2001 Legislative Session: 2nd Session, 37th Parliament

HANSARD

The following electronic version is for informational purposes

only.

The printed version remains the official version.

Official Report of

DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

(Hansard)

THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2001

Afternoon Sitting

Volume 2, Number 4

CONTENTS

Routine

Proceedings

Time

Introductions by Members

Oral Questions

Government

support for nurses

J. MacPhail

J. Kwan

Review

of human rights process in B.C.

L. Mayencourt

Government

support for nurses

J. MacPhail

Throne Speech Debate

V. Roddick

R. Hawes

I. Chong

K. Manhas

L. Mayencourt

P. Wong

S. Brice

Hon. G. Abbott

D. Jarvis

K. Johnston

R. Lee

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THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2001

The House met at 2:03 p.m.

Introductions by Members

Hon. C. Clark: In the gallery today we have some remarkable students joining us. They represented British Columbia at the seventh annual Canadian Skills Competition in Edmonton last June. Skills Canada competitions allow students to showcase their skills and demonstrate the excellence that they've acquired every year in a wide array of areas in technology and trade careers in British Columbia.

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I would like to introduce each one of them today. The Minister of Advanced Education and I had the pleasure of having lunch with Nick Williams from White Rock, who got a gold medal in restaurant service — I might advise the House that it's a long list — Colin Olson of Okanagan Falls, who got a gold medal in Internet web page design and who is learning Korean; Mark Nicholson of Abbotsford, who got a gold medal in computer animation; Anthony Yang of Langley, who got a gold medal in electronics; Angela Ling of Coquitlam, in my

neighbourhood, who got a silver medal in graphic design; Navdeep Panesar, Lawrence Tse and Cody Jenken of Richmond, who all got a silver medal in robotics; Kelly Riehl of Nanaimo, who got a bronze medal in automotive service; Carman Lee of Vancouver, who got a bronze medal in women's apparel design; Mark Ng of Vancouver, who got a bronze medal in principles of technology; Romeo Colobong of Vancouver, who got a bronze medal in job interview; James Clendenan of North Vancouver and Aaron Shirji and Tyler McNicholl from West Vancouver, who got a bronze medal in robotics.

Lastly, I'd like to introduce Chad Burr of Terrace, who will be representing B.C. on the Canadian team going to the World Skills Competition in Korea in September. On behalf of all the members in this House, I would like to wish every single one of you all the best and many congratulations on doing such a fine job of representing British Columbia.

Hon. S. Bond: So that the rest of you don't think you've been forgotten, we want you to know that there are also some post-secondary winners. It's my pleasure to introduce those excellent students to you today. They are: Randy Dirksen of Surrey, who won a gold medal in automotive service; Desmond Hart of Courtenay, who won a gold medal in electronics; and Noah Enns of Coquitlam, who won a silver in refrigeration. Please help me congratulate them.

Hon. L. Reid: This week our province is hosting the World Assembly for Mental Health in Vancouver. Ms. Rosalynn Carter, wife of former President Jimmy Carter, is the grand patron of this conference. Sixty governments are officially represented; 2,000 delegates came here from five continents. Senator Ross Fitzpatrick, Minister of Health Allan Rock, our own Minister of State for Mental Health and I participated in the official inauguration as well as many functions of the international conference.

Today we have three guests in our visitors gallery: Dr. Kenneth Fung, secretary and treasurer of the World Assembly for Mental Health;

Dr. Azrul Azwar, Minister of Community Health, the Republic of Indonesia; and Dr. Raymond Ho, Minister of Hospital Authority of Hong Kong, People's Republic of China. It is my pleasure to welcome these individuals to the gallery, and I would ask that this House please make them very welcome.

Hon. L. Stephens: Joining us in the House today are some very special people to me. My family from Saskatchewan are here to support me on this very important occasion in my life — and, I know, all of yours as well. I have three sisters here today — Janet

Ledingham, Carroll Bell, Joanne Bell — and my brother Rick and his wife, Linda. Would the House please make them welcome.

K. Krueger: It's my distinct honour and pleasure to introduce a very special guest to the Legislature today. Helen West has served the people of British Columbia for 31 years and retires from service tomorrow. She is obviously a very longserving employee of the government. She started when there was one ministry, consisting of Human Resources, Provincial Secretary, Legislative Assembly and Welfare, while Premier

W.A.C. Bennett was in the Premier's chair. There's a story in the annals of this building. While Ms. West was manager of government payroll, a new employee in the ministry somehow failed to generate a paycheque for Premier Bill Bennett, and Helen West took the blame for it, although it wasn't really her fault.

Accompanying her today is her daughter Elaine Turnbull, who we all know well, and her granddaughter, Elaine's daughter Amanda. I'm sure you'll all join me in thanking Helen West.

Hon. J. van Dongen: I'm pleased to introduce to the House today Brian Walton, who is here representing the Canadian Grocers Association. I ask the House to please make him welcome.

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Oral Questions

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR NURSES

J. MacPhail: In the last election, nurses in this province were promised a new era and a solution to their dispute. I know that each and every one of them took that to heart. It's been almost two months since this government took power, and the health care crisis grows worse every day — much worse — to the point where today the B.C. Nurses Union announced that it is collecting resignation letters from its members. The response from the Minister of Health Services today…. He said it was nothing more than a PR exercise and that nurses had nowhere to go anyway.

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My question to the Minister of Health Services is: now that he has had a few hours to reflect, does he still stand by the comments that he made earlier today?

Hon. C. Hansen: The comments that I made earlier today were to recognize that nurses have every right in this province to be frustrated with the way they have been treated by a provincial government for the last ten years.

When we see nurses venting that frustration in the form of letters of resignation — which we haven't seen yet, but we understand that's happening — that is something we take very seriously.

But I also have tried to communicate the message to the individual nurses, a message perhaps they're not getting from their own union, that the offer that is on the table today will make them the highest-paid, in terms of wages and benefits, of any nurses in Canada. We believe that's fair, and we have made an offer to work with nurses around this province to address the other areas that have really been driving the frustration that has been building in recent years.

Mr. Speaker: With a supplemental, the Leader of the Opposition.

J. MacPhail: Well, it's interesting to hear the minister insist today that the deal that's on the table is good enough, because that's not what that minister said or promised to nurses during the election campaign — information that nurses used to decide how they would cast their ballots. That was

then and this is now.

During the campaign he signed a nurses petition.

What did that nurses petition say — a nurses petition that influenced votes in that election? It said: "The hard-working nurses of B.C. deserve respect. This requires significant improvement in their current contract and no concessions."

To the Minister of Health Services: what's changed? Why did he sign the petition two months ago calling for no concessions, and now he stands and defends the offer that still has concessions? What's changed?

Hon. C. Hansen: I make no apologies for signing that petition, because it said that nurses deserve competitive wages. That is what they're being offered today. The

nurses union is the one that has categorized these other issues on the table as concessions. We didn't categorize them as that.

I would like to remind the member for Vancouver-Hastings what she said last night on

Voice of B.C. She was asked if she would give nurses more money. She said: "I don't know what I would do there. The reason is that we're not in charge. There was an election on that. We said that nurses should be paid the most competitively in all of Canada." That is exactly what the nurses are being offered today.

Mr. Speaker: A further supplemental.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Order, please. A second supplementary, the Leader of the Opposition.

J. MacPhail: Perhaps the Minister of Health Services should spend less time watching TV and more time concentrating on settling the dispute, because what also was clear from last night is that I said that there should be no concessions on the table whatsoever.

Mr. Speaker, this government has to recognize that during an election campaign, they said they would do things differently. It is not available for them to somehow stand up and say that they said they would do things exactly as it stood at the time. They said they would do things differently…

Mr. Speaker: Hon. member.

J. MacPhail: …and that's why nurses cast their ballots…

Mr. Speaker: Order. Order, please.

J. MacPhail: …for the Liberals. Well…

Mr. Speaker: Order, please.

J. MacPhail: …let me tell you what did change….

Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Order, please.

J. MacPhail: Let me tell you what did change….

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Mr. Speaker: Order.

J. MacPhail: Sorry.

Mr. Speaker: I must remind the hon. member and all hon. members that the

preambles should be short, and then please put the question.

J. MacPhail: During the election the government kept it a secret — maybe even from the Minister of Health Services — that they were preparing to provide the highest-income earners a tax break. When asked the question, were they going to do it, they denied it. So here's a suggestion that may help you to solve the problem. Will the Minister of Health Services ask his colleague the Minister of Finance to roll back the tax cut that he gave to the very wealthiest of British Columbians making more than $250,000 a year? And will he use that money, which will more than adequately resolve the health care dispute?

Hon. C. Hansen: The one thing that's happened in this front since the election is that every nurse in this province has received an increase in their take-home pay by 5 to 8 percent because of that tax break. The issues that the Nurses Union is describing as concessions are not issues that were put on the table

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while we were in government. They were issues that were put on the table by the HEABC when the previous government was in power.

Again, I can quote the member from her interview on

Voice of B.C. last night. She said — now listen to this…. It wasn't really her that did it, because her quote is this: "I personally objected to those concessions being on the table, and I let the health employers know that." It was their government that asked for those concessions, if that's what they should be called — her words, not mine. The offer that is on the table is fair. It will make nurses the best-paid in all of Canada, and we think that's fair.

J. Kwan: Obviously, during the election the Minister of Health Services didn't think that, because he signed the petition calling for no concessions — he who sits now, in this chamber, as the minister responsible. But now he changes his story, has a different answer.

My question is actually to the Minister of Finance.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Order, please.

J. Kwan: Clearly, there is nobody on this government bench who feels that the health and safety of British Columbians should get in the way of massive tax cuts for high-income earners. On Monday the minister is planning to announce huge tax cuts for B.C.'s biggest and richest corporations. Surely the minister now agrees — with thousands of B.C. nurses poised to resign because of this government's inaction — that the health of British Columbians should come before the tax breaks for the big corporations, their backers.

Hon. G. Collins: The reason the nurses in British Columbia are poised to resign is because for ten years there was an administration in this province that drove health care into the ground. The reason the nurses in this province might resign is because that member over there, when she was Minister of Health, pulled the training programs for nurses, and that's why there's a shortage in British Columbia.

I haven't heard from one British Columbian…. I haven't heard from one nurse who's said: "Please take back my tax cut and put it into something else." But if the two members opposite want to write me a cheque for their tax cut, I'll personally deliver it to the Minister of Health.

J. Kwan: Is there no one in this government who is prepared to live up to his promises? To the Minister of State for Women's Equality…. I'm sure that the plight of the nurses who thought they had a commitment from the Minister of Health Services is of interest to her. We're talking about professionals in the thousands that employ women in the province. Of course, these professionals service thousands of women and children and families in our province.

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During the election campaign the now Minister of State for Women's Equality signed a nurses' pledge promising to take action to provide for globally competitive compensation for nurses. Now it's for her to stand up and stand by her word. Her government found money for high-income earners to get tax breaks.

Interjection.

Mr. Speaker: Order, please.

J. Kwan: It found money to increase salaries.

Mr. Speaker: I would urge the member to please put her question now.

J. Kwan: I will, hon. Speaker.

It found money for high-paid political appointees. Will the Minister of State for Women's Equality live up to her pledge that she signed and demand that her government find new money for the B.C. nurses?

Hon. C. Hansen: We made a commitment to provide nurses in British Columbia with globally competitive wages. That is what is being offered today. The offer that is on the table will make them the highest-remunerated of any province in Canada. We stand by that, and we're proud of that.

REVIEW OF HUMAN RIGHTS

PROCESS IN B.C.

L. Mayencourt: I have a question….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Order, please.

L. Mayencourt: Thank you, hon. Speaker.

My question is for the Attorney General. I understand that there have been some changes made today in the Human Rights Commission office. I wonder if the Attorney General could please, first off, tell us if this is indeed the

case, and can he explain to us what has occurred there?

Hon. G. Plant: I'm pleased to have a chance to answer the member's question. The government is moving today to rescind the appointment of the chief commissioner of the B.C. Human Rights Commission, Mary-Woo Sims.

I want to say two things about that decision. First, I want to say that Mary-Woo Sims has been and continues to be a passionate and committed advocate for the protection of human rights in British Columbia. I have all kinds of respect for her work in that regard. But we as a government think that it's time to revisit and examine the institutions and processes that are in place to protect human rights in British Columbia. We intend to do that, and as part of that process, our view

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is that there needs to be some personnel changes. We have acted on that today.

Mr. Speaker: With a supplemental, the member for Vancouver-Burrard.

L. Mayencourt: As the Attorney General is aware, in my community, Vancouver-Burrard, and throughout the province the functioning of the human rights process is an important concern for all of us. I would ask the Attorney General if he would please tell us if there is going to be an internal review of all administrative tribunals within the province to make sure that the process is working for all British Columbians.

Hon. G. Plant: I've said that we are going to look at the Human Rights Commission and tribunal. We're actually going to be doing that as part of a broader project that I hope to have a chance to announce tomorrow. We think it's time to look at administrative justice agencies across the province to make sure that they're doing the job they were established to do: serving the public interest, doing so in a way that's fair, affordable, effective, efficient. We're going to be announcing a project that will in fact be a project that is external.

It will be a project that will involve an opportunity for input from people across the province. In fact, I know the member is interested in the issue, and I welcome his contribution to the project when I get a chance to announce it in due course.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR NURSES

J. MacPhail: To the Minister of Labour, the one that thinks there's nothing but sunshine and light ahead: I think it's actually time for the Minister of Labour to wake up to the reality of what happened today. I know that this government and that minister, particularly, tries to blame others for their mismanagement. But make no

mistake: this crisis that we face today in health care is the making of this government, which misled nurses during the election campaign. They did not run on a New Democrat agenda; they ran on a new era of promises — a Liberal new era.

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Now that he's turned up the temperature on this dispute and now that he's brought our health care system to the brink, does the Minister of Labour have any enlightening ideas to help us get out of this mess? At the end of the 60-day cooling-off period, will he restore free collective bargaining to health care professionals and let them negotiate the settlement that they deserve? What are his plans at the end of the 60-day cooling-off period?

Hon. G. Bruce: For ten years — for ten long years — this province and every citizen in it had to endure a government that was probably the most incompetent government not just here in British Columbia but across Canada — across Canada. And you ask me what plans I have to restore good, efficient government in the province of British Columbia so that people can prosper again, so they can feel enlightened, so they can have some hope. The people of this province made a decision. They made a decision a month and a half ago; they made a decision that put 77 British Columbia Liberals in this House with 57 percent of the vote. And you're asking me what we're going to do.

The people of this province have spoken. The people of this province want good, efficient government. They want hospitals that run; they want schools that are efficient; they want jobs for their young people. They want to know that the seniors have a good place to live. People want a future filled with hope and prosperity, something that you people — the government, the NDP of the past — had no idea what to do….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Order, please.

Hon. G. Bruce: You, the NDP government in this province, destroyed this government, and finally we have a chance. Finally we have a chance to rebuild this province.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Order, please.

Hon. G. Bruce: By golly, I have to say….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Order, please.

[End

of question period.]

Orders of the Day

Hon. G. Collins: I call Address in Reply to the throne speech.

Throne Speech Debate

(continued)

V. Roddick: It is an honour to rise and address this House for the first time after a provincial election and for the first time as part of government, a government which is committed to return hope, prosperity and pride to the people of British Columbia.

I begin by offering my congratulations to you, Mr. Speaker, on your elevation to the chair and to all my colleagues who won their seat in virtually every riding of the province. We are now government and carry a huge responsibility to fulfil the commitments made during the campaign.

It is not true that the voice of the people who voted for other parties will no longer be heard. As an opposition member, I worked for all my constituents regardless of how they voted. That has not changed. I

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am here for everyone in Delta South and will continue to work hard for my community.

In my time as MLA since my election in 1999, I have spoken in the House on several issues which remain of concern. These include highways, since Delta is the place that everybody drives through to get somewhere else — traffic issues are critical to my riding, including the George Massey Tunnel, highway signage on Highways 91 and 99, truck lanes, HOV lanes, the Vancouver Port Corporation, traffic from Roberts Bank and the B.C. ferries — aboriginal affairs, the designation of Brunswick Point, ALR designation of reserve lands, agricultural impact study, cash settlements to the Tsawwassen first nation, land claims by the Wilson band.

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Agriculture. I ask that the ministry work together with the corporation of Delta, the Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust, the Delta Farmers Institute and the greenhouse growers to understand the Right to Farm Act. Farmers have rights but must be considerate and neighbourly as they exercise these rights. Farmland cannot be protected if it is not farmed by a farmer who can make a living. Once it's not farmed, it's not farmland.

Food safety issues. Tenure and leases for farmers. Disappearance of Crown reserve, of ALR lands.

Health. Delta's obstetrics and gynecology being transferred to White Rock instead of Richmond. Don't flush health care funds down the administrative toilet.

Regionalization of Surrey Memorial Hospital and the problems that it created.

The environment. Burns Bog. Brunswick Point. The Pacific Flyway.

Education. Block funding. Lack of flexibility.

As I said, these are all areas I brought to the House in my one and a half years as MLA, and I will continue to work with my government to ensure that the issues of Delta South are heard and addressed. I am confident that I will be heard in our new government. It is a government with a strong mandate, to say the least.

But we also recognize that we will need strength and tenacity to stay the course and fulfil the commitments we made during the election campaign. It is time now for our government to grow up. We are bringing a new maturity back to the structure and functioning of government at both the legislative and the bureaucratic

levels. We will work with our professional civil service, listen to communities and individuals, and make prudent decisions with the resolve to follow through. In short, we will redefine the concept of service in our work as public servants.

Our highest priority is to move our economy through to recovery from the incompetence of the former regime. As stated in the throne speech: "No government can sustain the most expensive public services in the country with one of the weakest economies." We have therefore committed the energy of our government, with the support and assistance of the business community, to developing a healthy and sustainable economy. We have already begun by leaving more pay in the jeans of every working British Columbian.

Programs have begun to be reviewed so that we can save the best of what works. We will welcome innovation and reward imagination where they contribute to

positive, measurable results. With a strong economy we can protect the delivery of our most important sectors: health and education. In Delta South, that means listening to how regionalization in delivery of services is and isn't working. I am particularly pleased that we have committed target funding to mental health and established a ministry of state for this important sector of the health system, which has been neglected for far too many years.

As well, with education, the Delta school board, which has actually been punished in the past for balancing budgets and doing with less, will finally be given the power to make the decisions that work for our community.

I am also encouraged that we will be doubling the funding for the first citizens forum. Kim Baird, chief of the Tsawwassen first nation, is a strong advocate for the families in her community, and it is crucial that we develop strong lines of communication.

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I am particularly honoured to be the chair of the Core Review Committee, which has been given the opportunity to construct a formula which government can use to achieve the commitments we have made to the people of British Columbia.

I am personally passionate about this task force. It is terrifically exciting and hugely challenging. What is imperative is that we convey this passion, excitement and sense of challenge to every single person. With everyone onside, we will bring a change in the way government delivers that is no less than revolutionary.

Willingness to change is the key to success. Let me explain with an analogy from North American folklore. When you discover you're riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount. In business, however, there are other strategies with dead horses that directors and people in business and government have been known to follow. These can include buying stronger whips, changing riders, telling themselves that this is the way they have always ridden this horse, appointing a committee to study the horse and, last but not least, arranging to visit vast, attractive and faraway places to see how others ride dead horses.

This is very reminiscent of the way the previous government worked. I have encouraged members of the Core Review Committee to keep the best strategy in mind as we proceed through our work. I have directed them: "If you discover you are riding a dead horse, dismount." And there are already signs from this new government that we are dismounting where and when appropriate. Our initial steps toward financial accountability have begun, and the work ahead, although difficult, is at least becoming clear.

I conclude by reflecting on the one person who would have cared perhaps more deeply than any of us here today that we are moving toward a new era of accountability. That person was my predecessor from

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Delta South, our friend Fred

Gingell. Fred was ahead of his time in promoting a system of provincial finances based on generally accepted accounting principles. He championed measurement and accountability of all government initiatives both at the political level and within the civil service, where he commanded the attention and respect of all of those with whom he worked — rare indeed for an opposition member.

Fred is our conscience as we develop an honest, efficient and accountable government. His wisdom, kind heart and good humour will guide us in our challenging and exciting task: to bring honesty, integrity and intelligence back to government.

R. Hawes: I'd like to open what I have to say in the same way as my predecessors — and, I'm sure, everybody else who's going to speak after me — in congratulating you, Mr. Speaker, in your elevation to the chair — and the Deputy Speaker. I know that both you and the Deputy Speaker will represent us well and will be very impartial and fair in all of your rulings.

I had every plan to stand here and speak today about my riding and the kinds of historical things that people speak about when they make their maiden speeches in this august House. But yesterday and today I listened to some of the events that transpired here in the House, and…. Actually, I attended a reception last night that made me want, first, to draw to everyone's attention the contrast between what was for the past decade and what's going to be for the next many decades, I certainly hope.

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Mr. Speaker, yesterday I listened to the member for Vancouver-Hastings get up in this House and give a rendition of her — I'll be very polite here — odd view of the facts as she put questions. Frankly, I was appalled at what I heard. I think it serves as a wonderful contrast for all of us to look at and to remember as we look at what represents the past ten years and the kinds of answers that are coming forward as these questions are posed that I think represent what we've called the new era of hope and prosperity.

Last night I went to a COFI reception, the Council of Forest Industries, and there Ron MacDonald, the president, spoke about the change in the room. They have an annual reception, and MLAs and ministers attend that.

At last night's reception the president did say that there was a huge change in the attitude in the room. For the past decade it's been fairly confrontational and tense, and everyone knows that the forest industry has been extremely jeopardized, I'll say, with the actions of the previous government.

That too, then, speaks to me of the contrast, and it's an immediate contrast and a startling contrast. So before I speak about my riding or the traditional things that members do in their maiden speech, I want to thank the member for Vancouver-Hastings for being here. I want to thank her for supplying, for the next four years, a contrast that's very evident for my constituents so that they will always have a constant reminder of the last ten years of pain and decay in this province. As we move ahead with our agenda, I think that contrast will always stand us in good stead and keep us moving in the right direction.

In my riding, in the Maple Ridge–Mission area…. First, I'll say that my riding…. Everyone who stands wants to say that their particular area is the most beautiful.

An Hon. Member: Well, mine is.

R. Hawes: Outside of that hon. member, I would say, Mr. Speaker, that it's the most beautiful area to all of us because it's home. Rather than talk about the absolute beauty in my home, I want to just speak a minute about the people. The people in my riding are just ordinary folks who are trying to earn a living. The income levels in my riding are slightly below those of our

neighbours, so for the last ten years we have really, really suffered.

We've lost investment in our community, we've lost jobs, and frankly, we've lost confidence in the entire structure of the province. Unfortunately, when people start to fear for their jobs, etc., they stop spending money. That reflects on

retail trade; that reflects on every facet of life in our community.

In our community we have a tree farm. We're very

fortunate. We've had it for many, many years. That tree farm has an annual allowable cut of about 45,000 metres. Over the past number of years we've been able to build things like libraries and community facilities that really worked for the community and to save our taxpayers money by investing the profits from our tree farm in municipal infrastructure. But for the last ten years we haven't been able to do that. In fact, we've been recording losses.

The losses have been recorded because of a new Forest Practices Code

which the previous government put in place, that paid no heed whatsoever to the results that were achieved by those that were occupying forest lands but rather put together a bureaucratic maze that was impossible for companies and for forestry organizations such as the Mission Tree Farm to see their way through. Mr. Speaker, we've had to hire extra staff simply to administer the requirements under the Forest Practices Code.

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I'm just so proud and so pleased that our new Forests minister has stated that we are moving now to a results-based code. I know that's part of why the COFI group, the Council of Forest Industries, has so much pleasure in hosting the reception now rather than in the previous years. It's because they're being listened to. These are people who are not out to rape and pillage; these are people who are responsible foresters and environmentally sound forestry practitioners. They have been denigrated for the last ten years by a group that wants only to listen to a small special interest

section and pander for votes. Rather than applying sound science to environmental issues, we've allowed pollsters to decide what the policy of the government should be. I think that's wrong, and this

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will not happen with this government. I'm extremely proud of that.

I listened to the member for Vancouver-Hastings speak about how this government has friends in industry and wants to give away corporate taxes, return taxes, reduce taxes. But in 1996 I attended a UBCM convention in the interior. I was the mayor at that time of my community,

Mission, and the government had introduced what they called Bill 55, which was a giveaway of taxes to CP Rail and CN Rail. At that time, CP Rail had complained that their property taxes in this province were too high. They complained to the government, and they asked for a tax reduction. In an unprecedented way, the NDP government reached into the property assessment structure and through the Assessment Authority removed railroad bridges from the taxation rolls of this province. That move cost my community $440,000 a year. It cost many other communities throughout this province….

In fact, it cost 16 cities in this province more than $100,000 a year. That's every year, and it continues to this day.

In the year that happened, the CP conglomerate recorded a net profit of $700 million. So I wonder then, when we're accused by that member of giving anything to our corporate friends, what she calls that giveaway to CP Rail, that giveaway that took money from my community that would have paid for policemen and that maybe would have put in a youth program that would have taken youth at risk off the street…. And the 16 other communities — how many children are hurt because their communities lost that money to CP Rail? I'm sure that member sleeps much better at night knowing that CP Rail shareholders are far better protected today.

Well, 13 communities met in 1996 with the then Minister of Municipal Affairs, and we passionately begged him not to put this bill through. We outlined what this would do to our communities, and he listened for half an hour, looked at his watch and said he was late for a meeting. He wasn't convinced, and off he went. Our taxpayers have paid since that day.

So when I hear the rhetoric that I heard from the member for Vancouver-Hastings, it brings my blood to a boiling point. It's something that no one in this House should have to listen

to. I'm hoping that member will not only review the kinds of statements that she's

made but perhaps she could sit down and review the past ten years carefully and try to apply the kind of factual reason that the vast majority of people in this province have put to her performance for the past ten years. I'm sure if she did that, maybe she'd come to her senses.

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I live in an area where we are now undergoing what's called a regional growth management plan. That's something that's in place in the GVRD through the Livable Region Strategic Plan, and now in the Fraser Valley that's just being put together. But there are impediments to that. The past government has interfered continually with our process. When we want to talk about how we will rationalize job growth over the next number of years or when we want to build sustainable communities, and we see ALR lands standing in the way…. I'm not talking about prime farmland here.

I'm talking about class 5 or sometimes class 4 farmland that is better used in some cases for intensive job creation and in other cases to connect communities to make sustainable communities. This is the people who live in the area putting together a plan and asking that agency to cooperate with us. And there's been no cooperation. Appeals to the previous government fell on deaf ears.

I'm just thrilled that in our

New Era documents we have said that the ALR will become responsive to the needs of communities. I really think it's high

time. I know that across this province there are communities that have been hurting because the ALR lands are not properly rationalized. I think a rationalization of those lands and a more cooperative attitude from that agency will stand all of us in much better stead.

As I served my community in my capacity as mayor, we were hamstrung many times in things that we wanted and needed to do for our community. The government always knew better from Victoria. But I know that

many things are better done locally. The local municipal government is where the rubber hits the road. It's the closest place to the taxpayer. It's the second-to-last spot for a download, the last one being the direct taxpayer. The previous government didn't realize that. But we, as we are moving forward with our 90-day agenda, the

New Era document and the promises that we've made, have recognized that local government is a better decision-maker in many issues.

So the community charter will be moved forward, and I'm very proud of that. I'm very proud to be part of a government that's ready to introduce those kinds of changes and give communities more power and, with that power, more ability to raise cash flow to meet the requirements of properly administering that power. I think it's long past time that communities were recognized in that way.

I know that's going to move forward quickly under our Minister of State for Community Charter.

I listened to the member for Vancouver-Hastings speak yesterday about how air quality in her community has gone downhill since the transit strike. I wondered, when I heard that, where that member was when she was minister. Where was she when Sumas 2, in the Fraser Valley, threatened the airshed, when we begged as communities, as a regional district, for the provincial government to come forward and exercise its legal responsibility to administer the airshed? The provincial government absented itself totally. In fact, the then Minister of Environment wrote a letter to the EFSEC hearings in the United States and said that the provincial government was opposed to SE2 at

that time.

The proponents for SE2 took that letter, and they used that at the EFSEC hearings to say that the provincial government really

liked our project; it was the timing they were objecting to. That's how weak the response was. The city of Abbotsford put up around

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$400,000, I think. The regional district put up $300,000 to fight SE2. The provincial government put up not one cent. It was left to the local property-taxpayer, and that's wrong.

I'm very proud of the

Premier. Early in the campaign he recognized that the citizens in the Fraser Valley shouldn't be stuck with the bill. They shouldn't be stuck fighting this fight in one of the most challenged airsheds in Canada. Instead, he said right off the bat that the provincial government would take on intervener status in this most critical and important fight. So we will now step into the breach, as should have happened from the beginning, and take on the fight for the citizens of the Fraser Valley to ensure clean air.

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I want to add that I don't know where the member for Vancouver-Hastings was when the capacity of Burrard Thermal was increased without any environmental review. When that happened, there was no care from her as to the quality of air in the Fraser Valley. The communities in the Fraser Valley that would suffer from the increased output of pollutants were there. We made noise; that member made no noise. But today that member wants to talk about the quality of air in her riding and wants to point at us as a government and say it's our fault, in 45 days, that the economy of her riding has been destroyed. That's just a little too much to take.

votes. That's not something governments want to do.

I can't tell you how proud I am of our Premier and of every single member of our caucus that sat early this month, as we voted for the first time, as we came together in the first session, to pass cooling-off legislation — which was, as you know, Mr. Speaker, a free vote. Our Premier made that very clear. This was a free vote, and every single member — every member — of our caucus voted in favour of it, because they knew it was the right thing to do. We wanted to support our Health ministers, who are doing exactly the right thing in the health dispute.

When that member intervenes or that member has things to say about what she created herself and wants to pass the blame off, I find that the height of hypocrisy.

As we all waited earlier this year for an election call…. In fact, everyone in the province waited not just this year but last year and the year before, and it dragged out an interminable time. It becomes very clear that playing with election dates is a game that's also gone on in this province far too long.

The fact that we as a government have moved to already set the next election date — in fact, giving that member for Vancouver-Hastings enough notice that she can try to rally her few remaining troops and perhaps round up a couple of dead horses, as my colleague earlier was talking about — I think gives her an advantage that hasn't been seen by opposition parties in this House for a long, long time. I'm proud of the fact that that's the kind of reform that we're prepared to put forward for the people of this province.

I want to draw to a close here very quickly. First, I want to say that when I came here, I really didn't know what to expect, because in dealing with the province over the past eight years through the elected MLA that represented my area, I was constantly informed that it wasn't possible to get meetings with ministers. Problems that were very pressing on our community, that caused pain and suffering to the ordinary folks that my MLA purported to be representing and the member for Vancouver-Hastings purported to be representing…. Those folks couldn't get a hearing with ministers.

I want to tell you today, Mr. Speaker, how proud I am of the fact that some ordinary folks in my riding have already been heard. I want to tell you that the Minister of Children and Family Development and the Minister of Human Resources met on a problem that I brought to them for just some ordinary folks. They met immediately; further meetings have been scheduled. I know, and our Premier has said, that the members of this House are going to be given priority for access to ministers for the problems that our constituents face. It will be done on a priority basis. It's a huge change, a breath of fresh air, that I know the people in my community and my riding are going to feel immediately.

I believe all of us who have replaced those from that other party, our constituents, the constituents of those members, will feel that breath of fresh air immediately.

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Mr. Speaker, I've looked, and we've heard speaker after speaker talk about the change in attitude prevalent throughout the province. People feel optimism. They know we're going to return to the kind of province that we've all dreamed about and wanted. So I'm going to close by paraphrasing a recent song that I know you're very familiar with and say: "Our future's so bright, we oughta wear shades."

I. Chong: Yes, our future is bright, and I didn't bring my shades with me, so I'll just have to bear the bright lights of this very distinctive chamber.

Hon. Speaker, before I begin my Address in Reply to the throne speech, allow me firstly, as many others before me also have, to offer congratulations to you on your election to the chair. I know that you will use that position wisely, that you will be guided by the fairness and integrity that the chair dictates. I know that your past experience in this legislative chamber will be a benefit to all of us. I would also like to offer my sincere congratulations to the Deputy Speaker, who is the member for Kelowna–Lake Country. I know that his time in this chamber in the past five years will bode well for him to carry out your duties in your absence.

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When I rise today, I'm not able to deliver a maiden speech, because it is not the first time that I have offered a maiden speech in this chamber. The first time I offered my maiden throne speech was on July 15, 1996 — just five years ago and a couple of weeks. I remember that day very well. At that time this chamber was very impressive, very distinct and actually overwhelming. I knew that I had been elected by the constituents of Oak Bay–Gordon Head to be one of, at that time, 75 people in a province of over four million people to come here to give voice to their concerns, to represent them and to ensure that they would always have an accessible MLA.

Today as I look around, I see in this chamber some returning members, and I congratulate them.

What I see are 42 newly elected members, all eager to do what I charted out to do five years ago. I recognize they are here, and I applaud them for their commitment. I know

they will find the next four years very rewarding, very gratifying. I know that their respective communities will look up to them for their leadership.

I too need to thank my voters here in Oak Bay–Gordon Head for the privilege, for their trust and their confidence in me to return me for a second term. I would not have been able to do that, however, without a dedicated and strong team of campaign workers and volunteers who were very ably and capably guided by my campaign manager, Mr. Michael Roberts. In addition, I wish to express gratitude to the other three candidates who ran in Oak Bay–Gordon Head. They ensured that during the campaign we were focused on the issues of our constituents and that at all times we spoke about the concerns that we wanted to represent them on if any one of us were to be elected to this position.

In 1996 I made a commitment and a promise. I know there is a tendency for politicians to make promises, but I only made one at the doorstep in 1996. I recommitted to that promise during the election this year. That was that I would continue to work hard, that I would continue to listen and that I would continue to be accessible. I think those are all characteristics that each and every one of us holds in this House. We all want to be the very best for our constituents, and we all know that in order to do so, we must listen and we must be accessible.

What that means is that each and every one of us here today has a role to play. Whether we are in government or whether we are in opposition, we can take our rightful place, and we can offer some hope to our constituents. I would implore that the two non-government caucus members look inwards to their community and bring forth those issues and represent them well in those issues. I hope that those members will continue on that basis.

[1505]

Before I am able to speak on how the throne speech affects the riding of Oak Bay–Gordon Head, I need to share with you a little bit about the history, the diversity, the complexities and the beauty of my riding.

There is an aging population, particularly in the Oak Bay side of the riding. In fact, I think it's been noted that it is one of the fastest-growing aging populations in this entire province. Many people retire to this capital region, and they find that Oak Bay is suited to the lifestyle of retirement that they wish, so we have this aging population that we need to deal with.

At the same time, there are new young families arriving because they see that there is a quality of life here in the capital region that they want to share with their new young families. In addition, there are many public and civil servants in Oak Bay–Gordon Head and indeed in the capital region as a whole. They represent not only the provincial government but all levels of government — local governments, of which there are many in this area, as well as the people who serve our federal government.

I also am honoured to see that in this riding there is a major university, the University of Victoria, which exists right in the heart of Oak Bay–Gordon Head. What that means is that students come from all over the province — and indeed across Canada as well as from foreign countries — to attend this remarkable university that has for many years been voted as one of the leaders in terms of comprehensive universities. With the recent electoral boundary changes, I find that I now am also a representative of a college. Camosun College is now in the area that I represent.

With two public post-secondary institutions — the University of Victoria and Camosun College — I know that during any eight-month period in a 12-month year, there will be many students who arrive here and many students who will take up part-time residency, some of whom will stay on and look for jobs here and others who will go back to their homes. In general, there will be an increase in population in this area, and it is important that we acknowledge their needs as well.

In Oak Bay–Gordon Head as well as, I'm sure, in all ridings throughout the province, we have volunteers. In this year — the International Year of Volunteers, as the United Nations has declared — I think we should all applaud the volunteers in our ridings. Indeed, our volunteers make our communities a better place to live, a better place to work. They make our communities safer, and they care about the progress of our communities. We have Kiwanis, we have Rotarians, and we have Lions. We have volunteers serving agencies, and we have other social service agencies — for all of which the people who are there volunteer their time.

I am very pleased to know that I have such a diverse community. There are a number of events, as well, that are held in Oak Bay–Gordon Head, some of which are annual and some of which occur once in a long time. One of the events that occurs annually is the Oak Bay Tea Party and parade. I must say that it's one of the most enjoyable parades and tea parties ever held, I think, anywhere in the province. Of course, I know I am being biased. The children line the streets, and the parents come out. It's always held on the first Saturday in June, and if any members are here ever again on the

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first Saturday in June, I implore them to come out and participate and see. For a small community, we certainly put on a very good parade.

We have also recently instituted in Oak Bay a tea garden. It's by the Oak Bay Village Business Improvement Association, and that is done to bring the people out into their community to support their local businesses, businesses which are very important for our communities and in particular for our young people who intend to stay behind and find jobs in their own home town.

Also, I would like to announce at this time that for the first time ever, Oak Bay is going to be hosting the very first worldwide town crier

competition.

An Hon. Member: Lots of contestants in this room.

I. Chong: Yes. As the member says, there are many possible contestants in this room, in this chamber. In fact, the town criers, I think, are a group of people who aren't well known but in fact are very important to our local communities and municipalities because they

proclaim and announce a number of things. For them to arrive in Oak Bay and have a competition speaks well, I think, of the community and also speaks well of a local government that supports those kinds of initiatives.

[1510]

In addition, I have to mention the physical attributes of the riding of Oak Bay–Gordon Head. That cannot possibly be ignored. There is a coastline in the Gordon Head part of the riding that extends along and goes into an area known as Ten Mile Point. That follows through and goes along the Beach Drive area and goes into the heart of Oak Bay. The waterfront there is absolutely splendid.

We also have history in Oak Bay. The history that I'm particularly proud of is one that I was involved in, in the last five years. That is the oldest — now a national historic site — Chinese cemetery in all of Canada. That is right in the heart of Oak Bay as well. In 1996, I believe, the minister responsible in this area, the Hon. David Anderson, implored the government of the day that this site should be declared a national historic

site, and indeed it was.

Since that time the community has rallied around an initiative to beautify this historic site to ensure that the rich history of this site never be forgotten. I know that the province was involved in granting some funds for the beautification, and because it was actually a privately owned cemetery, the Chinese community in greater Victoria came forth and fundraised for a good portion of that money. I know the federal government also offered some financial assistance to see that happen. So now we have a beautified site where people can come and enjoy the splendour and the beauty of this site. Hopefully, it's going to increase the tourist attraction in this area

to that particular site.

Also, as I mentioned earlier, with an aging population I have to be concerned about what I can do for the constituents that I represent. Currently there is a facility that is run by the capital health region, and that is Oak Bay Lodge. That is in dire need of upgrade where we can consider an increase in the number of beds that are available. With an aging population, people who want to stay in their communities want to know that we are looking out for them. People who have lived in their ridings for years, who have contributed in terms of a tax base, who have stayed here, want to know that when they want to spend their retiring years, they can stay in the community that they know so well.

At the other end of the riding, back into Gordon Head, there is another facility,

the Queen Alexandra Hospital for Children, but it services our youngest and most vulnerable in our population, our young people with special

needs — again, a very important organization, a society that has, over the years, built up a foundation which offers programs to young people, especially those with special needs. They have recently expanded to offer these programs throughout the capital region, into the Western Communities as well as other parts of the capital region. Without

them our young people certainly would be in a much worse state than they are, with their parents not knowing what assistance they can receive

from a government that has, unfortunately, not always been there for them.

I was particularly concerned when, in my years in opposition, the government tried to expropriate that property. I spoke out very strongly against that expropriation, because the piece of property that this facility stood on was a prime waterfront property. It had been donated and given to the community in

perpetuity so that there would always be a children's facility available for children with special needs.

When the previous government attempted to expropriate this piece of property, as it attempted to expropriate many other properties that had been donated throughout this province, we, when we were in opposition, stood up and said no. I am pleased to say that we now are going to be in a position to protect those properties, as they should have been from the very start.

[1515]

As I indicated earlier, our job here is to give voice to the people we represent. We all have a job here, a role to play, whether it is in government or in opposition. I want to assure the two members in the NDP caucus — and throughout the throne speech, I hope they have listened carefully and read carefully — that the Premier's vision and the Premier's leadership will involve them by activating legislative committees that they can participate in, that they will be involved in to share with their communities as well as the entire province.

This is a new direction for our government. I can tell you that for the five years I was here in the past, I know we were frustrated immensely when important things such as health care and education were put on the back burner, because these legislative committees were not permitted to be convened to deal with pressing issues of the day. But with our new

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government, with the leadership shown by our Premier, this is all about to change.

We've also heard the Premier speak about a new way of involving all MLAs, especially government MLAs. With such a large group, the Premier has seen the necessity for all of us to be involved in the decision-making process. For that, he has allowed to be convened five government caucus committees. These five government caucus committees — one on communities and safety, one on natural resources, one on the economy, one on government operations and one on health — will cover just about every subject I think any of us would hope to deal with in the next four years.

That means there will always be a place for people to be involved in terms of

decision-making. These committees are integral to the success of this new government, and our Premier has seen that, has acknowledged that and has allowed this to proceed to ensure that not just a select group of people will make all the decisions for this new government. We all represent a part of this province.

So I am particularly pleased to be able to be involved in one, which is the Government Operations Committee. By being able to chair that, I will be able to add my voice to those concerns that people will raise in my constituency and also contribute to the valuable work our new government is embarking on.

As I've stated, I had to spend five years in opposition. At the time, in those five years in opposition, I had to take a look at the silver lining. When you are first elected, you are energized and enthusiastic, and you hope that you'll come to this place and that you are in government and that you get to do all these wonderful and great things. But having spent five years in opposition, I have to say I was not dismayed.

What I found was that this was a tremendous learning experience for me. I had so much to learn from this chamber, from the debates and all the things that went on in this place. I had so much to learn about our democratic process, and I know I have become a richer person as a result. I know that I value the constitution and the democratic process under which we all are governed, and I know that all members and the new members who have just been elected will also see this, even as they sit as government members.

I want to briefly, before my time is up…. It's interesting how fast half an hour rolls around. I won't take the entire half an hour. I remember that in opposition, we used to encourage each other to take the time to express our views in the half-hour. But with so many members, I know people are eager to speak, so I'll try to keep my last few comments brief as well.

I want to address the throne speech in particular and how it will affect my riding. One area that I find of particular importance is, in fact, the commitment to see 5,000 new intermediate and long term care beds added by the year

2006. I think that fundamentally addresses for all of us the needs of our aging population. We've heard this throughout the province in each and every riding, but for my riding in particular, it's critical. I hope that a number of those beds, hundreds if possible, come to Oak Bay–Gordon Head.

[1520]

In addition, I want to say how proud I am of the fact that when we ran our election, we had an election platform with over 200 commitments. Throughout that time and even now, as ministers and the Premier have risen in this House to speak, we have continually and consistently repeated that we will commit and fulfil these promises.

That is also refreshing for me, because I was here for five years, and I've seen promises made, promises broken. And that is not the way this new government is intending to carry on. We will have a new era, and our new era will be promises made, promises kept.

It was so refreshing, as well, to see that the very day after the Premier and cabinet were sworn in on June 6 — the very next day — the Premier and the Minister of Finance were able to announce the tax cuts, because that was the hallmark of our election platform. We said we would do it; we said it would be dramatic. It was dramatic, and it was done. It was done immediately.

We know that is an important and significant step towards a new era of prosperity and hope. Those who are watching this province to see if in fact we have changed have acknowledged that. They have recognized that, and they have applauded our Premier and our Minister of Finance for being as bold and as direct as they have been. I'm very proud, along with the other 76 members of our caucus, that we can stand up and hold our heads high, knowing that we made that commitment and fulfilled that promise.

Before I take my seat, I think what is also critically important for a new era of government is the commitment and promise we made to having fixed election dates. Those of us in opposition know all too well the difficulties of not knowing when election dates could be. I think in the past…. Members who have now been able to join us know that they can plan their lives and their families' lives around when elections will be.

That is important. If you want all people of this province, every British Columbian who is eligible, to participate in the democratic process, to decide to seek public office, which is a true privilege and honour…. In order for that to happen, they need to know that there are fixed election dates. They need to know that they can plan their lives. They need to know that their families can depend upon certainty.

Our new government has now stated that and is going to provide for that. So in the year 2005 on May 17, we will see that those who have decided to seek public office — and hopefully many of us who are here will be returned — will know they can plan their lives around that.

The throne speech, which I hope many people have taken the time to read, sets out a bold new vision for this province. Clearly, it does have a range of opportunities for all of us. I would hope that all British Columbians, particularly those who feel that they aren't represented, will look as closely as possible into this throne speech. Our very, very clear priorities —

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ten overarching priorities — should cover every concern that they have.

I think when those groups and societies who are concerned take a look at this, they will see that the throne speech does not cater to any particular group. It does not cater to any particular riding in the province. It goes out and reaches out to everyone throughout this province. We are now represented by every region in the province, and I know every member here will have their strong voice at the caucus table. They should be reassured that they will have a Premier who will listen. They will have a caucus that wants to share their views with them and wants to look for solutions.

After all, coming to this place, being elected as an MLA, is not always about opposition. It is about finding solutions, a better way of doing things, a better way of governing. With a new Premier, a new caucus and a new attitude particularly, we will achieve those things.

[1525]

So I look forward four years from now, when people will look back, and they will not judge us by our words, but they will judge us by our results.

The results will be that there will be a new economy, a new era of hope and opportunity and a new era for all British Columbians.

K. Manhas: It's a great honour and a privilege to rise in the House today. I'm proud to be representing my community of Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain, and I'm extremely proud to have the honour to serve as the youngest member ever elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

I'd like to begin by extending my warmest congratulations to you, Mr. Speaker, for your elevation to this great institution. I'd also like to congratulate all my fellow members on gaining the trust of the people in their constituencies, and I look forward to working with them to represent the best interests of British Columbians.

I'd like at this time to also wish Nancy Ogilvie, a longtime community volunteer who's been integral to the fabric of the city of Port Coquitlam, the best of health.

My community, the community of Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain, has seen tremendous changes since 1983, when Mark Rose was elected the NDP MLA for the area — for a city of 20,000 — and also since 1991, under the past MLA, Mike Farnworth. Port Coquitlam is now a city of over 50,000 people. It's a young and growing community, and that means we have growing needs in health care, in education and in transportation.

The first and most important step towards meeting those needs is the restoration of B.C.'s economy. That will be through this government's focus on economic strength and vitality. I know that young people in this province are looking to this government to make this a place full of hope and opportunity and to make this a place where young people are excited to pursue their dreams and build their futures. We can now rekindle the free enterprise spirit that made British Columbia the best place in the world to live and raise a family.

On our very first day in office this government showed that we will keep our word, that a commitment made is a commitment kept. On our very first day in office this government introduced a dramatic cut in personal income taxes for all British Columbians. The residents of my home riding now have more money in their paycheques and more money to look after themselves and their families. They have more money to spend in local restaurants and in shops in Port Coquitlam — in Port Coquitlam's historic downtown core and in new business districts, like the developing Dominion Triangle.

This dramatic increase in people's paycheques is already helping restore the idea that people can work hard in this province and actually get ahead. It will mean more jobs for people in my riding, and when more people are at work, our economy grows and generates more revenue for government. That means more money for the services that we all count on, like health and education.

Better management, getting rid of waste, and a strong and growing economy are all crucial first steps that will help our government build a first-rate health care system to care for people where they need it and when they need it and an education system that will prepare our citizens for an economy driven by innovation, information, research, knowledge and technology.

Once we restore the health of our economy, we can start working on solutions for the transportation challenges we face in Port Coquitlam and the Tri-Cities. Better transportation and transit benefits us all, because it means a better quality of life for our residents and a healthy, sustainable environment. It means an increased ability to attract jobs, investment and business to Port Coquitlam and the Tri-Cities, and it moves us towards a sustainable urban plan where people can live and work in the community.

[1530]

I believe that with vision and energy, we can build a social and economic legacy that we can all be proud of and that will serve our children and their children's children well. If we're going to build a solid future for our families in British Columbia, we need to start now. I want to see the millennium of technology be synonymous with the achievements of British Columbia.

The measures that this government has committed to take will provide much-needed leadership to ensure that today's youth have the resources they need to succeed in a knowledge-based economy. We must encourage creative thinking and invest in education, research and infrastructure. That's why I support the Premier's initiative and our government's plan to make computer literacy a key education priority; to put more computers in schools and homes; to increase technology training for teachers; to double the number of graduates in computer science, electrical and computer engineering; to eliminate the social and socioeconomic barriers to high-speed Internet access;

[ Page 111 ]

and to stimulate rapid growth in communications infrastructure and broadband capabilities.

[J. Weisbeck in the chair.]

I'm very proud of our government's focus on governmentwide solutions and approaches. The Premier's office; the Ministry of Competition, Science and Enterprise; Education; the Ministry of Advanced Education are all working together to ensure the success of these initiatives. I intend to do everything I can to play a strong and constructive role in implementing these much-needed changes.

Working with the technology industry, we can capitalize on the tremendous potential for growth in job creation in new sectors like biotechnology, forestry technology, software development, multimedia, electronics and telecommunications. By taking a leadership role, we can attract more investment and high-paying jobs and new, clean business to Port Coquitlam and Burke Mountain.

I'm very proud to be here today representing my community of Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain, the Tri-Cities where I grew up and the young people of this province, who will ensure the future success and prosperity of this province. Too many young people have left this province in search of better opportunities in Alberta or Washington State. I believe, and I know that my colleagues believe, that the young people of this province deserve better.

We can and we must rekindle the free enterprise and boundless opportunity that have defined British Columbia, so that young people choose to stay here once again and we begin to attract the best and brightest from across the country and around the world.

Mr. Speaker, this province has always been a land of opportunity for everyone lucky enough to live here. The reason that people came to British Columbia and stayed here is the opportunities they saw in this place. I truly believe, as the Premier says, that we live in the best province in the best country in the world. The reason people will stay in British Columbia and the reason people will come to B.C. is because we will again have the opportunity that has built this province and that will continue to ensure our prosperity.

I'm also very proud to have the opportunity to represent the Indo-Canadian pioneers and the descendants and immigrant families from all nations that have made B.C. their home and to add my name to the list of the many members from all over and from the various communities that have contributed to the success of this province.

My grandfather was one of those people, a young man who travelled without his family thousands and thousands of kilometres across oceans and land to this province. He came to B.C. as a teenager in the 1920s and settled in Paldi, a small town in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island — a place his fellow travellers named after their own native village back in India.

A made-in-B.C. success story, my grandfather left his family and came to this province as a minority in less than tolerant times. But he persisted, and as I campaigned around the community, many people remembered him. Many remembered him for his successes in

business. He owned a steel mill off Westwood on Crispus Way. Many remembered him for the work he did in the community.

[1535]

My grandfather's involvement with the Liberal Party started long before I was ever born. In his quest for better human rights, to establish equal rights for immigrants in B.C., he befriended many and influenced many more to achieve his goals, including the late Jimmy Sinclair and Art Lang. He was proud of his achievements and the foundations for success that he helped lay for his family and for his communities, and we were all proud of him.

In our first meeting of caucus in these buildings I tried hard to choke back thoughts of what it took to get here, what it had taken for my family and my community to get here and — hardest of all — how my grandfather would have felt, had he been there to see it, had he been there to see my election to the same government assembly which he was never allowed to vote for or participate in for many long years growing up in this province and employing many people in this province.

But many people, like my late grandfather Kashmir Singh Manhas, never let that get in their way. They plugged on, persisted and got involved in the Canadian political process. My grandfather left his family and came to British Columbia as a teenager in 1927. Over the course of his life he built a successful business and a wonderful family and participated with great effect in community and political endeavours. My grandfather passed away late last year over the course of my nomination for the B.C. Liberal Party candidacy, but the effect of the endeavour was not lost on him nor on me.

My grandfather was an inspiration in so many ways, with his strength, integrity, action and achievement. He was my first political influence, and he had an extraordinary impact on my life and all those around him. The strength of his character brought out the best in those around him. I'm determined to ensure that my efforts and the efforts of this government honour his memory.

I hope I can continue on his legacy of responsibility, common sense, practicality, hard work, success and social justice with leadership, integrity and vision. We can now move away from the divisive politics of the past. We can learn from our mistakes. Instead of emphasizing our differences, we can emphasize our strengths. We must realize that we're all in this together and that we're stronger together. This province will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless it's a good place for all of us to live in. If we unite and work together as British Columbians, there is no goal that's beyond our reach.

I want to ensure that every British Columbian has the same opportunity to succeed in their life no matter where they come from in this province; no matter their race, colour, creed, origin or age; no matter their social

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or economic situation; and no matter where they live in this province. We'll do that by restoring opportunity in this province. We'll do that by restoring prosperity in this province. And we'll do that by restoring hope in this province. We have the opportunity to chart a course in a new direction for our province. It's a new beginning and a fresh start in a new era for Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain and the start of a prosperous and wonderful new era for all of British Columbia.

L. Mayencourt: Mr. Speaker, I rise today with pride and enthusiasm as

the newly elected member for Vancouver-Burrard. I was really happy and grateful to win after a hard-fought battle, and it was exciting to come here to Victoria for our swearing-in ceremony. What I was not prepared for was the feeling that overcame me when I walked in here for the very first time as the member for Vancouver-Burrard.

As I watched the swearing-in ceremony for myself and for my colleagues — some that have been here for years and some that have entered the chamber for the first time — I realized that I was not alone in my excitement. I could see on the faces of all of the members around me that they also shared in the overwhelming thrill of this moment. When we walked in here, we became part of British Columbia history and we became part of our province's future.

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It is not only the MLAs that have been elected here who feel this excitement and pride in being part of this government. The wonderful staff that support us — from the people in the dining room downstairs that keep us well fed to the Sergeant-at-Arms and his team that keep us safe, the custodians that keep us comfortable, and our support staff that keep us on time and on task — we all share a great privilege of working in this incredible environment.

This is the room in which the business of our province has been conducted for over a century. These walls have heard a running history of the unfolding of British Columbia from the hundreds of MLAs who have gathered here.

I remember signing in for the very first time and understanding that the book I was signing in on held the names of each and every one of the MLAs that have served in these chambers. I was amazed that it was such a small, little book. It was truly a transforming moment for me, and it's one that I'm going to hold safe. That feeling of awe, pride and humility is my vow to myself, to my government and to my constituents. Yesterday and today I've listened to many members speak of their communities. I have listened to them describe their communities as the brightest and best part of the province. I wonder how they can say that when I represent the best and brightest place in the province.

I have listened with interest, and I have seen the passion, and I understand when I listen to the member for Yale-Lillooet or the member for Peace River South or the member for East Kootenay that they do represent a wonderful part of our province. They share my pride, and they share my commitment to this province.

Vancouver-Burrard is really one of the smallest ridings in this province. At just over eight square kilometres it's an area that I can travel quite quickly. Yesterday we heard from some members that have to travel eight and nine hours to get from one end of their riding to the other. I jog around mine in about an hour and ten minutes.

It's also one of the most diverse and vibrant areas of our province, and I'm honoured indeed that the wonderful people of Vancouver-Burrard entrusted me as their provincial representative. I owe my heartfelt thanks to all of the individuals and groups and in particular my family, who championed my candidacy with their time, energy and kindness. It was hard work and it was challenging. Most of all it was fun, and in the end it was a powerful endorsement of our B.C. Liberal vision — a vision of how life can and now will be with a government of integrity, imagination and respect.

I would like to acknowledge the contribution of my predecessor, Tim Stevenson. Although I don't share his politics, I have no doubt that he was motivated by a sincere wish to help the people of Vancouver-Burrard. I'd also like to take a moment to congratulate all of my colleagues here from the B.C. Liberal caucus and in particular our Speaker on his selection as the Speaker of this chamber. I trust that he will be guided by prudence, fairness and that he will keep his sense of humour handy.

I want to say a little bit about why I decided to seek public office. I've always believed in contributing to my community, and I became a volunteer in my community around an issue called HIV/AIDS. In the early 1990s my community, the people that I knew, my neighbours were being attacked by this awful disease, and it resulted in many people I knew dying. It was important to me to respond to that in some way, so out of my living room I started a non-profit agency. Slowly friends, relations, companies, community leaders joined me in this fight.

I was really proud when we moved to the basement of a church, and then later we found an old house in the West End that we restored, which then became the Diamond Centre for Living.

It's something I'm really proud of, and it led to me getting involved in the creation of the Life Quilt for Breast Cancer, which was a project that began in Vancouver and slowly spread throughout the province and now travels across Canada and allows women that are experiencing and affected by breast cancer to put a few stitches into a quilt and make their mark in this world. It's been something that I'm very proud to be part of.

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Getting here to this place was a challenge. There were some rough times in the campaign and some rough times as we led up to the actual general election. But I know that the real challenge still lies ahead of us, as we go through a healing process. You see, the NDP did harm — real and measurable harm — to people, to working families, to small businesses, entire

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communities and regions of our province. I have great confidence in the ability of our Liberal team, in concert with the professional civil service that I've met over the last few weeks, to once again do well what government should do and get out of areas where government doesn't belong.

In my riding that means listening to the various important communities that live there. We have empty-nesters that have taken up residence in Coal Harbour. We have a wildly diverse gay and lesbian community that adds flavour and colour to virtually every part of the West End. We have the physically and mentally challenged that need to be protected. We have a vibrant community of seniors that need safe, affordable housing options. We have small business people that are struggling to make a dime and make a difference in their communities. Their issues are close to their lives.

I have, in my very short time as an MLA, already heard many of their heartbreaking stories of ways in which they have been marginalized. I have also heard of the great hope they have for our province and for their participation in the political process.

I am here to be their voice. I am going to speak up for their concerns, and I will fight for them whenever their stories deserve to be told. My riding also has many new and transient residents. Their lives and issues are no less important to me because they are not influential. They might not own their own houses or be connected to their community with years of service, but they still deserve to be heard and to be served. This government has made a commitment to them and to all British Columbians to listen, to respond and to be accountable for the results of our efforts.

Many of the members here today have visited my riding. Some of you have actually lived in my riding at times. Most British Columbians have travelled to see Stanley Park, visited the Vancouver Art Gallery, come to Pacific Centre or gone to an event at B.C. Place. But what you and they might not have noticed is another layer of activity in Vancouver-Burrard, and that's the neighbourhood centres, the outreach programs of the many wonderful community services, the kindnesses that just happen on our streets, in shops and in the homes, hospitals and churches of Vancouver-Burrard. Our government can play an important role by keeping these groups connected, recognized and supported.

Of course, Vancouver-Burrard also shares the common problems of our damaged economic reputation in British Columbia. Red tape and overregulation have strangled small business. Misplaced spending priorities of the previous government have squandered resources that we need for our health and education sectors. Misadventures in government have stolen time and opportunity from our families. On Davie Street, on Denman, in the corporate head offices on Georgia, the high-tech offices in Yaletown and the businesses struggling on Granville mall, their stories are similar. People want to work hard.

They want to be rewarded for their hard work, and they want to enjoy their free time unfettered by unreasonable government meddling.

The energy and commitment that brought me here comes from living among, and listening to, my friends and neighbours in Vancouver-Burrard and imagining just how great our community can be when we all work together and respect our diversity. Our work will never be finished, because communities themselves are organic and dynamic systems that change as our needs and desires change. I'm here as an agent of change. When my instinct tells me change is required, I will represent the hopes and, yes, the dreams of those who have sent me here.

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The Irish poet W.B. Yeats described the most sacred trust one can endow upon another when he wrote: "I have spread my dreams under your feet; tread softly, because you tread on my dreams." In my walk through these hallowed halls in pursuit of the dreams of my community and my society, I will tread with respect, with determination and with pride.

P. Wong: Mr. Speaker, let me congratulate you on your election as Speaker. We are grateful for your guidance.

I am very proud to stand before all my colleagues in this House as the representative of the people of Vancouver-Kensington to deliver this speech. I am going to try my best, but words are not enough to express what a privilege it is for me to rise in the Legislature today. It is with great pleasure that I respond to the Speech from the Throne given by the Lieutenant-Governor on Tuesday afternoon.

Just over two months ago the people of Vancouver-Kensington elected me to represent them in our government. They elected me to speak about their concerns, fight for the issues important to them and contribute to the governance of this beautiful province. That is what I intend to do.

I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to represent the people of Vancouver-Kensington, a riding rich with diversity and people who work hard to build happy and successful lives for them and their families. It is a riding that illustrates what B.C. and Canada are all about. The people of Vancouver-Kensington have chosen me to speak out for them in this challenging time in our province's history. I want them to know that this government is listening to their concerns and that we will continue to listen and will act to restore prosperity to our province.

When our Premier reminds us that we live in a vast province in a vast country in the world, he states what my constituents believe with every fibre of their being. During the election campaign I spent a lot of time on the doorsteps of

Vancouver-Kensington listening to voters. I am proud to say that I made it into every home in every neighbourhood in my riding, and now I want to tell the House what I heard on those doorsteps.

The people of Vancouver-Kensington spoke to me a lot about tax cuts. They told me on the doorstep that they want more money in their pockets on payday. The people of this province work hard for their paycheques, and they deserve to keep more of them. Not only do tax cuts provide relief for individuals; they

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help to stimulate the economy, which helps business too.

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My constituents are concerned about our province's fiscal health and want measures that will ensure its long-term viability.

The people of Vancouver-Kensington told me that they want to live in a safe, vibrant and environmentally clean community — a community that is free of property crimes and drugs, a community where children can play safely and parents can worry less. I am pleased to see there are many volunteers in the riding helping to fight crimes. One of the groups that I pay most respect to is the Mountain View community group. The people of Vancouver-Kensington want a top-notch education system where the children can begin the lifelong pursuit of their dreams in efficient, advanced and challenging classrooms.

The people of Vancouver-Kensington want reassurance that our health care system is going to be there when they or a family member needs it. Not only that, but they also want a health care system that will support their needs as they age as well as providing proper care for the terminally ill. Many seniors and the disabled told me that they need more home support to help them maintain the minimum standard of living. The people of Vancouver-Kensington told me that the current bus strike is creating significant hardship for their families and that they require access to reliable public transportation.

Finally, the people of Vancouver-Kensington expect their government to spend their hard-earned tax dollars wisely and not squander them on inefficient and wasteful megaprojects, as in days now past.

I am pleased to say that the government has already begun to respond to the concerns raised by my constituents in Vancouver-Kensington. The government has already made good on promises delivered during the election. This is good news for the people in my riding and in every riding in British Columbia. A new era of hope and prosperity has begun in our fine province. Within hours of the swearing-in of the new government, we introduced dramatic tax cuts that have already had a far-reaching impact for taxpayers in our province.

This tax cut is the first step on the long and challenging path to prove to British Columbians and the world that our new government means business. We are prepared to show the people of this great province, this great nation and the world that we will succeed in making B.C. the place to do business, the place to get an education, the place to raise a family and the only place to call home.

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We have begun work on fixing our ailing health care system. We are committed to providing all British Columbians with quality and efficient health care when they need it and where they need it. However, our work is far from finished. We will continue to work with all health care stakeholders to ensure that everyone is fairly treated and, most importantly, to ensure that the resources of the system are well maintained, to fix what's not working and to sustain the health care system for future generations.

While health care is on the minds of many right now, public transportation is still front and centre for the people in my riding. This is a difficult and thorny issue, and a lack of service hurts those who need it most. The government is fully aware of the hardship and cost of the ongoing dispute to the direct users of the system, such as young people, seniors, students and the hard-working people and those that benefit indirectly, such as business owners.

I personally have given many car rides to seniors in my riding who were kept at home and to patients who could not visit their doctors because of the bus strike. However, this is not enough. We need to restore the public transportation services as soon as possible. On behalf of my constituents in Vancouver-Kensington, I urge all the parties involved to put the public interest before their own private interest for the benefit of all the people in the community.

Education is crucial to our province's success in the long and short terms. I want to assure my constituents and all British Columbians that the public education system is a top priority for this government. Just over a week ago the Minister of Education made remarks,

in a Vancouver Board of Trade speech, that outlined this government's plan to overhaul the education system. Front and centre was an emphasis on great accountability by school boards and new measurement techniques that ensure that our children are learning the skills they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive global environment. There is no doubt that this government is committed to the future of this province. Our investment in education now will reap great dividends in the future.

Tax cuts, health care, transportation and education issues are of great concern to my constituents in Vancouver-Kensington, but there is one more issue that I have not yet mentioned, and that is government accountability. After the election, many people were skeptical about our government's pledge to be open and accountable to the people. I am pleased to say that once again, this government has not only met but also exceeded expectations. We held the first televised and open cabinet meeting in the history of our province and our nation.

We reinstated legislative committees that will not simply rubber-stamp government directives but will actually undertake consultations with stakeholders and will develop balanced and fair responses for all issues under consideration.

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Mr. Speaker, I can't tell you how honoured I am to have been chosen to sit on the government Caucus Committee on the Economy. It is a wonderful experience to work with so many dedicated people: my colleagues on the committee, legislative staff who are knowledgable and helpful and those who contact our committee through either written or oral submissions. While we have done a good job so far, we must not fail to earn the public trust every day. We are determined to deserve the respect of British Columbians and their

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confidence in our ability to manage economic and social issues.

To my constituents in Vancouver-Kensington, I want to say that the road ahead will be a difficult one. There will not be easy answers to the great challenges facing us as a government and as a people. Whether your family has always been here or whether your family came to British Columbia 100 years ago, 20 years ago or even last month, we are all in this together, and we will all have to pull together to set things right.

Just over two months ago British Columbians overwhelmingly rejected the status quo in government. My colleagues and I have been sent to this House to change the state of our province. We have been sent here to improve the financial situation now and in the future. We have been sent here to make our public education system the best in the country. We have been sent here to do things that didn't get done over the last ten years, and we have been sent here to do things better.

I say to you, Mr. Speaker, to my constituents in Vancouver-Kensington and to all British Columbians that the times have changed, and they are only going to get better. Look around you. British Columbians spoke loudly and spoke clearly about the direction they wanted to go. We heard them, and we are proud to move ahead with our agenda and to continue to bring new hope and prosperity to every person in this great and beautiful province.

In closing, please allow me to say thank you in ten other languages that may well reflect the degree of diversity of my constituents in Vancouver-Kensington. [The member spoke Hindi, Punjabi, Philipino, Vietnamese, Italian, German, Portuguese, Cantonese, Mandarin and Chaozhou]. Thank you, merci.

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S. Brice: I am honoured to stand in this House to make my first speech as the MLA for Saanich South. First, Mr. Speaker, let me add my congratulations to you on your selection as Speaker of this Legislature. Your extensive experience will serve you well in your new post, and I know you will preside fairly over all members of this House. To my fellow members, it is an honour to serve with you, such a talented group. For us it is a privilege to sit in this chamber.

To the people of Saanich South, I say thank you. Thank you for putting your trust in me to represent your interests in the affairs of government, which are so important to you and your families. The people of Saanich South have high expectations, because they have been exceptionally well served over many decades at the constituency level. I want to acknowledge these previous MLAs, thank them for their service and assure the residents of Saanich South that I will work hard to continue this legacy of service for all the residents of Saanich South through my constituency office.

It is a privilege to have been elected by the community of Saanich South. My riding is where the urban and rural meet in greater Victoria. We're a riding of distinct neighbourhoods, each with its own identity and challenges. On the east, Saanich South is bound by the magnificent Gorge waterway, and on the west, by the stunning seascape of Cordova Bay. My riding is blessed with several beautiful lakes including Elk Lake, Beaver Lake and Prospect Lake, which are enjoyed by all the families of my riding.

Elk Lake is the practice site of Canada's rowing team. Both amateurs and professionals alike enjoy this facility. As well, our community of Saanich South is the home of PacificSport National Training Centre, located at Commonwealth Place. This centre is the legacy of the Commonwealth Games. Our community is deeply committed to youth and fitness. The amazing trail system in Saanich South is used daily by hikers, joggers and cyclists from the entire region. Swan Lake nature reserve and Burns Bog are two beautiful areas which are home to the area's natural plants and animals.

Many of my colleagues have quite naturally risen to exalt the physical virtues of their ridings. I can assure all members that the beautiful Blenkinsop Valley leading to the productive farms of Saanich South ranks right up there with all the other references to the diverse physical beauty of our province.

Something about my background. I am a fourth-generation Victorian. I have served our community as a mayor and as chair of the greater Victoria school board. It is through experience in those areas of service at the local level that I became aware of the issues dealt with by provincial government and became committed to offering myself to become a part of the legislative function of our province.

However, we all know that to move from the idea to the reality of seeking and achieving office is a big step. I was happily ensconced in work outside of government, with the notion that I had concluded my time of public service. However, over the past eight years I was executive director of the Better Business Bureau. It was through this role that I had the opportunity to work with small business owners. Over those years I developed an immense respect for small business as they struggled to pay their staff and to stay viable, so they could provide for their families.

When I saw daily the destruction that the previous government's policies was having on the economy and on small businesses, I knew at least that I was definitely going to vote Liberal. But when I heard our Premier who, when Leader of the Opposition, spoke of his vision for education and his promise that education would once again be an essential service, I knew I wanted to become a candidate and help achieve the promise of this new era for students and education.

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As a former teacher and school board chair, I am excited for the people of British Columbia and Saanich South, because the agenda for education as outlined in the throne speech gives us an excellent look at the direction we will be moving over the next year. I am looking forward to seeing that agenda come to fruition, and I am confident that the Minister of Education will achieve these goals and breathe new excitement into the public education system. I am proud of our

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commitment to students and their parents. Our government realizes that education is the key to a healthy and prosperous society. A government which truly believes in its obligation to the future has no doubt whatsoever that education is an essential service. This is our commitment to the future prosperity of British Columbia.

I am proud of our commitment to

assure parents that they are entitled to volunteer their services, because as a teacher and as a parent I know that when parents are involved in their child's education, both benefit. I look forward to working with the school boards in Saanich South as we maintain and even increase funding levels by increasing revenues through economic growth.

The school boards of my riding will be pleased that the B.C. Liberal government is giving school boards more autonomy and control over the delivery of education services. This new relationship shows respect for locally elected boards. The school trustees representing Saanich South will welcome our commitment to give school boards multi-year funding envelopes in order to improve long-term education planning and budgeting. This all seems so sensible. Why has it taken so long in coming?

The children of Saanich South — whether they be in Claremont Secondary School, Royal Oak Middle School, Lake Hill Elementary or any of the other great schools in my riding — will all be beneficiaries of this renewed emphasis on education.

Many may not be aware that advanced technology is the fastest-growing sector in greater Victoria and the region's third-largest employer. I was thrilled with the Premier's commitment to establish a new Premier's council on technology to help bridge the digital divide to enable all British Columbians to participate in and benefit from emerging jobs and opportunities in the new economy.

My riding of Saanich South is home to the exciting, innovative Vancouver Island Technology Park. It is strategically located adjacent to Camosun College. These two institutions are on the cutting edge as they promote synergistic opportunities between post-secondary institutions and private industry. This centre of technology promotes its student co-op and employment opportunities, and it is a showplace for environmentally sensitive development and sustainable greener initiatives.

I extend an invitation to you, Mr. Speaker, and to all members of this House to visit this truly unique facility. Its mission dovetails with the initiatives which will be taken by this government in the high-tech field.

The throne speech made a commitment to open and accessible government, and I applaud the changes being made to the decision-making process which have already been initiated. In particular, I want to draw attention to the innovative government caucus committees which have been established to give guidance to cabinet. I was honoured to have been asked by the Premier to chair the Caucus Committee on Health, as I know that this was identified as the number one concern by residents of Saanich South during the recent election.

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The challenges in the health area are immense.

To quote our Premier, it is time to put patient care first. To do that, we must renew public health care through better management, adequate funding, proper staffing and sound strategic planning. I know I speak for all members of the Caucus Committee on Health when I say that we take our role in this pledge very seriously, and we will commit to ensuring that patient care does come first.

I look forward to working with all the members of this House over the next four years. Under the leadership of our Premier, we will restore the public's faith in

government, and we'll look back on this, the summer of 2001, when we set out to create a new era of prosperity for British Columbia.

Hon. G. Abbott: It's a great pleasure for me to rise today and join in this throne speech debate. I'm delighted to hear the contributions that have come from the new members

today. Obviously, we have a great crop of new MLAs here. If the early speeches have been any indication, they are going to be making wonderful contributions to this assembly and to the people of British Columbia.

I also want to say at the outset, Mr. Deputy Speaker, congratulations to you on your appointment as Deputy Speaker for this assembly. It's a huge honour to have that bestowed on you, and I know that

your record and your previous contributions to the chamber point to great success in this very important role that you hold in this chamber. So congratulations.

If you would also pass my congratulations on to the Speaker…. The Speaker, I'm delighted to say, has rejoined the assembly after having previous experience earlier on. I did have the good fortune to know the Speaker in his earlier incarnation as a cabinet minister of a previous government in British Columbia, and I know he is an honest, straight-shooting guy who will do again a most commendable job of leadership in this chamber. I do ask you to pass my congratulations on to him.

I also want to begin by congratulating all the new members on winning election to this assembly. It is, I must say, a huge honour to win an election and to become a representative of a constituency in this assembly. There are in fact over the course of British Columbia's history fewer than 1,000 people over the last whatever it is — 125 or 130 years…. Fewer than 1,000 people have ever enjoyed the honour of sitting in this assembly. It is a very special honour reserved for a very special few, and I know that we will all work very hard to ensure that we reward the trust, the special

honour, that our constituents extend to us.

In a way, I feel sorry for the crop of 2001, because they missed out on the experience we had between 1996 and 2001 where the relative magnitude of the parties in the chamber was pretty close to equal. It did make it very interesting for all of us, although we

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actually rarely got to leave the buildings for long periods of time, which at times became difficult. I'm sure that in many ways this unique experience we now have in this chamber will be one that people find very special as well.

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One of the reasons, I think, that it is so special to serve here in the assembly of the province of British Columbia is the magnificent building that we do our business in. We had the unique opportunity just a couple of years ago of celebrating 100 years in this particular building. It's a magnificent structure. You can visit any capital in Canada, and you won't see a more magnificent building than the one we are so fortunate to serve in here.

Had I been alive 100 years ago — and I wasn't, current appearances notwithstanding — my MLA of the day, Forbes George Vernon, was in fact in many ways responsible for this building. He was the minister of public works at the time and was roundly pilloried by a number of his constituents for the gross extravagance of the provincial government in building such a great edifice. Actually, he lost his job in the next election as a consequence of some of that criticism. Nonetheless, this does stand, I think, as part of his great legacy in this province.

I've always been in awe of the fact that great leaders in this province have stood in their places in this building now for over a hundred years, and it is just a thrill and an honour to be a part of that. Some of those leaders who have stood here, who have made their contribution over time and who have now passed into history include great leaders like Sir Richard McBride, a tremendous leader for a long period of time here; John Oliver; Duff

Pattullo; John Hart; W.A.C. Bennett — all great leaders who have, in years before us, stood in this same chamber and given their speeches to the assembly. It's such an honour to be a part of that.

Our political history in this province, as I think everybody knows, has been colourful, expansive and fascinating. Unlike some other jurisdictions, B.C. politics is never dull, and the business of this assembly is never dull.

I do want to share one little piece of history before I move on and deal with more current matters — one little piece of B.C.'s history. It's a piece of history I'll call the curse of Duff

Pattullo. The story is that back in 1941 Duff Pattullo, as the Premier of the province, was part of an election. The Liberal government of the day didn't win a majority government; they fell short of it. And of course 1941 being wartime, there was a sense of urgency among some of his colleagues that they should form a coalition with the Conservatives to last through the wartime period. Duff Pattullo was a very ardent partisan, a very ardent Liberal, and he strongly resisted the calls for coalition.

In fact, he said in 1941 that if the Liberal Party went into coalition, it would be out of power in this province for a generation. And indeed, that's what happened. We saw a period of coalition government until 1952, and since 1941 there has not been a Liberal government in British Columbia.

An Hon. Member: Until now.

Hon. G. Abbott: Well, I'm happy to say, as my colleague notes, that that generation has now passed. The curse of Pattullo has passed. In fact, we have the biggest Liberal majority government in the history of British Columbia. Further, all of us who were elected to this assembly have made history, as we have won the largest mandate that any government has ever won in the history of this province, going back 130 years — a remarkable election.

It's been a great honour to be a part of making that piece of history, and I do want to thank my constituents in Shuswap for the honour of once again serving them and representing them in the assembly. I must say that winning by a 58 percent margin, in the most recent contest, was every bit as satisfying as winning by 34 percent in the earlier contest. I did have the distinction of having the lowest winning percentage in the 1996 election, at 34.7 percent. I've always said that I feel remarkably better than the guy who had the highest losing percentage, because I did get to enjoy some time here.

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It was a terrific election; it's a terrific honour to be back here.

I'm going to work hard to try to justify the faith and trust and support that's been extended to me by my constituents in Shuswap.

The other thing I'll want to do, and I know all my colleagues will want to do in this Legislature, is represent all of my constituents, whether they supported me or not. Sometimes I get letters from people saying: "Well, you know, I didn't support you in the last election."

I write letters back saying: "Well, you know, it really doesn't matter to me one iota whether you voted for me or not." It never should, and I know it never has to any of my colleagues in here. We're elected to this office to represent all of our constituents, whether they supported us or not, and that's certainly what I intend to do.

I have a hard-working office back home. I know many of us have busy constituency offices. I've been very fortunate to have very capable constituency assistants who've done a remarkable job to serve the people in Shuswap as well as myself. I do look forward to continuing to be the voice of the Shuswap here in Victoria, in this assembly.

I'm also

honoured, Mr. Speaker, to have a new role as Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services. This will give me, I think, a new opportunity to serve my constituents and indeed to serve all of British Columbia. My new ministry, as I'm sure you are aware, covers a range of community resources and services like — and I'll name a few of them — municipal affairs, immigration, aboriginal services, multiculturalism, housing policy, sports, youth, arts and culture. An expansive and important range of community services is contained in the new ministry.

What we find every day are the remarkable linkages between those different elements in the community services package. We are also finding every day great new ways in which we can address

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challenges and opportunities that exist in British Columbia because of those linkages.

It's proving, and will continue to prove, to be a ministry that can open up opportunities with other ministries in government. We are already finding, for example, opportunities where immigration and health can work together to solve problems. Or the aboriginal services can work with the education area to solve problems. Children and Family Development — the opportunity to look at sport facilities that might help disadvantaged or troubled youth…. So there are lots of challenges, lots of opportunities, and I think the new ministry will help to advance a lot of those.

In understanding this government and what it will be doing over the next four

years, I think one of the key words that people ought to bear in mind is commitment. I know people aren't used to this, because of the government we've had over the last ten years. But this is a government that actually is going to keep its word, a government that, when it makes a commitment, is actually going to keep it.

Furthermore, one of the things we have done, which I think will help people understand, is put out our commitment very clearly and very boldly in a document called A New Era. It lays out the commitments for 90 days, and it lays out our broader commitments over the next four years. Certainly, people are going to be able to keep score to see whether we kept our word. We're going to be judged by that on May 17, 2005.

Indeed, I do look forward to that.

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I want to talk just a little bit about some of the commitments which are contained in this

New Era document for the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services — for example, "Implement a flexible, innovative program to increase the supply of affordable housing." One of the things which the Premier made very clear in the last election is that this government is committed to affordable housing. We are committed to ensuring that those who are disadvantaged in this society are protected from the ravages that sometimes confront them. Affordable housing is an important piece of that, and it's an important commitment in our program.

Increased funding for the B.C. Arts Council to promote and support B.C. arts, music, artists and culture. Well, I'm lucky. I come from a part of the province, the Shuswap, that has a very diverse and very dynamic arts and culture community, and I know that there are probably 78 other members of the Legislature who'd say the same thing. It's going to be great to support those groups, support those volunteers who make our province and the regions of our province very special. Arts and culture is one of the ways that's done.

We are going to work with the Ministry of Health, through the immigration component of the ministry, to recruit and retain foreign nurses and physicians to this province. Everyone knows what an issue that is now. Rather than just talking about it, we're actually going to do something about it in the next weeks and months.

We are going to increase efforts to protect and promote aboriginal languages. Again, we have a large, diverse first nations population here in British Columbia, and they value their culture. They value their languages in the same way that we value our arts and culture community in British Columbia. We want to work with the aboriginal communities to ensure that their languages are preserved and promoted.

We are committed — and indeed, we are moving ahead on this commitment — to doubling the First Citizens Fund to $72 million to support native friendship

centres, student bursaries and economic development programs. We are also committed to creating a permanent first citizens forum that will provide aboriginal citizens living on and off reserve with a direct means to communicate with their provincial government and, hopefully, advance some ideas on how we and they can materially improve the quality of their lives.

Those are all important commitments, some of the important commitments that relate to my ministry. In recent weeks I've had the opportunity of meeting, for example, with the United Native Nations, with the First Nations Summit, with the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and with bands from different parts of the province, including bands from my own home constituency of Shuswap.

We know that there are some challenges to be faced in this province in the relationship between this government and first nations. We know that; we know there are challenges to be addressed. But we also know that we can look forward to advancing that relationship and to moving forward with the Premier and colleagues on first nations issues across this province.

The New Era

document contains a list of commitments which we call our 90-day commitments. Again, this is going to provide proof that we are going to do what we said we were going to do as a government. What we are going to do through these commitments, I think, is restore some integrity and some trust in government. I just want to talk about a few of those 90-day commitments. I think these are very important to my constituents, and I'm sure if you asked any of the 79 members — or at least 77 members of the Legislature — they would say these are important commitments to them as well.

First, we promised to introduce a dramatic tax cut, and we've done it. It's a great achievement. I've heard a lot of different views on a lot of different subjects, but,

frankly I have never had one of my constituents tell me that the tax cut wasn't welcome. They all have looked forward to and are now enjoying the benefits of that tax cut. It was absolutely essential. It's been done, and I'm proud of the government for fulfilling that commitment.

We have already scrapped photo radar in this province. Again, a number of my constituents have told me that they appreciate the boldness of this

government in moving ahead and eliminating photo radar.

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We have also moved ahead with the elimination of the HCL union-only hiring hall requirements.

I've got to tell you that there are many of my constituents who celebrate that. This has been a big issue among contractors and among construction workers in the Shuswap. I've had numerous meetings on it, as I know my colleague from Kamloops–North Thompson has as well.

The HCL model came to be visited on us through the Cache Creek to the Rockies construction projects. Now, the former government bragged about HCL as a way that was going to ensure local hiring. Well, it had exactly the opposite effect. Anyone who tells you that HCL was local-friendly are speaking doublespeak. It was never the case. In fact, there were

many truck drivers and contractors who told me that before HCL there used to be day labour projects.

One of the things that they always looked forward to in the summer was the small Ministry of Highways — now Ministry of Transportation — projects.

They could get out, work a few weeks, make some money, and along with the other local projects, it got them through the year.

With

HCL everything was unionized, bureaucratized and centralized. The opportunity for the small contractors, independent truckers, and so on, to be able to do work locally was lost. So they celebrate the end of

HCL, and I'm delighted to see that's gone. Again, people will have the opportunity to hire their own crews and to manage their own crews. I think people are relieved that we are back there again.

A fourth commitment that I think people were delighted to see that we took on, because they were deeply offended that the former government did this…. Again, I give a lot of credit to my friend and colleague from Kamloops–North Thompson on this point. The commitment we are going to fulfil in this current session is to restore workers' rights to their pensions by repealing the law that allows some pension plans to suspend pension benefits for early retirees.

Hon. Speaker, among those draconian measures that we saw over the past years from the former tired and discredited government, the robbing of workers' pension rights was one of the worst things they ever did. I know there's a lot of competition for that

honour, but that was one of the worst things they ever did in terms of robbing workers of their rights: take away their pension plans and say they couldn't work again in the industry in which they had trained and worked for some years — absolutely draconian. Again, I'm very proud that this government has the guts to do away with that draconian measure.

Also on the labour front, one of the things we will be doing in the current session is restoring workers' democratic right to a secret ballot on certification. We are going to make the rules for certification the same as those for

decertification. Again, this is important. It's fundamental, and I'm proud that we're moving ahead.

We are also going to restore open tendering on government contracts to allow fair competition for businesses and pr