British Columbia Hansard — Tuesday, February 25, 2003

H0225pm-15

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

4th Session, 37th Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (HANSARD) Tuesday, February 25, 2003 Afternoon Sitting Volume 11, Number 15 THE HONOURABLE CLAUDE RICHMOND, SPEAKER ISSN 0709-1281

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Honourable Iona Campagnolo 4TH SESSION, 37TH PARLIAMENT SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Claude Richmond EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council................................................................................. .........................Hon. Gordon Campbell Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations.............................................................................. ..................... Hon.

Greg Halsey-Brandt Deputy Premier and Minister of Education ....................................................................................... ..................................Hon. Christy Clark Minister of Advanced Education................................................................................................. ...........................................Hon. Shirley Bond Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Treaty Negotiations.............................................................. .................... Hon.

Geoff Plant Minister of Children and Family Development.................................................................................... ..............................Hon. Gordon Hogg Minister of State for Early Childhood Development.............................................................................. .................................Hon. Linda Reid Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services......................................................................... .................. Hon.

George Abbott Minister of State for Community Charter........................................................................................ .................................. Hon. Ted Nebbeling Minister of State for Women's Equality ......................................................................................... .................................... Hon. Lynn Stephens Minister of Competition, Science and Enterprise ................................................................................ ..................................Hon.

Rick Thorpe Minister of State for Deregulation ............................................................................................. ............................................ Hon. Kevin Falcon Minister of Energy and Mines................................................................................................... ....................................... Hon. Richard Neufeld Minister of Finance ............................................................................................................ ....................................................... Hon.

Gary Collins Minister of Forests ............................................................................................................ .................................................. Hon. Michael de Jong Minister of Health Planning .................................................................................................... ............................................ Hon. Sindi Hawkins Minister of Health Services.................................................................................................... ................................................ Hon.

Colin Hansen Minister of State for Mental Health ............................................................................................ ...................................Hon. Gulzar S. Cheema Minister of State for Intermediate, Long Term and Home Care ............................................................................. Hon. Katherine Whittred Minister of Human Resources.................................................................................................... ............................................Hon.

Murray Coell Minister of Management Services................................................................................................ .........................................Hon. Sandy Santori Minister of Provincial Revenue................................................................................................. ................................................Hon. Bill Barisoff Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General ................................................................................ ..................................Hon.

Rich Coleman Minister of Skills Development and Labour...................................................................................... .............................Hon. Graham P. Bruce Minister of Sustainable Resource Management and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries ..................................Hon. Stan Hagen Minister of Transportation..................................................................................................... .................................................... Hon.

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

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

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

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

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

Rates: single issue, $2.85; per calendar year, mailed daily, $298. GST extra. Agent: Crown Publications Inc., 521 Fort St., Victoria, B.C. V8W 1E7. Telephone: (250) 386-4636. Fax: 386-0221. www.leg.bc.ca/hansard In addition to printed transcripts, Hansard Services publishes transcripts on the Internet and broadcasts Chamber debates on television.

Party Standings: Liberal 75; New Democratic 2; Independent Liberal 2. ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS Abbott, Hon. George (L) ....................................................................... Shuswap Anderson, Val J. (L) .............................................................Vancouver-Langara Barisoff, Hon. Bill (L)............................................. Penticton–Okanagan Valley Bell, Pat (L).........................................................................Prince George North Belsey, Bill (L).................................................................................

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vancouver-Hastings Manhas, Karn (L) .............................................Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Masi, Reni (L) ...................................................................................Delta North Mayencourt, Lorne (L) ..........................................................Vancouver-Burrard Murray, Hon. Joyce (L) ........................................................... New Westminster Nebbeling, Hon. Ted (L) .......................................... West Vancouver–Garibaldi Nettleton, Paul (Ind. L)..................................................Prince George–Omineca Neufeld, Hon.

Richard (L)...................................................... Peace River North Nijjar, Rob (L)...................................................................Vancouver-Kingsway Nuraney, John (L) ...............................................................Burnaby-W illingdon Orr, Sheila (L) ...........................................................................Victoria-Hillside Penner, Barry (L)....................................................................... Ch illiwack-Kent Plant, Hon. Geoff (L) ......................................................... Richmond-Steveston Reid, Hon.

Judith (L)............................................................Nanaimo-Parksv ille Reid, Hon. Linda (L) ................................................................... Richmond East Richmond, Hon. Claude (L) ................................................................ Kamloops Roddick, Valerie (L)..........................................................................Delta South Sahota, Patty (L).....................................................................Burnaby-Edmonds Santori, Hon. Sandy (L)..............................................West Kootenay–Boundary Stephens, Hon.

Lynn (L) ........................................................................ Langley Stewart, Ken (L)...................................................... Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Stewart, Richard (L) ...................................................... Coquitlam-Maillardville Suffredine, Blair F. (L) ................................................................Nelson-Creston Sultan, Ralph (L)....................................................... West Vancouver–Capilano Thorpe, Hon.

Rick (L) ..........................................................Okanagan-Westside Trumper, Gillian (L)................................................................Alberni-Qualicum van Dongen, John (L).........................................................Abbotsford-Clayburn Visser, Rod (L).................................................................................North Island Weisbeck, John (L).........................................................Kelowna–Lake Country Whittred, Hon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CONTENTS Tuesday, February 25, 2003 Afternoon Sitting Routine Proceedings Page Introductions by Members....................................................................................................... ............................................... 5025 Introduction and First Reading of Bills ........................................................................................ ......................................... 5026 Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2003 (Bill 11) Hon. G.

Plant Statements (Standing Order 25B).............................................................................................................................. .............. 5026 Support in Kootenays for 2010 Olympic Games bid B. Bennett Mental health centre in Nanaimo M. Hunter Fair Pharmacare program R. Sultan Personal Statement............................................................................................................. ...................................................... 5027 Hon. R.

Neufeld Oral Questions................................................................................................................. ......................................................... 5027 Fair Pharmacare program income-testing model J. MacPhail Hon. C. Hansen J. Kwan Government action on sea lice in fish farms G. Trumper Hon. S. Hagen Proposed changes to the provincial apprenticeship program R. Lee Hon. S.

Bond Petitions ...................................................................................................................... ............................................................... 5030 S. Orr B. Belsey Hon. C. Clark Budget Debate (continued) ............................................................................................................................... ........................ 5030 Hon. J. Reid Hon. S. Bond J.

Nuraney Tributes....................................................................................................................... ............................................................... 5038 Canadian Armed Forces A. Hamilton Budget Debate (continued) ............................................................................................................................... ........................ 5038 A. Hamilton Hon. B. Barisoff Hon. G. Cheema I. Chong Hon. R. Thorpe Hon. R. Neufeld

5025 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2003 The House met at 2:04 p.m. Introductions by Members Hon. S. Hagen: Today we have in the gallery Mr. Ted Brooks, who is from Comox. Ted is a member of the Comox Valley Airport Commission. Would you all please make him welcome. R. Harris: It's not that often we have someone down from Kitimat, but today we're joined in the gal- lery by one of my constituents, Johnny da Silveira. Would the House please make him welcome. Hon. C. Clark: Today in the members' gallery we have some very special guests from Ireland.

His Excel- lency Martin Burke is the Ambassador of Ireland to Canada, and he's accompanied today by his wife, Mary Burke. Our government certainly admires the work that Ireland has done in becoming the Celtic Tiger, and we look forward to further discussions with both of them. [1405] W. Cobb: With us today — and once again, not often do I get to introduce someone from my riding — we have some individuals from the Council of Re- source Communities. They're here to help us work on and develop the heartlands strategy.

Three of them are from the heartlands; one of them is not, although he works hard for the heartlands. It's my pleasure to in- troduce Mayor Donna Barnett from 100 Mile House, Mayor Herb Pond from Prince Rupert, Mayor Rick Gibson from Williams Lake and the one individual not from the heart land, Bruce Rosenheart. Please make them welcome. Hon. G. Abbott: On Saturday I had the pleasure of attending the opening of the Canada Winter Games in Bathurst, New Brunswick. That opening followed a meeting of federal, provincial and territorial sports ministers.

The real highlight was to meet Team B.C., which is over 300 outstanding young British Columbi- ans from 61 communities around the province. They are really an exceptional group of young athletes, and they are led by a mission staff, which by all accounts is doing a wonderful job — unprecedented in their man- agement of the team and its issues — and, of course, their coaches, who are similarly doing an outstanding job for the young athletes in this province. We have a website which is unique among the provinces competing. It provides updated results. It provides team biographies for all the over 300 team members.

Most importantly, it provides an opportu- nity for MLAs, for the general public, to provide per- sonalized messages to members of the team from your constituencies. That website is www.teamBC.org. I know that team is going to make us enormously proud as British Columbians. New Brunswick is a long ways away, but this gives us an opportunity to cheer on a great Team B.C. Hon. G. Campbell: In the House today is a distin- guished group of students from West Point Grey Academy in my riding of Vancouver–Point Grey. West Point Grey teacher Ms. Elliott and her colleagues Ms. Gunasekera and Mr.

Rollins have just completed a tour of the Legislature with 67 students in grade 5, and they're now in the gallery to witness question period. I hope we'll all make them welcome. R. Visser: With us today are John and Diane Poleschuck from Campbell River. John has had a long and distinguished career in the coastal pulp and paper industry. They're visiting the building today and Victo- ria for the next couple of days. I hope the House makes them welcome. Hon. G. Hogg: The Queen's Golden Jubilee medal is presented this year to Canadians who have made outstanding and exemplary contributions to society.

The Ministry of Children and Family Development will be presenting those to some special public servants who have given so much of themselves over the years to the people of this province. I'd like to introduce three of them who are here today, and my colleague has a few other introductions to make. First, Mr. Sarf Ahmed is a financial manager with the ministry and seems to know where each one of those dollars that the ministry spends is. He's also been a volunteer scrutineer, a translator in ESL for children and a fundraiser with the Canadian Diabetes Associa- tion. Ms.

Lindsay Setzer has spent a distinguished career at the Maples counselling some of the most challenged and troubled adolescents in this province. She's overseen the transition of the Maples to a short-term family- and community-focused program. Ms. Jane Wolverton's commitment to children and families in this province started in 1971, when she worked as a social worker for the city of Vancouver. She developed a particular commitment to and interest in the downtown east side and has also supervised the lower mainland emergency services during their trans- formation to the provincial after-hours program.

I would ask the House to please congratulate and welcome them. [1410] Hon. L. Reid: I, too, add my congratulations to the individuals who have given in excess of 125 years to this area of social service policy in British Columbia. Gus Assonitis began with the ministry in 1975, an enormous accomplishment, and has done many, many things during his career with us in terms of children's mental health and community living for adults with developmental disabilities.

5026 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES T UESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2003 Doug Bowen also contributed more than 25 years of service to this ministry, working as a social worker, a supervisor, an area manager and an aboriginal negotia- tor. Holden Chu spent much of his career in Richmond, a successful leader in cultural competency, community dialogue and collaboration. Riley Hern was a mentor and innovator in the gov- ernment social service sector from the day he was hired in 1965 until his retirement this past March. Indeed, we have individuals who continue to make an enormous contribution.

Randi Mjolsness from the ministry spent 23 years, and certainly today, as the acting director of the chil- dren and youth with special needs branch and the au- tism initiative branch. Randi is leading the way on new initiatives based on family choice, self-determination and evidence-based service. Robin Syme has been with the ministry for 25 years — a quarter of a century. She was also responsible for advice on the K-to-12 curriculum as well as developing a funding model for the social equity programs in the schools of our province.

I would ask the House to please recognize out- standing public service and join me in welcoming them to the Legislature this afternoon. L. Mayencourt: In the gallery I have a couple of guests that will be joining me later today at the Queen's Jubilee Medal presentations. These two lovely women not only have dedicated themselves to my political career but in fact have supported me for my entire life: starting with my mother, Wilma Palmer, and my sister Marcie Smith. Would the House please make them both welcome. Introduction and First Reading of Bills MISCELLANEOUS STATUTES AMENDMENT ACT, 2003 Hon. G.

Plant presented a message from His Hon- our the Administrator: a bill intituled Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2003. Hon. G. Plant: I move that the bill be introduced and read a first time now. Motion approved. Hon. G. Plant: I'm pleased to introduce Bill 11, the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2003. Consis- tent with our new-era commitment to cut the regula- tory burden and red tape by one-third within three years and revitalize our economy, Bill 11 includes amendments to several statutes that will remove 205 unnecessary or outdated regulatory requirements and will eliminate red tape.

This bill amends the following statutes: Agricul- tural Credit Act; Agricultural Produce Grading Act; Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Statutes Amendment Act, 1997; Bee Act; British Columbia Feed-grain Assis- tance Act; Budget Transparency and Accountability Act; Cattle (Horned) Act; Dairy Industry (British Co- lumbia) Act; Emergency Program Act; Evidence Act; Farm Practices Protection (Right to Farm) Act; Finan- cial Information Act; Freedom of Information and Pro- tection of Privacy Act; Holiday Shopping Regulation Act; Hotel Guest Registration Act; Hotel Keepers Act; Livestock Act; Livestock Protection Act; Local Gov- ernment Act; Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2), 1999; Motor Carrier Act; Motor Vehicle Act; Natural Products Marketing (BC) Act; Public Sector Employers Act; Science Council Act; Seed Grower Act; Special Accounts Appropriation and Control Act; Syn- thetic Food Products Act; Telephone Rural Act; Travel Regulation Act; University Endowment Land Act; Vancouver Charter Veterinary Laboratory Act; Water Protection Act.

I will be pleased to elaborate on the nature of these amendments during the second reading of this bill, and I commend it to all members. I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today. Bill 11 introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today. Statements (Standing Order 25

B) SUPPORT IN KOOTENAYS FOR 2010 OLYMPIC GAMES BID B. Bennett: I'm speaking again today on the 2010 Olympic Games.

I had not planned to, but I have an intuition, a sense, that there may be a few members — maybe as few as two or three — who are unaware that this government has for months been actively engaging the people in the heartlands of this province in the Olympic spirit. [1415] I have to wonder where these few members have been, and for the edification of those who may be in the dark about these matters, let me say that representa- tives of the Olympic bid committee have been in the East Kootenays three times already that I know of.

They're returning for the Kootenay Olympic opportu- nities conference in Cranbrook on March 19, where the four Kootenay MLAs and speakers from the Olympic bid committee, Tourism Rockies, the Tourism Action Society of the Kootenays and the B.C. Chamber of Commerce will work with the people of the Kootenays on how the Kootenays can benefit from the 2010 games. Not only that, people from all over the heart- lands of B.C. flew to Vancouver on their own nickel a couple of months ago and spent the day talking with the Premier and the bid committee about the opportu- nities from the 2010 games.

Not only that, the Premier

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 5027 himself has criss-crossed the province, meeting and discussing the 2010 games with rural British Columbi- ans. The Kootenays have produced more Olympic ski team members than any similar-sized region in the country, including Canada's top female athlete of the last century, Rossland's Nancy Greene Raine. We in the Kootenays appreciate the sentiments of those few members who — no doubt for purely altruistic reasons — w a n t u s t o b e c o m e e n g a g e d i n t h e 2 0 1 0 O l y m p i c Games, but we already are. MENTAL HEALTH CENTRE IN NANAIMO M.

Hunter: Yesterday I had the pleasure of accom- panying the Minister of State for Mental Health as he visited Nanaimo to assist in the official opening of the Phoenix Centre. This centre is a new facility run by the mid-Island branch of the Canadian Mental Health As- sociation. It is a community clubhouse, a drop-in place for those who have or have had mental illness. It is a place for people to socialize, to gain work experience in their commercial kitchen or in the administrative op- erations centre. It is a place to hang out and relax, have a bite to eat and talk in peer support groups.

The Phoenix Centre also contains an education centre that provides information on mental health issues. Like other members in this House, I am pleased by the progress we are making on mental health issues in B.C. The fact that the new Phoenix Centre is located right on a busy stretch of Highway 19A in the centre of Nanaimo, visible to thousands of people every day, is significant. Its up-front-and-centre location can only assist in reinforcing the work of all those people and organizations who support our efforts to end the stigma of mental illness.

I hope this House will join me in congratulating the Canadian Mental Health Associa- tion, its volunteers and funding partners, and in wish- ing the Phoenix Centre and its clients a very successful future. FAIR PHARMACARE PROGRAM R. Sultan: The population of British Columbia is divided along political lines, and so are seniors. Many support the direction of this government; others op- pose it. For example, this morning a seniors group was playing politics with Pharmacare on the CBC. The for- mer head of the B.C.

Federation of Labour, Art Kube, now a "seniors spokesman" said: "Every senior, every p e r s o n o n p u b l i c a s s i s t a n c e i s n o w p a y i n g m o r e a n d will continue to pay more than they paid under the previous government." What a lot of baloney. The facts are that under Fair Pharmacare, almost half of all sen- iors will pay less, and many others will be unaffected.

It's also a fact that under Fair Pharmacare, as it's phased in, some future seniors will pay more — par- ticularly in West Vancouver–Capilano, which I repre- sent, even though we also have constituents on low incomes who will benefit greatly. But most seniors in my riding do not believe in off-loading the rising costs o f P h a r m a c a r e o n t o t h e i r g r a n d c h i l d r e n . M o s t s e n i o r s in my riding understand fairness and will appreciate that those who can pay a little bit more should help ease the burden on those least able to pay, regardless of age.

Clearly, Pharmacare budgets will grow, but not as fast as they would otherwise. Thank goodness for that, or we'd be broke by the time baby-boomers buy their first Viagra. An Hon. Member: Is that covered now? R. Sultan: I'm a senior. An Hon. Member: I told you to take that out. R. Sultan: You did. I never elected those seniors groups who pretend to speak for me. Seniors deserve the opportunity to hear the facts, not the political scare stuff. Personal Statement Hon. R. Neufeld: I rise to make a personal state- ment. Mr. Speaker: Please proceed. [1420] Hon. R.

Neufeld: This morning during debate, I incorrectly attributed a quote in the Vancouver Sun, March 25, 2000, to Mark Veerkamp. I would like that removed from the record, please. Oral Questions FAIR PHARMACARE PROGRAM INCOME-TESTING MODEL J. MacPhail: Yesterday the Minister of Health Ser- vices said that under his new income-testing scheme, a woman born in 1940 with a household income of $31,000 per year will pay a $600-a-year deductible when she turns 65 in 2005. It's not true.

That woman would pay $930, up from the $275 deductible she pays now and the $200 deductible she would have paid un- der the previous government. Every senior is paying more than what they woul d have paid under the pre- vious government. In other words, a woman with a family income of $31,000 — not a lot of money — is worse off by $655 under the government's new scheme. Yesterday the minister had trouble answering basic questions about who pays more and who pays less.

Will he confirm today that this 63-year-old woman with a total family income of not $100,000 but $31,000 will be much worse off when she turns 65 under his new scheme? Hon. C. Hansen: I think if the member goes back and checks Hansard from yesterday, that's not how I answered the question. The example she used was a woman who is now 63 years old with an income of $31,000. As I pointed out yesterday in question period,

5028 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES T UESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2003 under the Pharmacare plan that's in place today, she would be facing an annual ceiling of $2,000. As a result of the changes that will take effect on May 1, she will see a 40 percent reduction in her annual ceiling for her Pharmacare starting May 1 of this year. Mr. Speaker: The Leader of the Opposition has a supplementary question. J. MacPhail: Just the same way that the Minister of Energy refuses to apologize when he makes a personal mistake, so does the Minister of Health.

The question was about when the woman becomes a senior — when this same woman, who is now 63, becomes a senior. The fact is that under this government's scheme, that woman will likely get no Pharmacare coverage at all when she turns 65. According to the government's own… Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. J. MacPhail: …most recent calculations, that woman can expect to pay $870 a year for prescription drugs. Under his new scheme, she doesn't see a dime until she has built up $930 worth of prescription drugs.

Do the minister and all the Liberal backbenchers now agree that, using his own numbers, he has effectively kicked this woman off Pharmacare? Hon. C. Hansen: Let's talk for a minute about someone in this House… Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Hon. C. Hansen: …who owes seniors an apology.

I want to quote that member for Vancouver-Hastings in an interview she did with Joe Easingwood on Feb- ruary 21, where she said: "They're going to switch to an income-testing program where a family that has an income of about $30,000 — two seniors and an income of about $30,000 — is going to have to pay hundreds if not thousands more, or a thousand dollars more, out of their pockets for drugs." That's the kind of fearmonger- ing that has scared seniors over the past few months. She should stand up in this House, and she should apologize to every single listener of Joe Easingwood's program. Mr.

Speaker: The Leader of the Opposition has a further supplementary. [1425] J. MacPhail: There's absolutely no question that the thousands of seniors on the lawn and the federal gov- ernment giving this B.C. Liberal government a billion dollars in health care money have made him back off his original scheme. There's absolutely no question about that. He had to back off because he got a bunch o f c a s h f r o m t h e f e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t t h a t h e h a s t o spend on health — and seniors on the front steps and the lawn of the Legislature. He's right.

It's not thou- sands, but it is hundreds that seniors…. I raised an issue where I said… Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Order. J. MacPhail: …this woman's paying $655 more, and he stood up and didn't answer it. He didn't answer it. He knows we're right. He knows he's right. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Will the member please put her question. J. MacPhail: Middle- and low-income British Co- lumbians are already reeling from gas tax increases, sales tax increases and hikes to fees and licences. Now they're going to have to pay more for their drugs. Many will have to pay deductibles…. Mr.

Speaker: Order, please. Order. Would you please put your question now. J. MacPhail: Yes, I will, Mr. Speaker. Sorry. Many will have to pay deductibles that far exceed their an- nual drug costs. The government likes to characterize its new program as being fair. Can the minister…? Interjections. J. MacPhail: Are you waiting to get to your soft lobs? Can the minister tell this House if he thinks it's fair that those British Columbians who can afford to make big RRSP contributions will pay less than those who can't afford to make those contributions? Hon. C.

Hansen: Just to correct what the member said about the $30,000-a-year senior couple, they wi ll i n f act s ee thei r t otal c o st o f P harm ac are unde r the new Fair Pharmacare go from $550 a year down to $400 a year effective May 1. That's not an increase of thousands of dollars; that is not an increase of hundreds of dollars. That is a decrease of hundreds of dollars. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Order. Hon. C. Hansen: Just to address the member's point that she's trying to make.

First of all, we have structured a new Pharmacare system that is fair to all British Columbians because it's based on their ability to pay. We have also protected seniors who currently are

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 5029 locked into fixed incomes. What we have said is that those who will become seniors in the future may have to position themselves for some of the new realities of the years to come, where baby-boomers… Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Hon. C. Hansen: … a r e s i m p l y g o i n g t o h a v e t o refocus their expectations. Otherwise, our health care system is not going to be able to sustain the Phar- macare system into the future. J. Kwan: I think the Minister of Health Services has mastered the art of not answering the question.

Under the government's scheme, total household income will be based on line 236 of the tax form, which includes deductions for RRSP contributions. A f a m i l y t h a t c a n a f f o r d t o m a k e R R S P c o n t r i b u t i o n s c a n e n d u p p a y i n g l e s s i n d r u g c o s t s t h a n a f a m i l y that cannot afford to make those contributions. Can the minister explain what is fair about giving two families different Pharmacare benefits, depending on whether or not one family can afford to make RRSP contributions? Hon. C.

Hansen: Yesterday I offered the two oppo- sition members a briefing on this, and I reiterate that today. I accept that this is a complex plan. It's not as complex as the one that was in place, but they may need a briefing to understand some of the nuances. Basically, when it comes to calculating net ad- justed income, the money put into an RRSP is not considered part of that net income. Neither are the payments when you take money out of RRSPs. As an individual takes money out of RRSPs, that is added to their family income.

Quite frankly, if that's the way it's going to work for higher-income British Columbi- ans, it works against them because they're going to be drawing out their RRSP money at a time when they're older and presumably would have higher pharmaceu- tical costs. But I beg them: please come in for a briefing so we can explain some of this to you. Mr. Speaker: The member for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant has a supplementary question. J. Kwan: Maybe the minister should get a briefing, because that information came out of the minister's website on the Fair Pharmacare program — the regis- tration form. [1430] Interjections. Mr.

Speaker: Let's have order, please. Order. J. Kwan: On the registration form it points you to line 236, which is the net income, and it includes the deductions for RRSPs. When the Manitoba Conserva- tive Party brought in income testing, they based it on line 150 of the tax form. That's the total income before deductions like RRSP payments. It would be a simple change for the minister to make. No one has yet regis- tered. Will the minister agree to base his new means test, his income test, before but not after RRSP deduc- tions, to make his scheme a little bit more fair than it already is? Hon. C.

Hansen: Maybe I can give the member a little bit of history as to where this reference to line 236 comes from. It comes from the same line that is used for the premium assistance program that was brought in by the NDP government during the 1990s. It is fair the way it was set up, and if the member knows any- thing about accounting, she will know that RRSPs are not taxable. They're a tax deduction when you register them, but they are counted as income when you draw them out later in your life. GOVERNMENT ACTION ON SEA LICE IN FISH FARMS G. Trumper: My question is to the Minister of Ag- riculture, Food and….

Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Order. Let's have some order so we can hear the question. G. Trumper: My question is to the Minister of Ag- riculture, Food and Fisheries. All of us in this House want to ensure the sustainability of wild salmon stocks. However, scientists differ on the cause of the sea lice infestation, and it's particularly important in my part of the province. This past weekend researchers from around the world gathered in Vancouver to exchange information on this parasite and to recommend how best to deal with it.

Can the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries tell us what, if any, solutions have emerged and how he intends to proceed with the rec- ommendations resulting from this conference? Hon. S. Hagen: Last weekend we did hold a con- ference inviting the brightest and best scientists from Norway, Scotland, Ireland, the United States and Canada to deal with the sea lice issue. We have always said as a government that we would base our decisions on good objective science.

As a result of that conference on the weekend, I am requiring that all affected farms in the Broughton Archipelago be treated for sea lice aggressively and quickly under the control of veterinarians. We want to make sure that the farms are treated as a priority. To achieve that priority, we're hiring two more inspectors to make sure that the treatment is be- ing done effectively. I have consistently said that salmon farms in the province must be operated to the

5030 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES T UESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2003 letter of the law, and our government will make sure that they are. When we announced British Columbia's action plan for the Broughton Archipelago, we said that if science indicates that we need to do more, we will. That is ex- actly the case. We are drawing on the international expertise of the experts that we had out. This is a B.C. solution made for British Columbia. The Hon.

John Fraser's report recommended three steps be taken: (1) the strategic fallowing of salmon net pens judged to be the highest risk to pink salmon runs, (2) accelerate the processing and marketing of the mature salmon and (3) monitoring and treatment of the fish farms for sea lice. I'm pleased to say to the people of British Columbia that we are carrying out all three. PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE PROVINCIAL APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM R.

Lee: I would like to ask a public written question submitted by Mondee Redman, chair of the board of school trustees for school district 41 in Burnaby, to the Minister of Advanced Education. How would the pro- posed changes to the provincial apprentice program address appropriate workplace education standards, safety measures and transition to provincial appren- ticeship programs for secondary school students? [1435] Hon. S. Bond: I'm pleased to be able to respond to the publicly written question.

Certainly, as media re- ports and people have recognized, we are facing a looming skills shortage not just in the province but, in fact, in our country. The responsible thing to do is look at the system that's currently in place and begin to look at choice, flexibility and ways to enhance opportunities not just for learners but for workers and employers in British Columbia. We want to make it very clear that under the new proposed model for industry training in the province, we will not be lowering qualifications. We will not be looking at lesser standards for safety in British Columbia.

In fact, we want to introduce options that allow us to look at competencies and at skill sets. W e want t o m ak e s u re t h at we m ai nt ai n b o t h p ro v i n- cial and national standards. Finally, in reference to the secondary school ap- prenticeship program, both the Minister of Education and I have had much discussion about the value of those programs to our province. We are excited about the opportunities that it presents to students in this province. We think it's a template for how we're going to train people.

We hope to enhance those opportuni- ties for students within British Columbia. [End of question period.] Petitions S. Orr: I am presenting a petition delivered to me by my constituents concerning the bidding-out of hos- pital food services by the Vancouver Island health au- thority. B. Belsey: I rise in the House today to table the Save Our Hospital petition signed by 1,098 of my con- stituents from the north end of the Queen Charlotte Islands–Haida Gwaii. Hon. C. Clark : I rise to table two petitions.

The first one is from parents in district 43 requesting that the ministry make sure that the funding formula is fair and that the buffer grant be phased out. The second is from IWA workers in Coquitlam with respect to

section 71 of the Forest Act. Orders of the Day Hon. G. Collins: I call budget debate. Budget Debate (continued) Hon. J. Reid: This afternoon I'd like to expand on some of the themes presented by the Premier during his state-of-the-province address and pro- vide more detail on some of the initiatives in the budget that we are taking to open up B.C. through transportation investment. The Premier touched on all modes of our transportation system and all re- gions of our province.

He identified the importance of improved and expanded transportation not just in our urban areas, which are the provincial gate- ways for trade, but also in the heartlands of our province — our rural and northern regions. These areas have always represented a significant chal- lenge for transportation. Effective transportation networks must deal with difficult terrain and span great distances. Because of harsh conditions, these roads often suffer from neglect.

Our government is taking action now to ensure that B.C. has a safe, effective, reliable and integrated system of roads, bridges, railways, highways, ferries, airports and ports to support economic growth in all parts of the province. [1440] When I toured the province last summer, people in every region and community I visited stressed to me the vital importance of transportation to them and to their hopes for a prosperous future.

We have lis- tened, we heard the real level of concern, and we were clear in sharing with them the challenges and t o u g h c h o i c e s w e m u s t m a k e a s w e m o v e f o r w a r d . While it was quite straightforward to agree on the need, the difficulty lay in the fact that there was no money in the transportation budget to meet the need, so we discussed financing options. Everyone agreed that we had to take action. I am proud to say that we are taking this action. We are moving ahead. The Premier outlined that provin- cial funding will be secured over the next three years

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 5031 for improving and expanding our transportation sys- tem in all regions of our province. Direct provincial investment, when combined with contributions of other funding partners and looking at the full life of those projects by the time they're complete, will sup- port a total investment of $5.5 billion in new and ex- panded transportation infrastructure in the years to come. We can't stand still and watch our aging transporta- tion network continue to deteriorate to the point of compromising safety on our roads.

We can't see our trade routes, which are becoming choked because of growing traffic congestion and poor reliability, become even less efficient and more costly. We also can't continue to ignore our vital system of rural and side roads in the heartlands of the province. They are too critical to moving our resources to market, and they have suffered over the decade of the nineties due to a lack of funding. We can't let our growing ur- ban centres struggle to fight a losing battle to meet growing demands.

W e k n o w w e h a v e p r e s s i n g n e e d s t o m o v e g o o d s and people more effectively between the ports and rail yards in the lower mainland and our trade gateways. To stand by and let opportunity and prosperity pass us by because we failed to act would be a huge disservice to the people of this province and not what they expect from us. Our vision is for a comprehensive and integrated transportation system that enhances the movement of goods, services and people in all regions. Our transpor- tation financing strategy secures the funding for this vision.

What I'd like you to take away today is a sense of the large decisions that we have made. I'd like to pro- vide you with the framework that we're putting in place to open up British Columbia for increased eco- nomic activity; for safer, more reliable movement of goods and people; for expanded job creation; and for the benefit of all regions. Our province has huge economic potential with its valuable natural resources, deepwater ports and ideal location as a gateway to the Pacific Rim, the United States and all other trading partners around the world.

It's vital we improve the transportation links that go to our airports, ports and border crossings that give our industries access to the global marketplace. We also have growing congestion in some areas of the province, particularly the lower mainland, the cen- tral Okanagan, southern Vancouver Island and Fort St. John. Our long-term plan and investment strategy will be aimed at integrating all parts of the transportation network so they work together smoothly and effi- ciently.

In broad terms, our focus will be on improving and upgrading our main highways, rehabilitating and ex- panding our system of heartland roads, continuing to serve our coastal and inland communities with effec- tive ferry service, expanding airports and ports, and improving the movement of goods across our borders and trade gateways. We also have to protect our transportation assets. Our roads and highways system is worth about $66.5 billion. That's a huge investment we have that we all share in this province, and we have to be able to main- tain that.

The status quo is not an option, because our roads, bridges and roadways are constantly subject to wear and tear and the elements. They will slip; they will slide; they will crumble. That's just what life is in this province. The people in the north understand what it means when roads slide off the hillsides. It requires an investment in order to keep that asset intact. [1445] I want to talk about some of the important projects we've been working on.

The Nisga'a Highway is one of the first acts of this government, because we needed to provide an additional $11 million for the construction of the Nisga'a Highway, which is a seven-year $52 mil- lion project. Previous funding did not provide for pav- ing the road, which was a critical connection. The road is a critical connection. This was a critical piece of the agreement for the people of the Nass Valley. We didn't shrink from our responsibilities in this agreement. We found the resources to complete this road, and that investment will be a brighter future for the Nisga'a people.

That new highway is now nearing completion. When we look at the heartlands roads, we have 30,000 kilometres of rural and side roads in the prov- ince's heartlands — roads that serve our resource in- dustries including mining, oil and gas, ranching, agri- culture, logging, resource extraction. These roads have deteriorated, as I said, over this last decade. Seventy- six percent of the province's main roads have been kept in good condition, but when we look at the side road system, only 34 percent of the side road system is in good condition.

Those roads are vital to our economic well-being in this province, to our rural and remote communities. The Premier indicated during his state-of-the- province address that over the next three years, our investment in these roads will be substantially in- creased. As part of our heartlands economic strategy, we have a plan to address the rehabilitation, increase investment in our rural side road system and invest- ments in the oil and gas resource roads. That will total $609 million over the next three years.

Provincewide, the government has committed to increased spending on the side road system by $75 million each year over the next three years. This initial investment of $225 million is on top of our existing commitment of $37 million over the next two years for oil and gas resource roads.

This is a substantial investment, driven in part by our need to address the deficit in road quality caused by the decade of underfunding and, in part, by the need to provide the necessary funding to invest strate- gically so we can support our resource industries and better enable them to move the critical goods that drive our economy. We are making these commitments be- cause safe and reliable roads in all regions are vital to the province's economy. They have to move to their marketplaces, and they usually do that through our

5032 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES T UESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2003 gateway system of ports, airports, rail terminals and using all the methods of transportation as I've outlined. In the rehabilitation of the provincial highways, the value of goods and services dependent on a transporta- tion network represents 44 percent of our provincial gross domestic product. Now, this is an interesting fact, because it's very important to understand how critical it is that now is the time for investment.

It's estimated that the cost of resurfacing a kilometre of highway after 12 years of use is $65,000, which is a very large sum, but that same stretch of highway could cost, after 20 years, $400,000 per kilometre in order to restore it. It is critical that we put these investments in, and the timing is now. Putting these resources towards rehabilitation of our roads will also provide huge safety benefits.

In addition, as I've already mentioned, the provincial government has committed to maintaining the current condition of our paved primary highways and bridges by investing $145 million in each of the next three years on provincewide rehabilitation. These activities include safety improvements, road and bridge resurfacing, bridge rehabilitation and replacement and seismic ret- rofitting. The goal of this rehabilitation program is to direct resources where and when they are most needed. The project of the Kicking Horse Canyon is a priority for this government. The Premier has spoken directly to the Prime Minister.

Improving the Trans-Canada Highway through the Kicking Horse Canyon, which is between Golden and Yoho National Park, is the prov- ince's top transportation priority. [1450] The province is prepared to cost-share, on a 50-50 basis with the federal government, the $670 million it will take to four-lane the canyon section, which has the highest accident rate on the Trans-Canada Highway. This level of funding will enable the province to up- grade the 26-kilometre

section to a modern four-lane standard over a six-year period. Dedicated transportation funding is what we will use to provide the province's share of this critical in- vestment, and we are hopeful that we'll have a positive response from the federal government. Our position is that not only will this investment save lives, it will also encourage trade and tourism on this very important route. This highway is an interprovincial and national g at e wa y . I t c arri e s c o m m e rc e as we l l as c ar s f ro m t he rest of Canada to the Pacific. The improvements are long overdue.

We are also urging shared funding towards the additional $330 million worth of improvements needed on the same highway, the Trans-Canada Highway, between Kamloops and Golden. When we look at the Okanagan Lake Bridge and the needs there, it's impor- tant to remember that the bridge is 45 years old. A new bridge is an essential transportation priority, and the ministry has completed the design of a new five-lane bridge. Whether we use this design or work on a part- nership to look at other options, we have to build it. Our new dedicated transportation funding will provide the means.

We know that a new bridge will make a much better investment than to continue the costly rehabilitation of the older structure, and we know that Kelowna and the entire Okanagan will bene- fit from improved safety and freer flow of traffic. As well as the new Okanagan Lake Bridge, we're commit- ted to making other improvements to the Highway 97 corridor and to other priority corridors such as High- way 3 through the southern interior and Highway 95 through the Kootenays. Another priority for safety reasons is the Sea to Sky Highway.

As we announced earlier, we are going to proceed with a multimillion-dollar investment to im- prove safety on that much-used road and to increase the capacity to meet growing demand on the Sea to Sky Highway from Horseshoe Bay to Whistler. The acci- dent rate on this highway is double the provincial av- erage, and traffic volumes continue to increase. We believe that the proposed scope for improve- ments will meet the needs of corridor residents and the growing needs of Whistler. It will also provide the nec- essary basis to meet the demands of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Our goal is to have the corridor improved in time for the games. To accommodate that schedule, we will not need to begin major construction until at least 2004. I should point out that work is already underway in this corridor. There is a very treacherous section, seven kilometres between Culliton Creek and Cheaka- mus Canyon north of Squamish, that is currently being upgraded at a cost of $30.5 million, with work expected to be completed in the spring of 2005. We have had a lot of discussion around inland fer- ries, and we have decided not to introduce tolls on these ferries.

The new fuel tax allows us to address the costs of operating the services, but we still have to find ways to operate these services more cost-effectively. We agree with users that the ferries do serve a critical role for the communities. The subsidy level that we're proposing works out roughly the same per passenger as it has been on coastal ferries to the smaller Gulf Is- lands. We are still studying the feasibility of building bridges to replace some of the ferry routes, and a new bridge at Needles to replace the existing ferry is one example.

Our intention ultimately, where practical, is to involve private partners in operating these ferries, and some regional districts have expressed interest. Indeed, I've met with some who would like to work with us on these solutions. One ferry service of particular interest I'd like to mention is the François Lake ferry. It serves local resi- dents, but it is also a key piece of infrastructure in mov- ing the harvest of pine beetle–infested wood, and we are committed to finding workable solutions to better support the flow of that wood to market.

This will re- quire a dedicated effort on the part of my ministry and of the Ministry of Forests. [1455] Now, with the B.C. Ferry system, I've already made announcements about the importance of the system to

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 5033 the coastal communities of the province as well as to the larger economy of the province. That ferry service has been struggling with how to upgrade an aging fleet, to improve the outdated terminals and to address service reliability and choice. Restructuring opens the way to creatively address these issues while offering wider choice, more competi- tion and improved services for communities and ferry users. Our approach with B.C.

Ferries recognizes the need for change, for inviting new thinking, for engag- ing the private sector in helping us find new solutions. Again, it was a choice of either letting the situation continue and the fleet decline, which would affect our economy, or to take dramatic action and chart a new and ambitious course for the future. We've talked about roads, and we've talked about ferries. When we turn our attention to B.C. Rail, we've said that we would not sell B.C. Rail, and I want to confirm that we are not.

Mayors in the north and the heartlands of our province have stressed the impor- tance of sustaining our freight rail system. It's critical to their local economies, not just sustaining but improv- ing the freight rail system. They have indicated that they are open to private sector participation as a means of sustaining and improving this service. They know that an efficient freight rail system will get our re- sources and manufactured goods to market. Our gov- ernment is prepared to work with mayors in rail-reliant communities and B.C. Rail to pursue private partner- ships for operating the freight rail service.

While we're open to such partnerships, we're com- mitted to fulfilling our promise to the public that pub- lic ownership of the railbeds and rights-of-way that the public has invested in over the years will continue. G o v e r n m e n t ' s g o a l i s t o f i n d t h e m o s t e f f i c i e n t a n d cost-effective way to sustain freight rail service without adding to the public debt through subsidies. That means getting B.C. Rail on a sound financial footing. In 1991 B.C. Rail's debt was $81.8 million. Today it stands closer to $650 million. B.C.

Rail has cost taxpay- ers more than a billion dollars over the past 15 years. The recent sale of Casco and Canadian Stevedoring will result in $100 million that will be applied to this outstanding debt. B.C. Rail has identified that carrying this level of debt is unsustainable and threatens the future of core freight rail service. They are in the process of eliminat- ing or selling heavily subsidized and money-losing components of their operations, such as their passenger rail service, which was costing $5 million a year.

They are also selling operations that are not core to their freight rail business, such as their marine division. In- viting private sector partners in providing flexible, reliable and cost-effective freight rail service makes sound financial sense. A council of local mayors in rail- reliant communities will be established to review a request for proposals to private sector operators. While we're looking at all modes of transportation as we address airports and ports, we do need to invest in airports and ports, and we believe that partnerships there are the way to go.

We are setting aside $10 mil- lion each year, for the next three years, for port and airport improvement projects. One of the priority part- nership projects is the extension of the Cranbrook Air- port to handle the larger aircraft. We've heard many times in this House what an exciting project that will be and how it will lead to increased tourism and access to ski hills and back-country operations throughout the Kootenays. We're also looking at the expansion of container shipping and handling facilities at the Port of Prince Rupert.

We believe that will provide greater access to markets for grain growers in the Peace region, for log- ging operations and for the mining sector. We will work with the city of Prince Rupert to realize this po- tential. The border crossings are an integral part of the flow of movement of goods and services and people. We are working with the government of Canada to make sure that we do get our fair share of funding to better serve Canada as a trade gateway with our borders.

Joint pro- vincial and federal funding of $30.4 million has already been announced for a number of border crossing im- provements under the federal strategic highway in- v e s t m e n t p r o g r a m . T h i s w i l l c o n t i n u e a s w e l o o k a t how to make those investments and how to improve those operations. The B.C. trucking industry has esti- mated that they lose in excess of $60 million a year be- cause of delays at borders. [1500] As we've looked with people at how we could fi- nance this, the question is: do we leave this for our children? Do we expect them to pay the debts?

We al- ready have very high debt-servicing costs on projects that we are using now. Or do we decide to pay for it as we go and take the responsibility today for the needs we have today and the improvements? As I talked with people around the province about this, people were looking for the assurance that funding would be through dedicated funding for transportation, and I'm pleased to say that has been accomplished with this plan. The other part of this is using partnerships to take those infrastructure dollars and stretch them as far as possible to design, build and maintain new transporta- tion projects.

The recent passage of the Transportation Investment Act clears the way for the creation of those partnerships and outlines the requirements and op- tions for involving the private sector. [J. Weisbeck in the chair.] We have been working on our tolling policy for British Columbia. We've taken a lot of input from the public, and we are in the process of finalizing that pol- icy. I want to assure everyone that fundamental to any such arrangement is that there has to be a substantial benefit to the transportation user, a benefit that's larger than what they would pay through tolls.

When we look at the gas tax, the 3½-cents-per-litre provincial fuel tax, that will become effective March 1 o f t h i s y e a r . F u e l t a x r a t e s i n m o s t o f B . C . h a v e b e e n

5034 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES T UESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2003 unchanged for almost ten years, and with this modest increase they'll still remain comparable to many juris- dictions in Canada. This increase in fuel tax will gener- ate approximately $218 million a year, and all of that money will be used for transportation projects throughout the province. This is one of the tough choices I talked about, but I believe it is necessary if we are going to economically develop this province and provide for the safety and benefit of all people in all regions.

We do expect to be able to have the federal government as partners and, as I said, the private sector as well. Over the next weeks and months I'll be providing greater detail on specific projects as they're finalized and approved. I'll also be releasing the first phase of our transportation vision and our financial strategy to the public in the coming weeks. I want to reassure people that their voices will con- tinue to be heard in this process, and we will have the assistance of eight new regional transportation advi- sory committees to assist us in this.

These committees represent areas outside the greater Vancouver regional district, which already has its own transportation au- thority, and I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with TransLink on improvements in the lower mainland. We expect these regional transportation advisory committees to be in place by the end of March. They will be volunteers drawn from the regions, and they will be able to offer input directly to myself as far as the transportation priorities.

They will be able to meet with people from the regions and will be able to under- stand the technical needs — whether they be rehabilita- tion needs in avalanche work — that the ministry has to contend with. They are also able to then help us pri- oritize the spending and make sure the decisions we make are going to create the greatest benefit for the regions. This work that we're undertaking will also produce a lot of employment, and it does mean jobs. It's esti- mated that every million dollars invested in new trans- portation infrastructure creates 13.3 person-years of employment.

This employment occurs primarily in the communities where the work is being undertaken. The transportation investments planned over the next three years will create approximately 17,500 direct person- years of employment and an additional 9,200 indirect person-years of employment. [1505] We're also looking at the benefits from this being not just for safety, though that's hugely important, but for the industries — whether it be tourism, the resource industries, agriculture, ranching, forestry, mineral ex- ploration or oil and gas industries.

It means a sustain- able freight system to support the northern communi- ties in moving their goods to market. It means partner- ships throughout the province to help us address needs. It means securing more dollars from the federal government to participate in transportation infrastruc- ture. It means a secure financial basis for making criti- cal transportation investments today and in the future. I'd like to leave everyone with this thought.

Our transportation vision is called "Opening up British Co- lumbia," and for me that creates an image of a province that is looking outward with optimism, conviction and an eye to the future and the opportunities ahead. The people of this province believe in those opportunities. They believe they can be part of those opportunities, and they need the transportation infrastructure in or- der to deliver on them. We have made a bold choice to open up our prov- ince, move ahead and secure the necessary investment.

I believe this is the right choice for this province, for our economic future, for our heartlands and for our children. Hon. S. Bond: In my response to the throne speech earlier, I was able to stand in the House and have the opportunity to talk about the opportunity to open up the heartlands of British Columbia. As a government, we have been faced with very many difficult decisions since June of 2001. We still have challenges to overcome and much work yet to do, but there is a growing sense of optimism throughout the province.

As I have travelled throughout my constituency during the last couple of weeks, and in particular had opportunities to visit the villages of both Valemount and McBride and meet with my advisory councils there, I have a sense that people feel they are being heard by the government and have an opportunity to make plans and strategies that recognize the unique needs of the heartlands of this province. As I met with them, they were encouraged by our plan, which recog- nizes that rural and northern communities in this prov- ince have a unique role to play and, indeed, have unique needs that must be met.

They recognized that we as a government are committed to restoring sound fiscal management to British Columbia, and the recent budget delivered by the Finance minister demonstrates that. Difficult decisions are needed in order to restore our house to a sound financial position. My constitu- ents understood the importance of working together to build a strong and vibrant economy. That's absolutely essential so we can put the needs of patients, students and those people most in need at the top of our agenda. This budget puts British Columbia on track for a brighter future.

In fact, we've done what we said we would do. We are ahead of schedule. We will continue to make the most of our resources and spend hard- earned tax dollars prudently and fairly, and we will continue to encourage prosperity and growth through- out this province. [1510] I want to take a moment to acknowledge the lead- ership of the Premier. Through an incredible work ethic and devotion to public service, he has kept the focus on the task at hand: getting B.C. working again. With his leadership and the dedication of my col- leagues, we are committed to three principles.

The w o r k t h a t w e d o h e r e r e v o l v e s a r o u n d t h o s e t h r e e

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 5035 goals. Firstly, we are committed to restoring sound fiscal management. We want to revitalize the economy of British Columbia, and we intend to put students, patients and people in need first. I think it's an abso- lutely significant accomplishment that, for the first time in 50 years, every ministry will come in under budget. The savings from following a plan, from staying fo- cused, are now being directed into those areas and to those people who need them most. We believe it's im- portant to live within our means.

It's simply the re- sponsible thing to do. We must ensure that we secure a future for your children and for mine. Let's look at some of the indications of the plan working. In fact, government spending is under con- trol. The 2002-03 deficit is forecast to be $600 million lower than budgeted. We're on track not only to bal- ance the budget but, in fact, to deliver a small surplus in 2004-05 and a modest one in 2005-06 while continu- ing to improve services. Today British Columbians also have the lowest personal income tax rate in the bottom two tax brack- ets.

Our business tax rates are among the lowest in North America. Paycheques are growing, and we are a leader in job creation with almost 78,000 new jobs cre- ated during 2002. We plan to continue to make the de- cisions that will ensure job growth in this province, because a job is one of the most important things you can give to a person. One of the things I am quite excited about for my own particular riding is the sector-specific tax measure that sets the stage for growth in television and film.

You see, in my community and in our region we have been extremely fortunate to be the location of several major motion pictures like Reindeer Games, Double Jeop- ardy and Dreamcatcher, which will soon be released. Through hard work and a very dedicated film commis- sion, we have recently heard the great news that we will be the site of the new Disney motion picture Mira- cle. I think that's absolutely appropriate. It's a movie about hockey. What better part of the province to be able to celebrate hockey than the heartlands and, in fact, the Prince George Multiplex?

You can imagine the excitement of my constituents. We have a plan, and we are following it. British Columbians can see the future, and it holds a balanced budget and even a surplus. A year ago people were skeptical about our ability to balance the budget, and now, because of the courage of my colleagues and the commitment to make difficult decisions, that is not only a vision, but it will be a reality. We have a shared belief that we must get our fiscal house in order for our children's sake.

As I said earlier, I recently, within the last couple of weeks, had the opportunity to travel throughout my constituency and, in fact, talk to a number of long-term residents of the north. Many of them cannot remember such a strong commitment from a government to the transportation infrastructure in the north. Our Premier and our government recognize the importance that transportation routes play in restoring opportunity and prosperity to the heartlands of our province. The 2003 budget commits $650 million to a new three-year transportation plan. That will mean new jobs.

As we've just heard described by my colleague the Minister of Transportation, they are significant in terms of the number of jobs created in communities where transportation projects will be initiated. While we cele- brate the significant job creation we have seen, we must continue to be aggressive about increasing job opportunities, particularly in communities like mine in the heartlands of this province. The transportation plan will definitely have a major positive impact on my communities. We need to remember that $225 million will go directly into northern and heartland roads.

I know in the communities I represent, those funds are exciting, and they are very welcome. [1515] A tremendous amount of wealth comes from the northern part of British Columbia. In fact, we've heard numerous studies, just recently released, that indicate the significance of the contribution my part of the prov- ince makes to the economy of British Columbia.

We have recognized that, and our budget also commits to $146 million for highway rehabilitation, $132 million for major highway corridors, $93 million for border crossing infrastructure, $30 million for ports and air- ports, and $24 million for other transportation projects. Perhaps the most important part of this plan for me is that this transportation strategy will not increase the overall public debt. We have found a way to invest in the vital infrastructure that is needed in the province without mortgaging our children's future.

Every penny of the 3½-cent-per-litre increase in provincial fuel tax will be dedicated to supporting the transportation plan. I believe that's responsible government. Forest reforms are vital to our province's economy. Since 1997 we have seen probably in excess of 13,000 f o r e s t r y j o b s d i s a p p e a r f r o m c o m m u n i t i e s l i k e m i n e . We have lost hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue over the past five years. The industry has had to deal with the softwood lumber situation and some of the ill- formed policies of the previous decade.

Individuals, families, businesses, industry and, in fact, whole com- munities and regions of this province have felt the im- pact and the adverse effect of a struggling forest indus- try. T h i s i s t h e y e a r o f f o r e s t r y . I t i s o u r n u m b e r o n e industry and a major contributor to government reve- nues. We have already done much to ensure that the forest sector is competitive, but our work is just begin- ning. Our government is planning major changes to the way industry operates. Reforms will see more wood available to smaller operators.

This presents an oppor- tunity for small operators to grow their businesses. In my constituency the potential reopening of Slo- can Valemont is extremely good news for the people who live in the Robson Valley. The community forest initiative and also the small business program in the village of McBride are essential to the economic diver- sification and revitalization of that community. Addi- tionally, waterbedding will be eliminated, and our in-

5036 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES T UESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2003 dustry, which has borne the brunt of this policy, will become even more competitive. During the softwood lumber dispute, the industry has shown tremendous tenacity. Management and la- bour have worked side by side to ensure that our mills are working at maximum efficiency. When the dispute is settled, the operations in my constituency are poised for even greater success.

The results-based Forest Practices Code, which al- lows companies to be innovative and which protects environmental standards, and the working forest initia- tive are two essential initiatives for the benefit of those companies and individuals in my constituency. More reforms are on the way, and they are exciting, particu- larly the opening up of access to timber and the oppor- tunity that will provide for business. Another exciting opportunity is the 2010 Winter Olympics. I want this House to know that Prince George wants the Olympics, because they know it will be good for all of British Columbia.

Just yesterday the city of Prince George launched its own Olympic initia- tive. Let me quote from former Olympian Tuppy Hoehn: "I see great potential for the development of a northern sports training centre in Prince George. It is an ideal place for athletes to train and to continue their post-secondary education." That's just one idea, and the excitement and enthusi- asm are just beginning to build.

The games provide per- haps even a more important opportunity — an opportu- nity for those of us who live in the north, who are forest- dependent communities, to showcase for the world the benefits of building with wood. We in the north under- stand the versatility and strength of building with wood, and we need to share that knowledge.

There is no bigger audience than the world at the Olympics. [1520] I can assure you that my colleague the member for Prince George North and I will continue to be aggres- sive advocates for the use of wood, not just in the p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r t h e 2 0 1 0 O l y m p i c s . A s w e m o v e f o r - ward as a government, we will continue to say that wood is good. In my own ministry we will do a number of things that will focus on our ability to attract and create great students, learners and workers in British Columbia.

As part of the budget the Ministry of Advanced Education will fund six new B.C. regional innovation chairs in the college, university college and institute sector. That is an exciting opportunity for institutions around the province to look at regional innovation and economic development. We think this is a great initiative, and I am looking forward to the proposals that will be re- ceived. Secondly, we look forward to creating and enhanc- ing the provincewide BCcampus on-line learning model. It will allow increased access to learners all around the province.

We also intend to accelerate the medical school expansion that is currently underway in a unique and, in fact, innovative concept leading North America — the concept of bringing together three institutions and working together on the delivery of medical and phy- sician training in British Columbia. As we work to- gether, we will see the University of British Columbia, the University of Northern British Columbia and the University of Victoria almost double the number of physicians that are trained in the province. We know that we need them.

We need to make sure that they have the opportunities to work in those rural and re- mote communities where health care is so essential. We intend to make sure that as we bring those students into our system, we are going to work very hard so they have opportunities and incentives to work in the heartlands of British Columbia. We made a commitment in advanced education to deal with critical shortages that we are facing in many professions and in particular the medical profession.

Our government is funding over 1,400 new college and university spaces for registered nurses, licensed practi- cal nurses and care aides over the next three years. The new medical programs at the University of Victoria and University of Northern British Columbia will in- crease the number of first-year medical spaces to 224, nearly doubling the number of doctors graduating every year by 2009. We have repeatedly said that health care is our most essential public service, and we have proven that.

By reducing administrative costs, we have focused re- sources where they must be focused — directly at the bedside, directly involved in patient care. In fact, when we hear people talking about cuts to health care, we increased health care spending by 12 percent, or $1.1 billion. Provincewide standards for patient care are now in place to ensure that dollars are being spent appropri- ately, effectively and certainly putting patients first.

I am very excited about the opportunity to work with the Ministers of Health Services and Health Plan- ning as we build a centre of medical excellence in Prince George that will benefit the entire northern part of the province. This budget means more support, as well, for chil- dren and for families. By ensuring that we are good managers of public dollars and getting our fiscal house in order, we will create the opportunities that this province needs to grow and to invest those dollars in the essential services that our children and our families need in the future.

Examples of that are an investment of $11 million per year for intervention for school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder and an in- crease in the number of child care spaces eligible for subsidy assistance in the coming year by 50 percent. [1525] We will also be offering one-time funding of $10 million to establish an early childhood partnership fund with the United Way and the Credit Union Cen- tral of B.C.

We are continuing our assistance to com- munity organizations that receive charity top-up grants, and the earnings exemptions for people with a disability has doubled since we took office and now sits at $400. An extra $50 million was given to school boards this year in the form of a one-time grant. There will be

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 5037 an additional $143 million placed in the budget over the next three years. By 2005-06 the per-student fund- ing will have increased by $243 per pupil. In conclusion, the plan is working. That's the bot- tom line. Sound fiscal management is working. We're applying the same principles to managing your money as you would: don't spend money without a plan, pri- oritize and focus on what most needs those resources. I want to close with the comments of the Finance minister.

He said it well, and we need to hear it one last time: "With this budget, once again, we choose the difficult path of progress and reject the failed approaches and policies of the past decade. We choose to contain the growth of government and expand the economic growth that will sustain our social safety net for future generations. We choose to act now, to balance the budget and build for tomorrow. Mr. Speaker, we have made progress — we are on track and ahead of

schedule — but we have only just begun. There is yet more work to do. Let's get back to work, and let's get this job done." J. Nuraney: We just heard two very able and hard- working ministers talk with enthusiasm, excitement and optimism about their ministries and the plans they have in place. These plans are only possible because our government has now been able to get a handle on our financial affairs. I rise today to speak on the budget that was intro- duced by our Minister of Finance in the House.

It was very reassuring to hear that the ministers and all their ministries, for the first time in over 50 years, came in on or below their budgets. This statement in itself is histori- cal. Apart from creating history, what the ministers have really done is recognize the seriousness of the state of our financial affairs. What this government inherited from our predecessors was a situation that heralded a financial disaster. We were elected with a very clear mandate that this irresponsible behaviour had to stop.

We were entrusted with the difficult task of bring- ing financial order and prudence into our government. The last 18 months have not been easy for our govern- ment to deal with this problem. Reductions in our spending had to be made, resulting in cuts to some of the government services and reductions in public sec- tors. We were criticized for our actions, and consider- able opposition was mounted by the vested interests that had seen a bonanza under the previous govern- ment — a bonanza and indiscriminate increases of the benefits at the expense of the future of this province.

We now see a budget which is more sensible. We also see the benefits of better management. Our deficit is expected to be $600 million lower than originally planned, and the debt is expected to be $3.5 billion lower than anticipated a year ago. These results, in themselves, allow us not only to bring under control the burden on our taxpayers but also to employ our resources in a more meaningful way. [1530] We have been able to increase our health care fund- ing last year by $1.1 billion. More money has been given to education.

On top of the $4.86 billion that is allocated to education, there will be a further $143 mil- lion added over the next three years. Post-secondary students are also benefiting. In the past 20 months we have committed almost $900 million to advanced edu- cation, access and research. This added funding is over and above the ability of the institutions to bring their revenue generation in line with demands after we eliminated the tuition freeze last year. We continue to deploy our scarce resources, meet- ing the right priorities.

Our new measures in the Minis- try of Human Resources have resulted in more people finding gainful work and fewer people dependent on government assistance. This province in the past decade saw neglect and disregard for the economic development of our rural communities. Our heartlands economic strategy will ensure more needed infrastructure and investment in roads, bridges, tunnels, airports and ports, which will translate into opening up opportunities in the heart- lands of our province in terms of forestry, mining and exploration.

This will begin the much-anticipated prosperity in our province, resulting in more jobs and general well-being of all British Columbians. Our gov- ernment has declared in this budget that it will spend $30 million for airports and ports, $93 million for bor- der crossing infrastructure, $132 million for highway corridors, $225 million for northern and heartland roads, $146 million for rehabilitation and $24 million for other related projects. Our forest industry has suffered an enormous set- back because of the softwood lumber dispute with the United States.

This budget has allocated $275 million to assist British Columbia's forest workers, communities and companies in transition to a more competitive, sustainable forest industry. This government is com- mitted to revitalizing our forest industry. The elements and ingredients necessary to lay the foundation for investment in the future of our province are being put in place. I am very confident that we will turn around the opinions of the industry and business leaders, that we are becoming a province which is wel- coming expansion of their activities and providing them with the tools to do so.

Our income tax levels have been dropped to a very competitive level among all of the provinces, and un- reasonable regulations and red tape have been re- duced. We are providing additional incentives for re- gional television and film projects, digital animation and visual effects — a very good measure to attract more investment in this fast-growing industry, which has become a significant part of our economy. The mining and exploration sector, which had al- most disappeared in our province in the last decade under the very antagonistic policies of the past gov- ernment, is beginning to return.

This budget has of- fered a further incentive by extending the mineral ex- ploration tax credit for a further three years. This budget also contains enhancement of our so- cial services. Funding will be made available to in- crease the number of child care spaces eligible for sub- sidy assistance by 50 percent. Ten million dollars has

5038 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES T UESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2003 been earmarked to create a new early childhood part- nership fund with the United Way and Credit Union Central of British Columbia. A further $110 million will be available for employment programs for people in need. We have also allowed people with disabilities to earn up to $400 without affecting their benefits. We added an additional $11 million per year for interven- tion for school-age children with autism spectrum dis- order. All this would not have been possible if we could not and would not and did not bring our financial house in order.

I think we have now struck a balance between financial prudence and social responsibility. [1535] Let me conclude by saying that I could not agree more with our Minister of Finance when he said that the budget is a plan for prosperity that is prudent, responsible and focused on the future. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to address the House on the budget. Tributes CANADIAN ARMED FORCES A. Hamilton: I am certainly honoured to stand be- fore this House and respond to the budget presented by the hon. Minister of Finance on February 18.

Before I begin, I would invite all members to join with me in paying tribute to the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces who are or soon will be on active duty. Many of these men and women and their families re- side in my constituency, and many more hail from other regions of the province. We cannot overstate our gratitude for their sense of duty to Canada and their willingness to make sacrifices on our behalf. These men and women represent all that is good about Canada and our province of British Columbia. I wish them Godspeed and a safe return home. Debate Continued A.

Hamilton: The fabric of our province is woven f r o m m a n y d i f f e r e n t t h r e a d s . A s d i v e r s e a s w e a r e , w e share common anxieties and visions. In discussions with my constituents and the many British Columbians I have met while touring the province with the Select Standing Committee on Finance, reoccurring themes have emerged. We are being challenged on many fronts.

Con- cerns over health care, education, natural resource man- agement, first nations, infrastructure, crime prevention, law enforcement, the state of our province and business and economy in general are on the public's list through- out British Columbia. We have heard good news from the minister in regard to all of these. Our deficit for 2002-03 is forecast to be $600 million lower than originally planned, and our economy has grown at almost three times the rate anticipated by independent authorities — talk about a good-news story.

Every government ministry will be within its operating budget in 2002-03, and our provincial debt will be $3.5 billion lower than forecast a year ago. We are on target for a $375 million surplus in 2005-06. This budget clearly shows that the concerns of our citizens are at the top of our list and also that we are prepared to tackle them head on. Health care is a major concern for my constituents. E a c h y e a r t h e d e m a n d s o n o u r h e a l t h c a r e s y s t e m i n - crease dramatically. Our health care costs are growing by 7 to 8 percent annually.

These escalating costs will be sustainable only through a conscientious effort to prioritize the allocation of health care dollars. Our health care professionals, our nurses and doc- tors, are now amongst the highest-paid in Canada. In 2002-03 this government increased the health care budget by 12 percent — that is, $1.1 billion — to $10.4 billion. Supported by an expected federal contribution of $1.3 billion over the next three years, we will continue to work toward delivering the best health care system pos- sible. We are confident that our efforts will attract more qualified professionals to our province.

We are confident that our plan will lead to twice as many doctors being graduated from B.C. universities by 2009. This government has also recognized the inequities of our Pharmacare system. We have taken steps to en- sure that prescription drugs remain accessible to all British Columbians, particularly those who can least afford them: the elderly and those in lower income brackets. Through creation of the Fair Pharmacare plan, we have reduced the cost of Pharmacare coverage for approximately 280,000 families in British Columbia — very good news.

It is reassuring to note that the vast majority of B.C. families will enjoy the benefit of stabi- lized or reduced prescription drugs, and in fact, 84 percent of British Columbians will pay the same or less than they are paying today. [1540] We applaud the creation of community living B.C., an authority to oversee the design and delivery of ser- vices to those with developmental disabilities. In rec- ognition of the challenges they already face, we have increased the earning exemption by another $100 a year for those with disabilities.

In 2001 we committed to several things: renew pub- lic health care through better management, adequate funding, proper staffing and sound strategic planning. We continue, to this day, to allocate 41 cents of every dollar we spend to health care. That is a lot of money, and we are keeping our promise to the people of Brit- ish Columbia, our promise to manage carefully all the tax dollars allocated to the health care system. Next I would like to turn to education. Our youth represent our future. Public education costs are an in- vestment in our future.

Properly spent, they will pay back a hundredfold in long-term benefits to the prov- ince. It is the responsibility of this government to de- velop a public education system that meets the highest standard. It is the right of each citizen to expect nothing less, and I am personally committed to that goal. This government recognized the need for local school boards to have a greater say in how their annual budgets were spent. We understand that local deci- sions reflecting local issues were preferable to decisions

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 5039 being imposed by a centralized authority. In recogni- tion of those demands, we have given local school boards greater flexibility to manage their own affairs and restored management decisions to school princi- pals. Our government will maintain the education budget at $4.8 billion in spite of dropping enrolment. That translates to an increase of $51 in the amount spent on each student in the coming year. This is in addition to the one-time funding of $50 million re- cently given to our school boards.

I am confident that school boards throughout the province will be able to meet or exceed their students' needs and the public's expectations. The Esquimalt-Metchosin riding includes the greater Victoria school districts 62 and 61. Through the inner-city school funding initiatives, school and community programs will be funded to the end of the school year and beyond in both districts. We must pay the costs of services provided to us. They must not be a debt passed on to our children. This applies to education services as it does to all govern- ment services.

We cover these costs through an in- crease in the education portion of our property taxes, which will guarantee that these education costs will be on a pay-as-you-go basis and not be a burden on future taxpayers. These commitments, along with nearly $23 million in one-time funding to enhance research pro- grams and an overall $143 million increase in the budget over the next three years…. That is $243 per student more than 2002-03 by 2005-06, proof of the faith we have in the youth of British Columbia. I would like to discuss day care.

In my riding of Esquimalt-Metchosin we have many young families and single parents who rely on day care services for their children. This government understands the im- portance of providing suitable day care for young chil- dren. These costs often create havoc in the family budget. Increasing the income threshold by an addi- tional $100 and the number of child care spaces eligible for assistance by 50 percent will ensure that subsidized day care will be available to many more families.

Start- ing in May an additional 3,000 children from low- income families will be eligible for benefits, and an additional 6,000 children will receive an increase in the subsidies. Furthermore, the $10 million investment in the early childhood partnership fund, the $11 million per year allocated for intervention for autistic children and the $110 million for employment programs for people in need underscore the importance this government places on helping those who need it the most. [1545] The next budget topic I would like to discuss is natural resources.

The economic dependence of many communities on our natural resources is well docu- mented. Indeed, the health of our provincial economy is directly linked to our mining, fishing and forest in- dustries. It has been estimated that our forest industry alone accounts for 25 percent of the economy, directly or indirectly. This government has embraced the re- sponsibility of managing our natural resources wisely. Our commitment to effective natural resource man- agement is exemplified in our new Forest and Range Practices Act.

We take our stewardship of our forests seriously, and we are working with our partners in industry to ensure that these resources will be here for many, many generations to come. This commitment includes increasing first nations participation in the forest economy and investing up to $95 million over the next three years to explore revenue-sharing oppor- tunities with them. Where we have control over resource management, we have limited influence in global markets and the imposition of duties by other jurisdictions.

However, we do recognize the impact of changing technology and shrinking markets on our forestry employees and their communities. The newly created $275 million forest transformation fund will help those employees and the communities where they live deal with the upheaval they are facing. Alternative sources of energy are growing in im- portance. We look to the future development of coal- bed methane and offshore oil and gas to give a huge economic boost to our province by creating many new jobs and ensuring our energy supply for many years to come.

This government is committed to developing a working partnership with our first nations people. With revenue-sharing agreements to revitalize the for- est industry in traditional territories and major funding programs to support aboriginal economic opportuni- ties, we are now focused on building for the future. As the hon. minister has said, we will be extending the three-year $30 million first nations economic measures fund for another year. We will be supporting aborigi- nal involvement in key industries such as tourism, natural resources, aquaculture and the Olympic bid.

We will be developing working partnerships with first nations in the management of parks and recreational services. We have recognized the injustices of the past and are taking steps to correct them. This budget also addresses transportation needs. We in the riding of Esquimalt-Metchosin are now en- joying the benefits of major infrastructure projects like the newly opened Veterans Memorial Parkway. Its real value will prove out in the future economic and resi- dential growth that our region will experience.

We understand the necessity and the benefits of the major infrastructure projects that this government is proposing. Last week I travelled to Qualicum. I've lived in the Victoria area for over 40 years, and I re- member the length of time it used to take me to go to Qualicum and how the new highway system has opened up the whole interior of the Island. This is what the heartlands is going to experience when all the in- frastructure is done in the heartlands.

We accept that improvements in highways, rail services, ferry services and airport facilities are essen- tial if we want the economy of the heartlands to grow. The $650 million dedicated to transportation improve- ments over the next three years will ultimately open up the province to commerce and will create new and ex-

5040 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES T UESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2003 citing opportunities for all British Columbians. Fund- ing formulas such as the dedicated gasoline tax and cooperative ventures with the private sector will result in these projects going forward as quickly as possible, so that all British Columbians can reap the combined benefit. As a former police officer of over 30 years experi- ence in law enforcement, I am particularly excited about the proposed dialogue on crime. I have seen firsthand the impact that crime has on people and their communities.

Through the implementation of PRIME, a common database accessible to all law enforcement agencies in the province and meaningful discussions amongst law enforcement educators and community leaders, we can reduce the amount of crime in our schools and on our streets. As a result of discussions already held, this gov- ernment has deferred implementing a shared-cost for- mula for police services to communities with popula- tions under 5,000 to allow further consultation with these communities as they had asked for.

Applying a similar formula to discussions between our youth and elderly, we hope to open up a dialogue that will chal- lenge conventional thinking and trigger new and inno- vative methods of resolving the many issues before us. At the end of the day, this budget will stand or fall based on the overall state of business and employment — in other words, the health of the economy. Throughout this past year we have seen many indic a- tions of our economy improving. Housing sales are up; tourism is up. We are attracting more offshore inves- tors.

Over 81,000 new jobs have been created, and the majority of our small businesses expect to see signifi- cant growth in their operations in the coming year. As of last November our average weekly wage had risen over the national average by more than 70 percent. In my riding there are nearly 400 businesses en- rolled as members in the Esquimalt and West Shore chambers of commerce. As our region grows, so do our business and recreational opportunities. We are eagerly awaiting, in the western communities, the new 2,300- seat arena at the Juan de Fuca recreation centre.

We expect that it will spawn a revitalization of the Nobb Hill–Colwood Corners stretch of the Old Island High- way. [1550] A proposed development in my riding is the new Centre Mountain golf course in Metchosin. I have toured the project, and it promises to be a truly mag- nificent facility. This is further evidence of faith in the growth of our economy. I am happy to report that one of my constituent's businesses has nearly doubled in size since 2001. He attributes that growth to our programs created to help small business, but he is not alone.

The successes are being mirrored time and time again throughout my constituency and the province every day. Also, as I reported to the House last November, the Esquimalt Drydock Company was recently awarded a $13.8 mil- lion ship repair contract. This contract will result in over $10 million in labour and locally bought supplies going straight into our economy. Today, Point Hope Shipyards announced a ship repair contract. As the largest employer in the province, the health of small business is the key to our economic recovery.

Eliminating the red tape and making seed capital more available through the Small Business Venture Capital Act are major boosts to growth strategies being devel- oped by small businesses in every corner of the prov- ince. Finally, I would like to touch on the 2010 Olympic bid. We can predict the huge economic benefit of host- ing the Olympics, a projected $4 billion added to our GDP by 2020.

With our budget investment of $199 mil- lion over the next three years for the Vancouver Con- vention and Exhibition Centre and the improvements to the Sea to Sky Highway, we can envision the legacy of facilities infrastructure that the games will leave us. We can foresee the global attraction to the Vancouver- Whistler regions and the rest of our magnificent prov- ince. What we can't measure is the sense of pride that each of us in B.C. and throughout Canada will feel if we are awarded the games.

It will be that sense of pride in our athletes, our volunteers, our province, our country and our achievements that will carry the day. Two years ago this government made a promise to the people of British Columbia. We promised to deliver a comprehensive and fiscally sound approach to the business of government. We promised to identify and prioritize issues facing all British Columbians. We promised to listen to all of the stakeholders and to de- velop programs and apply funding in an open and responsible manner.

Although our work is far from complete with this budget, we have reinforced our commitment to the citizens of British Columbia. Hon. B. Barisoff: I am pleased to rise to speak to the budget today. We were elected on a platform of promising a new era of prosperity. That's what this budget did, and we're delivering on that promise. For ten years the heartlands of this province have been ignored. The other day in the House, the people from the opposite side didn't even know where the heart- lands were. Let me tell you. In the state-of-the-province address, the Premier announced the heartlands economic strategy.

I want to tell you, our Premier knows where the heartlands are. He has been from one end of this province to the other, and he knows every community within the province. He knows where the heartlands of British Columbia are. The Premier gave us all a new reason to be excited about our future, and that budget the other day gave us the excitement, unbeknownst to all of us, that we were going to go into a new era of prosperity in this province. His announcement detailed significant investment to our rural heartlands, beginning with $210 million in rural and resource roads.

I want to commend the Min- ister of Transportation for such an excellent thought of putting $210 million into the heartlands of British Co- lumbia, with $37 million specifically targeted to meet the needs of the oil and gas industry in the north.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2003 B RITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 5041 When we invest in the oil and gas industry in the north, that develops the entire province. That means health care and education in the entire province are subsidized by what happens there. The Minister of Transportation did an excellent job of looking at what could happen there. Colin Bruintjes, president of the Certified General Accountants Association of B.C., said: "The spending is well within the government's means and will go a long way toward helping the battered heartlands of the province." That's a great comment from Colin Bruintjes.

We're going to secure transportation improvements through dedicated funding from fuel tax revenue. Three and a half cents a litre is going to improve the roads for all British Columbia, and the Premier of this province said that every last cent will be spent on highways. I might want to repeat that — every last cent — so that people throughout the province will be ex- cited to know we're spending all that money on high- way improvements. [1555] In my riding the Minister of Transportation com- mitted to improving Highway 97, Highway 3 connect- ing Hope to the Okanagan and a new bridge in Kelowna. Mr.

Speaker, you'd like to hear that — the new bridge in Kelowna. Highway 3, Hope to the Okanagan, has been long overdue, and we're truly ex- cited in

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	H0225pm-15
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	H0225pm 15
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	e906a267a4fe5b8b53f3c84f441ecbe64667551b

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