First Session, 43rd Parliament

Official Report

of Debates

( Hansard )

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Afternoon Sitting

Issue No. 24

The Honourable Raj Chouhan , Speaker

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

Introduction and First Reading of Bills

Bill M205 — Mental Health Amendment Act, 2025

Elenore Sturko

Members’ Statements

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Jessie Sunner

Sports Teams in Langley

Misty Van Popta

Support for Health Care Workers

George Anderson

Coronation Medal Recipient Colin Metcalf e

Lynne Block

Seton Villa Retirement Centre

Janet Routledge

Economic Reconciliation and Support for Residential School Survivors

Amelia Boultbee

Oral Questions

Age-Appropriate Content in Schools

John Rustad

Hon. David Eby

Supportive Housing and Access to Addiction Treatment Services

Heather Maahs

Hon. Ravi Kahlon

Wind Power Projects and Costs

Rob Botterell

Hon. Adrian Dix

Oil and Gas Industry Emissions Reduction Requirements

Rob Botterell

Hon. Adrian Dix

Conduct of Conservation Officers

Lorne Doerkson

Hon. Garry Begg

Wind-Generated Electricity Environmental Assessments and Consultation on Wind Power

Projects

Ian Paton

Hon. Adrian Dix

Government Transparency and Role of Select Standing Committees

Korky Neufeld

Hon. David Eby

Funding for Métis Nation K-to-12 Education

Scott McInnis

Hon. Lisa Beare

Kootenay Lake Ferry Labour Dispute

Harman Bhangu

Hon. Jennifer Whiteside

Hon. David Eby

Orders of the Day

Government Motions on Notice

Motion 9 — Committee of Supply and Committee of the Whole to Sit in Two Sections

Hon. Mike Farnworth

Motion 10 — Extension of Sitting Hours

Hon. Mike Farnworth

Third Reading of Bills

Bill 3 — Protected Areas of British Columbia Amendment Act, 2025

Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson

Second Reading of Bills

Bill 6 — Supply Act (No. 1), 2025

Hon. Brenda Bailey

Peter Milobar

Hon. Brenda Bailey

Budget Debate (continued)

Susie Chant

Lynne Block

Hon. Sheila Malcolmson

Macklin McCall

Hon. Jennifer Whiteside

Rosalyn Bird

Hon. Diana Gibson

Reann Gasper

Hon. Anne Kang

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

The House met at 1:33 p.m.

[The Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: Rosalyn Bird.

[1:35 p.m.]

Introductions by Members

The Speaker : Members, before I invite the members to introduce their guests, I would like to introduce

one very special guest today in the gallery.

Joining us in the members’ gallery this afternoon is Her Excellency Dr. Artemis Malo,

Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to Canada. This is Ambassador Malo’s first official

visit to Victoria. I had the pleasure of having a courtesy call with her earlier today.

Again, let’s welcome the ambassador.

Hon. David Eby : I looked up in the gallery, and I saw my old friend Sue Hammell, who represented

Surrey–Green Timbers for many years in this place.

She was Minister for Women’s Equality, and I think that it is safe to give her, and

obviously a number of other people, significant credit for the number of women sitting

in the Legislative Assembly. Her work, particularly on the equity mandate for the

NDP, to ensure that we better reflected the makeup of the province — I wanted to make

sure that was on the record.

Would the House please join me in making Sue feel very welcome to come back.

Á’a :líya Warbus : It is my pleasure today to welcome into the House the Indigenous youth internship

program, which has been running for a number of years.

To Sabrina, Amanda, Cecilia, Molly, Tasha, Sydney and Riley, I’d like the House to

make them very welcome and welcome the future of British Columbia.

Hon. Ravi Parmar : It’s a pleasure to be able to welcome to the House today a good friend of mine, someone

I’ve gotten the chance to get to know these last couple of months, the mayor of Vanderhoof,

Kevin Moutray.

Kevin, it’s good to see you. I’m looking forward to meeting with you later today with

some of my colleagues.

Would the House please join me in making him feel very welcome.

John Rustad : Today we welcome another special guest who is a former member of the Legislature,

Gwen O’Mahony, who is here.

She served as one of the MLAs from Chilliwack in her time and is somebody who, of

course, ran for us in the in the last election. I know she’s doing great work, in

terms of this, between this last election and now, and she continues to advocate for

the things that are right in this province.

With her is also Frenchie Viau.

Would the House please make them both very welcome.

Hon. Diana Gibson : It’s my pleasure today to introduce my constituent and her guest, Patricia Lane and

Siobhán O’Donoghue.

Patricia is a community activist and lawyer and, through her work and her engagement

in the community, has done so much. It’s beyond possible to list her contributions,

things from the boards of Sierra Club and Clean Energy Canada to one of our largest

credit unions.

Siobhán is visiting from Ireland, where she has worked with community organizations

doing things like working with migrant workers and is here to meet with the University

of Victoria and community partners.

Would the House welcome my guests today.

Gavin Dew : Our Conservative caucus was very pleased today to welcome Sam Howard, Ryan Mitton

and Emily Boston from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business to speak with

us about the importance of addressing red tape, taxes and trade barriers.

Would the House please join me in a very raucous round of applause in support of their

efforts to champion Canadian businesses and shopping local.

Susie Chant : I have two introductions today.

The first was…. We had breakfast this morning with the Resident Doctors of B.C., and

it’s my pleasure to introduce the many representatives from the Resident Doctors of

B.C. who are joining us in the gallery today: the president, Adeeb Malas; the past

president, Dr. Harrison Anzinger. The executive director and my colleague Lona Cunningham,

came with other members from the board to meet with the MLAs and share their experiences.

[1:40 p.m.]

Resident Doctors of B.C. supports residents in fulfilling their education to become

well-informed, prepared and professional physicians enhancing patient care. We are

so grateful for all the advocacy and work that they do for our resident doctors, who

are an essential part of our health care system.

Would the House please join me in making them feel very welcome.

My second introduction. We had lunch today hosted by the Alzheimer Society. There

were a great number of members from the Alzheimer Society and a great many people

from this House.

We all know that the Alzheimer Society contributes a lot to the support of a whole

group of people in our province, a group of people that is growing: both the clients

themselves who have Alzheimer’s and those that provide the care and support.

I would ask the House to make a warm welcome for the folks from the Alzheimer Society.

Brennan Day : Leading off with your lovely introduction, I’d also like to reach out to the Alzheimer

Society.

I don’t think there’s anybody in this House who doesn’t know somebody that’s been

affected or is affected.

I’d like to introduce Jennifer Lyle, Paula Brill, Rebecca Frederick and Jim Mann,

who are doing some amazing work advancing that cause across our province.

Please make them feel welcome.

Janet Routledge : I have two introductions to make today.

Firstly, I’d like to introduce Michele Cook, the CEO of Seton Villa, which is located

in Burnaby North, and her partner, Frank Duong.

Please join me in welcoming them.

My second introduction. I’d also like to welcome these incredible young women in the

gallery who are part of the Indigenous youth internship program within the government

of British Columbia. They are Sabrina Moshenko, Cecilia Raweater, Molly Taylor, Tasha

Griffiths-LeClair, Sydney Harakal and Riley Swan. They are accompanied by the program

lead, Amanda Sylvester.

These incredible young women are hosted at the Legislative Assembly on a one-day twinning

program by our British Columbia branch of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians. While

they’re here, they have an opportunity to spend time with women MLAs to learn about

our role and life as women parliamentarians.

Please join me in giving them a very warm welcome.

Scott McInnis : It’s been a tremendous honour this week to have lots of family in attendance from

the East Kootenays. Just a couple more quick introductions.

Aunt Marian Pastore is here today. Unfortunately she couldn’t be in the building,

but Ellie Neuman, another family member I know, is watching at home.

Would the House please make them feel welcome today.

Stephanie Higginson : I want to start by thanking the Minister of Forests for allowing me to do this introduction

today.

In the House, we have a very special guest, Dr. Colin Mahony, who is a registered

professional forester. Colin is an important person in my life because he introduced

me to my husband.

Do you remember that? That is worth applause in itself.

Our friendship spans over 20 years. It includes owning property together. It includes

raising our babies together, who are not babies anymore, building off-grid cabins

together. And when Colin was in his 20s, he circumnavigated Vancouver Island in a

kayak, solo. He’s a pretty awesome person.

But that’s not why we’re going to give him applause today. We are going to give Colin

applause because it is with great pride that I introduce Dr. Colin Mahony as the 2024

Forest Professional of the Year.

Look at us. We’re all grown up, Colin.

He was awarded by Forest Professionals B.C. for outstanding service to the profession

of forestry and the principles of Forest Professionals British Columbia.

[1:45 p.m.]

Dr. Mahony, or C-Dog or C-Money, as he is known in our circles, is currently a research

climatologist and team lead with the Future Forest Ecosystems Centre in the office

of British Columbia’s chief forester.

His team is working to properly integrate climate change data as decision tools in

ecosystem management, putting usable climate data in the hands of practitioners, allowing

them to make immediate difference on the ground within B.C.’s forests. Dr. Mahony

is a provincewide leader in climate science with over 25 years of forestry experience.

Colin, I am so proud to stand here today and acknowledge your tremendous accomplishments.

Would the House please join me in congratulating Dr. Mahony for his incredible contributions

to B.C.’s forests.

Amshen / Joan Phillip : I just wanted to specifically have you welcome Cecilia Raweater. She has her bachelor

of arts in First Nations and Indigenous studies and will be going to UBC, taking her

master’s there.

Please join me in welcoming Cecilia.

Pete Davis : I think that all of us would agree that we wouldn’t be here or wouldn’t be able to

do our jobs without our amazing legislative assistants that work behind the scenes

for us. Today I’m honoured to have my legislative assistant here, Pegah.

I just wanted to say thank you very much for everything you do.

I think that we should give all of our legislative assistants a big hand for the work

that they do to support us.

Hon. Sheila Malcolmson : This is not a controversial introduction at all. The Health Minister has asked me

to invite the House to warmly welcome the Denman Island seniors pickleball group.

These are committed community volunteers — Sue Hammell, who the Premier has already

introduced; Vicki Ryle; Marina Reed; Paul and Susanne Beauchemin; C Rea; and Steve

Eberle.

Will the House please welcome the Denman Island seniors pickleball association.

Hon. Brenda Bailey : I would like to speak to someone who is watching our proceedings from an unusually

elegant office in Vancouver today.

This well-known and successful businessman yesterday met with another large investor

and challenged him. He said: “This week, I’ve invested in three B.C. companies: one

in cybersecurity, one in medical devices and one in traditional industry. All B.C.”

He said: “Now is the time for people who’ve been successful in this bountiful province

to give back.”

This action is Buy B.C. It’s patriotism, and it’s leadership. This gentleman doesn’t

want recognition, but on behalf of British Columbia, I want to thank him and encourage

all others in his position to do the same and accept the Invest B.C. challenge.

The Speaker : Now, Burnaby East.

Rohini Arora : Burnaby East for real.

I want to take a second to also shout out Sabrina Moshenko, who is from Burnaby and

is the first person in her family to graduate with a degree in sociology.

Let’s please give her a super-warm welcome.

My colleague back here, of course, talked about the B.C. resident doctors. I just

wanted to give a shout-out to my cousin, Shikha Walia, who is a resident doctor in

psychiatry.

Please help me to make her feel really welcome.

Introduction and

First Reading of Bills

Bill M205 — Mental Health

Amendment Act, 2025

Elenore Sturko presented a bill intituled Mental Health Amendment Act, 2025.

Elenore Sturko : I move that a bill intituled the Mental Health Amendment Act, 2025, of which notice

has been given in my name on the order paper, be introduced and read a first time

now.

The Mental Health Amendment Act, 2025, aims to improve communication between close

relatives and health care providers when a person is brought to the hospital in a

mental health crisis and upon their release if they have been certified under the

Mental Health Act.

The amendments proposed in this bill will reduce the risk of suicide and self-harm.

These amendments are also an important addition to public safety measures, as they

assist with mental health assessments for people who pose a risk to harming others.

[1:50 p.m.]

On February 26, a man allegedly in drug psychosis was apprehended following two home

invasions, where he brutally assaulted a senior and terrorized an entire neighbourhood.

The man was taken to the hospital to be assessed, and while in hospital, that man

assaulted a police officer by choking and attempting to disarm them of their gun.

He was subsequently charged with multiple violent offences.

Days after the initial incident, my office was contacted by a close relative of this

very troubled individual. The family member had important information they wanted

to share regarding what they felt was an escalating risk to public safety, and they

had not been contacted by the hospital or police.

The Mental Health Amendment Act, 2025, would have necessitated this valuable information-sharing.

As this government moves forward with involuntary care, the Mental Health Amendment

Act, 2025, can assure that doctors and nurse practitioners have more information to

help them in their assessments, keeping people with mental illness and the public

safe.

I hope members from both sides of this chamber will support this important bill.

The Speaker : Members, the question is the first reading of the bill.

Motion approved.

Elenore Sturko : I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the

next sitting of the House after today.

Motion approved.

Members’ Statements

International Day

for the Elimination of

Racial Discrimination

Jessie Sunner : I rise today to recognize the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination,

which is taking place on March 21. This is a day to reflect on the deep injustices

that persist in our society, and it is a call to action to urgently confront racism

in all its forms.

As a human rights lawyer in my former life and now as the Parliamentary Secretary

for Anti-Racism Initiatives, I know that discrimination is not a thing of the past.

It is woven into the systems and structures that continue to create barriers for Indigenous,

Black and racialized people. It appears in hate-motivated violence, inequities in

education, employment and health care and in everyday experiences of people who are

made to feel like they don’t belong.

Racism does not persist by accident. It continues when we fail to confront it directly,

when injustice is met with silence and when the voices of those who are most affected

are ignored.

Our government is taking action on this. Through the Anti-Racism Act, we are developing

stronger protections against hate, and ensuring racialized communities are collaboratively

involved in leading this process.

But let’s be clear. There is no room for racism in our society. We cannot look away

when people spread hate, and we cannot be bystanders when discrimination happens in

our communities, in our workplaces or even in this very Legislature. The fight against

racism requires all of us to speak up and take action not just when it is easy but,

more importantly, when it is hard.

Eliminating racial discrimination is not going to happen overnight. It is the work

of our lifetime. But if we are truly committed to justice, we must be relentless.

The future of the province will not be written by fear or division. It will be defined

by the courage of those who refuse to accept anything less than equity, dignity and

justice for all people.

Sports Teams in Langley

Misty Van Popta : I stand here today to highlight some inaccuracies spoken in this chamber. I believe

it is our duty to speak the truth while also highlighting our communities.

You see, Mr. Speaker, twice in as many weeks I have heard the Minister of Forests

infer that his community is the place to be for sports in this province. But that

is just factually incorrect.

[1:55 p.m.]

Now I will spend the next minute and a half and show you that, indeed, Langley is

the best place for sports. For a community of 155,000 people, Langley has six semi-professional

or professional sports teams.

That’s right, folks. We have the Vancouver Giants from the WHL; the Langley Rivermen

from the BCHL; a PJHL team with the Langley Trappers; the newest CPL team, Vancouver

FC; the Vancouver Bandits, which is a CEBL team; and the Langley Thunder, a WLA team.

That’s three hockey teams, a basketball team, a soccer team and a lacrosse team. Langley

is the place to be on the weekend.

These teams have notable alumni like Athan Iannucci, Evander Kane, DJ Steward, Gael

Sandoval, Dante Fabbro and many, many others throughout the sports world. All six

of these teams can be seen throughout the community in their off time, volunteering

or backing local charitable organizations.

Many team owners are local or regional members, rooted in both business and philanthropic

works in our community. The Be a Giant Foundation, the Bandits Community Foundation,

the Take Flight ticket donation initiative, the Coats for Kids program, food bank

drives and unhoused resource supports are just a few ways that these teams give back

to the Langley community.

Why is it that teams and organizations are flocking to Langley? Well, it is arguably

the most awesome place to live. But besides that, it is also its grade A facilities,

like the Langley Events Centre, with its courts, ice sheets, stadium and new progressing

five dry ice sheets and arena. But most of all, it’s a very enthusiastic community

that is so supportive of the local sports scene.

In closing, although I’ve not had a chance to research the teams that Minister Parmar’s

community has, let it be known here in this chamber that I would love a friendly jersey

exchange in the event of a win if two of our teams shall ever meet. And perhaps, just

perhaps, he too can catch a glimpse of the great Canadian Michael Bublé, co-owner

of the Vancouver Giants, in the event he wants to see some top-notch hockey in my

hometown of Langley.

Bring it on.

Support for Health Care Workers

George Anderson : Our journey through life begins and ends in the care of our health care workers.

They are there from our first breath to our final moments and every stage in between.

They are the steady hands that heal, the voices that comfort and the advocates who

fight for our well-being. And nearly five years ago this March they carried us through

one of the most uncertain times in modern history.

I know firsthand the impact of their care. A couple of years ago I had emergency surgery

at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, and it was the skill, compassion and dedication

of the nurses, doctors and front-line health care workers that ensured that I and

so many others got the care that we needed. For that, I will always be grateful.

There are times when the demands on them are greater than ever, when hospital hallways

are crowded, when exhaustion is heavy and when uncertainty fills the air. But our

health care workers do not walk away. They stay, and they step up, because even when

the world feels uncertain, they remain the certainty we rely on. To those who say

our health care system is broken, I say to them that it is strong because of the people

who dedicate their lives to it.

Whether it’s the nurse in the emergency room, a pharmacist ensuring the right medication,

an oncologist delivering life-saving care or a medical stenographer keeping accurate

records, they are the foundation of our system. We must never take them for granted.

We must never forget their sacrifices.

We must never allow supporting them to become a partisan issue. Because no matter

who we are or where we come from, when we or our loved ones need care, our health

care workers show up for us. As British Columbians once did collectively every evening

at 7 p.m., I ask all members of this House to show their appreciation today and every

day.

To all of our front-line health care workers: we see you, we thank you, and we stand

with you.

Coronation Medal Recipient

Colin MetcalfE

Lynne Block : I rise today to recognize an outstanding constituent in my riding of West Vancouver–Capilano,

Colin Metcalfe, who has been awarded the King Charles Coronation Medal, a well-deserved

honour.

Colin is a highly respected corporate affairs specialist with an impressive career

spanning both the public and private sectors. His expertise in speech writing, politics,

policy analysis and crisis communications has made him a trusted voice in business

and government relations.

[2:00 p.m.]

A seasoned political veteran and a past member of Vancouver’s Power 50, as recognized

by B.C. Business Magazine , Colin has consistently demonstrated leadership not only in his professional life

but also in his community.

Colin has held positions such as special assistant to the ministry of Fisheries and

Oceans, Hon. John Crosbie. He’s been the director of communications with the B.C.

Lions Football Club, director of communications for the Vancouver Whitecaps and was

vice-president of corporate affairs for Ridley Terminal, to name just a few of the

roles he’s held that have showcased his talent.

Currently he serves on the board of directors of the Vancouver Club, chairing its

governance committee, and leads his local community association as president, always

finding ways to give back and strengthen the place we call home.

Today I celebrate Colin Metcalfe’s remarkable contributions to both his community

and our province.

Congratulations, Colin. This honour is a reflection of your dedication and service.

Would the members please join me in congratulating Colin on this prestigious award.

Seton Villa Retirement Centre

Janet Routledge : Let me introduce you to one of my favourite neighbours. Seton Villa is a unique non-profit

retirement centre that provides affordable housing for 225 seniors.

On three floors are 28 assisted-living units. Residents live independently on the

remaining 18 floors. The Seton Villa bus takes residents shopping and to events. The

dining room offers three meals a day, and almost everything is made from scratch.

The 19th-floor penthouse is a huge meeting area with panoramic views. It’s equipped

with a pool table and exercise equipment. Residents meet there for coffee, chair yoga,

active games and happy hour. They celebrate special events like Remembrance Day, Pride

Day and International Women’s Day. The residents have their own organization called

the villagers. They personally greet and integrate new members to make them feel at

home.

Many languages are spoken by the staff. Some staff members have worked there for 30

or 40 years. Many young people in the neighbourhood get their first job at Seton Villa.

Some of my other neighbours serve on their board and/or have dreams of moving there

someday.

Seton Villa is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Many of them are lifelong

Burnaby residents, like Joanne, who remembers when this third-largest city in the

province was a wilderness. Another resident still remembers the trauma of searching

for bodies when the Second Narrows Bridge collapsed. He was only 15 at the time.

The average age of Seton Villa residents is now 87. The eldest will be 107 next month.

People are living longer today, and most residents use a walker. The tiny elevators

can’t accommodate wheelchairs. Luckily, a four-storey expansion that’s under construction

will be wheelchair-accessible.

When my helijet from Victoria turns into the harbour tomorrow morning and I see Seton

Villa on the hill in the distance, I’ll know I’m home.

Economic Reconciliation and

Support for Residential

School Survivors

Amelia Boultbee : I rise today to speak from the heart on a very important, specific element of the

reconciliation process, economic reconciliation.

Reconciliation isn’t a token phrase to use when we seek to connect meaning to the

actions of government with the First Peoples of our province and Canada. Reconciliation

is the act of acknowledging and recognizing the past harms inflicted, in particular

by the residential school system. Trauma from the residential school system is intergenerational

and exists today. It persists in the hearts and minds of Indigenous people in every

corner of this province.

Sadly, many Indigenous people still feel disconnected, invisible and ignored. Land

is identity. Land is community. Land is past, present and future, and self-determination.

Economic reconciliation is about fostering relationships, about having difficult conversations

to find solutions together. As the former Lieutenant Governor Steven Point said, we

cannot turn back the clock 100 years, but we can envision a plan for the next 100

years.

[2:05 p.m.]

Economic reconciliation will enhance the lives of all British Columbians by working

hand in hand with the First Peoples of B.C. and enriching all of our lives socially,

culturally and economically. But for economic reconciliation to work, we must listen

first. We were given two ears and one mouth, and that means listening more than we

speak. And that means listening to survivors.

May we all do a lot more listening in the months and years ahead.

Oral Questions

Age-Appropriate Content in Schools

John Rustad : More than a year ago when I asked the Premier about SOGI and the sexualization of

children in our schools, the Premier said raising this issue was, and I quote: “Cultural

war and feeds the fires of division.”

Yesterday we learned from the Minister of Education that this government is reviewing

SOGI to make it more age-appropriate.

Will the Premier now admit that he was wrong to characterize concerned parents as

being hateful?

Hon. David Eby : We have a huge interest in making sure that all kids feel safe at school, regardless

of who they are, where their origin is. I regret very much that the member of the

opposition, members of his caucus have repeatedly distorted a program that, by the

way, the Leader of the Opposition stood behind, endorsed, supported as a member of

the cabinet for many years.

It caused fear among parents, particularly among parents from new-arrival communities

just arriving in B.C., trying to figure out the school system, and then they hear

about this horrific program. It’s actually an anti-bullying program to protect kids.

He and his colleagues promoted that hate and fear in our communities. And now, unsurprisingly,

we have to go through and do some work with communities to make sure that they understand

that we’re out there to protect kids and look after them. It didn’t stop during the

election campaign.

Just last night the opposition Health critic was at a far-right event called We Unify.

She was on a three-person panel, one of whom was discredited Alberta doctor Dr. William

Makis. She’s the Health critic.

He said COVID-19 vaccines are neither safe nor effective. On Monday, he posted an

article claiming the vaccine causes AIDS. That was Monday. And related to SOGI….

Interjection.

The Speaker : Member. Member.

Hon. David Eby : Well, what did you say on the panel, Member?

Interjections.

The Speaker : Member. Members.

Premier.

Hon. David Eby : After his medical licence was cancelled, he said the College of Physicians and Surgeons

of Alberta should be renamed the “College of pedophiles and child sex abusers.”

This is who the Health critic for the opposition sat beside at a panel yesterday.

That’s the kind of hate they promote.

The Speaker : Leader of the Official Opposition, supplemental.

John Rustad : Well, it’s pretty clear the Premier will not apologize to parents that he called

hateful. Regardless of that, I do have, perhaps, a different angle to take on this.

Yesterday the Minister of Education said, and I quote: “The ministry is working towards

a provincial framework that includes specific criteria ensuring age-appropriate materials

are in school.”

Will the minister commit today to having parents decide what is age-appropriate material

in our schools?

Hon. David Eby : The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are repeatedly promoting disinformation,

misleading parents, misleading British Columbians about everything from SOGI to what’s

happening in our schools.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members, come to order.

Hon. David Eby : I encourage any parent that if you have concerns about what’s happening in a school,

talk to your teacher. Talk to your kid’s teacher. Don’t listen to the Leader of the

Opposition or his Health critic about what’s happening in the province.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members. Members.

Hon. David Eby : She sits beside a doctor who lied and said that 80 young doctors died from the COVID-19

vaccine. She sat beside a doctor that said COVID-19 vaccines are neither safe nor

effective.

Interjection.

The Speaker : Member. Member, wait for your turn.

[2:10 p.m.]

Hon. David Eby : She sat beside a doctor who said that COVID-19 vaccines cause AIDS.

These are the people the opposition endorses, sits beside, gives legitimacy to. What

an embarrassment.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members. Members.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members.

Interjection.

The Speaker : Member, come to order.

The Premier has the floor.

Please.

Hon. David Eby : I’m sure the member will stand up and clarify that she disagreed vehemently with

his tweets, with his misrepresentation of vaccines.

But will the Leader of the Opposition stand up and denounce her attendance at this

conference?

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members. Members, shhh.

Members, calm down. Members.

Do you want to ask a question, or anybody else? If not, wait for your turn. We’ll

take care of it.

Please conclude.

Hon. David Eby : Now, the member from Kamloops denounced the conference that the Health critic was

at, calling it “a far-right conference.” He said: “The Leader of the Opposition must

clearly denounce this conference once and for all and explain to British Columbians

why he and his candidates endorsed it in the first place.”

I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition will denounce this conference and everything

that happened at it last night.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members. Members.

Please conclude.

Hon. David Eby : Thank you.

I hope the Leader of the Opposition denounces the conference and his member’s attendance

at it.

Supportive Housing and Access to

Addiction Treatment Services

Heather Maahs : A B.C. Housing project planned for Trethewey and Rowat Avenue is four years behind

schedule. These 49 units for supportive and complex care are desperately needed for

my constituents both in and around Chilliwack. The closest recovery beds are in Surrey,

a two-hour round trip, if one is lucky enough to access one of the only 16 beds.

With zero new recovery beds in B.C. in the NDP budget, when will this government commit

to delivering additional treatment beds?

Hon. Ravi Kahlon : It’s refreshing to hear somebody in this place on the opposite side talking about

supportive housing and wanting it in their community. You can call this a heritage

moment.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Shhh.

Hon. Ravi Kahlon : We have been working closely with many community organizations on the ground to support

people in Chilliwack in particular. We have a project that’s in front of council right

now that will help get a lot of people off the streets, and I certainly hope that

mayor and council approve it. I believe it’s coming to council tonight.

I know we’ve heard from the mayor there, who says they don’t want any supportive housing

anymore. But there are people in the community that are struggling that need to get

supports to get indoors.

We offered the city additional supports this year in January, but they declined those

supports. We’re going to continue to reach out, because, at the end of the day, it’s

the people in the communities that need the service who we are focused on.

The Speaker : Member for Chilliwack North, supplemental.

Heather Maahs : Thank you for the comments from the minister. I’m sure that the mayor, whom I spoke

with yesterday, is not in agreement with the statement.

The overdose crisis in B.C. continues to take lives every day. Residents in Hope have

no local access to treatment unless they drive two hours in a four-hour round trip

in the most trying times of their lives. The window for opportunity is vanishing for

vulnerable people.

Again, when will this government get serious about funding abstinence-based treatment?

Hon. Ravi Kahlon : Again, I think if the member wants to see more supportive housing for vulnerable

people in our community, I would recommend a letter.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Shhh. Members, let the minister answer, please.

Hon. Ravi Kahlon : The Leader of the Opposition says: “Oh, we don’t want supportive housing in the community.”

Interjections.

[2:15 p.m.]

The Speaker : Members. Members.

Member, nobody has to clarify anything. I think the minister has heard the question.

Let him answer it.

Hon. Ravi Kahlon : I heard the question. I understand the question.

If the member wants to find ways to support vulnerable…. I heard the member say: “We

have to support vulnerable people in the community.” When you have people that are

sleeping in encampments, sleeping in parks, you need them to get into housing. Yes,

you need them to get access to treatment; you need to get access to supports.

That’s what we do with supportive housing. I think the members across the way surely

understand that’s what supportive housing does.

Interjection.

The Speaker : Shhh. Shhh.

Hon. Ravi Kahlon : If the member wants to advocate for more support for vulnerable people in Hope, in

particular, I look forward to talking to the member, because we want to help those

people as well.

Wind Power Projects and Costs

Rob Botterell : As we face down a trade war with the United States, energy security has never been

more important. We cannot, and must not, continue relying on American energy sources.

We cannot, and must not, continue relying on the expansion of climate-killing LNG

projects built by foreign companies and subsidized by B.C. taxpayers. Renewable wind,

solar and geothermal projects are the solution.

Recently B.C. Hydro, of Site C dam financial-mismanagement infamy, announced with

great fanfare that it had secured nine new wind projects, at a cost of $5 billion

to $6 billion.

“Oh my god, this is great.” That was the Green caucus response.

There’s just one hitch. These projects are 47 percent to 79 percent more costly than

other comparable wind projects in North America.

My question to the Premier: what will your government do to rein in B.C. Hydro and

stop overpaying for the clean power we need for B.C.’s energy security?

Hon. Adrian Dix : I’m surprised at the question from the hon. member. I would have thought, and do

think, that it’s extraordinary that we approved projects of the size and terms of

energy of Site C at 45 percent less than the last call for power in 2009 — these are

51 percent, on average, owned by First Nations and have an average levelized cost

of $74 per megawatt hour, $6 less than an equivalent call for power in Quebec recently

— and that this wouldn’t be anything else than a success.

We need more energy in B.C., we need more renewable energy, and we are just getting

started.

The Speaker : The member has a supplemental.

Oil and Gas Industry

Emissions Reduction Requirements

Rob Botterell : B.C. has legislated targets to reduce emissions by 40 percent by 2030. About 10 percent

of the planned emissions reduction was to be from increasing the price on carbon pollution,

yet this week the Premier announced he would scrap the consumer carbon tax.

The industrial carbon tax remains, but two-thirds of company emissions are exempted

from the tax. There’s no way that B.C. is going to meet the 2030 target. The province’s

most recent climate accountability report says only very minor progress has been made,

and that’s before LNG Canada comes online.

My question is to the Minister of Energy. Will the minister introduce a regulatory

emissions cap for the oil and gas industry this year, as previously promised?

Hon. Adrian Dix : As the member will know, the most recent change to the regulations with respect to

methane emissions from the oil and gas sector came in January 1. We have reduced methane

emissions, for example, by 43 percent from 2015 levels, which is a significant achievement

not just by the people of B.C., by the CleanBC plan, but by the industry itself.

Again and again, in a province where we’ve seen an increase in population, in my time

on the government side, of close to one million people, we’ve got to continue to take

action. It’s why reducing our per-capita emissions, as we have done, significantly;

reducing our emissions against GDP, as we have done, significantly; and continuing

to pursue climate programs that are good for the economy, good for the people of the

province and good for their health is our goal.

[2:20 p.m.]

It’s why we’re going to work with all members of the Legislature — in particular,

members of the Green Party — on a joint review of the CleanBC program, which was scheduled

for next year and is going to happen this year.

Conduct of Conservation Officers

Lorne Doerkson : Imagine 23 vehicles showing up in your yard, filled with B.C. conservation officers

wearing tactical equipment, some armed with assault rifles.

That is exactly what happened to a constituent in the Cariboo last week. He had his

windows smashed, doors kicked open, a total of $100,000 of damage done to his home

and his property. They seized a cell phone and some paperwork. They embarrassed him

and his family. The cause? Incorrectly filled-out paperwork.

What possible justification does the Minister of Environment have for using paramilitary-style

force on any citizen who didn’t dot an “i” on their paperwork, and did this minister

order this raid?

Hon. Garry Begg : Thank you to the member opposite for the question.

I don’t have knowledge of the incident of which you speak…

Interjection.

The Speaker : Shhh.

Hon. Garry Begg : …but I will take it under advisement and get back to you.

The Speaker : Member, supplemental.

Lorne Doerkson : It’s not surprising that the Public Safety Minister doesn’t know, because this doesn’t

fall to his ministry.

The reality is this gets so much worse. During this raid, conservation officers forced

a woman who required a lavatory to urinate under surveillance of an officer and then

denied her the privacy to shower so that she could clean up and head off to work.

They detained people without cause. They destroyed property and embarrassed my constituent

and his family in a community where they are very well known.

This isn’t law enforcement. It is harassment and intimidation.

Does this minister support the flagrant abuse of power, and is this what ranchers,

guide-outfitters and residents should expect from this new government?

Hon. Garry Begg : Thank you again to the member for the question.

I’ll take your question under advisement and get back to you.

Wind-Generated Electricity

Environmental Assessments and

Consultation on Wind Power Projects

Ian Paton : On December 9, 2024, without consulting residents and tenure holders, this government

announced nine wind power projects.

The B.C. Cattlemen’s Association has raised serious concerns about the lack of transparency

and the removal of environmental assessments. These projects are being developed on

Crown land that supports B.C.’s ranching industry, grazing tenures and critical wildlife

habitats.

To the Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions, why is this government ramming through

industrial-scale wind projects without consulting the communities that shoulder the

consequences?

Hon. Adrian Dix : As I think everyone knows in B.C. — and particularly at this moment, when our province

and our country are under attack by the U.S. administration — that we need more energy

in B.C.

Interjection.

Hon. Adrian Dix : And they’ll know that we need…. Apparently, the opposition agrees with this on some

days of the week. We need more projects to go ahead, more efficiently and more quickly.

In the case of these wind projects — which are dramatically less expensive than they

were in 2009, create jobs all over British Columbia, will deliver low-cost wind power

— we are moving ahead with these projects.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members, if you already know the answer, what’s the point of asking questions?

Interjections.

The Speaker : Let him answer, then. Please.

Hon. Adrian Dix : In this case, all of these projects will go through a significant review around permitting

that will address the issues that are appropriate to these projects.

[2:25 p.m.]

Wind power projects have gone under environmental assessment in the past. We know

what those issues are, but we also need to proceed. We also need the energy. We also

need to advance clean energy at a time when other parts of the world are advancing

other agendas.

We’re going to continue to do it. This is about developing B.C. This is about a sustainable

economy. This is about jobs all over the province. I’m surprised that the opposition

has become, on these questions, the party of no.

The Speaker : Delta South, supplemental.

Ian Paton : Well, this government talks about listening to British Columbians, but they are bulldozing

ahead with industrial wind farms on Crown land. They’ve done this without consulting

the ranchers and the communities who rely on this land. Worse, they’ve eliminated

environmental assessments altogether.

Here is NDP environmental hypocrisy at its best: no reviews, no accountability, just

a blank cheque for projects that could devastate B.C.’s watersheds, B.C.’s wildlife

and species at risk.

Cattle will not stand underneath windmills. What do cows know that this Premier doesn’t?

Hon. Adrian Dix : In my time in this House since the election, I’ve listened again and again to members

of the opposition side talk about delays, talk about permitting, talk about red tape.

Talk about hypocrisy.

We are proceeding with clean energy projects that help build B.C.’s economy, and they’re

against it. This is a time when we need to fight for energy independence and energy

sovereignty, and they are against it.

We have significant….

Interjections.

The Speaker : Shhh, Members.

Hon. Adrian Dix : The member for Kelowna — one of the projects is near his community. I’d be interested

to know where he stands, not on the theory of going ahead with projects but on the

fact of it. Will he stand up in the House and support economic development in Kelowna,

economic development for First Nations, or is he against it?

This is a paper opposition.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Shhh.

Hon. Adrian Dix : We are fighting for the future of B.C.’s economy, and they are against it.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members.

Government Transparency and

Role of Select Standing Committees

Korky Neufeld : Well, let’s change the channel.

Select standing committees play a crucial role in ensuring transparency and accountability

by engaging the public, yet this government refuses to recall them.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members.

Korky Neufeld : Why does this government operate in secret and continue to make decisions for the

public without their input?

This government won’t even hold a meeting without forcing people to sign an NDA, a

non-disclosure agreement. In fact, this government has signed more NDAs than all the

governments in B.C.’s history.

Why is the NDP so intent on shutting out the public and hiding in secrecy?

Hon. David Eby : The members opposite may recall, I’m not sure, that I worked at the B.C. Civil Liberties

Association for a period of time. During that time…

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members.

Hon. David Eby : …I published a great handbook educating British Columbians about their rights. I’m

glad to talk to the member about it.

During that time, there was the Dziekanski inquiry. There was a man who was involved

in an altercation with police at YVR. He died, and coming out of that, the then B.C.

Liberal government decided to reform police laws.

They invited the Civil Liberties Association to come in and consult on the legislation

that they were preparing. And guess what. Just guess. You’ll never guess what they

asked me to sign.

Interjection.

The Speaker : Member for North Island, please.

Hon. David Eby : You’ll never guess what they asked me to sign. They asked me to sign….

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members, are you really interested in listening to some answers or not?

We can shut it down right now if you like. Otherwise, stay quiet. You’re wasting your

own time.

Premier.

[2:30 p.m.]

Hon. David Eby : You will never guess what they asked me to sign. They asked me to sign a non-disclosure

agreement.

The Speaker : Member, supplemental.

Korky Neufeld : Well, the Aboriginal Affairs Committee hasn’t met since 2003. Oh, and the Committee

on Legislative Initiatives hasn’t met since 2010. This government refuses to let the

public in on their plans for our province. No wonder they’re known as the most secretive

government, according to the Canadian Association of Journalists.

When will this government recall committees and stop operating behind closed doors?

Hon. David Eby : Well, I know the public is glad for the member’s transparency about his second salary,

but he’s not earning his pay today.

From 2003 to 2017 and 2010 to 2017, the Leader of the Opposition was on this side

of the House. In fact, he was the Minister of Indigenous Relations. If the member

wants to strike these committees, I encourage him to talk to the House Leader about

getting these committees going.

I think committees provide a great opportunity for British Columbians to hear about

the issues. That’s why we’re engaged in so many committees with the members of the

opposition.

Funding for Métis Nation

K-to-12 Education

Scott McInnis : This government likes to champion themselves as leaders with reconciliation with

Indigenous peoples in B.C. Recently the Métis Nation of B.C. was told that core funding

for K-to-12 education programs would be slashed by two-thirds.

My question to any minister in government is a simple one. On what planet would this

be considered fair and just reconciliation with Indigenous people?

Hon. Lisa Beare : I want to thank the member for the question, which is just simply not accurate.

We are continuing to work with Indigenous communities all across the province to ensure

that funding is directly targeted to support culture, to support language, to support

the support needs that their members have.

We are firmly committed to reconciliation, which is why we’ve created the Indigenous

education councils alongside school boards so that we can directly connect and work

with local nations, with Indigenous partners to ensure that we are providing those

supports that they need.

The Speaker : Member, supplemental.

Scott McInnis : I do have the letter from the Métis Nation of B.C. which shows they’re getting a

66 percent cut in their funding. This government is willing to spend $118,000 celebrating

bureaucrats but is unwilling to properly fund Métis education. The remaining funding

is $2 per child.

Will this government reverse this heartless cut to Métis people and their families

and fully fund Métis education?

Hon. Lisa Beare : Again, the member is just simply not correct.

We are continuing to support Indigenous education in targeted ways. We have created

the Indigenous education councils alongside First Nations, alongside Indigenous partners

to ensure that we are directly targeting funding for culture, for language and for

supports, and we are going to continue to do that.

Kootenay Lake Ferry Labour Dispute

Harman Bhangu : The Kootenay ferry strike is approaching its fifth month without a resolution. We

learned the other day that negotiation talks have broken down. There are only three

sailings for these communities that depend on this ferry for their livelihood and

well-being.

Will this government, at the very least, commit to pushing this route up to five sailings

a day while the negotiations continue?

Hon. Jennifer Whiteside : Thank you to the member for the question.

Look, I understand that people in the Kootenays rely on the ferry service, and I understand

they are very frustrated with the ongoing dispute.

[2:35 p.m.]

I have been very clear in this House and outside of this House that it is my expectation

that both parties will work diligently and with urgency to resolve their collective

bargaining dispute. That, frankly, is what I expect to be happening.

I understand that people in the Kootenays need that ferry, and we need those parties

to be at the table to get a deal and get things back to normal.

The Speaker : Member, supplemental.

Harman Bhangu : This chaos in the Kootenays must end.

There’s a 23 percent increase over three years. Well, British Columbians don’t have

that same offer to them. The operator has offered 8 percent the first year, 2 percent

the second, 13 the third. BCGEU wants 13 percent, 8 percent, then 2 percent. People’s

lives are in chaos, and this minister, this government and this local MLA are doing

nothing.

To the Minister of Labour, will she do the right thing and appoint a mediator and

end this strike?

Hon. David Eby : The people of the Kootenays deserve accessible, affordable, readily available transportation.

The minister and her team are working to ensure that both sides reach a deal at the

table and get things moving again.

Now, the member has got great passion…

Interjections.

The Speaker : Shhh. Shhh.

Hon. David Eby : …and rightly so, about economic challenges in the Kootenays. Our whole province,

in fact our whole country, is facing a major economic challenge right now coming from

the President of the United States, which is why…

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members.

Hon. David Eby : …I would love to see….

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members.

[The Speaker rose.]

The Speaker : Calm down.

Interjection.

The Speaker : You should stop talking.

Premier, conclude please.

[The Speaker resumed their seat.]

Hon. David Eby : I’d love to see the same passion from the opposition fighting the tariffs, fighting

Donald Trump, but instead we saw the Health critic for the opposition party….

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members. Members.

Hon. David Eby : Bring that passion to all British Columbians. Don’t sit beside…

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members.

Hon. David Eby : …a YouTuber who says….

Interjections.

The Speaker : Shhh.

Hon. David Eby : They know who she sat beside. That’s why they’re….

Interjections.

The Speaker : Opposition House Leader, could you please ask your members to be in order?

Calm down. Order in the House.

Hon. David Eby : Anna Lith, a YouTuber, said, “I’m going to do my best to buy American products so

the idiots who are buying into Trudeau’s Team Canada b.s. have less impact. I don’t

want Trump to hold back. Any suffering will be because of Trudeau, not Trump,” and

called the Prime Minister the governor of Canada.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Shhh.

Please conclude.

Hon. David Eby : I can’t wait for the opposition to have the same passion for defending all British

Columbians as they rightly do for defending the people of the Kootenays.

[End of question period.]

Point of Order

Korky Neufeld : I would like the Premier to make an apology. He made a false statement. I am not taking

a second salary, and I would like his apology, please, made public.

The Speaker : Premier.

Hon. David Eby : It’s easy to get confused. I apologize to the member if he is, in fact, not taking

a second salary. If he’s not, I was incorrect.

Orders of the Day

Hon. Mike Farnworth : I call Motion 9 sitting on the order paper in my name.

Government Motions on Notice

Motion 9 — Committee of Supply

and Committee of the Whole

to Sit in Two Sections

Hon. Mike Farnworth : It will split the House into two sections,

Section A, the little House, and

Section

B, the chamber.

[That, for the remainder of the current Session:

GENERAL

1. Certain proceedings of the House may be undertaken in two sections, designated

Section A and

Section B, to be subject to the rules that follow.

Section A sit in such committee room as may be designated from time to time, and

Section B sit in the Legislative Chamber.

Section A and

Section B be authorized to examine all Estimates, and for all purposes

be deemed to be the Committee of Supply, and that the Standing Orders relating to

the consideration of Estimates in the Committee of Supply and to Committees of the

Whole House be applicable to such proceedings, save and except that, during proceedings

in Committee of Supply, a Minister may defer to a Deputy Minister to permit such Deputy

to reply to a question put to the Minister.

Section A and

Section B be authorized to consider bills at committee stage after

second reading thereof, and for all purposes be deemed to be a Committee of the Whole

House, and that the Standing Orders relating to the consideration of bills in a Committee

of the Whole House be applicable to such proceedings.

5. Estimates or bills may be considered in the order determined by the Government

House Leader and may at any time be subsequently referred to another designated Section,

as determined by the Government House Leader in accordance with Standing Order 27

(2).

COMPOSITION

6. The Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole or their designate preside in

Section

Section A consist of 12 Members, not including the Chair, being six Members of

the B.C. NDP Caucus, five Members of the Conservative Party of British Columbia Caucus,

and one Member of the B.C. Green Party Caucus.

8. The Members of

Section A be: the Minister whose Estimates are under examination

or who is in charge of the bill under consideration and Rohini Arora , Hon. Ravi Parmar , Janet Routledge , Harwinder Sandhu , Amna Shah , Amelia Boultbee , Gavin Dew , Steve Kooner , Lawrence Mok , David L. Williams and Rob Botterell .

9. Substitutions for Members of

Section A be permitted with the consent of the Member’s

Caucus Whip.

Section B be composed of all Members of the House.

DIVISIONS

11. When a division is requested in

Section A, the division bells shall be rung four

times and the division shall proceed in accordance with Standing Order 16.

12. When a division is requested in

Section B, the division bells shall be rung three

times, at which time proceedings in

Section A shall be suspended, and the division

shall proceed in accordance with Standing Order 16.

13. If a division is underway in

Section A at the time that a division is requested

in

Section B, the division in

Section B be suspended until the completion of the division

in

Section A.

REPORTING AND COMPLETION

14. At 15 minutes prior to the ordinary time fixed for adjournment of the House, the

Chair of

Section A shall report to the House.]

Motion approved.

[2:40 p.m.]

Hon. Mike Farnworth : I call Motion 10 on the order paper, sitting in my name.

Motion 10 — Extension of

Sitting Hours

Hon. Mike Farnworth : It will establish late night sittings effective March 31, which means that we will

sit until nine o’clock on Mondays and Wednesdays.

I have talked with the opposition House Leader, understanding concerns about sitting

on Tuesdays until nine o’clock, and I have committed that we will adjourn at 6.30

on Tuesdays for the rest of the session.

[That, effective March 31, 2025,

1. Standing Order 2 (1) be amended to provide for the Monday afternoon sitting, Tuesday

afternoon sitting, and Wednesday afternoon sitting to be from 1.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.;

and,

2. Standing Order 3 be amended by striking the words “6:30 p.m. on any Monday and

Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday” and replacing them with “9:00 p.m. on any Monday,

Tuesday and Wednesday”.

And that this order expire on May 30, 2025.]

The Speaker : Hon. Members, the Government House Leader has moved Motion 10.

Motion approved on division.

Hon. Mike Farnworth : I call third reading, Bill 3, Protected Areas of British Columbia Amendment Act.

Third Reading of Bills

Bill 3 — Protected Areas of

British Columbia Amendment Act, 2025

Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson : I move third reading, Hon. Speaker.

The Speaker : Members, the question is third reading of Bill 3, Protected Areas of British Columbia

Amendment Act, 2025.

Motion approved.

The Speaker : Bill 3, Protected Areas of British Columbia Amendment Act, 2025, has been read a

third time and has passed.

Hon. Mike Farnworth : I call second reading Bill 6, Supply Act (No. 1), 2025.

[Lorne Doerkson in the chair.]

Second Reading of Bills

Bill 6 — Supply Act ( No. 1), 2025

Deputy Speaker : We’ll call the House back to order now, where we will call on the minister for the

second reading of Bill 6 today, the Supply Act, 2025.

Hon. Brenda Bailey : I move that Bill 6, the Supply Act (No. 1), 2025, be read a second time now.

Existing voted appropriations will expire on March 31, 2025. Bill 6 provides interim

supply for ministry operations and other appropriations for approximately the first

three months of 2025-2026, while the House completes the debates of the appropriations

presented in the ’25-26 estimates.

Interim supply for ministry operations and other appropriations is required to ensure

continuation of government services until the final supply bill comes into force.

Bill 6 also provides one-third of the combined voted amounts in schedules C and D-11

of the 2025-2026 estimates for disbursements related to capital expenditures, loans,

investments and other financing requirements.

The one-third authorization provided for in relation to these disbursements is higher

than proportion authorized in relation to the ministry operations, as the disbursements

described in

schedule C and

schedule D-11 are not evenly distributed throughout the

year. Therefore, the higher level of interim supply is required to accommodate the

payments that will be made under these schedules.

Bill 6 also authorizes the full amounts of the disbursements referred to in

schedule

E of the 2025-2026 estimates.

Schedule E of the estimates outlines the revenue collected

on behalf of and transferred to specific programs or entities. There is no impact

on the operating results, borrowing or debt resulting from the collection and transfer

of this revenue.

[2:45 p.m.]

These interim supply appropriations are based on the accountabilities and allocations

outlined in the 2025-2026 estimates. The final supply bill for the 2025-2026 fiscal

year will incorporate these amounts to ensure it reflects the sum of all voted appropriations

to be given to government in that fiscal year.

Deputy Speaker : Thank you very much to the Minister of Finance.

Now for some debate on Bill 6, we will turn to the member for Kamloops Centre.

Peter Milobar : I won’t have a whole lot of comments on the Supply Act (No. 1), Bill 6, at this time.

Certainly this is a pretty standard process that we move through in the Legislature

every year when the budget comes out.

As the minister laid out, it’s really as it seems, an interim supply bill. It keeps

the doors of government open as we come back to this place after the two weeks away

in our constituencies to start on budget estimates and enables the time frame for

that full scrutiny of the whole budget to take place.

I want to make it very clear. Although we in the B.C. Conservative opposition support

the supply act to keep the doors of government open, it should not be interpreted

in any way, shape or form that we support or endorse this government’s overall budget,

let alone running with an $11 billion deficit. Who knows how high it will be if this

government actually follows through on cutting carbon tax as they’ve said they would,

although they haven’t shown it in the budget. Mind you, they said in the election

that we’d have a $1,000 grocery rebate in this budget, and it’s not there either,

so I guess time will tell on that.

That’s really the point. Those broader budget estimates will be a time to fully canvass

that. Those budget votes around the bigger, fuller budget will be when we fully question

and fully make clear our opposition to the overall budget.

Certainly, the interim bill…. We want to see hospitals open. We want to see schools

still operate. We want to see those things continue on in everyone’s everyday lives

as we move forward through the regular budget process.

So absolutely, we will be supporting Bill 6. We will absolutely not be supporting

the budget though.

Deputy Speaker : Thank you, Member.

Seeing no further speakers, I will call on the Minister of Finance to close debate.

Hon. Brenda Bailey : I just want to take a moment to acknowledge the profound and tumultuous moment that

many British Columbians find themselves in. We are living in incredibly tumultuous

times. Every person in this House and across the province is feeling the looming impacts

of President Trump’s unjustified tariffs on their lives.

We are in an economic trade war, the likes of which our province has never seen. We

did not ask for this trade war. We did not want this trade war. But here in B.C.,

we stand ready for whatever comes next. We are the true north, strong and free, and

we will always be there for British Columbians when they need us.

Right now British Columbians are looking to us to ensure that government functions

and provides the essential services that they rely on. Bill 6 ensures that these key

services continue to run smoothly, without disruption. Without this bill, we risk

halting critical government operations, which would impact the delivery of health

care, education and social services.

This bill will secure funding for social programs that will help British Columbians

assess the support that they need, its financial aid, housing, addiction recovery

services, supporting educators from kindergarten to post-secondary, keeping doctors,

nurses and health care workers working and construction on major infrastructure projects

moving ahead.

In these uncertain times, we must act decisively to protect the economic security

of our province. This bill ensures that British Columbians have the tools and the

resources needed to weather this economic time, keeping public sector jobs stable,

protecting essential services and ensuring that investments in infrastructure continue

to move forward.

The passage of this bill is more than just a financial necessity. It’s a commitment

to British Columbians and their future. We must continue investing in health care,

education, social services and to protect the well-being of our communities. By passing

this bill, we secure the stability of our province and build a stronger, more resilient

British Columbia for everyone.

[2:50 p.m.]

Deputy Speaker : Members, the question is second reading of Bill 6, the Supply Act, 2025.

Motion approved.

Hon. Brenda Bailey : I move that Bill 6 be committed to the Committee of the Whole House for consideration

at the next sitting after today.

Motion approved.

Hon. Brenda Bailey : I call continued budget debate.

Budget Debate

(continued)

Deputy Speaker : We will call on our first speaker to continue our budget debate, the member for North

Vancouver–Seymour.

Susie Chant : Thank you, hon. Speaker, and a pleasure to see you again today.

I’d like to acknowledge the following interns that are working with us, because they

have helped put together my budget speech. We have worked together. They did not do

the work for me.

Myriam Devlin, Anabella McElroy, Chris Camasco, Ewa Bozerocka and Henry Waatainen

are all to be commended for the work that they do and for the learnings that they

are getting as interns with the parliamentary intern program. They are really great

to work with.

I also would like to recognize that we are on the lands of the lək̓ʷəŋən people, now known as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. We do our work on their

traditional territory, and we are grateful for all the things that we learn from them.

I also want to make sure that I acknowledge my riding of North Vancouver–Seymour,

which is located on the unceded ancestral lands of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, səlilwətaɬ and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Nations.

I respect the ongoing stewardship of this land since time immemorial, and I appreciate

the opportunities we have had to advance lasting reconciliation between our governments.

As a provincial institution, we must acknowledge our historic role in the systemic

oppression and discrimination of Indigenous peoples so that we may advance respectful

reconciliation and work together meaningfully to address the issues facing British

Columbians today.

This budget is being delivered in a time of uncertainty. Tariffs appear one day, gone

the next. Our government is focused on investing in B.C.’s resilience, everything

from good-paying jobs for people to protecting our breathtaking environment. We will

never be the 51st state. I’ve seen more Canadian flags flying around our communities

than I’ve ever seen before, and our government is supporting the Team Canada approach.

I think we said: “Elbows up.”

The great example of the Team Canada approach was seen during the Invictus Games.

Teams of service people and veterans came from all over the world to compete against

each other in sporting events. However, the social interaction, inclusive of everybody,

was exceptional. Everyone was welcome, everyone had folks cheering for them as they

competed, and there was always somebody there to lift you up as needed.

The Indigenous underpinnings were very evident in a variety of ways, from the opening

events, through the athletes, families and friends meeting place, a blanketing ceremony

for all 550 competitors, and into the closing ceremonies. This is a lesson that all

of our communities, provinces and countries can benefit from learning. We are stronger,

better and nicer when we work and play together.

As the provincial liaison with the Consular Corps, I have been struck by the positive

support voiced by the many representatives from other countries who are posted in

Vancouver. They are enthusiastic in their willingness to discuss trade strategies

and strong in their recognition of B.C. as a good partner and Canada as a sovereign

nation. We are grateful for this support.

Yes, we are facing economic challenges today, but supporting our economy does not

need to come at the expense of our climate goals. My constituents in North Vancouver

understand how important it is to protect our beautiful environment. Mount Seymour

Provincial Park; the shared səlilwətaɬ provincial park of Say Nuth Khaw Yum; Whey-ah-Wichen Park, which is also known as

Cates Park; through Lynn Canyon, the headwaters and Seymour Demonstration Forest;

to name just a few of the wonderful parks and green spaces we have in North Vancouver–Seymour.

[2:55 p.m.]

Maplewood Flats is open and home to a myriad of bird species, and we’re learning their

Indigenous names from the səlilwətaɬ Nation knowledge-keepers and those who are now guiding the work of the B.C. bird

association.

We have bears, deer, raccoons, skunks and cougars in our backyards, and we are continually

improving safety on the interface, for the flora and fauna as well as for the people.

I am happy to see that this budget continues to spend on CleanBC programs, helping

to build a sustainable economy that is good for everyone and protects the natural

world around us.

I’ve been a long supporter of the Hydrogen Technologies and Energy Corps and their

investments in North Vancouver and across the province. Just last year I was happy

to see that our government invested $133 million in hydrogen power, and I’m excited

for the clean liquid hydrogen facility which will soon be coming to North Vancouver.

The federal government has also offered a loan of over $330 million for this project,

known as the H2 gateway project, which will speed up and expand hydrogen development

and infrastructure in North Vancouver.

We know that hydrogen is an important zero-emission fuel. These funds create more

certainty in the sustainable fuel sector and make sure that B.C. is economically competitive

in a decarbonizing world. This project will not only position our community at the

forefront of clean energy innovation and help fight the climate crisis, but it will

also create hundreds of new, good-paying jobs for the north shore and for British

Columbia.

As you can see, Mr. Speaker, North Vancouver–Seymour is an essential part of the Port

of Vancouver. We are also home to several other important industries.

Chemtrade runs a facility in North Vancouver which plays a critical role in providing

access to liquid chlorine for safe drinking water right across through Saskatchewan

and down the western seaboard. This facility is the only chlorine-producing plant

in B.C. and produces 40 percent of the chlorine in Canada. Chemtrade operates in partnership

with the North Vancouver community and is committed to providing local and meaningful

jobs which are environmentally aware, ethically responsible and safety-focused.

Allied Shipbuilders Ltd. is yet another great example of North Vancouver’s strong

local business community. Founded in 1948, they’ve built hundreds of vessels and provide

essential ship repair and engineering services to the commercial marine industry on

the Pacific west coast.

The Port of Vancouver is thriving, and North Vancouver–Seymour is playing a vital

role.

In the face of tariffs and economic warfare, B.C. needs reliable and sustainable industries.

As a government, we’re looking forward to developing industry in the clean power sector

in North Vancouver and ensuring that families and individuals across the province

continue to have access to good, stable jobs.

Buying B.C. is another important thing to focus on as we stand together as Team Canada.

In 2024, B.C. imported $25.2 billion of goods, or 34 percent of B.C.’s total imports,

from the U.S., including food products. Food security is an especially pressing topic,

and as we tackle the consequences of tariffs, we need to focus on local goods and

services.

In North Vancouver–Seymour, the səlilwətaɬ Nation has created a community garden to support food security, health and nutritional

education. This is one strategy that embodies their long-term goal of becoming completely

self-sufficient in food production and harvesting.

Also in North Vancouver, we currently have nine beautiful community gardens where

folks are growing lovely flowers and shrubs, as well as vegetables and fruits that

they share with families, neighbours and local food providers. More local food production

helps our communities become less vulnerable to supply chain issues and the rising

cost of living.

Hydroponics, vertical gardening and green rooftops are examples of the innovative

urban gardening techniques currently taking root in North Vancouver. Finding new ways

to grow food all over B.C. is a crucial part of addressing food insecurity, and creating

food infrastructure is crucial to keeping our province resilient. I know that our

communities will continue to take the time and effort to work together, get the gardening

gloves on and continue these incredible initiatives.

As a government, we also need to continue to advance reconciliation with Indigenous

people. This is an ongoing process that requires enduring relationships, collaboration

and dedication.

Our government has announced the opening of six more Indigenous justice centres across

the province, in partnership with the B.C. First Nations Justice Council.

[3:00 p.m.]

In doing so, we have reached our goal of establishing 15 centres throughout B.C.,

showing our commitment to addressing the barriers Indigenous peoples face in the justice

system. These centres are crucial for offering culturally appropriate legal services

and improving access to justice for Indigenous peoples in B.C.

There is also important work being done at the local level. I think of the opportunities

I have had to work alongside the səlilwətaɬ Nation as they move forward on their project to build a longhouse in Say Nuth Khaw

Yum Park. This longhouse will offer a culturally appropriate environment for all generations

of the nation to gather on these shores as a community and pass along traditional

knowledge.

I’ve had the opportunity to discuss plans for the longhouse, which include an outdoor

school option for the` səlilwətaɬ school and perhaps others from North Van school district, a gathering place for ceremony

and possibly a cultural tourist destination that allows visitors to learn about the

and whether they are appropriate for the intended use.

The səlilwətaɬ Nation has made exceptional progress in restoring the waters, shoreline and coastal

habitat along the Burrard Inlet and Indian River. Urban and industrial development

has damaged streams, intertidal habitats and altered one-third of the shoreline. We

know this is not good. I’ve grown up along the side of this shoreline, and I’ve seen

the difference in the last 20 years. We don’t have the oil and sludge that we used

to have. This has resulted in serious water pollution, ecological damage, and it has

hurt many native species of flora.

However, in recent years, they have seen the return of herring, salmon, dolphins and

orcas as well as eelgrass to the inlet, which shows us the hard work is producing

results. While on a tour up the inlet with the members of səlilwətaɬ Nation, they also indicated they’re beginning to harvest clams again, something which

has not been possible since the 1970s due to the levels of water pollution.

I’m inspired by the səlilwətaɬ Nation’s hard work to restore their natural habitat, raise awareness about pollution

in the inlet and build a future abundant enough for their children’s children to thrive.

I’m also very happy in this budget to see a continued commitment in the budget for

health care services. Our government is putting forward more than $4 billion to address

the need for responsive health care for all British Columbians. We are committed to

our public health care system and know that a lack of funds shouldn’t be a barrier

to accessing these services.

As was mentioned by one of our members earlier, thank you to the health care workers

in this province for the work that you put in every day for our constituents.

We have nurses, nurse practitioners, LPNs and care workers supporting patients in

the community, in the acute care settings, in clinics, in long-term care and assisted

living and in other settings as well. And that’s just the start.

Many other professionals and clinicians, doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists,

dietitians and more and the support staff…. Never forget the support staff, who keep

places clean and safe and keep the patients eating nutritious and healthy food. All

these people and more make up the care teams, and our government supports them in

that work.

Additionally, we need to recognize the work of families, friends and others who provide

care, acknowledging the work they do is critical, and they too need support through

a variety of ways.

Something we know people are struggling with is getting good health care close to

home. Patients and their families are going through what is often the most difficult

time of their lives. We want to make sure they have the best facilities to help them

through it all, somewhere that’s accessible to them. To address this issue, our government

opened a new acute care tower two weekends ago at Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver.

I was able to visit this space last month: 108 surgical beds; eight large universal

surgical suites, including one that is available at all times for emergency surgeries;

pre- and post-anaesthetic units all on the same floor as the operating rooms so that

the patient’s journey is smooth and so that staff can work readily in all areas as

needed.

It’s a bright space with big windows, designed to be calming, not what you might first

imagine a sterile hospital space to look like. Rooms all have pullout couches so that

family members can stay comfortably.

[3:05 p.m.]

There’s also a growing rooftop garden at the top of the tower. It is planted with

12 varieties of native plants and has an area for smudging and ceremony. It’s accessible

to everyone in Lions Gate Hospital, not just those in the new tower. We know access

to green space is beneficial to everyone’s mental and physical health, so this is

a great addition.

Inside the new tower, doctors and clinical staff are benefiting from major facility

and equipment upgrades. Working in a seismically upgraded facility means doctors don’t

have to worry about what they’re going to do to take care of their patients in the

event of an earthquake.

Our local First Nations were a big part of the new facility through the stages of

conception, design and build. The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and səlilwətaɬ Nations, with local First Nations artists, created spaces reflective of cultural

practices and incorporated Indigenous art into all of the decor. The three large cedar

trees that were taken down to allow the tower to be built are repurposed into two

welcome poles and also have become the milled-wood panelling in the elevator foyer.

It even smells like cedar.

It’s so important to create safer, welcoming and culturally appropriate spaces for

Indigenous patients and their families. I’m happy to see this progress being made

in the health care system, and this is great news for the north shore area. This project

takes us another step forward in achieving the goals outlined in the Declaration on

the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act action plan. Our government is putting $15 billion

towards health care capital over the next three years, and I’m looking forward to

seeing more spaces like this one open.

I also want to say a quick thank-you to Mr. Paul Myers, who contributed $25 million

to the build of the new tower, so that allowed it to get started. Then the province

was able to kick in. The Lions Gate Hospital Foundation also raised — what was it?

— almost $10 million, a lot. I will have to correct that for the record. A lot of

work was done in the community to get the money put together for that tower.

Another important addition to Lions Gate Hospital is a forensic nursing unit, which

opened in July. Its purpose is to support sexual assault, domestic violence and human

trafficking survivors. Before this unit opened, survivors would have to go to Vancouver

General for specialized treatment. Now they can walk into the emergency room on the

north shore to get that care.

There are 12 nurses on call on the north shore to document survivors’ accounts and

help them with any blood work or DNA testing. It’s so important that survivors have

the option to collect this evidence as quickly as possible without needing a referral

or a police report before they’ve had time to process what has happened.

The coordinator of the unit told North Shore News last year that everyone should know that their care is self-directed. They are taking

control of their own bodies and health during a hospital experience. For those who

want to go to the police immediately, the nurses are able to help. For those who want

to go through that process later, they’ll have what was collected to support them.

All the nurses in the forensic unit have specialized medical training from BCIT, as

well as cultural sensitivity training. They work to ensure all patients have a safe

experience in what is a very traumatic time.

In another important part of the health care sector, this budget shows our government’s

commitment to funding mental health and addiction recovery services. I want to highlight

an organization our government supports, which is doing fantastic work in my community,

the Lookout Housing and Health Society. This organization runs a new substance use

recovery community centre that opened this summer, the North Shore Junction.

Recovery community centres are a type of care that doesn’t require a doctor’s referral.

The centre supports people starting their substance use recovery journey alongside

people that are far down that path, as well as their families and friends.

The Junction has programming through the week to help those in recovery build support

systems. The programs might be a trail walk, arts and crafts events or group therapy

sessions. The Junction also hosts drop-in building-back hours five days a week for

anyone curious about joining the community.

Community centres like these are an essential piece of addiction health care, and

we know that B.C., like many other provinces and countries, is facing a shortage of

health care workers. The first step in addressing this is making sure more doctors

can train in B.C. We’re putting $34 million towards the initial Simon Fraser University

Surrey campus, ensuring future doctors can start medical school there in 2026.

[3:10 p.m.]

Alongside doctors and nurses, our government is working to build up B.C.’s trade workers,

teachers and engineers. We’re also making it easier to translate international credentials

for all these essential fields into good-paying jobs in British Columbia.

Budget 2025 reflects our continued commitment to building B.C. The money we’re setting

aside for housing will support teachers, nurses, construction workers and other working

professionals that communities like North Vancouver depend on. It will allow us to

continue working with other levels of government and community partners to create

housing that is high quality, secure and affordable.

As outlined in Budget 2025, making sure individuals and families can find good-quality

homes at a price point they can afford remains one of the top priorities. This investment

into housing has and will continue to improve the lives of the people of B.C.

An example of our government’s commitment to building homes for people in my own constituency

of North Vancouver–Seymour is the $9.5 million that was invested in the Salal Apartments

development through B.C. Housing’s community housing fund. Since the building opened

last June, Salal Apartments has given 90 North Vancouver households access to high-quality,

affordable homes.

Developments like Salal Apartments support young families, in particular, by outfitting

our growing community with dozens of new multi-bedroom units that they can afford.

However, these homes are more than just affordable. Families living in Salal’s modern

units also enjoy immediate access to parks, schools and other amenities in the walkable

Lynn Creek neighbourhood. This includes a newly upgraded Phibbs bus exchange, just

steps from the building, and a brand-new recreation centre on Hunter Street, only

a ten-minute walk away.

Also close by is access to parks and trails, which will take you away from the hustle

and bustle of commerce to the relative calm of Inter River Park, leading up into Lynn

Canyon and to the demonstration forest or to headwaters park. Suspension bridges,

waterfalls, big trees and seasonal berries are all within hiking distance.

In partnership with the district of North Vancouver, B.C. Housing is also helping

build a new 188-home complex just off Lillooet Road. Once completed, this development

will provide housing options for people of various incomes, independent seniors and

families.

Budget 2025 will help us to continue the work of building homes for people, ensuring

that middle-income British Columbians, including families and working professionals,

can afford to live in their own communities. And $318 million is being earmarked to

support our BC Builds program over the next three years to help us deliver thousands

of homes for middle-income folks on the north shore and across the province.

In addition to this, we are also making changes to ensure that affordable housing

benefits people and not speculators, raising our speculation and vacancy tax from

0.5 percent to 1 percent for citizens and permanent residents and from 2 percent to

3 percent for foreign and worldwide owners.

This tax works. Even though it applies to less than 1 percent of B.C. households,

the speculation and vacancy tax added over 20,000 condo units to Metro Vancouver’s

long-term rental market between 2018 and 2020 alone. Further taxing speculators will

unlock more homes for people in communities across the province and provide additional

revenues that will be reinvested into housing.

In Budget 2025, more funding is also coming to support low-income families and seniors.

Working families receiving rent supports will see their monthly payments nearly double

as we further invest in rental assistance programs.

In North Vancouver, we are working with local partners to give people who are at risk

of or currently experiencing homelessness the care and support they need. The East

Keith Road supportive housing site, for example, is a collaborative effort between

B.C. Housing, Vancouver Coastal Health, the district of North Vancouver and Lu’ma

Native Housing. Once completed, this project will provide 60 supportive studio apartments

and five complex care units for vulnerable members of our community.

Moreover, with the support of the Lu’ma Native Housing Society, the services delivered

at the East Keith Road development will be safe and culturally appropriate for Indigenous

residents.

Likewise, we are very proud to be partnering with the səlilwətaɬ First Nation through B.C. Housing to build 50 homes on the reserve land along Spa-Ath

Road. With construction now underway, members of the səlilwətaɬ community will soon have greater access to a wide variety of affordable housing options,

including units catering to families, seniors and multi-generational households.

[3:15 p.m.]

The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation has also been doing hard work to shape the future of affordable housing for

its community. As the cost of living rises in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh territory, members deserve access to a range of affordable housing options that serve

their needs.

The Hiy̓ám̓ ta Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Housing Society is a not-for-profit organization creating much-needed affordable

homes. Working with several partners, including B.C. Housing and the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation, the Hiy̓ám̓ Housing Society has developed numerous housing projects with the goal of housing

every Sḵwx̱wú7mesh person within 25 years — for example, the 95 rental units completed last year on

the Capilano Reserve and in the most recent 55-unit development on Capilano Road that

provides supportive housing for vulnerable members experiencing homelessness or at

the risk of homelessness.

These are significant projects being realized. I commend the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation as they work tirelessly to bring community members and families home.

Under Budget 2025, our government is also continuing its work to make sure seniors

in communities across B.C. have access to stable and affordable housing. Rent supplements

provided through our Shelter Aid For Elderly Renters program, for instance, will grow

by 30 percent on average. This is the second time in the last year that we have increased

funding for seniors under this program. In addition to this per-person increase, Budget

2025 provides an additional 1,600 total seniors with access to these rental supports.

Housing is not the only support available to seniors under this budget. As of 2024,

British Columbia is home to approximately 1.5 million people over the age of 60. We

have a responsibility to them to make sure that they can lead healthy and self-sufficient

lives. I know how important it is for our government to invest in independent living,

as well as long-term care, and ensure that all seniors have access to the services

that they need.

Promoting and advocating for seniors services and long-term care is obviously very

meaningful to me, not only because of my role as a parliamentary secretary but also

because, as a registered nurse working in community for over 20 years, I have seen

the importance of ensuring that as people age, there are choices available — choices

to remain at home for as long as possible or to die at home with effective and compassionate

palliative care, to die in a palliative care centre, to be in a long-term-care home

that can meet more complex needs or to be in assisted living where independence is

supported with some help.

All of these options and more are important, and our government continues to do the

work of making sure everyone can access those choices.

We remain committed to supporting and caring for seniors, which is why I’m happy to

hear that in addition to rent supplements, we will continue to improve home and community

care, with an increase of more than $100 million in the budget for 2025. This funding

will support home health services to help seniors manage their health care needs and

remain living at home.

One of these programs to highlight is the Better at Home program, a service which

helps with day-to-day tasks such as grocery shopping, light housekeeping and transportation

to and from medical appointments for those who need it. They can also help with snow

removal and yardwork in some areas. That is managed by the United Way.

We are also continuing the age tax credit introduced in 2000, which provides income-tested

tax credits to seniors.

Our seniors are an integral part of our province. We will continue to ensure that

they can access the services they need, participate in their communities and live

the lives they choose. We will always recognize that these are the people who have

paved the way for the rest of us and ensure that respect and compassion are integral

to all services for seniors.

I had the opportunity just last week to attend the seniors care conference of the

federal, provincial and territorial ministers for seniors. I was delighted to learn

that B.C. is setting the standard in some areas of seniors care, particularly in the

area of non-profit societies that offer a broad range of services, from meal programs

through socialization through IT fluency, language training and more.

During times like this, when uncertainty is all around us, it’s important that we

keep focused on the things that really matter. While the government down south chooses

chaos, our government is choosing to stand strong for B.C. families and children.

I’m proud of the work that our government is doing in investing in British Columbia,

investing in people, investing in programs, investing in business.

I thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to speak and support this budget.

[3:20 p.m.]

Deputy Speaker : Thank you very much, Member.

For continued budget debate, we will call on and recognize the member for West Vancouver–Capilano.

Lynne Block : I rise today to speak to the 2025 budget.

First and foremost, I want to thank the many people who supported me in my campaign:

my children and their families, friends, volunteers, community members, experts in

their fields.

You believed in me and my commitment to our riding and its people.

I stand here today with a deep sense of responsibility, honoured to represent my riding

of West Vancouver–Capilano and every single constituent in it. It is a privilege to

serve this community, and I will work tirelessly to meet the needs and expectations

of every individual and family in this riding.

Specifically, I want to thank Ashten Young, Colin Metcalfe, Sharon Thompson, Caroline

Elliott, Eva Jarvis, Robert Jarvis, Aidan Mackay, Shannon Kewley, David Jones, Tyler

Elkington, Rob Mackay Dunn, Brock Stephenson, Richard Triggs, Helene Childs, Neil

Carrol, Shirin Saleh, Will Portman, Neil Jensen, Elizabeth and John Stewart, Samin

Sohbi, Atefeh Abbaspour, Peter Thanas, Craig Farlinger, Shea Synaeghel, Nathan Weber,

Lisa Pietrow, Luca Sikich, John McCarter, Konrad Kobielewski, Lawrence Wong, Carlo

Rahal, Sheelah Donahue and Nicole Brown — just to name a few.

I want to thank the Conservative Party for supporting me and providing concrete plans

and frameworks that would revitalize a moribund economy. So many British Columbians

wanted a real change in government to ensure that B.C. would be prepared to face all

of our current and future challenges, and I would like to thank all of those people

who got out to vote for that change.

West Vancouver–Capilano is a beautiful riding, home to eight creeks, Capilano Lake

and River and multiple regional parks. There is no shortage of hiking trails or grass

fields perfect for picnics or an afternoon stroll. We are also surrounded by a view

of Lions Gate Bridge and the downtown skyline, which never gets old.

I can’t speak about my riding without mentioning the vibrant and luscious Capilano

River Regional Park, known to many for its suspension bridge and Treetops Adventure,

providing visitors with a squirrel’s-eye view of the thriving coastal rainforest right

smack in the heart of my riding. There’s no shortage of wildlife here either, with

chum, coho and chinook salmon spotted on the banks of Capilano River, and even dolphins

spotted near Ambleside Beach just over a week ago.

On top of a beautiful environment, my community of West Vancouver–Capilano is home

to a vibrant and thriving network of small businesses that are the backbone of our

local economy. These businesses are not only places of commerce but also vital spaces

that bring people together and foster a genuine sense of community.

Beyond the entrepreneurs and business owners, what truly makes my community special

are the residents who live here. Not only are residents deeply connected to one another,

but there is a spirit of collaboration and solidarity that extends to the way our

community advocates for important issues that impact us all.

Whether it is ensuring that our children have access to high quality education, advocating

for better child care options or addressing any other crucial needs, the people in

my riding are not afraid to work together to make change happen. It is this strong

sense of community and shared responsibility that makes this place so unique and truly

a wonderful place to represent.

I want to talk a little bit about my own personal story outside of politics and how

it brought me to be sitting here now in the B.C. Legislature. I am a proud immigrant

who moved from a small town in England to the vastness of Canada, and I’ve never looked

back. It was quite an adjustment, but I am incredibly proud to be standing here, a

Canadian citizen and an elected representative in my chosen home, British Columbia.

I come from a long line of strong-willed patriots who risked their lives to fight

for our freedoms and to secure our democracy. My grandfather and three great uncles

served in World War I, and my father served in World War II.

I would like to take a moment to remember them and to thank them for their service.

However, and I never thought I’d say this, I am so glad that none of them are here

today, because they would be disgusted at what has been happening in the world, including

here in B.C., where they chose to settle and bring up my sister and I.

My parents believed in education and emphasized lifelong learning. They taught us

to listen to others, to try our best to truly understand the words others speak and

then to incorporate these lessons into our own thoughts and words. They also reflected

the commitment to democracy and freedoms, while expecting people to act responsibly

and take accountability.

[3:25 p.m.]

It is these lessons that I strive to bring with me into this House. I have listened

attentively to the answers members opposite me have provided in response to some of

our questions. Often the answers have not been actual facts but the dredging up of

past comments of some of my fellow MLAs to obfuscate or to provide a negative soundbite.

Disappointingly, often the responses have not provided real answers, and sometimes

there have been answers that bore no relation to the original question.

Sometimes I’ve wondered if there’s a plexiglass that divides this chamber in half

and that the answers provided by my opposite members are being lost in translation,

because they bear no relation to the actual reality that our B.C. residents are experiencing

and that my colleagues relate every single day in this chamber.

But I have faith that there are some members of the NDP party who are secretly empathetic

and even upset at hearing all the brutal stories our party members are sharing. Perhaps

they agree with some of our policies and perhaps are a wee bit ashamed with all the

NDP broken promises that were made in order to get them elected.

Day after day, my colleagues and I provide factual data of the horrors of what is

happening in various parts of our province. One member opposite lauded our health

care system as the best in the world. I was gobsmacked with that statement. Hasn’t

the hon. member opposite heard all the heartrending stories about the failures in

our health care system?

What about the colleagues…? The huge failures in our housing policies, failures in

our opioid crisis, failures in honouring our seniors, failures in our education system,

crushing taxes, failures in providing critical infrastructure, and so on.

A member opposite stated that this budget will provide “services where they need them

and when they need them,” and that “our budget is focused on providing critical highlights.”

Really? On the contrary, this budget does nothing to build up our economy so that

we don’t go deeper and deeper into debt, a debt our children and grandchildren will

have to shoulder. Why?

I have a question for any member across the aisle. Did any of you think to refuse

the increase in your salary, knowing that it came as a result of taking money from

your constituents and those who needed it most?

And now the NDP are wrapping themselves in the Canadian flag and gleefully pointing

at the U.S. and the impending tariffs as the reason we are in deep trouble financially.

I find this offensive. It’s not because of the U.S. and their tariffs. It’s because

of the ineptitude and fiscal mismanagement of the NDP that has left us vulnerable.

Our Conservative Party knows exactly how to recharge the economy, and we’re here to

hold this government to account until they realize that and start working with us.

There’s no sense in constantly saying “elbows up” if you won’t stand up in this House

and stand up for the people of British Columbia.

Unlike some of the members opposite, every single one of my colleagues has the expertise

or the lived experiences or the working experiences of their specific critic roles.

So they know exactly how to turn this province around. They know how to work together

to build a robust economy that can pay for all that we need to put B.C. back on track.

I used to be a teacher, so I was very excited when my fellow MLA and I were notified

that we were on an education committee, where we could work with the members across

the aisle to build new ideas that would provide the much-needed programs, frameworks

and best practices to not only meet the needs of today’s students but of those in

the future.

Then we found out that this committee, like many others in this government, never

meets. It hasn’t met since 2006 — that is, 19 years ago. Who has been shaping the

policies that make up our education system since then? It genuinely concerns me. There

are thousands of young adults in B.C. who were born and have since completed their

entire primary and secondary education since this committee last met.

This is not a democratic process. People deserve to have their voices heard through

those committees. It is time that this government reconvene these committees so that

we can sit down with them and truly collaborate and listen to one another.

As the critic for Education, it is my duty on behalf of His Majesty’s loyal B.C. opposition

— my party, the Conservative Party of B.C. — to shine a light on these broken promises

and to demand better for British Columbians.

[3:30 p.m.]

After eight years of the New Democratic Party promising better schools and child care,

our classrooms remain overcrowded, our children are stuck in portables and much-needed

support staff are nowhere to be found.

My grandma Loveday — you’ll be hearing more about her later — a suffragist, always

told me: “Lynne, never make a promise if you can’t fulfil it. Otherwise, it reflects

poorly on your integrity.”

But time and again Premier David Eby and his NDP colleagues have made grand commitments

on education only to….

Deputy Speaker : Member, I ask you to refrain from names, please, of any of the members of this House.

Lynne Block : Sorry. Beg your pardon. I take that back.

The Premier and his NDP colleagues have made grand commitments on education only to

break those promises. Budget 2025 was an opportunity to deliver for students, parents

and education in B.C., yet it has once again fallen short.

Those across the aisle would like to broadcast that Budget 2025 spends more money

than last time on education. But what they fail to mention is that this minimal funding

increase does not actually represent more money per student. No, it’s because B.C.

just has more students.

The biggest issue with education in B.C. is that we are using the same old education

model, and it’s not effective in this modern day. We need to be looking at best practices

around the world, not only for education but for housing and several other issues.

I would imagine that reconvening the prior-mentioned committee that hasn’t met for

19 years might be a good start in hearing new ideas on this.

For now, I want to focus on the commitments that the NDP made that raised hopes for

parents and teachers alike but brought practically nothing new in this budget. First,

let me bring attention to the Premier’s pledge of having “an educational assistant

in every kindergarten to grade 3 classroom,” along with a mental health counsellor

in every school.

I am disappointed but not surprised to say that this promise is not fulfilled in this

budget, and our youngest learners will continue on in class without the dedicated

support that their Premier guaranteed.

The much-touted child care spaces have yet to materialize at the scale promised. Even

the new Maple Ridge school that was announced remains just talk, much like the new

Pitt Meadows Secondary that NDP promised in the last campaign, where construction

has not yet started.

The NDP’s pattern is clear — campaign-trail promises followed by delays, inaction

and disappointment. This pattern is not new. We have seen this with them before. Nowhere

are these broken promises more visible than in the overcrowding of our schools and

the proliferation of portables.

Let’s talk about portables. These trailer-like structures out back of schools, originally

meant as temporary overflow space, are now a permanent fixture in too many communities.

All the way back in 2017, the NDP vowed to eliminate portables in Surrey schools by

2020, a commitment that raised expectations for families in B.C.’s fastest growing

cities. At that time, Surrey had about 250 portables in use.

Not only did the NDP fail to eliminate those portables, but the number of portables

has actually grown to over 360 with 400 projected in this next year. Our promise to

eliminate portables became an explosion of portables. There are stories of schools

looking at double-decker stackable portables just to fit everybody in. This is not

an indicator of success by any government. It is a glaring symbol of failure to invest

in our future, our children.

The situation in Surrey is a crisis. Over 80 percent of Surrey’s schools are over

capacity, with some operating at up to 158 percent of their intended capacity. In

plain terms, that means children packed into hallways, gyms converted to classrooms

and classes held in any available nook and cranny.

To cope, the district has resorted to so-called band-aid solutions: extended secondary

school schedules and all of these portables, measures which drain existing funds and

take away play and recreation space from students. Each one of these portables represents

a classroom that should have been built as part of a proper school. Each one represents

children who don’t have access to proper facilities, libraries, labs, gyms and who

often must trek through rain and snow just to use a washroom in the main building.

This opposition would do away with cold, ugly portables and invest in modular classrooms

in buildings that are properly insulated, wired and integrated into school campuses,

and we would build new schools with the urgency the situation demands. We recognize

that the government alone can’t meet every need fast enough. That’s why we should

be working with local partners to expand school capacity in all ways possible.

[3:35 p.m.]

If an independent school or community school can help take pressure off the public

system, we should expedite approvals and support them. Every seat we create for a

student is a win, whether it’s in a public or independent setting. The focus must

be on our children, not ideology or politics. Our school system should be one that

sets every child up for success — well-built schools, well-supported staff and a well-rounded

curriculum that prepares students for our future.

This is something the current government has lost sight of. People are frustrated,

and who can blame them? The present government hasn’t done anywhere near enough in

the past seven years to address this crisis facing our children and teachers. When

asked about this, the Minister of Education says that eliminating portables is still

“where we want to go,” and then points fingers at previous governments. It’s simply

not good enough. Blaming past officials doesn’t build a single classroom today.

Sadly, the budget offers little more than the status quo and stall tactics. Even the

Minister of Finance characterized the new budget as just “holding steady.” What a

weak and uncreative approach to take, especially when we look at the crisis of our

education system. Of course, maintaining core services is essential, but where is

the growth and vision needed to fix the education crunch?

Budget 2025 claims to add $370 million over three years for K-to-12 education. This

$370 million might sound like a lot, until you realize that it barely keeps up with

growing enrolment and inflation. The B.C. Teachers Federation noted that the modest

increases will meet basic contractual obligations and “hopefully prevent cuts,” but

it’s far from the bold improvement needed. The truth is that many of the headline

items in the education budget were old news, repackaged after already being on the

books for several years.

This NDP government is patting itself on the back for investments that were already

underway, while this critical growth was left unfunded. Many districts have long been

awaiting school capital projects, and while the budget does allocate some capital

funds for education, they’re largely tied up in previously announced projects or stopgap

measures.

Let’s break down the part of the budget set towards building and upgrading schools:

the $392 million for prefabricated, modular school projects, creating 6,485 new student

seats by 2026. Surrey alone needs 10,000 new seats, 400 portables’ worth of students,

but the NDP, the party, has promised only these 6,485 new seats, across 16 districts.

Surrey gets 1,000 new students a year. The scale is off. It’s nonsense.

This is essentially a tacit admission that traditional school construction has lagged

so badly that we need emergency measures. The government boasts about the six new

schools they have built in Surrey since 2017, but the district grows by 1,000 students

every year. It’s not enough, and they know it, but still they ignore the community’s

pleas.

The wait time from when a new school is needed to when it finally opens can be up

to 15 years, longer than a child’s entire K-to-12 education, during a time when an

entire generation of students remained stuck in overcrowded schools, waiting and hoping

for relief to arrive from the government.

Budget 2025 certainly does not bring this necessary relief. The Conservative Party

of B.C. has vowed to cut through the red tape that delays school construction. That

means working closely with municipalities on fast-tracking permits and ensuring that

land is acquired in advance in growing areas. It also means embracing innovative solutions

like modular construction, as I already mentioned.

We would revamp the capital planning and budgeting process in the Ministry of Education

so that new schools open when families need them, not 15 years later. In fact, eight

years ago even the NDP itself admitted the capital funding model was broken, yet,

in government, they did nothing to fix it. We will fix it.

Perhaps the NDP don’t want to listen to me or to the facts that I present. So I thought

maybe they would listen to those on the front lines — the teachers in classrooms,

the parents of school kids and the local school boards trying to balance their budgets.

Their verdict on the NDP’s education record is clear: not good enough.

The B.C. Teachers Federation has been vocal that much more is needed. They have urged

the government to “deliver on their promises and commitments to B.C.’s teachers and

their students” and to bring forward a bold vision to improve learning conditions.

In polite terms, the teachers’ message is that this government is treading water,

and our kids deserve a government that swims forward.

[3:40 p.m.]

Parents are speaking out as well. The Surrey district parents sdvisory council teamed

up with teachers and support staff to write a joint letter to send to the Premier.

Think about how extraordinarily upsetting that is — parents and educators, united

across Surrey in desperation, writing to the Premier to beg for help. In that letter,

they didn’t mince words. They highlighted how portables are draining funds and robbing

kids of play space, how the wait for new schools is unbearably long.

School trustees and boards are also ringing alarm bells. The B.C. School Trustees

Association warned that boards will “struggle to manage with the status quo” funding

levels. For years, they’ve asked this government for increased capital funding to

build schools and deal with aging facilities, as well as resources to recruit much-needed

staff. Those pleas have largely gone unanswered.

You may have noticed, Mr. Speaker, that I have repeatedly used the word “crisis” to

refer to the current state of B.C.’s education system. I’m not alone in thinking that

way. In fact, just this week the Surrey board of education declared the shortage of

schools in their city as just that — a crisis. The board said that they have done

everything they can, but now they desperately need urgent action from this province.

From the teachers union to parents’ groups to trustees across B.C., the message is

unanimous: the NDP government’s handling of education and child care is failing our

children. The people who experience the consequences every day are asking, begging,

for better, and this B.C. Conservative opposition is here to amplify their voices.

Parents teach their children to never break a promise, but there have been too many

broken promises from this NDP government. But oh, if only we could monetize the mountain

of NDP excuses and broken promises. I’m sure we’d have enough to face the U.S. tariff

threats and properly fund public services like education and child care. We’d probably

even have money left over to pay off the debt.

The results of these broken promises affected all British Columbians, but this deficit

will be left to our children, a debt that has mortgaged our children’s education and

future success in life. Shame on the NDP. Shame on them for their broken promises

and endless excuses. Shame on the NDP for devoting time and resources for pet projects

and political optics, things like renaming ministries and rolling out ill-considered

curriculum changes, such as dropping letter grades without proper consultation.

We watch as this NDP government trumpets historic investments in child care or housing

in one press release, and then, in the next, they find excuses for not building urgently

needed schools.

It seems they have found a new and shiny excuse, the U.S. tariffs. Yes, economic uncertainty

is real, but it’s during tough times that a government’s real values, integrity and

character are revealed. What we see is this government does not prioritize our children’s

learning as highly as they should. Our schools are in crisis. Where is the urgency?

We in the opposition, and specifically the Conservative Party of British Columbia,

refuse to stand by while students are shortchanged. We do have a plan to address the

overcrowding and staffing shortages and to restore quality in our schools. We will

keep pressing this government to implement these commonsense solutions now. Or if

not, they need to make way for us, a government that will.

To the parents and teachers listening: we hear you, and we are here for you.

To the students facing overcrowded schools and cut programs: we have not forgotten

you. We are here for you.

To the Premier and his NDP ministers, it’s time to stop breaking promises and start

fixing the problems.

The Conservative Party of British Columbia official opposition will not rest until

we see the level of improvement that is needed and deserved. We owe it to our children,

who are the future of this province, to do no less.

Hon. Sheila Malcolmson : I’m very grateful and heartened to be speaking today on the territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən- speaking people, the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations.

Hail to Snuneymuxw First Nation, the home territory where I represent, and grateful

always for the leadership and the friendship of Chief Mike Wyse and the Snuneymuxw

people.

[3:45 p.m.]

Every time that I’m home, I’m reminded of the strength and the ways that people are

engaging in local economy and community, especially at this time of really very intense

pressure — seeing people waving B.C. and Canada flags, seeing people walking around

the grocery store looking for made-in-B.C. or made-in-Canada labels.

At the meeting that I had just on Friday with the Gabriola Island Chamber of Commerce,

hearing about the concerns that they have about tariffs and the ways that they, the

chambers of commerce across the province, are giving advice to this government on

how we can support them, get British Columbia as ready as we can be for the impact

of tariffs which President Donald Trump says will come for sure.

This budget is built in that context and very much responding to what we’re hearing

from community. We’re going to continue to invest in services, we’re going to continue

to invest in the kind of supports that people need, but we are also keeping as ready

as we can for impacts that we cannot yet anticipate. We are together standing strong

for British Columbia against Donald Trump’s unfair tariffs.

Today I’m going to bring to this chamber some of those stories that I’ve heard from

home, stories from community groups and leaders who are pulling together in really

difficult times. We’ll relay how this budget reflects the priorities that we’ve heard

from people in British Columbia.

This is very much about investing in critical services, public supports for the areas

of growing demand.

Health care, for example.

Putting people first.

Supporting businesses as we build that stronger future.

Growing the economy by helping people train up for better jobs.

Getting major projects built.

Diversifying where we sell our goods.

Managing our finances carefully to safeguard front-line services that people count

on without hiking costs for them.

Improving health care and education by connecting more people to family doctors and

building good neighbourhood schools for our kids.

Delivering homes that people can afford while keeping everyday costs low, from child

care fees to car insurance bills.

Improving public safety with new community safety initiatives and by training up more

police.

Building up B.C.’s critical infrastructure with investments in roads, bridges and

transit that keep people and goods moving.

All of this in the context of global inflation that had made life more expensive and

things more unaffordable already.

This had already hit people hard. In the ministry that I’m assigned to, Social Development

and Poverty Reduction, I hear particularly from people that are having a hard time

making ends meet. Then layer onto that the deep uncertainty that we’re all feeling

as B.C. and all of Canada face tariffs from the United States.

In this budget, we are defending B.C. against the impact of those tariffs; we’re strengthening

health care and the services people rely on; we’re helping people with costs, providing

affordable homes; we’re working for a strong diversified economy for Brit