British Columbia Hansard — Tuesday, February 24, 2015

20150224pm-Hansard-v20n4

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

Fourth Session, 40th Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (HANSARD) THE HONOURABLE LINDA REID, SPEAKER ISSN 0709- 1281 (Print) ISSN 1499-2175 (Online) Tuesday, February 24, 2015 Aft ernoon Sitting Volume 20, Number 4

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

Rich Coleman Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation ......................................................................................................... Hon. John Rustad Minister of Advanced Education ............................................................................................................................... Hon. Andrew Wilkinson Minister of Agriculture ........................................................................................................................................................ Hon.

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

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

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

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

Suzanne Anton Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation..............................................................................................Hon. Michelle Stilwell Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services ................................................................................................ Hon. Amrik Virk Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure ......................................................................................................................Hon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nanaimo Kwan, Jenny Wai Ching (NDP) ........................... Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Kyllo, Greg (BC Liberal) ........................................................................ Shuswap Lake, Hon. Dr. Terry (BC Liberal) ....................Kamloops–North Th ompson Larson, Linda (BC Liberal) .........................................Boundary-Similkameen Lee, Richard T. (BC Liberal) ......................................................Burnaby North Letnick, Hon.

Norm (BC Liberal) ..............................Kelowna–Lake Country Macdonald, Norm (NDP) ....................................Columbia River–Revelstoke McRae, Don (BC Liberal) ............................................................ Comox Valley Martin, John (BC Liberal) ..................................................................Chilliwack Morris, Mike (BC Liberal) ..................................... Prince George–Mackenzie Mungall, Michelle (NDP) ..........................................................Nelson-Creston Oakes, Hon.

Coralee (BC Liberal) .............................................Cariboo North Pimm, Pat (BC Liberal) .........................................................Peace River North Plecas, Dr. Darryl (BC Liberal) .............................................Abbotsford South Polak, Hon. Mary (BC Liberal) .............................................................. Langley Popham, Lana (NDP) ...................................................................Saanich South Ralston, Bruce (NDP) ................................................................ Surrey-Whalley Reid, Hon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Norm Macdonald Comox Valley.....................................................................................Don McRae Coquitlam–Burke Mountain .....................................................Douglas Horne Coquitlam-Maillardville........................................................... Selina Robinson Cowichan Valley ................................................................................ Bill Routley Delta North .........................................................................Wm.

Scott Hamilton Delta South...............................................................................Vicki Huntington Esquimalt–Royal Roads .....................................................Maurine Karagianis Fort Langley–Aldergrove ...................................................Hon. Rich Coleman Fraser-Nicola.................................................................................... Jackie Tegart Juan de Fuca .....................................................................................John Horgan Kamloops–North Th ompson ............................................ Hon. Dr.

Terry Lake Kamloops–South Th ompson ..................................................Hon. Todd Stone Kelowna–Lake Country ..................................................... Hon. Norm Letnick Kelowna-Mission .............................................................. Hon. Steve Th omson Kootenay East .......................................................................... Hon. Bill Bennett Kootenay West ............................................................................ Katrine Conroy Langley.......................................................................................Hon.

Mary Polak Maple Ridge–Mission ..................................................................... Marc Dalton Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows ........................................................ Dr. Doug Bing Nanaimo ........................................................................... Leonard Eugene Krog Nanaimo–North Cowichan ......................................................... Doug Routley Nechako Lakes ........................................................................ Hon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hon. Christy Clark Party Standings: BC Liberal 48; New Democratic 34; Independent 3

CONTENTS Tuesday, February 24, 2015 Aft ernoon Sitting Page Orders of the Day Budget Debate (continued) ..................................................................................................................................................... 6045 On the amendment (continued) Hon. S. Th omson B. Routley Hon. T. Stone Point of Privilege (Reservation of Right) ............................................................................................................................. 6054 B.

Routley Budget Debate (continued) ..................................................................................................................................................... 6054 On the amendment (continued) Hon. T. Stone M. Karagianis Hon. T. Wat A. Weaver Point of Privilege (Reservation of Right) ............................................................................................................................. 6064 A.

Weaver Budget Debate (continued) ..................................................................................................................................................... 6065 On the amendment (continued) A. Weaver Moira Stilwell L. Krog D. McRae S. Fraser J. Tegart On the main motion J. Tegart S. Chandra Herbert

TUESDAY , FEBRUARY 24, 2015 Th e House met at 1:32 p.m. [Madame Speaker in the chair.] Orders of the Day Hon. M. Polak: I call continued debate on the budget. Budget Debate (continued) On the amendment (continued). Hon. S. Th omson: I look forward to continuing my comments on Budget 2015. I’m wanting to comment about the benefi ts of this budget, as a start, to our region and to our community in Kelowna.

I’ d like to focus on some of the local accomplishments that speak to the great business climate we enjoy in Kelowna, one that has been enabled by a strong fi scal discipline, by the economic foundation that we put in place and by the commitment to the balanced budget. We have a great team in the Okanagan, with my col- league the MLA for Kelowna–Lake Country, the Minister of Agriculture, and the MLA for Westside-Kelowna, the Premier. We are really focused on continuing to build and strengthen the local economy in Kelowna.

Th at’s why the city of Kelowna has been honoured with an Open for Business Award for two years in a row and why Kelowna is the fastest-growing community in B.C., the fi ft h fast- est in Canada. The Small Business Roundtable distributes these awards annually to municipalities who demonstrate best practices. Kelowna helps make B.C. the most business- friendly jurisdiction in Canada. When it comes to Kelowna in particular, the city’s 2013 Open for Business noted a couple of positive themes.

First was a commitment to continuous improvement, and second was a team approach towards economic develop- ment that included business, educational institutions, governments, partnerships and non-profi ts. Th e 2014 award recognized the city for consulting its partners on services, programs and policy that would im- pact the business community.

Th at’s consistent with the provincial small business accord, which was established to help foster a progressive business culture. [1335] Kelowna has made signifi cant strategic capital invest- ments to revitalize its downtown and to continue to build partnerships to make the community more welcoming to business, young people, new Canadians and seniors. I’m really pleased to see the city recognized for the success in attracting and supporting small business and entrepreneurship in Kelowna. We’ve seen our profes- sional sector in Kelowna grow by 183 percent since 2008, nearly 10 percent of our workforce.

Our technology sec- tor is a big part of that, which is why the community is very excited about the Okanagan centre for innova- tion. We broke ground on this new facility at the end of October, and this will be a leading-edge technology cen- tre for our region. We want to continue to incubate local talent and in- novation and give technology entrepreneurs a head start in growing their business. We have seen tremendous lo- cal success stories, and we know there are more ahead.

Th is new centre and the work done there will help so- lidify Kelowna as one of the leading centres in techno- logical development and investment in B.C., along with Vancouver and Victoria. Th at’s incredible to im- agine, given the recent fi gures provided by Accelerate Okanagan, which show that our local technology sector contributed $1 billion to our regional economy in 2013. When we look at post-secondary, UBC Okanagan and Okanagan College’s estimated annual economic impact is more than $2 billion.

From the talented people they em- ploy to the research funding they earn to the building of campus infrastructure that creates jobs as well as learning opportunities for students, these two institutions contrib- ute so much to our community and to our economy. In creating so many jobs and opportunities, they help en- courage more people to consider living and working in our beautiful city. Our tremendous outdoor recreation opportunities also bring numerous visitors to Kelowna each year. Kelowna is a terrifi c year-round destination for tourists from all over the world.

Th is, combined with business growth and tourism…. [D. Horne in the chair.] Th e Kelowna International Airport set another record for passenger activity in 2014, up 6 percent over 2013. Th e airport exceeded its forecasted 1.6 million passen- ger mark one year ahead of schedule. It’s one of the top ten busiest airports in Canada and the third busiest in the province. Th at spells jobs and revenues for our lo- cal economy. I want to refl ect for a minute on how partnerships with other levels of government are really helping this process unfold.

A good example is our $11.6 million partnership with the federal government and the city of Kelowna on the fi nal phase of the John Hindle Drive extension pro- ject. The project consists of a two-lane roadway con- necting Highway 97 to Glenmore Road at the UBC Okanagan campus. It will also include the construction of a multi-use paved pathway for pedestrians and cyclists. Once complete, the extension of John Hindle Drive will improve traffi c fl ow and travel times by creating alternate access to the UBCO campus. Th ese measures will increase safety and effi ciency for commuters, pedes- 6045

British Columbia Debates6046 Tuesday, February 24, 2015 trians and cyclists. It will also relieve congestion and con- tribute to the long-term economic growth of the region. I also want to highlight investments in our community through the Bike B.C. program, a cost-sharing initiative between our government and local governments. Last year we provided $100,000 in Bike B.C. funding to sup- port the Ethel Street bike path in Kelowna, in my riding, and this year $460,000 in Bike B.C. funding supported two other projects to improve pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.

One project will see a separated bike path and bike lanes as part of the Lakeshore Avenue active transporta- tion corridor between DeHart Road and McClure Road in my riding. Th ese dollars continue to expand alternate transportation options for Kelowna residents and help build a healthier community. Finally, I’ d like to congratulate the city of Kelowna and its partners in reaching an agreement with CN Railway recently to acquire a discontinued portion of the rail line between Kelowna and Coldstream.

We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the local govern- ments and the community in seeing that vision realized. Th ere is signifi cant work to do in this regard, but we know that as a long-term vision, we want to see this pro- ject completed in our community, dedicating nearly 50 kilometres of rail corridor for recreation purposes, which will increase opportunities for healthy-living activities in communities along the corridor.

On the housing front, we’re pleased to work with the federal government, the city of Kelowna and other com- munity partners on the redevelopment of Pleasantvale Homes. [1340] We recently broke ground on these 50 units of aff ord- able seniors housing and 20 townhomes for families with low to moderate incomes, in Kelowna. Our government and the federal government are pro- viding a combined investment of more than $5.6 mil- lion and provided the land originally donated by the Pleasantvale Homes Society and the city of Kelowna.

Th e Society of Hope will manage and operate the develop- ment, which will enhance and increase aff ordable hous- ing options in our city. In many ways, our partnerships with other levels of government and community groups are impacting and benefi ting the community. A real example of this is the recent investment in trades-training facilities at Okanagan College, building capacity and opportunities for our students to meet the growing demands in the workforce. Th e community has really come forward in supporting this project.

Th e community has a commitment to raise $7 million to support the investment in the enhanced trades building, and I’ve been really pleased to see the level of support come forward from the community — from individual businesses, from groups in the commun- ity that are contributing to that campaign. Th ey are well on their way to meeting their goal. Very recently it was really gratifying to see Okanagan College Students Union come forward with a contribu- tion for that project.

Th ey see the real benefi ts of what that investment can provide for their learning experience and for their opportunities at Okanagan College. “ Aft er supporting the centre of excellence at Penticton campus a few years ago, seeing how that building came together and the impact that it has had for students as a place to grow and succeed, ” that really inspired those groups to get behind this project. Th ose are words from Chelsea Grisch, who is the executive chairperson of the Okanagan College Students Union.

Jim Hamilton, who is the current college president, added: “We are very proud and appreciative of the fact that our students have chosen to invest in the future of their college. Th eir action demonstrates the leadership on their part and confi rms the commitment to providing the best possible environment to support student learning. ” It’s really gratifying to see the level of support for these kinds of investments in our community — these kinds of investments, along with investments like the capital investment in the Interior heart and surgical centre at Kelowna General Hospital.

Th ese large capital projects are investments in Kelowna’s future, creating jobs in the construction phase and, as well, when these facilities are up and running and providing those very, very import- ant services and benefi ts to the citizens in our community. Th eir training…. Deputy Speaker: Minister of Citizens’ Services. Hon. A. Virk: I seek leave to make an introduction. Leave granted. Introductions by Members Hon. A.

Virk: I’ d like to take this opportunity to wel- come a class from Pacifi c Academy, which was just in my offi ce a few minutes ago, up here learning about gov- ernment — in fact, my wife and I spent Valentine’s even- ing in the auditorium at their school — and the teacher, Mr. Wirtz. Th e second class is going to come later on with Mrs. Claudia Peterson. Th ey brought 28 students and a doz- en parent chaperones, who are joining us today to learn about the government. Would the House please make them feel welcome. Debate Continued Hon. S.

Th omson: I was just talking about the bene- fi ts that a strong fi scal discipline, a balanced budget and a strong economic foundation bring to our communities.

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, February 24, 2015 6047 Th is is providing, as I said, the jobs, the services for our communities, the training for our young people for the jobs of tomorrow and improving health care for our pa- tients and families in our region. Kelowna and its residents have a very bright future ahead. I know that they are pleased to see the budget, the fi scal discipline that’s in place. We look forward to continuing to work as a team in the Okanagan and con- tinuing to build and grow the economy in the Okanagan.

I did want to comment a little bit on the budget about the ministry, the budget with respect to our ministry. Th e Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is really about innovation, dedicated work by the ministry, about getting to yes. When we say yes we unlock private sector investments that are the backbone of our economy. Th is is how you grow the economy ver- sus growing the government. [1345] Th e Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is tasked with balancing economic develop- ment while ensuring environmental sustainability.

Th is integrated approach allows us to take a one-project, one-process approach, which benefi ts all stakeholders. It is this change that has allowed us to improve permit- ting times while we ensure we continue to consult with First Nation partners. We, as well as the voters of British Columbia, understand that we need permits to be pro- cessed in a timely manner in order to enable economic development. Th is government knows that you grow the economy by working with and supporting the private sector while ensuring that B.C. ’s resources are providing jobs and tax revenues for today and in the future.

Th rough this gov- ernment’s approach and partnership with the forest in- dustry, we have helped turn this industry from a sunset industry into a sunrise industry over the past decade. Th e results of the focus on the fundamentals are clear. In 2014 forest product exports totalled $12.4 billion, representing 35 percent of all B.C. exports and a stag- gering increase of 63 percent since the 2009 downturn. Th e future continues to look bright. Over the next three years we’re forecasting direct forest revenues to rise from $757 million today to $907 million in 2018.

Th is means more money to support vital services that British Columbians have come to rely on. However, we know that for forestry to remain a strong economic contributor, we need to continue to have poli- cies that support investment. As the Minister of Finance mentioned in the budget speech, the new renminbi hub will help B.C. companies gain a further edge in China. I applaud the leadership of the Finance Minister and others who have worked to bring this hub to British Columbia and to Canada so that our forest industry and other businesses can benefi t from the exchange in work- ing with this hub.

As he noted in the budget speech, applied more broad- ly, a 3 percent benefi t on the $1.8 billion worth of wood product sales to China in 2014 would equal $54 million, moneys that the industry can put to work as it becomes more productive and more competitive. Again, I want to applaud and thank the Finance Minister and others for their leadership in bringing this initiative here to British Columbia. Our government’s focus on building diversifi ed mar- kets in China has served British Columbians well. When the U.S. housing market crashed, the growing Chinese market helped keep B.C. mills open.

Of course, in 2003 the soft wood lumber exports to China totalled $69 mil- lion and have increased 20-fold, to $1.43 billion in 2014. Now that the U.S. housing market is recovering, we have strongholds in the U.S. and China, and we will continue to focus on growing Asia markets. Just as B.C. needs a diversifi ed economy, the B.C. for- est sector also needs diversifi ed markets. We’re world-re- nowned for leading forest products and our high-quality wood products.

To keep us globally competitive, as men- tioned in the throne speech, my ministry will be work- ing with the industry on a forest sector competitiveness strategy. Later in this session I also expect to be able to intro- duce amendments to the Forest Act that will help im- plement some of the recommendations from the B.C. Timber Sales eff ectiveness review — again, benefi ting the industry and making more fi bre available to the B.C. industry.

B.C. forest companies are among some of the strongest in the world and support upwards of 60,000 direct jobs in British Columbia and 85,000 indirect jobs in British Columbia that drive 40 percent of B.C. ’s regional econ- omies. We also have some very exciting initiatives coming, some initiatives ahead of us that I’m looking forward to. As you will note in the mandate letter that I had with this ministry, I’m looking forward to the full implemen- tation of ecosystem-based management in the Great Bear rainforest within the next few months.

Working with the forest industry, environmental groups and the area’s First Nations, full implementation will see increased environ- mental protection while providing economic activity and certainty to support jobs and economic activity for the people and the First Nations that live in that area. [1350] A very, very important initiative and one that we are working diligently across the ministry and across minis- tries to complete the process and to be able to fully imple- ment that very, very important agreement. We’re also continuing to implement the cumulative ef- fects framework.

By looking at all resource development activity in a given geographic area, decision-makers can make better-informed decisions. We know we need to continue to develop B.C. ’s natural resources in an en- vironmentally sustainable manner. Th is framework will

British Columbia Debates6048 Tuesday, February 24, 2015 help us continue to do that, to make lasting, durable de- cisions and fully informed decisions. I’m also pleased that Budget 2015 provides $22 mil- lion over three years to my ministry to support imple- mentation of the Water Sustainability Act and to be able to move that very, very important piece of legislation for- ward into implementation.

Another key element in the budget — something that I’m very proud of and am going to be looking forward to completing and formalizing in the very short term — is, eff ective April 1, to be able to provide the revenue from the sale of fi shing licences, which will be redirected to the Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. to enable them to take on more conservation projects and management in the fi shery sector. We project that this will be an addi- tional $10 million to the society over the next three years.

We’re currently fi nalizing the negotiations with the so- ciety to meet that time commitment, this platform com- mitment, by April 1. Th e Freshwater Fisheries Society, I think, as people know, has been a very, very successful model, a successful initiative in growing and supporting freshwater fi shing in British Columbia. We look forward to completing this platform commitment and providing those additional revenues to the society.

I’m also of the view that the model that we have de- veloped here with the Freshwater Fisheries Society is something that we are looking forward to and should work with in terms of wildlife management in British Columbia as well. I think the model provides a basis on which to engage and to enhance management here in British Columbia. We look forward to initiating those discussions. Budget 2015 leverages our strengths, builds on our successes and guards against the impact of unforeseen events. It is a balanced budget over the next three years.

It has a plan in place to reduce direct operating debt by more than 50 percent over the term of the fi scal plan. British Columbians should be proud that the fi nancial stewardship of this province is in good hands. I’m pleased to support Budget 2015 — balanced, prudent and a solid foundation for the future. B. Routley: Th ere’s no question that budgets are about choices. Th is government’s budget will make the poor and the middle class pay, while the rich will just play. It’s just another B.C. Liberal jiggery-pokery plan. Th e details of this will be revealed. Interjections. B. Routley: Don’t get too excited.

Th e details of this jiggery-pokery plan will most cer- tainly be revealed. Th ose living on disability benefi ts, the seniors, the poor and the middle class are going to pay more in fees and increases. Oh, I’ve listened to the minister. Th e Finance Minister says that they had this plan all along: “It’s old news. Th ere was a plan to pay the rich back the planned $236 mil- lion.

It’s just old news, and we should just not look at that. ” Well, I want to take a minute to look at what the Broadbent Institute came up with in its recent report on the richest people in British Columbia: “Th e richest 10 percent of B.C. families have more than half of the prov- ince’s wealth. ” [1355] Now, let that set in for a moment and think about this. Th is government made a conscious choice to actually take $236 million and give it to the richest people in British Columbia.

Th ese richest 10 percent of B.C. families al- ready have more than half of the province’s wealth, ac- cording to the Broadbent Institute. In contrast, the bottom half of the province has — get this — just 3 percent. Just 3 percent of the wealth. Th at gives B.C. the highest rate of wealth inequality in the country. In B.C. the richest 10 percent of families control 56 percent of the province’s wealth, compared to 48 per- cent for the whole country. In all of Canada it’s on aver- age 48 percent, but in British Columbia it’s 56 percent.

Here’s where the huge wealth gap between the poorest B.C. families and the richest really strikes me right in the heart. I do believe that some of the Liberal folks in this House have a heart in there ticking away somewhere. I’m sure of it. I’m absolutely convinced. Th ere is a huge wealth gap between the poorest B.C. families and the richest. Th e richest 10 percent of B.C. families have a median net worth of $2 million. In con- trast, the poorest 10 percent of families have a median net worth that is negative $10,000 — meaning they have more debts than assets.

Again, when you think about this, this is really all about benefi ts for the rich. One Liberal jiggery-pokery plan aft er another, and there is a pattern. It’s a pattern. Th ink about the corporate tax cuts, and what did we hear in this House? We were going to give corporate tax cuts, and the trickle down…. Boy, you better run for your rain cap and rain gear. It was going to be trickling down so fast, we would just have cash fl owing in the door. What has really happened? Th e cash hasn’t rolled in the door.

Recently the federal Minister of Finance said that cor- porations in Canada are sitting on $600 billion worth of cash, and it’s not being reinvested. Th at is a real issue and a real problem in British Columbia. Th is robbing from the poor and middle class to give to the richest 2 percent of British Columbians…. Again, think about it: a million- aire, who really doesn’t need the tax break. I’m sure that we didn’t have millionaires lining up out the door here asking, with a tin cup: “Could you give us a little help here? We really are struggling. ” No, that didn’t happen. Th ose richest 2 percent….

If you’re a millionaire, you got handed a $17,000 cheque by this B.C. Liberal budget. How many British Columbians understand that? I’m here to shine a light in

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, February 24, 2015 6049 those dark places where this is actually going on. We’re choosing to take this money and give it to the richest British Columbians. At the same time, we’ve got people living on disability that haven’t had an increase in seven years, eight years, going on. It’s absolutely scandalous when you think about it. It’s not good enough that they give corporate tax breaks. Oh, they just came up with a new water act, and they’re here to tell you that they’re going to charge $2.25 for a million litres of water. Well, we’re really gouging them now. Isn’t this terrible?

We’re being so mean to those people that are making all the cash. Th e forest corporations with the dead pine beetle — we need to give them a break. We need to give them 25 cents a cubic metre. At one point, 60 percent of the for- ests of British Columbia that were harvested — 60 per- cent — was being taken for 25 cents a cubic metre. Th en some of them overcut, and there was a fi ne. Th e minister said: “Oh well, these rich corporations…. ” He just gave a report. Th ey’re doing so well. [1400] We’re talking about a supercycle, but they’re only sup- posed to cut one-third healthy spruce and pine.

Th ey’re supposed to be on, like, two-thirds dead pine, but they cut a little more than that. Th ey might have burned some of the pine and kept some of the healthy stuff in larger numbers. But we’re watching them. Oh, we’re watching them now. We wrote them a letter: “We’re going to keep an eye on you now, and don’t do it again. ” Th ere was a big fi ne involved, but just weeks before the election last time around, when they were busy running around talking about LNG…. “Oh, LNG is going to be good for B.C. ” Remember? LNG all the time. Now: “Oh, it’s just a chance.

Th ings have changed. ” We don’t hear so much about LNG anymore, but it’s still there. Th e fact is that they’re giving cold, hard cash to the richest people in British Columbia, which I just talked about. Y et the folks struggling at the bottom of the ladder are not getting a break at all when it comes to this kind of thing. Sure, they did the little thing, and we appreci- ate that. Th at’s good for the moms.

Th ey were clawing back, and speaker aft er speaker on this side of this House talked to this government about how irrational it was and how mean-spirited to claw back money from people that were at the bottom rung of the ladder. Th ey were getting a little money for their kids. Th is time around they said, “Oh well, we’ve got a little spare change, ” so there’s this little tiny bag of cash for the folks that really need it. And there’s this great big bag of cash for the rich and all their corporate friends and the folks that come wandering in and out of their doors that we hear about.

It isn’t the richest people that need a break. Y et, when you think about it, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a mil- lionaire or if you’re trying to live on low income or dis- ability or unemployment. Y our MSP has gone up since 2001 by 100 percent. What has happened with Hydro? Hydro’s gone up 74 percent. What has that been doing? At the same time this government reaches into the Hydro cookie jar and pulls out the cash and stuff s it in their so-called…. “Oh, we bal- anced the budget.

Didn’t we do well?” We took millions out of the Hydro cash drawer and stuff ed it into general revenue, and then we took money from ICBC. Now when the good folks go down to drive their car to McDonald’s or maybe do pizza delivery…. Th ey’ve got a 44 percent increase in their ICBC rates so that they could reach into the cookie jar again and pull the cash out and give it to their rich friends — pile, lavish the cash onto their rich friends at the same time as they’re taking money from ordinary British Columbians, people living on disability. Now, ferry fares.

This government says they can’t change their mind: “Oh, we promised this 2 percent…. We were going to give them the money back. It’s only 2 percent. It’s only $236 million. And we can’t change our mind. Oh, it’s old news. It was already decided. ” Well, I’m glad the minister is here for this. It’s inter- esting, you know. “Oh, we’ve sold B.C. Ferries, and we don’t have any say whatsoever. ” But as soon as the word got out that B.C. Ferries, this independent corporation, said: “Oh, you know what? We’ve been thinking about it, and we’re going to sell Horseshoe Bay terminal…. ” Boy, that didn’t last a weekend.

All of a sudden the phone call came through from the minister. Oh, they don’t intervene. Th ey don’t intervene in the politics. Th ese are all independent bodies. Th ey don’t intervene at all. But there it was on the front page of the paper, intervening, saying: “No, that’s not going to happen. Not on my watch. ” There seems to be an imbalance here. Sometimes they say: “When it’s convenient. ” And this is the jiggery- pokery that I talk about, by the way. Th is is the jiggery- pokery. Th ey say sometimes, when it’s convenient for them….

Th ey pull it out of their bag of tricks, and they say: “Oh, we can’t do anything. We’re so hamstrung. It’s not in our ability to do anything. ” But boy, when it’s pol- itically expedient, they pull out the big hammer, the big club, and they go and have their way with those boys, even in the ferry disputes and issues. [1405] When they decide it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. Th at’s the problem. Th ere’s so much missing for the good people of the Cowichan Valley. I heard some- body say that the Premier was able to focus in like a laser beam of light on what was needed.

I’ve got a whole list right here of things that I’ll hope that people will listen to, specifi cally in the Cowichan Valley. Because I ended up in the hospital myself, I know something about the needs of the good people of the Cowichan Valley. Th ey’ve been telling me that they need a new hospital — the folks, certainly the doctors, the

British Columbia Debates6050 Tuesday, February 24, 2015 people in health care, CVRD. Th ey’re all saving up for a new hospital. Th ey tell me about some of the issues that are critical in the Cowichan Valley. We have issues that are unique with respect to health care issues in the Cowichan Valley. We have a population of more than 80,000 people, when you take into account the CVRD area. About 8,000 of them are over age 65. More than 6,000 of them are over the age of 75. Since 2001 the population aged 75 years to 84 years has increased by 15 percent, so the baby boom group is upon us.

Th e population aged 85 and over has increased by 43 percent, so you can imagine what that means at the hospital. In the Cowichan Valley the aging population is increasing at a much faster rate than in either the overall VIHA region or in the province as a whole. Th e Cowichan Valley has the province’s highest per- capita rate for people with diagnosed physical, mental and social needs challenges. Currently in the Cowichan Valley there are many serious health care needs. Th ere is a high need for additional residential care beds for frail seniors, and what does this government do?

It’s $236 mil- lion for the richest folks that really don’t need the cash, and frail seniors can’t get the care beds. All of the publically funded resident care facilities in the Cowichan Valley are full and have been for more than eight years. Th ere is a high need for additional transition- al care beds. Th e Cowichan District Hospital acute care beds are full of seniors awaiting long-term care place- ments or transitional care placements. Th e Cairnsmore Place transitional care beds are full of seniors awaiting long-term care placements.

Th ere is a high need for dementia care, Gentlecare pro- grams, and services and supports. Many seniors with de- mentia who need Gentlecare cannot access it at all and are instead chemically sedated and physically restrained. A t Cowichan District Hospital more than half of the psychiatry in-patient beds are regularly occupied by sen- iors waiting for long-term-care placement. Cowichan District Hospital is chronically at OCP -5 status, which is over their limit for…. It’s just clogged.

I’ve been in a bed in the hall myself and know what it’s like when you hear the speaker come on and they tell you that they’re at OCP-5 status. Th ere’s a high need for respite care beds and service. Th ere are only eight such beds in the entire community. Hundreds of Cowichan Valley families currently need these supports. Th ere is a high need for caregiver support services and programs. Burned-out caregivers — profes- sionals, as well as family members and friends — are an increasing percentage of emergency room patients and mental health clinic patients. Th ere is a need for hospice and palliative care beds.

I do note with some happiness that there is at least going to be some eff ort made by the government to do some- thing more for hospice. Now, I’ll be waiting to see if that’s going to apply in all communities evenly throughout B.C. I would hope so. But I do note that there are going to be some increases. Th at’s an area where I know they need it desperately — hospice and palliative care beds. [1410] Th ere is a high for increased adult care programs and services, a high need for an incontinence management clinic and there is a high need for more eff ective and ef- fi cient chronic care management.

Th ere is a high need for a fall prevention program and a high need for doctors to make house calls and deliver services to long-term-care facilities. I’m sure that is true all over British Columbia. Th ere is a high need for more publicly funded speech- language pathology services for all ages. Th ere is a high need for publicly funded, locally available out-patient rehabilitation therapy services, physiotherapy, occupa- tional therapy, speech-language therapy. Th ere is a high need for better, faster and more locally available services for people on autism spectrum disorder.

Aft er reading that list, can the folks in this House real- ly say that the best thing that we could do with an extra $236 million is give it to the people in the top 10 percent of British Columbians, who own 56 percent of the wealth of this province? Th at’s the best you guys can think of to do with that money. To me, it’s more than shameful. It’s sad. It’s just wrong. I want to turn now to our economy and look at some of what’s happening there. Wages in B.C. are falling or are stagnant, and young people fi nd it hard to get good jobs here.

In spite of all the commercials during the hockey game — “jobs, jobs, jobs” — the reality is a whole lot diff erent. Let’s go to Houston. Let’s go to any of the forest com- munities that have been devastated by their primary employer shutting down and tell us about how the di- versifi ed economy is working. Sure, it’s more diversifi ed than in the past. Th ere have been local communities working on that. I support the need for moving to more diversifi ed. Th is government is so disingenuous. All they talked about for years and years was LNG, LNG. Oh, we were going to be absolutely rescued by LNG.

When the crash came, and suddenly prices for oil and gas plummeted — I’m going to talk some more about that if I have time in a minute — now not so much. Th ey don’t want to talk about it. In forestry, it’s good that we’ve expanded markets in China. I congratulate the minister and the government for their eff orts there. However, we’ve also seen an in- crease of more than 500 percent of the export of raw logs, while more and more B.C. mills close. I was so disheartened to hear that 206 forestry mills have closed from 2001 to 2013.

Having come from one of those mills — I used to work at the Y oubou mill — I still remember all those guys. When I started there, there were 600 employees, back in 1970. By the time it closed in the early 2000s, it was down to 240 people. Still, those

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, February 24, 2015 6051 folks were devastated. Th e guys that were 55 and older, a lot of them had a very diffi cult time making any kind of a transition. When I look at what’s happened to our B.C. value- added sector, it’s been decimated. Th is government can talk a good talk about “oh yeah, we care so much about diversity. ” But I happen to know that those folks, when they needed you — whether it was on the soft wood lum- ber fi le and they were getting hammered along with the majors — they got thrown under the bus.

Th e value-added sector has been decimated, and gov- ernment has no strategy to bring it back. I’m going watch with interest to see if this government has any concern at all in defending and fi ghting for the value-added industry. Th e folks that don’t have tenure, that don’t have 25-cent timber, are you going to really do something for them? Or are you going to let them continue to be hammered… Deputy Speaker: Th rough the Chair, please. B. Routley: …as a result of the soft wood lumber deal? Anyway, our forests represent more than a quarter-tril- lion asset owned by the people of British Columbia.

Y et under the B.C. Liberals, in this budget, we get less and less — less jobs, less revenue out of every tree. [1415] Y ou look at Quebec, which gets three times the num- ber of jobs out of every tree. Ontario gets four times the jobs out of every tree. Th ose are the facts. Th ere’s no question that shipping logs overseas…. I watched, as profitable mills…. I think specifically of TimberWest. Those mills were profitable mills. Now, could they make more money exporting the logs? Y ou bet your life. Y ou bet your bippy, as they say.

Y ou could actually sell those logs for more on the export market than you could to just export them. How do you think it felt for those guys to go stand down at the end of the wharf and watch their jobs going overseas? Y ou have to walk a mile in those guys’ shoes to understand it, and I get it. I stood there with those fellas, watching truckload aft er truckload shipped out — fi rst Y oubou and then at Elk Falls.

Th e laws in British Columbia…. “Oh, they’re so re- strictive, ” say some people on the other side of the log export argument. “It’s just terrible that they have to put their logs up on the export market thing. ” Y ou know, if you shut down enough mills, there is going to be no- body left to argue that the logs should stay here in British Columbia. That’s what this government has done — stand by while 206 forestry mills have closed. Now: “Oh yeah, they’re surplus to our needs. ” Th at’s a complicated thing to fi gure out, isn’t it? I’m not the best mathematician in the world, but I got that one fi gured out.

If you shut down enough mills, boy, those logs are surplus to your needs. No question about it. Community aft er community now has to stand at the dock and watch their logs and their jobs exported overseas. Half of the province’s independent value-added wood processors have gone out of business just since 2002. Th e ones that did survive defi nitely need some help from gov- ernment, whether it’s dealing with access to fi bre or the issue of soft wood lumber. Th at does aff ect the budget of British Columbia.

I want to turn now to the “jobs, jobs, jobs” commitment and how many British Columbians have been told that getting a job is their path out of poverty. Unfortunately, the sad truth is that thousands of full-time workers are toiling at $10.25 an hour, the current minimum wage. Th ey fi nd themselves thousands of dollars short of reach- ing even the B.C. poverty line. Th ey may even have only part-time work. Many are underemployed. Th ey might have real potential and can’t get a break to get ahead. Every day it gets worse. Th eir wage is stagnant, but the cost of living keeps going up.

Of course, with this Liberal plan, they’re going to go and reach into their pockets some more with hydro increas- es, ICBC, on and on, fees and other costs increasing. It keeps getting worse. B.C. minimum wage is determined by the provincial government on an ad hoc basis. Th e last increase was years ago, and that only happened aft er nearly a decade- long fi ght by the B.C. labour movement and the pub- lic. B.C. workers are again falling behind, and this B.C. budget will hurt these workers even more. Th ere are more than 120,000 British Columbians earn- ing minimum wage.

Th e picture of a minimum-wage worker in B.C. is probably diff erent than you would ex- pect and most people would expect. Th ey aren’t all teen- agers living in their parents’ basements or working for pocket money. Th ey are mothers and fathers, students, seniors. In fact, 47 percent are older than 25. Sixty-three percent of people working for minimum wage are women, and 8 percent are older than 55. In other words, there are many minimum-wage workers who are trying to support fam- ilies or who don’t have the ability to retire.

Just how does this Liberal government think that they can aff ord the increases to hydro and ICBC and all the other fees that this government has now imposed on them while this government focuses like a laser beam of light on a $236 million tax break for the highest 2 per- cent of wage earners in British Columbia? Wow. What a jiggery-pokery plan that is. [1420] What about regular folks who are being crushed by these premiums and hydro rates — and on and on it goes? Not one word in the budget speech that will really help to make things better for regular people in the Cowichan Valley.

What about the people struggling on minimum wage or disability benefi ts or the unemployed or under- employed? Th ey tell me they are struggling just to pay

British Columbia Debates6052 Tuesday, February 24, 2015 rent and food and hydro, yet the costs keep going up. Y ou know, I spoke to a fellow. I think more MLAs need to do this. If you’re not doing it, you need to be doing it. I sat down with a fellow who said that he chose to eat rather than pay for oil and have heat. He asked me in that cold spell back in November or December: “Do I really have to shiver and shake in my cold room and then get sick enough to end up in the emergency room or in the hospital to get warmed up and get some help from this government?” Is that what they have to do?

He said to tell the people in this Legislature that you have no idea what it feels like to lose your dignity. Th is one fellow was a shipwright. He had good employment until he had the disability that now has him living on $906 a month. He said that lining up and being treated the way he’s treated is just totally unacceptable to him. He said how he felt totally disrespected going to see the folks that should be there to help you. As people with disabilities age, they are finding it tougher and tougher to survive. Why, in this land of plenty, does a government treat folks who are living on disability this way?

I wonder out loud: really, do the Liberals tell people in their constituency who are strug- gling on a disability pension…? Do you really tell them about your wonderful jobs pro- gram, or do you tell them that the corporate tax breaks will trickle down soon? Do you tell them that the LNG windfall is going to be good days ahead — good days ahead when the LNG prosperity fund is full and when the billions and trillions are there? It will be good times then. Is that the story? Is that really the story, that it’ll be good times then?

I sure hope that we in British Columbia can do a better job of treating our poor, our folks living on disability…. It defi nitely breaks my heart to listen to them, to hear their stories, to have a little lady come into my offi ce and tell me that her husband is now sick and her trailer is falling down around them. She doesn’t know what she is going to do. Th ey’re living on a disability pension. I guess these Liberals would just tell them: “Well, these folks need their $236 million break. Th ese poor folks that are millionaires — they need a break too. ” At the end of the day, that’s just not good enough. Hon.

T. Stone: It certainly is a pleasure, as always, to rise in this House to speak in support of Budget 2015. I’ve got a range of thoughts that I’m going to share today, some of which are focused more on my constituency, Kamloops–South Th ompson. Others will be more spe- cifi cally focused to the budget itself. I do want to say, in listening to the former mem- ber, the member for Cowichan Valley, that this is why British Columbians deem the New Democratic Party to be so completely irrelevant in today’s politics in British Columbia.

For that member to stand in this House and to impugn the integrity of every other member in this House, to suggest that members on this side have no heart, to suggest that there is some moral high ground that can only be occupied by the members of the New Democratic Party, to think that uttering “jiggery-pokery” every other sentence is actually funny…. Interjections. [1425] Hon. T. Stone: It’s not funny, hon. Member. It’s actually sad. It’s very sad. He sits there, and the hon. member criti- cizes this government across the board. We understand that opposition is opposition.

But to sit there and make these kinds of accusations, the kinds of accusations that he just made about our commitment to supporting per- sons with disabilities, for example…. Th ere is no accident that we have three persons with disabilities in our caucus that support this government. Th at’s no accident. For the members opposite to sit there and impugn the integrity of everyone on this side of the House and to do so under the guise of being a man of the people, a man of faith, I fi nd outrageous — absolute- ly outrageous. Th ere are members in this House that…. We are all here for the same intentions.

We are all here to serve the people of British Columbia. As long as mem- bers opposite, like the member for Cowichan Valley, con- tinue to utter that sheer nonsense, the New Democratic Party will continue to be irrelevant to the people of British Columbia. I would like to now take a moment to acknowledge my family. I am well supported, as I said in my throne speech recently. I’ve got a loving wife at home, of 15 years — we’ll be celebrating our 15th anniversary this year — Chantelle. While I am not able to give my family quantity in time these days, we do focus on quality.

Just this last Sunday we enjoyed fantastic ski conditions up at Sun Peaks. My kids are ten, eight and fi ve. Certainly, I couldn’t do what I am doing without the support of my family at home. I also want to acknowledge my mom and dad. Th ey’re probably amongst the 12 people that are watching the legislative channel right now. If they are, shame on them. They should be out doing something else with their young lives. Hello to my mom and dad. Th ey’re in good health, and they’re a big support to my wife, Chantelle, and my little girls. I also want to thank my constituency assistants, Maryanne and Pat.

Th ey hold down the fort at home. It’s busy being an MLA. It’s busy being a minister. Oft en ministerial responsibilities take you away from your con- stituency. It’s important to have good people on the home front looking aft er taking care of business on your behalf. I also want to acknowledge my seat mate from Kamloops, the member for Kamloops–North Th ompson, the Minister of Health. It’s a pleasure serving the people of Kamloops and the Th ompson valleys with the member

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, February 24, 2015 6053 for Kamloops–North Th ompson. We really do approach it — as I know our colleagues in Surrey do and as our colleagues in Kelowna, for example, do — from a team Kamloops perspective. So thank you to him and, indeed, to the people of Kamloops. It is an honour to represent them here in the Legislature. Kamloops is a great city, fi lled with great people. Th e population is now over 85,000. I am so privileged to work with so many fi ne people in and around the community.

Th e First Nations in the city and in the region — we are working very well together on a number of fronts. Th e partnership and the relationship is getting stronger and stronger all the time. Th ose are the Tk’ emlúps Indian Band, Skeetchestn, Whispering Pines, Neskonlith, Little Shuswap and Adams Lake. I want to acknowledge the hard work of the mayor of Kamloops, Peter Milobar, and his council, as well as the mayor of Chase, Rick Berrigan, and his council, the Th ompson-Nicola regional district. I’m very proud to represent what is now a university city.

Th e university that we have in Kamloops, Th ompson Rivers University, now has over 12,000 students on cam- pus in Kamloops. And 2,000 of those students, a little over 2,000, are actually international students from over 85 countries around the world — mostly from China but, again, over 85 countries. So many other organizations in Kamloops that it’s a privilege to work with, all of which punch way above their weight.

I oft en reference here the eff orts of our lo- cal United Way, the Kamloops Food Bank, the Kamloops Brain Injury Association, the chamber of commerce, Venture Kamloops, and there are so many other organ- izations that do such a fi ne job representing the people of Kamloops. [1430] Th e Kamloops economy today is very strong. We have unemployment in the low single digits, approximately 7 percent. It fl uctuates a little bit up and down each month, but very low unemployment in Kamloops, and it’s been steadily getting better and better and better over the last ten years.

We only have to go back to the late 1990s and early 2000s, and unemployment in Kamloops was well into the double digits — 14, 15 and, in some cases, 16 percent. Business confi dence in Kamloops is growing, despite global economic concerns. Th e city of Kamloops con- fi rmed that 44 business licences were issued in January of this year. That’s a 15 percent increase over 2014. Kamloops also experienced a ten-year high in building construction values in 2014, reaching a total of $190.9 million, including an 18 percent increase in residential permit values in the year.

Now, Kamloops’ location in the B.C. interior has served the region very well economically. Historically, natural resource industries have steered the area’s econ- omy. While forestry and mining remain core sectors, Kamloops has evolved to become a much more diversi- fi ed economy. Back in the 1890s, years of an early mining boom, numerous rail lines were built to service mines in boom towns across the region. Today Kamloops intersects both the CN rail line and the CP rail line, and in fact, is only one of two cities in all of Canada that is serviced by both railways.

Since the 1950s Kamloops has become a highway hub. It is uniquely situated at the intersection of western Canada’s four major highways: the Coquihalla, the Trans- Canada, the Y ellowhead and Highway 97. Th is has led to Kamloops becoming a very important centre for trans- portation and logistics and trucking. Since the 1980s tourism has greatly expanded. Kamloops has become an important stopover point for independent travellers and bus tour companies driving between the Lower Mainland and the beautiful Rocky Mountains.

Kamloops is a gateway to high-quality out- door recreation and adventure opportunities, like nearby Sun Peaks and Harper Mountain for downhill skiing and Stake Lake for cross-country skiing. [R. Chouhan in the chair.] In 1990 we saw the launch of the Rocky Mountaineer rail tour company, which travels by daylight from Vancouver through the Rocky Mountains. It stops in Kamloops en route. It’s now the largest privately owned passenger rail service in all of North America. It has hosted more than…. Deputy Speaker: Member for Stikine. D. Donaldson: I seek leave to make an introduction. Leave granted.

Introductions by Members D. Donaldson: I would like to introduce to the Legislature and the members gathered here today my wife, Anne Docherty; my son, Dar Yukws, and his part- ner, Cyra Frisk; and my lovely fi rst grandchild, Ailsa Tegwyn Frisk Yukws. She’s up there in the gallery enjoy- ing the proceedings and enjoying the minister’s speech, I’m sure. I would like the House to make them feel wel- come. She’s obviously enjoying herself, throwing her arms around. Th ank you very much to the members. Hon. A. Virk: I seek leave to make an introduction. Leave granted. Hon. A.

Virk: I take this opportunity today to wel- come the second class from Pacifi c Academy in my rid-

British Columbia Debates6054 Tuesday, February 24, 2015 ing. In fact, as I mentioned before, myself and my wife spent Valentine’s Day at their academy for the evening. Claudia Peterson should be here — right over there — with 28 students and a whole bunch of parent chaperones. I believe they were just in my offi ce, probably jumping on my chair, not too long ago. Would the House please make them feel welcome. Point of Privilege (Reservation of Right) B. Routley: Hon. Speaker, I want to reserve my right of personal privilege regarding the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure’s personal comments.

Debate Continued Hon. T. Stone: As I was saying, the Rocky Mountaineer is now the largest privately owned passenger rail service in North America. It has hosted over one million guests, and it pumps on an annual basis over $15 million into the Kamloops economy. In 2001 Kamloops designated itself as the “Tournament capital of Canada. ” Th e city has long recognized that hosting tournaments and events are important economic generators.

In the last ten years over $60 million has been invested in new and improved sports facilities. [1435] It has attracted a wide array of diff erent kinds of sport events, as I said, including the Special Olympics. Just last Th ursday, along with Mayor Peter Milobar and B.C. Lions quarterback Travis Lulay, I had the honour of partici- pating in the 2015 Special Olympics B.C. Winter Games opening ceremonies. I was blown away by the enthusi- asm and the spirit of the over 700 athletes who were in Kamloops. Th eir energy and their passion were invigor- ating, and it was infectious.

I have to say that I delivered a very short address at this offi cial opening. It’s a rare opportunity for a politician of any level of government to walk into a room and receive almost a hero’s welcome, with high fi ves and thumbs-up and just big, big smiles. So it was a real pleasure. In 2005 Thompson Rivers University was created, as I said earlier, making Kamloops a university town. It was this government that created Th ompson Rivers University, and I’m very, very proud of that. We con- tinue to make strategic investments in TRU.

Just recently, earlier this month, the Minister of Advanced Education was in Kamloops. He announced $325,000 in funding to purchase new trades equipment as part of B.C. ’s skills- for-jobs blueprint. This new equipment will support students at TRU who are entering in-demand occupa- tions — those occupations which will be critical to the B.C. economy.

Late last year we announced one-time funding of $1.5 million to create an additional 188 student spaces in short-term health education programs — including men- tal health and addictions, and health care assistant train- ing — at TRU as well as public colleges and universities across British Columbia. Since 2005 Kamloops has also become home to a rapidly growing technology sector. Th ere are now clus- ters of data centres, soft ware developers and technology support services.

Now, 2009 also saw the expansion of the Kamloops Airport, due to an investment of $20 million to expand the runway and upgrade the terminal building. Th is has had a dramatic impact from an improved fl ight services perspective, to and from Kamloops. It’s been instrumen- tal in aiding the growth of an array of diff erent sectors, including mining, tourism and, indeed, international education at the university. Th en 2012 saw the reopening of Aft on mine by New Gold. Th is mine employs 400 people, including 100 of First Nations descent.

So you can see, over time, just a really interesting evolution of the economy in Kamloops and how it’s long past being the boom and-bust town that it was in the 1970s. It has a widely diversifi ed econ- omy. We’re very proud of that, and we’ll continue to fur- ther diversify it. I’m also proud to represent the village of Chase, which is on the eastern edge of my constituency. Th is is a com- munity of 2,500 people on the western shore of Little Shuswap Lake. I try to be in Chase every four to six weeks. I made that commitment to the people of the village in the last campaign.

It’s very important to meet them on their turf. Again, I always look forward to my visits to Chase. Recently I was there to participate in the offi cial open- ing of the recently completed Chase water treatment plant. Now, this project was funded by the village of Chase, the province of British Columbia and the gov- ernment of Canada. It will ensure high-quality drinking water for Chase residents, businesses and visitors now and into the future.

Last Tuesday here in Victoria our government fol- lowed through yet again on our most important commit- ment to the people of British Columbia, as we introduced our third consecutive balanced budget for the coming fi s- cal year. To put this in perspective…. Th is has been said many times, but I want to say it again. Between 1980 and 2005, a time during which three diff erent political parties governed this province, there were only four balanced budgets in those 25 years. We’ve just managed to accomplish our third consecutive budget, which I think is a huge accomplishment.

What’s more is B.C. will likely be the only province in the country to have a balanced budget this year. Alberta is grappling with what could be a $7 billion plus defi cit, and Saskatchewan is teetering on the edge of balance. Th e balanced budget is good news for B.C. In addi- tion to that, the current fi scal year that we’re in will see

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, February 24, 2015 6055 a revised forecast of $879 million and projections for surpluses for the next three years combined, to total ap- proximately $1 billion. [1440] It’s because of this strong fi scal discipline that we’re able to fi nd room for investments that strengthen and en- courage growth and the creation of jobs in key economic sectors. It’s why we’re able to sustain core public service, and it’s why we’re able to make life a little bit easier for British Columbia’s families.

I contrast the results that we have demonstrated as a government, in bringing forward our third consecu- tive balanced budget, with what we’ve heard for the last week from members opposite, which has been all about: “Spend, spend, spend some more — and tax. Let’s tax and tax and tax a bit more. ” Th e NDP message has not changed. Th eir message continues to be one of reckless spending, high taxes and massive debt.

I sometimes wonder, based on comments from members opposite, if there are challenges actually reading the financial statements, reading and under- standing what a balance sheet actually means and under- standing what an income statement actually is all about. Funding for health care in this budget will increase another $3 billion over the next three years, including additional funding to support hospice services for chil- dren and adults as part of our work toward doubling the number of beds by 2020 and supporting end-of-life care.

We’re investing up to another $12.5 million with the Canadian Cancer Society towards establishing a world- class cancer prevention centre in Vancouver. From a local context, while the NDP built very lit- tle through the 1990s, in Kamloops we are in the early stages of now building the clinical services building. It’s an $80 million investment in health care in the region that is served by Royal Inland Hospital, and this gov- ernment is committed to the next phase, which will be a surgical tower.

With respect to education, kindergarten-to-grade-12 education will receive additional funding of $564 million over the next three years. Th at includes the 33 percent increase to the learning improvement fund. Th e $500 education coaching tax credit for teachers and teaching assistants, I think, was very important. My sister is a spe- cial education teacher in Burnaby, and this really meant something to her. She called me and said: “Th ank you. ” She and her colleagues really appreciate the acknow- ledgement. My kids are all in the public system.

We are so fortun- ate to have incredible teachers in an incredible school at Juniper Ridge Elementary in Kamloops. Th e advantage that our children will have as they go on in life, because of one of the best education systems in the world, is go- ing to serve them extremely well. With respect to infrastructure, we will be spending another $10.7 billion in new capital projects over the next three years.

Th at includes $2.9 billion more in infra- structure so that we can continue to focus on improv- ing key corridors like the Cariboo connector, like the Trans-Canada Highway, like other corridors around the province. We are continuing to focus on keeping taxes down in this province. B.C. ’s families will continue to have the lowest overall tax burdens in Canada when you factor in income taxes, consumption taxes, property taxes, payroll taxes and health care premiums. B.C. currently has the lowest provincial personal in- come taxes in Canada for individuals earning up to $122,000 per year.

Provincial personal income taxes for most taxpayers have been reduced by 37 percent since 2001, and an additional 400,000 people today actually don’t pay, and no longer pay, any income tax since 2001. It’s also worth noting that a single individual can now earn more than $19,000 before paying provincial income taxes. I’m sure it’s been said a few times in the last week, but I’ll say this again as well. Back in the 1990s, prior to 2001, an individual earning an income up to $19,000 ac- tually paid about $700 in tax. Th ey pay zero tax today. I’m very proud of that.

We’re using the surpluses from these balanced budgets to pay down government’s direct operating debt, which is representative of the money that’s borrowed in tough times to protect programs and services. Direct operating debt is forecast to decline by more than 50 percent from $10.2 billion in 2014 to $4.8 billion in 2018, which will be the lowest level since 1991. [1445] Within three years we will have more than repaid the $4.5 billion that was borrowed during the recession of 2008-2009. I’m very proud of that.

Government’s taxpayer-supported debt-to-GDP ratio, a key measure of aff ordability, improves in each year of the three-year fi scal plan. In 2017-18 it’s forecast to be down to 16.6 percent. Compare that debt-to-GDP ratio to other jurisdictions. In Ontario their debt-to-GDP is just under 40 percent. In Quebec it’s even higher at just over 54 percent. So we’re doing very well here in British Columbia. Without question, the credit for British Columbia’s bal- anced budgets and our overall enviable fi scal position as a province goes to British Columbians, who made this all possible. What does this all mean?

What it means is that our economy is hugely diversifi ed. B.C. is able to weather the storm better than any other province in the coun- try. We’ve seen very signifi cant growth in our exports to Asia and, in particular, China over the last ten years, and thank goodness. Th ank goodness that when the American economy had a major downturn, the Chinese economy was able to make up for that slack. Th ank goodness that we made the eff orts to reach out to our friends and our partners

British Columbia Debates6056 Tuesday, February 24, 2015 in China to grow markets there and sell our lumber, sell our cherries and sell all kinds of other products, because we’ve now got a nicely diversifi ed economy as a result. Even though the Chinese market in some respects has soft ened a bit, the American market is roaring back, so we’re well insulated in this province because of that eco- nomic diversifi cation. Overall, the economy is strong. It’s creating thou- sands of jobs month over month. We’re expected, here in British Columbia, to lead the country in economic growth for the next two to three years.

Unemployment is at a low, 5.6 percent, which is well below the national average. Th at is a testament, in large part, to the eff orts of this government. We’re growing our labour supply. We continue to have a triple-A credit rating, thus ensuring the lowest borrowing costs we can possibly obtain, which means more dollars for health care and education. Th at is why, in part, we continue to have the best health outcomes in the country and amongst the best education outcomes in the world as well. Now, really briefl y, with respect to transportation.

For 2015 we’re going to continue to see a robust infrastruc- ture program. Part of the job that I enjoy the most is trav- elling around the province and hearing fi rsthand from British Columbians on what they believe the priorities are and what the priority projects should be in their re- spective communities. Transportation infrastructure is all about powering the economy. It’s all about ensuring the highest quality of life as possible, but it’s also about moving goods. It’s about creating jobs and opening up markets and get- ting our goods to market and creating more jobs, so the cycle continues.

I’m very proud of the fact that we’ve invested over $17 billion across British Columbia since 2001 in strategic transportation investments. Th is budget will see a further $2.9 billion invested in every corner of our province in all facets of transportation. I will continue to work very closely on behalf of our government within the context of the new west part- nership, which is the alliance formed between Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. It consists of many representatives of industry — essentially the entire supply chain, from producers right through to shippers.

At our recent meeting with the Premiers in Regina late last year, the Premiers resolved that the transporta- tion component of this organization’s focus would ac- tually be carried out by the Pacifi c Gateway Alliance, of which, as the Minister of Transportation, I am honoured to be the chair. I have had a subsequent meeting with my ministerial counterparts in the other provinces and industry repre- sentatives, and we’re working on a game plan to continue to ensure the most effi cient and the safest supply chain that we can possibly have in all of western Canada.

Speaking of the Pacifi c gateway, we’re well into phase 2 of this program from an infrastructure investment per- spective. When we look at the combined investments of the public sector and the private sector, phase 1 repre- sented about $20 billion. We’re now well into phase 2. We have over $25 billion worth of combined commitments. [1450] Th ese are infrastructure commitments of the three western provinces but also industry — CN Rail and CP Rail and YVR and lots of other private sector organiza- tions.

Th e uniqueness of this alliance is that it’s the com- ing together of the private sector and the public sector to ensure that our transportation investments are done in a manner that is coordinated so that we can maximize those investments and leverage the investments to the highest degree possible. We’re working hard with the Mayors Council as the plebiscite in Metro Vancouver is underway. As I’ve said many times publicly and I’ll say again here, we are very proud of the fact that we have given the people of Metro Vancouver the fi nal say on this.

It was a very clear com- mitment that we made in our platform in the last cam- paign that the people of Metro Vancouver will have the fi nal say if the mayors determine that any new fees or taxes are required to expand transit and transportation in the Lower Mainland. We’re following through on that commitment, and I think that’s something to be very proud of. We also support a yes vote in the campaign. We’ll be out there talking about congestion. We’ll be talking about the importance of continuing to make strategic invest- ments in transportation and transit.

Ultimately, however, the success of this campaign rests with the mayors, who put together a vision. We believe that it’s a good vision. It’s a good plan. We believe the region can get behind it. It’s up to the mayors to get out there with their 100-plus organizations on the yes campaign and to get out there and to sell their plan. Certainly, I will support them in their eff orts. For the forthcoming year we will continue to work as hard as we possibly can with coastal communities and the B.C. Ferry Commissioner and B.C.

Ferries as we con- tinue to execute on the vision that we laid out in front of British Columbians about a year ago, which was to get the ferry service to a place of long-term aff ordability and sustainability. Part of the solution was to squeeze the greatest ex- amples of underutilization out of the system. Th at’s large- ly been done, particularly on the minor and the northern routes but also on the majors. Complementary to that, the B.C. ferry corporation has been working very hard on internal effi ciencies. Th ey’re going to blow past their effi ciency target of $54 million.

I think we’ll see a progress report on that in the not-too- distant future. We have been willing to embrace, with Ferries and the

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, February 24, 2015 6057 Ferry Commissioner, a wide range of initiatives. When members opposite say that the only solution is to bring it back into government, as if that solves the underlying fi nancial challenges at B.C. Ferries, the members oppos- ite are wrong. Th at solves nothing. What will solve the long-term challenges is being prepared and willing and able to think outside the box and try diff erent strategies.

Th at’s why we’re aggressively converting ferries to LNG propulsion, starting with the Spirit-class vessels, and the three intermediate vessels would be LNG-propelled. Th at’s going to save $12 mil- lion per year for 27 years, as one example. We’re also very proud of the work on Port Metro Vancouver. We kept that port open since the shutdown last March. In doing so, we also improved the wages of truckers — very, very proud of that. In fact, we even re- ceived praise on this fi le from unions. We delivered on the 14-point plan, and we went even beyond that.

Th e recent appointment of the very fi rst container trucking commissioner, Andy Smith, who’s now responsible for licensing and rates, demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that truckers get paid what they have rightfully and justly earned and to ensuring that Canada’s most im- portant port remains open for the long term. Finally, B.C. on the Move. We will be launching our new ten-year transportation plan in the coming weeks. Th is will build on the $17 billion of investments we’ve seen since 2001, again, in all facets of transportation. I’m very proud to support our Premier in her vision.

I’m very proud to be on the government’s team. As I end all of my speeches around the province, it is my privil- ege to represent the hard-working people of Kamloops– South Th ompson, Chase and the region. It is equally my privilege to speak today and specifi cally to say just how proud I am to support Budget 2015. [1455] M. Karagianis: I’m happy to take my place in this dis- cussion and debate on Budget 2015. I want to actually just preface my comments, because I heard the member opposite chastising the members on this side of the House earlier.

I believe that it is everyone’s privilege who comes to this place to stand up and speak on behalf of their constituents and that this is a debate environment. Even if I don’t agree with members on the other side, I also defend their right to stand up and speak on behalf of their constituents. I don’t think it serves us well to forget that this is a debate and needs to be cour- teous and needs to be civilized. So I intend to keep my remarks in that same vein.

I am happy to talk to Budget 2015, and I do want also to reference the fact that we’re speaking to the amend- ment that was put forward by members on this side of the House. I’ d like to read that amendment because I think it does set a tone for some of the things I’ d like to talk about today.

Th e amendment to the budget that we put forward is this: “Th at the government report in the third quarter of the fi scal year on progress towards their commitment to have one LNG plant and processing facility up and running by 2015; to open eight new mines by 2015; and their commitment to ensure every British Columbian has access to a general practitioner by 2015; and that the government maintain the personal income tax regime for the individuals earning over $150,000 a year. ” Th at amendment was put forward. I’m supporting that amendment, and I’ d like to speak to that as well.

My constituency is very close by. I have the great priv- ilege of having a constituency that’s only minutes away from the legislative precinct. I have four very distinct communities, four distinct municipalities, in that. But my community is, like most communities in British Columbia, made up of very hard-working families — or- dinary people who work very hard to provide for their families. It doesn’t matter which end of the community they’re from. Th ey all have the same ethic. Th ey all have the same desires for their families.

It’s been my privilege to have been elected to this House three times now and to have spent nine years as a municipal councillor in Esquimalt. As I’m sitting here 20 years in on representing my community, I do know the community very well. I want to speak, in the con- text of being their representative here, about what the budget means to them, because this is a budget that has disappointed people from one end of my community to the other. When I’m out travelling in the community and I’m out doing events in the community, I’ve heard about it.

Even in the short time since the budget was tabled, I’ve had the opportunity to be out in my community. I’ve heard from members of my community about their immediate reac- tions to the budget, and I’ d like to speak to that here today. My community is made up of…. I think the only unique aspect is that we have a lot of public servants who live here in the capital region, and I do have a number of them that live in my community.

Perhaps because of that, and because of the various other components of the workforce in my community, I think they pay a bit more attention to what happens here in the Legislature than do communities that are further away. Certainly, many of the families in this community have ties in some way or another to the legislative pre- cinct, to government, to some aspect of what we do here in the capital. It’s a huge employer, in one way or an- other, throughout the region.

I think that people in my community do feel a strong connection to this place and, therefore, seem keenly aware of what takes place in here, of decisions that government makes on their behalf — certainly around, currently, the decisions that govern- ment has undertaken in this budget and in the time that they have been in power here. I have lots of public servants in my community. I have a very robust shipyard and lots of workers there that live

British Columbia Debates6058 Tuesday, February 24, 2015 not just immediately in my communities but all over the region and, of course, in the lower part of the Island here. I have two First Nations communities, both the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. They are excellent neighbours. Th ey are leaders in the southern part of the Island here. Chief Ron Sam has undertaken a beautiful wellness centre, has become very engaged in looking at ways that he can participate in local government more robustly.

Chief Andy Th omas, as well, has undertaken some new initiatives for his community. [1500] I think there are some exciting things happening for those communities, so it’s really important that they be a very intrinsic part of local government here and of the decisions that the community makes. Of course, I have the naval base, as well, in the heart of my community. Th ousands and thousands and thou- sands of employees work there in one form or another — those that are, of course, in the armed services, but all the people that work around the naval base.

Th ose jobs spread up and down the southern part of the Island as well. Y ou only have to stand in the centre of my commun- ity in morning and evening Colwood rush-hour traffi c, or coming up and down the Island highway, to know exactly how many people are coming and going into my com- munity who are working. The community of Colwood, which is the farthest reaches, has been the community that has been ear- marked for the greatest amount of regional growth. Th ere is a massive amount of expansion going on there.

Two new schools my friend the member for Juan de Fuca and I have championed for many years — we have two new schools coming in there. We’re very happy about that. Th ere is so much growth going in Colwood. It’s a community that is really trying to grapple with those challenges and their transportation needs around that. I think, though, that it’s fair to say that when I talk with people in my community….

Th e budget that’s been tabled here in 2015 by the current government has left them feeling disconnected from government, feeling that government does not understand who they are, does not care who they are and does not, in any way, have plans for their future and their family’s future. I think that’s refl ected very much in the budget that we see before us. I also have seen a new growth in the amount of people trying to seek services through my constituency offi ce. Th at’s been a very dramatic growth. I think that that speaks very much hand-in-hand with the lack of govern- ment services.

Th e continual cuts to government services, especially to the elderly, to the poor, to the most vulner- able and to people with disabilities are now to regular families which are looking for minimal services. I’ve seen this huge growth burst in my constituency of- fi ce. I suspect that I’m not alone. I know from talking to my colleagues here that they’re also seeing the same kind of thing, so I’m pretty sure that the government members are also as well.

Th ey cannot be unique in their experi- ences in their communities with the pressures that con- stituents are putting on them to bring messages of the needs of communities. When I see a new kind of clientele coming to my com- munity offi ce asking for help…. It’s a variety of things now that seem very new. I talked to my constituency assistant just this week to say: “What are the common themes that you are seeing come through the door?” Th ey are new in the aspect that they are almost always relat- ed to some new government service that has been cut or that has been removed from the community.

People having trouble getting any kind of physiotherapy. People having problems accessing adequate supports for things like brain injuries. One person was having trouble with the incredibly crushing load of a student loan. Luckily, my commun- ity offi ce staff had some great success. For that, I would like to actually offi cially say thank you to the Minister of Finance for helping out with this particular problem. I’ d like to off er that thanks up to the minister for helping re- solve an issue there with a student who had a crushing debt that was making life diffi cult.

There are always the usual issues around Children and Families Ministry issues. Now also housing-related issues — that’s families and that is seniors. Th at is not very specifi c to one demographic or another; it seems to be across the range of ages and people in the commun- ity. Long wait-lists tend to be a plague for seniors and for families as well. We hear about that a lot. Th e ongoing issue of poverty in the community. It is a working-class community. If you drive through my com- munity, you don’t necessarily see abject poverty, but it is there. It particularly aff ects working families.

It particu- larly aff ects seniors. We are seeing more and more of an outcry of needs from seniors and from families around poverty issues. Th at’s young families. Th at’s single people. Th at is certainly people who are living with a disability. Fewer and fewer services, fewer and fewer options for these families. [1505] Budget 2015. I know that my community was looking to this to be something that maybe spoke to their needs, spoke to their issues, spoke to the implied promise from the Premier that things were going to be better in the fu- ture for them.

In fact, this budget does not deliver on that at all, and I’m going to talk about that a little bit as well. I think that this Budget 2015 really is a clear indica- tion that the government has no vision forward for the future of British Columbians. Th e government bet on and the Premier bet on one specifi c option for the future and seemed devoid of any other vision or real ideas for going forward from here. I saw pundits talking about this right aft er the throne speech was tabled — that it’s a government that’s out of ideas. I agree with that, and my community agrees with

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, February 24, 2015 6059 that. Th is budget defi nitely has not shown any vision for- ward whatsoever. Th e whole issue around LNG. Let’s remember that this LNG dream was hyped very much by the Premier and government members going into the last election. But it wasn’t just abandoned then. It was something that con- tinued to be a large promise. Two years ago the Premier said that she had an absolute laser focus on LNG and developing that industry. One year ago the Premier said, “Th is is our central preoccupation” — bringing LNG to fruition here in this province.

Y et here we are less than two years out from those promises and from the election, and we have seen that, in fact, that particular dream has evaporated. LNG is no longer mentioned in every other sentence that the gov- ernment utters. It isn’t attached to every single mandate that every ministry has had, and the government has now tried to kind of withdraw from all of the big promises that were made there. But you know what? British Columbians heard those promises and believed those promises. Th ere were some elements there.

When the Premier talked about things like the LNG industry would wipe out B.C. ’s debt, I think people really believed that. Now to fi nd out that not only is it not going to be anything that wipes out the debt — it may not be an industry that comes to this province at all — but in fact, the debt is going to continue to grow in this province for some time to come. Th e promises that LNG would reduce or eliminate the sales tax. I think that was a relief that every family was looking forward to.

In fact, the increase in fees and char- ges to families has been such a burden that it has pushed so many families right to that edge of poverty. I think that the idea that it would eliminate sales tax was very exciting to people — that it would fund and enhance government programs, generate $1 trillion in economic activity, fi ll a $100 million prosperity fund and create 100,000 jobs. Th ose are huge promises. I know that people in my community….

Even if they did not grasp and believe in every single grandiose promise of trillions of dollars here and billions of dollars there, I think that they did believe that, perhaps, there would be another thriving industry in this province that they could rely on for jobs for their children. Th e government has, of course, now forgotten all of that. All of that rhetoric has disappeared. All of those promises have disappeared, and we have a government that now talks about: “Maybe there’s a chance.

Maybe this is aspirational on the LNG fi le. ” Th e people in my community are not so witless that they do not see the writing on the wall here. Th e LNG industry was a huge bet, a gamble, that the Premier was involved in, and we have lost that gamble. Now government is talking about diversifi ed economies as if they’ve suddenly decided and discovered that we are a diverse economy. Once the big LNG promise is gone, what is left over for families to think about as future options for their chil- dren? Well, this budget is thin on any kind of other vi- sion to replace that in any way.

My community is aware of that, and they will continue to struggle. [1510] As well as having this whole LNG dream evaporate and turn out to have been all talk and no action, the government has continued to whittle away at the stan- dard of living for many people in my community, with increased fees and expenses. I’m going to talk about that a little bit more.

I do want to talk about the fact that I have three op- position fi les that are really important, because I think it speaks very much to the broad spectrum of people who are aff ected by this budget and by the fact that the gov- ernment has delivered nothing in the way of a vision but lots in the way of a more expensive lifestyle for families. In my portfolio I have seniors, I have women, and I have child care. Th ey are all very closely related.

In fact, they speak very much to the heart of middle-class fam- ilies nowadays and the generation squeeze — who are raising their families, worried about health care for their parents, perhaps having come through a time when they needed accessible child care in their communities and couldn’t fi nd it and therefore couldn’t get back into the workforce in the way that they wanted. Once the children are grown, they’re trying now to kind of rebuild their fi - nancial security.

Th is budget, in so many ways, aff ects and hurts all three of those particular sectors that I deal with and the groups that I talk with every day. I want to talk a little bit more about each of those in my comments here today. I want to talk about seniors. In reality — and I know government likes to pay lip service to this — seniors did build this community. Th e seniors that we now have in our communities are the ones who worked out there in the forest industry or the fi shing industry, those who worked in government before we were here.

Th ose sen- iors who are veterans now, who maybe fought on our behalf or certainly served in the armed forces on our be- half…. Th ose seniors built our communities and were our community leaders and our grandparents who have established the very culture that we enjoy now. Th ose individuals are living in a serious aff ordabil- ity crunch. I hear it right across the board when I meet with seniors, and I’ve met with seniors all over British Columbia. I hear the singular message from seniors that the government has always assumed that somehow sen- iors are very wealthy, but they are not.

As the govern- ment has continued to whittle away and whittle away at their fi xed incomes and their security, seniors have now grown very fearful. Seniors who thought that they would have a reason- ably secure future with their pension or a reasonably se- cure future with a health care system that would be there for them are now very fearful. Th ey are concerned about

British Columbia Debates6060 Tuesday, February 24, 2015 whether or not the health care system will be there for them. Th ey are very concerned about the fact that many of them are losing their doctors. Th is whole idea of A GP for Me that the government touted as happening in 2015, which does not appear to be anywhere close to being a reality on the ground, par- ticularly aff ects seniors.

We do know that as you age and as your health becomes more fragile, early intervention and having those supports and that health care system there for you will certainly allow you to live a more ro- bust life for a longer period of time before you have to go into any kind of care. Well, for those people who no longer have a doctor — their doctor has retired earlier than they did or has re- tired around the same time as they did — where do you get that early intervention?

If you are a senior who may be just beginning to experience the early symptoms of de- mentia, does that get picked up in a walk-in clinic when you go in for a checkup or because you’ve had a fall? No. Not at all. Some strange doctor in a walk-in clinic is not going to know you and is not going to be able to give you the kind of early intervention that all of us want to have. When you’re in a walk-in clinic environment, oft en you are waiting an extraordinarily long time to see a doc- tor, and you are in and out of there very quickly. Many clinics now have capped the number of patients that can be seen.

Is that the kind of environment where you want to grow old and feel that the health care system would be there to support you — if they catch a diagnosis in time, if it’s not caught well along before there can be prevention? It is a great fear and a great concern, not just for seniors but certainly for families. I’m in the same boat as every other British Columbian who has lost their doctor. My doctor retired a couple of years ago. I, just like many British Columbians, do not have a general practitioner who knows me and has my fi les. [1515] I’m subject to the same circumstances as everyone else.

I go into a walk-in clinic, I wait my turn, and I see the doctor some time later in the day, or, if my

schedule doesn’t allow it, I don’t see the doctor that day. Th at is happening to families right across this province and to seniors, certainly in my community. Th e issues around youth mental health. I sit on the Children and Y outh Committee, and one of the things that we are undertaking is an extensive forum and discus- sion on youth mental health. We already know that the issues around mental health, homelessness and poverty are all very much interlinked, and they are very costly on both the justice system and the health care system.

Y et without adequate resources — none of those are ap- parent here in this budget; we see nothing in the way of a youth mental health program here — how in the world do you expect to get on top of this? What happens to all of those disenfranchised people that the government has forgotten about? Well, we know what happens to them. Th ey continue to rotate through the justice system or through emergency systems. Families continue to struggle, and the list of fees that are going up here for families is staggering for families that are struggling to get from payday to payday.

Frankly, that’s a lot of people in my community. Th ey are seeing increased MSP , and it will continue to go up. Th ey are seeing increased hydro rates, and it will continue to go up. Th ey are seeing increased ICBC rates. Th ey are see- ing more in gas taxes, depending on where they live. Th ey are certainly seeing ferry fares way past the tipping point, and families are now unable to stay connected because of ferry fares and service cuts that are taking place. I do hear about that all over this region. Camping fees have gone up.

So even for families who wanted to take a modest holiday with their family, that’s become more expensive. Of course, tuition has become such a debt burden for many young people that they will spend a great deal of the fi rst, probably, two decades of their career paying off huge student loan debts. We have families that are trying to grapple with all of these costs.

We have families now who have young people who are unable to fi nd work — even if they have gradu- ated from university, even if they have the beginnings of a trade — and are coming to live back home because they can’t aff ord, on a minimum-pay job somewhere, to live on their own. So we have this new term: failure to launch. All of that developed in this province, one of the wealthiest provinces in the country.

In the last decade we have a new culture for families, where the middle-class family is squeezed, where they are fi ghting to get from payday to payday, where they see the government con- tinuing to increase the cost of living over and over again, unapologetically. We now have young people who can’t go out and start a life on their own until well into their ca- reers — tuition burdens, low-paying jobs. Did this budget in any way help there? No, it did not. Th e reality is — and I think that we’ve seen these facts; we’ve recognized these facts — that in real terms, real wages for families are falling, not rising.

So people are fi nding it hard to get ahead, no doubt, because, in real terms, wages are falling. Again, we have talked about it here. Th is generation, our generation, will be the fi rst generation that does not leave a world that is better for their children and grandchildren but worse. Th ey’re go- ing to leave them worse off rather than better. Again, none of those things seem to have been acknowledged in any way in this budget. I know it’s a sore point with government, but they made a very decisive choice that the top 2 percent in this province are going to get a huge tax break.

Meanwhile, all of the families here in my community that are just a few minutes away from here are going to see an in- creased cost of living for themselves and a reduction in their ability to stay connected with families because of

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, February 24, 2015 6061 what’s happening at B.C. Ferries. Life is more and more diffi cult for normal, average, ordinary working people, hard-working people in my community, yet the govern- ment believes that money well spent is a tax break for the top 2 percent of earners. It’s no surprise whatsoever that ordinary families, working families, feel very disenfranchised by this gov- ernment. Th ey feel very disappointed and cheated by this government. Th e LNG promise — way over the top and, of course, not going to deliver for them.

All of the other promises, though, the promises that were outlined very clearly in this amendment…. I want to go back to this amendment, because it speaks very clearly to the heart of the problems here that we have in British Columbia. [1520] Th is is very clearly outlined in this amendment, that in this fi scal year, in the third quarter, the government commit to reporting out on what the circumstances are around the LNG plant — one. Never mind the 15 that were originally promised or the six or however many it was, because it grew, and then it shrunk — but one. One LNG plant in 2015 — are we going to see that?

Of course we’re not, but we think it’s appropriate for the govern- ment to report out on that. Th e promise of eight new mines. Certainly, eight new mines are not going to open in Esquimalt–Royal Roads, but those jobs and that promise are certainly there for all British Columbians. I fi rmly believe that when there are more jobs in the marketplace, we fl oat all boats evenly. Th at the government report on their commitment to ensure that British Columbians have access to a GP — the GP for Me program. I’ve talked about this in just a couple of terms. I think it’s very serious.

Th e idea of early intervention for health care for seniors is very serious if you do not have a family doc who can do that. Th at ear- ly intervention for seniors is on a whole range of health challenges but most specifi cally dementia, because that is a huge concern right across this country. I think community leaders, governments, health care providers are all grappling with the issue of how we deal with this growing wave of dementia patients in the future and how we ensure that the health care system is there for them.

Well, part of it is making sure that they have a doctor who can diagnose early and give them better qual- ity of life for longer. Th at’s my hope, just as an ordinary British Columbian. As a working person in this province, that is my hope for me and for my neighbours and my friends. I’m pretty sure my children would say that that’s their hope as well. Of course, that the government, as we’ve urged them, reconsider this idea of rewarding the top 2 percent at the expense of others.

One thing I’ d like to talk about is some of the other future inspirational visions that the government could have engaged in and that they have not. Th ere’s a bit of lip service to some of these things, but the proof is al- ways in your actions more than your words. Talk is cheap and easy, and we know that this is a government that has talked a big talk but has not delivered on so many aspects of the promises. I want to talk a little bit about a green future.

It’s more than a trend in countries other than in Canada that a green future is the only sustainable choice for our popu- lations and for the citizens on this planet. I’ve travelled a little bit to other countries, where I can see very dramatic growth in green technologies. I can see how far behind we are here in Canada, how slow we are to get involved in real change. I just recently took a trip to Greece, where I saw mile aft er mile aft er mile of solar panels. I saw solar panels fi t- ted on many, many houses. I’ve seen the same thing in Hawaii. I’ve seen the same thing in other countries I’ve travelled to.

We are so slow on the uptake here. I read recently that Germany is in a position of being self-sustainable in energy, in renewable green energy. And what are we doing about that? We’re doing noth- ing about that. Th ere is no program here to help families and to help businesses embrace that aggressively. Th at’s sad, because others are doing much better than we are. We aspire to have the best-educated children so that they can take their place in the economies of the future, create the economies of the future. Y et we do not invest in that in any real way. We have decimated the education system in this province.

Th e battle is ongoing at this moment around class size and composition and making sure that there are ad- equate resources — adequate, not the best or the greatest but adequate resources — for our young children. How can you have the best-educated children in the world if you’re not going to actually put real resources in place? Again, the government pays lip service to this. Invest in a real diversifi ed economy. We are so behind the ball here on investment in new technologies. We like to talk about new technologies, but again, our manufac- turing and production in this

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20150224pm-Hansard-v20n4
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20150224pm Hansard v20n4
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	7ea0a98fca1b82c8cd4156aa4e693d2777ccee89

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