British Columbia Hansard — Tuesday, February 21, 2006 (38th Parliament, 2nd Session) (H0221pm-08) (H0221pm 08)

H0221pm-08

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

Second Session, 38th Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (HANSARD) Tuesday, February 21, 2006 Afternoon Sitting Volume 6, Number 8 THE HONOURABLE BILL BARISOFF, SPEAKER ISSN 0709-1281

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Her Honour the Honourable Iona V. Campagnolo, CM, OBC SECOND SESSION, 38TH PARLIAMENT SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Bill Barisoff EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council ............................................................................................................Hon. Gordon Campbell Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations .......................................................................................................... Hon.

John van Dongen Deputy Premier and Minister of Education and Minister Responsible for Early Learning and Literacy...................... Hon. Shirley Bond Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation .......................................................................................................Hon. Tom Christensen Minister of Advanced Education and Minister Responsible for Research and Technology ........................................... Hon.

Murray Coell Minister of Agriculture and Lands.......................................................................................................................................................Hon. Pat Bell Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism............................................................................... Hon. Wally Oppal, QC Minister of Children and Family Development ..........................................................................................................................Hon.

Stan Hagen Minister of State for Childcare ........................................................................................................................................................Hon. Linda Reid Minister of Community Services and Minister Responsible for Seniors’ and Women’s Issues........................................... Hon. Ida Chong Minister of Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative and the Olympics.................Hon.

Colin Hansen Minister of Employment and Income Assistance ...........................................................................................................Hon. Claude Richmond Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources .......................................................................................................Hon. Richard Neufeld Minister of State for Mining............................................................................................................................................................Hon.

Bill Bennett Minister of Environment and Minister Responsible for Water Stewardship and Sustainable Communities ...............Hon. Barry Penner Minister of Finance.......................................................................................................................................................................Hon. Carole Taylor Minister of Forests and Range and Minister Responsible for Housing ............................................................................. Hon.

Rich Coleman Minister of Health ......................................................................................................................................................................Hon. George Abbott Minister of Labour and Citizens’ Services .......................................................................................................................... Hon. Michael de Jong Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General................................................................................................................................Hon.

John Les Minister of Small Business and Revenue and Minister Responsible for Deregulation ...................................................... Hon. Rick Thorpe Minister of Tourism, Sport and the Arts .........................................................................................................................................Hon. Olga Ilich Minister of Transportation...........................................................................................................................................................Hon.

Kevin Falcon LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Leader of the Official Opposition .........................................................................................................................................................Carole James Deputy Speaker ....................................................................................................................................................................................Sindi Hawkins Assistant Deputy Speaker.....................................................................................................................................................................Sue Hammell Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole.................................................................................................................................................

Harry Bloy Clerk of the Legislative Assembly .........................................................................................................................E. George MacMinn, OBC, QC Clerk Assistant.........................................................................................................................................................................................Robert Vaive Clerk Assistant and Law Clerk .......................................................................................................................................................Ian D.

Izard, QC Clerk Assistant and Clerk of Committees ....................................................................................................................................... Craig H. James Clerk Assistant and Committee Clerk ..........................................................................................................................................Kate Ryan-Lloyd Sergeant-at-Arms............................................................................................................................................................................. A.A.

Humphreys Director, Hansard Services ..................................................................................................................................................Anthony Dambrauskas Legislative Librarian ..................................................................................................................................................................................Jane Taylor Legislative Comptroller...............................................................................................................................................................................Dan Arbic

Party Standings: Liberal 46; New Democratic 33 ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS Abbott, Hon. George (L) ..........................................................................Shuswap Austin, Robin (NDP)...................................................................................Skeena Bains, Harry (NDP)....................................................................... Surrey-Newton Barisoff, Hon. Bill (L)...............................................Penticton–Okanagan Valley Bell, Hon. Pat (L) ..................................................................Prince George North Bennett, Hon.

Bill (L) .....................................................................East Kootenay Black, Iain (L) ..................................................................Port Moody–Westwood Bloy, Harry (L).....................................................................................Burquitlam Bond, Hon. Shirley (L).......................................... Prince George–Mount Robson Brar, Jagrup (NDP)..........................................................Surrey–Panorama Ridge Campbell, Hon. Gordon (L) ..............................................

Vancouver–Point Grey Cantelon, Ron (L)................................................................... Nanaimo-Parksville Chong, Hon. Ida (L) ......................................................... Oak Bay–Gordon Head Chouhan, Raj (NDP) ................................................................Burnaby-Edmonds Christensen, Hon. Tom (L) ...................................................... Okanagan-Vernon Chudnovsky, Dave (NDP).................................................Vancouver-Kensington Coell, Hon. Murray (L) ..........................................Saanich North and the Islands Coleman, Hon.

Rich (L)................................................Fort Langley–Aldergrove Conroy, Katrine (NDP) ............................................... West Kootenay–Boundary Coons, Gary (NDP) .............................................................................North Coast Cubberley, David (NDP)................................................................. Saanich South de Jong, Hon.

Michael (L) ........................................Abbotsford–Mount Lehman Dix, Adrian (NDP) ..............................................................Vancouver-Kingsway Evans, Corky (NDP)......................................................................Nelson-Creston Falcon, Hon. Kevin (L) ............................................................

Surrey-Cloverdale Farnworth, Mike (NDP) ....................................Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Fleming, Rob (NDP) ...................................................................Victoria-Hillside Fraser, Scott (NDP) ...................................................................Alberni-Qualicum Gentner, Guy (NDP)............................................................................ Delta North Hagen, Hon. Stan (L) ......................................................................Comox Valley Hammell, Sue (NDP) ........................................................

Surrey–Green Timbers Hansen, Hon. Colin (L) .......................................................Vancouver-Quilchena Hawes, Randy (L)............................................................... Maple Ridge–Mission Hawkins, Sindi (L) .................................................................... Kelowna-Mission Hayer, Dave S. (L) ..................................................................... Surrey-Tynehead Hogg, Gordon (L)................................................................... Surrey–White Rock Horgan, John (NDP)...........................................................

Malahat–Juan de Fuca Horning, Al (L)................................................................ Kelowna–Lake Country Ilich, Hon. Olga (L)....................................................................Richmond Centre James, Carole (NDP)............................................................Victoria–Beacon Hill Jarvis, Daniel (L)........................................................North Vancouver–Seymour Karagianis, Maurine (NDP) .................................................Esquimalt-Metchosin Krog, Leonard (NDP)..............................................................................

Nanaimo Krueger, Kevin (L)................................................... Kamloops–North Thompson Kwan, Jenny Wai Ching (NDP)................................ Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Lali, Harry (NDP)..............................................................................Yale-Lillooet Lee, Richard T. (L).........................................................................Burnaby North Lekstrom, Blair (L)................................................................... Peace River South Les, Hon. John (L)....................................................................

Chilliwack-Sumas Macdonald, Norm (NDP)......................................... Columbia River–Revelstoke MacKay, Dennis (L)......................................................... Bulkley Valley–Stikine Mayencourt, Lorne (L)............................................................Vancouver-Burrard McIntyre, Joan (L)...................................................... West Vancouver–Garibaldi Neufeld, Hon. Richard (L) ....................................................... Peace River North Nuraney, John (L)..................................................................Burnaby-Willingdon Oppal, Hon.

Wally, QC (L)............................................... Vancouver-Fraserview Penner, Hon. Barry (L)................................................................ Chilliwack-Kent Polak, Mary (L) ......................................................................................... Langley Puchmayr, Chuck (NDP)........................................................... New Westminster Ralston, Bruce (NDP) ...................................................................Surrey-Whalley Reid, Hon. Linda (L) ..................................................................... Richmond East Richmond, Hon.

Claude (L)...................................................................Kamloops Robertson, Gregor (NDP) .....................................................Vancouver-Fairview Roddick, Valerie (L)............................................................................ Delta South Routley, Doug (NDP).......................................................... Cowichan-Ladysmith Rustad, John (L) ..............................................................Prince George–Omineca Sather, Michael (NDP)..............................................

Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Simons, Nicholas (NDP) ........................................ Powell River–Sunshine Coast Simpson, Bob (NDP).......................................................................Cariboo North Simpson, Shane (NDP) ......................................................... Vancouver-Hastings Sultan, Ralph (L) .........................................................West Vancouver–Capilano Taylor, Hon. Carole (L)..........................................................

Vancouver-Langara Thorne, Diane (NDP) ......................................................Coquitlam-Maillardville Thorpe, Hon. Rick (L)............................................................Okanagan-Westside Trevena, Claire (NDP) .......................................................................North Island van Dongen, Hon. John (L)..................................................Abbotsford-Clayburn Whittred, Katherine (L).............................................

North Vancouver–Lonsdale Wyse, Charlie (NDP) ......................................................................Cariboo South Yap, John (L)........................................................................Richmond-Steveston LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING Abbotsford-Clayburn ........................................................ Hon. John van Dongen Abbotsford–Mount Lehman................................................Hon. Michael de Jong Alberni-Qualicum ...............................................................................

Scott Fraser Bulkley Valley–Stikine ................................................................ Dennis MacKay Burnaby North................................................................................ Richard T. Lee Burnaby-Edmonds............................................................................. Raj Chouhan Burnaby-Willingdon ........................................................................John Nuraney Burquitlam............................................................................................

Harry Bloy Cariboo North....................................................................................Bob Simpson Cariboo South................................................................................... Charlie Wyse Chilliwack-Kent ....................................................................... Hon. Barry Penner Chilliwack-Sumas ........................................................................... Hon.

John Les Columbia River–Revelstoke ......................................................Norm Macdonald Comox Valley .............................................................................Hon. Stan Hagen Coquitlam-Maillardville................................................................... Diane Thorne Cowichan-Ladysmith .......................................................................Doug Routley Delta North........................................................................................

Guy Gentner Delta South...................................................................................Valerie Roddick East Kootenay ............................................................................Hon. Bill Bennett Esquimalt-Metchosin ............................................................. Maurine Karagianis Fort Langley–Aldergrove....................................................... Hon. Rich Coleman Kamloops ......................................................................... Hon. Claude Richmond Kamloops–North Thompson..........................................................

Kevin Krueger Kelowna–Lake Country .......................................................................Al Horning Kelowna-Mission ............................................................................Sindi Hawkins Langley................................................................................................

Mary Polak Malahat–Juan de Fuca........................................................................John Horgan Maple Ridge–Mission ......................................................................Randy Hawes Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows...........................................................Michael Sather Nanaimo ...........................................................................................Leonard Krog Nanaimo-Parksville..........................................................................

Ron Cantelon Nelson-Creston.................................................................................. Corky Evans New Westminster ........................................................................Chuck Puchmayr North Coast .........................................................................................Gary Coons North Island.................................................................................... Claire Trevena North Vancouver–Lonsdale ....................................................

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

Richard Neufeld Peace River South ..........................................................................Blair Lekstrom Penticton–Okanagan Valley...................................................... Hon. Bill Barisoff Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain................................................. Mike Farnworth Port Moody–Westwood .........................................................................Iain Black Powell River–Sunshine Coast.....................................................Nicholas Simons Prince George North .........................................................................Hon.

Pat Bell Prince George–Mount Robson................................................. Hon. Shirley Bond Prince George–Omineca .....................................................................John Rustad Richmond Centre .......................................................................... Hon. Olga Ilich Richmond East ............................................................................ Hon. Linda Reid Richmond-Steveston ............................................................................... John Yap Saanich North and the Islands..................................................Hon.

Murray Coell Saanich South..............................................................................David Cubberley Shuswap ................................................................................ Hon. George Abbott Skeena ...............................................................................................Robin Austin Surrey-Cloverdale ....................................................................Hon. Kevin Falcon Surrey–Green Timbers.....................................................................

Sue Hammell Surrey-Newton ....................................................................................Harry Bains Surrey–Panorama Ridge...................................................................... Jagrup Brar Surrey-Tynehead .............................................................................Dave S. Hayer Surrey-Whalley ............................................................................... Bruce Ralston Surrey–White Rock..........................................................................

Gordon Hogg Vancouver-Burrard .................................................................. Lorne Mayencourt Vancouver-Fairview.................................................................. Gregor Robertson Vancouver-Fraserview ...................................................... Hon. Wally Oppal, QC Vancouver-Hastings...................................................................... Shane Simpson Vancouver-Kensington ........................................................... David Chudnovsky Vancouver-Kingsway...........................................................................

Adrian Dix Vancouver-Langara.................................................................Hon. Carole Taylor Vancouver–Mount Pleasant .............................................Jenny Wai Ching Kwan Vancouver–Point Grey..................................................... Hon. Gordon Campbell Vancouver-Quilchena ............................................................. Hon. Colin Hansen Victoria–Beacon Hill ........................................................................Carole James Victoria-Hillside................................................................................

Rob Fleming West Kootenay–Boundary ............................................................ Katrine Conroy West Vancouver–Capilano ............................................................... Ralph Sultan West Vancouver–Garibaldi............................................................. Joan McIntyre Yale-Lillooet ..........................................................................................Harry Lali

CONTENTS Tuesday, February 21, 2006 Afternoon Sitting Routine Proceedings Page Statements (Standing Order 25B) .............................................................................................................................. ............. 2383 Heart and Stroke Awareness Month D. Cubberley Guide-Scout Week H. Bloy B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals D. Routley Contributions of Langley citizens M. Polak Junior Achievement J. Horgan Climb for Community Living at Mount Kilimanjaro I.

Black Oral Questions................................................................................................................. ......................................................... 2385 Federal funding for child care D. Thorne Hon. G. Campbell Funding for hydrometric water monitoring services S. Simpson Hon. B. Penner Compliance of Copeman clinic with federal and provincial legislation D. Cubberley Hon. G. Abbott Closing of Moberly Manor in Revelstoke N. Macdonald Hon. G. Abbott Closing of residential care beds at Queen's Park Care Centre in New Westminster C. Puchmayr Hon. G.

Abbott Seclusion room washrooms in mental health facilities C. Wyse Hon. G. Abbott Availability of health care services in rural and northern B.C. G. Coons Hon. G. Abbott Petitions...................................................................................................................... ............................................................... 2389 N. Simons Budget Debate .................................................................................................................. ........................................................ 2390 Hon. C. Taylor J.

Kwan Introduction and First Reading of Bills........................................................................................ ......................................... 2395 Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2006 (Bill 2) Public Agency Accommodation Act (Bill 3) Agriculture and Lands Statutes Amendment Act, 2006 (Bill 4) Hon. C.

Taylor Tabling Documents.............................................................................................................. .................................................... 2396 Budget and Fiscal Plan Government's service plans and strategic plan, 2006-2007, 2008-2009 Hon. C. Taylor

2383 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006 The House met at 2:04 p.m. Mr. Speaker: Hon. members, noting how many people are here in the precin ct today, I think I'll just welcome everybody on behalf of all the members. Statements (Standing Order 25

B) HEART AND STROKE AWARENESS MONTH D. Cubberley: February is Heart and Stroke Awareness Month, and across B.C. advocates of heart health are bringing the issue to public attention. The unfortunate event that yesterday befell our colleague, the member from Vancouver-Capilano, reminds us in a very personal way just how important this is. Our thoughts are with him, and we all wish him a full and speedy recovery. [1405] Cardiovascular disease is a scourge — the leading cause of death in Canada. Much of it is caused by life- style choices: a diet too rich, a life too sedentary, too much stress.

Therefore, it lies within our power to con- trol. Remedy, though simple to state, is more difficult to implement, especially in busy lives. S i m p l y p u t , we n e e d t o b e m o r e p hy s i c a l l y a c t i v e . Finding time for 30 to 60 minutes a day of moderate exercise three to five times a week improves cardio- respiratory fitness and inocul ates us against disease. This challenge applies especially to my generation, the baby-boomers, slipping rapidly into the quicksand of physical inactivity and obesity at rates that belie their savvy, self-centred reputation.

Deep down we all know it can happen to us, so what are we waiting for? Here at the Legislature, all this month, there's a blood pressure screening and cholesterol testing clinic on Tuesdays, Wednesdays an d Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30 in room 145. If you already know where you're at, the more im- portant step is the one that spurs us to action. It can be as easy as taking a brisk wa lk on a regular basis. We may have to rejig our lifestyles, but with resolve we can put heart health within easy reach.

Let's make Heart Month a time to renew our com- mitment to heart health and redouble our efforts to lead a healthier lifestyle and so lead British Columbi- ans by our example. GUIDE-SCOUT WEEK H. Bloy: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to wear my scout uniform into the House. This week marks Sc out-Guide Week in British Columbia. Tens of thousands of boys and girls and youth and up to 24,000 adult volunteers are involved in both scouting and guiding in Canada, building on the generations whose lives have been formed by the val- ues of leadership, honour and teamwork.

Scout-Guide Week coincides with February 22, marking the birthday of both Lord and Lady Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of scouting and guiding. In scouting circles the day of their birth is called Thinking Day and is used to celebrate international friendship. Activities are planned across British Columbia, includ- ing camps, mall displays, special banquets, parades, as well as recognition events. Founded in 1907, scouting grew from its birthplace in England to today, and over 28 million members in 216 countries and territories continue this proud tradition.

Last year Scouts Canada raised over $30,000 to help those humanitarian relief efforts in South Asia. Also, they com- memorated the 2005 Year of the Veteran by handing out 150,000 crests to veterans to honour their sacrifice for Canada. I ask all my colleagues here today to join me in con- gratulating Scouts Canada and Girl Guides of Canada for all their success and contributions to the province and in wishing them all the best in Scout-Guide Week. B.C. SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS D.

Routley: I rise today to remind the House of the services of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in British Columbia. The SPCA performs many great community services on our behalf. Those include public education. They liaise with schools. They attempt to bring our public up to spee d on the issues that affect our pets and our animals — domestic and otherwise. They engage in the spay-and-neuter program that pro- tects our communities from having stray animals wander- ing. They also carry out the investigations of animal cru- elty and apprehension work in B.C.

Unfortunately, B.C. boasts one of the highest rates of animal cruelty charges in the country, so this is indeed a community service to all of us. Pets are very important to people. In fact, women who are fleeing abusive relationships, by a rate of 17 percent, list their pets as one of the concerns that keep them in the house long past a time when they should probably leave. It's a very widespread benefit that we receive from this organization, but unfortunately, it's an unpaid benefit. I n A l b e r t a t h e S P C A r e c e i v e s p u b l i c f u n d i n g .

I n fact, the Calgary SPCA receives more public funding than the entire BCSPCA orga nization. As a result, do- nated dollars going from neighbours to help support these programs are being diverted to pay for these community services that benefit us all. [1410] I think we should all make a commitment to the fine people, volunteers an d employees, of the SPCA who do a wonderful job protec ting the animals of B.C. and enhancing the life of British Columbians. CONTRIBUTIONS OF LANGLEY CITIZENS M. Polak: We are at the beginning of a new legisla- tive session, we are at the beginning of a new season,

2384 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES T UESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006 and we are at the beginning of a new year. New begin- nings cause us to reflect on the year that has passed. In Langley we are remembering the contributions of three outstanding community leaders. In 2005 Langley city Mayor Marlene Grinnell re- tired from political life. Ma rlene began her civic career in Langley as a school trustee. She went on to become one of Langley city's longest-serving mayors and was the first woman to hold that post. Cliff MacDonald, Langley's RCMP superintendent, also retired in 2005.

Cliff served as a member of the force for 39 years. Cliff spent 13 of those years in Lang- ley, serving both the township and the city. As 2006 dawned, Langley lost one of its most dominant personalities with the passing of George Pre- ston. George was the owner extraordinaire of Preston Chevrolet Cadillac in Langley.

He was also a former mayor, charitable businessman and, as one local news- paper put it: "holder of as many honours as his com- munity has been able to be stow upon him." Whether it was business, sports, the arts or public service organi- zations, almost everyone in Langley was touched by George's generous spirit. All three of these individu als have left an enduring mark on Langley. They have inspired the generation to follow.

As the torch passes to new leaders and com- munity activists, I know th at this House joins me in wishing a joyful retirement to Marlene Grinnell and Cliff MacDonald, along with strength and comfort for the family and friends of George Preston. JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT J. Horgan: I want to take this opportunity to speak to this House and those watching at home and our guests today about an organization that has been work- ing in this province for the past 50 years to help foster business and community leadership skills in British Columbia.

Junior Achievement provides a valuable service to our young people , opening their eyes to practical economics, business practices and community involvement. Junior Achievement has been providing a successful bridge between the business sector and the education sector since 1955. Business education programs in the K-to-12 sys- tem are positively enhanced by Junior Achievement programs and by the volunteers. By learning directly from business leaders in our community, students form positive relationships and develop an under- standing of what makes our economy go.

Junior Achievement is one of the many positive community- based programs that help our students and young people develop leadership skills and understanding of business, economics and the role of entrepreneur- ship in our community. I had the pleasure of participating in a JA weekend conference at the University of Victoria last summer, and I was struck by the energetic participation of young people. I know the member for Okanagan- Westside will be delighted that those on this side of the House are as eager to support and value entrepreneur- ship as he is.

I know that he will be pleased to learn that the participants in my session valued social, cul- tural and artistic developments as much as business and economics. It is this balance of social, cultural and economic that we are all seeking in our community. I'm pleased to support the positive contribution that Junior Achievement makes, has made and will continue to make in the future. By inspiring young people to realize their potential, Junior Achievement plays a valuable role in our community. I ask all mem- bers to join me in saluting the staff and volunteers that make this program possible.

CLIMB FOR COMMUNITY LIVING AT MOUNT KILIMANJARO I. Black: On February 7, 43 British Columbians set out from Vancouver International Airport in an attempt to climb Tanzania's most famous Mount Kilimanjaro. While the summit has been conquered before, including by our own Premier, what makes this expedition unique and inspirational is the fact that 16 of these climbers live with a developmental disability. [1415] Called the Climb for Community Living, it is organized by the B.C.

Association for Community Living, and it is designed to raise awareness of the challenges facing those living with a developmental disability. Their objective was to declare from the highest mountain in Africa their organizational goal: to build communities where everyone belongs. In addition, each climber set out a goal to raise $1 per foot that they climbed, re presenting $19,341 and the very elevation of Kilimanjaro's summit. That's al- most six kilometres. I don't walk that far — never mind try to climb it.

Two Coquitlam developmentally disabled resi- dents, Ron Berg and Eric Andersen, are among the group of 43 who set off for Africa. Meeting these men, their families, their climbing-support persons and their supporters and sponsors was an inspiring and moving experience. I was delighted to attend their send-off dinner and to leave them with provincial pins and the greetings of our province and Premier.

I'm thrilled to advise that on Sunday, after spend- ing the night near the crest, where they slept contend- ing with oxygen levels that are half of what is found here at sea level, they scaled Stella Point, the very summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, almost six kilometres above the African plains — and soaring well above their limitations. Please join me in congratulating Ron, Eric and all the other climbers — and the B.C. Association for Community Living and its many volunteers and spon- sors — for this amazing achievement and for raising funds and awareness for this most worthy cause.

This accomplishment proves that hard work and determina- tion can overcome any obstacle and should serve as an inspiration for all British Columbians, including every one of us in this very House.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 2385 Oral Questions FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CHILD CARE D. Thorne: Following the federal election the Premier outlined four critical areas where he stated that his gov- ernment wanted to move forward with the new federal Conservative government. The Premier stated that these four areas that he considered to be critical were the Pacific gateway project, the national transportation initiative, the pine beetle initiative and a national training strategy.

To the Premier: why, when other Premiers were fighting for child care spac es for their provinces, did you, our Premier, not incl ude securing the over $600 million in federal child care funding as a priority for your government? In other words, Mr. Premier, why didn't child care make your priority list? Hon. G. Campbell: Well, I'm sure the member op- posite is aware that I have actually communicated with all of the federal ministers. I have included child care and our goal of making sure that children and families in British Columbia have the support they need. I've also included a national Pharmacare program.

I've also included working with the federal government on the national wait times strategy. I've also included with the federal government a national productivity strategy, a strategy for post-secondary education and a strategy for early childhood learning. I know the side opposite wasn't very good at work- ing with the federal government. We have been good at working with the federal government. We believe we're all there to serve all of the people of British Co- lumbia. We'll continue to do that on behalf of children, seniors, middle-income earners — all British Columbi- ans from all parts of the province.

We continue to strengthen British Columbia and strengthen Canada. Mr. Speaker: Member for Coquitlam-Maillardville has a supplemental. D. Thorne: In spite of the comments of the Premier, his silence on child care has been deafening. While the Premiers of Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia have pub- licly been demanding that the federal government honour signed child care agreements, our Premier has been silent.

A simple question for the Premier on this budget day: why is he so willing to forgo the balance owing of over $500 million that would have ensured quality, affordable child care spaces for all B.C. families in need? Hon. G. Campbell: As I have said in the past in the public, in the Legislature, we continue to work with the federal government, whoever is elected federally. We think there's an opportunity here.

There's an opportu- nity to build a new relationship in British Columbia between aboriginal British Columbians and the rest of the province. [1420] There's an opportunity for us to lead the country with regard to that. There's an opportunity for us to continue to focus resources on early childhood devel- opment, on child care and on early children's learning. There is an opportunity for us to build and strengthen the social infrastructure of Canada. There is also an opportunity for us to build additional training and skills development on a nationwide basis across the country.

I notice that many of the members opposite think the way to do that is to go and confront the federal govern- ment. What our goal is, is to make sure that all of the resources of all Canadians ar e put to work benefiting each Canadian and making sure that British Columbia continues to lead the way. That's why we have led the way with regard to the Pacific gateway. We have led the way with regard to a national fair Pharmacare program. We have led the way with regard to expansion of post- secondary spaces across the country, and we will con- tinue to lead the way in British Columbia. Interjections. Mr.

Speaker: Members. Members. The member for Coquitlam-Maillardville has a further supplemental. D. Thorne: In spite of the Premier's comments, he has to know and his government has to know that the federal Finance Minister has already stated that the child care deals are dead. But Prime Minister Harper has already negotiated a separate deal with the province of Quebec.

Will the Premier commit today to finally make child care a priority and pledge in this House to all of us that he will fight to obtain qualit y, affordable child care for the families of British Columb ia, just as the Premier of Quebec has already done? Hon. G. Campbell: The member opposite should know that we will continue to provide British Colum- bians with a broader range of options than were ever existing under the NDP. We have expanded the num- ber of child care spaces in British Columbia by 77,000.

We've got 10,000 more families who get subsidies for their children in child care in British Columbia than has happened over the last few years. We've made sure that the threshold for subsidies has gone up so that, in fact, more families are included in getting the kind of support they need for child care. Let me be clear about this. The federal government has already expanded what they initially thought they were going to do with regard to child care. We intend to continue to work with the federal government. We have commitments for this year and for next year.

We will continue to work to make sure this happens — that families and children in British Columbia get the choices, the options and the quality of child care they deserve in the province of British Columbia. FUNDING FOR HYDROMETRIC WATER MONITORING SERVICES S. Simpson: The decisions of the Ministry of Envi- ronment to not commit longer-term, stable funding to

2386 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES T UESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006 our already under-resourced hydrometric water moni- toring system has led to the mothballing of upwards of 50 hydrometric stations. We have heard from the tourism industry, the Council of Forest Industries, the UBCM, the Mining Association of B.C., the Steelhead Society of British Columbia and the B.C. Agriculture Council. All of them are telling this government that this is a serious mistake. It will hurt industry, it will hurt the environ- ment, and it will hurt our communities.

This lack of support is a serious story of mismanagement and lack of commitment to an essential service. My question to the minister is: can he explain to this House how this decision to not adequately support water monitoring services lo n g t e r m i s g o o d f o r b u s i - ness, our communities and the environment? Hon. B. Penner: I can certainly explain why hy- drometric monitoring is impo rtant, but I can't explain why the critic isn't more informed. Here are the facts. The Ministry of Environment has secured funding for our provincial share of this important federal- provincial program.

We have always met our commit- ment provincially in terms of funding this program. Unfortunately, in 1997 the federal government did cut their share of funding by about $1.2 million, and that has put pressure on the system. [1425] I'm pleased to announce today that last Friday, fol- lowing a meeting with the new federal Environment Minister, Rona Ambrose, I was able to secure a com- mitment from her and her o fficials that these 50 moni- toring stations that the member refers to will not be closing on April 1.

This is a very good example of the cooperative working relation ship that the Premier's referred to, between the province of British Columbia and the federal government. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. The member for Vancouver- Hastings has a supplemental. S. Simpson: Well, it's interesting. I understand this minister scrambles to cobble together a few dollars at the last minute to get through another year.

I had dis- cussions today with the organization Water Highway B.C., which is the strongest advocate for water moni- toring in this province, and they told me that the minis- ter was likely to tell me about scraping together this money to get through the year. But what they also told me is that there is no long-term commitment. This gov- ernment hasn't made the commitment; they haven't told us where that funding will be long term. The reality is this. Our economy, whether it's for- estry, mining, oil and gas or agriculture…. They all rely on water and the information provided by those ser- vices.

This government has not made that commitment. Up until last week when th ey got embarrassed by peo- ple in the industry, they weren't making that commit- ment. The minister has scrambled in the last minute to put it together. The question I have for the minister is: will he commit today that he's going to guarantee the funding long term — not through the end of next year, not just for those 50 stations, but also for the additional sup- ports that we need around hydrometric monitoring? Hon. B. Penner: Some people just don't like good news.

Whether it's more jobs created than any other province in Canada or keep ing those stations open, the NDP just can never seem to accept good news. So, here is the good news: those stations will be kept open, ac- cording to the federal Minister of Environment that I met with last Friday. We have secured funding for the 2006-2007 year through the Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders, and we will be working dili- gently with other stakeholders, because it is a partner- ship, to make sure that this program continues to serve the needs of British Columbians into the future.

COMPLIANCE OF COPEMAN CLINIC WITH FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL LEGISLATION D. Cubberley: After allowing the Copeman clinic to open in November, the Minister of Health said that he had concerns but that "t hey're not huge concerns." Then in February he decide d the clinic's enrolment fee constituted a barrier to public access but that "the an- nual fee does not appear to be a problem." Last week in this House the minister stated Mr. Copeman would be out of compliance if he's setting up a barrier to public access to insured services.

So can the minister explain why, in his mind, the annual clinic fees do not constitute a barrier to public access? Hon. G. Abbott: I'm delighted to canvass this topic again for, I guess, the third week running. I think every week we're making a little bit more progress. I am concerned that the member takes little pieces of things that I say at different points in history and trots them out as if they're some kind of answer here. The fact of the matter is…. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. Hon. G. Abbott: The answer here is very simple, and I'll state it for the record again. If the services that Mr.

Copeman is providing are insured services under the Canada Health Act and the Medicare Protection Act and if he charges a fee that would pose a barrier to those ser- v i c e s , t h e n h e w i l l b e o u t o f c o m p l i a n c e w i t h b o t h t h e Canada Health Act and the Medicare Protection Act. [1430] Though I don't know how much clearer and sim- pler I can be about this issue, I know it's a delight to bring the member up to date each and every week. Hopefully, he's found it useful again today.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 2387 Mr. Speaker: Member for Saanich South has a sup- plemental. D. Cubberley: I enjoy the weekly updates. I hope I can continue to have them. A position so nuanced that it can't be clearly understood isn't really a position at all. The Copeman clinic offers preferred access to doc- tor services in return for annual fees. Selling access to faster or better doctor services offends the Canada Health Act. Obviously, the annual fees are a barrier to public access. The fees create two tiers of people: those who pay big bucks for better service and the rest of us.

The act obliges the minister to ensure that the same standard of access to doctors applies to everyone in British Columbia. So why is the minister avoiding ac- knowledging that it's the clinic's billing scheme itself — selling better and faster access to doctors — that does not comply, and when is he going to take action? Hon. G. Abbott: I thank the member for that ser- mon. It is always instructive to hear from the member, and I appreciate that. The member mentioned at the outset that it's a dif- ficult position, I believe he said, that can't be nuanced.

I sense that the position of the NDP here is a nuance that can't be positioned. That's the way I'd tend to…. The problem with the Copeman clinic is, actually, as the member has stated, that the business model, the billing practices, the website, the advertising associated with it suggest at this point that the clinic is going to be charging fees for services that are insured under the Canada Health Act and the Medicare Protection Act. That is the core of the problem here. Again, I know the NDP is always quick to convict and then have a thorough lo ok at the issue later. We want to be fair to Mr.

Copeman and resolve this issue. CLOSING OF MOBERLY MANOR IN REVELSTOKE N. Macdonald: On February 24, 2005, the Interior Health, through a press release, made a commitment to the people of Revelstoke with regards to the senior housing facility, Moberly Manor. The promise was that Interior Health would continue to operate Moberly Manor until new facilities were ready. Last week residents were informed with letters that Interior Health would stop operating Moberly Manor in April. The new facilities are not ready yet, nor will they be ready in April. In fact, the assisted-living com- ponent has not even been started.

The question is to the Minister of Health. Will the government keep its promises made to the people of Revelstoke? Hon. G. Abbott: I actually think the Interior Health Authority has done a wonderful job on behalf of the people of Revelstoke and the people of the interior in providing excellent service to those British Columbians who live in the Interior Health Authority. The members across the way, I think, are often way too critical of the capable and dedicated public servants who serve us remarkably well. The IHA has done a terrific job of providing new facilities.

Remember, for ten years the NDP didn't do the in- vestment in places like Moberly Manor. They allowed… Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. Hon. G. Abbott: …those facilities to deteriorate. The IHA is bringing them up to standards. We are going to have the best assisted living, the best residential care of anywhere in Canada, anywhere in the world because of the efforts of Interior Health and this government. Mr. Speaker: The member for Columbia River– Revelstoke has a supplemental. N. Macdonald: I do, Mr. Speaker.

If the people of Revelstoke were happy with Interior Health, Wendy McMahon would be here, not me. [1435] You're wrong to be dismissive of this issue. The fact is that what you are doing is moving people. There are ten people that will be moved. The facility is going to be moved from complex care to assisted care without chang- ing. They were supposed to move to assisted care when the new facility was built. Three of those people are going t o g o t o t h e s e c o n d f l o o r o f a h o s p i t a l a n d w a i t f o r t h e completion of the facility that is going to take them. These are seniors.

You are going to move them. It is not a joke. It is serious. The commitment was clear. It was given on February 24, 2005. It is a commitment that is being broken. The question is simple. Does this government keep its promises on health care, or does it not? Hon. G. Abbott: I think this is an absolutely serious matter.

I think it's unfortunate when we hear members fearmongering about these issues when, in fact, I know full well that the Interior Health Authority has been work- ing over and over and over again with this member to ensure that he is plugged into all of their processes and that he understands why people are being moved, when they are being moved and why they are being moved. We need to upgrade the facilities at Moberly Manor. It cannot be done without work on the open- ing. The member should try to work with Interior Health. Interior Health is doing a great job.

If this member would work with th em, I think the whole sys- tem would work better. CLOSING OF RESIDENTIAL CARE BEDS AT QUEEN'S PARK CARE CENTRE IN NEW WESTMINSTER C. Puchmayr: We have seen the catastrophic im- pacts that the demolition of St. Mary's Hospital has caused in the Fraser health region on the delivery of

2388 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES T UESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006 health care in that region. The minister knows that the observations being made are being quantified by lead- ers in that profession in the field. The Fraser Health Author ity is now evicting the entire third floor of the Qu een's Park care facility, a public care facility, and forcing the long-term tenants to find other care — some in private, for-profit facilities — 150 residents. Will the minister tell this House why he is now displacing seniors from the Queen's Park public facility? Hon. G.

Abbott: It would be remarkable, I think, on hearing the member's question, to think back to 2001 and the fact that at that time, British Columbians waited approximately one year to access residential care. Today, among the health authorities, the range of…. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. Carry on, minister. Hon. G. Abbott: Today, Mr. Speaker, the range of wait times is between a low of 18 days in Vancouver Coastal and about 38 days in the Interior Health Au- thority. We have come a long ways.

Not only are peo- ple getting access to assisted living and residential care much more quickly than they were four years ago, but qualitatively as well as quantitatively, the lives of our seniors have been dramatically and meas- urably improved. Mr. Speaker: The member for New Westminster has a supplemental. C. Puchmayr: The minister can sp in all he wants, but the bottom line is that seniors at Queen's Park are being evicted. The move ha s traumatized seniors that are in the twilight of their lives. Many have become distraught, despondent; so me have died.

Will the minister tell British Columbians if this is a further transformation of the public health care system that has been so creatively woven through the throne speech? [1440] Hon. G. Abbott: I understand that the members across the floor hope someday to form a government in this province. I think that's good. I think one of the things they will need to do…. So far I'm not seeing a lot to recommend that possibility, Mr. Speaker, but I think they would like the opportunity to form a government.

One thing that I think they should do along that journey is start thinking ab out Fraser Health Authority — thousands of people dedicated to providing better care to the residents in the Fraser health region. These are people who get up every morning and try to find ways to make people's live s better. To disparage their efforts in the way that this member has done is entirely offensive — entirely offensive. SECLUSION ROOM WASHROOMS IN MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES C. Wyse: Best practices in mental health state that seclusion rooms have individual toilets.

Does the Min- ister of Health support that statement of best practice in mental health? Hon. G. Abbott: The seclusion rooms to which the member refers were seclusion rooms that, by and large, were built in the 1990s under his former government. The practice around seclusion rooms — and I've just reviewed this matter, so I thank the member for raising this issue…. Seclusion rooms generally have washroom facilities within three to ten feet of those seclusion rooms.

What we are doing in concert with the health authorities is providing further technology so that the signalling apparatus for those who are in seclusion rooms to the staff on duty can be done very expedi- tiously. We appreciate the issue, and the situation is being improved. Mr. Speaker: Member for Cariboo South has a sup- plemental. C. Wyse: I assume that was a yes to whether the minister supported seclusion rooms having toilets, which leads into my supplementary question.

For the last four years advocates for the mentally ill in northern B.C. have been unsuccessful in having washrooms placed in four seclusion rooms in the Prince George Regional Hospital. The following testi- monial describes the result of what occurs when an individual must get the attention of a staff by waving at a camera to go to the washroom. My family member was committed four weeks ago. She was placed in the secure room in a small hospital while awaiting a bed in a psychiatric facility, and she begged and begged to get out to go to the bathroom. She was forced to urinate in the corner.

Now we have to deal with her humiliation and shame as well as her first bout of mental illness. As a family member, I am appalled and disgusted at the way my loved one was treated during her crisis. We live in the 21st century, not in the Dark Ages. My question: when will th e Minister of Health en- sure that the seclusion rooms in Prince George Re- gional Hospital have toilets? Hon. G. Abbott: The seclusion rooms at the Prince George facility do reflect the best practices of the 1990s when those seclusion rooms were made. Again, this is a serious issue — no question about it.

The challenge here is that, obviously, people are in seclusion rooms for a particular reason. Often they're going through a psychotic episode, and there are chal- lenges around what facilities can be provided within those seclusion rooms. Seclusion rooms are not a place of ongoing habitation. Seclusion rooms are for a spe- cific purpose to allow people to get — uninjured — through a difficult, often psychotic episode.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 2389 A g a i n , w e a r e a d d i n g s o m e t e c h n o l o g y t o t h o s e seclusion rooms in the form of buzzers or signalling devices that will allow the staff to access the patients more quickly. As I said at the outset, the washrooms are within just a few feet of the seclusion room, but a more effective signalling system is being put in place. [1445] AVAILABILITY OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN RURAL AND NORTHERN B.C. G. Coons: In Prince Rupert young Leon Haldane suffered a broken wrist and a severely fractured jaw.

He spent three days in a hallway waiting for a room. A surgeon became available in Prince George for him, but Leon wasn't on the priority list, so he couldn't be medevacked. The young man's family drove the 1,800 kilometres at an expense of over $1,000. Can the Minister of Health please explain how traveling 1,800 kilometres with a broken arm and a broken jaw is an example of health care when you need it and where you live? Hon. G. Abbott: I thank the member for raising the issue.

It is difficult for me to comment on the specifics here because I don't believe the member has, to this point, alerted me or my office as to the specifics around this case. I would appreciate if the member would bring the case file forward to me. I am always concerned when British Columbians don't get the service that we believe they merit from the system. I want to get all the facts on the issue, so I'd like the member to bring that forward.

I do want to say to him with all sincerity, as I do to all members in this House, that members opposite have brought a large number of case files to me, and generally, they get sat- isfactorily resolved, so I do welcome the member's submission as well. Mr. Speaker: The member for North Coast has a supplemental. G. Coons: Perhaps I can give the Minister of Health the letter that he signed, which he sent to me about the situation. In my investigatio n of this, I approached the Northern Health Authority, who were very helpful and said the ministry is looking after this.

In your letter you indicated that the Ministry of Health is not directly responsible for or involved in the decisions regarding the delivery of health services, including the transport of patients between regional facilities. I would hope that the minister would get a better grasp of his file. Is this just another example of this government's uncaring lack of concern for rural and northern residents? Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. G. Coons: To the minister: what's being done to ensure that this tragedy doesn't repeat itself? I hope it doesn't include another 1,800-kilometre bus ride. Hon. G.

Abbott: I apologize to the member for not having that particular case file at my fingertips. Appre- ciate that I do see a few hundred of them every month. I hope the member can accept my apology for not im- mediately being able to call that one up to memory. As it turns out, we are attempting to address issues like the one that the member raises. I've just been ad- vised that the letter we sent out does reference the Health Connections program we put in place, which will help all northerners and all rural British Columbians with the challenge of travel costs to facilities.

I do hope that the member's constituents as well as all constituents in the House here have an opportunity to do that. Again, the system is not perfect. I'm not going to form any conclusions about this one. The system is not perfect, but it is the best in Canada and one that we should be very, very proud of. [End of question period.] Petitions N. Simons: It gives me great pleasure to present to the House today two petitions. I'll start with the first from residents of the Powell River area who are con- cerned about logging in a particular sensitive area. It gives me pleasure to present that.

M y s e c o n d p e t i t i o n i s s i g n e d b y o v e r 1 , 5 0 0 y o u n g people from the Sunshine Coast — a testament to the involvement that they have in their communities. They are calling for a land and resource management plan for the Sunshine Coast. I'm proud to present that on their behalf. [1450] Orders of the Day Hon. C. Taylor: M r . S p e a k e r , I m o v e t h a t t h i s House at its next sitting resolve itself for this session into a committee to consider the supply to be granted to Her Majesty. Motion approved. ESTIMATES OF SUMS REQUIRED FOR THE SERVICE OF THE PROVINCE Hon. C.

Taylor presented a message from His Hon- our the Administrator: Estima tes of Sums Required for the Service of the Province for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007, and a supplement to the estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007, recommending the same to the Legislative Assembly. Hon. C. Taylor moved that the said message and the estimates accompanying the same be referred to the Committee of Supply.

2390 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES T UESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006 Motion approved. Hon. C. Taylor: I move, seconded by the hon. Pre- mier of British Columbia, that the Speaker do now leave the chair for the House to go into Committee of Supply. Budget Debate Hon. C. Taylor: Hon. Speaker, it's my pleasure to present Budget 2006, the seco nd of five budgets this government will table in its renewed mandate. Like the budget update we presented in September, it's another step forward for our province and the people of British Columbia. We have come a long way since 2001.

We've over- come a long list of challenges that during the '90s held our province back from achieving its potential. Now we're back in a leadership position. Our economy is strong, and we've all seen the numbers, but success as a province means so much more than just statistics. We know that we're doing well, because people are optimistic. Travel around. Ta lk to people. All across this province it's a stark contrast to the gloom of the '90s. People are excited. They're making plans, and they're doing so with confidence.

They see how far we've come, and just as impo rtant, they see the possi- bilities for British Columbia's future, for their own fu- ture, for their families' future. Our challenge now is to build on that, to continue moving forward to ensure that this is a province wh ere people choose to live and choose to build their futures — a province where suc- cess is limited only by the scope of our imagination. In that spirit, today we take one more step forward building on the hard work our citizens have done to get B.C. back on track. Bu dget 2005 focused on seniors, the people who literally built our province.

Budget 2006 focuses on children and the British Columbia we are building for tomorrow. As I've said before, we ca n't do everything we want to all at the same time. It's about choices. This budget is one more step towards a future of virtually limitless possibility. Nowhere is that sense of boundless possi- bility more tangible than in our children and our youth. They are tomorrow's leaders and decision- makers. What they learn and experience today will affect every single one of us in the years to come. But young people aren't just our future. They are also very much, most importantly, our present.

I t ' s o u r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a s a d u l t s t o e d u c a t e , t o s u p - port, to protect and to inspire them. As a government, we work hand in hand with families to make sure that children get a good start in life. We provide things like health care, child care support, early learning programs for babies and toddlers, public education — programs that help young people make healthy choices. For many families, that's the extent of their interac- tion with government.

Their children get the care and support that they need at home, and their families are sufficiently resilient to overcome the challenges that they face from day to day. But raising a family is hard work. Parenting is one of the toughest jobs there is, and I don't think there is one pare nt who feels that they do it perfectly. We all have moments where we need support, and we can't always get it from our friends and from our family.

Every year in this province tens of thousands of children, youth and families access services like coun- selling, mediation, parenting support, help with addic- tions, help for kids with special needs, help resolving parenting conflicts and a long list of other services that help keep families strong and help prevent challenges from turning into crises. [1455] With this budget, we are investing $421 million over four years to strengthen these supports — $421 million to support our children, to help ensure that more of our young people have the opportunities they need to grow with confidence.

The largest portion of this new funding, $173 mil- lion, will be used to enhance services for children, in- cluding more social workers and other front-line staff to stay in closer contact with those families that are at risk; more counselling, treatment and support to help prevent problems such as child abuse, neglect and fam- ily breakdown; more culturally appropriate services for aboriginal children and th eir families; and increased support for extended family members caring for chil- dren under kinship agreements , and for foster parents, without whom we could not provide safe, loving homes for children and youth unable to live with their own families.

Effective April 1, 2006, the foster parents' transporta- tion allowance will increase by 50 percent, recognizing that in addition to driving kids to lessons, school, ap- pointments and so on, foster parents have the added role of keeping children connected to their families. This in- crease is the first in more than a decade and will benefit approximately 3,500 foster families provincewide. Foster families do an amazing job on our behalf. They care for some of the most vulnerable children and youth in British Columbia, and so do parents whose children have special needs.

They often deal with more, and more complex, challenges in one day than some of us could ever imagine. Government provides a range of services for thes e children, youth and their families, but in several areas demand has grown faster than capacity.

Today we're responding to that challenge with new dollars, part of the $173 million that I just mentioned, to shorten waits and increase capacity in four impor- tant service areas: child and youth mental health; the infant development program, which provides one-on- one support for parents who are concerned about their babies' development; supported child development, which helps child care providers accommodate chil- dren with special needs to help ensure their families have a full range of child care choices in their commu- nities; and therapies such as physical, speech language and occupational therapies.

In addition, $30 million will be placed in a family independence fund. This fund will allow families with

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 2391 children with developmental and multiple disabilities to actually live a better life. It will provide grants for specialized vehicles that accommodate wheelchairs, for instance, and home improvem ents such as lifts and ramps that allow British Columbians to keep their sons and daughters at home and keep their families to- gether. All of these initiatives will help to ensure that the children in our province who face the greatest chal- lenges will get the support they need to reach their full potential.

But we do know there is still more to do for our children. Therefore, we have set aside an addi- tional $100 million over th ree years for future en- hancements to child protec tion and family support services. With this budget, we are also making new invest- ments in another priority program, one that affects every child and family in this province. We are increas- ing funding for public education by another $112 mil- lion, which, combined with previous increases, amounts to $437 million in new funding for our educa- tion system, K-to-12, in the next three years.

This works out to $7,338 per student in '08-09, the highest ever in the history of this province. [1500] We're also investing $4 million over three years to double the school start-up allowance for some of B.C.'s neediest children. Families on income assistance will now receive $84 for each child under 12, $116 for each child 12 or older. This increase — again, the first since 1993 — will benefit 29,000 children and help them start the school year on more of an equal footing with their peers. Of course, our responsibilities and our worries as parents do not end as our children grow older.

I doubt that there's one person in this House who has not been touched, either directly or indirectly, by the frightening spectre of crystal meth addi ction. It devours the inde- pendence and the strength of our young people's minds, it poisons families, and it threatens the future of so many of our youth. This government is committed to attacking crystal meth head-on. In the past year we've moved ahead with an integrated, multi-year strategy — the first of its kind in all of Canada.

As part of that strategy, $2 million is being directed to community assistance, with grants of up to $10,000 for community and first nations organizations to help fight crystal meth at a grass-roots level, and $1 million is being directed to school-based awareness programs focusing on students, parents and educators. These new programs will start in our schools during 2006.

Two million dollars is going to initiatives to increase access to treatment — including such things as the Meth Kickers pilot program in Kamloops, specialized treatment for psychosis an d increased outreach to youth at risk; and $2 million will fund a public aware- ness campaign to increase knowledge and help prevent crystal meth use and addiction. Lastly, the Solicitor General is holding a series of community forums to provide information on the dan- gers of crystal meth and to answer people's questions. If anyone in this House has the opportunity to go to one of those forums, go.

It is shocking, and you will not believe what we have sitting in our community, which we all have to work on. Today we're building on that integrated strategy. We are investing another $2 million over three years for the crystal meth secretariat, a central body to inte- grate and coordinate all of the work that's happening on this front throughout British Columbia. That in- cludes efforts to combat production as well as the use of crystal meth. Quite simp ly, this drug has already compromised too many lives and too many of our young people's futures.

We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to live a full and rewarding life, so we've chosen in this budget to invest a total of $421 million of new money in our children and youth, particularly those who face major challenges. We want everyone in British Colum- bia to look to the future with a real sense of confidence. That is why we chose to make these investments, but let's be clear. Having choices is a privilege, one we wouldn't have as a province if we hadn't done the hard w o r k t o b u i l d a s t r o n g e c o n o m y . B . C . i s d o i n g v e r y well right now.

We're seeing good results right across the province and across almost every economic sector. With this budget we're pr ojecting economic growth of 3.3 percent for 2006 and 3.1 percent in each of the next several years. Private sector forecasters are even more optimistic. Business and consumer confidence is strong. Retail sales for 2005 are expected to reach their highest levels ever — close to $50 billion — and the latest quarterly survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business found that "Alberta and B.C. continue to be the most optimistic…." People are moving here as well.

Since 2001 our net population has increased by about 175,000 people, the equivalent of another Kelowna or two new Prince G e o r g e s . A n d B . C . ' s j o b g r o w t h i s s e c o n d t o n o n e i n Canada, with almost 275,000 jobs created just since December 2001. [1505] Our unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest level in 30 years, with new investment, new activity and new innovation provincewide. As the Premier has said, instead of people looking for jobs, as we did in the '90s, today in British Columbia, jobs are looking for people.

That is a great problem to have, but it is a chal- lenge nonetheless. Over the next 12 years B.C. is expected to have one million job openings. That's one for every young per- son graduating from high sc hool during that period, plus another 350,000 openings. All of this goes to say that we need more skilled people, and with strong de- mand right across the country, we can't count on bring- i n g t h e m i n f r o m o t h e r p r o v i n c e s . W e h a v e t o f o c u s more on the untapped potential we already have right here in B.C.

For example, we know that rates of unemployment and underemployment are higher in aboriginal com- munities. We know that many women, for a variety of

2392 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES T UESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006 reasons, face challenges en tering or re-entering the workforce. We know that there are barriers for many new immigrants seeking work in their chosen profes- sions. We know that many people who have disabili- ties want to work, but they've not been able to find an opportunity that matches their interests and their abili- ties. With this budget, we are allocating $400 million over four years to increase training and skills devel- opment and to help more people connect with the op- portunities, starting with enhanced support for new British Columbians.

More than 30,000 immigrants come to our province every year. Most are of working age, and many have the skills and experience that this province needs. In 2005 we introduced a program called B.C. Skills Con- nect for Immigrants. It provides one-on-one support to help people find work in their professions. In the next two years it will help 5,000 recent immigrants connect with jobs in sectors and regions of the province that are currently facing skills shortages.

There are still many talented and trained new Cana- dians who are drastically underemployed in our com- munities — builders, doctors, engineers and others — and wanting to work but running into roadblocks. This government will work with the federal government and professional regulating bodies to reduce the time it takes for accreditation. Sometimes the stumbling block is a lack of proficiency in English, so today we're investing an additional $5 million over three years to enhance our ESL training efforts to help our new immigrants partici- pate more fully in our communities and in our economy.

Another important investment in our future is the $17 million over two years that we're investing in com- puter technology, access and training for first nations people. We will provide bands with computers, and they in turn will provide the facilities to develop local computer access centres for their own communities. Key members of participating bands will receive inten- sive training so that they can take that knowledge back, and they will serve as the mentors in their own com- munities.

This is the kind of capacity-building we're focusing on with first nations — giving people the tools they need to open up a whole new realm of social and economic opportunities. We're also taking steps to open up more opportuni- ties for youth at risk and those in B.C.'s rural communi- ties to develop the skills they need to become active participants in the workforce. This includes expanding the BladeRunners program, which currently operates in Vancouver, Victoria and Nanaimo. This program offers youth at risk a chance to enter construction trades with on-the-job prea pprenticeship training.

The program was scaled back during the '90s when we had a less active construction sector but is widely recog- nized as a successful, proactive initiative. Now, with the industry going flat out, we're investing $3 million over three years to expand BladeRunners to other communities such as Prince George so that more young people who face major challenges — remember, these are youth at risk — will have an opportunity to turn their lives around. We're also investing $2 million for new youth train- ing in mining and mineral exploration.

The program will be similar to BladeRunners but will be focusing, this time, on rural communities. [1510] You know, the mining and mineral industry has such great potential. It currently employs about 10,000 British Columbians, with average salaries and benefits worth more than $94,000 a year. This industry is poised for further expansion, and with this new training pro- gram more of our youth will have a chance to get these good jobs, establish careers and build their futures in British Columbia. We also want to provide more opportunities for people with disabilities and other barriers to full-time employment.

As we announced earlier, starting March 1, 2006, people who have disabilities will be able to earn up to $500 a month without losing any income assistance. That's an increa se of 150 percent just since 2001. With this budget, we are also more than doubling our commitment to the community volunteer supple- ment, a monthly payment for people on income assis- tance who aren't expected to find work but do choose t o v o l u n t e e r t o s u p p o r t t heir communities. This will give them $100 a month to offset expenses and ac- knowledge the value of thei r contributions.

The sup- plement currently goes to about 1,400 people. We're increasing funding by $9 million over three years to extend the benefit to another 2,500 individuals. We will also continue to support those who can work to move to jobs from income assistance. Since 2001 our employment programs have placed more than 44,000 income assistance clie nts in jobs. These are peo- ple who want to work. They have skills, and they have experience, but many just need a hand to find the right opportunity or to market their skills to employers in the right way.

In the coming year we expect another 14,000 British Columbians will move from income as- sistance to work, raising both their confidence and their standard of living. We are also developing a mentoring program for women who, for whatever reason, are entering or re- entering the workforce after a lengthy absence. British Columbia needs these women in our workforce, and we can help with their transition. All of these initiatives will help more people con- nect or reconnect with jobs, but this is just the begin- ning.

We know that there's still more work to be done and more ideas we need to explore to ensure that our people and our economy have the skills that we all need. We have listened to the calls of industry to offer more creative incentives to encourage skills training. Today, Budget 2006 allocates $90 million in tax credits over three years to encourage business to be part of the solution and to help government meet the challenge of training our workforce in both our traditional sectors and our emerg- ing industries.

This program of tax credits will be de- signed in consultation with industry representatives from around the province.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 2393 We are also increasing th e budget for the Industry Training Authority by $39 million over three years, bringing its total annual budg et to $90 million. This is essential at a time when entire construction projects are being put at risk because we don't have enough skilled tradespeople. This new funding will allow us to in- crease the number of regist ered apprenticeships from 14,000 in '03-04 to 35,000 apprentices in '07-08. We also continue to enhance opportunities for Brit- ish Columbians in higher education.

With this budget, we're investing over $90 million in one-time funding for projects that support an d encourage the diversifica- tion of our economy and the promotion of excellence. Fifty million dollars will create a new natural re- sources and applied science endowment. It will sup- port new partnerships with industry for advanced training and research in sc iences and engineering to create new knowledge and new innovation, which are critical to ongoing economic development and diversi- fication.

The balance of this new fu nding, $40.5 million, will help to establish a new worl d centre for digital media education, as the government first announced in last week's throne speech. This pr oject is being led by four institutions: BCIT, Emily Carr Institute of Art and De- sign, UBC and SFU. [1515] All of this is being done in partnership with indus- try. They are developing a whole new approach where science and technology will merge with art, design and our unique culture.

We have a critical mass of talent and expertise in new media in British Columbia, and this new initiative will build on our worldwide reputa- tion as a centre of excellence. Government has also partnered with industry to build a new centre of oil and gas excellence at Northern Lights College in Fort St. John to provide vocational, trades, career and tech- nical programs starting in the year 2007.

You can see the pattern we're developing here: government working with industry; government work- ing with our educators; government working with communities; government committing $400 million to directly, proactively and aggressively face the chal- lenge of our skilled labour needs. All of these initiatives will help our economy and, at the same time, help create more opportunities for British Columbians to build their careers and futures right here at home.

But as government, it's part of our job to balance what we do for the economy with what we do for British Columbians, and that includes ensur- ing that our taxes are both competitive for business and fair for individuals. In 2001 we lowered B.C. income taxes by an aver- age of 25 percent. Families earning less than $30,000 a year saw their income taxes reduced by 28 percent. B.C. now has the lowest personal income tax rates in Can- ada for the bottom two tax rates, and most people earn- ing up to $16,000 a year pay no provincial income tax at all.

A year ago we went further, with nearly half a billion dollars' worth of tax and MSP premium reduc- tions over three years for the province's lowest-income earners. We've also brought in a series of measures since 2001 to attract new investment and help business grow, including lowering the general corporate income tax rate by 27 percent. Today we're announcing fu rther measures to keep our taxes fair and competitive, starting with tax relief for homeowners.

We are investing $309 million over four years to help address the challenges that come with soaring real estate values, especially for families and seniors on fixed incomes. For almost 50 years the homeowner grant has helped to keep home-ownership affordable. With this budget, we're improving it in three ways. First, we are increasing the basic grant by 22 percent to $570 — or $845 for seniors, veterans and the disabled. This is the first increase in this important grant since 1993, and it recognizes the challenges that many families are facing as real estate prices have soared.

Second, as we announced last month, we're raising the threshold — the point at which homeowners qual- ify for the full grant — by $95,000 to $780,000 in as- sessed value. Without that change, up to 27,000 house- holds would have seen their grant reduced. Third, we're expanding eligibility for the supple- mentary grant to include more people with disabilities. As of the 2006 tax year, that higher amount will be available to those disabled individuals who purchase homes already modified to meet their special needs. These improvements to the homeowner grant are worth a total of $309 million over four years.

That's more than a quarter of a billion dollars back in British Columbia pockets. We're also moving forward with a series of im- provements that will benefit businesses as well as indi- viduals and help to enco urage continued economic growth.

These include extend ing the B.C. mining flow- through share tax credit to the end of 2008 to help maintain the momentum in mining and mineral explo- ration; expanding eligibility for the use of lower-taxed coloured fuels to all unlicensed vehicles; raising the threshold for the vehicle su rtax by $6,000, recognizing that many people in the north and other rural regions need pickups and sturdy vehicles to work; and we are broadening the PST exemption on production machin- ery and equipment to include businesses providing manufacturing services to companies that already qual- ify for this exemption. [1520] Effective midnight tonight we will also eliminate the PST on services provided to install, modify, repair and maintain computer softwa re.

This is an important incentive for businesses as well as individuals who use computer technology and who use it to its fullest po- tential, whether it's in a commercial application that generates jobs and revenues or on a more personal level to study, learn, communicate and interact with the world around us. In total, the tax changes in this budget are valued at $733 million over four years. Approximately two-thirds of that money will benefit individuals, while the bal- ance will support our businesses. These tax changes

2394 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES T UESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006 will help our province continue to grow and help our citizens meet the challenges that come with a strong economy. But let's not forget that a strong economy is only half the picture when it comes to the budget. Sound fiscal management is essential. Otherwise, we risk squandering the benefits that British Columbians have worked so hard for. The single largest dollar item in this budget, by far, is our provision for public sector compensation. As we announced in November, we are allocating up to $6 billion for agreements an d incentives through 2009- 2010.

The negotiating framework has three parts. For starters, we have put on the table $1 billion of one-time money that government received this year as revenue, primarily from high natural gas prices. This is an incentive for bargaining units to reach early settle- ments. If you do the math, that is potentially $3,300 for each and every public serv ant employee, and this is above and beyond their negotiated wage increases. Second, we have allocated $4.7 billion for basic wage and benefit improvements that will differ from sector to sector to reflect varying labour markets.

Finally, part three, for those signing contracts of four years or longer, we have designed a dividend op- tion valued at up to $300 million if the province outper- forms its fiscal targets. That is a total of up to $6 billion for British Columbia's public sector workers. That is a lot of money. It is more than the annual budget for the province of New Brunswick. It represents half of all of the money available for new spending in government over the next four years. One dollar in two will go back to our public sector workers.

I have to say frankly that it does mean that some other issues we'd like to address will have to wait, but we believe that the balance we have struck between spending on public sector wages and, on the other hand, spending for our children, health, education, skills training and other public services is a fair one. It's fair to our workers. It's fair to taxpayers. It's fair to the people of British Columbia. More than 300,000 public sector workers are in line for these wages.

New, stable, sustainable agreements will not only help enhance our quality of life, they will also make a real difference to more than a quarter of a million families. This negotiating framework is crea- tive, it's proactive, and it's generous. It offers our union leaders and our employers the opportunity to truly negotiate. Before I conclude, I want to congratulate the superb staff that I have the privilege of working with in Fi- nance and on Treasury Board under the strong leader- ship of Deputy Minister Tamara Vrooman.

All British Columbians are well served by this talented and dedi- cated team, and I thank them all for all of the hard work and late nights that have gone into Budget 2006. Mr. Speaker, Budget 2006 is dedicated to our chil- dren and to helping more of our citizens get the skills they need to seize opportunities and keep this province growing with confidence. We have come a long way since 2001. B.C. has regained its historical role as a leader, but leadership engenders its own set of chal- lenges. We must work hard to maintain this momen- tum.

We cannot allow B.C. to fall behind again. [1525] Right now we are in an enviable position. Our economy is strong. People are optimistic. Worldwide demand for our exports and our expertise is high, but we cannot take this succe ss for granted. Our job in government is to take the long view, to look ahead and ask ourselves: what can we do now to ensure that we continue to enjoy this level of prosperity in the future, and what can we do that w ill help our children enjoy it as well? There will be times when we will face a difficult global economy for sure.

There will be times when we face natural disasters and challenges whose nature and magnitude will only be revealed with time. We cannot ever become complacent. We cannot ever stop striving to improve, because if we ever stop pushing forward, the province will start slipping backwards again, and the people of British Columbia have just worked too hard for that to happen. Budget 2006 is one more step forward. It invests in our greatest strength, our greatest resource, our great- est source of confidence: the people of British Colum- bia.

We're investing in child ren, investing in training, and overarching all of that , investing in our growing reputation as a place where people want to be, where they can choose their futures and contribute to the fu- ture we all envision: a future of optimism, confidence, prosperity and boundless opportunity. J. Kwan: I rise to respond to the budget. I have to say I was looking for a lot more from this government. I think British Columbians were looking for more as well.

This budget is disappointing, and I think it's a missed opportunity to help those who've paid the highest price for Liberal cuts and lost services. Today marks the seventh attempt by this government to de- liver a budget, or budget up dates, that meets the needs of British Columbians, the se venth try to finally meet their long-term care promise — 5,000 long-term care beds that seniors are still waiting for. It's the seventh opportunity for the government to put a strategy in place to manage the shortage in skilled workers — the seventh time.

It's the seventh time that choices could have been made to make life more affordable for ordinary British Columbians. After seven tries, this should have been the time that this government finally put a plan in place for for- est health and forest sector restructuring. There's still no plan for economic diversification in B.C.'s communi- ties when the beetle wood is gone. For the seventh time, this budget ignores the real challenges facing ordinary working people throughout B.C.

This budget is more about government trying to position itself on key political issues than about posi- tioning the province for th e future. Today's budget lacks long-term vision. It is an ad hoc budget for the moment, not for the future. The Minister of Finance just told this House that this budget was about children. Finally, this govern-

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 2395 ment has opened its eyes to the consequences of their budget slashing and restructuring. It should have hap- pened years ago. It should not have taken an opposi- tion to push them into it . The government was negli- gent, and today's budget finally acknowledges that. Despite the minister's fo cus on children, there are significant pieces missing. British Columbia has the highest child poverty rate in Canada, and homeless- ness rates in our communities have more than doubled since this government came to power and began slash- ing programs.

These are shamef ul distinctions that this budget does not address. In fact, the direction this gov- ernment is going could very well make the situation worse. [1530] There's nothing in this bu dget that points to a sus- tainable housing plan. Instead, the government is mov- ing to a landlord subsidy program that will not help families living in poverty to find safe, secure, afford- able housing. Homeowner grants will help some, but it will not help renters. It will not help those trying to get into the market, and it will not help the homeless. There is also no plan for child care.

The federal government has abandoned the five-year child care plan, but this Premier has yet to stand up for British Columbians to fight for universal child care. B.C. families are strugg ling to make ends meet. Tuition fee hikes, gas tax, transit fares, MSP premiums, prescription drugs, long-term care fees, constant ferry increases, hydro rates, ICBC rates, property taxes — the list is long. The new benefits for homeowners will make a difference to some, but we all know that this government will find other ways to take that money back. This budget also misses the mark on B.C.'s skills shortage.

Today's commitment fails to make up for the five years of poor management of B.C.'s apprenticeship programs. The government cut funding for apprentice- ship programs. They closed recruitment offices. They bungled the restructuring plans. The result is clear. Our completion rates are falling, and we now lag behind provinces like Alberta. Alberta has more than 41,000 students enrolled in their training programs, while B.C. has just 25,000. Today's funding announcement does not even make up for the funding cut out of the system over the last four years.

Last week the throne speech put forward a lot of questions about health care, but it didn't give any an- swers. This budget is the same — no answers. How about those 5,000 additional long-term care beds? The Minister of Health has admitted a net increase of 600 to date. That broken promise has sent shock waves through the health care system. Longer wait-lists, acute care bed shortages, home care cuts, overcrowded ERs and hallway medicine. Our crystal meth plan.

Now, I am happy to see that the government took our suggestion to implement a coordinating body on this im portant issue, but there is nothing for new beds to help people recover. This budget also ignores the promise this govern- ment made to B.C. communities outside of the lower mainland. Remember the heartlands? Apparently, this government has chosen to forget about that buzzword. Where's the plan in funding for forest health? Where is the economic diversification strategy once the pine beetle wood is gone? Where is the support for commu- nities losing their mills?

There is no support or strategy for communities in transition. With high commodity prices and a growing world economy, B.C. has an op- portunity to set long-term economic and social goals, but this budget doesn't do that. Too many people and communities are left behind, and this government does not have any long-term vision. Nothing on climate change. No class size strategy. There is $1.7 million added to the Premier's office, though, but nothing for women's centres. If the Premier can find money for himself, surely he can find a way to fund B.C.'s women's centres.

Frankly, I think British Columbians across the prov- ince will be disappointed by this budget. They ex- pected more, and they deserved more. In the coming weeks the 33 opposition members will be pouring through these budget books. We will be responding one by one to the budget, highlighting the issues and concerns that we've heard from British Columbians and that this government has continued to ignore. With that, Mr. Speaker, I move that we adjourn debate. [1535] J. Kwan moved adjournment of debate. Motion approved. Introduction and First Reading of Bills Hon. C.

Taylor presented a message from His Hon- our the Administrator: bills intituled Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2006; Public Agency Accommoda- tion Act; and Agriculture and Lands Statutes Amend- ment Act, 2006. Hon. C. Taylor: Mr. Speaker, these three bills im- plement some of the measures announced in the 2006 budget. Bill 2, the Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2006, includes amendmen ts to reduce taxes for individuals and further improve British Columbia's investment climate and competitiveness. Three changes to the homeowner grant will help offset the rising costs of home ownership.

The basic homeowner grant is increased to $570 from $470, and the grant available to seniors, veterans and the disabled is increased to $845 from $745. Second, as announced in January, the threshold at which the homeowner grant is phased out is increased to $780,000 from $685,000. Third, eligibility fo r the higher grant is ex- panded to include disabled people that purchase pre- viously modified homes. Measures to further en courage economic growth and investment include intr oducing a provincial sales tax exemption for modifying, repairing and installing

2396 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES T UESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006 software; extending the mining flow-through share tax credit for three years; expa nding the eligible uses of lower-taxed coloured fuel to all unlicensed vehicles; and expanding the sales tax exemption for production machinery and equipment. Bill 2 also includes several other measures to reduce taxes, improve fairness and clarify the application of British Columbia's tax stat- utes. Bill 3, the Public Agency Accommodation Act, re- peals the British Columbia Buildings Corporation Act and dissolves the corporation.

The legislation transfers all of the corporation's assets and obligations to gov- ernment. This bill confers on the Minister of Labour and Citizens' Services such powers as are necessary to manage these assets, including administering the real property assets. Bill 4, the Agriculture and Lands Statutes Amend- ment Act, 2006, amends the Land Act and the Ministry of Lands, Parks and Housin g Act by allowing the min- ister to delegate his or her powers under these acts to other ministers. Mr.

Speaker, I move first reading of Bill 2, Budget Measures Implementation Ac t, 2006; Bill 3, Public Agency Accommodation Act; and Bill 4, Agriculture and Lands Statutes Amendment Act, 2006. Motion approved. Hon. C. Taylor: I move that the said bills be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sit- ting of the House after today. Bills 2 through 4 introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today. Tabling Documents Hon. C.

Taylor: I have the pleasure to rise to table the Budget and Fiscal Plan , which fulfills the require- ments of

section 7 of the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act. I table, on behalf of the ministers responsible, the government's 2006-2007 to 2008-2009 overall strategic plan and service plans required under the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act. I have two packages that I will give to the Clerk. The first package contains service plans for the Office of the Premier, 19 ministries and three related organi- zations. The second package contains service plans for 27 Crown agencies. That second package also includes a list of organizations which have been exempted from

section 13, service plans, of the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act and for which service plans are not being filed. Hon. M. de Jong moved adjournment of the House. Motion approved. Mr. Speaker: The House stands adjourned until two o'clock tomorrow. The House adjourned at 3:40 p.m.

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Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	H0221pm-08
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	H0221pm 08
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	82d96360a7b1800893cb2c1048cbb26be16163bb

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