Fourth Session, 42nd Parliament

(2023) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Afternoon Sitting

Issue No. 269

ISSN 1499-2175

The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.

The PDF transcript remains the official digital version.

CONTENTS

Routine Business

Introduction and First Reading of Bills

Bill 7 — Land Owner Transparency Amendment Act, 2023

Hon. K. Conroy

Bill 8 — Real Estate Services Amendment Act, 2023

Hon. K. Conroy

Orders of the Day

Committee of the Whole House

Bill 2 — National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Act (continued)

E. Ross

Hon. H. Bains

Report and Third Reading of Bills

Bill 2 — National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Act

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2023

The House met at 1:02 p.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Introduction and

First Reading of Bills

BILL 7 — LAND OWNER TRANSPARENCY

AMENDMENT ACT,

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

Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Land Owner Transparency Amendment Act,

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

now.

I’m pleased to introduce the Land Owner Transparency Amendment

Act, 2023. The purpose of this bill is to amend the Land Owner

Transparency Act to address minor legislative, interpretive and

technical issues that have arisen since the legislation came into

force.

This legislation is the first of its kind in Canada and was

created to help end hidden ownership of land in B.C. The Land Owner

Transparency Act created the land owner transparency registry, a

publicly searchable registry of information about beneficial ownership

of land in B.C.

The expert panel on real estate identified ending hidden ownership

as the single most important measure to battle money laundering. The

Cullen commission also highlighted that money launderers may be

attracted to jurisdictions where it’s easier to hide beneficial

ownership.

Over the past two years, hundreds of thousands of transparency

records have been collected in the registry that is administered by the

Land Title and Survey Authority. Implementation of the legislation and

registry has been a success. It’s important to build on this

success.

These amendments to the act respond to feedback received from

stakeholders since the legislation came into force and will improve and

streamline the administration of the legislation and protect data

quality. The amendments are minor technical changes to the legislation

and do not change the policy underlying the act.

Mr. Speaker: Members, it’s 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.

[1:05 p.m.]

Bill 7, Land Owner Transparency 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.

BILL 8 — REAL ESTATE SERVICES

AMENDMENT ACT,

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

Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Real Estate Services Amendment Act,

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

now.

I’m pleased to introduce the Real Estate Services Amendment Act,

2023. The purpose of this bill is to amend the Real Estate Services Act

to remove the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia from the

government reporting entity and ensure that it is in a better position

to deliver on its mandate.

The Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia was established in

1985 and operated at an arm’s length to government for many years.

However, in 2016, changes to the foundation’s governance model resulted

in it being brought into the government reporting entity.

After review and consultation, government determined that there is

no policy rationale to keep the foundation within the government

reporting entity. The best way to ensure that the foundation operates

most effectively is to remove it from the government reporting entity.

By introducing this bill, we will restore the foundation’s arm’s-length

relationship to government.

Mr. Speaker: The question is 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 8, Real Estate Services 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.

Orders of the Day

Hon. R. Kahlon: I call Committee of the Whole on Bill 2.

Committee of the Whole House

BILL 2 — NATIONAL DAY FOR

TRUTH AND

RECONCILIATION ACT

(continued)

The House in Committee of the Whole on Bill 2; J. Tegart in the

chair.

The committee met at 1:08 p.m.

On clause 1 (continued) .

The Chair: I’ll call the committee to order. We are in committee on Bill

2, 2023.

E. Ross: I was watching the debate on Bill 2, which is the National Day for

Truth and Reconciliation Act. To be honest, I thought we were done. I

thought we were finished. I thought we did our legislative duty as MLAs

representing 87 ridings.

So to turn on the TV and find out that not only are we

filibustering this bill, but it’s actually the backbenchers of the NDP

that are filibustering…. It’s not the opposition. This is a waste of

time, this is a waste of taxpayer dollars, and it’s an insult to

Aboriginals all across Canada.

You’re not debating this on the virtues of this act. You’re using

it as filler because you can’t manage a legislative

schedule or agenda.

You’re using this for your own political purposes in the Legislature of

B.C.

[1:10 p.m.]

We all knew this day was coming. We knew it. It’s been part of the

national conversation. Every province was considering the same thing. It

was only a matter of time before it came to this House. You’ve already

got the majority of support in this House. What’s the

problem?

I didn’t see anything in the questions of the backbenchers that

were criticizing this bill. The respect that that side of the House

talks about when they talk about Aboriginal issues is not here today

when you’re doing this type of political filibustering. Not many people

outside of this House know what happens, but I think the taxpayers and

Aboriginals of B.C. would be terribly disappointed to find out that this

is how we’re utilizing our time.

It should be a done deal. Let’s vote on this. I guarantee you that

it’s going to pass. There’s no more need for debate. It’s an important

issue. Let’s get on with it, and then let’s start talking about other

issues that are important to British Columbians. Let’s talk about

affordability. Let’s talk about violent crime. Let’s talk about the

resource industry. Let’s talk about other things that are important to

British Columbians.

I’m not here to argue with you. I have no criticisms on Bill 2 on

behalf of my riding. I have no criticisms on behalf of my community, the

Haisla First Nation. I have no criticism. I have no

questions.

I just want one answer from the minister: why are we holding up

the vote to pass this very important bill? Can we stop the filibustering

and get to a vote?

Hon. H. Bains: I want to thank the member. I think we’re all passionate about

this bill, every one of us in this House. The bill is a result of a lot

of consultation with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, their

recommendation No. 80 and then the consultation that took place after.

How are we going to commemorate the truth and reconciliation day? That’s

the discussion that took place.

I heard, at a second stage, the members talk about…. They want to

know what kind of consultation took place, who we consulted, how we

arrived at: what are we going to do? Is there going to be a statutory

holiday, or is there going to be some other way of showing respect and

honouring Indigenous people and remembering those children? That’s why

we’re here, and I respect everyone who stands up and asks questions

about the background. Call it a filibuster. I don’t know. We started at

11 o’clock. There were questions raised, and we answered those

questions. Here we are again.

If any member has any questions — how we arrived here, what’s

behind each of those clauses — they have every right, and I’m ready to

move on if the members are. So that’s my answer, and I respect everyone

who is showing their passion about this. But at the end of the day, it

is about lasting truth and reconciliation. That’s what we are all

committed to. That’s what this bill is all about. I know, and I have

hope, that it’s going to pass. Let’s not make this a political thing

here. It is being made political, and they are trying to make it as

political.

Interjections.

[1:15 p.m.]

Hon. H. Bains: As important a bill as we’re discussing, and they’re heckling — to

talk about and show how we got here.

I’m ready. They’re ready. If the members have no more questions,

I’m ready to move.

E. Ross: The only people politicizing this very important bill is the NDP

government. To think about the idea that we need questions and answers

in terms of how did we reach this day…. I know how we reached this day.

It’s been 40 years since the Constitution of Canada,

section 35, and all

the resulting case law and the truth and reconciliation report. I know

how we got here.

If the NDP government doesn’t know how they got here, that’s your

caucus business. Weren’t you communicating to your own caucus? Weren’t

you communicating to your own party? We’re only on one of two clauses on

a bill that everybody agrees with, and you’re going to try and drag it

out because you’ve got nothing else on the legislative calendar. You’re

using this very important bill to forward your own political

objectives.

The minister said we can get to a vote if we have no more

questions. Well, we stopped our questions a long time ago. It’s the NDP

backbenchers that had questions, along with the Green Party. As I

understand it, the Green Party is just as outraged as we are. This is

not a good use of legislative time. It’s not a good use of taxpayers’

dollars.

It’s an insult to First Nations. Filibustering — and it’s not even

the opposition that’s filibustering. It’s the NDP filibustering their

own bill, on a bill that is going to get approved. Everybody’s going to

vote in favour of this.

If I heard correctly, the minister said that we can end this, and

we can go to a vote, unless…. I assume there are going to be no more NDP

backbenchers that are going to get up and ask a 15-minute question just

to take up more time. Are we going to get to a vote on this

bill?

Clauses 1 to 5 inclusive approved.

Title approved.

Hon. H. Bains: I move that the committee rise and report the bill complete

without amendment.

The Chair: Members, you’ve heard the motion.

Division has been called.

[1:20 p.m. - 1:25 p.m.]

The question is that the committee rise and report Bill 2

complete without amendment.

Motion approved unanimously on a division. [See Votes and

Proceedings .]

The committee rose at 1:30 p.m.

The House resumed; Mr. Speaker in the chair.

Report and

Third Reading of Bills

BILL 2 — NATIONAL DAY FOR

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

ACT

Bill 2, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Act, reported

complete without amendment, read a third time and passed.

Hon. R. Kahlon: I move that when the House next adjourns, it stands adjourned

until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2023.

Interjections.

Hon. R. Kahlon: I move that the House now adjourn.

Interjections.

Motion approved.

Mr. Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 10 a.m. Tuesday next

week.

The House adjourned at 1:32 p.m.

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