British Columbia Hansard — 1 April 2026, p.m., Issue 146 (43rd Parliament, 2nd Session)

20260401pm-Hansard-n146

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

Second Session, 43rd Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Afternoon Sitting Issue No. 146 THE HONOURABLE RAJ CHOUHAN, SPEAKER ISSN 1499-2175

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Her Honour the Honourable Wendy Cocchia, CM, OBC Second Session, 43rd Parliament SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Raj Chouhan EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council ................................................................................................... Hon. David Eby, KC Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities .......................................................... Hon.

Brittny Anderson Minister of Agriculture and Food ..............................................................................................................................Hon. Lana Popham Attorney General and Deputy Premier ............................................................................................................... Hon. Niki Sharma, KC Minister of Children and Family Development ......................................................................................................Hon.

Jodie Wickens Minister of Citizens’ Services ......................................................................................................................................Hon. Diana Gibson Minister of Education and Child Care ............................................................................................................................Hon. Lisa Beare Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness ................................................................................ Hon.

Kelly Greene Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions .................................................................................................................... Hon. Adrian Dix Minister of Environment and Parks .................................................................................................... Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson Minister of Finance ......................................................................................................................................................Hon.

Brenda Bailey Minister of Forests .......................................................................................................................................................... Hon. Ravi Parmar Minister of Health ........................................................................................................................................................Hon. Josie Osborne Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs ...........................................................................................................Hon.

Christine Boyle Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation ........................................................................Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert Minister of Infrastructure .............................................................................................................................................. Hon. Bowinn Ma Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth ...................................................................................................................... Hon.

Ravi Kahlon Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and New Technologies .................................................................. Hon. Rick Glumac Minister of Labour .............................................................................................................................................. Hon. Jennifer Whiteside Minister of Mining and Critical Minerals .....................................................................................................................Hon.

Jagrup Brar Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills ........................................................................................Hon. Jessie Sunner Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General ........................................................................................................ Hon. Nina Krieger Minister of State for Community Safety and Integrated Services ........................................................................ Hon.

Terry Yung Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction ...............................................................................Hon. Sheila Malcolmson Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport ............................................................................................................. Hon. Anne Kang Minister of Transportation and Transit ................................................................................................................ Hon.

Mike Farnworth Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship ............................................................................................... Hon. Randene Neill Minister Without Portfolio ..............................................................................................................................................Hon.

Grace Lore LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Leader of the Official Opposition ......................................................................................................................................Trevor Halford Leader of the Third Party .................................................................................................................................................Jeremy Valeriote Deputy Speaker ......................................................................................................................................................................

Mable Elmore Assistant Deputy Speaker .................................................................................................................................................Lorne Doerkson Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole ......................................................................................................................George Anderson Clerk of the Legislative Assembly....................................................................................................................................Kate Ryan-Lloyd Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel ......................................................................................................................Seunghee Suzie Seo Deputy Clerk of the Legislative Assembly...............................................................................................................

Artour Sogomonian Clerk of Committees .............................................................................................................................................................. Jennifer Arril Committee Clerk ......................................................................................................................................................................

Karan Riarh Committee Clerk .........................................................................................................................................................................Darryl Hol Senior Legal Counsel .................................................................................................................................................................Hayley Hill Sergeant-at-Arms ..................................................................................................................................................................

Ray Robitaille Director of Hansard Services .......................................................................................................................................D’ Arcy McPherson Legislative Librarian ...............................................................................................................................................................Peter Gourlay

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS BY PARTY BC NDP Anderson, Hon. Brittny ........................................... Kootenay Central Anderson, George ................................................ Nanaimo-Lantzville Arora, Rohini ....................................................................Burnaby East Bailey, Hon. Brenda ................................Vancouver–South Granville Beare, Hon.

Lisa .......................................Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Begg, Garry .................................................................Surrey-Guildford Blatherwick, Jennifer ....................................Coquitlam-Maillardville Boyle, Hon. Christine .............................Vancouver–Little Mountain Brar, Hon. Jagrup ......................................................Surrey-Fleetwood Chandra Herbert, Hon. Spencer ..................... Vancouver–West End Chant, Susie .............................................

North Vancouver–Seymour Choi, Paul ..................................................Burnaby South–Metrotown Chouhan, Hon. Raj ................................. Burnaby–New Westminster Chow, George ....................................................Vancouver-Fraserview Davidson, Hon. Tamara / Laanas ...........North Coast–Haida Gwaii Dhir, Sunita .............................................................Vancouver-Langara Dix, Hon. Adrian .................................................. Vancouver-Renfrew Eby, Hon. David, KC .......................................

Vancouver–Point Grey Elmore, Mable ................................................. Vancouver-Kensington Farnworth, Hon. Mike .................................................Port Coquitlam Gibson, Hon. Diana ........................................Oak Bay–Gordon Head Glumac, Hon. Rick ...................................... Port Moody–Burquitlam Greene, Hon. Kelly ..............................................Richmond-Steveston Higginson, Stephanie ........................................Ladysmith-Oceanside Kahlon, Hon. Ravi .............................................................. Delta North Kang, Hon.

Anne ......................................................... Burnaby Centre Krieger, Hon. Nina ...............................................Victoria–Swan Lake Lajeunesse, Dana ..............................................Juan de Fuca–Malahat Lore, Hon. Grace .................................................Victoria–Beacon Hill Ma, Hon. Bowinn ................................... North Vancouver–Lonsdale Malcolmson, Hon. Sheila .........................Nanaimo–Gabriola Island Morissette, Steve ...................................................Kootenay Monashee Neill, Hon. Randene ............................

Powell River–Sunshine Coast Osborne, Hon. Josie ....................................... Mid Island–Pacific Rim Parmar, Hon. Ravi ...............................................Langford-Highlands Phillip, Joan / Amshen .....................................Vancouver-Strathcona Popham, Hon. Lana ........................................................ Saanich South Rotchford, Darlene ...............................................Esquimalt-Colwood Routledge, Janet .............................................................Burnaby North Sandhu, Harwinder ......................................................

Vernon-Lumby Shah, Amna ............................................................. Surrey City Centre Sharma, Hon. Niki, KC ....................................... Vancouver-Hastings Sunner, Hon. Jessie ....................................................... Surrey-Newton Toporowski, Debra / Qwulti’stunaat .......................Cowichan Valley Whiteside, Hon. Jennifer ...................New Westminster–Coquitlam Wickens, Hon. Jodie ............................. Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Yung, Hon.

Terry .................................................Vancouver-Yaletown CONSERV ATIVE PARTY OF BC Banman, Bruce .......................................................... Abbotsford South Bhangu, Harman .................................................. Langley-Abbotsford Bird, Rosalyn ............................................. Prince George–Valemount Block, Lynne ..............................................West Vancouver–Capilano Chapman, Brent .................................................................Surrey South Clare, Sheldon ....................................

Prince George–North Cariboo Davis, Pete ..................................................................Kootenay Rockies Day, Brennan ........................................................... Courtenay-Comox Dew, Gavin ..................................................................Kelowna-Mission Dhaliwal, Mandeep .......................................................... Surrey North Doerkson, Lorne .....................................................

Cariboo-Chilcotin Gasper, Reann .......................................................Abbotsford-Mission Giddens, Kiel ..............................................Prince George–Mackenzie Halford, Trevor ......................................................Surrey–White Rock Hartwell, Sharon ..............................................Bulkley Valley–Stikine Hepner, Linda ................................................Surrey–Serpentine River Kindy, Anna ........................................................................North Island Kooner, Steve ............................................Richmond-Queensborough Loewen, Kristina ..........................................................

Kelowna Centre Luck, Tony ..........................................................................Fraser-Nicola Maahs, Heather ......................................................... Chilliwack North McCall, Macklin .........................................West Kelowna–Peachland McInnis, Scott ......................................... Columbia River–Revelstoke Milobar, Peter ............................................................

Kamloops Centre Mok, Lawrence ...........................................................Maple Ridge East Neufeld, Korky ............................................................Abbotsford West Neufeld, Larry ...........................................................Peace River South Paton, Ian ..............................................................................Delta South Rattée, Claire .................................................................................Skeena Rustad, John ...................................................................Nechako Lakes Stamer, Ward .........................................Kamloops–North Thompson Tepper, Br yan ............................................................

Surrey-Panorama Toor, Jody ............................................................Langley-Willowbrook Van Popta, Misty..............................................Langley–Walnut Grove Warbus, Á’a:líya ..............................................Chilliwack–Cultus Lake Wat, Teresa .........................................................Richmond-Bridgeport Williams, David ...............................................Salmon Arm–Shuswap Wilson, Donegal ............................................Boundary-Similkameen BC GREEN PARTY Botterell, Rob .......................................Saanich North and the Islands Valeriote, Jeremy .....................................

West Vancouver–Sea to Sky INDEPENDENT Armstrong, Tara .....................Kelowna–Lake Country–Coldstream Boultbee, Amelia .............................................Penticton-Summerland Brodie, Dallas .................................................... Vancouver-Quilchena Chan, Hon ..................................................................Richmond Centre Kealy, Jordan ............................................................. Peace River North Sturko, Elenore .........................................................

Surrey-Cloverdale PARTY STANDINGS Total seats – 93 BC NDP – 47 | Conservative Party of BC – 38 | BC Green Party – 2 | Independent – 6

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF RIDINGS A Abbotsford-Mission ........................................................Reann Gasper Abbotsford South ........................................................... Bruce Banman Abbotsford West .............................................................Korky Neufeld B Boundary-Similkameen .............................................Donegal Wilson Bulkley Valley–Stikine ............................................... Sharon Hartwell Burnaby Centre ...........................................................Hon.

Anne Kang Burnaby East ......................................................................Rohini Arora Burnaby–New Westminster .................................. Hon. Raj Chouhan Burnaby North ..............................................................Janet Routledge Burnaby South–Metrotown .................................................. Paul Choi C Cariboo-Chilcotin .......................................................Lorne Doerkson Chilliwack–Cultus Lake .............................................. Á’a:líya Warbus Chilliwack North ..........................................................

Heather Maahs Columbia River–Revelstoke ...........................................Scott McInnis Coquitlam–Burke Mountain .............................. Hon. Jodie Wickens Coquitlam-Maillardville .................................... Jennifer Blatherwick Courtenay-Comox ............................................................ Brennan Day Cowichan Valley ....................... Debra Toporowski / Qwulti’stunaat D Delta North ................................................................Hon.

Ravi Kahlon Delta South ...............................................................................Ian Paton E Esquimalt-Colwood ................................................Darlene Rotchford F Fraser-Nicola .......................................................................... Tony Luck J Juan de Fuca–Malahat ...............................................Dana Lajeunesse K Kamloops Centre ............................................................. Peter Milobar Kamloops–North Thompson .........................................

Ward Stamer Kelowna Centre ........................................................... Kristina Loewen Kelowna–Lake Country–Coldstream ......................Tara Armstrong Kelowna-Mission ..................................................................Gavin Dew Kootenay Central ............................................ Hon. Brittny Anderson Kootenay Monashee ....................................................Steve Morissette Kootenay Rockies................................................................... Pete Davis L Ladysmith-Oceanside ........................................

Stephanie Higginson Langford-Highlands ................................................ Hon. Ravi Parmar Langley-Abbotsford ....................................................Harman Bhangu Langley–Walnut Grove ..............................................Misty Van Popta Langley-Willowbrook ............................................................ Jody Toor M Maple Ridge East ............................................................Lawrence Mok Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows ........................................Hon. Lisa Beare Mid Island–Pacific Rim ........................................ Hon.

Josie Osborne N Nanaimo–Gabriola Island ..........................Hon. Sheila Malcolmson Nanaimo-Lantzville ................................................. George Anderson Nechako Lakes ....................................................................John Rustad New Westminster–Coquitlam .................... Hon. Jennifer Whiteside North Coast–Haida Gwaii ............Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson North Island ........................................................................Anna Kindy North Vancouver–Lonsdale .....................................Hon.

Bowinn Ma North Vancouver–Seymour ...............................................Susie Chant O Oak Bay–Gordon Head ......................................... Hon. Diana Gibson P Peace River North ..............................................................Jordan Kealy Peace River South ............................................................Larry Neufeld Penticton-Summerland .............................................. Amelia Boultbee Port Coquitlam ................................................. Hon. Mike Farnworth Port Moody–Burquitlam ........................................Hon.

Rick Glumac Powell River–Sunshine Coast ............................. Hon. Randene Neill Prince George–Mackenzie ...............................................Kiel Giddens Prince George–North Cariboo ......................................Sheldon Clare Prince George–Valemount ...............................................Rosalyn Bird R Richmond-Bridgeport .......................................................... Teresa Wat Richmond Centre .................................................................. Hon Chan Richmond-Queensborough ............................................

Steve Kooner Richmond-Steveston ...............................................Hon. Kelly Greene S Saanich North and the Islands ....................................... Rob Botterell Saanich South ......................................................... Hon.

Lana Popham Salmon Arm–Shuswap ................................................David Williams Skeena ..................................................................................Claire Rattée Surrey City Centre ...............................................................Amna Shah Surrey-Cloverdale .......................................................... Elenore Sturko Surrey-Fleetwood ....................................................... Hon. Jagrup Brar Surrey-Guildford .................................................................

Garry Begg Surrey-Newton ........................................................ Hon. Jessie Sunner Surrey North ............................................................Mandeep Dhaliwal Surrey-Panorama ..............................................................Br yan Tepper Surrey–Serpentine River ................................................

Linda Hepner Surrey South ..................................................................Brent Chapman Surrey–White Rock .......................................................Trevor Halford V Vancouver-Fraserview .....................................................George Chow Vancouver-Hastings ........................................ Hon. Niki Sharma, KC Vancouver-Kensington ...................................................Mable Elmore Vancouver-Langara .............................................................Sunita Dhir Vancouver–Little Mountain ............................. Hon.

Christine Boyle Vancouver–Point Grey .........................................Hon. David Eby, KC Vancouver-Quilchena ......................................................Dallas Brodie Vancouver-Renfrew ................................................... Hon. Adrian Dix Vancouver–South Granville ................................ Hon. Brenda Bailey Vancouver-Strathcona ..................................... Amshen / Joan Phillip Vancouver–West End .......................Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert Vancouver-Yaletown ..................................................Hon.

Terry Yung Vernon-Lumby ....................................................... Harwinder Sandhu Victoria–Beacon Hill ................................................. Hon. Grace Lore Victoria–Swan Lake ................................................Hon. Nina Krieger W West Kelowna–Peachland ..........................................Macklin McCall West Vancouver–Capilano ................................................Lynne Block West Vancouver–Sea to Sky ...................................... Jeremy Valeriote

CONTENTS Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Afternoon Sitting Page Routine Business Introductions by Members ............................................................................................................................................. 6119 Tributes ............................................................................................................................................................................. 6120 Chris Bush George Anderson Introductions by Members ............................................................................................................................................. 6120 Tributes ............................................................................................................................................................................. 6121 Edward (Ted) Arkell Ward Stamer Introductions by Members ............................................................................................................................................. 6121 Tributes ............................................................................................................................................................................. 6121 Howard E.

Grant Á ’a:líya Warbus Introductions by Members ............................................................................................................................................. 6121 Statements ........................................................................................................................................................................ 6122 Passover Hon. Nina Krieger Wildfire Season and B.C. Wildfire Service Hon.

Ravi Parmar Introductions by Members ............................................................................................................................................. 6122 Introduction and First Reading of Bills ........................................................................................................................ 6123 Bill 16 — Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2026 Hon.

Niki Sharma Members’ Statements ...................................................................................................................................................... 6123 Harold Johnson and Work in Vancouver Chinatown George Chow Role of Police Officers Macklin McCall Food Security and Work of Burnaby Organizations Janet Routledge Sikh Heritage Month and Vaisakhi Mandeep Dhaliwal Victoria Foundation Dana Lajeunesse Avery Hornosty and Canada Cord Award Scott McInnis Oral Questions ................................................................................................................................................................. 6125 Land Title Court Case and Property Ownership Concerns of Richmond Residents Steve Kooner Hon.

Niki Sharma Proposed Changes to DRIPA and Government Priorities Trevor Halford Hon. Niki Sharma

Oral Questions (continued) Government Management of Climate Change Policies Jeremy Valeriote Hon. Adrian Dix Ban on Glyphosate Spraying and Action on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework Jeremy Valeriote Hon. Ravi Parmar Implementation of Health Professions Legislation Anna Kindy Hon. Josie Osborne Brennan Day Government Action on Homelessness and Safety Issues in Abbotsford Encampments Bruce Banman Hon. Mike Farnworth Drug Decriminalization Program and Data Collection Claire Rattée Hon.

Josie Osborne Question of Privilege (Reservation of Right) ............................................................................................................... 6131 Claire Rattée Tabling Documents ......................................................................................................................................................... 6132 InBC Investment Corp., annual legislative report, 2024-25 Orders of the Day Government Motions on Notice ................................................................................................................................... 6132 Motion 14 — Change to Legislative

Schedule for April 2 Hon. Mike Farnworth Second Reading of Bills .................................................................................................................................................. 6132 Bill 11 — Residential Tenancy Amendment Act, 2026 (continued) Claire Rattée Rob Botterell Hon.

Terry Yung Steve Kooner Linda Hepner Tony Luck Reporting of Bills ............................................................................................................................................................. 6149 Bill 2 — Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2026 Third Reading of Bills ..................................................................................................................................................... 6149 Bill 2 — Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2026 Bill 6 — Motor Vehicle Amendment Act, 2026 Second Reading of Bills .................................................................................................................................................. 6150 Bill 11 — Residential Tenancy Amendment Act, 2026 (continued) Tony Luck George Anderson Reporting of Bills ............................................................................................................................................................. 6153 Bill 8 — Civil Forfeiture Amendment Act, 2026 Third Reading of Bills ..................................................................................................................................................... 6153 Bill 8 — Civil Forfeiture Amendment Act, 2026 Second Reading of Bills .................................................................................................................................................. 6153 Bill 11 — Residential Tenancy Amendment Act, 2026 (continued) George Anderson Teresa Wat Bryan Tepper

Reporting of Bills ............................................................................................................................................................. 6159 Bill 12 — Safe Access to Schools Amendment Act, 2026 Third Reading of Bills ..................................................................................................................................................... 6159 Bill 12 — Safe Access to Schools Amendment Act, 2026 Proceedings in the Douglas Fir Room Committee of the Whole ................................................................................................................................................ 6160 Bill 2 — Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2026 (continued) Peter Milobar Hon.

Brenda Bailey Bill 12 — Safe Access to Schools Amendment Act, 2026 Hon. Niki Sharma Steve Kooner Proceedings in the Birch Room Committee of the Whole ................................................................................................................................................ 6174 Bill 8 — Civil Forfeiture Amendment Act, 2026 (continued) Macklin McCall Hon. Nina Krieger Bill 10 — Labour Statutes Amendment Act, 2026 Kiel Giddens Hon. Jennifer Whiteside

6119 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2026 The House met at 1:34 p.m. [The Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Prayers and reflections: Darlene Rotchford. [1:35 p.m.] Introductions by Members Hon. Adrian Dix: Earlier today I had the opportunity to present the official provincial proclamation to declare that April 2026 shall be known as Safe Digging Month in the province of B.C. In the gallery today, we have 27 members of the Com - mon Ground Alliance and B.C. One Call. They include Tony Millikin, the chair of the B.C. Common Ground Alliance; M.J.

Whitemarsh, government and stakeholder relations for the BCCGA, who’s well known to people in this Legislature; Donna Grant, the president of B.C. One Call; and Paul Chernikhowsky from Fortis, the vice-chair of B.C. One Call. Now, members on all sides of the House had the oppor- tunity to meet over lunch with the Common Ground Al - liance, with B.C. One Call. We learned a great deal about what they have to tell us about safe digging. It is occasionally the case that what I say doesn’t unite all the members of the Legislature. But let me say this. I think I can do this today.

Let’s all remember to dig re - sponsibly. Call or click before you dig. Scott McInnis: I have to admit, Mr. Speaker, when I first started hanging out with my wife, as a lowly teacher, I felt like a bit of a loser. I have three members of my wife’s family here today, and you’ll know why here in a second. First of all, my wife’s cousin Marlis Neumann is here. Marlis plays the harp in the Munich Chamber Orchestra, a responsibility she’s had for over 30 years. She’s one of the best harpists in the world. Joining us here also is my wife’s sister Kelly Fowler.

It’s amazing she balances being a lawyer with raising their two beautiful children, Lyndon and Maeve. Lastly, my brother-in-law Maj. Joseph Fowler, who flies the CF-18 Hornet with the Canadian Air Force. Very proud to have Joe here today. Funny enough, mentioning Mr. Hansen who’s on his way to circumnavigate the moon…. That was Joseph’s first commander in the air force. So a funny connection there. Would the House please make them all welcome here today. Hon. Nina Krieger: I’m so pleased to be able to intro - duce members of the B.C. Police Association visiting us today.

These are 15 members of the 3,673 BCPA members that represent 14 police associations and unions across our province. With us today are Jason Chan, BCPA president James Hubert, Bill Naledine, Brandon Steele, Sean Shipper, Dan Young, Adam Sutherland, Sebastian Fazzino, Arthur Wlodyka, Neal Schaffer, Kieran O’Reilly, Eddie Harper, Matt Sorensen, Adam Sutherland and Don Cogel. Please join me in welcoming them to the Legislature and thanking them for their service and the work they do every day to keep our communities safe. Kristina Loewen: Today it’s a pleasure to welcome to the chamber my new friend.

She is a human rights activist and author. Her book Unveiled has been translated into 19 languages. She’s an incredible human being, a podcaster. She has a charity called Free Hearts Free Minds, and she’s co-founder and co-director of the CLARITy Coali - tion. Amongst raising her two daughters and just being an amazing human and doing a million interviews, she’s just an all-around incredible human. Please join me in welcoming Yasmine Mohammed to the chamber today. Hon. Ravi Kahlon: It’s very rare that I get to talk about field hockey two days in a row.

One of my former teammates from the Sydney Olym - pics, Ian Bird, is in the House today. He tried to sneak into the building quietly without me noticing, but I have sources who informed me he was here. [1:40 p.m.] If you had a poster child for what leadership should look like, from sport to business to not-for-profit work, Ian is that poster child. I was so fortunate to make the jun - ior national team as a young man and then have mentor - ship from Ian. Ian has mentored a lot of people, whether he knows it or not. I’m so excited for him in his new role, that he’s coming back.

I won’t steal the thunder from my colleague, who’s go - ing to share it, but I want the House to join me in welcom - ing Ian Bird to the building today. Larry Neufeld: While my colleague from across the way did beat me to the punch, I feel remiss in not acknow - ledging the presence of the British Columbia Common Ground Alliance. Well done.

My 30-year career prior to taking on this honourable position has, in fact, shown me how incredibly import - ant it is — on a day-to-day basis, saving lives, literally, of workers and saving lives of the public — to ensure that we call before we dig and that we do follow all appropriate procedures. Please help me join the minister in welcoming these individuals.

6120 B ritish Columbia Debates W ednesday, April 1, 2026 Hon. Mike Farnworth: It’s my pleasure today to intro- duce two members from the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction who are joining us here in the gallery. As you know, steel is a major component of construction pro- jects here in British Columbia and indeed across our en - tire country. I’m very pleased to welcome Rita Rahmati, the director of public affairs; and Chris Weckesser, man - ager of business initiatives for western Canada. Would the House please make them most welcome. Sheldon Clare: I have two introductions to do today.

First, I want to extend my congratulations, and I hope the House will join me, in welcoming Adriana Ramirez and Alejandra Garcia, who have just achieved their Canadian citizenship. They were with us in the Legislature here to - day. I was glad to be able to drop in at their ceremony this morning, very briefly. Some 3½ years ago, they arrived here from Colombia in July of 2022. Congratulations. Would the House please join me in congratulating the new Canadians. Secondly, I also want to acknowledge the presence in the precinct of the B.C.

Youth Council members Maslow Low, Antonio Iannidinardo, Colin Sparks, Leo Chen, Sarah Black, Declan Williams and Madison Perrault. They are visiting the Legislature here today, meeting with government and opposition members to advocate on be - half of youth. I ask that the House make them feel very welcome. Hon. Jagrup Brar: I would like to introduce and wel - come two of my constituents visiting the Legislature today, my friend Raman Sharma and Urmila Sharma. Raman is the president and founder of the Tradesman Association of B.C.

The Tradesman Association of B.C. is a non-profit or - ganization dedicated to supporting and advancing the construction industry through collaboration, innovation and knowledge-sharing. Last week I had the opportun - ity to attend the ninth Construction Expo, organized by Raman Sharma and his team — well done, very well or - ganized and well attended. I will ask the House to please make them feel welcome. Brennan Day: I’d like to take a moment to introduce Ben Colling, with Rhodes Wellness, and Jeremy Sabell, with Stenberg College — fantastic post-secondary educa - tion in the health care space.

An interesting fact: Jeremy Sabell’s father, Bob — who has, unfortunately, recently passed — was my first boss in a Christmas tree farm that my parents now proudly run and carry on that tradition. Thank you very much. Make them feel welcome. Tributes CHRIS BUSH George Anderson: I rise to recognize Chris Bush on his retirement and thank him for his years of service to the Nanaimo News Bulletin . Local journalism matters. It tells the story of a community in real time. It helps people stay informed. It preserves the moments that shape a city.

And it strengthens our democracy by asking questions and keeping us all accountable. [1:45 p.m.] Through his reporting and photography, Chris helped capture the life of Nanaimo — its challenges and its tri - umphs. I want to thank him for his service and congratu - late him on his remarkable 28-year career. I hope that the entire House will join me in congratulat- ing Chris and wishing him every happiness in retirement. Introductions by Members Hon. Grace Lore: I have a few introductions, for the second time this week. So thank you for your patience.

First, I am beyond thrilled to welcome some of the in - credible team from the Victoria Foundation who are join - ing us today, celebrating the foundation’s 90th anniversary. You will have a chance to hear more about the foundation from my colleague from Juan de Fuca–Malahat, but let me say that this organization is the second-oldest in Canada. It started with $20 during the Great Depression, it has changed and transformed lives and communities, and it has connected people across generations to causes that the community cares about.

Will the House please help me welcome Rob Gareau, who is the foundation’s board chair. He’s been with the foundation for 13 years. I had a chance to hear about what keeps him, over lunch. Sandra Richardson, the CEO of 25 years — a quarter of a century of lifting Victoria up. He’s already been introduced by the Minister of Jobs, but Ian Bird is the Victoria Foundation’s incoming CEO. What a vote of confidence from my colleague. I’m grateful to have you joining us. We have 90th anniversary committee volunteer co- chairs Bruce Williams and Lori Elder.

We have Jonathon Dyck, Victoria Foundation senior director of marketing, communications and facilities; and Brin Morgan, who is senior director of governance and executive operations. I’m grateful to have them here and for all their work. Will the House please help me make them very welcome.

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 6121 Tributes EDW ARD (TED) ARKELL Ward St amer: With regret, I want to announce the passing of Ted Arkell, from Campbell River. Ted spent over 50 years in the forest industry, work - ing with the B.C. forest service, Evans Products and Ains - worth Lumber in Lillooet, B.C., before purchasing Dyer Logging Ltd. in Campbell River in 1989. Ted served on many forest industry boards, including the Truck Loggers Association, later serving as president, working tirelessly for the betterment of the forest indus - try.

Ted was an avid boater who enjoyed fishing with his family and his friends. We extend our regrets on Ted’s passing to his wife and his family. Introductions by Members Hon. Brittny Anderson: Today I would like to wish my very favourite high school teacher, Mrs. Day, a happy 80th birthday. She was my teacher, but now she is a dear friend. When I sang her happy birthday this morning…. She always reminds me that I am allowed to call her Regina, but she will always be Mrs. Day to me. She has been an incredible mentor. I love going over and visiting with her and hearing her stories.

I look forward to having dinner with her this weekend. Happy 80th birthday, Mrs. Day. Macklin McCall: I want to recognize a delegation here today from the B.C. Police Association. This organiza - tion represents front-line municipal police officers serv - ing across British Columbia, including in Vancouver, Vic - toria, Saanich, Abbotsford, New Westminster, Delta, Port Moody, West Vancouver, Central Saanich, Oak Bay and Nelson. They’re here today meeting with the B.C. Conservative caucus to discuss issues impacting their members and the state of public safety across British Columbia.

These are important conversations as we on this side of the House look forward to engaging with them. Would the House please join me in welcoming them to the Legislature today. Hon. L ana P opham: Mr. Speaker, you have a very spe - cial person who works in your office, by the name of Tabi - tha Bernard. Tabitha is also a constituent of mine. [1:50 p.m.] Her parents are visiting here today, in the gallery, from Ottawa, and I would like to introduce the House to Sandy and Ken Bernard.

Sandy is a retired early child educator, and Ken is also retired, but he has taken on a second ca - reer as a volunteer firefighter and has community boards coming out his ears. Would the House please welcome them to British Columbia. Tributes HOW ARD E. GRANT Á’a:líya Wa rbus: I’d like to take a moment to acknow - ledge a great person and the celebration and the send-off I was very honoured to attend today, Uncle Howard Edward Grant, qiyəplenəxʷ VII. There are no words for the incredible send-off.

Over 600 people in attendance, leaders from across B.C., Can - ada, to share with his children and his legacy — Trent, Larissa, Wade, Gordon, Keegan and Logan. I just want to take a moment to really honour him and his memory. There were definitely more people that could not attend and that watched and joined and prayed with the family on Zoom. To all of you, what an amazing, incredible send-off for our uncle, our leader. We lost somebody very incredible in the world, and he’ll be greatly missed.

I just wanted to share my condolences and strength, love, prayers with the family. [Halq’eméylem was spoken.] Introductions by Members Rohini A rora: I’d like to take a moment to introduce the Afghan community society of Nanaimo. Please stand up so everybody can see you. These are amazing advocates that support newcomers from Afghanistan with a special focus on women, ensur - ing to build leadership capacity so that they can support all the other members of their community. They came from across B.C. They’re supporting people in Burnaby, Vancouver, Victoria and Nanaimo.

We’re so thankful you were able to make it today. Would the House please join me in welcoming them. Larry N eufeld: I believe that I may have beat the min - ister to this one. I would like to make known the presence of Doug Slater and the Fortis group. I’d like to have everyone help me welcome them to the precinct. Hon. Grace Lore: I have not yet mastered the art of honouring with enthusiasm my guests without moving quickly enough on to my other guests, so I appreciate the second opportunity. I have two other introductions. On behalf of my colleagues, I also want to recognize Adriana and Alejandra.

I’m grateful for the kindness and warmth.

6122 B ritish Columbia Debates W ednesday, April 1, 2026 I know folks see you in the hall, but that opportunity to connect — I know we’re all grateful for it. Congratulations on your Canadian citizenship. They both became citizens last week, and we’re better for it. We’re better for you here in our Legislature, in our community and in our province. I don’t know about other members of this House, but your new citizenship makes me think about what being Canadian means and what be - ing Canadian means in this place of democracy. So thank you so much.

I’ve got a few things for you, so I will find you around later today. Lastly, I have a constituent, Felix, who’s in the House, a constituency member and volunteer. I’m grateful for him. He is heading off to McGill — or Concordia; I might have that wrong — to start political science. It’s his first time watching question period. Please, everybody, one more time for Alejandra and Adriana, and welcome my constituent Felix.

Amna Shah: I’m so pleased to welcome in the gallery here today Jeremy Sabell from Stenberg College in Surrey as well as Ben Colling from Rhodes Wellness College. [1:55 p.m.] Stenberg College’s presence in Surrey has helped es - tablish Surrey as a regional education and workforce hub, with the college contributing directly to local talent de - velopment and economic activity.

I am so pleased to be able to meet with these gentlemen later on today to see how they’re are going to be contributing to my commun - ity and also the accessible education pathways at Stenberg for students who go on to work as psychotherapists and other jobs in this caring profession. Will the House join me in making them feel very welcome. Statements PASSOVER Hon. Nina Krieger: I’d like to acknowledge that today at sundown, Jewish British Columbians will observe the first night of Passover. Families will gather around the Seder table, retelling the story of Exodus and reflecting on the enduring theme of freedom.

This is a beloved holiday for so many. I invite members to join me in wishing our Jewish neighbours a very happy Passover. Chag sameach Pesach. WILDFIRE SEASON AND B.C. WILDFIRE SERVICE Hon. Ravi Parmar: It’s April 1. It’s a day of jokes and laughter. But it’s also a very important day in British Col - umbia. April 1 marks the beginning of the wildfire season in British Columbia. Just a couple of weeks ago, I was in Kamloops at the B.C. wildfire service headquarters, where I was pleased to be able to share that, two years in a row, we broke a record.

Over 2,400 British Columbians have put their names for - ward, wanting to participate as wildland firefighters, from every corner of this province. With the start of the wildfire season, I know that this brings a lot of feelings for British Columbians. We’ve gone through very difficult wildfire seasons over the past num - ber of years, but we also come together. We support one another. I want to take this opportunity as we begin this wild - fire season. We don’t know what the wildfire season is go - ing to bring, but we do know we’re going to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

The reason we can do that is because of the outstand - ing members of the B.C. wildfire service — hundreds, if not thousands, of people that put their names up here in British Columbia, all throughout Canada and around the world. When we’re running away from fires, they are run - ning into fires — to put them out, to protect people, to protect communities. I hope all members of the House will join me in a thun - derous round of applause for the hard-working men and women of the B.C. wildfire service, for all that they do to help keep communities safe all year round.

Introductions by Members Gavin Dew: I know she has already been acknowledged in a different capacity twice, but I would just like to take a moment to acknowledge my friend M.J. Whitemarsh and to acknowledge her long service on the Small Business Roundtable, her many years of contribution in that regard and those of her fellow former members of that group. The Speaker: I think we have recognized everybody sitting upstairs today. If not…. Member for Cowichan Valley. Debra Toporowski / Qwulti’stunaat: Thank you, hon. Speaker. I will try to make this quick.

I’d like to introduce Declan Williams, Leo Chen, co- chairs of the B.C. Youth Council; as well as Antonio Ian - nidinardo, director of youth engagement initiatives; and his team: Maslow Low, Madison Perrault, Sarah Black and Colin Sparks. The B.C. Youth Council is an organization dedicated to increasing youth engagement and participation in pol - itics through regional youth councils and initiatives like today’s session on youth homelessness. They work to help Members of the Legislative Assembly connect directly with young people in their communities.

Please join me in welcoming all of them here to the House today.

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 6123 Janet Routledge: Joining us today in the gallery from the Lower Mainland is the public policy sector of FortisBC. Please join me in giving them a very warm welcome. Introduction and First Reading of Bills BILL 16 — MISCELLANEOUS STATUTES AMENDMENT ACT, 2026 Hon. Niki Sharma presented a message from His Honour the Administrator: a bill intituled Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2026. Hon. Niki Sharma: I am pleased to introduce Bill 16, the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2026.

This bill amends the following statutes: Judicial Re - view Procedure Act, Fuel Price Transparency Act, Zero- Emission Vehicles Act, Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District Act, Local Government Act, Manufac - tured Home Park Tenancy Act, Residential Tenancy Act, University Endowment Land Act, Vancouver Charter, Correction Act. [2:00 p.m.] This bill also makes consequential amendments to other statutes. The Speaker: Members, the question is first reading of the bill. Motion approved. Hon.

Niki Sharma: I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today. Motion approved. Members’ Statements HAROLD JOHNSON AND WORK IN V ANCOUVER CHINATOWN George C how: Last week the Vancouver Chinatown community came together to celebrate the life of Harold Johnson, who worked in Chinatown as a security guard for two decades, helping to keep the neighbourhood safe. This gathering meant a great deal to Harold’s wife, Brandy, and to the Chinatown community to see so many people gathered to celebrate his life. Harold was more than a security guard.

His connec - tion to the community went far beyond his job. He was a constant presence, a familiar face and a source of comfort for many people in Chinatown. Day after day, year after year, he walked the streets of Chinatown, not just doing his job but truly caring for the people and businesses that make up this community. Harold would stop in to visit the merchant shops. He never rushed those moments. He would check in to ask how they were doing and genuinely listen. It wasn’t just about safety. It was about connection. It was about making sure people felt seen and supported.

But what truly set Harold apart was how he treated people. Part of his job often meant asking people sleeping in doorways or storefronts to move along so businesses could open. That could easily have been confrontational, but Harold never treated people like they were a problem. He treated them like human beings — with patience, with respect and with dignity. Even in difficult situations, Har - old understood that the people he encountered were still part of the same community. That compassion is some - thing many people remember. Four years ago Harold was brutally attacked while patrolling in Chinatown.

He suffered a broken nose, a broken cheekbone, a black eye and head trauma. Despite this attack, Harold returned to work, serving the com - munity he loved until his retirement. The merchants and residents of Chinatown are deeply thankful for Harold’s years of service but even more for his kindness, his presence and his unwavering care for the community. Harold, you will be missed but never forgotten. Let’s give a big clap to Harold for his community service.

ROLE OF POLICE OFFICERS Macklin McCall: I want to take a moment to speak about policing in British Columbia, because for most people, policing is something they only think about when something goes wrong, when they need help, when they need someone to show up, when something has already happened. But for police officers, that’s every day. Every shift starts with the unknown. They don’t know what the next call will be, only that they will be expected to re - spond, to take control of the situation and make decisions that matter. They deal with the violence. They deal with people in crisis.

They deal with addiction, mental health and dis - order — often all at once. They do it in real time. There’s no reset. There’s no second chance to get it right. Every decision carries weight. And those decisions are made in environments that are unpredictable and often dangerous. But what stands out is not one moment. It’s the con - sistency — showing up, taking responsibility, doing the job regardless of the conditions. Much of that work is never seen. It doesn’t make headlines. It doesn’t get atten- tion.

But it matters to the people they help, to the com - munities they serve and to the stability of the province. Public safety doesn’t exist on its own. It exists because

6124 B ritish Columbia Debates W ednesday, April 1, 2026 there are people willing to step into difficult situations and deal with them. Every day across British Columbia, police officers stand between order and chaos, and they do it without hesitation. For that, they deserve more than acknowledge - ment. They deserve our respect. They deserve our support. Today I want to say clearly: thank you. Thank you for the bravery, the dedication and the professionalism shown by our police officers across this province, including those represented by the B.C.

Police Association, because every single day in communities across British Columbia, they are out there doing the work that keeps people safe. And that matters. [2:05 p.m.] FOOD SECURITY AND WORK OF BURNABY ORGANIZATIONS Janet Routledge: Since COVID, people around the world have been facing growing food security crises, even here in British Columbia. Food Banks B.C. recently re - ported a 32 percent increase in the number of people ac - cessing food banks compared to 2019 and an 81 percent increase in households doing so.

I’d like to recognize the people in Burnaby, where I live, who are organizing to ensure that our neighbours do not have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. For example, Refood rescues surplus food and redis - tributes it to families in need. The Burnaby Neighbourhood Pantry provides a safe, non-judgmental space where people can access essential groceries. Ryan’s Rainbow Emergency Food Outreach offers weekly food distribution and basic supplies to those facing difficult times.

The Long Table Society — guided by the belief that if you are more fortunate than others, it is better to build a longer table than a higher fence, among other initia - tives — brings people together for culturally appropriate community dinners. They run a network of community gardens. Burnaby Neighbourhood House provides low-barrier access to groceries and meals through their community food hubs while also creating welcoming spaces where neighbours are greeted with dignity and connected to other supports. It may come as a surprise to many of us that there is a food bank on campus at Simon Fraser University.

It’s run by the student union for their fellow students. They also offer a free breakfast and grocery voucher program. It shouldn’t be seen as normal for students to have to choose between their education, their rent or their next meal. Knowing that students are volunteering to support their peers, often at the expense of the precious time they themselves could be studying or working, helped con - vince me that our future is in good hands. SIKH HERITAGE MONTH AND V AISAKHI Mandeep Dhaliwal: Today I’m honoured to speak about Sikh Heritage Month and Vaisakhi.

In British Columbia, the month of April is known as Sikh Heritage Month. It is a time to learn about and cele - brate the history, culture and contribution of the Sikh community. The Sikh community is based on the teach - ings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He taught values like equality, honesty, kindness and helping others. Sikhs also remember an important event in history when the Khalsa was created in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh. This teaches us to be brave, to stand for justice. During this time, the Sikh community goes to gurdwara to pray and serve langar, which is a free meal for every - one.

This shows equality and unity, because everyone sits together and eats together, no matter who they are. Across British Columbia, communities also hold Nagar Kirtan parades that bring people together in celebration. In Vancouver, the Nagar Kirtan parade will be held on April 11. In Surrey, which has one of the largest parades in the world, it will take place on April 18. It will be cele - brated across the globe in the month of April. Sikh Heritage Month gives all of us a chance to think about values like equality, respect and community, which help build a strong and welcoming society.

Waheguruji Ka Khalsa Waheguruji Ki Fateh. [Punjabi text provided by Mandeep Dhaliwal.] VICTORIA FOUNDATION Dana Lajeunesse: I rise today to recognize an extra - ordinary milestone for one of our province’s most endur - ing and impactful community institutions, the Victoria Foundation, which this year celebrates 90 years of service, partnership and philanthropy in our region. Although it’s going to be difficult to cover 90 years’ worth of service in just two minutes, I’ll give it my best.

Founded in 1936, in the midst of the Great Depression, by Burges Gadsden, the Victoria Foundation began its life in the Rainbow Soup Kitchen on Pandora Avenue in Vic - toria. Its establishment was formalized on April 1, 1936, through

an act of this Legislature, making it the second- oldest community foundation in Canada. [2:10 p.m.] The foundation’s very first gift, a modest $20 dona - tion from Fanny Gadsden in 1937, set in motion nine decades of generosity that have shaped the capital region. Since that time, the foundation has granted more than $406 million to support local organizations, including over $31 million in 2025 alone. From its early grants in 1969, when it administered

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 6125 $22,000 in assets to its leadership in programs such as vital youth, the Gadsden initiative and Victoria circle, the foundation has worked tirelessly to foster engagement and philanthropy across generations. A cornerstone of its community leadership has been Victoria’s Vital Signs report, an annual evidence-based snapshot of well-being in our region, now entering a new

chapter after its 20th anniversary last year. This work has inspired significant initiatives, including the Civil Soci - ety report of 2018 and the recent Architects of Belonging report, which highlighted that registered charities now contribute $5.4 billion directly into our local economy, a remarkable increase of $1.4 billion since the first report. Today is the foundation’s official anniversary with the government of British Columbia, and we look forward to community celebrations throughout 2026, culminating in its major 90th anniversary event at the Victoria Confer - ence Centre on September 26.

For 90 years, the Victoria Foundation has helped build a region where everyone can belong. Today we acknow - ledge their legacy, their leadership and their countless community members who have contributed to this re - markable journey. Thanks to the organization’s incredible leadership, we look forward with gratitude and optimism to the next 90 years of impact. AVERY HORNOSTY AND CANADA CORD AW ARD Scott McInnis: It’s a true honour to celebrate some - thing extraordinary today, Revelstoke youth Avery Hor - nosty earning her Canada Cord. This award is not simply a badge or a milestone.

It represents one of the highest achievements a Girl Guides Pathfinder can attain in Canada. Only a small number of Pathfinders across the entire country earn the Canada Cord each year. Here in Revelstoke, it has been more than a decade since anyone has reached this level. That alone speaks to how rare, rigorous and meaningful this accom - plishment is. The Canada Cord is awarded to those who demon - strate outstanding dedication in their community, leader - ship, personal development and project work. Avery, you have met and exceeded every one of these requirements with grace, creativity and determination.

Stories show your leadership in action: your composure during the Europe trip, your creativity in crafting a pack - ageable board game for a snowy adventure in Mount Revelstoke National Park and your deep commitment to environmental stewardship through your painted turtle conservation project. These are not just activities. They are examples of how you elevate the people around you, how you think ahead and how you care for your community. What stands out even more is your humility.

When speaking at an event about her achievement, Avery said: “All of this wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for all of you.” In a moment where many would focus on their own ef - forts, you chose to highlight your community, your family and your girl guiding roots. This humility is the mark of a true leader. This Canada Cord is not an ending. It is a stepping stone, one of many more to come. With your talent, drive and compassion, there is no telling how far you will go. And who knows? One day you may find yourself standing in our provincial Legislature, continuing to serve in new and inspiring ways.

Avery, congratulations on this remarkable and very rare achievement. Revelstoke and all of British Columbia are incredibly proud of you. We cannot wait to see where your leadership takes you next. [2:15 p.m.] Oral Questions LAND TITLE COURT CASE AND PROPERTY OWNERSHIP CONCERNS OF RICHMOND RESIDENTS Steve Kooner: Yesterday my colleague from Richmond- Bridgeport and myself received a letter from the city of Richmond. It showed that Richmond residents and the city remain deeply concerned about the implications on private prop - erty around the Quw’utsun decision.

Despite assurances from this government and the Quw’utsun in a joint state - ment, uncertainty persists. Will the Attorney General commit to Richmond city council to elevate the joint statement to a legally binding agreement that protects private property owners, yes or no? Hon. Niki Sharma: This is a very complicated and very serious issue, one that this government is putting a lot of effort behind clarifying — protecting and bringing the certainty to property rights and sitting down with the Quw’utsun to sort out that decision and appealing it to the court.

We also received a letter from the city of Richmond that noted: “We have appreciated the supportive position taken by the provincial government in the Quw’utsun case. We were pleased to receive a recent statement by the Quw’utsun Nation’s Chief and the province of British Col- umbia containing a quote that addressed the approaches to privately held fee simple titles.” This is how we are going to get through this issue: working together to solve these very complicated issues. It’s not the approach from the other side, which is to demonize First Nations People, spread fear and misinfor -

6126 B ritish Columbia Debates W ednesday, April 1, 2026 mation for political points and not arrive at any concrete examples of how to solve the issue. Interjections. The Speaker: Members, shhh. Members, that’s enough. Interjections. The Speaker: Members, wait. Wait. Members, order. Please conclude. Hon. Niki Sharma: We are going to work through this issue not only with the city of Richmond, in the courts; with the Quw’utsun; and on behalf of protecting private property rights here in British Columbia. We’ll keep do - ing that work. The Speaker: Richmond-Queensborough, supple - mental.

Steve Kooner: The Attorney General should read the rest of the letter from the city of Richmond for the record. “Richmond residents affected by the Quw’utsun case are concerned that without a successful court appeal, an Aboriginal title declaration could continue to mark their private property, affecting market value.” This isn’t fearmongering. This isn’t a fearmongering concern coming from Richmond residents. These are real concerns, and those concerns are documented in that let - ter from the city of Richmond.

Will the Attorney General amend the court appeal to call for the extinguishment of Aboriginal title on private property in Richmond, yes or no? Hon. Niki Sharma: I have read the entire letter, and we have been working with the city of Richmond. In fact, they’ve noted that directly: “We are appreciative of the provincial government and their supportive position in the Quw’utsun case.” We are working through not only complicated issues but we are driving for certainty when it comes to private property. That is our work every single day. That means appealing the court case.

That means sitting down with the Quw’utsun. That means making sure that private property interests are protected in any way that we can. We will continue to work with the city of Richmond to do that. What it does not involve are the ideas coming from the other side: “Stop talking to First Nations. Rip up our agreements. Don’t sit down. Don’t do the work that we know needs to happen to get to the certainty that we need.” Those are the ideas coming from the other side. They’re divisive, they’re unhelpful, and they’re not going to get us to certainty.

PROPOSED CHANGES TO DRIPA AND GOVERNMENT PRIORITIES Trevor Halford: Let me just read into the record some of this correspondence that my colleagues received from the mayor of Richmond and council. “For months, resi - dents and business owners in Richmond have expressed concern over the uncertainty about private property title as a result of the Supreme Court of B.C. decision pro - nounced in August 2025.” [2:20 p.m.] Here’s part of the problem.

When legitimate questions are raised in this House, outside of this House — and un - fortunately, this government, this Premier, this minister, multiple ministers don’t have answers — their only answer is fearmongering. That is what they fall back on, because they’ve got nothing else to say. That should scare every British Columbian, and we are seeing that today. We are talking about uncertainty for property right owners, and that’s just not my opinion, because depending on what day the Premier wakes up, it might be his. He will say: “We will go to the wall for property right owners. We will actually go as far….

We will backstop mortgages.” That’s what the Premier of this province is prepared to do. But then it changes. “Private property rights are never in question” is what he’ll say in one room. It is April 1. The public is waiting. The province is wait- ing. This Legislature is waiting. First Nations are waiting. Where, oh where are these amendments, and when will this Premier and when will this government get on with it and actually do what the public is expecting them to do? Hon. Niki Sharma: We have been very clear since day one. The decision came down, and we were the first out of the gate… Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh. Hon. Niki Sharma: …to ask for an appeal. We were the first out of the gate to try to figure out how we sort through the legal uncertainty that’s created. We are in court with our lawyers fighting and appeal - ing this case. We’re sitting down with the Quw’utsun, and we’re trying to figure out our path forward on behalf of the private property owners there. That includes the joint statement that we released with the Quw’utsun that makes it clear that the province and the Quw’utsun are not seek - ing to go after the private property rights. We will continue to make that progress. Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh, Members. Members.

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 6127 Hon. Niki Sharma: But can I just tell you the political opportunism that’s coming from that side? The day after the Quw’utsun decision came down, they issued a fund - raising email to try to make money off what was happen - ing in this matter. The day after the xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm agreement, they issued a social media post saying that the xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm are go - ing after your land. This is the type of rhetoric that’s coming up from that side that is not helpful. It’s not going to get us certainty for those private land owners.

It’s not going to get us any - where except for dividing this province up. We are going to continue to do the work, and we’re go- ing to get that certainty. The Speaker: The member has a supplemental? Trevor Halford: Yeah, I do. Here’s part of the issue. We do have to get to work. We do have to do the work of the people. We can’t do it when this government continues to overpromise and underde - liver on something as important as the legislation that they committed to do in this House. It is April 1, and there is nothing other than incompe - tence.

The fact is that we are starting to believe that the government doesn’t even have a plan to introduce this legislation this spring or get it complete. The fact of the matter is this government is not doing the work and ac - tually having the debates in this House. So if they want them to stop happening outside of this House, table that legislation today, put it forward, be transparent, stand be - hind it and have those debates in this House. Will you table that legislation today, yes or no? The Speaker: Member, all questions through the Chair.

When the question was asked, the courtesy was pro - vided to listen, and I hope the same courtesy we’ll get when the answer is given. Hon. Niki Sharma: We’ve been very open with the public about the need that we see… Interjections. The Speaker: Members. Hon. N iki S harma: …to look at DRIPA and move for - ward with addressing the Gitxaała decision. The Premier has been in the media. I’ve been in the media. We talked about it with the public. When legislation comes forward, everybody knows in this House it’s publicly debated.

We go through three stages of public debate where they get to give their opinion… Interjections. The Speaker: Shhh. Hon. Niki Sharma: …and we get to give our thoughts. That’s the process, and that’ll be, obviously, the process we follow when it comes to these amendments. I’m not going to pretend to talk about what they believe on that side, because they believe a lot of things that are not factual and are not based on the reality that British Columbians are facing right now.

We’re going to continue to focus on solving those issues that are important to Brit - ish Columbians and real solutions to those problems. [2:25 p.m.] GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT OF CLIMATE CHANGE POLICIES Jeremy Valeriote: It is April Fools’ Day, and exactly a year after dismantling the carbon tax to appease Pierre Poilievre, this government’s climate policy has turned into a fool’s errand. It all started so promisingly with transformational pro - grams like the climate action secretariat, also courtesy of the late B.C. Liberal government; and the CleanBC plan, thanks to the NDP’s 2017 agreement with the B.C. Greens.

We also had a thorough review of CleanBC last year that seems to be gathering dust on the minister’s bookshelf. We hear all the right things about the environment and climate action, but when the polling landscape shifts, it looks like this government is only motivated to act when a couple of Greens raise a ruckus. So here is your ruckus. My question for the Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions: now that the climate action secretariat has been disbanded, how will this government provide the leader - ship and cross-ministry coordination needed to meet our existential climate commitments? Hon.

Adrian Dix: The member’s statement is sim - ply untrue. There were two divisions of the Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions: the climate action secretar - iat and the energy decarbonization division — two smaller divisions. They’ve been made into one division, working together — people working on decarbonization across government, across the Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions and leading on these questions. Our CleanBC plan is leading Canada.

The impacts of the low-carbon fuel standard on reducing emissions and creating jobs, our actions to support EVs in B.C. and heat pumps in B.C., working with industry to lower emissions standards with the output-based pricing system — this is why we’re leading B.C. Bringing together two divisions of the same ministry is not disbanding them. It is 181 public servants working hard to ensure that the implementation of CleanBC hap - pens for the benefit of everybody in British Columbia.

6128 B ritish Columbia Debates W ednesday, April 1, 2026 The Speaker: Member, supplemental. BAN ON GLYPHOSATE SPRAYING AND ACTION ON BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM HEALTH FRAMEWORK Jeremy Valeriote: That’s not what we’re hearing. We’re hearing staff who have dedicated their lives to climate action being forced to work in the oil and gas industry, which is a symbolic slap in the face. Moving along, all three parties in this House had the same 2024 election promise: to ban aerial spraying of gly - phosate.

Glyphosate, as we know, is a toxic chemical linked to cancer, kidney disease and brain damage — not to men - tion biodiversity loss. But this government is still letting Roundup cloud our forests and nearby communities. On the important topic of biodiversity, B.C. has more species at risk than anywhere else in Canada. We’re one of the only provinces without stand-alone species-at-risk legislation. Three years ago, this government announced a draft framework. We’re still waiting for a final and a law to back it up.

I know the Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stew- ardship will say that she cares about this work, and I truly believe that. But if raising a ruckus is the only way for these initiatives to make headway in the Premier’s office, I’ll do my bit. When will this government ban glyphosate, release the biodiversity and ecosystem health framework and back up its promises with legislation? Hon. Ravi Parmar: On this side of the House, we pride ourselves on the ability to be able to work with all par - ties on the steps forward that we need to take to be able to tackle the big challenges before our time.

On glyphosate, we’re proud on this side of the House that there has been a significant reduction in glyphosate use in the province of British Columbia, in our forests. But I have to take the opportunity to remind that member that we had an opportunity to be able to work together in our CARGA agreement. But because a new leader decided to show up from the Green Party who is more focused on social media video likes than actually changing lives here in British Columbia, those two mem - bers turned their backs on workers and on people in their communities.

On this side of the House, the Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship; the Minister of Environment; the Minister of Forests; all members of our cabinet; and all members of our government are continuously focused on building our economy and doing it in a way that looks after our environment and looks after ensuring that we’re building a more sustainable economy, delivering for Brit - ish Columbians. IMPLEMENTATION OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS LEGISLATION Anna Kindy: I’ve heard from hundreds of health pro - fessionals concerning the Health Profession and Occupa - tions Act.

They’re telling me that they’re planning to take early retirement or leave B.C. rather than deal with NDP-ap - pointed health colleges and government-appointed disci - plinary panels. I know the minister has received the same letters. So can the minister tell us how many health care pro - fessionals they expect to leave B.C. or retire because of the HPOA? [2:30 p.m.] Hon. Josie Osborne: First of all, any claim that the Health Professions and Occupations Act is going to make health professionals leave the province is unfounded. It is simply untrue.

The Health Professions and Occupations Act is about strengthening and protecting patient safety and the public interest. We put our confidence and trust in health care professionals, and we need to ensure that the transparency and accountability is there in regulating health profes - sionals that deliver these critical care services to us. Regulatory bodies are there to protect the public, not to protect the profession.

That is why, for the first time in 30 years — after years of work, after reviews that showed that the regulatory framework needed to be strengthened — we have taken the steps to modernize this framework. Today is the first day that this new framework comes into force. The new health regulatory colleges are stood up. Their board members are appointed through a merit- based process. They are ready to take the work forward, to ensure that that transparency and accountability is there for the trust in their health professions. The Speaker: Member, supplemental.

Anna Kindy: What you’re saying is very insulting to the front lines. The Speaker: Through the Chair, Member. Anna Kindy: Through the Chair, what the minister is saying is very insulting to the front lines. The Doctors of B.C. have been pushing against the HPOA for years. It was drafted with little or no consulta - tion with the front lines. What the Doctors of B.C. is saying is that the HPOA politicizes health care. It doesn’t increase the safety of patients when you politicize health care. This HPOA in - creases censorship, and what does that do? It decreases safety of patients.

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 6129 All positions on college boards are now appointed by the Minister of Health, and every four years, the Minis - ter of Health changes. How is her knowledge? What’s her base of knowledge, to be able to do those appointments? All positions in the disciplinary tribunals are appointed by government. There are no external appeal processes. This is the definition of political interference. The question to the Health Minister. Make sure that the answer does not insult the front lines here.

Why does the minister refuse to let health professionals elect their own representative to be part of the college board? Hon. J osie O sborne: First, it is just so unfortunate to see this member spreading misinformation about the act and the role that it plays in regulating health professionals here in the province. Interjections. The S peaker: Shhh. Members, let’s hear the answer, please. Hon. Josie Osborne: I would expect the member to understand that the purpose of the regulatory framework is to protect patients. It is to protect the public interest.

The legislation is about keeping people safe from harm and discrimination. It has always been the role of regula - tory colleges, and that isn’t changing. But let’s talk about the board appointments. We saw in the Cayton report, in a review of health college regulation and the way that this was undertaken through an elected process, that that invited the opportunity for board mem - bers to put the interests of the profession before the inter - ests of the public. But we know that we must make sure the public inter - est comes first.

The member knows but she hasn’t talked about the fact that the independent superintendent’s of - fice is using a merit-based process… Interjections. The Speaker: Shhh, Members. Hon. Josie Osborne: …with policies that are published on its website and open and transparent for anyone to see how that works.

Eighty percent of the former college board members have been appointed to the new boards, together with members of the public, to hold that balance there of pro - fessional service, professional expertise, together with the interests of the public — to ensure that our health profes - sionals are delivering health care with competency, with ethics and with the right qualifications. Brennan Day: The HPOA act removes elected merit positions from health care colleges and moves boards to fully appointed by government. [2:35 p.m.] Cindy Oliver was just appointed as chair of Fraser Health.

Oliver is a longtime donor to the B.C. NDP and was chair of the post-election review committee to analyze why the NDP lost the 2013 election — something you may need her for again. These are the types of people this government is ap - pointing to run our health care authorities. Does anybody in British Columbia and does this minis - ter or this government truly think anyone believes profes - sional college appointments are going to be any different? Hon.

Josie Osborne: The member may have missed the answer that I just provided around an independent superintendent and their office in undertaking a merit- based process… Interjections. The S peaker: Shhh, Members. Have the courage to lis - ten now, please. Hon. Josie Osborne: …looking at the skills and com - petencies of professionals and using that process to come forward with recommendations to the minister.

If the member reads the legislation, he will also see that the minister cannot reject those recommendations with - out specific reasons that must be made public, that the superintendent would then need to go back and redo the appointment process. Eighty percent of the existing college board members have transferred. They’ve been appointed to the new boards of the regulatory colleges. We rely on professionals for their expertise and for their knowledge.

And we entrust the boards of these colleges to protect the integrity of the profession; and first and fore - most, to protect patient safety; to ensure that our regula - tory system is transparent; that it is accountable; and that people can have the faith, the trust, the confidence that they need to do when they receive treatment or care from health professions and health occupations. The Speaker: The Member has a supplemental. Brennan Day: The only thing this legislation does…. It’s designed just to protect from this government’s incompetency.

Wait-lists are growing in British Columbia, 1.3 mil - lion British Columbians don’t have a doctor, and this gov- ernment is dismissing real concerns from care providers across this province. Check your email boxes. Mine is full. Regarding HPOA…. Don’t take it from me. The Doctors of B.C. president and family physician, Adam Thompson…

6130 B ritish Columbia Debates W ednesday, April 1, 2026 Interjections. The Speaker: Shhh. Brennan Day: …said: “The key thing at the moment is that we want to recruit and retain doctors in British Columbia, and we need to realize that this will reduce the physician’s desire to live and provide care in B.C.” That’s the Doctors of B.C. I’ve got dozens of emails in my office, so why does this minister keep dismissing the real concerns of care provid - ers across this province? Hon.

Josie Osborne: Well, we know that if they were on this side of the House, health care and education would bear the brunt of budget cuts that they would bring forward. Interjections. The Speaker: Shhh, Members. Hon. Josie Osborne: So maybe one of the things they would do is cut regulatory colleges. Interjections. The Speaker: Just hold it, Minister. Please continue. Hon. Josie Osborne: On this side of the House, we are so focused on attracting new family physicians, special - ists, nurses, nurse practitioners, allied health care workers to come be a part of B.C.’s public health care system.

A strong regulatory framework is part of that. As part of this new legislation, colleges are directed to reduce the burdens and make it easier for the doctors and nurses coming to British Columbia to be credentialed. This is the work of a government that is wholly focused on strengthening health care, bringing in new health care workers — like today, today’s announcement of over 500 U.S.-trained nurses, doctors, nurse practitioners. We know the opposition was opposed to that recruit - ment campaign. I guess they’re opposed to us bringing new doctors here.

They were opposed to a new medical school coming in at SFU. But on this side, we are going to keep attracting more professionals. We’re going to strengthen our health care system, not cut it. GOVERNMENT ACTION ON HOMELESSNESS AND SAFETY ISSUES IN ABBOTSFORD ENCAMPMENTS Bruce Banman: You know, no matter how hard this government tries to hide their housing failures, encamp - ments growing across the province and in my commun - ity of Abbotsford prove in real time how incompetent they really are.

There are encampments on Cole Road rest stop, What - com Road park-and-ride, McCallum park-and-ride and the Peardonville underpass. And what do they all have in common? They’re all on Ministry of Transportation land. [2:40 p.m.] They’re posted with “No trespassing,” “No camping over 24 hours,” yet local police and the RCMP have been told they are not allowed to enforce the area unless it’s a 911 call. Can the Minister of Transportation explain to the po - lice officers in the gallery why he is prohibiting law en - forcement from policing these encampments to make the public safe? Hon.

Mike Farnworth: I appreciate the member ask - ing the question, particularly this member asking a ques - tion on homelessness and encampments, given his record on the issue. I’d like to make it clear. Police are not prohibited from protecting public safety and homeless encampments. What is happening is that we are working very closely with the Ministry of Housing to find appropriate housing and services for these particular individuals.

We are working very closely with the city of Abbotsford, which has been appreciative of our efforts, and in particu - lar, around one camp that the member referenced in his comments around Whatcom, where I have instructed my staff to come up with short-term solutions in terms of in - creasing the security in that area as well as to look at what other steps need to be taken over the long term.

We are working collaboratively with the city of Abbots - ford and their policing agencies and Housing to find ap - propriate accommodation for these particular individuals in a way that is humane, addresses their needs and ensures the public safety of the residents of Abbotsford, which is something that never seemed to happen when that mem - ber was the mayor of Abbotsford. The Speaker: The member has a supplemental. Bruce Banman: I’ve been warning this government that there are dangerous issues with homeless encamp - ments across Abbotsford for years.

Last Monday there was a fatal shooting at the Whatcom Road park-and-ride en - campment and a huge fire. This was preventable. I want to remind this government, this minister, about Brianna, the 13-year-old girl who died of an overdose just over a year ago in the Lonzo Road encampment. I shudder to think about what her last few weeks were like. My question to this NDP government: how many more people have to die in encampments before you let police do their job?

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 6131 Hon. Mike Farnworth: Police are always able to do their job. What I find fascinating, every time I hear this member and other members on that side of the House stand up and talk about encampments, the problems with encampments and, “Why are there not services in place…?” When we go and try and put services into communities, they stand up and say: “We don’t want them in our communities.” They stand up and demand public safety. They stand up and de - mand services. Yet they vote against every single initiative to provide those services, every single time.

I’ll also say this. When it comes to giving police the tools to do their job, no government has done more than this government has in the last five years — the largest in - vestment in policing in the history of this province, with 250 RCMP officers; the first witness protection program in this province, done by this side of the House; the first forensic firearms lab in this province, done by this side of the House. They had an opportunity when they sat here, and they failed every single time.

DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PROGRAM AND DATA COLLECTION Claire Rattée: It’s really rich to hear the Minister of Transportation talking about how this side of the House is against solutions for homeless encampments, when I’ve been trying for almost a year to get a permanent shelter in my community and I’ve been turned down every single time.

Not to mention the three months it took me to get a response from that minister’s office when I’m just asking for a bit of clarity around what’s going on, on my highways. [2:45 p.m.] Since the minister refused to answer my question yes - terday, I’m going to try again in light of the letter that she received this morning from Dr. Julian Somers. Dr. Somers spent over two decades building one of the most compre - hensive databases in the world on addiction, homelessness and public safety in British Columbia, tracking real out - comes for more than 300,000 people.

In his letter, he confirmed that just as the province was preparing to move ahead with major policy changes, in - cluding decriminalization, his team was ordered to de - stroy that data — data that he says would have allowed independent evaluation and could have pointed this gov - ernment in a very different direction. I’ll ask again: why did this government order the de - struction of critical addiction and public safety data right before launching its decriminalization experiment, and will she release all underlying data for independent re - view today?

Or is this government still choosing to con - trol the evidence, instead of being honest with British Columbians? Hon. Josie Osborne: Let me be perfectly clear. This is false and absolutely misleading, what the member is saying. The data that Dr. Somers collected was not destroyed. He had been contracted by government some years ago to undertake research, and in 2021, he was asked to transi - tion his data to a new government database. The data still exists. That database allows for increased data collection and provides broader availability to researchers and aca - demics.

The data was moved to this new database. It is be - ing used to this day by researchers. It’s no surprise that the Conservatives would try to spread misinformation on Dr. Somers’ behalf. This is a person who thinks that the COVID vaccine kills people and that Dr. Bonnie Henry has blood on her hands. He also said the Premier is forcing vulnerable kids to get opi - oids implanted. That’s what’s shameful. This is completely false. It is harmful.

On this side of the House, we are going to keep work - ing to correct misinformation and to improve care for all British Columbians. [End of question period.] Question of Privilege (Reservation of Right) Claire Rattée: I’d like to reserve my right to raise a question of privilege. Rohini Arora: May I seek leave to make an introduc - tion. Leave granted. The Speaker: Please proceed. Introductions by Members Rohini Arora: I just wanted to give a shout-out to a home school group that is visiting from my riding. I wanted to shout out Tiffany Blaskovich and students from kindergarten to grade 11.

Would you please join me in making them feel very welcome. Point of Order John Rustad: I rise on a point of order. Language that was used by the Attorney General in her first response today I found to be offensive, insulting and unbecoming of a minister of the Crown, and unacceptable language to be used in this Legislature. I ask that you request her to withdraw and apologize for the use of that language in this Legislature.

6132 B ritish Columbia Debates W ednesday, April 1, 2026 The Speaker: Members, the Attorney General made her answer. It was part of the debate, what she said, but I’ll still ask the Attorney General if she has anything to clarify. The Chair will also review Hansard, and we’ll check it out. Tabling Documents Hon. Ravi Kahlon: I have the honour to present the InBC Investment Corp. annual legislative report for the year 2024-2025. Orders of the Day Hon. Mike Farnworth: I call Motion 14 on the order paper. Government Motions on Notice MOTION 14 — CHANGE TO LEGISLATIVE

SCHEDULE FOR APRIL 2 Hon.

Mike Farnworth: I move Motion 14, of which notice has been given in my name on the order paper, which adjusts the sitting hours for tomorrow, April 2, to accommodate the memorial service for His Honour the late Ashley Chester. [That, notwithstanding Standing Order 2 (1), a. the adjournment time of the sitting of the House com - mencing at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2026, be modified to immediately following the conclusion of Oral Question Period; and, b. the start of the afternoon sitting on Thursday, April 2, 2026, be modified to 2 p.m.] The Speaker: Members, the question is the adoption of Motion 14.

Motion approved. [2:50 p.m.] Hon. Mike Farnworth: In this chamber, I call con - tinued second reading on Bill 11, the Residential Tenancy Amendment Act. In

Section A, the Douglas Fir Room, I call Committee of the Whole on Bill 2, Budget Measures Implementation Act. In

Section C, in the Birch Room, I call Committee of the Whole on Bill 8, Civil Forfeiture Amendment Act. [Lorne Doerkson in the chair.] Second Reading of Bills BILL 11 — RESIDENTIAL TENANCY AMENDMENT ACT, 2026 (continued) Deputy Speaker: Thank you, Members. We are going to call this chamber back to order, where we are…. Interjections. Deputy Speaker: Members, could I ask you to take your conversations into the hallway, please, so that we can carry on with the business of the day. We are going to continue our debate this afternoon on Bill 11, Residential Tenancy Amendment Act, 2026.

Claire Rattée: I’m happy to continue talking about Bill 11 and about, honestly, the horrors that are going on right now in supportive housing units. Yesterday when I began my speech, I was talking about some very personal stories of things that have happened to people in supportive housing units. Now I’m going to speak about some really tragic events. This is going to be talking about a few of the deaths that have happened in recent years in supportive housing units. The importance of this is in looking at why this piece of legislation did not address this. These are things that the minister is aware of.

These are stories the minister is aware of, that the ministry is aware of, that B.C. Hous - ing is aware of, yet there is still nothing to address what’s happened to these people that passed away in supportive housing units. One of the most disturbing realities that we’re con - fronting in this debate is what happens when people are placed in housing without the supports that they need and then, effectively, ignored.

One of the most disturbing cases I have ever encoun - tered, which cannot be ignored, is that of Diane Chand - ler, a 60-year-old woman who died of an overdose inside a supportive housing unit at the Foxglove facility in Surrey. Her body was not discovered for 11 days. This was a woman living in a provincially funded sup - portive housing unit — a building that is supposed to pro - vide oversight, safety and support. Yet she died alone, un - noticed for nearly two weeks.

I had the opportunity to sit down with her son and hear firsthand what this has meant for him and what this has meant for his whole family — the grief, the confusion, the anger, not just at losing his mother but at how she was lost. This was not an unavoidable tragedy. This was a fail - ure of every safeguard that was supposed to be in place. When I had the opportunity to speak with her son about this, what really struck me was that he felt very confident that while Diane had had some struggles with substance use in the past, before moving into Foxglove she wasn’t

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 6133 using her drugs. This was not somebody that was at risk of overdosing and dying. In the short amount of time that she lived there, her life went completely downhill. She developed a very severe addiction because she was surrounded by it. She was sur - rounded by open drug use. It was likely encouraged, as it is in many of these facilities, to just continue down that path. We know that there are a lot of very dangerous indi - viduals living in these facilities and preying on vulnerable people. I believe Diane was one of them.

What makes Diane Chandler’s death even more dev - astating is what we learned about the circumstances sur - rounding it. During a wellness check, staff reportedly mistook another resident for Diane, meaning that they believed that she was alive and accounted for when she was not. Think about what that means. Not only was there a lack of proper follow-up, but the systems that are sup - posed to ensure that people are safe were fundamentally flawed. [2:55 p.m.] Even more troubling than that, the same resident who was mistaken for Diane also passed away shortly after. The really troubling

part is the person that was mistaken for Diane — where did they think that she was during this time? This is not a one-off mistake. This is a systemic fail - ure. It raises serious questions about how wellness checks are conducted, how residents are identified and whether there is any meaningful accountability when those sys - tems break down. This bill does nothing to address that reality. Diane Chandler’s story brings us back to the central issue that we are debating today: supportive housing. That is what it’s called. But where was the support? Where was the over - sight? Where was the care?

Her death — like the deaths of Travis, Shawn and Lind - sey, who I will speak about next — exposes the reality that in too many cases, supportive housing is not functioning as a system of care. It is functioning as a place where people are left — often with significant needs, often with - out adequate supports — and expected to manage on their own. When something goes wrong, when someone dies, we are left asking how it could have happened. The truth is that it is happening because the system is not designed to prevent it, and nothing in Bill 11 addresses that funda - mental failure.

In another case brought forward through reporting and freedom-of-information requests, Travis Fox died of an overdose inside supportive housing, and his body was also not discovered for days. This was not someone dis - connected from the system. This was someone living in government-funded housing, in a building that is sup - posed to provide support, supervision and safety. Yet no one checked on him. No one intervened. No one noticed. That is not just a tragic outcome. It is a complete break - down of the very purpose of supportive housing.

When we talk about safety in this House, we cannot ignore the real - ity that people like Travis Fox are dying alone, unnoticed in buildings that are supposed to keep them safe. What makes Travis Fox’s death even more troubling is what we learned afterwards. Through freedom-of- information documents, it became clear that concerns had already been raised about the conditions in these buildings. Risks were known, issues had been flagged, yet meaningful changes were not implemented. That tells us something critical. This is not a problem of awareness. It is a problem of action. It is a problem of accountability.

Bill 11 does nothing to address that. It does not estab - lish minimum standards for wellness checks. It does not address staffing levels. It does not create any mechanism to ensure that people are being monitored and supported in a meaningful way. Instead, it focuses on enforcement and on what happens after something goes wrong, rather than preventing tragedies like Travis Fox’s death in the first place. There is also the case of Shawn Richards, a man liv - ing in supportive housing that was operated by RainCity Housing, who died after experiencing significant distress and repeatedly seeking help.

His story is deeply troubling because it highlights a failure to respond to clear warning signs. Reports describe a situation where Shawn Richards was deteriorating, where there were visible indicators that he was in crisis, where intervention could have made a differ - ence, yet the response was inadequate. This is what happens when housing is used as a sub - stitute for care and when individuals with complex needs are placed in buildings without proper clinical oversight, without timely access to medical or mental health inter - vention and without the level of support that their condi - tion requires.

This is warehousing addiction, warehousing people that are suffering, warehousing people with mental health or mental illness issues, warehousing poverty and expecting this to somehow be enough. What is most concerning about Shawn Richards’s case is that it is not unique. It reflects a broader pattern, a sys - tem where people in supportive housing are clearly strug - gling, clearly deteriorating yet are not receiving the level of care that would be expected in any other setting.

If someone were in a hospital, if someone were in a treat - ment facility, if someone were in a properly resourced care environment, those warning signs would trigger im - mediate intervention. But in supportive housing, too often, they do not. This bill does nothing to change that. It does not in - crease clinical supports. It does not mandate interven - tion. It does not create pathways to treatment. It simply assumes that housing alone is enough. Clearly, based on cases like Shawn Richards’s, it is not.

6134 B ritish Columbia Debates W ednesday, April 1, 2026 Another heartbreaking case is that of Lindsey, whose story was brought forward by legal advocates. Lindsey is someone who was, effectively, left to die in support - ive housing. They were vulnerable. They were struggling. And they did not receive the intervention they needed. [3:00 p.m.] Their story is incredibly difficult to read, but it is im- portant that we acknowledge it because it exposes a fun - damental truth about the system. Supportive housing, as it currently exists in many cases, is not a system of care. It is a system of placement.

It puts people somewhere, but it does not ensure that they are safe, that they are supported or that they have access to recovery. And when something goes wrong, the response is often too late. We need to be honest about what that means. When we place people like Lindsey — people with severe addiction, people with complex trauma, people who are deeply vul - nerable — into buildings without adequate supports, with - out clinical supervision, without meaningful pathways to recovery, we are not helping them. We are warehousing them.

We are placing them in environments where harm continues, where risks escalate and where outcomes are often tragic. Then we bring forward legislation like Bill 11, which focuses on managing a very narrow scope of behav - iour within those environments, rather than addressing the fact that those environments are fundamentally not equipped to meet the needs of the people living in them. This is something that, again, I know that the minis - ter and the cabinet are very aware of, particularly given the fact that we just saw yesterday Larry Campbell give a press release.

He did a press conference on the work that he’s doing on the Downtown Eastside, at the direction of the Minister of Housing, to be able to determine what’s going wrong on the Downtown Eastside. I think that is an area that we are all aware is the hardest hit throughout the province by these issues. One of the things he said was that SROs are not work - ing. We know they’re not working. We know that this system doesn’t work. He’s gone in there and seen it first - hand. I’m sure — I hope — that many members of govern - ment have also done that. I know I have. We’ve seen these things firsthand.

We know that this system isn’t working and that something has to change. But again, this legisla - tion does not address that. We are also seeing growing concern around environ - mental exposure inside of these buildings, particularly when it comes to airborne drug contamination. Reports have documented that residents and workers in support - ive housing are being exposed to substances like fentanyl through secondhand smoke and airborne particles. People are being exposed to highly toxic substances simply by liv - ing in their own homes or going to work. This is not theoretical.

It is being reported by tenants, by workers and by health professionals. It raises serious questions about safety, about basic living conditions and about what standards we are willing to accept in publicly funded housing. Once again, Bill 11 does not address this in any way. It does not establish standards for air quality. It does not ad - dress ventilation. It does not create protections for work - ers or residents who are being exposed. It does not even acknowledge the issue. The minister and the cabinet know about these con - cerns. This has been well documented.

I’ve already spoken about some cases throughout my speech of where tenants are being impacted by this. At what point do we not determine that the majority of people living in supportive housing don’t want to be ex - posed to secondhand drug smoke? Why are we allowing this to continue? Why are we risking the majority’s health and safety? Not to mention the risk that it actually places on the people that are using the drugs by not helping them with pathways to get into recovery. This is not acceptable behaviour in a housing unit. It shouldn’t be happening.

When we step back and look at these cases together, whether it’s Travis Fox dying alone and unnoticed; Shawn Richards not receiving intervention in the moment of crisis; Diane Chandler — her body was left for 11 days; Lindsey being left without the care that they needed…. What’s happening to Erin with her unit becoming un - inhabitable for her and her children, despite reporting the issues for three years? Three years and nothing changing. Diana’s story about the fear and anxiety that she ex - periences daily, the lack of sleep and exposure to second - hand drug smoke coming from right outside her bedroom window.

The threats, the intimidation, the fact that she’s been punched in the head and that there have never been any consequences. She’s repeatedly reported this, and there are no consequences. Or Dayna, unable to find parking or do laundry due to overcrowding in her unit. Residents and workers that are exposed to airborne fentanyl. We are forced to confront a very difficult truth. The problem is not that we lack enforcement tools. The prob - lem is that the system itself is not designed to deliver safety, care or recovery.

Until we address that, fundamentally, no amount of legislative enforcement will fix what is broken. [3:05 p.m.] Temporary access restrictions are another aspect that’s been addressed in this bill, which is effectively locking people out of their homes. These are individuals in crisis. Where do they go? Again, this legislation provides no an - swers. This is unlikely to de-escalate many of the situa - tions that arise. It may de-escalate it within the building temporarily, but it will probably just make it someone else’s problem rather than addressing the issue.

Again, we see much of this legislation will be deter - mined by regulation — critical details deferred. We are

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 6135 being asked to pass a framework without knowing how it works. This is not clarity. I want to talk more about fire risk. There are lithium batteries, thermal runaway, explosive ignition, buildings that are not designed for it. We know that risk. We have identified the buildings, yet there is no action in this bill. I also happen to know, or I’m fairly confident from what I’ve heard, that there are a few buildings in the Downtown Eastside where known arsonists are being housed together in the same units.

This bill is not doing anything to look at how we determine who we’re housing in which units. For the life of me, I’m not really clear on why or how that deci- sion was made. But that is a fundamental issue that we are seeing in supportive housing, and there’s nothing being done to address it in this piece of legislation. Increasingly, tenants are also bringing e-bikes in off the street into their units and then jerry-rigging a char - ging system that is unsafe and causes a fire. The staff knows that this happens, but they are helpless to stop it.

The other tenants know that it happens, and again, they are helpless to stop it. They have no legal authority to con - fiscate items that they know will likely cause a fire. These are often mentally ill individuals, whether drug induced or not. They often cannot recognize the inherent danger that items like these e-bikes or locking torches pose. This is a basic safety issue, but this government has not provided any solution to it. The reality is that in many of these facilities, you have people that are struggling with severe mental illness because they have nowhere else to go. There is no psychiatric hospital.

There is no secure care for them. So they’re getting housed in SROs and supportive housing. They cannot recognize how dangerous these items are. They don’t recognize the threat to their personal safety or the safety of those around them, and that is evidenced by the fact that many of them are repeatedly overdos - ing, sometimes multiple times in a day. They aren’t able to recognize the danger that they’re posing to themselves and to others.

There has to be a different way to approach support - ive housing that allows the operators to recognize when somebody has brought in something like a modified e- bike and to remove it from the premises for the safety of everyone else involved, including that tenant. That should be a bare minimum. But again, this legislation does not address it. The misuse of the SRO model is also not addressed in this legislation. Buildings that were designed as hotels are now used as care environments, without redesign and without infrastructure, a glaring gap between needs and capacity.

Worker safety has in no way been addressed. These workers are not trained for enforcement, and now they are expected to manage dangerous situations. Again, there is no clarity in this piece of legislation about who is supposed to intervene when a weapon is found. Who is supposed to confiscate it? Is it confiscated? Are police or RCMP supposed to be called? There has been no clarity provided in this legislation. What about the potential liability implications, the WCB claims that could come forward from workers, re - tention of staff? This is not sustainable.

I don’t know if no thought was given to it or if this is just something that’s going to come forward later by regu- lation, but personally, I am uncomfortable with passing legislation that I don’t understand, that that clarity hasn’t been provided to me on. We don’t understand what that system is or what that process is going to look like. We need to have clarity around that. Tenants require that clar - ity. The providers require that clarity. This is not a housing issue alone. This is a failure of sys - tem design. This bill does not address that.

It doesn’t ad - dress drug use in buildings, secondhand smoke, fire risk, building design, worker safety, tenant placement, treat - ment capacity. It doesn’t answer: who enforces? What is a weapon? What happens next? [3:10 p.m.] It does not reflect consultation with law enforcement, fire services, municipalities. It does not explain why the working group’s findings were never released. It does not confront that supportive housing is being used as a sub - stitute for care.

In many cases, it’s warehousing addiction — placing people in buildings without support, without pathways to recovery — and calling that compassion. It is not. True compassion is care, treatment, support, stability. Erin deserved a safe home. Diana deserves to sleep. Dayna deserves stability. And all of the people I spoke about, that lost their lives, deserved to live. The people of British Columbia deserve better than this bill. We cannot evict our way to safety. We cannot en - force our way out of failure. We cannot ignore the condi - tions and expect change.

This bill is not enough, and until we address the root causes, we will continue to fail. I really hope that, in good faith, the minister is willing to work with me on some amendments once we get into committee stage, because I have a number of ideas on how we could really significantly improve this piece of legis - lation. I think that there’s an opportunity here, and I’m happy to do that work and try and find ways to approach this so that we can actually improve supportive housing for everyone in this province that needs to rely on it. Deputy Speaker: Thank you, Member.

Claire Rattée: I was supposed to be the designated speaker. Deputy Speaker: Oh, thank you for letting us know that.

6136 B ritish Columbia Debates W ednesday, April 1, 2026 Claire Rattée: I’m not going to be too much longer. Don’t worry. Thank you. But I think that that’s incredibly important, and I do think that it’s incumbent upon us to be able to work together, both parties, because I think that we both come at it with different ideas, different perspectives, but we want the same things. I think that everybody in this House wants support - ive housing to work for the people that it’s supposed to support and represent.

I think that we’re all aware that it would be great if we weren’t fielding any more concerns and complaints from people, because we’d feel like we’re actually doing our jobs properly and we’re providing Brit - ish Columbians with the supports that they need.

As somebody that has lived in supportive housing, somebody that has spent a lot of time touring through sup- portive housing, somebody that has spent the time with vulnerable populations and speaking to them — people with lived experience, firefighters, RCMP and police — trying to better understand these issues and how we can actually improve this, I do feel like I have valuable insight. I do feel like I have some ideas that could really improve this legislation. So I am very hopeful that the minister will be willing to work with me on that on some amendments.

There are so many aspects of what’s wrong right now in supportive housing that I just really feel weren’t addressed in this piece of legislation. I would love to think that, okay, we’re going to bring forward another piece of legislation, maybe in the fall, that’ll address some more of those issues. But I don’t really think we can wait any longer. This is a situation that’s getting worse by the day, so until we’re willing to really take some bold action and figure out what the problems are, this is not going to go away on its own.

There’s, really, nothing that’s been given thought in this on how we’re going to address the issues that we’re seeing right now. We’ve got a concurrent, really significant issue with the drug crisis, and that’s the crisis of people with permanent acquired brain injuries. Again, they need care environ - ments. Again, these are people that are not typically ca - pable of making decisions that are in their best interest. And it’s not their fault. They have a brain injury. But I think it is incumbent upon us….

I think this is one of those few times where it is important for govern - ment to recognize that there is a duty here, a duty of gov - ernment to step up and make sure that we care for the people that are the most vulnerable among us. There’s nothing in this legislation that addresses those concerns — the need for actual care environments for people within these supportive housing units — or again, like I said, that looks at: how are we determining who goes into which facility, and is that facility adequate for their needs?

We have a lot of different people in British Columbia that need to access supportive housing. We cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach. Yes, it will not be the easiest thing in the world to go through every single tenant and look at what their needs are and what their story is and what we have available and probably have to move some people to accomplish it. But it’s work that has to be done because the situation right now is untenable. This is not going to work in the long term. It’s already not working. We’re already seeing what’s happening.

Another piece that I want to just speak really briefly about before I close is around the fact that while there is supportive housing available in this province, first of all, we don’t have nearly enough. We determined that, very clearly, during budget estimates a couple weeks ago. There is not enough capacity. I know the government knows that and they’re trying to work on it, and I understand that.

But there simply isn’t enough capacity. [3:15 p.m.] But beyond that, what’s really concerning for me and what I struggle with greatly is the fact that when I’m doing outreach work with vulnerable populations, with people that are experiencing homelessness, the story that I prob - ably hear the most frequently, maybe besides…. They don’t want to have to wait so long on a wait-list to be able to access treatment, and many have given up because of how long the wait-lists are. The most common story that I hear is: “Okay, even if I get into treatment, then what? Where do I go?

I’ve been told that I can get put in such-and-such facility. It’s a sup - portive housing facility. This is the place they’re going to send me to, and I’m not willing to go there.” I don’t blame them. We have more people right now in this province that would rather stay living on the street than go into a supportive housing unit that is run by this government. That is incredibly concerning. I don’t lay that all at the feet of this government be - cause, as somebody that was in an SRO many years ago under a different government, I recognize that these con - ditions have been very poor for a very long time.

But they have significantly deteriorated in recent years. That is very concerning. When I was somebody that was experiencing homeless - ness, I knew people that would intenti

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20260401pm-Hansard-n146
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20260401pm Hansard n146
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	cd6d0fcac7665cbb6a538b342dba62fd913d19d1

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