Second Session, 41st Parliament

(2017) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Morning Sitting

Issue No. 16

ISSN 1499-2175

The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.

The PDF transcript remains the official digital version.

CONTENTS

Orders of the Day

Budget Debate (continued)

Hon. H. Bains

T. Wat

N. Simons

E. Ross

Hon. K. Chen

J. Johal

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2017

The House met at 10:03 a.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers.

[10:05 a.m.]

Orders of the Day

Hon. M. Farnworth: I call further insightful, scintillating debate on the budget.

Budget Debate

(continued)

Hon. H. Bains: The few minutes that I have left in completing my budget update speech

I will utilize today. Just once again, it’s an honour to rise to speak in

support of the budget.

This is a budget that puts people first and reaffirms our vision for a

government that works for people. I’m proud of the steps that we have taken

in only eight weeks to make progress for working people with this budget.

This budget will make life more affordable, will deliver essential services

that people are in need of, and will create a strong economy and jobs that

people can depend on and jobs that are family-supporting.

As I said before, I’m proud that this budget update restores essential

tuitions. By restoring these programs, we give people the opportunity to

learn, to advance their workplaces and to better support themselves and

their families.

All of the provisions of this budget update will work together to

strengthen our economy and provide an economic advantage for all British

Columbians. Our government is working to help reduce those costs to

citizens, with moves such as the elimination of tolls and to narrow the gap

between minimum wage and a living wage.

My mandate letter. I’m committed, through the mandate letter, to work

within my ministry’s budget to deliver programs that will better serve

workers in this province while at the same time ensuring the ability for

employers to build a sustainable economy.

Working within the budget, I’m firmly committed to making workplaces

in British Columbia the safest in Canada. We need to strengthen our

prevention and enforcement and our treatment of workers who have become

injured or ill in our workplaces. They deserve nothing less, and our

government is working to help.

I would like to conclude, at the end, with the promise that we ran on

to make life more affordable for British Columbians, to improve services

that they depend on — especially, in my community, the health care services,

the education services and the public transportation extension that is long

overdue. It should have started four years ago. If it wasn’t for the poor

politics by the previous government, we would have something going right now

that almost would be at the start of our new public

transportation.

I would say that I’m proud of this budget update. It is a budget that

puts people front and centre of our policy development. It takes important

first steps to help meet some of the most urgent needs and sets a path to a

strong economy that works for everyone.

We want our province to support employers and employees alike and to

support safe, healthy workplaces, moving towards a $15-an-hour minimum wage

and investing in affordable housing. Those are some of the steps that we

have already taken.

They are, on one hand, giving a few more dollars to the lowest-paid

workers in the province. They will be investing, as I said earlier, in their

own communities, in their own local businesses so that businesses will

benefit, the economy will grow and workers will have a better living

standard. On the other hand, we said that we will be lowering their

financial burden by eliminating tolls, eliminating MSP premiums, having

affordable child care. Those are the steps that you must take to make life

more affordable.

and adult basic education is very essential for newcomers and for those who

may have missed out while going through high school. Now they need to

successful in their life, to get a new job. It is a very, very good step for

going forward. We will make life more affordable, and we’ll help workers’

wages go further.

[10:10 a.m.]

I wholeheartedly believe that the budget update is a sound fiscal plan

that will strengthen our economy and provide an economic advantage for all

British Columbians.

The government that was elected, the government that will work for

people, the government that will listen, rather than make decisions in a

vacuum in some boardroom someplace…. That time is over. Now is the time for

people to participate and consult, and our government will be listening. Our

government will be developing policies based on the consultation, based on

the outreach that they will be doing, because people have the answers.

Government doesn’t have the monopoly on good ideas. That’s what we have seen

on the other side. Somehow they knew best what’s good for

everybody.

That regime has changed, that time had changed. Now it’s a new era, a

new government. You know what I say to all of those people who are

listening? Help is on the way. This is just the beginning. And we’re so

proud to be part of that government.

T. Wat: I rise in the House today to give my response to the government’s

budget.

But first of all, I would like to share with you all my joy and pride

as a grandmother. Last month my daughter, Tin, gave birth to her first baby,

Andre. This family addition is a special milestone for me. From the moment

that I lay my eyes on Andre, I succumbed to love beyond reason.

I would also like to take this special moment to thank my parents, who

are in their 90s, for always supporting me throughout the years.

Special thanks to my colleagues; my hard-working and very capable and

dedicated staff, Steven Lee, David Shum, Nathan Cook, Trix Chan and Tony

Liu; and our communication officer, Tracy Grimsrud. The team sacrifices

their time and effort because they believe in me.

When I heard the NDP throne speech that preceded the budget, which was

weak and lacking in detail, I thought: “What a missed opportunity to lay out

a clear vision for the future.” And I looked forward to hearing the budget,

in the hopes that we will see some concrete details. But again, I was left

feeling disappointed by what I heard.

[L. Reid in the chair.]

This budget is most notable for the things that are missing, including

any plan for economic growth. And in fact, some of the promises the NDP had

made months earlier were nowhere to be found.

The promise of $10-a-day child care, now referred to as universal

child care, has no new money in the budget.

They promised 114,000 units of housing over ten years, but the budget

only mentioned 1,700 new units, which was already in February’s budget, as

well as 2,000 units of modular housing. So quite a gap there from what was

promised.

Another example is the promised $400 renters’ rebate, which was

nowhere to be found in this budget. And where is the promised ferry wait

freeze and hydro freeze? Again, nowhere to be found.

When you think of what’s missing in this budget and when you consider

that the NDP will already be hiking taxes by nearly $1 billion over the next

three years to pay for the promises it did mention, you might worry that, in

order to keep the rest of their promises, there might be further tax hikes

forthcoming.

We will have to wait and see, which is not very reassuring. It’s not

very reassuring to British Columbians who work hard to contribute to years

of a balanced budget, as well as the healthy surplus inherited by the NDP.

And it’s not reassuring to the B.C. business community, which creates jobs

and provides our communities with a diverse range of goods and

services.

It’s not reassuring to international investors either. Their final

decisions on whether or not to invest may hinge on how well we keep our

taxes low and stable over the long term. Yet, in this budget, we see them

going up, way up.

[10:15 a.m.]

We see that we move all of the revenue neutrality requirements for the

carbon tax, and we see business being asked to shoulder a heavier tax

increase over three years that the government claims will bring our province

in line with nearby provinces. That chips away at the competitive advantage

that we worked so hard to build here in British Columbia, raising the

possibility that investors will take their money elsewhere.

International investors have come to know British Columbia as a place

that’s been on solid economic footing, even in a period of economic

uncertainty. Our triple-A credit rating has always been attractive, with

B.C. having enjoyed a lower cost of borrowing than most other provinces in

Canada.

This is critical. It helps us make decisions on important, large-scale

infrastructure projects that benefit our communities — things like roads,

schools and hospitals. I worry that these are the types of things being

threatened by the NDP’s insistence on aggressive spending with no solid plan

to grow the economy.

In addition to relying on those massive tax increases that I

referenced earlier, this budget also assumes that our healthy $2.7 billion

surplus will be repeated. They are also relying on a substantial increase in

forecasted GDP growth, from 2.1 percent to 2.9 percent. I would caution that

this is a dangerous presumption to make in a time of economic uncertainty

and U.S. protectionism.

It seems to me like the economy and trade are just being glossed over.

This is hugely concerning to me, as the Trade critic. It leaves me and many

others asking some key questions — for one: how will this government expand

and increase our exports to Asia and beyond? British Columbia has worked so

hard to develop positive working relationships with many partners,

especially in the Asia-Pacific.

I will show you some figures to illustrate that success. For the first

seven months of 2017, B.C. origin exports jumped 19.6 percent, compared to

the same period in 2016. There was double-digit growth in exports to most of

B.C.’s major trading partners, including the United States, up 10.6 percent;

mainland China, up 12 percent; Japan, up 35.4 percent; South Korea, up 56.2

percent; the European Union, up 42.1 percent; India, up 78.9 percent; and

Taiwan, up 41.7 percent. It’s very impressive.

The increase in B.C.’s export is a direct result of the former B.C.

Liberal government’s focused efforts on diversifying and expanding our

export markets. The former Minister of International Trade provided

expertise, support and guidance to the business community on how to export

to the Asian market. The province’s own trade and investment offices in our

priority overseas markets have played a crucial role in B.C.’s success.

These overseas trade offices were initiated by the former B.C. Liberal

government. Again, the question is: how will we maintain these initiatives

and partnerships?

Other questions on the trade file remain. Will the government lobby

the federal government to sign free trade agreements with other countries?

And how is the government working to help resolve the softwood lumber

dispute? These are just some of the things that I wonder about as I ponder

how our international reputation will fare under this government.

It is absolutely imperative that B.C. has its fiscal house in order.

That is what is truly valued by international investors. They are attracted

to jurisdictions that are stable and have control over their own finances.

Yet, already, concerns are being raised about this budget.

The credit-rating agency DBRS examined it and said:

[10:20 a.m.]

“At this time, British Columbia continues to have one of the strongest

credit profiles of Canadian provinces and is not at immediate risk of a

negative rating action. However, this fiscal policy direction reduces

flexibility within the credit profile and suggests that social and

programmatic considerations are likely to trump deficit reduction if the

province’s fiscal plan is challenged by economic correction.”

Here’s another quote from DBRS:

“While the NDP’s platform committed to maintaining balanced budgets, the

government may be challenged to do so, given the extent of its policy

commitments. DBRS believes that the province may require further revenue

measures to fund its ambitious social agenda.”

Furthermore, DBRS says:

“The current fiscal plan suggests the province’s DBRS-adjusted debt

burden will rise slightly to 17.9 percent of GDP this year, up from 17.6

percent at March 31, 2017, which continues to be consistent with the AA-high

rating.”

The warning signs are there, as pointed out by this credit agency. And

the NDP continues to sow seeds of economic uncertainty across our great

province in other ways, not just for investors, but for the people working

on various projects or hoping to one day.

The massive Site C project is under threat, with 2,600 workers worried

for their future and the potential of 10,000 construction jobs also on the

line. Same with Kinder Morgan. Taking on legal action to stop the Trans

Mountain pipeline project will also cost B.C. thousands of jobs.

Closer to my riding is the George Massey Tunnel replacement project on

the chopping block. Saying no to this project is basically saying no to

9,000 construction jobs and 4,500 to 5,000 additional permanent jobs created

by 2045 through increased economic growth.

To reiterate, cancelling projects like this will lead to tremendous

job losses. I also feel that these moves send a message that B.C. is closed

for business.

Furthermore, from a local perspective, when it comes to the

cancellation of the George Massey Tunnel replacement project, I also worry

about the safety of my constituents. Local residents have waited long enough

for a solution to this aging structure and its seismic safety issues, and

they have spent enough time stuck in traffic in some of the worst

bottlenecks we have seen. The project is also key to our economy because we

need to ensure the safe travel of goods as well.

Cancelling the project is a direct blow to the 80,000 local and

commercial motorists stuck in rush hour traffic each day. What people in

Richmond and surrounding areas want is to get home to their families more

quickly. They want action on what everyone knows is a pressing issue,

especially considering there has been five years of planning and

consultations, as well as three rounds of public engagement on the issue.

British Columbians have said clearly that they prefer a bridge, but all they

are getting is unnecessary delay. Now, we found that the delay is not due to

the fact that the NDP thinks more consultation is needed, as they have been

telling people. An internal party document makes it clear that the NDP has

long planned to kill the Massey Tunnel project.

The document says: “We will build the Vancouver and Surrey rapid

transit projects, rapid buses across the North Shore from Port Coquitlam to

Maple Ridge and through Vancouver and along Hastings Street and 41st and

49th Avenues. That is, we will implement the Mayors Council vision. We will

pay for this instead of replacing the Massey Tunnel.” Unbelievable. This is

proof that the NDP has been deliberately misleading British Columbians,

including people in my riding.

Moving on to health care, I had high hopes that Richmond Hospital

would be mentioned. After all, back in February the people of Richmond had

heard a pledge from the former member for Juan de Fuca, the current Premier,

as he publicly supported a new patient care tower for Richmond Hospital. Of

course, I was disappointed that that there was no mention of it in the

budget. No mention of Richmond Hospital, let alone the word “Richmond,”

anywhere to be found.

[10:25 a.m.]

It’s another promise that seems to have gone up in thin air, and

that’s unacceptable to the people of Richmond and those in the neighbouring

areas as well, because Richmond Hospital doesn’t just offer high-quality

care to residents of Richmond and Delta, a population that continues to grow

rapidly. It also helps travellers who fall ill at Vancouver International

Airport and the B.C. Ferry terminal in Tsawwassen.

This facility is aging. Last year it marked 50 years of service to the

community. The equipment needs to be upgraded and replaced. While the

community was led to believe that the NDP would champion this new acute care

tower project, there’s nothing but silence in the budget — just a quick

mention of capital spending, with no detail.

It’s particularly disappointing because we are in the midst of the

Richmond Hospital Foundation’s annual fundraising campaign — Community Cares

Month. Hundreds of staff and volunteers are reaching out to the community

throughout the month of September for donations towards the goal of a new

acute care tower. I know they were paying attention to the pledge made by

the former member for Juan de Fuca and current Premier and some of the

candidates back in February. When he made that promise, he used a news

release where one of the candidates chastised the former government for

prioritizing a bridge over a hospital.

Well, now the people of Richmond are not getting either one, according

to the budget. Instead, they are facing more bottlenecks in the Massey

Tunnel, more time spent in the cars away from their families and some

feelings of uncertainty about whether or not their local hospital will see

the improvements once promised by the NDP.

Even the latest edition of Richmond News reported that the

updated provincial budget provided few additional details on how the

government plans to improve life in Richmond. According to the

article:

“Health spending is going to be increased by $603 million over three

years, but no new money was earmarked for Richmond Hospital’s decrepit acute

care tower replacement. A new tower is in the business development stage,

and local NDP candidates, as well as the Premier…vowed before the election

to expedite the process and have funding ready immediately. Vancouver

Coastal Health said it should finish the business case by year-end, leaving

the NDP to approve it. Notably, the budget update adds New Westminster’s

Royal Columbian Hospital, phases 2 and 3, to the capital spending plan at a

cost of $1.1 billion, after the B.C. Liberals approved the business case in

April.”

The Richmond News also said that there are no details in the

updated budget on when Richmond schools would be seismically

upgraded.

A further blow to local families was the elimination of the children’s

fitness tax credit and the children’s arts tax credit. These are initiatives

that help parents get their children active in sports and fitness and engage

in our vibrant arts community. These things don’t seem to be a priority for

this government, to the detriment of those families.

What people tell us continually is that they want this province left

in the best shape possible for their children and grandchildren. They don’t

want to see them saddled with debt. They don’t want to see them leaving the

province because there are no jobs for them here. As a new grandmother

myself, this sentiment rings true for me. On this side of the House, we are

working hard to hold this government to account, constantly reminding them

that they cannot spend without a plan for how they are going to pay for it,

and they can’t build a strong economy when no one is working.

I will not be supporting this budget. It does not represent the

interests of people in Richmond North Centre. There’s no plan to grow

revenues in our economy, despite aggressive spending plans. It does nothing

to instil confidence that our province is open for business. To me, it has

been a missed opportunity to have this government stand up for British

Columbia and to make our province a better place to live, to work and to

raise a family.

[10:30 a.m.]

I do hope that we will see some more details forthcoming from this

government on just how it intends to keep our economy growing to the benefit

of British Columbians.

N. Simons: I’m just so excited, after 12-plus years, not just to be standing

where the desks are bigger and the chairs are comfier but about a budget

that actually addresses the needs and the concerns of our population in this

beautiful province of British Columbia. I remember sitting on that side not

that long ago, in those uncomfortable chairs, listening to budget speeches

that only filled me with despair about the needs of the children of the

province and the needs of the seniors and the needs of the people living in

poverty and the needs of all citizens.

When those were neglected for 16 years, and I was here for 12 of them,

my job was to remind government of their priorities. While I did remind them

of their priorities, and they sort of got it closer to being right in their

last throne speech, the people had already made a decision. The people had

already made a decision that 16 years of one particular perspective was

enough, and it was time to put people at the centre of public policy in this

province.

I’m pleased to be able to talk about an entirely supportable budget, a

reasonable budget, an optimistic budget and a budget that reflects the

confidence that British Columbians have in ourselves as a province in this

country and as a place in this world. We have a lot of good work ahead of

us, and we have a lot of enthusiasm for that work.

I’d like to begin by thanking the people of Powell River–Sunshine

Coast, the only entirely ferry-reliant constituency in this province, for

their continued support for my efforts to bring reasonableness to this

place, good policies to the public and hope for the community and for all

the communities in the province. I thank the people of the Sunshine Coast

for supporting me once again. I thank them for continuing to encourage me to

bring their voice to this place.

I also think that they’re speaking to me to thank me for the

constituency assistants that continue to work in my offices. They’re Kim

Tournat and Maggie Hathaway, who I consider among the two best advocates

I’ve met, who work with people who have had nowhere to turn for 16 years.

Their advocacy and their commitment and their real human caring for the

people of our constituency I think reflects the attitude of this new

government as well — that when we see a problem, we’ll try to fix

it.

We won’t try to hide it. We won’t try to pretend that there are other

problems that are always going to be bigger. We will work on each individual

concern as they come to us. My role as the MLA, in opposition and on this

side of the House, is to ensure that I can have some influence over

government, that I can have some influence on the policy direction of

government and that I can reflect the voice of my constituents in this

place. That’s my responsibility.

The Esquimalt and Songhees Nations are the traditional occupiers and

residents of this area. This is the land that they have inhabited for

millennia. I respect and honour that, and through protocol, I thank them for

this opportunity. In thinking of the Esquimalt and Songhees, I think of,

also, the Coast Salish people: the Shishalh, the Tla’amin, the Skwxwú7mesh,

the Klahoose. Those are the nations that make up the Sunshine

Coast.

I acknowledge Chief Warren Paull from the Shishalh Nation. I

acknowledge Hegus, Clint Williams, of the Tla’amin Nation, recently a treaty

nation. I honour and respect the work they do and look forward to an ongoing

good relationship with them — and Chief Ian Campbell of the

Skwxwú7mesh.

[10:35 a.m.]

I also want to thank the other elected officials from the Sunshine

Coast, the regional directors. I think of Gary Nohr, who’s recovering from a

health ailment. He’s doing well. I think of all of the representatives on

the regional board and in the municipal governments, the mayors and the

councillors, the Islands Trust representatives, the school board

representatives. All of them are doing their part to ensure that their

community is well represented. So I thank all of them for their continued

commitment to the people they represent.

As I said, this budget, to me, is the first time I’ve actually said:

“Wow. This reflects the concerns of my constituents. This reflects the

interests of the people who I represent.” It speaks to affordability. It

speaks to the restoration of services that have been cut for 16 years. It

speaks to the optimism for industries and small businesses in our

constituency.

It speaks to the need to ensure that our education system, both for

the little children and for the older people, is there. It’s accessible,

it’s affordable, and it’s there to improve not only their quality of life

but the quality of life of their entire communities. When we see an

education system that has been starved of the resources necessary to provide

a good start for young children…. A whole generation has been not lost but

has had more challenging times through their education system. Now we have

an opportunity to restore some balance and the kinds of services and

expectations we have of our public education system.

It’s a good-news budget. I understand because I sat in those seats

over there. I’d find out what was missing and what I would have liked to see

earlier or faster. That’s expected. They can talk about what they see as tax

increases, and I can talk about the tax decreases that I think are going to

be important to my constituents. There’s nothing, probably, more important

to the industrial users of electricity on the Sunshine Coast than the

elimination of the PST on electricity. I know that Catalyst is going to

benefit from that. The forest industry. The mining sector.

We have Lehigh. We have Heidelberg, obviously, in Sechelt. We have

Lafarge. We have industrial users who are going to be benefiting from this

tax reduction, which will also have a benefit to the employees that work for

these corporations and their families and the schools where they send their

children. This is going to provide a little bit more viability to the

industries that they engage in.

When we talk about a tax cut to industry, we know that it will not

just affect the bottom line of those industries. It will affect the bottom

line of the people who are working in those industries — the miners, the

loggers, the people who work in the pulp mills. For that, I think, members

on that side of the House should also be pleased. It was partly one of the

things that they supported in the past. I’m not sure why they wouldn’t

support it now.

The reduction in the small business tax, something else that members

who are now sitting in opposition were previously in favour of. We’ve

implemented a half a percentage cut to the small business tax. I don’t

hear…. I guess I don’t expect to hear, but one would expect an

acknowledgment that, in fact, there are some very positive steps in this

budget and, after 16 years, maybe some rebalancing of the playing field so

that there are not just their winners but that the winners come from all

parts of our province. There are not just winners in the big corporate

offices, but there are winners in our communities, wherever those

communities are in this beautiful province.

We see for the first time a budget that acknowledges that there are

people living in poverty in this province, that acknowledges that you can’t

just hope that saying the word “job” is going to solve the problem. We

actually have a comprehensive plan in the works to at least address the

inequality and the poverty that exist in this province, one of the most

unequal provinces. It’s a beautiful province.

I will mention that we’ve increased the corporate tax by 1 percent.

Then, when we think about the impacts of that and when we hear the

negativity from the opposition saying that the only reason it appears in

their minds that anyone would invest in this province is just the corporate

tax rate….

[10:40 a.m.]

I would suggest to those cynical members — it’s not all of them, but

those few cynical members — who would suggest that the only reason people

would invest in this beautiful province is because of the corporate tax

rate…. I would suggest that there are other things to consider. Perhaps

education levels. Perhaps a willingness to work in all parts of this

province. There are a number of factors. Maybe it’s because we do have a

relatively good education system and workers would like to come to this

province. There are so many things that are hindering corporate success in

this province that this government has failed to address.

If I moved to this province to work for a large company, I’d want to

make sure that I lived in an affordable place, a place where my children

would be safe on the streets, where they’d go to school in not overcrowded

classrooms and where they’d have access to supports and services. If they

happen to have a sister or a brother with a developmental disability, that

those services would be there for them. That they’d be able to walk down the

street without fear for their life.

Or if they happen to have a cousin, a relative or a friend who’s been

addicted or has become addicted, that there’s a compassionate response, that

there are places for those people to recover from their addictions. I’d like

that to be another example of reasons why people would move to British

Columbia.

We’ve had 16 years where the cost of living has skyrocketed. You can

talk about taxes. I’ll talk about fees. The MSP didn’t just…. We’ve cut it

in half. That’s a significant savings to families in this province. It

wasn’t as if that MSP has always been there at that rate. This government

kept putting it up. I’m glad that they had that little conversion on the

road to Victoria when they decided that maybe that wasn’t such a good idea,

that they’d get rid of it too. It’s almost like…. About a month and a half

ago, we all agreed these are really good ideas. Now that we’re talking about

them, it seems there’s just nothing but negativity.

I think we have a really wonderful opportunity here to show that

there’s more that makes us the same than that divides us. Why don’t we at

least compare what we promised in your last throne speech and our last

throne speech? I know we’re talking about the budget now, but

fundamentally….

A ministry for mental health and addictions. Imagine that. That’s

visionary. It was recommended by an all-party committee — a select standing

committee, the Child and Youth committee. I commend the member who was

chairing that committee in the last session. She shepherded a study into the

state of mental health services in this province and recommended the

establishment of a stand-alone ministry. Our government listened.

Our government listens to the results of consultation. We consider the

results. We haven’t predetermined our response to everything. We’re

interested in looking for the best solutions to problems. We’re not just

jumping to the one that we held onto the first time we thought of it. If

there are ways of improving projects, we want to look for them. If there are

improvements to a way we invest in infrastructure, we want to make sure we

do the right thing. If we hear from dozens of mayors who say they don’t want

a particular piece of infrastructure, that they’d rather look at other

options, we’ll listen to those mayors. It’s important to do that.

Our democratic system is sometimes a little laborious and a little bit

cumbersome, but the result is better. A little bit more hard work at the

front end, and you get a better result later. I understand the negativity,

but I don’t think it’s warranted. I think that members from all sides of

this House should find something that’s extremely supportable in the budget

that was presented in this House.

Homelessness. I live on the Sunshine Coast. We are about to construct

a 40-bed shelter on the Sunshine Coast where eight years ago you would have

had trouble identifying who was homeless. There were people perhaps living

in tents, a few maybe living in a car somewhere. But we didn’t have homeless

people looking for a place to be safe on the Sunshine Coast. It’s the impact

of years and years of neglect that have resulted in the need to address the

social deficit that exists in this province. This budget is a first step

towards addressing the social deficit that has been left by this

government.

[10:45 a.m.]

I think it’s important to talk about the fact that our education

system was beaten up by the previous government, that housing affordability

skyrocketed under their watch. Ferry fares more than doubled. MSP fees went

through the roof. ICBC rates, through the roof. Hydro rates, through the

roof. And then this opposition has the nerve to talk about

uncertainty.

You’re sowing the seeds of uncertainty. We are confident that our

infrastructure investments are going to benefit everyone in this province.

There are going to be a lot of jobs created with our infrastructure

investments, whether they be roads, schools, hospitals or upgrades. We have

a lot of fixing to do. You can’t just come in here after 16 years and think:

“Well, no one looked after this place while we were gone. Now we’re back.

We’ve got some things to do. We need a new paint job. We need some new

carpets.” You know, we can’t just live in the penthouse; we’ve got the whole

place to look after. I think that when we start looking at the

responsibility of government, it’s not just to look after the people in the

penthouse. It’s to look after everybody.

It’s in fact to look after the people that are around your house as

well. I’m glad we’re committing to spending money on some creation of

modular homes for people who are homeless. I think everyone in this House….

When you walk around downtown Victoria or downtown Vancouver or if you walk

even through the streets of our rural communities, you’ll see people who are

down and out, who think they’ve been forgotten.

They haven’t been forgotten. Help is on the way. You know, these are

our brothers and sisters. These are our aunts and uncles, our cousins. We

have to think about it that way. They’re not there just because they made a

bad choice. They’re there for a number of reasons, and we’ve got to address

those fundamental root causes if we want to really have an impact. We can’t

blame them. We can’t just keep them down.

We’re increasing social assistance rates for the first time in ten

years — the first time in ten years. And we’re suggesting that perhaps if

they have an opportunity to earn money, there’s another $200 exemption, in

addition. For people on disability, another $100 a month. It’s not enough.

That’s really not enough. One of my colleagues spent time trying to live on

social assistance money for a month, and he lost a lot of weight.

When you think about people who are struggling to overcome…. Whether

it’s an addiction or to address a mental health issue that they’re

struggling with, the last thing they need is a government that is turning

their face away from them. They need a government that’s going to look deep

into the issue and say: “We have some possible solutions. We’re going to

try. You will know that we’re going to try. You know that we’re going to try

and make sure you’ve got preventative services. You know that we’re going to

try to make sure you have treatment when you want it.”

They’ll know, when we re-regulate recovery homes so that when people

are coming out of jail or when they’re coming out of treatment or coming off

the street, that there will be a place where they’re safe, where they can

make the adjustments. For too long, as I said…. You can talk about our

economic circumstances in this province. You cannot divorce that from the

reality we see on the street.

I go through the Downtown Eastside on occasion, and I look at that and

say: “This should not be this way.” I don’t want to say it’s shameful,

because that’s too…. But it is upsetting. It is upsetting, and it’s

unnecessary. We can do better than that. If this province is as rich as the

previous government suggests it was, there’s no excuse for that. These are

people from all across our province. So I’m glad that we’re beginning to

address the issue of street homelessness with the addition of 2,000 modular

units. It’s not only the units but the support for people in those

units.

[10:50 a.m.]

Clearly, anyone who has worked in the sector knows that as people are

adjusting to a new reality in their life, they need some support and they

need some encouragement. They need a shoulder to cry on or someone to help

them contact a family member. We’re not just saying to go live in this place

and that’s it. We’ll say: “We’ll go help you with any

adjustments.”

Affordable housing. I mean, 1,700 new affordable units in this

province is a start. It’s a start. There’s a real homelessness crisis, and

there’s a home affordability crisis as well.

We have two states of emergency in this province right now. One is the

fentanyl crisis, which is killing people every single day, I think at the

rate of three a day. And we have the wildfire crisis. We know how to put out

fires. You put more fire retardant and water on it. You get people to do it,

1,600 firefighters. We’ve spent over half a billion dollars extra this year

on fighting fires. No one is blaming any side of the House for the wildfire

situation. But we have the opportunity, and we’re going to take that

opportunity to invest in making sure we’re stronger and more resilient in

the future.

We’re going to have to become stronger and more resilient in the

future. Our weather events are going to become more extreme. That includes

drought, and we have a lot of combustible material in our back country. I

think that our investment in ensuring that our wildfire services are

properly supported is an investment in the future. I don’t think that people

on the opposition side of the House would complain about that.

The fentanyl crisis is tragic. It’s tragic. And anyone who has had the

opportunity to talk to families affected by the fentanyl crisis will know

that there are no easy answers. There are no easy answers at all. But if we

create…. If we help and promote and nurture strong young people, they’ll be

more resilient against the scourge of drug overuse and inappropriate use.

That’s what we need to do.

We need to make sure that the kids that come out of our school system

have been in a place where they’ve been able to learn about themselves,

learn about ways of living in our society that are positive and healthy. If

we can do that, we’ll go a long way to create the resilience needed in our

population.

But we’re dealing with an issue right now…. I’d suggest that it’s

probably time to be considering even bolder measures to address the fentanyl

crisis. I know those discussions aren’t going to be ignored because they’re

complicated or difficult. They’ll be embraced, because they need to be

embraced. We don’t have a lot of options left. Heroin replacement needs to

be considered, expanded. We need to make sure that the drugs that people are

going to use, because they’re addicted, are not poisonous.

I was talking to a young man yesterday who is currently in a state of

deep addiction, in and out of hospital with a number of infections — lung

infections, blood infections — and having trouble staying in hospital

because he has a serious and strong addiction. We need to be able to address

that. We need to be able to consider: what is the cost of this young man

going in and out of hospital on a very regular basis? In and out of jail on

a regular basis, where it costs $300 a day to keep someone in

jail.

When you think about the priorities that our government should have,

it should be on keeping people out of jail and out of hospital. It’s cheaper

to keep people out of jail and out of hospitals. We just need to make sure

that the right investments are being made. And I’m so proud of this

government to not only recognize this approach but to embrace this

approach.

I think that something else that the opposition is going to support is

our need to thank and encourage volunteers in our communities. Our volunteer

search and rescue and our volunteer firefighters are important in rural

communities across this province.

[10:55 a.m.]

Any time anyone visits the Sunshine Coast, you’ll see those fire halls

up the highway, and you know that one or two nights every week, people are

there training, dedicating a lot of time, a lot of hours and a lot of

physical exertion to make sure that they’re perfectly and well prepared for

any emergency that comes along. We have a lot of back country, deep woods,

ravines, ocean inlets. The comfort in having these volunteers around when

needed is one that allows us to explore and to take full advantage of our

beautiful natural environment.

So a tax credit for those volunteers, I think, is welcomed not just by

this side of the House but by that side of the House as well. I’m pleased to

see that we’re acknowledging those volunteers and that we have other ways of

acknowledging volunteers. Volunteerism is such a core and key element to our

communities.

Other things. I was listening to some of the speeches yesterday. They

were fun to listen to, and some actually got me to respond, using my outside

voice.

Some Hon. Members: Name names.

N. Simons: Well, we’re not allowed to name names in this House, but we can…. We

won’t name names. Chilliwack, Abbotsford, anywhere…. We won’t name areas

either. I would say there was a sense that some were less sure that we were

confidently on our path to a better province for British Columbia. I’m quite

convinced that we are.

When we see that not only have we also addressed the carbon tax

issue…. When I talk to people about the carbon tax, they say that revenue

neutrality is…. How do we invest in making sure that we’re prepared for the

increase in the federal carbon tax? How do we invest in green

infrastructure, if there’s no revenue source to do that? I’m glad to say

that our carbon tax is going to address that. I think it’s about time that

we recognized that our responsibility includes paying for what we need to

invest in. I don’t resent that whatsoever.

The tolls. I mean, on the Sunshine Coast, we don’t have that many

bridges, but we do have an understanding of what it means to pay to go

places.

Interjection.

N. Simons: It’s bridge financing.

People on that side of the House might have said: “Well, where are the

reductions for ferries that we promised?” Actually, they said: “Where are

the freezes for ferries?” That was their promise — to freeze ferries. We

actually promised to reduce them, and we plan to do that. Not everything can

fit into the first budget. I’ve learned that. Not everything can fit into

the first budget. You have to be more patient than waiting for eight weeks

for us to fulfil all our promises.

I know that it’s not your job to give us the benefit of the doubt. I

understand that the opposition is there not just to hold us to account but

to remind us that they’re holding us to account on a daily basis. We made a

lot of commitments, a lot of important commitments, to the people of this

province, and we’ve made a lot of important commitments that we’re going to

fulfil. We can’t do it all at once. There was a little bit of delay in

getting into this chamber, on this side of the House. There were some nails

clinging to ledges, hoping that this wouldn’t be the result of our

democratic process. But look at that: here we are.

We have an important role to fulfil, and we expect that the opposition

will come to us with good ideas — as I went to the previous government with

good ideas. I want to say that one of the ideas I went to the previous

government with was to ensure that we were better than we had been, when it

came to services for children who are deaf or hearing-impaired. I’m glad to

say that with our healthy kids program, we’re going to be investing in

ensuring that kids have the right eye care, dental care and hearing care. I

think that’s an important step for young kids. It’s symbolic, in a way, of

our government’s attention to the voices of the little children, who are not

lobbyists and are not here. We’re making sure that we address those

concerns, because we’ve identified them.

[11:00 a.m.]

I would ask that the opposition members remember that our job is to

listen to you as you bring your concerns of your constituents here. That’s

your responsibility. My responsibility is to hear them, and the government’s

responsibility is to consider them in the development of good public

policy.

Good public policy is the foundation of this budget. It’s hopeful,

it’s confident, it’s optimistic, and it reflects the positive vision of

British Columbians.

E. Ross: This is my first opportunity to speak to the budget update. I want to

thank my constituents of Skeena for giving me the opportunity to represent

them here in the House.

I want to start by saying I understand why they elected me to do this.

They wanted to see if I could duplicate what I did for my community. It’s no

secret that within five years, we became an economic powerhouse. What people

don’t understand is why we did it. We became the economic powerhouse to

uplift the people.

[R. Chouhan in the chair.]

We wanted to put the people in a position where they could help

themselves. We didn’t do it for the corporate penthouses. We didn’t do it

for the limos or the taxi or whatever else is being said. In fact, I’m very

proud to say that my community is still providing services that came from

all that economic activity. Now I’m sad to say that it might be all gone,

because the economic activity is starting to go away in my

riding.

I met a lot of people during the election at the door-knocking, and I

heard a lot of different views about which direction we should head. Despite

all the different opinions, everyone agreed on the final destination. The

common denominator always came down to economic development and specifically

the jobs that come from economic development. Kitimat being an industrial

town, Terrace as a service hub and Nisga’a trying to implement their

historic treaty — all wanted jobs for their members. There was a common

desire to see all of the abundant resources that we have in the north used

to directly benefit the people in the region.

When the election results started coming in on May 9, we could already

see that there was a distinct divide between rural and urban British

Columbia. All the seats of the Green Party were elected on southern

Vancouver Island. Most of the seats the NDP won, with a few scattered

exceptions, come from either the Lower Mainland or on the Island. While the

Liberals were the only party that were elected on the Island, in the Lower

Mainland and, of course, all throughout the Interior and the north, the

election results revealed a divide between urban and rural British

Columbia.

I see it every time when I fly between my riding of Skeena and head

down here to the Legislature in Victoria. This rural-urban divide translates

into the great debate between the environment versus the economy. We see it

here in the Legislature. We have an NDP minority government supported by the

Green Party that insists on opposing any major infrastructure development in

our province.

These projects are well known — Site C, for example. There are

currently 2,600 workers on the construction site who are worried that the

NDP and Green Party coalition are planning to hand them pink slips,

regardless of the review with the B.C. Utilities Commission.

The cancellation of the Massey Tunnel replacement project. We are

talking about cancellation, not consultation, because the NDP have already

removed capital funding for the bridge project from their fiscal plan.

That’s another 9,000 jobs that won’t come to fruition. It also hurts our

provincial economy by stalling traffic to and from the port of

Vancouver.

This government wants to stay in power so they bend over backwards to

please their Green Party partners, who basically oppose any development

anywhere. LNG? The Green Party says no way. Site C? Nope. The Green Party

opposes the project so the NDP will follow suit and cancel the project,

despite the review process. This is a coalition government that is

furthering the divide between rural and urban British Columbia. They see the

environment and economic development as separate initiatives. But it doesn’t

have to be that way.

I want to provide this House with a northern perspective. In 2003, I

opposed any development of any kind, including forestry and LNG, but a few

of my fellow wise councillors encouraged me to first look at my people’s

social and economic situation before deciding my mandates, which I did. I

explored it.

[11:05 a.m.]

In turn, I was discouraged by the high unemployment, the drug and

alcohol abuse, the poverty and no future. I was more discouraged by

politicians over the decades who promised a better future but never

delivered anything over those decades. It was then I decided to take on a

new approach and path to self-reliance, independence and

self-determination.

The success of our council is still being felt today, although not as

strong as a few years ago. Our engagement, which facilitated — not blocked,

not stalled, but facilitated — the optimism of LNG exports and port

development, positively impacted the region and the province of B.C. and,

dare I say, Canada. Businesses flourished, hired more people, and workers

came in from all over the province and Canada. There were lineups in

restaurants, mortgages acquired, and dreams came true for the people in

Skeena. Overall, life was good.

Yes, we had problems. We had hurdles. But throughout all these

hurdles, the towns, the First Nations communities, government and the

ministry cooperated on solutions for the benefit of British Columbians. But

overall, for companies to invest billions of dollars in B.C., they need to

know they will be welcomed and supported by government.

The PNW cancellation was a huge blow to northeast and northwest B.C.

Now Aurora LNG in Prince Rupert has ended their feasibility study and will

cease all investigation activity. My sincere condolences to those projects

and the people affected. But Kitimat projects are trying to hang on. The

billions of dollars of investment that are proposed for my riding are still

there. In fact, in thinking about this overall approach, none of this makes

sense to me when we’re talking about LNG. While the rest of the world is

looking to LNG to reduce emissions, forces in B.C. want to keep B.C. LNG out

of the solution for global warming. Everybody else sees it as a solution, as

a clean-burning fuel source — China, the United States. Everybody sees it.

Even Germany is going to start looking to LNG to reduce

emissions.

B.C. wants to stay out of that game. They do not want LNG to help with

the global warming issues all over this world. So we can pat ourselves on

the back to say, “We’re doing our part,” but in effect, we’re not doing our

part because we’re not helping China.

United Nations declaration on the rights of Indigenous peoples. We’re

talking about economic development for the province of B.C. and Canada.

We’re also talking about economic development for First Nations so they can

help themselves.

I find it very condescending, as a First Nations person, when I hear a

politician talk about how they’re going to come and help us. The rules and

the climate are there for First Nations to help themselves, to be included

in the economy. UNDRIP can undo all of this progress that we’ve done in the

last 12 years in terms of First Nations engagement. It can undo all of it if

we don’t consider it carefully. I am saying this from a First Nations

perspective. If consent is not a veto, as I have heard in this House, then I

have no objections. I have no objections to UNDRIP if there is no veto, but

if consent is veiled as a veto, yes, I do have objections. That’s because a

veto will not only affect B.C. and its economy and Canada’s economy; it will

also affect those First Nations who have signed on to linear projects to

help alleviate all the issues mentioned in UNDRIP itself.

I’ve heard that this government supports LNG, but it wasn’t even

mentioned in the Finance Minister’s budget update speech. That concerns me.

I haven’t seen anything in this budget that reflects the incredible

opportunity that LNG export offers to the growth of B.C. and to reduce

China’s emissions, or to lift First Nations out of dependence and the Indian

Act. I can’t tell you how disappointing that is to the people of the Skeena

riding.

[11:10 a.m.]

In terms of the hospitals in B.C., it’s well known that Terrace

residents have been waiting a long time for a new hospital. In fact,

everybody in the region that uses the Terrace hospital and uses Terrace

overall as a hub has been waiting for a new hospital. One of the reasons

that we can’t attract new doctors and nurses to the north is because they

come to see the poor facilities that we currently have, and they see no

future for themselves or their families.

We have a strong population up there that needs medical services like

everybody else — just like everybody else in the Lower Mainland and on

Vancouver Island. Both parties, leading up to this election, agreed that the

Terrace hospital would be replaced. In fact, it was in the February budget.

It’s not in this current budget.

In terms of the people suffering up there, I have one constituent who

suffers from asthma and does not have a family doctor. In order to access

his medication, he has to call the clinic first thing, at 8 a.m., to make an

appointment. Twice he has been told there are no appointments left on a

given day and tried calling the next day. This week he had to go to the

pharmacy to beg for medication. They gave it to him but would not give the

patient another refill without a prescription.

This would have been different if we had a brand-new hospital that

could attract doctors and nurses. People in the north know that without

economic development, facilities like a new hospital just won’t happen for

people in the north. It’s a shame, because there are many people and

organizations who spent years advocating for a replacement of their

hospital.

If this government and the Green Party do not support LNG, then

hopefully, you’ll agree that the region needs to be prepared with an

up-to-date hospital and infrastructure. I just don’t see the Terrace

hospital being replaced. If not in this budget, hopefully the next budget

will cover it.

What I do see in the budget is the NDP announcing that they are going

to take tolls off bridges in the Lower Mainland. That means the government’s

going to lose at least $250 million on an annual basis. That’s money that

won’t be going to pay off the capital costs of constructing the Port Mann

and Golden Ears bridges. Instead, they’re going to lump billions of dollars

onto taxpayer-supported debt. While that might be good politics to win seats

south of the Fraser River, it sends a message to people in the rest of the

province that winning votes is more important than building a hospital in

the north.

I know I’ve heard the Minister of Finance say that she wants to make

life affordable for British Columbians, but the money has to come from

somewhere, and we know that has to be the taxpayer in this budget. There are

only a few ways to finance a government — either cut spending in one program

to pay for another or raise taxes. That is exactly what the NDP and the

Green Party coalition intend to do — raise taxes, $1 billion worth of new

tax increases over the next three years.

How are they going to do it? One of the ways is the carbon tax. Up

until now, the Liberal government followed the law that made the carbon tax

neutral. It said any increase in the carbon tax would have to be offset by a

decrease in either personal taxes or some other form of taxation. That’s

what made the carbon tax revenue-neutral.

Now the NDP and Greens announced in their budget that they are going

abandon the revenue-neutral requirement, and they plan to increase it every

year, for at least the next four years, starting in 2018. That’s a 40

percent increase in the carbon tax over four years. It sounds like a green

thing to do, but it doesn’t look anything more than a dressed-up tax

grab.

This is going to hit people at the gas pump, and it’s going to make it

harder for people to heat their homes in the winter. For those of us in the

north, where the winters are colder and we have to drive a much longer

distance to get anywhere, it’s going to hit us harder than people in the

south. Forestry contractors and businesses that use fossil fuels up north

and residents in my riding will be hit hard with this carbon tax.

In fact, my constituents already pay the highest gas rates in B.C. So

I’ve got to go back and tell my constituents: “Your gas bill is going to go

up, not once but twice.” Of course their bill will increase for their own

use, but when the company that supplies the gas gets extra costs added to

their bottom line, the company will do what most businesses do when their

costs go up. They will pass this added cost on to the consumer. This does

not speak to affordability. The same applies to the increase in business

taxes from 11 percent to 12 percent.

[11:15 a.m.]

Who ends up paying in the end? The consumer. We in the north already

pay more for the cost of living than people do in the Lower Mainland or on

the Island.

It’s not just potential industry that will bypass B.C. if taxes become

too high to invest. Current industry has had to compete in an unfair market

because countries like China can produce much more cheap product with little

regard for emissions, little regard for global warming or standards that

B.C. companies have to abide by. Our industries in this situation are at an

extreme disadvantage.

This all comes back to what I was saying about the deepening divide

between rural and urban British Columbia, and this government is pushing us

further apart with this budget update. In order to support and preserve the

environment, we must have the economic means to do it. When you say no to

economic development, you are saying no to all the revenue the government

needs to build things like a new hospital in Terrace.

I also mentioned earlier that we have to travel greater distances in

the north just to get around. So you can imagine that people in my riding of

Skeena and, in fact, all over northern B.C. are devastated with the news

that Greyhound wants to pull out of its northern routes. If Greyhound does

get approval to end its bus runs in northern British Columbia, there will be

a major gap for those who want to travel Highway 16 on the corridor west of

Prince George. Greyhound says that the new B.C. Transit bus service along

Highway 16 that the former Liberal government brought in poses too much

competition.

Just when we had the combination of services finally covering local

needs, we now have a potential pullout by Greyhound, and it is a safety

issue. We are hearing from the relatives of people who lost family members

along Highway 16, and they are extremely upset about this. So we are waiting

to hear how the provincial government is going to respond, and we’d like to

hear soon. I’ve seen previous applications for other regions for the same

kind of reasons, but other regions don’t have the same safety concerns that

we have. Our highway has been named the Highway of Tears. So I am calling on

the government and the Minister of Transportation to act fast before we lose

this invaluable service.

In conclusion, I want the government to rethink its opposition to

economic development in the north and other parts of the province. The way

you grow a province is by growing the economy, not by taxing it more. We

can’t save and protect the environment if we can’t support our own people.

It’s one thing to say that you want a budget that works for the people, but

that doesn’t happen when nobody is working and everybody is on welfare,

regardless of increases to welfare rates.

Before you introduce a full budget next February, first think about

how you can build a bridge between rural British Columbia and urban British

Columbia. If you don’t want to build a bridge in the Lower Mainland, then

think about building this bridge between rural and urban British Columbia.

At the end of the day, we have to find ways to close, not widen, the gap

between caring about the environment and caring for our people at the same

time.

Hon. K. Chen: It is my pleasure to address the House today in support of Budget

Update 2017. As the MLA for Burnaby-Lougheed, I would like to, first, give

my deepest gratitude to all the constituents who have given me the support

and trust to allow me the opportunity to be here and to represent our

community in the Legislature. I’m also honoured to rise in this House as

B.C.’s Minister of State for Child Care to speak to a budget that begins to

support people who built this province, every one of us.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to speak about a budget that reflects

choices that invest in people because, as my grandmother taught me as a

child, everything we do in our daily lives matters. Every choice we make

matters. Every challenge we are faced with and how we respond matters. And

every success we achieve in life and the hard work that gets us there

matters.

[11:20 a.m.]

My grandmother stressed that what matters the most is that we are

grateful for what life gives us and thankful for what we have, so let me

begin my remarks with what in my life I’m most grateful and thankful

for.

To my parents, my husband and our three-year-old son: I wouldn’t be

here without your love and support. I strive to make you proud each and

every day, and I vow that my work in this House and on behalf of my

constituents in Burnaby-Lougheed will always be rooted in the trust and the

faith that you have put in me.

I would also like to give special thanks to Dr. Jane Shin, who did an

amazing job represented the riding of Burnaby-Lougheed before me.

I wouldn’t be here without the support of my constituents, my very,

very amazing campaign team, all the dedicated volunteers, friends and

supporters and my constituency office colleagues, whose excellent work and

dedication allow me to come to Victoria knowing that what matters most at

home in Burnaby-Lougheed is getting done. The fact that I stand before you

here today as a minister of state is a testament to your hard work, your

values and your hopes for a better British Columbia. I am your voice in this

chamber and in Victoria.

I know how important education is to the people in my riding. Parents,

children, educators have been waiting for 16 years for a government that is

finally willing to invest in public education. I know that our students and

teachers deserve better and more.

Burnaby-Lougheed also has one of the largest stocks of co-op housing

in the province, yet demand far outstrips supply. I will work hard to see

more of this kind of affordable housing for all communities that need

creative solutions to the fact that too many British Columbians find it

tough to keep a roof over their heads.

I will continue to defend our community’s best interests and speak up

on environmental protection issues like the Kinder Morgan tank farm that, in

the event of a fire or spill, would threaten residential neighbourhoods near

SFU, Forest Grove and Westridge. Many families worried about being

completely cut off, parents from young children, in the event of an

accident. Your voice will be heard in Victoria, as you elected me to

do.

Our community is very diverse. But I’ve heard from the doorsteps of

multi-million-dollar homes to the doorsteps of low-income households in my

riding the same desire for an advocate in Victoria for the Burnaby-Lougheed

community who will fight for programs that help our community to work

together as a whole so that all of us — from North Road to Kensington,

Cariboo, Burnaby Lake to Burnaby Mountain — are able to thrive.

As someone who came to B.C., alone, as a young student and as a

newcomer at that time, I personally know the power of community support and

coming together for the collective good. I would like to say a few words in

my mother tongue, in Mandarin and Taiwanese, here.

[Mandarin and Taiwanese were spoken.]

What I said was I came to B.C. as a student from Taiwan at the age of

Like many newcomers in our community, I once felt alone, but I was grateful

for the opportunity to make a new life in a new country.

[11:25 a.m.]

I had to start over, and in doing so, I realized that I was actually

never alone in this journey. Other than all the people who have given me

unconditional support during my life in B.C., I also found a new family. I

joined the New Democratic Party, a family that believes in supporting

everyone in our community; a family that welcomed me, despite my limited

most importantly, a family that shared the same values as those of my

family, who believe in fairness and equality and who, like my grandmother,

believe in being thankful for what you have and sharing the good fortune

with those who struggle.

There are people who are struggling in B.C. When I came here as a

17-year-old student, I fell in love with this place and thrived. But a few

years later, as a community worker, I realized this wasn’t the case for many

people in our community. I found myself on countless doorsteps hearing from

people who struggled to make ends meet and put food on the table.

I remember one day in particular. It was pouring rain. It was very

cold. The mood of people on the doorsteps that day was as bleak as the

weather. I took shelter in the stairwell of a low-income apartment whose

residents I went there to speak with, and there, in the stairway, I saw a

man sleeping under a thin blanket. I cried that day, and I remembered what

my grandmother had instilled in me as a child — that everything you do in

life matters, and be grateful for what you have. I had a bed to sleep in

that night. That was when I vowed to do more.

So here I am today, grateful and thankful to speak in favour of the

Budget 2017 update, because this is a budget built on choices that make life

more affordable for B.C. families and improve services for everyone so that

each one of us has the opportunity to grow, be healthy, raise our families,

find well-paying jobs and create a strong foundation for

ourselves.

We’ve heard for far too long that the cost of living had gotten too

high for British Columbians and that they couldn’t get the services they

needed when they needed them. After 16 years under the previous B.C. Liberal

government, I’m proud to be in a new B.C. NDP government that is finally

putting people in the centre of politics.

The first steps to achieving a better B.C. are found in this budget

update. Our number one priority going forward is to make life better for

B.C. families. We’re demonstrating that priority by making life more

affordable; by cutting MSP premiums in half, which will save families up to

$900 every year; lowering taxes for small businesses so they can grow and

thrive; and investing in thousands of new units of affordable and supportive

housing for low-income British Columbians and those who are homeless. Plus

we’ve established a ministry and parliamentary secretary responsible for

creating a plan to reduce poverty in B.C., and we’ve immediately increased

income and disability assistance rates by $100 a month, the most meaningful

increase in ten years, with more improvements to come.

We know that there is more to do. These first steps are important to

help lift vulnerable families out of poverty and make B.C. a better place to

live for every British Columbian. At the same time, we’re working on

building a more sustainable economy. We’re investing in schools, hospitals,

transit and transportation infrastructure to improve our communities and

create good jobs.

[11:30 a.m.]

Economically, we respect that the best solutions are made-in-B.C.

solutions. To that end, we’re creating an innovation commission to support

B.C.’s tech sector and an emerging economy task force to capitalize on B.C.

ideas, grow our economy and drive us forward.

We know that economic growth does not have to come at the expense of

the environment. That is why we’re phasing out the provincial sales tax on

electricity — to ease the burden on businesses and encourage them to use

low-carbon energy sources. It is also why we’re building on carbon tax,

while using that revenue to fund sustainable industry to better support

families.

Most importantly, investments in people are investments in a

sustainable economy. That’s why we restored adult basic education and

opportunities.

Ultimately, with this budget update, we’re investing in services

people count on. In the school system, we’re investing in smaller class

sizes, more resources and thousands more teachers to help kids succeed.

We’re boosting spending to specifically address the fentanyl crisis, and we

established a new Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions to steer us

towards a more coordinated system of service delivery. As well, the healthy

kids program will now help low-income families with improved dental rates

and expanded service to cover hearing aids.

Last but certainly not least, we are investing in child care — the

budget item most meaningful to me, both as a mother and as B.C.’s Minister

of State for Child Care. I know it’s oh so very important to many, many B.C.

families. Every family deserves a stable foundation on which to build their

lives. Access to safe, affordable, quality child care can help offer that

stability. I know that many B.C. parents are facing huge challenges when

trying to find child care for their children.

I know from personal experience how difficult it can be. When my son

was born, we had a hard time looking for suitable child care that worked for

us. After many, many discussions with my husband, we decided that I would

focus on my career while he put his career on hold to look after our young

child. We were very lucky to have that option. Because I know many, many

families in B.C. are not able to do so, and if we had had access to quality

affordable space for our son, we would have made a different

choice.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

That’s why I believe that child care should be a basic service,

because families need child care so they can participate fully in our

economy. I know, over the last few days, there have been many, many

discussions and uncertainty about whether we are still going ahead with our

$10-a-day commitment. I can tell you today that this government is committed

to a $10-a-day child care plan — one that is accessible, affordable and

works for every B.C. family because this is the right thing to

do.

It is also an exciting and interesting time in B.C.’s political

history. British Columbians have elected a minority government and expect us

to work across party lines to find solutions together. I’m excited to have

meaningful conversations with members from all parties in this House to make

sure we put forward the best solutions possible. We have already started

working on our implementation plan. We are in the early stages of this

long-term commitment. We are working closely with the Green Party, with

stakeholders and parents. I’m making every effort to meet with as many

people as I can, from child care providers, early childhood educators to

concerned parents.

[11:35 a.m.]

We’re having many discussions, not to see if we can introduce the plan

but to determine how we should do it. We will identify priority areas, like

infant and toddler care, and accelerate the creation of licensed child care

spaces where they’re needed the most. We’ll also look at opportunities to

support early childhood educators through improved access to training,

education and fair wages. These important discussions will continue over the

coming weeks and will help to inform our plan for universal child care in

B.C.

In February, our Budget 2018 will lay out more details of our child

care plan in the first full budget that this government will deliver. In the

meantime, we continue to make safe, affordable child care available for B.C.

families even as we work on our long-term plan for a universal child care

system.

As the Minister of State for Child Care, I also work closely with the

Ministry of Children and Family Development and my colleague, Minister

Katrine Conroy. I know that protecting the 7,500 children and youth in care

of the government is an incredible honour and responsibility, and we need to

do more.

A big part of the ministry’s mandate is to enhance and improve child

protection services to ensure that all children grow up in a safe and

nurturing environment. MCFD’s service plan outlines the steps the government

will take to improve child protection legislation, policy, standards and

practice. The plan considers recommendations made in the important report by

Grand Chief Ed John, and it is informed by recommendations from the

Representatives for Children and Youth, whose office we look forward to

having a more constructive relationship with than in the past.

The emphasis now is on consultations with Indigenous and First Nations

leaders to better understand what their communities need in terms of

support. I cannot stress enough that social workers have some of the most

difficult jobs in the province, and recruiting quality staff is an ongoing

challenge for our ministry. We need more social workers to connect

vulnerable families with the services they need in every corner of B.C., and

we’re hiring. More front-line and support staff are being hired throughout

the province, with incentives to attract social workers to rural and

underserved communities. This budget reflects that, with funding

specifically allocated to cover staffing costs.

The ministry’s mandate is very clear. It must improve Indigenous

services, implement the recommendations from Grand Chief Ed John’s report

and provide better supports to keep Aboriginal children at home and out of

care. In fact, the biggest driver in the ministry’s budget is its response

to Grand Chief Ed John’s report and improving Indigenous child welfare

across B.C.

Funding will help to ensure delegated Aboriginal agencies are funded

at levels equitable to the ministry, and it will go towards increased family

supports and reunification work — that is, culturally appropriate services,

additional staff with Indigenous communities and services for Indigenous

children in care, including those with special needs. True and lasting

reconciliation is a priority for this government, and every day we’re

working with Indigenous partners and communities to understand what they

need the most and how we can work together to improve outcomes with their

children and families.

The work I’m doing in child care and early childhood development is

also an important component of our commitment. This government has already

moved quickly, in a few weeks’ time, to improve supports for vulnerable

young people in government care, and you can expect to see increased funding

to reflect that in February’s Budget 2018.

[11:40 a.m.]

In the meantime, we’re looking at other ways to help these young

people out. Recently, we extended the tuition waiver program so that more

young adults coming out of government care can have the support to follow

their educational dreams. This was called for in Minister Conroy’s mandate

letter from the Premier, and we accomplished it with just six weeks since

taking office.

We’re not stopping here. Our ministry is working hard to expand the

agreements with young adult programs so that these young people get the same

level of support that many of their peers receive after they turn 19. Stay

tuned for more on that from my colleague, Minister Katrine

Conroy.

With the opioid crisis continuing to prey upon our vulnerable

citizens, this government will not stand by and watch families torn apart.

Our young people deserve a better system, and we’re working towards one that

ensures that children and youth have timely access to the full spectrum of

mental health and addictions care in every region of the province with an

“ask once; get help fast” approach. The establishment of the new Ministry of

Mental Health and Addictions shows our government’s commitment, and MCFD

will continue to support young people’s mental health needs until a broader

strategy is in place through the new ministry.

Through Budget 2017, the ministry is also investing in key areas to

reduce child and youth mental health wait-lists, fund new community staff

and connect children and families to enhanced services. With this budget, we

also recognize the additional strains on families of special needs children,

and we’ve laid the groundwork for increased support. Additional funding for

autism, medical benefits and special needs children in care is at the

forefront of that. A cross-ministry working group is examining the current

autism services, including diagnosis, assessments, intervention, educational

support and transition to adulthood for those young people who need and

deserve an extra hand.

I know we have a lot of work to do before we can release a full NDP

budget in February 2018, which will help to pave the way for a future B.C.

that is truly a better B.C. I know that waiting to see what the future

unfolds can be difficult. We’ve come to expect instant answers and immediate

solutions. So here I would like to share a quick story before I end my

speech.

When I was young, when I was in Taiwan, I remember a fortune teller

telling me that I would grow up to be a politician overseas. I was like,

what? At that stage of my life, I was considering a career in social and

non-profit work. I had not considered leaving Taiwan, and I only spoke very

British Columbia as the proud Member of the Legislative Assembly for

Burnaby-Lougheed and the Minister of State for Child Care.

Nothing is impossible. Everyone in our community, regardless of our

background or socioeconomic status, deserves the opportunity to strive and

to reach their full potential.

I know the Budget 2017 Update will provide support to many British

Columbians who have been waiting for the services they deserve for many,

many years. I know the Budget 2017 Update will bring opportunities to create

good jobs and a strong economy for communities across B.C. I know the Budget

2017 Update is the right bridge to our first full budget in February 2018,

and this province is on the right track to being a better B.C.

Mr. Speaker: Members, if I may remind you, while speaking in the House, we should

refrain from referring to individuals by name.

J. Johal: This is my first opportunity to speak on the budget on behalf of my

constituents in Richmond-Queensborough. I want to thank them for the

privilege to represent them in this great House. I also want to thank a

tremendous group of volunteers who helped me during the campaign. I also

want to thank my constituency assistants, Samantha Schaap and Regina Tsui,

who do such a great job in keeping me in touch with constituents in

Richmond-Queensborough.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank my parents in Williams

Lake. Like all immigrants, they worked very hard when they came to this

country to provide the opportunities for myself and so many others in this

great House as well.

[11:45 a.m.]

Normally, I would say it’s a pleasure to get up in this House and give

my response to the government’s budget. But today, I have to admit that I,

like many British Columbians, feel the wave of uncertainty and fear for the

future as I look through its contents. It’s shocking to feel that way when

you consider the enviable position that B.C. has been in for the last

while.

The NDP government is inheriting the No. 1 economy in Canada, with GDP

growth last year at 3.7 percent. That’s tops in the country. We see record

employment, among the lowest unemployment rate in Canada, and more than

250,000 jobs added since the B.C. jobs plan was put in place.

Under the B.C. jobs plan, we went from ninth place in job creation to

second. We went from fourth in the country on economic growth to first. We

grew exports by 10 percent and had an 18 percent increase in capital

investment. B.C. enjoyed five consecutive balanced budgets, as well as a

triple-A credit rating, the only province other than Saskatchewan given that

rank. The NDP also inherited a $2.7 billion surplus.

Now, these positive accomplishments were achieved thanks to a solid

plan to keep taxes low, attract investment, grow the economy and create

jobs. But here we are today, having looked at the NDP budget, and we see a

major contrast. We see a reckless approach to our economy. Instead of a plan

to grow that economy and protect and grow jobs, we see a plan to drive up

taxes and drive business and investment away.

The NDP are going to raise corporate taxes from 11 percent to 12

percent, hurting the ability of our businesses to reinvest in British

Columbia. The move is supposed to bring us in line with other Canadian

provinces — the very provinces we’re competing with for capital and

investment. That’s one way the NDP is chipping away at B.C.’s competitive

tax advantage. Not to mention, we know higher taxes are always passed along

to consumers. When businesses are looking to grow and invest, which in turn

creates jobs for the people of B.C. and puts food on their tables, they look

at where they can make a profit. Raising taxes will drive those paycheques

away.

Recently I heard that Amazon is looking for a second headquarters, but

the chances of them coming to B.C. don’t look as good as they might have

previously. Actions like the one the NDP has taken on corporate tax threaten

significant business moves like that one, and our economy and our workforce

suffer as a result.

Of course, it wouldn’t be the first project the NDP has scared away.

Let’s not forget what would have been the largest single private investment

in Canadian history, Pacific NorthWest LNG. The NDP can claim it was not

their fault, but Petronas reads the news, and they see the letter from this

Premier to the federal government, asking them to stop the project. So in

just a few weeks in office, the NDP scared off billions in capital

investment, which will likely go elsewhere.

We have economists saying the U.S. is going to become the leading

exporter of LNG. Maybe that’s thanks to the change in government and the

uncertainty it’s creating. It’s tremendously disappointing to the

communities and to the people who have had high hopes for this generational

opportunity — people who say it does exist, who already work in the natural

gas and LNG industry, who want our government to get to yes on even more

projects.

For many communities it means jobs, opportunities, food on the table,

hope for the future. This government should be working with these

communities to get LNG across the finish line. Instead, it chooses to turn

its back on these folks and continues to send signals to investors that B.C.

is closed for business.

It makes me question where the support is for our resource sector and

for the hard-working men and women who rely on these quality, good-paying

jobs. What’s the plan when those jobs dry up? Increase taxes? That certainly

seems to be a prevailing theme of this budget — like the removal of revenue

neutrality for the carbon tax, a move that will absolutely harm B.C.

business and consumers.

[11:50 a.m.]

This system saw carbon tax revenue returned to business and

individuals to reduce their tax burden. This meant that carbon was being

taxed, not economic growth. Our revenue-neutral carbon tax required any

increase to be offset by a reduction in personal and business taxes. It was

not a tax grab. Of course, the NDP hated it. They never met a tax grab they

didn’t like. But this is a tax hike that will be passed on to consumers and

business, yet another cost to doing business in B.C. This increase will take

an estimated $500 million out of the pockets of taxpayers over the next

three years, which hardly makes life more affordable.

Now, I want to put that carbon tax into a bit of context as well.

Canada is responsible for 1.7 percent of global GHGs. British Columbia is

responsible for 0.02 percent of global GHGs. We are a jurisdiction that is

roughly one-fourth the size of the city of New Delhi, one-fifth the size of

the city of Beijing.

Now, there’s no doubt that climate change is real and that we need to

deal with it, but I would argue that carbon tax has to be seen in the

context of remaining competitive with neighbouring jurisdictions, especially

since most don’t have a carbon tax. British Columbia must remain competitive

as we do our part to fight climate change. A $5-a-tonne increase is not

helping B.C. remain competitive. When you look at the carbon tax, you have

to look at global warming. Obviously, Canada deals with it, but Asia deals

with it as well.

None of us can foresee exactly how the energy transition will play

out, but there are broad trends that will play a significant role in

fighting climate change. First, there is the role of global population.

There are currently over seven billion people on the planet, and estimates

show that we will hit 11 billion by the end of the century. Every one of

these individuals wants to improve their lives and living standards. It also

means that the energy transition will have to occur just as the consumption

of energy nearly doubles in size. The reality is that the world is going to

have to meet much more energy demand while significantly reducing greenhouse

emissions. Asia represents 60 percent of humanity. It’ll grow by another 900

million people by 2050.

I often get asked: “What was the best story you’ve ever covered as a

journalist? What’s the most important story you ever covered as a

journalist?” My response isn’t the election of Trump. It isn’t the

referendum regarding Brexit, or any of those issues. The story of our time

is the hopes, the dreams and, ultimately, the consumption patterns of modern

Asia.

When you look at UN projections, there’s another statistic that sticks

out: 3.2 billion of the 3.8 billion extra people we can expect on this

planet by the end of the century will be in Africa, the vast majority in

sub-Saharan Africa. That has big implications for emissions. None of that

lets Canada, British Columbia, the developed world — me, you or any of us —

off the hook. What happens here is important, but what happens in Africa,

India and China is at least as important. There’s a lot of work to do. We

need to understand that the fight against climate change has to be seen

within a global context. B.C. taxpayers and businesses, being in one of the

few jurisdictions of the world that pay a carbon tax, cannot shoulder the

financial responsibility alone.

Now, the government promised to raise taxes, and they certainly did

that. Let’s look at promises that didn’t make their way into their budget:

$10-a-day daycare is gone. It’s renamed universal child care, with no new

money announced in the budget. Now, I understand that the member just across

stated that it is coming, but the devil is in the details. I’m waiting to

see it.

The $400 renters rebate is nowhere to be found. The elimination of

interest payments on student loans — nope. Ferry fare rollbacks, a freeze on

hydro rates, increased funding for parks and conservation officers — no, no

and no. The 114,000 units of housing over ten years — not even close.

Instead, we see a mention of the 1,700 new units already announced in

February’s budget, as well as 2,000 units of modular housing.

Even after the NDP ignored some of the promises they made to British

Columbians, they are still increasing taxes by nearly $1 billion over the

next three years. If they intend to keep the rest of their promises, what

sort of further tax hikes might we expect down the road? One has to

wonder.

Noting the time, I move to adjourn the debate and reserve the right to

speak again.

J. Johal moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. C. James moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

Mr. Speaker: This House will stand adjourned until 1:30 this afternoon.

The House adjourned at 11:54 a.m.

The Official Report of Debates ( Hansard ) and webcasts of

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Copyright © 2017: British Columbia

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