British Columbia Hansard — 10 December 2020, a.m., Issue 6 (42nd Parliament, 1st Session)

20201210am-Hansard-n6

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

First Session, 42nd Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday, December 10, 2020 Morning Sitting Issue No. 6 THE HONOURABLE RAJ CHOUHAN, SPEAKER ISSN 1499-2175

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Her Honour the Honourable Janet Austin, OBC First Session, 42nd Parliament SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Raj Chouhan EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council ............................................................................................................... Hon. John Horgan Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training...........................................................................................................Hon.

Anne Kang Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries......................................................................................................................Hon. Lana Popham Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing .............................................................................................Hon. David Eby, QC Minister of Children and Family Development ....................................................................................................................Hon.

Mitzi Dean Minister of State for Child Care...................................................................................................................................... Hon. Katrina Chen Minister of Citizens’ Services.....................................................................................................................................................Hon. Lisa Beare Minister of Education .................................................................................................................................................. Hon.

Jennifer Whiteside Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation ................................................................................................ Hon. Bruce Ralston Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy............................................................................................. Hon. George Heyman Minister of Finance .......................................................................................................................................................... Hon.

Selina Robinson Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development ................................................ Hon. Katrine Conroy Minister of State for Lands and Natural Resource Operations................................................................................. Hon. Nathan Cullen Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs.............................................................................Hon.

Adrian Dix Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation .......................................................................................... Hon. Murray Rankin, QC Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation....................................................................................................... Hon. Ravi Kahlon Minister of State for Trade...............................................................................................................................................Hon.

George Chow Minister of Labour ...................................................................................................................................................................Hon. Harry Bains Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.............................................................................................................. Hon. Sheila Malcolmson Minister of Municipal Affairs ............................................................................................................................................. Hon.

Josie Osborne Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General ........................................................................................................... Hon. Mike Farnworth Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction........................................................................................... Hon. Nicholas Simons Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport .................................................................................................................. Hon.

Melanie Mark Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure................................................................................................................... Hon. Rob Fleming Minister of State for Infrastructure ................................................................................................................................... Hon.

Bowinn Ma LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Leader of the Official Opposition...................................................................................................................................................Shirley Bond Leader of the Third Party .......................................................................................................................................................... Sonia Furstenau Deputy Speaker..........................................................................................................................................................

Spencer Chandra Herbert Assistant Deputy Speaker..............................................................................................................................................................Norm Letnick Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole .......................................................................................................................... Ronna-Rae Leonard Clerk of the Legislative Assembly ...........................................................................................................................................

Kate Ryan-Lloyd Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel.............................................................................................................................. Seunghee Suzie Seo Clerk Assistant, Parliamentary Services........................................................................................................................... Artour Sogomonian Clerk of Committees.......................................................................................................................................................................

Jennifer Arril Clerk Assistant, Committees and Interparliamentary Relations ..............................................................................................Susan Sourial Senior Research Analyst ................................................................................................................................................................... Karan Riarh Acting Sergeant-at-Arms..................................................................................................................................................................Greg Nelson

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS Alexis, Pam (BC NDP) ............................................................Abbotsford-Mission Anderson, Brittny (BC NDP) .........................................................Nelson-Creston Ashton, Dan (BC Liberal Party) ............................................................... Penticton Babchuk, Michele (BC NDP)...............................................................North Island Bailey, Brenda (BC NDP).................................................. Vancouver–False Creek Bains, Hon. Harry (BC NDP).........................................................

Surrey-Newton Banman, Bruce (BC Liberal Party) ............................................ Abbotsford South Beare, Hon. Lisa (BC NDP) .......................................

Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Begg, Garry (BC NDP).................................................................Surrey-Guildford Bernier, Mike (BC Liberal Party) ...............................................Peace River South Bond, Shirley (BC Liberal Party).................................Prince George–Valemount Brar, Jagrup (BC NDP) ................................................................Surrey-Fleetwood Cadieux, Stephanie (BC Liberal Party) .............................................

Surrey South Chandra Herbert, Spencer (BC NDP).................................Vancouver–West End Chant, Susie (BC NDP) ..............................................North Vancouver–Seymour Chen, Hon. Katrina (BC NDP) ............................................... Burnaby-Lougheed Chouhan, Hon. Raj (BC NDP).................................................Burnaby-Edmonds Chow, Hon. George (BC NDP) ..........................................Vancouver-Fraserview Clovechok, Doug (BC Liberal Party)........................Columbia River–Revelstoke Conroy, Hon.

Katrine (BC NDP) ....................................................Kootenay West Coulter, Dan (BC NDP) .......................................................................... Chilliwack Cullen, Hon. Nathan (BC NDP) ................................................................... Stikine Davies, Dan (BC Liberal Party)................................................. Peace River North de Jong, Michael, QC (BC Liberal Party)....................................Abbotsford West Dean, Hon. Mitzi (BC NDP) ...............................................

Esquimalt-Metchosin D’Eith, Bob (BC NDP) .........................................................Maple Ridge–Mission Dix, Hon. Adrian (BC NDP) ................................................ Vancouver-Kingsway Doerkson, Lorne (BC Liberal Party) ........................................Cariboo-Chilcotin Donnelly, Fin (BC NDP) .......................................... Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Dykeman, Megan (BC NDP)............................................................... Langley East Eby, Hon. David, QC (BC NDP).......................................

Vancouver–Point Grey Elmore, Mable (BC NDP) ..................................................Vancouver-Kensington Farnworth, Hon. Mike (BC NDP) .................................................Port Coquitlam Fleming, Hon. Rob (BC NDP) ...............................................

Victoria–Swan Lake Furstenau, Sonia (BC Green Party) .............................................Cowichan Valley Glumac, Rick (BC NDP) ..................................................Port Moody–Coquitlam Greene, Kelly (BC NDP) ........................................................Richmond-Steveston Halford, Trevor (BC Liberal Party) .........................................Surrey–White Rock Heyman, Hon. George (BC NDP) .........................................Vancouver-Fairview Horgan, Hon. John (BC NDP) ......................................... Langford–Juan de Fuca Kahlon, Hon.

Ravi (BC NDP) .............................................................. Delta North Kang, Hon. Anne (BC NDP) .................................................. Burnaby–Deer Lake Kirkpatrick, Karin (BC Liberal Party) ........................West Vancouver–Capilano Kyllo, Greg (BC Liberal Party)....................................................................Shuswap Lee, Michael (BC Liberal Party) ..............................................Vancouver-Langara Leonard, Ronna-Rae (BC NDP)...............................................

Courtenay-Comox Letnick, Norm (BC Liberal Party) .................................. Kelowna–Lake Country Lore, Grace (BC NDP)........................................................... Victoria–Beacon Hill Ma, Hon. Bowinn (BC NDP).....................................North Vancouver–Lonsdale Malcolmson, Hon. Sheila (BC NDP)........................................................Nanaimo Mark, Hon. Melanie (BC NDP).................................Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Mercier, Andrew (BC NDP) ........................................................................

Langley Merrifield, Renee (BC Liberal Party)......................................... Kelowna-Mission Milobar, Peter (BC Liberal Party) .......................... Kamloops–North Thompson Morris, Mike (BC Liberal Party) ................................. Prince George–Mackenzie Oakes, Coralee (BC Liberal Party).................................................. Cariboo North Olsen, Adam (BC Green Party)............................ Saanich North and the Islands Osborne, Hon.

Josie (BC NDP)........................................Mid Island–Pacific Rim Paddon, Kelli (BC NDP) ................................................................Chilliwack-Kent Paton, Ian (BC Liberal Party) ............................................................... Delta South Popham, Hon. Lana (BC NDP)........................................................ Saanich South Ralston, Hon. Bruce (BC NDP)......................................................Surrey-Whalley Rankin, Hon.

Murray, QC (BC NDP) .............................Oak Bay–Gordon Head Rice, Jennifer (BC NDP) ...................................................................... North Coast Robinson, Hon. Selina (BC NDP)...................................Coquitlam-Maillardville Ross, Ellis (BC Liberal Party)......................................................................... Skeena Routledge, Janet (BC NDP) .............................................................Burnaby North Routley, Doug (BC NDP)...........................................

Nanaimo–North Cowichan Russell, Roly (BC NDP).................................................... Boundary-Similkameen Rustad, John (BC Liberal Party)......................................................Nechako Lakes Sandhu, Harwinder (BC NDP) .................................................Vernon-Monashee Sharma, Niki (BC NDP)..........................................................Vancouver-Hastings Shypitka, Tom (BC Liberal Party) .................................................... Kootenay East Simons, Hon. Nicholas (BC NDP).........................

Powell River–Sunshine Coast Sims, Jinny (BC NDP) ................................................................. Surrey-Panorama Singh, Aman (BC NDP) .............................................Richmond-Queensborough Singh, Rachna (BC NDP)...................................................Surrey–Green Timbers Starchuk, Mike (BC NDP) ......................................................... Surrey-Cloverdale Stewart, Ben (BC Liberal Party) .......................................................

Kelowna West Stone, Todd (BC Liberal Party) ...............................Kamloops–South Thompson Sturdy, Jordan (BC Liberal Party) ............................. West Vancouver–Sea to Sky Tegart, Jackie (BC Liberal Party)....................................................... Fraser-Nicola Walker, Adam (BC NDP) ....................................................... Parksville-Qualicum Wat, Teresa (BC Liberal Party) ....................................... Richmond North Centre Whiteside, Hon. Jennifer (BC NDP) .........................................

New Westminster Wilkinson, Andrew, QC (BC Liberal Party)......................Vancouver-Quilchena Y ao, Henry (BC NDP) ..................................................... Richmond South Centre LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING Abbotsford-Mission................................................................................. Pam Alexis Abbotsford South...............................................................................Bruce Banman Abbotsford West......................................................................

Michael de Jong, QC Boundary-Similkameen........................................................................ Roly Russell Burnaby–Deer Lake....................................................................... Hon. Anne Kang Burnaby-Edmonds......................................................................Hon. Raj Chouhan Burnaby-Lougheed .................................................................... Hon. Katrina Chen Burnaby North .................................................................................

Janet Routledge Cariboo-Chilcotin ..........................................................................Lorne Doerkson Cariboo North.................................................................................... Coralee Oakes Chilliwack ...............................................................................................Dan Coulter Chilliwack-Kent .................................................................................... Kelli Paddon Columbia River–Revelstoke .........................................................

Doug Clovechok Coquitlam–Burke Mountain...............................................................Fin Donnelly Coquitlam-Maillardville ...................................................... Hon. Selina Robinson Courtenay-Comox................................................................... Ronna-Rae Leonard Cowichan Valley ............................................................................. Sonia Furstenau Delta North................................................................................... Hon.

Ravi Kahlon Delta South ..................................................................................................Ian Paton Esquimalt-Metchosin .................................................................... Hon. Mitzi Dean Fraser-Nicola .........................................................................................

Jackie Tegart Kamloops–North Thompson .............................................................Peter Milobar Kamloops–South Thompson..................................................................Todd Stone Kelowna–Lake Country .....................................................................Norm Letnick Kelowna-Mission ...........................................................................

Renee Merrifield Kelowna West ..........................................................................................Ben Stewart Kootenay East.......................................................................................Tom Shypitka Kootenay West........................................................................ Hon. Katrine Conroy Langford–Juan de Fuca .............................................................. Hon.

John Horgan Langley .............................................................................................Andrew Mercier Langley East....................................................................................Megan Dykeman Maple Ridge–Mission.............................................................................. Bob D’Eith Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows............................................................Hon. Lisa Beare Mid Island–Pacific Rim............................................................ Hon.

Josie Osborne Nanaimo.............................................................................Hon. Sheila Malcolmson Nanaimo–North Cowichan............................................................... Doug Routley Nechako Lakes........................................................................................ John Rustad Nelson-Creston ............................................................................. Brittny Anderson New Westminster.............................................................. Hon.

Jennifer Whiteside North Coast ........................................................................................... Jennifer Rice North Island................................................................................... Michele Babchuk North Vancouver–Lonsdale......................................................... Hon. Bowinn Ma North Vancouver–Seymour...................................................................Susie Chant Oak Bay–Gordon Head..................................................Hon.

Murray Rankin, QC Parksville-Qualicum........................................................................... Adam Walker Peace River North ................................................................................... Dan Davies Peace River South ................................................................................ Mike Bernier Penticton ................................................................................................. Dan Ashton Port Coquitlam...................................................................... Hon.

Mike Farnworth Port Moody–Coquitlam.......................................................................Rick Glumac Powell River–Sunshine Coast..............................................Hon. Nicholas Simons Prince George–Mackenzie....................................................................Mike Morris Prince George–Valemount ..................................................................

Shirley Bond Richmond North Centre..........................................................................Teresa Wat Richmond-Queensborough..................................................................Aman Singh Richmond South Centre .......................................................................... Henry Y ao Richmond-Steveston ............................................................................

Kelly Greene Saanich North and the Islands .............................................................Adam Olsen Saanich South .............................................................................Hon. Lana Popham Shuswap...................................................................................................... Greg Kyllo Skeena........................................................................................................... Ellis Ross Stikine........................................................................................ Hon.

Nathan Cullen Surrey-Cloverdale .............................................................................. Mike Starchuk Surrey-Fleetwood.....................................................................................Jagrup Brar Surrey–Green Timbers........................................................................Rachna Singh Surrey-Guildford......................................................................................Garry Begg Surrey-Newton ..............................................................................Hon.

Harry Bains Surrey-Panorama ...................................................................................... Jinny Sims Surrey South ................................................................................ Stephanie Cadieux Surrey-Whalley ......................................................................... Hon. Bruce Ralston Surrey–White Rock .......................................................................... Trevor Halford Vancouver-Fairview.............................................................. Hon.

George Heyman Vancouver–False Creek...................................................................... Brenda Bailey Vancouver-Fraserview...............................................................Hon. George Chow Vancouver-Hastings ..............................................................................Niki Sharma Vancouver-Kensington....................................................................... Mable Elmore Vancouver-Kingsway..................................................................... Hon.

Adrian Dix Vancouver-Langara................................................................................ Michael Lee Vancouver–Mount Pleasant..................................................... Hon. Melanie Mark Vancouver–Point Grey ............................................................Hon. David Eby, QC Vancouver-Quilchena........................................................Andrew Wilkinson, QC Vancouver–West End .....................................................Spencer Chandra Herbert Vernon-Monashee .....................................................................

Harwinder Sandhu Victoria–Beacon Hill............................................................................... Grace Lore Victoria–Swan Lake.................................................................... Hon. Rob Fleming West Vancouver–Capilano...........................................................Karin Kirkpatrick West Vancouver–Sea to Sky................................................................Jordan Sturdy Party Standings: BC NDP 57; BC Liberal Party 28; BC Green Party 2

CONTENTS Thursday, December 10, 2020 Morning Sitting Page Routine Business Tributes ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 115 Gary Steeves Hon. S.

Malcolmson Introductions by Members....................................................................................................................................................... 115 Tributes ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 115 Anton Kolstee Hon. B.

Ma Introductions by Members....................................................................................................................................................... 115 Introduction and First Reading of Bills.................................................................................................................................. 116 Bill M201 — Assessment (Split Assessment Classification) Amendment Act, 2020 T. Stone Bill M202 — Food and Beverage Delivery Fees Cap Act T.

Halford Statements (Standing Order 25B) ........................................................................................................................................... 117 Cariboo-Chilcotin community response to COVID-19 L. Doerkson Human Rights Day and work of Comox Valley Community Justice Centre R. Leonard Human rights and COVID-19 impact on vulnerable people S. Cadieux COVID-19 impact on racialized communities R. Singh COVID-19 impact and work of food banks A. Olsen Morden Colliery Historic Provincial Park D.

Routley Oral Questions........................................................................................................................................................................... 119 Eligibility for B.C. recovery benefit S. Bond Hon. S. Robinson M. Bernier Rural designation for southern Gulf Island communities A. Olsen Hon. R. Kahlon COVID-19 response for small businesses T. Stone Hon. R. Kahlon COVID-19 response for tourism industry and report recommendations T. Wat Hon. M. Mark Access to shelters by vulnerable people during COVID-19 L. Doerkson Hon. D.

Eby COVID-19 response and impact on vulnerable people P . Milobar Hon. M. Farnworth Tabling Documents................................................................................................................................................................... 124 Environmental emergency program 2019-20 report to Legislature TogetherBC: British Columbia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, 2019 Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in B.C., interim report, November 2020

Orders of the Day Second Reading of Bills ............................................................................................................................................................ 125 Bill 3 — Finance Statutes Amendment Act, 2020(continued) E. Ross M. Morris J. Sturdy

THURSDAY , DECEMBER 10, 2020 The House met at 10:04 a.m. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Prayers and reflections: G. Lore. [10:05 a.m.] Tributes GARY STEEVES Hon. S. Malcolmson:I invite the House to recognize the legacy and the loss of my friend Gary Steeves. I believe other colleagues will speak to his contribu- tion to the labour movement, but I want to recognize his service under the Islands Trust Act.

He served as an elected councillor with me on the Islands Trust Council executive for three terms — a strong defender of coastal communities, a strong, feisty advocate for human rights and social justice. I know his North Pender community is mourning. I send my love to his partner in work and life, Marina Horvath. We are thinking of you, sending our love and grateful for Gary’s contribution to British Columbia. Introductions by Members G. Lore: I’m absolutely thrilled to rise today for my first introduction and to introduce my partner, Rob Lore, who sits in the gallery. Rob and I are tied to this building.

We both served as legislative interns, though he five years before me. We were set up on a blind date 12 years ago by the director of parliamentary education, Karen Aitken. He’s a keen observer of politics, has a nerdy interest in good public service and governance and has always had my back as I undertake the public side of this work. Today is also Rob’s 40th birthday. Would the House join me in thanking him for being so wonderful and in wishing him a very happy birthday. R. Singh: I would like to congratulate everybody on International Human Rights Day.

This day is even more special for me because it’s the birthday of a very special person in our lives. My father, Dr. Raghbir Singh Sir- ijana, turns 81 today. He has instilled strong human rights and social justice values in both me and my sister. Would the House join me in wishing him a very, very happy birthday. Tributes ANTON KOLSTEE Hon. B. Ma:I’ d like to introduce the House to Mr. An- ton Kolstee. Mr. Kolstee was born in Den Haag, in the Netherlands, and immigrated to Canada when he was seven years old. Following an exciting musical career and prior to suffering a debilitating heart attack in 1999, Mr.

Kolstee was also a counsellor and a social studies teacher at Carson Graham Secondary. It is in this role that many of my constituents know him. Sadly, Mr. Kolstee died earlier this week, when he passed away from COVID-19. In the wake of his pass- ing, countless community members, particularly Indigen- ous people with the Squamish Nation, have come forward to remember him fondly and to share how he impacted their lives. They tell me that even before reconciliation was a com- mon word spoken in schools, Mr. Kolstee reached out as a bridge-builder between Indigenous and non-Indigen- ous communities.

He fostered relationships, spoke the lan- guage and created space for understanding. One Squamish Nation member told me that he always made her feel like she had a lot to be proud of because she was Indigenous. I never knew Mr. Kolstee in life, but I mourn his loss today, along with so many others in the communities I serve. Introductions by Members D. Davies: I don’t often get the chance to do this, as we’re not sitting in December usually, but I want to wish my daughter, Hana, a very special 15th birthday today. I also want to wish my son a happy ninth birthday on December 5.

These are my two motivating factors that keep me going every single day. Would the House please help me in wishing them both a very happy birthday. [10:10 a.m.] P . Milobar:We’re joined today by a former colleague of ours, a good friend of many in this House and someone who…. I learned very quickly in 2017 that you made sure, if you were on House duty, that you were here on time, or Mr. Eric Foster was in your office as our Whip making sure you understood the rules as they would apply.

An 11-year member of this House, served with great distinction for Vernon-Monashee for all those 11 years, and a former mayor as well. Would the House please wel- come back again for a visit, Mr. Eric Foster. 115

Introduction and First Reading of Bills BILL M201 — ASSESSMENT (SPLIT ASSESSMENT CLASSIFICATION) AMENDMENT ACT, 2020 T. Stone presented a bill intituled Assessment (Split Assessment Classification) Amendment Act, 2020. T. Stone:I move that the bill intituled the Assessment (Split Assessment Classification) Amendment Act, 2020, of which notice has been given in my name on the order paper, be introduced and read a first time now. I’m pleased to introduce this bill today for a third time.

As our urban centres grow, the resulting plans for sig- nificant densification are placing huge pressure on small businesses through dramatically increased property taxes based on the unused air space above their heads. This is resulting in the hollowing out of many neighbourhoods as an increasing number of small businesses make the painful decision to lay off their employees and close their doors. The good news is that a working group, including a number of Metro Vancouver municipalities, came up with a solution.

These local governments are supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders, including arts, culture, neighbourhood and small business organizations as well as supportive UBCM and B.C. Chamber resolutions. The solution proposed includes two parts. First is the creation of a new commercial property subclass for the air- space above small businesses and other affected organiz- ations. Secondly is maximum flexibility for local govern- ments to set the property tax rate on the new subclass as they see fit, from $0 to just below the existing commercial property tax rate.

I’m proud that this bill provides for the exact solution that local governments have asked for. This is an optional tool that they can choose to use or not at a rate that they determine makes the most sense for each unique situation that they’re trying to address. We urge the government to call this bill for debate as small businesses, arts groups and charities are counting on the government to take swift action by empowering local governments to use this new tool as soon as possible. Mr. Speaker:The question is first reading of the bill. Motion approved. T.

Stone:I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today. Bill M201, Assessment (Split Assessment Classification) Amendment Act, 2020, introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today. BILL M202 — FOOD AND BEVERAGE DELIVERY FEES CAP ACT T. Halford presented a bill intituled Food and Beverage Delivery Fees Cap Act. T.

Halford:I move the bill entitled Food and Beverage Delivery Fees Cap Act, of which notice has been given in my name on the order paper, be introduced and read for a first time now. The COVID-19 pandemic has been incredibly difficult for small business, especially for those in the food and beverage sector. From family-owned and -operated to long-standing community favourites, all have been strug- gling to keep their doors open as the pandemic continues, especially into the Christmas season, which would nor- mally be the busiest time of year.

In order to comply with orders from the provincial health officer, restaurants have had to reduce seating capa- city, increase food delivery and takeout options and incur additional costs for PPE supplies or, in some cases, close their doors altogether. Taking action now to place a cap on fees that third-party delivery companies are permitted to charge restaurants is an immediate way to provide some relief to these struggling businesses. If passed, the legisla- tion would regulate the cap on fees charged to restaurants by third-party apps like SkipTheDishes and Uber Eats.

Currently these services charge as much as 30 percent for the delivery price. Both parties committed to taking action on this issue during the election, and there is no reason this legislation couldn’t be implemented immediately. The time for action is now. We can no longer wait to make this important com- mitment a priority. [10:15 a.m.] Mr. Speaker:The question is first reading of the bill. Motion approved. T. Halford:I move the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting after today.

Bill M202, Food and Beverage Delivery Fees Cap Act, introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today. 116 British Columbia Debates Thursday, December 10, 2020

Statements (Standing Order 25B) CARIBOO-CHILCOTIN COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO COVID-19 L. Doerkson:I would like to acknowledge all of the hard work and resiliency of the people who live in my beautiful riding. On top of everything related to the pan- demic, the challenges that we faced during flooding and wildfires in recent years have brought the best out of the people of Cariboo-Chilcotin. In terms of COVID-19, people like Tammy Tugnum and Joy Hennig with the Cariboo Foundation Hospital Trust have used their imagination to reinvent their annual gala three times due to heavier health restrictions.

It’s this kind of commitment and dedication to our community that will get us through the pandemic. How about key volunteers like Court and Pauline Smith and Tim and Susan Rolph, along with so many of their board members and volunteers with the famous Williams Lake Stampede, who, working in partnership with our Williams Lake Rotary Club, led by Mike Austin and Guenter Weckerle, hosted two drive-through pancake breakfasts and a rib carbecue? Y es, I said carbecue. That raised a lot of funds for people who really need this money in our community right now.

How about the Williams Lake Stampeders hockey club, who have had an annual fundraiser, with Janna Gertzen and, of course, the Gertzen family leading the way and making this a massive success this year? We all know that amateur sport has taken a beating dur- ing this pandemic, but the 100 Mile House Wranglers have had some very interesting barbecues with the Fun Chaser. Key volunteers — Donna Barnett, Tammy Mikkelsen, Renee LaRochelle, Kathy Reid, Wayne Sharon, Ken and Susan Fryer, Don Jones, Bill Harris, Maureen Pinkney and Dave Mingo — have all made a big difference in 100 Mile House. The list goes on.

I am very proud of the resiliency and the dedication of all of our community volunteers in the Cariboo-Chilcotin who are making a difference under extremely challenging times. HUMAN RIGHTS DAY AND WORK OF COMOX V ALLEY COMMUNITY JUSTICE CENTRE R. Leonard:Today is Human Rights Day. Since 1948, it’s a day to hold up the rights of everyone to equality, justice and human dignity. This year’s theme: “Recover better — stand up for human rights. ” Human rights are foundational to our recovery efforts. The impacts of COVID-19 are unequally shared, and hatred and racism are on the rise.

We know it’s time to address the failures that have been exposed and exploited by COVID-19. Decades ago former B.C. MLA Rosemary Brown described her experiences as a Black immigrant with the quote: “Subtle and polite nature of Canada’s particular brand of racism. ” Today, in the crisis of the pandemic, we’ve seen and heard more acts of hatred and racism in our hometowns that we believed only happened somewhere else. Whether hatred and racism haunt our institutions and systems or are manifest by individual actions, hate and racism need to be named. They need to be acted upon.

The actions of the Comox Valley Community Justice Centre and executive director Bruce Curtis present some shining examples of such actions. They developed a critical incident response protocol with individuals, businesses and institutions signing on to work towards their own human rights policies and practices and to implement responses to racist, homophobic and hate-based incidents.

The number of signatories continues to grow as the justice centre works to nurture a more inclusive and welcoming community. [10:20 a.m.] The centre also developed a program with trained facil- itators for a short-term transformative dialogue with the parties, supporting people who have been verbally assaul- ted and filed a police report. The centre is finding ways to uphold the equal dignity and worth of every person every day, including Human Rights Day. HUMAN RIGHTS AND COVID-19 IMPACT ON VULNERABLE PEOPLE S.

Cadieux: Today I’m lucky enough to address this Legislature because of the basic rights afforded to me in the human rights declaration signed 72 years ago today. Today is International Human Rights Day, and this year we must focus to ensure that as the world recovers from COVID-19, human rights are given special consideration by governments as they allocate resources for recovery. The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating not only for those in our communities but in communities around the world where individuals don’t have access to the same basic rights.

As we speak, we see demonstrations around the world where people are still struggling for the rights we enjoy. Not only has this pandemic ravaged economies, but it’s had overwhelming impacts on society’s vulnerable populations. The pandemic has adversely affected families with chil- dren with special needs. The report by the representative last week highlights the dire reality that B.C. children and youth with special needs are currently facing by not being able to access services and supports.

It breaks my heart still to share that earlier this year Ariis Knight, a woman with cerebral palsy and a resident of South Surrey, died alone at Peace Arch Hospital, unable to properly communicate Thursday, December 10, 2020 British Columbia Debates 117

with hospital staff as her caregivers were prohibited from being with her due to the COVID visitation restrictions that didn’t respect her rights. Though British Columbia has made significant pro- gress in promoting equality and inclusion, the COV- ID-19 pandemic has highlighted that supports and ser- vices required by vulnerable populations are still too often an afterthought. I pledge to continue advocating for governments at all levels to rebuild a stronger, more vibrant, more inclusive British Columbia, recognizing human rights protections not only in law but in practice.

COVID-19 IMPACT ON RACIALIZED COMMUNITIES R. Singh: Since February, COVID-19 has had a debilit- ating effect on our province. Everyone, regardless of who and where they are, has seen their lives transformed because of it, many turned upside down. Some communit- ies, however, have been at an increased risk of infection, illness and worse. Reports from different academics and researchers have found that Indigenous, Black and South Asian people, among several other people of colour, have a higher degree of susceptibility to this virus.

A Statistics Canada report released just three weeks back found that places in B.C. with a higher density of visible minorities had morbidity rates that were nine to ten times higher than other com- munities, which implies that racialized communities have borne a disproportionate brunt of the pandemic. The impact on women of colour has been especially severe, with sickness, unemployment and increased rates of domestic abuse. Many people from these com- munities are in essential professions, and many others are in occupations and life situations that require them to go to work, increasing chances of exposure.

Racial- ized communities also disproportionately face housing and household income challenges, two other factors that researchers have found to be major contributors to an increased risk to the virus. The inequality faced by these communities is not new, and it has been amplified by this pandemic. It has pres- ented additional challenges to families that were already facing multiple barriers. I know that there is substantive work being done by community organizations, individuals and leaders throughout the province, and I also know there is a lot more that needs to be done.

Today I would like to request that all of us join in shin- ing more light on this issue and working to make sure these disparities are overcome, not just during but also after the pandemic. COVID-19 IMPACT AND WORK OF FOOD BANKS A. Olsen:This is a challenging time of year for many people. In addition, COVID-19 is stressing and stretching our social fabric in many previously unimaginable ways. Special legislative sessions to debate desperate financial measures, which were once an exception, in 2020 have become the norm. [10:25 a.m.] The gaps in government service delivery have been exposed.

Systems we once perceived to be solid are prov- ing fragile. In the game of partisan politics, the fragility is often blamed on decisions made long ago. Words are volleyed back and forth across the aisle. This chamber is the place we come together to embrace our shared responsibility, and the weight of that responsibility is heavy on us now. We have been sobered with the fragility of our modern society, the life-sustaining ecosystems that we mine and harvest, the voracious, consumptive craving of our capit- alist economy. Everything around us seems to be either breaking or broken.

I raise my hands in deep gratitude to our friends, family and neighbours on the front lines who do the valiant work. I imagine they care little about who is to blame. There is no good reason for the rates of homelessness, poverty and depression in our wealthy society. That is on all of us, on all sides of this chamber, to fix. This past week British Columbians stepped up big- time to support food banks across our province. Mil- lions of dollars were raised to provide the financial resources that are needed to fill the gaps.

Food banks are one of those unfortunate realities that should not exist in a society so blessed with the riches we have. However, this holiday season they are necessary, and they can only do their important work with donations of non-perish- able food items and money. As we prepare to celebrate this holiday season, I raise my hands to the volunteers and staff of food banks across British Columbia. I ask that you please support your local food bank and know that I will be resolved to work in this House toward a future where food banks are no longer needed. MORDEN COLLIERY HISTORIC PROVINCIAL PARK D.

Routley:I’ d like to speak to the House about a very special place in my constituency named Morden Colliery historical park. Now, about 50 members are rolling their eyes, which means I’ve got more than 40 fresh audience members to speak to about Morden Colliery park. I’ve even bored my dog to sleep. Morden Colliery park is important because it is a his- torical park. It has an important construction history. It 118 British Columbia Debates Thursday, December 10, 2020

was one of the first reinforced concrete projects in North America, made possible only by the specialized cement mined out of where Butchart Gardens is now. It has this important history in that aspect but also in the labour history of this province. It was built during the coal-mine strike in the Ladysmith, Nanaimo area some 106 years ago. Over 600 workers died in those coal mines. During that fight, they couldn’t work underground. So the company that built the colliery worked above ground. They invested in this revolutionary construction project and supported the community with employment.

So it has a very important history for the families, the descendants of those…. Finally, after years and years of fighting for that mine and that park, our Minister of Environment — thank you very much — invested $1.4 million in saving that park. It is a testament to our shared commitment to our history, which is so important to keep our communities and their character alive. I also want to thank the people involved.

I want to thank HeritageWorks and Heritage Masonry, the people who did the Kinsol Trestle that many of you are familiar with, but three people in particular: Chris Scholberg, who was assigned from the city of Nanaimo to the Friends of the Morden Mine project, and Sandra Zuccolini-Larocque and Mike Larocque, who fought for this, who led the charge and who even parked their RV as security while the job was done. It was a fantastic commitment by all involved, and I deeply thank them all — and the members of the House for listening. Oral Questions ELIGIBILITY FOR B.C. RECOVERY BENEFIT S.

Bond:First he called an election during a pandemic. Then, on the campaign trail, the Premier promised British Columbians they would receive their recovery benefit money in the mail by Christmas. [10:30 a.m.] British Columbians took this Premier at his word. They made plans to pay their bills and budgeted for the holidays, expecting to see the money, but on Wednesday, many Brit- ish Columbians found out that eligibility for this benefit is based on pre-pandemic, 2019 tax returns, even though pre-pandemic income isn’t an indication of a family’s cur- rent need.

To the Premier, what does he have to say to those fam- ilies in British Columbia that are struggling after having lost a job, having lost their income, who are afraid for their families and now have discovered that they may not be eli- gible for a single dime of the recovery benefit money? Hon. S. Robinson:I agree with the Leader of the Oppo- sition. It’s been a very difficult year for British Columbians. It’s been a very difficult year for Canadians and for every- one around the world as a result of this pandemic. We know that people have been hit hard.

It is why we brought forward a workers benefit back in the spring. It is why we put together a Stronger B.C. plan in September, and it is why we brought forward this recovery benefit to help 3.7 million British Columbians. These are the ones that have been hardest hit. These are the ones that we are committed to continue to support, and I know that the members opposite, as well, feel committed to support those folks. This benefit is going to help 3.7 million British Columbians. Mr. Speaker:The Leader of the Official Opposition on a first supplemental. S.

Bond: To the Finance Minister, British Columbians woke up on Wednesday after the announcement, many of them realizing that for the very direct support that was promised by this Premier during an election campaign, they may not be eligible because it is based on pre-pan- demic circumstances. So the Finance Minister knows full well that many families won’t be able to make ends meet this holiday season, and everyone in the House is con- cerned about that. What did the Finance Minister say that British Colum- bians would do with their benefit money?

Getting, you know, “their $5 latte, because they haven’t been able to. ” Hundreds of thousands of British Columbians have lost income since the onset of the pandemic, not 2019. They have lost income. Many of them don’t know how they’re going to make their rent payment or how they’re going to feed their families. And this minister references a $5 latte, hardly on the minds of many British Columbians. Again to the Premier, what does the Premier have to say about the people who were counting on the money that he promised them during an election campaign? Hon. S.

Robinson:Well, it’s so interesting to hear the member opposite cherry-pick. What I said was it’s an opportunity for people to pay their bills, to help buy clothes for their kids, to help pay for groceries, to buy Christmas presents and perhaps even, yes, to treat them- selves to a latte if they haven’t been able to do that. I think it’s really important to speak to the whole context. I know that the members opposite are hearing from British Columbians about how hard it’s been. We’re hear- ing that too.

We’re responding with a recovery benefit that we know 90 percent of adults in British Columbia are eli- gible for. Of that, 85 percent of those 90 percent are eligible for the full benefit. That’s going to make a significant dif- ference for right now. People need help now, not necessar- ily in the future. We have a vaccine on the horizon, which I know cer- tainly helped me sort of get through the day yesterday. It’s Thursday, December 10, 2020 British Columbia Debates 119

been really hard on British Columbians. We’re going to continue to be there for British Columbia and for every- body here in this province, not just those at the top but for every British Columbian. This has been a very, very, very difficult time for so many. We’re going to keep doing what we need to do to help British Columbians get through this. M. Bernier:Let’s be clear. To the minister, what hap- pened to 100 percent? The Premier made a promise — $1,000 in everyone’s account by Christmas. It looks like he’s going to break that promise. [10:35 a.m.] Many British Columbia families are expecting this money.

They’re expecting help from this government and support before this holiday season. And why? Because the Premier made a promise on the fly. I think that’s why this is not going to happen. He’s just making it up as he goes. A lot of families are going to notice, though. A lot of families are struggling. A lot of families are hurting, and a lot of families are looking for help from this government to fulfil a promise they made. Can the Premier tell British Columbians who are count- ing on this money: will everyone still be getting the $1,000 that he promised? Hon. S.

Robinson:We promised to deliver a recovery benefit to those who needed it most. The numbers show that people with high incomes — people who, perhaps, can buy yachts — were far less impacted than middle- and lower-income earners. We know that those are the people who are most impacted. Our focus is on those who need it most, those who need help to pay their rent, which is why we were one of the few provinces that provided a rent sup- plement to help folks. That is why we helped those folks. We knew that the people needed help.

So we created programs throughout these nine months to make sure that people could pay for groceries, to make sure that they could pay their rent, to make sure that they could buy their children new running shoes that they outgrew. We’re going to keep doing that for the people who need it most in this province. Mr. Speaker:The member for Peace River South on a supplemental. M. Bernier:Well, the promise keeps changing day by day, it seems. The Premier said everybody would have $1,000 in their account — “direct deposit, ” I believe, was his exact quote — by Christmas.

It’s clear this government does not actually understand what’s happening on the ground when the minister seems to highlight a $5 latte as being something that people are excited about getting if they get this money — if they get this money. Look, some people are just trying to survive. In my riding, I know many people that were lucky enough to be working in 2019 who lost their job this year because of COVID and now, under these new rules, are going to get zero. How is that fair? How is that actually helping people right now that are in need?

They’re trying to decide whether they can afford to pay their bills or buy a Christmas present for their child this year. This is completely wrong. There are only 15 days left now until Christmas, which means 15 days left for this government and this Premier to come good on his elec- tion promise. Again to the Premier, what does he tell the men and the women here in the province who believed him and hoped that they would be getting support this Christmas for themselves and their families? Hon. S. Robinson:Well, I’m very proud that applica- tions will open on December 18.

I think we all need to express a little bit of gratitude and appreciation to the pub- lic service that have been working diligently to develop this application process so that it is quick, so that it is effi- cient and so that people can start getting the supports that they need into their bank accounts ASAP . We’re going to start seeing that roll out on December 18. Within a couple of days, people will see money in their bank accounts. That’s going to make a difference right now for people — not six months from now, like the members opposite would perhaps suggest, but right now.

People are going to start to get the relief that they need because we’ve been responsive and we’re delivering. RURAL DESIGNATION FOR SOUTHERN GULF ISLAND COMMUNITIES A. Olsen:The southern Gulf Islands, Saltspring Island and Juan de Fuca communities are rural, but because they are electoral areas within the capital regional district, they are deemed urban. The urban designation limits these communities from applying for important grants for rural communities outside the CRD. For years, electoral area directors Dave Howe, Gary Holman and Mike Hicks have advocated for change.

They could only be deemed rural, though — they were told — if they were included within the Island Coastal Economic Trust or ICET. There has been an enormous amount of advocacy for change that should have been done long ago. The province has consulted with ICET for more than 3½ years. Wouldn’t you know it. On Sunday, September 20, on the eve of the snap election called, the B.C. NDP issued Order-in-Coun- cil 533 to pass a designation change for the ICET. However, the NDP made only a change to the Premier’s riding.

Juan de Fuca was added while the Gulf Islands were left out. [10:40 a.m.] My question is to the Minister of Jobs, Economic Recov- ery and Innovation. Has the minister issued the second half of that pre-election order to change the urban desig- nation of the Gulf Island communities in my riding? 120 British Columbia Debates Thursday, December 10, 2020

Hon. R. Kahlon:I want to thank the member for the question, my first question in the Legislature. I appreciate him asking. I also appreciate his letter that came to me, I think, 30 minutes after I was sworn in as the minister for this file. What I can commit to the member is that I’m happy to continue this conversation with him after this chamber rises today. It’s certainly something that we are reviewing right now. I’ve asked staff to get me a full briefing on that, and it’s scheduled for next week. A. Olsen: I appreciate the invitation to have another conversation.

The reality for the southern Gulf Island com- munities and for Saltspring Island is that they’ve been con- versing about this with this government…. I’ve been con- versing with this government, with successive ministers in that ministry, for the last 3½ years. The advocacy has been going on for more than seven years. The idea that these communities in the southern Gulf Islands are anything but rural…. I know that many mem- bers across the way know very well how rural these com- munities are. To think that we would have to be continuing a conversation about whether or not these communities are rural is absurd.

The reality here is that without this des- ignation change, these communities do not get access to grants that they rightly deserve — for example, for COV- ID recovery. These communities are tourism-based communities that have been hit so hard by COVID. They are in and hav- ing an existential crisis right now, this moment. We can continue to converse about this, or we can just do the order that needs to be done that was done easily. In fact, what’s really crazy about this is that there was

an act. There were words on paper. All they did was exclude the communities from my riding. This is excluding them from being able to apply for broadband access which is going to help diversify their economy. This is likely going to exclude them from applying for money that this govern- ment announced earlier this week for mental health and addictions treatment. We’re done having a conversation in the southern Gulf Islands. We need action. My preference is that the minister put through the order to complement the Premier’s advantage that his communities got. My question is to the minister.

When is he going to do it? Hon. R. Kahlon:Again, thank you to the member. As I said, I’m happy to have our first conversation, not a con- tinued conversation. What I would say to the member…. He raises concerns around tourism. I know that many people in the tourism industry have been greatly impacted by the challenges of the pandemic. We have $19.4 million available for tour- ism-dependent communities. I’m sure we can talk to the member, also, about how some of those communities can have access to that funding.

Again, to the issue that he raises, as I committed to him in the previous question, I’m certainly happy to meet with him. I look forward to my briefing with my new deputy minister as well, and we’ll get back to him shortly. COVID-19 RESPONSE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES T. Stone:Last March $1.5 billion in economic recovery supports for business was unanimously approved by this Legislature. The government then wasted six months of time before announcing $300 million in funding for the small and medium-sized business recovery grant a week before the recent snap election.

Disappointingly, this gov- ernment’s only grant program for small businesses is a red- tape disaster. Among 18 eligibility requirements, businesses must be currently operating, have been in operation for at least three years, have had a revenue loss of 70 percent during March and April of 2020 and revenue losses of at least 50 percent every month since. My question to the Premier is this. How many small business applications have actually been approved, and how many small businesses have actually received funding from this program to date? [10:45 a.m.] Hon. R. Kahlon: Thank you to the member for the question.

No doubt, small businesses are hurting throughout the province. Some are doing well, but many are not. I’ve had the opportunity to talk to many small business owners over the last two weeks — in fact, even before that in my community. One of the things that I think I’m particularly proud of is that we have one of the most comprehensive plans in all of Canada when it comes to supporting small busi- nesses throughout this province. The member will know that we brought in tax credits for small businesses that were wanting to hire either new employees or also bring back employees.

The member will also know that we brought in 25 percent property tax cuts. When it comes to this, we’ve got 1,400 businesses that are in the process. But it’s important for the member to know this. The process was set up in a two-part process. First, it was to ensure…. We provided dollars to small businesses so that they can get a proper consultant to come in and give them advice on how they can become viable after COVID has passed. Also, to provide them up to $30,000, and up to $40,000 if they’re a tourism operator. So it is my hope that we will see many, many more small businesses apply.

I recently had a call with tourism operators, folks from ABLE-BC’s restaurant association. They wrote a letter to my office. We discussed how we can make this program Thursday, December 10, 2020 British Columbia Debates 121

more accessible to small businesses throughout this province. It was a very fruitful conversation. I appreciate the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture for being at that meeting and for being a strong advocate. I look forward to that dialogue that continues. T. Stone:Again, $1½ billion of funding approved on March 23 of this year. The government sits on its duff, until six months later, before they finally announce a $300 mil- lion small and medium-sized recovery grant program spe- cifically focused on small businesses one week before an election campaign.

We then get into a snap election campaign, and another two months of time is wasted. Now we’re sitting here just before Christmas, and he has the audacity to stand up and suggest that the 1,400 businesses which have applied for funding — that that’s good enough. These are businesses in every community around this province that are barely getting by. They’re not sure that they’re going to make it to the other side of Christmas, to the minister.

One thing that the minister could do is he could call the bill that we tabled in the House here today — which has been called, by the restaurants across the province, a crit- ical lifeline — to cap delivery charges. We’ve suggested a recovery grant with a really simplified application process. We’ve suggested that the government return excess Work- SafeBC funding to small businesses. We’ve suggested that the government help with PPE costs. In fact, we’ve suggested dozens of actions over the last eight months, and this government has failed to act.

Not only has the government not taken any of our ideas, but the government has also taken all this time and has failed to figure out how to push these dollars out the door for small businesses in this particular granting question. My follow-up question to the Premier is this. Small businesses across B.C. are hanging by a thread. They’re unsure whether they’re going to be in business only months from now. We’re talking about tens of thousands of mom-and-pop shops, little boutiques, restaurants and other shops in communities all over the province. Will the Premier throw small businesses a lifeline?

Will he finally step up and provide funding supports that are so desperately needed to ensure that these small businesses are still here in our communities only months from now? Hon. R. Kahlon:Clearly somebody who’s running for leadership over there. Thank you for that speech. We understand, on this side of the House, how busi- nesses are impacted. My family ran a small restaurant here in Victoria for close to a decade, and it was a diffi- cult time then. Imagine the challenge that businesses are facing right now.

I appreciate that the member now claims to want to run and lead the free enterprise coalition and that they pro- pose bills that affect the marketplace. We have agreed…. We have committed, on this side of the House, to bring that legislation in. We will be doing consultation on that. I know the Solicitor General, on that piece…. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members, order. Order, please. Members. Come to order. Hon. R. Kahlon:It didn’t take long…. Interjections. [10:50 a.m.] Mr. Speaker:Minister, hold it. Okay. Minister will continue. Hon. R. Kahlon:I guess I hit a soft spot there.

It didn’t take long for them to return to the ways that they normally are in this House. I will say this. We know small businesses are greatly impacted. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members, let’s hear the answer, please. Hon. R. Kahlon:We know that small businesses are impacted. Let me be clear to the members of the House. Our goal is to ensure as many small businesses get access to the grants as possible, but we want to do it in way that we can make sure that there’s public accountability in that measure.

The conversation we had with tourism operators, members of ABLE-BC and many other stake- holders last week was about how we can find that, how we can find a way for more of their members to get access to these grants. It was clear on that call that they were grateful for all the supports the province has already brought into place, and they wanted to find ways to have more of their mem- bers get access to those grants. I look forward to continu- ing that work. COVID-19 RESPONSE FOR TOURISM INDUSTRY AND REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS T.

Wat:The one sector that has been hardest hit by COVID-19 has been the tourism industry. The govern- ment has consistently only offered promises without actu- ally delivering support. The industry, back in the summer, was asking for $680 million in aid, and the Premier ignored that request. Now the Premier has another report. To the Premier, will he not just accept the recommend- ations but actually implement them immediately? 122 British Columbia Debates Thursday, December 10, 2020

Hon. M. Mark:I’ d like to thank the member for Rich- mond North Centre for the question. There is no doubt that the tourism sector has been hit hard by COVID and that all of our constituencies have. To remind everyone in this chamber, because we started just a few days ago through the throne speech, all 87 of our rid- ings are being crushed by COVID. Everyone is going day by day to get through — the good news that we heard from Dr. Bonnie Henry about the vac- cine coming to our neighbourhoods and close to home. So when the member asks the question, “Have they been hit?” yes, they’ve been hit.

With the accusation that the report is just another report…. I received the report yesterday. The member’s referring toThe Future of Travel: Positioning B.C. to Accel- erate Recovery and Growth. It’s a task force that the gov- ernment put together. They’ve met 11 times. They met in September. The member opposite…. I appreciate the member opposite for heckling. This isn’t a time to heckle. I take this issue seriously. There are seven recommendations in here. I got the report yesterday, and as minister, I’m going to get to work to take action on the recommendations. They want dedicated funding for tourism.

We are going to move quickly, but they’re not decisions that I make alone. They’re decisions that I make with Finance. They’re decisions that I make with the Minister of Jobs and Eco- nomic Recovery. They’re decisions that we make with the Minister of Indigenous Relations. There is a call to action for funding dedicated to Indigenous tourism. I hope the members aren’t laughing about that. I take this issue seriously. We’re going to move to work on an action plan.

If that means, as the member opposite from Kamloops was talking about, that we need to make amendments to the small and medium-sized business recovery grant to make it more accessible, we’ll do so. We’re fully committed to taking action on moving forward so that all of our communities have the support that they need. I just want to close by saying this isn’t the time…. The members opposite talk about partisanship. This is a very, very difficult time for everyone. Let’s not forget that we’re in the middle of a global pandemic. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Members will come to order.

We are wasting very precious time in question period, Members. The member for Richmond North Centre on a supple- mental. [10:55 a.m.] T. Wat:Just for the information of the newly appointed Tourism Minister, the tourism industry actually started talking to this government way back in the summer, in July. It’s because of the snap election that the Premier called for his self-serving agenda. That’s why requests have been put on hold. So I hope that the minister will study the file and get up to speed. The tourism sector is being decimated, and the Premier pats himself on the back.

It took more than ten months to get this report. The second wave is ripping the industry, and we have a government that wants to take another four months off of the job. We are talking about small family- owned businesses in every corner of the province. They don’t have four months to wait. Again to the Premier, will he provide immediate sup- port to the men and women working in the tourism sector who now face ruin? Hon. M. Mark: Again, I’ d like to thank the member for her advocacy. It is her job as the official opposition to advocate. We will work together. This is not a report that’s going to sit on a shelf.

The deadline was December 31. I received it on December 9, which was yesterday. I am committed to moving forward on the actions. To make it political about whether I care, as an MLA, as well, about my small business operators and the tourism operators…. Interjection. Hon. M. Mark:I know that I’m a member of cabinet, but we’re all MLAs who have constituencies with tourism and small business operators that are very deeply worried about keeping the lights on. They’re worried about keeping their employees on the payroll. To suggest that I don’t care about that is so irresponsible.

It’s ten months that we’ve been in the middle of a global pandemic. The member opposite threw out a whole bunch of numbers — four months here, ten months there. It’s been ten months that the public service has been working around the clock. Interjections. Hon. M. Mark: The members opposite can heckle all they want, but I’m acknowledging that the public service has been working around the clock for ten months. We rolled out money for destination development so that some of those small business operators could keep the lights on. ACCESS TO SHELTERS BY VULNERABLE PEOPLE DURING COVID-19 L.

Doerkson:One of the unintended consequences of the pandemic regulations has been the capacity reduction of local shelters across British Columbia. In Williams Lake, that leaves ten people with no place Thursday, December 10, 2020 British Columbia Debates 123

to lay their heads at night. I think of Amber who has no choice but to live outside in temperatures that are plunging to minus 20 and lower. Winter isn’t coming to the Cariboo or the Kootenays. Trust me. It’s here already. As a com- munity, we’re looking for support from the province so that these people know that they’re not alone. My question is to the Premier. What plans does he have to make sure that Amber and many like her don’t have to spend the night outdoors due to these pandemic regulations? Hon. D.

Eby:Thank you to the member for the question about such a vitally important issue — namely, the people, the men, the women who are living outside in our province. It’s an inexcusable situation, and it’s unfortu- nately due to a long-time underinvestment in affordable and supportive housing in our province. Fortunately, we are turning that corner. We’re investing literally billions of dollars in housing. We’re housing thou- sands of people with modular housing that can be built very quickly. One of the things that I can commit to the member, if he’s interested, is a briefing for him, directly from B.C.

Housing — not spin — about the work that B.C. Housing is doing in his community for people like his con- stituent that he told us about. I want to recognize the impact that COVID has had on the availability of shelters because of social distancing requirements. It has meant that B.C. Housing has had to work extra hard to identify cold- and wet-weather shelter beds in many different communities. One of the areas where they need support, or government would welcome support, is in working with local government to identify spaces.

This is an area where all MLAs can provide sup- port, if they’re interested and able to do so, in working with local governments. Thank you very much to the member for the question. This is a very serious human rights issue on Human Rights Day, and I’m grateful to him for raising it. [11:00 a.m.] COVID-19 RESPONSE AND IMPACT ON VULNERABLE PEOPLE P . Milobar:Let’s look at the week that has happened down in Victoria here and the days leading up to this session. We have a government that has cut funds for families with children and youth with special needs.

We have a government and a Premier who have cut the funding for people with disability payments in half, under the guise of saying it’s not really a cut when we know that if they qualify for the $500 benefit and got their $300 a month over those three months, it would be $1,400. Instead, they will qualify for $950. That’s a $450 cut, any way you slice it, for people with disabilit- ies, from this Premier. Today nothing but platitudes about people in shelter spaces that are over capacity. It should have been well known leading into the colder seasons that this was going to happen, with no plan in place.

No plan in place for tour- ism yet. No plans, period. Y et we stand here today, being called back to this Legislature, and the only piece of legis- lation this government wants to talk about is how to delay doing the work of the budget for two extra months, until May, which means no more supports for people until May of this coming year. Again to the Premier, what is his plan to restore all of these cuts to our most vulnerable populations in British Columbia immediately, to make sure people have the sup- ports across the board that have been taken away over this last week and a half by this government? Hon. M.

Farnworth: It’s my pleasure to rise and respond and answer a question about a government that is more committed to ensuring that people get the resources and the supports that they need than ever occurred during the 16 years that they sat on this side of the House. Since the start of the pandemic, this government has worked day and night with the public service to ensure that supports are in place. To ensure that not only have rates been increased for those on social assistance, which never happened when that side was sitting over here…. It was frozen.

To ensure the largest affordable housing pro- gram in the history of this province was undertaken. To ensure that right across this community, people are getting the housing and the supports that they need. That’s what’s been taking place. That’s why this govern- ment is taking action. The $1,000 and the $500 for single people — the public knows that that money will be com- ing. The Premier has indicated it. Interjections. Mr. Speaker:Members. Hon. M. Farnworth:It is a commitment that is being followed through by this government.

And there will be more good news in the weeks and months ahead to ensure that British Columbians, as families, as individuals, get through this pandemic together. This province has got its act together, and that opposition doesn’t. That’s why they’re over there, and we’re over here. [End of question period.] Tabling Documents Hon. M. Farnworth:I have a number of reports to table. Some may find these reports kind of interesting. Interjections. 124 British Columbia Debates Thursday, December 10, 2020

Mr. Speaker:Members. All right, question period is over now. Let’s do other business. Hon. M. Farnworth:On behalf of the Minister of Environment, I rise to table theEnvironmental Emergency Program 2019-2020 report. On behalf of the Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, I rise to tableTogetherBC: British Col- umbia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy2019 annual report. The third report. On behalf of the Attorney General, I rise to table theCommission of Inquiry into Money Laun- dering in B.C. interim report. Orders of the Day Hon. M.

Farnworth:I call continued second reading debate on Bill 3. [11:05 a.m.] [N. Letnick in the chair.] Second Reading of Bills BILL 3 — FINANCE STATUTES AMENDMENT ACT, 2020 (continued) E. Ross: Picking up from where I left off last night, to those new MLAs, it happens, at times, when you’re given a half-hour of time for a debate, and 15 minutes in, you’ve got to end it. So you better reserve your right to pick up where you left off the next day by saying: “I reserve my right. ” It’s kind of difficult to keep the momentum going when you know you’ve got a good 12 hours to wait to resume your speech.

Anyway, we’re talking about Bill 3, I believe. Just listen- ing to the comments in QP , as well as reading what’s out there in the media, for some reason, the government needs to remind us that we’re ten months into a pandemic. Y ou don’t need to remind us. Y ou don’t need to remind the public. We’ve been trying to remind the government for the last ten months. That’s why we’ve been proposing all these sug- gestions in terms of how to help the individual, how to help the small businesses.

But what the government chose to do was, basically, to do nothing — to sit on the $1.5 billion that was approved by all parties in the Legislature, to wait for studies and reports and everything else and, slowly, to maybe start to do something in December. So no need to remind us. We’re the ones out here living and see- ing and hearing the stories firsthand. In terms of this $1,000 vote-buying initiative that the Premier said was not a vote-buying initiative, because of the snap election, not necessarily a snap election that was called by the Premier himself….

If it wasn’t a vote-buying initiative, then, surely, the government had a discussion about this before they called the snap election. There had to be some kind of analysis, even at a high level, to under- stand what this would mean in terms of rollout, as well as consequences. Now, I’ve had experience with this type of issue. Before we made an announcement back in our community about some type of dividend to help out our band members with the cost of living, we quickly understood that we had to do some research.

It sounds like the government did no research if, in actuality, this wasn’t just a snap decision on the part of the Premier to actually give taxpayers back some of their own money for a vote-buying scheme. If that’s not the case, where’s the analysis that was done? What I’m talking about is if there’s no research done into terms of the consequences of this type of payment going out, this actually makes living harder for the individual. I’m not talking just about qualifying.

I’m talking about what happens if this affects social assistance, if it affects employment assistance programs coming through the fed- eral government, if it affects family maintenance, if it affects pensions.

Now, as a small little Indian Act band, we understood that we had to do this research before we made announce- ments, because we didn’t want to subject our band mem- bers to some type of bureaucratic system that actually pro- longed their suffering or, actually worse, put them in so much debt because they couldn’t qualify for social assist- ance for a few months or employment insurance or even some of the training programs that they were eligible for. This wasn’t just an election vote-buying campaign promise. Where’s the analysis?

And if this analysis was done, then surely the government knew that the people that needed this most would be the people that lost their jobs during the pandemic. Surely, you knew that. [11:10 a.m.] Now we’ve got admissions from the government that say: “Y es, that’s true. ” The people that need this most will probably not get the full benefit of this rollout of this pay- ment plan. And to talk about this from a very privileged point of view…. It’s beyond unacceptable to joke that some people will probably be qualified for $10 of this payout plan and that they can go out and buy a $5 latte.

How priv- ileged are you? How insensitive and disconnected are you? Growing up the way I did and trying to deal with some of the issues that I had to deal with, I knew full well what was going to happen when people lost jobs and when they lost income. Ask any Aboriginal leader: “What kind of social issues come up when people are unemployed, when they have no income?” Unfortunately, a large majority of B.C. ’ ers and Canadians are going to find this out firsthand now, and we’re already seeing reports of it. Social issues go up. Domestic abuse goes up. Child abuse goes up. Crime goes up. Everything goes up.

And the answer we get from the government is: “Well, at least you can buy a $5 latte. ” The clock on the consequences coming out from COV- ID started ten months ago, and we’re not even into the end Thursday, December 10, 2020 British Columbia Debates 125

of this. We’ll probably not even be seeing the end of the social consequences of this for another year, if we’re lucky on how we recover. Those people that are out there voicing their concerns — that are angry, that are trying to find a way, because they’re suffering these stresses — are won- dering: “I’m already in default of my mortgage for the past three months, for the past six months. ” And what is this government saying? “Well, we want to remind everybody that it’s ten months that we’ve been through the pandemic, and don’t worry.

Y our $5 latte is coming up. ” If there was no analysis done for these very simple ques- tions, then it leads me to believe that yes, this was a vote- buying initiative, using taxpayers’ dollars to buy the tax- payers’ vote. If that’s not the case, show the analysis — the data and the analysis before the election — on where this discussion took place. There have got to be some emails. There have got to be some memos. These are really serious questions we’re talking about when we’re talking about the social impacts of people los- ing their livelihoods, losing their houses.

If anything, that’s where this discussion should be going. Maybe $1,000, which was the original promise, could have helped. It could have alleviated some of the problems coming up, especially for those people that are wondering: “What do I buy my family for Christmas, let alone make my mort- gage payment?” But no. What we get from this govern- ment is a self-serving election, and then they called every- body back to Victoria to do this one…. Now it seems like a non-promise, which people aren’t going to be able to qual- ify for. They called us back for that.

Then on top of that, they say that they need an extra month, on top of the other month that was already given to them, to provide a budget. Other jurisdictions are get- ting by with their budgeting. We’re not unique here in B.C. What is it about this government that actually makes all these false promises but then says: “We need a month, on top of the month you already gave us, to produce a budget”? That’s your job. Y ou’re government, and you’ve already had three years to do this. And a number of those MLAs sitting across on the government side…. Y ou’ve been here more than eight years.

Y ou know how this sys- tem works. [11:15 a.m.] I mean, there are a lot of critics that sat on this side of the table and that now became government. There’s no excuse for you now pleading ignorance on how to produce a budget. A lot of the MLAs came from different jurisdic- tions that included budgeting. They came from municip- al governments. I’m sure there are some that actually had sat on boards. Y ou had to do budgeting. It’s a fundamental core job of government. If we’re going to talk about the ten months of a pan- demic….

I mean, let’s not use it as another stalling tactic, because there are people suffering out there, and it’s going to get really bad during Christmas. We’re already seeing, outside my office in Terrace, the kids that are wandering by. It’s absolutely inexcusable for this govern- ment to actually joke about it, in terms of a $5 latte, when people are losing their houses, when people have already lost their businesses. For those businesses that went under…. A lot of us that had the luxury of keeping our jobs and keeping our income….

Y ou have no idea what these businesses are going through, what these business owners are going through, because they don’t have a safety net. They can’t go apply for unemployment insurance. Anybody that’s run a business knows this. When you lose your business, you lose your only income. In terms of this pandemic recession, what are you going to do? Where are the jobs? What kind of job are you going to take that can actually make that payroll pay- ment or that PST payment that you’re in default of or that GST payment? Everything that’s associated with business, there’s no safety net for.

So a $5 latte is little comfort, and it’s nothing to laugh about. We’ve got a lot of work to do in this Legislature, a lot of work that could have kept on going before the snap election, including this payment. Instead of going into a snap election, we could have been debating this in the Legislature. This payment could have been rolling out last month, especially when the NDP government had the right amount of votes in the Legislature, and they proved that time and time again. The Green Party, along with the NDP party, had enough votes to actually push everything through.

They proved that over the last three years. The only vote that was really lost by the NDP government was when the NDP tried to get rid of the requirement to bring major project agreements to the Legislature. That’s the only vote they ever lost. To say that you needed a snap election to make some of these measures available to B.C. citizens is false. That is wrong. Y ou didn’t need that majority to actually roll out this election promise of $500, $1,000, whatever it may be now. Now it sounds like for those that most need it, you’re going to get $10. Y ou didn’t need a snap election for that.

We could have been in the House debating this. All these questions that are coming out now and all these con- cerns…. We could have hammered this out. But no. No, it all came out during the election. If the government truly stands by the idea that this was not a vote-buying initiative, then show us. Show us the proof, because this is no joking matter. The social issues that are coming up now — we’re going to have to deal with that for a long time. A lot of the services that we’re provid- ing through government, both federal and provincial…. We’re going to have to deal with this.

Now more than ever the advocacy groups are going to be busy in terms of addressing the social issues. The RCMP are already getting more and more busy as we speak, and they’re going to get more busy as more and more people feel the pressure of not having an income. 126 British Columbia Debates Thursday, December 10, 2020

[11:20 a.m.] M. Morris:I go back to yesterday and our colleague from Abbotsford West and the wealth of knowledge that he displayed. Of course, he’s been around for a long time in this House. He’s been Finance Minister, and he’s done a multitude of different jobs here. I appreciated the historic overview that he provided on the use and the abuse of special warrants back in the ’90s; the unscrutinized budgets that took place back in those days and, of course, the infamous fudge-it budget; and all those things that led to the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act.

It was brought in, in the early 2000s, to compensate for that, to mitigate the opportunities for the fudge-it budgets and the unscrutinized budgets and the use of those special warrants. Y ou know, back in the ’90s, I was a senior police man- ager with the RCMP . I was in charge of the northern 75 percent of the province. I was also on the provincial budget committee for the RCMP and the HR committee, a num- ber of other senior management positions that we had there.

One of the most frustrating experiences I encountered — it wasn’t only me as a senior manager in the force; I think all public institutions were subjected to this kind of budgetary practice that the government of the ’90s had back then — is that they would present the budget to us in February or March sometimes, quite late, and we would allocate the money out. As a district officer, there were about 1,200 folks work- ing under my command in that area, a number of muni- cipal detachments included. We knew where every nickel of that budget went at all times.

So with the budget being presented to policing, to corrections, to social services, a number of the other different public institutions in Febru- ary or March…. Every year — as I experienced it, anyways — from about 1997 on till 2001, the budget got clawed back in June or July of the same year, sometimes 4 percent and 5 percent. That led to investigations not being completed. That led to police cars being parked. It led to airplanes being left on the ground. A lot of work didn’t get done because the money wasn’t there. It led to deterioration of technology. Our computer systems were outdated.

There were a number of factors that revolved around that kind of a budgetary system. Where they were putting the money back in those days, I don’t know. I wasn’t paying attention to politics. As any good public servant would be at that particular time, I was non-partisan, on the outside. But I see the same things trending today as we move for- ward. Another casualty…. I bring it up because it does have relevance to this bill and the reasons why we’re before the House here today. I just want to talk about the Prince George hospital.

It was the government of the day back in the late ’90s that had decided to build a new Prince George hospital. The Prince George hospital at that time was a regional hospital. We had 400 beds. Partway into the whole process, once the big green button had been pushed to move ahead on this, they cut the budget significantly, and we ended up with a hospital that had 200 beds, which we have to this particular day.

We have a hospital today that still maintains ’50s vintage operating rooms that don’t have room to accommodate the new technology that is so important to have in our modern-day operating rooms to provide the level of ser- vice that our folks need when they’re doing that job there. Cramped quarters, you know. There are a number of things that resulted from their obscure budgetary pro- cesses. Hard to believe that you get into a project and you cut it back because you find out you don’t have any money or you put the money into some other pot.

I think perhaps maybe that’s what’s taking place here today. [11:25 a.m.] We’ve got a government today that is embarking on its second term. They’ve been around for three years. I haven’t heard a vision from anybody in government. They have no discernible plan, no describable plan that I’ve been able to find. We have a government who has obfuscated their intent. We don’t know what their intent is. They’ve aban- doned the people of British Columbia at a time of the greatest needs during COVID, during a worldwide pan- demic. They’ve put politics ahead of COVID. They’ve put polit- ics ahead of people.

They’ve called a superfluous election and abandoned their post for two months, prior to this House coming into session here in December of the year — abandoned their post for two months. There was noth- ing done. There was no need for that election. The people of British Columbia were forgotten about. They were pushed to the side in favour of political gain for the gov- ernment that’s here today. The public has lost their trust in this government as a result of that. Assistance to the British Columbian people that really need the assistance, to our small businesses, was put aside in favour of political gain.

These people will not be getting their assistance before Christmas. They’re not going to have a good Christmas anyways because of COVID. It has just exploded. The number of cases has exploded across the province since the time of the election. It’s in our schools. It’s in our communit- ies, in our small communities throughout the province here as a result of that. The provincial health officer has provided some excellent leadership over the past ten months on this file. But now people are paying the con- sequence of not adhering to a lot of those requirements of social distancing.

Christmas is going to be lonely for many people. My wife and I will be spending Christmas by ourselves, with five grandchildren in our community and our sons and daughters-in-law and other family members and good Thursday, December 10, 2020 British Columbia Debates 127

friends. Everybody will be suffering the consequences of this. The bill that’s before us right now amends an amend- ment that they presented to us earlier in this year. At that time, they extended the time limits to 30 days for making quarterly reports. There were a couple of other amend- ments at that particular time too.

The Budget Transparency and Accountability Act states that they have to make quarterly reports — I believe it’s on September 15 of the year, November 30 of the year and again on February 28 — to let British Columbians know where they are, where they spent the money, what their plans are for the future, how much they might have left in that taxpayers’ bucket that they’ve been bailing money out of at record rates to places we don’t even know. There’s about $15 billion in deficit that we have in this province right now. We have no idea where that money went. We’re in opposition. We should be knowing.

We have to hold government to account, and we haven’t been able to access that information for the past 12 months, since the estimates were provided earlier this year. We won’t be able to access that information probably until April of next year, which is wrong. It’s totally wrong. This government has shown they are not accountable to the people of British Columbia that elected them. The people of British Columbia elected them hoping that they would be providing all of these various services at the end of the day, which aren’t there. We’re going to get hit with tax increases.

I have no idea how this government plans on paying the bills that they’ve committed to this at particular time. Their economic recovery plan does not include any- thing to do with jobs. It will be interesting to see once we do pop the hood open on the books and have a look at the data and just see how far we have tumbled into that deficit situation from where we were even last summer. [11:30 a.m.] This is kicking the can down the road. In fact, this gov- ernment is a “kicking the can down the road” kind of gov- ernment.

They’ve done it ever since they got in three years ago in their first term, their track record. In their first term, they avoided all the tough decisions by initiating over 100 reviews, consultations and diversions and postponing crit- ical decisions that government needed to do. Oftentimes what I saw was… Y ou know, there were some of these committees that came back with informa- tion to government, and government totally ignored those suggestions from these various groups.

We found out through letters to us from these various groups that claim that government talks about going out and consulting with everybody, but at the end of the day, they don’t follow up on that. They weren’t really serious about looking at that in the first place. It appears to me that this government is forcing us back into the ’90s, back to overt budgeting, no transpar- ency, no accountability. Prior to this unnecessary elec- tion that we had this fall, all the parties were cooperat- ing. Everybody was fully involved in trying to address COVID, get the help out there that the public needed.

We gave government $5 billion. “Go ahead and get the job done. Look after the small businesses. Look after tourism, which is suffering so immensely through this province and across the country. ” That hasn’t happened to this day. Nothing has happened there. By the time the election was called in September, I think there was still around $1½ billion left in the pot that was not spent. So we understand. We’ve got no idea. But $1½ billion…. A billion is a lot of money. Now we go, and this bill….

When we look through some of the details on this bill, they’re asking for another $2 billion, but out of that $2 billion, they only need, you know, $1.5 billion. So if we add that $1.5 billion to the $1.5 billion that they had in September, that’s $3 billion. Y ou can do a lot with $3 billion in today’s times, under these stressful conditions that we’re all living in. So why do they need $2 billion to provide anywhere from $10 and up, based on the 2019 data, to help these poor folks that’ve lost their jobs in 2020, not 2019?

We’ve got tens of thousands of British Columbians who are out of work as a result of COVID, and they’re going to be out of work over Christmas. They’re going to be out of work into the new year. For how long after that, we don’t know. We’ve got a vaccine coming, and hopefully that is going to provide significant relief for everybody around the world, but it’ll take a while to roll out. It’s going to take a while before our tourism sector rebounds again and people feel safe to travel and experience beautiful British Columbia, what we have to offer here.

In the meantime, thousands of B.C. businesses, small businesses, are becoming insolvent. They’re closing their doors every day. They’ll be closing their doors over Christ- mas. They’ll be closing the doors into 2021, with no real relief in sight. This is something that this government could have addressed. I think my colleague from Skeena mentioned it and that other colleagues have mentioned it before.

Where government had the full cooperation of the House, there was no reason to call the snap election that they did and stall the process and impede the process of providing help to British Columbians — again, for their own political satisfaction. [11:35 a.m.] They could’ve had all these things in place. People would’ve been enjoying a better Christmas with the results of some kind of COVID recovery plan in place and in motion at that particular time. A lot of families would have been a lot happier.

Perhaps we wouldn’t have seen this spike that we’ve seen in COVID cases around the province since the election took place, as well. When I started, I talked about the impact to our public institutions back in the ’90s, under the fudge-it budget days — the obscure warrants that were being used to cover off some of the expenses and the effect that it had on our 128 British Columbia Debates Thursday, December 10, 2020

public institutions. We have health authorities right across this province that are stressed to the maximum. The doc- tors are stressed. They’re working to the maximum, every hand on deck. The nurses are working to the maximum. They’re working overtime. The cleaning staff cleaning all those facilities, trying to make them COVID-safe, keeping up with the WorkSafe requirements, keeping up with the orders that the provin- cial health officer has implemented. They’re the ones that are making sure that all of us stay safe, and my heart goes out to them.

I thank cleaning workers not only in our pub- lic institutions but everywhere that are doing their level best to make sure that they mitigate the spread of COVID as much as possible in all our facilities. Laboratory staff working overtime, trying to keep up with the testing requirements as well as all the other requirements that they meet from day to day to keep us healthy. I’ve had recent work. I’ve gone in to see my doctor and had various tests done. They’re very professional and very quick to provide the level of service that we expect. Our schools, our teachers — stressed.

There’s some myth that perhaps COVID doesn’t spread as quickly in our schools as it does in other community areas. I think that’s been proven wrong. Students going home. Parents stressed out, some of them keeping students at home. The inability to learn and to socialize is causing a lot of mental health issues for students, for staff, for parents. Busing. How do we keep our students safe and COVID-free with busing transportation? The other one that’s really surfaced in the last little while — but they’ve been stressed for years now because of our opiate crisis — is our paramedics and our first responders.

Here we have, again, an issue where people have been dying by the thousands in this province because of opiate overdoses, because of fentanyl overdoses. Eighty percent of the opiate deaths in British Columbia are the result of fentanyl. Eighty percent. That’s pretty high. Our first responders have been tied up attending these kinds of situ- ations now for several years. It’s not getting better. It’s getting worse. There are far more people dying from fentanyl than there have been with COVID to date.

That’s not talking about the other issues with the fentanyl and opiate overdoses where people suffer from organ damage, brain damage, and are hospital- ized for weeks, sometimes months on end, and some who will never recover. Some will always be dependent upon our health care system to survive for the rest of their life. Y et that didn’t seem to hit the radar screen of this gov- ernment.

That didn’t prevent them from holding a self- serving election in the middle of this COVID crisis, in the middle of an opiate crisis, in the middle of a number of things that they should have been at the helm of, doing the job that they were elected to do by the people of British Columbia. [11:40 a.m.] They abandoned the people of British Columbia by holding that election and taking two months of valuable time to let the election cycle go through its legislated requirements, figure out who’s going to be in cabinet, get everybody sworn in and get this House back in December for this bill.

It was brought together under the pretext of: “We need to get this legislation passed so we can get these cheques out to help the people. ” But that was not their intent. They don’t know, I’m sure, how much money they’ve got left in the pot. They don’t know where the money is going. They needed to extend, provide that 30-day extension, so they weren’t in violation of their own Budget Transparency and Accountability Act. So they add another 30 days to it, and they make it 60 days. Now they don’t have to provide a quarterly update until next spring, the spring of 2021.

At that time, they’ll present a fresh budget for 2021-2022. We’ll see what it offers, and we’ll see whether this $15 billion deficit balloons even fur- ther from that particular time. We have airports closing. We’ve got NavCan looking at the Prince George Airport and a number of other airports around the country, because they’re not being used. Air travel is down significantly right across the province. We’ve got airplanes that have been parked now for months.

As a result of that, we’ll see further displace- ment of opportunities for people and further displace- ment of transportation requirements for the people of British Columbia, perhaps. This bringing together of the Legislature in December for two weeks…. I understand government was hoping that they would be able to pass this bill within a day or so and get everybody home and out the door and then get the bureaucrats working on doling out those cheques before Christmas. We’ve got some serious questions that we’ve been asking the folks out there in government, and they haven’t been providing the answers.

In fact, nobody has stood up on the government side to offer any explanation about this bill whatsoever. This is second reading. They have all the opportunity in the world. Every single one of those members in gov- ernment has an opportunity to stand up and represent the people that have elected them and tell us what they think about this bill. Nobody has done that. They sit quietly in the background, or they joke about it in question peri- od. But this is a very serious situation that we’re in. Gov- ernment has ignored people.

They’re trying to get by with doing as little as they can during this crisis, where all hands need to be on deck. Now, we’re going to be leaving this House next week. Who knows when we’ll be back again? It could be in Feb- ruary, could be in March, could be in April. How many people are going to die from COVID during that period of time? How many people are going to pass away as a result of opioid overdoses? How many people are going to need the services that are required, which are being Thursday, December 10, 2020 British Columbia Debates 129

ignored right now in a stressed-out public service, with police stressed out to the maximum, our court system stressed out to the maximum, our social services stressed out to the max? I look at a situation up in the north right now, up in the Interior, where people that prefer to live on the street and socialize with their friends on the street tested positive for COVID, were given housing by B.C. Hous- ing. But there’s no control over how they were main- tained. They circulated throughout the entire interior of the province.

We see community spreads now in areas around the province, around the Interior, as a result of that. That’s because there’s no staff available. Everybody is working to the maximum. [11:45 a.m.] They’ve had to bring a specialized paramedic team into a northern community here to deal with the number of COVID outbreaks that they have in that community, and all of this is taking place while we talk about this $500, $1,000 or, in some cases, $10 going to a few select indi- viduals in the province — not the people that really need it but a few select people — based on their 2019 income. It’s unrealistic.

It doesn’t really…. It’s unbelievable, in fact, that…. I’ d be embarrassed if I was a government that called people back for this innocuous bill that is not going to do everything that they say it will, at the end of the day. So the fact is left to be examined in the future, when we get a chance to have a look at the books, pop the vote open on those ledger sheets and see what the real numbers say at that particular time. This is unacceptable. The government was elected by the people to serve the people, and they’re not serving the people right now.

They’re operating in a covert manner, and they’re not transparent, although they like to think they are. They operate much like an undercover covert team, even in the House. They don’t disclose much in the House. They don’t disclose much to the public. They oper- ate under a blanket. I think the voters are going to get very tired of that, if they’re not tired of it already. I think they probably feel misled, as a result of the promises made prior to the election and what’s happening here today. We’ll see how this works itself through the system over the next two or three or four months.

I’ d be curious to see how many people that really actually need this money get the money at the end of the day. I’ d like to see the Budget Transparency and Accountabil- ity Act become fully transparent and this government fully accountable to the public under the terms of that partic- ular legislation. Maybe in the spring they’re going to sub- mit another amendment to the amendment to the amend- ments and extend it another 90 days or longer. We’ll have to see how that works out at the end of the day too. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] All in all, this is a bill that we certainly can’t support the way it is.

We have a number of things that need to be done as we work through the rest of this bill. We’ve got the committee stage coming up, where we’re going to exam- ine everything in detail, and I look forward to the minis- ter’s response to this. I’m sure the people of British Colum- bia are looking forward to the minister’s response on this. She will be measured for the next several months on her responses to the questions at the committee stage that we’ll see coming down here. This really wasn’t a necessary sitting. It wasn’t a neces- sary election.

The people of British Columbia were aban- doned for a period of time, in a time of their greatest need. I think this government needs to wake up to that reality. They need to do what they need to do to provide the services to British Columbians in a timely fashion, not months down the road but in a timely fashion — tomor- row. Get the help that they need. Get them through Christ- mas. Try and brighten up their life as much as we can under these dire circumstances that many are living in right now, and we’ll hope for the best. Like I said, I won’t be supporting this bill moving for- ward.

I hope that the people can get some relief, but I’m not optimistic that this is going to do the trick. I think they’ve been misled. [11:50 a.m.] J. Sturdy:I wish I could say that I was pleased to rise to speak to this bill. But for that to be the case, it would require that I’ d generally be supportive of the concept of further delaying the updating of British Columbians on the state of the provincial economy, on any plans for assist- ing constituents and businesses in weathering this pan- demic that is, frankly, turning people’s lives and business futures upside down.

This is not a new government, despite the suggestions and deflections by members of this government. If this amendment is passed, then this government will have been in power pretty much four years by the time the people of British Columbia are next updated on the state of the provincial economy and the plans for the future. This, I’m told, will be the longest period between fiscal updates in British Columbia since, wait for it, the last time the NDP were in power. This certainly does not build con- fidence in this government.

Even more importantly, in my mind, is that it will be next May of 2021 that will be the first time that the 42nd parliament of the province of British Columbia will hear what this government will be detailing as a plan for the economic future of this province. This is something, cer- tainly, that I’ve been watching for and waiting for in every throne speech and budget speech of this NDP gov- ernment ever since 2017, when they were first sworn in. I’m still waiting.

In one respect, this government is economical, and that is with the sharing with the people of British Columbia 130 British Columbia Debates Thursday, December 10, 2020

their vision for where we are intending to go as a province. What are the plans for the future? What does the future hold? What plans does the government have to ensure that our citizens have jobs today and the jobs of the future tomorrow? When will they articulate some of this? Relying on the residual effect of the fiscal prudence of the B.C. Liberal Finance Minister certainly gave Carole James the runway to spend, and that has certainly happened. Provincial budgets and expenditures have increased at an unprecedented fashion ever since 2017.

Spending truly has been the focus, spending that in many respects has been welcome, for the most vulnerable, for child care, for health care and education. But spending is only half the books. As any business understands, spending is the easy part. Revenues are the hard part, and this government rarely makes mention of where the money is coming from. Well, the 18 or 20 new and improved or increased taxes on people and businesses have been the go-to so far. But a vision for the economy, building the economy, like build- ing any business, takes focus, a drive and a vision for where to go.

To paraphrase Lewis Carroll inAlice in Wonder- land, as Alice ponders which road to take, Cheshire Cat responds: “Well, you know, if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get there. ” That’s what I’m concerned about. Where are we going, not just with this pandemic response and recovery but beyond that — beyond government spending and debt, beyond building the public sector? The public sector sup- plies necessary and important services for the people of this province. Noting the hour, I reserve my place and move adjourn- ment of debate. J. Sturdy moved adjournment of debate. Motion approved. Hon. L.

Beare moved adjournment of the House. Motion approved. Mr. Speaker:This House stands adjourned until 1:30 this afternoon. The House adjourned at 11:55 a.m. Thursday, December 10, 2020 British Columbia Debates 131

Hansard Services, Reporting and Publishing DIRECTOR D’ Arcy McPherson MANAGER OF REPORTING SERVICES Laurel Bernard MANAGER OF PUBLISHING SYSTEMS Dan Kerr TEAM LEADERS Mike Beninger, Kim Christie, Barb Horricks, Julie McClung, Karol Morris, Amy Reiswig, Glenn Wigmore EDITORS Erin Beattie, Janet Brazier, Jane Grainger, Betsy Gray, Iris Gray, Mary Beth Hall, Louis Henderson, Bill Hrick, Genevieve Kirk, Catherine Lang, Paula Lee, Quinn MacDonald, Anne Maclean, Claire Matthews, Jill Milkert, Linda Miller, Sarah Mitenko, Erik Pedersen, Janet Pink, Robyn Swanson, Antoinette Warren, Heather Warren, Kim Westad INDEXERS Shannon Ash, Robin Rohrmoser RESEARCHERS Joshua Hazelbower, Brooke Isherwood, David Mattison TECHNICAL OPERATIONS Pamela Holmes, Daniel Powell, Patrick Stobbe Copyright © 2020 Legislative Assembly of British Columbia TheOfficial Report of Debates (Hansard)and webcasts of chamber proceedings are available at www.leg.bc.ca.

For inquiries contact: Hansard Services 612 Government Street Victoria, BC V8V 1X4 Telephone: 250-387-3681 Email: hansardservices@leg.bc.ca Published by Hansard Services under the authority of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20201210am-Hansard-n6
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20201210am Hansard n6
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	f4b755231a0a3fb306902551c7a76feb817ca014

Source file is stored in the law ingest library (pdf).