Fourth Session, 42nd Parliament

(2023) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Morning Sitting

Issue No. 261

ISSN 1499-2175

The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.

The PDF transcript remains the official digital version.

CONTENTS

Routine Business

Introductions by Members

Speaker’s Statement

125th anniversary of Parliament Buildings

Introduction and First Reading of Bills

Bill 5 — Public Service Labour Relations Amendment Act, 2023

Hon. K. Conroy

Statements (Standing Order 25B)

Accessible prescriptions for persons with vision loss

N. Letnick

Non-profit sector

M. Dykeman

Earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria

E. Sturko

Multicultural celebration of lunar new year

F. Donnelly

Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring

S. Furstenau

White Cane Week and vision loss awareness

S. Chant

Oral Questions

Drug decriminalization program and access to addiction services

E. Sturko

Hon. D. Eby

Drug decriminalization and oversight of safe supply pilot project

E. Sturko

Hon. D. Eby

Drug decriminalization program and federal requirements

K. Kirkpatrick

Hon. J. Whiteside

Environmental regulation of energy projects

A. Olsen

Hon. G. Heyman

Coastal GasLink pipeline project environmental compliance and enforcement

A. Olsen

Hon. G. Heyman

Government action on issues in health care system

T. Halford

Hon. A. Dix

Health care staffing and role of physician assistants

S. Bond

Hon. A. Dix

Conditions for health workers and accountability of health care administrators

T. Stone

Hon. A. Dix

P. Milobar

Orders of the Day

Government Motions on Notice

Motion 13 — Amendment to Standing Orders for Thursday sitting hours

Hon. R. Kahlon

Motion 12 — Amendment to Standing Orders for private members’ time

Hon. R. Kahlon

T. Stone

A. Olsen

J. Rustad

Tabling Documents

Office of the Auditor General, Mental Health and Substance Use Services for

Indigenous People in B.C. Correctional Centres , February 2023

Second Reading of Bills

Bill 2 — National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Act

Hon. H. Bains

G. Kyllo

A. Olsen

Hon. M. Rankin

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023

The House met at 10:06 a.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: M. Dykeman.

Introductions by Members

Hon. M. Dean: In a short while, we will have the teacher Bill Thistle and a grade

five class from Macaulay Elementary School visiting. Of course, they’re here

to learn about what we do, and I look forward to meeting them after question

period.

Would you all please make them very welcome.

S. Furstenau: Hold the banana phone. Raffi is in the building. I am so grateful to

call him my friend and, I would say, mentor. Raffi, in every interaction,

reminds us to connect with joy and happiness and caring and our inner

children and our real children, and for that, I am enormously

grateful.

Raffi, it’s wonderful to have you here.

Will the House please make him feel most welcome.

Hon. D. Coulter: I’d like to ask the chamber to please make two special guests here

welcome: Karen Ranalletta, president of CUPE B.C.; and David Fleming, who

is…. I don’t know the job title, maybe legislative liaison for CUPE B.C.,

something like that.

If the chamber would please make them feel

welcome.

Hon. J. Brar: I would like to introduce a very special individual today, who played

a very special role during the transition to my new role as the Minister of

State for Trade, and that is Jocelyn Fan. Jocelyn is a super adviser and has

exceptional people skills, and she’s very good organizer. She is there when

you need anything. If you have a question, I know Jocelyn has the answer.

She brings a lot of positive energy to the office, and it is very rare to

see Jocelyn without a smile on her face.

I would like to ask the House to

please make her feel welcome.

M. Elmore: This morning, Raffi has got good company up here. We’ve got my great

friend RJ Aquino in the House. He’s someone that is a very well known leader

in the Filipino community and progressive politics and ran as a former

candidate on the executives for OneCity Vancouver and the Burnaby

Citizens Association.

I’d ask everybody to please give a very warm welcome

to my good friend, RJ Aquino.

[10:10 a.m.]

Speaker’s Statement

125 th ANNIVERSARY OF

PARLIAMENT

BUILDINGS

Mr. Speaker: Members, I wish to bring to the House’s attention that tomorrow,

February 10, will mark the 125th anniversary since the opening of our

Parliament Buildings. It is remarkable to think that the laws governing

the province of British Columbia have been made in this very chamber for

the past 125 years.

The design of these magnificent buildings was the first commission

for a young Francis Mawson Rattenbury. His architectural vision was

brought to life by countless hard-working labourers, with construction

underway from 1893 to 1898. As tales would have it, some of these

labourers still watch over our debates in the form of effigies, which we

see around us in this chamber.

When the building was officially opened in 1898 to coincide with

the start of the fourth session of the seventh parliament, our province

was just 27 years old, and there were 33 members of this

House.

It is astounding to think that at that time, people of colour,

like me, were not welcome here. Indigenous people were not welcome here.

Other minorities were not welcome here. Women could not run for office,

and there was not a single women’s washroom in this building. Over these

years, our debates have captured painful moments of our collective

history, but we must persevere on our journey of fairness and

equality.

As we take a moment to reflect on our history and the stunning

setting in which we undertake our parliamentary work, let us also pause

to reflect on the things we can do to continue to make this place more

representative of the citizens that we serve and to set a positive

course for the next 125 years.

Introduction and

First Reading of Bills

BILL 5 — PUBLIC SERVICE LABOUR

RELATIONS AMENDMENT ACT,

Hon. K. Conroy presented a message from Her Honour the

Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Public Service Labour Relations

Amendment Act, 2023.

Hon. K. Conroy: I move that the Public Service Labour Relations Amendment Act be

introduced and read for a first time.

I am pleased to introduce the Public Service Labour Relations

Amendment Act. This bill amends the Public Service Labour Relations Act

to implement collective bargaining rights for government lawyers

employed in the B.C. public service. The amendments enable these

collective bargaining rights and ensure government maintains an

appropriate public service bargaining framework that promotes continued

labour stability and controls future costs.

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

Motion approved.

Hon. K. Conroy: I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second

reading at the next sitting of the House.

Bill 5, Public Service Labour Relations Amendment Act, 2023,

introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day

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

Statements

(Standing Order 25B)

ACCESSIBLE PRESCRIPTIONS FOR

PERSONS WITH VISION

LOSS

N. Letnick: Today I’d like to talk about accessible prescriptions for British

Columbians with sight loss.

The 252,000 partially sighted or blind British Columbians are a

vulnerable population whose needs are often overlooked. Currently

prescriptions are labelled with text-only instructions, making it

difficult for the blind to use them without assistance. This can lead to

delays in obtaining medications, which can have a significant impact on

their quality of life.

Not being able to access prescriptions in a timely manner

represents inequitable treatment for British Columbians with sight loss,

persons with dyslexia and other forms of print disabilities who are

unable to manage their prescriptions independently, confidently and

safely without this necessary accommodation.

[10:15 a.m.]

I’m asking the government today to do more to ensure that all

British Columbians with sight loss are able to receive accessible

prescriptions. This could include providing Braille prescription labels

or providing audio recordings of prescription instructions.

Auditory RFID labels allow blind individuals to easily access the

necessary information contained on the label, including the name of the

drug, dosage and other important information. This will enable them to

independently use their medications and ensure that they are taking

their medications as prescribed.

It is important that British Columbians with sight loss have the

same access to prescriptions as everyone else. I urge the government to

take action to promote the awareness of the needs of this vulnerable

group.

NON-PROFIT SECTOR

M. Dykeman: It’s a pleasure to rise today to speak to the importance of

British Columbia’s non-profit sector.

Our non-profit sector contributes a staggering $6.7 billion to the

provincial economy. The sector employs over 86,000 British Columbians at

nearly 30,000 registered not-for-profit groups and charities. It is an

economic and social force in the province, helping individuals,

families, children and seniors by providing critical services in health

care, child care, housing, food security and more.

In every B.C. community, some of our most vulnerable people — such

as women fleeing domestic violence, refugees escaping countries torn

apart by war or people experiencing homelessness and addiction — are

assisted by non-profit organizations. From smaller organizations such as

the Langley Literacy Network,which helps residents of all ages with

lifelong learning, to larger organizations such as the United Way B.C.,

which is working on behalf of government to eliminate period poverty, we

are counting on the services non-profits deliver.

I’m thankful that B.C.’s non-profits are there for seniors who may

feel socially isolated and need a friendly place to visit, like a

neighbourhood house, for parents on lower incomes who desperately need

affordable child care so they can get to their jobs and for people who

are just looking for pottery courses or fitness and recreational

programs that are enjoyable and fun.

I appreciate all the wonderful volunteers and non-profit staff who

work tirelessly behind the scenes to serve British Columbians and thank

them for their service. B.C.’s non-profits are helping raise our quality

of life in so many ways to build a stronger B.C.

Will the House please join me in applauding B.C.’s non-profit

sector.

EARTHQUAKES IN TÜRKIYE AND SYRIA

E. Sturko: The images and losses have been devastating. Nearly 20,000 people

are now known to have died in the disastrous earthquakes in southern

Türkiye and northern Syria. A magnitude 7.8 quake and its powerful

aftershocks caused massive destruction, flattening buildings and other

infrastructure. Rescuers are continuing their painstaking work to pull

victims out of the rubble, but hopes for their survival are beginning to

fade.

Our hearts go out to the people of Türkiye and Syria and to the

many Canadians and British Columbians who’ve lost loved ones or who are

waiting for word to know if their friends and relatives are

safe.

Many British Columbians have stepped up to help in this dire time

of need. For those who are in a position to donate, the Canadian

government is now matching donations to the Canadian Red Cross’s

earthquake appeal until February 22.

As well, the Turkish Canadian Society, the Canadian Turkish

Educational and Cultural Foundation and the UBC Turkish Student

Association have come together in Vancouver to form a logistics centre

for accepting and packing donations. The donations will be shipped out

on a scheduled Turkish Airlines flight every other day in an effort to

provide relief to those affected by the disaster.

In the days and months to come, more generosity will be needed to

support those who have survived and who have been left with

nothing.

I know all members of this House join me in sending our deepest

condolences, our thoughts, our best wishes and our prayers to the people

of Türkiye and Syria and to all British Columbians affected by this

horrific tragedy.

MULTICULTURAL CELEBRATION

OF LUNAR NEW

YEAR

F. Donnelly: Da jia hao .

The lunar new year is a very important annual festival in many

Asian countries and is celebrated here in British Columbia and around

the world. On this day, families get together to enjoy delicious food

and exchange warm wishes. Young people salute their elders and light

fireworks to drive away negative energy.

[10:20 a.m.]

On January 15, the member for Port Moody–Coquitlam and I hosted a

multi lunar new year celebration at Inlet Theatre in Port Moody. A large

audience welcomed in the Year of the Rabbit and enjoyed multicultural

performances by talented local artists.

A diverse number of community organizations offered numerous

cultural activities, including paper cutting, lantern-making and Chinese

calligraphy. I’d like to thank our co-hosts, Linda Li and Ernest Wu of

the Tri-City Chinese Community Society, and all their volunteers, as

well as Jean Liang and members of the Golden Maple Culture and Arts

Association; Teacher Wang of the BaoBao Arts Centre; and Wayne Gao of

Pin-Point Media and his amazing team, who ensured that all went smoothly

backstage.

Thank you to kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First

Nation Chief Ed Hall, who started us off in a good way.

This was truly a team effort which resulted in a dynamic array of

performances enjoyed by all. Thank you to our wonderful performers,

which began with an energetic lion dance and included a children’s

ballet class, an Iranian choir, a solo dance, the K-pop dance group, a

cello ensemble and a Chinese traditional orchestra.

It was marvelous to meet so many people at this year’s

multicultural lunar new year celebration, from newcomers to those who

have lived in the Tri-Cities for years. While joining together at

community celebrations like this, we are building a foundation of

understanding and harmony that will make our communities stronger and

healthier.

Xièxiè .

RAFFI FOUNDATION FOR

CHILD

HONOURING

S. Furstenau: For all of us who grew up singing along to Baby Beluga

and Oats and Beans and Barley Grow and then sang along with our

kids to Bananaphone and Down by the Riverside , we know

that Raffi’s songs and Raffi’s voice bring immediate and lasting joy. If

there is one person who has taught us to love and honour children, it’s

Raffi, and it’s not just through his music.

The Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring is a charity that is

dedicated to advancing child honouring as a way to create positive

transformation. Reflect, for a moment, what it would be like to live in

a world rooted in an overarching belief that children who are respected

and loved grow into loving, caring adults who can, in turn, create a

more caring world. That’s what lies at the heart of Raffi’s work of

child honouring.

There’s a child-honouring covenant and a child-honouring course,

the foundations of which include respectful love, diversity, caring

community and a healthy environment. Raffi has one more way to celebrate

and honour children: by making July 8 child-honouring day, a day where

we would all put our minds and efforts towards making a world that truly

honours children.

I’ve had the absolute gift of a friendship with Raffi for almost a

decade. Each time I connect with him, I’m reminded of his wisdom and the

wisdom of his wonderful music. He reminds me to tap into the joy of

childhood that still sits in my core, and he shows in his essence what

it means to honour not only children but all people and living things in

our world.

I can confirm that what Raffi sings is true: all we really need is

a song in our hearts, food in our bellies and love in our

families.

WHITE CANE WEEK

AND VISION LOSS

AWARENESS

S. Chant: I rise today to acknowledge February 6 through 12 as White Cane

Week.

To start, I also acknowledge that I’m speaking from the ancestral

lands of the Lək̓ʷəŋin̓əŋ-speaking

people, the Esquimalt and the Songhees.

Additionally, I have the honour of representing North

Vancouver–Seymour in the traditional lands of the Tsleil-Waututh and

Squamish people.

The Canadian Council of the Blind has promoted White Cane Week

across Canada since 1946. Along with other organizations, they have been

raising awareness of vision loss with a focus on the abilities of people

who are blind or living with low vision. The symbol of this week is the

white cane.

Since its introduction in 1944, there have been many advancements

in the tools and technology that support people with visual impairments.

Perkins, Mountbattens, Merlins, Navigators, PowerBraille, PACMate, JAWS,

Plex talkers, DaVincis, Magna Lights, Zip Tabs — these are all devices

that have helped people for years through Braille, magnification and

audio. Other innovations in technology have produced personal voice

assistants and smart-home technology that are also helping people with

visual impairments.

[10:25 a.m.]

Not having the right technology isn’t the only barrier that people

with visual impairments face. Of all people with disabilities in Canada,

blind or partially sighted people have the highest rate of unemployment,

at 70 percent. In fact, what most often creates barriers to

of others.

In promoting this awareness week, the Canadian Council of the

Blind is hoping to change this perception. Shifting attitudes is

foundational to the advocacy and support work that they do. As they say,

focus on demonstrating the abilities, not disabilities, of people living

with vision loss.

That’s what our government believes too. That’s why we have the

Accessible British Columbia Act and are working to identify, prevent and

remove barriers to inclusion. By removing barriers both physical and

attitudinal, we are creating opportunities for more people. Everyone

deserves the chance to work, learn and contribute.

I would like to invite all members to join me, as we recognize

White Cane Week, to envision and embrace an inclusive and accessible

province for all.

Oral Questions

DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PROGRAM

AND ACCESS TO ADDICTION

SERVICES

E. Sturko: This NDP government’s sole focus on publicly supplied addictive

drugs and decriminalizing hard drugs is not going to end well. There are

specific obligations from last year’s letter of requirements from the

federal government that have not been met — notifiable metrics. No plan

for public safety, no timely access to treatment.

This is what the letter says: “As noted in the request, the

province will ensure that individuals who desire treatment or other

supports can access them when needed.”

To the Premier, why is he proceeding with the decriminalization of

dangerous drugs like crystal meth, heroin, cocaine and fentanyl without

first ensuring timely access to treatment and recovery, as was

promised?

Hon. D. Eby: Thank you to the member for the question on an issue of mental

health, addiction and the toxic drug crisis that we’re facing. I know

it’s front of mind for members across this chamber. I know that because

we worked very closely together on a cross-party parliamentary committee

on this very issue.

The member raises issues of decriminalization and safe supply. The

whole goal of those initiatives, the reason why it was supported by both

parties, why it continues to be, is to keep people alive so they have

the opportunity to get into treatment. When I meet with parents who have

lost children and I meet with a spouse who has lost a partner to

overdose, they wish that that person was still with them so that they

could have that opportunity to get into treatment.

I agree with the member. It is vital that we have a public network

of treatment that’s available for people on demand across the province.

That’s what we’re building. We’re following the recommendations from the

all-party committee on that.

Three hundred and sixty adult and youth treatment beds are in

development, focusing on youth in particular, because if you can

intervene early when someone is struggling with addiction, you can save

them from a lifetime of pain.

I’m really, first of all, encouraged by the fact that the

opposition is raising this as an issue, that they are embracing this

idea that government should be funding public treatment. I’m glad

they’re supporting that, and I encourage them to continue pushing in

that direction. We all need to work together on this important

issue.

Mr. Speaker: Surrey South, supplemental.

DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION

AND OVERSIGHT OF

SAFE

SUPPLY PILOT PROJECT

E. Sturko: I’m glad to hear the Premier acknowledge that these things are

still underway and still being worked on, and acknowledging, in fact,

that they didn’t have the work completed prior to the

decriminalization.

The NDP government has not only failed to do the work necessary

prior to the implementation of this experiment policy, but British

Columbians have good reason to be skeptical of this Premier when it

comes to the decriminalization of hard drugs like heroin, meth, fentanyl

and cocaine, because under this NDP government’s watch, high school

students are accessing addictive hard drugs from drug vending machines

in Vancouver, a process called diversion.

[10:30 a.m.]

Users of the so-called safe supply pilot project are selling their

drugs to teenagers so they can buy other products off the

street.

The NDP government has failed to provide oversight to make sure

that addictive drugs don’t get diverted to teenagers. How can families

trust this Premier…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh. Members.

E. Sturko: …to protect youth while decriminalizing fentanyl, crystal meth,

given that the NDP government has taken such a lax approach to publicly

supplied highly addictive drugs being resold to teenagers?

Hon. D. Eby: The member knows the reason why every member of this place came

together through the all-party committee and supported initiatives

around safe supply and decriminalization. It’s to give a chance, when a

mom has got a kid struggling with addiction, to get a health care worker

between that kid and a predatory drug dealer, to give that kid the

opportunity to remove that stigma, to have that conversation with a

parent: “Look, I’m struggling with addiction.”

That’s the reason why there was support across the chamber — why

there is support, at least as far as I understand it — for these kinds

of interventions: to keep people alive and to have the conversations

about treatment. Now, I know the member knows our government’s

investment in the Foundry system, which was something that I believe

started under the opposition’s government. We believe in that kind of

intervention. I think we are on the verge of opening up to 24 of those

now and doubling the number of beds for youth treatment.

You know, the critical piece here is around making sure that

treatment is available for people. We’re working with St. Paul’s

Hospital and Providence Health Care, for people who show up in the

emergency room after overdosing, so that they can go direct into detox,

direct from detox into treatment, all on the same site, so that there’s

not even an opportunity to lose that person in a cab on the way to a

treatment facility.

These are the kinds of innovative initiatives that we are

exploring and working on and delivering across the province: outpatient

withdrawal management in multiple new locations in the Interior; new

treatment and stabilization beds in Kamloops, Kelowna and Lillooet; new

sobering and assessment services in Prince George and

Nanaimo.

I accept the member’s critique. We’ve got more to do, but I think

it’s vital that we all recognize the work we need to do together on this

incredibly sensitive issue for British Columbians, where they want us to

support those folks struggling with addiction, to keep them alive and

get them into treatment.

DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PROGRAM

AND FEDERAL

REQUIREMENTS

K. Kirkpatrick: What I just understood the Premier to say is that these beds and

these supports are being explored, and they’re being worked on. In the

federal letter of requirements, there is an obligation to have these

recovery beds and treatments available at the same time as

decriminalization has come in, and I am hearing that that is actually

not what is happening.

There is also an obligation to have done a comprehensive public

education plan, particularly for youth, but instead of an awareness

campaign that illicit drugs are harmful and addictive, the NDP are

letting their allies do that public education. The former employer of

the Premier — Pivot Legal — and the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users

are even actively working to discourage people from seeking treatment. A

quote from VANDU: “Police should not be handing out health information

cards. The only role police should play in decrim is to stand

down.”

This question is to the Premier. Why is it that the only

information about decriminalization and its harm — or not harm, in the

case of VANDU and Pivot Legal…? Why is that information and

communication only coming from VANDU and Pivot Legal instead of public

safety information coming from this NDP government?

Hon. J. Whiteside: Thank you very much to the member for the question. However, the

supposition in the question is just simply wrong.

[10:35 a.m.]

With respect to the requirements that Health Canada set down in

the application that we made for exemption…. An application we made was

developed in collaboration with front-line law enforcement, with people

with lived experience, with public health, with front-line care

providers, who all stood together with us as we made the announcement

two weeks ago.

Issues with respect to how we communicate the intention of this

have been very broadly discussed across all of those partner groups —

and we are working with school districts, with youth-focused

organizations, through our youth mental health support organizations,

such as Foundries, such as ICY teams — to ensure that those important

front-line folks who work directly with kids understand what the intent

is.

We have a very robust curriculum in our K-to-12 system with

respect to mental health and substance use. Those are the primary

mechanisms we’re relying on to communicate this very important

information for children and youth.

Mr. Speaker: Member, supplemental.

K. Kirkpatrick: Well, frankly, that answer is just not good enough. “The province

has committed,” and I’m reading directly from the letter of

requirements, “to ensure that individuals who desire treatment or other

supports can access them when needed.” So the words I’m hearing are:

“It’s in process. We’re doing it. We’re exploring it.” That is not doing

it when needed at the same time that decriminalization is happening. One

year after the federal requirements were issued, these things should be

up and running.

The letter of requirements also calls for a comprehensive

consultation with communities, but, instead, communities are being

forced to act on their own when it comes to public safety. Campbell

River has passed a bylaw to give enforcement tools to address the use of

open hard drugs like heroin, meth, fentanyl and cocaine in public areas.

Coun. Ben Lanyon says: “The need for this is in direct response to the

unknowns that we’re facing.”

So to the Premier, why are communities like Campbell River being

left on their own to manage the impact of open drug use in their parks

and their public areas?

Hon. J. Whiteside: The core planning table that met for years leading up to the

application for the exemption included the B.C. Union of Municipalities,

and we’ve been working very closely with our partners in municipalities

with respect to the impacts in communities.

I understand there are some municipalities who have taken what

they view as particular preventative measures — not that there are

particular issues that they’re dealing with, that they’re faced with

right now, but to look at what they think may be problems down the road.

But I would say our conversations with municipalities have been very

much about, again, how we need to pull together as communities to

support individuals who are in crisis, to support individuals who need

access to care and support.

That is why we’ve been working with 9,000 front-line police

officers to ensure that they have training and education and skills

development with respect to what decriminalization means, what its

intended purpose is, the role of reducing stigma and fear. We heard so

eloquently from people with lived experience, from people who have lost

loved ones to the toxic poisoned drug crisis who, again, would much

prefer that their loved ones were alive to be able to access care and

support.

That is the purpose of decriminalization. That is the purpose of

the work we’re doing with all of our partners, including municipalities,

and we’re going to be there to work with municipalities through whatever

issues that arise on the ground for them. But this, again, is something

we are working together with all of our partners to work through, and

that’s the work we’ll continue to do.

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION

OF ENERGY

PROJECTS

A. Olsen: To the Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, in the

minister’s first few weeks on the job, how would the minister

characterize the regulation and enforcement of environmental infractions

of energy projects in British Columbia?

[10:40 a.m.]

Hon. G. Heyman: The member has asked a very general question, so it’s hard to know

exactly where the member wants to focus the answer.

What I would say is that there are a number of agencies that have distinct and outlined

responsibilities for enforcement of regulations, conditions on permits.

There are administrative procedures and administrative fairness in each

regime. There is an escalating pattern of warnings, of penalties, of

orders that precede penalties, and they are applied in an escalating

manner.

Mr. Speaker: Member, supplemental.

COASTAL GASLINK PIPELINE PROJECT

ENVIRONMENTAL

COMPLIANCE

AND ENFORCEMENT

A. Olsen: The construction of the CGL pipeline continues to cause damage to

sensitive habitat and cultural sites in northern British Columbia. Last

month, a dam at the Clore River ruptured, damaging critical salmon and

steelhead habitat. That’s part of the reason why I asked the question to

the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.

It’s my understanding that it’s actually the B.C. Oil and Gas

Commission that is responsible for the regulation of water crossings.

The Tyee reported: “The Oil and Gas Commission initially

cleared the pipeline builder of any wrongdoing but added that it had not

inspected the site in person.”

The breach of the Clore River is not an isolated incident. Today

the CGL pipeline has been fined three times. It’s had 37 warnings. It’s

had 17 orders for non-compliance related to erosion and sediment

control. There doesn’t appear to be any amount of damage that can happen

and this government will hold the company accountable. This NDP

government is appearing more and more to be captured by

industry.

In fact, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the federal body,

is not enforcing there because they basically are saying that they’re

relying on the province. Effectively, neither senior government is

holding this company accountable. It’s a $14.5 billion pipeline, and

this government has fined them a total — a grand, grand total — of

$456,200 to date. That’s less than a rounding error, way less than a

rounding error.

This government is failing to properly penalize CGL, and it’s a

terrible message to send, especially considering that there are several

other pipelines and gas liquefaction plants poised to go ahead under a

Premier who promised no new fossil fuel infrastructure. This government

says it rewards those who play by the rules. However, it is clear they

also reward those who break the rules.

To the Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, will

the minister act to ensure that Coastal GasLink does not further damage

critical salmon and steelhead habitat, and how much more damage do they

have to inflict before this government finally issues a stop work

order?

Hon. G. Heyman: I reject the premise of the member’s question. It’s simply

inaccurate. We take enforcement of regulations and permits and

conditions seriously.

The environmental assessment office, along with, in some cases,

inspectors from the Oil and Gas Commission, and in some cases,

inspectors from other divisions in the Ministry of Environment,

regularly inspect behaviour on the CGL pipeline as well as many other

projects. There have been numerous inspections by EAO officers of CGL.

There have been orders, there have been meetings, and there has been an

escalating series of penalties. There is consideration being given every

time an infraction is found.

We entered into a compliance agreement with CGL to raise the level

of attention and focus on continued breaches of their permits. There

was, in fact, a stop work at one point until corrections were

made.

It is not true that Oil and Gas Commission inspectors did not

attend Clore River. They did, in fact, attend. So did DFO. I have asked

to be regularly briefed on findings of all of the agencies that inspect.

The EAO officers are in regular contact with the Oil and Gas Commission

inspectors, who do have the responsibility for inspecting the erosion,

and we are all waiting for the analysis by DFO of their findings from

their inspection of the Clore River.

[10:45 a.m.]

GOVERNMENT ACTION ON ISSUES

IN HEALTH CARE

SYSTEM

T. Halford: Day after day, we raise devastating stories of delays in the

health care system, only to be dismissed by this minister.

Last October the Leader of the Opposition raised the issue of

Fayra Krueger, a nurse from White Rock who was diagnosed with skin

cancer and faced one gruelling delay after delay. Because her surgery

was delayed in December, the procedure was done with outdated scan

results, and it missed a cancer node. It was discovered two weeks

later.

Now Fayra has been undergoing radiation therapy for the past three

weeks, but her body’s inability to keep food down has caused significant

weight loss. As a result, Fayra needs a feeding tube, and she was told

that she faced a four-week delay to get that feeding tube. She was also

told that if her weight continued to drop, they would need to stop her

radiation treatment. If she loses any more weight, this is threatening

her life.

It is unimaginable to think that this is happening in our province

today. This Health Minister has known about this case for months, and it

requires immediate action today.

Will this government, will this Premier, will this minister give

Fayra and her family a chance and ensure that no other family has to go

through something like this? It would likely save her life to get a

feeding tube, a routine procedure that she has now been told will take

four weeks to get.

Hon. A. Dix: Of course, anyone who is struggling with cancer needs care,

deserves care and gets care in B.C. In this case, and in others….

The

member will know, because I work on issues with him and all members of

the House all the time, how deeply everybody in the system cares,

including the doctors and nurses and health care workers responsible for

care in this case. Of course, I’ll look into the issues that the member

has raised today, and it reminds us of the continuing need to invest in

our public health care system, to have more doctors and nurses, more

oncologists and surgeons, more supports for people, and that’s what

we’re going to continue to do.

The member will know — he knows it personally — that when cases

are brought to my attention, I work with members all over the House, and

I will, of course, work in this case.

To the family and everyone involved in dealing with very difficult

health care issues for themselves, they have our compassion and they

have our support.

The member will know that all of the people involved in these

processes, all of the health care workers involved behave with that in

mind.

HEALTH CARE STAFFING AND

ROLE OF PHYSICIAN

ASSISTANTS

S. Bond: Thank you to the minister. To be clear, this situation was raised

with the minister months ago, and it is unbelievable that the minister

thinks that we can continue to bring case after case individually to his

attention. It is symptomatic of a health care system in crisis in

British Columbia, because, in fact, in this province, people are dying

on wait-lists.

It’s not just patients that are suffering, and the minister knows

that. There is burnout, and there are reports of toxic workplaces where

doctors and nurses face retaliation for speaking out. It is leading

health care professionals to abandon their jobs and resign across the

province. Staffing levels are at critical levels.

Yet the minister has today, on his desk, a proposal from the

Canadian Association of Physician Assistants to get some desperately

needed help for the people of Port Hardy and elsewhere. I raised that

issue with the minister months ago — in fact, almost a year ago. The

proposal is supported by the Doctors of B.C., the First Nations Health

Authority, the B.C. Rural Health Network and even the MLA for North

Island. All of them are begging the minister and this government to

agree to the proposal and recognize the role physician assistants can

play in the health care team.

[10:50 a.m.]

Physician assistants are permitted in other provinces, and once

again, they can’t work here in British Columbia. They could start to

work almost immediately.

Knowing that we should have all hands on deck in this province and

that the proposal is widely supported, even by government members, will

the Premier or Penny Ballem or someone over there take what is a

seemingly immediate step and direct the Health Minister to approve the

proposal that will provide desperately needed help?

Hon. A. Dix: Over the past number of years, our government has taken, I think,

unprecedented action to build up the health care team. When I became

Minister of Health, we were last in Canada, last in nurse practitioners.

We’ve more than doubled the number of nurse practitioners practising in

B.C. We’ve built out the health care teams in primary care with allied

health workers and mental health and addictions specialists and nurses

and nurse practitioners supporting doctors in community.

The member, I think, understands that the reason physician

assistants have not been approved in the past in B.C. is that the

previous government reviewed the issue and repeatedly rejected that.

They did. That is a fact — that we don’t train physicians’ assistants in

B.C., and therefore, it’s a constrained number.

This is an issue in terms of their licensing and so on that

involves the ministry. It also involves the College of Physicians and

Surgeons. They are looking at that issue right now, but people have to,

in this province, have their scope of practice regulated and put in

place. But when it comes to team-based care, an area where the province

was deficient in 2017, we’ve made unprecedented progress.

CONDITIONS FOR HEALTH WORKERS

AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF

HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATORS

T. Stone: Well, on the question of physician assistants practising in

British Columbia, the member for Prince George–Valemount raised this

with the minister about a year ago, and the minister said he would look

at it. I think what British Columbians are expecting and what medical

professionals are expecting is the minister is going to work on this

expeditiously. We need these physician assistants to be added to the

health care system to add the capacity that’s needed.

I’ll move to a different matter. Doctors should be practising

medicine in this province as opposed to being muzzled by the NDP. The

people of Port Hardy will soon be down to their last doctor in the

emergency room of their hospital, Dr. Alex Nataros. But instead of

giving Port Hardy’s last doctor the physician assistant that he has been

asking for, he has been suspended.

What did this doctor do recently? Well, he called for this NDP

government to be held accountable for the collapse of B.C.’s health care

system. This is the most high-profile muzzling of a health care

professional in the province, but let’s remember that hundreds of nurses

and doctors have also been silenced from speaking out about the quality

of care in the province and the collapse of B.C.’s health care

system.

My question to the Premier is this. Will he direct the Minister of

Health to stop his muzzling of health care workers, and as importantly,

will he ensure that the people of Port Hardy are not left without a

single doctor in the emergency room of their hospital?

Hon. A. Dix: Well, the Island Health Authority has a director of medicine who’s

an outstanding doctor, who people in all communities on Vancouver Island

will know, Dr. Ben Williams. Dr. Ben Williams, in that position, has a

legal obligation, when he becomes aware of patient cases that must be

investigated, to take that action in the name of patient safety, and

that’s what he does. That’s what occurred in this place.

I refer the hon. member to the detailed response that Dr. Williams

has put in place. What happened, in this case, has nothing to do —

nothing to do — with the public comments made by anybody about the

public health care system. It has nothing to do with it, and to suggest

that it does is just false.

[10:55 a.m.]

I’d go further. What has happened since 2017 is the implementation

of all of the recommendations of the review by the Ombudsperson of

health firings in B.C.

The change in the law, brought in by the then Attorney General,

now Premier, on the Public Interest Disclosure Act, and an assurance

that people can speak out in this province — that is something that we

passed in this House and that the opposition, I believe, supported,

notwithstanding their conduct in government in the health firings

matter.

We take it very seriously. Everyone has the right to speak out.

Everyone should have that right to speak out. Their speaking out makes

the public health care system better. But when senior doctors do their

job to protect patients…. The member doesn’t know what it’s about. He

doesn’t have the slightest clue. He makes allegations about Dr. Williams

and his actions. That is not something I agree with.

P. Milobar: Time and again, we hear in this place about the toxic work

environments within health authorities and within individual health

facilities, from doctors, from nurses and from all sorts of health

professionals working in those facilities. Time and again, this minister

brushes those concerns off. That type of an environment gets fostered

from the top down. We’ve heard how people that are raising issues get

threatened with muzzling and threatened with suspensions.

Let’s look at why those health care professionals feel that that

is happening. Let’s see what happens if you’re in the administrative

side of health care and how this government and this minister treat

you.

Dr. Albert de Villiers, the former chief medical officer for

Interior Health, has just been convicted of sexual assault and sexual

interference of a child. He’s still awaiting trial on a few more charges

for different incidents. It’s extremely disturbing to everyone to learn

that after he was charged in June 2021, he was allowed to return to work

on October 4, 2021, where he continued to collect a six-figure salary.

No suspension there.

Under this government, hard-working doctors and nurses that speak

out are facing swift justice and suspensions, but a vile criminal like

Dr. de Villiers was simply reassigned and allowed to continue to work

and receive pay.

To the Premier, why does the Ministry of Health continue to foster

a toxic health care workplace by muzzling and suspending front-line

doctors, nurses and health care professionals while protecting

employment of administration accused and then convicted of something as

egregious as sexual assault of children?

Hon. A. Dix: Dr. de Villiers has been convicted. He no longer works for

Interior Health, as appropriate.

The members asked questions about the case of another doctor and

have, I think, put into question the ethics of a senior doctor whose

responsibility it is to protect patients. That is always what our senior

doctors do in British Columbia. I think that to attempt to juxtapose

those issues is disgraceful.

We have taken steps, repeated steps…

Interjections.

Hon. A. Dix: They think that asking these questions of this seriousness

requires heckling. It does not. It requires….

Interjections.

Hon. A. Dix: Here they go again. Dr. de Villiers rightfully is gone, as he

should be. With respect to….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, the question has already been asked. Let’s hear the

answer, please.

Hon. A. Dix: As noted, people do have the right….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, relax, please. Be quiet.

The member will continue.

Hon. A. Dix: People, of course, do have the right, will always have the right,

to speak out in our democracy. That right has been assured by

legislative action in this chamber. They will continue to do so in our

province, as they should.

[11:00 a.m.]

In our public health care system…. Well, the member is just wrong

as to the facts. To make such serious allegations when you’re wrong

speaks of the opposition and not the government.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. A. Dix: People who are watching on TV should know that they’re just

heckling away, so I’m just waiting for them to stop.

We expect our public health officials to act with the highest

standards, and they do. We will continue to support people who need care

in British Columbia with unprecedented measures to do so, but we will

also support when people are doing their jobs, like Dr. Ben Williams. We

will support them in their efforts to protect public safety, and we’ll

continue to do so.

[End of question period.]

Orders of the Day

Hon. R. Kahlon: I call Motion 13 on the order paper.

Government Motions on Notice

MOTION 13 — AMENDMENT TO STANDING

ORDERS FOR THURSDAY

SITTING HOURS

Hon. R. Kahlon: I move Motion 13 on the order paper.

[That, for the remainder of the current Session:

1. Standing Order 2 (1) be amended to provide for the Thursday

afternoon sitting to be from 1 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. instead of 1.30 p.m. to

6 p.m.

2. Standing Order 3 be amended by striking the words “6:00

p.m. on Thursday” and replacing them with “5:30 p.m. on

Thursday”.]

It’s a motion that’s been shared with all members of this House,

and I don’t have any other comments on it.

Motion approved.

MOTION 12 — AMENDMENT TO STANDING

ORDERS FOR PRIVATE

MEMBERS’ TIME

Hon. R. Kahlon: I call Motion 12 on the order paper.

[That Standing Order 25 of the Standing Orders of the

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia be amended to provide

for the consideration of Private Members’ Motions prior to Public Bills

in the Hands of Private Members for the order of business for Monday

morning sittings, being Private Members’ Time, therefore

providing:

Monday

10 a.m. to 12 noon

(Private Members’

Time)

Private Members’ Statements (10 a.m.)

Private Members’ Motions

Public Bills in the Hands of Private Members

Private Bills

Public Bills and Orders and Government Motions on Notice

No division, on Orders of the Day, will be taken in the House or in

Committee of the Whole during Private Members’ Time, but where a

division is requested, it will be deferred until thirty minutes prior to

the ordinary time fixed for adjournment of the House on the Monday,

unless otherwise ordered.]

This is a simple change to the standing order for Monday mornings.

I think all members will know that it’s an understanding we’ve had here

for, I believe, 23 years of how the Monday mornings work. This just

aligns the standing orders to reflect how we’ve been operating for 23

years. I think it’s just a matter of updating the orders to reflect what

has already been happening.

I move Motion 12 on the order paper.

T. Stone: I do appreciate that the Government House Leader did provide us

with a copy of this in advance. We did meet and talk about it. It really

is just a matter of more formalizing in the standing orders — that the

alternating of motions from opposition to government will continue on

Monday mornings with respect to those motions.

I really quickly wanted to say in this venue, as I’ve said to the

Government House Leader privately, that the Official Opposition is quite

keen and willing to engage in a discussion with government on how we can

make the Monday morning time work better for all members in this

chamber.

I think there is an appetite, certainly on our part and, I

believe, likely with the Third Party, to particularly look at the

private members’ bills process, recognizing that jurisdictions across

the country — Alberta, the federal government — have already taken

significant steps to reform how private members’ bills, which can come

from members on both sides of the House, are actually given appropriate

attention, time and consideration, frankly, in this House.

Good ideas can come from all corners of the Legislature. I say

that as someone who is in the opposition and has been in government, so

I just wanted to register that particular comment again in this venue.

The Government House Leader has indicated that there is a willingness to

continue to have that discussion.

[11:05 a.m.]

I think if we work together on this, there’s an opportunity for us

to actually make this place work a little better when it comes to the

Monday mornings, work better for all of us in here and better for the

people that we all represent.

A. Olsen: I, too, want to make a very brief comment with respect to the

comments that have been made by the Opposition House Leader on private

members’ bills. This is, indeed, a project or a conversation that’s been

ongoing now for the last maybe more than a year, just in terms of

creating a pathway to ensure that all members that are not members of

cabinet have an opportunity to propose and have their bills and their

legislation debated and voted on, as would be the expectation of their

constituents.

I think that when our residents go to the polls, the outcome of

the election is unknown. But the tools that are available to all members

that get elected to this place in exactly the same way…. We all get

elected by earning a majority of the votes in our communities, and we

should therefore have all of those tools available to us.

Indeed, I just want to raise my hands in gratitude to the Premier.

When in the former role of Attorney General, the Premier offered the

private members, the members of the opposition and the members of the

Third Party access to legislative drafters. I think this was a really

important move because we’ve used those legislative drafters to craft

the private members’ bills that we put on the table and to craft the

amendments that we bring to legislation — that we bring and propose to

government bills that are debated.

That should give the Premier and the cabinet assurance that

whether they agree with the proposals we’re putting on the table or not,

at the very least, there is some legislative oversight over what it is

that we’re proposing. It’s not going to be a back-of-the-napkin proposal

that was come up with in the back hallway and just being put on the

table. It might be a good idea, but the way it’s drafted could cause

problems to the overall legality of the bill and the

proposal.

I, too, want to just reiterate that I look forward to there being

a pathway for us to be able to propose and debate legislation. There

have been a couple of instances over the past couple of years that

required negotiation. I recognize that still is an option — that we

could negotiate the debate of a private member’s bill.

Yesterday we stood up and put members into a select standing

committee that looks at standing orders. This would be one option for

us, at the very least, if there’s not a proposal that can be brought

forward sooner than that to put this to a committee and really take a

look at what’s going on across the country, to ensure that we are

continuing to improve the democracy and the democratic function of this

assembly.

HÍSW̱ḴE SIÁM . Thank

you for this opportunity.

J. Rustad: I want to thank the Government House Leader for bringing forward

this motion and initiating this change. I’ve been in this Legislature a

long time. I’ve had the honour of serving my constituents for a long

time. It may be short by some members’ standards, but it’s certainly

long by most members’ standards.

I have to admit that over the years, there has been virtually no

opportunity for bills to move forward. There was a little bit when there

was a minority government, but there hasn’t been an avenue. So I applaud

the government in terms of the discussion to try to find a path for

doing that.

I think the leader of the Green Party had some great comments in

part of her throne speech response with regards to what other

jurisdictions are doing compared to what we do in British Columbia.

Finding an avenue to do that, I think, is good. This is a first step, of

course, by this government in terms of creating that window for that

discussion.

I also want to commend the government for how to deal with the

Monday morning debates that happen. Those debates are important debates.

They rarely get covered by media. They’re often very political in nature

— obviously want to be dominated by the official opposition and for the

governing party, in terms of what goes on in those debates. But he has

opened up a window for all members in this Legislature to be able to

have a window and a say. I think that’s a very positive step, despite

what opposition there may be to that.

I applaud him for taking those steps, and I look forward to being

part of the discussions as to how we can improve democracy and how

democracy is debated in this Legislature.

Motion approved.

[11:10 a.m.]

Tabling Documents

Mr. Speaker: I also have the honour of tabling the Auditor General’s report on

mental health and substance use services for Indigenous people in B.C.

correctional centres.

Hon. R. Kahlon: I call debate on Bill 2, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Act.

[S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.]

Second Reading of Bills

BILL 2 — NATIONAL DAY FOR

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

ACT

Hon. H. Bains: I move that the bill be now read a second time.

I’m honoured to rise today to support Bill 2, this important step

in our commitment to lasting reconciliation with Indigenous people in

B.C.

This bill establishes a new statutory holiday in British Columbia

to be observed every September 30 as the National Day for Truth and

for Truth and Reconciliation as a federal statutory holiday in 2021.

This was a direct response to the call to action No. 80 from the Truth

and Reconciliation Commission to establish a new statutory holiday

honouring residential school survivors, their families and

communities.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission emphasized that public

commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools is a

vital component of the reconciliation process. As such, this statutory

holiday is intended to publicly honour the resilience, dignity and

strength of survivors, intergenerational survivors and remember the

children who never came home.

This day provides an annual opportunity to engage and educate

people about B.C.’s colonial history and how it has impacted Indigenous

communities. It will encourage deeper reflection on the relationship

between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in B.C.

The date of September 30 is meaningful because this is when Orange

Shirt Day is observed. The grassroots campaign is founded on the story

of residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad and her experiences at

St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School in Williams Lake.

The name of Orange Shirt Day comes from the orange shirt Phyllis

wore on her first day at the school. This shirt was given to her by her

grandmother. It was stripped away from her upon arrival at the school,

never to be seen again.

Orange Shirt Day has become a day to honour the healing journeys

of residential school survivors like Phyllis and their families, as well

as a time to encourage a dialogue about the history and legacy of the

residential school system.

The federal statutory holiday applies to workers in federally

regulated sectors such as banks, telecommunications and air transport,

which is about 10 percent of B.C.’s workforce. Here in B.C., our

provincial public sector employers recognized the National Day for Truth

and Reconciliation as a paid day off in 2021, and again in 2022, so that

B.C.’s public sector employees could take time to commemorate the day

and participate in community events. This also provided students in K to

12 and post-secondary education a similar opportunity to honour the

day.

[11:15 a.m.]

But because the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation has not

been a provincial statutory holiday, British Columbians working outside

the public sector may not have had the opportunity to observe and

commemorate the day.

terrible impacts of colonization, of residential schools, of

discrimination and neglect by governments of the day. Reconciliation is

not solely about Indigenous people regaining their lands, their culture,

their autonomy, their rights. Reconciliation is about each and every one

of us — all British Columbians, all Canadians — learning about the past,

recognizing the impacts and actively striving to embrace, support and

respect our Indigenous friends, families and partners.

A new statutory holiday will allow more British Columbians to get

involved in advancing reconciliation in our province. More British

Columbians will have the opportunity to participate in local

commemorations and/or educational events, or have important

conversations with families and friends, or find small but meaningful

ways to learn more about our shared history. By enshrining, in law,

September 30 as a provincial statutory holiday, it enables more British

Columbians to take time to reflect on the experiences of residential

school survivors and their families.

This also includes approaching this day with humility, respect and

understanding and taking the time to meaningfully observe and honour

reconciliation and recognize why it is important to all of us. In making

this decision, we wanted to be sure that it had the support of our

Indigenous partners and that they felt it was the appropriate way to

encourage respectful, meaningful dialogue.

Last spring the Minister of Indigenous Relations and

Reconciliation engaged with residential school survivors, Indigenous

partners and communities. We heard strong support for enshrining

September 30 into law, emphasizing that it should be a day to focus

public attention on reconciliation and provide opportunities for British

Columbians to participate in commemorative events, in a similar way as

we do on Remembrance Day. It must be a day that recognizes the

individual, intergenerational and multigenerational impacts of the

residential school system, and it must be a day that encourages a public

dialogue and deeper reflection on the relationship between Indigenous

and non-Indigenous people in British Columbia.

It was also important to us to hear from employers and workers to

fully understand how a new statutory holiday would impact them. We

conducted a survey on the topic and had over 7,300 responses. Not

surprisingly, 90 percent of employees support the new statutory holiday,

and overall, 75 percent of all respondents expressed support.

Understandably, some employers, especially small businesses, have

concerns about additional costs. However, we know that there are

economic and social costs to failing to answer the calls to action

issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and failing to take

action to support reconciliation.

Indeed, meaningfully pursuing reconciliation also means making a

genuine effort to implement the calls to action. We must ensure that

there are opportunities for non-Indigenous people in B.C. to listen, to

learn and to help bring action to reconciliation with Indigenous

people.

I truly am proud and humbled to be part of what I consider to be a

historic step for British Columbia as we formally recognize the profound

significance of meaningful reconciliation with B.C.’s Indigenous people.

We will be joining the federal government, Prince Edward Island, the

Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon, in passing legislation to

establish September 30 as a statutory holiday, and other provinces in

Canada may follow us.

[11:20 a.m.]

As British Columbians, as Canadians and as citizens of a global

community, we should all be committed to honouring Indigenous people who

have suffered under the colonialism of the past decades and centuries

and under the residential school experiences.

Today we have an opportunity to take another positive step in

reconciliation with the Indigenous people in British Columbia by

establishing this new statutory holiday. I’m confident, or at least I’m

hopeful, that this bill will receive unanimous consent in this House, as

there was in 2019, when we enacted the Declaration on the Rights of

Indigenous Peoples Act.

Thank you, and I look forward to an important conversation and

debate on this bill.

G. Kyllo: I’m pleased to stand in this House today to continue discussion on

Bill 2, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Act.

The goal of the bill before us is to make the National Day for

Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 a statutory holiday. Canada and

British Columbians’ relationship with Indigenous peoples is one that

stems from a very dark history and one that must be acknowledged in

order to make progress and build towards a better British Columbia. It’s

important that we all reflect on the history of residential schools,

witness and honour survivors and their families, honour their resilience

and strength and reaffirm our commitment to meaningful

reconciliation.

This proposed legislation is one small step in our collective

efforts towards truth and reconciliation. Call to action 80 of the Truth

and Reconciliation Commission of Canada is to establish the National Day

of Truth and Reconciliation as a statutory holiday. By moving this

legislation forward, B.C. joins Canada, New Brunswick, Prince Edward

Island, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and the Yukon to recognize

September 30 as a statutory holiday.

This comes after years now of the official opposition calling on

the government to provide certainty to families and businesses as to

whether they would recognize the National Day for Truth and

Reconciliation as a statutory holiday.

Now, September 30, as the minister had indicated, is largely in

reference to Orange Shirt Day and the importance of an Indigenous-led

grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the

individuals, family and community and the intergenerational impacts of

residential schools and to promote the concept of Every Child

Matters.

I had an opportunity to participate in a number of events in the

Shuswap riding which I represent back in the fall of 2021. One specific

event was Walking Our Spirits Home. It was a number of members of

Splatsin First Nation. They walked from the site of the residential

school in Kamloops, back to the Shuswap, and I did have the opportunity

to walk with them and hear some of their stories.

As a father and as, now, a grandfather, hearing some of the

stories that were shared about the hollowing-out of communities….

There’s been a lot of focus on the negative impacts of the children that

actually attended those schools, some of which never made it back home.

But what really resided with me was hearing from the fathers and mothers

on the impact of having their children taken away from them.

We know in many of our communities that the biggest joy we have is

seeing young children play, having that opportunity. What do we live

for? We live for the next generation. Parents get up and go to work —

not for themselves; they work for their children and for the next

generation.

To think of your children being taken away from the community and

the impact that had…. The parents getting up in the morning to not see

their children, to not have their children going off to school or coming

home or to play with them or even having that opportunity to spend that

family time.

[11:25 a.m.]

That created an immeasurable amount of sadness and anger, and, I

think in large part, led to some of the other challenges that we are

seeing, with increased use of alcohol and drugs to try and fill some of

those pains and to heal some of those wounds.

My lovely wife, Georgina, of now 34 years of marriage is of First

Nations ancestry, and our children and our grandchildren are Métis.

We’ve certainly heard within our family, from some of our extended

family in Alberta, some of the direct challenges. It affects all of us,

and the fact that this day is now being recognized is, I think,

incredibly important for all British Columbians and

Canadians.

So as we reflect on the meaning of truth and reconciliation and

the role that we all have to play in this vitally important process,

it’s important that government does the same. Truth and reconciliation.

“Truth” is a very powerful word, and it’s important that the truth is

front and foremost in conversations with our First Nations communities

and First Nations governments across British Columbia.

Unfortunately, I certainly have heard many stories of where

government continues to fail in upholding that obligation to have those

truthful conversations with First Nations and to be respectful. We have

certainly heard, with the introduction of numerous pieces of

legislation, the absence of direct consultation with First Nations when

it comes to consultation on pieces of incredibly important legislation

that have a direct impact on First Nations communities across British

Columbia.

We’re also reading a bill on honouring truth and reconciliation

where Indigenous contractors are being shut out of the opportunity to

work within their traditional territories, specifically with respect to

the Cowichan Hospital. We have heard in this chamber just yesterday some

of the concerns brought forward from Jon Coleman with Jon-co Contracting

how a significant capital project, a $1.45 billion capital project, is

being built within their traditional territory and how he has been shut

out of the opportunity to work within his homeland.

The provision that government has put upon Cowichan First

Nations…. One, there’s a gross disrespect with having meaningful

dialogue around how Cowichan First Nations Tribes could actually

participate in the construction.

Further to that, they have added a further burden for Jon-co

Contracting to work within his traditional homeland. There’s a

requirement put forward by this government that Jon Coleman is not able

to actually determine the rate of pay for his workers. First Nations are

not provided the opportunity to make their own determination with

respect to the rate of pay, to determine the productivity, the work

ethic, the tenure that his workers have. Should they work within the

traditional territory, government will dictate what the rate of pay

would be, as well as a requirement for them to join specific select

unions that, again, government has identified.

So when we talk about truth and reconciliation and the respect

that is due to our First Nations communities, our First Nations

neighbours and friends, it’s incredibly important that government show

true reconciliation by being respectful of those relationships and by

providing opportunities for First Nations to benefit from some of these

large, major capital projects that are being built around the province

and not to be impeded, not to be directed and told by this government

what rates they are allowed to pay their workers, not to be directed and

required and mandated to have to join a select union of the NDP’s

choosing.

[11:30 a.m.]

As we look to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and

making this day a statutory holiday, it’s incredibly important that this

government look internally and double down on their efforts to provide

true economic reconciliation.

The challenges with the Cowichan Hospital are not the only area

where we’ve seen challenges with this government’s lack of effort for

reconciliation. They’ve also refused to support Indigenous-led clean

hydro projects and ethical and world-leading resources like Cedar LNG

and Tilbury LNG, which are necessary for a transition to a greener

future. Of course, let’s not forget the Premier’s refusal to even meet

with First Nations, not even the most basic effort, in respect of having

a conversation with First Nations prior to nixing the Indigenous-led

2030 Olympic bid.

Actions always speak louder than words, and while Bill 2 proposes

a way of honouring and reflecting on the truth and reconciliation, this

government has largely failed its commitments to First Nations, Inuit

and Métis who call this land their home. This bill fails to address the

inequities faced by their communities, and we will continue to push for

more results and fewer press releases. We support the spirit of this

bill, but we’ll certainly be asking more thoughtful questions during

committee stage debate on the potential impacts on

businesses.

As the minister recognized, this will add a significant cost

burden onto the backs of already struggling small businesses that are

really having a tough time during these times. I did some rough math

calculations, and for an employer with 60 employees, the stat holiday

will cost about $20,000. If we look at not just the added cost burden of

a new stat holiday but at the cumulative impacts of items like five paid

sick days, that’s about $100,000 in burden or extra cost for that

company. The employer health tax — another approximate

$100,000.

In just a very short amount of time, the cumulative impacts of

some of the efforts of this government have put significant cost

pressures on B.C. businesses. We are certainly hearing, as I’m sure

government members are hearing as well, that businesses are near a

breaking point. That is not in any way to diminish the value and the

importance of this very important day, but it’s also important and

imperative for this government to have a look at what other cost relief

they may be able to provide to these businesses that are struggling in

these very uncertain times.

With that, I will take my seat. I certainly thank and appreciate

the minister for bringing forward this incredibly important

day.

A. Olsen: It’s an honour to be able to stand and speak to Bill 2, the

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Act,

an act that is making the

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation also a provincial day for

truth and reconciliation, following through on the Truth and

Reconciliation Commission’s report recommendation No. 80, to set aside a

day for British Columbians and for Canadians to reflect on the true

history of this country and of this province.

As many in this Legislative Assembly may remember, when the

findings in Kamloops came to light in Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc territory,

the Kamloops Indian Residential School, I shared a story about my

family’s history and relationship with these residential institutions —

that Indigenous children were taken from their families and forced to

spend, in some cases, many years suffering all manner of

abuse.

[11:35 a.m.]

As a descendant of residential school survivors and, indeed,

someone who is a survivor of intergenerational trauma that was suffered

by the terror that these institutions brought upon our families and our

relatives, not just here in British Columbia but right across the

country, I think that this is a very welcome and important act by this

government: to set aside a day for us to reflect on the impact that the

true history of these Crown institutions, this Crown institution that we

stand in today and the federal Crown, have brought upon the Indigenous

peoples of this country.

I want to say that truth and reconciliation is work for my

relatives. It’s not easy. Every time, indeed, that we have this

conversation, it brings back the feelings and the experiences right to

the surface. It’s work, it’s difficult, and it’s necessary, but I think

it’s important to recognize this September 30 — the day that we are

setting aside, initially known as Orange Shirt Day and then known as

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We heard the other day that

Phyllis Webstad, who was the first to wear an orange shirt to school,

say she will always remember it as just Orange Shirt Day, but it now has

another name.

Every time we come to that day or come to that time, it takes

effort to be able to have these conversations, to be able to share the

truths with the broader community. This is not a day like the May 24

weekend, this is not a day like July 1. It’s not a day of celebration.

It’s a day of reflection. It’s a solemn day. It’s a day much more like

November 11, Remembrance Day.

I’m reflecting on my relationship with Remembrance Day. I don’t

come from a family that had anybody in the military, like many people in

this chamber and across the country don’t know, maybe, or come from

families that had the residential school experience. But we set aside

that day to participate in community events, to engage with those who

have those experiences, to learn, to be better representatives, to be

better friends and family, to be better community members, community

leaders.

We work on that day. I think it’s important to recognize that. I

don’t view it, necessarily, as work, but we’re there. We are engaged. I

really encourage British Columbians and Canadians to not view this as a

holiday that we’ll fall into using, or that because it’s a statutory

holiday, we’ll fall into the language of calling it a holiday. This is a

day which, I think, requires some engagement and some effort, to maybe

set aside…. It’s an opportunity to set aside the work that we would

normally be doing — constituency work, in this case. The Legislature

rarely sits on September 30. We set that aside so that then we can be

fully engaged in truth and reconciliation.

I think that’s an invitation, that if we’re going to ask survivors

and their descendants to be talking about these horrific incidents that

have been brought by these decisions and policies that were outlined in

the Indian Act and in the history of this country, then we set aside the

time and the effort to listen, to learn, to improve and to

grow.

[11:40 a.m.]

I want to acknowledge something that my mom reminds me of, often:

the experience that we’ve had in this province has grown over the last

170-plus years. The efforts to reconcile and the efforts to move forward

take time.

I’ve been reading, as I mentioned yesterday, Jody

Wil­son-​Raybould’s new book, True Reconciliation .

It’s important that it…. The opening of…. I think it’s to be repeated

again. A decade ago we could say that we’ve made good progress, and now,

ten years on, we should acknowledge that we’ve made even greater

progress.

Is it perfect? No, absolutely not. This government, and every

government, is going to hear me often talk about where I find the

imperfections and the gaps in what we do. However, it is important and

critical to acknowledge the distance we have travelled together. It will

encourage us to continue to walk the journey of reconciliation together.

It’s important to acknowledge, just as Jody does in her book, that the

pace at which we are moving is increasing exponentially, and I think

this is an acknowledgment of that.

I’d like to invite the government to really consider the budget

that we have this spring. I’d put a private member’s bill on the table

and spend some of that money, but I know that I’m not allowed to do

that. So I’m going to encourage my colleagues across the way to really

consider that surplus that we have and maybe set aside some of it in a

fund, in perpetuity, so that communities can draw small

grants.

This was an idea that was proposed in the press conference. It was

a question that was asked. It should be considered that we set aside

some of that surplus this year. We don’t know what we’re going to have

in future years. We know that we’ve got this surplus to be spent. There

are all sorts of good programs that this government is going to want to

invest in. I think this is one of them.

A companion to this would be to say: how is it that we ensure that

this is a day of reflection and not like a holiday? Well, by encouraging

and setting the tone early on, here in this speech, and then the way we

move forward.

Set aside some of that money in a fund so that, then,

municipalities and community groups can draw just small grants to host

events, to be able to pay, in a good way, the handshakes that our Elders

and those who are survivors would expect, in a cultural way, to come and

share their stories, to be able to afford the blankets and the food that

often have to happen when we get together and have these events. We

blanket people and protect them, and then we share a meal after. We are

brothers and sisters and friends and neighbours, aunties and uncles and

cousins.

The way that we can ensure that this doesn’t just become another

day off, another day that we waste doing other things that are not work,

is if we really enshrine and establish a way for communities to not

excuse themselves from doing the hard work of truth and

reconciliation.

I really invite the government, at this time, to consider the

opportunity that it has in front of it, in the short term, to make an

investment, in the long term, in truth and reconciliation. This is not a

fleeting moment. This is, indeed, going to be a journey that we walk for

a very long time.

I really raise my hands to the government. I raise my hands to all

of the Indigenous leaders who have continued to advocate for this, for

the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for laying this idea out in

front of governments to take up.

Most importantly, I raise my hands to people like Eddy Charlie,

who was with us just a couple of days ago, who is prepared and willing

to consistently stand and share the horrors that he and his schoolmates

experienced in those terrible institutions. And he’s just one. There are

hundreds. There are thousands that have survived that experience. Many

are no longer with us, but there are still many that are with

us.

[11:45 a.m.]

I think this is an opportunity now to be able to honour those

stories in a good way, to learn from those experiences and to ensure

that we’re building a society that never has that happen again. We

create, for us, a path where we see a lot more of that exponential

growth towards a reconciled and a more truthful society that we live in,

where Indigenous and non-Indigenous people are working and living and

playing together in a good way.

Our ancestors, when they first welcomed those boats ashore, saw

the opportunity that was associated with that. Initially, those

relationships were good relationships, before it turned sour. I think

that we need to learn that about our history as well.

With that, I raise my hands to the government for tabling this

bill. I look forward to the other stages of debate. I think anybody

that’s heard this speech will sense that I’m quite supportive of this

initiative. I certainly hope that the government takes up the idea of

putting in place an investment that can be benefiting communities over

the long term, to ensure that we can really enshrine this day as a day

of reflection, as a sombre day to really do the important work of truth

and reconciliation.

HÍSW̱ḴE SIÁM .

Hon. M. Rankin: It’s truly a privilege to rise in this place and speak in support

of Bill 2, to establish a National Day for Truth and

Reconciliation.

It’s very difficult to follow such an eloquent presentation by my

friend from Saanich North and the Islands. He made so many points that

I’d like to, in fact, reflect on. Before doing so, I think it’s

important that we set the stage as to why this bill is before this

Legislature.

It is, as the member said, a response to the national Truth and

Reconciliation Commission, the TRC, headed by Judge Sinclair. Call to

action No. 80 suggested that the federal government create a day so we

could recall the history of residential schools and also try to put

Canadians on a better path to reconciliation in the future.

It was honoured when our government decided to follow the lead of

other provinces — so far, only Prince Edward Island — and all of the

northern territories in ensuring that this isn’t left simply to the

federally regulated sector, which, as the Minister of Labour said

previously, is a small part of our workforce. It is, for British

Columbians, a day where we solemnly reflect on the history of

residential schools and the history of colonialism in our province, as

well, so that all workers have that opportunity.

The member for Saanich North and the Islands said it well. This

should not be and is not intended to be a day of celebration, another

day for a vacation, but, rather, a day for sombre reflection exactly

like Remembrance Day. If we can achieve that, then we will have achieved

the goal — the principle that, I’m sure, Senator Sinclair intended in

the TRC report.

I spoke with Minister Rodriguez, the Canadian heritage minister,

on some of the ideas that the member for Saanich North and the Islands

had. His notion was a fund for communities, Indigenous and otherwise,

non-profits and otherwise, to have to ensure that we put September 30,

the very first time as a provincial statutory holiday, which is what it

would be under the amended legislation, on the right path, as we’ve done

so successfully, I’d say, in this province, for Remembrance

Day.

One of the ideas that we came up with and will be trying to

promote, if this bill is passed by this Legislature, is to use the

Commemorate Canada grants, which are available to non-profits, to

Indigenous communities and to municipalities, to ensure that it is known

to Canadians and British Columbians that that’s available. I’m not

suggesting for a moment we won’t do our part, but I want to use what’s

already in place so we have an ability to put us on the right path — the

path, as the member said, for reflection, not celebration. It’s a time

to reflect on the history of residential schools.

[11:50 a.m.]

The member referenced a person I’m honoured to call a friend, Eddy

Charlie. I want to say that this is personal to me, not just because

I’ve gotten to know Eddy Charlie over the last six years but also

because of the work we did together when I happened to be representing

Victoria in the House of Commons and he came to me and said: “Why don’t

we have a national day, an orange shirt day?” I was so moved by his

story, which every Canadian would be if they had a chance to hear him

tell it so eloquently, as he’s done on so many occasions, including in

the Hall of Honour last year here.

I was moved to introduce a private member’s bill back in 2017, An

Act to Establish Orange Shirt Day: A Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

That was the title of Bill C-386 we introduced that day. I say “we”

because Eddy Charlie’s work was instrumental in that regard.

I’m happy that it ended up…. I’m not suggesting solely because of

that. The events at the Kamloops residential school clearly had an

impact on the conscience of all Canadians and led to all-party support

subsequently for making September 30 a federal statutory day, a holiday,

a day of commemoration. That genesis, I believe, was the spark that Eddy

Charlie provided way back in 2017, and we now have a national day. To

have Eddy speak as he did so passionately two days ago after the bill

was introduced here in the Legislature, in the precinct, was so moving

for all of us.

Why Orange Shirt Day? Others have said it. Phyllis Webstad, now 50

years ago — it’s hard to believe; 50 years ago we still had residential

schools — had this beautiful orange shirt that her grandmother had given

her, and it was snatched off her back when she was thrown in the back of

the bus and taken to the residential school near Williams

Lake.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Who would have thought, as she said here a couple days ago, that

that would have led to this national movement that we call Orange Shirt

Day? Or as she says, equally, she calls it National Truth and

Reconciliation Day and Orange Shirt Day. Who would have thought that she

would have had such an impact with her poignant story?

It’s a story Canadians need to know. I am one of those Canadians

who did not know, when I went to high school or university, the abuses

of residential schools. I didn’t learn it in school.

I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, as a result of the action plan under

the Declaration Act, which this government is committed to implementing,

no British Columbia student will be able to graduate from our

institutions without knowing that history, because we need the truth

before we can move forward toward reconciliation, and that truth will be

something that every British Columbian will have in the future. That is

something, one of the many actions under the action plan, which we hope

to use as a catalyst to the reconciliation that we all know is so

necessary in our province so we can work together in a better

way.

The member for Shuswap gave an example of some of the conflicts

that occur as we try to achieve reconciliation but often find ourselves

with other provincial priorities, other policy interests that are to be

advanced. I’m happy that the issue that he alluded to in the Cowichan

Hospital, through lots of dialogue and conversation with the Cowichan

Tribes, with the KDC Development Corp., the Khowutzun Development Corp.

has achieved a positive result which will lead to members of the KDC

workforce being eligible to work on the site of the Cowichan Hospital

for contracts they secure from the lead contractor.

The community benefits agreement, of course, is all about trying

to ensure local hire and trying to ensure that non-traditional workers,

women and, yes, Indigenous people, a quarter of whom are working on that

project through the CBA, the community benefits agreement, occur. But my

point in raising it and responding to the member for Shuswap is just to

point out that reconciliation is often very difficult work. The member

for Saanich North and the Islands talked about it as difficult but

necessary work.

[11:55 a.m.]

Sometimes that work will put us in conflict with other interests,

other economic interests, other community interests. That’s what

governing is about, and that is what a government-to-government

relationship with First Nations is about. That is what, ultimately,

reconciliation will be about. That isn’t easy work, and sometimes it’s

work that leads to conflict, but we’re getting to a better

place.

I’m optimistic about the future. I never give a speech anywhere

where I don’t point out that the Declaration Act passed in this place

was the product of a unanimous vote in this place. Everyone needs to

know that this is not a partisan issue, will never be a partisan issue

in our province. It was the result of a unanimous vote in this

House.

I think anyone who observed that day will know just what a

powerful day it was for Indigenous people, who spoke on the floor of

this Legislature and made sure their voices were heard.

Mr. Speaker, you said today that there was a time in our province

when people of colour and, certainly, Indigenous people were not

welcome. Well, I hope that has changed forever.

With that said, I would like to speak in support of this bill and

commend it to the support of every single member of this

place.

Noting the hour, I would move that we adjourn debate.

Hon. M. Rankin moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. R. Kahlon moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

Mr. Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 1 p.m.

The House adjourned at 11:56 a.m.

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