First Session, 41st Parliament

(2017) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Afternoon Sitting

Issue No. 2

ISSN 1499-2175

The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.

CONTENTS

Speech from the Throne

General Election Results

Introduction and First Reading of Bills

Bill 1 —

An Act to Ensure the Supremacy of Parliament

Hon. A. Wilkinson

Appointment of Deputy Speaker

Appointment of Assistant Deputy Speaker

Appointment of Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole

Printing of Votes and Proceedings

Appointment of Select Standing Committees

Motions Without Notice

Scheduling of Private Members’ Motions and Statements

Hon. M. de Jong

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

The House met at 2:02 p.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Mr. Speaker: I call on Rabbi

Harry Brechner, Congregation Emanu-El synagogue, Victoria, to say

prayers.

H. Brechner: These are a few

words that really echo a prayer that’s said every Saturday in our synagogue.

Some of the words really come from a prayer written by my predecessor, Rabbi

Victor Reinstein.

Divine source, we

call to you using many names, names that reflect our diverse understandings of

you and our individual and collective relationships with you. We ask, on behalf

of our great province, British Columbia — a shining place of beauty, goodness

and abundance — to guide our provincial government in compassion.

May selfish pride

not divide us. May pride in one another unite us. Banish hatred, despair and

cynicism that together we may work towards peace and harmony, creating

prosperity so that all who call British Columbia home may flourish.

May we honour with

humility those who first dwelled on this land and learn from them the sacredness

of earth, sky and water. May we come to know the blessing of unity through

diversity.

Sacred source of

life, in our rapidly changing and evolving world, we ask that you provide our

leaders with clarity, compassion, strength, wisdom and resolve to ensure that

British Columbia is an influence for good, a voice of conscience and a leader in

seeking peace and justice. Chazak ve’ematz . Strength and courage.

Amen.

Mr. Speaker: Thank you very

much, Rabbi, for those very important words.

We have many

distinguished guests, friends and families here today joining us. On behalf of

all members of the assembly, everybody gathered here today, I would like to

welcome them all to this House and thank them all for being with us this

afternoon — on behalf of all members of this House.

The

Lieutenant-Governor is in the precinct, so if everybody would just be seated and

wait for her entrance to the House.

[2:05 p.m.]

Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor requested to attend the House, was

admitted to the chamber and took her seat on the throne.

Mr. Speaker: May it please Your

Honour, the House of Assembly has elected me as their Speaker, though I am

little able to fulfil the important duties thus assigned to me. If, in the

performance of those duties, I should at any time fall into error, I pray that

the fault be imputed to me and not to the assembly whose servant I am and who,

through me, the better to enable them to discharge their duty to the Queen and

country, humbly claim all their undoubted rights and privileges, especially that

they may have freedom of speech in their debates, access to Your Honour’s person

at all seasonable times, and that their proceedings may receive from Your Honour

the most favourable

interpretation.

Hon. A. Wilkinson: Hon. Speaker, I am

commanded by Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor to declare to you that she

freely confides in the duty and attachment of the House of Assembly to Her

Majesty’s person and government, and not doubting that their respective

proceedings will be conducted with wisdom, temper and prudence, she grants, and

upon all occasions will recognize and allow, their constitutional

privileges.

I am commanded

also to assure you that the assembly shall have ready access to Her Honour the

Lieutenant-Governor upon all seasonable occasions and that their proceedings, as

well as your words and actions, will constantly receive from her the most

favourable construction.

[2:10 p.m.]

Speech from the Throne

Hon. J. Guichon (Lieutenant-Governor): Fellow

British Columbians and members of the Legislature, let us start by

acknowledging the honour we share, gathering within the traditional

Lekwungen territory of Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations.

Members,

we begin by honouring the best among us — some of the British Columbians

who shaped our identity, represented us at our best and made us proud.

In their own way, Jett Bassi, Beau Dick, Chandra Bodalia, Neil Macrae,

Bob Robertson, John Shields, Ian Stewart, Richard Wagamese and Bill Wong

each represented and reflected their communities and the diversity that

makes us the envy of the world.

remember Christine Archibald, who was brutally taken from her family in

the attacks on London Bridge by people fuelled with hate but who are

destined to fail in spreading their evil. I also pay tribute to Clayton

Cassidy, who tragically lost his life protecting his neighbours and the

town he loved.

And

recently we lost a true trail-blazer in Grace McCarthy — tough,

compassionate, principled and unflinching in the face of change. We will

miss her experience and wisdom.

British

Columbia is a place like no other. Everyone who was born here or who has

come here knows that this place is special and absolutely unique.

However, there are a few ways in which we could be more like others in

this country. On the issue of political and democratic reform, your government acknowledges more should have been done

sooner, and more needs to be done now.

Your

government will pursue comprehensive reforms that will ban corporate,

union and third-party donations, including donations in kind, to

political parties; impose a maximum donation limit for individuals to

political parties, comparable to other Canadian jurisdictions; ban

donations to political parties from outside British Columbia, including

foreign donations; ban funding to a provincial political party from a

federal political party; restrict the role of money influencing

elections through third parties; ban loans to parties by any

organization other than a Canadian chartered bank or credit union; and

apply these reforms to local government candidates and political

parties.

The

results that British Columbians delivered in the May election require

cooperation. Your government is committed to working with all parties in

the Legislature.

Following

referenda in 2005 and 2009, there remains a desire by many members in

this place to revisit electoral reform. With the confidence of this

House, your government will enable a third referendum on electoral

reform. It will require extensive public consultation to develop a clear

question and will ensure rural representation in the Legislature is

protected.

It is

vital that any referendum reflects the views of British Columbians, not

just its political parties. Additionally, your government will work with

other parties to strengthen lobbyist legislation and

regulations.

Members,

we gather for the first time since British Columbians sent you here

following an unprecedented outcome in the May election. British

Columbians want a stable government, and in sending us this result, they

expect us to listen and find a way to work together. They expect us to

collaborate, while respecting the dignity, rules and traditions that

govern our constitutional monarchy, our democracy and this

Legislature.

British

Columbians voted for parties that spoke to the importance of economic

growth and jobs, strengthening our social programs and protecting our

environment. They have told us to find a better balance to move forward

on all these priorities.

[2:15 p.m.]

The

election results also exposed a growing gap in understanding between

rural and urban B.C. We have an obligation to do everything we can to

bridge that gap because urban and rural communities cannot succeed

without one another. With that in mind, instead of focusing on areas of

disagreement, we should reflect on who it is that we are and what we

share in common.

We are

fortunate to reside in a part of the world that is unmatched in many

ways. We have Canada’s most diverse population of First Nations and

indigenous peoples whose cultures have shaped our province and with whom

we seek justice, reconciliation and partnerships in economic growth; an

abundance of natural resources — the bedrock of British Columbia’s

economic success; a system of clean transformational power that is the

envy of the world, created by previous generations, with the opportunity

to transform our economy into the cleanest in the world; a super,

natural and biodiverse environment that we enjoy today and must protect

for future generations; a diverse population that is open-minded,

independent and prepared to embrace change; a place where we have the

freedom to be ourselves; thriving urban communities and strong rural

communities that connect us to our land and wildlife; a province built

on hard work, leading in jobs and economic growth and with a financial

foundation that is the envy of North America.

Your

government worked diligently to create jobs and economic growth in the

province, and thanks to that effort, your government will confirm a

higher-than-expected surplus at Public Accounts in July. This

unanticipated surplus provides reason to consider moving our fixed

election date to the fall to ensure British Columbians are fully

informed on our province’s fiscal position before a general

election.

While

other provinces have created structural deficits, B.C.’s unmatched

record of five successive balanced budgets has created a structural

surplus that puts us in an enviable position. This moves up the

anticipated elimination of our operating debt to 2020 — one year ahead

of schedule, an accomplishment not achieved since 1976. Growing

surpluses allow us to return dividends to British Columbians, but our

sound fiscal management must be nurtured and not taken for

granted.

Your

government recognizes the importance of labour stability in the province

and will continue to share the dividends of economic growth in public

sector labour agreements. Over the past decade, most labour issues have

ended without disruption. This is a sign that the labour code is fair,

and as such, no further changes are contemplated by your

government.

We reside

on what was once considered the far edge of North America, and today we

are quickly becoming a central focus for the world. With that comes vast

opportunity and pressure on our Legislature to deliver a bright future

for all, not just for those who already enjoy advantages. The stresses

from our growth are unprecedented. We must be unafraid to grasp change

and harness growth through purposeful decisions. If we do not shape

growth, it will shape us.

Members,

your government presides in this chamber as the party with the most

seats but not a working majority. It has a duty to present an agenda for

consideration and seek the confidence of this House. Your government has

listened and is presenting an agenda not exclusive to one party but one

that includes ideas from all British Columbians that members from all

three parties carry into this place. With the confidence of this House,

your government will pursue an agenda that seeks the balance British

Columbians have told us to find between economic, social

and environmental priorities.

[2:20 p.m.]

Your

government has listened to the call of families and employers to move

further on child care and early childhood education. The financial

pressures and time crunch on families today are real and increasing.

Parents want and need to work, and child care is fundamental to that

goal.

New

investments cannot wait. They need to be made now. With the confidence

of this House, your government will amend the 2017 budget to make a

billion-dollar investment in child care and early childhood education

over the next four years — the single largest boost in B.C.

history.

Your

government’s plan is guided by three core principles: delivering the

highest quality care, reducing wait-lists by creating more spaces and

making child care more affordable. This investment will be sustained

over the long term and will enable building 60,000 new child care

spaces, a 50 percent increase, over the next four years; covering an

additional 150,000 children, a fivefold increase, with either full or

partial child care subsidies; funding up to 4,000 new early childhood

educators with $10 million in grants and bursaries; exploring

partnerships with school districts to co-locate new child care spaces at

elementary schools.

While

your government applauds the federal government’s efforts to expand

spaces, it will seek further help to increase supports for parents to

make child care even more affordable.

Your

government welcomes discussion with members of this Legislature and

families to ensure this billion-dollar investment meets the needs of

British Columbians in all corners of the province. However, your

government recognizes these investments are urgently needed and will

move on this as quickly as possible.

As our

province grows, so does the need for more services. And as British

Columbians create new jobs and economic growth, we must share that

success by shaping a future that improves services for those in

need.

Child

poverty has been reduced by 50 percent since 2001, but more needs to be

done. A new poverty reduction strategy with a particular focus on

children will be implemented provincewide.

addition to disability rate increases provided for in previous budgets,

Budget 2017 will be amended to increase social assistance rates by $100

per month, with a process to recommend future annual

increases.

We must

also strengthen investments in people who want to transition from social

assistance into the workforce. Your government will expand the

single-parent employment initiative to broaden supports for single

parents who can only find part-time work or who are underemployed and

want to find full-time employment.

Reducing

poverty includes supporting children in care. Your government will

introduce a basic income support for youth aged 18 to 24 who are

transitioning out of care and will provide free post-secondary tuition

for all children in care.

Your

government will also fully implement the recommendations in the report

on indigenous child welfare from special adviser Grand Chief Ed John. In

particular, your government will focus on increasing early intervention

and prevention services to keep families together, creating a more

equitable funding formula for child welfare, and reunification and

permanency planning.

Your

government will increase legal aid funding by 25 percent, ensuring

British Columbia families can better access and navigate our legal

system.

The

opioid crisis is devastating families. British Columbia is leading North

America in our response. However, despite the heroic efforts of first

responders and policy-makers at all levels of government, this battle

continues. Your government will redouble its efforts by increasing

investments and embracing innovative treatments to save lives. Recovery

from addiction is possible, and a coordinated system of care can help

those ready to start their life-saving journey.

[2:25 p.m.]

Harm

reduction services and recovery-oriented systems of care must work

seamlessly together. Your government will continue to provide opioid

substitute therapies and recovery services and renew efforts on drug

education and prevention.

The

federal government must also strengthen its commitment to this crisis,

starting with increasing the number of RCMP officers dedicated to drug

enforcement by 30 percent. Those who are trafficking fentanyl and other

illicit drugs must be held accountable for their actions.

With the

federal government’s legalization of cannabis comes new revenue for the

province. Your government commits to dedicating every dollar from the

sale of cannabis to drug education, prevention and enforcement for those

who are addicted to opioids and other drugs.

To ensure

these initiatives are coordinated, a minister of state for mental

health, addiction and recovery will be appointed to be a strong voice at

the cabinet table, with a mandate to increase investments in future

budgets and establish a single point of entry for those seeking help. In

addition, an expert panel on mental health will review how services are

currently deployed and recommend ways to close gaps in service delivery

that sometimes make it difficult to access care.

Your

government will expand the successful provincewide Foundry program, a

single point of entry for young people who are experiencing mental

health issues. We know that mental health issues are often identified at

school when there are experts available to recognize them. Your

government will ensure all schools across the province have one person

trained to identify mental health issues and refer those in need to

resources.

Finally,

a new centre for mental health and addictions in Surrey

will be fast-tracked to get it up and running as quickly as possible, to

provide better access to care for B.C. families. This will be part of an

overall health strategy for Surrey, including the planning for a new

hospital.

British

Columbians are the healthiest people in Canada. In the last decade, new

and expanded hospitals have been built or are under construction in

every region of our province to serve growing communities.

Your

government heard more needs to be done and will accelerate efforts to

keep up with the fast pace of growth and replace aging infrastructure in

all regions of the province. Work is already underway to shift our

health care system towards greater preventative care, but this work must

be accelerated to keep our population the healthiest in

Canada.

More

money will be specifically focused on reducing wait-lists for patients

and their families. Your government will accelerate access to hip and

knee procedures; establish wait-time guarantees; speed up access to MRI

services; increase access to family doctors by training 112 more general

practitioners, bringing the total to 400; increase the scope of practice

for professions such as nurse practitioners and pharmacists; and

increase support for health care teams delivering comprehensive services

for patients.

Our

health care system is particularly important for our senior citizens —

those who cared for us and are counting on us to care for them. Your

government is committed to increasing the number of residential care

beds by 500 and ensuring clear, measurable daily-care-hour standards are

in place, monitored and enforced in every institution.

Your

government will also increase its efforts to help families who care for

their aging loved ones at home by doubling the home-renovation tax

credit to help people make necessary home improvements. It will also

create a new respite tax credit and ensure both benefits apply to

families who care for loved ones with disabilities.

With a

stronger provincial balance sheet, the time has come to reduce the cost

of MSP for B.C. families without shifting the burden into income taxes.

This must be done while continuing to increase overall health care

funding.

[2:30 p.m.]

With the

confidence of this House, your government will cut MSP premiums by 50

percent for households making up to $120,000, saving families as much as

$900 per year.

All

parties in this House share the view that MSP should be eliminated. Your

government supports a review that considers how this can be done as soon

as possible.

Last year

the B.C. Teachers Federation won their court challenge at the Supreme

Court of Canada. Together with teachers, your government is determined

to ensure their win will be a win for every student.

Our

students are already among the top in the world — first in reading,

second in science and sixth in math. The thousands of new teachers being

hired across the province will ensure B.C. students will be even more

successful.

We must

also ensure student success is not limited to those who fit more easily

into traditional classrooms. Your government will increase the number of

educators providing instruction to students in need of extra support,

whatever their unique needs.

Our

students’ results prove we have an excellent education system, a tribute

to those who work within it. But with the breathtaking pace of change in

the world, our education system must adapt. With the confidence of this

House, your government will review the funding formula for school

districts. The review will focus on supporting districts with declining

enrolment as well as ensuring that fast-growing districts can keep up

with growing demand sooner than current systems allow.

Today

your government is announcing it will also convene a Royal Commission on

Education, the first in 30 years. The work of that commission, struck in

1987, laid the foundation for the success of our students today. It is

the right time to convene a new royal commission, one that shapes the

future for a new generation of learners and educators as our society

grows and changes.

How do we

train teachers? What do we teach? How do we fund schools? How do we

engage the community? How do we make sure testing and standards remain

rigorous? How do we reduce conflict in the system and ensure students’

needs are always put first? On these points, your government welcomes

advice from a future royal commission.

Your

government is continuing to make record investments in new-school

construction and seismic upgrades. This will now include a commitment to

ensure that all playgrounds requiring upgrades will be funded so that

parents no longer need to raise money for something we all recognize as

essential for learning.

British

Columbia is a leader in barrier-free living for our citizens, and your

requirements on new construction and in the design of public spaces and

increase the minimum number of suites within a multi-unit residential

suites are distributed throughout the building and represent the types

and sizes of suites otherwise available in the building.

Transit

is fundamental to shaping a sustainable affordable future for

communities. Your government heard that more needs to be done, and more

will. With the confidence of this House, your government will match

federal funding to build rapid transit along Metro Vancouver’s Broadway

corridor and in Surrey, match federal funding for the next phase of the

mayors’ transit plan and repeal the requirement for new transit revenue

sources to be affirmed by referendum in Metro Vancouver. Metro Vancouver mayors will have the tools and accountability

they have asked for to fund transit.

Beyond

those immediate commitments, we must look further and farther. Your

government will boost capital investment in partnership with other

levels of government and the private sector to significantly expand a

transit network that will transform the Lower Mainland. Better transit

must connect housing and employment and must lead to more supply and

density with purposeful decision-making.

[2:35 p.m.]

Your

government will immediately undertake feasibility studies to connect

communities by rapid transit, light rail and other means of expanded

transit east from the Evergreen Line toward Maple Ridge and Mission;

into South Surrey; into Langley, Abbotsford and Chilliwack; west to the

University of British Columbia; across to the North Shore; and up to

Squamish. Your government will also work with Washington state to

connect communities across the border to unleash the economic potential

of high-speed rail to Seattle.

Other

areas of the province also experiencing growth need transit support too

— like the south Island, Nanaimo, Kelowna, Kamloops and Prince George.

Your government will pursue light rail on the south Island and a

passenger ferry connection between Nanaimo and Vancouver. This vision

won’t happen overnight, but we must be bolder in mapping out our future

to shape growth.

B.C.

Ferries is finally on a solid financial footing. They have acquired 11

new vessels since 2000 and are transitioning vessels to LNG from diesel.

On-time performance has improved to 91 percent. Your government will

carry through on its commitment to deliver fare relief for those in

ferry-dependent communities.

For

British Columbians looking for other modern options to get from A to B,

your government will deliver on its commitments to support car- and

ride-sharing. While all parties in this Legislature publicly stated

their support for ride-sharing in the recent election, your government

has heard the message that legitimate implementation concerns remain.

Any proposed legislation will be referred to an all-party committee for

extensive consultation with the public and stakeholders — in particular,

regarding boundaries and insurance.

Your

government has heard the concerns of people who are served by tolled

provincial highway infrastructure. Since investments such as

Trans-Canada Highway upgrades, the Sea to Sky Highway, the W.R. Bennett

Bridge and the Cariboo connector are not tolled, all communities should

be treated equitably. With the confidence of this House, your government

will move to eliminate tolls on the Port Mann Bridge as quickly as

possible.

Your

government will also work with TransLink to accelerate the timetable for

the replacement of the Pattullo Bridge and to remove tolls on the Golden

Ears Bridge. An expanded crossing between Richmond and Delta is

essential to reducing congestion, ensuring safety and providing for

future light rail. Recognizing concerns about the design, your

government will listen and work collaboratively to move this project

forward. These changes are affordable with the province’s strong fiscal

position, without compromising our commitment to balanced

budgets.

Post-secondary institutions are essential to powering up the economy

of the future. Your government will create 2,000 more graduates in

science, technology, engineering and math from institutions across the

province. This will include new engineering schools in Kamloops and

Prince George, as well as 100 new graduates at the new engineering

building at SFU Surrey. These spaces will support our students to

develop the skills our economy needs to continue to grow.

British

Columbia’s post-secondary and creative sectors are responding to the

major shifts in digital technologies. Your government will double

funding for the B.C. Arts Council to build capacity to lead in the new

economy and uphold our province’s commitment to the value of creativity

and innovation.

As we

welcome people from around the world to make B.C. their home, we need to

ensure that newcomers can put their ideas, energy and skills to work. To

that end, your government will fully fund adult basic education and ESL

programs and continue to expand the system of credit recognition so that

fewer are left on the sidelines.

While

B.C. continues to grow, the benefits also come with real challenges,

especially for affordability. Despite actions that have had a real

impact, housing affordability remains a particular challenge for far too

many people. Your government’s singular goal is to ensure that housing

is affordable for British Columbians.

[2:40 p.m.]

We all

want to live in communities that are culturally and economically

diverse, so we must ensure the middle class is not pushed out of urban

real estate markets. Our kids want to be able to live in the communities

they grew up in, and we all want to live in communities where our kids

can live too.

Last

year, your government invested $900 million into building new,

affordable, supportive housing across the province. People will begin to

move into these 5,000 new units over the upcoming months.

The

single most important action governments can take to make housing more

affordable is to work with local governments and the private sector to

increase supply. With the confidence of this House, your government will

work with local governments and the private sector to increase the

supply of family and starter housing for middle-income earners,

especially along new transit lines and corridors.

Your

government will work with the private sector to build 50,000 units of

new housing across the province over ten years that will

go into a new rent-to-own home program available to middle-class

families. The program will help middle-class renters grow equity through

their monthly rent payments until they are in a position to own the

home.

With the

confidence of this House, your government will work with and support

municipalities to remove obstacles and eliminate backlogs to speed up

the construction of new housing supply, especially for families. To

better protect renters, your government will prohibit landlords from

skirting rent control protections when term leases expire, and make sure

tenants’ rights are protected while respecting a landlord’s ability to

make improvements to their buildings.

Addressing housing affordability rests with all levels of government.

Your government will bring together and welcome the ideas from all

parties and participants at a housing summit to be convened this fall.

Real estate speculation will be one of the challenges put before

participants.

The

wealth of our province has always depended on the understanding that the

future of urban and rural communities is inextricably linked. One cannot

succeed without the other. Although most of our population lives in

thriving urban centres, we must never forget that those who live in

smaller communities make as big an impact on our province.

Rural

communities are uniquely connected to the land and our resources. This

connection between urban and rural is why B.C. has succeeded, and this

election shows why we must redouble our efforts to bridge the divide.

With a strong economy and the strongest balance sheet in Canada, your

government will double the rural economic dividend, returning more

resource revenue to the rural communities responsible for so much of our

province’s wealth.

Supporting rural communities also means making sure the industries

they depend on remain strong. British Columbia’s forest industry built

our province. Today our forest industry products are building houses and

towers around the world. Your government will increase its efforts to

promote the use of B.C. wood abroad and will fight to defend B.C.

workers in the forest industry from U.S. protectionism by every means at

its disposal. In the interim, B.C. will prepurchase wood for

construction of public housing at home.

Your

government will work to open eight new mines by 2022 and will ensure

that it bolsters B.C.’s world-leading responsible mining standards with

$18 million to improve mine permitting, oversight compliance and

enforcement.

Food

security also matters in British Columbia. It is an issue that bridges

the urban-rural divide. As we continue to grow, we need to protect and

preserve agricultural land. Your government will double the Grow Local

program and make it permanent, bring an additional 91,000 hectares of

agricultural land into production by 2020, activate an all-party select

standing committee to study how B.C.’s agricultural land can be used and

stewarded and ensure that all high-quality farmland lost as a result of

the Site C project is replaced by comparable land in other parts of the

province.

[2:45 p.m.]

Finally,

British Columbia boasts some of the world’s richest and largest natural

gas reserves. This gives us a unique opportunity to displace coal power

and other, dirtier forms of fossil fuels around the world.

A new LNG

industry has included First Nations from the ground floor through a

bottom-up process of consultation. LNG will be an unprecedented

opportunity for First Nations communities across British Columbia,

helping lift families out of poverty and strengthening their ability to

shape the future of their choosing.

The first

indigenous cabinet minister elected to this place who carries a

government portfolio is responsible for shepherding the future of this

industry. After 146 years since this Legislature was founded, this is

long overdue. He will carry the voice of indigenous peoples, who demand

to be a full partner in economic opportunity, into this

place.

Whether

it is LNG, mining, forestry, aquaculture, renewable power, tourism or

other industries where partnerships are being formed, and as a result,

First Nations here in British Columbia are enjoying more benefits than

ever before.

Over 400

economic and reconciliation agreements have been signed since 2013, and

we all still have so much potential to realize together.

Members,

just this past Monday, indigenous leaders and mentors from across

Canada, including British Columbia, were recognized with national

honours at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, and I was delighted to be witness to

that special ceremony.

Yesterday

was National Aboriginal Day, a day that Canadians recognize and

celebrate the outstanding contributions of indigenous people. It is a

reminder of the hard and essential work of reconciliation that your

government is committed to, nation to nation. There is still much work

ahead, and we must travel this journey together.

British

Columbians have been gifted with vast clean energy opportunities,

including hydro, wind and solar. We have an enviable system of hydro

power built by generations before us who had the vision to plan not just

for their needs but for our future. Without them, we would be burning

fossil fuels to generate our electricity today.

Now we

are called on as a generation to tackle climate change by shaping a

low-carbon future. We must build on a previous generation’s vision by

electrifying our economy with clean hydro power to realize this goal.

Sixty-one percent of B.C.’s greenhouse gas emissions come from Metro

Vancouver, a third of which comes from

transportation.

Your

government is committed to an ambitious emissions-free target for all

new, non-commercial vehicles registered in Metro Vancouver by 2035,

advancing the previous goal of 2050 by 15 years. This is an ambitious

target, and B.C. Hydro’s supply of clean power cannot meet this capacity

today. That is why this historic transition requires plentiful, reliable

and affordable clean electricity born in British Columbia.

More

sources of renewable energy — like wind, solar and geothermal — will

help, but they will not be enough. Site C gives us the opportunity for

an abundance of clean energy, allowing us to meet our obligation to

transition our economy from carbon to fight climate change.

With the

confidence of this House, your government will invest an additional $50

million over the next five years to fund a significant expansion of the

vehicle charging infrastructure throughout the province, making British

Columbia number one in Canada. Further, your government will also direct

B.C. Hydro to immediately begin consultations with private sector clean

energy producers, First Nations and communities to support community

power opportunities, including wind, solar, and geothermal.

[2:50 p.m.]

Your

government will also work with the governments of Alberta and Canada for

a strengthened clean electricity itinerary between British Columbia and

Alberta to displace thermal coal with clean hydro power across the Rocky

Mountains.

British

Columbia is a leader in the fight against climate change. Despite

opposition at the time, we were the first jurisdiction in North America

to put a price on carbon. Our carbon tax framework has been recognized

by global institutions as one of the best in the world.

Canada

has been clear in its desire to see all provinces implement a $50 per

tonne carbon tax by 2022, outlined in the pan-Canadian framework on

clean growth and climate change. Your government will meet this goal by

raising the carbon tax by $5 per tonne per year, starting in 2019, up to

a total of $50 per tonne by 2022.

made-in-B.C. approach will stand firm on the principle of revenue

neutrality. For all future carbon tax increases, the provincial sales

tax will be reduced by a corresponding amount.

Your

government will take the advice of the climate leadership team to

protect workers and businesses in energy-intensive, trade-exposed

industries by ensuring new costs from the carbon tax are offset by other

taxes so companies with strong ties to B.C. have good reasons to

innovate and reduce their emissions.

Your

government will also increase forest salvage and move toward the goal of

banning slash burning, ensuring this creates new economic opportunities

in our forest towns without hurting workers.

Your

government has heard the call for more front-line resources to protect

our environment and wildlife and will increase funding to hire more

conservation officers across B.C. and implement a wildlife management

plan that ensures sustainable populations and protects our

biodiversity.

addition, your government will move to protect the health and safety of

B.C.’s unique environment by reviewing our system of professional

reliance to ensure public confidence is maintained.

Your

government will also ensure that direct payments it secured from the

federally regulated Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project are

dedicated to environmental protection and restoration.

Visiting

our provincial parks is a quintessential, affordable B.C. family

vacation. British Columbia has assembled the third-largest parks system

in North America. These are places for us to celebrate, places for

families to reconnect and places for the world to discover.

Your

government created and funded a bold B.C. Parks future vision. With the

confidence of this House, your government will add $50 million over five

years to B.C.’s parks budget. This will create more campsites, raise the

standard of our park facilities and create a youth rangers program that

will add staff in our parks between May and September. We are blessed to

have such magnificent places to preserve and share that unite all

British Columbians wherever they live.

Members,

your government’s core principles remain. Our province has created more

jobs than anywhere in Canada since the start of the B.C. jobs plan; a

record of five consecutive balanced budgets, thanks to careful

management; and, a growing economy that is the envy of Canada. These are

foundations built by the hard work of British Columbians that allow us

to care for each other and bridge the urban-rural divide. With the means

to do more thanks to B.C.’s successes, we must, and we will.

British

Columbians seek a better balance between economic, social and

environmental priorities. This agenda is a sincere effort to meet that

desire. While we do not always agree on the best path forward, we all

recognize that British Columbia is a unique place with qualities

unmatched around the world.

We are

experiencing a time of stress from growth and change — change that will

shape us if we do not act to shape it for ourselves. Together we must

ensure we harness the opportunity before us to create the future we all

want for British Columbia.

[2:55 p.m.]

The May

election delivered a divided result. Your government has listened to

that result and brings forward this agenda to gain this House’s

confidence and, in doing so, the confidence of the people of British

Columbia. It is submitted with humility and openness to

change.

Thank you

to all members who serve in this assembly. We thank you and your

families for the sacrifices you make — some of you for many years. We in

British Columbia are richer for your service and

dedication. I wish you all success.

Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor retired from the chamber.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members,

in order to prevent mistakes, I have obtained a copy of Her Honour the

Lieutenant-Governor’s speech.

General Election Results

Clerk of the House:

May 31, 2017

Craig James

Clerk of the House

Room 221

Parliament Buildings

Victoria, B.C.

V8V 1X4

Dear Craig James:

Please consider this letter a certified report, per

section 147 of the

Election Act, RSBC 1996 ,

chapter 106, regarding the results of the

41st provincial general election.

Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor dissolved the 40th parliament of the

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia via a proclamation issued on April

11. A general election was required to fill vacancies caused by that

dissolution.

Writs of election were issued on the morning of April 11, calling for a

general election on May 9. The writs were returnable today, May 31.

I hereby certify that the following 87 members have been elected to

represent their respective electoral districts as set out below.

Electoral District

Ballot Name

Political Party Affiliation

Abbotsford-Mission

Simon John Gibson

B.C. Liberal Party

Abbotsford South

Darryl Plecas

B.C. Liberal Party

Abbotsford West

Michael de Jong

B.C. Liberal Party

Boundary-Similkameen

Linda Margaret Larson

B.C. Liberal Party

Burnaby–Deer Lake

Anne Kang

B.C. NDP

[3:00 p.m.]

Burnaby-Edmonds

Raj Chouhan

B.C. NDP

Burnaby-Lougheed

Katrina Chen

B.C. NDP

Burnaby North

Janet Routledge

B.C. NDP

Cariboo-Chilcotin

Donna Barnett

B.C. Liberal Party

Cariboo North

Coralee Ella Oakes

B.C. Liberal Party

Chilliwack

John Martin

B.C. Liberal Party

Chilliwack-Kent

Laurie Throness

B.C. Liberal Party

Columbia River–Revelstoke

Doug Clovechok

B.C. Liberal Party

Coquitlam−Burke Mountain

Joan Isaacs

B.C. Liberal Party

Coquitlam-Maillardville

Selina Mae Robinson

B.C. NDP

Courtenay-Comox

Ronna-Rae Leonard

B.C. NDP

Cowichan Valley

Sonia Furstenau

B.C. Green Party

Delta North

Ravi Kahlon

B.C. NDP

Delta South

Ian Paton

B.C. Liberal Party

Esquimalt-Metchosin

Mitzi Jayne Dean

B.C. NDP

Fraser-Nicola

Jackie L. Tegart

B.C. Liberal Party

Kamloops−North Thompson

Peter Gordon Milobar

B.C. Liberal Party

Kamloops−South Thompson

Todd Graham Stone

B.C. Liberal Party

Kelowna−Lake Country

Norm Letnick

B.C. Liberal Party

Kelowna-Mission

Steve Thomson

B.C. Liberal Party

Kelowna West

Christy Clark

B.C. Liberal Party

Kootenay East

Tom Glenn Shypitka

B.C. Liberal Party

Kootenay West

Katrine Conroy

B.C. NDP

Langford−Juan de Fuca

John Horgan

B.C. NDP

Langley

Mary Polak

B.C. Liberal Party

Langley East

Rich Coleman

B.C. Liberal Party

Maple Ridge−Mission

Bob D'Eith

B.C. NDP

Maple Ridge−Pitt Meadows

Lisa Marie Beare

B.C. NDP

Mid Island−Pacific Rim

Scott Kenneth Fraser

B.C. NDP

Nanaimo

Leonard Krog

B.C. NDP

Nanaimo−North Cowichan

Doug Routley

B.C. NDP

Nechako Lakes

John Rustad

B.C. Liberal Party

Nelson-Creston

Michelle Mungall

B.C. NDP

New Westminster

Judy Darcy

B.C. NDP

North Coast

Jennifer Rice

B.C. NDP

North Island

Claire Felicity Trevena

B.C. NDP

North Vancouver−Lonsdale

Bowinn Ma

B.C. NDP

North Vancouver−Seymour

Jane Ann Thornthwaite

B.C. Liberal Party

Oak Bay–Gordon Head

Andrew John Weaver

B.C. Green Party

Parksville-Qualicum

Michelle Stilwell

B.C. Liberal Party

Peace River North

Dan Davies

B.C. Liberal Party

Peace River South

Mike Bernier

B.C. Liberal Party

Penticton

Dan Ashton

B.C. Liberal Party

Port Coquitlam

Mike Farnworth

B.C. NDP

Port Moody−Coquitlam

Rick Glumac

B.C. NDP

Powell River−Sunshine Coast

Nicholas Simons

B.C. NDP

Prince George−Mackenzie

Mike Morris

B.C. Liberal Party

Prince George−Valemount

Shirley Bond

B.C. Liberal Party

Richmond North Centre

Teresa Wat

B.C. Liberal Party

Richmond-Queensborough

Jas Johal

B.C. Liberal Party

Richmond South Centre

Linda Reid

B.C. Liberal Party

Richmond-Steveston

John Yap

B.C. Liberal Party

Saanich North and the Islands

Adam Olsen

B.C. Green Party

Saanich South

Lana Popham

B.C. NDP

Shuswap

Gregory James Kyllo

B.C. Liberal Party

Skeena

Ellis Ross

B.C. Liberal Party

Stikine

Doug Donaldson

B.C. NDP

Surrey-Cloverdale

Marvin Hunt

B.C. Liberal Party

Surrey-Fleetwood

Jagrup Brar

B.C. NDP

Surrey–Green Timbers

Rachna Singh

B.C. NDP

Surrey-Guildford

Garry Begg

B.C. NDP

Surrey-Newton

Harry Bains

B.C. NDP

Surrey-Panorama

Jinny Sims

B.C. NDP

Surrey South

Stephanie Cadieux

B.C. Liberal Party

Surrey-Whalley

Bruce Ralston

B.C. NDP

Surrey−White Rock

Tracy Redies

B.C. Liberal Party

[3:05 p.m.]

Vancouver-Fairview

George Heyman

B.C. NDP

Vancouver−False Creek

Sam Sullivan

B.C. Liberal Party

Vancouver-Fraserview

George Chow

B.C. NDP

Vancouver-Hastings

Shane Lee Simpson

B.C. NDP

Vancouver-Kensington

Mable Elmore

B.C. NDP

Vancouver-Kingsway

Adrian Dix

BC NDP

Vancouver-Langara

Michael Lee

B.C. Liberal Party

Vancouver–Mount Pleasant

Melanie Mark

B.C. NDP

Vancouver–Point Grey

David Robert Patrick Eby

B.C. NDP

Vancouver-Quilchena

Andrew Wilkinson

B.C. Liberal Party

Vancouver–West End

Spencer Chandra Herbert

B.C. NDP

Vernon-Monashee

Eric Bailey Foster

B.C. Liberal Party

Victoria–Beacon Hill

Carole James

B.C. NDP

Victoria–Swan Lake

Rob Fleming

B.C. NDP

West Vancouver–Capilano

Ralph Sultan

B.C. Liberal Party

West Vancouver–Sea to Sky

Jordan Sturdy

B.C. Liberal Party

Sincerely,

Dr. Keith Archer, PhD

Chief Electoral Officer

British Columbia

Hon. A. Wilkinson: I move

that the certificates of the Chief Electoral Officer of the results of

the election of members be entered upon the Journals of the

House.

Motion approved.

Introduction and

First Reading of Bills

BILL 1 —

AN ACT TO ENSURE

THE SUPREMACY OF

PARLIAMENT

Hon. A. Wilkinson presented a bill intituled

An Act to Ensure the

Supremacy of Parliament.

Hon. A. Wilkinson: I move

that Bill 1, intituled

An Act to Ensure the Supremacy of Parliament, be

introduced and now read a first time.

Motion approved.

Hon. A. Wilkinson: The

introduction of this bill prior to consideration of the throne speech

expresses the established right of parliament, through its elected

members, to deliberate independently of the Sovereign. As such, it is an

important part of our parliamentary democratic process. It is a right

that was first asserted by the Parliament at Westminster in the year

1603, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

I move

that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at

the next sitting of the House after today.

Bill 1,

An Act to Ensure the Supremacy of Parliament, introduced,

read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second

reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY SPEAKER

Hon. M. de Jong: I

move, seconded by the member for Port Coquitlam electoral district,

that Greg Kyllo, the member for Shuswap electoral district, be

appointed Deputy Speaker for this session of the Legislative

Assembly.

Motion approved.

APPOINTMENT OF

ASSISTANT DEPUTY

SPEAKER

M. Farnworth: I

move, seconded by the member for Abbotsford West electoral district,

that Raj Chouhan, member for Burnaby-Edmonds electoral district, be

appointed Assistant Deputy Speaker for this session of the

Legislative Assembly.

Motion approved.

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY CHAIR,

COMMITTEE OF THE

WHOLE

Hon. M. de Jong: I

move, seconded again by the member for Port Coquitlam electoral

district, that Simon Gibson, the member for Abbotsford-Mission

electoral district, be appointed Deputy Chair of the Committee of

the Whole for this session of the Legislative Assembly.

Motion approved.

PRINTING OF Votes and

Proceedings

Hon. A. Wilkinson: I

move that the Votes and Proceedings of this House be

printed, being first perused by the hon. Speaker, and that he do

appoint the printing thereof, and that no person but such as he

shall appoint do presume to print the same.

Motion approved.

[3:10 p.m.]

APPOINTMENT OF

SELECT STANDING

COMMITTEES

Hon. C. Clark: I

move that the select standing committees of this House for the

present session be appointed for the following purposes:

Aboriginal Affairs;

Education;

Finance and Government Services;

Health;

Public Accounts;

Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private

Bills;

Crown Corporations;

Children and Youth;

and further, that a select standing committee on

legislative initiatives be appointed for the present parliament,

which said committees shall severally be empowered to examine and

inquire into all such matters and things as shall be referred to

them by this House and to report from time to time their

observations and opinions thereon, with power to send for persons,

papers and records; and that a special committee be appointed to

prepare and report, with all convenient speed, lists of members to

compose the above select standing committees of this House under

Standing Order 68(1), the committee to be composed of the Hon. M. de

Jong, convener; Eric Foster; Jackie Tegart; Peter Milobar; Mike

Farnworth; Scott Fraser; Michelle Mungall; and Shane

Simpson.

Motion approved.

Motions Without Notice

SCHEDULING OF PRIVATE MEMBERS’

MOTIONS AND

STATEMENTS

Hon. M. de Jong: With

leave, I move:

[that notwithstanding Standing Order 25A (1), and Standing Order 48

(1) regarding notice for Private Members’ Statements and the Private

Members’ motion in the name of the Member for Vancouver-Langara, the

House will proceed to Private Members’ Time on Monday next.]

I have

provided a copy of that motion to accommodate scheduling purposes and

seek leave from the House for same.

Leave granted.

Motion approved.

Hon. M. de Jong: Just for

the information of members, the listing of private members’ statements

and motions on notice will appear on the next orders of the day and is

also available in the Clerk’s office.

Hon. M. de Jong moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

Mr. Speaker: This

House stands adjourned until ten o’clock Monday morning. Travel safely

this weekend.

The House adjourned at 3:12 p.m.

The Official Report of Debates ( Hansard ) and webcasts of

proceedings

are available on the Internet. Chamber debates are broadcast on

television.

Copyright © 2017: British Columbia Hansard Services, Victoria, British

Columbia, Canada