peoples Act. As I said in my very brief remarks yesterday,

this is a tremendous opportunity to have a discussion in this chamber,

but I hope more broadly with British Columbians, about what more we can

do as a province and as a people to facilitate and foster reconciliation

with our Indigenous peoples in this province.

I had talked about, I believe, the incredible commitment and very

good track record of the former government that I was part of — the

commitment that we had through everything that we did to facilitate

reconciliation and to work with First Nations and Indigenous peoples in

this province — to create employment opportunities for them and their

families; to help raise more Indigenous peoples out of poverty; to

ensure that more and more Indigenous children are receiving the

education and graduating at rates much more in line with, if not exactly

the same or even better than, the broader population in our province, to

name just a few areas.

In fact, by 2017, I believe I mentioned last night, our former

government had signed over 500 agreements with First Nations across this

great province of ours, 345 of which were revenue-sharing deals with, I

believe, 242 different First Nations. When you actually think about that

— 242 different First Nations — and you think of all of the languages

that that represents, the very different cultures and traditions, it’s

quite a remarkable reality of British Columbia and something that, I

think, really enhances the richness of this province.

These agreements were designed to ensure understanding and to

recognize the needs that are very unique and very different in each of

the First Nations communities around British Columbia, because

foundational to each of these agreements are the principles of dignity

and mutual respect.

Now, as part of the jobs plan that we had in our former

government, we created a new Aboriginal Business and

In­vest­ment Council to work more closely with First Nations

to foster wealth-creating partnerships. Between 2001 and 2015, the first

citizens fund provided nearly $51 million for over 1,700 business loans

to Aboriginal businesses.

In 2015, our government launched the Aboriginal skills training

development program to invest up to $30 million over three years to fill

training gaps for First Nations who want to participate in the emerging

LNG sector. From 2008 to March 2016, the Industry Training Authority’s

Aboriginals in trades training initiatives program helped over 3,000

Aboriginal peoples to receive skills training. Through the Canada job

fund, a further $6.7 million in 2014-15 and 2015-16 was directed to

support over 753 Aboriginal clients to access trades

training.

In May of 2016, we hosted a children and family gathering with the

First Nations Leadership Council. That gathering was the result of

Premier Christy Clark’s commitment at the 2015 B.C. Cabinet and First

Nations Leaders Gathering to host a meeting in 2016 to bring together

child-serving agencies, individuals and communities to talk about

ensuring Aboriginal approaches for children who need support.

At the time of government transition, at least 40 of Grand Chief

Ed John’s recommendations from his report Indigenous Resilience,

Connectedness and Reunification: From Root Causes to Root

Solutions were already underway, and the province was reviewing

others to see how they might be incorporated.

When it comes to education, our former government increased the

six-year high school completion rate for First Nations students from 39

percent to 63 percent. Still more progress to make, but that was a

tremendous improvement over those years.

[11:20 a.m.]

The number of credentials awarded to Aboriginal students in the

post-secondary education system increased 27 percent to 3,340 in 2014-15

from 2,634 in 2009-10 under B.C.’s Aboriginal post-secondary education

and training policy framework and action plan. And 93 percent of school

districts in B.C. had Aboriginal enhancement agreements that established

partnerships between Aboriginal communities and school districts to meet

the education needs of Aboriginal students.

In health, B.C.’s First Nations Health Authority was the first

provincewide health authority of its kind anywhere in Canada. It works

with First Nations, Health Canada, the B.C. government and provincial

health systems to improve health programs and services and foster a

health and wellness approach that best reflects First Nations cultures.

In 2015, the provincial government and regional health authorities, the

Provincial Health Services Authority and the First Nations Health

Authority signed the declaration of commitment to cultural safety and

humility in health services for First Nations and Aboriginal people in

B.C.

When it comes to public safety, our government co-hosted the B.C.

family-gathering event for over 350 family members of missing and

murdered Indigenous women and girls. The province shared their feedback

with the federal government and participants of the National Roundtable

on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

I would also mention, at this juncture, that as the former

Minister of Transportation, one of my proudest accomplishments, when I

look back at everything that we were able to accomplish in the Ministry

of Transportation in the four years that I was so honoured to serve in

the capacity as minister….

One of those actions that really delivered results was our Highway

16 transportation plan. That was all about making sure that there are

safe, reliable transportation connections between communities up and

down Highway 16, from Prince George all the way west, but also making

sure that for First Nations communities, which are often more remote and

off of Highway 16, there were vehicle programs to be able to purchase

these community vans, again, with the safety of their family members and

their loved ones first and foremost in mind.

That program, that transportation plan, is not only still in place

today, but it’s been renewed. The partnerships have been renewed. The

services have been extended further. This was a true example of

collaboration and commitment of multiple parties to true reconciliation

with First Nations. This involved all of the local governments through

that corridor. It involved many First Nations. It involved the First

Nations Health Authority, B.C. Transit and a range of other agencies. So

something, I think, to be very proud of. It’s something that’s made a

real difference in the safety of the lives of Indigenous and

non-Indigenous people who live along the Highway 16 corridor.

Now, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge that once we get

to committee stage, we’ll have lots of questions, and rightfully so.

There are lots of very valid, good questions that need to be asked to

make sure we truly all understand what this new framework really

represents. What are the consequences of this, intended and otherwise?

So we’re going to be asking questions, a lot of which will be very

practical questions.

How does this legislation impact grazing rights for cattle on

Crown leases? How do we manage B.C.’s parks and the use of B.C.’s

massive backcountry? Will the forest industry need to make adaptations

because of this legislation? How will mining activity and other resource

development be impacted? Will there be any impacts to private

landowners?

These questions will be posed to the government of the day, as

each election cycle comes and goes. They will be asked here in this

House. Many of us will get up and ask very focused questions on behalf

of not just our constituents, Indigenous and otherwise, but all British

Columbians so that there’s maximum transparency on exactly what the

impacts of this legislation will really, really be for British

Columbians.

We need to address these issues. We need to address these concerns

and, all the while, do so in a very respectful manner and in a manner

that, I think, is underpinned with a great deal of respect and goodwill

— goodwill at being open, being transparent, being respectful, and all

wanting to try to get to the same place. That is

reconciliation.

I wanted to touch briefly on some lessons that I have been taught

by some of my dear Indigenous friends back in Kamloops.

[11:25 a.m.]

The people of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and all of the other

surrounding Shuswap nations have a deep, deep, deep history in extending

their hands of reconciliation towards settlers, towards the rest of us

who came in subsequent years. I’ve learned a lot about what

reconciliation really means to them.

One of, I think, the greatest examples of reconciliation, which

former Chief of the Tk’emlúps Indian Band, Manny Jules, who is no

stranger to most members of this House, I believe…. He was the very

first person who drew my attention to what’s known as the Laurier

Memorial.

The Laurier Memorial is a document. It’s a document that was

drafted in 1910. It was drafted by the Chiefs of the Shuswap, Okanagan

and Couteau tribes of British Columbia. But most interestingly, it was

drafted, and it was hand-delivered to the Prime Minister of Canada, Sir

Wilfred Laurier, who, in 1910, was travelling through British Columbia

by train. He stopped in Kamloops, and he was met by these

Chiefs.

The letter that was presented to the Prime Minister, I think, is

very, very instructive. It is as instructive today, in 2019, as it was

in 1910, insofar as what true reconciliation really means. The general

gist of the letter…. It’s a lengthy letter. I encourage folks watching

to pull this letter up on line and read it. It’s very touching. It walks

through, from the perspective of these Chiefs, on behalf of their

peoples in 1910, what they believed to be the history of the events of

their peoples before there was any contact from European settlers

through to 1910.

The document also speaks in a very hopeful tone about what the

future could be like if we worked together, what the future could be

like for Indigenous children but also the children of non-Indigenous

peoples, what life could be like if we shared, if we worked together.

There are some very moving passages in this letter that basically

reflect a desire, an intention, a willingness of these Chiefs in 1910 to

say to everyone who they viewed as guests: “What is ours is yours; what

is yours is ours. Let’s share. Let’s share the bounty of what we have on

the land and in our rivers and streams. Let’s work together for the

betterment of all of our peoples.”

I want to read one particular passage. I think this passage

resonates incredibly — certainly, it does with me — as to what

reconciliation is really all about. Again, this is the Chiefs that are

talking. The Chiefs wrote this in 1910.

“With us, when a person enters our house, he becomes our guest. We

must treat him hospitably as long as he shows no hostile intentions. At

the same time, we expect him to return to us equal treatment for what he

receives.

“Some of our Chiefs said: ‘These people wish to be partners with us

in our country. We must, therefore, be the same as brothers to them and

live as one family. We will share equally in everything — half-and-half

in land, water and timber. What is ours will be theirs, and what is

theirs will be ours. We will help each other to be great and

good.’”

Now, that last line, I think, really strikes at the heart of what

reconciliation is all about. “We will help each other to be great and

good.”

[11:30 a.m.]

That was a reflection of Chiefs in 1910, in a letter

hand-delivered to Wilfrid Laurier. As I said earlier, I do believe that

it embodies the spirit and the intent of what true reconciliation is all

about.

With that, I want to say that while we will have a thorough,

thoughtful discussion in committee stage on this bill and while there

will be a lot of valid questions that will be directed at the government

of the day that has brought this bill forward…. As we ask those

questions, it will be coming from a place of respect. It will be coming

from a place of best intentions and goodwill. It will be coming from a

place of hope and optimism that we can truly, through this framework

that’s being presented, advance reconciliation in British Columbia like

never before.

With that, I conclude my remarks here in second reading. I

certainly look forward to engaging in a thoughtful, thorough, respectful

discussion in committee stage.

Hon. M. Mark: I want to acknowledge the traditional territory that we’re

gathering on today. I want to acknowledge all of the speakers and their

truth and their advocacy, representing the 87 constituencies across

British Columbia. I want to recognize that the lens for which we look

through is different. I want to emphasize the lens for which I’ve seen

in my life.

My Nisg̱a’a name is Hli Haykwhl

Ẃii Xsgaak. I come from the Eagle clan. My village is Laxgalts’ap. My

people are from the Nass Valley. I am very proud to be

Nisg̱a’a. I’m very proud to be

Gitxsan. I’m very proud to be Cree and Ojibwa.

I don’t have enough time in these chambers to talk about the

colonial efforts and policies that had a long-lasting impact on my

family: my grandfather, who hid in the bushes from Indian agents so he

wouldn’t go to residential school, and my other three grandparents that

did go to residential school in St. Michael’s, Elkhorn and

Brandon.

It is a historic moment in time. It is October 2019. One day

people are going to look back on this debate in these chambers. They are

going to look back on the opportunity that we have before us to come

together in unity, all 87 members, to vote and support a historic bill,

Bill 41, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Act.

Now, in my time…. I grew up in East Van. I was seven years old

when the Charter of Rights and Freedoms came into play. It wasn’t until

later on in life that I studied political science and I learned about

the impacts of

section 35 and the rights of Indigenous people. It also

wasn’t until my 20s that I learned about residential school. I went 20

years without knowing the impact on my grandparents.

We know about the impact of the residential school through the

truth and reconciliation calls to action, a human rights framework

that…. Canadians, across the country, believe they are calling on

government at all levels to turn things around, to acknowledge the truth

of what happened to children that went to residential school and to make

things better.

I believe that the people that voted for us have called on us to

make things better in our communities. When I got elected in 2016, I

became the first Nations person to ever hold a seat in these chambers.

The reason why I’m so proud of that is because it is a testament to the

warrior spirit of Indigenous people, the briefcase warriors who have

fought for their rights for hundreds of years. It doesn’t matter which

canoe they were in or where they were going. They’ve always stood firm

that it is about rights. It is about our land. It is about our children.

It’s about our prosperity.

All people want that. All people want prosperity. All people want

to be able to live free and have freedom.

[11:35 a.m.]

Let’s not forget that it wasn’t too long ago that we had to fight

for rights. I’m not talking me as just a native person. Me as a woman.

People have been fighting for rights for a very, very long time. The

fight for rights is, hopefully, going to come to an end with this act.

This act, this declaration, is about affirming the rights of Indigenous

people, recognizing their rights and recognizing that, as the members

talk about, we can do things differently.

I often talk about paddling together. Most people accept that

notion. It is not a canoe full of Indians. It’s not a canoe full of

First Nations or Métis or natives. That is divide-and-conquer language.

It is a canoe for anyone who wants to fight for change — the change that

was identified in the calls to action to address child welfare and to

address the conditions of people that are overrepresented in jail and

the poverty that hits our communities.

When I say our communities, all of our communities. Most members

in these chambers have their constituencies on some traditional land. So

when I say all, we’re talking about equity for all. We’re talking about

rights for all.

I want to pause for a moment, because this is a historic moment in

our history. I want to remind people about the lens which I’ve looked

through over my 44 years in my life. In my life, I’ve seen that our

rights were recognized in the Charter. In my life, I’ve seen royal

commissions go across the country to highlight the injustices to

Indigenous people. Not too long ago we had an inquiry highlighting the

conditions for missing, murdered and Indigenous women, whose rights were

obviously ignored.

We have a lot of work to do. We have a lot of work to do for kids

in care. Before I got into politics…. Lots and lots and lots of reports

highlighting the conditions for kids in care. People are calling on us

to turn things around and make things better.

I’m not going to spend the few moments that I have in here to

speak to a historic bill…. There is lots to say, but I will say that in

my life, I will see the light. That climb that Frank Calder had as one

of the first Indigenous people to ever get elected. What did he see in

his time, and what do I get to see in my lifetime?

My grandparents aren’t alive, but I wear my grandmother’s pendant

close to my heart. I’m very sorry about the things that she had to see

in her life. We need to turn things around, and we are. I am so

optimistic that things can get better if people work

together.

The member opposite, not too long ago, talked about education. I’m

the Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. I’m the first

Nations person to serve in cabinet.

I believe that we can turn things around. What I’ve been able to

do in my life and in my time as minister…. I’ve been able to implement

the United Nations declaration on the rights of Indigenous peoples. I

know I’m not allowed to use props. I’m sorry. I hope I don’t get kicked

out. But those articles emphasize the importance of training.

My ministry has invested in Indigenous teachers, because they

should be in the front of the classroom across our province. My ministry

has invested in the first Indigenous law program — not just in B.C., not

just in Canada but in the world. That was

article 50. It was a call to

action, and we implemented it. The framework was based on the human

rights framework of the United Nations declaration on the rights of

Indigenous peoples.

We should embrace this historic opportunity to implement the

rights of Indigenous people. It will be good for our families, our

communities, our economies, our children and our future.

I’m going to close with my eagle feather.

[11:40 a.m.]

My name is Hli Haykwhl Ẃii Xsgaak. I’m the proud member for

Vancouver–​Mount Pleasant. I want to thank every person that

exercised their right to vote. They voted for me and gave me a chance to

be in these chambers for this historic moment.

J. Rice: I’m really happy that I get to speak today on Bill 41,

implementing the rights of Indigenous people in British Columbia. I

would love to speak for a long time, but I’m going to keep my remarks

very short. A lot of my colleagues have covered a lot of what I would

say.

I do want to just acknowledge this special time as an MLA, a

representative of 11 distinct nations within the North Coast, also

including a large population of

Nisg̱a’a members. More

Nisg̱a’a live in Prince Rupert

than in their traditional territories in the Nass Valley. So I do have

the honour of representing really diverse and interesting

people.

It’s an important day for my constituents as well as myself. This

is a historic first. We’re going to be the first province in Canada to

implement the UN declaration into action, recognizing the rights of

Indigenous people. We’re moving in a clear path forward that will create

good jobs and opportunities for everyone. At the same time, we’ll be

protecting the rights of Indigenous people and the

environment.

Together, we’re creating a clear and transparent process for

ensuring Indigenous peoples are included in the decisions that affect

them directly, that affect their rights within their own territories.

These are inherent rights that are protected in Canada’s constitution

and recognized in court decision after court decision but somehow,

subsequently, colonial governments — such as ourselves, the government

that I represent — have time and time again ignored.

Some of B.C.’s biggest employers are already doing things

differently with Indigenous peoples. I wanted to just recognize, in my

own hometown, the Port of Prince Rupert. They have already adopted the

principles of UNDRIP, whether they intended to or not. In Prince Rupert,

we have successful Indigenous businesses that are thriving and numerous

Indigenous people that are employed with good-paying jobs,

family-supporting jobs. In part, that is due to the work, the

progressive forward-thinking work, that the Port of Prince Rupert has

already conducted and how they relate with Indigenous peoples where

their port operations operate in their territories.

What I really wanted to do — and I have a couple of minutes — was

I just wanted to share a letter that every MLA received on both sides of

the House. I’m not going to identify the person. But actually, the

questions, I think, are some of the questions that a lot of people are

thinking, that people are concerned about. The subject line reads:

“Opposition to UNDRIP legislation.” The first question was: “Why not

just have a declaration for all people instead of just Indigenous

people? The United Nations doesn’t always get it right.” That is

true.

What I wanted to just point out is the irony of some of these

questions. That is that all people…. We do all have, in theory, equal

rights in British Columbia. But time and time again Indigenous rights

have been ignored. Not only have Indigenous people been ignored; they’ve

been mistreated and abused.

“Why should one group of people be singled out for what really

amounts to special treatment?” I just wanted to point out the irony of

that, in that we’re all supposed to be treated equally, but for 160

years, white people and non-Indigenous people have been singled out and

treated differently. They’ve been treated special as the superior race.

So what we want to do is uphold the rights of Indigenous people that

already are there and that already exist.

An example would be that in education, per-pupil funding for

people on reserve is significantly less than off reserve. We still have

Indigenous communities without drinking water, a disproportionate number

of Indigenous people incarcerated, the child poverty rate….

[11:45 a.m.]

What we’re doing is trying to make this legislation, essentially,

uphold what’s already there and make what’s right. We don’t need to have

a conversation about who has rights. They already exist. We’ve been

ignoring Indigenous ones. We’ve been trampling on them. This legislation

sets the path right.

N. Simons: I’m really very pleased to have the opportunity to speak, if I

can.

The work that’s been done has been so important. I want to

recognize everyone in cabinet who has pushed this, the caucus and

everyone in British Columbia who has seen the importance of fulfilling

not just our promise but the promise that we made to bring in

legislation so that we are in accordance and we act in accordance to the

United Nations declaration. I thank my colleagues for their hard

work.

I think about the hard work that was done in the communities to

get here. I wrote down a list of people I’m thinking about, from the

shíshálh Nation, the first Nation in Canada with self-government, the

proud signatories to a foundation agreement that sets a new course of

economic and social cooperation and partnership on the Sunshine Coast.

They’re leading the way. They’re leading the way with the Chiefs and

councils that I’ve worked with. Years and years ago, hearing stories of

Premiers dropping in at the house of Clarence Joe. His family strongly,

fiercely protecting their rights and ensuring that they’re entrenched —

in 1986.

The people that were involved in that deserve so much credit. It

was against stiff headwinds, against the incoming tide. Yet they

persevered, and they gave strength to the leadership of today, to make

sure that they carried this through.

I think of the matriarchs, those who kept the communities strong

and resilient. They deserve this credit. They did the real work. They

lived through the real experience. This is a result of that.

We are proud to be legislators at this time.

I think of the leadership of today in the shíshálh Nation. I think

of Chief Warren Paull. I think of his sisters — strong, community-minded

people who kept the communities together. The Craigan family — Stuart

Craigan, the Chief. Gary Feschuk, the Chief who worked so tirelessly and

continues to work on reconciliation at a grassroots level. Stan Dixon

and his wife, Lori — community members that have been embraced

throughout our communities.

They’re the ones with their briefcases, with their

well-thought-out arguments and with their knowledge that their fights

were for justice — with the knowledge that they were doing this not just

for the people that came before them but for the little ones who come

next.

This isn’t the end of everything. We haven’t reached a place where

we can say that the work doesn’t need to continue. The work needs to

continue. I think the partnership that we’ve formed will allow that work

to go forward. When we get along well and agree on everything, and when

we have disagreements, we have a pathway forward.

I’m pleased to be here at this time. I pay tribute to those who

come before us, and I thank members for this opportunity.

Deputy Speaker: Seeing no further speakers, the minister shall close

debate.

Hon. S. Fraser: I thank all the speakers that have come before on this powerful

second reading on Bill 41, Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous

Peoples Act.

[11:50 a.m.]

I just want to remind of the work that the Truth and

Reconciliation Commission did and the calls to action that that led to

in 2015. Anyone who attended those hearings across the country, across

the province…. I attended a number of them — tear-wrenching horrors of

the residential school system that so many had to endure.

The calls to action. I have never met anyone that did not support

those calls to action from the commission. The key call to action is for

governments to adopt and implement the UN declaration on the rights of

Indigenous peoples. That is what this is all about. You cannot support

the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission without supporting

what we’re doing here in this House.

I want to read into the record, before I close, a quote. “Taken

together, this bill gives us hope, and not only for a more certain path

towards necessary reconciliation. It gives us hope that British Columbia

can differentiate itself glo­bally, setting the course for Canada

to create an economic climate that supports sustainable development and

advances the self-determination of Indigenous peoples. If successful, we

foresee a more certain, respectful and prosperous society for all who

live, work and invest in our province.”

That quote is from Greg D’Avignon. He’s the president and CEO of

the B.C. Business Council, and it’s co-written by Laird Cronk, who is

the president of the B.C. Federation of Labour. This powerful statement

has brought great organizations together in support of this

bill.

This is about recognizing the human rights of Indigenous peoples

in law in British Columbia. That’s the first time in history in this

country. Again, I’m going to repeat myself from my first reading

opening. Let’s collectively make history.

With that, I move second reading of Bill 41.

[11:55 a.m.]

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Second reading of Bill 41 approved unanimously on a division. [See

Votes and Proceedings .]

Hon. S. Fraser: I move that the bill be referred to a Committee of the Whole House

to be considered at the next sitting of the House after

today.

Bill 41, Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, read a

second time and referred to a Committee of the Whole House for consideration

at the next sitting of the House after today.

Hon. M. Farnworth moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

Mr. Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 1:30 this afternoon.

The House adjourned at 11:59 a.m.

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