The House met at 10:04 a.m.

[The Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: Reann Gasper.

[10:05 a.m.]

Introductions by Members

Hon. Adrian Dix : Today joining us in the gallery this morning are four amazing staff from the Deputy

Minister’s office of Energy and Climate Solutions. They are Shawna Lyttle, the executive

director of operations and issues and project management; Sara Nicoll, the manager of executive operations; Charlene

Evers, the senior executive assistant; Whitney Bertoia, the project assistant. They

all provide leadership and expertise, deliver the corporate services that support

the ministry executive, the minister’s office and staff in achieving our many diverse

mandates.

I ask the House to make them all welcome.

Kristina Loewen : I rise today to welcome my constituent Tyler Zeeman to the House today. He’s a good

friend and a colleague as well. I am going to be honest. I know my colleague for Kelowna-Mission is going to introduce him, and I am, just in the spirit of rivalry, rising a little

faster. I’m going to leave the formal introduction to him.

Welcome to Tyler.

Hon. Brittny Anderson : This morning I met with Mona Sakata Johnson who is currently here in the crowd. She

is from the Cowichan Valley and is currently completing her honours in history and political science from Huron University in London, Ontario. She is

passionate about social justice, education and global affairs and was recently awarded

the Political Science Prize in Canadian Politics from Huron University. We had a really wonderful chat this morning.

I want everyone to make her feel very welcome.

Then I have another introduction. The second introduction I want to make is: I want

to wish a very happy birthday to someone who is incredibly special in my life. I’m

so glad I was able to celebrate her 95th birthday. That is my grandma, Shirley Anderson.

She lives in her own home still, a log house up in Whitehorse. She was a gold miner

with my grandpa. She’s a vet from the Air Force, a really incredible feminist. She

wins at bingo almost every week. She is living a healthy life. It was so wonderful

to spend some time with her this weekend.

Grandma, happy 95th birthday.

Scott McInnis : It’s an honour to welcome two very special guests here today from the East Kootenay.

First of all, Rob Morrison is here, the Member of Parliament for Columbia–Kootenay–Southern Rockies. Mr. Morrison served 35 years in the RCMP, retiring as a chief superintendent. With

him today is Wes Graham, his chief of staff, who also serves as a city councillor

in Cranbrook.

Welcome to both of you today. Thank you for being here.

Hon. Josie Osborne : Today is B.C. Family Doctor Day, and it is World Family Doctor Day.

[10:10 a.m.]

We are so privileged to have the B.C. College of Family Physicians join us in the

gallery today. Dr. Jennifer Lush is the president. Kendra Johnston is the executive

director. They’ve brought a team of staff and family doctors from around British Columbia

to talk with us as MLAs. I deeply appreciate their work in strengthening our public

health care system. I know they’ll be meeting with a lot of different MLAs in the

House today.

Would you all please join me in making them feel most welcome.

Harman Bhangu : I am pleased to welcome today Joseph Latam to the House. Joe serves as my constituency

assistant, where he does excellent work supporting constituents, helping ensure that

people in our community are heard, assisted and served well. He is thoughtful, and

he is dedicated to public service and the future of this province, but he will unfortunately

be leaving at the end of the summer.

This fall, Joe will be beginning his master of public policy at the University of

Calgary — an impressive achievement, and the next step in what I am certain will be

a bright future. It’s always encouraging to see young, talented people continuing

to commit themselves in major studies and policy.

Would the House really make Joe feel welcome.

Hon. Jagrup Brar : Joining us today is a group of members of the BongMilanti Metro Vancouver Bengali Cultural Association who are here in the Legislature. BongMilanti is an important local organization that brings the Bengali community together and

fosters cultural pride through festivals and events across the Lower Mainland.

I would like to introduce their president, Susmita Das, and directors Souvik Dey, Amartya Chattopadhyay, Ranjita Chowdhury, Arnab Ray, Soumya

Sharma, Atanu Das and Sourav Mukherjee.

I would like to urge the House to please make them feel welcome.

I have one more introduction, hon. Speaker, if you allow me to do that. Today I am

very pleased to welcome the Surrey-Delta Indo-Canadian Seniors Society to the Legislature.

This society is vital in supporting Indo-Canadian seniors in my riding and across

the region. They offer a wide range of services that cater to the unique needs of

this community, including cultural events and wellness classes. If you or a loved

one is an Indo-Canadian senior in the Surrey or Delta area, this organization is excellent

for fostering community and belonging.

I am pleased to welcome a group of 56 seniors who are on their way right now to our

Legislature today. I also want to recognize president Avtar Singh Dhillon, who is from my riding of Surrey-Fleetwood, and the board members, Kirpal Singh Johal, Harchand Singh Gill, Hari Singh Chhokar, and member Naranjan Singh Lehal.

I would like to ask the House to please make them feel welcome.

Gavin Dew : Today I’m very pleased to welcome Tyler Zeeman to the House. Tyler is a fifth-generation

Kelowna resident and community advocate focused on public safety, safer neighbourhoods

and improving supportive housing policies across British Columbia. He has been an

active voice on issues impacting local families, businesses and communities.

Please join me in making him very welcome.

Hon. Lana Popham : Today at the B.C. Legislature it’s B.C. Dairy Day, which means — are you ready? —

I scream, you scream...

Some Hon. Members : … and we all scream for ice cream.

Hon. Lana Popham : There will be ice cream out back at the Legislature. This is really a place for dairy

farmers to showcase just one of their incredible products. We’re happy that they’re

here. I know they’ve got a lot of meetings with folks here in the Legislature. We

just would like to welcome them and thank them for all their hard work.

The Speaker : The minister forgot to tell you that you will only get ice cream if you behave in

the House.

Anna Kindy : This side of the House would also like to welcome the B.C. College of Family Physicians.

Founded in 1954, it’s an organization of family physicians dedicated to improving

the practice of medicine and the health of Canadians.

[10:15 a.m.]

With over 8,000 members, the BCCFP is a passionate, independent champion of family

medicine with a core purpose of bolstering the unique and irreplaceable role of family

physicians within the B.C. health care system. Welcome.

Hon. Randene Neill : I just want to give a big hello to two amazing ministry staff from WLRS today. They

work in the correspondence unit — Brittany Wilson and Jayson Jap. They are so hard-working.

They care so deeply. There they are.

I just want to give them and I hope the House will give them a big, warm welcome today.

Lynne Block : I love coming to the Leg the day before we are in session because it’s very quiet

and I can do a lot of work in my office. But I didn’t realize that it was open to

the public yesterday, and it was exciting to meet wonderful people.

I met a lovely family, a gentleman who is a doctor, originally from Nigeria, and his

three children. I’d like to do a shout-out to Austin, Jasmine, Jayden and Jesse and

welcome them. I hope they come to the Legislature today too.

Hon. Kelly Greene : It’s my privilege today to introduce my son Sullivan. He is in grade 6. He is so smart

and kind and helpful and just a little bit of trouble. Basically, he’s perfect.

Please help me make him welcome.

Amna Shah : It’s always a pleasant surprise to see your constituency adviser in the gallery, along

with his lovely family and friends who are here to visit the B.C. Legislature. Ayush

Saini and his family are incredible pillars of our community, especially Ayush himself.

He is such an incredible adviser to me and a community advocate who shows so much

compassion and impeccable judgment skills. I’m so lucky to have him. I promise I’m

not being paid to say this, but thank you so much.

Will the House join me in welcoming Ayush Saini and his family today.

Gavin Dew : Speaking of constituency advisers, I would like to welcome and acknowledge my constituency

adviser, Sonia Sandhu. She told me not to introduce her in the House, and thus I am

embarrassing her by doing so. I appreciate her very much. She keeps the trains running

on time, and I would not survive without the team in my office, her and Jarrod.

Thank you so much.

Debra Toporowski / Qwulti’stunaat : I rise to introduce a group of 38 students from grade 9 at Quamichan School, led by

Jesse Whittington, in my riding of Cowichan Valley, who will be joining us as question period is starting to ramp up, so I took this

opportunity to introduce them now.

May the House please make them feel welcome once they arrive.

Hon. Brenda Bailey : I also have students in the House today visiting us from Vancouver. These are the

students from the Blessed Sacrament School and their teacher Reine Mykyte. These are

grade 5 students. This is a Roman Catholic French immersion school serving kids between

K to 7.

Please forgive my French, but I’ll make an attempt: Bienvenue à tous les étudiants d’École St-Sacrement.

If you’d please welcome these students.

The Speaker : Minister of Education.

Ellis Island Medal of Honor

for Raj Chouhan

Hon. Lisa Beare : Thank you, hon. Speaker. I rise today, actually, to acknowledge some really exciting

news in your life, Speaker, that I know the members of this House will all want to

join me in celebrating.

This past weekend, Mr. Speaker, you were honoured with a prestigious Ellis Island

Medal of Honor from the Ellis Island Honors Society in New York City. This award was

bestowed in recognition of your humanitarian efforts as founding president of the

Canadian Farmworkers Union, work that improved the lives of thousands of vulnerable

farmworkers across this country, and your lifelong devotion to fighting racial inequity

and for injustices.

I know the entire House will want to join me in saying congratulations, well done

and well deserved, Speaker.

[10:20 a.m.]

[Applause.]

The Speaker : Thank you so much. Thank you.

Members’ Statements

Surrey Sports Hall of Fame

and Inductee Terry Bailey

Trevor Halford : On June 2, Surrey will gather to honour its inaugural Surrey Sports Hall of Fame class.

This is a pretty special moment for Surrey. It’s a pretty special moment for those

being inducted and for their families.

In your life, you’re lucky to have people that are, I would say, larger than life.

For me, that has always been my uncle Terry — Terry Bailey — who is also known in

our family as Coach. Terry grew up in Surrey. He has never left Surrey. He has been

a lifelong Cloverdale and Ocean Park resident.

He started his football career at Lord Tweedsmuir and went on to be a standout with

the Surrey Rams. Then he played for SFU. Actually, at SFU, he’s got his name on a

plaque of NAIA champion, runner-up to Walter Payton in the 1970s. It was so cool to

see my uncle with his name next to Walter Payton on a plaque. From there, he went

on to a great career with the B.C. Lions, and then he returned back to coach SFU.

Terry has been a hero to me and to my family, growing up. He has always been that

figure…. To have somebody to look up to, to actually call almost a second dad…. I

know that the family is so proud of him, whether it’s my aunt Jane, sons Bryn and

Shaun…. I know his family, his mom and dad, Merry and Delsa, are looking down on him,

as are Mudgie and Baba.

We are so proud that he is in the inaugural class of the Surrey Sports Hall of Fame.

I wish him and all those being inducted on June 2 all the best.

Congratulations, Terry and all those who will be getting their names on those plaques.

Cycling Without Age

Vernon-Coldstream

Chapter

Harwinder Sandhu : Today I want to recognize and celebrate the Vernon-Coldstream

chapter of Cycling Without

Age, a program that is making a profound difference in the lives of seniors in our

community.

Since Dr. Lauren Lypchuk launched the

chapter in 2019, thousands of seniors have been

able to reconnect with the community through free trishaw rides powered by volunteers,

compassion and care. These rides do far more than provide transportation. They help

reduce social isolation; improve mental and emotional well-being; and bring memories

of joy, connection and belonging to seniors who otherwise feel alone.

After a pause during the pandemic, the program returned in 2022 with incredible momentum,

running seasonally from mid-May to October 31. In that time, close to 2,800 seniors

have been taken for free rides, covering almost 22,000 kilometres, including 804 passengers

just last year alone. These are moments of fresh air, conversations, memories and

joy that many participants might otherwise not experience.

I also had the opportunity to ride on their trishaws with my son during one of the

Christmas community events. It was so much fun and a memorable experience. Seeing

the smiles and the connections created really showed her heart behind this program.

I want to thank the Schubert Centre Society for doing so much to support this cause,

the many community partners, volunteers, trishaw pilots, coordinators and Program

Lead Erin Burgess, and everyone involved in the Vernon-Coldstream Cycling Without

Age

chapter from the bottom of my heart.

Your work is helping to ensure that aging is defined not by isolation but by dignity,

inclusion, well-being and community connection. Thank you so much.

60th Anniversary of

District of Mackenzie

Kiel Giddens : I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the district of Mackenzie,

a proud northern community built on hard work, resilience and resource development.

In 1964, the world’s largest tree crusher arrived on six railcars and was used to

clear the flooded plain of the Rocky Mountain Trench. Clearing of the land began during

a time of enormous change in our province, with the construction of the W.A.C. Bennett

dam.

[10:25 a.m.]

Flooding for the dam created the spectacular Williston Lake, now the largest freshwater

body of water in B.C. and one of the largest man-made reservoirs in North America.

Mackenzie’s story is stitched into this part of B.C. history, as it was established

as an instant town to support British Columbia’s fast-growing forest industry. British

Columbia Forest Products built a pulp mill and two sawmills to help develop the vast

resources in the area, and in June of 1966, the first families arrived to begin building

a new community from the ground up. Named after explorer Sir Alexander Mackenzie,

Mackenzie was officially incorporated on May 19, 1966, exactly 60 years ago today.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to join many residents, past and present,

in celebrating this milestone anniversary. From the welcome barbecue night at the

legion to Kraft Hockeyville events, the museum’s Walk Down Memory Lane photo displays,

the community dance and pancake breakfast, it was incredible to see so many people

come together to celebrate the history and spirit of Mackenzie. Former residents travelled

from near and far to reconnect with old friends, share memories and celebrate a community

that has meant so much to so many families over the last 60 years.

Mackenzie has faced challenges that many resource communities know all too well, but

its people have always met those challenges with determination, pride and a strong

sense of community.

I ask all members of this House to join me in congratulating the district of Mackenzie

on its 60th anniversary and in wishing the community continuing success for many generations

to come.

Marpole Oakridge Family Place

Sunita Dhir : I rise today with great pride to recognize and celebrate the incredible work of Marpole

Oakridge Family Place as they mark 48 years of caring for and supporting families

in our community. It was truly a joy for me to visit Marpole Oakridge Family Place

on May 8, during the anniversary celebration; present a certificate of appreciation;

and meet with the children, families and seniors attending the many programs offered

there.

From the moment I walked through the doors, I felt the warmth, kindness and sense

of belonging that make this place so special. Seeing children smiling and singing,

families connecting and seniors gathering together was deeply heartwarming.

What began in a private living room in 1978 has grown into a trusted and welcoming

community hub for children, parents, caregivers, seniors and vulnerable adults. Through

family programs, literacy initiatives and senior support services, Marpole Oakridge

Family Place continues to uplift and strengthen lives every single day.

I also appreciated the opportunity to tour the facility last year and speak with community

leaders about the growing needs of seniors and families in South Vancouver. Those conversations reminded

me how important it is that we continue working together to build strong, connected

and caring communities.

Thank you to Executive Director Tracy Beshara, Senior Outreach Coordinator Andrea

Krombein, Program Coordinator Lindy Clarke, the dedicated staff, volunteers and everyone

who helps make this organization such a treasured part of our neighbourhood.

B.C. Dairy Day

and Work of Dairy Farmers

Ian Paton : Here’s a quiz for everyone. What noble profession requires a routine of getting up

at 4:30 a.m. every day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, milking cows at 5 a.m.,

then again at 5 p.m. while, in between your 14-hour day, you’re feeding, cleaning,

planting, harvesting and taking on the de facto roles of a veterinarian, a mechanic

and an environmentalist? Well, you’d be correct if you guessed a dairy farmer. I know

only too well this lifestyle as I lived it for a good many years.

Today we recognize and celebrate British Columbia Dairy Day at the Legislature, an

opportunity to honour the hard-working family farmers who help feed communities across

our province every single day.

Dairy farming is more than an industry in British Columbia. It is a way of life built

on dedication, resilience and a deep commitment to quality. Across British Columbia,

dairy farmers work long hours in every season to produce safe, nutritious and high-quality

dairy products for families to enjoy.

[10:30 a.m.]

From fresh milk and cheese to yogurt and butter, these products reach kitchen tables

because of the tireless efforts of local farm families and processors who take immense

pride in what they do.

Behind every dairy farm is a strong commitment to animal care and environmental stewardship.

Farmers invest countless hours ensuring their animals are healthy, comfortable and

well cared for. Their attention to animal welfare reflects the values of compassion,

responsibility and respect that are central to agriculture in our province.

At the same time, dairy farmers continue to face significant challenges. Rising costs

of feed, fuel, equipment, transportation and labour are placing increasing pressure

on family farms and cutting deeply into their profits. Many farmers are working harder

than ever simply to maintain the viability of their operations while continuing to

provide the high standards consumers expect.

On this British Columbia Dairy Day, we thank our dairy farming families for their

unwavering dedication, their care for their animals and their continued commitment

to producing exceptional dairy products for all British Columbians.

Technology Industry and

Web Summit Vancouver

Paul Choi : I rise today to recognize the incredible success and impact of Web Summit Vancouver

last week, which brought together innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, technology

leaders and policy-makers from around the world right here in B.C. This event showcased

not only the strength of our growing technology sector but also the talent, creativity

and entrepreneurial spirit that exists across our province. As an example, we had

800 investors, 1,200 start-ups and 22,000 attendees. It was so much bigger and better

than last year.

From AI and clean technology to digital media, life sciences and global trade, B.C.

continues to establish itself as a leader in innovation and economic opportunity.

What stood out most was the energy and optimism from businesses and young entrepreneurs

who see B.C. as a place where new ideas can grow and compete at the world stage.

As Parliamentary Secretary for Trade, I had the opportunity to speak with companies

and international delegates who were excited about the opportunities in our province

and our strong connection to global markets across the Indo-Pacific and North America.

Events like Web Summit are important because they create partnerships, attract investment,

support job creation and help position B.C. as a competitive destination for innovation

and business growth.

I also want to recognize the Minister of Finance, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth

and Minister of State for AI and New Technologies for their leadership and recognize

the many local businesses, start-ups, universities, organizers, volunteers and community

partners who helped make this event such a success.

B.C.’s future economy will be driven by innovation, technology and global collaboration,

and events like Web Summit help ensure our province remains at the forefront of that

future.

Oral Questions

Government Position on

Oil Pipeline Proposal

Trevor Halford : The last time that this NDP government opposed a pipeline in British Columbia it didn’t

work out so well. The result? We actually got a pipeline, but what taxpayers spent

their money on was tens of millions of dollars losing in court while the then Attorney

General, now Premier, opposed TMX. In fact, some may argue that she lost an election

about that. You can now ask the now Minister of Energy how that went.

But the Premier said, in November: “We cannot get distracted anymore by the notional

project and have it cost real projects.” Now, the problem with that is that the Prime

Minister and the Premier of Alberta see things much differently than the Premier does

on this project. They’re now not calling this a notional project. In fact, it seems

to be moving quite fast despite the obstruction by the Premier.

My question to the Premier is a simple one. Has he not learned the lessons of the

past, and will he not just get on board and do what the majority of British Columbians

are expecting and wanting this government to do — support a pipeline, get to the table,

work with the other levels of government and get these jobs in B.C. now?

[10:35 a.m.]

celebrating the passage through yet another gateway towards the largest private sector

investment in Canadian history — LNG Canada phase 2.

Now, I keep waiting for the opposition to stand up and fight for projects that are British Columbia projects, that have

private sector investors.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Shhh.

Hon. David Eby : Forty percent of the projects in the major projects office, federally, are B.C. projects.

And every time the opposition talks about B.C. and our economy, they run it down. They attack our Indigenous partners

— who are moving this forward — again and again and again.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members.

Hon. David Eby : And now today we hear them stand up on the project they care the most about: Alberta’s

project. They fight for Donald Trump. They fight for Alberta. When will they fight for British Columbia?

The Speaker : Leader of the Official Opposition, supplemental.

Trevor Halford : Oh, desperate times. Desperate times for this government.

Premier wants to go down memory lane, so let’s do that for this NDP government. Who opposed

TMX? Well, it was the NDP. Who opposed LNG Canada? It was the Minister of Energy, and it was the NDP. Who opposed Site C? It was the NDP. Who opposed the 2010 Olympics? Well, we know that was the Premier because he was chasing people around, giving

out business cards.

Listen, this pipeline is going to happen. And it’s not just in Alberta’s interest. It’s not just in Canada’s

interest. It’s in British Columbia’s interest. The Premier can’t figure that out.

Once again, we have a leader of this province that’s sitting at the kids’ table while the grownups make decisions.

My question to the Premier is…. Get to the table, do the work of the province, support this project, and stop impeding

it.

Hon. David Eby : We have a candidate for the new Premier of Alberta. This member refuses to stand up

for British Columbians.

Let me read some quotes.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members. Members, come to order.

Hon. David Eby : Let me just say that I agree with these quotes. There is no way that, if our government

and the people of British Columbia have not consented to that pipeline, that pipeline

is going to get past me. It just isn’t.

“We’ve got some pretty big economic fish to fry, and the benefits of the Enbridge proposal at the moment are chump change compared to that.” “Heavy oil is a unique and very difficult product to move, and if it was to spill on our land

or our coast, it would have irreparable, catastrophic consequences.”

Who was that? That was Christy Clark. The member will recognize that name.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Shhh. Members.

Hon. David Eby : She was the leader of his B.C. Liberal Party.

Does it sound familiar? It sounded familiar. Christy who?

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members will behave themselves.

Members, come to order. Shhh.

Hon. David Eby : They seem not to remember who Christy Clark was when she was speaking against the

exact same pipeline that I am speaking against. But she was, of course, the leader

of the B.C. Liberal Party when the Leader of the Opposition was a former communications

staffer in her office. The member for Richmond Centre was a cabinet minister with her. The member for Nechako Lakes was a cabinet minister with her. The member for Abbotsford South was a former MLA with her.

I think that should be enough to refresh their memories.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members. Members will come to order.

Leader of the Official Opposition, second supplemental.

Trevor Halford : I’ve been caught. The Premier is right. I was a staffer under the former government.

That is true, and I’ll admit that here today.

There’s one thing, though, that happened — the difference between me and some other

former staffers. I actually walked out on my own accordance. I wasn’t walked out because I backdated a memo for the Premier. That was the difference between me and some of the other

MLAs here. I wasn’t walked out by security. I left on my own. So if the Premier of

this province wants to talk about a Premier that was here almost nine years ago now,

that’s how desperate this man is in this province.

[10:40 a.m.]

My question is a very simple one to this Premier. Obviously, the Prime Minister finds him irrelevant right now. The Premier of Alberta finds him irrelevant. I’m

sure his own cabinet finds him irrelevant.

Why won’t he actually stand up and support a project for B.C. jobs?

Hon. David Eby : The member trying desperately to separate his party from the B.C. Liberal record…. I don’t understand why. It’s a pretty defensible position, I would say,

to say, in terms of our north coast, in terms of the danger of those waters, the impact of an oil spill on a multi-billion

dollar economy, that is worth standing up for and protecting.

But the leadership candidates of the Conservatives right now are a former B.C. Liberal cabinet member, Iain Black; the former vice-president

of the B.C. Liberal Party.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members. Members will wait for their turn.

Hon. David Eby : When I read a quote like, “LNG and crude oil are very different commodities, and the reason LNG is so close

to going ahead is because if there’s a problem along the pipeline, it escapes into the air. It’s a much less controversial idea….”

The reason why Christy Clark was saying these things is….

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members, wait for your turn, please. Otherwise, no ice cream for you today. Shhh.

Hon. David Eby : If you want to deliver more money to British Columbians, if you want to put more money in their pockets, the way to do it is to actually

support real projects that will deliver real jobs and train them up for those jobs

— the same training money that the opposition has voted against and will vote against again, I suspect — giving British Columbians

a chance to earn money on real projects with real roots, with real private sector proponents that will build Canada’s GDP and put money in the pockets of British Columbians, while they stand up for Alberta.

Kiel Giddens : While this government has lost more than 40,000 jobs this year, Alberta and the federal

government are willing to bring tens of thousands of jobs to B.C.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members, shhh.

Kiel Giddens : “Alberta now has some forward movement in building Canada’s energy future. This is

good news and necessary.” These are the words of the Alberta NDP leader.

Now, the Jobs Minister has a choice to make. Will he stand with the bad behaviour of this Premier and this

government, or will he welcome these six-figure jobs to British Columbia?

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members, be respectful. Minister has the floor.

Hon. Adrian Dix : Yeah, 90 percent of the heckling, 90 percent of the whining about heckling over there….

Here in British Columbia, we have a remarkable opportunity. It’s also a Canadian opportunity.

It’s an Alberta opportunity — $88 billion in projects and more announced last week,

and opposed by the opposition.

I think that when you reflect on that, when you reflect on an opposition that claims

to represent the northwest and opposes the North Coast transmission line, when you

talk about an opposition that says it wants more electricity but opposes every clean electricity project, an opposition that talks about LNG but doesn’t recognize the fact that there

were zero LNG projects when the NDP came to office…. Zero. A lot of talk, I admit. A lot of talk, like we hear in the Legislature, but

no action.

Now, we have…. By 2030, we’ll be the sixth-largest LNG producer in the world and by 2035, the fourth-largest. We’re talking about the United States and Qatar and British Columbia.

We are leading the way in Canada in clean energy. They’re against it. In developing energy resources here — they’re against it. In

transmission — they’re against it. We are for British Columbia, and we are for Canada.

The Speaker : Member, supplemental.

Kiel Giddens : Well, we know that minister’s record on opposing projects, but my question was for

the Jobs Minister.

Enbridge’s CEO is now saying they would definitely consider backing a new oil pipeline

to Canada’s west coast. The TMX expansion brought more than 15,000 direct jobs. Coastal GasLink brought

more than 7,500. That’s not to mention the countless indirect jobs these projects

create right across the province.

[10:45 a.m.]

The only ones opposing the creation of thousands of good-paying jobs are this Premier

and his Energy Minister, who will again whine and complain while they try to use every

tool in the toolbox to block B.C.’s prosperity.

At a time when 40,000 jobs have been lost under this government’s watch, I will ask

again: does the Jobs Minister also oppose this pipeline, or will he stand up for these

jobs for British Columbians?

Hon. Adrian Dix : Definitely consider that there is no proponent. There is no project. There is no route. There’s no possibility of the contracts required

to pay for it.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Shhh.

Hon. Adrian Dix : We in British Columbia are focused rightly on real projects that exist in time and space right now. That is why the Premier is leading those efforts for British Columbia.

Now, in most places, efforts for British Columbia would be supported by all parties

in the Legislature, but that’s not the case here. They prefer their partisan interests

to the interests of British Columbia.

Well, we don’t. We are fighting for projects. We’re investing in the economy.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Shhh.

Hon. Adrian Dix : We’re supporting clean electricity, of which we are a superpower in the world, and we’re going to continue to do it.

Joffre Lakes Provincial Park

Management Plan and Working Group

Jeremy Valeriote : I rise to ask about Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, also known as Pipi7íyekw in the Ucwalmícwts language. It’s a very important place in my riding for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, a place of cultural significance, recreation, tourism and connection to the

land.

In 2018, the province established a visitor management plan and collaborative working group with the Líl̓wat and the N’Quatqua Nations to help guide decisions about the park. These recognized the importance of closing

the park for periods over the summer months for the nations to reconnect with the

land and allow the park to recover from the effects of overtourism, which in prior years climbed to around 200,000 visitors. In each of the last two

years, the park has been closed for about 60 days for cultural practices and healing.

Two weeks ago, the ministry dictated by press release the 31 days it decided on for

the summer, different from what the nations requested, without any apparent consultation

with the working group. In this climate, even 31 days of closure…

The Speaker : Question, Member.

Jeremy Valeriote : …has unleashed an unspeakable amount of online racism.

My question to the Minister of Environment and Parks: what has happened to the working relationship with the Líl̓wat and the N’Quatqua

Nations? How does the minister intend to honour the Crown’s commitment to meaningful

collaboration?

Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson : Thank you to the member for the question. In B.C., we are very proud of our B.C. parks, and we take great pride in the relationship that we build with our local First Nations.

We know that we value our relationship with both Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua, and

we have a responsibility to support public access to parks as we also support our

First Nations cultural practices and conservation goals. The key here is to find the

right balance.

We are looking forward to getting back to the table with the parties involved, and

we have publicly made sure that the public is aware of when those closure dates will

be for this season. We’re looking forward to welcoming people to Joffre Parks.

The Speaker : Member has supplemental.

Jeremy Valeriote : There is a great amount of confusion between what the ministry has published and the

signs that are up in the community in the entrance to Joffre Lakes Park.

The working group hasn’t met since August 2025. The minister visited last spring,

and then it seems that relations soured at some point after this. The nations have

told me that the technical working group hasn’t met.

My question to the minister: how is this collaboration? It seems that the government

is either blaming the nations or waving the problem away instead of doing the actual

work required to alleviate the confusion.

In the minister’s estimation, have the Líl̓wat and the N’Quatqua Nations become collateral

damage in a toxic reconciliation dialogue we’re experiencing?

Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson : I’d like to say thank you to the member because he has offered a number of times to

help build that relationship and that collaboration with the communities because he

himself has got a really good relationship with both nations. And I do appreciate

that he is working to do a collaborative relationship, not only with the government

but also with the two communities. I appreciate that work.

Since 2023, we have collaborated an agreement that balanced the different interests that we’re looking

at: providing public access to the parks by the public, and then also providing time

for the land to regenerate and also for the two nations to have time to do cultural

activities.

We’re going to continue to do that work, and we hope that all parties over the summer

will sit down and come back to the table.

[10:50 a.m.]

Temporary Closings of Parks

for Indigenous Cultural Use

Donegal Wilson : A few weeks ago, the Minister of Environment said: “We’re going to continue to make

sure that our B.C. parks have access for everyone.” Since then, she has announced

that Joffre Lakes Provincial Park will be closed for almost a month for exclusive

cultural events.

Can the minister tell me: if a church group wanted to close a provincial park for

a month for a cultural event, would that be allowed, yes or no?

Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson : The members opposite don’t seem to have a problem when we close a park for a TV movie

set or for a wedding, but they certainly do have a problem when we close it for cultural

activities.

Maintaining a healthy park and supporting First Nations and their cultural practices

are two sides of the same coin. Joffre is unique because of the single-trail design,

and if we don’t give the land a time to rest, we risk damaging that natural beauty

that visitors have come to expect when they visit Joffre Lake.

We will continue…

Interjections.

The Speaker : Shhh.

Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson : …to work collaboratively with the nations and provide public access and also to make

sure that the First Nations have time for their cultural activities.

Sheldon Clare : Joffre Lakes is not the only provincial park on the block for potential closure for

exclusive cultural events. The minister indicated that she has had requests for Juan

de Fuca and Dunn Peak provincial parks for closure as well.

To the Minister of Environment and Parks: how many B.C. provincial parks will be closed

this summer for exclusive cultural events?

Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson : As I stated earlier, we do have a responsibility to support public access to parks

as well as supporting First Nations’ cultural practices and conservation goals. In

fact, since 2000, only five parks have experienced closures for cultural practices,

and most of those were short term.

We remain committed to ensuring that all British Columbians can enjoy our amazing

parks, but we also have a responsibility to manage public access to the parks as well

as supporting First Nations’ cultural activities.

DRIPA Legal Issues and

Involvement of U.S. Indigenous

Groups in Court Cases

Scott McInnis : With all the uncertainty surrounding B.C. today and the emerging threat of U.S. tribes

using DRIPA to assert greater influence into our affairs in B.C., I have a very serious

yet simple question.

To the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation: are there currently any

claims of Aboriginal title before a B.C. court by a U.S. Indigenous group, yes or

no?

Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert : If the member has paper he’d like to put in front of the House, I’d invite him to

do it. I would say that we continue to stand up for British Columbia, unlike the member

opposite, who continues to talk down British Columbia every chance he gets.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Shhh.

Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert : If we work with First Nations people, he says, “Don’t do it.” If we don’t work with

First Nations people, he asks why we’re not doing it.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Shhh, Members. Members.

Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert : So if the member has some more information he’d like to share with the House…

Interjections.

The Speaker : Shhh.

Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert : …I’d ask him to share it.

The Speaker : Members, when the question is asked, let’s listen to the answer, please. Wait for

your turn.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members, come to order.

Member has a supplemental.

Scott McInnis : Excuse me, but asking if a U.S. Indigenous group has a claim of Aboriginal title in

our province is standing up for British Columbia. That’s an extremely….

Interjections.

Scott McInnis : The fact that we did not get a two-second answer of no should be extremely concerning

to the entire province and the nation.

We’ve established two very important points here. One, we’re not sure if there’s a

claim of Aboriginal title by a U.S. group in our province. Two, the minister does

not mind disclosing information about U.S. tribes in B.C. courts.

[10:55 a.m.]

So I have another question to the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation.

How many cases have U.S. Indigenous groups filed in B.C. courts which have amended

or given notice to amend based on the Gitxaała DRIPA chaos? Just a number.

Hon. Niki Sharma : We’ve canvassed this issue many times. We talked about a decision…

Interjections.

The Speaker : Shhh. Members.

Hon. Niki Sharma : …that came out that actually started in 2010, much before our time in government,

where a member of a U.S. tribe came forward and started a claim that went all the

way up to the Supreme Court of Canada in 2021. That established the basis for some

U.S. tribes to be able to claim that they have Aboriginal title and rights.

We have been very clear that every time that happens, we stand up for B.C. First Nations

in our arguments in court and with legislative change.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Shhh. Members. Members, please.

Hon. Niki Sharma : We brought forward legislation, in fact, to change one of our processes to make sure

it was clear that we stand up for B.C. First Nations and B.C. projects through our

work. They oppose that legislation. They’ve opposed the changes that we’ve made to

make it clear, in our legal system and in our courts, that we stand up for B.C. First

Nations and will continue to do that work.

DRIPA Legal Issues and

Energy Purchase Agreements with

First Nations Power Producers

Brennan Day : I think we may have a different definition of “clear.”

Another court case is in front of the courts now, due to this government’s inaction

on DRIPA. The Líl̓wat First Nation owns the Rockford hydro project near Whistler and are unhappy with the

terms brought by this government. They claimed B.C. Hydro failed to consult and are

now taking this government to court again.

Using DRIPA, the Líl̓wat are demanding a whopping 48 percent increase in their power generation payment because

they are First Nation–owned. DRIPA is consistently being used as a weapon in courts

in this province when talks break down with this government.

To the Minister of Indigenous Relations, because we now have to guess, is this one of the 20 court cases amended due to the

Gitxaała decision?

Hon. Adrian Dix : As members of the House will know, we value our relationships with independent power

producers, and we continue to work with them to address issues of contract renewal.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Shhh.

Hon. Adrian Dix : We also have a responsibility, which we take seriously in B.C., to ensure that rates

are affordable for families and for businesses. It’s why rates have gone down against

the rate of inflation under the NDP’s time in office, and went up 54 percent in the

previous government’s time in office, against the rate of inflation.

This case, as you know, is before the courts. And the government, as the member well

knows, can’t comment further on it.

Larry Neufeld : If B.C. Hydro loses this case, all 119 independent power projects are at risk of higher

costs if the supplier has Aboriginal ownership, which will fuel already existing economic

uncertainty in the province.

To the Premier: will you ensure that B.C. Hydro customers…

The Speaker : Through the Chair, Member.

Larry Neufeld : …will not be forced to pay extra because of this government’s failures?

Hon. Adrian Dix : As I noted, one of the ways that we can ensure that B.C. Hydro customers pay less

is to continue to elect NDP governments that believe in clean energy projects.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Shhh. Members. Shhh. Members.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members, minister has the floor.

Hon. Adrian Dix : The record is clear — and the member knows this — that B.C. Hydro rates went up 54

percent above the rate of inflation in the period of the previous government, and

they’ve gone down against the rate of inflation under this government.

That is our focus, our laser focus, I think, on ensuring that B.C. Hydro customers

are supported. I encourage the member to come over at the lunch-hour and see the actions

we’re taking, with respect to the Power Smart program, to continue to support B.C.

Hydro customers.

[11:00 a.m.]

As noted in the previous answer, this case is before the courts. It’s a tradition

in this House that the government doesn’t comment on such cases before the courts,

so we won’t be responding in this instance.

Economic Development Projects

and Government Handling of

DRIPA Concerns and Legal Issues

Peter Milobar : Here’s a 20-day snapshot from this Premier. “There is a significant concern among

the public following a couple of major court decisions, and I have to say I share

that concern.” That was on April 4. “I want to thank the Attorney General for tapping

me on the shoulder and creating space for conversations that have to happen with First

Nations Leadership Council.” April 21. “There are hundreds of laws in British Columbia

that have a direct bearing on Indigenous people in this province.” April 24. All of

these were stated by the Premier in concerns to DRIPA and the impacts it will have

on court rulings moving forward.

Does the Premier still have those concerns that DRIPA will be impacting this touted

$88 billion worth of projects, yes or no?

Hon. Niki Sharma : We have stated our concerns with the Gitxaała decision. It’s my understanding that the Supreme Court of Canada has a panel that is receiving

our leave to appeal application right now. I hope to hear very shortly whether or

not we have obtained leave to appeal at the Supreme Court of Canada in order to make

the law clear with respect to our concerns of the Gitxaała decision.

We are hard at work, finding a durable solution to that challenge that we’re facing,

and our way is different than the members on the other side. We’re solving problems

by bringing people together and trying to find a pathway together. Their solutions

are: don’t talk, repeal. Don’t find a pathway by speaking to people. This is not going

to work. It will just end up in more court actions on that side.

We’re going to continue to work through with our partners across the province to find

a solution, and I’m hopeful about the Supreme Court of Canada.

The Speaker : Member, supplemental.

Peter Milobar : Wow, hopeful. That’s great. That sure brings investor confidence from the Attorney

General, actually.

So here’s the problem. We have the province that keeps touting $88 billion, while

protesting and not wanting to support a pipeline from Alberta at the same time.

Now, I think, based on the $88 billion of fantasy, we found the people who think the

Canucks are going to win the Stanley Cup at the beginning of every season, because

we had the Parkland that was touted by this government. Fortescue, NorthRiver Midstream

in Taylor, and Mixt Energy, Mitsubishi, TC Energy green liquid hydrogen and Kanata

clean blue hydrogen — all touted by this government as the next great investment opportunities

that were coming soon to a town near you in British Columbia. All of them have been

scrubbed over the last few years under this government’s watch.

Kind of hard to believe the $88 billion is going to materialize with the backdrop

of DRIPA, and it’s this government that has been pointing out that there are actually

20 court cases they’re concerned about, not just the one going to the Supreme Court

— 20. And in the meantime, while they hope the Supreme Court might rule in their favour,

they know the action they could take, which would be to actually repeal DRIPA to bring

legal certainty.

Why will this Premier refuse to acknowledge that his proposed three-year pause of

DRIPA is essentially a three-year repeal, get on with what he actually does know needs

to happen and protect British Columbia, and protect investment, protect private property,

and actually repeal DRIPA instead of all this game-playing.

Interjection.

The Speaker : Shhh.

Hon. David Eby : You know, we started this question period with the Leader of the Opposition standing

up and advocating for the Premier of Alberta. And now we finish…

Interjections.

The Speaker : Shhh. Members.

Members, calm down.

Hon. David Eby : …with the aspirant leader running down B.C.’s economy again. You have to avert your

eyes.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members.

Abbotsford South.

Shhh. Members.

Member for Abbotsford South, this is your last warning. The Premier has the floor.

Hon. David Eby : The members on the other side have to cover their eyes and their ears to avoid hearing

the positive major project news coming out of British Columbia.

You know, since we launched….

Interjections.

Hon. David Eby : They don’t want to hear it.

The Speaker : Members.

Leader of the Official Opposition, show some courtesy, please.

Premier.

[11:05 a.m.]

Hon. David Eby : Since we launched the Look West strategy, there hasn’t been one or two or three or

four, but there have been five major new mines or mine expansions that have reached

final investment decision to be permitted, worth $4 billion. We have doubled the number

of major projects in this province, worth $88 billion.

In fact, the biggest of them all…

Interjections.

The Speaker : Shhh.

Hon. David Eby : …committed additional hundreds of millions of dollars to complete their work to reach

final investment decision before the end of this year — LNG Canada phase 2, the largest

private sector investment in Canadian history. Where were the members of the opposition

when that good news was being delivered?

Interjections.

The Speaker : Members. Members, calm down.

Hon. David Eby : Listen to how unhappy they are about this news.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Member for Skeena.

Hon. David Eby : It’s the member’s own constituents that will be benefiting from that. The member’s

mayor comes to me.

Interjection.

[The Speaker rose.]

The Speaker : Shhh, Member.

Member for Skeena, that’s enough.

No, Member. No argument with the Chair.

Interjection.

The Speaker : The member is asked to leave the chamber now, please.

[The Speaker resumed their seat.]

The Speaker : Shhh. The Premier will conclude.

Hon. David Eby : The member who just left…. Her mayor from Terrace visits me all the time.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Member. Members.

Premier, please conclude.

Hon. David Eby : His big concern is that the economic growth is too significant for his community to

bear. These are the challenges that we’re facing in the northwest that the member

and her leader are complaining about. Thirty-five major projects, $88 billion plus

more — we’re delivering. They won’t. We’re advocating for B.C. They don’t.

[End of question period.]

Reports from Committees

Private Bills and Private

Members’ Bills Committee

Amna Shah : I have the honour to present the report of the Select Standing Committee on Private

Bills and Private Members’ Bills on Bill M217, intituled Dashboard Cameras in Commercial

Vehicles Act. The committee reports the bill complete with amendment.

The Speaker : The committee’s report on Bill M217, Dashboard Cameras in Commercial Vehicles Act, will be considered at report stage during private members’ time.

Question of Privilege

Bruce Banman : I stand on a point of privilege, personal privilege.

During the statements, the Premier said that the member for Abbotsford South was elected during Christy Clark’s era. I would like to give the Premier an opportunity

to correct himself and retract his remarks. I was elected in 2020. She was long gone

by then.

Hon. David Eby : It was Andrew Wilkinson, Leader of the B.C. Liberals. I stand corrected and withdraw.

Orders of the Day

Motions Without Notice

Deferral of Division on

Amendment to Bill 9

Hon. Mike Farnworth : I move that, pursuant to Standing Order 16.4, division call in Committee of the Whole

on Bill 9, intituled Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act,

2026, to an amendment standing in the name of the Minister of Citizens’ Services on

the order paper be deferred until the start of orders of the day of the next sitting.

The Speaker : Members, you heard the question.

Division has been called.

[11:10 a.m.-11:15 a.m.]

The Speaker : Members, the question is that pursuant to Standing Order 16(4), a division called

in Committee of the Whole on Bill 9, intituled Freedom Of Information and Protection

of Privacy Amendment Act, 2026, to an amendment standing in the name of the Minister of Citizens’ Services on the order paper be deferred until the start of orders of the day of the next sitting.

All those in favour, please rise or indicate.

Motion approved on the following division:

YEAS — 48

Lore

Blatherwick

Dhir

Routledge

Chant

Toporowski

B. Anderson

Neill

Osborne

Brar

Krieger

Davidson

Parmar

Sunner

Beare

Greene

Wickens

Kang

Begg

Arora

Higginson

Sandhu

Lajeunesse

Choi

Rotchford

Elmore

Phillip

Popham

Dix

Sharma

Farnworth

Eby

Bailey

Kahlon

Chandra Herbert

Whiteside

Boyle

Yung

Malcolmson

Gibson

Glumac

Shah

G. Anderson

Chow

Morissette

Boultbee

Sturko

NAYS — 42

Loewen

Kindy

Milobar

Warbus

Halford

Wat

Kooner

Banman

Hartwell

L. Neufeld

Van Popta

Dew

Clare

K. Neufeld

Rustad

Wilson

Valeriote

Botterell

McInnis

Paton

Day

Bhangu

Toor

Hepner

Giddens

Dhaliwal

McCall

Maahs

Block

Stamer

Gasper

Mok

Davis

Chan

Armstrong

Kealy

Williams

Chapman

Bird

Doerkson

Luck

Tepper

Hon. Mike Farnworth : In this chamber, I call Committee of Supply for the estimates of the Ministry of Public

Safety and Solicitor General.

In

Section A, the Douglas Fir Room, I call estimates of the Ministry of Jobs and Economic

Growth.

In

Section C, the Birch Room, I call Committee of Supply, estimates of the Ministry

of Transportation and Transit.

[11:25 a.m.]

Debra Toporowski / Qwulti’stunaat : I seek leave to make an introduction.

Leave granted.

Introductions by Members

Debra Toporowski / Qwulti’stunaat : I rise to introduce a group of students from Grade 9, Quamichan School, led by Jesse

Whittington, in my riding of Cowichan Valley. They’re just exiting now, but they were just here to witness a live vote.

Welcome and enjoy your time here.

The House in Committee,

Section B.

The committee met at 11:27 a.m.

[Mable Elmore in the chair.]

Committee of Supply

Estimates: Ministry of

Public Safety and Solicitor General

(continued)

On Vote 42: ministry operations, $1,085,591,000 (continued) .

Bryan Tepper : I think we finished up last session, about a week and a half ago…. We were talking

about the resources and what we’re doing with the active deportation orders and the

overstays. So I will just ask…. From what I gather there, I think I probably know

the answer already.

How much money or how many resources are we putting into allocating and apprehending

the people with active deportation orders in this province? I could probably speed

it up. From what I gather, it was zero.

[11:30 a.m.]

Hon. Nina Krieger : Thank you to the member opposite for the question. Matters of immigration enforcement

are within federal jurisdiction and involve Canada Border Services Agency, just to

redirect the member’s question to our federal counterparts.

What I will say is that the Canada Border Services Agency has been an integral part of the B.C. extortion task force and has been collaborating with police to a degree that we’ve never seen before in

this province — and, indeed, in Canada — on matters related to extortion.

It was reported as of May 14 that the CBSA Pacific region has now opened 116 investigations into individuals linked to extortion activity,

issued 52 removal orders and removed 35 individuals from Canada. That work and those

results speak to the really important collaboration that local and provincial law

enforcement is doing with Canada Border Services Agency on extortion, a matter of

great priority for our ministry.

Bryan Tepper : Thank you for the answer.

The minister is asking the people of Surrey to live under the threat of firebombs, shootings, extortions. Intelligence is telling us that many of the people here are

here illegally who are taking

part in this. They have active warrants. Yet the minister

can’t tell us how many of these people are in B.C. or what we’re doing to find them.

So if I translate that last answer, it was…. Zero is my assumption, since we’re talking

just about CBSA. For the province to put in any effort into further protection of

these extortion people…. The province does supply RCMP officers to the policing of this province, and none have been reallocated to finding these people on extortion warrants.

My question is: how much does the federal government currently pay for RCMP officers

in the province?

[11:35 a.m.]

Hon. Nina Krieger : Thank you to the member. If I understand your question correctly, again this is a

question that is a matter for federal estimates, not provincial estimates.

In my previous answer, I did highlight the active partnership between the province

and CBSA on the extortion files, resulting in a number of investigations and removals.

Since the outset of my work with the ministry, we have been collaborating, really,

in a very deep way with our federal colleagues on this. This is an appropriate collaboration,

given that the extortion crisis we’re seeing, not only here in B.C., is something

that is affecting communities across the country as well. We see extortion in Ontario,

in Alberta and more recently in Manitoba.

B.C., our work with the provincial extortion task force, really tried something that’s

now being looked at by other provinces in terms of engaging Canada Border Services

Agency very directly in the multi-jurisdictional investigative work.

That advocacy of federal engagement has been something that we’ve put a great deal

of emphasis on in the ministry. It’s been reflected in my meetings with the Public

Safety Canada Minister, with the president of Canada Border Services Agency and the

commitment that we’ve seen from the federal government to contribute federal resources

to the fight against extortion here in B.C.

Bryan Tepper : Sorry to the minister and the Chair because, clearly, I wasn’t clear on what I was

looking for in the answer. I’m asking for the portion under the provincial police

service agreement.

What is the percentage covered by the federal government of our policing? Municipal

forces that contract, they get a percentage covered by the federal government of the

cost of the RCMP, the provincial government as well. I’m curious as to those numbers.

What is the percentage covered by the federal government for the RCMP services in

British Columbia? Not to do with extortion at this point.

[11:40 a.m.]

Hon. Nina Krieger : Thank you to the member opposite for clarifying the question.

For the provincial police service, there is a cost share, with 70 percent covered

by the province and 30 percent by the federal government. For municipal RCMP policing,

for populations under 15,000, the same cost-share metric applies. For populations

over 15,000, the breakdown is 90 percent municipality and 10 percent federal.

If the member would like more granular details, please let us know and we could get

back to him after.

Bryan Tepper : Thank you for that. So if I gather that answer correctly, the federal government

is paying 30 percent for our provincial police. We’re talking about active deportation

federal orders. Why are we not having our RCMP officers, that are responsible for

federal policing and federal jurisdiction 30 percent of their time, involved in dealing

with these active deportation orders to keep the people of this province safe?

Hon. Jessie Sunner : I seek leave to make an introduction.

Leave granted.

The Chair : Proceed.

Introductions by Members

Hon. Jessie Sunner : I see that students from the Blessed Sacrament School, from the Minister of Finance’s

riding, have made their way into the Legislature. I just want to welcome you. We are

currently in the process of estimates, where the Minister of Public Safety and her

critics are having an exchange back and forth about the budget for the ministry. I

hope you enjoy your time here in the Legislature as well as around Victoria today.

If the House will please join me in making them feel very welcome.

[11:45 a.m.]

Hon. Brenda Bailey : I wonder if I may indulge upon the House for permission to do an introduction.

Leave granted.

The Chair : Please proceed.

Hon. Brenda Bailey : It’s a great honour that I have students here visiting from the riding of Vancouver–South Granville.

I know that my colleague did an introduction because I wasn’t in the House, but I

raced back in so that I could introduce you myself. First, I want to welcome your

teacher, Reine Mykyte, and the students of Blessed Sacrament School. This is a Roman

Catholic French immersion school serving students between K and 7. I’m not a native

French speaker, but I’m going to give it a shot. Please forgive my errors.

Bienvenue à tous les étudiants d’École St-Sacrement .

Thank you very much for being here.

Debate Continued

Hon. Nina Krieger : The cost share that we’re discussing right now of 70-30 represents a formula used

for contract policing across the country.

The matter that the member is referring to in terms of the enforcement of federal

deportation orders is a matter that falls under federal immigration jurisdictions,

with Canada Border Services Agency being the lead enforcement agency in that work.

That is why, when we stood up the B.C. extortion task force, given the national and

transnational dimensions of those crimes, we felt it was so important to engage CBSA

from the outset. The figures I’ve recently shared about the investigations and removals

from CBSA from the Pacific region really speaks to the importance of that strong partnership

in keeping our communities here in B.C. safe.

Bryan Tepper : Yes, thank you for the answer.

I will say, when I was policing, I actually did engage in the important work that

CBSA does in removal of overstays and deportation warrants. Having worked border integrity,

I know that RCMP will engage with that and take

part in operations to deal with those

issues. I am hoping that in the future they can be engaged further to help deal with

a very important topic to my community.

My next question will be, actually…. I think I’ve provided some of the questions before.

Hopefully we have the answers that weren’t available already. But around the helicopters….

The minister has spoken about supplying an extra helicopter to the Lower Mainland

around the extortion crisis. Has that actually been done?

[11:50 a.m.]

Hon. Nina Krieger : Thank you for the question. The answer is yes. Helicopter resources are being made

available and are being used by Surrey in the fight against extortion.

Bryan Tepper : How much air time did the RCMP air services provide last year? Maybe, if you have

it, the monthly average. Then, as well, can we just add in the air time they have

spent so far this year, if we have a monthly average on that?

Hon. Nina Krieger : In 2025, Surrey accounted for 171 Air One calls, and, in 2024, accounted for 251 calls,

making it the highest-use jurisdiction both years. I do not have a monthly average,

but we would be happy to take that question on notice.

Bryan Tepper : I would just like to confirm if we have hours in the air and also, for this year,

if we have the statistics for the first few months.

Hon. Nina Krieger : I’ll take that under advisement.

Bryan Tepper : I believe that we’re talking about the second helicopter. How many operational helicopters

do we have in the Lower Mainland with air services?

[11:55 a.m.]

Hon. Nina Krieger : I think we can return to this question right after the lunch break.

The Chair: Member for Surrey-Panorama, we can continue.

Bryan Tepper : I’m more than happy to say that we can adjourn and continue after lunch. I thought

the minister had to do this.

Hon. Nina Krieger : I move that the committee rise, report progress and ask leave to sit again.

Motion approved.

The Chair : Committee stands adjourned.

The committee rose at 11:56 a.m.

The House resumed at 11:57 a.m.

[The Speaker in the chair.]

Mable Elmore: Committee of Supply,

Section B, reports progress of the estimates of the Ministry

of Public Safety and Solicitor General and asks leave to sit again.

Leave granted.

Susie Chant : Committee of Supply,

Section A, reports progress on the estimates of the Ministry

of Jobs and Economic Growth and asks leave to sit again.

Leave granted.

Sunita Dhir : Committee of Supply,

Section C, reports progress on the estimates of the Ministry

of Transportation and Transit and asks leave to sit again.

Leave granted.

Hon. Ravi Parmar moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

The Speaker : This House stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m. today.

The House adjourned at 11:57 a.m.