British Columbia Hansard — 26 February 2020, p.m., Issue 316 (41st Parliament, 5th Session)

20200226pm-Hansard-n316

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

Fifth Session, 41st Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday, February 26, 2020 Afternoon Sitting Issue No. 316 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 Fifth 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.

Anne Kang Minister of Education ............................................................................................................................................................ Hon. Rob Fleming Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources ..................................................................................................... Hon. Bruce Ralston 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, Economic Development and Competitiveness.............................................................................Hon. Michelle Mungall 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 .................................................................................................................................................................Adam Olsen Deputy Speaker................................................................................................................................................................................

Raj Chouhan Assistant Deputy Speaker............................................................................................................................................................. Simon Gibson Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole ................................................................................................................ Spencer Chandra Herbert Acting Clerk of the Legislative Assembly...............................................................................................................................

Kate Ryan-Lloyd Clerk Assistant — Committees and Interparliamentary Relations ..........................................................................................Susan Sourial Associate Law Clerk ..............................................................................................................................................Loredana Catalli-Sonier, QC Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel............................................................................................................................................ S.

Suzie Seo Acting Sergeant-at-Arms..................................................................................................................................................................Greg Nelson

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, Hon.

Anne (NDP)......................................................... Burnaby–Deer Lake 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 Malcolmson, Sheila (NDP) ........................................................................Nanaimo 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, 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 (Ind.)................................................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....................................................................... Hon. 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......................................................................................

Sheila Malcolmson 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 ...................................................................................... 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; Independent 2; BC Green Party 2

CONTENTS Wednesday, February 26, 2020 Afternoon Sitting Page Routine Business Personal Statements .............................................................................................................................................................. 11231 Withdrawal of comments made in the House J.

Brar Introductions by Members................................................................................................................................................... 11231 Tributes ................................................................................................................................................................................... 11231 Joseph Lin Hon. A.

Kang Introductions by Members................................................................................................................................................... 11231 Introduction and First Reading of Bills.............................................................................................................................. 11232 Bill 8 — Education Statutes Amendment Act, 2020 Hon. R.

Fleming Statements (Standing Order 25B) ....................................................................................................................................... 11232 Pink Shirt Day and prevention of bullying S. Chandra Herbert D. Davies Racism and Indigenous issues J. Rice Carol Waldie S. Bond Edmonds Urgent and Primary Care Centre J. Routledge Beef Bash event in Kamloops T.

Stone Oral Questions....................................................................................................................................................................... 11234 Foreign funding of organizations supporting protests A. Wilkinson Hon. M. Farnworth E. Ross Addiction issues and services in Cowichan area S. Furstenau Hon. J. Darcy Foreign funding of organizations supporting protests M. de Jong Hon. M. Farnworth S. Bond Hon. D.

Eby Orders of the Day Budget Debate(continued) .................................................................................................................................................. 11240 D. Clovechok Hon. M. Mungall L. Throness Hon. H. Bains J. Tegart R. Glumac G. Kyllo J. Rice C. Oakes Hon. J. Darcy J. Rustad

WEDNESDAY , FEBRUARY 26, 2020 The House met at 1:35 p.m. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Prayers and reflections: Hon. C. Trevena. Personal Statements WITHDRAW AL OF COMMENTS MADE IN THE HOUSE J. Brar:Y esterday during the budget debate, I made a reference that was inappropriate. I would like to sincerely apologize and withdraw those remarks. Introductions by Members R. Chouhan:It gives me great pleasure to introduce the 16 members of BCGEU, component 7. These members work in post-secondary education, regional libraries, legal services, B.C.

NDP caucus and constituency offices, the family maintenance enforcement program and private labs, to name a few. The whole group is led by my very dear friend Amber Keane. She happens to be my CA. She’s here with her members, and they’re here to learn about what we do. They’re going to be watching us in question period. Please join me in welcoming them. B. D’Eith:Today I rise to introduce Brenda Bailey from DigiBC. DigiBC is the Interactive and Digital Media Industry Association that represents over….

There are over 600 digital media companies in British Columbia that employ over 16,000 people and generate over $2.3 billion of annual sales in British Columbia. We were very, very pleased today to meet with her and to see an amazing reel of the incredible things that are hap- pening in British Columbia in digital media, animation and CGI and all the wonderful things. Would the House please make her very welcome. Hon. K. Chen: I’m really happy to welcome a good friend of mine, Marcel Marsolais, who is visiting us today in the Legislature and also is joining us for question peri- od.

He lives in my riding of Burnaby-Lougheed, but some- how he volunteers a lot of his time for the member for Burnaby-Edmonds, the Deputy Speaker — lucky for the Deputy Speaker. I know that a lot of my colleagues in this House, including the member for New Westminster, know Mar- cel, because he’s also the president for CUPE 409, rep- resenting support workers from the New Westminster school district. I want to thank Marcel for all the great work you do for our communities in Burnaby and New Westminster, and I would like to ask the House to make him feel very welcome. Tributes JOSEPH LIN Hon. A.

Kang:I rise today to share the legacy and the memory of Dr. Joseph Lin, my close friend and an active community member, who passed away on Tuesday, Febru- ary 25, due to heart failure. Dr. Joseph Lin was a retired pediatrician and a family doctor in Taiwan who also wore many other hats — an interpreter, organizer, writer, commentator and publisher on environment heritage and ecosystem. [1:40 p.m.] For all his contributions to environmentalism, Dr.

Joseph Lin has received the federal environment volunteer award, the Land Conservancy of B.C. conservation award, the Vancouver Natural History Society’s Award for Natural Education and Conservation, and the Vancouver park board volunteer award, just to name a few. Although Dr. Joseph Lin is no longer with us, his legacy in environmentalism and volunteerism will continue to inspire us. Here’s wishing his family, his friends and his community my most sincere condolences. We will miss him very dearly. Introductions by Members S.

Furstenau:I am absolutely delighted to introduce Cammy and James Lockwood, who are in the gallery today with us. I first met Cammy and James in 2012 when I was visiting local farms throughout Cowichan as part of a project-based learning unit I was doing with my middle school students. James generously gave us a tour of his farm and his chicken tractor — a small-scale, movable chicken house with 399 hens. Since then, the Lockwoods have expanded to 5,700 hens after winning the B.C. Egg Marketing Board new-entrant program lottery in 2015.

In March 2019, the Lockwoods were declared the B.C. and Yukon Outstand- ing Y oung Farmers, in part due to their innovative approach to feeding the hens with an insect-based diet. Cammy and James have shown that doing what they love in a sustainable and community-oriented way brings a huge array of awards, and Cowichan is so lucky to have these incredible, trail-blazing farmers. Please make them feel most welcome. 11231

Introduction and First Reading of Bills BILL 8 — EDUCATION STATUTES AMENDMENT ACT, 2020 Hon. R. Fleming presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Education Statutes Amendment Act, 2020. Hon. R. Fleming:I move that the bill be introduced and read a first time now. I am pleased to introduce Bill 8, the Education Statutes Amendment Act, 2020, which contains a number of amendments to the School Act and the Independent School Act.

These amendments are focused on four objectives: to clarify the authority to issue provincial graduation certi- ficates to students of First Nations schools; to support the implementation of the British Columbia Tripartite Edu- cation Agreement between the province, the government of Canada and First Nations; to promote equity amongst all students in British Columbia; and to continue to move British Columbia’s school system forward on the journey towards reconciliation.

Also, this bill will enable boards of education to offer before- and after-school child care directly, rather than through a separate, licensed provider, to support govern- ment’s broader child care initiative and to promote afford- ability and the creation of tens of thousands of new spaces within the school system around our province. The bill also authorizes the issuance of personal educa- tion numbers to children before they formally start school to support evidence-based policy decisions and capacity for K-to-12 enrolment and preparation.

The change will reduce the onerous paperwork that parents face, while providing seamless service — from child care and early learning to the K-to-12 school system and to post-second- ary education — throughout B.C. Fourthly, it supports the implementation of the min- istry’s K-to-12 funding review project to enhance K-to-12 funding. This legislation will ensure that school boards continue to provide services and supports based on the unique needs and priorities of their communities, while strengthening transparency, accountability and financial management.

It will pave the way for modernizing how we fund and deliver online education to reflect the new cur- riculum and the way kids learn in school today. Mr. Speaker:The question is first reading of the bill. Motion approved. Hon. R. Fleming: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 8, Education Statutes Amendment Act, 2020, 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. [1:45 p.m.] Statements (Standing Order 25B) PINK SHIRT DAY AND PREVENTION OF BULLYING S. Chandra Herbert:For me, it was the colour purple. My grandmother had a sweatshirt. It was a lovely sweat- shirt, bright purple with two ducks on it. It said, in neon pink: “Vancouver, B.C. ” I told her I thought it was a pretty cool sweatshirt. Well, to my horror, she gave it to me. I was in grade 5 or 6.

I say “to my horror” because part of me wanted so desperately to wear that shirt, but part of me knew that if I wore it to school, I would be called “fag” or “girly boy” or any of the other number of names that people used and still use today to try and keep people down, to shame them for who they are. That sweatshirt sat in a drawer for years.

I would open the drawer to get my clothes, and it would sit there star- ing at me, shaming me for not having the courage to wear what my grandmother gave me but also remind- ing me of what I wanted so desperately to wear, had the society and the world that I’ d been living in, in elemen- tary school been more welcoming and a place where you could be all that you can be. For me, it was purple. For a boy in Nova Scotia, it was pink. While I didn’t have somebody stand up for me at the time, that boy did.

Travis Price, David Shepherd and, soon, an entire school came together to stand with him for the Day of Pink — a moving day, where they united to say that diversity in all its wonder is something we value, where they united to say no to homophobia and toxic masculin- ity, the idea that pink was somehow feminine and that a boy should not be allowed to enjoy pink because that was somehow shameful. They united to do that, and that sparked change across this entire country and continues to this day. As noted earlier today in the Day of Pink celebrations here in this Legislature, that day was 12 or 13 years ago.

Now an entire cohort of students has gone through the school system cel- ebrating that day, marking that change, thanks to the lead- ership of those students so many years ago. D. Davies:As most members of this Legislature have just returned from the pink T-shirt celebrations, I wish to provide a few remarks as well. Today is Pink Shirt Day, a day where people across our country and, indeed, around the world stand in solidarity against bullying and intolerance. The idea comes from two incredible high school stu- 11232 British Columbia Debates Wednesday, February 26, 2020

dents in Nova Scotia in 2007. One of those students, Travis Price, we were honoured to welcome here as part of the ceremony today. Y ou see, a fellow student was being bul- lied for wearing pink, so they went out and bought a bunch of pink T-shirts to give to fellow students. Well, the rest is history, as we have seen today. British Columbia has played a key role in expanding this initiative across our country. For example, in 2009 and 2010, Annie’s Boutique in Nelson, B.C. bought a bunch of pink T-shirts and gave them to local schools.

In 2011 and every year since, with a number of sponsors, this initiative has been able to expand across our country and across the world. As a teacher, I have seen bullying and discrimination take many forms in our schools and outside, whether it’s based on race, age, disabilities, gender or sexuality. I’ve been proud to be engaged in the pink T-shirt movement since 2009, and I’ve remained active in the anti-bullying movement ever since. Today is the day that we promote and celebrate toler- ance and diversity and stand against bullying, no matter what form is takes.

In a day of social media, we as adults and parents need to have a conversation with our children. I can speak from example. As a father of a 14-year-old daughter who is hooked up with TikTok and Instagram and all these other ones — I don’t even know what they are — it makes me nervous, but we need to have those conver- sations with our young people. I hope that you do support this great cause and that everybody supports this great cause by wearing a pink T- shirt and participating in activities in your school, your workplace and your community.

Together we can show that we as British Columbians will continue to work every day, not just on Pink Shirt Day, to make our province and, indeed, our country a safe place for everyone. [1:50 p.m.] RACISM AND INDIGENOUS ISSUES J. Rice: Browsing the comments below news stories about Indigenous people, it’s apparent that racism is alive and well in Canada. Indigenous leaders not in favour of a particular project are called foreign-funded radicals and corrupt, while Indigenous leaders in favour of a project are called sellouts and corrupt.

It’s a strange premise that Indi- genous leaders are corrupt and can be bought. When the news stories about murdered and missing Indigenous women…. It surprises me how many com- ments blame the victims for the violence that ended their lives. When the stories about residential schools, the day schools or the Sixties Scoop…. Faceless commentators rush to type: “Get over it. ” Telling an Indigenous person to get over it is cringe- worthy. Children taken from their homes, stripped of their language and culture, beaten, starved, assaulted. And people will dismissively say, “Get over it.

It happened a long time ago, ” even though the last residential school closed in 1984 in B.C. and in 1996 in Canada. These racist sentiments are not just on line. It sometimes shows up in my office. I’m proud to employ two outstand- ing assistants in my community office. They come to work every day ready to deal with an array of issues. If it’s a housing matter or an issue with B.C. Hydro, I know that my staff will do their best to assist my constituents, no matter their ethnicity, race, colour, creed or socioecono- mic background.

I’m troubled to learn of how often they themselves are subjected to racism, and not just by monitoring social media. People declaring, “Y ou’re so well-spoken for an Indigenous person, ” or choosing to say hurtful things about Indigenous people in front of my staff, only to say, “Y ou don’t look native, ” when they speak up. On this Pink Shirt Day, let’s also acknowledge that racism is a type of bullying, and we also need to put an end to it. Also, don’t read the comments. CAROL W ALDIE S. Bond: She was married to the love of her life, Les Waldie, for more than 50 years.

She was a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a sister, a community leader and a genuinely nice person. Her family fondly referred to her as Nano. Carol Waldie had a smile that would light up a room. She had a great sense of humour, and from personal exper- ience, I know she loved silent auctions. Often when we were at a community event, Carol would bid on some- thing, and Les would end up having to find a way to get it home. Carol had a long list of contributions made to our com- munity, particularly in the area of the arts.

She was involved in the formation and operation of the Prince George Dance Festival for many years. She is one of the original members of the Prince George Community Foun- dation board, along with then Mayor Colin Kinsley, Noreen Rustad and other dedicated leaders who worked tirelessly to get the foundation established. Carol, along with her husband, Les, co-chaired the B.C. Festival of the Arts held in Prince George in 1998. Les and Carol have also played active roles for the B.C. and Yukon Division of the Canadian Cancer Society.

Y ou can imagine how devastated we all were when Carol was diagnosed with cancer herself late last fall. Carol faced her illness as she faced her life, with courage, dignity and grace. Her celebration of life was standing-room-only. There were touching tributes from her family, including her grandchildren, and her sister Karin talked about Carol as only she could. Karin, who has a remarkable resemb- lance to Carol, made us laugh and cry in celebration of a life well lived. To Les and the entire Waldie family, we share your loss.

We miss Carol, but we intend to honour her and our won- derful friend Roz Thorn as Team Bond participates in the Wednesday, February 26, 2020 British Columbia Debates 11233

annual 24-hour Relay for Life, which raises money for can- cer research. We know that both Carol and Roz will be with us in spirit as we walk. EDMONDS URGENT AND PRIMARY CARE CENTRE J. Routledge:One day when I was a child, my mother came home from the doctor and said: “I’m getting a job. The doctor told me if I don’t, I’m going to die. ” So she became the only mom on our block to work outside of the home. Now, she was recovering from multiple, poten- tially paralyzing spinal surgeries, and our doctor knew her well.

He knew that what she needed to heal the trauma to her body and her mind was a bigger life, so he prescribed employment. [1:55 p.m.] Today in Burnaby alone, 60,000 people don’t have a family doctor. They have no choice but to go to the ER or a walk-in clinic, where they will be treated by someone who probably has never seen them before or will ever see them again. Having a family doctor is really important if you suffer from chronic or complex illnesses, like my constituent Barb, who has dementia. Her wife called my office, quite distressed.

They’ d even considered uprooting themselves to move away to find a family doctor. We told them about the newly opened Edmonds Urgent and Primary Care Centre, where they are now regular patients. Edmonds offers a new kind of health care. It’s open evenings and weekends, staffed by a rotating team of local doctors as well as nurses, clinical counsellors, social work- ers, chiropractors, physiotherapists and massage thera- pists. Nurse practitioners care for new immigrants and refugee families. One is dedicated to the homeless. Com- munity groups and patients themselves have a say in how the centre is governed.

And soon a wellness coach will be joining the team. The Edmonds UPCC has attached 300 patients in the last three months alone and has recruited 11 new family doctors to Burnaby. We won’t be returning to the days when Dr. Stevens saved my mother’s sanity by giving her permission to get a job, but I think the Edmonds Urgent and Primary Care Centre is on to something even better. BEEF BASH EVENT IN KAMLOOPS T. Stone:On February 22, along with the member for Kamloops–North Thompson and our wives as well as 400 friends, I was pleased to attend the fifth annual Beef Bash in Kamloops.

Held at the historic Colombo Lodge, guests were treated to a spectacular dinner in tribute of our local beef industry and ranching community, to whom we are all so grateful for the hard work and sacrifices they put in to feed not just their families but the rest of us. After some very brief intro- ductions and, mercifully, no speeches from politicians, the culinary feast began. Here’s some colour commentary on the evening, as if you were there. The Colombo Lodge staff begin the pro- cession of food.

Y ou can be excused for having a small portion of antipasto consisting of stuffed portobello mush- rooms and rice balls stuffed with mozzarella and beef. The mixed green salad with apples and cranberries is good. So have some but only a little, mostly so that when your mom asks you later, you can confirm that you did indeed eat some greens with your dinner. Next up is the penne with ragout. It’s very good. It’s a tradition at the Colombo Lodge. Only rookies eat any of the bread that is offered. Then the madness truly begins.

Filet mignon wrapped in bacon, of course, followed by the biggest, juiciest beef ribs you’ve ever seen. Then, just when you think you’re done, there it is: the most glorious medium-rare prime rib you’ve ever seen. Filet mignon, beef rib and prime rib — all on your plate at the same time. It’s at about this time that the meat sweats set in, but that doesn’t stop you from asking for one more beef rib, because it is family style, after all. Y ou bring it all home with a homemade apple pie from the Shuswap Pie Co. Okay, maybe two pieces.

All of this is organized by the unstoppable Doug Haughton, a longtime rancher who lives in Knutsford, B.C. After graduating from college, Doug took a job in Kam- loops at the local John Deere dealership, selling farm equipment. John Deere Doug is how he’s known, back at home. Y ou won’t meet a person with a more gregarious laugh, a deeper loyalty to family, friends and community or a bigger heart than John Deere Doug Haughton. Our community is the better for having him in it. Mr.

Speaker:I see no one was clapping louder than the member for Chilliwack on that one. [2:00 p.m.] Oral Questions FOREIGN FUNDING OF ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING PROTESTS A. Wilkinson:I think all of us are aware that in recent weeks, a well-organized campaign funded by foreign money is seeking to create economic chaos in this province and across Canada. The groups that have benefited from this foreign funding include the Wilder- ness Committee, the Sierra Club, West Coast Environ- mental Law, Leadnow, Dogwood B.C. and Stand.earth.

And $4.2 million in U.S. funding has come from U.S. donors — including the Tides Foundation, the Bullitt Foundation and Wilburforce — to these six organizations that are operating here in British Columbia. The question is to the Environment Minister. Will this government stand up today and say that foreign funding 11234 British Columbia Debates Wednesday, February 26, 2020

of any efforts to shut down the British Columbia economy or to shut down Canada is unacceptable and is wrong? Hon. M. Farnworth:I appreciate the question from the Leader of the Opposition. What I want to say to him is this. We’re at a very crucial time in this province and in this country in dealing with what is a very serious situation that all of us on this side of the House are trying to resolve, along with other provinces and the federal government.

The best thing that this opposition can do is to get on board with this side of the House and find resolutions to the challenges and the problems that we are facing in terms of not just resource development but issues with First Nations. I understand that they’re trying to find a way to be rel- evant in this debate and relevant in the issues that we’re facing. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Minister. Hon. M. Farnworth:Thank you, hon. Speaker. As I just said…. Interjection. Hon. M. Farnworth:I think their actions speak for themselves. This government has made it clear.

We want to find a solution to the challenges that we face. We want to see pro- jects go ahead. We want to see First Nations rights respec- ted and participating in the economy in British Columbia. We want to find a way that people are protesting legally and that unlawful blockades are down and that this coun- try gets back to work the way that the public wants it to. They need to get on board in doing just that. Mr. Speaker:The Leader of the Official Opposition on a supplemental. A.

Wilkinson:Well, it’s disappointing to hear that the Solicitor General, who is responsible for law enforcement here in British Columbia, thinks that this side suggests anything but the return to a state of law and order — peace, order and good government. That’s why we’re all here. The question remains. There have been aggressive examples of prosecution in the United States and in Britain of foreign influence on their internal politics, yet we’ve seen nothing in British Columbia. The question arises….

American tax returns show that $2.6 million U.S. has been delivered to West Coast Envir- onmental Law, the organization that organizes and man- ages the legal advice and legal defence of the blockaders here in British Columbia. The Wilderness Committee has received American grants from both the Tides Foundation and the Wilburforce Foundation.

On February 12, the Wilderness Committee tweeted: “Join us in shutting down the B.C. government. ” That is us, particularly the 20 members of the executive council who are now under siege, as the government of British Col- umbia, by American-funded organizations here in British Columbia. The question goes to any member of the executive coun- cil, perhaps the Solicitor General who is in charge of law enforcement.

Does this government believe that foreign groups should be allowed to fund efforts to shut down the economy of Canada, obstruct rail traffic and behave in grossly illegal ways that obstruct the daily lives of British Columbians? Hon. M. Farnworth:As I said a moment ago, all of us in this House want to find solutions to the challenges that we are facing in this country right now, very serious situations that are impacting not just this province but provinces right across the country. That’s why we’re working with industry, with other provincial governments and with the federal government to do just that.

I don’t want to see any- body trying to shut down the economy of this country, whether they’re inside this country or outside this country. [2:05 p.m.] I find it somewhat ironic to listen to the Leader of the Opposition talk about the influence of foreign money in this province because they need to look at their own record when it comes to the influence of foreign money on that party. The B.C. Liberals…. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Members. Hon. M. Farnworth: The B.C.

Liberals — before changes made by this government in getting big money out of politics — were more than happy to haul in money from companies that were linked with the Bank of China; Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, based in the U.S.; Republic Services waste management, based in the U.S.; and Thompson Creek Metals, based in the U.S. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Members. Interjections. [Mr. Speaker rose.] Mr. Speaker:Members. Order, please. Wednesday, February 26, 2020 British Columbia Debates 11235

[Mr. Speaker resumed his seat.] Interjections. Hon. M. Farnworth:Hon. Speaker, I hear: “What were they blockading?” Let’s put it this way. They were paying to sit next to the leaders who were making the decisions. Mr. Speaker:The Leader of the Official Opposition on a second supplemental. A. Wilkinson:It’s indeed very disappointing to hear the Solicitor General stand up and criticize a political party that is engaged in our democratic process, when the whole issue is about groups that want to shut down the demo- cratic process. I’m not asking about funding of the NDP .

I’m not ask- ing about funding of political parties, which is what the Solicitor General seems to want to talk about. I’m ask- ing about the groups that are running across railroad tracks, attempting to derail trains, blocking ambulances and preventing people from getting home after a long day at work. The Solicitor General needs to focus on the mischief here. It’s not in this room; it’s the people out there who don’t believe in the rule of law. That’s what we’re talking about, and that’s what the question is directed to. Let’s talk more about some of the specifics. American tax returns….

Who knows what else is out there that doesn’t show up on American tax returns? Who knows where this money is coming from? We only have Amer- ican sources to track: $316,795 U.S. to Stand.earth, $490,467 from the Tides Foundation to Dogwood B.C., $641,048 from four U.S. foundations to the Sierra Club. The obvious question is…. This is a coordinated assault on the Canadian economy. It’s a coordinated assault on the policies of this government, which have been jointly endorsed by this House to develop the economy of British Columbia. This funding is directed to wreck it all.

Will the Solicitor General please answer the question. Is he prepared to entertain legislation that will ban foreign funding from militant groups in British Columbia? Hon. M. Farnworth:As I said a moment ago, there is no place in this province for outside interference in trying to disrupt the economy of British Columbia or Canada. Interjection. Hon. M. Farnworth:I hear the member saying: “Do something. ” Well, guess what. The police are doing their job, hon. Speaker. The police are…. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Members, we shall hear the response. Minister. Hon. M. Farnworth:Thank you, hon. Speaker.

The police are doing their job in a difficult situation. They’re enforcing injunctions; they’re taking down barri- cades. Hon. Member, those issues are here in this province and in this country, and they’re being resolved in this province and this country. Interjection. Hon. M. Farnworth:As I just said, there’s no place for that in this province. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Members, we shall hear the response. Thank you. [2:10 p.m.] Hon. M.

Farnworth:That is why this province and oth- er provinces right across this country are working with the federal government, First Nations and industry to resolve these issues, to get blockades down and to ensure that the economy of this province and this country continues. E. Ross:The Haisla Nation Chief and Council have been working hard for 15 years to bring an end to the social issues that plague not only our own band but bands all across B.C. and Canada. We’ve been successful over the last 15 years. Through hard work, we now have jobs. We have training programs.

We have taken the real first steps 15 years ago to break the cycle of poverty. Now you see these groups, funded by American money, coming in and trying to tell my people that they’re ignorant and don’t know what’s best for them. My question is to the Solicitor General. Will he join me and categorically reject this foreign money that is being used to keep our people from a secure future? Hon. M. Farnworth: We completely reject foreign interference in the affairs of British Columbia, whether it be through money or otherwise.

I only wish that that side of the House had rejected the interference of foreign money in our economy for the 16 years when they sat on this side, whether it came through bank drafts, donations to sit next to leaders at fundraising dinners or in duffel bags into casinos. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. The member for Skeena on a supplemental. 11236 British Columbia Debates Wednesday, February 26, 2020

E. Ross: I’m sick and tired of these groups that have hijacked Aboriginal issues for their own self-interests and are creating tensions and adversity for First Nations in B.C. and Canada. We know that the main organizer of the blockade at the Port of Vancouver is not even Canadian. She’s an American. She moved here from the United States eight years ago. Again my question is to the Solicitor General. Will he join me and denounce this foreign funding of blockades and the people from these other countries that want to tell us how to live? Hon. M.

Farnworth:I thought that was the answer I just gave the hon. member — that there is no place in this province or anywhere else in this country for outside interference. I’ll also remind the member that it was this side of the House that put limits on third-party donations — again, something they did not do. I’ll also remind him once again…. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Hon. M.

Farnworth:I’ll also remind him once again that I’m glad that after 16 years of doing nothing about big money in politics or how much you paid for a ticket to sit next to the leader or dirty money coming into the country in duffel bags, they’re concerned about that now, finally, too. ADDICTION ISSUES AND SERVICES IN COWICHAN AREA S. Furstenau:I want to start by thanking the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions for her visit to my riding last fall.

We invited the minister so that she could learn about the terrible impact that addictions and substance misuse are having on our community and presented her with a proposal for temporary treatment facilities and a safe drug supply pilot in Cowichan. The proposal did not receive funding. Since her visit, the problem has only worsened. The Cowichan overdose prevention site has received over 54,000 visits to date, averaging over 622 visits per week in the last three months.

These numbers are second only to The Harbour and Rock Bay Landing in Victoria, and that’s higher than all other rural or suburban OPS sites on the Island. Y et the response from a higher level of government has not been commensurate with this data. [2:15 p.m.] At the end of December, we had two violent deaths in Duncan and another unrelated stabbing last week. Our homeless outreach staff are fearful for their safety. Other front-line workers express despair about the outlook of an epidemic that’s showing signs of only growing. Residents are frustrated and angry.

My question is for the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. What is the government’s plan today for the unprecedented problems arising from substance abuse in Cowichan? Hon. J. Darcy:Thank you to the member of the Third Party for her question. I want to begin by acknowledging and thanking the member for her advocacy and for her passion on these very, very important issues in her com- munity. I was pleased to visit her community last fall and, also, a second time a year before that.

I want to acknowledge the very, very serious challenges that exist in her community as well as in communities across British Columbia. We are very much coping today with the consequences of a system of mental health and addictions care that has been neglected for many years. I know that’s hard on com- munities. It’s hard on people. We are embarking on major actions. We’re already taking concrete actions in Cowichan and across the province. Across British Columbia, we’ve invested $10 million in grants for community agencies that provide counselling at low cost or no cost.

Access to mental health and addictions care should not depend on the size of your bank account. Up until now, it has. We’re beginning to change that. In Duncan, the Hiiye’yu Lelum House of Friendship received a grant that will enable them to provide coun- selling services for 700 more sessions for people living with mental health and substance use issues. We are very proud of our partnership with First Nations in helping to build a system that is led by Indigenous people — Indigenous mental health and wellness solu- tions.

As part of that, the Cowichan Tribes received a $184,000 grant for culturally safe primary care and mental health and substance use care. Housing and supportive housing are a critical part of this if we’re addressing some of the root causes that relate to mental health and addictions and the overdose crisis. The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has made record investments in housing, including in supportive housing. In Duncan, B.C. Housing is actively working on several new housing options for people experiencing homelessness, including support services. We recognize that there is much, much more to do.

We have many years of neglect to overcome, but we are getting started. With political will and working together, we will get there. Mr. Speaker:The House Leader, Third Party, on a sup- plemental. S. Furstenau:I want to commend the minister and the government for working on these upstream solutions to a crisis that we are now seeing the results of downstream Wednesday, February 26, 2020 British Columbia Debates 11237

impacts. However, we are seeing this crisis in real time right now in Cowichan, and we are desperate. In response to the B.C. Coroners Service report on illicit drug deaths, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry was quoted saying that decriminalization and pharma- ceutical options for those who are dependent on toxic street drugs is something that needs to be considered. This is exactly what the Cowichan leadership group is asking for. We need access to a safe drug supply, temporary treat- ment facilities and transitional housing for people coming out of treatment, and we need it urgently.

We are in crisis, and we need a crisis response. The Cowichan leaders have written to ten separate pro- vincial ministries outlining the escalating problems in the Cowichan Valley that are arising from substance use and homelessness. My question is again to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. What is your government and ministry going to do today on these urgent needs to help the Cowi- chan community out of this crisis? Hon. J. Darcy:Thank you again to the member oppos- ite.

There certainly is an enormous amount of work to do, and we are working overtime to build that better system of mental health and addictions, including ramping up, every single day, every week, every month, our response to the overdose crisis. In every health region across the province, we now have access to rapid addiction services, rapid addiction clinics. In Cowichan, in particular, we’ve added more in-patient addiction medicine consult services at the Cowichan Hos- pital.

We’ve also expanded same-day walk-in services and counselling in Duncan. [2:20 p.m.] Earlier this week the coroner reported that for the first time since this crisis began, we’ve seen a decline in deaths across the province — for the first time, including in Cowi- chan. We recognize that whether it’s in Cowichan or prov- incewide, a reduction of 36 percent of deaths provincewide and 32 percent in the Cowichan area, every single one of these deaths is a tragedy. It is devastating for the families and the communities involved.

We will have more to say very soon on additional sup- ports to the Cowichan Valley to support further treatment options and community wellness. We are working over- time. We are working with all of our partners on the front line, including working with our partners in Cowichan Valley. Together we will get this done, and we will get the support to folks in Cowichan Valley and across British Columbia that they so very much deserve. FOREIGN FUNDING OF ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING PROTESTS M. de Jong: It’s interesting, isn’t it?

In other circum- stances, the government — we saw it here again today — has vilified the entry of foreign money into B.C. But when that foreign money is flowing to friends of theirs who are using it with the objective of shutting down our economy, they have gone strangely silent. The foreign money we’re talking about is flowing to organizations that enjoy charit- able tax status. That status bestows significant tax advant- ages upon them.

My simple question to the Finance Minister is: does the Finance Minister believe that illegal blockades and organized attempts to shut down our national and pro- vincial economies qualifies as charitable activities, and if she does not, will she today call upon the Canada Reven- ue Agency to withdraw the charitable tax status of these organizations that are using foreign money to try and shut down our economy? Hon. M. Farnworth:I thank the member for his ques- tion, which relates….

It’s done at the federal level, but I take note of his concern, where he says that money is flowing to friends and that that’s not right. I share that. I share that. I share that because that member, along with many members, sat on this side of the House. One of the biggest industries in this province…. A foundational industry in this province is the forest industry, and between 2005 and 2017, they took in more than almost a quarter of a million dollars from Weyerhaeuser, a U.S.-based company that launched the softwood lumber complaint against the forestry industry of this province.

If you want to talk about cozying up to people wanting to destroy an industry in this province, why don’t you just look in the mirror? Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Members, this is not a product- ive use of question period. Thank you. The member for Abbotsford West on a supplemental. M. de Jong:Well, I’m disappointed and a bit surprised that, confronted by a suggestion about action the gov- ernment could take, the response from the government benches would be a diatribe of partisanship. The prob- lem…. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Members, we shall hear the question. Thank you.

M. de Jong: The members of the government benches may not understand this, but the problem Canadians are having is there are no consequences. Y ou know, back in January, the Premier said if protesters are going to engage in illegal activities, there should be consequences. 11238 British Columbia Debates Wednesday, February 26, 2020

[2:25 p.m.] Rail traffic is disrupted illegally by protesters to the point where farmers are worried about getting enough feed for their animals. There are no consequences. Ports are being blockaded illegally to the point where people are being laid off from their jobs. There are no consequences. Those that are working don’t know if they can get home at night because their commuter rail is being illegally block- aded. There are no consequences. Members of the cabinet have had their offices invaded and illegally occupied. There are no consequences. Here’s a chance for the government.

Here’s a chance for, in this case, the Finance Minister to stand up and demonstrate that, actually, she is serious about imposing consequences on those who are using foreign money and unlawful illegal blockades to shut down her economy. Maybe I’ll use language that the government seems to like. Will she use every tool in the toolbox, including call- ing on the Canadian Revenue Agency to withdraw the charitable status of organizations that are using foreign money to shut down the Canadian economy? Hon. M. Farnworth:I’ d like to thank the member for his question and his words, words, words.

When it comes to diatribes, he goes with the best of them. Let’s be clear. There are consequences. It’s called a justice system. It’s called police doing their job and making arrests, which they’ve been doing in Vancouver, which they’ve been doing at blockades. Interjections. Hon. M. Farnworth:Oh, okay. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Members. Interjections. [Mr. Speaker rose.] Mr. Speaker:Members. Order, please. Order. [Mr. Speaker resumed his seat.] Hon. M. Farnworth:Thank you, hon. Speaker. I know that member was a former Solicitor General.

Clearly, he didn’t listen to the briefings he got when he took the position, because he would know that a Solicitor General does not command or does not direct the police on making arrests. He should know that the police are pro- fessionals who have a very difficult job to do. They go out to a situation, and they assess it. They assess it to ensure the safety of the public. They assess it to ensure that they can enforce and do their job professionally, which they do. What they don’t need is armchair quarterbacking from the peanut gallery on the other side. Our judicial system is independent and at arm’s length.

I guess he didn’t pay attention when the briefing books were presented to him when he became Solicitor General. He would know that. He would know that Crown prosecutors decide on things such as charges, that our court systems will decide on trials and consequences in terms of people who are breaking the law. What I will tell you again…. Interjections Mr. Speaker:Members. Hon. M. Farnworth:I will make sure that they know that no one on this side of the House supports illegal, unlawful blockades. They will be taken down. When injunctions are necessary, we will get injunctions, which has been happening.

Whether it’s for this place, whether it’s for highways, whether it’s for railways, they come with enforcement orders. Let’s be clear. We have a law enforcement system in this province, and they are doing their job. S. Bond: It has been more than three weeks since the blockades have begun to paralyze the economy of British Columbia, and they’re not stopping.

As we speak, we understand that anti-pipeline protesters have shut down the Pat Bay Highway. [2:30 p.m.] The blockade location is apparently just blocks away from the Saanich Peninsula Hospital, and it will block all traffic on a major artery to the international airport and the B.C. Ferry terminal. In fact, let’s talk about the messages that are being sent to British Columbians by members on that side of the House. Just yesterday the member for Nanaimo said: “We’re in a very tough time right now with a lot of pipeline controversy and protesters right in front of the Legislature, which, in many ways, I celebrate.

To have climate action and such visible support for reconciliation is something that we have waited, some of us, our whole lives for. ” Well, I can assure the members opposite there is not a lot of celebrating going on today for the people that have been impacted by yet another closure, funded by foreign funds in this province. It is time for the minister to stand up. He said he agrees there shouldn’t be foreign funds flowing. Then it’s time for him to do something. What specific actions will he take to ensure that foreign funds no longer impact the economy of the people of Brit- ish Columbia? Hon. D.

Eby: Ministry of Attorney General lawyers were in court this morning and obtained an injunction Wednesday, February 26, 2020 British Columbia Debates 11239

with an enforcement clause against the blockade of the highway. [End of question period.] Orders of the Day Hon. M. Farnworth:I call continued debate on the budget. [R. Chouhan in the chair.] Budget Debate (continued) D. Clovechok:It’s great to be back. Y esterday I sat, hav- ing talked about some of the nonexistent revenue streams that this government was touting and all the taxes that British Columbians are paying today that they weren’t pay- ing three years ago and reminded them they can’t tax people into prosperity.

What I’ d like to do is to continue my talk focused on the people of Columbia River–Revelstoke and talk a little about the forestry industry. It’s a sector, as we all know, that is in crisis, with massive layoffs and shutdowns that have been announced consistently through the NDP term and their government. More than 100 mill curtailments and ten permanent and indefinite shutdowns in 2019. The minister himself says: “It’s not a crisis. ” The parlia- mentary secretary said that there are too many mills. The Premier said that the communities are spoiled children. People’s lives are falling apart, and they say this.

That’s all they have to say about the forestry industry. When the minister made his $69 million announcement to aid forestry workers in September, little did we know that instead of new money for the displaced workers, it was simply taking money away from other key projects, key projects that they call a slush fund. The $25 million that was taken from the rural dividend fund was established by our government to help rural communities diversify their communities — moneys that those communities have come to depend upon, moneys that were applied for through extensive applications.

A lot of work by volunteer organizations, and many of those organizations are dependent upon the forest industry. [2:35 p.m.] Well, that special fund was a hit all over British Colum- bia, with over 300 communities benefiting annually. They actually took away money from one and gave to anoth- er, under the guise of helping the forestry industry, while hurting other British Columbians — like the Community Futures group in Revelstoke, which spent an enormous amount of time putting an application together for naught.

But it’s come to a stop, because the minister raised the fund to cover the costs of an inadequate forestry aid program — band-aids while the body is hemorrhaging. The member for Oak Bay–Gordon Head in this very House said: “The forestry crisis should be non-partisan. ” Well, guess what. We agree. We proposed a five-point action plan months and months and months ago that would have provided tax reliefs and assistance to the forestry workers throughout this province that are losing their jobs or have lost their jobs. But the NDP chose to ignore it.

It’s hard to work with others when they refuse to work with anybody but themselves and believe in their own philosophy. Then they talk about free trade. Well, free trade, spe- cifically with the United States, requires participation. Just recently western Premiers and other Premiers and indi- viduals went to the United States to work with the Amer- icans, to meet with the Americans, to promote their eco- nomies, to promote the place that they live. Premier Jason Kenney, Premier Scott Moe, both Alberta and Saskat- chewan, were part of that delegation.

They went to the United States to fight for their people, to represent their people, to talk about their people’s story to the Americans, to understand that we are still good trading partners. That’s what they’re paid to do. That’s the job a leader does. My question. Where was the Premier of the province of British Columbia? Why was he not there? Y et 2½ years ago he said he would be the champion for British Columbians to the Americans. Now he’s the invisible man. They talk competition. They actually said the word “competition. ” Y et they don’t understand that investors are running from this country.

I used an example yesterday of a small, little village that I represent in my riding that has had a major developer come in, and investors, and said: “We want to do this, and it’s a great opportunity to grow and develop more area and attract more people into the region. ” Those investors said: “We’re not going to do it. It’s too uncertain in this province. We don’t trust this govern- ment. ” Guess what. That development is on hold right now. They’re running from it. They talk competition, and in the next breath, they put out the collective benefits agreement.

Y esterday I men- tioned that on the Kicking Horse Canyon expansion itself, one of the most expensive road projects anywhere in the history of Canada on the Trans-Canada Highway — $30 million dedicated to the community benefits agreement. I also mentioned yesterday the struggle. Not only my community, Columbia River–Revelstoke, but the two Peace ridings, the Kootenay East riding are struggling with medical care out in the hinterlands — denied in Alberta, non-access to treatments in Kelowna. Well, $30 million could go to building a radiation therapy facility in Cranbrook. Another one could go to one in Trail.

Two therapy units could be built in the Kootenays. That could have been done so if the community benefits agreement wasn’t in effect. My constituents and myself are struck by how many NDP promises have been left on the cutting-room floor at the expense of British Columbians. People around this 11240 British Columbia Debates Wednesday, February 26, 2020

province, specifically in my riding, are finding life not more affordable but more unaffordable. ICBC rates, hydro rates — everything has gone up. The price of gas continues to escalate, and the cracks are showing in their govern- ment and in their economic plan. They have no economic plan. There’s no job plan. There’s no plan except to tax, tax, tax and spend. [2:40 p.m.] How can you possibly run a province without a plan that generates revenue? How can you possibly do that? Life is not affordable here anymore. Investors are running, and they have the rhetoric over on the other side that it’s just kumbaya.

People have had it in my constituency. They’re worried. They’re scared for their own jobs, and they want to know what they can do. There’s going to be a reckoning. That reckoning is going to come in the next election, and it will be at the expense of those fine people across the aisle at the voter booths. There will be a reckoning, and as far as we’re concerned in my riding, it can’t come soon enough. With that, I will take my seat and say without question that I will not support this budget. Hon. M. Mungall:I’m very proud to rise and speak in support of Budget 2020.

Before I get started, I do want to take a moment to just say a few thank-yous to some very important people in my life. First, I want to say thank you, for all his wonderful sup- port, to my husband Zak Matieschyn, who is just a fantas- tic rock in my life. I love him dearly. With him, I have a wonderful son, Zavier. He’s 19 months now. People around here in the buildings, in the Legislature, get an opportunity to visit with him every evening when he comes to take books, take pens, take paper — whatever he can get his hands on — off people’s shelves.

He lets everybody know that he’s been in the room once he’s left, because nothing is where it ought to be. It’s just wonderful to be his mother at this very curious stage in his life. I have two amazing constituency assistants back in Nel- son who serve the people of Nelson-Creston every single day. They are there to help whenever people call or email or stop in. That’s Laurie Langille and Tessa Bendig. Here in Victoria, I have wonderful staff in my new min- istry office. We just welcomed Danielle Monroe to the team as our senior MA. Maria Szabo is the junior MA. Danika Hammond is my executive assistant.

We have Wolfgang, who greets everybody as they come in the door, and Lorna, from the deputy minister’s office, has been helping us as we seek to round out our team over the next little while. I’m really fortunate to be supported by such wonderful, hard-working and dedicated people, people who are here to work for British Columbians, in service to them, every single day. I represent some very, very amazing people in Nelson- Creston.

I’m so grateful to them for giving me the oppor- tunity to be here on their behalf and to share some of the things that are very important to them and some of the things that they see in this budget that are really helping them in their day-to-day lives. One of the things that all of us living around Kootenay Lake are very happy to see in this budget is the funds to go to a new ferry on Kootenay Lake, to go from Balfour to the East Shore of Kootenay Lake. This ferry is going to be electric-ready.

That means that once we get the infrastruc- ture necessary on both sides — both terminals, both sides of the lake — to actually electrify our ferry, it will be ready to do so. It’s very exciting, as we go electric in this province, that our new ferry, which is going to be complementing the MV Osprey and replacing the MVBalfour, is going to be electric. That’s very important to the people that I rep- resent — not only that it’s going to be an electric-ready ferry but that we’re going to get a better ferry replacing a 55-year-old ferry. It’s going to be modern. It’s going to be faster.

It’s going to be just better service overall for our communities throughout Kootenay Lake who rely on the ferry, as well as the many tourists who come and visit us throughout the year. As I listen to some of the comments coming from the opposition benches, there’s a lot of doom and gloom. I don’t want to dismiss some of the comments about how people in their community face challenges and how we have to find solutions to those challenges. Absolutely, we do. [2:45 p.m.] That’s one of the things that we’ve been doing over the last 2½ years as government.

I want to give some of the numbers to show that, and I’m going to do that throughout my comments on the budget. When we talk about B.C. ’s overall economy and where it is at right now, well, we are doing the best out of every- body else in Canada. We have one of the fastest-growing economies in Canada. We have the lowest unemployment rate, yet again. For 29 out of the last 30 months that we’ve been in government, we’ve had the lowest unemployment rate in the entire country. Since our government was elec- ted, we have added 67,000 jobs in this province.

More than half of those jobs have been good, family-supporting, full- time jobs. That’s been our commitment to British Columbians. It’s to make sure that when we come up with a jobs plan, it’s not just a thin document with some targets but no actu- al plan to get us there. A lot of the jobs that were talked about in the jobs plan that we might remember from a few years ago from a past government were actually lower- wage jobs. We want to make sure that we have family-sup- porting jobs in this province. Ultimately, that’s what puts food on the table.

That’s what gives people the good life that they are entitled to have. That’s what makes sure that they can have their kids go Wednesday, February 26, 2020 British Columbia Debates 11241

to soccer. If their teenagers want to go to a movie, they can go to a movie. They can go to post-secondary education and have the dreams that they want to have. They can do for their children as they would like to. They can do for themselves as they would like to. Maybe have a date night every now and again for the parents. This is the type of middle-class life that people want to have, and we want to make sure that they have that. When we talk about job cre- ation, we have to be talking about family-supporting jobs, and we are delivering on that front.

When we talk about family-supporting jobs, of course, we have to acknowledge wages, as I was saying. On that note, let’s just look at the numbers. Let’s look at the num- bers of what’s happening right now, here, for British Col- umbia. After more than a decade of stagnation in wage growth, people are now seeing the benefits of what we’re delivering on, what this government is delivering on. Since July 2017, average wages are up. They are up. We are lead- ing the country at an average wage of $28.83 an hour. Stag- nation for years under the B.C. Liberals and wages going up under the B.C. NDP .

That’s one of the ways that you make life more affordable. We know that the global economic situation is a bit precarious right now, but B.C. exports have actually been remaining quite strong, reaching $43.4 billion in 2019. The Conference Board of Canada has predicted that B.C. ’s GDP will grow well above the national average over the next two years. We’re doing quite well. We have a good story to tell here in British Columbia about our overall economic pic- ture and how we are doing. That’s not me just pulling that out of thin air, as some- times we might see over on the other side.

Those are the actual numbers that are coming out of B.C. Stats and Stats Canada. Those are predictions by the Conference Board of Canada. Those are third-party eyes looking at what we are doing and showing that it’s a good story and that it’s mak- ing a difference in people’s lives. One of the lines that keeps coming up from the other side is tax and spend. Tax and spend, tax and spend. Y ou often hear parties like the B.C. Liberals use that phrase as though it’s a negative thing.

They like to go on and on about how horrible it is for a government to generate rev- enue and then turn around and spend it on people. [2:50 p.m.] How on earth…? Only the B.C. Liberals would think that spending on British Columbians is a bad thing. We saw it for 16 years while they were in government — a refusal to spend money. Their policy was to tax and hoard. That’s what they did. They took people’s hard-earned dol- lars through taxation.

Rather than give it back in the form of health care, in the form of child care or in the form of education or post-secondary opportunities, a tax break to 1 percent is what they did. They gave more money back to their rich friends, over and over and over again. Did they solve the affordable housing crisis? No. Did they even make an attempt to address it. No. In the 2½ years that the NDP has been in government, I have had the pleasure of announcing 105 new units of affordable housing being built in my riding alone. Do you know how many we got to announce in 16 years while the B.C. Lib- erals were in power?

Not even half of that — not even half. That’s because they took British Columbians’ money and gave breaks to their rich friends, whether it was in the form of tax breaks or putting their head in the sand, just ignoring the fact that we had a housing crisis. They cut child care spaces from the communities I rep- resent back in 2001 and 2002. Y ou know what we’re doing? We’re building child care spaces. I am in this position, being a mom of a 19-month-old, where I am trying to find him child care. I’m calling a lot of the child care providers, both in Victoria and in Nelson, and what are they telling me?

They’re saying: “Michelle, we’re going to have to let you know in September once we’ve actually been able to build out the child care spaces that we’ve gotten funding for. We’re in the process of build- ing those out. ” That is wonderful news for our communit- ies. That is wonderful news, because all the parents that I know and that I talk to that struggle to find child care…. During the last election in Nelson and Creston, we had a stroller brigade — parents coming together.

They’ d put their kids in strollers, and they would walk up and down Baker Street letting people know how important child care was in that election. Today they’re able to let people know that child care was important in that election, because child care is now being delivered. Cut under the B.C. Liberals in 2001 and 2002 and now being built under the New Democratic govern- ment in 2019, 2020 with this budget as well, as we contin- ue to build child care for British Columbians right across this province, including in my communities in the riding of Nelson-Creston in the Kootenays. The B.C. Liberals.

They tax, and hoard for their rich friends. They don’t want to spend on British Columbians. We all know that. We lived through it for 16 years. But I think it’s really important to note that when they talk about tax increases, they’re failing to point out the facts of the largest tax cut in B.C. history to the middle class, which is the elimination of medical services premiums — the largest tax cut in history, delivered by a New Democrat government. That was us.

The seniors in my community, the people in my com- munity, whether an individual or a family, they’re no longer seeing that tax levied on them every single year. Individuals are saving $900. Families are saving around $1,800. This is very good news. [2:55 p.m.] That’s more money in people’s pockets. Not only are wages going up, as I pointed out, but people have more money in their pockets from that tax cut. Now, I know the B.C. Liberals also like to say that taxes are going up for businesses and so on.

The thing is, though, they also want everybody to forget that it was actually the 11242 British Columbia Debates Wednesday, February 26, 2020

New Democrats, in their first budget update in 2017, that cut small business taxes. That was us, not them. That was us. So when they like to say “tax and spend, ” they forget that, actually, the biggest tax cuts have been the responsib- ility of this government. I am proud every single day to get up here and spend on the people that I represent, because they deserve a govern- ment that’s going to do that. They deserve a government that’s going to provide them with health care, that’s going to reduce wait-lists. That’s what this budget does. That’s what the last few budgets have done under this govern- ment.

They deserve to have a government that’s going to make sure that they have child care. That’s what this budget does, and that’s what the last few budgets have done. This budget also puts $339 million into the K-to-12 sys- tem. No longer are families facing cuts in the classroom for their kids. This government is investing in education. With this budget, we’re announcing the child opportun- ity benefit. I’m very proud of this one: 300,000 families are going to be getting a tax-free benefit of $1,600 per year for one child and $2,600 per year for two children.

And it goes up from there — the more children that the family would have. It’s not for the first six years of life, as the B.C. Lib- erals might have it. It’s for 18 years — 18 years, an entire child’s life. This is helping over 300,000 families in British Columbia, families in the communities that I represent in the Kootenays. This is also contributing to the news that came out today about our child poverty stats. We have reduced child poverty from 2016 levels by 29.6 percent. Our target is 50 percent by 2024.

I’ d have to say that at 2020, when we are at nearly 30 percent, we are well on our way to achieving our target. I want to give a little history behind this. For 16 years — you may have heard us use that number before just once or twice — we sat on the opposition benches calling on the B.C. Liberal government to do something about the rising rates of child poverty in this province. Every year the num- bers went up, and B.C. was leading the country in child poverty. How embarrassing and how wrong. How wrong for a province as wealthy as ours to have the highest rate of child poverty in the country.

For years, we told them there were actions government could be taking to drive those number down, to be making sure that children were not going to school hungry, to make sure that children had access to a good life. For four years as the Social Development critic, I would hear over and over again how that was just not possible. My col- league the Minister for Social Development and Poverty Reduction heard it too, when he was on opposition benches. “It just wasn’t possible. ” Well, here we are 2½ years into government, and we have proven them wrong.

We have proven that when you spend on people, you can reduce poverty substantially. [3:00 p.m.] Y ou can help people lift up out of poverty and have opportunities in this life, have food in their bellies, have the ability to take on a sports program, an extracurricular activity, help single parents access child care so that they can get a job, so they can go back to school. These pro- grams are possible. We are delivering them, and I’m very proud.

I want to thank the countless people who participated in our consultations on building this plan, because so many people participated in building this plan all around the province. I know that dozens and dozens of people in my com- munities came out to give feedback to the provincial gov- ernment in terms of what we can be doing to build a strong poverty reduction plan. I want to thank them. I want to thank them for continuing to hold us accountable. I want to thank them for continuing to help us implement this plan.

This plan’s called TogetherBC for that very reason, and I’m very proud of the work that they have done and that we are doing with them. I’ d also like to mention that this is our third balanced budget. The reason I want to mention that is that a lot of people have said in the past: “Oh, these types of programs — reducing poverty, child care, health care, reducing wait- lists, building hospitals, building schools — are just too expensive. We can’t afford it. That would cause us to have a deficit. ” We’ve again proven them wrong. In fact, when you do spend on people, it can be done without adding to the debt.

Now, I’m not going to get into a debate about wheth- er debt and deficits are good or bad, because they have a function. But they are not an excuse, is my point, to not actually spend on people. They are not an excuse, and we are proving that day in and day out. A couple of points about some of the increases I’ve heard from the opposition benches. One of the things that they talk about are ICBC rates. Well, we all know that they’re the ones responsible for the dumpster fire that we found at ICBC. They know that. They wanted to hide it from British Columbians. We uncovered it.

We showed British Columbians what’s going on there. What we’ve been able to do is to find ways to reduce the rate increases that they were going to be putting on Brit- ish Columbians as they were burying their heads in the sand and trying to pretend that their mismanagement of ICBC wasn’t a problem. We uncovered the problem. We were honest about it with British Columbians, and we’ve been finding solutions ever since to bring down those costs at ICBC. We have been successful in doing that. B.C. Hydro. There were a lot of questionable things going on there when I first started as the previous Minister for Energy.

One of the things that we said we would do for British Columbians — which we weren’t able to do because we started to actually properly respect the inde- pendent regulatory regime that we have in this province — is we did promise to freeze hydro rates. We weren’t able to Wednesday, February 26, 2020 British Columbia Debates 11243

do that in the way that we wanted to at first because the independent regulator, who deserves respect that the B.C. Liberals never gave them, said: “No. That’s not the fisc- ally prudent thing to do right now at B.C. Hydro. ” We said okay. We took a step back. We delivered a lower rate of increases than would have happened under the B.C. Liberals. One of the things that they seem to have forgotten that happened this past August is that we applied to the B.C. Utilities Commission for the first time since probably the 1960s to decrease rates — not just freeze them but to decrease them. We did that in August.

We were successful because BCUC, the B.C. Utilities Commission, looked at how we have been managing our crown jewel, our Crown corp. of B.C. Hydro, that delivers the electricity to almost all of British Columbia.

They said: “Y ou’ve been doing a good job, and you’re right to come forward and apply for this decrease in rates. ” So British Columbians are going to see some savings on their bills this year. [3:05 p.m.] The opposition might try to tell people about how everything’s going up, but what they don’t tell is the full story about how everything was going up way more under them and how we’ve come in to rein it in and make things more affordable for British Columbians. Those are the facts. The numbers are there. I know they don’t like them, but that is the fact of the matter.

I want to take some time to look at some of the things that we’re doing within my new ministry, because it’s really exciting. This ministry is responsible for the technology sector. A lot of people, when they think of technology, think of video games. They think of the really amazing special effects in aStar Wars or Star Trek movie. That’s often what I think of. They think of artificial intelligence — Data fromStar Trek, perhaps. People might think of that. Technology actually permeates our entire society, whether it be from cell phones, which are the obvious one on a day-to-day basis.

But in terms of our foundational industries such as mining, innovation and technology play an extremely important role in making sure that these sec- tors are competitive. I had agriculture as an example. I was visiting some tech companies last Friday in Vancouver. I had the chance to visit some tech companies in Nelson a few weeks ago. One of the companies I visited was Terramera.

The things that they’re doing around agritech to reduce pesticides and to increase crop yields with better ways of treating pests and making plants healthy is really amazing — and the types of technologies that they’re using to do that. Those types of companies in British Columbia have the opportunity, have the possibility, of feeding into our existing sectors. Technology isn’t just your iPhone and some really great, amazing special effects or futuristic thought concepts like Data fromStar Trek and artificial intelligence. It’s how it’s applied, and it can be applied throughout our entire eco- nomic spectrum.

The things that we’re able to do within this ministry to support that is really fascinating. I’m really glad that I get to be a part of it. It’s not surprising that tech and innovation exists all throughout the economy and that it’s also one of the fastest-growing sectors in Canada and in B.C., and that actually B.C. ’s tech sector is leading the nation in revenue growth and job creation. It’s moving at such a fast pace. One of the companies I visited on Friday was Meta- Optima. They started with three employees back in 2015, I think she said — three employees.

Now they have 60 employees, building technology to test for skin cancer, to do dermatological diagnostics. They compile that inform- ation from these tests with their technology into a data- base so that doctors, without knowing patients’ personal or private information but just knowing about the diseases that they are experiencing, can get a better understanding of how skin cancer can evolve and affect people. That type of technology that they’re doing is really amazing.

The fact that they’re able to grow their company so large in such a short period of time is something that we as British Columbians should be very proud of. I just saw the green light go, which means I only have a couple of minutes, and I have so much more that I would like to say. So I’ll say it very quickly. We are seeing some very significant investments right now from major tech companies like Rogers, Amazon, Mas- terCard, Shopify, bringing jobs here to British Columbia and making investments here in British Columbia. We are seeing that in other sectors.

In mining, for example, we are seeing Newcrest from Australia come into British Columbia. Of course, we can’t forget some of the very large investments that have been taking place with LNG, as an example. [3:10 p.m.] A lot of companies around the world have shown that they are very excited to invest in British Columbia. We’re looking forward to telling them more about what we offer here in B.C. We’re going to be doing that throughout the year in a variety of ways — conferences, summits, and so on. I’m looking forward to that work.

I’m looking forward to building British Columbia for British Columbians, and I’m looking very forward to spending a whole lot of money on British Columbians. L. Throness:It’s a pleasure to rise and speak to the budget today. I want to begin by talking about an issue that overshadows the budget — not only our budget but every budget across Canada for governments — and that is the protests that are going on around our province and around our country, defying court injunctions and breaking the law. On February 23, a resource development project that 11244 British Columbia Debates Wednesday, February 26, 2020

everyone knows about, Frontier, was withdrawn in Alberta, and the CEO of Teck said this in an open letter: “It is now evident that there is no constructive path for- ward for the project. ” So there’s no constructive path for- ward for a project that’s undergone exhaustive environ- mental review for years. They’ve jumped every legal hoop. It has broad community and Indigenous support. But that wasn’t good enough for the protesters. Y et the member for North Vancouver–Lonsdale applauded the demise of this project and called it a tip- ping point.

A tipping point maybe against oil or gas or a tipping point against the rule of law? I think it may be a bit of both. There’s enormous opposition to pretty well any project that will disturb the ground today, from a project like Frontier or a pipeline or to a building permit for a house that takes years to be approved in Vancouver, despite the fact that there’s a huge lack of supply that sends prices through the roof. The debate has grown so rancorous that those who oppose any kind of resource development are ignoring the law. Not those who want to build the economy by develop- ing our resources.

They patiently follow the rules for years and bear huge costs of following the law. It’s those who oppose them who break the law. Think of the following projects that have been cancelled or are under threat: northern gateway, Energy East, Teck’s Frontier project. Trans Mountain was stalled for years. Coastal GasLink is threatened. Keystone XL was vetoed. Woodfibre LNG in Squamish experiences a lot of oppo- sition, even though it will all be run by electricity.

And who knows how many LNG and other projects have been quietly shelved without us even knowing it, where business people say: “It’s just not worth the effort; it’s not worth the risk”? That’s going to continue in the future. This is a serious budgetary issue. And it’s one that involves the rule of law. There are three members of this House who have expressed, in this House, sentiments for the protesters. I think of the member for Nanaimo who celebrated the illegal protests. I think of the member for North Vancouver–Lonsdale who expressed her support.

Even the Minister of State for Child Care said we have to stand up against Trans Mountain pipeline, despite the fact that every court and every tribunal in the land has approved it. We all have laws that we don’t like, and I get that. That’s fine. For example, I don’t like Medical Assistance in Dying. I disagree with it, philosophically. I don’t think it belongs in palliative care. It’ll have a harmful effect on our culture as we accept the principle of death as an antidote to pain. Why is that? We all suffer pain in our lives.

There’s no logical stopping point between this pain or that pain or pain in this situation or pain in that situation. The Supreme Court has ruled on this issue. I accept that because I respect the rule of law. Y ou won’t find me block- ing traffic in downtown Vancouver, laying over the rail- road tracks or lighting a fire on the steps of this Legis- lature, as was done yesterday, to try and overturn by force what the courts have finally decided. If I can accept that, then the MLAs opposite can accept the rule of law as well. MLAs need to decide where they stand on the rule of law.

If their hearts are really with the protesters, they should have the courage to stand outside with them and defy the court injunction, instead of sitting in this cham- ber and enjoying all the benefits of the rule of law while quietly opposing its authority. In particular, for a minister of the Crown to encourage her constituents to stand up against Trans Mountain, hav- ing been approved exhaustively by environmental bodies and the courts, I think is something of a disgrace. This Legislature is the seat of the law in this province, and min- isters ought to be the first to support the rule of law.

So I think the Premier should call her on the carpet and tell her: “If you want to be in cabinet, you have a decision to make. Whose side are you on? Do you side with the pro- testers outside? Or will you publicly stand on the side of all of us in this chamber, for whom the rule of law is a pre- cious thing?” [3:15 p.m.] I think the minister should apologize and say: “Y es, I may disagree with the pipeline, but I accept what the courts have decided. I accept the rule of law. I love the law. It is what makes us a civilized society. ” I’m concerned about the young people outside the Legislature today.

They’re building their own future. They’re building a society in which it’s okay not to have resource development to produce the billions we need to run health care and education, keep our roads paved and even run the environmental policy of the government. They are looking forward to a poorer society. They’re also looking forward to a society in which it’s okay to disobey a law that they disagree with. Well, that’s fine when they do it. But it’s not so fine when somebody does it to them. Like, when somebody steals their stuff, that’s not okay.

But it’s okay for protesters to steal some- body’s job by blocking a rail line or cost people hundreds of hours sitting in traffic, as they illegally block the roads, or steal someone’s health by blocking a bridge that an ambulance needs. The activists who break the law are building a society for themselves. They’re making their own future. If they keep on doing it, it will not be a better society. Society and an economy are delicate things. We’ve learned, in the last few weeks, that it’s easy to destroy an economy. It doesn’t take long. It only takes a matter of months. The rule of law is also a delicate thing.

It depends on the voluntary obedi- ence of every citizen from the heart. I will give an example. In Chilliwack, we have about a hundred police officers, and we have 100,000 people. If only a few hundred people decided to break the law in an organized way, it would be chaos in Chilliwack. In fact, we’re experiencing some of that now with crime in Wednesday, February 26, 2020 British Columbia Debates 11245

Chilliwack, as thieves on bikes towing little trailers ride around looking for other people’s stuff to steal. The peace and security of our communities depend on each one of us adhering voluntarily to the law and using the tools of the law to make change, rather than seeking change on the street. I would encourage the youth, in particular, who are breaking the law today: just stop. Think about your future and the society that you are creating for yourself and your children. Finally, the rule of law is about people in society caring about each other.

I don’t think that the protesters care very much about other people in Canada. It’s a good way to des- troy a wonderful country. Now I want to go forward and talk about this budget, which I would characterize, if I could, as a top-heavy budget. It’s top-heavy with social spending, but as in any- thing that’s top-heavy, you need a foundation to support it. We need an economic foundation for all of that social spending. Somebody’s got to pay the bills. So in this budget, we have lots of announcements on the social side, but we have little to build a stronger economy to support those announcements.

In fact, the NDP has not given us a plan to grow the eco- nomy. There’s no plan to create well-paying jobs and help businesses, to lower taxes to attract investment, measures to increase productivity and competitiveness, no labour market measures to address what I hear from every employer — and that is a very tight supply of labour — and nothing to build support for the ever-increasing social spending. This is a weakness of all NDP governments. We’re seeing it again. It’s short-sighted at best. Every NDP government in the country eventually gets thrown out, because the taxpayers simply can’t afford them.

Taxes are up, as Tim Shoults, writing inKamloops This Week, pointed out. I want to quote what he said: “The total tax burden borne by B.C. residents and businesses is set to climb from $28.2 billion in 2017-18 to a proposed $36.9 billion in 2021-22, according to the government’s own budget documents released Tuesday. That’s an increase of $8.7 billion or 31 percent in five years. ” Meanwhile, the economic indicators in the budget are threatening. Employment is down. Manufacturing ship- ments are down. Exports and retail sales are down. New car sales are down. Housing starts are down by a whopping 24 percent.

In the Fraser Valley, home sales fell by 31 per- cent last year. None of that’s good news, but that doesn’t seem to mat- ter to the NDP . They continue to raise taxes and spending. They’re oblivious to the indicators. They love to crank out the good-news press releases that will one day come back to haunt us all. [3:20 p.m.] Allow me to quote from another editorial in theTimes Colonist. This was on February 19: “Finance Minister Car- ole James put the surplus at a mere $227 million and $179 million for next year, representing a combined total of just $406 million.

On an overall revenue basis of $60.6 billion, these are rock-bottom figures, signalling a serious deteri- oration in the province’s financial affairs. And James has no one to blame but herself. ” We have a balanced budget before us, but how did they do that? It’s only balanced by increasing the burden on tax- payers. In fact, if there were no new taxes in this budget, it would be a deficit budget. Let me describe three new taxes that will be of interest to my constituents. First, there’s the Netflix tax.

It applies to Netflix and any other digital service, like Spotify or Google music, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV , Crave TV , Y ouTube Premium and others. They’ll all have to col- lect PST from now on. So here the NDP have gone from the wallets of British Columbians to their change purses and their penny jars. They are reaching out in all directions to grab any tiny tax they can. This one will only raise $11 million this year, and I wonder if the cost of it will be more than the administration cost.

It’s the same with the sugary drink tax, which will charge PST on any carbonated beverage, including ones without any sugar at all, like artificially sweetened drinks. The NDP are going after every possible tax, no matter how small. Then there’s their tax on high-income earners, which will apply to anyone making over $220,000 a year, as we further encourage professionals, like doctors, to flee our province. These three taxes alone will raise $216 million this year, and only these three new taxes will keep the gov- ernment in the black.

All together, since becoming government, the NDP have introduced or raised 23 taxes in B.C. Well, that’s how they fuel the government, not through economic growth and not through raising general revenues through that growth. They raise the revenue both by broadening the base of taxation so the burden is laid on more people and businesses and groups and by increasing the weight of those specific taxes. That is a very unwise strategy. On the other hand, the government is cutting back spending. But where is it cutting?

Predictably, it’s on the ministries that create jobs in this province — cuts to Agri- culture; Energy and Mines; Forests and Lands; the Min- istry of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitive- ness; and the Ministry of Tourism. They all received cuts. Many of the ministries which might possibly help to create some jobs are reduced in size. To me, this doesn’t make a lot of sense. But that’s the pattern of the NDP — tax and spend, not grow the eco- nomy and allow that growth to fuel new spending. That, I think, is why the NDP are a boom-and-bust party.

That’s why the NDP have only been in power for 15 years since 1952. It’s because they have this inbred sense of imbalance. Once in a while, British Columbians become dissatisfied with the B.C. Liberals and their predecessor, the Social Credit Party, because we’re very fiscally responsible. I 11246 British Columbia Debates Wednesday, February 26, 2020

think of our $100 million platform in 2017 versus the B.C. NDP free-for-all of a $7 billion platform. The people bring in the NDP to loosen the purse strings for a bit. Then they have to get rid of them again, because they’re essentially unbalanced. They know how to spend the money. They don’t know how to raise the money and how to grow the economy. So the B.C. Liberals have to be brought in to keep the economy out of the ditch. I can see that same story replaying itself once again. I look forward to British Columbians deciding to switch back to us again within 20 months from now or perhaps sooner.

Now, I want to turn to Chilliwack and think about what was in the budget for my riding. There’s disappointing news for my constituents, unfortunately. There’s no men- tion of Chilliwack at all in the budget, except when the Minister of Finance, in her budget speech, mentioned a school being built in our riding, which actually was provided for in the last budget, not this one. There’s noth- ing new specifically for Chilliwack in this budget. Now, we thought there was a hopeful sign in the throne speech in a passing reference to a transit corridor in the valley.

But my hopes were dashed when I saw the fine print in the budget. The government is going to begin a study that will formulate a multimodal transportation and development strategy for the Fraser Valley that will one day inform investments. We’re three long steps away from action, a study to build a strategy to inform investments. My question is: in what year will that study begin? In what term of office will this strategy be formed, and in what decade will something actually start to get built? These questions are all unanswered.

All we know is that we’re going to talk about it sometime, transit options for the Fraser Valley. I don’t think that’s a lot of political will demonstrated by this government. It’s a talking point. It’s a defensive manoeuvre for them to be able to answer ques- tions in the House. [3:25 p.m.] The budget also mentioned the widening of the No. 1 Highway on the ten-kilometre stretch between 216 and 264 Streets. This, of course, was also announced previ- ously. We’re hoping that construction will begin next year, but in the budget, it says that it may begin any time in the next five years.

This is not very heartening to my constitu- ents. We came to Victoria last fall to ask the Minister of Pub- lic Safety for more funding for police officers in the rural Chilliwack area, because the crime rate in our area is the highest in the Fraser Valley. We don’t have an answer back on that yet. I see that there’s money in the budget desig- nated for public safety, no specific mention of our request. I’m going to keep a close eye on that. My constituents may be interested in buying an electric car or a charging station. The subsidy programs for those have been renewed.

The monthly earnings exemption for single people on social assistance will increase by $1,200 a year. People receiving a disability pension will be able to earn $15,000 a year without influencing their benefits. It’s my hope that this move will encourage more part-time work and not simply discourage full-time work, in which a person could get off disability altogether but doesn’t because they like the backstop of those payments, even if they don’t really need them. Time will tell.

My constituents may be interested in the B.C. child opportunity benefit also, which was announced, again, a year ago, in the 2019 budget. It won’t happen for another seven months. But it talks about giving $380 million a year to families with children under the age of 18. Of course, we support more benefits to families, but with the NDP , you always have to read the fine print. What does the fine print say on this benefit? The government says that a family with one child will get $1,600 per year. That works out to about $100 a month per child, with subsequent children as well.

But the fine print says that the maximum only goes to families that are making under $25,000. At any income above $25,000, the amount starts being clawed back as the family earns more, until you’re left, at $55,000 in income, with about $700 a year instead of the $1,600 that the government touts for the first child. What’s the median income, according to StatsCan, for families in B.C.? The median income is $85,000. This means that only a few families are going to get the max- imum. Most will get about half, probably about 50 bucks a month per child, $1,700 a year for a family with three kids.

It will go down from there to nothing with any more income. It’s not a bad thing. We support more help for families. But let’s realize that it’s not what it’s billed to be. It’s not nearly as generous. It will not change the lifestyle of any family in any radical way. My constituents are also interested in health care, and I want to talk about that for a moment. I receive constant requests for more health care spending — spending on rare drugs, medical devices — complaints about waiting lists for surgeries like deep brain stimulation for people with Parkinson’s disease.

I find these to be wrenching visits from my constituents. They tear at my heart. I contact the minister’s office, but there is little action on these things. Although we have 24,000 people without a family doc- tor in Chilliwack, there is no plan in this budget to improve access to doctors in our city. In fact, the budget for health care will rocket up over the next three years by $2½ billion. But all of it will go to higher wages for employees. Nor will there be any hospital improvements in our hospital in Chilliwack, although I get complaints about it being run down and about its crowded nature.

We have called for a new maternity ward. They had to close the maternity ward altogether last summer, and Fraser Health even refuses to meet about that. This budget, particularly since most of us are going to be Wednesday, February 26, 2020 British Columbia Debates 11247

paying higher taxes, is a disappointment for my constitu- ents. I want to move on for a few moments to talk about my critic role with children and families and, particularly, about child care. The government has made much of its child care programs and has spent an enormous amount of money without delivering much more child care at all. While the Premier had a great photo op last fall…. He announced a milestone in creating 10,400 new spaces through their programs.

It quickly became apparent, through the minister of state’s office, that fewer than 2,000 of those spaces actually had children in them, were actu- ally functioning spaces. [S. Gibson in the chair.] Why is the government having such a hard time cre- ating spaces? It’s not at all hard to diagnose the problem. Y ou just have to read the papers or the emails I get. I’m sure the minister knows as well. But it doesn’t seem like the NDP do read the papers, because they’re not doing any- thing about it. So let me read a few stories for the benefit of the members opposite.

I’m going to read some excerpts from a letter to the editor in theChilliwack Progress just a few weeks ago, on January 24. “Isn’t the provincial government advertising its success in creat- ing more child care spaces and making child care more accessible to families? Y es, but there’s one glaring flaw in this plan. There are not enough qualified and trained early childhood staff to work at these centres…. [3:30 p.m.] “ A lot of ECEs have left the field. Although they may have a love for children and a passion for education, love doesn’t pay the bills.

ECEs have left the field in droves over the past ten years…. “ As well, working in the post-secondary education sector, I have noticed a huge decline in early childhood education students over the past decade…. The government needs to wake up. ” Those are not my words. That’s from a constituent of mine writing in the local paper. Here’s another one from the Interior.

It’s a story from Shuswap carried in theSurrey Now-Leader on February 1. “Shuswap Daycare manager Karen Bubola says daycare in Sal- mon Arm is in crisis and getting worse. ‘We have lengthy wait-lists, well over two years…. ’ Shuswap Child Care Resource and Referral s

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20200226pm-Hansard-n316
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20200226pm Hansard n316
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	a279bec9f135b774fa46fec8ca7b04d49cd2dbca

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