First Session, 42nd Parliament

(2020) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Morning Sitting

Issue No. 10

ISSN 1499-2175

The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.

The PDF transcript remains the official digital version.

CONTENTS

Routine Business

Tributes

Gary Steeves

Hon. G. Heyman

Introductions by Members

Statements (Standing Order 25B)

Seniors Activity Centre and meal program in West Vancouver

K. Kirkpatrick

20th anniversary of Coastal First Nations

J. Rice

Advocacy work by Katherine McParland

T. Stone

Richmond South Centre non-profit sector response to COVID-19

H. Yao

Work of Salvation Army in Kelowna area

B. Stewart

Overdose response in rural communities

R. Russell

Oral Questions

COVID-19 response for disability and income assistance recipients

S. Bond

Hon. J. Horgan

D. Davies

Hon. N. Simons

COVID-19 rapid testing program for long-term-care facilities

R. Merrifield

Hon. A. Dix

M. de Jong

Access to information on COVID-19 in schools

J. Tegart

Hon. J. Whiteside

Tabling Documents

Office of the Representative for Children and Youth, report, A Parent’s Duty:

Government’s Obligation to Youth Transitioning into

Adulthood

Elections B.C., annual report, 2019-20, and service plan, 2020-21 to 2022-23

Motions Without Notice

Membership change to Finance Committee

Hon. M. Farnworth

Orders of the Day

Committee of the Whole House

Bill 3 — Finance Statutes Amendment Act, 2020

Hon. S. Robinson

M. Bernier

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2020

The House met at 10:02 a.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: D. Davies.

Tributes

GARY STEEVES

Hon. G. Heyman: My old friend and my old co-worker Gary Steeves passed away last

week. I first met Gary when we were both in our 30s. I met him at a

union meeting in Terrace. Gary was addressing a roomful of young union

activists, telling them that there was really no distinction between the

importance of their union activism and their union goals and their

political activity and engagement.

It was obvious, as I watched him with some fascination, that Gary

was a great maritime storyteller. He had a way of communicating, and you

could just tell that he loved people. Gary found a home in British

Columbia and in the B.C. Government and Service Employees

Union.

As I looked over many of the comments about Gary’s passing that

be encouraging, to be engaging. He never talked down to union activists.

He supported them; he gave them encouragement. His humour was always

evident, and he always made all of us feel welcome.

[10:05 a.m.]

Gary and his wife, Marina, often opened their home to all kinds of

people. I remember being at their house years ago with Larry Guno, who

was at the time the MLA for Atlin and who was preparing to do some

remarks on the amendments to the labour code, amendments that people in

the labour movement found to be taking away rights and opportunities for

working people. Larry wanted to understand what it meant in real terms,

what it meant to workers on the shop floor, and Gary told exactly the

kinds of stories that Larry could use in his bill debate.

Gary was also well known for his commitment to labour history and

his knowledge of labour history. He took people on walking tours,

whether it was in Vancouver or in the Maritimes. He told stories about

the places and the people that made us appreciate the commitment, the

sacrifice and the long history that was the building of a strong labour

movement in British Columbia and elsewhere.

It was a pleasure to work with Gary. It was a pleasure, when I was

president of the BCGEU, to have Gary work with me. He was a central

figure in creating an organizing culture in the BCGEU and in the B.C.

labour movement. When Gary came to my office, he’d be filled with ideas

and energy and long-term plans. He brought excitement to his work, and

he gave the benefits and rights of union representation to literally

thousands of working people in British Columbia.

When he retired, he went on to work as an island trustee. In that

role, he fought for environmental issues. He fought for community health

issues and was engaged. He helped resolve a number of community

differences and disputes.

Gary will be missed by everyone who knew him, not just in the

labour movement but in the communities in which he lived and on the

ferries on which he met and talked to people.

My condolences to his family, to his wife, Marina, to all of his

many friends and colleagues, to those he helped and mentored and to all

of those who may never have met him but who benefit in their daily

working life from the work that Gary gave all of us.

Introductions by Members

E. Ross: There is little doubt that the ’80s produced the best music and the

best movies of our generation. It also produced something very special to me

back in 1986 — my first daughter, who turns 34 today. She was a gift to me

and my wife, and she changed my trajectory in life. She gave me more focus,

gave me more direction in terms of what I had to do as a father. She, in

turn, gifted me and my wife with my first granddaughter, who is eight years

old, as well.

Happy birthday to my daughter, Megan Ross, who turns 34 today. Happy

birthday, Megan.

Please join me in wishing happy birthday to my daughter.

Statements

(Standing Order 25B)

SENIORS ACTIVITY CENTRE AND

MEAL PROGRAM IN WEST

VANCOUVER

K. Kirkpatrick: I spoke recently to Adine Mees, the CEO of the West Vancouver

Foundation. She told me about an extraordinary example of an

organization that reinvented itself virtually overnight as a result of

COVID.

Seniors rely on the West Vancouver Seniors Activity Centre as a

place to gather, connect, take a class and access healthy meals through

the Garden Side Café. But earlier this year, when COVID restrictions

were being put in place, that all changed. When the centre had to close,

it left many seniors in the community more vulnerable than

ever.

The staff of the centre care deeply about their seniors. They

called every one of their 6,761 seniors on their contact list to check

in to make sure they were doing well. What they discovered is that the

issue of seniors’ poverty and food insecurity had been an issue even

long before the pandemic and that the pandemic had made it even

worse.

What happened next was an incredible transformation of services.

Overnight the café began offering free food to people and delivery food

services. By May, this program was operating seven days a week. They

added a night shift to keep up with the demand. By November, this

program had delivered more than 22,000 meals to more than 350

seniors.

There was no funding for this program when it popped up overnight.

Advisory members of the centre were personally paying for some of the

meals that were being served. But through a coming together of the

community, partners and individuals, the centre now is funded for the

next 12 months to continue this program.

[10:10 a.m.]

Through the West Vancouver Foundation, up until December 31, the

Ian and Rosemary Mottershead foundation will match donations up to

$100,000 to help support what is now called the Feed the Need program.

More information can be found on the website of the West Vancouver

Foundation.

Thank you all very much. Happy holidays to everyone.

20 th ANNIVERSARY OF

COASTAL

FIRST NATIONS

J. Rice: The Coastal First Nations Great Bear initiative was envisioned two

decades ago to assert First Nations leadership in creating a new

conservation-based economy in the traditional territories of the north

and central coasts and Haida Gwaii. Today the CFN alliance includes many

First Nations I represent as MLA for North Coast — the Gitga’at,

Gitxaala, Council of the Haida Nation, Heiltsuk, Kitasoo/Xai’xais,

Metlakatla, Nuxalk, Old Masset, Skidegate and Wuikinuxv.

In the 1990s, the impact of resource extraction industries such as

industrial logging and commercial fishing had taken a toll on forest and

ocean resources, and the region’s economy seriously declined. Jobs were

becoming more scarce, and communities were struggling. A new approach

was needed.

In the early 2000s, leaders from B.C.’s central and north coasts

and Haida Gwaii came together to address these challenges and sign the

declaration of First Nations of the North Pacific Coast. In 2003, a

coast-wide alliance was officially born. Since that time, the CFN

alliance has worked together to put in place a world-leading model of

land and marine use planning that incorporates Indigenous values and

ecosystem-based management and that combines First Nations traditional

knowledge and modern science.

This year Coastal First Nations celebrates 20 years of this

alliance. I’ve had the pleasure to virtually partake in the anniversary

celebrations of their accomplishments.

They’ve established a network of coastal guardian watchmen who are

the eyes and the ears and the protectors of the coastal territories.

They supported renowned ecotourism operations, like Spirit Bear

adventures and lodge in Klemtu, offering wildlife and cultural tours

that showcase Kitasoo/Xai’xais culture. They’ve supported award-winning

businesses, like Metlakatla-owned Coastal Shellfish in Prince Rupert.

This fall the scallop hatchery and processing facility received the

Vancity sustainability award at the B.C. Food and Beverage

Awards.

These are some examples of the accomplishments of Coastal First

Nations. There are many more examples of how the CFN have created a

successful conservation economy that protects the environment and

creates meaningful jobs for coastal peoples.

I invite all members to check out their 20th anniversary stories

page to learn more at coastalfirstnations.ca or #CFNStrongerTogether on

ADVOCACY WORK BY

KATHERINE

M c PARLAND

T. Stone: On Friday, December 11, a collection of people from all walks of

life in Kamloops slept outside in cardboard boxes. They did this in

order to shine a piercing light on what a young person living on the

street experiences. The event, hosted by A Way Home Kamloops, was also a

fundraiser in support of programs and initiatives that are focused on

making the lives of at-risk youth better. Well over $100,000 was raised,

double the original goal.

Unfortunately, the founder of A Way Home Kamloops was not there

this year, for, sadly, on December 4, Katherine McParland passed away.

Kamloops lost someone very special that day. Katherine was a force of

personality, an endless well of energy and positivity. When she came to

see you, as she so often did with me, you simply could not say no to

her. She was a person of action who finished every sentence and every

meeting by saying: “So what do we need to do to make this

happen?”

She lived the very notion of paying it forward. She was an

unrelenting advocate who devoted her life to those she sought to help.

She led by example, using her actual experience as a young person who

aged out of the foster care system and experienced resulting

homelessness but then resolved to do all she could to help other young

people stay off the streets and transition into a safe, healthy and

supportive environment.

While her work often took her to provincial and national tables,

such as co-founding the B.C. Coalition to End Youth Homelessness,

sitting on the board of B.C. Housing, participating in the federal

government’s Advisory Committee on Homelessness and speaking at

countless conferences, she never ever wavered in her commitment to help

those closest to home — like her work to set up safe suites, a program

that provides housing for at-risk youth, with on-site counselling, life

skills training and meal support, or her efforts that led to Kamloops

being the first city in Canada to participate in a youth homeless

count.

[10:15 a.m.]

Katherine, we are so very grateful to have known you. We are

thankful for the lives you have saved and impacted for the better. Rest

in peace, knowing that your work, your legacy and your dream to

eliminate youth homelessness will endure.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Richmond South Centre.

RICHMOND SOUTH CENTRE NON-PROFIT

SECTOR RESPONSE TO

COVID-19

H. Yao: Mr. Speaker, congratulations on getting elected to a position of

such exceptional honour. I’m proud to be one of many witnesses to your

historical success.

I acknowledge the fact that I’m speaking from the unceded

territory of the Musqueam Coast Salish people. I thank them for allowing

us to live, work and play in their territory.

I’m deeply grateful to the people of Richmond South Centre for

trusting me to represent them. Richmond South Centre is not only

geographically located in the heart of Richmond; it is also where the

heart of Richmond resides. The majority of Richmond’s non-profit

organizations and charities call Richmond South Centre home —

organizations like Richmond Pathways Clubhouse; Richmond Society for

Community Living; SUCCESS; Touchstone Family Association; Richmond

Cares, Richmond Gives; Foundry Richmond; Chimo Community Services; and

many more.

Due to the pandemic, the needs of the people of Richmond have

grown exponentially in quality and complexity. British Columbians are

experiencing unprecedented pressure during this challenging time.

Throughout all of this, non-profit organizations and charities have

continued to courageously serve our community. However, their ability to

serve effectively has been hindered by limited fundraising opportunities

and a reduction in the number of volunteers wanting to help during this

pandemic.

Joyce Alisharan, president of Chimo Community Services, mentioned

in a discussion the challenges they were facing on a number of fronts.

That is why I eagerly volunteered to support their Coldest Night of the

Year fundraiser. It is important, now more so than ever, to celebrate

the unsung heroes who, without expectation of recognition or reward,

work tirelessly to continue to support our community.

I know my esteemed colleagues in this chamber will find their own

meaningful ways to support their local organizations during this very

challenging time. I’d encourage my Richmond colleagues to also continue

to connect with Chimo Community Services.

Lastly, I would like to thank all employees, volunteers and

directors of non-profit organizations and charities for their continued

support of Richmond residents.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to

speak.

WORK OF SALVATION ARMY

IN KELOWNA

AREA

B. Stewart: “I hear your SOS, your SOS. I will send out an army to find you in

the middle of the darkest night. It’s true. I will rescue you.” These

are some of the words from Lauren Daigle’s Help Rescue

Christmas song from the Salvation Army TV commercial. This is

the call of the Salvation Army — to provide hope and support for those

in need.

In my riding and throughout Kelowna, we have seen countless

examples of generosity this holiday season. From the kettle campaign

outside local shops, with their new $5 tap feature, and other

initiatives, the combined effort of toy drives and donations by local

residents and businesses contributed $22,000 in donations in a single

day to the west side Salvation Army, allowing them to purchase holiday

gifts for others.

Earlier this month restaurants throughout West Kelowna and

Peachland participated in Rudolph’s dine-out day. Residents went to the

participating restaurants, ate and donated to the Salvation Army at the

same time. Eleven local restaurants offered the option of adding a $5

fee to their bills in order to support local families. All the proceeds

went towards the Salvation Army Christmas gifts of hope program, which

ensures that children and teens throughout West Kelowna and Peachland

wake up to something special on Christmas Day.

The community generosity is really awe-inspiring, especially since

Kelowna was named as one of the nation’s top donating cities and

especially during this difficult time, where the generosity is needed

more than ever. People are struggling financially. To see those more

fortunate really reach into their pockets and provide holiday-saving

support is great.

[10:20 a.m.]

I applaud the Kelowna and West Kelowna chapters of the Salvation

Army as well as those in every community in B.C. Your tireless efforts

are more than needed and warranted this holiday season.

OVERDOSE RESPONSE

IN RURAL

COMMUNITIES

R. Russell: One of the most indelibly memorable events from my campaign was a

genuinely serendipitous opportunity to walk for a few kilometres with

Kevin Redsky. Some of you will have heard of him. He is the champion of

the Hope in the Darkness national walk for youth mental health. In 2018,

they walked all across the country. This year he walked from Manitoba

through Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C.

We walked, and we talked about the importance of community-led

safety nets and those kinds of safety nets composed of champions from

faith-based communities, spiritual groups, the RCMP, social services,

education and beyond. It was heartbreaking, and it was full of

hope.

What I wanted to speak to you about today was not specifically

around youth mental health but more the opioid crisis and our toxic drug

supply. I wanted to clarify and reiterate how the needs in rural B.C.

are different and read a brief excerpt from a report, ODAX 2019, from an

event that was held in Kamloops last year. “While it is often stated

that the majority of deaths are in urban centres of Vancouver Coastal

Health and Fraser Health, small and mid-sized communities have made up

between 23 to 27 percent of all paramedic-attended overdose events

occurring each year from 2016 to 2019, including 30 to 34 percent of all

illicit drug toxicity deaths.”

Stigma and isolation are different in our rural communities in

B.C. From the same report: “Seventy percent of deaths in small and

mid-sized communities occurred in private residences while about half of

deaths in urban areas were in private residences.” We know part of the

solution: empowering our local communities to take leadership and to

help build those social safety nets. I want to give a shout-out to

groups like Moms Stop the Harm, which are active in Oliver, and

champions like the Unity skate shop in Osoyoos.

I just wanted to reiterate that I’m thrilled to hear the

announcement, last week, about funding for rural, remote and Indigenous

communities to take action on this crisis in our communities. It’s good

work, putting control back into their hands, and it makes me proud to be

part of this House.

Oral Questions

COVID-19 RESPONSE FOR DISABILITY

AND INCOME ASSISTANCE

RECIPIENTS

S. Bond: Yesterday we heard the Minister of Health admit that there has

been a significant delay in sending out pandemic pay that was promised

to front-line workers. He was actually forced to apologize for letting

those workers down. He admitted that the government could and should

have done a better job.

The Premier, in stark contrast, refused to admit that his

government made a mistake in cutting assistance to more than 200,000

low-income seniors and disabled persons in British Columbia. The impact

of that decision has caused anger, uncertainty and pain.

Will the Premier today do the right thing — stand up and end the

clawback?

Hon. J. Horgan: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her new-found concern for

vulnerable populations in British Columbia.

I went back to my office yesterday to confirm some data that I

shared with the public yesterday. I just want to reiterate some of the

points I made.

For the interests of those new members to the Liberal caucus,

you’ll be interested to know that between 2001 and 2016, the B.C.

Liberals increased contributions monthly to people with disabilities by

$200. This government did that in two years, not 16 years. People new to

the caucus will be interested to know that for people on income

assistance, the B.C. Liberals increased that monthly stipend by $100

over 16 years. We increased it by $150 in two years.

[10:25 a.m.]

Members will be interested to know, also, that since the pandemic

hit British Columbia, we have increased, annually, the contributions to

people with disabilities and people on income assistance by $2,250. Yet

somehow in their indignation, the B.C. Liberals find a place to say

their $200 contribution to vulnerable populations over a decade and a

half is superior to $2,250 in the past 12 months.

Mr. Speaker: The Leader of the Official Opposition on her first

supplemental.

S. Bond: Well, we should be clear about the indignation. The indignation is

coming from persons with disabilities, organizations and British

Columbians who are being impacted by the decision that this Premier made

not a year ago or two years ago or way, way back in the past.

The Premier can laugh. The bottom line is that the indignation

that the opposition is expressing is the view of hundreds and hundreds

of families that are being deeply impacted by the decision that this

Premier made a week ago.

Let’s hear what it means to a parent like Scarlett Nelson, who

said about the decision that this Premier made a week ago: “To take this

away…. I’m going to have to go to the food bank twice a week again. I’m

worried about January. It’s the hardest month for the whole year to

manage.”

The government admitted that it could have done a better job in

making sure that front-line workers got their promised pandemic pay. We

agree.

Will the Premier stand up and make a similar admission — that, in

fact, he made a mistake — and reassure families and parents like

Scarlett that he will end the clawback?

Hon. J. Horgan: Certainly, Charlotte will be able to access the child opportunity

benefit — $1,000 per child, another $800 for every subsequent child — a

new program introduced by this government, not to the age of six but to

the age of 18. That helps families.

Some of the Liberals on the other side weren’t here when the

heartless group that ran this province up to 2016 eliminated the

transportation subsidy for vulnerable populations, forcing them to stay

at home rather than go out and interact in the community. We reinstated

that transportation allowance.

We’ve increased the employment action tax credit. We did a host of

other initiatives over the past 2½ years. And we’re just getting

started, hon. Members. British Columbia now has a poverty reduction

strategy.

It makes sense to normal people that if you want to dig yourself

out of a hole, the first thing you do is stop digging. The Liberals

never got that. The second thing you do is you build a comprehensive

plan — not a month-by-month plan, not a politically motivated plan but

one that will help people. That’s what we’re all about, and that’s what

we’re doing.

Mr. Speaker: The Leader of the Official Opposition on a second

supplemental.

S. Bond: Let’s talk about a month-by-month plan. Let’s talk about families

who are worried they’re going to have to make a second trip to the food

bank or won’t be able to afford a jacket for their child. That’s not

about 16 years ago or five years ago; it’s about last week. It’s about

one of the first actions that this newly elected Premier took. He can

stand up and bluster and spin and do whatever he wants. We know that

when he does that, he knows he is wrong.

This government made a mistake. They can characterize it however

they want. They are cutting the supplement to low-income families and

persons with disabilities.

To make matters even worse, yesterday the Premier stood up here in

the Legislature and hinted: “By the way, we’ll go through the budget

process. And you know what? We might just make it permanent.”

So here families sit. They sit worried and upset and frightened

and angry at this Premier’s decision.

The Premier has an opportunity right now. He doesn’t have to wait

for a budget process which, by the way, will take these families until

May. He could stand up today, just like the Minister of Health did

yesterday, admit he made a mistake and stop the clawback now.

[10:30 a.m.]

Hon. J. Horgan: I’ll just remind the member that the first thing this government

did was bring forward a supply bill that will put $1,000 in the pockets

of families — all families — and $500 in the pockets of

individuals.

I appreciate that the member from Valemount is spiraling into the

stratosphere.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members.

Hon. J. Horgan: Her party, when given the opportunity to help vulnerable people —

not just for one month, not for just one year but for 16 years —

increased disability pensions by $200.

The people you’re talking about right now, hon. Member, will have

the same amount of money. In fact, they’ll have 50 bucks more in their

pocket as a result of the COVID benefit and the COVID benefit supplement

that we put in place.

Since the pandemic hit, $2,250 is going into the pocket of

vulnerable populations. We had the support of the opposition at that

time, as we should have. I cannot understand why the first piece of

business for the new Leader of the Opposition is to play politics with

an issue her party did nothing about — nothing about — for a decade and

a half.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, let’s have a question, and let’s have an

answer.

D. Davies: Well, it’s quite clear that it is making the Premier very

uncomfortable to answer these questions. All he’s been doing is

reflecting everything that we’ve asked, and he’s not dealing with the

issue. It is this Premier and this government that have done this

clawback.

This is what Kier Gray has to say: “Slashing the COVID benefit in

half when the pandemic is far from over will force disabled and

impoverished people to make impossible choices between sanitizer and

medication, masks and groceries.”

To the Premier, will he do the right thing today and reverse this

decision?

Hon. N. Simons: I thank the member for Peace River North for the

question.

People should know that when the workers benefit was established

in March for a three-month period, people on income assistance, people

on disability assistance and people receiving the seniors supplement

were not eligible for that workers benefit. So the province instituted a

$300-a-month supplement. That supplement was renewed, not once but

twice, and it brings us to this month, where everyone I just mentioned

will be getting a $300 supplement. In addition, the province instituted

a recovery benefit, which is eligible. People on income assistance,

disability assistance and the seniors supplement are eligible for

that.

I urge people to ensure that they make their application. It will

result in them receiving, actually, more money by the end of March than

they otherwise would have.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Peace River North on a supplemental.

D. Davies: I’m baffled by the responses that we’re getting from this

government. So are British Columbians.

Viveca Ellis is the director of the B.C. Poverty Reduction

Coalition. This is what Viveca has to say: “We’re dropping the poorest

and most at-risk individuals further below the poverty line in January,

in the middle of a pandemic. It’s not the kind of action that we need to

see in British Columbia at this time.”

Mr. Premier, do the right thing, and reverse the decision. Will he

do that today?

Hon. N. Simons: Thank you very much for the follow-up question. What the member

should be telling constituents, as I have been, is that, in fact, they

are eligible for more money than they would have been under the current

system.

I sat in the opposition benches for, I think, 12 years, when we

repeatedly asked the government to pay a little bit of attention to

people living in poverty and to maybe make a plan to try to address the

issues that we saw all around us for all those 12 years in opposition

that I sat there. And it started before that.

As soon as we became government, we increased disability rates. We

instituted a poverty reduction strategy, and we’ve continued to follow

with that goal — to reduce poverty.

[10:35 a.m.]

As a reminder to the member for Peace River North and to his

colleagues, our constituents are eligible to apply and are eligible to

receive, in fact, more money by the end of March than they otherwise

would have. For example, individuals will receive $50 more. Single

parents will receive a considerable amount more — $500 more.

I think that it’s important to remind British Columbians that all

3.7 million British Columbians are eligible for this benefit. They

should apply, and they will receive it.

COVID-19 RAPID TESTING PROGRAM

FOR LONG-TERM-CARE

FACILITIES

R. Merrifield: The arrival of the vaccine yesterday brought a glimmer of hope,

but health officials have been clear. The vaccine isn’t getting into

long-term-care homes any time soon. That’s why the call for widespread

use of rapid testing in long-term-care facilities is growing louder. As

of yesterday, there were 1,305 active COVID cases in long-term-care

homes. That number continues to increase.

Why is this so serious? Well, the COVID-19 mortality rate for

those above 80 is 39 percent. A study done by Dr. Rohit Vijh of UBC

showed that “every extra layer of protection can save lives.” Rapid

testing is an additional step.

To the Premier, given that rapid tests are an additional level of

protection, will he now act to protect our vulnerable seniors and

mandate rapid testing in all long-term-care homes?

Hon. A. Dix: First of all, with respect to vaccines, the member suggests the

vaccines will not be used to address the situation in long-term care.

That’s not correct. The first doses of vaccines will be going to workers

in long-term care.

One of the ideas is to bring tests to long-term care to stop new

infections in long-term-care facilities. I think that makes sense. It’s

guided by the science, and it’s guided by the provincial health officer.

That doesn’t mean that the situation in long-term care is going to get

immediately better right away, but every time we immunize someone, it

makes things better.

As we discussed, rapid testing is not the answer in long-term

care, although it has uses there. That’s why we are engaging right now

in pilot projects in long-term care: (1) because there are insufficient

numbers of rapid tests and (2) because rapid tests are insufficiently

accurate with respect to asymptomatic cases. As the members know and as

Dr. Henry has repeatedly explained, we are using rapid testing in

British Columbia to help assist in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis and

pandemic.

I think it’s fair to say that this is not an ideological question.

It’s not a question of one political policy against another. It’s a

medical and health care question. I have taken the advice of people who

are responsible, who do this in their lives, in terms of the advice with

respect to testing. Their advice is to use rapid testing in the way that

we’re using it in British Columbia.

I think I’d say that it’s important to have and continue to have

this…. To suggest that, in any way, the situation in long-term care is

not my first and foremost priority and the first and foremost priority

of Dr. Henry and everyone else is incorrect. We’re taking every possible

action to protect people in long-term care because we know, as the

member suggests, the vulnerability of people in long-term care to

COVID-19.

Mr. Speaker: Unfortunately, the audio was not very clear. Next time it will

probably be working all right.

The member for Kelowna-Mission on a supplemental.

R. Merrifield: Well, I’ll try to respond to whatever I heard. I think I heard the

minister say it wasn’t accurate, but it is 70 percent accurate. Isn’t 70

percent now better than 90 percent in three days, with 30 more

exposures? The net present value of rapid tests does seem

real.

I do agree with the minister when he said that it does not mean

it’s going to get better right away in long-term-care facilities. I

believe that’s what he said. The reality is that the B.C. government is

already using rapid tests. It’s using them in First Nations and in rural

B.C. populations. We’re also seeing them used for asymptomatic subjects

at airports or on film sets.

The question is: why aren’t we doing the same for our most

vulnerable populations, like seniors, students, their families,

caregivers, teachers?

[10:40 a.m.]

Time magazine’s headline “How We Can Stop the Spread of

COVID-19 by Christmas,” written by Harvard epidemiologist Michael Mina,

says the number one way to stop the spread is routine widespread rapid

testing.

Yes, there’s hope with a vaccine. But the next four months in

long-term-care facilities are going to be rough, with some of the

highest numbers of deaths we’ve seen so far.

Will the Premier do the right thing and implement the widespread

use of rapid tests to protect our vulnerable populations of seniors and

students?

Hon. A. Dix: The priority given to long-term care is reflected in our use of

the vaccine, the Pfizer vaccine, which will be going to protect workers

in long-term care. I think that’s an important consideration. It doesn’t

resolve the question right away, but we are working to provide a ring

fence around long-term care to protect residents, to protect staff, to

protect everybody.

As I’ve noted, rapid testing has its uses, and we are using it in

responding to COVID-19 in British Columbia. That advice is being driven

by people who know this question, who know the appropriate uses of the

testing. The tests that we have are not licensed in Canada for

asymptomatic testing. They are not licensed in Canada because of limits

to their accuracy. You make decisions in this pandemic to protect

people, and you make them the best decisions based on the scientific

evidence. That’s what’s happening in B.C.

The member refers to Michael Mina, who is an advocate for home

tests. Well, there are no home tests licensed currently in Canada at

all. So the approach we’re taking to rapid testing is to use it where it

is helpful in preventing the spread of COVID-19. That’s what we’re

doing. We’re following the science in order to do it. I think that’s the

appropriate approach in B.C.

M. de Jong: I want to tell the Premier and the Minister of Health about Peter.

Peter is 91 years old. He lives in a care facility in Langley. Last

month an employee tested positive, and his home went on lockdown. I

think the Premier and the minister know of when that happens. The senior

residents of that home are isolated in their rooms for virtually all

day, all night.

Jack lives in a care facility in Mission. The same thing happened.

On Sunday, Jack turned 92. He didn’t see his wife, didn’t see any

members of his family. In fact, he couldn’t even have a phone call with

them because the staff in the facility were too busy dealing with the

lockdown caused when COVID entered that care facility.

Jack is my dad. But this is happening everywhere. This is

happening to thousands of people.

Look, rapid testing reduces the risk; it doesn’t eliminate the

risk. We can’t eliminate the risk of transmission, but if we have a tool

that will significantly reduce the risk of transmission to seniors

living in care facilities, for heaven’s sakes, why aren’t we using

it?

Hon. A. Dix: Well, I, first of all, want to express my solidarity with the

member for Abbotsford West. It affects his family. It affects my family.

It affects people across B.C. with family members and residents who are

dealing with lockdowns in long-term care as a result of our outbreak

response. It’s a very serious situation.

So he will understand that if the decision was made that rapid

testing would assist in that, we would make that decision. That is not

the evidence before us in B.C. Let’s be clear about that. It’s a

question that Dr. Henry and that others have repeatedly answered in this

respect.

You only do things and you only make an issue if they make things

better. The evidence is, and he will know, that rapid testing is not

licensed in Canada in asymptomatic cases. It’s important to note

that.

[10:45 a.m.]

It’s important to note that there are issues, especially in

respect to asymptomatic cases — not symptomatic but asymptomatic cases —

with the accuracy of rapid testing. Inaccuracy in this area is a major

problem, with respect to outbreaks.

We are using rapid testing, and we are looking at ways to use them

to enforce our layers and enhance our layers of protection in long-term

care. But this is not an ideological question, where the opposition

argues one thing and someone else argues another. We are making

decisions based on the best possible advice of our experts in the area,

and our experts in the area, Dr. Henry and many others, have said that

we are using rapid testing in the appropriate way, considering its

limitations.

If the member thought for one second that we believed rapid

testing would make things better in that way, then we would of course be

using it, and we are, in a limited way, to see what more can be

done.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Abbotsford West on a supplemental.

M. de Jong: I’m not trying to advance ideology. I’m trying to advance common

sense. The minister knows better than virtually anyone that we have

entered the deadliest phase of this pandemic, and seniors, particularly

seniors in care facilities, are going to bear the brunt of that risk in

the weeks and months ahead.

There is a tool — not a perfect tool but a tool — called rapid

testing that is being used at airports. It’s being used on movie sets,

for heaven’s sakes. It’s being used in rural communities. It’s being

utilized across Canada to reduce the risk.

I, quite frankly, do not understand the government’s, the

minister’s, the Premier’s reluctance, refusal to deploy that tool in a

way that will reduce the risk to seniors living in care facilities that

have already suffered and for whom this tool will not only add an

additional layer of protection but will improve their quality of

life.

Hon. A. Dix: Again, to the member, I would say that the approach that we’re

taking with respect to rapid testing is to use it in the areas in which

it can be effective. As he knows, rapid testing in asymptomatic cases is

not licensed for that, and there’s a reason for that.

You only add and implement things if it makes things better. In

the judgment of all of our medical experts, that’s not the case. We are,

in fact, using rapid testing in a selective way and in a very similar

way to other jurisdictions in Canada.

We are going to continue to take absolutely every step we can to

protect long-term care. This is the most important priority right now.

It’s the reason why we need everybody in the community to engage in

physical distancing and to not engage in gatherings over this holiday

season. It’s the reason why our long-term care workers are working so

hard, and we’re taking all the steps we’ve taken to protect long-term

care. We’re going to continue to do that and take every step possible,

including, where it’s helpful, where it makes things better, rapid

testing, to do that.

We’re going to continue to do what we’ve done from the beginning

in British Columbia: not make decisions based on what sounds good but on

what’s based on the medical evidence led by the extraordinary public

health team that is leading our response.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

ON COVID-19 IN

SCHOOLS

J. Tegart: British Columbians have trusted public health to share

information. This has been a critical element in our COVID response so

far, yet for months, parents, teachers and staff across the province

have dealt with rising anxiety and concern related to COVID in our

school system.

The government has ignored these concerns. An inadequate

notification system that varies from school district to school district

is clearly not working.

To the Premier, will he give parents the information they need on

school exposures today?

[10:50 a.m.]

Hon. J. Whiteside: I’d like to thank the member for the question, my first in this

House. I’d like to say that it is a tremendous honour to stand here in

this House as the new Minister of Education.

I want to say that I know what an exceptionally challenging time

this is for all of us in our communities and particularly for those who

are on the front lines of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic,

particularly folks in our education sector. I want to very much express

our incredible gratitude for the exceptional work that is being done by

teachers, by support staff, by administrators — of course, our rights

holders — and by parents and kids to keep our schools safe.

We know that keeping kids safe in school is one of the most

important things we can do throughout this pandemic. It’s important for

children to have access to in-class learning. We’ve been working very

hard with our partners over the course of the pandemic to ensure that

there are robust safety plans in place and that we have robust lines of

communication so that we’re communicating to the best of our ability the

circumstances that are occurring in schools.

We are working on a regular basis — daily, in fact — with our

partners to ensure that those communication lines, those notification

systems, are in place. We’ve recently seen, in fact, in the Fraser

Health Authority, changes to try and respond to what is absolutely, I

can understand, terrific anxiety, particularly with parents in those

areas where we’re seeing increased community transmission.

We’ll continue to work very hard with our partners in that

regard.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Fraser-Nicola on a supplemental.

J. Tegart: Other provinces provide the daily number of new cases, how many

are related to students and staff, how many schools have reported a

case, how many are closed and even how many confirmed student or staff

cases there are per school. In B.C., this government says it does not

even know, and it is unable to provide a daily total number of in-school

exposures.

Again to the Premier, we have anxious parents, students and staff.

Will you ensure that every parent in the province has access to the

information they need to know that their child is safe in

school?

Hon. J. Whiteside: I do want to thank the member for a concern that we all share with

respect to taking all steps that we possibly can to do our best to

alleviate anxiety, to the greatest extent possible, during this

unprecedented period that we’re all living through.

I know that we have seen increased case counts, increased

transmission in communities, particularly in the Fraser Health region,

and that has given rise to increased anxiety, absolutely. We’ve seen the

provincial health officer direct her staff to form a rapid response team

to better support health authorities and schools to work through

responding to the need for information when we are seeing

notifications.

We’ve seen developments in Fraser this week — the introduction of

a new early notification system that we are monitoring very closely and

that by all reports so far is helping to provide more information more

quickly. Our approach to contact tracing, which has been such an

important part of the COVID strategy, is aiding in that regard greatly.

We have committed to hiring 1,200 new contact tracers; 1,100 of those

are already in place and are working around the clock to support our

ability to contact trace and to get information out to

parents.

We will continue to work with our partners and continue to work to

improve communications on the ground so that we can work to alleviate

anxiety to the greatest degree that we can.

[End of question period.]

Tabling Documents

Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members, I have the honour to present the following reports —

A Parent’s Duty: Government’s Obligation to Youth Transitioning into

Adulthood , from the Office of the Representative for Children and

Youth, December 2020.

A second report — Modern Elections for Modern Times: 2019-20

Annual Report and 2020-21–2022-23 Service Plan , from Elections

B.C.

[10:55 a.m.]

Motions Without Notice

MEMBERSHIP CHANGE

TO FINANCE

COMMITTEE

Hon. M. Farnworth: I seek leave to move a motion to substitute a member on the Select

Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services.

Leave granted.

Hon. M. Farnworth: By leave, I move:

[That Mike Starchuk , MLA replace Rick Glumac , MLA

as a Member of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government

Services.]

Motion approved.

Orders of the Day

Hon. M. Farnworth: I call committee stage of Bill 3.

[11:00 a.m.]

Committee of the Whole House

BILL 3 — FINANCE STATUTES

AMENDMENT ACT,

The House in Committee of the Whole on Bill 3; N. Letnick in

the chair.

The committee met at 11:02 a.m.

The Chair: We’ll be dealing with Bill 3, the Finance Statutes Amendment

Act, 2020. In the past, we’ve actually gone through bills

section by

section. We’ll do that, but the terminology now is being transferred

to “clause by clause.” I don’t want to throw anybody off when I ask

for clause 1 or clause 2.

We’ll start with clause 1.

On clause 1.

Hon. S. Robinson: I want to acknowledge and let people in the House know that I’m

attached to AirPods, attached to my staff, who are in several far-off

offices, scattered all over, perhaps in the capital regional district.

If members could just bear with us as we work with the technology. They

normally would be sitting behind me here, providing me with expert

advice on this committee stage, as we go through the clauses.

I do want to ask, first off, if the Chair is going to be invoking

the Santa clause at any point in time. I couldn’t resist. Come on. It

was such an opportunity.

I want to acknowledge that I’ve got numerous staff who are

attached to these very precious AirPods. Heather Wood is the Deputy

Minister of Finance. Doug Foster is assistant deputy minister. I’ve got

Fisnik Preniqi, Richard Purnell, Tiffany Ma, Joanne Glover, Chris

Ferguson-Martin, Jordan Goss, Jeff Henderson and Janette Demianchuk, who

are on the other side of this, helping us get through this part of the

bill.

The Chair: Now to someone close to the Santa clause, geographically, the

member for Peace River South.

M. Bernier: Thank you, Chair. We’re not off to a good start if this is how

it’s going to proceed for the only bill, the only piece of legislation

that we’re debating at this point.

[11:05 a.m.]

I do appreciate a little bit of humour, I guess. In light of how

this year has gone for most people in the province of British Columbia,

if we can throw a little bit of humour into a serious situation, I think

that’s important.

I also want to maybe start off just by acknowledging the staff

that I normally get the opportunity to thank face to face — hopefully,

they can hear me, not only through the ear piece but through Hansard —

and thank them for, obviously, all the amazing work that all our civil

servants do.

I just want to start off…. Before I get into quite a few questions

that we have on this only piece of legislation in front of us, I do want

to say that I’m a little disappointed in how this has gone. I’ll get

into some specifics, obviously, on the specific bill. But where the

disappointment is….

We get called to Victoria, being told that this is the most

important piece of legislation that’s facing the people of British

Columbia right now that we need to deal with. The minister spoke for

probably a grand total of four minutes in her introductory and closing

remarks, with no explanation of why we’re here, really, or why this bill

is so important to the people of British Columbia.

Not one NDP MLA stood up in the last week to defend this only

piece of legislation. Not one NDP MLA spoke to defend it, to explain,

especially the newly elected MLAs from the NDP. Not one of them stood up

to explain. “Thanks for electing me. I’m glad I’m in Victoria, because

this is so important to the constituents in my riding.”

Right now in the province of British Columbia, we have a lot of

people looking for help. We have families that are facing isolation. We

have teachers, like we heard today, that are looking for assistance.

Front-line workers still waiting for their pandemic pay. Communities

trying to figure out how to get through the remainder of this year, not

knowing what hope will look like next year. Vulnerable people who are

pleading for help, only to hear that there are going to be clawbacks to

the money that they’ve become dependent on to get through.

We know people have lost their jobs. We know communities, again,

and businesses are looking for a plan of what is going to happen now and

in the short term to help people get through the remainder of this year.

Of all the things that we are hearing and that the people in the

province of British Columbia are asking for, the last thing I have ever

heard was that they said: “Please put a bill on the floor that will

delay accountability and responsibility of the government we just

elected.”

In the midst of a global pandemic, in a crisis that’s facing the

province of British Columbia, the most important piece of legislation

that this government puts forward is to delay their accountability, to

delay the job that they are supposed to do.

I guess my first question, after that introductory, would be to

the minister — to explain, hopefully quite fulsomely, to this House,

since we didn’t hear it from one person on that side: why is this the

most important piece of legislation that we need to be discussing right

now?

Hon. S. Robinson: As I said in our second reading debate, this piece of legislation

is about the required date to present the budget with main estimates —

to extend it to allow additional time for a budget process. I know the

member knows well that the budget process begins in the

summer.

[11:10 a.m.]

In order to gather the information that’s necessary, in order to

have the public servants that work on our behalf put together a

comprehensive budget for tabling here in the Legislature, there is

precious time that is needed in order to make sure that it’s

robust.

The member is right. We are here in an unprecedented time with

significant challenges, and our government has been there for British

Columbians all the way along. In March, we brought forward a significant

effort to make sure that there were resources to help individuals and to

help families get through the start of the pandemic with our action

plan. Then we unveiled a recovery plan, an economic recovery plan, in

September. Here we are again, today, this time in the House, looking at

this bill as well as supplementary estimates.

We have more work to do in terms of building a budget that takes

all of these things into consideration and that continues to be there

for British Columbians. So what we have before us is an opportunity to

make sure that we can build a meaningful budget, one that addresses the

current challenges that people are experiencing now, in the pandemic,

but also for recovery for years going forward.

M. Bernier: This is an easy question for the minister. What changed? What has

changed?

We have, for the most part, the same civil servants, bureaucrats,

who are doing the work. Every other year governments have been able to

put forward a budget on time, without having to come to this House and

ask for a change — or an extension, really — in the time needed to put

together a budget. Except for last year, of course, when then Finance

Minister Carole James came to the House and asked for an

extension.

I guess to the minister, what has changed in the last six months,

other than the fact that she’s been unable to stand and say that she’s

been able to do her job to put a budget forward on time? What’s changed

that she needs more time?

Hon. S. Robinson: The member asked what he says is a simple question. I have a

simple answer: COVID. COVID has changed everything.

We need to be thoughtful. We’re certainly hearing from economists

trying to do their job and understanding what the future looks like.

It’s incumbent on us, as a government, to make sure that we, too, are

paying attention to how things have changed, how COVID has changed

everything.

We’ve been a government that has been responsive to British

Columbians’ needs, making sure that we’re there for them when they need

us most. We’ve been rolling out programs all through this year. Going

forward, building a recovery, we need to make sure that we understand

how COVID has changed everything.

[11:15 a.m.]

In addition, we need to be thoughtful about the initiatives that

we’ve started, but we also need to be thoughtful about the initiatives

that are coming from the federal government. We need to understand what

they’re rolling out for Canadians and how we can layer on top of that,

how we can build on that work as well. That’s what British Columbians

deserve, and taking the extra time, taking the extra month is going to

help us deliver that for British Columbians.

M. Bernier: I’m sure a lot of people will be baffled by that answer, the main

reason being: was the minister not aware of COVID just three months ago?

Well, I know the answer to that. I know what she would say.

Then Finance Minister Carole James stood in this House only a few

short months ago, before an election was called, and brought this same

act to this House and said to everybody that we need — at that point, in

the midst of a pandemic — to give ourselves an extra three months. In

case there’s an election in the fall of a year, we need an extra three

months.

She assured this House at that time that that extra month that was

being asked for, for this House to vote on at the time, changing it from

the end of February to the end of March, still within the same fiscal

year, that that would be more than adequate. That was just a few short

months ago when the Minister of Finance of the day said that extra month

was more than adequate. This House voted. This House voted to extend,

and it passed.

I ask the minister again to maybe be a little bit more specific,

because she can’t say: “COVID happened.” Well, COVID has been discussed

for eight, nine months. The Premier said, just a short while ago when he

called an election, that the business of government would not be

delayed, that work would continue, that he was satisfied that there

would not be any delays in the work of government.

Again, the first piece of legislation that that same government,

after elected, put forward was to delay the work they have to do and the

responsibility of reporting out to the people. Again to the minister,

I’m hoping she can be a little bit more specific. To say it’s COVID

doesn’t cut it. Everybody knows it’s COVID. Everybody is dealing with

COVID. What specifically is happening within the Ministry of Finance

that they were not able to get this done on time?

Hon. S. Robinson: This pandemic has continually been evolving and changing. When my

predecessor Carole James stood in this place and tabled this bill, it

was in the summer, and things were looking reasonably well for us. We

could see how well we were responding, how well British Columbians were

responding to this pandemic.

[11:20 a.m.]

As time has progressed, we are now in a second wave. We see

significant challenges and need to invest more in British Columbians as

we ride through the second wave. Then we have, now, vaccine right here

on the horizon, and I know people around this place and throughout

British Columbia, Canada and around the world are probably doing a

similar jig to what Dr. Henry did the other day, looking forward and

looking out. It’s an ever-evolving situation. Being responsive to an

evolving situation, I think, is absolutely critical, and it’s what

British Columbians expect of their government.

What we’re saying is that things have changed since the summer as

well. We are in, I would argue, a more protracted effect because of the

second wave. Things have gotten worse in terms of the pandemic. Making

sure that we can build a budget, making sure that we can do the work

necessary to analyze the information that we have, to look at the

forecasts that are required to build a budget, to make sure that we

understand where the federal government is going around their

investments in Canadians and making sure that we can build a budget that

works for British Columbians today and into the future is absolutely

critical.

M. Bernier: I’ll say this with all due respect to the minister. A few short

months ago, this summer, we put this act on the floor for debate to add

an extra 30 days, in the middle of COVID. But the minister just stood

here and said: “But things change.”

At the time, we started seeing, possibly, the decline of people

contracting COVID-19. She just says now that “things change,” and we

started to see that go up. We started to see it being an issue. We

started seeing a problem in British Columbia, obviously, as the minister

is alluding to, because the COVID rates started going up. We started

hitting that second wave. And what does the government do? Calls an

election.

They can’t have it both ways. You can’t sit there and say: “We

need to delay our jobs because of COVID, because of the impact it’s

going to have, and we want to make sure….” Obviously, they weren’t

aware, I guess. And now, at the same time, they say: “But it’s not that

bad. We’ll call an election instead to secure a majority

government.”

Meanwhile, the Premier stood and said that the work of government

would not be delayed. That was only a short six weeks ago. So I go back

to: what has changed? We cannot use the excuse of COVID changing when

this government goes out and says: “We’re doing all of this great work

for COVID. We were aware. We’re planning, and we’re doing this.” Yet we

see nothing. You can’t have it both ways.

There’s obviously something that’s happening within the ministry.

I know we have a new minister. But typically, after elections, we have

new ministers. Sometimes mid-election we have cabinet shuffles and new

ministers, and budgets have always been able to meet the timelines that

we have a piece of legislation for. That’s why we have this legislation

— to ensure that the government of the day, whoever that is, has a

template, a guideline and an expectation of them for the people of

British Columbia to be able to hold them accountable.

Maybe I’ll ask this. This summer when they brought this piece of

legislation forward to change it, saying that they would need more time

just in case there was going to be an election, was the minister aware

there was going to be an election?

Hon. S. Robinson: No, I was not aware, is the short answer.

[11:25 a.m.]

Again, I want to reiterate to the member that COVID has certainly

created challenges for everyone right around the globe. It’s absolutely,

I think, critical.

I think British Columbians would expect their government to take

the time to build out, to get the information that is necessary to build

a budget, one that will reflect the changing landscape that COVID has

created on our forecasting, on our ability to understand the impacts to

budgets so that we can make a plan, because budgeting is about a plan.

Making sure that we take the extra bit of time to have a plan for

British Columbians is, I think, what British Columbians would want from

their government.

M. Bernier: Putting a plan together is not what they want; it’s what they

expect. It’s government’s job. That’s why you put your name on a ballot

and try to get elected — to hopefully put forward a plan and something

for the people to look at and judge you by.

We have legislation that’s put into place to put parameters around

those expectations of government — of all ministries, especially the

Ministry of Finance. There are expectations for the people of British

Columbia of what they expect of their government and what they’re going

to see in a fiscal plan and a financial plan going forward.

Again, the Premier said there would be no delays in the work of

government. The minister just said: “Well, they’re facing challenges.”

Well, no kidding. Every British Columbian right now is facing

challenges. The tourism sector has been screaming all year long, looking

for supports. People with disabilities are wondering why they’re being

clawed back. Businesses are wondering if they’re going to make it to the

end of this year. People are hoping they have a chance to visit with

loved ones soon.

The economic realities in the province of British Columbia right

now are vague, at best, because of the lack of communication and plan of

this government.

Maybe I’ll ask the minister again, in light of those comments: of

anything that this government could have done to help the people in the

province of British Columbia right now, why is this the only piece of

legislation that was brought forward for the minister to have to justify

why she needs more time to do her job?

Hon. S. Robinson: I think it’s important to get on record that we are here in this

House — we’ve called members back — to also table supplementary

estimates for the recovery benefit. That, to me, is absolutely

critical.

We’ve certainly heard from British Columbians that they are

struggling now. Getting money into people’s pockets so that families can

pay their bills, buy groceries, buy new winter coats for their children,

if that’s what they need to do — they’re able to do that. That’s been

absolutely critical.

[11:30 a.m.]

We’re here this month, here in this time, to do that work, which

is absolutely critical for British Columbians.

I also want to point out that in this bill is also a piece about

the homeowner grant, which is also timely. We’re also going to be

debating that. I imagine that the member will have some questions about

that component of the bill. So it’s a little bit disingenuous to suggest

that this is the only piece of work that we’re doing here in Victoria

right now. There’s a whole lot of work that is going on here in the

House this month.

M. Bernier: I believe my words were: “This is the only piece of legislation

that’s in front of the House for debate.”

The minister brought up sections, clauses, of the bill that we

will get to. I definitely have questions further on that. But that’s

going to be awhile, because we need to really wrap our heads around what

government’s thoughts are — again, about why they need this delay in

time to report to the people of British Columbia on what their fiscal

plans are, what the fiscal shape of the province is right now. I’m going

to have some other questions around that in a little while.

The minister is using the idea that it wasn’t expected, maybe,

that things have changed — and using COVID. Dr. Bonnie Henry gave this

entire House briefings this summer at the same time that the government

put this bill on the table for us to add 30 more days. We had briefings

all around the same time, everybody in this House and the public, that

warned and cautioned us that a second wave was coming, that told

everybody to be prepared and to do what they could to try to avoid that.

She was very specific that a second wave was probably imminent, that it

was coming.

For the minister to say that they didn’t know it was coming…? I’m

trying to figure out which way it was. We were all briefed that a second

wave was coming and that we should plan accordingly. Was the minister

not part of those briefings at the time? I’m just kind of curious on

that. I know that we were all told it was coming, so for her to use

COVID and changes and a second wave as excuses for a delay is also

disingenuous unless, of course, they were not paying

attention.

Was the minister aware a second wave was coming? Did she pay

attention to those briefings from Dr. Henry? And if that’s the case,

again, why is a delay needed?

Hon. S. Robinson: Of course we knew that there was a second wave coming. Of course

we were paying attention, just like all British Columbians were paying

attention at three o’clock every day, glued to whatever tool they had at

their disposal — whether it was an iPad or a phone or just tuning in

to what the updates were. So of course we knew.

The part that we didn’t know is the impact. How is this going to

impact? How is this going to impact our economy? This is unprecedented.

Unprecedented. What’s it going to mean for businesses? What’s it going

to mean for families? What’s it going to mean for students? Are we going

to be able to open schools or not open schools? Are places of business

going to be open or not open? Which businesses? How is it going to play

out? These were all unknowns.

I want to take a small minute to speak to how proud I am to be a

British Columbian and how people did respond. They responded and have

been heeding Dr. Henry’s advice. They’ve been doing their very best.

This is all new for all of us, so making sure that we understand the

impacts of the second wave is absolutely critical.

It’s absolutely critical that we take the time to work with the

public service to understand what the impacts have been, what impacts

are going to be around for a short period of time, what impacts are

going to be around for a long period of time and that we build a budget

and that we take the time.

[11:35 a.m.]

We’re not asking for a long time. We’re asking for a few extra

weeks to take the time needed in order to make sure that we can build

out a budget that works today and into the future and also that we

understand what the impacts are around the investments that the Canadian

government is making. We need to understand how that all layers in so

that we can build on all of the various programs and make sure that

British Columbians, at the end of the day, are continuing to be

supported.

I want to point out to the member that we have been there all the

way along. Nothing is going to change. We’ve continued to provide

supports for British Columbians. A few extra weeks, which is all we’re

suggesting in this bill, till we can table a budget that takes into

account all those considerations is what we’re saying would make a

difference for British Columbians.

M. Bernier: It’s not quite a few extra weeks. They’re

striking out the words 120 days and adding 150 days for the time

allotted. We can debate over two, three, four weeks, but that’s not the

point.

The point is that the NDP government is trying to make it sound

like nobody has ever faced a crisis before. Yes, I want to say this is,

in so many ways, unprecedented. We’ve been hearing the challenges. We’ve

been hearing the issues. I know our side of the House has. Every single

member on this side of the House stood up over the last week to talk

about what they’ve been hearing and asking that question of why a delay

is needed. How is that going to impact?

The minister just said that they need to have this information

because people are suffering and people are having challenges right now.

Can the minister maybe explain, then, to all of the people who have been

contacting the government, who have been contacting us, who have been

speaking loudly right across the province that they need help, and they

need answers, and they need some kind of certainty now.

Can she explain to them how 30 days more, and waiting another

entire fiscal year before any shed of hope or light around what the plan

is for the province, helps those people who are looking for help

now?

Hon. S. Robinson: We’ve been there for British Columbians since COVID hit our

province, and we’ve been hit hard. So we started out with a raft of

supports for people. The B.C. emergency benefit for workers — we support

$1,000 for people who’ve lost income. We were one of the only few

provinces that had a rent supplement for a number of months, helping

people.

We provided a three-month credit for B.C. Hydro for customers who

lost income due to COVID-19, saving them hundreds of dollars. We’re now

delivering a recovery benefit. We’re doing a whole raft of actions to

help people get through it, get through the impacts. These are the

impacts that we are seeing.

We’re also investing in communities and continuing to invest in

communities. We’re building roads and mass transit. Our capital plan is

one of the most robust in history. We’re investing in communities so

that we can continue to keep people employed and keep the economy going

in a way that makes a difference, again, for people.

[11:40 a.m.]

We’ve launched, as well, significant supports for businesses. One

of them is the small and medium-sized business recovery grant. That work

is underway. There is a myriad of numerous other benefits that we have

unveiled and brought forward to help people, to help businesses and to

help communities, including making sure that we continue to have

transit, continue to support municipalities. I know the federal

government has been there with us to help local governments and transit

authorities continue to deliver services.

The other thing that we need to recognize is that not everybody

has been hit equally. I think Dr. Henry talks about: “We’re all in the

same storm, but we’re all in different boats.” I think that’s an apt

analogy. We know, for example, that the tourism sector has been hit

particularly hard. It’s for that reason that I know that my colleague

the Minister for Tourism is right now, at this very moment, looking

through a report that that industry put together specifically looking at

their particular issues.

I want to make sure that we can respond to that, respond to it

appropriately within the context of the budget. So we’re going to need

the time. A rushed budget is not what British Columbians need or expect

from their government. They expect their government to gather all the

relevant information, understand what’s happening now and use that to

help build a plan for the future. That’s what we’re saying this bill

will help us do.

M. Bernier: Is the minister saying that all the other NDP governments that

were put forward did not gather information and that they rushed through

the process?

Hon. S. Robinson: Absolutely not.

M. Bernier: Well, is the minister, then, saying that they weren’t listening to

all of these concerns leading into them calling an election, to be able

to put the information forward to put a budget following the timelines

that every other government in the past has been able to

meet?

Hon. S. Robinson: I just gave a perfect example. The tourism sector said that they

wanted to put together a task force. It was led capably by Tamara

Vrooman, putting together a plan for recovery for this particularly

hard-hit sector. They want us to consider their

recommendations.

Now, I suppose what the members opposite would do is they would

ignore that, because that’s essentially what they’re saying they would

do. That’s not who we are on this side of the House. We listen to what

people have to say. This report has just hit our desks, and we need to

analyze it and identify the best way forward to make sure that that

sector can get the supports that it needs as part of the budget

process.

The member also knows that under what I would call normal

circumstances, the budget process starts several months earlier. With

the March date, it is truncated, because it is a new government. But

really, we have a COVID situation here that has left the entire world in

a framework of doing their best to try to figure out: how do we move

forward? How do we gather the information, understand the implications

and pull together a plan, an economic plan that is going to work now and

into the future? This bill says: “A few extra weeks so that we can get

it right.”

M. Bernier: With the minister saying that, will she stand in the House, then,

and confirm that nobody in this province will be negatively affected in

any way by the delay of an extra four weeks, waiting now until basically

May before they know what the budget is going to be?

[11:45 a.m.]

Hon. S. Robinson: First of all, the extension is until April, not May. Members keep

talking about May. It is April.

This bill ensures that funding will continue until 15 days after

the budget is tabled. This ensures that nothing changes from the current

status until 15 days after the budget is tabled.

M. Bernier: I’ll just ask the minister this, then, since she wants to keep

referring to: “It’s only until April.” Is she willing to make an

amendment to make it April 1, rather than April 30, for this bill,

then?

Hon. S. Robinson: No.

M. Bernier: I think it’s fair to say, then, that if something is presented in

the House at the eleventh hour, basically, on the very last day in

April, the public really doesn’t know until May.

That’s pretty factual, I would say. I know how the budget process

works. I know how the reporting goes. I know what the minister is going

to have to do, presenting to this House and then doing the media

afterwards, putting all the documentation and reporting out to the

public, meeting with stakeholders, etc., etc., after a budget. We will

walk through the timeline after lunch, because I’m very curious, and I’m

sure that people are as well.

The minister said that this is COVID. Again, I don’t want to

really dive too much into the technicalities of COVID. I appreciate and,

again, understand and empathize with the situation that government is

facing, that the people of British Columbia are facing. But we’re not

the only jurisdiction going through this.

Can the minister tell me all of the other jurisdictions…?

Everywhere in the world, obviously, is facing COVID. But let’s just say

in Canada. How many other provinces have had to put bills forward to

delay putting a budget forward because of COVID?

Hon. S. Robinson: I checked with some smart people on the other end of my AirPods,

who said that most other jurisdictions do not have legislated dates.

Just to make a little bit of a point on this, for our national

government, it’s been over a year since they’ve brought forward a

budget. So we are seeing that the impact of being able to pull together

a budget is being challenged.

There is actually some…. The smart people, again, at the other end

of my AirPods are saying that they’re starting to hear other governments

take a look at some of the challenges of putting together some

budgets.

However, having said that, we recognize the importance of putting

together a budget. We recognize the importance of gathering all of the

information. We recognize the importance of investing in people,

investing in businesses and investing in communities. We’re committed to

doing that work. All we’re saying to this House is we need more time in

order to gather all that information and put together a robust and

meaningful budget for now and well into the future.

M. Bernier: I’ll go back to my question before that. Well, let me just say,

first of all, I know there are smart people on the other end that are

doing great work.

[11:50 a.m.]

Maybe I’ll ask this, then, first. Were all those amazing public

servants on vacation for the last couple of months while there was an

election, or were they still working behind the scenes putting a budget

together, like the Premier said they were doing?

Hon. S. Robinson: I don’t need to go talk to the smart people in order to provide

this answer because, I have to say, the public service has been busting

their tails. They have absolutely been busting their tails on behalf of

British Columbians to make sure that we can continue to be there for

them, to roll out numerous programs that they have developed on the fly.

Maybe we’ve never been able to witness just how quickly they put

together these programs.

I have to say, in my previous iteration in this government as the

Minister of Housing, witnessing how B.C. Housing put together a rent

supplement program in days to help thousands of British Columbians make

rent was unbelievable. They continue to do that. They continue to roll

out programs because they know that British Columbians need it. They

know that they have a responsibility, not just to this House, but to all

British Columbians. So they are working diligently, multi-tasking quite

often. I think many of them are actually quite exhausted.

With that, I’m noticing the hour. I move that the committee rise,

report progress and ask leave to sit again.

Motion approved.

The committee rose at 11:51 a.m.

The House resumed; Mr. Speaker in the chair.

The Committee of the Whole, having reported progress, was granted

leave to sit again.

Hon. S. Robinson moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

Mr. Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 1:30 this afternoon.

The House adjourned at 11:53 a.m.

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