British Columbia Hansard — 10 April 2025, a.m., Issue 39 (43rd Parliament, 1st Session)

20250410am-Hansard-n39

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

First Session, 43rd Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday, April 10, 2025 Morning Sitting Issue No. 39 THE HONOURABLE RAJ CHOUHAN, SPEAKER ISSN 1499-2175

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

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

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

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

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

Ravi Kahlon Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation ..........................................................................................Hon. Christine Boyle Minister of Infrastructure .............................................................................................................................................. Hon. Bowinn Ma Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation ....................................................................................Hon.

Diana Gibson Minister of State for Trade ...................................................................................................................................... Hon. Rick Glumac Minister of Labour .............................................................................................................................................. Hon. Jennifer Whiteside Minister of Mining and Critical Minerals .....................................................................................................................Hon.

Jagrup Brar Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills ........................................................................................... Hon. Anne Kang Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General ...........................................................................................................Hon. Garry Begg Minister of State for Community Safety and Integrated Services ........................................................................ Hon.

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

Mike Farnworth Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship ............................................................................................... Hon. Randene Neill Minister Without Portfolio ..............................................................................................................................................Hon. Grace Lore LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Leader of the Official Opposition ..........................................................................................................................................

John Rustad Leader of the Third Party .................................................................................................................................................Jeremy Valeriote Deputy Speaker ......................................................................................................................................................................

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

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

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

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

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

Garry .......................................................Surrey-Guildford Blatherwick, Jennifer ....................................Coquitlam-Maillardville Boyle, Hon. Christine .............................Vancouver–Little Mountain Brar, Hon. Jagrup ......................................................Surrey-Fleetwood Chandra Herbert, Hon. Spencer ..................... Vancouver–West End Chant, Susie ............................................. North Vancouver–Seymour Choi, Paul ..................................................Burnaby South–Metrotown Chouhan, Hon. Raj .................................

Burnaby–New Westminster Chow, Hon. George ..........................................Vancouver-Fraserview Davidson, Hon. Tamara / Laanas ...........North Coast–Haida Gwaii Dhir, Sunita .............................................................Vancouver-Langara Dix, Hon. Adrian .................................................. Vancouver-Renfrew Eby, Hon. David, KC ....................................... Vancouver–Point Grey Elmore, Mable ................................................. Vancouver-Kensington Farnworth, Hon. Mike .................................................Port Coquitlam Gibson, Hon.

Diana ........................................Oak Bay–Gordon Head Glumac, Hon. Rick ...................................... Port Moody–Burquitlam Greene, Hon. Kelly ..............................................Richmond-Steveston Higginson, Stephanie ........................................Ladysmith-Oceanside Kahlon, Hon. Ravi .............................................................. Delta North Kang, Hon. Anne .........................................................

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

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

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

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

Prince George–Valemount Block, Lynne ..............................................West Vancouver–Capilano Boultbee, Amelia .............................................Penticton-Summerland Chan, Hon ..................................................................Richmond Centre Chapman, Brent .................................................................Surrey South Clare, Sheldon ....................................

Prince George–North Cariboo Davis, Pete ..................................................................Kootenay Rockies Day, Brennan ........................................................... Courtenay-Comox Dew, Gavin ..................................................................Kelowna-Mission Dhaliwal, Mandeep .......................................................... Surrey North Doerkson, Lorne .....................................................

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

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

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

Surrey-Cloverdale Tepper, Br yan ............................................................

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

West Vancouver–Sea to Sky INDEPENDENT Armstrong, Tara .....................Kelowna–Lake Country–Coldstream Brodie, Dallas .................................................... Vancouver-Quilchena Kealy, Jordan ............................................................. Peace River North PARTY STANDINGS Total seats – 93 BC NDP – 47 | Conservative Party of BC – 41 | BC Green Party – 2 | Independent – 3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CONTENTS Thursday, April 10, 2025 Morning Sitting Page Routine Business Tributes ............................................................................................................................................................................. 1295 Teresa Scambler Hon.

David Eby Introductions by Members ............................................................................................................................................. 1295 Statements ........................................................................................................................................................................ 1296 Victoria Royals Hockey Team Darlene Rotchford Introductions by Members ............................................................................................................................................. 1296 Introduction and First Reading of Bills ........................................................................................................................ 1296 Bill M209 — Tax Relief and Tariff Defence Act Dallas Brodie Bill M210 — Korean Heritage Month Act Paul Choi Members’ Statements ...................................................................................................................................................... 1297 Chilliwack Y outh Health Centre Á ’a:líya Warbus Passover Nina Krieger Giving Hearts Gala and Langley Community Health Foundation Harman Bhangu Indigenous Nurses Day Debra Toporowski / Qwulti’stunaat Importance of History and Values in Reconciliation Rob Botterell Upper Room Mission Fundraiser and Work in North Okanagan Harwinder Sandhu Oral Questions ................................................................................................................................................................. 1299 FIFA World Cup Tickets and MLAs Trevor Halford Hon.

Spencer Chandra Herbert Government Action on Antisemitism and Response to Issues Claire Rattée Hon. Ravi Kahlon Hon. Niki Sharma Mental Health Crisis Response Services Rob Botterell Hon. Garry Begg Taylor Bridge Replacement and Government Policy on Infrastructure Tolling Revenues Jordan Kealy Hon. Mike Farnworth

Oral Questions (continued) Government Action on Poverty Reduction Sheldon Clare Hon.

Sheila Malcolmson Ian Paton Kristina Loewen Korky Neufeld Reann Gasper Scott McInnis Jody Toor Donegal Wilson Á ’a:líya Warbus Question of Privilege (Speaker’s Ruling) ...................................................................................................................... 1304 Question of Privilege (Reservation of Right) ............................................................................................................... 1305 Trevor Halford Orders of the Day Motions Without Notice ................................................................................................................................................. 1305

Schedule for House Adjournment Hon. Mike Farnworth Committee of Supply ...................................................................................................................................................... 1306 Estimates: Ministry of Health (continued) Jeremy Valeriote Hon. Josie Osborne Statements ........................................................................................................................................................................ 1309 Clarification of Motion to Adjourn the House Hon.

Brenda Bailey Proceedings in the Douglas Fir Room Committee of Supply ...................................................................................................................................................... 1309 Estimates: Ministry of Forests (continued) Ward Stamer Hon. Ravi Parmar

1295 THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025 The House met at 10:03 a.m. [The Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Prayers and reflections: Heather Maahs. Tributes TERESA SCAMBLER Hon. David Eby: I’m looking up in the gallery, and I see a special guest who’s here with us today. Teresa Scambler has worked for government in one way or another since 1992, and tomorrow is her last day in the Legislature. She has been a public servant. She worked for many ministries: Ministry of Forests and the then Min - istry of Aboriginal Affairs. She was in the Premier’s of - fice.

She has been working for the NDP caucus since 2007, through many, many opposition years. [10:05 a.m.] My office was directly across from her desk, and on day one, she reminded me of my obligation to keep my door open so that she had good air flow. I knew immediately who was running the office. She has dedicated her professional career to the people of British Columbia. I want to thank her, and her family for sharing her with us.

She has, for the last few years, been running events for the Deputy Speaker’s office through the Legislative Assembly — many, many differ - ent community groups coming through, getting access to MLAs. We would not be where we are today without her incredible efforts. Would the House please join me in thanking Teresa for working for the people of British Columbia for so long, so effectively, and wish her luck in retirement. Introductions by Members Harman Bhangu: We have a special someone here in the gallery today: my daughter, Audriana. It’s her fifth birthday.

She was born five years ago, right when the whole pandemic was starting, and she’s been a shining light for me and my family. I know a lot of you, on the other side, when you get home, you see the little ones with the big smiles. It just warms up your heart. It doesn’t matter what the day is, how down you are. It just brightens up your day. I would like you to give her a warm welcome and wish her a happy birthday. Hon. Josie Osborne: Joining us in the House today is Mike Lowe, the director of partner engagement at the Vancouver Island Health Authority.

A lot of Mike’s work involves dealing with constituency offices around the Vancouver Island Health Authority re - gion, and he makes sure that people have the information and resources needed to support their constituents. I want to thank him for his work and support. Would the House please join me in making him feel very welcome today. Gavin Dew: I would like to welcome to the House an old friend, Parksville city councillor Joel Grenz, who I met 20 years ago when both of us were way cooler. I was in an indie rock band and he was playing guitar in a rock band called A Sheep at the Wheel. Alongside Joel is Coun.

Sean Wood, who sits on the re - gional district of Nanaimo board in addition to his duties in Parksville. Please make them both feel very welcome. Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson: I’m grateful to have several members of the B.C. Parks Foundation joining us today in the gallery. We have Ross Beaty, board chair; Andrew Day, CEO; Jennie McCaffrey, vice-president, health and education; Kate LeSouef, vice-president of programs; Kaaren Lewis, vice-president, conservation; Cohen Bradley, director of Indigenous initiatives; and Sid Venkatesh, community projects manager.

I’m excited that we will be joining them for lunch later today and look forward to talking about the great work they do to protect and conserve our beautiful province, making sure everyone can enjoy our wonderful B.C. parks and protected areas now and into the future. Can the House please make them feel welcome. Misty Van Popta: In the House today is my fiancé, Lawrence, the best man I know. Now, he’s here from California.

To quote the Premier at the Invictus Games, “our countries are having a moment,” but rest assured in our house, things are very peaceful, if not full of interesting conversations and perspectives. If you see him in the precinct today, if you can be ex - tra kind, extra hospitable, extra Canadian. In September, I would like to import him tariff-free. Nina Krieger: Joining us in the gallery today are repre - sentatives from the Victoria Brain Injury Society, execu - tive director Pam Prewett and marketing and communi - cations specialist Anthony Wheeler.

The society does incredible work to increase commun - ity awareness and reduce harmful stigma, providing sup - port, education, advocacy and housing assistance to brain injury survivors and their families. The Minister of Forests and I had the opportunity to

1296 British Columbia Debates Thursday, April 10, 2025 attend their annual gala recently, where they raised an in - credible $128,000 to support their vital mission. Please join me in making them feel very welcome. [10:10 a.m.] Trevor H alford: I just want to echo the introduction done by the Minister of Parks. We had a great breakfast this morning with the fine folks at the B.C. Parks Founda - tion. I want to give them a warm welcome and look forward to continuing to work with them in the future. Statements VICTORIA ROYALS HOCKEY TEAM Darlene Rotchford: I just wanted to give a shout-out in the House.

The Victoria Royals, our WHL team, have made it on to the second round of playoffs. As a past billet mom and as many billet parents within my riding of Esquimalt-Col - wood, I want to thank the people who support these young men to get where they need to be every day and wish them good luck against Spokane on this upcoming Sunday. Introductions by Members Susie Chant: Well, somewhere on the precinct but not quite here is a group of grade 11 students and their teacher, Bryan, from the Performance learning program at Sey - cove Secondary School in North Vancouver.

In this innov - ative and rigorous program, students and teachers strive to connect classroom studies with experiences beyond the school walls. The group that is with us today has come to Victoria for study and dialogue related to their learning about recon - ciliation with Indigenous people in B.C. I ask that this House make them feel very welcome in - deed, and I’ll be waving vigorously when they get here.

Stephanie Higginson: I’m going to echo the introduc - tion by the member for Kelowna-Mission — the two coun - cillors in the House from the city of Parksville, which is actually in my riding, Sean Wood and Joel Grenz, who I met during the campaign. Actually, before the campaign, soon after I was nomin - ated, the city of Parksville councillors showed their great service to their community by introducing themselves to me within days of getting the nomination and finding out how I was going to make things better for the city of Parksville. They will be in the House and around the precinct today.

Please, if you see them, thank them for their service. It’s a very, very tough job to be a local government council mem- ber. Would the members please help me make them feel welcome today. Hon. S pencer Chandra Herbert: Well, it is, of course, Tourism Week. We can also make it tourism month, tour - ism year, tourism decade, but I get ahead of myself. I’m excited to introduce to the House the chair of the Tourism Industry Association of B.C., J.J. Belanger, also the general manager for the beautiful Crystal Cove in To - fino; and Paula Amos with Indigenous Tourism B.C.

She’s the chief marketing officer and the development officer. They are in the House. They’re joining us for Tourism Week. I would ask the House to please make them very, very welcome. Introduction and First Reading of Bills BILL M209 — TAX RELIEF AND TARIFF DEFENCE ACT Dallas Brodie presented a bill intituled Tax Relief and Tariff Defence Act. Dallas Brodie: I move that a bill intituled Tax Reduc - tion and Tariff Defence Act, of which notice has been given in my name on the order paper, be introduced and read a first time now. This is a critical moment in British Columbia’s history.

We are a great province, built by hard-working people. Our abundant natural resources are the envy of the world. But the world is changing. These are perilous times. Tar - iffs, duties and trade disputes are increasing costs and un - certainty. Individuals and businesses need their govern - ment to defend them now. This bill will do just that.

This bill protects British Columbia from the effects of tariffs, disputes with adversarial jurisdictions and other economic challenges by (1) providing immediate and sig - nificant income tax relief to every British Columbian; and (2) addressing procedural obstacles to the development of natural resources, the building of public infrastructure and economic advancement within British Columbia. I urge the members of this House to vote in favour of the introduction of this bill. The S peaker: Members, the question is the first read - ing of the bill. Motion approved.

Dallas Brodie: I move that the bill be placed on the or - ders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today. Motion approved.

Thursday, April 10, 2025 British Columbia Debates 1297 [10:15 a.m.] BILL M210 — KOREAN HERITAGE MONTH ACT Paul Choi presented a bill intituled Korean Heritage Month Act. Paul Choi: I move that a bill intuited the Korean Herit - age Month Act, of which notice has been given in my name on the order paper, be introduced and read for a first time now. This bill will establish the month of October as Korean heritage month in British Columbia. The Korean community has had a significant impact on our province. There are more than 72,000 people of Korean descent in B.C.

In 1998, with the opening of Hannam Supermarket, the area now known as Korea-town began to take shape along North Road in Burquitlam. It is now a thriving cen - tre for business, culture and community. October is chosen as Korean heritage month because October 3 marks National Foundation Day. This day cele - brates the legendary formation of the first Korean state, Gojoseon. It is traditionally considered the date of the cre - ation of the modern Korean state. Today B.C. and Korea enjoy a strong relationship and extensive business connections.

In 2023, the Premier signed an enhanced action plan agreement with our sister province, Gyeonggi province, to strengthen cooperation on clean tech and clean energy to address climate change. As Parliamentary Secretary for Asia-Pacific Trade, I recognize that it is now more important than ever that we nurture these relationships. This bill would provide all British Columbians with an opportunity to celebrate the achievements and contribu - tions of Korean Canadians and strengthen the bond of friendship between B.C. and Korea. The Speaker: Members, the question is first reading of the bill. Motion approved.

Paul Choi: I move that the bill be placed on the or - ders of the day for second reading at the first sitting of the House after today. Motion approved. Members’ Statements CHILLIW ACK YOUTH HEALTH CENTRE Á’a:líya Wa rbus: I rise today to celebrate and talk about the incredible mental health services offered by the Chil - liwack Youth Health Centre. The centre has been serving the community of Chilli - wack for over ten years, providing free counselling, med - ical appointments and social services to youth aged 12 to 26. The organization is a pillar of hope and support for our children, province and future.

In 2023, the cen - tre served 3,750 youth, with 22 percent identifying as In - digenous. The Chilliwack Youth Health Centre offers key experi - ence as a learning centre for interns ranging from the cer - tificate level to the doctorate level, earning them recogni - tion from the Health Standards Organization for their im - pactful, intern-led supervision model. The centre meets youth where they are at, with three locations in Chilliwack working in conjunction with partner organizations Ann Davis Transition services, the YMCA and B.C. Schizophrenia, as well as counsellors working in six different locations.

The Chilliwack Youth Health Centre is wide-reaching. I’m so proud of their hard work, dedication and compassion. It’s important that our youth know we care about them and that we are all here to support them. The Chilliwack Youth Health Centre has been operating on a shoestring budget, and they have dreams of expanding their critical work. Unfortunately, they find themselves in a difficult pos - ition. The amount they need is the difference between maintaining operations at their current level or forcing them to scale down the services that many youth in our province rely on.

Potentially, they face the risk of closure. It is my hope that others in this assembly recognize the important work taking place by the Chilliwack Youth Health Centre and will join me in finding a meaningful solution for all of the young people in Chilliwack. PASSOVER Nina Krieger: As the sun sets this Saturday, Jewish communities in British Columbia and around the world will gather around the Seder table in observance of Pass - over. During this special meal that includes symbolic foods, prayer and song, families and friends will tell the story of the Israelites’ journey from slavery to freedom, in Egypt.

The Haggadah, the book used to guide the Seder, contains the directive that, in every generation, a person is obligated to see themselves as if they left Egypt. This powerful idea is explored by writer Dara Horn, best known for her volume of essays People Love Dead Jews, in her newest book, a graphic novel with another provoca - tive title, One Little Goat: A Passover Catastrophe.

1298 British Columbia Debates Thursday, April 10, 2025 [10:20 a.m.] A young boy escapes a seemingly endless Passover Seder in the company of a talking goat, who takes him through space and time to Seder tables of historically iconic Jews, including Sigmund Freud, the 16th-century philanthropist Dona Nasi, and the Talmudic tag team known as Rav and Shmuel. Horne captures something profound felt at Passover, the understanding that the same retelling of Exodus is being carried out by Jews across the world and that this retelling has taken place year after year across millennia.

Current events inevitably shape discussions about free - dom that take place around the Seder table, often late into the night. It is impossible to avoid the history of the perse - cution of Jewish people, which continues to this day. But this is only part of the Passover story, which at its heart is about how Jews lived and how they survived. It is a story of remarkable resilience and of enduring tradition and values passed from generation to generation. I wish all those who observe a happy and meaningful Passover. Chag Pesach sameach.

GIVING HEARTS GALA AND LANGLEY COMMUNITY HEALTH FOUNDATION Harman B hangu: Hon. Speaker, I rise today to recog - nize an extraordinary event that continues to make a last - ing impact on health care in the community of Langley, the Giving Hearts Gala. This year marked the sixth annual gala, held on April 4 at the Mirage Banquet Hall, organized by the Langley Community Health Foundation. The event brought together over 250 generous attendees and community- minded individuals, raising an incredible $331,000 in a single night.

These funds support the newly established Guru Nanak Endowment Fund, which aims to raise $1 million over the next five years to meet urgent needs at Langley Memor - ial Hospital. Inspired by the spirit of selfless service, this fund will provide long-term, reliable resources to improve critical care for patients in our growing region. Since its inception in 2019, the Giving Hearts Gala has now raised over $1.8 million, a truly remarkable contri - bution. This generosity has helped fund projects like the Martini Family Emergency Centre, mobility equipment for seniors and specialized bassinets for newborns.

I would also like to thank Peter Fassbender and Hea - ther Scott from the Langley Community Health Founda - tion — they do some incredible work — and also Balraj Mann and Mangit Gill, who serve on the board for the Giving Hearts Gala. As MLA for Langley-Abbotsford, I am proud to ac - knowledge their outstanding contributions, which will benefit residents across our riding for generations to come.

INDIGENOUS NURSES DAY Debra Toporowski / Qwulti’stunaat: Today is Indi gen- ous Nurses Day and a day for us to acknowledge and hon - our and celebrate Indigenous nurses for their incredible contributions to health care and their tireless dedication to the people they care for. We recognize the unique knowledge, experience and determination of generations of Indigenous nurses who have advanced Indigenous health care. Indigenous nurses are a critical part of our health care system, providing cul - turally safe and appropriate care to people in commun - ities across the province.

The invaluable contributions they make are essential to the further development of improving the quality of life and well-being and healthy outcomes for Indigenous Peoples in B.C. This day is an opportunity to recognize the work we’re doing to dismantle harmful colonial practices and sys - tems. We continue to move forward on commitments to provide Indigenous-specific, culturally safe, trauma-in - formed practices, anti-racism in our health care system, upholding the In Plain Sight report and B.C.’s health hu - man resources strategies.

It is with deep gratitude that we celebrate the achievements and contributions of Indigen - ous nurses. I want to stop to shout out to my niece Rebecca White, who is in her fourth year, in a practicum, and will be placed next week.

This is a day for Indigenous nurses and their allies to come together and to preserve the cultural integrity and traditional knowledge they hold and recognize their ten - acity, courage and activism to meet the health care needs of Indigenous peoples. [10:25 a.m.] Thank you to all the Indigenous nurses for their amaz - ing work and for ensuring access to integral, trauma-in - formed, culturally safe health care for all.

IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY AND V ALUES IN RECONCILIATION Rob Botterell: Before I begin, I want to acknowledge that we’re meeting today on the ancestral, traditional and stolen territory of the lək̓ ʷəŋən-speaking peoples. On the first day of this legislative session, Elder Mary Ann Thomas opened this House in a good way, also with some uncomfortable truths about our shared history. On that day, Mary Ann Thomas relayed how she was sent to residential school. She said her long hair was cut short, she was hit, and her head was put in a toilet bowl.

She said she shares these stories because: “I’m speaking for the ones that don’t have a voice.” We don’t record and study history because it’s pleasant. We keep history alive because it helps us understand each other. As members of this Legislative Assembly, it is our

Thursday, April 10, 2025 British Columbia Debates 1299 responsibility to be leaders and ambassadors for the right way of doing things, to demonstrate through our words and our actions, ʔiisaak, one of Huu-ay-aht First Nations’ sacred principles, which means “conducting yourself with utmost respect.” This big House in which we do our work has meaning collectively because we give it meaning. Every day, we up - hold a shared set of values. Every day, we stand against ra - cism, discrimination, denialism and the re-victimization of residential school survivors.

Our symbols and trad - itions give this place power and a presence in the lives of all British Columbians. It is this responsibility, of every single one of us, that we hold each other accountable to uphold our shared values every single day of every year.

UPPER ROOM MISSION FUNDRAISER AND WORK IN NORTH OKANAGAN Harwinder Sandhu: I rise today with a full heart to shine a light on a truly special event happening in Vernon: An Evening in Paris, the Upper Room Mission’s annual spring fundraising gala taking place this Saturday at our beloved Coldstream Hall, which our government proudly funded along with 84 child care spaces. This isn’t just a night of elegance and charm; it’s a cele- bration of compassion, dignity and community.

It is an opportunity for us to come together not just to enjoy the romance of the evening but also to uplift the lives of those who need the most. Since 1980, the Upper Room Mission has stood as a pillar of hope for Vernon and North Okanagan. Whether it’s a hot meal, a clean shower, warm clothing or a listen - ing ear, the Mission meets people where they are without judgment, with open hearts. Their work reminds us that kindness is not just a gesture, but it is a lifeline.

Beyond the essential services, Upper Room Mission Boutique Thrift Store beautifully weaves in sustainability with generosity, proving that even a small purchase can be

an act of profound giving. I have had the small privilege to support the Mission in small ways, like dropping off water and electrolyte drinks during the scorching hot summers, connecting with re - markable team, staff and volunteers and witnessing the strength and courage of those they serve. Those moments have left a lasting impact on me, reminding me that true community is built not just by what we say, but by how we show up for one another. To Jacco de Vin, the executive director, and every sin - gle team member and volunteer: thank you. Your passion and perseverance are changing lives.

To the donors who make this work possible: your gen - erosity echoes far beyond what you can see. I invite you to be a part of this movement. Visit upper - roommission.ca and join us this Saturday, April 12, at An Evening in Paris. Let’s celebrate, let’s give, and let’s continue to lift each other. [10:30 a.m.] Susie Chant: I seek leave to make a reintroduction. Leave granted. Introductions by Members Susie Chant: The grade 11 students that I referenced earlier are now in the gallery, from Seycove School. I would like the House to make them very welcome.

Oral Questions FIFA WORLD CUP TICKETS AND MLAs Trevor Halford: Will the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport please name the MLAs that he was re - ferring to when he stated that he was asked directly for World Cup tickets? Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert: Well, conversations happen in the hallways with new members, and I don’t have any intent of sharing their names and embarrassing them in front of the House. You know, at that stage, it’s done. The Speaker: Member, supplemental. Trevor Halford: What the minister said on April 8 was a serious allegation.

We have talked to all members on our side of this House regarding the Minister of Tourism stating that he was asked directly for World Cup tickets. He said, on April 8: “I know not everybody on that side maybe sup - ports soccer, but I do know some of the members were asking me for tickets. I don’t have any tickets to give you, Members. You’ll have to buy them, like the general public, when they become available.” That leads us to two conclusions. Either this minister has chosen to mislead the House, or those ticket requests are coming from his own caucus. Which is it? Interjections. The Speaker: Shhh, Members.

Please continue. Trevor Halford: Or the minister can get up in this House and name the MLAs that have asked him directly for World Cup tickets.

1300 British Columbia Debates Thursday, April 10, 2025 Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert: I have private con - versations with members from all parties, but I don’t want to expose the new members — on that side, I would say. Maybe the other option that the member didn’t consider is that his caucus members haven’t been telling him the full truth. GOVERNMENT ACTION ON ANTISEMITISM AND RESPONSE TO ISSUES Claire Rattée: Antisemitism is not a joke. Racism is never acceptable, and it must never be normalized.

A newly elected Vancouver councillor has made deeply troubling statements, including invoking antisemitic tropes and mocking Jewish identity by referring to a secret cabal of Jews. In response to someone saying they wanted the destruction of both Israel and Canada, he replied: “Me too, son. Me too.” Will the Premier finally step up as a leader and repudi - ate Sean Orr for these vile antisemitic statements? Hon. Ravi Kahlon: I want to thank the member for the question as well as the statement that was made yesterday in this House. We know that the comments….

I’m hearing from peo - ple, directly, that the comments made by this new coun - cillor have caused real hurt and pain for many within the Jewish community. The community has been feeling a lot of fear over the last few years, in particular with the rise of antisemitism-related incidents. We, of course, stand against hate and racism and anti - semitism. We’ve said that many times. The member will perhaps not know, but we created an independent human rights commission in British Columbia to address that very core question. We work closely with the Jewish com - munity on that. Interjections. Hon.

Ravi Kahlon: I don’t know why this needs to be heckled. This is an important topic. We’re going to continue to work with the commun - ity. Of course, this councillor will have to respond and address the harms that his comments have made, but I’ll leave it to that councillor to do that. The Speaker: Member, supplemental. Claire Rattée: With all due respect, my question was for the Premier, and my question was about repudiating those specific comments. Sean Orr isn’t the only person who has an antisemitism problem.

As we learned from former NDP cabinet min - ister Selina Robinson, the NDP and the B.C. public ser - vice have a systemic antisemitism problem. Members of the British Columbia Jewish community should not be singled out for hate by their government or their elected representatives. What actions is this Premier taking to root out sys - temic antisemitism, identified by his former minister, be - sides just setting up a hotline? [10:35 a.m.] Hon. Niki Sharma: We have stood up, in unpreced - ented ways, to stop the rise of antisemitism and hate in this province.

That goes as far as putting direct resources to community members, setting up safe zones around schools and launching a racist incident helpline, which has received more than 600 calls, where people can call and receive resources and referrals when they’re experi - encing hate. We all have to stand together to condemn the rise of antisemitism in this province and in the world. We stand with the Jewish people in fighting against antisemitism.

I’ll continue to do everything I can as Attorney General to make sure our systems are tooled up to respond and continue to meet with the community to make sure that we are responding to their needs. This is a very serious issue, and it is something we take very seriously. The Speaker: Member for Prince George–North Cari - boo. Sheldon Clare: This year British Columbia received…. The Speaker: Sorry, Member. I skipped again. Third Party House Leader.

MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE SERVICES Rob Botterell: The report on reforming the Police Act recommended improving the province’s response to men- tal health emergencies. When a crisis occurs, we must use an appropriate response. A mental health crisis does not often fit into the exist - ing options of police, fire or ambulance. Adding a mental health option to 911, as recommended by the Police Act Committee and the Canadian Mental Health Association, would vastly improve the well-being and safety of British Columbians.

To the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General: will you create a fourth option to 911 that is dedicated to responding to mental health calls with the appropriate level of response? Hon. Garry Begg: Thank you to the member opposite for his question. He is correct. The Committee on Reforming the Police Act has examined at length an option when you call 911 for

Thursday, April 10, 2025 British Columbia Debates 1301 mental health to be identified. That is something that cur - rently is underway. In the near future, I expect that there will be a determination made that will satisfy his question. The Speaker: Member, supplemental. Rob Botterell: Since the year 2000, there have been more than 800 deaths in Canada due to police use of force. Black and Indigenous people comprise less than 9 per - cent of Canada’s population but account for over 27 per - cent of police-involved shooting deaths.

Many of these victims were experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of their death. These deaths were preventable. Peer-assisted care teams have had a demonstrable impact in the communities where they are operational, showing that there is a path forward for non-police emer - gency response. To the Minister of Public Safety: when will your gov - ernment modernize emergency mental health response by expanding peer-assisted care teams across the province? Hon. Garry Begg: The member opposite raises an im - portant question about policing and how it is enacted in this province.

On the Committee on Reforming the Police Act, one of the things we looked at was various responses that are not police-related, things that very clearly from the outset do not have their base in criminal activity. You will be pleased to know, Member, that the condi - tions that govern police, as they relate to responding to persons with mental illnesses, have been adjusted all across the country so that one of the things they consider first is whether or not the base is a mental health issue.

Now, various jurisdictions across the country, includ - ing in British Columbia, have made allowances, and we do have, today, peer-assisted teams at work throughout the province. [10:40 a.m.] TAYLOR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT AND GOVERNMENT POLICY ON INFRASTRUCTURE TOLLING REVENUES Jordan Kealy: My fellow MLA did quite the little ditty on Tuesday in regard to our failing infrastructure system, and it rang true. He sang about the Taylor Bridge falling down. The actual name of this bridge is the Peace River Bridge. Did you know the original bridge did fall down in 1957?

Massive payloads go over this bridge every day as we move our vast resources to support the large wealth and revenue of British Columbia. We need this critical bridge to be replaced with a new one that is capable of handling British Columbia’s essential trade goods. The people of my region have been promised a new bridge for over 20 years, and still we have holes in the bridge decking over and over. The bridge has been fixed so many times that it is probably more weld-repair than original steel.

Can the minister finally give a deadline for the con - stituents of the Peace region of when the construction of a new four-lane bridge will begin before history repeats it - self? Then it could be named the “Farny Bridge Is Falling Down.” Hon. Mike Farnworth: I thank the member for the question. I can tell him that we recognize, obviously, the import - ance of the Taylor Bridge, in terms of its importance to his region of the province, but indeed the province’s transpor- tation system as a whole. I can tell him that there is work underway, in terms of what the long-term options are around the bridge.

There is significant work, in terms of looking at three phases, in terms of the structural assessment around the current bridge. There will be additional work being done later this year. I have met with the member from Peace River South, for example, who has also come to see me to talk about the importance of the bridge. The previous MLA from Peace River North had also been working with me in the past, in terms of how this bridge needs to be replaced.

What we are ensuring is that it continues to be safe and is inspected on a regular basis, but the work that is re - quired so that we can get to the point of deciding what the best option, in terms of replacing it is and what we should look at, is currently underway. The Speaker: Member, before the member asks a sup - plemental question, just a reminder: no names to be said in the question. Member, supplemental. Jordan Kealy: My apologies, Mr. Speaker.

I think when it comes to the song that I would pick, it would probably be Garth Brooks’s “I’ve got friends in low places,” because taxpayers are being driven into poverty. We need to actually start doing the major infrastruc - ture upgrades necessary for our province to flourish and become self-sufficient and get rid of the trade barriers across Canada. This has to be done for B.C. to go forward, not focus on pulling Kentucky bourbon off of the shelves.

Will the Premier commit that, if tolls, fees and levies are applied, the money will be used to pay for critical and vital infrastructure upgrades across British Columbia and not just be used as a slush fund of broken promises to Brit- ish Columbians? Hon. Mike Farnworth: I can tell the hon. member that when it comes to infrastructure in this province, this gov -

1302 British Columbia Debates Thursday, April 10, 2025 ernment is currently in the minus more than $15 billion in terms of transportation infrastructure across British Columbia. The member talks about the Peace River. We recognize the importance of that. More than $188 million has been invested since we have been in power, and $29 million has gone into ensuring that the planning work and work that needs to take place around the Taylor Bridge has been underway. There will be further announcements on that in the not too distant future — in the near future, Prince George–Mackenzie, in fact.

We know the importance of the Taylor Bridge to Brit - ish Columbia. It will need to be replaced. What I can tell you right now is that we are starting the work to ensure that, when it’s replaced, it meets the needs of a growing province, it meets the needs of a province that wants to diversify trade and it meets the needs of not just British Columbia but ten provinces and three territories. That’s what this government is committed to doing. [10:45 a.m.] The Speaker: Member for Prince George–North Cari - boo. GOVERNMENT ACTION ON POVERTY REDUCTION Sheldon Clare: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Glad to be back again.

This year British Columbia received an F for poverty, an F for housing and an F for government support from Food Banks Canada. Why does the Minister of Poverty Reduction continue to claim progress when every independent measure shows her ministry is failing across the board? Hon. Sheila Malcolmson: We are very concerned about the impacts of global inflation and now the extra threat of uncertainty created by tariffs and the impacts on people. We all hear and feel the pressures on people every day. What I will say, though, is that there was no poverty reduction strategy until this government came into place.

The social assistance rates were frozen for a decade when the Leader of the Opposition was sitting at the cabinet table. We’ve increased rates five times. We’ve increased minimum wage seven times after that. When the Leader of the Opposition was in government, his Minister of So - cial Development removed the disability bus pass from people with disabilities. We returned it. And the list goes on. We have got a lot more work to do, but I’ll hold our record up against the Leader of the Opposition’s any day.

Ian Paton: After 32 years in his home, Ken, an 86-year- old south Delta constituent of mine, was evicted, given five minutes to gather what he could and left to sleep in his car. He was denied income assistance because he owned the vehicle he was forced to sleep in. This is how B.C. treats its seniors after a lifetime of work and contrib - uting to this economy. How does the Social Development Minister justify a system that punishes struggling seniors and abandons them completely? Hon.

Sheila Malcolmson: That sounds like a terrible story, and I hope that the member will bring that directly to my office so we can find out what happened. After the age of 65, income supports are delivered by the federal government, not the provincial government, but nevertheless, we are very concerned about seniors poverty. We did double the seniors…. Interjections. The Speaker: Shhh, Members. Interjection. The Speaker: Member. Member. Hon. Sheila Malcolmson: Excellent. I’m hearing the member yell that he has sent it to my office, and I will get back to him this afternoon with what we found.

Again, I’ll say we have targeted poverty reduction, and we’ve been pushing the federal government to add income supports. When the federal government supports for sen - iors are inadequate, then we are doing our best to provide emergency supports for seniors. If any members have got challenges, please do bring them to my office, and we’ll work together. Kristina Loewen: Low-income British Columbians are struggling to make ends meet, and the actions of this NDP government are only making things worse. Income as - sistance in B.C. is $935 a month.

Rentals.ca reported this morning that the average rent for a one-bedroom in Van - couver is over $2,500. How does this Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction expect anyone to survive when govern - ment support doesn’t even cover half the rent? Hon. Sheila Malcolmson: We all feel, in every com - munity, the impact of global inflation and, absolutely, the impact of housing costs on people across every income level.

That’s why we’ve been investing so much both in build- ing out affordable housing and also, for example, just this week with the support of the Green Party, expanding the SAFER and RAP grants to be able to apply rent relief to people in particularly high markets. We have increased the shelter rate twice already, under

Thursday, April 10, 2025 British Columbia Debates 1303 this government, for exactly that reason.

Importantly, al - though we’ve increased income assistance rates five times, where the Leader of the Opposition’s government had fro- zen rates for a decade, we also recognize that income as - sistance alone is not enough for people to live on. [10:50 a.m.] That’s why we’ve been working so hard to increase the earnings threshold, so that people can add employment income, and through the work of our WorkBC centres and partners across the province, supporting people who have been alienated from the workforce so that they can earn employment income along with income assistance.

Korky Neufeld: Rather than supporting people living with disabilities, this NDP government is actively holding them back. The income cutoff for disability assistance is a mere $19,440 for a household per year — two people ex - pected to survive on less than $1,620 a month during an affordability crisis. Does the Minister of Social Development seriously be - lieve that’s enough for two people with disabilities to live on in British Columbia with dignity? Hon.

Sheila Malcolmson: Absolutely, the work that we have been doing as a government to build supports for people living with disabilities has been at the centre of our work. That’s why we brought in British Columbia’s first accessibility legislation. That’s why we have increased rates for people with disabilities again, which the previous B.C. Liberal government, the Leader of the Opposition, froze. Well, that’s why we have made five increases to dis - ability rates since 2017, the largest by any government in British Columbia ever.

Since 2017, the rate for a single person is up 74 percent from where we found it when we formed government. This year our budget invests another $1.6 billion over three years to support expanded income disability assistance. There is more for us to do, but our record of investing in people is clear, and we will continue to do that work. Reann Gasper: Children deserve our love, our support and our protection. But in British Columbia, while chil - dren make up just 15 percent of the population, they are 30 percent of food bank users.

Can this Social Development Minister explain how a government that claims to care about kids allows one in three food bank users to be a hungry child? Hon. Sheila Malcolmson: What we hear is a deep need for people to have access to nutritious, affordable food wherever they are. We absolutely have front-ended our investments into making sure that children get their very best start. Our work, that we funded directly through the United Way, to establish food hubs in communities in all corners of the province has been a very important part of that work, knitting together community response.

Especially encouraging is when I see the work of my ministry linking into the work of the Ministry of Educa - tion and Child Care, for the first time, for our province to have invested in school food programs, so that kids start their day with a good meal. It’s foundational. It’s work that has never been funded at this rate by any provincial government in B.C., and the need has never been deeper. Scott McInnis: The CEO at Community Living B.C. gets a $12,000 vehicle allowance on top of a $300,000 sal - ary. All the while, families across B.C. are $200 away from not being able to pay their bills every month.

Why is the Poverty Reduction Minister supporting lux - ury lifestyles while food banks across this province are maxed out? Hon. Sheila Malcolmson: Which way to take the mem- ber’s question…? The investments that we have made in expanding sup - ports for adults with developmental disabilities who are served by the Crown agency Community Living B.C. ex - panded again this year, because people with disabilities are living longer. That is a good-news story, but the case - load has increased. The focus, absolutely….

Ninety-seven percent of the budget goes directly to people that need supports, and we hear from families and adults with developmental disabil - ities that they need more support. [10:55 a.m.] That’s why, again, this year’s budget has expanded by an additional $380 million over three years to support the increase in clients supported by Community Living B.C. We will continue to do that work. Jody Toor: Mr. Speaker, 67 percent of youth aging out of care go to bed hungry; 90 percent can’t afford three meals a day.

How does this Social Development Minister explain a system that lets young people enter adulthood starving and in debt after growing up in government care? Hon. Sheila Malcolmson: The problem that the mem - ber names is exactly why British Columbia’s first home - lessness strategy invested very first in young people leav - ing foster care. I remember so clearly the words of Premier Horgan saying that if children were removed from their families, it’s our government’s responsibility to set them up in the very best way. That’s why we’ve extended the age of majority for chil- dren to age 26.

I’m looking at the minister. That’s exactly so that we can bridge in those ways so that young people have the very best start. They have $600

1304 British Columbia Debates Thursday, April 10, 2025 more every month to go towards rent. This is the SAJE program. That gives us an opportunity for kids leaving foster care to get connected with the nutritious food, with the income supports, with free tuition that we’ve made available at every college and university. This is all work to have young people exiting care be on their very best step and make life more affordable for them. Donegal Wilson: Indigenous people in B.C. face pov - erty rates nearly twice the provincial average. It’s even higher for children in our rural communities.

When will this Minister of Poverty Reduction start providing the basic supports Indigenous families need to survive? Hon. Sheila Malcolmson: When we asked people across British Columbia as we rebuilt our poverty reduc - tion strategy, which was tabled in this House this year, we heard from people all across the province, 70 percent of whom had direct lived experience with poverty. A signifi - cant number were Indigenous people, and we did a com - pletely separate Indigenous stream. The advice that we got is built directly into our poverty reduction strategy.

We’re working with partners, meeting with leaders from across nations, from every First Nation, to talk about how, between federal income support delivery and off- reserve, off-Nation income support delivery, which comes from the province, we can work together to get the very best connection. We’re absolutely concerned, and working together with First Nations leadership, about how we can build systems that are culturally informed and helping people change their lives for the better. Á’a:líya W a rbus: I heard the minister reflect that they have launched a poverty reduction strategy in 2019.

But this government has had eight years, three mandates, two Premiers, and all we’ve seen is a record number of food bank users across the province of British Columbia. We’re talking about a ministry that gives a CEO a $12,000 car allowance when I have a constituent, Mary Jean — I hope that you’re watching — who suffered a stroke at 53 and was forced to return to work in excruciat - ing pain just to survive.

She lives with her adult disabled son, who cannot work, and together they rely on two next- to-nothing disability cheques — very careful, of course, for her hours as to not suffer clawbacks on her limited income. Since then, we’ve seen — all of the members on this side, and I’m sure the House could agree — that food in - security and housing has become unaffordable.

The Speaker: Question, Member. Á’a:líya Wa rbus: My question is the same question that Mary Jean came to ask me in my office, and that is: what is the purpose of government if it cannot support its most vulnerable, and do she and her son have the human right to live? [11:00 a.m.] Hon. Sheila Malcolmson: The people that are at the heart of this work, just as the member cites…. This is exactly why we’re in government — to build the systems that combat the impacts…. Interjections. The Speaker: Members. Member. Hon. Sheila Malcolmson: They’re heckling. I haven’t even said three words already.

This is exactly what motivates our government. We see across the globe the impacts of global inflation. We see people in every corner of the province, in every corner…. Interjections. The Speaker: Members, let her conclude. Hon. Sheila Malcolmson: Shall I wait for the members to stop heckling? Interjections. Hon. Sheila Malcolmson: For goodness’ sake. Okay, the member says we haven’t taken action. We’ve increased minimum wage seven times. We have increased income assistance 74 percent. Interjections. The Speaker: Members. Hon. Sheila Malcolmson: We have decreased…. Interjections. The Speaker: Shhh, Members.

Members will come to order. Interjections. The Speaker: Obviously, the opposition is not interested in listening to answers, so let’s end the question period. [End of question period.] Question of Privilege (Speaker’s Ruling) The Speaker: Hon. Members, on Monday, April 7, the

Thursday, April 10, 2025 British Columbia Debates 1305 member for Kamloops Centre raised a question of privil - ege respecting the ability of the official opposition to scru - tinize the 2025-26 budget and main estimates before the House, particularly following the enactment of Bill 8, inti - tuled Carbon Tax Amendment Act, 2025, last week. The Minister of Finance requested an opportunity to make representations to the Chair on the matter and did so in the House on Tuesday, April 8. The Chair thanks the member for Kamloops Centre and the Minister of Finance for their submissions.

The Chair is now prepared to rule on the matter. It is the role of the Chair to examine submissions made under a question of privilege and to determine on the evi - dence presented whether a prima facie breach of privilege has occurred. As acknowledged by the member for Kamloops Centre, in considering a question of privilege the Chair must first assess if the initial criterion has been met, being whether the question was raised at the earliest opportunity.

This strict requirement and the inability of the Chair to relax it is canvassed in detail in Parliamentary Practice in British Columbia, fifth edition, at pages 401 to 403. In order to satisfy the earliest opportunity criterion, it is the view of the Chair that the member for Kamloops Centre had a reasonable opportunity to, at minimum, re - serve his right to raise a question of privilege on this mat - ter while he prepared his submission. On this basis, the Chair concludes that this criterion has not been met, and it is the ruling of the Chair that a prima facie breach of privilege has not occurred.

However, the Chair wishes to take this opportunity to provide guidance to the House as it relates to some of the matters at hand. The Committee of Supply is tasked with examining requested annual appropriations for each ministry, social office or other purpose. A final supply act enacted by the Legislature thereafter serves as the legal mechanism by which those appropriations are assessed by the government from the consolidated revenue fund.

While fiscal forecasts can change, the Chair accepts that the decisions before the House and the Committee of Supply, in terms of main estimates appropriations being requested by the government, have not changed. Expendi - tures by the government cannot exceed individual vote totals without additional legislative authority. [11:05 a.m.] Having reviewed the written submissions, the member for Kamloops Centre and the Minister of Finance disagree with respect to the

interpretation of relevant statutory provisions. While that is not a matter for the Chair to ad - judicate, the Chair can appreciate the arguments made by the member for Kamloops Centre and the frustration that members of the House may feel when they are being asked to consider budgetary measures in an ever-changing fiscal environment. The Chair trusts and expects that the House and the role in the financial life of the province will be fully re - spected and that the government will fulfil its statutory obligations to provide timely updates throughout the fis - cal year.

Question of Privilege (Reservation of Right) Trevor Halford: I rise to reserve my right to raise a ques- tion of privilege related to comments made earlier today in question period. Hon. Brittny Anderson: I seek leave to make an intro - duction. Leave granted. Introductions by Members Hon. Brittny Anderson: Today I would like to welcome members of the Colville Confederated Tribes and the Sn̓ ʕaýckstx Confederacy — Roger Finley, Steven Carson, Marty Repp, Margaret Rosling and Shelly Boyd — to the Legislature. If all members could please make them feel very wel - come. Orders of the Day Motions Without Notice

SCHEDULE FOR HOUSE ADJOURNMENT Hon. Mike Farnworth: I move: [That, notwithstanding Standing Order 2 (2) (b), when the House next adjourns, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Monday, April 14, 2025.] This is to correct a discrepancy that exists in the stand - ing orders regarding what used to be a two-week break and is currently a one-week break when we get it. Motion approved. Hon. Mike Farnworth: In this chamber, I call con - tinued debate for the estimates of the Ministry of Health. In the Douglas Fir Room,

Section A, I call continued debate on the estimates of the Ministry of Forests. The House in Committee,

Section B. The committee met at 11:13 a.m. [Lorne Doerkson in the chair.]

1306 British Columbia Debates Thursday, April 10, 2025 Committee of Supply ESTIMATES: MINISTRY OF HEALTH (continued) The C hair: Good morning, Members. We’ll call this House back to order, and we will call on the minister to move the vote. On Vote 32: ministry operations, $34,996,928,000 (continued). The Chair: Continued questions on the Ministry of Health. Jeremy Valeriote: Thank you to the minister and her team for graciously extending Health estimates by a day. I believe I have until we adjourn at around noon. If that’s incorrect, please let me know. I’ll carry on.

The change to witnessed consumption for prescribed safer supply is predicted to disconnect many people. We’ve heard how difficult it can be to show up at a phar - macy, often several times per day, to receive the medica - tions they need. The provincial health officer and the office of the chief coroner of B.C. have both recommended to reduce bar - riers to accessing OAT and other life-saving interventions, but the witnessed consumption model seems to increase barriers. This could push many people to return to a reli - ance on the toxic street supply.

How will the ministry reduce people’s reliance on the poison drug supply and connect them to regulated al - ternatives? [11:15 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.] Hon. Josie Osborne: Thank you to the member for the question. I’ll start off by stating that the prescribed alternatives program is an important tool in tackling the impacts of the toxic drug crisis that we are facing. It is one of the tools in the suite of harm reduction approaches, in addi - tion to others, and is important to help keep people alive, people who are facing addictions to this increasingly toxic illicit drug supply.

The prescribed alternatives program during COVID…. We knew that in order to keep people in access…. To have access to these medications that are helping to keep them alive, it was important to move to a model that was more flexible so that people could access these medications. We also know, though, that prescribed medications of any kind need to be used by the people for whom they are intended to be used. They needed to be consumed by the people who need them and who are prescribed these al - ternatives.

That’s why we’ve made the decision to move into a witnessed program where consumption is wit - nessed by a health professional. That is part of decreas - ing the risk of prescribed alternatives going into the wrong hands, places where we don’t want to see that take place.

We also know that bringing people into close contact with prescribers is an option for them to continue the work in this health care relationship and an opportunity for prescribers to work with their clients, their patients, in helping to titrate or move people away from prescribed al - ternatives, as it is safe to do, and into opioid agonist ther - apy, for example. The most commonly used prescribed alternative medi - cation is hydromorphone, and we know that this is not meeting the needs of all people and that we need, collect - ively as a health care community, to be looking at better ways to serve people.

Again, as the toxic drug supply chan- ges, as street fentanyl becomes more and more dangerous, we need to be able to adapt and change. We are working with the BCCSU and with clinicians to develop guidance to assist prescribers in this work. Again, this is about finding the right medications to ensure that people’s needs are being met. It’s about balancing two very important priorities in public health.

One, that we keep people alive as we help them access the treatment and re - covery services that they need, and the second, that we en - sure that prescribed alternatives are used by the people for whom they are intended and that we do everything we can to reduce and mitigate the risk of them being diverted into hands that we do not want to see them in. We’re going to continue this work.

The witnessed con - sumption currently applies to all new clients while we do this important work with the BCCSU and clinicians to de - velop this guidance and move people who are currently using prescribed alternatives into a witnessed consump - tion model. Jeremy Valeriote: Thank you to the minister for that answer. Will the minister work towards evaluating an ex - panded scope of prescribed alternatives? What work has been done to evaluate the options listed in the provincial health officer’s 2024 report Alternatives to Unregulated Drugs: Another Step in Saving Lives? [11:25 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.] Hon.

Josie Osborne: Thank you, again, to the member for the question and referencing the report that the public health officer and her office, Dr. Henry, provided. I want to first acknowledge the importance of that. Government continues to review that and consider the recommendations and has already implemented some of the recommendations from that report, including even just the language that we use. Describing and calling this program, as it should be, as prescribed alternatives rather than the former name of safer supply to truly indicate that this is about a clin -

Thursday, April 10, 2025 British Columbia Debates 1307 ical and appropriate medical response to a health issue and that prescribed alternatives are truly medications, as I described in my previous answer, that help keep people alive while they can work with their health care provid - ers and clinicians to change into other forms of therapy, like opioid agonist therapy, and most importantly, as well, maintain those human relationships so that they can be connected to treatment and recovery services that are so important. There are a variety of medications already available in the prescribed alternatives program.

This is a very new area of clinical work, and we have to continue to do every - thing that we can to support clinicians and prescribers. Part of that is collecting and understanding and analyzing the clinical evidence that is out there that will help inform the policy decisions that we are making.

To that end, working again with the BCCSU and clin - icians in developing ongoing and updated clinical guide - lines, but also the importance of the work of independent evaluations, an independent evaluation by a person who is not wedded to the program and who is able to undertake the kind of thorough and objective analysis that needs to happen…. It is done across the range of approaches to treating people with different diseases, for example. There is a provincial evaluation of the implementation of prescribed alternatives that’s underway right now. It is being led by Dr. Bernie Pauly.

This work is being done with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research. It will allow for, again, a fuller understanding of the im - pacts of the program, including the unintended impacts of diversion, as well as the benefits for people who are on this program. That work takes time, so we don’t expect it to be fin - ished until 2026, because again, this is a new area, and it is about following people through time on this program and then undertaking this evaluation. So we’re going to continue to do this.

We are committed to evidence-based approaches in helping people who are experiencing severe substance use and substance use issues. Again, as we have canvassed in estimates, our govern - ment’s commitment is to building out the full spectrum of supports for people, so beyond harm reduction programs like prescribed alternatives and harm reduction programs of providing the take-home-naloxone program.

For ex - ample, drug checking, overdose prevention services, but also backing up into the prevention work, the work we continue to do with youth and with adults around sup - porting mental health issues and crises that people experi - ence, and then, of course, the treatment, recovery and aftercare, as we’ve canvassed throughout estimates. This government has invested more funding into this critical area, to address the toxic drug crisis, than ever be - fore. We remain committed.

There is $500 million of new funding in this year’s budget to sustain and expand the programs to support people, and we will continue to move forward with that. I also would love to offer the B.C. Greens a detailed briefing around the prescribed alternatives program — really pleased to offer that — and ensure that you stay up to date with the developments as they occur. I really ap - preciate your compassion and your sincere interest in this and your support for people who…. Sorry, through you, Chair. I really appreciate their sup - port. [11:35 a.m.] Jeremy Valeriote: A couple of questions about vaccines.

Can the minister tell us how much funding is allocated towards vaccines for shingles, RSV and whooping cough in this budget? Hon. Josie Osborne: I’ll start off by saying that our government believes in vaccine science and listens to ex - perts when it comes to saving people’s lives, and that in - cludes from vaccine-preventable illnesses. The member has asked around funding towards vac - cines. I’ll talk largely, and then I’ll go into some of the specific examples that he’s mentioned.

First of all, for fiscal year ’25-26, we are forecasting to spend approximately $35.1 million on infant, early child - hood and school-based immunization programs, writ large. This includes the vaccine to prevent whooping cough, or pertussis, and that vaccine, pertussis, is part of the publicly funded immunization program and is valued at $6.1 million.

Because I know so many British Columbians are watch- ing, I want to make sure that people understand that this is a vaccine that is given routinely, for free, at ages two months, four months, six months and 18 months, at ages four to six years and again at ages 14 to 16. One dose of pertussis vaccine is also provided, for free, in pregnancy to protect newborns who are too young to be immunized themselves. Now I’ll talk more about RSV and shingles.

The shin - gles and RSV vaccines aren’t currently part of B.C.’s pub - licly funded immunization program, but we do regularly review these programs to consider changes and additions. One population that does receive assistance are First Nations Elders, aged 60 years or older. Through the First Nations Health Authority, they are offered the Shingrix vaccination for shingles. [11:40 a.m.] There are new RSV vaccines from several different companies that have been approved by Health Canada and recently reviewed by Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization.

Now, when a new vaccine is approved for use by Health Canada, we look to this committee and our provincial public health and immun - ization experts to assess and advise whether it should be

1308 British Columbia Debates Thursday, April 10, 2025 added to our publicly funded immunization program in B.C. These groups consider a real range of different factors when developing these recommendations. That includes factors like the burden of illness, vaccine efficacy, safety, cost effectiveness, implementation feasibility, ethics and equity. The ministry then reviews these recommendations in the context of all of our health system priorities. I’ll also mention that there is a program…. Right now further on RSV prevention, there is a program for high- risk infants. Now, it’s not a vaccine per se.

It’s a slightly different program, but it’s to prevent RSV. It’s available through a program that’s managed by the Provincial Health Services Authority. It’s run by the B.C. Children’s Hospital. Again, this is one way of providing this kind of health care for high-risk infants in particular. Jeremy Valeriote: The HPV vaccine has proven to pre - vent cervical cancer and can be effective at preventing multiple types of cancer at any age. However, public fund - ing for vaccinations only covers those under the age of 18.

Why are those who are unable to receive the vaccine in school not allowed access to free HPV vaccination after the age of 18? [11:45 a.m.] Hon. Josie Osborne: Thank you, again, to the member for the question specifically around HPV vaccination. I’ll start off by saying that B.C. truly is a world leader in preventing cervical cancer, and by continuing the efforts that we are making in increasing opportunities for human papillomavirus, or HPV, vaccinations, this is part of our ten-year cancer action plan.

The most effective way to help prevent cervical can - cer is by being vaccinated against HPV, and the vaccine is offered for free, as the member indicated, in schools. It’s offered for free, starting with any students in grade 6, through school-based immunization clinics. In addition, it is also offered in schools to students in grades 7, 8 and 9 who might have missed their grade 6 immunization, and it provides an additional opportunity for youth to be vac - cinated.

In fall 2023, a year and a half ago, to further broaden protection from HPV and the cancers that it can cause, we further expanded the eligibility to include males born in 2005. This means that beyond school-based immuniza - tion groups, B.C. has now moved to a publicly funded HPV immunization program for anybody, anybody aged 9 to 18, and for special populations aged 19 to 26, like peo - ple who are HIV-positive or living with HIV, two-spirit, transgender, and non-binary and cisgender men who have sex with men or who are street-involved.

It is important, always, that we review the program itself, so we are currently reviewing changes to the pub - licly funded HPV vaccine

schedule and the eligibility for people. Again, this is in alignment with recommenda - tions that come forward from Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization and with our own provin - cial immunization and public health experts. We’re going to continue to review international and na- tional recommendations as they relate to HPV vaccine use and eligibility. We want to make sure, again, that B.C. is staying current with evidence-informed best practices. For anybody who is out there listening to this, beyond us in the room here, it’s really important.

You can always speak with your primary care provider about your own eligibility for this vaccine. We’ll continue to review and monitor this program. I appreciate the question from the member. Jeremy Valeriote: The Society for Advocacy for Gen - der-Affirming Healthcare is calling on the government to do more to offer comprehensive gender-affirming care for the trans and non-binary people of British Columbia. Many trans and non-binary people in B.C. are often faced with unequal access to the health care services they need, which can increase issues with mental health.

Equitable access to gender-affirming care has been shown to reduce the risk of suicide among trans people, yet the majority of gender-affirming care services are not covered under our public health care. MSP coverage for a critical gender-affirming care pro - cedure for trans women is limited to “genetic females only.” Last September the government announced that it will be covering hormonal replacement therapy medications to treat symptoms of menopause, which many trans women also use for gender-affirming care. Unfortunately, the ma - jority of hormone replacement therapy medications are still not covered.

Will the minister explain if they intend to increase ac - cess to HRT medications for gender-affirming care? [11:50 a.m.] Hon. Josie Osborne: First of all, I just want to say that I really appreciate the question. I want to acknowledge that there are gaps to address in health care services that are experienced by women, trans and non-binary people, and our government is fully com - mitted to continuing to do everything that we can to fill those gaps. I will mention two brief points.

In December 2023, the ministry approved changes in coverage of medications, including transdermal estrogen and transdermal testos - terone, to enable more equitable and accessible coverage of gender-affirming pharmacotherapies. Also, we are actively working to address calls to action to directly address these gaps that I’m speaking about on gender-affirming care for children and youth. That call to action has come from the Representative for Children and Youth in their report in June 2023. Noting the time, what I would do is offer a briefing on

Thursday, April 10, 2025 British Columbia Debates 1309 this subject and the opportunity to meet with ministry staff, for the members opposite, and discuss this further. I really appreciate the question. Jeremy Valeriote: May I have permission to ask one more question and then ask for a written response, given that I understand we’re short on time? I had one last ques- tion. The Chair: Please do. Jeremy Valeriote: Here in B.C., we have a company based in Port Coquitlam, Vitacore, that is making world- class N95 and N99 respirators.

This company is also lead - ing with technology and capacity to recycle personal pro - tective equipment, making it possible to significantly re - duce hospital and health care waste. Currently Vitacore is collecting PPE for recycling from some hospitals in B.C., diverting a significant amount of waste from landfills and creating the basic materials for recycled products. Can the minister provide an update on a timeline for the expansion of the Vitacore PPE recycling program in hospitals in B.C.? And with that, I will thank the minister and the House. Hon. Josie Osborne: Yes, I accept the question.

We’ll take it on notice and provide a response to the member. I know that we are coming to the close. I just want to take a brief moment to express my gratitude to all the members who asked questions throughout the last 26 or 27 hours of estimates for the Ministry of Health. In particular, I want to thank the staff who have sup - ported me, many different members of the public service who are professional, dedicated people who are so com - mitted to increasing and strengthening B.C.’s health care system and serving the people of British Columbia.

That includes the public servants behind me and in the Maple Room behind this room and my staff from the minister’s office who’ve joined us in the gallery today. I want to express my deep appreciation for everybody for a successful round of estimates. The Chair: Seeing no further questions or speakers, the question before this House is vote 32, of course. Vote 32: ministry operations, $34,996,928,000 — approved. The Chair: Thank you very much, Members. Hon. Josie Osborne: I move that the committee rise and report resolution of the estimates of the Ministry of Health and ask leave to sit again. Motion approved.

The Chair: This committee will stand adjourned. The committee rose at 11:55 a.m. The House resumed at 11:56 a.m. [The Speaker in the chair.] Lorne Doerkson: Committee of Supply,

Section B, re - ports resolution and completion of the estimates of the Ministry of Health and asks leave to sit again. Leave granted. Jessie Sunner: Committee of Supply,

Section A, reports progress on the estimates of the Ministry of Forests and asks leave to sit again. Leave granted. Statements CLARIFICATION OF MOTION TO ADJOURN THE HOUSE Hon. Brenda Bailey: Before the House adjourns, I’d like to clarify for the benefit of members that the motion adopted earlier this morning that the House stand ad - journed until Monday, April 14, takes effect later today at daily adjournment, as Standing Order 2(2)(

b) references the week of Good Friday. Hon. Brenda Bailey moved adjournment of the House. Motion approved. The Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 1 p.m. today. The House adjourned at 11:57 a.m. Proceedings in the Douglas Fir Room The House in Committee,

Section A. The committee met at 11:12 a.m. [Jessie Sunner in the chair.] Committee of Supply ESTIMATES: MINISTRY OF FORESTS (continued) The Chair: Good morning, Members. I call the Com - mittee of Supply,

Section A, to order. We are meeting to -

1310 British Columbia Debates Thursday, April 10, 2025 day to continue the consideration of the budget estimates of the Ministry of Forests. On Vote 30: ministry operations, $412,584,000 (continued). Ward Stamer: Good morning. Thank you for the min - ister’s responses yesterday. I wanted to come back to a couple of things. I realize we’ve only got a couple of hours, and we’re only going to have a very short period of time before we break for lunch. I referenced yesterday a document that is in a draft pro- cess right now.

It’s called the “Joint Compilation of Forest Biodiversity Principles,” which was published on Febru - ary 28. Have you seen this? Interjection. Ward Stamer: I can get you a copy. This was a draft proposal between the Ministry of For - ests and local First Nations in our southern Interior rid - ings. I wanted to have an opportunity to be able to go through some of this.

If the minister would like, I can put these questions further on this afternoon so that you have a copy of this, because this is basically a template in go - ing forward with what I believe is the intent of Bill 23, the Forests Statutes Amendment Act, with joint stewardship. This is a document that…. Yes, it’s in a draft form, but it has some very interesting assumptions made in this document. I’d like the opportunity to ask the minister specific questions to this, because this document, as said earlier, is a joint process with Ministry of Forests and First Nations.

There has been no consultation whatsoever with existing forest licensees, community forests, any other stakeholders. This is fresh, right off the press, and I have specific questions on consultation. I have specific questions, going forward, when we talk about changes to statutory laws. If the minister wishes, I can certainly get a copy, and that way, staff has the same as what I have. Fair enough? Interjection. [11:15 a.m.] Ward Stamer: Okay. All right. Yesterday we were talking about some specifics when it came to access to roads and rehabilitation and those kinds of things.

In one of the questions that arose from that, the minis - ter alluded to that there were mechanisms in place if any of these forest service roads were determined, from an en - gineer’s perspective, to be deactivated. I’d like a little bit more clarity on how that consultation process works. The minister mentioned that if there were any concerns by the public, there were mechanisms available — hopefully be - fore these roads were going to be deactivated.

Are there opportunities, going forward, to be able to enhance that process, if there’s an expectation, say, on a particular forest service road that has been used, basically, for generations and the ministry is planning on rehabili - tating some or part of that road? Is there an opportunity for the public to engage before these decisions are made and before the work is completed? [11:20 a.m.] Hon.

Ravi Parmar: Thanks to the member opposite for the opportunity to be able to come back and talk about the important work that the integrated resource oper - ations division within the Ministry of Forests, the for - est service, does to be able to support 60,000 kilometres’ worth of forest service roads, FSRs. It’s a really important topic. It sometimes doesn’t get, I think, the time and atten- tion it deserves in Forestry estimates, so I appreciate the member wanting to spend a little bit of time on it. I can assure the member that members of the forest service team do a significant amount of engagement.

The reason we do it is that we recognize that resource roads are integral to British Columbians. We touched on yester - day, with some members, the role that they play, not just for industry but, of course, for other reasons as well like back-country access, recreation and a whole host of other purposes.

Again, I think it’s a sense of pride for us in this ministry that there are many thousands of kilometres of resource roads in the province that we are maintaining and that are being used, again, for multiple purposes, not just for recreation but to be able to support remote communities and First Nations communities as well. What I would say is — the member opposite won’t be surprised by this, as someone who has worked in the for - est sector — that forestry roads are predominantly user- maintained. We rely quite heavily on industry to be able to continue ensuring that maintenance efforts are put into place.

When forest activities are curtailed, the mainten - ance activities on forestry roads are affected as well. We certainly face a challenge. It’s not always feasible for the province to maintain all resource roads in perpetu - ity. That’s why there’s guidance that the ministry provides through the engineering roads funding policy, which identifies priorities and processes for expenditures, ad - ministrative maintenance and liability funding on forest service roads that strictly fall within the responsibility of the Ministry of Forests, led by the incredible team in the integrated resource operations division.

I’ll also add, for the member’s benefit, that licensees are responsible for maintenance and/or deactivation of their permitted roads once activities have been completed. There is a big onus, as part of the work that industry does, for them to take that level of responsibility. That’s an ex - pectation that taxpayers would have, British Columbians would have, of our sector, in cooperation with govern -

Thursday, April 10, 2025 British Columbia Debates 1311 ment. Certainly, a reduction in industrial activity does re - sult in fewer roads and less maintenance. This can cause some challenges, and we’re certainly always looking at do- ing work internally.

Yesterday I mentioned the forest employment program that our government brought in a number of years ago, which was a tool to be able to provide employment oppor - tunities for contractors to be able to use their equipment during downtime to get dollars to be able to help maintain these roads, to be able to help repair these roads, and a whole host of other things.

I’ll also add, for the member’s benefit, that the future strategic direction as it pertains to forestry roads, I think, is going to be provided through the work of forest land - scape planning and other initiatives that I’m sure we’ll get an opportunity to talk about, as the member noted in his earlier comments, referencing a document that we cer - tainly look forward to getting into this afternoon. As part of that, road closures and deactivation work, as it happens within the ministry, must be considered, really, with one key principle, public safety.

Public safety is the critical component for decisions that the engineers in the integrated resource operations division make, when it comes to making the difficult decision on when to remove a bridge or to close a forest service road. This is adequately addressed in the Ministry of Forests roads funding policy, as well, which helps provide guidance in regard to this.

There are a number of examples where, I think, mem - bers of the integrated resource operations division, work - ing alongside district managers and other members of the forest service, have been able to work with community members to be able to address challenges and concerns. While safety is a key pillar, we are finding ways to be able to address challenges. [11:25 a.m.] I think it’s also important to know that the level of de - activation varies in many cases. Certainly, we could talk about different examples of how decisions made by engin - eers may lead to certain things.

There may be strict safety protocols that require a bridge to be deactivated. There may be other instances where the pathway is still access - ible but may have other types of barriers, and it’s import - ant for us to know that. Also, it’s always really important for our team in the in- tegrated resource operations division to be on the ground.

It’s why we’ve got team members all across the province, I would add, that rely quite heavily on our regional execu - tive directors and our district managers, who are based in communities all across the province, to have a better understanding of the level of use when it pertains to these roads. When you look at industry, it’s not just forestry that benefits but the oil and gas sector and mining, as exam - ples. We’re always engaging with other partners. I want to come back and talk a bit about rural residents and remote First Nations as well.

Again, that consultation that the member, I guess, was asking about in his question really does differentiate depending on the severity of the issue and the access road. When we look at the work that we’re doing to be able to support remote First Nations, I’ve had an opportunity to be able to meet with a number of nations over the course of the last number of months. I think back to my conversations, over the course of the last number of months, with Chief John French of the Takla First Nation. It’s quite a commute to be able to get to him; I know how important an issue this would be for him.

So many nations, in particular in the North but all throughout…. I had an opportunity to meet with a Chief last week that has been advocating for these types of in - vestments in her community for almost two decades. It’s important, right? There are certainly challenges associated with wild - fires, as well, so having safe pathways are really import - ant.

Budget ’24-25 provided the Ministry of Forests with increased road maintenance and capital upgrade funding, which is already improving five key forest service roads that access ten First Nations communities, making them safer for community members, ambulances, service vehi - cles and school buses on that daily commute and, I would add, in the case of emergencies, making sure that these road pathways are easily accessible and benefit the com - munity.

Budget ’24-25 also provided the Ministry of Indigen - ous Relations and Reconciliation with $12 million in one- time funding, allocated to the First Nations to support capacity-building, equipment acquisition and training. The reason I mention that to the member: it’s always im - portant for us to be able to support building that capacity within nations, for them to be able to take on that work. There has been significant progress in the delivery of road maintenance over the course of the last number of years; $5.5 million for capital upgrades in two north area districts and three coast area districts as well.

So this is not happening just in the Interior or in the North but hap - pening in the coast as well. I’ve had a number of conversa- tions with Chiefs around challenges associated with that. Also, several nations have used the capacity funding that we’ve provided, including for the delivery and work that leads to road improvement, including the Takla, Tl’azt’en, Yekooche and Douglas First Nations. I’ll conclude by saying that I think this work is integral, and it’s critical for us to be on the ground working with First Nations communities and other rural communities.

I would welcome the member opposite and his col - leagues, if they ever have opportunities that arise where they think it would be beneficial for a point of view or per - spective to be raised, we’d be happy to hear those. Ward Stamer: I thank the minister for his answers. I just wanted to pick up on a couple of points that the

1312 British Columbia Debates Thursday, April 10, 2025 minister made in reference to maintenance of roads. Just to be clear, BCTS is the largest licensee in the province. BCTS and the Ministry of Forests are responsible for more forest service roads than any other of our licensees in the province. [11:30 a.m.] One of the questions that comes up, as the minister mentioned, is safety. I have a couple of questions on that, and then I’m going to switch gears here. Are this ministry and BCTS doing annual danger tree assessments on their roads? If they are, I’d like to know what that costs.

I’d also like to know the maintenance breakout on both Ministry of Forests and BCTS on the road maintenance program this year. I know that on MOF, it’s part of the $58 m illion. I’d like a breakout on what they’re planning on doing, not just necessarily on First Nation access but on all access in the province under the FSRs that are under their responsibility, not shared with licensees. At the same time, when we’re talking about access, I would like the opportunity to talk a little bit about our fire-damaged areas. The minister talked a little bit yester - day about tree planting.

Of course, that’s near and dear to most of us in this room, knowing that we have to try to regenerate as quickly as we can after a fire. The min - ister mentioned that last year it was 281 seedlings that were planted. I’d like to ask the minister what number is planned for this year. I’d also like to ask the government, and we talked about this yesterday: is the government looking at any additional policies in trying to speed up the process to access and utilize burnt timber? I mean, we know of examples of wood that’s still left over from 2017 fires that has not been utilized.

I know there can be issues with replanting costs, access, those kinds of things. Case in point is the Adams Lake fire that swept through in 2023 and went below the Adams Lake mill. Fortunately, they were able to protect that mill. There was a lot of fibre that was burnt around that area and all the way down to the Skwlāx First Nation. A lot of their reserve lands were burnt. They were able to access their fibre on their First Nation and utilize it as quickly as they could. As for the Crown lands, it took almost a year before the very first cutting permit was allowed on the Crown lands from the Adams Lake fire.

Now, I can argue that we’ve lost tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars in value in that fibre by waiting that long. The question to the minister is: are there processes in place to be able to quickly access burnt timber, similar to other jurisdictions, and when are we going to see that legislation or those proposals or those policies so the next time we can start utilizing this fibre quicker? [11:35 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.] The Chair: Minister, noting the time, perhaps you could move the motion, and we could get your response in the…. Hon. Ravi Parmar: Aw, aw.

I’ve got a couple minutes to get through, maybe, the first part of it. The Chair: Sure. We’ll just note the clock, though, so if you could keep the comments brief, and we can continue in the afternoon. Hon. Ravi Parmar: Well, we’ll come back. If you want to dedicate more time to forestry, I’m here. Maybe another ministry can wait. Just on the dangerous tree assessment piece as it relates to BCTS, the member opposite is absolutely right. BCTS is the largest licensee holder in the province.

We do yearly reviews as it relates to dangerous tree assessments and also, broadly, the roads and everything else that comes and treat it as necessary. The funding breakdown that the member is looking for is not something that we have at this time. I’m happy to follow up and provide that. I will share, just to set ourselves up for when we come back…. I’m happy to talk a bit about some of the reforest - ation work, the tree planting that’s going on.

I think it’s a good opportunity for us to recognize the hundreds, if not thousands, of British Columbians and people from all over the world that are coming here to plant trees. We’ll certainly get into the wildfire salvage. I under - stand that the member, just from some comments that he has made in the media and stuff, has got some ideas and, maybe, some suggestions around wildfire salvage — happy to chat about that. Noting the hour, I move that the committee rise, report progress and ask leave to sit again. Motion approved. The Chair: Thank you, Members. This committee stands adjourned.

The committee rose at 11:44 a.m.

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Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20250410am-Hansard-n39
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20250410am Hansard n39
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	8ebb76ddf383ecfa46988f5d14ecc0008c897640

Source file is stored in the law ingest library (pdf).