2001 Legislative Session: 2nd Session, 37th 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)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2001

Afternoon Sitting

Volume 2, Number 2

CONTENTS

Routine

Proceedings

Time

Introductions by Members

Oral Questions

Transit dispute in lower mainland

J. MacPhail

J. Kwan

Softwood lumber agreement

R. Visser

Standing Order 35 Motion

Transit dispute in lower mainland

J. MacPhail

Hon. G. Collins

J. Kwan

Tabling Documents

Draft letter to George Puil regarding transit dispute in lower mainland

Motions without Notice

Amendment of standing orders for legislative session. Hon. G. Collins

Throne Speech Debate

S. Orr

B. Bennett

J. MacPhail

R. Harris

J. Les

M. Hunter

J. Nuraney

B. Lekstrom

K. Stewart

W. Cobb

J. Bray

B. Kerr

T. Bhullar

[ Page 49 ]

WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2001

The House

met at 2:03 p.m.

Prayers.

Introductions by Members

[1405]

Hon. G.

Campbell: I'd like to recognize Greg Jadrzyk from the Northern Forest

Products Association. Mr. Jadrzyk has worked tirelessly on behalf of communities

across the north of our province to remind them of the importance of their

forest industry not only there but to British Columbia. He's been a true

contributor as we've looked at challenges like the northern pine beetle. I hope

the House will make him welcome and thank him for his constant efforts.

Hon. L.

Reid: It's my absolute privilege to welcome two very fine young souls to the

gallery, and they are Carly and Olivia Millman. They are probably future

parliamentarians — probably for about the forty-third parliament of this

Legislature. I would ask the House to please make them welcome.

Hon. G.

Abbott: Today in the gallery we have four visitors from Australia. The hon.

Jeanette Powell is a Member of the Legislative Council, parliament of Victoria,

and deputy leader of the National Party. She's accompanied by her husband, Mr.

Ian Powell. We also have in the gallery today the hon. Andrea Coote, also a

Member of the Legislative Council, parliament of Victoria, and she's accompanied

by her husband, Mr. Alan Naylor. Would the House please join me in welcoming

these four distinguished guests from Australia.

MacPhail: I am going to make what is truly a wide-ranging and non-partisan

introduction today. This extends all the way to Trail, B.C., where the

provincial Little League championships of 11- and 12-year-old boys is going on.

Not only is my son playing in it, but the son of the press secretary of the

Premier is also playing in that. So it is a truly non-partisan but hopeful mom

saying: "May the best little boy win."

Hon. S.

Hawkins: Today visiting in the gallery we have delegates from the B.C.

Pharmacy Association. Would the House please help me welcome Marshall Moleschi,

who is the president. Geoff Squires is the president-elect. With them is Mr.

Tony Toth, Ken McCartney and Bob Kucheran.

Krueger: Hon. Speaker, on your behalf, I'd like to welcome two guests in the

gallery this afternoon. Linda Friesen is the Speaker's constituency assistant,

who is visiting from Kamloops, and accompanying Linda this afternoon is her

daughter, Jennifer Friesen. Jennifer is visiting today from the

Cowichan-Ladysmith riding. I'd like to ask the House to please make these ladies

welcome.

Stewart: I'd like to introduce two guests with whom I've met this morning to

discuss francophone issues. First I'd like to introduce Mr. Jean-Louis Hérivault.

Mr. Hérivault is the representative of the Quebec government responsible for

western Canada. My second guest is Mr. Claude Provencher. Mr. Provencher is the

president of the Francophone Federation of British Columbia.

Il me fait

plaisir aujourd'hui de vous présenter deux invités. M. Jean-Louis Hérivault

est le représentant du gouvernement de Québec responsable pour l'ouest

canadien. Le deuxième invité est M. Claude Provencher, qui est le président

de la Fédération des francophones de la Colombie Britannique. Je demande à

l'Assemblée de les accueillir chaleureusement. Would the House please make them

welcome.

Hon. J.

Murray: I'd like to introduce my friend Lori MacDonald, who's visiting in

the gallery today. Would the House please make her welcome.

Hon. S.

Santori: At this time I would like to welcome two of the three very special

people in my life: my wife, Wendy, who is here today; and my son, Kevin, who has

taken four days off from the warm waters of Christina Lake to be here with his

father.

[1410]

Oral Questions

TRANSIT DISPUTE IN LOWER MAINLAND

MacPhail: Today is day 116 of the transit strike in the lower mainland, and

tens of thousands of people who rely on transit are becoming second-class

citizens. They are unable to get to work or to school, they can't go shopping

for groceries, they can't make doctors' appointments, and they can't take their

children to day care. We know, because we see it every day, that students

are hurting. Seniors are hurting; they're falling into despair. Small businesses

are hurting. And day after day the buck is passed from the province to TransLink

to Coast Mountain Bus Co.

My question

is for the minister responsible for TransLink. Can the minister please rise and

tell us how much British Columbians pay in provincially collected taxes so that

TransLink can provide transit services to the people of the lower mainland? And

can she tell us how much a month is collected from British Columbians, which is

then turned over to TransLink for them to provide transit services?

Hon. G.

Campbell: The transit dispute started 116 days ago. Our party has been

committed to free collective bargaining in the province of British Columbia. We

recommended to the previous government that they impose a cooling-off period so

that this matter would be dealt with when we had a

[ Page 50 ]

Legislature. We have a Legislature that is in session today.

The people

have paid the price of the inaction of the two third parties for too long. I

have directed the Minister of Skills Development and Labour to meet with

representatives of Coast Mountain, to meet with the CAW and to tell them it is

time for them to put the public interest at the front of their agenda. The

seniors, the young people and the small businesses that the member has talked

about have paid a price for too long.

We would

like free collective bargaining to work. I have directed the minister to meet

with representatives as soon as possible and to tell us what they are going to

do and how they are going to act to make sure that the public interest is on the

agenda, so that we have a transit system in the province that people can depend

upon, that is financially sustainable and that is managed in the public

interest.

MacPhail: It's interesting to note that prior to this government being

elected, there were two identical public transit disputes going on — one in

this city and one in the lower mainland. Prior to this government being

elected, the transit dispute was resolved with hardly any effect on the

community whatsoever. It was resolved to the benefit of both parties, both those

using transit and the employer. But the

minute this government got elected…

Interjections.

Mr.

Speaker: Order, please.

MacPhail: …all resolution stopped in resolving the matter in the lower

mainland.

This

government thinks of itself as decisive. They managed, within hours of taking

the reins of power, to give British Columbians a huge tax break — the day

after they were sworn in. Now they've admitted they'll pay for that tax cut

with deep cuts to public service. Is there another agenda going on here?

But when

ordinary people who rely on the bus need help, they dither. They put in place a

process, they reject the mediator's report, and they pass the buck.

I have a

question for the minister responsible for TransLink. Let's have open and honest

and accountable government. To the minister responsible for TransLink: since the

strike began, Vancouver air quality has deteriorated, ICBC claims are up, the

number of people volunteering at the food bank is down, seniors centres are

empty and people are losing their jobs.

To the

minister responsible for TransLink: can the minister rise today and tell us how

much is sitting in TransLink coffers while the buses sit idle? Does the

minister agree that it is a clear violation of the act for which she is

responsible to continue to let those dollars flow to TransLink while this

strike continues?

[1415]

Hon. G.

Campbell: For this member to stand up and claim that she has one iota of

care for the people who have been suffering under the transit system is simply

not plausible. It was that government, the previous government, that established

both the financial and the jurisdictional framework that Transit is operated

under.

I can tell

you this, hon. Speaker. This government does believe in free collective

bargaining, but we are going to be sure that the public interest is put at the

front of that agenda. We are going to demand that the CAW and Coast Mountain Bus

Co. come and talk with the Minister of Skills Development and Labour and tell

him how they are going to solve this problem now. That's what this government is

going to do.

Mr.

Speaker: The Leader of the Opposition with a further supplemental.

MacPhail: You know, this is the one time when the Premier can do nothing but

take responsibility for the hurt that his government is causing on the people of

the lower mainland.

Interjections.

MacPhail: Perhaps the people didn't vote for the government opposite, but it

is his responsibility to represent those people.

Let me tell

you about TransLink and how his government values the system that was negotiated

under our government. Let me quote: "TransLink has acknowledged that the

province provides exceptional financial support to TransLink." As former

TransLink CEO Ken Dobell, now the deputy minister to the Premier, recently said,

there isn't a transit system in Canada that wouldn't kill for our revenue base,

Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker: Hon. member.

MacPhail: That's the….

Interjections.

Mr.

Speaker: Order.

MacPhail: This government likes to think of itself as absolutely decisive,

so I am asking….

Interjections.

Mr.

Speaker: Order, order.

Would the

hon. member please put her question.

MacPhail: Absolutely, Mr. Speaker. I will put it to the minister responsible

for TransLink, so that people can actually get an answer from this government

that says it's open and accountable….

Some

Hon. Members: Ask your question.

[ Page 51 ]

MacPhail: Here is the question: will the minister commit today to

immediately stop the flow of provincial money for transit and put it into an

escrow account until TransLink settles this strike?

Interjections.

Mr.

Speaker: Order, please.

Hon. G.

Campbell: The transit situation in the lower mainland has caused huge damage

to the people in the lower mainland. It is unacceptable to us. There is a

balanced response that's got to be brought forward. The Minister of Skills

Development and Labour and myself have consistently urged the third parties to

resolve this matter. They have evidently not been able to do that. We are now

going to tell them clearly and unequivocally that it is time for their private

interests to include the public interest. It is time for them to understand that

we are going to have a transit system in British Columbia that is financially

sustainable and that is manageable, so that the public interest is served.

That's our goal; that's our objective. I can tell you that we are expecting

those third parties to act now so that people in British Columbia have the

benefits that they deserve.

J. Kwan:

My question is to the minister responsible for TransLink. Given that your

Premier has agreed that TransLink has the responsibility for transit services,

given that the mayor of the city of Vancouver has agreed that the TransLink

board has the responsibility for transportation services…. The only person who

doesn't seem to agree on that front is the chair of the TransLink board, George

Puil. Will the minister stand today in support of this Premier and say that the

responsibility lies within the TransLink board?

Hon. J.

Reid: It is very important, this issue of TransLink and how it affects

people's lives in the lower mainland, and we are very concerned. We are very

concerned with what has gone on, very concerned with the responsibility. This is

the responsibility of Coast Mountain and the union. There is a process in place,

and it's really important that we allow that process to take place. We are

monitoring it. Certainly we have concerns about the situation as it exists right

now, and as the Premier said, we expect this dispute to be resolved.

[1420]

J. Kwan:

The act is clear in stating that the TransLink board is the employer and is

responsible. Your own Premier, on BCTV — on what date? on July 14, not too

many days ago — actually said that the responsibility lies within TransLink.

Why will the minister not stand up and say it is the TransLink board's

responsibility and hold them accountable?

Hon. J.

Reid: As we've said, this situation has caused problems for people —

really stressful problems. We take it very, very seriously, and we take

seriously the rights of the different parties involved to be able to negotiate.

We take seriously their responsibilities. We expect that they're carrying out

those responsibilities in a forthright manner. I think it has been clear that

the province is losing patience with that, and we are urging them to take the

proper steps to be able to resolve this dispute because of the huge, huge

problems it's causing for people.

Mr.

Speaker: Further supplemental from the member for Vancouver–Mount

Pleasant.

J. Kwan:

The act is unequivocal on that matter and where the responsibilities lie. My

colleague and I have actually taken the liberty of preparing a letter to Mr.

George Puil for the minister responsible, ordering the board to hold a vote on

the mediator's recommendations. All it needs is her signature and for this to be

forwarded to TransLink for this Friday. If the Premier is interested in settling

the matter immediately, he could do so. The minister could take this draft

letter, which I will table at the end of question period, and have it forwarded

to George Puil and demand that they vote on the Vince Ready recommendations.

Hon. G.

Bruce: It's a pleasure to once again be able to stand in these chambers and

take

part in this debate. It's particularly wonderful to be back here on a

bright sunny day when all of British Columbia is hoping that every single one of

us will be able to offer a great contribution to this province here, all of us

that are debating these issues. The attitude that's out there today is

wonderful. It's a positive feeling.

We do have

a problem or two left over by you two, which we are going to have to resolve.

But we've only been government for 45 days. You were government for ten years.

You left the place in a mess. We intend, on behalf of the people of British

Columbia, to once again restore the credibility of British Columbia so that

everybody in Canada will look at B.C. as a great place to live.

SOFTWOOD LUMBER AGREEMENT

Visser: My question is for the Minister of Forests. As we're all aware,

softwood lumber negotiations are ongoing in Washington, D.C., with the potential

of causing great harm to forest-dependent communities across the province. Could

the minister tell us what the government is doing to address this issue and how

we are making our best possible case in Washington today?

Hon. M.

de Jong: Thanks to the member for the question. I think and I hope every

member of this House understands the significance of the issue that is facing

the province — the biggest single bilateral commodity trade between two

countries. I can report to the House today that the preliminary determination

that was set by the American commerce department for later this week will

actually take place on August 9.

[ Page 52 ]

Insofar

as the steps we are taking, I would say this to the member: it is fundamentally

important that Canada be united in addressing this issue. I'm happy to say that

one of the first things the Premier did after he was sworn into office was to go

to Ottawa, and he said to the federal minister responsible: "This is the

number one trade issue for British Columbia and for Canada."

[1425]

That

message has been re-emphasized in meetings I have had with the federal minister.

It has been re-emphasized in Ottawa. It is fundamentally important, also, that

British Columbia be unified and that all stakeholders, all communities, all the

people that are going to be impacted come together and bring a common strategy

and a common approach. We're going to do that. The objective is clear, and I

know the member shares this objective. It is unencumbered, unfettered, equal

access to the American marketplace, and that's what we intend to achieve.

[End

of question period.]

Standing Order 35 Motion

MacPhail: Hon. Speaker, I rise under standing order 35 to seek leave to move

a motion that this House do now adjourn for the purpose of discussing a definite

matter of urgent public importance.

As all

members of this House are well aware, the transit strike in the lower mainland

of our province is causing tremendous hardship. Regardless of what the members

opposite may think about the world — that it's sunny and bright for everybody

— there are people hurting, there are businesses hurting, there are lives

being thrown into despair because it's day 116 of a transit strike. It is

causing tremendous hardship for thousands of people who depend on a transit

service for a wide variety of reasons. Whether it is to take themselves to

doctors' appointments for medical treatment, to take themselves to school, to

take their children to school or to day care, or to take themselves to work,

transit in the lower mainland is an issue of incredible importance.

It is also

an issue of huge importance to small business owners. A government that purports

to bring in a new, bright, sunny era for the economy…. It's not working in the

lower mainland because of this transit strike. Day after day small businesses

stand up and ask this provincial government to resolve this transit strike and

make sure that we have transit that customers can depend on to bring them to

their places of business and to bring their employees to the business. It is

absolutely essential that this debate carry on, that this issue be debated in

this House immediately.

Hon.

Speaker, I'm providing you with a written statement on this matter, and I ask

you to allow for an emergency debate immediately.

Mr.

Speaker: The hon. member seeks leave to adjourn the House for an emergency

debate under standing order 35. Further comment on this request?

Hon. G.

Collins: I think every member of this Legislature, indeed probably every

member of the public, agrees that the hardship that people are experiencing as a

result of the transit strike is something that is extremely unfortunate.

Clearly, I think, over the last number of years the legislation that was brought

into place by the previous government — the member who spoke before me was the

minister responsible, I believe, for that legislation — is what has created

this conflict that we're in right now. It has a very significant impact on the

people of this province. This is an issue that is important to British

Columbians, and I find it interesting that the former minister who was

responsible for this issue didn't think it was urgent and important when she was

the Deputy Premier and had the ability to solve this thing if she wanted to.

MacPhail: We resolved that issue.

Hon. G.

Collins: She says that she resolved it, that she was also responsible….

Interjections.

Hon. G.

Collins: Mr. Speaker, one can obviously see that if the…

Mr.

Speaker: Order, please.

Hon. G.

Collins: …logic of the two members opposite applies now in their argument,

then it applied when they were in government and they were also accountable and

responsible for it. But clearly, under the rules of this Legislature, the

request by the member opposite does not qualify. This debate in itself is not

urgent. While the issue is of significant importance to the people of British

Columbia, this debate is not urgent. Nothing has changed dramatically from two

days ago that would require this to happen now.

We will be

speaking in reply to the throne speech presently, which gives members wide

opportunity to address this issue, if that's what the member wishes to do. In

fact, we're probably going to have six days of debate, and the two members

opposite can spend all their time talking about this issue and debating this

issue if they so choose. So there is clearly the ability, even today, for the

member opposite to get up and have this discussion if she wishes. She does not

need to adjourn the House under standing order 35 to do that.

[1430]

Mr.

Speaker: Further discussion?

J. Kwan:

Hon. Speaker, as a matter of fact, today is the first time in which the House

has sat since the escalation of the transit strike and since the Vince Ready

recommendations. If the members opposite want to ensure that services are being

provided, then the minister responsible for TransLink would indeed take the

draft letter and forward it to TransLink, put her signature on it now and ask

for the matter to be voted on at the TransLink board meeting on Friday.

[ Page 53 ]

That would not necessitate an emergency sitting for this matter to be

debated.

Mr.

Speaker: Thank you, hon. members. I think I've heard enough comment on the

request. The Government House Leader wishes to comment further?

Hon. G.

Collins: If I may add one point in response to the comment of the members

who just spoke. In fact, this Legislature did sit once before, and I don't

recall either member raising this issue at that time.

Mr.

Speaker: Thank you, hon. members. I will take the request under advisement

and bring back a ruling in due course.

Tabling Documents

Kwan: I'd like to table a draft letter to the chairman of the board of

TransLink, George Puil, for your records and for the minister's information, and

to ask that she forward this letter to the TransLink board.

Mr.

Speaker: Hon. member, you must seek leave of the House to submit this

letter.

J. Kwan:

I ask leave to submit the letter, hon. Speaker.

Leave

granted.

Orders of the Day

Motion without Notice

AMENDMENT OF STANDING ORDERS FOR LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Hon. G.

Collins: Mr. Speaker, I seek your guidance on this. I'm about to seek leave

to move a motion which is about three pages long. It has to do with amending the

standing orders for this session of the Legislature. I'd like to do that with

unanimous consent. I've already spoken to the member for Vancouver-Hastings

regarding it. If she'd like, I can read the whole thing into the record.

Otherwise, I can just introduce it.

Leave

granted.

Mr.

Speaker: Also, shall we waive the reading of the motion?

Leave

granted.

Hon. G.

Collins: I move the motion that is now in the hands of the Clerks.

Motion

approved.

Hon. G.

Collins: I call address in reply to the Speech from the Throne.

Throne Speech Debate

S. Orr:

I move, seconded by the member for East Kootenay, that: "We, Her Majesty's

most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in

session assembled, beg leave to thank Your Honour for the gracious speech which

Your Honour has addressed to us at the opening of the present session."

It is a

great honour and privilege to rise today representing the people of

Victoria-Hillside and give my first speech in these chambers. Mr. Speaker, I

would also like to take this opportunity and bring congratulations from my

constituents on your new position. Your wisdom and fairness, I know, will serve

us well. I would also like to congratulate the returning members, and I would

particularly like to congratulate the new members, of which I am one. In fact, I

am No. 77. And because I was the last member to be elected, I was bestowed the

great honour of being the first to speak and move the throne speech.

I appear to

have inherited the nickname, "Number 77." Every time I hear that, I

cannot help but think of the game of hockey. I understand that hockey player Raymond Bourque, who wore No. 77, just

retired — along with his number. I

feel some affinity to this man — and I have the surname Orr —

and the number 77, after my election campaign.

[1435]

The race in

Victoria-Hillside was not just a Stanley Cup race that went to the seventh game

but one that went to double overtime before victory was achieved. I hope to

serve my constituency as well as Raymond Bourque served the game of hockey. I

will wear the number 77 proudly, and despite the close result I intend to

represent all of the people of Victoria-Hillside.

Mr.

Speaker, it is indeed a great honour to move the throne speech, because I

genuinely believe that this is the speech that will usher in, for all British

Columbians, the new era of hope and prosperity that we promised during the

campaign. The Premier has already demonstrated that he is a man of his word and

that he has the courage to fulfil the mandate given to him by the people of this

province.

I look

forward to seeing the new era come for the people of Victoria-Hillside — a

population that traditionally, over the past few decades, has voted NDP. Now it

is up to me and our government to show my constituency and all of the province

that a Liberal government can bring hope and prosperity back to British

Columbia, that you can have open and accountable government and that you can

have a government that will tell you the truth. It might not be everything that

you want to hear, but it will be the truth.

Mr.

Speaker, to tell the truth, it is with great awe that I stand in this House for

the first time. I am not the first woman to represent this constituency. In

fact, Nancy Hodges was the first female Liberal candidate to win the seat of

Victoria. That was in 1941, and she sat

[ Page 54 ]

in these chambers until 1952. She was Speaker of this House from 1950 to 1952

and was the first woman Speaker in the Commonwealth. It seems that Liberals have

a history in this House. As No. 77, I know that.

In 1953 yet

another woman won this seat — Lydia Arsens for the Social Credit Party. Of

course, after the constituency split, let's not forget Gretchen Mann Brewin, who

served her community well as a councillor, as a mayor and as MLA for the

neighbouring riding of Victoria–Beacon Hill and also as Speaker of this House.

So I feel honoured to be in such company and proud that these strong women

blazed the trail ahead of me.

Victoria-Hillside

has many beautiful areas. We have parks and we have trails. We have a wonderful

municipal golf course and many cherished Garry oak groves. We have a history and

a culture. But this is not a wealthy riding. We have people with middle-class

incomes. We have many people who live on a very modest income. They are

proud, hard-working people from all walks of life. We have a very active

Indo-Canadian community. We have three temples in my constituency. The Jewish

Community Centre is in my constituency, and the synagogue is only 20 feet

outside my boundaries. In fact, it is the oldest synagogue in Canada. I have a

large Chinese community. Victoria's Chinatown is in my constituency, with its

rich history. We have many Latinos. We have many Vietnamese and Iranian people

— just a wonderful mix of many cultures.

One of the

strengths of Victoria-Hillside is the sense of community demonstrated by the

number of active and successful community groups, many of which I have already

been involved with. For example, the Burnside-Gorge Community Association, under

the leadership of Dean Fortin, is working very hard to build a new community

centre. They already have many partners in place. Blanshard Community Centre is

another shining example under the leadership of a terrific role model, Leni

Hoover.

We also have the Oaklands centre and the Cridge Centre for the Family,

under the superb leadership of Colin Moorman. They are about to start to build

their new child care centre. Their final project goal will be an entire village

for families and seniors. This organization has a long history in

Victoria-Hillside, as this used to be an orphanage. We have

business leaders today living in our community who lived as children in this

orphanage and have wonderful memories of the centre and the Cridge family.

The

Kiwanis Club has just completed an extension to their housing project, adding

another 50 suites for seniors. They are nearing completion on a wonderful new

project to house single moms with one child and also to provide a support system

to help these moms get back on their feet. All the Kiwanis projects are done

without any help from government or any subsidies.

[1440]

These

organizations are committed to helping the needs of our families, seniors and

especially our children — one of our most important and precious resources.

What is so very important to me, and one of the many reasons that I sought a

seat as a Liberal in this Legislative Assembly, is this government's commitment

to these values.

We not only

have a Minister of Children and Family Development, but we also have a Minister

of State for Early Childhood Development. At a meeting last week that this

minister organized, I had the pleasure of listening to the wise words of Dr.

Fraser Mustard, who is a leader in early childhood development. He said that the

health and well-being of the population has a bearing on the economy, and it

starts right here with our children, right at their beginnings. Likewise, a

healthy economy leads to a better environment in which to raise healthy

children.

An example

of a better environment that is changing the face of a community is a large

subsidized housing complex in my community called Blanshard Court. Over the

years it has had tough times and bad press. Blanshard Court is now changing.

With help from B.C. Housing, they are having a makeover. Ugly blacktop is being

removed and replaced with clay areas, lawns and even a water park, if we had

water. The buildings have new windows and doors and are being repainted, and all

the residents are busy picking the building colours. I was fortunate enough

recently to be at those meetings, and it was lots of fun.

The

perception of Blanshard Court has always been as a place where the police spent

a lot of time. That was true in the past but certainly not now. Several weeks

ago I did a late-night ride-along with Victoria Police Chief Battershill, and he

told me that Blanshard Court had fewer calls now than some of the more upmarket

neighbourhoods. So we have decided to shake off the name and show people what

Blanshard Court is today. We are having a competition with the residents to

change the name, and when all the painting is finished, we are going to have a

ribbon-cutting and a party. Everyone is invited to come and celebrate a

wonderful neighbourhood that houses proud, hard-working people.

The reason

I told this story, Mr. Speaker, was to make a point: all people really want is

hope. All they want is a chance to get ahead and be treated with respect. They

want someone to watch over their hard-earned tax dollars and give them a tax

break — a promise under the leadership of our Premier that we have already

fulfilled. Because of the characteristics of my community, I probably know

better than most that as well as a growing economy, it is important that we also

ensure that we have a government with a social conscience and that a safety net

is there for people who genuinely need it. Our government has also made another

historical first step by appointing the first-ever Minister of State for Mental

Health.

On my night

ride with the Victoria police chief, we talked over our concerns and issues that

I have been working on for many years: adult and children sexual exploitation

and our concerns over substance abuse. All of these issues are very complex but

have not been addressed well in the past decade. I know that personally, because

I work with these people all the

[ Page 55 ]

time. I intend to work closely with the ministers responsible to ensure that

these problems get the attention they clearly need in our community.

Mr.

Speaker, I do not want to give you the impression that everyone in our community

is in need of a social safety net. For example, in my constituency live many

government workers, and over the past few weeks I have had many calls from the

rank and file of the civil service. This body of people is hard-working. They

are the engine that makes good government work. Many have served the people of

this province for several decades, and all they want is to do a good job in a

professional and open civil service. They tell me that they are excited about

the openness we have created, especially open cabinet meetings.

[1445]

Victoria-Hillside

has many, many businesses, both large and small, and houses the industrial core

of the region. I have also owned several small businesses, and I understand it

when these business owners say to me: "Just get out of our way, and let us

get on with the business of doing business." Mr. Speaker, I can tell you it

is a great relief to these people that we announced a Minister of State for

Deregulation.

Businesses

have been choking on red tape for years, and of course, many have closed down.

It is a great message that we have sent out: B.C. is open for business again.

Come home; we want your business. Things are looking up. This government is

committed to cutting red tape and the regulatory burden by one-third within

three years.

Over the

past weeks I have had the opportunity to talk to many of my local businesses.

They have struggled over the past years, but since this government was elected,

I am hearing stories of optimism. Victoria-Hillside has many of the major car

dealerships, and over the past four weeks business has dramatically improved.

You know, that tax break did make a difference.

A local

company that makes windows is swamped with work, with the sales rep working

until 11 every night to keep up with the orders. Customers who had put their

renovations and building on hold, too worried about where British Columbia was

going, are now starting their projects. The local house painter that I called to

get my own house painted is trying to fit me in, because all of a sudden the

customers that he quoted to last year, including me, are now ready to go ahead.

The local

vacuum cleaner store said last week that things have never looked so good. But

most important was the call I received from my son. My son, who lives in Tofino

and is a fish farmer on a very, very modest income, said: "Hey, mom, I got

more money on my paycheque, and I'm going out for supper."

I ran in

the community of Victoria-Hillside because the issues of this riding are near

and dear to my heart: social issues, small business, economic growth, hope and a

future — a health care system that always puts patients first and a school

system that always puts children first. There are many things that I will be

working on in Victoria-Hillside, but the one thing that I have promised and

guaranteed to my constituents is access — access to me.

I have

promised a community office that matches what our government stands for: access,

openness, accountability and willingness to listen. I will not be able to solve

all the problems, but I will try. I come from a municipal grass-roots

background, and I know from that experience that people want to be heard by

those they elected — for us to remember why we are here and a mandate to renew

people's trust in government.

One of the

reasons I am particularly proud to be a member of the government benches in this

assembly is our commitment during the election to the New Era document and the

Premier's 90-day agenda. We are fulfilling what we promised to do, and the

people I have talked to are very understanding that everything we want to do

will not be easy, especially in the short term. Growing the economy is something

that doesn't take place overnight. Meanwhile, financial pressures will be

difficult, but we do know that this is what the people of B.C. want.

They want

this province to get back to what it used to be — to number one. Our

government is prepared to work with all segments of the community to find the

most effective ways to make British Columbia once again the best province in

Canada and to restore a new era of hope and prosperity, which is what I believe

all British Columbians really want — especially the people of my constituency,

Victoria-Hillside.

[1450]

Bennett: It's my privilege and honour today to second the motion made by the

member for Victoria-Hillside. My remarks today are made from the perspective of

the people who live, work and raise their families in the riding of East

Kootenay. I'm sure this perspective will also be recognized by those members who

come from the other rural areas of British Columbia.

East

Kootenay is a large riding. It extends from the Alberta border in the east to a

few kilometres west of Cranbrook, down south to the U.S. border and north almost

to the city of Kimberley. Our riding consists of five distinct communities with

vast tracts of mountain wilderness between those communities.

Our

communities are: Cranbrook, the regional service centre and the business,

government and entertainment centre; Fernie, the beautiful burgeoning town with

the great snow and the flourishing ski industry; Sparwood, the first community

which is inside the Alberta-B.C. boundary and home to many of the valley's

miners; and Elkford, which is a lovely little town in a wilderness setting north

of Sparwood. The fifth area is a sprawling area of rangeland and ranches and

villages between Cranbrook and Fernie. We call that the south country.

There is

much to celebrate today and many reasons for the people of the East Kootenay to

have renewed hope in the future of British Columbia. As British Columbians work

their way clear of the past ten years of lost opportunity, we in the East

Kootenay appreciate

[ Page 56 ]

the honesty and the fortitude it takes for this government to simply tell it

like it is. The results of the fiscal review panel announced on Monday set out

in an objective, unbiased way just how serious our fiscal situation really is in

British Columbia. Clearly we have been living beyond our means.

Admitting there is a problem is the beginning of a solution. Our new government

has already begun the public policy changes so desperately needed to get our

fiscal house in order and to make British Columbia competitive once again with

the rest of Canada and the rest of the world. I refer particularly to the

dramatic reduction of personal income taxes for all British Columbians — not

just for the wealthy, as has been suggested by some, but a dramatic reduction of

personal income taxes for everyone who pays taxes in B.C.

As it has

in all other jurisdictions, letting our citizens keep more of their money will

ultimately create more jobs and more revenue to pay for our valued social

programs. On a personal level, it makes me very proud to be a member of a

government that actually does after the election what it promised to do during

the election.

When I

decided to enter politics a few years ago, I encountered the now Premier at a

political convention in a Kelowna hotel, and I asked him point-blank: "Do

you mean what you have been saying about more open and accountable government?

Will you really allow free votes in the Legislature? Will you actually make

ministers personally accountable? Will you really set fixed election

dates?"

I got my

answer in the hallway of that Kelowna hotel, and I decided then to seek election

to this House. British Columbians got their answers to those questions yesterday

during the Speech from the Throne, and I'm sure they are very pleased with those

answers. Again, I'm honoured and grateful to be a member of a government that

keeps its promises.

I want to

use the rest of my time today to talk about some of the issues that are specific

to my riding, the East Kootenay. One thing that we all have in common in B.C. is

that we all think that our own part of the province is the most beautiful place

on the face of the Earth, and we tell each other that all the time. Well, the

people of Cranbrook, Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford and our ranch country all know

in our hearts that our valleys and our mountains and our communities are the

most beautiful places on Earth. I can tell you that when the sun comes up over

the spectacular Rockies and drops down over the gorgeous Purcell Mountains —

and at all times in between — those of us who are lucky enough to live in this

paradise are grateful to God that such places still exist. We need to protect

and conserve these places.

Amidst all

its natural beauty, the hard-working people of the East Kootenay manage to make

a significant contribution to the provincial economy. Mining and forestry in

particular make huge contributions to our province's capacity to pay for health

care, education and our other social services. Every day, seven days a week, six

to eight coal trains wend their way west from the Elk Valley, each with 110 cars

loaded full of coal. They go across the beautiful Kootenay River and up the

Rocky Mountain Trench to the Columbia Valley and into Golden, where they join

the TransCanada rail route. And on they go, six to eight trains a day, out to

the west coast, where they unload onto ships destined for Japan.

One car

carries 100 tonnes of coal. At $40 a tonne and at eight trains a day, this

beautiful little patch of Rocky Mountains called Elk Valley pumps $4 million a

day into the B.C. economy. Another way to look at it — and I can't say that I

thought of this; this comes from David Baxter of the Urban Futures Institute….

If you take just the direct taxes from a couple of coal trains from the East

Kootenay — never mind the fuel tax, the PST, the employee income taxes and

corporate taxes — you can pay for a bypass operation. So with eight trains per

day, that works out to four bypass operations every day that are paid for by

East Kootenay coal.

[1455]

The men and

women who mine that coal in the Elk Valley and the people who work in the many

businesses which supply the mining industry throughout the East Kootenay

appreciate the fact that our government will encourage mining exploration after

an 80 percent decline in exploration over the past ten years.

The

Sullivan Mine in Kimberley, which is just outside the boundaries of my riding,

closed this year after 100 years of contributing to the B.C. economy. In fact,

we here in B.C. have been losing more mines than we have been gaining. So it's

reassuring to the thousands of East Kootenay families that depended on the

mining industry to know that this government will eliminate the backlog and

delays in Crown land applications and will increase access to those Crown lands

so that mining can continue to contribute to the economy of our province and can

continue to provide the highest-paid resource jobs in British Columbia.

Like all

the other economic regions of B.C. — except one, which happens to include

Whistler-Blackcomb — our region receives its largest economic boost from the

forest industry. Times have been very tough for East Kootenay forest workers and

forest companies, as they have been for the whole B.C. forest industry. As with

all commodities, when the price of pulp or lumber goes down, we lose jobs. Our

shopkeepers, mechanics, realtors, tradespeople and accountants all feel the

decline. But over the past ten years the hard-working people of the East

Kootenay have suffered from a surprising enemy: their own government. The

regulatory burden imposed on those who work in the forest industry by the former

government has brought the once-proud B.C. forest industry to its knees. The

practical consequences of this decline: lost jobs; closed mills, including the

Cranbrook sawmill; and personal hardship for every single person in the East

Kootenay whose livelihood depends on the forest industry.

I commend

our government for taking action to improve the Forest Practices Code. I have

seen firsthand on the mountain slopes of the East Kootenay

[ Page 57 ]

just recently the effort and the time and the resources it takes forest

workers on the ground to follow the byzantine and sometimes conflicting

regulations prescribed by the code. Forest workers are professionals. They have

practical experience, and they have common sense. If the objectives and the

standards in the code are clear, they will find the most efficient and sensible

way to meet those objectives and standards. If they don't, the company will

suffer penalties.

I also

commend our government for its speedy action relative to the pine beetle crisis.

The pine beetle epidemic came through the Flathead region of the East Kootenay

roughly 20 years ago. Fortunately, the companies and the government of the day

listened to the professional foresters, and the epidemic was controlled and not

allowed to spread throughout the rest of the East Kootenay. I toured this huge

reforested area in the Flathead, just north of the Montana border, a few weeks

ago, and the regrowth, the wildlife, the birds and the diversity in this area

are overwhelming.

Finally, I

commend the government for its commitment to using a small portion of provincial

stumpage fees to educate our markets about the real B.C. forest practices. There

are groups in the world today who threaten the livelihoods of thousands of

families in my riding and around this province. They are spreading false

information. The facts about B.C.'s forest practices must be told.

Hon.

Speaker, it wouldn't be fair to the tourist or real estate development

industries of my riding to leave an impression that the East Kootenay is

completely dependent on the core resource industries. In fact, we've been

diversifying our economy through the development of a very strong tourist

industry and recreational home development, and there is great potential to

develop a high-tech component in our economy in places like the city of Fernie,

which many in the ski industry around the world have said will be the next

Whistler. The expansion of the ski resorts at Kimberley and Fernie have helped

our regional economy, as has the development of several world-class golf courses

in the Cranbrook vicinity. This economic diversification is critical to the

future of the East Kootenay. It makes our communities more self-sufficient, and

it keeps those dollars circulating in our regional economy.

Interestingly,

all of the investment in tourism and recreational home development in the East

Kootenay has come from our neighbours to the east, in Alberta. Though it's been

difficult to compete with Alberta business because of B.C.'s tax and regulatory

structure, we in the East Kootenay are generally grateful to be so close to the

booming economy of Alberta. Their free enterprise dollars have shielded the East

Kootenay to some extent from the stagnant economic reality of the past several

years.

We look

forward to a renewed investment climate in B.C. We are envious of Alberta's

strong economy, and we are very pleased that this government wants to change

B.C. public policy to allow our business community in B.C. to compete with

Alberta and every other jurisdiction in the world.

The East

Kootenay is a diverse place, and the region, like the province, contains people

with disparate interests and values. We are thankful that there is a capacity in

the hearts and the minds of the people of the East Kootenay to tolerate these

differences.

[1500]

One group

of the East Kootenay people that I want to say just a few words about today, who

are not always tolerated by our urban friends, are the men and women who go into

the mountains of our region every fall to pursue an honourable 10,000-year

tradition. These folks are conservationists. They love the mountains and the

streams and the wild places. Every year they assist provincial wildlife managers

at no cost to taxpayers on a myriad of beneficial projects. They also gather and

report valuable information on wildlife population numbers, and they supply that

to our provincial wildlife managers.

These folks

are the hunters of the East Kootenay. The East Kootenay is referred to as the

Serengeti of North America. We are blessed with large herds of Rocky Mountain

elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, Shiras moose, bighorn sheep, high populations

of cougars and wolves, countless smaller creatures and, of course, large

populations of black bears and grizzly bears.

Recently

our government lifted a blanket moratorium on grizzly bear hunting, imposed by

the former government against the advice of the government's own professional

wildlife managers. I can tell you that to the people of the East Kootenay and,

I'm sure, to the people in the north, this decision was symbolic of the way that

the former government sacrificed rural rights and interests for crass political

purposes.

This

decision just reminded us of how so often in B.C. — in fact all over this

country — rural people are told by their governments: "Don't worry. We

know what's best for you." Our government, on the other hand, listened to

its own experts and to rural people and imposed scientifically based closures

only in areas where grizzly populations do not require a harvest. I was very

pleased to hear in the Speech from the Throne that government management of the

environment and natural resources will be performed on scientific principles.

That will be a change from what we've been used to over the last ten years.

Let's be

clear about one thing, though. The opposition to the grizzly hunt in B.C. is not

about the future of grizzly bear populations, as some groups would have the

public believe. I am confident that the scientific review will determine that

there are large populations of grizzly bears in B.C. and that hunting a few

bears each year is the best way to control those healthy populations.

The

opposition to the grizzly hunt is based on a fundamental disagreement about the

morality of hunting wildlife. Although rural people resent how hunters are

sometimes characterized by some of those

[ Page 58 ]

who do not share the same values, hunters accept the disagreement about the

morality of hunting as inevitable. It's not commonly known across the province,

particularly in the lower mainland, that hundreds of younger, so-called nuisance

black and grizzly bears are shot every year by conservation officers because

they were driven out of a territory belonging to an old boar.

Neither do

most British Columbians see the carnage on our highways with countless serious

accidents from the proliferation of the deer and elk population. Most hunters

don't take an animal. When they do take an animal, there is enormous respect

from the hunter for the animal. For anyone who doesn't hunt, it is, I think,

impossible to fathom the intuitive connection felt between the hunter and the

prey and between the hunter and the natural world.

Hunters buy

their licences and tags. In addition, they contribute to what's known as the

habitat conservation trust fund, which incidentally was conceived in Cranbrook

in 1981, when Rafe Mair was Minister of Environment. This habitat conservation

trust fund was created by hunters for habitat conservation, protection,

management and acquisition of lands. It is a self-imposed tax on hunters,

fishers, trappers and guides.

Hunting in

B.C. is very strictly regulated in order that healthy populations can be

maintained. Those who hunt harvest only surplus members of healthy, expanding or

stable populations. No less than Albert Schweitzer, when working in Africa, said

that removing surplus animals to manage populations by hunting is essential to

the survival of a healthy population of wildlife.

I'd be

remiss if I didn't say something about one of the challenges of having so much

wildlife in the East Kootenay. Imagine, Mr. Speaker, if you had 20 to 150

uninvited guests arrive for breakfast and dinner day after day, year after year.

I know that you are a patient man, but I bet you would grow tired of the extra

burden these uninvited guests would place on you, your family and your household

budget. The ranchers of the East Kootenay and elsewhere in B.C. put up with just

this very predicament every day. Every morning when the sun rises over the Rocky

Mountains, ranchers in my riding look out their windows to see herds of elk

devouring their crops and trampling their fences. It seems that elk prefer

alfalfa to pine grass, and who can blame them? I suppose it's the difference

between steak and wieners.

[1505]

I hope that

during the next four years we can recognize that the ranchers in B.C. carry much

of the burden of the province's large wildlife populations and that this

unfairness should be addressed. Ranchers and farmers are trying their best to

produce our food, and I think that sometimes we take them for granted.

I've talked

about some of the challenges of our region and how the East Kootenay makes a

significant contribution to the provincial economy despite its relatively low

population. This financial contribution to the province is important for many

reasons, not the least of which is the delivery of health care and education

services in our region.

It may be,

in fact, more costly to deliver those services in our region and other rural

regions than it is to deliver those same services in urban areas. I want to say

that it's a relief to those of us who live in the East Kootenay, and it brings

us great hope for the future to know that this government is committed to

maintaining the budgets for health care and education and to know that this

government has made the commitment to provide health care and education services

to rural British Columbians on a scale that will meet the needs of the people

who live in the regions.

This is an

important commitment from this government: to provide health care to the

rural areas of the province to meet their needs regardless of where that service

is provided. Without adequate health care and education services, my

constituents would not be able to live and earn their livelihoods in the East

Kootenay. Without these people living and working in the East Kootenay, the

province of B.C. would not have revenues from coal, minerals, pulp, lumber, tourism and

agricultural products.

I want to

conclude today with a true story. The Premier, over the past few years, has been

heard to tell a story about meeting a father in the Kootenays whose 18-year-old

son had to go to Alberta to find a decent job. The Premier, before he was the

Premier, used this story to illustrate the personal, human costs of the former

government's public policy shortcomings.

That

18-year-old young man is my son Dylan. He left home to work in the oil patch in

Alberta four years ago. He's now 22. He attends college in Alberta. He's met a

nice young woman from Alberta and, from all appearances, will make his life in

Alberta. His mother and I miss him a lot. He loves B.C., but his quest for

meaningful employment took him away. That's something that my wife and I must

contend with, just as other parents in the East Kootenay must contend with the

reality that we have the highest youth unemployment rate in B.C.

I have a

second son, Daniel, who's now 17. We want him to have the choices that our first

son did not have. If he decides to move out of B.C., we will of course support

his decision. But if he, as he now indicates, wants to stay in B.C., we want him

to be able to find a good job or profession right here at home.

The

direction set out by our government's Speech from the Throne gives parents in

the East Kootenay great hope that we now have responsible government in B.C. and

that our children will have the option of building their lives in this province.

Let's get our fiscal house in order. Let's address the lack of competitiveness

and productivity in B.C. Let's find ways to be creative and innovative. Let's

unleash the power of individual entrepreneurial initiative, hard work and

risk-taking.

I commend

the Premier for the direction set out in the throne speech, and I can say

unequivocally to the people of the East Kootenay that B.C. is now on the road to

recovery. There is hope. We will once again have prosperity.

[ Page 59 ]

MacPhail: Mr. Speaker, let me begin by congratulating you for your office. I

wish you well in your deliberations in what I consider probably the most

important physical chamber that exists in society today. It is the place where

democracy must prevail, where balance and thoughtful discussion must take place.

I very much look forward to you guiding us through these times in the course of

the coming four years. I also welcome the Deputy Speaker to the chair when he

sits there in your absence.

This is my

third time that I rise after an election to talk about the future as we see it,

as it unfolds in British Columbia. It is a good time, because it's the reply to

the Speech from the Throne, at which time we members get to rise and talk about

our ridings.

[1510]

Often we

have roles that extend beyond representing our own constituencies, which don't

often allow us to reflect on the strengths of being able to represent our own

constituents. So let me take a few moments to talk about Vancouver-Hastings and

the changes that have taken place in my riding in the last few days and weeks

and months.

Vancouver-Hastings

is a wonderful community. I say, with the greatest of respect to each and every

person in this chamber, that I live in the best community in all of British

Columbia. It is the northeast corner of the city of Vancouver. The city of

Vancouver often gets lauded as the best and the most livable city in all of the

world. It wins award after award after award. Within that city, the

northeast corner, with the greatest of respect, is the best part of the

city.

Why? We're

a diverse community. Forty percent of our neighbours speak a language other than

That's 40

percent. The diversity in our community is so wonderful. We are a young

population. There are many people who move to Vancouver-Hastings because homes

are still within the affordable range. Even given the context of Vancouver

houses being the highest-priced in all of Canada, within our corner of the world

houses are still affordable. So young families can move in and raise their

children.

They of

course do need much support in our community. They need day care; they need

transit services; they need parks; they need community centres. At least until

recently, all of those were available in Vancouver-Hastings. But we are also a

community where there are many people who rely on social assistance. There are

people that face employment challenges, and while they're looking for work and

getting retrained, they rely on social assistance. They are my neighbours as

well, and they make a wonderful contribution to our community.

There are

also people, my neighbours — I would say virtually every single one in my

community — who care passionately and deeply about their quality of life and

the environment in which they live. They care and are concerned about the air

quality. They don't want to wake up each and every morning and face the

circumstances that people on the east coast are facing today or that people in

Toronto are facing today, where they cannot breathe, where the air pollution is

so substantial that children have to stay inside their homes. My community cares

passionately about air quality. They care about their water quality. They

want to make sure that the water they drink and the water in which they swim is

of the highest quality.

We're also

a community of first nations people. I share with my colleague the member for

Vancouver–Mount Pleasant the largest urban first nations community in all of

Canada. That adds a wonderful rich flavour to our diversity. There are

challenges that the first nations community in my neighbourhood faces. They are

challenges of poverty; they are challenges of concern. There's a rising tension

amongst first nations people who live in Vancouver, because of their treatment

as second-class citizens that seems to be appearing each and every day. That creates a tension in Vancouver-Hastings, a tension that wasn't there a few

weeks ago.

There are

issues that face our community — yes, that have faced our community over the

last ten weeks, the last ten months and the last ten years and that are still

there. Yes, those issues are still there. Are they improving? Have they improved

over the last decade? Yes, they have. I will talk about some of those

improvements that may now be at risk.

[1515]

There

still are challenges that face the citizens of Vancouver-Hastings, and it is

those challenges that I will address today. I stood for office and hoped dearly

to be re-elected, facing very, very difficult circumstances — I recognized

that but hoped to be re-elected — because my compassion and passion for my

community is exceeded by only one thing: the love of my son. Nothing can

exceed that. Today I rise with concern that one can only feel when

one has that passion for one's community, hon. Speaker.

There has

been great progress made throughout the nineties for the citizens of

Vancouver-Hastings. Over the course of the last decade we have seen more

community health centres arrive in Vancouver-Hastings. Parents now no longer

have to go to emergency centres to have their children looked after when

doctors' offices are closed. They have the services of community health nurses.

They have the services of nutritionists right in their own neighbourhood. They

can see a physiotherapist. If they need the assistance of a social worker, there

are community health centres that opened in the last decade that will serve

the citizens of Vancouver-Hastings. They have greater than ever access to

inoculation programs for young children. That's the good news for our citizens.

Our schools

are safer. Children can go to school now and not fear being bullied. Children go

to smaller classes if they're the youngest in our society. Children up to grade

3 will now go to school each and every morning, and they will be able to sit

with their teacher, and their teacher will have the fewest students in all of

Canada to teach. That is so important, Mr. Speaker. I expect that we'll be

having this debate over and over

[ Page 60 ]

again in the coming weeks, but there is not one pedagogical expert who will

deny that our youngest are not served better by smaller class sizes.

When

students go to Laura Secord, when they go to Lord Nelson, when they go to

Hastings School, when they go to Macdonald School, when they go to Begbie School

in Vancouver-Hastings, our youngest are getting a better education, because

teachers have the ability to teach, at the most, 22 students. If

you're in kindergarten, a very crucial year, they are teaching a maximum of 20

students. That's such good news. I know that those of us who have young children or

nieces and nephews or even neighbours know how

important it is to invest early in our youngest.

The young

families of Vancouver-Hastings, over the last decade, have seen a quadrupling of

the number of day care spaces available right in our community. Believe you me,

these day care spaces are needed so much. This is one area, I freely admit,

where more needs to be done. Yes, we've made huge progress over the last decade,

but even more needs to be done, and I know that progress is under threat.

Why day

care? Is it, as one of the members opposite said, so that West Vancouver moms

can go and play tennis and have their children put in day care? Well, certainly

not in Vancouver-Hastings. In Vancouver-Hastings there are hundreds and

thousands of single parents who have no choice. They don't have the luxury of

staying at home with their child, but they love their children. They want to

make sure that while they're out earning a living, their child is receiving the

best possible care. They know that means affordable, licensed, safe day care.

That's now what they have available in Vancouver-Hastings — the vast

majority of parents.

[1520]

Not only is

it affordable, but it's affordable like only one other jurisdiction in Canada.

Only one other group of parents has day care that matches what we have in

British Columbia, and that's the moms and dads in Quebec. We rightfully say

we took our lead from Quebec, because it was so successful on behalf of the

children and families of Quebec. Now parents of children who are 12 years old or

younger, if their children are in school, pay a maximum of $7 for before- and

after-school care each and every day — only $7.

But I fear

that those parents are going to wake up one morning, look at their tax

cut of $18 or $20 a paycheque and say: "My gosh, my day

care for each and every one of my children is now up to $12 per day, $14 per

day, $15 or maybe $20 per day." They're going to look at that tax cut

of $18 or $20 per two weeks and say: "That isn't enough to pay for one day

of the increase in my child care fees." That's what the citizens of

Vancouver-Hastings are fearing and what they're worried about each and every

night as they come home from work. A tax cut means nothing under those

circumstances.

I also

expect that the families who, each and every month, receive their family bonus

of $107 per month per child from the B.C. government and rely on that to feed

and clothe and pay for music lessons and school books for their children are

worried that maybe this month is the month that that cheque may stop. They're

worried that once again they will be driven into a greater level of poverty that

they haven't faced for a decade. I worry that the family bonus is at risk

because of the actions of the government in so quickly giving away massive tax

cuts to the wealthiest in this province.

I'd very

much like — and I've never had a member of the Liberal caucus offer this —

the members of…. Actually, that's not true; I take that back. The member for

Vancouver-Langara has been to Vancouver-Hastings and has met with the

constituents of Vancouver-Hastings. Beyond the member for Vancouver-Langara, I

don't know of one Liberal member who has cared a whit about the members from

Vancouver-Hastings, but right now I would like this government to come and meet

with those who live in Vancouver-Hastings. I'd like them to come to Kiwassa

Neighbourhood House and see all of the community programs that are going on

there: skills development programs, pre-employment programs, youth programs, day

care programs, multicultural programs, Chinese senior programs. I'd actually

like a member from the now government to say: "You know what? We do care

about Vancouver-Hastings, and we're going to come and meet with the people who

live there and explain to them how the new era works for the members of

Vancouver-Hastings."

[1525]

The Liberal

person who ran in Vancouver-Hastings had very strongly held views about

Vancouver-Hastings, was very honest about the future for Vancouver-Hastings and

what a new Liberal government may mean for Vancouver-Hastings, and his honesty

was devastating to the neighbourhood. His honesty is now proving to be exactly

what will come true for not only the citizens of Vancouver-Hastings but the rest

of British Columbia, when he said: "Of course there will be cuts to

programs in your community." He said that directly to the citizens:

"Of course you'll have to expect cuts in programs when we give a tax

cut." The citizens of Vancouver-Hastings said: "How can you do that?

These programs are needed. We can't give up our day care. We can't give up our

it that you would cut, Daniel Lee? What is it you would cut that would be made

up for by the $18-to-$20-every-two-weeks tax cut you're going to give us?"

He didn't have an answer for that.

[J.

Weisbeck in the chair.]

Now it

is that the truth that was told by Daniel Lee in Vancouver-Hastings and

denied outright by every other Liberal candidate…. The lack of forthrightness by every other Liberal candidate turns out to be true. In these

open cabinet meetings we're having, these show-and-tell programs, even this

government can't deny that they're going to

[ Page 61 ]

cut programs. It turns out that they're just about ten weeks too late for

the truth to have any effect on the constituents.

It turns

out that people don't have any choice about deciding about cuts to programs,

because they were denied that information during the election. Those who were

actually told the truth by the Liberal candidate in Vancouver-Hastings chose not

to elect a Liberal candidate. Not one other Liberal candidate, either being

elected or re-elected, told the truth during the election, and now the citizens

of British Columbia will reap the whirlwind of that.

I must

say that the citizens of Vancouver-Hastings know what they need to be concerned

about in the future. Let's just talk about some of the concerns that they're

faced with right now, as we speak, in the first ten weeks of this Liberal

government. We have a very, very serious economic situation and social situation

facing us….

Interjections.

MacPhail: You know, it's interesting. I think the Liberal members will

probably learn to hold their cheekiness until I've actually finished, because

the economic situation, the crisis that faces the citizens of

Vancouver-Hastings, is solely the creation of this Liberal government. The transit situation and the lack of transit services in the

lower mainland is creating an economic crisis that is beyond the ability of

small businesses to survive. Each and every day small businesses write directly

to this Liberal government, because I get copies of the letters, in the

hundreds. They write letters to the editor saying directly that because of the

transit strike, our economy is failing.

I was

prevented from asking a question on behalf of small businesses because of the

inability to rise and be recognized today in question period. If I had been able

to rise and speak on behalf of small businesses, I would have stood and read out

all the concerns raised by small businesses throughout the lower mainland,

urging this government to resolve the transit strike. Small businesses

know absolutely clearly that this government has legislation before them that

allows them, right now, to order TransLink to resolve the dispute.

[1530]

The Premier

himself knows that TransLink is responsible for this — sections 3 and 4 and 9

if anybody, including the minister responsible, would care to read their own

legislation — and knows that TransLink must resolve this strike. But instead,

the Premier, the minister responsible, relies on the ridiculous assertion of

their best friend, George Puil, who says: "Oh, it's not me. That $100,000 I

get paid for chairing TransLink doesn't actually give me any responsibility to

solve the TransLink strike. Governments, small business, Chinese seniors,

students…. I'm being paid this huge amount of money to not have the

responsibility for the job that I'm being paid for.

"Section

9 of the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority Act, which requires me to

resolve compensation issues for all of the workers, doesn't really mean I'm

responsible. Sections 3 and 4 of the GVTA act, which requires me to provide

public transit in exchange for revenue from the provincial government, doesn't

mean I actually have to provide public transit. Somebody else is responsible.

Somebody else that I, George Puil, created — the Coast Mountain Bus Co., which

wasn't even contemplated under the legislation — is responsible. And you know

what, citizens of Vancouver? Even though there are tens of millions of your tax

dollars going to TransLink from the provincial government, with direct

responsibility for providing public transit, I, the Liberal government, am not

going to actually demand anything for those taxes."

Perhaps

this Liberal government could actually take responsibly its requirements to

collect those taxes and ensure that the public gets service for it. They could

have done that today; they refused to do it today. So the citizens of

Vancouver-Hastings, the small businesses of Vancouver-Hastings, are worse off,

and that's the economic crisis created by this Liberal government and no one

else — no one else.

How is this

hurting Vancouver-Hastings citizens? Well, let me just give the members here a

few examples. In Kiwassa Neighbourhood House, a group of Chinese seniors meets

every week. They are relatively new citizens, not brand-new citizens — some of

them have been here for months; some of them have been here for years — and I

meet with them regularly. They have Friday lunches where the food is

unbelievable. They meet and discuss issues about the community. They practise

One thing that they have described to me is the despair that they're facing

now because of the lack of their bus service.

They have

learned to travel around their community. They have learned the bus schedules.

They have learned the transit routes. It is that regular, consistent

transit service that they rely on to get around. They take their grandchildren to

and from school. They take their grandchildren to and from community centres,

where there are services. They meet with other Chinese seniors groups in other

neighbourhoods.

I also have

a Chinese seniors group at Thunderbird Community Centre, and they have joint

programs. You know what? In order to have the joint programs, they actually

understandable and allows them to not be threatened by anything. The bus service

was regular. They understood how to read the service schedules. Now they are

in complete despair. Why? Because this government doesn't value the Chinese

seniors in my riding one iota to the same level that they value the CEO of

Cominco or the CEO of

[ Page 62 ]

B.C. Gas, the Jimmy Pattisons of the world. Not one iota does this government

value the Chinese senior who needs her bus service to the same extent. That

is harming my community in an unprecedented way.

[1535]

There are

other matters in my community that are being severely harmed by this transit

strike. The air quality is deteriorating on a daily basis in Vancouver-Hastings.

Mothers and fathers are having to keep their children home. This is in the

summertime when children should be out playing in the parks, when they should be

outside in our swimming pools. Because of the deteriorating air quality,

children are having to be kept home. Why? It's because of this transit strike.

The transit

strike is also raising huge concern amongst people in my community who have

chosen to give up their cars for environmental reasons, to live close to where

they work and shop and go to school. There are young men and women who live on

Commercial Drive and Victoria Drive who have chosen to live there specifically

so they could rely on public transit. What do they see? They see a

government that doesn't care one iota or share their values on the environment

— not one iota. They have a Liberal government who would rather deregulate

around the environment than properly regulate to protect the environment. They

see a government that doesn't care one iota about making sure that people get out

of their cars and have public transit and save our air quality. That's what they

see — the young people who live on Victoria Drive and Commercial Drive.

They also

see a government that says: "Not only do we not care about air quality, not

only do we think that the Kyoto protocol is ridiculous…." That lower

greenhouse gas emissions are important, as the rest of the world has agreed….

This government has chosen to side with those who would say: "Let's

have more greenhouse gas emissions; let's ruin our environment more. Let's get

more oil and gas out of our waters. Let's not only do it in a way that may

be able to take advantage of the most advanced environmental

technology…."

This

government has said "pooh, pooh" to any discussions, to any studies.

"Let's go in and drill the waters right now, and let's scoop out more oil

and gas. Let's have more greenhouse gas emissions. Let's go against the

worldwide trend to reducing oil and gas emissions."

Why? That's

what B.C. Gas wants; that's what all of the big, rich oil companies want. Let's

kowtow to them — be darned with the environment, be darned with the worldwide

trend to reducing oil and gas emissions. Let's make sure more people are in

their cars. Let's cut public transit; let's put more people in their cars. Let's make sure we drill out more oil and gas, even if it puts our environment

at risk.

Let's once

again go back to the eighties. Let's stand out from worldwide trends and go back

to the eighties — in some cases, the fifties — and really not care about the

environment. Let's make sure that we deliver only for our corporate backers who

funded our election. We'll do anything to make sure that they're happy. Yes, Mr.

Three Bags Full from B.C. Gas and the oil and gas companies. Yes to the forest

companies who need bigger and cheaper fuel sources. Let's say yes to them.

I will

worry, along with my constituents, not only about this government's lack of

resolve to provide public transit and order their farm team to resolve the

matter. I also will share the concerns of my constituents about the future

of our province. We used to be world-class in our environmental standards. I

worry terribly about that.

[1540]

I worry

about our young people who feel shut out by this government — the student

councils from Templeton high school and Vancouver Tech high school, the young

people who go to Capilano College, Vancouver Community College and Langara

College, who no longer have a say in this government. I worry about their

future.

You

know what? They worry too. They worry about the fact that this government sets

up what this government refers to as — I love this euphemism — a progress

board. Progress for the corporations who trade on the stock exchanges — that's

progress. Progress for corporations who want to have the biggest tax cuts for

their own benefit at the expense of the lower income — that's progress.

Progress for the wealthiest billionaires in this province, who want big tax

cuts.

But

students say: "What about progress for me? How am I going to be represented

on that progress board? How is my voice going to be heard? Am I going to have to

stand outside and protest in order to make my concerns heard? Certainly this

government isn't welcoming me into the decision-making process. How is it that

I'm going to make my voice heard in a way where 77 MLAs care not one whit about

my future in colleges or universities? How is it that I am going to…?"

Interjections.

MacPhail: Mr. Speaker, it is a very, very important challenge for this

government, with their overwhelming voice, to allow at least some other voices

to be heard. They don't want other voices to be heard either inside this chamber

or out. I do appreciate the very, very important role from that chamber to

allow other voices to be heard clearly and unequivocally. I think, hon. Speaker,

that you have a very important role to play in that.

Mr.

Speaker: Member, you have the floor.

MacPhail: Students who have no voice within this government and have been

completely shut out, people who care passionately about the environment, who

have been completely shut out…. Our working people represented by unions have

been completely shut out. They have very serious concerns about having their

voices heard. You know, tomorrow this government could stand up and say:

"We need to

[ Page 63 ]

expand the Progress Board. We need to include others that are not cut from

exactly the same cloth as our current members. We need to bring onto the

Progress Board a Chinese senior from Vancouver-Hastings or from

Vancouver-Kensington or from Burnaby North. We need to bring forward a Chinese

senior to do that."

Or they

could stand up and say: "We need to expand the Progress Board. We need to

bring on a student who has made her way up and is now studying at Vancouver

Community College." That would be good news. Or they could stand up and

say: "You know, we forgot, on the Progress Board, to take into account

triple-line accounting. Therefore, we need to make sure that there's someone who

cares and understands passionately about environmental technology and

environmental accounting. We need to add him or her to the Progress Board."

expect we'll wake up tomorrow and we won't see that. That's why the citizens in

my community are very concerned. They're very concerned because, of course,

none of their concerns were addressed in the throne speech yesterday. They were

left out.

Women who

have family responsibilities — the only thing they were told was: "Gosh,

if you're in the private sector, make sure you understand that your pay equity

rights are threatened. Make sure you understand that." Not a mention of

child care. Not a mention of how this government was going to continue the

progress in the area of child care. If you're a young person who is concerned

about student financial aid, not a mention about that. If you're a young person

who needs transit out to Simon Fraser University or out to UBC, not a mention of

how their life was going to be better. Not a mention of how the protection for

reproductive choice was going to carry on in this province — not a

mention of that and how the good work in that area needed to be continued.

[1545]

First

nations people in my community…. What they were told yesterday in the throne

speech was: "Your rights are going to be put to a referendum." Even though the citizens of Vancouver-Hastings and Vancouver–Mount Pleasant

form the largest off-reserve first nations community in all of British Columbia,

they're still the minority. They're still the minority, and all they were told

yesterday was that their minority rights are going to be voted on by the

majority. That's all they were told yesterday. Not one iota of concern about the

fact that in the last ten years, while progress has been made on education

for first nations students — substantial progress, better than anywhere else

in Canada…. Not one mention of the fact that more work needs to be done.

In this

great era of giving more choice, not once has this government ever said:

"We want to have more choice so that aboriginal students can reach equality

along with non-aboriginal students." Not once has their level of choice in

education ever addressed the real issue of inequality. Not once have I heard

that government stand up for aboriginal children. Why? Because it's not on

their agenda. Aboriginal students were left out of this government's agenda

during the election, they were left out yesterday in the throne speech, and I

predict that they'll be left out of the agenda on Monday, when this government

tables its budget.

Well, all

of the constituents who were left out of yesterday's throne speech.... Women who

need child care, women who need family leave, women who need to have a decent

paycheque and didn't get it in their tax cut, people who care passionately about

the environmental achievements that have been gathered up over the last ten

years, people who care about human rights for aboriginal people, people who care

about human rights for same-sex couples: all of those people were left out of

the throne speech yesterday.

You can

rest assured that the member for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant and I will be

standing up to hold this government accountable. Will it be easy? No, because

already, in the first ten weeks, we have seen a dismaying lack of humility in

the huge mandate that was given them — a huge lack of humility. Yes, each and

every day we are reminded that the Liberal government received a huge and

overwhelming majority. We accept that; we absolutely accept that. But that huge

and overwhelming mandate is usually picked up as a cudgel by other governments

in a way that says: "Yes, we approach our responsibility with humility. We

understand that any arrogance is simply unacceptable. We understand that we have

a responsibility for all citizens, regardless of whether they voted for us or

not."

Yet there

is a dismaying lack of that understanding by the Liberal government. We see it

each and every day. We see it each and every day when they move with

unbelievable haste to give away to those who need it the least and take it from

those who need government protection the most.

[1550]

I hope that

is just as a result of a learning curve, that eventually the members who now

reside on the government side will give up their cheeky arrogance and their

in-your-face ability to say: "We're on our agenda. Come hell or high water,

we're on our agenda. And stand aside, those of you who may have concerns, who

may want to tweak the agenda or maybe just have input to it. Stand aside. We

don't want to have a thing to say to you." If I hear this one more time:

"The election gave us the mandate to do this…." Regardless of

whether people want to just have input to that mandate, maybe you want to

suggest that there could be a better way of doing things, even to say that we

could achieve the same thing but not have it deal so many people out.

What does

this government do? It says to those people: "Stand aside. We won." I

hope that arrogance and that lack of understanding of the role of government

ebbs with the days that it continues to hold office. British Columbia will be

better served by a change in that arrogance and that lack of humility that comes

with their office. While the task will be difficult, while the task that remains

with us is a huge challenge — a challenge that we understand but accept — we

[ Page 64 ]

will do our best to ensure that there won't be more people who have to

protest outside the chamber of democracy and who will actually be able to hear

their voices represented inside this chamber.

Harris: That's a tough act.

It is with

a great deal of pleasure and pride that I stand in the House for the first time,

also, as the representative from Skeena. I'd like to take this opportunity first

of all, along with the other members, to express my congratulations to the

Speaker for his election to the honoured position and also to the Deputy Speaker

for his selection. I'd also like to extend my congratulations to the other

members of the Legislature on their election to their positions.

I am

pleased to be able to stand here today and share with and inform the members of

this House on the beauty and the richness of my part of a spectacular province,

and that's Skeena. As a previous member before me so eloquently stated, Skeena

means water of the clouds. The scenery is as beautiful as the name is poetic.

From the beauty of the Douglas Channel in the west to the spiralling peaks of

the Seven Sisters range in the east, the beauty and awe of Skeena is truly

breathtaking.

Skeena itself is comprised of seven communities. On the edge of

the Douglas Channel is the port city of Kitimat and the first nations community

of Haisla. In the centre of the riding is Terrace, bordered on the east by

Kitsalas and on the west by Kitsumkalum. Into the far east of the riding,

nestled in the mountains, are the communities of Gitwangak and Gitanyow.

We are

peopled by a large aboriginal population as well as diverse ethnic peoples from

around the world, with very different values and goals and aspirations. Like

myself, we are all committed northerners, and with the Legislature's permission I

plan on making each and every one of you very painfully aware of that.

I'd like to

direct my first comments, though, to our first nations communities. I cannot

speak for them, and the chiefs and elders today speak so eloquently to their

concerns. I clearly understand their frustrations with a system that has not

worked for any of us. It is clear today that their issues are ours, and what

each of us is looking for is opportunity for ourselves and a future for our

children. For many years now we've heard successive governments talk of making

real progress in the area of treaties. In fact, very little has happened. The

first nations communities in the north struggle under some of the highest

unemployment rates in the province — in most cases, in excess of 80 percent.

A key

component to restoring economic prosperity to all communities in the north can

only be achieved by finally moving ahead on interim agreements that build on our

common interests. No community in the north can prosper in isolation. We must

collectively find our answers and take back direction, decision-making and, with

that, control of our lives.

I am

pleased to be part of a government which is committed to engaging all British

Columbians in the treaty process. I believe that with that renewed sense of

purpose, we will finally move forward in building a future that has eluded the

aboriginal people and bring about the new era of hope and opportunity that we

all spoke so passionately to during the election.

[1555]

The Premier

has allowed me to participate in a number of committees. Treasury Board and the

Natural Resources Committee are two. The committee that excites me the most,

and I believe provides the best vehicle ever for those of us in the north to

finally have meaningful access to government, is the northern caucus.

For too

long the north has been victimized by one-size-fits-all politics that have not

benefited remote and rural communities and, in some cases, have penalized them,

usually in the name of expedience or politics. The areas represented by these

ten northern MLAs cover over half of the province. The northern caucus must

build consensus, challenge inaccuracies, educate the urban centres and mould

public policy that at the end of the day works for everyone.

We must

provide access to civic mayors, first nations, business and community groups so

that they can have a platform to provide input into the development of public

policy. We must ensure that government commitments regarding health care and

education are kept in the north. We will be the conduit for ideas and

opportunities that will attract investment back into northern B.C. I am proud to

say that our Premier and this government have finally taken the bold step to

make this an inclusive government, not an exclusive club.

I'd like to

say that Skeena is riding the wave of prosperity, but it's not the case. The

last ten years of misguided government policy and mismanagement have left Skeena

with some significant challenges. The continuing uncertainty of SCI provides

little security to people of the northwest.

The issues

around how we manage marginal timber stands still need to be addressed. The

Forest Practices Code, as well as other regulatory burdens, has significantly

added to the cost of operating in B.C. Mining exploration in the northwest has

gone from a $110 million industry in 1990 to a $6.5 million industry today. As a

result, we've seen population in every community shrink, putting strains on

existing social, educational and civic services.

Terrace was

named forest capital of B.C. for 2001 by the B.C. Forestry Association. For my

constituents, forestry and logging are a proud part of our heritage and have a

significant role to play in our future. I am proud to say that I will be an

advocate, not an apologist, for that industry.

I am

pleased that the throne speech has confirmed this government's commitment to

finding ways to develop the policies that will assist the industry in becoming

competitive again. This government's commitment to a working forest land base,

tenure and stumpage reform, as well as moving to a results-based forest code, is

the cornerstone to moving forward. I am encouraged by the government's

willingness to finally tackle the issues around how we've managed marginal

[ Page 65 ]

timber in transitional zones, a huge issue in Skeena — rather that the

one-size-fits-all policies that we've had in the past. We will never stabilize

any industry in this province if we don't face up to the realities.

It is with

a great deal of relief that the people in Skeena welcome the Premier's

appointment of a Minister of State for Deregulation. If there's one area that's

affected every person in this province, whether it's an employee or employer,

small business operator or large corporation, community group or individual,

it's the mass regulations that control not just what we do but how we do it. It

is truly time to bring some common sense back to our lives.

The

measuring stick of a good standard is not the size of the manual but rather the

standard itself. By focusing on our objectives — on results — rather than on

processes, we will finally tap and unleash the ingenuity and talent of the

workers and professionals of this province.

Mr.

Speaker, the port city of Kitimat makes up 11 percent of the total manufacturing

GDP of this province. Aluminum smelting, pulp and paper, methanol and ammonia

production are the major industries. All of these industries are under stress

today. In fact, over the last year both Alcan and Methanex have had to curtail

production. The jewel for Kitimat has been the power generated from Kemano; it

is a jewel we must preserve. Aluminum smelting at Alcan is at a critical time,

as over the next two years a decision on rebuilding will be made. This $1.5

billion project has the potential to benefit not just Kitimat and the northwest

but this entire province.

[1600]

Another

issue of concern in the northwest is the need to diversify our economies. The

port of Kitimat as well as the power from Kemano provide an opportunity to

develop complementary industries for the existing facilities as well as attract

new industries into the Kitimat area. The creation of a regional airport and the

pending installation of an ILS system will greatly improve the reliability of

air traffic service. The Yellowhead corridor with its underutilized rail and

highways, the availability of large tracts of land in the Kitimat valley, along

with the advantages of the private port of Kitimat, make the northwest an ideal

solution for the congestion problems we now see in the lower mainland.

As I stated

earlier, Skeena, with its wealth and natural beauty, has enormous potential for

tourism, commercial as well as ecotourism. The sport fishing industry is already

well established, and we need to build on that base. The first nations

communities are actively pursuing heritage village projects in Kitlope, Kitselas

Canyon, Kitwanga and Gitanyow. International projects like the Seven Sisters

Ventures may hold a place in our future. This is an industry that we must

continue to nurture and encourage.

A topic

that is discussed frequently in the constituency is the need to strike a balance

between resource development and the environment. There is a place for both in

the economy of the northwest. The concern in the north is that decisions on our

future will be made in the urban areas. This fear is real, as history has

demonstrated that politics more than science drives the agenda. Those of us who

have chosen to live in the rural areas of this province have done so because we

understand the unique bond we have with the land. We, more than anyone else,

have understood that we don't inherit the earth from our parents, but rather we

borrow it from our children. I welcome our government's commitment that sound

science and not special interest groups will be the basis for sound

environmental decisions on the future of the north.

Mr.

Speaker, health care is without a doubt a major challenge facing every region in

this province. The Skeena health region is no different. In the past my

constituents staged health-watch rallies in both Terrace and Kitimat to bring

attention to the major issues surrounding rural health care. The solution to our

problems in health care are complex, and they will take time. As individuals and

communities, we will have to look past parochial interests to find regional

solutions. The critical state of health care is going to require that each of us

must be part of finding those answers. As we move forward to protect the public

health care system, long-term solutions can only be found by looking past

conventional wisdom and thinking.

In closing,

this throne speech is a blueprint for the future. It is a statement that will

change the face of government in B.C. forever. We have embarked to restore the

public's trust in government by doing what we said we would do. I look forward

to this session of the Legislature as it takes us through fulfilling our 90-day

commitment and more. The Premier has kept his promise to open up government. It

is a door that, once open, can never be closed again.

I will keep

my commitment to the people of Skeena, who have given me their support to

represent their interests and goals in a positive and productive manner in the

Legislature as a member of this government.

J. Les:

It's with a great deal of pleasure that I rise in this House for the first time.

It's a great honour but also a distinct privilege to be able to serve in this

House on behalf of the residents of Chilliwack-Sumas specifically, but generally

also on behalf of the residents of British Columbia. It is my fervent hope that

I serve in this place in a manner that is dignified, constructive and conducive

to building the future of this great province.

Allow me to

add my congratulations to the Speaker on his selection as Speaker of this

assembly. He is a steward of the debate, decorum and traditions of this place,

and I look forward to his guidance and wisdom as the House conducts the public

affairs of this province.

I'd also

like to add my congratulations to the hon. member for Kelowna–Lake Country on

his selection as Deputy Speaker and also to the hon. member for Powell

River–Sunshine Coast on his election as Deputy Chair of Committee of the

Whole.

[ Page 66 ]

I wish to

acknowledge the many members who, like me, are serving in this House for the

first time, as well as the other members who have been here before. I am

honoured to join you all, and I have no doubt that together we will lay the

foundation for a prosperous future for all British Columbians.

[1605]

I also want

to acknowledge the voters of the constituency of Chilliwack-Sumas who elected me

on May 16. They provided me with an extremely generous majority of the vote —

in fact, the second-largest majority in the province. For that I am extremely

grateful but also cognizant of the fact that from that support flows an enormous

responsibility that has been placed on my shoulders. I hope and pray I will be

able to live up to the trust that has been placed in me.

As I stand

in this place and contemplate the distinguished British Columbians who have

preceded us here, it can seem somewhat daunting. I think of such people as Sir

Richard McBride, John Oliver, Duff Pattullo, W.A.C. Bennett, Bill Bennett and

others who have made illustrious contributions to this province that we all

cherish. I hope my time in this House will be a credit to the memory of these

and others who have served this province with distinction.

I'd also

like to acknowledge the member for Abbotsford-Clayburn and the member for

Chilliwack-Kent, who have both been enormously helpful to me in these last

number of months as we've made the transition to government. They are both

experienced members in the Legislature, and they and their staffs have been

enormously helpful to me and to my staff as we've got our constituency office up

and running. I'm pleased to inform the House that as of yesterday, we

actually have telephones and a fax installed in my constituency office. For

that, again, we are enormously grateful.

I'm very

proud to represent my riding of Chilliwack-Sumas, and if the House will indulge

me, I'd like to take you on a bit of a travelogue around this riding. Now, it's

not nearly as large a riding as, for example, the member for Skeena just

described to us in his particular case.

Chilliwack-Sumas, if we start at the Sumas border crossing, there's the small

community of Huntingdon, and as we move east, we're into the community of

Arnold. People in Chilliwack-Sumas generally don't even know where Arnold is,

but it's nestled between the Southern Railway tracks and the American border. It

really is one of the most idyllic and pastoral places in the entire Fraser

Valley.

We then

move slightly north into Sumas Prairie, which prior to 1924 was a very shallow

lake that was drained upon the construction of the Vedder Canal. It is today one

of the breadbaskets of the province. Everything from dairy to hogs to berries to

small fruits to turf and many other products are grown in that very fertile

Sumas Prairie.

We then

move into the community of Greendale, which was settled by Mennonite settlers in

the early part of the previous century — again, a very picturesque part of the

community. Yarrow, as well, has a similar background in the southern part of my

riding. Vedder Crossing is largely known because there once was a military base

there, which unfortunately was closed just a few years ago, resulting in the

loss of about 2,000 full-time jobs in the Chilliwack area. We mourn the loss of

the military base in Chilliwack, but we have gotten over it in other ways, and

I'll describe at least one of those ways in just a few minutes.

My riding

also includes the western portion of Sardis, the western portion of Chilliwack

proper and also the communities on Chilliwack Mountain and Sumas Mountain. Sumas

Mountain is where the regional district is hoping to create a major new regional

park that will be there for the enjoyment of all Fraser Valley residents.

As I've

said, agriculture plays a very significant role in my riding, but our riding is

very diversified in its economic base. Very recently a new company started its

operations in Chilliwack. It's a technology support centre headed up by Stream

International. By the end of this year, 900 new employees will be working at

that location on Evans Parkway in Chilliwack.

I alluded

earlier to the election of May 16. We enjoyed a spirited campaign in

Chilliwack-Sumas,. My opponents came from the New Democratic Party, the

Marijuana Party and the B.C. Conservative Party. I wish to thank all of the

candidates for a good campaign, for a good debate and for good humour.

During the

campaign I laid out my vision for a renewed and reinvigorated B.C. economy based

on respect for free enterprise and private initiative. I talked about the

critical need for a healthy economy to provide the resources required to support

a first-class health care system, how we must have an excellent education system

to provide our youth and others with the tools they need to participate in the

economy of tomorrow.

[1610]

I talked

about the need to protect the environment and how the previous administration

had neglected the people of the Fraser Valley by not aggressively intervening

with the Washington State authorities with respect to the matter of Sumas Energy

2. On these and many other matters I sense strong support, and I commit to do my

very best in the four years ahead to ensure that the concerns and issues of

Chilliwack-Sumas residents are addressed and resolved.

Mr.

Speaker, allow me, also, to pay tribute to my family. Firstly, to my parents,

Chris and Leny Les, who immigrated to Canada and to British Columbia as

newlyweds. I arrived about a year later, to be followed over the years by 11

brothers and sisters. My father was a dairy farmer who started with nothing but

through hard work and perseverance was able to provide a good living for our

family and was a great encouragement to all of us as we set out in our various

fields of endeavour and interest. Unfortunately, my father passed away last

year, but I will always cherish his memory.

My wife and

I have six children, currently aged 15 to 27. Their support and understanding

are vital to me.

[ Page 67 ]

As we all know, public life is extremely demanding, and families are often

called upon to tolerate and to forgive. We also have three grandsons, and I'll

tell you that there aren't any three more adorable grandkids anywhere, bar none.

It is my children, grandchildren and their peers who often provide me with the

inspiration to put in place those policies that will allow them an unlimited

future ripe with opportunity to succeed and to thrive.

I've had

the privilege of previous experience in public office. In 1983 I was elected as

a councillor in Chilliwack. In 1987 I was elected mayor. In addition, in 1990 I

was elected chair of the regional district and served in that position for nine

years. I served as national president of the Federation of Canadian

Municipalities and thereby had an unparalleled opportunity to learn about and

experience our great country in a way that I could only have dreamed about

previously. I was also a trustee of the Municipal Finance Authority of B.C. and

served on the board of the Union of B.C. Municipalities. I loved municipal

politics, and I am grateful to the voters of the city of Chilliwack who allowed

me to serve for 16 years.

In 1999,

however, as the municipal election approached, I needed to make a decision as to

whether to run for re-election. Our municipal government in Chilliwack had

accomplished much. We enjoyed some of the lowest property taxes in the province.

We were within four years of the elimination of all — and I repeat, all —

our debt, and we had excellent financial reserves. Also, we enjoyed a solid

reputation as a business-friendly community with a well-deserved can-do

attitude.

I had

become increasingly aware, however, that the previous provincial administration

was becoming increasingly detrimental to the welfare of this province and, in

many cases, was thwarting the best efforts of people around the province who

were trying to build a better future. In short, I had become frustrated and

decided to leave municipal politics. Therefore, I did not seek re-election in

1999 and decided to seek the nomination in the new riding of Chilliwack-Sumas.

Which

brings us to today and a throne speech that was delivered yesterday by His

Honour the Lieutenant-Governor. If I had to characterize the throne speech, I

would say simply this: it was like a breath of fresh air, a welcome tonic after

a decade of despair, decline and despondency — after ten long years finally a

solid sense of direction and a sincere commitment to excellence in public

service.

Let me

briefly review the ten major priorities as set out in the throne speech.

Firstly, a commitment to a top-notch education system. Clearly, if the young

people of today are to thrive tomorrow, they need to have access to the very

best education opportunities that it is possible to provide. I believe we have

excellent schools today, but we need to adapt and change to ensure that our

schools continue to set the pace in the future.

[1615]

In the

Fraser Valley, for example, we need to ensure that the University College of the

Fraser Valley continues to expand its programming, as it often provides the best

option for post-secondary education for Fraser Valley students. Discussion has

started regarding redesignation to regional university status, and I will be

most interested to pursue this further with the Minister of Advanced Education.

Second, the

need to provide high-quality health care. There is much discussion today about

the challenges facing health care, with the reality of an aging demographic and

new technologies — they are much appreciated by patients; however, they can be

extremely expensive — amongst other challenges.

However, it

is clear to me that the biggest threat to health care is an ailing economy. If

we want a strong health care system, we need a strong economy. If current trends

continue, however, soon we will need only two government ministers — one, a

minister of revenue to squeeze as much out of British Columbians as is humanly

possible; and second, a minister of health who would spend the whole works. That

clearly is not the kind of future that British Columbians would be looking

forward to. We need to turn that matter around so that we have indeed a

sustainable and workable health care system in the future.

Third, a

commitment to a thriving private sector economy without the heavy hand of

government interference. I am strongly of the opinion that the invisible hand of

the marketplace is almost always to be preferred to the strong arm of government

compulsion.

Fourth,

safety in our communities. Every resident deserves to be protected from those

who would do them harm. We must encourage respect for our legal institutions.

Fifth,

better services for children, families and first nations. Allow me to focus on

first nations in this regard. It seems to me that all the resources that are

being spent today — as much as billions and billions — really result in not

much improvement for first nations people. This is a human as well as a

financial tragedy, and one that must be addressed, working together with first

nations people and our federal counterparts as well.

Sixth, we

are committed to fostering the fastest-growing technology sector in Canada. It

has always puzzled me why we haven't been able to do better in this area. Why is

it that Ottawa, of all places, has become a technology hotbed? We in B.C. have

the lifestyle and benign climate that should be very conducive to the emergence

of this industry sector. I strongly suspect that our fiscal and economic

policies will play a large role in expanding this industry, working with the

Premier's new council on technology. It has been my experience that people are

often overflowing with great ideas. Sometimes all you need to do is ask.

Seventh, we

are committed to ensuring that our forest industry continues to be a world

leader in terms of both its productivity and environmental

[ Page 68 ]

responsibility. This industry is vital to the economic performance of this

province. We need to do more to ensure that the world knows how well our forests

are managed in B.C., and we must not accept the unwarranted efforts of those who

would like to discredit our industry. Like any other industry, the forest

industry needs a stable and predictable policy framework to foster investment

and job creation.

Eighth,

B.C. needs to achieve appropriate recognition in Canadian Confederation. British

Columbians need to do more to voice their concerns in a constructive way.

Equally importantly, Ottawa needs to ensure that it listens carefully to British

Columbians' concerns. I for one am committed to improving on the

federal-provincial relationship. As always, this needs to be a two-way street.

In this context, I call on the federal government to support the Whistler bid

for the 2010 Olympics at least as enthusiastically as the recent support for the

Toronto bid.

Ninth, we

are committing ourselves to greater openness and accountability. British

Columbians have already seen evidence of this. I am convinced that this will

increase the level of trust in governing institutions that has been eroded in

the past. Too often information was kept from people, and too often government

simply required people to trust them. Trust must be earned; it should never be

automatically expected.

Finally,

responsible management of the public's resources and finances will be a hallmark

of this government. These resources belong to the people. They are not for

government to squander — sometimes $463 million at a time.

[1620]

For too

long we've had government that knew only how to spend with reckless abandon and

had no idea how to foster a healthy, thriving and vigorous economy to pay for

the many important public services that our citizens require.

In

summary,

the framework set out in the throne speech will, I believe, create the

conditions where B.C. business and enterprise will once again be able to prosper

and thrive. There is no doubt that we will be enormously challenged as we set

about this ambitious agenda. A decade of decay is not reversed overnight. I

would ask all British Columbians to unite in a spirit of pride, unity and common

purpose as we embark on the future of this enormously blessed province.

Hunter: It's with some trepidation that I rise to speak for the first time

in this House. My nervousness has nothing to do with a lack of experience in

public speaking but rather arises from a deep appreciation of the responsibility

that accompanies the honour of occupying a seat in this House.

As I was

preparing this speech, I felt a real sense of humility as I recalled some of the

famous men and women who have stood here and in places like it — Westminster

and Ottawa amongst them — men and women whose contributions have shaped our

democratic institutions and will never be emulated. It is a humble man indeed

who stands here now. I can simply hope that I will prove a worthy occupant of

this seat in the Legislature, a legislature which stands at the very centre of

our rights and freedoms as citizens in this great country and province.

Before I

continue, allow me to congratulate you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, on your selection to

that position and congratulate the member for Kamloops on his election as

Speaker of this assembly. The position which you occupy is steeped in a

tradition for which, you will already have gathered, I have enormous respect. I

want you to know that you can count on my full cooperation and assistance as you

carry out your tasks.

I stand

here today proud to represent the people of the constituency of Nanaimo, the

people who had the confidence to put me here. This is their seat, not mine, and

I will strive to be conscious always of that fact and to represent the interests

of all of them to the best of my ability. Of course, I am proud to represent the

constituents of Nanaimo as a member on the government side of the House,

although it seems to me that that term is somewhat misleading in this

parliament.

I sought

election, like others in this House, because I believed and continue to believe

that I can make a positive difference to this province we call home. Frankly, as

a semi-retired consultant just one year ago, I found myself becoming more and

more angry about the sad state into which this province had sunk. I was becoming

more and more frustrated as British Columbia moved further and further away from

the just and productive society that all British Columbians want. So I sought

public office for the first time in my life. I sought to join the ranks of one

of the country's least-regarded professions. Like many of my fellow citizens, I

was cynical about the political process and about the way in which our important

political institutions had become a subject of mockery and scorn.

I am

determined to do my part to change the public's view of this place and of our

public institutions. I am elated by the importance which we on this side of the

House attach to the values of openness, honesty and ethics in the conduct of the

people's business. To see those values being applied as promised and right from

the start of this government's term of office is progress indeed.

I'm

also determined to do my part to make sure that this government's plan to

restore our province to its rightful place in the Canadian Confederation, as set

out so clearly in the Speech from the Throne yesterday, is a plan which is

indeed executed. Without that plan and without a change in our fundamental

approach to what we expect of government and its role in our lives, we are

doomed to the margins, or beyond, of this great country's wealth and potential.

My commitment to my fellow British Columbians and to the constituents of Nanaimo

who put me here is to help bring back the spirit of energy and enterprise that

will again make this province the place of choice to live and invest in Canada.

[ Page 69 ]

[1625]

Let me

speak a little about my constituency, as is the custom at this time. The Nanaimo

constituency's name is in and of itself a little misleading, since it

encompasses only half of the geographical limits of the city of Nanaimo. The

other half of the city, I might note, is most ably represented by the member for

Nanaimo-Parksville.

constituency comprises the southern part of the city of Nanaimo proper, the

southern, more rural areas of the regional district of Nanaimo including Cedar,

Yellow Point, South Wellington, Extension and Cassidy. It also includes a number

of the northern Gulf Islands, the most populous of them being Gabriola Island,

and a vast tract of land which stretches to the west almost to the boundaries of

Port Alberni.

It is a

constituency with significant roots in the history of human settlement and the

industrial development of our province. It is the home of the Snuneymuxw people

and was the centre until the middle of the last century of a significant and

pioneering coalmining industry. Today Nanaimo, with its protected deep-water

port, is an important service centre for the coastal forest industry as well as

being the location of a number of lumber processing plants and the jobs that

come with them. As in the rest of British Columbia, the forest industry

continues to be the largest single generator of wages and the largest single

buyer of supplies and services in my constituency.

Nanaimo is

also the home of many businesses which depend on the traditional fishing

industry, as well as the developing aquaculture industry. It is the home of

Malaspina University College, a dynamic institution that has served and will

continue to serve Nanaimo and the entire mid-Island with distinction.

I also want

to mention the growing strength of the research and technology sector in Nanaimo

and the emergence of a vibrant, small manufacturing sector. I should, as well,

draw the attention of the House to the increasing attracti