Fifth Session, 41st Parliament

(2020) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Morning Sitting

Issue No. 317

ISSN 1499-2175

The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.

The PDF transcript remains the official digital version.

CONTENTS

Routine Business

Introductions by Members

Statements

B.C. Winter Games Indigenous pin design by Aidyn Abel

D. Davies

Introductions by Members

Introduction and First Reading of Bills

Bill 13 — Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2020

Hon. D. Eby

Statements (Standing Order 25B)

Small Business Awards and businesses in West Vancouver–Sea to Sky area

J. Sturdy

Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk

M. Dean

Island Good and promotion of local products on Vancouver

Island

M. Stilwell

Squamish Nation housing development in Vancouver

B. Ma

Tricia Datene

S. Furstenau

Wounded Warriors fundraising run

S. Malcolmson

Oral Questions

University of Victoria staff and student society involvement in protests

J. Johal

Hon. M. Farnworth

Hon. J. Horgan

M. Polak

LNG Canada project and government relationship with Wet’suwet’en Nation

A. Olsen

Hon. S. Fraser

Activation of Aboriginal Affairs Committee

A. Olsen

Hon. J. Horgan

Property tax assessment increases and proposed legislation

T. Stone

Hon. S. Robinson

J. Thornthwaite

Forest industry tenure transfer in Clearwater area

P. Milobar

Hon. D. Donaldson

Retirement bridging program for forest workers

D. Barnett

Hon. H. Bains

Orders of the Day

Budget Debate

(continued)

S. Cadieux

Hon. C. James

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2020

The House met at 10:06 a.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: S. Malcolmson.

Introductions by Members

Hon. D. Eby: I’m pleased to rise to introduce guests from MoveUP who are here in

the gallery today. I see some of them across from me here this morning.

MoveUP represents more than 12,000 union members from public and private

sector companies in western Canada. Certainly, ICBC is among them but not

exclusively the members that they represent. They work with community groups

to ensure that the public and elected government officials understand the

value that unions bring to B.C.’s economy.

With us are today are David Black, Lori Mayhew, Annette Toth, Christy

Slusarenko, Melissa Maher, Brenda Chu, Gunter Seifert, Colin Clark, Daniel

Fung, Kim Chartier, Safar Alikhani, Hani Dakkak, Glenn Redding, Jen Anthony

and Todd Haupmann. Would the House please join me in offering them a warm

welcome to the House today.

M. Stilwell: Joining us in the House today are Mark Smith, board chairman, and

Katie Bishop, board director, of the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance.

VIEA is a non-government, non-profit organization focused on economic

development. I’m sure many members in the House are familiar with the annual

Vancouver Island economic summit. It’s also behind the initiative of Island

Good, which brands Island-produced goods.

I’m also happy to introduce representatives from Quality Foods: Noel

Hayward, president and CEO; Bob McKitchie, marketing consultant; and Colin

Johnston, the director of meats and delis. Quality Foods is one of the

grocery stores that was on board with the Island Good initiative from the

start.

Would the House please join me in extending a warm welcome to our

guests.

T. Shypitka: It’s always exciting when I have some guests from the Kootenays show

up, and today is a great day for me. We’ve got some folks here from the

Kootenays — big political heavy hitters, I guess you might call them. In the

gallery, we’ve got the mayor of Fernie, Ange Qualizza; we’ve got the CAO of

Fernie, Michael Boronowski; and the CAO from Sparwood, Michele

Schalekamp.

Also, somewhere roaming around in the precinct, we’ve got Mayor David

Wilks from the city of Sparwood; Mike Sosnowski, the area A director for the

RDEK; and Steve Fairbairn, councillor for the city of Elkford.

Would the House please give them a warm welcome.

Hon. B. Ralston: It gives me distinct pleasure to introduce to the House Adrien Sala,

who is an MLA in Manitoba. He was first elected in the recent election,

2019, and is MLA for St. James in the heart of Winnipeg city. He’s the

opposition critic for Manitoba Hydro; Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis; and

Efficiency Manitoba. He’s also a songwriter and musician who has performed

at local venues and festivals.

[10:10 a.m.]

He’s visiting the precinct this week to learn about the great work the

government of British Columbia is doing through B.C. Hydro and our CleanBC

programs to achieve our clean, sustainable energy objectives. Please join me

in welcoming Adrien Sala.

Statements

B.C. WINTER GAMES

INDIGENOUS PIN DESIGN BY AIDYN

ABEL

D. Davies: As you are all aware, Fort St. John has just completed hosting a

very, very successful 2020 B.C. Winter Games. I’d like to thank the

2,000 volunteers and 1,500 athletes and all the sponsors that made the

games such a success.

I’d like to introduce one young gentleman, nine-year-old Aidyn,

who is a member of the West Moberly First Nations living in Fort St.

John. During this year’s games, Pembina Pipeline had a competition with

Indigenous communities of the area to create an Indigenous Winter Games

pin, which I’m wearing here today. I’m not sure if I’m allowed to use

props, but anyway….

They sent out a call to Indigenous communities for the youth to

create and develop some artwork around this pin, and of course, Aidyn

won the competition. After speaking with Aidyn and Pembina, we decided

that I would bring a few of these pins back with a little write-up and

some of the original artwork, and I’ll be providing those for the

Premier, the minister of sport and our critic, the Leader of the

Opposition, as well as the Third Party.

Would the House please give Aidyn a big round of applause for his

accomplishment.

Introductions by Members

E. Ross: It’s a great pleasure to introduce three guests today from my

constituency — one that used to be a constituency member but has moved to

the region of the Kamloops twins. We all know the Kamloops twins there, the

MLAs from the Kamloops area. He’s now a constituent.

Sid Peltier is an entrepreneur, semi-retired, but he was also a member

of the Aboriginal Business Investment Council when I was the inaugural chair

of the Aboriginal Business Investment Council. He’s a gentleman, and he’s

actually applying to be a senator for this great country of

Canada.

The other two guests are Barb Campbell, a great community member back

in Kitimat, a huge volunteer. She’s all over the place in Kitimat. She’s

here with her friend, Marika Czink.

Will the House please join me in welcoming my three guests to the

Legislature.

S. Malcolmson: I want to reinforce the welcome to Vancouver Island Economic Alliance.

They’re based in Nanaimo, doing groundbreaking work that benefits all the

MLAs on all of Vancouver Island, working on developing innovative business

cases, innovative forms of facilitating trade, reinforcing the markets for

local foods and bringing all leaders on Vancouver Island together in a

hugely successful economic summit that happens every fall. We’re grateful

for their work and welcome them to the Legislature.

B. Ma: I believe he was already introduced by the Attorney General as part of

the MoveUP delegation, but I would love to welcome Gunter Seifert here to

the House today. He and his husband live in the riding I represent, known as

North Vancouver–Lonsdale. Thank you so much for joining us here in the House

today. Would the House please join me in welcoming him.

Introduction and

First Reading of Bills

BILL 13 — MISCELLANEOUS STATUTES

AMENDMENT ACT,

Hon. D. Eby presented a message from Her Honour the

Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act,

Hon. D. Eby: I move the bill be introduced and read a first time

now.

I’m pleased to introduce Bill 13, the Miscellaneous Statutes

Amendment Act, 2020. This bill amends the following statutes: the

Adoption Act; the Assessment Act; the Building Act; the E-Health

(Personal Health Information Access and Protection of Privacy) Act; the

Evidence Act; the Family Maintenance Enforcement Act; the Family Law

Act; the Guide Dog and Service Dog Act; the Interjurisdictional Support

Orders Act; the Labour Mobility Act; the Land Owner Transparency Act;

the Land Title Act; the Land Title and Survey Authority Act; the

Lobbyists Registration Amendment Act, 2018; the Miscellaneous Statutes

Amendment Act (No. 3), 2010; the Motor Vehicle Act; the New Relationship

Trust Act; the Pharmaceutical Services Act; the Supreme Court Act; the

Trespass Act; the Vital Statistics Act; and the Water Sustainability

Act.

I will be pleased to elaborate on the nature of these amendments

during second reading of this bill.

[10:15 a.m.]

Mr. Speaker: The question is first reading of the bill.

Motion approved.

Hon. D. Eby: I move that this bill be placed on the orders of the day for

second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Bill 13, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2020, introduced, read

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

reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Statements

(Standing Order 25B)

SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS AND BUSINESSES

IN WEST

VANCOUVER–SEA TO SKY AREA

J. Sturdy: As you know, small business drives the economy of British

Columbia. West Vancouver–Sea to Sky is no exception.

Last Friday I attended the 17th annual Small Business Awards in

Vancouver with a table of guests from West Vancouver–Sea to Sky. This

annual event celebrates and recognizes small business and presents

best-of awards in eight different categories. West Vancouver–Sea to Sky

was well represented, as it typically is. It is impressive to see such

diversity, innovation and creativity in the region and from across the

province.

There were ten companies from the communities of Whistler,

Squamish and Bowen Island recognized as nominees during the awards

review process. These nominees included: from Whistler, the Whistler

Staging Co., The Velvet Underground, Sea to Sky Sourdough, Lighthouse

Visionary Strategies, and Space coworking; from Squamish, Skin Focus and

Squamish Water Kefir; from Bowen Island, Tell Your Friends

Cafe.

The Squamish Connector and the

Sḵwálwen Botanicals, both from

Squamish, were nominees as well as top five finalists.

Transportation, food and beverage, health and wellness, retail,

the sharing economy and consulting services were all

represented.

As a small business owner myself, I know the commitment, the

risks, the adaptability required and involved in running a small

business. You may need to be a strategic planner, an accountant, an HR

problem-solver and a plumber all on the same day. You need to be ready

to deal with customers and banks and government bureaucracies or any one

of a thousand other details.

I’m certain the House shares my respect for all small business

risk-takers. I especially would like to recognize those entrepreneurs

from West Vancouver–Sea to Sky.

You’re trail-blazers, innovators and, above all, doers. You enrich

your neighbourhoods and fuel the economy of British Columbia. Thank you

for your hard work.

Congratulations to all nominees, finalists and winners from across

the province.

COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR

FUNDRAISING

WALK

M. Dean: February 22 is the Coldest Night of the Year, an opportunity to

raise dollars for charities that serve hungry, homeless and hurting

people in 136 communities across Canada through a friendly national

walkathon.

This year our community held its first one on the West Shore. The

walk started at Langford fire hall, with options of two, five and ten

kilometres. Members of our community warmed up with a hot drink, Coldest

Night of the Year toques and some exercises. Participants were walking

this year to raise funds for two organizations who do so much for our

community: Our Place Society and Pacific Centre Family Services

Association.

Our Place offers some of greater Victoria’s most vulnerable

citizens a home, nourishment and hope through living, sharing, learning

and worshipping together. Our Place operates a therapeutic community in

View Royal.

Pacific Centre Family Services Association has been promoting

dignity and quality of life for families and individuals on the West

Shore for more than 50 years through education, counselling and creative

programming. They offer a wide range of vital services for people

dealing with trauma, substance use, mental health issues and daily life

challenges.

We are so grateful to Our Place and Pacific Centre Family Services

Association for their incredible service over so many years.

Thank you to everyone who gave their time and energy to

participate, organize and raise money for the Coldest Night of the Year.

Thanks, especially, to the volunteers, donors, walkers, team captains

and sponsors for their commitment to taking on poverty and homelessness

and making a difference in our community.

ISLAND GOOD AND PROMOTION OF

LOCAL PRODUCTS ON

VANCOUVER ISLAND

M. Stilwell: Island shoppers don’t have to look far to find quality foods and

products. A new initiative is making sure that they know how.

Island Good is a Vancouver Island initiative to promote locally

made and grown products under a single brand. It’s the brain child of

Vancouver Island Economic Alliance, a non-profit focused on the economic

vitality of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

[10:20 a.m.]

Realizing the Island was not producing the level of goods it

needed for a stable economy, the team came up with the idea for Island

Good, a brand that could encourage production and support the economy

while also raising consumer awareness of local goods. The team believed

that people wanted to buy local and that if shoppers could find those

products easily, they would respond with their wallets.

The theory was put to the test, and over six months in 2018 across

45 grocery stores, retailers like Quality Foods could advertise the

brand in flyers or use Island Good stickers to identify bulk products

that came from local businesses. Producers could also include the label

on their products. The result was beyond the alliance’s imagination,

with the average increase of sales of 16.4 percent.

With early success, Island Good shows no signs of slowing down.

Shoppers can find the brand in grocery stores and retail locations, and

licensees range from producers of seafood to mattresses. Nanoose Edibles

Farm, French Creek Seafood, Aux Box and Springford Farm are among the

businesses in my region that have jumped on board. VIEA and Tourism

Vancouver Island also now have a partnership to market Island Good in

the tourism sector, recognizing that tourists also want to buy

local.

I want to commend George Hanson, VIEA president, and the Island

Good team for their work to launch this brand and support our

economy.

The next time any of the members visit a local grocery store, I

encourage you to keep an eye out for Island Good.

SQUAMISH NATION HOUSING

DEVELOPMENT IN

VANCOUVER

B. Ma: With over 4,000 citizens, the Squamish Nation is made up of Coast

Salish people who have lived in their territory in greater Vancouver,

Howe Sound and the Squamish River watershed for at least 10,000 years,

based on archaeological records. Five decades after the creation of the

Indian reserve system by the federal government, 16 communities that

were regarded as separate Indian bands united as the Squamish Nation on

July 23, 1923, in what is known as the amalgamation.

Squamish territory measures 6,732 square kilometres. But after the

Indian Act forced people onto reserves, the Squamish people were living

in a number of Indian reserves encompassing 28.28 square kilometres,

scattered from Vancouver to Gibsons Landing to the area north of Howe

Sound. But they’ve been rebuilding. And in the words of Squamish Nation

councillor Khelsilem, they are becoming powerful in their territory once

more.

In addition to being a partner of the MST Development Corp., the

nation itself is becoming one of the most powerful land developers in

the Metro Vancouver region. Last year they announced their plans to

build 6,000 new units in 11 towers on reserve land at the southern foot

of Burrard Street Bridge, on False Creek. The vast majority of these new

units will be purpose-built rental. Called Senakw, this development is a

$3 billion development that will help the nation develop economically,

with the intended revenue to pay for social services and housing. Some

people are calling it the single largest development on First Nations

land in Canada.

Then they created a not-for-profit housing society called

Hiy̓ám̓ ta Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Housing

Society, which aims to bring many Squamish citizens home into their

communities by building over 1,000 units of affordable and supportive

non-market rental housing with rents tied to income.

Everyone in this House should have an understanding of what

colonialism has done to Indigenous people like those who make up the

Squamish Nation — stripped of their land, their language, their

culture.

What Senakw and Hiy̓ám̓ ta

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh represent is more than economic

development. It’s a way forward and a way to bring people together so

that they can heal in the love and support of their community, because

Hiy̓ám̓ ta Sḵwx̱wú7mesh literally

means “the Squamish are coming home.”

TRICIA DATENE

S. Furstenau: Each of us in this chamber will understand when I say that I could

not do my job without my constituency staff, and my constituency

assistant Tricia Datene is no exception. Tricia started as a volunteer

in our office almost from the time we opened in 2017, and it became

obvious very quickly that her skill set was precisely what we

needed.

Tricia had retired from her career in social services and believed

in social justice issues since she was a young woman. All of these

experiences and a lifetime of many others have provided us with the most

patient, caring and understanding person imaginable.

[10:25 a.m.]

A highly distressed constituent can walk into our office, and

Tricia meets them with compassion and kindness. She’s able to work with

people who are quick to anger and conflict because they don’t feel

heard, and Tricia hears them. She sees the kindness in their core and

treats them with the same respect that she treats everyone. She’s helped

countless people in her calm and thoughtful way.

When I listen to her counsel constituents whose issues can range

from not receiving a disability cheque to mental health challenges that

lead to unimaginable outcomes, I’m amazed at her ability to absorb these

sad tales and provide advice and guidance that at least provides hope

and often helps to solve their immediate problem. Most baffling to me is

that she has the incredible ability to leave the work at

work.

She and I were talking about a particularly difficult file, and

when I thanked her for her service, she said: “It is I who am grateful.

I get to make a difference. I have a purpose.”

Well, Tricia, I am truly grateful, and you really are making a

difference. Thank you for your service to so many Cowichan Valley

constituents. I couldn’t do this job without you and all the members of

the constituency office dream team.

WOUNDED WARRIORS FUNDRAISING RUN

S. Malcolmson: “Honour the fallen; help the living.” This is the mantra of

Wounded Warriors, who are running through Bowser right now, and they’re

heading this way. For life-changing PTSD and operational stress injury

programs to help veterans, first responders and their families, Wounded

Warriors are relay running the length of Vancouver Island right now.

That’s 600 kilometres in eight days.

As families support injured veterans, armed forces and first

responders, Wounded Warriors support both families and the

injured.

This is an email I got from Nanaimo paramedic Mark Blachuras last

night. He said:

“Last year, January, I took time off for an occupational stress

injury I suffered after a young boy in Nanaimo was tragically killed

after being run over by a large truck. CPR was performed on the scene.

This tragedy struck the whole community, including my spouse.

“Although I could not imagine what the family was going through,

it’s sometimes forgotten that we are affected by these events too. I

presented with many symptoms that outline PTSD and was later diagnosed

by a trauma therapist who specializes with first responders. I was in

denial about my injury.

“By reaching out, I was able to get the help I needed, which has

allowed me to go back to work and helped me cope with the tragic things

I’ve experienced through my job.”

Runners started in Port Hardy on Saturday. Folks in Qualicum

Beach, Port Alberni, Parksville and Lantzville can cheer them on today

and Friday. Nanaimo’s legions and Serious Coffee host them

Friday.

Check out woundedwarriors.ca. You can see when they’ll be in your

town, and you can donate to their major fundraising effort that they are

doing right now.

In Victoria, you can greet these fine runners on Sunday at 4:30,

here behind the Legislature on Superior Street.

The front line keeps us safe every day. Please come out and

support the Wounded Warriors as they finish their epic journey down

Vancouver Island, and let them know that we have their backs

too.

Oral Questions

UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA STAFF

AND STUDENT SOCIETY

INVOLVEMENT IN PROTESTS

J. Johal: We know the Minister of Environment is good friends with

foreign-funded agitators behind these illegal blockades. We know the

Parliamentary Secretary for TransLink supports the illegal blockades and

the shutdown of the resource sector. This week the member for Nanaimo

added her voice to those who back the foreign-funded agitators. But

there’s also public money being expended.

Can the Minister of Advanced Education confirm if she supports the

University of Victoria staff who are organizing and advocating for these

illegal protests?

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. M. Farnworth: What’s insulting is that every day that side of the House is

trying to smear members of this House who have been doing their

job.

[10:30 a.m.]

What is insulting is an opposition that is trying to sow

dissension and inflame a situation which all of us on this side of the

House, provinces across the country and the federal government recognize

is at a critical stage and are working to find solutions to get the

blockades down. That’s what’s insulting.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Richmond-Queensborough on a

supplemental.

J. Johal: I’ll remind the Solicitor General that this week an Ipsos-Reid

poll came out, and 63 percent of Canadians want their government to show

a backbone and do something about these blockades. Instead, that side of

the House keeps playing footsie with agitators.

Let’s talk for a moment about their friends.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

J. Johal: Let’s talk about the NDP’s friends. We have UVic prof Seb Bonet,

who helped organize the shutting down of government ministries. I have

an email from him here. He says: “A whole bunch of us have committed to

coordinating the shutdown of as many B.C. government ministries as we

can.”

We have UVic professors cancelling classes and rescheduling

mid-terms. I have an email here from a third-year poli-sci instructor,

Dr. Glezos, who says: “Several students have been in touch with me about

missing class tomorrow to participate in the rally at the Legislature

building in support of the Wet’suwet’en. To ensure that anyone wishing

to participate can, I will be cancelling class tomorrow.”

Other classes have been taking field trips to the blockades being

funded by foreign money.

Does the Minister of Advanced Education believe this is an

acceptable practice for a publicly funded institution?

Hon. J. Horgan: I appreciate that the member wants to sow further discontent in a

situation that’s already very volatile.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. J. Horgan: It has been our objective from the beginning to find a peaceful

resolution. It has been our objective to acknowledge that dissent is

part of a democratic society. But it is also important that lawlessness

and unlawful behaviour be acknowledged and dealt with by appropriate

authorities.

There was a time not that long ago that those on the other side of

the House wanted the RCMP to be directed to take actions. We’re not

going to do that. No other province across the country is directing law

enforcement.

I’ve spent the past two weeks working with the Council of the

Federation and Premiers of different political persuasions and different

levels of understanding of the challenges of hereditary versus elected

governance structures.

I thought, when members on that side of the House stood with us

and members of the Third Party, unanimously supporting the declaration

on the rights of Indigenous peoples, that they wanted to join us in the

future, not dwelling in the past — the good old days when they were in

government, and they just directed people to do what they wanted them to

do. We’re not going to do it.

M. Polak: I’m sorry if the government’s QP prep didn’t accurately target the

angle we were going to take in question period today. Let me clarify

what we’re asking about once again.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members, unless we can properly listen to questions and

properly listen to answers, we’re going to have to take a recess here.

This is too much disorder.

M. Polak: The Premier mentions appropriate authorities. It would seem to me

that if opposition has a question about the appropriate use of

taxpayer-funded institutional activities like the University of

Victoria, the appropriate authority to ask is the Minister of Advanced

Education. So I’ll try again, and let’s be clear. That’s what this is

about.

The mission statement of the University of Victoria Students

Society says: “Our mission is to be a leader in providing high-quality

accessible services, advocacy and events that enhance the student

experience, and to build a campus community that embodies our

values.”

[10:35 a.m.]

Now the student society is actively involved in the illegal

protests here at the Legislature. They even enjoyed a movie-and-popcorn

night last night, which I understand was powered by a generator. I’m

curious what fuel they put in the generator.

Nevertheless, to the Minister of Advanced Education, does the

Minister of Advanced Education support the use of student dues being

there for the engagement in illegal activity?

Hon. J. Horgan: Here we go. Now the official opposition wants to ban popcorn and

movies here in British Columbia. Unbelievable.

If they could take a pause in their campaign to sow discontent

among British Columbians and try and work with us to unify

people…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. J. Horgan: …for a common purpose, for a better B.C., we’d all be better off.

Leave the kids to figure it out themselves. Let’s focus on the issues of

the day.

Mr. Speaker: The House Leader for the official opposition on a

supplemental.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members, we shall hear the question.

M. Polak: This really is disturbing that the answer you get is around

whether or not they think we like movies and popcorn. The question,

though, is a pretty serious one. If you’re a student at UVic, if you’re

an undergrad at UVic, guess what. You’re required to pay student dues,

and you’re trusting that your student dues are going to go for a

legitimate purpose.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members, we shall hear the question.

M. Polak: Is it the view of the Minister of Advanced Education that student

dues being used to provide, for example, a tent outside for an illegal

protest…? Does she think that that is an appropriate use of their

student dues?

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members, this is not a productive use of question

period.

Premier.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Interjections.

[Mr. Speaker rose.]

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members, order, please. We’ll bypass the answer to that

question. We’ll move on to the next question.

[Mr. Speaker resumed his seat.]

LNG CANADA PROJECT AND

GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIP

WITH WET’SUWET’EN NATION

A. Olsen: Last night we heard news that the federal and provincial

governments will be meeting with the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs. We

can all agree that that’s a positive development for all

Canadians.

We have to be honest about how we got here. The people in this

chamber today are not responsible for 150 years of colonial policies

designed to undermine and exclude Indigenous people. But they are

responsible for their votes to continue that legacy.

This time last year nearly every member of this chamber voted to

provide the ignition point for this conflict. Bill 10 handed billions of

taxpayer dollars to LNG Canada, inducing their final investment

decision. All members of this chamber, excluding the B.C. Green caucus,

voted more than a dozen times, knowing full well of the long-standing

rights and title challenges in that territory.

When the B.C. Green caucus was notified of the government’s

intention to push forward on the project, I asked whether they had a

plan to resolve the situation, the long-standing situation. I was told

not to worry about it; it’s taken care of. Well, this does not appear

taken care of, does it?

My question is to the Minister of Indigenous Relations and

Reconciliation. Why did this government vote to advance LNG Canada

before clarity around governance and reconciliation in the territory had

been established?

Hon. S. Fraser: I thank the Leader of the Third Party for his question. I also

want to thank him for his continued work on addressing reconciliation

issues. I appreciate the question. However, we have secured meetings

with the Office of Wet’suwet’en, the Hereditary Chiefs, beginning this

afternoon and tomorrow.

[10:40 a.m.]

I believe that this is a hopeful sign. I’m an optimist, of course,

but it is time that we pull together and not reflect on the past. We

have decided that working with the Office of the Wet’suwet’en, in

cooperation to find a way forward, we’ll address the rights and title

issues of the Wet’suwet’en people and do so with respect. That is what

I’m focusing on.

Mr. Speaker: The Leader of the Third Party on a supplemental.

ACTIVATION OF

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS

COMMITTEE

A. Olsen: It’s a difficult thing not to acknowledge the actions that got us

here — over generations and decades, actually. Now that the on- and

off-again talks are on again, it’s my sincere hope that the

representatives are going to the Wet’suwet’en territory to sit at a

table for as long as it takes for a good-faith solution to this Coastal

GasLink conflict, and not just to deliver an ultimatum.

It has become painfully obvious to British Columbians and

Canadians that this system is broken. It’s not serving anyone well in

this country or province. This Legislature has had a Select Standing

Committee on Aboriginal Affairs for the past 30 years. I’m on that

committee. It exists in title only, because the government has not

empowered it to be effective. That is a fitting symbol, I would say. We

have a tool for all of us here to work together, across party lines, to

find solutions to make the systemic changes that are needed to ensure

that the people in this chamber don’t just continue the dysfunctional

cycle that has been going on here for generations.

To the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, I’m

calling on this government to immediately strike and rename the

Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and empower it to better inform the

decisions in this chamber. Will they do so?

Hon. J. Horgan: I thank the member for his question. He will know, as a new member

of the House, that committees of this place are struck by consensus. The

committee is going to be convened — all committees are going to be

convened — and then we decide within this place what we charge those

committees to do.

The member will also know that although it hasn’t received a lot

of attention, earlier this week the First Nations Leadership Council was

meeting with government officials to begin the work to put in place a

workplan to implement the declaration act that was supported unanimously

by all members of this House not two months ago.

Work is underway, government to government, and that work will

then make its way to the committee so that all members can participate

in that. The work has to be initiated before we can get to that

step.

I thank the member for his thoughtful question. I can’t wait for

the committee to be constituted and do its work.

PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT INCREASES

AND PROPOSED

LEGISLATION

T. Stone: Last fall the Housing Minister rejected our proposed solution to

address the challenge of skyrocketing property taxes on undeveloped

airspace. She said at the time that she would instead “have a solution

that works for everybody.” Well, we now have her plan.

The reviews are in, and they’re not very good. Vancouver mayor

Kennedy Stewart had this to say: “This law fails to provide tax relief

for small business and non-profits, and it could wind up costing them

even more. There’s a huge gap between what we are asking for and what

this is.”

My question to the Minister of Housing would be this. Will she

scrap her bill, take the advice of the mayor of Vancouver, and adopt the

solution that was not just developed but was proposed by a broad range

of stakeholders?

Hon. S. Robinson: First of all, I want to certainly acknowledge that we have arrived

in this place with stratospheric property taxes because of the rising

value of land, because the previous government didn’t do what was asked

of them. Again, we received a letter from the CFIB just a year and a

half ago that said they’d been asking for ten years for someone to do

something, and they failed. They absolutely failed.

I was very proud to get a working group underway. That working

group came up with a number of solutions. They came up with about half a

dozen different solutions. We are continuing to work with them, to work

it through, to make sure that it works for everybody.

[10:45 a.m.]

The solution that was proposed is not actually keen for a number

of communities. The community of Whistler, for example, is not

interested in the proposal. There are other communities — I believe in

the Cariboo, as well — that had some serious concerns about that

proposal. We absolutely have lots of work to do. We are not backing away

from that. We are prepared to continue working with local

governments.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. S. Robinson: However, in the meantime, businesses were struggling. They were

struggling because they didn’t do their work.

We have a bill before the House. I hope they’ll join us in

supporting it to make sure that businesses will finally get the support

that they deserve.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Kamloops–South Thompson on a

supplemental.

T. Stone: Well, the mayor of Vancouver actually had this to say with respect

to there not being enough time. He said that on Monday the ministry had

said there wasn’t enough time to address those issues for 2020 but that

“we started talking about this with the province in late 2018. There has

been time.” Those are the words of the mayor of Vancouver.

The proposed solution was actually a solution that the

Intergovernmental Working Group developed. That was a working group that

was convened by her ministry, and she has turned her back on the

solution that they brought forward.

When I urged the minister to adopt my bill last fall, she had the

gall to say: “Clearly, they’re not interested in hearing about what

local governments have to say…. They don’t care what local governments

have to say.” That’s what the minister said when we brought forward a

solution. Here’s more of what Vancouver mayor Stewart had to say: “What

scares me is how many businesses will go down before we get this

fixed.”

Again, to the Minister of Housing, will she scrap her bill and

call the private member’s bill that we have put forward that actually

embodies the solution that local governments and all the other impacted

stakeholders have been calling for?

Hon. S. Robinson: We have not backed away from anything. We are working very, very

closely with local governments. In fact, I got off the phone today with

the president of the UBCM, who was very clear and wants us to continue

working with her, working with them and making sure it can address the

issues.

There are absolutely communities that are very keen to do this

work. I spoke with the mayor of Port Coquitlam. He’s excited to take a

look at this opportunity to deliver relief to his community.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. S. Robinson: Furthermore, staff did look at the opposition’s bill. We took a

look at it because we like ideas, wherever they come from. They actually

tell me, in looking at it and looking at the technical details, that it

will not give relief to the small businesses that need it. In fact, it

would impact the tax treatment of thousands of properties in British

Columbia, and it would leave small businesses worse off because they’re

proposing to give tax cuts to speculators and big developers who will

benefit from their ideas.

J. Thornthwaite: Well, that’s not what this person I’m just going to quote said

about your bill. Linda Buchanan is the mayor of the city of North

Vancouver, and she had this to say. The proposed changes of your bill

“won’t allow us to target businesses who are disproportionately being

affected by property values and could even possibly result in tax relief

for large international companies.” She goes on to say, “I’m

disappointed the province hasn’t delivered…the solution recommended by

the intergovernmental working group,” which was convened by your

ministry.

When will the Housing Minister stop talking, actually listen to

the mayors and adopt the solution laid out in our private member’s

bill?

Hon. S. Robinson: I want to remind the chamber that it was our government that

stepped up to give relief to small businesses, not theirs. They had a

decade. The CFIB called them out, and we’re stepping up. Now, the other

thing that I want to say….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members. At very least, it is patently unfair that the

public doesn’t have an opportunity to hear an answer from government. At

least you could do that. Thank you.

[10:50 a.m.]

Hon. S. Robinson: Thank you very much, hon. Speaker.

This bill that is before the House — and I expect there will be

some further debate — will be an opportunity for local governments to

very, very carefully designate which properties need the greatest amount

of relief. They have an opportunity to do that, and I look forward to

the debate in the House on that as we go through second

reading.

Again, I want to assure this chamber that this government is

committed to working together with local governments, to working

together with business, to making sure that we have a solution that

works for everybody.

J. Thornthwaite: I sense a pattern here. The NDP loves to consult. They love their

task forces like the MSP Task Force, the Small Business Task Force, the

ride-sharing committees, the caribou task force, but they ignore

everything they’re told by these experts.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

J. Thornthwaite: Mayor Buchanan was really clear, and I’ll quote her again: “I’m

asking the province to reconsider their approach and work with cities

toward a solution that will actually deliver results.”

So one more time, to the minister, when will she listen and

deliver the solution that the mayors are asking for?

Hon. S. Robinson: Well, we are working with municipalities on a permanent fix,

because that’s what we all want. We all want a permanent fix. So we did

an intermunicipal working committee with a handful of local governments

in the Lower Mainland.

The members seem to forget that they also represent Whistler, that

they represent the Cariboo, that they represent Fort St. John. But they

want to take a look at how….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. S. Robinson: They want to understand how any tax changes will be implicated for

those communities. I just spoke with the president of the UBCM, and she

also wants us to proceed with caution. She wants us to make sure we

consult with the UBCM. She wants to make sure and I want to make sure we

consult with the business community.

And you know what? We’re doing that. But in order to get all that

work done and give relief to businesses now for 2020, we want to be able

to do that.

The only way to do that is with this interim solution. However,

it’s up to local governments to work with us, but I’m committed to

making sure there’s a tool that will work for small businesses. You know

why, hon. Speaker? Because those people didn’t do it when they had the

chance.

FOREST INDUSTRY TENURE TRANSFER

IN CLEARWATER

AREA

P. Milobar: Last week when I raised questions on behalf of the residents, the

contractors, the forest workers in Clearwater and the North Thompson

valleys, the Forests Minister played a little cute with his wording of

his answer.

Although it was technically correct that the paperwork had not

crossed his desk, the people in the valley that have been impacted for

the last nine months of inaction by this minister were not as impressed

when, on Friday, the minister admitted on Kamloops radio stations that

in fact, he’d been talking back and forth with his staff since early

November — for four months — on this exact file. It doesn’t sound like

he wasn’t aware of what was going on with the tenure

transfer.

We then found out that Canfor has announced that if they don’t

have an answer from this minister by tomorrow, the deal is off, and all

bets are off on what happens in the North Thompson. We know the

Indigenous community in the North Thompson is not happy either with

these delays.

I’ll ask again today. It’s been nine months since this file

started. It’s been four months since all sides submitted their proposal,

which all sides…. By the mayor of Clearwater’s own words, none of them

love; all can live with.

When is the minister going to actually do his job and get an

answer for the people in the North Thompson Valley on what is happening

with the tenure transfer, given that he’s had the file for four

months?

[10:55 a.m.]

Hon. D. Donaldson: Thank you to the member for raising an important topic in this

House. A decision on this important matter will be expected very soon. I

can say to the communities, to the First Nations and to the workers that

we take their concerns seriously.

But as late as ten days ago, the proponents were still amending

their final draft to us. It’s incumbent upon our government and my

ministry to do the due diligence on those amendments and make sure that

our due diligence has been done.

Finally, it’s important to note that communities, workers and

First Nations have input before the deal is closed, unlike what happened

under the previous government.

Mr. Speaker: Kamloops–North Thompson on a supplemental.

P. Milobar: Well, let’s be very clear. The minister seems to be all over the

map with his answers on this. Last week on Tuesday, he wasn’t even

really aware of the proposal, the way they framed it up in this House.

By Friday, he’d been working on it for four months. On Friday, he also

said that there would be a decision this week. He also was aware last

Friday that tomorrow is the deadline for Canfor. Now he just answered

that sometime in the near future, there will be an answer.

Which is it, Minister? When will the people actually know what is

going on, and when will you stop threatening the collapse of this deal

by your lack of action?

Hon. D. Donaldson: Well, the week isn’t over yet.

I also want to remind the member….

Interjection.

Mr. Speaker: Member.

Hon. D. Donaldson: I also want to remind the House and remind the member that their

side voted against Bill 22, the very bill that gives public interest

considerations to communities in this situation, unlike back in

2013…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. D. Donaldson: …when Canfor and West Fraser did a timber swap of timber sales.

Over 450 people lost their jobs. The member over there who was the local

MLA said that one hour before the deal was done, the communities found

out about it.

We’re determined to have public interest considerations. They

voted against that.

RETIREMENT BRIDGING PROGRAM FOR

FOREST

WORKERS

D. Barnett: When the NDP announced a retirement bridging program for forest

workers, people were told that if they took the money, they couldn’t

work in forestry for 18 months. Now, all of a sudden, the NDP have

changed the parameters so that you’re not allowed to work at all for 18

months. My constituent Sandy Davidson wants to know: “How can the

government change the parameters like that midway through?”

My question is to the minister. What’s going on,

Minister?

Hon. H. Bains: Due to the fact of the pine beetle epidemic and unprecedented

fires…. In 2015, that side of the House, when they were government, knew

that 13 mills were going to go down, but they did nothing.

When those mills started to go down, we knew that we needed to

act. We dedicated $69 million to help those workers….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. H. Bains: So $69 million for retraining, job placement and pension

bridging.

I’m glad to say here today that 810 applications have been

processed, and $6 million has been dedicated. There is another amount,

$3 million, that is being processed, and 248 workers have actually

benefited from the pension bridging plan.

There’s a lot more work to be done. We have boots on the ground.

There are five offices open in all regions so the people can get help in

and near their communities. There are another 600 workers who have

contacted those offices.

[11:00 a.m.]

It is working. The workers are getting the help that they need,

because we are committed to it. They deserve it. We’re going to continue

to do that.

[End of question period.]

Orders of the Day

Hon. M. Farnworth: I call continued debate on the budget.

Budget Debate

(continued)

S. Cadieux: Mr. Speaker, are you better off because of this budget? That’s really

the question that British Columbians have to ask themselves.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

S. Cadieux: Before I begin my critique, let me say it does give me a great deal of

pleasure to speak today to Budget 2020, both as the MLA for Surrey South and

in my new role as the co–Finance critic. Now, I want to acknowledge the

exceptional work of my co-critic, the member for Prince George–Valemount,

for her initial response to the budget; to my colleague for Surrey–White

Rock, who has provided additional support to both of us; and especially to

our colleagues and the staff, who helped dissect and analyze this

budget.

I’ll also pause to acknowledge the work of the Finance Minister and

the Finance Ministry staff. It’s no small job to produce a budget for the

province, and I appreciate all of their work.

[S. Gibson in the chair.]

I do want to acknowledge, as well, my constituency staff back home in

Surrey, both of whom have joined me since our last session. Kiran Dhaliwal

and Ekamjit Ghuman do a stellar job for me and for the constituents of

Surrey South. So thank you, ladies.

We’re being asked here today, as a part of this debate, to reflect on

what we believe this budget will actually do for our province, for our

constituencies and for the people that send us here to represent them. I’ve

been reading and re-reading the budget and talking to constituents and

businesses. Here’s what we know.

With this budget, government has abandoned a number of major

commitments — promises that they made to British Columbians. It’s a budget

devoid of an economic strategy. It’s devoid of a plan to get and keep people

working. With this budget, government has now raised tax revenues by over

$3,000 per household in British Columbia. If the full three-year plan holds,

that will rise to $4,700 per family. At the same time, government says and

wants you to believe that your life is more affordable, which leaves me with

an overarching question: can we trust the budget, and can we trust the math?

Let me explain, using some examples.

Capital spending. This budget lays out an ambitious — and I’m not even

sure if that’s an adequate word — capital infrastructure plan. The plan is

to spend $7.1 billion. It’s to raise the debt-to-revenue ratio over that

time to 94.4 percent. That will put the triple-A credit rating at risk. That

will push debt servicing costs to almost $3 billion a year. That’s without

an interest rate increase and without the potential of a credit downgrade.

Yet the minister confirms in this budget document that they failed to follow

through on capital projects worth over $1 billion last year

alone.

Government is trying to capitalize on a promise they made to build a

second Surrey hospital. It’s a popular notion, I agree. I live in Surrey.

But three years ago they made that promise. Three years ago the minister

said the concept plan was underway. Now a business plan is getting underway,

but the project itself — arguably one that will be a mammoth capital

expenditure — is not in this budget. It is not in the capital plan. It’s a

promise; it’s not a project. How many years will this be pushed out if, in

year one alone, they were off in their capital budget by $1

billion?

Now housing. The NDP has built 2,400 or so new affordable housing

units along their plan for 114,000. At this rate, it will take 98 years to

fulfil that commitment. We know, from the government’s latest B.C. Housing

capital update, that only 18.8 percent of that budget has been allocated at

this time. The B.C. Non-Profit Housing Association has confirmed the

challenges with this. The reason that many housing units have been announced

by government but aren’t moving ahead is because they can’t be built for the

amount of money provided. Frankly, the math just doesn’t work.

[11:05 a.m.]

It’s not just in housing that we see this NDP math. It’s also apparent

in their approach to funding child care. The NDP promised a $10-a-day child

care plan for all parents, and that pledge has disappeared. Only 2,000

spaces have been created versus the promised 24,000 that were to be

completed by 2021. That’s fewer than 1,000 per year under a capital plan

that needed to be creating 8,000 spaces a year to keep that three-year

promise made in Budget 2018.

Now, there is no argument that a large investment was made to start

delivering on a $10-a-day plan. But let’s examine where we are. There are

29,000 families paying $10 a day or less. That’s about 6,000 more families

than were receiving subsidy under the B.C. Liberals. That’s not all of the

parents of British Columbia. Now investments in child care are going to

flatline before year 5 of the NDP’s ten-year plan. That means that if you

don’t have subsidized child care by next year, you likely won’t be getting

it. The budget will peak at only one-third of what it would cost to provide

$10-a-day child care to all kids under six.

I know these numbers well because I had to grapple with them when I

was on that side of the House. This means that two-thirds of B.C. parents

who were promised child care are out of luck. It’s a broken promise. The

math doesn’t work. They’re having to stall the rollout, and they’re stalling

that at one-third of the promise, halfway through that promised

rollout.

Parents in Surrey are dropping their kids off at school and watching

them go to a growing number of portables instead of the classrooms they were

promised. Government promised to rid Surrey, for example, of portables in

four years. The government boasts about 7,000 seats completed or underway.

But the fact is the member for Surrey-Panorama said it in her budget speech

— that there were 7,000 kids in portables when the NDP took power, and now

7,000 seats are completed or underway. But what she isn’t saying is that

5,200 of those were underway when they took power. The bigger problem,

though, is that they’ve added 32 percent more portables. We’re actually

going backwards. The math just doesn’t work. It’s a broken promise to the

people of Surrey.

Now, if we look at drivers…. Commuters are spending hundreds of

dollars on gas and are waiting for the Premier to deliver on the gas price

relief he promised almost two years ago. ICBC rates will continue to

skyrocket this year, and any relief is not expected until after the NDP ask

for your vote again in the next election. Under the NDP, the average

premiums have gone from $1,500 to $1,800 and will rise to $1,900 this year.

Instead of inducing competition in the industry, the NDP are growing ICBC

and taking away accident victim rights.

Just six months ago government was expecting ICBC to lose $50 million

this year. That number has almost doubled. Then they lost in court, and that

was projected to cost $400 million. But they hid the numbers from us and

from British Columbians and now want us to believe that ICBC will be in the

black next year. They’ve introduced legislation to limit the cost of experts

in cases — a limitation on all of our individual rights — in an effort to

find a way to make those promises work.

They’ve frozen rates, they say. Well, sort of, because meanwhile,

suggesting the transition costs to a new insurance model will include

capital costs of $92 million and be complete in 2022, the reality is that

these costs will be borne by optional rates, which are not frozen. So

drivers can expect more increases. That’s guaranteed. We also don’t know

what additional hidden costs lie in the transition, so rates could continue

to spike.

Something just smells fishy. Now, maybe they exaggerated the situation

to suit their agenda to switch to no-fault insurance. Maybe things are rosy.

But without the transparency on the numbers and the assumptions they are

making, I am left, once again, saying that the math simply doesn’t

work.

I’ll take a moment to talk about advanced education, which, of course,

Mr. Speaker, you know I was focused on just prior to this change to critic

of Finance.

The B.C. access grant. I will give kudos here. I think these grants

are a very worthy spend, but I’m definitely curious about the detail. The

minister says that 43,000 students will benefit. The budget document says

40,000. So which is it? At any rate, students in need will benefit from

grants of up to $4,000 per year, based on need, starting in September. If

the average grant is $1,000, meaning some will get much less and some more,

that would cost $43 million a year. But the budget is capped at $41 million.

So the new grant, while students like it, is not a new grant. It’s a

repackaged grant, like the rural dividend fund turned forestry

fund.

[11:10 a.m.]

Now, I know student advocates will be okay with that, because they

preferred a needs-based grant. But do the students who were counting on the

completion grant that existed know they won’t be eligible anymore as a

result of this budget?

When I asked the minister directly two years ago about this, I

inquired as to whether the grant — which, at the time, had been promised as

a completion grant and now has been switched to a needs-based grant, which

is fine. But I asked whether that was to replace the existing completion

grant program. And she said: “…I felt it was prudent for me to go in to look

at what already exists in the basket. So there’s no repackaging. I don’t

think that’s appropriate, to assume that we’re trying to repackage anything,

as a new government. There are two completion grants that fall within the

realm of $30 million.”

We know now that that $30 million is, indeed, repackaged, with an

additional add this year in the budget of $8 million to get to that $41

million, give or take. But did the students do the math? And did the

minister? Because she said, herself, that instead of 33,000 people per year

getting the existing completion grant — although the 2017 number was

actually 20,000 students at an average of $1,500 — she says now that 43,000

people will be eligible for $4,000 every year.

The math just doesn’t work. I think we’ll see some unhappy students

this fall. But either way, the budget for Advanced Education just doesn’t

add up. It’s just fun with numbers.

Now Health. Wow. The budget goes up by $1.3 billion. The bulk is in

the wage mandate. But why should we have confidence that the ministry will

come in on budget? They overspent by $500 million in 2019. The budget

document confirms it. Why should we have confidence in the

numbers?

With all of these inconsistencies and often misleading figures, it

leads me to ask another question, and that is: who is government working

for? There’s a lot of talk about affordability. Under the Premier, taxes are

up $5.7 billion and will go up to $8.8 billion next year. That means 23 new

and increased taxes — four new taxes this year alone. In fact, without four

new taxes that the Finance Minister has reached into your pocket for, her

budget would be in deficit. The budget is balanced, but only because you are

paying four new taxes.

This government will focus on the rich paying a little more, and many

won’t argue with that. It’s actually 25 percent more on incomes over

$220,000. There’s a new tax on vaping, which, again, most won’t argue with.

But what they don’t want you to talk about and think about is the Netflix

tax and the soda pop tax, because they needed those from you just to balance

this budget.

The NDP promised to bring housing prices down. They promised to make

homes more affordable for the average British Columbian. But housing prices

are on the rise, and housing starts have dropped 22 percent. People are

looking for their first home, and they’re learning that mansions are more

affordable for millionaires, but finding a condo, a townhouse or an

entry-level home is still out of reach. In fact, prices in greater Vancouver

are up 10 percent since January 2017. Strata councils are in crisis mode as

they watch insurance premiums skyrocket by up to 400 percent. Those are your

costs — the costs of each and every one of us.

The Finance Minister is quoted in the Vancouver Sun around

the Netflix tax as: “This is making sure that it’s a level playing field for

everyone. Some are paying right now. Others aren’t. We need to make sure

that there’s fairness for businesses.” That’s fascinating. The NDP is now

concerned about fairness for businesses. Where was that concern when they

brought in the EHT?

And jeez, you know, fairness for businesses. That means you, the

consumer, will pay 7 percent more for your Netflix and other streaming

services, because businesses don’t pay this tax. It’s not Netflix that pays;

it’s you. It’s on your bill — a total of $11 million from you for the NDP to

spend. Awesome. It doesn’t sound like life is getting any more

affordable.

[11:15 a.m.]

What about the most vulnerable? How’s life for them? In Social

Development and Poverty Reduction, money has been added for caseload

pressures. That sounds good until you read the fine print, because caseload

pressures in that ministry mean more people are on welfare — 10,400 more

people than when they took power three years ago. Let that sink in — 10,400

more people now rely on a welfare cheque to live.

More money for CLBC is good until, again, you read the fine print,

because at the same time, they are forecasting to spend less per person at

CLBC — $300 less, on average. Needs are getting more complicated, and we see

it with increased per-case costs in MCFD for children in residential care,

of almost $8,000 per year more. Many of those children will transfer to CLBC

at 18, where they’re going to pay less.

So why are these ministries’ plans at odds? I know some members will

have heard from some of the anti-poverty and disability advocates. The

member for Powell River–Sunshine Coast mentioned in his remarks that

advocates would have liked to see efforts continue to raise the rates for

income assistance and disability supports. I will echo that member that the

additional earnings exemption room that is added in this budget is a good

thing.

He also mentioned in his remarks that budgets are about choices, and,

indeed, they are. In this budget, government chose to invest in rebates for

people who can afford to buy electric cars, rather than in supports for

people with disabilities. It’s an interesting choice for a group of people

who level daily condemnation at the previous government for their

choices.

Now, there are a lot of broken promises. There’s no $400 renters

rebate. The childcare plan is stalling. There’s no money to add to get

people out of congestion, no money for the Massey Tunnel, which gets my

goat. Of course, first, they cancelled the project that was approved,

permitted and underway for a ten-lane bridge and wrote off in the process

$100 million, almost. But now there’s a plan to consult and to make a plan.

And no, there’s nothing in the budget.

There’s no money for commuter rail to the Fraser Valley, despite it

being hinted at in the throne speech. It’s just a plan to make a plan. It’s

simply not in the budget. There’s no new money to add to transit expansions

or add to Surrey SkyTrain. There’s no action to promote new market housing

or, really, to make housing more affordable.

Let’s focus on what the risks are to this budget, because I think

that’s really important. Spending is going up faster than revenues and

faster than the forecasted rate of growth for the economy. That isn’t

sustainable. There’s no allowance been made for the world market forces that

will undoubtedly affect B.C.’s small open trading marketplace and already

has.

There are no allowances made for the coronavirus implications. This

week we’ve already seen reactions on the stock market and banks starting to

downgrade their projections for our economy in Canada by 0.5 of a

percent.

What is government doing to mitigate the potential impacts of Brexit?

Now interest rates are low, but they will go up. There’s no room in the

surplus projected to manage debt-servicing cost increases or to match the

pace of growth projected for the infrastructure debt they plan to

incur.

Housing starts are slowing 22 percent. With fewer homes being built,

prices are going to become more unaffordable. B.C. has lost 32,000 jobs in

the last eight months. That’s a clear downward trend. That means fewer

people are working.

Consumers are less confident in their buying habits, and retail sales

are virtually flat. Forestry is in crisis. Blockades are delaying goods and

projects. Community benefits agreements are inflating construction costs.

B.C. is losing its reputation for investment. Business investment is

slowing. It’s harder for B.C. companies to sell their products. Exports have

fallen 6.4 percent.

While government spending is at a record high and growing faster than

revenues, at the same time they’ve cut the budgets of the job-creating

ministries by $700 million. Agriculture — no ability to mitigate the effects

of the blockades on B.C. farmers. Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources —

reduced. Forests — reduced. Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness —

reduced.

Now, “innovation” is a nice word, and we need more innovation, but

this budget does nothing to help. Nothing to help businesses with tech

adaptation or transformation. Nothing to help Surrey and other cities

attract businesses to build the innovation corridor that is speculated about

in their economic framework document released a few weeks ago. Nothing to

stimulate productivity gains.

[11:20 a.m.]

We’re watching the government close trade offices. We have a Trade

Minister of State that hasn’t examined the impacts of the coronavirus on

trade with China and impacts on businesses and the overall fiscal plan. And

maybe the biggest risk is that a bunch of the ministers don’t seem to

understand that they’ve had their budgets decreased.

Should people be worried? Yes, they should. The Premier told the

people of British Columbia that they could expect decisive action on

affordability and climate change. He told them they could expect significant

improvements in housing and child care in the province and that they could

expect an open and transparent government. However, Budget 2020 confirms

that the Premier has no intention of keeping the promises he made to British

Columbians. In many cases, promises have been abandoned.

It’s another tax-and-spend budget with no plan to grow the economy or

to help people get ahead. The only source of revenue the NDP seem interested

in is in the pockets of taxpayers. They have squandered the opportunity to

help people, with no focus on growing the economy or delivering on their

promises to make life affordable.

British Columbia is heading in the wrong direction, and that is a sad

and difficult thing for me to say. For my time in government and at the

cabinet table, we made very difficult decisions, decisions that had to be

made to build B.C. to the best economy in Canada, to leave office with a

$2.7 billion surplus — the difficult decisions not to spend more than we

had, not to take more out of the pockets of British Columbians than was

absolutely necessary. Sometimes to make difficult decisions not to do more

and sometimes to step in, in the interests of growing opportunity for

everyone in B.C.

The B.C. NDP is taking a very predictable and different path. B.C. is

losing jobs, and every single economic indicator is pointing in the wrong

direction. While incomes in the rest of Canada have gone up, according to

Stats Canada, incomes in B.C. have dropped. British Columbians deserve fewer

empty words and more action from this government. What the budget should

have represented was a blueprint for creating opportunity for all of B.C. By

that measure, it misses the mark and fails British Columbians.

After Budget 2020, British Columbians are left paying more and losing

out on programs they had set their hopes on. Yet somehow their government is

trying to tell them that they’re better off for it.

As I said earlier in my remarks, this budget should prompt people to

ask themselves: “Am I getting ahead under the NDP?” I think for the vast

majority of British Columbians, the answer is simply no. The simple truth is

that despite what the rhetoric of this government would lead you to believe,

life isn’t getting any more affordable for B.C. families. The NDP has

squandered opportunity and broken its promises, and no one is getting

ahead.

Deputy Speaker: I now call on the Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier to close

debate.

Hon. C. James: Thank you very much, hon. Speaker. Welcome to the job. I haven’t had

the opportunity to say that to you.

I also want to say thank you to all the members who took

part in the

debate and the discussion. It is an important part, as we all know, of

democracy to be able to have people put forward their criticisms, their

ideas, their solutions. In fact, I heard a number of members talk about the

things that they felt were positives in the budget and things that they

wanted more information on, things they wanted to ask questions on, things

they disagreed with as well. That’s an important part, as I said, of

democracy. So I thank all the members in the Legislature for their

discussion.

Now, I think it would be no surprise to anyone that I certainly didn’t

agree with all the comments that were made over the last week or so. I know

you’ll be shocked at that.

There were a couple of common themes that I just want to take a few

minutes to touch on in my close. I heard people talking about affordability.

I heard people talking about taxes, our economy and programs and services. I

just want to touch on a few of those comments that were made. I’m going to

tie the affordability piece together with the taxes piece.

I have to say…. I heard a lot of creative — I can’t think of any other

or better word to use — use of numbers, creative use of information that was

thrown around in here when it comes to talking about the support for the

people of British Columbia.

[11:25 a.m.]

I have to say that at some times during the debate, it would appear,

if you were listening to the other side, that not one of them was around for

the last 16 years. It would appear that they just weren’t here. I can

understand that. I can understand that they’d want to forget the last 16

years. I get that. The public certainly wants to forget the last 16 years,

so I think it would be no surprise.

It would be no surprise that they would want to forget that they

doubled MSP premiums, making life less affordable, in fact, for people. It

would be no surprise that they would want to forget that they doubled

tuition fees — making it more difficult for people to get into

post-secondary — that they charged tuition for adult basic education and

diverse abilities, that there were thousands of jobs lost in forestry, that

we saw jobs lost in health care and education because of contracts that were

torn up, and there was reduced support for children and seniors. So I can

understand why they want to forget that they were here.

Forget, in fact, that they cut services for ferry-dependent

communities, that they actually cut supports for children in care and that

we were the last province left without a poverty reduction plan under that

side on the other side.

Well, the public didn’t forget. That’s why they wanted a new

government that would put people first, and that’s what we’ve done in this

budget. In partnership with the Green caucus, we have, in less than three

years, provided more support for the people of British Columbia than

happened in the last 16 years under the other side.

Let’s just look at a few of those pieces. MSP premiums eliminated —

savings for families and individuals. We froze ferry fares. The seniors

discount is back on B.C. Ferries once again. We eliminated tolls on the Port

Mann and the Golden Ears bridges, saving people dollars. We improved health

care. We invested $1 billion to bring down surgical wait times, to support

low-income seniors and to make sure that individuals got support with their

medication costs, more MRIs, more diagnostic treatment, and we’re building

hospitals — unlike the other side.

And 300,000 families in British Columbia are going to receive the B.C.

child opportunity benefit this fall, until their children are 18 years old,

providing them with money in their pockets. Each and every year, we have

invested $1 billion to support our K-to-12 system, to support smaller

classes, to support our teachers, to ensure there are counsellors and

teacher-librarians and support for students with special needs.

We had to fix the challenges that were left us. We have ensured that

we now have free tuition for adult basic education and free tuition for

and we eliminated interest on student loans.

We didn’t stop there. We didn’t stop there. In fact, we built on that

success in Budget 2020 by bringing in the B.C. access grant which will

provide over 40,000 students with an upfront grant to help them get into

university and college.

What does that mean for families directly? Since the opposition’s last

budget, let’s take a look at the amount of taxes that are paid by families.

The average family with two children, who are earning $100,000 a year, now

has a 22 percent net reduction in their taxes. If a family with two children

is making $80,000, they see a 42 percent net reduction in their taxes. If a

family was making $60,000 with two children, they’ve seen a 60 percent

reduction since that side’s last budget.

Where do you think the lowest taxes are for those people who are

making $140,000 or less? Right here in British Columbia, across the

country.

[11:30 a.m.]

Where in the country do you think the third-lowest taxes are for

people making $475,000 or less? Right here in British Columbia.

Where is the second-lowest small business tax rate? Right here in

British Columbia.

We ensured that we built on a strong economic foundation, and B.C. is

expected to lead the country in economic growth in 2020 and 2021, once

again.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Not only that, we aren’t stopping there. This budget includes some

major capital investments, creating 100,000 direct and indirect jobs,

creating jobs in every corner of our province in investments.

I also want to mention…. I mentioned earlier that we were the last

province left without a poverty reduction plan. Well, no longer. Under our

government, we have legislated targets, and we’re working hard to reduce

poverty in British Columbia.

We’ve added to our historic investment in climate action through

CleanBC — $900 million, a historic investment, in last year’s budget, and

over $400 million in additional money in this year’s budget to ensure that

we do our

part in British Columbia.

I don’t want the other side to just listen to us. I think it’s

important also to listen to what other people have said about our budget.

“We commend the government for balancing the budget and addressing issues

like child care, and particularly post-secondary education.” That’s from the

B.C. Business Council.

“The economy is strong and expected to remain so. B.C.’s general

economic fundamentals are solid, compared with its provincial counterparts”

— Gary Mason, in February.

Justine Hunter: “British Columbia remains one of the strongest

provinces in the country for labour markets and growth.”

Let’s hear from some of the students. “Trades students are often

overlooked when it comes to student assistance programs. The access grant is

going to make that something different” — Vancouver Community

College.

Again on the issue of climate action. “It’s B.C. budget day. It’s

clear that the B.C. government understands that every provincial budget

needs to be a climate budget. I’m glad that CleanBC will help us not only

cut carbon pollution but help lower our energy bills” — Merran Smith,

executive director of Clean Energy Canada.

Budget 2020 builds on the progress we’ve made as a government. It

makes life more affordable, it improves services, and it builds a

sustainable economy in every corner of British Columbia.

With that, I move, seconded by the hon. Premier of British Columbia,

that the Speaker do now leave the chair for the House to go into Committee

of Supply.

[11:35 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.]

Motion approved on the following division:

YEAS — 44

Chouhan

Kahlon

Begg

Brar

Heyman

Donaldson

Mungall

Bains

Beare

Chen

Popham

Trevena

Chow

Kang

Simons

D’Eith

Sims

Routley

Elmore

Dean

Routledge

Singh

Weaver

Darcy

Simpson

Robinson

Farnworth

Horgan

James

Eby

Dix

Ralston

Mark

Fleming

Conroy

Fraser

Chandra Herbert

Rice

Malcolmson

Leonard

Furstenau

Olsen

Glumac

NAYS — 39

Cadieux

de Jong

Bond

Polak

Wilkinson

Lee

Stone

Coleman

Kyllo

Bernier

Thornthwaite

Paton

Ashton

Barnett

Yap

Martin

Davies

Reid

Sullivan

Morris

Stilwell

Ross

Oakes

Johal

Rustad

Milobar

Sturdy

Clovechok

Shypitka

Hunt

Throness

Tegart

Stewart

Sultan

Gibson

Letnick

Thomson

Larson

Foster

Hon. M. Farnworth moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

Mr. Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 1:30 this afternoon.

The House adjourned at 11:41 a.m.

The Official Report of Debates ( Hansard ) and webcasts of

proceedings

are available on the Internet. Chamber debates are broadcast on

television.

Copyright © 2020: British Columbia

Hansard Services, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada