1983 Legislative Session: 1st Session, 33rd Parliament

Hansard

The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.

The printed version remains the official version.

Official Report of

DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

( Hansard )

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 1983

Morning Sitting

[ Page

121 ]

CONTENTS

Routine Proceedings

Throne speech debate

Mr. Segarty –– 121

Mr. Blencoe –– 124

Hon. Mrs. McCarthy –– 128

The House met at 10:04 a.m.

Mr. Speaker tabled the Legislative Library activity report for 1982.

MR. PELTON: Mr. Speaker, in the visitors' gallery this

morning is a very good supporter of mine from the district of Mission,

Mrs. Anne Timmerman. With Mrs. Timmerman is her sister, Mrs. Matilda

Hanan, who is visiting from Victoria, Australia. I would appreciate it

if the House would welcome these two people.

HON. MR. HEWITT: As former Minister of Agriculture and Food

in this province, I'd like also to welcome Mrs. Timmerman and her

sister. Anne Timmerman has been one of the stalwarts of the agriculture

industry in this province, and as a former minister I'd just like to

bid her welcome.

Orders of the Day

SPEECH FROM THE THRONE

(continued debate)

MR. SEGARTY: Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to take my

place in this Legislature once again, and to respond to the very

positive speech presented by His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor of the

province of British Columbia. Allow me first to congratulate all of the

members re-elected to this assembly after the provincial general

election on May 5. Also allow me to congratulate all of those members

who take their place in this House for the first time. They bring with

them a fresh, new approach and an opportunity for renewal and change in

this parliament. I would also like to extend my congratulations to all

of the unsuccessful candidates who sought election during the May 5

provincial election. They have made an outstanding contribution to the

democratic process in the province of British Columbia.

Allow me to also congratulate you on your election as Speaker, and

to the member for Prince George South (Mr. Strachan) I also extend my

congratulations. It's comforting to note, Mr. Speaker, that the House

is in such capable hands.

I also want to extend my sincere congratulations to the member for

Central Fraser Valley (Hon. Mr. Ritchie) on his appointment to the

executive council. I know that he will work hard, with enthusiasm, to

carry out the responsibilities of his office. I know that he will seek

the cooperation of all governments in the province of British Columbia

as we lead this province through some difficult and challenging times.

[Mr. Strachan in the chair.]

I also want to thank my campaign manager, Mr. Maurice McNair, and

all of those people who worked on my campaign. Whether they were

telephoning, whether they were clerical staff scrutineering, putting up

signs, fund raising or making coffee or sandwiches, Mr. Speaker, all of

those workers played an important

part in my re-election. And so did

Harry Mathias.

I am grateful, Mr. Speaker, to the British Columbia Social Credit Party and

our Premier for providing us with such an eloquent platform on which to run

on May 5. Without our Premier's inspiring leadership, none of the 35 members

elected to our caucus would be sitting in this chamber today. It was a platform

that we could run with enthusiasm and heartfelt conviction. Pledges made so

eloquently during that election campaign were made to be kept. They were pledges

that were originally made by the British Columbia Social Credit governments

going back to the 1960s to provide British Columbians with the world's finest

health care system. This is and will remain our party's number one top priority.

It is a pledge, Mr. Speaker, to ensure continuing decent and affordable services

to our senior citizens — a dignity and security that they have earned in our

society. It is a pledge to continue the high standard of education developed

through initiatives of the first Social Credit Party government elected over

31 years ago. In 1980, at a time of accelerated technological change, this pledge

remains a high priority of our government — a pledge to reduce the size and

the cost of government and to get the very best value for the $7.5 billion of

the people's money; a pledge to improve our industrial relations system

so that we may foster a greater competitiveness; and a pledge to encourage confidence

in the private sector by eliminating regulatory roadblocks and to provide a

stable investment climate so that business, large and small, may create permanent

jobs for British Columbia workers and security for their families.

Mr. Speaker, I accept this with wholehearted conviction, without

reservation and with only one obligation, and that is to devote every

effort of mind, body and spirit to assist our Premier and the

government of British Columbia to keep this province on the road toward

economic recovery.

We knew, Mr. Speaker, when the Premier called the election on April

7 that it wouldn't be an easy task running against a party which had

come down on every known side of the issue. In the constituency of

Kootenay the NDP nominee was against the development of new coal mines

in the Elk Valley and he was in favour of establishing a bureaucratic

marketing board to control their production. On the other hand, the NDP

nominee for South Peace River, Patrick Michiel, was congratulating the

Minister of Industry and Small Business Development (Hon. Mr. Phillips)

for his foresight in spearheading the development of northeast coal,

and was in favour of unlimited, unchecked expansion of the resource,

and would urge a new NDP government to exploit its unlimited potential.

And then we had the NDP member for Prince Rupert (Mr. Lea), who is

sitting in this chamber, say that there was no better time to develop

the infrastructure for northeast coal than the present.

We knew it wouldn't be easy running against a party who would form a

coalition of dissent and make private deals with that coalition in

order to gain political popularity at the polls. We knew it wouldn't be

easy running against a leader who would talk about Woodrow Wilson's New

Deal and Eleanor Roosevelt's Fair Deal of a half a century ago. The

people of British Columbia said that the Leader of the Opposition and

the New Democratic Party might want to talk about the New Deal and the

Fair Deal, but they also said that before the New Democratic Party

deal, somebody better cut the cards. On a tour through the Kootenays,

midway through the campaign, the Leader of the Opposition, gambling

with the taxpayers' money, threw in his hand with a coalition of

dissent and vowed to dismantle the very successful compensation

stabilization program that was established by our government. I'll tell

you, that provided the Premier of British Columbia and our party with a

royal flush on May 5.

[ Page 122 ]

We are here this morning, the first day after our weekend

celebration of Canada Day. We are here after a safe, solid and secure

night's sleep. I'm willing to bet that not one of us would exchange

places with any other people in any other country or any other part of

the world. As I celebrated the weekend with my family and friends and

constituents, I asked myself the question that I bet many other British

Columbians and Canadians had in mind: is there anywhere else on this

planet we would rather live? The answer, of course, was a resounding

no; there is nowhere else in this world that I would rather live than

right here in British Columbia. This doesn't mean that we don't have

our problems. There are many out of work today — too many — and there

are still families that feel the pinch from the worldwide recession,

and we still cite some examples of waste and mismanagement, but let us

also remember our blessings. We in Canada live in freedom, while

two-thirds of the world live the victims of cruel repression and are

racked by pangs of hunger, poverty, disease and so on, with no hope;

for those people will never witness anything different than that same

hunger, poverty and disease.

So we quickly come to the sober realization that tough times in our

country and tough times in our province mean doing without some of the

things that my mother and father, our mothers and dads, never really

dreamed of having. In the recent election campaign the people of

British Columbia acknowledged that what we have today is not ours by

divine right. Many men and women, some of them long gone, have made

British Columbia what it is today. In these days of demands by one

interest group or another, it is important to know that each of us, and

each generation, has an obligation to continue the spirit of those

pioneers and keep British Columbia the best place on earth in which to

live. I believe that the times require imagination, courage and

perseverance, leadership — not salesmanship — and the only valid test

of leadership is our ability to lead, and to lead vigorously.

[10:15]

In every comer of British Columbia you will see the leadership of

our government at work. In every comer of our province the government

has joined hands with industry and working people to build a strong and

prosperous economic base. It's a base on which we can build communities

in which each one of us can fulfil our aspirations through our combined

efforts. In the southeast and northeast of British Columbia massive

coal development projects are turning untapped resource potential into

a new era of growth and tremendous opportunity for our people. The

southeast and northeast coalfields will provide permanent jobs for

thousands of British Columbians to apply their energy and talents, and

to grow with our province. The new townsites of Elkford, Sparwood and

Tumbler Ridge will eventually be home for thousands of British

Columbians, providing schools for their children, services for their

needs, facilities for their enjoyment and opportunities for their

families to grow and work together.

The government of British Columbia has joined hands with the

In the northwest comer of British Columbia, the $290-million Ridley

Island port development will handle millions of dollars of exports each

year, linking the rich farmland of Canada's western provinces with the

forest, petro-chemical and resource sector of British Columbia's

northern regions and the vital markets of the Pacific Rim. To handle

the growing production pouring through from southeastern British

Columbia, the $47-million Roberts Bank port facility that will double

southeast coal capacity by the end of the decade is nearing completion.

But unless our rail network can deliver the products of our industries

to our coastal ports, our efforts will be useless. Potash, lumber, pulp

and coal can no longer subsidize grain exports from our prairie

provinces to the Soviet Union. While grain-growers are paying only

$5.25 per tonne for the transportation of grain under the archaic

Crowsnest Pass agreement, other users are paying their full share of

$22.50 per tonne, and are frustrated by the inadequate facilities. I

would have expected all of those Members of Parliament from British

Columbia to stand up in support of the only federal government

initiative to do something worthwhile for British Columbia. I am indeed

offended, too, that the Member of Parliament for Kootenay

East–Revelstoke would have the gall to present a petition in the House

of Commons on behalf of some prairie farmers, and ignore the real needs

and concerns of his constituents. Working people in British Columbia

should remember that when the next federal election comes around, and

turf out that Member of Parliament for not standing up in support of

the job security of the thousands of British Columbian workers in the

forest, pulp and resource sectors of our province.

The losses to our railroad resulting from the transportation of

grain under the archaic Crowsnest Pass agreement over this four-year

period are expected to be $2.4 billion of Canadian taxpayers' money to

subsidize grain exports to the Soviet Union. Shame! At a time when the

people of British Columbia and Canada need jobs the most, that money

should be spent on providing jobs for British Columbia workers through

the development of automated traffic control systems, special rolling

stock, and extensive double-tracking of our railway. All users of our

railway system must share in the immense task of expanding our western

railway capacity in order to meet the heavy demands of a growing

western economy.

I look forward to receiving the full support of every member in this

assembly so that together we can present a united front to the

freight subsidy. I particularly look forward to full support and

participation b the members for Nelson-Creston (Mr. Nicolson) and

Rossland-Trail (Mr. D'Arcy), because clearly the people of southeastern

British Columbia have the most to benefit from such a move. I know that

I have the commitment of 35 of my colleagues, including the member for

Columbia River (Hon. Mr. Chabot) and the member for Shuswap-Revelstoke

(Mr. Michael), who earlier in the throne speech debate gave his full

support to the government of British Columbia's move to modernize our

initiative. He knows how important it is to the people of

Shuswap-Revelstoke, for it will mean thousands and thousands of jobs

for construction workers in his community, hundreds of jobs in the

community of Golden and hundreds of jobs in the coal-mining region of

south-eastern British Columbia.

British Columbia has encouraged secondary industry under the travel

industry development subsidiary agreement. Under the capable leadership

of that great Minister of Industry and Small Business Development (Hon.

Mr. Phillips) we have spent $38 million to provide hundreds of

[ Page

123 ]

jobs, in many cases for those who are young and inexperienced and for those

who have relatively few skills to rely upon. Our Social Credit government has

initiatives to keep thousands of British Columbians working in 1982 on several

projects important to the growth of our province.

This government has been working on the greatest hospital

construction program in the history of our province. It has been

working to build B.C. Place, the largest urban renewal project anywhere

in North America; to build the automated light rapid transit system for

Greater Vancouver; to build super port facilities in Prince Rupert,

Nanaimo and Roberts Bank; to build the new townsites of Elkford,

Sparwood and Tumbler Ridge; to facilitate the largest resource

development anywhere in this country. It has been working to build rail

lines into northwestern British Columbia, to modernize our western

railway system and modernize the Crowsnest Pass railway rate system. It

has been working to build schools in Sparwood, Elkford and Fernie, and

community colleges in every region of our province. It has been working

to build that great $1.8 billion Revelstoke Dam that will be the engine

of our economy in the future, and to build the Cheekye-Dunsmuir line

that will bring hydroelectric power to Vancouver Island and create

economic development. It has been working to develop Lonsdale Quay on

the North Vancouver waterfront, working on the $200 million highway and

ferry construction project, and upgrading facilities, including highway

access to the southeast coal project and the upgrading of Highway 3,

plus numerous other projects throughout the province.

It has been working on a variety of tourist and recreation

facilities, including that very exciting Expo 86. It has been working

through the Ministry of Industry and Small Business Development

programs to increase British Columbia's manufacturing potential. In

fact, in fiscal year 1982-83 direct capital spending by the government

of British Columbia totalled over one billion dollars. This translates

into 7,000 continuous construction jobs, which in turn will lead to as

many as 3,800 full-time jobs over the next few years. A capital

spending program of this scale has enormous spin-off benefits which

create employment in many areas of our economy. During actual

construction some 20,000 jobs will have been created in this manner;

the post-construction period could see as many as 5,000 full-time jobs

in a variety of professional areas.

After a provincial election I would have expected the New Democratic Party

to put their petty politics and peevish bickering aside, get its act together

and come into this House prepared to present to the government of British Columbia

positive alternatives to put our people to work during these difficult times.

Instead, they go on with their negative criticism of our government's handling

of the economy, its role leading up to the election and during the election

campaign. The people of British Columbia expect more from us than that kind

of whining attack. I think the people of British Columbia expect more from us

in these times. The times are too grave, the challenges are too urgent and the

stakes are too high for the customary passion of political debate. As Winston

Churchill said on taking office many years ago: "If we open with a quarrel

between the past and the present, we will be in danger of losing the future."

Our concern today must be with the future, for the world is changing. A revolution

of automation is replacing the jobs of our workers in the mines and mills of

our country. Some of those workers have five years' experience in the workplace

and some have never been out of work a day in their lives. Today they are being

replaced through technological change. Governments at all levels, working with

industry and with working people, must commit themselves to the retraining and

education of those people in order to provide them with the skills necessary

to become full participants in economic recovery. That is the goal of our government.

While technological change will replace the jobs of one third of our

workers by the end of this decade, we note too that there are some 20

million jobs available in the western world in the development,

maintenance and manufacture of high technology equipment. We in British

Columbia are fortunate indeed to have a minister such as the first

member for Vancouver–Point Grey (Hon. Mr. McGeer), a scientist who can

go abroad and communicate with his colleagues in the science profession

on a one-to-one basis. I know we will be able to see some of those high

technology job opportunities come to British Columbia and Canada as a

result of his efforts and those of the Minister of Industry and Small

Business Development. In fact, that has already started. I know there

will be many announcements in the months and years to come.

As I said earlier, I had expected the New Democratic Party to come

forward with some positive suggestions, but basically their speeches

are all generalities and carping criticism of our government. Their

pledge is to the status quo, but today there can be no status quo. We

stand here today in this assembly with a land that stretches 4,000

miles behind. The pioneers of old gave up their safety, their comfort

and sometimes their lives to build a new world here in British

Columbia. They were not the captives of their own doubts. They were not

the prisoners of their own price-tags. Their motto was not every man

for himself, but all for a common cause. They were determined to make

British Columbia strong and free, to overcome its hazards and its

hardships, to deal with the enemies that threatened from within and

without. Today, some would say that all the struggles are over, all the

problems have been solved, all the horizons have been explored, and

there is no longer a Canadian frontier. But I know that not one in this

assembly will agree with those sentiments, for the battles are not all

won, the problems are not all solved. The harsh fact of the matter is

that we stand at the turning point in our history where we must prove

all over again whether our country can survive. Whether a country

governed such as Canada, with its breadth of opportunity, its range of

alternatives and its freedom of choice can survive: that is the real

question.

I believe that the answer lies in cooperation. There have been some

outstanding examples of cooperation in British Columbia in the past few

years. In the constituency of Kootenay, for example, the Office and

Technical Employees' Union, working with B.C. Coal, gave up wage

increases to save the jobs of their brothers and sisters –– 27 jobs.

They are to be congratulated for their courage, because they received a

lot of criticism from the Canadian Federation of Labour and the British

Columbia Federation of Labour. The United Steelworkers of America, in

cooperation with Fording Coal, reduced their work week by one day in

order to prevent the layoffs of hundreds of their brothers and sisters,

and they too are to be congratulated for their courage. The medical

profession, the doctors particularly, gave back to the provincial

treasury many millions of dollars in order that the government could

continue to provide the best health care service to the people of

British Columbia, unequalled anywhere else in the world. They too are

to be congratulated. We must not

[ Page 124 ]

forget either the thousands of employees who work

with the small business community in our province who gave up wage

increases and days off in order to save their employers from

bankruptcy. They too are to be congratulated for their courage and

effort.

[10:30]

Another example of cooperation was that shown by the B.C. Government

Employees' Union when they reached a collective agreement with the

government within restraint guidelines. They too are to be

congratulated for their efforts to help our government through these

difficult times. They have demonstrated their confidence in the future

of British Columbia by accepting job creation bonds as part of that

settlement. That package is unequalled anywhere else in our country.

We know, too, that the 377 miners who are out of work in Sparwood

are out of work because of the socialist attitude of the president of

the United Mine Workers of America, whose NDP philosophy would not

allow him to give a vote to the general membership on a very generous

work-sharing program put forward by B.C. Coal. If they had, those 377

people would be working today. I say that's a shame: when they have an

opportunity to go out and create and save jobs, they choose to

sacrifice them for wage increases.

The only way that we can come through our difficult times is with a

full spirit of cooperation in all people of our country and British

Columbia. That is the only way. Our industrial leaders must be able to

go abroad and negotiate new contracts with the knowledge that they are

able to remain competitive in the marketplace. Collective agreements

with wage offers of $10, $12, $17 an hour are no good on paper if you

don't have food on the family table. The only way we're going to be

able to get ourselves out of the difficult times that we're in is that

the full trust and cooperation must be formed and developed among all

participants in order to enhance economic recovery in our province. I

know that that is a commitment of our government, and the Minister of

Labour (Hon. Mr. McClelland) is committed to those objectives.

There are many who wish to hear more promises to this group and

that, more promises of a golden future where taxes are always high and

subsidies are always low. But our promises to the people of British

Columbia are in the pledges that we have adopted in our election

campaign, and our ends will not be won by rhetoric. We can only have

faith in the future if we have faith in ourselves. As I said earlier,

the harsh fact of the matter is that we stand at the turning point in

our history. Have we got the courage? Have we got the will? Can we

carry through to witness new breakthroughs in a race to master the

skies and the rain, the oceans and the tides, the far sides of space

and the insides of man's mind? Are we up to the task? Are we equal to

the challenge? That is the real question. That is the choice that we

must make. It's a choice between public interest and private comfort;

between national greatness and national decline.

At our convention in 1982 our Premier and leader of our party talked

about the new frontiers of our province and country, and the member for

Surrey, during the debate on the throne speech, also talked about the

new frontiers. I know they weren't talking just about the geography of

our country; they were talking about the spirit, dedication and drive

of the people of British Columbia, the spirit that has made our

province great, the kind of spirit that can make our province great

again. I urge all hon. members to support this very fine speech

presented by His Honour, the Lieutenant-Governor.

MR. BLENCOE: It is a great honour for me to rise today to

give my first speech in these hallowed chambers, to address my

colleagues for the first time as we move, I think, into some difficult

times; but hopefully we can all try to work together for the good of

this province. Mr. Deputy Speaker, I would like to present to you the

traditional congratulations on your election. Perhaps you would pass on

to your colleague, the Speaker, my congratulations for being re-elected

to that position. I'd also like to offer my congratulations to all the

members who were elected to this House, many returning after long years

of service; I congratulate them. I particularly congratulate the new

members, of which I am one.

I hope, as I said just a few minutes ago, that we will all try to

make some moves to get on, to work together. There are some serious

problems facing this province, and I hope the government, in its

wisdom, will listen to the opposition. I would remind this government

that 9 out of 20 British Columbians did vote for the New Democratic

Party. They did say that some of the policies, principles and ideals we

uphold are important, that what we have to say is meaningful, and that

the people of British Columbia believe that what we have to say should

be listened to.

I would like to thank the Victoria people for overwhelming support

at the polls. We increased our support in this community, and I think

much of that support has to go to the now first member for Victoria

(Mr. Hanson) for his years of service in this community, and of course

to my predecessor, Charles Barber. Charles Barber served this community

and province for eight years, and he served in a fashion that had

become well-known. It became recognized that he spoke clearly and

deliberately on issues that concerned British Columbians, and I think

all members in this House owe him a tribute and thanks for his years of

service. Perhaps he did the smart thing and moved on to some lesser

toils, deciding to play the piano and do music for a living. I hope you

all join with me in wishing him well in his new endeavours.

I would like to pass on one or two feelings about being in the

Legislature for the first time with my colleagues. I've only been here

a week and I must admit I have heard some very entertaining rhetoric,

particularly from the other side of the House. I also have heard some

very disturbing reports and ideas, and certainly some disturbing

thoughts, in that throne speech we had the other week. Although I've

only been in politics for close to six years, serving in the city of

Victoria, I thought I knew a little about the political system and the

ways of politicians. I had the impression that politics was a place —

in the political chambers — where people with diverging opinions could

meet for the common good; that maybe we have irreversible ideologies

and philosophies, but indeed perhaps all have the concept of the common

good and that the development of British Columbia is the first goal of

all of us.

Mr. Speaker, I thought that in a political chamber like this we

would be able to meet together with some flexibility and that perhaps

those members across the House would listen. I have already, I must

admit, in the first few weeks been disturbed by their attitude and

their apparent inability to listen to the New Democratic Party and what

it stands for. I think that is a shame, and I hope those members will

listen in the future to some of the ideal solutions and concepts that,

I think, come from this side of the House.

Mr. Speaker, I said I have been concerned about the direction of

this new government. I have the distinct feeling that they feel they

have a total, 100 percent mandate from the people of British Columbia.

I would remind those members

[ Page

125 ]

that they only received 10 votes out of 20 in the election. Yet there seems

to be a feeling from this government that they should resurrect the old concept

of the divine right of kings. There seems to be an idea, particularly on the

part of some members, that there should be little or no accountability for their

actions. We have already seen that in the first few weeks with the Tozer episode:

a most inappropriate abuse of the public service. We have for years tried to

remove the special privilege, the appointment of relatives and friends to high

government office. There has been a continued effort to try to make the system

fair and just, to base appointments on merit, not on position or kinship with

particular members of the government. I, along with my colleagues,

denounce the appointment of Mr. Tozer. In this community, with many dedicated

and loyal public servants, it has created much concern. I would hope that the

government and the Premier, intending to make all government agents subject

to political appointments, will seriously consider their actions. We should

enhance the merit system in the public service.

Mr. Speaker, I talk about the concept of the divine right of kings

and the feeling from this government that they are not accountable and

that anybody who speaks against them is some sort of traitor to their

side; we saw that in the recent comments about the Spetifore situation

— one member deciding that if a democratically elected body does not

make the decision which that government wants to see happen, it should

be reversed in some fashion by higher government. That totally goes

against the principles of democratically elected bodies at the

municipal level and must be condemned.

Mr. Speaker, I detect that there is a feeling of paranoia in the

government ranks such that if somebody speaks out against them or

opposes something they wish to do, the democratic system has to be

shoved aside. That is most unfortunate, and I would hope this

government would show to British Columbians in their first weeks in

this term of office that they have quickly learned lessons that British

Columbians are extremely upset with their arrogance and their blatant

contempt for the democratic principles that we all should uphold in

this chamber.

Mr. Speaker, I think the worst example in the last few weeks of this government

came from the member for Columbia River (Hon. Mr. Chabot). My colleague for

Coquitlam-Moody (Mr. Rose) was quoting from the bishops' statement on ethical

reflections on the economic situation in this country. Quite rightly, he was

saying that the bishops had something to say in this country. They were making

people think about what was happening and saying we should indeed be looking

at the economic structures that continue to make more people unemployed, continue

to create more poverty and continue to create more problems in our juvenile

system and in our legal system. Yet that member in a blatant, vicious attack

on those bishops called Bishop Remi de Roo a pinko. I say that member should

apologize not only to the bishop, but he also should apologize to the Catholic

community and all people who feel that bishops and the church have a right to

speak up on economic issues. It was a scurrilous attack. I can assure you that

when I attended the cathedral last Sunday there were deep concerns and animosity

and anger from that community about what that minister had said about their

bishop. I believe that minister should immediately apologize to the Catholic

church and all those people who feel strongly about it. Mr. Speaker, it would

appear that some members still are not taking seriously what those bishops were

saying in that document. I would suggest that all members of that government

read that document closely, because I think they have a lot to say about some

of the things we have accepted as the norm in this country and in this province.

[10:45]

I want to quickly mention a little bit about the Victoria riding. As

I said earlier, Victoria in its wisdom elected two New Democrats to

this chamber. I think there are some reasons why Victorians decided to

once again elect two New Democrats. Victoria and its residents are the

closest to government. They are the closest to this chamber and they

are closest to the cabinet ministers who sit opposite. They are closest

to the policies of this government, and, overwhelmingly, close to 60

percent of this riding supported the New Democratic Party, its

policies, its philosophies and its ideals. I believe these people who

are closest to the government know what kind of government they are.

They know the shenanigans that happened in their last term of office.

They know the squandering of money. They saw it. They saw the public

servants laid off for projects that will have dubious results for this

province — I refer to deals like B.C. Coal, which is going to be

another Columbia River fiasco. We are going to be paying millions and

millions of dollars in the future, all in the name of Socreds trying to

create jobs as quickly as possible, but creating incredible debt for

all British Columbians.

Victorians in this riding know what this government is all about;

they have seen and heard this restraint policy. Yet we have witnessed

in the last few weeks that restraint is just sheer hypocrisy from this

government. I refer to the exploits of the Premier with Mr. Tozer and

the appointment of Mr. Mike Bailey — a 50 percent increase in salary.

Yet the member for Vancouver South says: "Our salvation will be the

resilience of the people of British Columbia." Mr. Speaker, whose

resilience? Tightening the belts while this government continues to

give more high-paying jobs to their friends and relatives. This

community was outraged at those particular appointments.

As a member of the opposition, I would like to let the government

know that if they pursue many of the particular aspects that they have

outlined in their throne speech, I and my colleagues will spend much

time opposing those particular aspects. We will not stand by and see

governments destroy critical services for the elderly, for working

people, for youth and for the unemployed.

Restraint has become political opportunism for this government. At

the same time they continue and will continue to cut programs that help

the most needy in this province. I will continue to speak out against

that, not only for my riding but for the people of British Columbia.

I go back to it again: I as a member of this House, along with my

colleagues, will also oppose any continued moves by this government to

violate some basic principles of the democratic system and of the

public service system that have been abused very badly in the last few

weeks. I want to reflect very quickly on those kinds of appointments,

and what it means to some of our young people. I had the opportunity

during the last few weeks to speak to some young people on the steps of

the Legislature. They read the newspapers, too. They are going through

school being told to strive, study hard, get the right grades, and go

to the university, and based on the merit system, they too, hopefully,

will get some employment. Yet they are finding that the old adage,

"It's who you know, not what you know," is very appropriate.

[ Page 126 ]

This government certainly proved that and is proving to be a bad

example to the young people of this province. I suggest that this

government take very seriously that they are, and should be, an example

to the young people of this province in terms of how they hand out

appointments and give people jobs. It's very, very important, and I can

tell you, Mr. Speaker, that those young people indeed wondered what was

going on.

In this riding there are some critical issues mentioned in the

throne speech that we are concerned may be tampered with. This riding

is blessed with many retired, elderly and senior citizens who have

worked hard and given to this country, this province and this community

over the years; who have worked diligently and given of their time and

their money to programs that they fully expect will be continued. Yet

we hear now that there are certain fundamental critical services which

will be cut into. There will be, for instance — or it is being

considered, or we hear that there may be — user fees in the medical

system, that medicare will be tampered with. I say that in this riding

that will have a major impact, and there will be deep, deep concern if

this government tampers with that particular essential service.

Medicare — it may be a trite and hackneyed statement, but I use it — is

a right, it's not a privilege; all Canadians accept and endorse

medicare and the medical services program we have established in this

province. Tamper with it at your peril, because if there is one party

in this province and this country that has worked and has been

responsible for ensuring that programs like the medical system are

enhanced and will grow, it is this party, and we will fight extremely

hard to protect those services. We will fight hard.

Likewise we hear that Pharmacare may go. Very quickly, here is a

warning to this government: Pharmacare is essential, particularly in

this riding. Hundreds of dollars would have to be spent by seniors on

drugs that maintain their lifestyle. Many of them have worked hard in

this country and this province; why should they be cut off things that

ensure that their lifestyle will be healthy in their old age? Any moves

on Pharmacare will be thoroughly denounced by this side of the House,

Mr. Speaker.

I want to talk a little bit about tenants. This riding has a high

proportion of tenants, many of them, again, on fixed incomes. This

government has already cancelled the tax credits. It has once again

proven that when it talks about wanting to help those in need, it is

hollow rhetoric it is sounding. I would say first that if they believe

in what they are saying in terms of helping those in need, they would

once and for all reintroduce the tax credits for the people of British

Columbia in need. I suppose they won't do that, but it should be

reintroduced.

This government has virtually made rent control nonexistent, and now

we fear that the office of the rentalsman will be curtailed. The office

of the rentalsman is a very important component in providing simple

justice the tenants can afford. It provides security from rent-gouging

and unreasonable eviction. Landlords, indeed, in many respects support

the office of the rentalsman. It is an arbitrator, and if you do away

with it, you will create chaos in the tenant-landlord situation. I

would urge this government to consider seriously their position on the

office of the rentalsman. It has, particularly in this Victoria area,

proven to be a boon to many senior citizens and to people on fixed

incomes who fight constantly to hold on to their slim incomes. If it

goes, I know we will see rent-gouging such as we have never seen

before, and those who can least afford it will be put into a position

of lesser income. I urge them to reconsider their position on that.

I want to talk a little about unemployment in this region and in

this city. Victoria is now experiencing an unemployment rate of 15.2

percent, or 18,000 people; 2,000 more between April and May.

Unemployment is particularly high among young people. The impact of

unemployment on families and on young people is horrendous. I would

like to share with this House some of the things that are happening to

families and to young people when certain programs and services are cut

back. Crisis lines report an alarming increase in the number of suicide

calls, especially from unemployed youths. Suicide has become a major

cause of death of men between age 15 and 24. Admissions to mental

health facilities in the province, which were 2,576 in 1971, grew to

8,542 in 1982.

I would urge the government to seriously look at its programs and

its priorities as they relate to families and children. You are

creating horrendous problems. If you only listened to your people in

the field, to your social workers and probation officers, they would

report to you that they can no longer handle the situation. There is a

crisis with families and with children.

I got hold of a report over the weekend, which I would urge members

of the government to read. It's from the Commission on Services for

Children and Youth. It makes interesting reading, as an indictment of

this government and its policies. I will quote very quickly from some

of the statements, because I think they should be heard. "Juveniles

themselves are increasingly pessimistic about the future. Some feel

they are unlikely to ever be employed and don't believe they'll live

past 25. Depression is widespread and in some cases self-destructive

tendencies are becoming more evident." It goes on to say that in

British Columbia "...social causes of death of children and youth now

exceed biological causes by more than two to one." That's a heavy

indictment of this government and its policies.

I would in all seriousness say that it's not a partisan issue; it's

a matter of ensuring that our children are given a future and the

assurance that their parents will be employed, and that services will

be maintained if they are not employed. I would urge the government,

because of the various things this report is stating....

Let me quickly quote some of the things they are saying. The

headlines read: "The difficulty of obtaining services of any kind in

the case of a child at risk. The problems of providing adequate

services to neglected or abused children and their families. The

inadequacy of mental health services for the 'disturbed' child and

adolescent. The dearth of resources for children or adolescents

requiring residential care for assessment or treatment. The abuse by

the system itself of the abused child." There are cases in here where

children who are being abused cannot get help. Social workers are

closing cases because they cannot get funds from legal aid to take

whoever to court to protect those children. It is a serious indictment

of this government.

[11:00]

I would urge the government to very quickly establish.... God forbid

that we establish a task force, but we desperately need one — with a

mandate to bring back within three months some serious recommendations

to ensure that children, families and the future of this province are

protected. I don't care who they are or what party they represent;

[ Page 127 ]

children and families are beyond partisan policies

and issues. I would urge this government to read the report and take

fast and appropriate action.

I would like to quote the bishops, as did my colleague from

Coquitlam-Moody, and leave this unemployment situation. I think it is

appropriate that we all should heed the words of the bishops, who said:

"In developing strategies for economic recovery we firmly

believe that the first priority must be given to the real victims of the current

recession, namely the unemployed, the welfare poor, the working poor, pensioners,

native peoples, women, young people, small farmers, fishermen, some factory

workers and some small business men and women. This option calls for economic

policies which realize that the needs of the poor have priority over the wants

of the rich; that the rights of workers are more important than the maximization

of profits...."

I think — if we heed those words, and this government should

seriously look at them — people are more important than building bank

accounts or building profits. There are people in this province who are

suffering, and this government should take fast action on their behalf.

I'd like to quickly talk about some of the specific unemployment

problems in this area — relating to programs like the EBAP program,

which this government has pulled out of. The EBAP program is providing

many jobs to this community. I am particularly aware of one particular

project that is going on out in Sooke, in the Muir Creek area, which is

providing employment for 70 people. The Minister of Human Resources

(Hon. Mrs. McCarthy) said over the weekend that all is well, that there

is no problem, that the federal government will bail out this

provincial government. I would like to report to this House, Mr.

Speaker, that the EBAP program is in trouble because of the provincial

government pull-out. There will be less money, less incentive for

people to go out into those forestry programs. I tell this government

that if they are serious about unemployment they will back such

programs, because the province benefits immensely. They give people who

are unemployed an incentive to go out and learn new skills. The

community benefits, and in the future we will be able to harvest,

particularly in the forest area, the results of those particular

programs. This government has pulled out of those programs, and because

of the dropping of the provincial contribution many of those programs

will probably die on the vine. I think it's quite ironic that this

particular government, which has tried to say that Ottawa never does

anything for this province — and heaven forbid that we give anything to

the Liberals.... But isn't it ironic that it is Ottawa that has taken

up the initiative to bail out this government with this particular

program. I think it's a sad reflection on this government that that

should happen.

There is a deep concern in this community that the throne speech

means much for our public service in this area — that there will be

more unemployment in the public service, that there will be more

transfer of jobs. The first member for Victoria (Mr. Hanson) and I have

called the throne speech an agenda of despair for this region. If this

government goes through with its threats, it will indeed be an agenda

of despair. Many of those public servants work in essential areas that

we feel are important and should be maintained, and we would urge the

government to seriously consider the impact of their restraint programs

on the very people they say they represent most — and I'm talking about

the small business community in Victoria. There is a delicate balance

in small business in Victoria. Economic recovery is not on its way in

this area. Many small businesses are in trouble, and I can tell you

that if you go ahead with many of your cutbacks in the public service,

the impact on our small business community in Victoria will be

horrendous. The downtown core, which is one of the heritage focuses of

this province, will be hurt in terms of tourism. You will see a further

decay of that area, which will not do this province or this capital

city any good. I would urge the government to seriously consider those

small business people and the impact on the local economy.

We have urged government to try and take positive initiatives in

terms of job creation. I will refer to one specific area. We have an

Oaklands fish plant in this area that is sitting idle. A few months ago

the government had a report drawn up. It is now viable, according to

the government. I would urge this government to immediately take up the

recommendations of that report and be a catalyst in the reopening of

that particular fish plant. Victoria has incredible wealth based on its

maritime industries. We have a tireless, hard-working fishing industry

that is waiting for that fish plant to open. It could be an incredible

boon to try to make an impact on one of the highest unemployment rates

in the country –– 15.2 percent, Mr. Speaker. I would urge the

government that it does have a role in helping to create jobs, that it

can be a catalyst, and that to leave everything to the private sector

is not always the answer.

This government has also said it's going to cut back on the economic

development commission for Victoria — in my estimation, a ludicrous and

crazy move, given the highlights of the unemployment picture. I hope

this government will reconsider their position. That commission has

worked hard and diligently for this community, and will in the future,

I'm sure, in its own quiet way, continue to bring people and industry

and new businesses to this region. I urge the government to not cut

back that economic development commission. It's extremely important,

and it can bring new jobs and new businesses to this area.

I would like — very quickly — to talk a little bit about the

Municipal Affairs portfolio. I'm running out of time, Mr. Speaker, and

I will do my utmost to keep to time on my first speech. I've spent a

number of years in the municipal area, and I would like to say that it

is a level of government that should be enhanced, that it should be

protected. I understand the new minister is talking about greater

autonomy. Of course, we have some members of the government who are

talking about removing some of that autonomy. I'm sure those members

will get their act together and figure out which way they are going to

go with municipalities.

A quick word about the tax system and the problems of financial

management of municipalities. I would urge this government to seriously

consider what's happening with the local real estate tax system. It has

become extremely unfair. It is archaic and extremely detrimental to

those who can least afford to pay it. It is based on the unearned

wealth syndrome. In the downtown Victoria area, for example, we have

witnessed flipping of a property, bringing $162 per square foot, and

the ripple effect of that on the business community they supposedly

support is horrendous. Because of that kind of speculation and because

of the tax structure based on those assessments, incredible tax loads

are being passed on to many of those small businesses on the triple-net

system. I would urge the government to take a serious look at that

municipal tax system and not just tinker with it. When we

[ Page 128 ]

were in government the McMath report was written —

an excellent document — and I think many of those recommendations

should be endorsed.

MR. MOWAT: No way.

MR. BLENCOE: No way, says the second member for

Vancouver–Little Mountain. Well, Mr. Speaker, he will, I believe.... I

will get to some of his speeches about municipalities in a minute. He

believes that senior citizens should continue to pay high taxes because

land developers speculate and flip property. Senior citizens want to

live in their houses. I say to that member that they should get hold of

that system and make it fair, make it based on the ability to pay, not

the land development business.

I have a few words for that member from the Little Mountain area.

This side of the House believes in autonomy of local municipalities,

and in that regard I think we were all horrified to hear the words of

that new member for Vancouver–Little Mountain, who says: "I don't like

what they're saying." "Rip away their charter," he says. "Take away

their rights as a democratic government." Mr. Speaker, I hope that's

not government policy. I hope that member is alone in his ideas and

that his rhetoric about independent elected governments.... That

Vancouver city council should be able to say they don't like what that

member of the House is saying, that they will take away his chair in

this chamber.... That's how ludicrous his statements are. If he wishes

to bring in consultation rather than confrontation, I would suggest

that he let the electoral process proceed. That council was elected. It

believes in consulting with local people on particular planning issues.

Just because that member feels those planning debates don't necessarily

go his way, he feels that municipality's charter should be taken away.

I hope his colleagues will give him a serious rebuke for his comments,

Mr. Speaker.

MR. HOWARD: Maybe they agree with him.

MR. BLENCOE: Maybe they agree with him? Well, you just might be right.

Mr. Speaker, one of the closing things I'd like to refer to is this

current impression and perception that that side of the House has all

the angles on fiscal responsibility. This government that we currently

have in British Columbia has raised the debt in this province way

beyond the expectations of any British Columbian. We have high debt,

and yet we have incredible cutbacks inessential services. I would

suggest that they should really analyze and plan for long-term fiscal

management. Why don't they, for instance, table a four-year budget,

table a fiscal plan that will bring this province out of deep

recession, and show us how they are going to pay back those incredible

debts they have loaded on British Columbians and our young people for

the future.

Mr. Speaker, they have got us into deals — and I mentioned this

before — like B.C. coal, which they say will resolve the economic

problems and the unemployment problems of this province. The

professional analysts say that the debt that is going to come from that

particular project will go beyond our wildest expectations. When we

left government, there was a total of $4 billion in debt after 104

years. By March 1983, according to the figures that this government

releases, we had a $12.5 billion debt, an increase of 183 percent since

we left office. I'm getting my sign to close off, and I would like to

conclude by thanking particular groups in this riding, who have, over

the years, given me support and encouragement, and from whom I have

learned much. They are, I would add, a lot of non-partisan groups, like

the New Horizons, the Silver Threads and numerous community

associations, who have given me lots of advice and help, and I'm sure

they will continue as my time proceeds in this House.

[11:15]

I would like to say in closing that I look with interest and

keenness to the years ahead, and I hope that at times we can — and that

this government will allow us to — consider the common good, consider

that there are some basic objectives and principles that we should all

endorse, that we will work together to ensure that British Columbia and

its people are looked after properly, and that indeed we will see a new

and wealthy British Columbia.

HON. MRS. McCARTHY: I would like the House to recognize a

past member of the Vancouver city council who is in the ladies'

gallery. One of Vancouver's dedicated citizens, Mrs. Helen Boyce, is

visiting us today.

Mr. Speaker, I am really pleased to take my place in this debate on

the throne speech, and I would like to add my congratulations to you

and to our Deputy Speaker (Mr. Strachan) for the positions of trust and

responsibility which you have both undertaken on behalf of this House.

I would also like to add my congratulations to all of the new

members in the House, and, in fact, all of the members in the House.

We, particularly in our Vancouver–Little Mountain constituency, have

had the honour of adding to our ranks a dedicated member of our

community, a man who received the Order of Canada in May of this year

and who has served both the handicapped and non-handicapped communities

over very many years. Although I will miss our colleague in this House,

the Hon. Evan Wolfe, who served this House so well, I want especially

to welcome our new member for Vancouver–Little Mountain (Mr. Mowat).

Also missing from our House, through retirement, are a couple of

other people of whom I would like to make special mention. Because we

served a long time with George Mussallem of Dewdney, and with Bill

Vander Zalm of Surrey, I want publicly to record my best wishes and

thanks to them for the public service which they have given

unstintingly to this province, in a dedicated and forthright way for

the people of British Columbia.

During the last few days in the debate in the throne speech we have

covered a lot of territory, and that is the capability of the throne

speech, I'm going to respond to a particular area of interest, and also

refer a little to my own Ministry of Human Resources. We have not gone

through a very good year in this nation, or, in fact, throughout the

world, and the throne speech certainly pays tribute to the economic

difficulties experienced throughout the world. British Columbia

probably escaped the beginning of that recession more than any other

province in Canada, but we felt the full force of it last year, in

fact, so much so that in our Ministry of Human Resources more people

have come on to the welfare rolls than in any other time — certainly in

my time in government and in the years preceding my time in government

— and it has been a very difficult time for very many people in this

province. I pay tribute to that fact today because one of the things

that we are seeing — and in some of the things that I'll refer to later

in my address — is the fact that, thankfully, we

[ Page 129 ]

are coming out of that very difficult time, fragile as the economy is.

A little over a year ago I was asked to chair a Cabinet Committee on

Employment Development. I want to pay tribute to those seven cabinet

members who serve on that committee. I want to refer to the goals of

the cabinet committee. It was established essentially as a court of

record. It really couldn't deliver programs, nor was it intended to. It

was to, if possible, facilitate and harmonize manpower planning,

training programs, job creation initiatives, and federal provincial

negotiations. It afforded a central policy overview of the many

employment and human resource development programs operating in this

province with a view to coordinating their respective objectives. Our

mandate was one which would place all of the initiatives — whether they

were public programs such as road-building or public-sector building or

whether it was to go into the private sector and initiate and ask for

assistance.... It was twofold. It was very successful in many ways.

I want to relate a couple of the programs which really did give a

very great record of achievement in this past year, because as I see

the economic climate in the next few months, I see this committee

phasing down and out, and I see the program for economic development

going back to its natural areas of responsibility. Some of the things

it did were very imaginative indeed. I really want to point to a couple

in particular. My colleague the Minister of Lands, Parks and Housing

(Hon. Mr. Brummet) recognized the need for cutting through all of the

problems that homeowners were having over high mortgage rates. All of

us were concerned with the fact that program after program in this

nation was being put together to highly subsidize one portion of the

homeowner — only one part. We could not pay everybody's mortgage, and

therefore, in other jurisdictions, they took a selected group of people

and enhanced their mortgage payments. We did it differently in this

province, but we did it effectively. We did it very effectively,

because we brought together the private sector, the mortgage lenders,

the banks, the financial institutions and all of the people who build

housing and go into the housing sector and into the market to build,

and we said to them: "What is needed? What can we do to initiate

housing? What can we do to help these people who are burdened with high

interest rates?" The most imaginative and the best and the

fairest-to-the-taxpayer mortgage program was put forward last year, and

that was through the initiation of the committee work.

In addition, I'd like to say that the committee also did an

incredibly good job of putting together and assisting to get off the

ground a program initiated by the Pacific Vocational Institute, but

aided in a very great part by our committee: that is, the TRAC program,

which is an outstanding educational program. I tell you, Mr. Speaker:

that is an outstanding educational initiative; it is breaking new

ground in this province. More importantly, it's breaking new ground in

this country, a country that has to look to all new initiatives for

training our young people. That program has been exciting. It brings

young people into a place where they don't have to waste months and

months of their time; they don't have to wonder where they're going. I

predict that the TRAC program will not only be initiated throughout

this province in every college and taken up by all areas of

private-sector training, but will also spread across this nation and

across North America as one of the leaders in the field.

I named PVI, and I want to say that in the month of May I had the

privilege, along with the member for Burnaby-Willingdon (Mr. Veitch) —

he has now returned to the House; we're very pleased to see him here,

our party Whip — and our Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum

Resources (Hon. Mr. Rogers), and we opened the most modern welding

school in this nation. I want to emphasize that, because that's just

one of many, many positive things that are happening in this province.

It's very interesting that those are the kinds of things that never get

said in the public forum. I just want our members on the socialist side

of the House, as well as the government side, to feel proud and pleased

that their tax dollars are going to building the province and knowing

what is happening in the province.

Besides some of the initiatives that were taken, we're very pleased

with the cooperation we've had with the Canadian government in terms of

the NEED program, EBAP, the community development program, which have

done some good things in this past year where the need was the

greatest. The opportunities we have been able to afford some people in

their time of need, have been great indeed.

In addition, a summer youth program was continued by this committee,

and we had some very good winter economic stimulation programs. We've

initiated rural gasification programs which provide jobs. Just in

diking and flood control, agricultural and public works initiatives,

these would not have been done had it not been for the economic state

of the province. Those things going through our committee brought jobs

to our people, so I'm very proud. I'm proud of the home program, the

LIFT program, all the programs that have flowed from and through the

committee, and of the kind of cooperation we've had from both the

private and government sectors. It has been a very good experiment, and

it's worked well. The cooperation we've had is the kind that will lead

this province out of our problems.

I want to say a word or two about the ministry. Not only was the

question of employment on our minds all through last year, but also the

plight of those who had to resort to income assistance. I think it's

exceptionally important to talk about those things. We hear so much

negativism; it seems as though we hear nothing but the bad news all the

time. Even in the bad economic climate of last year, thousands of

people went through our individual opportunity plan. As we are in this

House today, some 7,000 people in this province will be taking the

Individual Opportunity Plan, working their way out of income

assistance, out of welfare, to job security and independence. In

September, October and November of last year, when things were the most

difficult in British Columbia, some 30,000 people left the welfare

rolls to become independent.

[11:30]

This throne speech indicates the mandate that has been given to this

government. We don't take that mandate lightly. We take it with a great

deal of awe and a sense of responsibility to British Columbia. Out

there is a silent majority of people who spoke clearly in this last

election. They spoke clearly and loudly that they do not want welfare

as a permanent way of life for people at any time. They want

opportunity. They don't want welfare as a way of life; they want

opportunity, and responsibility. They're tired of the handouts and

they're tired of looking to government for every single thing to solve

the problem. In the last few minutes the newest member for Victoria

(Mr. Blencoe) quoted some report on youth being pessimistic about the

future. The responsibility

[ Page 130 ]

to put optimism in youth is not to be found in any

government program. It is not to be found in the pronouncements from

socialists who would pay people to counsel, to hold hands, who would

pay people all over the province dollars for this or that program.

That's the only kind of job creation the socialists know about. I think

that the silent majority has told us and told us well, and I just don't

think the socialists of this country have the message yet. The

widespread ineffectiveness of the family is very definitely at the root

of all of our problems; it is not the ineffectiveness of the dollars

provided. I'm going to tell you, Mr. Speaker, that this Social Credit

government, since I've been Minister of Human Resources, has never had

so much money. Any government in this province has never had so much

money to assist the families, the children, and those so-called

troubled teenagers. There's never been any more money spent than this

Social Credit government has spent.

The second member for Victoria can talk about the great record of

the socialists during 1972 to 1975. They did not have the programs that

this government has provided or the kinds of programs to assist the

families. I'm going to tell you, Mr. Speaker, that if the Finance

minister or the Premier of this province were able to give me in this

Ministry of Human Resources the total British Columbia budget tomorrow,

I could not solve the problems of all of those troubled youngsters or

solve the problem of child abuse. I cannot save a child from suicide, a

family from splitting up or a single parent from poverty. It has to

come from a new sense of collective responsibility in this nation and

in this province. All the money in the world isn't going to be able to

do it.

Now I'm going to say that with all of the concern we all have — and

there are problems there — we have some tools to assist. But we are

stretcher-bearers after the accident; we are not the ones who cause the

accident. We talk about child abuse. There isn't any province in this

nation, any state in the U.S.A. or a jurisdiction in North America that

attacks child abuse as effectively as we do in this province.

We have too much protection for some people. Within recent hours we

have had a report in the paper which I'm very concerned about, about

someone in a place of responsibility and authority who has been a

child-abuser within his area of responsibility for a governmental

agency. I am very concerned about that.

I believe we should be able to know where people come from. If

someone comes from Ontario and becomes a foster parent or a child-care

worker — or comes from another part of the nation or the world — we

should be able to know what their past record is just in case those

children who come into their care in one way or another are at risk.

They have been far too much protected, just as the youngsters on Davie

Street are not protected from those who would prey on them on Davie

Street — and probably on the streets of Victoria — through the

prostitution of young people that goes on in this province and in this

nation. It is a sad commentary on our society that we have been far

more protective of those who would abuse than those who are abused in

every way.

I want to speak about a line in the throne speech which talks about

the enforcement of maintenance orders. If the word "abused" can be used

in any clear sense at all, it is surely about that group of people who

have had their lives interrupted by an upset in their marriage. Somehow

or other the persons who are left — the mother and the children — don't

seem to have the kind of protection that the spouse has, don't seem to

have the same kind of ability to go on with their lives. They have

children with them; they have debts with them. They go to court for a

maintenance order, and they find that a very minimal amount of money is

given to them.

Let me tell you that the highest percentage of awards by the court

in this province.... They have resulted in $100 a month being given to

a mother with two, three or four children in 1983, 1982, 1981 and 1980,

while the spouse is somewhere in another part of British Columbia,

another part of Canada or another part of the world. Some are doctors;

some are working for government at very high wages. Some are not making

very much money, but they are making enough money that they are able to

raise another family when they couldn't look after the first. There is

something very unfair about a society that would allow that kind of

thing to happen. What government has taken over is the responsibility

of providing for deserted wives and children who never planned to be in

that place in the first place. But that we as a people should condone,

finance or make more simple the breakup of marriages I have never been

able to understand. The new amendment that came in last year, with the

cooperation of the Ministry of Attorney-General, strengthens our

proposed maintenance system. Now we are embarking on our program, where

we are going to be able to do the kinds of skip-tracing to make sure

that those husbands who default soon after an enforcement order by the

court will be made accountable for at least that which they are

supposed to give.

I think it is high time that we in this province give some relief to

taxpayers, who are finding a very difficult time keeping their house

and home together, without having to take on the additional burden of

financing someone else's problems through additional welfare payments

to single parents who are brought to poverty's door through the actions

of their deserting spouses. I'm delighted about this program. In 1976

there were 50,000 single parents in British Columbia, which is the

latest figure we have in terms of how many households were headed by

women; 97 percent of those women have all kinds of capabilities to

become independent, but after going through the harassment and problems

they've encountered in going back to court to vary the order, with no

services to assist them, being defeated by the harangue and harassment

of a broken marriage anyway, we not only have the problems of a

deserted mother, we also have the problems of a very emotionally

disturbed group of children, on whom we also spend dollars. Perhaps if

we had that kind of situation cleared up we'd have more dollars to

spend on the meaningful kinds of problems. I'm hoping this program will

get all of the support of the legal profession, all of the support of

those who sit in court, all of the support of all the people, both men

and women. I have not yet met anyone who will admit to me that they

think it's a good idea "but not for me, thank you." I know there are

some men who think they wouldn't want to have to face up to those

responsibilities, but they have yet to admit that publicly or

personally to me. I think I should be able to have the support of all

those groups in the province of British Columbia. Let me tell you

clearly that it is not a financial measure for this government; it is a

moral measure, because it is right.

I want to thank those people in my ministry. There was a lot of

discussion prior to and during the election campaign, when we heard

about all the hospital cutbacks. We haven't heard of one hospital

cutback since May 5. That was when we heard about all the cutbacks in

all the educational services, Mr. Speaker. We haven't heard of one

crisis since May 5. It ended May 5. The crisis ended right there; you

could almost

[ Page 131 ]

give the time. I'd say approximately 9:30 p.m. on May 5 the crisis was over.

But you know, Mr. Speaker, in spite of the fact that there was lots

of heat and a lot of rhetoric generated about cutbacks and so on, I

want to say publicly to all of the people in my ministry that I am very

proud of how they handled that last year. They did it well. All of the

rhetoric that went on about how there were going to be long line-ups

and there were going to be a lot of people hurt, and all of this did

not happen. It was a very well-organized ministry, and I give credit to

my deputy and to all of those who work on the front line and who do a

very good job for our ministry.

Let me just say that one of the things that I have a great deal of

pride in undertaking for the government since our last election is to

take on the responsibility for transit in our province. I am really

pleased to have the rapid transit, the bus service and so on put under

my responsibility. I have found it one of the most interesting

responsibilities I have ever had to take on. It's really exciting. Am I

ever glad that the Premier of our province didn't even listen a minute

to the member. He's not here any longer, but you will recall the member

for Burnaby-Willingdon — your opponent in the last election — held a

press conference in Vancouver–Little Mountain, Mr. Speaker, right at

the bus maintenance station at the corner of 41st and Cambie, and

brought all the press together with some NDP candidates at 8:00 a.m., I

might add, and they announced very clearly that they would "dump

transit; dump rapid transit." That's what they were going to do. So I

am delighted to have the responsibility.

[11:45]

HON. MR. BENNETT: And then they were going to have streetcars.

HON. MRS. McCARTHY: And I think they were thinking of bicycles as well.

The capability of transit and how well our bus services do is

probably one of the best-kept secrets in the province. In our most

densely populated areas, Vancouver and the lower mainland, it is really

exciting to know how many thousands of people are transported daily.

But what a great opportunity many people are missing! The challenge now

is to reach the many thousands who have never been on a bus. There is a

whole generation of young people who have never been on a bus. I see a

challenge to educate the people of our province to take rapid transit

and the various transit systems; we have overcrowded our highways, we

are overcrowding our whole environment, and the way to go in the lower

mainland, the most densely populated area in the province, is

unquestionably going to be in the public transportation field. People

have a love affair with the automobile, but we have an opportunity to

educate them, to tell them what a bargain it is. In the City of

Vancouver in the early 1920s, the B.C. Electric charged 5¢ per passenger, but the average wage in those days was 19¢ an hour. Today we charge 75¢ and the average wage is nowhere near 19¢ an hour. It is a bargain.

Let me now pay tribute to those people in the lower mainland and all over the

province. In the last three or four years a remarkable system has been put together

in the province — again, one of the best-kept secrets of this administration.

There are bus services in Kelowna, Prince George and Kamloops — they're

all over the province. That was all put in while our people in this House and

throughout the province were very silent about it. Sophisticated bus service

— not just the lower mainland, Vancouver, Victoria, but throughout the province.

Then we have a custom service for the handicapped that is second to none in

the nation. That's an accomplishment which we should be very proud of in

this province, and I pay tribute to all of those who preceded me: the Hon. Bill

Vander Zalm; Jack Davis, who has had a very great part; and all those who worked

on the committee to bring that about. The first member for Surrey (Mrs. Johnston),

who is currently the chairman of the MTOC board, and the second member for Surrey

(Mr. Reid) — both members have served on that board — have contributed so much

to making those decisions and bringing about such a sophisticated one.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

The other day we opened the Spirit of B.C., the new ALRT. I'm going

to tell you that 1,700 people will be employed at the height of

construction — directly employed in primary jobs. The guideways,

columns, and all of the components of the track are 50 to 75 percent

designed. The right-of-way is totally designed. The demonstration

project — one kilometre — is already in place. The first part of the

system is on budget, on time, and by October of this year the entire

track should be under construction between Vancouver and New

Westminster. By next spring, 1984, everything, including the stations,

will be underway. What an accomplishment in such a short time!

One of the great bargains of the century was the Dunsmuir tunnel.

Work is already begun. Renovation from conventional rail to transit use

will house two massive underground stations at Burrard and Granville

Streets, serving downtown businesses and shopping locations. It will

carry 100,000 passengers a day — think of it! — growing to a capacity,

if needed, of 200,000 passengers a day by 1990. In the east station,

which is serving the east end of the tunnel, it will serve British

Columbia Place. It will serve our beautiful new stadium. It will serve

our great Expo 86. All of it will translate into housing, businesses,

new economic development for the lower mainland. That's very exciting.

Do you realize, Mr. Speaker, that in the development at Metrotown

station in Burnaby, for example, and at the Main and Terminal area we

already have a hotel, retail mall and offices being built. The

development in Metrotown Station in Burnaby will see a redevelopment

all around the Sears and Kelly Douglas stores. A report by an outside

consultant, Garth Edge International Inc., predicts 11,000 new housing

units to be constructed near the 15 stations just in the next ten

years. Do you know how many jobs and opportunities that is? In

Vancouver it's a potential 5,000 units housing 11,200 people; in New

Westminster a potential 600 units housing 1,100 people; in Burnaby

5,000 units housing 6,200 people — a catalyst for the future, Mr.

Speaker, and opportunities for today in housing and development. It's a

most exciting thing — a sleeping giant of the lower mainland. People

today don't understand how much good the transit system will do.

Let me just say that when that transit system gets going, carrying

people, with cars every one and three-quarter minutes, and a delay of

up to five minutes depending on the time of day — with a capacity to

move 30,000 per hour, starting with 10,000 per hour — it will be one of

the most modern and exciting systems. I predict that within the next 10

years we will open up all of the area, that we'll be going up into the

[ Page 132 ]

Fraser Valley, into Surrey and Mission. There will

be opportunities of going into Squamish and all of those areas. Safe

and rapid transportation, bringing more opportunities — it's the most

exciting thing!

I want to say a word or two in the last few minutes I have left.

There have been a lot of critics in this province, and I would just

like to point out that the coal critics.... Do you remember the coal

critics? — they were against northeast coal and northern development.

Where are they now? Many of the negative, dissident coalition tell you

that northern development is taking funds away from essential services.

The only guarantee for essential services today are the bold economic

moves led by the Premier of British Columbia. Those bold economic moves

are paying off today in jobs. That is leadership with a capital "L".

That's leadership for the new, bold building of northeast coal — jobs

today. That's leadership for the new, bold stadium. How can you sit in

that stadium and see all of those people coming from all over the lower

mainland, from all over Washington state.... I met some people from

Washington state the other night, spending money in the city of

Vancouver. Where are the critics now? Where are the trade and

convention centre critics? All of those funds will flow into the city

of Vancouver. Where are the B.C. Place critics? Those bold initiatives

are providing jobs today, and it is with great pride that I stand here

as part of this government — a government that was bold in the face of

other governments across this nation without the guts to do what we

have done here in British Columbia. They also didn't have the planning

in place; they could not help their people in any way but to go further

and further into deficit.

Just in the last day or two President Francois Mitterrand has

decided to cancel the proposed Paris world's fair. What a tragedy!

However, France's loss is British Columbia's gain. I am delighted to

end this address on the throne speech with great optimism for the

future of British Columbia and for the people of British Columbia. As

we go into the world's fair in 1986 and all of those jobs are created,

do you know what it means for the Ministry of Human Resources, the

Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education? It means more dollars,

because through economic success we will have social success and social

opportunities and social good for the people of British Columbia.

MS. SANFORD: In view of the lateness of the hour, I would move adjournment of this debate until the next sitting of the House.

Motion approved.

Hon, Mr. Nielsen moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

The House adjourned at 11:58 a.m.

[ Return to Legislative Assembly Home Page ]

Copyright © 1984,2001: Hansard Services, Victoria, B.C., Canada