British Columbia Hansard — Tuesday, March 10, 2009

H0310pm-11

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

Fifth Session, 38th Parliament o FFicial rePort o F Debates of the Legis Lative a ssemb Ly (hansarD) the honourable bill bari So FF, SPeaker iSSn 0709-1281 Tuesday, March 10, 2009 Afternoon Sitting Volume 39, Number 11

Pro Vince o F britiS h colu Mbia (entered c onfederation July 20, 1871) lieutenant -Go Vernor h is h onour the h onourable Steven l. Point, obc Fifth Session, 38th Parliament SPeaker o F the leGiS latiVe a SSeMbl Y h onourable bill barisoff eXecutiVe council Premier and President of the executive c ouncil ......................................................................................................h on. Gordon c ampbell Minister of State for intergovernmental r elations ...........................................................................................................h on.

Joan Mcintyre Deputy Premier and Minister of education and Minister r esponsible for early l earning and l iteracy .........................................................................................h on. Shirley bond Minister of a boriginal r elations and r econciliation .................................................................................................. h on. Michael de Jong Minister of a dvanced e ducation and l abour Market Development ............................................................................. h on.

Murray c oell Minister of a griculture and l ands ..................................................................................................................................... h on. r on c antelon a ttorney General and Minister r esponsible for Multiculturalism .......................................................................... h on.

Wally o ppal, Qc Minister of c hildren and Family Development ..........................................................................................................h on. t om c hristensen Minister of State for c hildcare ................................................................................................................................................. h on. l inda r eid Minister of c ommunity Development ............................................................................................................................. h on. k evin k rueger Minister of energy, Mines and Petroleum r esources .....................................................................................................h on. blair l ekstrom Minister of State for Mining ................................................................................................................................................ h on.

Gordon h ogg Minister of environment and Minister r esponsible for c limate a ction .......................................................................h on. barry Penner Minister of Finance and Minister r esponsible for the o lympics .................................................................................. h on. c olin h ansen Minister of Forests and r ange ....................................................................................................................................................... h on.

Pat bell Minister of h ealth Services ................................................................................................................................................h on. George a bbott Minister of h ealthy l iving and Sport .....................................................................................................................................h on.

Mary Polak Minister of h ousing and Social Development .................................................................................................................h on. r ich c oleman Minister of l abour and citizens' Services ................................................................................................................................ h on. iain black Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General .........................................................................................................h on.

John van Dongen Minister of Small business, t echnology and e conomic Development and Minister r esponsible for the a sia-Pacific initiative .................................................................................................. h on. ida c hong Minister of t ourism, c ulture and the a rts ...........................................................................................................................h on. bill bennett Minister of t ransportation and infrastructure ...................................................................................................................h on. k evin Falcon leGiS latiVe a SSeMbl Y l eader of the official o pposition ...................................................................................................................................................c arole James Deputy Speaker ..............................................................................................................................................................................Sindi h awkins Deputy Speaker .....................................................................................................................................................................k atherine Whittred a ssistant Deputy Speaker ...............................................................................................................................................................Sue h ammell Deputy c hair, c ommittee of the Whole .......................................................................................................................................... h arry bloy c lerk of the l egislative a ssembly...................................................................................................................e.

George MacMinn, obc, Q c c lerk a ssistant ..................................................................................................................................................................................r obert Vaive c lerk a ssistant and l aw c lerk................................................................................................................................................. ian D. izard, Qc c lerk a ssistant and c lerk of c ommittees ................................................................................................................................. craig h.

James c lerk a ssistant and c ommittee c lerk .................................................................................................................................... k ate r yan-l loyd Sergeant-at-a rms .................................................................................................................................................................................

Gary l enz Director, h ansard Services ............................................................................................................................................................Jo-a nne k ern l egislative l ibrarian ............................................................................................................................................................................ Jane t aylor l egislative c omptroller .......................................................................................................................................................................

Dan a rbic

alP habetical liS t o F MeMberS a bbott, h on. George (l) ........................................................................ Shuswap a ustin, r obin (nDP) ................................................................................ Skeena bains, h arry (nDP) ....................................................................Surrey-n ewton barisoff, h on. bill (l) ............................................Penticton–o kanagan Valley bell, h on.

Pat (l) ...............................................................Prince George n orth bennett, h on. bill (l) ...................................................................e ast k ootenay black, h on. iain (l) ......................................................Port Moody–Westwood bloy, h arry (l) ....................................................................................burquitlam bond, h on. Shirley (l) ....................................Prince George–Mount r obson brar, Jagrup (nDP) .....................................................Surrey–Panorama r idge c ampbell, h on.

Gordon (l) .........................................Vancouver–Point Grey c antelon, h on. r on (l) ......................................................n anaimo-Parksville c hong, h on. ida (l) ..................................................... o ak bay–Gordon h ead c houhan, r aj (nDP) ........................................................... burnaby-e dmonds c hristensen, h on. t om (l) ..................................................o kanagan-Vernon c hudnovsky, Dave (nDP) ........................................... Vancouver-kensington c oell, h on.

Murray (l) ....................................Saanich n orth and the islands c oleman, h on. r ich (l) ............................................Fort l angley–a ldergrove c onroy, katrine (nDP) ...........................................West kootenay–b oundary c oons, Gary (nDP) .........................................................................n orth c oast c ubberley, David (nDP) ..............................................................Saanich South de Jong, h on.

Michael (l) ................................... a bbotsford–Mount l ehman Dix, a drian (nDP) ............................................................Vancouver-kingsway e vans, c orky (nDP) ..................................................................n elson-creston Falcon, h on. k evin (l) ..........................................................Surrey-c loverdale Farnworth, Mike (nDP) ............................. Port c oquitlam–b urke Mountain Fleming, r ob (nDP) ................................................................

Victoria-h illside Fraser, Scott (nDP) ...............................................................a lberni-Qualicum Gentner, Guy (nDP) .........................................................................Delta n orth h ammell, Sue (nDP) .................................................... Surrey–Green t imbers h ansen, h on. c olin (l) .................................................. Vancouver-Quilchena h awes, r andy (l) ............................................................

Maple r idge–Mission h awkins, Sindi (l) ..................................................................k elowna-Mission h ayer, Dave S. (l) .................................................................... Surrey-t ynehead h erbert, Spencer (nDP) ..................................................... Vancouver-burrard h ogg, h on. Gordon (l) ......................................................

Surrey–White r ock h organ, John (nDP) .......................................................Malahat–Juan de Fuca h orning, a l (l) .............................................................k elowna–l ake c ountry ilich, o lga (l) .......................................................................... r ichmond c entre James, c arole (nDP) .........................................................Victoria–b eacon h ill Jarvis, Daniel (l) .................................................... n orth Vancouver–Seymour k aragianis, Maurine (nDP) ............................................e squimalt-Metchosin k rog, l eonard (nDP) ........................................................................... n anaimo k rueger, h on. k evin (l) .....................................k amloops–n orth Thompson kwan, Jenny Wai ching (nDP) ...........................

Vancouver–Mount Pleasant l ali, h arry (nDP) ........................................................................... Y ale-lillooet l ee, r ichard t . (l) .......................................................................burnaby n orth l ekstrom, h on. blair (l) ....................................................... Peace r iver South l es, John (l) ............................................................................c hilliwack-Sumas Macdonald, n orm (nDP) ....................................c olumbia r iver–r evelstoke McGinn, Jenn (nDP) .........................................................

Vancouver-Fairview Mcintyre, h on. Joan (l) ........................................ West Vancouver–Garibaldi Mack ay, Dennis (l) ....................................................... bulkley Valley–Stikine n uraney, John (l) .............................................................. burnaby-Willingdon o ppal, h on. Wally, Qc (l) ........................................... Vancouver-Fraserview Penner, hon. barry (l) .............................................................c hilliwack-k ent Polak, h on.

Mary (l) ...............................................................................l angley Puchmayr, c huck (nDP) .......................................................n ew Westminster r alston, bruce (nDP) ................................................................

Surrey-Whalley r eid, h on. l inda (l) ...................................................................r ichmond e ast r ichmond, c laude (l) .........................................................................k amloops r oddick, Valerie (l) ..........................................................................Delta South r outley, Doug (nDP) ......................................................c owichan-l adysmith r ustad, John (l) .......................................................... Prince George–omineca Sather, Michael (nDP) .........................................

Maple r idge–Pitt Meadows Simons, n icholas (nDP) ................................... Powell r iver–Sunshine c oast Simpson, bob (nDP) ...................................................................c ariboo n orth Simpson, Shane (nDP) .....................................................Vancouver-hastings Sultan, r alph (l) .....................................................

West Vancouver–capilano Thorne, Diane (nDP) .................................................c oquitlam-Maillardville Thorpe, r ick (l) .................................................................. o kanagan-Westside t revena, c laire (nDP) .................................................................... n orth island van Dongen, h on.

John (l) ............................................a bbotsford-c layburn Whittred, k atherine (l) ........................................ n orth Vancouver–l onsdale Wyse, c harlie (nDP) ...................................................................c ariboo South Y ap, John (l) .......................................................................r ichmond-Steveston Vacant .............................................................................................. c omox Valley Vacant .......................................................................................Peace r iver n orth Vacant ....................................................................................

Vancouver-l angara liS t o F MeMberS bY riD in G a bbotsford-c layburn .................................................... h on. John van Dongen a bbotsford–Mount l ehman ...........................................h on. Michael de Jong a lberni-Qualicum .............................................................................

Scott Fraser bulkley Valley–Stikine ...............................................................Dennis Mack ay burnaby n orth .............................................................................. r ichard t . l ee burnaby-e dmonds ..........................................................................r aj c houhan burnaby-Willingdon .....................................................................

John n uraney burquitlam .......................................................................................... h arry bloy c ariboo n orth ................................................................................ bob Simpson c ariboo South................................................................................. c harlie Wyse c hilliwack-k ent.....................................................................h on. barry Penner c hilliwack-Sumas ..................................................................................

John l es c olumbia r iver–r evelstoke .................................................. n orm Macdonald c omox Valley..............................................................................................Vacant c oquitlam-Maillardville............................................................... Diane Thorne c owichan-l adysmith ...................................................................

Doug r outley Delta n orth ......................................................................................Guy Gentner Delta South..................................................................................Valerie r oddick e ast k ootenay .......................................................................... h on. bill bennett e squimalt-Metchosin .........................................................Maurine k aragianis Fort l angley–a ldergrove ...................................................h on. r ich c oleman k amloops ................................................................................c laude r ichmond k amloops–n orth Thompson ............................................ h on. k evin k rueger k elowna–l ake c ountry ................................................................... a l h orning k elowna-Mission .........................................................................Sindi h awkins l angley.......................................................................................h on.

Mary Polak Malahat–Juan de Fuca ....................................................................John h organ Maple r idge–Mission ....................................................................r andy h awes Maple r idge–Pitt Meadows ........................................................Michael Sather n anaimo ......................................................................................... l eonard k rog n anaimo-Parksville .............................................................h on. r on c antelon n elson-creston ................................................................................ c orky evans n ew Westminster .................................................................... c huck Puchmayr n orth c oast.......................................................................................

Gary c oons n orth island .................................................................................. c laire t revena n orth Vancouver–l onsdale ............................................... k atherine Whittred n orth Vancouver–Seymour ...........................................................

Daniel Jarvis o ak bay–Gordon h ead ............................................................ h on. ida c hong o kanagan-Vernon ..........................................................h on. t om c hristensen o kanagan-Westside .........................................................................r ick Thorpe Peace r iver n orth ......................................................................................Vacant Peace r iver South ...............................................................h on. blair l ekstrom Penticton–o kanagan Valley................................................... h on. bill barisoff Port c oquitlam–b urke Mountain ...........................................Mike Farnworth Port Moody–Westwood .............................................................h on. iain black Powell r iver–Sunshine c oast ................................................. n icholas Simons Prince George n orth .......................................................................h on.

Pat bell Prince George–Mount r obson ............................................h on. Shirley bond Prince George–omineca ................................................................. John r ustad r ichmond c entre ................................................................................. o lga ilich r ichmond e ast ..........................................................................h on. l inda r eid r ichmond-Steveston ..............................................................................John Y ap Saanich n orth and the islands ........................................... h on.

Murray c oell Saanich South ........................................................................... David c ubberley Shuswap ...............................................................................h on.

George a bbott Skeena .............................................................................................. r obin a ustin Surrey-c loverdale .................................................................h on. k evin Falcon Surrey–Green t imbers ..................................................................Sue h ammell Surrey-n ewton ................................................................................. h arry b ains Surrey–Panorama r idge ...................................................................Jagrup brar Surrey-t ynehead ...........................................................................

Dave S. h ayer Surrey-Whalley.............................................................................. bruce r alston Surrey–White r ock ............................................................. h on. Gordon h ogg Vancouver-burrard ....................................................................Spencer h erbert Vancouver-Fairview .......................................................................Jenn McGinn Vancouver-Fraserview ...................................................h on.

Wally o ppal, Qc Vancouver-hastings ....................................................................Shane Simpson Vancouver-kensington ........................................................David c hudnovsky Vancouver-kingsway..........................................................................a drian Dix Vancouver-l angara ....................................................................................Vacant Vancouver–Mount Pleasant ......................................... Jenny Wai ching kwan Vancouver–Point Grey .................................................h on.

Gordon c ampbell Vancouver-Quilchena ..........................................................h on. c olin h ansen Victoria–b eacon h ill .......................................................................c arole James Victoria-h illside ..............................................................................r ob Fleming West kootenay–b oundary ........................................................ k atrine c onroy West Vancouver–capilano ............................................................. r alph Sultan West Vancouver–Garibaldi ................................................h on.

Joan Mcintyre Y ale-lillooet ......................................................................................... h arry l ali Party Standings: l iberal 42; n ew Democratic 34; Vacant 3

CONTENTS t uesday, March 10, 2009 a fternoon Sitting Routine Proceedings Page introductions by Members ................................................................................................................................................... 14369 t ributes ................................................................................................................................................................................... 14370 k alamalka Secondary School basketball champions h on. t . c hristensen introductions by Members ................................................................................................................................................... 14370 Statements (Standing order 25b) ........................................................................................................................................ 14370 u nsung h ero a ward recipient Gordon harper c.

James t ri-u niversity Meson Facility r . l ee Surrey Memorial h ospital Society S. h ammell a rmy, navy and a ir Force club in Steveston J. Y ap c hild, youth and family network in Maple r idge and Pitt Meadows M. Sather Serpentine enhancement S ociety D. h ayer oral Questions ....................................................................................................................................................................... 14372 Job security of GM Place workers for o lympic Games c. James h on. c. h ansen S. Simpson h. b ains r ole of Patrick k insella in b.c. r ail sale l. k rog h on.

W . oppal r . Fleming J. h organ M. Farnworth Meat industry regulations c. Wys e h on. M. Polak Petitions .................................................................................................................................................................................. 14377 M. Sather Second r eading of bills ........................................................................................................................................................ 14377 Ministerial a ccountability bases a ct, 2008-2009 (bill 4) (continued) D. r outley h on.

M. de Jong c ommittee of the Whole h ouse .......................................................................................................................................... 14380 Supply a ct (n o. 1), 2009 (bill 5) b. r alston h on. c. h ansen r eport and Third r eading of bills ....................................................................................................................................... 14383 Supply a ct (n o. 1), 2009 (bill 5)

budget Debate (continued) ................................................................................................................................................... 14383 G. c oons h on. k. k rueger h. b ains J. n uraney n. Simon s h on. i. b lack S. h erbert

14369 tueSD a Y , March 10, 2009 The h ouse met at 1:35 p.m. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] Introductions by Members Hon. G. Abbott: in the gallery today i have three constituents, including my wife l esley. With l esley is a special guest not only in the l egislature here today but later today at Government h ouse. Pam beech is one of the recipients today of the c ommunity a chievement a ward. Pam has been a remarkable member of the community of Sicamous for four decades. She's a life-long resident of the Shuswap. She has played terrific leading roles in minor hockey, community services and many other areas.

She's joined today by her grandson kristian beech. i'd like the h ouse to not only make Pam welcome but also extend to her our congratulations on her remarkable service to the community as reflected in a community achievement award. J. McGinn: i'd like to welcome some grade 11 social sci- ence students from e ric h amber Secondary School. Some of you know that e ric h amber is one of the largest schools, certainly in V ancouver if not british c olumbia. W elcome them to the l egislature today along with their teacher Mr. David Smith, who is head of the social sciences department, Ms.

Sadeeq Mohammed and other teachers who organized this event today. if you'd please make them welcome. Hon. B. Bennett: in 1920 a man by the name of t om u phill was elected to this provincial l egislature. h e served for 40 years as the M la for the riding of what was then known as Fernie. h is great-grandson brett is in the gallery someplace today. h e's a firefighter from Fernie. Please help make b rett welcome here today. S. Herbert: on May 15, 1981, a great man joined our province, a boy at the time.

Members here on this side of the h ouse will know that May 15, 1981, is my birthday, but i speak not of myself. i speak of my twin brother Doug h erbert who joins us in the h ouse today. Please make him welcome. Hon. L. Reid: We're joined today in the gallery by r heta Steer. Some of you will recall her. She was a lovely woman, a dear friend, who assisted me with the care of my infants when they both spent their very early years with us. She is joined by her dear friend from Montreal, Joan. i would ask the house to please make them welcome. K.

Conroy: i would like to introduce l ee Depellegrin. h e's the vice-president of the t rail firefighters. Y esterday was the first time he had ever sat in the chamber, and he so enjoyed himself that he decided to come back today and try it again. Would you please join me in welcoming him. J. Y ap: i would like the h ouse to join me in welcom- ing a group of 50 enthusiastic grades 6 and 7 students from the great school of t omekichi h omma e lementary School in my riding of r ichmond-Steveston. They're here with a group of chaperones, of course, and their teacher, Mr.

Don a llison, who is a frequent visitor here with students because he believes in show- ing his students how parliamentary democracy works by bringing them here to Victoria. Would the h ouse please make them feel warmly welcome. Hon. J. McIntyre: i have a very special treat today.

We're joined in the h ouse today by several individuals representing the Squamish n ation and their education committee, who had a lovely meeting with the Minister of e ducation to discuss their aboriginal enhancement agreement. a s i read the names, you'll note that several of them are from the h arry family, who i have had the pleasure of getting to know over the years.

This is their first visit to Victoria, but they also travelled to o ttawa to receive the federal government's apology. i know this has been a very special time for them. [1340] l et me read the names: Dale h arry, Squamish n ation councillor; Gwen h arry, elder; t erry a nn h arry, the elders coordinator; Paul Wick, administrator; Joy Joseph- Mcc ullough, the associate director of education; Jackie Williams, enhancement agreement committee member; l inda Williams, enhancement agreement committee member; and h enry Williams. i would like the h ouse to make them feel very, very welcome. R.

Fleming: i have a school group here, as well, from my constituency today. i would like to introduce from S.J. Willis high school, c arol a ileen, a teacher who is here with three students: c arter Glennon, l ucan Day and Miles Smith. Will the h ouse please make these visitors welcome. S.

Hawkins: Visiting the l egislature today and in the gallery are two very dear friends of mine, brad and l aurie Field. brad is a great community builder, and he's worked with c ops for k ids and k elowna Women's Shelter, and he's going to be honoured this afternoon at Government h ouse with a b.c . achievement award. i'm asking the members to please make them feel very welcome. H. Bloy: it's a pleasure for me to introduce three hard-working burnaby firefighters who are back with us in the gallery today. it's amazing the commitment that

british c olumbia Debates14370 t uesday, March 10, 2009 they make all on their own time to our communities. We have Miles r itchie, who is one of the cofounders of the World Police and Fire Games, coming this summer, July 31, mainly in burnaby. We have r ob l amoureux and Mike h urley, who is president of the b.c. Professional Fire Fighters a ssociation, and he's from burnaby. Would the h ouse please make them welcome. Tributes kalaMalka SeconD ar Y School ba Sketball chaMP ionS Hon. T.

Christensen: This afternoon i'd like the h ouse to join me in acknowledging the accomplishments of a number of young women athletes at k alamalka Secondary School in Vernon. i was actually a gradu- ate of what was k alamalka Junior Secondary School at the time. i won't say what year. but on Saturday the k alamalka l akers senior girls basketball team captured the provincial championship. i think what is remarkable is that for many of the ath- letes on the senior girls team, this is in fact their fourth provincial championship.

Many of them also won the junior basketball championship, the junior volleyball championship and the senior girls volleyball champion- ship. So obviously a dynasty in the works at k alamalka Secondary, and i would ask the h ouse to join me in con- gratulating all of these young athletes, their coaches and their many supporters who have made this possible. Introductions by Members C.

Wyse: i would ask the h ouse to join with me today in recognizing two members from c ariboo South who are also here with us in Victoria visiting Government h ouse to receive their c ommunity a chievement a ward in recognition of the great service that they have pro- vided their communities over the years. i would like this h ouse to recognize a lex bracewell, h avanna h amley and l ori Fry of 100 Mile. J. Y ap: Just to add to my welcome, the school group from t omekichi h omma e lementary School includes two teachers who are here with us in the gallery: Michael Gilles and bonnie Makutra.

Would the h ouse please make them welcome as well. Statements (Standing Order 25b) unS un G hero a WarD reciP ient GorD on harP er C. James: i'm pleased to rise today to talk about the u nsung h ero a ward in my community. The u nsung h ero a ward is an initiative of the First u nitarian c hurch of Victoria and the c ommunity c ouncil. a n unsung hero is a skilled, dedicated person who has served the larger community long and well but never received headlines. Their contributions deserve to be better known and publicly applauded because they will inspire the rest of us.

This annual award acknowledges and celebrates the work of one among a number of deserving citizens within b.c.'s capital region, someone who has dedi- cated themselves to the goals of social justice, peace and liberty for all and someone who is also committed to sharing their knowledge and resources for the better - ment of their fellow citizens. i'm pleased to rise today to recognize Gordon h arper, recipient of the u nsung h ero a ward 2009. Gordon is the executive director of the u mbrella Society for a ddictions and Mental h ealth. h is career spans over 20 years of community service.

Gordon moved through the hard road of recovery, he says, because one day after spending days drinking alone in his apartment, a family member knocked on his door. h is cousin Marilyn said to him: "This has to stop, and what are we going to do about it? [1345] h aving someone say "we" moved Gordon down that tough road to recovery. h e believes that everyone deserves to have a "we," and he's passionate about helping people in their journey to recovery.

The u mbrella Society has a hard-working board of directors and a staff of only four, but you'll find Gordon and his staff everywhere in our community, meeting people in coffee shops, hospitals, detox homes, recov- ery homes and shelters. e verywhere they are that needs help, Gordon and his staff are there. n o matter the need, they're there to provide support. For that and more, i would like to ask this h ouse to join me to thank Gordon h arper and congratulate him on being the recipient of the unsung h ero a ward 2009. tri-uniVerS it Y MeSon Facilit Y R.

Lee: in these troubled economic times, british c olumbia is taking the high road to ensure a bright and prosperous future. i want to remind members of this h ouse of a project all british c olumbians can be proud of: triu MF , c anada's national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics located in V ancouver and founded by ubc, uVic and my local university of SFu in b urnaby. i know that a number of the scientists from SFu are working hard at triu MF , including John D'auria, professor of nuclear astrochemistry; Michel Vetterli, professor of physics; t om r uth, professor of chemistry; r ichard h elmer; and Peter Jackson. triu MF is bringing international business to b.c. a $2 million agreement was signed with india last year to

british c olumbia Debatest uesday, March 10, 2009 14371 manufacture high-tech components in r ichmond by Pa Vac industries. a nd a new $1 million partnership was launched with MDS n ordion to develop advanced medical isotope products. triu MF has an ambitious plan for the next five years, to focus on breakthroughs in medical imaging, information technology and the very nature of matter. a n independent assessment of the plan identified more than $1 billion of economic activities and 1,200 jobs that will be generated. in May, 2,000 of the world's most talented acceler - ator physicists will come to a conference in downtown Vancouver because of triu MF . i believe that places like triu MF give b.c. a competitive advantage in this difficult economic climate.

For instance, triu MF is proposing a new accelerator that could play a role in addressing the medical isotope production problems that we hear about in c halk r iver, ontario. Mr. Speaker, we know the critical role that science, technology and innovation play in driving long-term economic success. The more i learn about the innovative initiative spearheaded by SFu researchers and triu MF , the more impressed i am at the ingenuity and dedication of our scientists here in british c olumbia. Surre Y MeM orial hoSP ital Societ Y S.

Hammell: in 1955 a delegation of determined women from Surrey chartered a plane and flew to Victoria to lobby their government. These women wanted an audience with W .a.c. bennett, the Premier of the day, to impress upon him the need for appropriate health care in Surrey and the need to build a hospital in this growing municipality. it may sound familiar.

Dramatic action is usually preceded by frustra- tion, and so it is true in this story. in 1946 the r oyal c olumbian h ospital served notice that they would no longer accept patients from Surrey, making it abun- dantly clear to all that Surrey needed its own hospital.

The Surrey Memorial h ospital Society formed in 1947 to address this need, but there was immediately a con- flict on where the hospital would be located. a hospital did proceed in White r ock, and although various auxiliary groups were raising money in north Surrey, where the majority of the population was located, there was no commitment by the province to help out — thus, the need to fly to Victoria to lobby W .a.c. bennett. The government agreed to build the hospital if the community first came up with one-third of the costs. The amazing ladies' auxiliary led the community in rais- ing the money.

The construction of the hospital started in 1957, and it opened in 1959 — 50 years ago. t oday i'd like to honour this amazing organization.

The Surrey Memorial h ospital a uxiliary was born as the ladies' auxiliary, and then, as over the years men joined, it changed its name to Surrey Memorial h ospital a uxiliary. o ver the past 60 years, the auxiliary has raised over $4 million and contributed thousands of hours serving the hospital and raising money. [1350] i'd like to congratulate the Surrey Memorial h ospital a uxiliary for 60 years of service to the community of Surrey. arMY , na VY anD air Force club in Ste Ve Ston J.

Y ap: The a rmy, n avy and a ir Force u nit 284 Steveston, or anaF 284, began its journey in 1946, when 30 local veterans obtained a charter to open up a veterans club in Steveston. From their humble begin- nings to their present day successes, anaF 284 has been an integral part of the community.

Starting with a temporary club room, to purchasing a building and converting it to a fully licensed club, anaF 284 offered a place to meet, read, play billiards and poker, and meet up with good friends as well as a place to stage their fundraising efforts. u nfortunately, in December 1956 the clubhouse was destroyed by fire.

For the next three years anaF 284 was forced to make do with the help of the membership and the ladies' auxiliary, with meetings in members' homes, while they raised funds for permanent quarters. l uckily, after a few difficult years, anaF 284 was able to get back on its feet and continued to support the Steveston community. in the 1960s and 70s the attention of anaF 284 was turned to the building of seniors homes in the area. r affles and lotteries arranged by the members were able to help fund several seniors residences, including one in Steveston, for a total of 198 suites. n ot a group to only support part of the commun- ity, anaF 284 has helped to sponsor and fundraise for many local groups over the years, including children's sports teams, the b.c. c ancer Society, the r ed cross, boy Scouts and Girl Guides, cadets, t erry Fox fund, r ichmond General h ospital, Steveston c ommunity c entre and many, many more groups in Steveston and beyond.

Mr. Speaker and Members of the h ouse, please join me in thanking all the members of the a rmy, n avy, and a ir Force unit 284 for their past and present service of the community, making Steveston the special place it is to call home. chil D, Youth an D Fa Mil Y net Work in MaP le riDGe anD P itt MeaD o WS M. Sather: The child, youth and family network is a unique affiliation of over 140 organizations working together to enhance the well-being of families, youth and children, including the k atzie First n ation in Maple

british c olumbia Debates14372 t uesday, March 10, 2009 r idge–Pitt Meadows. Through monthly round-table meetings and regular e-mails to its members, cYFn strengthens the availability and quality of services and resources in our communities. The variety of organizations present at a cYFn meet- ing is impressive and demonstrates the value of bringing together a multitude of perspectives on the social issues facing our communities. cYFn committees range from early childhood education to middle childhood matters, to literacy, to substance misuse prevention and inte- grated case management.

Members include the Family e ducation and Support c entre, c ythera t ransition h ouse, Plea , r idge Meadows a ssociation for c ommunity l iving, big brothers big Sisters and many more. a ffiliates include the t een r esource n etwork, building c ommunity Solutions, and the a louette h ome Start Society. cYFn has access to a community van which is avail- able for use in both emergency situations and to facilitate fun events for kids, such as driving groups to the local skate park.

There's also a community laptop, projector and screen available for community development activities. cYFn is known for their inclusive and hol- istic perspective, promoting a culture of connectiveness, striving for positive changes for its member organiza- tions and ultimately for the citizens who benefit from its support. it would be difficult to find a community organization that is not connected to the cYFn. Thank you to the child, youth and family network for continually working to enhance the quality of life of our children, youth and families in Maple r idge and Pitt Meadows.

SerP entine enhanceMent Societ Y D. Hayer: The beauty and value of british c olumbia's environment is synonymous with the salmon that are raised in our streams and rivers, that provide substance to the first nations, that feed the wildlife and grace our dinner tables.

Y et our salmon, the fish that have sus- tained a historic industry in this province, are in grave danger. it is through the work of incredible groups like the Serpentine enhancement Society that operate the t ynehead h atchery in my riding, that hopefully will return the salmon to its countless numbers. [1355] The Serpentine enhancement Society raises over a quarter-million salmon fry for release into Surrey's Serpentine r iver and operates an ambitious educational program for children in some 40 school classrooms in Surrey.

The society, led by my constituency president, Glenn Wright, teaches the salmon life cycle to school chil- dren at the hatchery and provides salmon eggs for raising salmon right in the children's classroom. The society also provides thousands of egg-to-fry displays to the b.c . t eachers Federation for their use in classrooms.

The society has a membership of over 59 and dozens of key volunteers from my constituency, such as Dr. t om Goodman and barry c hild; including other con- stituents of mine such as President Glenn Wright and directors a lan Dobby, Dave Woods, c arol Wright and Frank Marshalok. o ther directors are e bb and Julia budgell, bruce e aston, c hris h amming and l orne Mayer. i ask the h ouse to join me in congratulating all these fine environmentalists who are working to ensure the future of salmon and educating our children on the value of salmon. i also ask the h ouse to support their desire to see the Pacific salmon, including the steelhead, recognized as british c olumbia's official fish.

Oral Questions Job S ecurit Y o F GM Place WorkerS For ol YMPic GaMeS C. James: Some 750 workers at GM Place don't know if they'll have a job during the o lympic Games. That's what they've been told by their employer. So my ques- tion is to the minister. Will he explain why the jobs of 750 hard-working b ritish c olumbians are in limbo? Hon. C. Hansen: i heard earlier about some of the comments that the l eader of the o pposition has been making, and quite frankly, i believe that those comments are absolutely reckless and irresponsible.

For her to be fearmongering among the workers at various facilities around this province…. interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. t ake your seat, Minister. c ontinue. Hon. C. Hansen: Y esterday, as was raised by the oppos- ition with regard to 200 employees at h astings Park….

We knew — and actually their employer knew at the time that leases were signed with the city of Vancouver many, many months ago — that that facility was going to not be able to operate the slot machines during that one-month period of time. i can tell you that just in the last 24 hours, the b.c. r estaurant and Foodservices a ssociation has stepped up to the plate and said that they'll actually provide a job-matching service for those employees, because they know that there are going to be jobs for anybody in british c olumbia that has experience in food and bever- age service in this province. it's a great opportunity for them. it's a great opportunity for this province.

Mr. Speaker: l eader of the o pposition has a supplemental.

british c olumbia Debatest uesday, March 10, 2009 14373 C. James: i'd tell the minister to talk to those employees, as i did this morning, to see how excited they are about losing their jobs for a month. i talked to an employee who's worked at h astings for 43 years. h e's put his heart and soul into that facility and into this province by paying tax dollars into the provincial budget, and now this government says to him and his family: "Sorry, you're out of luck for a month." That's the response this government has given those employees. interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. C. James: This is 750 more employees.

These are mainly women. They don't make a lot of money, but they contribute a lot to b.c., and like all british c olumbians, they're excited about the games. They want to be a part of it, and they've been told that that can't happen. They're not going to be working. Their employer says it has no idea whether they'll have a job or not. a gain, my question is to the minister. Why are these workers being treated so badly by this govern- ment, and what is he going to do to ensure that they get to stay on the job during the o lympics? Hon. C.

Hansen: i understand how unsettling it would be for an individual who is told that he may not have employment for that particular month. [1400] but what the l eader of the o pposition is doing with the fearmongering that she is engaged in is exacerbating that problem. interjections. Mr. Speaker: Just sit down for a second. n ow, Members, let's listen to the question and listen to the answer. interjection. Mr. Speaker: Member. c ontinue, Minister. Hon. C. Hansen: in the case of h astings Park we recognize, with the installation of the slot machines and the casino operations there….

That was only installed a year and a half ago. a t the time of that installation and the creation of those new jobs, it was clearly understood in the lease arrangements with the city of Vancouver that that facility would not be operational. if the l eader of the o pposition has an example of someone who has worked at h astings Park for 42 years, odds are they're working in the stables. Those employ- ees will continue to be engaged, even though horse racing doesn't actually start until a pril.

We know that there are year-round jobs and that they will be able to continue that work, although they'll have to go through the appropriate security clearances because they'll be behind security. Mr. Speaker: The l eader of the o pposition has a fur- ther supplemental. C. James: i find it unbelievable that, as always, this government points fingers somewhere else. n ow they're pointing fingers at the workers and their families for raising genuine concern about losing their jobs. interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. C.

James: These workers approached us because they're concerned for themselves and their families. i want this minister to know that every member on this side of the h ouse is going to continue to raise these issues on behalf of those workers and their families. These are 750 workers at GM Place who support sports year-round, year after year. They work at c anucks games.

They're more than able to work for the o lympics. but this government and V anoc won't tell them or anyone else whether they're going to keep their jobs. a gain to the minister: can he explain why the b.c. l iberals spend billions of dollars on the o lympics but can't tell 750 hard-working british c olumbians whether they'll have a job for a month during the o lympics? Hon. C. Hansen: There is only one person i'm point- ing a finger at, and that's the l eader of the o pposition, because her comments are shameful.

There is going to be a huge demand in british c olumbia for anybody that has experience in the food and bever - age and hospitality industries.

There are going to be tens of thousands of additional jobs during February of 2010. i can guarantee the l eader of the o pposition that if anybody has that kind of experience and wants to work during 2010, during the o lympic period, i know that the r estaurant and Food Services a ssociation is going to help facilitate those workers to be in jobs. i have no doubt that the 750 workers at GM Place will be in demand for many of those jobs in those services and the great experience that they bring with them. S. Simpson: Mr.

Speaker, what's reckless and irrespon- sible in this h ouse is this minister's incompetent bungling of this file. i suppose it's a good thing that the r estaurant and Food Services a ssociation is stepping up, because this government has turned its back on all those workers. This Premier and this minister have a responsibility to 750 people at GM Place who work hard, pay taxes,

british c olumbia Debates14374 t uesday, March 10, 2009 expect to be able to work through that time at their jobs and are getting nothing from this government. Will the minister stand up today and commit that those people will keep their jobs during the o lympics? Hon. C. Hansen: a ctually, i think what i'm hearing coming from this member for Vancouver-h astings is the height of hypocrisy. [1405] When Great c anadian c asino c o. proposed creating those jobs at h astings Park with the installation of slots, that member opposed it. That member opposed those jobs. interjections. Mr.

Speaker: Members. c ontinue, Minister. Hon. C. Hansen: Vanoc is as anxious as anyone is to make sure that there is continuity in food service at GM Place throughout the games. Those arrangements are being worked on. There are discussions that will take place, and as i said in my earlier answer, given the demand that there is for experienced food and bever - age workers in February of 2010, i have no doubt that every single one of those employees that wants to work is going to have opportunities on their doorstep. interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. The member has a supplemental. S.

Simpson: Well, maybe if some of those workers at GM Place had a friend with a corporate jet to fly the Premier off to beijing, this minister might pay a little more attention to them. This minister's performance is shameful. What this minister has done is turned his back on 750 workers. a t some point here, it's $20 million for GM Place for what they do, it's a corporate jet for the Premier to fly around, and not one whit of care for those 750 workers. Stand up for people in british c olumbia. Stand up for those workers and guarantee their jobs. Hon. C.

Hansen: n o amount of bluster from this member is going to cover up his hypocrisy in that he opposed the creation of those jobs at h astings Park from the get-go. We also know that the nDP opposed the o lympics from the get-go. We are talking about $10 billion of economic activ- ity.

We're talking about the creation of about 244,000 jobs in british c olumbia because of the o lympics. it's about time that this member and his colleagues stopped bashing the o lympics and get on board with the rest of british c olumbians who are counting down, over the next 11½ months, to the biggest celebration that this province will ever see. H. Bains: Quite frankly, the people of this province are sick and tired of this minister's non-answers. They're sick and tired of this minister pointing fingers at every- one else and accusing anyone who asks any questions.

That's shameful. it is shameful that with only a year to go, hundreds of these workers don't know whether they have jobs or not. Will this minister stand up today and tell these workers whether they will have jobs during the olympics or not? Hon. C. Hansen: i will tell the member what british c olumbians are sick and tired of. They're sick and tired of this member constantly bashing the o lympics.

They are sick and tired of the kind of fearmongering that we are hearing from the l eader of the o pposition and other members of the nDP caucus. it's about time that the members of the official opposition got in touch with the rest of british c olumbia and started to be supportive, encouraging for these workers, and helped to support them as they get ready for the biggest event that's ever going to happen in british columbia. [1410] interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. The member has a supplemental. H. Bains: if you're a corporate o lympic sponsor, your tickets are guaranteed.

The only guarantee the workers of GM Place and h astings Park have is getting a pink slip from this government. My question is to the minister. Why can't b.c. l iberals treat working people with a little bit of respect? Will you allow them to work? is that too much to ask of this arro- gant minister? Hon. C. Hansen: i would ask of this member to show those workers a little respect. interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. interjections. Mr. Speaker: if the other members want to engage in question period, just keep going back and forth. c ontinue, Minister. Hon. C.

Hansen: What would be respectful to these workers is if this member would not constantly fear - monger by saying that people are getting pink slips.

british c olumbia Debatest uesday, March 10, 2009 14375 n obody is getting pink slips. We know of 200 workers at h astings Park who may not be working at that particular location for the month of February.

We also know that their employer is working with them to see if they can be accommodated at other facilities, and there are other employers that are willing to step up to the plate and provide job opportunities for these experienced workers during that period of time. but it is the height of disrespect, actually, when this member, that l eader of the o pposition and these mem- bers of the nDP caucus continue to spread fear among workers that is absolutely unfounded and unnecessary. role o F Patrick kinS ella in b.c. rail Sale L.

Krog: c an the Premier confirm that his friend Patrick k insella, the chair of the 2001 and 2005 b.c. l iberal campaigns, received an untendered contract from b.c. r ail in 2002 to smooth the way for the sell- off of b.c. r ail? Hon. W . Oppal: The member well knows that the issue relating to b.c . r ail is before the Supreme c ourt of british c olumbia, and we will not comment on the matter. Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental. L. Krog: Perhaps the a ttorney General and the Premier didn't hear what i had to say. The documents aren't before the courts.

They're, in fact, available up there in the l egislative l ibrary. if the a ttorney General or the Premier has some knowledge about them and something that indicates that this matter is before the courts, perhaps they'd care to tell the house here today. b.c. r ail's audited financial statements show $297,000 in payments to Mr. k insella over the period of the b.c. r ail privatization scheme. Patrick k insella's specialty is working the back rooms. My question is to the Premier.

Who was Patrick k insella lobbying on behalf of the government during the sale of b.c . r ail? it wasn't the federal government. it wasn't the municipal government. Will the Premier tell us: who was Mr. kinsella paid to talk to, and what did he tell them? Hon. W . Oppal: i don't know if this member realizes it or not, but there are people who are on trial before the Supreme c ourt of british c olumbia right now. interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. t ake your seat, a ttorney. c ontinue. [1415] Hon. W . Oppal: irresponsible comments of that sort jeopardize a fair trial.

That member well realizes that commenting in this arena about the trial that's before the Supreme c ourt jeopardizes the right to a fair trial. R. Fleming: Very simply, we're asking questions about items that aren't in evidence. They're in the parliament- ary library just down the hall from here. We're asking questions about a secret untendered contract worth $300,000 awarded to the Premier's friend, Mr. Patrick k insella, to help sell b.c. r ail — a secret untendered contract to the author of the Premier's 2001 election platform, which, you'll recall, promised not to sell b.c. r ail.

Don't the people of british c olumbia deserve to know the truth about this payment — a payment that broke the rules and has been kept secret for six years? My question is to the Premier. Who did Mr. k insella lobby in this regard? What did he tell them? t ell us what Mr. kinsella's role was in the b.c. r ail sell-off. Hon. W . Oppal: The fact that the documents are now available in the public library, in the library here in the l egislature, is irrelevant. The fact is that they were before the courts. They were secured as a result of being in the courts. interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. c ontinue, a ttorney.

Hon. W . Oppal: i'm quite prepared to give the mem- bers opposite lectures on the doctrine of separation of powers. in the meantime, i'm not going to comment on anything that's before the Supreme c ourt or has been before the Supreme c ourt or has been connected to the trial that's before the Supreme c ourt. Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplementary. R. Fleming: These filings, the evidence of this con- tract that is in the parliamentary library, are because the Financial a dministration a ct was violated.

This is infor- mation that should have been available to the public for six years, since those contracts were awarded, and they never were, by b.c. r ail — on line or in any other source. h ere's what we know now. The government broke the rules to give the campaign chair of this party, the governing party, and their chief fundraiser a $300,000 contract to help smooth the b.c. r ail privatization. Just what did this key l iberal official know? h e's known for his lobbying and not calling it lobbying. What did he do for his money? That's the question today to the Premier. Will he tell british c olumbians the truth?

Will he tell why his government paid Mr. Patrick k insella $300,000 to help sell off b.c. r ail?

british c olumbia Debates14376 t uesday, March 10, 2009 Hon. W . Oppal: The fact that the documents are now available is not relevant. The fact is that they have been in evidence. interjections. Mr. Speaker: c ontinue, a ttorney. interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. Hon. W . Oppal: The documents relating to b.c. r ail have been the subject of a decision by Madam Justice bennett of the Supreme c ourt of british c olumbia. J. Horgan: Well, let me help the attorney out. i know he's always keen to solicit my advice.

The financial state- ments for b.c. r ail, a crown entity, tell us, the legislators of this place, that the chief bagman for the Premier and his political party received an untendered contract for $300,000. What did he do for the $300,000? That, surely, is not before the courts. [1420] Hon. W . Oppal: The fact is that all of this matter is related to what's before the Supreme c ourt. The subject of the b.c . r ail litigation is before the Supreme c ourt of british c olumbia, and i'm not going to comment on it. Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental. J.

Horgan: Well, we do know something about Mr. k insella's expertise. in his own resumé to the state of Washington, he suggests that he has experience with a company called a ccenture by providing inroads to the government to privatize one-third of b.c. h ydro. h e has experience with a lcan, another company fam- iliar to the Premier and his colleagues, which received a pretty sweet deal for electricity purchase and power sales during the tenure of this government. So that's Mr. k insella's expertise.

Why would b.c. r ail, which is identified in the plat- form of the current government as not for sale, pay this guy 300 grand? What's the deal with that? Why is that not appropriate questioning in the l egislature of british c olumbia? Hon. W . Oppal: i'll repeat my answer. The issues relating to b.c. r ail are very much before the Supreme c ourt of british c olumbia, and we're not going to com- ment on that. M.

Farnworth: The a ttorney General stands here in this h ouse and says he's prepared to lecture, you know, on "before the courts." Well, one thing he's still going to get, no matter how many lectures he does, is a failing grade on openness and accountability on this issue. These documents were not before the courts. They're in the l egislative l ibrary. They've always been in the l egislative l ibrary, and they have not been before the courts. My question to the Premier is: what was Mr. k insella doing for $300,000? Stand and answer that question. Why was he paid $300,000? Hon. W .

Oppal: The issue of accountability and alleged wrongdoings relating to all documents, whether they are before the court now, whether they have been released for the court, are all linked to b.c . r ail. a ll of those matters are before the Supreme court of british c olumbia. Meat in Du Str Y re Gulation S C. Wyse: i spent the past few days meeting with representatives of the meat-processing industry. They are concerned that this government is clueless about their industry. They are facing extremely challenging economic times, made more difficult by regulations enacted by this government.

This is the question they would like this government to answer. c an the minister confirm that this govern- ment has no idea how many meat animals are produced in this province, no idea where and what they are and no idea how much slaughter capacity is needed to ser - vice them? interjections. Mr. Speaker: Members. Hon. M. Polak: When we made the transition to the new meat inspection regulations, we recognized that there would be challenges for industry to make that transition. That's why we provided $8.8 million to the industry.

That, by the way, is funding that those mem- bers voted against. i'm pleased to say that while we still have challenges, we have managed to quadruple the number of licensed provincial meat-processing plants since this has come into place in 2004. Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental. [1425] C.

Wyse: i don't think that answer is going to help Mike n oullett of k awano Farms near Prince George, who told me how much money he spent — tens of thou- sands of dollars — to meet the government's new meat industry regulations. n ow he is struggling to stay in busi- ness, because the ministry is letting other processors in the same area play by different rules — all this after the former a griculture Minister used k awano Farms as a

british c olumbia Debatest uesday, March 10, 2009 14377 photo shoot, announcing how well the new regulations are working. increased costs are forcing Musa ismail of Pitt Meadow Meats and r ichard Yntema of Valley Wide Meats in enderby out of business. if these processors go out of busi- ness, meat producers in these regions will go under as well. Y our government created these problems in this industry. What are you doing to fix them? Hon. M.

Polak: First of all, this member ought to make up his mind which policy he supports. in this h ouse just last week that member raised a concern about a licence that was not granted. Why? because the person applying for the licence was within the 100-kilometre limit near another facility. So which is it? Does the member think that we ought to protect those producers who have invested in coming up to the new standards? They've invested tens of thou- sands — sometimes in the neighbourhood of a hundred thousand dollars and more — into facilities that they've now brought up to standard.

We now have amended the regulations to protect those producers. This member advocated against that. n ow he wants us to change the rules. i'm not sure what he thinks. [end of question period.] Hon. J. McIntyre: i seek leave to add to my introduc- tion. Mr. Speaker: Proceed. Introductions by Members Hon. J. McIntyre: i'm sorry i neglected to mention Gwen h arry, who is also here with the Squamish n ation, a 12-year-old. h er namesake, of course, is Gwen h arry, the Squamish elder, so i know that she has a wonderful model to follow in life. i would like to welcome Gwen as well. M.

Sather: i seek leave to present a petition. Mr. Speaker: Proceed. Petitions M. Sather: i have a petition signed by 468 residents calling on the government to come to assistance of both workers and consumers regarding the closure of e xtra Foods in Maple r idge. H. Bains: i seek leave to make an introduction. Mr. Speaker: Proceed. Introductions by Members H.

Bains: in the h ouse we have a very active member, a firefighter from Surrey. n ot only is he involved in the health and safety of his members, but he's also deeply involved in the community, whether it's the food bank or anything else. t im baillie is in the h ouse. Please wel- come t im baillie to this h ouse. Orders of the Day Hon. M. de Jong: i call continued second reading of bill 4. Second Reading of Bills Mini Sterial a ccountabilit Y ba SeS a ct, 2008-2009 (continued) D.

Routley: o bserving the theme of question period, i'd like to rename bill 4, the Ministerial a ccountability bases a ct, to be the "Ministerial accountability debase- ment act." a s we can clearly see by the record of this government, they take every step possible, every meas- ure within their reach, to lessen their accountability to the people of b.c., whether it be the cancellation of sit- tings or this kind of

an act, which gives a duck-and-cover to the many ministers who have seen their ministerial budgets go over budget. [h. b loy in the chair.] it's clear that the original act and the holdback of bonuses was an absolutely political gesture. Since the capital won by that political gesture has worn off, they've lost interest, and they've lost interest in a very big way. Y ear after year we've seen the introduction of acts like these that give permission to these ministers, in a retro- active way, to overspend their budgets without losing that holdback.

So it's with some sadness, i think, that all the mem- bers are called back to the l egislature to debate bills that give the government a free pass on its own budget laws. This one here confirms all of that. [1430] We saw this government take over, in 2001, the largest surplus in the history of the province at that time, $1.48 billion. That's what they were left by the previous nDP administration. Through their mismanagement, their cold-hearted cuts to people at the same time they gave away the wealth of this province, we saw deficits from 2001 to 2003 — three deficits in a row.

Then, during an unprecedented boom in resource prices and building rates in the u nited States, we saw the government post and take credit for four surpluses.

british c olumbia Debates14378 t uesday, March 10, 2009 n ow, as the worm turns and the economy suffers, we see the government prepare for a deficit and a deficit next year as well — two more deficits.

That puts their record at five in the red and four in the black, and it looks very much like 2008 may in fact have been a deficit budget as well. if that's true, if that comes to be true once the a uditor General reports, they will have a six-deficit, four-surplus record — the great managers, the fiscal wizards who man- aged to pass an absolutely politically driven law which saw their ministers hold back 20 percent of their pay. a nd not one of them ever gave up the 10 percent penalty that would have been incurred for going over budget.

During this time, this unprecedented building boom in the u nited States which accounted for their surplus years, we saw deficits grow in this province. We saw a deficit that was represented in poverty numbers. This province led the country in child poverty for the past six years running. r ates were decreasing for years and years. e very year poverty rates in this province declined until this govern- ment took over, and then they started to climb again until we now, very sadly, lead this country — if you can call that leadership — in poverty rates among children.

We see deficits in housing as they stopped providing housing support for british c olumbians in order to paper over their broken promise of 5,000 long-term care beds, redirecting federal housing money towards assisted living in order to make up for that broken promise. The nDP built housing through the '90s, even though the federal government didn't supply any support for that. The federal government re-entered the social hous- ing support game in 2002. Did this government respond by directing that to the people who were on our waiting list? n o. They redirected that money every year to cover that broken promise.

The other deficits we've seen grow during those times. Seniors care — seniors reside in an absolute deficit of adequate care. c hild care — we've seen a loss of space. c lassrooms — our classrooms are overcrowded. o ur schools have been closed. Those are the deficits imposed on british c olumbia by this government even while they reported surpluses in their budgets. emergency rooms. Forest policies that saw tens of thousands of workers lose their jobs during boom times in the u nited States. They took a made-in-n orth-a merica housing boom and coupled it with a made-in-b.c. poverty boom. That's their record.

Y et what do they do? They call us back to the l egislature now to amend their own legislation on budgeting and to pass this bill 4, which gives permission to their ministers to overspend their budgets. They were warned. They were warned this downturn was coming. but again, through political necessity and expediency, they chose not to listen — a government that doesn't listen to anyone, a government that ignores the facts because of the political inconvenience of acknow- ledging reality. a government just like George bush, which thinks it can create reality simply by insisting upon it.

The more unreal their insistence becomes, the more insistent they become. Y ou can't have it both ways. Y ou're accountable, or you're not, and this government is not accountable. This is one more duck-and-cover piece of legislation, one more evasion from the scrutiny of british c olumbians. This is a retroactive righteousness that allows their ministers to overspend budgets, which they had agreed would be penalized 10 percent for doing just that. This government denies the truth.

They simply insist that everyone else is wrong, and if they're wrong, they think they can just change the rules. it's simple, really. if you're wrong, you just change the measurement. if you're wrong, you just change the law. This government has consistently shown that as its track record. [1435] During boom times, we saw a dying forest industry, and that was all good. During boom times, we saw increased poverty, and that was all good. During boom times, we saw the buildup of more debt, and that was all good. n ow that the economy has turned and the minis- ters can't meet their budgets, we'll just give them more.

We'll amend the law, and that's all good. Y ou just make it up as you go. Y ou make it up as you must, and you remake it as you must. l ast year the a ccountability bases a ct encompassed seven ministries. Seven ministries went over budget. l ast year was a time before government revenues were drastically affected by the downturn in the economy. Those ministries were a dvanced e ducation; environment; Finance; h ealth; t ourism, Sport and the a rts; Forests and r ange; and Public Safety and Solicitor General. it was the fifth year in a row that it was necessary to pass such legislation — the fifth year.

This year i guess inflation has had its effect, because ten ministries are affected: a dvanced e ducation and l abour Market Development; c ommunity Development; Finance and the Minister r esponsible for the o lympics; Forests and r ange; h ealth Services; h ousing and Social Development; l abour and citizens' Services; Public Safety and Solicitor General; t ourism, c ulture and the a rts; and t ransportation and infrastructure. a ll those ministries are over budget, and all those ministers, if they were to obey their own law, should be forfeiting 10 percent of their pay, half the holdback. That was the deal.

That's what this l iberal government waved a flag over. They waved and waved, and they said: "Y ou know what? We're going to be accountable. We're going to ensure it, because we're actually going to penal- ize ourselves if we're not — although if we are found to be over budget, we can always maintain our account- ability by just changing the rules." That's what they did. Five years in a row we've seen it. Five years in a row, rather than acknowledge the

british c olumbia Debatest uesday, March 10, 2009 14379 truth, the government comes and changes and alters the truth, alters reality. They say: " n o, we didn't mean it. We meant something else. We're going to change that one, and everybody is still within the rule." Well, they're not. They're simply not. They're simply not accountable.

They simply don't care whether their words mean anything, and this is one more proof that that is true. i thank you for the opportunity to speak about bill 4, to speak against it, to say that this government owes this province accountability, that it bragged and beat a drum, and this is what we got. Hon.

M. de Jong: t o the members who participated in the discussion around bill 4, i've listened, as i always do, to the comments with care. i should say this. i appre- ciated very much the efforts some of the members made to try to apply some sort of rational analysis, at least to a part of the discussion. i am thinking of the members that posed, i think, the appropriate question around the circumstances giving rise to the need for this legislation and also responsibly, at least to my mind, highlighted the fact that circum- stances arise like fire seasons, like natural disasters, that give rise to the need for additional expenditures. i think you can tell a lot about the nature of an indi- vidual by the manner in which they apply themselves to the task of criticism and critique. i listened to the com- ments of the last member who spoke for the opposition, and they were not dissimilar from some of the other commentary we heard. [1440] i don't want to take a lot of time, but i think it bears pointing out and placing on the record that apparently this member believes that a government, a minister and a ministry that perform their statutory duties as they relate to fighting forest fires should be penalized.

That's fine. if that's his and his colleagues' position and argument, then that's fine, but he should have the fortitude, the courage and the honesty to say so explicitly and not wrap that argument in rhetoric. h e and some of his colleagues apparently believe that whoever the Minister of Public Safety is, in a year when there is flooding that requires statutory expenditures, that individual should be penalized for performing their statutory duties. i disagree.

That was not the intention of the original piece of legislation that actually gives rise to the debate and discussion we are having this year and have had in past years. We wouldn't, of course, be having any of these discussions had the party opposite remained in power because, of course, none of these obligations ever existed under the party opposite.

So let me say on the record that i don't think officials, individuals who respond as the law requires them to, to ensure that there are resources to address natural disaster and forest fires should be penalized. but i understand that the member opposite from c owichan and some of his col- leagues…. i want to say "some of his colleagues," because a few of his colleagues actually quite fairly pointed out the distinction. i appreciate that, and i respect that. i must say that i am not sympathetic to the rhetoric and argument that i heard from the member from c owichan and some of his colleagues.

The characteriza- tion that we heard from him and most of his colleagues that spoke, of course, fails again to take into account what has exactly taken place here. This chamber approves a budget. h appily, over the better part of the last eight years, as the fiscal year has drawn to a close, through both the power of a thriving economy and prudent fiscal management, the gov- ernment has found itself in possession of additional resources and has chosen to put those resources to work on behalf of the people of british c olumbia, the people that pay them in the first place. [Mr.

Speaker in the chair.] The member and a number of his colleagues believe that individuals should be punished for that as well — all right? it's instructive. it is instructive to know that.

That was not the purpose of the legislation — to punish indi- viduals for decisions that are made at a corporate level to take advantage of additional resources that are available. it is not, i should say in fairness to the member and others, a dilemma that confronted the nDP adminis- tration because, of course, i can't think of a time when they came to the end of their fiscal year with a surplus or moneys in excess of what they thought they would have. it was actually always the opposite. They had always overspent their budget.

There was always less money than they anticipated having at the end of the fiscal year, so the confusion that reveals itself in the commentary of the member from c owichan and others is perhaps understandable, because it's simply not a circumstance, as a member of the n DP , that they would be familiar with or have to confront. [1445] The last thing i want to say…. a gain, only one member of the opposition — and i'm obliged to him for doing so — pointed out that there is a second component to the principal legislation that this act deals with as it relates to fiscal responsibility, and that is the obligation of the government as a whole to table a balanced budget and the ramifications that flow in circumstances where that doesn't happen.

Well, it didn't happen this year, and we're not thrilled about that over on our side of the h ouse because we think budget deficits are things to be avoided, and it was a difficult decision for us. it was a decision made difficult because we actually believe that governments, as a rule, should spend within their means.

british c olumbia Debates14380 t uesday, March 10, 2009 There is, however, a relevance between the legislation before us, or the main body of the legislation, and that decision, because that budget — the budget before the h ouse now — has been tabled. it does call at this point for a deficit, and members of the executive council will be punished, as it were, as a result. They will not receive their full allocation, and that's as it should be. That is in accordance with a law that this government passed and reflective of the importance we attach to prudent fiscal management and balanced budgets.

We're anxious to move out of any kind of a deficit situa- tion. We have a plan in place that would see that happen over the course of three years. What i find a bit remark- able, and i'll take this one opportunity to place this on the record…. We voted, in amending the balanced budget legislation, for a specific amendment. We committed to balancing the budget in the third year, returning to a bal- anced budget. but, and i want to give the opposition this degree of credit, so did they.

So did they. i wonder how members of the opposition, as they stand up and pontificate sanctimoniously about the legislation before us now, are reconciling the vote they cast just a number of weeks ago pledging to balance the budget in the third year with the promises they are now making and the whispers we are beginning to hear from members of the opposition and the nDP that we're going to have, if they ever had an opportunity, a much larger deficit, and it wouldn't be balanced. The budget wouldn't be balanced in the third year. So i have listened with great interest to the sanctimony…. interjections. Mr.

Speaker: Members. Members. c ontinue, Minister. Hon.

M. de Jong: i actually did listen with interest to what members of the opposition said. believe me, i didn't like all of it, didn't agree with all of it, but i listened. a nd if members are having difficulty with that concept, i don't doubt for a moment that they are uncomfortable having someone point out the inconsistency between, on the one hand, voting in favour of a specific pledge to do something, and then ever since that date, speaking in terms that run directly contrary to fulfilling that pledge. but we'll have lots of time over the weeks ahead to can- vass that more fully, both in this h ouse and elsewhere, as the province heads towards a general election on May 12. [1450] i guess i should, just for the record, emphasize in this h ouse that although i was intrigued by the offer and the request from representatives of the opposition nDP seeking to cancel the election or postpone it, i want to assure all members that we on this side of the h ouse are anxious to give british c olumbians an opportunity to assess the choices that are available to them. interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. c ontinue, Minister. Hon. M. de Jong: Well, i'm sorry i brought it up. but, of course, i didn't bring it up. The member for Surrey–Panorama r idge brought it up. The member for Surrey–Panorama r idge said that the first option the government should consider is postponing the elec- tion, and he purported to be speaking for a number of his colleagues. i'm not sure whether it was an interesting, odd observation to come from the opposition benches, but nonetheless, there it is.

Thanks, but no thanks. r eady or not, we intend to give british c olumbians, as we pledged to do eight years ago, an opportunity to cast a vote in a predictable way on May 12. a gain, i thank members for their comments. They have heard mine, and with that, i move second reading of the bill. Motion approved. Hon.

M. de Jong: i move the bill be referred to a c ommittee of the h ouse for consideration at the next sitting after today. bill 4, Ministerial a ccountability bases a ct, 2008- 2009, read a second time and referred to a c ommittee of the Whole h ouse for consideration at the next sitting of the h ouse after today. Hon. M. de Jong: i call committee stage of bill 5. Committee of the Whole House Su PPl Y a ct ( n o. 1), 2009 The h ouse in c ommittee of the Whole on bill 5; h. bloy in the chair. The committee met at 2:52 p.m. on

section 1. B. Ralston: The

section refers to the main estimates, and in the introduction of the estimates, there's also a document called the Supplement to the Estimates, which sets out greater detail in terms of what spending might be authorized. it's done in accordance with what are called standard objects of expense, which is an accounting term. So i'm wondering if

section 1, by referring to the main estimates, is also referring to the Supplement to the Estimates. or is it simply the main estimates? Hon. C. Hansen: Main estimates.

british c olumbia Debatest uesday, March 10, 2009 14381 B. Ralston: The main estimates and the Supplement to the Estimates appear to be integrally related. c ertainly, the main estimates really provide simply an overview of each ministry,

whereas the Supplement to the Estimates provides more detailed spending in each ministry. Given that the approval that's being sought here is to spend 5/12 of the calendar year, a sum close to $13.5 billion, i'm sure the public might be comforted by the fact that there was that limitation on proposed spend- ing that's set out in the Supplement to the Estimates. So can the minister explain why the decision was made in drafting the bill not to include the Supplement to the Estimates as part of this bill? Hon. C. Hansen: This is in keeping with the tradition of interim supply. B.

Ralston: Well, traditions are fine, and we some- times celebrate them. a nd sometimes they lose their purpose, or they're unexamined. is the minister saying: "We did it this way just because it's always been done this way"? or is the minister saying that it was a reasoned, principled decision to include a reference to the main estimates here and deliberately and thoughtfully to exclude the Supplement to the Estimates? [1455] Hon. C. Hansen: i'll just remind the member that we are discussing the interim supply bill. We are not discussing the Supplement to the Estimates.

The member will know that during the regular course of supply in the h ouse, the Supplement to the Estimates is provided as guidance. it is the main estimates that actually get voted on and approved in this h ouse through the normal course of the budget approval process, but that is not what we are here to discuss today. We are here to discuss interim supply. B. Ralston: Well, let me just read from the estimates document, which the minister has and i have. it says: "While

section 23(4) of the Financial a dministration a ct authorizes the spending of an appropriation on any activity or Stob" — and that stands for standard object of expense, the accounting term i referred to earlier — "this more detailed presentation provides additional information and establishes a framework for adminis- trative control by t reasury b oard." it seems to me that, obviously, the two are integrally linked. it provides a framework for administrative control by t reasury board, and this is not me saying this. This is what's included in the document the minister has tabled.

So i'm wondering why that administrative framework for control of spending isn't part of what we're passing here. it seems to be somewhat looser than it might other- wise be by simply adding the addition of the Supplement to the Estimates as part of the basis on which this legisla- tion goes forward. Hon. C. Hansen: During the normal budget pro- cess, it is the main estimates that are approved by this chamber. The Supplement to the Estimates is provided as guidance.

They are part of an internal budgeting process, but that information is made available at the time the budget documents are tabled and the main estimates are tabled. a s i said before, that is not what we're here to debate today. We're here to debate interim supply. The Chair: Member, and if you could direct your questions to the interim supply for bill 5. B. Ralston: bill 5. i thought we were on….

Well, Ministry of environment is one bill off, but that's prob- ably not a surprise. i'm referring here to the language of the statute that's proposed: "…the total amount of the votes of the main e stimates for the fiscal year…." c an the minister then explain the legislative authority that's being granted here? if we remove — as he said he wishes and the c hair has directed — the Supplement to the Estimates as a framework for that spending, what is the resulting con- trol on spending that we achieve by passing this statute in the form that it's drafted? Hon. C. Hansen: The member is not correct.

We have not removed the Supplement to the Estimates. The Supplement to the Estimates has never been part of an interim supply process. So what governs the spending for this 5/12 of the year are the votes as set out in the main estimates. B. Ralston: Well, i thank the minister for that correc- tion. Perhaps it's the way in which i phrased it. Given that we're not — because of the position in which we find ourselves in the calendar — going to have debate on main estimates ministry by ministry, it seems to me that the Supplement to the Estimates provides additional parameters and guidance and controls on spending.

So i'm wondering. i appreciate what the minister said about the ordinary circumstance, but in this circum- stance, does he not see that necessity and would he in this case consider an amendment to include votes of the main estimates and include in

section 1 a reference to the Supplement to the Estimates? Hon. C. Hansen: in keeping with the practice of this h ouse, the answer is no. [1500] B. Ralston: Well, i certainly try to learn parliament- ary tradition and have some respect for it, but a simple reflexive answer that that's not the way we do it here…. i think it bears a closer examination, and i'm invit- ing the minister to give a more reasoned response than simply: "Well, we do it that way, and that's the end of it." That may be a satisfactory answer in some cases. i don't

british c olumbia Debates14382 t uesday, March 10, 2009 think that's a satisfactory answer when we're talking about the spending of $13.4 billion. Hon. C. Hansen: a s i explained earlier, the Supplement to the Estimates is presented for information. it is part of an internal financial management process within government. Those allocations to Stobs are used very aggressively in terms of managing budget expenditures within ministries and across government generally, but it is not part of the normal budget approval process, never mind the interim supply.

The Chair: Member, if you could direct your ques- tions to the Supply a ct that we're doing at the present and limit it to the information that's laid out. B. Ralston: Well, we're debating proposed

section 1. i'm referring to the words of the proposed statute "…total amount of the votes of the main e stimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010…." i'll attempt to frame my question in a way that arises out of that, because that's certainly my intention. Given what the minister has said, is he prepared to commit here today that the spending — should this bill pass — will be confined to the S tobs that are set out in the Supplement to the Estimates and that there will be no spending outside that administrative framework, which is there to assist t reasury b oard in spending? Hon. C.

Hansen: What this will commit to is the votes as set out in the main estimates. B. Ralston: i thank the minister for that answer, but i don't think it was clear. is the minister then saying no, he's not prepared to make that commitment? Hon. C. Hansen: a s i indicated earlier, it would be inappropriate.

Section 1 approved. on

section 2. B. Ralston: i'm looking at what's referred to in sec- tion 2(

a) as the "capital expenditures referred to in

Schedule c of the main e stimates…." i'm not sure…. i'll seek some guidance from the c hair. Perhaps i can pose my question first, and i can get some guidance from the c hair.

The financing transactions, capital expenditures, sched- ule c, as set out on page 197 of the main estimates. in there, there are a number of dollar amounts relating to different ministries. but some do jump out at one, and i'm going to pose a question. if i pose the question, then i can wait for the c hair's ruling on this. in the Ministry of a ttorney General, it's proposed to spend $690,000 on office furniture and equipment; the Minister of c hildren and Family Development, $864,000 on office furniture and equip- ment; the Minister of Forests and r ange, $725,000 on office furniture and equipment; the Minister of c itizens' Services, $437,000 on office furniture and equipment; and the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, $489,000 on office equipment and furniture.

Given the general pronouncements that have been made about cutting government waste and a reduc- tion in government waste and general tightening of expenditure, i'm wondering if the minister — if it's per - mitted — is willing to answer questions about what the basis is for that proposed capital expenditure on office furniture and equipment. Hon. C. Hansen: The member's question is entirely legitimate, and the appropriate time for that would be during the estimates for these respective ministries. but we are here debating interim supply today.

The Chair: Member, the question should be directed. it's not to go into specific numbers within it, department by department. B. Ralston: o kay, thank you. i appreciate that ruling from the c hair. i know the minister had a response, but i was seeking your guidance rather than his, because i know you'll be impartial. [1505] The Chair: it's not the mandate of the committee. B. Ralston: Very well. Then the ambit of questions that i have to ask is really limited to…. Perhaps the c hair could rule as to what questions i'm entitled to ask, given that this is the expenditure of $659 million.

The Chair: Member, if you would like ask questions that relate to the interim supply bill. B. Ralston: i'm seeking your guidance because this is a

section that proposes to spend according to a schedule. it's set out on financing transactions, capital expendi- tures for the next fiscal year. The bill asks for the sum of $659.7 million to be disbursed. Given that i can't ask any questions about individual amounts, can the Speaker just guide me as to what questions i would be entitled to ask? Hon. C. Hansen: You know, i find the member's point surprising, given that he's been a member of this h ouse for almost four years. t his is not the first interim supply bill that has been presented during the time he has been the Finance critic. i would have

british c olumbia Debatest uesday, March 10, 2009 14383 thought that he understood the scope of an interim finance debate several years ago, never mind at this stage.

Mr. c hair, as is the tradition in this h ouse, i am cer - tainly prepared to answer high-level questions about this particular section. but it would be inappropriate for me to go into detailed analysis of how this appropriation would be spent ministry by ministry, because the place for that is in fact the estimates process. a s the member knows, the Government h ouse l eader yesterday asked for a proposal from the opposition with regard to how it might facilitate us getting into the esti- mates process and getting that completed before the h ouse dissolves for the election.

Given that what we have before us is interim supply, i'm certainly prepared to answer any questions the member has that are relevant and appropriate for an interim supply discussion during committee stage. B. Ralston: Mr. c hair, i suppose i might have expected that rather high-handed lecture from the Minister of Finance. r egrettably, i did have a genuine question to ask of you, and i see he's chosen to answer it on your behalf. i'm a little bit disappointed in that. Given the nature of this debate, i do have specific questions.

Those are questions in individual ministries that i think would be appropriate to pursue. Since i'm not able to pursue them here, i don't have any further questions on this section. Sections 2 to 4 inclusive approved.

Preamble approved. t itle approved. Hon. C. Hansen: i move that the committee rise and report the bill complete without amendment. Motion approved. The committee rose at 3:09 p.m. The h ouse resumed; Mr. Speaker in the chair. [1510] Report and Third Reading of Bills Su PPl Y a ct ( n o. 1), 2009 bill 5, Supply a ct ( n o. 1), 2009, reported complete without amendment, read a third time and passed. Hon. M. de Jong: i call continued debate on the budget. Budget Debate (continued) G. Coons: it's a great privilege to stand before the h ouse and give my

interpretation of this government's budget. [h. b loy in the chair.] With only weeks to an election, we have a government that's promising to protect health care just like they did back in 2001 and 2005. but if we look at the budget that was put in front of us and look at the background of the budget…. Y ou know, this government was warned about a downturn, but they apparently didn't listen. They didn't pay attention.

They bring forth a budget that is basically a hidden budget and not really meeting the needs of british c olumbians. a fter eight years of service cuts, privatization and higher costs for average british c olumbians, we know this government can't be trusted — the arrogance, the deliberate neglect of everyday families — and this budget proves that.

They cut and they hide, and there's nothing to help british c olumbians through, whether it's first nations or families trying to pay their bills, whether it's seniors, students or forestry workers, those that live in rural british c olumbia, those concerned about gas prices and the gas tax that this government has implemented, ferry fares skyrocketing…. We've just seen how out of touch and arrogant this government is. The gas tax has doubled. They've cut environmental protection. o lympic security costs are still out there and unknown to us. n othing for rural b.c.

We've seen cuts to schools. crime and safety — we've seen this budget cut that. c uts to student assistance and nothing for seniors. o n health care they say: " t rust us." but british c olumbians realize that this Premier, this government, hasn't earned that trust. h e'll use this recession to cut and privatize like we've never seen before. They know the real budget and the big cuts will come with this government. When push comes to shove, this government will still put their friends and pet projects ahead of the needs of everyday families and average british c olumbians.

The hidden agenda will cost us more while the wealthy and connected reap the benefits from this government. We've seen salary increases for the Premier and the big executives stay. We've seen overruns for the pet pro- jects. We've seen $365 million for the stadium roof. That could have and should have gone to those in rural british c olumbia who have been suffering through the past eight years — nothing, as i mentioned before, for rural b.c. and forest workers except cuts to the ministry.

The green economy was dropped by this Premier, although it was written on the back of a napkin — prob- ably similar to this budget — out of nowhere. We've seen

british c olumbia Debates14384 t uesday, March 10, 2009 cuts to the environment. n othing to deal with hospital waiting lists or school closures. c uts, as i mentioned before, to colleges and universities. When we look at this government with their promise on protecting health and education, british c olumbians see it as eight years too late. This government, this Premier, did nothing when the times were good. a fter eight years of the cuts and privatization, why would we believe that they'll change their course now?

We'll just see more closures, more privatization and more cuts. on protecting jobs, this government has been lost out there over the last year. Jobs have been disappearing over the last year in the forest industry, over 20,000 jobs — 68,000 jobs just last December in british c olumbia. The Premier's record shows that british c olumbians don't believe him and don't trust him. it's just an empty col- lection of broken promises and nothing to help british c olumbians through tough times.

When i look at the north coast, the region i repre- sent, which is Stewart, the n ass Valley, Prince r upert, the villages outside Prince r upert, h aida Gwaii, down the central coast — k lemtu, bella bella, bella c oola — there's plenty that this budget could have offered them. but we haven't seen that. [1515] W e haven't seen the need for the bridge to o cean Falls, and we brought that up before. it's a provincially main- tained bridge in o cean Falls which collapsed last June. i've given them documentation on the necessity of that.

So we hope that this bridge, which is a key link to the community and a safety issue, is one aspect of infrastructure that this government will put some of their funding towards. We look at road paving. i'm getting lots of calls from the Queen c harlotte islands. The road between Masset and Port c lements hasn't been paved for over 27 years, and it's been cancelled for the third year in a row. a gain, looking at road maintenance and concerns within the riding where some of the infrastructure budget should be headed towards.

Sir a lexander Mackenzie School, their gym — the Minister of e ducation fully knows the concerns with that. W e've been communicating, and she has assured us that they are aware of the flooding issues, and they will deal with the gym immediately. So we look forward in the bella c oola Valley to working on this gym, the only facility in the valley that can accommodate the needs for everybody. We start looking at the rec centre and swimming pool in Masset that was forced to close down. The regional district people and the people from the upper island met with the Premier on this.

They're looking for some posi- tive movement towards the rec centre and the swimming pool on upper h aida Gwaii in the Masset area as well as the community hall in Sandspit. They have communi- cated with the government and ministries on that. We can't forget the Port of Prince r upert as we move forward. o bviously, everybody in the precinct knows the importance of the Port of Prince r upert, the closest network to the a sian market. environmentally, it's the way to go. When we start looking at the commitment from the government….

The Premier did commit when he was interviewed by the Delta Optimist. h e was questioned about the Port of Prince r upert and Deltaport, and he said: "We will treat all ports equally." i hope that as we move forward, that commitment comes through and that Prince r upert will be treated as equally as the other ports in the province. We have to get the agreement with the c oast t simshian on that, and we need to get all levels of government working toward that.

The local government has had a protocol for regional cooperation with the Gitxaala band, the l ax kw'alaams band, the h artley bay band, the Metlakatla band and the city of Prince r upert and the district of Port e d where they developed a protocol for projects and issues that are important to the region. i brought up on numerous occasions the t simshian access project, the fixed-link project. it's on the major inventories project of the Ministry of e conomic Develop- ment. it has been there for many years. i realize right now that there has been some shared funding between the partners and ministry for another feasibility study. i believe it's — don't quote me on this — the tenth or 12th in the last ten or 12 years. a nother feasibility study — hopefully, that will generate what we need to do to push forward with that project. on the north coast, ferries are a huge concern. i'll get into that in a little while.

We're seeing skyrocketing fares. We're seeing the concerns with t ransport c anada and the new regulations for safe manning. For example, the Kwuna, which goes between Skidegate and Sandspit — their passenger numbers have been reduced 75 percent from 150 to 30. When a plane comes in, there's not enough crew on there to even get a planeload across, and you've got people waiting. They did in that region get a variance from t ransport c anada. between one and six it is safe to have 50 or 60 people on there, but after six o'clock, it's unsafe to have that number.

They had worked out something due to the airline schedules. but it's something that we as a government need to take seriously and look at what's happening with safe manning levels in communities along the coast to ensure that appropriate service levels are maintained and that people are communicated with. [1520] b.c. Ferries and this government knew for over eight years that these safe manning levels were coming into play. b.c.

Ferries knew for 18 months that there were going to be significant changes, but no communications with their advisory committees, no communications with communities to look at it and try to problem-solve.

british c olumbia Debatest uesday, March 10, 2009 14385 it was the very next day. "The regs are taking in, and this is what we have to do." a gain, we brought up our major concerns about communications and where we need to go in that aspect. i realize that it's been a while since we've had the budget debate, but i want to concentrate on something that the Minister of t ourism, c ulture and the a rts talked about when he was referring to the budget debate.

This is a quote: "When i think about the ordinary british c olumbian — and we all, both sides of the h ouse, talk about the ordinary, average british c olumbian — i'm not sure who that person really is." Well, i think that's the problem with that side of the h ouse. They don't know who average families are, who the average british c olumbian is. They don't communi- cate with them. They don't talk with them. They don't work with them.

We're talking about families who are struggling to make ends meet, living paycheque to paycheque, look- ing for some hope for the future — whether it's forestry that has been abandoned by this government, whether it's creating green jobs or green technology or whether their kids have been shortchanged by underfunding in our school system or in post-secondary where there are skyrocketing tuition costs.

We just look at the costs being downloaded onto families — whether it's the gas tax, hydro or ferry fares. a verage british c olumbians that look to the gov- ernment for leadership — this government has failed them in the last eight years. This budget also fails them. it's families that want fairness and respect from their elected officials. They don't want contempt or arrogance or broken promises. a nd it's families that are concerned about homelessness in the province, where homeless- ness has increased by over 300 percent, something that we should be ashamed of.

We look at poverty, the growing gap between the rich and the poor. c hild poverty — we keep bringing this up to no avail. n umber one in child poverty for five straight years — not a record to be proud of. We look at the minimum wage. This government sticks to their mantra since 2001 of not helping the most disadvantaged with trying to make ends meet. We look at social assistance levels that need help.

We have the highest average wealth in british c olumbia, but we have the highest rate of pov- erty — 13 percent of our population. if we look back and listen to what Gandhi said when he called child poverty the worst form of violence…. The worst form of violence is child poverty. Given that, this gov- ernment and its arrogance, its out-of-touch policies and the hidden personal agendas are doing more and doing an immense amount of violence against our children.

We need to work on a poverty reduction strategy like other provinces. i believe five other provinces have had strategies to work on trying to counteract poverty, and that should be a priority for this government. When we look at food banks, 78,000 british c olumbians used food banks in the last couple of years, and one-third of those were children. The gap between the rich and the poor has widened over the first decade, in the last eight or ten years. We have the highest overall rate of poverty, the highest rate of child poverty and the highest rate of working poor in this province.

The income ratio gap between the richest and the poorest has increased from 10 to 1 to 14 to 1 from 1993 to 2006. The depth of the poverty that we're seeing is staggering. We look at british c olumbians. The average british c olumbian in poverty in 2006 had an annual income of $7,700 below the Stats c anada low-income cutoff. This affects single mothers of colour. it affects aboriginal women and families and recent immigrants.

We need to have policies that look at countering the poverty that we have in this province. [1525] Getting back to average british c olumbians, average british c olumbians are those that are concerned about our ferries, our marine highway and the direction that this government is taking our marine highway in. We've seen devastation to many coastal communities up and down the coast. i visited over 25 communities, talked to them and listened to their stories in the last year and a half. Since that time, we've seen fare increases skyrocketing. We've seen businesses — whether it's b and bs….

We've seen tourism go down, restaurants in trouble, hotels…. These ferries are essential service. They're either work-related or school-related. We've seen fares sky- rocket, and we're going to see another 7 percent-plus in a pril. We've seen fares skyrocketing and ridership going down.

We've seen revenues going down, but we've seen expenses going up. if you put those together, it looks like it's a perfect storm, and this government has washed their hands of our marine highway. e ven though the minister respon- sible and the Premier and this side of the government think they've washed their hands of our marine highway — our ferry system — their fingerprints are all over this file, all over it. if we look at long-term debt with b.c. Ferries, it's over $1.4 billion of long-term debt with interest rates climb- ing and their payments climbing. if things don't improve, b.c.

Ferries — i have to remind everybody that the sole shareholder is the b.c. taxpayers — will not only have to borrow money to raise cash for any new vessels. They will need to borrow to pay back their previous loans — the $1.4 billion in loans and bonds that they've issued. We start looking, as i mentioned before, at cuts in staff due to safe manning regulations. b.c. Ferries is very top-heavy in management, which has morphed over the last couple of years. There's been a 67 percent increase in management since 2001, with a 15 percent decrease in

british c olumbia Debates14386 t uesday, March 10, 2009 workers. We've seen the ceo s' pay alone at least — and this was in 2006 — $550,000. The board of directors recently received hefty wage increases. There's a tourism centre being developed in downtown Vancouver — 2,700 square feet with unknown staffing, no prescribed mandate and an unknown price tag. We look at the c anucks. Y ou go to a c anucks game. What do you see? Y ou see b.c. Ferries plastered over the boards. We see b.c. Ferries on the score clock.

We see areas where we should be putting service versus other areas that i believe should be put to help ferry-dependent communities and those who live in them. We find ourselves in this position due to this gov- ernment's and this Premier's policies and their lack of leadership. Their privatization model, the c oastal Ferry a ct was rammed through the l egislature in less than 24 hours, transferring over $2 billion without a strategy. That's what we needed. The ferry advisory committee chairs recommended that we need not a reduction- in-service strategy but a ferry strategy that works for coastal communities.

We need to revamp the c oastal Ferry a ct, as the opposition tried to do, to ensure there's transparency and accountability from the Premier. but it's difficult when the Premier and this government are afraid to face the realities of their own public policies and actions. b.c. Ferries does not fall under freedom of infor - mation. it does not fall under the ombudsman or the a uditor General to ensure this government is held accountable on how our $170 million a year of taxpayer money is spent.

Those in coastal communities believe that the Premier and this government have broken the economic and social contract with those that depend on his promise of a safe, reliable and affordable ferry service. o ne thing happening out there that i'm sure all members are interested in is the sinking of the Queen of the North. We're coming up to the third-year anniversary. We've seen nothing from this government.

The day the ferry sank on March 22, the Premier — and i'll read this from broadcast news — was "promising a full and thorough investigation of the sinking of the Queen of the North." [1530] a nd what has he done? Washed his hands of this. in that time of three years we've had a couple of internal b.c. Ferries reports, and we've had the t ransportation Safety board report. The t ransportation Safety board report was a report that i was waiting for, to see what types of concerns we should look at with the sinking so that it would never happen again.

The t Sb indicated that those on the bridge were not trained or qualified. There should have been three on the bridge, not two. There were alarms that warned about navigational concerns, and they were not set up or turned on. They had been disabled or turned off in the refit. So the Queen of the North came back after a refit, and alarms were turned off that should have been turned on. n ow, because the t ransportation Safety board report was leaked a night early and massaged by somebody, most of the media went towards what happened during that 14 minutes.

What were they doing on the bridge? a gain, when we look at what happened, we know that there was no evacuation plan or procedure. The water - tight doors were open, and under regulations they're supposed to be closed. There was inadequate passenger safety training in their drills. [k. Whittred in the chair.] t he t Sb report indicated that external and internal safety audits failed to be effective in identifying safety deficiencies. e ight times in the final report of the t Sb it said that in one way or another, b.c . Ferry Services' action placed the vessel, its passengers and its crew at risk.

We need a full public inquiry. This government, this Premier, is afraid to enter that process. We have families that lost their loved ones. We have passengers that are forever having nightmares because of this. We have crew that deserve answers. We have a public that deserves answers on what happened that night, and this govern- ment has failed british c olumbians in that. The t Sb on May 11, prior to doing their report, issued a safety advisory that went to the ceo of b.c.

Ferries. it said and warned that "crew members on the bridge were not adequately trained, and that is the responsibility of management to ensure this. t raining is part and parcel of management responsibility." n ow, that wasn't mentioned once in either one of b.c. Ferries' internal reports, but i think it's fairly significant. The ceo of b.c . Ferries actually called this advisory benign and said he "didn't know if he bought into it." Well, i think it's time that the Premier buys into having a public inquiry, a judicial inquiry, into the sinking of the Queen of the North. We have many other questions.

We have the allega- tions from b.c. Ferries safety director Darin bowland, who resigned days after the sinking. This is what he said. This is from his statements. h e warned that a cat- astrophic event would happen if management did not heed his warnings about safety. "The lack of qualified people to run the new equipment on the bridges was an accident waiting to happen." This was a month or so before the sinking. We need to have answers. We need to know what hap- pened. Five days after the sinking of the Queen of the North, what happened? There was an order from b.c.

Ferries' management to remove and destroy records and purge documents, including ship-specific manuals from the Queen of the North — five days after the sinking. These are questions that need to be answered.

british c olumbia Debatest uesday, March 10, 2009 14387 Darin bowland basically said, and this is a quote from his report: "i believe that the lack of bridge resource management training might have been the cause, or one of the causes, of the sinking of the Queen of the North." a nd what happened to Darin bowland, the safety manager for b.c. Ferries? t wo days or so after the sink- ing he was fired. h e left. h e tried a lawsuit, couldn't fight the corporation and has disappeared. but these are his statements.

So i believe that this government and this Premier need to take the high road, take a stand and have a thorough, public judicial inquiry into the sinking. n ow, getting back to average british c olumbians. a verage british c olumbians are those who are trying to make ends meet. They're worried about our ferry system. They're worried about our education system. [1535] This l iberal government is so out of touch with what's happening in education. The Minister of e ducation keeps spouting that she's providing the highest level of funding ever, but basically her mantra is not felt in rural districts.

We've seen 177 schools close. We've seen seis- mic upgrades not started and even more schools being closed across the province. The education budget is a huge hit against parents and students. The minimum increase that they've put in the budget — i believe it's 1.2 percent, which is about $62 mil- lion — doesn't even cover the collective agreements coming up in the next couple of months, nor does it even look at inflation costs. So once again we're going to see education being hit with the full force of this government.

Y ou know, both the throne speech and budget failed to come through for children and education despite the Premier's statements and promises that funding for health and education was going to be protected — nothing to alleviate child poverty or improve learning conditions for students. The minimum wage remains unchanged. o ther areas of social services are going to be slashed by this gov- ernment, including and increasing the problems that teachers face every day.

There is nothing about oversized classrooms or the lack of support for students with spe- cial needs. n othing's been done for rural communities in this way, and the budget for education contains noth- ing for any improvement. The so-called increase, as i mentioned, is set at about $60 million. it does not cover inflation. it will not cover salary increases. boards of education have already been told to find $12 million in administrative

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	H0310pm-11
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	H0310pm 11
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	b6421ac3b81045bb71c07d3aa4e6fccdeab86b26

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