British Columbia Hansard — Monday, April 28, 2003 (37th Parliament, 4th Session) (H0428am-08) (H0428am 08)

H0428am-08

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

4th Session, 37th Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (HANSARD) Monday, April 28, 2003 Morning Sitting Volume 14, Number 8 THE HONOURABLE CLAUDE RICHMOND, SPEAKER ISSN 0709-1281

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Honourable Iona Campagnolo 4TH SESSION, 37TH PARLIAMENT SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Claude Richmond EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council................................................................................. .........................Hon. Gordon Campbell Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations.............................................................................. ..................... Hon.

Greg Halsey-Brandt Deputy Premier and Minister of Education ....................................................................................... ..................................Hon. Christy Clark Minister of Advanced Education................................................................................................. ...........................................Hon. Shirley Bond Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.................................................................................... ..............................Hon.

John van Dongen Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Treaty Negotiations.............................................................. .................... Hon. Geoff Plant Minister of Children and Family Development.................................................................................... ..............................Hon. Gordon Hogg Minister of State for Early Childhood Development.............................................................................. .................................Hon.

Linda Reid Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services......................................................................... .................. Hon. George Abbott Minister of State for Community Charter........................................................................................ .................................. Hon. Ted Nebbeling Minister of State for Women's Equality ......................................................................................... .................................... Hon.

Lynn Stephens Minister of Competition, Science and Enterprise ................................................................................ ..................................Hon. Rick Thorpe Minister of State for Deregulation ............................................................................................. ............................................ Hon. Kevin Falcon Minister of Energy and Mines................................................................................................... ....................................... Hon.

Richard Neufeld Minister of Finance ............................................................................................................ ....................................................... Hon. Gary Collins Minister of Forests ............................................................................................................ .................................................. Hon. Michael de Jong Minister of Health Planning .................................................................................................... ............................................ Hon.

Sindi Hawkins Minister of Health Services.................................................................................................... ................................................ Hon. Colin Hansen Minister of State for Mental Health ............................................................................................ ...................................Hon. Gulzar S. Cheema Minister of State for Intermediate, Long Term and Home Care ............................................................................. Hon.

Katherine Whittred Minister of Human Resources.................................................................................................... ............................................Hon. Murray Coell Minister of Management Services................................................................................................ .........................................Hon. Sandy Santori Minister of Provincial Revenue................................................................................................. ................................................Hon.

Bill Barisoff Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General ................................................................................ ..................................Hon. Rich Coleman Minister of Skills Development and Labour...................................................................................... .............................Hon. Graham P. Bruce Minister of Sustainable Resource Management.................................................................................... ..................................Hon.

Stan Hagen Minister of Transportation..................................................................................................... .................................................... Hon. Judith Reid Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection..................................................................................... ....................................Hon. Joyce Murray LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Deputy Speaker................................................................................................................. ..............................................................

John Weisbeck Leader of the Opposition ....................................................................................................... ...........................................................Joy MacPhail Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole ........................................................................................... .............................................. Harold Long Clerk of the Legislative Assembly .............................................................................................. .........................................E.

George MacMinn Clerk Assistant ................................................................................................................ ................................................................... Robert Vaive Clerk Assistant and Law Clerk .................................................................................................. ........................................................ Ian D. Izard Clerk Assistant and Clerk of Committees........................................................................................ ............................................Craig H.

James Clerk Assistant/Committee Clerk................................................................................................ ............................................ Kate Ryan-Lloyd Sergeant-at-Arms ............................................................................................................... .........................................................A.A. Humphreys Director, Hansard Services ..................................................................................................... ........................................

Anthony Dambrauskas Legislative Librarian.......................................................................................................... ............................................................. Joan A. Barton Legislative Comptroller ........................................................................................................ .................................................................Peter Bray Published by British Columbia Hansard Services, and printed under the authority of the Speaker by the Queen's Printer, Victoria.

Rates: single issue, $2.85; per calendar year, mailed daily, $298. GST extra. Agent: Crown Publications Inc., 521 Fort St., Victoria, B.C. V8W 1E7. Telephone: (250) 386-4636. Fax: 386-0221. www.leg.bc.ca/hansard In addition to printed transcripts, Hansard Services publishes transcripts on the Internet and broadcasts Chamber debates on television.

Party Standings: Liberal 75; New Democratic 2; Independent Liberal 2. ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS Abbott, Hon. George (L) ....................................................................... Shuswap Anderson, Val J. (L) .............................................................Vancouver-Langara Barisoff, Hon. Bill (L)............................................. Penticton–Okanagan Valley Bell, Pat (L).........................................................................Prince George North Belsey, Bill (L).................................................................................

North Coast Bennett, Bill (L) ........................................................................... East Kootenay Bhullar, Tony (Ind. L) ................................................................. Surrey-Newton Bloy, Harry (L).................................................................................. Burquitlam Bond, Hon. Shirley (L).........................................Prince George–Mount Robson Bray, Jeff (L)......................................................................Victoria–Beacon H ill Brenzinger, Elayne (L) ...............................................................

Surrey-Whalley Brice, Susan (L) ............................................................................Saanich South Bruce, Hon. Graham P. (L)................................................ Cowichan-Ladysmith Campbell, Hon. Gordon (L)............................................. Vancouver–Point Grey Cheema, Hon. Gulzar S. (L) ..........................................Surrey–Panorama Ridge Chong, Ida (L)................................................................ Oak Bay–Gordon Head Christensen, Tom (L) .............................................................

Okanagan-Vernon Chutter, Dave (L) ........................................................................... Yale-L illooet Clark, Hon. Christy (L) ..................................................Port Moody–Westwood Cobb, Walt (L) ............................................................................. Cariboo South Coell, Hon. Murray (L) ........................................ Saanich North and the Islands Coleman, Hon. Rich (L) .............................................. Fort Langley–Aldergrove Collins, Hon.

Gary (L).........................................................Vancouver-Fairview de Jong, Hon. Michael (L)....................................... Abbotsford–Mount Lehman Falcon, Hon. Kevin (L) .......................................................... Surrey-Cloverdale Hagen, Hon. Stan (L) ................................................................... Comox Valley Halsey-Brandt, Hon. Greg (L) ..................................................Richmond Centre Hamilton, Arnie (L)............................................................Esquimalt-Metchosin Hansen, Hon.

Colin (L) .....................................................Vancouver-Quilchena Harris, Roger (L)......................................................................................Skeena Hawes, Randy (L) ............................................................ Maple Ridge–Mission Hawkins, Hon. Sindi (L).......................................................... Kelowna-Mission Hayer, Dave S. (L) ................................................................... Surrey-Tynehead Hogg, Hon. Gordon (L) ........................................................

Surrey–White Rock Hunter, Mike (L) ...................................................................................Nanaimo Jarvis, Daniel (L)...................................................... North Vancouver–Seymour Johnston, Ken (L)............................................................ Vancouver-Fraserview Kerr, Brian J. (L).............................................................. Malahat–Juan de Fuca Krueger, Kevin (L).................................................

Kamloops–North Thompson Kwan, Jenny Wai Ching (NDP) ...............................Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Lee, Richard T. (L).......................................................................Burnaby North Lekstrom, Blair (L)................................................................. Peace River South Les, John (L) .......................................................................... Ch illiwack-Sumas Locke, Brenda (L) ...........................................................

Surrey–Green Timbers Long, Harold (L) ...................................................Powell River–Sunshine Coast MacKay, Dennis (L)....................................................... Bulkley Valley–Stikine McMahon, Wendy (L).............................................Columbia River–Revelstoke MacPhail, Joy (NDP) ..........................................................

Vancouver-Hastings Manhas, Karn (L) .............................................Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Masi, Reni (L) ...................................................................................Delta North Mayencourt, Lorne (L) ..........................................................Vancouver-Burrard Murray, Hon. Joyce (L) ........................................................... New Westminster Nebbeling, Hon. Ted (L) .......................................... West Vancouver–Garibaldi Nettleton, Paul (Ind. L)..................................................Prince George–Omineca Neufeld, Hon.

Richard (L)...................................................... Peace River North Nijjar, Rob (L)...................................................................Vancouver-Kingsway Nuraney, John (L) ...............................................................Burnaby-W illingdon Orr, Sheila (L) ...........................................................................Victoria-Hillside Penner, Barry (L)....................................................................... Ch illiwack-Kent Plant, Hon. Geoff (L) ......................................................... Richmond-Steveston Reid, Hon.

Judith (L)............................................................Nanaimo-Parksv ille Reid, Hon. Linda (L) ................................................................... Richmond East Richmond, Hon. Claude (L) ................................................................ Kamloops Roddick, Valerie (L)..........................................................................Delta South Sahota, Patty (L).....................................................................Burnaby-Edmonds Santori, Hon. Sandy (L)..............................................West Kootenay–Boundary Stephens, Hon.

Lynn (L) ........................................................................ Langley Stewart, Ken (L)...................................................... Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Stewart, Richard (L) ...................................................... Coquitlam-Maillardville Suffredine, Blair F. (L) ................................................................Nelson-Creston Sultan, Ralph (L)....................................................... West Vancouver–Capilano Thorpe, Hon.

Rick (L) ..........................................................Okanagan-Westside Trumper, Gillian (L)................................................................Alberni-Qualicum van Dongen, Hon. John (L) ................................................Abbotsford-Clayburn Visser, Rod (L).................................................................................North Island Weisbeck, John (L).........................................................Kelowna–Lake Country Whittred, Hon.

Katherine (L) ...................................North Vancouver–Lonsdale Wilson, John (L)........................................................................... Cariboo North Wong, Patrick (L)............................................................Vancouver-Kensington LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING Abbotsford-Clayburn....................................................... Hon. John van Dongen Abbotsford–Mount Lehman ..............................................Hon.

Michael de Jong Alberni-Qualicum.......................................................................G illian Trumper Bulkley Valley–Stikine ..............................................................Dennis MacKay Burnaby North..............................................................................Richard T. Lee Burnaby-Edmonds............................................................................Patty Sahota Burnaby-Willingdon......................................................................

John Nuraney Burquitlam ........................................................................................ Harry Bloy Cariboo North ..................................................................................John Wilson Cariboo South .................................................................................... Walt Cobb Chilliwack-Kent ............................................................................. Barry Penner Chilliwack-Sumas .................................................................................

John Les Columbia River–Revelstoke....................................................Wendy McMahon Comox Valley .......................................................................... Hon. Stan Hagen Coquitlam-Maillardville .............................................................Richard Stewart Cowichan-Ladysmith .......................................................Hon. Graham P. Bruce Delta North.......................................................................................... Reni Masi Delta South................................................................................

Valerie Roddick East Kootenay .................................................................................. Bill Bennett Esquimalt-Metchosin...................................................................Arnie Hamilton Fort Langley–Aldergrove ..................................................... Hon. Rich Coleman Kamloops ....................................................................... Hon. Claude Richmond Kamloops–North Thompson ........................................................Kevin Krueger Kelowna–Lake Country...............................................................

John Weisbeck Kelowna-Mission ................................................................ Hon. Sindi Hawkins Langley ............................................................................... Hon. Lynn Stephens Malahat–Juan de Fuca .....................................................................Brian J. Kerr Maple Ridge–Mission ................................................................... Randy Hawes Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows .............................................................Ken Stewart Nanaimo..........................................................................................

Mike Hunter Nanaimo-Parksville ...................................................................Hon. Judith Reid Nelson-Creston.......................................................................Blair F. Suffredine New Westminster ..................................................................Hon. Joyce Murray North Coast ........................................................................................Bill Belsey North Island........................................................................................Rod Visser North Vancouver–Lonsdale.......................................... Hon.

Katherine Wh ittred North Vancouver–Seymour .............................................................Daniel Jarvis Oak Bay–Gordon Head .......................................................................Ida Chong Okanagan-Vernon .................................................................... Tom Christensen Okanagan-Westside.................................................................Hon. Rick Thorpe Peace River North .............................................................Hon. Richard Neufeld Peace River South .......................................................................

Blair Lekstrom Penticton–Okanagan Valley ....................................................Hon. Bill Barisoff Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain.................................................... Karn Manhas Port Moody–Westwood......................................................... Hon. Christy Clark Powell River–Sunshine Coast.......................................................... Harold Long Prince George North................................................................................Pat Bell Prince George–Mount Robson................................................Hon.

Shirley Bond Prince George–Omineca................................................................Paul Nettleton Richmond Centre......................................................... Hon. Greg Halsey-Brandt Richmond East .......................................................................... Hon. Linda Reid Richmond-Steveston ................................................................ Hon. Geoff Plant Saanich North and the Islands ............................................... Hon. Murray Coell Saanich South...................................................................................

Susan Brice Shuswap .............................................................................. Hon. George Abbott Skeena.............................................................................................Roger Harris Surrey-Cloverdale ................................................................. Hon. Kevin Falcon Surrey–Green Timbers .................................................................. Brenda Locke Surrey-Newton ............................................................................... Tony Bhullar Surrey–Panorama Ridge................................................. Hon.

Gulzar S. Cheema Surrey-Tynehead .......................................................................... Dave S. Hayer Surrey-Whalley ...................................................................... Elayne Brenzinger Surrey–White Rock ...............................................................Hon. Gordon Hogg Vancouver-Burrard................................................................. Lorne Mayencourt Vancouver-Fairview............................................................... Hon.

Gary Co llins Vancouver-Fraserview ...................................................................Ken Johnston Vancouver-Hastings .......................................................................Joy MacPhail Vancouver-Kensington...................................................................Patrick Wong Vancouver-Kingsway..........................................................................Rob Nijjar Vancouver-Langara....................................................................Val J.

Anderson Vancouver–Mount Pleasant............................................Jenny Wai Ching Kwan Vancouver–Point Grey ................................................... Hon. Gordon Campbell Vancouver-Quilchena............................................................ Hon. Colin Hansen Victoria–Beacon Hill.............................................................................Jeff Bray Victoria-Hillside.................................................................................. Sheila Orr West Kootenay–Boundary.................................................... Hon.

Sandy Santori West Vancouver–Capilano ..............................................................Ralph Sultan West Vancouver–Garibaldi ................................................. Hon. Ted Nebbeling Yale-Lillooet .................................................................................. Dave Chutter

CONTENTS Monday, April 28, 2003 Morning Sitting Routine Proceedings Page Private Members' Statements.................................................................................................... .............................................. 6233 Cancer awareness is year-round I. Chong Hon. S. Hawkins Importance of agricultural industry in British Columbia D. Chutter Hon. J. van Dongen Homeowners grants D. Jarvis Hon. G. Collins FAS — fetal alcohol syndrome G. Trumper Hon. L.

Reid Motions on Notice.............................................................................................................. ...................................................... 6241 Drinking water quality (Motion 46) (continued) V. Roddick AMBER alert early warning system for child abduction (Motion 50) (continued) A. Hamilton V. Roddick K. Johnston L. Mayencourt Hon. R. Coleman G. Trumper B. Penner Role of Chinese Canadian entrepreneurs in B.C. economy (Motion 68) R. Lee P. Wong R. Nijjar K. Johnston I. Chong Hon. G. Halsey-Brandt

6233 MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2003 The House met at 10:03 a.m. Prayers. Private Members' Statements CANCER AWARENESS IS YEAR-ROUND I. Chong: April is recognized as Cancer Awareness Month throughout Canada, but for myself and I'm sure for many of my colleagues, cancer awareness is year- round.

During the month of April the Canadian Cancer Society — through their symbolic flower, the daffodil — reminds us all of the very important research that continues as they work towards finding a cure for can- cer. [1005] For a moment I just want to speak on their symbolic flower, the daffodil, which was chosen as a result of a local daffodil grower here in Victoria, Mr. Geoff Vantreight, who had sent off these daffodils to the Ca- nadian Cancer Society some years ago.

They adopted this as their flower, as part of their symbol, which is why the largest daffodil grower here in Victoria sends these flowers across Canada, and they sell them on various weekends, usually near the Easter weekend, in hopes of raising more money for cancer research. The Canadian Cancer Society also acknowledges in its annual campaign its gratitude for all the financial and the volunteer efforts and the supports that are provided by individuals, by businesses and by local governments.

Personally, I have had the pleasure of working with many of the volunteers in the Victoria branch of the Ca- nadian Cancer Society for several years, and I know that through their tireless efforts, many of the families here in greater Victoria benefit greatly. The Canadian Cancer Society and organizations like them are here to help those who are living with cancer today and those who will live with cancer to- morrow. Last year, here in British Columbia, over 100,000 people accessed the programs and services of the Canadian Cancer Society.

While cancer awareness is definitely in my mind year-round, so too is cancer research. It is 24-7. It is 365. During the last two decades, specific areas of re- search have been targeted. Those areas are behavioral research, breast cancer research, prostate cancer re- search and the tobacco research initiative. Along with those research initiatives and programs, many non- profit organizations partner with them in evaluating and providing studies where appropriate. We all know that cancer does not discriminate.

It can affect anyone regardless of age, regardless of eth- nicity and culture, regardless of socioeconomic status, regardless of gender and regardless of religion. When it does strike, it does not only impact that one individ- ual. It affects their entire community of supports, their family and their friends. I truly believe that all of us here at one time have known or will at one time in our lifetime know of someone whose life has been affected by cancer. As a child, we didn't talk about cancer. As I became a young adult, the "c" word came up often, but it was in whispers.

I suppose it was like many things You didn't want to talk about it because you didn't want to know enough about it, and you didn't want to talk about it for fear that you might catch it somehow. You do usually fear what you don't understand, so let us understand a little bit about what cancer is. This is what the Canadian Cancer Society provides us. What they say is this: "Cancer is a disease that starts in our cells. Our bodies are made up of millions of cells grouped together to form organs or tissues such as the lungs, the liver, muscles and bones.

Genes inside each cell order it to grow, work, reproduce and die. Normally these orders are clear. Our cells obey and we remain healthy. Sometimes a cell's instructions get mixed up, and it grows abnormally. After a while groups of abnormal cells form lumps or tumours. "Tumours can be either benign, which are non- cancerous, or malignant — cancerous. Benign tumour cells stay in one place in the body and are not usually life- threatening. "Malignant tumour cells are able to invade the tissue around them and spread to other parts of the body.

Cancerous cells that spread to other parts of the body are called metastases. The first sign that a malignant tumour has spread is often swelling of nearby lymph nodes, but cancer can metastasize to almost any part of the body. Malignant tumours can be dangerous. It is important to find them and treat them quickly, before they spread." [1010] Cancer is not so scary after all. That is the explana- tion of what cancer is, courtesy of the Canadian Cancer Society. By understanding this and by talking about it, we can do more. We can do more in helping with re- search.

As I stated in my opening remarks, cancer aware- ness to me is year-round, and that means starting at the very early part of the year and being a part of a com- munity that supports research. Early in February and March, generally, there is a Breast Cancer Awareness Day Breakfast that is held, and we're told about this. That sort of starts off the year for me. As we move into April we have Cancer Awareness Month and the daf- fodil campaign that continues.

In May I am usually involved in the Relay for a Friend, another campaign to find dollars to support families and provide opportuni- ties for families to be together when they have a family member or a friend who is struck with cancer. In June there's usually a walk — I think it's called Do It for Dad — for prostate cancer, something that is being spoken about more often. In July and August you will often- times find communities having dragon boat races, and that has also captured cancer awareness by having cancer survivors being participants in that. I will have more to say after the response to this. Hon. S.

Hawkins: I want to thank the member for Oak Bay–Gordon Head for those wonderful comments.

6234 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, APRIL 28, 2003 As a former nurse who worked with cancer patients, I have certainly witnessed the devastation and the grief that cancer can cause. I also witnessed the courage that patients and their families show when they're going through the cancer journey, and I certainly know the hope and dedication of health care providers and re- searchers in their search for patient survival and the cure. As Minister of Health Planning, I know that cancer represents a significant threat to our population and certainly an unprecedented challenge to sustaining our health care system.

One in three Canadians develops cancer during their lifetime, and half of these become long-term cancer survivors. Not surprisingly, most Canadians — m o s t o f u s here — know someone who's been afflicted with can- cer. Certainly on a personal note, we know that the member for Surrey-Tynehead's son is battling his own cancer journey. We certainly wish him and his family the best on that. Incidence studies undertaken by the Canadian Cancer Society show that cancer is primarily a disease of older Canadians; 70 percent of new cases and 82 percent of deaths occur in those 60 years of age and older.

Those studies do show that cancer is deadly. Approximately one-half of those diagnosed with can- cer will die of the disease. We know we can't stop our population from aging — none of us is getting younger — nor can we control the increased demand for cancer-related care for the aging population. But we know that we can control the risk of developing cancer through prevention, through the steps we take when cancer occurs and through timely and appropriate intervention. Thanks to im- proved treatments, screening and care, the cancer mor- tality rates continue to fall, and patients are surviving longer.

W e are p ro u d he re i n B . C . t o hav e t he b e s t c anc e r outcomes, best survival rates in Canada. Breast and prostate cancer patients in B.C. live longer. Men diag- nosed with prostate cancer and female breast cancer patients have the highest five-year survival rates among selected cancers. That's 91 percent for prostate cancer and 85 percent in B.C. for female breast cancer. In addition, the mortality rate for both male and female colorectal cancer has declined in B.C. from 23.3 percent in 1979 to 14.7 percent in 1999. I can tell you that I am pretty proud of our B.C.

Cancer Agency, which does just an incredible job in coordinating care for cancer patients. The Cancer Agency demonstrates leadership over a broad range of the cancer continuum, including screening and suppor- tive care programs, and is really a very strong voice for cancer control in the province. [1015] I am particularly proud of two very recent achievements for our B.C. Cancer Agency. Scientists at the Genome Sciences Centre, situated in the B.C. Can- cer Agency, located the first publicly available draft sequence for coronavirus implicated in SARS. Staff and volunteers at the B.C.

Cancer Agency for the southern interior i n my own riding jus t celebrated five years of outstanding service to citizens in the heartlands. I am really excited about the building of the new B.C. Cancer Research Centre, which will bring together cancer researchers and physicians in one central loca- tion that will enable greater synergies between the B.C. Cancer Agency, the B.C. Cancer Research Centre, the UBC biotechnology lab and the B.C. Prostate Centre of VGH. A n o t h e r p o s i t i v e p i e c e o f n e w s c a m e i n F e b r u a r y 2003 when the Minister of Health Services announced t h a t t h e B .

C . C a n c e r A g e n c y w o u l d r e s u m e i n - h o u s e testing to assess genetic predisposition for breast and ovarian cancer. Prevention really is the cornerstone of the cancer strategy. It's aimed at both reducing British Columbians' exposure to things that increase the risk of cancer and increasing the impact of factors that protect them from getting cancer. At least half of the cancers can be prevented through lifestyle changes, which in- clude quitting smoking, switching to a low-fat diet and getting more exercise.

If I can say this in closing, the single most preven- tive action one can take is to never start smoking or to stop smoking as quickly as possible, because 30 percent of cancers are attributable to tobacco consumption. I see some of you guys smiling at me on the other side. I can say a lot of our members have quit smoking, and we've got a couple more, probably, to work on. We have many programs and initiatives that are targeted to anti-smoking. The B.C. Tobacco Facts , which can be accessed on line, certainly gives good facts on tobacco.

The tobacco-free sports challenge, which I announced in January, encourages youth, athletes, schools, univer- sities and community organizations to join the global campaign for tobacco-free sport. Certainly, on our webpages you'll find information about that. It's important to raise awareness of cancer not only in April, cancer month, but all through the year. I thank the member for raising this very important issue this month. I. Chong: I thank the Minister of Health Planning for responding. I know she has a passion and a sense of wanting to also support and find a cure for cancer.

I know that for many years in opposition, she used to remind us here in this chamber that she was involved in her celebrity golf classic that raised money for the Kelowna cancer clinic. I know her target was over five years, and she reached that target, I think, in the fourth year. All of us are very proud of her for having that initiative, and we're very grateful. I want to just continue with my comments in the short time I have remaining.

I had gone up to the months of July and August, and what I participated in, in terms of dragon boat races and acknowledging the breast cancer survivors here in Victoria when we had the races in August. In September I usually also find myself participat- ing — and I hope other members do — in the Terry Fox Run, because that, too, raises awareness of another form of cancer. In addition, September is usually the

MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 6235 month that here on the Island and in the lower mainland they begin their Cops for Cancer marathon, a bicycle marathon up the Island and down. On the lower mainland, I think, it's part of the coast area as well. That raises money for children and childhood cancer, which is growing in larger numbers than we wish to have happen. Of course, let's not forget October, when all of us participate in the CIBC-sponsored Run for the Cure.

Last year, particularly, we saw the Premier and the member for Vancouver-Burrard on television trying to get into the Guinness Book of World Records for the large pancake they were trying to do in the shape of the symbolic pink ribbon. Anything that we can do as leg- islators to raise awareness and any way we can partici- pate is very important. [1020] I al so want to s ay in clo si ng that I did n't want to minimize that cancer isn't a scary thing. There are legitimate, real concerns, as the member for North Vancouver–Seymour reminded me.

When you find out you are affected by cancer, you are immediately im- pacted. You and your family are immediately con- cerned with those legitimate fears. What's important is to know that you don't walk this journey alone. There are supporters out there for you — your family, your friends, your neighbours, your community, the society and the research foundation. There are so many or- ganizations out there, and people genuinely want to be part of finding the cure, the solution. It is about raising awareness. It is about supporting research.

All of us can take a little part of our day each month throughout the years to help find that cure. I recall all too often one year in particular; I think it was 1999. I had gone to six funerals that year of friends of mine who were close to me, none of whom reached the age of 50. All of them had had one form of cancer or another. Let us continue to work together. Let us continue to be aware. Let us continue to be brave for those who are brave themselves. IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA D.

Chutter: I w a n t t o h a v e t h i s d i s c u s s i o n o n t h e importance of agriculture to British Columbia because I believe many people in this province are not aware of the significant role agriculture plays in the provincial economy. The purpose of this discussion is to inform us all of the importance of agriculture to the provincial economy and to elevate its status among our resource industries for appropriate consideration.

Agriculture has been and continues to be a growth industry, providing stability in rural communities by contributing to economic activity and the provision of jobs, particularly in the heartlands of this province. When we think of agriculture, it's not just about farm- ers and farmland but includes truckers, equipment dealers and machinery manufacturers; scientists; food, store and processing workers; and the facilities these people work in.

Although only 2.8 percent of the pro- vincial land base is arable farmland, the quality of this land is very good and results in a diversity of products produced due to the variations in climate around the province. Here are some facts that tell the very positive story about agriculture in B.C. The B.C. agriculture industry provides direct employment to over 34,000 people and has continued to grow in jobs and farm cash receipts for many years. Farm cash receipts today are $2.2 bil- lion, having had consistent growth over the past ten years.

Primary agriculture in B.C. is a significant and expanding industry in itself, with 1.5 percent of the workforce employed in farms, ranches, orchards, greenhouses, nurseries, hatcheries, etc. This sector makes a significant contribution to the economy with substantial spinoffs in the food process- ing, wholesale, retail and service sectors. The food and beverage processing sector employs another 26,000 people and generates over $5 billion in added-value product sales.

The total value of the agriculture indus- try from producer to consumer is in excess of $16 bil- lion and provides jobs to 260,000 British Columbians, which is the same as over a quarter of a million people or nearly 14 percent of the employed labour force in this province. That, Mr. Speaker, is significant. B.C. agriculture continues to show solid growth in farm income with double-digit percentage gains since 1997. Compared to other provinces, B.C. has shown consis- tent gain, year after year, in total net income.

British Columbia, due to its production diversity with over 250 commodities produced from 22,000 farms, has also been less subject to fluctuations in mar- ket receipts and incomes. Our different climate condi- tions around the province make it possible for farmers to grow a variety of crops. Crop receipts are just over $1 billion, with livestock receipts near the same. Both crop and livestock receipts are 15 to 20 percent above their five-year average — again, definite growth. The southern interior is well suited to grow tree fruits and grapes,

whereas with their cooler-weather climates, the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island grow berries and vegetables. Grain and oilseed grow well in the Peace River region. There exist about 1,000 process- ing businesses in B.C. that take farm products and pro- duce a variety of foods and beverages for sale to the consumer. B.C. agriculture exports to over 100 coun- tries with a product value over $2.1 billion. Additional sales to other provinces total $1.3 billion.

Agriculture exports have increased 43 percent in the last five years — another indication of the growth opportunity in B.C. agriculture. [1025] B.C. agriculture has provided solid growth in jobs and economic activity. So what can we do as govern- ment to encourage continued growth, taking advan- tage of the opportunities in B.C. agriculture? Fortu- nately, this government and our Ministry of Agricul- ture, Food and Fisheries clearly recognize the opportu- nities for growth contributing to our economy, job crea- tion and rural stability. The key to continued growth

6236 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, APRIL 28, 2003 and investment is our ability to compete in the market- place. This government has already made significant changes in taxation policy and regulation to provide a more competitive environment and favourable busi- ness climate. The B.C. Progress Board points out in its recent report on the economic state of rural B.C. that the revi- talization of land-based industries — and that would certainly include agriculture — will be one of the criti- cal determinants of the future of rural communities.

In other words, growth in agriculture is important to the health of rural communities. Agriculture is a steady and significant growth in- dustry and deserves the status and attention accorded to an industry that provides tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity. I welcome the comments of the minister. Hon. J. van Dongen: I'm pleased to respond to the member for Yale-Lillooet on the importance of agricul- ture to British Columbia. B.C.'s agrifood industry plays a very important role in our provincial economy. Par- ticularly, it provides stability in our rural communities.

In 2002, sales from the farm sector amounted to over $2 billion. I think it's significant that those sales experi- enced growth every year in the last 20 years. Sales from the food and beverage processing sector amounted to $4.7 billion. Exports to other countries of our agricul- tural and food products amounted to $2.4 billion. The sector is a major employer, with over 30,000 British Columbians employed at the farm level and a further 27,000 employed in the food processing sector. If we add food distribution, retailing and food service, this brings the total employment in the food sector to 270,000 people.

This is one in seven British Columbi- ans. Agriculture and food is an important investment opportunity, with total investments at the farm and fishing level of $178 million and a further $132 million in the food processing sector — a significant part of our provincial economy. If we look at some recent trends, data over the last five years shows a positive growth trend for many of the key economic measures of the agriculture and food sectors.

Compared to the previous five-year average, if you look at the five-year average in 2002, agriculture product sales were up 11.7 percent and food and bev- erage sales were up 11.8 percent. Exports of agricul- tural and food products were up 21 percent from the previous five-year average. Overall employment growth was up a more modest 2 percent — neverthe- less, a continuing positive result. The industry does face challenges. Our agrifood industry faces challenges both at the local level and in the global market.

One of the challenges that the sector faces is the ongoing competition for the resource base on which agriculture operates. Enhancing the resource base for future agricultural growth is a challenge. Food production capacity is currently limited by an ongoing loss of rangeland to other uses and loss of productivity due to things like noxious weeds. Gaining further ac- cess to land for agricultural development remains a challenge. Certain input costs, such as energy costs, are a concern, one that we will continue to grapple with to ensure a competitive industry. There are also opportunities.

Local and global chal- lenges need to be managed effectively, but there are opportunities for further growth that we need to work on to realize our full potential. [1030] The agricultural policy framework, which is a federal-provincial agreement that we are close to final- izing, is really an opportunity for B.C. agriculture. The APF has a shared vision of a competitive, high-value- added agricultural industry that delivers and capital- izes on the highest level of food safety and environ- mental sustainability. Finally, B.C.'s heartlands strategy.

This is also an opportunity to underscore and strengthen the B.C. government's commitment to agriculture and to al- low us to take full advantage of agriculture's unique, regional-based strengths. I look forward to working further with the other resource ministries in the gov- ernment and the MLAs in our various regions within the B.C. heartlands to continue to expand the job op- portunities and the economic activity, the economic potential of agriculture and all of the related service industry and the processing sector around it. D.

Chutter: My thanks to the Minister of Agricul- ture, Food and Fisheries for his comments. In closing, I'd like to leave you with a few statistics. At least one in 12 British Columbians is employed in bringing food from the farm to your plate. Agriculture is the only primary industry in B.C. whose job growth has kept pace with population over the last 20 years. Agriculture is the third-largest resource sector in the province behind forestry and mining. In 1999 agricul- ture, food and beverage was the fourth-largest em- ployer in the province after construction, forestry and non-resource manufacturing.

Given that the size of the food and beverage sector is smaller in B.C. than expected given our population and that Alberta has growth in this sector of 7.4 percent compared to our 3.7 percent, we must ask ourselves what we can do to encourage the food processing and beverage sector. If we can encourage investment in the food processing sector, then this, in turn, will drive increased primary production. When talking about our resource economy, let's talk about forestry, energy and mining, and agriculture.

Let us remember that the growth opportunity in agriculture providing more jobs and resources to government in stable rural communi- ties. It is in the interest of all British Columbians to fo- cus our attention on such a significant industry. Let's not forget agriculture. HOMEOWNERS GRANTS D. Jarvis: A n i s s u e o f g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e i s m a k i n g itself apparent to a growing number of my constitu- ents. I have had concerns from many homeowners in North Vancouver–Seymour, my riding, that they have

MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 6237 now become ineligible for the homeowners grant or that the eligibility is being threatened if current market trends continue the way they are. It's a certainty that the property values in North Vancouver–Seymour will continue to rise while incomes of most of my constitu- ents, unfortunately, will remain fixed. I sympathize with these people in my riding primarily because they have no control over the market forces that will inevi- tably make them pay huge portions of their limited incomes to finance their properties.

Families who bought their houses 20, 30, 40 or 50 years ago could never have anticipated that they would be forced to pay exorbitant property taxes without some help from any form of government. These people depend on the homeowners grant to soften the annual b l o w o f t h e p r o p e r t y t a x , b e c a u s e i n m a n y c a s e s i t i s difficult for them just to pay the basic and continued rising property taxes. It may be said: why complain when your equity is growing, or why complain that your property is being assessed at a higher rate?

Well, that may be so, but not all are prepared or able to sell or move from their homes. And really, why should they have to? In many cases, the assessment levies on my constituents do not accurately reflect the real market value of their homes, so if they have to resort to selling their homes in haste to alleviate their financial pressures, they may not even get the true assessed value on the real estate market. The assessments do not necessarily reflect market value. Many of these people planned for their retirements by setting out strict budgets that they had to adhere to.

No matter how much planning took place while they were preparing to retire, they could not have foreseen the incredible increases in property values on the North Shore. I hope this government can address the following concerns of my constituents. New develop- ments are springing up daily on the North Shore wher- ever there is room to build, but these developments come nowhere to addressing the demand for housing. [1035] Now, it doesn't take an expert to note that the de- mand will reflect directly on the value of the land. Buildable land is scarce.

In actual fact, it is the land that reflects the greatest increase, and the improvements, being the actual house they reside in, may only repre- sent 10 percent of the full assessment. True, many people can afford to pay the full prop- erty tax imposed on them by their municipalities. Yes, a great number of the people qualify for full and partial homeowners grants, but many who need it don't. Ad valorem taxation principles aren't working for a lot of my constituents. If we are to have market-based taxation, then we must embrace market-based homeowner subsidies.

At the moment we don't have a regimen that will take the realities of inflation into account. We need an adjust- m e n t t o t h e g r a n t , w h e t h e r i t b e a f l a t i n c r e a s e o r i n - dexed. My riding is not a high-priced residential area when compared to other lower mainland communities, yet some 3,000 residents will not qualify for the grant compared to two years ago. With a minimum 10 per- cent increase, over 5,000 houses will not qualify next year. These 5,000 homes represent nearly a quarter of all the homes in the district of North Vancouver.

With- out changes to the homeowner grant policies, these numbers will increase exponentially. People that have the foresight to arrange for an early retirement before the conceptually recognized age of 65 are also being punished by the current for- mula. Unfortunately, the current system does not take into account a fixed income for people who retire at 60 or 55 or even at 50. Not everyone has the same sched- ule when it comes to retirement. Regardless, they still have to live on a fixed income that is dependent on subsidies keeping pace with inflation.

The more money people have to spend on their property tax will result in less money spent in restau- rants, in small businesses and on retirement plans. This is not just a seniors' problem either. This also goes for people in their thirties and forties and fifties. Homeowner grants are an integral part to provide for stability of the real estate industry in this province. The importance of the grants cannot be underscored and requires a new approach to how they are allocated.

W e s h o u l d a l s o r e m e m b e r t h a t f o r e v e r y s a l e o f r e a l estate in this province, the government gets a cut of it through its taxation. The livelihood of fixed-income constituents who just happened to purchase a home prior to the market rising on the North Shore, or increasing so dramati- cally, will depend on the change to the homeowners grant formula. The previous government, in their haste to always increase taxes, forgot to realize that individuals across t h i s p r o v i n c e h a v e w o r k e d h a r d s o t h e y c o u l d o w n their homes.

I recall a Premier of the last government, when he was Finance minister, wanted to again tax properties in this province in 1993. He actually said — and it's in Hansard: "We are going to get these home- owners. We are going to get these people in B.C. who have saved up…." B. Penner: That was a member of the NDP — wasn't it? D. Jarvis: For sure. "We are going to get these people in B.C. who wish to leave their children something when they pass away. We are going to go after those taxpayers." This same Premier stood up when questioned by us and said: "Well, if they can't afford taxes, they should sell their houses.

Tough luck for them." The taxpayers know that this government is not in any way like that, this government in the 1990s. This government values the equity of taxpayers in their home, and we want to see them keep it. Sounds like bribery — doesn't it? Action is required soon. Property values are rising too far, too fast, while the cutoff to qualify for the homeowner grant is not. Without pre- empting this looming crisis, homeowners face huge

6238 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, APRIL 28, 2003 p r o b l e m s j u s t t o k e e p t h e i r h o m e s . I l o o k f o r w a r d t o the minister's response on this matter. Hon. G. Collins: I am pleased to respond to the member for North Vancouver–Seymour, who has raised this issue with me on several occasions, as have many of his constituents. Before I start, I want to make sure peo- ple understand that some of the comments the member was making were about the previous government, the NDP government, and the previous Premier, not this one. I think that's important for people to understand.

I take this issue very seriously. This is not the first t i m e I ' v e h e a r d o f i t f r o m t h i s m e m b e r . I n f a c t , h e ' s spoken to me a number of times on this issue. I do re- ceive and have received a fairly large volume of corre- spondence from people in his constituency. [1040] This issue becomes ever more important to people as the values of their properties inch up above that threshold for the homeowner grant. Certainly, as the property values rise, there are more and more people who are finding themselves in that position, so I'm very mindful of the issue.

I've also heard over the last couple of years from the member from Alberni with regard to some property tax inequities in the community of Tofino. We were able to address those. I've also been working very hard with the member for West Vancouver–Garibaldi, as well as the mayor of Whistler and that community, to try and deal with some inequities with regard to residents who've been overtaken by a remarkable and, one would say, almost shocking increase in property values.

Government is always trying to make sure that the tax structure has an overriding flavour of fairness and that people understand we all need to contribute, but we need to do it in a way that reflects something which people understand as being fair and equitable to the greater extent that government can make that happen. This is a very complicated issue. On first blush it looks very simple. I know that when we dealt with the issue in Tofino and we worked with the member for Alberni- Qualicum, as well as when we worked on the issue — and are working on the issue — in Whistler with regard to residents there….

Those issues are very complicated. We have a fairly common property tax structure across the province. To a certain extent, you want to keep it relatively similar just for ease of administration, but at the same time you don't want to ignore the ine- qualities that may exist. I just want to give the assurance to the members and their constituents, as well as other members of the House, that every year we look at the tax structure, and that includes property taxes. In the late part of the cal- endar year into January/February, as part of the budget process, that's one of the things I spend a great deal of time on.

We canvass all of the issues that are out there, which people have corresponded with us on over the past year, particularly those items that have been raised by the representatives — the MLAs. We try and look for areas where we can make the system more fair, more transparent and more equitable. I think that needs to be an underlying aspect of all tax policy, so we'll continue to do that. We've begun to look at a whole range of issues. I obviously will look at this one and will continue to look at it, and the advice from the members is very helpful.

The correspondence from their constituents is obviously helpful as well. I would just encourage members to continue to work with us on this. There are a multitude of taxation issues we deal with each year. This is one that is a growing challenge for us. I look forward to working with the member for North Vancouver–Seymour, as well as the other members from the North Shore. The member for West Vancouver– Capilano has also spoken to me, as well as other mem- bers from the North Shore, as I mentioned. We'll con- tinue to try and look at that as we progress towards the next taxation year.

If there is something that can be done given the fiscal constraints that the province operates under, then certainly we'd be glad to look at it. Thank you to the member for his statement. D. Jarvis: I thank the minister for his comments. My constituents and I look forward to reasonable changes in the near future. In

summary, I wanted to just put into Hansard some comments from an old friend of mine that I have known since the 1950s. He and I had similar lives over the years. These comments are out of Hansard when he was discussing Bill 19 in May '94, in which he said: "I had lived in my home for some 35 years. This is probably a long time by British Columbian standards, but it is a family home where my children were brought up, along with innumerable dogs.

I believe this is an inappropriate way for government to deal with something such as a homeowner grant, which was originally intended — and is still accepted in principle, I believe — as a means by which education costs were removed from property taxes and paid out of general revenues of the province, because it was seen by government to be not appropriate to fund education from property taxes. The government has brought in a provision which brings education costs back onto the shoulders of property owners. That's what the homeowner grant was originally there to negate. " That was said by Mr.

Fred Gingell, MLA for Delta South, back in 1996. I will close now, following the comments of the minister, and report to my constituents that the gov- ernment will be reasonable and look at this. Perhaps we can come to a better conclusion. Thank you very much. [1045] FAS — FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME G. Trumper: I n a n y g i v e n w e e k i n C a n a d a a p - proximately 10,000 babies are born. Of these babies, 20 are born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and 100 are born with alcohol-related neurodevelopment men- tal disorders.

This compares to ten out of the 10,000 having Down syndrome, eight with spina bifida and four with HIV infection. The lifetime cost of just one

MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 6239 baby with FASD could be as much as $2 million. The figures I have quoted are from 1997, but the numbers have changed very little since then. Unfortunately, this is a preventable disorder that affects a child for the rest of his or her life. Some chil- dren with FASD, as I will call it from now on, are men- tally challenged. They have brain damage, and those affected have specific areas of strengths and weak- nesses.

Brain damage can lead to behavioral problems, because brain-damaged people don't process informa- tion the same way as other people do, and they don't always behave the way they are taught or expected to. These children present many, many challenges to their parents throughout their lifetime. A diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder allows for a treatment plan which can help develop a partnership between health care providers, educators, parents and the child. The sad fact is that the damage caused by alcohol to a child before he or she is born is permanent.

The dam- age to the fetus can occur when the mother is in the very, very early stages of pregnancy and in most cases is not even aware that she is pregnant. This disorder is not a new phenomenon. In the nine- teenth century the British Parliament lifted a tax on the distillation of gin for over 30 years. Throughout that pe- riod the birth rate declined and the incidence of mental retardation and epilepsy increased, particularly amongst the poorer people in Britain, as it was the drink of the poor.

I know that those of you who have read Dickens have seen many of the pictures that are displayed of peo- ple under the influence of gin in those days. Physicians of the day urged Parliament to reintro- duce the tax, and it appeared that the pendulum then went back again to before those 30 years of the lifting of the tax. In the twentieth century research continued to be conducted on the effects of prenatal alcohol expo- sure on development, and now today it has been rec- ognized that it is alcohol taken by the mother at an early stage in the pregnancy that causes fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Although I have quoted figures for Canada, it oc- curs all over the world. I was listening to an interview on CBC of two families who had adopted children from Romania and Russia. We've all seen those pic- tures on television news. These children were brought u p i n o r p h a n a g e s . W h e n t h e y c a m e t o C a n a d a , t h e s e children were diagnosed with FAS.

The incidence of FAS is not well understood; how- ever, I am encouraged that in this province we have a minister who is dedicated to implementing and moni- toring an early childhood development strategy from conception to age six for the province. The healthier our babies are, the better they will thrive. The more help they have, the better they will thrive. It's not easy, and it's challenging. At the same time, there is a strategy for the children, an education pro- gram that has to be in place to educate women of child- bearing age about the dangers of alcohol.

Women who are considering becoming pregnant have to be edu- cated that they should abstain from alcohol. In my con- stituency we do have a high incidence of FASD com- pared to some other regions in British Columbia due to a lot of challenges, be they cultural, economic, etc. [1050] W e h a v e a l s o b e e n f o r t u n a t e t h a t w e h a v e s o m e excellent preschool programs and have had the oppor- tunity to participate in pilot projects for children. These programs need to continue.

In school district 70 a cur- riculum for FASD prevention and resource supports for junior and secondary schools are being developed to encourage prevention. By the fall of 2003 the school- based program for FASD children will be implemented in the middle schools. I would be very pleased to hear the minister's comments. Hon. L. Reid: I am delighted to respond to the member for Alberni-Qualicum on this very pressing issue. This is an opportunity for us to do differently w h a t n e e d s t o b e d o n e i n o u r p r o v i n c e i n t e r m s o f promoting healthy pregnancy and healthy outcomes.

We very much want full-term, full-weight infants born in our province. Approximately 271,000 children in British Colum- bia today are under the age of six. We have roughly 40,000 births annually. For us to do the job differently, we have to have a much clearer, much finer respect for maintaining the moms and the babes in a dyad to- gether. We haven't done that particularly well as a province, but we are attempting to do that. I can assure this House that we have had amazing success in a very short space of time. Take the Burns Lake program, in Burns Lake, Brit- ish Columbia: Healthier Babies–Brighter Futures.

Their statistics are amazing: 94 percent of the women involved in this program have either reduced or eliminated their alcohol consumption. We are produc- ing healthy babies in Burns Lake, an enormously fine achievement on behalf of the province — frankly, a world-class program, a showcase for British Colum- bia. The Canada Northwest FASD Partnership will be hosting a continuing medical education symposium there this September — September 27 to 29.

I would invite my colleagues in this Legislature to participate in that event, because it's an opportunity for British Columbia to show the country and, frankly, to show internationally what we are doing — amazing statistics, probably the best in the land, housed in a very small program in Burns Lake, British Columbia. I would certainly pay tribute to Annie Price, who heads that program. For the members of this Legislature to understand: it's a very small investment of dollars that has pro- duced enormously beneficial outcomes.

We have healthy babies today who will have choices and oppor- tunities that they may not have had otherwise. Some other great investments, great initiatives on the horizon for us. We were very privileged to partici- pate in the co-location of the Crabtree and Sheway programs on the downtown east side. The building is on to its fifth floor of construction and will open this October. It is an opportunity for the province to be in-

6240 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, APRIL 28, 2003 ordinately proud of providing safe and secure housing for young moms and babes. Our challenge will be to keep those moms and babes together, hopefully until those babies are two, two and a half or three years of age, so that indeed they can begin their lives with the best possible start. To have a strategy that supports women as they battle their addiction issues is vitally important for this province — vitally important.

For us not to do that allows the outcomes that we've had previously, which was all about separating moms and babes and those moms who had other babes that suffered from FAS. Our challenge is to limit as precisely, as concisely as we can the number of babies born in our province suffer- ing from fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, but to do it from a place of compassion and support for women. If we want a different outcome, this is all about support- ing the women who are very much involved in the lives and livelihoods of those little souls.

Indeed, it's vitally important that we continue to take those mes- sages forward. The Building Blocks program in British Columbia. W e h a d 2 7 p r o g r a m s l a s t y e a r . W e h a v e 5 2 p r o g r a m s t h i s y e a r . W e h a v e d o u b l e d t h e n u m b e r o f p r o g r a m s that are all about, again, supporting moms and fami- lies. There are lay home visiting programs. They see people go into the homes of children at risk and hope- fully provide some prenatal support, as well, so that those women feel supported in the choices they would make that would produce a healthier infant.

The Build- ing Blocks programs in British Columbia — absolutely outstanding. To all of those who participate in those programs and deliver those programs and, week in and week out, spend time with those families, I again pay enormous tribute. I think it's doing a wondrous job for the lives and livelihoods of our babes. In terms of other programs and other initiatives we have underway, we have a public awareness campaign that is ongoing. We have the brewers, vintners and dis- tillers in this province onside when it comes to a mes- s a g e t h a t w e w o u l d w i s h t o t a k e f o r w a r d .

T h i s i s t h e message in a condensed form: "There are at least three times in your life where you should not consume alco- hol — when you're under age, when you are driving and when you are planning a pregnancy or are preg- nant." Very straightforward message. Indeed, if we can message it much more clearly how important a first trimester pregnancy is — t hat i nd e e d we d o n o t wi s h individuals to imbibe alcohol at all during pregnancy, but the vital aspect of that pregnancy is the first trimes- ter…. Frankly, many people consume alcohol before they realize they're pregnant. Take some time.

Take some thought when you're planning a pregnancy and make some choices that will indeed have a better outcome for your baby. [1055] It's vitally important that we do those issues in a much more concerted effort than we have in the past. We're attempting to take forward better information and better knowledge, and we're attempting to build a better understanding of fetal alcohol spectrum disor- der. The Canada Northwest FASD Partnership is the four western provinces, Manitoba west, and the three territories — the Northwest Territories, the Yukon and Nunavut, which I very recently had the privilege to visit.

In terms of their minister, the Hon. Ed Picco, taking forward this issue on behalf of Nunavut, on behalf of the new territory…. The new territory is four years old on April 1, not a longstanding opportunity around governance. But the fact that they're con- cerned, the fact that they're taking this issue forward warms my heart. I look forward to the member's con- cluding remarks. G. Trumper: I want to thank the Minister of State for Early Childhood Development.

She truly is leading British Columbia, in Canada, forward in trying to com- bat this disease which is preventable but does go with the child right through to adulthood and affects them all through their life. We are progressing well in the effort to combat the number of children born with fetal alcohol spectrum dis- order, but there's still a long way to go with this entire issue. A particular challenge that faces these children is how they progress when they enter the school system. It is a challenge of how to give them the best opportunity.

School boards, health boards, parents, teachers and other community organizations try to give each child an equal opportunity to succeed, but it's not easy. Some disorders are easily recognizable. While some children have parents who are able to lobby for their children very effectively, my concern with FASD stu- dents is that some of these children do not have strong families ready to lobby for them. It is these children in particular who need our help, who need community help so that they can live life to their full potential.

There are many ways that this can be done and is being done using resources in the community. I am optimistic about a pilot project that is being proposed of the Alberni Valley FAS. community action group, which aims to support individuals with FASD and to decrease the incidence of this disease. This group is a volunteer community coalition that has brought together the diverse communities in the Al- berni Valley and surrounding coastal communities with a common goal of dealing with this disorder.

I hope that this model that is being proposed in my community will go forward and will be able to serve as an example of how best to help these children as they go through their school years. I do want to take the opportunity to commend school district 70 and school district 69 for their work and programs in place for these students. However, there's a great deal more to be done so that together we can help these students to lead useful lives and to reach their potential. Orders of the Day Hon. L. Reid: By leave, I call private member's Mo- tion 46.

MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 6241 Mr. Speaker: Hon. members, unanimous consent of the House is required to proceed with Motion 46 with- out disturbing the priorities of motions preceding it on the order paper. Leave granted. Motions on Notice DRINKING WATER QUALITY (continued) V.

Roddick: I rise today in support of the motion moved by the member for Cariboo North. [Be it resolved that this House continues to support advances in improvement of drinking water quality around British Columbia, and strives to keep it environmentally sound and free from contamination.] If we are to remain an independent nation, we must have the ability to protect our country and to protect our people. One major ingredient is to provide clean, safe air, water and food.

There was a rude awakening overall in this country after Walkerton, but in 1999, Canadian Marq de Villiers from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, wrote a fascinating book on our world's water supply, simply called Water. [H.

Long in the chair.] [1100] B.C., in 1998-99, issued report No. 5 from the auditor general's office, Protecting Drinking Water Sources; in 2000 the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts, April 18, 2000, Protecting Drinking-Water Sources ; the provincial health officer's annual report 2000, Drinking Water Quality in British Columbia: The Public Health Per- spective; Worldwatch, January-February 2000 issue, "Groundwater Shock: The Polluting of the World's Major Freshwater Stores"; in 2001, Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Protecting Drinking Water Sources, a follow-up report draft, February 2001; the public health perspective, October 2001; "A Primer on Water Policy and Trade Issues," December 2001, Wendy R.

Holm, P. Ag., Country Life in B.C. ; in 2002, Action Plan For Safe Drinking Water in British Columbia, Health Services; RPF Forum, Association of B.C. Professional Foresters, "For- estry in Community Watersheds," March-April 2002; water quality 2001-02, compiled by Pat Somerton of the B.C. Legislative Library. As you can see, British Columbia and this House recognize and support advances in improvement of our drinking water quality and will continue to strive to keep it environmentally sound and free from con- tamination.

The ability to feed and protect ourselves, as Canadians, will ensure our ability to remain an inde- pendent, sovereign nation. Motion approved. Deputy Speaker: Hon. members, unanimous con- sent of the House is required to proceed with Motion 50 without disturbing the priorities of motions preced- ing it on the order paper. Leave granted. AMBER ALERT EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR CHILD ABDUCTION (continued) A. Hamilton: I rise to support the motion of my col- league from Chilliwack-Kent.

His proposal that our prov- ince adopt some form of the highly successful AMBER alert program is one that deserves the backing of all MLAs. As a former police officer, I know too well the anguish, shock and pain felt by parents and communities when a child is abducted. While recovery of abducted children is the highest priority for law enforcement agencies, the sad fact is that 74 percent of these evil crimes result in the child victim being killed in the first three hours. If a life is to be saved, speed is critical.

It's essential to get information on the abduction out to the widest possible network, to police forces and through radio, television and other channels to the public at large. Through AMBER alert, which operates in more than 25 states, sharp-eyed members of law en- forcement agencies and the public have been credited with rescuing more than 34 young people. The principle is simple: use police and private and public sector radio channels, as well as the medium of television, to saturate the crime area with descriptions of the child, possible suspects and other details of the case.

The result is that thousands of eyes and ears are alerted to watch for the missing youngster and suspi- cious individuals or vehicles that match the informa- tion circulated through the AMBER network. W e h a v e a m o d e l t o b u i l d o n r i g h t h e r e i n s o u t h Vancouver Island. It's a model that operates on the same principle that has proven successful.

I refer to Operation Cooperation, which circulates up-to-date information from member police forces to a network of participating agencies and companies, alerting them to look for stolen vehicles, suspect vehicles, criminal sus- pects, missing elderly or mentally disturbed persons and high-crime areas. Police departments throughout greater Victoria have been joined by community-minded agencies and a host of other companies that operate vehicle fleets with radio systems. Information is circulated through the use of voice mailboxes and pagers.

Police contact the operation cooperation voice mail and record the information they want to get out. The dispatchers of the participating agencies and companies are alerted to that new informa- tion, and after retrieving the data from the mailbox, they use their radio systems to relay the information to their vehicle fleet and staff. The result, of course, is that a vast amount of extra eyes and ears go on the lookout across the entire greater Victoria area. [1105] Operation Cooperation works. Crimes have been solved, criminals caught, and stolen vehicles and prop- erty have been discovered.

Because of Operation Co- operation, we have a foundation that will allow us to

6242 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, APRIL 28, 2003 create our very own AMBER alert system. We all pay a price for crime and criminal activities. Stolen cars and other property cause inconvenience, monetary loss and higher insurance rates. Operation Cooperation is doing a good job in help- ing reduce the costs of crime, but those costs are insig- nificant compared to the life of a child. Firemen and the people who fight forest fires have their priorities right: people first, property second. We can do no less when it comes to the safety and well-being of our children.

I urge all members of this House to give their active support to this very worthwhile proposal. Hon. G. Cheema: Can I have leave to make an in- troduction? Leave granted. Introductions by Members Hon. G. Cheema: I would like to take this opportu- nity to introduce some very special members of my constituency. Today in the House we have 25 grade 9 students from Tamanawis Secondary School in Surrey. They are accompanied by their teacher, Kathy Hall, and two parents, Dr. and Dr. Crossley. I would like the House to welcome my constituents. Debate Continued V.

Roddick: I rise today in support of the motion by the member for Chilliwack-Kent to recognize the value of exploring the establishment of a provincewide AMBER alert early warning system to help find chil- dren when they are abducted. Our lower mainland police forces, with the RCMP, are already pursuing this idea. A member of the Delta police force co-chairs, with a representative from the RCMP, the regional police management committee, which deals with regional operational issues to explore a possible protocol for B.C.

The ROPMC, regional operational police manag- ers' committee, which is composed of all lower mainland police departments and RCMP detachments, in their December 2002 minutes assigned members to definitely look into AMBER alert Realty Watch for the lower mainland and report back. Community networking, the basic foundation of AMBER alert, is already in the mix. The lower mainland real estate profession, Realty Watch, has over 1,800 fax machines in their jurisdiction. I understand it has already been used twice in Delta alone over the p a s t m o n t h .

T h i s i s a w o r k i n p r o g r e s s , t h a n k s t o t h e excellent support from Mr. Turnbull of the real estate board and input from Washington State and Alberta. Both have just launched their own AMBER alert sys- tems, and we will be viewing all of these in order to design our own process of putting the program in place. This is community policing at its best. K. Johnston: Thank you for the opportunity to speak. I certainly support the very important motion put forward from the member for Chilliwack-Kent.

I believe that the official implementation of an AMBER alert plan in British Columbia is imperative. Having a child abduction alert plan in place does two main things. It sends out the information on the abducted child in the first crucial hours of a kidnapping, and I believe that it would act as a deterrent in some cases because the potential kidnapper would know the pub- lic would be looking for them in very short order. [1110] The AMBER plan is a proven tool that saves lives. In the United States over 40 states have implemented the plan, and kids are being saved.

I do not believe that implementing an AMBER alert program here in British Columbia would have a great cost to the taxpayer. Working in collaboration and with some gentle arm- twisting, I am sure that radio stations, TV stations and print media would work with law enforcement on a voluntary basis, and they would certainly benefit the public by being part of an AMBER alert system. The implementation of AMBER alert legislation would also ensure that appropriate standards and con- trols are put in place to avoid misuse of the system, to focus on actual abductions.

A short while ago I had the opportunity to speak about PRIME, the new information- sharing system of police agencies in British Colum- bia. I see AMBER alert as formalizing an interagency system of immediately tracking a suspected child abduction. I am extremely passionate about AMBER alert, be- cause about 14 years ago I had the personal gut- wrenching experience as a parent of a potentially ab- ducted child. I can tell you, as a parent, the feeling of despair and hopelessness is indescribable.

The police at that time did the their best, but it was obvious there was absolutely no coordinated interjurisdictional plan i n p l a c e t o d e a l w i t h c h i l d a b d u c t i o n . I t j u s t w a s n ' t heard of. I can tell you personally that that was fright- ful. I can remember overhearing an officer saying to another officer at the time: "The best we can do is send a photocopied picture down to the border and hope they haven't gone through already." Mr. Speaker, those words are imprinted on my brain as if it were yester- day, as is the feeling of hopelessness in the situation.

I believe things are better today in terms of police tracking and tracing and interjurisdictional coopera- tion, but I know that a legislated AMBER alert plan will make them even better and make the system more foolproof. Let's give abducted children a fighting chance. Let's support AMBER alert. L. Mayencourt: I rise to support this resolution. I want to thank the member for Chilliwack-Kent for bringing this very important issue to this House.

We have heard from a number of the members in this Legislature over the last several weeks about their support for this particular motion, and especially, we just heard from the member for Vancouver-Fraserview a very important statement of the kind of despair that a parent feels when they do not know if their child has been abducted or not. This is one of those issues that I

MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 6243 think is very important for people throughout the en- tire province. When we speak about our children…. I don't have children myself, but I have great nieces and nephews, and I have my Olivia, as does the member for Richmond East. And these kids are so important to us. When I was listening to the member for Bulkley Valley–Stikine talk about spending the weekend with his grandchildren and how important they are to him….

These chil- dren are really so important to us, and to have them taken from us and not have the kinds of services that would be available to kick in immediately is a great tragedy. The Solicitor General has brought in a bill that al- lows for PRIME to be available throughout this prov- ince and that allows police forces to link up immedi- ately with one another, so we have a tool here in place that already exists. We just need to turn that switch on. I don't think we have to be concerned about it costing more money.

I think the radio stations, the television stations, the broadcasters of British Columbia, the po- lice forces and the community really support this initia- tive. I applaud the member's initiative for bringing this forward to this House. I support it wholeheartedly. I encourage this government to support it and to make use of the PRIME database that we have already cre- ated here in British Columbia to protect children throughout the province and to protect families. Hon. R. Coleman: Thank you, Mr.

Speaker, and thank you to the member from Chilliwack and mem- bers of the House for bringing forward the proposal and discussion in and around AMBER alert. [1115] It always amazes me that we actually get it, and the public actually gets it, and there are actually communi- ties within this province that want to build new silos in policing rather than realize we have world-class polic- ing in British Columbia.

At some point in time people at the local government level are going to have to real- ize that the management of policing is actually the re- sponsibility of policing and that the future of policing is going to be an integrated model where we won't have silos across borders, where we'll actually build policing on the basis that we can serve our citizens. You know, the discussion in and around AMBER alert is about integration. It's about integration of in- formation with the public, with the media, with police and with communities to improve on something.

While we discuss it, I want to first of all assure British Co- l u m b i a n s t h a t m o s t o f w h a t A M B E R a l e r t d o e s , w e already do, and then we do some other things in addi- tion to that as we increase and improve our technology. We have looked at this, though, in a number of ways since the member from Chilliwack brought it forward to the House. There are some things I want to tell the House about that before I close my speaking today, but I want to give a couple of examples.

We have some communities that think they want to change — one in particular that actually thinks it's about to have a discussion about changing its police force from the RCMP to a private police force within its commu- nity…. If that were to happen in this province again, the only thing that would ever be allowed to happen would be a patrol service, because everything above patrol and community policing and policing in British Columbia has to be integrated.

There is no room for people to think that they don't have to share informa- tion, that they've got special borders around their communities in order to not protect children. That's what AMBER alert is about, frankly. AMBER alert is the quintessential example of what integration should do. When a child goes missing, every law enforcement officer in the province should know about it and should have that information in real time. We'll ac- complish that with PRIME, but in addition to that, we have to enjoin the media and the communities and others in order to make that integrated model work even better.

There's always something we can improve on with regard to this, and we shall. I think it's abso- lutely important that people understand the impor- tance of integrated enforcement and integrated infor- mation management for communities on issues with regard to young people going missing and other crimes. Since this motion was brought to this House, I have asked the member for Bulkley Valley–Stikine and the member from Chilliwack to come back to me within 30 days with a plan that would show us how we would implement AMBER alert in British Columbia.

It wasn't that I was concerned that we weren't doing what AM- BER alert was doing, for the most part. It's more a con- cern of mine that we make sure we're doing it well and we're doing it right and that we give it the right infor- mation and name out there so that what it means is understood in the public when this situation occurs in any community.

I am very confident that within a short period of time we will be able to bring something for- ward as a recommendation to my ministry to formalize this relationship that exists in integrated management with regard to missing children in the province for all our communities, for the benefit of all the people in the province of B.C.

In doing that, I want you to understand that as we go forward, we are going to add more things into the system to make sure we have integrated information management in situations like this so that we can do things like we do with a specialized team that actually tracks sex offenders as they move across communities, so we can catch them before they reoffend, when they breach their parole or probation, before they actually injure or destroy another child's life. That's what inte- gration is about. That's what good policing is about. That's what good community involvement with polic- ing is about.

We are very fortunate to have that in spades in British Columbia in all our communities, in that relationship that exists in communities. I am proud to say that we are going to move for- ward with something back to this ministry to see how we formalize and improve our relationship with regard t o m i s s i n g c h i l d r e n i n B . C . I l o o k f o r w a r d t o h e a r i n g

6244 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, APRIL 28, 2003 from the member who brought the motion, the mem- ber from Chilliwack, and the estimates leader from my ministry, the member for Bulkley Valley–Stikine, as we bring this forward quickly — identify where improve- m e n t s , i f a n y , n e e d t o b e m a d e — and immediately move with the stakeholders in the province to make it a successful program in B.C. G. Trumper: I rise today to support the value of exploring the establishment of a provincewide AMBER alert early warning system in British Columbia.

In fact, it should be explored right across the whole of Canada. [1120] There is nothing more frightening, as has been said earlier on, than to suddenly find one of your children missing. Fortunately for our family, our eldest son had just got fed up, at the age of three, with his younger brother and sisters and had taken off to friends ten blocks away. However, we had mobilized the police at that time. I cannot imagine if that had been a kidnap- ping. The systems we have in place today, with commu- nications and technology, are used — and certainly are u s e d f o r A M B E R a l e r t .

W e k n o w t h a t t a k e s p l a c e . T o see the program used in the United States, where it has been successful in some instances, is very encouraging. We need to move forward with this initiative to enable all media to work with the police, with the technology that we have now in place and particularly with the new programs that are being introduced to policing to improve the system that is in place, so that the public understand what it means when they see an AMBER alert.

Hopefully, by moving forward and having an AMBER alert in place in British Columbia, we will be successful, and more families will not have to go through the terrible tragedy of having their child kid- napped and maybe not returned. B. Penner: I'd like to thank all the members who participated in the debate and gave their support to this motion, which appears under my name on the or- der paper. Obviously, we all feel very strongly and are very emotional about children, and that is as it should be. That's what's right about the world.

That's why all of us react so strongly when there are those people, sadly among us in society, who go out of their way to cause harm to the most defenceless and vulnerable people. Our reaction to that is an indication that, again, all is right in the sense that we're doing what we can to take action. This AMBER alert system we've been discussing is just one tool, but I think it's an important tool to help keep our kids safer.

There are still responsibilities for parents in terms of educating their children, setting up systems within their families about phoning in, check- ing in at certain times, arranging rides, not accepting rides with strangers — all of those things. That's still a big responsibility for families. Government can never take the place of the role that families play in protecting each other, but there is something here that government can do in terms of coordinating the release of accurate and timely infor- mation when a child is abducted. That's what the AM- BER alert system is about.

I'm very grateful and gratified that the Solicitor General has given his commitment to move forward with such a system. I accept his challenge to bring for- ward some information to help the ministry, along with the member for Bulkley Valley–Stikine, in devel- oping a made-in-B.C. AMBER alert system that will work well here in B.C. for our needs. With that, I would like to thank the more than eight individual MLAs who participated in the debate and many of whom shared their own personal perspective on this very important issue. Motion approved.

Deputy Speaker: Hon. members, unanimous con- sent of the House is required to proceed with Motion 68 without disturbing the priorities of motions preced- ing it on the order paper. Leave granted. ROLE OF CHINESE CANADIAN ENTREPRENEURS IN B.C. ECONOMY R. Lee: I t ' s m y h o n o u r t o r i s e i n t h i s H o u s e a n d m o v e M o t i o n 6 8 s t a n d i n g i n m y n a m e o n t h e o r d e r paper. [Be it resolved that this House recognizes the important role of Chinese Canadian entrepreneurs in strengthening the economy of British Columbia.] [1125] Chinese Canadians have a long history in British Columbia.

Chinese Canadian pioneers established businesses in trading companies, agricultural products distribution, grocery stores, laundries and restaurants. Some — for example, Mr. Roy Mah — even went into the publishing business. Some studied to invest in the real estate business and supermarkets. The families of H. Y. Louie are good examples. Besides, Dr. Milton Wong, Mr. King Wong and Mr. Tong Yuet are all suc- cessful entrepreneurs we are familiar with. More re- cently, Mr. Johnny Fong and Mr. John Shen are the winners of the B.C.

New–Canadian Entrepreneur Awards of the Ethno Business Council of British Co- lumbia established in 1988. In the sixties and the seventies more Chinese Cana- dian immigrants were moving to British Columbia. In 1968 the Hon. David Lam, former Lieutenant-Governor of B.C., who had a very successful career in real estate, founded the Hong Kong Merchants Association of Vancouver to foster the exchange of information about doing business in Canada. Its mandate is to promote multiculturalism and trade.

In 1981 Chinese Canadian–owned businesses in Chinatown joined together to advocate for the right to open for business on Sundays and holidays. Success in their advocacy encouraged them to work together to

MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 6245 form the Vancouver Chinatown Merchants Association in the same year. The association has since played the important role of bridging the Chinese Canadian busi- ness community and the government. In order to en- courage and promote business in the Chinatown area, the association created the Chinatown BIA Society. It has also developed the idea of a Chinatown night mar- ket, the first of its kind in North America.

This annual summer event provides a new and exciting shopping experience to many local British Columbians as well as tourists, attracting 600,000 to 700,000 visitors a year. A new wave of Chinese Canadian entrepreneurs arrived in the late eighties and early nineties. Chinese Canadians invested billions of dollars in British Co- lumbia's construction and business sectors. While the r e s t o f C a n a d a w a s i n r e c e s s i o n , B . C . r e g i s t e r e d i m - pressive growth in this period.

In 1989 we saw the es- tablishment of Sunbrite Business Association, which has been the organizer of the Sunbrite Lunar New Year Festival, the largest annual Chinese new year festival held outside China. Since 1992 the festival has become a major attraction in Vancouver. Over the past 12 years the event has attracted 1.4 million visitors and gener- ated $6 million worth of direct economic activities.

The association saw the hidden business opportunities cre- ated by the emerging demography and initiated the business development service program to assist new business immigrants to develop and expand their businesses in British Columbia. In 1995 the Chinese Entrepreneurs Association of Canada was formed and hosted the fourth World Chi- nese Entrepreneurs Convention in 1997 in Vancouver.

Its mission is to promote a national network for Chi- nese entrepreneurs and to nurture business relations within Canadian business communities while fostering the spirit and skill of entrepreneurs through global business networking. Recently it organized business delegations to China, Macao, Korea and Mexico, pro- moting business opportunities in B.C. and bringing foreign investment into the province. [1130] New business immigrants may not be able to recognize the business opportunities in B.C. They hesi- tate to develop their own business in the province be- cause of their lack of Canadian experience.

Clearly, there's a need to further bring the Canadian business people and business immigrants together to capitalize on these opportunities. Many business associations were formed to meet this need. They include the Can- ada China Business Association, the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce in British Columbia and the Richmond Asia Pacific Business Association, which assists indi- viduals and organizations interested in developing trade and commerce focus on developing social and commercial links with the Asia-Pacific region.

The networking opportunities provided by all the above-mentioned business associations have enabled many Chinese Canadian entrepreneurs to become in- creasingly successful in many different business sec- tors, including computer hardware and software, elec- tronic product design and manufacturing, biotechnol- ogy research and development, pharmaceutical manu- facturing, tourism, education, training and clean en- ergy. Their success has, in turn, helped build B.C.'s economy, creating employment and bringing in in- vestment.

Chinese Canadian entrepreneurs are indeed play- ing an important role in strengthening the economy of our province. I look forward to the debate on this mo- tion. P. Wong: Our province is blessed with a multicul- tural and diverse population that has enriched not only cultural celebrations but also many aspects of economic development in our province. Today in the lower mainland of British Columbia nearly 25 percent of the population is of Asian ethnic origin. They first came to the province as railway workers and labourers.

After a few generations, many are working at senior technical and professional levels in areas such as health, computers, engineering, teach- ing, the environment, legal, accounting and politics. We have MPs and MLAs and city councillors through- out the province who are culturally Asian. This is a reflection of true democracy and provision of equal opportunities for everyone, which is evident in every facet of the daily lives of all British Columbians.

Many new immigrants bring with them a wealth of international business contacts and experiences that are beneficial to the economic development of British Co- lumbia. It used to take many years of training to de- velop these kinds of skills and expertise, but now these valuable contacts and techniques are readily available throughout the province. Ultimately, this will make B.C. better equipped to deal with the globally competi- tive business environment. B.C. is strategically located on the Pacific Rim.

Our province has traditionally relied on exporting our re- source products to the U.S., including mining and tim- ber. Our tourism and many other service industries also rely significantly on the U.S. economy. The time of the new era also meant an era of Internet. Distances between nations are becoming shorter, and information flow and trade are becoming more expedi- ent and important. Given our geographic position, B.C. will benefit if we are able to take advantage of our loca- tion and the multitude of diverse and knowledgable workers and business people.

We have rich natural re- sources, some of the world's most breathtaking scenery, and mining and forestry products. B.C. is also a devel- opment centre of technology including computer soft- ware, environmental issues, health, fuel cells, wireless communications, pharmaceutical products, education and many others. We are able to sell and market many of these products to Asian countries for a handsome return that will give our province more dollars to the people and more tax revenue to finance our increasing health and education needs in the years to come. [1135] Trade is bilateral.

It also needs investment dollars to flourish. With more active trade activities with Asian countries, B.C. will be able to attract more international

6246 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, APRIL 28, 2003 investment that will provide more jobs to British Co- lumbians. B.C. needs to become not only an interna- tional maritime centre but also an international finan- cial centre that will bring international expertise to expand our equity and financing network, including venture capital opportunities for our developing indus- tries. I'm pleased that the Minister of Competition, Sci- ence and Enterprise and the Minister of Finance are jointly working towards these goals. In November 2001 our Premier made his first trip to Asia.

He recognized the important role of Chinese Ca- nadian entrepreneurs contributing to the B.C. econ- omy. His message was very clear: B.C. is open for business to every part of the world, including Asia. He has been working very hard to bring B.C. to the inter- national scene, promoting international trade and bringing more dollars for all British Columbians. Marketing B.C. during the Olympic bid is an im- portant step in the process to advertise B.C. to the world. Most business people will agree that we are on the right track. B.C. will once again become a leading province for international investment.

After the Olympic bid is announced on July 3 of this year, I'm confident that B.C. will become a centre of attraction for tourists. This will be a repeat case, similar to Expo 86. At that time all the provinces in Canada were suffering from economic recession, ex- cept B.C. This was partly because the international event brought so many tourists and business people to British Columbia — not just from Asia but also from around the world — to spend and to invest. This means more jobs for young people, our hospitality workers and many other people.

I anticipate that with the great leadership of the Premier and his government, B.C. will once again emerge from being a current have-not province to be- ing one of the wealthiest in the country. I fully support this motion. R. Nijjar: It's my pleasure to speak o n this motion for a variety of reasons, one being that I have worked closely with the Chinese Canadian community throughout my life before becoming an elected official. I actually worked for another elected official at the fed- eral level who was of Chinese descent. Through that affiliation, through that work, I made a lot of connec- tions.

I got to learn the Vancouver area, the lower mainland area and the Chinese community there. I know from my personal experience not only through that job, but from being born and raised in Vancouver…. Now I represent a riding that is 36 per- cent British Columbians of Chinese decent, so my link is very close. I actually enjoy the community very much because I think I share a lot of the overall values that the community does — a lot of hard work, goal- oriented, family- and work-focused, and self-reliance. That is a lesson not only for myself, but a lesson, I think, for all British Columbians. We take the assets.

We take the positives of new cultures, of different cul- tures, when they come here, and we then become that much better by taking the positives. In my dealings with the Chinese Canadian com- munity, I've been fortunate enough to work with or- ganizations like SUCCESS. SUCCESS is working very hard to take foreign accreditation to a higher level. There are too many Canadians of Chinese descent or even other immigrants coming with, say, engineering degrees, nursing degrees and a variety of different types of degrees.

They're professionals in their home countries who come here, and they don't get enough credential assessments there to allow them to work in the profession. They end up working in a job that is completely unrelated. [1140] I know that tomorrow there's an event between SUCCESS and the B.C. Chamber of Commerce. It's called the joint business skilled and professional immi- grants forum. I am attending, and I know the member for Burnaby North will also be there, and so will the Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Ser- vices.

We will be there not only to show them support but actually to work on solutions where even more Canadians of Chinese descent can participate fully, based on their education and their professional field, in the Canadian and British Columbia workforce. I had set a meeting between SUCCESS and mem- bers of the Chinese community with Minister Bond on this very issue. The member for Vancouver-Kensington and the member for Burnaby North both attended, as we were very concerned about the issue.

I think there's a real solution to be found here, as we work with asso- ciations that are independent from government, that needs to recognize the valuable, valuable asset we have. Really, to a large degree, the Chinese business community is untouched. It's a golden opportunity for us, as British Columbians, to benefit.

I've also set a meeting, actually, for the Minister of Competition, Science and Enterprise with members from SUCCESS on the very issue of increasing partici- pation in the workforce, whether it's young Chinese Canadians who have the entrepreneurial spirit or whether it's trying to link members of the Chinese Ca- nadian community that maybe have language barriers to the workforce — where they have the skills on many fronts, but it's just a language issue.

I believe one of my messages to the minister and to government has been, at least as the representative for Vancouver-Kingsway, that we are so fortunate to be linked to the Pacific Rim. We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to liaise and to do business and social interaction with Asian countries, especially when so many members from the Asian countries have now come to Canada and are Canadians. There is that link; there is that opportunity. It's a golden, untapped opportunity.

I don't think there's ever been a government in Brit- ish Columbia — I don't think there's ever been a gov- ernment in Canada — that has fully realized the valu- able asset we have and the extent that we can tap into it. One of the ways we need to do that, I believe — and my message is…. We as British Columbians cannot look at immigrant investors or the Chinese business community and say: "This is how we do business in

MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 6247 British Columbia. This is our style of communicating, this is our style of liaising, and now you should follow that style." When there are so many successful Chinese Cana- dian business people, when there are so many success- ful potential investors looking to invest in British Co- lumbia, our question should be: "What do we need to do to help you be successful?

How do we need to ad- just our way of communicating, our way of doing business, so that you can come here and feel comfort- able — know the process, know the procedures, know how to link, know how to move your products and be full partners in British Columbia?" That is our asset to do that. It's to our advantage, and I think as a govern- ment we're moving more and more towards that. We realize how important that is.

It is difficult and often it's hard to figure out exactly how to do that, but I think it's so important to work with community organizations like SUCCESS or Sun- brite Business Association, with our members of the Legislature who are well-linked in the Chinese Cana- dian community because of their Chinese heritage, and with the federal government that also has and has had Members of Parliament and ministers of state and sec- retaries of state of Chinese descent.

It's very easy as elected officials to talk about the statistics that support the great work the Chinese busi- ness community does per their population in British Columbia. Yes, we can rattle out these statistics and applaud them, because they do sound very good, but one of the things that I think is important to say in so- ciety is that there are so many valuable traits of the Chinese business community that we need to follow here, which we can learn from. [1145] Of course, when cultures interact, it's always give- and-take on both sides.

The British Columbia or Cana- dian way of doing business is a great example to this world, and of course, in many countries throughout the world they try to emulate being more North American. We have a lot to offer. Conversely, countries that are so successful in themselves have a lot to offer — especially in the lower mainland, where the business community is so strong and they have expanded outside of the historic China- town area, where I am closely linked. Now there's a major business district — basically, the whole city of Richmond — in Coquitlam and markets opening up there.

They are all completely independent Chinatowns unto themselves. We have to recognize there are untapped assets there, and it is not a completely homogeneous group. They are as vibrant and as colourful and as opinion- ated as any other group of business people. As immi- grants from China they have different associations. They come from different parts of China — you know, maybe Taiwan — and we need to understand the busi- ness practice. We need to understand what their con- nections are to British Columbia and to foster that.

I t 's al way s b e e n m y p l e as u re t o wo rk wi t h t he o r- ganizations in Chinatown and Richmond and through- out my riding. In fact, this weekend I was at the Sun- brite Business Association dinner, where I was a guest speaker. They were giving awards to young entrepre- neurs who had the best business plans in five different categories. It was a fantastic evening, and the awards weren't just going to those Canadians of Chinese de- scent. It was open to anyone from many of the colleges and universities across British Columbia.

There were some great projects out there on export, on services and on high-tech. With the mayor of Richmond, I had the pleasure of awarding these awards. Sunbrite and many of the business associations — RAPBA, whose dinner we're going to in two weeks — also do a lot to make connections within the Chinese business community itself. Those that get inside the community and see the success they're having realize how much potential there is and how much we outside of the community itself need to tap into that.

As an elected official, I hope to help in doing that — fostering the link between the community, the government and the Pacific Rim. K. Johnston: I'm certainly pleased to be able to rise today in support of the member for Burnaby North's motion. The member's motion recognizes the contribu- tion of the Chinese Canadian entrepreneur to our soci- ety in strengthening the economy of British Columbia and, in fact, this great nation. I would like to expand on his comments to cele- brate the contribution to the building of British Colum- bia and Canada by people from all corners of this world.

Chinese Canadian and all multicultural entre- preneurs have been the backbone of our historical growth and help make British Columbia part of this world economy. I think one of the most recognizable symbols of the historical importance of the Chinese Canadian entre- preneur is Vancouver's Chinatown. As it goes through a transformation today, it continues as a beacon of that entrepreneurial spirit. Almost 35 years ago I had the privilege of doing a term paper while at UBC on the importance of Vancouver's Chinatown to the local economy in that ancient time, and frankly, not much has changed.

It is still an important economic driver in Vancouver, and it is constantly coming up with inno- vative ways, such as the Chinatown night market, to draw business and to show ways to create new ways to do business. Many of us are familiar and have had the opportu- nity to meet with many prominent members of the Chinese Canadian business community. I myself had the enriching experience of being a member of the Richmond Asia Pacific Business Association when it first started. From that experience I can tell you I per- sonally learned many valuable lessons about how to do business and how to conduct business.

The Chinese Canadian business values of patience, relationship- building and taking a long-term view have added to my appreciation of how business should work. We are familiar with many high-profile Chinese Canadians in British Columbia, but it is the small busi-

6248 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, APRIL 28, 2003 ness entrepreneur who is the unsung hero of our econ- omy. We need entrepreneurs in this province who are willing to take the risks that are needed to move our province forward, especially in the new economy of technology and service. [1150] As the baby-boomers head off into the sunset years, we will be suffering in maintaining a skilled workforce. We must open up opportunities through a policy of immigration and making an attractive investment cli- mate.

In thinking about Chinese Canadian entrepreneurs and indeed entrepreneurs from all countries and back- grounds, I think about my own cul-de-sac that I live in, which I believe is a microcosm of British Columbia. I have six neighbours and just a tremendous diversity: an Indo-Canadian farmer, a Taiwanese golf course op- erator, a Scottish Canadian transportation worker, a German Canadian salesperson, a music teacher from Singapore and a lawyer born in Hong Kong. That really, really shows the tremendous diversity in our culture.

A few months ago I had the opportunity of walking around the riding of Vancouver-Fraserview and visit- ing over 175 businesses. Many of those businesses are operated by new arrivals to British Columbia. It under- scores the importance of keeping the doors open to our economy. The province of British Columbia, in part- nership with Canada, is doing its part. Investor pro- grams allow those motivated and talented people the opportunity to come to British Columbia to invest in and create jobs in British Columbia.

Prosperity in our future is dependent on it, especially in the high-priority areas of high-tech, health and life sciences, manufactur- ing and education. British Columbia is today a culturally diverse prov- ince. I am delighted to pay tribute to the past contribu- tion, the present contribution and certainly the future contribution of our Chinese Canadian entrepreneurs. They have been a big

part in making this a great prov- ince. I. Chong: I, too, rise in support of Motion 68 as proposed by the member for Burnaby North. I want to also thank all members who have spoken prior to me, who have raised all the very important associations and organizations that have been formed over a num- ber of years by Chinese Canadians. The population in Victoria is not as great in terms of Chinese Canadians as it is on the lower mainland. I think we have somewhere around 10,000 Chinese Ca- nadians in the greater Victoria area.

I don't profess to represent a riding that contains a large majority of Chi- nese Canadians, but I do note their accomplishments and their successes and their contribution to our com- munity. I w a n t t o s a y t h a t h e r e i n V i c t o r i a w e w e r e v e r y privileged to have His Honour the former Lieutenant- Governor David Lam be a part of our local community. I can tell you the Chinese community was extremely proud to have met with him on a number of occasions and to have enjoyed his presence at a number of Chi- nese organizations here in Victoria.

What I'm particularly proud of is the fact that we in Victoria have the oldest Chinatown in Canada and the second-oldest in North America, the first being estab- lished in San Francisco and the second, of course, here in Victoria. Even though we have a Chinatown that only boasts a block or two as opposed to many, many b l o c k s i n V a n c o u v e r a n d , i n f a c t , e v e n i n R i c h m o n d , ours certainly is one that we are very proud of. It has a huge heritage significance not just for Chinese Canadi- ans but for the entire community as a whole.

My grandfather arrived on this land, I think, in the early 1900s. I only know that because my father was born in 1917, and he was born a Canadian — or he was born in Canada. I can't say he was born a Canadian, because he was not given citizenship until many years later, after he had become an adult and had fathered some children. As a result of that, I do represent a Chi- nese Canadian born in British Columbia, a second- generation Chinese Canadian, which sometimes we don't come across as often. My mother was an immigrant. She arrived here in the 1950s from China, and very much I hear of t

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	H0428am-08
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	H0428am 08
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	7bd2e46f8ad23cf5e2ae8eef6b1367125059109c

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