British Columbia Hansard — Wednesday, November 21, 2007

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British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

Third Session, 38th Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (HANSARD) Wednesday, November 21, 2007 Afternoon Sitting Volume 25, Number 1 THE HONOURABLE BILL BARISOFF, SPEAKER ISSN 0709-1281

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR His Honour the Honourable Steven L. Point, OBC THIRD SESSION, 38TH PARLIAMENT SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Bill Barisoff EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council ............................................................................................................Hon. Gordon Campbell Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations .......................................................................................................... Hon.

John van Dongen Deputy Premier and Minister of Education and Minister Responsible for Early Learning and Literacy...................... Hon. Shirley Bond Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation ........................................................................................................ Hon. Michael de Jong Minister of Advanced Education and Minister Responsible for Research and Technology ........................................... Hon.

Murray Coell Minister of Agriculture and Lands.......................................................................................................................................................Hon. Pat Bell Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism............................................................................... Hon. Wally Oppal, QC Minister of Children and Family Development ................................................................................................................Hon.

Tom Christensen Minister of State for Childcare ........................................................................................................................................................Hon. Linda Reid Minister of Community Services and Minister Responsible for Seniors’ and Women’s Issues........................................... Hon. Ida Chong Minister of Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative and the Olympics.................Hon.

Colin Hansen Minister of Employment and Income Assistance ...........................................................................................................Hon. Claude Richmond Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources .......................................................................................................Hon. Richard Neufeld Minister of State for Mining......................................................................................................................................................Hon.

Kevin Krueger Minister of Environment and Minister Responsible for Water Stewardship and Sustainable Communities ...............Hon. Barry Penner Minister of Finance.......................................................................................................................................................................Hon. Carole Taylor Minister of Forests and Range and Minister Responsible for Housing ............................................................................. Hon.

Rich Coleman Minister of Health ......................................................................................................................................................................Hon. George Abbott Minister of Labour and Citizens’ Services ......................................................................................................................................Hon. Olga Ilich Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General................................................................................................................................Hon.

John Les Minister of Small Business and Revenue and Minister Responsible for Regulatory Reform............................................ Hon. Rick Thorpe Minister of Tourism, Sport and the Arts ......................................................................................................................................Hon. Stan Hagen Minister of State for ActNow B.C. ............................................................................................................................................ Hon.

Gordon Hogg Minister of Transportation...........................................................................................................................................................Hon. Kevin Falcon LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Leader of the Official Opposition .........................................................................................................................................................Carole James Deputy Speaker ...........................................................................................................................................................................

Katherine Whittred Assistant Deputy Speaker.....................................................................................................................................................................Sue Hammell Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole................................................................................................................................................. Harry Bloy Clerk of the Legislative Assembly .........................................................................................................................E.

George MacMinn, OBC, QC Clerk Assistant.........................................................................................................................................................................................Robert Vaive Clerk Assistant and Law Clerk .......................................................................................................................................................Ian D. Izard, QC Clerk Assistant and Clerk of Committees ....................................................................................................................................... Craig H.

James Clerk Assistant and Committee Clerk ..........................................................................................................................................Kate Ryan-Lloyd Sergeant-at-Arms............................................................................................................................................................................. A.A.

Humphreys Director, Hansard Services ...................................................................................................................................................................Jo-Anne Kern Legislative Librarian ..................................................................................................................................................................................Jane Taylor Legislative Comptroller...............................................................................................................................................................................Dan Arbic

Party Standings: Liberal 46; New Democratic 33 ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS Abbott, Hon. George (L) .................................................................... Shuswap Austin, Robin (NDP)............................................................................. Skeena Bains, Harry (NDP).................................................................. Surrey-Newton Barisoff, Hon. Bill (L)..........................................Penticton–Okanagan Valley Bell, Hon.

Pat (L) .............................................................Prince George North Bennett, Bill (L) ........................................................................ East Kootenay Black, Iain (L) ............................................................ Port Moody–Westwood Bloy, Harry (L)................................................................................Burquitlam Bond, Hon. Shirley (L).....................................Prince George–Mount Robson Brar, Jagrup (NDP).....................................................Surrey–Panorama Ridge Campbell, Hon.

Gordon (L) .........................................Vancouver–Point Grey Cantelon, Ron (L)..............................................................Nanaimo-Parksville Chong, Hon. Ida (L) .................................................... Oak Bay–Gordon Head Chouhan, Raj (NDP) ...........................................................Burnaby-Edmonds Christensen, Hon. Tom (L) ................................................. Okanagan-Vernon Chudnovsky, David (NDP) ......................................... Vancouver-Kensington Coell, Hon.

Murray (L) .....................................Saanich North and the Islands Coleman, Hon. Rich (L)...........................................Fort Langley–Aldergrove Conroy, Katrine (NDP) .......................................... West Kootenay–Boundary Coons, Gary (NDP) ....................................................................... North Coast Cubberley, David (NDP)............................................................Saanich South de Jong, Hon.

Michael (L) ...................................Abbotsford–Mount Lehman Dix, Adrian (NDP) .........................................................Vancouver-Kingsway Evans, Corky (NDP).................................................................Nelson-Creston Falcon, Hon. Kevin (L) .......................................................

Surrey-Cloverdale Farnworth, Mike (NDP) ...............................Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Fleming, Rob (NDP) ..............................................................Victoria-Hillside Fraser, Scott (NDP) ..............................................................Alberni-Qualicum Gentner, Guy (NDP).......................................................................Delta North Hagen, Hon. Stan (L) ................................................................ Comox Valley Hammell, Sue (NDP) ................................................... Surrey–Green Timbers Hansen, Hon.

Colin (L) ..................................................Vancouver-Quilchena Hawes, Randy (L).......................................................... Maple Ridge–Mission Hawkins, Sindi (L) ............................................................... Kelowna-Mission Hayer, Dave S. (L) ................................................................ Surrey-Tynehead Hogg, Hon.

Gordon (L).....................................................Surrey–White Rock Horgan, John (NDP)......................................................Malahat–Juan de Fuca Horning, Al (L)........................................................... Kelowna–Lake Country Ilich, Hon. Olga (L)...............................................................Richmond Centre James, Carole (NDP).......................................................Victoria–Beacon Hill Jarvis, Daniel (L)..................................................

North Vancouver–Seymour Karagianis, Maurine (NDP) ........................................... Esquimalt-Metchosin Krog, Leonard (NDP)......................................................................... Nanaimo Krueger, Hon. Kevin (L) .....................................Kamloops–North Thompson Kwan, Jenny Wai Ching (NDP)........................... Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Lali, Harry (NDP)........................................................................

Yale-Lillooet Lee, Richard T. (L)....................................................................Burnaby North Lekstrom, Blair (L).............................................................. Peace River South Les, Hon. John (L)............................................................... Chilliwack-Sumas Macdonald, Norm (NDP).................................... Columbia River–Revelstoke MacKay, Dennis (L)....................................................

Bulkley Valley–Stikine Mayencourt, Lorne (L).......................................................Vancouver-Burrard McIntyre, Joan (L).................................................West Vancouver–Garibaldi Neufeld, Hon. Richard (L) .................................................. Peace River North Nuraney, John (L).............................................................Burnaby-Willingdon Oppal, Hon. Wally, QC (L).......................................... Vancouver-Fraserview Penner, Hon. Barry (L)...........................................................

Chilliwack-Kent Polak, Mary (L) ....................................................................................Langley Puchmayr, Chuck (NDP)...................................................... New Westminster Ralston, Bruce (NDP) ............................................................. Surrey-Whalley Reid, Hon. Linda (L) ................................................................ Richmond East Richmond, Hon. Claude (L).............................................................

Kamloops Robertson, Gregor (NDP) ................................................Vancouver-Fairview Roddick, Valerie (L).......................................................................Delta South Routley, Doug (NDP)..................................................... Cowichan-Ladysmith Rustad, John (L) ........................................................

Prince George–Omineca Sather, Michael (NDP).........................................Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Simons, Nicholas (NDP) ...................................Powell River–Sunshine Coast Simpson, Bob (NDP)..................................................................Cariboo North Simpson, Shane (NDP) ....................................................Vancouver-Hastings Sultan, Ralph (L) ....................................................West Vancouver–Capilano Taylor, Hon.

Carole (L).....................................................Vancouver-Langara Thorne, Diane (NDP) .................................................Coquitlam-Maillardville Thorpe, Hon. Rick (L).......................................................Okanagan-Westside Trevena, Claire (NDP) ..................................................................North Island van Dongen, Hon. John (L)............................................ Abbotsford-Clayburn Whittred, Katherine (L)........................................

North Vancouver–Lonsdale Wyse, Charlie (NDP) .................................................................Cariboo South Yap, John (L)...................................................................Richmond-Steveston LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING Abbotsford-Clayburn....................................................Hon. John van Dongen Abbotsford–Mount Lehman .......................................... Hon. Michael de Jong Alberni-Qualicum..........................................................................

Scott Fraser Bulkley Valley–Stikine ...........................................................Dennis MacKay Burnaby North ...........................................................................Richard T. Lee Burnaby-Edmonds........................................................................Raj Chouhan Burnaby-Willingdon................................................................... John Nuraney Burquitlam.......................................................................................Harry Bloy Cariboo North..............................................................................

Bob Simpson Cariboo South..............................................................................Charlie Wyse Chilliwack-Kent ..................................................................Hon. Barry Penner Chilliwack-Sumas...................................................................... Hon. John Les Columbia River–Revelstoke................................................. Norm Macdonald Comox Valley........................................................................ Hon.

Stan Hagen Coquitlam-Maillardville..............................................................Diane Thorne Cowichan-Ladysmith ................................................................. Doug Routley Delta North ...................................................................................Guy Gentner Delta South ............................................................................. Valerie Roddick East Kootenay................................................................................

Bill Bennett Esquimalt-Metchosin.........................................................Maurine Karagianis Fort Langley–Aldergrove ..................................................Hon. Rich Coleman Kamloops.....................................................................Hon. Claude Richmond Kamloops–North Thompson ............................................Hon. Kevin Krueger Kelowna–Lake Country.................................................................. Al Horning Kelowna-Mission ......................................................................

Sindi Hawkins Langley ...........................................................................................Mary Polak Malahat–Juan de Fuca .................................................................. John Horgan Maple Ridge–Mission ................................................................ Randy Hawes Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows ..................................................... Michael Sather Nanaimo......................................................................................

Leonard Krog Nanaimo-Parksville .....................................................................Ron Cantelon Nelson-Creston .............................................................................Corky Evans New Westminster .................................................................. Chuck Puchmayr North Coast....................................................................................

Gary Coons North Island ...............................................................................Claire Trevena North Vancouver–Lonsdale................................................Katherine Whittred North Vancouver–Seymour..........................................................Daniel Jarvis Oak Bay–Gordon Head ........................................................... Hon. Ida Chong Okanagan-Vernon......................................................... Hon. Tom Christensen Okanagan-Westside..............................................................Hon.

Rick Thorpe Peace River North.......................................................... Hon. Richard Neufeld Peace River South..................................................................... Blair Lekstrom Penticton–Okanagan Valley .................................................Hon. Bill Barisoff Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain ............................................Mike Farnworth Port Moody–Westwood.................................................................... Iain Black Powell River–Sunshine Coast ...............................................

Nicholas Simons Prince George North.................................................................... Hon. Pat Bell Prince George–Mount Robson ............................................Hon. Shirley Bond Prince George–Omineca................................................................ John Rustad Richmond Centre......................................................................Hon. Olga Ilich Richmond East........................................................................Hon.

Linda Reid Richmond-Steveston...........................................................................John Yap Saanich North and the Islands ............................................ Hon. Murray Coell Saanich South ........................................................................ David Cubberley Shuswap............................................................................Hon. George Abbott Skeena.......................................................................................... Robin Austin Surrey-Cloverdale............................................................... Hon.

Kevin Falcon Surrey–Green Timbers ................................................................Sue Hammell Surrey-Newton............................................................................... Harry Bains Surrey–Panorama Ridge.................................................................Jagrup Brar Surrey-Tynehead ....................................................................... Dave S. Hayer Surrey-Whalley...........................................................................Bruce Ralston Surrey–White Rock ............................................................Hon.

Gordon Hogg Vancouver-Burrard..............................................................Lorne Mayencourt Vancouver-Fairview.............................................................Gregor Robertson Vancouver-Fraserview .................................................Hon.

Wally Oppal, QC Vancouver-Hastings .................................................................Shane Simpson Vancouver-Kensington.......................................................David Chudnovsky Vancouver-Kingsway ......................................................................Adrian Dix Vancouver-Langara ........................................................... Hon. Carole Taylor Vancouver–Mount Pleasant........................................ Jenny Wai Ching Kwan Vancouver–Point Grey ................................................Hon.

Gordon Campbell Vancouver-Quilchena.........................................................Hon. Colin Hansen Victoria–Beacon Hill...................................................................

Carole James Victoria-Hillside ...........................................................................Rob Fleming West Kootenay–Boundary........................................................Katrine Conroy West Vancouver–Capilano...........................................................Ralph Sultan West Vancouver–Garibaldi ........................................................Joan McIntyre Yale-Lillooet..................................................................................... Harry Lali

CONTENTS Wednesday, November 21, 2007 Afternoon Sitting Routine Proceedings Page Introductions by Members ....................................................................................................... .............................................. 9357 Tributes ....................................................................................................................... .............................................................. 9357 Cosmos Richard Frank Hon.

M. de Jong Introduction and First Reading of Bills........................................................................................ ......................................... 9357 Maa-nulth First Nations Final Agreement Act (Bill 45) Hon.

M. de Jong Tabling Documents.............................................................................................................. .................................................... 9357 Maa-nulth First Nations tax treatment agreement Maa-nulth First Nations harvest agreement Maa-nulth First Nations real property tax coordination agreements Motions without Notice ......................................................................................................... ................................................. 9358 Permission for Maa-nulth Chiefs to address the House Hon.

M. de Jong Address from the Bar of the House .............................................................................................. ......................................... 9358 C. Cootes V. Mundy (R. Mundy speaking on her behalf) T. Smith R. Dennis Sr. S. Peters B. Mack Statements (Standing Order 25B) .............................................................................................................................. ............. 9361 Oaklands corners project R. Fleming Maa-nulth first nations leaders R. Cantelon West Shore Centre C. Trevena Traditional Chinese medicine R.

Lee Haida Gwaii volunteers G. Coons French immersion I. Black Oral Questions................................................................................................................. ......................................................... 9363 Staffing at seniors facilities C. James Hon. G. Abbott D. Routley R. Chouhan A. Dix KPMG report on actions of Paul Taylor L. Krog Hon. C. Taylor Highway of tears G. Coons Hon. J. Les

Second Reading of Bills........................................................................................................ ................................................... 9368 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act (Bill 44) Hon. B. Penner S. Simpson J. McIntyre N. Macdonald S. Fraser R. Sultan Point of Privilege............................................................................................................. ......................................................... 9389 Hon. G.

Abbott Second Reading of Bills........................................................................................................ ................................................... 9389 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act (Bill 44) (continued) G. Robertson C. Puchmayr

9357 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2007 The House met at 1:35 p.m. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] Mr. Speaker: Elmer George Sr., elder of the Songhees Nation, will lead us in prayer. Prayers. [Elmer George Sr., an elder of the Songhees Nation, delivered a prayer in the Lekwungaynung language.] Introductions by Members Mr. Speaker: Members, on behalf of all of us, I would welcome all the people who are here today on this very special occasion that is about to be put forward before this Legislative Assembly. Tributes COSMOS RICHARD FRANK Hon. M. de Jong: Mr.

Speaker, on a day of cele- bration, I regret to inform the House of the passing of Hereditary Chief Cosmos Richard Frank of the Ahousaht First Nation. Chie f Frank, aged 77, passed away on Monday here in Vi ctoria. I know that all of us in this House, the Maa-nulth elders, chiefs and hereditary chiefs are saddened that he is unable to be with us in person physically, but we know that he is up there in spirit. I would ask the House to join with me in observing a moment's silence for the pa ssing of Hereditary Chief Cosmos Richard Frank.

Introduction and First Reading of Bills MAA-NULTH FIRST NATIONS FINAL AGREEMENT ACT H o n . M . d e J o n g p r e s e n t e d a m e s s a g e f r o m H i s Honour the Lieutenant-Gover nor: a bill intituled Maa- nulth First Nations Final Agreement Act. Hon. M. de Jong: Mr. Speaker, I move that the bill be introduced and read a first time now. Motion approved. Hon.

M. de Jong: What an honour, on behalf of the government, to be able to introduce Bill 45, the Maa- nulth First Nations Final Agreement Act. [1340] This is the legislation that will enable the Maa-nulth First Nations final agreement, the first such agreement with multiple first nations under the British Columbia Treaty Commission process. This legislation will give that agreement effect. The five first nations that comprise the Maa-nulth First Nations are all members of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council.

They are the Huu-ay-aht First Nation, the Ka:'yu:'k't'h'-Che:k:tles7et'h' First Nation, the Toquaht Nation, the Uchucklesaht Tribe and the Ucluelet First Nation. These, comprising the Maa-nulth First Nations, represent in excess of 2,000 people living on Vancouver Island near Bamfield, Port Alberni, Ucluelet and Kyuquot Sound. I know that there are many individuals — many of them are here in this chamber — who have toiled for years with passion and with dedication to work to the day when this final agreement could be presented to the House.

It's because the Maa-nulth — their leaders, who we are going to hear from in a moment — have confidence in what this agreement can do for their communities, for their people, that this negotiation has ended with a successful treaty. The Maa-nulth First Nations agreement-in-principle was signed in October 2003, and the final agreement was initialled last December.

We're able to celebrate the introduction of this legislation because all five commu- nities have overwhelmingly endorsed the agreement in a series of community ratification votes, culminating in a nearly 80-percent ratification mandate for the visionary leaders who negotiated this agreement. The final agreement presents the Maa-nulth people with an unprecedented opportunity to begin building a better future — self-governing, self-reliant communi- ties enjoying the same opportunities as other British Columbians to translate thei r energy, their culture and their passion into economic and social stability.

The Maa-nulth First Nations final agreement will provide land, cash and resources to these five first nations and their communities so that th ey can build stronger and more prosperous futures for them, for their families and for all of their communities. Treaties help bridge that socioeconomic gap that has separated us for so long. The Maa-nulth First Nations final agreement will create certainty for the Maa-nulth people and their communities but also for their neighbours in nearby communities.

It's an honour to bring this settlement legislation to the chamber and to pay tribute to Chief Charlie Cootes, Chief Robert Dennis, Chief Bert Mack, Chief Vi Mundy and Chief Tess Smith for their visionary and courageous leadership in helping to make this a reality. It's a historic day again for British Columbia, for the Maa-nulth First Nations and for members on both sides of this chamber. I move that this historic bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Bill 45, Maa-nulth First Nations Final Agreement Act, 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. Tabling Documents Hon. M. de Jong: I seek leave to table the following documents: the Maa-nulth First Nations tax treatment

9358 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES W EDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2007 agreement and the Maa-nulth First Nations harvest agreement, which are both referred to in Bill 45, and the real property tax coordi nation agreements for each of the five Maa-nulth First Nations. Leave granted. Motions without Notice PERMISSION FOR MAA-NULTH CHIEFS TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE Hon. M. de Jong: Mr.

Speaker, by leave, I move the following: [Chief Councillor Charlie Cootes of the Uchucklesaht First Nation, Chief Councillor Violet Mundy of the Ucluelet First Nation, Chief Councillor Therese Smith of the Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k:tles7et'h' First Nation, Chief Coun- cillor Robert Dennis Senior of the Huu-ay-aht First Nation, and Hereditary Chief Bert Mack of the Toquaht First Nation be permitted to address this Assembly from the Bar of the House.] [1345] Leave granted. Motion approved. [Applause.] Mr. Speaker: I welcome Chief Charlie Cootes to the Bar of the House. Address from the Bar of the House C.

Cootes: G o o d a f t e r n o o n . T h i s i s a g r e a t d a y . I would like to start off my presentation by thanking the Esquimalt and the Songhees people for allowing us to carry out this historic event in their traditional territory. It is an honour to be standing here in the B.C. Legisla- ture addressing our Maa-nulth people, who have made this long journey to come to be with us here today. It is an honour for me to be here addressing Premier Campbell and his government and, as well, the opposition party and other guests that have been invited.

The Maa-nulth treaty is an expression of our vi- sion of the future. It is a vision that permits us to see a future filled with opportunities. It is a vision that removes the crippling institutions of our colonial era, and it is a vision that confidently embraces a new relationship with Canada an d British Columbia. It is a vision that permits us to move forward and leave the pain of the past behind. It is a vision that we share with B.C. and Canada, which we have reached through respectful negotiations.

It is a vision that has as its foundation a mutual respect and coexistence, and it is a vision that we believe will improve the lives of not only Uchucklesaht citizens but also fellow British Columbians and our country as a whole. Our communities have spoken confidently and overwhelmingly in support of this treaty. This treaty is an acknowledgment of the unique legal status of the Uchucklesaht Tribe within Canadian Confederation. The treaty is an acknowledgment of the distinctiveness of the Uchucklesaht society. The treaty will provide us with constitutional assurance of our right to re main distinct.

At the same time, it permits us to participate in any meaningful and positive way with the rest of society. We are neither trapped in the past nor afraid of the future. Our lands are protected to the greatest possible extent of the law. Our rights to access resources, fish, timber, water and so forth are assured at law and extend off of our treaty settlement lands. As you know, there is a significant gap between aboriginal people in Canada and the rest of society in areas such as health, education and other social issues.

Now we have a significant opportunity to construct viable modern economies that allow us to address and to remedy many of the social issues we face. [1350] We will free ourselves of the historic burden of a bureaucracy and reclaim our historic right to govern ourselves and determine what is in our own best interests. We will have the opportunity to revive, protect and express our language and our culture. We have negotiated a social contract — a contract that is alive, like the parties to it; a contract that will be reviewed periodically to ensure that our mutual objectives are being met.

As such, this is an agreement in which all British Columbians and Canadians should take pride. Our membership has given us direction and has endorsed what we have negotiated through their ratification of this final agreement. Now that the final agreem ent has reached the B.C. legislative chambers, I hope that the governments of B.C. and Canada will respect what their governments have negotiated and also rati fy this agreement in short order to create the first mult i–first nation treaty under the BCTC process in British Columbia. [Applause.] Mr.

Speaker: Welcome, Chief Councillor Violet Mundy, to the Bar of the House. Ucluelet member Richard Mundy will speak on her behalf. R. Mundy: Mr. Speaker, honoured Members, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Ucluelet First Nation Chief Councillor, I am honoured and humbled to stand here, where so many of Canada's leaders have come before me and so many will follow. The peaceful transfer of authority is rare in history. With the Maa-nulth final agreement, we affirm old traditions and make new beginnings.

In conjunction with other pioneering treaty nations, we are rewriting the history of treaty negotiations in British Columbia and in Canada. Ratification of our treaty has inspired membership to re-examine their identity as Yu-cluth-aht. There is renewed hope for the future as we embrace the principles that unite and lead us onward. As we continue planning and preparing for our future in a post-treaty environment, innovation and inclusion will be paramount themes within the struc-

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2007 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 9359 ture of our implementation strategy. This emphasis on community involvement speaks directly to the spirit of our new government, ones whose aspirations could never come to life under the dark shadow of an archaic Indian Act. Implementation looms on our horizon. This will be the serious work of Maa-nult h leaders and citizens in every generation. However, I think it is the goal of every- one in this room to better understand how we as first nations can move forward and make the best of a system that has never before worked in our favour.

Collectively, we are regaining our strength as first nations leaders and will be in a better position to heal the wounds of the past and begin to weave our people back into the fabric of society. Our youth are getting smarter. Everywhere I go within the first nations communities, I encounter an increasing number of healthy and vibrant young people getting involved with important things — things that will have a positive impact on our people and the people of Canada for generations to come.

Today's children and youth will have the privilege of contending with the groundbreaking opportunities of tomorrow, because trade and industry potentials have been redefined under our treaty. We have negotiated a landmark in the history of our people. We are part of a revolution spurring contro versy at the highest levels of local, national and international governments. [1355] Even after all these years of aspiring to improve conditions for our people, we have a long way yet to travel. We have a place, all of us, in this long story — a story we must continue but whose end we will not see.

With passion and purpose, today we affirm a new commitment to live out our nation's promise of a better future. [Applause.] Mr. Speaker: I welcome Chief Therese Smith to the Bar of the House. T. Smith: Good afternoon. Uk-tlaas Hu-palth-wa-tuu his-tiith Ka: yu: k’t’h. My name is Therese Smith, and I represent the Ka:'yu:'k't'h'-Che:k:tles7et'h', where hereditary chiefs' traditional territories amount to 6,551 hectares of sea and land. Your honour Mr. Lieutena nt-Governor Steven Point, Premier Campbell, Mr.

Speaker, Members of the Legis- lative Assembly and all citizens of Canada and British Columbia, it is an honour to address you. I must begin by saying we Ka:'yu:'k't'h'-Che:k:tles7et'h' are not without feelings. We are sensitive people. We love the sea and the land that has always supported us and provided us with a rich lifestyle. The generosity shown us in our ha-holthe has led us to a lifestyle rich in deep spirituality. We are known around the world for our feasting and potlatching system based on generosity and sharing of resources. We have always known how to share with our neighbours.

Since before this province was founded in 1858, our people have been uncomfortable about the invasion of our private properties, the un authorized extraction of our resources and the way in which our people have been treated. Today, with the ratificati on of this agreement, we have the opportunity to address these ills. We can now begin to accept each other in a manner unprecedented in our history. We can begin to share in a realistic way the resources in the ha-holthe of our Ha’wiih. The profits of all resource extraction in our traditional territories must benefit our communities.

As of this point in time, we also have an opportunity to readjust and reshape our social relations. Until now, racism has played a very damaging role in the way our people have experienced education, labour and indeed citizenship in this province. After today we must build together as sisters and brothers. Coming to this podium presents me with the opportunity to address our new coming together.

The almost 800 pages of political and legal chapters, clauses and subclauses in the final agreement cannot and will not guarantee our people a better life, a fair share of our resources nor a place in the hearts of all British Columbians. We cannot legislate love. It is through the intent an d the spirit of these very long, tiring and costly negotiations that we shall get to a better place — all of us — as British Columbians. [1400] I also would like to take this moment to remember George Watts and all the things he made possible for us to be here today.

His strong leadership and negotiation skills have accomplished much. These will certainly be appreciated for a long time. George always said: "We need to move forward. We will make mistakes, but we will learn from them." I know he'd be happy for our people. So it is with hope that I come to this podium, and it is with hope for our shared future that I leave this podium. Tsi-tsi-kink-tliis kwaa-uk-tlin o’nits ‘naas uhh-kuu tsu- shuuk iih-miis iisaak uhh-iish uu’yiilth-k ko-maatk ko-us. My prayers are that we can all look to the future with a new and greater respect and care for each other.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen of the Legislature. [Applause.] Mr. Speaker: I welcome Chief Councillor Robert Dennis Sr. and Hereditary Chief Spencer Peters to the Bar of the House. R. Dennis: Klecko klecko, Songhees, klecko klecko, Esquimalt, for allowing us on your traditional territory to be here today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, hon. Premier, hon. Leader of the Opposition, hon. Members of the House, ladies and g e n t l e m e n . I t i s i n d e e d a n h o n o u r t o b e i n y o u r H o u s e today to share a few words from a Huu-ay-aht perspective before you begin your discussions on the Maa-nulth treaty.

I t i s a l s o m y h o n o u r t o stand here with our head chief [Nuu-chah-nulth was spoken.] Beside [Nuu-chah- nulth was spoken] stands his son [Nuu-chah-nulth was spoken] and also his other chiefs [Nuu-chah-nulth was spoken.] If you were in our house, those chiefs would be standing here today beside him.

9360 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES W EDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2007 Since the time of contact we have had an opportu- nity to see many things happening in our territory — many things that were benefi cial to our well-being but, unfortunately, many things that were not good for our well-being. We suffered diseases, we suffered intru- sion, and we suffered situations where we saw our children placed in residential schools. And then we saw our people removed from our lands. Today we begin a road of reconciling that.

Today, working with this House, this government and the opposition members, we can reconcile the mistakes of the past. We entered this modern-day treaty with a goal in mind. The goal in mind was that we wanted to make lives better for our people. We wanted to see more of our children educated. We wanted to see more of our people earning a meaningf ul income within their homeland. Today we hope those things can become a reality. Working with you, we are positive that those changes will occur.

Since the time of contact we have seen resources removed from our territory, sometimes of little or no benefit to the Huu-ay-aht people. Our chiefs and his chiefs had to watch this happen, even though they did not want that to happen. [1405] Unfortunately, there was this legislation called the Indian Act that regulated how Indian people were going to live from the day they were born until they died. That legislation is not a proud history of our people and our chiefs. Today we hope to change that.

In the late 19th century there were records — they called them census records — that showed how many people lived in these different villages. In Kiix?in's village it showed that there were 207 people left after the diseases wiped our people out. Of those 207 people, ladies and gentlemen, 67 of them were fishermen and sealers. Kiix?in's people were people of the sea. They were fishermen. They made a living on what they took from the sea. Through time, that has changed by legislation from the federal government that effectively removed our people from the fishing industry.

Today we hope the treaty will rectify that terrible injustice that was done to our people. We spent a lot of years educating the negotiators from Canada and B.C. about Kiix?in's culture and his people. It was a hard task, and I tell you that even today I think some of those negotiators still don't know what it's all about. So we will begin a new road. Maybe one day they'll wake up and realize that there is something to change. Something must change; something needs to change. [Nuu-chah-nulth was sp oken] envisions one day that he will be working side by side with the new elected government of Huu-ay-aht.

Once again, his nation will stand proud to be Huu-ay-aht. Once again, his nation will gain the benefits of the resources of his [Nuu-chah-nulth was spoken] — or, as you call it, his territory. We hope that this treaty will begin to bring that vision to reality and true meaning of reconciliation. Positive change can take place. Positive change will take place with us working together. We all represent different people, different communities.

But at the end of the day, we need to work together so that our elders are looked after, our children are looked after and the people of each of our communities are looked after. The treaty offers opportunities for all of us. The treaty is not just a treaty for Huu-ay-aht. It is not just a treaty for Uchucklesaht or Toquaht or Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k:tles7et'h' or Ucluelet. This treaty, in my view, is for all of us because today British Columbia can stand proud and say: "I was part of that change. I was willing to stand up and say things must change. Things cannot stay the same.

Things cannot remain status quo." In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank you f o r a l l o w i n g u s t o b e i n y o u r H o u s e , a l l o w i n g u s t o say a few words to the members here. Thank you. [Nu-chah-nulth was spoken.] [Applause.] Mr. Speaker: I welcome Hereditary Chief Bert Mack to the Bar of the House. [1410] B. Mack: To the honourable hawith, otherwise known as chiefs; to the hon. Premier; to the honourable ladies in this Legislature; and the honourable men, the gentlemen: I am very happy to stand here before you.

We have been through so much, and we have accomplished a few things at a time, mind you. But the day I heard Premier Campbell make a speech in Alberni, it was about hope, and hope is what we're looking for — our people. Hope is so important. Hope you can work with and accomplish, once you get the meaning of hope. There are so many tracks. We have people out there that think we're on the wrong path. I don't believe we're on the wrong path. What happened to my territory? There is not enough timber there to sust ain my people, and the fish are disappearing in the bays in the ocean in front of my territory.

I had to think of another trail where I could tell my people after I heard Premier Campbell say "hope," and that's what I came back and told my people. We have hope. There are so many ways to look at where we're at now, and I know we are on the right track. I appreciate the people that say we're on the wrong track. To me, this proves that we have a good democratic system — when you can listen to the people, the opposition. I hope that these people will listen to us also. The way of the opposition is not very clear to me, because I know where I stand.

I just mentioned that all the resources are gone in my territory. I had to find a new way and a new path, and I believe I'm right. To those people…. As I said, I appreciate the oppo- sition, because it's given me more strength to prove that I'm on the right track. I hope someday they, too, will say the same thing I'm saying now. I have no animosity against these people. That's why I say I appreciate it. It gives me strength. [1415]

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2007 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 9361 My father was a leader th at was on the trail of the treaty in the 1930s. I was se ven years old when I first sat in a meeting with my father and his peers. When I was 18, he turned ov er his chief's chair to me. I was 18 years old. But he never left my side. He was beside me till he was 84 and passed on. I will never for- get what my father taught me, and that was the trail to the treaty. That was his aim, along with the people from all over B.C. I cannot mention every one of them that were the leaders on the trail of the treaty in 1930.

It has not been easy, but I never dwell on…. If anything does happen to me, I don't dwell on that. I dwell on the good things that I've learned, the good things I want to show people — that we are British Columbians, Canadians and our own tribes. I am proud to be in that position. There are so many ways I've been through, as I said, since I was 18. I have met a lot of you gentlemen that are sitting here before you — and the ladies. And I've got to mention to the ladies that you're an inspiration to our young ladies.

As of today they are trying to do the same thing you're doing right now, and I know some of them are going to make it. They admire you young ladies in this chamber. I should sa y something about the hand- some gentlemen. I have known many, many politicians and ministers. To me, it's been a great adventure. I must say, too, that I have never in my life run into segregation. I have never run into people that are against my people. My father and my grandmother taught me how to be a gentleman. I hope I'm making it. In this room there are so many people that I know.

Some of the gentlemen and ladies in the Legislature I know, and I admire them. They don't give up what their beliefs are. [1420] I have already said this is a democratic country, and it's a good one, where you can say, "You're wrong," and where I can say: "I'm right." There has got to be a compromise somewhere. With that, I think I'm ov er my ten minutes anyway. I wish to thank you people for listening to my peers, the Chiefs from the Maa-nulth Nations on their needs and aspirations. We all have the same.

That, I believe, is why we can work together in the way we have been doing for the last four or five years — through the way we listen to each other. [Nuu-chah-nulth was spoken.] I'm not going to translate that, but it is good. [Applause.] Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members, we'll take a five-minute recess and reconvene. The House recessed from 2:23 p.m. to 2:32 p.m. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] Hon. P. Bell: Mr. Speaker, I seek leave to do an introduction. Mr. Speaker: Proceed. Introductions by Members Hon. P.

Bell: Well, it's become a bit of an annual event that I stand up on November 21 each year to re- introduce someone to the House who really needs no introduction. Last year, if memory serves me correctly, I introduced the member as an individual who had just entered the second half of her particular century. This year suffice it to say that it is the second anniversary of her 49th birthday or perhaps the 12th anniversary of her 39th birthday. But I would ask that all members of the House please join me in congratulating the member for Prince George–Mount Robson on another birthday. Mr.

Speaker: L o o k a t t h e b r i g h t s i d e , M i n i s t e r . We're not singing Happy Birthday. Statements (Standing Order 25

B) OAKLANDS CORNERS PROJECT R. Fleming: I'd like to take a minute just to recognize a wonderful community project in my constituency of Victoria-Hillside, and I'm referring today to the com- munity of Oaklands project, the Haultain at Belmont corners project. It initially started in August 2002 when Oaklands residents Lisa MacDonald and Kay Marshall stood on this unique boul evard talking one afternoon and decided that something had to be done to improve the economic vitality of the corners area and its use as public space.

They took their afternoon visioning session and began talking to other neighbours of theirs in the Oaklands area, and together they formed the corners project. The resi- dents immediately set to work on the corners by doing some much-needed gardening on the overgrown and disrepaired area. Thereafter neighbours began meeting weekly, where they turned their vision into a commitment to create a safe, attractive, welcoming space conducive to neighbours meeting and talking and a gathering place that enhances the community of Oaklands as a whole.

That evolved into an application for and a recipient of a city of Victoria neighbourhood matching grant and the beginning of making physical improvements to this area. The corners group used the matching funds to purchase colourful bike racks, street furniture, large planters and a landscaped expansion of the existing gardens areas. They also partnered with the Oaklands Community Association to get the city of Victoria to install new lighting for safety. The city utilized their crime prevention officer at Victoria police to help do an assessment.

Now on a spring or summer evening you'll often see Oaklands residents spending their evenings down at the corners planting, watering and pruning to maintain the planters and gardens. Kids in the neighbourhood have also become an active part of these projects and are proud to help the corners remain well looked after. Residents are currently in the process of raising funds to create unique Oaklands banners for the busi- ness district and a safety-designed crosswalk with

9362 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES W EDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2007 bumped-out sidewalks as part of the boulevard space. A new business has just opened in the district as well. [1435] Each member here represents constituents who I know work long volunteer hours to make their com- munities a better place. I would ask the House to join me in thanking the foll owing Oaklands residents who have revitalized their community: Shane Ford, Jim Kerr, Angie LaFontaine, Len and Val Stubel, Mary Jane Teachman and Cimarron and Sarah Corpe for their extraordinary volunteer work over the past several years.

MAA-NULTH FIRST NATIONS LEADERS R. Cantelon: It's a privilege to rise today and salute the leadership of the Maa-nulth Nation. The man I know best is Chief Robert Dennis, but what I say applies to all of them. We heard Robert's voice today — a strong, clear voice, simple and direct — about seeking a better life for his people. He provided the vision and then the leadership to move his nation forward. He inspired hope and built expectations for a better life. But building a vision means nothing unless you can provide leadership, unless something comes of it.

Other- wise, visions are just dreams, empty dreams, and the peo- ple, just dreamers. Leadership requires the call to action. It requires the leader to step out in front with his ideas and stand the test of criticism. When you stand out in front of a pack, you become an easy target for criticism. So it takes courage. It takes courage to make decisions and to act. Robert Dennis is such a man. He organized a logging company and employed white men to do it. Despite the unemployment in his nation, he recognized that the white people had skills and could teach his people.

He recog- nized he couldn't stand by, and he sued the provincial government for rights that he felt were due to him. That's where I became involved in a very small way. Robert approached me, again in his simple, direct w a y . H e c o u l d h a v e u s e d a n a r m y o f l a w y e r s t o s o r t things out, but he asked me. He said to me: "Ron, is the Premier still mad at me?" I took the message to the Premier and received a simple, direct answer back: "No. Proceed." And they did. We're happy to see the result here today in a very momentous decision.

I think all these leaders you heard today — so elo- quent, so direct, so simple — deserve our respect and encouragement. They spoke very eloquently in a different way than we might expect a visionary leader to speak. They spoke directly from the heart to the heart of their people and have inspired them to new things. Let's salute all these great leaders. WEST SHORE CENTRE C. Trevena: It's my pleasure to stand in the House today and share with members the story of the West Shore Child, Youth and Family Services Society.

It's a non-profit organization of a dozen partner members which serves the children, youth and families of Victoria's West Shore: Colwood, Langford, Metchosin, Highlands and View Royal. It opened in 2005. The West Shore Child, Youth and Family Centre is a 38,000-square-foot facility on Wale Road in Colwood. It was built through the generous sup- port of the Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children. The multicoloured building — blue, purple, red, orange, gold, green and silver — reflects the theme of harmony in diversity.

It's home to more than a dozen community organizations, including the Capital Families Association, the Pacific Centre Family Services and Métis Community Services. The member organizations make great use of the centre's facilities, which include a community kitchen, youth training café, day care centre, three playgrounds and community meeting rooms. The gym is particularly well used by participants, young and old alike, and offers a place where children, youth and families can gather for exercise, health and enjoyment.

The centre's multifaceted programming serves all ages and encourages the development of social networks and connections, all in a people-friendly environment. Programs include a parent and tot drop-in, speech and language therapy, a young mom support group and a youth leaders program. By fostering a cooperative and collaborative, inno- vative and respectful approach, the West Shore Child, Youth and Family Centre is a beacon in the community of Esquimalt-Metchosin.

I thank those who, each and every day, share their education in the delivery of services at the centre and hope the House will join me in recog- nizing this exceptional organization. TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE R. Lee: I will do my speech in Cantonese. [Cantonese was spoken.] [1440] [I rise in the House today to talk about the impor- tance of traditional Chinese medicine. Last May I arranged a meeting between the delega- tion with representatives from the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practition ers and Acupuncturists of B.C., the B.C.

Qualified Acupuncturists and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Association and the gov- ernment caucus to discuss the importance of recognizing traditional Chinese medicine. I would like to continue engaging discussion on the support given to traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture as alternative treatments. Knowledge will bring an understanding of the importance of making alternative therapy treatments available to the public and help us move forward with respecting and supporting this as an excellent treatment option.

I am working hard to raise awareness for the importance of understanding traditional Chinese medi- cine and acupuncture. I feel it is important to integrate traditional Chinese medicine with other choices British Columbians have for health services. I was happy to see that the delegation made an impressive presentation to the government caucus, held a good discussion with Ministry of Health staff and received a very warm welcome from everyone.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2007 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 9363 I'm pleased with the progress we have made with the recent announcement of acupuncture being covered under the Medical Services Plan for those with premium assistance. It was announced on October 9, 2007, that acupuncture treatments will be included for the first time in Canada as a supplementary benefit. The inclusion of acupunctur e is an excellent example of the province's commitment to ensure that all British Columbians have access to a wide range of health care treatment options.] [Translation provided by R. Lee.] HAIDA GWAII VOLUNTEERS G.

Coons: Hon. Speaker, I sure hope I don't repeat what the hon. member just said. It's a pleasure to stand in the House today to recog- nize the hard-working heroes of Haida Gwaii. Twice this past August volunteers worked together to protect and preserve the integrity of this jewel of the North Pacific. The first instance involved a fire in the Rose Spit ecological reserve less than a kilometre from the Nai- koon Provincial Park.

After the Northwest Fire Centre in Smithers decided that they would let the fire burn, a group of volunteers, including members from the Council of the Haida Nation and the RCMP, worked together to form a firebreak and a bucket brigade. After about five hours of hard work they managed to contain the fire and end the threat that it posed to the provin- cial park. The people of Haida Gwaii took it upon themselves to take action and protect this pristine area. The second instance of heroism on the part of the residents of Haida Gwaii involves a young whale which came ashore on North Beach.

It started at six in the morning when Michael Konig and Gavin Hooten spotted the humpback beache d in about three feet of water when the tide was going out. The two quickly mobilized people from the surrounding areas, and hundreds of volunteers mobilized to keep the young whale wet and calm until the tide came back in. Donnie Edenshaw of Old Massett actually sang Haida songs to comfort the whale through the long ordeal and to help it find the strength to swim back out to sea. It took 11 hours of constant vigilance on the part of many people to save the life of the young humpback.

These events, both of th em within the space of a month, demonstrate the values that small communities have to impart to people in the rest of the province. Self-reliance, courage, determination and teamwork are values that define rural communities. I think these people that preserve Naikoon Provincial Park and those that took the time from their busy lives to rescue a whale demonstrate the sort of stewardship and envi- ronmental leadership that we all need to emulate. FRENCH IMMERSION I. Black: En français.

Quand ma femme et moi avons discutés, il y a cinq ans, la po ssibilité d'inscrire nos enfants dans un programme d'immersion française, ça fut une con- versation étonnamment intéressante. Nous avons partagés nos inquiétudes en tant que par- ents anglophones d'être capable de fournir à la maison, l'appui linguistique maintenant pour deux enfants qui parlent pendant toute la journée à leurs amis et professeurs en une autre langue. Nous avons pesé le risque de ralentir leur développement en anglais, en particulier la lecture et le vocabulaire.

Aussi, nous nous sommes demandés si nos garçons seraient capables de rattraper si nous décidions que leur succès n'étaient pas suffisants dans l'environnement bilingue. Une soirée de renseignements pour les parents, tenue par la zone scolaire 43 nous a aidé à apaiser ces craintes. Alors, il y a quatre ans, notre fils aîné fut inscrit à l'école bilingue de notre quartier. [1445] Nous ne cessons d'être étonnés par leur métrisations de la langue française et par la st ructure bilingue de leur école, qui inclus les assemblées et l es spectacles.

Nous sommes très impressionés par les merveilleux professeurs qui continuent d'être patient avec maman et papa. J'applaudis le succès de nos programmes d'immersion française, leurs professeurs et les milliers des parents qui, à chaque jour, font les efforts additionels nécessaire pour élever nos enfants bilingues. Five years ago, when my wife and I discussed the possibility of enrolling our children in French immersion program, it was a surprisingly interesting conversation.

We shared the anxiety, as Anglophone parents, of being capable of providing the linguistic support at home for two children who now spend all day speaking to their friends and teachers in a different language. We weighed the risk of slowing their development in English, in particular their reading and vocabulary. As well, we asked ourselves if the kids would be capable of catching up if we were to decide that their progress was not sufficient in the bilingual environment. An informational night for parents put on by school district 43 went some way to ease these concerns.

And so four years ago our eldest son enrolled at the bilingual school in our district. We never cease to be amazed at their growing fluency and the bilingual structure of the school that includes assemblies and school productions. We are very impressed by their terrific teachers, who continue to be patient with mom and dad. I applaud the success of our French immersion programs, their teachers an d the thousands of parents who every day make the extra effort necessary to raise our children bilingual.] [French text and translatio n provided by I. Black.] Oral Questions STAFFING AT SENIORS FACILITIES C.

James: Yesterday very disturbing evidence came to light about shocking viol ence and abuse at a Salmon Arm seniors care home. Families of the victims say that there is simply not enough staff in place to provide proper and safe care for seniors. My question is to the Mi nister of Health. These are very serious concerns that require immediate attention.

9364 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES W EDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2007 What steps is the minister taking right now to ensure that seniors remain safe in B.C.'s care homes? Hon. G. Abbott: I know the Bastion care centre very well, and I know the special care unit of Bastion as well. My father was a resident there for 18 months prior to his death. He had excellent care in that facility. I know that we're very concerned about the recent incidents at the facility. I can advise that one male patient there has been moved to a more secure facility as a result of those incidents.

This is most unfortunate, obviously, but one of the symptoms of advancing dementia and Alzheimer's is that occasionally we see violent tendencies emerging in those patients. That is the case here, but I do hope that all the appropriate steps have been taken to deal with this. Mr. Speaker: The Leader of the Opposition has a supplemental. C. James: There's one piece that the minister left out that helps address these very serious concerns and serious issues, and that's staffing levels.

The vic- tims' families say that there is only one nurse and one care aide for 24 residents on the locked ward for pa- tients with dementia at Bastion Place. There simply isn't enough staff to properly care for the residents. This isn't an issue simply at Bastion Place. This is an issue that I hear concerns raised on all across this province. Now the Interior Health Authority won't speak, won't say anything. We heard the minister again saying that everything is fine for seniors care in British Columbia. Well, we know that there is a crisis right now, so my question again is to the minister.

Just how widespread is the violence against care home residents, and what is he doing today, now, to actually protect residents? Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. Members. Hon. G. Abbott: Again, I know Bastion Place very well. I know the staff there very well. The people in that facility work very hard to provide the very best of care to the people that are served at Bastion Place. For the member to suggest that somehow, in this publicly owned, publicly op erated facility, people are not receiving appropriate care is, I think, entirely unfor- tunate.

It is entirely unfair to the people who work so hard both in administration and at staff levels to provide the best of care to the people who are resident there. I have reviewed the staffing levels with Interior Health. Interior Health believes strongly that the staff- ing levels are appropriate to the acuity levels of the patients that they serve. As conditions or circumstances may dictate, those staffing levels can be increased. [1450] Mr. Speaker: Leader of the Opposition has a fur- ther supplemental. C. James: Mr.

Speaker, I can tell you that staff who work in long-term care homes and with seniors across this province know who's standing up for them, and it's this side of the House. I hear concerns raised from staff every single day. They do an extraordinary job under very difficult circumstances, and they're not get- ting the leadership they deserve from this government. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. Members. C. James: This government refuses to acknowledge that there is a problem with seniors care that they created. This is a government that cut care to seniors.

This is a government that won't take action to improve care for seniors. This government won't advocate on behalf of seniors. Just as…. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. Members. Members on both sides. Continue. C. James: Just as children and youth need an independent representative, so do seniors. That way, families and residents won't have to actually rely on a minister and a government who won't stand up on their behalf. The stories of abuse and neglect keep piling up, and we see this government doing noth- ing.

So again, my question to the minister: will he commit today to establish an independent adviser for our seniors so that this government… Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. C. James: …will be forced to listen to the issues that seniors and their families are facing across British Columbia? Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. I want to remind members on both sides of the House: li sten to the question; listen to the answer. Minister. Hon. G. Abbott: I a m v e r y p r o u d o f w h a t o u r government has done for vulnerable seniors.

I am very proud that we have added now 3,500 residen- tial care and assisted-livin g units in this province. I am proud that we have remediated another 6,000 units, including at the James Bay Care Centre in Vic- toria. The opposition has been shamelessly attempting to besmirch the excellent care that seniors across this province receive each and every day. She should talk to

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2007 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 9365 the member for Cariboo South, who is deeply embar- rassed by his attacks on Williams Lake Seniors Village. I understand he wants to get up and say something, and he should do that. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. D. Routley: Perhaps a simple question about an individual case will cut through the bluster of the Health Minister. Like many families in th is province, Karen Haarala cares for her 89-year-old mother, who has emphysema. Like all caregivers, she needed a break.

To get two weeks respite time, Karen placed her mom in the Lodge on 4th, a private care facility in Ladysmith. Now, Karen's mom needs emphysema medications, but with only one LPN in the evenings for 37 residents, there was not adequate time to properly administer her medications — medications she needs to breathe. [1455] To the Minister of Health: does the minister agree that getting prescribed medications to patients properly and on time is an important part of health care, and does he think this is an appropriate level of staffing for seniors in our care? Hon. G.

Abbott: I am, first of all, obliged to point out to the member that we do have a nursing short- age in this province. We have been working very hard…. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Just take your seat. Members. Continue, Minister. Hon. G. Abbott: We have been working very hard to remedy that situation. But the fact of the matter is this — and I know the members opposite don't like to hear it: in 1993, 839 nurses graduated in this province. By the year 2001 that had been reduced to 574 nurses in this prov- ince — a shameful and deplorable part of that former government's record.

Since 2001 we have increased the number of nursing spaces in this province by 83 per- cent — 3,381 new nursing spaces for British Columbia since 2001. Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental. D. Routley: Karen's mom was able to walk into this facility on her own. Within a few days she was in dia- pers, couldn't walk and was covered with bedsores. That was the result of being in that care home for a few weeks. And the clothes that were packed for her were never used.

She's been there for close to five weeks now, and Karen's looking into the cost of hiring an ambulance to rescue her mom from the care she's pro- vided. This is…. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. Take your seat. Members, listen to the question; listen to the an- swer. Continue, Member. D. Routley: This is an impossible situation. Health care staff are stretched to the limit by this government's underfunding. Does the minister believe that more needs to be done to protect our seniors? Hon. G. Abbott: What I am hearing from this member are shameful, deplor able charges that I think are inappropriate.

What he has just accused that facility of and what he has just accused those caregivers of is a shameful neglect. If he has charges to make of that character, he should make them outside this chamber. We will investigate, and we will see. But let me say this. If this member's charges are spurious, will he do the right thing and resign in shame from his position? Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. Members on both sides of the House. [1500] R. Chouhan: If somebody needs to resign, it's this minister sitting there doing nothing.

On October 11 the opposition revealed that several seniors with complex care needs were being forced to move out of New Vista Care Home in Burnaby because this uncaring government refused to provide the resources for adequate staffing. Since then, the government and the health authorities have failed to take any action to protect these vulnerable seniors. Now it is confirmed that six families have lear ned their parents are getting an eviction notice. My question is to the Minister of Health. Will you intervene immediately and stop this forced eviction of six vulnerable seniors? Hon. G.

Abbott: It's interesting that this member should raise this issue today, given that it has been in the news media in Burnaby now for several weeks. I guess that thematically it worked into the line of question period questions today. The New Vista Care centre in Burnaby has been in discussion for some time with Fraser Health. In fact, they have been in discussion s with them since back in June with respect to the per-diem rates. It is the view of Fraser Health, based on a careful assessment of the acuity rates of the residents at New Vista, that the

9366 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES W EDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2007 per-diem rate that is being provided to them is entirely appropriate. Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental. R. Chouhan: This so-called discussion has done nothing for the sick seniors at New Vista Care Home. This is a human story. We are not talking about just numbers. We are talking about real people. One of these people is Corinne MacDonald. She is 82 years old. She has complete dementia. She's unable to recognize her own family, but she does recognize the caring staff at New Vista who meet her needs every day.

She is forced to move by a gov- ernment that refuses to provide adequate staffing levels. My question is to the minister again. How can you justify forcing this vulnerable woman to move? Hon. G. Abbott: I think it is, again, most unfortunate when we see vulnerable citize ns in this province being used for political purposes as they are here. First, the facts. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Take your seat. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. Continue, Minister. Hon. G. Abbott: The facts are this. The per-diem rate for New Vista has increased by 28 percent since 2003.

Fraser Health has provided almost $1 million to New Vista for capital equipment and renovations. T h e y h a v e a l s o o f f e r e d , o n a o n e - t i m e b a s i s , a n efficiency expert to review their operations and make recommendations. They've also offered an occupational health consultant to work wi th the facility to address their very high WCB and long-term disability costs due to staff injuries. I understand that New Vist a hasn't yet accepted any of these offers from Fraser Health. A. Dix: Well, we know that…. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. Continue, Member. A.

Dix: We know that the minister gets indignant when his failures are brought before this House. But where was the minister's indignation when the Premier passed Bill 29 in this House and had the largest layoff of health care workers in the history of this country? Where was the minister's indignation? Where was the minister's indignation in 2005 when the Beacon Hill Villa report came before him, kept from the public? Where was the minister's indignation then? Where was the minister's in dignation in 2006 when the same company was awarded a huge contract — Casa Loma up in the north Island ?

Where was the minister's indignation then? Where was the minister's indignation when seniors across British Columbia raised issues of concern about their care? Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. A. Dix: Those are the issues that should draw the minister's indignation. The only thing that seems to upset the minister is when he's publicly criticized. My question to the minister is simple. Why not give seniors an independent representative? Why not give them a place to go? [1505] Why does he continue to allow his government to hide behind the confidenti ality awarded seniors?

Why doesn't he agree with the opposition on the constructive proposal to establish a representative for seniors? Hon. G. Abbott: The Premier had a Council on Aging and Seniors Issues. I hope the opposition's not disparag- ing that council now. Dr. Patricia Baird was the chair of that council. That council met for, I think, well over a year. They did extensive consultations across this province. They delivered a very thoughtful report, which I thought the opposition embraced as well as the government.

One of the things that does not appear in that report is a sug- gestion that there should be an office for seniors. What we believe on this side of the House is that actions speak louder than wo rds. That's why we have added billions of dollars in new investments for seniors across this province. That's why, when we took office, there were over 600 separated seniors in this province. Today there are less than 70, because of our invest- ments in campus of care. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. The member has a supplemental. A. Dix: You bet action speaks louder than words.

When every care aide was laid off at Nanaimo Seniors Village and at a half-dozen other care homes in May and June and July, actions spoke louder than words. The Minister of Health, the minister whose respon- sibility it is to protect seniors and seniors care — what did he do? He did nothing. He supported the very care home operators that did it. He supported them. Fifteen hundred care aides laid off in a few months. How does that help seniors care?

The reason I think they're afraid of an independent officer for seniors is that they would stand up and say: "That's wrong because it's wrong." Will the minister not consider that proposal? And when will he insist that

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2007 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 9367 every report on every care home is made public so that the citizens of British Columbia can make judgments about the level of senior care in care homes? Why should seniors learn about the state of care homes in British Columbia from FOIs obtained by the opposition? Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. Hon. G. Abbott: You know, often we hear a lot of rhetoric in this House. I'm sure at times it is confusing to the folks back home.

But the folks back home actually have a pretty good g rip on what goes on in this cham - ber, and they have a pretty good grip on what goes on in this province. That's why I wa s so interested in looking at this November 14 edition of the Cariboo Advisor, which has a full-page ad. It says: "So what is…?" Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. Members. Hon. G. Abbott: It says: "So what is the MLA for Cari- boo South really up to?" And it says: "The MLA could…." Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Minister, just take your seat. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. Minister, continue. Hon. G.

Abbott: The member says: "Who spon- sored the ad?" Well, it's the staff and management of the Williams Lake Seniors Village. It includes a picture of all of the staff. [1510] Here's what they say: "The MLA could easily have discovered these facts for himself by calling either the licensing authority or Miss Glover. He chose instead to once again unfairly attack the integrity of the staff at Williams Lake Seniors Village. As you can imagine, the staff are understandably angry about the way the MLA and the NDP are maligning their work in an effort to attack the government." Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members.

Members, you know what's embarrassing? It's the way we're acting. That's embarrassing. KPMG REPORT ON ACTIONS OF PAUL TAYLOR L. Krog: Over a month ago the government released only a

summary re porting letter from KPMG into the activities of Mr. Paul Taylor and the B.C. Automobile Dealers Association. In this House on May 29, the Premier promised that the full review, the terms of reference, the documenta- tion, the process undertaken , the steps taken and the full report will be made available on completion of the review. The

summary reporting letter does not meet the Premier's promised standard. It is quite simply a whitewash, and so my question is very simple. Will the Minister of Finance live up to the government's prom- ise to this House and direct forthwith the release of the full KPMG report as promised? Hon. C. Taylor: As has been said in this House, when the proper FOI proce ss has been completed, in- formation will be released. Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental. L. Krog: It's very clear that that process appears to be more of a delaying tactic than a process.

The opposition has received a further relevant e- mail dated January 27, 2003, from Mr. Kieran to Mr. Bornman, part of which reads: "Just got a call from Paul Taylor's wife. She is his message bearer. He sug- gests we get Omnitrax together with Larry Blain, the new CEO of Partnerships B.C., the P3 agency that Paul engineered. Larry is on holiday at the moment. Paul says all partnerships with government including BCR will be funded by Partnerships. We'll put this together next week." This clearly shows that the real issue is the relation- ship between Mr.

Taylor an d Pilothouse, which KPMG was not instructed to investigate. This e-mail shows that Mr. Taylor was providin g Pilothouse with a range of information dealing with the most sensitive and confidential government matters. Will the Minister of Finance do the right thing and launch today a full inquiry with real powers to investi- gate the activities of Mr. Taylor? Hon. C. Taylor: When the information came forward to the Premier's office, an investigation was launched with KPMG, a reputable firm. They found in their results that, in fact, there was no wrongdoing by Mr. Taylor.

If any new information is available, I would suggest that the opposition make it available to the Premier's office. HIGHWAY OF TEARS G. Coons: Last month the highway of tears investi- gation was expanded to 18 murders, even though the number is closer to 50 missing and murdered young aboriginal women. At the time, the Solicitor General said he thought "the current activities were appropri- ate," and he had no request from Carrier-Sekani for additional funding. Carrier-Sekani officials were shocked when told that the Solicitor General knew of no additional

9368 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES W EDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2007 requests for funds. They are constantly lobbying for more provincial money, and they aren't getting it. The Solicitor General also stated that he "takes the community's concerns extr emely seriously and that resources have never been an issue." If that is true, will he stand up to the plate, will he put his money where his mout h is, and will he commit funding for all 33 recommendations? [1515] Hon. J. Les: My staff are in constant communica- tion with the Carrier-Sek ani and others who are working on issues related to the Highway 16 trage- dies.

Those discussions are active, and they're ongo- ing. We are entertaining funding considerations that will enable the important work that's going on to go forward. Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental. G. Coons: It's been 20 months since the symposium in Prince George. The Solicit or General was there. He committed to the recommendations. A proposal is cur- rently sitting in front of the Solicitor General for funding for two coordinators, an event coordinator to help implement the recommendation s.

In response to the Solicitor General, Mary Teegee from the Carrier-Sekani stated that the Solicitor General "publicly stated his dedication and resolve in contributing resources to the highway of tears initiative. It is very unfortunate that there is no provincial funding dedicated to the highway of tears initiative." Again, will the Solicitor General put the money where his mouth is and commit to that and quit with the rhetoric and ensure that young aboriginal women in the north stop being murdered and disappearing along the highway of tears? Hon. J.

Les: Again, these are very serious issues that have transpired along Highway 16. There are serious investigations going on to get to the bottom of what happened in all of those tragedies. When we had the symposium last year in Prince George, a number of recommendations flowed from that. We committed government to working with the people along Highway 16 to implement those recommendations. We are doing that actively. We have made funding available. There is over $5 million available on an annual basis for victim funding in that region of the province.

We made $150,000 avail- able directly to assist with the implementation of the recommendations that were made, and we continue to discuss further programming that could be beneficial to the people of the region. [End of question period.] Orders of the Day Hon. M. de Jong: I call second reading of Bill 44, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act. Second Reading of Bills GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION TARGETS ACT Hon. B. Penner: I move that the bill now be read a second time.

I am pleased to speak to this bill which was intro- duced yesterday, which sets out in legislation the fun- damental expression of this government's commitment to addressing the reality of global warming and the impending crisis of climate change. Our fundamental commitment is to reverse the growth of greenhouse gas emissions in British Colum- bia and ultimately reduce those emissions in absolute terms to a fraction of the amounts that are currently being released into the atmosphere. [K.

Whittred in the chair.] The proposed Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act is the first step in establishing a legislative frame- work for British Columbia to ensure that decisive action takes place as needed to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. It is our government's position that decisive action, including new laws, is necessary to respond effectively and quickly to climate change.

The evidence that the climate is changing is becoming increasingly clear, thanks to the efforts of and debate within the international scientific and political communi- ties and, most notably, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. That evidence indicates that rapid warming of the atmosphere is occurring on a global scale. [1520] As noted in this gove rnment's Speech from the Throne in February of this year, the rate of atmos- pheric warming over the last 50 years has been found to be faster than at any time in the past 1,000 years.

This rapid change has implications that are already being felt and seen in various ways at the local level around the world. In the Pacific Northwest of North America we are seeing our climate change at a rate greater than the global average and the beginnings of ecosystem changes. In British Columbia, animals and plants in our forests are already reacting to this change.

We have seen the explosive spread of the mountain pine beetle, with 78 percent of our pine forests now infested, partly as a result of the disappearance of the extreme cold winter temperatures in the north and the interior which used to be the norm only a few decades ago. Projections for British Columbia's climatic zones in the next 100 years and the ve getation changes this im- plies show we can expect major changes in the mixture of forest species, grasslands and desert areas. These changes in ecology will occur throughout the province, on the coast as well as in th e interior.

Another issue for the coast is that a measurable rise in sea levels is also beginning to occur, with grave implications for low- lying and densely populated coastal areas here in Brit- ish Columbia and around the world.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2007 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 9369 Seasonal patterns of precipitation are also chang- ing. In some parts of the world there have been prolonged droughts, while in others, such as here in British Columbia, there's been increased precipitation and, as we saw this year, record snowpacks, which cause significant flooding in some areas and which have the potential to cause much higher, devastating floods in the Fraser Valley, where I live.

If I reflect back on just the last 20 months or so, I can remember when the Vancouver news media were talk- ing about the need for Noah's ark because there were a record number of consecutive days of rainfall recorded. W e w e n t f r o m t h a t v e r y w e t e a r l y s p r i n g t o o n e o f t h e driest summers on record. La st fall there were actually record low-level stream flows in British Columbia, to the point where returning fish stocks were threatened due to their inability to access their spawning grounds.

That drought was quickly broken by a series of very powerful Pacific storms that struck the lower mainland and southern Vancouver Island and other parts of the province, resulting in the damage that we have all seen and heard about at Stanley Park but also in other provincial parks ar ound the province. In short order, record snowfall accumulations started to occur in certain mountain ranges.

So we saw really firsthand in British Columbia the effects of climate change that had been predicted: extreme variations of weather in a very short period of time, liter- ally going from record rainfall days in the southern part of British Columbia to record low stream flows and all the way back agai n where we had extreme storms and mountain snowpa cks. About a year ago at this time I was standing on the banks of the Chilliwack River as it was flooding due to a record rainfall event in a 24-hour period in that watershed.

As our climate warms over the next several decades, we can expect less snowpack as more precipitation falls as rain. This will mean the opposite problem: less snow-melt water sustaining our rivers and streams during the summer months, with negative impacts on fisheries and for communities that depend on those runoffs for water supplies. In some parts of the world we've also seen heat waves occurring with increasing duration and intensity. Extreme precipitation events and periods of increasingly strong hurricanes and typhoons have also been observed.

Now, although individual extreme weather events are not proof themselves of clim ate change, scientists warn that, over the long term, the trend will be an increase in the number and severity of such extreme events. British Columbia is highly sensitive to climate change, and the observed and projected rate of warming is higher than the global average. What that means, unfortunately, is that we are facing the prospect of dramatic impacts affecting many of our natural resources and the economic activity that is based on those resources.

But if we have the foresight to recognize the shifts that are underway and the way in which we are all interconnected in the face of climate change, then we also have an opportunity in this province. That oppor- tunity is to make a difference. We have the means to take bold action, to face this challenge and, in doing so, to become leaders in a global fight to alter our present course.

By taking on a leadership role, we can build partner- ships — such as with the wester n climate initiative, the Pacific coast collaborative and others — that will inspire and help guide the actions of other nations as well as societies and organizations elsewhere. The environmental, economic and social costs asso- ciated with climate change are anticipated to be very high for societies around the world. Unnaturally rapid climate change to some extent now appears inevitable, and we'll have to adapt to those changes. [1525] One example of that locally, again, was the threat we had this past spring of flooding.

The province of British Columbia put forward $33 million, and we were pleased when the federal government chose to match our contribution. But we know that we have other diking and flood-protection works that will be necessary in the years ahead, and that's why the province has recently committed $100 million over the next ten years to work on further mitigation.

We're also asking the federal government to join us in this endeavour as well, because if they can match our $100 million, we'll have $200 million, and then we can work with local communities to see what they can contribute to maximize our resources and improve our chances of withstanding further extreme weather events in future runoff periods. Meaningful action, however, begins with setting of goals. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act will put into law the goal of reducing British Columbia's greenhouse gas emissions by at least 33 percent below the 2007 level by 2020.

This follows through on the commitment made in the Speech from the Throne earlier this year, in February. A target for 2050 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 percent compared to the level of emissions in 2007 is also set out in this bill. It is important to set the 2050 target to respond effectively to the long-term nature of the climate change problem. Climate change did not become a challenge over- night; nor can it be solved overnight. Other jurisdictions around the world have also recognized this, and a number of them have committed to long-term targets.

For example, I understand that the parliament in the United Kingdom is debating a law now where the U.K. target is 60 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. There is a growing consensus that limiting the increase in average global temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels will be necessary to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change, impacts that will exceed society's capacity to adapt. [H.

Bloy in the chair.] Limiting the risk of exceeding the 2-degree thres- hold will require stabilizing the concentration of green- house gases in the atmosphere at levels below 500 parts per million of carbon dioxide equivalent. In turn, this

9370 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES W EDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2007 means that global greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by between 50 and 90 percent by 2050. The 80-percent reduction target for 2050 that this government is setting for British Columbia is consistent with recommendations from the scientific community as well as with the targets set by other jurisdictions that are leaders in climate change action.

The legislation also requires that interim targets for 2012 and 2016 be set by the end of 2008 in order to provide tangible goals in the short term to help focus our efforts in government and across society. The climate action team was established yesterday by the government. I just have to tell you how delighted I am at the calibre of people who have stepped up to the plate and are volunteering their services, not just on behalf of the government of British Columbia but on be- half of all people that live here and in fact, I would say, on behalf of people beyond our borders.

The climate action team will determine the most aggressive targets possible for 2012 and 2016. These interim goals will be realistic and economically viable but also challenging. It's going to challenge all of us — government, industry and individual citizens — to begin doing everything that m u s t b e d o n e t o a c h i e v e sustainable levels of greenhouse gas emissions and to do our part here in British Columbia to stabilize the rate of global warming for the long term.

As noted at first reading, this government plans to bring forward additional legislation in the next session to authorize regulatory mechanisms that will be im- plemented with respect to various sectors of activity in the province in order to achieve these targets. The means by which reductions will be attained will be a combination of market-based mechanisms and legally enforceable limits on emissions. We will introduce legislation in the spring to put in place a cap-and-trade system for all large emitters of greenhouse gas emissions in the province.

That system will set firm caps on the quantity of emissions that specified industry sectors and individual operations may release, while providing for participation in emis- sions trading to take advantage of market forces that promote innovation, competit iveness and, ultimately, efficiency and sustainability. We are also intending to introduce legislation next spring to follow California's lead in adopting tailpipe emission standards for new vehicles. These standards, which will be phased in fr om 2009 to 2016, will require car manufacturers' annual vehicle fleets to become more and more efficient and clean.

Now, our Premier met with his colleagues from across the country at a first ministers meeting back in August and challenged other provinces to follow our lead and to support us in the establishment of California tailpipe emissions standards, because as a market on our own, we're pretty small. We're four million people. But if you start to combine forces with other like-minded jurisdictions, I believe we can influence the market. That was behind our thinking when the Premier and I travelled to California in March to meet with Governor Schwarzenegger.

He was very receptive, and since then our governments have been working very closely together and cooperatively in sharing informa- tion both directly as well as through the western climate initiative. [1530] In response to the Premier's challenge at the first ministers meeting back in August, nine out of ten provin- cial Premiers have agreed that their provinces will support California tailpipe emissions standards. I'm very pleased at that response.

That shows that leadership can work, but it also shows that other prov- inces are willing to work together to try and drive the k i n d o f c h a n g e s t h a t w e n e e d t o s e e , f r a n k l y , i f w e ' r e going to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There will also be legislation in the spring to pro- vide authority for the regulation of landfill gases. This government will work closely with local governments and private industry to establish a regulatory regime requiring the capture of gases emitted by landfills.

One component of landfill gas is methane, which tonne for tonne has a much greater global warming effect than the most common greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide. That's the one you hear most about, but in fact every tonne of methane is about as damaging as 21 tonnes of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. I'm pleased that today in British Columbia we are starting to capture methane gas from landfills, as a direct result of this province's energy plan introduced in 2002.

At the GVRD landfill in Delt a, at the Hartland Landfill north of Victoria and very soon in the landfill in the regional district of Nanaimo, methane gas which previ- ously would just be escaping straight into the atmosphere, adding to climate change problems, is being captured and combusted, which reduces its harmful effect. The com- bustion process is allowing electricity to be generated and fed into B.C. Hydro's grid. Mr. Speaker, I suggest to you that that represents a couple of things.

It's the power of inviting the private sector to play a partnership role in meeting our energy challenges and in solving environmental problems. It also demonstrates what the opportunities are. We can have a win-win situation, if we approach this thoughtfully and strategically. In this case, we have an opportunity. We have the advantages of now creating energy and revenue streams that we need and of decreasing the impact from that methane gas that previously just escaped directly into the atmosphere. Bill 44 sets requirements for the provincial government to reduce emissions and to become carbon-neutral.

Starting in 2010, the provincial government and designated public sector organizations will be required to achieve carbon- neutral status, taking all operations into account. Even before that, requirements for carbon-neutrality will kick in, starting in 2008 with respect to greenhouse gas emissions produced by core government business travel. Travel emissions for the last three months of 2007 will also be included. Our government recognizes that we should lead by example to help ensure success in achieving the greenhouse gas reduction targets for the province as a

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2007 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 9371 whole. The carbon-neutral provincial government requirement will apply to this Legislative Assembly and to provincial government ministries and agencies, schools, colleges, universities, health authorities, Crown corporations and other public sector organiza- tions identified by regulation. A major feature of this bill is its public reporting requirements.

The provinci al government and other public sector organizations that will be subject to the new act will be required to make public annual carbon- neutral action reports, beginning with the report for the 2008 calendar year. In addition, the Minister of Environment will be required to publish a report every two years, beginning with the report on the 2008 calendar year, concerning progress being made by the province as a whole towards achieving British Columbia's emission reduction targets, the actions taken to achieve that progress and plans for continued advancement towards achieving the targets.

Action on climate change is central to our govern- ment's great goal of leading the world in sustainable envi- ronmental management, and it has been an important performance objective in the province's last two strategic plans. British Columbia's recently adopted energy plan is the cleanest, greenest energy plan in North America. Just to put that in context, today, as a result of our new energy plan released in the spring by my col- league the Minister of En ergy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, B.C.

Hydro has a requirement to find 90 percent of their new additional energy sources from clean sources of electricity. When we took office, that requirement was only 10 percent. I would submit to the House that that represents significant progress.

We are determined, as well, to become self-sufficient again in electricity because, frankly, I'm not very com- fortable at simply relying on imports from coal-fired plants in either Alberta or outside of our borders in the United States to help us keep our lights on — if we're really serious about reducing greenhouse gas emissions. [1535] Our side of the House believes it's imperative for us to become electricity self-sufficient in British Columbia.

We do disagree with members on the other side of the House, including their Energy critic, who yesterday on CFAX Radio said that that goal of ours to become elec- tricity self-sufficient is "ludicrous." Our side of the House begs to differ. Due to the vision of previous governments and Premiers in this prov- ince, I think British Columbians became accustomed to us actually being self-sufficient in electricity and being net exporters. They had the vision and the foresight to make difficult decisions to build the infrastructure that has now benefited this province for decades.

During the 1990s very little new additional capacity was built in British Columbia. As a result, we have now been a net importer of electricity for quite a num- ber of years. I think about five or six years. We are committed to developing new clean energy resources in British Columbia. All together, with the capacity additions at Bridge River; at the Revelstoke dam that's now been approved by myself and the Minister of Energy; a new turbine at Seven Mile dam, which I had a chance to visi t; additions to the W.A.C.

Bennett dam on the Peace River; additions including the Brilliant expansion project, which is a government- owned corporation in the Kootenays; and the recently approved expansion to the Waneta dam that the Minis- ter of Energy and I approved last week, there will be enough additional electricity generated from B.C. Hydro and Columbia Power Corporation generating assets to keep the lights on in 227,000 homes in British Columbia.

That is clean, renewable electricity that will help us meet our objectives of weaning ourselves off the coal- fired imported electricity that British Columbians had to rely on over recent years. As well, it keeps the dollars at home, and we can do it without contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Th at's a win-win situation, and it represents the kind of vision that our government is pursuing. Building on those initiatives, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act will initiate the next phase in meeting the challenge of climate change.

It will involve taking firm regulatory meas ures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions coming from all major sources in the province. Meeting the targets and re quirements set out in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act will be hard work, but there's no place be tter suited to meeting this challenge than here in British Columbia, building on the successes that people and the government of this province have achieved in recent years in building our diverse and strong economy.

There is no better time to begin than right now, and while it will be hard work, this government is confi- dent that firm action on cl imate change will also mean new investments and jobs. Our goal is ultimately greater prosperity for Britis h Columbia. Climate action must be seen and pursued as an economic opportunity as well as an environmental imperative. We are taking decisive and necessary action to con- front global warming but in a way that will increase our quality of life, help to protect our environment and seize on economic opportunities as the world transitions to a low-carbon economy.

In British Columbia there are close to 1,300 companies active in the sustainable technology industry across the province, employing about 18,000 people. This number is expected to grow. We have built our industry by investing in world- class research institutions. British Columbia is home to 15 research centres of excellence and other clean- technology research institutes. Backed by a research and innovation infrastructu re, our companies provide sustainable technology solutions and practices in both domestic and export markets. These opportunities have not gone unnoticed by the investment community.

Venture capitalists have invested $3.9 billion into green and clean technology ventures in North America last year — almost dou- bling their investment from 2005, helping to drive this industry to become one of the fastest-growing sectors

9372 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES W EDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2007 in the North American venture capital market. B.C. can and will be a leader in geothermal technologies, energy-efficient buildings, solar thermal systems, cellu- lose ethanol technologies and gas-to-liquid technolo- gies that would capture gas otherwise flared in gas and oil fields. We are already leading the world in fuel cell tech- nology.

The government that can best attract entre- preneurs and investors, and harness the creativity, ingenuity and power of the private sector will have the best chance to create self-perpetuating, sustainable technology clusters that drive dynamic economic growth while also improving the environment. British Columbia is making history by being the first Canadian province to put into law aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets. These targets will spur the new thinking and ac tions that will be needed to address the challenge of climate change.

Just as our province's economy has evolved and diversified over the past century beyond simply being an exporter of natural resources, a move towards a low-carbon econ- omy is the next step in our economic evolution. [1540] It is historic and inevitable, and it will be a next chap- ter in B.C.'s history. Generations from now, people will look back and ask: "What started the change for the bet- ter? What made our communities what they are today?" I believe that the passage of laws such as Bill 44 will be marked as the turning point in addressing global warming and protecting the environment for future generations.

With that, I move that the bill be referred to a Committee of the Whole to be considered at the next sitting of the House after today. Deputy Speaker: We'll have to pass second reading. S. Simpson: Hon. Speaker, I would note at the start that I am the designated speaker for this piece of legislation. I am pleased to have the opportunity to stand in my place and speak to Bill 44, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act. This act is put in place, and it establishes greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2020 and 2050 in relation to greenhouse gas emissions for British Columbia generally.

Starting with 2008, it requires the provincial gov- ernment and all other public sector organizations to pursue actions to minimize their greenhouse gas emissions, and then goes on to speak about a number of things related to that. We're happy that this legislation has come forward. You'll remember, I'm sure, that back in February the throne speech brought the issue of climate change to this House from this govern ment for the first time. We at that time, when the government announced in the throne speech the reduction for 2020 — that it should be entrenched in law….

This piece of legislation does that, and we're pleased that the government has chosen to take our advice and entrench this in law. We know that climate change is a compelling issue, and we know it's a global issue that affects all of us and affects people around the wo rld. There has been much commentary around the issue of climate change for the last couple of years. I think it's a concern that has touched the public in British Columbia and elsewhere in the world to the extent that it has become arguably the single most compelling issue globally right now.

It certainly is a significant and major issue for British Columbians and for all Canadians. It's an issue that we know well in British Columbia. We know it probably best of all in our province because of the pine beetle. Most British Columbians know and understand that historically the pine beetle — which has devastated our pine forests in the most horrific of ways for those forests, the habitat and those communities that rely on those forests — has pretty much always been there, but because of our weather and our climate, we could rely on the beetle to be dealt with by cold weather.

In the better part of the last decade, of course, that has not been the case. What we in fact have now is a circumstance where the beetle has ravaged our forests and is now moving across borders and heading to other jurisdictions. We also know that we've seen flooding. We know communities across the province that have suffered from flooding. We know ou r friends in Richmond and Delta have raised those concerns — and in other com- munities throughout the province where flooding has been a serious issue.

While we can't say that any one incident of flooding is related to climate change, the increasing nature of flooding is certainly indicative of what our expectations are ab out the impacts of climate change. We certainly will expect to see more of it, and we'll certainly expect to see more of it in our communi- ties in British Columbia which are at lower elevations. [1545] We also know — and this is certainly a very con- cerning issue for all British Columbians — the impacts of climate change, potentially, on agriculture and on food security issues in our province.

It's a bit ironic, but ther e are those in the global community who suggest that in some ways Canada and Russia will be — at least for a short period of time, through climate change — beneficiaries of climate change to the extent that more moderate climates may increase our growing areas for agriculture. But I don't t h i n k w e w i s h t h e e x t e n t o f t h a t o n a n y b o d y , b e c a u s e what we know, of course, is that it is changing. It will change what happe ns in the Okanagan, on Vancouver Island and in ot her communities as certain crops become less able to be grown — or more so.

It does make changes, and I know from our discussions with the agriculture community that they have signifi- cant concerns about that. Also, it raises issues arou nd health care. The impacts of climate change, potentially, on the health of our citizens is a growing concern. Another example, of course, would be in the area of water. I've had the opportunities to talk with people at Water Highway B.C. and the hydrologists in British Columbia, who have expressed serious concerns about

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2007 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 9373 how prepared we are to deal with that issue and their concerns about insufficient and inadequate support for hydrometric water monitoring by both the provincial and the federal government. They aren't providing the levels of support that they, as the experts in the field, believe are necessary in order to better understand the impacts on our water and to understand how, in fact, we deal with those impacts. We know, of course, that as water and water flows are affected by climate change, it affects our local communities. It affects our drinking water.

It affects water available to our reso urce industries that are essential and critical users of water. When we talk about climat e change, of course, it is a global issue. We know that it's accelerating. It's inter- esting that the Intergover nmental Panel on Climate Change and many other credib le thinkers on the issue of climate change have been accelerating their concerns. Issues that they were raisin g not that long ago, telling us a year or two years ago…. Issues that they said would be coming in the next century, they're now telling us will come in the next decade.

That acceleration is becoming very rapid and very concerning. We're hearing more and more of that from experts, from people in communities who are starting to see and feel those impacts. That urgency is growing, and we need to respond to that urgency here in British Columbia as we do throughout the world. Last weekend our party, as you may know, had our annual convention in Vancouver. At that convention we had a keynote speaker, Dr. Thomas Homer-Dixon. Dr. Homer-Dixon is an expert in this field and quite well respected. Dr.

Homer-Dixon holds the George Ignatieff chair of peace and conflict studies at the Trudeau Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Toronto. H e i s t h e a u t h o r o f a n u m b e r o f w e l l - r e c o g n i z e d books.

Included in some of his books are Environment, Scarcity and Violence, which won the Caldwell Prize of the American Political Science Association; The Ingenuity Gap, which was the 2001 Governor General's non-fiction award winner here in Canada; and his most recent book, The Up Side of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity and the Renewal Of Civilization, which was the 2006 National Business Book Award winner here in our country. One of the things that Dr. Homer-Dixon does…. Part of his studies and his research looks at the issue of climate change. It is one of the key issues he looks at.

He looks at climate change and its environmental, social and economic impacts, and that's a really important focus for Dr. Homer-Dixon. [1550] When he spoke to our co nvention, he spoke about that. He really stressed to our members the growing urgency of our challenge to de al with this question of climate change. His focus and inspiration were a little scary at times — what he had to say. But I think it did energize our members, cert ainly, and was even more compelling for the 700 or so people in that room who were very much focused on this issue.

They left that room even more compelled to deal with this challenge. What I'd like to do is just quote. Dr. Homer-Dixon is a regular contributor to the opinion pages in the New York Times as well as the Globe and Mail. He wrote recently, on October 4 of this year in the New York Times, an opinion piece that he contributed called "A Swiftly Melting Planet." In that, he was speaking about the arctic ice fields and the impacts that we're seeing on those fields. Just to pull out of his quote, he said: "This past summer sent scientists scrambling to redo their estimates.

Week by week the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado, reported the trend: from 2.23 million square miles of ice remaining on August 8 to 1.6 million square miles on September 16 — an astonishing drop from the previous low of 2.05 million square miles reached in 2005." What Dr. Homer-Dixon was saying here is that in that very short two-year period, half a million square miles, roughly, of the ice fields disappeared — something that was being projected to maybe happen by 2040. It's happening now.

The melting of the arctic ice fields has huge implications across the world in terms of raising sea levels. He went on to talk about the impacts on our oceans. We need to understand that the oceans are a critical factor in meeting our challenge of climate change. He went on to say in the same opinion piece: "There are other destabilizing factors in the carbon cy- cle that involve the oceans. Each year the oceans absorb about half the carbon dioxide that humans emit into the atmosphere.

But as oceans warm, they will absorb less car- bon dioxide, partly because the gas dissolves less readily in warmer water and partly because warming will reduce the mixing between deep and surface waters that provides nu- trients to plankton that absorb carbon dioxide. And when oceans take up less carbon dioxide, warming worsens." The challenge that we face here is incredibly com- pelling. He talked about global warming melting large areas of permafrost in Alaska, Canada and Siberia.

As it melts, the organic matter in the permafrost starts to rot, releasing carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, again accelerating our challenge. What Professor Homer-Dixon is talking about is this rapid acceleration that the scientists across the world who have been engaged in this did not foresee. Interest- ingly, if you read the last report of the Intergovernmen- tal Panel on Climate Change, they clearly talk about that. They have recognized this acceleration, and I'm sure that Dr.

Weaver and the others on the panel will be bringing that expertise to bear in terms of the work of the panel that has been established. The final comment from Dr. Homer-Dixon that I think is important was in his close to this piece, where he said: "We need a far more aggressive global response to climate change. In the 1960s mothers learned that the milk they were feeding their children was laced with ra- dioactive material from at mospheric tests of nuclear weapons and that this contamination could increase the risk of childhood leukemia.

Soon women organized themselves in the tens of thousands to demand that nu- clear powers ban atmospheric testing. Their campaign largely

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	H1121pm-01
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	H1121pm 01
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	b304d68d172b6f0c5bdc692badec18e81f44d42b

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