Fifth Session, 42nd Parliament

(2024) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Morning Sitting

Issue No. 423

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

Tributes

Michael Lunn and Fred McEachern

D. Routley

Introductions by Members

Introduction and First Reading of Bills

Bill M213 — Clean Energy Amendment Act, 2024

S. Furstenau

Bill M214 — Fairness in Women’s and Girls’ Sports Act

J. Rustad

Statements (Standing Order 25B)

Wildfire management and support for firefighters

T. Stone

Immigrant Link Society and food waste reduction initiative

J. Routledge

Forest industry and value of forest resources and biodiversity

M. Morris

Earth Day contributions by Richmond volunteers

H. Yao

Achievements by Peace region athletes

D. Davies

National Day of Mourning for workers

B. Banman

Oral Questions

Management of safe supply and diversion to illicit market

K. Falcon

Hon. J. Whiteside

Drug decriminalization program and online sale of illicit drugs

K. Falcon

Hon. J. Whiteside

E. Sturko

Endometriosis diagnosis and care

S. Furstenau

Hon. A. Dix

Women’s health care and status report

S. Furstenau

Hon. A. Dix

Safe supply initiative and drug use deaths

B. Banman

Hon. J. Whiteside

Management of safe supply and diversion to illicit market

B. Banman

Hon. J. Whiteside

Drug decriminalization program and safe supply initiative

P. Milobar

Hon. M. Farnworth

T. Wat

R. Merrifield

S. Bond

Question of Privilege (Reservation of Right)

H. Yao

Orders of the Day

Second Reading of Bills

Bill 23 — Anti-Racism Act

Hon. N. Sharma

T. Wat

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2024

The House met at 10:03 a.m.

[The Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: D. Davies.

Introductions by Members

Hon. A. Dix: I have two sets of introductions today.

First of all, members will know that all members of the House are

invited at noon to recognize Journey to Freedom Day in British Columbia and

in Canada. It’s April 30. It recognizes both the contribution of Vietnamese

Canadians to our life and the journey to freedom that so many Vietnamese

Canadians went on, often by boat, in escaping Vietnam in the 1970s and

’80s.

We have lots of guests coming, and I encourage all members of the

House to be part of what will be a very informative and moving ceremony at

noon in the Hall of Honour.

[10:05 a.m.]

I want to introduce today Tammy Dao; Chrystal Phan, who’s a Victoria

artist whose work will be recognized and who will speak today; Edison Tran;

Tammy Trong; Teresa Toy Nguyen; Vanbe Nguyen; Vieng Phavongkham, who’s the

president of the Laos Community Association of B.C.; Sarah Ens; and Trang

Doan.

I wish the House to wish all of our guests who are coming

welcome.

I also have a very special guest in the gallery today. My wife, Renée

Sarojini Saklikar, is here. She, as many of you know, is a brilliant poet

and a beautiful soulmate for me…. I’m getting heckled.

I was quoting the member for Peace River North’s statement,

actually.

I’m pretty safe this time. I hope everyone wishes Renée

welcome.

S. Furstenau: I’m delighted to introduce to the House today the team from Edison

Motors. There’s a small sea of plaid up in the gallery today: Chace Barber,

Eric Little, Ray Matkin, Rich Bosche, Aaron Porteous and Theron

Groff.

Starting as a trucking company, they hauled logs, mining equipment and

drilling rigs across B.C., Yukon and Alberta but soon grew frustrated with

electric trucks. They decided to rebuild older trucks, began designing their

own electric truck and now are building diesel-electric retrofit kits for

trucks.

They’re extraordinary innovators, small business people and real

leaders in turning our economy into a clean energy one, right here in

B.C.

Would the House please make the Edison Motors team most

welcome.

Hon. M. Rankin: I’d like to introduce a group joining us in the gallery today from the

ʔiiḥatisatḥ First Nation: Chief Simon

John and Couns. David Miller, Chrissie John and Ashley John. They’re in

Victoria today for government meetings.

I think all of us will know the Chief and his community from the

national news recently. They kept us enthralled in their efforts to reunite

the young orca calf, kʷiisaḥiʔis, the

Brave Little Hunter, with the pod.

Will the House please join me in making them feel very

welcome.

P. Milobar: Today we have several constituents of the member for Delta South, who

is doing some other work today. He asked me if I would introduce the

Camerons. We have Lynn, John, David and Lorelle Cameron from Delta

South.

Will the House please make them welcome.

R. Parmar: Somewhere in the gallery, I have my friend Ryan Smith. Ryan is a TRU

law student. We met about a year ago during my by-election, where he came

and knocked on some doors in Langford.

Some of the members on this side of the House, and possibly others,

will know Ryan’s grandfather very well. He comes from some political

royalty, Brian Smith, who is the former Attorney General under the Bill

Bennett and Vander Zalm governments.

Will the House please make Ryan, wherever he is, very

welcome.

L. Doerkson: It is an absolute honour to introduce Beverly Marks in this House

today. She is a CA in the constituency of Cariboo-Chilcotin. She works in

the South Cariboo in the 100 Mile office. She is an absolute, tirelessly

working hard constituency assistant, but she is a fierce advocate for the

people of Cariboo-Chilcotin, and I thank her for that.

Thank you.

Make her welcome today.

Hon. B. Ma: It is my pleasure today to be able to introduce several members of

EMCR’s GCPE team — government communications and public engagement team,

Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. We have Krystal Thompson,

communications director; Aimee Har­per, communications manager; Dave

Paulson, senior public affairs officer; Aaron Hinks, director; Meg Sequeira,

public affairs officer; and Patrick Newman, communications

coordinator.

Would the House please join me in making them all feel very

welcome.

[10:10 a.m.]

J. Rustad: I have a number of introductions. Due to the length of accolades of

all these, I won’t mention all of them and their accolades, but I do want to

highlight a few.

To start with, April Hutchinson has become one of the few outspoken

Canadian athletes advocating for women’s safety and fairness in competition.

In her pursuit of justice, she finds herself currently suspended from the

Canadian Powerlifting Union for daring to speak out. Undeterred, she

continues to fight, with the support of countless female athletes who share

her belief in fair sport. Today happens to also be her birthday.

Also with her is Dr. Linda Blade. Dr. Linda Blade is a former Canadian

track and field champion and NCAA All-American athlete. She’s grateful to

the province of British Columbia for the many years of service granted to

her as a high school champion in track and field in the late ’70s and later,

as a national and international athlete who represented Canada throughout

the 1980s.

The province of B.C. contributed substantially to her development as a

sports scientist and coach as she earned a PhD in kinesiology at Simon

Fraser University. All that funded learning and experience of both human

biology and high-performance sports solidified her understanding of the

fundamental truth that males and females are distinct in both form and of

all ages.

Also with us is Kathleen Thomas, as well as Connie Polman Tuin and

Maria Barwig, who is a mother and strongman competitor.

Laura Allan served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 15 years,

dedicating a decade of her service to operating on submarines. She played a

critical role in advancing the integration of women in submarine roles. In

recognition of her pioneering efforts and dedication, the Canadian Armed

Forces featured her in an

article celebrating Women’s History Month,

highlighting her as a trail-blazer and a source of inspiration.

With her as well is Megan Chandler. Megan is a 15-year-old softball

player. She has been working hard to earn a female scholarship to

university. She wants to see equal opportunity for biological women and

girls in sports.

I’ve just got three more, if I may.

Lily Woodruff is a 15-year-old competitive rugby and baseball player.

She has played A-ball for several years, won provincials and nationals in

2022, and competed in the Little League World Series. She wants a female

scholarship to university.

Paige Hunter is a seasoned competitor in Olympic

weightlifting.

Sophie Paridaen van Veen is assistant head coach for the Duncan

Stingrays swim team and is also a competitive powerlifter.

Finally, Karen Strong is an Olympic coach from Duncan, B.C.

Would the House please make them all welcome.

Hon. D. Coulter: We have some folks from Chilliwack here. We have 23 grade 11s from

Mount Cheam Christian School in the gallery.

I hope that the chamber can join me in welcoming them to the

precinct.

K. Falcon: Today in the gallery, I’m pleased to welcome a number of distinguished

guests. I’d like to very quickly identify them. We have got Bill Wang, Randy

Sun, Abby Wang, Jerry Wang, Min Zhang, Grace Zhang, Richard Fan, Conor Yang,

Eric Wan and Gordon Zhang.

I would ask that the House please make them welcome.

Tributes

MICHAEL LUNN AND FRED

M c EACHERN

D. Routley: I’d like the House to help me honour, on Red Shirt Day, the two

victims of a tragic shooting at the Western Forest Products mill in

Nanaimo ten years ago, Mike Lunn and Fred McEachern, and wish their

families peace and comfort at this time.

Introductions by Members

A. Olsen: For the members in the House that joined Jason Goertzen, our chaplain

of the Leading Influence Ministry, at the prayer breakfast a few weeks ago,

Jason often introduces the members that are in attendance.

At this time, I had a young man who was at the table with me, Malachi

Atkinson, stand in my place. People didn’t recognize me because it was he

who stood in my place, and he’s here today.

Could the House please make Malachi feel very welcome.

[10:15 a.m.]

B. Banman: Behind every political party are those that work tirelessly in the

background. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce the president

of the Conservative Party of British Columbia, Aisha Estey.

Would the House please make her feel very welcome.

G. Kyllo: I have three introductions to make today.

First is a good friend, Bonnie Gavin. Bonnie was for­merly a CA

up in Cariboo-Chilcotin, but she moved down to Salmon Arm to take very good

care of a good friend of mine, Lindsay Blackburn. Bonnie also provides

support in my office and is now a legislative executive

coordinator.

I hope the House would make Bonnie feel very welcome.

In addition, I’ve got Holly Cowan. Now, Holly Cowan was a former LA

for George Abbott for, I think, going on 11 years. She has been looking

after the office as the office manager, as our legislative executive

coordinator, for the last 11 years since I was elected.

Holly and I spend so much time together that quite often at events

people will ask: “Oh, is this your spouse?” I say, “No, Holly’s not my

spouse, but she sure as heck bosses me around like a wife” — to which Holly

quickly replies: “Yes, and he doesn’t listen, like a husband.”

Would the House please make Holly Cowan feel very welcome.

One final introduction, if I may, Greg McCune. Greg is a good friend,

a five-term former councillor for Enderby, two-term former mayor. Greg has

secured the nomination to succeed me in Shuswap. We were just at a home show

this last weekend, with lots of folks coming by and shaking a lot of hands.

I think Greg is probably almost better known than I am in the

Shuswap.

It was interesting. We were just telling folks that came by: “We’re

making it easy on the electorate. We’re just letting you know. Please just

continue to vote for Greg on the ballot in the next provincial

election.”

Hon. R. Kahlon: My colleague from Prince George intro­duced some guests

yesterday, but I had the opportunity to meet with two councillors, Kyle

Sampson and Garth Frizzell, today acting mayor Garth Frizzell.

I want to thank them for the work they’re doing, working

collaboratively to address some housing challenges in the community. I

really appreciate them and the team coming down to talk about some important

topics.

Please can the House make them really welcome today.

Introduction and

First Reading of Bills

BILL M213 — CLEAN ENERGY

AMENDMENT ACT,

S. Furstenau presented a bill intituled Clean Energy Amendment Act,

S. Furstenau: I move that a bill intituled the Clean Energy Amendment Act, of

which notice has been given in my name on the order paper, be introduced

and read a first time now.

Our climate crisis requires a transition to a clean energy future.

A just transition means that all British Columbians are able to make

choices that reflect their economic situation and their

preferences.

For many British Columbians, their vehicles are a core part of

their lives. Many people want or need a specific type of vehicle for

work or for their lifestyle, which may not be available in electric

form. For these people, the ability to retrofit an existing vehicle to

an electric vehicle is important. For small and innovative businesses

across the province such as Edison Motors, retrofitting vehicles to make

them low- or zero-emissions is both environmentally friendly and good

for the economy.

This is an example of the transition we should be seeking, one

where innovation and ingenuity can help solve the climate crisis, while

creating good, well-paid, local, secure jobs and helping people continue

to enjoy the things that they love. Unfortunately, there isn’t currently

a fair playing field for these vehicles. While new electric vehicles

have access to a range of rebates and grants, people retrofitting their

vehicles don’t. I know that this lack of fairness will be of concern to

all members of this House.

Today I’m proud to introduce a bill that creates that fair playing

field by ensuring that retrofitted vehicles are able to have access to

the same incentive grants as electric vehicles, ensuring all

zero-emission vehicles are treated the same way, and all British

Columbians can afford to move to electric vehicles.

I call on this government to recognize the value of this work and

hope to debate this bill at second reading.

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

Division has been called.

[10:20 a.m. - 10:25 a.m.]

Members, please get into your seats. The Clerks have to make sure

that everybody is present.

Members, please get into your seats.

Members, is there an agreement to waive the time?

Leave granted.

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

Clean Energy Amendment Act, 2024, tabled by the Leader of the Third

Party.

First reading of Bill M213 approved unanimously on a division. [See

Votes and Proceedings .]

The Speaker: Member.

S. Furstenau: Thank you, hon. Speaker, and thank you, House, for that show of

support.

I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second

reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Bill M213, Clean Energy Amendment Act, 2024, introduced, read a first

time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the

next sitting of the House after today.

BILL M214 — FAIRNESS IN WOMEN’S AND

GIRLS’ SPORTS

ACT

J. Rustad presented a bill intituled Fairness in Women’s and Girls’

Sports Act.

J. Rustad: I move a bill intituled Fairness in Women’s and Girls’ Sports Act,

of which notice has been given in my name on the order paper, be

introduced and read a first time now.

It’s an honour to stand in this House to introduce the Fairness in

Women’s and Girls’ Sports Act. I’m proud to say before this House, the

amazing women and girls who are here with us today, that this piece of

legislation is not only the first of its kind in Canada, but it was an

entirely female-led initiative from start to finish. The bill was

written by women and girls for women and girls.

[10:30 a.m.]

This bill provides that sports and athletic teams and events and

tournaments that are publicly funded must be classified by sex and

limits participation to participants of the biological sex that

corresponds to the sex classification. An exception is provided for

female participation.

Maintaining opportunities for female athletes to

dem­onstrate the strength, skills and athletic abilities and

pro­viding them with the opportunity to obtain recognition and

accolades, university scholarships and numerous other short- and

long-term benefits that result from participating and competing in

athletic endeavours in the prov­ince of British Columbia separate

from their male counterparts is just common sense.

There are inherent differences between males and fe­males,

ranging from chromosomal and hormonal differences to physiological

differences. But more than the obvious differences….

Over time, women and girls have struggled to be identified as a

person. They have struggled to have the right to vote, they have

struggled to be allowed to be in certain places, and they have struggled

to be paid fairly.

Here today, in 2024, in this Legislature, the necessity to move

forward the bill is to make sure that, once again, women are treated

fairly. For these reasons, the Conservative Party of British Columbia

finds that requiring the designation of separate sex-specific athlete

teams or sports is vital in order to maintain the fairness for women and

girls’ athletic opportunities in British Columbia.

I would urge all members of this House to vote in support of this

legislation. We all deserve to live our lives with integrity.

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

Division has been called.

Is there an agreement to waive the time?

Leave not granted.

[10:35 a.m. - 10:40 a.m.]

First reading of Bill M214, Fairness in Women’s and Girls’ Sports

Act, negatived on the following division:

YEAS — 27

de Jong

Doerkson

Milobar

Stone

Falcon

Bond

Halford

Ross

Oakes

Bernier

Davies

Rustad

Banman

Morris

Kyllo

Shypitka

Sturko

Merrifield

Wat

Lee

Kirkpatrick

Stewart

Clovechok

Ashton

Sturdy

Letnick

Tegart

NAYS — 51

Chandra Herbert

Parmar

A. Singh

Babchuk

Coulter

Lore

Chow

Beare

Kang

Heyman

Osborne

Cullen

Bains

Malcolmson

Bailey

Brar

Routledge

Starchuk

Phillip

Yao

Leonard

R. Singh

Whiteside

Farnworth

Kahlon

Conroy

Sharma

Dix

Fleming

Dean

Rankin

Ralston

Alexis

Sims

Simons

Elmore

Glumac

Routley

Furstenau

Olsen

D’Eith

Donnelly

Greene

Anderson

Chant

Dykeman

Paddon

Begg

Walker

Robinson

Chen

[10:45 a.m.]

Statements

(Standing Order 25B)

WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT

AND SUPPORT FOR

FIREFIGHTERS

T. Stone: Mr. Speaker, 2023 marks the most devastating fire season on

record, with more than 2.84 million hectares of forested land burned

across British Columbia. Tens of thousands of people across the province

were forced to evacuate, and hundreds of homes and structures were lost

or damaged. Year after year, families have to worry for their safety and

question whether their house will be standing at the end of the

summer.

In the Kamloops-Thompson-Shuswap area, we have witnessed firsthand

the devastating impact these wildfires have had. Last year, there was

unspeakable devastation in the North Shuswap. Recall the White Rock Lake

fire in the summer of 2021, which damaged 29 properties. Places like

Monte Lake and Paxton Valley have suffered immensely. These fires do

more than damage properties. They devastate people’s lives, and they

impose lasting damage to the broader communities.

Though it is only April 30, wildfire season has commenced. Just

last week British Columbia witnessed 44 new fires, 41 of which are

suspected to be caused by human activity.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the extraordinary individuals

fighting tirelessly on the front lines to safeguard our communities.

These include brave firefighters, the B.C. Wildfire Service, first

responders, volunteer fire departments and many others. Their courage

and dedication do not go unnoticed. These individuals are true

heroes.

We owe it to those on the ground to provide them with additional

personnel and resources to combat wildfires effectively and swiftly. We

must hit new fires faster and harder. As we face another wildfire

season, we must adopt new, innovative technologies and a bold new

approach that leverages local and Indigenous knowledge and

re­sources, ensuring that our communities are not only protected

but also resilient in the face of such challenges.

British Columbians can’t afford to wait any longer. It’s time for

decisive action to protect our communities, environment and

economy.

IMMIGRANT LINK SOCIETY AND

FOOD WASTE REDUCTION

INITIATIVE

J. Routledge: Food Rescue Heroes , a film by BCIT media students,

introduced me to the Immigrant Link Centre Society. They improve access

to healthy food to 4,500 people facing financial challenges due to low

family in­come, or because they are new immigrants or refugees or

seniors, in more than 25 locations in the Lower Mainland every other

week.

They do this by collecting and distributing surplus unsold food

from grocery stores, food that is blemished or past its best-before

date. They also provide volunteer opportunities, like picking up the

food, sorting the food daily according to specific dietary needs and

cultural appropriateness, and delivering it to those who need

it.

In the words of ILCS, “We rise by lifting one another.” Food

connects people to their communities, and volunteering in the food

recovery program gives the gift of connection. It is estimated that 58

percent of all food produced in Canada is thrown away, so reducing

avoidable food waste also reduces our demands on land, energy and

water.

ILCS was started in 2016 by Igor Bjelac in an ESL class. The

students were shown a documentary on food waste, and in the subsequent

discussion, Igor and his friends talked about how expensive food was

here in Canada. They made the connection between food waste and food

insecurity. They started a weekly food drive outside their ESL class,

and the rest is history.

Thank you, Zach Clarke, Liam Higgs, Lachlan Irvine and Riley Loong

for choosing to tell the story of the food rescue heroes in your

capstone film project, and for painting such a vivid picture of the

value of their work. You, too, are heroes.

[10:50 a.m.]

FOREST INDUSTRY AND VALUE OF

FOREST RESOURCES AND

BIODIVERSITY

M. Morris: For decades now, the value of B.C. forests has been recognized

primarily as forest products. Today over 20 million hectares of forests

have been clearcut, providing world-class forest products and

good-paying jobs, bringing billions into the British Columbia economy,

dollars that are no longer available as we now wait decades for our

exhausted forests to regrow.

But what about the value of our wild harvest, protein from

ungulates and other fish and wildlife species that reproduce each year?

Based on domestic cattle prices, our ungulate herds of moose, elk and

deer are worth billions. The variety of game birds and fish species that

populate our forests are worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The

amount of meat and fish harvested is worth hundreds of millions of

dollars annually. Our wild harvest also includes thousands of pounds of

wild berries, mushrooms and other plant life, collectively worth

millions of dollars annually.

What we don’t harvest and consume we watch, we smell, and we

marvel at the wonders of our flora and fauna, spending millions of

dollars in outdoor camping and hiking activities and showcasing British

Columbia by attracting international attention in adventure tourism —

again, worth millions of dollars.

Recently science has linked the loss of our forest canopies to

increased frequency and magnitude of flooding and the dehydration of our

forests, leading to increased wildfire risks and resulting in a net loss

due to the billions of dollars in infrastructure losses, serious injury

and, unfortunately, loss of life.

We have overlooked that it takes 80 years to more than a century

to regrow our forest canopies and to partially restore lost

biodiversity. We fail to calculate the value of evapotranspiration in

cooling our forests and our prov­ince. We ignore the major role

forests play in providing regional and continental rainfall. Over one

harvest cycle, these other values collectively exceed the value of mere

traditional forest products.

The future for our forests requires B.C. to recognize all the

values of our forests and to find the right balance in resource

development.

EARTH DAY CONTRIBUTIONS

BY RICHMOND

VOLUNTEERS

H. Yao: On Saturday, April 27, though running a little late, I arrived at

a KPU parking lot and was greeted by one of the event organizers, who

informed me that the volunteers who had gathered to celebrate Earth Day

had already departed for Alexandra Road in Richmond. Without delay, I

hurried to the site.

The weather was wet, cold and miserable. While everyone had a

desire to celebrate Earth Day by volunteering for the community, I

feared adverse conditions might deter participation. However, to my

complete surprise, upon arrival, I found over 30 volunteers, including

school trustee Alice Wong, diligently picking up garbage.

I was truly impressed by the dedication of these young people who,

despite the lousy conditions, had made their way out to celebrate Earth

Day. I felt honoured to volunteer among such a dedicated group of

people.

hosted by an organization called Dialogue Richmond.

This event was made possible thanks to the generous contribution

of many community partners, businesses and local organizations, such as

6pack Beach, Anytime Fitness, Fitness World, Garry Point Fish ’N’ Chips,

Kiehl’s Richmond Centre, Richmond Martial Arts, Steveston Museum post

office, Takeya Sushi, Win Win Chick-N, Quilchena Elementary School and

West Richmond Community Centre, providing over $2,700 in prizes and

necessary tools for the cleanup.

Additionally, Richmond local residents also lent the organization

supplies and equipment.

Dialogue Richmond was formed with the hope to foster inclusivity

and respectful, meaningful and honest dialogue while combating

disinformation, misinformation and discrimination. Humans of Richmond is

one of the incredible projects that humanizes different individuals in

Dialogue Richmond is led by president Jonathan Chan, vice-president Amy

Li and treasurer Vivian Chow.

Only by working together collaboratively, respectfully and

honestly can we better our community together.

ACHIEVEMENTS BY

PEACE REGION

ATHLETES

D. Davies: Today I rise in the House to celebrate several extraordinary

accomplishments achieved by athletes and sports teams from across the

Peace region over the last few months. I can only list a few because

I’ve only got two minutes.

This April, three outstanding members of the Peace Rugby Club

showcased their skills at the Tropical 7s in Florida, a prestigious

international rugby festival.

[10:55 a.m.]

Adalyn Dutchak represented us brilliantly on the U16 girls team,

while Waylon Fenton and Quentin Farquhar made us proud on the U18 boys

team.

In February, 21 athletes from North Peace proudly represented the

province and the region at the B.C. Winter Games. Among them, Tommy

Rivers-Bowerman from Charlie Lake and Matthew Robinson from Fort St.

John clinched the silver medal in the U14 karate male team competition.

Additionally, Ava Kurjata earned a well-deserved bronze medal as part of

the Cariboo northeast badminton team.

Finally, I am thrilled to announce that the Northern Lights

College rodeo team, which is the only varsity rodeo team in British

Columbia, based out of Dawson Creek, will compete next month at the

Canadian Collegiate Rodeo finals in Alberta. Entering the championships

as the top-ranked team, they are poised to make a strong bid for the

national title, showcasing the high calibre of rodeo talent in British

Columbia.

Two of our North Peace rodeo athletes are Shelby Corr from the

Fort St. John–Montney area and Destiny Olinberger from Pink

Mountain.

Each of these athletes and teams exemplifies the dedication, skill

and sportsmanship that define the best of British Columbia. Their

success brings immense pride to our community and region and inspires

future generations of athletes across the province.

I want to thank all of those who support and believe in all of

these remarkable individuals.

We look forward to cheering them on as they continue to achieve

greatness and elevate the sporting spirit of British Columbia in their

respective arenas.

NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING

FOR WORKERS

B. Banman: On April 28, Canada’s National Day of Mourning, we solemnly

remember and pay tribute to those who have lost their lives or endured

injuries or suffered illnesses as a result of their work.

The figures provided by the Association of Workers Compensation

Boards of Canada paint a stark reality: 993 workplace fatalities in

2022, including 33 young workers aged 15 to 24. These numbers, however,

only scratch the surface of the profound impact of work-related

tragedies. Behind each of these statistics lies a human story, a life

cut short, a family forever changed and a community left

grieving.

It’s crucial to acknowledge that these statistics are not just

numbers. They represent sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, friends

and colleagues. They underscore the irreplaceable loss felt by loved

ones and the enduring pain of those left behind.

Blue-collar labour and union shops are the backbone of our economy

and the heartbeat of many communities across B.C. From mills to

construction sites to factories, from farms to warehouses, B.C. workers

perform physically demanding and sometimes dangerous tasks to build the

things that drive the economy in our small towns and throughout our

province.

As we reflect on this day, let us not only mourn the lives lost

but also commit to workplace safety and the protection of workers. Let

us advocate for the robust safety measures, comprehensive training

programs and effective support systems to prevent future tragedies. Let

us honour the memory of those we have lost by striving for a workplace

where every worker returns home safely at the end of the day.

We must also be grateful for union and labour movement efforts

that have increased safety and training for generations of workers.

Blue-collar labour unions have kept miners, millworkers, and so many

other hardworking British Columbians safe in their workplace, and for

that we should all be grateful.

Today we must honour and recognize the inherent dignity and worth

of every worker, especially hard-working British Columbians who shower

at the end of the day in­stead of the beginning.

On the National Day of Mourning, let us unite in solidarity to

remember, to mourn and to protect workers and strengthen blue-collar

unions that safeguard workers’ rights in British Columbia.

Oral Questions

MANAGEMENT OF SAFE SUPPLY AND

DIVERSION TO ILLICIT

MARKET

K. Falcon: This Premier’s dangerous experiment to de­criminalize and

normalize the use of hard, dangerous drugs has devastated lives and

shattered communities. British Columbians are now forced to make an

unacceptable choice between sharing a hotel room with cockroaches or

someone smoking fentanyl.

The Premier’s so-called safe supply program has been a gift to

drug traffickers, flooding the market and slashing the street value of

hydromorphone by 95 percent, all funded by taxpayers.

[11:00 a.m.]

These cheap taxpayer-funded drugs are marketed as safe for

teenagers with online platforms like Reddit and Snapchat providing easy

access to these highly addictive drugs.

My question to the Premier: when will the Premier protect our kids

from his so-called safe supply drugs and end his entirely disastrous

policy of taxpayer-funded drugs and decriminalization?

Hon. J. Whiteside: Thank you to the member for the question. I think it’s really

important that we do take op­portunities to talk about child and

youth mental health when we are in this place.

We, of course, are concerned about the state of child and youth

mental health for kids in our communities and in our province. I want to

assure the member that these are also issues that our health system,

that doctors, that child and youth mental health clinicians are also

very seized with and very concerned with, as they provide care for kids

who need care and support.

Frankly, it doesn’t matter where prescription medications come

from. Whether it’s from their parent’s medicine cabinet or from

elsewhere, we do not want kids taking drugs. We do not want kids to get

wrapped up in the illicit drug supply.

That is work that we do, again, with our child and youth mental

health system, with our health system to ensure that we are addressing

any concerns that have come forward with respect to issues around

diversion. Our health system is on alert, and we have provisions in

place to be monitoring very carefully what’s happening with our safer

supply program.

We’ll continue to do that work.

The Speaker: Leader of the Official Opposition, supplemental.

DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PROGRAM

AND ONLINE SALE OF

ILLICIT DRUGS

K. Falcon: Regardless, the issue is that British Colum­bians are now

forced to make unacceptable choices between sharing hospital rooms with

cockroaches or somebody smoking fentanyl.

Now, the Premier’s permissive drug policies…

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh, Members.

K. Falcon: …have normalized illicit drug use, letting the genie out of the

bottle by ensuring there are no consequences to using dangerous

drugs.

Shockingly, online platforms now sell illicit drugs like MDMA,

ketamine and cocaine with a simple click, directly targeting B.C.

Facebook users…

Interjection.

The Speaker: Member.

Members, please.

K. Falcon: … with flashy, enticing ads. These websites promise easy access to

pills, marketed to youth with names like molly gummy bears, Blue Dolphin

pill, Homer Simp­son pill and Mickey Mouse pill.

This nonsense is made possible only because there are little to no

consequences under this reckless NDP decriminalization program. The

Premier said that he would destigmatize drug use. Well, don’t worry,

Premier. Mission accomplished.

My question is: with such deadly products targeted at youth and

normalized here in British Columbia, when will the Premier recognize the

damage of his policies and scrap this entire reckless decriminalization

program?

Hon. J. Whiteside: I just want to assure British Columbians that, in fact, we have

taken steps through our health care system to ensure, again, that we are

supporting our health care providers, supporting our doctors and nurses,

who are caring for people with substance use disorder to ensure that

they are using their medications appropriately.

We’ll work to update the medication options so that physicians can

more closely match the medications that people are needing. We are

making witnessed dosing the default for new medications, a number of

supports on that side.

What I would say again, to put this situation in context, is that

we lost more than 2,500 British Columbians last year to a toxic drug

supply that has amounts of fentanyl absolutely off the charts,

contaminants that are creating all kinds of vicious secondary effects to

people’s physical health.

[11:05 a.m.]

When we work with all of our partners across this space to try to

come together to turn the dial on this crisis, what our law enforcement

partners tell us is so important is that what they need to focus on is

in consideration of the volume or potential volume to scale up diverted

prescriptions or diverted safe supply, it pales — pales in comparison to

what organized crime is doing in terms of fentanyl production,

importation and exportation.

This is where we focus our efforts here in Vancouver. We have to

get in between what organized crime is doing to our communities and

kids. That is the focus of our agenda.

The Speaker: Please make sure questions and answers are brief.

E. Sturko: The minister’s right. We have lost more than 2,500 people in

British Columbia last year to overdosing. Yet this government puts no

focus on prevention, no overt warnings on the dangers of using drugs,

whether they are illicit drugs or prescription drugs.

These publicly available online platforms make purchasing deadly

illicit drugs as normal as shopping for online groceries. The websites

list drugs such as ketamine; pressed Xanax tablets; cocaine, Off the

Brick, superman — each with glossy photos and enticing descriptions.

Shockingly, illicit cocaine is marketed as “safe supply.” The

commercialization of cocaine has arrived, bolstered by the NDP

government messaging about destigmatizing drugs and dangerously named

safe supply.

My question: when will the Premier protect our youth from drugs

and finally put an end to his failed decriminalization

policies?

Hon. J. Whiteside: Thanks to the member for raising what, I think, we all agree is a

really important issue with respect to how we talk with youth in these

times, in the context of the toxic drug supply. That’s a very important

issue; we agree on that.

That’s why we have a campaign that is targeted to pointing kids to

the dangers of the illicit drug supply right now. That’s why we have

helpstartshere.gov.bc.ca, and I would implore anyone who needs help to

reach out to the supports that are available through that

website.

It is imperative that we work upstream, that we work in a

preventative way, which is why we have 35 Foundry sites. That’s why we

just announced an additional eight integrated child and youth mental

health teams. We have never seen the kind of investment we’re making in

our youth, in supporting their mental health in these times. We’re going

to continue to do that work.

E. Sturko: The minister mentions her website, and I wonder how many youth

actually access that website, compared to this website. These digital

drug dens are just a click away.

With the normalization of illicit drug use thriving under the NDP

and the marketing that aggressively targets our youth, one of the

Facebook ads features a double-points promo, promising double the

rewards points on illicit drug purchases until May 3, turning addiction

into a loyalty program, from molly gummy bears to LSD Oreo cookies.

These drugs are peddled as candy. Decriminalizing and normalizing

illicit drug use is a catastrophic NDP policy failure.

My question: when will the Premier wake up to the wave of

addiction caused by his policies and scrap his decriminalization

nightmare?

Hon. J. Whiteside: Frankly, the member is simply wrong to suggest that we support the

marketing by organized crime that is preying on young people in our

communities. To suggest that we’re not just as concerned is….

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members. Shhh, Members.

Hon. J. Whiteside: Everybody in this House, every single person in this House, every

single person across our health care system, across our child and youth

mental health system, is concerned to ensure that we are providing as

many supports as possible to children and youth.

That is why we are investing in all the upstream supports. It is

why we are working with experts on how we best engage with youth and

talk with youth. It’s why our health authorities have outreach workers

working with street-entrenched youth, to try and connect them to

services, to try and build trust. That’s the work that we have to come

together to do.

We should all be together, in this House, against organized crime,

who are preying on our young people. That’s the responsibility of every

member in this House.

[11:10 a.m.]

ENDOMETRIOSIS DIAGNOSIS AND CARE

S. Furstenau: Endometriosis affects one in ten women around the globe and

approximately one million people in Canada. There are many unknowns

about the disease, but the personal experiences are undeniable. People

with endometriosis have described their pain as excruciating and

debilitating. They experience vomiting, fainting and chronic pain that

takes them away from work and life.

People formally diagnosed with endometriosis have better physical

and mental health outcomes with lower rates of depression and anxiety

than those who go undiagnosed. Yet the rate of diagnosis in B.C., like

many places around the world, is dismally low. The average length of

time for a diagnosis is between seven and nine years. Many male doctors

who have no direct experience of menstruation continue to dismiss and

deny patients’ concerns and pain.

My question is to the Minister of Health. What is his government

doing to improve the diagnosis and care for people with

endometriosis?

Hon. A. Dix: Endometriosis is a terrible condition for many women in our

communities. It’s critically important that we continue, through both

our in-person and virtual platforms, to ensure better care for

people.

Part of that is the recruitment of more family doctors and nurse

practitioners. As the member knows, the vast majority of younger doctors

in this day and age are women, not men, which in itself is an important

improvement in service and understanding of this serious

illness.

One of the key aspects of what we’re doing is expanding primary

care for people and community. That means pri­mary care networks

that involve team-based care, that involve doctors and nurses and nurse

practitioners and others who provide support for people.

Equally we are engaged in a health human resources plan which

significantly expands primary care for people and communities. Through

the Provincial Health Services Authority and B.C. Women’s, we are

continuing to ensure that that community of primary care, which is

essential to dealing with something such as endometriosis, is strong and

informed.

WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE AND STATUS REPORT

S. Furstenau: Thank you to the minister for the response.

Birth, death, menopause — these are a few of the guarantees for

half the population. Yet menopause, like many issues related to women’s

reproductive health, continues to be a hushed discussion. When women

approach middle age, they are lurched into a world of sweat, pain and

tears. Indeed, through every stage of life, experiences with

menstruation, endometriosis and menopause are too often dismissed by

much of the health care system.

People are taking to TikTok to raise awareness about the pain

associated with the insertion of IUDs, and it sparked yet another

discussion about the health system and how it dismisses and denies

women’s pain. The provincial women’s health strategy was released in

2008 and the provincial health officer’s report on women’s health and

well-being in 2011. Yet well over a decade later, we’ve seen no

updates.

My question is to the Minister of Health. Will he commit to an

updated report that shows where progress is happening and where it’s

lacking when it comes to women’s health and well-being?

Hon. A. Dix: Yes. And further, I would say we have seen very significant

progress in support for women’s health in the last number of years,

progress that we’ve worked to­gether in the Legislature on,

progress in terms of women’s access to reproductive choice in our

province, progress in access to contraception, progress from the

community on issues of support for women and menstruation products that

came from the whole community and is transformative to the way people

view our province.

So the answer is yes.

SAFE SUPPLY INITIATIVE

AND DRUG USE

DEATHS

B. Banman: Yesterday on Connect FM, this NDP Premier chuckled at the idea

that drug users and addicts re­quire hospitalization more often

because they sometimes “break their legs.” I don’t find that funny, not

one bit.

British Columbians expect a serious, measured ap­proach to

addictions, and they’re not getting it from this NDP government. People

getting hurt is not funny. Open drug use in parks and playgrounds is not

funny. B.C. teens like Kamilah Sword in Port Coquitlam overdosing on NDP

safe supply is not funny.

[11:15 a.m.]

My question to the Solicitor General: when will you admit that

Kamilah Sword did not need to die, and when will you repeal your failed

safe supply policy?

The Speaker: Through the Chair, Member.

Hon. J. Whiteside: I know that every single person in this House feels compassion and

the grief that Mr. Sword and his family feel at the loss of Kamilah and

the impact of what is a challenging time when it comes to child and

youth mental health right now for kids.

That’s why we’re doing the work that is so necessary to do to

provide supports to children and youth, working with our school system,

working with our child and youth mental health system to provide those

upstream supports that are absolutely critical, and intervening so that

we catch problems before they turn into larger problems that result in

challenges with addiction and more serious mental health

issues.

We’re going to continue to do that work with all of our

partners.

The Speaker: Member, supplemental.

MANAGEMENT OF SAFE SUPPLY AND

DIVERSION TO ILLICIT

MARKET

B. Banman: This NDP government has been fundamentally unserious in its

approach towards the drug and addiction crisis in British Columbia. This

is not a compassionate government.

Just last week in a private meeting, Mayor Brad West told our team

that while he has personally been in touch with Greg Sword, the father

of Kamilah Sword, the local MLA for Port Coquitlam, B.C.’s Solicitor

General, pawned Greg Sword off to constituency staff. He would not take

a meeting.

Conservatives are asking for compassion and common

sense.

Will this Solicitor General commit to cancelling safe supply and

performing an audit to determine just how much money has been

transferred from taxpayers to drug traffickers as a result of diverted

safe supply?

Hon. J. Whiteside: Again, I find it important and necessary in this line of important

discussion in the House that British Columbians expect us to be taking

extremely seriously. When we consider the loss that our communities are

experiencing, over 2,500 British Columbians last year, a toxic drug

crisis that bedevils all of our authorities, all of our jurisdictions

across the country where we see very high increases in mortality — next

door in Alberta, for example.

Our physicians and nurses and outreach workers on the front lines

who are doing this work, who are working with children and youth, are

absolutely alive to all of the issues and concerns that the member

raised with respect to how they need to be in a position to access

pathways to care.

We have law enforcement very much on alert. We have our health

system on alert around doing the very best that we can do to ensure that

we have proper pathways to care for children and youth. We’re going to

continue to do that work with our partners.

DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PROGRAM

AND SAFE SUPPLY

INITIATIVE

P. Milobar: Well, it’s very clear that with five months to go before an

election, the Premier is suddenly concerned about what he has been

hearing for the last 15 months of pressure across British Columbia from

B.C. United to municipalities to other agencies. The Premier is now in

full political control mode with the election on the horizon. Yet he

refuses to end decriminalization despite the carnage in our streets and

in our hospitals.

I wonder why, Mr. Speaker. It’s because he very clearly has a

decrim caucus. His Minister of Mental Health and Addictions said on

Friday she remains committed to “the original objectives of

decriminalization.” And let’s take a look at what those objectives might

be, because two years ago the Health Minister said: “We’re ready for

decriminalization. We support that. We think it’s necessary. It’s fair

to say that we don’t think 2½ grams is enough.”

They didn’t think 2½ grams was enough drugs to be flooding our

streets with. No, they wanted it to even be more. Let’s be clear. NDP

ministers of the decrim caucus want more decriminalization, not

less.

Will the Premier finally say no to his decrim caucus and adopt

B.C. United’s plan to scrap his failed decriminalization disaster

today?

[11:20 a.m.]

Hon. M. Farnworth: I appreciate the question from the member. Decriminalization has

never been about public drug use. We’ve never supported public drug use

ever in this House. Decriminalization has been about saving lives,

saving lives from the very beginning. Given what we’ve heard from the

opposition in the past, I thought that’s what they believed as well.

Clearly, things have changed.

Let’s go back to what the Leader of the Opposition said. “Some of

the chiefs of police were supportive of decriminalization. What they are

supportive of is not charging people for small amounts of drugs, and I

agree with that.” Those are the words of the Leader of the

Opposition.

That’s why when we brought in the changes that we did, we worked

and consulted with police to ensure that we’re both on the same page.

Those are the limits that were put in place. When it became clear that

communities had concern about public drug use — which again, as I said,

was never, ever condoned or anticipated or approved — we worked with

local government, we worked with police to put in place the changes that

were announced on Friday to ensure that we keep our communities safe,

that public drug use is something that will not be tolerated.

T. Wat: This NDP caucus is openly proud of their pro-drug policies. The

member for Richmond South Centre says: “One thing I do want to take a

bit of pride in is the effort of working to decriminalize illicit drugs

for personal usage.” That’s right. This NDP MLA for Richmond South

Centre is proud of decriminalization of illicit drugs.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members, please.

T. Wat: So is his NDP colleague Richmond-Queensborough, who said:

“Decriminalization works. Again, the facts are clear. Decriminalization

works well.”

While the NDP celebrate their radical drug policies, our

communities suffer from chaos and disorder. Will the Premier finally say

no to his decrim caucus and adopt B.C. United’s plan…

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

T. Wat: …to scrub his failed decriminalization disaster?

Hon. M. Farnworth: Again, I appreciate the question from the hon. member. She could

not be more wrong in her comments.

We have never, ever supported open drug use. We have never, ever,

or ever would, as any other member of this chamber would, encouraged the

use of illegal drugs.

Interjection.

The Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. M. Farnworth: Oh, thank you, hon. Speaker.

Let me address that point right now, because I have heard that

statement from members of the opposition on the other side, and that is

an absolutely false statement. There is not and there will not be an

overdose prevention site within the Richmond Hospital. Let’s be really

clear about that. The member should take that message back to her

constituents.

That’s a fact, hon. Member.

This has been about saving lives in a toxic drug crisis that has

been plaguing this province, every other province, continent-wide and

is, in fact, global. We are taking the steps required to keep

communities safe, working with police, working with the UBCM, working

with the public and addressing their concerns.

That’s what Friday’s announcement was all about. There will be

further changes in future that help deal with the fight against

organized crime and those who peddle and prey on the most

vulnerable.

R. Merrifield: The NDP Premier’s decrim caucus is ag­gressively pushing for

an expanded decriminalization and so-called safe supply.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Let’s hear the question, please.

[11:25 a.m.]

R. Merrifield: Look no further than the NDP’s latest anti-police, pro-decrim

candidate, Christine Boyle, the Premier’s close friend and hand-picked

candidate in Vancouver. This is what she says: “We are lobbying hard,

loudly, almost unanimously, around safe supply, around

decriminalization.”

Clearly, NDP radicals want to fast-track an expansion of the

Premier’s disastrous decriminalization experiment.

Will the Premier finally say no to his decrim caucus and adopt

B.C. United’s plan to scrap his failed decriminalization

disaster?

Hon. M. Farnworth: I listen to the members opposite. On one day, you get one set of

words from the Leader of the Opposition, saying: “End decrim.” Then

previous comments from the Leader of the Opposition…. Again, I’ll repeat

it, because they don’t seem to understand it.

I think the Conservatives, down the end, remember this quote from

the Leader of the Opposition. “Some of the chiefs of police who are

supportive of decriminalization — what they’re supportive of is not

charging people for small amounts of drugs, and I agree with that.”

Those are the very words of the Leader of the Opposition.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. M. Farnworth: Then the member from South Surrey. “Does it mean that our party

doesn’t support decrim or harm reduction? Absolutely not. We do with

whole hearts. We want to save people.”

This side of the House knows what matters, which is saving lives.

That’s what our policies are designed to do. We also know the importance

of listening to the public and listening to police. That’s why we made

the changes that we did on Friday.

I will tell you something else, hon. Speaker. When it comes to

putting in place policies that are supporting police, this side has been

doing it for the last seven years. Whether it’s hiring more RCMP

officers than any other jurisdiction in the history of this province or

this country, putting in place the tools that are needed, we have done

that every single time, and we’ll continue to do that.

S. Bond: Well, the Solicitor General can bluster all he wants, but the

words of the NDP decrim caucus show what this government truly

believes.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members.

S. Bond: The member for Nanaimo–North Cowichan said: “Not a single life

will be saved by cancelling decriminalization in this province, and it’s

clear that we are turning the corner.” What is clear is the utter chaos

and social disorder in our streets, in our hospitals, and a record 2,546

lives lost to the overdose crisis last year alone.

Will the Premier finally say no to his decrim caucus and adopt

B.C. United’s plan to scrap his failed decriminalization

disaster?

Hon. M. Farnworth: I appreciate the question from the member. I thought they believed

that addiction was a health matter. That’s what we thought when they

supported the all-party committee report in this House. Clearly, they’ve

changed their mind. They’ve appeared to change their mind because of the

actions of the QAnon caucus down at the other end of the aisle

there.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. M. Farnworth: Let’s be clear. Police have made it clear that addiction is a

health issue, not a criminal issue. What they want are tools to help

keep communities safe, to deal with public drug use, which is what the

public was asking for, which is what communities were asking for. That’s

what we introduced on Friday.

We are going to continue to engage and put in place

pol­icies in terms of supports, treatments, new beds and mental

health supports to ensure that those who want to recover are able to do

that, because that’s what matters. That’s what this side of the House is

all about: keeping communities safe and ensuring that people get

healthy.

[11:30 a.m.]

[End of question period.]

Question of Privilege

(Reservation of Right)

H. Yao: I reserve my right to raise a question or point of

privilege.

The Speaker: Thank you.

Orders of the Day

Hon. R. Kahlon: In the main chamber, I call second reading of Bill 23, Anti-Racism

Act.

[S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.]

Deputy Speaker: All right, Members. Let’s get the second reading underway with Bill 23,

the Anti-Racism Act. If we could have some quiet in the chamber so we can hear

the speaker. Thank you.

Second Reading of Bills

BILL 23 — ANTI-RACISM ACT

Hon. N. Sharma: I move that the bill now be read a second time.

The Anti-Racism Act establishes a whole-of-government approach to

dismantling systemic racism and advancing racial equity. Government has

made identifying and dismantling systemic racism in public sector

policies, programs and services a priority. This act will allow

government to respond to systemic racism un­covered through the

Anti-Racism Data Act and other sources of information from Indigenous

peoples and in racialized communities.

The proposed legislation is enabling in nature and aims to

establish a nine-part anti-racism legislative framework.

Components of the framework include principles through which the

statute must be administered and im­plemented, including

confirming that urgent action is needed to address systemic racism;

confirming that actions to identify and eliminate systemic racism and

advance racial equity should be data-informed, requiring an

intersectional approach to dismantling systemic racism, requiring a

distinctions-based approach to consultation and cooperation focused on

dismantling Indigenous-specific systemic racism; confirming that

engagement with racialized communities is central to implementing the

proposed legislation; confirming investment in programs and services to

heal communities affected by racism.

The establishment of the requirement for government to develop and

publish an anti-racism action plan by June 1, 2026. This action plan

will be developed in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous

peoples and through engagement with racialized communities. The action

plan will include actions to address the harms caused by systemic racism

specific to Indigenous people, Islamophobia and antisemitism.

The establishment of the provincial committee on anti-racism,

PCAR, to advise government on the identification and elimination of

systemic racism.

The establishment of a parallel stream focused on identifying and

eliminating Indigenous-specific racism in consultation and cooperation

with Indigenous people, further to theme 3 of the Declaration Act action

plan.

Confirmation of the development of an anti-racism assessment

framework, setting standards, targets and in­dicators for

anti-racism training and curricula and similar requirements for the

parallel stream focused on Indigenous-specific racism.

The establishment of key accountability and compliance mechanisms

and a grant program.

The development of this Anti-Racism Act builds on the engagements

that occurred in 2022 with the Anti-Racism Data Act as well as continued

extensive consultations with Indigenous and racialized communities in

2023 and early in 2024, with over 7,000 people involved.

We worked closely with the Alliance of B.C. Modern Treaties, the

First Nations Leadership Council technical team, Métis Nation B.C., the

B.C. Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, the Minister’s

Advisory Council on Indigenous Women and the Multicultural Advisory

Council in the development of this act.

I’m so grateful. I want to acknowledge all of the hard work that’s

gone into putting this bill before the House today. I think it will make

a big difference in British Columbia.

[11:35 a.m.]

T. Wat: As the MLA for Richmond North Centre and the B.C. United shadow

minister for multiculturalism, anti-racism initiatives, arts and

culture, I rise to discuss Bill 23, the 2024 Anti-Racism Act, a bill

that is presented as aiming to address systemic racism across British

Columbia, especially in Indigenous and racialized

communities.

I speak to Bill 23, the 2024 Anti-Racism Act, not only as a

representative of my constituents and the people of British Columbia but

also as an immigrant who has called this beautiful province home for

close to 35 years. As a Chinese Canadian, I understand firsthand the

deep-rooted nature of racism in our society. It is a reality that I and

many others like me have faced throughout our lives. It is a reality

that I refuse to accept.

It is with deep concern and a heavy heart to address Bill 23 as

presented by the NDP government. It is somewhat disappointing that this

NDP government has tabled what they call a plan to make a plan. That,

frankly, provides little comfort to my community, other racialized

communities, the Jewish community, the Islam community, the Indigenous

community and even those British Columbians currently facing racism

daily.

In times of a 700 percent rise in anti-Asian sentiment in the city

of Vancouver alone, way back in 2021, and similar increases in other

forms of racial hostility…. It is clear that immediate, actionable steps

are required, not prolonged phases or planning that delay meaningful

change.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, my constituency office has

received many letters, emails and phone calls, as well as visits, citing

their personal experiences or incidents of racial hostility. Let me just

read one joint letter from a number of community associations way back

in 2021. It can summarize the general feelings of our racialized

community.

“We are deeply concerned about the incident that occurred on the

afternoon of May 29 involving a female shopkeeper in Steveston being

splashed with hot coffee. In Richmond, a city which is proud of

diversity, perpetrators openly cursed something in Chinese, in vulgar

language, many times and threw hot coffee on the face of the female cafe

staff.”

On March 22 and 28, Richmond, Vancouver, the Tri-Cities and other

municipalities in this province and across Canada held marches and

demonstrations against discrimination against Asians. It is clear that

there’s a serious issue affecting our community, an issue that is

causing enormous distress to society and multiple communities in our

country.

The perpetrator of the Steveston attack did not do what they did

accidentally. According to a video that has been posted online…. The

male perpetrator had a prior record of hate and discrimination, having

been involved in a prior incident where he was reminded by an Asian

lady, when he was washing his car in an apartment building parking lot,

that it was forbidden to wash cars.

At that time, too, he used racially discriminating language to

swear. He didn’t care that the friend of the lady who rushed there later

used their mobile phone to film him, still yelling the same vulgar

language, something like Chinese, at the camera.

If such people, who are accustomed to discrimination and using

hateful language, are not sanctioned by law, they will inevitably become

even more brazen. At the same time, this will encourage further

discrimination and violence against Asians by others.

[11:40 a.m.]

As you know, Mr. Speaker, there are countless other examples of

attacks and discrimination in our community recently. On March 22, a

Korean woman on UBC’s campus was beaten by a stranger. On March 29, an

Asian woman in Vancouver was attacked. Malicious videos targeting

Asians, including women, are happening frequently. The current situation

is very serious.

Canada is a country founded upon the values of multiculturalism,

openness and inclusion, and has zero tolerance for racial

discrimination. We believe in the values of Canada and hope that

Richmond RCMP can effectively deal with the hate incident in that cafe

and others occurring around us, thereby deterring further acts of hatred

against Asians.

This is a joint letter compiled by a number of commun­ity

groups way back in 2021 to express how disturbing and uncomfortable the

communities are with the rise in anti-Asian hatred incidents. Just

recently another shocking hate incident took place in Richmond, right in

the backyard of the beautiful city of inclusion, diversity and

multiculturalism — a gateway city to our gateway province of

Asia-Pacific. The Leader of the Official Opposition party, B.C. United,

made a two-minute statement in this chamber on February 22 this year

regarding this disturbing incident.

Let me just quote part of the statement: “I’m deeply concerned to

see and witness this kind of behaviour. It’s always fair to disagree on

political issues and approaches to hot-button issues, especially when

they involve government’s drug policies. But it is completely

unacceptable that concerned citizens showing up at a Richmond council

meeting would have racist insults hurled at them, be subjected to

comments like, ‘Go back to where you came from,’ and ‘Go back to Hong

Kong,’ over political disagreements.”

I emigrated from Hong Kong 35 years ago to this beautiful province

of British Columbia. To hear these comments “go back to where you came

from” and “go back to Hong Kong” really hurts. Richmond RCMP was asked

to investigate this hate incident, but unfortunately, Richmond RCMP,

while condemning this hate incident, said that based on observations

made by police officers who were present at the protest, no criminal

offence was committed.

Richmond RCMP is simply following the legislation in handling the

hate incident, as they have not been given any special directive from

the Attorney General, even though B.C. has seen anti-Asian hate spike by

more than 700 percent over the last number of years.

That’s why I urge that the provincial government should do more,

must do more, must take immediate action to keep our community safe and

our dialogue civil, not just rhetoric. I’m glad to see that lady

appearing in the video later called the Richmond News to

express her regret for what she said.

B.C. United caucus strongly condemns this kind of hatred against

the racialized community. That language has no place in our province,

and it does not reflect the British Columbia that we all aspire to

build, where we all call this province our home, that we can feel safe

and welcome in.

We know, as we have discussed many, many times in this House, that

instances of racism and acts of hatred based on prejudice are increasing

in British Columbia, especially since COVID-19. Whether it’s

antisemitism, including allegations of it within the Premier’s office

and his government, Islamophobia, anti-Asian hate, or the

disproportionate barriers that racialized Indigenous communities face,

these are serious concerns which must be addressed head-on.

[11:45 a.m.]

On January 16, the Vancouver police department said the war

between Israel and Hamas had led to an increase in hate crimes and

protests in the city in 2023. VPD investigated 265 hate crime reports

last year, an increase of 31 percent from 2022. Reports of antisemitism

increased 62 percent in 2023, with 47 incidents reported, up from 29 in

2022. Of the 47 incidents in 2023, 33 occurred after the October 7 Hamas

attack on Israel.

As recently as yesterday, the Gaza protest encampment movement

arrived in UBC with demonstrators setting up unauthorized fencing and

tents at UBC. About 100 protesters chanted: “Free Palestine, from the

river to the sea.” This came after an earlier demonstration last week in

Vancouver, where protesters had chanted: “Long live October 7,” praising

that day’s attack of Hamas on Israel.

While the intentions behind Bill 23 are undoubtedly commendable,

it is imperative that we address the serious concerns raised by a former

NDP senior cabinet minister, the independent member for

Coquitlam-Maillardville, regarding the presence of antisemitism within

the NDP caucus. Her courageous decision to speak up about her experience

as a Jewish woman within the New Democratic Party cannot be dismissed

lightly. The former NDP senior cabinet minister said she felt

unsupported as a Jewish woman in the governing party. I quote her:

“Given the facts, there is a double standard that exists within the New

Democratic caucus.”

The member for Coquitlam-Maillardville has left the NDP caucus,

saying that she had been treated differently as a Jewish woman than some

of her colleagues and that there are antisemitic voices in the NDP

caucus. The member for Coquitlam-Maillardville cited 13 NDP MLAs,

in­cluding ministers, a minister of state and a parliamentary

secretary, for their antisemitic comments and/or lack of support and

silence for the 40,000 in the Jewish community, at a time when the

Jewish community were in shock and were reeling after October

According to the CBC News report on March 6, when asked for a

specific example of antisemitism within the party, the member for

Coquitlam-Maillardville cited recent remarks from the Burnaby North NDP

MLA. During a debate on the throne speech in February, she compared

accusations from opposition party members that the NDP government was

incompetent, to Nazi propaganda. The MLA for Burnaby North said: “The

Holocaust ended in death camps, but it started with words. Words are

powerful, so let’s use them to bind us together as a civilized society,

not tear us apart.”

Furthermore, the member for Coquitlam-Maillardville is kind of

being rebuffed in her efforts to work with Muslim and Jewish communities

to promote dialogue. It speaks volumes about the lack of genuine

commitment to addressing issues of discrimination within the NDP

government.

She had asked the Premier if she could work with the Muslim and

Jewish communities to promote dialogue with them. She said she wanted to

work with the two communities, which were “in agony and pain and

suffering and fear, and reduce the division that we are seeing because I

think that’s the role of government. The Premier’s office said they were

not interested in doing that, and that really shattered my

heart.”

In a CBC News interview on March 6, the member for

Coquitlam-Maillardville also cited comments from the Parliamentary

Secretary for Anti-Racism who, she said, “outraged the Jewish community

with remarks about the Middle East conflict in November.”

[11:50 a.m.]

She said to the reporter: “She didn’t lose her role as a result of

those comments that were hurtful to the community, but I did lose my

role. I was asked to step down.”

While Bill 23 represents a step in the right direction towards

combating racism in our community, given the unresolved allegations

within the NDP caucus, including accusations of antisemitism and a

perceived lack of accountability, it raises legitimate concerns about

this NDP caucus and New Democratic Party’s commitment to combating

racism within our community.

If this NDP government cannot even address issues of

discrimination within its own ranks, how can we trust their dedication

to effectively addressing broader societal issues of racism and

prejudice? Even the Human Rights Commissioner, in response to news of

surging incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia in B.C., issued a

statement on November 6, 2023, calling for immediate and sustained

action to address and prevent hate in our communities.

[The Speaker in the chair.]

The commissioner expressed her disappointment that the provincial

government, for nearly a year, has had a roadmap describing how to take

action to prepare our communities for the next time global events bring

a surge of hate to our shores yet, and I quote her statement, “has

repeatedly delayed reporting to my office, even on what actions they

plan to take.”

I urge the Premier, in the strongest terms, to follow his words

with concrete action to solidify our communities against hate. We have

the ability to address the rise in hate that occurs when we find

ourselves in these moments of societal crisis. It is our responsibility

to act.

B.C. United recognizes the importance of addressing racism and

advancing a B.C. where everyone is treated equally, fairly and without

prejudice. We can get behind the establishment of a comprehensive

provincial anti-racism action plan and the formation of a provincial

committee on anti-racism to guide and implement this effort. Yet it is

simply not enough.

The B.C. United caucus has long advocated for a provincewide

multilingual anti-racism hotline, providing a safe platform for victims

to report hate incidents and seek support. Despite a 2021 NDP promise to

establish this anti-racism reporting hotline, it still remains

non-operational after so many years of the rise of anti-racism, hatred….

We must do better.

The Speaker: Noting the hour, Member.

T. Wat: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Noting the hour, I reserve the right to

continue my debate on Bill 23, and we adjourn the debate.

T. Wat moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. D. Coulter moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

The Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m.

The House adjourned at 11:54 a.m.

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