British Columbia Hansard — 19 February 2026, a.m., Issue 119 (43rd Parliament, 2nd Session)

20260219am-Hansard-n119

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

Second Session, 43rd Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday, February 19, 2026 Morning Sitting Issue No. 119 THE HONOURABLE RAJ CHOUHAN, SPEAKER ISSN 1499-2175

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Her Honour the Honourable Wendy Cocchia, CM, OBC Second Session, 43rd Parliament SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Raj Chouhan EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council ................................................................................................... Hon. David Eby, KC Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities .......................................................... Hon.

Brittny Anderson Minister of Agriculture and Food ..............................................................................................................................Hon. Lana Popham Attorney General and Deputy Premier ............................................................................................................... Hon. Niki Sharma, KC Minister of Children and Family Development ......................................................................................................Hon.

Jodie Wickens Minister of Citizens’ Services ......................................................................................................................................Hon. Diana Gibson Minister of Education and Child Care ............................................................................................................................Hon. Lisa Beare Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness ................................................................................ Hon.

Kelly Greene Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions .................................................................................................................... Hon. Adrian Dix Minister of Environment and Parks .................................................................................................... Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson Minister of Finance ......................................................................................................................................................Hon.

Brenda Bailey Minister of Forests .......................................................................................................................................................... Hon. Ravi Parmar Minister of Health ........................................................................................................................................................Hon. Josie Osborne Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs ...........................................................................................................Hon.

Christine Boyle Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation ........................................................................Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert Minister of Infrastructure .............................................................................................................................................. Hon. Bowinn Ma Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth ...................................................................................................................... Hon.

Ravi Kahlon Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and New Technologies .................................................................. Hon. Rick Glumac Minister of Labour .............................................................................................................................................. Hon. Jennifer Whiteside Minister of Mining and Critical Minerals .....................................................................................................................Hon.

Jagrup Brar Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills ........................................................................................Hon. Jessie Sunner Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General ........................................................................................................ Hon. Nina Krieger Minister of State for Community Safety and Integrated Services ........................................................................ Hon.

Terry Yung Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction ...............................................................................Hon. Sheila Malcolmson Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport ............................................................................................................. Hon. Anne Kang Minister of Transportation and Transit ................................................................................................................ Hon.

Mike Farnworth Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship ............................................................................................... Hon. Randene Neill Minister Without Portfolio ..............................................................................................................................................Hon.

Grace Lore LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Leader of the Official Opposition ......................................................................................................................................Trevor Halford Leader of the Third Party .................................................................................................................................................Jeremy Valeriote Deputy Speaker ......................................................................................................................................................................

Mable Elmore Assistant Deputy Speaker .................................................................................................................................................Lorne Doerkson Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole ......................................................................................................................George Anderson Clerk of the Legislative Assembly....................................................................................................................................Kate Ryan-Lloyd Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel ......................................................................................................................Seunghee Suzie Seo Deputy Clerk of the Legislative Assembly...............................................................................................................

Artour Sogomonian Clerk of Committees .............................................................................................................................................................. Jennifer Arril Committee Clerk ......................................................................................................................................................................

Karan Riarh Committee Clerk .........................................................................................................................................................................Darryl Hol Senior Legal Counsel .................................................................................................................................................................Hayley Hill Sergeant-at-Arms ..................................................................................................................................................................

Ray Robitaille Director of Hansard Services .......................................................................................................................................D’ Arcy McPherson Legislative Librarian ...............................................................................................................................................................Peter Gourlay

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS BY PARTY BC NDP Anderson, Hon. Brittny ........................................... Kootenay Central Anderson, George ................................................ Nanaimo-Lantzville Arora, Rohini ....................................................................Burnaby East Bailey, Hon. Brenda ................................Vancouver–South Granville Beare, Hon.

Lisa .......................................Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Begg, Garry .................................................................Surrey-Guildford Blatherwick, Jennifer ....................................Coquitlam-Maillardville Boyle, Hon. Christine .............................Vancouver–Little Mountain Brar, Hon. Jagrup ......................................................Surrey-Fleetwood Chandra Herbert, Hon. Spencer ..................... Vancouver–West End Chant, Susie .............................................

North Vancouver–Seymour Choi, Paul ..................................................Burnaby South–Metrotown Chouhan, Hon. Raj ................................. Burnaby–New Westminster Chow, George ....................................................Vancouver-Fraserview Davidson, Hon. Tamara / Laanas ...........North Coast–Haida Gwaii Dhir, Sunita .............................................................Vancouver-Langara Dix, Hon. Adrian .................................................. Vancouver-Renfrew Eby, Hon. David, KC .......................................

Vancouver–Point Grey Elmore, Mable ................................................. Vancouver-Kensington Farnworth, Hon. Mike .................................................Port Coquitlam Gibson, Hon. Diana ........................................Oak Bay–Gordon Head Glumac, Hon. Rick ...................................... Port Moody–Burquitlam Greene, Hon. Kelly ..............................................Richmond-Steveston Higginson, Stephanie ........................................Ladysmith-Oceanside Kahlon, Hon. Ravi .............................................................. Delta North Kang, Hon.

Anne ......................................................... Burnaby Centre Krieger, Hon. Nina ...............................................Victoria–Swan Lake Lajeunesse, Dana ..............................................Juan de Fuca–Malahat Lore, Hon. Grace .................................................Victoria–Beacon Hill Ma, Hon. Bowinn ................................... North Vancouver–Lonsdale Malcolmson, Hon. Sheila .........................Nanaimo–Gabriola Island Morissette, Steve ...................................................Kootenay Monashee Neill, Hon. Randene ............................

Powell River–Sunshine Coast Osborne, Hon. Josie ....................................... Mid Island–Pacific Rim Parmar, Hon. Ravi ...............................................Langford-Highlands Phillip, Joan / Amshen .....................................Vancouver-Strathcona Popham, Hon. Lana ........................................................ Saanich South Rotchford, Darlene ...............................................Esquimalt-Colwood Routledge, Janet .............................................................Burnaby North Sandhu, Harwinder ......................................................

Vernon-Lumby Shah, Amna ............................................................. Surrey City Centre Sharma, Hon. Niki, KC ....................................... Vancouver-Hastings Sunner, Hon. Jessie ....................................................... Surrey-Newton Toporowski, Debra / Qwulti’stunaat .......................Cowichan Valley Whiteside, Hon. Jennifer ...................New Westminster–Coquitlam Wickens, Hon. Jodie ............................. Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Yung, Hon.

Terry .................................................Vancouver-Yaletown CONSERV ATIVE PARTY OF BC Banman, Bruce .......................................................... Abbotsford South Bhangu, Harman .................................................. Langley-Abbotsford Bird, Rosalyn .............................................

Prince George–Valemount Block, Lynne ..............................................West Vancouver–Capilano Chan, Hon ..................................................................Richmond Centre Chapman, Brent .................................................................Surrey South Clare, Sheldon .................................... Prince George–North Cariboo Davis, Pete ..................................................................Kootenay Rockies Day, Brennan ...........................................................

Courtenay-Comox Dew, Gavin ..................................................................Kelowna-Mission Dhaliwal, Mandeep .......................................................... Surrey North Doerkson, Lorne .....................................................

Cariboo-Chilcotin Gasper, Reann .......................................................Abbotsford-Mission Giddens, Kiel ..............................................Prince George–Mackenzie Halford, Trevor ......................................................Surrey–White Rock Hartwell, Sharon ..............................................Bulkley Valley–Stikine Hepner, Linda ................................................Surrey–Serpentine River Kindy, Anna ........................................................................North Island Kooner, Steve ............................................Richmond-Queensborough Loewen, Kristina ..........................................................

Kelowna Centre Luck, Tony ..........................................................................Fraser-Nicola Maahs, Heather ......................................................... Chilliwack North McCall, Macklin .........................................West Kelowna–Peachland McInnis, Scott ......................................... Columbia River–Revelstoke Milobar, Peter ............................................................

Kamloops Centre Mok, Lawrence ...........................................................Maple Ridge East Neufeld, Korky ............................................................Abbotsford West Neufeld, Larry ...........................................................Peace River South Paton, Ian ..............................................................................Delta South Rattée, Claire .................................................................................Skeena Rustad, John ...................................................................Nechako Lakes Stamer, Ward .........................................Kamloops–North Thompson Tepper, Br yan ............................................................

Surrey-Panorama Toor, Jody ............................................................Langley-Willowbrook Van Popta, Misty..............................................Langley–Walnut Grove Warbus, Á’a:líya ..............................................Chilliwack–Cultus Lake Wat, Teresa .........................................................Richmond-Bridgeport Williams, David ...............................................Salmon Arm–Shuswap Wilson, Donegal ............................................Boundary-Similkameen BC GREEN PARTY Botterell, Rob .......................................Saanich North and the Islands Valeriote, Jeremy .....................................

West Vancouver–Sea to Sky INDEPENDENT Armstrong, Tara .....................Kelowna–Lake Country–Coldstream Boultbee, Amelia .............................................Penticton-Summerland Brodie, Dallas .................................................... Vancouver-Quilchena Kealy, Jordan ............................................................. Peace River North Sturko, Elenore ......................................................... Surrey-Cloverdale PARTY STANDINGS Total seats – 93 BC NDP – 47 | Conservative Party of BC – 39 | BC Green Party – 2 | Independent – 5

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF RIDINGS A Abbotsford-Mission ........................................................Reann Gasper Abbotsford South ........................................................... Bruce Banman Abbotsford West .............................................................Korky Neufeld B Boundary-Similkameen .............................................Donegal Wilson Bulkley Valley–Stikine ............................................... Sharon Hartwell Burnaby Centre ...........................................................Hon.

Anne Kang Burnaby East ......................................................................Rohini Arora Burnaby–New Westminster .................................. Hon. Raj Chouhan Burnaby North ..............................................................Janet Routledge Burnaby South–Metrotown .................................................. Paul Choi C Cariboo-Chilcotin .......................................................Lorne Doerkson Chilliwack–Cultus Lake .............................................. Á’a:líya Warbus Chilliwack North ..........................................................

Heather Maahs Columbia River–Revelstoke ...........................................Scott McInnis Coquitlam–Burke Mountain .............................. Hon. Jodie Wickens Coquitlam-Maillardville .................................... Jennifer Blatherwick Courtenay-Comox ............................................................ Brennan Day Cowichan Valley ....................... Debra Toporowski / Qwulti’stunaat D Delta North ................................................................Hon.

Ravi Kahlon Delta South ...............................................................................Ian Paton E Esquimalt-Colwood ................................................Darlene Rotchford F Fraser-Nicola .......................................................................... Tony Luck J Juan de Fuca–Malahat ...............................................Dana Lajeunesse K Kamloops Centre ............................................................. Peter Milobar Kamloops–North Thompson .........................................

Ward Stamer Kelowna Centre ........................................................... Kristina Loewen Kelowna–Lake Country–Coldstream ......................Tara Armstrong Kelowna-Mission ..................................................................Gavin Dew Kootenay Central ............................................ Hon. Brittny Anderson Kootenay Monashee ....................................................Steve Morissette Kootenay Rockies................................................................... Pete Davis L Ladysmith-Oceanside ........................................

Stephanie Higginson Langford-Highlands ................................................ Hon. Ravi Parmar Langley-Abbotsford ....................................................Harman Bhangu Langley–Walnut Grove ..............................................Misty Van Popta Langley-Willowbrook ............................................................ Jody Toor M Maple Ridge East ............................................................Lawrence Mok Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows ........................................Hon. Lisa Beare Mid Island–Pacific Rim ........................................ Hon.

Josie Osborne N Nanaimo–Gabriola Island ..........................Hon. Sheila Malcolmson Nanaimo-Lantzville ................................................. George Anderson Nechako Lakes ....................................................................John Rustad New Westminster–Coquitlam .................... Hon. Jennifer Whiteside North Coast–Haida Gwaii ............Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson North Island ........................................................................Anna Kindy North Vancouver–Lonsdale .....................................Hon.

Bowinn Ma North Vancouver–Seymour ...............................................Susie Chant O Oak Bay–Gordon Head ......................................... Hon. Diana Gibson P Peace River North ..............................................................Jordan Kealy Peace River South ............................................................Larry Neufeld Penticton-Summerland .............................................. Amelia Boultbee Port Coquitlam ................................................. Hon. Mike Farnworth Port Moody–Burquitlam ........................................Hon.

Rick Glumac Powell River–Sunshine Coast ............................. Hon. Randene Neill Prince George–Mackenzie ...............................................Kiel Giddens Prince George–North Cariboo ......................................Sheldon Clare Prince George–Valemount ...............................................Rosalyn Bird R Richmond-Bridgeport .......................................................... Teresa Wat Richmond Centre .................................................................. Hon Chan Richmond-Queensborough ............................................

Steve Kooner Richmond-Steveston ...............................................Hon. Kelly Greene S Saanich North and the Islands ....................................... Rob Botterell Saanich South ......................................................... Hon.

Lana Popham Salmon Arm–Shuswap ................................................David Williams Skeena ..................................................................................Claire Rattée Surrey City Centre ...............................................................Amna Shah Surrey-Cloverdale .......................................................... Elenore Sturko Surrey-Fleetwood ....................................................... Hon. Jagrup Brar Surrey-Guildford .................................................................

Garry Begg Surrey-Newton ........................................................ Hon. Jessie Sunner Surrey North ............................................................Mandeep Dhaliwal Surrey-Panorama ..............................................................Br yan Tepper Surrey–Serpentine River ................................................

Linda Hepner Surrey South ..................................................................Brent Chapman Surrey–White Rock .......................................................Trevor Halford V Vancouver-Fraserview .....................................................George Chow Vancouver-Hastings ........................................ Hon. Niki Sharma, KC Vancouver-Kensington ...................................................Mable Elmore Vancouver-Langara .............................................................Sunita Dhir Vancouver–Little Mountain ............................. Hon.

Christine Boyle Vancouver–Point Grey .........................................Hon. David Eby, KC Vancouver-Quilchena ......................................................Dallas Brodie Vancouver-Renfrew ................................................... Hon. Adrian Dix Vancouver–South Granville ................................ Hon. Brenda Bailey Vancouver-Strathcona ..................................... Amshen / Joan Phillip Vancouver–West End .......................Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert Vancouver-Yaletown ..................................................Hon.

Terry Yung Vernon-Lumby ....................................................... Harwinder Sandhu Victoria–Beacon Hill ................................................. Hon. Grace Lore Victoria–Swan Lake ................................................Hon. Nina Krieger W West Kelowna–Peachland ..........................................Macklin McCall West Vancouver–Capilano ................................................Lynne Block West Vancouver–Sea to Sky ...................................... Jeremy Valeriote

CONTENTS Thursday, February 19, 2026 Morning Sitting Page Routine Business Statements ........................................................................................................................................................................ 4857 Green Party Caucus Staff Emily Bishop Jeremy Valeriote Tributes ............................................................................................................................................................................. 4857 Lavina “Lee” Charles Hon.

Ravi Parmar Introductions by Members ............................................................................................................................................. 4857 Introduction and First Reading of Bills ........................................................................................................................ 4858 Bill 6 — Motor Vehicle Amendment Act, 2026 Hon.

Niki Sharma Gender Ideology and Child Protection Act Tara Armstrong Bill M231 — Veterans and First Responders Month Act Rosalyn Bird Members’ Statements ...................................................................................................................................................... 4860 Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Gavin Dew Optometrists Janet Routledge Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Lynne Block Real Acts of Caring Week Steve Morissette Community Gatherings Rob Botterell Public Transit in Vancouver Sunita Dhir Oral Questions ................................................................................................................................................................. 4862 Access to Maternity Care Services in Hospitals Trevor Halford Hon.

Josie Osborne Paramedics Labour Dispute Trevor Halford Hon. Josie Osborne Transplant Waiting List Case Kristina Loewen Hon. Josie Osborne Health Impacts of LNG Projects and Methane Gas Flaring Jeremy Valeriote Hon. Adrian Dix Government Position on DRIPA Dallas Brodie Hon. David Eby Government Spending and Public Sector Jobs Dallas Brodie Hon. David Eby

Oral Questions (continued) Staffing Costs at Long-Term-Care Facilities Brennan Day Hon. Josie Osborne Budget Provisions for Long-Term-Care Projects Brennan Day Hon. Josie Osborne Budget Priorities Korky Neufeld Hon. Brenda Bailey Kiel Giddens Hon. David Eby Reports from Committees .............................................................................................................................................. 4867 Selection Committee, report, February 19, 2026 Hon.

Mike Farnworth Orders of the Day Government Motions on Notice ................................................................................................................................... 4867 Motion 1 — Amendments to Standing Orders for Private Members’ Time Hon. Mike Farnworth Motion 2 — Amendment to Standing Orders to Include First Nation Participation in Introduction of Treaty-Related Legislation Hon. Mike Farnworth Motion 3 — Powers and Role of Finance Committee Hon. Mike Farnworth Motion 4 — Powers and Role of Public Accounts Committee Hon.

Mike Farnworth Motion 5 — Powers and Role of Children and Y outh Committee Hon. Mike Farnworth Motion 6 — Appointment of Special Committee on Democratic and Electoral Reform Hon. Mike Farnworth Motion 7 — Appointment of Special Committee to Review the Lobbyists Transparency Act Hon. Mike Farnworth Motion 8 — Appointment of Special Committee to Review Provisions of the Human Rights Code Hon. Mike Farnworth Motion 9 — Appointment of Special Committee on Police Complaints Hon. Mike Farnworth Motion 10 — Appointment of Special Committee to Review Provisions of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act Hon.

Mike Farnworth Motion 11 — Committee of Supply and Committee of the Whole to Sit in Three Sections Hon. Mike Farnworth Budget Debate (continued) ............................................................................................................................................. 4873 Korky Neufeld Hon. Christine Boyle

4857 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026 The House met at 10:05 a.m. [The Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Prayers and reflections: Hon. Christine Boyle. Statements GREEN PARTY CAUCUS STAFF EMILY BISHOP Jeremy Valeriote: It’s with affection and sadness that I rise today to wish farewell to our longtime B.C. Green caucus team member, Emily Bishop. Emily joined us four years ago as a policy analyst, tak - ing on the immense scope of the “dirt ministries.” Every week, as the team pitched ideas and priorities, Emily has been a steadfast defender of the trees, the water and the earth.

Emily was also appointed our well-being officer and al - ways brings joy and laughter, as well as the most pressing questions, to every room she’s in. [10:10 a.m.] Forests and climate advocacy are her true passions, and they are where her journey is taking her next. We’re thankful that someone as talented as Emily is fighting the good fight for a livable future for all of us. Thank you, Emily, for leading these policy files with grace and passion. We will miss you. Tributes LAVINA “LEE” CHARLES Hon. Ravi Parmar: I’ve got some sad news to report to the House.

Just this past weekend a true community leader in my constituency and that of the constituency of my col - league from Juan de Fuca–Malahat, Dr. Lavina Charles, a respected Elder from the SC’IȺNEW̱ Becher Bay First Na- tion, passed away. Dr. Charles, or, as we often referred to her in my community, Grandma Lee, was a true pillar of our community. I think the biggest gift that she taught us in my time as a former chair of the Sooke school district was the op - portunity that she took out of her busy

schedule to be in our schools to teach the SENĆOŦEN language to our chil - dren. It’s a big loss for the SC’IȺNEW̱ First Nation. One of her last acts before she passed away was gifting a name of SĆIȺNEW̱ SṮEȽIṮḴEȽ, “salmon children,” the name that is now the name of our new elementary school in south Langford. I want to take this opportunity on behalf of the whole House to offer my deepest condolences to Chief Russ Ch - ipps and the SC’IȺNEW̱ First Nation on this major loss for this community, a major loss for our region and our province as well.

Introductions by Members Jennifer Blatherwick: I am very pleased to welcome to this House Tova Belsher, who is serving as my intern this week. I want to not just highlight her enthusiasm for politics and her kindness and compassion but to also thank all of the members of this House who have made her welcome, as have all of the staff, who have taken time to explore with her the options in democracy. There are so many things that are involved in politics that are not us. It’s been really affirming this week to see her enthusiasm for those procedures and a young person who is truly dedicated to democracy.

Mandeep Dhaliwal: Right now our Canadian women’s team is playing for gold against the United States. B.C. is represented by one player, Jennifer Gardiner. I am proud to say that she is from the greatest city of Surrey. Please join me in wishing Team Canada good luck. Hon. Jessie Sunner: Today in the gallery we have a group of 35 students from Simon Fraser University that are visiting the Legislature. I just want to welcome them into the House. I hope you have a great visit throughout the Legislature today.

Rosalyn B ird: It’s my honour today to introduce some new members to our team, including some new staff that we’ve just finalized. We have our interns with us today, and I’d like to introduce them. We have Annika Clark. She has a bachelor of arts in political science from the French cohort program, public and international affairs, from Simon Fraser University. She also completed a minor and certificate in Indigenous studies. She was on the executive of the French Student Union and participated in the faculty of arts and social sciences peer mentorship program. We have Emmanuel Adegboyega.

Emmanuel recently graduated with a bachelor of arts in political science with a distinction and minor in social data analytics from Simon Fraser University. At SFU, he served as the president. He was also a student athlete on SFU’s NCAA football team. He is currently preparing for his LSATs and finalizing his applications to law school. We also have Zofka Svec. Zofka recently graduated from the University of Victoria with a bachelor of arts in sociology, receiving honours, and a minor in political sci -

4858 B ritish Columbia Debates T hursday, February 19, 2026 ence. In the fall, she is headed to do a master’s of sociology at McGill University. We also have Massimo Calabrese. Massimo has a bach - elor of arts and honours in history from the University of Victoria. He’s a fiddler player from Williams Lake, and he plans to attend the University of Victoria’s joint JD/JID program, Canadian common law and Indigenous legal traditions, in September of 2026. [10:15 a.m.] We also have Priya Minhas. Priya has a bachelor of sci - ence in psychology from the University of Northern Brit - ish Columbia.

She served as a teaching assistant in the department of psychology and as a community assistant in the housing and residence life. Priya was also the presi - dent of UNBC’s World University Service of Canada local committee. We recognize and value the experience internships bring, and we’re very excited to support you and encour - age you through your time with our caucus. We would also like to introduce two new staff members. Ethan Spencer joins us for our communications depart - ment. He has a master of arts in international affairs from Carleton University.

Erika Acuzar also joins our communications depart - ment, and Erika graduated from the University of British Columbia. Welcome. Would everybody please join me in welcoming our new staff. Introduction and First Reading of Bills BILL 6 — MOTOR VEHICLE AMENDMENT ACT, 2026 Hon. Niki Sharma presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor: a bill intituled Motor Vehicle Amendment Act, 2026. Hon. Niki Sharma: I move that the bill be introduced and read a first time now. I am pleased to introduce the Motor Vehicle Amend - ment Act.

This bill makes amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act to support the first phase of the moderniza - tion of driver licensing, which is a ten-year program con - sisting of a number of individual projects to protect on - line driving licensing services, modernize ICBC’s business process and upgrade technology, including the interface with government services. These amendments provide for online applications for simple renewals of drivers’ licences and for replacing lost, destroyed or damaged drivers’ licences.

Online renewals and replacements in this first phase of modernization will include combination drivers’ licences with the B.C. Ser - vices Card as well as stand-alone photo B.C. Services Card and B.C. identification card. This bill also makes minor amendments related to driver licensing and clarifies the authority to provide exemptions for fees under the act and regulations. The Speaker: Members, the question is first reading of the bill. Motion approved. Hon. Niki Sharma: I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting in the House after today. Motion approved.

GENDER IDEOLOGY AND CHILD PROTECTION ACT Tara Armstrong presented a bill intituled Gender Ideology and Child Protection Act. Tara A rmstrong: I move that a bill intituled Gender Ideology and Child Protection Act, of which notice has been given in my name on the order paper, be introduced and read a first time now. The purpose of this bill is to create protections for chil - dren from gender ideology in our courts, our schools and our health care.

Firstly, this bill will amend the Family Law Act and the Child, Family and Community Service Act to clas - sify the promotion of gender ideology as a form of emo - tional harm. This bill will address that for too long, courts have failed to protect children from parents who prioritize ideology above the child’s well-being. In family law disputes, courts will now have to clas - sify that gender transitions are in children’s best interests. This bill will modernize our family law to keep up with the emerging form of abuse that is child gender ideology.

Second, this bill will remove gender ideology from our education system and ban social transitions in schools. When our kids are confused and uncomfortable in their own bodies, this bill will prohibit schools from danger - ously affirming identity crises rather than treating them with care and compassion. It will prohibit schools from hiding identity changes from parents and placing students in opposite-sex bath - rooms. It will remove gender ideology materials out of our libraries and classrooms. Third, the bill will prohibit medical gender transitions of minors altogether.

It will stop doctors from prescribing cross-sex hormones and performing irreversible gender surgeries. Together we can protect British Columbia’s precious children.

Thursday, February 19, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 4859 [10:20 a.m.] The Speaker: Members, the question is first reading of the bill. Division has been called. [10:25 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.] Members, the question is first reading of the bill intro - duced by the member for Kelowna–Lake Country–Cold - stream. Motion negatived on the following division: YEAS — 38 Loewen Kindy Warbus Halford Rattée Kooner Banman Hartwell L. Neufeld Dew Clare K.

Neufeld Rustad McInnis Bhangu Paton Chan Toor Hepner Giddens Dhaliwal McCall Wilson Maahs Block Stamer Gasper Tepper Mok Brodie Kealy Armstrong Williams Chapman Bird Doerkson Luck Davis NAYS — 49 Lore Blatherwick Dhir Routledge Elmore Toporowski B. Anderson Neill Osborne Brar Krieger Davidson Parmar Sunner Beare Greene Wickens Kang Begg Arora Higginson Sandhu Lajeunesse Choi Rotchford Chant Phillip Popham Dix Sharma Farnworth Eby Bailey Kahlon Chandra Herbert Whiteside Boyle Ma Yung Malcolmson Gibson Glumac Shah G.

Anderson Chow Morissette Valeriote Botterell Sturko BILL M231 — VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS MONTH ACT Rosalyn Bird: I move that a bill intituled Veterans and First Responders Month Act, of which notice has been given in my name on the order paper, be introduced and read a first time now. I rise to introduce the Veterans and First Responders Month Act. This bill designates the month of November as Veterans and First Responders Month throughout Brit - ish Columbia. [10:35 a.m.] November already holds deep meaning for Canadians.

Each year, on November 8 and November 11, we pause to remember the courage and sacrifice of those who served in uniform, men and women who have defended our free - doms at home and abroad and who have stood in harm’s way on behalf of our country. But remembrance does not end with a single day. Across British Columbia, veterans continue to contribute to our communities, long after their service concludes, as leaders, mentors, business owners, volunteers and neigh - bours. Their discipline, integrity and commitment to ser - vice remain a lasting gift to our province.

Likewise, first responders, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, search and rescue personnel, emergency dis - patchers and others serve our communities each and every day. They respond when others cannot. They enter dan - gerous situations when others must leave. We have very recently witnessed this in Tumbler Ridge. They provide stability in moments of crisis and reassurance in moments of fear. In these smaller communities, particularly those that are rural or remote, these individuals are not distant fig - ures. They are our neighbours. We see their service first - hand.

We see them in grocery stores, arenas and churches. We understand the personal cost that can come with this duty. Designating November as Veterans and First Respond - ers Month provides an opportunity for the Legislature and for communities across British Columbia to formally recognize their service, to honour their sacrifices and educate future generations about the freedoms, respon - sibilities, security and safety that we all too often take for granted. This bill does not create a program. It does not impose a cost.

It simply affirms on behalf of this House that the service of veterans and first responders matters and that it will be remembered. The Speaker: Members, the question is first reading of the bill. Motion approved. Rosalyn Bird: I move that the bill be placed on the or - ders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today. Motion approved.

4860 B ritish Columbia Debates T hursday, February 19, 2026 Members’ Statements KELOWNA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Gavin Dew: I would like to take a moment to recognize an important milestone for Kelowna. This year marks the beginning of the 120th year of service of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, a remarkable achievement that reflects more than a century of leadership, advocacy and community-building in our region. For more than 100 years, the Kelowna chamber has been a strong and trusted voice for local business, fos - tering economic growth, innovation and collaboration throughout the Central Okanagan.

That kind of continu - ity does not happen by accident. It is earned, generation after generation, through credibility, hard work and a deep understanding of what local businesses actually need to succeed. As we recognize this anniversary, I would also like to take this belated opportunity to acknowledge Cham - ber of Commerce Week, a time to recognize not only the Kelowna Chamber but the broader chamber movement across British Columbia and across Canada. Chambers of commerce are often the quiet infrastruc - ture of our economy.

They bring together entrepreneurs, family businesses, manufacturers, retailers, farmers and innovators. They create the space where ideas collide, partnerships form and local priorities are translated into practical policy conversations. At the heart of every chamber are people who take risks, people who start something, grow something and employ their neighbours. Small and medium-sized busi - nesses remain the backbone of our communities, and chamber members are often the very first to step forward when their community needs leadership, sponsorship or support.

Today I want to congratulate the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce on 120 years of service and extend my thanks to chambers of commerce and boards of trade across the province for the essential role they play in strengthening local economies, supporting job creation and building re - silient, vibrant communities.

Their work matters, their voices matter, and the opportunities and jobs they help create for people and families across British Columbia matter. [10:40 a.m.] OPTOMETRISTS Janet Routledge: Today I rise to recognize our doctors of optometry and the vital role they play in the health of patients across our province. From large urban centres to rural and remote com - munities, optometrists are often the first and sometimes only point of contact for eye care and vision health. They provide in-person care in 175 communities across B.C.

They provide comprehensive exams, diagnose disease, manage chronic conditions and help thousands of us pre - serve our sight and maintain our quality of life. Optometrists can also detect other health risks, like diabetes and even brain tumours. Signs of disease often appear in the eyes first, and regular eye exams can help detect conditions that can become life-threatening. Every year over 1.2 million patients are seen by op - tometrists. They can help reduce pressure on family doc - tors, emergency departments and specialists by treating conditions early and close to home.

For seniors, for chil - dren and for patients managing chronic illnesses, timely access to eye care is vital. Our optometrists are highly trained, highly trusted professionals. They prevent eye diseases such as macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma. They help promote long-term eye health and prevent vision loss. By manag - ing eye conditions, providing pre- and post-operation care and catching diseases early on, optometrists allow med - ical specialists and hospitals to focus on the most urgent and complex cases.

Optometrists also assess and correct vision problems, ensuring that children can learn effectively, adults can work safely and seniors can maintain their independence. I ask that all members of this House join me in recog - nizing the significant contributions of optometrists within our health system in improving the health and well-being of British Columbians. ROYAL CANADIAN MARINE SEARCH AND RESCUE Lynne Block: I rise today to recognize the remarkable dedication of Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, West Vancouver station 1.

Across British Columbia, Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue operates 31 stations with over 950 vol - unteers. Together, they completed more than 450 mis - sions last year, giving over 70,000 hours of service, all completely volunteer-based. Their dedication is nothing short of extraordinary. Last year alone these volunteers re - sponded to hundreds of missions, rescuing boaters in ex - treme and often dangerous conditions. Their courage and selflessness save lives every single day.

Beyond rescues, they contribute to marine environ - mental reporting, support the province of British Colum - bia, assist emergency response agencies and actively share their expertise at community events, fostering a culture of safety on our waters. I had the privilege of meeting the amazing volunteers at the West Vancouver branch, including Gerard Mc - Kenzie, Rod Haymond and David Pfeil. Their dedication, courage and generosity of spirit are inspiring, and I feel fortunate knowing people like them are here to keep our communities safe.

Thursday, February 19, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 4861 On behalf of myself and my riding of West Vancouver– Capilano, I extend heartfelt gratitude to the Royal Can - adian Marine Search and Rescue, West Vancouver, and all of the volunteers across the province. Your service saves lives and strengthens our communities, and we are deeply, deeply thankful. Can everyone in the House please join me in showing our gratitude for these first responders and volunteers.

REAL ACTS OF CARING WEEK Steve Morissette: I rise today to reflect on Real Acts of Caring Week, observed across British Columbia from Feb - ruary 8 to 14. Each year students lead this important initia- tive, grounded in a simple yet powerful idea — that small, intentional acts of caring and kindness can strengthen our relationships, our schools and our communities. [10:45 a.m.] This year the focus was on mental health and well-being, a theme that could not be more timely or more necessary.

During that same week, events unfolded that deeply affected many of our communities, leaving families, stu - dents and educators grappling with fear, grief and un - certainty. Even when tragedy does not occur in our own neighbourhoods, its impact travels swiftly through con - versations, through social media and through the hearts and minds of young people trying to make sense of the world around them. In moments like these, what matters most is how we respond. Real Acts of Caring Week reminds us that compas - sion is not passive.

It is something we actively practise by listening without judgment, by refusing to participate in harmful narratives and by reminding young people that they are valued and respected exactly as they are. Mental health and well-being are strengthened when students feel safe, seen and supported. While kindness cannot undo harm, it helps create the conditions neces - sary for healing and resilience. Real Acts of Caring Week has passed. Its message en - dures.

The student leaders who embody this spirit through- out the year remind us that in our schools, our commun - ities and, indeed, in this House, we each have the oppor - tunity and the responsibility to model empathy and care. Acts of caring are not confined to a single week in Feb - ruary. They are choices we make every day, especially in difficult times, about the kind of society we wish to build and the kind of people we aspire to be. COMMUNITY GATHERINGS Rob Botterell: This was a big week for traditional com - munity gatherings — some painful, some joyful.

But all brought comfort, connection and social cohesion at a time when so much of the world feels like it’s tearing apart. Let’s start with the happy ones. For the W̱ SÁNEĆ, in my riding, February 17 was the first day of the Moon of the Child, the start of a new year when the earth starts to wake up and new food starts to grow. February 17 was also lunar new year, complete with dumplings, cakes and sticky rice. February 17 was also Shrove Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, the last day before Lent and a good excuse to eat pancakes.

February 17 also marked the start of Ramadan, a cele - bration known for fasting from dawn to dusk, followed by a feast of tagines, soups, chicken and lentils. Of course, these ceremonies and gatherings are more than just food. They are a chance to be together, share the many things we have in common, step back from the rush of daily commitments, clear out the things that are no longer serving us and start fresh in a season of growth. In times of hardship, as we’ve experienced with the tragedy in Tumbler Ridge, we gather in a different way. We lean on tradition. We lean on each other to make it through.

The familiar faces, songs, rituals and, yes, food bring comfort and strength when our foundation feels un - stable, when events strike at the heart of our well-being. So today a celebration of celebrations. Ramadan Mu - barak, gung hay fat choy and happy pancake day. PUBLIC TRANSIT IN V ANCOUVER Sunita Dhir: In Vancouver-Langara, public transit is part of everyday life. Ours is one of the highest transit-using constituencies in the province, with two Canada Line sta - tions and several well-used bus routes like 49th Avenue and Marine Drive connecting people to work, school, family and community.

I personally enjoy taking transit whenever I can, and it gives me a real appreciation for how essential it is to so many residents. Hearing directly from community mem - bers about their experiences helps us better understand how we can serve them and strengthen our transportation system. [10:50 a.m.] I would like to recognize the meaningful work of Move- ment: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders, also known as Movement YVR, a grassroots, rider-led organization advo- cating for stronger public transit across Metro Vancouver.

Founded by Denis Agar, Movement YVR brings to - gether passionate volunteers and everyday riders who care deeply about accessible, affordable and dependable transit. Their advocacy reminds us that transit is ultimately about opportunity and access, ensuring people can participate fully in community life while also supporting climate ac - tion and more livable neighbourhoods. I recently had the opportunity to ride the 100 Mar - pole 22nd Street Station route with Nav Sharma and Aman Chandi from Movement YVR. Seeing firsthand how important this route is for commuters was a valuable experience.

4862 B ritish Columbia Debates T hursday, February 19, 2026 To all the volunteers and riders who continue to speak up and engage constructively, thank you for your dedica - tion to building a more connected and sustainable region. Oral Questions ACCESS TO MATERNITY CARE SERVICES IN HOSPITALS Trevor Halford: Today the maternity ward at Peace Arch Hospital in the riding of Surrey–White Rock is closed for the fourth time in six weeks, the seventh time in ten weeks. Let me be clear. This government is failing mothers. Since December of last year, the maternity ward has been closed over 21 days.

Expectant mothers are being left in limbo, which is completely unacceptable. Doctors have been warning this government about a shortage of ob-gyns for years, and that has fallen on deaf ears. But this government has also failed to address the urgency that it deserves. My question to the Premier and to this government is a direct one. Why has this government failed to keep the doors of these maternity wards…? Whether it’s Peace Arch Hospital or Maple Ridge, why has this government failed mothers, and why does it continue to do so? Hon. Josie Osborne: Thank you to the Leader of the Opposition for the question.

This is a very stressful situa - tion, I know, for expectant mothers, for families awaiting the birth of their child. I want to assure all members of this House that the health authorities always take every step they possibly can to fill gaps in service, to find locums, and that there are, unfortunately, cases where it’s just not possible. This is be- cause of a shortage of the specialists that are required for this service.

I want to assure all parents and expectant parents that they should attend the hospital nearest to them, that they should work with their care provider for alternate ar - rangements when they are required. I also want to assure members of this House that I, this government, continue to do everything that we can to in - crease the number of specialists in this province. We are making progress through the actions that we are taking by recruiting physicians from other jurisdictions.

We will continue this work in bringing in more physicians, in cre - ating more physicians through the new medical school at SFU, for example. In closing, I just want to again assure parents that they should work with their care providers, that that help is go - ing to be there when they need it so that their children can be safely delivered. The Speaker: Opposition leader, supplemental. PARAMEDICS LABOUR DISPUTE Trevor Halford: Here is the problem in itself.

The an - swer that the minister just gave is an answer that she has given time and time again in this House, outside to media — more importantly, to expectant mothers. The minister before her carried on that tradition as well. So the urgency that this government has — we are not seeing it in the maternity wards. The minister says to go to the nearest hospital. If it’s open, they can do that. But if you’re in other areas of this province, chances are it might not be. You might have to drive four or five hours to get that. [10:55 a.m.] This government…. It’s not that we don’t believe the minister.

It’s the fact that the doctors don’t believe the minister. That is the problem. This government has lost all credibility when it comes to providing services, specif - ically when it comes to providing maternity care. Now what do we see? We see paramedics prepared to reduce their work at a time — whether it’s White Rock or Terrace or Prince George or Smithers — when if you call for an ambulance, it might not get there when you need it. That’s not the fault of the paramedics. Let me be clear. That is the fault of this Premier and this government — full stop. Will this minister agree?

When 97 percent of the para - medics are prepared to reduce their work to fight for fair and equitable wages, will this minister stand up and real - ize that she has absolutely failed our front-line workers, specifically paramedics, in this province, yes or no? Hon. Josie Osborne: I want to affirm that this govern - ment has taken consistent and urgent action in creating the conditions for more physicians, for more paramedics, for more nurses to join our health care workforce.

We all know that there’s a global shortage of health care workers, which is why it’s incumbent on us to take these urgent actions and continue that work in shortening the credentialing process for people to come to British Col - umbia and in attracting physicians, nurses, health care workers from other jurisdictions to come here and work in British Columbia. When it comes to paramedics, this government has in - vested more money in the history of B.C. in the paramedic service across British Columbia. We’re going to continue this work. We know how essential paramedics are to our health care system.

When you call 911, that help has to be there for you so that you can get it. We’re going to continue that work with respect to bargaining. Of course, those conversations take place at the bargaining table. We expect the parties to continue to work together to develop a fair deal for everybody so that we can continue to strengthen the paramedic service across this province.

Thursday, February 19, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 4863 In closing, I just want to pause and reflect and say thank you to the incredible response from paramedics in Tumbler Ridge and those around the entire region who have come in to relieve those paramedics at this time. That is the epitome of what these people provide, the in - credible service and dedication to the health, the safety and the well-being of British Columbians. TRANSPLANT W AITING LIST CASE Kristina Loewen: This minister talks about working together, but I’ve been asking her to work with me since Friday. This ministry is failing.

It’s failing Lyndsay Richholt. It failed her when they forgot about her for eight months. It failed her when they told her that she couldn’t use a live donor who was a stranger. It failed her when the model for the end-stage liver disease scoring system did not reflect her dire condition. In January, Lyndsay was told that she would get a life- saving transplant date within a week. Three weeks have passed now. Her condition is worse, and there has been radio silence ever since. Because of this minister, Lyndsay is now in acute kidney failure, and she may have a blood infection.

Will the Premier explain to Lyndsay and her family who is going to be held responsible for this inhumane neglect? Hon. Josie Osborne: Any person facing the issue, the urgent need for organ transplant here in British Columbia, is facing extremely challenging conditions. My heart goes out to anybody in that. But it is inappropriate for this member to characterize the work that we are trying to do together and the work that has to be done with B.C. Transplant and any patient in the way that she has.

It’s very important that we protect the integrity of the system when it comes to the way living donors make their decisions and prepare themselves for what is the ultimate gift for a person. [11:00 a.m.] The transplant teams that we have here in British Col - umbia are dedicated to patient-centred care. They use eth - ical processes in the way they communicate with recipi - ents and donors so as to not put undue pressure on living donors. That is a vital and integral part of the system.

I will continue to work with the member to do every - thing that I can to be able to support this, but I will not compromise the integrity of the transplant system. All British Columbians should continue to have confidence in that belief, and it is vital that we don’t break that. The Speaker: Member, supplemental. Kristina Loewen: The problem is that there’s no com - munication. There is no communication with Lyndsay, and there’s no communication with me. I stood up in this House in October and asked the min - ister to help with this mother and this family. I’ve con - tacted the minister several times after that.

On Friday, I begged her to personally collaborate with me, and I was directed to her office with no meaningful communication since. Mr. Speaker, 4,600 British Columbians died on wait- lists last year. I’m begging you. To the minister, will this minister please help Lyndsay and her family before an - other British Columbian dies under your care? Hon. Josie Osborne: The member and I have had sev - eral exchanges. On Friday, I was in Tumbler Ridge, so I wasn’t in a position to personally reach out.

But I know that staff in my office have and that we are doing everything we can to support the member, to support, in the way that we can, a person such as Lyndsay who is facing this issue. My office will always strive to provide as much infor - mation as we can. But again, I want to return to the fact that we cannot politically interfere in a decision being made by care providers, by trained medical staff. Interjections. The Speaker: Shhh. Hon. Josie Osborne: That is why we will continue to respect the processes that B.C. Transplant uses.

Again, it is not usual for transplant programs to pro - vide regular updates to recipients when a living donor is involved, in order to protect the integrity, to respect the decision that a living donor is making, in order to make these decisions in an ethical way. It is vital that we con - tinue that work. I will support the member. I’ve reached out to her to - day, for example, but her characterization of the type of support that me and my office provide is simply incorrect. I know that many members of this House understand that we will do everything to support them in the case - work that they bring forward.

Nothing is different about this. HEALTH IMPACTS OF LNG PROJECTS AND METHANE GAS FLARING Jeremy Valeriote: Every time we’re away from this chamber for a few weeks, new information about meth - ane gas flaring and human health consequences emerges. Freedom-of-information requests by journalists have ex - posed that LNG Canada has been flaring up to 15 times more gas than expected due to an “integrity issue,” mean - ing export plant malfunctions have put the health of local residents at risk, and it may take years to fix. For two years, as the scientific understanding has

4864 B ritish Columbia Debates T hursday, February 19, 2026 evolved, we’ve been saying that the LNG health impacts for people living in Kitimat, Squamish and Gingolx were improperly modelled under the EA process, with data gone missing, rushed regulatory review under the Christy Clark government and rubber-stamping of proponents’ consultant reports.

Now that this information is public, will the Minister of Energy or the Minister of Environment finally admit that the human health impacts of flaring at LNG Canada, Woodfibre LNG and Ksi Lisims were poorly modelled and order independent assessments based on real satellite ob - servations and current science? Hon. Adrian Dix: I don’t, with respect, agree with the member’s characterization of the work of the environ - mental assessment office. The environmental assessment office does important, independent work in reviewing projects to ensure they meet world-class standards and best practices.

In addition, in British Columbia, we have a policy to ensure the electrification of LNG facilities, reducing, in fact dramatically, their climate impacts. Projects such as LNG Canada are extensively reviewed with respect to health and local community impact. This has occurred and will continue to occur. In addition, there is strong provincial oversight of these facilities through the B.C. Energy Regulator and other parts of government. [11:05 a.m.] We have, I think, in B.C. — I think it’s internationally acknowledged — the lowest-emission LNG in the world. We work and ensure that all companies in B.C….

It’s in their interest, it’s in the public interest, and it’s in the inter- est of the people of Kitimat that they follow their expecta - tions. We’ll continue to work to ensure that that happens. The Speaker: Member, supplemental. Jeremy Valeriote: With respect, electrification doesn’t mitigate flaring. While Kitimat suffers in foul air, con - stituents I represent in Squamish are wondering what tox - ins await when Woodfibre LNG starts flaring.

The truth is that nobody knows, which is why the Dis - trict of Squamish Council recently called for conducting an independent cumulative health impact assessment on the B.C. gas industry. Hundreds of doctors and nurses have called for one too. This isn’t the first time that residents and experts have called for more data. In 2019, this government commis - sioned an expert report on fracking, but they managed to avoid an examination of the public health implications of fracking, despite an independent scientific review warn - ing of unknown risks to air and water.

Budget 2026 shows that this government is committed to fracking LNG at all costs, trading short-term gas revenues for long-term health care costs. If the Minister of Energy won’t do it, will the Minis - ter of Health commission an independent review of LNG’s health impacts? Hon. Adrian Dix: Well, the member is correct. There was a review of fracking undertaken by this government. There were recommendations, and the recommenda - tions were implemented, which is exactly what one would expect would happen on an issue of such importance — health, environmental and economic importance.

Equally, the member suggests that the environmental assessment office doesn’t do its work. I can assure him, and I know the Minister of the Environment can assure him, that they absolutely do that work, as do the people regulating these industries. With respect to Woodfibre LNG, I would say that if he’s referring to the budget and the results in the budget, yes, the value of natural gas that we have and that we produce in B.C. increases with LNG. It is the kind of policy that governments in B.C. have tried to implement for years, which is to upgrade the value of our resource.

In B.C., we have and will have the lowest-emission LNG in the world, including at Woodfibre. I understand that there is concern in some communities about the impacts of LNG, but I think the record is clear that B.C. is suc - ceeding. We’re doing better for our economy, and our pro- jects meet the best environmental standards in the world. GOVERNMENT POSITION ON DRIPA Dallas Brodie: For months, I was attacked by members on all sides of this House for my consistent opposition to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Today I would like to formally say I told you so.

Even the Premier has started to move towards me on DRIPA, but instead of repealing it entirely, this govern - ment is merely trying to make amendments. DRIPA is one of the main causes of our economic de - cline. This government likes to blame Donald Trump for all its failures, but the failures predate Trump. Endless consultations with unelected Chiefs and NGOs, mandated by DRIPA, are blocking projects and strangling business investment in B.C. The repeal of DRIPA alone would save B.C. billions of dollars.

With a deficit coming in at $13.3 billion, our nat - ural resource sector failing, mills closing, businesses and capital fleeing east and south, my question is this: when will this government fully repeal DRIPA and unleash our economy? Hon. David Eby: It’s hard to know where to start. The member can certainly have her own positions, but she can’t have her own facts. Capital investment, on a per-capita basis in this prov - ince, is up 79 percent since we formed government. We

Thursday, February 19, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 4865 were second in Canada for full-time jobs created — 32,000 last year. In just the last three months, we had three major mine expansions announced, final investment decisions worth in excess of $3 billion. In the next year, we’re looking at capital investment in the neighbourhood of $20 billion to $40 billion, approach - ing final investment decisions.

Every single one of these projects depends on good relations with First Nations and partnership in order to be able to deliver them in a timely way and provide the certainty that business is looking for. [11:10 a.m.] What the member is suggesting would be economic chaos for our province. Abandoning a relationship with First Nations that have constitutionally protected title rights in British Columbia. Abandoning those partner - ships would mean delays, cancellations, lost investment. Our deficit is a challenge, and it’s not just a challenge here.

It’s a challenge in Alberta, Ontario, Canada, the U.K., the U.S., places around the world. How is B.C. going to respond to this? By growing our economy through these partnerships that are going to de - liver massive capital investments that create good, high- paying jobs for British Columbians, who receive training in skilled trades with the money that’s in this budget. That is how we’re moving forward. What the member is suggesting would not just freeze us in place but would actually compromise the standard of living of British Columbians, going forward, for gen - erations. She is wrong.

She is wrong that anyone is moving towards her. Her positions are reprehensible, but they are also profoundly economically irresponsible. The Speaker: Member, supplemental. GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND PUBLIC SECTOR JOBS Dallas Brodie: If the Premier believes that we are in such a good position with capital investment in this province, I would ask why we are projecting a deficit of $13.3 billion and why capital is fleeing this province. You are aware of that. DRIPA is just one of the many policies that’s helping destroy the finances of B.C.

To quote Margaret Thatcher, “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money,” and that’s where we’re at. We’re out of money. This government has a spending problem. This government’s solution to every problem is adding new, costly layers of bureaucracy that actually make the problems worse, and this is the core for a disastrous eco - nomic decline. Since this socialist government was elected in 2017, the number of full-time public sector staff has grown by over 210,000 employees, which is a 55 percent increase in eight years. That’s to the public service.

The Speaker: Question, Member. Dallas Brodie: The Finance Minister’s promise to cut 15,000 public sector jobs over the next three years is frankly pathetic. Will this Finance Minister get real and make substan - tial across-the-board cuts to the size of government so that we can cut taxes and start growing our economy again? Hon. David Eby: The member might not agree with the facts, but that’s not a surprise to me, given this mem - ber’s record. Since 2017, our GDP growth at 20.8 percent is second among all provinces in Canada. Our unemploy - ment rate is one of the lowest in Canada.

There are structural challenges that face us that are driving this deficit. We have an aging population. It’s a big population. We need to invest in health care. The people that the member talks about that have been hired are paramedics, 3,000 paramedics in the last three years alone. Doctors. We’re adding 4,200 British Columbians connecting to a family doctor every week in this province because we’re hiring more family doctors. I understand that the member is opposed to that. Ap - parently, that’s her position. But we have to provide good, high-quality health care and education services in this province.

The Conservatives say those are the very ser - vices that would bear the brunt of the cuts that they would bring. The member counts herself among them. For us, we’re going to stand up for those strong pub - lic services, and we’re going to grow our economy to pay for the services that British Columbians need and deserve. We won’t cut on their backs. STAFFING COSTS AT LONG-TERM-CARE FACILITIES Brennan Day: Mr. Speaker, 1.4 million British Colum - bians don’t have a family doctor.

This government signed an MOA with the Health Em - ployers Association of B.C. to transition all eligible long- term-care homes in the province to fall under the union without any consultation. This transition is supposed to begin in October of this year, and there is no funding in this budget. We know that operating costs under this transition are going to skyrocket. The government previously commit - ted $85 million, and then it was $72 million. Long-term- care providers are in the dark.

To the Minister of Health: how much extra money can operators expect to be on the hook for to run long-term- care homes in B.C.? Hon. Josie Osborne: Thank you to the member for the question and for pointing out the important work that this government is doing and has been doing to repatri -

4866 B ritish Columbia Debates T hursday, February 19, 2026 ate long-term-care workers back into the public system; to bring facilities under a collective agreement that treats workers fairly, pays them fairly and helps create the work - ing conditions that are required to provide the care that our seniors depend on each and every single day in long- term care. [11:15 a.m.] That is the work that this government is committed to doing. That is treating people fairly, and that is providing the care that people depend on. We’re going to continue that work.

We’re going to continue to build out the con - tinuum of health care services that seniors need. The Premier has already spoken to this — the depend - ence on primary care, bringing in family doctors, having the nurses, the paramedics, the people that are vital to the health care system working in long-term care or through - out the system that we all depend on. We’re never going to stop doing this work. The Speaker: Member, supplemental. BUDGET PROVISIONS FOR LONG-TERM-CARE PROJECTS Brennan Day: This isn’t just an attack on private and non-profit care homes under this government.

They’re also attacking the public system where you expect those workers to participate. This government’s choice to in - definitely delay six long-term-care projects is a slap in the face to B.C. seniors. Yesterday this Finance Minister claimed it was because of massive costs per bed. I didn’t hear the Health Minister stand up or the Premier stand up to defend those choices. Other provinces have found a way to construct long-term- care beds at one-third of this government’s cost.

Because of this government’s failures and red tape, it’s becoming so expensive to build in B.C. that seniors are being left out in the cold. Will the Health Minister stand up, look vulnerable sen - iors in the eye and defend the choices of her Finance Min - ister? I know I wouldn’t. Hon. Josie Osborne: We can all agree that nothing is more important than taking care of seniors and investing in their health. These are the people who built our province. Our budget protects the core services that seniors and British Columbians depend on in the health care system.

It continues the investments into the primary care system — into the doctors, the nurses, the health care profession - als that seniors depend on. It continues the work to do on long-term care by building homes through standardized designs, different approaches that bring the cost down in a way that is sustainable. Those are the decisions that this government is mak - ing. Some $35 million being added to Independent Liv - ing B.C. to help low- and moderate-income seniors stay at home longer. When it comes to staying at home longer, we know that that’s what seniors want to do.

It helps for hap - pier and healthier outcomes, so investments are continu - ing into home supports, community-based home supports, the work that we’re doing with the United Way — over $300 million in last year’s budget that continues through these years. This is incredibly important work. This is the work that we’re going to continue to do. We’re not going to stop. BUDGET PRIORITIES Korky Neufeld: We know that this government doesn’t believe in letter grades, but the Vancouver Board of Trade does, and it gave this budget a D.

So that the NDP under - stands what a D is today, it’s “developing.” The president and CEO of Vancouver Board of Trade said it was the worst grade she’d ever seen in her time. That’s a failing grade for a budget that fails British Columbians. This minister said: “This is not a budget anyone would pop a champagne cork to.” No wonder there’s no cham - pagne. No one can afford it. My question to the Premier is: will you hold this min - ister back a full year because of her terrible report card? Hon.

Brenda Bailey: When we were working on Budget 2026, I heard from people who wanted to make deep cuts — we know that’s what the other side would do — that would hurt British Columbians right now: cuts in health care, cuts in education. I heard from others who said we have to keep spending at all costs; we need to keep going. We can’t do that be - cause the interest rates are getting too high. This is a balanced budget. What it does…. It is balanced because it does not take either of those extreme views. Interjections. The Speaker: Shhh. Hon. Brenda Bailey: It takes neither of those extreme views.

We, on the one hand, are continuing to invest, and on the other hand, we are working on the deficit and mak - ing difficult choices, like the choice to make some tax increases. Frankly, these are challenging times. We have to make this decision. We know that that decision will help us pro - tect the services that we are focused on. [11:20 a.m.] To the business community: it is true that your employ- ees also rely on these services. They also expect us to con - tinue to provide high-quality health care and attach people to doctors.

They expect us to provide good education for their kids that are coming in to take jobs in British Colum-

Thursday, February 19, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 4867 bia. They expect us to continue to drive down the cost of child care. These investments also help business. Kiel Giddens: There is no such thing as a balanced budget under this Premier and this Finance Minister. Budgets are about choices. The fact is that this Premier is choosing to cut funding for long-term-care beds. Their choices have led to record wait times in our hospitals and declining student test scores in math, science and reading. They’ve chosen to fire the Merit Commissioner to re - ward friends and insiders. Obviously, these aren’t my words.

This is coming from the Premier’s Deputy Minister: “An unsustainable prov - incial budget deficit.” The choices of this Premier and this Finance Minister are to set records by tabling the two worst budget deficits this province has ever seen. The for - mer Green Party leader, who propped up his predecessor’s government, called him the most destructive Premier in this province’s history. At this rate, my grandchildren’s children are going to be paying off this government’s debt. Will the Premier apologize to future generations for the choices his government’s budget has made today? Hon.

David Eby: There was lots in the member’s ques- tion there. There’s no question that, nationally, provinces are facing a very challenging economic time. That’s not just in Canada. It’s around the world, where we’re seeing slowing global economies. And he’s right. Budgets are about choices. How do we respond to this? Now, we’re going to see Alberta’s budget soon. We’ll see Ontario’s, other provinces’. Ontario has…. They’re go- ing to be crossing $500 trillion in debt. Now, that’s a sig - nificant number, and our debt-to-GDP is way lower. Our overall debt is less than half of that.

That’s a Conservative- run province that is now a province receiving equalization payments. Now, I understand the member is concerned about sen- iors and about kids. Well, so are we. That’s why, unlike the Conservatives, who made the commitment that education for children and health care for seniors, if they were on this side of the House, would take the brunt of the cuts that they would put forward, we won’t do that. We will make sure that health care is delivered in this province. We will make sure that high-quality education is there for our kids. We’ll make choices to reduce ex - penditure where we can.

But what is going to solve this for us, for the long term, is to grow our economy. That is why the members on both sides of the House will see our continued effort to land… Interjections. The Speaker: Members. Hon. David Eby: …those major investments that will deliver economic growth for this province and high- paying jobs for British Columbians who receive train - ing through this budget, with businesses supported with credits to invest in capital in this province so that we can grow the kind of economy that every British Columbian deserves, including future generations. Now, we make no apologies for that.

That is the direc - tion that we have to go. That is the direction the coun - try has to go, and I’m glad to have the Prime Minister’s support in this work and British Columbians’ support in growing our economy. I hope they support those big pro - jects and the opportunities for families, because that is what is going to ensure longevity and success for the prov - ince of British Columbia and for the country of Canada. [End of question period.] Reports from Committees SELECTION COMMITTEE Hon.

Mike Farnworth: I have the honour to present the first report of the Special Committee of Selection for the second session of the 43rd parliament. I move that the report be taken and read as received. Motion approved. Hon. Mike Farnworth: I ask leave of the House to move a motion to adopt the report. Leave granted. Hon. Mike Farnworth: I move that the report be adopted. Motion approved. Orders of the Day Hon. Mike Farnworth: I call Motion 1 on the order paper. [11:25 a.m.] Government Motions on Notice MOTION 1 — AMENDMENTS TO STANDING ORDERS FOR PRIV ATE MEMBERS’ TIME Hon.

Mike Farnworth: I move Motion 1, of which no - tice has been given in my name on the order paper. The motion proposes amendments to the standing orders in relation to private members’ business. [That the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of Brit- ish Columbia be amended as follows: 1. B y adding a new subsection (5), subsection (6), and sub - section (7) to Standing Order 27:

4868 B ritish Columbia Debates T hursday, February 19, 2026 Advancing Private Members’ business.

(5) Th e item of business that a Member wishes to ad - vance shall be on the Order Paper when the Mem - ber reaches the third place on the list of assigned placements of Members to present Private Members’ business. If a Member has more than one item of business standing in their name on the Order Paper, when the Member reaches the third place on the list of assigned placements of Members to present Pri - vate Members’ business, the Member shall provide the Clerk of the House with written notice of the item of business the Member intends to advance, which shall be so designated on the Order Paper. New Parliament.

(6) N otwithstanding Standing Order 27 (5), in a n ew Parliament, the first three Members on the place - ment of Members to present Private Members’ busi- ness shall ensure that their item of business appears on the Order Paper by the fourth sitting day follow - ing the opening of the Session. Period of long adjournment.

(7) N otwithstanding Standing Order 27 (5), f ollowing a period of long adjournment, the second and third Members on the placement of Members to present Private Members’ business shall ensure that their item of business appears on the Order Paper by the fourth sitting day following the resumption of sit- tings, whether in a new Session or the same Session. 2. B y adding the underlined text to Standing Order 27A (2): Exchanging or withdrawing place.

(2) A Member may exchange their placement with an - other Member or withdraw their place by provid - ing the Clerk of the House with written notice of their intention to this effect. After the opening of a new Parliament, a Member may only do so until the Member reaches the third place on the list of as- signed placements of Members to present Private Members’ business. 3. By adding a new subsection (6) to Standing Order 27A: No eligible or designated item of business.

(6) I f a Member does not have an eligible or designated item of business to advance in accordance with Standing Order 27 ( 5), the Member shall be moved to the bottom of the placement list for Private Mem- bers’ business. 4. B y deleting the text shown as struck out and adding the underlined text in Standing Order 84A (2): 84A.

(2) Th e Select Standing Committee on Private Bills and Private Members’ Bills shall, within 3045 sitting days of the Bill’s committal to the Committee, report the Bill back to the House with or without amendment. That the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia be amended by replacing Standing Order 27B as follows, retroactive to the start of the Second Session of the Forty-third Parliament: Effect of prorogation on Private Members’ business. 27B.

(1) A p rorogation of the House shall not have the effect of nullifying a Public Bill in the Hands of a Private Member on the Order Paper that has been moved at second reading or progressed to a subse - quent stage of consideration. Such Bill shall be re - instated on the Order Paper in the next Session to its last stage of consideration at the time of proroga- tion, maintaining its order of precedence. ( 2) A prorogation of the House shall not have the effect of nullifying a Private Member’s motion that has been moved but on which the question has not been put.

Such motion shall be reinstated on the Or- der Paper in the next Session, maintaining its order of precedence. And that the above amendments to the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia not apply to the consideration of the designated item of business brought forward by the Member for Prince George-Valemount and the Member for Courtenay-Comox.] Motion approved. Hon. Mike Farnworth: I call Motion 2 on the order paper. MOTION 2 — AMENDMENT TO STANDING ORDERS TO INCLUDE FIRST NATION PARTICIPATION IN INTRODUCTION OF TREATY-RELATED LEGISLATION Hon.

Mike Farnworth: I move Motion 2, of which no - tice has been given in my name on the order paper. The motion proposes amendments to the standing orders in relation to the introduction of treaty-related legislation for consideration by the House. [That the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of Brit- ish Columbia be amended by adding a new Standing Or - der 25C, as follows: Treaty-Related Legislation Participation of First Nation. 25C.

(1) Th e Speaker may, at the request of the Govern - ment House Leader and in consultation with the other House Leaders, authorize a representative of a First Nation to address the House in conjunction with the introduction of treaty-related legislation for consideration by the House. For such a proceeding: (

a) t he representative of the First Nation that is the signatory to the treaty shall be invited to address the House following the conclusion of proceedings at the Introduction and First Reading of the related Bill; and (

b) t he leader of each recognized party or their designate shall thereafter have an opportunity to provide a response, bound by the practices of the House applicable to Ministerial State - ments.

(2) Th e Speaker may, in consultation with the House Leaders, facilitate appropriate ceremonial and cul - tural arrangements for such occasions.] Motion approved.

Thursday, February 19, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 4869 Hon. Mike Farnworth: I call Motion 3 on the order paper. MOTION 3 — POWERS AND ROLE OF FINANCE COMMITTEE Hon. Mike Farnworth: I move Motion 3, of which no - tice has been given in my name on the order paper.

The motion provides terms of reference for the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services. [That the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Gov- ernment Services be empowered to exercise oversight of each of the following statutory officers: Auditor General, Chief Electoral Officer, Conflict of Interest Commissioner, Human Rights Commissioner, Information and Privacy Commissioner and Registrar of Lobbyists, Merit Commis - sioner, Ombudsperson, Police Complaint Commissioner and Representative for Children and Y outh.

This includes: a. co nsidering and making recommendations on the an - nual reports, rolling three-year service plans, budgets and any other matters respecting the effective and ef- ficient administration of each statutory office; b. in quiring into and making recommendations with re - spect to other matters brought to the Committee’s attention by a statutory officer; and, c. co nsidering and making decisions regarding the terms and conditions of employment of each statu - tory officer arising as a request of a statutory officer during their term of appointment.

That the Committee be designated as the Committee re - ferred to in sections 6, 7, 19, 20, 21 and 23 of the Auditor General Act (S.B.C. 2003, c. 2) and that the report in sec - tion 22 of the Auditor General Act (S.B.C. 2003, c. 2) be re - ferred to the Committee. That the Committee be designated as the Committee re - ferred to in sections 47.02 and 47.03 of the Human Rights Code (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 210). That the Committee be designated as the Committee referred to in

section 3 of the Budget Transparency and Ac- countability Act (S.B.C. 2000, c. 23). That the Committee be designated as the Committee re - ferred to in

section 21 of the Economic Stabilization (Tariff Response) Act.

That, in addition to the powers previously conferred upon the Select Standing Committees of the House, the Se - lect Standing Committee on Finance and Government Ser - vices be empowered to: a. a ppoint of its number one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the mat - ters referred to the Committee and to delegate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers except the power to report directly to the House; b. si t during a period in which the House is adjourned, during the recess after prorogation until the next fol- lowing Session and during any sitting of the House; c. co nduct consultations by any means the Committee considers appropriate; d. ad journ from place to place as may be convenient; and, e. retain personnel as required to assist the Committee.

That the Committee report to the House as soon as pos - sible, and that during a period of adjournment, the Commit- tee deposit its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative As - sembly, and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, or in the next following Session, as the case may be, the Chair present all reports to the House.] Motion approved. Hon. Mike Farnworth: I call Motion 4 on the order paper. MOTION 4 — POWERS AND ROLE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE Hon. Mike Farnworth: I move Motion 4, of which no - tice has been given in my name on the order paper.

The motion provides terms of reference for the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts. [That all reports of the Auditor General of British Colum - bia transmitted to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly be deemed referred to the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts. For greater certainty, the following exceptions are pro - vided: a. t he report referred to in

section 22 of the Auditor Gen- eral Act (S.B.C. 2003, c. 2) shall be referred to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Govern- ment Services; and, b. r eports of the Auditor General respecting the Legisla - tive Assembly prepared under the provisions of the Legislative Assembly Management Committee Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 258) s hall be referred to the Legis- lative Assembly Management Committee. That the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts be the Committee referred to in sections 10 and 14 of the Auditor General Act (S.B.C. 2003, c. 2).

That, in addition to the powers previously conferred upon the Select Standing Committees of the House, the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts be empowered to: a. a ppoint of its number one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the mat - ters referred to the Committee and to delegate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers except the power to report directly to the House; b. si t during a period in which the House is adjourned, during the recess after prorogation until the next fol- lowing Session and during any sitting of the House; c. ad journ from place to place as may be convenient; and, d. retain personnel as required to assist the Committee.

That the Committee report to the House as soon as pos - sible, and that during a period of adjournment, the Commit- tee deposit its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative As - sembly, and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, or in the next following Session, as the case may be, the Chair present all reports to the House.] Motion approved.

4870 B ritish Columbia Debates T hursday, February 19, 2026 Hon. Mike Farnworth: I call Motion 5 on the order paper. MOTION 5 — POWERS AND ROLE OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH COMMITTEE Hon. Mike Farnworth: I move Motion 5, of which no - tice has been given in my name on the order paper.

The motion provides terms of reference for the Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth. [That the Select Standing Committee on Children and Y outh be empowered to foster greater awareness and understand - ing among legislators and the public of the B.C. child welfare system, including the specific needs of Indigenous children, youth, families and communities, and in particular to: a. r eceive and review the annual service plan from the Representative for Children and Y outh (the “Repre- sentative”) that includes a statement of goals and identifies specific objectives and performance meas- ures that will be required to exercise the powers and perform the functions and duties of the Representa- tive during the fiscal year; b. b e the Committee to which the Representative re - ports, at least annually; c. r efer to the Representative for investigation the critical injury or death of a child; d. r eceive and consider all reports and plans transmitted by the Representative to the Speaker of the Legisla - tive Assembly; and, e. un dertake, pursuant to

section 30 (1) of the Represent- ative for Children and Youth Act (S.B.C. 2006, c. 29), a comprehensive review of the Act or portions of the Act at least once every five years, but by no later than April 1, 2027, to determine whether the func - tions of the Representative described in

section 6 are still required to ensure that the needs of children and young adults as defined in that

section are met.

That, in addition to the powers previously conferred upon Select Standing Committees of the House, the Select Stand - ing Committee on Children and Y outh be empowered to: a. a ppoint of its number one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the mat - ters referred to the Committee and to delegate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers except the power to report directly to the House; b. si t during a period in which the House is adjourned, during the recess after prorogation until the next fol- lowing Session and during any sitting of the House; c. co nduct consultations by any means the Committee considers appropriate; d. ad journ from place to place as may be convenient; and, e. retain personnel as required to assist the Committee.

That the Committee report to the House as soon as pos - sible, and that during a period of adjournment, the Commit- tee deposit its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative As - sembly, and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, or in the next following Session, as the case may be, the Chair present all reports to the House.] Motion approved. Hon. Mike Farnworth: I call Motion 6 on the order paper. MOTION 6 — APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON DEMOCRATIC AND ELECTORAL REFORM Hon.

Mike Farnworth: I move Motion 6, of which notice has been given in my name on the order paper, to appoint a special committee on democratic and electoral reform. [That a Special Committee on Democratic and Electoral Reform be appointed to review the administration of the forty-third provincial general election, including considera - tion of the Chief Electoral Officer’s report on the forty-third provincial general election, and make recommendations for improvements for future elections.

That the Special Committee have the powers of a Select Standing Committee and in addition be empowered to: a. a ppoint of its number one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the mat - ters referred to the Special Committee and to dele - gate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers except the power to report directly to the House; b. si t during a period in which the House is adjourned, during the recess after prorogation until the next fol- lowing Session and during any sitting of the House; c. co nduct consultations by any means the Special Com - mittee considers appropriate; d. ad journ from place to place as may be convenient; and, e. retain personnel as required to assist the Special Com- mittee.

That any information and materials previously under consideration by the Special Committee appointed by order of the Legislative Assembly on April 9, 2025, for the same purpose be referred to the Special Committee. That the Special Committee report to the House by May 14, 2026, a nd that during a period of adjournment, the Special Committee deposit its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, or in the next following Session, as the case may be, the Chair present all reports to the House.

That the Special Committee be composed of the follow - ing Members: Jennifer Blatherwick (Convener), Rob Botter- ell, Sheldon Clare, Sunita Dhir, Dana Lajeunesse, Harwinder Sandhu and Ward Stamer.] Motion approved. Hon. Mike Farnworth: I call Motion 7 on the order paper.

Thursday, February 19, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 4871 MOTION 7 — APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE LOBBYISTS TRANSPARENCY ACT Hon. Mike Farnworth: I move Motion 7, of which no - tice has been given in my name on the order paper, to ap - point a special committee to review the Lobbyists Trans - parency Act. [That a Special Committee to Review the Lobbyists Transpar- ency Act be appointed to review the Lobbyists Transparency Act (S.B.C. 2001, c. 42), pursuant to

section 11.1 of the Act.

That the Special Committee have the powers of a Select Standing Committee and in addition be empowered to: a. a ppoint of its number one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the mat - ters referred to the Special Committee and to dele - gate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers except the power to report directly to the House; b. si t during a period in which the House is adjourned, during the recess after prorogation until the next fol- lowing Session and during any sitting of the House; c. co nduct consultations by any means the Special Com - mittee considers appropriate; d. adjourn from place to place as may be convenient; and, e. retain personnel as required to assist the Special Com- mittee.

That any information and materials previously under consideration by the Special Committee appointed by order of the Legislative Assembly on April 30, 2025, for the same purpose be referred to the Special Committee. That the Special Committee report to the House by April 29, 2026, a nd that during a period of adjournment, the Special Committee deposit its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, or in the next following Session, as the case may be, the Chair present all reports to the House.

That the Special Committee be composed of the follow - ing Members: Steve Morissette (Convener), George Anderson, Rosalyn Bird, Kiel Giddens and Harwinder Sandhu.] Motion approved. Hon. Mike Farnworth: I call Motion 8 on the order paper. MOTION 8 — APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO REVIEW PROVISIONS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS CODE Hon.

Mike Farnworth: I move Motion 8, of which no - tice has been given in my name on the order paper, to ap - point a special committee to review the human rights code. [That a Special Committee to Review Provisions of the Hu- man Rights Code be appointed to review sections 47.01 to 47.24 of the Human Rights Code (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 210), pur- suant to

section 50.1 of the Act.

That the Special Committee have the powers of a Select Standing Committee and in addition be empowered to: a. a ppoint of its number one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the mat - ters referred to the Special Committee and to dele - gate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers except the power to report directly to the House; b. si t during a period in which the House is adjourned, during the recess after prorogation until the next fol- lowing Session and during any sitting of the House; c. co nduct consultations by any means the Special Com - mittee considers appropriate; d. ad journ from place to place as may be convenient; and, e. r etain personnel as required to assist the Special Committee.

That any information and materials previously under consideration by the Special Committee appointed by order of the Legislative Assembly on May 26, 2025, for the same purpose be referred to the Special Committee. That the Special Committee report to the House by May 25, 2026, a nd that during a period of adjournment, the Special Committee deposit its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, or in the next following Session, as the case may be, the Chair present all reports to the House.

That the Special Committee be composed of the follow - ing Members: Mable Elmore (Convener), Rohini Arora, Susie Chant, Scott McInnis and Teresa Wat.] Motion approved. Hon. Mike Farnworth: I call Motion 9 on the order paper. MOTION 9 — APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON POLICE COMPLAINTS Hon.

Mike Farnworth: I move Motion 9, of which no - tice has been given in my name on the order paper, to ap - point a special committee on police complaints. [That a Special Committee on Police Complaints be ap - pointed to conduct an audit respecting the outcome or reso- lution of randomly selected complaints and investigations, pursuant to

section 51.2 of the Police Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 367).

That the Special Committee have the powers of a Select Standing Committee and in addition be empowered to: a. a ppoint of its number one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the mat - ters referred to the Special Committee and to dele - gate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers except the power to report directly to the House; b. si t during a period in which the House is adjourned, during the recess after prorogation until the next fol- lowing Session and during any sitting of the House; c. co nduct consultations by any means the Special Com - mittee considers appropriate; d. ad journ from place to place as may be convenient; and,

4872 B ritish Columbia Debates T hursday, February 19, 2026 e. retain personnel as required to assist the Special Com- mittee. That any information and materials previously under consideration by the Special Committee appointed by order of the Legislative Assembly on November 24, 2025, for the same purpose be referred to the Special Committee.

That the Special Committee report to the House by Nov - ember 23, 2026, and that during a period of adjournment, the Special Committee deposit its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and upon resumption of the sit- tings of the House, or in the next following Session, as the case may be, the Chair present all reports to the House. That the Special Committee be composed of the follow - ing Members: Elenore Sturko (Convener), Garry Begg, Steve Kooner, Macklin McCall and Darlene Rotchford.] Motion approved. Hon. M ike Fa rnworth: I am now at the penultimate motion.

I call Motion 10 on the order paper. MOTION 10 — APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO REVIEW PROVISIONS OF THE INSURANCE (VEHICLE) ACT Hon. Mike Farnworth: I move Motion 10, of which notice has been given in my name on the order paper, to appoint a special committee to review provisions of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act. [That a Special Committee to Review Provisions of the Insur- ance (Vehicle) Act be appointed to review Parts 10 and 11 of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 231), pursuant to

section 182 of the Act.

That the Special Committee have the powers of a Select Standing Committee and in addition be empowered to: a. a ppoint of its number one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the mat - ters referred to the Special Committee and to dele - gate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers except the power to report directly to the House; b. si t during a period in which the House is adjourned, during the recess after prorogation until the next fol- lowing Session and during any sitting of the House; c. co nduct consultations by any means the Special Com - mittee considers appropriate; d. ad journ from place to place as may be convenient; and, e. retain personnel as required to assist the Special Com- mittee.

That the Special Committee report to the House within one year of its appointment, and that during a period of ad - journment, the Special Committee deposit its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, or in the next following Session, as the case may be, the Chair present all reports to the House. That the Special Committee be composed of the following Members: Stephanie Higginson (Convener), Jennifer Blather- wick, Hon Chan, George Chow, Brennan Day, Janet Routledge and Jeremy Valeriote.] Motion approved. Hon. Mike Farnworth: The last motion.

I call Mo - tion 11 on the order paper. MOTION 11 — COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY AND COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO SIT IN THREE SECTIONS Hon. Mike Farnworth: I move Motion 11, of which no- tice has been given in my name on the order paper. The motion would enable certain proceedings of the House to be undertaken in three sections for the remainder of the current session. [That, for the remainder of the current Session: GENERAL 1. C ertain proceedings of the House may be undertaken in three sections, designated

Section A,

Section B, and Sec - tion C, to be subject to the rules that follow. 2. S ection A and

Section C sit in such committee room as may be designated from time to time, and

Section B sit in the Legislative Chamber. 3. S ection A,

Section B, and

Section C be authorized to examine all Estimates, and for all purposes be deemed to be the Committee of Supply, and that the Standing Orders re - lating to the consideration of Estimates in the Committee of Supply and to Committees of the Whole House be applic - able to such proceedings, save and except that, during pro - ceedings in Committee of Supply in

Section A and

Section C, a Minister may defer to a Deputy Minister to permit such Deputy to reply to a question put to the Minister. 4. S ection A,

Section B, and

Section C be authorized to consider bills at committee stage after second reading thereof, and for all purposes be deemed to be a Committee of the Whole House, and that the Standing Orders relating to the consideration of bills in a Committee of the Whole House be applicable to such proceedings. 5. E stimates or bills may be considered in the order de - termined by the Government House Leader and may at any time be subsequently referred to another designated Section, as determined by the Government House Leader in accord - ance with Standing Order 27 (2). COMPOSITION 6. Th e Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole or their designate preside in

Section A and

Section C. 7. S ection A and

Section C consist of ten Members, not including the Chair, being five Members of the B.C. NDP Caucus, four Members of the Conservative Party of British Columbia Caucus, and one Member of the B.C. Green Party Caucus. 8. Th e Members of

Section A be: the Minister whose Es - timates are under examination or who is in charge of the bill under consideration and Rohini Arora, Hon. Ravi Parmar, Janet Routledge, Amna Shah, Tony Luck, Scott McInnis, Hea- ther Maahs, Ward Stamer and Jeremy Valeriote. 9. Th e Members of

Section C be: the Minister whose Es -

Thursday, February 19, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 4873 timates are under examination or who is in charge of the bill under consideration and Hon. Adrian Dix, Stephanie Higgin- son, Hon. Sheila Malcolmson, Steve Morissette, Brennan Day, Kristina Loewen , Korky Neufeld, Misty Van Popta and Rob Botterell. 10. S ubstitutions for Members of

Section A and

Section C be permitted with the consent of the Member’s Caucus Whip. 11.

Section B be composed of all Members of the House. DIVISIONS 12. W hen a division is requested in

Section A, the div - ision bells shall be rung four times, and the division shall proceed in accordance with Standing Order 16. 13. W hen a division is requested in

Section B, the div - ision bells shall be rung three times, at which time proceed - ings in

Section A and

Section C shall be suspended, and the division shall proceed in accordance with Standing Order 16. 14. W hen a division is requested in

Section C, the div - ision bells shall be rung five times, and the division shall pro- ceed in accordance with Standing Order 16. 15. I f a division is underway in

Section A or

Section C at the time that a division is requested in

Section B, the div - ision in

Section B be suspended until the completion of the division in

Section A or

Section C. REPORTING AND COMPLETION 16. A t 15 minutes prior to the ordinary time fixed for adjournment of the House, the Chair of

Section A and Sec - tion C shall report to the House.] Motion approved. Hon. Mike Farnworth: I call continued debate on the budget. [Lorne Doerkson in the chair.] Budget Debate (continued) Deputy Speaker: Members, we’ll ask you to take your conversations in the hallway. We are going to get back to our budget debate. [11:30 a.m.] Korky Neufeld: Before I continue on with my speech that I started with yesterday, I just want to remind every - one in the House and also everyone in British Columbia to continue praying for 12-year-old Maya Gebala, who is fighting for her life in Children’s Hospital here in Vancou- ver.

We stand with you, and so does all of British Columbia stand with Tumbler Ridge at this time. I want to continue my response to the budget, from the chamber of commerce from Abbotsford. It raises the 7 percent, across multiple sectors, tax. I said yesterday that manufacturers will pay more for engineering services, de - velopers will pay more for design and architectural ser - vices, farm operators and processors face higher compli - ance and advisory costs and property managers, and com - mercial landlords face additional expenses that ultimately flow through to the tenants.

So what this is saying is that the end user will pay for this. These are not abstract increases. They are direct cost pressures in an already competitive labour and invest - ment environment. At the same time, the suspension of bracket indexation reduces disposable income for house - holds, placing additional pressures on wage expectations and consumer spending. When government raises costs broadly while growth remains modest, competitiveness erodes.

Continued infrastructure investment supporting goods movement in the Fraser Valley corridor is absolutely es - sential, according to the Abbotsford Chamber of Com - merce. For Abbotsford — positioned to lead in manufac - turing, agriculture, aerospace and transportation — these measures absolutely matter, but they are not a comprehen- sive growth strategy. They are targeted supports layered onto a broader fiscal framework that remains structurally imbalanced. We must also speak plainly about regional impact.

A project that would have provided 200 long-term-care beds in Abbotsford is among seven projects placed on hold. That’s 200 less seniors that will find care. And we know what’s happening to the baby boomers. They’re aging out. In a fast-growing community with demographic pressures, this is deeply concerning not only for Abbotsford but also for these other long-term-care beds that have now been permanently mothballed. When fiscal constraints force delays in essential infrastructure, the cost is borne locally by families, by seniors, by employers who rely on strong community services to attract and retain workers.

Abbotsford is ready to lead. We are strategically pos - itioned along key transport corridors. We are home to one of the most productive agricultural regions in the coun - try. We have advanced manufacturing capacity. We have aerospace expertise. We have a growing population and an entrepreneurial culture. But to unlock that potential, the province must focus in on four main pillars: pillar 1, productivity; pillar 2, regulatory efficiency; pillar 3, stra - tegic infrastructure; and pillar 4, fiscal sustainability. Prosperity is not funded by debt; it is built by growth.

The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce will continue to advocate for a credible timeline towards fiscal stabiliza - tion, not indefinite deficits. We will advocate for regula - tory modernization and faster permitting. Businesses cannot wait years for approvals in a globally competitive environment. We will advocate for workforce development alignment with industry demands, including increased per-student funding for post-secondary institutions in the Fraser Val -

4874 B ritish Columbia Debates T hursday, February 19, 2026 ley and beyond. Our region must train and retain the tal - ent required for expansion. Like all other regions in the province, if we do not invest in local post-secondary education in different re - gions, we will lose the students that are being trained and equipped to supply the needs in the industry in that re - gion. They will leave, and they will not come back. We have to support local institutions in our regions across the province.

We will advocate for modernization of agricultural land reserve regulations to enable greater industry com - petitiveness and address the shortage of industrial land while preserving the agricultural productivity that defines Abbotsford’s region. [11:35 a.m.] We will advocate for strategic infrastructure invest - ments, including flood mitigation and the expansion of Highway 1, projects that directly support economic resili - ence and goods movement across western Canada. We saw what that did in the two floods we previously just had.

It stops the movement of goods and services far beyond the Fraser Valley into the Interior. We provide goods and ser - vices — Highway 1 provides goods and services — for the whole province. This is not about partisanship. It’s about trajectory. Budget 2026 reflects a government navigating fiscal constraint while attempting to preserve services. But pres - ervation is not the same as progress. At a time of record deficit and rising debt, British Columbia cannot afford incrementalism. We need a decisive, disciplined, pro- growth strategy. The Fraser Valley stands ready to drive that growth.

Our businesses are resilient. Our entrepre - neurs are innovative. Our workforce is committed. What we need now is a fiscal and economic framework that matches that ambition. British Columbia’s prosperity will not be secured through expanding taxation and sustained deficits. It’ll be secured through productivity, competitiveness and disci - plined management. Budget 2026 does not address this. It falls short.

The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce will continue to be the voice of business, advocating for policies that build growth, restore balance and ensure that our region and our province thrive for generations to come. Well, let’s talk about health care. Forty-two percent of British Columbians say it’s difficult or impossible to ac - cess non-emergency care normally handled by a family doctor. In 2025 alone, there were 250 temporary ER clos - ures across the province. This budget contains no new transformative plan to address those closures. Shame on them.

Six long-term-care homes have been delayed — Abbots - ford, Campbell River, Chilliwack, Delta, Fort St. John, Squamish — pushing desperately needed beds years into the future, if not mothballed altogether. Mental health funding sees no new expansion beyond previous an - nouncements and even cuts within the Ministry of Chil - dren and Family Development. Meanwhile, interest pay - ments continue to grow. Let me just share with you some thoughts on Abbots - ford Regional Hospital. What is happening today in Abbotsford Regional Hospital should alarm every person in this House.

Budget 2026 does not think to alleviate the pressures at Abbotsford Regional Hospital. This is not a temporary surge. This is not a one-off bad week. This is a systemic failure unfolding in real time in Abbotsford, and patients are paying the price. Abbotsford Regional Hospital is operating at over 100 percent capacity, reaching its high at 128 percent. Doc - tors tell us the hospital is bursting at the seams. Patients are being treated in hallways, alcoves, closets and waiting rooms, not because it’s appropriate but because there’s no- where else to put them.

This is what front-line physicians are calling hallway health care. Up to 40 percent of pa - tients are placed in non-designated care areas. Patients are using commodes in public view. Conversations about diagnosis, treatment plans and end-of-life decisions are happening within earshot of strangers. I would like everybody in the House to put yourself in that. You’re on a stretcher. You’re in a hallway. You’re vul- nerable. You’re discussing personal, private, sensitive in - formation with people all around you who can hear every single word that is spoken. Shame on this government. This is not dignified.

It is not safe. It is not acceptable in a developing country. Budget 2026 ignores Abbotsford Regional Hospital needs. Doctors report 90 percent of the admitted patients are waiting up to 114.9 hours, nearly five full days, in the emergency department before getting a bed. Some pa - tients wait even longer. Emergency rooms are meant to stabilize patients, not warehouse them. For elderly patients in particular, these prolonged stays are devastating.

Doctors describe rising rates of confusion, delirium, falls, pressure ulcers, infec - tions and poorer long-term outcomes, simply because pa - tients are trapped for days on stretchers in loud, crowded hallways. [11:40 a.m.] Where is the commitment from this budget for the Abbotsford residents? One physician with over 30 years of experience says this is the worst congestion he has ever seen. Others say…. She leaves every shift carrying moral distress. Her words are heartbreaking: “My heart is broken.

These are not conditions you would expect to see in a developed country.” When doctors and people trained to endure pressure say they are demoralized, we should listen. Budget 2026 remains silent as doctors wait for supports. This crisis is being driven by three clear failures: not enough beds, not enough staff, not enough space for a rapidly growing and

Thursday, February 19, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 4875 aging Fraser Valley population. The hospital has 275 acute care beds, yet an average of 347 patients need those beds. That gap is filled with stretchers, hallways, and makeshift care spaces. Yes, Fraser Health points to alternate-level-of-care pa - tients. Yes, winter surges add pressures. But these explana - tions do not absolve responsibility. They underline it. We have known for years that the Fraser Valley is growing. We have known for years that the population is aging.

We have known for years that Abbotsford Regional Hospital is a no-refusal regional referral site. Yet here we are. Budget 2026 has ignored these pressures. Staffing shortages compound the problem. Nurses are stretched beyond safe ratios. Burnout is rampant. The back door is as big as the front door. Yes, we’re attracting people, but we’re losing them just as fast. One nurse is often respon - sible

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20260219am-Hansard-n119
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20260219am Hansard n119
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	84d3439051a07783c931114e354b4c8bca005f22

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