First Session, 41st Parliament

(2017) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Monday, June 26, 2017

Afternoon Sitting

Issue No. 4

ISSN 1499-2175

The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.

CONTENTS

Routine Business

Introductions by Members

Tributes

Gwen Barlee

J. Horgan

Introductions by Members

Tributes

Christine Archibald

K. Conroy

Introduction and

First Reading of Bills

Bill 2 — Legislative Assembly Management Committee Amendment Act, 2017

Hon. M. de Jong

Bill 3 — Election Amendment Act, 2017

Hon. A. Wilkinson

Statements

(Standing Order 25B)

North Shore Rescue and hiking tips

J. Thornthwaite

David Butterfield

C. James

Launch-a-preneur program in Shuswap

G. Kyllo

New West Hospice Society

J. Darcy

Hop-on Hop-off Attraction Tour in

Richmond

J. Yap

Windermere Community Schools Team

A. Dix

Oral Questions

Throne speech and confidence motion

J. Horgan

Hon. C. Clark

Conditions in education system

R. Fleming

Hon. M. Bernier

B.C. Liberal Party campaign statements and

priorities

A. Weaver

Hon. M. de Jong

Softwood lumber exports to U.S.

B. Ralston

Hon. J. Rustad

Child protection system funding and

services

M. Mark

Hon. S. Cadieux

Seniors care

S. Robinson

Hon. C. Clark

Orders of the Day

Throne Speech Debate

T. Redies

P. Milobar

A. Weaver

J. Thornthwaite

C. James

Hon. J. Johal

D. Clovechok

D. Plecas

Hon. S. Sullivan

Hon. L. Reid

Tabling Documents

Office of the Auditor General, service plan, 2017-18–2019-20

Office of the Auditor General, Budget Process Examination Phase 2: Forecasting for Operating Expense, Capital Spending and Debt , April 2017

Office of the Auditor General, An Audit of B.C. Housing’s Non-Profit Asset Transfer Program , March 2017

Office of the Auditor General, Police Records Information Management Environment: PRIME-BC — A Security Audit , March 2017

Office of the Merit Commissioner, annual report, 2016-2017

Office of the Ombudsperson, Misfire: The 2012 Ministry of Health Employment Terminations and Related Matters , April 2017

Office of the Representative for Children and Youth, Delegated Aboriginal Agencies: How Resourcing Affects Service Delivery

MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017

The House met at 1:32 p.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Introductions by Members

J. Darcy: It gives me great pleasure to welcome two good friends to the

Legislature today. Bronwyn Barter is the president of the Ambulance

Paramedics of British Columbia association, and Sophia Parkinson is a

Vancouver paramedic and the provincial liaison officer.

I want to thank them on behalf of everyone in the House for the great

work that they do every day serving British Columbians and, also, for the

wonderful work they’ve done on policy fronts, like really leading in the

creation of the community paramedic program in all of British Columbia. I

ask all members of this House to join me in welcoming them here

today.

C. James: I have five guests here in the gallery to pay tribute to an

extraordinary husband, father and friend, and I’ll have more to say about

that later. I’d like to introduce Norma Butterfield, Rhonda Markel, Carol

DeFina, Darlene Tait and Kris Obrigewitsch. Would the House please make them

all very welcome.

G. Heyman: It’s a pleasure for me today to introduce a constituent of mine, Lisa

Prentice, who’s watching question period for the very first time this

afternoon. Lisa is very involved in her community. She’s concerned about

what happens there and in the province. She’s a grassroots activist, as well

as being a craniosacral therapist. She’s joined today by a couple of her

friends from this side, who’ll be introduced in a few minutes by my

colleague. But would the House please join me in making Lisa very, very

welcome.

[1:35 p.m.]

R. Fleming: I’d like to make some introductions as well. We have a couple of

education leaders in the House with us today, joining us in the gallery. We

have Mr. Jacob Gair, who’s a school trustee with school district 69 and, no

small feat, the second-youngest school trustee in the entire province of

British Columbia. Welcome to the House. I think this is maybe his first time

in that capacity.

Mr. Jason Gammon, a teacher in Victoria with school district 61 and

the president of the Greater Victoria Teachers Association, is joining us.

And not a stranger to the House is another school trustee closer to home

here, in district 63 — Mr. Ravi Parmar is with us. Would the House make all

three of these gentlemen welcome.

L. Beare: I’m very pleased to see Justin Schmid in the House today. He’s the

legislative coordinator for CUPE B.C., and I’d like to ask the members to

join me in welcoming him to the House today.

Tributes

GWEN BARLEE

J. Horgan: It’s with great sadness that I rise today to mark the passing of

Gwen Barlee. Gwen was the daughter of Bill Barlee, a member of this

House, but she was much, much more than that. She was a tireless

champion for the environment and a good personal friend of

mine.

Gwen always sought consensus and cooperation. It may not always

have felt that way to ministers on the other side, but each and every

day Gwen got up to try and make life a little bit better for herself,

for her community and, most importantly, for the wild spaces and those

that live there — the animals of British Columbia.

Her biggest attempt to get species-at-risk legislation through

this Legislature may be something that we could look forward to as a

legacy for her good works, but I also want to talk a little bit about

how she fought through all of these challenges over the past number of

years. She also contracted Lyme disease back in 2006-2007 and became an

advocate for that disease as well. So it wasn’t just the environment. It

wasn’t just protected spaces and protected species. It was: how do we

address this health challenge here in British Columbia and, indeed,

right across North America?

Lastly, it would not be a tribute to Gwen Barlee if you didn’t

talk about her fierce competitiveness. If anyone ever had a deck of

cards in their hand and thought that they could play Texas hold ’em,

they’d never met Gwen Barlee.

She was, through her dad, a prospector of this and that across

this great province. Bill was famous for his ghost towns and gold

trails, and Gwen was with him as a child and continued on a passion for

this great province, its great history and, most importantly, a little

bit of blackjack and a little bit of cards now and again.

I will greatly miss Gwen. Her colleagues at the Western Canada

Wilderness Committee will miss her as well. I know she’ll be missed by

her mom Kathleen, her sisters Diane and Veronica and by anyone in this

House who ever had the opportunity to meet Gwen Barlee. It’s a very,

very sad day, but I believe we should all go on with her in our hearts

and her in our minds as we bring forward legislation to protect those

wonderful places that were so important to her.

Introductions by Members

Hon. S. Sullivan: I would like to introduce some guests. I have with me here in the

House Gordon Taylor, my brother-in-law, and Carol Taylor, my

sister. Also, a woman that was absolutely essential for me to be here and

was critical to my life, my mother, Ida Sullivan. And one other woman who

has been so critical to my life, making it possible for me to be here, is

Lynn.

M. Dean: I would like to introduce two first-timers here today, Sonja Ahlers

and Mickey Jordens. They’re both from my constituency of

Esquimalt-Metchosin. I’d really like the House to please make them both

welcome.

[1:40 p.m.]

Tributes

CHRISTINE ARCHIBALD

K. Conroy: I rise to recognize Christine Alison Archibald, who was born July

22, 1986, in Trail, B.C., and died in London, England, on June 3.

Chrissy was predeceased by her grandfather Gerry Archibald and is

survived by her fiancé, Tyler Ferguson; her parents, Barb and Greg; her

sisters, Kathryn and Caroline; their husbands, Sean and Ty; her nana

Donna; grandparents Robert and Lorraine; and her aunts, uncles and

cousins.

Chrissy participated in the Russian bilingual program and the late

French immersion program while in school. After two years at Selkirk

College, she moved to Vancouver and graduated with a diploma in

international business management. She worked for several years in

Vancouver before following her heart and enrolling in the social work

program at Mount Royal University in Calgary. Her practicum at Alpha

House led to work in their shelter, responding to issues of addictions

and homelessness.

Recently she listened to her heart again, moving to Europe to be

with the love of her life, Tyler. Living in the Netherlands allowed them

to make short trips all over Europe, where they loved to visit museums,

art galleries and restaurants. She was the happiest she’d ever

been.

Her family and friends will miss her big heart, good nature, girly

ways and quiet courage and determination. Chrissy loved running,

cycling, movies, books, makeup, lazy Sundays, the musical Cats

and Benny the dog. She valued all of her conversations with friends and

enjoyed quiet nights.

A celebration of life was held on Saturday, June 24, where once

again the family reiterated their wish to ensure that Chrissy’s death

was not about the actual act, the tragedy on London Bridge, but about

her. Very shortly after her death, the family released this

statement:

“We grieve the loss of our beautiful, loving daughter and sister.

She had room in her heart for everyone and believed strongly that every

person was to be valued and respected. She lived this belief, working in

a shelter for the homeless until she moved to Europe to be with her

fiancé. She would have had no understanding of the callous cruelty that

caused her death.

“Please honour her by making your community a better place.

Volunteer your time and labour or donate to a homeless shelter. Tell

them Chrissy sent you.

“The Archibald family.”

The family’s incredible grace during a time of unimaginable loss

created an outpouring of donations and support, not just in Castlegar or

B.C. or Canada but globally as well. The #chrissysentme hashtag has been

used thousands of times as people have made and continue to make their

contributions to homeless shelters, food banks and charities, all to

remember a beautiful young woman who lived an all-too-short but

inspiring life.

Introduction and

First Reading of Bills

BILL 2 — LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

AMENDMENT ACT, 2017

Hon. M. de Jong presented a message from Her Honour the

Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Legislative Assembly Management

Committee Amendment Act, 2017.

Hon. M. de Jong: I move the bill be introduced and read a first time

now.

An Hon. Member: Division.

Mr. Speaker: Division has been called.

Hon. M. de Jong: Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the House might recess long enough to

ensure that the bill can be distributed to members before the

vote.

[1:45 p.m.]

Motion negatived on the following division:

YEAS — 42

Kyllo

Milobar

Larson

Foster

Stilwell

Oakes

Letnick

Wat

Johal

Sturdy

Rustad

Ross

Morris

Barnett

Clovechok

Isaacs

Hunt

Gibson

Ashton

Davies

Paton

Throness

Shypitka

Plecas

Cadieux

Stone

Polak

de Jong

Clark

Coleman

Wilkinson

Reid

Bond

Bernier

Sullivan

Lee

Tegart

Yap

Redies

Sultan

Thornthwaite

Martin

NAYS — 44

Darcy

Simpson

Robinson

Farnworth

Horgan

James

Dix

Ralston

Mark

Fleming

Conroy

Chandra Herbert

Chow

Leonard

Fraser

Weaver

Furstenau

Olsen

Rice

Eby

Mungall

Chen

Bains

Elmore

Kang

Popham

Trevena

Donaldson

Krog

Heyman

Routley

Simons

Beare

Sims

Dean

Routledge

Singh

Glumac

Chouhan

Kahlon

Begg

Brar

D’Eith

[1:50 p.m.]

BILL 3 — ELECTION AMENDMENT ACT, 2017

Hon. A. Wilkinson presented a message from Her Honour the

Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Election Amendment Act,

Hon. A. Wilkinson: I move that the bill be introduced and read for a first time

now.

[1:55 p.m.]

Motion negatived on the following division:

YEAS — 42

Kyllo

Milobar

Larson

Foster

Stilwell

Oakes

Letnick

Wat

Johal

Sturdy

Rustad

Ross

Morris

Barnett

Clovechok

Isaacs

Hunt

Gibson

Ashton

Davies

Paton

Throness

Shypitka

Plecas

Cadieux

Stone

Polak

de Jong

Clark

Coleman

Wilkinson

Reid

Bond

Bernier

Sullivan

Lee

Tegart

Yap

Redies

Sultan

Thornthwaite

Martin

NAYS — 44

Darcy

Simpson

Robinson

Farnworth

Horgan

James

Dix

Ralston

Mark

Fleming

Conroy

Chandra Herbert

Chow

Leonard

Fraser

Weaver

Furstenau

Olsen

Rice

Eby

Mungall

Chen

Bains

Elmore

Kang

Popham

Trevena

Donaldson

Krog

Heyman

Routley

Simons

Beare

Sims

Dean

Routledge

Singh

Glumac

Chouhan

Kahlon

Begg

Brar

D’Eith

Statements

(Standing Order 25B)

NORTH SHORE RESCUE AND HIKING TIPS

J. Thornthwaite: If you got lost today, would anyone know? That’s the question

volunteers from North Shore Rescue want you to think about before hiking

one of our stunning local mountains. Are you prepared? Do you have more

than just your cell phone with you?

With the weather improving and summer on the horizon, more and

more people will be venturing up trails and mountains to explore our

beautiful terrain. North Shore Rescue would like to remind people that

if you are planning a hike, you must be prepared for the

unexpected.

Here are some helpful tips. Always leave a message with a friend

or family member as to where you are going. Carry the ten essentials,

which include a light, signal, fire starter, extra clothes, pocket

knife, shelter, water, food, first-aid kit, navigation device, GPS

coordinate and your cell phone — preferably turned off and in a Ziploc

bag. Never hike alone. Be prepared and wear appropriate clothing, and

that doesn’t mean flip-flops.

If you do get lost, don’t panic, don’t go downhill and always

follow marked trails. Use signalling devices and a light, and build or

use shelter if necessary.

Our local mountains are home to stunning views and exhilarating

heights, but bad weather, early darkness or an unexpected injury can

easily turn an easy hike into an extended crisis. It can happen to

you.

By being prepared, you will enjoy your trip in the back country

regardless of what nature throws at you. Let’s try to save our search

and rescue teams for the people who really need them, and be prepared on

your next hike.

DAVID BUTTERFIELD

C. James: I rise to honour a neighbour, a long-time community member and an

exceptional leader in sustainable development, David Butterfield, who

passed away on June 17 after a short battle with kidney

cancer.

David was born in the United States and came to

Canada, like so many others, after being drafted to fight in Vietnam. He

settled in Montreal, where he met his wife, Norma. The couple moved to

Lund, where they learned to live off the land, and David worked as a

self-taught carpenter before moving to Victoria in 1975.

[2:00 p.m.]

Here, he became a successful and innovative developer, eventually

founding the Trust for Sustainable Development, a not-for-profit

corporation devoted to the principles of economically, socially and

environmentally sustainable development. David was a true leader, ahead

of his time in integrating these critical principles.

His first projects were social housing complexes in James Bay and

Esquimalt and went on to include Shoal Point in Victoria; Civano in

Arizona; Loreto Bay, which is North America’s largest sustainable

development, in California; and most recently Spirit Bay, which is

currently being developed near Metchosin in partnership with the Beecher

Bay First Nations.

I’m one of many individuals who have fond memories of time spent

at David and Norma’s house, surrounded by good food, good wine and even

better conversation. David took great delight in bringing together folks

from different disciplines, sectors and sides of the political spectrum.

You could see that twinkle in his eye and his smile grow as the

conversation heated up. Debate was always centred, though, on solving

problems with creative ideas and different approaches.

David was a truly remarkable individual, and his legacy will last

far longer than his short number of years among us. His loss will be

felt deeply by those who knew and loved him, and I know that during this

difficult time, his family and friends are comforted by the amazing

memories that they share.

Thank you, David, for truly making a difference.

LAUNCH-A-PRENEUR PROGRAM IN SHUSWAP

G. Kyllo: I rise in the House today to speak about an exciting program in my

constituency. Launch-a-Preneur is a joint project between Okanagan

College, the college’s Enactus team, Community Futures Shuswap and the

Salmon Arm Economic Development Society.

This program provides support, resources and mentorship to new and

upcoming businesses or individuals with business ideas. The program

occurs every four years, this year being its fourth season. The program

consists of a workshop series and a final event where each team pitches

their ideas to a panel of judges. It’s the Shuswap’s own Dragons’

Den .

This year ten teams participated in one action-packed evening at

the Salmar Classic Theatre. With over 250 people in attendance, it was

quite a community evening. The first-place winner this year is a company

called WineBox Sweets, and they put the wine back into wine

gums.

Now, this program supports economic development in the Shuswap but

also community spirit, as nearly $100,000 in prizes has been donated

over the past four years. This year alone over $36,000 worth of prizes

were taken home by six teams. Community members, such as Andrew Klingel,

faculty adviser to Enactus OC; Rob Marshall, with Community Futures

Shuswap; and Lana Fitt, with Salmon Arm Development Society, have all

worked hard to see this program blossom.

This year the Launch-a-Preneur program received a Community

Project Award at the B.C. Economic Development Awards. This award

honours organizations and individuals for creating a positive change in

urban, suburban and rural communities. It was a great honour for the

Shuswap to be recognized at the 27th annual B.C. Economic Development

Awards, and we hope that this program will continue to grow.

I can’t wait to see the new businesses that will emerge from this

amazing opportunity in the years ahead.

NEW WEST HOSPICE SOCIETY

J. Darcy: It began with a conversation last year between Kay Johnson, a

retired nurse and hospice director, and Brock Nicholson, a hospice

volunteer coordinator. They know how incredibly important it is for

people at the end of their lives to be surrounded by family, friends and

caregivers at such a difficult and emotional time. So working with

retired educator Wendy Johnson and family caregiver Vivian Wong, they

swung into action and created the New West Hospice Society.

They’ve already held two powerful community conversations, where

people share their own moving personal experiences and their ideas about

how to make sure people are there for each other before, during and

after the loss of a loved one.

We haven’t had a hospice since St. Mary’s Hospital was closed in

2004 and hospice beds were removed from Queen’s Park Care Centre. But

the focus of the society right now is building community partnerships to

support people and their loved ones at the end of their lives — a

partnership with Camp Kerry for grief counselling; creating good

neighbour partnerships with trained volunteer facilitators to help teams

that help people being cared for in their own homes; working with

educators, First Nations and diverse communities so that we learn how to

normalize dying and grief by talking to community members and

children.

[2:05 p.m.]

Kay Johnson sums up their core values this way: “It’s about

neighbours helping neighbours, especially in times of need. I remember

when that happened in our smaller rural communities. When something went

sideways, we all pitched in.”

We all know about Block Watch. What about compassionate blocks,

compassionate neighbourhoods, a compassionate community?

New Westminster was the first dementia-friendly city in B.C. and the

first living-wage city. With thanks to the Hospice Society and the

support of our mayor and council, we’re on our way to becoming the first

compassionate city in British Columbia too.

HOP-ON HOP-OFF ATTRACTION TOUR

RICHMOND

J. Yap: Richmond is a dynamic and ever-growing city, which I’ve had the

privilege to call my home for the last 30-plus years. I’ve come to know

its people and its culture. Now, with the Richmond Hop-On Hop-Off

Attraction bus tour, tourists and residents alike can do the

same.

I was honoured to attend the launch of this new enterprise a few

weeks ago with my colleague, the Minister of International Trade. This

is a combined effort of Tourism Richmond and a variety of organizations,

including the Vancouver Trolley Company, Richmond Olympic Oval, Richmond

Hotel Association, McArthurGlen Designer Outlet, River Rock Casino

Resort and the Pacific Gateway Hotel.

There is something for everyone on this tour. Riders can enjoy

looking at the city of Richmond from a new perspective, going from

attraction to attraction, including the village of Steveston in the

heart of my riding. The tour includes entry into the Richmond Oval’s

Olympic experience museum, where visitors can enjoy reminiscing about

the 2010 Winter Olympics. Go, Canada, go!

This is one of many initiatives that breathes new life into

Richmond, taking us into the touristic realm of other major cities.

Regardless of whether you’re a Richmond resident spending a day out with

your family or a visitor exploring Richmond’s splendours, there is

something for everyone in our city. With more direct flights jetting

people to and from Richmond — home of YVR, Vancouver International

Airport — our city will continue to grow as a hub for travel,

innovation, tourism and culture.

I’m so proud to be the MLA for Richmond-Steveston, and I will

never cease to marvel at our unique and diverse community, now made more

available for all of us with the Hop-On Hop-Off bus service. Mr.

Speaker, I invite you and all members of the House to check it out when

you’re next visiting Richmond.

WINDERMERE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS TEAM

A. Dix: On June 15, I had the pleasure of attending the volunteer

celebration of the Windermere community schools team. Each year more

than 200 Windermere volunteers and students contribute thousands of

hours to the team, leading community programs at Renfrew, Grenfell,

Norquay, Bruce, Collingwood, Nootka and, soon again, Carleton elementary

schools.

Windermere students lead more than 100 after-school activities,

varying from soccer to science to singing, from literacy to piano to

photography, from basketball to drama to dance. These opportunities for

learning and fun are beloved by elementary school students across

Renfrew-Collingwood, and Windermere students learn leadership and

mentoring skills in the process.

Volunteering and community participation centred at Windermere

bring our community together in common purpose. It is no surprise that

the community schools team, pioneered at Windermere 14 years ago, became

the model for another 11 such teams across Vancouver.

Congratulations to program leaders such as Marisol Peterson,

Gloria Sun, Lucas Chan, Robert Best, Nancy Phan, Rianne MacCullough,

Eileen Zheng, Robert Moyette and Donna Chan for their work on one of

B.C.’s finest public school programs. And congratulations to the

hundreds of volunteers from Windermere who make such a difference.

Windermere students are not community leaders of the future; they show

every day, all over our community, that they are community leaders

now.

Oral Questions

THRONE SPEECH AND CONFIDENCE MOTION

J. Horgan: It’s been seven weeks since election day. It’s been several weeks

since the Premier said that she would return to this Legislature and

test the confidence of this House to see if her party had majority

support to proceed from this point onward.

[2:10 p.m.]

We all know that the foundation and the fundamentals of our

democracy are that a majority should ultimately rule and a majority

should have an opportunity to put forward platform planks in a throne

speech and then deliver on those throne speech commitments. However,

last week we had a throne speech from the government that didn’t look

anything at all like their platform. It looked very familiar to many on

this side of the House but not to the majority of British

Columbians.

We’re seven weeks tomorrow from an election. We are many weeks

away from the point where the Premier committed to the people of B.C.

that she would return to this House and seek a confidence

motion.

My question to the Premier is: will she support unanimous consent

to move that confidence motion today?

Hon. C. Clark: It’s interesting the member finds the throne speech and the B.C.

Liberal platform so familiar. I didn’t see any mention of balanced

budgets, paying off operating debt or lowering taxes in the NDP budget,

in the NDP platform.

In fact, the platform that we put forward in the election and the

throne speech that we put forward last week remain true to the core

principles that we believe in as B.C. Liberals. Those are making sure

that we continue to support a thriving economy — the

strongest in Canada, one that’s creating jobs in every corner of the

province; that we’re keeping taxes low; and that we are making sure we

eliminate operating debt so that our kids don’t have to live with the

burden of those costs that we incur today.

We are also making every effort, through the throne speech, to

ensure that all members of this House can join us in supporting the

throne speech — by offering investments in social programs and

environmental programs that voters asked for and that will certainly be,

in some cases, familiar to members of this House.

Sticking to our core principles, supporting those things that

British Columbians asked us for…. The road to stability in British

Columbia is to ensure that we avoid the risk of an election. I would

encourage all members of this House, therefore, to vote in favour of the

throne speech that was presented last week.

Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

J. Horgan: I do, hon. Speaker. Thank you.

Again, British Columbians took the member at her word when she

said she would come in early June and test the confidence of this House.

That’s what I asked her to do through the question a moment

ago.

The reason is that British Columbians don’t believe that the

architects of the messes that we’re facing…. Whether it be the fentanyl

crisis, whether it be public education, whether it be the softwood

lumber agreement, they are the creation of 16 years of B.C. Liberal

governments. The public has no confidence that you can fix the problems

you created. The majority of members of this House don’t have confidence

that you can fix the problems that you created.

All the politics and the games-playing and the distraction aside,

British Columbians are suffering as a result of the delay. Joining us in

the gallery today is Leslie McBain, who founded Moms Stop The Harm after

her son Jordan lost his life as part of the opioid epidemic that’s been

sweeping not just British Columbia but North America. A thousand people

died last year. We’re at 500 more this year. The public does not have

confidence that this government, which has walked through this crisis,

has the ability to address it.

Again, when will she put the politics aside? When will she say and

concede that 44 is a larger number than 43? Let’s have a vote. Let’s

have a confidence motion and put in place a government that will focus

on the challenges people are facing right across B.C.

Hon. C. Clark: If there have been distractions around this Legislature over the

last week or so, I can assure you they are not created by members on

this side of the House.

[2:15 p.m.]

The vote for the throne speech, according to the rules of this

House, will most likely be held on Thursday, if that’s the will of this

House, and members will get a chance to move on with that. I would again

say, though, to all members of this House that the government presenting

this throne speech has made every effort to ensure there are many

elements in it that members on all sides of this House say they, in the

past, have supported and could support.

The road to stability is not to defeat the throne speech and to

risk an election. The road to stability and the road to being able to

make sure that government, working together in this Legislature, can get

on with the business in this House is to support the throne speech and

ensure we can keep the business of government going on.

Mr. Speaker: The member has a further supplemental.

J. Horgan: Again, to the Premier: I don’t think you’re really hearing, hon.

Member, what the public has been saying over the past number of weeks.

Certainly, you seem to have missed the message from election day: 57

percent of the votes cast for members on this side of the House and 40

percent cast for members on that side of the House. That is a

significant difference of opinion within British Columbia. Now, the B.C.

Liberals may think that they have a divine right to rule in British

Columbia, but the people of British Columbia feel decidedly different

about that.

I give an opportunity for the Premier to recognize and acknowledge

the will of the people. Will she join with members on this side of the

House? Will members on that side of the House call a motion of

confidence? Let’s have a vote today. Let’s decide this election seven

weeks after the fact. Let’s do it this afternoon.

Hon. C. Clark: I don’t remember the Leader of the Opposition singing that tune

back in 1996, when they were quite happy, as they should have been,

after they won the most seats in the election, despite losing the

popular vote, and took government. That is the way the system works in

our province.

Certainly, we will have a throne speech vote, I’m going to guess —

my best guess, as long as there is no other business — on Thursday in

this Legislature. In the meantime, we will have the opportunity to

debate the elements of the throne speech — a throne speech that was put

together, again, in the sincere effort to ensure that the views of

members across political party lines and across this Legislature are

represented.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. C. Clark: Knowing that it’s important that we provide stability in British

Columbia, that we make sure we can get on with governing

as soon as possible and that we avoid the risk of an election, which is

a very real one and which will not lead to stability in our province,

let’s get on with the business of governing. Let’s avoid the risk of an

election. Let’s make sure that we pass the throne speech — one, again,

that was sincerely intended to garner the support of members across the

ideological lines in this House.

CONDITIONS IN EDUCATION SYSTEM

R. Fleming: Sixteen years ago the Premier made her political agenda picking

fights with students, picking fights with teachers. As a result,

hundreds of thousands of B.C. children paid the price. She cut

librarians, specialist teachers and music programs and left kids with

outdated textbooks. When the Supreme Court of Canada called her 16 years

of actions illegal, she alone called it an opportunity.

In the gallery today is Jacob Gair. He is 23 years old and a

student at Vancouver Island University. He entered grade 2 at the same

time that the Premier broke the law and decided that Jacob and hundreds

of thousands of B.C. students just like him should go to overcrowded

classrooms.

My question is for the Premier. Why should former students like

Jacob believe for one more minute that after 16 years, this Premier can

fix the problems in the education system that she caused?

Hon. M. Bernier: It’s no surprise to this House or to the public. There was a

Supreme Court of Canada decision. It’s one that our government is

fulfilling completely.

[2:20 p.m.]

In our last budget, we put forward $740 million of increased

funding for the people and for the children here in British Columbia —

the largest investment in British Columbia history.

Now, some of that money definitely was from the Supreme Court of

Canada decision. That’s something that we’re working closely with the

BTCF and working closely with the school districts around the province

on, to ensure that this money flows into the schools, into the

classrooms and to make sure that we build on the incredible education

system that we have here in the province of British Columbia, one that’s

envied around the world.

Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

R. Fleming: This is the legacy of the B.C. Liberal government on education. We

went from the second-best-funded jurisdiction in Canada to the

second-worst. Here’s what else we know: after last week’s speech, we

know that this Minister of Education actively endorses

plagiarism.

Not only did the Premier break the law and shortchange students,

but the highest courts ruled that she provoked a teachers strike and

created the longest school shutdown in British Columbia history. Jacob

is now a trustee in school district 69, and he’s responsible for

cleaning up the Premier’s mess.

My question for the Premier is: will she get out of the way and

finally allow a new government to work with Jacob and trustees like him

right across British Columbia to finally get classrooms the funding that

they deserve and to get ready for a new school year this

fall?

Hon. M. Bernier: I know that for the NDP and for the member opposite it’s just all

about the money; it doesn’t matter about the outcomes. But we’re proud

of the fact that we have some of the best outcomes in the

world.

I know that just a short few months ago we were going through an

election. During that election, we put forward a lot of very aggressive

and very well-thought-out pieces of our platform for education. What I

found really interesting….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. M. Bernier: Again, the member opposite wants to talk about all the things that

he wants to see in education. Maybe the member opposite should look at

his own platform, because the member opposite was very pleased with what

we were doing in the B.C. Liberal platform. Why? They added the same

things. They said that they were going to do what we were doing. So

obviously, the NDP and the members opposite believe wholeheartedly that

we have the best education. We are doing a good job, and that’s why we

deserve to be in government to make sure that these things come to

fruition.

B.C. LIBERAL PARTY CAMPAIGN

STATEMENTS AND

PRIORITIES

A. Weaver: February’s business-as-usual budget contained little, if anything,

for childcare, education, affordability, those in need of social

assistance or the fentanyl crisis. During the election campaign, the

Minister of Finance told the Vancouver Sun : “We have resisted

consistently the temptation to go out and make all these pledges and

promises.” He argued that they would be unaffordable.

The Minister of Finance further argued this. He said: “The

decision to forgo all toll revenues in the way the NDP announced will

guarantee a credit downgrade.” Now we’re told that there’s $1 billion to

spend on early childhood education. There’s money to increase social

assistance rates, to invest in parks and to address the fentanyl crisis,

and so on and so on. This can only be described as a rather dramatic

change of heart.

My question to the Minister of Finance is this: how do you explain

to British Columbians that you suddenly found over $1 billion in the

last couple of weeks to fund programs and initiatives that have been

dismissed and starved of resources for years, and that this has only

happened in the last couple of weeks?

Hon. M. de Jong: Thanks to the leader of the Third Party. Oops, can’t say that, can

I? He voted against that, didn’t he?

[2:25 p.m.]

Actually, I do appreciate the question, because the answer is

pretty straightforward. The economy that was already leading the

country, the economy that was already producing more jobs than anywhere

else — in British Columbia — the economy that was already, in February,

providing more opportunities to more families than anywhere else in

Canada has actually gotten better.

I know the hon. member has made the decision to link hands with

the official opposition, a party that in past opportunities used to play

a little trick called injecting fiscal optimism into their budgets. We

didn’t do that. We didn’t have to do that because the economy in British

Columbia continues to lead Canada in all the ways that

matter.

Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

A. Weaver: I understand why the economy is booming in British Columbia now.

It’s in anticipation of the great stuff that will be coming forward in

the next few weeks. Investment is coming to B.C. like never

before.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, the Chair will hear the question.

A. Weaver: Investors are lining up a mile deep to invest in B.C. in

anticipation of a kinder, gentler province that will soon be put

forward.

Last week the Vancouver Sun noted that the Premier

offered no apologies for dramatically flip-flopping on so many positions

from the election. She said she hopes the NDP and the Green MLAs — oops,

that’s the third-party MLAs — would feel embarrassed to vote against

their own ideas, now embraced by the B.C. Liberals.

My question to the Deputy Premier is this. How can British

Columbians trust a government that just wants to embarrass the

opposition and holds one set of priorities during the election campaign

and another set of priorities immediately following the campaign? And

what guarantee do we have that if the B.C. Liberals gain the confidence

of this House, those priorities won’t flip-flop and change yet

again?

Hon. M. de Jong: I should provide the hon. member with the technical answer to the

question he asked about the dramatic improvement in both economic

performance and in the revenues that flow from that. It relates to the

reliance that we place on the independent Economic Forecast Council,

which for both ’16-17 and ’17-18 have adjusted their estimates and their

forecasts by over an entire percentage point for the growth in our

economy. That is dramatic. It is certainly providing government with

more revenues, and the member will see the specifics of that in the days

ahead when the results for ’16-17 are presented.

British Columbia is performing at a remarkable level right now. I

know there are members sitting opposite who are salivating at the

prospect and, who knows, may get that opportunity. But were they to get

the keys to this car, let there be no doubt that the tank is full, the

engine is running on all cylinders, and British Columbians are enjoying

the benefits of the strongest economy in Canada.

SOFTWOOD LUMBER EXPORTS TO U.S.

B. Ralston: This morning the United States announced yet further duties on

Canadian softwood lumber imports. The countervailing duties announced

two months ago hurt families in our forest-dependent communities, and

these new duties will simply make things worse for B.C. towns and

families.

The Premier is the one who called the House back to test its

confidence. Will the Premier agree to call a confidence motion today so

that a new government can get to work negotiating a softwood deal that

will protect jobs for British Columbia families?

[2:30 p.m.]

Hon. J. Rustad: We heard something historic today. The Leader of the Opposition

talked about softwood lumber in the Legislature for the first time in

four or five years.

We are working closely with the federal government. We are working

closely with the industry and with the people in the industry to make

sure that we fight hard for British Columbia’s interests in this

softwood lumber dispute.

We’ve seen this story before with the Americans and what they’ve

done. We’ve won in court. I can tell you that we’ve had teams go to

Washington. We’ve got teams engaged with Ottawa. We are well on this

file, and we are going to make sure that we get a deal that is right for

the people of British Columbia, that supports our industry so that

forestry will remain a strong component of British Columbia’s

economy.

Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

B. Ralston: For more than a year, the Premier has claimed that getting a new

softwood lumber deal was her number one priority. But here we are a year

later and faced with more punishing border taxes

that will hurt B.C. families.

Does the Premier really think it’s more important to drag out this

confidence motion or to let a new government get on with helping B.C.

forest workers and B.C. communities?

Hon. J. Rustad: We’ve seen this story before here. Nine years ago when we got a

softwood lumber deal, it might be interesting to know that the members

opposite actually voted against it.

How can the members opposite even stand here to say that they

could possibly stand up and support the working families in this

province when, during the entire election, they ignored two-thirds of

the province that generates that forest economy?

There are 60,000 people in this province, families, that depend on

us making sure that we get a good deal and support those workers and

support this province, and I can tell you this. We have teams in place

now. We’re engaged with our counterparts in Ottawa. We’re engaged now

with the U.S. to make sure that we do that — fight to get the deal that

works for this province.

CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM

FUNDING AND

SERVICES

M. Mark: Over the past 16 years, the B.C. Liberals slashed funding for

children in government care, and the results were tragic. Sadly, we have

all become familiar with the names of Paige Gauchier, Alex Gervais, Nick

Lang, Carly Fraser and so many other young people who this government

abandoned. Now the Premier would like us all to believe that she has a

plan to make life better for British Columbia’s most vulnerable

children.

My question is for the Premier. Her choices failed children in

this province. Why should anyone believe her now?

Hon. S. Cadieux: Well, there’s been a great deal of change in the Ministry of

Children and Family Development in 16 years. In fact, there are now

3,783 fewer children in care than there were in 2001.

The budget this year is nearly $1.6 billion. That’s hundreds of

millions of dollars invested in this ministry and in supporting our most

vulnerable kids in just the last four years alone.

Interjection.

Mr. Speaker: Member.

Continue.

Hon. S. Cadieux: We have hired more than 200 additional front-line workers, and

we’ve got, in the budget, plans for another 245. The number of case

files per social worker is down. The number of children in care is down.

The number of children finding permanency through adoption is up —

record levels. This government has done more for children in care and

vulnerable families in this province than the NDP did in the

’90s.

[2:35 p.m.]

Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

M. Mark: It takes a lot of gall for the member to make that type of remark

when we have a number of children, as you know, that are homeless, that

are dying in tent cities. The member opposite likes to remind us of all

of the numbers. We’re talking about children.

Report after report has documented the B.C. Liberals’ decisions to

abandon our most vulnerable children. The representative has shown us

that. And after each report, the Premier does two things: she blames

somebody else and then promises to do better. But it doesn’t get

better.

My question is to the Premier. For years, she has

shown to ignore children in care. Why should anyone believe that they’re

a priority now?

Mr. Speaker: I’ll remind the member of parliamentary language.

Hon. S. Cadieux: No one is ever going to say that supporting vulnerable children in

this province is easy, that the work is easy or that we will always get

it right. What we have to do every time, with every case, every

individual circumstance — because we know they are all different and

can’t be treated with the same brush or the same service — is to learn

and to improve.

We’re doing that. We’re doing that in every aspect of the

ministry, in every service line, in responding to Grand Chief Ed John’s

report on aboriginal child welfare, ensuring that all children in this

province, no matter who provides the service, will be treated the same

way with the same level of resources. We’re making sure those resources

are there and, most importantly, first focusing entirely on that family

and on prevention, because that is ultimately how we will keep kids safe

and in the families that love them.

SENIORS CARE

S. Robinson: In 2016, the seniors advocate released a very scathing report that

confirmed what so many B.C. families already knew: that their elderly

parents are not getting the care they need or the care they deserve. The

Premier said that they would do better — that she would do better. In

2017, the advocate released yet another report, and it showed that

things were actually getting worse. Not better — worse.

Last week, on Thursday, the Premier said she intended to fix the

problem that she created. My question is to the Premier: why would

anyone believe that her new-found concern for B.C. seniors is anything

more than an effort to just hold on to power?

Hon. C. Clark: Senior citizens built British Columbia. We all owe them a great

deal for what they’ve done for our generation and the values, the

economy, the principles, the things that bind us together as British

Columbians. I know that every member of the House agrees that we need to

do everything that we can to support senior citizens.

For example, senior citizens are the largest users of health care

by a long shot in our province. We have some of the very best health

outcomes anywhere in Canada because of the investments that we’ve made

not just in hospitals, but investments in surgeries, investments in home

committing to even more resources in this latest throne

speech.

If the member wants to continue to support the work that’s

happened — because it is getting better; we are seeing improvements in

the system, certainly as we see British Columbians as the most healthy

of any citizens anywhere in this country — she should vote in favour of

the throne speech, with the additional efforts and additional

commitments that we’ve made there.

S. Robinson: Care at seniors homes across B.C. has been getting worse, not

better. Care providers know it, front-line staff know it, and the

seniors advocate has proved it. While seniors and their families wait

for action, the Premier chooses to delay and distract.

[2:40 p.m.]

When will the Premier face the music and test the confidence of

this House?

Hon. C. Clark: Our government has made record investments in health care. We

support seniors across the province. That has resulted in some of the

very best health outcomes, bar none, in Canada, which support

seniors.

We are committed to training 112 more family doctors, introducing

wait-time guarantees, faster access to MRIs, hip and knee procedures. We

are committed to continuing the work we’ve been doing in building

hospitals. In the 1990s, not a single hospital got built under the NDP.

Under our government, we have made sure that hospitals are built and

rebuilt in every single region of the province to ensure that seniors

and all citizens continue to be served.

In answer to the member’s question, the vote will be by Thursday,

we certainly expect, in this Legislature. We look forward to having that

vote so that we can test whether or not members of this House are indeed

committed to stability. If they want to get on with the business of

government, we should make sure that the throne speech passes and we

don’t risk an election. No British Columbians want another

election.

Let’s get on with the business of government. Let’s make sure the

throne speech gains the confidence of this House. It will happen before

Thursday, and we can make sure we continue with the strongest economy

anywhere in Canada, to be able to have the strongest stability, to be

able to look after British Columbians, no matter where they live, even

north of 50.

[End of question period.]

Orders of the Day

Hon. M. de Jong: I call the reply to the throne speech debate.

Throne Speech Debate

T. Redies: In accordance with parliamentary tradition, I move, seconded by the

hon. member for Kamloops–North Thompson, that:

[We, Her Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative

Assembly of British Columbia in Session assembled, beg leave to thank Your

Honour for the gracious speech which Your Honour has addressed to us at the

opening of the present Session.]

May I continue?

Mr. Speaker: If the members can clear quietly.

Continue, Member.

T. Redies: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is an honour to rise today and to speak in support of this

government’s Speech from the Throne. It’s also a great honour and privilege

to represent the people of Surrey–White Rock.

The decision to put forward my name was not taken lightly, but I’ve

lived in this community for many years, and it’s where my husband and I

raised our four children. So I feel very privileged to stand for all

residents of Surrey–White Rock and be their voice in this historic

place.

Amidst so much uncertainty in the world today, I truly and honestly

believe that British Columbia is the best place in the world to raise a

family and to start a business. This is no accident. British Columbia did

not stumble into our current position. It is the result of leadership,

discipline and unwavering principles that, together, form the foundation for

a strong B.C. and a secure tomorrow. That is why I’m very proud to be here

today and proud to support the throne speech put forward by this

government.

[2:45 p.m.]

It’s a vision for our future that ensures that the economy remains

strong, which, in turn, will allow us to provide the services and support

that British Columbians need. It allows us to balance present and future

needs, while at the same time ensuring that the future of our children is not mortgaged to finance unchecked and uncosted promises

today.

It’s a vision that will continue to make our beautiful, well-managed

province the envy of every other province and territory in our country. More

importantly, the plan put forward in this throne speech uses the dividends

of our well-managed economy to ensure we are able to take care of all

British Columbians.

I have no doubt that there are members on the opposition benches that

cannot dismiss this throne speech fast enough, but this is a throne speech

that reflects the will of British Columbians — fiscal responsibility but

also more investments in social services and infrastructure. It’s a

pragmatic vision, not stubbornly wedded to any ideology but based on what

British Columbians told us they want from government.

Now, while together my caucus colleagues and I received more votes and

elected more members than any other party, it is clear that for some British

Columbians our platform was not enough. We heard that message, and this

throne speech demonstrates that we are willing to change — not just to stay

in power, as some would like to suggest, but because we’re here to represent

all British Columbians.

When we talk about a strong B.C., a bright future, we’re not talking

just about a vision for certain members of British Columbia. We’re talking

about all British Columbians.

[G. Kyllo in the chair.]

Yes, some of the issues outlined in the throne speech were put forward

by the opposition parties. Good for them. But in addressing the concerns of

British Columbians — whether it is rapid transportation, social housing or

helping to improve affordability — our approach will be quite different.

More importantly, they are not empty promises, but highly doable, because

they are balanced with ensuring British Columbia continues to have a strong

economy that creates jobs and attracts significant investment.

I’m here today because of the many people who believed in our campaign

— people who believed in our message of a strong and bright future for our

community. I want to take a moment to thank my predecessor, Gordie Hogg, for

his 40 years of service to our community and for his help on our

campaign.

Thank you, also, to those who worked tirelessly to ensure that our

message in Surrey–White Rock was heard and successful — including our

campaign chair and manager, Lorne Valensky and Verna Logan; our volunteer

chair and communications chair, Jennifer Wells and Victoria Blinkhorn; our

dedicated volunteers from all ages who believed in our vision, including

John Penner, who has been involved in campaigns since 1952, and Daniel Eddin

and Brydon Chakrabarti, ages 12 and 15, who came to volunteer after school

and on weekends because they were excited about the vision put forward by

our campaign for their future.

I’d also like to thank the many experienced members among my new

caucus colleagues who offered advice and guidance, especially the Minister

of Children and Family Development, who herself serves the neighbouring

constituency of Surrey South. Thank you all.

I also wish to thank those members of the community who gave me

insight into the current issues and opportunities in our riding. Ramona

Kaptyn with CARP and Sue McIntosh of Seniors Come Share Society, on behalf

of our seniors; David Young, the president of SOURCES, which provides many

services to our community, including our local food bank; and councillors

Grant Meyer, Lynne Sinclair, Helen Fathers, Bill Lawrence, Megan Knight and

Mayor Baldwin of White Rock, who gave me great background into some of the

current issues and opportunities facing White Rock.

I also want to acknowledge Doug Stone, a former manager of the city,

for his insights and his friendship; and Doug Tennant, the director of

Semiahmoo House Society and his director, Rick Gorman, who toured me around

this marvelous facility for those who are developmentally, physically and

mentally disabled.

I also wish to thank friends and long-time acquaintances who made the

time to help our campaign — Greg Dumas, Dan Burns, Glenn Todd, Lyle Knott,

Peter and Carol Young, Laurae McNally, Olga Ilich, Ginny Hasselfield and

Jade Burelle, and so many others. I don’t have time to name them all, but I

am so grateful for all their help.

There are five people without whom I would not be here today, my

family — my husband, George, and our four kids, Lauren, Lucy, Brian and

Sabrina, who all helped on the campaign at various points. My husband,

George — probably like many other husbands in this House — did everything

from cleaning, painting, laying baseboards, making signs, putting up signs

and even door knocking, which is something that he never thought he would

do. Our kids also went door knocking and helped with weekly volunteer

barbecues and gave their mom hugs when I needed them.

[2:50 p.m.]

I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for you five, so thank you for

supporting me in this, and thank you for generously sharing me with our

community.

Now, as we heard in the throne speech, this government is committed to

a fairer, healthier society. During the campaign I heard from Stephanie

Beck, Siobhan Philips and Art Reitmayer of the Peace Arch Hospital

Foundation, which has raised tens of millions of dollars from the generous

people of our community to help build the new emergency and surgical care

building. Dr. Hendry, of Peace Arch Hospital, generously toured me around

the emergency, and even though I had been there many times

with our four children, he did give me unique insight as to why we are

facing challenges in our health care system today.

That’s a big part of why I support what this throne speech offers for

health care: accelerating access to hip and knee procedures, establishing

wait-time guarantees, speeding up access to MRI services, training 112 more

general practitioners and increasing the scope of practice for professions

such as nurse practitioners and pharmacists so we can improve primary care

in our province.

I am very pleased that the throne speech commits to fast-tracking a

new centre for mental health and addictions in Surrey in addition to a

dedicated minister focused on mental health and addictions in our province.

This is in addition to strong commitments to health care for our seniors,

who have done so much for us — raising us and entrusting this amazing

province to us all.

One of the constant issues I heard during the election was the need

for better transit, especially rapid transit. Yes, we have a strong economy

filled with opportunity, but my constituents say they want to get home to

their families faster and they want transit options that work

better.

That’s why I’m pleased to support a throne speech that commits to

match federal funding to build rapid transit along the Broadway corridor and

in Surrey, that commits to match federal funding for the next phase of the

mayors’ transit plan, that also commits to repeal the requirement for new

transit revenue sources to be affirmed by referendum in Metro Vancouver,

ensuring that these needed projects can happen. But more importantly, that

has a bold vision for our province, one that allows us to shape growth and

build for our future transportation needs.

If I may say so, personally, after almost 35 years of commuting up and

down Highway 99 into Vancouver, the initiative to assess the feasibility of

the LRT into South Surrey and a high-speed rail line connecting the Pacific

Northwest is very exciting and very welcome.

As a parent, education is an issue that is near and dear to my heart.

I’m pleased that we raised our children in British Columbia, where our

students rank among the best in the world. But there remain concerns from

parents, and this government is prepared to address them. Especially in my

constituency, I heard from parents concerned about spaces and funding for

our local schools. So I’m pleased to support the throne speech, which

commits to reviewing the funding formula for school districts and commits to

establishing a royal commission on education, the first in 30

years.

British Columbia has a remarkable education system, one made possible

by hard-working teachers — including those who were there for our kids. But

there is an opportunity to make the education system even better through

continued investment in the future. I am personally delighted to see the

commitment to new special support educators, as through my own family

circumstances, I’ve seen the benefit of early intervention for children

requiring more support. As a parent, as a British Columbian and as a new

member of this place, I wholly support the approach to our education system

in this throne speech.

Like so many parts of our province, my constituency also has a lot of

families, families that are looking to make a start. Their concern is

housing. The market has changed, and British Columbians have been clear:

they want their government to address affordability. This government has

been unequivocal in its willingness to address this issue with a

comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy.

In the last year, this government took action through the B.C. HOME

partnership, through the foreign buyers tax and through several other

decisive actions. This throne speech continues that commitment with several

more actions, including working with the private sector to build more

supportive social and inclusive housing for those in need, ensuring more

middle-class housing is built and available for buyers and renters, and

further cooling the hot housing market by combatting speculation that

disadvantages British Columbians. I’m pleased to support these

measures.

For those just starting out, this government is committing to building

50,000 units of new housing across our province over the next decade — part

of an innovative, new rent-to-own program available to B.C.’s middle-class

families. This throne speech is a commitment to continuing to take action on

this important file.

[2:55 p.m.]

I know these actions will help many young families and British

Columbians from all walks of life looking to buy their first home. This

government remains committed to ensuring that housing is affordable and to

ensuring that the dream of home ownership is kept alive.

British Columbia was not always the envy of the country, as it is now.

There was a time when businesses and job creators looked elsewhere, a time

when more British Columbians left our province than came to it. That was

long ago, and thankfully, today our province has Canada’s strongest economy.

With the plans set forth in this throne speech, it will be possible to keep

growing our economy, while at the same time making the investments that

British Columbians want and need.

There is a choice to be made. It is a clear one. While I am new to

this place, the choice here is both simple and profound: to either work

together to make the investments that so many British Columbians want or

continue with the politics of division. That is the choice before

us.

In this last election, British Columbians were clear. The results of

the election show a desire for their elected members to work together to

make life better for the citizens of this province, to support job creation

and the economy, to look after vulnerable British Columbians by increasing

the levels of support and services provided by their government, and to

responsibly balance the needs of British Columbians from all

parts of our beautiful province, a task I believe that this caucus and this

government are best positioned to do.

The throne speech presented here strikes that balance. It is one that

looks to serve all British Columbians in all regions of our province. It is

one that serves the needs of my constituents in Surrey–White Rock, as it

does for British Columbians across our province. I’m very pleased to support

this throne speech, and I encourage all members here to do so.

P. Milobar: It is an honour to rise today, in accordance with parliamentary

tradition, and second this government’s Speech from the Throne.

First and foremost, I want to thank my constituents from

Kamloops–North Thompson for electing me to be their voice, their

representative, in this place. It has been a pleasure to serve you as a city

councillor for two terms, a mayor for three terms and now to represent you

here. I will ensure that your voice and concerns are heard here.

I also want to thank my family for their continued support — my two

daughters, Kayleigh and Dylana, and my son, Ethan. I especially would like

to thank my wife, Lianne, who didn’t think 16 years was long enough but has

been supporting me and encouraging me for all of the 24 years of my

marriage. My time in public service would simply not be possible without

them and their willingness to share me with the people of British Columbia.

Of course, my constituency association, my campaign volunteers and

supporters — all of those who believed we could do this — I want to thank

you.

I also want to acknowledge my predecessor, Terry Lake, who previously

served as the representative for Kamloops–North Thompson. Thank you, Terry,

for your years of service.

It’s a privilege to represent Kamloops–North Thompson, a region of our

beautiful province with a rich history and a bright future. As I sought the

support of my constituents, here’s what I heard. Their top priorities for

the region were job creation and growth of the local economy.

The people of Kamloops are rightly proud of their community. They want

a government that supports small business and tourism, a government that

invests in world-class seniors care and infrastructure. They want a stable

government that they can count on. I share these priorities. They’re a big

part of why I made the decision to seek election to this place.

British Columbia, especially my constituency, just can’t take four

years of policies that would hurt businesses, hurt the economy and

ultimately hurt our families and our future. This government and this

Premier have made commitments that will help my constituency prosper. This

government has committed to funding a four-year engineering program at

Thompson Rivers University. Currently Thompson Rivers University only offers

training for the first two years, meaning that students need to move

elsewhere. No doubt about it, Kamloops is growing, and these investments

ensure that talented workers don’t need to leave our community to get ahead

in life.

This government also announced the new patient care tower for Royal

Inland Hospital, an asset to the entire Thompson-Nicola region. This new

tower will provide rooms for treating mental health and substance use,

labour and delivery rooms, new obstetrics beds and will double the available

space in the emergency department. The construction will also create nearly

2,500 jobs in our community.

[3:00 p.m.]

As I join this caucus, I join with colleagues who represent all

regions of our beautiful province. It is important that our province be

served by a government that is able to recognize the needs and

responsibilities of both urban and rural British Columbia. I note that many

of my colleagues received feedback from British Columbians in our province’s

more urban areas about things they want done differently.

There is only one caucus — only one caucus — that can respond to these

needs, that is capable of taking on the task of balancing the needs of both

urban and rural British Columbia. The NDP campaign, which brought forth the

members across the way, focused almost exclusively on the Lower Mainland to

the exclusion of so much of our beautiful province. Our caucus recognizes

that the long-term well-being of urban and rural British Columbians are

linked. While there are countless differences, the reality is there is a

unique bond between rural communities and our province’s land and its

resources.

That’s why I’m pleased that this throne speech makes a solid

commitment to supporting rural communities and ensuring that industries that

rural British Columbians depend on remain strong industries. I am pleased

that the government is committed to doubling the Grow Local program and

committed to making it permanent. I am pleased that the government will be

bringing an additional 91,000 hectares of agricultural land into production

by 2020. Furthermore, this government commits to doubling the rural economic

dividend, thereby returning even more of our resource revenue to the rural

communities that play such a large role in our beautiful province’s

well-being.

Rural British Columbia matters. While much of the province lives in

urban areas, those British Columbians who live in smaller communities

matter, as recognized in this throne speech. I support this throne speech

because it recognizes the unique and remarkable connection that so many of

our rural communities have to our beautiful province’s land and

resources.

There are those who believe that urban and rural communities are

different, those who think that politics somehow inherently pits the urban

and rural interests against each other. Friends, this is wrong. The

profound connection between rural and urban British

Columbians is a part of our province’s success.

In the wake of this last election campaign, this throne speech calls

for bridging the divide between rural and urban British Columbia. This is a

vision I support. This is a vision of a government that understands the

needs of rural B.C. and urban B.C. and knows how to responsibly answer

both.

This government has committed to prepurchasing wood for the

construction of public housing — a solid vote of confidence and a show of

support for the thousands of British Columbians who work in the forestry

sector and depend on it for their livelihoods, who depend on it to support

their loved ones. B.C. forest products are used around the world — a source

of pride and joy for our province’s forestry workers.

This government also remains committed to standing up for the industry

by actively fighting protectionist efforts south of the border. This is a

government and caucus not compromised by divided loyalties and thus is ready

to fight for our forestry workers. I’m proud to work with a Premier and

caucus that will fight for British Columbia.

I am pleased that the government’s throne speech speaks to continued

commitments to our health care system. Under this government’s watch, new

and expanded hospitals have been built in every region of our province. This

throne speech commits to continuing to move our health care system towards

preventative care, commits to ensuring that our province remains the

healthiest in our country.

Training more general practitioners at a rate of 112 per year,

increasing the scope of practice for nurses and pharmacists, establishing a

wait-time guarantee, accelerating access to knee and hip procedures — these

are just some of the commitments in the throne speech that will serve not

only my constituents but all of British Columbia as well.

Now, earlier I mentioned that investing in and ensuring that we have

world-class seniors care is a priority for me and my constituents. That is

why I am pleased that this throne speech makes that commitment, ensuring

that the government increase the number of residential care beds, ensuring

clear and measurable daily care hours are in place and are enforced

consistently throughout our province.

Now, there is a contrast that exists between what this government is

putting forward and the shaky, unstable alliance advocated by the NDP

members across the way.

The throne speech put forward by the government today is built on

stability. It is built on what we heard from British Columbians across our

amazing province. It is built on ensuring that British Columbia remains

Canada’s strongest economy. It is built on ensuring that British Columbia

continues to be Canada’s leader in economic growth and job creation. It is

built on ensuring that British Columbia continues to be a place of hope and

opportunity. It is built upon listening to British Columbians.

[3:05 p.m.]

There are members on the opposition NDP benches here who, I’m sure,

are all too eager to pounce on what they deem to be policy reversals. To my

new friends across the way, let me assure you there is nothing amiss about a

government that listens to British Columbians and is willing to change

course so that the needs and wishes of British Columbians are taken into

account.

Theirs is a reckless alliance predicated on uncertain numbers and

vacuous, uncosted promises — promises that will cost British Columbians

their jobs.

Friends, the throne speech put forward by this government proves that

it is possible to grow the economy and support job creation, all while we

make investments needed to support British Columbians in need.

The throne speech we have heard here recognizes that when British

Columbia’s economy is successful, our province can make the necessary

investments needed to take care of our loved ones and to take care of those

in need. That’s why I’m pleased that this government is expanding the

single-parent employment initiative and increasing rates for those on

assistance.

This government is investing in education and students. That’s why I’m

pleased that the throne speech is committed to creating a royal commission

on education, one that puts the needs of our students first and lays the

foundation for continued success into the future.

British Columbians in all regions of our province recognize the

importance of our education system and the need to ensure that our students

have what they need to succeed. This throne speech commits to doing just

that for British Columbia. It’s important that what we do here lays the

foundation for a bright future.

Kamloops has a growing tech sector, and with it come new

opportunities. That investment this government is making to ensure that

Thompson Rivers University can offer a full four-year engineering program is

an investment in our future, ensuring that we can locally provide the skills

needed to succeed in the new economy.

Across our province, this government is making and is committed to

making investments to ensure that this government is on the best footing

possible. The throne speech is a reflection of that. My caucus colleagues

and I…. This government has heard the concerns of British Columbians, and we

listened.

I’m pleased we are moving forward with the elimination of the MSP.

This government has committed to immediately cutting those MSP premiums by

50 percent for households making up to $120,000, and I am pleased that this

throne speech has committed to a review to see how full elimination can be

achieved as quickly as possible.

Friends, this throne speech is one that bridges the divide between

rural and urban British Columbia. It represents a government that listens to

British Columbians and acts on their feedback. This throne speech

represents an investment in the future of British

Columbia.

This is a throne speech determined to build a bright future for B.C.,

and on behalf of my constituents of Kamloops–North Thompson, I am proud to

support it.

A. Weaver: Hon. Speaker, please let me be the first to congratulate the members

for Surrey–White Rock and Kamloops–North Thompson for their maiden speeches

in this new parliament.

I rise to speak in response to the throne speech. Now, in the 2017

election, the B.C. Greens ran on a new vision for British Columbia that we

will put at the very centre of all our decision-making in the months and

years ahead. There are three central tenets that underpin our vision that we

explained and took to British Columbians in the 2017 election.

First, the B.C. Greens believe that it is the moral responsibility of

government to promote the health and well-being of British Columbians.

Everything else that government does should serve this purpose.

Second, we believe that equity should be a fundamental value of

government and that government should operate in the best interests of not

only the present generation but, also, future generations to come. We, too,

should leave a better world to the next generation, as our parents did for

us. Frankly, this looks like we were heading to be the first generation in

British Columbia where we would hand off to the next generation an

environment and social systems and an economy that were not the same as we

inherited from our parents. It was trending downwards.

[3:10 p.m.]

It is the future of our children and our grandchildren, not only our

own well-being, that is at stake in the decisions that we make today in this

Legislature.

The third central tenet is that government should act as stewards of

our public resources to ensure that they benefit all British Columbians,

both today and into the future. Our natural resources cannot continue to be

harvested in a Loraxian fashion for short-term gain and benefits of a

privileged few.

Interjection.

A. Weaver: I was asked by the member for Powell River–Sunshine Coast to provide

an explanation of “Loraxian.” Well, I ask people to go and read the Dr.

Seuss book called The Lorax . The Lorax quite beautifully

illustrated what happens when you think not as to the consequences of your

decisions today, where you focus only on short-term gain and the benefits of

a few.

You know, our core central tenets may seem obvious, but they’ve been

fundamentally lacking in our province, in my view, in our view, far too

long. The B.C. Greens offered a vision to restore these core values to

government and to improve the lives of all British Columbians. Our vision

included this.

Our vision was a vision to seize the opportunities in the emerging

economy by supporting dynamic business development in a changing economy, to

invest in early childhood education, not simply daycare, to give our

children the strongest possible start, to invest in public

education.

Over $4 billion was found in our budget, a fully costed budget, to

invest in public education and lifelong learning to ensure people had the

knowledge, skills and abilities to be successful in the economies of today

and tomorrow.

We had a vision to tackle climate change head-on while positioning

B.C. at the forefront of economic opportunities in the transition to a

low-carbon economy. We had a vision to ensure that all British Columbians

have their basic needs met by piloting basic income and increasing welfare

rates, so that they never fall so far down that they cannot get back up

again, that those less fortunate than many here are not stuck in a poverty

trap that they can never escape from.

Our vision was to ensure that everyone has access to the means that

support a healthy life. Our vision was based on the conviction that

government should make decisions based on principles and evidence, not

political calculation and political opportunism. Our vision was based on the

conviction that government should put people’s interests first, ahead of

special interests and corporate or union donors.

Our vision was based on the conviction that B.C.’s economy comprises

and should benefit every British Columbian, not just the wealthy few. Our

vision was based on the conviction that prudent fiscal management is

essential. We cannot burden future generations with poor planning and

short-term decision-making today. Our vision was based on the conviction

that planning and government decision-making should extend beyond the next

election cycle and that we need to consider the long-term effects of our

decisions and actions.

As the B.C. Liberals have said many times, governing is about

priorities. In considering the throne speech, we should do so in the context

of how it lives up to our priorities and the values that we as B.C. Greens

ran on. We ran our election campaign on many of the policies that the B.C.

Liberals have just embraced in the throne speech.

Before this election, I spent four years in the Legislature pushing

for action on these issues, as did other MLAs, advocacy organizations,

experts and concerned citizens — pushing for issues like removing the

influence of big money from our politics, pushing for issues like addressing

our unacceptable rates of poverty in this province through raising social

assistance rates and implementing a poverty reduction strategy.

We were pushing for action on investing in childhood education to

address the childhood care crisis affecting families across British Columbia

and to provide children with a strong basis for lifelong

learning to enable them to succeed in the challenging economy of the 21st

century.

We were pushing for discussions on issues to take meaningful action on

climate change, to ensure that the world we leave for our children is no

worse than the world our parents left for us.

[3:15 p.m.]

The B.C. Liberals’ astonishing about-face in this throne speech raises

the question: after 16 years of operating on one set of values, how can

British Columbians trust that they — that is, the B.C. Liberals — truly

believe in this new set of values?

How many of the members opposite, for the first time, when they heard

the throne speech, said: “We stand for this now?” How many of the members

knocked on the doorsteps in the last election campaigning for child care,

campaigning for increased education funding, campaigning for a poverty

reduction plan, campaigning for basic income? I suspect none — certainly not

in my riding and certainly not in the many ridings in British Columbia that

I went to on behalf of the B.C. Green candidates running there.

I come back to this. How can we trust that this change, this change in

principles and values so fundamental — not just “add a little of this, add a

little of that” — a fundamental and structural change in values…? How can we

believe, how can we trust, that this change was based on principle and

integrity as opposed to pure cynical political calculation and the desire to

continue to stay in power?

British Columbians have been calling on this government for years to

ban big money. I’ve forgotten how many times the Leader of the Official

Opposition has brought in legislation. Six it is. To that, we could add a

couple of times that Bob Simpson and Vicki Huntington did as well. I would

have done it too, had it not been done so many times before. Each and every

time, this fell on deaf ears. Each and every time, nobody

listened.

The B.C. Liberal response was: “We’re going to report out more often.

We’re going to rub in the fact that we’re accepting corporate and union

donations — outrageous donations — from companies that we have to make key

strategic decisions on, on behalf of British Columbians, and we’re just

going to just tell you about it a little more often.” Shocking.

British Columbians have been calling on banning big money for such a

long time, yet the government has refused — until today. Now the B.C.

Liberals have committed to banning big money, today, and yet continue to

rake in millions from corporate donations. Witness: within three days of the

election, the B.C. Liberals raised $1 million from their corporate backers.

Shame.

A government that is principled, a government that leads through

conviction, is one that practises the behaviour they expect others to model.

I challenge the B.C. Liberals today to stop accepting corporate donations,

as the B.C. Greens did in September of 2016. If they were truly committed to

banning big money, they could follow our lead — the lead that we put to

British Columbians in September of 2016 when the B.C. Green Party stopped

accepting union and corporate donations.

Let’s go to bridge tolls. This one is remarkable. To this day, the

B.C. Greens stand against removing the bridge tolls, but we recognize that

as a budgetary measure, we would support the budget brought in by the new

minority NDP government.

But let’s come back to the cynicism and political calculation. During

the election, the Minister of Finance told British Columbians this: “The

decision to forgo all toll revenues in the way the NDP announced…will

guarantee a credit downgrade. This decision in and of itself is sufficient

to lead to a credit downgrade.”

So now a mere six, seven weeks post this statement, we no longer have

to worry about a credit downgrade. Is this about political conviction, or is

it about political calculation?

That was April 10 that that statement was made. Now we’re talking

about unexpected surpluses, and nobody’s concerned about the credit rating

anymore. Well, I am, and the B.C. Greens are, which is why we do not support

removing tolls on the bridges that exist — and have not supported all along,

in a consistent manner, because we believe it is good fiscal

policy.

[3:20 p.m.]

What are the revenue implications of toll bridges? They’re not a

one-year budget consideration. It’s not something that you can kind of

change without long-term consequences. What justifies this change? We don’t

know.

What are the revenue implications of toll bridges? They’re not a

one-year budget consideration. It’s not something that you can kind of

change without long-term consequences. What justifies this change? We don’t

know.

What about the sources of new money? Thirty of the 48 throne speech

initiatives outlined in the government news release were nowhere to be found

in the Liberal election platform. Now, I recognize, and I have respect for,

the fact that the throne speech was offered with humility. They recognized

that British Columbians had sent a message that the direction the province

was going in had to change. But the government now has said that it can

finally make these 30 of the 48 throne speech initiatives that weren’t

there, because they have suddenly found new money.

Well, I’m not sure where the new money was found, because we haven’t

had the fiscal year update yet, and that’s not going to be announced till

either later this week or next year. I’m wondering where this money is

coming from. Just two months ago, the Minister of Finance cautioned against

many of the promises that the B.C. Greens and the B.C. NDP made. He said

this: “The suggestion that these promises…can be accommodated within a balanced budget, absent massive tax increases, is simply

absurd.” Who do we believe now? But now they can be. They now suddenly can

be found in the budget, at the 11th hour.

At the 11th hour of a government on its way out, they promised to

implement many of those exact same promises that were too costly to do, yet

they haven’t been clear on where the money will come from. The generally

accepted accounting practices used by the government dictate that any

unspent surplus from a previous fiscal year is allocated to paying down the

budget — full stop. Has the government suddenly changed that policy, a

policy that suddenly we haven’t discussed? That’s what the government is

supposed to do: pay down the debt with any surplus that exists from the

previous budget. We aren’t even through the first quarter of the fiscal

year. So I’d be surprised if the government had reliable updated financials

from this year yet.

This statement that suddenly there’s more money, frankly, is akin to

promises that we’ve seen, historically, of 100,000 jobs, a $1 trillion

increase in GDP, a $100 billion prosperity fund, debt-free B.C., thriving

schools and hospitals — the famous unicorns in everyone’s backyard — as a

consequence of an LNG industry that doesn’t exist. Elimination of GST, PST,

and on and on. Within the fiscal framework of the budget they tabled in

February of this year, there was no room for long-term planning to ensure

that there is stable funding for these new promises — no room

whatsoever.

How can British Columbians trust that this government has intention to

follow through with these new promises, when they are premised on a surprise

surplus? Is this just more politicking with the provincial budget, now that

it has become politically expedient to invest in government services? I ask

these questions because they get to the heart of the question of trust. Is

this truly a genuine, principled about-face? Or is this simply more of the

same politics that British Columbians voted to change?

The initiatives that were announced in this throne speech should not

be treated as throwaways, as treats to buy votes in an election year in an

attempt to retain a grip on power or as a surprise bonus when there’s an

unexpected surplus. These policies need to flow from a principled vision for

British Columbia and a plan on how to get there — principles and plans that

the B.C. Greens offered in the last election campaign. And perhaps the

government arrives at this astonishing change. Perhaps they did arrive at

this genuinely. Who knows?

[3:25 p.m.]

Either way, we cannot have confidence in a government that for 16

years has argued against precisely these same policies and that only in the

last few days has suddenly recognized that these policies — put forward by

the B.C. NDP for, say, 12 of the 16 years and by the B.C. NDP and the B.C.

Greens for the last four years — are now suddenly in the best interests of

British Columbians without a clear demonstration that the change is driven

by principles and not simply political expediency. Principles are

demonstrated through action, and we simply haven’t seen the actions from

this government to justify our confidence in it.

To see the faces on the members opposite as the throne speech was read

out was truly a remarkable event. You know, I only had three words for the

member from Chilliwack afterwards, after the throne speech was read, and it

was these. “Well, well, well,” I said to the member from Chilliwack, who

clearly was aghast, with his mouth near his chest, as he listened to the

words during the speech from the throne. My colleagues here remember one too

many well, well, wells over the years.

With all of that said, we have an incredible opportunity here. I do

believe it’s actually an exciting opportunity. Never before have we had such

potential for each and every MLA in this Legislature to represent their

constituents before their party. That’s exciting. That’s exciting because we

have a chance to put people ahead of party politics, backroom politics, and

I hope that we can do that.

The B.C. Liberals, over the course of a 40-minute throne speech, did a

180. Actually, they did a 720. They did a 320 and a 320, and it was dizzy,

on a significant number of their policies and priorities. I think that’s

great. I think it’s great that they now believe that they should be able to

work. When those policies, those similar policies, are brought forward under

an NDP minority government, they’ll work towards ensuring that they’re

implemented in a manner that we can all support, and that is an exciting,

exciting opportunity.

You know, I can just imagine. Today at first reading, we didn’t vote

for two bills, because we have not tested the confidence of this

Legislature. The first bill was a rather expensive bill for the B.C. Greens

to not vote for, to grant us party status, but it was the principled thing

to do. But more importantly, the second bill, on banning big money — I have

had a chance to look at it briefly, because we were just given a copy — has

elements that I think would be wonderful amendments to a bill or some of the

bills that have been brought in historically by the B.C. NDP. There’s ground

for a stable government moving forward, where we actually take the best

ideas from both sides of this House.

Unfortunately, the B.C. Liberals have had 16 years of not listening to

any of the amendments or ideas being put forward in the committee stage from

bills, and now we have an opportunity to actually make that work. That is

very exciting.

The B.C. Greens will work with every member of this House in good

faith in the pursuit of good public policy. That is our goal. That is what

we’ll focus on. The opportunity, as I said, that we have to improve the

health and well-being of British Columbians is now bigger than ever, and we must proceed with respect for the electorate. I

emphasize: we must proceed with respect for the electorate to make this

government work and not play cynical political tricks in the desperate

attempt, the desperate quest, to retain power. This is not about power. This

is about respect for the electorate.

“The results that British Columbians delivered in the May election

require cooperation,” the throne speech read. “Your government is committed

to working with all parties in the Legislature,” the throne speech said — as

are we. “British Columbians,” the throne speech said, “want a stable

government, and in sending us this result, they expect us to listen and find

a way to work together. They expect us to collaborate, while respecting the

dignity, rules and traditions that govern our constitutional monarchy, our

democracy and this Legislature.” I could not have said it better.

[R. Chouhan in the chair.]

That is precisely what British Columbians want, which is precisely why

we need to get on with the business of governing this province, dealing with

the issues that need to be dealt with and moving towards having a confidence

vote in the present government as soon as possible.

You know, hon. Speaker, the throne speech also said: “With that in

mind, instead of focusing on areas of disagreement, we should reflect on who

it is that we are and what we share in common.”

[3:30 p.m.]

Again, I agree entirely, and I’m excited and thrilled by the prospects

of actually having everyone in this House work towards good public policy in

the province of British Columbia, one that reflects the diversity of views,

one that’s not artificially constrained between this dichotomy that has been

artificially created between rural and urban areas.

It’s offensive to British Columbians to continue to hear this urban

versus rural divide. It is only a divide because the B.C. Liberals have made

it a divide. When you say, year after year after year, to rural British

Columbians that they are somehow different from urban British Columbians,

you create a divide. That’s irresponsible governance. It’s not putting the

interests of British Columbians first.

There’s nothing different between a person living in Kelowna, Fort St.

John, Prince Rupert, Victoria or Cranbrook. They’re all British Columbians,

and they all want the same thing — a quality education, quality health care,

a strong and vibrant economy and to protect our environment. The fact that

this government, for 16 years, has been driving a wedge between rural and

urban folk, frankly, is all the more reason why they need to be put in a

time-out so that we can re-establish the trust between rural and urban

British Columbia.

We’re starting this term with an unprecedented on-record level of

agreement to cooperate and collaborate to resolve the most difficult

challenges facing our province, a stable foundation from which to govern. We

have all-party agreement on some of our core philosophies and key issues

that were outlined in the throne speech.

If the B.C. Liberals are serious about these promises, if this is more

than a political gambit, then this House can pass more legislation than ever

before on the issues that matter to people, not vested union or corporate

interests but people in British Columbia — issues like political and

democratic reform, lobbying reform, childcare and early childhood education,

solutions to the housing crisis.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we actually debated solutions to the

housing crisis? I don’t know how many times the member for Vancouver–Point

Grey brought forward solutions to the housing crisis that simply fell on

deaf ears as it continued to get away from us.

When we get big money out of politics in B.C., the interests of people

will return to the forefront and we can restore people’s faith in government

and show them that government is working for people, because ultimately,

there’s a lack of trust in British Columbia that needs to be regained. We

can and already are fundamentally changing how politics works in B.C. This

is an incredible opportunity.

I will not be supporting the throne speech; I will be voting against

the throne speech. But more importantly, I encourage members on both sides

to move towards a confidence motion in this Legislature today so that we can

actually get on with the business of governing.

J. Thornthwaite: I would like to stand here and give my support to the throne speech,

but first of all, I’d like to thank my constituents of North

Vancouver–Seymour for returning me to the House as their provincial

representative.

During this past election, I had the opportunity to talk to people at

the doorstep for, actually, over a year, almost two years. I also was joined

by a small little army of volunteers that I would like to recognize. These

were people that helped me through the rain and the snow and the sleet and

the cold. It seemed like an endless winter and an endless spring of bad

weather that we all had to traipse through when we were door-knocking to

talk with people and get their opinions as to where they felt the direction

of British Columbia should go.

[3:35 p.m.]

I’d first like to thank my constituency assistant, Nick Hosseinzadeh,

who then left that paid position and went into a volunteer position as my

campaign manager. He ran a very good campaign. It was a fun campaign, and I

think most people that were able to join us on our door-knocking sessions

had a very, very good time — doing boomerangs and videos, etc.

I’d also like to personally thank Stephanie and Lindsay

Marshall-White, who did a lot of door-knocking with me, John

White and Dave McLeod, who did all the signs. We did actually experience

some sign vandalism, but they put them back up again religiously for us.

Trudy Hubbert has been a volunteer in my riding association for a very, very

long time, and I very much appreciate her support. I had some super

volunteers for door-knocking — Linton Cowan and Linda Sibau. Even my two

kids, Jeremy Johnson and Zoey Walter, were helping at the doors.

My friend Mary Tasi was also there many times, door-knocking — over

the year, actually. Ryan Vandespyker, Neil Parkinson-Dow and Simon Bower

were also my millennials. That helped keep me grounded on what was important

for millennials. J. Paul Stevenson, a Métis elder — so I’ve got the impact

and the importance from the First Nations. Arlo Sjoberg, Gordon Adair, Shaun

Hollingsworth, Kulvir Mann and her wonderful children were very, very

helpful, coming door knocking with me.

Kristy Gill; Sean Pepin; George and Lee Grills; Mike Little; Katie

Little; Gina Lazarowich; Chris Doll; Shiera Stuart; Heather Baker; Dan

Meadowcroft, who came and helped me all the way from back east in

Mississauga–Port Credit; Walter Mustapich; Greg Wilson; Vince Santacroce;

Mike Emo; John Toljanich; Pam McDonald; Taleeb Noormohamed; Larry Kancs;

Paul Robinson; Paul Mendes; Lynn Embury-Williams; Val Rosenthal; John

Ciobanu and Corinna Stowell.

I apologize if I forgot anyone. The next time I get to stand up in the

House, I will rectify that if I did. I did have a small little volunteer

army that I’m very, very much appreciative of. I can tell you that the

reason why I am here is because I did have a lot of people helping me out

for a long time. We do not get here in this House and win an election

without our volunteers. They definitely need to be appreciated, and I really

appreciate them.

Having that direct connection to the people, doing the door-knocking —

and I did a lot, as I said — is the best part of my job. You never really

know, when you go door-knocking whether or not you’re going to get a good

response, a non-response or a bad response. Sometimes we feel quite brave.

But in either case, we did it.

I believe that this throne speech is reflecting not only what the

members heard at the doors but also the ultimate results that we heard in

the election. I’m going to be mentioning a few items that were standing out

for me, but certainly there are other things that our other members will

mention that were important to them.

Before I begin, I’d like to acknowledge the passing of two British

Columbians in my riding, very prominent members in my community who passed

in the last little bit.

Many sports fans in Vancouver are mourning the sudden loss of Kent

Spencer, who worked 44 years at the Vancouver Province . Yes, he was

my constituent, married to a friend of mine. Initially a sports writer and

later in the newsroom, he was affectionately known as Spinner, a nickname he

picked up while a student reporter at The Ubyssey . Kent passed

suddenly just weeks after retirement, but he will be remembered as a

supportive co-worker and avid lover of camping and the outdoors.

Another friend of mine, a British Columbian of esteem in North

Vancouver, is Fiona Marshall-White. Fiona was an inspiration to me and many

other women who felt they could do and have it all. She had a promising

career and raised beautiful, successful children. A great career woman —

great career, great job — she volunteered for many charities, including

sports associations, youth groups, school groups and more.

[3:40 p.m.]

I wrote about Fiona’s passing earlier on this year, and I do so again

because Fiona was taken all too early by ALS. There is no cure for ALS,

which is more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, but we must redouble

our efforts to seek the cause and, therefore, a cure, to help those

suffering from ALS and, hopefully, to make them better.

Last week the Lieutenant-Governor opened the first session of the 41st

parliament with the Speech from the Throne, hence why we’re standing here,

debating the contents of that speech. The Lieutenant-Governor noted from the

outset that “British Columbia is a place like no other. Everyone who was

born here or who has come here knows that this place is special and

absolutely unique.”

We are blessed with abundant natural resources that remain the pillars

of our provincial economy. And we have evolved into a highly advanced centre

for technology, high tech, film and many other industries that drive the

global economy.

Everyone who visits this place wants to live here, and why wouldn’t

they? We are leading the country in economic performance. We have the lowest

unemployment and a diversified economy that offers opportunities to just

about everybody on earth. With the lowest taxes in the country and an

education system that boasts some of the best student outcomes in the world,

British Columbia is the best place to live, work and raise a family.

Obviously, I think North Vancouver is the best place in British

Columbia.

If you listen to what’s going on from the opposition, you’d think this

was the worst place to live. We live in the best place, and we have the most

successful economy in the country.

However, as the Speech from the Throne indicates, rapid growth places

high demand on public services of all kinds. There are higher demands on our

health care system and higher demands for classrooms, housing, child care,

mental health and, of course, transportation and transit.

Fortunately, we have a resilient provincial economy that is weathering

global markets that still remain fragile. We are the envy of the rest of the

country. After five years of balanced budgets, we have the means to direct

help and relieve increasing demands on those public

services.

One of the main concerns that I picked up at the doorstep in my riding

of North Vancouver–Seymour is affordability. Many parents worry about how

their children will be able to afford their first home.

During the last mandate of this government, there were a number of

significant measures taken to address demand for housing, including record

announcements for affordable housing. Last year the government invested $900

million into building new affordable supportive housing across the province.

People will begin to move into these 5,000 new units over the coming

months.

As the throne speech mentioned, the single most important action

governments can take to make housing more affordable is to work with local

governments and the private sector to increase supply. No one government can

do it all.

I personally, along with my colleagues from the North Shore, have

worked with — and very well with — our mayors in North Vancouver and our

federal government counterparts. We even instigated our inaugural meeting

with those groups, those three levels of government — along with our

Minister of Transportation and TransLink, as well as our Minister for

Housing — recognizing the intricate relationship between affordable housing,

housing affordability of our citizens, as well as the ability for people to

get around on transit and on our roads.

We have worked with local governments and the private sector to

increase the supply of family and starter housing for middle-income earners

— especially along new transit lines and corridors. To that end, I welcome

the announcement in the throne speech of the government bringing together a

housing summit to be convened this fall. Real estate speculation will be one

of the challenges put before those participants. But we must ensure the

middle class is not pushed out of urban real estate markets.

Our kids want to be able to live in the communities they grow up in,

and we all want to live in communities where our kids can live there too.

That’s why we are planning to work with the private sector to build 50,000

units of new housing across the province over ten years that will go into a

new rent-to-own program available to middle-class families.

[3:45 p.m.]

The purpose of this program is to help middle-class renters grow

equity through their monthly rent payments until they are in a position to

own the home. This comes in addition to the HOME partnership program that we

announced last year that will help first-time buyers put together a down

payment on a home.

To better protect renters, the government will also prohibit landlords

from skirting rent control protections when term leases expire and make sure

tenants’ rights are protected, while respecting the landlord’s ability to

make improvements to their buildings.

Another issue that I heard at the door concerning affordability was

child care. In addition to owning a home, young families find that both

partners need to work and need access to affordable and quality child

care.

To that end, the government will amend Budget 2017 to make a

billion-dollar investment in child care and early childhood education over

the next four years. This will include building 60,000 new child care spaces

— a 50 percent increase over the next four years — covering an additional

150,000 children, a fivefold increase, with either full or partial child

care subsidies; funding up to 4,000 new early childhood educators with $10

million in grants and bursaries to encourage folks to go into that vital

field; exploring partnerships with school districts to co-locate new school

care spaces at elementary schools. This has been all costed.

Also, as the throne speech points out, transit is fundamental to

shaping a sustainable and affordable future for communities. To this end,

the government plans to match federal funding for the next phase of the

mayors’ transit plan and repeal the requirement for new transit revenue

sources to be affirmed by referendum in Metro Vancouver. Certainly, nobody

wanted another referendum, and the government has listened. Metro Vancouver

mayors will then have the tools and accountability that they have asked for

to fund transit. We look forward to the new commissioner, who has started

his work.

Also in the throne speech was a feasibility study on major new

expansion projects, including LRT to the North Shore as well as up to

Squamish. I think that’s great, because a lot of people have mentioned that

to me on the doorsteps, as well as folks across the North Shore, on getting

up to the corridor, up to Squamish in a more timely manner and not having to

go actually on the Sea to Sky.

Building infrastructure is crucial to achieve these goals. I just want

to put a little plug in from the last budget, the $198 million that we were

able to secure along with all levels of government — province, federal

government and the municipalities — to fix the number one traffic nightmare

that those on the North Shore suffer from at the bottom of The Cut at the

north end of the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge. Everybody, even since we

announced that in February…. There has been frantic work going on right now

at the bottom of The Cut, and we can see all of that construction working —

not only trying to make things better for all of us as far as travelling,

but putting all of those people to work building those new

interchanges.

In addition to demands for affordable housing and better transit, we

also must address the needs of vulnerable citizens in our province. Children

are the most vulnerable in our society and the most at risk. Naturally, with

respect to children, all British Columbians will welcome a plan to fully

implement the recommendations and the report on indigenous child welfare

from special adviser Grand Chief Ed John. This plan will focus on

increasing early intervention and prevention services to

keep families together, create a more equitable funding formula for child

welfare and reunification and permanency planning.

As former Chair of the Select Standing Committee on Children and

Youth, I was able to be part of a special project examining child and youth

mental health in our province. Last year the committee released the final

report, entitled Concrete Actions for Systemic Change , which has

been a product of several years of consultation with experts in the field of

mental health, families, specialists and youth. The report illuminated

several areas of improvements, some of which our government has already

implemented. Consequently B.C. launched a new Integrated Youth Services

Initiative designed to support youth who have mental health concerns or may

be at risk of substance use.

[3:50 p.m.]

We recognize that young people can face challenges with mental illness

or substance use earlier in their lives. They need help, support and health

care services, but too often they face stigma that discourages them from

finding and accessing the right supports.

I was proud to be able to see off the riders for the sixth annual Ride

Don’t Hide at Swangard Stadium over the weekend, run by the Canadian Mental

Health Association. Those riders, those volunteers and the members from the

Canadian Mental Health Association are the ones that are trying to cut the

stigma away from mental illness and encourage those to seek help when they

need it.

I encourage them to continue on with the fight. The more of them that

are doing that…. Twelve hundred riders, actually, rode in that area of

Vancouver, but there were 30 other towns and cities across Canada, all the

way to New Brunswick, that also did their own rides to support awareness and

cutting down the stigma for mental illness. We need to do that because the

more people do that, the more resources go into mental health initiatives.

As we know, all three parties had put mental health and addictions as a

priority in their platforms.

I was, therefore, very proud to be part of the announcement on the

North Shore a few months ago — the one-stop shop for children, youth and

families called Foundry. It’s one of five sites announced in June of 2016 as

part of our provincial network of easily accessible youth service centres.

There’s one in lower Lonsdale. These centres will provide mental health,

substance use, primary care and social services hosted by local non-profit

organizations. The Speech from the Throne makes a commitment to expand the

successful provincewide Foundry program.

We also know that mental health issues are often identified at school

when there are experts available to recognize them. That’s what we’ve also

committed to in the throne speech. All schools across the province will have

at least one person trained to identify mental health issues and refer those

in need to resources.

Certainly, the folks in school districts 44 and 45 on the North Shore,

North Vancouver and West Vancouver are familiar with the work that

Mountainside Secondary does for not just their students but other students

in the region with regards to their help by specialists who specialize in

mental health. I certainly was a huge supporter of theirs. Hopefully, this

announcement with regards to the throne speech will help them in their work

going forward. Obviously, it was also a recommendation of the report that we

published last year.

Again, as former Chair of the Select Standing Committee on Children

and Youth, I also welcomed the announcement of a minister of state for

mental health, addiction and recovery. We need a strong voice at the cabinet

table to increase investments in future budgets and establish a single point

of entry for those seeking help.

I also welcome the announcement in the throne speech to appoint an

expert panel on mental health. It is necessary to review how services are

currently deployed and recommend ways to close gaps in service delivery that

sometimes make it difficult to access care. Certainly, an expert panel will

be able to help us in that work.

At the outset of my remarks, I spoke about our diversified economy.

The fact that British Columbia is the leading economy in the country means

that we have the ability to chart our own future. We stand on solid ground

with five balanced budgets in a row. We must also nurture our economy and

the way we manage our finances. In order to improve public services, we need

to keep our taxes low, attract more investment and grow the

economy.

This leads me to a topic that I rarely talk about in this House: film.

I want to illustrate how the creative sector complements other industries

and helps generate more economic activity provincewide — how the film

industry positively affects the economy provincewide and, also, jobs across

the province.

In B.C., there are 60 studio facilities that support over 45

productions all at once all across the province. Warner Bros.

Supernatural , filmed in B.C. over 11 seasons, has supported

over 9,000 full-time jobs and is responsible for over $500 million in direct

production expenditures.

[3:55 p.m.]

For season 4 alone, the Arrow production spent $44 million on

crew and labour and $30 million on goods and services and employs over 7,000

people. One production, 7,000 people. So 825 businesses in 31 communities

benefited from the production of Arrow , including special effects

companies, large production facilities, hotels, dry cleaners, small local

retailers, restaurants, catering businesses, parking, etc.

Netflix Altered Carbon , which opened up Skydance

Studios in Surrey last year, employs 400 people and has injected $100

million into the local economy. That’s expected to go for eight years.

The district of North Vancouver hosted 122 TV, movie and commercial

productions in 2016, which brought in $643,000 in fees for general revenue.

The two largest payroll companies that work for the film industry reported

$17 million in wages paid to workers with addresses in North Vancouver

alone, with the city having the highest per-capita number of film workers in

the province.

The film industry complements other industries too. For example, I

mentioned it at another time in this House. In West Kelowna, Gorman Bros.

mill provides wood for four out of five major movie producers in North

America. Not only that, almost every show or movie filmed in Canada uses

Gorman Bros. wood.

For an industry that is being threatened by the rising tide of

protectionism south of the border…. We need to do more to support our local

forest industries. That is how we are going to help bridge the gap between

the very real urban and suburban divide in our province. And there is an

urban and suburban divide.

That is what I think the throne speech addresses, and it does prove

that we are listening. Obviously, we heard things at the door. Obviously, we

heard things in the results of the election. So isn’t it obvious that we

would want to respond to that in a Speech from the Throne? What would we do

if we didn’t do that? It would prove we weren’t listening. So now that we’re

listening, everybody says that’s weird. Well, the fact is we are listening,

and the throne speech actually addresses that.

Our Finance Minister has stated that our finances are now even better

than they were documented in February, when the original budget was

produced. This is what is allowing us to promise these things in the throne

speech and still be fully costed.

I talked about childcare and early childhood education. There’s a

poverty reduction strategy in there. An increase in social assistance rates.

Indexed annual disability assistance rates. An expansion of the

single-parent employment initiative. A royal commission on education.

Certainly, the members on the opposite side have been requesting that. So

the fact that we have suggested this in the throne speech again proves that

we’re listening not just to constituents but also to other parties as

well.

The other thing that I thought was significant that I did hear

somewhat at the door was the issue of electoral reform — or, rather,

political financial reform. I believe that in our throne speech, details

were put down and addressed. In addition to a ban on what the other parties

have said — corporate and union donations — there was also an addition of

third-party donations, including donations in kind. This is important

because just saying “union and corporate donations” does not encompass all

the other donations that can occur in big money in politics. Our throne

speech puts that part of the big ban of big money into the mix to prevent

big money getting into politics in the side ways.

A ban on donations from outside British Columbia and a maximum

donation limit. I challenge the members opposite to put those sorts of

amendments into anything that they bring forward. Certainly, we saw before

the last election that one of the largest union donations was from the

Steelworkers union. That went to the members opposite.

[4:00 p.m.]

I’d like to finish here and say…. I would challenge the members

opposite to thoroughly look at the throne speech before you make your vote

and actually look at what’s in there. There’s a lot of good stuff in there

that you’ll recognize and that perhaps you can see it in your heart to

support so that we can have a stable government here.

I hope that I’ve given my remarks. Obviously, I’ve indicated that I

will be supporting this throne speech. I think it’s a good example of us

listening to our constituents and other parties and putting them all

together in a good package, so I will be supporting the throne

speech.

C. James: I’m pleased to stand and rise to speak to the throne speech. As one

often does after an election in this House, I want to begin just by saying

thank you to the constituents of Victoria–Beacon Hill for giving me the

honour to once again serve them in this House. It truly is a

privilege.

As one of our other members said on swearing-in day, it’s like the

first time every time. When you are in this place and you take that oath,

you realize the importance and the weight of responsibility that comes with

representing your constituents. I want to express how humbled I am and how

grateful I am to have the opportunity to represent them.

This is a historic time in B.C. politics, and that is saying a lot

given that our politics in British Columbia are never boring. I have heard

more discussion about politics in this last month than I think I’ve probably

heard in my time serving as an MLA. People are discussing, they’re debating,

and they’re looking at the issues more than we’ve ever seen before, sharing

their views about politics. I believe that’s all good for engagement and for

democracy.

There is one constant that is coming through in all the conversations.

For 16 years, we’ve had a government that’s been looking out for the people

at the top, and British Columbians overwhelmingly rejected that approach in

this election. That’s what people are saying. More than 1.