First Session, 43rd Parliament

Official Report

of Debates

( Hansard )

Thursday, February 20, 2025

Afternoon Sitting

Issue No. 5

The Honourable Raj Chouhan , Speaker

ISSN 1499-2175

The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.

The PDF transcript remains the official digital version.

Contents

Orders of the Day

Throne Speech Debate (continued)

Darlene Rotchford

Jeremy Valeriote

Macklin McCall

Hon. Kelly Greene

Misty Van Popta

Hon. Sheila Malcolmson

Linda Hepner

Steve Morissette

Anna Kindy

Hon. Mike Farnworth

Thursday, February 20, 2025

The House met at 1:02 p.m.

[The Speaker in the chair.]

The Speaker : Member for Esquimalt-Colwood.

Darlene Rotchford : It’s my honour to be here today and acknowledge the privilege that it is to be standing

on the traditional and unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking peoples, today known as Esquimalt and Songhees Nations.

The Speaker : Member, are you starting the speech on the throne speech?

Darlene Rotchford : Yes. My apologies, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker : Take a seat. We’ll recognize you later.

Orders of the Day

Hon. Mike Farnworth : I call address in reply to the throne speech.

Throne Speech Debate

(continued)

Darlene Rotchford : Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for your grace. I look across the floor at my colleagues

and my colleagues here as we are all new and in this together.

Again, I am privileged to be standing on the traditional and unceded territories of

the lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking peoples, today known as the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. I am honoured to be the

MLA on the land of these nations and even more honoured to have my office located

between them in the community.

I look forward to being able to work together in partnership during my time as an

MLA with all nations across the province.

I would like to thank the people of Esquimalt-Colwood who voted for me. In a world

where we’re all busy, I am grateful for those who took the time to go to a voting

station, submitted a mail ballot or voted by phone for me.

[Mable Elmore in the chair.]

I am a person who truly appreciates people’s time.

Thank you, all. Thank you for your stories. I heard so many good stories about the

work that’s being done across our community, but also the challenges we’re still facing.

It highlighted the work that we still have to do.

To my campaign manager, Tanya Mallo: thank you for your long hours of work helping

me during the election.

For anyone who didn’t know, I was a very last-minute candidate, and we just hit the

ground running. Tanya stepped up and managed my campaign when my predecessor became

unwell prior to being able to run in the election.

[1:05 p.m.]

Saying we were all flying by the seat of our pants definitely would have been an understatement

during this campaign. Every day was a new day, and she took it all in stride.

Thank you to Sarena and Caleb, who were the jack and jill, literally, of all trades.

No task was too great for you both. I cannot even begin to express my gratitude to

you both during the campaign. You held me up during times of self-doubt, physical

and mental exhaustion, and reminded me about the importance of making sure the Legislature

has people that represent all of our communities, and that we got elected.

I would also like to take a moment to thank my predecessor, MLA Mitzi Dean, for her

hard work during her time as the MLA from Esquimalt-Colwood, as well to thank her

for her work as the Minister of Children and Family Development and as the Minister

of State of Child Care.

As well, I want to take more of a personal approach to thank her for supporting military

families across the province and across my community. During really challenging times

during COVID, when our husbands, our partners, our families were at sea, making sure

we were deployable and ready, she always was there to hear my concerns and from the

people of our riding. Thank you for everything you’ve done.

To all my volunteers, to all the unsung heroes who stepped up and helped out, who

didn’t even know me, people who saw a common goal of making sure that British Columbians

were supported: thank you for your countless hours of door-knocking, phone banking

and — our favourite — fundraising. Thank you all for holding me up during this election.

We door-knocked on some rainy and windy days in Esquimalt-Colwood, and some sunny

days. But you would have never known the challenges we faced at the door because at

the end of the day, they would all come back with smiles and stories, good and bad,

about how we were going to continue to make British Columbia an even better place

than it already is to live.

To my sign crew, which, we can all attest to, is not an easy job, no matter what part

of the province you’re in: thank you for all the work you did during and after the

election, when we all, let’s be honest, wanted to sit in sweatpants and do nothing.

You all went out and collected every single sign and made sure that we cleaned up

well after. You were a very well-oiled machine. We had some good laughs and made lasting

memories that I will never forget.

I was blessed to have people who told me at the doors about why I was the best person

for the job, when some days, quite frankly, I even had some self-doubt.

I want to thank my family. I’m going to do this without breaking down. I have baby

2 on the way, if no one’s noticed around the House, our next little British Columbian.

I come from a family where my dad raised three very strong-willed daughters. He taught

me to treat everyone equally. No matter where you come from or what you do, we always

have something to teach each other, and you have to take it one day at a time. My

dad, this Sunday coming, is celebrating 34 years of sobriety in a world that is not

always the nicest place. He is a man that I look up to, as I stand in front of you

today, who, due to health concerns, might not be here much longer. But I’m proud to

say that I get to take every lesson I learned to this House, with you as my colleagues,

to make sure that we are standing up for people.

As it was said in the throne speech, we may not always agree how to get there, but

we agree we all need to do it together, even though the process may be rough, and

there may be difficult conversations.

I have two sisters who are very different people than me, to say the least. I got

phone calls and text messages daily, just checking in. How are you doing? How is it

going? It’s little things like that — again, because it’s about time for each other

— that really make it special.

To my in-laws…. To my mother-in-law, who is the mayor of small town in Newfoundland,

it was so nice to hear from other people across the country who look to us in British

Columbia and what we are doing, as always looking at how they can also better their

communities by looking at us as a province that’s doing good work.

To my little girl, to baby Evie, who people kept calling Eby for some reason during

the campaign, in the news and everywhere. The running joke was…. I had a media event

with the Premier, and they said: “Oh, I can’t believe how well Eby behaved.”

[1:10 p.m.]

The Premier said: “Oh, thank you. That’s kind of weird.” Then he realized: “No, no.

They meant Evie, the baby.” It became a running joke in my house.

It is a privilege to be the mom of a little girl and a second little girl on the way.

I’m going to bring back a few reasons why.

It’s astonishing that I get to be one of 93 people across the province who get to

speak here today. I get to represent the people of Colwood, and I am proud to have

such a diverse caucus. We have the most women elected ever in a caucus in British

Columbia. Currently, 65 percent of our caucus is women.

I am also honoured to be elected to B.C.’s biggest group of women ever elected in

B.C. history, as I look across the floor. Thank you to the women who came before us,

who made it possible, who supported us to get where we are today. That was not an

easy fight, always.

Let’s just talk briefly about why I started this journey. I moved to British Columbia

because I wanted a better place to live. I grew up in a very small town in Nova Scotia,

and my running joke is that I can’t go any farther and stay in the country. But why

would I? This is a beautiful place to live, and I’m privileged to live on this island

and in this province.

I worked in health care for 18 years, all in mental health and substance use. I’ve

seen firsthand what good work from government can do. I started at a time when we

had cut services, constantly, to addiction services. We had to beg and plead to government

at the time, in 2007, to make sure we had services for people.

I have seen firsthand how supporting workers who have addiction can better our communities

because, again, I have a dad who has an addiction. He had an employer who worked for

him, who supported him through his process so that he could work for 35 years at a

job that put food on our plates and lights on over our heads.

I had a mother who suffered from mental health issues, when there was no support in

eastern Canada. To go see a psychiatrist, to have any type of help, you would literally

have to drive four hours, and my dad did that. He’d work 12-hour shifts, come home,

check in on the kids, drive four hours, see my mom and come back. I remember saying:

“This is fundamentally wrong. This is not okay.” If anyone’s been to Nova Scotia,

it’s not very big compared to British Columbia, so it shouldn’t have taken that long.

Then I got into activism in my union because I had a client who passed away, and I

was told that if I wanted to take any time or if I wanted to do anything, I could

take an unpaid leave to go take care of my mental health. My colleagues were told

the same. I said, “This is wrong,” so I got involved.

Then I met John Horgan, and I remember hearing him say that we need to bring everyone

along in our journey. I remember saying: “Until we’re there, he’s right. We all have

to bring along.” We’re all going to have different views, different opinions, but

that approach to how we’re going to get there is how we get there.

Being a labour activist, I was very lucky to be there at a time when I had strong-willed

women to support me in my activism.

As part of my journey, I’m also honoured to be the B.C. military liaison for the province

of British Columbia. I do that because I’m a Navy wife. I’m a family member of many

serving members and now veterans.

In the name of my riding, we have Esquimalt: CFB Esquimalt, Maritime Forces Pacific

and Joint Task Force Pacific. This base was established and has been operational since

1860 to the current day. So to say we have a long-standing, proud history with the

military in my riding would be an understatement. It currently has over 4,000 military

personnel and over 2,500 civilian employees.

Currently we have three ships out. HMCS Ottawa is overseas in South Asia, ensuring

freedom of navigation with our allies. HMCS Regina is conducting training exercises

with our allies off Hawaii. Some exciting news is that we have HMCS Corner Brook,

our submarine, conducting trials off Esquimalt in order to be deployed at a later

date, the first time it has been in the water and operational since 2011. It’s pretty

exciting in a time when we all need to be standing and supporting each other coast

to coast.

Nanaimo is also sailing, because I’ll touch base on those folks, about local support

of naval training requirements.

I want to thank everyone who’s gone and the work they are doing, but also their family

at home in my community. During COVID, my husband sailed literally around this Island.

I have jokes about how I have pictures of me doing this while his boat was behind

me and we were on the phone, because he stayed deployable ready.

[1:15 p.m.]

There were children who looked out and saw their parents, but it was months before

we got to see them. Thank the families for holding down everything at home.

I just want to touch on our veterans to make sure they’re also not forgotten because

of all the work they did during their time supporting us in a country and the important

work that they do. For most veterans I know, as people can probably attest, their

work’s not done. They’re still doing good work in their communities.

I’ll talk a little about my riding and some of the good work that we touched on in

the throne speech as well. In Colwood, we had a joint collaboration with the Minister

of Health and one of our local governments. They are now running a municipally run

medical clinic in conjunction with the Minister of Health. It’s a great example of

what we show. We recognize there’s something that needs to be done, and we can work

collaboratively to give back in our community.

When Mayor Kobayashi made the announcement about this project, it was so big in the

media that he had calls not just across our region and the province but from across

the country: “How did you guys make this work?” He made it work by working with the

Minister of Health at the time to ensure that the people in his community are going

to get the primary care they need.

It said in the throne speech that a strong and growing economy is necessary to protect

and improve the public services that families rely on, especially health care. There

is no greater expression of who we are as Canadians than our universal, public health

care. In a time when we are being challenged by someone we called an ally, this is

a great example of the work we all need to do.

I was asked by a man at the door, during the election, about how a health care worker

could run for the NDP with the current state of our health care. Well, let me tell

you.

I have seen what investing in good services can do. We had some debate and talks in

the House today about this. I have seen how we need multiple different approaches

to support people in addiction and recovery. There is no one person with the same

story, with the same problem. Therefore, why would their treatment be the same? We

need to continue to make sure we are investing in all levels of recovery and support

to support those people.

I just want to talk a little bit about Sean, who unfortunately did pass due to other

related health complications. Sean was someone who was started on opiate replacement.

He got hurt on the job, not an uncommon story from when I spent ten years at a detox,

and he wanted to get back to work. How was he going to do that? They were doing different

ways. He went down a really unfortunate path. Opiate replacement therapy made it possible

for him to get back into trades, working with his union, working with his doctor,

making his pain manageable through opiate replacement therapy.

I bring that story forward because it’s a good example of some of the work this government

has done around opiate replacement therapy and what we need to do and continue to

do, as well as ensuring that we have abstinence-based programming, like we’ve done.

For anyone who doesn’t know, in Victoria, we opened a women’s treatment centre, the

first in the South Island for women of the Island, under this government. Before,

those women would have to go to the Lower Mainland for treatment, come back to our

community and then hope to stay sober. Now they get to be there in our community.

We’ve also trained hundreds of doctors. We’ve hired over 6,000 nurses, just in the

last year. We’re taking action to retain them with better pay and working conditions.

We are hiring and training people in health care, skilled trades, housing construction,

mining and so much more.

I can tell you, as a health care worker, that when you go to work every day during

a pandemic and you don’t know where the next day is going to lead, having a government

that actually cares makes a difference for those workers.

Some of the other good things that we talked about in the throne speech around health,

and things we’ve continued. The scope of practice for pharmacists is expanding. People

are getting prescription drugs for minor ailments and free contraceptives quicker

and easier. And, the announcement of IVF treatment for people who want to start families.

You can’t talk about contraception without talking about IVF and the full spectrum

of that care.

As someone who had to rely on fertility treatment to start my family originally, the

proud work that this government did to look for families…. Because it’s also a cost

of living. For anyone who unfortunately has had to go through fertility treatment,

it’s quite expensive, and deciding if you’re going to try to save for a home or start

your family is a tough conversation to have. Now you don’t necessarily have to do

that. You can go and start your process and start your family.

As someone who’s been through the process, it’s already really hard. It’s mentally

and emotionally a rollercoaster. So taking that bit away from everybody who wants

to start a family makes a difference for British Columbians.

[1:20 p.m.]

Government and people in the field of maternity care also work together. It was called

the unattached clinic. Everyone got wise enough to know that’s a horrendous name,

and they changed it to the perinatal clinic of Victoria General.

Again, the government recognized there was a hole. There’s a hole in our maternity

care system, and we need to fix it. Government, working with people in that field,

said: “Well, let’s look at this model and give it a try.”

I was one of the first people. There was a group of us who went. Every time I went

to the clinic at Vic General, it was such a compassionate, caring group of people.

They would talk about how this is saving the health, keeping people out of emerg,

keeping all of the good things going for people in maternity care who are already

petrified. The assumption had been: “Well, you’re 37; you know what you’re doing.”

Nope, sure didn’t.

Having people who could talk about the importance to me and support me and my growing

family during a time that was really scary…. It went back to the collaboration part,

to supporting people in our community. When I went there, it was people from all spectrums

stepping up and making sure, in that group that was supported by this government,

to fill that hole, that they were heard and they were supported.

A little on housing. I had the privilege of being elected to Esquimalt council before

I started this journey. Neither was really planned, for the record. During my time

in local government, we made some good progress in housing.

This government made it easier for us to support people who wanted to, maybe, look

at different housing options on their land in our community. How could they support

their kids with homes in our community? Aging in place is a very big one in my community,

as we have a growing population.

Our government is cutting red tape, to build more housing in our communities. Getting

to see it firsthand, when I was in local government but then door-knocking during

this election, was something extra-special. I’d hear those stories.

One of the other housing sites that is now built in our community is the Lions at

Fleming. It’s a six-storey, 137-unit affordable rental. It’s a mix of studios, one-bedroom,

two-bedroom and family, three or four bedrooms. Several of its units are fully wheelchair-accessible,

which is really hard to find for people who are struggling with affordability.

It was a joint project, with not only the government but other community agencies.

It’s another example of how, when we all work together collaboratively, we can show

the good work we can do for the people in our community.

I had the privilege of doing a tour just after I was first elected — the family housing

was already half-full — and hearing about the affordability aspect, what people were

talking about and how it has changed their life. It shows what we’ve done.

Next is child care. I need it again, obviously. I myself struggled to find child care.

Then we looked at the affordability, we looked at everything this government has done,

and I found a spot.

As I’ve gotten to meet and know those other parents, I hear about the difference it

has made for their lives. One couple told me they were paying $3,000 a month for in-home

child care. That’s what they needed at the time because they couldn’t find a place,

let alone somewhere that was affordable. They now are paying a much lower rate under

our child care plan, and now they can have a breather. We just need to remember that

things like that are changing lives for families in British Columbia.

The minimum-wage increase. For anyone who has followed me around, I can remember starting

on the pay-for-15 campaign back in the day and how we had to raise the minimum wage.

B.C. is among…. With the minimum-wage increases, now B.C. is the highest in Canada

for the minimum wage. We’re ensuring future increases so people will keep pace with

inflation, because it’s important for people.

Paid sick days. This was a huge win; this was great work. As someone who, during the

pandemic, had to deal with employees…. Everyone said: “You’re in a union shop. It’s

great. You get sick days.” I said: “Well, let me tell you about how casual workers

don’t.”

The government listened. They made sure people don’t have to go to work sick. This

was great work. I commend everything about it. We implemented a standard of five days

of paid sick leave for every year.

Some of the things we talked about too are hiring and training more people in multiple

areas. I saw this in health care.

[1:25 p.m.]

I often think of my cleaner who cleaned at our facility. Her name is Mulu; she’s amazing.

She was part of the group that got contracted out in the early 2000s and that this

government brought back into health care. In her country, she was a nurse. She is

now cleaning because her standards were not recognized. But under this government,

what she’s doing…. She’s now getting re-educated and supported to get back into her

field in an environment she’s already working in as part of an interdisciplinary team,

and that’s great.

I am proud to be the Parliamentary Secretary for Labour as part of the work that I’m

going to get to do to ensure that we’re having good-paying jobs that continue to build

a very strong community.

We’ve done things, and we’ll continue. We’ve added the cancer presumption for firefighters.

We’ve added numerous cancers, a list of presumptive diseases, that firefighters are

at risk of developing, so they can access workers compensation and the health care

they need more quickly.

We’ve established a mental health presumption for police, firefighters, paramedics,

sheriffs and corrections officers, as well as for nurses, emergency dispatchers, publicly

funded health care aides and several other health and safety social service providers,

in recognition of the increased risk of mental illness that can arise for workers

from traumatic workplace incidents. This was a big win.

I can’t count the number of times over my career where I have been involved in an

incident, because it’s a tough field to work in, and people are struggling. They’re

decompensating, and I can list all the reasons why they are. I think of how this will

make the lives of my colleagues who are still working in health care better.

We’ve created 250,000 jobs in the past seven years, with the strongest hourly-wage

growth in this country. I am proud to say, as a worker of this province who has now

been elected into government, the work that we’ve done for workers….

The other thing I want to talk briefly about is domestic sexual violence leave. This

was also a great win and great work by this government, and it will continue to, again,

support our workers. You can now have up to five days per year of paid leave, and

additional unpaid leave, available for employees who are facing domestic or sexual

violence or parents of a child impacted by this kind of violence.

When I was a steward, I was in a meeting. It didn’t look great. This employee, for

whatever reason, was missing work constantly. They disclosed that they were being

abused at home. This language allowed them to get out of their home. They didn’t have

to worry about financial obligation. They could get out. They are now safe with their

kids. Sitting there and being part of it…. I can’t even describe how good it felt

to be like: “That’s why I ran. That’s why I’m here.”

We’ve seen how unpredictable President Trump is. B.C. must be, and is, ready to defend

against Trump’s unjustified tariff. We are saying, with one united voice, that we

will never be the 51st state — not now, not ever.

I am proud to say I’m Canadian. I’m proud to say I was born in eastern Canada. And

I’m sure as heck proud to say I’m a British Columbian today, because this is the province

I want to be in when this all goes down.

I can’t even talk about the support I’ve gotten in our community from our military,

who are just like: “This is not okay. I have fought for this country. I’ve stood for

this country. People have lost their lives for this country, and this is how we’re

being treated by an ally.”

There’s a lot of work to do to lighten the load for British Columbians, and I recognize

that. British Columbians have asked us to work together to make life better for them.

I saw firsthand, as a health care worker during COVID, that during times of crisis

and uncertainty, governments across party lines, across political views, can work

together to better not just Canada but the lives of British Columbians. I’ve seen

it, and it was good.

I thank the people who did it. I know those were challenging times and conversations,

and I know people had to challenge their core beliefs, but they came together and

said: “We’re making sure that we’re here and that we’re represented.” From being one

health care worker to, now, someone who has the privilege of being here, I thank each

and every person who did it, because every day was a hard day.

I can tell you the reason I ran for local government. There are two streets in Esquimalt….

If you ever get the chance — I know we’re not far — and you have some free time, pop

over to Esquimalt. It’s great. Other parts are great too — they’re listening in my

riding — but in Esquimalt, I think about Lampson, and I think about Fraser still.

When the world first started to go sideways, there was a house that had this tree,

and they had little hearts that the kids had sewn, and they put them on this tree.

[1:30 p.m.]

I was very fearful. I didn’t know what was going on with COVID. I didn’t want to get

anyone sick. My husband was at sea, so I’d walk my dog by myself at night. That was

the first house I remember seeing where they cared enough that they just wanted us

to know that they were there for us.

Then, on Fraser, there was this little sign that’s still there to this day to say

we need to support each other. I remember that sign, and I think about it today when

I feel like the world is on fire some days. I rock my little girl to bed and just

think how we all need to do better together. And I think what I take away from the

throne speech is that we’re all in this. Again, how we get there will be different,

but we all agree we need to get there.

During the difficult times we’re facing, and these difficult conversations again,

I hope we can all agree to do the same. A statement that’s really important to me

is “United we stand, and divided we fall.” In a time where they’re trying to cause

division between us, there is never a more important time that we need to stand up

together and say: “Enough is enough, and we will not be the 51st state.”

Thank you to my colleagues today for hearing me, and thank you for your time.

Jeremy Valeriote : Thank you for the opportunity to provide a response to the Speech from the Throne.

Before I begin, I want to thank the lək̓ʷəŋən traditional singers and dancers, Esquimalt Elder Mary Ann Thomas and Songhees Elder

Frank George for opening this 43rd parliament in a good way with power and heart.

This Legislature sits on the territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən- speaking peoples, now known as the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. I’m grateful for their

continued cooperation as we work to reconcile the wrongs of the past.

I also want to recognize that the people of West Vancouver–Sea to Sky live, play and

work on the territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and the southern Stl’alt’imx Nations, which include the Líl̓wat , the Xa’xtsa, the Skatin, the Samahquam and the N’Quatqua.

I also note that my hometown of Whistler is on the shared territory of the two nations,

known in their languages as Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw and Lil̓wat7úl .

I hold up my hands to the Legislature staff, from the cleaners to the Clerks, for

helping me and everyone else in this building prepare for the start of session and

our collective wish for four years of good work ahead.

I want to thank the constituents of West Vancouver–Sea to Sky for empowering me to

do this work. They’ve entrusted me to represent our diverse communities, and I really

feel that weight.

I will strive every day to honour you, the constituents, from the Stl’alt’imx and

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh people to the pioneers in Pemberton, the adventure-seekers in Whistler, the innovators

of Squamish, the free spirits on Bowen Island and the pillars of West Vancouver society.

This is a big moment. I’m not sure what the nerves are about. It’s not my first time

rising to speak in this chamber. Maybe it’s my first time being asked to hold forth

for two hours — well, actually, 28 minutes. I thought I had…. I was never going to

use the two hours, so that’s probably about right. Hopefully I’m not stumbling too

much.

It’s also a big moment for our province and our leaders. As leaders, we can’t afford

to stumble.

As we’ve noted several times already, we’re living in a period of global upheaval.

With that comes a once-in-a-generation opportunity for transformative change, to change

in a way that anticipates the future and makes life better for everyone. As leaders,

we can’t lean on mental models and systems that no longer serve us.

I started watching the Tragically Hip documentary and was reminded of the words of

the great Canadian songwriter Gordon Downie, who has probably been quoted in this

chamber before: “You can’t be fond of living in the past, because if you are, there’s

no way you’re going to last.” That’s probably true of all of us, but maybe…. I won’t

expand. Leave the poetry as it is.

I’ve been really lucky to have a lot of rich life experiences on my journey into this

chamber. All of them, I hope, will inform my work here.

I have worked as a geological engineer, as an environmental professional. I’ve worked

in the mining, energy, development, contaminated sites and local government sectors.

I’ve been on both sides of the environmental assessment process, working for small

businesses; working for deep-pocketed, influential proponents; and volunteering for

community non-profits, reviewing very complex EA reports in the thousands of pages.

I’ve worked in mine closure and reclamation, geological exploration in the north of

B.C. and environmental baseline mapping. I even did a season of tree planting in my

youth. All driven by a desire to work in the great outdoors, not behind a desk. As

we all know, those dreams fade with age. Now I’m behind a desk, behind this desk.

[1:35 p.m.]

Even though I didn’t come to B.C. until I was 18, I’ve been blessed to get to see

so many parts of this province and truly fall in love with our land and its people.

I’ve worked as local government staff and an elected official, so I’ve been lucky

to have the opportunity to see multiple angles of the equation, bridging some gaps

and facilitating understanding on all sides.

I also am extremely privileged. I’m white, male, etc., and I’m born at the right time

to own a house and be financially comfortable. These bring their own sets of biases.

When I think about the breadth of perspectives that I cover, it feels like a lot for

one lifetime so far, but it’s actually quite narrow.

If there’s one key insight that comes from my life experience to date, maybe it’s

that under a different set of entirely possible conditions…. But for the grace of

God, I could have been unhoused, suffering from addiction, disabled, disenfranchised.

Or compelled by the need to support my family, I could’ve been pushed into working

for a corporate interest that wasn’t aligned with my values.

It’s true that some of these things are choices, but it’s important to remember that

many are the product of circumstance and beyond our control. I’ll say again that I

feel extremely lucky to be standing here.

Because he’s in the building, I do want to thank the mayor of Gibsons, Silas White,

for setting me on this journey. It was his idea to start this crazy enterprise, and

he helped me follow through on the first part of it.

I really want to lovingly thank my parents who might be watching, Mary and Gene. They

created the conditions that allowed me to be here. It’s really important that I recognize

and thank my spouse, Ginny. She’s been there through very difficult times, including

our young daughter’s severe illness and, thankfully, recovery a few years ago. She

truly keeps the train on the tracks, and part of that….

I want to say hi to my twin 11-year-old daughters, who literally light up my life

every day and whom I’m starting to miss quite a bit, by the way. This is only week

but I’ve always been a little skeptical of tradition for tradition’s sake, so it’s

important to me that I fill this new role in an unconventional way, not all the time

but sometimes.

I’m not like many people who maybe found their way here. I’m not a great disrupter

activist or anti-establishment agitator. I absolutely respect that some traditions

are long-standing because they’re well-thought-out, they incorporate history and experience,

and they work reliably most of the time. But I do feel like it’s my duty to examine

and expand my own patterned established mental models, shine light on methods and

traditions that are no longer working and incorporate different ways of seeing into

my work.

I won’t rush, and I won’t overdo it just to get attention, but I will be stubborn

in trying to keep my mind open for the duration of my time in this building.

Other traditions of this chamber may need updating as well. I was a page in the Ontario

Legislature when I was 12 years old, and I recall a serious, partisan but safe environment.

A lot has changed since the 1980s.

When I first visited the gallery of this chamber in 2018 as a guest of former MLA

Nick Simons, I remember having a visceral reaction, dismayed at the culture of question

period. I remember thinking at the time that I would not want my children to witness

it. I thought that this behaviour would not be acceptable in my children’s classroom,

so why should it be okay for adults?

I really felt for the school groups in attendance that day, the example being laid

out for them to see. I will say regretfully that there was equally poor behaviour

from some representatives of all three parties in the House at that time.

These are some of the experiences and observations I bring with me as a new MLA. I’ll

take these first few weeks and months to observe, learn and ask questions before making

any rash decisions.

I’ll always centre my actions in two-way communication with communities of West Vancouver–Sea

to Sky and other communities across this great province. My long-term goal is to avoid

complacency. If I’m no longer doing this job with all my heart and soul, then I should

definitely pass it off to someone else to carry on. British Columbians should expect

no less from their representatives.

Zooming out, it’s not easy being a British Columbian these days. Climate change, growing

inequality, international politics, and the rising cost of everyday essentials are

all making life less certain and causing anxiety, fear and concern. But as we’ve learned,

British Columbians are born tough, and we’ve never shied away from adversity.

When wildfire threatens, we open our homes to evacuees. When a neighbour goes missing,

entire communities help with the search. We work late at the hospital, even when our

shift is over.

[1:40 p.m.]

We run a meal train for new parents or families facing an emergency or tending to

the sick and injured. We still pull over if we see someone struggling to change a

flat tire. We’re a province of problem-solvers and adventure-seekers. We don’t suffer

at the hands of natural disasters or foreign powers; we make our own future.

We can make a future that’s better than where we are now. We’ve borrowed heavily from

future generations, and the debt is coming due. That may be provocative, when for

the first time in nearly 100 years, we’re not sure that tomorrow will be better than

today. Life expectancy is shortening, our democratic foundations are shaken and there

are some dark clouds on the horizon. But I have hope, and I believe we can make a

future that’s better than we are now. We have to look to the horizon and create a

more stable, balanced, prosperous province.

We can’t escape the reality. We have been borrowing from future generations, and it’s

time to repay the debt. We’ve borrowed forests to make massive profits, many of which

have flowed offshore, never to be seen again by British Columbians. We’ve borrowed

farmland to build warehouses and factories and subdivisions. We’ve borrowed fossil

fuels when we needed to transition and save those fuels for their highest and best

use.

We have the expertise, the knowledge and a deep-seated evolutionary understanding

that we need to live differently and secure a better future. We can stabilize our

changing climate and build more resilient infrastructure to withstand the storms ahead.

We can mend the frays in our social safety net and not just reduce poverty but eliminate

it entirely. We can continue to strengthen our relationship with the First Peoples

of this province, because it’s the right thing to do and because it will make us all

stronger and better.

How do we do it? Certainly not by repeating past mistakes or through nostalgic narratives,

as powerful and compelling as they might be, about the good old days. The good old

days were not always good for a whole lot of people, and we can do better.

I also believe we can do better without stoking fear, guilt or shame. Change is unsettling,

and it’s scary sometimes. This isn’t about imposing rules that force people to be

green. It’s about offering people better options, increasing opportunities for sustainable,

long-term prosperity.

It’s our job as legislators, leaders in our communities, to lead by example, set the

tone, send the right signals and tip the scales towards hope. With leaders breaking

trails to a clean, equitable future, we can inspire British Columbians to be participants

in a new way of being on this planet.

There is evidence to support this thinking. Social change is contagious. In colloquial

terms, we’d call it keeping up with the Joneses. If the Joneses have solar panels

on their roof or a heat pump on the side of their house, neighbours are more likely

to get on board, especially when it saves them money.

Behavioural scientists understand that just knowing what’s healthy or environmentally

friendly isn’t usually enough to change behaviour. Humans are social and like to fit

in, at least some of the time. If it’s normal to compost our food waste, to bike or

bus to work, to replace old windows, more people are likely to do it. Normal meaning

we normalize these things, and they become everyday.

Former Obama White House adviser Molly Kawahata spoke in Whistler a few weeks ago,

sponsored by Vail Resorts, which has a fairly strong, epic promise for environmental

sustainability. Molly pointed out that climate anxiety not only negatively impacts

our psychological well-being, but it can also paralyze people who want to take action

and don’t know where to start.

In this building, we can offer hope. We can build affordable housing, community health

centres, transit systems, clean energy, value-added forest products and the food and

water security that make it easier for British Columbians to choose the right path.

I’m going to take that back. It’s not a right path or a wrong path. It’s just the

path that we’ve agreed upon as a society and as a group of legislators.

We can build a B.C. that works for everyone, not just the wealthy or well-connected,

and step up for the people who have been struggling the most and don’t have the voice.

We can offer real, practical solutions that people feel in their daily lives — solutions

that don’t just help today but set us up for a stronger, fairer and more sustainable

future.

We don’t actually have to sacrifice anything to make it happen. We can have both,

or we can have it all. We don’t have to choose between sustainability and prosperity.

We can have both. We don’t have to choose between climate action and a strong economy.

We can have both. We don’t have to choose between equity and wealth. We can have both

of those.

[1:45 p.m.]

Inside this building, political theatre can amplify divisions as we strive for political

differentiation in a busy information world. We can make it seem like British Columbians

are more polarized than ever, but I believe we have more in common than ever before

— facing, as we know now, several common threats.

We all want the lights to turn on when we hit the switch. If it’s solar, wind, geothermal

or tidal generators that are powering that switch at a lower cost, we can make our

daily life more comfortable while also reducing our reliance on, let’s face it, boom-and-bust

fossil fuels.

We all want to be able to travel to places we need to go quickly, comfortably and

affordably. Evidence shows that transit — abundant, reliable, frequent transit — would

meet that need much better than cutting gas taxes and building and widening roads,

and it’s a wise investment of public money.

We all want to have money left over after we pay the rent or the mortgage. We won’t

get there by consolidating wealth at the top, and we won’t get there by investing

in sunset industries that enslave us to volatile international markets. We can make

that future by growing our knowledge economy, clean tech, responsible tourism and

creating a robust resilient basket of social services.

We all want accessible and high-quality health care, housing and education. We all

want healthy communities that feel safe. We may disagree about the best way to get

there, but when we remember that we’re working towards a shared goal, the work gets

easier.

Finally, we’re all unsettled by the prospect of trade conflict, and we want our economy

to be more diversified and more resilient.

I want to talk about the spirit of collaboration that is the foundation of the cooperation

and responsible government accord, the Third Party caucus’s agreement-in-principle

with this government, CARGA for short.

In a time where global and local forces are pulling our province apart, the accord

finds common ground. It recognizes that the future of British Columbia is more important

than scoring political points. Our accord provides at least one year of stability,

to be renewed annually. It allows government to deliver for British Columbians instead

of fending off confidence votes and the spectre of another divisive election.

The accord provides essential investments that bring us closer to that hopeful future.

There’s money for community health centres, which will lift the burden from primary

care providers and connect more people to family doctors. We’ll improve access to

mental health by covering psychologist visits under MSP.

We’re focused on providing secure housing to our province’s most vulnerable people,

with 30,000 non-market housing units over the next four years and expanding of renters

protection via SAFER and RAP, the rental assistance program.

We will build stronger communities, with reduced crime and public drug use, by expanding

Duncan’s Village model, where health care, addictions, treatment, housing and employment

are made available to the most vulnerable members of our communities.

We will, at long last, bring regional transit to the Sea to Sky corridor — hallelujah

— and Vancouver Island Highway 1 and improved service on Highway 16. It’s not just

great for the climate, traffic congestion and road safety but great for people. Reliable

transit makes life more affordable, directly reduces cost of living, makes health

care more accessible, allows people to participate in the workforce and keeps people

safe.

Our accord includes a review of CleanBC, a roadmap to reduce our reliance on fossil

fuels, mitigate their climate-changing impacts and build an economy for the post-carbon

age.

It will close a property transfer tax loophole, end spousal clawbacks on disability

payments and fund more electric heat pumps to reduce methane gas consumption.

We’ll be working closely with the paaʔčiidʔatx̣ to create a permanent plan for the Fairy Creek watershed, where Indigenous sovereignty

and long-term environmental protections work in harmony.

We’re striking an all-party committee on increasing democratic engagement, including

electoral reform, to increase government transparency and accountability for generations

to come. Democracy is the cornerstone to a functioning, healthy society. If people

don’t trust the process, don’t feel engaged enough to vote or feel cynical about the

results, the whole structure creaks and groans, leaving people feeling even more insecure.

Our work as Green caucus will be making sure all the items listed above get done in

The CARGA accord also includes a strong “agree to disagree” clause. I think that’s

important for all of us to have in this building, because the B.C. Greens and the

B.C. NDP remain separate and independent and because diversity does make us stronger.

In that spirit, I want to focus a few final moments on Tuesday’s Speech from the Throne.

We heard soaring rhetorical language and wartime references meant to inspire us to

unity and action.

[1:50 p.m.]

I have to say, where I hoped to see a future-focused plan of action, instead I heard

a response leaning heavily on a conventional view of our economy, a reactive rather

than strategic response to the weight of the moment.

We heard a great deal about the tariff threat, and then we heard about natural resource

extraction for export. It was much later in the address when we heard the postscript

“beyond natural resources,” where film production, trade missions and interprovincial

cooperation were mentioned, seemingly as an afterthought or as a second priority.

I applaud the incorporation of Indigenous-partnered wind and clean energy projects

into our power grid. I will say that a B.C. Hydro call for power is not new. What’s

more surprising is that it took this long, given we’ve been seeing electrification

of the economy coming for at least a decade.

In the tariff response and in the election campaign, I keep hearing the same phrase,

“laser focused.” It’s a good line, but in a time of overlapping crises, a narrow focus

leaves too many people and too many problems behind. Now is not the time for a laser-focused

approach. Now is the time for floodlights.

We can’t tackle a single issue and leave all the others to fester in darkness. Let’s

bring affordability and poverty into the light, bring the climate crisis and need

for biodiversity into the light. Health care, housing and Indigenous sovereignty:

none of these things can be ignored in the government’s effort to be laser focused

on one issue.

We can’t base our tariff response on fast-track resource development without further

diversifying. Diversification is where the most work, the heaviest lift and the greatest

reward are to be found.

Across this province, British Columbians are wincing every time they go to the grocery

store, afraid of how much it will cost when they get to the till. They’re cutting

back at the pump, hoping the gas prices might drop before they hit empty.

They’re putting off preventative or early warning measures like mammograms and colonoscopies

because they don’t have a family doctor.

They’re seeing a startling number of people living on sidewalks and in cars, knowing

full well that they’re just one missed paycheque away from being the same, there but

for the grace of God. The cost of simply staying alive has become a constant source

of stress.

This government has shelved the grocery rebate and doubled down on LNG export, ignoring

its terrible impacts on our climate and our health. Sometimes it acquiesces to lobbyists

and big corporate interests and pushes regular British Columbians to the sidelines.

While we celebrate fast-tracking domestic clean energy projects, the magnitudes are

important, and they tell a story. The energy equivalent that will stay in B.C. from

clean wind energy is small compared to the amount of fracked methane gas that will

be exported across the Pacific.

While hydroelectricity has an important part to play in B.C.’s future, the power from

Site C, having cost British Columbians extravagantly, should go to British Columbian

homes and businesses, not to mitigate emissions in one step of the LNG export process

while we wash our hands of the upstream fugitive methane and downstream emissions

when it’s used for fuel in other countries.

British Columbians expect better because we’re more than just workers or consumers.

We’re British Columbians. Our forests, rivers and coastlines aren’t just resources.

They’re our identity.

I’m going to finish up. I know we can make the future better. That’s why I wanted

to be elected to this chamber. I can imagine a future where our communities are powered

by affordable, renewable energy and everyone is connected to a community health centre.

Where our young people stay because it’s easy to find opportunities in sustainable

industries and their dream of home ownership is attainable. Where our cities are prosperous

and clean and our towns and villages cohesive, healthy communities, and both are the

envy of the world.

My fellow members, let’s get to work.

Macklin McCall : It is an immense honour to stand here in this House today and speak on behalf of

the people of West Kelowna–Peachland. I consider it a great privilege to serve as

their voice, and I do so with a deep sense of responsibility. The trust that the residents

of this riding have placed in me is something I take very seriously, and it motivates

me each and every day as I work on their behalf.

[1:55 p.m.]

I would like to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to the people who

made this journey possible: the voters, the supporters, the dedicated volunteers,

my campaign team and the riding association. Thank you.

Their tireless commitment has been nothing short of inspiring. As many of us know,

the Okanagan summer heat can be intense. Temperatures often soar into the 40s. But

despite that, my volunteers were still out there, knocking on doors, engaging with

the community and ensuring that the voices of West Kelowna–Peachland were heard. Their

hard work and passion are what our democracy is built on. I am so grateful for every

step they took to support me.

To my family, and especially to my wife, Megan, your unwavering support is the foundation

of everything that I do. You have been my rock through every challenge and triumph,

and I would not be here today without you. Your love and dedication inspire me to

be the best representative I can be for our community.

I am also proud to serve as the official opposition critic for Emergency Management.

This role comes with great responsibility, especially as British Columbia faces increasing

severe threats from wildfires, floods and landslides. The events of recent years have

underscored just how vulnerable our communities are to these disasters. Whether it’s

the wildfire season that seems to grow longer every year or the floods that devastate

our infrastructure and threaten British Columbian lives, we must be prepared for anything.

The people of British Columbia deserve leadership that prioritizes safety and security.

It is not just a matter of reacting to emergencies as they arise. It’s about proactive,

forward-thinking solutions to ensure that when disasters strike, our communities have

the resources, coordination and resilience to recover quickly and effectively.

As I listened to the throne speech, I was reminded of the need for a bold, strategic

approach to emergency management that reflects the true risks we face in our province.

We cannot afford to be reactive. We must be prepared, and we must act with urgency

and clarity to ensure that British Columbians are safe and supported when emergencies

occur. This is not just a political issue. It is a matter of life and death. The protection

of our communities, the safety of our families and the security of our future must

be at the forefront of provincial priorities.

I am committed to ensuring that we do more than just talk about the need for better

emergency management. I will continue to fight for the resources, strategies and leadership

that will keep British Columbians safe in the face of increasing challenges.

I was born in Penticton, raised on a family farm in Okanagan Falls and went to a local

high school in Oliver. For the past 15 years, I have called West Kelowna my home.

Throughout my life, I’ve grown deeply connected to this province.

I’ve served on the front lines as an RCMP officer in B.C. and fought wildfires with

the B.C. Wildfire Service. These experiences have given me an even greater appreciation

for the land and the people of British Columbia.

But beyond the work, British Columbia is where I feel most at home. The rugged mountains,

dense forests and pristine lakes shape our identity as much as they shape the land

itself.

From hiking in Manning Park and Glacier National Park to running along the shores

of Okanagan Lake in Peachland, I’ve spent countless hours in this province’s beautiful

outdoors. Camping across B.C. and exploring every region has shown me just how diverse

and precious our landscapes are.

They’re not just scenic backgrounds. They are at the core of who we are, and it is

our responsibility to protect them, preserving this legacy for generations of British

Columbians to come.

Wildfires, landslides and extreme weather events are no longer rare occurrences in

British Columbia. They are a fact of life. Yet year after year, we see the same old

story unfold — communities left vulnerable, first responders stretched thin and a

provincial government scrambling to react instead of planning ahead. This is not just

unacceptable. It’s dangerous.

Take, for example, Highway 97, which serves as a vital lifeline for the Okanagan.

The stretch between Peachland and Summerland remains dangerously unstable, with landslides

routinely closing the road, putting families, businesses and emergency services at

risk. This should not be the case for one of the most important routes in B.C.

[2:00 p.m.]

Similarly, Westside Road, another crucial road along Lake Okanagan, is outdated and

unsafe. For years, this road has been neglected by the government. There have been

little to no improvements in the last eight years. This windy, narrow road has blind

corners, inadequate shoulders and a sheer drop into Lake Okanagan below. With no passing

lanes for many kilometres and poor maintenance, especially in the winter, it is a

constant hazard.

In fact, Westside Road has earned the dubious distinction of being voted the most

unsafe road in British Columbia for several years in a row. This is not just a statistic.

It is an everyday reality that my constituents are forced to endure.

Just a few weeks ago this road was put to the test after a bomb threat closed the

bridge across Okanagan Lake. Traffic on Highway 97 was diverted to Westside Road,

further highlighting how poorly equipped our region is when it comes to reliable infrastructure.

Local residents had no choice but to rely on a road that has long been a safety concern.

Moreover, when a bomb threat closed the bridge, many drivers attempted to use the

201 forest service road as an emergency bypass route. While this may have been possible

in the summer, the road is impassable during winter, when it is covered in snow and

ice. Vehicles became stuck, and search and rescue teams had to be called in to assist

motorists. This incident underscored how critically underdeveloped the infrastructure

and emergency routes are in the Central Okanagan. This neglect has real-world consequences.

The Okanagan’s emergency response systems are simply not up to the task. Search and

rescue teams, who often assist fire, police and ambulance services, rely on gaming

grant funding to continue their vital work. Yet despite record profits in the B.C.

gaming industry, funding levels have stagnated and have not kept up with inflation.

This puts volunteer emergency services at risk. The government must do more to support

these critical services, which are a lifeline for many British Columbians in times

of need.

West Kelowna is also in desperate need of infrastructure improvements. Our second

hydro transmission line remains incomplete, leaving the city vulnerable to power outages

during wildfires and storms. This is not just an inconvenience; it is a threat to

public safety.

Even more pressing, West Kelowna, despite being the second-largest city in the Okanagan,

still does not have its own hospital. Our population is growing rapidly, but health

care services have not kept pace with the growth. Families should not be forced to

travel long distances to receive the care they need. It is time for the government

to recognize these urgent needs and invest in infrastructure that is critical to the

safety and well-being of British Columbians.

We can no longer afford to neglect the infrastructure that supports our communities,

nor can we allow emergency preparedness to fall by the wayside. The government must

act now to ensure that B.C. roads, power systems and emergency services are resilient

and prepared for the challenges ahead.

Life in British Columbia has become more expensive than ever before. Whether it’s

housing, groceries, fuel or utilities, the rising cost of living is making it harder

for families to make ends meet. Across our province, hard-working British Columbians

are struggling to balance their budgets, and far too many are being forced to make

difficult decisions between basic necessities. This is a crisis that cannot continue

to be ignored.

In my riding of West Kelowna–Peachland, we feel this pressure acutely. Families who

have lived there for generations are finding it increasingly difficult to stay in

the community they love. The cost of housing has skyrocketed, pushing the dream of

home ownership out of the reach for many young families. Whether it’s a first-time

homebuyer looking for a modest property or a senior trying to downsize to something

more affordable, too many people are left with limited options.

The cost-of-living crisis extends far beyond housing. The price of groceries has climbed

steadily, leaving families to wonder how they will stretch their paycheques to cover

basic needs.

[2:05 p.m.]

Gas prices are a constant strain on household budgets, especially in ridings like

West Kelowna–Peachland, where many residents depend on their vehicles to get to work

or run essential errands. For many, rising fuel costs combined with the carbon tax

are becoming an unmanageable burden, limiting British Columbians’ mobility and freedom.

This affordability problem isn’t just making life difficult for those already here.

It is driving young people out of British Columbia. Too many bright, hard-working

young people are finding it impossible to start their lives in B.C. They are forced

to leave their home province in search of other opportunities because they can no

longer afford to live here.

For those who stay, the path to financial independence feels like an uphill battle.

We cannot afford to lose our next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs and skilled

workers to other provinces simply because British Columbia is no longer an affordable

place to build a future. British Columbia should be a place where hard work is rewarded,

where families can build a future and where communities can thrive.

This province has been the envy of the world for its natural beauty, its opportunities

and its good quality of life. But that quality of life is being eroded as costs rise

unchecked. We need to ensure that B.C. remains a place where families can afford to

live, work and raise their children.

In my riding, this is more than a matter of economics. It’s about the heart of our

communities. West Kelowna–Peachland is home to families who have built lives here,

but they are now being pushed to the brink. The cost of housing and living is making

it difficult for young families to put down roots, for seniors to stay in their homes

and for workers to afford the basics. Our communities are at risk of losing their

vitality if these negative trends continue.

The solution lies in a comprehensive, conservative approach that puts our people first.

We need to reduce government interference in the housing market and make it easier

for families to find affordable homes. We must incentivize the construction of more

affordable housing options while ensuring that the housing market is accessible to

middle-class families, not just those with deep pockets. We need to cut the red tape

that makes it harder to build, develop and grow our communities.

Additionally, we must address the issue of rising costs in B.C. across the board.

That starts with reducing the tax burden on families and small businesses. We need

to bring down the cost of living by lowering taxes and eliminating wasteful government

spending. Every dollar taken from hard-working British Columbians is a dollar they

could have spent on their families, their homes and their futures. Instead of taxing

our way out of problems, we need a government that believes in the power of the people

to make their own decisions in their best interests.

At the heart of this is a commitment to ensuring that British Columbia remains a place

where families and communities can thrive. We need to foster an economy that supports

workers, creates opportunities for young people and allows businesses to flourish

without being burdened by overregulation and sky-high taxes. The future of our province

depends on it.

As the representative for West Kelowna–Peachland, I am committed to advocating for

policies that prioritize affordability, reduce the cost of living and create real

opportunities for all people to succeed. It is time we put the needs of families and

communities at the centre of our provincial priorities, ensuring that British Columbia

remains a place where hard work is rewarded and where everyone has the chance to build

the life they deserve.

British Columbia is unlike any other province in Canada. Our distinct identity is

uniquely shaped by the land we call home, the industries that sustain our families

and the communities we hold dear.

From the rugged coastline to the majestic mountains, from our agricultural roots to

our vibrant tech sector, British Columbia is a province defined by both its natural

beauty and the hard-working people who make it thrive. Our future should reflect this

richness, but it also needs to be protected and guided by the principles that have

always built this great province: self-reliance, personal responsibility and community

strength.

One of the most fundamental beliefs I hold as a member of the official opposition

is that decisions about our future should be made here in British Columbia, not thousands

of kilometres away in Ottawa.

[2:10 p.m.]

While the federal government plays an important role, the people of British Columbia

know what is best for our province. We understand our challenges better than anyone

else. We know that our needs are different and that solutions that work in other parts

of Canada don’t always apply here in B.C. Whether it’s emergency preparedness, infrastructure

or economic growth, we require tailored solutions that reflect the reality we face

and the opportunities we have.

As the critic for emergency management, I am committed to ensuring that our province

is equipped to handle the unique challenges we face. In British Columbia, we live

in an environment where wildfires, floods and landslides are a part of life, but far

too often, we see governments scrambling to react to crises instead of preparing for

them. That is why, as a Conservative, I am advocating for a proactive approach to

emergency management, one that prioritizes prevention, readiness and support for our

first responders.

We must invest in the infrastructure that helps keep communities safe, whether it’s

upgrading roads, fortifying bridges or ensuring emergency services have the tools

they need to respond swiftly and effectively.

In my riding of West Kelowna–Peachland, we know firsthand the toll inadequate infrastructure

and emergency response can take. We’ve seen the devastation caused by wildfires, and

we’ve felt the strain on our first responders who were asked to do more with less.

It’s time for the government to take a proactive, long-term approach to building infrastructure

that serves communities, not merely react to crises when they arrive. Whether it’s

fixing unstable roads, ensuring emergency routes are accessible in all conditions

or bolstering search and rescue operations, we need a government that works to make

British Columbia safer before the next disaster strikes.

This is also about creating the conditions for economic growth. B.C. is a province

rich in resources, innovation and talent, yet we’ve seen time and time again how provincial

policies can stifle the very industries that sustain us. A stronger future for B.C.

means fostering a business environment that allows entrepreneurs to thrive, supports

local businesses and creates jobs families can rely on.

B.C. Conservatives stand firm in our commitment to cut the red tape that burdens businesses,

to reduce unnecessary taxes that stifle growth and to make sure that our natural resources

industries like forestry, mining and energy continue to contribute to the prosperity

of all British Columbians. We must protect our environment, but we must also protect

the economy. These two goals are not mutually exclusive. They go hand in hand.

Moreover, we need a B.C. where the essential infrastructure of our communities, like

hospitals and roads, are built to meet the needs of our growing population.

West Kelowna–Peachland is one of the fastest-growing regions in the province, but

the infrastructure has not kept pace with the demand. Our second hydro transmission

line remains incomplete, and despite being the second-largest city in the Okanagan,

West Kelowna still lacks its own hospital. These are not just inconveniences; they

are critical gaps in our ability to provide the necessary services to our people.

As a member of the opposition and a dedicated advocate for my riding, I will continue

to push for the infrastructure investments that are essential for B.C.’s future.

Every community, no matter how rural or urban, deserves the services and infrastructure

that will allow it to grow and thrive. I believe in a future where British Columbians

can live in communities that are safe, prosperous and supported by the right policies

— a future where families are empowered to live the life they want, without being

burdened by sky-high taxes and inefficient government, a future where our roads, hospitals

and schools are built to meet the needs of today and tomorrow. This is the future

I am working towards, and I am committed to ensuring that British Columbia remains

the best place in Canada to call home.

Together we can build a province that is not only stronger but smarter in how we address

the challenges of tomorrow. I am proud to be part of a conservative movement that

champions the values of independence, hard work and community. I will continue to

fight for a stronger, safer, freer and more prosperous British Columbia for all.

[2:15 p.m.]

British Columbia is my home. It always has been, and it always will be. From the Okanagan

Valley, where I was born and raised, to the rugged mountains and peaceful lakes that

define our province, every inch of this land is part of who I am.

British Columbia is not only a place to live; it is the heart and soul of our identity.

It is the land that nurtures us, the communities that support us and the future we

are building for our next generation. It is a privilege to stand before you in this

chamber today representing the people of West Kelowna–Peachland and advocating for

the future of this great province.

The challenges we face in British Columbia are real, but so are the opportunities.

Together we can chart a course toward a future where British Columbia remains a beacon

of opportunity, self-reliance and prosperity, a future where the people of B.C. —

every family, every worker, every community — are given the tools and the freedoms

to succeed.

As a proud member of the official opposition and the critic for Emergency Management,

I am committed to working tirelessly for the people of this province. We must prioritize

British Columbia first, whether it’s ensuring our infrastructure is built to last,

investing in our emergency preparedness or cutting the government’s red tape that

holds us back.

Our province is full of untapped potential. I believe that with the right leadership,

B.C. can become the model for economic strength, personal freedom and greater autonomy.

Let’s work together to build a stronger, safer and more resilient British Columbia,

one where the needs of our people come first, a province where families can live in

peace, where businesses can thrive and where our natural beauty is preserved for generations

to come.

It is time to put British Columbia back on a path to prosperity, to reclaim the values

that have always defined us — hard work, freedom and responsibility — and to ensure

that our province remains the best place in Canada to live, work and raise a family.

This is my commitment to you. I will continue to fight for the future of this province

and its people, because B.C. is worth fighting for.

Deputy Speaker : Recognizing the Minister for Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.

Hon. Kelly Greene : Thank you, hon. Speaker. It’s good to see you in the chair and to start off this

new legislative session with the privilege of speaking to the throne speech.

I want to begin by recognizing that we are on the traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking people, the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations.

Before I begin, I think it’s really important to remember that being here is a team

effort in every sense of the word. My election team was incredible. They were all

in, every day, to elect a government that puts people first. I was honoured to be

supported by volunteers in the hundreds, including some very brave souls who were

out during the atmospheric river on the last two days of the campaign.

Many thanks, also, to my executives who are competent, compassionate and dedicated

to building a B.C. that we can all be proud of.

My personal team is everything to me. Without their love and support, I couldn’t be

here. My husband, Trevor, has been my best friend, adventure partner and the love

of my life since we met 23 or 24 years ago. Yes, we really can’t agree on the dates,

but it has been a source of humour for ten or 11 years.

More seriously, he carries an incredible load when I’m here or travelling around the

province, working on issues that matter for people and communities. I am so grateful

for his kindness, his sense of humour, his intelligence and, above all, love.

Our kids, Will, Tilly and Sully, miss their mommy a lot. We might text and talk, but

it’s not the same as being there in person. The kids have been taking turns with a

bug this week, and I know that Trevor has it, but there is something that is an unmet

need for mommy snuggles, both from me and for the kids.

I am so proud of my kids. They are growing into the people they are meant to be. They

are empathetic, clever and strong. My husband and I are playing zone defence at our

house. I’m not sure that we’re coming out ahead, and that is a good thing.

Not every day runs the way you’d hoped it would go, and that’s where I’m so grateful

for the support of my folks, Peggy and John, whom we tag into the ring when we’re

worn out, double-booked or otherwise in a pickle. Our lives would be a whole lot messier

without their help.

[2:20 p.m.]

It is the greatest honour to be elected to represent Richmond-Steveston. I have lived

in Steveston nearly my entire life, and no place else in the world feels like home.

Every day I find myself incredibly blessed to be in a community that is both in nature,

at the mouth of the Fraser River, but also home to diverse communities since the very

founding of Steveston village.

Today we have folks from many communities. We have Hong Kong and mainland Chinese,

Japanese, Filipino, Korean, South Asian, Vietnamese, Latin American, Black and Indigenous

people, and it really, truly feels like home. Sometimes I say it feels like the UN,

but we all get along.

We have a history of diversity since the 1800s, and that’s reflected in our heritage

sites, like the Britannia Heritage Shipyard, where we celebrate First Nations — in

particular, the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm people — Japanese settlers, as well as Chinese and white settlers. Of interest to

folks about the amount of diversity we have had in Richmond, at the time of internment,

which is a dark stain on our province’s and country’s history, one-third of the population

was ethnically Japanese. I think we have a really proud history of welcoming people

from around the world.

Our community in Richmond-Steveston is really economically diverse. A lot of people….

I say I’m from Steveston, and they say: “I love the fish and chips.” But we’re more

than that. We are an incredibly diverse economy, and I’d like to take this moment

to say: shop local. Support our local economies. Buy B.C. and Canada.

We have the largest commercial fishing craft port in Canada. We unload an incredible

amount of seafood, the bounty of our province, all the time in Steveston. It’s due

to the incredible work of the Steveston Harbour Authority, making sure that the services

are there to serve that industry, whether it’s the ice plant, welding, fish processing,

marine services or fishing-plastic recycling. They are an amazing one-stop shop to

support our fishing industry.

We also have tourism, which I think people are pretty familiar with in Steveston.

We have great heritage sites, but we also have our modern fishing industry, as well

as an incredible array of restaurants for every taste and budget.

We also host a lot of film. When we’re talking about diversifying our economy, I think

that’s really exemplified in my riding, where we have all these different industries

coming together, complementing one another. Our film industry takes advantage of our

heritage sites as well as our natural areas, like Garry Point Park, which was transformed

into a rather haunted locale for a while, with temporary buildings.

I’ve mentioned our heritage sites, but they include the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, our

Steveston Museum, Britannia Heritage Shipyard, the Japanese Fishermen’s Benevolent

Society building and more.

We also have medical and dental services. Some of our historic buildings have been

lost, such as the Japanese hospital, which is part of our heritage in Canada. The

nucleus, the kernel of our medical system, which doesn’t have a barrier, regardless

of your ability to pay, came from the Japanese hospital. I’m happy to share that history

with anybody, any day, who’s interested.

We also have a lot of goods and services. We’ve got great shops like Monkey Tree,

Nikaido, Prickly Pear, Bellatudo, Steveson Coffee, Touch of Class Florists and the

Richmond Hospital Healthcare Auxiliary Thrift Shop. There are too many to mention.

It is an incredible village. I highly recommend people heading there.

We also have farming. We’ve got the whole range of industry, all the way from fishing

through to farming. I think that when we’re in this situation where we are now, in

these really unprecedented times…. I don’t like that word. It comes up too much, and

I think people are feeling weary from everything that’s coming at us here in British

Columbia. But the threats to our sovereignty, the threats with the tariffs….

[2:25 p.m.]

Now is the time to be looking at places where they have this diversity of economy,

supporting our local economy by buying local, shopping local, playing local, because

our stronger economy means stronger communities.

I’d also like to say that Richmond-Steveston is not stagnant. It’s moving. It’s moving

fast. We’re a growing community. We were voted as Metro Vancouver’s best neighbourhood.

It’s a great place to raise kids, and we also have a growing seniors population. No

matter your age, it’s a great place to be. Maybe not in your young 20s; there’s not

a lot of nightlife.

We have wonderful resources for the community: the Steveston Community Centre, the

West Richmond Community Centre. These are run by volunteer societies that help determine

the programming and run the events. Some are really well known, like West Fest or

the Steveston Salmon Festival.

We also have places of worship, so many of them, of all different credos from around

the world, as you would expect with such a diverse population. We’ve got Steveston

Buddhist Temple, St. Joseph the Worker, South Arm United Church, Gilmore Park United

Church, the Bayit, the Chabad, Beth Tikvah, St. Anne’s Anglican Church, Lighthouse

Church, Eastern Catholic Church, Richmond Chinese Alliance Church and Emmanuel Christian

Community.

I think these are all part of that beautiful tapestry of culture and ethnicity that

we have in our riding, and it is such an honour to be able to attend special events,

cultural and religious celebrations, and to enjoy these special foods. We are constantly

learning from one another, and we are finding joy in our diversity. Everybody is just

so immensely proud to be part of the community and to be able to contribute to that

wonderful tapestry.

It’s no surprise that housing is incredibly important. Richmond is one of a handful

of very expensive communities to live in, and our government has made a spectrum of

investments into housing for people, from vulnerable people all the way through to

middle-income families. I’m going to share some really great examples that are coming

up, but the list is not exhaustive.

We have the Pathways Clubhouse development on No. 2 Road. It’s going to provide homes

for 80 people. For people who don’t know what Pathways Clubhouse is, it supports people

with mental illness and has all kinds of services, from peer support to employment

training, to make sure that people are supported while on their journey to mental

wellness.

This development is going to have a range of affordability for its units, all the

way from shelter rates to affordable market rentals. This project received provincial

support through B.C. Housing, in partnership with the city of Richmond. I’m excited

that the project is going to be completed this year, and we’ll be getting that online

soon.

There is also a nine-acre B.C. Housing site at No. 2 and Blundell that is in the process

of being redeveloped, and 850 new units for individuals and families are going to

be coming to this site. It’s going to be phased construction, and it will include

support for existing tenants. This is great news for folks who are finding affordability

in Richmond a challenge.

There are also many other developments that have been built in Richmond to support

vulnerable people, women, women with children, seniors and families. We have accomplished

a lot, and I’m looking forward to delivering more for the people of Richmond and families

in my community. Thankfully, our government is committed to delivering homes for people

and pushing speculators out of our market.

Our government is committed to strengthening access to health care. In Richmond, we’ve

seen important progress towards access to quality health care services in good-quality

facilities. I’ve lived in Richmond long enough to remember the regular press releases

that were sent out by the B.C. Liberal MLAs of the time, where they would promise

a new hospital was on its way. Spoiler alert: it never came.

Our government promised and we delivered. We’re building a new hospital tower that

almost fully replaces all services for the hospital, and it meets all modern medical

standards, unlike the 1950s tower that we’ve got today.

We’ve already completed phase 1 of the development project, and we are full steam

ahead on future phases. It is going to be a nine-floor acute care tower with a new

intensive care unit to replace the existing one, a new imaging department with four

CT scanners and two MRIs, a pharmacy and short-stay pediatrics.

[2:30 p.m.]

As a parent, I know that families really appreciate having more options for the care

of their little ones.

Pre- and post-surgical care spaces are increasing by 265 percent. We’ll have a bigger

ER, with 138 percent increase in spaces. We’re going to have three additional operating

rooms, and the number of beds is going to increase by 147 percent. We’ve already got

an updated cancer care clinic at the hospital, and renovations are underway to support

psychiatric patient needs.

We also know that people don’t always need the hospital, but they could end up there

because they don’t have the right options in the community. That’s why we opened two

urgent and primary care centres for patients with acute needs who aren’t having an

emergency. I, myself, have appreciated their care when I needed stitches. I highly

recommend…. Well, I don’t recommend needing stitches, but I recommend the care there.

We also know that we need to help people with the cost of living. Parents know that

the cost of child care just a decade ago was budget-busting. Parents, mostly mothers,

dropped out of the workforce or chose to be underemployed due to the very high cost

of child care. We have tackled this challenge head-on, bringing affordability for

families and getting parents back into the workforce, which is a great economic plan.

Since 2017, in Richmond-Steveston alone, we have funded almost 2,000 new spaces, including

hundreds of $10-a-day spaces, and affordability credits have meant just over $25 million

back into parents’ pockets. That’s in Richmond-Steveston alone, and it’s incredible

to think of the impact of this program on a provincial scale.

It’s pretty well known that I got my start advocating for education. I fought to keep

schools open and seismically repaired — two things that were opposed by the B.C. Liberal

government at the time, now called the Conservatives. But we’ve completed, under our

government, so many seismic upgrades. We’ve kept schools open, and we’re making sure

that they’re as safe as they can be for everybody inside.

I’m going to list out these schools because I am so excited that they are complete:

Garden City Elementary, Hugh Boyd Secondary, McKinney Elementary, Whiteside Elementary,

Steves Elementary, Maple Lane Elementary, Mitchell Elementary, Tait Elementary, Brighouse

Elementary, Steveston Secondary, Tomsett Elementary, Ferris Elementary, Bridge Elementary

and Cook Elementary.

There are tens of thousands of kids, teachers, staff and parents that are going to

be safer in these schools for generations. This is incredibly important work, and

I am so proud to say that there are additional schools under development. I am very

much looking forward to announcing those in the future.

I am so honoured to be part of the team that forms this government, a government that

is standing up for the people of British Columbia. As the Minister of Emergency Management

and Climate Readiness, I’m also honoured to be part of a team that’s addressing the

challenges we’re all facing to keep people and communities prepared and safe.

As we see every day on the news, there is a lot going on, locally and globally, particularly

with our neighbours to the south. We know that the threat of harmful tariffs from

the United States is something a lot of people are worried about. Our government has

a plan to protect British Columbians from the economic impacts of potential tariffs

and secure a strong future for our province.

In the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, we work every day to

make sure that vital supply chains are maintained. This supports our communities in

B.C. and across the country with transportation from the ports and B.C. industry to

make sure that we are best positioned to diversify where we sell our products. This

is part of our government’s role in domestic resilience and international trade.

Our government is standing strong for Canada, standing strong for our farmers, who

work tirelessly to protect our food security, who know more than anyone the increasing

climate emergencies and what that means for our food security. We are standing strong

for our tourism sector, like those in Steveston and elsewhere in the province that

are bracing for the impacts of tariffs, of record heat, of devastating wildfires.

We are standing strong for coastal Indigenous communities, who see how climate change

is threatening their cultural and commercial fishing.

[2:35 p.m.]

In EMCR, we plan, and we prepare, and then we plan some more because our emergency

management systems must ensure businesses, communities and families have access to

the supply chains that meet their daily needs. And most importantly, our work is to

keep people and communities safe through wildfires, drought, floods and other climate

emergencies. We are working to meet those challenges head-on as a government and in

my ministry.

The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness is still a relatively new

ministry. I am honoured to be its second minister, and I want to acknowledge the incredible

work of my predecessor to build this ministry into what it is today. I know I have

big shoes to fill and important work ahead, and I’m ready to meet the challenge.

This ministry was created in 2022, following some of the most difficult months in

the province’s history. In the summer of 2021, a series of wildfires destroyed the

village of Lytton, displacing families and dispersing them across B.C. Tragically,

two lives were lost.

Since then, the province has supported the village’s recovery efforts by funding site

remediation and re-establishing essential infrastructure and services. The province

has committed nearly $59 million to recovery in the village. I know that this has

been a long, challenging process, but I’m heartened to see people returning home and

revitalizing their community.

In the months following the wildfires, B.C. endured the most significant weather event

in recent history. In November of 2021, a series of atmospheric rivers, or heavy rainfall

— we hadn’t heard of atmospheric rivers before this — swept through a lot of the province,

and we saw incredible damage to infrastructure that we count on. We saw major highways

collapse. We saw extensive flooding in communities and farmlands. We saw mudslides

and thousands of people displaced.

This disaster tragically claimed the lives of five people. My thoughts remain with

the families and communities of those people, and with everybody affected by this

unprecedented event.

It turned out to be the most expensive climate-fuelled disaster in the history of

British Columbia, and it’s had far-reaching impacts on people, on communities, the

economy and critical infrastructure. We knew that there were lessons to be learned,

and we knew that we could do better.

That’s one of the reasons our government created the Ministry of Emergency Management

and Climate Readiness. Over the past several years, we’ve taken significant steps

to improve how we respond to emergencies and help people recover, how we mitigate

and prepare for impacts of our changing climate. We know that climate change is accelerating

and making these storms more frequent and with more severity.

Our government has committed approximately $225 million to support flood recovery

and resiliency in Abbotsford and Sumas Prairie, and $71 million to support flood recovery

in Merritt, as well as $18 million for Princeton. This has supported critical projects

like upgrades to the Barrowtown pump station. That’s going to make it more efficient

and resilient to additional floods.

When times are tough, the province, in partnership with local communities and response

agencies, is there to help keep people safe, get them back on their feet, and help

rebuild.

As climate-related emergencies increase in frequency and severity, we can expect to

see evacuations increase. Being evacuated from your home is an incredibly stressful

experience, and our government has worked to support evacuees and make important changes

to support them better.

During emergencies, emergency support services — that’s ESS, for those who are familiar

— is available to support evacuees who need assistance meeting their basic needs.

They’re things like food, lodging, incidentals and transportation.

We’ve made a lot of changes that would support access to ESS, including a new B.C.

evacuee help line and self-service option, so evacuees don’t have to visit a reception

centre, something that we had heard was really important. Because being evacuated

from your home is so stressful and an incredibly challenging time, I want British

Columbians to know that we’re there for them if the worst should happen.

I also want to take a moment to recognize all of the ESS volunteers and responders

for their dedication in helping their neighbours and community members when disaster

strikes. Thank you.

We have more support in British Columbia. I think of the people in British Columbia

who have stood up and said: “I want to help people.” One of those groups is our dedicated

search and rescue team.

[2:40 p.m.]

I do want to thank that group of volunteers that assists people in their time of need,

those search and rescue crews who are sent out into our beautiful province. While

it is beautiful, it’s also filled with difficult, mountainous terrain. Beautiful coastlines,

but again, they can be very dangerous. We’ve got lakes and forests.

When things go wrong, we have dedicated individuals who are on our search and rescue

teams that can assist us. Whether it’s for ground searches, air or marine rescue,

these amazing people are there for them in their time of need.

These volunteers are on call for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and they generously

provide their time and expertise to help people across British Columbia. The work

of these search and rescue volunteers is invaluable, and I want to share my deepest

appreciation for everything that they do in keeping people safe.

Aligned with our new emergency management legislation, we are updating the disaster

financial assistance program, the DFA, to ensure the program meets the evolving needs

of people and communities. Disaster financial assistance helps eligible people in

communities recover from uninsurable losses following the aftermath of a large-scale

disaster. For those sudden, unexpected, widespread situations that are not insurable,

British Columbians can count on that disaster financial assistance to support them

when insurance just was never an option.

Whether you rent or own, home insurance is one of the best ways that you can protect

yourself and your family, and we encourage everyone in B.C. to have insurance. It’s

important that people update their homeowners or tenants insurance policies and understand

their coverage for all risks. It can cover the costs of repairing your home and replacing

your belongings, and it will typically cover accommodation and other living expenses

if you’re under an evacuation order.

When it comes to preparing for emergencies, everyone has a role to play. When an evacuation

order is issued, people need to act urgently. The last thing they should have to worry

about is what to pack, who to call or where to go. By doing that preparedness work

beforehand, people can relieve so much of that pressure and stress on themselves and

their family if they’re ever in a situation where they need to evacuate. Now is an

important time, before the hazard season where spring floods and summer wildfires

may occur, to build a plan.

To help families prepare, the province launched the emergency ready planner, which

is an easy-to-use, interactive tool that helps people build a personalized emergency

plan. The emergency ready planner can be found online at preparedbc.ca/emergencyready.

The interactive planner will take people through the various sections of an emergency

plan, including what to pack in an emergency kit and your grab-and-go bag. It includes

important information such as contact information for people in the household, emergency

meeting places, emergency insurance policy information and steps to create a FireSmart

property that’s more resistant to wildfire damage.

B.C. FireSmart provides great resources with information on changes you can make to

protect your home from wildfire. There are tips on landscaping, fire-resistant trees

and plants and other tips to help reduce risks to your home if a wildfire was to threaten

your property.

PreparedBC also has hazard-specific guides, which is really important because not

every community has the same hazards. For example, Richmond does not have the need

for a tsunami hazard. We are, fortunately for us and unfortunately for the Island,

protected from tsunamis. But the hazard-specific guides that are online include earthquake

and tsunami, flood preparedness, heat preparedness, wildfire preparedness and other

hazards.

I encourage people to take a look there so that you can have an idea on your emergency

planning and find the resources that match the hazards in your community. I’ve heard

time and again that people want to take a more active role in the face of threats

to their home, their community, their businesses, whether it’s wildfire, earthquakes,

floods or other hazards. Being prepared makes you and your community safer.

I’d like to illustrate some of the things that our family has done to be personally

prepared. Our Premier may not have known how prepared I was when I was asked to serve

in this role.

[2:45 p.m.]

So our family…. From the age of 22 months old, I’ve taught the children how to call

911 and why you would call 911. You need to make those instructions very age-appropriate

and tailored to your child. For example, I would let my 22-month-old know that if

Mommy is lying down and you can’t wake her up, that’s 911, and how to do the call.

You also need to share with everybody in the household what to do in case of a house

fire, because that’s one of the most common hazards that people face. You need to

know your meeting point. There are tragic circumstances where people go back into

a building, thinking that their loved one is inside when they are actually safely

outside, because they didn’t have a meeting place.

You need to know what to do in case of blocked exits and to proactively have smoke

and carbon monoxide detectors, a fire extinguisher, know where they are and how to

use them.

You also need to know in our household, because we live in Richmond, what to do in

case of an earthquake. You stop, you drop, and you hold on underneath, hopefully,

very sturdy furniture. You also have to have prepared a grab-and-go, 72-hour kit —

72 hours or longer — and have an out-of-province family contact. Everybody might not

be at home when disaster strikes. In case of an earthquake, where there could be widespread

disruption, being able to contact somebody out of the province is an additional way

that you can ensure that you can be reconnected with your loved ones when local services

are overwhelmed.

You should also have a first-aid kit at your home and in your car and know how to

use it. Your kids should know how to use it. I always highly recommend CPR and first

aid.

Finally, and it’s personal to me, you should have a life skill of swimming. You never

know when that’s going to save your life.

We’re just about out of time, and I have so much more to say. I am so proud of the

work that this government has done. We are well on our way to doing more and delivering

important resources for the people of British Columbia.

I know that our province and country are strong and beautiful, and we have been through

tough times together. I know that we will prevail again because we are the true north,

strong and free.

Misty Van Popta : Thank you, hon. Speaker, for the opportunity to address this House for the first

time and to speak to the people in Langley and across the province of British Columbia

for the first time as an MLA for Langley–Walnut Grove. My hope is that I will be succinct

in my message. Given my passion for the topic, I will use much of this time to hammer

home why I am here.

Now, I will get to that message shortly, but first, I would like to start by taking

time to express my gratitude to my family and friends who supported me during the

campaign. Some were a bit more reluctant to jump on the bandwagon. As we all know,

the job of an elected official is all-consuming, and often the ones closest to us

are the most affected by the burden we carry.

The campaign was a tough fight and one requiring hundreds of hours.

I would like to thank my predecessor today for her years of service. But mostly, I

want to thank my incredible team of volunteers and staff, most of whom were strangers

when I started this journey last summer but whom I now call friends.

We ran our campaign out of an old, vacant house, and today we stand in the people’s

House here in Victoria. What we lacked in resources, we made up for in determination.

We had an army of young adults hungry for change in this province.

[2:50 p.m.]

Our campaign knocked on the door of every single-family home in my riding. I put my

personal phone number out there and personally answered every call. That same dedication

and commitment is what I intend to bring to this job every single day.

To my kids, who are in the midst of launching their own adult lives, I did this for

you. I am fighting to bring affordability back to this province so that you are never

driven away from your home in search of affordable living and can live the life of

freedom and opportunity that this country and province have promised to us all.

To my parents, sitting at home, watching their daughter fight for accessible health

care and services as you age in place, I do this for you.

To my sister, a health care worker throughout the pandemic who continues to serve

the most vulnerable today, and at a great personal sacrifice, I do this for you.

And to my fiancé, thank you for your unending support of this crazy Canadian girl.

Let’s make 2025 the year we put the international border, which lies between us, behind

us.

Most importantly, to my constituents, you already know that I’m a fighter, and I will

work every day to keep finding ways to serve you to the best of my ability. I am immensely

humbled and honoured by the trust you have placed in me as your MLA.

I’m mostly an optimist and try to always assume the best in people. As I look around

this chamber, I truly believe that most of us are here for the right reasons. We are

here for the province and those unable to fight for themselves, but we should mostly

drive to serve our community.

This brings me back to why I am here. Langley, my hometown, sits mid–Fraser Valley,

the last municipality in the Metro Vancouver regional district. The proverbial middle

child tucked away between Surrey and Abbotsford, Langley has come into its own and

is now a force to be reckoned with, both economically and in demographic growth.

I would suspect that many of you here are unaware of what is taking place south of

the Fraser, but within the next few years, it will be the new urban centre of British

Columbia. Recent statistics have Langley township at a population of over 155,000

people. We have grown a staggering 15 percent in the past five years, topping 2½ to

3½ percent growth, year over year.

When my parents bought their first home in 1970 in Langley, at the Smith Mobile Home

Park, situated just off the 200th Street–Highway 1 interchange, it was for the same

reasons that people are still migrating there: affordability and beauty. You see,

Langley township is 75 percent ALR lands, full of farms of all kinds, and spans from

the border to the Fraser River.

However, we are also known as a community of communities, with seven urban areas placed

throughout the ALR — Aldergrove, Fort Langley, Walnut Grove, Willoughby, Murrayville,

Willowbrook, Brookswood, Fern Ridge — each with its own distinct character and needs.

I’ve lived in Langley my whole life, and already, with my first few trips to Victoria

to get set up underneath my belt, I tend to get homesick. This is why I suspect that

at the end of this 43rd parliamentary session, you will all be sick of hearing about

Langley, if not experts in it.

They say the squeaky wheel gets the grease, but my goal here is to be just a little

bit louder than a squeak. You see, for far too long, Langley township has been overlooked

by all levels of government, across all party lines, thinking of us as some small

town, while missing out on the fact that we’ve become one of the fastest-growing municipalities

in the province.

Langley township is served by three provincial highways: Highway 1, Highway 10 and

Highway 13. Langley township has four highway interchanges along Highway 1. We are

a commuter town.

[2:55 p.m.]

Since 2017, this NDP government has made nine announcements on the highway, but to

date, only one completed interchange. We’ve been living with construction chaos for

years. During that same time period, we have experienced exponential construction

cost increases, procurement delays and a skilled labour shortage. Not pulling the

trigger to deliver projects within Langley has caused my constituents to languish

in traffic, losing productivity and time with their families.

Of Highway 10, right down the middle of Langley, and a major east-west corridor leading

from Highway 1 to Surrey, our portion is still a two-lane road, with zero whispers

of ever being widened. This same scenario also exists on Highway 13 through Aldergrove,

mostly a two-lane road which has multiple major accidents every year, many of them

resulting in high-speed fatalities.

The community hospital that I was born in still looks the same today, albeit with

a few modifications. Promised an expansion under the B.C. Liberals in 2015, we are

still waiting. In fact, during the fall NDP campaign announcements, this government

reannounced that same expansion. Folks, that’s nine years between announcements.

The reality is, we need our long-term-care project to be funded and completed before

we can even think of making space for the hospital. What’s that? Another five years?

In 2024, this government opened an urgent care centre in Langley as a stopgap solution

to our desperately underfunded hospital and primary care doctor shortage.

To quote the announcement from March last year: “The UPCC provides same-day care for

people who need support for their health concerns within 12 to 24 hours but do not

require an emergency department. The UPCC is available to people who do not have a

primary care provider, as well as people with a provider who are unable to

schedule

an appointment within 12 to 24 hours.”

Here’s the reality of that program, on the ground in Langley. It’s not regularly staffed

with physicians. Patients cannot call ahead to find out whether a doctor will be there.

People show up to the clinic and find out that there isn’t someone there to help them,

depending on what ailment they have. The effectiveness of this facility is minimal

to the average user. Langley deserves better.

Then there are the schools. The province would need to build one school every year

to keep up with the growth rates that we have in my riding alone. Since 2023, my constituency

has had three school announcements. These announcements are not new information in

Langley. These school sites have been sitting there ready to go and set aside by the

municipality for years and years, but to this date, when we need a school delivered

every year, none of these school projects have even commenced.

Politics has always been a part of my life. In 1999, I was knocking on doors for a

school board election in my hometown. For decades, Langley operated with a small-town

mindset, ignoring the clear signs of rapid growth. Watching from the sidelines, I

realized the best way to create change was to step up and be the change.

I first ran for office in 2011, and after years of dedication, I was elected in 2022.

Since then, I have served on council with commitment and a steadfast focus on building

a better future for the community. Until three months ago, I was still wearing steel-toed

boots and a hard hat, working in construction to build houses for British Columbians.

When you understand housing, you can look at your growing community through a unique

lens.

However, one day, my job helping shape our community’s immense population boom was

taken away from me and my municipal colleagues by housing bills passed by this NDP

government. The township of Langley was never on the naughty list. We are not NIMBYs.

We approve thousands of units a year, but with a unilateral sledgehammer, the hon.

Minister of Housing felt he knew best how to plan our municipality.

[3:00 p.m.]

What he may or may not have known was that Langley township, like most cities south

of the Fraser, has 3,000 acres of open, developable lands, lands on future transit

corridors, with school and park sites already set aside, with civil infrastructure

in place, ready for growth now.

[Lorne Doerkson in the chair.]

Bill 44 shifted and wasted city staff time to chase after hypothetical densification

in built-out, stable areas, without allowing for parking requirements in a town with

minimal transit options. We all drive cars. Why? I would like to take a moment to

thank the member for Delta North for unintentionally encouraging me to run for provincial

office.

It’s more than housing. It’s also health care, public safety and all the other issues

that have been created and aggravated by the NDP government over the past few years.

I love my hometown so much that my wants for it are viewed from non-partisan eyes.

This is why I’m actually hoping this new government finds success in fixing the problems

that have been affecting Langley and the province during their previous terms.

There was a significant list of NDP campaign announcements made for Langley township

in the fall, things we desperately need, things that should have been finished ten

to 15 years ago. I’m hoping the NDP follows through with these commitments and don’t

drop Langley, like they dropped the grocery rebate. I want to see the Minister of

Infrastructure so often in Langley that she starts seeing it as her second home just

outside of Vancouver. I don’t want her there for announcements; I want her there cutting

ribbons and opening facilities.

Langley is no longer a small town. It is a thriving, rapidly growing community that

deserves the infrastructure, health care, schools and housing that match its needs.

Yet for far too long, this government has ignored us, making empty promises while

leaving projects stalled, underfunded or outright abandoned.

The people of Langley don’t need more reannouncements of the same projects, more delays,

more political theatre. They need real action. They need highways that move, hospitals

that heal, schools that teach and homes that are affordable.

This government has one job: to serve the people of British Columbia. If they fail

to deliver for Langley, they fail all of us.

I say this to the NDP government: do your job. Cut the ribbons, not just the press

releases. Most of all, don’t make promises you have no intention of keeping.

To my constituents in Langley–Walnut Grove: I will fight for you every single day.

I will not let this government forget our community. I will hold them accountable

at every turn because Langley deserves better, and British Columbia deserves better.

Deputy Speaker : I’ll recognize the Minister of Social Development and Poverty.

Hon. Sheila Malcolmson : Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Congratulations on your election.

Congratulations to my colleague across the way on your first speech in the House.

It’s good to see a lot of new members and a lot of women elected here. I’m really

honoured to be in this good company.

I’m very glad to be joining the chamber on the territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking people, the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations.

I hail from Snuneymuxw territory. That’s where I live and work, and I raise my hands

to the Elders, to Chief Mike Wyse. The partnerships and the friendship fuel a lot

of my work.

I am feeling — I think as a lot of us are, too, in the chamber — the intensity of

this time and how special it is to see people across the province, across the country,

waving the flag, taking back the flag, holidaying locally. I think I read that Air

Canada has already reported a 25 percent reduction in flights to the United States.

[3:05 p.m.]

People are really putting their money where their mouth is, and I love walking around

the grocery store and seeing people checking labels and peering at whether it’s grown

in B.C. or made in Canada. It’s really a special time. I’m grateful to the grocery

stores and the workers that are doing their best to put labelling to make it even

easier, again, for people to put their money where their mouth is and really support

local businesses and local community at a key and worrying time. This is an example

of the power that we have as individuals and as a community when we work together.

In this response to the Speech from the Throne, which I support, I’m going to relay

some of the things that I have heard from community members about priorities of theirs

and how those conversations have informed the priorities and focus of our government:

helping with costs and housing; growing the economy; creating good jobs; strengthening

health care; building safe, strong communities — all of that despite the challenges

that people were already feeling.

The impacts of global inflation as a hangover from the pandemic are still hitting

people extremely hard across North America. Global inflation has made life really

expensive, and it’s hit people hard, especially those who are already struggling to

make ends meet. In my role as Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction,

I’m consumed with that. I’ve been in that role now for two and a bit years, and I’m

grateful for everybody that has informed me about actions that we can take together

to make life better for people.

We have been acting. We have been helping people with costs since 2017, helping over

163,000 people out of poverty, including 50,000 children out of poverty. In child

care investments alone, since 2018, in my community in Nanaimo, $42 million has gone

back to parents. In Nanaimo–Gabriola Island, we’ve created almost 700 new child care

spaces. In all of Nanaimo and region, $76 million has gone back to parents in the

form of reduced child care fees. That’s probably had the single largest impact on

family pocketbooks, but also getting more women especially back into the workplace.

Our government has increased the minimum wage eight times. We’ve increased income

assistance five times. For each person, that’s an increase of $450 a month more that

they get since before we were elected. Those increases have been at twice the rate

of inflation, and yet we have more to do.

We’ve doubled the seniors supplement. That was the first increase since it was created

in 1987, and we’ve expanded it to support 85,000 seniors. Seniors’ income assistance

is largely delivered by the federal government, but we do have a provincial intervention

we can have for people that are in the deepest need.

We’ve funded free prescription birth control. We are funding — I know a lot of my

friends, depending where they are in their reproductive life — either in vitro fertilization

or funding hormone replacement therapy. We have expanded the formulary around PharmaCare

and how we are supporting people, both with health care but also with their pocketbooks.

In Nanaimo, already we have opened 1,000 affordable housing units. We’ve got another

600 underway, including the first student housing built at Vancouver Island University

for a very long time. We have already moved 50 people in, but all together under the

heart and hearth program, which is focused on homeless encampments and superloading

the kind of supports that people need to prevent homelessness, or once they get housing,

to retain it. The 238 new units are a colossal increase.

Yet when we look outside, clearly there is more work for us to do. The impacts of

inflation and extremely rapid population growth in our community, as it has hit so

many other communities, have been phenomenal, so we continue to do more work.

We’ve got a plan to cut poverty. This is our second plan that we’ve now published.

We met, mostly, our first targets, notwithstanding the impacts of global inflation,

but we have goals and policies and investments to further reduce poverty and working

together with members of the Green Party with some shared priorities. That’s work

that is going to be accelerated even further.

Another area of helping people with costs and combating poverty is the topic of food

security, which is so prevalent in so many communities. We want everybody to have

access to nutritious, healthy, fresh food.

[3:10 p.m.]

In my own community, Loaves and Fishes is a real pioneer in this work. They have been

rescuing food. Whether organic bread ends up in the bin for chickens or whether we

are reclaiming cauliflowers to go for Sunday dinner, they are distributing food across

all of central and northern Vancouver Island now.

I’m really honoured to be one of their partners, but they have a great deal of corporate

and volunteerism partnership, as well, in the community. We’ve been inspired by that

work, working together with not-for-profits across British Columbia. We have been

investing in food security infrastructure.

In, again, Nanaimo — but in this case, Nanaimo Foodshare Society — I got to visit

Crystal Carson, who’s a volunteer. She was letting me know about the impact of the

refrigerator truck that we funded for Nanaimo Foodshare. She said: “Volunteering with

the Good Food Box program has helped me to give back to my community and helped me

make new friendships and learn new skills. The Good Food Box also helps me put food

on the table, and I’m really grateful for that.”

I’ve loved getting up north as well, to Prince George, and working with community

members around funding that we had put in place for them to help implement a plan

for food security for the North in particular. Food prices are so much higher and

there’s so much of a shorter growing season. We heard how important that was, and

we’re funding that work as well.

I also am grateful to the Chilliwack upper Fraser Valley regional food hub, which

we funded through United Way, working with volunteers Pat and Shelley.

They showed me the best way to chop purple cabbage and told me how their school meals

program, their cooking at their food hub and the work that we’re also funding through

school districts to get meals to kids in school, is also delivered by this community

volunteerism and donations from grocery stores — again, in a lot of cases, rescuing

food. And that has climate change mitigation implications as well.

This work, in every case through my ministry, is carried out in partnership with not-for-profits,

Food Banks B.C. and United Way B.C. They have been very important adjudicators of

which organizations get the money and multi-year funding that they are using very

well, not only just for helping food banks better serve people but also building the

kind of community infrastructure — greenhouses, smokehouses — that allows communities

to be self-sufficient.

And then you can see from some of the programs that I’m describing that this connection

into good work is another important way partly of knitting communities together and

then partly just of creating good jobs for people that help put more money in people’s

pockets. I hear again and again that people feel better, as well as being better off,

when they have work that is meaningful to them and that connects them to their community.

The work that my ministry is doing is focused on removing barriers for those who can

work but have not been able to get back to the workplace. In some cases, it’s just

a small barrier that we can remove, and then they’re back on track.

Under my ministry, the 102 WorkBC centres last year helped 94,000 people who moved

along their employment journey. That could be counselling, life skills, career readiness.

Sometimes it leads into something else, like maybe anger management counselling for

someone that has got a job but then loses it because of conflict in the workplace.

Increasingly, WorkBC is working with more complex clients. It used to be that someone

got laid off at the mill and they went to WorkBC to tidy up their resume. What we’re

finding more and more is that that kind of cohort tends to be hired right away by

another employer. In this case, we’re asking WorkBC service providers to do much more

hands-on work with more complexity, and that’s a really big body of the work that

my ministry is doing.

I heard from some Prince George WorkBC employees that they had encountered a man,

fairly elderly, living in his car with his dog because he was evicted because of the

pet, and he refused to be separated from his animal. He comes to the WorkBC centre,

and they were so smart about saying: “What do you like to do?” He d