2002 Legislative Session: 3rd Session, 37th Parliament

HANSARD

The following electronic version is for informational purposes

only.

The printed version remains the official version.

Official Report of

DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

(Hansard)

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2002

Afternoon Sitting

Volume 3, Number 13

CONTENTS

Routine

Proceedings

Page

Tributes

Hon. G. Campbell

J. MacPhail

Introductions by Members

Statements (Standing Order 25 B )

Langford and Malahat volunteer firefighters

B. Kerr

Impact of government communications on fisheries policies on coastal communities

R. Visser

Canadian Home Builders Association conference

R. Stewart

Oral Questions

Funding of legal aid services

J. Kwan

Hon. G. Plant

Hon. L. Stephens

Government support for small communities

J. MacPhail

Hon. G. Campbell

Hon. G. Abbott

2010 Vancouver-Whistler Olympic bid

W. McMahon

Hon. T. Nebbeling

Funding for services for disabled persons

S. Orr

Hon. G. Hogg

Recall legislation

J. MacPhail

Hon. G. Campbell

Health care pilot project for northern and

rural communities

B. Bennett

Hon. C. Hansen

Point of Order

J. Kwan

Hon. G. Collins

Budget Debate (continued)

Hon. S. Hagen

Hon. J. Reid

H. Long

Hon. G. Bruce

Hon. L. Stephens

S. Orr

J. Bray

V. Anderson

I. Chong

[ Page 1305 ]

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2002

The House

met at 2:02 p.m.

Tributes

CANADIAN OLYMPIANS

Hon. G.

Campbell: Yesterday all of Canada celebrated the incredibly successful

Olympic event that we had. I thought it would be worthwhile for this House to

recognize, in particular, the 25 B.C. Olympians who participated during the

Olympics.

While we

all celebrate the men's hockey success and the women's hockey success and the

excellence that they brought to their sports, I think we have to recognize the

incredible effort that went in for over two dozen B.C. athletes who dedicated

their time, their effort and their energy to be able to compete on behalf of

Canada in the Olympic Games. They would be the first to tell us that their

support came from coaches, from family members and from friends who were always

working to make sure they could achieve their best and reach their firm goals. I

can't tell you how proud I was to see the Canadian athletes participating and

being successful not just for Canada but for themselves, in their individual

initiative as well as in their teamwork.

Yesterday

Team Canada did an exceptional job, but I can tell you that I was in Williams

Lake for the opening of the British Columbia Winter Games on a rainy, cold

Thursday evening, and every single one of those people couldn't stop cheering

for the Canadian women's hockey team, who won the first gold medal in hockey for

Canada in 50 years. Everyone was glued to their television set yesterday as we

watched as the men not only beat the United States, they trumped them with

skill, with energy and with effort that reflects the skill, energy and effort of

Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

On behalf

of this Legislature, I would like to congratulate and would like the Legislature

to congratulate our 25 Olympians and the contribution they made to the Canadian

effort. I'd like to remind everyone that in the year 2010, we're going to do ten

times that well.

[1405]

MacPhail: I'm delighted to join with the Premier today to echo his comments

on how much we appreciate the wonderful work of all our Canadian athletes,

particularly our British Columbia athletes. We heard, over the last week, our

own Don Cherry describe the opposition as a couple of left-wingers who couldn't

top 180 on the scale together. So today we suited up to show our support and to

say that we may be left-wingers, but we're heavy into defence, and we support

everything that happened.

Introductions by Members

W. Cobb:

To the Premier, I was involved in the closing ceremonies yesterday for our

Winter Games, and the closing ceremonies happened when the announcement came

over that the men had won the gold. If you think it was loud on the first day,

it was even louder yesterday.

Also, today

I would like to ask the House to welcome…. As you know, this morning I

introduced some people from one of my communities. This afternoon I have another

group of people here from another one of the communities. I would like to

welcome Mayor Donna Barnett and her administrator, Dianne Lawson. Talking about

rural communities, welcome, Donna and Dianne. They're from 100 Mile House, and

this is just an example of what we're trying to do in rural B.C. to get B.C.

back on its feet. They're down here, and we're meeting with different ministers,

and we're having a really positive meeting.

Hon. M.

Coell: I would like the House to join me in welcoming Don Toth, MLA for

Moosomin, Saskatchewan. He's the critic for the Ministry of Social Services, and

he's here to meet with MLAs and ministers.

Hon. G.

Bruce: In the House today with my wife and my son, who you all know very,

very well, is my niece Sarah Whunderlich and two other friends of hers, Deanna

Vanice and Heather MacDonald. They are all students at Trinity Western. It might

be of interest to the House that my niece Sarah is in the last year of soon

becoming a nurse here in this great province of British Columbia. Deanna is in

communications, and Heather is in human sciences.

More

importantly, though, Deanna is actually from that great country, the United

States of America. Yesterday we all gathered at my brother's place to watch that

great hockey game. Being a competitive family as we are, but understanding of

the good wishes that go on in a game like that, I let her know that the Minister

of Forests had thought about bringing in a ban of all softwood products that had

got to the United States, meaning that we would have to have withdrawn all the

hockey sticks their team was going to play with. But really, we wanted to have a

fair competition, so we left the hockey sticks there with their club. As we had

lunch, we of course gathered as a family in the dining room. Deanna was

downstairs in the little room with the smaller television, but in a very

magnanimous way, as only my family can be, at 18 minutes and 40 seconds of the

third period we invited Deanna to come upstairs and enjoy the rest of the game

with us.

Could we

make all of them feel welcome, and a particularly fine round to Deanna for the

great game the United States of America played against our fine hockey squad of

Canada.

Hon. R.

Thorpe: It's a pleasure for me to introduce a friend of mine. We worked

together some 14 years

[ Page 1306 ]

ago. He lives in Surrey–White Rock: Bill Brooks. Joining Bill today is his

friend and business associate, Alan McInnes. They're here in Victoria to meet

officials.

Mr.

Speaker: Hon. members, for the benefit of those members who may not have

been present this morning, I would like to advise the House that we have two

Clerks from other jurisdictions on attachment to our House this week: Mr.

Charles MacKay, the Clerk of the House in Prince Edward Island, and Ms. Loredana

Catalli Sonier, the Clerk of the House in New Brunswick. Please join me in

welcoming both of these Clerks to our House.

[1410]

Statements

(Standing Order 25

B) LANGFORD AND MALAHAT

VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS

B. Kerr:

As a result of the horror of September 11, we've heard a number of stories about

the courage and dedication of the firefighters who worked at Ground Zero. I'd

like to say that the courageous efforts of firefighters is not restricted to New

York alone. We have very dedicated, selfless and heroic firefighters right in

our own back yard.

On July 17,

2000, there was a very serious accident on the Malahat highway just north of

here. This accident involved a propane tanker truck and resulted in the tragic

death of the driver. But only the driver was killed. That the tragedy did not

take even more lives was a result of the dedication, hard work and selfless

efforts of the volunteer firefighters of Langford and Malahat. All through that

terrible night and for most of the next 24 hours, these brave volunteers put

their lives at risk to eliminate a significant threat to public safety from

thousands of litres of highly explosive propane leaking from the twisted

wreckage.

I'm pleased

to inform the House that their efforts have not gone entirely unnoticed. A

couple of weeks ago Mayor Stew Young of Langford and I were given the honour of

awarding to the volunteer firefighters of Langford and Malahat the Governor

General's certificate of commendation.

Now, this

award is not given lightly. The recipients are chosen through a voting process

after being deemed eligible by the Canadian Decorations Advisory Committee. It

is issued only to those individuals who have made a significant contribution by

providing assistance to another person in a selfless manner.

I'd like to

congratulate again the firefighters of Malahat and Langford and the two private

individuals who also assisted and received this prestigious certificate.

IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT

COMMUNICATIONS ON FISHERIES POLICIES

ON COASTAL COMMUNITIES

Visser: An area of considerable concern to the people of North Island, and

indeed all coastal communities, is the relationship between the federal

Department of Fisheries and Oceans and our Ministry of Agriculture, Food and

Fisheries. I believe we have come a long way in a few short months in building a

working relationship that is based on trust, sound science and continuous and

meaningful dialogue, but there is still work to do.

I represent

a number of those coastal communities, aboriginal and non-aboriginal alike,

whose very existence is based on their relationship to the sea. The Department

of Fisheries and Oceans has a profound impact on those people's ability to make

a living, raise their families and contribute to the fabric of their

communities.

We need to

dramatically improve the communications on issues around the timing of fisheries

management announcements, be they sport fisheries or announcements for the

hard-hit commercial sector. Not only do people feel left out, But it is an economic

imperative to have the information as early and as clearly as possible. People

and businesses make decisions. They make investments in equipment and staff, and

they take in deposits on fishing vacations from people around the world. Timing

delays in DFO's fisheries management decisions affect their ability to plan, the

range of choices they can make and, in many cases, whether they succeed or fail.

We also

need to strengthen the communications around regulations under the federal

Fisheries Act. Decisions should be timely and certain. Whether you're in

aquaculture, tourism, forestry or commercial fishing, you are faced with

duplicate and often parallel processes. We need to encourage and nurture

investment in our coastal communities, and excessive and duplicate red tape is a

significant and real barrier to success.

I want to

close by thanking the Hon. Herb Dhaliwal for his hard work as the federal

Minister of Fisheries, and I would like to extend an invitation to the new

minister, Robert Thibault — himself a native of rural Nova Scotia — to visit

British Columbia. We need this dialogue between the two levels of government to

grow. I would welcome the minister to Victoria and to the North Island. I

encourage him to see firsthand the challenges we face and some of the solutions

our government has.

CANADIAN HOME BUILDERS

ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE

Stewart: This week the city of Victoria is hosting the fifty-ninth annual

national conference of the Canadian Home Builders Association. Hundreds of

delegates have descended upon this beautiful city to discuss issues and

challenges associated with housing Canadians from coast to coast.

[1415]

Housing is

vitally important to the integrity of communities and the health of families and

individuals. As a society, I believe we must work hard to ensure that

appropriate housing is available for our young people, for seniors, for people

with disabilities, for

[ Page 1307 ]

families — both traditional and non-traditional — for aboriginal citizens

and for all citizens facing challenges associated with poverty, health, mental

health, domestic violence and a host of other social challenges facing our

society.

ownership is recognized as an outstanding goal for governments to adopt. At the

same time, home ownership is often out of reach of many citizens and families

for a variety of reasons. Affordability is certainly number one among those

reasons, and governments must continually evaluate the ways in which we can

affect as governments, positively and negatively, the affordability of such an

important consumer good. We must recognize that we owe a duty to all citizens to

ensure that at every income level, our society has housing available.

That

doesn't mean that governments must build housing. It means, though, as I

believe, that affordability of market housing can be enhanced and that the

market, both conventional and non-profit, can satisfy the vast majority of our

housing needs.

I want to

applaud the Canadian Home Builders Association for its ongoing work in

advocating the continuous improvement of Canadian housing stock such that

Canadians are among the best housed people in the world. Of course, there are

many challenges still to be addressed, challenges that I know the CHBA is

working on: energy efficiency, durability, quality, sustainability,

delegates to Victoria.

Oral Questions

FUNDING OF LEGAL AID SERVICES

J. Kwan:

The Attorney General is cutting $34 million from legal aid. Members of his own

party call this shocking and disturbing. At the same time, his government is

raising taxes on legal aid services — money that is supposed to fund legal

aid. Mr. Speaker, not so long ago in this House the Attorney General asked:

isn't there something wrong with taking all this money from legal accounts yet

not actually directing all of that revenue into legal aid services? What an

excellent question. To the Attorney General: what is the answer? Is it good

public policy to divert money from providing legal aid services, from the people

who are most in need, just to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest in British

Columbia?

Hon. G.

Plant: Well, it was a good question when I asked it, because it was those

members in the NDP who introduced the tax and then failed to fund legal aid when

they were in government. That was what made the question good. Now, today we

face a $4.4 billion deficit in the province of British Columbia, and some

difficult decisions have to be made. What we can do within the resources that

are available is that we can ensure that people accused of criminal offences

have access to legal aid, that domestic violence matters will involve legal aid,

that child protection matters will be covered by legal aid, that mental health

matters will be protected by legal aid. We'll have money for a public legal

education and information program, and there will be funding for family law

legal aid. Three years from now British Columbia will still have the

third-most-generous legal aid program in Canada. I think the members of this

House should be proud of that fact.

J. Kwan:

This government will be profiting more than $42 million from taxes on legal aid.

Yet he is cutting legal aid services funding. Legal aid is not simply a service;

it is a right. By denying this service to single mothers who are fighting to

support their children or to protect themselves from violence and abuse, this

government is attacking the rights of women. There was a time when the Minister

of State for Women's Equality in this House stated, "It is really quite

shocking when you look at the fact that single mothers and women are severely

disadvantaged" when it comes to legal aid.

Given the

huge cuts to legal aid that will impact most harshly on women, will the Minister

of State for Women's Equality stand today and tell this House: was she wrong

then, or is the Attorney General wrong now?

[1420]

Hon. L.

Stephens: You know, we stand in this House, and we listen to the members

opposite here. Those of us that have been in this House over the past ten years

have heard over and over again the rhetoric of the members opposite. You know,

it was those members of that previous government that have us in the problems we

have today. We have a $3.8 billion structural deficit, thanks to those members

opposite. There are some tough choices we have to make. Mr. Speaker, I can tell

you that this government is protecting essential priority services for women in

this province.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

FOR SMALL COMMUNITIES

MacPhail: Small communities in British Columbia are being hammered by this

government. I'd like to quote from a letter from the district of Hope sent to

the Premier recently. It says: "With all the cuts to jobs and services

within our province that were announced yesterday, it seems that many of the smaller

communities are to bear the brunt of these cuts. The district of Hope can ill

afford any more cuts to jobs and services within our municipality." The

letter then goes on to ask that small communities be consulted before the

province starts closing hospitals and be invited to tomorrow's provincial

congress meeting. Can the Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services

please tell the House why B.C.'s small communities have been shut out of

tomorrow's provincial congress meeting?

Hon. G.

Campbell: Tomorrow's provincial congress meeting is a historic first. It

will bring into one room every MLA, every MP, every Senator, as well as

[ Page 1308 ]

representatives of the five municipal associations, the president of the UBCM

and 15 largest communities in British Columbia as well as first nations

representatives. We all represent the same British Columbians. Small communities

will be heard, large communities will be heard, and the federal government,

provincial government, local government and first nations government will all be

heard tomorrow for the first time in the history of the province.

MacPhail: I can understand why the Premier didn't want the minister to

answer the question. There are some words that the minister responsible for

communities said a few weeks ago, when he was asked about cuts to small

communities. In an interview with the Metro Valley News , he said to

municipalities: "Well, cry me a river; that's the way it goes." That's

the kind of attitude that's got small communities so angry in this province.

Here are

some more words, the words of Kimberley city councillor Ron McRae. He said it would appear that the government is ignoring the needs of small

communities. Again, to the Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's

Services: is that because they don't matter to this minister and this

government, or is it because the government has spent a lot of time and money to

showcase the Premier and the provincial congress, and it doesn't want small

communities raining on his parade?

Hon. G.

Abbott: It's interesting that Burnaby's now been relegated to a small

community, because that's where the interview was. I think there's an important

point here. What I was making very clear to the reporter was that there are two

models for dealing with fiscal challenges in the province. In the one case —

and that would be the NDP government in 1996 — rather than deal with their own

problems, what they did was download $113 million of problems onto local

government. They downloaded their problems onto local governments, including

small communities. Well, I think that's wrong that they would do that.

We've

advanced a different model where we protected resources to local government —

$130 million across the board. If I was going to be proud of something, I'd be

proud of that. I'd be ashamed — I'd hang my head — if I was a member of this

opposition.

[1425]

2010 VANCOUVER-WHISTLER OLYMPIC BID

McMahon: My question is to the minister responsible for the 2010 Olympic

bid. After yesterday's dramatic gold medal performance by Canada's men's team

and last Thursday's performance by the women, I know that many British

Columbians are excited about the prospect of the 2010 Winter Olympics bid.

Can the

minister responsible for the 2010 Olympic bid tell us the current status of our

bid?

Hon. T.

Nebbeling: I'd like to thank the member for Columbia River–Revelstoke for

her question, because it's a good one.

As we all

know, it's been 50 years since Canada's ice hockey team brought back the gold to

Canada. It is the intention of this government, the federal government and the

bid corporation not to have to wait for another 50 years. What we see happening

now, of course, is that the populace of British Columbia has gotten very

enthusiastically behind the whole Olympic movement. There's no doubt, if we

succeed in having the 2010 Olympics here, that British Columbians will have the

very best seat in the house. It will be home ice, and there is no doubt that we

will have another good shot at bringing more gold medals here.

The federal

government, the provincial government and the 2010 Olympic Bid Corporation work

very hard, very diligently, and are willing to move every mountain that needs to

be moved to indeed succeed in bringing the Olympics to British Columbia.

Mr.

Speaker: The member for Columbia River–Revelstoke with a supplementary

question.

McMahon: While British Columbians are excited about the possibility of

hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics, many of my constituents are interested in

knowing how those benefits can flow into their communities.

Will the

minister responsible for the 2010 Olympic bid tell us how regions outside the

lower mainland can expect to benefit from a successful bid?

Hon. T.

Nebbeling: This bid is for all British Columbians. That's how we started,

and that's how we will continue.

When we

succeed in bringing the Winter Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games to British

Columbia, it will have tremendous benefit for all our communities and all the

people living in our province. The games will play a major role in stimulating

our economy through opportunities that we will have to showcase British Columbia

to the world at large, showcase the opportunities that British Columbia can

offer the world at large — opportunities in our natural resource industries,

our high-tech and knowledge-based industries. The manufacturing sector will see

tremendous boost and demand for product. And, of course, tourism as an industry

will be shining brighter than ever before when we get the worldwide exposure of

these Olympic Games.

This is an

investment in the long-term prosperity of our province. This is an investment in

British Columbians everywhere in the province. I believe it will deliver on that

promise.

FUNDING FOR SERVICES

FOR DISABLED PERSONS

S. Orr:

My question is to the Minister of Children and Family Development.

A tragic

murder-suicide in Kelowna recently highlighted the need for support services to

help the devel-

[ Page 1309 ]

opmentally disabled. Despite help from their loved ones, developmentally

disabled adults continue to face very, very difficult challenges.

To the

minister: what is his ministry doing to address the needs of these British

Columbians?

Hon. G.

Hogg: I'm sure everyone in this House — indeed, everyone who was familiar

with the story — was saddened that a family could feel that their options were

so extreme that they had to choose to take lives.

The family

had approached the government, I believe, in 1998 in an effort to find some

support services for themselves. There were no support services available,

inasmuch as at the time we were trying to fit people into services rather than

finding services that could respond more specifically to the needs of the

individuals.

[1430]

We have

looked at that, and we have looked at a number of other issues that have come

forward in the past number of years, and we're actually now proceeding forward

with an individualized funding model that will allow for families to have

services to wrap around the individuals rather than trying to fit the

individuals into a service.

We're

responding by that, and it is covered in our service plan that we'll be moving

forward with individualized funding models to support families such as the one

the member refers to.

RECALL LEGISLATION

MacPhail: The Premier's new-era campaign promise was to "establish

workable recall legislation to make it easier for citizens to hold MLAs

accountable. " The throne speech was silent on that promise. To the

Premier: why?

Hon. G.

Campbell: One of the things we undertook to British Columbians during the

last election is that we would appoint a citizens assembly that would be able to

look at the way they would like to have government operate, the way they would

like to have government elected. It seems reasonable to me that the rules for

recall, which were up for a great deal of concern from British Columbians…. It

made sense for people to have a chance to have a say on that. That will be done.

It will be undertaken, and it will be completed prior to May 17, 2005, when this

government goes to the people to be held to account.

HEALTH CARE PILOT PROJECT FOR

NORTHERN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES

Bennett: I have a question for the Minister of Health Services this

afternoon. Before I provide my question, I'd like to preface it by saying that

since the announcement of this government's restructuring of health care in

British Columbia, the hospital in my home community of Cranbrook has not been on

diversion, and we have been on diversion at that hospital any number of times

— dozens and dozens of times — leading up to the announcement.

Traditionally,

rural and northern communities in B.C. have had a challenge in accessing health

care. Today I understand that the Ministers of Health Services and Health

Planning participated in a demonstration of a telemedicine project that

connected the Vancouver General Hospital and all its resources with the

Cranbrook Regional Hospital. I'm wondering if the Minister of Health Services

could tell my constituents just how this project will help them.

Hon. C.

Hansen: It was a very exciting demonstration. For the first time in British

Columbia history, we were able to connect through technology some of the top

specialists in British Columbia, based at Vancouver Hospital, with front-line

physicians and nurses in Cranbrook and in Terrace, which are the two sites for

the new pilot projects. What this means for communities throughout British

Columbia is that the time is coming very soon when they will be able to link

together so that health care providers can get that top-level tertiary support

that's necessary. It is very much a step in delivering the kind of health care

that British Columbians need, where they live and when they need it. We're

committed to it. It looks like it's going to be a fabulous project, and once the

pilots are finished, we hope to be able to roll this out to other communities in

British Columbia.

[End

of question period.]

Point of Order

J. Kwan:

On a point of order. A sessional order was introduced by the government. It

states that a private member may ask a qualified question of a minister during

question period. The member from whose constituency the question comes will have

first refusal to put such question to the appropriate minister. There is on the

order paper a public written question from Michelle Kinney of the University of

Victoria Students Society which I believe is timely.

The member

for Oak Bay–Gordon Head has not asked that question of the minister today.

Could you please advise this House which constitutes first refusal, and would

the member's decision not to rise and ask the question put by her constituents

today meet the test of first refusal?

Mr.

Speaker: On the point of order, the Government House Leader.

[1435]

Hon. G.

Collins: On the point of order, it's my understanding that the provision is

there, as it was last session. I don't believe the wording has changed.

Interjection.

[ Page 1310 ]

Hon. G.

Collins: Well, I'm not aware of a big change. Certainly, my understanding of

the intent of the standing order change was that once the question is on the

order paper, the member whose riding it is has the first opportunity to ask that

question on the first day it appears. If they choose not to or they're unable

to, then it is available to other members to ask the question. That's been my

understanding, and I don't think that's changed at all.

Mr.

Speaker: Thank you, both hon. members. We have not set a specific time for

first refusal, but we'll take it under advisement and come back to the House

with the decision. In any event, the questions must be asked during question

period.

Orders of the Day

Hon. G.

Collins: I call budget debate.

Budget Debate

(continued

Hon. S.

Hagen: It's a pleasure today to reply to and support the budget. In all my

years of public life, I can safely say that I have never seen a more substantive

and decisive opening to a legislative session as we have seen these past two

weeks. We have a huge challenge in front of us, and our agenda is ambitious. We

were elected to turn this province around, and I believe strongly that the

Speech from the Throne set out a clear map and that the budget is the right

vehicle to get us started on the road to recovery.

Make no

mistake: these changes constitute a fundamental challenge to the status quo

British Columbians rejected last May. We recognize that change is never easy. As

the Premier points out, it sometimes appears more convenient to stay in the

broken rut of the status quo and to duck challenges rather than to confront them

head-on. I don't want to deny or minimize that the changes will cause short-term

adjustment problems for some people. We have made some very difficult decisions,

and I know that neither myself nor my colleagues on the government side take

these decisions and this responsibility lightly.

I believe

strongly that the core review process was a rigorous, thoughtful means to

reducing government cost. Quite simply, action had to be taken. The current

level of government spending is simply not sustainable. We cannot run a Cadillac

government on a Chevrolet economy any longer.

Of course,

there are those who say we should wait — wait because of the tragic events of

September 11, wait because of the softwood lumber dispute with the U.S., wait

because of global economic slowdown. I can tell you that in my riding of Comox

Valley, which is still the most beautiful riding in this province, my

constituents can't afford to wait. The small businesses in the Comox Valley

can't afford to wait for our government to restore sound fiscal management to

this province. The patients and students of the Comox Valley can't afford to

wait for our health care and education systems to put their needs first.

British

Columbians gave us an overwhelming mandate for change last spring, and we are

delivering on that mandate to usher in a new era of hope, prosperity and public

service for this great province. The course of action is clear, and the time to

act is now.

When you

look at the facts, you can see clearly why, with this budget, we are continuing

the path of change. Over the last decade British Columbia slid to last place in

Canada in both investment and economics. Over the last decade B.C.'s average

annual take-home pay shrunk by over $1,100, while incomes in Alberta and Ontario

grew. We had the devastating fact that British Columbia actually became a

have-not province. We are tackling these challenges head-on.

[1440]

[H.

Long in the chair.]

Our

Premier, the Finance minister and indeed the entire government are convinced

that we are laying the foundation for an improved future with this budget.

Along with

this budget, our government has released the most comprehensive set of service

plans that state clearly our plans over the next three years. Fundamental in

these plans are the recognitions that economic growth is the bedrock upon which

all public services depend. The state of our economy is the critical determinant

for what government can and cannot afford to do. We can't control commodity

prices, the U.S. lumber lobby or the global reverberations of September 11, but

we can and we must take steps to make our economy more competitive, diversified

and attractive to investors. We've already made significant progress to

achieving this goal.

In our

first 90 days our government cut personal income taxes, reduced corporate income

taxes and eliminated other business taxes that were discouraging job creation.

We also acted to reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses and create a

level playing field for all British Columbia businesses through the elimination

of business subsidies.

As a result

of these changes, we are starting to see encouraging signs that our economy is

on the mend. For example, last year British Columbia posted Canada's largest

increase in housing sales. British Columbia had the highest percentage increase

in residential construction in the nation. Retail sales have been increasing at

a faster rate than the national average, and automobile sales have been strong.

As a small

business person, I am pleased that our government is working in partnership with

British Columbia entrepreneurs to jumpstart investment and opportunities for our

communities around the province.

Later this

spring the Premier will lead a series of round tables on small business that

will invite small business owners, operators and entrepreneurs to offer their

input and advice in the most vital of all sectors. Small businesses are by far

the biggest job creators in

[ Page 1311 ]

our economy, and this government wants to hear from them directly on the

barriers to expansion and the opportunities for growth. We need to work with

them, and we need to pursue innovative ways to deliver services and create new

opportunities for employment and investment.

We will be

looking at new, cost-effective mechanisms for the provision of services and

public-private partnerships. These P3s, as they're called, have proven very

effective in attracting private capital to support public policy objectives in

B.C. and in other jurisdictions.

We will

move forward to help spur other private sector investment in transportation and

highways; information technology; housing, land and resource development; health

support services and facilities; and educational infrastructure.

Measures

will be introduced this session to boost investment and job creation in both the

energy and the mining sectors. Steps will be taken to enhance the effectiveness

of the Oil and Gas Commission and to improve the investment climate for mineral

exploration.

Within my

own ministerial responsibilities in the coming session I will be introducing an

updated Environmental Assessment Act to streamline the major project assessment

process while maintaining our high environmental standards. Other changes will

be made to increase competitiveness, cut red tape and provide greater access to

Crown land and resources.

Many of us

on Vancouver Island are excited about the prospects of new investment in coalbed

methane extraction. More will be done in the coming months to develop this

resource and generate jobs in regions across our province. And, of course,

there's tremendous interest in the northwest about the prospect for offshore oil

and gas exploration.

While

there's significant economic potential for the region, we will proceed with

caution to ensure that any activity taken in this regard will always be guided

by sound science and an unswerving commitment to responsible environmental

protection. We'll be taking a progressive approach to promote growth in our

traditional resource sectors and emerging industries such as salmon aquaculture.

Recent changes will ensure that this sector can grow sustainably with the

toughest environmental protection framework in the world.

My own

ministry is engaged in a planning and mapping exercise to identify suitable

areas for relocating salmon farms. This is part of a comprehensive plan to

minimize the environmental and social impact of fish farms and support local

coastal communities and their economies.

In terms of

agriculture, I will be introducing legislation this spring to implement our

new-era commitment to make the Agricultural Land Commission more regionally

responsive to the needs of farmers and communities.

[1445]

In all of

these reforms, we will be guided by the principles of sustainability to ensure

that we balance economic and environmental concerns. The Premier has directed

all ministers to maintain the highest standards of environmental quality. I can

assure all members of this House that we take that obligation very seriously.

This budget reflects these priorities, and the Finance minister deserves high

praise for making this a reality.

We are

making these changes because every household in the province knows that you

can't live beyond your means. While we get our spending in order, we must also

be cognizant of the need to improve British Columbia's competitiveness. Over the

past decade tens of thousands of British Columbians left the province to find

jobs in other areas of Canada. We will reverse that course, and we will reverse

it by making British Columbia attractive to investors once again.

Here's what

we're doing. We've cut the corporate income tax rate from 16.5 percent to 13.5

percent. We've eliminated the provincial sales tax on production machinery and

equipment. By September of this year we will have eliminated the regressive

corporate capital tax. We're introducing a new 20 percent flow-through credit

for mineral exploration. With this budget we've raised the small business income

tax threshold by 50 percent to $300,000.

To protect

low-income British Columbians, we've increased the tax credits by 50 percent. We

have also increased disability-related tax credits. In total, we have made 13

tax cuts since last July.

It's simply

irresponsible to put off tough changes that must be made to bring spending into

line with revenues. When we target our resources to key priorities, we need to

make sure those dollars are going to people, not bureaucracies.

There is a

consensus across the country that our health care system is unsustainable. Our

population has grown older, and life expectancy has increased. The costs of

drugs, equipment, doctors' fees and health workers' wages and benefits have all

grown exponentially. We simply cannot keep up with these funding demands while

decreasing taxes and balancing the budget at the same time.

We will be

undertaking major structural reforms in health care that will challenge us all

to accept short-term pain for long-term improvements in health care. Some of

these changes are already underway, such as restructuring regional health

governance and delivery and giving health authorities new tools to find savings

and efficiencies. We'll be moving forward with a comprehensive nursing strategy

and increasing the number of medical school graduates.

Health care

is not just about doctors, nurses and hospital beds. The health of our

environment is directly linked to the health of our population. That's why I'm

pleased that the throne speech and the budget reaffirmed our commitment to new

legislation to strengthen drinking water and groundwater protection. We will be

allocating more resources to the monitoring of drinking water quality.

We are also

taking steps to ensure that our post-secondary institutions are more responsive

and accountable to students. Just as students learn differently

[ Page 1312 ]

and have unique needs and aspirations, our universities and colleges should

be adaptable and flexible to ensure that these needs are met. As a former

Minister of Advanced Education, I take a particular interest in this area. I

have every confidence that Minister Bond will ensure that the changes we are

implementing will make British Columbia a leader in post-secondary education

over the coming years.

I've been

around long enough to know that the tough times don't last, but tough people do.

There's no question we are going through challenging times, coming off a decade

of lost opportunities and abysmal governments, but we already see encouraging

signs of recovery. Our government's agenda as laid out in the budget will build

on that momentum.

We have a

glorious history in this province. We honour and cherish our past, but some

would have us stay there forever. To them I say that British Columbians can and

must move forward. This government has a vision for the future that will take us

through today's challenges and help us grasp tomorrow's opportunities. By

remaining true to our principles and being steadfast in our resolve, we will

help build a better future for this province.

[1450]

Hon. J.

Reid: I am honoured today to rise to reply to the budget speech. I have to

start by talking about my constituency, because today was such a glorious

morning as we were coming in — the sun was shining; the sky was absolutely

crystal-clear blue — and I thought about my constituency and all that I was

missing at home. Nanaimo-Parksville is my constituency. I'm going to start with

Parksville and work my way down the Island. Today in Parksville the tide would

have been out. The tides are now lower in the middle of the day. That glistening

sand would have been there for all to see. The sea birds would have been

circling. It's just about time for the herring to spawn. The eagles would be

collecting in groups, as they do this time of year. It's a time when the sea

life is rich and bustling and the community is vibrant with the new life that

spring brings.

In this

budget speech that I am replying to today, I have to think about my community.

That scene that is so clear in Parksville is there in Nanoose Bay and in

Lantzville and on into Nanaimo. This whole area is built around that life. The

life that once was dependent on the resource communities, the life that was

composed so much of the forestry and fishing activities, has changed. It's

changed over the years. While this is an excellent family area and an excellent

place to retire, the economy has had to go through difficult times in that area.

I'm proud to say that it has adapted very, very well to the challenges that it's

faced.

Nanaimo has

expanded northwards with its boundary and its commercial activity, which has put

increasing pressures on Lantzville to make decisions about their future. The

popularity of Nanoose, well renowned for its golf courses and for its seascape,

is also continuing to grow, as well as the community of Parksville.

It's become

more oriented toward tourism, but the amount of high-tech in this region is

actually very surprising. Quiet businesses are hidden in the background, but are

there nonetheless.

While we've

moved and changed, at the same time there is a large number of small businesses

that have grown up in this area and have become very much the foundation of the

economy, working quietly in the background but very significant nonetheless.

When I was

running in the last election and communicating with people, they were talking to

me about their problems. I believe this budget that has been presented is a

reflection of the concerns that people brought to my attention at that time. The

concerns were that this is a difficult time that we're in. The economy is

struggling in these changes. In the past we've seen a significant decrease in

business activity. Businesses have been fleeing the province instead of coming

to the province. We're very much in need of new activity in the area, new

activity to come in — whether it be the movie industry, whether it be all

sorts of small industries or more high-tech. There needs to be those

opportunities for those businesses.

In Nanaimo

we have Malaspina University College, an excellent institution that provides a

good education and good opportunities for young people, but the jobs haven't

been there. Jobs for young people has been a very, very serious concern. While

we're glad for the tourism — because we have such an incredibly beautiful

area, there are opportunities there — we want a greater depth of business that

takes place.

In this

budget speech the government has outlined that it has a vision and a plan.

That's absolutely essential to move us ahead. We've outlined a three-year plan,

so it's not a matter of taking it one day at a time. It's not a matter of trying

to invent new ideas. We've been consistent with our approach to the economic

realities that face us in this province.

[1455]

There are a

number of roles for government. One of those roles is to handle the finances for

the collective group of people — this province. We have to make sure that

money is available for the services that this collective group of people say

they want and say are their priorities. But what happens — as should be

obvious, but sometimes we forget — is that a new government comes in and

inherits everything that the previous government did. It might be like someone

who buys a new house and, upon moving in, finds that they take over all the

debts, all the bills, all the correspondence, all the day-to-day functions of

the previous residents. That produces a significant challenge for government.

We have a

desire — and I believe it's a desire all people share — that we are able to

live within our means with a vibrant economy and with a protected environment

that will allow us to provide the social programs we deem important as a

province. I believe this budget that was presented allows us to get to that

[ Page 1313 ]

point and shows everybody exactly what plan we're using to get there.

I had an

interesting conversation with my mother-in-law recently, who was asking me about

some of the changes, as people do: "Why are you doing this, and how are you

doing that?" I reminded her of a number of years ago, when she was raising

her family and they were being supported through the commercial fishing

industry. There were some good seasons, and there were bad seasons. I reminded

her that sometimes, when the fishing seasons were not so good, she couldn't

provide her family with all the things that maybe the children had the year

before, especially when going back to school. I asked her whether she thought

she was a bad parent because she had to live within her means and whether the

children understood that. She said she felt she was doing the right thing, but,

no, the children didn't always understand why that had to take place, and, yes,

that was difficult. I said that that's exactly what we're trying to do here.

These choices we're making aren't easy choices; they are difficult choices.

We're trying to do them as carefully as possible with as much care as possible,

but that doesn't change that they are difficult choices we have to make.

This

province has had the most generous social programs, with the worst-performing

economy, for the last ten years. Unfortunately, the economy has not picked up;

and predictably, it hasn't picked up. So we find ourselves in a situation where,

while people are becoming more and more accustomed to receiving certain

benefits, the government no longer has the means to be able to provide all the

benefits that were previously received. People are understandably upset about

this and understandably wonder why they're not receiving something they had

before.

It's

important for people to realize that there's this larger picture of the economy

that we're trying to address and that this budget does address. It's a fairly

simple, straightforward concept. Businesses are in an area, and businesses

employ people. From that, businesses pay taxes, and the people who work for a

business pay taxes. The money that's collected goes into the government, and the

government spends it on behalf of the people, providing services back to the

people and employing people through government in order to deliver those

services. If the businesses go away, the jobs go away, the taxes go away, and we

have a government with more people employed and not enough money to pay the

bills. Again, we also have a government that inherits the previous government's

plans and positions and spending.

We have two

sides to this ledger. How do we get to a balanced position? How do we get to a

position where we can say with confidence, as a government, that we are

delivering the best for the people of British Columbia? We have to look at the

spending side, and we have to look at the income side. The budget speech made

this, I believe, perfectly clear. We have to look at why businesses left this

province. I think we've spent a lot of time talking about, in the last number of

years, why businesses have left this province — why we weren't competitive

with other jurisdictions around us. We had to come up to a level where we could

compete with other jurisdictions. When we have investment back in this province,

we'll also be increasing the income that will provide the money we need for

education, for health care and for the other services that government provides.

[1500]

On the

other side, we have to look at our spending and how we match our spending with

our income. Those, again, are very, very difficult decisions we've had to make.

We're trying to attract business. We're trying to build up the economic

foundation. I'm going to use the analogy that was used in the budget speech, and

that's the foundation of a house. The previous government had this house.

Meanwhile, they were whittling away at the foundation, which is the businesses

that employ the people and pay the taxes. That was the foundation. As long as

they were whittling away at that foundation, it imperilled the rest of the house

that was built on top of it.

We have to

address that problem. We don't have a choice but to address that problem and

rebuild that foundation. We've done that by lowering income taxes and by making

our tax structure more competitive. This is rebuilding the foundation from the

bottom up so that we can have a strong house that sits on top.

On the

other side, in reducing spending…. Again, I've heard from so many people that

they're so concerned when they see their tax dollars wasted. It's hard enough

when they have to give away their hard-earned dollars — the difficulty of

earning a living and the hard work that goes into that. When they give up their

tax dollars, they want to make sure that those tax dollars aren't spent in

frivolous ways and that those tax dollars are extended as far as possible to get

the very best result possible, never forgetting the effort and sacrifice that

went into raising those dollars in the first place, that went into making that

income — holding down that job while raising a family.

In my

constituency, because it's an area where there's a large percentage of retired

people, one of the areas that's very important is health care. This budget

speech is a reminder to people that the cost of health care is shared by all of

the people. We do have rising health care costs. We said that we need to pay

nurses more because they're in such high demand, not only across this continent

but around the world, and that we have to attract and keep nurses. Somebody has

to pay that increased cost. There's an increase in cost.

We say that

doctors are valuable. They're very mobile. Doctors can leave for many different

jurisdictions. We have exceedingly well trained doctors in B.C. When they're

frustrated, when they don't believe they're compensated fairly, they threaten to

leave. The people have said to us: "We've got to maintain our health care

system." So we have to look at how we compensate doctors. When those costs

for doctors rise, where does the money come from? It's a serious problem. We

have doctors, nurses and many other exceedingly well trained health care

professionals in B.C.

[ Page 1314 ]

We have to

make some choices. We've made choices about how health care is administered, so

that people can't come to us and say: "You're wasting dollars on

administration." We've said that we're going to put patients first, and we

put patients first by not have dollars wasted on administration, but by

targeting every dollar that we can directly on patient services. That's a choice

that we've had to make in order to extend the dollars available for health care.

People are

constantly contacting my office — and, I'm sure, everyone else's office —

about Pharmacare benefits and wondering when one medicine or another medicine

will be added to the Pharmacare list. It's again important to remember that

every time there is an increase in Pharmacare benefits, the money has to come

from somewhere, and there's no new money.

[1505]

It would be

unfair to suggest to people in any less than an honest way that we aren't in

very difficult times with a very, very serious deficit facing us. This is not

something that we would wish upon ourselves. Indeed, governments have to adapt

to the circumstances they find themselves in. While as government there's no use

complaining about circumstances, we still have to deal with them. We didn't

anticipate what was going to happen in the technology industry and stocks and

marketplace last summer. No one could have predicted the terrible events of

September 11 or how they continue right now to work their way through our

economy. Those were a surprise to us and to everyone else.

The

softwood lumber dispute continues to go on, and it puts us under difficulties as

a province that has been so tied into the forest industry and the forestry

sector. While resolution isn't anywhere close, we have to deal with that.

We're not

going to complain about these circumstances ? this is life ? but as government

we're expected by the people of this province to react to these circumstances

and to deal with them in as sustainable a way as possible. We're being honest

with the people of British Columbia and saying: "These are some tough

times, these are difficult circumstances, and we are reacting to them."

We've been

honest in this budget. We've been honest in looking at it being a realistic

budget. We're not trying to hide the bad news from people; we're not trying to

give them nice, pleasant answers. We have a three-year plan that we believe is

going to help give them the stability they need to make decisions. We can't keep

promising people anything they want. We've been clear; we've been honest. We're

trying to build up the economy. At the same time, we are trying to contain the

costs of government.

In this

consistent approach, there will be people who are impacted, and there will be

people who have been frustrated by the changes that we have introduced. We hope

that people will understand that we're doing this to work together with

everyone. We believe that everyone in this province does have the same goals in

mind. Those goals are a fiscally sound province, an energetic province, able to

compete with the very best in the world — not just in Olympics or in sports

but in every other way.

[Mr.

Speaker in the chair.]

do have a vision, and we do have a plan, and it's not going to be easy. We are

willing to make the tough decisions, and we're also willing to look at

innovative solutions to the problems that we find ourselves in.

Part of

this is to examine different options open to government, such as public-private

partnerships. How can we get important infrastructure still progressing in this

province at a time when government, quite honestly, doesn't have the dollars to

put into those investments? How can we work with the private sector to attract

those investment dollars to increase our economic activity? We're exploring

those options, and we'll continue to work in different ministries to seek out

solutions to those problems.

In my role,

I've had communities coming to me and asking me to look at this, because they'd

like the projects to go ahead sooner rather than later. I'm being very honest

with them and sincere that we will look at these. I don't know what the answers

are yet, but we are exploring different options to try to solve these problems.

It's very

important for all of us to keep in mind that we're working together to try to

find solutions. It always distresses me when people think there are somehow

differences in this province that will result in different outcomes. I believe

that we really do have the same goals in mind. We do have to listen to each

other, look at where people have been impacted, try to mitigate those impacts as

much as possible, and support people and work with the communities and with new

ideas that come along. We can build up this province so that we will have jobs

for our young people. Communities like mine and Nanaimo, Parksville, Lantzville

and Nanoose will see the increase in economic activity. They will see the jobs

for their children, and they will see that all opportunities that B.C. has will

be there awaiting them.

conclusion, I'd like to say that I support this budget speech. I believe that

this budget is hard news for British Columbia — but good news.

[1510]

H. Long:

Mr. Speaker, I'm privileged and proud to rise today and speak to the budget

speech as well as the throne speech — together.

Most of the

members know where Powell River–Sunshine Coast is. Just to bring them up to

speed on exactly where it is, it starts at Port Mellon on the Sunshine Coast and

goes all the way up to Namu on the whole west side of the mainland of British

Columbia, just below the North Coast. It's hugely dependent on the forest

industry. We have two pulp and paper mills in the region which are the major

employers for Sechelt and the Sunshine Coast as well as Powell River.

[ Page 1315 ]

First, Mr.

Speaker, I want to congratulate both the Premier and the Minister of Finance on

the budget that came down from Finance and also the Speech from the Throne for

the Premier. In both instances, they're working hand in hand for British

Columbia to bring a better life to all those people in my riding and throughout

the province.

I know that

in my riding, I've had some people ask me questions about the budget and the

throne speech and exactly how that was going to impact on them. I think there

are a lot of people out there who are misguided by some information that has not

been correct. They're mimicking it. I find that a lot of the people I've talked

to — after I spoke with them and they understood exactly what we were trying

to accomplish and the time period and what we were left with — understand

better.

I can take,

for instance, the teachers. During the reign of the NDP in this province, I

think they got zero-zero-and-2, if I'm not mistaken, on their raises. With this

government, sure, we had to put them back to work and call it an essential

service, but they got 2½ over three years, which I think is incredible. As well

as that, I feel they got a certain amount of job security that the private

sector today does not have. I think the professional teachers understand, and

most teachers are professionals. I've got to hand that to them — that most of

the ones I talk to are professional and want to teach the children. They feel

they have a pretty good deal going for them under the circumstances of the

economy today.

I also know

that some of the people in my riding are concerned with health care. There's

been a misrepresentation of how much money was in health care. They're saying

that health care funding was cut, and we know that not to be truth. A billion

dollars more in one year into health care is not cutting health care. That's

adding to health care. We have to find new ways to spend that money within the

health care system for the patients, to make sure the patients get care.

I want to

say to the people in Powell River specifically and Sechelt as well, who have

hospitals, that it's incumbent that we find new ways through the regions to

deliver those services to the people. We have given a mandate to the regions to

come up with new and cost-saving ways to deliver that service. We have to wait

and work with them and with the communities and with the hospitals to make sure

that when we deliver these health care services, we really give a good service

to all those people in our ridings.

I come from

small business. There's another misconception out there: that small business and

business somehow are in conflict with labour. That's a fallacy. In our company

we have over 100 union members. Our company could not operate without them. We

depend on them. They're our ambassadors. We work with them; they work with us.

They have a good living, and I hope that we can run our company properly so we

can make a profit and reinvest in what we do in the transportation business.

It's not a battle between labour and companies and business; it's a cooperation

between the two.

It kind of

upsets me to see some of the public sector unions trying to drive a wedge

between unions and people in business, when it's absolutely imperative that we

work together. [Applause.] Just a little reprieve here.

[1515]

I've got to

bring another thing up. In Sechelt, for instance, we have more than the B.C.

average of seniors. In Sechelt 21 percent of the people are seniors — with a

B.C. average, my understanding is, of 12 percent. That's huge. They have a

concern. They want to make sure things are happening. They want to make sure

they're looked after and they're thought of. I know that they, through our

budgets and so on, have taken a bit of a hit, too, but a lot of those seniors

are taking it with pride. They know they are part of the solution. They know

they're going to be part of the solution in the long run, and therefore they

accept that and they work with us.

I'm proud

to represent those people. They have one of the biggest clubs for seniors on the

Sunshine Coast. They have their own buildings. They have their own auditorium.

They have many, many functions for seniors there, and I commend them on what

they do for the people on the Sunshine Coast.

When we get

down to cutting red tape for business…. That's probably one of the more basic

ones that I'm familiar with. When we start cutting red tape, we're saying to

small business and businesses: "Come on in. It's past the era where we're

going tax you out of this province. It's past the time where we're going to say

that we're going to give you the right and a proper tax structure so you can

flourish in this province."

When I say

that, I go back and think about other people. I mean the real small businesses

in my community, the ones that actually create the bulk of the jobs throughout

my whole riding and probably throughout British Columbia. A lot of those small

people and small companies — they employ one, two, three and anywhere up to

ten people — actually put their money up front. They have nothing to fall back

on except their business and how they perform their business. They can't get

unemployment insurance like a lot of the other people working for them. They

really take those risks. I've got to commend those that put their money up and

create jobs for people in the future, and I think it's incumbent upon our

government to make sure we're there for them and that we create the climate so

they can flourish in the future.

It's funny.

I have people talk to me about the Finance minister and about the budget and

some of the cuts. I see the signs up. I saw them out here on the lawns on the

weekend, saying the cuts go too deep. First they're admitting there have to be

cuts. The second thing they're saying is: "Well, they're too deep."

They don't have the knowledge, which we have in this House and the Finance

minister has, of how deep we really have to cut to make this province flourish

in the future. Only the government knows at this time. We've

[ Page 1316 ]

tried to tell the people and the unions how deep we have to cut, but some of

them don't believe us.

I know

personally…. I'll go back in my history. I was running my company. I got into

a situation where we seemed to be having some financial difficulty, so I hired a

good accountant. Do you think I wanted to believe that accountant? There was

just no way, in my business, that I wanted to believe we had the kind of trouble

we had in our company. It took a lot of talking on his behalf and a lot of

proving to me that I was wrong. I had to clean up the way I was running my

business and how I was operating.

That's what

we're saying today. The Finance minister is saying to this province that after

ten years of neglect by the NDP, this is what we're putting up with, and I

commend him on taking the stand for the future of British Columbia.

[1520]

I mean,

there are so many things within this budget and within this throne speech that

are important to people. I think we came under criticism for lowering the taxes

to all the people of British Columbia. Well, those are the funds that go back

into the economy. They say: "We don't see any results yet." The

results are there. We've had a downturn in our economy — it's worldwide; we're

almost in a world recessional time right now — but things will get better.

They will spend their money. We will create the jobs in this province after the

budget and they come to fruition.

Mr.

Speaker, I think it's important that we all pull together. I think it's time

that labour, business and government really put a concerted effort into pulling

together to make sure that this province works, because we're all in the same

boat. We're all in the same province. It's the greatest province in Canada, and

I think it's worth really working for in the future.

I have a

letter here that was not written by me and not even a party member or anyone

else. Opposition leaders have a tendency to read letters out within this House.

It quite clearly lays out to the people of Powell River in a letter to the

editor just exactly what they feel out there — a lot of supporters. It says:

"Short-term pain for long-term gain." It goes into great detail. It

says to let us not forget the huge debt that came down upon us. The fudge-it

budget was one they referred to here. Then they go on to say that the previous

NDP government probably would not have been elected in the election previous to

this one if they had not lied to the people of British Columbia. They had to

virtually lie to make the government of British Columbia.

It does go

on to draw a lot of conclusions to many things that the NDP have done in the

past, so I don't feel too bad when I stand up and defend the

throne speech and also defend the budget here today. I think these

private-public partnership, P3s, that we're going into are going to be a fact of

life. I hear people say that we're going to have to, possibly, have tolls on our

highway. Well, we live in one part of the country that's 100 percent dependent

on B.C. Ferries. I think they call it a toll. I think we pay a big toll to live

in our part of the country, and that may be expensive for us, but if people came

and saw the kind of beauty we live in, it's worth it.

I just hope

that in the coming months, the B.C. Ferries, when they raise their tolls,

remember that this is very important to the people — how much we pay. In fact,

I want to put on the record today for my constituents that they already pay

above the average on B.C. ferries, both on their discounts — for what they get

for their pre-bought tickets — and for the lift-off charge and the mileage.

They pay a little more than most places. I hope they take that into

consideration, when the rates go up shortly — that they do not move as high on

the ones…until they get it up to the average for all the fleet.

This budget

is good for British Columbia. It's good for the people of the province. I think

that once the unions and the NDP, who are one and the same…. I'm talking about

the public sector unions and the NDP; they come from the same house of cards.

Once we do, though, put down the gauntlet and start working together…. There's

going to be tough times. Sure, we're going to have to make some cuts. Sure,

there's a tough budget ahead of us. But you know, in the end, this province will

rise up, it will carry on, and it will be the best and strongest province in

Canada again. I believe that will happen with the direction of this Premier and

the ministries that we have on that side — I think we've got a lot of strong,

good people working for it — as well as the whole back bench.

[1525]

I think the

last thing I want to say is that a lot of people in this province or even in my

riding have pointed a finger at all these MLAs, the 77 MLAs which are Liberal,

and said: "They don't have heart. Look at what they're doing." Well,

if you take all the MLAs from the Liberal side, they do have a heart. They have

families. They have concerns, just like everyone else in the province. For one

sector of the province out there to yell and scream that other people don't have

a heart…. They are the ones that have to do the hard stuff. They are the ones who

are elected to sit in this House and make decisions that a lot of those people

could not make.

They asked

us to make the decisions, and we have to make those decisions for them and for

us. As hard as it may be, Mr. Speaker, this budget is necessary; this throne

speech is necessary. We must carry on, be strong and show the province that it

will work.

Hon. G.

Bruce: It's a pleasure indeed for me to rise today and speak on this budget.

Indeed, it's a pleasure to be able to follow my colleague, the member for Powell

River–Sunshine Coast. He and I spent time in this House 12 years ago, ten

years ago, 11 years ago…. It was a long time ago.

It's nice

to be able to be back here and, more than that, to be able to talk about a

budget that really is going to help turn the province of British Columbia around

after ten dark, dismal years of incompetence — probably the worst government

that we've ever seen in the country of Canada, never mind in the province of

British Columbia. Indeed, it's nice to be able to take

[ Page 1317 ]

part in the debate of a budget that has a plan to it and a process that will

allow us to get out of the difficulty that we currently are faced with after

what the previous NDP government has done.

Before I

actually get into the budget itself and the different items that I'd like to

comment on, I'd like to speak a little bit about the actual development of this

budget. This is a first — how this budget has been developed here in the

province of British Columbia. In fact, it speaks to the whole new era of

government in British Columbia.

The Premier

of this province talked many years ago — I think it was just after the 1996

election — of his vision and view for how this Legislature ought to run and

ought to operate, the notion of true free votes in the House and the matter of

how you should have the debate take place in this House.

In fact, we

saw that first free vote here not too long ago on a very important piece of

legislation. It wasn't frivolous. All members were given the opportunity to vote

their conscience, and they did. We had one of our members that voted against

that legislation. We also had another member that voted against two sections of

that legislation.

It's

important to note that when we have 77 of 79 members in this House, there will

be free and unfettered debate. It's a testament to the Premier of this province.

Often you've heard leaders in the past talk about the need for changes in the

Legislative Assembly and how debate ought to take place, but as they get closer

to assuming power and as they get closer to taking over the leadership and the

Premiership of the province, they tend to wane from it.

Our Premier

did not do that. In fact, he's encouraged that. Here, not too long ago as I

mentioned, we had that first true free vote as a government in the House here in

the province of British Columbia.

Following

as part of that, we've had this whole building of the budget where we've

employed the Treasury Board process of the past, the normal way, but what's

different about that is that we have private members on Treasury Board. It's

never been the case before. We have private members that are bringing their

views and their ideas to Treasury Board as the budget process is being

developed.

We have the

government caucus committees that have taken a very active and detailed role in

the development not only of the budget but of service plans and the impact that

they have on the building of legislation and the building of economic strategy.

This is a

first. This is a first in the Legislatures and the House of Commons here in

Canada. It perhaps isn't a first as it relates to parliaments around the world

because the mother parliament in Westminster made this change many years ago

where they introduced free votes to the House back in the early seventies. In

that first instance, every time there was a private member of the government side

that voted against the government, there was a great to-do. But after two or

three or four or half a dozen times of that happening, it became the notion that

that's what will happen within the House, and there will be those that will vote

against certain things.

[1530]

With that

and with the steps we've taken in regards to the budget-building process that

has been developed here and the inclusion of private members in that, I think we

now lead the Commonwealth in the new way, the new era, of how the Legislative

Assembly ought to operate and the fact that…. [Applause.] Yes, it's historic.

That's been an important part.

Now the

budget itself. No sooner had we introduced the budget than the stats came out

that there were 27,000 new jobs created here in the province. We're leading Canada

in the development of those jobs. That's not as a result of the budget coming

out, but it's a result of changes that are happening here through the last eight

months of this province with the new government in place and a new feeling of

confidence, I believe, by the population — with the understanding that there

are some very difficult and tough decisions that have to be made. There is a

bitter pill to be swallowed after ten years of neglect. However, I believe that

in spite of some of the rhetoric we hear, the people of British Columbia have

truly elected us to do those difficult things, and we must not waver.

It's ironic

that what you hear on the streets and in the different demonstrations that take

place…. The very people that were part of the process of the government of the

last ten years, the NDP government, are now the ones again speaking out and

trying to dissuade us from doing the things that need to be done. Have they

offered new and creative solutions? No, they've just offered that we should

carry on in the way they did business and ran government in British Columbia.

They haven't offered any new ideas. It's just: "Stop, stop, stop." The

fact of the matter is that we don't have that latitude, and the people of British

Columbia understood that in the last election. They clearly demonstrated that

with the result that was shown here in the House, with 77 to two. They wanted a

change.

When there

are as many of us as there are — 77 of the 79 members — we must be careful

that we consider what we are undertaking carefully, and that we listen to our

constituents and understand what they are saying to us but don't back off from

the purpose of what needs to be done. It's important, too, that where we make a

mistake — and we will make a mistake — we change those mistakes, as the

Minister of Finance brought in with his budget in respect to the bus passes for

the people in the areas that have transit service, to make sure they're

available. It's important that we take the second look at things. That's not

pulling away, and that's not wavering from the things that need to be done.

That's just taking a good second look. When there are 77 of us in this House,

it's all the more important that we do take that second look.

I believe

things are turning — as I say, the 27,000 jobs and housing starts are up in

the province. We have a long way to go, Mr. Speaker. Very clearly we do. But I

believe that with the introduction of this budget, we are laying a plan and a

path that shows,

[ Page 1318 ]

between this year and over the next three, that we will get to that end

result where this province will once again be a leader in Canada and will not be

a have-not province. How shameful it was to find that, in fact, this province

with all its resources, with all its wealth, with all its beauty and the very

fine people we have who live here in British Columbia, would be considered a

have-not province. After ten years of clearly the most reprehensible government

we've ever seen in Canada, they managed to bring us down to be a have-not

province.

There's

work to be done. When you look at the fact that this budget brings with it a

$4.4 billion deficit — not an easy thing to say — it's a difficult challenge

for all of us. As we've gone through the process of building this budget in an

attempt to change the direction of government and to get our costs under

control, we're still faced with a $4.4 billion deficit. Even worse is the fact

that over the three years, this will end up being a $40 billion debt that we

have to pay for — a $40 billion total debt in the province of British

Columbia.

[1535]

It took 50

years to get to $17 billion, and it took ten years to get from $17 billion —

ten years with the former government — to $36.5 billion worth of debt. Now the

task for all of us is to turn that around and, as this budget lays out, to get

us back along the path to a balanced budget by 2004-05.

What I

think is particularly encouraging in the budget is the strong emphasis on small

business, and many have spoken in the House here today about that and how

important small business is to us. We've heard from many governments across

Canada in a variety of jurisdictions and parties, whether they be federal or

provincial. All speak and talk glowingly about the importance of small business.

You know,

if you're in small business, as I am — and my hon. colleague is also in small

business — it was almost a death sentence as soon as you heard politicians

talk about small business because you knew you were going to get clanged. Nobody

truly understood the importance of small business, so I'm happy to say, when I

look at my colleagues here in this caucus, that we have a great number that not

only understand small business but are in fact small business people.

It is a

huge component of our economy. The greatest employer in the province is small

business. That employing group is really a small business of 50 employees or

less. That entrepreneurship that's necessary, that faith in yourself and the

people that are working with you to succeed and an ideal of some sort of

endeavour — that you've got the courage and the guts to take your whole family

investment and put it into a small business and keep it alive….

You know

what happens in small business when things get difficult? You don't have the

latitude or the luxury of saying: "Well, I'm going to back out now. I'm

going to close the doors." What you do is go out and find another brother

or another sister or another aunt or another uncle who wants to invest with you

a little bit more, to try and get you through those difficult times, because you

believe.

After these

past ten years of what we've been through, small business in British Columbia

has been thrashed by ten years of neglect, ten years of absolutely rotten

government in the province. Now small business in this province has a chance. It

has a chance to renew itself. Many are simply hanging on. They're hanging on by

their fingernails in the hopes that we will carry on and do the things we need

to do, like increasing the threshold of small business from $200,000 to

$300,000. For some who are hanging on, it won't make any difference because the

profits aren't there, but for others it will make a big difference. More

importantly, it's a message. It's a signal of how important small business is to

us and the understanding of what it can mean to our economy.

With what

we're intending to do in working through employment standards and the regulatory

world of Workers Compensation Board and those types of things, which often, as

people build these things who've never been in small business and have no

understanding of what another rule or another regulation means to you…. You

don't have a human resources department to go and look after all these things,

which some of the bigger corporations do. The human resources department is you,

yourself. You've probably already put ten, 12, 13 hours in. You've got to put

the extra hour or two hours in to look after that human resources concern.

They're important. You can't just leave that.

Where it's

a rule and a regulation that's foisted upon you — perhaps not well thought

out; many times not well thought out — the cost to small business is huge. We,

as the Minister of State for Deregulation is doing, are working to reduce that

type of regulatory burden on small business to unfetter them, to free them, to

let them get on with what it is they do best: the building and development of

their business.

Returning

that entrepreneurship to the province is huge, because we chased that spirit out

of this province. We chased that ideal of being able to go, and, yes, you can go

and you can make a profit — a wonderful world…. You can make a profit. Or, in

fact, you can go broke, but that's an opportunity to do one or the other.

It isn't

done on the backs of the people that work with you. You need those people.

They're huge. They are the most important resource assets you have within your

small business, and we've built up over these ten years an attitude that it was

them against us. Whoever "them" was and whoever "us" was, it

was more that there would be divisions than it was that we would work together.

[1540]

Small

business now has an opportunity to grow. It has an opportunity to blossom here

in the province. I look at my own community — four central little communities:

Lake Cowichan, the city of Duncan, Chemainus and Ladysmith. I was born and

raised there and am proud to be an Islander and proud to be from the Cowichan

Valley, but I can tell you, hon. members,

[ Page 1319 ]

never in all of my life have I seen the streets, buildings and small

businesses in my communities in the most difficult situation as they've ever

been, as it's been these last ten years. They're crying out for help, and

they're not standing there with their hands out. They just want us to get out of

the way. They want government to get its regulatory regime out of the way so

they can get on with doing those things they do best.

I look at

Lake Cowichan, a great little community up there. It had a shellacking in the

forest industry. The forest sector has taken a huge hit from ten years of a

regime of a Forest Practices Code that put an extra billion dollars on the

industry in the way of additional costs. Softwood lumber has caused us untold

harm in the central area of Vancouver Island, but I can see things starting to

flourish in Lake Cowichan. We've got a community there that's been active and

strong. We've got a mayor and a municipal council that are there and working

hard to rebuild that community and to encourage the entrepreneurship to come

alive again.

Duncan. You

know, Duncan for years was the crossroads where the E&N would come through,

and a strong agricultural base has now developed a very strong and vibrant wine

industry. One day we'll rival that which takes place up in the Okanagan. We have

nine wineries that are coming on, and it's a great wine. It's an industry that

builds beautifully into the tourist industry on Vancouver Island, which also

will build.

That's

entrepreneurship again. That's people within the agricultural sector going out

and finding those very special, small eco-regions where you can grow grapes and

produce what you need so that you can develop a good wine.

You take

our little community of Chemainus that learned a long time ago how it is you

rebuild in the face of adversity. It took the arts and built with the arts a

strong and vibrant tourist industry, one that needs to be rejuvenated again. But

with that understanding that….

You know,

we often talk about tourism. We say that if we have a tourism industry, then we

can't have a mining industry, or we can't have a forestry industry. We can't

have heavy industry. But, in fact, we can. What we have within the industry

that's here on Vancouver Island is an opportunity to take, again, another asset

and develop it into the tourist industry while it's an active heavy industrial

sector.

Take our

little community of Ladysmith, the town of Ladysmith, and the Festival of

Lights. The activity that goes on in the Festival of Lights now brings to that

community on the third Thursday, I think it is, of November approximately 15,000

people for the light-up that takes place. It's absolutely phenomenal. Busloads

of people are now coming over from Washington State and from the mainland for

that event. It packs the town — a huge event. Then again, what you have there

is the gutsiness of individuals, of people coming together and building their

community and, from that, the development of small business.

Maple Bay

is a little adjunct off to the side, a beautiful little enclave of our

community. It's got some of the greatest diving that you can find — beach

diving, scuba diving — in the world. That great diver, Jacques Cousteau, once

wrote about the beauty of diving at Maple Bay. I'm fortunate enough to go diving

there. The life that's in that bay….

Even a

greater story than that is the little community of Crofton, my home, where I

live. There we have a pulp mill, a paper mill. We have the tugs and the ferries,

the ships and the barges that come and go. You can sit on your sundeck and watch

this activity that takes place. It's good British Columbia industry that's

taking place. We have a new company that's taken over. NorskeCanada has taken

over that pulp and paper operation, and I see optimism there. I see investment.

I see an understanding of what the pulp and paper industry means to us. I see

the opportunity for expansion in that facility.

[1545]

But the

real story in all of that is during all the years of environmental calamity that

was going on, which people were concerned about, the steps that have been taken

and the investment that's been had in that particular operation have now greatly

restored life to the waters. When you dive in and around the waters of Vesuvius

and Stuart Channel, the life that's there in the ocean today is just incredible.

There's tiny, tiny life right at the beginning of the food chain. The crabs and

the prawns that have come back, the sea life and the plant life that's there in

abundance are all part of a renewal and part of the fact that, yes, you can have

manufacturing, you can have heavy industry, you can have a tourist industry and

agricultural industry in virtually a small geographical area such as the

Cowichan Valley — a beautiful future for us all.

If I climb

to the top of Mount Provost — which is that very unique mountain, as I drive

through the Cowichan Valley, with the two humps to it — and I stand at the top

of that mountain and look out at the view that you have over Cowichan Bay and

Quamichan Lake, Somenos Lake, the town of Duncan, up through the valley to Lake

Cowichan and over to Chemainus, quite frankly, I don't believe I have ever seen

a sight as beautiful and as plentiful as what God created from the top of that

mountain, and I've travelled much of the world. It's absolutely stunning. It

makes you stand back, when you're up there, and pause for a moment to just

reflect about how much we have — not only what I have in the valley that I

live in and what we have on Vancouver Island, but what we have in all of this

great province, how much we have to be thankful for, and how much more we can do

and how better we can do it, as this government builds to bring about a new era

in British Columbia.

Bringing

about that new era is through the whole aspect of individual responsibility. We

waned from that. We became a province that turned to government to do

everything. If there was a problem, bring in a law. If it wasn't right, bring in

a regulation — always turning to government as though somehow government had

the answer and government knew what was

[ Page 1320 ]

best for all of us. How sadly we've been mistaken about that.

We weren't

mistaken, actually. We made that decision this past May, and we decided that

once again we as a society have to take individual responsibility. It isn't

government. Government is only one portion of how society builds itself. It's

there to provide a certain level of service and a certain order. Most

importantly, what we have to do as government is make sure that we're

encouraging individual responsibility, entrepreneurship — the aspect of taking

responsibility for your own life.

We must be

there as a government to protect the most vulnerable. We must be there to ensure

that for those who have difficulties beyond their own control, there are people

there to help them. We as a government must make sure that our services provide

for that but not be out front, not be saying that all of what will happen

in the province will be done by us as government. Heavens, no. No, we want to be

back. We want to be quiet. We want to be out of the way. We want to once again

encourage the individual to be able to take advantage of the great prospects and

the opportunities that are here in this grand province and to flourish on their

own and with one another in building together.

When we

look across this province, we look at the forestry sector and what's facing us

— both with the softwood lumber and the tasks that the Minister of Forests has

in regards to tenure reform and new stumpage regulation and the softwood lumber

issue that's there. One would think: by golly, the forestry sector — what a

mess. How bad it is. Is there a future? Yes, there is a future. This is the

greatest resource one could ever be blessed with. For us to have it here in our

confines of this great province, we are very fortunate indeed — far from it

being sunset. Yes, it's in need of change.

The best

counter we could ever come up with, in regards to softwood lumber, is to go and

flourish in other markets, to build the Chinese market, to build new markets in

India, to develop new products in finished form here in this province and to

ship them elsewhere, to take prefab homes that we could build right here on

Vancouver Island and have them shipped to the Philippines. There are people

today who, because of the change in government, are looking to do just those

types of things. There's a strong and bright future in the forestry sector.

[1550]

The tourism

industry. My goodness. The very first part of the tourism industry, in coming to

British Columbia if you fly into the Vancouver International Airport…. There

is absolutely not another area that one could fly into that has the magnificence

of flying into Vancouver. You can go around the world. You can fly into Britain.

You can fly into Cape Town. You can fly into Sydney. None of them — bar none

— has the beauty and the drama of what it's like to fly into that

international airport here in British Columbia. What a grand opening, what a

grand introduction to what tourism can be here in this province and how we need

to build on it.

You know,

sometimes we look too big. Sometimes we look at tourism as though it's got to be

a huge megaproject. I think it's wonderful that we're bidding — and hopefully

we'll be successful in the bid — for the Winter Olympics, but if you look at

our own little areas and how we can generate small business and entrepreneurship

in that way in building the tourist industry, there's a thousand things that can

be done.

Golfing

alone…. Unfortunately, I've had very little time to golf in the last year or

so. My game wasn't very good even when I golfed a little bit, but now it's even

worse. One benefit about that is that I keep getting golf balls for Christmas,

and now I'm really ahead in the number of golf balls I have, because I'm not

golfing. The bag's really getting loaded with golf balls, but I'll quickly

dispense with that the very first opportunity that I get to go golfing.

I was in

Vancouver at a conference about a year or so ago, and we had an opportunity in

the afternoon to go golfing. One of the guys said: "Look, there's a whole

pile of courses around here on the lower mainland. They're beautiful courses.

And he listed off a number. "Let's go off to one of them." Four of us

took off, and away we went.

We drove an

hour, and we finally got to the golf course and had a wonderful time and a

wonderful game, and then we drove an hour back to the hotel. On the way back, of

course, the hour's drive was in traffic, bumper-to-bumper. That's fine; that's

great. That happens.

I said:

"You know, from my little community in Chemainus, if you took a pencil and

drew a circle around an hour's drive out from that community, the number of golf

courses from Qualicum to Victoria that are long; the big ones that are short;

the executive ones…." The beauty of each one of those golf courses —

you know, the difference in respect to the degree of difficulty one could find

there…. The variety was tremendous.

The hour's

drive from my little community of Chemainus, which happens to have a very nice

little golf course, is exquisite. Up and over the Malahat, coming here to

Victoria — what a phenomenal drive. There you are at the top of the Malahat,

looking over the Saanich Peninsula, the Saanich Inlet. You know, you could

actually have a conversation driving through the wonderful constituency of

Malahat–Juan de Fuca. Going the other way, up through Nanaimo all the way up

to Qualicum, a number of golf courses are there and along the coastline — the

beauty that surrounds you just in that drive.

Do we see

ourselves as a little golfing mecca? You know the way we'd look at it at home?

We'd say: "Well, we only have one golf course." Maybe we have three.

We have the Mount Brenton golf course, the Cowichan golf course, the Duncan

Meadows golf course and the March Meadows golf course. That would be four —

okay. Stick with me.

[ Page 1321 ]

Quite

frankly, I bet you we have 35 to 40 golf courses in that hour's drive, so we've

got a golfing mecca. You can fly into Vancouver and have that great view, if

you're a golfer from some other place. Perhaps you're from Japan and are coming

here to Canada. You can flip over to the Island to the Cassidy Airport, and

you've got the pick of wherever you'd like. Not only do you have the opportunity

of a number of golf courses to play on, but you've got a beautiful hour's drive

to be able to get there. We need to look at things differently in that respect.

The mining

industry on Vancouver Island, as I mentioned earlier, used to be a very large

contributor to our economy. I think there may be another day for that. We're

going to have to change our thinking, though, on some of that. We've come to

this notion that mining is okay if it's not in British Columbia. That's

basically what we have said over the last ten years. We've said to the mining

industry: "Thank you for your $4 billion contribution, but no longer do we

need you here in British Columbia. By the way, thank you to the mining industry

for the $75,000 to $80,000 that you may pay per job — per good union job —

in the mining industry, but we no longer need those jobs here in the

province." That's what the former government said to the mining industry.

[1555]

We have a

tremendous opportunity here in British Columbia. I feel — as I'm sure my

colleagues in the House feel — that this budget that was presented here

several days ago is the first step of many steps that need to be taken, which

the people of the province have asked us to undertake in rebuilding the economy

of the province, the social service side of the province, and once again making

British Columbia a have province which we all can be proud of, and a leader here

in this great country of Canada.

Hon. L.

Stephens: I'm very pleased to rise and take my place in the debate today in

support of our government's budget, but before I do that, I want to thank my

family. I want to take this opportunity to do that: my children first and

foremost, for the support and encouragement they have placed in me over these

past 11 years. Having three grandchildren, too, gives for me new meaning and

purpose and importance to the critical and crucial work that we do here in this

place.

As everyone

in the House knows, we as elected members representing our constituents could

not do this job without the understanding and support of our families. If it

weren't for them, many of us wouldn't be here. For all of us who depend so much

on our families for support, I think we need to make sure that we say it and

that we let them know how much we appreciate that support as often as we

possibly can.

I also want

to thank the constituents of Langley who have shown their faith in me over these

past 11 years as well — first in 1991, again in 1996 and then in 2001. I feel

very honoured and privileged to have been able to represent such a wonderful,

caring community in this magnificent building over those past 11 years. Just as

they have shown their faith in me, I pledge once again to act in their best

interests and the best interests of all people in British Columbia as we move

forward to build a strong and vibrant economy that will allow us to provide the

important and critical social services we all need and deserve. I'm thrilled to

be standing here today not only as the MLA for Langley but also as the Minister

of State for Women's Equality.

I want to

take this opportunity to state that the foundation for the throne speech

delivered by Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor was grounded in a new era of

hope and prosperity for British Columbia. Last spring British Columbians gave

our government an overwhelming mandate for change. We are acting on that mandate

to build a solid foundation for economic and social renewal. Our government was

elected to lead the province forward and to break new ground in search of

brighter horizons. Our government's priorities will not waver, and our mission

will not be altered. In the throne speech our government made it clear that it

would not break its trust with people. We will revitalize British Columbia's

economy, restore sound fiscal management, and put patients and students first.

The central

mission for our government is to revitalize the economy just as quickly as

possible. The sobering events of September 11 have impacted our lives in many

ways, and the global economy is still reeling from the impact. Our provincial

economy has been hit especially hard. However, our government has a solid plan

to turn our provincial economy around. The steps we have taken and will continue

to take will make our economy more competitive, diversified and attractive to

investors.

Last summer

we acted upon all of the 22 commitments we vowed to undertake in our first 90

days. The Attorney General has appointed an independent task force to review the

options, models, costs and effectiveness of public sector pay equity

legislation. The task force will be making its recommendations at the end of

this month, and we look forward to hearing what those recommendations may be.

The throne

speech also spoke of our commitment to engage all British Columbians in

discussion of the principles to guide the provincial government's negotiating

mandate in treaty talks. A referendum will be conducted later this spring by

mail-in ballot that will put forward questions that have been approved by this

assembly. Those questions will build on the work done by the Select Standing

Committee on Aboriginal Affairs. As the throne speech clearly stated, our

government's aim is to help all voters become informed about the referendum

questions and the issues they address in as fair and neutral a manner as

possible.

[1600]

The throne

speech also spoke of our government's commitment to giving local governments

more autonomy and better planning and revenue tools to enhance community

stability. My colleague the Minister of State for Community Charter has been

working diligently with the Community Charter Council, which was ap-

[ Page 1322 ]

pointed by legislation this spring. The council will table its report,

including draft legislation, in a White Paper that will be publicly released

during this session.

All of

these initiatives will help pave the way towards greater prosperity. Our

government has done its best to focus its scarce resources where they are needed

most: on patients, students and the most vulnerable. Our government also remains

committed to long-term improvement in services for women, children and families,

including developing a sustainable child care strategy that will be

partnership-driven, community-focused and targeted to those most in need.

In the past

eight months our government has done much to refocus health care funding on

patients' needs. We have restructured regional health governance and delivery to

provide greater flexibility and strategic planning of health resources. We gave

health authorities new tools to find savings and efficiencies. More nurses are

being trained. Significantly higher wages, along with Canada's lowest income tax

rates, are serving as powerful incentives to attract and retain skilled nurses.

The Community Care Facility Act will be substantially improved to establish a

more responsive, results-based framework for community care that provides

greater flexibility for individual care and consistent care standards. Those

standards will not be compromised. The health and safety of seniors, youth and

children will be protected.

We've also

acted on our election commitment to provide greater flexibility and local

autonomy to elected school boards. New legislated class-size limits will ensure

that students' needs are better protected without the rigidity that prevented

commonsense solutions at the school and district levels. We will establish new

mechanisms to give parents real and meaningful input into education delivery and

quality in our schools and greater control and choice for their children.

Our

government understands that the needs of patients and students must come first,

and that is exactly what our throne speech outlined and what the budget will

deliver. I want to congratulate the Minister of Finance for his hard work in

preparing this very important budget. For the first time, three-year forecasts

were set out for each individual ministry. The budget speech outlines our

blueprint for B.C., a blueprint that consists of eliminating the deficit,

building a strong and vibrant economy, and serving British Columbians well by

getting government right. Restoring sound fiscal management, revitalizing

British Columbia's economy and addressing patient and student needs are our

government's top goals for the year ahead as it moves toward a balanced budget

in 2004-05.

[H.

Long in the chair.]

Eliminating

the deficit as quickly as possible will avoid burdening future generations of

British Columbians with rapidly escalating debt-interest costs. The plan is

designed to bring government expenditures into line with revenues over the next

three years through planned, phased spending reductions and measures to

stimulate the economy. Fundamental restructuring of government will position the

province to obtain the maximum benefit from increased economic activity when the

economy improves, and it will.

The

previous government believed in big government. We do not. We have moved to

reduce the size of government. The previous government believed in excessive job

security in public service contracts. We do not. Instead, we believe in fair

wages and benefits that are comparable to other jurisdictions. The previous

government believed in excessive government spending. We believe in revitalizing

British Columbia's economy by getting government right. Ultimately, our

government's three-year plan will lead to renewed hope and prosperity for

British Columbians.

The budget

speech clearly reflects that British Columbia must become a province where a

vibrant, job-creating economy supports individuals and families to live in

responsible, inclusive and caring communities. The challenges we face are huge,

but British Columbia has been in tough times before, and every time the people

of British Columbia have responded with strength and imagination. We've come

through those tough times stronger than before.

[1605]

Eight

months ago people voted for change. They voted to revitalize the economy,

restore sound fiscal management and put those patients and those students first.

Change is never easy, but deep down people know that although change may be

difficult and challenging, we won't get to where we need to be without it. And

it all starts with revitalizing our economy. This is our government's central

mission, because we know that revitalizing prosperity is the foundation for

sustaining and renewing our essential public services. We will do that, and we

will do what needs to be done to revitalize our economy after a decade of

decline.

We will

reduce the red-tape burden on B.C. businesses by one-third over the next two and

a half years. We've already eliminated business subsidies. We're consulting on

changes to employment standards, workers compensation and the Labour Code, and

we'll initiate changes in the next year to provide greater flexibility, fairness

and efficiency for employers and employees alike.

Our

Minister of Forests is working aggressively with the federal government to

resolve the softwood lumber dispute. Regardless, we are going to press on with

reforms to forest policy, including market-based stumpage.

The Energy

Policy Task Force has been consulting with the public and will be issuing a

final report next month. Steps will taken to enhance the Oil and Gas Commission

and foster new opportunities in mineral exploration by updating and streamlining

the major project assessment process.

We will

increase access to Crown land and resources through improvements to the process

for evaluating and improving applications. We are also

[ Page 1323 ]

working with the private sector to increase public-private partnerships. All

of these initiatives and more will help revitalize our economy.

By far the

biggest fiscal challenge facing the province is in health care. In our first

budget for this next year funding will increase to 41 percent, a 7

percentage-point increase, to $10.4 billion. The reason is simple. People want

and need the best-quality health care services available, and by putting

patients' needs first, that is exactly what we will do.

Most

importantly to me, Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of State for Women's Equality in

the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services, I have the

responsibility to ensure that the needs and concerns of all women in British

Columbia are addressed. In our ministry's three-year service plan, we have

pledged to address systemic barriers affecting women today. Our ministry's

strong community focus means we can develop integrated and coordinated programs

that address all areas of women's lives. This focus has shaped our ministry's

priorities for women, including aboriginal women, women with disabilities, and

immigrant and visible minority women, because the women from these groups have

unique and very difficult obstacles to overcome. A strong emphasis will be

placed on community services to address those needs. This new approach will help

us build strong communities through strong and effective delivery of programs.

As the

Minister of State for Women's Equality, I am committed to focusing my vision for

women's services on three intertwined areas that are of primary importance to

women today: poverty and economic opportunities, women-centred health care, and

personal safety and security. There is much work to be done. Women's equality

programs are vital to the safety and success of our province.

Violence

against women is a major threat to women's health and economic security, and I

look forward to working with the Attorney General to help formulate the

prevention-of-domestic-violence legislation. We are also committed to developing

and implementing a safer community strategy for women in provincial emergency

shelters and transition houses. A provincewide perspective for delivering

women's services is part of our government's agenda, and our government has

protected funding to transition houses, safe homes, second-stage housing and

counselling services for women and children who witness abuse, as well as

programs for the prevention of violence against women.

Women will

have a support system in all places across this province. Women will not have to

stay in violent relationships. Women do have a choice. They do have a place to

go.

I also look

forward to working with the four Health ministers in making sure that the health

needs of women are addressed in all regions of the province. We need to ensure

that government programs address issues relating to women's economic and social

equity and that essential priority services for women remain in place.

[1610]

A key

lesson I've learned over the years is that economic equality really is the

cornerstone of equality overall. Women represent one-third of the self-employed

workforce in British Columbia. Women-led firms are creating jobs at four times

the national average, and we recognize that these are important sources of job

growth. That's why we've committed to boosting investment in technological

innovation and research in B.C. through reductions in taxes and red tape, and

that is why the initiatives laid out in the budget are so important. We must

generate economic opportunities for women.

Safe,

affordable and accessible child care, family-friendly workplaces, education and

training are the keys to breaking the cycle of poverty and creating more

economic opportunities for women. Our government is also committed to developing

a long-term child care plan that will be partnership driven, community focused,

fiscally sustainable and targeted to families who need it the most.

September we launched a comprehensive child care consultation with British

Columbians all across the province. I visited 12 communities, we sent out 20,000

surveys, and the results will be printed on our website shortly. Our government

felt that the most effective way to develop a sustainable child care strategy

was to listen to the voices of communities. What we heard from our communities

will shape our child care plans for the future. A coordinated, integrated and

sustainable approach will be developed to target those families and to encourage

the expansion of safe, affordable child care spaces.

My goal is

to work to improve the lives of all women, to enable them to reach their

greatest potential and to live free from discrimination, violence, harassment

and poverty. I look forward to working with the private and community service

sectors to develop innovative, community-based choices that can build the

capacity of families and communities to care for their most vulnerable family

members and neighbours.

The throne

speech, the budget speech and the three-year service plans are part of our

government's openness, accountability and commitment to rebuilding the greatness

of this magnificent province. Mr. Speaker, we've laid out our blueprint for

prosperity for the next three years, and we will fulfil our mandate.

S. Orr:

Many new ideas have entered and been introduced into this Legislature since the

new government was formed in May 2001 — ideas that have brought us into the

twenty-first century. We have introduced the use of laptop computers in this

House, enabling the members who choose to, to work in the twenty-first century

environment but still enjoy the feeling of the wonderful heritage and history of

this chamber.

One of the

most significant things that has happened in this House that is new, something

that has never been done before but something that has been the accepted best

practice throughout the world by

[ Page 1324 ]

organizations, businesses and governments — something that the previous

administration never did…. Mr. Speaker, we have introduced the first-ever

three-year strategic plan for government. Finally, we have joined the

twenty-first century, and we have done what every good organization, every

successful business and every forward-thinking government has done elsewhere.

We have

laid out a responsible, realistic, straightforward and I would even say

visionary budget — yes, Mr. Speaker — and a three-year strategic plan. In

all the organizations that I have been involved with in the past decade,

not-for-profit organizations and for-profit organizations, we always laid out a

strategic plan. This is a standard practice and absolutely essential if you want

to be successful.

[1615]

To be

honest, it would have been much easier to have just done what has been done in

the past — go from budget to budget, react to what seems politically easier

and hope that everything worked out okay. Yes, it would have been easier, but it

would not have been the responsible way to proceed. I would suggest it was that

kind of fiscal irresponsibility that got the previous administration into the

mess they left this government in.

My analogy

of the past decade is a simple one. I say that because I, like the millions of

taxpayers in this province that have lived through this last decade, could only

assess the situation from the sidelines. We could only assess what was going on

from a very practical point of view. I compared it to building a house. The NDP

in 1991 inherited a fairly healthy piece of land and a substantial house. They

could have done very many things with this valuable asset to make it grow and

become even more valuable. But, no, they decided what they really wanted to do

was renovate. They called in their friends and started renovating without a

plan, adding on and installing expensive extras without a proper budget in

place.

Things got

out of control. Nobody had taken the time to figure out what all this was

costing. Can we afford it? Do we really need it? Finally, before the renovation

is even completed, the bills start rolling in. Now they have to pay Peter and

take from Peter to pay Paul. They kept thinking that if they just kept shuffling

things around, they could keep the creditors at bay. We all know we can only do

that for so long, and then the house of cards starts to tumble. That is what

happened.

Now this

government has had to take over that fallen-down house of cards and start to

rebuild it. We have had to look at the huge, unplanned renovation that we cannot

afford and try to figure out a way to get things back to that valuable asset we

had a decade ago.

I realize

this is a simple analogy of a very complex problem, but it illustrates what a

tough job we have been left with. However, I believe that with a proper plan, it

can be done. This province had lived without a plan for ten years. That is now

all over.

We have had

some very difficult decisions, ones that have given me and many of my colleagues

many sleepless nights — without protesters. Tough decisions had to be made to

get us back on track. You know what is the best? We have a solid, achievable

plan — a three-year strategic plan for everyone to see. We have the

determination to follow through with that plan, and in 2004 we will have a true,

honest balanced budget. We will be offering the taxpayers of this province real

accountability for their money.

I want to

quote you something from Richard Rees, the CEO of the Institute of Chartered

Accountants of British Columbia. We all know these people are very conservative

bean-counters that the province relies on to help it with its finances. We rely

on and trust these people. The quote is: "The silver lining" — on

this budget — "according to the CAs, is that the government has used

fiscally conservative assumptions and risk-management strategies in the budget,

along with presenting three-year plans and incorporating a $750 million

contingency fund to act as a cushion against unforeseen risks."

"[The

Finance minister] has provided the public with a budget process that should

inspire confidence in the numbers," said Rees. "While it may not be

the sexiest part of the budget, the bar continues to be raised on sound

financial management in this province."

I want to

talk about a very important part of this budget, a part that's very important to

me and my riding of Victoria-Hillside. I want to talk about social issues. I

have had a daily diet served up to me by the opposition about how they represent

the most vulnerable people in this province. I listen, and I am frustrated and

angry at some of things I hear. I find it offensive that these very special

British Columbians are constantly being used for political posturing. I find it

offensive that the opposition have the audacity to believe that they are the

only members in this House that care for the less fortunate in our society. That

is the furthest thing from the truth. I have never worked with so many people

who have been so committed to protecting services for the most vulnerable, in

light of the terrible mess we have been left to straighten out.

[1620]

I have

volunteered for many years on social issues. It is my passion, it is my pride,

and it is my pleasure. The people in our society who are very vulnerable are

also very proud, and this government is committed to help the most vulnerable.

We said it, and we are doing it.

When I was

elected, it was my main goal to make sure I opened a community office in

Victoria-Hillside that served the needs of not only everyone in my riding but