British Columbia Hansard — 9 April 2018, a.m., Issue 107 (41st Parliament, 3rd Session)

20180409am-Hansard-n107

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

Third Session, 41st Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES (HANSARD) Monday, April 9, 2018 Morning Sitting Issue No. 107 THE HONOURABLE DARRYL PLECAS, SPEAKER ISSN 1499-2175

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Her Honour the Honourable Judith Guichon, OBC Third Session, 41st Parliament SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Darryl Plecas EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council............................................................................................................... Hon. John Horgan Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance............................................................................................................................Hon.

Carole James Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training..................................................................................................... Hon. Melanie Mark Minister of Agriculture.........................................................................................................................................................Hon. Lana Popham Attorney General.................................................................................................................................................................Hon.

David Eby, QC Minister of Children and Family Development............................................................................................................ Hon. Katrine Conroy Minister of State for Child Care......................................................................................................................................Hon. Katrina Chen Minister of Citizens’ Services.................................................................................................................................................... Hon.

Jinny Sims Minister of Education............................................................................................................................................................ Hon. Rob Fleming Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources...............................................................................................Hon. Michelle Mungall Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.............................................................................................Hon.

George Heyman Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development..............................................Hon. Doug Donaldson Minister of Health.....................................................................................................................................................................Hon. Adrian Dix Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation ......................................................................................................... Hon.

Scott Fraser Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology............................................................................................................................ Hon. Bruce Ralston Minister of State for Trade...............................................................................................................................................Hon. George Chow Minister of Labour...................................................................................................................................................................Hon.

Harry Bains Minister of Mental Health and Addictions............................................................................................................................ Hon. Judy Darcy Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.................................................................................................................. Hon. Selina Robinson Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General........................................................................................................... Hon.

Mike Farnworth Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction..............................................................................................Hon. Shane Simpson Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture.....................................................................................................................................Hon. Lisa Beare Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure................................................................................................................ Hon.

Claire Trevena LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Leader of the Official Opposition................................................................................................................................Andrew Wilkinson, QC Leader of the Third Party ....................................................................................................................................................Dr. Andrew Weaver Deputy Speaker................................................................................................................................................................................

Raj Chouhan Assistant Deputy Speaker................................................................................................................................................................... Linda Reid Deputy Chair, Commi ttee of the Whole................................................................................................................

Spencer Chandra Herbert Clerk of the Legislative Assembly ....................................................................................................................................................Craig James Deputy Clerk and Clerk of Commi ttees.................................................................................................................................

Kate Ryan-Lloyd Clerk Assistant — Commi ttees and Interparliamentary Relations ..........................................................................................Susan Sourial Sessional Law Clerk...............................................................................................................................................Loredana Catalli-Sonier, QC Sergeant-at-Arms ................................................................................................................................................................................. Gary Lenz

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS Ashton, Dan (BC Liberal)........................................................................ Penticton Bains, Hon. Harry (NDP)...............................................................Surrey-Newton Barnett, Donna (BC Liberal)................................................... Cariboo-Chilcotin Beare, Hon. Lisa (NDP).............................................Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Begg, Garry (NDP) ..................................................................... Surrey-Guildford Bernier, Mike (BC Liberal).......................................................

Peace River South Bond, Shirley (BC Liberal)......................................... Prince George–Valemount Brar, Jagrup (NDP)..................................................................... Surrey-Fleetwood Cadieux, Stephanie (BC Liberal)....................................................... Surrey South Chandra Herbert, Spencer (NDP) ..................................... Vancouver–West End Chen, Hon. Katrina (NDP).....................................................Burnaby-Lougheed Chouhan, Raj (NDP) ............................................................... Burnaby-Edmonds Chow, Hon.

George (NDP)............................................... Vancouver-Fraserview Clovechok, Doug (BC Liberal)................................ Columbia River–Revelstoke Coleman, Rich (BC Liberal)...............................................................Langley East Conroy, Hon. Katrine (NDP)......................................................... Kootenay West Darcy, Hon.

Judy (NDP) ............................................................New Westminster Davies, Dan (BC Liberal)..........................................................Peace River North de Jong, Michael, QC (BC Liberal)............................................ Abbotsford West Dean, Mitzi (NDP)...............................................................Esquimalt-Metchosin D’Eith, Bob (NDP) ...............................................................Maple Ridge–Mission Dix, Hon. Adrian (NDP)......................................................Vancouver-Kingsway Donaldson, Hon.

Doug (NDP).....................................................................Stikine Eby, Hon. David, QC (NDP).............................................Vancouver–Point Grey Elmore, Mable (NDP)....................................................... Vancouver-Kensington Farnworth, Hon. Mike (NDP) ...................................................... Port Coquitlam Fleming, Hon. Rob (NDP) .....................................................Victoria–Swan Lake Foster, Eric (BC Liberal)........................................................... Vernon-Monashee Fraser, Hon.

Scott (NDP) ................................................ Mid Island–Pacific Rim Furstenau, Sonia (BC Green Party) ........................................... Cowichan Valley Gibson, Simon (BC Liberal)................................................. Abbotsford-Mission Glumac, Rick (NDP)........................................................Port Moody–Coquitlam Heyman, Hon. George (NDP).............................................. Vancouver-Fairview Horgan, Hon. John (NDP) ...............................................

Langford–Juan de Fuca Hunt, Marvin (BC Liberal).......................................................Surrey-Cloverdale Isaacs, Joan (BC Liberal).........................................Coquitlam–Burke Mountain James, Hon. Carole (NDP)...................................................Victoria–Beacon Hill Johal, Jas (BC Liberal)...............................................

Richmond-Queensborough Kahlon, Ravi (NDP)..............................................................................Delta North Kang, Anne (NDP)..................................................................Burnaby–Deer Lake Krog, Leonard Eugene (NDP) ..................................................................Nanaimo Kyllo, Greg (BC Liberal)............................................................................ Shuswap Larson, Linda (BC Liberal).............................................Boundary-Similkameen Lee, Michael (BC Liberal)......................................................

Vancouver-Langara Leonard, Ronna-Rae (NDP) ....................................................Courtenay-Comox Letnick, Norm (B C Liberal)............................................Kelowna–Lake Country Ma, Bowinn (NDP)................................................... North Vancouver–Lonsdale Mark, Hon. Melanie (NDP) ..................................... Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Martin, John (BC Liberal)...................................................................... Chilliwack Milobar, Peter (BC Liberal)....................................

Kam loops–North Thompson Morris, Mike (BC Liberal)..........................................Prince George–Mackenzie Mungall, Hon. Michelle (NDP).................................................... Nelson-Creston Oakes, Coralee (BC Liberal)...........................................................Cariboo North Olsen, Adam (B C Green Party)........................... Saanich North and the Islands Paton, Ian (BC Liberal)......................................................................... Delta South Plecas, Hon.

Darryl (Ind.) ..........................................................Abbotsford South Polak, Mary (BC Liberal)............................................................................ Langley Popham, Hon. Lana (NDP)..............................................................Saanich South Ralston, Hon. Bruce (NDP) .......................................................... Surrey-Whalley Redies, Tracy (BC Liberal)..................................................... Surrey–White Rock Reid, Linda (BC Liberal)................................................

Richmond South Centre Rice, Jennifer (NDP) ............................................................................ North Coast Robinson, Hon. Selina (NDP) ....................................... Coquitlam-Maillardville Ross, Ellis (BC Liberal)..................................................................................Skeena Routledge, Janet (NDP) .................................................................. Burnaby North Routley, Doug (NDP) ................................................Nanaimo–North Cowichan Rustad, John (BC Liberal)..............................................................

Nechako Lakes Shypitka, Tom (B C Liberal).............................................................Kootenay East Simons, Nicholas (NDP) ........................................Powell River–Sunshine Coast Simpson, Hon. Shane (NDP)................................................ Vancouver-Hastings Sims, Hon.

Jinny (NDP) .............................................................Surrey-Panorama Singh, Rachna (NDP) ........................................................Surrey–Green Timbers Stewart, Ben (BC Liberal)................................................................Kelowna West Stilwell, Michelle (BC Liberal)..............................................Parksville-Qualicum Stone, Todd (BC Liberal)........................................

Kam loops–South Thompson Sturdy, Jordan (BC Liberal).......................................West Vancouver–Sea to Sky Sullivan, Sam (B C Liberal)...............................................Vancouver–False Creek Sultan, Ralph (BC Liberal)......................................... West Vancouver–Capilano Tegart, Jackie (BC Liberal)................................................................ Fraser-Nicola Thomson, Steve (BC Liberal).....................................................Kelowna-Mission Thornthwaite, Jane (BC Liberal).............................

North Vancouver–Seymour Throness, Laurie (BC Liberal)..................................................... Chilliwack-Kent Trevena, Hon. Claire (NDP) .............................................................. North Island Wat, Teresa (BC Liberal)................................................Richmond North Centre Weaver, Dr. Andrew (BC Green Party) ......................... Oak Bay–Gordon Head Wilkinson, Andrew, QC (BC Liberal).............................. Vancouver-Quilchena Yap, John (BC Liberal)..........................................................

Richmond-Steveston LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING Abbotsford-Mission ..........................................................................Simon Gibson Abbotsford South ..................................................................... Hon. Darryl Plecas Abbotsford West.................................................................... Michael de Jong, QC Boundary-Similkameen.....................................................................

Linda Larson Burnaby–Deer Lake ...............................................................................Anne Kang Burnaby-Edmonds ..............................................................................Raj Chouhan Burnaby-Lougheed................................................................... Hon. Katrina Chen Burnaby North................................................................................

Janet Routledge Cariboo-Chilcotin............................................................................Donna Barnett Cariboo North .................................................................................. Coralee Oakes Chilliwack.............................................................................................. John Martin Chilliwack-Kent..............................................................................Laurie Throness Columbia River–Revelstoke........................................................

Doug Clovechok Coquitlam–Burke Mountain................................................................. Joan Isaacs Coquitlam-Maillardville..................................................... Hon. Selina Robinson Courtenay-Comox ................................................................. Ronna-Rae Leonard Cowichan Valley............................................................................

Sonia Furstenau Delta North ...........................................................................................Ravi Kahlon Delta South.................................................................................................Ian Paton Esquimalt-Metchosin.............................................................................Mitzi Dean Fraser-Nicola........................................................................................

Jackie Tegart Kam loops–North Thompson............................................................Peter Milobar Kam loops–South Thompson ................................................................Todd Stone Kelowna–Lake Country....................................................................Norm L etnick Kelowna-Mission.............................................................................

Steve Thomson Kelowna West.........................................................................................Ben Stewart Kootenay East.....................................................................................Tom Shypitka Kootenay West...................................................................... Hon. Katrine Conroy Langford–Juan de Fuca............................................................. Hon. John Horgan Langley....................................................................................................

Mary Polak Langley East.......................................................................................Rich Coleman Maple Ridge–Mission ............................................................................ Bob D’Eith Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows ..........................................................Hon. Lisa Beare Mid Island–Pacific Rim .............................................................. Hon. Scott Fraser Nanaimo...............................................................................

Leonard Eugene Krog Nanaimo–North Cowichan.............................................................. Doug Routley Nechako Lakes...................................................................................... John Rustad Nelson-Creston.................................................................. Hon. Michelle Mungall New Westminster......................................................................... Hon. Judy Darcy North Coast..........................................................................................

Jennifer Rice North Island............................................................................ Hon. Claire Trevena North Vancouver–Lonsdale................................................................. Bowinn Ma North Vancouver–Seymour......................................................Jane Thornthwaite Oak Bay–Gordon Head..........................................................Dr. Andrew Weaver Parksville-Qualicum .....................................................................Michelle Stilwell Peace River North..................................................................................

Dan Davies Peace River South............................................................................... Mike Bernier Penticton................................................................................................ Dan Ashton Port Coquitlam .................................................................... Hon. Mike Farnworth Port Moody–Coquitlam .....................................................................Rick Glumac Powell River–Sunshine Coast.....................................................

Nicholas Simons Prince George–Mackenzie..................................................................Mike Morris Prince George–Valemount.................................................................Shirley Bond Richmond North Centre ........................................................................Teresa Wat Richmond-Queensborough.......................................................................Jas Johal Richmond South Centre........................................................................

Linda Reid Richmond-Steveston.................................................................................. John Yap Saanich North and the Islands............................................................Adam Olsen Saanich South............................................................................Hon. Lana Popham Shuswap .................................................................................................... Greg Kyllo Skeena.........................................................................................................

Ellis Ross Stikine ..................................................................................Hon. Doug Donaldson Surrey-Cloverdale...............................................................................

Marvin Hunt Surrey-Fleetwood...................................................................................Jagrup Brar Surrey–Green Timbers ......................................................................Rachna Singh Surrey-Guildford....................................................................................Garry Begg Surrey-Newton.............................................................................Hon. Harry Bains Surrey-Panorama........................................................................... Hon.

Jinny Sims Surrey South...............................................................................Stephanie Cadieux Surrey-Whalley........................................................................ Hon. Bruce Ralston Surrey–White Rock............................................................................. Tracy Redies Vancouver-Fairview ............................................................ Hon. George Heyman Vancouver–False Creek.......................................................................

Sam Sullivan Vancouver-Fraserview .............................................................Hon. George Chow Vancouver-Hastings.............................................................. Hon. Shane Simpson Vancouver-Kensington ..................................................................... Mable Elmore Vancouver-Kingsway ................................................................... Hon. Adrian Dix Vancouver-Langara.............................................................................. Michael Lee Vancouver–Mount Pleasant................................................... Hon.

Melanie Mark Vancouver–Point Grey...........................................................Hon. David Eby, QC Vancouver-Quilchena......................................................Andrew Wilkinson, QC Vancouver–West End....................................................Spencer Chandra Herbert Vernon-Monashee...................................................................................Eric Foster Victoria–Beacon Hill................................................................ Hon. Carole James Victoria–Swan Lake .................................................................. Hon.

Rob Fleming West Vancouver–Capilano................................................................. Ralph Sultan West Vancouver–Sea to Sky ..............................................................Jordan Sturdy Party Standings: BC Liberal 42; NDP 41; BC Green Party 3; Independent 1

CONTENTS Monday, April 9, 2018 Morning Sitting Page Orders of the Day Private Members’ Statements................................................................................................................................................. 3589 Support staff in school districts R. Singh M. Bernier A sustainable future for salmon E. Ross J. Rice Playground funding J. Brar T. Stone Access to libraries S. Cadieux A.

Kang Private Members’ Motions ..................................................................................................................................................... 3597 Motion 16 — Labour rights and protections D. Routley D. Barnett M. Elmore G. Kyllo B. D’Eith B. Stewart R. Leonard R. Sultan R. Kahlon J. Martin J. Routledge

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2018 The House met at 10:02 a.m. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Prayers. Orders of the Day Private Members’ Statements SUPPORT STAFF IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS R. Singh: Supportstaff in schooldistrictsplay a vitalrole — notjustin a child’s education butin maintaining a fine- tuned operation. There are approximately 28,000 CUPE support staff in B.C. schools. The support staff fill a variety of positions, including education assistants,bus drivers, crossing guards, student supervisors, Indigenous support workers, custodi- ans, maintenance workers and those completing clerical functions.

The moment the child enters the school grounds, the grounds are maintained by the maintenanceworkers so they have safe places to play. [R. Chouhan in the chair.] Maintenanceworkers keep the grounds well-lit;the school well-lit; the emergency systems maintained; school doors, windows, flooring, walls, bathrooms, classrooms and the structural integrity of all the schools maintained and the appearance of the buildings as well. The clericalare the frontline of any school. They fieldall the calls from the parents and make sure all the students are registered and accounted for.

The majority of the time, they’re also the first aid attendants. They receive all the injured studentsand give them the required help. They also align between the staff and the admin team. [10:05 a.m.] The information technologists keep the computers run- ning in schools, and they field calls at the helpdesk. The supportstaff workers in the inner-city schools help in preparing hot breakfastsand lunches for the studentswho wouldotherwise go withoutany food. Custodians keep our schools clean. The bus drivers ensure children make it to school safely. Payroll clerks make sure that all workers are paid.

Youth care workers watch out for at-risk youth and keep them goingon the righttrack. Aboriginalworkers work with the Indigenous children. We allknow the greatwork thatoureducation assistants do with the studentswith special and varied needs.

We all know that children have the right to access education, and some are only able to do so with the help, patience and understanding of the well-trained, experienced and talented education assistants.Many children who wouldn’thave pre- viously been ableto access education find thatthey can with the help of specialized supportfrom an expert.With assist- ants trained in supporting physical disability, speech and language issues, behavioraldifficulties and a range of other conditions, children ata disadvantage have a serious chance at success.

Unfortunately, with allthe greatwork thatthese support staff do, their work is often the first to get cut when the budgetsgetssqueezed. For instance, underfunding forced the Coquitlam school district to lay off 51 support staff in 2013 and New Westminster school district to lay off 37 in the same year. Also, the janitors and the tradesand main- tenance workers find thatthey don’thave enough time and manpowerto keep schools clean and safe. A survey done by CUPE officemembers found thatoverhalfof the custodial staff don’tbelieve thatthey are ableto maintain a clean and safe school.

In 2014, CUPE detailed the impact of the relentless budgetary pressures on clerical workers. A relentless push to directmaximum resourcesto the classroom has brought an ongoing effortto putmore pressure on the schoolsystem administration. This has also increased clericalstaff’s work- loadand stress levels and increased incidentsof abusive and aggressive encounters with parents, comm unity members and students. Many of us often are notaware of the violencethateduca- tion assistantsalso faceatthe hands of the studentsthatthey are taking care of — and all the important work that they do.

We allknow thatthey are avitalpartof ourschoolcom- munity, and these employeesdeserve to be acknowledged for their hard work and dedication to help students succeed. M. Bernier: Thank you to the memberopposite forbring- ing up this important issue. Of course, I’m honoured to stand here today on behalfof the memberfrom PeaceRiver North, who is an educator for mostof his working life and was quite excited to speak to this. One of the things thatI think is really importantto high- lightthatthe memberbroughtforward is the roleof support staff in ourschoolsystems.

We have almost2,900, I believe, supportstaff in oureducation system in the provinceof Brit- ish Columbia,rangingfrom IT supportand janitorialto spe- cialeducation assistants.They allserve an importantroleto ensure thatwe have greateducationaloutcomes forourstu- dents here in British Columbia. I look at that important role of what they do, and in my time, while I was the Minister of Education, I want to thank them.

I travelled around the province to almost every school district, and I saw, on the front lines, that greatwork thatwas taking place, the hard work every day to ensure thatourstudentswith specialneeds were getting the focus, the attention. The important work was taking placein the classroom to m ake sure thatthey were getting 3589

the best education possible. In our time in government, between 2001 and 2017, we actually increased funding by 91 percent to help students with specialneeds. We increased thatto almost$1 billion a year, because we recognized the importance. We recognized that that funding needed to take place. [10:10 a.m.] When you look ata student,forinstance, and how things have changed with the autism spectrum…. We never used to know what that was. We never used to fund it.

It was because of the greatwork in the classrooms by oureducat- ors, by ourspecialneeds instructors, who actually came for- ward and said, “We need to do more,” which is why now in the provinceof British Columbia if you’re designated on the autism spectrum, the schooldistrictreceives almost$19,000 extra for every single student to have that support. I know lotsof familiesthatI’ve metwith said: “You know, we can do more.” Absolutely. When you look atwhattakes placein the classrooms — the challenges for our students with specialneeds — we wantto make sure thatthatsupport is there.

That’s why I’m watching closely whatthe new gov- ernment is going to be doing around funding, because I think thatif we’re going to be talking aboutit,then there has to be action like the last government did. When you look atwhatwe did also, we putin whatwas called the learning improvementfund. We putin $100 mil- lion a year to help school districts around the province ensure that they were hiring the proper instructors in the classroom to have the supports for students with special needs. What did we see with that? Our completion rates skyrocketed.

That support was there for our students, and ourcompletion rates almostdoubled for studentswith spe- cialneeds. Of course, we can say there is stillmore to do in that, but the recognition is the first placethat you need to start and make sure that the supportsfor our support staff are there. I want to thank the support staff around the province. They have an integralrolein oureducation system in sup- porting the students,in supporting the teachers and in mak- ing sure that the studentsin our province, who are recog- nized globally for having some of the besteducationalout- comes, continue to do so.

I look forward to the new governmentactually following in the path of whatwe were doing, and having thatfinancial supportand making sure thatstudentscontinue to receive a good education in B.C. R. Singh: I would really like to thank my colleague, because we share the same sentimentsin supporting of our supportstaff. We allknow how vitalthey are to ourschool comm unity and, especially, for our kids — the important work that they do every day, the hours that they put in so that our kids who require the assistance can succeed.

I’m really glad to be part of the government that is also commi tted to supporting these employees who work with the studentswith varied needs and, as well, the studentswho are vulnerable. The ministerand the Ministry of Education are very aware thatallstudentsneed inclusive education, and these supportstaff help us meetourgoals of providingequit- ableaccess to learning opportunities. We allknow thatstu- dentsdeserve a quality education, and along with the teach- ers, the support staff play a vital rolein helping us achieve that goal.

Also, the Ministerof Education is very aware of the role thatthese supportstaff are playing, and he wantsto look into how they can improve conditions forthe children with spe- cialneeds with areview. Thatis something thathas notbeen done in decades,and I’m really gladthathe’s taking thatini- tiative to see what is required. We know, as the membermentioned, thatwe have many more students on the autism spectrum. It is important to know thatthe needs of the studentsare changing and how those needs should be met within the school system.

I’m very gladthatourgovernmentis takingclose action and tak- ingreally good care of the needs of the studentsas wellas the people who are supporting them. I wouldreally like to thank allthe supportstaff forallthe greatwork thatthey do. I, personally, have had the experi- enceof working with the supportstaff in my previous job.

I know allthe hard work thatthey putin — the training that they getand the passion thatthey come with to help these students.From the bottom of my heart,I really wantto thank them and justreiterate the commi tmentof ourgovernment to supportthem and ourschoolsystem and to make ourkids get all the resources to succeed in the school system. [10:15 a.m.] A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR SALMON E. Ross:We have spoken many times in this House about the importanceof salmon to the peopleof British Columbia — and with good reason.

For thousands of years, salmon sustained FirstNations up and down the coastand forhun- dreds of kilometres inland. Eventually, a comm ercial industry was established, and salmon became one of the three main pillars of the provincialeconomy in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Their abundance and being a natural, renewable resource meant that salmon would eventually evolve into a popular recreational fishery, beloved by local residents and attracting anglers from all over the world.

Salmon are indeed an impressive fish species.They spawn in fresh water and spend the first years of their lives in lakes and streams and then make their way to the ocean. In some cases, some speciesspend as littleas six months in fresh water, whilesome chinook spend as much as two years before heading to sea. Once salmon decideto leave fresh water, itcan involve a journey of several hundred kilometres until they arrive in saltwaterhabitat.Salmon smoltsthen have to run agamutof naturalpredators.

Some remain in coastalwaters; whileoth- ers migrate northward alongthe coast,pastthe tip of Alaska, and then out to the Bering Sea and beyond. 3590 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 9, 2018

Some species of salmon spend as littleas 18 months in open ocean before returning, and others can remain in the ocean foras long as eightyears. The true miracle, though, is the return of salmon to fresh water. We’re notquite certain how they do it,butsalmon have the ability to navigate their way back to theirstream of origin, where they spawn a new generation. Shortly after spawning, the salmon die, and the remains provideimportantnutrientsto the ecosystem. This has been the lifecycleof salmon foran eon. Throughouttime, the hab- itatof salmon has been in a constantstate of change in the natural environment.

A landslide, for example, can reroute river systems and drastically change habitat. Regardless, salmon are resilientand have always managed to adapt. But today there are many pressures on salmon stocks thatthreaten theirfuture. A poorreturn in any given year will have implications for future generations. Recently the Departmentof Fisheriesand Oceans released their outlook for 2018. The outlook measures 91 different groupings of salmon. Twenty-eightare expected to be ator above the amountnecessary forahealthy population, and 30 are expected to be nearorbelow expectations.

Thenthere are some populations of grave concern. The projected returns forsockeye and chinook to the Skeena watershed are so low that DFO is considering a total closure for all usergroups. This includes comm ercial fisheries, the recreational sector and First Nations. This situation could have a significant impact on com- munities up and down the coast. Unfortunately, when sal- mon returns fallwellbelow projections, we have a tendency to pointfingers and lay blame on the doorstep of one sector or the other. This does little to help the salmon and only fosters the tensions between people.

As chief councillor of the Haisla Nation, I tried to look into improving the stock returns in my territory, only to find out the problem of salmon returns goes way beyond what is justin my region. The situation is furthercomplicated by the factthatwe share the resourcewith ourAmerican neigh- bours. This includes the state of Alaska, to the north, and coastalstatessouthof us, includingWashington, Oregon and California. Naturally, there is a great deal of competition for such a valuable resource. To address the situation, the U.S. and Canada signed the Pacificsalmon treaty in 1985.

The treaty embodiesthe commi tmentmadeby Canada and the United States to preventoverfishing and provide for optimum pro- duction and ensure thatbothcountriesreceive benefitsequal to the production of salmon originating in their waters. Salmon fishery managers in Canadaand the United States are challenged by the factthatsome of the fish each country producesare caughtby fishermen of the othercountry. This harvest of one country’s salmon by another fisherman is called interception.

Interception existsbecause salmon cross internationalborders and beyond the jurisdiction of the gov- ernment in whose waters they were spawned. [10:20 a.m.] Research by both countries revealed thatAlaskan fishing fleets were catching salmon bound for British Columbia, Oregon and Washington. Canadian fishing fleetswere cap- turing coho, chinook and other species bound for rivers of Washington and Oregon.

Fleets in northern British Columbiawere interceptingsalmon returningto Alaska,and U.S. boats were catching salmon as they travelled through the Straitof Juan de Fuca and the San Juan Islands towards Canada’s FraserRiver. Unless managementpoliciesand con- servation concerns are jointly agreed, one nation may har- vesttoo many of the othercountry’s stocks and frustrate the home country’s management plans. Over the years, the treaty has been successful, but there have been challenges along the way.

The relationship between Canada and the United States has been strained on a numberof differentfronts.Whilethere seems to be light atthe end of the tunnelwith respectto NAFTA negotiations, the softwood lumberdispute continues to linger. Let’s hope forthe sake of both countries thatwe can continue to man- age a tremendous resource for generations to come. J. Rice: I’d like to thank the memberopposite forcontinu- ing the discussion on the importance of healthy, viablesal- mon fisheries — or fisheries, in general— to ourprovince and, in particular, to the region thatwe live in, which is in the Skeena watershed.

The sustainability of our coastal industries is extremely close to notonly my heart,butclearly his heartas well. It’s a vitalpartof ourhistory, oureconomy and, certainly, the cul- ture of the northcoast.In fact,comm ercialfishingis astrong thread in the social fabric that has heldB.C. comm unities togetherfor generations. Butthe industry’s impactis typic- ally evaluated in only dollars and cents, leaving the wider societal impactspoorly documented and largely underrep- resented in fisheriespolicy and in marine planning.

Yetthese values are no less important to the peoplewho make their livings on the sea or who live in coastal British Columbia. In justone partof the province, the PNCIMA region, the Pacificnorth coastintegrated managementarea,where I live and my constituents and many of the member’s constitu- ents also live, are some of the most valuable fishing areas on Canada’s Pacificcoast.In 2010, the PNCIMA region yiel- ded $450 million in wholesale value, just over half of the wild-caught marine fishery’s wholesalevalue for the entire province. There’s more to fishing than profitmargins.

There are eco- nomic ripple effects as fishermen spend their money on equipment and supplies. Fishing revenues spread throughout the local businesses and local comm unities. It also has arolein the giftingand tradingof seafood, and com- mercialfishingvessels play akey rolein this complexsystem. One fisherman may give or tradeseafood to over100 other people. This food comm unity also contributesto food secur- ity in rural and remote comm unities where we live.

This is why ourgovernment,along with the federalgov- ernmentand industry, is currently planning for habitatres- Monday, April 9, 2018 British Columbia Debates 3591

toration, habitat protection and wild salmon health. The Minister of Agriculture is representing the interestsof our province on the PacificSalmon Commi ssion, negotiating with the United States in orderto address thingslike bycatch and overfishing, in orderto maintain these industries and keep fishing sustainable. These days many fishermen are FirstNations. Withoutthe ability to comm ercially fish, they wouldnothave the neces- sary vessels to exercise theirfood, socialand ceremonialfish- ing rights,norhave the ability to feed theirelders and others in the comm unity.

Being a comm ercialfisherman is more than justa job. It’s a lifestylethatconnectspeopleto each other, to theircom- munitiesand to the surrounding environment,which is why we are working on a consent-based process, working with FirstNations in orderto ensure sustainability in regards to the ten-year renewal process of fish farms. Mostly, Canadian fisheriespolicy has beenfocused on two areas: economic, measured by landed value; and biological, measured by speciesabundance. Butresearch from Ecotrust and the T.

Buck Suzuki Environmental Foundation high- lightsan opportunity to reframe fisheriespolicy thatbenefits environmentalconservatism, economic resilienceand social equity alike. The fishing industry is represented on the ceilings of the B.C. Legislature as apillarof the B.C. economy. Independent fish harvesters need protections to rebuildthe backbone of the rural middle class along our coast. [10:25 a.m.] In Atlantic Canada, the economic capacity and the strength of its rural middle class would not exist without the owner-operatorand fleetseparation policiesenforced in all five Atlantic provinces.

These policiesare not only pil- lars of the fishing economy; they also support the social and culturalfabric of ruralcoastalcomm unities in Atlantic Canada. Similar policiesare in placein Alaska, where mul- tipleprocessors compete for fish by providing good prices, multiplefleetservices and processing jobs in rural coastal comm unities.In fact,Alaskafisheriesare managed to ensure that their fish harvesters and fishing comm unities are the primary beneficiaries of their adjacent resource. We need similar policies of adjacency in British Columbia.

In B.C., a singleprocessorcontrols multiplefish- eries,from production through to export.Independentfish- ermen become price-takers, and the socialand culturalfab- ric of our coastal comm unities is eroded. The economic viability of the nextgeneration of fishermen and ourcoastal comm unities depends on improving these policies. E. Ross:Thank you forthe response from the hon. mem- ber. One of the biggest concerns of 2018 is the survival of the steelhead salmon.

There has been quite a debate as to whethersteelheadare in factsalmon ormore closely related to trout.Steelheadare anadromous and migrate to the ocean, where they facethe same pressures as other speciesof sal- mon, and just like Pacificsalmon, steelhead return to the rivers, where they spawn. But unlike salmon, they don’t necessarily die after spawning, and they sometimes return back to the ocean. This makes steelhead even more susceptible to fishing pressures — so much so that as few as 57 fish returned to the Chilcotin River in 2017, and only 177 to the Thomp- son River.

This has prompted my fellow caucus members to form a B.C. Liberalsteelheadcaucus, co-chaired by the hon. members for Fraser-Nicola and West Vancouver–Capilano. The situation is dire enough for the Tsilhqot’in National Government to announce that it will voluntarily cease its food fishery due to minimal returns. The Outdoor Recre- ation Council has identified B.C.’s critical steelhead rivers from Hope to Mission as the mostendangered rivers in the province.

In response, the Commi ttee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, an independentfederaladvisory panel, has launched a seldom-used fast-track process to conclude thatsteelheadin the Chilcotin and Thompson Riversystems are atimminentrisk of extinction. COSEWIC has concluded thatthe main threatsto the steelheadincludethe inadvertent bycatch of adults by netfisheries targeting Pacificsalmon, and poor ocean conditions. To ensure theirfuture survival, we mustensure thatgov- ernments at all levels work in concert with First Nations, recreational anglers and comm ercial fisheries to help the steelhead rebound.

There are some factors, such as ocean warming, thatwe cannotreadily address, butthere are other factors, such as comm ercialharvesting methods and habitat restoration, that we can control. We as members of this Legislature all have a responsibility for the future survival of steelhead. If we lose this battle, ourchancesof improving conditions forotherthreatened speciesof salmon willnotbe successful either. PLAYGROUND FUNDING J.

Brar: I’m very pleased to rise in this House today to make an important private member’s statement regarding the school playground funding policy to support parent groups in ensuring playgrounds are suitableand safe forour school children. As a formernationalbasketballplayer, I understand that play is the key to the physical, mental, intellectualand social well-being of our children. Therefore, school playgrounds and schoolplaytime are very importantto children fortheir fun and relaxation, as wellas fortheirgood health and well- being.

Numerous studieshave shown thatstudentswho are physically active have improved academic performance, achieve highertestscores and demonstrate a betterattitude towards the school system, so it’s very important that we properly fund playgrounds forourschoolstudents.Ourgov- ernmentmadethe commi tmentto create an ongoing capital fund for school playgrounds. [10:30 a.m.] Budget2018 provides an annual$5 million fund to sup- 3592 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 9, 2018

portparentgroups in ensuring playgrounds are suitableand safe. This fund willapply to olderschools thatneed mainten- ance and replacementsas wellas overcrowded schools that need a second playground. Schooldistrictswillapply for the playground funding in the same way they do for capitalfunds. There’s no require- ment in regard to the matching funds. That was the case underthe previous administration. Itwillbe up to the school board to choose theirnumberone prioritiesforplaygrounds in theirdistrict.Thatmeans the funding willnotjustgo to the richest school who can fundraise better.

I wouldlike to pointoutthatthis is a m ajor policy shift we have underthis administration, where schools thatdo nothave the capacity to raise m atching funds willbe able to access the playground funding without raising m atch- ing funds. The new funding program alleviates the fund burden thathadbeen shifted onto parentsby the previous administration. Parentsshouldn’thave to spend theirtime fundraising for things like playground equipment, which can take almost years of theirtime sometimes. Our government has made sure that that’s not going to happen anymore.

New parent advisory commi ttees, PACs, can refocus their efforts on more pressing areas to help ensure students’ needs are met. Students also deserve safe places to play and learn, a key to achieving their full potential. In addition to the $5 million annual funding to support parents groups for the m aintenanceand replacementsof oldplaygrounds, our governmentis also offering the comm unity grantprogram to allpublicand independentschools. PACs are eligibleto save $20 per student annually. All DPACs are eligible to save $2,500 each year.

Eligibleorganizations can apply forgaming grantfunding in one of the followingsixcategories:artsand culture, sports, environment,publicsafety, human and socialservices,and parentadvisory councils and districtparentadvisory coun- cils. The comm unity gaminggrantprogram willstartaccept- ing applications from eligible PACs and DPACs effective April 1, 2018. It should be noted that there hasn’t been a playground capitalfund in British Columbia for the lastfive years. As a result,the need to replacethe unsafe playgrounds is greater than ever.

I have requestsfrom three schools in the Surrey- Fleetwood constituency alone for funds to replacethe old playgrounds. JaniceChurchillElementary Schoolis one of them. PAC president of the school, Ms. Campbell, and vice-president Mary Anne informed me thatthe representative of the Sur- rey school district has inspected the playground and sub- sequently toldthem thatthey have to replacethe playground in June 2018 because it’s too old and unsafe for students. The PAC of Janice Churchill School was told to raise around $70,000 for the replacement of the playground.

If they are unableto raise funds, then there will be no play- ground in the school because the old playground will be removed in June 2018. That’s not the right thing to do. We are listening to the parents and students of Janice ChurchillSchooland others who have similar needs. That’s why we madethe commi tmentto create an ongoing capital fund for school playgrounds. Budget2018 provides an annual$5 million fund to sup- portparentgroups in ensuring playgrounds are suitableand safe.

This is really a good policy and good news for the children and parents in Surrey-Fleetwood and across the province. [10:35 a.m.] Ourgovernmentis consulting parentsgroups on how to create a funding modelthatwillmake the need for parents to fundraise forplaygrounds disappear. The policy idea is to relieve parentsof the heavy burden of having to fundraise attheirparentadvisory commi ttee — sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars — to have what is pretty basic to a school playground: equipment. Parents are tremendous advocates for their children.

I comm end the PACs forpursuing projectsthatimprove chil- dren’s experience. Ourgovernmentis proudto supportthese programs that promote the intellectual, social and physical well-being of ournextgeneration and help setourchildren up for future success. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity. T. Stone: I wantto startby thanking the memberforSur- rey-Fleetwood for bringing forward this private member’s statementon the importanceof playgrounds in comm unities across British Columbia. Play and exercise is an integralpartof achild’s life. Butit’s notjustfun and games.

Free play helps children learn essen- tialskills thatwillsetthem up for a life of success. This can mean anything from organized games to running around with their peers or, yes, playing on a playground. Free play helps kids learn how to comm unicate with other children. It’s achanceto practise theirvocabulary, have con- versations, follow rules,share and take turns. Practising this from ayoung age willalso help kids learn how to pick up on socialcueslike tone of voiceand body language. Playing on a playground also leads to developing motor coordination, problem-solving and critical thinking.

As aparentwho stillhas two kids in an elementary school, as many folks in this chamber…. Many members are parents who have sat on the sidelines and watched their children play on playgrounds. You know the smilesand the laughter thatwarm yourheartsas parentsand the need to occasion- ally step up and separate children who mightbe engaged in a bitof a skirmish — although thatis partof the experience that is afforded by safe playgrounds as well. In 2011, our form er B.C.

Liberal government announced $8 million for 44 new playgrounds and play- ground upgradesfor schools across British Columbia to help provide safe play spacesfor kids to be happy, healthy and to develop their skills. In 2012, an additional $3.3 million was provided for 80 schools across 60 school districts for the repair, improve- Monday, April 9, 2018 British Columbia Debates 3593

ment and replacement of playgrounds, and 227 schools benefitted from the two-year program p rovincewide. In 2016, 45 programs were awarded a totalof $11.3 mil- lion to buildfacilities,buy land and putup new playgrounds. I’m very proud of the many investmentsthatourformer governmentmadein playgrounds forchildren across British Columbia. However, I also believe that more needs to be done in the area of play and our children’s health.

Although technology brings a world of benefit to our province, the sadreality is thatwe are currently behind some otherjurisdictions in the fightagainstinactivity and obesity in ouryoung people. Thatmeans also providing time every singleday forourchildren to unplugand be free from tech- nology and getactive. Meaningful high-quality health and physical education is one of the best strategies availableto reverse this trend. Yes, parentshave a criticalrolein the education and the physical activity of theirchildren as well.

Parental encour- agement and support for learning and play at home com- bined with parentalinvolvementin the schoolare criticalto children’s education and development.I’ve been in awe, over the years — again, firstand foremostas aparent— watching the effortand the time thatparentsputinto fundraising for causes of importance to their schools, such as playgrounds. The currentchairof the PAC, Tracy Meldrum, up atJuni- perRidge Elementary, my daughters’ school, highlighted for me the other day just how difficult it was to raise $80,000 over2½ years to provideforan enhanced playground atour kids’ school.

It’s very, very difficult.She indicated thatittook more than five years for the parentsat our school to raise the money needed. And this is one of the larger element- ary schools in apartof Kam loops, frankly, where household income is perhaps abitabove the average, where there might be a bit more wherewithal for parentsto dig a littledeep- erinto theirpocketsand supportthe fundraising for a new playground. [10:40 a.m.] The lessons of giving back to one’s comm unity are….

While it’s incredibly important for children, at the same time, schools shouldn’thave to rely on parentalfundraising for essential elements of the school experience like play- grounds. High-quality health and physical education increases the chances our young peoplewill live healthier, more productive life spans, and itpaysoff in the classroom as well. Playtime outsideon aplayground is one way to accom- plish this. So let’s allsupportcontinued and reliableinvest- mentin building and upgrading playgrounds across British Columbia. J.

Brar: Thanks to the member for Kam loops–South Thompson for his thoughtfulresponse to my private mem- ber’s statement regarding the school playground policy. The m emberlisted a numberof things done by the pre- vious government, but the facts I have are a bit different than whatI heard justa few seconds ago. I justwantto list som e of the things which took place under the previous administration. During the 2008-09 financialcrisis, the previous govern- mentmadethe decision to cutcapitalprojectfunding from the listof categoriesallowed by the B.C. gaming branch.

The granthelped non-profitorganizations buildthingslike play- grounds and sportsfacilities,butitwas eliminated as partof the austerity measures introduced in response to the global recession. The governmentcut$17 million from the gaming grant at that time. The recession ended lateron, butI justwantto highlight that there was a recession underthe previous government, which many people don’t believe on the other side. The recession ended, butthe previous governmentdid notrein- state the grant. Now we have done that.

As I mentioned in my statement, prior to the funding beingcut,the previous governmenthadsome pretty onerous requirementsforplayground funding. As of 2007, the fund- ing was distributed by the B.C. Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils, and the previous governmentgave occa- sional and inconsistent funding for playgrounds. Schools and parent groups had to apply and had to come up with matching funding, and thatwas abigissue, as mentioned by the member on the other side as well. That’s a huge change we have madein the policy. It’s very importantthatwe have to change thatpolicy.

Underthe pre- vious policy, itbecame like a lottery system, where the most organized and well-resourced groups couldgetthe funding, and the less-organized and less well-off comm unities were not able to access the funding. Ourgovernmentis changing that.Ourgovernmentmade the commi tmentto create ongoingcapitalfundingforschool playgrounds. Budget2018 providesannual$5 million funds to supportparentgroups in ensuring playgrounds are suit- ableand safe. This fund appliesto olderschools that need maintenance and replacements as well as overcrowded schools thatneed a second playground.

And schooldistricts willapply for the playground funding in the same way they do for capital funding. There is no requirement for the matching funding from the parents, PAC commi ttees. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity. ACCESS TO LIBRARIES S. Cadieux: I love to read, and that’s good, given how much we read for our job here. But I also love to read for pleasure. I remember fondly storytime as a child and the sense of accomplishmentwhen I learned to readand could readformyself. I loved goingto the library to pick outbooks, and in fact,I stilldo. I can access almostanything I wantat my local library.

Butwhatif you don’thave access? Whatif you have dys- lexia and can’treadtraditionalprint?Whatwoulditbe like if you were blind and relied on audiomaterials orBrailleor e-text?And how wouldyou readif astroke leftyou unableto hold and turn the pages of a book? Numbers from Statistics Canada suggest that about 10 3594 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 9, 2018

percent of Canadians have a print disability which limits theirability to readin traditionalprintformat.Many people who don’tcurrently have a printdisability willhave one in the future. Only 7 percentof published materials are access- ible to people with print disabilities, even in a developed country like ours. [10:45 a.m.] A printdisability is alearning, physicalorvisualdisability thatpreventsaperson from reading conventionalprint.This can be for any numberof differentreasons, and the format forreading technology is apersonalchoice. One sizedoesn’t fitallor even one.

The same person mightchoose different waysto read, dependingon the situation. Itmightvary based on the degree of vision loss, whetheryou’re ableto read or whether you are reading for fun or for work, or whether you’re comfortablewith the newest technology or prefer a paperbook, whilesomeone else an e-reader. Forpeoplewith print disabilities who prefer audio books, the choice of a human or synthetic voice might really matter.

But without access to reading material in alternative formats,peoplewith printdisabilities are less likely to com- plete high school, less likely to pursue higher education, less likely to participate in the workforce and experience incomes well below the national average. The Marrakesh treaty was heralded as an importantstep towards equality, as it clarifies and simplifiesthe export of works produced in Canada and forCanada to importworks produced from other countries. Let’s step back fora bitof history.

The Canadian National Institute for the Blind, or the CNIB, has provided library services for its members since 1919. Their digital library provided Canadians with access to about 500,000 titles through a mix of Braille, voice, digitized voice and down- loads for computer readers. The CNIB is a charity and, as times changed, so did the success of theirfundraising. Like many charities,fundraising gotmore and more difficult,and difficultchoicesthen also have to be madeaboutwhatser- vices come first. During thatsame time, peoplewith disabilities have real- ized amore rightfulplacein oursociety.

As contributing cit- izens, we work and recreate alongsideournon-disabled fam- ily and friends. As peoplewith disabilities were more and more ableto participate, so grew the expectation from with- in the CNIB comm unity that they shouldbe ableto go to theirlocallibrary — and rightly so. A few years ago the fed- eral government tasked the CNIB to develop a model that wouldwork to shiftlibrary servicesaway from the CNIB to public libraries.

CELA, the Centre forEquitableLibrary Access, was estab- lished in Aprilof 2014 as a new publicly funded non-profit organization with the goalof supporting and assisting public libraries and delivering accessiblelibrary materials to Cana- dians with printdisabilitiesin equalmeasure to thatwhich is enjoyed by other members of the comm unity. Launched underthe auspicesof publiclibraries, CELA is governed by a board of directors which is comprised of a broad range of representatives from publiclibraries.

They assumed the serviceresponsibilities from the formerCNIB library and inherited some of itsknowledgeableand dedic- ated staff, who have helped CELA grow to be Canada’s lead- ing accessible library service. They provide an access to a growing collection of books, magazines, newspapers and described videos for every age and interest.There are choicesin formatsfrom audio, Braille, described movies and accessiblee-books. The digitalcollec- tion can be delivered by downloadto a computer, handheld devices or DAISY Players, while CD and Braille titlesare delivered by mail.

In addition, servicesare provided in both official languages. CELA is funded in part by the federal government and by mostprovincialgovernments,exceptforManitoba,Nun- avutand B.C. Those provincialgovernmentsin otherjuris- dictions coverthe subscription fees fortheirlibraries.CELA is now the nationaldigitalhub for libraries across Canada, covering approximately 90 percent of the population.

In B.C., large librariesare finding the m oney forthe sub- scription to ensure theirm embers have access, and about 83 percentof ourprovince does have access to CELA ser- vices.Butif you’re aresidentin one of the m any ruralcom- munities in British Columbia, like Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Kimberley or even som e large centres like Port Moody, you don’thave access to the CELA library services through your local library. Interestingly, when the federalgovernmentmoved to cre- ate CELA and relieve the CNIB from delivering services, B.C. chose to establish itsown service, which now also has a nationalscope.

The NationalNetwork for EquitableLibrary Service, NNELS, is a source of content owned and main- tained by Canadian publiclibraries working to make copies of books availablein accessibleformats.NNELS is fully fun- ded by the provincial government of British Columbia, as well as Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and the Yukon. Yetwhilethese two organizations exist,peoplewith print disabilities are still not assured to be able to access them.

Whilethe population without a print disability has access to millions of titles of book, newspapers and magazines through ourlibrary system, citizens with printdisabilitiesin rural B.C. and some urban centres still only have access to a limited service. I think we’re going to need to see some change in that regard. [10:50 a.m.] A. Kang: I want to thank the member opposite for her comm entson access to libraries. The topic gotme thinking aboutafew otherthings,butI justwantto touch on the issue she raised before I get to my other comm ents.

I absolutely agree with the memberforSurrey South how vital it is for all British Columbians, including peoplewith visualor perceptualimpairments,to have access to reading materials through publiclibraries around B.C. That’s why, I understand, the provincial government contributes over Monday, April 9, 2018 British Columbia Debates 3595

$115,000 annually to the National Network for Equitable Library Services. They producebooks in accessibleformatsand make them availableto readers in Canada who have print disabilities. These services are available in every public library in B.C. thatreceives provincialfunding — servicesthatI know are so importantforpeoplewith visualorperceptualimpair- ments.So again, thank you to the memberopposite forrais- ing such an important issue. I love libraries.

In fact, I was a Burnaby library trustee for six years, and I was part of the design and creation of the beautifuland award-winningTomm y Douglas Library in Burnaby, the Edmonds Town Centre. I know firsthand the effortsthatlibrary boards and librarians putin to create lib- raries that are accessibleand as barrier-free as possibleas we move forward with a population of greaterdiversity and multiculturalism. We may or may not have noticed, but libraries have accompanied us through almost all stages of our lives. My children began theirfirstlibrary visitswhilethey were mere babies.

Colourful picture books and sensory-rich pages accompanied their development into their toddlerhood years. Librariesare apopularhangoutforstudying, research- ing and job searching for youth and young adults. As the Parliamentary Secretary forSeniors, I work closely with mature adults. In fact, since the opening of my con- stituency office, my officehas been transformed into a com- munity hub where seniors come and hang outfor a cup of coffee ortea,exercise tai chi, teach and learn English to each otherand teach each otherhow to use iPads. Butmostof all, it is a place where people come and have conversations.

As my officeis located withinwalking distanceof the Bob Prittie Library, I hear from seniors all the time how much they love libraries and theirservices.Many of them utilize materials in otherlanguages besidesEnglish. For others, as they advance through various stages of theirlives, libraries have something that can support their needs moving for- ward. Ourpubliclibrary provides servicesto everyone and offers many specialized and inclusive services.The bestpart is, it’s all free. Five minutes is such ashorttime to talk abouthow proud I am of the publiclibrariesand how accessiblethey are.

Lib- raries are not simply a building stocked with shelves and shelves of books and lotsand lotsof tablesfor quietstudy. Thatwas in the past.Thatwas afew decadesago. Nowadays, libraries have materials in many formatsforBritish Colum- bians with perceptual disabilities, including audiobooks, CDs, DVDs and MP3s as wellas audiobooks formatted spe- cially for people with print disabilities. Notonly dolibrarieshelp us polish ourliteracy and com- munication skills, they also provide the space and forum for us to utilizethese skills.

Libraries share and allow easy access to a space with a comm unity, and they often host comm unity forums and provide unique support programs for newcomers. Wanting to gain a better understanding of libraries and theiraccessibility, I approached one of my favourite chieflib- rarians, Beth Davies.She proudly tells me thatBurnaby Pub- licLibrary provides a friendly, people-centred delivery ser- viceto individuals athome and to those who live in group living arrangement settings who can’t visit the library for health reasons.

As well, many libraries partner with pro- vincialdeaf and hard-of-hearing servicesatthe Ministry of Children and Family Developmentto offerfamily story time in sign language and English. Familiesand children join a deaf storytellerand a children’s librarian for stories, rhymes and songs. Library access is free to allBritish Columbians. We have 71 publiclibrariesin oursystem. We have 247 library branch locations serving more than 360 B.C. comm unities.

The emphasis for libraries to be accessible and welcoming is alwayspartof the conversation as librariescontinueto diver- sify theirservicesand collections to supportchanging user and comm unity needs. [L. Reid in the chair.] Through a characterin the story, the author of A Song of Ice and Fire, George R.R. Martin, says:“A readerlivesathou- sand livesbefore he dies.The man who neverreads livesonly one.” A strong and accessiblelibrary system is a cornerstone of a strong comm unity. [10:55 a.m.] S. Cadieux: Thank you to the memberforBurnaby–Deer Lake.

Clearly, she has as much a love for libraries as I do and the same appreciation for the across-the-lifespan ser- vicesthatthey do provide. Butaccess to alternative-format materials has been a long-standing barrier for Canadians with print disabilities. We know thatapproximately 80 percentof British Colum- bians with a printdisability who residein large urban areas have access to a collection of more than 500,000 titles through their publiclibrary’s agreement with CELA.

That wouldincludenewspapers; magazines; and described videos and books in accessibleformatsincluding audio, Brailleand e-text.Butthe approximately 20 percentof British Columbi- ans in ruralcentres only have access to acollection of 14,000 titlesthroughNNELS, the servicethatthe provincialgovern- ment subscribes to. These NNELS servicesare almostexclusively digital. They do notofferhome orwireless delivery, which in ruralareas, you can imagine, becomes increasingly more importantfor peoplewho are also struggling with a disability. Why is that discrepancy there?

It’s because CELA’s servicesare subscrip- tion-based and libraries have to pay a fee,

whereas the pro- vincial government ensures that NNELS’ services are provided free to libraries in British Columbia. One would think that the two services, NNELS and CELA, wouldcoordinate. Butin fact,they don’t.In fact,if a clientcontactsNNELS to getabook thatisn’tavailableunder the NNELS service, they will make that person wait until 3596 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 9, 2018

they producethe book, even if thattitleis already available through CELA. Given the factthatboth are publicly funded services,and one wouldthink thatwe are lookingto maxim- ize the availability of materials, this seems a bitwastefuland silly. It’s notto say thatBritish Columbiaresidentswith print disabilities don’thave access to books and reading materials atall. They do have some access. Butit’s far from equitable, and it’s an issue that should be resolved.

In most parts of Canada, CELA services are funded by provincialor territorialgovernments.Howeverin B.C., the CNIB has been subsidizing these library services since CELA was established. B.C. residentsare now atrisk of los- ing access to the CELA servicesthatthey rely on because the governmenthas notcome to the tablewith a funding agree- ment and instead leaves the decision to already struggling libraries to prioritize. Recently a constituentof mine raised this issue with me. She’s a memberof the FraserValley Library group. Thank- fully, as of April1, the FraserValley has joined CELA, so she has access.

Butmany others are stillatrisk of losingaccess to that service that they rely on. Certainly, my hope is that by bringing the issue to the House’s attention today, we can collectively ensure thatthis inequity is addressed. Hon. B. Ralston: Debate on Motion 16. Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, unanimous consentof the House is required to proceed with Motion 16 without disturbing the priorities of the motions preceding iton the order paper. Leave granted. Private Members’ Motions MOTION 16 — LABOUR RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS D.

Routley: [Be it resolved that this House recognize the importance of labour rights and protections.] The issue of labour rights and the issue of protections of workers is som ething that can stir a lot of debate that strays us far away from the topic and off into the relations between employers and employees. That is obviously an important part of this debate, but it’s not singularly important to the debate. The debate around labourstandards, I think, reflectsthe debate around other regulated functions in our society, like, for instance, my stepfather, who was a construction contractor.

Now, if he followed the regulations, as he did, and disposed of construction waste properly and with a safe process — didn’t expose workers to asbestos, didn’t expose the environmentto things like gypsum board dry- wall, instead paid the cost to take care of those properly — he was at a distinct competitive disadvantage to any employer who didn’t do that. [11:00 a.m.] The debate around labourrightsand protection of work- ers brings a lot more into the conversation than simply workplaceconditions.

In fact,it’s a big publicpolicy debate that really goes to the heart of issues such as professional reliance and the issues of whetheror notwe have adequate inspection in workplaces. This government,the B.C. NDP government,has commi t- ted to reviewing the labourcode to improve protections to workers. We willbe updatingemploymentstandards. We are increasing safety compliancein workplaces,and we’re taking steps to protect temporary foreign workers. We’ve already taken steps to raise the minimum wage, which will create better conditions for workers.

When we look back, in British Columbia, to the history of worker safety and activism around protecting workers, a lotof itbegan in the riding thatI represent.In the 1930s, the IWA established itselfin the Cowichan Valley and Lake Cowichan areas and, in thatdecadebetween the ’30s and ’40s, foughtthe firstbattlesforpay equity in this province.

In the turn of the century, in the early 1900s in the Lady- smith area, there were very fam ous strikes of coalminers that led to violence, the introduction of Pinkerton secur- ity guards and the entire comm unity, wom en and children, standing between the Pinkerton security guards and the striking workers. So this early history of labouractivism and the protection of workers and the protection of workers’ rightsreally began in the ridings that I have represented in my career in this House. And I’ve watched as the protection of workers extends throughout our society and our economy.

In the ’90s, computermonitors were unshielded and were found, afterhealth and safety commi ttee interventions in a workplacein Ontario, to be causingbreastcancer. Thatled to the shielding in computermonitors, so itprotected allCana- dians and allpeoplearound the world. And thatstarted in a workplace. In workplaces,we have seen the struggleto con- trolthe use of pesticidesand the struggleto controland stop the use of toxins such as asbestos. That’s a bitof the history of the importanceof labouract- ivism and how ithas developed. Butoften we are presented with the argumentthatperhaps enough has been achieved.

We only have to look to recentyears to see thatthatis notthe case. We stillhave afightthat,Madame Speaker, you’ve been closely involved in, and thatis equity forwomenin the work- place. Pay equity is an importantbattlein protecting work- ers’ rightsthathas yetto be successfully completed, as is the freedom f rom harassment in workplaces. When I look at the history of workers while I’ve been an MLA, and the tragediesthathave happened around this province, the first one I think of is Ted Gram lich. He was a fallerwho died on November19, 2005, aboutsix months after I had been elected.

I didn’t know him or his wife, Monday, April 9, 2018 British Columbia Debates 3597

Debbie Geddes,butI metherthrough the inquestinto Ted’s death. The inquest revealed that he had died primarily because he bled to death on the sideof a hill, with no safety plan in place. The coroner identified deregulation in the workplace as a contributory cause to his death. It’s so importantfor allof us thatwe respectand protect workers’ safety. D. Barnett:I am pleased to address this morning’s motion respecting the importance of labourrightsand protections. Without question, we want to make sure that all workers are provided with premium safety standards. We mustalso ensure that labour rights are respected.

It has been our experience in this province that labour disruptions can be very costly to everyone. We know thata stablelabourenvironmentleads to greaterinvestmentover the long term. A safe work environmentalso contributes to greater productivity. [11:05 a.m.] Beginning in 2001, the B.C. Liberal government strengthened the role of the B.C. Labour Relations Board and gave them anew mandate with astated goalof fostering employmentand recognizing the rightsof employees, trade unions and employers.

In terms of safety, we took boldsteps, between 2000 and 2014, thatyielded positive results.Trau- maticwork-related death rates decreased by 32 percent,ser- ious injury rates decreased by 24 percent, and injury rates decreased by 41 percent. As you mightbe wellaware, Madame Speaker, workers in my riding of the Cariboo-Chilcotin are closely tied to our resourceand agriculture industries.As amatterof fact,many occupations carry the greatest safety risks associated with the ranching industry, the forest industry and the mining industry.

Workers are also subject to many external threats that are sometimes beyond theircontrol. Last season’s wildfires are a prime example. The imm ediate threatwas the advance of wildfires, but the consequences are having more lasting effects on workers in our industries. In 100 MileHouse, for example, a major wood manufac- turer is telling itsemployees, itscomm unity, that it will be forced to temporarily suspend production atitslocalfacility due to alack of fibre.

Damage from the wildfires, shutdowns in the forestand long time frames to obtain cutting permits have madeitdifficultto acquire enough lumberin stock for oriented strand board processing. The mill will, therefore, possibly suspend production foraboutamonth in May. This willhave adevastatingeffecton workers, theirfamilies,busi- nesses, industries and comm unities. If we are to betterprotectworkers, we, as legislators, have a responsibility to ensure thatcompaniesdepending on our forestshave ready access to along-term timbersupply. There are lotsof things we can do.

This includesproviding imm e- diate access to timberdamaged by pine beetleand wildfires. This wood has ashelflife and has to be harvested soon before itis no longercomm ercially viable. Jobs in my ridingdepend on it. I have informed the Forests Minister that I will sit down and provide whatever cooperation it takes to make this happen, butwe have to actimm ediately. Workers in 100 Mileare depending on this. If we failto act,otheroperations throughout the province may suffer a similar fate. The key to allthis is to ensure astableand long-term fibre supply.

We run into problems when operations have to rely on staggered supplies.We need to getforestry permitsfaster and with longertenure. This is adifficultsituation, and that’s why we need to act immediately. Therefore, I call upon all members of this House to rec- ognize the situation and better protect workers by acting imm ediately. How? Ensure thatpermitting processes for all industries and business in this province, especially in resource comm unities and resource industries, become time-effective, cost-effective and less cumbersome. M.

Elmore: I’m very pleased to rise and speak in favour of the m otion from the m ember for Nanaimo–North Cowichan: “Be it resolved that this House recognize the importance of labour rights and protections” of workers here in B.C. When we think aboutwhatis involved in terms of labour rightsand protections, generally it’s laws and regulations in our labour code and in employment standards; WorkSafe B.C., which deals with workers’ safety and the ability to be covered in the eventof a workplaceinjury; concerns around temporary foreign workers; and also the minimum wage.

These are some of the areas where, provincially, we have jurisdiction. That’s an important role for our government and the Legislature to play — to ensure thatworkers in our provinceare treated fairly, thattheirrightsare protected and, also, that a balanced view is taken. I want to start off by looking at the context that we’re coming into over the last 16 years of the previous gov- ernment. In term s of the labour code and collective bar- gaining rights….The previous Liberalgovernmentpassed labour laws that were struck down in the courtsas viola- tions of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom s.

That’s the record. In 2002…. This is when I first got involved around workers’ rightsissues, supporting work- ers who had losttheirjobs and the tearing up of the con- tracts of Hospital Employees Union workers. [11:10 a.m.] Itwas the infamous Bill29 thattore up contracts.Itwas the largest firing of predominantly immigrant women in the country — a firing of unionized hospital workers in 2002, which contributed, also, to worsening patientcare. It was declared…. In 2007, the Supreme Court struck down that law, saying that it violated Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Thattearing up of contractsof the HEU was struck down by the Supreme Court. Also, tearing up contractsfor teachers was struck down by the Supreme Court, finding, as well, that the previous governmenthadillegally tried to instigate a strike to force the hand and to gain supportin term s of bringing in even 3598 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 9, 2018

m ore draconian legislation. That’s the record in term s of the labour code. Our government has pledged that British Columbians shouldhave the same rightsand protections enjoyed by oth- erCanadians, and we are commi tted to reviewing the labour code to ensure thatworkplacessupporta growing, sustain- able economy with fair laws for workers and businesses. In February, our government appointed a three-person panel to review the labour code, the labour relations code, and consult with British Columbians. Written submissions have come in, and the review panelis now holding regional meetings across the province.

That’s in terms of the labour code, then and now. In terms of employment standards, our government is commi tted to updating employmentstandards to reflectthe changing nature of workplaces and ensure that they’re applied openly and evenly and that they’re enforced. We know that the record of the previous government leaves something to be desired in terms of theirrecord on employ- ment standards. The Employment Standards Act, in 2002, slashed protections fornon-unionized workers, and thatdis- proportionately impacted 80 percentof workers who are not in unions.

We, as well, saw thatitwas m ore difficultfor folks who had complaints to get those complaints resolved. They m oved to a complaint-driven process and a self-help kit. As well, the previous government fired one-third of the staff of the employm entstandards branch and closed half of the branch offices.That’s the previous record in term s of employm ent standards. Our government is now commi t- ted to looking at how we update our employm ent stand- ards to ensure thatthey m eetthe needs and concerns that are being faced today. Workersafety and WorkSafe.

Ourgovernmenthas m ade the commi tm ent to ensure that WorkSafe increases com- pliance with employm ent laws and standards and that standards are put in placeto protect the lives and safety of workers. We have also increased the annualfunding for the workers adviser officeand employers adviser officeto help workers and employers navigate the workers com- pensation process. G.

Kyllo: OutsideItasca State Park in Minnesota, there is a sign thatreads: “In life, as in baseball, itis the numberof times you reach home safely that counts.” Members on this side of the House have backed up that sentiment over the past decade and a half by bolstering workerprotection regulations and supportingindustriesthat are exposed to particular risks and hazards. We have spent a lotof time developing a proud history of working hard to ensure thatno matterwhatindustry you work in, yourwork- placeis safe, and that more British Columbians are ableto get home safely.

Now, whilesome may labellabourlaws and protections as regulatory and bureaucraticirritations, they serve an incred- ibly importantpurpose. They ensure thatbusinesses in our provinceare heldto ahighstandard and are providingwork- place environments that are fair and secure for all. Beginning in 2001, members on this side of the House strengthened the role of the B.C. Labour Relations Board. From there, we wenton to make education an essentialser- vice. Secretballotswere re-established to prevent potential bullying of the unionization process.

Sadly, the currentNDP governmentis considering stripping this fundamentalright from B.C. workers — truly a draconian consideration. [11:15 a.m.] Now, yourB.C. Liberalgovernmentsettime standards in 2008 on the LabourRelations Board so thatthey wouldhave to issue decisions on applications and complaintswithin a reasonabletime frame. Lastyear, we banned mandatory high heels in allB.C. workplaces,ensuring thatwe as a province are continually moving towards safety and true equality for women in the workplace.

Our long record of safety improvements has paid dividends in the health and well-being of countless British Columbians. Between 2000 and 2014, traumatic work- related death rates decreased by 32 percent, serious injury rates decreased by 24 percent,and injury rates decreased by 41 percent. Now, whilestatistics are nice and good policy helps to drive worker protections, more can always be done. I had the privilege of speaking on behalfof the province of B.C. atthe NationalDay of Mourning atJack PoolePlaza in Vancouveroverthe lastfew years. Itwas a very humbling and sombre occasion.

The event is to honour those whose liveswere tragically cutshortorchanged foreverby injury in the workplace. Those thathave losttheirlives in workplace accidentsare ourmothers, fathers, ourwives, ourhusbands, daughters and sons — those who we’llalways holdvery dear to ourheart.This year’s eventis setfor April28 with cere- monies all across B.C. and Canada. We mustallwork togetherin ourworkplaceand ourcom- munities to builda culture of safety that makes workplace tragedies a thing of the past.

Friday’s deadly bus crash has sentshock and grief through the comm unity of Humboldt, the hockey worldand ourcountry and is a tragic reminder to all of just how our lives can be changed in an instant. Now, we know that safety begins long before anyone leaves for work. Safety startsin the training fieldand in the classroom. To thatend, members on this sideof the House maderecord investmentsin skills training, ensuring thatthe graduates not only had a competitive advantage but also were prepared for whatever potential safety challenges the workplace may throw upon them.

In March of 2017, the government of the day helped to provide16 weeks of paid training in the forestsectorand ten weeks of on-the-job work experiencewith localforestoper- ators to prepare them forfull-time employment.This oppor- tunity notonly helped abrand-new setof forestworkers take theirfirststeps into the industry butensured thatthey had the knowledge to stay safe on the job, giving them the tools they need for a lengthy career. Since 2013, our province has been at a labour peacein Monday, April 9, 2018 British Columbia Debates 3599

both the private and publicsectors, and that has been no small feat. As we press forward as a province, I hope that members on both sidesof the House willcontinue to strive to make B.C. a safe place for all to work. B. D’Eith: We all know the famous quote by George Santayana: “Those who cannotrememberthe pastare con- demned to repeat it.” I think it’s really important for us to firstlook atthe history of this issue and many of the things we actually take for granted in regards to labourrightsand protections. We go back to 1872 where the Toronto printers pushed fora nine-hourworkday.

They were working overten hours a day, and union actions were illegal. From this, it led to John A. Macdonaldcreating the TradeUnions Act,and we actually celebrate this today with Labour Day throughout Canada. Now we take for granted thatan eight-hourwork- day and a 40-hour workweek are normal. During the depression, the governmentsetup camps, and Vancouver workers actually abandoned the camps because they were so substandard, and they couldn’tmake ends meet. They took itto Ottawa.This led to unemploymentinsurance in 1940, and now EI has become a vitaleconomic stabilizer in the past three recessions.

In the ’60s, the pushforsafety in the work…. In 1960 there were five Italian workers who died in Toronto in extremely unsafe working environmentsin atunnel. This was the cata- lyst that led to the Industrial Safety Act in Ontario and, of course, later to our Employment Standards Act. In ’65, unions pushed forpublicserviceto receive decent pay, benefits and pensions, but they had to fight long and hard for those gains. It’s hard to believe that it was only in 1971 thatpaid maternity leave was broughtin, and thathas actually putmore women into the workforcethan many oth- er things in the past.

Lookingatthis past,whatdidthe B.C. Liberals dooverthe 16 years when they were in power?Well, as faras the labour code and the collective bargaining, they actually made it harder for workers to organize, and it actually led to the biggest falloff in unionization in the country. Labour laws were struck down in the courtsas violations of the Charter of Rightsand Freedoms. We have the HEU workers and the B.C. teachers. In fact, we had one of the longest strikes in B.C. history thatwas precipitated by the B.C. Liberals.

Both of those actions were struck down by the Supreme Courtof Canada. [11:20 a.m.] Employment standards. When the B.C. Liberals made changes to the Employment Standards Act in 2002, they slashed protections to non-unionized workers whose employment standards are set by the act — representing more than 80 percent of workers who are not in unions. The B.C. Liberal government cut resources to employment standards and leftworkers to fend forthemselves whilethey faced unscrupulous employers. As faras workersafety and WorkSafe B.C., the B.C.

Liber- algovernmentcreated asystem that’s designed to deny bene- fitsto injured workers. The B.C. Liberalgovernmentneglect, actually weakening workplacesafety enforcement, resulted in the deaths of fourworkers in the Babine and the Lakeland sawmillexplosions and, in fact,setitup so thatthere was an inability to hold anyone accountable for that. Temporary foreign workers. The B.C. Liberalgovernment failed to monitor compliance with the requirementsof the temporary foreign workers program, leading to abuse of for- eign workers — and the abuse of the program by employers — who came to use it. The minimum wage.

The B.C. Liberalgovernmentleftthe province with the highest level of worker poverty in the country. Even for peoplewho hadjobs, many of them wer- en’t ableto even live above the poverty line. The previous governmentleftmore peopleliving paycheque to paycheque and relying on payday loans and food banks. As Canadians and B.C.’ers, we’ve benefited from labour rightsand protections.

From the numberof working hours to EI to workersafety to maternity leave to fairwages, bene- fits and pensions and so much more, our government respects the labour rights and protections that so many peoplefoughtfor— and so many peopleactually died for— and rejectsthe previous government’s continued attemptsto erode workers’ rights,to rip up collectively bargained agree- ments,to reducesafety complianceand to keep peoplework- ing below the poverty line.

I’m very excited that the Minister of Labour is being tasked with strengthening the labour code, updating employmentstandards, increasing safety compliance, mak- ing conditions betterforforeign workers and increasing the minimum wage to bring many people out of poverty. It’s time thatwe hadagovernmentthatnotonly respectslabour rights and protections, but actually makes life better for working people in this province. B. Stewart: It’s a pleasure and an honour to be here to speak in support of the labour rights and protections in British Columbia in this m otion.

This subjecthas been on my mind lately because I had an opportunity to particip- ate in the labourcode review in Kelowna recently. We had som e great discussions, and it m ade m e think about how far we’d com e. Back when I was young, working with my fatherand the workers on ourfarm, we didn’thave the same protections as we do today. Today we have a fullhuman resource depart- ment, and that’s something that is unimaginable by many farmers back in my father’s era and even in my own. Butthe rightsand protections thatlabourers and employ- ees have today don’tjustbenefitworkers.

They also benefit the employers and the business as awhole. When acompany invests in its employees, providing skills training, vehicle certification and benefits,you have a betterenvironmentfor everyone and higher worker retention and loyalty. Employees are more valued by employers, I’d say, today than they’ve been in a long time. Butten or 30 or 40 years 3600 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 9, 2018

ago, it was something that maybe these remarks that are coming from the members opposite are relating to, the fact that employees were maybe taken advantage of. We’ve worked really hard to make certain thatthe playing fieldis level for everyone. This strengthening of the employer and employee rela- tionship is a major factor in the historically low unemploy- mentrates we now have in British Columbia. Overa decade and a half ago, our B.C. Liberal government strengthened the roleof the B.C.

LabourRelations Board in setting their new goalof fostering employmentof workers in economic- ally viablebusinesses and to recognize the rightsof employ- ees, trade unions and employers. When I was a kid, farmworkers laboured away on open tractors and may have even been working hands-on with potentially toxic and deadly chemicals. Don’tforgetthatthe use of DDT was only suspended in Canada in 1995, and existing stocks were permitted until the end of 1990. Recently my farm invested in a new tractor. Mr. Speaker, are you aware of the quality standards of what these new tractors bring for our workers?

They’re closed cabins with NIOSH filtration, heating and airconditioning, and rollover protection systems foradded safety. We believe itis import- antto make sure thatallworkers — every mom, dad, sibling, spouse, friend — make it home each and every night. [11:25 a.m.] Ourformergovernment’s commi tmentto work with uni- ons, employers, workers and WorkSafe B.C. to keep workers safe was exemplary, and we continue to advocate forworker safety. I do so from a position of principleand from experi- encein BritishColumbia’s agriculturalindustry, where safety is our top priority.

We know thatsafety startsbefore workers everstep onto asite. The previous B.C. Liberalgovernmentinvested record amountsin skills training to providethe experienceand the abilities necessary to maintain a safe workplace, and Work- Safe B.C. doubled the number of officers dedicated to the agriculturalsectorto enforcethe protection of farmworkers in B.C. The B.C. Liberal government made great strides in increasingfarm safety.

We created an interagency agricultur- alcompliancecommi ttee to supportan integrated approach to farmworkersafety and to ensure thatthe rightsand safety of workers in the agricultural sector are protected. We amended the Motor VehicleActto allow the govern- ment to act swiftly and strongly against those designated inspection facilitiesthatdonotperform inspection to stand- ards. We changed the Employment Standards Act to hold farm labourcontractors accountablefor safe transportation of theiremployees.

We’ve changed the EmploymentStand- ards Actand the Motor VehicleActto make seatbeltsman- datory for allpassengervehiclesand 15-passengervans and to require a noticein each vehiclestating driver, seating and seatbelt requirements. The injury rate in agriculture alone decreased from 5 per- centin 2000 to 2.6 percentin 2013. And between 2000 and 2014, traumatic work death rates decreased by 32 percent, serious injury rates decreased by 24 percent,and injury rates decreased by 41 percent. In fact, all work-related deaths in B.C. decreased by 42 percentfrom 1990 till2014.

We have a proud record of standing up for workers and ensuring that everyone is treated fairly and equitably in British Columbia, which…. Deputy Speaker: Thank you, Member. R. Leonard: I appreciate the opportunity to address the m otion, by the m emberforNanaimo–North Cowichan, on recognizing the importance of worker rights and protec- tions. Now 107 years ago on March 25, the TriangleShirtwaist factory fire in New York City killed 145 workers, mostly young immigrantgirls. These young girls were unorganized, isolated by language, exploited by theirvulnerableeconomic circumstancesand working atgreatrisk.

Despite fullaware- ness of the dangerous conditions and the threatof fire, noth- ing was done until tragedy struck. The publicoutrage that ensued brought 80,000 people onto the streets demanding change. It was a defining moment in history for worker safety. It drove legislative change, systemic change instituting protections like fire prevention laws, improved labourcodesso thatunsafe work- ing conditions could be addressed and workers’ rights enforced, and of course, itgalvanized workers to unite to put powerbehind theirdemands fortheirsafety and well-being on the job.

We know that this one catastrophe was only the begin- ning. Overa century has rolled by, and workers’ rightsand protections have felt the changing fortunes of time. Let’s look attoday’s circumstances.I referto pointsraised in an

article written by Jock Finlayson for the Business Councilof B.C. in 2015. Along with globalization, he high- lighted today’s changing demographics, technological innovation, changing business practicesand the structure of employmentas contributing to a less organized labourforce — in other words, compromising the ability of workers to assert their rights and protections.

Four out of five private sector workers in B.C. must rely on the minimum standards and protections afforded in the EmploymentStandards Act.Who are these workers thatare now more vulnerable to being treated unfairly or having theirhealth and safety compromised? They can be full-time employees, but often they work part-time or in temporary positions, orthey work on contractas freelancers orin self- employed positions.

They are likely to work in the service sector, especially smalloperations, orforhigh-techstart-ups. [11:30 a.m.] How does the Employment Standards Act stand up against the 1911 watershed moment in workers’ rightsand protections? It wouldbe niceif we couldsay we’ve come a long way. But have we? It didn’t take long before the previous B.C. Liberal gov- ernmentbegan itsslash-and-burn program againstworkers’ Monday, April 9, 2018 British Columbia Debates 3601

rights and protections, in 2002. As stated earlier, they reduced the numberof officesacross the provinceand staff- ing, despite the numberof workers in B.C. increasing by 23 percent and the number of employers by 25 percent. Where every complaint was investigated before the B.C. Liberals took office in 2001, they swiftly brought in legislation that watered down the process. Workers must use a self-help kit, which has resulted in a great reduction of complaints.

Rather, with the complicated process, there are improper supports which intimidate people and have become a barrier to justice for the most vulnerable workers. Proactive enforcement and unannounced inspections have beenabandoned. The actis now rife with exemptions of occupations and exclusions to rules. Despite the challenges forworkers in today’s marketplace, the previous government stated that they had no intention of changing employmentstandards in the foreseeablefuture.

With workers losing out on wages and minimum benefits afforded to only some, and otherviolations of workerrights and protections, life is far from affordableand is lacking in the servicesthey need to ensure fairness and safety in the workplace. It is no wonderthe m andate letter of the new Minister of Labour calls for an increase to compliance with the employm entlaws and to putin placestandards to protect the lives and safety of workers. Ourgovernmenthas begun this work, already increasing the funding for assistance to both workers and employers to navigate the workers com- pensation process.

The mandate also calls for an update to employment standards to reflect the changing nature of workplacesand ensure they are evenly applied and enforced. We can make B.C. a workplace of choice in the world. R. Sultan: I want to thank the member for Nanaimo–North Cowichan for bringing forward this very importantmotion today. I’m no strangerto workplaceacci- dents,some of them catastrophically fatal. My father-in-law was killed trying to control a runaway logging truck at Brown’s Bay. At Jervis Inlet,I carried my brother-in-law, a seriously injured faller, out of the woods on a stretcher.

What was our government’s safety record when we ran the show not so long ago? On our watch between 2000 and 2014, traumatic work-related death rates decreased by 32 percent. Serious injury rates decreased by 24 percent, and injury rates, overall, decreased by 41 percent. Under the m andates from both sides of this House m easuring from 1990 to 2014, B.C.’s work-related deaths decreased by 42 percent. I think that’s an extraordinarily wonderful accomplishment. How did our government help achieve this goal? Well, we strengthened the Workers Compensation Act,enhancing workplace safety with new enforcement tools.

We imple- mented Grant’s Law, requiring a prepaymentatgas stations to protectworkersafety. This led to regulations for working alone and in isolation, givingretailworkers added protection when working late at night. With the BCNU, we spent$4 million forviolencepreven- tion in ten priority hospitals, since hospitals had become among ourmostdangerous workplaces.We expanded pre- sumptive health coverage for firefighters. WorkSafe B.C. doubled the numberof officers dedicated to the protec- tion of farm workers. The injury rate in agriculture was cut in half.

We changed the EmploymentStandards Actto hold the farm labourcontractors accountableforsafe transporta- tion of employees. So itgoes, a comm endableand necessary commi tment to worker safety. [11:35 a.m.] Turning to workerrights,there have been no strikes since 2013 — neither publicnor private sectors. That speaks for itself, in my view. We shall see how this new government performs. Beginning in 2001, the governmentstrengthened the roleof the B.C.

LabourRelations Board with anew man- date to foster the employment of workers in economically viablebusinessesand betterdefiningthe rightsof employees, tradeunions and employers. The secretballotin the union- ization process was re-established to prevent bullying and intimidation in the workplace. Surely this government does not plan to turn back the clock in a retrogradefashion. Our new leader’s platform emphasized safety and true equality for allwomen. No per- son shouldever have to endure harassment or assault. All persons shouldbe unquestionably safe in theirworkplaces, schools and comm unities.

Yet as the vast outpouring of #MeToo survivors demonstrated, we allhave a lotof unfin- ished business here. If this side were government, I believe that we would extend the SexualViolenceand MisconductPolicy Actto the entire publicsector. As British Columbia’s largest employ- er, governmenthas the largestresponsibility to ensure auto- matictermination when allegations of sexualharassmentare proven to be true. We mustalso ensure equalrepresentation of women in all of the senior positions in government. I have not looked at the statsin detail, but letm e give you som e impressions.

It would not surprise m e to find significant backsliding in this regard. If true, it wouldbe truly regrettable, given the presentgovernment’s posturing on this issue. R.

Kahlon: I would like to thank the member for Nanaimo–NorthCowichan forbringingforththis important motion: “Be it resolved that this House recognize the importance of labour rights and protections.” When I was thinking about this topic, I thought of the oldquote thatmany folks in labouruse: “We wantforothers what we want for ourselves.” We look back at the history of the labour movement and working people across this province, and many of the things that we maybe take for granted now, thatwe’ve gotten through hard, hard work and the commi tmentof workers….

Obviously, minimum wage is one of those pieces.I’m proud of ourgovernment’s commi t- ment to bring the minimum wage up to $15.20 by 2021. 3602 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 9, 2018

Overtime pay. I know thatsome members of this House wish that there was some overtime pay for the long hours they putin here. Butovertime pay was an importantthing that was brought in by workers, pushing governments to bring it into place. Workplacesafety and standards. I’lltouch on thata little bitlater. Maternity and parentalleave. I think we’re fortunate to have the levels we do. I think there are some improve- mentsthatcertainly need to be madeon thatside, and I’m looking forward to that as well. Vacation pay. And something that is really important is protection from dis- crimination and harassment.

I justwantto touch on one of the importantthings that’s happened in the last16 years. I know the members opposite share one side of that story, and I’d like to share another sideof the story. Thatwas when the governmentpassed Bill 29. This law excluded health and comm unity social work- ers from labourlaws and the same protections thatworkers hadin this province. It’s somethingthatI know the members didn’t mention, but I want to make sure I highlight it. Itwas the biggestmass layoff — as someone mentioned, of mostly immigrantworkers — the largestin Canadian his- tory. Over8,000 workers were laid off.

That’s significantfor me because my mom was one of those people. Often people talk aboutlegislation and talk aboutnumbers and stats,but these are real people that have families. [11:40 a.m.] Often when we talk aboutBill29, we talk aboutitas abill. We talk aboutitas legislation. Butrealfamiliesare affected by it.Ourfamily was affected by it.My mom lostherjob. It was a very tough time for my family. I was lucky thatI was atthe age where I couldwork and help, and my sistercould work and help. Butitwas hard formy mom.

Going outand findingjobs thatwere paying30 percent,40 percentless than whatshe hadwas a bigsetback, and notonly forherand for her peers. It’s a big reason why I’m here. It’s a big reason why I’m on this side of the House. Members on this side of the House stood in this cham ber, speaking allnightand rais- ing the issues of workers throughoutthis province. I thank them all for that. The other piece I want to talk about…. Members have talked aboutthe amazing record thatthey claim to have on worker safety. Well, we had two major mill explosions in this province where workers died.

When I started working here atthe Legislature, one of the firstthings thatI actually worked on was this file. Itsticks with me to this day. I was asked to travel to Burns Lake and meet with the families — in particular, Maureen Luggi — and some of the folks who were injured, and Ken Michell, who I think is watching today. I travelled up there. Itwas one of the hardestthings, to thatpoint,thatI had done, sitting down with Maureen Luggi as she cried on my shoulder, talking about herlast conversation with herhus- band. He basically said to her, “Pray for me.

There’s something wrong” — and then the phone hanging up, and then hermad panic to getto the mill, only to find outthat there was an explosion. Itwas followed by anotherexplosion in Prince George, where more workers were injured, and then I travelled up to Prince George to talk to the workers that survived that. Hon. Speaker, we have alotmore to do. The red lightis on. I thank you for your time. J. Martin: I’m very pleased to rise in the House and speak to this m otion regarding labour rights and protec- tions. I acknowledge my colleagueacross the tableforrais- ing this topic.

As Labourcriticforthe officialopposition, I join him and others in recognizing the importance of labour rights and protections in the workplace. A strong workforceis vitalfor the province’s economic success. Afterall, it’s the hard work of each and every British Columbian thatensures thatgov- ernment can invest in our province and the social services that we all rely on. Because I recognizethe importanceof hard-working Brit- ish Columbians, I do have concerns with some of the gov- ernment’s plans around labourreform. In Canada, workers have the rightto organize.

It’s protected underourconstitu- tion, and this willneverbe in question. However, this gov- ernment has indicated it wants to change the way worker organization happens. Currently, unions are certified by secretballot.The secretballotis an enduring regularity, and it is a staple of every democratic country and institution. Unions have long followed certification by way of a secret ballot.Workers weigh the pros and cons of joining a union, and they casttheirindividualballotaccordingly in privacy, as is the norm in a democratic institution.

However, the Premier has said he favours a card-check system, telling the Vancouver Sun and Province editorial board: “I believe that the right to join a union is a funda- mentalrightin Canada,and I believe card check is an appro- priate way for that to happen.” Well, undera card-check system, a majority of workers simply have to sign union cards in orderto certify a union. The system theoretically makes it easier for workers to organize, butthere are significantproblems with this.

We’ve heard from groups such as the IndependentContractors and Business Association that this will diminish workers rights and democracy in the workplaceand couldalso leadto bul- lying and intimidation. Underthe card-check system, employees’ decisions about whetherornotto organize are public,and as such, employ- ees may be subject to pressure. [11:45 a.m.] A total of 13 business organizations, including the B.C.

Chamber of Comm erce, the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association, the Greater Vancouver Board of Tradeand the Urban DevelopmentInstitute, among oth- ers, have expressed grave concerns about the government’s potential changes to the labour code — pointing to a long period of labour peace and stability our province has Monday, April 9, 2018 British Columbia Debates 3603

recently seen as evidence that the current system is quite functional. To addto the potential for concern, we’ve seen how the card-check system has been playing out next door in Alberta. In Septemberof lastyear, the new Alberta govern- mentchanged the way unions are certified, carrying outthe same kind of changes thatourown governmentis looking to in British Columbia. We’ve already seen the fallout of that. Workers from ICON WestConstruction in Calgary, who are believed to be the first workers in Alberta to certify a union underthe new system, have reported being tricked into signing union certification cards.

One worker, a recent immigrantto Canada, toldthe Calgary Herald thata union official approached him, saying that he owes in the neigh- bourhood of $250 in past dues, but that his debt couldbe forgotten if he paid $2. Whilehe was toldthe signature he provided wouldbe used for a receipt, he says it was actu- ally used to sign him up for the union. The worker spoke anonymously for fear of repercussions. There are dangers in the card-check system. Itis the early days in Alberta, and so far, we have great areas for concern.

Clearly, the governmentmustwalk back from the desire to disband the secretballot.Bullying, intimidation, coercion and thuggery have no placein Canadian society, and the worksite must never, ever become the exception. J. Routledge:I’m very pleased to have this opportunity to speak to this motion. I thank the moverof the motion for, in his opening com- ments, making the specific connection between gender equality and labourrightsand protections. It’s in thatcontext that I’d like to make my comm ents. A few years ago, I found myselfin Iceland.

The very first day there I ended up having a lovely mealin one of the best restaurants in Reykjavik. When the bill came, we realized thatwe hadn’ttaken the time to find outwhatthe localtip- ping policy was, so we asked our server. I remember she laughed, and she said: “Well, you know, here in Iceland, we make pretty good wages, so we don’t actually tip. But we know thattouristsdo.

So if you feela need to tip, we’re just going to put it in a pool and have a big party every so often.” Well, I’m really glad that I asked, because I’ve since learned thattipping in Iceland is an insult,as itis in many otherpartsof the world. In fact,nowhere in the worldis tip- ping embedded in the pay structure to the same degree that it is in North America. Like many women, I did my stintas a serverwhen I was young. Like many women, I had, when I was in high school, worked in retail part time, but it just didn’t pay enough to get me through university.

With tips, I could earn almost enough to pay for tuition and my share of room and board. It was not lost on me, at 19 years of age, that whileI was scraping by on tips, the boys in my class were making better money working in construction. Some of them couldeven go out to the oil fields in the summ er. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] I remember one summ er. I was working down east at a nightclub thathadafloorshow. Itwas apretty popularplace to celebrate big eventslike birthdays and retirements.You couldmake good money on a large party, but you needed to, because a large party couldoccupy your entire

section for the wholenight.I can’ttellyou how many times, atthe end of a long, hard shift,the guy paying the billfor maybe 20 customers wouldleave the same tip he would’ve lefthad he come in by himselffora quick drink and thoughthe was being very generous. Another summ er, I was working in another part of the country. One nighta drunk tried to follow me home. I don’t know what would have happened had a couple of Good Samaritans not intervened. I putup with it.Why?

I believed itwas temporary, and it was ameans to an end, and because itwas my only option if I was going to make it through university. [11:50 a.m.] Recently I meta woman in hermid to late 40s who had been a cocktailwaitress formore than 20 years. She’d always madegood money. She’d alwayshadcontroloverherlife. But now, allof a sudden,she couldn’tfind work in herfield. She no longerfitthe image. She doesn’tqualify forEI because she didwhatshe’d been doing for20 years. She quitherjob con- fidentshe’d find anotherone.

More than 80 percentof food and beverage servers in B.C. are women, and mostare paid a minimum wage and expected to achieve a living wage by topping up their paycheques with tips.

Now, many of the previous speakers across the aislehave been comm ending themselves for standing up for workers’ rights.ButI wouldlike to remind us thatthatgovernment institutionalized the practice of customers becoming responsible for a percentage of servers’ wages when they instituted the lowerminimum wage forliquorservers, thus, by doing so, making the economic security of many women even more dependenton tips, more dependenton the way they look and more dependent on the way they dress and even the way they entertain their customers.

Itmakes women more vulnerableto sexualharassment.It sexualizestheirworkplaces.It’s notuncomm on for women servers to be toldby customers to “play nice,” because if they don’t play nice, they don’t get paid. To conclude, I did a bit of research about the history of tipping. It is believed to have started in Tudor England when overnightguestsin private homes wouldleave token amounts for their hosts’ servants — that’s right, their ser- vants. We live in a proudly egalitarian society in Canada today. We believe we have eliminated the class system.

The women who serve us ourfood and beverages in restaurants and bars throughoutthis provinceare notourservants.They are our equals, and they deserve to be treated that way. J. Routledge moved adjournment of debate. 3604 British Columbia Debates Monday, April 9, 2018

Motion approved. Hon. B. Ralston moved adjournment of the House. Motion approved. Mr. Speaker: This House stands adjourned until1:30 this afternoon. The House adjourned at 11:52 a.m. Monday, April 9, 2018 British Columbia Debates 3605

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Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20180409am-Hansard-n107
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20180409am Hansard n107
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	b3af87c6791c61cd933405c052eeb130f0ac295d

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