2010 Legislative Session: Second Session, 39th Parliament

HANSARD

The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.

The printed version remains the official version.

official report of

Debates of the

Legislative Assembly

(hansard)

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Afternoon Sitting

Volume 11, Number 4

CONTENTS

Page

Routine Business

Introductions by Members

Statements

Prince Rupert centennial book

G. Coons

Introductions by Members

Statements(Standing Order 25B)

Helping Hands Food Bank in Kimberley

N. Macdonald

4-H public speaking program

D. Barnett

Firefighters

L. Popham

Norsat satellite technology

L. Reid

Prince Rupert centennial

G. Coons

Parksville community awards

R. Cantelon

Oral Questions

Community gaming grants for school playgrounds

C. James

Hon. R. Coleman

J. Kwan

Community gaming grants and supports for vulnerable persons

S. Simpson

Hon. R. Coleman

Community social services for children and families

N. Simons

Hon. M. Polak

Halalt First Nation consultation on water project

D. Routley

Hon. G. Abbott

B. Simpson

Health care services in Logan Lake

H. Lali

Hon. K. Falcon

Orders of the Day

Budget Debate (continued)

M. Sather

Hon. S. Bond

G. Coons

Hon. S. Thomson

D. Black

Hon. K. Krueger

G. Gentner

J. Rustad

N. Simons

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TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2010

The House met at 1:34 p.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Introductions by Members

C. James: Mr. Speaker, we have three guests who are joining us today. They've been talking to MLAs about the important work they do every day to protect the safety of people in our communities. I'd like to introduce Gary Birtwistle, Gary Charleton and Darren Blackwell here from the Victoria Fire Fighters Union. Would the House please make them welcome.

Hon. M. Stilwell: Joining us today in the House are Casey Sheridan, president of Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, and Neil Sterritt, the institute's board of governors chair.

I had the pleasure of touring NVIT last fall. NVIT is the only aboriginal-governed public post-secondary institution in British Columbia, with programs focusing on aboriginal communities' social, economic, land and governance development.

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NVIT was formed in 1983 by the Coldwater, Nooaitch, Shackan, Upper Nicola and Lower Nicola bands. NVIT has grown over the years from 13 students in a basement to over 1,200 students on two campuses, the award-winning Eagles Perch campus in Merritt and their campus at Mathissi Place in Burnaby.

I'd also like to congratulate the institute on receiving the province's education quality assurance designation. Please join me in welcoming Casey and Neil.

K. Conroy: Joining me from Local 941 of the Trail Fire Fighters are Rick Morris and president Lee DePellegrin. With Lee today is his wife, Wendy, who is here for the first time in Victoria. It's actually the first time for a visit to the chamber for both Wendy and Rick. Would everyone please join me in making them welcome.

T. Lake: It is my pleasure to welcome two gentlemen from Kamloops fire and rescue here today. Corey Butler and David Sakaki are emblematic of the men and women that provide service for Kamloops fire and rescue, giving great service not just to our community but to communities around the world through the services that they provide overseas in a volunteer capacity.

I would ask the House to please join me in welcoming these two gentlemen.

M. Elmore: I'd like to introduce my family who are here visiting me today: my mother and father, Maria and Ken Elmore, my sister Martha Elmore, my niece and nephew, Dylan and Torin, and my cousin Lena Aro.

When my mother said to me, "Why on earth did you ever decide to run for political office?" I said to her: "Well, you can't blame me." I think it's in the family, because it was her father, my grandfather, who was the vice-mayor in her hometown in Tuburan, Cebu in the Philippines.

So I think the responsibility is in your court, Mom.

Without their support and love, I wouldn't be standing here. I thank them very much and ask everybody to please make them feel very welcome.

D. Hayer: I'd also like to recognize six firefighters who are visiting us here today. They are Larry Thomas, Curtis Chamberlayne, Jay Easton, Mark McRae, Todd Schierling and Chris Keon. They also met with the members on both sides to bring up the issues.

Would the House please make them very welcome and thank them for all the great work they do.

L. Popham: I would like to welcome two members of the Saanich fire department, Steve Hanna and Mitch Williams. Please make them feel welcome.

M. Farnworth: In the gallery today we have a number of interns who will be working with the opposition caucus over the next while, and they fall under the tradition of terrific interns in this Legislature. I would like the House to welcome Angie Riano, Caitlin O'Brien Meggs, Lindsay Walton, Mark Hosak and Kate McBride.

J. Horgan: Joining us in the gallery today is a real lifesaver. Thirty-five years ago he and I were sitting at a Shamrocks game down the street and — people will not be surprised — I was talking rather than paying attention. An errant ball left the floor, and my friend Steve Hanna, who is joining us, was a goaltender. He stuck his hand up just before the ball hit my face. For those on this side, he saved my life. That's a good thing. On that side, that's unfortunate.

Steve Hanna, Saanich firefighter — welcome.

Statements

PRINCE RUPERT Centennial BOOK

G. Coons: I'd like to take this opportunity to acknowledge that the centennial book has arrived. Prince Rupert: An Illustrated History , published by the Prince Rupert City and Regional Archives, is a 184-page, hard-cover coffee table book with over 600 photographs celebrating a hundred years of Prince Rupert history.

Volunteers on the archive book committee worked for over two years on this. Later today, I will be presenting

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a copy of this centennial masterpiece — hold it up — to our very own legislative librarian Peter Gourlay and two ex-Rupertites, Emily Yearwood-Lee and Marilyn Carr-Harris, who just happen to work there.

I also will leave a personalized message on page 144 beside the team photo of the 1978 Prince Rupert Kings senior hockey team.

Thank you so much, hon. Speaker, for your indulgence.

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Introductions by Members

Hon. K. Falcon: Today in Victoria we've got the B.C. Pharmacy Association in town. At lunch they hosted a number of government MLAs to talk about issues and thank the government for the expansion of their scope of practice to include injections and also allow for prescription renewals.

Today in the galleries we are joined by Marnie Mitchell, the CEO; Parkash Ragsdale, the deputy CEO; Shakeel Bhatti, the vice-president of the board of directors; and Kate Hunter, their director of communications. I would ask the House to please make them welcome.

H. Bains: In the gallery today is my good friend Harmel Suner and his relative from Australia visiting us, Mr. Tut. Please help me welcome them to this beautiful city.

L. Reid: In concert with my Richmond colleagues, I would like to welcome to this place very fine firefighters representing the city of Richmond, the Richmond fire service. They're led by the indomitable Mr. Ed Selinger. I would ask the House to please make them welcome.

S. Herbert: I, too, would like to join with my Vancouver colleagues to honour and welcome the Vancouver Fire Fighters Union here to this House. I look forward to hearing from them later today.

Mr. Speaker: Any firefighters that weren't welcomed, welcome.

Statements

(Standing Order 25B)

HELPING HANDS FOOD BANK

IN KIMBERLEY

N. Macdonald: March is nutrition month, and I rise today to recognize the good work of one of the many food banks that serve people in our province. Kimberley has long appreciated the assistance of the Helping Hands Food Bank.

Over the last number of decades, gaps in government support have allowed too many people to fall into poverty. But citizens in community after community have found ways to provide some assistance for those most in need. The most basic of those needs is the need for food.

In Kimberley I've seen people like Lowell Paulson and Stan Salikin and many more community members put in hour after hour of volunteer time to support the food bank. As well, community groups like Kimberley United Church have food bank Sunday to raise funds for the food bank, and the Kimberley Junior Dynamiters hockey team holds food bank nights.

The Kimberley Elks Club has a partnership with the Helping Hands Food Bank to raise money through bingos. Last year the Elks donated $3,000. This year they plan to raise $6,000 to help feed those in need in Kimberley.

Last year almost 1,800 people in Kimberley were assisted with regular food hampers. A further 374 received emergency hampers, and 43 percent of the people who received assistance from the food bank were children.

The continued existence of food banks shows that as a core human value, our communities will find ways to provide support for our friends and neighbours when an absence of government services leaves people in poverty. I'm sure members will join me in showing our appreciation to the volunteers at Helping Hands Food Bank and all the food bank volunteers and workers for their effort and their humanity.

4-H PUBLIC SPEAKING PROGRAM

D. Barnett: This past Saturday I had the privilege of being a judge at the Williams Lake and district 4-H public speaking event at a community in my riding called Lone Butte. It was an exciting opportunity to see firsthand the development of youth in my riding, and they are on the right track.

All the speeches were well researched. Students spoke with confidence on topics such as animals, people, the environment, community and the world of what-if. They were very impressive. There were 12 junior speakers aged nine to 16, and they all received badges and points. These points will go towards their year-end overall marks.

The seniors in grades 11 to 12 showed their public speaking potential, and their marks will go towards their graduation credits.

These young people will be our leaders soon. Empowering them with the skill of public speaking is just one of the many great programs of 4-H. The 4-H movement offers many programs that open children and teenagers to the worlds of agriculture and ranching and provide opportunities to develop young people into productive and confident leaders.

In the Cariboo-Chilcotin we're always proud to see our young people remain in our communities. We're proud to see children take over their parents' farms and businesses. With the support of families, 4-H leaders

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and the 4-H movement, I know the students are in good hands.

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I offer my congratulations to all the participants in this year's Williams Lake and district 4-H public speaking competition — the leaders of tomorrow. I encourage all my colleagues in the House to get involved with their local 4-H district and support our youth and agriculture industry.

FIREFIGHTERS

L. Popham: People love firefighters. That's a fact. An Angus Reid public opinion poll showed that firefighters are one of the most trusted professions in the world. Firefighters are our heroes. They put their own lives at risk to save ours. They see us at the most painful and terrifying moments in our lives, and they give us comfort, respect and care.

Fire departments are like families — families protecting our families. I'm married to Jon, a firefighter from Oak Bay who has been there for 18 years. My brother Guy is a firefighter in Delta and has worked there for 16 years. When you have a firefighter or two in the family, you feel like part of the greater fire department family of British Columbia. Yes, I have a soft spot for firefighters.

I am proud to be the MLA for the Saanich fire department. The Saanich fire department has been around since 1948 and has 108 full-time firefighters. The Saanich fire department is not only protecting our community, but they're helping us build a better community with the Saanich Fire Fighters Charitable Foundation. This foundation is a registered non-profit charity that was established in 2001 and has raised over $200,000.

They give and they give. Whether they are on shift or on days off, they are contributing to our quality of life. When they come to us as elected officials and ask for support for cancer presumption legislation, when they come to us and ask for support for the right-to-know legislation, and when they come and ask for the right to be licensed to practise at the emergency medical responder level, both sides of the House need to listen.

Firefighters would break down doors, walk into fire and risk everything to save us. Let our legislation not be the barrier that stops them.

NORSAT SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY

L. Reid: Norsat, a high-tech business in my riding, has more than 25 years of innovation excellence to its credit. Norsat International was founded in 1977 and is the leading provider of intelligent satellite solutions that enable the transmission of data, audio and video via satellite in even the most challenging environments. The company has a long tradition of engineering firsts.

The company's founder, Rod Wheeler, helped launch the direct-to-home TV industry in 1977 by introducing industry's earliest low-cost, receive-only satellite dishes. This was followed by a number of other innovations, all of which have effectively positioned the company as one of the industry's leading firms.

In 1977 President Rod Wheeler constructed the first personal, TV-only, receive-only satellite earth terminal in North America. In 1994 Norsat introduced the Microsat multimedia PC receiver that enabled the personal computer laptop to capture real-time satellite video, listen to and edit directly the computer keyboard selections of audio programs and monitor real-time data broadcasts.

In 2002 Norsat built on its portable terminal experience by introducing a commercial-grade flyaway terminal for news-gathering organizations. Norsat sold its first news-link system to CBC news. In 2004 Norsat became the key supplier of news-gathering equipment to the U.S. Army.

In 2005 Norsat introduced the GLOBETrekker, the industry's first intelligent backpackable broadband satellite system. This equipment is often parachute-dropped into communities and into nations that need assistance. I can tell you that it's a snap-together piece that even I had the pleasure of snapping together on my visit there.

Norsat has sold more than 2.5 million products in 87 countries throughout the world. Today's president is Aimee Chan. She is experienced, innovative, reliable and flexible.

Norsat International designs and delivers reliable, high-speed data transmission products and open networks. With a variety of open standard DVB satellites networks and a full complement of microwave products, Norsat leads the company that customers all over the world can count on.

On my tour day, Norsat received orders from Haiti and, frankly, has airlifted that product into that country. It is today helping to rebuild a nation.

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PRINCE RUPERT CENTENNIAL

G. Coons: In the fall of 1903 Charles Melville Hays, president of Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, sent engineers to determine the best western terminus for his company's transcontinental railway. Construction of the first wharf started on June 8, 1906, and was completed within a month. In May of 1908 construction of the mountain

section of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway started, heading east from Prince Rupert.

That same year Charles Hays contracted to design the layout of the city as we see it today. Although the dream of Prince Rupert as a major port and transportation centre was suspended when Hays perished aboard the Titanic , that dream, that vision was never lost.

The railway connection was finally completed in the spring of 1914, and a highway connection to Terrace was completed 30 years later. In the following decades Prince Rupert grew in accordance with its motto: "By rail and ship, with net and pick, we win our wealth."

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Its extensive fishing fleet, shipyards and coastal logging operations have generated much wealth for this community and for the province over the years. Rupert's transportation hub highlights passenger and freight rail traffic, B.C.-Alaska ferry traffic, coal and grain container capacity, marine tourism traffic from kayaks to cruise ships, air traffic and seaplanes, and a multitude of small vessels travelling to north coast communities that all depend on Prince Rupert for services.

Prince Rupert has survived two world wars, one great depression and boom-bust cycles in its commodities and resources. Of some relevance in this Legislative Assembly, Prince Rupert's political world has produced two B.C. Premiers, one Speaker of the House and one Lieutenant-Governor.

Tomorrow — Wednesday, March 10, 2010 — marks a hundred years to the day since the incorporation of this community that I am proud to call home. I am pleased to invite each of us to join me in wishing a happy centennial to Prince Rupert.

PARKSVILLE COMMUNITY AWARDS

R. Cantelon: The Glassies are a beautiful etched-glass trophy that's awarded by the Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce to outstanding citizens. Gerry Ethier was recognized as volunteer of the year. Gerry is known for his determination and ability to engage others. Get Gerry going, and you get a crowd.

The community builder of the year was awarded to the Parksville and District Association for Community Living, who've been dedicated for 50 years to helping their clients become integral and productive members of the community.

Entrepreneur of the year was given to Rhiannon Cosgrave who, in the middle of a depression, decided to start up her business, Natural Synergy Day Spa. She ventured forth and succeeded where others feared to dare.

The outstanding customer service award was given to Angela Giannotti, owner and operator of Bugsy's Bar and Grill. It's more than just food. You get a very rich, warm family experience in Angela's place.

Youth of the year went to Morgan Farrell, a very busy young woman. Morgan is working on her gold-level Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

The environmental sustainability award was given to Earthbank Resource Systems, in the business of recycling waste into garden compost.

Business of the year was given to Parksville Pharmasave. Owner-operators John Shillabeer and Tammy Toriglia use a team approach with their staff to give the best health advice to their clients.

The citizen of the year went to Kevin Clayton, a leader, a motivator, a get-it-done kind of guy. This realtor with Coast Realty in Parksville really knows how to give back to the community.

So let's celebrate all our community builders and join with us in congratulating them on their achievements.

Oral Questions

COMMUNITY GAMING GRANTS

FOR SCHOOL PLAYGROUNDS

C. James: When the B.C. Liberals cut funding for B.C. School Sports last September, the Minister of Education said: "Maybe people will be doing more walking or dancing or playing in the parks." Well, as unbelievable as it is, the government actually made even that harder this week. The B.C. Liberals have taken away gaming grants to build school playgrounds — taken that money away from children and schools to put into government revenue to pay for their budget deception.

My question is to the Minister of Social Development. How can he possibly justify cutting gaming grants to school playgrounds for kids?

Hon. R. Coleman: The gaming grants provided $2 million a year for two years, as was planned, for school playground grants, and 250 schools actually took us up on that particular program. As we went through this and looked at it — I know the member opposite just brought up youth sports — as we made decisions with regards to gaming grants…. You know that now because of the change we made to gaming grants, 100 percent of youth sports will be funded in the province of British Columbia.

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Mr. Speaker: The Leader of the Opposition has a supplemental.

C. James: At a time when the government is bringing in more gaming money than ever before, the B.C. Liberals are taking away from community grants to groups and organizations across this province, a $36 million cut from 2008 levels — $36 million. So 800 fewer groups are receiving grants now than they have before. Yesterday we heard the minister say this was about priorities.

So my question is to the minister. When did taking money away from kids' playgrounds become a priority for this government?

Hon. R. Coleman: It's fairly instructive, coming from that Leader of the Opposition, who in the 1990s never funded playgrounds and never funded PACs. As a matter of fact….

Interjections.

Hon. R. Coleman: You know, we made the choice to restore the funding of $20 per student to the parent

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advisory councils across this province. That is $12 million to PACs across B.C. and $2,500 to DPACs. They can use that money discretionarily, whether for playgrounds or other uses, within the schools across British Columbia next year.

Mr. Speaker: Leader of the Opposition has a further supplemental.

C. James: This is money from the proceeds of gaming. This is money that the government promised to give to community organizations. Well, it's pretty clear that they've broken that promise, full stop, when it comes to giving money back. They're taking money away from kids and playgrounds and putting it into government revenue.

So my question, again, is to the minister. Why should B.C. children be made to pay for this government's deception?

Hon. R. Coleman: Before question period I thought I'd go back and look at the program that the NDP had in place for PACs and DPACs across the province of British Columbia during their tenure. There wasn't one. There was no program whatsoever. When it came time to look at….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Continue, Minister.

Hon. R. Coleman: I know it's hard for them to swallow the fact that they never did anything for PACs and they never did anything for a playground plan. It's tough for them to understand that we had a $4 million program over two years, $2 million a year under the gaming program — 250 playgrounds developed in the province of British Columbia.

J. Kwan: The minister is wrong. In fact, PACs have been able to access gaming funding since 1998, and it was set up by the NDP back in 1998.

Britannia Elementary School is a designated inner-city school. It is a community school and serves a diverse population. About half of the students are of aboriginal descent. The playground at Britannia has been condemned. The local PAC has been fundraising for this playground for months. They are short $12,500, and now this government has taken away gaming grants. Parents, students and educators are concerned that they will not be able to see a new playground for their kids in this school.

My question is actually to the Minister of Education. Will she stand up for the kids in our education system and tell her government to reinstate the grants for school playgrounds?

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Hon. R. Coleman: I had this program when we became government in 2001, and I looked back at the PAC funding. The odd PAC might have got a grant from a sophisticated school that had the.…

Interjections.

Hon. R. Coleman: Oh no. Just listen. Just listen, Members.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Continue, Minister.

Hon. R. Coleman: This is what we found. A few PACs from sophisticated schools in B.C. had applied for grant funding, and what happened? Schools in inner cities, schools that were in rural British Columbia, schools across the province weren't getting any money. So we're the government that said $20 a student across the board from 2001 to 2008.

Last year, even though we protected $48 million for CommunityLINK with gaming grants so that we'd be able to feed children in school, we still gave PACs $10 a student, and this year they're going back to $20 a student. None of that, except for the prejudices of applications, took place under the NDP era. The fairness was brought in by this government for PACs across British Columbia.

Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

J. Kwan: Talk about fairness. First, playground grants were granted based on a lottery. Then this government went to give grants for community schools that are in great need and have the highest needs, and guess what. When the applications went in, they were not qualified. That's fairness for you from this government.

Inner-city schools put in applications and didn't get the grants. Gaming revenues are up and not down, and this government decides to stop providing gaming grants for school playgrounds. In the meantime, this government decides to continue to fund a whole ministry to promote healthy living and sports.

According to the Vancouver school board, there are some 90 condemned playground structures that need to be replaced, at a cost of over half a million dollars, and they have no access to government funds. As a result, tens of thousands of children will not be able to play at their school playground — this at a time when the government claims that they want to see children get active and healthy.

My question is to the Premier. If the Minister of Social Development will not stand up for children, will he do the right thing? Will the Premier do the right thing and provide the necessary funding to Britannia and to other schools who need that money for school playgrounds?

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Hon. R. Coleman: It would only be that member from that party that would say that 100 percent of funding for youth sports, disabled and adult disabled sports in British Columbia was a problem because there's something about children.

I'm sorry, Member. We made the choices to fund 100 percent of the funding back into those things. You know what other choices we made, Member? We made the choice that food banks in rural British Columbia….

Interjections.

Hon. R. Coleman: I know you don't want food banks to be funded, because that's your position — okay? I get that you don't want social issues paid for. I get that you don't want the North Shore search and rescue paid for, because you'd rather say: "Don't do this. Don't do this. Don't make a choice."

Over a two-year period, 250 playgrounds and the parent advisory councils in this province get money, and they get the discretionary money — over $12 million to invest in their schools whichever way they see fit. And do you know what? I'll put their choices over your choices any day.

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COMMUNITY GAMING GRANTS AND

SUPPORTS FOR VULNERABLE PERSONS

S. Simpson: Hon. Speaker, $36 million in gaming grant cuts, over $26 million in cuts to the disabled and people on income assistance, and all of this in less than one week.

In the budget speech the Finance Minister said: "Too many people across B.C. are still feeling the downturn, too many families are struggling, and too many communities still face uncertainty."

Can the Minister of Housing and Social Development tell us how over $62 million in cuts to communities and vulnerable citizens in less than a week does anything but add to those struggles and add to that uncertainty?

Hon. R. Coleman: On the social side of the grants for people like food banks and people that need it, like homeless outreach places and stuff like that, 100 percent of the money has been protected — 100 percent of the money in youth sports.

I know what you don't get, hon. Member — that when we protect children and families' futures by having the grants targeted to the kids, you don't like the fact that we're doing it because we face a $1.7 billion deficit, that we don't want to shortchange our children while we're trying to save the economic future of our province.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Continue, Minister.

Hon. R. Coleman: When you face tough economic times, you make tough choices. I know the member for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant would probably like me to go sell the 23 hotels that we bought in her riding for people with homelessness and mental addictions so that we could put the money somewhere else, because she doesn't support that.

I know. The $275 million investment in new build for homelessness, mental health and addictions are protected in this budget. That's what fiscal responsibility is. When you face tough times, you make tough decisions, and you make the right decisions. That's what we're doing.

Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

S. Simpson: What I don't understand, for the minister, is how he thinks it's okay to increase Internet gaming limits to $10,000 and not give a dime to playgrounds for kids. That's what I don't understand.

What I don't understand is how the minister can stand up and talk about protection when he eliminates grants for environmental groups, eliminates grants for arts and culture, eliminates grants for playgrounds, cuts grants for child care and preschools and then cuts nutrition supplements, dental services, medical services, funeral services, shelter allowances and contraception services. And that's just the beginning, I'm sure.

Making these cuts is tragic. To have done it with no consultation is shameful on the part of this minister. Can the minister tell us why he thinks it's okay to so dramatically impact communities and individual citizens with not one word of consultation or discussion?

Hon. R. Coleman: I won't rise to the illogical bait of the member opposite.

We are facing unprecedented economic times. I know you don't like that. I know you don't like to admit that being prudent and fiscally responsible is good for the future of our children and our grandchildren, because you would just as soon pay down and get rid of their whole future by the way you'd do business.

I also know that you don't want to recognize that in spite of tough economic times, we've invested $2 billion additional in education over the next three years. We've increased the Education budget. We've increased the Children and Families budget. We've held firm on the budget for Housing and Social Development so that we can do things for people who are homeless with mental health and addictions.

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Under the grant program we've protected human and social services for people like the North Shore search and rescue. And people like the food banks across B.C.

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and other social programs are protected within the grant program.

COMMUNITY SOCIAL SERVICES

FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

N. Simons: Last month another devastating announcement was made by the Minister of Children and Families, which announced that $10 million would be cut from community social services across the province. This will have a dramatic impact not just on front-line social workers but on the children who these services were provided for. Will the minister please explain that to the people of British Columbia.

Hon. M. Polak: I think it's important to first acknowledge that this year alone we will invest more than $800 million in community social services through those agencies.

Our priority, of course, is to protect critical front-line services for children. With that in mind, we are working closely with our community agencies, and we are working in concert with them to make these reductions in a way that has the least impact on individual agencies.

Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

N. Simons: I don't know how the minister is going to help these community agencies find the extra money that's been lost by her decision. But let me give a suggestion, a suggestion that's been proposed by the board of directors of Sunshine Coast Community Services.

I'll quote a letter. "We will be forced to make choices as to whether we should deny services to a child who's been sexually abused or to a family struggling to overcome intergenerational abuse and addiction or to a teenager with no family connections who relies on a youth worker to guide them to independent living rather than a life of possible addiction and crime."

Perhaps the minister will take this to heart. "If your government decides to proceed with this budget reduction, I invite you to come and sit with our board of directors and help us make these choices."

My question is to the Minister of Children and Family Development. Will she assist these community agencies in deciding where these devastating cuts will take place?

Hon. M. Polak: It's important to point out that even in the midst of unprecedented economic challenges being faced around the world, the budget for our ministry will increase this year by $9½ million. This year alone we will invest a billion dollars across government in child care, in early childhood development, and in services to children and youth with special needs.

We are working hard to protect those critical front-line services, and we value the work of our partners, who are assisting us as we try to take what amounts to a less than 2 percent reduction out of an $800 million budget.

HALALT FIRST NATION

CONSULTATION ON WATER PROJECT

D. Routley: The Halalt First Nation in Westholme, in my riding, are concerned about a water wells project being drilled into the aquifer of the Chemainus River. The Minister of Aboriginal Relations continues to claim that consultation was done. It's pretty clear that consultation should be more than, "We're coming to drill water whether you like it or not," and that seems to be the sum total of the government's actions to this date.

The Halalt deserve to be involved in decisions made when significant developments occur in their traditional territory. Will this minister and this government commit today to developing a watershed basin management plan with the Halalt as full partners?

Hon. G. Abbott: I think it's unfortunate that this member trots out in this Legislature and in letters to the editor these misleading and inflammatory statements about the water project.

The district of North Cowichan undertook the project. The project was subject to environmental reviews by the provincial environmental assessment authority but also by the federal government, and there was extensive consultation with the Halalt First Nation as part of that.

Further, I'd say we're very concerned about the escalation of tensions at the Halalt First Nation. I'm looking forward to exploring some ways to see the de-escalation of that, but this member's words…. He should be conscious of what he says, because he in fact inflames those passions with his words, and he should be more thoughtful about the way he conducts himself on this issue.

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Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

D. Routley: The measure of adequate consultation would be consent. The Halalt have never consented to this project on their traditional territories. The inflammation of tensions has occurred…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

D. Routley: …because this government made a commitment to big words like "reconciliation," like "new relationship," and their actions have failed to measure up to the bar that they set.

The minister can blame me if he likes. That won't do him any good with the people in my constituency, certainly not with the Halalt. The Halalt are waiting for proper

[ Page 3296 ]

consultation. They are asking for involvement in plans which affect their territory and their water. I would like it — and this side would appreciate it, just as the Halalt would — if this minister would stand up today and commit to involving the Halalt as full partners in a watershed basin management plan.

Hon. G. Abbott: It's not often that we are able to secure from the New Democratic Party any kind of policy commitment. I'm appreciative of the member today for providing us with some clarity with respect to at least one policy, and which apparently is that on any environmental assessment office project that is considered, the only way it will proceed is if it receives the consent of all parties. This is perhaps an astonishing, perhaps bewildering, policy statement — a veto — on behalf of the NDP.

But we're appreciative for them taking a stand on anything, because that is seldom seen in this House or in this province — that the NDP would take a stand on anything. Further, we are prepared to look at any constructive idea from the Halalt or from the district of North Cowichan.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Member for Cariboo North.

B. Simpson: It was this government that promised, under the new relationship, shared decision-making with First Nations, which First Nations have now indicated is mere words, mere rhetoric and has not been translated into action. The Halalt were in this House listening to this minister the last time we canvassed this question, and they were all nodding in the negative when the minister indicated that due consultation had occurred.

My question to the minister is simple. If all of the due diligence and consultation has been done, can the minister explain to this House why the Halalt are protesting this project, why day after day they're trying to get this government to listen to their protests and demands for further consultation? Why is that happening?

Hon. G. Abbott: I appreciate the Aboriginal Relations critic further clarifying the policy which was enunciated by the member earlier. Apparently, the NDP's conception of shared decision-making is veto, and that's very interesting. We appreciate the member providing that clarification — that on any new decision-making, veto is the order of the day.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. G. Abbott: We appreciate that, but clearly the critic was not watching when, just two and a half months ago, we signed a reconciliation protocol with the Haida First Nation. The member clearly wasn't paying attention when we signed a reconciliation protocol with six northern coastal First Nations.

[1420]

Both of those contained decision-making matrices, and they are supported well by First Nations in this province.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Interjections.

HEALTH CARE SERVICES

IN LOGAN LAKE

H. Lali: I missed you all too, especially the three amigos over there — my friends.

In recent days, while he's been talking about the benefits of primary care, this same minister is allowing the Interior Health Authority, which also reports to him, to dismantle basic medical services in communities like Chase and Logan Lake. His health authority is cutting primary care services in Logan Lake, and half of its ER, as of April 1. The mayor, Marlon Dosch, is challenging these cutbacks, and the community is up in arms.

My question is to the Minister of Health. Will he convince the IHA to actually come to their senses and reverse these hurtful cuts to the ER in Logan Lake?

Hon. K. Falcon: Of course, this is a common theme we hear in this House, where the members like to talk about health care cuts in spite of the fact that health care is actually growing by over $2 billion over the next few years. One of the things we know is that even when you're pouring over $2 billion into a health care system and it's still not enough, there is a requirement to ensure that every dollar we spend in the system is being spent wisely.

I actually met with the mayor of Logan Lake. We had a good discussion about their health care centre there. You should know, Mr. Speaker, that one of the challenges is that the health care centre emergency room receives on average about three visits per day, and only one of those would be qualifying as an emergency visit. Naturally, they are looking at the level of support service to fund an emergency centre that receives only three visits a day.

I did say to the mayor that it would be appropriate to work with the health authority to ensure that the level of care is appropriate and necessary to meet the needs of the folks in Logan Lake.

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Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

H. Lali: No one believes this Liberal government, and no one actually agrees with the position the minister is taking as well. Ella Brown, the B.C. Liberal candidate in the last election, stated at an open public meeting last week that the Liberals' Interior Health Authority is not telling the truth in order to actually push these cuts through.

Again, my question is to the Minister of Health. Will he put a stop to the Interior Health Authority's misleading and mean-spirited tactics and also the hurtful cutbacks in Logan Lake, and will he actually reverse the ill-thought-out decision that has been made to close the ER in Logan Lake?

Hon. K. Falcon: As I mentioned, I met with the mayor, and I met with one of his councillors to discuss this very issue. Again, I say to the members opposite that in the entire time I have had the pleasure and honour to be the Minister of Health, I have never once heard any alternative vision ever offered by the NDP other than just throw more money into the system. Do not ever consider any kind of change. That must be anathema to the members opposite. We must only throw more money.

I do believe that in an era where 15 percent increases, over $2 billion of additional operating dollars only, being put into the system over the next few years…. When that, indeed, is not enough, we need to challenge the system to try and do better and to make sure that the dollars that are being invested in the system are being used appropriately and to the benefit of patients.

That's exactly what they're trying to do at Interior Health. They'll continue to work with the mayor and council and try to resolve this in a manner that meets the needs of both the patients and the Interior Health Authority.

[End of question period.]

[1425]

M. Mungall: I seek leave to make an introduction.

Mr. Speaker: Proceed.

Introductions by Members

M. Mungall: I would like to introduce some people from my constituency, Nelson-Creston, Paul and Sandra Boscariol. They are here with Miyu Kimura, who is a Rotary club exchange student all the way from Japan. She's studying at our local high school in Nelson, L.V. Rogers. She arrived last August, and she's going to be here a full year, right into July, so please make her welcome.

Orders of the Day

Hon. M. de Jong: I call budget debate.

Budget Debate

(continued)

M. Sather: I'm pleased to continue with my discussion of the taxing ways of this government. I mentioned B.C. Hydro rates previously. Let's look at ICBC — a $778 million whack hidden in the service plan. Remember, this is under the Premier who said he was against hiddenness. He was against hiddenness when he was in opposition, but this is hiddenness personified. There it was — another tax, by any other name, that's going to hurt the taxpayers of British Columbia.

[L. Reid in the chair.]

The members of my constituency, Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows, could use some of that money that the government is hiving off of ICBC. We've heard about the Evergreen line over and over again, but how many promises is that? There's a lot of need in our community, and we see instead the government taking their money. Our drivers, our commuters see the government taking away their money.

Now, the government says: "Well, we have to do this to establish a level playing field for the private sector." Why? ICBC is doing a good job. If they can produce cheaper car insurance rates for the people of B.C., why not let them? But no, instead this government is determined to favour the private sector, not the taxpayers of this province.

Then there are the tax-free holidays for big business that we've seen this government introduce over the last several years, the $227 million to big banks. Well, the average taxpayer looks at that and says: "Hmm, I think those big banks are doing just fine. They don't, in fact, need another tax break from this government, another giveaway." Tax holidays for oil and gas — more than $1 billion over the next three years.

Then the government has the audacity to say that they're concerned about the tax burden on big businesses that municipalities are supposedly imposing. Instead of saying to those companies, like Catalyst Paper and the rest, "Why don't you be good corporate citizens and pay your taxes?" they go after the municipalities to try to gouge them for more. In fact, the now Minister of Housing and Social Development accused municipalities of dining out on business taxes. That's really unfair, and it shows the depths that this government will go to.

Now let's look at the spending side that this government indulges in: $62 billion in off-book spending — debt incurred that the people of British Columbia will have to pay one way or the other. It's mostly through the P3s that this government is so fond of.

[1430]

Even then, if you look at it, the taxpayer has to pick up the tab, like we're doing at the Golden Ears Bridge, like

[ Page 3298 ]

we're all doing as taxpayers. The ridership hasn't developed yet to be able to pay for the costs that we have to pay to the constructor, to the provider. That's $500,000 a month — it started off. In January of this year it went up to $1.5 million a month. That's a threefold increase, and it's going to jump to $3 million a month in June of this year. That's, again, money that we have to pick up as taxpayers to pay for this government's big-spending ways.

The Port Mann bridge construction started off as a P3, public-private partnership. It was rescued by the public, supposedly, and now it's classified as a self-supporting Crown corporation. Again, so-called off-book debt — spending in large measure that the taxpayers of British Columbia will have to pay extra money for every time they go over that bridge.

Members on this side, the member for Burnaby North and many others, think that this government is paying off debt, but in fact they're creating massive debt. They're paying off a tiny bit of debt while creating a whole lot of debt — $5 billion in increased debt just since September of last year. Imagine it: in just a period of six months a 12 percent increase in the debt to this province. Just imagine what they can do in a whole year.

The people of this province have to be concerned. This government is the biggest tax-and-spend government that ever existed in the province of British Columbia. That's what they are, pure and clear, but they actually accuse us of that. It's rather peculiar. This government has put the taxpayers of this province in the big hurt locker, and the hurt is going to go on and on and on.

Let's look at carbon credits. You know, carbon credits and carbon trading are something that may hold promise — I hope they do, in fact — for us dealing with climate change and global warming. The Finance Minister says there's huge potential in carbon trading, but it has to be done right. It has to be done right.

Right now a lot of people in British Columbia don't have much faith in carbon trading. If it is done wrong, it's going to reduce that faith even further. What I see happening in my community of Maple Ridge, what I see happening in Mission, is not right.

There is a company, Ecosystem Restoration Associates, that goes to municipalities like mine and to, like, Mission municipalities, and says: "We'll plant some little trees in your forests." Then, in the process, they go ahead and cut down native trees like red alder — 50-year-old trees, fall them, leave them in the forest to rot, to release their greenhouse gases.

These are perfectly intact forests. These are not forests that need "restoration." Then they sell this as a carbon credit. It's really atrocious.

They say that part of the game is eradicating invasive species. One of the main invasive species in our area in the Lower Mainland is the Himalayan blackberry. I've gone to the sites in Maple Ridge. I've gone to the North Alouette River. I've gone to Silver Creek in Mission. There's blackberry all around these sites, untouched.

What I'm told is that, for example, the district of Mission is using this project as part of the way they're going to meet the climate action charter, which says that municipalities have to become carbon neutral by 2012 in order to get the rebate for the carbon tax. Now, I don't know if Maple Ridge is doing the same thing, but I expect they are.

It's incumbent upon the Environment Minister and the Premier to go to those municipalities and say: "If this is the way you're going about getting carbon credits, you do not get that rebate." You do not get it, because it's a sham.

[1435]

It's a sham, and it's a shame because, as I said, carbon trading could have a positive future — and, hopefully, does have — but not if this is the way it's going to be done — certainly not.

I have to say something, and I am going to say something, about advanced education. Student aid was cut by over 27 percent from the pre-election budget to this budget — 27 percent. British Columbia is dead last in Canada in the amount of non-repayable student financial aid that we provide — 60 percent less than the national average. Student debt in this province is out of control. Students need more support. [Applause.] Thank you.

To quote what a student wrote, she said: "At a time when personal debt threatens the fundamentals of our economy, getting a post-secondary education in the province of B.C. has become a debt sentence." If the government wants to do something for the economy, they should put that money back into funding for our students. That would be a big help.

Let's look at the environment and forestry for a bit. The budget speech talks about the forest sector, yet we see a 16 percent cut since the February '09 budget and 22 percent since the so-called green budget of two years ago. You will remember the golden goals, the great goals of the decade, as the Premier laid them out in 2005 — and apparently he's still fond of those: "to lead the world in sustainable environmental management."

Well, right now we're seeing a drop in the budget from $409 million last year for fighting forest fires to $52 million this year, and the Environment Minister is saying: "You know, it's dry out there. We've got a potential problem on our hands with regard to forest fires." Indeed we do. The ranchers of this province are abundantly aware of that, and they've made their concerns, yet the budget has dropped phenomenally for fighting forest fires.

There are a number of issues to be concerned about with this budget. Let's talk a little bit about health care. You know, the Liberals go on — every year we hear the same thing — about how health care is unsustainable. But if the Minister of Health wants to do something to help the health care system, why doesn't he go to Ottawa and talk to the Prime Minister about the stranglehold of big pharma on patents? Drugs, medications, are costing

[ Page 3299 ]

huge amounts to our health care system, so what does this government do? They remove the therapeutics initiative program.

Now, that was a program to save money. It's a program whereby if there was a generic drug, which is always cheaper than the brand-name drug, and it's going to do the same job, you should use it. But the minister — under pressure, actually, from the pharmaceutical industry, interestingly enough — revealed last December: "We're no longer utilizing the therapeutics initiative." That's shameful.

That's where the waste comes in with this government. That's where the rhetoric does not match with the actions. All this talk about making health care more sustainable, yet when it comes to big industry like the pharmaceutical industry, we see the province, the taxpayers, the seniors — everyone, all of us depending on health care — being put in the back seat to the needs of this government or the desires of this government to make things difficult for everyone.

[1440]

I just wanted to say a little bit about the rhetoric we hear from the government side about the recession. I mean, it's been a laughable ride that we've undertaken since the government discovered, albeit belatedly, that there was a recession. At that time, members will recall that the government was bragging that, well, you know, B.C. is recession-proof. There might be a recession happening but not here. Not here — we're recession-proof.

Then when that argument started to kind of wane a bit, when it obviously…. They were completely out of touch on the economy. Then they said that B.C. would be the best place to weather the recession. I remember the Minister of Tourism talking about that and others.

Interjection.

M. Sather: There he is. There he is responding wholeheartedly to those statements. Yet what happened? Well, Stats Canada figures for January of this year show that B.C. lost 4,200 jobs, while most other provinces saw a jump in full-time jobs. We've been suffering big-time since the recession hit, and it's unfortunate that the government is still trying to weave this web of deception. In fact, we lost 70,000 full-time jobs in British Columbia between January of last year and January of this year.

Now the ministers, the members opposite are trumpeting that British Columbia is going to lead Canada out of the recession. Well, why should they believe anything that this government says around the recession? They had it totally wrong going into the recession. They had it totally wrong during the recession. Why should this depend on believing them now that we're going to lead Canada coming out of the recession? I hope they're right. I hope we are going to lead Canada coming out of the recession, but the believability factor is very low in terms of this government.

B.C.'s economy shrank 0.3 percent in 2008, more than any other province except Ontario — so not a stellar record at all. Yet the government will have the people of British Columbia believe that they, in fact, are the experts on the economy, but it's not working out for British Columbians, and that's a concern. That's a concern for all of us.

I did want to bring up, if I have a few more minutes, a theme that I talked about last week in this House, having to do with green energy. The government likes to talk about green energy a lot. It's highlighted in this budget. In fact, apparently we will be seeing a clean energy act.

One of the things I talked about was the run-of-the-river projects vis-à-vis green energy and the cost that that, again, is incurring for the people of British Columbia. The member for Maple Ridge–Mission is quoted as saying: "There are no guaranteed rates, and each agreement B.C. Hydro signs with an independent power producer has to be in the interests of ratepayers." Well, that's not true. In fact, there is….

I see, Madam Speaker, that a member would like to make an introduction.

Deputy Speaker: Member, thank you for yielding the floor.

J. Brar: I seek leave to make an introduction.

Leave granted.

Introductions by Members

J. Brar: Visiting us today is a group of students and teachers from the Fraser Valley Christian High School located in my constituency, Surrey-Fleetwood. There are 32 grade 11 students and four adults. They're led by their teacher Miss Belinda Morsink. They're here to watch the budget debate and learn what we do in this Legislature. I would ask members from both sides of this House to make them feel welcome.

[1445]

Debate Continued

M. Sather: When a power purchase agreement is reached between B.C. Hydro and a run-of-the-river power producer, the price is set. As far as the sustainability, or being in the public interest, the B.C. Utilities Commission made very clear, before they were chastised by this government, that the government's long-term acquisition plan was simply not in the public interest. I say "the government," because we know that B.C. Hydro acts in the interests of the government.

B.C. taxpayers are committed to over $20 billion already to pay for run-of-the-river power. More profligate spending by this government, more massive debt incurred on the backs of the taxpayers of British Columbia.

[ Page 3300 ]

It goes on and on — however, not if you listen to the group called the B.C. Citizens for Green Energy, who are a front group for the B.C. Liberal Party.

They say that run-of-the-river power for export — now we're out in the open, we're out of the closet about this being for British Columbia anymore, and us being short of power and how we need it — will pay off the debt and even get rid of what they said is the PST. That's wonderful. Wow. All of that stuff is going to happen because of the $20 billion of debt that has been incurred, spending that's been incurred, that the taxpayers will have to pay for. It's simply not believable. It's not believable at all.

A few words on bioenergy. That's a big subject these days, and the Minister of Forests has talked about it. Bioenergy, in general, from what is called dedicated land is less sustainable than bioenergy from wastes or residues. Using dedicated land means that land cannot be as easily used for other purposes — for example, agriculture, forestry, carbon sequestration, wetlands and natural areas. This can reduce supplies in other areas and result in either shortages or create a demand for other land to meet those needs, leading to higher prices for food or forest products and compromised ecosystems. That's from the Pembina Institute.

The issue here with bioenergy from forestry — one of the issues, anyway — is how long it will take to restore the carbon which is lost through harvest and what effect it will have on other ecosystem services such as oxygen production, carbon sequestration, water purification, pollination, soil formation and nutrient recycling — which is a very important factor.

Now, the Minister of Forests, I know, is big on the plan in the northwest. In my colleague's area they're talking with First Nations about becoming more involved in producing wood pellets for export to Alberta or wherever they intend to use those. That may have some beneficial effect, but we have to be most careful about how that work is done.

In conclusion, I'd like to say that the people of British Columbia were looking for more in this budget. They were looking for something that would give them some confidence that jobs are going to be forthcoming, because that's one of the biggest concerns. We know that there are fears. The government has openly talked about the fears, too, of possibly a double-dip recession being triggered by factors in the United States.

[1450]

My constituents and other British Columbians, I know, are concerned about jobs, and yet they didn't see anything in this budget that would give them faith that their jobs are going to be secured, that their kids' jobs are going to be secured. Certainly, the salvation for job production in British Columbia is not going to be the HST, yet that seems to be the primary motivation that the government is putting forth.

On the other hand, they've talked about the forest sector, revitalization of the forest sector, but the forest sector and that ministry have been whacked big-time, so the actions of the government and of the minister make it hard not to believe that there's an abandonment of forestry, in fact. That's certainly bad news in many formerly, at least, forestry-dependent communities that don't have a lot of other options.

Every time I drive down the Lougheed Highway in Maple Ridge — because we have forestry manufacturing in Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows as well — I look at those smaller mills and secondary remanufacturing facilities and hope that they're still going. So far, it seems to me that a number of them are, and we keep our fingers crossed.

Of course, the Hammond Cedar mill, which once was the biggest in the world, now is dwindling faster and faster — hopefully, not closing. It's an Interfor mill, and the workers don't have the confidence that Interfor is reinvesting strongly in British Columbia. We see them investing more south of the border, moving mills, moving operations, so there's a lot of concern out there.

What we're going to be seeing, I guess, at some point before too long, is the introduction of some legislation around the HST. We can have a full debate about it then. There will be many people out on the doorsteps talking about that very issue, and it's going to result in some interesting times this spring.

Hon. S. Bond: I'm delighted to be able to take my place in the House to articulate the reason that I intend to wholeheartedly support the budget that was delivered by our Finance Minister just days ago. I am always proud to stand up and speak on behalf of the constituents that I serve in the riding of Prince George–Valemount. It started out as Prince George–Mount Robson when I was initially elected many years ago.

I want to very much speak to the power of partnership. I'm so lucky to work with a group of elected officials, whether it be at the municipal or at the federal level — and, of course, my provincial colleagues. Together we've decided that we're going to work as hard as we can to make sure that the people who live in northern British Columbia are served well and that the services they require are provided. We do that best in a collaborative way.

Today I want to recognize the leadership of others who have been elected: Mayor Frazier in McBride; Mayor Smith in Valemount; Mayor Rogers in Prince George; my MP colleagues Cathy McLeod, Dick Harris and Jay Hill. All of us work together on behalf of constituents, not to mention the members for Prince George–Mackenzie and Nechako Lakes.

That's the way we make progress on issues here in British Columbia and across the country, and it's so difficult at times to stand in this Legislature and listen to

[ Page 3301 ]

the kind of message that we hear that it's just simplistic and easy. "Let's just add more spending, let's just change this, let's just do that, and that would fix all of the issues facing the province today." I know that it's far more complex than that.

There's something that drives, I think, everyone in this Legislature to make really good decisions for the future of British Columbia. I want to say today that I am very lucky to have a supportive staff both here in Victoria…. A number of staff members help me make sure that our ministry is well taken care of, right from our deputy minister and his team through to my own personal staff. I want to thank the staff that works with me in Prince George.

[1455]

Most importantly, I want to thank my family, as many other members in this House, probably all of them, have done as they stand on their feet in this place, because without them it is impossible to do this job well. They literally give up a lot of personal time and a lot of things that really matter to them when we're away.

You know, something very extraordinary happened in our lives. As our lives would be…. In fact, it happened while I was not there, and it was very difficult not to be there. Having said that, it was pretty extraordinary. I don't think I've introduced him in this House at this point in time, but on November 27 in our world a brand-new little person arrived, and he is quite extraordinary. His name is Caleb William Bond. He is our first grandchild. [Applause.] Thank you.

An Hon. Member: Second-best-looking grandchild in B.C.

Hon. S. Bond: My colleagues and I have this debate quite regularly. I'm sure that if my colleagues from the other side of the House entered this debate, they would join in the discussion. My colleague to my right actually says that, in fact, he is the second-best-looking grandchild in the province, but I want you to know that in fact it is really an extraordinary experience.

I was very lucky that we have technology, because my son in the delivery room was actually able to text me and tell me about what was happening and the moment that Caleb arrived. I'm surrounded by people on this side of the House who have that joy, and they've had it more than once. In fact, I have a colleague that has 13 grandchildren. I have a colleague that has 11.5 grandchildren, so I'm assuming we'll have an announcement about that. And I have another colleague who has actually seven grandchildren.

I bring that message to the House because I know that my husband, Bill, and I are absolutely thrilled to be grandparents, and I'm so grateful to my children and my husband for the support they've provided to me. But I tell you that story more because that is what drives the government of British Columbia to make the decisions that they are in the position of making.

It is so easy to stand on the other side of the House or to be outside this gallery and to say: "You know what? Why don't you put some more money in here? Why don't you add another program there? Why don't you just change that?"

Well, I'll tell you why. Because since the day that Caleb has arrived and long before that, compelled by other members on this side of the House, we recognize that we have a responsibility. Undoubtedly, we have to deal with the short-term issues that are facing British Columbia, and we are not alone.

Around the world over the last several years we have faced unprecedented economic circumstances, not just a little blip. Not a blip. A major, catastrophic economic downturn. I can tell you that now is the time for prudent fiscal management. It is not the time to say: "Well, let's just add another program. Let's put this back. Let's take care of that."

In fact, now is the time. Our children and our grandchildren expect us to make difficult decisions. Why does that matter to us? Well, it matters to me and members on this side of the House that in fact today we are facing a $1.7 billion deficit. I can assure you that not one member on this side of the House, despite the commentary that we hear on an hour-by-hour basis from members opposite…. Not one of us took that lightly, and not one of us takes it lightly today.

The reason being that we believe it's our responsibility to deal with those issues today so that we do not pass that burden of debt on to our children and our grandchildren in the future. That means tough decision-making. It means setting priorities. It means setting aside some of those things that in fact we'd like to do. I can tell you that I know the men and women on this side of the House, and, you know, they'd love to do all of those things that people hear about.

Of course, we'd want to make sure that we can add new programs and continue to fund things, but whether we like it or not, it's simply not possible to continue to do everything we've done in the past or to add to that. It is a matter of setting priorities and of choosing where we're going to invest our dollars.

That is precisely what Budget 2010 has done. Let's look. When I think about that from Caleb's perspective…. My first grandson. What do I want for him as he grows up in British Columbia?

Well, for one thing, I want to make sure that he has a health care system that's there for him when he needs it, so what did we do as a government? I can tell you that I'm not sure where some of the commentary even comes from when you hear the talk of the word "cuts." Let's be clear. Budget 2010 lays out a plan for health care in British Columbia that will add over the next three years alone over $2 billion — with a "b."

[1500]

[ Page 3302 ]

Now, the members opposite can choose to characterize that however they wish, but I can tell you this. By the end of that three-year period, health care funding in British Columbia will exceed $17 billion. In fact, what it means is that more than 70 percent of all available new funding goes to health care. That's a pretty significant indication of where the priorities of this government lie.

We are committed to a top-notch health care system. That doesn't mean we can continue to do everything today, in the future. We have to look at the health care system. We have to ask ourselves if it is sustainable and what needs to be changed, and we have to have the courage to make those changes. I can assure you that to a member on this side of the House, that's what we intend to do. We intend to do that not just for my grandson but for all of our children and grandchildren in the future.

They're tough issues. They require leadership. In fact, that's exactly what we're prepared to do as a result of the budget that we've tabled in the Legislature.

The other thing that so many of us are very passionate about is the education system in this province. I've been lucky enough and just incredibly privileged to hold that portfolio in the past.

We know this, that when we investment in the early years…. I know you, Madam Speaker, know that more than anyone in terms of the investment and the work that's been done on early learning and early childhood development in the past. We know that by investing in our children's early years, we are not only creating a better opportunity for them to be successful when they are in the education system, but we also know that there's a tremendous return on investment when you invest in early learning opportunities.

Programs like StrongStart, where children and their caregivers have an opportunity to attend a StrongStart centre somewhere in their neighbourhood. That's our goal. That's our vision for early learning in British Columbia. This budget lays out a plan that will even enhance that opportunity.

We're going to prioritize. It is a time for prioritizing where we make investment. We've said that we're going to invest in health care, but we're also going to invest in our youngest British Columbians. What we've said is that we're going to expand kindergarten in this province. We're going to make sure that children get an opportunity to go to kindergarten for a full-day program. That will provide enormous benefit, and the long-term outcomes we know are immeasurable. Children will do better as a result of that investment.

In addition to that, Budget 2010 talks about the possibility of programs for four-year-olds and potentially in the future programs for three-year-olds. All of those things make a difference to families in British Columbia. It's an opportunity to support not only the child but their parents as they face what are some of the most difficult circumstances in raising children. How do we care for our children when we're at work and we're in the workplace? Well, we're also going to add additional money for child care support.

This budget is about setting priorities. It's about supporting families, caring for children in meaningful ways. It does not mean, as I said earlier, that we can continue to do everything the same way. We know that we are facing a $1.7 billion deficit. Our job is to make sure that we meet our fiscal targets.

Our track record is clear. Our credit rating has been upgraded over and over again, and that means that when people look at British Columbia, at the strategic plan that's been laid out, they've actually looked at that and recognized that this is a government that knows how to manage fiscally. In fact, we will continue to do that over the next number of years with the prudent budget that's been laid out before us.

We have to put the budget in context for people who continue to hear about: "Well, let's just add one more program or another issue. Let's just do it a different way. Let's just add more money."

Do you know, Madam Speaker, that in 2007, before the global economic downturn hit, British Columbia's annual revenues were almost $40 billion? Think about this. Why are we driven to make decisions that are difficult? Why are we forced to prioritize?

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For one reason, revenues for the year just ending were almost $3 billion lower. We know that if we're going to be prudent and thoughtful, it will take several years before those revenues recover.

It comes down to this. We want to be able to live within our means. I think taxpayers expect us to do that. If you look at our revenue expectations…. We look at revenue. It's expected to average about 4.9 percent annual growth over the next three years. Total government revenue is forecast at $39.1 billion in 2010-11, $40.9 billion in 2011-12 and $42.8 billion in 2012-2013. But if you look at total expense over the next three years, it's forecast to be $40.6 billion, $41.6 billion and $42.5 billion.

We have to look at savings and efficiencies. We did that in 2009-2010, and yes, we are refocusing ministry budgets. That is what difficult times require. We are refocusing our budgets. But in fact, the government has been able to fund $1.36 billion in priority programs, and that's really what it comes down to. What are the priorities of the members on this side of the House, and what have we done about making sure that we can fund those important priorities?

We've been clear. Our priorities are health care. They are education. They are protecting core services that support families in British Columbia. We make no apologies for the fact that it is about making decisions. It is about prioritizing, and I can assure you that we are committed to meeting our fiscal targets. In fact, we expect to return to a balanced budget in 2013. Our children

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demand that of us, and we are going to do that to make sure that the future for our grandchildren in British Columbia is a sustainable one.

I'm sure you would not be surprised, Madam Speaker, that I do want to speak just a little bit about transportation, because that's the portfolio that I hold today. In fact it's also very exciting, because this government is currently in the midst of the largest expansion of transportation in the history of British Columbia.

One of the things we have recognized is that in order for our province to be successful in attracting investment, we have to be very concerned about the efficient flow of goods and people throughout our province. That's what investment in transportation and infrastructure is all about.

We recognize that in order to have a strong and vibrant economy in the future, we have to make sure that when people look to British Columbia and look at investing, we have a great transportation infrastructure system in place. Our goal in our ministry is always to look at how we create an integrated and safe transportation network that incorporates all of our regional priorities.

We know this, that as we move forward over the next three years, we are going to continue to see the largest expansion of transportation infrastructure in the history of our province. But before we look forward to the next three years, Madam Speaker, I hope you'll indulge me in looking back just ever so briefly to something that has been so incredibly successful in our very recent past.

You know, we made a decision to invest in some very key pieces of infrastructure. We looked at the Sea to Sky Highway in British Columbia, and we knew that there were significant challenges in terms of that highway being safe for the people who have to use that every single day. We also knew that as we looked at planning for transit needs in the Lower Mainland, in Metro Vancouver, that we needed to invest increasingly in rapid transit.

Well, let me tell you a little bit about those two pieces of infrastructure alone. During our recent Olympics, I can't begin to tell you how proud I was of the fact that we had a government that had the foresight to deal with investing in those key infrastructure projects, and not just for the Olympic Games. You know, anyone who suggests that that's the case is simply wrong.

I know men and women that drive up and down the Sea to Sky corridor every single day. I can't begin to tell you how many of them have stopped me to say: "Thank you. Thank you for the amazing feat of engineering and technology."

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It has now taken a highway that was once one of the worst in the province in terms of safety records and turned it into something that those men and women feel safe and comfortable driving every single day. Now, it's important that it's a long-term legacy, but I can't begin to tell you how well that piece of infrastructure investment performed during the recent Olympics.

I want you to know that the Canada Line…. I can tell you that there were a lot of cynics and a lot of naysayers about investing in rapid transit in the Canada Line. In fact, a lot of them sat on that side of the House. I can tell you that I read quote after quote that said: "Not now. Not ever. Not this. It's going to be a boondoggle." In fact, one of the members actually called it a pig in a poke.

Well, I want that member opposite now to actually stop and think about that comment made, because I can tell you that without the extraordinary success of the Canada Line, where would we have been during the Olympics? And where would we be today, when virtually every Friday, at least, if not in between, almost 100,000 riders choose to ride on that pig in a poke? And I can assure you we're proud of that investment.

Madam Speaker, I want to tell you a little bit about the success of the planning that we've done. I can assure you that as we move forward, there are going to be more of those successes. I can tell you that the name of one of them is the Evergreen line. In fact, we're going to move that project forward too, and we're going to do it with the same degree of success that we had with the Canada Line.

If you look at the Canada Line, it was a $2 billion project that came in three months ahead of

schedule and on budget. Now, that is a track record worthy of being proud of. Ridership today averages 85,000 people a day, with TransLink projecting ridership to average — imagine this — 100,000 by 2013. Well, we're way ahead of target, and it's because people take the opportunity to use public transit. That's great on a number of fronts, because when you think about it, it's one way to make sure we're reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We're making sure people are leaving their cars at home.

Our projections were 100,000 people by 2013, but just before the Olympics, daily ridership on the Canada Line spiked to over 103,000 people, and during the games — listen to this number — the Canada Line certainly proved that it was worth our investment and worth our insistence that it move forward. The daily average ridership was over 200,000 people a day on the Canada Line.

The $6 million Sea to Sky Highway was also delivered on time and on budget. The project has increased the safety, reliability and capacity of the highway. During the Olympic Games traffic along the Sea to Sky corridor ran so smoothly that, in fact, Russian transportation officials — and, as we all know, the host of the next Winter Games will be in Sochi — requested a tour along the corridor to learn firsthand traffic management best practices so that Russia could be better prepared to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

Bus ridership was up 34 percent. SeaBus ridership was up 200 percent. The West Coast Express was up 78 percent. The list goes on and on. But what's the critical factor there? This government has invested in every single one of those modes of transportation. That wasn't simply

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for the Olympic Games, although we were delighted with the way the system, in my view, won a gold medal for performance during the 2010 Olympic Games. In fact, these were investments that will pay off long into the future.

On that note, I want to say a very significant thank- you to the transportation partners from the Olympics, including the staff from the Ministry of Transportation, who did an outstanding job on behalf of British Columbians. I can honestly tell you that the staff and the team and all of the people involved in that joint team of organizers worked literally 24-7 to ensure that we were moving people as efficiently as possible, that we were being hospitable hosts.

I know that we were all proud of the firsts that were actually accomplished during the Olympic Games, of those gold medals and those inspiring stories of athletes from Canada and elsewhere.

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But I was proud of the work done behind the scenes by countless men and women to ensure that people could actually get where they needed to go. They got there on time. They got there in an efficient way, and that is in no small part due to the fact that as a government we had the foresight to invest in additional resources to ensure that that happened during the Olympic Games.

As we move forward, this year alone we're going to invest almost $2 billion in transportation investment and capital projects outside of transit. The total transportation investment this year in Budget 2010 is $2.2 billion. That is nearly four times the level of transportation investments in 2001. Over the next three years we will be investing $5.8 billion in transportation and infrastructure investments. It includes the bulk of the $2.46 billion committed to the Port Mann/Highway 1 project .

There have been cynics and naysayers on the other side of the House about the Port Mann/Highway 1 bridge project as well. As we look at why that's important…. There are a lot of reasons it's important. It's important for the flow of goods. It's important for the efficient movement of people in Metro Vancouver.

Can you imagine the wasted time spent in congestion? What we want to do is use infrastructure and transportation investment as a way to give people more time in their lives. They actually are going to spend less time sitting in lineups and more time on the quality things that really matter to families in British Columbia.

It's bigger than just investing in bridges and highways. It's about quality of life. It's about productivity. It's about environmental considerations. It's about making sure we're reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We can only do that with strategic investments. Whether that's health care, whether it's education, whether it's transportation and infrastructure, it's all about providing support to British Columbia families. It is about a systematic, thoughtful approach to strategic investments.

One of the things that we should be most proud of is that when we say we're going to build a bridge or we're going to build a highway or we're going to rehabilitate a road, we actually do it. It's about more than talking about building bridges. It's about building bridges. It's about making sure that, in fact, they are done as quickly and as efficiently and as cost-effectively as possible. We have done that time and time and time again across British Columbia.

In fact, we have used public-private partnerships. While members on the other side of the House may have some political and policy concerns with that, let's look at the track record. Public-private partnerships in British Columbia have delivered major infrastructure projects on time, on budget, and they have done it consistently across British Columbia. That benefits taxpayers.

We're going to continue to use public-private partnerships where it's appropriate and where it's going to save money and make sure that projects get built on time. That's the prudent thing to do, and we're proud of the track record that we have with public-private partnerships in this province.

I'd also like to highlight a couple of other key projects that are provided for in Budget 2010. We are building the South Fraser perimeter road. I've had discussions with numerous people about the importance of that road and, in fact, some of the challenges that we've faced in moving that project forward. We believe that the Simon Fraser perimeter road will provide better access between Deltaport and Highway 1, and 91 and 99. It will allow for freer movement of goods south of the Fraser.

We've worked hard to continue to address the environmental concerns that have been expressed by members in this House and by others. We are committed to ensuring that this is done in the most sensitive way possible to make sure that we're addressing environmental concerns.

I've been very appreciative of the questions and the ideas and the advice and, in fact, some of the negative comments that we've received about this particular project. We're moving it ahead. We want to do it thoughtfully and carefully, but it is an investment. It is another $1 billion project in British Columbia that's aimed at reducing congestion and increasing the flow of goods and people in a smoother way south of the Fraser.

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The Kicking Horse Canyon project also looks at $972 million, revitalizing this portion of the national highway system, a critical link to British Columbia's ports and southern routes. What an amazing, amazing project — again, a very significant partnership. It is critical to the Asia-Pacific connection that we have and that we want to capitalize on.

One of the things that I spent a lot of time on, along with many of my colleagues, during that Olympic period was capitalizing on the fact that very significant decision-makers from companies around the world

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came to Vancouver. In fact, I had the unprecedented opportunity to meet with the largest shipping companies in the world, with international airlines, and all of them wanted to talk to us about our Asia-Pacific strategy.

We are the only province that has the opportunity to take advantage of our geography and our connections to the Asia-Pacific. What we need to do is make sure we capitalize on that geography, capitalize on the momentum that was created through the Olympics and through the discussions that we had.

I could go on and on about the importance of transit, the importance of the investments in B.C. Transit and B.C. Ferries, the importance of investing in rural and Interior roads — all of which we intend to do — continuing to deal with the devastation of the mountain pine beetle by looking at investing in roads that have been impacted by the mountain pine beetle, encouraging further investment by looking at oil and gas roads. We're going to invest in all of those areas.

Let me close by saying that every day that I get to work on behalf of my constituents, I consider it an enormous honour. But I also take perhaps as seriously my commitment to my children and to my new grandson, Caleb. This is not an easy task. It is far more complicated than being able to stand up on the opposite side of the House and point fingers and be critical and simply say: "Just do this or add this. Let's just pile on the debt, pile on the debt, pile on the debt."

Well, I can tell you that I, for one, am not prepared to pile the debt on the backs of our children and grandchildren, and no one on this side of the House is prepared to do that.

Budget 2010 prioritizes. It invests in record levels in health care, in education and in transportation infrastructure. It supports children. It supports families in this province. Most importantly, it ensures that by 2013 we will be back to a balanced budget. We'll be able to look our children in the eyes in the future and say that we did our part. We provided the leadership necessary.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak.

G. Coons: I rise to speak against Budget 2010 as presented, and I do want to congratulate the member for Prince George–Valemount on her speech and about her family. It is important that we recognize our family.

Right now my wife and eldest daughter are in the Okanagan in Oyama, skiing the slopes along with Jim Elliot, who is an orchardist. My other daughter next week is going to highlight the problem of homelessness in Prince George as she embarks on a five-night homeless endeavour to raise awareness and fundraise for homelessness in Prince George. So I really acknowledge my daughters, Breton and Hannah.

The previous speaker talked about the legacy they want to leave. Under this government, out of the proposed budgets going a few years ahead, seven out of 12 of the budgets will be deficit budgets. When we come up to their balanced budget, we'll have a $50 billion to $60 billion deficit, debt that we have to pay. This government boasts of their economic strength, but in reality it's just a flaw.

Last week's budget highlighted how this government had no real strategy, no concrete initiatives or any plan to grow the economy and recover after the Vancouver games bypass us. We see a small spark of the global recession weakening. Our economy is showing some cautious signs, but only in certain regions of the province.

When we look at the region that I represent, the north coast in the northwest of the province, it suffers the highest unemployment in the province, the largest number of people on social assistance, growing debt loads, loss of vital services, school closures and abandonment by this Liberal government.

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You add in the growing gap between the rich and the poor, housing prices plummeting, the high cost of living, a scheme that loots ICBC of three-quarters of a billion dollars and hikes to hydro rates of 29 percent in the next two or three years, and we have a Liberal budget that highlights contempt for those living and trying to raise their families in rural British Columbia.

This budget does nothing to support vital community services and lacks long-term planning that would ensure an economic rebound. Public and community services are key to making the economy recover and to ensure it recovers quickly and that everybody in the province shares in this economic recovery.

Programs that have been eliminated span all regions of the province, including services for mental health, addictions and youth services counselling. There's no plan to deal with this province's astonishingly high child poverty rate — number one for six years, no plan to help families with a living wage so that the gap closes between the rich and the poor, no help for seniors who have suffered this Premier's wrath for nine years with service cuts and higher fees.

As previously reported in COSCO, the Council of Senior Citizens Organizations of B.C.: "By putting our lives at risk and taking away our right to retire with dignity, we need to take on this Liberal government." The budget response by COSCO? Gudrun Langol says: "Seniors are not important to this government. We all have to sign up to be movie extras, I guess, seeing our wonderful industry has gotten a few tax breaks, and maybe we can get in on that."

Basically, instead of a recovery budget, this government brought forward a budget that betrays the election promise to protect health care and education and hammers British Columbians with HST. Instead of making investments in people to secure a recovery and create jobs, we have a shyster budget, a shell game budget, one with a mystical facade of gimmicks and trickery.

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In the Globe and Mail Patrick Brethour says: "Faced with a need to restore its battered fiscal credibility, the B.C. Liberal government has instead chosen to resort to sleight-of-hand measures that create a distraction from the unfolding political debacle of the HST and the future peril of a blowout deficit. In short, the Premier's government has just tabled the gimmick budget."

Other comments on the minister's harmonized sales tax gimmick include: "sleight of hand," "a joke," "stupid," "contemptuous," "laughable," "silly," "flimflam," "phony," "lame."

No innovative investments in the future of our province for our children or grandchildren to help move into an economy that ensures our wealth and social capital are there for all British Columbians.

On the seventh anniversary of the heartlands budget, the Liberals have nothing for rural B.C. — no plan, no strategy, no concern. It doesn't have any rural strategy to foster sustainable economic development and help create good-paying jobs.

[H. Bloy in the chair.]

It's a fundamental betrayal and abandonment of those that depend on the government to look after those people with needs in all the province, not just the chosen few. Despite nearly a decade of mismanagement that has left our province deeply divided between rich and poor, rural and urban, we still have so much to offer but nothing from this budget.

The throne speech. Fourteen pages, over 5,000 words and rural B.C. not mentioned once — only with a bizarre, northern and rural homeowner benefit that seems to include the heartland capitals of Kamloops, Kelowna and Whistler. When the minister was questioned on why there was nothing for rural B.C., he mentioned the homeowner benefit and the property tax deferral scheme — just another gimmick to try to lay out an economic plan and push towards economic recovery.

We look at the deferral plan, the property tax deferral scheme. The government says it will help families who might need the help, but it has the potential to snowball with young homeowners, adding to their debt and making more money, obviously, for the best friends of this government, the banks.

John Pankratz, president of Certified General Accountants of B.C., indicated that while it could provide short-term break for some stretched families, he wouldn't want to see it used as a long-term strategy. "It's not something that in the long term you want to see a lot of people jumping into with a lot of enthusiasm. It's more of a stop-gap measure." So basically, a band-aid approach, a gimmick, no plan.

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If we look inside the budget and look at the budget of the Community and Rural Development Ministry, look at the rural B.C. secretariat…. Back in 2008 the Premier announced, at the Union of B.C. Municipalities, the creation of this new one-stop rural secretariat. It's going to assist local governments to apply for infrastructure funding, diversify regional economies, assist resource-based workers in transition, increase community socioeconomic health and sustainability, and enhance response to opportunities and the urgent needs of communities.

What has the Premier done to assist local governments, help regional economies, assist workers who have lost their jobs, ensure the socioeconomic health of rural B.C.? He cut this vital program, the rural B.C. secretariat. From February '09, $36 million, to this year, $33 million, and in 2010-11, $3 million — a 91 percent cut.

An Hon. Member: Wrong.

G. Coons: Read the budget. It's right in front of me.

From $36 million to $3 million. For years the Premier has acknowledged that rural B.C. is on life support. That's why he created the rural secretariat. With this budget the heartbeat of the heartland, the rural secretariat, has been flatlined by the Premier, the heart of rural B.C. ripped out and transplanted to help pay for the $600 million roof on B.C. Place Stadium, the billions of dollars of tax breaks for subsidies for big banks and oil companies and the unknown legacy bills of the Vancouver games.

Now, I find it interesting that the members on the other side — the previous speaker from Prince George, from the north — didn't talk about the northwest transmission line. One other member mentioned it, but you know, it's buried deep in the budget. There are no details, and the government is noticeably silent on this.

We all support economic development in the north, but we need to hear from the minister, the Minister of Energy, about his plan for an organized, rational development in the northwest that includes this vital transmission line. This government needs to show us a business plan and explain how it's going to recoup the hundreds of millions of taxpayers' dollars that are subsidizing the line.

Six months ago the Finance Minister told us that a partner had been identified and that we would be putting in $90 million. But they admitted recently that they still haven't secured a private partner for this transmission line. I guess that's why there's so much silence coming from this government on the transmission line.

The Mining Association of B.C., when the federal government put in their support, had a headline: "The Mining Association of B.C. Applauds the Federal Government Support for the Northwest Power Line." They're putting in the money. On Tuesday, March 2, after the budget, their headline was: "Budget Focuses on HST." Not once is the transmission line mentioned in the Mining Association press release on the budget. So another scam, another misinformation.

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I'm not surprised that the Minister of Transportation, who was speaking earlier and is on the northern caucus, failed to mention the transmission line.

We look at forestry. All of our resource ministry budgets are looking at a $320 million hit. The forestry ministry is going to go from over $1 billion to about $6.4 million. It takes the biggest cut, close to $200 million over three years. You know, this government, over the last three to four years, has abandoned our vital forest industry. The decision to cut $200 million from Forests is the latest broken election promise from a government that's abandoned the industry that built this province. The budget hammered them with a 23 percent, $200 million cut.

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The inaction of this Premier and this government over the last nine years has devastated and ravaged the industry even worse than the pine beetle infestation itself.

Now, if we look at the budget for Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, there are further cuts to this budget. From the September '09 budget update to this February budget, there's a decrease of 4 percent or just about $3 million. But for the 2010-2011 year, the budget is expected to be about $40 million, a cut from $66 million — a cut of 40 percent or close to $27 million — and further cuts after that.

What have we seen from previous budgets under this government? Well, in 2008 we saw the failed recognition act, in 2005 the failed new relationship vision, and in 2001 we saw the referendum on native rights. I guess that didn't fail in the Premier's mind, but those who saw it as divisive and a racist attack knew it was a complete failure.

The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, along with 200 groups, called for a legislated poverty reduction plan. They said that now is the time for a poverty reduction plan, and we saw nothing in this budget. Over half a million British Columbians live in poverty, making B.C. have the highest poverty rate in Canada.

People work hard to overcome poverty, but society must ensure that policies are in place from governments to help them achieve an adequate standard of living. Nothing in the budget about a minimum wage. Nothing in the budget about a living wage for B.C. families. The only thing that's certain in this budget is that we will, unfortunately, be number one for child poverty for the seventh time in a row. Nothing in this budget to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable, except for more cuts to services and more suffering.

Now, we look at a tale of two cities — basically a tale of two provinces. In Ontario, in its latest throne speech recently, the headline reads: "Ontario Stakes its Recovery on Education." On education in Ontario: "The province plans to create another 20,000 spaces. The classroom is the centrepiece of Premier McGuinty's five-year plan to return Canada's one-time economic engine to prosperity."

What are we doing in our budget as far as post-secondary? We're cutting. The government may say, "Well, we're keeping the budget the same," but when you don't take into consideration the cost pressures, it's a cut.

Operating grants for post-secondary colleges and institutions. They're going to be operating on the same funding levels as last year, but no allowance for the cost pressures, the cost of living and the dozens of other increases. So basically, this flatline budget will have significant cuts in our post-secondary.

The annual capital allowance for post-secondary colleges and institutions. Basically, the ACA is going to go from about $60 million to $12.8 million, a 78 percent reduction to the post-secondary system. This cut to the annual capital allowance means that capital funds required to keep facilities running will need to come from operating budgets. This will lead to significant, significant cuts to programs and services and, again, an abandonment of our post-secondary.

Labour market and immigration. Again, for 2010-2011 in the post-secondary budgets, it's a flatline budget. Again, the Industry Training Authority will probably receive no money. It was cut in 2009 by $8.5 million, and this will have a major impact on what's happening in our post-secondary institutions.

What we did see were the broken promises to post-secondary students. Their support programs in this budget were slashed by this government. They face a 28 percent cut to student aid after the government broke their election promises and axed funding.

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During the election this Premier campaigned on the promise to protect funding for advanced education. Now they're backtracking, deceiving students and making deep cuts to student aid programs. They slashed $31 million in this budget from the student support program, and since the 2009 election they've cut student aid by 27.4 percent.

It's shameful. It's not fair to students. They're being forced to pay for this government's election deception and lack of an economic plan. We need to make smart investments now in human capital to remain competitive, not cut programs and services through insufficient funding.

The cost of post-secondary is rising quickly. With the fewest student grants in Canada, many of our students in British Columbia are finding themselves without the financial means to attend university or college or to complete their programs.

What we need to do and what this government should have done is provide students with incentive to stay in British Columbia and fill the jobs of tomorrow. By taking away student aid programs, this government made it much harder for a young person to receive an education. We need a healthy, educated workforce that can afford to go to post-secondary.

Over the past nine years this government has consistently underfunded universities and colleges, which

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are the drivers of our economic growth in the province. They force students to pay outrageous tuition fees. The government's own figures show that in 2011, it will collect more from tuition fees than corporate income tax — unbelievable. Education should not be a debt sentence, and that will be this Premier's shameful legacy to our students.

If I look at the college in my riding, Northwest Community College, which operates out of Terrace and Kitimat and many of the other small local communities around, they're receiving 78 percent less funding for maintenance and repairs from this government and from this budget. There are cuts of discretionary funds such as aboriginal special project grants, targeted aboriginal funding for community-based programming and cuts to the Industry Training Authority budget. These cuts will have a huge impact on the budget and the services offered to the students in the northwest.

Now, we look at public education. This government has the mantra of saying that they continue to fund at highest levels, but that is just a shell game. They are not funding to the levels that they need to be at. Even though spending has been boosted by a tiny amount over the last couple of years, this government has downloaded greater responsibilities and huge costs to the school boards.

This small amount that's been put into the education budget will not cover the downloaded costs, increased costs, inflation. Some of the cost pressures include the transportation costs, pension additions, administrative salary increases, administrative pensions, support staff increases, carbon offsets, gas tax, carbon costs, SmartTool software, MSP increases, B.C. Hydro rate increases, BCeSIS costs, DPAC and PAC costs, B.C.

School Sports, building maintenance costs, TOC criteria for wages through the Ready award, StrongStart costs, annual facility grants that were only half-funded over the two years, the funding protection that a lot of rural British Columbia school boards need, and looking at the growth in special ed and general inflation.

All of these over the last four or five years have been downloaded onto school boards. This budget will only lead to more instability and uncertainty for schools as these costs continue to outpace government funding.

Now, the government side of the House wants British Columbians to believe that they're protecting education. But students, parents and teachers know better, as they all brace for more cuts, more school closures, more overcrowded classes, more cuts in teachers and support staff. This government is in complete denial about its role in education cuts, and they'll probably keep breaking their own class-size and composition law. The government claims there's enough funding, but the small amount far exceeds the rising costs.

[1545]

This government's shyster type of math just doesn't add up. The government continues to play a shell game, and the only losers are the students of British Columbia. There still will be close to a $300 million shortfall of what's needed just to maintain existing levels of service. There's no long-term plan to improve learning conditions and classroom conditions for students. There's no plan to improve class sizes or support for students with special needs, and no plan to prevent school closures. Just more chaos when we need stability.

Now, we look at the arts funding in this latest budget, and this government continues to ignore the economic benefits of the creative sector. That's evident in their gross disregard for the recommendations of the bipartisan Select Standing Committee on Finance, which recommended that cultural funding be reinstated to 2008 levels.

The committee noted that for every dollar invested in the arts, it generates a return of $1.36. To me, that seems like a good investment in your dollar. The Alliance for Arts and Culture says: "We've seen further cuts to core funding for a total loss of 32.4 percent from funding levels in 2008-09."

The B.C. Arts Council has been cut 53 percent from 2008-09. B.C. Gaming Commission contributions have been cut 58 percent from 2008-09. This is funding used to make possible community access to arts and culture through free public festivals and events.

The gaming grant cuts will severely impact cash-strapped charities and non-profits — another shortsighted decision by this government, with no plan and no vision. Day care, festivals, fairs and museums will see a 50 percent reduction — another severe blow to organizations, especially those in rural and northern British Columbia.

If we look at what's happening with the environment, the Ministry of Environment, there's clear evidence that this government has abandoned their environmental promises, going from a greening of B.C. to a greenwashing of B.C. The Liberal budget actually cuts programs that create green jobs. Funding for the Ministry of Environment has been cut by almost 40 percent since the Liberal so-called green budget in 2008.

While the government claims they are restoring LiveSmart, they've cut the funding for the popular program to half of what it was before the election. And it should be noted that in 2008, this province — our province, British Columbia — was the only one in Canada to see increases in industrial greenhouse gas emissions.

The Premier's provincewide cuts could force more park closures and undermine the ministry's ability to provide core services like effective enforcement against polluters and poachers, protection programs for species at risk and work related to adapting to climate change.

As many have been pointing out, this budget is yet again putting carbon-intense industries over green initiatives. Once again, the Ministry of Environment has been cut even deeper than it was in the September '09 budget. Some of the program cuts from February '09 to this budget are the climate action secretariat by 55.6 percent; environmental

[ Page 3309 ]

stewardship, over 17 percent; water stewardship, over 18 percent; compliance, 17.5 percent; parks and protected areas, a cut of close to 14 percent; environmental assessment, a 6.6 percent cut.

The $100 million slated for climate action and clean energy and $35 million to revive the LiveSmart program, which is about $135 million, pale in comparison to the projected $282 million in subsidies this year alone for oil and gas. The Pembina Institute says that this budget cites more gas than green. We on this side of the House know how much gas comes out through the halls when these ministers are talking about their greening of B.C.

Matt Horne, director of energy solutions for the Pembina Institute, said: "Fresh off the Olympics, British Columbians were looking for big strides toward a clean energy economy, but continued carbon tax exemptions combined with oil and gas subsidies amount to a near $700 million lost" in this investment.

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West Coast Environmental Law indicates that past and new cuts to the Ministry of Environment play a key role in an ongoing drop in enforcement of laws protecting B.C.'s air, water and wildlife, and they have called for increased funding to environmental law enforcement.

I see this in my riding in Bella Coola. Two years they've been without a conservation officer. There have been dozens of grizzly bears killed because of no conservation officer — mothers and cubs. There's no Bear Aware program. They're on the list in Bella Coola, but they can't get the funding. Cuts to environmental protection will only ensure that there will be more concerns about killing of wildlife and lack of conservation officers throughout the province.

The Dogwood Initiative sees this budget as out of balance. There's a clear signal from the Premier, they say, that he would rather provide subsidies to the world's most profitable and dirtiest industries than support green innovation. The Premier is spending over $1.5 billion to subsidize and support dirty projects versus $135 million for green innovation and clean energy, a huge discrepancy that will only continue the exponential increase of our province's greenhouse gas emissions.

The Georgia Strait Alliance acknowledges that there's no money for ocean health.

I do want to talk about the HST. The government said that there is nothing more important than the HST. But what we're seeing is that Manitoba confirms that it hurts consumers. The Progress Board reports that it's going to hit ordinary British Columbians hard.

I do want to end on a note from Laura, a senior citizen who says:

"As a senior living on my own, the HST will cause me to lose my house. When you are on a pension, you get no increase. The only way low-income families can cut back on costs is food and utilities. My furnace is at 12 for the day, and overnight it's set at 10. Laundry is done in cold water. There are going to be lots of families and single moms with children living on the street. Never in my many years have I seen big business pass on any savings to the consumer. The HST was planned for big business, for their benefit only. Everything this Premier has to say, I automatically deem an untruth."

This is from Laura, a senior citizen who is concerned about the impacts of the HST, as 82 percent of British Columbians are. We will take the fight of the HST and ensure that we represent the citizens of British Columbia in the role that we are honoured to do, and we will represent all British Columbians, not just the favoured few.

Hon. S. Thomson: It's an honour to stand in the House today to support Budget 2010.

Firstly, though this is my second opportunity to speak to a budget presentation, I want to take the opportunity to thank the constituents of Kelowna-Mission — again thank them for this tremendous opportunity to serve the province. I remain honoured and humbled, and I recognize the responsibility that I've been entrusted with. I take it very, very seriously.

I also want to thank my family again for their continued support and patience. My youngest son is on an extended adventure in Australia and is probably not listening or watching. But I expect my wife, Brenda, is, and I sincerely appreciate her continued love and support.

I also have five grandchildren that I'm working for — just in case people in the House are keeping track or counting the number of grandchildren that people are working for. But as the member from Prince George noted, that is who we are working for. It's the future, and it's the children of this province and our grandchildren that we all consider so important that we want to work for. My grandchildren are as adorable as any of the others.

Again, as many other members have noted, we're all supported by the great work of our constituency assistants who continue to help the residents of Kelowna-Mission in so many ways. So I want to thank Nan Pellatt and Rebecca Narinesingh in my office for their continued tireless, dedicated and very much appreciated support.

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This 2010 budget is a document for those people that I just mentioned — for our constituents, for our families, for our grandchildren and for the businesses in our region — because it positions the province to lead in economic growth and recovery. Difficult decisions have been made so that this budget can provide the prudent and measured approach to ensure the stability we need to bring investment and jobs to British Columbia.

Our continued focus on having the lowest personal income taxes and on continued reductions in corporate income tax and small business taxation contributes to the foundation that we need for the future. The sound fiscal approach has resulted in a triple-A credit rating, and it's a testament to the steady, solid guidance provided by our Premier and by our Minister of Finance.

This budget follows the unparalleled success of the hosting of Canada and B.C.'s 2010 Winter Olympic

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Games. There have been lots of comments on the great success of the games. They will provide the impetus for short- and long-term economic investment, growth and jobs in this province. From the torch relay to the gold-medal hockey game, we were engaged, we were motivated, and we were inspired by the response and the experience.

Speaking of that experience, the torch relay, as it came through Kelowna, provided me with one of my most touching and personal moments of the games. In Kelowna-Mission one of our torchbearers was Rev. Albert Baldeo, a spiritual leader in our community and someone that everyone turns to in times of trouble and in times of happiness. Albert is originally from Trinidad, and he is significantly challenged by advancing Parkinson's disease.

He was so appreciative of the honour to be chosen. On a dark early morning between Glenwood Avenue and Rose Avenue in our riding in Kelowna-Mission, in front of the Kelowna General Hospital, he took his turn, stepping out of the shuttle to the hundreds of supporters that were there — his family, his grandchildren, his Rotary club, his church and an attendant with a wheelchair to assist. But when his turn came, Albert took the torch, turned and headed down the street, surprising everyone, bringing tears and cheers from all.

He embodied the spirit of all Canadians. He sent me a poem following his experience, and I just want to read a very short passage from that poem. I won't read it all, but it epitomizes the spirit that I just talked about. This is the poem that he sent to me.

The torch has a lovely flame.

May it flow gently in this land.

Even in my infirmity

I am proud to be a Canadian.

The torch reminds me today

That as a nation we are free,

And my prayer is that

The Olympic Games

Will create world unity.

To my loving eight grandchildren

I would like to leave a legacy

Blessed by God from above.

That legacy is the legacy

Of gratitude and love.

It's for people like Albert and his eight grandchildren that we are working, and it's for that reason that we don't want to leave that legacy of debt on those grandchildren and on our grandchildren and on the future. That's why this budget is so important to the people of British Columbia.

During the Olympics I had the opportunity to create and promote awareness of the agriculture industry, agricultural producers and food processors and the very important linkages and partnerships that exist throughout the value chain in the agriculture and agrifood industry — including retail distribution, restaurant and food services, and partnerships between primary producers and chefs.

These opportunities included the First Nations Agricultural Association agricultural day, where we focused on the great work that the first nations communities are doing in developing agriculture industry and agritourism; Savour Canada, with the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the federal Minister of Agriculture; the Canadian Food and Wine Event, with our own B.C. industry primary producers, food processors and chefs; B.C. Street out in Richmond, where we had regional promotion for our communities across the province — the Comox Valley, the Cariboo, the South Okanagan — a street that saw over 10,000 visitors a day.

I just want to correct one assumption or one thing that came out in the press during that event. I did not lose the grape stomp to the mayor of Penticton, Mayor Ashton. I think it was a tie.

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It gave us that great opportunity to promote the grape and wine industry in the South Okanagan. All of those regional areas had a significant focus on agriculture in their communities as part of the promotion of the regional economies — tourism and everything else in those areas — and agriculture was a big part of those regional events.

On culinary day with CTV we had the opportunity to again feature the B.C. industry. I had the opportunity to pass out over 2,000 Fuji apples from the B.C. Fruit Growers Association, the B.C. tree fruit industry, to the public at Robson Square.

We had regional days featuring many of our regions, specifically at the B.C. Showcase. The Okanagan and the Cariboo were two that I had the chance to participate in. We joined businesses from those regions promoting those regions, and each of those included a significant component of agriculture.

It's very important to recognize that this provided the opportunity to promote our industry domestically, interprovincially and internationally. We gained media coverage of the B.C. food, wine and agricultural products around the world, from venerable U.S. outlets like the New York Times, CNN, to media outlets from China, Australia, Russia and Germany.

The members opposite have made reference to the comment about the lack of support for communication on the importance of the need to support local food production and the Buy B.C. approach. I want to say that we are committed to continue to support communication in this area, just as we did at the Olympics, just as we will continue to use every opportunity possible, including today, to stress the importance of our B.C. consumers supporting our industry by focusing on local producers, by buying B.C. products.

We will continue to work with organizations such as the B.C. Agriculture Council, the B.C. Food Processors Association and the Small Scale Food Processor Association of B.C. to do just that. We're working with

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B.C. farmers markets, the direct farm marketing association, the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association, with their initiatives to link consumers with primary producers, small-scale food processors, retailers and chefs focusing on high-quality, safe, nutritious food products that we produce