British Columbia Hansard — 19 November 2018, p.m., Issue 185 (41st Parliament, 3rd Session)

20181119pm-Hansard-n185

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

Third Session, 41st Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES (HANSARD) Monday, November 19, 2018 Afternoon Sitting Issue No. 185 THE HONOURABLE DARRYL PLECAS, SPEAKER ISSN 1499-2175

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Her Honour the Honourable Janet Austin, OBC Third Session, 41st Parliament SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Darryl Plecas EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council ............................................................................................................... Hon. John Horgan Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance............................................................................................................................Hon.

Carole James Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training..................................................................................................... Hon. Melanie Mark Minister of Agriculture.........................................................................................................................................................Hon. Lana Popham Attorney General.................................................................................................................................................................Hon.

David Eby, QC Minister of Children and Family Development ............................................................................................................ Hon. Katrine Conroy Minister of State for Child Care...................................................................................................................................... Hon. Katrina Chen Minister of Citizens’ Services.................................................................................................................................................... Hon.

Jinny Sims Minister of Education ............................................................................................................................................................ Hon. Rob Fleming Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources ...............................................................................................Hon. Michelle Mungall Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy............................................................................................. Hon.

George Heyman Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development ..............................................Hon. Doug Donaldson Minister of Health .....................................................................................................................................................................Hon. Adrian Dix Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation ......................................................................................................... Hon.

Scott Fraser Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology............................................................................................................................ Hon. Bruce Ralston Minister of State for Trade...............................................................................................................................................Hon. George Chow Minister of Labour ...................................................................................................................................................................Hon.

Harry Bains Minister of Mental Health and Addictions............................................................................................................................ Hon. Judy Darcy Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.................................................................................................................. Hon. Selina Robinson Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General ........................................................................................................... Hon.

Mike Farnworth Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction..............................................................................................Hon. Shane Simpson Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture.....................................................................................................................................Hon. Lisa Beare Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure................................................................................................................ Hon.

Claire Trevena LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Leader of the Official Opposition................................................................................................................................Andrew Wilkinson, QC Leader of the Third Party ....................................................................................................................................................Dr. Andrew Weaver Deputy Speaker................................................................................................................................................................................

Raj Chouhan Assistant Deputy Speaker................................................................................................................................................................... Linda Reid Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole ................................................................................................................

Spencer Chandra Herbert Clerk of the Legislative Assembly ....................................................................................................................................................Craig James Deputy Clerk and Clerk of Committees.................................................................................................................................

Kate Ryan-Lloyd Clerk Assistant — Committees and Interparliamentary Relations ..........................................................................................Susan Sourial Sessional Law Clerk...............................................................................................................................................Loredana Catalli-Sonier, QC Sergeant-at-Arms ................................................................................................................................................................................. Gary Lenz

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS Ashton, Dan (BC Liberal) ........................................................................ Penticton Bains, Hon. Harry (NDP)...............................................................Surrey-Newton Barnett, Donna (BC Liberal) ................................................... Cariboo-Chilcotin Beare, Hon. Lisa (NDP).............................................Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Begg, Garry (NDP) ..................................................................... Surrey-Guildford Bernier, Mike (BC Liberal) .......................................................

Peace River South Bond, Shirley (BC Liberal)......................................... Prince George–Valemount Brar, Jagrup (NDP)..................................................................... Surrey-Fleetwood Cadieux, Stephanie (BC Liberal)....................................................... Surrey South Chandra Herbert, Spencer (NDP) ..................................... Vancouver–West End Chen, Hon. Katrina (NDP).....................................................Burnaby-Lougheed Chouhan, Raj (NDP) ............................................................... Burnaby-Edmonds Chow, Hon.

George (NDP)............................................... Vancouver-Fraserview Clovechok, Doug (BC Liberal) ................................ Columbia River–Revelstoke Coleman, Rich (BC Liberal) ...............................................................Langley East Conroy, Hon. Katrine (NDP)......................................................... Kootenay West Darcy, Hon.

Judy (NDP) ............................................................New Westminster Davies, Dan (BC Liberal) ..........................................................Peace River North de Jong, Michael, QC (BC Liberal) ............................................ Abbotsford West Dean, Mitzi (NDP)...............................................................Esquimalt-Metchosin D’Eith, Bob (NDP) ...............................................................Maple Ridge–Mission Dix, Hon. Adrian (NDP)......................................................Vancouver-Kingsway Donaldson, Hon.

Doug (NDP).....................................................................Stikine Eby, Hon. David, QC (NDP)............................................. Vancouver–Point Grey Elmore, Mable (NDP)....................................................... Vancouver-Kensington Farnworth, Hon. Mike (NDP) ...................................................... Port Coquitlam Fleming, Hon. Rob (NDP) .....................................................Victoria–Swan Lake Foster, Eric (BC Liberal)........................................................... Vernon-Monashee Fraser, Hon.

Scott (NDP) ................................................ Mid Island–Pacific Rim Furstenau, Sonia (BC Green Party) ........................................... Cowichan Valley Gibson, Simon (BC Liberal) ................................................. Abbotsford-Mission Glumac, Rick (NDP)........................................................Port Moody–Coquitlam Heyman, Hon. George (NDP) .............................................. Vancouver-Fairview Horgan, Hon. John (NDP) ...............................................

Langford–Juan de Fuca Hunt, Marvin (BC Liberal) .......................................................Surrey-Cloverdale Isaacs, Joan (BC Liberal) .........................................Coquitlam–Burke Mountain James, Hon. Carole (NDP)...................................................Victoria–Beacon Hill Johal, Jas (BC Liberal)...............................................

Richmond-Queensborough Kahlon, Ravi (NDP)..............................................................................Delta North Kang, Anne (NDP)..................................................................Burnaby–Deer Lake Krog, Leonard Eugene (NDP) ..................................................................Nanaimo Kyllo, Greg (BC Liberal)............................................................................ Shuswap Larson, Linda (BC Liberal) .............................................Boundary-Similkameen Lee, Michael (BC Liberal) ......................................................

Vancouver-Langara Leonard, Ronna-Rae (NDP) ....................................................Courtenay-Comox Letnick, Norm (BC Liberal)............................................Kelowna–Lake Country Ma, Bowinn (NDP) ................................................... North Vancouver–Lonsdale Mark, Hon. Melanie (NDP) ..................................... Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Martin, John (BC Liberal)...................................................................... Chilliwack Milobar, Peter (BC Liberal)....................................

Kamloops–North Thompson Morris, Mike (BC Liberal) ..........................................Prince George–Mackenzie Mungall, Hon. Michelle (NDP).................................................... Nelson-Creston Oakes, Coralee (BC Liberal) ...........................................................Cariboo North Olsen, Adam (BC Green Party)........................... Saanich North and the Islands Paton, Ian (BC Liberal)......................................................................... Delta South Plecas, Hon.

Darryl (Ind.) ..........................................................Abbotsford South Polak, Mary (BC Liberal) ............................................................................ Langley Popham, Hon. Lana (NDP)..............................................................Saanich South Ralston, Hon. Bruce (NDP) .......................................................... Surrey-Whalley Redies, Tracy (BC Liberal) ..................................................... Surrey–White Rock Reid, Linda (BC Liberal) ................................................

Richmond South Centre Rice, Jennifer (NDP) ............................................................................ North Coast Robinson, Hon. Selina (NDP) ....................................... Coquitlam-Maillardville Ross, Ellis (BC Liberal)..................................................................................Skeena Routledge, Janet (NDP) .................................................................. Burnaby North Routley, Doug (NDP) ................................................Nanaimo–North Cowichan Rustad, John (BC Liberal) ..............................................................

Nechako Lakes Shypitka, Tom (BC Liberal) .............................................................Kootenay East Simons, Nicholas (NDP) ........................................Powell River–Sunshine Coast Simpson, Hon. Shane (NDP)................................................ Vancouver-Hastings Sims, Hon.

Jinny (NDP) .............................................................Surrey-Panorama Singh, Rachna (NDP) ........................................................Surrey–Green Timbers Stewart, Ben (BC Liberal) ................................................................Kelowna West Stilwell, Michelle (BC Liberal)..............................................Parksville-Qualicum Stone, Todd (BC Liberal)........................................

Kamloops–South Thompson Sturdy, Jordan (BC Liberal).......................................West Vancouver–Sea to Sky Sullivan, Sam (BC Liberal)...............................................Vancouver–False Creek Sultan, Ralph (BC Liberal) ......................................... West Vancouver–Capilano Tegart, Jackie (BC Liberal) ................................................................ Fraser-Nicola Thomson, Steve (BC Liberal)..................................................... Kelowna-Mission Thornthwaite, Jane (BC Liberal) .............................

North Vancouver–Seymour Throness, Laurie (BC Liberal) ..................................................... Chilliwack-Kent Trevena, Hon. Claire (NDP) .............................................................. North Island Wat, Teresa (BC Liberal) ................................................Richmond North Centre Weaver, Dr. Andrew (BC Green Party) ......................... Oak Bay–Gordon Head Wilkinson, Andrew, QC (BC Liberal) .............................. Vancouver-Quilchena Y ap, John (BC Liberal)..........................................................

Richmond-Steveston LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING Abbotsford-Mission ..........................................................................Simon Gibson Abbotsford South ..................................................................... Hon. Darryl Plecas Abbotsford West .................................................................... Michael de Jong, QC Boundary-Similkameen.....................................................................

Linda Larson Burnaby–Deer Lake ...............................................................................Anne Kang Burnaby-Edmonds ..............................................................................Raj Chouhan Burnaby-Lougheed................................................................... Hon. Katrina Chen Burnaby North................................................................................

Janet Routledge Cariboo-Chilcotin ............................................................................Donna Barnett Cariboo North .................................................................................. Coralee Oakes Chilliwack.............................................................................................. John Martin Chilliwack-Kent..............................................................................Laurie Throness Columbia River–Revelstoke........................................................

Doug Clovechok Coquitlam–Burke Mountain................................................................. Joan Isaacs Coquitlam-Maillardville..................................................... Hon. Selina Robinson Courtenay-Comox ................................................................. Ronna-Rae Leonard Cowichan Valley ............................................................................

Sonia Furstenau Delta North ...........................................................................................Ravi Kahlon Delta South.................................................................................................Ian Paton Esquimalt-Metchosin.............................................................................Mitzi Dean Fraser-Nicola........................................................................................

Jackie Tegart Kamloops–North Thompson............................................................Peter Milobar Kamloops–South Thompson ................................................................Todd Stone Kelowna–Lake Country....................................................................Norm Letnick Kelowna-Mission.............................................................................

Steve Thomson Kelowna West.........................................................................................Ben Stewart Kootenay East .....................................................................................Tom Shypitka Kootenay West ...................................................................... Hon. Katrine Conroy Langford–Juan de Fuca............................................................. Hon. John Horgan Langley....................................................................................................

Mary Polak Langley East .......................................................................................Rich Coleman Maple Ridge–Mission ............................................................................ Bob D’Eith Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows ..........................................................Hon. Lisa Beare Mid Island–Pacific Rim .............................................................. Hon. Scott Fraser Nanaimo ...............................................................................

Leonard Eugene Krog Nanaimo–North Cowichan.............................................................. Doug Routley Nechako Lakes ...................................................................................... John Rustad Nelson-Creston.................................................................. Hon. Michelle Mungall New Westminster ......................................................................... Hon. Judy Darcy North Coast..........................................................................................

Jennifer Rice North Island ............................................................................ Hon. Claire Trevena North Vancouver–Lonsdale ................................................................. Bowinn Ma North Vancouver–Seymour ......................................................Jane Thornthwaite Oak Bay–Gordon Head ..........................................................Dr.

Andrew Weaver Parksville-Qualicum .....................................................................Michelle Stilwell Peace River North.................................................................................. Dan Davies Peace River South ............................................................................... Mike Bernier Penticton................................................................................................ Dan Ashton Port Coquitlam .................................................................... Hon.

Mike Farnworth Port Moody–Coquitlam .....................................................................Rick Glumac Powell River–Sunshine Coast ..................................................... Nicholas Simons Prince George–Mackenzie ..................................................................Mike Morris Prince George–Valemount.................................................................

Shirley Bond Richmond North Centre ........................................................................Teresa Wat Richmond-Queensborough .......................................................................Jas Johal Richmond South Centre........................................................................ Linda Reid Richmond-Steveston..................................................................................

John Y ap Saanich North and the Islands............................................................Adam Olsen Saanich South............................................................................Hon. Lana Popham Shuswap .................................................................................................... Greg Kyllo Skeena ......................................................................................................... Ellis Ross Stikine ..................................................................................Hon.

Doug Donaldson Surrey-Cloverdale............................................................................... Marvin Hunt Surrey-Fleetwood ...................................................................................Jagrup Brar Surrey–Green Timbers ......................................................................Rachna Singh Surrey-Guildford ....................................................................................Garry Begg Surrey-Newton.............................................................................Hon.

Harry Bains Surrey-Panorama........................................................................... Hon. Jinny Sims Surrey South............................................................................... Stephanie Cadieux Surrey-Whalley........................................................................ Hon. Bruce Ralston Surrey–White Rock ............................................................................. Tracy Redies Vancouver-Fairview ............................................................ Hon.

George Heyman Vancouver–False Creek....................................................................... Sam Sullivan Vancouver-Fraserview .............................................................Hon. George Chow Vancouver-Hastings .............................................................. Hon. Shane Simpson Vancouver-Kensington ..................................................................... Mable Elmore Vancouver-Kingsway ................................................................... Hon.

Adrian Dix Vancouver-Langara .............................................................................. Michael Lee Vancouver–Mount Pleasant ................................................... Hon. Melanie Mark Vancouver–Point Grey...........................................................Hon.

David Eby, QC Vancouver-Quilchena ......................................................Andrew Wilkinson, QC Vancouver–West End....................................................Spencer Chandra Herbert Vernon-Monashee...................................................................................Eric Foster Victoria–Beacon Hill ................................................................ Hon. Carole James Victoria–Swan Lake .................................................................. Hon. Rob Fleming West Vancouver–Capilano .................................................................

Ralph Sultan West Vancouver–Sea to Sky ..............................................................Jordan Sturdy Party Standings: BC Liberal 42; NDP 41; BC Green Party 3; Independent 1

CONTENTS Monday, November 19, 2018 Afternoon Sitting Page Routine Business Introductions by Members..................................................................................................................................................... 6503 Tributes ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 6503 Clarence Lapp S.

Bond Introductions by Members..................................................................................................................................................... 6503 Introduction and First Reading of Bills................................................................................................................................ 6504 Bill 57 — Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act, 2018 Hon. D. Eby Bill 55 — Passenger Transportation Amendment Act, 2018 Hon. C. Trevena Bill 56 — Oil and Gas Activities Amendment Act, 2018 Hon. M.

Mungall Statements (Standing Order 25B) ......................................................................................................................................... 6506 Louis Riel Day S. Chandra Herbert Multiculturalism T. Wat World Diabetes Day M. Elmore Response to wildfires and evacuations J. Rustad Character Abbotsford and Character Canada organizations A. Olsen North Shore Restorative Justice J.

Thornthwaite Oral Questions......................................................................................................................................................................... 6508 Referendum on electoral reform A. Wilkinson Hon. J. Horgan S. Bond Government action on climate change A. Weaver Hon. M. Mungall Hon. D. Donaldson Referendum on electoral reform T. Stone Hon. J. Horgan M. Stilwell J.

Thornthwaite Tabling Documents................................................................................................................................................................. 6513 Statement of 2017-18 borrowings, schedules A and B Islands Trust, annual report, 2017-18 Petitions .................................................................................................................................................................................... 6513 D.

Routley Tabling Documents................................................................................................................................................................. 6513 Office of the Merit Commissioner, merit performance audit, 2017-18 Office of the Representative for Children and Y outh, report,Time to Listen: Youth Voices on Substance Abuse Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, annual report, 2017-18 Elections B.C., annual report, 2017-18, and service plan, 2018-19 to 2020-21 Petitions .................................................................................................................................................................................... 6514 Hon.

R. Fleming

Orders of the Day Second Reading of Bills .......................................................................................................................................................... 6514 Bill 52 — Agricultural Land Commission Amendment Act, 2018(continued) D. Barnett R. Coleman B. Stewart M. Bernier D. Davies M. Morris T. Shypitka L. Larson D. Clovechok M.

Hunt Reporting of Bills..................................................................................................................................................................... 6541 Bill 49 — Professional Governance Act Second Reading of Bills .......................................................................................................................................................... 6541 Bill 52 — Agricultural Land Commission Amendment Act, 2018(continued) M. Hunt J. Isaacs Hon. L.

Popham Private Members’ Motions ..................................................................................................................................................... 6544 Motion 32 — Foreign donations and political activities of organizations(continued) Second Reading of Bills .......................................................................................................................................................... 6545 Bill 54 — Lobbyists Registration Amendment Act, 2018 Hon. D. Eby M. Lee A. Olsen Hon. D. Eby Bill 47 — Health Sector Statutes Repeal Act Hon. A. Dix J. Isaacs Hon. J.

Darcy Hon. J. Sims Hon. H. Bains Hon. A. Dix Proceedings in the Douglas Fir Room Committee of the Whole House............................................................................................................................................ 6560 Bill 49 — Professional Governance Act(continued) P . Milobar Hon. G. Heyman S. Furstenau S. Thomson Bill 45 — Budget Measures Implementation (Speculation and Vacancy Tax) Act, 2018 Hon. C. James S. Bond A. Weaver T. Redies N. Letnick S. Thomson B. Stewart M. Stilwell P . Milobar

MONDAY , NOVEMBER 19, 2018 The House met at 1:35 p.m. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Introductions by Members Hon. D. Eby: Joining us in the House here today are Wayne Robertson and James Sullivan from the Law Founda- tion of British Columbia. Wayne is the executive director of the Law Foundation of B.C., and James Sullivan is chair of the class action committee. The Law Foundation was foun- ded in 1969, and they’ve funded over $565 million to sup- port access to justice and justice-related initiatives in all regions of the province.

Would the House please make them welcome and thank them for their important work in British Columbia. D. Routley:We are joined in the House with approx- imately 30 young people from Queen Margaret’s School in Duncan. One of those students is a very special young woman who came to my office a couple of years ago when she was beginning this petition drive. It’s a bit of a prop, but this is an amazing young woman who began this project at age nine. She has collected over 800 signatures to stop the wolf kill. She cares a lot about the wolves, about the environ- ment.

I learned a lot not just because she’s a brilliant young woman, but also I learned a lot about how human activity, industrial activity on the land base and the lack of restora- tion of resource roads has given the advantage to wolves over caribou. While it may seem a simple solution, it’s not. She reminds us how complex this issue is — how every government of this province, regardless of stripe, needs to pay deep atten- tion to these issues. Thank you to Keala. Keala Wayne Winterhalt is joined by her mom, Sarah Wayne, and her dad, Josh Winterhalt. I’m very proud to be their host today. Please make them welcome.

T. Wat:I would like to introduce someone who is no stranger to this building. Jay Denney was my chief of staff for over three years. The first project he worked on for me was the apology for the historical wrongs done to the Chinese community. But what many of you are not aware of is that when he worked on the project, he was working from the maternity ward at Victoria General, because his daughter was born just several days before the apology.

Jay also served as the chief of staff of the now Leader of the Official Opposition and also the former Agriculture Min- ister, the member for Kelowna–Lake Country, and also for former minister Blair Lekstrom. He now lives in Ottawa and is visiting Vancouver and Victoria. Please join me in giving Jay Denney a warm welcome. L. Reid:I’m pleased to welcome Lynn Klein to the gallery today. Lynn, we’ve missed you. Welcome back. Hon. G. Chow:Joining us in the House are two members of my staff who are in the gallery for the first time: min- isterial assistant Stephanie Chang and also admin assistant Ilene Duguay.

Would the House please welcome both of my staff. They are very, very important to me. They keep me on time and make sure I go to the right room at the right time, including the washroom. S. Sullivan:We have two very special guests: local medical doctor Chris Watt and his wife, Valerie, a family therapist. They are from Victoria and are good friends from years gone by. I’ d just like the House to welcome them. Hon. S. Robinson:I have a number of guests here in the gallery today. I have folks from the Home Inspectors Asso- ciation of British Columbia here.

They’re going to be meet- ing with myself and the Solicitor General as well. Bob Hamm is president, and Helene Barton is the executive director. They’re both here, as well as representatives from the Islands Trust. I’m really pleased to see that Peter Luckham, who is chair, as well as Laura Patrick and Russ Hotsenpiller are here. Tributes CLARENCE LAPP S. Bond:Sadly, Prince George lost a longtime resident last week. Clarence Lapp came to British Columbia and built his livelihood in the logging industry.

Predeceased by his wife, Charlotte, the family were community builders with strong character. [1:40 p.m.] Son-in-law and previous member of the Legislature Pat Bell always said that Clarence was his best friend and his best mentor. Even though Clarence had only completed grade 8, Pat would use him as his key business adviser. In fact, they were business partners for many years. I knew Clarence well, as did many people in our com- munity, including the member for Prince George–Macken- zie. Clarence is survived by his six children, 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Clarence was one of a kind, and Prince George will miss him. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the condolences of the House be conveyed to Brenda and Pat Bell and their entire family. Introductions by Members Hon. C. Trevena:In the House today is Dr. Dan Hara. Dr. Hara has 21 years of experience advising government agen- cies on regulatory and transportation policy. His work has covered many regulatory environments, and he’s presented 6503

numerous reports on the taxi industry and other issues. Of course, my ministry retained him to study and bring forward recommendations to modernize the taxi industry in B.C. I’ d like to thank Dr. Hara for his work, and I’ d also like the House to make him very welcome. Hon. R. Fleming:I would like to ask the House to join with me in recognizing a number of individuals we’re for- tunate to have with us here today: Janet Gray, Rev. Laura Kavanagh, Susan Draper, Ruth D’Hollander and Maureen Applethwaite.

All of these individuals are with KAIROS Canada, which is a national organization that unites ten churches and religious organizations working together in faithful action for social justice and human rights. I think many members of the House will know of KAIROS, that it’s committed to truth, healing and recon- ciliation for the past and Indigenous justice for the present. We’re very fortunate, I think, to be working with them as the Ministry of Education, as a government and as a Legis- lative Assembly.

KAIROS Canada’s present priorities include reconciliation and education through their campaign, the Winds of Change. I would ask all members of the House to please make these individuals welcome. J. Rice:In the House today, we have visitors from or work- ing in Kitasoo/Xai’xais territory. From Klemtu, we have Chief Doug Neasloss, Chantal Pronteau, Christina Service and Evan Loveless. Would the House make our guests feel welcome. J. Johal:Joining us in the House today is Mr. Dennis Rogoza, the CEO of B.C. SCRAP-IT. The B.C. SCRAP-IT society is headquartered in my riding of Richmond-Queens- borough.

Since 1996, the society has provided incentives to consumers to scrap their dirty, polluting vehicles. I’m proud to say they’ve scrapped over 44,000 vehicles in British Columbia. Today they offer incentives towards electric vehicles and electric home chargers for those vehicles as well. I ask the House to welcome Mr. Rogoza. A. Weaver:It seems I was pre-empted there. It gives me great pleasure to introduce a constituent of mine, Dennis Rogoza, who is, as was mentioned, the president and CEO of the B.C. SCRAP-IT program. He’s accompanied by a col- league, Diane Roberts, who is also here today.

As was mentioned, Dennis designed the SCRAP-IT pro- gram in 1996. To date, 44,000 vehicles have been scrapped and one million tonnes of greenhouse gases removed, including not one, but two of my old cars. Would the House please make him feel very welcome — and also Diane Roberts — today. R. Singh:A very dear friend, Jason Craig, who’s also pres- ident of my riding association, is in the gallery today. Would the House make him feel very welcome. M. Dean:Today we’re visited by Cpl. Scott Fletcher. He’s a tactical weather specialist with the Department of National Defence.

Would everyone please make him very welcome. B. Ma: St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School is a school in the constituency of North Vancouver–Lonsdale, my rid- ing. We are joined in the House today by 33 grade 10 stu- dents with their teacher, Mr. Jerome Francis. Would the House please join me in making them feel very welcome. [1:45 p.m.] Introduction and First Reading of Bills BILL 57 — ATTORNEY GENERAL STATUTES AMENDMENT ACT, 2018 Hon. D. Eby presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act, 2018. Hon. D.

Eby:I move the bill be introduced and read a first time now. I’m pleased to introduce Bill 57, the Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act, 2018. This bill amends a number of statutes under the mandate of the Ministry of Attorney General. They include the Civil Resolution Tribunal Act, Class Proceedings Act, Gaming Control Act and Legal Pro- fession Act. The amendments to the Civil Resolution Tribunal Act continue to make improvements to the act and make tech- nical changes to the act in order to clarify provisions and close potential loopholes.

Amendments to the Class Proceedings Act will change the way awards and settlement funds are handled in class action lawsuits when the money cannot be disbursed to the members of the class. With the exception of lawsuits primar- ily affecting Indigenous people, the new process will require at least 50 percent of undistributed funds to go to the Law Foundation of B.C. so that they can be used to support access to justice, which is a core principle of class proceedings. Bill 57 makes three amendments to the Gaming Control Act to address the intent of four recommendations made by Dr.

Peter German’s report on money laundering. These amendments provide new authorities to the gaming policy and enforcement branch to begin the process of creating a more independent regulator. Amendments to the Legal Profession Act are intended to increase access to legal services by expanding who may engage in the practice of law. New legal service providers called “licensed paralegals” will be governed by the legislat- ive framework of the Legal Profession Act and will be regu- lated by the Law Society of British Columbia.

Amendments will also clarify the interaction between the Legal Profession Act and insurance legislation in respect of the Law Society’s insurance program, both of these amendments coming at the request of the benchers of the Law Society of B.C. 6504 British Columbia Debates Monday, November 19, 2018

Mr. Speaker:The question is first reading of the bill. Motion approved. Hon. D. Eby: 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 57, Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act, 2018, introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today. BILL 55 — PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION AMENDMENT ACT, 2018 Hon. C. Trevena presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Passenger Transportation Amendment Act, 2018. Hon. C.

Trevena:I move that the bill be introduced and read a first time now. I’m pleased to introduce Bill 55, the Passenger Transporta- tion Amendment Act. This bill proposes amendments to the Passenger Transportation Act as well as substantive changes to seven other statutes. The proposed changes deliver on our government’s commitment to introduce legislation this ses- sion that, if passed, will support a change in the passenger transportation sector of this province, the enabling of com- mercial app-based ride-hailing.

App-based ride-hailing is where passengers hail and pay for trips through the use of transportation network services, typically accessed using their smartphones. We have learned from other jurisdictions, many of which embraced the app- based ride-hailing without question or regulation, that a well-balanced regulatory framework is necessary. Without one, problems can arise that include gridlock on our streets, a declining ridership on public transportation, exorbitantly high charges to passengers, and accidents caused by unsafe or inexperienced drivers.

It’s examples like these that have informed our approach to modernizing passenger-directed vehicle service in this province and created a made-in-B.C. solution. We believe the changes set out in this bill strike the right balance between meeting consumer demand for more services while establishing a modern regulatory framework that prioritizes safety for British Columbians. We’re eliminating regulatory overlap between municipal and provincial governments that has plagued the passenger- directed vehicle industry for years.

We’re also laying the groundwork to enhance compliance and enforcement and to protect the supply of accessible vehicles as new ride-hailing services enter the market. Further changes will allow for the development of the kind of insurance needed by the app- based ride-hailing industry. British Columbians have told us they want safe, affordable and convenient transportation options. This bill marks a sig- nificant step in laying the groundwork and ensuring such services will soon be available to them. Mr. Speaker:The question is first reading of the bill. Motion approved. [1:50 p.m.] Hon. C.

Trevena: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 55, Passenger Transportation Amendment Act, 2018, introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today. BILL 56 — OIL AND GAS ACTIVITIES AMENDMENT ACT, 2018 Hon. M. Mungall presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Oil and Gas Activities Amendment Act, 2018. Hon. M. Mungall:I move that the bill be introduced and read a first time now.

I am pleased to introduce Bill 56, the Oil and Gas Activ- ities Amendment Act, 2018. The bill amends the Oil And Gas Activities Act to support an equivalency agreement with the federal government regarding methane regula- tions and to provide a legal framework for offsite environ- mental mitigation. The federal government, under the Canadian Environ- mental Protection Act, is implementing regulations to reduce methane emissions in the upstream oil and gas sector by 45 percent, by 2025.

Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, the federal regulations would apply in B.C. unless the province develops methane regulations that the federal government determines are equivalent in terms of emission reductions and passes legislation that allows the public to request the investigation of alleged contraventions of methane emission regulation and requires the Oil and Gas Commission to investigate the alleged contraventions. The legislative amendments that we are proposing will support a made-in- B.C. approach to methane regulation by creating the neces- sary compliance mechanisms.

We are also looking to offset environmental mitigation for oil and gas activities. The province is currently working to establish a plan to achieve effective protection of boreal cari- bou under the federal Species at Risk Act. An element of this plan is an offset policy which will require permit holders to mitigate activities and impacts to habitat within the operat- ing area by treating and monitoring an area located outside of the operating area. Monday, November 19, 2018 British Columbia Debates 6505

This act is about protecting our air, land and water as well as our wildlife habitat. These same standards need to apply all across the country so that we remain equally competitive at the provincial jurisdiction, as well as accountable, as we all work to reduce our methane emissions and protect wildlife in the natural gas sector. Mr. Speaker:The question is first reading of the bill. Motion approved. Hon. M. Mungall: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 56, Oil and Gas Activities Amendment Act, 2018, introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today. Statements (Standing Order 25B) LOUIS RIEL DAY S. Chandra Herbert:I wanted to draw the House’s atten- tion to an important event that occurred this last Friday. This last Friday, November 16, was proclaimed Louis Riel Day here in British Columbia, a day to honour the man’s memory, his

part in building Canada and his fight for human rights and, of course, to honour and recognize all the Métis people here in British Columbia as well. Our Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance and Mme. President Clara Morin-Dal Col of Métis Nation B.C. led a gathering here on the front steps of the Legislature at sunrise to raise the Métis flag on that flagpole to honour both Louis Riel and the Métis people. It goes without saying that Louis Riel is both an important figure and a controversial figure in Métis and Canadian his- tory, but one that we could all learn from. He was a political leader.

He was a rebellion leader. He was an inspiration for me at a young age after visiting Batoche and learning about his work to support the Métis people against incredible odds. He was a champion for, of course, the Métis people’s rights and culture, but many don’t know he also was a big supporter of a more multicultural society that honoured and valued different religions and different points of view and bilingual- ism, more than one language being spoken in this country — something which, at the time, many did not support.

Today he is, of course, recognized as a founder of Manitoba and a contributor to our confederation. [1:55 p.m.] Now, why November 16? Well, it was the sad day, Novem- ber 16, 1885, when Louis Riel was hanged by the federal government after the Northwest Rebellion. The Métis people and many other Canadians saw then and still see that action as a grave injustice, and each year, on that date, we honour his memory. Of course, it’s much more than honouring Louis Riel and what he tried to achieve so many years ago.

It’s about hon- ouring the Métis people here in our province and their incredible contributions each and every day — and the ongoing need to work for human rights for us all. MULTICULTURALISM T. Wat: As the most ethnically diverse province in Canada, British Columbia is celebrating Multiculturalism Week this week. What makes this year’s celebration so spe- cial is that it marks the 25th anniversary of the Multicul- turalism Act, which aims for more cultural understanding and to create a society free from all forms of discrimin- ation based on race, religion, ethnicity, ancestry or your place of origin.

As the former minister of multiculturalism and the MLA for Richmond North Centre, a very diverse community, sup- porting multiculturalism is very dear to my heart. Every year around 40,000 immigrants arrive in British Columbia, and it is upon each and every one of us to make them feel welcome and respected. Ignorance and hatred of other cultures is one of the biggest obstacles to peace today. Let’s not forget that it was less than a month ago that 11 people were killed during a gun attack at a Pittsburgh syn- agogue. The Jewish community is an important part of our multicultural society.

With my deepest sorrow, I attended a Shabbat dinner at the Bayit synagogue in Richmond to stand together with the community during a difficult time. Y esterday I joined a Holodomor commemoration anni- versary ceremony outside of Vancouver Art Gallery to remember the victims of the Holodomor and to reflect on the remarkable contribution of the Ukrainian community to our province. We commemorated one of the darkest chapters of human history, the Ukrainian Holodomor of 1932-33.

Meantime, there is so much more work we need to do beyond healing the wounds to ensure that violence and bigotry have no place in our society. Multiculturalism needs to be the cornerstone of educa- tion. Let’s establish a climate of trust, enforce an environ- ment where every British Columbian can succeed regardless of their ethnic background and culture. WORLD DIABETES DAY M. Elmore:World Diabetes Day is honoured on the 14th of November each year. It marks the birthday of Dr.

Fre- derick Banting, the Canadian who made one of the most important strides in medical history, giving life to millions of people who are diagnosed with diabetes. Together with his colleagues at the University of Toronto, Dr. Banting co- developed insulin as treatment for diabetes in 1922. What they chose to do next was even more remarkable. In 6506 British Columbia Debates Monday, November 19, 2018

1923, each of the three researchers sold the patent rights to the University of Toronto in exchange for $1 each in recom- pense. They wanted their research to be used for the public good. They wanted this life-saving medication to be available to everyone who needed it. I am proud that our government has honoured the spirit of Dr. Banting and his team. We’ve expanded the coverage of insulin pumps so that any British Columbian with dia- betes requiring one, no matter their age, will have access under PharmaCare.

In effect, we’re improving affordability for those who need it most, helping to ensure that low- income families can access the prescription medications they need. World Diabetes Day was created to highlight the import- ance of taking action together to confront diabetes as a crit- ical global health issue. In B.C., there are about 1.4 million people currently living with diabetes or prediabetes.

I’m honoured to recognize World Diabetes Day here today, and I am proud of the collective work that we are doing alongside organizations like Diabetes Canada, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Y oung and T1, to make life better for those living with diabetes. RESPONSE TO WILDFIRES AND EV ACUATIONS J. Rustad:Imagine your son looking out the window and saying: “Dad, it looks like a fire. ” Y ou look out and see flames leaping into the night sky, getting closer as they move down a distant hill.

The next morning most of your neighbours have left, your home area is on evacuation order, but you decide to stay and protect your property. [2:00 p.m.] Later that day an RCMP officer knocks on your door and asks permission to access your dental records in case the worst happens. Down the road others have decided to stay and sleep another night, nervously, on their lake dock as the evening sky is full of smoke and light from fires.

Over the next few days, these neighbours had to leave twice, as fire- fighters battled the flames across the road from their home, the heat being so intense that it scorched the concrete barri- er and their business sign burst into flames. In the next community, a church group kept their bible camp open to house and feed firefighters. The ladies had prepared a hot meal for the crew when the word came that the firefighters would be pulled out. One of the firefight- ers commented that he will never forget the look in the ladies’ eyes as the situation was deemed too dangerous for the firefighters.

Y ou’re running out of food and fuel. Y ou’re not allowed to leave for supplies. People who rely on generators to access information could only run for an hour or less a day. Some ranchers got caught taking a load of cattle out of the area and not being allowed back in to get the rest. People were running the blockade at night by boat, trying to get supplies. Others punched through a makeshift road on the far side of the lake so that they could sneak in and out. The 2018 fires were a difficult time for many. Firefighters, volunteers and first responders did their best, and everybody praises their efforts.

The good folks of Nechako Lakes hope that lessons can be learned, and the people hope they never have to be under siege again to choose to stay and protect their homes. CHARACTER ABBOTSFORD AND CHARACTER CANADA ORGANIZATIONS A. Olsen: Character Canada and Character Abbotsford are grassroots movements aimed at sparking pride and own- ership in each of its community members. Whether you’re a business, school, government agency or non-profit, the basic strategy is the same: inspire your people, identify your shared values and integrate them everywhere.

The organ- ization works hard to actualize its vision to build a com- munity of character by inspiring character, enabling leaders and influencing community. The group is careful to establish that they are not the char- acter police or here to judge. They are not tied to any reli- gious or political group, nor do they exist to pressure people to be perfect. Rather, they believe that it’s through living out our imperfections where true character shines. The Character Abbotsford board of directors, established in 2011, have developed a Character Council of key com- munity leaders who meet five times per year.

This group works together to influence change through their annual youth forum, in which they host up to 500 students from their established schools of character. They have also hosted two national conferences entitled Character Canada, which have both seen over 300 attendees from as far east as Ontario. They’ve received formal recog- nition by character.org in Washington, D.C., and have been nominated for two Fraser Valley Diversity Awards. We feel confident this group is here to stay.

For Character Canada, their job, simply put, is to encour- age character in their citizens, which, at the end of the day, leads to smart, heart-centred choices and smart, heart- centred action. It’s that easy. They have values that, I think, we can all agree on: respect, responsibility, integrity, empathy, courage and service. NORTH SHORE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE J. Thornthwaite:On November 3, I attended a fundraiser for North Shore Restorative Justice, a cause I have long sup- ported. Restorative justice focuses on rehabilitation of an offender and reconciliation with victims, not on punish- ment.

It focuses on repairing harm, the potential for healing in victims, meaningful accountability of offenders and preventing further crime. It is a voluntary process for both the victim and the offender, and it will not work in all cases because the offend- Monday, November 19, 2018 British Columbia Debates 6507

er is required to acknowledge or accept responsibility for their actions in order to access the program. This is key. Accountability for the wrongs from the perpetrator is required for it to work for those harmed. Restorative justice varies widely from community to com- munity but could include mediation programs, restitution agreements, community service, financial compensation and service to the victim. Research shows restorative justice can be more efficient and cost-effective than traditional justice systems and can reduce repeat offences.

It helps us recognize pain, take responsibility for the pain that was caused by oth- ers and to move forward to repair that pain through restor- ative justice. Dr. Fania Davis, keynote speaker at the November 3 event and co-founder and executive director of Restorative Justice for Oakland Y outh, gave some very telling statistics. Gradu- ation rates and reading levels rose while chronic absences and dropout rates reduced.

Schools with restorative justice saw a decrease in violence and teacher attrition. [2:05 p.m.] North Shore Restorative Justice has been operating since 1997 and, since 2013, launched Circle in Schools in many classrooms in West and North Vancouver. Through storytelling, dialogue, games and activities, students gain understanding of themselves and others. With this, they develop stronger communities and deeper relationships.

One grade 4 student said: “I liked how we all got together and said how we feel and that it’s super calm, unlike normal. ” Another said: “I had a great time making new friends and expressing my feelings. I got to know what people are going through, which made me a better person. ” I was happy to join many educators and school trustees and other elected officials to hear about the benefits of res- torative justice and to support their valuable work in our schools and the community. Oral Questions REFERENDUM ON ELECTORAL REFORM A.

Wilkinson:I think we’re all aware that late last week the Premier decided to intervene in the middle of the ref- erendum in an attempt to reduce the uncertainty in the eyes of voters. On a key issue that had been left to a legisla- tive committee to be determined after the referendum, he decided to direct his MLAs to vote in a particular fashion when the issue arose, effectively making the committee’s work meaningless. This was perhaps ill-advised. Certainly, the media rose to the occasion on Saturday.

The media quotes run along the following lines: “Horgan’s Gaffe on Proportional Represent- ation Could Be Costly. ” “Clumsy. ” “Terrible Lack of Judg- ment. ” “Incompetence. ” “ Amateurish. ” And perhaps harshest of all: “Boneheaded. ” The obvious question is: why did the Premier decide to interfere in the middle of the referendum after hundreds of thousands of people have sent in their ballots? Hon. J. Horgan:Although I appreciate the recitation from the Leader of the Opposition, I’m sure my mom thinks better of me than that.

If I can’t have affirmation from theVancou- ver Sun editorial board, I guess I’ll just have to endure that. I appreciate the member bringing it to my attention. But listen. When it comes to closed lists, it’s something that I’ve been opposed to since I began this transformation from supporting the old, outdated system that the member on the other side thought was not good enough for his lead- ership race but good enough for the people of B.C. I listened to the debate in this House. The member that just spoke was late to participate, but I listened to the member for Vancouver-Langara. He didn’t like closed lists.

I listened to the member for Prince George–Mackenzie. He spoke several times about closed lists. False-Creek, learned colleague at the end of the row, spoke about closed lists, as did the member for Kelowna West, the member for Chilliwack-Kent, the member for Pen- ticton, the member for Shuswap. The list goes on and on. I consulted with my colleague the Leader of the Third Party. He was against closed lists. I talked to my colleagues here. They were against closed lists. A representative sample, which I’ve just articulated here, on the other side was against closed lists. So here we are in agreement.

We shouldn’t have closed lists. A. Wilkinson:We can see that the Premier, once again, is prepared to toy with these citizens’ rights by making rulings unilaterally. This is grossly inappropriate. The Premier was asked questions during the debate on November 8 about the two dozen features that he has left as unknowns in this referendum, leaving voters to guess what the outcome will be. Will the Premier stand here today — in this quieter, more orderly atmosphere than a television debate — and will he answer the most simple questions: how many votes will a voter have, and how many MLAs will there be in a riding?

Hon. J. Horgan:I say touché to the Leader of the Oppos- ition. It is a quieter, more calm opportunity to talk about the differences of opinion between that side of the House and this side of the House. As we know, those on that side like the system, unless it’s their leadership race. If it’s for the people of British Columbia, they like a system that was good enough for Churchill, good enough for Disraeli, good enough for Gladstone. [2:10 p.m.] I think the people on this side of the House are looking to the future. Y oung people, as the member well knows, are woke to this. They know that pro rep is lit.

They know that a new system that makes every vote count is far superior to the old ways of Disraeli and Gladstone. 6508 British Columbia Debates Monday, November 19, 2018

Instead, we’re looking forward to a system that makes sure that every vote counts. That’s what the young people want. That’s what people who want to make sure their vote counts are looking for, and that’s what this referendum is all about. Mr. Speaker:The Leader of the Official Opposition on a second supplemental. A. Wilkinson:I suppose in the general atmosphere of this room, it’s fair to say that I haven’t yet met anyone under the age of 30 who didn’t cringe at the Premier’s use of the lan- guage. We know he has a team of really groovy people work- ing with him.

We now wait with bated breath for the Premier’s next rul- ing about how the legislative committee is going to work after his proportional representation referendum is finished. I think the obvious question is: what’s next, Premier? Which is the next issue you’re going to rule on — tell us how our democracy is going to work — and take it out of the hands of citizens? Hon. J. Horgan:I will just go back to the clone speech, the last gasp of the former government when they said that they would have a referendum on proportional representation. That’s exactly what we’re doing on this side of the House.

We’re asking the people of British Columbia to decide whether they want to keep the old system that puts a whole bunch of power in the hands of a few people or if they want to embrace a new system that makes sure that every vote counts. If you get 40 percent of the votes, you get 40 percent of the seats. It’s just that simple. I think British Columbians understand that.

After an affirmative vote comes through at the end of the referendum period, a legislative committee will be struck, and we will work with Elections B.C., as we do every eight years or so, to determine maps, to determine size of constitu- encies and to determine a whole host of issues that the mem- ber wants us to articulate today.

Instead, I would prefer to say to the people of British Columbia: “Y ou can support the people on that side of the House who said, ‘First-past-the-post isn’t good enough for us, but it’s good enough for you, ’ or you can embrace the 21th century, like my good friend from West Vancouver–Capil- ano. Get woke because pro rep is lit. ” S. Bond: Well, another day and another dodge from this Premier.

For months now, both inside this House and out- side this House we’ve been asking legitimate questions — asking this Premier to provide clarity about key details about an issue that is as significant as changing electoral reform in British Columbia. Well, you can imagine our surprise when midway through the voting period, the Premier changes the options — just like that, after thousands of British Colum- bians had already cast their ballots. In a show of extreme disrespect, this Premier stood up and said: “Well, I’m just going to pull that option right off the table. ” And it wasn’t just that.

The information that was sent to voters in their voter’s guide actually included the option that the Premier suddenly decided to remove. How on earth does this Premier expect British Columbi- ans to make an informed decision when even their voter’s guide is suddenly made irrelevant because of his spur-of- the-moment decision? Hon. J. Horgan:Again, I know that the member is a long- standing member of this House. She would have been pay- ing rapt attention to her colleagues as they stood in this place and condemned closed lists as an abomination of demo- cracy.

So I don’t know what the problem would be, if we all agree in this place that closed lists is not an appropriate course to take, that we say so. We’ve said so. Members on that side of the House were saying it day after day after, whether it be Langara, whether it be False Creek or Shuswap. Shuswap weighed in on closed lists. Again, I apologize to the member for listening to her colleagues and taking direction from them during debate in the Legislative Assembly. Mr. Speaker:The member for Prince George–Valemount on a supplemental. [2:15 p.m.] S.

Bond: If the Premier had such a strong view about closed lists, then maybe he should have started from that position instead of suddenly changing his mind partway through the voting process. Let’s be clear. There are dozens of critical issues, dozens of critical details, that this Premier refuses to provide an answer for not only in this House but to British Columbians. Now he merely expects British Columbians to accept anoth- er promise? Let’s look at the string of broken promises that this Premier has made. First of all, he promised a simple yes-no. That didn’t hap- pen. He promised an independent process.

That didn’t hap- pen. He promised regional thresholds. That didn’t happen either. It is time for this Premier to step up, accept the responsibility for the mess that this has turned into and provide some detailed answers. I’m going to give the Premier a chance today. Since he’s been listening to all of the concerns we’ve had, here’s one for him. My constituents want to know, under one of the mod- els on the ballot — which, by the way, is not in use anywhere in the world — will their riding and the communities in it be considered urban, semi-urban or rural? There have been dozens of questions.

He’s not answered it. Today’s his chance. Hon. J. Horgan:The member knows full well that even in this precinct as we sit here today, constituencies change over time. I have been elected four times — firstly, in Mala- hat–Juan de Fuca, a completely different constituency that I started with to the one that I represent today. Monday, November 19, 2018 British Columbia Debates 6509

Over time, constituencies change. People move in. People move out. The demographics shift. That’s been going on in British Columbia for generations. That’s why an independent panel of boundary commissioners get together, appointed by this place, to report back. That is not new. It is not unusual. I do not know after the next redistribution, even if we are saddled with the ancient system embraced by that side, whether I’ll be representing Langford–Juan de Fuca, Metchosin–Juan de Fuca or some other variation on that theme. The member knows full well that’s the case, and so do her constituents.

GOVERNMENT ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE A. Weaver:In the span of just a few centuries, Earth has transitioned from a past when climate affected the evolu- tion of human societies to the present, in which humans are affecting the evolution of the climate system. Today we are at a pivotal moment in human history. Our generation will be responsible for deciding the path we take and the future climate we’ll take along with us. As elected officials, we’ll either be complicit in allowing climate change to despoil our world, or we can lead the way and choose a different path.

Our provincial emissions have risen in four out of the last five years. Every minister has a responsibility to ensure that tackling this issue is within their mandate, as mitigating the impacts of climate change requires an all-of-government approach. Accounting for 7.2 million tonnes annually, mining and upstream oil and gas production are the biggest contributors. My question to Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources is this. What are the greatest climate change– related risks and opportunities facing your ministry, and how are you prepared to deal with them? Hon. M.

Mungall:I appreciate that for the member, this is a very, very important issue that he’s very passionate about, and the work that he’s done with this government to address climate change in our climate action plan. For this ministry, in particular, we have been looking at what we can be doing as a new government to reduce our impact on climate change. The list is quite long. I know that question period is the opposition’s time, so I won’t try to list everything, but I’ll give the member a few examples of some of the things that we’re doing.

A couple of weeks ago I was at UBC talking with architect students about our new program called the better buildings B.C. program, where we’re looking for innovative ideas in terms of how we can reduce our emissions in our buildings throughout the province. The member brought up, specifically, around mining, and oil and gas. One of the things that this government did was we eliminated PST on electricity for businesses. That includes the mining sector. That includes the oil and gas sec- tor.

If they can electrify and move away from oil and gas — diesel, for example — to generate the power that they need to do their operations, we’re reducing our greenhouse gas emis- sions quite significantly. Those are the types of opportunities that we’re looking at. [2:20 p.m.] As the member will note, I also just introduced legislation to reduce our methane emissions as well. There’s lots that we are doing, and I look forward to being able to brief the member fully at another time. Mr. Speaker:The Leader of the Third Party on a supple- mental. A.

Weaver:Well, I must say, given the scale of the chal- lenge as well as the scale of the opportunity, going and meeting a few people to discuss some ideas is hardly tak- ing advantage of this opportunity and meeting the chal- lenge. I remain quite disappointed in that response, so let me try again. The B.C. fires of the past two summers were no surprise to the climate science community.

Back in 2004, my col- leagues and I published a paper inGeophysical Research Let- ters pointing out that we could already detect and attribute increasing areas burnt in Canadian forest fires to human activity and, in particular, global warming. According to the B.C. wildlife service, this year was the worst on record. Over 1.35 million hectares were consumed by forest fires. The fires burned homes, endangered lives and released hundreds of megatonnes of CO2. What’s happen- ing in California is no surprise to the climate science com- munity, yet it appears to be a surprise to politicians du jour.

We know that global warming will lead to an increased likelihood of summer drought. This, in turn, will lead to more extensive wildfires. We know that precipitation extremes will increase and that flooding events will be on the rise. This threatens human health, ecosystems and the economy. While the members opposite are concerned about their survival as a political entity, I’m sitting here asking the minister about the political survival of all of our collective species.

To the Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Oper- ations and Rural Development, what are the greatest climate change-related risks and opportunities facing your ministry, and how are you prepared to deal with both? Hon. D. Donaldson:As my colleague mentioned, climate change is a considerable risk for our province and planet, and we are committed to tackling it. The member and the Leader of the Third Party asks, and I appreciate, the question about opportunities and risks.

The risks are in forest systems and ecosystem resilience and ensuring that, into the future, we have forest ecosystems that are resilient to and can adapt to the climate change that we are seeing. We are seeing it, certainly, in the forest fire 6510 British Columbia Debates Monday, November 19, 2018

situation. It’s had an impact there. Large forest fires that we saw in the past two seasons have had enormous impact on ecosystems. We’ve seen it even more recently in the level 4 drought conditions in the areas that I represent up in the northwest and unprecedented drought that has led to impacts on fisheries resources. Y ou’ve seen the pictures of the riverbeds, extremely dry riverbeds — unprecedented. We are working on mitigative measures. In June, we hos- ted the first Wildfire and Climate Change Conference.

A couple of topics it focused on were creating more resilient ecosystems to better adapt to climate change and mitigate wildfires and ensuring effective carbon management. Part of that is our forest carbon initiative. That’s a $290 million federal-provincial initiative that’s focusing on incremental reforestation and improving utilization of waste and redu- cing slash burning. Finally, in regards to the question as far as opportunities, we also have long-term research trials, assisted migration and adaptation trials to identify seed sources most likely to best adapt to future climates.

We’ve made important pro- gress in 16 months, and we need to do more. REFERENDUM ON ELECTORAL REFORM T. Stone:There remain dozens of details that have been left unanswered to this point in this rushed sham of a refer- endum, and these details really matter. These are details that will inform how each of these pro- posed systems would actually translate votes into representa- tion.

These are details that would actually inform how many members would actually be sitting in this chamber and how many would be elected under a first-past-the-post compon- ent of a system and how many would be appointed off of party lists. These details matter because they will inform how vacant seats will be filled in this chamber. [2:25 p.m.] I’ d like to give the Premier another opportunity to perhaps shed a little bit more light on a few of the other unanswered questions. Maybe he can provide us with what his direction will be on these items. In Kamloops–South Thompson, my constituents want to know this.

To the Premier, in Kamloops and the surrounding area, how many MLAs will continue to be elected directly by local voters, and how many MLAs will be appointed off of party lists? Hon. J. Horgan:Maybe the questioner didn’t hear the question from the previous two questioners. We were talking about closed lists, which are anathema to certainly us on this side of the House and some members on that side of the House. So the answer is: all members will be elected by people to this region. No region will lose representation. There will be an upper limit on MLAs, and we will proceed from there.

The people have an opportunity to decide. Thank good- ness we’re not leaving it in the hands of the people over there, because one doesn’t know what the other one is even talking about. Mr. Speaker:Kamloops–South Thompson on a supple- mental. T. Stone:Well, that’s not what it says in theVoter’s Guide. That’s not what it says, Mr. Premier. It clearly states in each of the proposed systems that 40 to 60 percent of the members of this House would actually be appointed off of party lists, not elected directly by local voters.

Now, we know that the Premier is prone to changing the goalposts midstream in this referendum, which has happened on occasion, including just the other day. But he is absolutely wrong to suggest that local voters will elect all of the members to this chamber. Now, the Premier will dictate dozens of details after the referendum, details that will alter what actually happens to people’s votes, details like: what defines an urban riding versus a rural riding? How many MLAs will actually sit in this chamber? How will vacant seats be filled? Will voters actually cast one vote or two votes on their ballot?

Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members, the member for Kamloops–South Thompson has the floor. T. Stone:The list goes on. And the Premier sits and says all of the time that the Electoral Boundaries Commission will determine all of this. No, they won’t. The Electoral Boundar- ies Commission will determine the boundaries of the ridings once they’re informed by a legislative committee on all of the other details. My question…. Interjections. T.

Stone:It’s great that they take such pleasure in knowing that all of these details will be decided after the referendum and not before so that British Columbians can make an informed decision. My question, again, is a very simple question. It’s a basic detail that British Columbians should know as they’re voting in this referendum, and that is this. To the Premier, how will a vacant seat be filled in this chamber under one of the forms of prop rep, and can the Premier please tell the people of Kamloops–South Thompson if their riding will be urban or rural under each of the prop rep systems? Hon. J.

Horgan:Well, first the question misrepresents the Voter’s Guide, and then it goes into: “There’s not enough details. I need more details. ” Now I’m supposed to determine before the people of British Columbia have exercised their choice how we’re going to fill vacancies. I don’t know if this is in reference to…. If this, hon. Speaker…. Monday, November 19, 2018 British Columbia Debates 6511

Interjections. Hon. J. Horgan:Oh hey, wait for it, folks. Perhaps it’s because Jordan Bateman has said that if pro rep comes in, the Liberal party will come apart and there will be by-elections all over the place. I can appreciate the member’s concern, because that member will go, that mem- ber will go, that member will go, and all of a sudden we’ll have a conservative party in British Columbia again without a shot being fired, as they say. Listen.

I appreciate that those on that side of the House want to instill fear into the hearts of British Columbians that somehow proportional representation is a nefarious system that denies people rights. Dozens and dozens and dozens of countries have been using proportional repres- entation for decades and decades, and the world still goes on. The sun comes up. Progressive governments are elec- ted. They do good deeds for their citizens. That’s exactly what will happen here. [2:30 p.m.] I appreciate that those on that side of the House will now have to work with other people.

Now, there’s a challenge, but we’re figuring out that it’s okay. We can work with anybody. I’m even working with Liberals by joining them and saying no to closed lists. M. Stilwell:We didn’t get any answers from the Premier during the debate. He couldn’t answer. He’s not really giving any answers today here in the House when we’re asking questions about the referendum. Let’s try this. Because of the flawed ballot design with the referendum and no threshold requirements, it may actually be that just 10 percent of the population ulti- mately chooses the system that will be imposed on every single British Columbian.

When it comes to important decisions, even curling clubs require a 75 percent majority vote. But there is no elevated threshold or turnout require- ments for this referendum. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Members, may we hear the ques- tion. Thank you. M. Stilwell:To the Premier, why isn’t there a higher threshold requirement? Hon. J. Horgan:I am advised that over 21 percent of voters have already sent their ballots in. I’m very, very much encouraged by that.

As we go through the final two weeks of the campaign, if the fearmongers on the other side would instead embrace participation, we’re going to get an even higher turnout. Look, no one says, when a mayor or a council is elected across British Columbia…. I am advised the average turnout for municipal campaigns is about 25 percent. No one says they’re illegitimate after that. They call them the mayor and councillors. Mr. Speaker:Parksville-Qualicum on a supplemental. M. Stilwell:It’s not exactly an equal analogy, but even the Nanaimo Pickleball Club…. Interjection. M. Stilwell:It’s called democracy, Mr. Premier.

Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members, please. We shall hear the ques- tion. Thank you. M. Stilwell:The Nanaimo Pickleball Club and the B.C. Old Time Fiddlers Association both have a 75 percent threshold for change. Even the B.C. NDP has a constitu- tion that requires a two-thirds majority threshold — their own party. Why is the Premier so afraid to say that we need such a strong mandate to have such a fundamental change in our democracy? Hon. J. Horgan:The Leader of the Opposition said 40 percent was fine. People have different opinions on what’s fine. We’ll have to see what happens when the votes come in.

This is the part that troubles me. We have 87 people in this Legislature, 87 people sent here by their constituents. I would think that if we’re having a debate around ideas, rather than say, “I don’t like where this semicolon is on the ques- tion, ” the people on that side of the House would instead stand and try and defend the indefensible, a system that gives 100 percent power to less than 50 percent of the voters. It’s a system that in New Brunswick…. Bless New Brun- swick. A party got 38 percent of the vote and got fewer seats under first-past-the-post than the party that got 32 percent.

How do you defend that? What’s democratic about that? If you don’t like proportional representation, I get it. But for the love of all of us here and the citizens of British Columbia, why in the world won’t you defend first-past-the- post? Y our party wouldn’t use it. Why are you forcing British Columbians to use it? J. Thornthwaite:The member for Cowichan Valley has said: “We saw a 50 percent turnout in the Vancouver refer- endum on transit. We would like to see something at least comparable to that. ” Does the Premier agree with his Green partners that legit- imacy requires voter turnout of 50 percent? Hon. J.

Horgan:Again, I’m glad that members on that side of the House are referring to the Green Party and to gov- ernment members. I would suggest that the member talk to 6512 British Columbia Debates Monday, November 19, 2018

her leader, who said 40 percent would be about right. There are differences of opinion on this question. [2:35 p.m.] I would encourage all members to talk to their constitu- ents and encourage them to cast their ballot either in favour of the system that continues to allow them to come to power or a system that will allow every vote to count. That’s the choice before British Columbians. It’s not that difficult. I would suggest a better course of action is to say to your citizens: “Make a commitment to democracy, fill out your ballot, send it in, and then we’ll all have the turnout we want.

We’ll get the result that the people of British Columbia want. I think, at the end of the day, that’s what all 87 of us want to see. Mr. Speaker:North Vancouver–Seymour on a supple- mental. J. Thornthwaite:But Premier, yourself…. Y ou have said: “Changing our system at a time when only a quarter of voters turn out is never a good idea, and I would question the validity of the results. ” That is quoted from the Premier. Why is this Premier afraid to say what turnout is required for this referendum to be legitimate? Hon. J. Horgan:I want all British Columbians to particip- ate, and I know the member does as well.

So instead of hec- toring back and forth here in question period, why don’t we all make a commitment to each other to go home tonight, talk to anyone that we can in our constituency and encour- age them to cast a ballot? Interjections. Hon. J. Horgan:Oh, I go home. I live here. But I’m com- ing back again tomorrow. Well, you’ve got time on your hands, hon. Members. Phone home. Talk to people, and encourage them to vote. Instead of the fear, let’s have some hope. That’s what we’re doing on this side of the House. I welcome you to join us. [End of question period.] Tabling Documents Hon. C.

James:Pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, I am pleased to present reports for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018, on all amounts borrowed by government and all amounts loaned to government bodies. Hon. S. Robinson:I have the honour of presenting the 2017-2018 annual report of the Islands Trust. The report underlines the wide range of activities and hard work of the Islands Trust and the Islands Trust Fund Board, now known as the Islands Trust Conservancy Board, in managing devel- opment, sustaining communities and protecting ecosystems in this unique and special part of British Columbia.

Notably, this year the trust fund reached an important milestone of 103 protected places, totalling 1,270 hectares of natural and cultural values, with the establishment of the Fairyslipper Forest Nature Reserve on Thetis Island and the Settlement Lands Covenant on Denman Island. I greatly appreciate the ongoing dedication of the trust staff and elected officials in fulfilling the legislative purpose of preserving and protecting the trust area and its unique amenities and environment for the benefits of residents and of all British Columbians.

I’ d also like to recognize the trust’s commitment to focus- ing its approach for improved relations with the many First Nations with interests in the lands and waters of the trust area. In seeking to move beyond formality and having mean- ingful interactions with First Nations that are rooted in a sin- cere and genuine relationship of mutual respect, the trust is helping to advance reconciliation. Petitions D. Routley:I would like to present a petition. It’s titled “Stop the wolf cull.

B.C. ’s wolves need our help. ” It’s not usual order that I would ask something like this, but I’ d ask the members to give some applause to young Keala up in the gallery who put together this amazing peti- tion and campaign. Tabling Documents Mr. Speaker:Members, I have the honour to present the following reports. Merit Performance Audit 2017-18, Upholding Fair Hiring in the BC Public Service, from the Office of the Merit Com- missioner. Secondly,Time to Listen: Youth Voices on Substance Abuse, November 2018, from the Representative for Chil- dren and Y outh.

Thirdly,Annual Report 2017-2018 from the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner. Finally,Annual Report 2017-18 and Service Plan, 2018-19 to 2020-21 from Elections B.C. R. Sultan:I seek leave to make an introduction. Leave granted. Introductions by Members R. Sultan:Earlier today a constituent from West Van- couver–Capilano toured the precinct. Jackie Smith is one of those constituents who is a frequent communicator on a huge variety of topics, and seldom a day goes by that she does not express her opinion to me. [2:40 p.m.] Monday, November 19, 2018 British Columbia Debates 6513

She was visiting with her grandson Thomas Dignum, who is checking out Victoria and the University of Victoria as a place to study. Would the House say we were glad to have them here. Hon. R. Fleming:I seek leave to present a petition. Mr. Speaker:Proceed. Petitions Hon. R.

Fleming:The petition is compiled by KAIROS, the Canadian ecumenical justice initiative that calls upon federal, provincial and territorial governments in consulta- tion and collaboration with survivors, Aboriginal peoples and educators to make age-appropriate curriculum on resid- ential schools, treaties and Aboriginal peoples’ historical and contemporary contributions to Canada for students, kinder- garten through grade 12. There are thousands of signatures on this petition, and I will present it to the House. Orders of the Day Hon. M.

Farnworth:In this chamber, I call second read- ing debate on Bill 52; and in Committee A, I call committee stage on Bill 49. [R. Chouhan in the chair.] Second Reading of Bills BILL 52 — AGRICULTURAL LAND COMMISSION AMENDMENT ACT, 2018 (continued) D. Barnett:I’m pleased to stand today to speak again to Bill 52, entitled Agricultural Land Commission Amendment Act.

It was great to have the opportunity to go to my riding of the Cariboo-Chilcotin last week for a few days after this bill was presented in the House and have the opportunity to talk to the Tatla Lake Cattlemen’s Association, which con- sists of many, many ranchers from the Chilcotin. They are very concerned about the changes once again to the Agricul- tural Land Reserve Act. It always affects them, yet nobody ever talks to them before the changes are made.

These changes are going to have some effects on these ranchers who have struggled so much in the past few years — struggled with fires, struggled with predators and predat- or control. We talk about culling wolves. We are not culling wolves; we are protecting animals. The amount of cattle that have been destroyed or maimed in the Chilcotin and Cari- boo over the past few years by predators is unprecedented, and it gets worse every day. They are concerned about removing the two zones. There are concerns about the guidelines of soil replacement or placement, because there is no definition.

The only thing that I could tell them at the meeting was that we will be asking the questions of the minister when we have the opportunity later this week. I will certainly make sure that their questions are asked of the minister so I may take them back to them. Ranching is not easy anywhere — and in particular, in areas like the Cariboo-Chilcotin, where land is very, very delicate in being agriculture land. Grasslands are tough, and these days, things are getting tougher.

The more regulations, the more legislation and the more changes that are continu- ously made every time there’s a new government put in, it appears, the people get forgotten, and that is so important. [2:45 p.m.] With that, Mr. Speaker, I will thank you for the opportun- ity and thank my colleagues who are here making presenta- tions today. I will turn the floor over to my colleague, who I am sure has some great responses. R. Coleman:I am pleased to stand and speak to Bill 52. I will probably ramble, Mr. Klein, so you should be aware of that as you go through your afternoon.

I have spoken to my critic, and if I ramble past 30 minutes, I won’t stop. I’ll just continue until I’m completed, because evidently there is time if I want it. It all depends on how much heckling I get from the other side, particularly the member for Powell River–Sunshine Coast, who usually gets me going to the point…. Every summer my family would travel out to my great- grandfather’s farm in Condor, Alberta, from Penticton, Brit- ish Columbia, and I got to learn a little bit about farming from my great-grandfather and my cousins across the road. They taught me how to ride a horse.

I’ d ride into Condor, where you could get a 15- to 20-cent haircut. It didn’t mean that it was quality, but it was cheap. Bright and early — that’s where I learned to ride a horse. Obviously, the business of farming was discussed around the kitchen table. As a young man, my second job, after my paper route, was I picked fruit for two summers in the Okanagan. I picked cherries, apricots, peaches, pears and apples.

I’ll never forget the first time I finished picking my second day of cherries, because the first thing you had to learn was that you can’t actually pull the cherry off the tree; you’ve got to pick it at the stem. Otherwise, the tree doesn’t produce many cherries next year. Y ou had to learn that. But I can tell you that after two days of doing that, you close your eyes at night to go to sleep and all you see are the stems of cherries.

Also, it gave me a real understanding and appreciation for those people that have spent their lives, frankly, building farming in British Columbia and generationally changing how our food is produced, and how those two types of things can change a person’s perception. It’s hard work. Now, the worst fruit that you can pick, by the way, is peaches, because they have fuzz, just like on insulation. It’s pretty itchy at the end of every day when you pick peaches. After that, I actually harvested potatoes.

When I wasn’t working as an RCMP officer, I had a farmer who was short of people, so I went up and harvested potatoes up near Rose- 6514 British Columbia Debates Monday, November 19, 2018

mary, Alberta. Just so everybody will understand exactly where that is, it’s about six miles due west of Duchess, Alberta, which is ten miles north of Brooks, Alberta. Y ou’re getting closer to where you might understand where that is, right? It’s somewhere about 115 miles due east of Calgary and 69 miles from Medicine Hat. It was really interesting because the gentleman, who was an Oriental gentleman, who owned the farm at the time taught me a lot about farming — the way he talked about how that potato goes from here to here.

And, of course, we had an Old Dutch potato chip plant there, so we actually got to go see how potato chips were made. It’s just a little bit of context to my remarks as I go through it. I have been very gifted in my time in this House to have met some remarkable people in and around agriculture. The first two gentlemen were two gentlemen by the names of Jim Shield and Dick Sendal. Now, Jim and Dick were both chick- en farmers, and the interesting thing about it was…. This was back in ’96 when I met those guys. Unfortunately, both of them have passed away since that time.

They were very generous with their time, to explain supply management, the background to it and the reason there is supply management in the management of agriculture in B.C. A lot of people have this misconception about it. They think it’s protecting of markets and protecting of price. But supply management actually came into force in British Columbia and in Canada because farmers weren’t getting paid. Farmers were going broke.

They had to pay their feed supplier, but they wouldn’t get paid for their product when it arrived, whether it would be the dairy or whether it would be at the place where they actually process the chickens — the chicken processors — or the turkeys or whatever the case may be. So they made a pretty strong case for supply man- agement.

There are benefits to that type of agricultural product being managed here, and I have concerns about whether the move on the North American free trade deal is actually good for our food production in Canada. [2:50 p.m.] Y ou will notice that the poultry has a different colour down in the United States in some areas, because of the amount of corn that is fed to them versus the other type of feed that we may be using in Canada. The quality of chicken is different, if you actually try and taste it, going to certain areas of the U.S.

The reality is that we want to make sure our food supply is protected, and we want to be able to react in periods of time when there may be certain concerns within the food supply. I’ll give you an example of that. Back a number of years ago, we had the avian flu. We actually had to put down 19 million chickens to try and save the stock, to actually save the product, and it had to be a collaboration with the federal government, the provincial government and the producers.

Because the producers were in supply management and had worked together and knew each other, they could get in a room and try and find solutions together. They weren’t actu- ally trying to play off what their own special interests were but rather what the future was, in particular, for the produc- tion of chickens in British Columbia.

After many tries at different things, like taking chickens to an old mine up in Princeton, to basically incinerating them — because you had to get rid of them, to try and use an incinerator in Burnaby — we were sitting there one day, and we had this big problem: “We need to stop the avian flu before it crosses the Vedder. We need to get this thing under control. ” Because the heads were together in one room, I remember asking the question. I said: “What temperature do you have to get to, to kill the flu?” I got an answer to the question.

Then I said: “What temperature does compost get to in an Ag-Bag?” Do you know what an Ag-Bag is? They’re great, big, long bags where they put in waste and other things to compost. Well, it gets up to a temperature higher than is needed to kill the avian flu. Because there was collaboration with people around the table, it was solved by simply taking the avian flu–sick chick- ens, putting them in Ag-Bags with the other stuff that comes from the chicken, like the waste and what have you, and six months later you had topsoil.

If you hadn’t had cooperation as a result of people being concerned in that particular busi- ness, I don’t think you would have got to that solution. Y ou’ d still be talking about how we lost the chicken population in British Columbia. Now, there’s another piece of that story that I think is important to recognize when it comes to agriculture in Brit- ish Columbia.

On that particular file, because of the man- agement of the resource and the relationship, I think, and the size and volume that could affect people and jobs and, obviously, the supply of food in Canada, the government of Canada stepped up and paid a certain amount per chicken as compensation to the people that were losing their crop. It’s important to say that, because I had somebody tell me a story the other day about a rancher that was taking eight of his cows to market up in the Cariboo.

Some of the cows died on the way to the slaughterhouse, and the oth- ers could not be processed because of the damage to their lungs from smoke from the fires in the Cariboo. Nobody has offered that rancher any compensation for something that was out of his control, yet the avian flu wasn’t in the control of the poultry farmer. It’s important to understand the difference as we get into a conversation in and around this particular act because, quite frankly, there was a reason people worked on zone 1 and zone 2, which this legislation gets rid of.

If you’re a farmer in the Fraser Valley and you need to get your tractor fixed, there are multiple mechanics and services around the capacity and the size of farming that you can get that done. If you need a vet in a hurry, you can get a vet in a hurry. There are veterin- arians, obviously, because there’s population and activity on the farm base. If you’re in an area like the Okanagan Valley and you’re in the winery business, you can have a bistro, you have farm- Monday, November 19, 2018 British Columbia Debates 6515

gate sales, and you have an industry that’s been built around the tourism side for you to actually sell your product, direct delivery. It helps you with your profitability and your cash flow so you can continue to farm your winery in the Okanagan Valley. There’s nothing you can do like that in the Cariboo and the north. [2:55 p.m.] One thing I learned in Brooks, Alberta back then — because I got to know some of the farmers — was that we had two types of farmers in that area. They had diverted the river, created Lake Newell and an aqueduct, so there were dry-land and wetland farming.

Well, a dry-land farmer just basically lives by the weather, lives by whether they get enough rain at the right time, get enough heat at the right time or their crop grows or gets damaged by frost or whatever the case may be;

whereas a wetland farmer who’s got irrigation can grow a better yield, simply because they can actually water their crop and have more control about how that crop can be delivered. Y ou can do that in the Fraser Valley. There’s drip irrigation for raspberries, strawberries and blueberries. It’s not so easy to do in the Cariboo, where you have thousands and thou- sands of acres without water. Y ou have land that can’t actu- ally produce a crop. So if you’re a rancher, you have to find some area where you can actually grow some hay to feed your cattle after they’ve grazed during the months.

It’s important to understand that these folks don’t have the same services. They don’t have the services at their door- step with veterinarians. They don’t have the services at their doorstep for fixing equipment. In some cases, they’re 40, 50 minutes or maybe two hours from town. There’s nothing there, yet if they try and do something alternative to actually try and increase their revenue so they can actually stay on the farm, they can’t.

The whole idea of the zone 2 is to recognize that there are two zones in British Columbia: one where it’s very product- ive and farmers can actually continue to farm, and an area where it’s difficult and it’s tough, and it takes commitment of the farmer. The challenge is what happens in the next gen- eration. The next generation of farmer is having difficulty even considering whether they can farm or not, especially if they’re outside of the Lower Mainland. I have a friend that has 500 head of cattle in Hedley. It’s a challenge.

He can grow the hay, but he has the range area that he has to have these cattle on over a period of time. If he wanted to have a little store for having some of the product that he might be able to produce from his cows for sale on the roadside, he can’t have it. He is restricted because the rules around butcher shops — relative to where they can be and can’t be and how they’re regulated and changed — put them in a situation where they cannot get value-added for their product, their cow, yet they’re expected to maintain that farm and pay its operations and continue on.

In the West Kootenay, it’s a significant challenge. I’ d like to quote from something that was actually sent to the Agri- cultural Land Commission on one of the presentations that was made with regard to the East Kootenays and farming. Now, the lady that wrote it — her name is Faye Street. She was born and raised in agriculture, and if you’ve met Faye, you know she’s deeply committed to agriculture.

I think she has a point here, and I’ d like you to work some figures with me as I give you a small example to drive home the message that the urgent situation we face is not regarding the disappearance of agricultural lands but the critical loss of agricultural producers.

Faye’s biggest concern is that we’ll lose the farmer altogether and that the agricultural land just won’t be agricultural land. “If we took the meridian of Highway 2 between Calgary and Ed- monton, which is 185 miles and approximately 500 feet wide” — I’ve driven that highway; I’m sure a lot of you have — “with a generous es- timation that at least 70 percent of it is usable — overpasses and river crossings, canyons, etc., excepted — of the 11,200, there’s 7,850 acres of land, just in the meridian. “Potatoes yield, table grade, approximately 12 tonnes per acre, so that is 94,000 tonnes of spuds that would’ve been able to be grown on that land.

If we assume a generous average of 40 pounds of spuds per person per year, we can feed 4.7 million people with the Calgary-to- Edmonton meridian. “Now, let’s talk about how many farmers and ranchers we are los- ing on a daily basis due to old age, economics and how few of our young agriculture folk–raised people are not coming into the in- dustry.

The East Kootenay agriculture stats are actually staggering, and the reduction in new farmers and the farmers being closed down are staggering. [3:00 p.m.] “This is a concern, because we only need to look at the increase of food prices, the decrease in the number of mother cows, the de- cline in pork producers, etc., to know that it is a series of problems for our agriculture industry, the industry that provides good-quality, clean and healthy food for many very lucky people to live in this great province of ours. “There’s a concern, because if you cannot have an alternative way to actually support your farm in rural British Columbia, people will leave the farm and not farm, and we end up with zero.

People don’t have the opportunity to have farm-gate sales. They don’t have the op- portunity to actually get the yield off the land, yet we tell them to keep doing it and continue to restrict their ability to do anything. “I don’t think it’s too much to ask, if we want to somebody to farm thousands of acres of land for wheat or barley or other products, that we would allow them to have some additional activities on the agri- cultural land that would actually help them to keep their farm and bring in some extra revenue.

Some of these operations are just to pay the bills, just so they can continue to farm and provide agricultural products for us in British Columbia and elsewhere. Some of the sug- gestions that they made are welding shops, carpentry shops, a port- able sawmill, a parking and repair shop for industrial equipment that is owned by the rancher or farmer. “Imagine this, now. In an area up in northern B.C., where you might be able to do some work in the oil patch, you can’t park your trucks on your farm.

Y ou could have thousands of acres up there, and you can’t park on your farm, yet without that increase of that other income, the farm goes by the wayside and the next generation can’t afford to do it. ” The question that Faye asked at the time was: what para- meters should be allowed around these uses? First of all, that they don’t locate on prime, food-producing land. That’s pretty logical. Why would you take a food-producing piece of property and then park equipment or something on it? 6516 British Columbia Debates Monday, November 19, 2018

We’re going to get to that in a minute, when we talk about some greenhouses I want to chat about, though. At the same time, the whole purpose of the legislation is to support and enhance agriculture. When the ALC becomes a detriment to future agriculture, it’s time to do some serious rethinking. We’re not doing that in this bill. We’re actually retrenching backwards. We’re ignoring the fact that we will start to lose agriculture in rural British Columbia. Faye wanted to really encourage people to think about those opportunities for people going forward with regard to agriculture.

Now, I have another little twist that I was given about this particular issue. I want to bring this one into the record because I met this gentleman. He’s one of my constituents, and he had a pretty good point. He did make a presentation to the Agricultural Land Commission consultation on this bill, but this wasn’t taken into consideration in the bill. He asks this: “Imagine what the Lower Mainland and Fraser Val- ley would be like if all forested lands were cleared for agri- culture production or housing.

With the current ALC review being carried out, we have seen newspaper articles espousing that all lands on the ALR should be used for farming, and for heavily taxed lands in the ALC that are not currently being farmed. ” Now, that’s the second point. It’s his major point — for heavily taxing lands that are not currently being farmed.

He happens to believe that wetlands and forest areas around the urban area are important and sometimes as important, if not more important, for the environment than farming of every last piece of land in the ALR. “Looking at Google Earth view, the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley as it stands, proportionately, there are very few forested areas left between Delta and Agassiz. “This family is unique. We’re in a unique situation because the land that we own has been in the family since 1953, when our parents, Beryl and Roy Moore, purchased the land.

In 2007, there was a 3.5-acre homesite severance for our parents, and we kept the re- mainder. When the property was initially purchased, there was a small raspberry farm on what was now the homesite severance. A small portion of the land was used for raising pigs until the late ’80s, when it became burdensome for our recently retired parents. “ A majority of the land remains as it was when it was purchased in 1953, a diverse and burgeoning forest.

There’s about eight to 12 acres of property that is bog or marsh, perfectly suited for supporting the diverse ecosystem of the forest and the water of the Hopington aquifer and a tributary of McInnis Creek. ” This, by the way, is a spawning creek. The Hopington aquifer — if anybody knows about aquifers — is a very sig- nificant and important aquifer in the Fraser Valley. [3:05 p.m.] “I’m writing to bring notice to the situation we find ourselves in.

With the current ALR/ALC review, there have been a few ideas floated about how to combat speculation on farmland and make sure the farmland is being used. “We’re in a unique situation where the land has been kept intact and forested, allowing refuge for wildlife, providing nutrients for plants, animals and fish and also the carbon storage, a small but vital part of combating global warming.

We want to make sure that our property and others in the ALR that are forested are recognized as unique and vital to diverse-climate ecosystems and aquifers. ” They want to do that not just for the sequestration of car- bon but to let people know and understand that they’ve kept this land. They could clear the trees, plant something, affect the watersheds and get enough of a small amount of revenue to get farm taxes on their property.

They just would like the consideration that some people who are actually trying to protect the environment, as well, should not be overly taxed because they happen to not be farming a piece of land that isn’t so much farmable but is actually giving another benefit to the environment. Their biggest concern, when they made their presentation to the committee, was that — that if we’re going to tax people who don’t farm farmland, then make sure we’re talking about people whose land doesn’t have another benefit to the envir- onment or to our future.

Now, the commission has a difficult job, and sometimes they kind of miss the boat. Recently, they put a stop-work order on a farm of 16 acres that was actually going to go back into production. The bees had been ordered to actually have a honeybee farm. The plants had been ordered, a greenhouse for a small area of the property, plus some other plants. They were going to go back into production. The Agricultural Land Commission decided to put a stop- order on the property because somebody complained that they’ d brought in some fill.

The fill was the gravel crush to create the driveway to get to the barn and the property to actually farm it. It wasn’t doing anything else but that. This is where I think the commission sometimes misses the boat, because they’re still fighting over this — probably $50,000 in legal fees on my constituent’s side. All of these things were approved through the local government and through consultations with the Agricultural Land Commis- sion. I think we have to understand it.

That’s important to understand, because, at the same time as this happens to one of my constituents, I can point you to a six-acre piece of land that was filled four feet by fill. Complaints and calls went to the Agricultural Land Com- mission over the years. These guys got tipping fees for the dump that was put on the land. Then they top-filled a little bit of it, and they grew blueberries there.

But they actually never got an enforcement order — they never, ever went out after these guys — in spite of the fact that the commissioners of the day said: “We have to do something about dumping. ” This particular property has one of the largest homes I’ve ever seen in my life, today, in the agricultural land reserve. What it tells people is: “Go ahead. Try and bring a farm into production.

My goodness gracious, go ahead and dump fill that’s got rebar and drywall and other stuff in it over here, but if you want to make your driveway, we’re going to come after you. ” This is where the balance has got to start coming back into this thing with regard to the commission and how it does its business. I want to read a

section of

an act, if I can put my hands on Monday, November 19, 2018 British Columbia Debates 6517

it. I want to talk for a few minutes about greenhouses and the situation we’re facing with regard to marijuana, which will lead me into my discussion about house sizes, generation- al housing, other uses of property and how to get the next generation to farm. In south Aldergrove, near the border, there’s an 800,000-square-foot greenhouse. The greenhouse is growing marijuana. Frankly, it stinks.

It’s a regular series of complaints through my office and into the community with regard to the production of marijuana. [3:10 p.m.] Now, I couldn’t get the attention of this company when I phoned them a couple of times to tell them I wanted to talk to them about this issue. Therefore, what I did was I actu- ally wrote to the Minister of Justice, the Solicitor General of the province, the Attorney General of B.C. and the minister responsible for cannabis federally to point them to

section 85 of the federal legislation. I want to read

section 85 of the fed- eral legislation because this is going to clearly and concisely tell you what these guys should or should not be doing. This is

section 85 of the regulations. “The building or part of the building where cannabis is produced, packaged, labelled and stored must be equipped with a system that fil- ters air to prevent the escape of odours. ” I know the government is aware of this. I know the federal government is now aware of it, but nobody is enforcing this regulation. So let me tell you how they try and do it. As their plants become more mature and humidity builds up in the thing, they open up the vents in the top of the greenhouse, which releases this odour.

Having dealt with odours before, whether it be complaints about chicken or mink or turkey or pork or whatever in the agricultural land reserve, I think it’s important to realize that this one is worse. It really is something bad. But this particular situation exists in South Aldergrove. Let me tell you how they’ve been trying to solve the prob- lem. They have these giant fans and buckets and barrels of a Febreze-type product. What they do is they turn these fans on.

They’re not particularly quiet, and they spray the Feb- reze into the air so they can mask the smell of the marijuana coming out of the top of the greenhouse. But let me tell you it doesn’t work. It just makes it smell sweet-smelling. Same smell — marijuana. The reason I bring that up here is this is 800,000 square feet — 16.8 acres of land under glass in one location. Just one location. Now, that’s a lot of acreage under glass. Y et, some guy that’s got thousands of acres up in the Cariboo can’t have a welding shop on a piece of the property that isn’t usable for growing anything. But it goes way beyond that.

One com- pany alone has three million square feet to grow under glass, which is 68 acres of land growing marijuana. Now, my colleague from Delta can tell you that one of those particular grow operations is in Delta. If I’m not mis- taken, it’s probably one of the largest, if not the largest, greenhouse in British Columbia at about 1.2 million square feet. They’ve got Febreze too. They’re blowing their fans, and throwing their Febreze into the air and going on with this stuff to the detriment of everybody that lives in the area.

The irony of the one in Aldergrove is that the guys that work the border crossing, both the American and U.S. bor- der-crossing guys, have actually complained to me about the smell of the operation at the border crossing. If you drive across O Avenue, 8th Avenue or 16th Avenue in Langley, you’re going to smell it. But the regulation says they can’t do that. It’s really clear.

It’s really clear because it states, right in the federal regula- tion: “ …must be equipped with a system that filters air to prevent the escape of odours. ” Now, I realize the decision was made by the Agricultural Land Commission and under the act, as a recommendation, that cannabis would be an agriculture product. I get that. No different than wisteria would have been for flowers or whatever the case may be. But the federal act is very clear.

At the same time, there are people who have bought and changed greenhouses in my area of the community, one at 250,000 square feet, where they don’t have to open up any vents. They’ve actually done the screening so they can have it enclosed. They don’t have to have the greenhouse vents open. They can handle the smell. Frankly, those are people that I would call responsible companies and citizens. [3:15 p.m.] At the 800,000-square-foot property down in South Aldergrove, there’s a 60,000-square-foot building being built. It’s bigger than most of the buildings that are in the Gloucester Industrial Park.

It’s under construction today. It got in under the rules that the government got around to changing last summer and is actually going to be the largest industrial building south of the…. Deputy Speaker:Thank you, Member. R. Coleman:I’m the designated speaker. Deputy Speaker:There you go. R. Coleman:It will be the largest…. Interjections. R. Coleman:I have no intention of doing two hours. Well, I could go back and redo it from the beginning. The reality is this. Let’s get down to the reality.

This will be, from the No. 1 Highway south to the American border, around the 264 corridor, the largest industrial building in the area, and it’s on farmland. It’s on arable farmland. It used to be able to grow strawberries, and it used to be able to grow blueberries. Across the street from the land is actually a blue- berry farm. The guy who owns the blueberry farm — imagine when he woke up and found out. One day he had the guy who was growing peppers and cucumbers across from him. But all of a sudden, he was going to bed every night with a stink, 6518 British Columbia Debates Monday, November 19, 2018

because it was changed to a different product and did not and still does not conform to the federal regulation. We’re going to have this big industrial building. We allow a 50,000- to 60,000-square-foot industrial building, 800,000 square feet under glass, and then we turn our attention, for whatever reason, to attack the generational farmer. That’s what this is about. Y ou see, in this act, they decide what the size of a home should be on agricultural land. Now, I get the reason. I’ve got these in my riding.

I’ve got people on five acres that have literally built mansions, who actually get some farm taxes because they raise a few horses and they do enough to sell to get enough revenue that they can actually say they’re farm- ing, who are there because they want an estate. There are a whole bunch of farmers in the Fraser Valley, over in Delta, even out through Abbotsford and into Chilli- wack who are what we call generational farmers. Two of them — I’m calling them generational — are friends of mine. They came to see me, and they asked me this question.

Both of them are South Asian gentlemen, ori- ginally from the Punjab, whose families came over here and lived three, four families to a house while they picked fruit and built enough equity to get a little bit of land to start farming themselves. They started to grow as a family and build a generational farm over time. They want to know what they’ve done wrong. That’s what they want to know. This is what they said to me. They said: “Rich, we have a house that’s more than 5,000 square feet. But in our culture, we actually care for our elderly parents at home.

We have space in our home so those folks can not have to go into care. They can be with their children and their grandchildren — in some cases, their grandchildren. We have one or two or three families, sometimes, living there because we’re running a farm. We need to have people to run the farm, so the fam- ily cooperatively gets together. We don’t live in a mansion.

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20181119pm-Hansard-n185
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20181119pm Hansard n185
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	a002e140ec0fdae8bb8840b040e8d67b776b6b5d

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