2017 Legislative Session: Sixth Session, 40th 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)

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Afternoon Sitting

Volume 42, Number

ISSN 0709-1281 (Print)

ISSN 1499-2175 (Online)

CONTENTS

Page

Routine Business

Introductions by Members

Introduction and

First Reading of Bills

Bill M229 — Lobbyist Registry Reform Act, 2017

Bill M230 — Anti-SLAPP Act, 2017

L. Krog

Bill M231 — Local Government Amendment Act, 2017

Bill M232 — Motor Vehicle Amendment Act, 2017

A. Weaver

Statements

(Standing Order 25B)

FME data software

M. Hunt

Affordable housing and shelter in Tri-Cities area

J. Wickens

125 th anniversary of district of Mission

M. Dalton

Volunteerism in Central Saanich and Gulf Islands

G. Holman

Jimmy and Venus Yau

J. Yap

Protection of South Delta ecosystem and migratory habitat

V. Huntington

Oral Questions

Government response to youth death cases

J. Horgan

Hon. C. Clark

M. Mark

Hon. S. Cadieux

Oversight and audit of contracted child protection services

D. Donaldson

Hon. S. Cadieux

C. James

M. Farnworth

Emergency services at hospitals

J. Wickens

Hon. T. Lake

S. Robinson

Residential care for seniors on Sunshine Coast

N. Simons

Hon. C. Clark

Reports from Committees

Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth, report on improving rural health care, primary care and addition recovery programs, March 2017

L. Larson

J. Darcy

Petitions

G. Heyman

Hon. P. Fassbender

Tabling Documents

Property Assessment Appeal Board, annual report, 2016

Petitions

B. Routley

N. Simons

Orders of the Day

Budget Debate (continued)

Hon. C. Oakes

M. Mark

Hon. Michelle Stilwell

J. Darcy

D. McRae

N. Macdonald

D. Ashton

B. Routley

Hon. P. Fassbender

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2017

The House met at 1:34 p.m.

[Madame Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers.

[1335]

Introductions by Members

Hon. C. Clark: Since we introduced the B.C. jobs plan in 2011, British Columbians have created over 202,000 jobs in British Columbia, over 70,000 new jobs in the last year. Those are 202,000 jobs that hard-working British Columbians depend on to look after their families and build the lives they want.

Today it’s my pleasure to introduce two men who represent some of the hardest-working British Columbians of all, the ironworkers. If you drive across a bridge, you can thank an ironworker. If you drop your kids off to a safe school, you can thank an ironworker. If you take your mom or dad to a hospital, you can thank an ironworker. If you turn on your electricity, much of produced by the legacy of dams in our province, you can thank an ironworker.

Joining us today are Darrell LaBoucan, who is the Ironworkers third vice-president, the most senior Ironworker in Canada; and Doug Parton, the business manager for Local 97. I hope that the House and everyone in these buildings will please make sure that Darryl and Doug feel very welcome in their time here.

R. Chouhan: It gives me great pleasure to introduce two of my best friends from the building trades, Bruce Ferguson and Merrick Walsh, members of LIUNA, or Laborers International Union of North America. Please give them a very warm welcome.

I also welcome all my HEU friends.

Hon. R. Coleman: Today we have people from the Canadian Home Builders Association, who are the voice of residential construction in British Columbia, representing more than 1,700 members, including builders and renovators, among other companies that employ people in all regions of B.C. Gordon Bliss, the president; Neil Moody, the chief executive officer; and Ron Rapp, the committee chair, are here today. Would the House please make them welcome.

C. James: There is a guest in the gallery today who is no stranger to this place. I think she’s spent a lot of time, as her second or third home, visiting the Legislature. She is an incredible advocate for people with diverse abilities. She is also an employee at Thrifty Foods. As well, in her spare time, she is a competitive swimmer with the Special Olympics. She has started a new business as a dog walker, so if anyone is looking for their dogs to be walked, I can highly recommend this individual. She is also a very longtime volunteer at the Beacon Hill Park petting zoo. Would the House please make Sheenagh Morrison very welcome.

Hon. S. Anton: I’d like to welcome Cathy Noel of Langford–Juan de Fuca. Cathy is a business owner and entrepreneur. She’s involved in sport, she’s involved in events, and she’s involved in her community. She’s worked through the Commonwealth Games, government and now runs her own event management company.

Cathy is a runner. She has completed the Boston Marathon and is now running in another very interesting competition happening on the ninth of May. Would the House please make Cathy Noel very welcome.

N. Simons: It’s a pleasure to introduce a group of approximately 30 residents and friends of residents of the Sunshine Coast, including nurses and health care workers and people who stand up for the rights of seniors.

It’s nice that you took two ferries to get here today. You’re always welcome here, and I hope the House expresses that.

S. Gibson: It’s my pleasure to introduce four students from Summit Pacific College, a beautiful college in a bucolic area of my riding. The four students’ names are Markus DenBraber and his sister Brianna DenBraber, also Anna Holdsworth and Nicolas Debruyne. With them is Jason Goertzen, who we all know is a key member of Leading Influence Ministries. Will the House please welcome these guests.

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D. Routley: Could the House help me welcome two veterans from my constituency.

The first is Ronald S. Osborne. He was born in London, U.K., and came to Canada in 1956. He later became the zone field manager for a large computer company from Detroit. Mr. Osborne is a World War II veteran who suffered three spinal fractures from an action in the Greek Islands in 1945. He considers himself — and I consider him as well — a walking miracle, thanks in part to a Canadian doctor in Duncan and doctors of Veterans Affairs Canada.

Mr. Osborne’s mother, Emily Jay, was secretary of the local Labour Party in London. She would take young Ron to political meetings when he was 11 or 12 years old, and he remembers marches from the Thames Embankment to the Houses of Parliament. In Hyde Park in 1939, he was introduced to some of the great socialist writers of the day. Ron says B.C. is a wonderful place to live, one of the very best places in the world, and he knows about the world. Help me welcome Ron S. Osborne.

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Madame Speaker, with your indulgence, I’d also like to introduce John Pimlott. John served in the Grenadier Guards in England, Malta, the Suez Canal and Cyprus. He came to Canada in January 1968, at which time he joined the Steelworkers and the NDP. He was proud to be a member of the party that elected Ed Schreyer to government in 1969 in Manitoba. He worked for Manitoba Hydro and raised four beautiful children. He came to the Island in 1996.

He is currently active with the Cowichan Valley Arts and Cultural Society and the Royal Canadian Legion and is a proud 48-year member of the NDP. Now, John is an actor. John is a handsome, dashing gentleman who has no trouble attracting ladies in Chemainus, and he’s well known for having played a starring role in a production of The Full Monty . Please help me welcome my friend and my sign crew leader, John Pimlott.

Hon. T. Lake: The member for Powell River–Sunshine Coast introduced some nurses that are visiting with us today. I got to meet some of them in the legislative dining room and to have a great conversation.

They’re also joined by the vice-president of the B.C. Nurses Union, Christine Sorensen. I would like to introduce Christine to the House. Christine is a Kamloopsian that has moved on from our fair city. She’s a great example of leadership and a great working relationship. Would the House please make Christine very welcome today.

G. Holman: I’m very pleased to introduce today a constituent of mine, Marko Kardum, a local farmer in Central Saanich who gained some notoriety recently by coming to the aid of neighbours to clear their roads during a heavy snowfall with his newly acquired Zamboni machine. I know that most of us in this House probably own a Zamboni, but not many of us have volunteered to help out our road crews. Mr. Kardum represents the spirit of community volunteerism in the most Canadian of ways possible. Could we all give him a warm welcome to this House.

Hon. C. Oakes: We all know the importance that small businesses play across the province in all of our communities. I’m delighted to have members of the Small Business Roundtable here today.

We have Cybele Negris, CEO and co-founder of Webnames, with her fantastic daughter Chantele, who is ten years old and loves math and science. We’re delighted to have her here today. Ingrid Hope, from Trail and Nelson, is owner and president of Hall Printing. Mark Startup, from Vancouver, is the vice-president of the Retail Council of Canada. Val Litwin, from Vancouver, is president and CEO of the B.C. Chamber of Commerce. M.J. Whitemarsh, from Burnaby, is CEO of Whitemarsh Enterprises. Angie Barnard, from Nanaimo, is the founder of TripTide Canada. Ian Tostenson, from Vancouver, is president and CEO of the Restaurant and Food Services of British Columbia.

[1345]

As well, joining us today are our hard-working staff from the small business and regulatory reform branch. We have Christine Little, Francois Bertrand, Roseanne Sovka, Andrew Shaw, Karina Kersten, Dana Hubackova and Rachel Perkins.

Would the House please help make them welcome.

J. Rice: I have a constituent and a friend in the House today. Dallas Allison is the manager of the Prince Rupert Search and Rescue and also involved with our marine search and rescue, and he is a Canadian Ranger. He’s the father of a son, Austin. Dallas is in Victoria refining his SAR skills and studying to be a B.C. paramedic. Would the House please make him feel welcome.

Hon. M. de Jong: Like all members, I have the advantage of being served by some very capable and talented staff. One such individual, Zoe Keirstead, is today proudly squiring around the precincts her parents, Jan Keirstead and Todd Tait. They have travelled here from snowbound New Brunswick, only to arrive in what, momentarily, was snowbound Victoria. But I know that they are proud — and they should be — of the work that Zoe does. I also know that all members will want to make our visitors from the Maritimes feel very welcome here.

N. Simons: I thank the Minister of Health for introducing Christine Sorensen. In addition to Christine, we have other members of the labour movement. We have Victor Elkins of the HEU here. I’d like the House to please make him welcome.

Also, it’s my pleasure in particular to introduce Ray Haynes and his wife, Vivian. Ray is the former president of the B.C. Federation of Labour. A few years ago Rod Mickleburgh wrote about him: “Happy at Last.” It was about the first time he was ever arrested.

“Despite his active involvement in the trenches of numerous wildcat strikes and seven years at the helm of the Federation of Labour, he’d never been arrested. And that gnawed at him, until now. Militant after all these years, he stood on the railway track passing through White Rock and briefly stopped a coal train headed to Roberts Bank. Along with 12 other protesters, he was arrested.

“‘It’s off my bucket list,’ a smiling Mr. Haynes said of his arrest. The experience didn’t come easily. He travelled the day before from his Sunshine Coast home to the anti–fossil fuel protest, arrived at the scene at 5 a.m. and waited throughout the day until a coal train finally showed up at 6 p.m.

“By then, the feisty trade unionist could barely move. His legs were essentially frozen stiff. ‘I was in bad shape,’ he recalled. ‘I couldn’t get into the paddy wagon. They had to lift me up.’ He was booked, photographed and fined $115. The cause was worth it, according to Mr. Haynes.”

It’s that kind of spirit that makes him such a leader in our community. I’d like to particularly thank him for his presence here today.

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J. Thornthwaite: March is Nutrition Month. The theme this month is “Take the fight out of food!” It’s also Dietitians Day on March 15, and we have a lot of dietitians here.

I’d like to introduce the executive director of the Dietitians of Canada, Sonya Kupka. She’s brought a bunch of UBC dietetic students with her: Timothy Lau, Jessica Tsai, Carla Obando, Shadi Balanji, May Hasegawa, Britney Lentz, Grace Tan, Betty Sung, Mary Cao, Carla Centola, Alexa Tucker, Hannah Zmudzinski and May Ho. Can the House please make them welcome.

B. Ralston: On behalf of the member for Surrey–Green Timbers and myself, I’d like to introduce Debra Yearly to the House. She’s a longtime Surrey resident and a member of the BCGEU. She takes a keen interest in politics and is very much looking forward to the next election. Will the House please make her welcome.

L. Reimer: It’s my great pleasure to introduce my constituent from Anmore today. Mr. Morgan Weverink is here. Morgan has been a great help to me in my position as MLA and now, moving forward towards May 9. Would the House please make him very welcome.

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J. Yap: I have two constituents in the gallery. Jimmy Yau and Venus Yau are here to join us and also be present for a statement I’ll be making during private members’ statements. With them are mutual friends Nicky Li, Po-Wah Ng and Siu-Wan Ng. Would the House please give a warm welcome to these guests.

G. Kyllo: We’re joined in the House today by a good friend of mine and, I know, of many members here, M.J. Whitemarsh. M.J. and her husband have a small consulting company on government relations. M.J. also sits on the Industry Training Authority and the Small Business Roundtable and is also a director for Island Health. M.J. is an amazing person with a great personality and just makes all of us, I think, feel better about ourselves when we’re in her presence. Would the House please welcome M.J. Whitemarsh.

D. McRae: I have a plethora…. No, I have a cornucopia of young B.C. Liberals visiting the Legislative Assembly today. They are here because of the organizational skills of Sebastien Zein and Madison Fleischer. They are joined by members and students, who are Chris Ramsden, Daniel Verrier, Shay Bowick, Jennifer Harvie, Zac Mndebele, Aliasha Pennie, Petra Grundman, Neil Parkinson-Dow, Andrew Liang, Felix Soheili, Morgan Weverink and Emmett Mark. Would the House please welcome this incredibly well-dressed and passionate throng of young politicians.

Introduction and

First Reading of Bills

BILL M229 — LOBBYIST REGISTRY

REFORM ACT, 2017

L. Krog presented a bill intituled Lobbyist Registry Reform Act, 2017.

L. Krog: I have two bills to introduce. Firstly, I move introduction of the Lobbyist Registry Reform Act for first reading.

Motion approved.

L. Krog: I am pleased to reintroduce this bill to amend the Lobbyists Registration Act to improve openness and transparency. This bill creates an outright ban on public organizations using public funds to lobby the government. It creates a duty for the government to directly engage with the needs of the public bodies — allowing public money to be spent on British Columbians, not on lobbying.

This bill also calls for a cooling-off period for former public officials and office holders and their ministerial staff before they can start lobbying, establishing that 24 months must pass before public office holders can start lobbying their former colleagues. Having this 24-month period limits the opportunity for the former public office holder to unfairly benefit from their position.

This bill reflects recommendations made by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner in her 2013 report by making the nature of the lobby more transparent and requiring that information be included in filed returns. This bill would also ensure that all interested parties are known to the public and that the Lobbyists Registration Act is reviewed every five years.

I move that this bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting after today.

Bill M229, Lobbyist Registry Reform Act, 2017, introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

BILL M230 — ANTI-SLAPP ACT, 2017

L. Krog presented a bill intituled Anti-SLAPP, 2017.

L. Krog: I move introduction of the Anti-SLAPP Act for first reading.

Motion approved.

L. Krog: I’m very pleased to reintroduce the Anti-SLAPP Act. SLAPP is an acronym which stands for

[ Page 13960 ]

strategic lawsuits against public participation. British Columbians have a strong tradition, represented by one of our guests here today, of democracy and expressing themselves regarding matters of public interest.

Sometimes this public expression is inconvenient and problematic for companies and governments. SLAPP suits are used to exert undue influence and to try to shut down that expression or intimidate the public. SLAPPs are often baseless lawsuits which target organizations and individuals purely to force them to waste resources and time to defend themselves from these attacks and thus constrain their continued active public participation. It’s quite literally the cliché “one law for the rich, and one law for the poor.”

This bill, the Anti-SLAPP Act, would protect British Columbians from these lawsuits of questionable merit. This act protects peaceful protesters exercising their right to associate and express their opinion. Promoting the freedom of the public to participate in matters of public interest should be one of the main goals of government, as it is the foundation of a working democracy.

I’m pleased to move that this be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting after today.

Bill M230, Anti-SLAPP Act, 2017, introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

[1355]

BILL M231 — LOCAL GOVERNMENT

AMENDMENT ACT, 2017

A. Weaver presented a bill intituled Local Government Amendment Act, 2017.

A. Weaver: I move that a bill intituled the Local Government Amendment Act, 2017, of which notice has been given in my name, be introduced and read a first time now.

Motion approved.

A. Weaver: I’m pleased to be reintroducing a bill intituled the Local Government Amendment Act. It’s absurd that in British Columbia today, a municipality exists that has no houses, no infrastructure and no people. The Jumbo Glacier Resort is designated as a mountain resort municipality, and despite not having any people, it has a salaried, province-supported mayor and two councillors.

This government created the loophole that has allowed this municipality to exist, despite there being no residents. It was created solely for the purpose of a specific pet project that this government wants to proceed. This bill would close this ridiculous loophole and ensure that municipalities in British Columbia actually have people living in them.

I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting after today.

Bill M231, Local Government Amendment Act, 2017, introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

BILL M232 — MOTOR VEHICLE

AMENDMENT ACT, 2017

A. Weaver presented a bill intituled Motor Vehicle Amendment Act, 2017.

A. Weaver: I move that a bill intituled the Motor Vehicle Amendment Act, 2017, of which notice has been given, be introduced and read a first time now.

Motion approved.

A. Weaver: This bill will amend the Motor Vehicle Act by prohibiting tampering with emissions control devices in motor vehicles.

This bill adds language to the Motor Vehicle Act to explicitly prohibit the removal of emissions control devices installed by manufacturers and prohibits the operation and sale of a motor vehicle that has had its emissions control device tampered with or removed.

It also increases the fine that can be levied on contraveners to provide a stronger disincentive against tampering. Tampering with emissions control devices in cars and trucks increases air pollution, undermining progress on reducing emissions and resulting in harmful environmental and human health effects.

As the Canadian Trucking Alliance has noted, provincial regulations and enforcement vary widely across Canada. This amendment would bring British Columbia legislation in line with Ontario’s Environmental Protection Act and the Clean Air Act in the United States.

I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Bill 232, Motor Vehicle Amendment Act, 2017, introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Statements

(Standing Order 25B)

FME DATA SOFTWARE

M. Hunt: The tech sector is one of the most exciting industries here in B.C., and when you look at innovators like Don Murray and Dale Lutz, it’s not difficult to see why.

[ Page 13961 ]

When Don and Dale started Safe Software in the basement of a Surrey residence back in 1993, they were working on a problem with roots right here in B.C. Forest companies and the government wanted to be able to share maps with one another, but the two groups were using different kinds of data, and the sharing process took too much time and effort. As a result, all kinds of useful information was being lost.

Sensing an opportunity, the pair started to develop their flagship product, FME. FME is a piece of software that lets clients take different types of data about the physical world from different sources and combine that information however they want. If that sounds complicated, well, that’s because it is. There are hundreds of applications, file formats and data structures out there, but FME handles them all.

Dale and Don are still based out of Surrey, but they don’t work out of the basement anymore. They have a state-of-the-art headquarters and employ 130 of B.C.’s best and brightest. They do business around the world. Their clients include the U.S. Department of Commerce, Royal Dutch Shell and municipalities across the globe, from the beautiful city of Surrey to the city of Malmö in Sweden.

That’s what entrepreneurship looks like here in the province of B.C., and with that in mind, I hope that the House joins me in recognizing the achievements of the team at Safe Software as they contribute to our growing tech sector.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND

SHELTER IN TRI-CITIES AREA

J. Wickens: Housing and affordability is a major challenge in the tri-city area, and a very important Tri-Cities Homelessness and Housing Task Group has been working to address these complex challenges for some time. According to the Rental Housing Index, Coquitlam is the second-worst performer in Canada, and 11 percent of our renters are at risk for homelessness.

[1400]

In December 2015, 3030 Gordon opened on land provided by the city of Coquitlam. The project is run by some absolutely wonderful people at RainCity Housing. It has 30 shelter units and single rooms, 30 transitional suites and an extreme weather response program. They provide support services for the shelter residents, including meals, counselling, life skills development and connections to the community health and wellness services.

Shelter rooms at 3030 Gordon have been full since opening day. Every day the shelter has to turn away people who are living on the streets. Today they are currently experiencing a logjam because there is little to no affordable housing for clients who are available for independent living.

I have had the amazing opportunity to visit 3030 Gordon a number of times. The staff and residents are amazing. The conversations I have had with vulnerable people I will hold in my heart forever, and the humanity is something that can’t really be described with words.

Today I want to thank all of the staff at RainCity Housing for the incredible work that they do. I want to thank the fighters in our community, working tirelessly to find housing for people who need it, and I want to thank the Tri-Cities Homelessness and Housing Task Group for all of their efforts for the people in our community.

125 th ANNIVERSARY OF

DISTRICT OF MISSION

M. Dalton: I rise today to talk about an exciting, upcoming milestone in the historic town of Mission. Nestled south of the coastal mountains and north of the Fraser River, this beautiful community of 38,000 people is celebrating its 125th anniversary. With its official June 2 birthday fast approaching, Missionites are encouraged to come out and play a role in making the celebration a success.

To prepare for this momentous occasion, the district has formed a steering committee consisting of volunteers and various community leaders while working hard to make sure that Mission’s 125th birthday will be celebrated with exciting arts, culture and heritage activities as well as meaningful recognition of its great history.

Organizations such as the Mission Historical Society are making efforts to help members of the Mission community look back on the last 125 years. Some of Mission’s memorable moments include the construction of the CPR bridge in 1890, the opening of Mission’s first swimming hole in 1933 and Mission’s renowned Soapbox Derby, which first started in 1946. Madame Speaker, did you know that in 1893, Mission had the first board of trade in B.C. or that Mission infamously had the first train robbery in B.C. by the notorious outlaw, Billy Miner?

Today, in its 125th year, Mission’s culture and economy are incredibly diverse, from tourism and fishing to festivals and farming. But to those who live in Mission, community is what matters the most. This June members from across Mission will get together to take time and fun, celebrating all the things, people and groups that have made Mission a great place to live for the past 125 years.

VOLUNTEERISM IN

CENTRAL SAANICH AND GULF ISLANDS

G. Holman: The spirit of volunteerism is alive and well throughout British Columbia. In Saanich North and the Islands, this community spirit reveals itself in interesting ways. One recent example comes from Central Saanich, where Mr. Marko Kardum, who I just introduced, helped out his neighbours, clearing heavy snowfall. I’m sure

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that the emission controls on the Zamboni meet current standards.

In the Gulf Islands, hundreds of groups support their communities in a number of ways, from environmental stewardship to supports for seniors to community economic development. Even local government services are overseen by volunteers, as they are in many unincorporated, so-called unorganized areas. Believe me; these rural areas are far from unorganized. In fact, the volunteer time, expertise and fundraising capacity of volunteer groups mean that the local taxpayer cost of service delivery can actually be reduced.

The Salt Spring Transportation Commission is a good example of this. This volunteer CRD commission oversees two services, public transit and pathways. Saltspring’s community bus has been expanded several times, and its ridership has more than doubled to well over 100,000 trips per year since I established it, as a CRD director, in 2008. It has the highest ridership of any community its size in B.C. and costs Saltspring taxpayers $2 per household per month.

The Salt Spring Island Transportation Commission also has a unique relationship with a volunteer organization called Island Pathways. Working together, they’ve constructed $1 million in pathways on Saltspring at a local taxpayer cost of $200,000. Now, that’s value for money and demonstrates that volunteerism in my constituency and other rural areas of B.C. not only contributes to community well-being but also to governance itself.

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JIMMY AND VENUS YAU

J. Yap: I rise today to give big thanks to my constituent Jimmy Yau and his wife, Venus, compassionate and dedicated individuals who founded the Steveston Chinese senior circle, part of the Steveston Community Centre seniors program.

Before immigrating to Canada in 1987, Jimmy was a champion in archery from Hong Kong. He represented the Hong Kong Archery Association at the Los Angeles Olympics and international games held in India and South Korea.

During the 1990s, Jimmy and Venus volunteered as interpreters to help new immigrants incorporate into the community.

In 1991, they led the creation of the Steveston Community Society’s Chinese senior circle. As of today, there are more than 100 active members who participate in a variety of activities every week. Some of these activities include playing chess, readings of newspapers, learning about the community, learning about our wonderful province, B.C., and, most importantly, sharing their life experiences.

In 2010, Jimmy’s hard work and dedication were recognized by the Steveston Community Centre Society, who awarded him the Spirit of Steveston Award, and 2016 marked the 25th anniversary of the Steveston Community Society’s Chinese senior circle.

We’re so fortunate to have citizens like Jimmy and Venus Yau in our community. I ask this House to join me in thanking them both for their 25 years of dedicated service to the community of Richmond-Steveston.

PROTECTION OF SOUTH DELTA

ECOSYSTEM AND MIGRATORY HABITAT

V. Huntington: Members have heard me say many times that South Delta is an international icon of immense significance. South Delta is not just green fields over which industrial developers, the province and the Port of Vancouver salivate. It is a critical and irreplaceable ecosystem that is the most important on the west coast of North America. I’ve tried repeatedly to focus attention on this fact, and I ask the question: at what point did we, as human beings, decide we don’t have to protect environments that are crucial to life?

Delta has among the most stunning and important biodiversity in this country. It boasts a natural abundance that depends on the rhythms of the Fraser River, on nutrient-rich mudflats, on the eelgrass beds of Roberts Bank, on the ebbs and flows of tidal currents and on our superb agricultural lands.

How is it possible we don’t know about Canada’s greatest wildlife migration? Why don’t we know that millions of migratory birds, sometimes entire species, are dependent on Delta’s ecological integrity for their very survival?

Don’t we care that the day is coming when the thronging multitudes of scoters, grebes, scaup, winged pintail, goldeneye, mergansers, bufflehead, coots, wigeon, mallards, sandpipers, dowitchers, dunlins will disappear, that the swans and snow geese and blue heron will be gone? Why do humans go down this sad road? Why do we turn our backs on the ecological heritage given to us by God? Why do we so often fail to share our environment with other creatures on this planet?

I will say one last time. Balancing our economy and our environment means saving South Delta. Delta is the balance. It is all that is left.

Oral Questions

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO

YOUTH DEATH CASES

J. Horgan: Two weeks ago we asked the Premier about the death of Alex Gervais. We asked the government why they had treated this young man with such callous indifference. We were told that although he was left by himself, alone in a hotel room, before he took his life, the government had learned from that experience. In fact, the Premier said the following: “Our duty is to respond

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in the face of those tragedies to make sure we do everything that we can to learn from them and to ensure that they don’t happen again.”

Now, last November a 19-year-old girl who I must refer to as S.H. died alone in a tent in the woods in Surrey, a full year after we were supposed to have learned lessons about the death of Alex Gervais.

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My question is to the Premier. Why is it that every time a child dies in the care of this government, we get the same answer: “It’s a tragedy. We’ve learned from the lessons, and it won’t happen again”? Despite that, we continue to get tragedies happening again. To the Premier, when are we going to finally have some action on children in care of this government?

Hon. C. Clark: This year’s budget is adding further resources to the Ministry of Children and Families, over and above the $72.2 million that went in the previous budget. That money has gone to support more front-line social workers, more support for children and young people in emergency situations. It’s gone to support more children finding their way out of care and into permanent, forever homes — a record number, thanks to the work that this minister has done.

There is much, much more to do. As always, the ministry and the government are working to make sure that when legitimate complaints, concerns and tragedies — like the issue that the member has raised, the death of Alex Gervais — occur, we do everything that we can to learn from them, to change the practice and improve the practice of the ministry so that we can continue to always do a better job of protecting children who are relying on government for their care.

Madame Speaker: The Leader of the Official Opposition on a supplemental.

J. Horgan: Of course, just a brief history lesson for the Premier. Her government cut the budget for Children and Family Development by 25 percent when they came to power 16 years ago. You can’t erase 16 years of neglect just before an election by throwing some money at a problem. There has to be genuine sincerity in the responses from government, and they’ve been sadly lacking, death after death after death.

The similarities between Alex and S.H. are troubling. Both came from First Nations backgrounds, and both were given over by government to the care of the same private care contractor. The same company that was negligent with Alex was designed to have care for S.H. S.H. didn’t have any options. She had just aged out, at 19 years and several months.

When we talked about Paige in 2013, the Premier said she was going to take action and take steps to ensure that children aging out had programs and supports that they desperately needed. But S.H. had no programs. S.H. had no supports. There was nothing in place. Lessons were not learned.

Again to the Premier, it’s a little bit late for S.H., for Alex, for Paige and the dozens of others. What will the Premier do, genuinely, to make sure that kids in care have the protections they deserve and they need? No more: “We’re going to follow up; we’re going to learn.” You’ve failed to learn these lessons. Why should we believe you now?

Madame Speaker: The Leader of the Opposition is aware he directs comments through the Chair.

Hon. C. Clark: Just to be clear, the budget for the Ministry of Children and Families since 2004 has increased significantly, well over 46 percent as of the previous budget, and another $267 million to the Ministry of Children and Family Development, which includes $147 million for child protection and $120 million to begin to address the recommendations that were delivered to government, at our request, from Grand Chief Ed John — recommendations that are intended to fundamentally change the way that government and social workers and the Ministry of Children and Families interact with, look after and support First Nations children.

One of the most important recommendations, in my view, that Grand Chief John made was the recognition that we aren’t just dealing with a child.

We are dealing with a family and with a community, and fundamentally changing the way the Ministry of Children and Families interacts with First Nations communities across the province, with the intention of ensuring that families get the support that they need to be able to succeed in caring for the children that they have and that belong to them — that we support them in making sure they are more durable, to support them in ensuring that their children don’t come into care, recognizing that in First Nations communities, this is going to take a different kind of effort.

It’s also going to take more resources to ensure that we do it right, to make sure that First Nations children are not taken into care at greater rates than non–First Nations children.

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Madame Speaker: The Leader of the Official Opposition on a final supplemental.

J. Horgan: Sixteen years of neglect cannot be made up in a quick question period. I understand that, and I appreciate that. But in this instance, the Premier’s failing to acknowledge and recognize yet another child in the care of this government — in fact, in the care of the same private care provider that neglected and let down Alex Gervais, let down S.H…. This is a repeated pattern of behaviour, and we’re told time and time again: “We’ve

[ Page 13964 ]

learned the lesson of the tragedy, and we will do better.” Too late for S.H., too late for Alex Gervais, and it was too late for Paige. She died alone in an SRO, Alex in a hotel and S.H., now, in a tent in Surrey.

Again, after 16 years of wanton neglect of children in care, why should the people of British Columbia believe a word this government says about the most vulnerable citizens in our care?

Hon. C. Clark: Well, in this most recent budget, there has been, as I said, a very significant increase in the budget allotted to the Ministry of Children and Families to ensure that children who are in government care get the care that they need — ensuring that we are following up appropriately on Grand Chief Ed John’s recommendations, in particular to support First Nations children, who come into care much more frequently than non–First Nations children. We need to work to close that gap, and thank you to Grand Chief John for making sure that we have the guidance we need to be able to follow up on that.

This work continues. It’s work that is vitally important for the province. As I’ve said, it’s important that we learn that when a tragedy happens, when mistakes are made, when criticisms are levelled, we need to make sure that we continue to evolve the practice of the ministry to make sure that we are meeting children’s needs in this province. This minister — and I know this ministry and all of our government — is making sure that we continue to do that.

M. Mark: When the government takes children into their care, I’ll remind the members opposite, those in government, that they have a responsibility to be a prudent parent. This government placed S.H. with Community Vision, or ACV, the same for-profit contracted care provider that was supposed to care for Alex. They paid ACV a lot of money. While she was in the care of ACV, she was a victim of a vicious sexual assault. While she was in the care of ACV, her caregivers provided her with drugs.

This government knew that. Like Alex, this young lady had been traumatized and abused by this contractor. Why did they abandon her?

Hon. S. Cadieux: The member raises another terribly tragic situation — a young girl, who was no longer in the care of the system, who died. It’s tragic. It is absolutely tragic. We know that there’s always more government can do to support young people in our care.

As the Premier has mentioned, there are significant changes underway in the ministry over the last number of years and continuing into the next number of years with our plan that we’ve mapped out, with guidance from Grand Chief Ed John and the representative and others, as to how we can better serve the youth in our care before they come into our care, while they are in our care and if, unfortunately, they age out of our care because we haven’t been successful before that in finding them permanency.

We now have, thanks to this government and our changes to our supports for AYA, for youth aging out, the most comprehensive set of supports to the age of 26, unmatched by any other jurisdiction in Canada.

Madame Speaker: Vancouver–Mount Pleasant on a supplemental.

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M. Mark: I’ll remind the members opposite that we are talking about a young person who aged out of foster care and was sleeping in a tent city. She died in a tent city. No one’s daughter should have to experience that. No one’s kid should ever age out of their home to be living in a tent city. I can’t imagine what her last days were like. And this isn’t about politics. This is about being a prudent parent and the conditions that she experienced.

Our kids in government care are not thriving. After Alex died, we urged the Premier and the minister to provide support for all children aging out of government care. They refused. A year later, this young lady died alone in a tent in Surrey. The Representative for Children and Youth said that she was part of far too large a group of “young British Columbians who are being abandoned” — by this government — “at the age of 19.”

When Alex died, this government and this Premier said they would do better, but they didn’t. Why should anyone believe anything she or they have to say?

Hon. S. Cadieux: First, let me say that’s exactly what we are doing: more, more than anywhere else in the country, because we believe there is more to do. I take very seriously the advice I am given by the Youth Advisory Council, who are all youth who are either in care or who have aged out of care of the system. What can we do to make their experience different and better and their outcomes better?

It is with their guidance that we made the improvements that we did to the agreements with young adults program. We increased the age up to which youth are eligible, to 26. We increased the length of time that youth can receive supports by 100 percent, to four years. We expanded the types of supports available to include life skills programming, on top of the substance use programming or post-secondary skills training that was already included.

We are ensuring that every one of our front-line social workers, the 2,500 front-line people that work with these youth…. We are making sure that they do their utmost, in their professional capacity, to serve these youth, to make sure these youth know about the supports that are available to them and access those.

[ Page 13965 ]

OVERSIGHT AND AUDIT OF CONTRACTED

CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES

D. Donaldson: The Premier said she wants to learn from the deaths of children in care, but apparently, she doesn’t want to learn too much. After Alex Gervais died, the ministry hired an accounting firm to conduct a forensic financial audit into the contracted care provider. The minister put a stop to it.

Can the Premier explain why her government stopped an audit that would have explained why ACV was given so much money to provide such appalling care to Alex, S.H. and hundreds of other children?

Hon. S. Cadieux: What I can say is what I’ve said before in this House, but members opposite refuse to listen. Every time something tragic happens, there are extensive processes that are put in place to take a look at what happened and figure out what went wrong, what we need to change and what we need to do better.

We know we need to do a better job of quality assurance and contract monitoring, and we’re doing that. We’ve hired a number of people into the quality assurance function already, and 13 more are on the way, because we know how important this is.

But let me just say this. When we put our trust in caregivers to care for the youth that are with us in this ministry and to provide a certain level of service, we expect that certain level of service to be provided.

Madame Speaker: The member for Stikine on a supplemental.

D. Donaldson: This government likes to fancy themselves prudent financial managers. But when they had the opportunity to find out how a contracted care provider was given millions of dollars for substandard care — care that included reports of staff supplying teenagers with illegal drugs — they said they weren’t interested. The minister stopped the audit, and they covered it up.

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How can the Premier honestly claim to have learned from these deaths when they told the auditor to stop investigating?

Hon. S. Cadieux: Again, when we have youth in our care, it is not by their choice, and it is not by our choice, because government will never replace a loving family. But when we are responsible for children and youth, we take great care in ensuring that that care is provided to the level we expect to meet the individual, specific needs of each and every youth.

When we learn that that level of support is not being provided, we all feel let down — the workers on the front lines who care for these children and find proper accommodations for them and all of us and the public. Most importantly, the youth in these circumstances is let down. It’s not okay.

When we deploy the support, as we did in this case, we expect it to be delivered. Not knowing that that wasn’t the case was not okay. That’s why we are strengthening the oversight functions in the ministry to include better oversight of contracts, and we’re bringing all of the screening of contracted caregivers in-house.

C. James: The minister had a different line on audits last time we asked. The minister said: “It’s because we do audits and have oversight that we know standards aren’t being met.”

According to the independent Representative for Children and Youth: “In this case, agency oversight appears to have effectively meant no oversight…tantamount to gross neglect.”

The fact is, the minister cancelled the audit of this very agency. My question is to the minister. What was the minister afraid the audit into ACV would reveal?

Hon. S. Cadieux: As I’ve said before and I’ll say again in this House, when we found out about Alex’s tragic situation, a lot of processes were put in place to find out what happened, and we put in place a number of things to ensure it wouldn’t happen again.

We are doing more. We are standardizing providing greater oversight for contractors. Contractors themselves will no longer be in charge of vetting the caregivers that they employ. We will bring that in-house to ensure that the contractors and the caregivers are qualified. We’ve banned the use of hotels for non-emergency placements, and we’ve strengthened the oversight for any use of a hotel in an emergency placement, because that is essential.

We’ve hired front-line staff in the ministry — 200 so far, 100 more on the way and more again announced in this year’s budget. We know there’s more to do, and we’ll continue to do it.

Madame Speaker: Victoria–Beacon Hill on a supplemental.

C. James: Perhaps the minister wasn’t interested because the audit might actually hold this government to account for the terrible care of children who are vulnerable.

What British Columbians hear is that vulnerable children in government care keep dying. What British Columbians hear from this minister and from this Premier is: “Don’t worry. Things will get better.” It’s 16 years. This government has had 16 years. When will the minister take responsibility for protecting vulnerable children, and why was this audit cancelled?

Hon. S. Cadieux: There have been tremendous accomplishments in this ministry. While there are tragedies, and while we learn from those, it is the opposition

[ Page 13966 ]

that is intent on ignoring the vast majority of circumstances in the ministry — the vast majority of the 7,200 kids in care who are well supported, who are succeeding and who are resilient.

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In fact, it was surprising to me to hear just recently, when there was a select standing committee meeting, that the critic for the ministry wasn’t aware that in our performance management report, where we publicly report on all of the various things that we track in the ministry to determine whether or not we are having success, whether or not we are moving in the right direction…. I was surprised to hear that the member didn’t know that all of those performance indicators are moving in the right direction.

I’ll quote the member for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant: “All of the performance areas that needed improvement are improved, so why aren’t you reporting out publicly?” I’m paraphrasing there because of the grammar. The reality is she went on to say: “The people aren’t hearing how great things are because there’s no transparency.”

Well, there is transparency. That report is available on our website. We report out twice a year, and we report out regularly on things that are changing in the ministry — improvements that are being made, success stories. In fact, since the member from Mount Pleasant was made the opposition spokesperson, there have actually been 31 such news releases.

M. Farnworth: My question to the minister is this. Why was the audit cancelled?

Hon. S. Cadieux: I’m sure the member is interested. I’m sure the member wasn’t paying attention before. The organization was shut down. An audit was no longer required.

EMERGENCY SERVICES AT HOSPITALS

J. Wickens: Yesterday the Minister of Health said that a situation at Abbotsford Regional Hospital, a situation that a local doctor described as dangerous overcrowding, was simply the fault of the weather. According to the minister, patients should just accept that “winter is a busy season.”

Let’s talk about a different hospital. On January 22, Jean Donaldson was admitted to Eagle Ridge Hospital. She had suffered a brain bleed the night before and was unable to move her right arm. Jean is a senior with strong ties to her community and strong ties to Eagle Ridge Hospital. She expected to receive the care she deserved. Instead, Jean spent 36 hours on a gurney in the lobby beside the gift shop.

To the minister, my question is: does he think that is good enough, or is he going to blame the weather again?

Hon. T. Lake: I characterized one of the members opposite’s comments as ridiculous the other day. I didn’t think I would hear a more ridiculous comment than I heard the other day, but we just heard it today.

I did not blame the weather. I said, in fact, that it is a busy time of year, as the member well knows. That’s not just about the weather. It’s about viruses. It’s about the fact that every winter we experience influenza epidemics. We experience slips and falls. It puts a lot of pressure on our hospitals, particularly in the emergency departments. I experienced it myself on the weekend.

But what I witnessed, as I’ve witnessed in every hospital around this province, is that the highly trained professional men and women who work in our hospitals don’t make excuses about the weather. They treat people, and they treat them with professionalism and compassion.

The members opposite…. That member’s riding is benefiting from a $1.2 billion hospital, and that member’s riding is benefiting from a $1.2 billion hospital. The member for North Coast — her riding is benefiting from a brand-new $50 million state-of-the-art hospital.

In community after community in the province of British Columbia, new health care facilities are being built because they weren’t built when the members opposite had the opportunity.

[1435]

S. Robinson: Well, given that flu season comes around every single year, I would imagine that we would be better prepared for the busy season.

I want to get back to Jean Donaldson, because this is really about people. To add insult to injury, Jean Donaldson noticed something very interesting while she was on that gurney in the lobby hallway, as she lay there looking at the walls, because there’s nothing else to do when you’re in the hospital lobby. She noticed that the staff had placed her directly below a plaque on the wall, a plaque that actually had her name on it.

You see, Jean Donaldson loves her community and loves her community hospital, and she had a plaque on the wall with her name on it commemorating her donations to Eagle Ridge Hospital. Here she was, staring at that plaque in the hallway of the lobby. She was embarrassed and humiliated about having to be, for 36 hours, on a gurney in the hallway.

I want to know. Why does this government believe that it is okay for vulnerable seniors to languish in the lobby outside the hospital gift shop while waiting for a hospital bed?

Hon. T. Lake: It is, in fact, the case that wintertime is busy. We know that. The members opposite would seem to think that had they had the opportunity, they would build capacity to 150 percent to accommodate the busiest days of the year and leave hospitals half-empty the rest of the year — good stewardship of taxpayers’ money.

[ Page 13967 ]

In fact, when they had the opportunity, they didn’t build one single hospital. They talked about building a hospital in Abbotsford. It never got built until this government took power.

New hospitals in Haida Gwaii. New hospitals in Penticton. New hospitals in Kamloops. A new concept plan for a hospital, Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace. From community to community to community, not to mention the new St. Paul’s and the redevelopment of Royal Columbian Hospital — the list is extensive — we’ll continue to invest in top-quality health care facilities in the province of British Columbia.

RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR SENIORS

ON SUNSHINE COAST

N. Simons: This government has decided to close two long-term care facilities on the Sunshine Coast, only to replace them with one for-profit facility with a small increase in spaces. This is a bad decision for seniors affected, it’s bad for the hundreds of employees who will be laid off or rehired at lower wages, and it’s bad for our communities. The Sunshine Coast has been saying loudly and clearly that seniors, elders and their caregivers deserve better. They don’t want to see profits going to private companies because that’s money that is not spent on care.

Will the minister please explain to the family members and caregivers why seniors are paying the price for this government’s failure?

Hon. C. Clark: First, let me acknowledge the caregivers in Powell River–Sunshine Coast and around the province who do so…. I mean, in long-term care in particular, the relationship that caregivers create with the patients is really admirable. In many cases, it’s almost unbelievable the amount of energy and love that people bring to that job. So on behalf of everybody in the House, I’d like to say thank you to them.

In this case, it’s a new facility that will be state-of-the-art, with an additional 20 new beds, over and above, that will be added, which will make it even easier to be able to look after people who are elderly or need that long-term care in that part of the province.

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That is in addition to the $101 million for the new centre for mental health and addiction at Riverview; the $417 million for a new patient care tower at Royal Inland Hospital, which the NDP said they wouldn’t build; the $325 million in Penticton, which again, the NDP said they wouldn’t build; $606 million in Comox Valley and Campbell River hospitals; and the money, over $1 billion, that will be going into the new state-of-the-art hospital at St. Paul’s, which again, the NDP said they would not build.

The way to make sure that we are looking after patients in British Columbia is through items in this budget, like $4.1 billion into the health care system. It’s investments in making sure that we are building the infrastructure.

After a decade in the 1990s, when not a single hospital was built, this government is making sure that we are looking after patients, investing in infrastructure, making sure British Columbians have the health care that they need. I know that the ironworkers who are here today will appreciate this, making sure we are putting British Columbians to work, when they build them.

[End of question period.]

Reports from Committees

L. Larson: I have the honour to present the report of the Select Standing Committee on Health titled Looking Forward: Improving Rural Health Care, Primary Care, and Addiction Recovery Programs .

I move that the report be taken as read and received.

Motion approved.

L. Larson: Madame Speaker, I ask leave of the House to move a motion to adopt the report.

Leave granted.

L. Larson: In moving adoption of this report, I’d like to make some brief comments. In 2014-15 and again in 2016, the Select Standing Committee on Health asked British Columbians to help us identify strategies for maintaining the sustainability and quality of B.C.’s health care system. The 59 recommendations included in the committee’s unanimous report represent the input received during these two public consultation periods and relate to improving health care services in rural, remote and isolated communities; wider use of interdisciplinary teams; and enhancing the effectiveness of addiction recovery programs.

On behalf of all committee members, I would like to thank the individuals and organizations who put forward so many innovative ideas and thoughtful suggestions. I would also like to recognize our health care providers for their dedication to our health care system. I would also like to thank the Deputy Chair, the member for New Westminster, for her tireless and always thoughtful input during our deliberations.

In closing, I would also like to thank all committee members, past and present, for their contributions and the many hours they dedicated to bringing this report to the House today.

With that, I move adoption of the report.

J. Darcy: I would like to begin by thanking the Chair of the committee and all of the committee members for the incredible amount of work that went into this committee report.

[ Page 13968 ]

We have been at this for over three years, issuing the portion of the report on end-of-life care earlier and now this

section of the report on strengthening interdisciplinary team-based care, on improving health to rural British Columbians and also, very importantly, on strengthening our addiction and recovery programs.

We have tackled some very, very tough issues together. I want to say that this committee has been, really, a shining example of collaboration, of honest discussion — sometimes very emotional discussion, because we were grappling with very, very difficult questions — in a spirit that I believe this Legislature would well be served by. We worked through those very difficult questions and, I think, have issued what is a very bold and compelling report.

I also want to join the Chair of the committee in thanking all of the health care workers and all of the health care providers who make our health care system today what it is. I want to also assure them that this report makes bold recommendations about improving the health care system so that indeed, they can do the kinds of jobs they want to do even better — serving British Columbians.

Motion approved.

Petitions

G. Heyman: It’s my honour today to present a petition with over 40,000 signatures, calling on the B.C. government to join every other province in Canada, but one, in having stand-alone species-at-risk protection legislation.

[1445]

B.C. is recognized as having the richest, greatest biodiversity in Canada, yet we have 1,649 species that are either endangered or threatened. A stand-alone piece of legislation, as this petition calls for, would allow us to take measures to protect species at risk while protecting and enhancing community values and reducing conflict in economic development.

Hon. P. Fassbender: I have two items.

One, I have a petition similar to ones presented last week from Catholic Women’s League of St. Matthew’s Parish in Surrey with respect to hospices and palliative care facilities.

Tabling Documents

Hon. P. Fassbender: Also, I have the honour to present the 2016 Annual Report for the Property Assessment Appeal Board.

Petitions

B. Routley: I have a petition. I met with some constituents from a Cowichan Valley Catholic women’s group. They presented me with a 204-name petition. They request that the honourable House enact laws that will keep hospice and palliative care facilities separated from those that offer assisted suicide, and they ask that we will implement regulations and policies and ensure respect for the freedom of conscience of all health care workers and administrators.

N. Simons: I have the honour to present a petition from approximately 10,000 residents of the Sunshine Coast who are opposed to the privatization of long-term care and who humbly ask that the public facilities remain open and that they are properly staffed to provide the care and dignity that our seniors deserve.

Orders of the Day

Hon. M. de Jong: Continued debate on the budget.

Budget Debate

(continued)

Hon. C. Oakes: While people leave the House today, I do want to take a moment just to thank our fantastic staff that all of us count on in our offices. To Caroline, Sheila and April in the Cariboo, thank you very much every day for your hard work and your dedication. And, of course, here in Victoria, a huge thank you to Derek, Yarko, Kirby, Dustin and all of the ministry staff for all of the work that you do every single day. I really do appreciate it.

[R. Chouhan in the chair.]

Today I continue my response to Budget 2017. It truly reflects the values that I grew up with — hard work, grit, perseverance and optimism — that I feel are so reflected in today’s budget that we are discussing. These values of fiscal responsibility matter today and for our children’s future.

The government’s fiscal plan, based on fiscal prudence, is a plan that has helped B.C.’s finances stay on solid footing against the same economic forces that have driven other economies down. But make no mistake that this has been a challenging task. It has taken hard work, it has taken grit, and it has taken perseverance.

We have worked for many years to be in the position we are today, with $3 billion over three years in enhanced programs, $3.1 billion over three years in competitiveness and affordability measures, record levels of infrastructure investment supporting more than 30,000 jobs, and all the while maintaining enviable debt affordability metrics and continuing to be on track to eliminating our operating debt.

As Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction, it truly is my distinct honour to represent and fight for small businesses every single day. Small businesses make up 98 percent of all businesses in British Columbia,

[ Page 13969 ]

and they are responsible for employing over one million people in our province. They are the hearts and the souls of our communities. They support our local hockey teams, our gymnastic teams and our local live arts. They are the volunteers and service groups, and they contribute so very much to the livability of communities. We know that British Columbia’s success depends on the hard work and success of small businesses in every corner of this province.

Budget 2017 shows the results of this prudent fiscal planning and ensures that small businesses benefit from the strength of our economy. These are investments in new and upgraded provincial taxpayer-supported infrastructure to support services and jobs.

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We’ve extended and enhanced tax credits for the tech sector, scientific research, economic development and venture capital to support innovation and commercialization. And we are supporting programs to help build B.C.’s export capacity by training small and medium-sized enterprises across British Columbia to better access export markets.

Keeping business taxes low is an essential part of maintaining a competitive tax environment to attract investment, to create jobs and to move B.C.’s economy forward. Effective April 1, 2017, government is reducing the small business tax rate from 2.5 percent to 2 percent. That means British Columbia will have the second-lowest small business tax rate in the country, and businesses will be able to keep more in their own pockets to invest in their communities.

Small businesses like Kekuli Café in the interior of British Columbia. “Don’t panic. We’ve got bannock,” the cafe claims. The owner, Sharon Bond, knew she would franchise her business from day one and now her success is evident and still growing.

We’ve listened to businesses who’ve told us through the Commission on Tax Competitiveness that the provincial sales tax on electricity was making it harder for them to grow. We responded with a two-step approach to reduce and, ultimately, eliminate the PST chargeable to electricity. Starting this October, PST on electricity will be reduced from 7 percent to 3.5 percent, and in April of 2019, we’ll move to a full exemption.

This was something that we heard universally, from big and small businesses. For Cariboo North, for example, this will make a huge difference, improving the competitiveness of energy-intensive businesses like mining and forestry. But for Carol at Super Suds Laundromat, this will mean a huge savings for her business that she can flow back into job creation and building her business.

Small and medium-sized businesses are expected to save about $50 million a year. Once implemented, companies will save 7 percent on their power bills. This is a significant and meaningful change for small businesses, because we know that every dime matters.

I’m pleased to be joined today in the House by board members of the Small Business Roundtable for our quarterly meeting. The round table was permanently established in 2005 to serve small business communities as its voice to government. It is made up of small business leaders from across the province who meet regularly to represent their regions and economic sectors in order to provide advice to government to further the success of small business sectors.

The four pillars of the round table are human resources and education, regulatory reform and red-tape reduction, economic growth and small business issues. The longevity of the round table can be attributed to the role the members play to develop recommendations to government. And the government is listening.

The round table identifies key issues and opportunities facing British Columbia’s small business sectors and develops recommendations for the sector and government to enhance growth and propel companies forward.

A specific focus in the last few years of the round table is on youth entrepreneurship — and what great timing as we have some young people that have just joined us in the House today. Welcome to the B.C. Legislature.

We are talking about financial literacy for the K-to-12 levels of education to help kids access Junior Achievement B.C. programs and others like it — instilling a spirit of ambition and business acumen in future generations.

In fact, this year additional support was provided to Junior Achievement B.C. and Community Futures to deliver entrepreneurial training to eight First Nations communities in the province. We’ve also supported Futurpreneur’s “Rock My Business Plan,” a multisection workshop that helps new, young entrepreneurs or existing business owners create and hone a business plan, that they can launch a business with a solid foundation. This year “Rock My Business Plan” sessions were held in Kelowna, Prince George and Nanaimo, with more to come.

One of the items that we consistently hear during the consultations across the province is the importance to access venture capital.

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The small business venture capital tax credit provides 30 percent tax credits to B.C. resident investors who invest directly into companies or in managed funds. Budget 2017 will see a venture capital tax credit increase of $3.5 million, bringing the total to $38.5 million per year, supporting up to $128.3 million annually in total investments.

This tax credit, unique in our country, allows individuals and corporations to invest capital directly into eligible small business and offers strategic expertise to accelerate company growth. These investments will support our efforts in becoming the most business-friendly jurisdiction in North America.

This government knows that having a creative tech strategy is important business in British Columbia.

[ Page 13970 ]

Hon. A. Virk: I seek leave to make an introduction.

Leave granted.

Introductions by Members

Hon. A. Virk: I have the third of classes from the Pacific Academy in the House today. We have Mrs. Yeung and many of those enlightened young grade 5s and their parents here. Also, in this crowd of parents, I have my dear friend, my adopted sister from university, Mindy Rise, also up there, who I very rarely see but is a mom as part of this class.

Would the House please make my guests feel welcome.

Debate Continued

Hon. C. Oakes: It’s also timely, because we were talking about technology. To the Minister of Technology: thank you for introducing the young people in the House today.

This budget’s $40 million investment, extending the availability of rural broadband services, is a great example of this government’s support and belief in the importance of small businesses in rural communities. And 96 percent of B.C.’s tech companies are small businesses. The tech sector’s enormous annual revenue of over $26 billion is all proof that this government needs to make sure the business opportunities in tech are available and possible in every corner of the province, and that in B.C., local and small businesses are leading the charge.

As I mentioned before, one of the pillars of round table is the importance of reducing red tape, and today, our annual Red Tape Reduction Day, is another example of how we are listening to British Columbians. I’d quickly like to thank all of the members in the ministry for their hard work.

We want to make government services easier to access and simpler to use. British Columbians are the experts when it comes to using government services. More than 5,900 people participated in the six-week initial public engagement in the fall of 2015. Continuing our efforts to listen to British Columbians, we launched the help-cut-red-tape button on the B.C. government home page so anyone could submit their idea at any time, any day of the year.

B.C. is a leader in reducing red tape. In 2017, we won the Golden Scissors Award from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business for creating Red Tape Reduction Day. We are one of two provinces to ever receive A grades for cutting red tape, which we’ve been given for the past six years.

Let’s put this into perspective. This is a reduction of 2,303 regulations since March 2016; a reduction of 26,106 regulations since 2014. B.C. Liberals have cut 173,439 regulations, reducing red tape 48 percent from when the NDP were in government.

I would like to thank the staff of the ministry for their efforts on the file. In fact, I’d like to thank ministry staff across all ministries, who have worked hard to reduce red tape.

One of the great programs that we support and help entrepreneurs with is BizPaL. BizPaL helps entrepreneurs hit the ground running by guiding them through the permitting and licence process of starting a business. BizPaL is a web-based service that makes it easier and faster for businesses to identify federal, provincial and local government permits and licences to start and grow businesses in their community. Throughout the province, 130 local communities have access to these very helpful services, with more getting on board soon.

Also, the province’s mobile business licence program allows mobile businesses — like construction, electrical and gas fitting companies, for example — to operate in more than one municipality by purchasing a singular licence rather than having the headache of obtaining non-resident licences in each municipality it serves. This has been an effective, cost-saving support for many small businesses. As of today, there are 14 agreements in 82 communities across British Columbia.

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I would be remiss if I didn’t mention a topic that is close to my heart and close to the hearts of many of my colleagues and to British Columbians.

As we celebrate 100 years of women’s right to vote, I find myself wanting to continue the celebration of the accomplishments of women in our province. While two-thirds of self-employed people in British Columbia are men, women continue to push forward in the small business sector. In 2015, 38 percent of small business owners in British Columbia were women. That is 1 percent higher than the national average, and the third-highest rate among the provinces, but we know that we can do better.

While the fields most populated with self-employed women in British Columbia are education, health care and social assistant fields, women like Claire Wilson, owner of Dogwood Brewing in Vancouver, are proving that women are not afraid to branch out into fields that are typically dominated by men.

Just last week three female business owners were named winners at the Small Business B.C. Awards, including Yvette Cuthbert, co-owner of Port Moody’s Rocky Point Ice Cream, that took home the award for best company.

I look forward to hearing about more progress and inspiring success stories from strong and ambitious female entrepreneurs and business owners in our province in the coming years. Hopefully, some of the young people joining us today in the House will consider starting a small business.

Our government’s priorities and careful financial management are making these investments and savings possible. We’ve chosen these priorities so that we can deliver

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the dividends of a strong and diversified provincial economy back to the hard-working British Columbians that I mentioned at the beginning.

Truly, balanced budget 2017 is a budget for a province poised to take advantage of all our unique opportunities — five successive balanced budgets; strong economic growth; on track to eliminate direct operating debt; services that support our citizens; and a plan to continue, enhance and diversify our growing economy to create good, family-supporting jobs. Because British Columbia’s economy is strong and because we’ve controlled our spending, we are now able to make investments that help us to achieve our goal of becoming the most small-business-friendly jurisdiction in North America.

M. Mark: Simgigat, Sigidimhaanak, K’uba Wilksihlkw. That means, in our traditional language, “Chiefs, guests, matriarchs.” It is indeed an honour to be speaking in this Legislative Assembly.

I’d like to thank all of my constituents for the opportunity to be their advocate in this Legislature, to speak on behalf of matters that are important to them and, of course, matters that were either mentioned in this balanced 2017 budget or those things that were left out.

First, I’d like to say thank you to my team, my wonderful staff, that get me to where I need to be each and every day: Stewart Alcott, Cate Jones, Christina Rzepa, Abby Leung, Samantha Ponting, Hilary McNaughton; the practicum students that have joined me, Jennifer Sather and Jennifer McDermid, both from the schools of social work; Chardaye Bueckert; and, of course, the sunshines in my life, Maya, Makayla and Cassidy, who provide balance in my life and restore my sense of faith each and every day.

I also want to thank, of course, my family and the matriarchs and elders that guide me each and every day to do this important work on behalf of Vancouver–Mount Pleasant constituents. Every day is a journey. Every day is an adventure, and today will be the first time that I get to speak to the budget.

Vancouver–Mount Pleasant is a diverse and resilient community, home of the Chinese lunar new year festival parade celebrated by thousands from across the Lower Mainland, the mural festival, the Eastside Culture Crawl, small businesses, craft breweries, a vibrant night life and a bustling port.

[1505]

Today we’re in these chambers to talk about the budget. Of course, the budget is really an opportunity for the government to set its priorities and to send a message to British Columbia on what matters most. We’re often reminded in these chambers that they’re on time and on budget. I’ll speak later on in my remarks about some of the mismanagement of our public purse.

The Liberals want us to believe…. I have sat in these chambers for a number of days now, listening to them talk about balance in B.C. The B.C. Liberals want us to believe that, in all corners of this province, people are thriving. But the reality is that the division of rich and poor is really driving the inequality across this province. In the throne speech, in the budget speeches, they want to shape this narrative, grounded in fear, that we are living in uncertain times and: “What are we going to do?”

I often find it quite remarkable, having spent 16 years in government, that there’s such a sense of uncertainty. That doesn’t really restore a lot of confidence in myself or the constituents of Vancouver–Mount Pleasant. It certainly doesn’t send a message of balance.

They fail to mention, when they talk about balance in the balanced budget for 2017, about neglecting the skyrocketing housing market and the real estate market, transit and the number of folks, especially in my constituency, who take the 99 B-line, the No. 20, who are jam-packed on the SkyTrain — how those services have been neglected over the last 16 years.

They want the constituents of Vancouver–Mount Pleasant and those across B.C. to forget these systemic failures — their lack of investment in child care, the lack of commitment to the environment and, of course, the lack of being a prudent parent to kids in care.

The B.C. Liberals boast about having a $2 billion surplus. However, they’re relatively silent about the social deficit that they’ve run for the last 16 years. They want to talk about principles. When I think about principles, I think about fairness and justice. I don’t wake up each morning thinking about: “Fend for yourself, and leave everyone behind.” I value: “Lift as you climb.”

When I think about a balanced budget, it’s about supporting people and lifting as we climb. The B.C. Liberals, after 16 years, want our students to forget that our leaders…. The teachers had to take them to court to restore balance in the school system. They want, after 16 years, the seniors to forget the lack of health care that they’re getting and the lack of care that they’re getting as they age on into their sunset years.

They want us to forget that the promises that were made to the small businesses about reducing the corporate taxes…. It’s now down to 2.5, but I believe in their campaign back in the 2013 election — filled with what I would call broken promises — that there was a commitment to make it 1.5. Numbers are just numbers. So I just want to underscore that when we think about a budget, it’s very important that we speak the truth, that we share with British Columbians the truth and expose what is really going on in the province.

I would have to say that I’m faced with a number of people that are homeless in my constituency. Every day, there isn’t a person asking for change that I don’t go by. The shelters are overflowing. People are living on the streets. Report after report comes out explaining that homelessness is on the rise in this beautiful, prosperous province with a balanced budget.

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The Liberals would like us to forget the last 16 years of this social deficit by showing random acts of generosity. It was interesting to think about the

article from the New York Times and the Wild West up here in British Columbia, where you’ve got the leader of the government who receives a salary from the public purse and an additional stipend that ran upwards of $300,000.

When we think about the division of have and have-nots, there’s a lot of work to do, as we think about how inequality is actually on the rise in this province.

The B.C. Liberals have done very little to make life easier for the constituents in Vancouver–Mount Pleasant and across B.C., but they’re still pleading for more time — more time, on budget, more time, on budget.

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I apologize if I sound like a broken record, but the B.C. Liberals are always asking for more time — more time. We’re going to make the system better. We’re going to do more. We’re going to work harder. But people are running out of time. People are tired of the broken promises. They are tired of hearing about debt-free B.C.

Let’s talk about debt-free B.C. While taxpayer-supported debt and Crown corporation debt continue to increase every year, the B.C. Liberals have changed the goalposts and are now trying to eliminate “the direct operating debt” in order to continue making some claim about debt-free B.C. So when we’re talking about debt-free B.C., I guess it depends on the definition that you’re referring to when it comes down to debt.

Let’s talk about mismanagement, which I had mentioned earlier, and cost overruns. The Vancouver Convention Centre, which is in Vancouver–Mount Pleasant, came in at over $341 million over budget. That could have really helped the Ministry for Children and Family over the last 16 years. The Port Mann Bridge was $1.8 million over budget. But it’s just numbers. Never mind the fact that people are paying more and more and more — not perhaps in taxes, but let’s call them hidden fees. But, again, who’s paying attention? Hidden fees, taxes, debt, operating debt, Crown corporation debt — who knows? Who is paying attention?

All we know is that after six years as Premier, the B.C. Liberals have added $21.5 billion to the debt, which is the biggest increase in B.C.’s history. Again, it’s about numbers and balancing a budget, but at the cost of what? I’m going to underscore the point that I made earlier. It’s about running a social deficit. Who paid the price for that balanced budget? I’ll get to that in a moment.

Other broken promises. B.C. claims to have the lowest taxes. Well, yes, if you’re looking at, perhaps, the income taxes, but let’s not forget about the MSP fees, the hydro and ICBC rates — all hidden taxes that everyone pays. But again, they’ll point the finger and say that it was back in the ’90s and what the New Democrats did.

It’s actually quite fascinating to be in this House sometimes. I feel like I’m in a comedy room of, you know, the last comic standing, laughing back at the ’90s instead of taking accountability for choices that have been made by this government today.

In five years, the B.C. Liberals increased MSP, hydro, ICBC rates every year by 25 percent to 36 percent each. That adds an extra $1,000 that is coming out of families’ pockets. Families aren’t getting an extra $1,000. They’re paying more. More money is going out of their family budget. Nothing is coming in. That isn’t balanced, to me, when I think about the constituents of Mount Pleasant, again, who are doing more with less. So when we do the math, B.C. doesn’t have the lowest taxes. We have one of the highest costs of living.

Let’s add to another broken promise. In 2013, the government announced a commitment to build the new St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver–Mount Pleasant. Yet three years later, there is no capital plan in the budget. This is another broken promise where this government has failed to deliver the health needs of people living in the Lower Mainland.

Finally, when I think of another broken promise, I think of LNG. The B.C. Liberals promised British Columbians 1,000 jobs, an LNG plant up and running by 2015 — it’s 2017, hon. Speaker — and five by 2020. They promised a $100 billion prosperity fund and a debt-free B.C. None of those promises have materialized, yet they want us to believe in them now. They want British Columbians to have faith. They want us to go to the polls and vote for the government that balanced the budget with what isn’t really a debt-free B.C.

Interjection.

M. Mark: Pardon me?

There is no revenue from LNG, so, as I said in my maiden speech a year ago, it is still nothing more than a pipedream.

Part 3. I had mentioned how the people of Vancouver–Mount Pleasant feel that this government is out of touch with reality. So I’m going to just illustrate what my real world looks like and that of people living in Vancouver–Mount Pleasant.

People are working two to three jobs in precarious employment just trying to make a living. You know that song by Dolly Parton, “Working nine to five”? It’s not nine to five for one job. They’re working nine to five on two jobs just to stay out of poverty.

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Persons with disabilities are staying home in isolation because they can’t afford to buy a bus pass.

I know we’ll hear a lot about how people had a choice, but I’m going to underscore that there’s a different definition in the dictionary about ultimatums and choices. I will add, as an advocate on behalf of my constituents, that people felt like they were given an ultimatum, when it comes to the bus pass clawback for persons with disabilities.

[ Page 13973 ]

People on income assistance are living on $18 a week, which is an impossible task. Trust me. I did the welfare challenge last year in November, living off of $18 a week. For my birthday, I didn’t have any cake. There was no cake to go around. There was nothing to celebrate. I was counting, figuring out when I was going to eat next and when I wasn’t going to eat, because I couldn’t afford to.

Let’s not forget that people are living off $375 for a shelter allowance. So really, we’re setting people up to fail. We are setting people up to do the impossible task. What we’re really doing is letting people down.

Children, parents and teachers are worried about seismic risks to their children and school closures in their neighbourhood. I spent most of this summer running around with parents and students advocating, lobbying the school board to keep the doors open and the lights on.

Again, let’s remind the members opposite about the government’s priorities. People in Vancouver–Mount Pleasant, myself included, are worried that this government is taking us down an archaic path by investing in more tanker traffic on this pristine coast, making way for Kinder Morgan and risking the well-being of Mother Earth and our grand-children’s interests instead of being a leader in renewable energy and reducing our carbon footprint.

I’m going to add further about this government being out of touch. People are worried about being renovicted, because they can’t find an affordable place to live. People are hoping to win the lottery. They are literally going to B.C. Lottery Corporation every day trying to win Maxmillions or set your life up to be a millionaire. They’re crossing their fingers to win the lottery. Parents are hoping that they’ll win the lottery so that their kids can get into daycare.

Small businesses are closing their doors because of the out-of-control real estate market and increased hydro and ICBC rates. People are taking on more personal debt, therefore relying on payday loans to get by, cheque to cheque.

We risk losing the tech sector to the U.S. or other countries because we don’t have affordable, accessible housing available to that professional group. Tenants can’t afford to pay for the increased fees to file disputes regarding the Residential Tenancy Act. Seniors are on wait-lists for hip and knee replacements. They’re in constant need of dental support, coming to my office saying: “Please, can you help so I can get dentures?” Good grief. Seniors have to come to my office asking for help to get dentures?

The B.C. Liberals want people to forget that they have more than doubled the MSP premiums since 2001. Their new promise to cut premiums is half of the real promise. What people really want is no MSP premiums.

There was no mention in the budget about women fleeing violence and the experiences that they face after receiving sexual assaults. They have nowhere to turn with respect to safe houses. Many of them are full, or they’re wait-listed to get victim support services or counselling. So again, people of Vancouver–Mount Pleasant felt like their priorities were left out. I’ll underscore that women fleeing violence really felt like they were ignored in this budget.

Children and youth are waiting 200 days for child and youth mental health services. I’ll get to the Ministry of Children and Family in a moment, but there are a number of kids that have gone without services in this province for the last 16 years under the B.C. Liberals.

There was no mention of the arts and culture sector in this budget. No real mention of seniors, and no real mention of the film and TV industry.

With respect to housing, let’s not forget how out of control it is, so I’ll underscore. In Vancouver–Mount Pleasant, the far-reaching effects of the housing affordability crisis are felt by almost every resident.

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Every day, I hear from people who want to see swift and meaningful change when it comes to making housing more affordable. Currently, if you don’t have $2 million in the bank, you can’t afford a home. In my office, it is no surprise that housing is the number one issue for my constituents. Seniors on fixed incomes, students that are bunking with five people just to keep rent at a minimum, young families, people on low-income salaries are, again, doing more with less as they try to secure housing.

People, again, as I mentioned, are feeling that they’re…. They fear renoviction. Many people are forced to deal with landlords that aren’t taking care of maintenance, not being responsible stewards of the building and leaving people in unsafe conditions. There are, I believe, 4,000 people on the wait-list to get into B.C. Housing. So when we talk about a balanced budget and everyone doing so great in British Columbia, why are 4,000 people waiting for housing? Let’s get real here.

I had mentioned earlier about this lottery. When it comes to that 4,000, people are crossing their fingers, pleading: “Please, please, can I get into affordable housing? I’ve got health concerns.” One of my constituents, because of her medical needs, couldn’t get up and down the stairs. She was begging to get into housing. People have to go to the media to get any action from this government.

As I had mentioned earlier, yes, when it comes time for the budget, there’s been an injection of money — $855 million to build 4,900 units, when we understand that there’s a need for approximately 10,000 units across British Columbia. We’re going to keep driving this homelessness across this province unless someone injects action pretty damn quick.

I would add that out of those 4,900 units that have been promised to be built, many of them won’t materialize until 2018. This is one of those bait-and-switch, make sure that British Columbians come to the light. They’re promised that they’re going to get balanced and prudent stewardship from the B.C. Liberals, and once they’re elected, we’ll have them on wait-lists.

[ Page 13974 ]

With respect to the opioid crisis and mental health issues, last year the B.C. coroner’s office reported that 914 people in B.C. passed away as a result of the opioid crisis. Today those numbers are climbing. Yet after declaring a public health emergency in April, the B.C. Liberals refuse to resource the services that are necessary in the Downtown Eastside and throughout this province in an effort to save lives. I say this because we know that this government had the data for three years. They knew that the fatalities were on the rise, yet they still waited and waited and waited and waited until they were forced to take action to save lives.

Now, I have to tell you that in my constituency office, this crisis has affected a large cross-section of my constituency. Constituents have come into our office to ask for support on their way to the morgue to pick up friends and family who have passed away. People have come in who can’t afford to pay for funeral services and have asked us to advocate for them. We have seen children who have lost parents in this crisis and who are now being disconnected from their families and landing up in foster care. Overall, our community office has heard from many constituents who are worried that not enough that is being done by this government.

When we talk about balance, a balanced budget, I think about balancing the quality of life for individuals in this province. Balance could have happened when we were addressing the opioid crisis by having a strategy in place that reduces the level of harm and has things like treatment on demand. I’m not sure how much was injected into this budget to provide that treatment, but I can assure you that people are probably on a wait-list.

With respect to small businesses, small businesses are the core of our economy. Over 388,000 small businesses are responsible for a third of British Columbia’s GDP and jobs for over a million people, which is just fantastic. Small businesses are an integral part of Vancouver–Mount Pleasant’s vibrant community. They generate new and local jobs. They provide a steady source of income to over a million individuals.

[1525]

They also contribute to the unique sense of identity that exists throughout constituencies. In Vancouver–Mount Pleasant, we’ve got the Drive; we’ve got Chinatown; we’ve got Railtown. But when I think of small businesses, I think of places like Wonderbucks, which was a longtime accessory store on the Drive that was forced to close its doors because it couldn’t afford the exorbitant real estate market and the high cost of rent, to keep the lights on, to keep the doors open. Small businesses are really feeling the squeeze.

So yes, we see in this budget that there was a lift, but let’s not forget the promise, back in 2013, that said that small businesses would have their corporate tax reduced to 1.5 percent. Now it’s 2 percent, so we’ll get there eventually. Again, what the Liberal government would like to do is remind British Columbians to be patient.

Well, on that note, let’s think about education. Fifteen years in the court. But the Supreme Court has spoken, and there was a victory for students in this province. My children, my daughters — my oldest is 13; my youngest is six. They don’t know what it means to have a staff complement that will make sure that they get the quality education they deserve.

Let’s recap. The B.C. Liberals spent a number of taxpayer dollars to take the teachers to court, to refuse the rights of children and their education in this province, and in the end, the Supreme Court of Canada has spoken.

Where are we now? We’ve got a commitment, $250 million a year, giving back to students. On the one hand, we should be grateful, I guess. But on the other hand, I have to point to the fact, and the fact is that for 16 years, kids…. I see up in the gallery that there are children in this gallery. Children have a right to an education. They have a right to a quality education. For 16 years, children in this province did not get that quality education.

The government will talk about….

Interjections.

M. Mark: Well, you know what? Special needs support…. We can go down the list, but I’m sure you don’t want me to waste your time.

Eleven schools were at the risk of closure in Vancouver–Mount Pleasant. People were running around worried about advocating, trying to keep the doors open. We can talk a lot about the government’s perception — or, pardon me, this illusion — that they’re committed to public education. But I have students that remind me each and every day that their needs are not being met.

When it comes time for the environment, there was barely a whisper, really, about reducing our carbon footprint. There was mention of Kinder Morgan. I had mentioned earlier that I think we have a duty to invest in our grandchildren’s well-being. We have to honour the rights of First Nations — the right to title, the Tsilhqot’in decision, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms — and, really, to be pointing the dial in a direction that is going to reduce our carbon footprint.

Poverty. I don’t have much to say other than we still don’t have a poverty reduction strategy in B.C. So while this budget has efforts to inject a little program here and there, it doesn’t really paint an overall picture that’s going to reduce the systemic poverty that’s happening in this province.

Child care. There was an injection of money, 2,000 spaces, which is great. But in the end, my constituents are on wait-lists, or the child centres are being closed. So it depends on where you sit, but in my constituency of Vancouver–Mount Pleasant, I will add that people are doing more with less.

Let’s talk about truth and reconciliation for a moment. I wasn’t here for the throne speech. I was marching with

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the women at the 26th annual Women’s Memorial March. There have been thousands of indigenous women and girls that have been murdered and have gone missing in this province. The B.C. Liberal government has not committed to UNDRIP, the United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous people. They have not committed to the Truth and Reconciliation’s call to action. There is so much work to be done in the area of reconciliation.

I will add, for the record, that I sit in these chambers time and time again being told about reconciliation, but the important piece, when we talk about reconciliation, is not to forget the truth. There is the Truth and Reconciliation that’s going to guide us forward, that’s going to steer the canoe in the direction that’s going to make everyone’s lives better in this province.

Lastly I have a lot to say about children and families, given that I’m the spokesperson for children and families.

[1530]

All I’ll say with respect to this budget is that Chester was a young boy who died by suicide because his mental health needs weren’t met. Nick was a young boy whose parents had to charge him criminally so that he could get treatment — which really wasn’t treatment; it was jail. But it was the only way to keep him safe.

Another report came out of the representative’s office illustrating that over 100 kids were being sexually assaulted, sexually victimized — in foster care, I will add. A number of those kids, the majority of them, were indigenous. And let’s not forget the story of Alex Gervais, another indigenous child who was failed by this system.

When we speak to the budget, is it great that there has been an injection? Is it great that there has been a lift of 10 percent? Sure, but let’s not forget — because I know this government wants the people of British Columbia to forget — that there was an undercutting, an underfunding since 2001, by 25 percent — a constant gouge at the system for children and family. It has really, essentially, led children to be on the streets, as we talked about in these chambers earlier today.

[R. Lee in the chair.]

I want to close by saying that we know that we’ve got a Premier…. I think a media source claimed her as the Diva of Deflection. I know that this government wants the beautiful people of British Columbia to forget everything. But I’m going to add all of those points that I raised earlier. We are running a social deficit in this province. The people in my community are doing the best they can. They are hustling, they are working hard. This government had every chance to pay it forward.

This government, if they were committed to balance, would be lifting as they climb, all along the way, not showing up 16 years later with these random acts of kindness, these random acts of generosity, showing that they’re so committed to the well-being and the welfare of British Columbians when that clearly isn’t the case. We see these huge lifts, which signals to me that you weren’t there from the start.

I know this government likes to do the bait-and-switch. I know this government likes to tell us that it’s all about triple-A ratings and how great everything is in this province. But I believe I made the case that British Columbians deserve better in this province. And as…. I think his name was John Lennon. Let’s let John Lennon remind us about the power of the people. The power to the people will be left to them on May 9.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak on behalf of Vancouver–Mount Pleasant. Haawaa .

Hon. Michelle Stilwell: It is certainly my pleasure, and I am so proud to be standing, sitting here today, to support a government that supports British Columbians, our communities and our businesses. I’m proud to be here to support Budget 2017 because it is our government’s fifth consecutive balanced budget.

I am pleased to be here today to share the truth about the budget — not the way the member opposite has described the budget, which couldn’t be further from the truth. I want to stick to the facts, as the MLA for Parksville-Qualicum and the Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation. We here on this side of the House stand behind the budget. This fifth consecutive balanced budget is an outstanding accomplishment all on its own, but there is so much more to recognize.

Deputy Speaker: Minister, the member for Powell River–Sunshine Coast would like to make an introduction.

Leave granted.

Introductions by Members

N. Simons: I’m sorry, to the minister, to interrupt her remarks.

We have some guests in the gallery who I’d like to introduce. They are residents of Powell River and Campbell River. It’s my pleasure to welcome them to the people’s House. We have Balraj, Simran, Jaswinder, Lavpreet, Makhan and Gurbux Sunnar, and Bobby Sunar, who’s a proud grade 5 student from Assumption School. Will the House please help me welcome them to this place.

Debate Continued

Hon. Michelle Stilwell: Thank you, Member opposite, for allowing me to continue, and welcome to your guests.

As I was saying, it’s our fifth consecutive balanced budget. It really is an outstanding accomplishment all on its own, but there is so much more to say about the balanced budget.

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We are leading the way in so many other areas. We have an economy that is racing along. It is stronger and outshines any other province, and it’s doing so consistently. We actually have become stronger during an extremely difficult global economic time. We’re making record numbers and levels of capital investments, and we have the strongest economy and the lowest unemployment rate in all of Canada. We provide some of the most comprehensive supports for individuals and families who need that extra hand, who need that little bit of extra stability and security for the future that they dream for themselves and their children.

This is what’s possible when you have a government that’s actually focused on fiscal responsibility. Every time we reduce the province’s debt, we reduce the interest payments that we pay on those debts, thereby freeing up more resources for things like tax relief and spending increases in critical areas, which we see over and over in this budget.

When you compare B.C. to the other provinces that don’t have a triple-A credit rating, you’ll certainly find some not so fiscally responsible governments that are mortgaging their future, that are putting the future at risk for their children and their grandchildren. It’s certainly how the NDP would be running things in this province if they had the chance. Just go ask our neighbours to the east in Alberta. Ask them what it’s like. Just look at how much in additional interest that they are now paying.

The NDP have no problem spending more than the government takes in, spending beyond their means and, as a result, in return, paying billions of dollars of taxpayer money in debt-servicing fees — billions of dollars that could go towards infrastructure and capital investments in schools and in health care.

Our government is spending 25 percent less than Alberta, on a per-person basis just to deliver the same services to the public, and we have better outcomes. This fifth consecutive balanced budget allows our government to continue to make those increased investments in the supports that are truly helping individuals and families in need across this province. It demonstrates it in spades.

Let’s look at health care for a moment. When we talk about those investments, affordable health care and maintaining good health is important to everyone in British Columbia. It’s important to me, it’s important to my constituents — and many of those are seniors — and it’s important to this government. That’s why 41 percent of Budget 2017 is specifically devoted to health care.

In last year’s budget, we saw changes made that resulted in almost two million people paying no MSP premiums as of January 2017. That’s two million people across this province that are paying zero dollars, nothing — nothing at all to receive the quality health care that they need and they deserve.

Now, with Budget 2017, we’re going even further with those investments. Beginning January 1, 2018, the first step that we are taking to eliminate the MSP premiums entirely is to reduce the premiums by 50 percent for households with an annual net income of up to $120,000, which means that the rates will actually match where they were in 1993. It means that approximately two million more people in British Columbia will have their MSP premiums cut in half — up to $900 in their pockets to help support them and their families.

It’s not what the members opposite would do. No, they’d like to hide it in the tax system. They’d still be paying MSP; people just wouldn’t know that they’re paying it because it wouldn’t be seen. They wouldn’t see it happening. It would be hidden in the tax system. We, however, on this side of the House, are working towards eliminating it completely for British Columbians.

Although the members opposite would like you to think that there’s really nothing in the budget for seniors, that, again, couldn’t be further from reality. Not only will 90 percent of seniors households have reduced or zero MSP premiums, but there are significant other investments being made for seniors in health-related projects: $25 million is going to improve surgical wait-lists this year; $20 million will fund four new MRI machines, one of which will be in my community, in Nanaimo.

There are two hospitals coming to Vancouver Island, one in Courtenay-Comox and one in Campbell River. That’s $606 million in investment for Vancouver Island — not to mention the $417 million investment in the Royal Inland patient tower in Kamloops or the new patient tower in Penticton Regional Hospital or St. Paul’s Hospital. Millions upon millions of dollars in investment for British Columbians all over this province.

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This is on top of the many benefits that seniors already will see included in the $20 billion for care, such as publicly subsidized residential care services, assisted-living services, home support services, allocated all into this fiscal plan — not to mention that there’s a federal agreement now that we have with the Minister of Health for the health care transfer dollars that will be coming and be designated specifically for home care supports for seniors. Low-income seniors also benefit from Fair PharmaCare, the B.C. bus pass program, the home-renovation tax credit, the property tax deferral program, the B.C. Ferries discount — so many opportunities for seniors in this budget.

The Ministry of Health is seeing a $4.2 billion increase in the next three years, significant dollars to increase and provide and enhance the services to help people. And $100 million of that will combat the growth of mental health and substance abuse challenges taking place throughout British Columbia to support our citizens, particularly youth, who need some extra help to overcome those situations.

We’re certainly responding to the clear challenge in this province with mental health and addictions. We have to combat it now, and we have to do it quickly.

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We’re doing just that: $45 million is going to the Ministry of Children and Families for more mental health counselling and treatment for children, $12 million is going to create up to 28 additional specialized youth addiction treatment beds, $5 million is being earmarked to support mental health services for post-secondary students, and another $11 million in the next three years is to support the B.C. Centre on Substance Use. Youth in every community will benefit from these targeted investments that will help ensure our younger generation have the tools they need to heal.

We’re also investing in our communities. We’re investing in industry, which is essential to make sure that British Columbians have access to training opportunities and good-paying jobs. We certainly recognize that British Columbians need safe and modernized infrastructure, so we’re building it. We know that British Columbians need an improved education system, so we’re transforming it.

A good education is important to every parent and every child. A good education is what prepares students for the rest of their lives, and we’re working on that. Budget 2017 includes $740 million over the next three years to help with the education budget. This is substantial investment. It includes $228 million to fund increased enrolment in B.C. schools. It’s also for the rural education enhancement fund. There are salary costs for K to 12. We’re eliminating the cost of bus transportation for regular students so that they can get to school, savings the parents will see this year.

We have created a path of success, of growth and opportunity, and the work is not done. We will continue.

When it come to post-secondary education, Vancouver Island University is right in the heart of my region. It’s one of the most highly sought-after educational facilities in the province. Students are looking for the skills in technology, in manufacturing and in other in-demand areas that are preparing them for the jobs that are opening in the market now and in the future.

Vancouver Island University offers an outstanding educational experience for its 16,000 students, and I am thrilled to see that Budget 2017 also includes a $2.6 billion post-secondary education infrastructure plan that will ensure today’s students are prepared for the million job openings that are expected by 2025.

I know that I spent time at Vancouver Island University in the last year announcing some of this great investment. We’ve seen a new science building coming to VIU, and new trade seats were recently announced for the marine, automotive and trades complex — investments that are making a difference right in my region for the students that are calling Parksville-Qualicum, Oceanside, home.

Let me turn my attention for a few moments now to affordable housing. I can certainly say that our government continues to make concrete actions to address the housing supply and improve housing affordability for middle-class and vulnerable families all over the province. This year alone we have added $159 million to help low-income families and seniors through our rental assistance program. That’s helping those individuals who are already in place to pay for their rents.

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This is very exciting for communities everywhere, but particularly my constituency. I know that we’ve had some local groups that will have the opportunity to access that portion of the funding to allow for more affordable units to be built in Parksville-Qualicum, benefitting the communities in the areas and the entire region that I represent. I’ve been working very hard and very closely with our homelessness task force to find just this kind of solution for our community.

On top of that, for an estimated 42,000 people that are first-time homebuyers — including young adults, couples and families that are just starting out — we now have the B.C. HOME partnership program, which will provide $700 million in mortgage down payment assistance loans over the next three years through this budget, giving those opportunities to those young families, those young individuals to get into the market of home ownership and to buy their first home. The threshold for the first-time homebuyers has been increased to $500,000, saving first-time homebuyers up to $8,000 in property transfer tax on the purchase of their first home.

These are programs that the NDP would eliminate. They would shut them down. They wouldn’t be available for people in our province, if they had the opportunity.

I’ll turn my attention now to my Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation, because our government is making investments that are essential to the vulnerable people and families, the individuals and the children of this province that need the extra support.

Our goal in our ministry is to ensure that those families and individuals have the help and support they need, that they have options and that they have opportunities to create the life that they want for themselves and their families. So this year, between the Ministry of Children and Families and myself, we are investing $796 million in support; $267 million of that is to strengthen children and youth programs and services and to provide supports and additional staff to keep families together — this despite that the child care caseload is continuing to decline. We are also investing $20 million in child care to build 2,000 more child care spaces.

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My ministry alone is receiving $510 million in new funding over the next three years. That will strengthen the social safety net that we already have in place to help those individuals and those families that are in need. It includes $199 million over three years to further increase the rates for people with disabilities. It’s the second increase in a row. Two years in a row we have been able to increase the amount of support for people with disabilities.

I am also seeing money to support the caseload pressures that we see, $175 million. As well, CLBC — Community Living British Columbia, a Crown corporation — will see $135 million to support their caseload needs so that they can better serve the families of British Columbia.

It’s my responsibility and the responsibility of the thousands of dedicated staff that work each and every day in my ministry to deliver those supports and the tools to allow British Columbians to fully participate in their communities and become more independent. I am grateful for the support of all my ministry staff to allow us to function each and every day to provide those supports to the British Columbians who rely on us.

One of those supports that I am truly and infinitely proud of is the single-parent employment initiative. It is a program of one of a kind. Nowhere in Canada will you find such an exhaustive, comprehensive support for single parents. The single-parent employment initiative helps single parents who are on income assistance or disability assistance overcome those employment barriers. We provide them with education, up to a year, for an in-demand job. We pay for their daycare, we pay for their tuition, and we pay for their transportation to school, all while they maintain their income assistance cheques so that they have a roof over their head and food on the table.

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The program is exceeding our expectations. When we first started the program and had the idea, we thought maybe 200 or 300 people would take

part in the program. But today we have 4,450 individuals who are making their way through the program at various stages of their assessments, of their education, of their training, on their way into employment.

We have now seen 861 single parents leave income assistance and find their way into secure jobs. That means that 861 single parents that were once struggling to get by and to get back into the workforce are now earning a stable income. They are joining the booming workforce that we have here in British Columbia, with more people working now in this province than ever before. They are a part of it, and they are having a brighter future for themselves and their children. Again, it’s a program that the NDP would scrap.

Let’s talk a little bit about some of the other innovative changes that we’ve made in my ministry over the last few years. In 2015, B.C. became the first province in Canada to fully exempt child support payments. In 2016, we were the second province to exempt EI, maternity and parental benefits.

Well, Budget 2017 now builds on those adjustments and policy changes to further support families who are receiving income or disability assistance by providing $8 million over the next three years to exempt even more additional child-related benefits — a move that will benefit approximately 1,000 more children and 600 families per year. This means that British Columbia will have the most comprehensive exemptions when it comes to child-related benefits and payments in all of Canada.

As I mentioned, Community Living is seeing an increase in their supports, and 3,000 more people across the province will be seeing increased services through Community Living B.C.

You can see from what I’ve been sharing with you that Budget 2017 demonstrates to B.C. families that our government is listening. We’re committing to taking those steps that will benefit them directly.

B.C. has weathered an economic storm that many jurisdictions have not been able to overcome. We haven’t just survived this storm; we’re thriving like never before. Part of that has to do with the B.C. jobs plan and our government’s actions to increase our economic prosperity. British Columbia is now leading Canada in economic growth, in job growth. Our unemployment rate is now the lowest in Canada, and our government’s efforts and actions are paying off.

They are changing people’s lives for the better. They’re changing our businesses for the better, and they are changing our communities for the better. Certainly, the changes that we’ve made and the investments and the fiscal prudence that we’ve had are helping people realize that their dreams are achievable and that there are no barriers to success and happiness but the limitations you set upon yourself.

We will continue to see more and more positive things happen in the coming year and new investments coming to further support families, seniors, single parents, children and those in need around this province. We do that and we are able to do that because we’re keeping our financial house in order. Our government is able to make those investments that are lifting British Columbians to a higher ground. We’re able to invest the surpluses that we’ve secured over the past few years and put them to work for British Columbians.

Hon. Speaker, I realize that I, perhaps, didn’t share too much about my community. I hope you will give me a few minutes to talk a little bit about my community and some of the important people that really have allowed me to be here today.

It certainly is my great privilege and my honour to represent the incredible people of Parksville-Qualicum. Together they make up five very distinct commun-

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ities: Parksville-Qualicum, the city of Nanaimo, the town of Qualicum Beach, the town of Lantzville and the rural region of Nanoose Bay. Of course, we have three First Nations, as well, with t