British Columbia Hansard — 25 February 2019, p.m., Issue 206 (41st Parliament, 4th Session)

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British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

Fourth Session, 41st Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES (HANSARD) Monday, February 25, 2019 Afternoon Sitting Issue No. 206 THE HONOURABLE DARRYL PLECAS, SPEAKER ISSN 1499-2175

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Her Honour the Honourable Janet Austin, OBC Fourth Session, 41st Parliament SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Darryl Plecas EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council ............................................................................................................... Hon. John Horgan Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance............................................................................................................................Hon.

Carole James Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training..................................................................................................... Hon. Melanie Mark Minister of Agriculture.........................................................................................................................................................Hon. Lana Popham Attorney General.................................................................................................................................................................Hon.

David Eby, QC Minister of Children and Family Development ............................................................................................................ Hon. Katrine Conroy Minister of State for Child Care...................................................................................................................................... Hon. Katrina Chen Minister of Citizens’ Services.................................................................................................................................................... Hon.

Jinny Sims Minister of Education ............................................................................................................................................................ Hon. Rob Fleming Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources ...............................................................................................Hon. Michelle Mungall Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy............................................................................................. Hon.

George Heyman Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development ..............................................Hon. Doug Donaldson Minister of Health .....................................................................................................................................................................Hon. Adrian Dix Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation ......................................................................................................... Hon.

Scott Fraser Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology............................................................................................................................ Hon. Bruce Ralston Minister of State for Trade...............................................................................................................................................Hon. George Chow Minister of Labour ...................................................................................................................................................................Hon.

Harry Bains Minister of Mental Health and Addictions............................................................................................................................ Hon. Judy Darcy Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.................................................................................................................. Hon. Selina Robinson Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General ........................................................................................................... Hon.

Mike Farnworth Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction..............................................................................................Hon. Shane Simpson Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture.....................................................................................................................................Hon. Lisa Beare Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure................................................................................................................ Hon.

Claire Trevena LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Leader of the Official Opposition................................................................................................................................Andrew Wilkinson, QC Leader of the Third Party ....................................................................................................................................................Dr. Andrew Weaver Deputy Speaker................................................................................................................................................................................

Raj Chouhan Assistant Deputy Speaker................................................................................................................................................................... Joan Isaacs Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole ................................................................................................................

Spencer Chandra Herbert Clerk of the Legislative Assembly ....................................................................................................................................................Craig James Acting Clerk of the Legislative Assembly...............................................................................................................................

Kate Ryan-Lloyd Clerk Assistant — Committees and Interparliamentary Relations ..........................................................................................Susan Sourial Sessional Law Clerk...............................................................................................................................................Loredana Catalli-Sonier, QC Parliamentary Counsel ...................................................................................................................................................................... S.

Suzie Seo Sergeant-at-Arms ................................................................................................................................................................................. Gary Lenz Acting Sergeant-at-Arms......................................................................................................................................... Randall Ennis, MMM, CD

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS Ashton, Dan (BC Liberal) ........................................................................ Penticton Bains, Hon. Harry (NDP)...............................................................Surrey-Newton Barnett, Donna (BC Liberal) ................................................... Cariboo-Chilcotin Beare, Hon. Lisa (NDP).............................................Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Begg, Garry (NDP) ..................................................................... Surrey-Guildford Bernier, Mike (BC Liberal) .......................................................

Peace River South Bond, Shirley (BC Liberal)......................................... Prince George–Valemount Brar, Jagrup (NDP)..................................................................... Surrey-Fleetwood Cadieux, Stephanie (BC Liberal)....................................................... Surrey South Chandra Herbert, Spencer (NDP) ..................................... Vancouver–West End Chen, Hon. Katrina (NDP).....................................................Burnaby-Lougheed Chouhan, Raj (NDP) ............................................................... Burnaby-Edmonds Chow, Hon.

George (NDP)............................................... Vancouver-Fraserview Clovechok, Doug (BC Liberal) ................................ Columbia River–Revelstoke Coleman, Rich (BC Liberal) ...............................................................Langley East Conroy, Hon. Katrine (NDP)......................................................... Kootenay West Darcy, Hon.

Judy (NDP) ............................................................New Westminster Davies, Dan (BC Liberal) ..........................................................Peace River North de Jong, Michael, QC (BC Liberal) ............................................ Abbotsford West Dean, Mitzi (NDP)...............................................................Esquimalt-Metchosin D’Eith, Bob (NDP) ...............................................................Maple Ridge–Mission Dix, Hon. Adrian (NDP)......................................................Vancouver-Kingsway Donaldson, Hon.

Doug (NDP).....................................................................Stikine Eby, Hon. David, QC (NDP)............................................. Vancouver–Point Grey Elmore, Mable (NDP)....................................................... Vancouver-Kensington Farnworth, Hon. Mike (NDP) ...................................................... Port Coquitlam Fleming, Hon. Rob (NDP) .....................................................Victoria–Swan Lake Foster, Eric (BC Liberal)........................................................... Vernon-Monashee Fraser, Hon.

Scott (NDP) ................................................ Mid Island–Pacific Rim Furstenau, Sonia (BC Green Party) ........................................... Cowichan Valley Gibson, Simon (BC Liberal) ................................................. Abbotsford-Mission Glumac, Rick (NDP)........................................................Port Moody–Coquitlam Heyman, Hon. George (NDP) .............................................. Vancouver-Fairview Horgan, Hon. John (NDP) ...............................................

Langford–Juan de Fuca Hunt, Marvin (BC Liberal) .......................................................Surrey-Cloverdale Isaacs, Joan (BC Liberal) .........................................Coquitlam–Burke Mountain James, Hon. Carole (NDP)...................................................Victoria–Beacon Hill Johal, Jas (BC Liberal)...............................................

Richmond-Queensborough Kahlon, Ravi (NDP)..............................................................................Delta North Kang, Anne (NDP)..................................................................Burnaby–Deer Lake Kyllo, Greg (BC Liberal)............................................................................ Shuswap Larson, Linda (BC Liberal) .............................................Boundary-Similkameen Lee, Michael (BC Liberal) ......................................................

Vancouver-Langara Leonard, Ronna-Rae (NDP) ....................................................Courtenay-Comox Letnick, Norm (BC Liberal)............................................Kelowna–Lake Country Ma, Bowinn (NDP) ................................................... North Vancouver–Lonsdale Malcolmson, Sheila (NDP) .......................................................................Nanaimo Mark, Hon. Melanie (NDP) ..................................... Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Martin, John (BC Liberal)......................................................................

Chilliwack Milobar, Peter (BC Liberal).................................... Kamloops–North Thompson Morris, Mike (BC Liberal) ..........................................Prince George–Mackenzie Mungall, Hon. Michelle (NDP).................................................... Nelson-Creston Oakes, Coralee (BC Liberal) ...........................................................Cariboo North Olsen, Adam (BC Green Party)........................... Saanich North and the Islands Paton, Ian (BC Liberal)......................................................................... Delta South Plecas, Hon.

Darryl (Ind.) ..........................................................Abbotsford South Polak, Mary (BC Liberal) ............................................................................ Langley Popham, Hon. Lana (NDP)..............................................................Saanich South Ralston, Hon. Bruce (NDP) .......................................................... Surrey-Whalley Redies, Tracy (BC Liberal) ..................................................... Surrey–White Rock Reid, Linda (BC Liberal) ................................................

Richmond South Centre Rice, Jennifer (NDP) ............................................................................ North Coast Robinson, Hon. Selina (NDP) ....................................... Coquitlam-Maillardville Ross, Ellis (BC Liberal)..................................................................................Skeena Routledge, Janet (NDP) .................................................................. Burnaby North Routley, Doug (NDP) ................................................Nanaimo–North Cowichan Rustad, John (BC Liberal) ..............................................................

Nechako Lakes Shypitka, Tom (BC Liberal) .............................................................Kootenay East Simons, Nicholas (NDP) ........................................Powell River–Sunshine Coast Simpson, Hon. Shane (NDP)................................................ Vancouver-Hastings Sims, Hon.

Jinny (NDP) .............................................................Surrey-Panorama Singh, Rachna (NDP) ........................................................Surrey–Green Timbers Stewart, Ben (BC Liberal) ................................................................Kelowna West Stilwell, Michelle (BC Liberal)..............................................Parksville-Qualicum Stone, Todd (BC Liberal)........................................

Kamloops–South Thompson Sturdy, Jordan (BC Liberal).......................................West Vancouver–Sea to Sky Sullivan, Sam (BC Liberal)...............................................Vancouver–False Creek Sultan, Ralph (BC Liberal) ......................................... West Vancouver–Capilano Tegart, Jackie (BC Liberal) ................................................................ Fraser-Nicola Thomson, Steve (BC Liberal)..................................................... Kelowna-Mission Thornthwaite, Jane (BC Liberal) .............................

North Vancouver–Seymour Throness, Laurie (BC Liberal) ..................................................... Chilliwack-Kent Trevena, Hon. Claire (NDP) .............................................................. North Island Wat, Teresa (BC Liberal) ................................................Richmond North Centre Weaver, Dr. Andrew (BC Green Party) ......................... Oak Bay–Gordon Head Wilkinson, Andrew, QC (BC Liberal) .............................. Vancouver-Quilchena Y ap, John (BC Liberal)..........................................................

Richmond-Steveston LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING Abbotsford-Mission ..........................................................................Simon Gibson Abbotsford South ..................................................................... Hon. Darryl Plecas Abbotsford West .................................................................... Michael de Jong, QC Boundary-Similkameen.....................................................................

Linda Larson Burnaby–Deer Lake ...............................................................................Anne Kang Burnaby-Edmonds ..............................................................................Raj Chouhan Burnaby-Lougheed................................................................... Hon. Katrina Chen Burnaby North................................................................................

Janet Routledge Cariboo-Chilcotin ............................................................................Donna Barnett Cariboo North .................................................................................. Coralee Oakes Chilliwack.............................................................................................. John Martin Chilliwack-Kent..............................................................................Laurie Throness Columbia River–Revelstoke........................................................

Doug Clovechok Coquitlam–Burke Mountain................................................................. Joan Isaacs Coquitlam-Maillardville..................................................... Hon. Selina Robinson Courtenay-Comox ................................................................. Ronna-Rae Leonard Cowichan Valley ............................................................................

Sonia Furstenau Delta North ...........................................................................................Ravi Kahlon Delta South.................................................................................................Ian Paton Esquimalt-Metchosin.............................................................................Mitzi Dean Fraser-Nicola........................................................................................

Jackie Tegart Kamloops–North Thompson............................................................Peter Milobar Kamloops–South Thompson ................................................................Todd Stone Kelowna–Lake Country....................................................................Norm Letnick Kelowna-Mission.............................................................................

Steve Thomson Kelowna West.........................................................................................Ben Stewart Kootenay East .....................................................................................Tom Shypitka Kootenay West ...................................................................... Hon. Katrine Conroy Langford–Juan de Fuca............................................................. Hon. John Horgan Langley....................................................................................................

Mary Polak Langley East .......................................................................................Rich Coleman Maple Ridge–Mission ............................................................................ Bob D’Eith Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows ..........................................................Hon. Lisa Beare Mid Island–Pacific Rim .............................................................. Hon. Scott Fraser Nanaimo ....................................................................................

Sheila Malcolmson Nanaimo–North Cowichan.............................................................. Doug Routley Nechako Lakes ...................................................................................... John Rustad Nelson-Creston.................................................................. Hon. Michelle Mungall New Westminster ......................................................................... Hon. Judy Darcy North Coast..........................................................................................

Jennifer Rice North Island ............................................................................ Hon. Claire Trevena North Vancouver–Lonsdale ................................................................. Bowinn Ma North Vancouver–Seymour ......................................................Jane Thornthwaite Oak Bay–Gordon Head ..........................................................Dr.

Andrew Weaver Parksville-Qualicum .....................................................................Michelle Stilwell Peace River North.................................................................................. Dan Davies Peace River South ............................................................................... Mike Bernier Penticton................................................................................................ Dan Ashton Port Coquitlam .................................................................... Hon.

Mike Farnworth Port Moody–Coquitlam .....................................................................Rick Glumac Powell River–Sunshine Coast ..................................................... Nicholas Simons Prince George–Mackenzie ..................................................................Mike Morris Prince George–Valemount.................................................................

Shirley Bond Richmond North Centre ........................................................................Teresa Wat Richmond-Queensborough .......................................................................Jas Johal Richmond South Centre........................................................................ Linda Reid Richmond-Steveston..................................................................................

John Y ap Saanich North and the Islands............................................................Adam Olsen Saanich South............................................................................Hon. Lana Popham Shuswap .................................................................................................... Greg Kyllo Skeena ......................................................................................................... Ellis Ross Stikine ..................................................................................Hon.

Doug Donaldson Surrey-Cloverdale............................................................................... Marvin Hunt Surrey-Fleetwood ...................................................................................Jagrup Brar Surrey–Green Timbers ......................................................................Rachna Singh Surrey-Guildford ....................................................................................Garry Begg Surrey-Newton.............................................................................Hon.

Harry Bains Surrey-Panorama........................................................................... Hon. Jinny Sims Surrey South............................................................................... Stephanie Cadieux Surrey-Whalley........................................................................ Hon. Bruce Ralston Surrey–White Rock ............................................................................. Tracy Redies Vancouver-Fairview ............................................................ Hon.

George Heyman Vancouver–False Creek....................................................................... Sam Sullivan Vancouver-Fraserview .............................................................Hon. George Chow Vancouver-Hastings .............................................................. Hon. Shane Simpson Vancouver-Kensington ..................................................................... Mable Elmore Vancouver-Kingsway ................................................................... Hon.

Adrian Dix Vancouver-Langara .............................................................................. Michael Lee Vancouver–Mount Pleasant ................................................... Hon. Melanie Mark Vancouver–Point Grey...........................................................Hon.

David Eby, QC Vancouver-Quilchena ......................................................Andrew Wilkinson, QC Vancouver–West End....................................................Spencer Chandra Herbert Vernon-Monashee...................................................................................Eric Foster Victoria–Beacon Hill ................................................................ Hon. Carole James Victoria–Swan Lake .................................................................. Hon. Rob Fleming West Vancouver–Capilano .................................................................

Ralph Sultan West Vancouver–Sea to Sky ..............................................................Jordan Sturdy Party Standings: BC Liberal 42; NDP 41; BC Green Party 3; Independent 1

CONTENTS Monday, February 25, 2019 Afternoon Sitting Page Routine Business Introductions by Members..................................................................................................................................................... 7193 Statements (Standing Order 25B) ......................................................................................................................................... 7194 All-Native Basketball Tournament and Wild William Wesley J. Rice Worker Bee Honey operations and quality assurance technology L. Throness Aquaponics J. Routledge Small Business B.C.

Awards and Long Table Grocery C. Oakes International adoption M. Elmore 2019 World Para-Nordic Skiing Championships S. Bond Oral Questions......................................................................................................................................................................... 7196 Government policies on oil transportation and trade issues A. Wilkinson Hon. D. Eby Hon. J. Horgan S. Bond Hon. G. Heyman Money laundering and real estate industry A. Olsen Hon. D. Eby Hon. C. James Trans Mountain pipeline and transport of oil P . Milobar Hon. G.

Heyman Trans Mountain pipeline and fuel supply and prices M. Bernier Hon. G. Heyman Funding for search and rescue organizations J. Thornthwaite Hon. M. Farnworth Orders of the Day Budget Debate(continued) .................................................................................................................................................... 7201 M. Stilwell S. Malcolmson S. Furstenau C. Oakes B. D’Eith I. Paton B. Ma S. Cadieux Hon. J. Darcy

MONDAY , FEBRUARY 25, 2019 The House met at 1:35 p.m. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Introductions by Members R. Chouhan:It’s my pleasure to welcome some special guests today. This week we have the privilege of hosting four Clerks and officials from the National Assembly of Kenya, who are here on a parliamentary staff attachment. Joining us in the gallery are Samuel Kalama, Senior Clerk Assistant; Gertrude Chebet, Clerk Assistant; Enock Bosire, infor- mation and communication technologies officer; Josephat Motonu, fiscal analyst.

Please join me in welcoming them to British Columbia and to our Legislature. T. Shypitka:Well, today is Mining Day here in British Columbia. As we all know, mining is a cornerstone of the economy here in B.C. Today we’ve got representatives in the House and throughout the precinct from several organiza- tions, including the Mining Association of British Colum- bia and the Association for Mineral Exploration. I see some representatives from North Coal and Teck Coal and a whole bunch of other places as well. Would the House please join me in welcoming them to the Legislature. T.

Redies: We have a wonderful group of students and their teachers attending the Legislature here from White Rock Christian Academy, an independent school in my rid- ing. This is a fantastic school that has many successful gradu- ates, including the three daughters of my constituency assist- ant, Anne Bonner. If her daughters are any example of the types of students that White Rock Christian Academy is graduating, then the school’s got a very, very successful future. Would the House please join me in welcoming the students and their teachers today. Hon. J.

Sims: It’s a real pleasure for me to introduce a young man who resides in my riding. He’s a constituent in Surrey-Panorama. He’s a student at UBC, studying geo- graphy, of all things. One of my passions, anyway. He has co-chaired the 32nd Vancouver Y outh Parliament. He is in one of those unique positions, because I get to introduce him today as Premier-elect of the 91st British Columbia Y outh Parliament. Please help me welcome Ranil Prasard to the precinct. D.

Routley:It gives me a real pleasure and it’s an honour to introduce, for the first time in this House, Jean Crowder, who was MP in the Cowichan area that I represented for the first three terms I was in this House. Jean is an amazing person. She’s done so much work to champion and lead women — young women, in particular — into politics and community involvement. Her building of a relationship with Cowichan Tribes included studying lan- guage and becoming part of a drumming troupe. She is cher- ished and beloved by First Nations in the area, particularly Cowichan.

She worked hard on the abandoned vessels issue, and that work was continued by the member for Nanaimo when she was an MP . Jean is the picture of energy, drive and commitment. And that just describes the commute she had back and forth to Ottawa. She’s an amazing person. When she broke her ankle one time — I’ve said this many times, Jean; sorry — the peri- od after that was about the only time I could ever keep up to Jean Crowder, when she was on crutches. Welcome, Jean Crowder. J. Martin:It’s a pleasure to welcome a good friend of mine to the gallery, Matthew Hawkins.

Matthew, by the way, was just a finalist in the young entrepreneur category at the Chil- liwack Chamber Business Excellence Awards. He is a tireless promoter and advocate for the city of Chilliwack, through his web page, aroundchilliwack.ca. I encourage you to check it out. Please make him feel welcome. Hon. L. Popham:Joining us in the gallery are some of my most favourite people in British Columbia.

Joining us today are Ministry of Agriculture industry specialists, and I’ll tell you who they are. [1:40 p.m.] We have Carl Withler, who takes care of tree fruits; James Street, who does food processing; Zac De Vries, who does food processing; Karina Sakalauskas, who does hazelnuts and plant-based protein; Myron Roth, who is aquaculture; Darah Gibson, who does marine fisheries; Susan Smith, who does field vegetables; Tom Droppo, who does pork and dairy; Emma Holmes, who does organics; Lisa Zabek, who does agroforestry; Carolyn Teasdale, who does berries; Dave Woodske, who does greenhouse crops; and Geneve Jasper, who does livestock.

With them is our director of industry development, Georgina Hodson. They are incredible. They are the strength in our ministry, and I’m so happy that they’ve joined us today. B. D’Eith: I just wanted to welcome one of my CAs, Alison Copeland, to the precinct. She, along with Sophia Kreuzkamp, keeps my constituency office humming along. We really appreciate everything they do. She’s over here because we’re having very important meetings with our mayor in Maple Ridge. So I just wanted to make her very welcome. Hon. K.

Conroy:It gives me a great deal of pleasure to introduce today my daughter-in-law Jayme Jones, who is here from Castlegar. Jayme is the wife of our son Wyllie and mom to Moss and Sayge. She also has her master’s in environmental sciences and has been at Royal Roads this 7193

weekend, upgrading her communications skills, which are already excellent. She’ll be even better at out-debating me. Please join me in welcoming Jayme to the chamber. Hon. M. Mungall: Well, it’s Mining Day today here in the Legislature, and we have several people from the mining industry joining us. I’m going to point out Mark Edwards, who’s from Teck Resources and the treasurer for MABC; Kendra Johnston, who is the chair of the Asso- ciation for Mineral Exploration; Sue Craig, from Kutcho Copper; John Ritter, from New Gold; and Kevin Frame, from Kal Tire.

They’re all part of the delegation speaking with members today. I also want to just acknowledge that we had some really amazing public servants joining me out on the front steps earlier today. We had Tania Demchuk, who’s the deputy chief inspector of mines; Hermanus Henning, the deputy chief inspector of mines, health and safety; and three inspectors of mines — Mike Olsen, Haley Furtado and Caroline Nakat- suka, all of whom are going to be seeing some new colleagues in a short time frame, as part of our new division for health, safety and compliance. May the House please make them all very welcome. D.

Davies:I’ d like to do an introduction. I believe they’re here or certainly in the precinct. The chair of the Peace River regional district, Brad Sperling, is down here. He’s also joined by one of the regional district directors, Karen Good- ings. If anybody has ever had any meetings over the past 31 years with the Peace River regional district, you certainly would have run across Karen Goodings, as she is celebrating her 31st year. Please, would the House make them both feel welcome. S.

Malcolmson:I’m very honoured to have today, in the chamber with us, my aunt and uncle, Terry and Sue Guest, former members of Islands Trust Council, with whom I served for many years; from North Pender, Ken Hancock and Gary Steeves, both vice-chairs of Islands Trust Council; my comrades from Saltspring Island — George Erring and Peter Lamm, both Saltspring Island trustees; my friend Lisa Gordon, with whom I served. She’s a staff support, very important to a lot of our environmental protection work at Islands Trust Council. Members will recall….

This is provincial legislation that asks these locally elected members to represent the “preserve and protect” object on behalf of all British Columbians. Then a third group of friends and supporters — June Robinhood, Dawn Gordon and Jean Gelwicks; and most importantly, my spouse, Howard Stiff. All people that stand up for environment in communities and support those in elected office. A. Olsen: I, too, would like to stand and acknowledge some constituents that I have. I actually didn’t see all of them up there — George Erring, Jean Gelwicks, Peter Lamm, Ken Hancock. I’ d just like to raise my hands.

And Gary Steeves — there he is; I see him — from Pender and Saltspring Islands. I also would like to acknowledge the representation, when they come from the Salish Sea. Welcome, my friends and constituents, to this House today. [1:45 p.m.] Hon. D. Donaldson:Today we have a couple of visitors in the gallery from the beautiful Driftwood area just outside of Smithers, Barry and Doreen Jones. They’re here with their daughter-in-law, who happens to be my executive assistant as well, Tristan Jones.

Barry and Doreen came down to Vic- toria for five weeks to get away from the snow, and it has worked out pretty well, except for a couple of weeks ago. Would the House please join me in making them welcome. J. Rustad:It’s a pleasure today to get a chance to meet with some of the miners as well — today, of course, being Mining Day in the Legislature. Mining is such an important piece for my riding as well as for the whole province.

I’ d like to just mention Ed Beswick, a longtime friend, with Giga Metals, one of the people I met with, as well as Tim Knoop from Lafarge, Todd Sams with Wajax as well as Scott McCuaig with Johnson Controls. I’ d ask the House to please make them all welcome. Statements (Standing Order 25B) ALL-NATIVE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT AND WILD WILLIAM WESLEY J. Rice: Recently Prince Rupert hotels and restaurants were bustling, and the vibe in town was electric.

It was the 60th anniversary of the All-Native Basketball Tournament, a time for Indigenous communities from Alaska and across B.C. to come together to compete, spectate, celebrate and reunite with family and friends. Now, anyone that knows basketball on the north coast knows the voice of the tournament, Wild William Wesley from CFNR radio. He has been broadcasting with Canada’s First Nations radio station since its inception 30 years ago. Before broadcasting tournament games, William Wesley was an athlete playing in the tournament from 1964 to 1976.

He used to shoot all his baskets from the three-point range, but they were worth only two points back then. He quips: “Can you imagine the points I’ d get nowadays?” In his best game, he scored 48 points. In 1989, just before the women’s and masters divisions were created, he started providing commentary for the games and has done so ever since. Always threatening to retire but never quite yet, the voice of Wild William Wesley could be heard calling games again this year.

Between games, I spent a few minutes chatting with our local personality, where Wesley reminisced about people coming together over basketball over the years. The tournament is held in February. That was the best 7194 British Columbia Debates Monday, February 25, 2019

time for fishermen and for cannery workers because it was the off-season. Sitting on a bench together with William, it was like hanging out with a celebrity, a big family reunion, over and over again, with players, spectators and friends from all over, getting his take on the latest up-and-comers and the predicted winning teams. This year, during its 60th year, Wild William Wesley joined family members, former teammates and elite ball players when he was inducted into the tournament’s hall of fame. Humbly, he dedicated his hall of fame award to his wife, Marlene.

Wild William Wesley is cherished by players, fans and CFNR radio listeners, and the All-Native Basketball Tourna- ment is not complete without his voice of the tournament. WORKER BEE HONEY OPERATIONS AND QUALITY ASSURANCE TECHNOLOGY L. Throness:On January 24, I attended the unveiling of an amazing piece of technology at the home of B.C. ’s largest honey producer, the Worker Bee Honey Co. in Rosedale, in my riding.

Peter and Jerry Awram, a father-and-son team armed with PhDs, 6,000 hives and a lot of energy, have pur- chased a cutting-edge nuclear magnetic resonance machine so they can address a global problem in the honey industry. Y ou see, honey comes to Canada from many countries. But some adulterate the honey they export with up to 40 per- cent of other sweet substances like corn or rice syrup, which are very hard to detect. Only a nuclear magnetic resonance machine can test these substances at a molecular level, and this is the only such machine in Canada.

The Awrams now have the capacity to test for adulterants in honey — but not only in honey. Wine and juices can be tested as well. There are several things I appreciate about this initiative. First, it is a high-tech venture led by the private sector rather than by government. A private company is taking the risk and literally leading our nation in innovation. Second, the machine has a legitimate commercial purpose.

Worker Bee Honey Co. will be able to guarantee buyers in Canada and around the world that its own honey is certifiably pure, and I hope they’ll be able to command premium prices for their product. [1:50 p.m.] There is also a strong public interest application. The Awrams have a big heart for the entire industry, not just their own business, so producers and consumers all over B.C. stand to benefit from the knowledge this machine will provide.

They intend to build a database containing the organic fingerprint of every honey producer in the province so they can all protect their brand and make B.C. the go-to region from which to source honey. I’m proud of what the Awrams have done, proud of the agricultural innovation which I find everywhere in my rid- ing and proud that Canada will play a leadership role in detecting fake honey. AQUAPONICS J. Routledge:People often ask me: what do I like best about being an MLA? Well, one favourite of mine is when constituents seek me out to share their great ideas.

Some- times they want to talk about how to save the planet. Some- times they bring ideas for making life more affordable, and sometimes they have ideas for improving our shared experi- ences in our community. Jack Rowand, who lives in Burnaby North and works in the film industry, is one such visionary. Jack came to talk to me about aquaponics. Now, maybe, like me before I met Jack, you’re not sure what aquaponics is all about. Aquaponics grows fish and plants together in an integrated system in a greenhouse.

The fish waste provides an organic food source for the plants, and the plants naturally filter the water for the fish. Jack shared his vision of aquaponics greenhouses in school yards throughout the region, sized to feed the student population and their families. Why school yards? Because aquaponics greenhouses teach hands-on STEM skills. In fact, I’ve since done a bit of research myself and discovered that that is exactly what is happening in a number of schools in the United States. It’s called Aquaponics STEM Class- rooms in Action. Aquaponics is intense.

It yields six times more produce than conventional farming and uses 90 percent less water and no pesticides. A system of aquaponics can feed the com- munity in which it is located and thus contribute massively to local food security and affordability — something we all need to think about as the effects of climate change intensify. There are some projects already in existence, part of which is consultation with the community about which fruits, vegetables and fish they would prefer to consume. There’s been an aquaponics project in Mississauga since 2016 that supplies the local food bank.

I’m grateful I had this opportunity to amplify the great ideas that come my way from my constituents. Together, we can make a difference. SMALL BUSINESS B.C. AW ARDS AND LONG TABLE GROCERY C. Oakes:On February 21, at a packed Vancouver Con- vention Centre, our province’s best small business owners and the top communities supporting entrepreneurship were announced at the Small Business B.C. Awards gala, which celebrates excellence in business and contributions to the local, national and global economies.

Nearly 600 small businesses from 58 British Columbia communities were nominated in ten unique award categor- ies as part of the annual awards. I was incredibly proud to be on hand for the recognition of the Best Community Impact Award winner, Long Table Grocery from my riding. Long Table Grocery has created a local food hub that sup- ports over 40 Cariboo region small vegetable farms, cattle Monday, February 25, 2019 British Columbia Debates 7195

ranches and food processors. Their business values are based on the permaculture ethics of earth care, people care and fair share, and they strive to incorporate principles of sustainab- ility in all of their business practices. They employ a diverse team and offer progressive benefits and a healthy, inclusive work environment. They have an ongoing commitment to reduce food waste. All surplus food is processed into frozen meals or preserved or donated to charitable organizations feeding local families.

They have established a pay-it-forward pro- gram in which customers can purchase local food for fam- ilies in need. They partner with social enterprises to sup- ply products and services. Owners Amy Quarry and Jenny Moroni are dedicated to building the capacity of local food systems through a fair and sustainable business that serves all members of our community. [1:55 p.m.] In Amy’s words, let us all work to build a longer table. INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION M. Elmore:The Inter-Country Adoptive Families Asso- ciation of B.C., or ICAFABC, is a new organization in our province working to support international adoption.

There are many families in B.C. who have chosen to grow through adoption. It involves a rigorous process of train- ing and home assessments, along with emotional and fin- ancial commitments. Likewise, there are millions of children all over the world who, for many different reasons, cannot be raised by their birth parents or birth families. International adoption brings these children into safe, loving and supportive B.C. families. The provincial, federal and international hurdles these fam- ilies face are immense.

It’s a testament to their genuine love for the children that these families submit themselves to this arduous process.

Their mission statement reads as follows: “The Inter- Country Adoptive Families Association of B.C. was formed to share the positive aspects of intercountry adoption, to advocate for safe and legal intercountry adoption and to provide support to both waiting families who are beginning their journey and adoptive families who are parenting their internationally adopted children. ” The organization’s key val- ues are fairness, inclusiveness, respect, the right of all chil- dren to have families and, above all, that the best interests of the child should be at the heart of everything surrounding adoption.

I’ve met a number of these families, have heard and learnt about their hopes and struggles and am so appreciative of their efforts to provide children with forever families here in B.C. I ask for all members of the Legislature to please join me to recognize and thank the ICAFABC for their dedication, commitment and advocacy for children, families and inter- national adoption. 2019 WORLD PARA-NORDIC SKIING CHAMPIONSHIPS S. Bond: It’s not every day that Prince George gets to host the world, but that is exactly what happened from February 15 to February 24.

We were thrilled to be able to host the 2019 World Para-Nordic Skiing Championships at the Otway Nordic Ski Centre. Approximately 120 ath- letes from 20 countries came to compete and demonstrate their incredible skill. I was so honoured to be part of the first victory ceremony and presented medals to a group of athletes, including those that had earned the title of world champion. It was inspiring to watch the athletes compete, and there are so many stories to share, but perhaps the most memorable for me was watch- ing the faces of those who had earned their place on the podium.

It didn’t matter the colour of the medal or the anthem that was played. All of us were moved to be able to share in that celebration of excellence and the recognition of relentless effort and dedication that led to that moment. Congratulations to all of the competitors. Y ou truly inspired us. None of this would have been possible without the excep- tional bid team; the organizing committee chair, Kevin Pet- tersen, and his hard-working team; the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club; an army of volunteers; and, of course, generous spon- sors and funding partners.

As always, our city rolled out the welcome mat for the athletes, the coaches, officials and guests that spent time in Prince George for the championships. It is actually difficult to express how proud I am of the hard work that was done to ensure our community could shine on the world stage. Thank you so much to everyone who was involved. Be sure to get a little rest, because in just over a year, Prince George will be the host city for the 2020 World Women’s Curling Championship, and we will welcome the best women curlers in the world. I have absolutely no doubt that it too will be a first-class event.

Oral Questions GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON OIL TRANSPORTATION AND TRADE ISSUES A. Wilkinson:This government has repeatedly turned to the courts to support their political agenda, and they’ve been repeatedly slapped down. We just think about the Trans Mountain intervention two years ago.

We think about the ICBC decision in January. [2:00 p.m.] On Friday, of course, we had another example, with the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench, after hearing that the Trans Mountain pipeline, according to this government, was essential to avoid “increased prices, lack of supply and civil unrest…. ” That’s a quote from the British Columbia affidavit. On Friday, the claim was completely struck out. The 7196 British Columbia Debates Monday, February 25, 2019

court relied upon the test which says that the claim cannot proceed if it discloses no reasonable claim, where it is frivolous, irrelevant or improper or where it constitutes an abuse of process. So congratulations, government of British Columbia. The entire claim being struck out, and this government saying that the pipeline is essential — in its own affidavit — for fuel supplies, to avoid increased prices and to avoid civil unrest.

We turn to the Environment Minister and say: does he support the position taken by this government that the Trans Mountain pipeline is essential to avoid civil unrest, boosts in fuel prices and lack of supply? Hon. D. Eby: Now, I do understand that there’s a differ- ence between our side and the other side on this issue. But that’s really no excuse for fundamentally misstating some key facts in the question. For example, the entire claim was not struck out. It was an application that our claim was too early. The court said: “Y ou’re here too soon, trying to protect the interests of Brit- ish Columbians.

Come back once Alberta has proclaimed the legislation, if you want to make this argument. ” That is fair. But we thought we had a principled argument to make when Alberta brought forward legislation that they were going to turn off oil and gas supplies to British Columbia. We thought we had good reason to go to the court as early as we could to raise this issue and say that that would have devastating consequences, certainly, for British Colum- bia, and we believed the action was illegal. To go to court too early to argue that is I don’t think a flaw.

To be enthusias- tic about protecting the interests of British Columbians is I don’t think a flaw. But perhaps in the mind of the Leader of the Opposition, it is. Mr. Speaker:The Leader the Official Opposition on a sup- plemental. A. Wilkinson:The Attorney General conveniently leaves out the point made by the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench on Friday, February 22 that the statement of claim is hereby struck. The action is done, because it had no basis in law. They knew that, and they used it as a political stunt. The question goes back to the Minister of the Environ- ment.

We have, with this litigation and the approach of this government to the pipeline, picked a fight with Alberta and lost in the courts. The federal government stepped in to buy the pipeline, and what do we have at the end of this? The threat that this government has sworn an affidavit to — of higher gasoline prices. We paid $4.5 billion for a pipeline we don’t know how to operate and we don’t want to run because of this government. We have an increase in oil by rail, with the Alberta government threatening to buy thou- sands of railcars to send oil down the Fraser Canyon.

If this Environment Minister is prepared to defend that record…. Is this what the goal was of obstructing the Trans Mountain expansion — to get more oil by rail, drive up gas- oline prices and pick fights? Hon. D. Eby: I think that we’re going to have a difficult time in question period if we can’t agree on the basic facts — like, for example, what the judgment said. The judgment said: “Y ou’re here too early. The legislation hasn’t been pro- claimed yet by the Legislature, so as a result, you’re here in court too early. ” They did not say that it was legal to shut off oil and gas supplies to British Columbia.

If that is what the Leader of the Opposition is suggesting — that if he received that judg- ment, he would say, “Well, we have nothing else to say on this” — then there are a lot more differences between us than simply the interests of British Columbians on the Trans Mountain pipeline project. Mr. Speaker:The Leader of the Official Opposition on a second supplemental. A. Wilkinson:Once again, the Attorney General takes a very convenient view. He’s forgetting that his claim was struck out completely.

This government has sworn in an affi- davit that the Trans Mountain pipeline is essential to our supplies, to keep prices manageable and to avoid civil unrest. What do we get in return? The Premier goes to meet with the governor of Washington state. Well, let’s look at this for a second. British Columbia imports most of its petroleum and refined products. We refine about 67,000 barrels a day. Guess what happens in Washington state. They refine nine times as much as we do and sell it to us. [2:05 p.m.] Isn’t this a great state of affairs?

We have tankers going through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, two kilometres from this building, 500 of them a year for the last 45 years. And this government says it’s going to solve the world’s problems by blocking the Trans Mountain pipeline so that we can buy all our fuel from Washington state. This is ridiculous. On top of that, the Premier decides to put a little bit of icing on the governor’s cake by giving him $400,000 of B.C. taxpayer money for this pipedream of high-speed rail when we’re trying to pay for transit in greater Vancouver.

Can the Premier explain why he’s in Washington defend- ing their refining industry, why he’s handing out B.C. cash to Washington state for pipedreams and why he isn’t standing up for British Columbia? Hon. J. Horgan:I know there is a question, because the member said: “Why?” He said it about five or six times at the end of his question. I’ll try and just condense the three ques- tions we’ve had from him to start our question period today on this beautiful sunny day in Victoria. First and foremost, the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline is not destined to set up refining capacity in British Columbia.

It’s set to be exported somewhere else, will go Monday, February 25, 2019 British Columbia Debates 7197

through some of the most sensitive areas on the B.C. coast. We, on this side of the House, have been abundantly clear. Our colleagues in the Green caucus have been abundantly clear. The risk is too great. That’s why we stood up to the suggestion that a twinning of the pipeline would be in the interest of British Columbians, because it would not. As my learned colleague the Attorney General just said, I seem to recall that there was a threat from Alberta to stop sending oil and gas products to British Columbia.

We responded to that as any government would, as the people on that side of the aisle, I’m assuming, would have as well. I appreciate the member on the opposite side wants to find some relevance in his job today. He’s not going to find it on this line of questioning. S. Bond: Well, here’s what the Prime Minister of Canada had to say last year. “Unfortunately, B.C. has not specifically put forward proposals for coastal protection. ” Apparently this government hasn’t proposed anything constructive to Ottawa — not our words, the federal govern- ment’s words. On Friday, they announced 2,700 more sail- ings.

They obviously didn’t say a thing to Governor Inslee about foreign tankers, despite the fact that those tankers ori- ginate in Alaska and sail the entire coast of British Columbia. How exactly is the Environment Minister protecting our coast when he chooses U.S. shipping over Canada’s interests? Hon. G. Heyman: I’m trying to weave together some pretty gnarly threads in the opposition member’s questions. What I can tell the opposition member and all British Col- umbians is we’ve been clear from day one.

We’ve been clear that what will be shipped through an expanded Trans Moun- tain pipeline is not in British Columbia’s interest. It is not diluted bitumen that is meant to be refined to meet British Columbia’s energy needs. The threat from a tanker spill would be devastating to our economy, to tens of thousands of jobs and to our coast- line. There are other threats. But as for the Prime Minister’s claim that we haven’t put forward a single suggestion to improve ocean protection, that’s clearly not the case. Perhaps the Prime Minister was not well informed, but it’s clearly not the case.

We are in regular contact with the federal government around measures to protect our coast, whether it’s from a threat from Trans Mountain or a threat from any other vessel carrying petroleum products up and down our coast. Mr. Speaker:Prince George–Valemount on a supplemen- tal. S. Bond:Speaking of gnarly threads, did the Environment Minister even have a conversation with the Premier before he went down and had a conversation with a governor whose tankers sail the entire coast of British Columbia? Was there any concern expressed about that? [2:10 p.m.] Let’s be clear. All marine traffic has an impact.

The NEB specifically identified ferry traffic. The government’s response? Let’s just have 2,700 more sailings. On the week- end…. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Thank you. The member for Prince George–Valemount has the floor. S.

Bond: On the weekend, the Federal Minister of Fish- eries and Oceans said: “Those who say that this is about the pipeline fundamentally don’t understand the killer whale issue. ” If the government is so willing to add 2,700 more sailings and it doesn’t even have a conversation with the governor whose foreign tankers sail the entire coast of British Colum- bia, why won’t they stand up for B.C. ’s interests and accept one more ship to move Canadian resources? One ship. Hon. G.

Heyman: There are so many questions coming from the member opposite, but the one that I really want to answer for British Columbians is: why did a government that made a presentation to the National Energy Board when they were government — they’re now in opposition — that said there had not been adequate demonstration that B.C. ’s interests would be protected and that the company had not released information that was critical to assure British Col- umbians that this could be built in safety…?

Why does that party, which took that position when they were in government, now seek to turn their back on the interests of British Columbians who are concerned about our environment, our coast and our economy? The answer is because they’re grasping at straws. Of course I talk to the Premier on a regular basis. Of course the Premier talks to the governor of Washington on a regular basis. Of course we’re all concerned about the impact of tankers and the potential for a spill, just as we’re con- cerned about noise from vessels. That’s why our government is working with B.C. Hydro to minimize noise from ferries.

That’s why we made a detailed presentation to the National Energy Board, which, regrettably, they failed to take into account in their decision — a decision that turns its back on British Columbians in favour of a project that does not bene- fit us one whit. MONEY LAUNDERING AND REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY A. Olsen:A mind-numbing line of questioning coming from the other side this morning, almost as mind-numbing as the despicable rot that we’ve been uncovering in British Columbia over the last couple of weeks.

Global’s reporting last fall estimates that as much as $5 billion has been laundered through Vancouver’s real estate market since 2012. This dirty cash is distorting housing 7198 British Columbia Debates Monday, February 25, 2019

prices, and it’s playing a large role in the housing crisis gripping our province today. Add this to the allegations of money laundering in our casinos, and this is painting an ugly picture. According to these reports, over $1 billion worth of Vancouver property transactions in 2016 alone had links to Chinese organized crime. Hidden ownership of B.C. real estate makes money laundering harder to find and prosecute. Ending the use of the bare trust loophole is one policy that my colleague from Oak Bay–Gordon Head has been calling on government to act on for years in this Legislature.

The Attorney General himself has flagged this as an issue that masks the source of money in real estate transactions. My question is to the Minister of Finance. How is this gov- ernment continuing to allow the laundering of billions of dollars through our real estate sector? Hon. D. Eby: Thank you to the member for the question. He will know that you find a lot more when you have your eyes open than when you have your eyes closed. [2:15 p.m.] When we asked Dr. German to have a look at what was happening in the casinos, he came back and he said: “Wow.

Y ou know, the overwhelming majority of people bringing bulk cash into casinos list their occupations as being real estate-related. Maybe we should have a look at whether this money is making its way into the real estate market as well. ” We sent him off to do that work. Simultaneously, the Minister of Finance assembled a team of experts on the issue of money laundering and real estate to identify measures we could take right away. She’s got a white paper out on beneficial ownership to move forward with legislation to establish a beneficial owner- ship registry so we actually know who owns the real estate.

When Transparency International Canada looked at 100 of the most valuable properties in Vancouver, for almost half, they couldn’t figure out who owned them, because they were owned by offshore trusts, numbered companies, stu- dents, if you could imagine — the most expensive residen- tial real estate in Vancouver. That’s why we’re taking this really seriously. That’s why we’re taking steps even in advance of the reports being brought in, because we know we have gaps in the system. We have our eyes open on this, and we’re taking action. Mr. Speaker:Saanich North and the Islands on a supple- mental. A.

Olsen:Eyes wide open. Last year the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, FINTRAC — I talked about it last week — released the results of 130 examinations done between 2015 and 2017 in the real estate sector in British Columbia. They found that there were significant or very significant defi- ciencies in the anti-money-laundering controls at roughly 88 percent of the real estate entities that they examined — few controls in the real estate sector and little enforcement. Rampant money laundering left unchecked by the former B.C.

Liberal government helped fuel the housing crisis that is the cause of the deepening sadness in this province. The reports commissioned by this government, due next week, will no doubt daylight more issues, but what is needed is immediate, concrete action to stem the tide of dirty cash pol- luting our real estate market. We cannot afford to wait. My question again is to the Minister of Finance. What is the ministry going to do to further act on these issues that continue to come to light? Hon. C. James: Thank you to the member for the ques- tion.

I think all of us, when we see the housing crisis and know the kinds of loopholes that were completely ignored in this province, know that we need to get on with the action, and we’ve begun already. I’m very proud to announce that, in fact, today we started Canada’s first registry around condo flipping and strata flipping, again, to gather information. This will be a first across the country, and as the Attorney has said, it’s critical to shine a light on the behaviour that’s going on. That’s the first step. Then further action will be taken. We will be looking at the beneficial trust.

We will, in fact, be putting together a registry, publicly searchable, that will disclose who’s behind corporations, who’s behind part- nerships, to ensure that there’s that transparency there. We’re already starting to see that having some action in the Lower Mainland, in particular, when we look at housing prices. But we know much more needs to be done. We’re looking at all the financial institutions, all of the real estate areas. Our expert panel will be reporting in March. I look forward to further action, because housing should be there for people, not for speculators and not for money launderers.

TRANS MOUNTAIN PIPELINE AND TRANSPORT OF OIL P . Milobar:It’s unfortunate that the Environment Minis- ter seems to forget that it was the B.C. Liberal government that actually worked with the federal government and nego- tiated a $1.5 billion coastal spill protection program that got put in jeopardy because of his actions. The Trans Mountain expansion would result in about one tanker more a day going through the Salish Sea than currently goes through. Let’s look at what’s happening right now, today, in the Salish Sea. Right now there are ten U.S. tankers travelling through the Salish Sea carrying Alaskan crude.

These foreign tankers operate with the lowest safety standards and are not following any NEB requirements for slower speeds. Trans Mountain would actually displace some of this traffic. To the Minister of Environment, why does this govern- ment prefer foreign tankers and foreign jobs over Canadian resources and Canadian-regulated shipping? Monday, February 25, 2019 British Columbia Debates 7199

Hon. G. Heyman:The member opposite appears to con- fuse negotiating some form of funding to mitigate a potential catastrophe as actually standing up for British Columbians, but I can assure him that most British Columbians don’t see it that way. [2:20 p.m.] We have been consistent on this side of the House. We are consistent that we believe that this project is not in Brit- ish Columbia’s best interests.

We’ve been consistent that we think that whether it is southern resident killer whales or First Nations along the coast or the tens of thousands of B.C. jobs in marine harvest or tourism that would be at risk from a spill, it doesn’t matter where the tankers come from. We want to work with other jurisdictions to minimize the risk… Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Hon. G. Heyman:…and to keep the risk from being com- pounded sevenfold with diluted bitumen. Clearly, the member opposite may not be aware of this, because he was not a member of the government caucus when the Liberals were in government.

But let me just give you one small quote from the then government’s, now oppo- sition’s final argument to the National Energy Board on Kinder Morgan. “One particular challenge to the recovery of diluted bitumen from water arises when the product becomes submerged or sinks. The evidence shows that this may occur in fresh water and has occurred. ” The members opposite might not think this is worth addressing on behalf of British Columbians, but we certainly do. Mr. Speaker:Kamloops–North Thompson on a supple- mental. P .

Milobar:Let’s take a look at one of those ten tankers that are currently in the Salish Sea — not along the whole coastline of B.C., just the Salish Sea, the ten tankers. The T Rex is 183 metres. It’s 50,548 tonnes, an oil tanker. It’s mov- ing past the southern tip of Vancouver Island right now, as we sit here and deliberate. In fact, it’s just off the coast of Sid- ney. It’s the closest tanker to us right now. These tankers are moving more dangerous…. They are louder for our southern resident killer whales.

Meanwhile, the NDP thinks that more oil by rail, travelling along all of our rivers, with salmon implications, and putting that habit- at at risk is preferable to a twin pipeline. As the minister just said, it doesn’t matter where the tanker is moving. But appar- ently, if it’s loaded in Burnaby, it’s a bigger problem for him. Can the Environment Minister explain how more foreign tankers and increased oil-by-rail products are protecting B.C. ’s coast? Hon. G.

Heyman:I’ d be happy to explain to the member opposite, as well as to British Columbians, why this govern- ment thinks that a sevenfold increase in tanker traffic, in addition to everything else happening off our coastline, is a significant threat to our economy, to our environment and to tens of thousands of jobs. I’m sure that if this government was to completely flip our position and decide we were prepared to accept any addi- tional risk to our coast because we were asked to by the opposition or by the federal government or by Alberta, they would not be raising this line of questioning for one second.

The truth is that they see a cheap political opportunity rather than the opportunity to stand with British Colum- bians, to defend our environment, to defend our coast, to defend tens of thousands of jobs and to support government regulations that were brought in by this government — not by their government — to regulate and have some response capacity to any threat of a spill from any transportation, not to add new risks, new threats and new spills. TRANS MOUNTAIN PIPELINE AND FUEL SUPPLY AND PRICES M. Bernier:The truth is that the U.S. producers want to stop Canadian resource projects from happening.

We know this. We know that Canada is subsidizing American gasoline prices to the tune of almost $50 million a day. The governor of Washington state has been very clear that he will do any- thing he can to stop the expansion. I assume it’s because he has 50 million reasons why to do so. Why is the Minister of Environment siding with U.S. interests rather than looking out for Canadian jobs? [2:25 p.m.] Hon. G. Heyman: I could continue to repeat the points I’ve made. I’ve made them in this House numerous times. We’re siding with British Columbians.

We’re siding with our environment and Indigenous nations up and down this coast. We’re siding with tens of thousands of British Colum- bians whose jobs depend on stopping a catastrophic oil spill. We have done that thoughtfully. We have done that reas- onably. We have done that by referring disputed issues to the courts, despite the provocation of a government to the east that brought in clearly unlawful legislation. We’ll stay the course. We’ll stand up for British Columbia, whether or not members opposite have any desire to join us. Mr. Speaker:The member for Peace River South on a sup- plemental. M.

Bernier:It’s not exactly standing up for British Col- umbians when we’re facing a 30,000-barrel-a-day shortfall in refined fuels and pay some of the highest gasoline prices in North America. Worst of all, when we’re paying for that gas… Interjections. 7200 British Columbia Debates Monday, February 25, 2019

Mr. Speaker:Members. Members. M. Bernier:…none of that money goes back into the pockets or is helping Canadians and families here in British Columbia. Whose side are you on? Obviously, every single one of the members opposite want to stand up for interests in the United States. When will the Minister of Environment actu- ally stand up against these foreign interests and the money that’s coming in to try to stop B.C. families from working in jobs, investing here in Canada? Hon. G. Heyman: Let me be clear.

We understand that British Columbians are concerned about protecting our eco- nomy, our jobs, our coastline and our environment. That’s why we’re standing with them every step of the way. If the claims of the members opposite were subject to a fact-check, this one would get a zero. Y ou can’t have it both ways, Members. The purpose of the expansion of Trans Mountain is apparently to ship diluted bitumen far away from North American and British Columbian and Albertan, if they had one, refineries. That’s the purpose of that project.

The price of oil and gas in British Columbia is not connected in any way to the success or failure of this project. We’re continuing to stand up for British Columbians’ interests. We’ll do that whether the members opposite get it or not. We will do that. We will continue to do that, and we will stand up for the issues that we were elected to defend and protect. FUNDING FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS J. Thornthwaite:Last week search and rescue teams across the province were shocked to learn that the B.C. NDP budget did not include any money for 80 search and rescue associations. The B.C.

Search and Rescue Asso- ciation needs $6 million a year to adequately fund provincewide operations. We’ d like to know: will the minister commit to that fund- ing today? Hon. M. Farnworth:Search and rescue groups across the province do an amazing job on behalf of all of us here in Brit- ish Columbia. In fact, they search and rescue and go out on more cases than, in fact, the rest of the country combined. As the member would know, that funding takes place each and every year. It varies from year to year on the basis of the number of searches and rescues that actually take place.

Search and rescue funding is, in fact, continuing throughout the coming year. What has ended was a three-year program that was in place — not continuing funding — which ends March 31 of this year. What we are also doing is something which the govern- ment, when you were in government, failed to do on this side. It was to put in place long-term, stable funding which search and rescue can count on, which in fact would be a line item. That is something that we are working on and commit- ted to getting to.

But what’s really interesting is that they’re asking us to do something that they failed to do for the entire 16 years that they were in government. [2:30 p.m.] This side understands the importance of long-term, stable funding, and we’re committed to doing just that. [End of question period.] Orders of the Day Hon. M. Farnworth:I call continued debate on the budget. [R. Chouhan in the chair.] Budget Debate (continued) M.

Stilwell:It’s my pleasure to take my place, continu- ing on from Thursday before we adjourned, where I made a few remarks thanking my incredible husband, my won- derful son, the staff that supports me each and every day and, of course, the people of Parksville-Qualicum who elected me and give me the opportunity to speak in the House on their behalf. I know that people were waiting in eager anticipation over the weekend to hear my remarks on the budget, so I shall begin. In the presentation of the budget, the Finance Minister talks about opportunity and making life more affordable for British Columbians.

It’s a promising sentiment, no doubt, but that’s really all it is — just a sentiment. It’s riddled with increased spending and no plans on how to pay for things other than increased tax burdens. I mean, it took 20 minutes for the Finance Minister to even mention the word “jobs. ” Like many of my colleagues, though, and other British Columbians, I hoped that this year the NDP might deliver a budget that lays out feasible plans for economic growth and sought to create opportunities for residents. And there’s good news.

It does offer some support, things that everyone can support, like the rate increase for foster parents and home-share providers and the $74 million invested in child and youth mental health care, which are both very much needed in this province. Increased child care spaces and eliminating interest on B.C. student loans are worthy investments. They’re good ideas. But the means of allocating the funding for these cru- cial initiatives is where the problem arises.

There needs to be consideration about how we generate the revenue in order to provide these supports and services for British Columbians, and that’s where this budget falls flat. I believe that British Columbians will be concerned with the budget’s overall emphasis on big taxes and even bigger Monday, February 25, 2019 British Columbia Debates 7201

spending with no regard for how this will impact the growth of the economy or help to create private sector jobs. The Finance Minister is barely balancing her budget, des- pite the fact that since taking power, she has increased taxes by billions on individuals, homeowners and businesses. The healthy surplus that was created by the former B.C. Liberal government has been spent by the NDP , and the NDP got lucky with the lucrative transfer payment from the federal government. If it weren’t for that federal transfer, B.C. would be facing an $800 million deficit today.

Unfortunately, with this budget, the people of British Col- umbia will be left to the devices of the NDP’s ongoing illu- sions of the last two years. What we have seen is the govern- ment introduce bills and agreements that are misnamed — most notably, the speculation tax, which actually fails to deal with speculation. [2:35 p.m.] In Nanaimo alone, 40,885 residents fall under the specu- lation umbrella. And these people aren’t speculators.

They’re residents with legacy properties that are either used for leis- ure, for family vacations, or are being used for partial retire- ment with the intention of full retirement. The speculation tax forces 1.6 million British Columbians to prove that they reside in their homes or that they rent them out. They’re forced to sign a detailed information declaration stating that the homes that they use their hard- earned money to pay for are being used in a manner that the government approves of.

I’ve had so many calls and emails from constituents who are angry, who are frustrated with the process required for them to prove their innocence. It’s really unbelievable that the NDP is using a negative option billing to imple- ment the tax, which means if the homeowners don’t actu- ally submit the declaration on time, they’ll be charged the full amount of the tax. Just the other day I spoke with a constituent who was frus- trated with the exemption form.

It took him more than 30 minutes to fill out, and then he was concerned about the per- sonal information that he was expected to declare and that he was being asked for. He started wondering what other purposes the government would maybe use that informa- tion for. Why should residents be spending 30 minutes more, sometimes more on the phone waiting for answers from gov- ernment employees, to prove that their properties are being used in a way that the government sees fit? This tax does nothing to make housing more affordable.

All it does is delay housing projects and scare off prospective buyers from other provinces. What’s needed is an increase in supply, but the gov- ernment’s 30-point plan on housing is nothing but reg- ulatory changes and tax implementations, with relief to renters, which we still haven’t seen. There is nothing in the budget to enhance housing accessibility or to increase market rental supply. Tax on these properties is a tax on assets used to fuel the NDP’s spending spree. The NDP is spending money at an alarming rate, and the residents of British Columbia will be forced to foot the bill.

Simply put, this budget is not sustainable, plain and simple. The budget is irresponsible, and it squanders the sur- plus generated by the hard work of the former B.C. Liberal government. The NDP’s spending has skyrocketed a stagger- ing 26 percent since they took power. That translates into an alarming $13 billion. It’s alarming considering that housing starts are set to drop a whopping 25 percent, and the NDP are actually pre- dicting that by 2021 housing starts will have dropped by about 30 percent from the time they took office in 2017.

That’s a loss of tens of thousands of units and untold jobs and economic activity. Fewer homes being built does not improve affordability. While the government continues to highlight commit- ment to investing in additional supportive housing projects across B.C., the NDP and their Green Party partners seem to be among a small minority who don’t understand or refuse to acknowledge how important the supply

part is to the housing affordability solution. The result of this government’s focus simply on demand measures, like that so-called speculation tax I spoke about, has thrust the construction and real estate sectors into the early stages of a serious downturn, jeopardizing thousands of construction jobs and much-needed new market housing supply. Regrettably, this budget makes no mention of supply- focused actions that are to be pursued by the NDP as part of a more complete strategy to drive housing affordability. On top of that, resource revenues are set to drop 30 per- cent.

Where’s the NDP’s plan to address the crisis unfolding in B.C. ’s forestry-dependent communities? Where’s the NDP’s plan to assist B.C. ’s mining communities, given that there are no new mines coming on stream anytime soon in British Columbia and that the private sector exploration activity is declining rapidly? The NDP have no such plans. [2:40 p.m.] At the end of the day, taxes are up $10 billion. That repres- ents $1,200 in additional tax for every man, woman or child over the life of the NDP’s fiscal plan. It’s going to cost you more to heat your home, to fuel your car and to insure your truck — a lot more.

How any of this makes life more afford- able for the people of B.C. is just not clear to me. The Finance Minister talks about making life more afford- able for people in this province and putting money back in their pockets, but the facts paint a very different picture. The government’s own throne speech actually acknowledged this failure by saying: “ Affordability remains the biggest challenge facing B.C. families. Many people are working two or three jobs, commuting farther for work and spending less time with their families, just to make ends meet.

But no matter how hard they work, they cannot seem to get ahead. ” That’s not surprising, because the massive tax increases, the fees, the insurance costs imposed on B.C. families under the NDP are staggering. In fact, the carbon tax, which was previously revenue-neutral, will now be generating $6 billion 7202 British Columbia Debates Monday, February 25, 2019

over the next three years, which will come directly out of the pocket of British Columbians. While investing $902 million of it back into its CleanBC plan and related climate action plans and initiatives, the remaining $5 billion will presumably disappear into the gov- ernment’s general revenue, to be spent on a number of other programs. Gone is the carbon tax revenue neutrality and transparency. So much for the Finance Minister’s plans to give money back to British Columbians.

We have to note, too, that the carbon tax will increase on April 1 by another $5 a tonne, raising that additional $200 million from taxpayers. That was in the fine print in the budget speech, at the bottom of page 113. The carbon tax is meant to fight climate change, yet only a small 15 percent is actually going towards those efforts. We have to wonder what will come from the other 85 percent. Where will it go? What will be done with it? We don’t have a clue, as it gets dumped into the general revenues.

How can we call this a carbon tax when so little of it is actually alloc- ated to reducing the province’s carbon footprint? In addition to the speculation tax and the carbon tax, in 2019, we saw the rollout of the employer health care tax. The NDP have made people believe that they would be elimin- ating MSP , but in reality, they simply replaced it with the employer health tax. This will also be the year of the infamous double-dip, as the NDP continue to charge MSP while simultaneously char- ging the higher replacement of the employer health tax.

By double-dipping and charging both the EHT and the MSP , they are collecting even more dollars from people’s pockets and penalizing business owners. Just like the rest of the taxes imposed by the NDP , this one doesn’t actually function as it should. Instead of targeting large corporations, it’s penalizing entrepreneurs and small business owners. When faced with an additional tax burden, the small and medium-sized business owners will have to cut staffing or increase the prices to their products or services.

I know that in my riding of Parksville-Qualicum, one of my business owners reported that the EHT will cost him an additional $60,000, and that money’s coming right directly from his bottom line. His choice is to increase prices, which could result in a loss of customers. He can cut staff hours or he can lay people off, meaning he’ d have to run his business with less support, and he’ d have to spend more time at work. None of these options is great for the business owner, for the employees or even for the customers. Sure, eliminating MSP is a noble task.

But hiding it behind another tax that penalizes business owners just means that consumers will be paying the tax in another way. The child opportunity fund. That was announced in the budget. It alleges to give back money to parents of this province. But we won’t actually know until 2020, because that’s when it will actually roll out — in 20 months from now, almost two years from now. So what are parents who are struggling today supposed to do until then? Just stick it out until 2020?

I thought this was Budget 2019, not Budget 2020. [2:45 p.m.] A lot can and a lot will happen between now and October 2020, so I think parents shouldn’t quite hold their breath and depend on what may happen in the future. Is this govern- ment just selling more promises to the people of British Col- umbia — promises that they clearly don’t intend to keep? But they sure do sound good. Sound bites are great. Just look at the fact that the NDP still hasn’t delivered on their $400 renters rebate. Y ou don’t hear about it anymore. The $10-a-day daycare remains a talking point.

The NDP promised 22,000 new daycare spaces in over three years, but they’ve only created 3,000 spaces. The NDP promise is just 14 percent fulfilled. They promised British Columbians an affordable child care benefit, but after being in power for two years, there are only 700 more families who have actually received the benefit. The only implementations in this budget that we’re seeing in regard to a poverty reduction plan include a minimum- wage increase and increasing disability assistance rates another $50.

I’m not sure how those things are actually going to break the cycle of poverty, especially when goods and ser- vices are bound to get more expensive as a result of things like the carbon tax. We need a budget that is truly balanced and supports the people of British Columbia. This budget overly emphasizes spending, and it lacks a plan of growing the economy. A healthy economy is not going to come from a tax-spend model. A healthy eco- nomy benefits everyone, encouraging entrepreneurship and investments that are good for the economy and good for the people.

I think it’s important to note that small business and job creators were not even mentioned in this budget. They are the backbone of this province. Unfortunately, the heavy- handed taxation hardly encourages the entrepreneurship and investment that are so vitally important to a healthy eco- nomy, that generate that revenue and build the economy. If people are working, then they are able to contribute to the economy and to be self-sufficient, and they’re able to rely even less on government supports.

Y et this budget does nothing to address the diversification of the job market — except for maybe the LNG pipeline, which has gotten to where it is today because of the hard work done by the B.C. Liberals prior. It does nothing to make British Columbia a province of unique resources and industry, competitive on a global scale. British Columbia has the capacity to be competitive in the global economy because it is a desired destination for tour- ists all over Canada and the rest of the world. It’s home of some of the most sought-after mountains and ocean views in the entire world.

How many other places do you know of that can offer skiing, snowboarding, surfing and hiking all in the same place? Not many. The tourism industry is a great resource for jobs, and it generates that important revenue in our province. But Monday, February 25, 2019 British Columbia Debates 7203

it seems like the NDP have forgotten about this crucial industry, because they have, unsurprisingly, not introduced any new resources to make sure that that sector remains profitable. The Finance Minister addressed the industry with one word in the budget: “tourism. ” It was very informative. British Columbia needs to remain competitive during a time where there is threat of economic downturn. The tour- ism industry is one that enables our province to stand out among the rest of the world. The 2019 budget leaves no wiggle room. There is no rainy- day fund.

There is more money allocated for spending than there is for saving. The irresponsible spending by the NDP is setting us up for failure. They are baking in so much spend- ing — $13 billion in spending to the end of their term, a 26 percent increase over the level of spending when the NDP assumed office, or power, only 19 months ago. And who will be left to pay the bill? The taxpayer. British Columbians. [2:50 p.m.] This excessive spending eliminates any sort of rainy-day fund should the province face tougher times. It creates huge risk should the province find itself faced with an economic downturn.

We all know that growth is slowing. Spending at this rate is setting us up for a potential structural deficit. It’s plain to see that the NDP budget fails to address the affordability crisis in this province. The budget is reminis- cent of a government stuck in the 1970s era of thinking, where they believe that you can tax your way to prosperity and spend your way to growth, that big government knows best and that good-paying private sector jobs will just — poof! — magically appear out of nowhere.

That’s simply not how you create a growing, vibrant, diverse economy where taxpayers are respected, where people have family-support- ing jobs and where governments have the resources that they need to sustainably invest in their people. The people of British Columbia, I can tell you, are starting to feel cheated. This government’s actions have raised the cost of living. They’ve jeopardized economic growth, on which the NDP has pinned all hopes of paying for their spending spree going forward.

Y ou’ll have less money to spend, and it’ll be harder than ever, for those struggling with affordability, to secure their futures. British Columbians deserve a budget that creates oppor- tunity for everyone, not one that presents an opportunity for the government to take their hard-earned money. We deserve a government that grows the economy and focuses on real opportunities for all of us. Simply, we deserve better. I’ d like to thank you for the opportunity to speak on the budget on behalf of the people of Parksville, Qualicum, Nanaimo, Lantzville, and Nanoose Bay.

I think it’s safe to say that I will not be supporting this budget. Deputy Speaker:The member for Nanaimo, making her maiden speech. [Applause.] S. Malcolmson:Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s very good to be here on the territory of the Songhees and Esquimalt people. I come to you from Snuneymuxw territory. I’m drawing back to a time ten years ago when I had just become elected as Islands Trust council chair. I was part of a move- ment to sign, with the Snuneymuxw First Nation, a protocol agreement. This was initiated by Chief Viola Wyse.

We had spent some years, as my colleague the member from Courtenay, north Nanaimo…. That’s not even the right name of your riding. With my friend here, my MLA, we’ve been through a lot of years of treaty negotiation where local governments and the people that actually lived in Nanaimo were thrown around by treaty negotiators, both the federal and provin- cial negotiators. There was a lot of racism expressed in a lot of our community halls.

We had the feeling — once the treaty process fell apart and the treaty negotiators, the feds and the province, left town — that it was just up to us as local people to carry on that relationship, and some dam- age had been done. Chief Wyse just said, so beautifully and so firmly: “Never again. We’re not going to talk to each other that way again. ” I was so honoured to sign with her a protocol committing us to mutual respect and cooperation, a recognition of each other’s responsibilities.

Of course, as a country and as settlers in British Columbia, our inherent responsibility is to recog- nize the treaty rights and the Snuneymuxw ownership, and unceded ownership, of the land. A year later Chief Wyse died at her desk. It was a total shock and a heartbreaker. Her funeral was huge. The recre- ation centre must have had 1,000 people there — the Grand Chief, the AFN Chief, the Premier and all of us.

She had formed these relationships which had never been committed to before. [2:55 p.m.] On our way leaving the rec centre and heading down the Nanaimo Parkway, down to the little tiny Snuneymuxw cemetery on reserve, just right down at the waterfront, we were all loaded onto RDN transit buses for that funeral pro- cession, and the parkway was closed down. We were the only ones travelling on it, the hearse, Chief Wyse’s family and all these city buses. There we were, all holding the strap, bump- ing along the parkway together.

I was with Mayor Ruttan, who hadn’t been, particularly, an advocate for treaty rights before, but he had signed a protocol with Chief Wyse, and there he was. I’m pretty sure he had his mayoral regalia on, and I’m there with former RDN chair Joe Stanhope. He’s about six feet tall and — I don’t know — 90 years old, and he’s bumping along on the bus too. Then there are kids in sweatpants. We were all there together. Every off-ramp from the parkway was shut down, blocked by an RCMP vehicle, and there were the Mounties in serge, saluting her funeral when the buses and the hearse drove by.

It was a moment for us and especially for a city like Nanaimo that doesn’t always have, at that time anyway, such a lightened reputation. It really felt like one of those trans- formational times. 7204 British Columbia Debates Monday, February 25, 2019

We were committed. She had made us commit to work together, and we were on the same bus. We were literally on the same bus and pulling in the same direction. A day like today feels…. It reminds me of that energy. I am on the bus with some new friends. I’m thinking of my feder- al friends in the NDP today. They are pulling together to get our leader, Jagmeet Singh, elected. He’s a friend, and I’m just wishing him so well. We’re hoping that the voters make the right choice in Burnaby South. I’m surrounded by new colleagues in the NDP , and the Premier is here. Thanks for inviting me in.

I’m supported today by family and a lot of former colleagues that I worked with for 12 years on Islands Trust Council — us carrying out the mandate and the responsibility given to us by the provin- cial government and the people: the “preserve and protect” for the benefit of everyone. And my amazing love, Howie, and some of my family. My aunt and uncle are here. We are together.

Y ou represent for me coastal communities working together, pulling togeth- er, and us being here represents that we have a government that is pulling together with local communities, with coastal communities, for the first time in a very long time. We paddled hard together. We worked hard together, loc- ally, to protect and reform B.C. Ferries service, for example. The B.C. Liberals had doubled the fares over the 16 years that they were in power. They had slashed services.

In my own community, Gabriola, people had to leave, had to quit jobs that they had had at the hospital for decades, because there was always that 5:30 in the morning ferry that could get you to your shift. They had the mean-spirited approach to saying that ferries are a service that should pay for themselves. It’s not an approach that was taken with any other public service. Y ou don’t do that for hospitals or roads or universities. But the impact of that ideology hit communities hard, and we rose up. Islands Trust Council fought hard on this. Union of B.C. Municipalities did. People did.

We protested in every ima- ginable way. Islanders are very good at that. We’ve got a bit more practice than we want. The NDP took action. We had already reduced fares on minor routes by 15 percent. We’ d already frozen major route fares. We’ d already returned free passage for seniors, mid- week. All very sensible. But right away, as soon as this gov- ernment was in power, that’s what you did right away.

Just on Friday, my colleague from North Island, who lives on Quadra Island — now a fantastic choice that she’s the Transport Minister, because she really gets ferries — announced that we are restoring all of those service cuts that were made in 2014. [3:00 p.m.] We’re also returning to the model that used to be in place of a coastal council, so that people that are reliant, ferry- dependent communities that are relying on the ferry service, don’t have to fight their way in and protest in front of the Legislature, like we’ve done many times while the Liberals were in power.

Instead, this government is going to bring those interests back in and form that coastal council again that did just such good work. We are a province that is con- nected by ferries, and this government recognizes that, and I’m proud of that. We pulled together. A lot of my friends in the gallery, too, and around the province — we pulled together really hard on marine conflicts. Question period was full of this today. It was Islands Trust Council that rang the alarm on the impact of bitumen spills in the marine environment. Nobody else was talking about it.

We started writing polite letters to the federal government, saying: “Do you know how you would clean this up? Like, really? Show us your studies. ” We were very kind at the beginning and then increasingly anxious that no one was sending us the reassuring words. We were asking the Environment Minister and…. Well, they weren’t called “environment, ” though, at that time. They’ d removed “environment. ” The Liberals had removed it from the name of the ministry, right? So it was Water, Land and Air Protection or something. Anyway, they weren’t helping us out either.

Our staff at Islands Trust revealed that the number of people and the size of the budget that B.C. had to address an oil spill in the ocean — because as soon as it hits the beach, it’s ours, right? — had just been slashed and burned during the decade of mean-spirited cuts on the B.C. Liberal side. Then we couldn’t get the feds, either, to bolster the safety net. So we’re so relieved that this government is the one that’s doing that work. Standing up against Kinder Morgan and now Trans Mountain pipeline — same story. Islands Trust Council — we tried to do the work.

I really thought all we needed to do in Ottawa was defeat the Conservatives, so I went and got elected there. But whoever would have thought that the pro- Indigenous, pro–climate change leadership Prime Minister would buy the pipeline and ram the extra oil tanker traffic through faster than anybody? So this is the place. This is the place to fight this. Abandoned vessels, which I worked on for so long…. One of the times I was at Trust Council, we led 17 different local governments in to meet with the Liberal Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources to say: “There’s a hole in jur- isdiction.

No one is fixing this problem, and it’s creating a huge pollution problem, a hazard to navigation and an oil spill risk. And it’s just getting worse. ” I took that to Ottawa, too, and had some success fol- lowing in the footsteps of my colleague and friend Jean Crowder. She fought hard with and for coastal communit- ies in Ottawa for that. I have been so honoured to follow in your footsteps and have some success in Ottawa. But again, this is the place. This is the House where we’re going to get this work done, and that’s going to be good for the economy and environ- ment.

It’s something that coastal communities have been calling on us to do for such a long time. I got to sit here on this B.C. government bus because of the work of a whole lot of volunteers — almost 1,000 volunteers Monday, February 25, 2019 British Columbia Debates 7205

— my fantastic, amazing campaign manager, Karen Cool- ing, and all the beautiful young people that work with her. So grateful. And almost 12,000 voters. We increased our per- centage and our vote count. Thank you, Nanaimo. I’m so honoured to be here and so honoured to do that work. Because I am here to protect the marine environment, because I’m here to fight for the coast, I have to say how sad I was in the election campaign, knocking on doors.

Did we hear people talking about the risk of a bitumen oil spill, about the calamity of forest fires caused by climate change, about the risk to our food security when drought hits Cali- fornia? The real emergencies that lie ahead of us were very hard for anybody to articulate — I’ve got to be honest — when they are still fighting to live paycheque to paycheque, when they are still on the verge of homelessness. They know how close it is for them. Samaritan House women’s shelter, in Nanaimo….

Over the last year, 50 percent of the women that come to their homeless shelter are over the age of 50, and they are women who’ve worked all their lives. It just takes one bad hit. A divorce. A terrible illness. A job loss. A landlord who doesn’t exercise his rights…. And with the previous government, not enough recourse — no Human Rights Tribunal.

All sorts of protections that were taken away just made vulnerable people that much more vulnerable. [3:05 p.m.] What I did hear on the campaign doorstep was homeless- ness, living paycheque to paycheque, student debt — colossal student debt — and people who lost family members to the opioid crisis with no fault of their own. So I get that. Every election campaign I’m reminded there is no protection of the environment without social justice, and it’s only New Demo- crats that are going to do that work. How are we making change for people right now? I did hear this on the doorstep. The door opens.

There’s a parent with a kid on one hip, and they say: “I know who you are. I know why you’re here. Y ou’re the NDP . I’m saving $1,000 a month because of your child care offer. Thank you very much. ” We know that’s good for business. Business asked us to invest in child care, and we did. We know it gets women into the workforce who want to be there — skilled, talented women. It is usually the women that get left behind, that get forced out of the workplace when they can’t find affordable child care. In some cases, child care has been more expensive than rent for some families. So this is a huge offer.

This is the next big social program in the country that’s been offered. And it’s this government that did that. In Nanaimo specifically, 2,700 kids are getting the benefit of those less-expensive spots. We’ve got 80 more brand-new licensed child care spaces in Nanaimo and more to come — 22,000 more licensed spaces to be funded across B.C. in this most recent budget. There is more to do. But there is a lot of ground to make up. Nanaimo got especially hard hit by the Liberal record of cutting services and making life more expensive. Our health care workers, teachers, our forest workers….

On Vancouver Island alone, over 6,000 value-added forestry jobs were lost while the Liberals were in power. That used to be the found- ation of our economy. So we’ve got trust to rebuild, as well as results to generate fast. Here’s one really good one we heard about a lot in the campaign. In 2013, the Liberals got a report that said Nanaimo’s intensive care unit was the most dangerous in the country, and they did nothing. The Health Minister came to Nanaimo and said: “I’m going to do that work. It’s just in our first year of government. We are going to get it done. ” That’s been the change of people’s lives.

I’m at the hockey game, and Alex Mattes, the head of the paramedic union, says: “Y our government brought 24 new paramedics. We haven’t had any new resources for a dec- ade. We thank you. Thank you. Thank you. ” That is changing lives. This government did that. And 300 people in a tent city in downtown Nanaimo — a terrible situation for anybody, for those living there and for those neighbours of it. When our old city council could not get its act together and say yes to anything, it was our Housing Minister who said: “Y es, we’re going to find modu- lar housing units.

We’re going to get those people housed in a dignified, fast way. ” Thank you for it. Now, the rollout hasn’t been perfect. It couldn’t have been. We were totally under the gun with a court order that said: “Y ou have to do it fast. ” We know that the neighbours have felt more impacts than anybody would have wanted, and we are working on those wraparound services. Thank goodness we have a Mental Health and Addictions Minister in B.C. for the first time ever. We’ve got singular focus. So we are working. In a year and a half, we’ve got a lot done. There is more to do, but I’m so proud of what we have done.

I am going on. I never thought I would make such a long speech, but there’s so much to say. I can…. Interjections. S. Malcolmson:One of the very first things that happened after the Lieutenant-Governor, in her wisdom, decided that it would be the Greens and the NDP that would form gov- ernment here, was the Premier came up to Vancouver Island University. It was right around Labour Day. We all said: “We hope it’s going to be the fulfilment of the tuition waiver com- mitment. Now, this is a great story.

Nanaimo’s university, Vancouver Island University, took up the challenge in 2013 of Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, the children and family advocate, who said: “Kids in foster care should get support if they want to go to university and college. ” [3:10 p.m.] Then in the 2017 campaign, the Premier made that com- mitment: “I’m going to get this done. ” So here we are in the room. I must say there weren’t a lot of New Democrats 7206 British Columbia Debates Monday, February 25, 2019

there, that I could tell. I was feeling a little lonely, me and the Premier and my MLA. The Premier started to talk. He said: “I don’t know about you, but when I was 18 and going to university, I sure as heck didn’t get there on my own. ” Then he kind of choked up a little. Then his security detail, the RCMP , were wiping away tears in the back of the room. Everybody is looking at each other like: “What kind of a gov- ernment is this? We’ve never heard a press conference quite like that before. ” Two other ministers were there, but really, the space was taken by the Premier saying that this is our commitment.

These kids were taken away from their families. Government took these kids away from their families, and we are going to be the responsible parent. If they want to go to university or college, we are going to get them there, and we are going to pay their fare. Then sidebar. Then the Premier passed the mike to two young women who had experience living in foster care. They occupied the rest of the press conference. That was perfect because they’re the ones that had been there. Ruby and — I don’t remember her friend’s name — Selena? No. So that changes lives, and it’s been hugely successful already.

Across the province, almost 700 went back to school in the year since the Premier made that announcement. There are 83 at Vancouver Island University alone. When I was with the minister, we were visiting the new Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre housing — beautiful affordable housing that was just built last year on Bowen Road. B.C. Housing funded that: 24 units and the first multifamily housing that’s been built in Nanaimo since the early ’90s. We met Sandra, who said: “I lost my kids because my basement flooded, but now I am here. My kids are back. My family is reunited. I’ve got this beautiful, beautiful apart- ment.

And oh, by the way, did I mention that I’m at VIU? I used to be a foster child myself. I’m going to school. I’m get- ting an education. ” It was such a beautiful story. Here’s another beautiful story that I loved in the budget announcement. If you are family who wants to look after your own extended family to prevent them from being, themselves, taken into foster care, you can now get funding equivalent to what foster parents get. That is going to change lives and keep families together. I thank the Finance Minister for saying yes to that. That’s what New Democrats do. Student debt: another huge one.

Under the Liberals, the cost of education was tripled. I just keep bumping into kids who have got a debt load that is phenomenal. The Liberals did nothing while B.C. students struggled with the highest interest loans in the country. Effective last week, announced in the budget, interest is eliminated on B.C. student loans. We’ve got huge investments in mental health care, partic- ularly focused on youth, which I’ve heard about a lot from amazing, articulate young advocates in Nanaimo. A $74 mil- lion investment in prevention and early intervention for kids, youth and young adults — that’s going to change lives.

Increasing support by another $30 million for a total of over $600 million to help tackle the overdose crisis. It’s hit Nanaimo hard. We need it. We need to support those front- line groups who have been doing this amazing, brave work. We are there to help. Affordable housing in Nanaimo alone — 300 new afford- able housing units that have been announced just last year. We’ve got more work to do on modular housing, but I’m especially excited about the rent banks in last week’s budget announcement. Someone that’s on the verge of losing their house because they can’t pay one month’s rent, say?

They can go to the rent bank, which will be operated by a non-profit, groups that are on the ground and embedded in the grass roots. That’s going to keep people able to keep their homes. That’s going to reduce homelessness. That is going to change lives. Thank you. Another one. This is a little bit less sexy, maybe: mobile home parks. We have experienced this all over Vancouver Island. If you have what you think is a mobile home but it’s been sitting there for 30 years, if a new owner comes in and says, “We’re razing the park.

We’re going to put up condos, ” you all of a sudden have zero asset. [3:15 p.m.] This especially hits elderly folks with, again, a crisis of homelessness. So this government has brought in protec- tions that give 12 months’ notice. Plus, if in fact, the mobile unit is no longer mobile, you’ve got some recourse and some compensation. That is going to change lives, and this govern- ment did that too. My list goes on and on. Just trust me. There’s a lot more. Climate action.

Over $900 million to build the green jobs of the future and create incentives right now to drive fossil- emission-free cars and to renovate homes and, especially, to build that next wave of jobs. The fish farms announcement on the Broughton. That is a game-changing decision for Canada — to have First Nations in the Broughton work together with the provincial govern- ment, for them to trust each other enough to get the work done, for them to agree to a path forward to remove fish farms from the wild salmon migration routes after 30 years of conflict.

I mean, I thought if Alexandra Morton couldn’t get it done, nobody could. It turned out that it needed a new government with a com- mitment to doing things in a new way and First Nations that trusted that this government was going to treat them well and work well with them. They got it done. That’s a model for our next conflict. So thank you for that too. I started my first day of work here at the side of Chief Wyse from Snuneymuxw First Nation, Paul Wyse-Seward and Councillor Erralyn Thomas. They blanketed me on my way in the door.

It was the son of the late Chief Viola Wyse, who I started this journey with in some ways, arguably. They gave me the honour of both that protection and also that ceremony. Not only pledging an oath to the Queen, but that I was able to articulate my commitment to Snuneymuxw and to local people was just the honour of my life. I still can’t quite believe that it happened. To Chief Wyse, if you’re watching, I’m thinking of your Monday, February 25, 2019 British Columbia Debates 7207

mom, and I’m looking forward to working with you and your whole council on the next steps. We have a fantastic new council elected in Nanaimo. Y ou may have met the new mayor, Leonard Krog. He and I have worked really well together for a really long time. The goodwill expressed towards him in the community is extraordinary. The powerhouse, I feel, is the opportunity of a govern- ment here that is willing to invest in people and work with coastal communities, with the strong leadership of Snun- eymuxw First Nation, a really young dynamic, well-educated and highly motivated council.

With our strong friendship and our promise to each other and a city council that is just so ready to do the work…. It’s already doing it with heart and wisdom. We’ve got so much to do. Coastal protection. Climate change. Affordable housing. Working for people, working together. We are on the same bus, and we are moving together. Thank you, friends. Deputy Speaker:Member for Cariboo North. C. Oakes:I am pleased to have the…. Deputy Speaker:Member, hold it. Sorry. I missed…. Member for Cowichan Valley. S. Furstenau:Thank you, hon. Speaker, and thank you to Cariboo North for understanding.

I had to wait for moving people out of my realm here. I actually want to start by acknowledging that we just had a group of students come into the gallery. Y ou look to be about grade 5 or 6, I’m thinking. Y eah, I’m getting nods up there. I’m going to say that much of my speech really does focus on the responsibility that we have in this House to you.

Y ou should always be at the front of our minds in the work that we’re doing here and the decisions we are making here, because that work and those decisions are going to impact you more than anybody else. [3:20 p.m.] I want you to know that you are at the front of my mind in the work I’m doing — and all young people and future generations. I’m glad you’re here today. Welcome to the Legislature. The members of this House know I originally got into politics because I’ d actually lost trust in government’s ability to manage our resources and to keep my community safe.

Contaminated soil had been dumped in my watershed in Shawnigan Lake. It’s a watershed that my children and many other children drink from every day. It’s the watershed that my children actually learned to swim in, in Shawnigan Lake. It’s a watershed that nourishes wildlife and our entire com- munity. It keeps our local ecosystems, our children — all of our families — alive and healthy. Several years ago, in 2011, when I first moved to Shaw- nigan Lake, we began to notice signs with skulls and cross- bones dotting the sides of the roads.

We learned that the provincial government was considering issuing a permit to a company operating a quarry at the south end of Shawnigan Lake, halfway up a mountain that overlooks a lake that we draw our drinking water from. The site has Shawnigan Creek on its eastern edge, which feeds directly into Shawnigan Lake, and a so-called ephem- eral stream — although it runs pretty much all year — on its western edge, which runs into Shawnigan Creek. Despite immense public opposition, the draft permit was issued for the contaminated landfill.

The materials that were approved to be deposited in our drinking watershed included benzene, toluene, xylene, styrene, methyl tertiary butyl ether, volatile petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, chloride sodium glycols. We watched as truckload after truckload came into our watershed and deposited soil that had these contaminants in them. It was a threat to our health, and it still is.

The permit was indeed cancelled in February 2017, after immense work on the part of our community, but not before tens of thousands of tonnes of contaminated soil were deposited at the site, contaminated soil that sits there to this day, two years after that permit was cancelled. As a mother, a teacher and a community member, I could not sit back and allow this to happen without getting involved. My daughter turns 12 this year, much like many of you up there, I expect. She will not be able to vote. Y ou will not be able to vote until 2025, although if we lower the voting age, we could get that down a few years.

We’re working on that. This is just a few years shy of the latest IPCC report that has warned that we will hit 1.5 degrees of warming if we fail to change course in the coming decade. By the time she’s able to vote, the frightening trends of climate change will be worsening. She is, and you are, the ones who will have to deal with those repercussions. I think back to the words of 15-year-old Swedish girl and activist Greta Thunberg. Greta has been skipping schools on Friday to protest for climate action.

When the British Prime Minister criticized her movement for “wasting lesson time, ” Greta responded: “That may well be the case. But then again, political leaders have wasted 30 years of inaction” on climate, and “that is slightly worse. ” Today I am pleased to rise to the first provincial budget that takes substantive climate action. The $900 million that we see invested in CleanBC is proof of the success of the col- laboration of a minority government. It is proof that we are setting a pathway towards fulfilling the debt that we owe to future generations. But we have a long way to go.

I still look up at the scarred Shawnigan mountainside each day and see that contaminated soil that sits there wait- ing to be removed. But I am encouraged by this budget and the shift it marks in how we view our role in govern- ment. In addition to the significant funding for CleanBC, 7208 British Columbia Debates Monday, February 25, 2019

there’s funding for education, funding to address the failures of professional reliance, increased affordability for students, for youth mental health, PharmaCare, child care and First Nations. [3:25 p.m.] These investments, which we pushed for through the confidence and supply agreement, show that we take our role seriously. Our role is not to serve the interests of wealthy, multinational corporations that seek to exploit our raw resources. Our role is to serve the interests of future generations. CleanBC is the culmination of years of work.

As my col- league pointed out last week, it is not just a climate plan; it is an economic plan. It provides a pathway towards position- ing British Columbia as a low-carbon leader. It is an all-of- government approach to tackling the greatest challenge that humankind has ever faced. Most of all, it is an investment in our young people and their future.

To cover some of the numbers, the $902 million allo- cated to CleanBC provides $354 million in operating funding, $299 million in contingency for programs under development, $26 million in capital investments to help people and businesses reduce their emissions and $58 mil- lion in additional capital funding to make buildings more efficient. These are only some of the aspects funded under the CleanBC plan, which will take us a long way towards meeting our target of 40 percent greenhouse gas emissions reductions by 2030.

But if we really look at these numbers, we can see how they will benefit the health and well-being of British Col- umbians. For example, $223 million will increase the climate action tax credit over three years. This can save a family of four up to $400 this year. By taxing what we don’t want — pollution — we can shift away from taxing things that we do, like good earnings for regular people. Budget 2019 is projecting $1.7 billion raised through tax- ing carbon emissions, which reduces pressure on income tax and helps pay for the elimination of MSP payments, all while reducing pollution.

By making homes and buildings more efficient and incentivizing the shift to electric vehicles, fam- ilies will have to pay less each month for utilities and gas. The research shows that climate change will and already is impacting society’s most vulnerable people first. By address- ing climate change, we are heading off growing inequalities that put vulnerable people the most at risk. In our submission to the Budget 2

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20190225pm-Hansard-n206
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20190225pm Hansard n206
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	c7bbf94d16a9ad2a3f5415ac2b7b43e2f73bc967

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