British Columbia Hansard — 20140213pm Hansard v5n4

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British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

Second Session, 40th Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (HANSARD) THE HONOURABLE LINDA REID, SPEAKER ISSN 0709- 1281 (Print) ISSN 1499-2175 (Online) Th ursday, February 13, 2014 Aft ernoon Sitting Volume 5, Number 4

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Her Honour the Honourable Judith Guichon, OBC Second Session, 40th Parliament SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Linda Reid EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council .............................................................................................................. Hon. Christy Clark Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing ......................Hon.

Rich Coleman Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation ......................................................................................................... Hon. John Rustad Minister of Advanced Education ............................................................................................................................................ Hon. Amrik Virk Minister of Agriculture ............................................................................................................................................................... Hon.

Pat Pimm Minister of Children and Family Development ....................................................................................................... Hon. Stephanie Cadieux Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development ........................................................................................... Hon. Coralee Oakes Minister of Education ..................................................................................................................................................... Hon.

Peter Fassbender Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Core Review .....................................................................Hon. Bill Bennett Minister of Environment ..........................................................................................................................................................Hon. Mary Polak Minister of Finance .................................................................................................................................................. Hon.

Michael de Jong, QC Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations......................................................................................Hon. Steve Th omson Minister of Health ............................................................................................................................................................... Hon. Dr. Terry Lake Minister of International Trade and Minister Responsible for Asia Pacifi c Strategy and Multiculturalism ..................Hon.

Teresa Wat Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour ...................................................Hon. Shirley Bond Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business ....................................................................................................Hon. Naomi Y amamoto Minister of Justice ...............................................................................................................................................................Hon.

Suzanne Anton Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation..................................................................................................... Hon. Don McRae Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services ................................................................................... Hon. Andrew Wilkinson Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure ......................................................................................................................Hon.

Todd Stone LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Leader of the Offi cial Opposition ......................................................................................................................................................Adrian Dix Deputy Speaker .............................................................................................................................................................................Douglas Horne Assistant Deputy Speaker ...............................................................................................................................................................

Raj Chouhan Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole ....................................................................................................................................... Marc Dalton Clerk of the Legislative Assembly ................................................................................................................................................... Craig James Deputy Clerk and Clerk of Committees .................................................................................................................................

Kate Ryan-Lloyd Sessional Law Clerk ...................................................................................................................................................Roderick MacArthur, QC Sergeant-at-Arms ................................................................................................................................................................................. Gary Lenz

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS Anton, Hon. Suzanne (BC Liberal) .............................. Vancouver-Fraserview Ashton, Dan (BC Liberal).....................................................................Penticton Austin, Robin (NDP) ................................................................................ Skeena Bains, Harry (NDP) ....................................................................Surrey-Newton Barnett, Donna (BC Liberal) ............................................... Cariboo-Chilcotin Bennett, Hon.

Bill (BC Liberal) ...................................................Kootenay East Bernier, Mike (BC Liberal) ................................................... Peace River South Bing, Dr. Doug (BC Liberal) ................................ Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Bond, Hon. Shirley (BC Liberal) ........................... Prince George–Valemount Cadieux, Hon. Stephanie (BC Liberal) ................................Surrey-Cloverdale Chandra Herbert, Spencer (NDP) .................................Vancouver–West End Chouhan, Raj (NDP) ...........................................................

Burnaby-Edmonds Clark, Hon. Christy (BC Liberal) ........................................ Westside-Kelowna Coleman, Hon. Rich (BC Liberal) .......................... Fort Langley–Aldergrove Conroy, Katrine (NDP) .............................................................. Kootenay West Corrigan, Kathy (NDP) ..................................................... Burnaby–Deer Lake Dalton, Marc (BC Liberal) ............................................. Maple Ridge–Mission Darcy, Judy (NDP) ..................................................................New Westminster de Jong, Hon.

Michael, QC (BC Liberal) .............................. Abbotsford West Dix, Adrian (NDP) ............................................................Vancouver-Kingsway Donaldson, Doug (NDP) ......................................................................... Stikine Eby, David (NDP) ..........................................................Vancouver–Point Grey Elmore, Mable (NDP) ................................................... Vancouver-Kensington Farnworth, Mike (NDP) ............................................................ Port Coquitlam Fassbender, Hon.

Peter (BC Liberal) ................................... Surrey-Fleetwood Fleming, Rob (NDP) .......................................................... Victoria–Swan Lake Foster, Eric (BC Liberal) .......................................................Vernon-Monashee Fraser, Scott (NDP) ............................................................Alberni–Pacifi c Rim Gibson, Simon (BC Liberal) .............................................

Abbotsford-Mission Hamilton, Scott (BC Liberal) ...........................................................Delta North Hammell, Sue (NDP) .................................................... Surrey–Green Timbers Heyman, George (NDP) .................................................... Vancouver-Fairview Hogg, Gordon (BC Liberal) ............................................... Surrey–White Rock Holman, Gary (NDP) .......................................Saanich North and the Islands Horgan, John (NDP) .......................................................................

Juan de Fuca Horne, Douglas (BC Liberal) ..............................Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Hunt, Marvin (BC Liberal) ....................................................Surrey-Panorama Huntington, Vicki (Ind.) ..................................................................Delta South James, Carole (NDP) .........................................................Victoria–Beacon Hill Karagianis, Maurine (NDP) ........................................Esquimalt–Royal Roads Krog, Leonard Eugene (NDP) .............................................................

Nanaimo Kwan, Jenny Wai Ching (NDP) ........................... Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Kyllo, Greg (BC Liberal) ........................................................................ Shuswap Lake, Hon. Dr.

Terry (BC Liberal) ....................Kamloops–North Th ompson Larson, Linda (BC Liberal) .........................................Boundary-Similkameen Lee, Richard T. (BC Liberal) ......................................................Burnaby North Letnick, Norm (BC Liberal) ........................................Kelowna–Lake Country Macdonald, Norm (NDP) ....................................Columbia River–Revelstoke McRae, Hon. Don (BC Liberal) ..................................................

Comox Valley Martin, John (BC Liberal) ..................................................................Chilliwack Morris, Mike (BC Liberal) ..................................... Prince George–Mackenzie Mungall, Michelle (NDP) ..........................................................Nelson-Creston Oakes, Hon. Coralee (BC Liberal) .............................................Cariboo North Pimm, Hon. Pat (BC Liberal) ...............................................Peace River North Plecas, Darryl (BC Liberal) ....................................................Abbotsford South Polak, Hon.

Mary (BC Liberal) .............................................................. Langley Popham, Lana (NDP) ...................................................................Saanich South Ralston, Bruce (NDP) ................................................................ Surrey-Whalley Reid, Hon. Linda (BC Liberal) ..................................................Richmond East Reimer, Linda (BC Liberal) ........................................

Port Moody–Coquitlam Rice, Jennifer (NDP) ........................................................................North Coast Robinson, Selina (NDP) .............................................Coquitlam-Maillardville Routley, Bill (NDP) .................................................................. Cowichan Valley Routley, Doug (NDP) ............................................Nanaimo–North Cowichan Rustad, Hon. John (BC Liberal) ................................................

Nechako Lakes Shin, Jane Jae Kyung (NDP) ...............................................Burnaby-Lougheed Simons, Nicholas (NDP) ................................... Powell River–Sunshine Coast Simpson, Shane (NDP) ..................................................... Vancouver-Hastings Stilwell, Michelle (BC Liberal) ........................................ Parksville-Qualicum Stilwell, Dr. Moira (BC Liberal) ........................................ Vancouver-Langara Stone, Hon. Todd (BC Liberal) .........................

Kamloops–South Th ompson Sturdy, Jordan (BC Liberal) ..................................West Vancouver–Sea to Sky Sullivan, Sam (BC Liberal) ...........................................Vancouver–False Creek Sultan, Ralph (BC Liberal) ..................................... West Vancouver–Capilano Tegart, Jackie (BC Liberal) ............................................................Fraser-Nicola Th omson, Hon. Steve (BC Liberal) .......................................Kelowna-Mission Th ornthwaite, Jane (BC Liberal) ..........................

North Vancouver–Seymour Th roness, Laurie (BC Liberal).................................................Chilliwack-Hope Trevena, Claire (NDP) .................................................................... North Island Virk, Hon. Amrik (BC Liberal) ............................................. Surrey-Tynehead Wat, Hon. Teresa (BC Liberal) .............................................. Richmond Centre Weaver, Dr. Andrew (Ind.) .......................................... Oak Bay–Gordon Head Wilkinson, Hon. Andrew (BC Liberal) ........................ Vancouver-Quilchena Y amamoto, Hon.

Naomi (BC Liberal) ................ North Vancouver–Lonsdale Y ap, John (BC Liberal) ......................................................Richmond-Steveston LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING Abbotsford-Mission ......................................................................Simon Gibson Abbotsford South ............................................................................Darryl Plecas Abbotsford West ...................................................... Hon. Michael de Jong, QC Alberni–Pacifi c Rim ..........................................................................

Scott Fraser Boundary-Similkameen ................................................................ Linda Larson Burnaby–Deer Lake ................................................................... Kathy Corrigan Burnaby-Edmonds ......................................................................... Raj Chouhan Burnaby-Lougheed .............................................................Jane Jae Kyung Shin Burnaby North .............................................................................. Richard T.

Lee Cariboo-Chilcotin ........................................................................Donna Barnett Cariboo North .................................................................... Hon. Coralee Oakes Chilliwack ......................................................................................... John Martin Chilliwack-Hope ....................................................................... Laurie Th roness Columbia River–Revelstoke .................................................. Norm Macdonald Comox Valley...........................................................................Hon.

Don McRae Coquitlam–Burke Mountain .....................................................Douglas Horne Coquitlam-Maillardville........................................................... Selina Robinson Cowichan Valley ................................................................................

Bill Routley Delta North ..................................................................................Scott Hamilton Delta South ...............................................................................Vicki Huntington Esquimalt–Royal Roads .....................................................Maurine Karagianis Fort Langley–Aldergrove ...................................................Hon. Rich Coleman Fraser-Nicola....................................................................................

Jackie Tegart Juan de Fuca .....................................................................................John Horgan Kamloops–North Th ompson ............................................ Hon. Dr. Terry Lake Kamloops–South Th ompson ..................................................Hon. Todd Stone Kelowna–Lake Country ............................................................... Norm Letnick Kelowna-Mission .............................................................. Hon. Steve Th omson Kootenay East .......................................................................... Hon.

Bill Bennett Kootenay West ............................................................................ Katrine Conroy Langley.......................................................................................Hon. Mary Polak Maple Ridge–Mission ..................................................................... Marc Dalton Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows ........................................................ Dr. Doug Bing Nanaimo ........................................................................... Leonard Eugene Krog Nanaimo–North Cowichan .........................................................

Doug Routley Nechako Lakes ........................................................................ Hon. John Rustad Nelson-Creston ........................................................................Michelle Mungall New Westminster ............................................................................... Judy Darcy North Coast......................................................................................Jennifer Rice North Island .................................................................................. Claire Trevena North Vancouver–Lonsdale ........................................Hon.

Naomi Y amamoto North Vancouver–Seymour ................................................. Jane Th ornthwaite Oak Bay–Gordon Head ...................................................... Dr. Andrew Weaver Parksville-Qualicum .................................................................Michelle Stilwell Peace River North ...................................................................... Hon. Pat Pimm Peace River South ............................................................................Mike Bernier Penticton............................................................................................

Dan Ashton Port Coquitlam ..........................................................................Mike Farnworth Port Moody–Coquitlam ................................................................Linda Reimer Powell River–Sunshine Coast ................................................. Nicholas Simons Prince George–Mackenzie ............................................................. Mike Morris Prince George–Valemount ................................................... Hon. Shirley Bond Richmond Centre ......................................................................Hon.

Teresa Wat Richmond East ..........................................................................Hon. Linda Reid Richmond-Steveston ..............................................................................John Y ap Saanich North and the Islands .................................................... Gary Holman Saanich South ................................................................................

Lana Popham Shuswap ................................................................................................Greg Kyllo Skeena .............................................................................................. Robin Austin Stikine ....................................................................................... Doug Donaldson Surrey-Cloverdale ....................................................... Hon. Stephanie Cadieux Surrey-Fleetwood ........................................................... Hon.

Peter Fassbender Surrey–Green Timbers .................................................................. Sue Hammell Surrey-Newton ................................................................................. Harry Bains Surrey-Panorama ........................................................................... Marvin Hunt Surrey-Tynehead ......................................................................Hon. Amrik Virk Surrey-Whalley..............................................................................

Bruce Ralston Surrey–White Rock ....................................................................... Gordon Hogg Vancouver-Fairview ..................................................................George Heyman Vancouver–False Creek ................................................................... Sam Sullivan Vancouver-Fraserview ......................................................Hon.

Suzanne Anton Vancouver-Hastings ....................................................................Shane Simpson Vancouver-Kensington .................................................................Mable Elmore Vancouver-Kingsway..........................................................................Adrian Dix Vancouver-Langara .................................................................Dr. Moira Stilwell Vancouver–Mount Pleasant .........................................

Jenny Wai Ching Kwan Vancouver–Point Grey .........................................................................David Eby Vancouver-Quilchena ................................................ Hon. Andrew Wilkinson Vancouver–West End ...............................................

Spencer Chandra Herbert Vernon-Monashee ...............................................................................Eric Foster Victoria–Beacon Hill .......................................................................Carole James Victoria–Swan Lake.........................................................................Rob Fleming West Vancouver–Capilano ............................................................. Ralph Sultan West Vancouver–Sea to Sky ..........................................................Jordan Sturdy Westside-Kelowna ................................................................

Hon. Christy Clark Party Standings: BC Liberal 49; New Democratic 34; Independent 2

CONTENTS Th ursday, February 13, 2014 Aft ernoon Sitting Page Routine Business Introductions by Members ..................................................................................................................................................... 1261 Tributes ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 1261 Dini ze' Gisday'wa D.

Donaldson Introductions by Members ..................................................................................................................................................... 1261 Introduction and First Reading of Bills ................................................................................................................................ 1262 Bill 3 — Missing Persons Act Hon. S. Anton Bill 4 — Park Amendment Act, 2014 Hon. M. Polak Bill 5 — Forests, Lands and Natural Reso urce Operations Statutes Amendment Act, 2014 Hon. S.

Th omson Statements (Standing Order 25B) ......................................................................................................................................... 1263 Streetfront alternative program at Britannia Secondary School J. Kwan B.C. Restaurant Week G. Kyllo Jamie Benn and 2014 Olympic Winter Games G. Holman Moosehide anti-violence campaign by aboriginal men M. Dalton Work of Principal Leslie Lee at George Jay Elementary School R. Fleming Bob Lee R.

Sultan Oral Questions ......................................................................................................................................................................... 1265 Government approach to teachers' collective bargaining and release of court documents A. Dix Hon. S. Anton Role of Premier's offi ce in government approach to teachers' collective bargaining R. Fleming Hon. P . Fassbender C. James S. Hammell Government approach to teachers' collective bargaining N. Macdonald Hon. P .

Fassbender Reports from Committees ...................................................................................................................................................... 1269 Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, report on the Budget 2014 consultations D. Ashton M. Farnworth Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, Annual Review of the Budgets of the Statutory Offi ces D. Ashton

Orders of the Day Th rone Speech Debate (continued) ....................................................................................................................................... 1270 J. Darcy J. Th ornthwaite K. Corrigan S. Hamilton L. Krog Hon. A. Wilkinson S. Fraser Hon. S. Th omson

THURSDAY , FEBRUARY 13, 2014 Th e House met at 1:36 p.m. [Madame Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Introductions by Members Hon. J. Rustad: I'm very pleased today to introduce a number of people. Th ey're currently out on the steps with an event for the moosehide campaign, but they will be coming in to be part of question period — Paul Lacerte, Raven Lacerte, Jeannette MacIinnis, George Cook, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Chief Ron Sam, Chief Russ Chipps, Jonathan Alec, Kele Antione, Ken Watts, Leonard Ward and Asma Antoine.

Th ese are all mem- bers of the event that's happening out on the steps today celebrating the moosehide campaign. I'm very pleased that so many of the members on both sides of the House today are wearing the moose- hide. In particular, I want to mention the member for Maple Ridge–Mission and the member for Prince George–Mackenzie, who are also joining me in a fast as part of the moosehide campaign to raise the level of awareness about violence against aboriginal women and try to bring an end to this scourge that is happening in our society.

I'd like to ask all sides of the House to please welcome these guests but also to remember this campaign and bring this forward and tell friends about this. Make sure that we can shine a light on this and that we ultimately work together to bring an end to violence in B.C. Tributes DINI ZE' GISDAY'W A D. Donaldson: I also rise to echo the words of the Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and thank Paul Lacerte and the B.C. Association of Aborig- inal Friendship Centres for the moosehide campaign and the work they're doing.

Th ey've cut out 14,000 pieces of moosehide to raise the awareness of violence against aboriginal women and children and distributed those across the province, so I think that they deserve great thanks for that grass-roots campaign. Also, with the Speaker's indulgence, I'd like to ask all members of the Legislature to join me today in acknow- ledging the passing of a strong First Nations leader who was an amazing holder of traditional knowledge locally and also at the forefront of the most important decision in Canada's Supreme Court on the topic of aboriginal title. Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chief Gisday'wa, Dr.

Alfred Joseph, left this world January 31 at the age of 86. He be- longed to the Kaiyexwenitts, Gitdumden — House in the Middle of Many, Bear clan — and became Dini ze' Gisday'wa in 1974.

Gisday'wa was the lead plaintiff , along with Gitxsan Simogyet Delgamuukw, on the precedent-setting court case bearing both their names, where Canada's highest court ruled that aboriginal rights were not extinguished in B.C., aboriginal title existed and required consultation accommodation by government, and oral histories were as valid in court as written records. [1340] I knew Gisday'wa well and worked with him closely in the 1990s during the aboriginal title court actions.

It was an intense time, but he was always serene, sharing his great depth of knowledge generously and oft en providing well- needed relief with his wit and great sense of humour. He brought a peace lens to the struggle for aboriginal rights and title, and we all know that that requires a deep strength and determination and dedication to the cause. Th ank you for joining me in providing a send-off and a farewell from the Legislature to Dini ze' Gisday'wa. Sabax. Introductions by Members Hon. T. Wat: Joining us today is Brian Hawrysh, CEO of B.C.

Wood; John Gillis, chair of the board; and Grant MacKinnon, past chair. B.C. Wood represents the value- added wood sector in B.C. Th ey partner with government on marketing B.C. businesses and wood products around the world. Th ey have been in Victoria today meeting with my colleagues and I, and they will leave in a few days for India, where they will be promoting B.C. wood products and helping to create new jobs and opportunities for B.C. business. Would the House please make them welcome. C. Trevena: I'd like to join the ranks of proud grand- parents in this chamber, Madame Speaker.

Penelope Grace McIvor was born on November 18 in New Y ork City. First-time parents Josh and Frances of course know she's the smartest and most beautiful baby in the world, and her grandpa Mike and I readily agree. I hope the House will welcome her to the world and gently welcome her to the world of B.C. politics. S. Chandra Herbert: Imagine if you could not say who you were. Imagine if you could not say that you had a boyfriend or a girlfriend, a husband or a wife for fear of being put in jail. Well, unfortunately, that's the reality our friends in Russia face today if they are lesbian, gay, bi or transgendered.

I'm pleased today that this House will be joining with parliaments all across this great country of ours by rais- ing the rainbow fl ag of pride to stand up for equality, to stand against hate and to stand as allies to Russian lesbian, 1261

British Columbia Debates1262 Thursday, February 13, 2014 gay, bi and transgendered people who are facing oppres- sion and need our voices of support for the struggle they are going through. It also is a sign that we stand with our athletes who are representing us so well in Sochi and also having to put up with a diffi cult situation for themselves in that country. Th ank you to the Speaker, thank you to the Liberal side of the House and thank you to my colleagues with the New Democratic Party for all of our collective stand in support of this action.

I hope that you will join me in being able to speak with pride that this Legislature, for the fi rst time in our history, has fl own the rainbow fl ag of equality. Introduction and First Reading of Bills BILL 3 — MISSING PERSONS ACT Hon. S. Anton presented a message from His Honour the Administrator: a bill intituled Missing Persons Act. Hon. S. Anton: I move that Bill 3 be introduced and read a fi rst time now. Motion approved. Hon. S. Anton: I'm very pleased to introduce the proposed Missing Persons Act today.

Enacting missing persons legislation was on e of Commissioner Oppal's important recommendations to enhance the safety and security of vulnerable women. Th e introduction of the Missing Persons Act is just one step the government is taking to demonstrate its commitment to following through with implementing the recommendations of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry report.

Th e purpose of this legislation is to help fi nd missing persons whose safety and welfare are of concern because of their age, their physical or mental capabilities or the circumstances surrounding their absence. [1345] To be clear, the Missing Persons Act is not about the authority police already have when a disappearance in- volves a criminal off ence. Instead, this proposed law fo- cuses on cases where a missing person has not been seen or in touch with people who are normally involved in their lives.

Our act will apply to those times when a per- son goes missing and there's no suspicion that their dis- appearance is the result of a criminal off ence. Th e proposed legislation will provide police with more timely access to information about missing, vulnerable and at-risk people and others who may be in or last seen in their company and to places where they are believed to be. While the legislation introduced today is consist- ent with the intent and spirit of Commissioner Oppal's recommendations, it also builds on some features of legislation in other provinces.

We have incorporated some additional layers of ju- dicial oversight as well as a more broad provision to encapsulate individuals due to possible high-risk or dan- gerous circumstances surrounding their disappearance, all of whom are not included in missing persons legisla- tion in other provinces. Our Missing Persons Act helps to protect all British Columbians who may go missing and helps their families in fi nding their loved ones. I'm pleased to report that our government is taking ac- tion to support the most vulnerable persons and youth through the introduction of this bill today.

I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House aft er today. Bill 3, Missing Persons Act, introduced, read a fi rst time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House aft er today. BILL 4 — PARK AMENDMENT ACT, 2014 Hon. M. Polak presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Park Amend- ment Act, 2014. Hon. M. Polak: I move that the bill be introduced and read a fi rst time now. Motion approved. Hon. M.

Polak: Th is bill contains amendments to the Park Act to provide increased certainty and clarity re- specting the authorization of outdoor recreation, tourism, commercial fi lming and research activities, including academic and investigative uses, in parks and protected areas while ensuring that the natural resources and val- ues and visitors' experiences are protected. I move that this bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House aft er today.

Bill 4, Park Amendment Act, 2014, introduced, read a fi rst time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House aft er today. BILL 5 — FORESTS, LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCE OPERATIONS STATUTES AMENDMENT ACT, 2014 Hon. S. Thomson presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Statutes Amendment Act, 2014.

British Columbia DebatesThursday, February 13, 2014 1263 Hon. S. Th omson: I move that Bill 5 be introduced and read for a fi rst time now. Motion approved. Hon. S. Th omson: Today I introduce amendments to the Forest Act, the Land Title Act, the Range Act, the Wildfi re Act and the Wildlife Act to streamline processes within the natural resource sector.

Proposed amendments to the Forest Act will stream- line administrative processes by transferring decision- making authority to the minister on most wood residue export applications, allowing people to collect fi rewood from woodlots and community forests with permission, clarify provisions relating to the annual rent, bonus bids and putting specifi c conditions on forest licences. Proposed amendments to the Land Title Act provide certainty to landowners by enabling cabinet to affi rm the private ownership of subdivided land underwater when it is next to Crown land.

Proposed amendments to the Range Act refl ect our commitment to recommendations in the Ranching Task Force to improve regulatory processes for range tenure holders. Cattle producers, who represent a signifi cant portion of range tenure holders, generate $351 million in economic activity each year. Proposed amendments to the Wildlife Act will help provide the guide-outfi tting industry, an industry that generates $116 million in economic activity each year, with additional business certainty.

Proposed amendments to the Wildfi re Act will make it clear that the provincial government should not be held legally accountable for unavoidable property damage or losses caused by wildfi re so long as the wildland fi refi ght- ers did not act in bad faith while working to control or suppress wildfi res. Th e Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources Operations was created to provide a more streamlined, integrated approach to land base management. Today we are introducing amendments that support our goal of these more streamlined processes within the natural resource sector.

I move that the Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Statutes Amendment Act be placed on or- ders of the day for second reading at the next sitting aft er today. [1350] Bill 5, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Statutes Amendment Act, 2014, introduced, read a fi rst time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House aft er today. Statements (Standing Order 25B) STREETFRONT ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM AT BRITANNIA SECONDARY SCHOOL J.

Kwan: Determined, resilient, self-disciplined, re- sponsible, dedicated — that's how I would describe the students of Britannia Secondary Streetfront alternative program. Despite having faced great adversities in their young lives, with the support of family and friends, staff and community partners, the students have shown great de- termination to succeed. Th e successes of the students challenge the all-too-common perception of inner-city and at-risk youth and replace them with stories of hope and signifi cant achievement.

The Streetfront teaches the importance of positive lifestyle choices, mental and physical fi tness, leadership, team and community spirit, and mobilizing around a core goal. It aims to continue to provide opportunities both within and beyond the classroom, designed to fos- ter socially responsible behaviour for all. To quote one student: "Streetfront made me discover myself." For 2015 the students plan to travel beyond the down- town core of Vancouver and connect with other youth internationally, volunteer at an orphanage and to take on the Street 2 Peak challenge to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

Th rough this journey, they will gain a perspective into the wider world, broaden their relationships with the global community and gain the unparalleled learning experience of international exchange. It will also give the students the chance for direct experience in achiev- ing milestones through hard work, team building, men- tal and physical fi tness. However, for the students, meeting the cost of the trip is a bigger challenge than climbing Mount Kilimanjaro itself. It is Streetfront's hope and mine that sponsors will be able to assist in ensuring that students can access this incredible learning opportunity.

I know that the Britannia staff and team, with the com- munity's support, has the experience and the ability to take on this venture. I ask all members of this House to join me and lend their enthusiastic support to this unique opportunity and life-transforming experience for the stu- dents at Streetfront. B.C. RESTAURANT WEEK G. Kyllo: I am pleased to rise today to speak about B.C. Restaurant Week, a week-long celebration high- lighting the importance of the restaurant industry in British Columbia.

Over 12,000 restaurants operate in our province, and the economic benefi ts of these restaurant industries are realized in every region of our province, in commun-

British Columbia Debates1264 Thursday, February 13, 2014 ities large and small. Restaurants employ 175,000 British Columbians and generate $10 billion in economic bene- fi ts to go right back into our local communities. Most restaurants in B.C. are owned by small business owners. By choosing to dine at locally owned restaurants, you are doing your part to support local businesses and strengthen our community.

As parliamentary secretary of the B.C. jobs plan and having owned and operated a waterfront restaurant for over a decade, I have learned to understand the import- ance of the restaurant industry and the fulfi lling career opportunities that come with operating or being em- ployed in this industry. It is also worthwhile to mention that one in fi ve British Columbians aged 15 to 24 are employed in the restau- rant and food services industry. Many of us in this very chamber received our fi rst job washing dishes or serving meals to customers.

Th ese opportunities help students and young adults gain independence, learn valuable customer service skills and start managing their budgets and fi nances. I'd like to also take this opportunity to wish my beauti- ful wife Georgina a very happy birthday today. Th ere was a time when I thought the three words that she most wanted to hear from me were "I love you"; however, wis- dom now tells me that the words she most wishes to hear from me are: "Let's dine out." I encourage all members of this House to take a night off from cooking this week, go out to your favourite restaurant or try something new.

I will say that B.C. Restaurant Week falls on the most perfect time of the year: Valentine's Day. Th is is just a friendly reminder, but if you haven't made a dinner reservation for tomorrow night with your sig- nifi cant other, you still have time. So celebrate local busi- ness and enjoy some great food, paired with a bottle of world-famous B.C. wine, at one of the many family owned restaurants across British Columbia this week- end. Bon appétit. JAMIE BENN AND 2014 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES G.

Holman: Canada will be sending our largest con- tingent of athletes ever to compete in Sochi, Russia, for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games: 221 Canadians, 30 from B.C. Th ey'll join the elite athletes of the world to compete against one another. [1355] I am pleased to rise today to recognize one of our out- standing Canadian Olympians, from my constituency, Team Canada hockey player Jamie Benn. Born in Central Saanich and attending Stelly's Secondary in my constitu- ency of Saanich North and the Islands, Jamie played in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League with the North Saanich Peninsula Panthers.

He'd go on to play in the B.C. Hockey League for the Victoria Grizzlies and in the Western Hockey League for the Kelowna Rockets before being draft ed into the NHL by the Dallas Stars in 2007. Jamie scored his fi rst NHL goal against the Vancouver Canucks — his favourite team growing up — tying the game in the third period. Vancouver ultimately won that game. My support for my constituents only goes so far. Jamie has played with distinction on the world stage before, scoring four goals for the gold-winning Canadian junior team in 2009. He was recently made team captain of the Dallas Stars for the 2013-14 season.

His skill and his leadership qualities will be an important part of Team Canada's success. Few of us understand how hard elite athletes work, but we do know that these athletes need the support of family and friends to help them succeed. I want to congratulate Jamie's parents, Randy and Heather; his brother, Jordie; and his sister, Jenny — and all the families whose loved ones are competing for gold in Russia. I know Jamie's family, along with all of us, will be watching as he and Team Canada make our country proud. Most members are probably aware that Canada won its fi rst game against Norway 3-1. Mr.

Benn scored the second goal in that game. So congratulations, Jamie. MOOSEHIDE ANTI-VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN BY ABORIGINAL MEN M. Dalton: Along with members of the Legislature on both sides, I am proud to wear this moosehide in the House to show our support of the moosehide cam- paign. Organized by the B.C. Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, this is a campaign to counter vio- lence against aboriginal women and children and to bring this ongoing tragedy out of the shadows and into the light.

Th e moosehide campaign is a grass-roots gathering of men across Canada who are concerned about the disproportionate number of victims who are aboriginal women. Th ey are more than three times as likely as non- aboriginal women to experience violence. Th e executive director of the association, Paul Lacerte, thought of the idea of the moosehide campaign in 2011 when he was on a moose-hunting trip with his teenage daughter near the Highway of Tears. Today marks the third annual moosehide campaign.

Th is morning was a moving occasion as First Nation chiefs, men and women met to share their experiences regarding violence, to pray, to fast and to commit them- selves to this important societal transformation. Fourteen thousand moosehides have been distributed, and men everywhere are invited to join this movement. As an Aboriginal Canadian myself, I couldn't agree more with the objectives of the moosehide campaign. I'm pleased that our government is committed to taking

British Columbia DebatesThursday, February 13, 2014 1265 action, including a recently launched provincial domes- tic violence plan to help to make B.C. a safer place for women, children and anyone aff ected by domestic vio- lence. Today it's an honour to participate with men across our nation, to fast, pray and stand up for the safety and security of aboriginal women and children. WORK OF PRINCIPAL LESLIE LEE AT GEORGE JAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL R.

Fleming: I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate an outstanding person in my constituency, Leslie Lee, for being named one of Canada's top 40 pub- lic school principals by the Learning Partnership, which is a non-profi t that promotes academic excellence in public schools through innovative business and indus- try partnerships.

When Leslie Lee became the principal of George Jay Elementary School four years ago, the majority of stu- dents were struggling to meet provincial grade-level standards, with staff struggling to keep up with a stu- dent population of which nearly half are English lan- guage learners. Many students face additional barriers, such as poverty. [1400] To chart an ambitious agenda of change, Principal Lee committed herself to establishing a safe, caring and in- viting learning space. First, she established community partnerships to ensure that students were healthy and well fed at school.

Th en she initiated positive behaviour support programs, such as engaging a youth and family counsellor to support at-risk students. As a result, be- havioural incidents decreased from 900 per year to 100. Principal Lee created a schoolwide focus on improving writing, math skills and problem-solving, and the eff ect- ive use of technology for learning. Under her leadership, the number of students meeting provincial grade level expectations went from 66 percent in 2010 to 92 per- cent in 2012.

Principal Lee's ability for leveraging strategic part- nerships has transformed her school into an oasis of in- spiration and forward-thinking for her school, for her students, and it is for this reason that there will be a new French immersion program to commence in September 2014. As a school, George Jay has faced many challenges, but it has proven to be a bright light in my community by providing children in Victoria with a nurturing, uniquely diverse and respectful learning environment. Th is award is a signifi cant recognition of Principal Lee's dedication and her commitment as a public educa- tor.

Her hard work and her achievement has been iden- tifi ed by her peers, and I would like to add in the House here today the recognition of all of the members of the House for Principal Lee and all she has achieved at that school in a short period of time. BOB LEE R. Sultan: It's timely this week to talk about another Lee — my friend Bob Lee. Bob and I both attended King Edward High School in Vancouver many years ago. He was busy even in those days — Chinese school aft er regu- lar school and, aft er that, working as a cook in his father's Chinese restaurant.

Our high school counsellor suggested Bob should stick to peeling potatoes, but Bob went on to UBC any- ways and met his future wife, the lovely Lily Dong, who became UBC homecoming queen, with some spirited political organization from the engineering students, which I led. Our high school counsellor didn't realize Robert would become chancellor of UBC and a recipient of the Order of B.C. Bob became a successful real estate investor — so successful, in fact, you'll see Bob and Lily's name on buildings all over town: the Robert H.

Lee Graduate School of business at UBC, the Robert Lee YMCA on Burrard Street in downtown Vancouver, the Robert and Lily Lee Community Health Centre in Kingsway in East Vancouver. He endowed the Chinese school from which he gradu- ated and also his family's ancestral village in China. Th e Lee family has discovered a very successful formu- la: work hard, make a lot of money, and give it all away — for the benefi t of all of us. Th ank you, Bob, for rejecting our high school coun- sellor's advice. Madame Speaker: May I commend the members on two-minute statements actually being two minutes today.

I appreciate that. Oral Questions GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO TEACHERS' COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND RELEASE OF COURT DOCUMENTS A. Dix: In her ruling on the Bill 22 and Bill 28 case Madam Justice Susan Griffi n ruled as a matter of fact: "Th e government thought that a teachers strike would give the government a political advantage in imposing legislation that the public might otherwise not support. It felt that the timing of legislation to deal with a teachers strike and failure of collective bargaining could fi t conveniently with the timing of legislation to address the Bill 28 decision repercussions.

Th e government planned its strategy accordingly so that it could have one legisla- tive initiative at the end of the one-year suspension granted in the Bill 28 decision." Today the Premier did what she refused to do yes- terday. She talked about this matter. She criticized the judge again. She said that the judge's decision based on the full facts — not snippets but full facts — was the op- posite of the facts.

British Columbia Debates1266 Thursday, February 13, 2014 Th at's what the Premier was talking about today, an- swering questions she wouldn't answer in this House yes- terday and providing, as oft en occurs, her own fact-free version of events. Will the government release the documents? The Premier is talking about them. She knows what the documents say, and she's providing an alternate version of events. [1405] Will the government release the full documents in this case so we can see and British Columbians can see what we know: the Liberal Party putting its partisan interest before children? Hon. S.

Anton: As I said yesterday, the appeal has been fi led and the documents are with the court. Th e documents are actually sealed by the court. Th ey are in confi dence. We are not going to argue that appeal in this chamber. Th e place for arguing that appeal is in front of the Court of Appeal. Th at's where the appeal will be heard. Th at's where the judge will make his or her deci- sion. Th at's where the court will make its decision. Madame Speaker: Th e Leader of the Opposition on a supplemental. A. Dix: Well, the Premier has been expressing her contempt for the ruling of the B.C.

Supreme Court everywhere — on radio, at fundraisers, today at a press conference. Th e Minister of Education is sending out let- ters to tens of thousands of people saying the same thing, contrary to the facts as they know them, contrary to the facts as they are. It seems to me that if the Minister of Justice is serious about that message, she might consider talking to the Premier about it. Th e facts as determined by the B.C. Supreme Court are pretty clear.

Th ey saw, the Liberal Party saw, in all of this — I'm quoting Justice Griffi n — "a useful political opportunity." Stop children from going to school to bene- fi t the Liberal Party. Th at is what they are about, and that is why they don't want to have the public see their work. If the Premier and the Minister of Education continue to talk about this case, continue to express their contempt for that court ruling, then doesn't the government have an obligation to let the public see the documents? Hon. S. Anton: The matter is before the Court of Appeal. Th e Court of Appeal has the documents.

Th e Court of Appeal will be ruling on the documents. But I would remind the members opposite — and some of those members have been in cabinet in the past — that every cabinet member swears an oath of confi dentiality. I am guessing that when those members on the op- posite side were in cabinet, they did not breach that oath of confi dentiality. Th at is an oath that we take that we solemnly swear. It's an ancient parliamentary tradition, and it is a current parliamentary tradition. Times have not changed. Cabinet is confi dential. Th ose documents are in front of the court.

Th e Court of Appeal will be con- sidering them, and it will make its decision accordingly. Madame Speaker: Hon. Leader, one moment. I off er the following as a caution. House was informed by the Attorney General that an appeal has been fi led with the B.C. Court of Appeal arising out of the reasons for judgment by the B.C. Supreme Court between the B.C. Teachers Federation and the province of British Columbia.

I know that all members would not want to prejudice the outcome of the matter now before the Court of Appeal, and accordingly, members should re- frain from raising the matter in the House until the Court of Appeal has issued its decision. I off er that as a caution. A. Dix: Hon. Speaker, what we have is a decision of B.C. Supreme Court as to point of fact, and given that the B.C.

Supreme Court ruled that that group over there conspired to provoke a strike, conspired to keep children out of school, you bet we're going to ask questions about that in question period. [1410] Th ey have an obligation — it's an ancient obligation — to serve the people of B.C., and in this case they did not do it. So the exact thing that we just heard surely ap- plies to the Premier as well — except she is presenting an alternate view of history, one that defi es the evidence in the case and the ruling of the B.C. Supreme Court. Th at's what the Premier is doing.

Th ey decided not to present that response yesterday here in question period, but they're doing it everywhere in British Columbia, using public funds to dissemin- ate information that is contrary to the ruling of the court and contrary to the evidence presented before the court by their own witnesses. Th is, I think it's fair to say, shows a government in contempt of the people of British Columbia. Th e ruling of the court — the standing ruling of the court — is that the Liberal government tried to provoke a strike to keep kids out of school. Why shouldn't we see the documents on which that ruling is based?

Why doesn't the minister table those documents today to de- cide whether the Liberal government puts kids fi rst or the Liberal Party fi rst? Hon. S. Anton: I will read from George Morfi tt's book on the rules of debate. George MacMinn, sorry. Get my name right. "Th e sub judice convention exists for the equally good reason of protecting the separation and mutual respect which must exist between the legislative and judicial branches of government in order that parliament not interfere with a judicial proceeding by constituting itself as an alternative for debate on the same issue."

British Columbia DebatesThursday, February 13, 2014 1267 Interjections. Madame Speaker: Members. ROLE OF PREMIER'S OFFICE IN GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO TEACHERS' COLLECTIVE BARGAINING R. Fleming: Th e reality is that the Premier is in the media every single day since the Supreme Court ruling talking about her government's appeal, and right now, in British Columbia, governing by open-line radio isn't go- ing to cut it for British Columbians.

B.C. parents expect and deserve a lot more from the Premier and from this government in a matter so serious that this government has been revealed to have provoked a strike putting 500,000 kids out of school. Y esterday we revealed sworn testimony admitting how this government wanted to escalate pressure on teachers in order to provoke a strike. Now we have new freedom- of-information documents, obtained by the opposition, showing at least 15 meetings between the Premier's dep- uty minister, Mr. Dyble, and the lead negotiator for the government, Mr. Straszak.

Th ese meetings took place between April 2011 and March 2012, the same timeline as government's plan to provoke a strike. Clearly, the government's school strike strategy was under development during these meetings. Th e Premier herself was at a meeting on December 16, 2011, in this regard. Th is matter is a mess now, and the government has an obligation to ask questions that British Columbians have.

Will the Minister of Education fi nally stand in this House, in this place, and tell British Columbians what specifi c tools were used to provoke a strike and were decided upon in those meetings involving the Premier of B.C.? [1415] Hon. P . Fassbender: I am pleased to rise in this House and put the facts straight. Let me say that this govern- ment's goal has always been labour peace and labour sta- bility. And let me put the facts on the table for the hon. members across. Let me tell you that the teachers began withdrawing services in September of 2011. Th ey refused to issue report cards…. Interjections.

Madame Speaker: Minister. Hon. Members. Th ank you. Proceed. Hon. P . Fassbender: Th ey refused to issue report cards, have parent-teacher meetings. Th ey refused to do any extracurricular activities with students. Th en on March 1, 2012, they issued a three-day notice of a full strike. Th is government issued legislation for a six-month cooling-off period, and we did that with the sole intent to avoid any labour disruption and any disruption in the classrooms. We then appointed Dr.

Jago as the mediator, and he worked tirelessly with us and with the BCTF to negotiate a settlement, which we reached at the table — a negotiated settlement with the teachers that avoided classroom disruption. Madame Speaker: Member for Victoria–Swan Lake has a supplemental. R. Fleming: I do, Madame Speaker, and I look for- ward to the Attorney General cautioning the Minister of Education and using her "before the courts" argument.

Isn't it interesting that the government, having been proven by documents and evidence presented in court to have set something in motion that conspired against 500,000 kids, now pats itself on the back because the strike they wanted didn't go off ? Isn't that interesting? Th e meetings I refer to were revealed through freedom- of-information requests. John Dyble's calendar indicates he met with Mr. Straszak on June 28, 2011. Th ey met again on December 15, 2011, with then Deputy Minister of Education Graham Whitmarsh.

Th ey met the next day, again, with the Premier along with the Solicitor General and the Premier's chief of staff , Mike McDonald. Th ey met the next day aft er that with the Premier, Mr. Straszak, Mr. McDonald, Mr. Whitmarsh and other cabinet min- isters. To the Minister of Education, now that he's had weeks to familiarize himself with all of the evidence that was presented under sworn testimony of the court, will he fi nally tell British Columbians what tools his govern- ment and senior staff were using with the elected offi - cials to try and provoke a strike during the school year at these meetings? Hon. P .

Fassbender: This government has an un- precedented record in this country of…. Interjections. Madame Speaker: Members, Members. Minister, please proceed. [1420] Hon. P . Fassbender: An unprecedented record of labour peace over 13 years. Th is government is committed, in our negotiations with the B.C. Teachers Federation, to fi nd labour peace, to fi nd long-term stability in our schools for the sake of the students, for the sake of the teachers. And what we provoked was a negotiated settlement as a result of our eff ort.

British Columbia Debates1268 Thursday, February 13, 2014 C. James: Th e minister now appears to be fi ne, talking about the facts, so let's put a few facts on the table. We know the government was pursuing a strategy to cause a provincewide school strike. Justice Griffi n found that, and Mr. Straszak's testimony confi rmed that under oath in Supreme Court. All of that was because the Premier felt that without a strike, reimposing illegal legislation a second time around might be a problem.

Today we see that during the course of this strategy, the Premier's deputy minister met with the chief negoti- ator assigned to make this strike a reality a minimum of 15 times — 15 times. So my question is to the Education Minister. How can he possibly continue to say that the Premier had absolutely no involvement in provoking a strike when the Premier's own deputy met with the gov- ernment's chief negotiator at least 15 times during this time period? Hon. P . Fassbender: I'm going to try to speak a little slower so the members opposite hear — actually hear — the facts of what happened.

Fact 1: teachers in this province initiated work slow- downs, lack of extracurricular activities, no report cards, no parent-teacher interviews. We stayed at the table with them, trying to fi nd a negotiated settlement. Fact 2: the teachers announced that they were going to take a three-day full strike, putting children and their families into disruption, and we stayed at the table. We initiated a cooling-off period so that we could continue to negotiate. Fact 3: we appointed a mediator with the sole purpose to mediate a solution to the teachers' work disruption.

We were able, by the deadline of that mediator's work, to reach a negotiated settlement. Madame Speaker: Member for Victoria–Beacon Hill rises on a supplemental. C. James: Y esterday the minister and the government wouldn't speak. Today the minister says he's going to speak slowly. I would say to the minister and the gov- ernment: what about speaking the truth? Isn't it time to speak the truth? We know that the government's chief negotiator ad- mitted that provoking a full-scale strike during the school year was a primary objective of this government. Today we know that the Premier's deputy minister met with Mr.

Straszak, who was assigned the job to make this strike a reality, at least 15 times. [1425] Th e Minister of Education continues to insist that the government never wanted a strike. But it is inconceiv- able that these 15 meetings took place and no direction was ever given from the Premier's offi ce. So if the min- ister wants to continue to argue otherwise, then I would ask today that he release all the documents related to those 15 meetings. Hon. P . Fassbender: Truth has an amazing way of be- ing distorted to suit a particular purpose. Let me remind the members opposite of the truth.

Th e truth was that the BCTF initiated job action in September. Interjections. Madame Speaker: Minister, please take your seat. We will wait until the answer can be heard by all sides. Minister of Education, please continue. Hon. P . Fassbender: Th e fact and the truth is that the work stoppage and disruption was initiated by the BCTF . It was started because back in 1998 a government in power at that time passed legislation that imposed, against the will of every school district in this province, arbitrary class sizes that created the very dynamic that brought us to the place we were in 2011.

This government worked very hard to negotiate a settlement — fact and truth. We imposed a cooling-off period so that we could ensure no disruption in class- rooms, so that we could ensure that a mediator had the opportunity to work with the BCTF and this government. He was able to do that with both parties, and we reached a settlement, because that was the goal of this government and will continue to be the goal of this government in anything that we do in the future. S.

Hammell: Facts 1, 2, 3, 4 — under any circum- stances, deliberately trying to provoke a strike in our school system is outrageous, absolutely outrageous. Fift een separate meetings. Th e Premier's deputy min- ister met 15 times with the government's chief negoti- ator. Th ere are 15 sets of minutes with accompanying documents, and these minutes and documents are not in front of any court.

Will the Minister of Education let the people of B.C. know what role the Premier's deputy and chief negoti- ator had in proposing to provoke a full-scale strike in our schools by tabling the minutes and documents of these 15 meetings? [1430] Hon. P .

Fassbender: Th irteen years of unprecedent- ed labour peace, 13 years of this government's desire to work with our labour unions across all sectors, including the BCTF; a cooling-off period to bring both parties to a calmer approach; bringing in a mediator who worked with both parties; and — I will repeat again — a negoti- ated settlement within that period that ensured that every child, every teacher, every parent and every community had labour peace. Th at's what this government negotiated. Th at's what this government stands on. And that's what this govern- ment is going to continue to do.

British Columbia DebatesThursday, February 13, 2014 1269 Madame Speaker: Member for Surrey–Green Timbers on a supplemental. S. Hammell: Th e fact that these 15 meetings occurred is not before the courts, nor is the content. Th e people who attended some, if not all, of these meetings include the former chief of staff , Mike McDonald; the member for Prince George–Valemount; former chief of staff Ken Boessenkool; Graham Whitmarsh; John Dyble; Paul Straszak; and the Premier herself. I'm sure the Minister of Education has been fully briefed on all these meetings.

Can he tell this House if this government's plans to provoke a strike were not be- ing discussed at these meetings, and will he table the min- utes for each and every one of them? Hon. P . Fassbender: Th is morning I was at an elemen- tary school in the member opposite's riding, Esquimalt– Royal Roads, and what I saw there were children that were engaged in their educational journey. What we have attempted to do and will continue to do, as we did even while limited job action, a contemplated three-day full strike…. We said: "Let's sit down. Let's work through the issues.

Let's negotiate a settlement." We had many meet- ings with the mediator to achieve that goal. Th irteen years of unprecedented labour calmness in this province; 13 years of proof that this government is committed, as we are today, by sitting with the BCTF and attempting to negotiate long-term stability in our schools for the benefi t of students, teachers, parents and communities. And the proof is that in 2012 we negoti- ated a settlement. GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO TEACHERS' COLLECTIVE BARGAINING N. Macdonald: Mr. Straszak was clear. Th e govern- ment conspired to force a strike. He said it under oath.

Is the Minister of Education saying that Mr. Straszak com- mitted perjury? Hon. P . Fassbender: I'm not going to debate what's before the courts, but what I will reinforce are the facts. Negotiated settlement. Interjections. [1435] Hon. P . Fassbender: Negotiated settlement. Interjections. Hon. P . Fassbender: I think English is very clear. Negotiated settlement. [End of question period.] Reports from Committees D. Ashton: Madame Speaker, I have the honour to present two reports of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services for the fi rst session of the 40th parliament.

Th e fi rst report covers the commit- tee's public consultations on Budget 2014. I move that the report be taken as read and received. Motion approved. D. Ashton: I ask leave of the House to move a motion to adopt the report. Leave granted. D. Ashton: I move that the report be adopted, and in doing so, I would like to make some brief comments. The public consultations on the upcoming provin- cial budget began on September 10, following the re- lease of the budget consultation paper by the Minister of Finance. Th e committee held the consultations over a fi ve-week period.

During that time our bipartisan committee travelled the province and held 17 hearings in communities across British Columbia. We also held video conference sessions to hear from an additional fi ve communities. In total, 674 submissions were received. Th ey included 243 oral pres- entations, 169 written submissions and 262 responses to an on-line survey. Th is report summarizes the input received and makes a total of 73 recommendations for the government to con- sider as part of the budget of 2014. Across the province we heard a clear message from individuals, stakeholders and organizations.

British Columbians want a fi scally responsible government, a balanced budget and a strong economy that will create opportunities now and into the future. Other recommendations are made to strengthen the education and health care systems and to enhance com- munity and social services, particularly in the highest- need areas such as rural-remote communities. As Chair, I am very pleased to say that all of the recom- mendations were carried unanimously, endorsed by the committee members from both sides of this House.

I speak for committee members when I say that it is our hope that the recommendations be given careful con- sideration as part of Budget 2014. It was a pleasure to serve as the Chair of the commit- tee that worked so well together across party lines. I com- mend all committee members on both sides on their hard work and their service to British Columbians and espe- cially the vice-Chair, the member for Port Coquitlam. Also a special thanks to the staff of the Clerk of Committees offi ce and to Hansard, who made our travel and meetings very successful.

British Columbia Debates1270 Thursday, February 13, 2014 In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the British Columbians who took the time to participate in this important process. We received ex- cellent and thoughtful input, all of which was carefully considered during our deliberations on this report. M. Farnworth: I rise to provide a few comments to the report and to thank the member for his comments and his work as Chair.

In my mind, I think, actually, this report will refl ect what the member for Juan de Fuca talked about this morning, which was the role of parliamentary commit- tees. I think that this report refl ects the kind of work that can happen when we allow our committee system to do a task — to go out, work together and to come up with recommendations that can be supported by both sides. I think we need to see more of that in this chamber, and that's why I'm pleased to off er my support for the report. Th ere was, as we said, travel around the community.

We met with groups right across British Columbia and heard views on a wide range of topics, from health care, education to business, to communities and, of course, in- vasive species. I can tell you that this is a report with a lot of positive recommendations in it. But as in any report, the proof will be in the enactment, and I look forward to seeing the recommendations in the budget on Tuesday. [1440] Motion approved. D. Ashton: I would now like to present the second re- port of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, the Annual Review of the Budgets of the Statutory Offi ces.

I move that the report be taken as read and received. Motion approved. D. Ashton: I ask leave of the House to move a motion to adopt the report. Leave granted. D. Ashton: I move that the report be adopted. In doing so, I would like to make some brief comments. Th is report summarizes the committee's annual review of the budget proposals, annual reports and service plans of the eight statutory offi ces of this House. Th e committee held meetings with all of the statutory offi cers and their staff and gave careful consideration to all of the budget requests for the coming fi scal year.

Given these challenging economic times, we were very appreciative of the eff orts that have been made to man- age within existing resources. I would like to thank all eight statutory offi cers and their incredibly hard-working staff for the important services they provide to British Columbians and the members of this House. In closing, I would like to take the opportunity to per- sonally thank, again, the Deputy Chair, the member for Port Coquitlam, and all of the other committee members who I had the pleasure of working with this fall.

I am very proud of the fact that we were able to work collaboratively as a group, and I hope that we'll be able to work with each and every one of you again in the near future. I would also like to thank the parliamentary commit- tees offi ce and their staff for supporting the work of the committee. Motion approved. Orders of the Day Hon. M. de Jong: I call continued debate on the Speech from the Th rone. Th rone Speech Debate (continued) J. Darcy: It's with great honour and pride that I stand to give my fi rst response to a Speech from the Th rone on behalf of the people I represent in New Westminster.

It's a very diff erent conversation than the one that we were just engaged in, and I will beg the agreement of this House if I respond fi rst and continue the discussion in which we were just engaged. [R. Chouhan in the chair.] Many of you will know that I had the great honour of representing health care workers in the Hospital Employees Union in British Columbia for 6½ years. Many of you will know that in my constituency of New Westminster the single biggest occupational group is people who work in health care.

Th ere is not one single day, not one single week that I am not still approached on the street by a constituent or by someone I once represented who talks to me about the record of this B.C. Liberal government in tearing up contracts, about the biggest layoff of women workers in Canadian history that took place with Bill 29. For the Education Minister — he's no longer listening, but I wish that I could have his attention for a moment — to stand in this House and to say that he is proud of the record and of the history of this government of 13 years of unprecedented labour peace….

I want to ask the minister: what world is he living in? What world is he living in? I'm going to return to that issue later on in my remarks. When I sit in this chamber, as I have for the last few days, listening to the throne speech and the debate that follows, it's the voices, it's the issues, it's the people in my constituency that I try and keep uppermost in my mind. [1445]

British Columbia DebatesThursday, February 13, 2014 1271 I try and listen and look at every issue that comes be- fore us through their eyes, through their ears, about how it aff ects their lives. The community I'm very proud to represent, New Westminster, is a very special community. I know we all say that, and our communities are all very special places.

Ours is a community in every sense of the word — 67,000 people in six square miles on the banks of the mighty Fraser; a city where people come together in their workplaces, in their schools, in playgrounds, in faith organizations, in local businesses and restaurants and, again, to play in the Westminster Pier Park on the banks of the Fraser River. It's a community where we celebrate our successes, and there are many of them. It is also a community where we come together as one in times of adversity.

Since this House sat last, 202 days ago, New Westminster has once again — not just once but twice — come together as one in the face of adversity. We have faced not just one trial by fi re but two trials by fi re. I mean, literally, major fi res in our community. Th e fi rst one, on October 10 of last year, devastated most of a historic block containing heritage buildings that had been in existence for over a century.

As those buildings were destroyed, so were over 20 businesses, some of them longstanding family businesses, some of them owned by new entrepreneurs, all of whom had in- vested their life savings, their hard work and many, many hours into making their businesses a success — all de- stroyed. But what happened next in my community…. I know this happens across British Columbia, across this great country. People come together as never before. It's a beautiful sight to behold.

Within a couple days, for those devastated businesses, other businesses in the commun- ity were opening their doors, off ering space, allowing people to set up and restart their businesses as soon as they possibly could, and the help has kept coming in. Th e second fi re in my community took place just two weeks ago. It devastated an entire low-rise apartment building at Fourth and Ash in New Westminster, in the heart of what we call apartment city — a lot of low-rise apartment buildings built in the '50s, '60s and '70s.

Through the heroism of neighbours taking care of neighbours, through the incredible work of our New West fi re department that was on the scene, every single person got out alive — seniors, people with disabilities. Everybody got out alive, including any of the cats and dogs and even a bird that was rescued in the process. But those people lost everything else, absolutely every- thing else — 32 households. No fi re sprinklers, no insur- ance, not even ID to start rebuilding their lives.

Again, the community of New Westminster rallied to support those people in need — our social agencies, our churches, our fi re, our police, our emergency services, our constitu- ency offi ce, food banks — over and over again. Within 48 hours those agencies and churches that were receiv- ing donations of food and furniture and appliances and clothing had to say: "Stop. We're overfl owing. Th e need has been met." Th e immediate need, of course, was to take care of those families.

Th e next step, however, is to look at what we can do in our community, in this chamber and work- ing with the federal government to ensure that we put in place changes so that this kind of thing cannot hap- pen again. People who live in low-rent — relatively low-rent — aff ordable housing should also be able to go to sleep at night knowing that they're going to be safe and that their homes and their buildings and their possessions are not going to be destroyed in the middle of the night.

Th at's an issue that I will certainly be working with my colleagues to bring before this House. [1450] Forty-eight percent of housing stock in my city is rent- al housing, most of it built in a period before the current fi re code regimes were in place — a high percentage of tenants. Tenants' rights are a very, very big issue. Certainly, the people in my community, when they send me here, say: "We want to know what this govern- ment is going to do.

We want to know what's going to be in the throne speech, what's going to be in the budget, what's going to be in the vision of this government to protect tenants' rights in the future." I'd love to say, "Y es, there is," but there's not one single word in this throne speech that speaks to tenants. It's as if tenants in this province don't exist for this government. I want to speak for a few minutes about transporta- tion.

I'm glad that the Transportation Minister is in the House today, because New Westminster stands at the crossroads of the Lower Mainland, strategically located on the banks of the Fraser River in an area that was once inhabited by the Qayqayt First Nation, a place they called the gathering place. My predecessors before me have stood and reminded us over and over again that the fi rst capital of British Columbia was in New Westminster — the Royal City, and still very proudly so.

But today, with everything that my community and my city has to off er, unfortunately what New Westminster tends to be best known for now is being top of the list on the traffi c report almost every single morning, every single aft ernoon and every single night because of the traffi c going on and off and in the surrounding streets around the Pattullo Bridge. My condo building stands just above it. I can see it at all hours of the day. It is the top of the traffi c news almost every single day. Almost every single day nearly half a million vehicle trips pass through New Westminster without stopping.

The congestion, the noise, the pol- lution, the safety of our children — the impact on our quality of life is getting to be pretty overwhelming for the community that I represent.

British Columbia Debates1272 Thursday, February 13, 2014 Y es, we are at the crossroads of the Lower Mainland, but we are also experiencing fi rsthand. We are right in the centre. We are the clear evidence of the lack of a real regional transportation plan for the Lower Mainland, and that's an absence of leadership by this government that the people in my community and elsewhere are paying the price for. With great fanfare, not long ago the South Fraser Perimeter Road opened. However, it's not yet connected, and we don't know if it ever will be, to the Port Mann Bridge.

In fact, the truckers have to take a 16-kilometre detour in order to get on the Port Mann Bridge. So what do they do? Extra gas, extra time; got to get the goods to the destination. Th ey go to the Pattullo Bridge. The Port Mann Bridge — the widest in the world. We've heard that over and over again. When the lower tolls were fi rst put on last year, again the traffi c start- ed streaming to the Pattullo Bridge — a lack of a clear regional transportation plan.

Th ose trucks continue now — by some estimates, a 30 percent increase — on our major egress and access routes but also on neighbour- ing streets, aff ecting our children, aff ecting our schools, making streets less safe for our seniors. What does this Transportation Minister in this govern- ment say to the people of my community who believe that his job as Transportation Minister is to work with our city, to work with our municipal governments, to work with our communities to develop transportation and transit plans that serve everyone?

What does he say about traf- fi c on the Pattullo Bridge, which is a nightmare? He says we're imagining it. Th e numbers from TransLink clearly show that the Transportation Minister is wrong when he says that the Port Mann Bridge tolls are not causing thousands of vehicles and trucks to use the Pattullo Bridge instead. Y et this government minister says: "Th ere has been no mass diversion of traffi c, truck or otherwise, from the Port Mann to the Pattullo Bridge." Y et in one week alone crossings increased by over 40,000 vehicles. Where are they coming from?

In one year only, it's estimated, a 30 percent increase in truck traffi c. [1455] I want to take this opportunity to echo what I know my mayor and city council have said in extending an in- vitation to the Transportation Minister to come to New Westminster and see it for himself. I know that he will hear from our counterparts at the municipal level the same message that I deliver in this House.

Th at is that it's time for this government to stop playing divide and rule — and trying to create havoc for political purposes about something as absolutely critical to the well-being of our economy and our communities as a good, functioning regional transportation plan, including public transit in the Lower Mainland. I wish there was a glimmer of that in the throne speech. We say: "Wait ten years. We're going to have a ten-year transportation plan." We need action now.

We need ac- tion that brings people together in a consultative way, not in a dictatorial way, because my community and other communities need real solutions. I want to touch on the issue of aff ordability for families in daily life. Th ere's also not a single day on my street or in my constituency offi ce when people don't come up to me and say: "How's it going in Victoria? What's happen- ing in Victoria? How's the Legislature?" Of course, they're shocked to hear that we have sat less in this Legislature than any other Legislature in the country.

Invariably, they tell me about the issues they want me to raise, and the aff ordability of their daily lives is at the very top of the list — MSP hikes, school fees, out- of-pocket health costs, transit fares, tuition costs that are putting post-secondary education out of reach, and child care. Whoa, do they ever talk an awful lot about child care.

Over the last few months there's oft en been exchanges, sometimes in person and sometimes over Twitter, over #newwest, where people talk about, "My child care costs are the second-highest, aft er mortgage or rent," and then someone else says: "Well, I've got two kids, so actually, my child care costs are higher than my rent or my mortgage." Is that what families fi rst means for this government: that the cost of child care, the cost of early learning — which experts like Clyde Hertzman, who we have saluted in this House, have talked about as absolutely critical to early childhood development and to future opportunities — that child care is so completely out of reach?

Y et there is absolutely nothing in this throne speech that talks about child care, that talks about early learning. Th ere's some- thing desperately wrong with this picture. Th ere's also not a word in this throne speech — and some of my colleagues have spoken eloquently about it before me — about child poverty. How can it be that a government says that its agenda is about families fi rst and yet there is not one single word, not one single ac- tion proposed to alleviate the worst child poverty record in this entire country? We've had that abysmal record year aft er year.

How can this Premier, how can this gov- ernment abandon the children of this province and still claim to have an agenda called families fi rst? Is this pessimistic? Is this about no? Absolutely, it's not. It's about saying that every single child in our community, no matter what their social or economic status, should have the opportunity to succeed. Children are poor be- cause their parents are poor, and we need a poverty re- duction strategy in this province. It's long overdue. Other provincial governments of diff erent political stripes are taking action on it.

Why is there not one single word in this throne speech about that? Speaking of children and of young people, one of the great joys of being an MLA is meeting with students in my constituency. It's such a pleasure to see the world through their eyes, to understand the issues through their questions.

British Columbia DebatesThursday, February 13, 2014 1273 [1500] I had the opportunity recently to meet with students from the New West Secondary School environment club. Many of you have maybe been visited by students across the province. I was expecting three or four of them, but 20, 25 showed up and invaded the offi ce. It was wonder- ful. Th ey were smart. Th ey were well versed. Th ey were articulate. Th ey were passionate. Th ey wanted to talk about a wide range of issues. Of course, they were concerned about jobs, about skills training, about the economy, about the environment and about their futures.

Th ey fi lled my ears for an hour, asked me a lot of questions. It wasn't, for them, about either jobs or the environment, either the economy or climate action. Th eir question was a very simple one. "Will you act to ensure that this province and this government re- spect the climate action targets for 2020?" And I was proud to sign onto that commitment. I went outside my offi ce aft erwards. Th ey pulled me outside. Some of them had lagged behind when they fi rst came in.

I discovered that it was a very, very good thing that I had, in fact, said what I believed in my heart, that we absolutely need to respect those climate action com- mitments, because there was an enormous display of chalk art on the sidewalk in front of my offi ce that said: "Defend our future. It's about us." I want to come back to some other children I had the opportunity to meet with recently. Th at was a grade 5 class at Robson School in New Westminster.

Our school district, like others across B.C., has strug- gled to provide high-quality public education in the face of 12 years of underfunding by this government. Th ey have struggled, especially, to cope with the needs of special needs children, who learn diff erently, who need additional supports in the classroom. We know, parents of special needs children, that if those children don't get the support that they need now, the consequences later in life will be devastating for them and will be far more costly for our community and for our society.

Our school district has st ruggled to put in place tar- geted programs not just for special needs children but for other children with varying economic backgrounds who face particular challenges and who need some additional supports. We are blessed in our school district to have teachers and special education assistants and resource staff and support staff throwing their heart and soul and every ounce of their energy and their expertise every day in order to make sure that our children get the best pos- sible education and the best possible start in life.

Th is grade 5 class at John Robson was an incredible tes- tament to that. Th ey were bright-eyed. Th ey were inquisi- tive. Th ey were as diverse as any classroom you would fi nd anywhere in the country, and they asked wonder- ful questions about what it meant to be an MLA, what government is, what it does, where it meets — all of that kind of thing. I tried to describe this august chamber and the sense of responsibility that goes with being here, and the history and the tradition. One little girl put up her hand at one point, and she said: "Y ou work in a chamber?

Th at sounds like a really horrible, scary place." I, of course, hastened to assure her that that was not the case at all. The most interesting conversation of all revolved around the issue of apology to Chinese Canadians. Some of these kids in the room knew something about racism. For others, they were pretty puzzled by the concept, and the questions and the comments were fl ying back and forth. It was very, very powerful. At one point I asked this little girl: "What do you do if you make a mistake?" She stuck up her hand. She says: "Well, you apologize." It's just very easy.

"And then what do you do?" "Well, you don't ever do it again," she said with great conviction. [1505] Then I asked her something that puzzled her a bit more. "How do you know not to do it again?" "Well, I guess you could go and ask somebody. I guess you could go and talk to the person that you hurt." Y ou make a mistake. Y ou understand why you did it. Y ou apologize, and then you don't do it again. Th at's a pretty profound conversation in so many ways with a fi ve-year-old about the treatment of Chinese Canadians, in this case, about Japanese Canadians, about South Asians and about First Nations people.

I'm very proud to say that my city of New Westminster was the very fi rst municipality in this country to issue an apology to our Chinese community, by going back and digging and exposing the history of the racist laws and regulations that prohibited where people could work or play or eat or get health care or go to school or gather . Th en they put in place a real plan for reconciliation that involved action and education — concrete measures to make New Westminster a more welcoming and more in- clusive community.

Th e cross-cultural youth summit that a class from New West Secondary School was really thrilled to be part of also involved some profound conversations. A class of 20 students — again, incredible diversity, our future leaders in our community and in our province. Th ey were very much engaged in connecting the past to the present and the future in order to ensure that we not repeat those mistakes of that odious past. One of the issues that came up in conversation was about exploitation of Chinese workers in the past and how they were treated and discriminated against.

Th e discussion evolved onto things like lack of proper recognition of foreign credentials still today in this prov- ince and in this country and also the issue of a temporary foreign worker program and why it's critically important that we continue to welcome people to our shores and welcome immigrants to come and work in our work- places but, when we welcome them, that we don't treat them as second-class citizens and say that they should be

British Columbia Debates1274 Thursday, February 13, 2014 paid half or two-thirds of the wages, without benefi ts, of other people doing that work. In fact, when they come to this country, it should be a path to citizenship with full rights so that we don't repeat the mistakes of the past. I want to just continue on this theme about mistakes of the past and learning from them.

I want to share the outrage that has been expressed in my community — by parents, by folks on the street, by people I encounter all the time — when the sordid tale was revealed over the last couple of weeks about this government's strategy to provoke a strike with teachers. Now, I've bargained a lot in my life. I've bargained with this government. I've bargained in the private sector. Big contracts, little contracts, it's tough stuff . It's very, very diffi cult. But there's a fundamental ingredient to getting to yes. Th is government likes to talk constantly about getting to yes.

Th e fundamental agreement to getting to yes is that both sides actually want to fi nd a solution. Th e fundamental ingredient to getting to yes is that the people at the table are putting fi rst and foremost the in- terests of both who they immediately represent as well as the interests of the people of this province.

I could not believe my eyes when I read in this throne speech the words that we are working toward "creat- ing a personalized education plan for every student and an agreement to ensure a decade of labour peace in our classrooms." A decade of labour peace. [1510] Th ose words were written aft er a Supreme Court jus- tice in British Columbia said clearly that the government planned, that the government conspired, that the govern- ment, we hear now, met 15 times with Paul Straszak to fi gure out how to provoke a strike. Frankly, as I began my remarks today….

It was not my intention to begin there but impossible not to, quite frankly. I thought I had seen the most scandalous labour relations ever possible in a democracy before this latest sordid

chapter was revealed. Go back to 2002. Bill 27 and Bill 28 we have spoken about, as they aff ect teachers. Bill 29, as I have mentioned — biggest layoff of women work- ers in Canadian history. Talk about a jobs plan. Th at was about replacing decent, family-supporting jobs, mainly held by women, and cut- ting the wage. Replacing them with jobs at half the wages, no benefi ts, fi ghting unionization tooth and nail and spending millions of taxpayers dollars in order to do that, stripping collective agreements of job security provisions. Today the legacy lives on.

It especially lives on in our care homes, where it is a monthly occurrence that we see contract fl ipping. Th at means that not only are dedicated caregivers thrown out on the street. But seniors who have — as we all know, if we have family members in care — an incredible attachment to those caregivers…. To have those caregivers ripped away from them, evidence says, increases the rates of morbidity and mortality.

How this government can stand and say with pride that they have an unprecedented record of labour peace defies imagination, because it was this government's egregious actions, launched in 2002, that led the Supreme Court of Canada for the fi rst time in Canadian legal his- tory to say that collective bargaining rights shall from this point forward be deemed to be Charter-protected rights — Charter-protected rights.

I was honoured to lead health care workers not during but in the aft ermath of what this same government did to those folks — the layoff s, the 15 percent rollback — and then, when the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in June of 2007 that the government was wrong, to negotiate a settlement for those workers. This government needs to learn from its mistakes. What that grade fi ve student said really said it all. Y ou make a mistake, you learn from it, and you don't do it again. I want to rise on behalf of my constituents and say yes to a throne speech and say yes to a budget.

But how can I do that in good conscience when this throne speech says nothing about health care except that we've got the second-lowest costs in the country, and we've got the best outcomes? Th at's it. Nothing about seniors. Nothing about preventive care. Nothing about standing up for a federal health accord. Nothing about hospice care. Nothing about transforming our health care system so that it's more community-based. J. Th ornthwaite: I stand in the Legislature today off er- ing my support for the throne speech.

As is customary in a lot of inaugural speeches in the Legislature, I'd like to say thank you for the support and love that I get from my family. My youngest is at home today. She's sick. She's got the fl u, I think, and now is kind of the time that you kind of wish as a mother that you were with her. [1515] I know she's not watching, because there are so many other things that are much better to watch. But I'll re- mind her that I was on television earlier. In either case, both Zoey and my other daughter, Mallory, and Jeremy defi nitely have to put up with their mom being away a lot and working a lot.

I'd also like to thank my staff , both in North Vancouver — Alysia, Lynn and Corinna — for all the hard work they do for me back home, and then obviously we have some legislative staff here as well that that are very helpful. Chantel is very helpful here, as well as our communi- cation offi cers and research offi cers, Marc W ang and Stephanie. I just wanted to put a shout-out for them be- cause I know that they work hard behind the scenes and don't always get the recognition that they deserve. So I'm happy to be back and happy to support the throne speech.

But, fi rst of all, just before I get on to my remarks, I just wanted to reiterate my thank you, actually, for the LG and her remarks about tributes. I mentioned the first day back in one of my two-

British Columbia DebatesThursday, February 13, 2014 1275 minute statements about the passing of a hero and a friend of mine, a constituent of mine, Tim Jones, who was the leader of the North Shore Rescue as well as a paramedic. So I just wanted to draw viewers' attention if they wanted to look at those remarks for more informa- tion. But certainly we all miss Tim, and he's going to be sorely missed for a long, long time. I'm totally confi dent that that team will…. Th ey have been, actually, picking up and going where he left off in rescues. Th ey even did it two days aft er he left us.

So I'm very confi dent that North Shore Rescue is well taken care of with the team that he actually trained and provided and gave guidance to. Th ank you, Tim, for all that you did for us and, actually, everybody that needed to be rescued. About the throne speech. When I listened to the throne speech, I thought about the word "connections." Because there are a lot of connections that are going along here, and we are always trying to bring things together — bring ministries together, try to break down silos, try to make things so that we're all working together.

One of the connections that sometimes doesn't get a lot of attention in my riding, given the fact that it's an urban riding, is the connection between the resource sec- tor in the north or rural areas and the wealth that we all share in British Columbia, including the urban centres like North Vancouver. In my riding we don't actually have any major resource industries, but I will mention that my neighbouring rid- ing, of course, will be building the great shipbuilding con- tract for Seaspan that is coming now. We do have lots of people that work in those industries that live in my riding.

I also have many, many people that work in the min- ing industries, forestry industries, oil and gas industries, even though those actual industries are not in my riding. We have engineers. We have accountants. We even have the baristas in the coff ee shops that make their coff ee. We have a lot of people provincewide that benefi t from the wealth that we get from the resource sector. Of course, we are building new schools. We have a lot of new schools happening in North Vancouver. Even since when I was elected in 2009, it seems like we've got a booming school growth business there.

We've got an- other one that is coming up, actually, in the next few months — a grand opening at Queen Mary. So I'm very proud of the capital funding that is going towards our new schools. And, of course, we have got the new Lions Gate Hospital opening coming up — the psychiatric unit — and we'll be hearing more about that in the spring as well. All of those costs in health care and education cost money, so we do have the thanks of the resource com- munity to provide us with that wealth, provincewide, as well as in North Vancouver.

Our economic plan is working, and it is leveraging our strengths, opening new markets and attracting new in- vestments. We're working very, very hard to realize our long-term goal of a sustainable LNG industry to help pay off our debt and move forward with a prosperity fund to help all of the people of B.C. realize their potential and to lift people out of poverty. Connections are also about matching what we need to what we want and what we can aff ord.

Every single family in British Columbia has to balance that. [1520] Next week our Finance Minister will introduce another balanced budget — a triple-A credit rating. I understand that only Saskatchewan is the other province that is going to be able to show a balanced budget. We are the govern- ment of prudent fi scal management — paying off debt — of bold ideas, a strong economy and a secure tomorrow.

Th e other type of connection that I noticed that was profi led in the throne speech is the connection of edu- cation, skills training — both in the K-to-12 as well as the advanced ed — and the jobs that are available aft er they graduate.

My colleagues in the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Jobs, the Ministry of Advanced Education and even Children and Families, and Social Development and others in Technology are all working very, very hard to make sure that our citizens are the fi rst people in line for the 100,000-plus jobs that are going to be available within the next few years, courtesy of LNG and other re- source industries — not to mention the high-tech indus- try, including fi lm and digital animation. I'll speak about that a little bit later.

Leveraging our strengths in technology is also work- ing on our major hubs of technology with Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna. Technology is B.C.'s third-largest industry, and we are working very hard to capitalize on the entrepreneurialship of today's young people who thrive on high-tech. In B.C. we're also looking at a wave of retirements and new economic growth across the province. We have the opportunity and challenge of a million job openings over the next decade, so we need to improve the number and quality of trades and technical graduates.

Th is is my focus, and what my parliamentary secretary position fo- cuses on, in education. I'm thankful to once again be appointed as Parlia- mentary Secretary for Student Support and Parent En- gagement and to work very closely with the Minister of Education. Education is the key to our future, and we have been working very hard to bring our education sys- tem up to the 21st century. Th e appointments of the superintendents of achieve- ment for literacy, aboriginal, graduation, trades and career development are all indications of the intense in- vestment our government is putting in education.

We have upgraded our graduation requirements and cur- riculum to help our students become more job-ready. I'm working very closely with parent groups, the B.C. Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils and district

British Columbia Debates1276 Thursday, February 13, 2014 PACs across the province and asking their advice, par- ents' advice, on how we can help educate parents on the importance of the trades for their children. I'm work- ing with schools to ensure that those children know that there are lots of high-paying, highly skilled jobs available, waiting for them when they graduate, but they have to get ready, and they have to know that they're out there.

A couple of weeks ago I attended, at the North Vancouver school district, Ticket to Y our Future, put on by the North Vancouver school district skills-training department. Th is was an excellent example of school dis- tricts committed to educating our citizens for the future. Over 500 parents and students showed up on one even- ing to learn about all the diff erent career opportunities that are available for students and where they can pursue their post-secondary studies to ensure that they get those jobs when they graduate.

I'll just give you a few examples: trades and technol- ogy, tourism, business, digital design and media, health, humanities, fi tness, recreation, science. Th ey had people from BCIT, from Capilano University. Th ey had jobs people waiting, for hiring, from Seaspan, from the Great Canadian Landscape Co., from Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier — all sorts of diff erent matches for what's available for the kids aft er they graduate, what they have to do and what kind of courses they have to take in school, K-to-12, as well as to encourage them to move forward in their post- secondary studies.

I was very heartened to hear the Minister of Education in his statements that he said yesterday in his response to the throne speech that tomorrow's classrooms are not like they were even a decade ago. We do have to respond to the changing world. Th at involves not just changing the physical structure of classrooms but how students are taught and how teachers teach. Kids are way more tech savvy than the adults, and we need to ensure that we are teaching them in their language. Th ere are things that we need to do and that we can do to protect them.

I'm working on that as well, with regards to the ERASE Bullying strategy. Th e Minister of Education also stated yesterday that stability in the classrooms will allow us to deliver on the expectations that all students, all parents and all staff would prefer, so we are working on a stable labour agreement. [1525] As parliamentary secretary, I work with parent groups to encourage all parents to become more involved and engaged in their children's education and how we can as- sist them with the technology that's available.

One of the things that I'm looking forward to seeing up and running, shortly, in my school district, is the new Connect-ED system — a secure web-based portal, ac- cessible through all browsers, including mobile phones, to provide parents, students and teachers with real-time access to their student records, assignments and learning resources. Th is will be a true interactive way for parents to be involved, and directly involved, in their children's education on a day-to-day basis. Th is term, I am taking up the issue of anti-bullying, which was spearheaded by our Premier in June, 2012 — ERASE Bullying.

What does ERASE mean? Expect re- spect and have a safe education. It's a ten-point strategy — a fi ve-year, very aggressive strategy — multi-training for 15,000 educators and community partners to help them proactively identify and address threats in our schools. Level 1 is preventing bullying and ensuring a safe and caring school community, levels 2 and 3, threat risk assessment, and level 4, train the trainer. So far, over 5,500 people have been trained already in public, independent and First Nations schools, with partnership with police, youth mental health, child pro- tection and probation.

Th ere are now 60 dedicated safe school coordinators and teams in every school district in B.C. Th is year I have attended the fi rst meeting of the Prov- incial Advisory Committee on Bullying and Violence Prevention, with fellow members from police, school and social agency partners. Th e ERASE provincial anti- bullying program is nationally recognized and respected. But we are not done yet. One of the things I fi nd very interesting that we're moving forward on is the ERASE Student Advisory Committee. This is a student-to-student initiative.

Government is always looking for new ideas on how to change the culture of bullying. Students need to be at the forefront. So on January 17 government announced the ERASE Student Advisory, which will be a group of about 12 students from all over B.C. representing public, independent and First Nations schools. Th ey will advise the Minister of Education and the Premier on bullying and student safety issues. Today schools and communities are dealing with a number of complex issues specifi c to student safety — many issues that students know more about than adults.

Th at is why we are creating the student advisory — so that we can connect directly with students and continue to make them part of the solution. By taking a youth-by- youth approach, students will be more engaged in how they can make a positive impact on their school and community. I just want to make a brief mention about cyberbully- ing. Th is is something I'm very interested in. In addition to attending numerous presentations from digital experts, like the most recent BCCPAC Vancouver Island presen- tation, I'm now working on a video project with student- safety experts Jesse Miller and Th eresa Campbell.

Jesse is a social media safety and awareness expert. Th eresa Campbell is president of Safer Schools Together, and she was instrumental in implementing our government's ERASE Bullying strategies. Th rough these videos, parents will be able to learn the

British Columbia DebatesThursday, February 13, 2014 1277 preventative actions and techniques that they can take to protect their kids. Th ey will also fi nd out what to do to protect their kids and how to fi nd out what to do if their child is the target of cyberbullying. Kids today are way more tech savvy, as I said earlier, but they don't necessarily know that whatever they put out on the Internet is there forever. Th ey don't realize that privacy settings or Internet friends are not necessarily really their friends and that everything they put on the Internet stays there.

I was first introduced to this fact at one of Jesse's classroom sessions that he happened to do in North Vancouver. One of the things that was really telling is that my daughter had told me about this Snapchat pro- gram. Th ose of you who don't know what Snapchat is, you should probably ask your kids, because they'll be able to tell you because they're all using it. It's very stunning what Jesse does. He talks to the kids, initially, in the morning and the aft ernoon, and all dif- ferent age groups.

Th en in the aft ernoon and the evening he talks to the parents, those same parents that have the kids in the school. It's absolutely stunning to learn how much those kids know about the Internet and about so- cial media but how much they don't know about how to protect themselves. [1530] Th at's what I'm working on. It all comes down to edu- cation and good digital citizenship for kids, for adults, for educators, for parents, for everyone. It's also about em- pathy and caring about others. Just a little note here.

Children do emulate adult behav- iour, so we do have a long way to go on that one because we tend to say a lot of things on line that we wouldn't say in person to someone. We don't know how it aff ects them when they look at what is said about them on line, and you can't see their reaction. So we're working on that. We're working on this anti-bullying program, and I'm very confi dent that a lot of people are going to learn a lot.

Carrying on in the education end, the member oppos- ite mentioned personalized education which, of course, is the main strategy for our children's education, in addi- tion to the curriculum review. But I did want to mention that British Columbia does have an exceptional educa- tion system. We maintain the historical position as one of the top-performing jurisdictions in the world. Depending on the subject, we put B.C.'s 15-year- old students, all of them, in a range above other high- performing jurisdictions, including Finland, Germany and Australia.

And in comparison to other Canadian provinces, B.C. students are top-ranked in reading and science and only second to Quebec in math. So I think we have an education system to be very, very proud of. Before I just move on, I've got to give a little plug to North Vancouver again — the new schools that have been built since I became an MLA: Lynn Valley, Westview, Sutherland, Ridgeway, Carson, Highlands and the famous Windsor artifi cial turf. And here we are go- ing to be opening Queen Mary in the next few months. We've got a lot of good things happening in education.

Moving on, then, I thought I'd briefl y just mention something about the new hospital that's coming up. We have in North Vancouver the Lions Gate Hospital HOpe centre, which includes the new UBC faculty of medi- cine and a new ambulance station. It's called the Greta and Robert H.N. Ho centre for psychiatry and education, and I'm looking forward to joining my other North Shore colleagues in the next month or so, and the Minister of Health, in a grand opening of that facility. Here's another connection. I've just talked about health.

I've just talked about education and all of the in- vestments that are occurring in North Vancouver. Here's the connection back with the resource sector. Demand for world energy and natural gas is tremendous. By 2020 the middle class in the Asian countries is forecast to triple to 1.7 billion. Th is was mentioned in the throne speech. Th e demand for cleaner, safer energy has never been greater.

LNG is not only going to be the biggest job cre- ator and an opportunity for British Columbians to pay off our debt and to develop a prosperity fund; it has the potential to be the biggest step that we could possibly do to fi ght global climate change. By helping countries like China switch from coal to LNG to generate power, we can help the world reduce emissions. Agreements have already been made in two parcels by Grassy Point, and we are also taking steps to- wards an LNG Buy B.C. initiative to match B.C. busi- nesses with LNG investors and projects. Back to connections.

I just wanted to say a brief state- ment about transportation, because that was also brought up by the member opposite. We are building on a 13- year record of improvements in transportation, and we are developing a ten-year improvement plan for trans- portation. We have a huge project that the Ministry of Transportation, myself, MLAs, the district of North Vancouver and the city of North Vancouver have all been working very, very hard to work for fruition: the Fern Street overpass, Highway 1 interchange. Th ere's going to be more coming on that in the next little bit.

Th en lastly, I just would like to talk to you about a subject that is near and dear to my constituents, and it's about the fi lm industry. All I can say is: wow. What a dif- ference a year makes. Th e fi lm industry is booming in B.C., and it's a great example of how education and highly skilled careers are being connected to meet the job mar- kets of the future — high-tech job markets.

In my riding, in North Vancouver, the fi lm industry is actually a good example of the B.C. jobs plan and eff orts to combat the shortage of skilled workers in the motion picture arts, digital media — and other very highly tech- nical and skilled, trained professionals who work in the many, many creative industries. [1535]

British Columbia Debates1278 Thursday, February 13, 2014 For example, Murray Bulger, who is a digital media educator with the Digital Media Academy at Ecole Ar- gyle Secondary in North Vancouver. He excites kids about fi lm. When they get excited in grades 10, 11 and 12, then they want to go — where else? — to Capilano Uni- versity, the Nat and Flora Bosa Centre for Film and Ani- mation.

Th ere this cutting-edge facility gives our future fi lm-makers access to the latest technology: 3-D capabil- ities, a 200-seat high-defi nition theatre, sound mixing and recording studios, an 8,000-square-foot sound stage, picture and sound editing labs, as well as visual eff ects, animation and costuming studios — everything you need to make a feature fi lm. Th en I just want to fi nalize my comments with regards to the fi lm industry. I went on a tour, and I visited a very, very successful digital company, the largest animation studio in North America: Nerd Corps.

From a very small provincial investment that occurred in 2005, they have grown from a team of ten to nearly 400 full-time em- ployees. Th eir productions to date will have generated in excess of $190 million and produced more than 460 half-hours of content for television. Th ey create, develop, produce, manufacture, manage and export their own B.C.-generated and -owned kids' entertainment brand and retain the underlining rights to the IPs. Th ey've created fi ve properties.

Th ey've spawned hundreds of episodes, generated in excess of $80 million, instigated the creation of a global licensing division and two worldwide licensing programs, and driven the cre- ation of an interactive division producing top-rated web- and mobile-content and games. Th ey are made and bred and foster and fl ourish in British Columbia. Th ey embarked on a trade mission to China because it is their biggest untapped market. Sound familiar? Th eir business creates stable, high-tech, green-friendly jobs and supports the growth of the high-tech and cre- ative sectors in B.C. Th eir biggest complaint?

Th ey can't get enough skilled workers, and there's a shortage of talents and skills. So there you go. We're working on it in North Vancouver, and we're working on it at Capilano University. Just to summarize from Peter Leitch, who's the chair of the Motion Picture Production Industry Association and president of North Shore Studios: "Th e foundation of B.C.'s creative economic mix is the combination of tal- ent, quality, experience and adaptability that has helped screen-based production to continue to fl ourish in spite of competitive conditions that are sometimes daunting.

We have what it takes to keep B.C.'s growing economy if we work together on the big picture to build our suc- cesses." In

summary, getting back on my theme of connections, British Columbians are very fortunate to live in the most beautiful province in the most beautiful country in the world. We have much to be grateful for, and our ability to balance responsible and environmentally sustainable re- source development is something we can all be proud of. Our economic plan is working, creating more oppor- tunities for everyone by controlling spending, opening new markets, attracting new investment, leveraging our existing strengths and moving towards the realization of LNG and our high-tech industries.

We are preparing, and will continue to prepare, all British Columbians to be fi rst in line for all of the up- coming job prospects. We are in exciting and challen- ging times. We have a strong economy, and we have a secure future. K. Corrigan: It's probably appropriate that I point out that

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20140213pm-Hansard-v5n4
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20140213pm Hansard v5n4
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	f16bfcdddb11ce808556e74b96c767930e91fa9c

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