British Columbia Hansard — Tuesday, July 2, 2013

20130702pm-Hansard-v1n5

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

First Session, 40th Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (HANSARD) THE HONOURABLE LINDA REID, SPEAKER ISSN 0709- 1281 (Print) ISSN 1499-2175 (Online) Tuesday, July 2, 2013 Aft ernoon Sitting Volume 1, Number 5

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Her Honour the Honourable Judith Guichon, OBC First Session, 40th Parliament SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Linda Reid EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council .............................................................................................................. Hon. Christy Clark Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing ......................Hon.

Rich Coleman Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation ......................................................................................................... Hon. John Rustad Minister of Advanced Education ............................................................................................................................................ Hon. Amrik Virk Minister of Agriculture ............................................................................................................................................................... Hon.

Pat Pimm Minister of Children and Family Development ....................................................................................................... Hon. Stephanie Cadieux Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development ........................................................................................... Hon. Coralee Oakes Minister of Education ..................................................................................................................................................... Hon.

Peter Fassbender Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Core Review .....................................................................Hon. Bill Bennett Minister of Environment ..........................................................................................................................................................Hon. Mary Polak Minister of Finance .................................................................................................................................................. Hon.

Michael de Jong, QC Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations......................................................................................Hon. Steve Th omson Minister of Health ............................................................................................................................................................... Hon. Dr. Terry Lake Minister of International Trade and Minister Responsible for Asia Pacifi c Strategy and Multiculturalism ..................Hon.

Teresa Wat Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour ...................................................Hon. Shirley Bond Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business ....................................................................................................Hon. Naomi Y amamoto Minister of Justice ...............................................................................................................................................................Hon.

Suzanne Anton Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation..................................................................................................... Hon. Don McRae Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services ................................................................................... Hon. Andrew Wilkinson Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure ......................................................................................................................Hon.

Todd Stone LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Leader of the Offi cial Opposition ......................................................................................................................................................Adrian Dix Deputy Speaker .............................................................................................................................................................................Douglas Horne Assistant Deputy Speaker ...............................................................................................................................................................

Raj Chouhan Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole ....................................................................................................................................... Marc Dalton Clerk of the Legislative Assembly ................................................................................................................................................... Craig James Deputy Clerk and Clerk of Committees .................................................................................................................................

Kate Ryan-Lloyd Sessional Law Clerk ...................................................................................................................................................Roderick MacArthur, QC Clerk Consultant ..............................................................................................................................................E. George MacMinn, OBC, QC Sergeant-at-Arms ................................................................................................................................................................................. Gary Lenz

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS Anton, Hon. Suzanne (BC Liberal) .............................. Vancouver-Fraserview Ashton, Dan (BC Liberal).....................................................................Penticton Austin, Robin (NDP) ................................................................................ Skeena Bains, Harry (NDP) ....................................................................Surrey-Newton Barnett, Donna (BC Liberal) ............................................... Cariboo-Chilcotin Bennett, Hon.

Bill (BC Liberal) ...................................................Kootenay East Bernier, Mike (BC Liberal) ................................................... Peace River South Bing, Dr. Doug (BC Liberal) ................................ Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Bond, Hon. Shirley (BC Liberal) ........................... Prince George–Valemount Cadieux, Hon. Stephanie (BC Liberal) ................................Surrey-Cloverdale Chandra Herbert, Spencer (NDP) .................................Vancouver–West End Chouhan, Raj (NDP) ...........................................................

Burnaby-Edmonds Coleman, Hon. Rich (BC Liberal) .......................... Fort Langley–Aldergrove Conroy, Katrine (NDP) .............................................................. Kootenay West Corrigan, Kathy (NDP) ..................................................... Burnaby–Deer Lake Dalton, Marc (BC Liberal) ............................................. Maple Ridge–Mission Darcy, Judy (NDP) ..................................................................New Westminster de Jong, Hon. Michael, QC (BC Liberal) ..............................

Abbotsford West Dix, Adrian (NDP) ............................................................Vancouver-Kingsway Donaldson, Doug (NDP) ......................................................................... Stikine Eby, David (NDP) ..........................................................Vancouver–Point Grey Elmore, Mable (NDP) ................................................... Vancouver-Kensington Farnworth, Mike (NDP) ............................................................ Port Coquitlam Fassbender, Hon. Peter (BC Liberal) ...................................

Surrey-Fleetwood Fleming, Rob (NDP) .......................................................... Victoria–Swan Lake Foster, Eric (BC Liberal) .......................................................Vernon-Monashee Fraser, Scott (NDP) ............................................................Alberni–Pacifi c Rim Gibson, Simon (BC Liberal) ............................................. Abbotsford-Mission Hamilton, Scott (BC Liberal) ...........................................................Delta North Hammell, Sue (NDP) ....................................................

Surrey–Green Timbers Heyman, George (NDP) .................................................... Vancouver-Fairview Hogg, Gordon (BC Liberal) ............................................... Surrey–White Rock Holman, Gary (NDP) .......................................Saanich North and the Islands Horgan, John (NDP) .......................................................................

Juan de Fuca Horne, Douglas (BC Liberal) ..............................Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Hunt, Marvin (BC Liberal) ....................................................Surrey-Panorama Huntington, Vicki (Ind.) ..................................................................Delta South James, Carole (NDP) .........................................................Victoria–Beacon Hill Karagianis, Maurine (NDP) ........................................Esquimalt–Royal Roads Krog, Leonard Eugene (NDP) .............................................................

Nanaimo Kwan, Jenny Wai Ching (NDP) ........................... Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Kyllo, Greg (BC Liberal) ........................................................................ Shuswap Lake, Hon. Dr.

Terry (BC Liberal) ....................Kamloops–North Th ompson Larson, Linda (BC Liberal) .........................................Boundary-Similkameen Lee, Richard T. (BC Liberal) ......................................................Burnaby North Letnick, Norm (BC Liberal) ........................................Kelowna–Lake Country Macdonald, Norm (NDP) ....................................Columbia River–Revelstoke McRae, Hon. Don (BC Liberal) ..................................................

Comox Valley Martin, John (BC Liberal) ..................................................................Chilliwack Morris, Mike (BC Liberal) ..................................... Prince George–Mackenzie Mungall, Michelle (NDP) ..........................................................Nelson-Creston Oakes, Hon. Coralee (BC Liberal) .............................................Cariboo North Pimm, Hon. Pat (BC Liberal) ...............................................Peace River North Plecas, Darryl (BC Liberal) ....................................................Abbotsford South Polak, Hon.

Mary (BC Liberal) .............................................................. Langley Popham, Lana (NDP) ...................................................................Saanich South Ralston, Bruce (NDP) ................................................................ Surrey-Whalley Reid, Hon. Linda (BC Liberal) ..................................................Richmond East Reimer, Linda (BC Liberal) ........................................

Port Moody–Coquitlam Rice, Jennifer (NDP) ........................................................................North Coast Robinson, Selina (NDP) .............................................Coquitlam-Maillardville Routley, Bill (NDP) .................................................................. Cowichan Valley Routley, Doug (NDP) ............................................Nanaimo–North Cowichan Rustad, Hon. John (BC Liberal) ................................................

Nechako Lakes Shin, Jane Jae Kyung (NDP) ...............................................Burnaby-Lougheed Simons, Nicholas (NDP) ................................... Powell River–Sunshine Coast Simpson, Shane (NDP) ..................................................... Vancouver-Hastings Stilwell, Michelle (BC Liberal) ........................................ Parksville-Qualicum Stilwell, Dr. Moira (BC Liberal) ........................................ Vancouver-Langara Stone, Hon. Todd (BC Liberal) .........................

Kamloops–South Th ompson 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 Th omson, Hon. Steve (BC Liberal) .......................................Kelowna-Mission Th ornthwaite, Jane (BC Liberal) ..........................

North Vancouver–Seymour Th roness, Laurie (BC Liberal).................................................Chilliwack-Hope Trevena, Claire (NDP) .................................................................... North Island Virk, Hon. Amrik (BC Liberal) ............................................. Surrey-Tynehead Wat, Hon. Teresa (BC Liberal) .............................................. Richmond Centre Weaver, Dr. Andrew (Ind.) .......................................... Oak Bay–Gordon Head Wilkinson, Hon. Andrew (BC Liberal) ........................ Vancouver-Quilchena Y amamoto, Hon.

Naomi (BC Liberal) ................ North Vancouver–Lonsdale Y ap, John (BC Liberal) ......................................................Richmond-Steveston Vacant ...................................................................................... Westside-Kelowna LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING Abbotsford-Mission ......................................................................Simon Gibson Abbotsford South ............................................................................Darryl Plecas Abbotsford West ...................................................... Hon.

Michael de Jong, QC Alberni–Pacifi c Rim .......................................................................... Scott Fraser Boundary-Similkameen ................................................................ Linda Larson Burnaby–Deer Lake ................................................................... Kathy Corrigan Burnaby-Edmonds .........................................................................

Raj Chouhan Burnaby-Lougheed .............................................................Jane Jae Kyung Shin Burnaby North .............................................................................. Richard T. Lee Cariboo-Chilcotin ........................................................................Donna Barnett Cariboo North .................................................................... Hon. Coralee Oakes Chilliwack .........................................................................................

John Martin Chilliwack-Hope ....................................................................... Laurie Th roness Columbia River–Revelstoke .................................................. Norm Macdonald Comox Valley...........................................................................Hon. Don McRae Coquitlam–Burke Mountain .....................................................Douglas Horne Coquitlam-Maillardville........................................................... Selina Robinson Cowichan Valley ................................................................................

Bill Routley Delta North ..................................................................................Scott Hamilton Delta South ...............................................................................Vicki Huntington Esquimalt–Royal Roads .....................................................Maurine Karagianis Fort Langley–Aldergrove ...................................................Hon. Rich Coleman Fraser-Nicola....................................................................................

Jackie Tegart Juan de Fuca .....................................................................................John Horgan Kamloops–North Th ompson ............................................ Hon. Dr. Terry Lake Kamloops–South Th ompson ..................................................Hon. Todd Stone Kelowna–Lake Country ............................................................... Norm Letnick Kelowna-Mission .............................................................. Hon. Steve Th omson Kootenay East .......................................................................... Hon.

Bill Bennett Kootenay West ............................................................................ Katrine Conroy Langley.......................................................................................Hon. Mary Polak Maple Ridge–Mission ..................................................................... Marc Dalton Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows ........................................................ Dr. Doug Bing Nanaimo ........................................................................... Leonard Eugene Krog Nanaimo–North Cowichan .........................................................

Doug Routley Nechako Lakes ........................................................................ Hon. John Rustad Nelson-Creston ........................................................................Michelle Mungall New Westminster ............................................................................... Judy Darcy North Coast......................................................................................Jennifer Rice North Island .................................................................................. Claire Trevena North Vancouver–Lonsdale ........................................Hon.

Naomi Y amamoto North Vancouver–Seymour ................................................. Jane Th ornthwaite Oak Bay–Gordon Head ...................................................... Dr. Andrew Weaver Parksville-Qualicum .................................................................Michelle Stilwell Peace River North ...................................................................... Hon. Pat Pimm Peace River South ............................................................................Mike Bernier Penticton............................................................................................

Dan Ashton Port Coquitlam ..........................................................................Mike Farnworth Port Moody–Coquitlam ................................................................Linda Reimer Powell River–Sunshine Coast ................................................. Nicholas Simons Prince George–Mackenzie ............................................................. Mike Morris Prince George–Valemount ................................................... Hon. Shirley Bond Richmond Centre ......................................................................Hon.

Teresa Wat Richmond East ..........................................................................Hon. Linda Reid Richmond-Steveston ..............................................................................John Y ap Saanich North and the Islands .................................................... Gary Holman Saanich South ................................................................................

Lana Popham Shuswap ................................................................................................Greg Kyllo Skeena .............................................................................................. Robin Austin Stikine ....................................................................................... Doug Donaldson Surrey-Cloverdale ....................................................... Hon. Stephanie Cadieux Surrey-Fleetwood ........................................................... Hon.

Peter Fassbender Surrey–Green Timbers .................................................................. Sue Hammell Surrey-Newton ................................................................................. Harry Bains Surrey-Panorama ........................................................................... Marvin Hunt Surrey-Tynehead ......................................................................Hon. Amrik Virk Surrey-Whalley..............................................................................

Bruce Ralston Surrey–White Rock ....................................................................... Gordon Hogg Vancouver-Fairview ..................................................................George Heyman Vancouver–False Creek ................................................................... Sam Sullivan Vancouver-Fraserview ......................................................Hon.

Suzanne Anton Vancouver-Hastings ....................................................................Shane Simpson Vancouver-Kensington .................................................................Mable Elmore Vancouver-Kingsway..........................................................................Adrian Dix Vancouver-Langara .................................................................Dr. Moira Stilwell Vancouver–Mount Pleasant .........................................

Jenny Wai Ching Kwan Vancouver–Point Grey .........................................................................David Eby Vancouver-Quilchena ................................................ Hon. Andrew Wilkinson Vancouver–West End ...............................................

Spencer Chandra Herbert Vernon-Monashee ...............................................................................Eric Foster Victoria–Beacon Hill .......................................................................Carole James Victoria–Swan Lake.........................................................................Rob Fleming West Vancouver–Capilano .............................................................

Ralph Sultan West Vancouver–Sea to Sky ..........................................................Jordan Sturdy Westside-Kelowna ......................................................................................Vacant Party Standings: BC Liberal 48; New Democratic 34; Independent 2; Vacant 1

CONTENTS Tuesday, July 2, 2013 Aft ernoon Sitting Page Routine Business Speaker's Statement ......................................................................................................................................................................39 Security incident on legislative precincts Hon. S. Anton A.

Dix Introductions by Members ..........................................................................................................................................................40 Tributes ..........................................................................................................................................................................................40 Joe Easingwood C.

James Introductions by Members ..........................................................................................................................................................40 Tabling Documents ......................................................................................................................................................................41 Offi ce of the Auditor General, annual report, 2012-2013 Offi ce of the Auditor General, service plan, 2013-2014-2015-2016 Statements (Standing Order 25B) ..............................................................................................................................................41 Pacifi c Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences S.

Fraser Trapping in B.C. M. Morris Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo D. Routley Graduates of Agassiz Centre for Education L. Th roness Government action on prevention of human traffi cking M. Elmore Peace Arch Hospital Auxiliary G. Hogg Oral Questions ..............................................................................................................................................................................43 Comments by Premier on northwest transmission line and electricity rates A. Dix Hon. B. Bennett M. Karagianis Northwest transmission line project costs and electricity rates J. Horgan Hon. B.

Bennett Timber Supply Committee recommendations and forest inventory funding N. Macdonald Hon. S. Th omson H. Bains Comments by Liberal candidate and protection of Shawnigan Lake watershed B. Routley Hon. M. Polak Comments by Liberal candidate and paving of road to Zeballos C. Trevena Hon. T. Stone

Orders of the Day Budget Debate (continued) ..........................................................................................................................................................48 M. Farnworth Hon. A.

Wilkinson Tabling Documents ......................................................................................................................................................................56 Offi cial Opposition slide presentation in response to Budget 2013 June update Budget Debate (continued) ..........................................................................................................................................................56 J. Darcy Michelle Stilwell G. Heyman Hon. S. Bond D. Eby L. Th roness L. Krog Hon. M. Polak S. Chandra Herbert L. Larson

TUESDAY , JULY 2, 2013 Th e House met at 1:33 p.m. [Madame Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Prayers. Speaker's Statement SECURITY INCIDENT ON LEGISLATIVE PRECINCTS Madame Speaker: Hon. Members, on Sunday evening I was informed by the Clerk that a threat to the parlia- mentary precincts was planned for July 1. Immediately I authorized the RCMP to continue its investigation here, in collaboration with the Sergeant-at-Arms. Th rough combined eff orts of policing and security agencies, two people were apprehended yesterday in Abbotsford.

On behalf of all Members of the Legislative Assembly, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the Sergeant-at-Arms and his security staff , the RCMP , Victoria city police, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Clerk and others who were involved with this matter throughout the weekend. [1335] As a result of this collaboration among the policing and security agencies, Canada Day celebrations were able to take place yesterday on the front lawn of the people's House and throughout the city of Victoria without any threat to public safety.

It is shocking to think that our parliament, the symbol of representative democracy, has been the potential tar- get of violence. As Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, I say to members of the House, those who work here and the public that I remain vigilant regarding their personal safety and that of these magnifi cent buildings. What has been demonstrated yesterday is that our parliamentary democracy remains vibrant and strong. Th is fi ne institution, in which all members serve, con- tinues to conduct the people's business.

I am proud of our Canadian protective services and the outstanding manner in which they conduct their business on behalf of all citizens in British Columbia. Hon. S. Anton: Th ank you for those remarks. Madame Speaker, I rise today to inform the Legislature of a nation- al security investigation that has resulted in arrests and charges against two individuals. Th ese individuals, both residents of British Columbia, have been charged with conspiring to carry out a terrorist attack.

In fact, it has been reported by the RCMP that they took steps to build explosive devices and place them here on the legislative grounds where crowds were gathering for Canada Day. As Attorney General, I will limit the comments I make today to safeguard the integrity of any prosecution pro- cess that might ultimately arise from this matter. Th e fi le is being managed by federal prosecutors with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.

This matter is of sig- nifi cant concern to British Columbians, and I echo the words earlier today of Premier Clark that we are back to work, undeterred and unafraid, and our parliament stands strong. Th e police conduct their investigations independent of government. As this is a signifi cant matter, I was rightly informed at an appropriate point in the investigation in my role as Attorney General, and I was briefed by the RCMP on Monday, as the investigation was concluding.

Th e RCMP have assured us that the public was never put at actual risk by the conduct of the individuals in question and that there is no continuing risk to public safety arising out of their conduct. In fact, I know the RCMP's primary focus during the investigation was on the safety and protection of the public. Th is was a coordinated multi-agency investigation by the RCMP-led Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams in British Columbia.

These teams include the RCMP , the Canada Border Services Agency, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, our own legislative secur- ity and other law enforcement and security partners at all levels of government. British Columbians can be proud of these organizations and the oft en dangerous work they do to keep us safe. We join together today in thanking the RCMP and other police partners and all of the national security partners for the hard work they have put into Project Souvenir.

And in particular, I would like to thank our own legislative security team for their assistance in the investigation, through you, Madame Speaker, and for what they do every day to keep us safe. Th anks to them, thousands of British Columbians gathered in peace and safety with their families and friends to celebrate the 146th birthday of our wonderful country. A. Dix: I thank the Attorney for her statement.

I know I join with it strongly in expressing the appreciation of the opposition and, I think, of all British Columbians for the work of the RCMP and other law enforcement ser- vices who brought this matter to a close without harm to anyone. I think it's fair to say that violence needs to be op- posed in all its forms. And a safe, generous, open soci- ety requires that all of us speak against and work against violence in all its forms. We also, I think, are reminded today of the importance of an open, robust, participa- tory democracy. Th at is what we are taking

part in today, and that's what we as legislators surely need to encour- age every day. [1340] 39

British Columbia Debates40 Tuesday, July 2, 2013 Th ere have been in my family two signifi cant terrorist acts that aff ected their lives. One was Air India 182, and the other was the bombing that occurred over Lockerbie, Scotland. In both of those cases, the individuals — the victims and their families — did not receive satisfaction from the justice system. But I would say this: that all of them…. What I admire about those people so much is their continued commitment to democratic institutions, to the rule of law, even when, for them, they had reason to feel betrayed.

Th at should inspire us to speak out in favour of free- dom of association, to ensure the continuation of a fair and open society, including our justice system, and to use this as inspiration to work and to support our demo- cracy. Th at's what we need to do. Th at's what I hope we'll do today in our actions, and that's what I hope all of us will work together to do in the future. Introductions by Members S. Hamilton: In the gallery today are two individ- uals from my constituency. I'd like to introduce Kim Kendall and her husband, Isaac Kendall.

Kim is my constituency assistant, and I hope the House will make her welcome. B. Routley: I'm delighted today to have with us here in the House Debra Toporowski, who is the chief constitu- ency assistant for the Cowichan Valley. I would ask that you join me in making her feel welcome. D. Routley: It's my pleasure to welcome three guests to the legislative precinct today. Th e fi rst is Jeff Solomon. Jeff Solomon is one of the initial organizers of the "save the Colliery Dam Park" society.

His partner, Roblyn Hunter, is also an initial or- ganizer of that great eff ort by community members to respond to a challenge to a vital community asset: a park which has been put at peril by the assessment of the dams which create the lakes of that park being assessed at an extreme risk level. Th ey are here today to hear a state- ment. Th ey are here today to bring members' awareness to this issue. Th en it's a great pleasure, too, to welcome to the House Chief Doug White III, Kwulasultun. Kwulasultun is Chief of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

Th e Snuneymuxw First Nation is demanding to be heard in consultation on this issue, when it comes to the planning and implementa- tion of any steps that could aff ect the habitat and the re- sources in their territory. It is my great pleasure to welcome these three people to B.C. Legislature. Hon. S. Bond: On behalf of my colleagues the mem- bers for Prince George–Mackenzie and Nechako Lakes, we're very delighted to welcome two special friends to the gallery today. Charles and Susan Scott are visiting with us. Th ey are signifi cant contributors in our community and our region.

Th ey're here celebrating their 12th wed- ding anniversary and getting a bit of a break, but we're very glad that they were able to join us. I would ask my colleagues in the House to give them a very warm wel- come today. Hon. C. Oakes: It is truly my great privilege today to introduce a longtime colleague and friend of the cham- ber. Mayor Mary Sjostrom is here today in her cap- acity as the president of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, and we'll be meeting with her later today.

I know from many of you who have worked in local gov- ernment that Mary has been a tireless worker on behalf of local government. She sets the bar extremely high. She's a good friend, a strong mentor, and I kindly ask the House to welcome her today. Tributes JOE EASINGWOOD C. James: I rise today to acknowledge the loss of a broadcasting legend in our province in the passing of Joe Easingwood, someone I know that many members in the House have faced.

He was a familiar voice on radio for over 50 years — CJVI fi rst and then CFAX following. [1345] Joe really was a part of our community and, for many of us in greater Victoria, part of our family. He was my very fi rst interview when I ran for school board. It was with Joe Easingwood, and I was warned by people to be ready and prepared because Joe Easingwood was going to take you apart. He was my grandmother's very favourite talk show host, and although she was very proud of me, I have to tell you that I think she felt I really made it when I went on Joe's show.

I think that was probably the time that she felt I'd really made it as a politician. Joe was generous, he was kind, he was curious, and most importantly, particularly for someone who was a talk show host, he loved his audience. I think that's what came across so well. Joe was never one of those individ- uals who had to wait for the calls to come in. Th e calls came in always for Joe, because people had such respect for him. So I would ask the House to recognize and send our condolences and our thoughts to his wife, Dawn, to his family and friends.

He truly will be missed in greater Victoria, missed in the broadcasting world and missed around our province. Introductions by Members Moira Stilwell: I rise today to introduce a guest from my constituency, a friend and small business man,

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, July 2, 2013 41 Narinder Nijjer. Would the House please make him wel- come. M. Elmore: I see a number of familiar faces and friends today. I would especially like to welcome my friend Mary Lee Jetko. It's her fi rst visit here to the Legislature. She has resided in Victoria for a number of years. She's very active in the community, well-known. She is currently the president of the Victoria Filipino-Canadian Seniors Association.

She is an adviser to the Victoria Filipino- Canadian caregivers, immigrant workers and temporary foreign workers, an association that is a great advocate for people and immigrants. I'd also like to off er congratulations. She's newly re- tired, so she has a lot more time to put into her volunteer eff orts. Please make her feel very welcome, and also my other friends from Vancouver. J. Darcy: It gives me great pleasure to welcome some very dear friends of mine to the House: Dr. Margaret McGregor, a very strong health care advocate; Dr.

John Price, a prof at the University of Victoria; Sharon Saunders, long-time health care advocate and health and safety advocate; and Bill Saunders — a long history of standing up for working people in the community. Please, I ask my fellow members to join me in making them feel welcome in this House. Tabling Documents Madame Speaker: I have the honour to present the Auditor General's annual report, 2012-2013, and 2013- 2014–2015-2016 service plan. Statements (Standing Order 25B) PACIFIC COAST UNIVERSITY FOR WORKPLACE HEALTH SCIENCES S.

Fraser: In 2007 one of the only bipartisan or non- partisan initiatives that I have ever been involved with in this Legislative Assembly was undertaken. A private bill was brought to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Th e Pacifi c Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences Act was unanimously supported by all members of this House, both sides of this House. We now have a beautiful new building and campus in place in Port Alberni. Th e world has taken notice.

Eighteen countries have adopted the principles and practices of disability manage- ment being developed through the university and estab- lished by the National Institute of Disability Management and Research, also known as NIDMAR. On June 10 at the new Port Alberni campus, Secretary General Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, on behalf of the International Social Security Association, or ISSA, signed a memorandum of understanding with Wolfgang Zimmerman, representing NIDMAR and the Pacific Coast University. I was honoured to attend and witness this historic event.

Th e Pacifi c Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island is now recognized as the centre of excellence by the United Nations for disability management. Th e strategies of dis- ability management developed here in British Columbia are playing a pivotal role in the development of the global best practices guidelines being released at the World Social Security congress in Doha, Qatar, this fall in November.

Such is the social and economic value of disability management that the Conference Board of Canada will also be hosting two major national confer- ences this fall. [1350] My hope is that the province of British Columbia will join the world community and embrace these strategies here in B.C. I look forward to working closely with the new minister responsible for Advanced Education in a non-partisan manner to help make that happen. TRAPPING IN B.C. M. Morris: I'd like to introduce this House to British Columbia's oldest profession — that of trapping.

Y esterday was Canada's 146th birthday, and this profes- sion was the cornerstone to the economic development of this country. Today trapping still contributes millions of dollars an- nually to the British Columbia economy. In 1926 British Columbia was one of the first jurisdictions in North America to establish a registered trapline tenure system, a system that is still envied by many jurisdictions both in Canada and North America.

Th ere are approximately 2,800 registered traplines in British Columbia today, providing the owner of the regis- tered trapline an area-based tenure in which to harvest his fur and sell wild fur. Canadian wild fur is well re- garded around the world for the professional standards that we have developed in fur handling and pelt prepara- tion, and our Canadian fur auction houses attract thou- sands of buyers from around the world. Th e British Columbia Trappers Association was estab- lished in 1945 and has worked tirelessly every year on be- half of B.C. trappers. Today the B.C.

Trappers Association represents around 1,000 trappers in British Columbia. Th e B.C. Trappers Association plays an integral role, in partnership with the province of British Columbia, en- suring that all trappers are compliant and using only approved trapping devices as stipulated under the agree- ment on international humane trapping standards, which Canada became signatory to in the 1990s. Th e B.C. Trappers Association administers and deliv-

British Columbia Debates42 Tuesday, July 2, 2013 ers the basic trapper education program, mandatory for any person in British Columbia who wants to trap. Th e B.C. Trappers Association has also developed a wildlife confl ict operators training certifi cation program to train fi rst responders on how to respond to wildlife in confl ict with an urban environment. B.C. trappers are stewards of the land and play a key role in British Columbia's wildlife management. COLLIERY DAM PARK IN NANAIMO D. Routley: I rise today to tell the House about a sig- nifi cant problem facing the city of Nanaimo and its in- habitants.

I referred to it earlier. It's the problem of the Colliery Dam Park. The problem is that these dams are supporting a beautiful park that the community values for recrea- tional and historical signifi cance. Th e dam safety branch of this government has rated those dams as some of the most at risk in the province. Th e city council of Nanaimo responded appropriately and made plans to remove the dams to mitigate and eliminate that risk. But the com- munity responded. What makes a community?

We often don't know until that thing or that element is put at risk, and in this case a hastily organized meeting of only fi ve days no- tice brought over 600 signatures on a petition, the sig- natures of the very people who would be threatened by the inundation. Our First Nation, the Snuneymuxw First Nation, were being consulted, but aft er this response the city council reversed their decision and has now moved to replace the dams. Th e city and its inhabitants are at odds over this issue.

Th e province can play a signifi cant and positive role here by stepping in and off ering expertise in planning and facilitating the replacement of these dams. Risk- mitigating steps can be taken — dewatering the dams. Other steps can be taken to protect the community — an evacuation plan. Th ere are fi sheries issues at stake. First Nations consultation issues are at stake. I'm calling on the provincial government to step for- ward and help the city of Nanaimo, help the Snuneymuxw First Nation and help my constituents save a park that they highly value.

Th is may be the last opportunity for a constructive and collaborative approach to this problem. So I make a plea to the provincial government to be a positive participant in the discussions around this issue. GRADUATES OF AGASSIZ CENTRE FOR EDUCATION L. Th roness: Two weeks ago I had the privilege of at- tending an unusual high school graduation in my riding at the Agassiz Centre for Education, a public school for alternative education.

Twelve adult Dogwood certifi cates were granted. [1355] I want to congratulate the following graduates: Austin Belanger, Cody Feil, Patricia Geerts, Tyler Jacobi, Tessa Kucheran, Jackie North, Dwayne Reynolds, Tara Ryder and Amanda Sevigny. Th ree other students were deserv- ing of special mention: Maureen Baker, Adriana Peters and Kay Eddison stand out because they are seniors. Maureen is 76, Adriana is 80, and Kay is 89 years old. Kay Eddison, in particular, is the oldest person ever to graduate from a high school in B.C. and perhaps in all of Canada.

Th ese three women joined a program for seniors that began just this year. Why did they do it? As Maureen Baker said: "Because I can." Th ey inspired other students by doing the same work as them and encouraging the younger ones to stick with the program. Th ese success- ful seniors showed younger people that graduating from high school is both important and possible, and they are an example to all of us that learning is a lifelong pursuit.

Th anks to the Royal Canadian Legion in Agassiz for hosting this heartwarming event, and congratulations to administrator Sandy Balascak, teacher Ray Steigvilas and their team for giving seniors a chance to achieve. GOVERNMENT ACTION ON PREVENTION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING M. Elmore: On June 26 the employer of Leticia Sarmiento, a Filipino domestic worker, became the fi rst person in this province to be found guilty on charges of human traffi cking by the B.C. Supreme Court. Human traffi cking is oft en referred to as a modern form of slavery, and Canada is identifi ed as a transit and destination point for it.

Data shows that 80 percent of those traffi cked are for sexual exploitation, and 20 percent for forced labour. Among those most vulnerable to becoming victims are migrant workers, especially women, that come under the low-skilled category. Many cases of human traffi ck- ing, especially for forced labour, are underreported and now increasing because of the expansion of the exploit- ive temporary foreign worker program.

Th e temporary foreign worker program creates con- ditions that give rise to human traffi cking because it ties employees to their employers, has weak regulations and weak enforcement of any measures designed to as- sist temporary foreign workers. Th ere are an estimated 70,000 temporary foreign workers now in B.C. and in ur- gent need for services to help them, especially for those who are victims of human traffi cking. Th e B.C. offi ce to combat traffi cking in persons, es- tablished in 2007, was recognized internationally for the great work it was doing.

It had a dedicated 24-hour hot- line and website to assist victims of human traffi cking. Both these services were dismantled when its budget was cut and staff reduced. The B.C. government must provide adequate sup-

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, July 2, 2013 43 port for services for victims and their advocates. More research needs to be done to understand traffi cking for forced labour. It's incumbent…. I also call on the provin- cial government to urge the federal government to ratify the UN convention on migrant workers' rights to help address traffi cking for forced labour. To conclude, I believe that the recent human traffi ck- ing conviction in B.C. is an alarm bell alerting us to the urgent nature of this problem. I call on the B.C. govern- ment and all of us to listen and respond. PEACE ARCH HOSPITAL AUXILIARY G.

Hogg: Th ere are times and events in the course of our lives and the lives of our communities that are sem- inal, that serve to shape and to defi ne our futures. For British Columbia, one such event was the building of the railroad that connected us as a country and helped to de- fi ne us as Canadians. One such event for our community was the connec- tion drawn when a meeting of women was held in 1948. Th ey began holding meetings because of the need for a community hospital. Th e fi rst two resident doctors, Dr. Blades and Dr. Hogg, had arrived in 1946. Th e closest hospital was in New Westminster.

Th e women held bake sales and started a superfl uity shop, and they galvanized the community behind their vision. Th eir eff orts resulted in a hospital opening in 1954, and the Peace Arch auxiliary is still going strong. Today there are over 400 members, and they have raised over $11 million for the hospital. Th ey continue to serve and to connect our community. Th ey created an identity which resulted in the creation of a city.

But their greatest gift has been the gift of character — a character of giving and caring — and 65 years later that spirit and commitment, which fostered our nature and our growth, continue to serve and to guide us. Congratulations and thanks to past and present mem- bers of the Peace Arch Hospital Auxiliary. Y ou have positively shaped and defi ned our community and our future. I ask this House to join me in wishing all the very best on the 65th anniversary to the Peace Arch Hospital Auxiliary. [1400] Oral Questions COMMENTS BY PREMIER ON NORTHWEST TRANSMISSION LINE AND ELECTRICITY RATES A.

Dix: Over the weekend the Energy Minister fi nally admitted that B.C. Hydro customers would be facing sig- nifi cant rate increases. Can the minister please tell this House by how much and when B.C. Hydro customers will fi nd the bad news from him? Hon. B. Bennett: No one should be surprised, cer- tainly here, that there is upward pressure on rates at B.C. Hydro. I don't think that that's a surprise. It's been discussed, certainly, here in this House many times. It's been covered by the media over the past several years. Its roots, frankly, are in the 1990s, when all investment in B.C.

Hydro assets was deferred at that time. But I can say to the member that certainly my commitment as a minister and the commitment of everyone on this side of the House will be that we will keep those rates down as low, and constrict the increase, as much as possible. Madame Speaker: Vancouver-Kingsway on a supple- mental. A. Dix: Well, really, those are extraordinary remarks from a minister who expressed surprise that there had been a $342 million overrun on the northwest transmis- sion line. Th is weekend the minister said that everyone in government recognizes that rates are going to have to go up.

Y et the Premier on AM 1150 in Kelowna told the people of Kelowna that Liberal mismanagement of B.C. Hydro, including the said transmission line overrun and the costs associated with this, "won't go onto ratepayers." Can the Energy Minister tell this House who's right? Him? Everyone in government? Or the Premier? Hon. B. Bennett: Well, the Leader of the Opposition is in for a rough ride if he thinks he's going to somehow see disagreement between myself and the Premier of this province. He might want to look around over there on his side of the House to look for that.

Y ou're not going to see it on this side of the House. Th e leader of our party and the Premier of this prov- ince has made it very clear, and you can look on the web- site and see what my letter of instruction, my mandate letter, states. My leader has said: "One of your jobs is to make sure that Hydro rates don't increase any more than is absolutely necessary." And we agree. Everyone on this side of the House agrees with that. Th at's my mandate, and that's what I will be doing my very best to do. Madame Speaker: Vancouver-Kingsway on a further supplemental. A.

Dix: Well, far be it from me to suggest that there would ever be any disagreement between the Minister of Energy and a Premier. But let me just say to the min- ister that the Premier's remarks were extraordinary. Th e Premier was suggesting that there is a massive over- run and that that won't be borne by ratepayers, when she knows and her chief of staff , who was chair of the board of B.C. Hydro when this was going on, knows…. Everyone knows — at least, aft er the election they know — that large rate increases are coming. Does the minister agree with the Premier, who told

British Columbia Debates44 Tuesday, July 2, 2013 the people of Kelowna before the by-election that they won't have any impact on their rates and other rates in British Columbia? Does he agree with the Premier that the overrun on the northwest transmission line will not aff ect rates? Hon. B. Bennett: I think it's important for members on both sides of the House and perhaps more import- antly for the public to know that B.C. Hydro has a three- year capital plan and that my advice from B.C. Hydro…. [1405] I met this morning with the chair of the board of B.C. Hydro and also the president and CEO of B.C. Hydro.

Th eir advice to me is that they will in fact meet their three-year capital plan targets. Obviously, the northwest transmission line is over budget, and as I said in this House last week, we're not happy about that. How could you be happy about a cost overrun of that size and scope? But I also think it's fair to say that B.C. Hydro has re- cently completed several projects in the province — ma- jor projects — that have come in under budget, which I think is good news.

Overall, I think what the public cares about is whether or not they are going to be able to make their three-year capital budget, and my advice is that they are. M. Karagianis: Christy Clark said: "We are going to be able to make sure that the new ratepayers, Red Chris Mine and some of the big operators in the northwest that will be served by the line, will be picking up the addition- al costs of this." Well, the minister knows that the tariff agreements on this were made last November, and that was about $200 million ago.

Th e reality is that the Premier is out telling the voters in Kelowna that Imperial mines will be picking up this tab. But I'd like the minister to tell us the truth in here. He knows that the ratepayers of British Columbia will be picking up the tab. How much and when? Hon. B. Bennett: To the point that somehow or other the tariff that was created by B.C. Hydro will not be ca- pable of picking up the total cost of this project, that is not correct. Th e Energy critic stated that in the House last week, and I actually forgot to correct him on that. Th at is not correct.

Th e tariff was developed in such a way that it will cover the complete capital costs of this project. I know, and all members of this side of the House know, that the NDP do not support the northwest transmis- sion line project. Th ey have said so. Th ey don't support it. Th e Energy critic has said that there is no business case. Th e Energy critic actually has taken off ence at the fact that a mining company and a clean energy company may actually make a profi t with their businesses. I have the quotes here. "On that basis, somebody might make a profi t.

We shouldn't build this transmission line." Th e point is that this line will open up about 25 to 30 percent of British Columbia that currently does not have electricity. We're going to get rid of all those…. M. Karagianis: Well, you know, it's interesting. Last week in here the Energy Minister appeared to have less information than the morning newspaper. Th ese are out- rageous cost overruns on the northwest transmission line. Let me just ask another question. Given the fact that Brad Bennett sits on the B.C.

Hydro board committee that oversees capital projects and spent the entire elec- tion sitting right next to the Premier on the B.C. Liberal debt bus, it seems incredible that this information was a surprise to anybody. Perhaps the minister can tell us: was the note that Christy Clark passed to him last week in this House…? Did that contain an explanation that she had received from Mr. Bennett as they rode around making false promises on the B.C. debt? Hon. B. Bennett: Th ere are several questions in the question, hon. Speaker, and I don't think you would al- low me enough time to try to answer all of them.

I can assure the member…. Th e member is asking…. And it's a fair enough question. I think it's important for me to answer the most important part of her question, which is: when did government know about the cost overrun for the northwest transmission line? I don't remember the date. I've got it written down somewhere, but it was a week or maybe ten days ago. I got a call from B.C. Hydro as minister, and they let me know about it. Th ey called me on a Sunday.

For my col- leagues here, they found out when the budget was an- nounced last week. [1410] Is that satisfactory to this government, to have that kind of a surprise? No, that isn't satisfactory to this gov- ernment. Th at's why the board chair and the president and CEO were over here today. I can say that we have some initiatives afoot that I think will improve com- munications between the major shareholder, or the only shareholder — the government of B.C. — and B.C. Hydro. But again, this side of the House says yes to oppor- tunity.

Th is side of the House believes that the north- west transmission line is not only going to open up the northwest part of the province but is going to benefi t all of British Columbia. Th e best mining opportunities that we have for the future in this province are in the north- west. Some of the best clean energy opportunities that we have in this province are in the northwest, and none of that opportunity is possible to bring to fruition un- less you have electricity up Highway 37. We believe in it. Y ou don't.

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, July 2, 2013 45 NORTHWEST TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT COSTS AND ELECTRICITY RATES J. Horgan: Again I have to marvel at the minister's precision: "I learned about it maybe seven, eight, ten days ago — somewhere in that range." Th at's the type of precision that the ratepayers of B.C. Hydro want to hear when you're throwing around hundred-million-dollar bills as if it was, again, Monopoly money, not their hard- earned dollars. Now, I appreciate that there are a number of people involved in B.C. Hydro that are now involved in govern- ment.

We have, of course, Dan Doyle, the chief of staff to the Premier, a former chair of the board for a number of years. Larry Blain, the former CEO of Partnerships B.C., is also on the board, a good friend of the B.C. Liberal Party. So let's focus in on Mr. Blain and the role of Partnerships B.C., if we could. Is it true that interference by Partnerships B.C. to try and fi nd a way to give the pri- vate sector more ratepayer money, more public wealth transferred to private hands…? Is it true that Mr. Blain and his Partnerships B.C. participation drove the cost up even further than it would have otherwise had to be?

Hon. B. Bennett: Well, I think the problem with the northwest transmission line is not too much private sec- tor principal but not enough private sector principal, and it answers very specifi cally the member's question. Th e answer is: absolutely not. It's a ridiculous assertion. In fact, AltaGas, private sector — big, bad private sector — probably make a profi t. Well, they're taking $180 million of that profi t, and they're putting that into the capital cost of the northwest transmission line. Th e federal govern- ment is also investing $130 million into the northwest transmission line.

As I've said before, we have a tariff that has been de- veloped that will ultimately pay the full capital cost for this line, and it will come from industrial users. It will come from Red Chris. It will come from the AltaGas pro- ject at Forrest Kerr. It will come from the other mining projects that open up. I've heard the Energy critic say: "Well, you know, these mines are cancelled, and there's no mining that's going to take place up there." Th at's true if you don't have elec- tricity, hon. Speaker. Again, this side of the House believes in this pro- ject.

We believe it's in the best interests of all British Columbians to build the northwest transmission line. We regret that we've gone over in terms of the cost. I'm go- ing to continue to say that. I don't like it. We don't like it on this side of the House, but we're going to take some initiatives to fi x what caused that. J. Horgan: We on this side of the House would have some sympathy for the minister's regret if his govern- ment hadn't appointed every single member of the board for the past 12 years. We would have some sympathy for that position if the B.C. Liberals hadn't been driving B.C.

Hydro into bankruptcy for the past 12 years. Th e minister makes reference to AltaGas putting for- ward a contribution, a generous contribution, to the com- pletion of the line. Th at was aft er B.C. Hydro, directed by the B.C. Liberals, signed a 60-year private power agree- ment with AltaGas — pay it forward. [1415] Pay it forward, hon. Speaker: "Y ou give me a 60-year deal at this much, at $120 a megawatt hour, when the market price is $40." Th at's B.C. Liberal math. And at the end of the day the people who will pick up the bill are the taxpayers of British Columbia.

When will they know how bad it's going to be? Hon. B. Bennett: Well, I really don't know wheth- er the Energy critic has been north of Prince George. I know his leader hasn't. If you go north of Prince George and you take a look at the opportunity in the northwest for us to create jobs or have jobs created…. Government can't create jobs; businesses create jobs. But government can make investments that will facilitate the generation of investment and job creation. Th at's what this is about.

When all is said and done, this power line is going to open up thousands and thousands of square miles of re- source-rich territory. Now, I honestly don't understand why the NDP is opposed to this. I really don't. Th ey have members in the area. Th ere is the highest unemployment in the province in the northwest. Th is project is going to help — maybe that's why they're against it — our govern- ment achieve its objectives through the jobs plan. It's going to help our government train people in the northwest, primarily First Nations people.

I don't know what the opposition would have against training First Nations people to work in mines and in clean energy projects and in LNG. Th is is an important component of developing the economy in British Columbia and meet- ing our targets under the jobs plan. TIMBER SUPPLY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS AND FOREST INVENTORY FUNDING N. Macdonald: On May 16 of last year the all-party Special Committee on Timber Supply was struck, and hundreds of thousands were spent in an intense and ex- pensive consultation. Th e recommendations from the committee were made with an expectation of action.

But not only were these recommendations ignored; the budget that was presented again in the House cuts in exactly the areas where the committee said that invest- ments were needed — a $35 million cut in inventory, in tree planting, in community and First Nations consul- tation.

British Columbia Debates46 Tuesday, July 2, 2013 So the question for the minister is: why does govern- ment have these expensive and ultimately phony exer- cises, when recommendations are going to ultimately be ignored anyway? Hon. S. Th omson: Again, I want to recognize the very important work that the mid-term timber supply com- mittee did last year — and I've commented on this before in the House — and to thank them for the work that they did and the time they took out of the summer to provide those recommendations. Th e government has responded with the action plan in response to all of those recommendations.

We are mov- ing forward on those recommendations. Th at's why we've announced a ten-year, $10-million-per-year inventory plan, to do the important inventory work that's required. Th is is now the right time to do that. Now that we have seen the mountain pine beetle im- pact start to run its course, now is the time to do that in- ventory work. Th at is why we have seen a $900 million investment in the industry over the last two years. Th at is why we are seeing billions of dollars of increased export activity in the industry. Th at's why we saw 3,000 new jobs in the industry last year.

Th e forest industry is a sunrise industry — not a sunset industry — and is one that is here to stay in communities all across British Columbia. Madame Speaker: Columbia River–Revelstoke on a supplemental. N. Macdonald: Well, it's only a sunrise industry if you invest in the land. It's only going to have a future if you invest in the land, and the government is not doing this. Th e government is making a conscious choice to cut $35 million in the areas that we said need to have investment. Th at's what the committee said. We had four B.C. Liberals, three NDP; there was a unanimous agreement.

Now, the minister talks and puts out fi gures such as $10 million for inventory. Let's talk of what forest profes- sionals say is needed: $15 million to get accurate inven- tory. What did the NDP spend in the '90s, if you want to talk about the '90s? On average, $21 million to get accur- ate inventory information. [1420] What the minister has done is change the parameters for accurate information and moved it from ten years out to 35 years out, so the inventory information on over three-quarters of this province is 35 years old.

It is said again and again that you cannot plan properly with that sort of information. Th e question to the minister: why do you have these expensive consultation processes, where 650 people come and give recommendations — you fl y us around in helicopters; we do all of that work; we give you recom- mendations — and on each and every one of them, they are ignored? Why do you do it? Hon. S. Th omson: Again, as we have announced, a ten-year, $10-million-per-year inventory program.

Th is is a typical kind of response from the members opposite when they say that just because you spent that money in the past, that's what you should be spending now. To go back and say that because we spent that money there is exactly what you should be spending now…. Th at is why you have the situation where they were proposing con- tinued defi cit budgeting — because that's the approach they take to budgeting. Th e issue is that the inventory plan recognizes new technology, new approaches to inventory — $10 million per year over ten years.

Th at will get the critical inventory work done that we need to do to ensure that we make in- formed forest management decisions in the future. H. Bains: If the minister had all the answers, why set up that committee and spend hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars? We went around the province and heard from 650 presenters. Citizens from all across the province came and made presentations orally, and many of them left detailed submissions in writing. Not a sin- gle presenter suggested there should be less investment in forest health — not a single person. Y et what we see in this budget is a $35 million cut.

My question to the minister is this. Why did the Liberals spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on this public relations exercise when they never had any inten- tion of doing the needed work to adjust the forest health? Hon. S. Th omson: Again, I want to recognize the im- portant work the committee did. It was very important work, important recommendations that were brought forward. We have looked at all of the recommendations. We have provided a response to those recommendations, an action plan that deals with all of the recommendations in the plan.

We are moving forward on those recommen- dations, and we are making new investments that address those recommendations new — investments in inventory. We continue to focus on forest health. We have looked ahead and recognized that there will be additional dol- lars required in silviculture. Th at is provided for in our platform commitments.

We will continue to make the investments in the indus- try to ensure that we make good, informed management decisions on the land base and that we continue to see growth in employment, that we continue to see new in- vestment in the industry — $900 million in investment in the last two years, 3,000 new jobs, export market growth based on diversifi cation of market. We will continue to ensure that the fundamentals for this industry are sound and that they will continue to make an important economic contribution to British Columbia.

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, July 2, 2013 47 H. Bains: What we're talking about is the future of our industry. We are talking about restoring our forests so that they will be productive for generations to come, which this government and this minister don't realize. Th at's why all those presenters came. Th at's why the com- mittee members toured the province — 18 communities, travelling in cars, planes, even renting helicopters.

None of those people — not the licensees, not the contractors, not First Nations — thought they were participating in a Liberal public relations exercise. [1425] Why did the minister set up this committee if he knew his government had no intention of following through on its recommendations? Hon. S. Th omson: Th e committee, as everybody in the House knows, was set up to address a very critical situa- tion through the mountain pine beetle area — commun- ities from Merritt and Kamloops all the way through the mountain pine beetle area.

It was important work that the committee did, under the leadership of the member for Nechako Lakes and the co-chairmanship of the member for Columbia River–Revelstoke. Important recommendations were brought forward. As I said in my previous responses, we are addressing those recommendations. We are providing additional re- sources for inventory. We are planting more trees in the coming year than we have in previous years — 50 percent more trees being planted in 2013 than 2012.

We will continue to make sure that we respond to the recommendations and to make sure that in doing that, the forest industry contributes to ensuring that we have a balanced budget here in British Columbia. COMMENTS BY LIBERAL CANDIDATE AND PROTECTION OF SHAWNIGAN LAKE W ATERSHED B. Routley: Before the election the B.C.

Liberal can- didate for the Cowichan Valley, Steve Housser, said this about a plan to dump 100,000 tonnes of contaminated soil annually into the Shawnigan Lake watershed: "Not only is the site above a major aquifer that supplies drink- ing water; it is also right beside a stream that fl ows direct- ly into the Shawnigan Lake. Th is is lunacy," he declared. "It is incomprehensible to me that a bureaucrat in the Ministry of Environment could authorize such a poten- tially poisonous travesty." My question is to the Minister of Environment. Do you agree with the Liberal candidate's assessment? Hon. M.

Polak: There is no question that when it comes to the development of our natural resources or dealing with hazardous materials, these can all become very emotional issues, especially in a province like British Columbia where people care so deeply about the environ- ment around them. On both sides of this House we care deeply about our environment in British Columbia. What I can assure this House of is that our govern- ment believes in depending on expert advice and, most importantly, ensuring that there is a proper process fol- lowed when we make decisions.

In this case, a statutory decision-maker — not the minister — will pore over the 300 or more submissions that were received and will re- turn a decision that is free from political interference, un- like some of the examples we've seen on the other side. Madame Speaker: Th e member for Cowichan Valley on a supplemental. B. Routley: Right after the election Steve Housser landed a cushy job as manager of strategic planning, working out of the Liberal spin-doctor shop. Maybe that's why he has been so quiet about this toxic waste dump since the election.

Will the Minister of Environment ensure the protec- tion of the Shawnigan Lake watershed, as was promised during the election by their candidate turned communi- cation adviser? Hon. M. Polak: I can assure this House that we will make a decision based on the statutory decision-maker outlining their reasons. They will provide that deci- sion to the people of British Columbia, to the people of Shawnigan Lake. I can confi rm to this House that that will not be inter- fered with by the minister.

In fact, I can assure this House that we will not be pulling a sudden decision out of our hat that the rest of our team doesn't know anything about. [1430] COMMENTS BY LIBERAL CANDIDATE AND PAVING OF ROAD TO ZEBALLOS C. Trevena: Like Mr. Housser, the North Island Liberal candidate during the election, Nick Facey, now has one of the Liberal's highly paid political appointments. He's chief of staff to the Minister of Health. But during the election he promised that the 45-kilometre gravel road to Zeballos would be paved by the Liberal government.

So I wondered if the Minister of Transportation or the Minister of Forests could answer this simple question. Will Zeballos get that paved road promised by Mr. Facey, or were all the funds promised used on a jobs plan for failed Liberal candidates? Hon. T. Stone: I will thank the member again for the same question that I took on notice last week. We'll start off by making it very clear that safety on our high- ways is the number one priority across British Columbia. Zeballos is approximately 40 kilometres from Highway 19. I'm certain the member probably knows every kilo-

British Columbia Debates48 Tuesday, July 2, 2013 metre of that road. Th e fi rst 35 kilometres are a gravel Forest Service road under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources. Th e last 4½ kilometres are under the jurisdiction of our ministry, with the fi rst 3.4 kilo- metres being gravel and the last 1.1 kilometres through the community of Zeballos being paved. I will confi rm for the hon. member that at this point in time there are no plans to pave this road to Zeballos. Orders of the Day Hon. M. de Jong: I call continued debate on the budget. Budget Debate (continued) M.

Farnworth: I appreciated that last answer from the minister, because I think it just about sums up the state of this budget, as well as this government, which is: say one thing before an election and something else aft er the election. Th e government tabled a budget in February, a budget which was not balanced, which resulted in cuts to im- portant areas of programming that British Columbians depend on not only today but for the future and long- term well-being of our economy — skills training being one of them.

Th e Minister of Finance stood in this House and gave us a fi nancial update which basically reintroduced the same budget but with both much tighter forecasts on the revenue side and interesting forecasts on the debt side, particularly aft er we had witnessed an election campaign where Debt-free B.C. seemed to be the main slogan of the governing party. Budgets are important because as much as they are fi nancial documents, they're also indicative of the eco- nomic situation facing the province and speak to the gov- ernment's attempts to improve or manage the economy here in the province of British Columbia.

Th e minister, as I congratulate him on the budget up- date today, took a new and innovative approach to help make the government's case around the numbers in the budget by the use of slides and a media presentation. Th ose fi gures and facts within the budget I think were informative to this House.

But I also think it's important they did not tell the whole story to this House. [1435] I think it's important that on this side of the House we also take the opportunity, through Budget Update 2013, in our response from the opposition, to be able to explain some of the key and important points about this budget to British Columbians that I think the government neg- lected to comment on, or if they did, it was in a much more cursory examination than they deserved.

With that, I am ready to start the budget update re- sponse, and it's nice to see the technology is, in fact, working. [Slide presentation begins.] Hon. Speaker, a key part of the government's fi nancial documents we're taking was to improve the economy. In fact, in the run-up to the election the government spent tens of millions of dollars touting how great things were here in B.C., that their jobs plan was a key component of the economic situation in British Columbia, and the budget was a key part of that.

Well, I think it's important that we look at job growth since the B.C. jobs plan was launched, and it says some very, very interesting fi gures. Since September 2011, when the jobs plan was launched in this province by Premier Christy Clark, B.C. is the only province to have a net loss of private sector jobs over the past 20 months. J. Kwan: How many? M. Farnworth: My colleague from Vancouver–Mount Pleasant asks: "How many?" I have to tell her that it is not a good number. It's 31,300 fewer jobs than in September 2011. It's the worst record in the country for private sec- tor job growth.

I see some members on the other side smiling. Th ese are facts. Th ese are Statistics Canada facts, not facts that occurred in a factory campaign but Statistics Canada facts. It's important to keep that in mind. Between April and May B.C. continued to lose jobs, while there were large job gains across the country. So this fiscal framework tabled by the government takes place in a context of 31,000 fewer private sec- tor jobs at the same time as other provinces — Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba….

Ontario, which the govern- ment oft en likes to point to as having a terrible fi scal situ- ation, and we do not want to emulate them in any way, shape or form, has an increase of 106,000 jobs; Quebec as well; even the Maritimes. Th e government trumpets its jobs and growth record. So private sector jobs have been lost, but let's look at some other sectors of the economy. Forestry. We had questions in question period today around forestry.

A key component of forestry and the forest economy in this province is having an understand- ing of the land base, is having an understanding of the inventory — the types of trees that you have, the age of those trees, the health of those trees, the species of those trees — and what the impact of issues such as the pine beetle, for example, has been on the health of the forest. It requires money to be able to assess that. Y ou would think that in an industry that has been of such historic importance to this province, that would be

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, July 2, 2013 49 refl ected in the budget. Th e sad fact is it's not refl ected in the budget. Maybe that's one of the reasons why, when you look at since 2001, we have lost more than 30,000 for- estry jobs in British Columbia — 30,000 forestry jobs in British Columbia — most of them in smaller commun- ities on the coast and in the Interior. Th e lack of attention to that into this budget, in terms of the forest industry's health, does not speak well to the long-term health of the forest industry in British Columbia — not short term but long term.

Th ose are the kinds of decisions that we were looking to see in this budget, and they're not there. In construction, since 2008, when construction activ- ity in this province peaked, the province has lost 37,400 construction jobs in British Columbia. Construction is not at the peak that it was in 2008. Again, that's a cause for concern, a great deal of concern. [1440] What's been part of the eff ect of this? Well, again, in the run-up to the election campaign and in the pre-election talk around the budget that was tabled in February: "Everything is fi ne. We're the best place in North America.

We're standing tall." Well, those numbers paint a diff er- ent picture. But there's more. Th ere are more slides that I think people need to see… An Hon. Member: Show. M. Farnworth: …and my colleague the Leader of Her Majesty's Offi cial Opposition asks me to show. I think one of the ones that we need to look at is: are people coming to British Columbia, or are they leaving British Columbia? What's really fascinating is that since 2011, when Premier Christy Clark became leader of the B.C.

Liberal Party and Premier of British Columbia, some 10,388 British Columbians have left this province for other parts of the country, a net loss for nine straight quarters in a row — people leaving this province for greener pastures. To use the words of the Premier, fam- ilies being torn apart while people leave for greener pas- tures. Middle-class families are leaving this province be- cause they're being squeezed. Th ey're being squeezed because private sector jobs are down. Th ey're having to leave the province to fi nd work.

Despite aft er 12 years of power and a jobs plan on which millions of dollars were spent being advertised and budget aft er budget which was trumpeted as, "Th ings are great in this province," the rhetoric around the budget is not based in the reality that people in this province are seeing. Private sector jobs down. Unaff ordability. Th e most expensive housing in the country. Fee increase aft er fee increase aft er fee increase, whether it's MSP , tuition fees, hydro fees. As we heard today in question period, hydro fees are going to be going up. Is that mentioned in the budget? No, it's not.

Was it mentioned in the campaign? No, it was not. Prior to the campaign the previous Minister of Energy said: "We're going to make sure that it's 3 percent and that's it. If we have to tell the Utilities Commission to bring in…. Y ou name it. Th ere'll be no unaff ordable hy- dro increases taking place." Th at was before the election. What's happened aft er the election? Hundreds of mil- lions of dollars of cost overruns on the northwest trans- mission project, the sorry state of the deferral accounts coming home to roost and the long-term cost to B.C. Hydro that they're going to commit Hydro to.

Who picks up that cost? Is it the government? No. Honest, hard-working, taxpaying, middle-class, work- ing-class British Columbians across the province have to pick up that cost. J. Kwan: Th e Premier's campaign in Kelowna. What is she saying? M. Farnworth: My colleague from Vancouver–Mount Pleasant, who asks such insightful questions — she al- ways asks such insightful questions — asks: "What is the Premier saying in Kelowna?" Apparently, the Premier in Kelowna said — on AM 1150, as I recall — that these in- creasing costs are not going to be borne by the ratepayer. I don't know.

Who is going to bear the cost if it's not the ratepayer? Is she going to hold a giant fundraiser, ask people outside the province to chip in? Is she going to ask Alberta to chip in? B. Ralston: Sell a railway, maybe. M. Farnworth: My colleague from Surrey-Whalley says: "Sell a railway." Th at's already been done, and look what that got the province. It got them a $6 million out- of-court settlement to shut the whole thing down. [1445] No, the reality is it's the taxpayers of this province who are going to pick up the cost, the ratepayer, with signifi cantly higher hydro rates, and you can take that to the bank.

J. Kwan: So you mean we shouldn't believe the Premier — what she's saying now? M. Farnworth: Well, the question is: should we be- lieve the Premier? I think the real question is: should we believe the budget? Should we believe the budget, and should we look at the record of this government over the last number of years to see what they say in a budget and what the reality is — as to why people should be concerned and why we as the opposition are concerned? I've talked about people leaving B.C. I've talked about the loss of private sector jobs in this province. All of these things impact the economy.

And of course, the govern-

British Columbia Debates50 Tuesday, July 2, 2013 ment says: "No, no. Don't worry about that. Don't worry about that. Th ings are good. We're in charge. We've got a plan." Well, let's look at their plan. Th e budget in February laid out some key indicators around the forecasts that we're going to be taking into account in the coming year. Again, what was said before the election and what was said aft er the election makes for an interesting compari- son. Real GDP growth in February was projected to be 1.6 percent this year. In June's update it has been downgrad- ed to 1.4 percent.

Employment growth, which was pro- jected at 1.1 percent in February, has been downgraded to 0.7 percent. Retail sales growth, projected to be 3.5 percent in February, has been downgraded, as well, to 1.8 percent, and B.C. housing starts growth, already pro- jected to decline by 10 percent in February, is expected to fall even further, by 13.3 percent. Hardly a vote of ringing consumer confi dence. Th at's something that all of us need to be concerned about, because as much as we are a resource-based econ- omy, we're also a consumer-driven economy in British Columbia.

Small businesses rely on consumer spending and retail spending, and if that's not happening, they suff er. Small towns that have seen, through budget cuts, government services in the dirt ministries pulled out of small com- munities and regional communities in this province are further impacted by the current state of the economic statistics that we're seeing over the coming year. Th ey will feel the impact. Prior to the election it was: "Everything's fi ne.

We're standing up tall in this province, and we really have noth- ing to worry about." Th e reality is that there is, and this budget does nothing to address the concerns and fears in those communities. Th e government says the budget is balanced. Th ey said that prior to February, when they tabled the budget. An examination of the fi gures that were used, the spending projections that were used, the fi re sale of assets that was used, I think, put paid to that. Most people — with the exception, probably, of the government — understand that that budget was not bal- anced, and neither is this one.

But I do think it's import- ant that we look at this government's record of defi cits because that speaks to what they say before an election, or what they say when they table their budget as being balanced in May, and the reality that happens over the coming 12 months. [1450] Since 2001 there have been seven deficit budgets. Since Premier Christy Clark came into offi ce, defi cit tar- gets were missed by more than a combined sum of $1 billion. Th e government has repeatedly broken the bal- anced budget law. Interjection. M. Farnworth: My colleagues say no, but it is true.

Th ey have amended and changed the balanced budget law to suit their own needs. So even though they have said in the throne speech that they intend to toughen it, the reality is when it gets too tough for them, they don't tough it out. Th ey change it to suit their needs. Th e real concern is the fi nancial expenditure projec- tions, which you can compare with historical averages in this province, the historical rate of spending under this government.

Again, you can see how unrealistic they are, and you can see that what is going to happen is impacts to services that the most vulnerable and the middle class rely on. Th ey say that they won't, but they've already es- tablished a core review to take out an additional $130 million that they certainly weren't talking about prior to the election. Th ey certainly didn't mention that pri- or to the election, just like they didn't mention the need for signifi cant Hydro rate increases prior to the election. J. Kwan: In fact, didn't they say quite the opposite? M.

Farnworth: In fact, as my colleague says, they said quite the opposite. But let's just examine the record of defi cits. In the last seven out of 12 years — 2001, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 — there have been defi cits. In the 2011- 2012 defi cit, the target of $925 million at the beginning of the year ended up at $1.814 billion, a $889 million diff erence. In 2012-13 the defi cit target of $968 million at the beginning of the year…. Th e latest estimate of it is $1.146 billion, a $178 million diff erence. Th at's some rounding error. Hon.

Speaker, when you start to look at the spending increases in this budget, one of the key ones is in health care. In last year's budget they said what was required to maintain the level of service with some modest improve- ments was an increase of 3.7 percent. Th ey said: "We're spending $2.4 billion on health care over the next three years." Th at $2.4 billion is what is being spent over the next three years from this fi scal year. Last year they said that a 3.7 percent increase was needed. What they didn't tell you, hon. Speaker, is the impact that that is going to have.

It's a $235 million cut, roughly, at a time when we know that population growth, particu- larly amongst our seniors, is increasing by about 1 per- cent a year; that health infl ation is higher than infl ation, as an average, for the rest of the province and for the rest of the ministries; that we have to make investments and move from an acute care health care system to a chronic disease management system.

Th at means being able to deal and implement in key areas of reports that this House has seen around seniors care, for example; home care — all the kinds of invest- ments that need to be made now so that we can deal with

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, July 2, 2013 51 the long-term impacts of an aging population and reduc- tions in federal funding that we're receiving from Ottawa. Nowhere in this budget does it take into account some of the key policy areas that health care faces. In fact, at the very front of the budget document, the budget let- ter states that this budget does not take into account…. What it says is that the physician master agreement ne- gotiations are going to have to be managed very, very carefully, and I bet they will, because there's no money in them for any kind of fee increase.

I will bet you dol- lars to doughnuts that physicians will be looking for…. [1455] An Hon. Member: Doughnuts. M. Farnworth: Y es, and doughnuts cost money. Th ere's no money in there for physicians to buy dough- nuts, never mind anything else. Issues around the nurses' contract. Th e hiring of an additional 2,150 nurses over three years. Again, those costs are not really refl ected. Th ey're not refl ected in this budget and certainly won't be covered by an increase of 2.6 percent, when historically it's been higher than that. [D.

Horne in the chair.] Th en there's the issue in the budget letter of the man- agement of pharmacy expenditures. Well, one of the most eff ective ways of doing that was the therapeutics initia- tive, and the government's gone and gutted that.

What does that say about what the government says in terms of its rhetoric about wanting to control expenditures, when some of the key tools and some of the most effi cient tools — in fact, one of the best tools, acknowledged by the New England Journal of Medicine as something that can be a model for other jurisdictions with public health care sys- tems — have ended, never mind just being gutted? We're already seeing health authorities…. The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority is already identify- ing $27 million in shortfall.

So the idea that this budget will somehow make improvements in our health care system and will not impact people, will not impact cit- izens in British Columbia…. We just don't see it in here. We think that people are going to be impacted. Th ey're going to see it in their services, and they're going to see it in a whole range of ministries. Apart from the unrealistic spending estimates in some ministries such as Health, an additional $130 million in cuts is also going to be felt. Th en there's the issue of advanced education funding in this budget.

What's particularly interesting is that, as I said in my opening day remarks, in 2002 the Business Council of British Columbia identifi ed that one of the key economic challenges facing this province was a shortage of skilled labour, that government needed to get serious about investing in advanced education, in train- ing opportunities for young people here in B.C., work- ers who've been displaced from other industries here in British Columbia.

And yet the focus of this government over the last few years seems to be more about hiring temporary foreign workers in this country than about en- suring the training of our own young people and people who've been displaced. In 2002 the Business Council outlined one of the key challenges facing British Columbia. In the throne speech — and this is what's so stunning — aft er the election and aft er the February budget, when this government cut $46 million from advanced education, from training op- portunities for young people that resulted in 5,600 fewer spaces…. Th at was in February.

Aft er the election, the throne speech says: "Oh, we need a ten-year plan for skills training in this province." Where have they been for the last ten years? Where has the Premier been? Th e ten-year plan should have been in place back in 2002. Th e funding should have been there. Instead, they've taken funding out — the ministry with an absolute, real cut. Th at speaks to more than a disconnect. Th at speaks to a government that doesn't recognize that the people in this province are assets who should be invested in, par- ticularly our young people. Forest health.

I've talked a bit about forest health, a key component of our provincial economy. British Columbians are paying more in fees. Unrealistic health spending estimates. Cuts to colleges and universities. [1500] An additional $130 million in other programs to be cut during the core review, which, again, is interesting in the sense that aft er 12 years in power and $16 million and saying what great economic managers they are in this province, one would have to wonder: "Well, if you're so good, why do you have to have a core review to go and fi nd an additional $130 million?

I thought you were al- ready running a lean, mean machine." Interjection. M. Farnworth: My colleague from Nanaimo, never short on a quick quip, says that it is mean. But they're also selling off provincial assets. Th e spending issues that I have mentioned are one part. Fee increases are another part. Under this govern- ment we've watched MSP rates, which now cost the aver- age family an additional $736 a year. On January 1, 2014, those rates will rise an additional 4 percent. B.C. Hydro rates are up and going to go even higher. Th e govern- ment can't say how or when, but they admit that they will.

Ferry fares are up 53 to 87 percent. Tuition fees have more than doubled. Residential care fees are up. And we've had the Premier, Christy Clark, introduce the wheelchair tax. Interjection.

British Columbia Debates52 Tuesday, July 2, 2013 M. Farnworth: My colleague from Surrey-Whalley says, "Shame," and he's absolutely right. It really says something when you look at MSP rates for families that have increased 85 percent since 2001. Th at's a signifi cant impact on many families at a time when wage growth is not keeping pace with infl ation, when housing prices are the most expensive in the country, when tuition fees are increasing. No wonder more than 10,000 people left for greener pastures. Th ere's nothing in this budget that is going to bring them back here to British Columbia anytime soon.

Interjection. M. Farnworth: My colleague calls it taxation by an- other name. The other area of the budget, prior to the election, that caused concern was the record sale of assets. I think this is a particularly important issue that needs to be examined. From 2000 to 2010 approximately $381 mil- lion in assets were sold — on average, $38 million a year. Contrast that to their current sale projections of $475 million in 2013-14 and $150 million in 2014-15, for a combined total of $625 million.

It looks good in terms of a "balanced budget" tabled in February, but the reality is that it's not the way to bal- ance a budget over the long term. Once those assets are gone, they're gone. But what's particularly concerning is the sheer number, because if you don't meet that target, that has a signifi cant impact on your budget. Again, history shows that what they say will be achieved in the budget is not necessarily what happens. In fact, the Auditor General of this province has had a number of things to say around asset sales. In particu- lar, you only book the revenue in the year that you get it.

Th at may be able to explain why Little Mountain Housing was booked, I think, in three budgets — three times. Th e sale has still not yet been completed, is my understand- ing. I look forward to, if it has, whether or not it will be included within these numbers. But that particular site is a question for another day. [1505] Th e bottom line is this. Th e government is selling off record numbers of assets that they deem to be surplus. Now, government, I will admit, does have surplus assets from time to time that can be disposed of. All govern- ments have done that.

But in this particular case, the issue is the number, the dollar amount and the rush with which it's being done just to be able to say that they've tabled a balanced budget. In many communities many of these lands, when you look at them — the list that we've been able to see so far…. A number of them are school sites or school lands that are deemed to be surplus. Th e challenge with that, though, is how that determination is made, because while many communities in parts of the province are shrinking, other communities are growing. Th ey grow at a signifi cant rate. Surrey, for example, is well on its way to….

I know some of my colleagues from Vancouver won't like to hear this, but I know that people from Surrey — and living out in the Tri-Cities, we, too — are acutely aware of how fast growth has taken place in that area. As I like to point out to some people, in 1991, when I was fi rst elected, my riding of Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain had 52,000 people, and in 1996, the mid-point through the '90s, my riding had 85,000 people — the largest riding in the prov- ince. So growth has been quite signifi cant out that way.

Th e challenge becomes, from the education point of view, the construction of schools and the identifi cation of land that's required for schools keeping pace with that growth. Are you selling off land that really is needed, maybe not today but in three or four or fi ve years, be- cause we know that growth is going to take place there? Are we selling off assets that are going to be required in the future?

When it comes to education, that's particularly import- ant because there is a history in this province of land be- ing sold and then bought back at a signifi cantly higher price by the provincial government when it shouldn't have been sold in the fi rst place. Interjection. M. Farnworth: My colleague says ten schools are needed in Surrey now. I know there are schools needed in Port Coquitlam and in other areas. For example, a few years ago there were some schools closed in school district 43 because they were deemed to be in low enrolment. Th ey were closed.

But since that time, redevelopment has taken place, the number of kids coming back has increased, and they need to look at reopening a school or fi nding a new school site. Th at's the trap the government fi nds themselves in and can get themselves into when they rush to dispose of assets without thoroughly having thought them through. Th at, I think, is one of the big weaknesses in the sale of assets in the way that the government has been going about it. Finally, hon.

Speaker, I think there's a very important issue when it comes to this budget that needs to be ad- dressed, and it's something that the government likes to think that they have taken great pride in. Th at's the issue of fi nancial mismanagement. Th is one is particularly interesting and, again, it speaks to why on this side of the House we have no faith in this budget, why we do not believe that it will be balanced.

And I think it speaks to some of the things that we heard today in question period and why this government is clearly repeating the same mistakes over again. [1510] Let's just look at a number of projects and what initial-

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, July 2, 2013 53 ly the government said they were going to cost and what they ended up costing. Th e northwest transmission line: cost overrun of $342 million, an 85 percent cost overrun. South Fraser perimeter road: $464 million over the in- itial cost estimates, a 58 percent cost overrun. Port Mann Bridge. In 2006, when the gateway def- inition report was released, the projected cost was $1.5 billion. Th e fi nal price: $3.3 billion, a $1.8 billion cost overrun. Th e Vancouver Convention Centre: cost overrun of $341 million — oops — 68 percent. B.C.

Place roof: $149 million cost overrun, 41 percent. Interjection. M. Farnworth: "A relative bargain," my colleague says — compared to some of the others. But what's really fascinating is the response from the government. Today in question period we heard the Minister of Energy in response to questions on the north- west transmission line state that they're not happy about it. Th ere wasn't enough discipline. Y ou got that right. Clearly, in project aft er project aft er project, there has not been enough fi scal discipline.

Th e response is: "We're not happy about it." The northwest transmission line is the latest that they're not happy about. Were they happy about the South Fraser perimeter road? Were they happy about the Port Mann highway? Were they happy about the Vancouver Convention Centre? Were they happy about the B.C. Place roof? At what point does the penny — or the debt-penny — drop, and they realize they're making mistake aft er mis- take aft er mistake on project aft er project and are able to do something about it to correct it?

Or, as they're saying right now: "We're going to take some corrective action." Well, that's an awful lot of billions of dollars that have been spent in cost overruns already for them to fi nally decide: "Y ou know what? We're not happy about it, and it's about time we started to do something about it." I guess this time they really mean it.

When you look at this budget, when you look at what was tabled, with all of the rhetoric around it, but then you start to look at their record once they actually table budgets and where they end up, you get something dif- ferent than what was advertised prior to the election — diff erent from what $16 million was spent on in the run-up to the election campaign and what is certainly diff erent than what was printed on the side of the bus of "Debt-Free B.C." I think this is also a very set of interesting statistics that people should be aware of.

In her two years as Premier, Christy Clark has added $10.7 billion to the debt, and her current three-year fi scal plan would add $14 billion more. Th at means that by the end of her plan, the Premier will have increased the B.C. debt by $24.6 billion, or 55 percent, the biggest increase in the history of British Columbia — the biggest increase. Th at doesn't sound like debt-free B.C. It sounds like a debt spree in B.C. Th e Premier ran around going: "Debt-Free B.C." Interjection. M. Farnworth: Ah, my colleague across the way says they've got four more years.

Well, I'd like to remind him of something. [1515] Since the updated forecast of when the budget was tabled last year, 2012-2013, it was $55.8 billion. The budget estimate in 2013-2014 is $62.6 billion. Added to the debt so far this year: $6.8 billion. Th at's per day, $18.5 million; per hour, $771,233; per minute, $12,854; per second, $214; since election day, 49 days, $906,969,863; since budget day, $111,057,534. Th e debt per person in 2013-14: $13,411. In 2015-16 it will be $14,616. Th e debt is going up in this province; services are going down in this province.

More people are leaving this province than are coming to it. People in this province are being impacted by cuts to health care ser- vices through the inability of stable funding where they said it should be last year. Our young people are being denied the skills and training that have been identifi ed since 2002 as one of the biggest economic challenges this province faces. [Slide presentation concludes.] Th is budget does nothing to address that. Th is budget will take an additional $130 million over and above what they said was going to happen prior to the election.

In short, this budget is not balanced, this budget will im- pact families, and this budget is a failure. Th at's why we on this side of the House will not be supporting it but voting against it. Deputy Speaker: I thank the member. Does the mem- ber intend to table a copy of the slides he's presented to- day? M. Farnworth: Y es, absolutely. Deputy Speaker: Great. Hon. A. Wilkinson: I'm proud to stand in the House today and represent the people of Vancouver-Quilchena. I thank my constituents for putting their trust in me by electing me to this assembly.

The constituents of Vancouver-Quilchena expect this government to do a very important task: to make sure that their hard-earned tax dollars are invested in the programs and the public services that matter to British Columbians.

British Columbia Debates54 Tuesday, July 2, 2013 This government was elected because British Columbians told us that they want a strong economy and a secure tomorrow for their children. By introducing Budget 2013, this government is opening the path to fu- ture prosperity here in British Columbia and confi rming that this government is on track to balance the budget in this fi scal year. Th e budget forecasts and commits us to surpluses in all three years of the fi scal plan — a $153 mil- lion surplus in 2013-14, a $154 million surplus in 2014- 15; and a $446 million surplus in 2015-16.

Charting our course to a debt-free British Columbia depends upon this disciplined approach to spending. Th is has not been easy. We recognize that ongoing fi s- cal discipline and continued tough choices are needed to make sure that our government preserves the pub- lic services that are so important to British Columbians. We've implemented a responsible and progressive tax regime that lays the foundation for investment and job growth. Individual taxpayers and their families are benefitting from low personal income taxes, leaving more money in their pockets to get on with their lives.

And we're looking to the future and making the neces- sary decisions to benefi t our children and the genera- tions to come. As the new Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services, I'm fi rmly committed to stimulating economic development in our province, and I'm com- mitted to providing leadership across government for the eff ective and effi cient delivery of public services that meet the needs and expectations of British Columbians.

British Columbia's knowledge-based sectors, and technology in particular, are seeing a rise in demand for skilled labour which means real opportunities for good jobs and job creation throughout British Columbia. Because the technology sector has been one of the fastest- growing areas of our economy, it has been identifi ed as one the key eight sectors in the B.C. job plan. [1520] B.C.'s technology sector accounts for more than 84,000 jobs, $18 billion in revenue and 10 percent of all of our exports.

To help further grow this vital sector of our economy, this government is pursuing a technology strat- egy with four key elements. We have committed, fi rst, to accelerate technology commercialization and adoption; second, to build on regional strengths to create new opportunities; third, to develop talent for a knowledge-based economy; and fourth, to expand British Columbia's markets in technol- ogy. Th is government is working with the technology sec- tor to implement these actions and to develop more ideas that can build this sector even further.

Th is government will continue to support organiza- tions like the B.C. Innovation Council, which has grown a network of business accelerators and entrepreneurial mentors across this province to build the private sector, developing hundreds of new companies at the cutting edge of innovation. With investments in research and partnerships with post-secondary institutions and pri- vate industry, this government intends to keep B.C. at the forefront of global technological innovation and growth, leading to prosperity right here in British Columbia.

My ministry not only promotes technology, but it also makes the best use of technology to link our government and the people of British Columbia. We are responsible for service delivery and access to information. Shared Services B.C. is responsible for providing a wide range of cost-eff ective services and infrastructure to ministries and government organizations. Th is ministry acts as the reliable caretaker of provin- cial real estate, information technology and purchasing services. We continually strive to provide innovative, in- tegrated and sustainable services at the lowest cost to taxpayers.

Service levels continually improve, and savings are being found through innovative new policies like our leading workplace strategy, which allows government employees to make use of fl exible working models that reduce our offi ce and infrastructure costs, just as the pri- vate sector has done in recent years. My ministry also includes the integrated workplace solutions division, formerly known as B.C. Buildings Corporation, which has responsibility for the over- all management of government's real estate portfolio.

Ministry staff have already made good progress in the Ministry of Finance's initiative to release surplus prop- erty assets to ensure that those properties are utilized ef- fectively in our economy, to enable economic growth in the private sector. I'm proud to note the government has already achieved approximately 37 percent of this year's goal for property and asset sales in the fi rst three months of the fi scal year.

Sales agreements are in place for approximately $58 mil- lion worth of surplus property, and the government has realized a net gain of $123 million on the sale of fi nancial assets related to sinking funds. Th ese sales have already raised combined revenue of approximately $181 million, which puts us fi rmly on track to balance this budget. Th is ministry also has oversight of the Knowledge Network, which is British Columbia's public educational broadcaster.

Th e Knowledge Network receives an annual grant of $6.4 million from the province to provide qual- ity programming to 1½ million viewers, or one-third of the British Columbia population, every week. Finally, this ministry includes the government com- munications and public engagement division, which has the responsibility to inform British Columbians about government programs, policies and services, and to en- sure that information is communicated in an open and transparent manner.

To ensure that all British Columbians are involved in the knowledge economy, this budget continues our commitment to expand connectivity in rural and re-

British Columbia DebatesTuesday, July 2, 2013 55 mote communities throughout B.C. We all know that Internet access provides a window to the world and a wide range of information and services. Th is govern- ment wants all British Columbians to share the social, economic and educational benefi ts of having access to high-speed Internet. Th at is why we are continuing to in- vest in connecting British Columbians from all corners of the province to the Internet. Ninety-three percent of British Columbians now have high-speed Internet con- nectivity, and that number rises every month.

Our strategic relationships have and will continue to leverage investments from the private sector, the fed- eral government and other entities to improve broad- band connectivity throughout the province, including the north Island, Haida Gwaii, the north coast, the Interior and the remainder of British Columbia. Soon, through our recently announced initiative with Xplornet Communications, British Columbians in the most in- accessible locations will be able to get more aff ordable high-speed Internet through satellite technology.

Th ese initiatives will help citizens in every region of the province to capitalize on the opportunities presented by information technology and give them access to on-line services delivered to them directly by the Net. We are working with the private sector and other levels of government to expand the existing levels of connectiv- ity into communities, while at the same time improving cell coverage along provincial highways. [1525] Th is has a number of benefi ts.

It improves public safe- ty by making it easier for motorists and residents trav- elling on remote stretches of highway to communicate when they need to. It generates economic opportunities for families by fully engaging them in the information economy no matter where they live in British Columbia. Th e province and Telus are jointly announcing a num- ber of highway sections where wireless coverage is newly available, including ten kilometres of Highway 5 between Valemount and the Highway 16 junction, more than 20 kilometres of Highway 5A near Nicola Lake and over 40 kilometres of highways near Kitwanga.

Th rough the work we're doing with our stakeholders, new areas of cell coverage have been opened on hundreds of kilometres of B.C. highways, with more than a thousand more kilo- metres in progress right now. We're supporting First Nations in their eff orts to close the gap that exists between aboriginal people and the rest of our population when it comes to broadband Internet connectivity. Today 177 of 203 First Nations have broad- band infrastructure in place. NetWork B.C. continues to support First Nations organizations and work to connect the remaining communities.

We are working collaboratively with local commun- ity organizations, with all levels of government and with both small and large Internet service providers to achieve our goal of 100 percent broadband connection across the province by 2021. My ministry also is responsible for Service B.C., which is one of the key front-line service providers here in British Columbia. Our government agents deliver a wide range of front-counter services to the public across B.C., from new driver's licences to registration for MSP to in- come assistance or assistance in fi nding work.

In some cases our Service B.C. centres have been com- bined to deliver services from a variety of ministries, depending on the community's needs, making them a one-stop shop for government services and helping to increase the effi ciencies for citizens at much reduced cost to taxpayers. No matter what agency is represented in those service counters, signage outside greets clients in 12 diff erent languages, welcoming people of diverse cultures inside to access our many government services.

My ministry is also playing a key role in developing and rolling out a very signifi cant change to our health care and identity management systems. Th e new B.C. Services Card was launched earlier this year. It will pro- vide the foundation for the rollout of electronic health records, which will improve patient care and protect pa- tient safety. Th e new card contains the latest high-security features to counter fraud. Th e service card also has the capacity for future secure access to an extended range of govern- ment services and on-line information.

Th is is great news for British Columbians because it will deliver on our goal of improving service delivery while ensuring that we're able to control costs eff ectively. As these new methods of service delivery emerge, we consult closely with the Offi ce of the Information and Privacy Commissioner to ensure that privacy, identity and security continue to be protected when any potential changes to the service card are considered. We'll be engaging citizens about the ways they want to use this form of identifi cation.

British Columbians may want to have secure access to their health records or to register for government programs on line. We'll be consulting them on these options in the coming months. It will be an exciting conversation and truly demon- strates that our government is meeting the demands of the Internet era in creating eff ective ways for us to work with our population to deliver better service while at the same time respecting the need for protection of person- al privacy. In conclusion, this budget takes a stand for the bene- fit of both present and future generations of British Columbians.

I'm proud of this government's record of sound fi scal management, and we're building on that solid foundation to ensure that prosperity is open to all British Columbians. We're taking decisive action to bal- ance our budget, and we're doing it while keeping taxes low and maintaining our triple-A credit rating. By keeping our economy growing today and by bal- ancing this budget and the next three budgets, we will

British Columbia Debates56 Tuesday, July 2, 2013 secure a debt-free future for generations to come. Th is is hard work, but we are taking it on, and we'll deliver a bright future full of opportunity, not only for this genera- tion of British Columbians but for generations to come. [1530] Tabling Documents M. Farnworth: I seek leave to table documents. Leave granted. Debate Continued J. Darcy: Mr.

Speaker, I want to begin by congratulat- ing you and congratulating all of the MLAs elected to this House on all sides of this House — from the government side, from the opposition side, from the Green Party and independent. I am deeply honoured to have been elected as the MLA for New Westminster, and I rise on their be- half for the fi rst time in this House. I want to thank the voters of New Westminster for giving me the privilege of representing them in this Legislature and for the trust they have placed in me.

I want to also take the opportunity, as several col- leagues across the fl oor did last week, to thank my bril- liant campaign team headed by a very smart and talented young woman by the name of Brynn Bourke. I also want to thank the countless volunteers who worked end- less hours during the election campaign and for many months in advance. I want to thank some of my dear friends who are here today for being a constant source of support to me. And what can I say about my husband of 35 years — we were, of course, teenagers when we fi rst met — and about my wonderful son?

Th ey have supported me and encour- aged me and been with me every step of the way. As all of us know who are in public life, that's what our family members do. Th ey support and encourage us along the way, and if your family members are anything like mine, they also keep you humble. I have the great privilege of following in the footsteps of some very remarkable Members of the Legislative Assembly from New Westminster.

I want to begin by referring to someone who is very well known to this House, Dawn Black, who recently retired — the much-loved and widely respected Dawn Black, a woman who exemplifi es all that is best in public service; a woman who served several terms in the federal parliament of Canada, where among one of her greatest distinctions was introducing a private member's bill to say that from that point onward every year, December 6 would be set aside as a day to remember and to commit to action against violence against women. She served in the B.C.

Legislature with distinction as Advanced Education critic, as interim leader and, most recently, as Assistant Deputy Speaker. Now, I could go back 60 years in acknowledging my predecessors in the NDP and the CCF . I will spare you that, but I do want to make reference to a few of them. Dennis Cocke, who was Minister of Health in the 1970s, introduced our provincial B.C. Ambulance Service. Anita Hagen, a real pioneer and role model, served as Deputy Premier and Minister of Education. Graeme Bowbrick served as Minister of Advanced Education and Attorney General.

Chuck Puchmayr, who served just before Dawn Black, took back the seat aft er one term from the Liberal candidate who has become history, a legend, in New Westminster, who closed St. Mary's Hospital, for which our communit

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20130702pm-Hansard-v1n5
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20130702pm Hansard v1n5
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	a6d4d4d24460d89e3f7d68208ce0fe27a52c8ece

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