Third Session, 41st Parliament

(2018) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Morning Sitting

Issue No. 81

ISSN 1499-2175

The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.

The PDF transcript remains the official digital version.

CONTENTS

Routine Business

Introductions by Members

Tributes

Cassie Sharpe, Spencer O’Brien and Carle Brenneman

R. Leonard

Introductions by Members

Statements (Standing Order 25B)

Self-Advocates of Semiahmoo

T. Redies

Burnaby Family Life Society and café services at

BCIT

J. Routledge

B.C. and North Shore athletes at Olympics in Pyeongchang

J. Thornthwaite

Ferry fares and coastal communities

D. Routley

Hope and Area Transition Society programs and facilities

J. Tegart

Social equality and justice awareness

R. Kahlon

Oral Questions

Environment Minister communications prior to spill response announcement

P. Milobar

Hon. G. Heyman

M. Lee

Money laundering in real estate industry

S. Furstenau

Hon. D. Eby

Status of ocean protection plan

J. Thornthwaite

Hon. G. Heyman

Regulations on spill response

J. Rustad

Hon. G. Heyman

Gallagher Lake siphon repair

D. Ashton

Hon. L. Popham

Flood risk mitigation for wildfire-damaged areas in Cariboo

D. Barnett

Hon. D. Donaldson

Family Day date change and tourism industry

M. Stilwell

Hon. L. Beare

Orders of the Day

Throne Speech Debate

(continued)

M. Elmore

T. Shypitka

Hon. M. Farnworth

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

The House met at 10:04 a.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers.

[10:05 a.m.]

Introductions by Members

Hon. D. Eby: I was looking around the gallery, and I saw Behzad Homaie, a housing

activist who I heard on the CBC the other day. I hope he hears the housing

budget news that he’s clearly here to hear today. I’d like to welcome him to

the House.

I hope I’m not stealing another member’s thunder, but I noticed Dale

Jackman up in the gallery there, a perennial candidate for the NDP in

Richmond and also a very proud business owner and a wonderful guy, to

boot.

Will the House please join me in making them both welcome.

A. Wilkinson: It’s a great pleasure to introduce five bright young minds who have

joined the opposition side of the House as legislative interns this session.

Joining us in caucus research are Celina Bell, a graduate of Simon Fraser

University; and Matthew Creswick and Cate White from the University of

Victoria. Joining our caucus communications staff are Zoe Duhaime and Sarah

Lazin, both of whom attended the University of Victoria.

I won’t tell the old joke about how when the Okies moved to

California, the IQ improved in both jurisdictions. But we can note that the

interns bring a whole level of energy and enthusiasm and learning and wisdom

to this august chamber. I won’t make any remarks about the IQ

changes.

Tributes

CASSIE SHARPE, SPENCER O’BRIEN

AND CARLE

BRENNEMAN

R. Leonard: I hope the House will join me today in congratulating Cassie

Sharpe for winning a gold in the half-pipe, first event. Her parents are

with her in Pyeongchang. Her father was the director of operations at

Mount Washington for 17 years, so she definitely grew up on the mountain

slope. In a world of 7.6 billion people, to be top in her event is

pretty amazing.

I also want to acknowledge Spencer O’Brien and Carle Brenneman,

who also were cultivated on Mount Washington and were Olympic-level

athletes. Congratulations to all three and, in particular,

congratulations to Cassie.

Introductions by Members

J. Martin: Joining us in the precincts today is a constituent from Chilliwack. We

have Hugh Robins in the House. His favourite daughter-in-law works for the

B.C. Liberal caucus, a senior legislative assistant. Please join me in

making him feel welcome.

B. Ma: It is my pleasure to be able to introduce someone who is in the

gallery today, a very valued volunteer, Ms. Alysa Huppler-Poliak. Her

cheerful demeanour and absolutely brilliant smile have always managed to

make my day. I’m so grateful to her for her help. She used to live in my

constituency of North Vancouver–Lonsdale but has now moved to the

constituency of Vancouver–Mount Pleasant. Again, I’m very lucky that she

still makes the trek all the way over to the North Shore to help me out.

Would the gallery please join me in making her feel very welcome.

L. Reid: I am delighted, on behalf of my Richmond colleagues, to introduce an

outstanding delegation on behalf of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce. We’re

joined today by Matt Pitcairn, Dan Sakaki, Shaena Furlong, Barbara Tinson,

Fan Chun, Rob Akimow, Phebe Chan, Clint Undseth, Brian Corcoran, Grant

Bryan, Chuck Keeling and Dale Jackman. I’d ask the House to please make them

very welcome.

Hon. H. Bains: I am proud to announce to this House and introduce to you a long-term

friend, a very, very regular volunteer. I think she’s a part of the team

that put me into this seat. Koni Marrington is here today to watch us, watch

the budget and then question period. Please help me give her a warm

welcome.

[10:10 a.m.]

Hon. M. Mark: I have a guest here in the chambers, Lisa Langevin, who has been a

champion for women in the trades. She’s a president for the B.C. Tradeswomen

Society. She’s an apprentice electrician. She’s been an advocate and

champion for women that want to enter the trades, stay in the trades and

advance in the trades. Will the House please join me in welcoming her in the

chambers.

J. Yap: I have a guest from my riding with us this morning to observe question

period, Trevor Merrell. Would the House please give him a warm

welcome.

Statements

(Standing Order 25B)

SELF-ADVOCATES OF SEMIAHMOO

T. Redies: The Self-Advocates of Semiahmoo is a non-profit organization

funded by the Semiahmoo Society in South Surrey. Their mission is to

further positive change by engaging the community in a variety of

initiatives that help break down stigmas and physical barriers for

people with disabilities.

In 2017, the Self-Advocates of Semiahmoo were included in the

acknowledgment came because of their continued effort to make White Rock

beach a more inclusive space by providing a by-donation rental program

of beach wheelchairs for community members and visitors.

The members of this organization were also federally recognized

for their work with the planned accessible legislation for Canada.

Currently the Self-Advocates of Semiahmoo are diligently working with

the city of White Rock to create accessible access points along White

Rock beach.

Their ongoing initiatives also include presentations to local

schools focused on a program called Equally Empowered, which promotes

the capabilities and strengths of people living with disabilities, as

well as volunteering and teaching resilience in life.

I’m very pleased to highlight this very important organization

which is promoting inclusion and understanding in our Surrey–White Rock

community. I know that the self-advocates have been welcomed and

embraced by our community wholeheartedly, and we are a better place

because of them.

BURNABY FAMILY LIFE SOCIETY

AND CAFÉ SERVICES AT

BCIT

J. Routledge: I’d like to take this opportunity to tell you about an

organization that already plays an important role in my community yet

recently has taken on something even more profound.

Burnaby Family Life is a non-profit that offers a wide range of

social services to children, families, vulnerable immigrants and

refugees. For example, it offers workshops in a variety of languages on

such topics as effective parenting, positive discipline, anger

management, money skills and dealing with parental stress. They organize

support groups for single parents and recent immigrants.

Last fall BFL opened a café and catering service on campus at

BCIT. More specifically, the café operates in BCIT’s Applied Research

and Innovation building — a pretty appropriate location, if you ask me.

BCIT, always a supporter of innovation, has provided the space free of

charge.

The café is a social enterprise venture. It creates employment and

employability to some of the organization’s most vulnerable clients. It

generates revenue to support BFL’s programs, and it prepares meals for

its pregnancy outreach program.

Earlier this year my community office booked the BFL café to cater

a lunch for a meeting we were hosting. We had mushroom spinach alfredo.

It was healthy, delicious and competitively priced, and our dining

pleasure was amplified by the knowledge that we were supporting an

organization that supports so many families in Burnaby. Next time we

might try the roasted squash salad or the baked ziti.

I congratulate Burnaby Family Life and BCIT for embarking on this

partnership and wish them great success.

B.C. AND NORTH SHORE ATHLETES

AT OLYMPICS IN

PYEONGCHANG

J. Thornthwaite: I’d like to recognize a group of North Shore Canadians in

Pyeonchang, right now representing our country in the

Olympics.

Of the 225 Canadian athletes in South Korea, 14 of them are from

the North Shore, either by birth, being raised here or as current

residents. Jane Channell, Manuel Osborne-Paradis, Stefan Elliott,

Gilbert Brulé, Mercedes Nicoll, Spencer O’Brien, Broderick Thompson,

Marielle Thompson, Emma Lunder, Simon D’Artois, Cassie Sharpe, Tess

Critchlow and Carle Brenneman all share ties to the North

Shore.

[10:15 a.m.]

I think everyone in this chamber will be happy to hear that last

night an athlete from the North Shore won gold for Canada. Cassie

Sharpe, originally from Comox, who qualified first in her event, took

home the top prize for the half-pipe, making all of us on the North

Shore and in British Columbia very proud.

I unfortunately don’t have time to name all of their fantastic

accomplishments, but here are some. Jane Channell, a first-time

competitor, is part of our skeleton team. Mercedes Nicoll is a four-time

Olympian competing in snowboarding. Marielle Thompson, who won gold in

the Sochi Olympics, is hoping to repeat her feat. And Spencer O’Brien is

in the big air final on Friday.

The North Shore isn’t alone in being proud. One-quarter of all the

athletes representing Canada have either lived or trained in British

Columbia. Here in British Columbia we continue to reap the benefits that

flowed to our province after our successful hosting of the Winter

Olympics in 2010.

Not to be forgotten, another group of extraordinary Canadians will

be travelling to Pyeonchang soon with the 2018 Winter Paralympics,

starting on March 8.

Would the House join me in congratulating all of the athletes on

this amazing feat of reaching the Olympics and wish them all the best

competitively. Go, Canada go!

FERRY FARES AND COASTAL COMMUNITIES

D. Routley: Transportation everywhere in B.C. is a vital issue but distinctly

different in the various regions of the province. On Vancouver Island,

the Gulf Islands and Sunshine Coast, we are nearly totally

ferry-dependent. Air travel is not an option for most of the people and

businesses I represent. Our lives ebb and flow with the tides and the

costs of ferry travel. Our businesses face additional competitive

pressures because of increased costs of transportation. Our students

face challenges to participate in school sports and extracurricular

activities. Families are faced with high costs for essential medical

travel.

One First Nation I represent is entirely ferry-dependent. The

Penelakut First Nation — already deeply challenged by poverty, lack of

reliable water, essentially nonexistent services such as firefighting —

must also struggle to get back and forth from the island to Chemainus,

where they must purchase all their food and goods. They struggle for

ferry fares to attend family and community events.

B.C. Ferries was established in 1960 during a labour dispute at

Black Ball and Canadian Pacific ferry corporations. It is the largest

ferry service in North America and second-largest in the

world.

Hundreds of thousands of passengers are moved by B.C. Ferries per

year. There are six terminals in my constituency plus one in my

neighbour Nanaimo’s constituency that one must pass through to get to an

island in my constituency.

Several years ago, amid fare increases that were several times

greater than the general inflation rate, the Union of B.C.

Municipalities commissioned a study which indicated $2 billion in lost

GDP because of those high rates of increase.

Our government has committed to make life more affordable for

families. Reducing ferry fares will have an immediate impact in

relieving families struggling to contain costs, it will have an

immediate impact in reducing costs to businesses, and it will remove a

major obstacle to our tourism industry.

HOPE AND AREA TRANSITION SOCIETY

PROGRAMS AND

FACILITIES

J. Tegart: Abuse, addiction and homelessness are some of the toughest

experiences that anyone can endure. I rise today to talk about the Hope

and Area Transition Society, which offers shelter to those seeking

refuge from life’s storms.

Founded in 1993, the transition society offers a range of programs

from youth violence prevention, aboriginal mentorship, counselling and

even extreme weather support. The society is able to offer a wide

breadth of programs thanks, in part, to the local volunteers who

continue to play a critical role in HATS’s success.

I recently had the opportunity to visit the facility in Hope and

meet with the executive director, Gerry Dyble. During our meeting, we

were able to discuss some of the unique challenges that Hope faces and

how they, as a transition society, were trying to address local issues.

During my time with Ms. Dyble, she was able to talk about some of the

work that HATS has have been pioneering, projects like Thunderbird Motel

and the Jean Scott Transition House.

The Thunderbird Motel provides those who suffer from long-term

homelessness the chance to live in an environment that is safe,

inclusive and supportive. The motel focuses on helping residents develop

the life skills necessary to live a healthy and independent life through

learning and volunteer opportunities.

Alternatively, the Jean Scott Transition House is an eight-bed,

24-hour facility that provides shelter and supportive services for women

and children fleeing domestic abuse.

[10:20 a.m.]

These two projects that I’ve highlighted are just a small sampling

of what is provided by this society. The work that’s being done provides

an immeasurable amount of good for the community and the surrounding

area.

I’d like to invite all members of this House to join me in

thanking the Hope and Area Transition Society.

SOCIAL EQUALITY

AND JUSTICE

AWARENESS

R. Kahlon: Today is social equality and justice day. It is a day recognizing

the need to promote efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion,

unemployment. This day is a reminder that we as a province, a country

and as representatives of communities must continue to work to remove

barriers faced by people because of gender, age, race, ethnicity,

religion, culture or disability. We have made some progress in Canada,

but much work remains.

We must improve racial equity in Canada. In Canada,

university-educated, Canadian-born members of visible minority groups

earn an average 87.4 cents for every dollar earned by a Caucasian peer,

according to the Conference Board of Canada.

We must improve LGBTQ equity. More than one in five LGBTQ students

reported being physically harassed or assaulted due to their sexual

orientation.

We must improve Indigenous communities’ equity. Suicide rates

among First Nations youth are five to six times the national average,

while Inuit youth rates are approximately ten times the national

average. Addressing these challenges requires hard work, cooperation and

the will for change in the name of justice.

On this day, I think of experiences that people from marginalized

communities face every day and the sacrifices they have made to survive.

I think of the diverted dreams of individuals and missed opportunities

and innovations of our communities that rise from coming together. I

think of painful experiences of generations past and my deep desire to

be part of a fundamental change to create a different future for my son

and his generation. It is imperative on us to make this shift

happen.

In closing, on social equality and justice day, I would like to

thank the thousands of individuals and organizations who step up and

raise issues in their communities, in our province and in our

country.

Oral Questions

ENVIRONMENT MINISTER COMMUNICATIONS

PRIOR TO SPILL

RESPONSE ANNOUNCEMENT

P. Milobar: Yesterday the Minister of Environment said that his calendar for

the January 30 Bowen Island retreat was publicly available, but this is

not the case.

I’ll ask again. Will he table his January calendar and all

materials related to the secret Bowen Island retreat?

Hon. G. Heyman: This must be the most widely talked about secret retreat in

history.

I looked in my calendar. I saw the meeting in my calendar. I

double-checked with staff. It was in my calendar. My calendar is

published proactively. That’s all you need to know. It’s

public.

Mr. Speaker: Kamloops–North Thompson on a supplemental.

P. Milobar: We did not receive it through a public means.

The timing of the minister’s disclosure….

Interjections.

P. Milobar: This is a very serious matter. The timing of the minister’s

disclosure….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, we shall hear the question, please.

P. Milobar: Although the government finds this a laughing matter, it’s very

serious. The timing of the minister’s disclosure of his market-sensitive

announcement is critically important.

Last Wednesday in this House, the minister was very clear. He had

informed multiple groups prior to making the information public. On what

day and at what time did the minister inform individuals and the Bowen

Island group of the details of his forthcoming announcement?

[10:25 a.m.]

Hon. G. Heyman: For a period of several hours on the 29th of January, officials of

this government — including myself, officials in my ministry — made a

number of contacts with different people, including government and — not

an exhaustive list — the federal Environment deputy minister; the DFO,

Department of Fisheries and Oceans; Transport Canada; Coast Guard; the

National Energy Board; and Natural Resources Canada.

In industry, again the day before: the Canadian Association of

Petroleum Producers; the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association; B.C.

Business Council; the Railway Association of Canada; First Nations,

including the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, the Tsleil-Waututh, the

Heiltsuk; as well as environmental groups.

That’s not a complete list, but the complete list could be

provided if you wished.

Mr. Speaker: Kamloops–North Thompson on a second supplemental.

P. Milobar: I would note that within minutes of the announcement, the

minister’s former colleagues at the Sierra Club issued a news release

stating that the B.C. government would “introduce oil spill regulations

that restrict new shipments of diluted bitumen.” This is the

section

that the Alberta government declared to be a surprise and which led to

the totally unnecessary trade war.

Can the minister confirm that before the announcement, he gave

groups the information related to restricting the transportation of

diluted bitumen?

Hon. G. Heyman: I’m not sure how many times or how many ways I can answer the

member’s question.

I’ve announced that governments — including the government of

Alberta, including deputy ministers in the Alberta government; including

industry; including First Nations; and, yes, including environmental

stakeholders; all of whom have an interest in this issue — were given

information in broad-brush strokes about all of the five points of the

proposal to consult with British Columbians about regulations to do with

spill control.

What I’m hearing from British Columbians, and I’m hearing it

consistently since January 30, is how happy they are to have a

government that listens to them; that stands up for our coast, our

environment, our rivers and our streams; and that stands up for all of

the jobs, the tens of thousands of jobs in tourism, in fishing, in small

coastal communities, in Interior tourist attractions — standing up to

ensure that those jobs are protected from the possibility of a

catastrophic oil spill by doing the outrageous act of proposing we get

sound science on how to transport these substances safely and clean them

up if they are spilled.

M. Lee: This, clearly, is an important matter for this House. I just want

to continue this line of questioning.

I have another email from one of the Bowen Island group members

which reads: “Here are some messaging suggestions. Focus on the fact

you’ve delayed construction. Every delay hits the company and worries

investors.”

To the Minister of Environment, were the financial impacts of

stalling tactics discussed during this January 30 Bowen Island

retreat?

Hon. G. Heyman: What’s a matter of importance for this House is to know when all

members of this House will stand up for B.C. jobs, for the B.C.

environment, for B.C. communities and for the right of British Columbia

to regulate impacts on our environment. That’s what British Columbians

want to know. That’s what counts, and that’s what we’re

doing.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Vancouver-Langara on a supplemental.

M. Lee: A bit of thin ice here for this government.

The concerns of British Columbians ought to be how we contain and

maintain financial stability and investment climate in this province. We

want stability in this province.

[10:30 a.m.]

The email also recommends activists focus on construction delays,

because for investors: “A delay is more concrete and realistically

worrisome.” Since this document was circulated last fall, we’ve seen

this minister take actions that have been widely perceived as delaying

tactics and that have led to significant financial losses for investors,

including their retirement plans.

To the minister, before the announcement, was he made aware of the

Bowen Island group’s intentions to negatively affect the company’s share

value and worry its investors?

Hon. G. Heyman: I’ve made it absolutely clear that I meet with all stakeholders —

business, other governments and environmental groups. I’ve also made it

clear that I attended, at invitation — an invitation that was extended

to me, I believe, two to three weeks prior to our announcement — to

attend a meeting of environmentalists on Bowen Island, to share dinner

with them and to do about an hour-long question-and-answer period. I

accepted that invitation.

I didn’t ask them what their strategies would be. I didn’t

participate in their strategy discussions any more than I participate in

the strategy discussions of the B.C. Business Council, of the Canadian

Association of Petroleum Producers or of Kinder Morgan.

What I do know is that British Columbians want to know what their

government is thinking. They want a chance to consult. Many people have

said to me that they don’t believe they had enough chance to consult

with the previous government. We listen, we consult, and we stand up for

British Columbia.

MONEY LAUNDERING

IN REAL ESTATE

INDUSTRY

S. Furstenau: While this may seem to be, to some, less urgent than a dinner on

Bowen Island, this last weekend we saw stunning revelations in the

Globe and Mail about money laundering in B.C. and its

connections to drug trafficking and real estate in Metro Vancouver. The

investigation revealed that drug traffickers have laundered tens of

millions of dollars through Vancouver real estate, and this is only a

fraction of the problem. To say this is astonishing is an

understatement.

This mess got out of control under the B.C. Liberals, but this

government has now been in power for over six months and has yet to take

bold action. Government has more information about what’s truly going on

in B.C. than even the best reporters with access to intelligence and

data inaccessible to anyone else, yet we are relying on the media to

reveal these shocking practices.

My question is to the Attorney General. One of the key journalists

on this issue, Sam Cooper of Postmedia, says the rot goes even deeper

than we now know. The minister has the information. Exactly how deep

does this rot go, and don’t British Columbians deserve to know the full

extent of this problem?

Hon. D. Eby: I certainly thank the member for the question on this very

important issue.

I think it’s important to recognize how we got here. In 2009,

there was an integrated casino investigation team — police officers that

were dedicated to investigating what happened in casinos.

They produced a report for the then minister responsible for

gaming, the member for Langley East. This is a

summary that was in the

Sun . Sam Cooper wrote this: “The 2009 threat report said

that known gangsters were gambling in B.C. casinos, and Asian organized

crime groups, Italian crime groups and Hell’s Angels operate illegal

casinos in B.C. Some of these underground operations are linked to

crimes including prostitution, extortion, loansharking and kidnapping,

the report said.” The main issue concerning unlicensed gambling “is the

protection of the public.”

The minister got that report, and in April 2009, he took decisive

action. He defunded the integrated casino investigation team. Fast

forward….

Interjections.

[10:35 a.m.]

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. D. Eby: I know he’s upset about the news, but he did this. He did

this.

Fast forward seven years, and the then Finance Minister, the

member for Abbotsford West, got a memo on his desk, March 2016: “There

has been a significant increase in the use of illegal gaming houses in

the province and the legitimization of proceeds of crime through B.C.’s

gaming facilities.” The decisive action taken by that minister, hon.

Speaker? I wish I could tell you what it was, because I have no idea

what he did. It appears he did nothing. So on receiving a briefing that

this type of activity was taking place….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. D. Eby: I realize it’s not as important as a dinner on Bowen Island, but

it is important.

On being briefed as the new minister, I brought in a person of

remarkable reputation — Peter German, a former deputy in the RCMP, the

author of Canada’s anti-money laundering law textbook — to get to the

bottom of this and to make recommendations for reform, which include

other areas of our economy like real estate.

I’m so glad the member asked the question. I hope she asks

another.

Mr. Speaker: House Leader of the Third Party on a supplemental.

S. Furstenau: Unfortunately, I couldn’t hear all the minister’s response.

However, I would like to ask a further question.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, we shall hear the question.

S. Furstenau: I appreciate the minister speaking to some of the systemic

inaction that we’ve seen on this file. The investigation over the

weekend made the scope and the urgency of this problem crystal clear.

People are profiting off the deaths of fellow British Columbians, and

this illicit money is being parked in our real estate, contributing to

our housing crisis.

My concern is that the Attorney General, in response to this in an

article, said that it could take up to four years to take action.

Journalists who have been reporting on the scandal for years say there’s

no need for the delay. The case, as the minister points out, was proven

long ago.

We have a commitment to take action on money laundering in our

housing crisis. The minister has said this a priority. But we can’t

afford four more years. We need immediate, bold steps to fix this mess.

My question is for the Attorney General. How does taking four years make

this a priority?

Hon. D. Eby: I thank the member for her question. The new allegations in the

Globe and Mail raised two separate pieces that require a

response.

One is there are very specific allegations involving individuals

and addresses raising questions about the conduct of professionals who

are regulated in the province by independent bodies. So in terms of

those individual allegations that were in the Globe and Mail

story, we are currently preparing correspondence with professional

regulators and making sure that police, Revenue Canada, FINTRAC and

FICOM have the information they need about those specific allegations

and that they are aware of them and are pursuing them.

The second is these are…. Although it’s the same genus —

essentially, it’s money laundering — it’s a different species. This is a

new allegation, as far as I’m aware, around builders’ liens and loans

being used in this way registered at the land title registry, which

raises systemic issues we need to address.

It does take time, and one of the things that we have to do is

build up the capacity that was so degraded under the previous government

to detect, prosecute and ensure the province is actually able to stop

this activity. We have to rebuild that. Peter German is helping us do

that in a way that is thoughtful and, most importantly, that is

effective.

[10:40 a.m.]

STATUS OF OCEAN PROTECTION PLAN

J. Thornthwaite: My constituents were very concerned to hear the Prime Minister say

recently that the $1.5 billion ocean protection plan may be at risk for

British Columbia. British Columbia does deserve those world-leading

protections that are part of that plan.

My question is to the Minister of Environment. Has he called the

federal minister to ask if the ocean protection plan is being cancelled

or withheld — yes or no?

Hon. G. Heyman: I’m entertained by the line of questioning from the opposition

that seeks to distract from some very simple facts. The member opposite

who asked the question used to stand in this House and talk about the

importance of the film and television industry to B.C. And we all know

that it’s B.C.’s beautiful scenery, beautiful environment, beautiful

coastline that attracts people to British Columbia — $2.7 billion in

film and television spending and many, many thousands of

jobs.

What’s at issue here is not whether I or anyone in this government

responded to a statement that the Prime Minister made in a news

interview. What’s at issue here is why every member of this House isn’t

standing up together to defend B.C.’s jurisdiction, to defend our jobs

in the Interior and coastal communities and to stand up for our rights

under the constitution to protect our economy, our environment and our

coastline.

J. Thornthwaite: Thank you very much to the Minister of Environment for the

compliment on my advocacy for the film industry.

What you’re saying then, Minister, is that if this Premier and

this Environment Minister have put the ocean protection plan at risk,

you are not standing up for the environment. Have you actually called

the federal minister, or have your staff called their counterparts in

Ottawa to see if the ocean protection plan is at risk here in British

Columbia — yes or no?

Hon. G. Heyman: The best way to protect our coast is to ensure that we understand

what measures have to be in place to transport diluted bitumen and all

petroleum products safely and to clean them up effectively if they’re

spilled. That’s what we’re proposing to discuss with British Columbians.

they were going to spend over $45 million on new scientific studies to

answer the same questions that we say need to be answered.

We’re proposing to consult with British Columbians about

protecting our jobs, our coast and our environment. I’d invite members

of the opposition to support British Columbians and support our

constitutional right to do that.

REGULATIONS ON SPILL RESPONSE

J. Rustad: Yesterday the Minister of Environment wouldn’t confirm a date for

the publication of an intentions paper related to the January 30

announcement. Yet on February 7, the Premier at a press conference said:

“When we have an intentions paper, which we expect to have by the end of

the month….”

The Premier promised to make this paper public this month. Will

the minister be keeping the Premier’s promise?

[10:45 a.m.]

Hon. G. Heyman: The Premier was restating what I stated when we announced that we

were working on the intentions paper. Our intention remains to have that

ready for publication and for dispersal throughout British Columbia by

the end of the month. I would hope we make it by the 28th. If we miss by

a day or two, it will be because we’re getting it right.

Mr. Speaker: Nechako Lakes on a supplemental.

J. Rustad: The Environment Minister knows that this trade war will continue

for as long as the minister delays. I’m pleased to hear that he wants to

try to get this out as soon as possible, but in the February 7 press

conference, the minister also indicated that the consultation process

may not be until as early as 2019.

The minister yesterday refused to answer the timeline. You’ve said

today, now, that it may get out by the end of the month. How many more

delays before British Columbians will actually see what these

regulations will be?

Hon. G. Heyman: We are following a well-established pattern of publishing

intentions papers and having robust consultations with British Columbia.

The member knows that. He was a member of the executive council of the

previous government. If he’s not sure how the Ministry of Environment

works, he should have a discussion with the former Minister of

Environment, the member for Langley, who oversaw the publication of a

number of intentions papers related to the Water Sustainability Act as

well as other measures.

I would also note that one of the features of the actions of the

previous Minister of Environment was to regularly give a courtesy

heads-up to all stakeholders just before the release of an intentions

paper.

GALLAGHER LAKE SIPHON REPAIR

D. Ashton: With the Gallagher Lake’s siphon damage in 2016, a government

tripartite agreement was reached to cover the $10 million repair.

Gallagher Lake water is imperative to South Okanagan irrigation. With

the ongoing wine and trade war, mayors, First Nations leaders and the

agricultural industry are deeply concerned.

To the Minister of Agriculture, has she been in contact with her

federal counterpart to ensure that federal funding is still

secured?

Hon. L. Popham: Thank you to the member for the question. I know that this is an

important issue for the region. The staff within my ministry are in

contact with the federal government.

Mr. Speaker: Penticton on a supplemental.

D. Ashton: I would like to thank the minister for her answer, but potential

losses to the agriculture and wine industries in the Oliver area alone

have been pegged at $172 million without the use of that siphon. It is

with grave concern that the mayor and council have written to the

government saying that the federal funding is actually

threatened.

I would just like to ask the minister again: what assurances can

she give this House that this funding has not been jeopardized by the

current government actions or inactions?

Hon. L. Popham: Well, I can tell the member and reassure the member that my staff

is in conversations with the federal government. I, myself, while

visiting in that area just last week, had conversations with the MP that

represents that area.

I understand what it would mean to the agriculture community and

the greater community if that situation is not resolved. I can tell you

that I’m a champion for agriculture. So under my watch, I am doing my

very best.

FLOOD RISK MITIGATION FOR

WILDFIRE-DAMAGED AREAS IN

CARIBOO

D. Barnett: The Cariboo experienced the worst fire season in history this past

summer. Fire severely damaged banks near waterways, which will increase

the risk of flooding.

My question is to the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural

Resource Operations. What work has the ministry done to stabilize the

land and banks near creeks, streams and other waterways?

[10:50 a.m.]

Hon. D. Donaldson: I appreciate the concern and the question from the member. It

gives me an opportunity to once again highlight the efforts of the

ministry staff under the B.C. Wildfire Service: 1.2 million hectares

were burned in the catastrophic fires of 2017, 65,000 people evacuated,

over 500 structures destroyed, yet not one single life was lost directly

as a result of the fires. I want to say we owe a great debt of gratitude

to the staff in the ministry as well as the volunteers and the

contractors for ensuring that happened.

Wildfire recovery efforts are underway. To date, $21 million has

been allocated for reforestation, fireproofing communities and restoring

ecosystems in the Cariboo to ensure that when the spring freshet

happens, we have minimal impact as far as erosion concerns are

anticipated.

Mr. Speaker: Cariboo-Chilcotin on a supplemental.

D. Barnett: My constituents would like concrete answers. The spring freshet is

coming, and there are real concerns surrounding flooding in fire-damaged

areas.

My question to the minister: will the minister share any plans,

concrete plans, regarding flood mitigation in the fire-damaged regions

throughout the Cariboo?

Hon. D. Donaldson: Well, the concrete plans are that $21 million has been allocated

for reforestation, for fireproofing communities and for restoring

ecosystems in the Cariboo. We’ll be reseeding important areas once the

snow is removed. We’ll be planting trees. We’ll be ensuring that the

tourism sector, which is vital to the area, is receiving funding as far

as attracting more people to the area. And we’ll be ensuring, through

our work with the Red Cross, that small businesses are able to

recuperate from the fires as well.

We’re firing on all fronts, making sure that the people in the

Cariboo are taken care of as far as land recovery, as far as social

recovery.

FAMILY DAY DATE CHANGE

AND TOURISM

INDUSTRY

M. Stilwell: With over 19,000 tourism-related businesses and 127,000

tourism-related employees in this province, the tourism industry is

responsible for the livelihood of thousands of British Columbians. But

unilaterally, this government moved Family Day.

Can the Minister of Tourism tell this House what consultations she

had with the industry before making that decision?

Hon. L. Beare: I have answered questions about Family Day a number of times in

this House, and my answer remains the same. Moving Family Day was the

right thing to do for families in British Columbia. Moving Family Day

has received overwhelming support, and the members opposite are proving

once again just how out of touch they are with people.

The Minister of Mental Health and Addictions has spent months

working on the overdose crisis, which has touched every community in

this province. Our government implemented regional action teams and

community teams, and she has not received one single

question.

The Minister of Labour created the Fair Wages Commission to form a

path to $15 an hour to support workers in British Columbia — not one

question from the members opposite.

The member for poverty reduction and social services….

Mr. Speaker: Thank you, Minister.

Hon. L. Beare: Thank you.

The member for poverty reduction and social services has been

criss-crossing our province, talking to hundreds of British Columbians

about our government’s creation of a first-ever poverty reduction

strategy — not one question from the members opposite. The members

opposite…

Mr. Speaker: Minister.

Hon. L. Beare: …are focused on one day of the year. Our government is working 365

days of the year for British Columbians.

[End of question period.]

Interjections.

[10:55 a.m.]

Orders of the Day

Hon. M. Farnworth: I know members may want to extend question period. However, I have to

disappoint them and instead call more debate on the throne speech.

[R. Chouhan in the chair.]

Throne Speech Debate

(continued)

Deputy Speaker: Members who don’t have House duty, maybe please leave the House so

that we can continue with the business.

M. Elmore: I am very pleased to rise and resume my place and to continue my

remarks in response to the throne speech. It’s a great privilege to stand in

this place and speak on behalf of folks in Vancouver-Kensington.

Certainly I am very pleased to speak in support of the throne speech,

which is focused on making life more affordable for people in British

Columbia. We know that after 16 long years, people have been frustrated with

the reality of rising living costs, cuts to services and fewer

opportunities. This throne speech really recognizes that and takes us in a

new direction to address the challenges and the crisis of affordability that

families face.

I’ve certainly heard from families and individuals from

Vancouver-Kensington. After 16 long years of decisions by the previous B.C.

Liberal government to prioritize giving tax cuts to the most wealthy, to

millionaires, but raising fees and costs, we’ve seen costs for B.C. Hydro

raise, increases for ICBC and certainly the mishandling of ICBC, where we

have learned of just an incredible debt and the financial crises rocking

ICBC. In addition, we’ve heard of increasing ferry fares, rising tuition

fees, the crisis of affordable housing, the lack of adequate affordable

housing, and bridge tolls taking a big toll on families.

I’m very pleased the throne speech recognizes that, and that we have

taken some first, initial steps to address affordability for families. We

have announced that there’ll be a cap on B.C. Hydro and that ICBC will be

adequately managed. We’ve made the commitment to reduce medical service

premiums by 50 percent, looking towards reducing MSP premiums in the years

ahead, as well as reducing interest on student loans by 2.5

percent.

[11:00 a.m.]

B.C. had, under the B.C. Liberals, the highest interest rate on

student loans in the country, really putting a lot of pressure on young

people and students wanting to pursue their education. We have recognized

that and taken steps to address that. As well, addressing the affordability

crises, we have removed the bridge tolls and also made commitments in terms

of reducing ferry fares.

These are some in the suite of areas that our government has

recognized and taken initial action on. Within the throne speech, there’s a

continued commitment to work on behalf of British Columbians to realize the

struggle and the crisis of affordability that many folks right across the

province are facing, and for the government to work on side with British

Columbians and be on the side of people and to work to make life more

affordable.

I want to also address our commitment in terms of restoring public

services. After 16 years we have seen just a steady deterioration and

underfunding and erosion of our public services — public services that

British Columbians depend on. And that really has left British Columbians

without that adequate support.

I want to talk, in particular, about public education. We had, under

the B.C. Liberals, 16 years of not only a fight against teachers but a

losing fight, and the message from the Supreme Court of Canada, nonetheless,

to ensure that our public education system is adequately funded.

In Vancouver-Kensington, families and students have been very engaged

on this issue. Since I’ve had the privilege of being the MLA, now for my

third term, I’ve worked steadily and supported students and teachers and

families in Vancouver-Kensington around issues of adequate funding for

public education, supporting many families that have been very active in

terms of advocating on behalf of protecting our schools and saving schools

from closure and, particularly, very active and engaged parents and teachers

and students at McBride Annex, which was on the list to be

closed.

So very pleased that that activism and support from those students and

parents and teachers has really got that message through, and the school

remains open. Certainly, that is a real tribute, speaking to not only the

value of local schools in our communities but also the importance of

adequate funding for public education, which our government has committed

to.

It doesn’t take the Supreme Court of Canada to tell us that we need to

adequately fund public education. So I’m very pleased about that commitment

and the importance of ensuring that children in our schools are adequately

supported and have every opportunity to prosper and to be successful in our

schools.

We know, in talking to many families with young kids, that support for

young children…. Certainly, that is the research that is coming out — the

importance of the support in those early years for the development of young

children. That’s where they really set the foundation for

success.

I’m very pleased that we have a commitment around adequate support for

public education, in terms of restoring the many cuts over the years. Over a

generation of students have gone through this fight in our public education

system — 16 years. So we have more than…. I guess it would be four cohorts

of children who have gone in at kindergarten and graduated grade 12 who have

been through our public education system over 16 years of this fight, of the

previous Liberal government undermining public education.

There’s a real need to ensure that children are supported — that we

ensure that there are adequate supports for teachers and children to be

successful. That’s a big priority as well.

We know also, through discussions and travels and community

consultations around the poverty reduction plan and hearing from folks right

across the province in all communities — in our urban centres and suburban

centres, our rural areas and semi-rural areas — that it’s a reality. Many

people have fallen through the cracks and have really suffered through the

cuts in these last 16 years in terms of inadequate supports for folks who

need that help and support.

[11:05 a.m.]

In particular, when we talk about housing and the need for safe and

adequate and appropriate housing, the hard-to-house folks and people on the

street, there’s a need, as well, to address services to support people with

mental health and addictions. Often if you have that dual diagnosis, it’s

very difficult to find adequate housing. We’ve heard, right across the

province, that there’s a real crisis of affordability, a very low or

near-zero vacancy rate for rentals and a need for housing right across the

spectrum. I’m very pleased that we have recognized the challenge around

taking a provincial approach, with a need for provincial plan around mental

health and addictions — putting that together.

There’s great need, and I’m very heartened with the role of the

minister, who’s doing a very capable job and meeting a lot of needs for

families in British Columbia and for individuals. It has been just a

terrible crisis around the record deaths of folks who are caught in this

opioid crisis, which has really struck people down, through our communities,

from all walks of life. So the commitment of the government, certainly

reflected in the throne speech, to taking on this issue and providing the

needed supports for those individuals and families, is much

needed.

As well, in terms of services that British Columbians depend on and

that our government is committed to improving and strengthening, removing

issues where I’m very pleased that our government has taken this

step.

I know that in Vancouver-Kensington I have, just half a block from my

office, the South Vancouver adult education centre. In my first term, when

they faced cuts, I met with those students and teachers and heard their

stories. It was through a very active campaign, hearing firsthand from

students that young people are not able to finish their grade 12 for a whole

range of reasons — either single parents, young people who have children, or

people who have to work and, for one reason or another, aren’t able to

complete high school. Needing to pay fees to upgrade and finish their grade

12, really limiting them from the opportunity to pursue upgrading of their

skills, was a great barrier.

So one of the government’s early actions, to remove fees for these

individuals, I think, is a great benefit not only to them individually in

terms of their success, but the need that we have, right across the

province, for supplying skilled workers. It’s not only for individuals to

fulfil their potential but also to contribute in our economy. That’s a big

need, we know.

In the throne speech, we talked about working for families, working to

make life more affordable for families, working to improve public services

that families and British Columbians depend on, and also building a strong

and sustainable economy that everyone can benefit from. We have taken

significant steps around addressing the need for affordable, safe and

adequate housing. We know that there’s need right across the board, not only

in Vancouver-Kensington but right across the province.

There is need, we hear from seniors, for adequate housing. There is

need, also, for middle-income families. There is need for women who are

fleeing domestic violence. It’s right across the board. It’s coming into

just these tremendous needs in all these areas that have been neglected and

that have not been a priority for the previous B.C. Liberal government over

16 years. That has created just such a crisis, a hardship and difficulties

for people in our province.

[11:10 a.m.]

I’m very proud that our government is committed on these issues. It’s

a great honour to be working as the Parliamentary Secretary for Poverty

Reduction to bring in a poverty reduction plan in British Columbia. British

Columbia is the only province not to have a poverty reduction plan and, not

coincidentally, has record levels of poverty in our province and also has

the highest income inequality gap, so we’re looking to address the real

crisis and real needs of British Columbians.

When we talk about poverty reduction, it’s not only to address the

700,000 British Columbians who live below the poverty line, 40 percent who

are also the working poor, who bring home a paycheque, who work two,

sometimes three jobs but aren’t able to make ends meet. It’s also an

investment in people. It’s an investment in strengthening our community. I

have been very pleased to have meetings and have broad-based support for

this plan.

The issue of social justice and equality in British Columbia —

certainly, that’s shared very broadly across our province. We’ve met and

talked right across the spectrum in terms of members at the chamber of

commerce, at the board of trade, the business sector. Business leaders, as

well, are on board, supporting this initiative and investment.

It resonates. It really speaks to the need in communities across

British Columbia, where right across the board…. Folks don’t have to be

living in poverty to recognize the value of ensuring that all British

Columbians, all neighbours and everyone living in community has the

opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty, to have that success and

opportunity that builds and strengthens the entire community.

When we talk about some of the key components needed to address and

meet the needs of British Columbians that have been neglected, that haven’t

been a priority of the previous government…. Certainly the throne speech

talks about the biggest issue and the biggest difficulty for British

Columbians around adequate, safe and affordable housing. These are issues,

as well as child care….

Having the ability to meet those needs — not only of folks who need

those supports, who are living below the poverty line — is also a benefit

that everyone benefits from. There is a need for affordable housing and

child care.

These are key concerns, as well, for the business community, for

owners of small business. We heard this. It’s a very consistent message that

we heard about the challenge of small business owners, particularly in

communities throughout the Interior, who have a difficult time — having

employees being able to afford adequate housing in the community and also

needing to have access to child care, and ensuring that folks can stay, live

and work in local communities and be part of the economy. These are

priorities that are shared right across the spectrum.

The commitment from the throne speech addresses those challenges. It

lays out our priorities. I’m very pleased that it sends the message. We’ve

taken some initial steps. The throne speech addresses these key themes and

our intention to move forward and make life more affordable for British

Columbians, to ensure that public services that British Columbians depend on

are restored and strengthened to support British Columbians. It’s tied

together. It goes hand in hand with a sustainable economy that all British

Columbians can benefit from.

We know, as well, that the issue of the working poor is a big

priority. Fully 40 percent of folks who are working fall below the poverty

line. So this is a big challenge as well. That’s why there is a commitment

around the Fair Wages Commission to look at increasing the minimum wage. I’m

very pleased that there was also a consultation process around that, to hear

from workers, from folks who do work hard — two, three jobs to make ends

meet — but also to hear from local businesses, the business sector and also

industries in terms of the challenges they face in moving

forward.

I think that’s a key theme, as well, in the approach of our

government, and that is in the throne speech as well. We’re looking to work

in partnership. We’re looking to work in partnership to listen to British

Columbians, to hear their concerns, to hear what the challenges are that

British Columbians face.

[11:15 a.m.]

There are a lot of stories coming forward in terms of just the

incredible stress on families, the crisis of affordability, the crisis in

housing, the lack of availability of child care, the difficulty of employers

and the need for skilled workers. Right across the spectrum, we are

committed.

Our government is committed to work in partnership with industry, with

businesses, with First Nations to address our commitments around

reconciliation and ensure that we restore that relationship, ensure that

with Indigenous people across our province, we work in partnership with them

on joint solutions. The government is here to support the initiatives of

local municipalities, of folks who work hard in their communities, of

individuals and families right across our province to ensure that life is

more affordable.

The government is on the side of people. We invest in public services

and a sustainable economy that all British Columbians can benefit from. I’m

very proud to speak in favour of the throne speech and to be working on

implementing a poverty reduction plan. There’s a lot of work to do. I’m very

excited and looking forward to working in partnership right across our

province, to working on behalf of British Columbians.

T. Shypitka: It’s my pleasure to respond to the Speech from the Throne. As always,

I consider it an honour to be able to speak in this House and to represent

the good people of my riding of Kootenay East.

Before I get to my comments on the throne speech, I would like, first,

to recognize a couple of local events. I’d like to congratulate and send

wishes of a happy birthday to three of my biggest supporters that are

celebrating birthdays. My Auntie Anne Shypitka — happy 80th birthday to her.

My mother, Lynne, just turned 75, and my niece Kimberley Bo Bo Bat Shypitka

turns 27 years today.

Turning to a sombre note, last weekend, on Saturday, February 17, the

community of Cranbrook and the province of British Columbia paid honour and

tribute to two fine members of our community who perished in a horrific

automobile accident.

Apart from being the captain on the B shift at the Cranbrook fire

department, Clayton Murrell’s accomplishments were astounding, including

past secretary, vice-president and president of his local, 1253. He

represented the East and West Kootenay regions as vice-president of the B.C.

Professional Firefighters Association. Clayton was the vice-president of the

Pine Ridge Roping Club. He had an immense passion for roping, which he and

his wife, Joan, spent so much time doing together.

What I personally recall about Clayton is his always-positive

attitude, his infectious smile, his Tom Selleckesque moustache and his sense

of pride. When you shook Clayton’s hand, it was always firm, a firmness that

showcased his confidence and his pride, pride in himself, pride in his

family — he is survived by his two great children, Dysen and Kirsten — pride

of his workmates at the fire hall, but, equally, his pride of his

community.

Clayton was a protector of his community and advocated to bring the

proper EMR training to his colleagues to better assist first response. That

was Clayton’s vision: to better serve and protect the communities and the

province that he loved so dearly. I will make a pledge to ensure that

Clayton’s vision is properly recognized.

Joan MacKinnon, who essentially perished alongside her husband on that

fateful morning of February 3, was an equally giving person. Joan was the

head of our lifeguards and the aquatic coordinator with the Cranbrook

Aquatic Centre. Joan received the Lifesaving Society’s outstanding

achievement award as a Lifesaving Society instructor in 2010. This is the

highest honour for an instructor within the branch. Joan was instrumental in

our local coaching of our Special Olympic athletes and was a strong

supporter of the Lifesaving Society.

Joan, like her husband, loved the outdoors. They were passionate about

horses and competing together in rodeo events throughout B.C. and Alberta.

Joan left behind two children, Aaron and Andrew.

Together, Clayton and Joan were pillars of our community, and they

always put others’ safety in front of their own. Joan and Clayton were only

51 years of age. As this couple has now been reunited in all of eternity,

may they forever rest well.

[11:20 a.m.]

On behalf of my family, the constituents of Kootenay East and, if I

can be bold enough to say, the members of this House and the province of

British Columbia, I offer our collective condolences to the friends and

family of Capt. Clayton Murrell and the beautiful love of his life, Joan

MacKinnon.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the first

responders from all services, such as the firefighters, British Columbia

Ambulance Service, search and rescue, RCMP, paramedics, lifeguards and

others in attendance at the celebration of life. There was representation

not only from all over B.C. but as far west as Manitoba, as well as

representation from our American brothers and sisters to the south of us.

All told, there were about 3,000 in attendance. Finally, a thank-you to the

Cranbrook fire department and all the other agencies and volunteers that put

together this memorial. It was done right.

To move on to the throne speech and what it meant to me and the many

people of my riding. Among other things, the most fundamental principle that

the people in my riding expect of their government is the ability to stick

to their word and deliver on their promises. Unfortunately, the messaging

within this throne speech last Tuesday fell a little short of the standard.

The purpose of the Speech from the Throne is to serve as a road map for

government’s intentions. It dictates where our government plans on taking

British Columbia in the near future, laying out the goals and the route to

those goals.

Road maps are only as useful as the details they provide. The speech

did an excellent job of identifying and outlining obvious issues that are

happening within our province. It also did an excellent job on describing

how British Columbians are affected by these various problems. However, it

didn’t provide a lot of substance on how the provincial government planned

on handling these tough issues. It was kind of like the old commercial that

was on TV years ago, “Where’s the beef?” Little substance.

After listening and reading through the throne speech, it became quite

evident that the NDP did not plan to fulfil campaign promises. Even if they

attempted to, British Columbians would not be able to afford

them.

For example, the two biggest focal areas of the speech involved child

care and affordability. Now, I remember that when I was in election campaign

mode last April, a friend of mine — I call him a friend; we don’t always see

eye to eye on certain issues — accosted me at an election forum one evening.

He was literally screaming at me, saying the B.C. Liberals were getting in

the way of his family getting $10-a-day care. He was very adamant about it.

He was very upset that perhaps that message would be lost if the B.C.

Liberals took government.

I told the gentleman numerous things around this promise and why it

was not a good platform. One of the main reasons was that the plan would

cost around $1½ billion per year, and the rollout of this plan was about ten

years. His child would then be in high school. I also told him that it was,

more than likely, a false promise. In last Tuesday’s throne speech, there

was no mention of $10-a-day care.

It is interesting to note that as of Tuesday, the Premier himself now

insists that he made no such promise on $10-a-day care and that his words

were just branding of a term. Most everyone I talk to seems to remember it a

little differently. In fact, on the B.C. NDP website, if you check it out,

they still have: “John Horgan and the B.C. NDP will work for you and take

real action to make your life more affordable — like reducing or eliminating

fees, tolls and fares, while bringing in $10-a-day child care.” They may

have taken that down now since I’ve mentioned it, but it was there as of

this morning.

This past June he said: “We plan, by year 5, to have 66,000 new spaces

and the $10-a-day plan.” That was last June. This could not be more

crystal-clear. There is no room here for extra meanings. This was a daycare

promised to be priced at a rate of $10. Not branding, not intentions, but a

promise.

Unfortunately, it appears that this brand was another empty and

predatory promise used to win votes. I wonder how many more NDP promises

will be spontaneously turned into branding when they realize there is

absolutely no way of funding them.

Other promises made, like a $400 renters rebate and the plan to

eliminate portables in Surrey — what about the $1,000 credit to university

and college students? — are more broken promises that were nowhere to be

seen in the speech.

[11:25 a.m.]

If anyone should be angry at the government, it should be their own

supporters. In addition to making child care a focal point, Tuesday’s throne

speech also highlighted the matter of affordability within our province.

This is an issue that, I believe, certainly needs to be addressed with a

reasonable and clear plan, one that considers the limitations of our

resources and realistic projections of revenues and that provides long-term

lasting value. It must be sustainable.

However, we did not get a reasonable approach in the speech. Instead,

we were given the miraculous fix to affordable housing by building 114,000

additional homes, or 11,400 every year over the next ten years. During the

last election campaign, the candidate from the NDP party stated this new

election promise — right in the middle of a forum, I might add.

I was flabbergasted by this bold vision that he and his party had come

up with. I was actually humbled by this vision. When I did the quick math on

this major promise, I came up with a rough figure of about $25 billion. I

was pretty certain, at that point, that this would be another questionable

promise made.

Flash forward ten months later to what we now hear in the throne

speech. Not only was there no mention of 114,000 affordable housing units

being built, but the throne speech also added the caveat that in order for

the government to fulfil its promises of building affordable housing, it

will need the help of the federal government, as well as of municipalities

to rezone and, in some cases, provide land to get this project started —

something they chose to leave out of their election promise, leaving this

government with convenient scapegoats for when their promise inevitably

falls flat.

As far as accomplishments go, all that this government could reference

in the throne speech was 1,700 modular homes completed last year. I’d like

to make something clear. Those very same 1,700 homes were announced under

the previous government. With that being said, to date, not one modular home

has been approved or built under the current government. I would like to

also add that the promise this government has put forward lacks any

measurable plan to drive the economy or create job plans which fuel this $25

billion housing plan.

As a matter of fact, it’s quite the opposite. The recent refusal to

abide by a recent federal Supreme Court order to allow the Trans Mountain

pipeline to proceed has not only defied the rule of law but has also

discredited our province to investors, other provinces and our country as a

whole, as well as eliminating affordability in this province.

Much-needed revenues for the province to build infrastructure — like

the Pattullo Bridge, George Massey Tunnel, Highway 1 — have been hampered by

this move. Hospitals, schools and, of course, this grand scheme of 114,000

affordable homes need revenues. They need a revenue stream, and it has been

cut short because of the irresponsible decision this government has

made.

The government says that they are making this stance by blocking the

shipments of diluted bitumen because they are standing up for all British

Columbians. Does this government know that there are more British Columbians

that support the completion of the Trans Mountain project than those that

don’t? What British Columbians is the Premier speaking about?

I’ll tell you one group that this government supports. It’s the ones

that are standing up for the special interest groups that are funded by

American energy companies, which would love nothing more than to completely

shut down our natural resource industry.

I find it very difficult to believe members on the opposite side of

the House actually want to make life in B.C. more affordable, especially

considering they raised taxes almost immediately after coming into power.

They raised taxes on business, raised taxes on agriculture and forestry

through things like the carbon tax.

People expect a tax raise when the government is running a deficit.

However, this government inherited an unprecedented $2.7 billion surplus,

$800 million of which has already been spent. That does not speak for making

life more affordable in British Columbia. This government needs to be held

accountable, to do what they say they’re going to deliver, and this side of

the House will continue to do just that and to look out for all British

Columbians.

I also noticed several other rebranded promises made by the B.C.

Liberals, items like eliminating MSP premiums. Although our elimination of

that MSP premium was a tax break, the NDP’s version is to add this

elimination to your personal taxes.

[11:30 a.m.]

Reduction in the student loan rate and additional engineering seats at

TRU and UNBC. You’d think that after 16 years — we hear it all the time — of

sitting on the other side, they would come up with something a little bit

more original.

The saddest part of this whole debacle is that the only real losers in

this equation are their own supporters — the people who believed that they

would actually live up to their word. I think that speaks volumes to the

character of this government. They have demonstrated that they are willing

to complain endlessly, promise the world, but when it’s their turn, they

fail to deliver meaningful change, and we all pay the price.

As the critic for Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources — mining and

LNG — I’m tasked with holding this government to account and ensuring that

they are moving our energy sectors towards a long and prosperous future — a

future which will require planning and investments to ensure that British

Columbia does not remain stagnant.

It goes without saying that mining and energy are incredibly important

industries in the Interior and northern B.C., as well as residually

throughout the province. This is why it was troubling to see that there was

no mention of developing these sectors, as well as no mention of PowerBC, or

the road map that the minister’s mandate letter calls for, located anywhere

in the throne speech.

We’ve all seen a change in the rhetoric on hydro rates. I think it was

last December when the headlines read: “Province Delivers on Commitment to

Freeze B.C. Hydro Rates.” Now in the throne speech, what do we see? “To keep

hydro rates affordable, government has asked the B.C. Utilities Commission

to freeze hydro rates for the next year.” Quite the 180.

There was also no mention of reinvigorating or restoring the

innovative clean energy fund; no mention of the scientific panel that the

current government promised on fracking; the mining jobs task force, or the

terms of reference and membership of this task force, which are due in the

first quarter of 2018 — no mention of any of this in the throne

speech.

The throne speech talked of compliance and enforcement being

strengthened, but like many other NDP promises, they have failed to make a

decision and outline the details of the independent oversight unit, which

was promised during the May election. This is an integral part to the mining

industry — yet no mention.

I can’t express enough how vitally important the industry of mining is

to the revenue and social side of our province — how these industries have

literally built our communities, employ union and non-union workers alike.

This is part of who we are in this province, and to get nothing more than a

side glance in this throne speech is, quite honestly, a slap in the face to

our industry, our workers and our investors.

The list of shortcomings keeps growing with little end in sight. It’s

troubling to see the utter lack of initiative from members on that side of

the House to make these issues a priority and to help the industries that

built this province into what it is today.

As the people may have noticed yesterday, and I’ve conveniently left

mine on, the MLAs were wearing a blue ribbon. This blue ribbon here was in

recognition of the thousands of workers who take care of B.C. seniors. The

province of British Columbia has proclaimed February 19, 2018, in their

honour.

As yesterday was B.C. Seniors Care Providers Day, I thought I would

bring up the lack of commitment of this government in the throne speech

towards senior care. Out of a 45-minute speech, there was but one sentence

on senior care solution — one sentence. The sentence said it would provide

more time for caregivers to spend with seniors, but they don’t identify how

much more time. The sentence says they will train more people, but fails to

say how many and how they plan on retaining these care providers, which is

actually as big a problem as finding more trained people.

As my beloved colleague from Cariboo-Chilcotin said in her speech,

they deserve more than “bedpans and lockup.”

I have to give out a shout, actually, to a resident that lives in my

hometown of Cranbrook. Her name is Dianna Green Bennett. She has a form of

MS, and she lives in assisted care. She has the courage of a lion, and she

is standing up for the lack of care she feels is currently being

delivered.

People are living longer in their conditions and becoming more

complex. More time is needed, most definitely, and we need a more definite

description of how that will look. This throne speech would have been a

great opportunity to say this, but it missed the mark once again.

[11:35 a.m.]

Senior and assisted-living care in our province is a big issue. For

those that have spent a lifetime of hard work, not only do they deserve

respect and family care; they deserve more than one sentence in a throne

speech.

As far as local events go, this government claims to be all for B.C.,

but the throne speech offered very little for the B.C. interior in regards

to things that matter to the people in my riding of Kootenay East. There was

no mention of fixing the B.C. camping reservation system and how they plan

on putting British Columbians first in line for camping spots. This was a

big promise during the last campaign. They were going to fix the reservation

system. They were going to put British Columbians first in those camping

spots — yet no mention.

There is a mention on increasing conservation officers but no real

hard numbers on how many — and then failed to mention hiring of park

rangers. No mention of hiring of park rangers.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment for me is no mention of the decline

of wildlife populations and an independent agency to facilitate a proper

funding model to gather the proper scientific data needed to bring together

a holistic wildlife biodiversity land use plan. This is a big

deal.

Interjection.

T. Shypitka: We’ll get to the member over there on the other side on something he

said yesterday, which was actually quite good.

I’m hoping I will see this in today’s budget, as I have made my voice

heard quite loudly to government and as this is a message from my

constituency. Wildlife habitat loss is a big issue. Our wildlife populations

are being decimated around the province, and no area is more severe than in

my riding of Kootenay East. Once called the Serengeti of North America,

Kootenay East has more big game, has more carnivorous creatures than

anywhere on the continent.

The awareness of this issue is non-partisan, as funding for our

wildlife has been flatlined for 40 years. Habitat loss is one of the main

culprits, but there’s a whole host of other ingredients that make this a

deadly recipe. Biodiversity, land access, regionalized representation are

all part of the formula to success. The biggest problem is that we don’t

really know for sure the exact science on building up our

populations.

We need more number counts on predator and prey, more mapping on

wildlife corridors, breeding and calving areas, invasive species and noxious

weeds and disease. Through this information we can adjust our hunting

regulations and our policy on individual species. We have to address that

first to get to the individual species.

For example, the recent ban on grizzly hunting was not science-based —

like the member for Oak Bay–Gordon Head says he supports and, I think, a lot

of the people in this House support. It was a political decision based on a

populistic approach to many that have no idea of what proper wildlife

management looks like. We need to be looking past one-species solutions for

something as detailed as this.

Our province is beautiful and diverse, with more ecosystems in place,

I dare say, than any jurisdiction in the world. These blanket policies and

one-size-fits-all solutions will no longer do here in our province. The time

is now. The time is urgent, and I’m more than willing to work with the

Minister of Environment, the Minister of Forests, the Minister of

Agriculture to work on solutions on a bipartisan level.

Interjection.

T. Shypitka: My friend — he’s tapping over there — for Saanich North and the

Islands has pointed out the low steelhead numbers in the province. Quite

true and equally as important. Well, this problem is on the land as well as

the water, and we need some change. It has to happen now.

The omission of the ranching community and the continued funding for

fencing and cost recovery for lost livestock due to predation was not in

this speech as well. Our ranchers deserve better. These are such big deals

to our region, and it is truly disappointing that this government has failed

to recognize their importance.

If British Columbia is to remain beautiful, data-driven steps need to

be taken in order to preserve our back country. These initiatives cannot

simply be afterthoughts but need to be laid out clearly and taken seriously.

I will continue to work hard on these files.

The budget will come out today, and I look forward to seeing more

details on how they will allocate resources to accomplish some of these

goals they have laid out for the people of this province. This government

has done a great deal of work telling British Columbians what their

priorities are. With the budget, we will actually get to see if their money

matches their mouths.

[11:40 a.m.]

I, for one, am not holding my breath. My colleagues and I look forward

to holding this government to task in estimates.

This government thus far has not given much hope to British

Columbians. After starting a needless trade war with Alberta, the government

offers no ideas to stimulate the economy or to reassure investors. As a

matter of fact, it’s quite the opposite. This is a sour message that this

government is sending to our partners in Canada and Canada as a nation. The

throne speech promises more reviews and little action. The only certainty is

all of British Columbia is going to pay for it.

What I’ve brought forward thus far is only a small sampling in the

ever-increasing list of broken promises and stolen, rebranded ideas. I

believe, as do many others, that British Columbians deserve much better. For

those reasons, I strongly oppose this throne speech.

Hon. M. Farnworth: As I begin my remarks, I’m reminded of something that the Minister of

Health said to me in response to the previous member’s speech, who said he

wasn’t going to hold his breath. The Minister of Health said to me: “Don’t

hold your breath. It’s not good for you.” I intend to follow the advice of

the Minister of Health and not hold my breath, because I think I’ve got,

after listening to that, quite a lot to say.

I want to take a few minutes and thank my constituents. This is really

the first time since the election that I have the opportunity to do that. I

first was elected in 1991, again in ’96, then in ’05, ’09, 2013 and, most

recently, in 2017. It really was an honour to be re-elected for the sixth

time by a community I’ve grown up in — which, next year, I will have been a

resident of for 50 years. Port Coquitlam is where I went to

school.

Interjection.

Hon. M. Farnworth: Yup, 50. I am 58. I will be….

Interjection.

Hon. M. Farnworth: That’s true.

Anyway, to me, it’s a very special place. I can think of no greater

honour than representing a community that you’ve grown up in. As I said, it

really is an honour.

And it’s an honour to speak to this throne speech, because after

listening to the remarks of the previous member…. I understand where he’s

coming from, and he clearly is passionate about a number of issues. I was,

really, particularly interested to hear, on some of the issues around….

Whether it is back-country preservation, wildlife management, the state of

our environment, the decline in species and how important they are, he was

critical of the throne speech, going: “Well, there are no specific numbers.

We need conservation officers. We need wildlife management officers. We need

good data.”

Well, the problem is that for 16 years we didn’t get any of that. For

16 years, they cut the number of conservation officers, they cut the

wildlife management supports and they cut the back-country supports. Sixteen

years.

Now, I know the member over there is going “16 years.” He’s already, I

can tell…. He’s going: “Oh yeah. Here they go, 16 years.” But I’d just like

to remind him that they too, on that side, had their favourite number that

they used to like to….

Interjections.

Hon. M. Farnworth: Exactly. There you go.

I’d like to remind him that for 16 years his party did sit on this

side of the House, and so very many of those issues that he is talking about

and is concerned about that weren’t directly and specifically mentioned in

the throne speech in specific numbers…. The reason is because his party

failed to deal with those issues on that side of the House.

They did that with so many other areas of government policy, whether

it is B.C. Hydro, whether it is ICBC, whether it was education and the

constant feuding with teachers, the constant desire to be taking them to

court, wasting tax dollars on court fights that they knew that they were

going to lose….

[11:45 a.m.]

Interjection.

Hon. M. Farnworth: Oh, he’s upset because I’m laying out a record of the last 16 years to

enlighten him as to….

Interjections.

Hon. M. Farnworth: It most certainly is a record. The fact is, it is a record. You guys

took the teachers to court time and time again, and every single time you

lost. The result was that when we won this election, you had the biggest

mess of ICBC in the history of this province. You had the biggest mess at

B.C. Hydro this province has ever seen. You had an education system where

parents felt that they were pawns in a dispute between government and

teachers. Those are facts. That was that government’s record.

So we have a challenge of addressing and fixing those messes. In the

throne speech, we’ve laid out how we’re going to do that. We’ve seen it with

actions from this government right from the get-go.

In my own constituency of Port Coquitlam…. People from the Tri-Cities

and south of the Fraser were punished by an unfair tolling policy that meant

that a working family in my community…. If two people lived in Port

Coquitlam and were working south of the Fraser — in Surrey, for example, as

many people were — they were paying, between the two of them, $3,000 a year

to cross the Port Mann or the Golden Ears bridges in after-tax dollars —

$3,000 a year. That does not include the small business man I talked to

during the election campaign. The small business man was telling me that it

was costing his company $15,000 a month.

So we laid out a program that was fair to people, that addressed the

costs of affordability. When we came and formed government, in our first

throne speech, we laid that out — making life more affordable. We took those

tolls off. That’s put more money back in the pockets of ordinary,

hard-working families in my constituency and throughout the Tri-Cities.

That’s what an agenda based on….

Interjections.

Deputy Speaker: Members.

Hon. M. Farnworth: Thank you, hon. Speaker.

It’s unfortunate I don’t have…. I’m just getting going.

Hon. A. Dix: Unanimous consent.

Hon. M. Farnworth: I suppose I could, but even I, Minister of Health, must be fed at

noon.

I hear the howls over there: “How is it going to be paid?” Well, it’s

paid the same way that every other infrastructure is paid in this province.

I didn’t see you making howls, for example, when road improvements took

place in Kamloops. I didn’t see you making howls on taking the tolls off the

Coquihalla so many years ago. That was quite okay. I didn’t see them rushing

to put tolls on the Sea to Sky Highway. So why is it okay to not have tolls

on the Coquihalla, but it’s not okay to take the tolls off the Port Mann

Bridge?

Well, I’ll tell you something. I will stand with the people in my

riding on their support for taking the tolls off the Port Mann Bridge over

the desire of that side of the House to make them continue paying up to

$3,000 of after-tax income every year. We stand for affordability on this

side. They stand for tax breaks for the top 1 percent.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Now, let’s get on with another issue that the members have talked

about — that we haven’t laid a plan out properly on

infrastructure.

I have to congratulate a government — and I’m proud to be part of a

government — whose first actions in this throne speech, one of the key

announcements that was made…. It’s about fairness. It’s about ensuring all

parts of British Columbia are treated equitably.

My colleague the Minister of Health….

Interjection.

Hon. M. Farnworth: Oh, hang on. I hear the member talking about hospital taxes. I’m

wondering if the….

[11:50 a.m.]

I know the Minister of Health made an announcement about a hospital in

Williams Lake, if I’m not mistaken — a government so committed to fairness

that one of the first acts they are doing is a new hospital in Williams

Lake, a riding not held by us. What we are doing is ensuring

fairness.

Then a second capital, another hospital project, if I’m not mistaken.

Mills Memorial replacement, up in Terrace, British Columbia, again

represented by an opposition member. That kind of fairness and equitable

treatment we didn’t see from that side of the House for 16 years, where more

often than not, decisions were made on the basis of what party holds a

particular riding.

Our throne speech is designed to deal with issues of affordability.

Education is critical to people in my community. It’s critical to the

long-term economic future of British Columbia. We need to know that we’ve

got teachers who are trained.

Interjections.

Hon. M. Farnworth: What I like is…. As much as the heckling is going on, and the chatter,

it tells you two things. One is that they’re listening, which in my time in

this House, I’ve always thought is a lot better than giving a speech to

total silence — right? — which means they’re not listening.

Education. We’ve laid out an ambitious plan to address the education

shortfall, not only in terms of the capital that’s needed in our province to

deal with the fast-growing areas that are occurring in Surrey and Port

Coquitlam and other parts of the Lower Mainland, but also to ensure that

we’ve got the right number of teachers, which is why, after the Supreme

Court decision, one of the first things we did was hire all those teachers

that are needed, and more teachers are going to be hired.

We’re building schools in my own riding of Port Coquitlam. The throne

speech that laid out the plan…. We’ve just most recently announced — the

Minister of Education was in my community — Irvine Elementary School. That

was a school that had been a priority for district 43 for quite a number of

years. Yet for some reason, over the last 16 years, it never kept making it

up. The district had it up here, and somehow, it kept falling back down

there.

Parents were out door-knocking. In fact, I was out door-knocking with

them in the pouring rain last October, gathering signatures to let the

government know just how important this school was, that it was critical to

replace Irvine Elementary, which was a cinder-block school built on a very

poor foundation. If there was an earthquake, for example, it would come

tumbling down.

Well, I’m proud to be part of a government that recognizes the

importance of that. I’m proud to be part of a government that has a plan for

education, that has a plan for health care, that has a plan to deal with the

transportation infrastructure requirements that are not going to just help

constituents but help build the economy of this province.

I know that the eager and attentive ears on the other side of the

House would love to hear more. But I also know many of them are desirous to

get some lunch.

Interjection.

Hon. M. Farnworth: You know what, hon. Member? As much as I would like to agree to your

wish, I do know that a lot of people are hungry. It is close to the hour. So

noting the hour, I will reserve my right to continue, and I adjourn the

debate.

Hon. M. Farnworth moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. M. Farnworth moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

Mr. Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 1:30 this afternoon.

The House adjourned at 11:54 a.m.

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