British Columbia Hansard — Monday, April 29, 2002

H0429pm-14

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

3rd Session, 37th Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (HANSARD) Monday, April 29, 2002 Afternoon Sitting Volume 6, Number 14 THE HONOURABLE CLAUDE RICHMOND, SPEAKER ISSN 0709-1281

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Honourable Iona Campagnolo 3RD SESSION, 37TH PARLIAMENT SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Claude Richmond EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council................................................................................. .........................Hon. Gordon Campbell Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations.............................................................................. ..................... Hon.

Greg Halsey-Brandt Deputy Premier and Minister of Education ....................................................................................... ..................................Hon. Christy Clark Minister of Advanced Education................................................................................................. ...........................................Hon. Shirley Bond Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.................................................................................... ..............................Hon.

John van Dongen Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Treaty Negotiations.............................................................. .................... Hon. Geoff Plant Minister of Children and Family Development.................................................................................... ..............................Hon. Gordon Hogg Minister of State for Early Childhood Development.............................................................................. .................................Hon.

Linda Reid Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services......................................................................... .................. Hon. George Abbott Minister of State for Community Charter........................................................................................ .................................. Hon. Ted Nebbeling Minister of State for Women's Equality ......................................................................................... .................................... Hon.

Lynn Stephens Minister of Competition, Science and Enterprise ................................................................................ ..................................Hon. Rick Thorpe Minister of State for Deregulation ............................................................................................. ............................................ Hon. Kevin Falcon Minister of Energy and Mines................................................................................................... ....................................... Hon.

Richard Neufeld Minister of Finance ............................................................................................................ ....................................................... Hon. Gary Collins Minister of Forests ............................................................................................................ .................................................. Hon. Michael de Jong Minister of Health Planning .................................................................................................... ............................................ Hon.

Sindi Hawkins Minister of Health Services.................................................................................................... ................................................ Hon. Colin Hansen Minister of State for Mental Health ............................................................................................ ...................................Hon. Gulzar S. Cheema Minister of State for Intermediate, Long Term and Home Care ............................................................................. Hon.

Katherine Whittred Minister of Human Resources.................................................................................................... ............................................Hon. Murray Coell Minister of Management Services................................................................................................ .........................................Hon. Sandy Santori Minister of Provincial Revenue................................................................................................. ................................................Hon.

Bill Barisoff Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General ................................................................................ ..................................Hon. Rich Coleman Minister of Skills Development and Labour...................................................................................... .............................Hon. Graham P. Bruce Minister of Sustainable Resource Management.................................................................................... ..................................Hon.

Stan Hagen Minister of Transportation..................................................................................................... .................................................... Hon. Judith Reid Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection..................................................................................... ....................................Hon. Joyce Murray LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Deputy Speaker................................................................................................................. ..............................................................

John Weisbeck Leader of the Opposition ....................................................................................................... ...........................................................Joy MacPhail Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole ........................................................................................... .............................................. Harold Long Clerk of the Legislative Assembly .............................................................................................. .........................................E.

George MacMinn Clerk Assistant ................................................................................................................ ................................................................... Robert Vaive Clerk Assistant and Law Clerk .................................................................................................. ........................................................ Ian D. Izard Clerk Assistant and Clerk of Committees........................................................................................ ............................................Craig H.

James Clerk Assistant/Committee Clerk................................................................................................ ............................................ Kate Ryan-Lloyd Sergeant-at-Arms ............................................................................................................... .........................................................A.A. Humphreys Director, Hansard Services ..................................................................................................... ........................................

Anthony Dambrauskas Legislative Librarian.......................................................................................................... ............................................................. Joan A. Barton Legislative Comptroller ........................................................................................................ .................................................................Peter Bray Published by British Columbia Hansard Services, and printed under the authority of the Speaker by the Queen's Printer, Victoria.

Rates: single issue, $2.85; per calendar year, mailed daily, $298. GST extra. Agent: Crown Publications Inc., 521 Fort St., Victoria, B.C. V8W 1E7. Telephone: (250) 386-4636. Fax: 386-0221. Internet: www.legis.gov.bc.ca/hansard

Party Standings: Liberal 76; New Democratic 2; Independent Liberal 1. ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS Abbott, Hon. George (L) ....................................................................... Shuswap Anderson, Val J. (L) .............................................................Vancouver-Langara Barisoff, Hon. Bill (L)............................................. Penticton–Okanagan Valley Bell, Pat (L).........................................................................Prince George North Belsey, Bill (L).................................................................................

North Coast Bennett, Bill (L) ........................................................................... East Kootenay Bhullar, Tony (Ind L) .................................................................. Surrey-Newton Bloy, Harry (L).................................................................................. Burquitlam Bond, Hon. Shirley (L).........................................Prince George–Mount Robson Bray, Jeff (L)......................................................................Victoria–Beacon H ill Brenzinger, Elayne (L) ...............................................................

Surrey-Whalley Brice, Susan (L) ............................................................................Saanich South Bruce, Hon. Graham P. (L)................................................ Cowichan-Ladysmith Campbell, Hon. Gordon (L)............................................. Vancouver–Point Grey Cheema, Hon. Gulzar S. (L) ..........................................Surrey–Panorama Ridge Chong, Ida (L)................................................................ Oak Bay–Gordon Head Christensen, Tom (L) .............................................................

Okanagan-Vernon Chutter, Dave (L) ........................................................................... Yale-L illooet Clark, Hon. Christy (L) ..................................................Port Moody–Westwood Cobb, Walt (L) ............................................................................. Cariboo South Coell, Hon. Murray (L) ........................................ Saanich North and the Islands Coleman, Hon. Rich (L) .............................................. Fort Langley–Aldergrove Collins, Hon.

Gary (L).........................................................Vancouver-Fairview de Jong, Hon. Michael (L)....................................... Abbotsford–Mount Lehman Falcon, Hon. Kevin (L) .......................................................... Surrey-Cloverdale Hagen, Hon. Stan (L) ................................................................... Comox Valley Halsey-Brandt, Hon. Greg (L) ..................................................Richmond Centre Hamilton, Arnie (L)............................................................Esquimalt-Metchosin Hansen, Hon.

Colin (L) .....................................................Vancouver-Quilchena Harris, Roger (L)......................................................................................Skeena Hawes, Randy (L) ............................................................ Maple Ridge–Mission Hawkins, Hon. Sindi (L).......................................................... Kelowna-Mission Hayer, Dave S. (L) ................................................................... Surrey-Tynehead Hogg, Hon. Gordon (L) ........................................................

Surrey–White Rock Hunter, Mike (L) ...................................................................................Nanaimo Jarvis, Daniel (L)...................................................... North Vancouver–Seymour Johnston, Ken (L)............................................................ Vancouver-Fraserview Kerr, Brian J. (L).............................................................. Malahat–Juan de Fuca Krueger, Kevin (L).................................................

Kamloops–North Thompson Kwan, Jenny Wai Ching (NDP) ...............................Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Lee, Richard T. (L).......................................................................Burnaby North Lekstrom, Blair (L)................................................................. Peace River South Les, John (L) .......................................................................... Ch illiwack-Sumas Locke, Brenda (L) ...........................................................

Surrey–Green Timbers Long, Harold (L) ...................................................Powell River–Sunshine Coast MacKay, Dennis (L)....................................................... Bulkley Valley–Stikine McMahon, Wendy (L).............................................Columbia River–Revelstoke MacPhail, Joy (NDP) ..........................................................

Vancouver-Hastings Manhas, Karn (L) .............................................Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Masi, Reni (L) ...................................................................................Delta North Mayencourt, Lorne (L) ..........................................................Vancouver-Burrard Murray, Hon. Joyce (L) ........................................................... New Westminster Nebbeling, Hon. Ted (L) ..........................................

West Vancouver–Garibaldi Nettleton, Paul (L).........................................................Prince George–Omineca Neufeld, Hon. Richard (L)...................................................... Peace River North Nijjar, Rob (L)...................................................................Vancouver-Kingsway Nuraney, John (L) ...............................................................Burnaby-W illingdon Orr, Sheila (L) ...........................................................................Victoria-Hillside Penner, Barry (L).......................................................................

Ch illiwack-Kent Plant, Hon. Geoff (L) ......................................................... Richmond-Steveston Reid, Hon. Judith (L)............................................................Nanaimo-Parksv ille Reid, Hon. Linda (L) ................................................................... Richmond East Richmond, Hon. Claude (L) ................................................................

Kamloops Roddick, Valerie (L)..........................................................................Delta South Sahota, Patty (L).....................................................................Burnaby-Edmonds Santori, Hon. Sandy (L)..............................................West Kootenay–Boundary Stephens, Hon. Lynn (L) ........................................................................ Langley Stewart, Ken (L)...................................................... Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Stewart, Richard (L) ......................................................

Coquitlam-Maillardville Suffredine, Blair F. (L) ................................................................Nelson-Creston Sultan, Ralph (L)....................................................... West Vancouver–Capilano Thorpe, Hon. Rick (L) ..........................................................Okanagan-Westside Trumper, Gillian (L)................................................................Alberni-Qualicum van Dongen, Hon.

John (L) ................................................Abbotsford-Clayburn Visser, Rod (L).................................................................................North Island Weisbeck, John (L).........................................................Kelowna–Lake Country Whittred, Hon. Katherine (L) ...................................North Vancouver–Lonsdale Wilson, John (L)...........................................................................

Cariboo North Wong, Patrick (L)............................................................Vancouver-Kensington LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING Abbotsford-Clayburn....................................................... Hon. John van Dongen Abbotsford–Mount Lehman ..............................................Hon.

Michael de Jong Alberni-Qualicum.......................................................................G illian Trumper Bulkley Valley–Stikine ..............................................................Dennis MacKay Burnaby North..............................................................................Richard T. Lee Burnaby-Edmonds............................................................................Patty Sahota Burnaby-Willingdon......................................................................

John Nuraney Burquitlam ........................................................................................ Harry Bloy Cariboo North ..................................................................................John Wilson Cariboo South .................................................................................... Walt Cobb Chilliwack-Kent ............................................................................. Barry Penner Chilliwack-Sumas .................................................................................

John Les Columbia River–Revelstoke....................................................Wendy McMahon Comox Valley .......................................................................... Hon. Stan Hagen Coquitlam-Maillardville .............................................................Richard Stewart Cowichan-Ladysmith .......................................................Hon. Graham P. Bruce Delta North.......................................................................................... Reni Masi Delta South................................................................................

Valerie Roddick East Kootenay .................................................................................. Bill Bennett Esquimalt-Metchosin...................................................................Arnie Hamilton Fort Langley–Aldergrove ..................................................... Hon. Rich Coleman Kamloops ....................................................................... Hon. Claude Richmond Kamloops–North Thompson ........................................................Kevin Krueger Kelowna–Lake Country...............................................................

John Weisbeck Kelowna-Mission ................................................................ Hon. Sindi Hawkins Langley ............................................................................... Hon. Lynn Stephens Malahat–Juan de Fuca .....................................................................Brian J. Kerr Maple Ridge–Mission ................................................................... Randy Hawes Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows .............................................................Ken Stewart Nanaimo..........................................................................................

Mike Hunter Nanaimo-Parksville ...................................................................Hon. Judith Reid Nelson-Creston.......................................................................Blair F. Suffredine New Westminster ..................................................................Hon. Joyce Murray North Coast ........................................................................................Bill Belsey North Island........................................................................................Rod Visser North Vancouver–Lonsdale.......................................... Hon.

Katherine Wh ittred North Vancouver–Seymour .............................................................Daniel Jarvis Oak Bay–Gordon Head .......................................................................Ida Chong Okanagan-Vernon .................................................................... Tom Christensen Okanagan-Westside.................................................................Hon. Rick Thorpe Peace River North .............................................................Hon. Richard Neufeld Peace River South .......................................................................

Blair Lekstrom Penticton–Okanagan Valley ....................................................Hon. Bill Barisoff Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain.................................................... Karn Manhas Port Moody–Westwood......................................................... Hon. Christy Clark Powell River–Sunshine Coast.......................................................... Harold Long Prince George North................................................................................Pat Bell Prince George–Mount Robson................................................Hon.

Shirley Bond Prince George–Omineca................................................................Paul Nettleton Richmond Centre......................................................... Hon. Greg Halsey-Brandt Richmond East .......................................................................... Hon. Linda Reid Richmond-Steveston ................................................................ Hon. Geoff Plant Saanich North and the Islands ............................................... Hon. Murray Coell Saanich South...................................................................................

Susan Brice Shuswap .............................................................................. Hon. George Abbott Skeena.............................................................................................Roger Harris Surrey-Cloverdale ................................................................. Hon. Kevin Falcon Surrey–Green Timbers .................................................................. Brenda Locke Surrey-Newton ............................................................................... Tony Bhullar Surrey–Panorama Ridge................................................. Hon.

Gulzar S. Cheema Surrey-Tynehead .......................................................................... Dave S. Hayer Surrey-Whalley ...................................................................... Elayne Brenzinger Surrey–White Rock ...............................................................Hon. Gordon Hogg Vancouver-Burrard................................................................. Lorne Mayencourt Vancouver-Fairview............................................................... Hon.

Gary Co llins Vancouver-Fraserview ...................................................................Ken Johnston Vancouver-Hastings .......................................................................Joy MacPhail Vancouver-Kensington...................................................................Patrick Wong Vancouver-Kingsway..........................................................................Rob Nijjar Vancouver-Langara....................................................................Val J.

Anderson Vancouver–Mount Pleasant............................................Jenny Wai Ching Kwan Vancouver–Point Grey ................................................... Hon. Gordon Campbell Vancouver-Quilchena............................................................ Hon. Colin Hansen Victoria–Beacon Hill.............................................................................Jeff Bray Victoria-Hillside.................................................................................. Sheila Orr West Kootenay–Boundary.................................................... Hon.

Sandy Santori West Vancouver–Capilano ..............................................................Ralph Sultan West Vancouver–Garibaldi ................................................. Hon. Ted Nebbeling Yale-Lillooet .................................................................................. Dave Chutter

CONTENTS Monday, April 29, 2002 Afternoon Sitting Routine Proceedings Page Introductions by Members....................................................................................................... ............................................... 2997 Statements (Standing Order 25 B).............................................................................................................................. .............. 2998 Travel agents B. Belsey Constituency offices J. Bray Cranbrook airport B.

Bennett Oral Questions................................................................................................................. ......................................................... 2999 Long-term care beds and transition for seniors J. Kwan Hon. K. Whittred Strathcona adult day care centre J. Kwan Hon. K. Whittred Halcyon Home B. Suffredine Hon. K. Whittred West Coast Express contract with CP Rail R. Hawes Hon. J. Reid Freedom-of-information request to Health Services ministry J. Kwan Hon. C. Hansen BCTF directive to teachers J. Les Hon. C.

Clark Tabling Documents .............................................................................................................. .................................................... 3002 Property Assessment Appeal Board, annual report, 2001-02 Introduction and First Reading of Bills ........................................................................................ ......................................... 3002 Supply Act, 2002-2003 (Bill 33) Hon. G.

Collins Second Reading of Bills ........................................................................................................ ................................................... 3002 Supply Act, 2002-2003 (Bill 33) Hon. G.

Collins Committee of the Whole House ................................................................................................... .......................................... 3002 Supply Act, 2002-2003 (Bill 33) Report and Third Reading of Bills .............................................................................................. ........................................... 3003 Supply Act, 2002-2003 (Bill 33) Hon. G. Collins

Second Reading of Bills ........................................................................................................ ................................................... 3003 Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2002 (Bill 11) Hon. G. Collins School Amendment Act, 2002 (Bill 34) Hon. C. Clark R. Harris W. McMahon J. Kwan B. Locke Hon. G. Halsey-Brandt R. Masi J. MacPhail J. Bray Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act (Bill 27) (continued) J. MacPhail Hon. M. Coell Degree Authorization Act (Bill 15) (continued) K. Krueger K. Manhas Hon. S. Bond

2997 MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2002 The House met at 2:03 p.m. Introductions by Members Hon. C. Clark: B e f o r e Y u g o s l av i a he l d i t s f i rs t d e - mocratic elections in 13 years two years ago, members of an all-female organization called Voice of Difference knocked on 45,000 doors to convince women to vote. Some of them were even arrested and thrown into jail overnight for putting up posters promoting that mes- sage. The results were astonishing: 70 percent of the voters who turned out in that election were women, 40 percent of whom had never cast a vote in a democratic election before.

We have three of the ten founding members of Voice of Difference with us today. They're here in town and attending the Women's Campaign School in Van- couver. I'm delighted to be able to welcome them. We have with us Milica Panic, Alexandra Petrovic Graonic and Mirajna Kovacevic. I hope the House will make them very, very welcome. [1405] J. Bray: I have the privilege of introducing two very dedicated and special people who are visiting me in the Legislature today. Mike Demers and Dianne Clem- ent are my constituency assistants.

The office is having some repairs done to it today, and they're joining me here, but they'll be back at the office and available to the community tomorrow. I'd ask that the House please make both of them very welcome. Hon. S. Hawkins: Two friends of my executive assistant, Jennifer Erickson, are visiting in the gallery today: Andrew Osterloh and Donna Leung. Andrew is from Kamloops, and Donna is visiting from Australia. Would the House please join me in making them wel- come. D. MacKay: Today up in the gallery I have a visitor from Smithers. Bonnie McCreary is down visiting to- day.

She's down with the B.C. and Yukon Hotels Asso- ciation. Bonnie is also a member of our northern health authority board. I would like the House to please make her welcome. H. Bloy: It 's wit h re al p le asu re that I wou ld l ik e to introduce in the House today 21 students from the sec- ond-largest club at Simon Fraser University. We have in the gallery the Simon Fraser University B.C. Young Lib- erals led by their president, Chad Pederson. They have done a great job up there and have been very suppor- tive. I've met with them on a number of occasions.

I would like to introduce some members from my riding of Burquitlam. We have Chris Ferronato, Allan Spence, Christopher Steinbach and Woosang Lee. We also have Francesca Godwin and David Yau from Sur- rey-Newton, and from Vancouver–Point Grey we have Miles Lunn and Dan Traczynski. If the House would please make them welcome. D. Hayer: It gives me great pleasure to introduce two groups visiting from Pacific Academy School in my constituency of Surrey-Tynehead. First, we have 12 grade 9 students with their teachers, Mr. Douglas and Mr. Cann. Secondly, we have 27 grade 5 students visit- ing with their teacher, Mrs.

Douglas, and their parents. Would the House please make them very welcome. S. Brice: Along with the Simon Fraser delegation is a member from my riding, Dom Kapac. I ask the House to make him welcome. P. Sahota: I also would like to welcome all the stu- dents from SFU that are here today. In particular, I would like to welcome Brock Stephenson, who lives in my riding. Would the House please make him wel- come. K. Manhas: I'd also like to welcome all the mem- bers here from SFU. I have the honour of rising to in- troduce a very special one here today.

Past president as of this afternoon, Chad Pederson is here today leading the group of students from SFU in his last official duty as president of the Simon Fraser University B.C. Young Liberals club. Chad has worked hard at building the club through each and every year attending SFU. When he began his role as president some time ago, the club was just getting to its feet. The SFU BCYL now stands as one of the largest clubs on campus, thanks in great part to Chad's good work and tireless effort.

Chad has also been very involved with the Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain riding association and has been of tremendous assistance to me in my riding and my work. As my director of communications, he has shown tireless energy, effort and dedication. I have become accustomed to receiving many e-mails from him sent to me at one or two in the morning. I and the riding have benefited greatly from Chad's involve- ment, which I know will no doubt continue. I'd like to wish Chad my congratulations on gradu- ating from Simon Fraser University's fine commerce program and for all his fine work.

Would the House now join me in extending a very warm welcome to an exemplary Port Coquitlam citizen, Mr. Chad Pederson. Hon. C. Hansen: Joining the SFU delegation is a constituent from Vancouver-Quilchena. I hope the House will join me in welcoming Jessica Fuchs. Thanks very much. [1410] R. Stewart: Also in the SFU delegation are three of my constituents: Rick Sousa, Bishnu Bhattacharyya and Mike Easton. J. Kwan: Paula Gunn is the opposition's superb, committed researcher. She will be going on her six-

2998 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, APRIL 29, 2002 month maternity leave after today. My colleague the Leader of the Opposition and myself appreciate her work so much. In fact, she has actually taken on our call to rebuild the party and rebuild the progressive forces for the future so much that she is going to have another baby for us in the future. I would like to ask all members of the House to wish Paula and her family w e l l . W e l o o k f o r w a r d t o s e e i n g h e r n e w b a b y w h e n she rejoins us after the maternity leave. B.

Locke: I a l s o w o u l d l i k e t o w e l c o m e s o m e S F U students today. Three people that are important to me and have supported me in the House are Brandon Langhjelm, Adam Picotte and David Yau. David is also graduating. Welcome, and thank you. V. Anderson: Also in the SFU group here is a very inquisitive student, I have no doubt, and I would ask the House to welcome with me Andrew Haskell. R. Lee: I'm pleased to introduce Leah Muirhead from Burnaby North. She is part of the SFU delegation. I also see Dom Kapac there. He has really helped me in my office for four months.

I would like the House to make them welcome. J. Bray: It's my pleasure this afternoon to introduce one of our research officers, Jamie Gillies, into the House on this, his twenty-fourth birthday. Please join me in giving him a very warm welcome and wishing him the best on this beautiful April afternoon. D. Chutter: O n b e h a l f o f t h e m e m b e r f o r C a r i b o o South, I would like to welcome Jesse Eyer from Clin- ton. Jesse has just completed an honours bachelor of science degree in physics from the University of Victo- ria.

He has had many exciting co-op terms such as working at the National Research Council in Ottawa, the Joint Astronomy Centre in Hawaii and the Cana- dian Space Agency in Montreal. He's off on full schol- arship to do his master's degree in aerospace engineer- ing. Would the House please make him welcome. B. Bennett: I rise to offer my congratulations in the House today to the Kootenay Ice Hockey Club. They will be the western representatives in the WHL finals against either Red Deer or Brandon, Manitoba.

I would also, in rising, like to offer my condolences to the member for Prince George North and the mem- ber for Kelowna-Mission, whose teams we defeated not long ago. Hon. G. Bruce: I don't actually have a hockey story, but I could share a few of my past former glories on the ice. I used to play in the NHL. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order. Hon. G. Bruce: Another time. Mr. Speaker, in the House today are eight of the ten friends I have. The other two are my wife and my fa- ther.

Anyway, these people are here today because they are great British Columbians, and they're real team players in helping to build a community such as those in the Cowichan and Chemainus valleys: Charlie and Jeannie Saunders, John and Virginia Porter and the Davis family — Howie, Colleen, Randy and Kelly. Not only are they great entrepreneurs and people who want to make things happen in the province, but they stayed with it after ten years. They're still here looking forward to a very bright future in British Co- lumbia, here to have dinner with us all this evening downstairs in the restaurant.

I hope you would all make them feel welcome, knowing that you have peo- ple just like these good people in your constituency as well. [1415] Statements (Standing Order 25

B) TRAVEL AGENTS B. Belsey: Today, Mr. Speaker, I wish to raise the awareness of British Columbians about the plight of the travel agents across our province. A few short weeks ago travel agents throughout this province were instructed to collect an airport security tax of $24 per round trip. This security tax has increased financial pressures and anxiety of travellers from the north. Few, if any, security changes can be seen by most rural air- ports, and we are not likely to see any of these changes. In some short-haul flights these increases represent a 25 percent fare increase.

Starting last Monday travel agents will now receive no commission for tickets they sell on Air Canada, our largest Canadian air carrier. When I was first made aware of this situation, I phoned travel agents around the province and discussed the impact of this loss on the base commission to their business. All indicated that they are now faced with three options: to charge a fee to offset the $28 commission they've lost, to cut overhead by laying off staff or to close down their business. The people of British Columbia should not accept any of these options.

Travellers know they can contact carriers directly or they can book electronic tickets over the Internet. Bypassing travel agencies will have a simple, painful result: the loss of these businesses. My solution is to raise the awareness of the difficul- ties of this industry and for my colleagues and the people of the province to support our travel agencies. Until a long-term solution can be found, I encourage everyone to support their travel agent, to contact them and let them know they have your support and your business. CONSTITUENCY OFFICES J.

Bray: Today I wish to speak about one of the most important facets of being an MLA — that is, being

MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2002 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 2999 accessible to your constituents. As you may be aware, an incident occurred at my office last week. This inci- dent closed my community office, and it is still closed while repairs are being completed. My staff, Mike and Diane, pride themselves on be- ing available to all in my community who need the assistance of the MLA's office. The community office is where constituents who need help with WCB, income assistance, MSP or any other provincial agency can receive assistance.

The staff that work in all 79 con- stituency offices are employed by the MLAs, not gov- ernments or political parties. The community offices are non-political; there are no political brochures or banners in the MLA's office. The office is there to serve the public. It is where constituents who wish to bring to the MLA's attention issues of concern can write, e- mail, fax, phone or drop in and provide that feedback directly to the MLA. The community office is where we meet individuals and groups and where we deal with local issues such as inner-city school funding or com- munity health.

It is also a place where individuals can engage in a dialogue on issues involving the provincial govern- ment. That dialogue is vital to a parliamentary democ- racy. It is where local issues can be brought to the at- tention of the elected representatives. It's where politi- cians can provide information to people in the commu- nity one person at a time. More importantly, it is where the public can provide information to the MLA one on one. The community office is where government and community meet and connect.

It is vital that we strive to maintain the community office as a place of dia- logue, problem-solving, service, accountability and, yes, legal protests. I am honoured to work with two people who are dedicated to the service of our community and who believe that accessibility is the cornerstone of that ser- vice. My community office's doors will be open, as al- ways, tomorrow at 10 a.m. to serve any and all in my community. CRANBROOK AIRPORT B. Bennett: There are key actions taken by genera- tions of Canadians that are critical to the success of our economies.

Such actions in Canada would be the con- struction of the trans-Canada railway and, in the city of Vancouver, the construction of the port facilities and the international airport. For the province to gain the benefits from an Olympics, it would be the investment in better transportation to Whistler. These are invest- ments, not subsidies. I n m y re g i o n o f t he E as t K o o t e nay we al s o h av e a key action on which the further growth of our region depends. That is the airport that serves all the East Kootenay and much of the West Kootenay.

The recent closure of the Sullivan mine in Kimberley and the cur- rent softwood crisis in B.C. are final proof to the people in our region that we can no longer have our economic eggs in the resource sector basket. We must diversify. No pun intended. [1420] Tourism development is a natural in our beautiful area. The Kootenays have developed world-class tour- ist destinations. CNN ranked Fernie the third-best ski hill in North America in 2002. This winter Fernie had more skier visits than Lake Louise. Who would have thought this possible only a few years ago?

The concept of direct charters from the U.S. and Europe to the East Kootenay is not at all far-fetched. This sort of direct charter is already taking place at the Whitehorse regional airport with six flights a week during the summer of 2001. Tourists want to fly non-stop from major U.S. and European destinations to the Kootenays. The cost of expanding the airport in Cranbrook is a relatively small amount. It's $13 million, which just happens to be 1/35 of what the former government wasted on fast ferries. In the first year $13 million in new taxes will flow to the federal, provincial and municipal governments.

All it will take to make this key project happen is recogni- tion by the federal and provincial governments that investment in the Cranbrook Airport will provide a full return with interest in not more than two years and a continuing return for generations and the recognition that the Kootenays want to play a role in the resur- gence of British Columbia as the economic engine in Canada it is destined to be. Oral Questions LONG-TERM CARE BEDS AND TRANSITION FOR SENIORS J. Kwan: In the New Era document the Premier promised seniors that he would build an additional 5,000 new long-term care beds.

Senior citizens believed their Premier. Now, after being caught not telling the truth, the government says it will build assisted living spaces. Assisted living spaces don't provide the same level of care to seniors who require around-the-clock long-term care. To the Minister of State for Long Term Care: will she finally just admit that her government was not tell- ing the truth and has betrayed seniors by closing thou- sands of long-term care beds? Hon. K. Whittred: T h i s g o v e r n m e n t w i l l p r o v i d e the very best care for our family members in the most appropriate setting.

Our government will provide this care at a level that is appropriate to the patients' needs. We are offering more options and a wider spectrum of care for our seniors. If a person needs extended care, they will receive extended care. If an assisted living facility is appropriate for their needs, they will receive that level of care. Now, I know that some seniors will welcome this change . I know that some wil l find it difficult. That is why I have insisted, and the cabinet has agreed, that the health authorities must have transition plans in place.

Health authorities are required to meet with families that are affected and to outline plans for care

3000 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, APRIL 29, 2002 that will be appropriate for the affected family mem- ber. Mr. Speaker: The member for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant has a supplementary question. J. Kwan: There is an enormous credibility gap be- t w e e n w h a t t h i s g o v e r n m e n t s a y s a n d w h a t i t d o e s . Last week, after bungling the health care announce- ment, the Premier promised seniors that they would not be forced to move from long-term care facilities until they were fully consulted.

Today we see again that seniors are being forced to leave their homes with- out having any idea where they will end up. It is cruel to treat seniors this way, and it shows that the govern- ment has lost… Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. J. Kwan: …quite frankly, its moral compass. Again, to the Minister of State for Long Term Care: why are seniors being forced to leave their homes when the Premier promised them that they would be fully consulted? Will the minister provide and promise that seniors will not be treated in the nightmarish way that this government is treating them right now? [1425] Hon. K.

Whittred: I am committed, as I said before, that every senior in this province who may be affected by this change will be thoroughly consulted. Plans will be discussed not only with the senior but with that person's family, and there will be much notice in ad- vance that an appropriate care solution is in place. This government is committed to building 5,000 additional intermediate and long-term care beds. We are on track with that commitment to meet our target in 2006.

The health authorities have their three-year budget plans, and we are working with non-profit agencies and the private sector to deliver on this commitment. There are many organizations in this province who want to be part of this solution, and we are going to make that happen. STRATHCONA ADULT DAY CARE CENTRE J. Kwan: This government has flipped and flopped all over the map on the long-term care issue. The min- ister says… Interjection. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. J. Kwan: …that assisted living and community- based supports will be there for seniors, but the fact is that the government is cutting these services.

In my own community the government is closing the Strath- cona Adult Day Care Centre tomorrow. This centre is the only one that serves the Chinese-speaking commu- nity, but instead of supporting them this government is sentencing them to spend their days in isolation and alone in their homes. Will the Minister of State for Long Term Care step in today and make sure this cen- tre stays open so that these seniors will have a place to go after tomorrow? Hon. K. Whittred: This member is well aware that the society which ran that organization no longer wishes to continue with it.

She is also well aware that the Vancouver coastal health authority is actively en- gaged in trying to find another provider for that ser- vice. I agree with the member that this is a valuable service. I agree that adult day that is culturally appro- priate is very necessary, and the issue is in the hands of the Vancouver coastal health authority, whose obliga- tion it is to provide the service. Mr. Speaker: The member for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant has a supplementary question. J.

Kwan: The minister ought to know it was the health authority that approached the society and asked them if they would be prepared to give up their fund- ing to another society to provide for that service. When the society dissolved their association with the under- standing that the money would be offered to another organization, that money was not offered to the other organization. Now the centre is shutting down. I hope this minister goes out and makes sure this service is provided to the community, because this government has taken away the money and they have flip-flopped on their commitment to seniors.

It is clear that this government does not care about seniors or understand their needs. They have broken promise after promise. Every day they're causing pain, hardship and uncertainty. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister for Long Term Care admit her government has got it wrong, go back to the drawing board and consult with seniors and their fami- lies before she makes this disastrous situation even worse? Hon. K.

Whittred: This government is the first gov- ernment anywhere in Canada that I am aware of which has the courage to put forth a long-range plan that will ultimately address the needs of our growing seniors population. We are committed to putting more options in place to cre ate a wider spe ctrum of services of care for our seniors. We will meet that long-term plan by the year 2006. HALCYON HOME B. Suffredine: This morning on CBC radio it was reported that at Nakusp, seniors who reside in the Hal- cyon Home were told that it's closing and they have to move.

They have not been told about alternatives, and in fact there are no other facilities at Nakusp. Under- standably, they and their families are worried. Can the

MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2002 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 3001 Minister of State for Intermediate, Long Term and Home Care give any assurance to residents of the Hal- cyon and other seniors in the province that they will be cared for? [1430] Hon. K. Whittred: I would like to say right off the top of my answer that we are all concerned about the anxiety that has been created amongst the seniors homes, and I find it most regretful. However, this gov- ernment is committed to providing the very best care we can in the most appropriate setting for our senior members.

While I know that the members in the Hal- cyon home are finding this announcement difficult, I can assure them and their families that the interior health authority will be meeting with them, that they will be discussing what is the appropriate level of care and the appropriate options and that no change will take place until those discussions have taken place. It's also my understanding that these changes will take place well down the road, I believe, in something like 24 months. Mr. Speaker: The member for Nelson-Creston has a supplementary question. B.

Suffredine: The families of seniors living in the Halcyon Home are very concerned that they have not been and are not being consulted on the changes. Can the Minister of State for Intermediate, Long Term and Home Care tell us what steps she's taking to ensure that family members will be included in any plans to move residents of Halcyon into their new homes? Hon. K. Whittred: Last Monday during open cabi- net I announced that health authorities must submit comprehensive transition plans about the way they are going to implement the new-era commitments to home and community care.

The health authorities under- stand that must be done, and they will be complying with that. I want to make it very clear to the public, to our seniors and to their families that no facility will be closed until the health authority has developed a plan of care for the individuals affected by this change. As my colleague said so eloquently the other day, no door will be closed until another door opens. WEST COAST EXPRESS CONTRACT WITH CP RAIL R.

Hawes: A Supreme Court ruling has finally al- lowed the public to look at a badly negotiated contract with CP Rail, a 20-year contract that's costing the tax- payers of this province an absolute fortune. Taxpayers are on the hook for millions of dollars that West Coast Express has to pay to CP Rail for the use of its tracks and its crews. In fact, news reports quote a member of the TransLink board as stating that $4 out of every $4.50 ticket goes to CP Rail. Can the Minister of Transportation tell my con- stituents how we got into this ridiculous mess? Hon. J.

Reid: I'm sorry, I really can't enlighten the member about the rationale behind this, other than to say that the minister responsible at the time was Glen Clark. This deal, being a 20-year deal without the oppor- tunity to renegotiate the contract, is onerous, is difficult for TransLink and is obviously a problem in being able to provide cost-effective transit services. R. Hawes: My constituents rely heavily on the West Coast Express. It has now reached capacity and needs to expand, but this contract is getting in the way of expansion.

Can the minister tell my constituents if she's able to offer anything to West Coast Express to ensure that it continues to be viable? Hon. J. Reid: This deal is under federal jurisdiction because of federal legislation, so the appeal has been to the federal government to allow this to be examined. TransLink has been spearheading that effort quite ef- f e c t i v e l y . C e r t a i n l y , w e h a v e j o i n e d i n t o r e q u e s t t h e federal government — I've spoken to the federal minis- ter responsible — to indeed look at this deal. FREEDOM-OF-INFORMATION REQUEST TO HEALTH SERVICES MINISTRY J.

Kwan: My office has made a request under the Freedom of Information Act for a list of communica- tions contracts let by the combined Health ministries. This request was due on March 28. It is now April 29. Calls by my office over the last few weeks have resulted in the repeated response that it is in sign-off stage. [1435] To the Minister of Health Services: now that he has thrown the health care system into chaos, is he now afraid to release the amount of money spent on spin doctors? Can I have a commitment from this minister that the materials will be released today? Hon. C.

Hansen: I'll take the question on notice. BCTF DIRECTIVE TO TEACHERS J. Les: My question is to the Minister of Education. There are media reports that indicate that the B.C. Teachers Federation is encouraging teachers to read a statement that discredits foundation skills assessments before they distribute the tests to students. In the statement it states that the FSA tests are not designed to test all that you have learned. They are not designed to help your teachers know how to help you to learn. To the Minister of Education: what is her response to these disruptive and juvenile tactics? Hon. C.

Clark: The member's got it right on. They are disruptive. They're not just disruptive; they're irre- sponsible, quite frankly. It's irresponsible for the union

3002 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, APRIL 29, 2002 to be counselling its members to undermine children's education in the classroom. I know the BCTF has a po- litical campaign they're embarking on. They've decided they want to try and defeat the government over the next five years. They are a political organization. That is their right, but they have absolutely no right when they undertake that campaign to start undermining children's education in the classroom. We send our children to schools in British Colum- bia hoping that they will get the best education that they can.

Politics has no place in the classrooms of this province, and I would suggest to the BCTF that it's time that we drew the line. It's time that they drew the line that says no, they're not going to disrupt those kids' education. Every child in British Columbia cer- tainly deserves better than that. [End of question period.] Hon. S. Hagen: I seek leave to table an annual re- port. Leave granted. Tabling Documents Hon. S. Hagen: I'm pleased to present to the House today the annual report of the Property Assessment Appeal Board for the year 2001-02. Orders of the Day Hon. G.

Collins: I call consideration of report of the resolutions from Committee of Supply. I move that the reports of resolutions from the Committee of Supply on March 6, 7, 11, 25, 27, and April 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11 and 17 be now received, taken as read and agreed to. Motion approved. Hon. G. Collins: I move that there be granted from and out of the consolidated revenue fund the sum of $25,197,517,000. This sum includes that authorized to be paid under

section 1 of the Supply Act (No. 1), 2002 and is granted by Her Majesty towards defraying the charges and expenses of the public service of the prov- ince for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2003. Motion approved. Hon. G. Collins: I move that there be granted from and out of the consolidated revenue fund the sum of $1,403,004,000. This sum includes that authorized to be paid under

section 2 of the Supply Act (No. 1), 2002 and is granted by Her Majesty towards defraying the capital, loans, investments and other financing re- quirements of the province for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2003. Motion approved. Introduction and First Reading of Bills SUPPLY ACT, 2002-2003 H o n . G . C o l l i n s p r e s e n t e d a m e s s a g e f r o m H e r Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Sup- ply Act, 2002-2003. Hon. G. Collins: I move that the bill be introduced and read a first time now. Motion approved. [1440] Hon. G.

Collins: This supply bill is introduced to provide supply for the operation of government pro- grams for the 2002-03 fiscal year. The amount requested is that resolved by the Committee of Supply after con- sideration of the estimates. The House has already re- ceived, taken as read and agreed to the report of resolu- tions from the Committee of Supply and, in addition, has resolved that there be granted from and out of the consolidated revenue fund the necessary funds toward defraying the charges and expenses of the public service of the province for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2003. Mr.

Speaker, it's the intention of the government to proceed with all stages of the supply bill this day. Bill 33 introduced, read a first a first time and or- dered to proceed to second reading forthwith. [1445-1450] Second Reading of Bills SUPPLY ACT, 2002-2003 Hon. G. Collins: I move that the bill now be read a second time. Mr. Speaker: Hon. members, in keeping with the practice of this House, the final supply bill will be per- mitted to advance through all stages in one sitting. Motion approved. Hon. G.

Collins: I move that the bill be now re- ferred to a Committee of the Whole House for consid- eration forthwith. Bill 33, Supply Act, 2002-2003, read a second time and referred to a Committee of the Whole House for consideration forthwith. [1455] Committee of the Whole House SUPPLY ACT, 2002-2003 The House in Committee of the Whole (Section

B) on Bill 33; H. Long in the chair.

MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2002 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 3003 The committee met at 2:55 p.m. Sections 1 and 2 approved. Schedules 1 and 2 approved.

Preamble approved. Title approved. Hon. G. Collins: I move the committee rise and report the bill complete without amendment. Motion approved. The committee rose at 2:56 p.m. The House resumed; Mr. Speaker in the chair. Report and Third Reading of Bills Bill 33, Supply Act, 2002-2003, reported complete without amendment, read a third time and passed. Hon. G. Collins: I call second reading of Bill 11. Second Reading of Bills MISCELLANEOUS STATUTES AMENDMENT ACT, 2002 Hon. G. Collins: I move that the bill be now read a second time.

The repeal of the Access to Education Act will re- turn autonomy to the boards of public post-secondary institutions to set tuition fees and mandatory ancillary fees. This will enable institutions working with stu- dents to determine what level of fees is reasonable, fair and affordable. It will also enable institutions to meet the demand for increased student access and improved quality of education. This bill contains a housekeeping amendment to the Assessment Act that will clarify that towers used for broadcasting and rebroadcasting are assessable improvements.

As a result of the change in regulation requested by the B.C. Association of Broadcasters, these improvements are now assessed in a lower prop- erty tax class. They are no longer defined as telecom- munications improvements. This legislative amend- ment is required to ensure that they are, however, still defined as improvements. The Family Relations Act will be amended to repeal a

section which has been held to discriminate against unmarried mothers and their children. Bill 29, the Health and Social Services Delivery Improvement Act, con- tained a consequential amendment to the Health Au- thorities Act, restoring separate bargaining units for community health and health facilities workers. The amendment in this bill identifies the correct Labour Re- lations Board decision that the Labour Relations Board must now reference and extends the time period avail- able to the Labour Relations Board from 30 days to 90 days to give effect to the restoration of the separate units.

The amendment to the Industry Training and Ap- prenticeship Act will provide for the appointment of a one-person transitional board to wind up the Industry Training and Apprenticeship Commission, ITAC. The core services review of ITAC led government to the conclusion that it should be phased out and a new ap- proach to industry training and apprenticeship be de- veloped. New legislation will be introduced in a future session to implement a new approach to industry train- ing and apprenticeship for British Columbia.

The amendments to the Municipalities Enabling and Validating Act (No. 3) and the Vancouver Charter will transfer legal authority for the Gastown and Chi- natown provincial heritage designations made in 1971 to the city of Vancouver and will provide the city the authority to create heritage conservation areas, a power already available to all other local governments. The amendment to the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act will delete the following four parts from the schedules under the act:

(1) Beaumont Marine Park,

(2) D'Arcy Island Marine Park,

(3) Princess Margaret Marine Park and

(4) Sidney Spit Marine Park. These parks are being deleted from the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act in order to enable their transfer to Canada for inclusion in a new national park reserve in the southern Gulf Islands. [1500] These deletions will come into effect by regulation to coincide with the national park establishment agreement to be signed later this year. Deputy ministers currently earn 1.5 years of pen- sionable service for each year of service as a deputy minister.

The amendment to the Public Service Act will reduce it to one year of pensionable service for each year of service as a deputy minister. This is necessary to ensure that deputy ministers' pensions are consistent with other public service employees and deputy minis- ters in other Canadian jurisdictions. Bill 11 also amends the Strata Property Act to rein- state the superintendent of real estate's role in approv- ing changes to schedules of unit entitlement and voting rights. These amendments are necessary to protect strata property owners from inadvertent errors where a strata plan has been amended.

This bill also amends the Strata Property Act to provide Nisga'a government bodies with the authority to make decisions on land use with respect to strata property developments on Nisga'a lands. Bill 11 also amends the Taxation (Rural Area) Act to recognize a longstanding administrative practice. The Ministry of Provincial Revenue issues copy taxation notices to rural property taxpayers who report by the tax due date that they have not received their annual tax notice.

This practice, which extends the penalty-free time for payment in these institutions, reflects the gov- ernment's new-era commitment to help maximize revenue collection within the principles of fairness and equity.

3004 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, APRIL 29, 2002 In closing, the Vancouver Charter investment au- thority amendments will broaden the investment pow- ers of the city of Vancouver, providing it with authori- ties to invest its moneys that are more equivalent to those currently available to all other B.C. municipalities and to the Municipal Finance Authority. The amend- ment responds to requests for this change from the city of Vancouver. I move second reading. Mr. Speaker: The member for Burnaby North. R. Lee: I ask leave to make an introduction. Leave granted. Introductions by Members R.

Lee: I am pleased to introduce some students and their teacher in the House today. They are from St. Helen's School, which is located in Burnaby North. Twenty-nine students and their teacher, Ms. Natola, are having a tour of the Legislature. Would the House please make them welcome. Debate Continued Mr. Speaker: The question is second reading of Bill 11. Motion approved. Hon. G. Collins: I move that the bill be referred to a Committee of the Whole House to be considered at the next sitting of the House after today.

Bill 11, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2002, read a second time and referred to a Committee of the Whole House for consideration at the next sitting of the House after today. Hon. G. Collins: I call second reading of Bill 34. [H. Long in the chair.] SCHOOL AMENDMENT ACT, 2002 Hon. C. Clark: This act introduces a number of broad reforms to the School Act. All of them are about our number one priority, and that's improving student achievement.

We want to create a top-notch public education system for young people in British Columbia: a system that recognizes the importance of parental involvement and gives parents a more meaningful voice in how our schools are run, a system that gives students more choice about the school they attend and the educational program they follow, a system that provides school boards with greater financial flexibility and enables them to become more entrepreneurial and, above all, a system that's focused at every level on improving stu- dent performance.

I've spoken many times about the importance of parental involvement and its clear link to student achievement. It cannot be ignored, and it is paramount in this legislation. Students do better when their par- ents are actively involved in their education. The most important determinant of student success is parental involvement. Schools do better when they have paren- tal support, and satisfaction levels increase across the entire school community. But parents don't always have the opportunity to be true partners at the school level.

All too often par- ents and parent advisory councils, they tell me, are seen primarily as the folks who organize the bake sale. They feel like they're given little or no input into dis- cussion or decision-making around the big issues that affect their children's education. In fact, much of the criticism of the school system comes from parents who feel they've been ignored or patronized or pushed aside. [1505] It's time we welcomed them back. It's time we let them know we value their energy. We want their en- thusiasm, and we are prepared to harness their creativ- ity.

Today's legislation will give parents at every school a meaningful voice in how our schools are run. The legislation will see a school planning council estab- lished in every single public school in British Colum- bia. Each school will have five members: the principal, who will lead the council; a teacher, who will be elected by other teachers at the school; and three par- ents, who will be elected by the parent advisory council from among its members. I'm sure you, hon. Speaker, and all members of this House know that every parent whose child attends a school is automatically a mem- ber of that school's PAC.

Together, the school planning council will be re- sponsible for drawing up an annual plan that identifies the school's strengths and weaknesses, sets goals for improvements and monitors their progress towards getting there. The school plan is in essence a mini– accountability contract. It will serve the same purpose. It's part of the accountability cycle that will be centred on the goal of improving student achievement, but this time the council will focus it at the school level. The new accountability cycle incorporates some of the best elements of the former accreditation process.

It ensures that parents have continuous involvement in what happens at their children's school every single year, not just every six years. Councils will submit their annual plans to their board for approval, and the board will be able to ask for revisions if they feel that the plan is not sufficiently focused on student achievement. Once approved, school plans will become the basis of the boards' ac- countability contracts. School planning councils will not replace parent advisory councils, which have long been an important part of our education system. Rather, councils will en-

MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2002 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 3005 hance the work of PACs and give them a stronger voice. They'll be able to advise councils on any matter relating to the school. If requested, PACs will be able to assist councils in carrying out their functions as well. Refocusing public education at the school level will encourage local responsibility and accountability and help public schools reconnect with their communities. Then there's the issue of choice. Everywhere I go, parents talk to me about choice, because they want to choose the school and the educational program that are right for their child.

Students in our system are some- one's children. When we send our children to school, we're asking professionals to take care of something that we may not know how to do as well, but that doesn't mean that we give up the right to make deci- sions about how we'd like it done. This legislation provides choice. School boards will now be required to establish catchment areas, and sub- ject to space availability, students will be able to attend schools in any catchment area anywhere across B.C.

I know many students will continue to attend their neighbourhood school, but now we're ensuring the additional opportunity for children to go to other schools, as well, so that individual children can access the educational program that's best for them. If every child is different, then why should every school be the same? We need to allow parents to choose the school for their children, because they know what's best for their children.

If a school isn't performing, as long as parents are required to send their children to a local school and that school has a guaranteed customer base, there is very little incentive for the district to improve that school. We want to change the incentives in the system by providing choice. It's that simple. W e w ant t o g i v e s c ho o l b o ar d s m o re f re e d o m a nd flexibility. They've told us they need it to bring about improvements in their districts, and we're delivering. Board powers will be increased by this legislation. It will allow boards to do a number of things.

First, to open or close a school without the approval of the Minister of Education. Those most affected by those decisions should be the final decision-makers, not the folks in Victoria. It will allow them to share administrative services with other boards, municipali- ties or corporate entities, thereby lowering administra- tive costs.

We need to make sure that we can find every saving that we can in administration across the prov- ince so we can redirect every dollar back into the class- room. [1510] It will allow districts to share in the financial gain from the sale of surplus capital assets, proportionate to their share of the purchase. This returns local funds to school boards for capital projects, and it reduces the need to reallocate scarce operating funds to capital purposes.

It will allow them to create separate entities through which they can engage in a variety of entre- preneurial activities — something school boards have been asking for, for many, many years. That might mean school boards could offer consult- ing services, or they could develop and provide admin- istrative or educational expertise. It might mean off- shore schools. One for-profit school is already operat- ing in China, and the money we are making there we are bringing back to British Columbia to support stu- dents here.

We have, thanks to the staff at the Ministry of Edu- cation, the best curriculum on offer in the world. We should be maximizing that benefit for B.C. students. We have made a huge investment, as taxpayers, in cre- ating that curriculum. Let's maximize our investment. Let's export our intellectual capital. Let's go overseas and market our curriculum to people who don't have access to it so that they can benefit too. Then let's bring the benefits home for kids in our schools in British Co- lumbia.

When we created these corporate entities in the legislation, we also did it to make sure school districts, when they engage in entrepreneurial activities, do not become liable for debts, obligations or the acts of the company they create. The liabilities of these corporate entities will be confined to the separate entity and not the school board, and it won't put taxpayers' assets at risk. We're fulfilling here a commitment to develop a new funding allocation system, one that gives school boards much more flexibility.

The new funding for- mula, as I've said a number of times in this House, un- ties many of the strings that were previously attached to education dollars, and it allows districts to allocate more resources based on the needs in their local com- munity. They are locally elected; they know what's going on in their local communities; they should be making the decisions that meet the needs of the chil- dren in those communities. I've also talked a lot in the past about the impor- tance of accountability in our school system, and I'm pleased to say that this legislation addresses account- ability in a number of ways.

It requires school boards, for the first time, to complete accountability contracts to hold every board publicly accountable for student achievement, and it allows the appointment of special advisers to review the progress of boards in improving student achievement. It also allows an official trustee to replace the board of student achievement if a district is at risk and if it is in the public interest to do so. It changes the title of administrative officer to prin- cipal, vice-principal or director of instruction to recog- nize that principals are not just paper-shufflers. They are leaders in our schools.

We are counting on them to provide leadership in the school planning councils. We are counting on them to provide the vision and to build the team behind them that will ensure that every single school will see increased success every year. The legislation requires that a certified teacher as- sess and evaluate the progress of every enrolled stu- dent, including those receiving their education via dis- tributed electronic learning. It requires a francophone education authority to employ a chief financial officer

3006 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, APRIL 29, 2002 to ensure separate representation of financial and edu- cational issues at the board of director levels. This legislation is a reflection of our government's vision for a new era in education. The amendments will guarantee parents more opportunity to have meaningful input in their children's education. It lets students and parents choose the schools that best meet their needs. It restores legislative recognition that prin- cipals and vice-principals are indeed leaders in our schools.

It gives school boards more autonomy to make decisions based on the needs of their local communi- ties, and it allows them to be more entrepreneurial. Most importantly, this legislation puts student achievement firmly at the forefront of our priorities. With these legislated amendments to the School Act, the public education system in British Columbia will do what it should do: serve our children, who are the future of our province. I move that the bill now be read a second time. [1515] R. Harris: I'd also like to speak in support of this bill today.

I'm really, really excited by the opportunity this bill is going to present to all the schools in this province and to parents and to students. During the election last year, certainly one of the areas that excited me the most to talk about was in fact our new-era commitments around education — the fact that we were going to bring an education system into place in this province that actually did reflect the local values and priorities of the communities we live in. That really is important.

I know, having three sons go through the education system myself and having been an active member of a lot of the PACs, certainly the frustration that…. When I meet with parents, what I hear today is that there's hardly any attendance at these PACs. There's good reason for it. These PACs have been frustrated. They've never really had any real input into the education sys- tem. They have been treated for the most part as fund- raisers, and their views have been trivialized. It's little wonder today that we get so few people turning out at PAC meetings.

But there's no doubt that the parent is the most important component of a child's education. If we want to bring parents back into the education sys- tem, we have to give them real meaning and real input, and we have to give them real participation. With this bill, every part of it is excellent. It really is, and it answers it all. I could probably stay here and talk to every one, but I'm going to concentrate a bit on a few of the items. I think the school planning council is where it really begins in terms of generating parent participation in the education system. We really have to give parents a real choice.

We have to give them real input and allow them to be a part of what's going on in the day-to-day activities of their school. It's also a double-edged sword in that it helps edu- cators and teachers educate parents on the issues they face every day in that school. That's how we build an education system that actually provides for our chil- dren and provides for their future. As we all learn of the challenges we each face, it allows us to put a better plan together. The school planning council will, in fact, act as a great instrument for that.

I said earlier that the input and influence of parents is a big part of it. Where school planning councils will become more effective, I think, in the future is as we move to developing the more charter systems of schools and how schools become…. The minister just said: "If every child is different, why should every school be the same?" It'll actually help them lay out the groundwork for how we develop the schools in our communities and how they will look in the future. That really is critical for moving forward and developing a system that's going to work for parents, children and teachers.

I want to talk a bit about accountability, because I think this is the part of the puzzle that's always been missing in our education system. I am excited by the aspect of having the province be able to appoint a spe- cial adviser — finally having a school and education system that has accountability not just for financial matters but also for student achievement. The fact that we'll have an education system where we're going to design and measure student achievement by each stu- dent…. We do have that capacity in our education sys- tem.

That is where it links this whole accountability together so we actually start to get results. School boards are not looking just at numbers; they're actually looking at outcomes. It is, in fact, outcomes that we're concerned about. I know it was outcomes that I fol- lowed through my life with my children in school. I think that is what all of us put our kids in there for: to make sure they get the best education they can. Meas- uring the outcomes on an individual student basis rather than a total school outcome will, at the end of the day, provide a much better system for us.

I'm actually excited by the fact that as a province, as a ministry, we have an opportunity to use a special adviser. Historically, what had to be done was removal of the whole board if in fact the financial numbers weren't met. We now have an opportunity to get in- v o l v e d w i t h s c h o o l b o a r d s b e f o r e i t e v e r r e a c h e s t h a t point and to make sure they're providing the service and getting the outcomes that are in part of their school accountability contracts. Certainly, the accountability contracts are the basis on which everything will work.

Knowing and reviewing the one we have in the riding of Skeena, I'm certainly encouraged that we're actually starting to look at the right things. [1520] I want to talk a bit about financial flexibility. It's nice to say that we're going to make school boards ac- countable for academics and financially, but if we're going to wrap the whole puzzle together, it's really critical that we also give them the tools they need in terms of financial flexibility to meet those outcomes and to meet those goals.

I think this bill finalizes the part of the puzzle that actually provides the tools that school boards are going to need down the road and in the future as they design a school district and as they design schools and an education system that fit our

MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2002 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 3007 local communities, fit the profile and the culture of the places we live in. You know, this is exciting, and it is innovative times in education in this province. I know that every time I've talked to people about education and what we're doing with it. There has been a lot of confusion about how it's been communicated, but every time I sit down and talk with another group, at the end of it people are actually excited about it.

When you start to finally wrap your head around the cultural changes we're making in education, the fact that we're giving people real input and giving them choices and allow- ing them to design a curriculum, a timetable, that actu- ally fits our communities…. I know that in the north, parents have always said to me: "How come we have the kids off at spring break and then all the loggers are off work during breakup?

Why can't we have spring break with breakup at the same time?" They're excited by the fact that once they start to wrap their head around that aspect, they realize there's a whole bunch of other opportunities from year- round schooling, extended times…. This is, in fact, a great time for education in the province. In order to get to that point, we've got to start to tap into the creative spirits of people that live in those communities. You know, it was interesting. I heard on CBC the other day that Port Simpson was announcing that they're going to be going to a private school system model.

When the reporter asked them why they would look at doing that, the response was quite interesting. He mentioned the fact that they can't get their elders involved with the school. The system and the curricu- lum don't jibe and line up with the cultural seasons that they have, whether it's herring roe or whatever other issues they face in terms of their scheduling. They can't bring the parents into the school system, and the school system wasn't reflecting their values. All they wanted to do was have more meaningful input into what was happening today. Those com- ments are being echoed all over this province.

I think this is the kind of stuff that in fact is going to bring people back to the public education system. It's actu- ally going to make it the first choice where you want to send your child. The people who are critics that say people are going to leave our system and move to the private education system…. This in fact solves that problem, because — you know what, Mr. Speaker? — they've been going there for a while. This is how we're going to move it forward. It takes a whole community to raise a child, and I think this legislation makes that quite possible. Thank you, Mr.

Speaker, and thank you, minister, for advancing this legislation. W. McMahon: It is a privilege to rise in the House today to speak to Bill 34, School Amendment Act, 2002. We all know that education is the cornerstone of our society. Two weeks ago my colleague from Delta North commented on the Select Standing Committee on Edu- cation's report, A Future for Learners: A Vision for Re- newal of Education in British Columbia , the first report from this committee since 1971.

It is important to share what we heard from British Columbians as we brought the public back into discussion about the state of the education system and how it should serve the needs of students as well as the province's employment needs. The report noted that "with respect to local in- volvement, parents of students in the K-12 system wish to be involved, not necessarily in active governance matters, but in a meaningful advisory capacity.

Unfor- tunately, for a significant number of parents, the cur- rent role of parent advisory councils and opportunities for parent input into significant decisions affecting their children are not seen to be as comprehensive or effective as they could be." Parental involvement is a key indicator for im- proved student achievement. Under Bill 34 school planning councils will be established in every public school in British Columbia this year. Parents will have an opportunity to provide real and meaningful input at the local level.

The council has the ability to become directly involved in the goal of helping to improve student achievement on a continuous basis by develop- ing an annual school plan. The school plan will form the basis of the board's accountability contract. The minister has stated that the accountability con- tract will reflect the different needs and the different goals of each district. As the Education Committee travelled, we certainly heard about accountability. Ac- countability for performance with a focus on improv- ing student achievement is, as it should be, the number one priority.

We heard from many parents about par- ent involvement and what it means to them. They want to have greater participation, they want opportunities to give input, and they wish to have more access to information that will enable them to make better choices on behalf of their children. [1525] It was interesting to note that there has been an amendment to ease financial restrictions that have tied the hands of school boards to allow them to share ad- ministrative services with other boards, municipalities or corporate entities. I was for many years employed by a rural school district in the administration office.

The concept of shared services was discussed years ago. It was discussed but not implemented. If school districts had been allowed to share administrative ser- vices within their own communities, what a difference it would have made. Whether it was administrative offices or payroll services, the opportunities were many. It was the ability to effect the change, to find cost efficiencies, that was limited. With creative thinking, this new legislation offers so many opportunities for districts. Through these op- portunities, districts will be able to put students first, which is what education is all about.

The legislation will stop the confusion about the term "administrative officer." We will again have principals and vice- principals. They are leaders in their schools and should be recognized as such. I noted my colleague from Delta North was the first to lead the applause when this was

3008 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, APRIL 29, 2002 announced. As a former teacher and principal, he un- derstands. The Select Standing Committee on Education rec- ognized that the system tends to be focused on the means of education without sufficient attention to the outcomes. The system is often seen to be driven by the interests of the system or the service providers rather than by the interests of the learners and the public. This legislation addresses some of these concerns. I was reviewing some of the submissions the com- mittee received, and I noted with interest the presenta- tion made by the B.C.

School Trustees Association on October 6, 2001, entitled Improving Flexibility, Choice, Access and Quality in Education: Principles and Issues . In their presentation, they proposed nine general princi- ples for the committee's consideration. The first two formed the foundation on which the other seven prin- ciples were built. Their first principle was that school boards are re- sponsible for balancing flexibility, choice, access and quality in education programs and services, and, sec- ondly, that flexibility, choice, access and quality are linked.

As they went on to talk about addressing the issues of flexibility, choice, access and quality, they say that flexibility is the ability to respond to the needs and changing circumstances.

They stated that if school boards were to get the enhanced flexibility they seek, we would see school boards with more authority to go along with the re- sponsibilities they already have; school boards with more and tougher choices to make around the alloca- tion of resources; school boards working even harder to build community understanding of tough issues, to understand community perspectives on these issues and to forge community support around school board decisions; increased expectations and school boards being held to a higher standard of accountability by students, parents, the community and the provincial government for the directions they set and for the re- sults they achieve; increased opportunities and en- hanced potential to improve achievement for all stu- dents, to address community priorities and expecta- tions, to support educators in their work, focus re- sources in more effective ways and become more re- sponsible to local needs and changing circumstances.

I personally feel that autonomy and accountability go hand in hand. The accountability contracts that the minister has introduced will allow government to work with districts on student achievement together. They talked about many things in the report, and I noticed that some of the things they wanted to see are actually going to be happening. When they talked about choice and the array of educational programs and services available, they stated that increasing choice can be understood differently.

It could include enhancing program and service options, reducing or eliminating school boundaries and enhancing parent influence in the classroom. This bill is what this is all about — exactly what they were asking. Access. School boards address access — the ability to take advantage of available choices in a number of ways, including balancing program offerings across schools, allowing students to register outside catch- ment areas and offering programs in alternate settings.

I think that this new legislation is simply what they wanted, so it's good news for school boards. [1530] In conclusion to their report, they talk about how school boards' efforts to understand and improve qual- ity also dovetail with provincial initiatives around as- sessment and accountability, including an improved accreditation process for schools and, most recently, the establishment of ministry school board accountabil- ity contracts.

While there is still a great deal of room for improving these mechanisms for understanding and monitoring improvements in student achievement, they represent significant steps in this direction. T he y c o nc l u d e b y s ay i ng : " T o g o v e rn i s t o c ho o s e , to make decisions. School boards must constantly make decisions about the programs and services they will offer and about the trade-offs that they, like every level of government, must make in the public interest within the resources provided by the public.

Through it all, school boards remain focused on their key work: im- proving student achievement." Let me also share with you an e-mail received from an individual in Vancouver who had made a presenta- tion to the committee when we were there. Her e-mail states: "I felt I had to e-mail you to thank you for the excellent work that you and your committee have done in producing the report on education. It is encouraging to see that the committee has been able to reflect so well the need to effect some fundamental changes to our education delivery system.

As an involved parent for over 25 years, with three children aged 14, 21 and 27, I was very happy to see that the report can lead in the right direction — to bring the student back to the forefront in our planning and delivery. I have a strong sense that very many people will see that this report is honest, truthful, timely and a long time in coming." Mr. Speaker, I am using these examples to show that British Columbians will embrace the changes the minister has introduced. This is about putting students first. This is what is important to British Columbians.

Here's a quote from one of our presentations: "Nothing stops an organization faster than people who believe the way they worked yesterday is the way to work tomorrow." We are changing yesterday — and for the right reasons: the students. We are changing yesterday to ensure students have the education they need to ensure their success. This is why I will be supporting Bill 34, School Amendment Act, 2002. J. Kwan: The minister seems to believe that Bill 34 will fix all of the problems that currently exist in the K- to-12 education system.

In reality, this bill does not address the principal reason for the rapid deterioration of the quality of education and the capacity of educa- tors to perform their jobs provincially under the fund- ing from this minister.

MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2002 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 3009 This bill is also based on an assumption that the parents aren't already very involved in their schools, and what is unfortunate is that many parents, espe- cially those in my riding, are. They're so involved in trying to save important programs in our community. One example, which I know the minister knows, would be the inner-city school funding. After much lobbying of the government, finally this government committed this week that they would fund inner-city school kids and provide for the funding.

Parents have spent so much time and effort in lobbying this government and showing this government the worthiness of this pro- gram, and up until now this ministry, this government, ignored them. I remember when I asked the Minister of Education in the estimates process earlier on if the government would reinstate the inner-city school funding. The min- ister said no. The minister actually went down to a school in Vancouver-Burrard and told parents point- blank that she would not reinstate the funding. The parents, to their credit, redoubled their effort and did not give up. They did not give up their fight.

Then to that end they were able to get the government finally to admit that they were wrong, that they were wrong in cutting the inner-city school funding. Interjection. J. Kwan: The Minister of Education is sitting there, just going: "Yeah, yeah. We listened. We listened." I wish the minister would actually listen some more to what the parents have to say, because I have a long list of areas where parents are calling on this government to make sure that education programs are adequately funded by this government. [1535] The Minister of Education says: "Well, we listen. W e a l w a y s l i s t e n .

T h a t ' s t h e k i n d o f g o v e r n m e n t w e are." You know what? A group called Save Our Schools, SOS, were down in the community in Van- couver in front of the cabinet offices. They had over 15,000 signatures on a petition calling on the govern- ment to support educational programs and to fund education adequately. You know what? Nobody on the government's side even bothered to show up, to listen to the parents, to receive their petition. Shame on the government to claim they actually listen when, in fact, they don't. They only listen to the people that, I would submit, fund their campaign.

Those are the people, quite frankly, that they listen to. They don't listen to the parents, the SOS. Fifteen thou- sand names on the petition calling on the government to support education programs, and they ignore them. The minister is sitting there belittling the people who are involved with SOS, with the Save Our Schools committee. And she's saying: "Isn't so-and-so some- body who's involved with the communications firm, etc.…?" You know what? Those individuals are parents too, and they have every right. I have spoken with some of the parents with SOS. They're not politically active.

Many of them are actually from the Premier's riding, who came forward and asked for the minister, asked for this Liberal government that promised they would fund education adequately. In fact, they have broken that promise once again. Many parents contribute much of their time, as much time as they can in their children's education system. They do; there's no doubt about it. But many parents have a difficult time contributing time, not because they don't care about their child's education or what happens with the school system, but because it is a struggle for them to balance work and home life.

It is a very difficult task for them, especially for parents who are low income, especially parents from my riding who face multiple barriers. They have a very difficult time sometimes to be involved on a day-by-day basis. Some parents have a difficult time getting involved because of language barriers. Those are some of the reasons why people find it difficult to participate. Par- ents who work shift work — that, too, creates a prob- lem for them. Children who have elderly parents that face health challenges…. Those create additional hur- dles for parents' participation.

I think it is important to recognize that not all families are able to contribute to their children's schools as much as they would like. Many of those that are now are so busy trying to lobby the government to fund education adequately, they barely have time to look at some of the other crea- tive solutions. I spoke with about 40 parents just this last week when we were home. Parents are just ex- hausted trying to hold this government accountable on the issue around education funding.

The government had promised they would protect e d u c a t i o n w h e n i n f a c t w h a t t h e y h a v e d o n e i s b r i n g forward a three-year funding freeze in education that results in severe funding cuts, severe program cuts all throughout British Columbia in the educational sys- tem. [1540] This reality is, of course, borne out by the fact that fully one-third of the schools in B.C. do not currently have parent advisory councils. This raises concerns about the downloading of the responsibility by this government to parents through PACs and through the new planning council.

The minister laughs, and she thinks it's funny when one-third of the school system doesn't have PACs because parents are too busy. They have too many challenges in their lives to be involved. It does raise a question: what happens to that one-third of the school system where they won't see individuals elected to form the school planning councils? It does raise a serious question, and the minister just laughs as though somehow it's funny, as though some of the schools, some of the children…. Their education is somehow less important, less relevant. The issue around accreditation.

Despite all of the minister's fine words about increasing parent involve- ment, there's one key tool for parent involvement from the current School Act, and that appears to have disap- peared completely. What has happened to the accredi- tation process? This bill replaces the very binding ac- creditation process, which was strongly supported by

3010 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, APRIL 29, 2002 parents and parent advisory councils, with school planning councils. Here's a quote from a June 15, 2000, news release from the B.C. Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils: "Parents continue to firmly believe that accreditation is essential for both school improve- ment and accountability within the public school sys- tem." At BCCPAC's recent annual general meeting, dele- gates voted overwhelmingly in favour of a resolution supporting accreditation and the critical role of parent advisory councils in accreditation.

September 27, 2000, BCCPAC update: "…accreditation is essential for both school improvement and accountability within the school system; the new process is both meaningful and manageable while fulfilling the goals of accredita- tion…." The question must be raised: have parents and the PACs gained, or have they actually lost in our schools in terms of input as a result of losing the ac- creditation process, with this new bill? That question has to be raised in this House. This government, quite frankly, is causing conflict and chaos in yet another area of our most important public services. Health is one of them.

Now we see this in our public school system. There is a real concern amongst parents that this downloading of responsibil- ity of the government's cuts to education…. What it will do is set parent against parent, school against school. If schools were receiving the funding they require, they wouldn't need to allocate the time and energy of the boards and school staff towards working on educa- tional projects that could be sold to schools in other provinces and other countries.

If schools were receiv- ing adequate funding, boards would not need Bill 34 to give them more power to sell off property and other assets to make up for the revenue shortfalls. Let me just go into the record, because I know this Minister of Education is very proud of the damage that this government has done in the education system. She goes and brags about how they've protected education. Let's just measure those words in reality. Let's just do a reality check in terms of what's happening in our edu- cation system today as a result of this minister's and this government's cuts to education funding.

Gordon Comeau, president of the B.C. School Trus- tees Association, said that the province's education budget has been cut by about $300 million over the next three years because the government has piled ex- tra costs on school districts, including $150 million for the teachers' wage hike. The minister is saying that he's wrong. This is what Gordon Comeau had to say: "Pro- tected is not an accurate reflection — it's just a play on words. Cuts are happening, and they're happening in the classroom. Schools are going down." This is a re- cent quote: April 28 in the Vancouver Province.

Let's just look and see what's happened in Port Al- berni in terms of what this government is doing in the area of education: a $2 million shortfall. I don't hear the MLA from Port Alberni rising up in this House speak- ing and advocating for the students in her own com- munity. I don't hear that at all. A $2 million shortfall. What are the proposed cuts? Teachers — fewer teach- ers in the education system so that there will be higher classroom ratios. Everybody acknowledges that class- room size makes a difference.

It does make a difference in the educational outcomes for students. [1545] Teacher assistants are now being eliminated — up to 20 teacher assistants in Port Alberni. What do teacher assistants do? They help in the classrooms, par- ticularly children who have special needs perhaps, so that they can integrate into the classroom and learn with other students, and make sure that the other stu- dents who don't have special needs have adequate quality time in the classroom as well. The teachers and the children need the special needs assistants, and they're now going to be gone.

Maintenance workers who are just keeping the school clean, as an example — that is going to be on the chopping block as well. Clerical positions. Changes to the bus drivers' job descriptions. Non-enrolling teach- ers such as librarians will also have their hours cut. Librarians add to the learning outcomes of students — absolutely. There's no refuting that. With a $2 million shortfall in Alberni, these programs will now have to be reduced. The children and their educational oppor- tunities will be hurt by the action of this minister.

Let's just go to Burnaby for one minute, to a Bur- naby school trustee: a $7.5 million shortfall. What are they faced with in terms of proposed cuts? Eighty teaching positions, including classroom teachers, ESL teachers and librarians. Burnaby is not my riding. There are members here who represent the city of Bur- naby. They ought to be rising up and asking this minis- ter the questions. How would this bill help in the classroom to restore the teachers, the ESL teachers and the librarians? Counsellors will be lost in the Burnaby school district. Again, janitorial positions.

Cuts to school supplies, impacting the children. Career programs. The list goes on, and that's in the area of Burnaby. In Coquitlam, a $6.9 million funding shortfall. Pro- posed cuts? Curriculum experts, groundskeepers, re- source staff — all of the extras that make the school run. The minister is making sure that funding is not available for many of the school districts, with the rhetoric about protecting education when in fact she isn't. Bill 34 does not adequately address these issues, and the effects of the cuts to education are going to be felt by students and parents throughout British Co- lumbia.

Kootenay-Columbia school district. What's the pro- posed cut there? Closure of eight schools. Maybe the minister can sit there and say that is good for education and that Bill 34 is going to address it. Bill 34 is going to address the closure of eight schools in the Kootenay- Columbia school district. Parents, instead of perhaps trying to think about how they could be creative in terms of bringing in additional programs, will be stuck with trying to figure out how they're going to make up for the shortfall. How are they going to lobby govern- ment so that the government would listen to them and

MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2002 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 3011 put money into the education system that would assist the learning outcomes for students? Langley school district. What is the proposed short- fall there? It's $6.5 million. This is what the school trus- tee, Diane Pona, has to say: "This particular govern- ment I don't believe has a clue about what education is." That's the Province, April 25, 2002. Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district. A $7 million shortfall. Proposed cuts? What are those?

Forty-five teaching positions, 11 support staff, four administrative staff, increased class sizes between grades 4 and 12, impacting once again directly in the classroom and the opportunities for children to learn. In New Westminster, a $2.3 million shortfall. Pro- posed cuts? Charge students and staff for parking at the school. Eliminate 24 teaching positions and a com- munity education night school program. Eliminate some or all of the crossing guards. Postpone or even cancel an early French immersion program that was meant to start during the upcoming school year.

This is what New West is faced with: $2.3 million worth of shortfall. Ending the education night school program. Eliminating crossing guards. The minister can maybe sit here with a straight face and say: "We're protecting education." Tell that to the students, the teachers and the parents in New Westminster to see what they have to say, because that, in my definition of protection, is not protection. [1550] It is absolutely an affront to the people who advo- cate for the education system, who asked the govern- ment — and the government had promised — to fund and protect education.

In fact, what this minister is doing is cutting educational programs. Make no mis- take about it. North Vancouver school district, a $6.7 million shortfall. The proposed cuts? Increased class sizes in grades 4 to 7 and increased fees for band programs, outdoor school and summer school programs. Aging furniture and equipment won't be replaced. This government says on the one hand: "Hurray for us. We gave you a tax break." Guess what. This gov- ernment giveth, and this government taketh. You know what? They have cut education in terms of the support for the educational system.

They have increased tremendous pressures in the area of health care and taken away health care services. We've talked about that at other places in this Legisla- ture during the estimates, during question period and even today. This government is not fulfilling its com- mitment on long-term care facilities for seniors. In my own community they're shutting down an adult day care for seniors. This is what this government is doing in the area around education. They're going to increase fees for band programs, outdoor school and summer school programs. Prince George school district, $9.2 million worth of shortfall.

Proposed cuts: 160 teaching positions this year with an additional 57 next year. There will be 12 school closures, including these rural schools: Mcleod, Mcleod Lake, Hixon, Bear Lake and Blackburn Jr. Sec- ondary School. I'd like the minister to get up and tell the parents, students and educators in Prince George how Bill 34 will help them. How would freezing the education budget over the next three years, increasing pressures in terms of cost of education, and the government not funding those increased pressures, help the school dis- trict of Prince George?

Quesnel school district, $1 million worth of short- fall. Proposed cuts? Two elementary school closures. "To help address a budget shortfall of more than $1 million, the Quesnel school district board of trustees has decided to proceed with plans to close Wells Bark- erville and Rich Bar elementary schools in September. Students from Wells Barkerville Elementary School will be bused 77 kilometres one way from Wells to Bar- low Creek Elementary School," said Ed Napier, the school district 28 superintendent. Barlow Creek Ele- mentary is 11 kilometres northeast of Quesnel on the Barkerville Highway.

Other impacts in the Quesnel area: 12 teaching po- sitions and reductions in the number of trustees from seven to five. Saanich, $1.5 million worth of shortfall. Proposed cuts? Three special needs education assistants and 22 full-time teaching positions. Support staff: 20 non- unionized support staff and four administrators. The McTavish and Sansbury Elementary Schools will have to share one principal. That's what Saanich is faced with. Special needs education assistants make a differ- ence in the classroom. Saanich is going to lose three of them, three that I know they cannot afford to lose.

Sooke, $3 million worth of shortfall. Proposed cuts: 26 classroom teachers, four behavioral specialists, two teacher-librarians, ten teaching assistant positions and one youth and family counsellor; closure of two special education offices; increased class sizes between grades four and 12. Sooke is faced with a major impact as a result of this minister's lack of commitment in support- ing education for British Columbians and this govern- ment's broken promise of protecting education. This is what the district of Sooke is going to be faced with. Surrey school district, $17 million worth of short- fall.

Proposed cut: special education. Once again the children who are most vulnerable, who need supports in the school system, are not going to get it. [1555] The minister sits there and yawns loudly when I talk about special needs and the $17 million cut in the Surrey school district. Shame on her. Tell it to the parents that maybe it's boring to her when the issue of special needs and the pressures being faced by the Surrey school district are being brought up.

When their classrooms are being cut, tell them it's boring, unimportant and worthy of a loud yawn from the Minister of Education sitting in her chair when this matter is being raised. Richmond, $9.6 million of funding shortfall. Pro- posed cuts: 156 teaching positions including ESL teach- ers and learning assistants. You know, the Minister of

3012 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES M ONDAY, APRIL 29, 2002 Education and the member sitting behind me are heck- ling me and trying to imply that my discussion is be- cause I don't want to focus on the bill. This is exactly related to the bill because the minister says she wants to make sure there are more educational opportunities for students. I fail to see in this bill, with these cuts, how parents will be better able to participate and how the outcomes for students will be better as a result of these cuts.

Maybe these members don't care, or maybe they don't want to admit or be held accountable, because this government has cut education severely. Who's going to pay for that? The children in British Columbia are go- ing to pay for that. Maybe the government MLAs and the minister don't want the opposition talking about what the cuts are in the education system as a result of this govern- ment's direction, policy and priorities. But you know what? I am going to raise these issues because they do impact the educational outcomes for every single child in British Columbia. They are important.

If this minister says she will be open, accountable and consultative, well, then talk to the people who are faced with these cuts and reinstate the moneys so that they can provide the funding for these programs. The Vancouver school district, my own community — a $25.5 million shortfall; 200 teachers will no longer be in the classrooms, 121 other full-time positions, 9.5 multicultural home-school workers, and a raise in fees in the school system. That's what the Vancouver school board will be faced with: the largest deficit in the his- tory of British Columbia, and this is only for year one.

The Liberal government has committed to a three- year funding freeze in education. There will be addi- tional cuts in programs next year and the year after as a r e s u l t o f t h i s g o v e r n m e n t ' s l a c k o f p r i o r i t y i n f u n d i n g education. The greater Victoria school district, $6.4 million shortfall. Proposed cuts: 58 full-time teaching positions, $50,000 cut to the gifted program, 6.4 special education teachers, 20 elementary school staff positions, 20 sec- ondary school staff positions, increased class sizes be- tween grades 4 and 8. And management positions will also be eliminated.

This is just a glimpse into what this government is doing in the area of education for this year — just a glimpse into some of the school districts in terms of what this government is doing. And next year? Let me just take one example in terms of what will happen next year. The school districts are going to be faced with increased pressures — additional pressures to what they face now in terms of the cuts.

Those cuts next year will escalate and therefore further compound what this government is doing to British Columbians in the area of education. [1600] The minister may be thinking: "Well, you know, it's just the opposition that's saying these things." Maybe she's proud of her education cuts. Maybe that's the mark she wants to leave as the Minister of Education. You know, it's interesting to me because when I look at other comments from other people…. I look to the me- dia, for example, to see what they have to say about the actions of this government.

After all, the media is sup- posed to be independent, and they offer an independ- ent voice. Here's what Michael Smyth had to say on Voice of B.C. most recently, April 17, when Bill 34 was introduced. "I think, though, what a lot of the critics of this are saying is that this is kind of a diversionary tactic, a bit of a smokescreen, to make it look like government is actually doing something when in fact many people say they are severely underfunding education.

You've got school districts around the province that are facing record deficits — $25.5 million in Vancouver, the biggest school board deficit ever in the history of B.C. They're having a lot of problems. They might have to close schools. They may have to cut library budgets, all kinds of nasty things. So she" — meaning, in his statement, the Minister of Education — "can go on and talk about how great it is to have specialty schools and have all those great new programs. If the money is not there, it's just not going to happen." That is a comment from Michael Smyth on Voice of B.C.

Keith Baldrey has another comment relating to this bill. "She" — again, meaning the Minister of Education — "can send a special adviser into a school district. The school district has to pick up the salary and the ex- penses of that special adviser. So you've got this person from Victoria, from the minister's office, sitting there looking." Vaughn Palmer then interjects and says: "Kind of a spy for Christy Clark." Then Keith Baldrey goes on to say: "Exactly. A spy for Christy Clark, looking over the shoulders of those school trustees as they make decisions. There is a lot more power.

It's a power grab by Christy Clark in one way. On the one hand, she gives some power to the school boards and the parent advisory council and these new planning councils in schools. On the other hand, she's now exerting more power than any Education minister has had before over the education system. "Mike is right. At the end of the day, it comes down to money. We're talking about a three-year problem here. It's not just one year; it's three years of severe underfunding. They're forcing school districts now to think way outside the box. We're not talking about cutting classes here or even closing schools.

There are going to be a lot of school closures, but there are going to be a lot more cuts than just that." Keith Baldrey on Voice of B.C. You know, hon. Speaker, that says it in terms of what this government is doing. This government is cutting the education program left and right. Deputy Speaker: Member, your time has expired for speaking. J. Kwan: I am the designated speaker. Deputy Speaker: Proceed. J. Kwan: Thank you, hon. Speaker.

MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2002 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 3013 You know, the impacts of the cuts by this govern- ment are severe. The opposition knows it. Teachers know it. Parents know it; children know it. Commenta- tors from the media, as they observe this government, know it as well. The only people who seem not to know this government is hurting education by their so- called freeze of the education budget…. The minister has created a new meaning for the word "protection." That's what she calls it: protection for education. What it really translates into is cuts in education programs throughout British Columbia.

She, the Minister of Edu- cation, is the only one who doesn't know that she's hurting the children. This government are the only people that don't know they are hurting the children in British Columbia. The school boards are already saying there's not enough money to run current school programs, never mind the minister's much-bandied-around notion of magnet schools.

Vancouver school board chair Barbara Buchanan, asked to comment about the possibility of b ri ng i ng i n m ag ne t s c ho o l s , t o l d C B C rad i o : " W i t ho u t more money from the province, she'll be focused on making cuts, not delivering new programs." That was Barbara Buchanan, April 17, 2002. I wonder how the minister feels about that. She says Bill 34 gives them all kinds of opportunities to create better education systems. You know what?

Trus- tees themselves will be frantic just in trying to figure out how they're going to deal with all these cuts in the school system, never mind looking at delivering new programs. [1605] To the extent that there is funding, school districts are already providing choice to parents. Witness the Vancouver school board opening of the fine arts school at Nootka Elementary School just recently. This is prior to any changes to the School Act. Choice is already being offered in the school system.

The Nootka School of Fine Arts has nothing to do with this minister's or this government's efforts — or the bill, for that matter. The minister's idea of expanding school choice, in particular magnet schools and intra-district mobility, seems entirely dependent on the ability of parents to get their kids to those non-local schools. It is important to recognize that choice in some jurisdictions has meant additional options for some families and far fewer for others.

Without addressing this, the minis- ter's plan will benefit only one segment of the children in British Columbia: perhaps the children who have the socioeconomic resources to make and exercise this choice. Those

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	H0429pm-14
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	H0429pm 14
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	e202cf05a0e998b123626a4dc722498a62aef097

Source file is stored in the law ingest library (pdf).