British Columbia Hansard — 5 May 2026, a.m., Issue 172 (43rd Parliament, 2nd Session)

20260505am-Hansard-n172

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

Second Session, 43rd Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES (HANSARD) Tuesday, May 5, 2026 Morning Sitting Issue No. 172 THE HONOURABLE RAJ CHOUHAN, SPEAKER ISSN 1499-2175

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Her Honour the Honourable Wendy Cocchia, CM, OBC Second Session, 43rd Parliament SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Raj Chouhan EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council ................................................................................................... Hon. David Eby, KC Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities .......................................................... Hon.

Brittny Anderson Minister of Agriculture and Food ..............................................................................................................................Hon. Lana Popham Attorney General and Deputy Premier ............................................................................................................... Hon. Niki Sharma, KC Minister of Children and Family Development ......................................................................................................Hon.

Jodie Wickens Minister of Citizens’ Services ......................................................................................................................................Hon. Diana Gibson Minister of Education and Child Care ............................................................................................................................Hon. Lisa Beare Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness ................................................................................ Hon.

Kelly Greene Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions .................................................................................................................... Hon. Adrian Dix Minister of Environment and Parks .................................................................................................... Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson Minister of Finance ......................................................................................................................................................Hon.

Brenda Bailey Minister of Forests .......................................................................................................................................................... Hon. Ravi Parmar Minister of Health ........................................................................................................................................................Hon. Josie Osborne Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs ...........................................................................................................Hon.

Christine Boyle Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation ........................................................................Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert Minister of Infrastructure .............................................................................................................................................. Hon. Bowinn Ma Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth ...................................................................................................................... Hon.

Ravi Kahlon Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and New Technologies .................................................................. Hon. Rick Glumac Minister of Labour .............................................................................................................................................. Hon. Jennifer Whiteside Minister of Mining and Critical Minerals .....................................................................................................................Hon.

Jagrup Brar Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills ........................................................................................Hon. Jessie Sunner Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General ........................................................................................................ Hon. Nina Krieger Minister of State for Community Safety and Integrated Services ........................................................................ Hon.

Terry Yung Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction ...............................................................................Hon. Sheila Malcolmson Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport ............................................................................................................. Hon. Anne Kang Minister of Transportation and Transit ................................................................................................................ Hon.

Mike Farnworth Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship ............................................................................................... Hon. Randene Neill Minister Without Portfolio ..............................................................................................................................................Hon.

Grace Lore LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Leader of the Official Opposition ......................................................................................................................................Trevor Halford Leader of the Third Party .................................................................................................................................................Jeremy Valeriote Deputy Speaker ......................................................................................................................................................................

Mable Elmore Assistant Deputy Speaker .................................................................................................................................................Lorne Doerkson Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole ......................................................................................................................George Anderson Clerk of the Legislative Assembly....................................................................................................................................Kate Ryan-Lloyd Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel ......................................................................................................................Seunghee Suzie Seo Deputy Clerk of the Legislative Assembly...............................................................................................................

Artour Sogomonian Clerk of Committees .............................................................................................................................................................. Jennifer Arril Committee Clerk ......................................................................................................................................................................

Karan Riarh Committee Clerk .........................................................................................................................................................................Darryl Hol Senior Legal Counsel .................................................................................................................................................................Hayley Hill Sergeant-at-Arms ..................................................................................................................................................................

Ray Robitaille Director of Hansard Services .......................................................................................................................................D’ Arcy McPherson Legislative Librarian ...............................................................................................................................................................Peter Gourlay

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS BY PARTY BC NDP Anderson, Hon. Brittny ........................................... Kootenay Central Anderson, George ................................................ Nanaimo-Lantzville Arora, Rohini ....................................................................Burnaby East Bailey, Hon. Brenda ................................Vancouver–South Granville Beare, Hon.

Lisa .......................................Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Begg, Garry .................................................................Surrey-Guildford Blatherwick, Jennifer ....................................Coquitlam-Maillardville Boyle, Hon. Christine .............................Vancouver–Little Mountain Brar, Hon. Jagrup ......................................................Surrey-Fleetwood Chandra Herbert, Hon. Spencer ..................... Vancouver–West End Chant, Susie .............................................

North Vancouver–Seymour Choi, Paul ..................................................Burnaby South–Metrotown Chouhan, Hon. Raj ................................. Burnaby–New Westminster Chow, George ....................................................Vancouver-Fraserview Davidson, Hon. Tamara / Laanas ...........North Coast–Haida Gwaii Dhir, Sunita .............................................................Vancouver-Langara Dix, Hon. Adrian .................................................. Vancouver-Renfrew Eby, Hon. David, KC .......................................

Vancouver–Point Grey Elmore, Mable ................................................. Vancouver-Kensington Farnworth, Hon. Mike .................................................Port Coquitlam Gibson, Hon. Diana ........................................Oak Bay–Gordon Head Glumac, Hon. Rick ...................................... Port Moody–Burquitlam Greene, Hon. Kelly ..............................................Richmond-Steveston Higginson, Stephanie ........................................Ladysmith-Oceanside Kahlon, Hon. Ravi .............................................................. Delta North Kang, Hon.

Anne ......................................................... Burnaby Centre Krieger, Hon. Nina ...............................................Victoria–Swan Lake Lajeunesse, Dana ..............................................Juan de Fuca–Malahat Lore, Hon. Grace .................................................Victoria–Beacon Hill Ma, Hon. Bowinn ................................... North Vancouver–Lonsdale Malcolmson, Hon. Sheila .........................Nanaimo–Gabriola Island Morissette, Steve ...................................................Kootenay Monashee Neill, Hon. Randene ............................

Powell River–Sunshine Coast Osborne, Hon. Josie ....................................... Mid Island–Pacific Rim Parmar, Hon. Ravi ...............................................Langford-Highlands Phillip, Joan / Amshen .....................................Vancouver-Strathcona Popham, Hon. Lana ........................................................ Saanich South Rotchford, Darlene ...............................................Esquimalt-Colwood Routledge, Janet .............................................................Burnaby North Sandhu, Harwinder ......................................................

Vernon-Lumby Shah, Amna ............................................................. Surrey City Centre Sharma, Hon. Niki, KC ....................................... Vancouver-Hastings Sunner, Hon. Jessie ....................................................... Surrey-Newton Toporowski, Debra / Qwulti’stunaat .......................Cowichan Valley Whiteside, Hon. Jennifer ...................New Westminster–Coquitlam Wickens, Hon. Jodie ............................. Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Yung, Hon.

Terry .................................................Vancouver-Yaletown CONSERV ATIVE PARTY OF BC Banman, Bruce .......................................................... Abbotsford South Bhangu, Harman .................................................. Langley-Abbotsford Bird, Rosalyn ............................................. Prince George–Valemount Block, Lynne ..............................................West Vancouver–Capilano Chapman, Brent .................................................................Surrey South Clare, Sheldon ....................................

Prince George–North Cariboo Davis, Pete ..................................................................Kootenay Rockies Day, Brennan ........................................................... Courtenay-Comox Dew, Gavin ..................................................................Kelowna-Mission Dhaliwal, Mandeep .......................................................... Surrey North Doerkson, Lorne .....................................................

Cariboo-Chilcotin Gasper, Reann .......................................................Abbotsford-Mission Giddens, Kiel ..............................................Prince George–Mackenzie Halford, Trevor ......................................................Surrey–White Rock Hartwell, Sharon ..............................................Bulkley Valley–Stikine Hepner, Linda ................................................Surrey–Serpentine River Kindy, Anna ........................................................................North Island Kooner, Steve ............................................Richmond-Queensborough Loewen, Kristina ..........................................................

Kelowna Centre Luck, Tony ..........................................................................Fraser-Nicola Maahs, Heather ......................................................... Chilliwack North McCall, Macklin .........................................West Kelowna–Peachland McInnis, Scott ......................................... Columbia River–Revelstoke Milobar, Peter ............................................................

Kamloops Centre Mok, Lawrence ...........................................................Maple Ridge East Neufeld, Korky ............................................................Abbotsford West Neufeld, Larry ...........................................................Peace River South Paton, Ian ..............................................................................Delta South Rattée, Claire .................................................................................Skeena Rustad, John ...................................................................Nechako Lakes Stamer, Ward .........................................Kamloops–North Thompson Tepper, Br yan ............................................................

Surrey-Panorama Toor, Jody ............................................................Langley-Willowbrook Van Popta, Misty..............................................Langley–Walnut Grove Warbus, Á’a:líya ..............................................Chilliwack–Cultus Lake Wat, Teresa .........................................................Richmond-Bridgeport Williams, David ...............................................Salmon Arm–Shuswap Wilson, Donegal ............................................Boundary-Similkameen BC GREEN PARTY Botterell, Rob .......................................Saanich North and the Islands Valeriote, Jeremy .....................................

West Vancouver–Sea to Sky INDEPENDENT Armstrong, Tara .....................Kelowna–Lake Country–Coldstream Boultbee, Amelia .............................................Penticton-Summerland Brodie, Dallas .................................................... Vancouver-Quilchena Chan, Hon ..................................................................Richmond Centre Kealy, Jordan ............................................................. Peace River North Sturko, Elenore .........................................................

Surrey-Cloverdale PARTY STANDINGS Total seats – 93 BC NDP – 47 | Conservative Party of BC – 38 | BC Green Party – 2 | Independent – 6

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF RIDINGS A Abbotsford-Mission ........................................................Reann Gasper Abbotsford South ........................................................... Bruce Banman Abbotsford West .............................................................Korky Neufeld B Boundary-Similkameen .............................................Donegal Wilson Bulkley Valley–Stikine ............................................... Sharon Hartwell Burnaby Centre ...........................................................Hon.

Anne Kang Burnaby East ......................................................................Rohini Arora Burnaby–New Westminster .................................. Hon. Raj Chouhan Burnaby North ..............................................................Janet Routledge Burnaby South–Metrotown .................................................. Paul Choi C Cariboo-Chilcotin .......................................................Lorne Doerkson Chilliwack–Cultus Lake .............................................. Á’a:líya Warbus Chilliwack North ..........................................................

Heather Maahs Columbia River–Revelstoke ...........................................Scott McInnis Coquitlam–Burke Mountain .............................. Hon. Jodie Wickens Coquitlam-Maillardville .................................... Jennifer Blatherwick Courtenay-Comox ............................................................ Brennan Day Cowichan Valley ....................... Debra Toporowski / Qwulti’stunaat D Delta North ................................................................Hon.

Ravi Kahlon Delta South ...............................................................................Ian Paton E Esquimalt-Colwood ................................................Darlene Rotchford F Fraser-Nicola .......................................................................... Tony Luck J Juan de Fuca–Malahat ...............................................Dana Lajeunesse K Kamloops Centre ............................................................. Peter Milobar Kamloops–North Thompson .........................................

Ward Stamer Kelowna Centre ........................................................... Kristina Loewen Kelowna–Lake Country–Coldstream ......................Tara Armstrong Kelowna-Mission ..................................................................Gavin Dew Kootenay Central ............................................ Hon. Brittny Anderson Kootenay Monashee ....................................................Steve Morissette Kootenay Rockies................................................................... Pete Davis L Ladysmith-Oceanside ........................................

Stephanie Higginson Langford-Highlands ................................................ Hon. Ravi Parmar Langley-Abbotsford ....................................................Harman Bhangu Langley–Walnut Grove ..............................................Misty Van Popta Langley-Willowbrook ............................................................ Jody Toor M Maple Ridge East ............................................................Lawrence Mok Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows ........................................Hon. Lisa Beare Mid Island–Pacific Rim ........................................ Hon.

Josie Osborne N Nanaimo–Gabriola Island ..........................Hon. Sheila Malcolmson Nanaimo-Lantzville ................................................. George Anderson Nechako Lakes ....................................................................John Rustad New Westminster–Coquitlam .................... Hon. Jennifer Whiteside North Coast–Haida Gwaii ............Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson North Island ........................................................................Anna Kindy North Vancouver–Lonsdale .....................................Hon.

Bowinn Ma North Vancouver–Seymour ...............................................Susie Chant O Oak Bay–Gordon Head ......................................... Hon. Diana Gibson P Peace River North ..............................................................Jordan Kealy Peace River South ............................................................Larry Neufeld Penticton-Summerland .............................................. Amelia Boultbee Port Coquitlam ................................................. Hon. Mike Farnworth Port Moody–Burquitlam ........................................Hon.

Rick Glumac Powell River–Sunshine Coast ............................. Hon. Randene Neill Prince George–Mackenzie ...............................................Kiel Giddens Prince George–North Cariboo ......................................Sheldon Clare Prince George–Valemount ...............................................Rosalyn Bird R Richmond-Bridgeport .......................................................... Teresa Wat Richmond Centre .................................................................. Hon Chan Richmond-Queensborough ............................................

Steve Kooner Richmond-Steveston ...............................................Hon. Kelly Greene S Saanich North and the Islands ....................................... Rob Botterell Saanich South ......................................................... Hon.

Lana Popham Salmon Arm–Shuswap ................................................David Williams Skeena ..................................................................................Claire Rattée Surrey City Centre ...............................................................Amna Shah Surrey-Cloverdale .......................................................... Elenore Sturko Surrey-Fleetwood ....................................................... Hon. Jagrup Brar Surrey-Guildford .................................................................

Garry Begg Surrey-Newton ........................................................ Hon. Jessie Sunner Surrey North ............................................................Mandeep Dhaliwal Surrey-Panorama ..............................................................Br yan Tepper Surrey–Serpentine River ................................................

Linda Hepner Surrey South ..................................................................Brent Chapman Surrey–White Rock .......................................................Trevor Halford V Vancouver-Fraserview .....................................................George Chow Vancouver-Hastings ........................................ Hon. Niki Sharma, KC Vancouver-Kensington ...................................................Mable Elmore Vancouver-Langara .............................................................Sunita Dhir Vancouver–Little Mountain ............................. Hon.

Christine Boyle Vancouver–Point Grey .........................................Hon. David Eby, KC Vancouver-Quilchena ......................................................Dallas Brodie Vancouver-Renfrew ................................................... Hon. Adrian Dix Vancouver–South Granville ................................ Hon. Brenda Bailey Vancouver-Strathcona ..................................... Amshen / Joan Phillip Vancouver–West End .......................Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert Vancouver-Yaletown ..................................................Hon.

Terry Yung Vernon-Lumby ....................................................... Harwinder Sandhu Victoria–Beacon Hill ................................................. Hon. Grace Lore Victoria–Swan Lake ................................................Hon. Nina Krieger W West Kelowna–Peachland ..........................................Macklin McCall West Vancouver–Capilano ................................................Lynne Block West Vancouver–Sea to Sky ...................................... Jeremy Valeriote

CONTENTS Tuesday, May 5, 2026 Morning Sitting Page Routine Business Introductions by Members ............................................................................................................................................. 7267 Statements ........................................................................................................................................................................ 7268 Asian Heritage Month Teresa Wat Introductions by Members ............................................................................................................................................. 7268 Members’ Statements ...................................................................................................................................................... 7269 B.C.

Beef Day and Contributions of Ranchers Ian Paton Red Dress Day and Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit Persons Jennifer Blatherwick Prevention of Human Trafficking Rosalyn Bird Battle of the Atlantic Susie Chant Online Safety for Children and Y outh Gavin Dew Mining Month and Role of Mining Sector Janet Routledge Oral Questions ................................................................................................................................................................. 7272 Foreign Interference Concerns of Former Vancouver Mayor and Government Awareness Trevor Halford Hon.

David Eby Macklin McCall Hon. Niki Sharma Regional Transit Services for Sea to Sky Corridor Jeremy Valeriote Hon. Mike Farnworth Review of Mental Health Act and Role of Family Members in Mental Health Crisis Services Claire Rattée Hon. Josie Osborne Korky Neufeld Larry Neufeld Kristina Loewen Access to Psychiatric Care Services Sharon Hartwell Hon. Josie Osborne Role of Family Members in Mental Health Crisis Services and Response to Recommendations Á ’a:líya Warbus Hon. Josie Osborne Review of Mental Health Act and Role of Family Members in Mental Health Crisis Services Steve Kooner Hon.

Josie Osborne Anna Kindy Petitions ............................................................................................................................................................................ 7277 Lorne Doerkson

Orders of the Day Second Reading of Bills .................................................................................................................................................. 7278 Bill 9 — Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act, 2026 (continued) Brent Chapman Lorne Doerkson Proceedings in the Douglas Fir Room Committee of Supply ...................................................................................................................................................... 7283 Estimates: Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Hon.

Randene Neill Donegal Wilson Proceedings in the Birch Room Committee of Supply ...................................................................................................................................................... 7286 Estimates: Ministry of Labour (continued) Kiel Giddens Hon. Jennifer Whiteside

7267 TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2026 The House met at 10:03 a.m. [The Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Prayers and reflections: Susie Chant. Introductions by Members Hon. K elly G reene: Today in the gallery, we have folks visiting from the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, who are here in British Columbia for Emergency Prepared- ness Week. They’ll also be part of our Emergency Pre - paredness Expo here at the Parliament Buildings tomor - row, which everyone is invited to from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. [10:05 a.m.] We have with us today Dr.

Keith Porter, chief engineer; Moira Gill, director of strategy; Dan Sandlink, senior dir - ector of resilience programs; Emilia Cameron, manager of climate-resilient communities. I’d now ask the House to make them very welcome and thank them for the important work that they do. Hon. Lana Popham: I didn’t ask permission to wear this lovely hat, but I’m going to assume that because it’s B.C. Beef Day, today I’m going to be allowed to wear it. All right, chamber. Can I get a yee-haw? Interjections. Hon. Lana Popham: Can I hear some cattle drive energy? Can I get a yee-haw? Interjections. Hon. Lana Popham: All right.

Thank you. Welcome to all the ranchers and support teams. Today we are so thrilled to have B.C. Beef Day. I’ve got a long list of people that have come to visit us from all areas of the province. I think we’re familiar with each other. We’ve had a longtime relationship, so I’m going to go by first names today. We’ve got Werner, Alex, Brian, Brad, Paul, John P., Jeff, Brett, Ken, John L., Graeme, Patrick, Andrea, Kevin, Julie-Anne, Sarah, Cory, Larry, Bonnie and Jen. Thank you for being here today. We’re all very excited to meet with you, but we’re also very excited to get into that lineup to enjoy some B.C. beef.

Thank you. Rosalyn Bird: I have several special guests joining us today. They are family and friends that have been im - pacted by the Highway of Tears. They have travelled from the North to participate in the Red Dress ceremony being held in the Hall of Honour today at noon. Joining us from Prince George is Darlene McIntosh. She is the Elder and ambassador for Lheidli T’enneh Na - tion. Tammy Meise from the Red Dress Society. Brenda Wilson from the Highway of Tears. From Smithers, we have two MMIWG2S advocates, Jacquie Bowes and Delee Nikal. From Quesnel, we have LuAnn Montgomery.

And from Terrace, we have Denise Halfyard from the Tears to Hope Society. Can everybody in the chamber and in the House please make them feel welcome today. Hon. Jodie Wickens: Today is Darlene Wickens’s 85th birthday. She is a phenomenal mother-in-law, grand - mother and mother. She has raised one amazing son that I happen to get to call my husband. She is also my in-house seamstress. I go downstairs quite often, last minute, and say: “Mom, can you please hem this for me?” And she does so graciously.

Last weekend she was awarded Beta Sigma Phi’s Woman of the Year in recognition of her outstanding commitment to the community, her volunteerism at the food bank and her love for her sorority sisters. Can the House please join me in saying a very happy 85th birthday to my mother-in-law, my mom, Darlene Wickens. Ward St amer: It’s my great pleasure to welcome Doug Haughton, who is our TNRD director for electoral L, which is Grasslands, from Kamloops. I bestowed an honorary designate on Dr.

Haughton be - cause of his opportunity to be able to prescribe medica - tion to me, because he kept reminding me that I get very excited sometimes in these meetings. Will the House please give a warm welcome to TNRD director Doug Haughton. Rohini A rora: I just want to take a moment to shout out to my two CAs that are joining me here today, Jessica Wei and Dhalianna Kafunda. I would not be able to do what I do without them. Would the House please join me in making them feel very welcome.

Steve Kooner: I’m pleased to rise today to welcome a group of students visiting from Hugh McRoberts Second - ary School in Richmond. They’ll be joining us at approxi - mately 10:40 a.m. It’s a group of 30 grade 10 students along with their teachers, led by Angelica Rost-Komiya. [10:10 a.m.] It’s always a pleasure to see young people here at the Legislature taking the time to witness our democratic sys - tem in motion.

7268 B ritish Columbia Debates T uesday, May 5, 2026 Please join me in making these students and their teachers feel very welcome. Susie Chant: This morning I have two introductions to make, if I may. First of all, joining us in the members’ gallery this mor- ning is His Excellency Jose Victor V. Chan-Gonzaga, the Ambassador of the Philippines to Canada, who is here on his first official visit to B.C. He is accompanied by Con - sul General Gina Jamoralin and her staff from both their offices. I am pleased to say that they will be taking

part in many meetings today with government officials, includ - ing yourself, Mr. Speaker. Would the House make them feel truly welcome. I’ve got one more. I’d also like to warmly welcome an amazing group of people that are joining us in the gallery, our constituency advisers from across the province, who are here this week for their conference. There are too many to name everybody individually, but their work is at the heart of everything we do. They are the faces and voices of our work in the community — helping people, planning events and keeping our busy of - fices running every day.

We are grateful for all that they do, and we really could not do this work without them. Please join me in giving them a very warm welcome. Brennan Day: I just wanted to take a moment to intro - duce my friend and constituent Brad Chappell. He’s here with Vancouver Island Cattlemen’s. According to his col - leagues with the B.C. Cattlemen’s, he’s the only person that can run over an unlimited phone minute plan. Please, can the House make him feel very welcome. Hon. Rick Glumac: I would like to take this oppor - tunity to introduce one of my longest-serving CAs. We’ve been working together since 2021.

He’s in the House today, Akshat Nagpal. Would the House please make him feel welcome. Statements ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH Teresa Wat: I rise today to recognize May as Asian Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the rich culture, hist - ory and contribution of the Asian community across Brit - ish Columbia and Canada. As an MLA of Asian descent, I’m proud to stand in this House and honour the generations who have helped shape our province through resilience, hard work and a deep commitment to community.

From building our economy to enriching our cultural fabric, Asian Canadians con - tinue to play a vital role in our shared future. I ask all members of this House to join me in celebrat - ing Asian Heritage Month and recognizing the many con - tributions of the Asian community across our province. Introductions by Members Hon. Josie Osborne: Behind every minister’s office is a team of very hard-working people from government com - munications and public engagement.

They help us with media, with public affairs and with really reviewing the issues of the day and the issues, in my case, in health care throughout British Columbia. They are incredibly dedi - cated public servants who care deeply about the health of British Columbians and our health care system. Today they’ve joined me here in the Legislature to understand a little bit more about how this place works, to witness question period, many of them for the very first time. They’re here in the gallery, and they are under the very able direction of our communications director, Krystal Thomson.

Would the House please join me in making them all feel very welcome. Ian Paton: I want to thank the Minister of Agriculture for a great introduction of all the folks here from the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association today. I especially want to point out Kevin Boon, who is the general manager, and Werner Stump, who’s president of B.C. Cattlemen’s. They’ve been coming here, year after year, for many years. They seem to like what I have to say, Minister, so that’s a good thing.

I also want to point out that I can see, up in the gal - lery, a good friend, Paul Devick from Kamloops; Brad Chappell from Courtenay; and Dougie Haughton from up in Kamloops as well. Please make them all feel very welcome. Harwinder Sandhu: I am excited to introduce my con - stituency adviser Amy, here, and Caitlin is joining virtu - ally because it takes quite the effort to make the trip here. [10:15 a.m.] I am very grateful to have Caitlin, Amy and Ella. They show the world how to work collaboratively in a very non- partisan….

They serve my constituents and constituents across in the neighbouring riding, whoever walks through the door, with utmost care, dedication and collaboration with our federal counterparts and others in a very non- partisan way, because it is about the people we serve, not about us. I want to extend my thanks to you all, and I want to welcome all the CAs here. Lorne Doerkson: It gives me excitement to be here on Beef Day. I want to point out a couple of people myself. Kenny Ilnicki is representing a beautiful spot on earth called

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 7269 Cariboo-Chilcotin. He’s here today. And I want to thank Cory Lepine, who is the province’s cow cop, for the work that he does for us. I’m grateful to both those gents. Please make them very welcome. Hon. Ravi Parmar: Yesterday my colleague from Kamloops mentioned that the Private Forest Landowners Association is in the House. I want to take the opportunity to recognize them. I think they are somewhere in the gal - lery, joining us for question period today.

My colleagues and I had an opportunity to be able to meet with them — their fearless leader, Megan Hana - cek; Margaret Symon; Trevor Joyce; Jeff Czepil; and Mani Arnold. Would the House please join me in making them feel very welcome. Hon. Sheila Malcolmson: I want to introduce to you and to the chamber my constituency adviser Lucy Morel, a third-generation constituency adviser, following in the footsteps of her grandmother, Sharon Olsen, and Darcy Olsen, her amazing mom. Lucy is terrific. Even without that lineage, she would be terrific.

I also wanted to flag that joining us also in the gallery are Rosa and Ryan Montgomery. They are here as guests of the Agriculture Minister. Members will remember that Wayne Montgomery performed at B.C. Beef Day every year. He has passed away since last time that we gathered, so they’re here to recognize his memory. I hope that the House will make the Montgomerys very welcome.

George Anderson: I have the great privilege and hon - our to introduce a constituent of Nanaimo-Lantzville, a young leader, Kayla Okada, who has recently been named a recipient of the prestigious Loran scholarship, one of Canada’s most distinguished awards for youth who dem - onstrate character, service and leadership. Beyond being an excellent student, Kayla is the founder and chair of the Teen Book Club, where she has created a space for young people to come together, think critic - ally and share a love of reading.

She captains her club soc - cer team, volunteers at her local public library and men - tors young athletes as a community soccer coach. She also shares her creative talents on stage, performing in both school and community musicals. Kayla’s dedication to her peers and her community is truly inspiring. She represents the very best of the next generation, and we are all proud to see her accomplish - ments being recognized by the Loran organization. Will the whole House please join me in congratulat - ing Kayla on her remarkable achievements and her future journey to become an engineer. Hon.

Diana Gibson: On the precinct today we have the Rotary Club from Oak Bay. It’s a time right now when international aid and geo - politics are being tested, and a lot of instincts are to turn inward — nations and communities. The rotary is help - ing us to do the opposite, to look outward, to look at lift - ing up the more vulnerable in our community and also internationally, to come together to build a better world together, to build young leadership and to continue to en - gage our community in thinking bigger and brighter. Thank you so much. Would everyone make them feel very welcome.

Jordan Kealy: I want to welcome the Cattlemen’s Asso- ciation, as we’ve heard previously. They do an amazing job of advocating for cattle farmers across the province. As you celebrate Beef Day today, I want to remind you that for cattle farmers…. They don’t get a day to celebrate. They work all year round. They’ve got those animals. Most of the time, they don’t get to go on vacation.

Right now, as I’m here, my wife is calving out cattle at home on the farm. [10:20 a.m.] I want to reach out and thank the Cattlemen’s for show- ing up here, but I also want to turn around and thank cat - tle farmers all across the province for putting in the hard work that they do all year round. Hon. Jessie Sunner: I would just like to introduce a constituent of mine who also happens to be my constitu - ency adviser — Angad Purba, who’s also here with Mandy Sangha. They’re my constituency advisers and amaz- ing young people that are really the face and heart of our offices.

I just want to say thank you to them for all the hard work they do and ask the House to please welcome them today. Hon. Lisa Beare: I have the honour today to introduce the youngest elected official here in British Columbia. We have Hudson Campbell with us, who’s a school trustee out of SD 42. He is the youngest elected official here in the province. Accompanying him is Makenna Carl, who also is from Maple Ridge, who happens to work in my office. Would the House please make them feel very welcome. The Speaker: Anyone else? Now is the chance. Members’ Statements B.C.

BEEF DAY AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF RANCHERS Ian Paton: Happy Beef Day at the Legislature. Today we’re celebrating the hard-working ranchers who provide

7270 B ritish Columbia Debates T uesday, May 5, 2026 some of the finest feeder cow-calf operations in Canada. From the lush green pastures of the Fraser Valley and Van- couver Island to the rugged hills of the Cariboo-Chilcotin, the Peace, the Kootenays and the Nicola region, our ranch- ers in this province have built a reputation for not only pro- ducing high-quality beef but also for their deep respect for the land they depend on. At the heart of the industry are families who have often ranched for many generations. These ranchers are more than producers; they are caretakers of vast ecosystems.

Their livelihoods depend on maintaining healthy soils, clean water and sustainable forage for their cattle. As a re - sult, many British Columbia ranchers adopt practices that support biodiversity and protect our wildlife habitats. Hard work defines the daily life of a cattle rancher. Long hours, unpredictable weather and fluctuating market conditions are constant changes. Calving season alone depends on round-the-clock attention, often in harsh winter or early spring conditions. Despite these de - mands, ranchers remain committed to animal welfare and quality production.

At the same time, the industry faces increasing chal - lenges, particularly when it comes to the rising costs of production. Feed, fuel, equipment and labour have all become significantly more expensive in recent years. In addition, ranchers must navigate market volatility and ex - ternal pressures, such as supply chain disruptions. Ultimately, the beef cattle ranching industry in B.C. represents more than food production. It reflects a way of life grounded in responsibility, hard work and respect for nature.

Ranchers serve as stewards of the land, ensur - ing that future generations can continue to benefit from healthy ecosystems and reliable food sources. At the same time, they provide a high-quality protein that nourishes communities both locally and beyond. Who can’t wait for the sizzle on the barbecue in up - coming days and summer months? In a time when sus - tainability and food security are increasingly important, British Columbia’s cattle ranchers stand as an example of how agriculture can meet these challenges.

Their dedica - tion ensures that land remains productive, animals are well cared for and the food on our tables is both nutritious and responsibly produced. RED DRESS DAY AND ACTION FOR MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN, GIRLS AND TWO-SPIRIT PERSONS Jennifer Blatherwick: Today there are red dresses hanging outside homes, outside of schools, libraries, parks, in front of businesses and non-profits. There is a red dress hanging here inside this House, because today, on May 5 , we observe Red Dress Day to honour and re - member missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people.

Indigenous people face disproportionately high rates of violence rooted in colonialism, systemic racism and gender-based discrimination. Red Dress Day reminds us that that violence is ongoing, not just historical. We hon - our the voices of families, respect their loss and commit to walking forward together. Thank you to people who are here in this House, who are visiting today and who do this life-changing work.

I raise my hands to the family members and the friends of those who are gone but never forgotten. [10:25 a.m.] Thank you for sharing with me, showing pictures of the beautiful Pillar of Hope memorial and the hundreds of people standing together, hand in hand, at the Highway of Tears Symposium. I knew that we had been working to complete the cell phone service. I did not know that there were red dresses hanging on the towers. I will carry that with me. In B.C. and Canada, we will continue to do better. We will continue to work together.

Through the Canada-B.C. national action plan to end gender-based violence, we will continue to support the B.C. First Nations Justice Council to advance the Indigenous women’s justice plan. We will continue to fund the First People’s Cultural Council to strengthen cultural practices as prevention. Today let us honour those who have been lost and those who continue to take action. If you or someone you know needs support, please contact VictimLinkBC and, if it is an emergency, call 911. We will be there, and you deserve help.

PREVENTION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING Rosalyn Bird: I rise today to speak on an issue that re - quires collaboration and acknowledgement from all mem - bers of this House: the growth of human trafficking activ - ity and the vulnerabilities that allow it to continue to grow across British Columbia. In doing so, I want to acknowledge a part of our prov - ince that carries profound significance, the corridor along Highway 16, widely known as the Highway of Tears. For decades, that region has been marked by tragedy and loss, particularly for Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people.

It stands as a solemn reminder of what can hap - pen when vulnerability, isolation and gaps in protection persist over time. Today as we look at the emerging realities of human trafficking, there are aspects that should give us pause. We are again seeing how geography, limited transporta - tion options and uneven access to services can create con - ditions where people are at risk — especially in northern and rural areas, including communities around Prince George, Smithers, Terrace and others throughout the northern region. This is not about drawing direct comparisons. It is not

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 7271 about assigning blame. It is about recognizing familiar signs. It is about understanding that when vulnerabilities go unaddressed, they can be exploited in different ways. It is about ensuring that we do not allow new threats to take hold in the same places where communities have already had tremendous loss. The legacy of that corridor calls on us to remain vigi - lant, to ensure that emerging risks like human trafficking are met with awareness, coordination and a clear under - standing of their impact on real people and families.

The work of families, organizations, inquiries and gov - ernments has, over many years, brought forward clear findings and recommendations. Following through with those efforts consistently and with care is essential if we are to reduce risk, close the known gaps and prevent these very serious issues from persisting. Only then can we ensure that history is not repeated in the same geographical areas that have already endured so much. BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC Susie Chant: Thank you for the opportunity to speak further on the Battle of the Atlantic.

First, I acknowledge that I’m speaking on the lands of the lək̓ ʷəŋən People, specifically the Songhees and the xʷsepsəm. At home, I’m fortunate to live on the territories of the səlilwətaɬ and Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh Nations. I remain grateful for their ongoing stewardship of the lands, waters, flora and fauna and for their leadership in addressing climate change across British Columbia. The Battle of the Atlantic is commemorated annually on the first Sunday of May. This year’s services were held in several locations, including here at the precinct ceno - taph and in North Vancouver at Sailors’ memorial.

I had the privilege of attending both a commemora - tive service and a dinner that brought together veterans, currently serving members and community supporters at Vancouver’s Naval Reserve unit, HMCS Discovery. Lo - cated on a small island off Stanley Park, Discovery has stood there since the 1940s and is closely tied to Canada’s Second World War history. The commanding officer opened the evening by out - lining the significance of the Battle of the Atlantic, a de - fining

chapter in shaping Canada’s naval identity. The Royal Canadian Navy relied heavily on citizen sailors and reservists, connecting communities like Vancouver and Victoria to the war at sea. [10:30 a.m.] As the battle progressed, Discovery became a vital hub, enrolling nearly 8,000 individuals, including officers, rat - ings and members for the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service, known as the Wrens. Many of these people later returned through Discovery to do their out routine and demob, or demobilization, process.

Battle of the Atlantic Sunday honours all the naval sail - ors, airmen and merchant marine who served, supported and sacrificed. Some returned home; others did not. Thus, at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. ONLINE SAFETY FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH Gavin Dew: I rise today to speak to an issue that re - quires our collective attention and care: the growing risks facing young people online.

As we reflect this week on the lives of women, girls and Two-Spirit people who have gone missing or have been taken from their families, we are re - minded that vulnerability can take many forms and that exploitation often begins where isolation, silence and gaps in protection persist. Today some of those risks are no longer found only in isolated places or on remote roads. They can reach directly into a young person’s phone, bedroom, classroom or so - cial circle. Online luring, trafficking, sexual exploitation and cyberbullying are not abstract dangers.

They are real threats affecting real children, families and communities. A child who is lonely, struggling, bullied or sim - ply looking for connection can become vulnerable very quickly. This is not about blaming parents, teachers or young people. It is about recognizing patterns early. Tech - nology has changed the way exploitation happens, but it has not changed our responsibility to protect those at risk. That means better awareness for families, better tools for schools, stronger coordination between police and service providers and clearer supports for young people before harm escalates.

The lesson before us is simple but serious. When warn - ing signs are ignored, vulnerability can be exploited. When communities are informed and systems respond early, lives can be protected. On days like this, we honour those who have been lost, not only with remembrance but with action. We owe it to our children and youth to make sure they are safe not just in our streets and communities but in the digital spaces where so much of their lives now unfold.

MINING MONTH AND ROLE OF MINING SECTOR Janet R outledge: I rise today to recognize Mining Month and to thank the people who help build British Columbia and our economy. Across our province, more than 40,000 people work in mining. They are equipment operators, tradespeople, en - gineers, geologists, safety professionals and many others who keep this sector booming. They earn an average an -

7272 B ritish Columbia Debates T uesday, May 5, 2026 nual salary of $130,000 and help support families and communities throughout B.C. But mining is not only about numbers. It is about the early mornings, the long shifts and the chance to build a good life close to home. It is also about partnership. During Mining Month, we thank our union partners — like the United Steelworkers, Unifor and the International Union of Operating Engin - eers — for their advocacy and work to ensure that mining remains the safest heavy industry in B.C.

We also thank our Indigenous partners and First Na - tions, local governments, exploration teams, contractors, suppliers, small businesses and community leaders, who all play an important role in the success of our world-lead - ing mining and critical minerals sector. There is real momentum. In 2025, more than $750 mil - lion was spent exploring new mines in British Columbia, an historic high and a strong sign of confidence in our province and in the people who make this work possible. Today we recognize every worker, every partner behind mining in our province.

Their work helps power our econ- omy, strengthen our communities and build B.C.’s future. [10:35 a.m.] Oral Questions FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CONCERNS OF FORMER V ANCOUVER MAYOR AND GOVERNMENT AW ARENESS Trevor Halford: Yesterday the former mayor of Van - couver, former NDP MP Kennedy Stewart, made some startling accusations.

He said: “It has come to my attention that I’ve reported it and, in fact, was interviewed for about four hours by lawyers working for the federal government about a B.C. cabinet minister under investigation for collaborat - ing with the Chinese government, something that, my - self, I reported to senior B.C. NDP officials. I know that the Premier is aware of it. I know that many members of his cabinet are aware of this. This is an ongoing RCMP investigation.” Those aren’t my words.

Those are the words of Ken - nedy Stewart, as I said, a former NDP MP and a mayor of Vancouver who, actually, the Premier went and door- knocked for in his last failing campaign. My question to the Premier is simple. When did he learn about these accusations that Kennedy Stewart has put forward? Hon. David Eby: The Leader of the Opposition will be aware that I have taken significant efforts in order to be able to be briefed by both CSIS and the federal RCMP on issues of national security that relate to the government of British Columbia.

That could be about a member of the public, an organization, a company, an individual but, certainly, a member of the government caucus. I have had multiple briefings with CSIS and with the RCMP since obtaining top-secret clearance. In addition, following amendments to the federal law relating to CSIS, that allows them to share more information with the B.C. government and treat us as a client, something that was previously a barrier to us accessing information.

I can advise the Leader of the Opposition and every member of this House that I have never once been briefed by either the RCMP or CSIS about concerns related to any government caucus member or cabinet member — period. If I had been, members of the public should be aware, should know that I would not hesitate to act. At a minimum, if there was concern about a cabinet member, given the sensitive information that cabinet has access to, I would remove that person from cabinet. The Speaker: Member, supplemental. Trevor Halford: I want to read again the quote from Mr. Stewart.

He says: “Something that, myself, I reported to senior B.C. NDP officials. I know the Premier is aware of it.” I heard the Premier’s answer there. My direct question to the Premier, to the Attorney General, anybody in cab - inet is: did Mr. Stewart make any of them aware or any NDP officials aware of the accusations that he put forward on CKNW yesterday? Hon. David Eby: The former mayor of Vancouver, on losing the last municipal election, alleged that the Chinese government was collaborating with the candidate who ran against him and caused him to lose the election. The member is right.

I did door-knock with Kennedy during the municipal election, and I can assure this House that he did not lose the election because of the Chinese government. He has made these allegations previously. I am aware of those allegations. I can also tell this House that I took significant steps, including significant personal disclosure to the federal government, in order to obtain top-secret clearance from the federal government, in order to access top-secret brief - ings from CSIS and the RCMP. I have had multiple such briefings.

At every briefing, I ask, “Is there any individual, any company, any information at all that you need to share with me that would influence government’s decisions about access to information, contracts or anything else?” because we want to be a good partner in national security. And I can advise this House that never once has CSIS or the RCMP shared any concerns at all about any member of government caucus. The Speaker: Member, second supplemental.

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 7273 Trevor Halford: I think I got a bit of an answer from the Premier there. I asked the Premier specifically if Mr. Stewart had raised those accusations to either himself, any member of cabinet or senior NDP officials, like he out - lined in his interview yesterday on CKNW. This is a direct question. Was the Premier aware of the accusations made by Mr. Stewart, yes or no? [10:40 a.m.] Hon. David Eby: I don’t believe I’ve spoken to Mr. Stewart for probably about three years. I’m not sure if that is of assistance to the member.

But I can say, in those three years, I have spoken with representatives of CSIS and the senior RCMP on multiple occasions. Not once have any of them raised any concerns about any members of the government caucus, in cabinet or otherwise. Macklin McCall: The allegations raised by Mr. Stewart are serious, and his comments are not protected by privil - ege on radio, but the Attorney General is. What information can the Attorney General tell this House on the allegations raised by Kennedy Stewart that a cabinet minister is under investigation for working with the government of China? Hon.

Niki Sharma: The Premier has answered this quite thoroughly, and I can say for my part, as Attorney General, I have no information at all about any of the al - legations put forward by the former mayor of Vancouver. The Speaker: Member, supplemental. Macklin McCall: Now, collusion with foreign gov - ernments are serious allegations. They should be taken with the utmost importance. What actions has this gov - ernment taken to ensure there are no other cabinet min - isters involved with inappropriate relations with foreign governments? Hon.

David Eby: The actions this government has taken include the following: multiple members of our ad - ministration obtaining top-secret clearance in order to be able to access critical information from national se - curity services including CSIS and the RCMP; lobbying the federal government on multiple occasions, ultimately successfully, to change the CSIS Act to enable Canada’s spy service to share direct information with the B.C. gov - ernment if there is any threat to national security that we are required to act on; multiple top-secret briefings with that agency and with the RCMP related to issues of for - eign interference, asking specifically if there are any in - dividuals the government should be advised about that we should take action on to ensure that we are protecting information in British Columbia, protecting government processes.

The member stands in this place after I’ve given mul - tiple answers outlining that I have asked those questions, that I have received not one concern from any of the fed- eral agencies that require that top-secret clearance about any member of government caucus or the cabinet. Yet he continues to rise and slander the government caucus with false allegations, with zero information aside from a radio interview and…. Interjections. The Speaker: Members. Members, come to order. Hon. D avid E by: If the member has information to bring forward, we would be happy to look at it.

REGIONAL TRANSIT SERVICES FOR SEA TO SKY CORRIDOR Jeremy Valeriote: With regards to regional public tran - sit in the Sea to Sky corridor, I asked the minister yester - day about directions to B.C. Transit. The minister said: “In terms of B.C. Transit, we work with them in terms of what they’re looking at, in terms of plans for the coming years, much of which is determined at the local level. We’ve had a number of meetings.

The member knows what the issues are.” The issue is that after a year of meetings to hear from the local level, the ministry came up with an artificial gov - ernance obstacle in December to slow this down. But what I really object to is the minister throwing out the figure of 18 cents a litre of gas tax yesterday. This is irresponsible considering the discussions have been mir - roring the Victoria model at 5.5 cents a litre.

The only time 18 cents has been discussed is in the context of the TransLink levy and how Sea to Sky motorists are pay - ing the equivalent of that levy because prices are a single market with the Lower Mainland, meaning residents have been paying extra without the transit to show for it for the last ten years. What was the minister’s intention in using an inflam - matory high gas tax figure in this time of high gas prices when he replied yesterday? Hon. Mike Farnworth: I guess I appreciate the ques - tion from the member, because this is now day 3 on the same topic.

He has now asked me a very specific topic about the question of where the 18 cents came from. That was presented to me by the Sea to Sky communities who want a transit system in place. That’s where that number came from. [10:45 a.m.] I said to them that there are two options that we gave them: (1) the Nanaimo model, (2) the Victoria model. They

7274 B ritish Columbia Debates T uesday, May 5, 2026 don’t like that. What they wanted was the one that put 18 cents a litre on. That’s the context. The Speaker: Member has a supplemental. Jeremy Valeriote: It’s good to get some explanations for this. It’s better an explanation than this government can’t organize a two-bus parade. Contrary to the minister’s statement yesterday, we be - lieve the government does instruct B.C. Transit to plan for services. Otherwise, this government wouldn’t have put that commitment into a cooperation agreement. B.C.

Transit has been helping local governments and First Na - tions off the corner of its desk because they understand the imperative, but they’ve had no support from the ministry. Considering that it takes two years from the point of ordering a bus to delivery, why has this minister not en - gaged B.C. Transit in anticipation of this service that we all know is needed? Hon. Mike Farnworth: Before you order the buses, which take a couple of years to build and get, what we want to have is a mechanism in place that runs the system. That’s what we’ve been working with the communities on.

That’s where you have been in on a number of meet - ings, hon. Member. My staff have met regularly with Squamish-Lillooet regional district over the past year to discuss interregional transit on the Sea to Sky Highway. I met with you in February. I met with you in October to discuss the commitments. The Speaker: Through the Chair. Hon. Mike Farnworth: We have met with the SLRD again on the 15th of May. Interjection. Hon. Mike Farnworth: These are all through the Chair.

I just happened to be looking at the notes here to make sure that I’m accurate, that I’m not missing anything, that the member has been part and parcel of those meetings, and he knows full well what the position of the govern - ment has been. We want, through the Chair, to get a transit system on that route, but we also wanted to do it in a way that brings together the communities there. We have been working with them on what those options could look like. They don’t like that. I get that. We’ve said we’re willing to work on another option.

But to say putting 18 cents a litre of gas tax on is the only option we’ll consider is simply not on. REVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH ACT AND ROLE OF FAMILY MEMBERS IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS SERVICES Claire Rattée: Jesse Flowerdew’s wife, Daisy, told me that he was a staunch advocate for men’s mental health. He had a documented history of prior suicide attempts, so when he was struggling again, he self-admitted to the hos - pital and made it clear that he was struggling with suicidal ideation again. He was released from hospital shortly thereafter, and within an hour of his release, he was gone.

His family was never notified — not when he was admitted, not when he was discharged. To the minister, will she implement the changes to re - lease procedures under the Mental Health Act that could prevent this from happening again? Hon. Josie Osborne: Thank you to the hon. member for the question. While I know that the member understands I cannot speak about a specific case, I know that it’s not in- appropriate in any way to express our sincere condolences and sympathies to any family facing this situation. It’s so vitally important that families be engaged and involved in the care of their loved ones.

That’s why our government has made commitments around a review of the Mental Health Act and ensuring that it is modern - ized and updated and accomplishes the goals that many families have. Soon we will be releasing new guidance to the Mental Health Act that will address some of the issues that the member is raising here.

Again, it’s so incredibly important that families, people with lived and living experience be engaged, be involved and that those people who are held under the Mental Health Act, according to the criteria that the act lays out very clearly and under the clinical assessment of special - ists, receive the care and the treatment they need to do.

At the same time, we are continuing to work to build out the system of care for people with early intervention, as we’ve already heard in the House today with a really powerful statement by one of the members opposite in intervening and preventing these things from happening. The Speaker: Member, supplemental. [10:50 a.m.] Claire Rattée: Respectfully, to the minister: Jesse’s wife and sisters are in the gallery today, and I don’t think that they want your condolences. I think what they want is some action. We’ve been promised that these changes were going to come.

We’ve been promised that a review of the Mental Health Act is coming — still no dates, still no timelines. A simple phone call to any one of them could’ve made the difference, and Jesse could still be here today. This gov -

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 7275 ernment had the ability to make those changes, and they chose not to act. Last year our caucus brought forward amendments to the Mental Health Act to require reasonable efforts to contact family and notify them prior to discharge, and the minister said that this work was already being done to implement that. That was a year ago, and nothing has been done. Will this government commit today, give a timeline to - day, to mandatory family notification on discharge under the Mental Health Act, or will they continue to delay while more families pay the price? Hon.

Josie Osborne: This work is underway, and it’s important that we get it right and that we do it with the due care and attention and consideration to the complex - ities of this and the experiences that people have. I give my commitment to the member that indeed the work is underway, and we will have more to say about it soon. Korky Neufeld: Well, this is not a one-off. On Febru - ary 9, 2023, James Zimmer took his own life within hours of being discharged from Royal Columbian Hospital here in Victoria.

His sister, who had been supporting her brother dur - ing his mental health challenges, had been receiving up - dates from doctors on a regular basis. However, she was not informed of his release and only learned he was out of care when police showed up at his door to tell her that her brother had taken his own life. Does the minister think it’s acceptable for family mem- bers to find out their loved ones were discharged from care only after they’ve taken their own lives? Hon. Josie Osborne: Thank you to the member for the question. Again, as we’re discussing here today, these are incredibly tragic circumstances.

No family ever wants to face this. Nobody ever wants to see a fellow, a friend or a work colleague face these kinds of situations. That is why our government remains focused on build - ing out a full continuum of mental health and substance use supports. A system that can intervene and identify earlier can help people before problems become worse, but as I have explained, we have committed to a review of the Mental Health Act. It is so vitally important that people are engaged in this act, that we encompass the full perspectives and experi - ence and expertise that is out there.

That includes people with lived and living experience, people who work with families, with Indigenous people. That work is underway, and we will have more to say about it soon. Larry Neufeld: While it may be considered inappropri- ate to ask this question with respect to the massive failure of the Mental Health Act with respect to the incredible tragedy of Tumbler Ridge, unfortunately, there are far too many other examples to choose from. The one that I will speak to is that of Aaron Sanio.

Aaron was admitted to Lions Gate Hospital in North Van - couver, struggling with mental illness and a history of sui - cide attempts. His family called the hospital repeatedly, desperate to share what they knew, but were not able to speak to any - one one directly involved in his care. His father said: “He was fully aware of how ill he was, and he shared that with me. He used to say: ‘Dad, I would rather you know every - thing.’” His family were not notified when he was released, and shortly after, Aaron took his own life.

Will the minister commit to making the changes to the Mental Health Act today to ensure that no family ever has to go through this pain again? Hon. Josie Osborne: Every family who has a member who is experiencing mental illness, who is suffering from symptoms or ideation, wants their family member to get the help they need.

And that is the commitment of this government: to build out a system of care that is there for people, that is there for people as early as we can be. [10:55 a.m.] That is why, since 2017, we have been building out everything from early intervention, prevention and educa - tion, working with youth, developing a suicide prevention framework, an early psychosis initiative that helps identify those youth who are struggling.

This work must continue through in the development of all of these services and supports for people, as well as changes to the Mental Health Act to make it clearer, to make it easier, to make it more supportive of people who need the services. These situations are tragic, and I appreciate the mem - bers bringing them forward. I want to assure them that this government is committed to doing this work. Kristina Loewen: Respectfully, the system will always fail. The system will always have gaps. That’s why it’s so important that family members are included.

And that is not even remotely the first thing that any hospital or any system asks the family members. In Vernon, Ezra Cool self-admitted under the Mental Health Act and was placed in a hallway bed, despite being in what was supposed to be supervised care. Ezra did the right thing — he asked for help — but this government system failed him. He was somehow able to leave the unit, and within hours he was dead. To the minister, when Ezra left the unit, did the hospi - tal even know he was gone, and if they did, why was his family not immediately notified? Hon. Josie Osborne: I want to thank the member for

7276 B ritish Columbia Debates T uesday, May 5, 2026 raising the question. I think we can see how deeply emo - tional this is and how much people care. That includes all of the people working in our health care system, who are there for people every day. I think it’s appropriate to pause for a moment and just express our gratitude for what people are doing to be there for people who are in crisis and who are in need. As we talk about this, I want to say to everybody in the gallery, to people who might be watching, that it’s okay to ask for help, and you should reach out. I think it’s important to say this.

It’s important for people to understand that these are very challenging topics to talk about and that reaching out for help… Interjections. The Speaker: Shhh. Hon. Josie Osborne: …can be the difference between life and death. Our government is going to continue this work of build- ing out a system of care, of providing the interventions and the programs to support people. We know there’s more work to be done, and this government is committed to do - ing that work. ACCESS TO PSYCHIATRIC CARE SERVICES Sharon Hartwell: A constituent of mine has been on a wait-list for a psychiatrist since 2023.

I think if the min - ister keeps promising help, she’s going to have to hire a psychiatrist for that help, because we’re not seeing it. Across the province and especially in the North, health care is lacking everywhere. She was diagnosed with a mental illness and had been sober for 20 years, but without access to proper psychi - atric care, she relapsed. Since then, she has attempted to take her own life, cycled through emergency care. Today there is no psychiatrist in Houston or Smithers.

To the minister, how does this government expect people to maintain recovery when they cannot even ac - cess psychiatric care that they need to stay well? Hon. Josie Osborne: Thank you to the member for the question. Access to psychiatric care is one part of the con - tinuum of supports that need to be available for people. This government has been building out psychiatric beds across the hospitals in 77 different designated mental health facilities, adding tertiary, quaternary and acute care psychiatric beds as hospitals are updated, renovated and as new hospitals are built. We know how important this is.

That’s why we have the advice of Dr. Daniel Vigo, specifically as a psychia - trist, helping us to identify vulnerable populations within groups of people to make sure that the supports are there. Through his work advising government on where gaps are, we are building out that system. We are hiring more psychiatrists. We understand that Northern Health, just like every other place in this province, deserves the same access to care. That’s why Dr.

Vigo and government are work - ing together to establish new sites in Surrey and in Prince George so that care can be found closer to home. [11:00 a.m.] ROLE OF FAMILY MEMBERS IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS SERVICES AND RESPONSE TO RECOMMENDATIONS Á’a:líya Wa rbus: Across British Columbia, we are see - ing the same pattern. People are in crisis, they interact with a system where families are shut out, and tragedies occur shortly after discharge. My nephew was 25 years old when he took his own life alone in his car at a park in downtown Chilliwack.

We as a family were not notified when he was struggling with his medications, when he was in and out of psychiatric care. At his lowest points, of course, he did not reach out be - cause he was already broken by a system that forgot him. Coroners’ inquests and the Ombudsperson’s Commit- ted to Change report have repeatedly called for better com - munication with families. We saw that brought before this House last session. To the minister, why has this government failed to act on these recommendations? When will we see them be- fore this House? A date, please. Hon.

Josie Osborne: To the member, I am so sorry to hear about the loss in her family. It clearly has touched her, as this has touched too many people across British Columbia. That’s, again, why our government remains commit - ted to building out a system of care that can be there for people when it is needed. We acknowledge that part of that work is understanding how communication can best flow between families and care providers and the mental health system writ large. That, in part, is why we are going to undertake a re - view of the Mental Health Act.

As I mentioned already today, we will be coming out shortly with new guidance to the Mental Health Act. It is there to help provide direc - tion and support to clinicians, to health authorities and to others as the Mental Health Act is applied. We hear clearly through the questions here today just how important this work is. We share that sense of urgency, and our commit - ment here is to do that work.

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 7277 REVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH ACT AND ROLE OF FAMILY MEMBERS IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS SERVICES Steve Kooner: We’ve heard a lot of words, but we haven’t seen much action. Some specific action items were requested last year in terms of legislative changes to notify families, but we haven’t seen those changes. Why haven’t they happened? Last year, following the tragedy at Lapu-Lapu, the Pre - mier stood in this House and committed to reviewing British Columbia’s Mental Health Act.

Now the review has been put on hold, with the government claiming they must wait for a constitutional challenge to conclude for a case that was filed in 2016, that was already before the courts when the Premier made that promise. To the Premier, why did he commit to reform when he knew this case was already underway? Hon. Josie Osborne: Thank you to the member for the question. The work to determine the scope and the terms of reference of the Mental Health Act review is underway.

As the member notes, we are waiting for the decision of the constitutional challenge because we know that we want to get this work right. We don’t want to have to go back and revisit it pending the results of the court case. That’s why we’ll continue to focus on how…. Families, people with lived and living experience, experts, people who work with Indigenous peoples, who work with youth, who are Indigenous themselves will be engaged and in - volved in this review. The review has not been put on hold, and I want to be very clear about that. I also want to take the opportunity….

We are talking about a very, very serious topic, and we do have youth and children in our audience today. We have people who are watching. It is so vitally important to know that people are here to help you if you are experiencing crisis and if you are in need. I urge anybody to use British Columbia’s crisis line, 988, or to call 310-6789 to reach out and ask for help. Anna Kindy: These solutions are not theoretical.

They already have been studied, recommended and even brought forward in legislation by our caucus. [11:05 a.m.] It has been over a year, and we have a duty in this House to move forward with legislation that makes sense for families waiting for change. These families and their loved ones are not theoretical. They’re real. Every day that passes is a day of missed opportunity. At some point in this House, we need to learn to move forward on legis - lation that makes sense. Empty words are meaningless when a parent loses a child. The minister promised immediate action last year, and we’ve seen nothing.

Families continue to lose loved ones because of this government inaction. At some point, our duty is to the British Columbians. This is why we are elected, to move things forward. That makes sense. The Speaker: Question now. Anna Kindy: Families deserve to know. Families de - serve communications. When somebody passes away, when a child passes away, and it could have been pre - vented by simple legislation, by simple communication, this is no longer acceptable. The Speaker: Question. Anna Kindy: What I will ask the minister: will she commit to a timeline for when these recommendations…?

I’m talking a timeline, and this is recorded. I’m talking about a timeline for when these recommendations will be fully implemented. Hon. Josie Osborne: Thank you to the member for asking the question. The Mental Health Act review — the work behind the scenes is underway so that when we are able to launch it, we can do so fulsomely and we can do it with the care and attention that is needed. It’s vitally important to families, to communities, to British Colum - bians to get this work right. Interjection. The Speaker: Shhh, Member. Interjections. The Speaker: Members, please. The minister will conclude. Hon.

Josie Osborne: We have made amendments to the Mental Health Act already, in the provision of in - dependent rights advice to people. We will be releasing new guidelines to the act shortly, but nothing could be further from the truth that there has been no action, because this government has taken action from day one to build out a seamless continuum of mental health and substance use services that all British Colum - bians deserve. [End of question period.] Petitions Lorne D oerkson: I rise, yet again, to present another petition from the South Cariboo. This one is signed by 55 of my residents.

They are demanding the province of Brit - ish Columbia’s Ministry of Health provide full-time ac - cess to the 100 Mile House Hospital emergency.

7278 B ritish Columbia Debates T uesday, May 5, 2026 The Speaker: Member, you have another? Lorne Doerkson: I seek leave to make an introduction. Leave granted. The Speaker: Proceed. Introductions by Members Lorne Doerkson: I rise to introduce a really good friend of mine, folks. His name is Doug Haughton. He was mentioned a little bit earlier today, but I didn’t see him in the House. He is a fierce advocate for all things agriculture. He’s known in our riding as John Deere Doug. He’s an amaz - ing guy and TNRD director to boot, so he’s a busy guy.

Would you please make him very welcome at the Legis - lature today. Orders of the Day Hon. Mike Farnworth: In this chamber, I call con - tinued debate on Bill 9, Freedom of Information Act. In

Section A, Douglas Fir Room, I call the estimates for the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. In the tiny House, the Birch Room, I call Labour estimates. [Mable Elmore in the chair.] [11:10 a.m.] Second Reading of Bills BILL 9 — FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF PRIV ACY AMENDMENT ACT, 2026 (continued) Brent Chapman: The authoritative global right to in - formation rating, the international gold standard meas - uring legal strength of access to information laws, ranks countries out of 150 points. Top of the world, Afghanistan at 139, Mexico at 136, Serbia at 135.

These jurisdictions have built regimes with minimal exceptions, swift time - lines, ironclad appeals and genuine proactive disclosure. Canada’s federal law sits at a mediocre 93 points, 53rd place. British Columbia’s FOIPPA has long been among the strongest in Canada, a provincial leader that kept us com - petitive internationally. Bill 9 changes all that. It replaces the duty to respond “without delay” with the vague “with - out unreasonable delay.” It hands public bodies new pow - ers to dismiss requests they deem abusive or burdensome.

It weakens specificity rules and opens the door to longer extensions without real oversight. These are not minor tweaks; they are deliberate restrictions that critics rightly call a weakening of access. When Mexico and Serbia, nations once dismissed as less open than ours, now outrank us on paper and when even our own federal law lags behind global best practices, this government is choosing secrecy over sunlight. British Columbians deserve better. They deserve a province that leads the world in openness, not one that slides backwards into the middle of the pack. We in the opposition need to fight this bill.

The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act, 2026…. I want to be clear that this is not just a simple housekeeping bill. Buried inside this legisla - tion are changes that will make it significantly harder for British Columbians to hold their government to account. Before I get into the specifics, I want to talk about who actually uses FOI. It is not just journalists and opposition researchers. It is parents trying to understand decisions made about their children’s schools. It is families dealing with the health care system who want to understand what happened to them.

It is small businesses, the owners try - ing to understand how a contract was awarded. It is ordin - ary British Columbians who simply want to know what their government is doing in their name. Freedom of in - formation is not a political tool; it is a democratic right. We on this side of the House believe in open, transpar - ent and accountable government. We are not here to op - pose every change in this bill.

There are efficiency meas - ures in here we can support, but this government has bundled legitimate housekeeping changes together with provisions that will fundamentally weaken public access to information, and that we cannot support. This government has a track record when it comes to freedom of information, and it is not a good one. The last time the NDP amended the freedom-of-information sys - tem, they introduced $10 filing fees. The impact was im - mediate and significant. Access to information dropped sharply. Fees do not just slow things down; they price people out.

The $10 fee was eventually walked back, but the message was clear. This government views freedom of information as an inconvenience to be managed, not a right to be protected. Even before this bill, the freedom-of-information sys - tem in B.C. was failing British Columbians. From 2022 to 2023, freedom-of-information applicants waited on aver - age 192 additional business days beyond the standard timeline to receive a response. Think about that — 192 additional business days. That is nearly a full calendar year on top of the standard response window.

Constituents come to my office frustrated and defeated by this process. They file an FOI and wait and wait. This government’s response is not to fix the wait times. Their response is to give themselves more tools to simply ignore the requests entirely. [11:15 a.m.]

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 7279 This government has been called the most secretive in Canada. That is not my characterization. It has been said by journalists, by advocates and by those who work with the freedom-of-information system every day. Now they are bringing forward legislation that expands their ability to ignore requests. We should be moving in the opposite direction. In - stead of making it harder to get information, we should be modernizing the system to make it faster and much more accessible. I want to spend significant time on clause 13, because it is the most consequential provision in this bill. Clause 13 amends

section 43 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. It expands the grounds on which the commissioner can authorize a public body to disregard an FOI request. Currently requests can be disregarded if they are frivo - lous or vexatious or excessively broad or repetitive. Those are not perfect standards, but they are, at least, somewhat defined. Clause 13 adds significant new grounds. The new grounds include that an FOI could be ignored if it is abu - sive, malicious or if it could unreasonably interfere with the operations of government.

Those words sound reasonable at first glance, but here’s the critical problem. Not one of those terms is defined anywhere in this legislation. The government is giving itself and public bodies the power to ignore freedom-of- information requests based on terms they get to define themselves. Think about that, what that means in practice. What is an abusive FOI request? Is it one that asks uncomfort - able questions? Is it one that comes from someone the government has labelled a troublemaker? Is it one that a minister finds politically inconvenient? There is no defin - ition. There is no standard.

There are no guardrails. The government gets to decide, case by case, what counts as abusive. The “unreasonably interfere with operations” language is perhaps the most dangerous. Consider this. Almost any significant freedom-of-information request requires staff to fulfil. That is the nature of this system. It takes work. Under this new language, virtually any freedom of infor - mation could theoretically be characterized as interfering with operations. Who is to say this government will not apply it to re - quests about the Premier’s office?

Who is to say it will not be used to dismiss requests that touch on sensitive govern - ment programs? Without clear

definitions, the potential for abuse is enormous. Let me put it in terms that British Columbians can relate to. Imagine a parent who files an FOI about how a school closure decision was made in their community. The government could decide that request is abusive be - cause it challenges their process. Imagine a small business owner who files an FOI about a contract that went to a competitor. The government could decide that interferes with its operations. Imagine a patient who files an FOI about a health au - thority decision that affected their care.

Any of these could now be dismissed under language that nobody has defined. That is not a hypothetical risk. It is a logical extension of what this bill enables, what the clause itself enables. Now I need to raise something that makes clause 13 even more alarming. Clause 28 of this bill is a transition clause. It provides that the new grounds for disregard - ing requests under

section 43 include that the “malicious” and “interfere with government” language will apply to FOIs filed before these changes come into force. Read that again: retroactively. Someone who filed an FOI months ago under the old rules could now have that request dismissed under new grounds that did not exist when they filed it. That is fun - damentally unfair. You do not change the rules and then apply the new rules backwards. That is not how a govern - ment that respects the rule of law behaves.

I want to turn now to the fee provisions. [11:20 a.m.] Proactive disclosure is information the government makes available without anyone having to ask. The whole point is that some information should simply be public. It is the government saying: “Here is what we are doing. Here is how we spent your money. Here is how decisions were made.” Proactive disclosure is one of the best tools we have for a transparent government. Clause 21 amends

section 71 of the act. It adds sub -

section 71(2), which allows the head of a public body to require a person to pay a fee to access records available under proactive disclosure. Currently information that is accessible without an FOI is accessible without a fee. That is the baseline. That is how it should work. This bill breaks that baseline. It cre - ates a new revenue stream for government, charging Brit - ish Columbians to access information the government was already supposed to make available. Let us be direct about what this is. It is a tax on transparency.

It is the govern - ment saying: “Yes, we will disclose this information, but you will pay for it.” Fees create barriers. Every time a fee is introduced, some people decide it’s not worth it. This is not hypo - thetical. We saw it with the $10 FOI filing fee. The people most likely to be deterred are ordinary citizens that do not have deep pockets or institutional support. Journal - ists can often expense filing fees. Advocacy organizations can fundraise. The single parent in Kamloops who wants to understand a decision made about their child’s school may just give up. That is who it hurts the most. Clause 2 amends

section 5 of the act and makes two changes that raise concern. First, it makes the decision of whether a request pro -

7280 B ritish Columbia Debates T uesday, May 5, 2026 vides enough detail solely the decision of the head of the public body. Previously the opinion of the head was irrel - evant to this decision. Now it is determinative. Second, it adds that a request must provide enough de - tail for the record to be found in a “reasonable amount of time” — a term, again, that is not defined in the original act. These changes are not neutral efficiency measures. They give public body heads more discretion to decide what counts as a valid FOI request before it ever gets processed.

Clause 3 changes the duty to respond without delay to a duty to respond without unreasonable delay. Adding the wording “unreasonable” may seem minor. It is not. “With- out delay” is a clear standard. Respond promptly. “With - out unreasonable delay” introduces a subjective test that government can use to justify slower responses. Given that applicants are already waiting nearly 200 additional busi - ness days on average, the last thing we need is a weaker response standard. Clause 15 allows the commissioner to extend the time - line for a review in certain circumstances.

Currently there is a hard limit of 90 days for an inquiry. Under this amendment, the commissioner can set a later date of their choosing as long as everyone is notified. This removes the hard deadline that was there to protect applicants from indefinite delay. Again, in a system already plagued by long wait times, removing hard timelines is moving in the wrong direction. I said at the outset that not everything in this bill is wrong, and I want to be clear about that. There are clauses in here that represent genuine improvements.

Clause 12 allows the commissioner to share information and enter into agreements with commissioners in other jurisdic - tions. That is a reasonable modernization. Clauses 17 and 18 formalize notification requirements for privacy impact assessments. No material harm there. We do not oppose every clause in this bill. What we oppose is the government’s choice to bundle legitimate improvements with provisions that weaken the funda - mental right of British Columbians to access information. The good parts of this bill do not justify the bad parts.

They cannot be used as cover for what clause 13, clause 21 and clause 28 actually do. Freedom of information only works if the information is actually accessible. When you expand the grounds to ignore requests, you restrict access. When you charge fees for proactive disclosure, again, you restrict access. When you apply new dismissal grounds retroactively, to requests already filed, you betray the trust of every person who used the system in good faith. [11:25 a.m.] This government is taking the “free” out of freedom of information. British Columbians deserve better.

They de - serve a government that makes information accessible, not one that finds new ways to withhold it. For those reasons, I will be voting against this bill, and I encourage all members to reflect carefully on what they are being asked to support. Lorne Doerkson: As always, it’s a pleasure to rise in this place and share greetings from Cariboo-Chilcotin to you.

I want to pick up where the member from Surrey left off in suggesting that I, certainly at this point, am not able to support this bill, but I am happy to offer up some com - ments on Bill 9, the Freedom of Information and Protec - tion of Privacy Amendment Act, 2026. I do want to start, though, with some thanks. The reason for that is that I’m going to bring into question a couple of events that have happened with respect to free - dom of information in my own riding, events that I’ve been involved with. They involve B.C. wildfire, and they certainly involve Interior Health.

Before I make those comments, I want to make it very clear that I am very grateful for all of the people work - ing within that system. We are already experiencing fire, if you can imagine, in Cariboo-Chilcotin. It’s so dry there. I do know that the teams there are working very hard to protect all of our communities. In the case of the freedom- of-information request that I’m going to refer to, they were doing exactly that. They were trying to protect our com - munity, and things just didn’t go perfectly that afternoon. I’m going to leave that for just a minute.

I also want to say that it’s the same thing for our health authorities that are trying hard to support us. But the unwillingness, I suppose, to share some of this information is frustrating. Honestly, I think that often it is the case where we see people trying to access information in ways that exist cur - rently, but it’s difficult to traverse that system. I think that it’s frustrating to many. I think that’s why we end up in this situation in the first place. We know that the govern - ment has the information.

We know that particular de - partment has the information that we’re requesting, but there’s an unwillingness to share it. I can appreciate the complexity around that. I ob - viously understand that. We’re talking about, sometimes, health information that might be a proactive approach for myself. I lost my dad a few years ago. I haven’t actually been able to talk about that in this House yet. We had a lot of questions about his death — why it happened, how it occurred. Frankly, we had some challenges getting that information.

Since I’m there anyhow, I’ll talk about where the mem- ber for Surrey South was referring to clause 13 — some of the terms. When we talk about “malicious,” “abusive” or “unreasonable,” who is going to determine that definition? Who will define that? After my father passed, we had, obviously, much to do. We tried to figure out what had ended his life. That was not clear. The next thing was an opportunity to transfer property ownership and such for my mother. The only

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 7281 reason I say this…. This wasn’t a matter of freedom of in - formation, but what it was, was somebody determining how our application fit into an opportunity to transfer property ownership to her. I can tell you that at that moment, the frustration that I felt — not as an MLA but as a taxpayer who had just lost his father, who was trying desperately to help his mother — to find out that, during COVID, we had to make a special appointment to see someone in the Lands department, I suppose it was. I might want to rethink that.

It might have been a different department, but I believe it was Lands. [11:30 a.m.] We drove through a horrific blizzard for three hours to get to Kamloops. We presented the paperwork, and the person behind the counter determined that that paper - work was not in order. Why? Because we photocopied on both sides of the paper. Now, I can tell you that during COVID, it was difficult to go find a photocopier, it was difficult to get another ap - pointment, and it was difficult to get the first one. But that determination was made by someone behind a counter.

So what’s frustrating to me is that with respect to clause 13, when it does expand the category of clauses that can be applied to the OIPC, which is of course the office of the independent Privacy Commissioner, it will include terms like “malicious” and “abusive” and “unreasonably interfere” with operations of government or “repetitious.” All of those terms concern me. This is where I guess I wanted to get to with respect to a freedom-of-information request that I helped a constitu - ent to navigate after they had significant loss in a wildfire.

Again, I had personal experiences with the people that were trying to help us navigate, frankly, that paperwork. The frustration was that the information that would come back to us was so heavily redacted that it would require another application. It would require another attempt to get the information. Then we would get another return document, and that, of course, also conjured up more questions. Not only that, again, it wasn’t complete. There was so much information redacted.

In this situation, we actually had a whistleblower, I sup - pose, that was helping us, within the ministry, try to navi - gate to get this information. In this case, this was a rancher who lost much. He lost a couple of cabins on his property. He lost much forest. Definitely a large value of timber dol - lars were lost. And we were trying to understand what happened in those moments and what caused this. Now, I mean, we knew that the obvious cause was fire. The question at the time, and it was the one that needed to be answered, was: where was that fire lit? We know that people are exposed to forest fire.

We know that people in the landscape have a definite exposure to some person leaving a campfire going. But we would never expect that we would be exposed to the actions of the government. So in this case, that was the question. I am not opposed to controlled burns. I’m not at all op- posed to that. All we were trying to do was really under - stand what happened on that afternoon when fire had jumped out of control onto private property. I can tell you that that process went on for weeks, months, in trying to get a better understanding of what happened there.

I guess I can appreciate that, potentially, there could be cost associated with that action. You know, it’s not the first time…. I mean, this was a fire that burned in Flat Lake. It was a massive fire, very quickly 70,000, 80,000, 90,000 hectares. I think B.C. wildfire was at their wits’ end trying to do everything that they could. I know because I was on the front line of that fire and watched just how ravenous it was. When that fire was lit that afternoon…. It was lit. We did get to that determination. What we were better trying to understand was the location of where that fire started.

We were told that there were certainly all kinds of plans around how that fire would start, who would light it, who would be in charge of it. There was consideration, of course, to the weather, which of course is very difficult to predict, and we’ve seen that many times. But in this case, the real question was where it was lit. Maybe I’ll clear that up. If it’s lit on Crown land, of course, there is no real responsibility there. If it’s lit on private land, that takes up a different meaning.

So what we were trying to get to that day, or during that time, was where that fire was lit. [11:35 a.m.] We still, to this day, are not completely clear. We think we know, but that was two or three years ago, and we went through the process of freedom of information to gain that information. It was an extremely frustrating time, not just for myself but for the constituent. I suppose at any point during those requests, our re - quest could’ve been deemed to be abusive. There was def - initely some anger in letters that came from my constitu - ent.

Obviously, we tried to control that and tried to keep the heat down. It could’ve been deemed repetitious. I can’t even remember how many times we tried to get that in - formation, but we tried for a number of months. So at any point under this new rule we could have been derailed completely on this topic. I suggest that…. I can’t help but think that maybe the motive for this is cost. I understand that there’s going to be a new cost, and I’ll get to that in a moment or two. I know that there will be fees to be paid, but there are now. It was costly to do it then.

It just seems like another burden, an - other tax, another reason not to file for our freedom of in - formation. In so many cases, our residents want to know. It’s not just wildfire. But I mean, I’ve talked to many people that lived on the north shore of the Shuswap Lake when, again, a controlled burn went wrong. Again, I’m completely supportive of B.C. wildfire doing their work. They have massive, unbelievably complex and challenging

7282 B ritish Columbia Debates T uesday, May 5, 2026 work to do. But when it does go wrong, I think the prov - ince really needs to own up to that and take responsibility for that. The very last thing that this building should be doing is trying to keep information from its residents, the resi - dents that pay us to do this work. So I am not supportive of this in any way, shape or form. I guess in committee stage, we’ll find out what the mo - tive is behind all of this. It just seems to me that these are issues, these are challenges that the government — any government, frankly — would want to get solved.

I wouldn’t want to drag this out. I would want to better understand what happened that afternoon on the Flat Lake fire. As I mentioned before — I didn’t quite get through it — clause 13 expands the category of clauses that can be ap - plied to the OIPC to include terms like “malicious,” “abu - sive,” “unreasonably interfere” with operations of the gov - ernment and “repetitious” or “excessively broad.” This is, I guess, where I want to go next.

This is, again, in no way aimed at people that we work with in Interior Health, but we’re representing a constituent right now that’s trying to get the health records of her mother, who is deceased. The reason…. Her motive, really, is to better understand the same thing I wanted to know when my father passed, which was what got us to that point. She is unaware of why her mother passed and wants to know — not for any sort of punitive reason against Inter - ior Health, although there are questions around that topic as well.

The real reason for wanting to know is so that she might be able to protect her own self and her siblings from something that may be lurking, that might be in a position to affect them all. So she is very keen to better understand what ended her mom’s life. Now, in typical situations, we have pursued that infor - mation through the avenues that are available to us.

That is the patient quality care line; that is through the min - istry; and that is through different opportunities that we all have, as MLAs and as taxpayers, to use to try to get that information. [11:40 a.m.] Again, this has been nearly two months, maybe even three, that we have been trying to acquire this informa - tion. I’m completely committed to helping this constituent find this information, and I know that we’re going to end up in the process of FOI.

The question that I have, and we’ll try to get this infor - mation in committee stage, is: what value would the gov - ernment have in keeping that information private or se - cret? This person is deceased. Now, I can appreciate there might be questions around events leading to her death in the care of Interior Health. But the real question is: what might be lurking for that family? And trust me when I say this. I had the very same questions about my own father. Again, we’ve used every available resource that we can. Freedom of information will be the next process, but we’re already at three months.

I understand that people are hav - ing to wait 192 days, on average, past what is already the legislated timeline, which is appalling to me. I suppose that any one of those

definitions that have been spoken about so many times in this chamber over the last week or so, with respect to Bill 9.… Any one of those can be determined by whom? Is that the person on the phone? Is that the person that you’ve written to, that can just simply deny your access to this information? If so, why is that? Why is that individual empowered, at that point, to deny information that has been gathered by a government paid to do so by us as taxpayers and now requested by the very taxpayer that has funded the oper - ation of freedom of information in the first place? It’s just not appropriate.

I heard the member for Prince George–North Cariboo yesterday speaking about infrastructure. We’ve had simi - lar questions. We’ve heard a Peace River member speak about the bridge up there. Very serious concerns around all of this infrastructure. How did we get here? Why is it not being dealt with? What is the motive behind it? Right now in the South Cariboo — in fact, we’ll prob - ably talk to ranchers about it today — we’ve all been try - ing to get information around power projects that are pro - posed across a very vast area of our province, and at this point, no questions have been answered.

The answer is: “We’re looking for information. We’re not ready to provide any information.” I can tell you that the level of frustra - tion on the landscape, with respect to these types of oper - ations, is massive. There is no question in my mind that we will be head - ing to freedom of information over all kinds of questions, and they’re simple questions. Questions about the use of water. How are you going to use water when we are so short on it everywhere throughout the province but spe - cifically in areas of the Cariboo-Chilcotin?

How will you generate power from water as a by-product of other forms of power generation? Again, we find ourselves asking questions that should be readily accessible. Frankly, the information should be readily accessible. We haven’t got to that point yet in Cariboo-Chilcotin, but I do know that residents are now getting ready to head towards freedom of information. Anything, frankly, that would derail that, anything that would stop that information from being presented to our residents, is wrong — full stop. It’s wrong. I can’t believe…. Well, I think that there are some very serious challenges with this bill.

It’s not just the Conserva- tive caucus speaking against this. I have heard the Greens speak against it, independents speak against it. I think that there’s a lot of frustration with this bill. Certainly, in this legislative session, I’ve heard more about this bill from my constituents than almost anything else, and I know that they would want me to stand up and oppose this.

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 7283 [11:45 a.m.] I think clause 13…. We’ve spoken about that quite a bit. I will just say them one last time because I just can’t be - lieve that that’s what’s going to define the potential halt on an application — terms like “malicious,” “abusive,” “un - reasonable,” “unreasonably interfering with operations of government,” “repetitious,” “excessively broad.” I’m prob- ably getting a little repetitious on that myself, so I’ll move on from that. I do want to talk also about clause 21, which amends

section 71 by adding

section 71(2), which allows…. The head of a public “may require a person who asks for a copy of a record available under subsection to pay a fee to the public body.” We have heard that before, and again, it’s concerning. I don’t think that it’s going to generate a whack of cash for the government, so I don’t see it to be some sort of a budget-saving measure or something that’s going to save us from big deficits. But then, I guess, really, the question is: why does that exist at all? Should British Columbians not be able to question this House, question this govern - ment on things that are of importance to them?

I can appreciate that likely we all do…. I do probably get into the weeds a little bit myself, but when we’re talk - ing about losses from wildfire, serious losses in our health care system, why on earth would we not want to answer those questions? Why would we not want to clear those up? So the notion that we would charge our constituents is shocking to me about that. We believe that we need more transparency, not less. In this day and age, certainly, I think that our voters in this province would appreciate that transparency.

I know that we’ve talked about this legislation being sold to us in this House or to the taxpayers of this prov - ince as a way to increase efficiency. The only way that I could see this increasing efficiency is that through the terms that we’ve just spoken about at length, it will deny the access to the information in the first place, therefore cutting back on the actual applications and the actual at - tempts to gain this information. So I suppose, yeah, that might help efficiency.

It would certainly, potentially, create less work, but I’m not sure how any other part of it would create that opportunity to create more efficiency. [The Speaker in the chair.] We’ve seen fees before, and I am not able to support that kind of a fee structure at this time, in this bill. Again, I was just explaining my concern that those fees will cer - tainly put up enough of a barrier that it will create less opportunity for people to ask questions on very serious matters.

And I don’t think that when our taxpayers are trying to consume or acquire information on such serious matters, there should be a charge attached to that. Noting the hour, I would like to reserve my place to speak and would move adjournment of the debate. Lorne Doerkson moved adjournment of debate. Motion approved. Susie Ch ant: Committee of Supply,

Section A, reports progress on the estimates of the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship and asks leave to sit again. Leave granted. Sunita D hir: Committee of Supply,

Section C, reports progress on the estimates of the Ministry of Labour and asks leave to sit again. Leave granted. Hon. Ravi Parmar moved adjournment of the House. Motion approved. The Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m. today. The House adjourned at 11:49 a.m. Proceedings in the Douglas Fir Room The House in Committee,

Section A. The committee met at 11:14 a.m. [Susie Chant in the chair.] Committee of Supply ESTIMATES: MINISTRY OF W ATER, LAND AND RESOURCE STEW ARDSHIP The Chair: Good morning, Members. I call the Com - mittee of Supply,

Section A, to order. I will remind everybody on committee that when the minister is speaking or the member is speaking, if we could have everybody else not speaking, that would be great. In the thinking periods, that’s great. We’re meeting today to consider the budget estimates of the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. On Vote 46: ministry operations, $201,199,000. [11:15 a.m.] The Chair: Very good. Minister, do you have any open- ing remarks?

7284 B ritish Columbia Debates T uesday, May 5, 2026 Hon. Randene Neill: I just want to thank my team — Deputy Minister Lori Halls, ADM Sonja Martins and several other ADMs who will be making appearances throughout these next 7½ hours. I just want to thank, as well, the critic opposite, who is such a passionate advocate for everything to do with water, land and resource stewardship. I know we had a really good discussion last year, and I look forward to this one. Donegal Wilson: I’ll just do a quick opening as well.

I do appreciate the minister and their staff for allowing this opportunity to dig into the budgets and a little bit into the policy and thinking within the ministry that sup - ports that budget. I appreciate their time today. I think it’s going to be a fun one this year. I’m going to start a little bit with the service plan. I have some overall questions that are not necessarily specific to any one division that I would like to start with. As we move through, I know that staff may be changing. When I look at the service plan now, there’s almost nothing left for measurements for KPIs within your ser - vice plan.

Can you provide some clarity for why you no longer seem to be measuring your success through KPIs? Hon. Randene Neill: Thank you for the first ques - tion to set us off. We are going to try to get you some hard numbers in terms of what we’re doing to see results, be - cause we know that when we see and measure results, we can get more stuff done. This ministry is only four years old. We are still devel - oping a lot of the process in place for measuring KPIs, and that’s something we’re going to definitely see in upcoming service plans.

In terms of what types of funding we have for KPIs for this year, we can get you an exact number during the up - coming session, or later, after estimates are over. Donegal Wilson: In your service plan, I think there are only seven measurements listed for how you’re meet - ing…. Some of those are very generic or actually listed as “to be determined.” I would like to specifically, maybe, pick a little bit on the “to be determined” on the 30 by 30, thinking that the 28 by ’29 target at this point shouldn’t be a “to be determined” if the goal is 30 by 30.

I’m wondering why there’s no forecast after this year for how you’re going to obtain that goal of 30 by 30. [11:20 a.m.] Hon. Randene Neill: Thank you, Member, for your question. The answer is fairly simple. I asked the exact same question. Why don’t we have yearly deliverables to get us to the target for 30 by 30? Simply put, the federal govern - ment, in the tripartite agreement on nature, which gets us to 30 by 30, doesn’t have that requirement. The only re - quirement they have is for us to be able to achieve 30 per - cent of B.C.’s lands and waters protected by the year 2030.

Once again, we are on track for that, understanding that I think there is an excitement about us reaching 30 by 30 potentially earlier. That’s something that our min - istry is actively working on right now, to show a map of the province with deliverables about what’s protected and where and what we need to get to and how we’re getting there. Donegal Wilson: Can you provide a timeline for when that map will be available? The Chair: If you could… Through the Chair, can the minister provide the timeline? Donegal Wilson: Sorry, Chair.

Can the minister provide the timeline, then, for when that map can be expected for the public to see? Hon. Randene Neill: I don’t have a timeline, but as soon as we do have one, I can get it to you. The Chair: Excuse me a minute. I will remind the min - ister that you are providing it to the member, not to you. If we can keep talking through the Chair, the Chair will be happier. Thank you so very much. It makes me feel important. Donegal Wilson: Thank you, Chair. I appreciate your guidance.

Yeah, I think, again, with it being 2026 and the goal is 2030, your own documents list 19.9 percent as the fore - cast for this year. That is a significant land protection that is unknown in the next four years. Hearing the minister share that they felt they were going to get there sooner, I would suggest that the sooner we can get that map out, while we’re constraining resources and industry to do that, we should.

Through the Chair, one of your other performance measures is completing strategies, agreements, orders, risk assessments and water sustainability plans with First Na - tions and other watershed interests to improve watershed security and health. You have a goal for this year of three. Can the minister please provide how many we’ve done to date? [11:25 a.m.] Hon. Randene Neill: Currently we’ve initiated three water sustainability plans in the Nicola, the Xwulqw’selu and the Wet’suwet’en. We’re starting initial discussions on Goat River, near Cranbrook, and hope to start discussions with others as well.

Donegal Wilson: Thank you for that answer.

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 B ritish Columbia Debates 7285 The forecast for ’25-26 was three. Sounds like we achieved that. With only one listed for the ’26-27 and a target of three, how does the ministry intend to find those other two be - tween now and the end of the fiscal? Hon. Randene Neill: Our goal is to officially start in - itiating three each year. We have many, many more that we would like to be initiated. In fact, a lot of communities — I’m sure you have many in the member’s riding — also would like to start watershed security plans.

The other two that we are actively in discussions with to find the best tools for them to do watershed protection are Liard and the Hullcar watersheds, as well, on top of Goat River in Cranbrook. Donegal Wilson: Thank you for that answer. Goal 3 perform

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20260505am-Hansard-n172
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20260505am Hansard n172
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	f175845de503283d1a27f44efe0fe2ff37598376

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