[ Page 7277 ]

CONTENTS

Ministerial Statement

Hotel evictions. Hon. Mr. Ritchie –– 7277

Mr. Blencoe

Oral Questions

Hotel evictions. Mr. Barnes –– 7278

Mr. Blencoe

Fishing fleet safety regulations. Mr. Gabelmann 7280

Tabling Documents –– 7280

Throne speech debate

Mr. Reynolds –– 7280

Mr. Passarell–– 7286

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1986

The House met at 2:05 p.m.

Prayers.

HON. MRS. McCARTHY: Mr. Speaker, I take pleasure today in introducing guests to our House who are all representatives of the British Columbia and Yukon Community Newspapers Association: Mr. Peter Speck, president of the association, is here with Mrs. Speck and daughter Patrice; Vic Swan, Sidney Review; Bryson Stone, Prince George Citizen; David Black, Williams Lake Tribune; Bill McGown, North Shore News, together with Mrs. McGown; John Arnett, Sooke Mirror; Joyce Carlson, Powell River News; Mr. Howard Mitchell, Northern Sentinel; Jim Schatz, Langley Advance; Mr. Brian McCristall, Peace Arch News and Surrey Leader; Mr. Dean Miller, the public relations counsel for the Newspapers Association, together with Mrs. Miller; Mr. Stanley Burke, Nanaimo Times; Mr. Bill Lam, Richmond News; and Mr. John Pifer of the Langley Times. I would ask the House to give a very warm welcome to these communicators.

MR. GABELMANN: Mr. Speaker, I have several introductions. There is a group in the gallery representing the United Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union. They are with the president of that union, Mr. Jack Nichol. Also in the gallery this afternoon, Mr. Speaker, is Glenyce Johnson, who is the widow of Gordon Johnson, the UFAWU member who was killed last year because of obsolete equipment in the fishing industry. I'd also like to introduce Josephine Leer, who is the mother of Allan Leer, who lost his life in that industry in the last little while. I'd like the House to make all of these people welcome.

MR. REYNOLDS: Mr. Speaker, I would like the House to welcome this afternoon the youngest lifetime member of the Social Credit Party. With us today is my son Christopher, who is eight months old. He is here with my wife Yvonne.

HON. MR. RITCHIE: I would like the House to welcome two ladies who are visiting with us today — my sister, Freda Munch, and my daughter, Laurna Harrington, who are accompanied by my executive assistant from the constituency, Christine Haley.

HON. R. FRASER: I'd like to introduce a very special lady from West Vancouver, Jone Brodie. Would the House please make her welcome.

MR. REID: I'd like to introduce the very special lady in my life, my wife Marion. She's also special to this place today — she's in your gallery.

HON. MRS. McCARTHY: Mr. Speaker, I would like to share with the House today the accomplishments of a young man who has been a guest and visitor to Victoria. Richard Beecroft has been cycling the world for the past three years and has visited 14 different countries, and he has accomplished all this while coping with multiple sclerosis. Richard has a very difficult balance problem, like many individuals who suffer from MS, and he rides a bicycle. He has done this to show other MS patients that they don't have to give up; that they can accomplish great things.

So today I would like to ask the House to join me in paying tribute to Richard Beecroft in his quest for a greater awareness on behalf of all multiple sclerosis patients.

HON. MR. RITCHIE: Mr. Speaker, I wish to make a ministerial statement.

MR. SPEAKER: Please proceed.

HOTEL EVICTIONS

HON. MR. RITCHIE: Mr. Speaker, members will be aware of the situation of hotel tenants in the city of Vancouver in recent weeks. They will also be aware of the corrective measures which the provincial government is taking in conjunction with the city of Vancouver social planning staff and other interest groups, including officials of Expo 86, so that no British Columbian will be without housing. I am pleased to advise that the matter is well in hand and surveys show a good supply of alternate housing. In addition, the British Columbia SAFER program is most effective and is a model for other jurisdictions.

Mr. Speaker, we can all be assured that Expo 86 will be of benefit to all British Columbians. However, in the course of my investigations into the issue, particularly as it relates to social housing, I have become aware of information which indicates in the strongest possible terms that aspects of the delivery of social housing in Vancouver are being subjected to shameful abuse. There are significant implications that should be investigated immediately. I've been made aware of the excessive costs of social housing, with units in the Fleck Building, for example, costing close to $100,000 per unit; and other projects costing in excess of $180,000 per unit. This is far beyond what the ordinary British Columbian can afford to pay for housing.

I've been made aware of vacant units in social housing being denied to those who need housing. I've been made aware of inadequate disclosure of financial arrangements, and the appearance of potential conflict of interest involving contractors, suppliers and community groups.

While the immediate situation affecting the people of Vancouver is in hand, I am concerned about the long-term impact of these issues on the supply of social housing for our people. I therefore submit that the whole scheme of social. housing in British Columbia, as it pertains to federal programs and local delivery, be the subject of an independent inquiry to determine the extent of these problems. In that regard I have asked my colleague the Hon. Jack Kempf, the Minister of Lands, Parks and Housing, to address this matter without delay. I am also suggesting he consider and clarify these matters prior to signing the pending federal-provincial housing agreement.

In closing I wish to make it very clear that the inquiry proposed is intended to ensure that social housing provides greater benefits to those truly in need.

[2:15]

MR. BLENCOE: It is unfortunate that this minister has decided to try to deflect this issue, which has become an international scandal. Mr. Speaker, the issue we have in Vancouver is one that is symbolic to democratic government and justice. What we have in Vancouver is a human story of

[ Page 7278 ]

immense proportions. It is a story that many people in responsible positions tried to bring to the attention of this government for a number of years, that if this government didn't show some competency in protecting the most disadvantaged, the poorest and some of the longest residents of the province of British Columbia, and some of the people with some of the longest war records.... This government has decided that they are expendable, that they can be put aside and no action can be taken.

Mr. Speaker, this issue requires leadership from the Premier's office. It requires the Premier of this province to tell the people of British Columbia that he no longer wants international shame poured on this province, that he is prepared to clear this up and deal with the issue effectively and cleanly in the interests of all those people who are in trouble in that area.

Mr. Speaker, British Columbians are deeply offended by what is happening in Vancouver. This issue is bringing shame on our province. It's bringing heartbreak to those seniors, the disadvantaged, and it has the ultimate potential to be the sad legacy of Expo 86, which we all know has to be a success. This could be the legacy.

Government has to be sensitive. It has to care, and this total lack of compassion for some of the oldest British Columbians, in a neighbourhood that has pride and dignity and integrity, requires fairness and justice. And it requires action, immediately. The minister is trying to defuse the issue. This issue is not politics; it's not partisanship. It is justice for those people who are in trouble. The Premier of this province should take action to recommend to his cabinet that those people be allowed to stay in their homes. This neighbourhood is their home, and if there is anything fundamental that could symbolize what this government has come to represent in the last few years in the province of British Columbia, it is this very act that is happening in Vancouver today. You are turning, you are spurning, you are throwing out people that are entitled to better treatment.

AN HON. MEMBER: Expo.

MR. BLENCOE: Expo, yes, Mr. Speaker, but not at the expense of the homes of some of the most disadvantaged people of our society and of this province. Not at that expense.

People in this province — and you ask all members in this House — are speaking up on this issue, and they want to return to justice and fairness. They want this issue cleaned up, and they want this symbol that stands against Expo removed. Mr. Speaker, we want action.

Oral Questions

HOTEL EVICTIONS

MR. BARNES: Mr. Speaker, I want to address a question to the Premier. I had intended to preamble my question differently, but in light of the statement by the Minister of Municipal Affairs (Hon. Mr. Ritchie) and the response by the critic, I'll just get to the point and ask the Premier: in light of the devastating and debilitating effects that the evictions are having on long-term residents in hotels in the downtown east side, to the extent that the chief medical officer of the city of Vancouver has ordered his staff to investigate the claims and concerns that people's health is at risk, will the Premier himself personally investigate to determine that none of these frail, aged senior citizens, pensioners, people on social assistance or people without means to fend for themselves is being abused by owners of hotels, who have for years escaped their responsibility to their tenants because they are covered under an innkeepers' act which exempts them from the responsibilities of residential tenancy operators? Will he ensure that these people have the same rights, the same protection, as do people in normal residency in this province, and go down and investigate himself?

HON. MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, nobody is more concerned for those tenants, not only as has been brought to light with the holding of Expo and tenants being asked to move as hotels respond to both other opportunities and upgrading.... That's why the Minister of Municipal Affairs very quickly moved in on my behalf and this government's, but really on the people's behalf, in partnership with the city of Vancouver and others who are concerned, to resolve the problem.

The problem is not going to be just Expo. It's going to be social housing for people at all times — how it's delivered and whether all the available units really are being offered to those most in need. I think one of the concerns, without elaborating on the minister — and I believe probably the minister should rise in response to your question as well, as he covered this — that he expressed was that units that are available now were not made available to those people. Quite frankly, it concerns me that those most in need may not be the ones who are getting an opportunity to stay in social housing, which the public quite rightly expects from their tax dollars to be offered first to them.

Therefore that is one of the reasons I'm glad to respond to the question: "Will the Premier investigate?" Yes, the minister has announced the independent inquiry that he's seeking from the Minister of Lands, Parks and Housing — to name an inquirer to do this very thing, to look not only at this but really on behalf of all disadvantaged people at all times, starting with the conditions outlined that the Minister of Municipal Affairs found in that delivery within the city of Vancouver.

MR. BARNES: I appreciate the Premier's response. Is the Premier saying that the Minister of Municipal Affairs will, on his behalf, personally be escorted by me throughout the downtown east side to investigate the serious impact that these evictions are having on the people of the province of British Columbia?

HON. MR. BENNETT: No, I'm not saying that I wanted a political visit. What I said is that I wanted the type of independent inquiry that would get to resolving the problem. While I know you are concerned and that's adjacent to your constituency and you're willing to do that within your constituency and on its borders, quite frankly we've moved beyond that. We're already in the stage where we want not only to have dealt with the immediacy of this problem — which the minister has tried to do in conjunction with those who want to resolve the problem — but to move the step further into the type of inquiries talked about.

So no, I didn't say yes, we'd have a political walkthrough. What I said is that we really have moved beyond that process. The minister has been there; he's visited the area; he's dealt with meetings with the mayor of Vancouver and Expo and others, and therefore he has announced this further

[ Page 7279 ]

concern that he found in the delivery of social housing, and he wants to make sure that we resolve it. Not just because this may recur prior to Expo; it may recur at any time, and it may mean that a lot of taxpayers' dollars that have gone into social housing that is available aren't meeting the need of the most needy of our people. That is why we want to get an immediate answer to this problem.

MR. BARNES: Well, I'm not sure if we're getting very far, Mr. Speaker, because what I'm really trying to address to the Premier and to this House is that this is an emergency. There are concerns. I appreciate the need for social housing in the future, but I think that on the basis of this government's reputation, we all know full well that it is contrary to this government's policy to invest in social housing. We know that. So, Mr. Speaker, I'm asking the Premier: will he respond to the concerns of the medical officer of the city of Vancouver that health may be in danger, that people's homes are being upset, that people are being displaced at that age who do not have the resources to defend themselves? Their health, their future, their lives in fact are at risk. That is the urgent situation that we are dealing with. We're talking about today; people are being turfed out right now. That what I think we should be addressing in this Legislature.

HON. MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, I take offence at that member's remarks that this government doesn't care about the concerns of those people. Quite frankly, the most enlightened program for helping our disadvantaged — and particularly the seniors — has been the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters, which does not put thousands of dollars to contractors or bricks and mortar, but assists the rental accommodation of those most in need in this province. That member should be ashamed — one of the most fair-minded members — for saying that about this government. That program was brought in by this government. It is the most effective assistance to those most in need in this province.

I want to tell that member, who has always been fair, that I resent that part of his statements, and so does any fair-minded person. I know that the member, on reflection, will want to modify that. He may be encouraged by some of his members to take a difficult situation and make it inflammatory, but that's never been the style of the member for Vancouver Centre, and that's quite frankly why I raise this fair assessment of how we've tried to deal with people.

It is immediate. And what the minister has said is that he has identified now, for any emergency, social housing that's empty and vacant in Vancouver that is not being made available to these people, and he's said he wants to get the answers and know why they have not been accommodated in accommodation that costs up to, in some cases, around $100,000 per unit, and why they aren't allowed to be in that accommodation...

MR. WILLIAMS: It hasn't been built yet.

HON. MR. BENNETT: ...or to be considered for others.

MR. WILLIAMS: You don't even know.

HON. MR. BENNETT: My friend from Vancouver East...

Interjections.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please.

HON. MR. BENNETT: ...when it comes to not knowing, you have a record of poor research that spans many years in this province. You've been wrong so many times.... Mr. Speaker, that member doesn't know up from down, right.... Oh, yes, he knows left from right, but he's....

Interjections.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please.

Interjections.

[2:30]

[Mr. Speaker rose.]

MR. SPEAKER: Hon. members, order, please.

Hon. members, clearly, when we digress from the intent of question period and we begin argumentation and debate, we can expect question period to evolve to this process. Now I would ask members again to remember the purpose of question period, which is to ask questions and to elicit answers. We can keep the debate for another forum.

[Mr. Speaker resumed his seat. ]

HON. MR. BENNETT: Apparently the member for Vancouver East, who is speaking from his seat, knows about the Fleck Building and doesn't know about other social housing within Vancouver that's being looked at as part of this inquiry. Quite frankly, once again. he has a single area of discussion which, rather than debate, he shouts from his seat. I'm answering the member for Vancouver Centre.

We are concerned. That was an emergency. The minister has been there. We are taking action. He has announced further action to make sure that we identify all the areas so that we can act quickly. He's going to set means in place by which that can be done. I want you to know that that is the purpose of the minister's statement. We're looking for answers. We've seen the questions. We've seen the situation, and it does not all relate to Expo. It relates to whether this housing is made available to those most in need and where money can best be spent. Quite frankly, the member for Vancouver Centre has helped me raise a point. Programs like SAFER help people more by giving them money directly to keep them in their homes than by expensive bricks and mortar. And we want to help people first.

MR. BARNES: The simple question is: will the Premier or his designate — or any single member on that side of the House — accompany me to the downtown east side to investigate personally...? Not at arm's length or this so-called impartial stuff you're talking about. We're talking about people's lives and those communities that are being disrupted. We're talking about an emergency situation. Is there anyone on that side of the House who is willing to go down there personally, in a hands-on way. and find out what's going on down there?

MR. BLENCOE: I have a question for the real minister in charge of consumer and corporate affairs and residential

[ Page 7280 ]

tenancy. I'd like to ask that minister whether he is prepared to bring in regulations providing for protection of residential tenancy laws to long-term residents in hotels, and specifically the issue in Vancouver?

MR. SPEAKER: Future action, hon. member, requiring legislation is not in order in question period.

MR. BLENCOE: I have a new question. Has the minister decided to consider this situation and bring before this House actions that would take care of the evictions in Vancouver?

MR. SPEAKER: That's a similar question, hon. member. However, the minister might wish to respond.

Interjections.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please.

MR. BLENCOE: I contend that that minister who is responsible for this act is scared to answer this question.

Interjections.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please, hon. members.

HON. MR. VEITCH: I am prepared to answer any question relating to a responsibility of this ministry at any time. But perhaps it would be incumbent upon someone to teach that member the rules of this House. His question was clearly out of order.

FISHING FLEET SAFETY REGULATIONS

MR. GABELMANN: I want to change the topic. I want to ask the Minister of Labour a question. Workers' compensation regulations now apply to the B.C. ferries, which are under federal jurisdiction.

B.C. has for some years accepted financial responsibility for fishing industry accidents, through the WCB. In the past ten years just over 100 fishermen have died, five of them this year alone. My question to the minister is this: how many more fishermen have to die before the minister will bring in safety regulations for the fishing fleet?

HON. MR. SEGARTY: Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for North Island for his question. I had a meeting with the representatives of the fishermen's union today, and that very topic was brought up for discussion. I will say to the member for North Island what I said to them at that time. In British Columbia we have the toughest regulations in Canada governing drinking and driving. Nobody likes it when people go out and get hurt or get injured or get drowned or whatever the case may be. When somebody goes out and gets into a car, knowing that they're in violation of the law, knowing that they're in violation of existing regulations.... What I'm saying is that people have to take some responsibility for their own health and their own welfare in British Columbia, and indeed, throughout the country.

Interjections.

HON. MR. SEGARTY: I feel indeed sorry for anybody who's involved in that type of situation, but quite clearly the government of British Columbia or the Workers' Compensation Board, according to the legal opinion that we have received to date, does not have jurisdiction in that particular area.

The member talked about the B.C. Ferry Corporation. I would expect a Crown corporation of the government of British Columbia to comply with the regulations of a Crown corporation of the province of British Columbia, namely the Workers' Compensation Board, in dealing with industrial health and safety regulations on our own ferry fleet.

MR. SPEAKER: Hon. members, on the desks of members is a green-bound book, the Standing Orders of the Legislature. This might be an appropriate time for members to once again familiarize themselves with the contents.

Hon. Mr. Curtis tabled the Ministry of Finance annual report for the year ending 1984; the statement of certificates served and issued under the Crown Proceeding Act as required by section 15 of that act; and the 1985 Assessment Appeal Board report as required under section 66 of the Assessment Act.

MR. LAUK: On a point of order, with respect to the ruling of Mr. Speaker during the questioning of one of the ministers during question period by the hon. second member for Victoria (Mr. Blencoe).

The second member for Victoria did rephrase his question to say: "Has the minister decided on action with respect to the evictees in the downtown east side?" That has been historically a question in order. The first question was clearly a question, "Is the minister planning something?" and was out of order. But the member rephrased his question. I would submit that that second question was in order.

MR. SPEAKER: I will review the Blues, hon. member.

Hon. Mr. Nielsen tabled the thirteenth annual report, for 1985, of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia.

Orders of the Day

SPEECH FROM THE THRONE

MR. REYNOLDS: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. member for Atlin (Mr. Passarell): "That we, Her Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in session assembled, beg leave to thank Your Honour for the gracious speech which Your Honour has addressed to us at the opening of the present session."

Mr. Speaker, it certainly is a pleasure to be back here in the Legislature after a number of months of travelling around the province of British Columbia listening to the people of British Columbia tell me their thoughts of what is happening here in the Legislature and what is happening in our province.

One overwhelming message that came across from the people that I was talking to was: "How do you put up with the gloom-and-doom people from the other side? Don't they ever see anything positive happening in British Columbia?"

Mr. Speaker, that not only came from supporters of our party, but from supporters of their party. They're looking for some more positive action from their party. Even members of their own party, with the announcement of Mayor Harcourt

[ Page 7281 ]

running in Vancouver Centre, see a challenge to the present leadership of the NDP.

We see resignations of their members, who say: "We're not going to run in the next election." Mr. Speaker, over half their front bench won't be back again; over half the back bench here won't be back again. Why is that, Mr. Speaker? That isn't because the electorate defeated them. It's because of the leadership of the NDP right now and the way it stands. The most disappointed member was the second member for Vancouver East when he heard that the mayor of Vancouver was running next time, because he thought he had the leadership after the next election.

Can't you see the battle, Mr. Speaker, the gloom and doom after the next election when they come back here in decimated numbers and we've got three leaders, the second member for Vancouver East, the Leader of the Opposition — and that's if they get re-elected — and the mayor of Vancouver.

Mr. Speaker, all the people of British Columbia are talking about Expo. Everybody in this province is positive about Expo. Mr. Speaker, the SkyTrain, what a tremendous success. We could go on and on, list all the positive things that this government has done, but let's look at what is part of the problem in this province, the gloom-and-doom boys who change their mind all the time. Who was against the SkyTrain? The gloom-and-doom boys. Who was against Expo? Those who are now saying they are in favour of it, those who will get up in this House and support the activities of a Jim Green, the anti-American who threatens to get out and picket people at Expo and keep them off the site — the anti-everything, that's who they support. They want to try to ride to power on the backs of the poor. That's what the gloom-and-doom people do. They don't look at the positive things that could happen in the province. They don't support the positive things that happen in the province. They try to ride to power on the backs of the poor and the unfortunate in this province with the support of people like Jim Green.

Mr. Speaker, let's go back a few years when the Premier of this province had an idea. That idea was Expo 86. It was called Transpo 86 at the time. It was an idea of something that would build this province, lead us into a new generation of prosperity.

Mr. Speaker, 54 nations are coming; that's right, one more announced yesterday. That's 80 pavilions, 81 now with the other one coming as announced yesterday. But what did one of the people who wants to run for the NDP in the next election, a man who aspires to be leader of this province say about that idea when the Premier proposed it? What did he say? Let me read you a telegram. It says:

DEAR MR. REID AND FELLOW COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF THE BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITIONS. PLEASE STOP PLANS FOR TRANSPO 86 ON THE NORTH SIDE OF FALSE CREEK IN DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER. MOST VANCOUVER CITIZENS DO NOT WANT TRANSPO 86 TO PROCEED ON THIS SITE. INSTEAD FIVE OUT OF TEN ALDERMEN, TWENTY SIX OUT OF FIFTY SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA...

The NDP members, Mr. Speaker

...A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CONCERNED VANCOUVERITES AND MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA FEEL THAT HOUSING, PUBLIC AMENITIES AND TRANSPORTATION SHOULD RECEIVE GREATER PRIORITY. A LETTER DATED JUNE 5 IS ON ITS WAY TO YOU WITH BACKUP MATERIAL. DO NOT MAKE A DECISION UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THAT MATERIAL AND HAVE INVESTIGATED FURTHER. MICHAEL HARCOURT, ALDERMAN, CITY OF VANCOUVER.

Mr. Speaker, you can understand now why members of this NDP caucus are announcing they're not running in the next election. They're embarrassed over this type of switch. Here's a man who wants to run in Vancouver Centre, who is now saying Expo is the greatest thing in the world. This is his telegram; he can't deny it.

The second member for Vancouver Centre (Mr. Lauk) has announced he's not running again in the next election. That's unfortunate. He's served this province very well. But I've got a feeling that he's done it for a reason. His friend Mikey wants to run, so he's opening up a safe seat for him. The mayor has run twice before and never been elected; now he's trying to get a safer seat. But it wouldn't even surprise me, when they get into that great leadership battle after the next election, if we see that second member for Vancouver Centre try to get back in this House with changed leadership in the NDP.

[2:45]

AN. HON. MEMBER: John, be positive.

MR. REYNOLDS: Mr. Speaker, I want to be positive. I'm just trying to point out to the member for Coquitlam-Moody (Mr. Rose) what the problem is with this province, with his party. But they can't be positive. They knock everything. They're the doom-and-gloom boys. They're against Expo but then when Expo is successful they're saying: "But what's happening after Expo?" They can't be positive. The Leader of the Opposition....

AN. HON. MEMBER: You're the perennial backbencher.

MR. REYNOLDS: And I love it. Unfortunately, the Leader of the Opposition should have stayed there himself, because he certainly knows how to put his foot in his mouth as Leader of the Opposition. I remember the second-last day of the last session. The Leader of the Opposition was up there, trying to get his questions at the Premier, and what slipped out of his mouth about the circus in Vancouver? "People don't want a circus in Vancouver." That's the Leader of the Opposition. He puts his foot in his mouth; he's the clown in this province; and the people are going to show him in the next election.

Let's talk about the NDP in this province and the little game they played with the New Democrats in Manitoba. I think it's really unfortunate that Manitoba is not coming to Expo — the only western province that's not going to be there. They were going to come until the local NDP got together with them and said: "Hey, you could embarrass our government by opting out of this thing." They came out with a few figures and said, oh, they just couldn't afford it; other things were more important. They spouted the NDP-in-British-Columbia line and forced their colleagues out of Expo.

I think that's so unfortunate. The president of my constituency association is in charge of the Manitoba Days taking place in the Pacific Coliseum. It holds 10,000 people; they're going to be sold out. You won't be able to get a ticket. Those are Manitobans who now live here in British Columbia, plus those who will be visiting here. Manitobans want to be in Expo, but their government won't allow them to be in Expo.

[ Page 7282 ]

Politics is their game. They don't think of the good of the people of British Columbia, the good of the people in Manitoba, the good of all Canadians. The NDP, the doom-and-gloom boys, play politics even with Expo and another province that wanted to attend, and I think that's a shame. I think that British Columbians should get on the phone this weekend and phone everyone they know in Manitoba and tell them that they're welcome to come to British Columbia, tell their government that we want them here.

Politics should not be used in the manner that the NDP in this province have used it. They've been against every turn, every curve, at Expo. But they can't stop the success; it will be the most successful world's fair that we've seen in the history of this continent. More countries are attending than have ever attended a world's fair before. The three major countries of the world have pavilions. But the NDP opposed it, opposed it, opposed it. They can't stop it now, so they're saying: "It's fine. We'll go along with it. But we'll pick on other issues to try to sideline this Expo thing because it's so popular with the people."

MR. SKELLY: Call for an election now.

MR. REYNOLDS: The Leader of the Opposition says: "Call for an election." You know, he's wrong about so many things. He said there was going to be an election in the spring. He knew there was going to be an election every time you saw him on TV. This government was going in the spring; he saw it. And then when we weren't going in the spring, what was his answer? "Oh, they were afraid to have an election."

This party has never been afraid to have an election. I'll save all the years you've lost for the member for Point Grey when he gets up and does his annual speech. This party is not afraid to have an election. We're going to enjoy the next election because the thing that this government is doing for the province of British Columbia is building a stronger province, and the people of this province are seeing that as the months and weeks go by.

They're not in favour of the negative doom and gloom of the Leader of the Opposition and that image he's trying to portray within his party that has forced close to half of his city members to announce that they won't be running in the next election.

I think it might be interesting, while we're talking about Expo and the Leader of the Opposition, to quote some of the things he's said since being Leader of the Opposition and see how he changes his mind. He talks about many things. I remember that great trip he took to Australia. He was going to solve all of British Columbia's problems in Australia.

MR. REID: He went to France first.

MR. REYNOLDS: He went to Nicaragua too. He goes to a lot of different places.

But he went to Australia to solve our problems, and came back and told us that he could bring labour peace to the province if he put things into place. He didn't want to tell the people that we've had the most peaceful labour province in North America over the last three years of Social Credit government. That didn't seem to mean anything to him. What he didn't tell the people is that right now Australia has 19 percent interest rates. If you implement the plan that the Leader of the Opposition wants to implement, we'd have 19 percent interest rates in British Columbia also. You can't relate a country to a province, but that's the game they play. It's doom and gloom.

On the Webster program this morning, the Leader of the Opposition made a number of comments. He said the lack of upgrading of our communities is causing us to lose companies to areas such as Montreal. I've lived in this province for 23 years, but I lived the first part of my life in the city of Montreal. I can remember growing up there. I can also remember going back there just before the Olympics. He talks about the upgrading of communities, the quality of life. I remember being on a housing committee in the House of Commons and travelling to Montreal just prior to the Olympics, and within sight of the Olympics lived over 100,000 people who didn't have toilet facilities in their apartments. The total sewage on the island of Montreal goes into the St. Lawrence River. And this morning the Leader of the Opposition gets on a television program that goes around this province and talks about the upgrading of communities and the fact that we're losing business to Montreal!

He's sort of wincing right now. Read your comments. I've got them typed, right off your own words. That's one of your problems — you say things and you don't remember them later on. But the people of this province will remember. The people who have moved out to this province from Montreal and Quebec, and the people who will visit this province this summer from Montreal and the rest of the province of Quebec, will see that this is the most beautiful province in all of Canada; that this province has services second to none in Canada. You may fool some of your supporters, but you can't fool all of the people of this province.

The Leader of the Opposition also said this morning that he'd like to see legislation to protect the rights of people. Well, Mr. Speaker, today we heard the Minister of Municipal Affairs announce his inquiry. I think that's a very positive manner to go after some of the serious housing problems taking place in that area.

If the Leader of the Opposition and his future colleague, the mayor of Vancouver, and other people in that area, were serious about the problems of the poor people, and didn't just want to try and ride to power on their backs and abuse these poor and unfortunate people, wouldn't the mayor of Vancouver have solved this problem a long time ago? He's the mayor of the city of Vancouver. He has the powers to look into this issue and solve some of the problems.

I wonder if the first member for Vancouver Centre (Mr. Barnes) has been to visit the new DEEDS social centre, which is operating in the downtown east side area. Its phone number is listed in the paper: 689-9536. It's a shelter-crisis line operated by some of the hotel owners and businessmen in the downtown east side who don't agree with the politics of Mr. Jim Green. They're not anti-American; they're pro-people; they want to assist people. But we don't see Mayor Harcourt or the Leader of the Opposition.... We see them saying: "Come and take a walk through the area so that the media can follow us around." They don't want to talk to the people at this shelter-crisis line. They don't want to assist them. These are business people — free-enterprisers — who are just as concerned about the poor and unfortunate as everyone in this House.

Being an NDPer doesn't give you some sort of privilege to help the poor. It's the policies of free-enterprise governments in North America that have given our poor the best standard of living in the world. It's so easy to complain. Nobody likes to see someone moved out of their home, but

[ Page 7283 ]

we shouldn't play politics with it. We should work to assist those people, to help them.

The Leader of the Opposition also talked this morning about conflict-of-interest legislation. I quote him: "The conflict of interest problems are with the Social Credit members. We will have to wait and see what new legislation produces." That statement surprised me. I've looked at this disclosure situation very closely, as I'm sure all members of the House have, because twice a year we all must file our disclosure forms. I don't think even the Leader of the Opposition would suggest that any member elected to this Legislature would try to hide something by not putting it on a disclosure form. They're there for the public to look at.

What's his solution to the problem? Is it the Manitoba solution? Looking through the different ones across Canada and the States, theirs had to be the funniest of all. You put in your disclosures, but then nobody can look at them — only the Clerk of the Legislature. They're not open to the public. What could be more open than the types of disclosure that we have here in British Columbia, where every member files what he owns? I'm sure there may be some changes that we can debate in this House during the next session, and I'm sure we'll have a clean and open debate on that. But, Mr. Speaker, I had to listen to the Leader of the Opposition, when this House wasn't sitting, talk about members of my party who should resign because they had a few shares in a company that supported British Columbia.

MR. SKELLY: Which party is that?

MR. REYNOLDS: The Social Credit Party, in case the Leader of the Opposition doesn't remember. He doesn't remember what he's said, you see; that's the problem he has. He makes statements one day, and forgets that he makes them. But he wanted the Minister of Finance (Hon. Mr. Curtis) to resign. He wanted the minister of something else to resign and.... But, Mr. Speaker, does he look back at what his own party did when they were in power? I did. I went into the Clerk's office and said: "Give me all the material so I can have a look at it." And I did. I found some very strange things. Nothing illegal.

AN HON. MEMBER: Just strange.

MR. REYNOLDS: Just strange. Strange, when I saw them, because of what I'd listened to from the Leader of the Opposition. I saw over 50 percent of the cabinet ministers in the NDP government holding shares in co-ops and credit unions; yet they passed legislation that favoured credit unions. Now I would suggest that there's nothing that they've seen on the other side right now that would compare to that.

AN HON. MEMBER: Hear, hear! They all stood to make a profit.

MR. REYNOLDS: He said: "They all stood to make a profit."

Mr. Speaker, are you accusing — the Leader of the Opposition; I'm asking him — any member of this House of making a profit that is not declared on these disclosure forms? I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, that he would like to indicate that to the public. He'll say that in the NDP meetings, but he wouldn't dare say it in front of a camera or in this House.

If you go back through the declarations of the NDP cabinet, they have companies in there.... They talked, and some of our members when we filled in.... Holding companies. One member had some stock in a company called Beban Holdings Ltd., D.R.A. Holdings Ltd....

AN HON. MEMBER: Is that Bevan?

MR. REYNOLDS: Beban. I don't know how you pronounce it.

Mr. Speaker, many of their members held shares in companies that were holding companies.

[3:00]

AN HON. MEMBER: NDP members?

MR. REYNOLDS: NDP members, Mr. Speaker. I would suggest that the NDP like to jump on the bandwagon on something, but they don't want to go back. I guess they were in power such a short period of time that maybe the Leader of the Opposition forgot that they'd been in power that period of time, and what had they done.

AN HON. MEMBER: Oh, but they've divested.

MR. REYNOLDS: No, they haven't divested. They have members who have holdings, and I see nothing wrong with that. Every member in this House files his form and puts out what he owns. I guess if you own nothing it's very simple to do, and if you're wealthy you've got to put it all down there. Your constituents know that, when they elect you, because you fill in the same form when you file to run in this House, and it's open to the media and open to the public. It's an open system, Mr. Speaker. I would suggest that the Leader of the Opposition should be careful when he talks about conflicts of interest. He has members in his own party who have shares in the Bank of British Columbia. Does that preclude them from making comments about the Bank of British Columbia? He has members in his party who have shares in different forestry companies: B.C. Forest Products, BCRIC, Doman Industries. I think it's a positive thing that members of the opposition — especially the second member for Vancouver East (Mr. Williams), who knocks the forest industry so much — have caucus members who have shares in the forestry companies.

AN HON. MEMBERS: It's confusing.

MR. REYNOLDS: It is confusing. It must be confusing to the public, when they want to pick on a minister in our government who has some shares supporting the province of British Columbia. But they do it. They did it when they were in power. So let's see what they would like. Why doesn't the Leader of the Opposition, when he came out last year with his...? Wasn't it the alternate budget? Why isn't he putting up an alternate program right now, before the government does, to let us know what they think we should be doing in this area?

Interjections.

MR. REYNOLDS: It's pretty tough, Mr. Speaker. I've got some people here, but they're all resigning anyway, the ones who are left in here, so it won't matter too much.

[ Page 7284 ]

Also, when you listen to the Leader of the Opposition and the different topics that he brings up, he was quoted in the Times-Colonist on May 18, 1985....

Interjection.

MR. REYNOLDS: Certainly.

He said: "Tell me one major democracy in the world today that didn't begin with defiance of the law, because the principle of democracy is not simply respect for the law. It is based on respect for the law, but not blind obedience to bad laws." Mr. Speaker, I suggest to you that that's not the kind of talk we need going around this province from a leader of a party which would pretend that they could become the government of this province. I would suggest to the Leader of the Opposition that that's why he's being challenged by the mayor of Vancouver in running in the next election — because of those types of statements. That's why the big battle will be on between him and the second member for Vancouver East (Mr. Williams) after the next election.

Mr. Speaker, let's go back and look at some of the situations in his party. I mentioned some of the things the second member for Vancouver East said. The Leader of the Opposition has been talking about native land claims and his position in that area. That's an important topic, Mr. Speaker, because he has made it very plain that he'd give the House away.

Let me quote what some of his party members said the last time they were in power, when they were sitting on the side of the House that laid the laws down in this province. This was on May 21, 1975. It's a question from Gordon Gibson — then a Liberal in the House, I understand — to the Minister of Human Resources. He says:

Mr. Speaker, I think the late June meeting he was discussing earlier on relates particularly to cutoff lands. But I'd ask him a question on the more general case of the so-called B.C. land question. Since the NDP convention adopted a resolution for the immediate joining of the provincial government to the negotiations between the Indian people and Ottawa, is this now government policy?

The NDP minister at the time, Mr. Levi, announced: "No, it's NDP policy."

What it meant, Mr. Speaker, was that the NDP say one thing when they're in opposition, but when they're in power, they change their minds. The doom-and-gloom boys will say anything to get there, but once they get there, it's tough.

I relate to all these things because of the positive things that were in the throne speech. The members of this House, Mr. Speaker, who have been touring across the province over the last few months have gotten great coverage, and they have positive vibrations back from their constituents. We're here to have some positive debate. We'd like to get it from the NDP, but under their new leader it's all negative.

Let me quote what the second member for Vancouver East said when they were debating native people. On May 2, 1974, he said: "B.C. Indian leaders are harassing the majority of the population in order to achieve their objectives. The government will not accept that. We will not be harassed." That's the second member for Vancouver East, a cabinet member in the NDP government. They would not be harassed by the native people; they would not be harassed by a minority group. That's what they say when they're in government, Mr. Speaker. What's the Leader of the Opposition saying now?

Another quote from the same member for Vancouver East, Mr. Speaker: "Do minority groups have the right to harass the majority to the extent these people suggest?" He said: "I think not." Mr. Speaker, this is a good example of what happens when they're in opposition. The Leader of the Opposition will say one thing now. It's disagreed on by numbers of members in his caucus. Some of them take the positive way out. They announce that they're not running in the next election. Some of them have other problems, like the member for Coquitlam-Moody (Mr. Rose), who is being challenged by someone on the leader's side. He is a man who has served his country federally as well as provincially, a very reasonable man and a good debater in this House, as well as a good debater when he was in Ottawa. But the Leader of the Opposition doesn't want him, so he puts one of his boys in to fight him for the nomination.

Mr. Speaker, I hope the people in that party will overrule their leader and make sure that that member gets a chance, at least, to seek re-election. I'm not sure what his chances are, but at least he should have a chance to seek re-election after the service he has given to his country and to the people of this province.

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition talked about economic development and how this government had only placed it all at Expo and in no other places around the province. I had the opportunity to do a little research and look into the different projects that this government has assisted industry in starting around this province. These are not government projects, Mr. Speaker; these are private enterprise projects. I'm sure that the Leader of the Opposition, when he gets his research department adding up the dollars that we're spending and looks at the government spending estimates, will find that not all the money of this government is going into the lower mainland. It is being well spread around British Columbia.

It's unfortunate that the second member for Victoria (Mr. Blencoe) isn't here, because he complains a lot about everything that we do. In the city of Victoria we have the Original New York Seltzer of Canada Ltd. — 35 local jobs, and 35 across Canada. We have the Victoria convention centre — 600 construction jobs and 400 operating jobs that this government has announced. We have the Songhees project, Mr. Speaker, that we know will be announced in the very near future, with another few hundred jobs there. I could go on and on. There are pages of new jobs in Victoria. Certainly we would all like it better, but we are in a province with markets for its natural resources being down in the world, and it's taking a little longer to come back in those areas. But because of the foresight of this government, and the foresight of the Premier in bringing Expo to British Columbia, we're building our tourism business a lot faster than it would have been built. Victoria will benefit immensely from that, as will the rest of the province when those millions of people come here for Expo.

Mr. Speaker, I would suggest to the Leader of the Opposition that he take some time to sit down. If he just phoned our research office and asked, we'd supply him with the list of new industries in British Columbia. I have pages and pages of them. I could go to every region of the province and name industries that are helping us grow: the Fernie Snow Valley Ski Ltd. In Fernie employs 96; the CPR car repair shop in Golden supplies 100 full-time jobs and 300 person-years of construction; Westmin Resources Ltd. near Campbell River — 631 jobs, an increase of 331 from 1985; Brenda Mines

[ Page 7285 ]

Ltd.,400 jobs restored by Art Phillips, our commissioner; Noranda Mines, 230 jobs restored; Byron Creek Collieries Ltd. In Fernie — 250 jobs and $50 million. These are industries that not only supply jobs in the plant, but add on all the service jobs that go with it. We're rebuilding British Columbia, Mr. Speaker, with positive policies.

The Mascot gold-mine in Hedley, $43 million and 142 jobs; Serem Inc. in the Toodoggone area near Smithers — the first gold-mine in that area, but once the road is in, there will be major work in there this spring by hundreds of British Columbia companies spending money raised in British Columbia to find mines in British Columbia; Tackama Forest Products in Fort Nelson,100 jobs; Smallwood Lumber in Salmo, 47 jobs; Canaspen Manufacturing Ltd. In Prince George, 107 jobs; Louisiana-Pacific Corp. waferboard plant in Dawson Creek, 125 jobs in the mill and 275 in harvesting. As I said, I could go on and on. These industries are all over this province because of the good work done by the Social Credit government of British Columbia.

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition talked about an election. This party is prepared for an election, but an election is not due yet. We were elected last time with a good majority to run the province. We're doing that. Why doesn't the Leader of the Opposition forget about his election and worry about getting the job done in the province of British Columbia?

MR. REID: He should quit spending his money in Australia.

MR. REYNOLDS: He shouldn't worry about what the Australians are doing, what they're doing in Nicaragua, what the Americans are doing with their nuclear bombs somewhere else in the world, but worry about building British Columbia, welcoming people to Expo and sitting in the Legislature. Here we are, the first day, and two members.... I know I may not be that exciting to listen to, Mr. Speaker, but my goodness, they have to do their job. I've got to listen to them; they should have to listen to me. We're here — cabinet ministers too — to do business. But where's the NDP? It's shameful! And both the members sitting here are not running in the next election. So it's hard to explain. How do you deal with a party like that? It's the doom-and-gloom boys, or the doom boys and the gloomy girls — I don't know which way you put it.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to finish up by talking about some of the positive things that this government has done in my constituency. These are related to the throne speech because all the things that we've announced in the throne speech are being done all over this province. In my constituency, starting from the northern end — not quite the most northern end, but Pemberton — we're building a new airport. The runways are in. We're putting in the most modern radar system in the world, which was developed in the eastern part of Canada; it's one of the top radar systems in the world. We'll have Air B.C. flying in there this fall on regularly scheduled flights. The Pemberton airport will be servicing Whistler with up to four flights a day out of Seattle and Vancouver — a great tourism boon to that area. We will probably also increase the industrial base, because you will now be able to fly directly in there and not have to drive the one hour and 45 minutes or two hours it takes.

The Minister of Lands, Parks and Housing has given them land in the Pemberton area to develop another golf course because tourism in that area is expanding so fast, especially with the excellent golf course we built at Whistler. They're building another golf course at Whistler because tourism is booming in that area. It's booming because this government is working with the people of that area to bring tourists to that area, to bring industry to the area, and it's working.

Talking of Whistler — and this is a plug for those of you who don't know yet — the world championship in downhill skiing is in Whistler this weekend: Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This member will be there for the weekend. Even members of the opposition will be welcome to my room. I'll show them around. It's one of the greatest ski developments in the world. It isn't just Socreds who say that. Go and talk to the people from Europe. Go and talk to the Americans who come to Whistler. They will tell you it is the finest ski resort in the world right now — and it's growing, it's full. It's vibrant; it's full of positive people who don't understand the doom and gloom we're getting from the other side of this House.

We're building a new hospital in Whistler. We're actually going to the official opening there next Tuesday or Wednesday. Highway 99 is being widened to four lanes. That's a highway that people didn't think we could do the job on, but our great Minister of Transportation and Highways (Hon. A. Fraser) said: "We'll get that highway through. We'll build it. We'll have a four-lane highway going up there so that tourists will be able to get to that area and have access to it. And the people who live in Squamish and want to work in the lower mainland won't have to worry about the slides and the two-lane highway anymore." That job is being done, and it's being completed a lot quicker than we thought it would be.

[3:15]

Downtown revitalization was another item in the throne speech. The Minister of Municipal Affairs (Hon. Mr. Ritchie) is here. West Vancouver has just completed their first phase of downtown revitalization. The minister just allocated the money a couple of days ago for the Horseshoe Bay area. The ferry coming into the terminal from Vancouver Island.... When all these tourists coming this summer get off at Horseshoe Bay, they're going to see Partners in Enterprise when they get off at Horseshoe Bay. They're not going to see the doom and gloom, the negatives, they hear from some parts of this province. They're going to say: "That's how partnership works." Revitalization has taken over in Horseshoe Bay. That's because the people are working with the government. They're not trying to fight the government. They say: "Let's work together for this province. Let's work together for the benefit of all people in British Columbia."

Mr. Speaker, the Lions Gate Bridge was lit up this year. The minister was just going to get up and leave. The Provincial Secretary did a great job in getting the Guinness family to donate the money. It's a sight to behold, and a great tourist attraction. All those extra cruise ships coming into Vancouver harbour next summer are going to see Lions Gate Bridge lit up. I think that's exciting; the people of my constituency think it’s exciting. It's a positive step. We're also building a new hospital in Squamish. We completed a long-care hospital a year and a half ago. Positive things for jobs in that area also. Even Bowen Island. The NDP says: "They only do things in the Socred areas." Bowen Island has been a well-known NDP area, but we built a new ferry dock for them this year.

It's also quite interesting when the NDP talk about elections. They want to have an election, and I tell them I'm

[ Page 7286 ]

happy for an election. Let me tell you what happened on Bowen Island. We've had a GVRD rep there for a few terms; we've got two Islands Trust reps — all members of the NDP. It was an active socialist area. I said to Gail Taylor, one of the directors of my party: "Why don't you run for the GVRD? You make a lot of common sense, you can talk to people. We should get rid of this divisiveness on Bowen Island and start building the island in a positive manner." Gail Taylor sought the nomination on Bowen Island for the GVRD representative, and on election day, after everything from death threats to a lot of other things, she won that election, and not by a squeaker. She got more votes than the other two candidates combined. They used the fact she's a Socred. They said: "You can't vote for her, she works with Reynolds." She was proud of being a free enterpriser. She espoused working together, partnership, and that's why she got elected.

I think that should be a message to the NDP if they look at the last elections. They get very proud of one here and one there, but look all over the province and see what happened. Talk about Vancouver if you want, but look at the school board in Cowichan. I wonder what's going to happen there in the next election. A new NDP member running. We've got a good member. I would take bets we might win that seat. So I say to the NDP, read the throne speech. Read it carefully, because it's a positive message.

This government has taken some tough stands. I know it must be frustrating for the NDP members to be sitting there in the opposition. I sat on that side when I was in Ottawa — very frustrating at times. I think if they all turned on, became a little positive, like my colleague from Atlin.... There's a man who got the message. He didn't sit back and say, "I'm not going to run in the next election because I don't like the leader," like most of the other NDP members have done. He said: "I'm not a quitter, I'm a fighter, and I'm going to fight for the people of Atlin and I'm going to do it on the government side." There's a partner in enterprise. He knows how to do it. He'll get the action for the people of Atlin because he's always positive. I used to say to my colleagues when I first came to this House: "That fellow shouldn't be over there, because every time he gets up he talks about something positive." He doesn't knock what the government's doing, he talks about his constituency and the positive things for it. He's a good member of this Legislature and I'm looking forward to his speech.

MR. PASSARELL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Applause.] That's great. We'll save the big one for the end. Mr. Speaker, it's good to see you on the chair again.

I take great pleasure today in rising to second the acceptance of His Honour's address. This is a new experience for me and it's an experience that I would commend to all members of the House to be able to do some day.

In the past few months I've had the opportunity of travelling and visiting throughout British Columbia and in all regions of our great province. I was impressed by the frank way in which individuals can exchange ideas in our democracy, and equally by the faith which people have in the future potential of British Columbia. What I found travelling throughout this province is that people are positive. They want to see something happen, and they're tired of being negative. I think nowhere is that faith in British Columbia more evident than in the north, an important part of our province.

I feel proud that I've been able, in seven years, to represent the far north for their ideas, their aspirations and their dreams. In listening to His Honour's address, I was impressed by the number of issues which it did address, from native people's concerns to improved health care, excellence in education, job creation, reforestation, youth and industrial development. The Premier was quite right in saying that there is a plan for our future, a plan not of words but of action. That is our top priority — action for British Columbians seeking career opportunities, jobs, a better quality of life in all senses of the word.

I've learned in the years of observing government that there are essentially two kinds of plans. On the one hand there are plans which dictate. On the other hand there are plans which encourage and inspire. Our plan is to help people with their plans for the future, and the future of their communities, their province and this great country.

As I listened to His Honour's address, I noted a good balance between economic and social priorities. In the economic sense I was particularly pleased to note the recognition of the need for increasing innovative...strengthening the small business sector, which is the backbone of the economy — diversifying our economy, aggressively pursuing markets for our products and skills, which all northerners have come to accept, and the jobs that that brings about.

A main aspect for the north is a renewal, a commitment to our mining and forestry industries. To build, we must build on strengths — natural strengths — such as our unique abundance of water resources, which are a natural home for aquaculture.

Our forest resources.... An expanding of our first-class transportation system, which is vital to the economic development of this province, and the recognition of opportunities which are encouraged by our position to the expanding of the Pacific Rim countries.... Opportunity really is the key to economic development.

This year Vancouver is celebrating a centennial. A hundred years ago it probably looked more like Stewart than San Francisco. There are people alive today that were alive at that time. It's hard to believe that much could have changed in one human lifetime. But the facts speak for themselves: anyone who wants to sell Atlin short today, as the member for Vancouver East probably would have sold Vancouver short a hundred years ago....

I'd like to talk about some of the specifics from the point of view of Atlin and of the people who believe that our only limit is the limit to our own imagination. Issues pertinent to the Atlin constituency raised in His Honour's address are the following. I put for number one probably one of the biggest economic developments that this province and this country will have, and that's the Mount Klappan project.

I know that the member that I mentioned earlier — the second member for Vancouver East (Mr. Williams) — attacked this project in this House. The Gulf Canada project east of Iskut — anthracite coal, which is a very different type of coal than is produced in the southeast of this province — will provide much-needed employment to northerners. While he goes and attacks this project, he fails to realize, or even to accept publicly, that in phase one the majority of workers on this project are native people who have never had the opportunity in that area to have a job before.

This coal will be shipped from the Klappan project down through Stewart, which will give opportunities in Stewart for port development that have never been seen before on the

[ Page 7287 ]

west coast. This coal will be loaded by British Columbians. It's a British Columbia project, for Europe, eastern Canada and the Orient. When this project is in full operation, over 600 people will be employed in the northwest, and the jobs generated from this project will employ another 500 people in the surrounding area along Highway 37 in the Dease area, the Stewart area and the Terrace area.

It was ironic that the previous mayor of Terrace, who is affiliated with the New Democratic Party, also attacked the Klappan project, but the voters spoke in that riding in the last election. An individual who supported the Klappan project was elected in that area. That says something about northerners. Jobs for British Columbians in northern B.C.: that is a policy of this government, and it's happening today.

I was also pleased with the throne speech regarding the aspect of mining activity. This is a priority of this government. I found it very difficult at times while I was in the New Democratic Party with the mining issue. Any of us who live in this province know that mining activity and development is a backbone of this province. We can't revert to times where we run mining companies out of this province. Small placer operators in the area that I live in in Atlin are the backbone of the local communities. Last year alone placer operators in the Atlin and Dease Lake areas contributed over $1 million to the local economy through their fuel costs, buying food and equipment, and the wages that they provided to people in that area. Without these private entrepreneurs the historical makeup of our province would lose an important element, and, more importantly, the jobs to young people that they provide. Placer operators hire young people to do the jobs, and it's the only opportunity these young people have to be able to work for the summertime. They provide jobs for young people when they have no other opportunities to have a job.

[3:30]

Another aspect on mining — and I'd like to congratulate the Minister of Mines (Hon. Mr. Brummet) on this — was the regulations he brought forward in the last couple of weeks that will provide opportunities for these entrepreneurs to be able to continue working this summer. Without these regulations that this minister acted quickly on, northern placer miners would not be able to work and would not be able to contribute to the local economy. That, to me, is progressive.

On page 3, the throne speech discussed small and large business ventures, and I would like to congratulate the Minister of Industry and Small Business Development (Hon. Mr. McClelland) for granting $500,000 to the district of Stewart for port development for phase one. The development of Stewart port facilities will have a tremendous impact on the economies of northern British Columbia and the Yukon. Stewart is the most northerly ice-free port in western Canada. Products passing through Stewart will improve the standard of living for all northerners, where many of us have to rely on the Alaska Highway for food shipments. Negotiations are in process right now with the NDP government in the Yukon for minerals to be trucked through the port of Stewart, because they're having problems with the Alaska government.

Interjections.

MR. PASSARELL: Bring it down, that's right.

I look upon the all-Canadian route with British Columbians unloading these minerals in Stewart.... This government has plans for the future of northern British Columbia to improve the standard of living for all northerners regardless of their political stripe.

Another aspect of the throne speech that I was pleased to see is small bridge replacements. I'd like to congratulate the Minister of Transportation and Highways (Hon. A. Fraser) for this aspect, which will benefit northerners — particularly on Highway 37, which is the main transportation link in the far north. Highway 37 is the transportation link that will take the resources from the north to the port of Stewart, and jobs that will be associated with that. And with Expo coming on in another 51 days, if I'm not mistaken, and the thousands....

HON. MR. RITCHIE: Fifty-four countries.

MR. PASSARELL: Fifty-four countries.

HON. MR. RITCHIE: Eleven million tickets sold.

MR. PASSARELL: Eleven million tickets sold as of today. The thousands of tourists who will be coming into our province and will be going into the far north.... The improved road conditions that this government has brought with its bridge replacements will show those people that they're welcomed here, and they'll come back the next year and the year after that and the year after that.

An issue I'd like to discuss from the throne speech is the positive nature with which this government addressed self-government. This is a positive move, and it's not just a move that the province can deal with by itself. The federal government has to be involved, as is often the case — and how they like to push it off just simply onto the province. Self-government provides self-respect, self-respect in the arena to plan for the future in the context of the Canadian mosaic. Self-government is similar to municipal status, and for the native people I've talked to, to be able to regulate zoning or to set their taxes and, more importantly, to have discussions that affect the residents of that community from within the community and not from Ottawa is what people want to see.

MR. REID: Partnership.

MR. PASSARELL: That's right, partnership. That's what self-government is all about.

Another aspect is the wilderness report. There've been many critics of the wilderness report that was brought down last week, but in the context of this report I'd like to deal with page 50 and discuss the Stikine. On the Stikine is a marvellous place called the Grand Canyon of Canada, and this report, which deals from the headwaters to the Alaska delta, will guarantee that the Tahltans and the residents of the Stikine will see the Stikine preserved in its natural state. Anyone who accuses this government of not having concern about the environment should read the report before they make those statements.

The youth advisory council is another issue that was discussed in the throne speech. Already a number of applications have been forwarded from schools up in the Atlin constituency. These students have ideas. They have suggestions, and this government is listening to them.

Last week I was quite upset when I received a letter from a union head in Terrace who wrote to the district of Stewart regarding youth employment programs for the summer. In that letter it said: "We don't want you to accept any program

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for hiring youths for the summer until it's been approved by the union in Terrace." To me, unions should not tell young people that they cannot work during the summer without their approval. This Big Brother mentality has no place in our society when so many young people want to work. They shouldn't be told by unions that they can't.

This government is putting more emphasis on health care, and in the constituency of Atlin priority has been placed on the diagnostic and treatment centre in the Nass Valley, an area that had no prior centre. This will provide improved health services to the Nishga, as well as to all residents of the Nass. A few weeks ago the first payment went out — of $25,000 — to Chief Gosnell of the Nishga. The D and T centre has been in planning for many years, and because of the cooperation between the Nishga and the provincial government, this centre is now going to become a fact.

British Columbians have shown an immense desire, a dream and a great concern for world peace. I think Expo will show that world peace can be advanced. All you have to do is look at what Expo is bringing together for the first time in history at an Expo: U.S.S.R., U.S.A., China, Cuba. For the first time these countries are sitting down together. We're promoting world peace in our own province. To me, that's a step in the right direction.

The tenth issue I would like to discuss in His Honour's speech is the inclusion of property rights in the constitution. I don't think there is anything more dear to Canadians than the right to own property. Years ago in the Legislature an NDP member stood in his place, the member for North Island (Mr. Gabelmann), and stated publicly that no one should own land, as they should not own the air. That member owns property. I wonder if this is the same issue that goes out to native people, that you shouldn't own land. I doubt it, since it would contradict the NDP policy. Canadians have the right to own land, and it should be included in our constitution.

The Expo legacy fund will be beneficial to the north as well as to the south. After Expo ends in October, which will show it will be a great success, communities across this province will be able to benefit from the exposition with capital projects that will continue to bring forward the theme of Expo throughout years for the benefit of all British Columbians.

The last issue I would like to discuss from His Honour's speech is the electoral challenge to the north. The B.C. Civil Liberties Union has recently brought a suit in the B.C. court, more or less to have the constituency of Atlin dropped — a historical constituency, a constituency that at one time had two members. Who is standing up and defending the rights of residents of the Atlin constituency? It's the provincial government, that's who is standing up, defending their rights as northerners living with small populations, to have representation in this Legislature. I am pleased to belong to a government that would stand up for the rights of northerners.

Let us not forget that in this Legislature on February 14, 1985, the second member for Vancouver East (Mr. Williams) stood in his place and stated publicly that there should not be an Atlin constituency because there weren't enough people, in his belief. Well, I can just tell that member, as he is sitting in the first member for Vancouver East's seat, that there will be an Atlin constituency long after that member has departed from this Legislature. We have a right and, more important, we have the will to succeed in keeping the Atlin constituency in existence.

Mr. Speaker, Canada has a unique position in the world, and I believe that as British Columbians we are on the edge — a position of developing understanding internationally in bringing together optimism and economic prosperity with a deep and abiding concern for the quality of life and social services. We are still a young province in many ways, and I see that as a great advantage, being the youngest member of the Legislature.

We are not afraid to try new solutions to problems old and new. We do not accept the idea that all issues must be resolved in terms of winners and losers. We believe that imagination and goodwill and enterprise can lead us to solutions based on cooperation. Mutual respect and a sense of the unlimited potential of ordinary human beings can make this province a better place for all of us.

You don't have to be a lawyer or a millionaire to be a member of this House. I am not the only proof of that today. Our people have open minds and have welcomed new arrivals to our province with an open hand of friendship and a desire to get acquainted and to benefit from the diversity of our people, their insights, their skills and their experiences. We should all be very proud of the newness of our province and the openness of our people.

Labels and categories, whether of class or ideology, in the long run are counterproductive. The world is changing too fast for any single set of notions to retain much validity. Our people want action based on cooperation, imagination and vision. That is our purpose and our duty here, regardless of party and regardless of political affiliation.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, there is a plan. Our plan is to help people with their plans for their futures, for their communities, for our province and for our country. I'm very pleased and I'm proud to be able to second the throne speech.

Mr. Skelly moved adjournment of the debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. Mr. Nielsen moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

The House adjourned at 3:45 p.m.