British Columbia Hansard — Monday, February 24, 2014 (40th Parliament, 2nd Session) (20140224pm-Hansard-v6n4) (20140224pm Hansard v6n4)

20140224pm-Hansard-v6n4

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

Second Session, 40th Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (HANSARD) THE HONOURABLE LINDA REID, SPEAKER ISSN 0709- 1281 (Print) ISSN 1499-2175 (Online) Monday, February 24, 2014 Aft ernoon Sitting Volume 6, Number 4

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CONTENTS Monday, February 24, 2014 Aft ernoon Sitting Page Routine Business Introductions by Members ..................................................................................................................................................... 1507 Tributes ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 1507 Jamie Benn G.

Holman Introductions by Members ..................................................................................................................................................... 1507 Tributes ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 1507 Carey Price D. Barnett Kelsey Serwa N.

Letnick Introduction and First Reading of Bills ................................................................................................................................ 1507 Bill 13 — Off -Road Vehicle Act Hon. S. Th omson Statements (Standing Order 25B) ......................................................................................................................................... 1508 Community service partnership initiative in Richmond J. Yap Gary Robinson H. Bains Industries and skills training on Annacis Island S. Hamilton Education initiative in Clayoquot Sound area S. Fraser Inge Wilson L.

Th roness Home Is a Beautiful Word play about homelessness C. James Oral Questions ......................................................................................................................................................................... 1510 Budget policies and fee increases A. Dix Hon. R. Coleman Electricity rates and budget revenues from B.C. Hydro A. Dix Hon. R. Coleman J. Horgan Hon. B. Bennett Core review process and government management of capital projects S. Simpson Hon. B. Bennett Election campaign statements and funding for hospital projects J. Darcy Hon. T.

Lake Budget provisions for St. Paul's Hospital redevelopment G. Heyman Hon. T. Lake Government use of legal services for teachers' bargaining court case R. Fleming Hon. P . Fassbender

Tabling Documents ................................................................................................................................................................. 1514 British Columbia Ferry Commission, Annual Report for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2013 B.C.

Human Rights Tribunal, Annual Report 2012-2013 Crown Proceeding Act, report, fi scal year ended March 31, 2013 Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia, 2012-2013 Annual Report Petitions .................................................................................................................................................................................... 1515 M. Mungall Orders of the Day Budget Debate (continued) ..................................................................................................................................................... 1515 M. Karagianis M. Morris L.

Popham G. Kyllo K. Conroy Hon. B. Bennett G. Heyman D. Plecas S. Robinson J. Sturdy J. Kwan

MONDAY , FEBRUARY 24, 2014 Th e House met at 1:33 p.m. [Madame Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Introductions by Members C. James: I have three introductions today of indi- viduals who are connected to an amazing theatre in our community that contributes so much. I'll have a lit- tle more to say about that as we go on in the proceed- ings. Erin Macklem is the artistic associate for the Belfry Th eatre. Laura Sackville is a person unto herself, but her claim to fame for today is that she is playwright Joel Bernbaum's mother.

Christopher Hooper is a contributor and an adviser to a play that is called Home Is a Beautiful Word. Th ank you very much. I ask the House to please make them all very welcome. Hon. S. Bond: I have the pleasure today of welcom- ing…. I'm hopeful they're here. With weather issues, ob- viously, I don't know if all of them have arrived today, but I wanted to welcome 17 councillors and staff from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of B.C. Obviously, they are represented by their president, Mike Bapty, and Ann English, their CEO and registrar.

As I'm sure all members of the House would know, APEG regulates and governs the professions under the authority of the Engineers and Geoscientists Act. Th ey represent over 29,000 hard-working professionals who do exceptionally important work every single day for the people of British Columbia. I hope that all members of the House would make them most welcome. [1335] K. Conroy: It gives me a great deal of pleasure to intro- duce some representatives from the Canadian Federation of Students who are here today visiting with members in the Legislature.

Th ese are really well-spoken young people who it's great to meet with and to know that we've got such aspiring young people in universities now. Jacelyn Lacroix, Madeline Keller-MacLeod, Christian Avendano, Kirsten Brooker, Zachary Crispin and Jenelle Davies are all here. Zach is actually from my area, and I had the great pleasure of getting to know him really well in 2009 when he ran against me in the election. He ran as a Communist, and he was a great addition to our election campaign. I loved getting to know him. He's a really inspiring young man. Jenelle is also from the Selkirk College area.

It's great that they're here in the House. Would the House please join me in making them very welcome. Hon. S. Th omson: It gives me great pleasure today to introduce Scott Benton, executive director of the Grasslands Conservation Council, who is in the House today. Th e council does very important work, as you know, in promoting stewardship and sustainable man- agement practices to ensure the long-term health of B.C.'s grasslands. I'd ask the members of the House to please join me in welcoming Scott Benton today. G. Holman: It doesn't look like they're quite here to- day, not yet.

I have two introductions I wanted to make. Tributes JAMIE BENN G. Holman: I can't help but mention Mr. Jamie Benn from Central Saanich. Of course, Canada won the gold medal, and Jamie scored the only goal in the 1-0 game against the United States, probably the toughest game that Canada had to play. Jamie wasn't even slated to make the team and ended up scoring two game-winning goals. I'd like everyone to congratulate Jamie and his family. Of course, I'm hoping as much of that refl ected glory will shine on me as possible. Introductions by Members G. Holman: Th e second introduction….

It doesn't look like the students are quite yet here. Aaron Mueller and grade 11-12s from Parkland Secondary, again in my constituency, are going to be viewing the question per- iod today. I'm sure we'll all be conducting ourselves ac- cordingly. Tributes CAREY PRICE D. Barnett: I'd just like to say congratulations and ask everybody in this House to congratulate Carey Price — four games, three goals. Congratulations. KELSEY SERW A N.

Letnick: Since we're on a roll, I'd like to off er con- gratulations to everyone from British Columbia, but especially from the Central Okanagan, to the grand- daughter of a former MLA and minister of this House, Cliff Serwa. Let's all give congratulations to Kelsey Serwa and her family. Introduction and First Reading of Bills BILL 13 — OFF-ROAD VEHICLE ACT Hon. S. Thomson presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Off - Road Vehicle Act. 1507

British Columbia Debates1508 Monday, February 24, 2014 Hon. S. Th omson: I move that the Off -Road Vehicle Act be introduced and read for a fi rst time now. Motion approved. Hon. S. Th omson: Today I introduce the Off -Road Vehicle Act, or ORV Act. Th is act replaces the outdated Motor Vehicle (All-Terrain) Act in regulating the use of off -road vehicles and is a signifi cant step in implementing the off -road vehicle management framework.

Th e ORV Act will lay down specifi c rules governing British Columbia's growing off -road sector and will help ensure these vehicles are driven in a safe and environ- mentally responsible manner. Th e act will establish a more effi cient registration scheme which will be self- funded and allow for the development of safety standards and conditions for a wide range of off -road vehicles. [1340] Off -road vehicles, as you know, include snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, quads, dirt bikes and utility terrain vehicles.

I move that the Off -Road Vehicle Act be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sit- ting aft er today. Bill 13, Off -Road Vehicle Act, introduced, read a fi rst time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House aft er today. Statements (Standing Order 25B) COMMUNITY SERVICE PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE IN RICHMOND J. Y ap: Collaboration is paying off for people who ac- cess community services in Richmond.

Two Richmond organizations, Volunteer Richmond Information Services and the Richmond Community Foundation, recently re- ceived a $150,000 community gaming grant to support the costs of their new joint program called Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives: "Our Cause is Community." By collaborating, Volunteer Richmond Information Services and the Richmond Community Foundation will have a bigger impact on the communities they serve and will achieve a better outcome for families in Richmond.

Recently I met with Elizabeth Specht, executive direc- tor of Volunteer Richmond Information Services; Sylvia Gwozd, chair of the board of directors for Richmond Community Foundation; and Mary Kemmis, president of Volunteer Richmond Information Services; along with you, Madame Speaker, and the Minister of International Trade. The Richmond Community Foundation combines and invests donations, distributing investment income to local charities. Initial investments grow and enable the foundation to give new grants the following year.

Th e foundation will partner with Volunteer Richmond Information Services, which is a charitable organiza- tion that provides programs needed by the citizens of Richmond and connects people to various volunteer op- portunities with community services and organizations. Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives, the result of a long-term initiative, enables these two great organiza- tions to leverage their strengths in both volunteer and fi nancial resources.

Together, they are going to benefi t the Richmond community in a signifi cant way, through collaborating in this new joint program, Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives: "Our Cause is Community." Together, it will help continue to make Richmond a strong and car- ing community. GARY ROBINSON H. Bains: I rise today to remember a good friend, com- munity activist Gary Robinson, who passed away sud- denly this past November. Gary worked at CN Rail for 24 years, where he served as president of his local for 18 of them. Gary was a devot- ed Surrey city councillor.

He was credited for saving the genealogy collection at Surrey Public Library. He fought to save Surrey Bend, Green Timbers and Sunnyside parks. Th e Olympic-sized ice arena in South Surrey would be gone if it weren't for Gary Robinson. He was married to Susan Sanderson, with whom he had two fi ne sons, Derek and Trevor. Gary's greatest accomplishment was founding the Realistic Success Recovery Society with his wife, Susan. Gary was under the control of addiction for a portion of his life, and when he chose to end that dependency, he wanted to give back to people in need.

Starting out with just one home for men, the Realistic Success Recovery Society grew into a compassionate, professional organization that helped to fi ll an enormous void in services for people suff ering with addictions. Th ey have received national awards for their ethical business practices, including awards from CEP humanity fund, Home Depot Canada Foundation, Surrey Foundation, Toskan Casale Foundation and, most recently, a $20,000 grant from Surrey Homelessness and Housing Society. Seven hundred men have called a Trilogy home, home, since 2007.

I have had the good fortune to meet with many of those men, as most homes are located in Surrey- Newton. We need more homes like Trilogy House to help people in need. Please join with me in remembering the good work of Gary Robinson. INDUSTRIES AND SKILLS TRAINING ON ANNACIS ISLAND S. Hamilton: I'd like to talk about an area in my rid- ing that deserves a little time in the spotlight. For many

British Columbia DebatesMonday, February 24, 2014 1509 years Annacis Island was an aft erthought for residents of the Lower Mainland. It was off the beaten path, out of sight and perhaps out of mind. Part of the reason is that the island was served by small bridges. It wasn't an ideal place for industry to do business, but that's changed. In 1986 the construction of the Alex Fraser Bridge created a new connection between Annacis Island and Delta.

Th at connection helped the island grow by leaps and bounds. [1345] It's now home to one of the largest business parks in the Lower Mainland and employs more than 10,000 people. Annacis Island may have once been an after- thought, but its geographic location and improved transportation infrastructure makes the island an ideal location for industry. I'd also like to shine a little light on one of the longtime businesses that call Annacis Island home. Ideal Welders has served industry for more than 40 years.

Company founder Jim Longo has played a role in some of the most signifi cant projects in British Columbia's recent history. Th is is not just a simple welding shop. Th is is a com- pany based in Delta that's worked on projects up and down the west coast of North America. Ideal Welders helped build key components for both Expo 86 and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Today Longo and his com- pany are excited about the opportunities off ered by the liquefi ed natural gas industry. Th e company expects to double in size within the decade, and that means in- vesting in new technology and their employees.

Th at is something our government also believes in. We've worked hard to create a business climate that at- tracts investment, and it's working. We're also investing in helping train the workers of tomorrow. Annacis Island will soon be home to the new motive power centre. Our government helped fund the move of two programs into a centralized location on Annacis Island. Th e new school will off er heavy-duty transportation programs that were formerly off ered at BCIT and Vancouver Community College.

Moving to Annacis Island helps those operations, and it allows for more students to learn the skills that they will need to be fi rst in line for new jobs — jobs that have been identifi ed as part of a priority industry in the B.C. jobs plan. With vast amounts of industrial land base, Annacis Island's future looks incredibly bright. We need this place. It's been my pleasure to take two minutes today to shine a little light on this hub of in- dustry.… Madame Speaker: Member, thank you. EDUCATION INITIATIVE IN CLAYOQUOT SOUND AREA S.

Fraser: An incredible opportunity is presenting itself in Clayoquot Sound, inspired by the Tla-o-qui- aht First Nations and the district of Tofi no — a grass- roots vision of a locally based hub for post-secondary education to work through and to provide in situ edu- cation and academic studies, trades training and profes- sional development to the students on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Th is far-reaching plan is to enable universities and colleges to use the natural and social capital assets of the west coast of Vancouver Island to bring an unparalleled experience to the students, from an incredible outdoor classroom to the wisdom and knowledge of local Nuu- chah-nulth leaders and scholars. We are talking about building a learning economy in B.C.'s fi rst UNESCO bio- sphere reserve. Th e Clayoquot biosphere region includes Tofi no, Ucluelet, the Alberni-Clayoquot regional district and fi ve Nuu-chah-nulth nations.

Th e partnerships are already there, and they're united through the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust. Th e previous Minister of Advanced Education has vis- ited the region and was presented with the concept. She has urged to push it forward. Th is is promising because we need the province's help. Th e opportunity here is for the province to partner, to set an example on a new edu- cation model in British Columbia — an education des- tination. Th is fi ts perfectly with this government's stated goal of growing foreign student enrolment by 50 percent.

Th is is a real opportunity for the province to create real jobs and prosperity not just for the Clayoquot region but potentially for all 13 resort municipalities in British Columbia that could follow. Let's seize that opportunity. I look forward to working closely with the current Minister of Advanced Education, the Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, and the Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business on this exciting initiative. INGE WILSON L.

Th roness: A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending a unique gathering in the city of Hope in my riding — a community thank-you to a special person named Inge Wilson. Inge moved to Hope 30 years ago with her husband, Steve, and immediately got involved in her community. She spent 18 years managing Hope's chamber of commerce and, for the past decade, operat- ed both the visitor information centre and the museum. Over her career she has infl uenced the travel decisions of some 1.6 million tourists.

But Inge has been involved with just about everything else too — whether it's salmon enhancement, the development of the famous Othello tunnels area, the construction of Memorial Park, sports lighting improvements or the beautiful chainsaw carv- ings that now stand everywhere downtown. She helped with them all — not to mention countless committees, organizations and task forces. She was even a torch bearer for the Paralympics in 2010. Th at's why 65 close friends gathered at the Owl Street

British Columbia Debates1510 Monday, February 24, 2014 Café in a spontaneous outpouring of aff ection for Inge and Steve. It wasn't a goodbye, because Inge isn't mov- ing away or quitting. In fact, we're all wondering what she'll do next. [1350] The people of Hope just wanted her to know that they appreciate what she's done. Th ey told funny stories, showed pictures, and gave gift s and heartfelt expressions of love and thanks. Th en, my favourite part — we social- ized over a really good lunch.

In our electronic age, when many feel more of an at- tachment to their computer screens than their commun- ities, it's great to know that the spirit of volunteerism is alive and well in B.C. Inge and Steve stand out as the kind of people on whom towns and cities are built. I want to commend them to all British Columbians as examples of good citizenship. Communities have value. Let's invest in each other. HOME IS A BEAUTIFUL WORD PLAY ABOUT HOMELESSNESS C. James: For Victoria's Belfry Th eatre, "home" is a beautiful word.

Th is January the theatre staged what was likely Canada's fi rst verbatim theatre play about home- lessness. Th e result has been remarkable and inspiring. With a script fi lled with words uttered by real people, Home Is a Beautiful Word shone the spotlight on some of the city's most disadvantaged citizens. Under the direc- tion of Michael Shamata, Home Is a Beautiful Word gave authentic voice to Victoria's homeless when it played January 7 to 19 to sold-out audiences. Created with stor- ies collected by Joel Bernbaum from 500 interviews, the two-hour show has achieved what great theatre does so well.

It has people thinking, talking about the issues and fi nding ways they can make a diff erence. Th e process of building the play inspired a group of Victorians to put a powerful idea into action. Th is group of ten included Belfry staff , board members and support- ers who call themselves the Power of Ten. Th ey are ten housed citizens who came together to support one non- housed citizen. Th at's the power of ten. Each member committed to a monthly mentorship session with the person transitioning off the street. Th ey also committed to a monthly fi nancial contribution to be used toward rent, food and utilities.

More than a year later the person they helped is now housed and has re- turned to school aft er 20 years of living on the street. Congratulations to all those in the Belfry commun- ity and the wider community who made this production their passion. Th ank you to the citizens who stepped up to ensure that this play turned into positive action. I ask all members to join me in offering apprecia- tion for an exceptional artistic, cultural and community achievement. "Home" really is a beautiful word. Oral Questions BUDGET POLICIES AND FEE INCREASES A.

Dix: As part of her budget mystery tour 2014, the Premier has been making a series of counterfactual state- ments around British Columbia, presumably in hopes that the people of B.C. will believe them. In Kelowna she said this week, "We said we weren't going to increase taxes, and we didn't increase taxes," referring to the 2013 and 2014 budgets. Except that if you read those budgets, you know that they increased taxes in 2013. Th ey increased taxes in 2014. Th ey increased hydro rates in 2013. Th ey increased hydro rates in 2014 to help pay for their pretend surplus.

Th ey increased the medical services premiums, the med- ical services tax, in 2013 and in 2014. In fact, the facts are exactly counter to what the Premier was trying to tell the people of British Columbia. My question to the Deputy Premier is this. How can you make these claims? How can the Premier make such a claim across British Columbia when it is so obviously not true? Hon. R. Coleman: I am proud to stand in this House as a member of the government, a government that has balanced the budget for the second year in a row.

I think it's clearly evident to the world that we are on the right track. [1355] When I sit down with people who want to spend billions of dollars in investment in diff erent industries in British Columbia, the fi rst thing they say to me is: "We're looking for a jurisdiction that has its fi scal house in order." Th at's the balanced budget. "We're looking for a jurisdiction that's a safe harbour for investment." Th at's our triple-A credit rating. "We're looking for a place where the people at $120,000 or less are paying less taxes than anywhere else in the jurisdiction." Th at's British Columbia.

I think we're on the right track. We've done the right things, and we'll continue to do them, in spite of the fact that the members opposite really don't have a vision for the future of the economics of British Columbia. Madame Speaker: Th e Leader of the Opposition on a supplemental. ELECTRICITY RATES AND BUDGET REVENUES FROM B.C. HYDRO A. Dix: Well, the Premier made those statements. I note that the minister didn't answer the question. When the Premier said she didn't raise taxes — when the Premier said that in Kelowna — it wasn't true. Th e min- ister knows it's true, and the government knows it's true.

Th e Premier said something else very interesting in

British Columbia DebatesMonday, February 24, 2014 1511 Kelowna. She said: "We said we weren't going to increase taxes." She said that she was going to balance the budget "without raising taxes, borrowing or stealing." Well, they raised taxes. Th e budget itself says so. Th ey increased the debt — the fastest increase in debt in B.C. history, con- trary to what the Premier said. And they stole money from B.C. Hydro to pretend to have a surplus. How can the Deputy Premier explain…? What's the real explanation for increasing the average annual divi- dend of B.C.

Hydro from $243 million to $410 million, contrary to what the government itself said last July? Hon. R. Coleman: Y ou could go read the budget docu- ments a year ago, and you would fi nd that there was a plan relative to MSP premiums in the fi scal plan. It was there. I know you didn't read it. I know you don't take the time to actually come up with a plan and do your fi s- cal planning in such a way that you actually look to the future. Th e budget is balanced last year and this year.

Th is is a very good thing for British Columbia to attract the in- vestment necessary for our children and grandchildren to have their jobs in the future. It's the right place to be, for us to have a triple-A credit rating, because we do this job through focused hard work. We've engaged in a budget process that has brought us to another balanced budget, which I am very proud of. I know the member opposite….

I know that thought is foreign to the members opposite, because I've sat in the House already for a week aft er the budget, and every single budget speech I've heard from a member of the op- position is where to spend more money and never where to fi nd it, invest it, attract investment or get jobs. Madame Speaker: Th e Leader of the Opposition on a supplemental. A. Dix: It's not a defence, the one the Deputy Premier made, that the Premier doesn't understand or didn't read the budget. Th at's not a defence in this Legislature.

It's not a defence to say that the Premier, aft er being elected in this Legislature in 1996, doesn't know the diff erence between debt and defi cit. It's not a defence. Th at kind of tour around British Columbia, the mis- leading claims being made by the Premier around British Columbia — there's no defence for it. Th e fact of the mat- ter is that it's B.C. families who are paying for all of this, B.C. families who are seeing a 20 percent increase in hy- dro rates, because they are playing around with Hydro fi nances. Th ey are forcing B.C.

Hydro to give them a fi g leaf of a surplus, to send over money for that purpose. But it's the people of B.C., the small businesses of B.C., jobs in B.C. that will pay the price for their incompetence at B.C. Hydro. Let me ask the Deputy Premier again. He said that the reason…. Presumably his defence is that the Premier doesn't understand their own budget, for the Premier's remark. But can he give us a specifi c defence: why has the average annual dividend at B.C. Hydro jumped from $243 million to $410 million in this budget? [1400] Hon. R.

Coleman: I was suggesting that the Leader of the Opposition actually read the budget documents and fi gure it out. Literacy is a beautiful thing, hon. Member, when you make use of it on your behalf. Read the budget. We've got balanced budgets in B.C. Y ou don't like it. I get that you don't like balanced budgets. I get that. I know it's not your philosophy. It upsets you that we are balancing the budget. It upsets you that we have a triple-A credit rating. My goodness, why would we want to have that? Madame Speaker: Deputy Premier, through the Chair. Please continue. Hon. R. Coleman: I apologize.

It's just that they haven't asked me a question in so long, and I got real- ly excited about it. Th at's all. Th anks, Madame Speaker. Here's a jurisdiction…. Th e people of British Columbia made it very clear in the election of May 2013 that they wanted a government that would have a balanced budget. We put that before them and told them there were tough decisions to make, and they accepted that plan on behalf of British Columbians. Th ey also were looking for a vision for the future. We put the vision in front of British Columbians. Th at's why we're a competitive jurisdiction, because we do balance our budget.

We do have a triple-A credit rating, and we are attracting investment to British Columbia. J. Horgan: I'm delighted to see the Deputy Premier up on his feet answering questions, particularly about B.C. Hydro. Interjections. J. Horgan: Th e trained seals are done, so I'll proceed with the question. Th e question is quite simple. Th e Deputy Premier says that he's on the right track. Th e Deputy Premier said the very same thing in 2012 when he stopped a rate hearing at the B.C. Utilities Commission. He interfered, and he said everything was fi ne.

Fast-forward to the current member that represents the Energy profi le, and the minister said that everything was fi ne and no rate increases necessary. Now we're look- ing at 28 percent over the next fi ve years. Th e Premier says we haven't raised taxes. Th e minister said that everything is under control. Which is it? So 28 percent out of people's pockets and taxes riddled through the budget. Y es or no. Who is right — the Premier or the

British Columbia Debates1512 Monday, February 24, 2014 Minister of Finance? Hon. B. Bennett: Th is member and other members have raised over the past few days in question period the issue of the dividend paid by B.C. Hydro to the provin- cial government. I understand why, and it's certainly a fair thing to raise. Th e fi rst thing I'd like to say for the benefi t of the mem- bers is that the dividend is actually a transfer of cash with- in the government reporting entity and has zero impact on whether this side of…. Interjections. Hon. B. Bennett: I'm sorry, hon. Speaker.

Th e other side of the House is not known for its accounting pro- fi ciency. It is a fact that the dividend that is paid by B.C. Hydro to government does not impact the profi t-and-loss state- ment for government. Interjections. Madame Speaker: Members. Members. Hon. B. Bennett: In addition to that, I think it is also relevant that in fact the dividend today is calculated in a certain way, and that certain way was actually created, defi ned and implemented in 1992. Madame Speaker: Th ank you, Minister. Hon. B.

Bennett: In fact, we calculated the dividend exactly the same way as these folks did when they were in government. Th ey also defi ned how much debt that B.C. Hydro could handle in 1992. Th ey said that it could have a debt-to-equity ratio of 80-20. J. Horgan: Well, hon. Speaker, we have incoherence from the Premier on television. We have incoherence from the Deputy Premier, and now we have I don't know what from the Minister of Energy. [1405] Let me see if I can try and translate for the people of British Columbia what just came out of the mouth of the minister responsible for B.C. Hydro.

Th e minister said: "Don't worry about all the big numbers. Everything is fi ne." Well, Minister, the people of B.C., businesses small and large, and small and large residences right across this province are going to pay 28 percent more on their hy- dro bill. Th at's aft er a 50 percent increase over the past ten years. So let's try and get right to the root of the issue, Minister. How is it that you can say with a straight face that there are no new taxes in this budget when you fi xed the hydro dividend number so you could balance, and you're taking 28 percent out of people's pockets? How does that make sense?

Madame Speaker: Members will conduct their re- marks through the Chair. Hon. B. Bennett: Well, it is true that this government, and the previous government for ten years, does take, has taken and will continue to take dividends from B.C. Hydro. Th at is a fact. It is also true that it was these very folks over here — in fact, the two making the most noise right now…. Th ey were there. One of them was advising the Premier and the other one was advising the Energy Minister when they actually established, by special direction, the thing that the Energy Minister is always going on about.

Th ese special directions established how the dividend will be calculated, and they also established in those days how much debt B.C. Hydro could carry. Now, this side of the House has a plan. We've an- nounced a ten-year plan. In that ten-year plan we actually have a plan to take less from B.C. Hydro. We're going to take less dividend. We're going to get the equity-to-debt ratio down to 60-40. B.C. Hydro, over the life of the ten- year plan, will have $3 billion more to spend than they would have had under the old plan. CORE REVIEW PROCESS AND GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT OF CAPITAL PROJECTS S.

Simpson: On page 47 of the budget and fi scal plan we're told that the core review is about improving out- comes for the public. Y et Liberal mismanagement in fi ve capital projects alone has led to a $3.1 billion overrun, almost 100 percent over the initial projected costs. Th is will take about $122 million out of the annual operating budget to cover debt-servicing costs on $3.1 billion; $122 million would fund 10,000 new skills-training spaces or hire 1,200 nurses or pay for 2,000 care aides for seniors. Instead, it's adding to a bloated debt load.

Does the Minister Responsible for Core Review intend to have the core review investigate and report out on how to end Liberal mismanagement on capital spending? Hon. B. Bennett: It's actually a pleasure for me to rise in the House and talk a little bit about the core review process.

It's something that our leader on this side of the House thought was important for us aft er being in gov- ernment for 12 years — that we go back and do what we did in the early days, in our fi rst term, and review every- thing that ministries and Crown corporations do, how they do it and whether or not the taxpayer is receiving full value, really, for what those Crown corporations and those ministries deliver. It's a diffi cult, exhaustive, comprehensive process, but it's an important thing. It's something that taxpayers want

British Columbia DebatesMonday, February 24, 2014 1513 us to do. I noticed that it wasn't in the NDP platform, be- cause frankly, their history would indicate that they don't really care what things cost. We're proud on this side of the House that we have a core review process in place, and I'm proud to have the opportunity to lead it. [1410] S. Simpson: Th e problem is that so far what we've seen from the core review is that it's about attacking important regulatory organizations like the Utilities Commission, like the Agricultural Land Commission.

It's not about attacking Liberal mismanagement of spending across this province. We have heard grandiose claims of being debt-free from a Premier who is presiding over a record debt, a debt that's going to hit $70 billion by 2016. And what do we have here? We've seen the northwest transmission line, the B.C. Place roof, the convention centre, the Port Mann and the South Fraser Perimeter Road. Th ose fi ve projects were projected by this government to cost $3½ billion dollars. Th ey cost $6.6 billion when they were done — $6.6 billion. Madame Speaker: Member, pose your question. S.

Simpson: To put that in context, that overrun would have paid for a new SkyTrain line. It would have paid for Surrey's light rail system. It would pay for health care fa- cilities. Th at's the public interest, and you're not serving it. Madame Speaker: Member, pose your question. S. Simpson: Will the minister commit today that the core review will investigate the outrageous mismanage- ment of capital spending in this province and dramatic cost overruns in the billions by this government? Hon. B.

Bennett: Last week I had the opportunity to answer a question right at the red light, so I really didn't get a chance to say everything that I needed to say at the time about how the kettle is calling the pot black when it comes to: "What have you invested in capital?" Part of my fi le is the B.C. Hydro fi le. When I began to get up to speed on the history of B.C.

Hydro and what was going on with rates and pressure on rates and the need to invest in capital, I came across one particular graph that was provided by the Crown corporation that showed capital investment going way up in the 1980s, and of course, rates went up at the same time. Then for some reason or other in 1991 that graph went way, way down — like that — and for ten years that graph was pretty much fl at all the way across. So I don't know how the hon. members on the other side would know anything about capital investment, because they never did any.

ELECTION CAMPAIGN STATEMENTS AND FUNDING FOR HOSPITAL PROJECTS J. Darcy: Let's be very clear. We're talking about prom- ises that the B.C. Liberal government made that were broken. Let's be very clear about that. Let's talk about some that relate to hospitals. During the general election campaign last year the member for Peace River South promised $50 million for a new hospi- tal in Dawson Creek. Asked about it last summer in this place, I have to say the Minister of Health was remark- ably candid when he admitted the promise was made for political purposes in the course of an election campaign.

Th e minister said: "Most things during an election cam- paign are made for political purposes." Can the minister confi rm that the $50 million that his colleague promised is nowhere in the budget and that the empty promises were made purely for political purposes? [1415] Hon. T. Lake: I guess I will continue a theme that the Minister of Energy started, talking about what we have done in terms of capital: in the health care sector $8½ bil- lion of new hospitals across this province.

I could talk about half a billion dollars for the Surrey Memorial Hospital critical care tower; $429 million for patient care towers in Vernon and Kelowna; $300 million in Fort St. John; $51 million in Nanaimo; $15 million at Kootenay Lake Hospital; $367 million for the Interior heart and surgical centre in Kelowna; Royal Inland Hospital; Vernon; Victoria, Royal Jubilee Hospital. Th e list goes on and on and on, as we invest in health care in this province. J. Darcy: I would note that the Health Minister com- pletely ignored the question of the broken promise for Dawson Creek Hospital. Of course, we know….

Y es, we're learning very quickly that it's not answer period; it's ques- tion period. But one would think that on a very specifi c question, the minister would stand up and give a very specifi c answer, so let me try another one. In March, just before the election, the Premier insisted that there was $300 million in the budget to redevelop Penticton Hospital. She said, "We know the money is there," for the Penticton Hospital.

Aft er the election the new member for Penticton admitted that the so-called commitment to Penticton is only "a notional indication at Treasury Board." In other words, the Premier's wild as- sertions about money already being in the budget were simply not true. Th ere is constant overcrowding at Penticton Hospital… Madame Speaker: Pose your question. J. Darcy: …and the best the Liberals can make is no- tional indications. My question is: what comfort does the

British Columbia Debates1514 Monday, February 24, 2014 Premier's notion give to patients waiting for care in hall- ways today at Penticton Hospital? Hon. T. Lake: MLAs, of course, advocate for their constituencies on both sides of the House. I have to say the member from Dawson Creek was advocating for his community, the member for Penticton advocating for his community. I've got to tell you that I have toured Penticton Hospital. Th e men and women who work in that hospital are doing amazing work in a facility that does need to be replaced.

Th e promise is there to replace that facility; it is in the ten-year capital plan. We are working through the busi- ness plan with Interior Health at the moment. But while we're talking about promises, for ten years the NDP government promised a new Abbotsford hos- pital — for ten years. Who built that hospital? Th is gov- ernment. BUDGET PROVISIONS FOR ST. PAUL'S HOSPITAL REDEVELOPMENT G. Heyman: In seven weeks of sitting in this House, I've yet to hear the Minister of Health actually get in the same ballpark as the question he's been asked, and noth- ing today has changed that.

But I'm pleased to see that, at least in the spirit of the questions, the minister is giv- ing fact-free answers. In 2012 the Premier stood at St. Paul's Hospital and promised there was $500 million in the budget to renew St. Paul's right away. British Columbians have lost track of how many times over the past decade the Liberals have promised to renew this important infrastructure. It's an important hospital. It serves patients from across Metro Vancouver — in fact, from across British Columbia. It's one of the busiest hospitals in the province.

It's a top health priority for the Vancouver Coastal Health and the city of Vancouver. My question to the Minister of Health is simply this: given that the Premier promised the people of Vancouver that St. Paul's would be renewed, can the minister tell me if $500 million for St. Paul's renewal is in the budget, or is that simply another instance of the Premier making empty promises for political purposes only? [1420] Hon. T. Lake: We go through quite a process when we are looking at redevelopment of hospitals, of course. It is a process that has to be rigorous when you're building a facility.

I wouldn't take lessons from the members op- posite about how to engineer and design infrastructure, like fast ferries. Th at is not the lesson that we take on this side of the House. So $8½ billion in health care infrastructure. We prom- ised a new hospital in Abbotsford; we delivered. We promised a new hospital in Surrey; we delivered. We promised a new hospital in Kelowna; we delivered. We will get a new hospital at St. Paul's, because when we say we're going to build something, we actually build it. GOVERNMENT USE OF LEGAL SERVICES FOR TEACHERS' BARGAINING COURT CASE R.

Fleming: When the Minister of Education was asked two weeks ago how much of the public moneys the B.C. Liberals were exhausting on legal bills to keep B.C. kids in overcrowded, undersupported classrooms, the minister said there was no cost. He said: "We've been using in-house legal counsel, and we used in-house counsel throughout the entire process." But on Friday we learned this isn't true. Th e government's arguments to prevent the release of open court documents to the public that exposed the B.C. Liberal strategy to provoke a provincewide strike was made by high-priced external legal counsel.

My question is to the Minister of Education. If the public can't get real answers on simple questions like this, how can the Minister of Education expect British Columbians to trust him on anything else in his fi le? Hon. P . Fassbender: Th e members opposite are try- ing to take the facts and distort them. Let me bring the facts back. Interjections. Madame Speaker: Order. Hon. P . Fassbender: I clearly said when I was asked the question that up to that point we had used in-house counsel. I stand by that. Th e bottom line is, again: this government worked tirelessly to provoke a settlement, which we did.

We provoked a settlement through nego- tiation, through mediation — much to the chagrin of the members opposite. [End of question period.] Tabling Documents Hon. S. Anton: I have the honour to present the fol- lowing reports: the British Columbia Ferry Commission Annual Report for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2013; the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal Annual Report 2012- 2013; the Crown Proceeding Act report for the fi scal year ended March 31, 2013; and the Public Guardian and Trustee 2012-2013 Annual Report . Madame Speaker: Member for Nelson-Creston. Interjections.

British Columbia DebatesMonday, February 24, 2014 1515 Petitions M. Mungall: Th ank you to my colleagues for the ap- plause to present a petition. I'd like to present a petition today. It has 182 signa- tures. I also have 128 postcards from people living in the Nelson-Creston riding calling on this government to pro- tect B.C.'s farmland. Orders of the Day Hon. T. Stone: I call continuing debate on the budget. Budget Debate (continued) M. Karagianis: I stand to take my place in the con- tinuing budget speech. [1425] Madame Speaker: Please proceed. M.

Karagianis: Th e other day I started my remarks by canvassing what I believe to be the crisis of our time, which is aff ordability for families, and the issue that will face future generations around lack of skills training and education opportunities and, thirdly, the care of the en- vironment. I made those points in my earlier remarks. I'd like to continue on that because, in fact, we have a budget be- fore us here that is going to make life less aff ordable for people right across this province — for families, for sen- iors and, especially, for those who are struggling from paycheque to paycheque.

Th at is a large number of British Columbians. We have a government that in this budget speech is about to make it much more diffi cult for families. We've canvassed quite oft en in this House over the past few days the issue around increased costs and taxation to families. It is about to get a lot tougher for anyone on a fi xed income. Seniors, in particular, will feel the pinch. Families will feel the pinch. Single-parent families, most specifi cally, will feel the pinch as we see hydro rates skyrocket.

Th is is to try and balance off a budget on the backs of the con- sumers of British Columbia who are least able to aff ord it. We are going to see ICBC rates go up. We are going to see MSP premiums go up. All of these are direct costs to families that they have no way to off set, from a govern- ment that seems not to be able to grapple with the con- cerns that we have across British Columbia and that the economists have about aff ordability for families. We are eroding the middle class. Th ese kinds of costs continue to push the middle class down into being the working poor and living at poverty's edge.

Th at has a huge detrimental eff ect on small business, on the econ- omy and the future economy of this province. It is very shortsighted. I think that the issue around B.C. Ferries — and I touched on this briefl y last week — is such a colossal failure by this government. It is one of the main con- duits we have for coastal communities. It is an impera- tive link for coastal communities to have a thriving economy, for people who live in communities that are ferry-dependent to take

part in the economy of this province. We are about to see this government again deal a really crushing blow to those families as we see services cut and as we see fares go up. [D. Horne in the chair.] Contrary to anything you might think about a busi- ness-savvy government…. We've heard those claims for over a decade from this government, and yet we have seen contrary business practice. We have seen, under the B.C. Liberal government, ridership go down and fares that have gone up. What is the solution that the B.C. Liberal government brings to the table?

A very straight sort of business formula: if your busi- ness is starting to lose customers because your prices are too high, you don't cut service and jack up the prices even higher. But in fact, that is exactly what this government is doing. Anyone who is taking business 101 will tell you that that's the reverse formula of what you need to do to encourage a thriving business. But this is not just any business in British Columbia. Th is is an integral part of the transportation system of this province.

Th is is not some small business somewhere that the government can kind of sideline and say: "If we cause your business to fail, well, too bad, so sad. Th at's what the free enterprise market is all about." Th is, in fact, is an integral part of the economy of coast- al communities because it is our marine highway. It is the transportation infrastructure that is so necessary to those communities. I would also say that the B.C. Liberal government has missed a huge opportunity in using that same infra- structure system to invest in the B.C. economy. We have certainly seen the logic on that side of the House.

Th ey understand that building bridges and building roads are good for the economy but, apparently, not building fer- ries or building a thriving marine highway system here on the coast. In fact, we've invested in other economies. I talked in my opening remarks the other day about the impact it has directly on my community because, in fact, my com- munity builds ships. It is a very important part of the economy here on the south Island. We have seen this government over the last dec- ade marginalize our shipbuilding industry to the point where it began to fail. It began to disappear.

A trad- itional stronghold in the economy of British Columbia

British Columbia Debates1516 Monday, February 24, 2014 began to just evaporate under the mistreatment by this government. Th e federal government, luckily, has shown great faith in our industry, and we have seen an upsurge in ship- building here because of the faith of the federal govern- ment. [1430] What did we see from the B.C. Liberal government? We saw that dollars from our taxpayers were invested in another economy in another country in another ship- building industry.

Th at has caused a slowdown in our ability to increase the infrastructure here that we would need, to have long-term sustainable jobs here in British Columbia that are around shipbuilding. Luckily, the federal contract looks like it'll bring about 30 years of work, and that'll begin to build some confi - dence in jobs here so our workers don't have to go to Fort Mac to use the skills that they could be using in the ship- building industry. However, I think there are two huge shortcomings here again by this B.C. Liberal government in their budget.

Number one, we're looking to build more ferries for our coastal ferry corporation. Are they going to be built here in British Columbia? No, this government has repeatedly refused to try to encourage a made-in-B.C.- fi rst contractual RFP system. So we could very well see our jobs once again go off - shore because it's cheaper.

Although, I would argue that, certainly, by the time you take in duties and by the time you look at environmental impact and social benefi ts, the triple bottom line would show that our industry cer- tainly deserves those jobs, that it's competitive and that it would be a better investment in our economy to build those ships here. Th e second piece of this is the lack of training and skills-training investment by this government. Now, this has been a decade-long eff ort by this government to slow- ly dismantle the Red Seal program in this province, to dismantle the whole basis for skills training.

We are now facing a crisis. Aft er ten years of the government slowly taking apart the apprenticeship program — taking apart and doing these modules for construction training — of underinvesting and underfunding skills training year aft er year aft er year, what do we fi nd ourselves with now? We're on the brink of some opportunities in the future that are going to depend on skills training, and we've missed the boat for ten years. We have failed to invest in those very necessary skills-training supports and struc- tures. Now we are fi nding ourselves with a crisis. Th e government talks about it now.

We have a crisis in workers. What is the solution going to be to that? Well, in fact, we talk. We have slogans about how we're going to invest in skills training, but the reality is, as the budget shows, we are doing the very opposite. Once again, the government is going to be cutting infrastructure to skills training. Th at will lead inevitably to the other piece of the puzzle that we're beginning to see appear from the B.C. Liberal plan here around li- quid natural gas and other resource revenues, which is more foreign workers coming in and taking jobs away from British Columbians.

So we see a lot of sloganeer- ing about skills training, but in fact we see funding being cut to skills training. We also see that the whole education system has been compromised year aft er year by this government. For our young people to think about getting a post-secondary education, we are seeing crushing debt that they will have to try and crawl out from under for decades aft er they graduate. Th is has been a pattern, again, repeated by this government. Y et we know that we need to have the best-educated young people of the future in order to take jobs in the economy of the future.

But we've underfunded skills training and managed to, basically, kind of destroy the whole infrastructure there. We have seen repeated issues around aff ordability of education for post-secondary education. Again, these are the very skills, the very support sys- tems, the very investments that our government should be making in the middle class, in those families who are facing issues around aff ordability, who are now, because of this government, going to foist the same issues onto the next generation. Th ey come out of school, burdened with crushing debt.

Th e opportunities for jobs may or may not be a fi t for them. Th ere may be temporary for- eign workers taking many of those jobs. Th ey may have to leave this province to go fi nd jobs.

Th is budget is, again, a very, very vivid example of how the government says one thing, does something completely diff erent and fails completely to address the challenges of our time, which are: trying to make life more aff ordable for everyone so they can participate in the economy, so everyone can prosper; making sure that our young people have the education and skills training to take the jobs of the future — our young people fi rst and foremost; and thirdly, making sure that we take care of the environment.

I think that anyone, from grade 1 up, can tell you that these are three imperative things for our future well-being. [1435] We've seen the government completely consumed by this issue of liquid natural gas being the only kind of op- portunity that they have been able to envision for the future of British Columbians. Th at is so far in the future that it's not relevant or real to the people who live in my community, who want to see some solutions right now. Th ey're about to be overburdened with all kinds of new taxes and fees. Th ey've seen education compromised for their young people.

Th ey have seen post-secondary edu- cation leave young people with crushing debt when they do come out of school. We are now seeing that it's a government that has side-

British Columbia DebatesMonday, February 24, 2014 1517 lined the whole issue around environmental responsibil- ity. I could list off a whole number of things that occurred under this government over the last 12 years — every- thing from cuts to oversight in environmental protection to the lack of protection for endangered species, and the whole issue around tanker traffi c expansion. We know that these are critical issues, not just for people who live on the coast but for citizens right across this province. It doesn't matter where you are; people have a strong, fi rm commitment to protect the environ- ment.

Citizens from every corner of the province know that these are the issues we must come to terms with. We have a government that talked a lot about green- house gas reduction and full environmental conscious- ness a number of years ago, but that seems to have completely evaporated in this budget. While the budget lumps a lot more costs on working families and pins a whole lot of hopes on liquid natural gas at some time in the long-term future, it completely ignores the other crisis of our generation, which is environmental protec- tion. If you go through the list, it is shocking to me.

It is shocking how little the government cares about environ- mental protection at this point and how many of the sup- port systems and the basic infrastructure to protect our environment have been stripped away. How completely hypocritical we are around the issue of looking aft er our own environmental footprint and responsibilities here while we are saying: "Well, you know what? Liquid nat- ural gas will help to take care of China's environmental issues." I think that we need to look aft er house and home here fi rst, in British Columbia.

Th ere was a time when there was just a glimmer of hope that we might be leading edge on this, that we might actually step forward and lead the way for communities on how we could change our behaviours. People in this House will know that I have been long been an advocate of better options for bridging into the future. Someone joked the other day about me taking my biodiesel car to my zero-footprint little cabin over on Mayne Island, where I'm experimenting with solar power and I ride my electric motor scooter to get bread every day from the lo- cal bakery.

I have a real fi rm commitment to living the way I want to see British Columbians live. It may seem hokey to lots of people. But if we don't make those advancements, if we don't invest in those kinds of advancements now, then who can take advan- tage of any of those opportunities? It is frustrating to me that all the options that we should be and could be in- vesting in to make that bridge for people to start living diff erently, living with a smaller footprint, being more environmentally responsible…. Th is government has by- passed all of those.

It hasn't been in our budgets or throne speeches for many, many years. Now, I know that I have only a limited time here, and I want to touch on a couple of other things lacking in this budget that I think are very critical. I have two critic portfolios. One is the women's critic. I touch a little bit on shipbuilding, because that is also one of my respon- sibilities. But as the women's critic and as the child care critic, I want to talk on two very specifi c issues that are lacking in this budget, which feed into this issue of not addressing the crisis of our times. Number one is a child care plan.

We've heard this gov- ernment talk for the last couple years about a jobs plan, and never once have I heard them talk about a child care plan. Every working family in British Columbia knows you cannot have a jobs plan without a child care plan. Now, the government will brag about how they are putting $55 per child into families' hands every month as part of their solution. In fact, anybody who's tried to get child care knows that $55 per child buys you half a day. It doesn't buy you a month of child care.

It doesn't help off set the cost of child care to help you to get back to work and to manage the ability for families to participate. [1440] Families are either left with only one income so there can be a stay-at-home parent, because child care is very expensive, or else they are again stretched and margin- alized. Going to work and keeping child care costs cov- ered has got them stretched to the point where it makes no sense whatsoever.

In fact, when we look at the kind of cost increase that we're talking about here that the government is foisting on us — from new hydro costs to MSP to ferries to ICBC; it goes on and on — $55 a month barely off sets even a portion of that. I want to talk a little bit about women's issues as well. Th e other, kind of, big elephant in the room here, I think, that has not been touched on in the budget is the issue of poverty. We talk about the working poor and about marginalized middle-class incomes, but poverty is the other most crushing crisis that is aff ecting families today.

Th is budget has done absolutely nothing to address that. Sadly, poverty tends to be primarily an issue for women, for children and for single-parent families, most of which are women. And we have seen this government do abso- lutely nothing. Th ey've taken no steps. Y ear aft er year we hear about British Columbia having the very shameful statistic of being the highest in child poverty. One of the wealthiest provinces, certainly one of the most desirable places to live, and yet we continue to ignore the issue of poverty in this province.

Now, I think that that shows a level of skepticism on the part of the government, which is very evident in their budget — that there is no optimism about our ability to solve these issues. I actually think we can solve these issues. I think there are lots of components there that this budget could have addressed but completely missed. It completely missed all of the opportunities. While we look at this pie-in-the-sky dream of liquid natural gas in the future, with astronomical numbers that may or may not be true…. Y ou only have to read the paper today to

British Columbia Debates1518 Monday, February 24, 2014 see that Shell — one of the primary investors, I believe, in liquid natural gas of the future — is already saying: "I don't know if B.C.'s got the right regime. Are we too late? Are we late to the game?" Th at is not going to be an option for us, so we need to deal with the crisis of how we make it more aff ordable for families. Th is budget missed it. I will be voting against this budget based on that. M. Morris: Before I commence my support for this budget, I just want to acknowledge a couple of people in my life that make things a lot better for me.

My wife of 36 summers has stood by me through thick and thin, and I have her unmitigated support as I ven- ture into this new life as a politician — something that both of us had never looked at before. I also have the support of my two sons and their beautiful wives who unconditionally support my presence in the House here today. But the true inspiration for me being here is the four grandchildren that I have and doing what I can to make life better for them in the future. One of the other key inspirations that I had when I said yes to taking this challenge on, just over a year ago now, was leadership.

I was impressed with the leadership that our Premier had exhibited and that this government had exhibited, and I wanted to be on board with that. So I want to identify the four key roles that I see as very im- portant in the role of leadership. Th e fi rst is a compelling vision that is shared by your entire team and is supported by the grass roots of the or- ganization, by the people in this province. Th ere's an old Sioux proverb that says: "If you don't know where you're going, any path will take you there." I think that's the mantra, perhaps, that the members opposite have used very oft en in their role.

Our Premier has a vision, and that vision is a strong economy, a secure tomorrow and a debt-free B.C. — very clear and shared by everybody in government and by everybody in B.C. that voted for us. Th e second key element is that we need to align our systems, structures and processes to make sure that we're focused on the goals and objectives of this province and this government to make sure that we achieve them. Our side of the House is strong and united.

Our side of the House supports small government as a structure. [1445] Currently this government is conducting a core review to make sure that we're focused on those core elements, those core things that we need to focus on in order to achieve our objectives and our goals. We're going to re- align any resources that we see that aren't focused on that core responsibility. We're also making sure that we have the right people who make the right decisions at the right time based on the right information.

And to ensure that we have the right systems and processes in place, we'll continually measure our progress to make sure that we are doing as we are required and as our plan has stated. Th e third role of eff ective leadership is that we have to empower our team. We have to provide them with the tools and the guidelines they need to achieve our ob- jectives and goals. Everyone in this House has read the mandate letters that each of our ministers has received from the Premier. Everybody understands the mandate that each of our ministers has, and it's very clear and transparent.

Th e fourth element in good leadership is modelling and walking the talk. Th e character and competence of my colleagues in government is what makes us strong. It brings the diversity of experience and talent necessary for eff ective leadership. Our team emulates our core values. Integrity and decision-making that's consistent, fair, transparent and balanced. Fiscal responsibility to implement aff ordable public policies. Accountability means effi cient, eff ective and credible government. We treat all citizens respect- fully, equitably, compassionately.

And we aff ord citizens the opportunity to exercise self-determination. Th e Premier has communicated her vision clearly to British Columbians: the strong economy and a secure tomorrow; a debt-free province, supported by a strong natural resource sector; and balanced budgets year aft er year aft er year. Th at is why British Columbians elected this government on May 14 last year. We are committed to manage the people's money and responsibly manage the services we provide so we don't impose debt on future generations. Our grandchildren will benefi t from living in a province that is debt-free.

Th e healthy economy and a secure tomorrow require that every British Columbian who wants to work has a job. Th at's not an easy objective to meet. It requires a laser focus in light of the global economic challenges all governments in Canada and, quite frankly, around the world have faced. Our jobs plan is in good hands with my colleague from Prince George–Valemount, the Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, who has a long and proven track record in this government for get- ting things done. As our population grows, the demands on our infra- structure grow.

Our hospitals, our schools, our children and youth, our seniors, our roads, our bridges — every- thing has a greater impact on them now than it did 20 or 30 years ago. In January of this year I was lucky enough to host a natural resources forum in Prince George. Th is was the 11th year that we've held such a forum in Prince George, and it was the fi rst year that we've been able to refer to it as the Premier's Natural Resource Forum, demonstrat- ing the importance that our Premier and our government places on responsible natural resource development.

Some of the largest resource-based companies in the world were represented at this forum. Represented by their CEOs or senior vice presidents, all gave posi-

British Columbia DebatesMonday, February 24, 2014 1519 tive messages about the business opportunities and in- vestment climate our government has created in this province. Over 650 people from across North America attended to gain insight into the future of resource de- velopment in British Columbia. Members opposite oft en refer to the fact that this prov- ince is singularly minded when it comes to resource de- velopment as being LNG. I say that nothing could be further from the truth. We have a strong forestry sector in this province that started many, many years ago.

In the mid-'60s we had the pleasure of having Mr. Ray Williston, the Minister of Forests at the particular time — who served as Minister of Forests from 1966 to 1972 — have a look around and say: "We have got a great source of fi bre in the interior of this province that has been virtually untouched." [1450] At the same time we had W .A.C. Bennett, who said: "We've got some great opportunities in British Columbia to generate hydroelectricity." Th e W .A.C. Bennett dam came to fruition as a result of that. Mr.

Williston had a look around, and he said that we have opportunities here — unprecedented opportun- ities at that particular time — to delve into forestry in a more aggressive fashion. He brought the pulp industry to British Columbia. Th at is still thriving in this prov- ince to this day. He brought mills to British Columbia that were nonexistent or were running on a small scale in the Interior. We went from virtually no logging in the interior of B.C. to 60 or 70 million cubic metres of wood harvested every year in that part of the province. Th at continued until today.

In fact, over the last decade, because of the pine beetle harvesting that we've had to do in relation to the pine attacks there, sometimes we were approaching 90 million cubic metres of wood per year being harvested. Despite the world recession in 2008 and 2009, the crash of the U.S. housing market and the impacts of the mountain pine beetle epidemic, our forest industry still remains a strong economic contributor in British Columbia. In 2012 over 56,000 people were directly em- ployed in the forest industry. B.C. exported over $6 bil- lion in forest products in 2013.

Our government has worked extremely hard to help diversify our markets and has played a major role in in- creasing lumber exports to China. In 2013, B.C. export- ed $1.4 billion worth of forest products to China — and get this — roughly a 3,684 percent increase in exports to China since 2001. I think that's a remarkable feat. I think that was done from the insight of a Forests Minister back in the early days of the 2001 era of government as well as my predecessor for Prince George–Mackenzie work- ing on that fi le. Our government is also investing in exploring new wood technology.

Th e Wood Innovation Design Centre is currently being built in downtown Prince George. In fact, I think they're working on the fi nal storey of that structure at this particular time. Our government has invested $25.1 million into that project. Th e centre will be recognized internationally for its innovation and incorporation of value-added wood products. Th e building will house research facilities and classroom space for the University of Northern B.C.'s new master's degree programs in wood engineering and science, and offi ce space for industry organizations.

B.C. leads the world in sustainable forest management. It has the world's largest share of third-party certifi cation forests in the world and is the largest exporter of soft - wood. It will continue to hold that status for time to come. In the coming year we'll fi nish our review of the ef- fectiveness of the B.C. Timber Sales and report out on recommendations to strengthen B.C. Timber Sales. We're committed to continuing to grow the forest sector, in- cluding through embarking on annual forest industry trade missions to Asia to fi nd new markets and create jobs at home.

Th ere are opportunities in India and other countries in the Asian markets. Th at wasn't LNG. Th at was forestry, which still contributes signifi cantly to the B.C. economy. I will mention LNG. It off ers generational opportun- ities for British Columbia. To ensure LNG is given every opportunity to succeed and come to fruition, the Premier has appointed a veteran member of this House, a senior member with a reputation for getting things done, as the minister responsible for natural gas development.

Budget 2014 provides $29 million over three years to ensure appropriate management of the province's LNG strategy to foster the successful development and growth of the industry. An additional $9 million over three years will help support environmental assessments of resource development, impacts of proposed LNG facilities and pipelines, mining and other projects.

Th is funding will facilitate coordinated and timely pro- cessing with respect to British Columbia's regulatory and permitting requirements and provide a strategic frame- work that benefi ts British Columbians while ensuring ongoing environmental protection, management and stewardship. As the Finance Minister outlined when he delivered the budget, our government continues to develop and implement all the elements of a competitive tax and policy environment to assist with LNG development in B.C. Th e new B.C.

LNG income tax is just one of several sources of new revenue British Columbians will see as the LNG industry develops in this province. [1455] Increased production of natural gas provides increased revenues through royalties. Construction creates eco- nomic benefi ts and generates revenue through income and sales tax. Once LNG plants become operational in British Columbia, new revenue will also be realized through additional corporate and personal income tax,

British Columbia Debates1520 Monday, February 24, 2014 sales tax, carbon tax, motor fuel tax and property taxes. Th e LNG tax regime is based on four core principles that ensure a fair and balanced approach. A fair share for British Columbians is the fi rst one. Natural gas is a pub- licly owned, non-renewable natural resource. As owners of the resource, British Columbians deserve an appropri- ate return. Our government will receive the revenues to invest in the priorities of British Columbia.

Th is includes investing in programs and services that benefi t taxpay- ers, help make family life more aff ordable and reduce provincial debt. Competitive is the second one. B.C. taxpayers, work- ers and families will benefi t from the jobs, investment and economic activity that come with the establish- ment of this new industry. Th e overall taxation frame- work, including all taxes, will be competitive with similar jurisdictions for this type of LNG environment. B.C.'s advantage is based on more than just a competitive tax rate. We have a skilled workforce. We have proximity to markets.

We have large natural gas reserves, and we have a cooler climate. Predictability is another factor. It provides proponents with a clear description of the fi scal regime prior to a fi nal investment decision. Th e proposed tax is subject to ap- proval of the Legislature. And we provide a level playing fi eld. All proponents are subject to the same framework. In addition to creating a tax to develop a source of rev- enue, we will create a prosperity fund into which a por- tion of new revenues will fl ow and be protected.

Instead of servicing debt, we can move forward and invest in education, skills training, health care and other priorities. We have another area that we're looking at, and that's liquid pipelines. We've had liquid pipelines in this prov- ince for 60 years in some cases. Th ere's a liquid pipeline that's been running through Prince George now for over 50 years. Th ere's a liquid pipeline that's been running from Edmonton to Vancouver for just as long. We believe in combining environmental safety with British Columbians' fair share of economic gain.

Th at is why the following requirements must be established before we consider supporting any new heavy-oil pipe- line proposals. Successful completion of the environmental review process is the fi rst. Second is world-leading practices for oil spill response, prevention and recovery systems for B.C.'s coastline and ocean. Th ird, world-leading practices for land oil spill prevention, response and recovery sys- tems.

Fourth, legal requirements are addressed for treaty rights, and First Nations are provided with opportunities, information and the resources necessary to participate and benefi t from heavy-oil products. And fi ft h, British Columbia receives a fair share of the fi scal and economic benefi ts of a proposed heavy-oil project that refl ects the level, degree and nature of the risk borne by the province, the environment and the taxpayer. When these fi ve conditions are met, I will certainly be supporting heavy-oil pipelines in the province of British Columbia.

In fact, we have another project in the very early stages of discussion — that of David Black's Kitimat Clean oil refi nery. Should this project meet the fi ve con- ditions for heavy-oil pipelines and meet the rigorous en- vironmental standards of this province, I would certainly stand behind that project. We have another resource that we're looking at in British Columbia: mining. Members opposite wrongly claim that this government has all its eggs in one basket, referencing, of course, the strategic focus that we have on LNG.

Th e reality of the matter is that as they went through their 200 days of apparent inactivity, this gov- ernment continued to work hard at developing a strong economy. Since 2001, B.C. has been a leader in tax cuts and other fi scal measures to create a positive investment climate that is necessary for a thriving mining industry. At the Natural Resource Forum in Prince George in January our Premier referred to the mineral exploration and mining industry as a great comeback story. We are extending the B.C. mining fl ow-through share tax credit to December 31, 2014, to support mining and exploration.

Since the introduction of the jobs plan, two new mines have begun production. Two more will open this year, three more are permitted, and the province has approved seven expansions of existing mines. [1500] Today there are nine coal mines in operation, ten metal mines and more than 30 industrial mineral mines, and hundreds of aggregate pits and quarries across the prov- ince. Th is includes the new Mount Milligan mine locat- ed between Mackenzie and Fort St. James that opened in 2013, the fi rst new mine in over a decade. It was my pleas- ure to attend that opening up there.

To see the looks on the faces of the employees there was very gratifying. Th at was a $1.5 billion project. It provided 1,000 construction jobs and 400 permanent jobs. Th e mining sector is a signifi cant economic driver in our province, producing high-quality jobs all across our province. More than 30,000 people work in mineral ex- ploration, mining and related activities, with an average salary of $121,000 a year. Th e 2012 mining revenues in B.C. were $9.2 billion, resulting in $504 million that we were able to spend on health, education and other gov- ernment services.

Vancouver is the centre of one of the world's largest pools of international expertise in geology, mine engin- eering, project fi nancing and environmental sustaina- bility. All of those lead towards better services, towards families. As I have previously stated, much of the inspiration that I've had to come to this House has been through my grandchildren. Th is government is committed to ensur- ing that our future generations aren't burdened by gov- ernment debt and have access to education and jobs.

British Columbia DebatesMonday, February 24, 2014 1521 Legislation will be introduced this spring to move the B.C. early childhood tax benefi t forward. Beginning in April 2015 the tax benefi t will provide $146 million each year to approximately 180,000 families. Th ese families will receive up to $55 per month for each of their children under six years of age. While that isn't a huge quantity, this will help families. In addition to the early childhood tax credit, the B.C. training and education savings grant program, an- nounced in Budget 2013, is anticipated to benefi t 27,000 children in 2013-14.

In the year since government fi rst announced the program, the number of B.C. families with RESPs has increased 10 percent. Children born in 2007 or later are eligible for the $1,200 grant. Families now have up to three years, aft er a child turns six, to apply for this grant. Th is is only one of the measures our government has taken to help set up our children for success in life. With respect to small businesses, which are the back- bone of this province, Prince George and Mackenzie are great places to invest and raise families. Th e cost of living is more aff ordable in these areas than large urban centres.

Facilities and amenities are close together, providing con- venience for families. Prince George and Mackenzie, like other communities in the province, off er great small busi- ness opportunities for entrepreneurial-minded people. Small businesses, as I said, are the backbone of our provincial economy, and to increase British Columbia's competitive economic advantage, our government has committed, following through on reducing small busi- ness tax by 40 percent by 2018 and lowering our corpor- ate income tax rate by 10 percent by 2018.

When all taxes are considered, British Columbia enjoys one of the lowest overall tax burdens in Canada. One of the other things that British Columbia enjoys that not too many other jurisdictions in Canada enjoy is a triple-A credit rating. Prudent and responsible man- agement of public fi nances means that British Columbia holds on to its triple-A credit rating, the highest stan- dard available, and is one of only three provinces to enjoy this status. A triple-A credit rating is important for two reasons.

It reduces the cost of servicing our debt compared to other provinces such as Ontario, with only a double-A-minus rating. We would be spending an additional $2 billion a year servicing the debt that we have, money that could well be spent elsewhere on vital programs and services. Secondly, by lowering the government's borrowing costs, B.C. has the fi scal freedom to make signifi cant capital investment in provincial infrastructure pro- jects such as roads, bridges and improvements to health care facilities, schools and post-secondary institutions.

British Columbia holds this status along with Alberta, Saskatchewan and Canada. All other provinces and ter- ritories are lower than triple-A. [1505] B.C. also has a low debt-to-GDP ratio, at 18.5 percent. Ontario, meanwhile, has a 37.5 percent debt-to-GDP , and Quebec has a 55.7 percent debt-to-GDP . Balanced budget 2014 includes forecast surpluses in all three years of the fi scal plan: $184 million in 2014- 2015, $206 million in 2015-2016 and $451 million in 2016-2017. B.C. is forecast to end the fi scal year of 2013- 14 with a surplus of $175 million.

While the fi scal plan shows continued spending discipline, modest surpluses allow government to make choices and ensure new spending is put towards priority areas. In closing, I'd say that a balanced budget requires a disciplined approach on a daily basis to control spending. B.C. is only one of two provinces that are balancing their budget, which is something for us to be proud of. Th is budget is effi cient, and this budget is practical. L. Popham: It's an honour to rise in this Legislature and contribute to debate on Budget 2014 from the elect- ed seat of Saanich South.

Th e treasure this government has the privilege to spend is derived from the extraordin- ary natural wealth of this province. Of course, one of our greatest resources of all is the people of British Columbia. Th eir ingenuity, their labour and creativity allow this gov- ernment a $44.416 billion budget.

Th e privilege of spending the provincial coff er brings with it a tremendous responsibility — responsibility to increase opportunities for all British Columbians, re- sponsibility to link prosperity with equality, responsibil- ity to protect our environment, responsibility to mitigate climate change so that we're prepared for a changing fu- ture and a responsibility to engage all citizens to embrace what they have to off er. By those measures, surely measures that matter most, this budget is a failure, a complete failure.

Th e failure to focus on our climate change crisis and preparing us for the challenges this will bring us is irresponsible and neg- ligent. Th e failure to acknowledge the rapidly growing gap between rich and poor is cruel and a foolish polit- ical choice. Th e choice to underfund the very things that would grow our middle class, making our economy the very strongest it could be, is irrational, and it's reckless. How did we get to this point? Part of the answer lies in the simple fact that this government has been in power for too long.

Like all governments that become entrenched, this government has fallen in love with it- self. We no longer have a people's government, a place where British Columbians are represented. We have a government that believes its own spin, regardless of facts, a government that has stopped listening to the 4.5 mil- lion citizens that live in B.C., shushing them away so that they can hear more clearly the words coming from their own government song sheets. Th ere are many examples where this is very appar- ent.

Th e fi rst example is the record of how many days we have sat in this chamber: just 36 days in all of 2013, shut-

British Columbia Debates1522 Monday, February 24, 2014 ting down democracy so that, I suppose, more mirrors could be hung around the cabinet table, refl ecting only the thoughts of conformity and concurrence and toler- ating no room for dialogue or disagreement — no room for democracy in their house of mirrors. Th e next obvious example of a government which gov- erns by elitism is shutting down parliamentary commit- tees. How ironic that the Premier recently rattled off an offi cial announcement of legislative committees, when we all know that most will never sit at all.

It's obvious to me that the empress has no clothes. Our democrat- ically elected Premier has a very thin commitment to democracy itself. It's not surprising, then, that she called Victoria a sick culture. In fact, the parliamentary committees have much to off er. I have had the pleasure of sitting on the two select standing committees that are bipartisan and sit regularly. Th ey are Public Accounts and the Standing Committee on Finance. Both committees have been extremely use- ful to the work of this House. Th ey are places where all members have value. Th e B.C.

Liberal government fails to recognize that each of us in this House represents a part of British Columbia. We were all elected to participate in governing this province. Select standing committees allow us to do that, and I believe that's why they are underutilized by this current regime. [1510] I called for a select standing committee on agricul- ture for four years straight, but my request was ignored by the B.C. Liberals. Th at, in my view, is completely daft . It's like building a house of cards and expecting it to be strong.

Th e funny thing is that this government believes that British Columbians gave them a mandate in the last election to do whatever they wanted to do in this budget. But the election results actually tell a diff erent story. So 3.1 million of B.C.'s 4.5 million population registered to vote in the last election, and only 52 percent of regis- tered voters voted. Th at means that only about 1.6 mil- lion people voted, out of 4.5 million residents. Of course, they didn't all vote for the B.C. Liberals. In fact, 733,000 voters voted B.C. Liberal, but 2.5 million registered voters didn't.

Th at's the way our system works at the moment, and it has allowed the B.C. Liberals to stay in power. W e all have to live with that and work with that un- fortunate reality for three more years. But given the num- bers, one might think that the B.C. Liberal government, instead of being punch-drunk in love with itself, would have a little respect for everyone else in B.C., regardless of how they voted. Th ey have been given the honour of governing B.C.; it's not supposed to be a position of entitlement.

But as we see in this chamber and outside this chamber, they con- tinue to primp and preen and apply lipstick in the rearv- iew mirror while driving through the red lights in British Columbia. Th is is today's B.C. Liberals. Over the last week my colleagues have exposed numer- ous deep fl aws in this budget. Th ere is a theme in Budget 2014: pay more, and get less. Th e B.C. Liberals have a sorry history of broken promises, bungled initiatives and eye-popping boondoggles. I know that this debate and the estimates debate to follow create a thin opening through which we can poke and prod the members opposite.

Maybe, just maybe, they will acknowledge to themselves, in a quiet moment of obvious truth, that the budget could be improved if they listened to their opponents with humility and an open mind. Th at is the respect that all British Columbians de- serve from this government. Th is budget would be improved if they used our criti- cisms to identify and correct the errors and shortcom- ings which are inescapable in a project of this kind. To that end, I will focus my remarks on fi ve areas: the en- vironment, small business, tourism, arts and culture, and agriculture. Th e environment.

Th e budget introduced an outline of how liquid natural gas revenues will be structured, but in doing so, the government continues to deny a fundamen- tal contradiction. Th is is a contradiction we must con- front as a province before moving ahead to exploit this resource. Th is contradiction, a painful and glaring con- tradiction, is between the government's LNG goals and the urgent need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

It is an obvious and enormously consequential truth that if the Premier were to deliver on her LNG promises, B.C. could not even come close to meeting our targets for reduction of GHG emissions. Are the good members op- posite so blinded by the billions that just might fl ow into government coff ers through this risky gamble of LNG that they cannot see the devastating environmental con- sequences which could result?

Leaving aside, for reasons of time today, the tremen- dously important question of freshwater usage and other unaddressed health and environmental concerns with current fracking techniques, which an independent sci- entifi c study could address, there remains the challenge of LNG's carbon pollution. For the Premier to keep her election-winning prom- ise of a "Debt-free B.C.," she will need fi ve LNG plants on-line. According to the Pembina Institute, those plants, and the shale gas extraction and processing associated with them, would create more than 73 megatonnes of carbon pollution each year — 73 megatonnes.

And yet our modest legislative climate targets are 43 megatonnes by 2020 and 13 megatonnes by 2050. In other words, the government is promising a new in- dustry that brings with it 73 megatonnes of carbon pol- lution in a year, while maintaining legislation requiring provincewide emission reductions to 13 megatonnes a year. What hypocrisy. Instead of acknowledging this contradiction, the gov-

British Columbia DebatesMonday, February 24, 2014 1523 ernment said in its throne speech that LNG is "the great- est single step we can take to fi ght climate change." Th at was a whopper big enough to make George Orwell blush. Natural gas is a valuable resource. It could, and per- haps should, be used as a transitional fuel as we move to- wards a low-carbon economy. But to get there, we need this government to come clean about the consequences of LNG and lead a much-needed debate on how best to take advantage of this resource.

Instead, we are insulted with exaggerated promises that contradict the environ- mental crisis we face in this province. [1515] Small business. Turning to small business, there are many examples of failure in this budget, but I'd like to focus on the decision not to renew the LiveSmart small business program. Th is shortsighted decision also pro- vides further illustration of this budget's unacceptable lack of attention to the environment. Conservation is the cleanest and least expensive way to meet the increasing demand for electricity in British Columbia.

Th e more energy we conserve now, the fewer sources of supply our province will need in the future. Who would disagree with this statement? Certainly not the Minister of Energy and Mines. It is taken verbatim from the ministry's website. Th e obvious truth of this conservation principle makes it easy to understand why the B.C. government boast- ed before the election about renewing funds for the LiveSmart B.C. small business program. At the time the government and B.C. Hydro called this funding big news for small business.

Th e modest $1.5 million program pro- vides eco-audits for B.C. businesses that want to reduce their energy usage. What is harder to understand is why the B.C. government is not renewing funding for this program in the budget. It couldn't be because it hasn't been successful. In fact, since 2011 the program has completed 4,500 assess- ments and inspired businesses to spend over $3 million in energy-effi cient changes. Small business owners have saved over $13 million annually in energy costs, lowered electrical consumption by 145 gigawatt hours and re- duced greenhouse gas emissions in B.C. by over 3,000 tonnes.

Nor could it be because the program has com- pleted its work. Less than 5 percent of eligible B.C. busi- nesses have participated in this program so far. It certainly can't be because energy rates are going down for business. Th is program will end March 31. Th e day aft er, on April Fools' Day, B.C. Hydro rates will spike by 9 percent. Hydro rates are expected to increase 25 percent over the next fi ve years. If the B.C.

Liberal government doesn't reconsider and renew funding for the LiveSmart B.C. small business program in the budget, it will be further evidence of their appalling failure to confront climate change and their betrayal of their supposed commitment to small business. Tourism. Th is budget also gets a failing mark from the tourism industry. I will focus on an example which also demonstrates further evidence of this government's fail- ure to adequately support small business. While the province extracts almost $3 billion in dir- ect taxation from the industry, it's failing to adequately support it.

Th is is clearly seen in the penny-wise, pound- foolish decision to defund the Discovery coast ferry route which runs between Port Hardy and Bella Coola. Many of the resource-based industries in the area are struggling, and tourism has become more and more im- portant to the local economy. In fact, one-third of local businesses rely on visitors who come by ferry. Th at is why provincial tourism associations are calling the cuts to ferry service in this budget a disaster. Th e ferries are an extension of the highways.

Inland ferries are treated as such, and the costs to run them are described as investments by this government. But there is a double standard when it comes to ferries on the coast. Here the operating costs paid for by taxpayers are labelled subsidies. In the government's twisted logic, highways cannot lose money; only ferries can. To add insult to injury, cancelling this ferry service will cost the province more in lost tax revenue than it would to subsidize the run. According to the Tourism Industry Association of B.C., the total provincial taxes generated by the route are almost $800,000, while B.C.

Ferries re- ports that it loses $725,000 on the route. Th e report goes on to note that every year the Discovery coast ferry brings in almost $6 million in revenue for the B.C. tourism industry, and 47 percent of tourist-dependent busi- nesses between Bella Coola and Williams Lake will likely go out of business if the summer ferry service from Port Hardy to Bella Coola is cancelled. Once we were "Super, natural B.C.," but I guess now we are supertanker B.C.

If the government had analyzed the impact of ferry services on the tourism sector and on its own bottom line, it would not have acted the way it did. [1520] In estimates last year when I asked the Minister for Tourism how many tourists ride the ferries, she was un- able to answer the question and said: "I don't have ac- cess to that information." Th is government claims to have made a hard decision when, in fact, it was an un- educated decision. Arts and culture. Th is budget also fails the arts and culture community.

Th ere is so much talk about grow- ing the economy from that side of the House, repeated so oft en that the meaning has been lost. How about cre- ating the economy? Once again this government is failing to capitalize on the enormous talents of B.C.'s 26,000 artists. Th e creative sector GDP is more than $4 billion annually. Between 2002 and 2007 the growth of this sector outpaced agri- culture, forestry, fi shing and hunting combined, yet in- vestment in arts and culture is fl atlined in this budget.

British Columbia Debates1524 Monday, February 24, 2014 Th is comes aft er years of harsh cuts and underfunding between 2009 and 2011. For example, there was a 40 percent cut to the B.C. Arts Council. Th e latest data I have access to from 2012 shows this government to be the lowest per-capita funder among all provinces in Canada. Arts groups have called for investment in B.C. Arts Council grant programs to be a minimum of $32 million in the 2014 budget, but this request was ignored once again.

Even this government's own Select Standing Committee on Finance, which I sat on, wholehearted- ly recommended additional funding to the B.C. Arts Council. Before the members opposite indulge with their usual heckled clichés about living within our means and so on, let me remind them that this government's own research has indicated that every dollar invested in the arts brings back $1.38. Th e members opposite only have to refer to an excel- lent document called Moving B.C.'s Creative Industries Forward.

It's a cross-sectoral approach to being educated on the need to embrace this sector for the sake of our economy. It's part of a creative and greener economy that we're all looking for. Investing in the arts is an investment that pays hand- some dividends, and just as importantly, the arts enrich our lives. Th e arts bring us joy and inspiration and can help us see the world in new ways. I call on the members opposite to recognize the remarkable creativity and po- tential of the arts and culture community. Th is government is in desperate need of new energy, new ideas and new ways of seeing old problems.

Th is budget is defi nitive evidence of that. So why not draw on the creative sector itself? Why not create a select stand- ing committee on arts, culture and the creative economy? We can give people who are experts in arts and culture direct access to the parliamentary process. Th e select s

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Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20140224pm-Hansard-v6n4
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Volume / chapter	20140224pm Hansard v6n4
Language	en
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