Hansard Blues

Legislative Assembly

Draft Report of Debates

The Honourable Raj Chouhan, Speaker

4th Session, 42nd Parliament

Wednesday, October

4, 2023

Afternoon Sitting

Draft Transcript — Terms of Use

The House met at 1:35 p.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: R. Merrifield.

Introductions by Members

Hon. J. Osborne: Today we're joined by three senior leadership members of the Taku River Tlingit First

Nation.

It's my pleasure to introduce Rodger Thorlakson, the government-to-government co-chair

Chantelle Schultz, the senior negotiator and manager of the negotiations and governance

department; and Shauna Yeomans, the land guardian program liaison.

Would the House please join me in making them feel very welcome today.

A. Singh: I hope the House can join me in welcoming Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni Ji and the whole

Jain delegation that has accompanied him to visit our magnificent Legislature and

to recognize him for his lifetime dedication to promoting peace, religious tolerance

and the universality of all living beings.

He is a world-renowned and versatile thinker, writer and social reformer. He's also

the founder of the Ahimsa Bharti organization that works to educate and promote better

living. Acharya Ji was honoured with the National Communal Harmony Award by India

in 2010, the Ambassador of Peace Award by the U.K. Parliament and the Ambassador for

Peace Award at the UN, among many other accolades.

Acharya Ji is the embodiment of the teachings of Lord Mahavira, which stress communal

harmony, the universality of humans, the rights of animals and the importance and

respect for all living beings on this Earth.

I'll read from an Agama, a text from the teachings of Lord Mahavira: "All breathing,

existing, living sentient creatures should not be slain, nor treated with violence,

nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away. This is pure, unchangeable law. All beings

hate pain."

I urge you all in this House to welcome him and his delegation.

Hon. R. Fleming: I'm delighted to have in the gallery today with us some guests from the B.C. General

Employees Union, members of Component 10, men and women who work in the highway and

bridge maintenance workers

section in our ministry.

Component 10 members are obviously very important. I know many members have personal

contacts with them as they take care of the infrastructure in their constituencies.

[1:40 p.m.]

I think it's a really good opportunity to thank them today because they, of course,

have been joined by firefighting professionals and first responders in a very difficult

summer where they worked extremely hard to keep highways open, both for evacuation

purposes and to support communities under considerable duress. Of course, they are

now facing the change of seasons and doing the very busy work, in the dark and in

the cold, of keeping highways clear through the winter.

These people do incredible work in our province. I'm delighted ten of them are here

with Component 10 today. Would the House please make them welcome.

Tributes

REUBEN SINCLAIR

H. Yao: It is my privilege to honour Canada's oldest Second World War veteran, Reuben Sinclair,

who was born on December 5, 1911, and passed away on August 27, 2023, at the age of

Reuben lived by his sense of duty, which was his core identity throughout his life.

In 1942, he walked away from a government treasury job with a lifelong passion to

join the Royal Canadian Air Force. After the war, he founded Sinclair Bros., a garage

and auto wrecking business in Richmond.

Reuben and his wife were known for their generosity and their fundraising efforts

for charities. Reuben is survived by three children, six grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren

and now two great-great-grandchildren.

Introductions by Members

Hon. G. Lore: I have two introductions to make.

First, the Vancouver Island Human Rights Coalition plays an essential role in my community

supporting people who have experienced discrimination under the human rights code.

We have with us today executive director Sareh Shojaei, board member Jane Hurtig and

Darrell Hobbs. Will the House please join me in making them feel very welcome.

I also noticed that we have with us Laura Parent, who works in Her Worship Marianne

Alto's office. She also previously worked with us here in the building and ran as

a candidate in 2020. I would just like to welcome her back to the House. Would folks

join me in making her feel welcome.

Introduction and

First Reading of Bills

BILL 32 — PROVINCIAL SYMBOLS AND

HONOURS AMENDMENT ACT, 2023

Hon. L. Popham presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill

intituled Provincial Symbols and Honours Amendment Act, 2023.

Hon. L. Popham: I move that the bill be introduced to amend the Provincial Symbols and Honours Act

and read a first time now.

The proposed amendment is to designate a provincial fossil. The fossil is known taxonomically

as the Elasmosauridae and commonly known as the elasmosaurid marine reptile. The selected

fossil emblem must be designated in the act before it can officially be recognized

and used as the provincial fossil for B.C.

Designating a provincial fossil emblem acknowledges that B.C. has a fossil heritage

worthy of celebration and stewardship. The elasmosaurid marine reptile, a large predatory

animal that lived along the coast of B.C. 80 million years ago, was selected to become

the provincial fossil emblem through the public vote held by the ministry and the

B.C. Paleontological Alliance in 2018.

On February 15, 2023, the MLA for Courtenay-Comox brought forward a private member's

bill. This private member's bill was intended to add the elasmosaurid marine reptile

as the fossil emblem of B.C.

British Columbia has a rich and diverse variety of fossils and fossil deposits resulting

from the complex geological processes that formed our province. Fossil sites are concentrated

on Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii, the Princeton-Merritt-Kamloops area, southeastern

and northeastern B.C. and the central interior plateau.

Adding a fossil emblem to our official provincial symbols is a great way to increase

awareness about our natural physical and geologic provincial history.

Mr. Speaker: Members, you heard the question.

Motion approved.

Hon. L. Popham: I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the

next sitting of the House after today.

Bill 32, Provincial Symbols and Honours Amendment Act, 2023, introduced, read a first

time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next

sitting of the House after today.

[1:45 p.m.]

BILL 33 — PENSION BENEFITS STANDARDS

AMENDMENT ACT, 2023

Hon. K. Conroy presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill

intituled Pension Benefits Standards Amendment Act, 2023.

Hon. K. Conroy: I move that the bill be introduced and read a first time now.

I'm pleased to introduce the Pension Benefits Standards Amendment Act, 2023. Pension

standards legislation sets the minimum standards for workplace pension plans to protect

members' benefits and regulate the financial health of plans.

The Pension Benefits Standards Act became law in 2015 after being rewritten, in collaboration

with Alberta, to create highly harmonized pension standards legislation based on the

2008 report of a joint expert panel. This bill will update the legislation and make

a number of technical corrections and clarifications.

Amendments are needed to enable a new, innovative type of pension, authorized by federal

income tax legislation, to be offered by pension plans registered in British Columbia.

Changes in this bill are intended to address low member contribution rates and to

improve the financial situation for surviving spouses when members die before retirement.

Amendments will also reduce the administrative cost of offering and administering

pension plans as well as the costs imposed on members when they transfer benefits

from pension plans.

Finally, this bill makes technical amendments to the Pooled Registered Pension Plans

Act and consequential amendments to the Family Law Act.

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

Motion approved.

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

next sitting of the House after today.

Bill 33, Pension Benefits Standards Amendment Act, 2023, introduced, read a first

time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next

sitting of the House after today.

Statements

(Standing Order 25B)

WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP

R. Russell: My distillation of the key asks of west world farmers was (1) show us the data or

the science, (2) give us more lead time and (3) figure out how to prioritize better.

Policy intention No. 1, from the watershed strategy intentions paper, includes enhancing

coordination, leadership and accountability across different levels of government

to align decision-making for watersheds. Intention No. 5 of the same is watershed

scale-balancing of the needs of people, ecosystems and economy.

History makes it painfully obvious that the free market will not solve this challenge.

We have a new path. The B.C.–First Nations Water Table is a new collaborative structure

that supports the province and First Nations to identify, discuss and make consensus-based,

co-developed recommendations.

Similarly, B.C. has been working with local governments, interest groups and industry

to take a holistic approach in stewarding B.C.'s watersheds. And of course, there

was $100 million announced to help breathe life into this strategy. Maybe not enough

to do it all, but it's a great start.

I sat with our Minister of Environment recently in the Similkameen listening to diverse

voices around the table, including ranchers, Indigenous siwɬkʷ resource managers, orchardists, local government, hunters and more. Diverse voices.

But one thing was held in a common priority focus: the central importance of water

for our shared future.

Cattlemen like Brian Thomas highlighted the importance of water reserves for fish,

while others discussed the value of keystone species in the system, like beavers for

upper watershed hydrology and buffering peaky and sometimes disastrous high and low

flows in our waterways.

Washington's Lt.-Gov. Denny Heck spoke this summer about how much he learned from

his visit to B.C. about our housing strategy. We, in turn, have a great deal to learn

from places like Washington about enabling local watershed governance.

The people and economic engine of this province recognize the value of these natural

assets and the importance of healthy ecosystems. We've got an all-of-government involved

path we can see ahead.

Let's set the politics aside and work together to do what we need to do and empower

these local governance structures for the sake of our people, places and economy.

CT SCANNER FOR

KITIMAT GENERAL HOSPITAL

E. Ross: I am very excited to share some great news after exceptional collaboration and determination

from my community, Kitimat. For years, the residents of Kitimat and Kitamaat Village

have had to drive 140 kilometres round-trip to Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace,

through harsh winter conditions, for a CT scanner appointment.

[1:50 p.m.]

You see, until now, Kitimat General Hospital has not had a CT scanner, but the community,

over the years, had decided it was time to change that. Through the Kitimat General

Hospital Foundation, Kitimat embarked on a remarkable journey to raise the necessary

funds.

The CT scanner has been a priority, and it has been a monumental effort, considering

the $2.3 million purchase price alone. Then something truly extraordinary happened.

The Kitimat General Hospital Foundation held a gala, their annual gala, and LNG Canada

shocked the room, coming up with the remaining $900,000 needed for the CT scanner.

The room was in disbelief and excited.

Kitimat is excited. This doesn't necessarily mean that Kitimat gets a CT scanner just

yet, but it's a huge step. The next hurdle is getting approval from the Ministry of

Health for installation, implementation and operation. Where is…? There he is. He's

right there.

For now, Kitimat is feeling a level of relief that their hospital will, potentially,

have a CT scanner. The potential addition of a CT scanner also has added benefits.

Many doctors prefer to work in hospitals that have CT scanners.

As we all know, recruitment and retention of health care workers is a problem in rural

areas, including Kitimat. We're hoping the proposed CT scanner will persuade more

doctors to take up practice and stay in Kitimat.

By the way, I was recently in the hospitals of Kitimat and Terrace. For a CT scan,

I had to travel that 140 kilometres.

I just want to say thank you to all the health care workers who looked after me and

my family in the Terrace hospital and the Kitimat hospital through a very stressful

time.

Thank you for your indulgence.

ACCESS TO CANCER CARE IN RURAL B.C.

J. Rice: Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be extremely frightening and stressful. Figuring

out the logistics of accessing the care you need can feel overwhelming and cause financial

strain for people on their cancer journeys, particularly for those living in rural

and remote areas.

That's why our government has stepped up to help support people with cancer with a

$20 million investment in travel programs to help British Columbians access the care

they need no matter where in the province they live.

The Canadian Cancer Society is expanding three programs that will go a long way in

helping patients living in rural areas. Hope Air will be able to offer their services

to a greater number of patients and their families dealing with a cancer diagnosis

and the treatments.

As an MLA living and representing rural and remote communities, I know what it's like

to have to seek medical care far from home. I've had physicians on Haida Gwaii beg

me to find a way to get their patients treatment in larger centres, because their

patients are opting out of treatment. They simply could not afford the expense to

get to the care they need and deserve.

This investment will make a huge difference for people who live in rural and remote

communities, whether it's places in my constituency like Haida Gwaii or the Bella

Coola Valley in the Interior, in northern B.C. or in any corner of this province.

many more families will receive vital financial support, and expanding programs like

the Wheels of Hope into areas of Vancouver Island and the Kootenays, as well as eliminating

patient fees at all four cancer care lodges, will make a big difference.

Hope Air will now ensure that changes to medical appointments can be accommodated

with no cancellation or rescheduling fees to be paid by the patient. They have dramatically

increased the family income threshold so more British Columbians can qualify for travel

supports and more.

These changes will help patients and their families focus less time and energy on

planning, worrying, advocating and problem-solving and more time on caring for themselves

and their loved ones and getting the rest that they need.

FIREFIGHTER DEATHS DURING

WILDFIRE SEASON

L. Doerkson: Today it is with a very heavy heart and a profound amount of gratitude that I rise

to pay respects to the valiant firefighters who lost their lives this summer while

battling wildfires throughout our province.

I want to extend my sincere condolences and my deepest sympathies to their families

and their loved ones as they mourn this loss.

[1:55 p.m.]

This past summer we witnessed the most devastating wildfire season in the history

of British Columbia. In the face of an unrelenting adversary, these selfless individuals

chose to stand on the front lines, determined to protect the lives and homes of British

Columbians. In doing so, they are nothing short of true heroes.

Among the fallen, we mourn the loss of 19-year-old Devyn Gale, who bravely fought

a wildfire near her hometown of Revelstoke.

We also remember 25-year-old Zak Muise from Waterford, Ontario, who gave his life

while fighting the Donnie Creek wildfire north of Fort St. John on July 28.

Tragically, on September 19, our province suffered another heart-wrenching blow when

four brave British Columbia Wildfire Service workers lost their lives in a devastating

vehicle crash while returning home from fighting wildfires near Vanderhoof. The names

of the identified are Kenneth Patrick, Blain Sonnenberg and Jaxon Billyboy-Bowe.

This House stands united in grief at the loss of these six courageous individuals

who had their lives taken from them far too soon.

I extend my thoughts and prayers to the families, the friends and the colleagues of

these heroes, who dedicated their lives to protecting our province. Their bravery

and their service will live forever and be remembered by us all.

ELECTION OF INDIGENOUS PREMIER IN

MANITOBA PROVINCIAL ELECTION

J. Phillip: Last night we witnessed an unprecedented and groundbreaking moment in the history

of Canadian politics. Wab Kinew, an Indigenous person, was elected as Premier of Manitoba

for the very first time.

Along with my family, my New Democratic Party colleagues and millions of people celebrate

this perfect moment in the history of Canada. This election marks a turning point

not only for this province and for Manitoba but for the entire country. This historic

achievement is a beacon of hope and progress and provides inspiration for Indigenous

youth to follow their dreams.

Wab Kinew has become a symbol of breaking the barriers of discrimination that have

stood for far too long. Wab Kinew's victory has demonstrated that truth and reconciliation

is the right path.

I'm so elated for Manitobans, because they deserve that kind of leadership. They'll

become a united and prosperous nation built on the principles of the United Nations

declaration on Indigenous peoples. Thank goodness.

On a personal note, Stewart and I celebrate 39 years of marriage. It's a good day.

SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

T. Wat: I rise today to encourage federal members and British Columbians to support small

businesses this October.

In Richmond North Centre, I have witnessed firsthand the resilience and dedication

of small business owners, who not only fill our local economy but also provide a strong

foundation for our community.

However, we cannot ignore the difficult reality that small businesses face today.

In the middle of a relentless cost-of-living crisis, many small businesses are still

grappling with an average COVID-related debt of around $101,595. They are also navigating

shifting consumer behaviour, supply chain disruptions and market uncertainties. These

challenges cannot be understated.

[2:00 p.m.]

That's why I want to highlight an important initiative, the Canadian Federation of

Independent Business #SmallBusinessEveryDay campaign taking place throughout October.

This campaign encouraged all British Columbians to show their support for our small

businesses. On average, a dollar spent at a local small business is six times more

impactful to the local economy than elsewhere.

Take your time to visit my beautiful riding. From Lansdowne mall, Richmond Centre,

Walmart Supercentre to shopping centres with an Asian focus such as Aberdeen Centre,

Yaohan Centre and Parker Place, there's never a dull moment.

As a coastal city, Richmond is known for its fresh ocean fare and also revered for

its unparalleled wealth of authentic Asian cuisine.

This October, I hope you all join me in visiting a #SmallBusinessEveryDay and ensure

that small to medium-sized businesses not only survive but also thrive in B.C.

Ministerial Statements

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION FOR

MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS

WOMEN, GIRLS, TWO-SPIRIT AND

GENDER-DIVERSE PEOPLE

Hon. M. Rankin: As I rise in the House, I acknowledge that we're on the territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking

peoples, today the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations.

Today, October 4, we mark the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous

Women, Girls, Two-spirit and Gender-Diverse People. Sisters in Spirit vigils are being held across Canada on this date to honour loved

ones lost and as a united call to action.

The National Day of Action is a day to remember those who have been lost to gender-based

violence. We honour the memory of Matriarchs, Elders, grandmothers, mothers, aunties,

sisters, daughters, cousins and friends. Every one of them was loved and cherished.

Every one of them leaves behind families and communities who live in the anguish of

their loss every single day.

Over two years, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and

Girls gathered testimony and evidence from 2,380 family members, survivors of violence

and knowledge-keepers across Canada. I acknowledge the relentless work of survivors

and families to share their truths. I also acknowledge the many community and grassroots

activists who contributed so much to this historic work.

As we honour those who have done the hard work already, we should also be mindful

that this should not be an occasion to rest solely on people who are most impacted

by these tragedies. The national inquiry found that persistent human and Indigenous

rights violations and abuses are the root cause of Canada's staggering and disproportionate

rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit, LGBTQQIA+ people.

The national inquiry called upon every non–Indigenous Canadian to acknowledge our

role and to become actors in decolonizing our country. It implored us to recognize

how violence against Indigenous women and girls has been centuries in the making,

perpetuated by colonial structures such as the Indian Act, residential schools, the

Sixties Scoop and breaches of human rights of Indigenous people, all of which have

led directly to the current increased rates of violence, death and suicide in Indigenous

communities.

Above all, the inquiry called upon all governments in Canada to respond to the 231

calls for justice. We know it's important to work together, and our government is

committed to working with our colleagues in the federal government as well to do this

important work.

My colleague the Minister of Public Safety recently released the annual status update

on our strategy, A Path Forward , work that is reflected in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan . The Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity is working on developing a provincial

gender-based violence action plan that will include actions that all government ministries

must take.

[2:05 p.m.]

Today we hang a red dress inside the Legislature, and at dusk, the ceremonial entrance

of this House will be lit in red to honour the Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit

and gender-diverse people who've been stolen from their families and their communities.

Let it serve as a reminder of the urgency to demonstrate our commitment to protect

Indigenous women and girls. The work is critical. The work will take all of us. We

must act, and we must hold ourselves and hold each other accountable for this crucial

work.

M. Lee: I rise on behalf of the B.C. United caucus as the official opposition in response

to the minister's statement as well as to honour and acknowledge Sisters in Spirit

Day and the National Day of Action for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Girls

and Two-spirit People.

Yesterday in this chamber, we came together to recognize the National Day for Truth

and Reconciliation, a day of reflection and remembrance for the painful legacy of

residential schools and the profound intergenerational harm inflicted on Indigenous

peoples.

Today we confront another heartbreaking consequence of the long-standing injustices

endured by Indigenous peoples in Canada. So many Indigenous women and girls have gone

missing or been murdered over the past four decades. It is a national tragedy that

demands our collective action.

The inquiry that was done nationally 4½ years ago heard from those families and survivors

as well as Knowledge Keepers, of their painful stories of missing and murdered Indigenous

women and girls. That was in June of 2019.

As we know, this need for collective action on this day of action is more than just

recognition of that. It is our duty to continue to raise awareness, educate ourselves

and take meaningful steps to ensure that Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse

individuals are supported and protected.

As a father of two daughters, it deeply troubles me to learn that Indigenous women

are 4.5 times more likely to be victims of murder than other women in Canada. Moreover,

they are a staggering 17 times more likely to be murdered on a street, highway or

road. This is an alarming statistic that has been a reality for far too long.

Many of us in this chamber have met with Indigenous peoples and families about these

tragedies that we need to take action on. A few weeks ago, in my meetings with First

Nations in communities around Campbell River, I had a discussion with an Indigenous

woman who has dedicated her life to addressing this reality, this tragic reality,

because of her own sister being murdered and found by the road. This is just an unfortunate

example of the thousands of Indigenous women and girls that are murdered and missing

and the families and survivors that have been affected.

It is truly our duty to support the conversations surrounding the missing and murdered

Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse individuals. We must adopt

an approach rooted in humility, compassion and unity, working together to eradicate

gender-based violence in our communities.

We must address the root causes of crime, violence, theft, mental health issues and

challenges and provide resources to communities to end the cycles of trauma and violence

and create healing and justice for families and communities.

On this day, let us remember those who have been taken from us and those who continue

to live with the pain of their absence. Let us pledge to honour their memory, not

only in our words but in our actions, and let us commit to a future where Indigenous

women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse individuals are treated with dignity and

respect.

[2:10 p.m.]

A year ago in this chamber, I spoke about the importance of community-centred and

community-led approaches when dealing with complicated intersectional issues of intergenerational

trauma. We know that we must change our thinking when we address these issues, and

we need to look to those who have lived experiences for solutions.

We also acknowledge the lives saved by community leaders and front-line service organizations,

which are often understaffed and under-resourced. We need to continue to find and

build with First Nations and Indigenous communities across our province not just the

economic but the other resources that are necessary in order to have community-led

solutions and initiatives.

Let me just conclude with this. As we also recognize Women's History Month, we celebrate

the incredible work of Matriarchs and Indigenous women who have contributed so much

to the fabric of our communities and our province, but we also recognize the young

Indigenous women who continue to lead in so many ways in our province.

One example I'd like to share with this House is Katisha Paul, who is the youth representative

for the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs. She spoke at my youth forum at Langara College

a week or so ago, and she brought all the youth participants together in a circle.

She put all of us on the same level. She talked about the importance of building an

inclusive community.

It's this kind of power and strong spirit that we need in our province. These are

the circles that support women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse individuals to

have their path forward in our province.

A. Olsen: HÍSW̱ḴE SIÁM. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

HÍSW̱ḴE MEQ SÁN. Thank you to all the members of this House.

Thank you to the minister for his powerful words.

Thank you to the member for the official opposition.

I'm honoured to stand today and share some words on the National Day of Action for

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Two-spirit and Gender-Diverse People.

These words have been written by G ud Takin Jaad, Rose Williams, who is a member of our legislative staff:

"March 21, 2020, was the last day my relative, Shaylanna Lewis-Brown, was seen. Her

disappearance provoked a wave of heartache, fear and tears throughout the communities

on Haida Gwaii and beyond. Each year, when the anniversary of Shaylanna's disappearance,

the day of awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls or the day

of action come around, I'm reminded of this pain.

"Shaylanna's family and our community are still seeking answers. Her mother drives

through towns across the province and responds to potential sightings, driven by an

unwavering motivation to find her daughter or someone who might know something. It's

been over 18 months since Shaylanna disappeared, and we still have no answers.

"This experience is not unique to my community. The national inquiry into missing

and murdered Indigenous women and girls states that we are 12 times more likely to

be murdered or missing than any other women in Canada. The national inquiry is clear.

This is genocide. Our communities have seen, time and again, a lack of action and

accountability from institutions across the province. We've seen with the cases of

Carsyn Mackenzie Seaweed and Chelsea Poorman. We've become accustomed to the tepid

response from police to the disappearances of Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit

people.

"All major institutions in this country — the federal and provincial governments,

the RCMP, the justice systems — were built to undermine, diminish and destroy the

First Peoples of these lands. Despite many challenges and improvements over the years,

we as Indigenous people continue to feel the devastating legacy of colonial policies

and institutions. The national inquiry's 231 calls for justice outline transformative

actions that must be taken to improve the health, well-being and safety of Indigenous

peoples.

[2:15 p.m.]

"The thousands of missing and murdered, including Carol Ruby Davis, Shaylanna Lewis-Brown,

Carsyn Mackenzie Seaweed, Morgan Harris, Lisa Marie Young and Chelsea Poorman, are

a reminder that we must do more to protect our communities. We deserve respect, we

deserve safety, and we deserve justice.

"All governments in this country, including each person seated in this chamber, have

a duty to take real action. You are tasked to transform the systems and institutions

that have allowed these horrors to continue. Today and every day, we hope, we pray,

and we fight for institutional change and for our dear ones to return home and for

no more stolen sisters."

[SENĆOŦEN was spoken], G ud Takin Jaad.

B. Banman: I want to start off by expressing my condolences to the families of missing and murdered

Indigenous women and girls on this, the National Day of Action.

I also want to thank those that spoke words in this House just prior to me. I want

to thank them for their words and their wisdom and their thoughts.

I am struck that on this day that the first two-minute statement was given to us by

the Member for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant. It must be a bittersweet day to celebrate

the election of the first Indigenous Premier in a province, in British Columbia, yet

to have to acknowledge that this day exists. My heart goes out to you.

There are women from First Nations who have disappeared all across British Columbia.

They are daughters, mothers, sisters, cousins, friends, and they've never been found.

The pain and anguish felt by these families is immeasurable. They deserve answers.

They deserve healing and a path to honour and commemorate the women from their communities

who have been lost in a manner that is both respectful and meaningful.

Today is a day of action. That word is key: action. I know that members of our British

Columbia RCMP, police officers and all law enforcement in British Columbia who are

taking action by continually working on the open investigations into cases of missing

and murdered Indigenous women and girls is not enough. More needs to be done. Try

as they might, more needs to be done.

I believe, in this House, we should all stand together to support more resources and

increase the resources available to solve cases so that we can deliver that much-needed

closure to families that are deeply hurting.

Throughout British Columbia, we have seen the devastating impact of the disappearance

of women and girls on First Nations families and their communities. The stories of

those who have gone missing must be heard, and justice must be pursued relentlessly.

As we today remember the lives lost, we must also commit ourselves to addressing issues

that have allowed this crisis to persist, some of which have been spoken already —

poverty, the lack of opportunity, and other factors that make women and girls vulnerable,

problems which all too often women and girls from First Nation communities suffer

the most.

We must work together to ensure that no more families experience the heartbreak of

losing a loved one under these circumstances. Let us hope that what has happened in

Manitoba is a turning point in this nation.

Let us remember them, not only today but every day. Let us redouble our efforts in

the pursuit of justice and the protection of vulnerable British Columbians.

[2:20 p.m.]

When we do catch the perpetrators of these horrendous crimes, and we will, we must

use every tool available to us to ensure that they are never able to cause harm to

anyone ever again.

We owe it to these women. We owe it to their loved ones to be relentless and unyielding

in our pursuit for justice and peace.

Mr. Speaker: Members, I ask that the House observe a moment of reflection.

[The House observed a moment of reflection.]

Oral Questions

COST OF LIVING AND AFFORDABILITY

ISSUES AND GOVERNMENT PRIORITIES

P. Milobar: Families are being crushed by the NDP's middle-class squeeze, made worse by their

record-breaking inflationary deficits — a $7 billion inflationary deficit, the largest

in B.C.'s history.

What do we have to show for it? Terrible results for families. Middle-class families

are seeing their paycheques shrink, earning too much to qualify for the NDP's so-called

supports but too little to keep up with the skyrocketing costs from housing to groceries

to gas. People deserve a break.

When will the Finance Minister put an end to the NDP's reckless inflation-driven spending

that's plunging middle-class families deeper and deeper into crisis?

Hon. K. Conroy: I appreciate the question.

Global inflation and high interest rates are squeezing household budgets in B.C. I

think we can all agree with that. But our philosophy…. Instead of giving tax breaks

to the wealthy, we're actually taking action to help people with costs, and I've got

a list of them.

This summer we permanently boosted the B.C. family benefit up to $250 for families,

and we added a $500 benefit for single-parent families because we recognize the additional

costs they have. Seventy-five percent of families in British Columbia are getting

that benefit.

We have more than doubled the climate action tax credit to nearly $450 per adult,

and that is coming into people's bank accounts tomorrow. Tomorrow people will be getting

the climate action tax credit.

We are reducing child care costs by hundreds and hundreds of dollars for middle-class

families right across this province. We are actually putting an average of $900 back

into families' pockets, and they are taking that money and spending it in their communities.

There's much more that we have done, and I look forward to sharing that.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Kamloops–North Thompson, supplemental.

P. Milobar: After seven years and two elections, the only results people are seeing are growing

deficits and shrinking paycheques. The disconnect this Finance Minister has to what

is happening in the real world is shocking. Because of the NDP's middle-class squeeze,

people are paying more while their paycheques keep falling behind. With the sluggish

0.8 percent growth for 2024, B.C. ranks near the absolute bottom in the country.

Ken Peacock of the Business Council nails it when he says that many people at the

grocery store and at the gas pumps feel they are falling behind — because they are.

How much worse does the NDP middle-class squeeze need to get before the Finance Minister

admits inflationary deficits are making things worse, not better, for families and

seniors?

Hon. K. Conroy: I'm glad the member raised seniors, because low-income seniors have benefited not

only from our affordability credits; they have benefited from the $100 credit on their

hydro bills. They've also benefited from the climate action tax credit. And 1.5 million

renters in the province, including many, many seniors, have benefited from the rent

cap.

Let's just talk about everyday families in B.C. that are paying lower provincial taxes

today than under the old government.

[2:25 p.m.]

A family with two kids, earning $100,000, pays 34 percent less provincial taxes today,

less than in 2016. Under the member's former government, a family earning $30,000

actually used to pay taxes. Today they now get $2,500 back into their pockets.

We recognize that times are tough with the high inflation costs and the interest rates.

We are supporting people.

Yes, people are paying more, and those are the big corporations and the high-income

earners. But we're taking that money, and we're investing it in people.

Mr. Speaker: Kamloops–North Thompson, second supplemental.

P. Milobar: Again, a total disconnect, because far from helping people, the NDP have introduced

29 new or increased taxes and fees, collecting over $20 billion a year now, that are

squeezing families. Out-of-control taxes. Out-of-control spending. They're driving

up the cost of living, exacerbating the NDP's middle-class squeeze. People actually

deserve a break. But the largest deficit in B.C.'s history is delivering zero results

for them.

In fact, the only growing paycheques are the NDP cabinet ministers', and perhaps this

is the group that the minister is talking about — their political staff, who got a

secret 17 percent raise just recently. They're doing all right. The rest of B.C.,

not so much.

How can the Finance Minister justify secret raises for NDP political staffers when

ordinary families are being squeezed out by all of the NDP taxes and fees?

Hon. K. Conroy: Well, the member is just inaccurate with this tax. He's just inaccurate. When they

talk about taxes, they forget about how many taxes they put on people in this province.

It was considerable. We're making different choices. We're supporting people in this

province.

There is one tax. It's a speculation tax, which the members have said they'd get rid

of, which has put hundreds and hundreds of housing back into the province, back in

to benefit people so they can actually get housing, which was difficult under the

former government.

And yes, adjustments were made. It was not a secret. Adjustments were made to address

wages because there was assignment of new and increased responsibilities and pay equity

issues, something I wonder if the opposition even agrees with.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh. Members.

Hon. K. Conroy: Our salaries are still…. Comparatively speaking, salaries are actually still lower

than other provinces, right across the province. So it's no secret. We're very upfront

with things.

T. Stone: Well, one thing that the minister is not upfront about is that when this NDP government

came to power, the government of British Columbia was collecting $50 billion in taxes

cumulatively. Today that number is $70 billion dollars, a $20 billion increase.

Frankly, the reality is that under the NDP, everyone is falling further behind, everyone

except for cabinet ministers in the NDP's political staff and their 17 percent raises.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh. Members.

T. Stone: The NDP's middle-class squeeze is set to get a lot worse thanks to deliberate NDP

policy choices that will drain a staggering $28 billion annually from people's paycheques

by 2030. Now the B.C. Business Council says that these policies will bring annual

real GDP growth to a crawl and push the economy into a long-term, recession-like condition.

Why is the Finance Minister pursuing reckless policies that will shrink B.C.'s economy

and squeeze the middle class by turning the clock back on everyone's paycheques to

levels of a decade ago?

Hon. K. Conroy: Actually, we are an economic and fiscal leader in Canada. Our debt-to-GDP ratio is

17.6 percent, which is less than half of that of Ontario and Quebec, two bigger provinces

than us. We have the highest credit ratings in the country, including our federal

government. The rating agencies will tell you that B.C.'s solid fiscal position and

diverse, resilient economy are doing well. Those are things that never happened under

the previous government.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Okay. Members.

Members. Shhh. We are wasting time, Members.

[2:30 p.m.]

Hon. K. Conroy: Let's talk a bit about what they did do. They cancelled the $14-a-day child care program

and saw over 10,000 families lose child care subsidies when they formed government.

It was shameful. There was a great child care plan there, and they cut it.

The opposition leader's $360 million in health care cuts, the health authority cuts.

It caused a reduction of thousands — thousands — of MRIs, surgeries, cuts to mental

health and addictions. That is proven.

Mr. Speaker: Thank you, Minister.

Hon. K. Conroy: We can talk. I can go on, but I'm being cut off here. But I can go on about all the

things they did that made things so difficult for people in this province.

Mr. Speaker: Official opposition House Leader, supplemental.

T. Stone: Let's be clear. The NDP's plan will reduce the size of B.C.'s economy, and hence everyone's

paycheques, by $28 billion by 2030.

Paycheques are shrinking. Purchasing power is evaporating. Economists are clear that

NDP policies will cut key industries by up to 20 percent, leading to recession-like

conditions, fewer jobs and declining incomes. By 2030, the NDP's middle-class squeeze

will take nearly $5,000 every year out of the pockets of British Columbians.

Why is this Finance Minister pursuing reckless policies that will shrink B.C.'s economy

and turn the clock back on paycheques to the levels of a decade ago?

Hon. K. Conroy: People in B.C. are facing big challenges right now, and that's why we're making thoughtful

investments to support people now and for the long term.

I mean, we want to talk about a decade ago. That opposition member left a legacy of

deficits in housing that people desperately needed to live in, schools and hospitals

that people rely on and infrastructure for growing communities. We are investing in

that. We are investing in the things that people want, the services that people want

in this province, and we will continue to do that.

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS ON

CONTRACTED LONG-TERM-CARE FACILITIES

A. Olsen: Last week B.C. seniors advocate Isobel Mackenzie released a report, Billions More Reasons to Care . It's a follow-up to her 2020 report A Billion Reasons to Care, about the use of public funds in contracted long-term-care homes.

At the time, the Minister of Health said: "This has been the best two years of reform

in seniors care, but I would say we've got a long way to go."

The second report shows not-for-profit facilities delivered 93,000 more hours of direct

care than they were funded to deliver and for-profits delivered 500,000 hours less

care than they were funded to deliver in 2021-2022.

To the Minister of Health, what does he think about the findings of this report?

Hon. A. Dix: The report demonstrates the effectiveness of the action taken. When I became Minister

of Health in 2017 — this is in the seniors advocate's report — 85 percent of care

homes didn't meet provincial standards. Today they all do.

It was a very difficult time during COVID-19 in long-term care. But B.C.'s record

was the best in Canada because we worked with all providers, public and private, to

ensure the quality of care.

We brought in wage levelling to raise up standards for workers in long-term care.

And yes, we got rid of Bills 29 and 94, which discriminated against health care workers

during that time.

Mr. Speaker: Third Party House Leader, supplemental.

A. Olsen: Well, the minister doesn't address the hundreds of thousands of hours of funded care

that are not being delivered by the for-profit market. In fact, under this minister's

watch, we've seen more of these public services shift into the hands of corporations

who are viewing the people of this province — in this case, our elders — as a commodity

and a profit centre.

This latest report found that for-profit centres spent 60 cents more per bed on building

costs than the not-for-profit facilities, and for-profit facilities earned seven times

as much profit as their not-for-profit counterparts.

These are publicly funded services, and the report outlines four recommendations.

One, ensuring that funding is spent on care. Two, improve monitoring and reporting

for compliance. Three, define profit. Four, make revenues and expenditures for publicly

funded care homes available to the public.

To the Minister of Health, will he immediately implement all of these recommendations?

Hon. A. Dix: In fact, we are putting in place a contract model working with all providers — public,

non-profit and for-profit providers — working together as we did during COVID-19.

[2:35 p.m.]

With respect to investment in public care, however, in the ten years before I became

Minister of Health, health capital funding for long-term care was $17.8 million over

ten years, or $1.78 million a year. In our current plan, it's $2.039 billion.

We are building new projects in this region, in Abbotsford, in the Interior. In the

North is coming. We are adding service and, in addition to that, through our HCAP

program, more than 6,500 new health care workers.

One of the key ways that you ensure funded beds and carers at the bedside is to train

health care workers, and that's exactly what we've been doing.

CONTENT IN SCHOOL LIBRARY MATERIALS

B. Banman: I stand here today as a distraught father and grandfather. I stand here with parents

in Abbotsford who are deeply concerned about sexually graphic and explicit content

available in certain fictional books within our public school libraries to children

as young as 11 years of age.

I would ask that the House brace themselves for the following words from one such

book called Eleanor and Park : "I know you're a slut. You smell like cum. Nothing but a bitch in heat."

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Member. Please do not use that kind of language.

B. Banman: I apologize, Mr. Speaker, and I actually would retract those words.

This language is deeply disturbing. As a grandfather, it shakes me to the core when

I imagine that children could be exposed to this deeply disturbing, degrading language

in British Columbia public school libraries.

Will this NDP Premier please answer concerned parents, grandparents and families in

Abbotsford and throughout this province: why is the sexually explicit book, Eleanor and Park , and others like it, available in British Columbia public schools for children as

young as 11 years of age?

Hon. R. Singh: I want to say, not just as a Minister of Education but also as a parent, that our

schools are places we want to make…. They are spaces which are safe, inclusive and

welcoming for all students. The teachers are using resources that are age-appropriate

and audience-appropriate to give those values, give those teachings that are so important

to create those welcoming environments.

I just want to reiterate that the resources that teachers are imparting, that teachers

are teaching are age-appropriate, and they are audience-appropriate.

Mr. Speaker: Fourth Party House Leader, supplemental.

B. Banman: I'm asking as a parent, as a grandparent, to the Premier and to the minister: if the

words I just read were inappropriate and unacceptable and clearly disturbing to this

House, how is it that those same words are appropriate to be read by a sixth grader

as young as 11 years old in our public system? How are those words safe and inclusive?

Hon. R. Singh: I cannot comment on the particular books that the member is mentioning. But I can

talk as a parent whose children are going through the public school system, who have

gone through the public school system. I have never encountered anything inappropriate

being taught to my children.

I take such pride in our public education system. I am so proud of the teachers who

are working every day. I, in fact, raise my hands to all the work that is happening

in our schools.

Our schools are very diverse places. As leaders, as school leaders, it is our responsibility

that we respect that diversity, and we are making our schools as safe as possible.

COST OF LIVING AND AFFORDABILITY

ISSUES AND GOVERNMENT PRIORITIES

S. Bond: Families across this province are struggling as the NDP relentlessly squeezes the

middle class with a ballooning deficit and shrinking paycheques.

[2:40 p.m.]

As a result, financial stress among parents in British Columbia is skyrocketing. Two-thirds

of those parents now stress over essential things, like groceries or gas. That is

up 19 percent from last year. Clearly, people are feeling the NDP's middle-class squeeze

more than ever.

Will the Finance Minister get up today and explain why she is happy to give NDP political

staffers a 17 percent raise while middle-class moms and dads across this province

are overwhelmed with financial stress?

Hon. K. Conroy: We agree that there are tough times right now because of inflation, the global economy,

things that are happening across the country, not only in B.C. That is why we are

putting support out there for parents. That is why we've increased our B.C. family

benefit. That is why we've made supports for single moms — an extra $500 to support

them, because we recognize that. That is why we did things like making sure communities

have the supports they need, because we recognize they need that support.

You just have to talk to people anywhere in the province. What they say to me is,

"We want to make sure that we get our services, that our services aren't cut," and

that's exactly what we're doing. We are not going to make cuts to people's services.

We are going to continue to support them to ensure they get those services. They want

to see hospitals. They want to see schools. They want to see those supports, and that's

exactly what we're doing.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Prince George–Valemount, supplemental.

S. Bond: Well, doubling B.C.'s debt in 6½ years, the largest deficit in B.C.'s history, a growing

list of 29 NDP taxes, and secret 17 percent raises for NDP political staff — that's

the record of this Finance Minister and this government.

The only things shrinking are British Columbians' paycheques, and that's because of

specific policies by the NDP government. It is no wonder that half of British Columbians

are living paycheque to paycheque, and they are just $200 away from being able to

pay their bills every single month.

When will the Finance Minister do the right thing and give British Columbians the

break they deserve?

Hon. K. Conroy: Actually, we recognize that times are tough, and that's why we are investing in people.

Unlike the former government, we are actually investing in people in this province.

We've been doing it since 2017, and we're going to continue to do it.

In fact, we did it during COVID, and we came out of COVID with one of the strongest

economies in the province.

But are people struggling? Yes, they are. That's why we're putting those very significant

supports in place to ensure that we can help people with the very costs the member

is speaking about. We're focused on those people's priorities.

One of the things we heard is that people wanted to invest in hospitals and schools,

things that hadn't been invested in for years. They wanted us to invest in communities,

so we did. We invested in every single community in this province.

I'm asking the members opposite. Would the member from Prince George say that the

community of Prince George shouldn't have got over $12 million to invest in that community?

Would the members from Kamloops say that we shouldn't have invested over $15 million

to support the people of Kamloops?

You know, we need to talk about that. We need to say we invested over $1 billion…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh. Shhh.

Hon. K. Conroy: …in communities in this province. We know that that is supporting people, because

the people…. Well, we just all had UBCM, and I think every minister heard how beneficial

those grants were to their communities.

FOOD COSTS AND

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES

T. Halford: As the NDP fuels inflation with a $7 billion deficit, the middle class is getting

squeezed. Incomes are stagnant, and everything essential — housing, gas, groceries

— is more expensive than ever under this NDP government.

In Surrey, the food bank is the latest casualty in the NDP's middle-class squeeze.

It is facing a $50,000 monthly shortfall and a surge of first-time desperate visitors.

How long will this Finance Minister ignore real-life consequences of the NDP squeeze

on middle-class families that are sending these families to the food bank?

Hon. S. Malcolmson: We all want people to have what they need in order to have a good life, to be able

to get ahead. That's why our government has been investing in people from day one.

[2:45 p.m.]

Despite all those investments, the impact of global inflation has been a very hard

hit, particularly the tremendously, terribly increased price of food. That's why we've

made unprecedented investments, along with our food security, food emergency providing

partners — $49 million in this year alone.

Food banks across the province are partnering with us, and whether they're investing

in refrigeration infrastructure to be able to get more fresh available food to their

clients or whether they're working through our funding to help them purchase and increase

their operations, we're directly funding food bank providers to be able to get vulnerable

people the food and nutrition that they need.

Mr. Speaker: Surrey–White Rock, supplemental.

T. Halford: I challenge that minister to go down to the Surrey Food Bank and give them that answer

that she just gave. Vijay Naidu from the Surrey Food Bank, says: "When I joined, we

used to do maybe 150 households every day. Now it's 250-plus households every day."

Everything from gas to housing to groceries is squeezing families in British Columbia.

How many more people have to line up at the food bank because of this NDP squeeze

on the middle class?

Hon. S. Malcolmson: We are hearing directly from people on the front line, as are people on the front

lines across the entire country, about the terribly increased price of food. This

is global inflation, global supply chain issues that have driven up the price at the

grocery store.

That's why, as a government, we have responded. That's why we're directly funding

food bank operators. That's why, with them, we are investing in refrigeration trucks

and walk-in coolers so that they can redistribute free food to people in need.

That's why we're working with the United Way to design new systems and a cross-government

approach through every ministry to help people handle the increased costs of food.

That's why we have increased social assistance payments five times. That's why we

have increased the minimum wage five times since we formed government, so that people

have the money in their pockets to be able to get by, for them and their families.

When they can't, then we support vulnerable people in need. That's the work we're

doing every day.

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND

GOVERNMENT SPENDING PRIORITIES

R. Merrifield: B.C. economists are ringing the alarm bells as people's paycheques are set to plummet

this year and next and next and next, financial hits rarely seen outside of a recession,

yet the NDP's answer to the middle-class squeeze is to give partisan NDP political

staff a secret 17 percent raise.

This is beyond out of touch, when over half of British Columbians are just $200 away

from not being able to pay their bills each month.

When will the Finance Minister rein in the NDP's disastrous inflationary deficit causing

the middle-class squeeze?

Hon. K. Conroy: It seems that some people are out of touch across the way. They don't realize that

there are global issues. There are high inflation rates. It is causing some issues

across the country, in Canada as well as internationally, but we are doing things

for people because we know. We are hearing the issues. We are hearing them.

I think the one thing that we have done that I know has put more money back into people's

pockets than anything is our child care. We have an average of $900 a month.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. K. Conroy: That is the highest tax cut in the history of British Columbia. So when you think

about it, almost $900 a month going back into people's pockets. And what they're doing

with that….

They're not investing offshore or doing…. They are investing right back in their local

communities. They are going to the local stores. They are buying things locally. They

are investing in their families and their children. That's because of the child care

program that we started in 2017, because we recognized how critically important it

was.

I just have one more thing. Seventy-five percent of the people that returned to the

workforce last year were women, and it's directly attributed to our child care program.

Mr. Speaker: Kelowna-Mission, supplemental.

R. Merrifield: Well, news flash to the minister. Most of the people who lost their jobs in the pandemic

were women, so the fact that they're coming back to the workforce is simply because

we're no longer in the pandemic. And also, news flash to the minister. With 29 additional

taxes under this government, it's no wonder that things cost more. Whatever is taxed

becomes more expensive.

[2:50 p.m.]

It's because of this NDP government that B.C. faces the highest inflation since the

'80s, the largest deficit in B.C. history and the painful reality of declining real

incomes. The NDP has maxed out the provincial credit card and has nothing to show

for it.

In the last quarter, interest payments on the NDP ballooning debt spiked to nearly

$100 million more than forecast, and all British Columbians, including our kids and

grandkids, are left stuck with the bill.

How much more do British Columbians' paycheques need to shrink before the Finance

Minister finally ends the NDP's crippling middle-class squeeze?

Hon. K. Conroy: I just need to put some numbers on the record. So an average family with two kids,

earning $100,000 in this province used to pay $7,473 in taxes under that former government.

They now pay $4,948, a 34 percent decrease.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh. Shhh.

Hon. K. Conroy: A 34 percent decrease. If you made $80,000 with two kids, you used to pay $5,637 in

taxes. You now pay $2,458, a 56 percent net tax reduction. I mean, it's…. Again, at

$30,000, they used to pay taxes. Now they pay $177 in taxes...

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members. Members.

Hon. K. Conroy: …or that's what they used to pay. Now they get $2,500 back.

You know, I could go on — what they used to do compared to what we used to do. I've got more, but time's up.

[End of question period.]

Question of Privilege

(Reservation of Right)

K. Paddon: I rise on a point of privilege to object to the comments from the member for Abbotsford

South.

Orders of the Day

Hon. R. Kahlon: I now call second reading debate on Bill 31, the Emergency and Disaster Management

Act.

[S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.]

Second Reading of Bills

BILL 31 — EMERGENCY AND DISASTER

MANAGEMENT ACT

Deputy Speaker: We will get started shortly, just waiting for the minister. I'll ask for a brief recess,

and we will start again momentarily.

The House recessed from 2:54 p.m. to 2:55 p.m.

[S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.]

Deputy Speaker: We will come back into session. We have moved Bill 31, I believe, and I will be recognizing,

momentarily, the Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.

Hon. B. Ma: Thank you so much, hon. Speaker.

I move that Bill 31 be read a second time now.

The bill before us is called the Emergency and Disaster Management Act. Because it

is all about emergencies, it would be difficult to speak about the Emergency and Disaster

Management Act without recognizing the disaster season and disaster year that we have

had this year. It started long before the wildfire season, actually.

I mean, if you remember back to the very early days of the year, or maybe even just

slightly before the year 2023, we had ice storms in the Lower Mainland and into the

Fraser Valley that required for us to communicate to the public that they should avoid

driving on the roads and on the highways. Following the ice storms, we had a season

of deadly avalanches — one of the deadliest ever seen in British Columbia's history.

After the avalanche season started to wane, we went right into the freshet season,

which is where the ice caps and snow melt start to accelerate with the warming temperatures,

and we saw some catastrophic flooding in smaller communities in British Columbia.

Almost immediately after the freshet season, we were into wildfires and droughts.

You can see that when it comes to extreme weather hazards, here in British Columbia,

it's no longer just a hazard…. We used to describe it as a hazard season that was

just in the summer, when the wildfires came by, but it's no longer just a season.

It's really year-round, and the impacts have been devastating.

Looking at the wildfire season on its own, we saw tens of thousands of people forced

from their homes — evacuated as a result of the wildfires. At the peak of the season,

we had nearly 70,000 British Colombians either on evacuation order or alert at any

given time, really quite devastating. Some of the worst, most anxiety-ridden moments

of a family's experience.

Hundreds of structures were lost. We saw really incredible impacts to the agricultural

sector, to ranchers and farmers. The tourism sector was hit really, really strongly.

Forestry communities worried about their marketable timber being lost to fire.

Of course, we saw the loss of six of our province's heroes. I just want to acknowledge

the member for Cariboo-Chilcotin for his statement earlier today, a very moving statement

to honour these six heroes: Devyn Gale, Zak Muise, Kenneth Patrick, Blain Sonnenberg,

Jaxon Billyboy and one more who has yet to be publicly named. They were wildland firefighters

fighting on the front line, lost either on the front lines or coming home from fighting

fires working with the B.C. Wildfire Service, which has been just tirelessly fighting

fires throughout this summer.

I think that it's important to recognize those very real impacts of these disasters

and these very real impacts of extreme weather events when we're talking about emergencies.

We're going to be talking through this bill, and we're going to go through second

reading. Then we're going to go through committee stage debate, where we'll go clause

by clause and talk about what the legalese of the Emergency and Disaster Management

Act is about.

[3:00 p.m.]

What it's really about are those impacts on the ground — those impacts to our communities,

our environment, our economy and our people. I do also want to acknowledge that through

all of this devastation and through all of these challenges, the spirit of British

Columbians really shone through. We saw incredible acts of generosity: neighbours

that reached out to neighbours, businesses that opened their doors, businesses that

went out of their way to help their communities, volunteers stepping up in all sorts

of ways.

I want to thank the hard-working staff at the local governments, First Nations, regional

districts and their local leaders who picked up the phone when I called. Sometimes

I would call them at ten o'clock at night on a Saturday, and they would pick up the

phone. I was calling them because I could see that they were issuing these evacuation

orders, and I knew that they were going to be awake and working and that they were

going to have sleepless nights worrying about what was happening in their communities.

They, of course, didn't do it alone either. We had great support throughout the province

from the RCMP, from search and rescue volunteers. Search and rescue volunteers delivered

tens of thousands of evacuation orders door to door, by foot.

We saw municipal firefighters deployed from the Lower Mainland and other areas of

the province into the Interior to support structural firefighting efforts there. Really,

a whole-of-society approach.

To kind of close off this

section of my remarks, I do want to also acknowledge, of

course, the incredible efforts of the staff members of my ministry, who I owe so much

to, led by Deputy Minister Tara Richards, Associate Deputy Minister Teresa Dobmeier

and Assistant Deputy Minister Madeline Maley. They have tons of staff working underneath

them as well. I remember those nights and those weekends communicating with senior

staff well past midnight, taking, maybe, a five-hour break to get some rest and picking

it up again the next morning. Everyone in that ministry just was so incredibly committed.

It wasn't just them. It was all the staff at the local governments, First Nations,

regional district — everyone working around the clock, recognizing that this emergency

situation would not wait.

There were TEAMS members. It's a program that we have in government where we actually

second and borrow staff from all over government. We had people coming in from other

ministries, other agencies into the provincial emergency centres to supplement and

surge up staff in order to support communities with partners from the First Nations

Health Authority, the First Nations Emergency Support Services, federal partners and

international firefighters supplementing the incredible work of the B.C. Wildfire

Service and their tireless efforts.

Of course, a personal shout-out to my own minister's office staff: Andrew Barrett,

Mack McCorkindale and my amazing chief of staff, Melanie Sanderson who, again, worked

every hour that she was awake right through the season.

That brings us again back to Bill 31, the Emergency and Disaster Management Act.

Over the next several weeks, when we debate this act, a lot of the language will be

very technical. It will be very high level, about the legalese. But the real work,

the real effort that has to follow the development of this legislation is how this

legislation plays out operationally on the ground.

A lot of those questions aren't going to be answered through the debate because the

legislation is the legislation. It's the emergency management framework. We've got

regulations to develop. We've got policies to develop. We've got partnerships to build.

We've got to actually demonstrate how this will work on the ground for people. That

work is still to come.

The Emergency and Disaster Management Act — which I may shorten to EDMA, moving forward

— is based on broad engagement with partners in emergency management. I want to, again,

acknowledge with gratitude their contributions to this specific act. It is the first

land-based legislation to be developed under the declaration on the rights of Indigenous

peoples. It was an honour to develop this legislation with two very dedicated technical

tables representing First Nations organizations and with many, many First Nations

rights and title holders.

I would like to acknowledge, with the deepest of gratitude, the invaluable contributions

to the creation of this legislation. Over 111 meetings and workshops were held between

our legislative development team and Indigenous partners over the last year and a

half alone.

[3:05 p.m.]

Their strategic inputs during legislative development have made this act stronger.

I look forward to continuing to work with them to modernize B.C.'s approach to emergency

management.

This act represents a comprehensive modernization of British Columbia's emergency

management legislation. It provides a framework for all phases of emergency management

from mitigation and preparedness to response and recovery. The intent of the Emergency

and Disaster Management Act is to increase our collective readiness in the face of

increasingly frequent climate and disaster risks.

The last time the current Emergency Program Act was significantly updated was 1993.

At that time, a global pandemic was decades away. The Internet was an emerging technological

advancement, and the occurrence of natural hazards and extreme weather was relatively

rare. Many people were only vaguely aware of the concept of climate change.

Today we live in a different world. Even five years ago climate change was usually

spoken of as something that needed to be addressed to avoid leaving the consequences

to our children, or our children's children. But as we can plainly see from the 2023

wildfire season, this year's historic drought, the ice storms of 2022, the heat dome,

the wildfire season and atmospheric river events of 2021 and more, we can no longer

afford to think of climate change as something that will create impacts in the far

future.

Instead, it is here now. Its impacts are being felt by people, communities, our ecosystems

and our economies today. And as greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels continue

to be added to our atmosphere globally, we also know that those impacts will, sadly,

grow and worsen with time.

The current Emergency Program Act is almost exclusively focused on responding to and

recovering from emergencies. But with the realities of climate change upon our province

and extreme weather events becoming more and more common, frequent, intense, we know

that it is no longer good enough to just be focused on responding to emergencies.

In addition to doing the work that we must do to drive down greenhouse gas emissions

here in B.C. through our CleanBC strategy and all over the world, we must also be

better prepared to do the work that we must do to mitigate the impacts of the disasters

that are already here before they happen. International best practices for effective

and cooperative emergency management demonstrate that emergency management needs to

be proactive, not just reactive.

This modernized legislation has been developed over many years, and I want to acknowledge

the leadership of the current Solicitor General and Minister of Public Safety for

his role in initiating this work when emergency management B.C. existed within his

ministry.

I also want to acknowledge the current Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health, who

previously served as Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness, for her role

in shepherding this work along. Her passion for emergency management served our province

well.

Through their leadership, government saw the need for a more holistic view of emergency

management, particularly in the wake of the Abbott-Chapman report, which was commissioned

in December 2017. The new Emergency and Disaster Management Act aligns with three

key themes in the Abbott-Chapman report on the 2017 wildfire and flood season.

First, Abbott-Chapman recognized that partnerships between and among governments,

local and First Nations communities, regional districts, organizations, stakeholders

and others are vital to more effectively and quickly respond to events. This act introduces

new requirements and tools to focus on enhancing partnerships and promoting dialogue

and coordination between different levels of government. This includes enabling multi-jurisdictional

emergency management organizations to be created, requiring consultation and cooperation

with Indigenous governing bodies and enabling agreements between the provincial government

and Indigenous governing bodies.

Secondly, there was an emphasis in the report about the importance of local and Indigenous

knowledge and the value of tapping into that knowledge to inform decision-making.

This act includes a direct response to this by requiring lead ministries, local authorities,

critical infrastructure owners and public sector agencies to integrate available Indigenous

and local knowledge into risk assessments and emergency management plans, allowing

us to collectively respond more effectively.

[3:10 p.m.]

Third, Abbott-Chapman focused on the importance of a proactive investment to achieve

meaningful change. This is reflected in the principal

section of the act, and I'll

speak to this again later in my remarks.

Our government has taken a thorough approach to modernizing the legislation, creating

the most comprehensive and forward-looking emergency management framework in Canada.

The United Nations adopted the Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction in 2015,

and in October 2018, British Columbia became the first Canadian province to adopt

the framework. The UN Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction emphasizes four

priorities for emergency management. "Priority 1, understanding disaster risk." I'm

reading the

section now. This is from the UN.

"Priority 1: understanding disaster risk. Disaster risk management should be based

on an understanding of disaster risk in all its dimensions of vulnerability, capacity,

exposure of persons and assets, hazard characteristics and the environment. Such knowledge

can be used for risk assessment prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response."

In alignment with this priority, this legislation includes clearer hazard-focused

risk assessment and planning requirements. This includes requiring that risk assessments

are based on climate considerations and that those risk assessments and emergency

management plans address the needs of groups that may be disproportionately impacted

by emergency events.

We also see this priority spoken to in the

section 2 principles clauses of the bill,

which reinforces that effective emergency management involves practising emergency

and disaster risk reduction through proactive work.

Going back to the UN Sendai framework: "Priority 2, strengthening disaster risk governance

to manage disaster risk. Disaster risk governance at the national, regional and global

levels is very important for prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery

and rehabilitation. It fosters collaboration and partnership."

I would say that the introduction of the Emergency and Disaster Management Act is

particularly important in fulfilling this priority of Sendai, as the legislation establishes

a governance framework to manage disaster risk. This priority emphasizes the need

to incorporate an all-of-society approach, and new entities are being included within

the legislative framework, including Indigenous governing bodies and critical infrastructure

owners.

The concept of an all-of-society approach is also something where we see strong alignment

between the Abbott-Chapman report, with its call for the use of local and Indigenous

knowledge, and the Sendai framework, which also calls on government to ensure the

use of traditional Indigenous and local knowledge and practices to complement scientific

approaches and risk assessments and the development of plans. That's exactly what

the Emergency and Disaster Management Act does.

This legislation also enables a framework for different kinds of agreements with Indigenous

governing bodies, closing a significant gap from the Emergency Program Act, where

the role of Indigenous peoples as decision-makers was not acknowledged or properly

accommodated.

This is reflected in modernized legislation, as it authorizes collaborative emergency

management agreements, which can be used to create structures for collaboration and

to accomplish other objectives, such as promoting cultural safety or formalizing plans

to work together to achieve shared goals and objectives.

Reading now again from the UN Sendai framework: "Priority 3, investing in disaster

risk reduction for resilience. Public and private investment in disaster risk prevention

and reduction through structural and non-structural measures are essential to enhance

the economic, social, health and cultural resilience of persons, communities, countries

and their assets as well as the environment."

Now, spending commitments by government aren't built into legislation like this and

are more a matter for the budget cycle and deliberations through other government

processes like those that involve the Treasury Board and the Ministry of Finance.

But we do reflect this third priority in the principles

section of the legislation,

highlighting the importance of investment in disaster risk reduction.

Reading again now from the fourth and last UN Sendai principle: "Priority 4, enhancing

disaster preparedness for effective response and to 'Build Back Better' in recovery,

rehabilitation, reconstruction. The growth of disaster risk means there is a need

to strengthen disaster preparedness for response, take action in anticipation of events

and ensure capacities are in place for effective response and recovery at all levels.

The recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction phase is a critical opportunity to

build back better, including through integrating disaster risk reduction into development

measures."

[3:15 p.m.]

Like all of Sendai framework's priorities, this really speaks to taking a holistic

approach that addresses all four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness,

response and recovery. The introduction of a recovery period in the legislation and

authorization of financial assistance in relation to losses from emergency events

will support this as well, though a significant piece of the "build back better" part

of this priority will be addressed through the development of a new post-emergency

financial assistance regulation, which is currently open for public engagement as

we speak.

I'd like to speak now about how this bill moves our province's approach to emergency

management towards far better alignment with the UN declaration on the rights of Indigenous

peoples. One of the principles in

section 2 of the bill recognizes that the inherent

right of self-government includes the right to make laws in relation to emergency

management. That's the inherent right of Indigenous peoples, and self-government includes

the right to make laws in relationship to emergency management.

This is our status quo. It is an inherent right that's always existed and recognized

by the courts. But it's never been recognized in B.C.'s emergency management legislation.

So doing this recognizes that the good work First Nations leaders have been doing

to protect their communities in times of emergency is valid and rooted in inherent

rights.

Across the province, we've seen First Nations taking measures to protect their communities

from hazards like COVID-19, wildfires and floods. This bill formally recognizes the

rights of First Nations as decision-makers in emergency management, which is an incredibly

important step in aligning B.C.'s approach to the UN's declaration on the rights of

Indigenous peoples and our obligations as partners in reconciliation with Indigenous

peoples here in British Columbia.

First Nations do not derive their authority from this emergency management legislation.

I want to make that clear. They're not regulated by this legislation. But the Emergency

and Disaster Management Act strives to build a respectful way for provincial and local

authority decision-makers to coexist with First Nations decision-makers.

The act uses the concept of Indigenous governing bodies introduced in the Declaration

on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act to respect the rights of Indigenous people

to determine who is authorized to act on their behalf. Consistent with their treaties,

modern treaty nations are recognized as local authorities under this legislation.

But, again, out of respect for their unique status and our government-to-government

relationship, they are recognized as self-governing when it comes to emergency management.

The Emergency and Disaster Management Act takes steps to improve the way in which

decision-makers in the provincial government and in local governments coordinate their

actions through various requirements and through agreements across the four phases

with decisions and actions taken by First Nations. The Emergency and Disaster Management

Act includes a series of principles, which, broadly speaking, aim to foster collaboration,

coordination and relationship-building. These principles outline a series of common

goals towards reducing risk, promoting resiliency and recognizing the importance of

Indigenous advice, input and stewardship.

One of the principles explicitly acknowledges the inherent right of self-government

of Indigenous peoples, including the authority to make laws in relation to emergency

management. As such, the legislation was drafted to recognize decision-making roles

of Indigenous peoples and will require work with Indigenous governing bodies to give

this effect. Indigenous governing bodies, as first reflected in the Declaration Act,

are entities authorized by Indigenous peoples to act on their behalf.

This reaffirms the province's commitment to supporting Indigenous self-determination.

First Nations are wholly responsible for deciding which Indigenous governing bodies

they authorize to act on their behalf in the areas that they live in, in the emergency

management sphere.

I might have said this already, but I'll read it for clarity. The new legislation

recognizes the concurrent and overlapping roles of decision-makers within the provincial

government, local authorities and Indigenous governing bodies and will promote co-management.

It focuses on the government-to-government relationship between the province and Indigenous

governing bodies.

[3:20 p.m.]

Consistent with the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, this modernized

legislation provides authority for agreements with Indigenous governing bodies for

joint and consent-based decision-making, which means that where the conditions are

right for all parties, Indigenous governing bodies may enter into agreements with

the province to jointly exercise emergency powers or to require the consent of an

Indigenous governing body before a power is exercised.

The act also creates the ability for the province and Indigenous governing bodies,

along with local authorities, as appropriate, to enter into coordination agreements

designed to coordinate the provincial or local exercise of statutory powers with the

emergency management procedures and decisions of First Nations peoples. Importantly,

the legislation also proposes an annual review of agreements that the province makes

with Indigenous governing bodies. This helps to ensure that the agreements are serving

their intended purpose and promoting public safety.

The Emergency and Disaster Management Act establishes consultation and cooperation

agreements with Indigenous governing bodies, and this means that provincial ministries,

public sector agencies, local authorities and critical infrastructure owners must

consult and cooperate when developing risk assessments and emergency management plans.

In the response and recovery phases, the minister and local authorities must consult

and cooperate with Indigenous governing bodies prior to taking certain land-based

actions. Consistent with the guiding principles, this consultation and cooperation

process is intended to build and strengthen relationships as well as incorporate Indigenous

knowledge to help inform emergency plans and responses while respecting the cultural

safety and traditional knowledge of First Nations communities.

Importantly, it also respects the rights recognized through the Declaration on the

Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. This legislation also respects the unique roles

of the modern treaty nations and recognizes our government-to-government relationships.

The powers and authorities that the modern treaty nations possess under this legislation

are aligned with their final agreements and are broadly equivalent to the powers and

authorities of municipalities and regional districts.

The Emergency and Disaster Management Act provides a range of options for agreements.

Here we see protocol agreements, which will outline consultation areas and potentially

other protocols; collaborative emergency management agreements, which can provide

pathways for cooperation in meeting mutual emergency management objectives; coordination

agreements, which can affect the way provincial or local authority decision-makers

exercise their response and recovery powers under the act; and shared decision-making

agreements, which can require that statutory powers or statutory powers of decision

be exercised either jointly or with the consent of an Indigenous governing body. These

are often referred to as

section 6,

section 7 agreements under the DRIPA act, the

declaration on the rights of Indigenous peoples.

The Emergency and Disaster Management Act encourages dialogue between decision-makers.

In developing this legislation, we've been talking about emergency management as a

co-managed environment, in which you have, again, various decision-makers with overlapping

jurisdiction. It recognizes that the best way of avoiding confusion or conflict in

that kind of environment is to engage in frequent communication and to engage in that

communication up front.

In this bill, you will see references to two things that are quite similar to each

other but that are somewhat different. First, there is "consultation and cooperation."

This is language used in UNDRIP, and we've used it in the Emergency and Disaster Management

Act to describe the actions that the province, local authorities and other regulated

entities, such as critical infrastructure owners, need to take in relation to Indigenous

governing bodies representing First Nations peoples.

While the term "Indigenous" includes Métis and Inuit peoples, First Nations are the

only Indigenous peoples with land-based rights recognized here in B.C. And this legislation

will require consultation with those First Nations peoples represented by Indigenous

governing bodies when risk assessments and emergency management plans are developed

or revised during emergencies and also during the recovery phase. This is key to aligning

this legislation with UNDRIP.

[3:25 p.m.]

In addition to consultation, there's a requirement for cooperation. This requires

true consideration of both the input and rights of First Nations peoples. The first

I referred to was…. There are consultation and cooperation. Those are the two pieces.

Now, secondly, there's also consultation and coordination. These are obligations between

regulated entities and local authorities. So this can mean conversations between government

ministries and local authorities, between neighbouring local authorities or between

critical infrastructure owners and local authorities. This consultation and coordination

needs to happen when risk assessments and emergency management plans are being made

as well as when local authorities are conducting evacuations or re-entry to evacuated

areas.

In this bill, you will also see references to the establishment of multi-jurisdictional

emergency management organizations, or, as our policy team fondly refers to them,

MJEMOs. This bill formally recognizes a type of collaborative agreement that is already

in place in various regions of the province. An example includes IPREM, the integrated

partnership for regional emergency management in Metro Vancouver. IPREM is an intergovernmental

partnership between the province of British Columbia and Metro Vancouver on behalf

of its 23 local authorities, formed to coordinate regional emergency management planning

activities.

There is also REMP, the regional emergency management partnership. It, too, is an

intergovernmental partnership between the province of British Columbia and the capital

regional district, on behalf of its 13 member municipalities and three electoral areas.

I mentioned these partnerships not because they are automatically jurisdictional emergency

management organizations under this legislation, but because they're great examples

of the kind of cooperation we're trying to promote with this MJEMO concept. Becoming

an MJEMO is entirely optional, but there are a lot of upsides to moving in this direction.

Creating a formal framework for these kinds of organizations allows for these groups

to meet their statutory obligations and-or actions as a collective. This is extremely

valuable on a number of levels, particularly seeing as how hazards don't tend to care

very much about municipal or regional boundaries. Flood waters don't stop because

their city boundary ends, and earthquakes don't care very much about jurisdiction.

Tackling these hazards as a collective allows jurisdictions to pool resources, find

operational efficiencies in delivery and build collective capacity to manage emergencies

together.

The Emergency and Disaster Management Act recognizes also that systemic issues that

create disadvantage under ordinary circumstances can be exacerbated in times of emergency.

It aims to reduce the traumatic effects that this can have on people.

It is useful to highlight some concepts and

definitions in the act. For instance,

the term "cultural safety" is used by the legislation to get at the need to respect

diversity, to be able to treat people with dignity and to understand and try to meet

their distinct cultural needs in all phases of emergency management. One of the

section

2 principles speaks to the value of promoting cultural safety.

The term "intersectional disadvantage" is also in the legislation, and it is used

to describe intersecting or overlapping factors that can lead to discrimination or

disadvantage. The legislation requires that it be considered by the province, local

authority and others when they are preparing risk assessments and emergency management

plans.

The Emergency and Disaster Management Act signals a shift to a more comprehensive

approach of proactively managing disaster risk, emphasizes growing climate-related

risks, implements a better framework for recovery and addresses key gaps and challenges

in the existing legislation. Therefore, our new legislation will introduce requirements

for the completion of climate-informed risk assessments by provincial ministries,

local authorities, critical infrastructure owners and public sector agencies. This

will result in better understanding of hazards that communities face and how emergencies

affect equity-denied groups.

New emergency management planning requirements will build on risk assessments and

include measures to reduce disproportionate impacts on equity-denied groups and promote

cultural safety.

Hon. Speaker, I don't think I'll use the whole time, but I am designated speaker.

Deputy Speaker: Thank you, Minister.

[3:30 p.m.]

Hon. B. Ma: Our government understands that it will take time for local governments, Indigenous

governing bodies and others to become acquainted with the Emergency and Disaster Management

Act and to produce those updated risk assessments and emergency plans, so we'll be

providing time to do that. These types of planning requirements will be phased in

through regulations, and we're consulting with communities and others on their time

and capacity needs.

As you can see, this bill does many things. But I do want to also address a fundamental

change that the bill proposes to the definition of "emergency."

This includes updating the definition of emergency to reflect some very real threats

that weren't included in 1993's Emergency Program Act.

The definition of emergency is fundamental to the legislation because a state of emergency

cannot be declared unless the circumstances fit the definition, and the powers under

the legislation can't be used without a state of emergency.

I should clarify. Some of the powers can be used without a state of emergency, but

there are powers in the legislation that cannot be used without a state of emergency.

The Emergency and Disaster Management Act retains the same basic structure and content

of the Emergency Program Act definition of emergency. But there are three key changes.

First, the definition will now incorporate some circumstances that weren't covered

in the old legislation. For example, human-driven phenomena like security threats,

riots and terrorism.

Secondly, it can be quickly expanded by order-in-council to meet unforeseen circumstances.

Lastly, it will now also speak to the safety of objects or sites of heritage value,

which is an example of a change that came out of legislative development with First

Nations.

[J. Tegart in the chair.]

Just looking back through my notes now, I should also flag that transmissible diseases

are now considered as part of the definition as well.

I'll note, though, that a threat to the safety of objects or sites isn't, on its own,

sufficient enough to qualify as an emergency. That threat still has to come from one

of the other causes described in the definition, whether fire, forces of nature or

one of the new threats that I described.

The current Emergency Program Act already provided a wide range of response powers.

What I'll say about the Emergency and Disaster Management Act, in terms of the powers

that it provides, is that it is comparable. However, there are a few practical changes

that reflect current realities.

For instance, this act provides for longer states of emergency if declared by the

Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council or by a local authority as compared to what we have

currently under the Emergency Program Act.

This is a significant win for local authorities, in particular, because it means they

have two weeks instead of one week before they need to go through the administrative

process of extending a state of emergency.

Another new policy introduced by this legislation is the concept of a recovery period.

These are 90-day periods that can be ended early or extended, if necessary. They provide

the province or local authorities — whoever declares the recovery period — with continued

access to certain powers in cases where some extraordinary measures remain necessary

to promote a safe and healthy recovery after an emergency.

Moving to a recovery period can help reduce the mental fatigue that comes with long

states of emergency. It preserves the gravity of states of emergency and helps signal

to the public that we're moving into a new phase.

Accountability and transparency are also being enhanced in this legislation with new

required reporting to provide the Legislative Assembly and, ultimately, the public

with a clear understanding of when and how emergency powers were exercised.

The act has a couple of themes to promote transparency: new reporting requirements

and a legislative commitment to a five-year review. Under the Emergency Program Act,

there are no reporting requirements tied to states of emergency or the use of powers.

But with the new reporting requirements, the EDMA, the Emergency and Disaster Management

Act, will create an official record which promotes accountability.

The five-year review recognizes that we're implementing some significant policy shifts

in this legislation in an era where we're living with frequent severe emergencies

and where we are doing some very important work to recognize the decision-making roles

of First Nations peoples. With this degree of change, we recognize that the legislation

will need assessment and may need to adapt.

[3:35 p.m.]

This bill provides the foundation for a comprehensive modernization of emergency management

in British Columbia. The legislation adopts the proactive holistic approach from the

UN Sendai framework, recognizes First Nations as decision-makers and promotes self-determination

in emergency management and incorporates lessons learned from the challenging years

we've experienced.

Before I conclude my remarks about this timely and important bill that's ready to

make a difference for all British Columbians, I also want to acknowledge a group of

very important people that I didn't thank directly in the beginning of my remarks,

and that is all the members of this House, on both sides of the House, in all four

parties. During an emergency, what I've noticed is that this House comes together.

Of course, there are criticisms, and I accept that. There's always room for improvement

and room to do better. But I do want to acknowledge members of opposition parties

who took my call during emergencies, who picked up the phone and called me when they

saw things that were going on in their communities that needed to be addressed. Their

on-the-ground insights into what was going on were absolutely invaluable. It helped

us adapt and move more quickly than if that dialogue wasn't there.

I'm grateful to each and every one who serves fire-affected communities, who has served

communities affected by floods and other disasters, whose industries were impacted,

whose communities were impacted in all sorts of ways. I hope that going forward, we

can continue that open dialogue and work together to make sure that British Columbians

are safe from emergencies well into the future.

L. Doerkson: I want to, maybe, start where the minister left off with her kind words as far as

working across party lines. In that moment of need, Minister, I'm grateful that you

answered your phone call from me and from others.

There's no question…. Before I start my speech, I just want to, maybe, make a few

comments on what the minister referred to with respect to ice storms and fires and

floods and everything that's happening.

Today, as we sit here, I'm receiving notice that Hell Raving Creek fire is flaring

up again. This is a fire that sat, I believe, on August 27 at 500 hectares and, of

course, as the minister would know, ballooned to, I think, 11,000 almost overnight,

a fire that burned so hot last week that it melted aluminum irrigation equipment,

irrigation pipes that were full of water. There's no question that the damage on the

landscape is incredible.

The minister would also know that as we speak right now, Terra Ridge residents are

getting ready for a meeting at about five or six o'clock this evening. Four units

of 80 have succumbed to a landslide that has been moving for a lot of years. Those

four units that have seniors living in them….

I want to be clear, because I'll come back to that a little bit later. These are condominiums

that seniors have lived in for years and, frankly, found out last Monday, I think,

at nine o'clock in the morning, that they would have to leave those units within about

eight hours or so and not return. The likelihood is that those units will actually

be demolished at some point. I will clarify later that there are many units that are

still very sound in that facility.

But you're quite right, Minister. The damage that is happening on the landscape —

frankly, the horror that so many people are living right now — is staggering. I will

speak a little bit about that as I go through my speech this afternoon.

[3:40 p.m.]

I wanted to also thank you for your words with respect to my statement earlier. I

actually meant to refer to that unnamed hero that I was unable to name because that

name has never been released.

I don't think we've ever had a year when we've had six individuals perish while, obviously,

fulfilling their tasks to protect us all. So it has certainly been an incredible year.

While I'll expand on this a little later, in 2017, Cariboo–Chilcotin was on evacuation

alert. Frankly, everything really, from Cache Creek and Ashcroft all the way to Quesnel,

was on evacuation order. At that time, that was one of the largest movements of people

in Canadian history. And I would suspect that this year we've certainly passed that.

I noted that the minister did talk a little bit about collaboration, and I want to

say that while we're still in the room together. She did refer to the fact that this

is a bill, and the bill does refer to a whole-society approach. This afternoon I'm

going to try to demonstrate just how badly people want to help. They really want to

help.

I can assure the minister that our caucus absolutely wants to help. We want to collaborate.

I really, sincerely hope that as we do go to committee stage on this bill, that potentially,

we could introduce amendments and things, that we might be able to help strengthen

the bill.

It has been a long time coming, the bill. And frankly, there was work done as far

back as 2017. I know that there was a delay because of COVID and other things, but

people have waited for this bill for a long time, and I think British Columbians are

owed it, frankly. I think that they're owed the absolute best legislation that we

can put forward.

I do have concerns, and I'll get into those a little bit further down the speech.

But when we talk about legislation, and we see so much of the bill that just simply

says the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council may make regulations respecting certain things

— volunteers, emergency management, different things — frankly, to me, it feels as

though the legislation itself is just not complete.

I will explain that further, but the idea that I would simply say that this looks

okay.... You know, frankly, we're going to have many questions about this because

it seems to me to be very open-ended. We'll get to that in a minute.

I did want to just suggest that I certainly heard the minister when she referenced

the fact that it is a whole-of-society approach, and I hope that going forward, we'll

have that opportunity.

I also wanted to just.... The minister spoke a little bit about First Nations, and

I can't say enough about the fact that we've got the framework here to have a fantastic

relationship with our First Nations and a fantastic opportunity to have partnerships

with the First Nations that could introduce so much into this conversation with respect

to cultural burning. Again, I'll talk a little bit about that more into the speech.

But certainly, it is amazing that we have that opportunity to build that relationship.

Nations in my riding — like Esk'etemc, Tŝilhqot'in, certainly Williams Lake First

Nation — have all seen and witnessed fire in their areas. In fact, with reference

to First Nations that have seen some staggering results with respect to fire and access,

the Ulkatcho First Nation actually found themselves in the spot where we had to airlift

their Elders out of their community because they were actually blocked in on both

sides of Highway 20.

[3:45 p.m.]

They have incredible knowledge, so I know that this bill will absolutely focus on

that knowledge. But we have to extract that information, and we have to improve the

use of that knowledge, because frankly, in areas like Canim Lake, Ulkatcho, Canoe

Creek — all of those areas — the First Nations are extremely involved in caretaking

of those lands.

In places like Twist Creek, and the fire that I was just talking about at Hell Raving

Creek, the country there is so dry. I know that we'll talk a lot about fire here today,

but frankly, everything that follows fire — floods, landslides — is so much. So I

know that while I focus on wildfire today — and I think, so did the minister — there

are so many things. You mentioned ice storms, and I had forgot about the ice storm.

Anyhow, we'll bounce around a little bit on that.

I wanted to just talk a little bit about local authorities, and I'll get into that

as well. Again, just in response to what you were referencing, I think that there's

a lot of fear, frankly. I'm sure the minister has had much conversation with regional

districts and smaller communities that really have lived through what has been an

unbelievable time over the last decade or so. I think that they're very concerned.

Again, I'll expand on that.

I think they're very concerned with reference to how they will manage what this bill

looks like, how they will supply the reports that the bill is asking for, how they

will manage that with respect to people power and other things. I know that I've talked

to a number of regional districts that are very concerned about that.

I think that co-management…. Of course, this bill does talk about co-management. And

I think that some of that is happening now, but one of the things that I'll expand

on a little bit later are the silos that seem to be kind of created out there. I really

hope that EMCR ends up sort of taking a leading role in all of the management of disaster.

Hopefully, the Speaker will grant me a little bit of latitude as I make my comments

to explain some of the stories that I've lived myself and some of the reasons that

I think we need that leadership.

Also, the minister touched on the

definitions that change. Frankly, this is why I

think we will spend a lot of time in committee — because certainly the

definitions

have changed a lot. But not only have they changed; there are certainly a number of

additional things. The minister touched on a few today — transmissible disease, security

threats like riots, etc. And some of those seem to me to be a little bit vague.

The reason I say that is that, obviously, we have seen parades and different things

that have turned into something else. I would like, certainly in committee stage,

the opportunity to discuss that a little bit further. I certainly wouldn't want to

see it encroach too much onto people's rights, etc.

The recovery period that the minister mentioned, of course, has been expanded to 90

days in Bill 31. I just don't know that it's enough, frankly, if we look at communities.

Again, I'll expand on that, as well, later.

I just don't know that the 90 days is enough, when you look at different things —

like Terra Ridge, for instance, communities like Lytton, other communities that have

had very serious challenges, of course, and ESS and all those incredible services

that we have. Frankly, two weeks at a time is just, in my mind, simply not enough.

The folks at Terra Ridge that have been involved, the four separate units that have

been condemned — they are condemned forever.

[3:50 p.m.]

They will likely be taken down. So for those seniors that find themselves, at 85 years

old, losing their asset that might be a $400,000 or $500,000 asset, I would say that

that is, frankly, pretty shocking to those folks.

Right now they're held up, really, in hotels, and they don't have their furniture.

They don't have anything, right? I really think that we need to consider those recovery

periods. I will talk a lot today about disaster financial assistance because I just

don't know that that program is accomplishing what it is intended to accomplish or

what we hope that it would accomplish. I'll explain those things as I go along here

today.

Then just the final point that I'll make, with respect to the minister's comments,

is on the ability to adapt. I know that this legislation will have a five-year review

period. I don't know that that's soon enough, frankly. I guess we'll question that

in committee stage, but it just seems to me that, again, the legislation is a little

bit undone in my mind. It does need to be very adaptive, and I think it needs to be

able to change a little bit on the run.

With reference — I'll come back to this, too — to the idea that we are obviously going

to enter into debate on Bill 31 and go through a committee stage, I can appreciate

that we are going to have to vote on this bill, but frankly, there is an engagement

session still open on this bill until December 31. It just seems to me that we've

got a little bit of the cart before the horse, if you will.

We've got now a number of recommendations, which I'll get into, from the Ombudsperson.

It just seems to me like there is a lot going on here. Outside of what Bill 31 is,

I think that there's an opportunity, frankly, to improve it and certainly adapt to

some of the things. For instance, with the Ombudsperson's report, there are many recommendations

that I'm not certain have all been addressed in this legislation.

There's no question in my mind that we need to move a little bit slowly. Certainly,

we need to make this bill the absolute best that we can for everyone that, sadly,

has been affected by so much disaster over the last little while.

With all that said, I definitely want to thank the minister for presenting this today

and bringing it before this House. I want to thank all the staff that have been a

part of bringing this forward, and I certainly will look forward to the debate. I

should warn that many of our colleagues — and, I hope, members from all sides of this

House — will participate in the debate, because I am certainly interested as critic

or shadow minister in this ministry.

I am very interested in hearing both about successes and failures. I don't want to

use that word in an argumentative way. We can't fix what we don't know about. So we

need fulsome conversation; we need fulsome debate on this bill. I really hope that

members will step up and participate, because frankly, I can't think of an area in

our province that has not had significant change.\

The ferocity of fire today: we're looking at fires that are 600,000 and 700,000 hectares

in size. In 2021 when the Flat Lake fire was 70,000 hectares, I thought that was massive.

That was a fire that stretched, really, from 70 Mile all the way to the 108.

[3:55 p.m.]

It had put our communities of 108 and 100 Mile and definitely 70 Mile — all of those

areas — into a pretty serious situation, not to mention the Cunningham family, which

again, I'll also talk about a little bit more at length as well.

I think there's a framework here, provided we can move forward with some serious debate,

with some great information to add and the ability to adapt — and, potentially, for

the minister or the ministry to even hear potential amendments in committee stage.

I would certainly hope for that. I would hope that if there were one thing in this

House that we could collaborate on, it would be this bill. It just affects so many

millions of people in so many different ways.

With that, I'll, I guess, begin my speech.

Again, thank you very much to the minister. I will certainly hold all of those comments

close and….

Interjection.

L. Doerkson: No, I haven't, actually. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'll be designated speaker. I've

done my

preamble and comments to the minister. Like the minister, I'm not sure that

I'll need the entire time, but I definitely have a number of things to say and a number

of stories to convey. Those stories, of course, are my own lived experience.

The minister has done a great job of outlining it, but there are a few things that

I would like to also bring note to. The bill does repeal and replace the Emergency

Program Act, of course, which has not seen, really, any provisions for a very long

time.

I want to say that it's something that members of the B.C. United caucus have been

calling for, for some time, and I'm certainly glad that the government has taken notice

of that. As I've said in my response to the minister's comments, the fact is that

it is extremely serious for so many people.

I did, as I've noted, have significant concerns about the legislation, in terms of

the pressure it puts on communities and property owners but, as well, on areas of

the legislation that may not go far enough to address significant problems facing

our province — and that, as I've indicated, we will definitely dig into, with greater

detail, at committee stage. Of course, we will hear very many speeches from individuals,

as I said, on both sides, I hope.

We do welcome the inclusion of

part 3 of this legislation, specifically when it comes

to Indigenous governing bodies. That is very significant, for all the reasons that

I just spoke about. I think it is incredibly important that we will be able to collaborate

in a more fulsome way with all of our nations. There is so much work that they are

doing outside of what we even recognize.

I will talk a little bit about cultural burning later. Many of our First Nations do

this as a routine part of their maintenance, their care and maintenance of land. For

instance, the Williams Lake First Nation routinely cleans up their fields every spring,

and I know so many others do.

I think that in many areas on our Crown, we have gotten away from that, frankly. I'll

mention Guy Burdikin a little bit later, but I know that even the Forest Practices

Board now is really looking for that kind of action. I've seen now, with my own eyes,

examples of where this has protected forests on our landscape. Frankly, it's incredible

how successful this can be. I'll expand on that a little bit later.

I mentioned this. We have concerns about burdens that this may place on critical infrastructure

owners. The reason that I have concerns about that, frankly, is because even in the

briefing — which I'm grateful for — I couldn't get quite clear on what that meant.

[4:00 p.m.]

Let me just briefly explain. When it comes to critical infrastructure, who owns that?

The questions that I'll have as we go forward will be: will a forest service road,

a logging road and those types of things fall under that infrastructure? How might

a forest company be responsible for that? Could they be responsible for maintenance

and those types of things?

I'll speak a little bit about ranchers as we go forward as well, but my concern is:

just what will be expected from those folks that do own parts of our infrastructure?

Maybe own is not entirely the exact, right word, but many of those…. Much of that

ownership would be sort of a lease situation or a tenure, right?

I am definitely concerned a little bit about that. Frankly, it's unclear, and I've

read it a number of times. It's unclear to me exactly how far that will go and what

that ownership might look like. You know, could a guide-outfitter somehow be affected

by these rules? Again, we'll find that out in the committee stage, but certainly it's

very concerning.

I mean, there are areas that have been impacted by other bills, for instance. And

what I mean by that is that…. I can't remember which bill, but Bill 23, Bill 28 actually

talks about the deactivation of logging roads. I don't know how those two cross over

and how that might impact a fire response, for instance, if some of those roads have

been deactivated.

It just seems to me that there's much more that needs to be answered with respect

to how those individuals will be affected. Local authorities are already very stretched.

I just briefly touched on this. I've talked to regional districts who are actually

losing staff now because they just….

To the minister's point earlier, disaster season is no longer a season. It's a year-round

commitment, and so much of the work already falls to our regional districts and our

communities to manage all of the things that are disaster, and that might be everything

from evacuation to road closures to all kinds of different things. I think that regional

districts are extremely afraid and definitely want an opportunity to be a part of

moulding this bill and having a significant opportunity to comment.

I know that also, of course, public engagement is important. The minister spoke today

about that engagement, but that engagement is not over. It actually does continue

until December 31 of this year. That, too, is a little bit concerning to me. I would

hate for this House to make a very serious decision on something like this, only to

find a few incredibly great ideas that come from that public engagement.

Not only will the public, of course, be obviously active in that engagement as we

go forward to the end of the year, but certainly, I think you will see regional districts,

as this bill becomes a little more public and gets a little more scrutiny from not

just us but the rest of the members in this House and the rest of the people and governments

of British Columbia.

I certainly do have questions about the bill coming to the floor at this time. The

timeline to act, of course…. The government's own website indicates that the phased

implementation will be starting as late as 2023. That really goes back to my point.

We have got a public engagement open until the end of 2023, but we want to actually

start….

Sorry, not we. I won't take credit for that. The government wants to obviously start

to implement some of this legislation this year. Don't get me wrong at all. I think

that we have to move just slow enough to get this bill right.

[4:05 p.m.]

But I also think that we have to move fast enough that we obviously can enjoy the

benefits of this legislation as it moves forward.

I think we've got a bit of a crash course there where we're not going to have all

of the information that we need to make a final decision and to make this bill what

it could be. I just really want to make that clear that I think that we need to slow

down and hear what people have to say on this.

The bill has already been delayed three years, as I said earlier. I mean, there was

a part of this bill that was ready to go, I think, in 2017. I think that we've taken

the time. It's been delayed. It was promised by the government in 2020, and here we

are in 2023. To wait just a little bit longer to get this right just seems extremely

important to me.

That bill was originally drafted by our party. There's no question that we have a

vested interest in making this incredibly good for the people of British Columbia.

We certainly don't need to wait another two years. I don't want to say that we want

to move at a turtle's pace. But I do think we need to have a little bit of caution

as we go forward.

Bill 31 certainly reveals, in my mind, that we haven't learned from some of the things

that we'v