1992 Legislative Session: 1st Session, 35th Parliament
HANSARD
(Hansard)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1992
Afternoon Sitting
Volume 1, Number 2
[ Page 11 ]
The House met at 2:07 p.m.
Prayers.
Hon. C. Gabelmann: It's my pleasure to introduce in the gallery this afternoon from Port McNeill, Rod and Nancy Bain, and their son Michael, who are down here during school break visiting the House. Would the House make them welcome.
Hon. M. Harcourt: I'd like the House to give a very warm welcome to Jasmine and Bessie Lee. Bessie Lee was one of the founders of the Strathcona Property Owners' and Tenants' Association -- my first client as a storefront lawyer -- that stopped the urban renewal schemes that were going to destroy the inner city of Vancouver. I'd like you to give a very warm welcome to these two good people.
J. Pullinger: It is my pleasure today to introduce and welcome on behalf of all of us the legislative interns for this session. We are very pleased -- and again, I speak for all of us -- to welcome Lesli Boldt, Adrian Cossom, Michael Dezell, Shane Gunster, Mike McDonald, Cori Ross and Jeffrey Waatainen. We'd like to thank them in advance for the very valuable work that they provide for us members of the Legislature, and we hope they get the kind of experience they would like to have. Please help me welcome them.
G. Wilson: I'd very much like to introduce my wife Elizabeth and son Mathew, who are in the Speaker's gallery today and whose support is in large measure the reason that I am down here in this session and not sitting up where I usually have been. Thank you so much.
Hon. E. Cull: Hon. Speaker, I'd like to introduce to the House today my stepdaughter Rachel Bouey; her cousins Dylan and Connor, who are visiting from Richmond; and her friend Jen Braun -- all of whom are taking the opportunity today, during spring break, to visit the House for the first time.
B. Copping: I would like to introduce a longtime friend and colleague I worked with when I was practising medicine at BCIT, Miss Louise Baker. Would the House please welcome her.
L. Hanson: Visiting us today from that great city of Vernon in the Okanagan, we have Mr. and Mrs. Klaus Linemayr and their two children, Karen and Steven. Would the House please make them welcome.
Hon. L. Boone: It gives me a great pleasure to introduce three guests seated in the members' gallery today: His Excellency Ignatius Olisemeka, High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, accompanied by his wife Gloria Olisemeka; and Mr. M. Sani, second secretary from the embassy in Ottawa. These people are attending the Globe '92 conference in Vancouver. Would members of the House please join me in welcoming them to British Columbia.
L. Reid: I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome my grandmother, who is visiting from Belleville, Ontario, and her youngest granddaughter.
I'd also like to extend a very warm welcome to the legislative interns who will be working with our caucus.
D. Mitchell: We have in the gallery today some constituents of mine from the riding of West Vancouver-Garibaldi: a schoolteacher from Squamish, Shirley Brown, and her family. I'd like the House to welcome them to the House on this occasion of the first real day of business in the Legislative Assembly.
E. Barnes: I'd like the House to join me in welcoming my beautiful wife, Janet Barnes, and her friend Candace Brown, both of Port Moody Senior Secondary School. Candace is here looking the place over and intends to become a political scientist one day, I understand. I'm sure she's going to get some good input this afternoon. Would you please join me in making her welcome.
U. Dosanjh: I would like the House to join me in welcoming my youngest son, Umber. He is in the gallery. This is his first visit to the Legislature. I might add that without his permission I would not have been able to run for the Legislature.
Hon. L. Boone: I notice in the gallery today some longtime -- I won't say old, because we aren't old -- friends of mine, formerly from the wonderful constituency in Prince George, who have found it in their wisdom to move down to the Gulf Islands here. Please welcome Don and Wendy Reimer.
Hon. G. Clark tabled two documents pertaining to the executive remuneration of senior executives of Crown corporations.
Hon. G. Clark: Just very briefly, members will know that the government appointed Judith Korbin to review, among other things, remuneration at senior levels in the public service, including Crown corporations. It was announced in the throne speech yesterday as well. What we are doing -- as part of open government, of course -- is releasing the information on the remuneration of all chief executive officers of Crown corporations, and it's there for members to peruse.
[2:15]
GOVERNMENT PROMISES
G. Wilson: My question is to the Premier, and it has to do with trust.
Mr. Premier, this House heard yesterday that you and your government are committed to restoring the faith of the people of this province in honest government. The people of British Columbia, however, have
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experienced something quite different over the last five months. Despite your promise, the people of Kamloops have no cancer clinic. Despite your commitment, the Powell River ferry remains based in Comox. Despite your guarantee, the people of Robson have no ferry. Despite your word that the government would not favour friends and insiders, your government has, over the last five months, granted millions of taxpayers' dollars to your friends without any public tender.
Mr. Premier, would you tell the people that from this day forward you will no longer mislead British Columbians and that they can rely upon the words you say?
Hon. M. Harcourt: Hon. Speaker, I'm not quite sure if that was a question or a statement. There is a statement period, and I'm sure that the hon. Leader of the Opposition will learn that. I'm quite prepared to stand on my record of 20 years in the public eye as an alderman, a mayor, Leader of the Opposition, and now the Premier, in terms of fair, open and balanced government.
G. Wilson: Supplementary. The Premier has not answered my question. The reason that it is an important question is that the people of British Columbia saw you on television during the election campaign and heard you say that there would be no new or increased taxes. Mr. Premier, will you commit today that you will at least honour that commitment you made in the campaign?
Hon. M. Harcourt: Hon. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is probably aware that a budget will be tabled on March 26. At that time, the commitments I have made as Premier and in the last election -- to make sure that we restrict and start to reduce the deficit without harming the basic services to people -- will be carried out. We intend to keep that commitment, and we intend to have fair taxes in British Columbia.
G. Wilson: Supplementary to the Premier. I would take that to be a no. Will you then at least commit today to restore one of your broken promises and guarantee to this House that there will be no introduction of fair wage legislation or regulation without proper and full debate in this House?
Hon. M. Harcourt: Again, I'm going to be kind because this is a new House, but I think that the Leader of the Opposition should be aware that that is a matter of future policy and he should wait in good patience for the matter to come before this House. It would be quite improper for me to respond to a matter of future government policy.
FAIR WAGE POLICY
J. Weisgerber: I have a question, also for the Premier, perhaps one that he'll be able to answer a bit more directly. It relates, too, to this question of a fair wage policy. Yesterday we heard again the commitment to open, honest government. We heard the commitment to a fair wage policy. I want to ask the Premier to assure the members of this Legislature that this policy will come to this House in the form of legislation, so that each and every member of this House will have an opportunity to debate, to make amendments, to propose changes and finally to vote on and pass or defeat this so-called fair wage legislation, this fair wage policy, as it's referred to. The question is: will the Premier commit to this Legislature not to introduce something called a fair wage policy without bringing the issue to this House for legislative change? Will he make that commitment today?
Hon. M. Harcourt: There are two parts to that question. First of all, hon. Speaker, the leader of the third party should be aware of the fact, as I said earlier, that this is a matter of future policy. But again, if he knew his history, he would know that there's already an act in place. It is not a new act. As a matter of fact, Madam Speaker, it has been in place since 1912.
J. Weisgerber: Obviously then, from what the Premier didn't say, the rumour that they passed an OIC today to make changes to the labour code and to introduce a so-called fair wage policy is a fact. This so-called policy has the opportunity to do huge damage. Will the Premier assure this House that he will bring his fair wage policy to this Legislature, or is he so ashamed of this payoff to his insider NDP union friends that he's afraid to bring it even to his own members for ratification? Are you afraid to bring it into this House?
Hon. M. Harcourt: I thought that at least the experienced leader of the third party would get a thin story out of the newspapers and throw it back at us, but he has created a rumour out of thin air and then proceeded to try and knock it down. It's not what you would call an auspicious start. But given that, I can assure the House that there is going to be a lot of time for debate in this sitting of the Legislature, and I'm sure the hon. member, with his interest in seeing working people in this province treated fairly, will be debating that issue during this sitting of the Legislature.
PEAT MARWICK REVIEW
OF PROVINCIAL FINANCES
W. Hurd: My question is once again for the Premier. Mr. Premier, another broken election promise from this government comes in item 2 of their election brochure, entitled "A Better Way." It states clearly: "You won't need an inside track to get fair treatment from a Harcourt government. New Democrats are committed to fair and open access to government, to an open tendering process for public contracts...." Mr. Premier, why have we seen contracts awarded to friends and insiders of this government without proper tendering? Is not the Peat Marwick report also a breach of this promise? It is purported to be independent. Yet why, to prove this independence, was it not tendered?
Hon. G. Clark: I'm rather puzzled by this question. Peat Marwick is, of course, the largest accounting firm in the country, and it's difficult to argue that
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they're not eminently qualified to conduct an independent financial review. I will say that in discussions with my ministry officials and the auditor general, it became pretty obvious that it was not possible to attempt to tender this kind of contract in order to give advice to the government and to the people of British Columbia about the state of the province's finances. I'm sure members opposite would agree that getting to the bottom of the financial mess that we've inherited from what is now the third party is of utmost concern to British Columbians. We had to move with haste. We moved with the largest accounting firm in the country. Even the opposition would be hard-pressed to accuse Peat Marwick of any political bias in the direction of the New Democratic Party, although they may perhaps try. I think that's unfortunate.
Clearly we had an obligation to get to the bottom of the mess. Clearly we had to move as quickly as we could, and we chose to hire Peat Marwick to do that. I might say also -- and members should know this, if they happen to have been following this situation -- that not only did we have an independent financial review by the largest accounting firm in the country, but we struck a steering committee that included the former deputy minister in the Premier's office, under a former Premier who shall go nameless. He chaired that committee. We had the auditor general on that committee. We had an individual who is the executive director of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. We had other public servants on that committee. They reviewed this question, hon. Speaker, and it's quite clear from the kinds of reports we received that they are unbiased, that they are the unvarnished truth and that we finally have a snapshot of the dismal financial situation we're faced with, which we inherited from the Social Credit administration.
W. Hurd: I thank the Finance minister for that detailed response. But my question is again to the Premier. I refer once more to the Peat Marwick report and the smokescreen coming from that work, which is set out to be an independent report. Would the Premier please arrange to have the resumés of all those involved in supplying services to the senior contractor tabled in this House prior to the delivery of your first budget on March 26?
Hon. G. Clark: I truly am puzzled by this line of questioning, hon. Speaker. It's really unfair for the opposition to be impugning the integrity of Peat Marwick. I think no one with any decency would try to portray Peat Marwick as being anything but a fine, outstanding accounting firm. And I think, frankly, if you review all of the people -- I believe there were 42 accountants at one point -- reviewing the books of government and trying to get to the bottom of the mess we inherited from the Social Credit administration.... If the member wishes, I could provide him with a list of the partners in Peat Marwick: Jim Cosh, whom many of you and the media know, presented it. He was the senior vice-president, the individual in charge of the project for Peat Marwick, and located in Calgary. He is a person of impeccable credentials and reputation. It's unfortunate that the opposition would try to sully the reputation of someone like Mr. Cosh, or Peat Marwick generally.
W. Hurd: To the hon. Minister of Finance, but again I address my question to the Premier. Are you willing to table in this House the entire financial report of Peat Marwick Thorne, including the method of accounting used, the terms of reference from the original commissioning of the report, and any expression of interest from other accounting firms, so that all aspects of this review may be examined by the all-party Public Accounts Committee of this House?
The Speaker: Government House Leader -- for a short reply.
Hon. G. Clark: Let me elaborate, because there is one aspect of it that I'm not sure of, and that's this "other expression of interest." I hadn't entertained any other expressions of interest. There was no document.... In order to get the thing up and running and to get it completed as fast as we could, we chose Peat Marwick. They did have some conflicts, so we coupled it with Deloitte and Touche, another upstanding and fine and large firm in Canada and in British Columbia. I would be delighted to table all of the Peat Marwick reports. They're in the public domain. Clearly there are lots of recommendations which I'm sure will be debated, some of which the government will accept, and some of which it won't accept. We'll be accountable for that. I'm positive the opposition will hold us to that, and I look forward to it.
LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL
OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURES
A. Warnke: My question is for the Premier. Since a basic, fundamental principle of parliamentary democracy is the approval of public expenditures through the people's elected representatives in the Legislative Assembly -- and this has been demonstrated by other provincial governments in Ontario and Saskatchewan, which had no difficulty seeking legislative approval for their spending -- why, Mr. Premier, has your government, now in its sixth month, avoided affording the same right of legislative authority to the people of this province through their elected representatives in this Legislative Assembly?
Hon. G. Clark: An excellent question, hon. Speaker. I think I've asked it myself in the past.
[2:30]
Clearly it's an unfortunate situation, and I'd be delighted to explain. The reality is that we had no budget passed last year by the previous government. When we were elected, we had no budget passed, and we were three to four months behind in preparation for the '92-93 budget year. In addition, it became quickly apparent that there was a lot of fiction in the budget that was tabled in the House and never passed. That, of course, is abundantly clear as a result of the independent financial review.
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We had a choice. We could call the House back; pass a budget that the previous administration had tabled, which was full of fiction; and then not be able to bring in a budget for '92-93 on time -- it was simply not possible. Or we could do what we did, which was to commission an independent financial review, get to the bottom of the mess left behind by Social Credit and move as quickly as we could to try to bring in a budget on time for '92-93, so we could begin, on a rational basis, what other provinces enjoy, which is a sound government that operates on an annual basis. We can now proceed to plan for the '93-94 budget cycle.
Unfortunately -- and I admit this -- we chose to operate on special warrants for the period while we got to the bottom of the mess. As a result -- and it was a great effort on the part of many staff people, government members and all of us -- we will be able to bring in a budget on time this year, before the end of the fiscal year, so we can get on with the business of rational planning and budgeting in British Columbia, as other provinces enjoy.
SOUTH AFRICA'S REFERENDUM
Hon. M. Harcourt: Madam Speaker, I rise to say that I'm sure all members of this Legislature welcome the overwhelming support that was expressed for the process of reform in South Africa. I believe that this strong vote of confidence in President de Klerk's leadership in dismantling the structure that for far too long has been in place and starting to move towards non-racial democracy is most encouraging.
The government of Canada, through the Prime Minister, has announced that there will be $5 million of official development assistance immediately reallocated to assist the people of South Africa in their democratic development. It's very gratifying to see that the economic pressures and sanctions and the efforts of the international community -- those of us that are democratic nations, such as Canada -- have contributed to the choice of hope and the commitment to democracy and freedom in South Africa.
The people of British Columbia, through this government, will be looking at ways that we can assist the people of South Africa and, in cooperation with our federal government, assist in developing a renewed trade relationship just as soon as the government of Canada indicates that the time for such initiatives has come. I believe that we all express hope that the events of yesterday will launch a new era of peaceful and constructive negotiations in building new partnerships among the people of South Africa.
I would just like to close by saying that when I was recently in Davos, Switzerland, at the World Economic Forum, it was very exciting to be in the same room as President de Klerk, Nelson Mandela, Chief Buthelezi, the head of the business community and the head of the trade union community -- all speaking about a hopeful, democratic, peaceful and prosperous future for the people of South Africa. To see that commitment expressed yesterday is indeed a great step forward.
G. Wilson: I also welcome the overwhelming support that has been demonstrated by white voters in South Africa toward reform in that country. As many in this House will know, and many British Columbians may know, many of my formative years were spent on the African continent. While I did live in the eastern portions of that continent, I have a great deal of feeling for what has been happening as that nation-state develops into a new, progressive and modern society. I look forward to the day when not only white South Africans will vote on their future in government but all South Africans, regardless of race, colour or creed, will have an opportunity to express their wishes in a truly democratic system.
J. Weisgerber: I want to first of all thank the Premier for providing a copy of his remarks to us earlier on. It's something that's very much appreciated.
I'm sure all British Columbians and Canadians must be delighted with the events in South Africa. I think they mark a really important step in that country. We have to recognize also that for a long time South Africa was part of the British Empire, the Commonwealth, that we were part of. So these events probably are more important to us than they might have been under other circumstances.
I really look forward to the events in South Africa. I think we have to recognize that it's not going to be as simple as this one vote. There are going to be some difficult times in South Africa, and anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves. It's going to be our test of support for that country and all the people in that country when those events start to unfold, as they undoubtedly will.
I join with the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition in wishing South Africa well. I know they're in for some difficult times, but I think the goodwill of people will prevail. I'm delighted with the results.
J. Beattie: Hon. Speaker, on behalf of some of my constituents of Okanagan-Penticton I wish to present a petition to the House. With your permission, I would like to read the brief paragraph that accompanies it:
"Your petitioners respectfully request that the honourable House, after consultation with renters and other interested parties, introduce legislation which establishes the office of a rentals mediator to protect renters from unjustifiable rent increases and assists in the maintenance of affordable and stable rental accommodation."
J. Pement: Hon. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I present the following motion. I move that the following address be presented to his Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: "We, Her Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in session assembled, beg leave to thank Your
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Honour for the gracious speech which Your Honour has addressed to us at the opening of this present session."
Hon. Speaker, I am grateful for the honour given me by my caucus colleagues to make this motion and my first speech as an elected member of this assembly.
I would like to speak first of the constituency I'm honoured to serve, Bulkley Valley-Stikine. It is geographically the largest constituency in British Columbia, spanning 900 miles from Burns Lake in the south to Atlin and Lower Post in the north. An example of the vastness of this resource-rich constituency is that Bulkley Valley-Stikine encompasses 34 percent of British Columbia's provincial parks, 1.8 million hectares.
It is my honour to be the first MLA for this newly created constituency. Bulkley Valley-Stikine is composed of three former constituencies. In the north, the communities of Dease Lake, Cassiar, Atlin, Good Hope Lake, Telegraph Creek, Lower Post and Iskut, formerly of the Atlin constituency, were served faithfully by the hon. member Larry Guno. The Hazeltons, Smithers and Moricetown, from Skeena constituency, were served by the hon. member Dave Parker. Telkwa, Granisle, Houston, Topley, Burns Lake and the communities of the lakes district, from the well-known Omineca constituency, were served faithfully and for many years by the hon. member Jack Kempf.
Hon. Speaker, throne speeches traditionally offer the government of the day an opportunity to lay out the direction they intend to take, to establish its tone and list its priorities to the people of this province. In the best case, a throne speech can offer a vision, and I believe that yesterday's Speech from the Throne did just that.
This throne speech laid out the priorities of the government clearly, and probably in more detail than is traditional. It talked about open and honest government, putting people first, adding fairness and balance to government and to the children's future. Most importantly, however, the throne speech laid out initiatives and programs that the government is going to undertake in addressing its priorities.
I know that British Columbians share my delight in acknowledging the substantive nature of this throne speech. It is very easy for this or any other government to say that open and honest government is a priority, but this throne speech demonstrates a real commitment to action.
I am very proud of the openness already shown during the past four months. The government has shown its willingness to open up the decision-making process and allow people to participate, whether one talks about old growth, labour relations, land use or the future constitution of this nation. The commitment to openness has been both sincere and refreshing.
I was also very proud to hear that this government intends to broaden the mandate of the ombudsman to give British Columbians redress against unacceptable treatment from all levels of government. This action is long overdue.
Hon. Speaker, the throne speech also talks about bringing in the toughest conflict-of-interest legislation in the entire country. I want to elaborate on this point, because I believe this is extremely important. The lack of trust citizens feel toward their elected representatives has reached what I believe are crisis proportions. As I have travelled throughout Bulkley Valley-Stikine, my constituents have expressed their expectations of this assembly. Women and men are demanding honesty and integrity from their representatives and, further, that this assembly give its commitment to the growth and development of this province for the future of all British Columbians. When I decided to seek election for this office -- and I did it out of a desire to serve, to become involved in the affairs of this province, to represent my constituents of Bulkley Valley-Stikine and bring their voices from the north to this Legislature, and to bring positive change -- I must admit that I was somewhat taken aback when I personally experienced the sense of mistrust and suspicion that exists. I think it is something that all members of this House have experienced.
[2:45]
I believe every one of us has a stake in rebuilding the trust. Trust is not a partisan issue. I look forward to working with all of my colleagues, on both sides of the House, to regain the trust of the people of this province. We can all applaud the commitment made yesterday to open up government, and I believe indeed all citizens of British Columbia will benefit from the open approach to government.
The throne speech also laid out an agenda for economic renewal based on letting all British Columbians share in the benefits of recovery. The Premier has made it a priority to promote trade wherever he has been. The throne speech also talked about options to encourage British Columbians to invest in British Columbia, and that is an approach that I support without reservation.
Hon. Speaker, I represent a constituency that is heavily dependent on resource industries. It is important for my constituents to hear about this government's commitment to strengthen the job protection commission. My constituents don't expect miracles and understand the uncertainty of the resource sector. What they want is to be a full partner in the economic future of this province and to be treated fairly and with dignity when the times are tough.
The people of Bulkley Valley-Stikine are very self-sufficient. They are true northerners, with spirit and perseverance. I am proud to serve my constituents and proud of their proactive approach to solving their concerns. We recognize the need for infrastructure to assist the growth of Bulkley Valley-Stikine. We all look forward to the educational benefits of the University of Northern B.C., to the development of cogeneration electricity, to the increase of employment through the development of value-added products and to the growth of trade through the direction given by this government.
All sectors and regions must share in the economic opportunities, and all regions must be participants in the economic strategies of this province. I will ensure that Bulkley Valley-Stikine will be at the table when economic decisions are made.
The throne speech also talked about steps already taken to make Crown corporations a greater generator
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of wealth and economic development. This is surely a positive and essential role for public corporations.
There were two statements in the throne speech which seemed to sum up what this government is about. The first was a simple statement of principle: we believe that a sound economy is inseparable from social equity. This government is facing tremendous fiscal challenges, but it is also committed to moving in the direction for which it was elected. The goals of stability, harmony, fairness, responsibility and openness have been reinforced by the throne speech. The government's commitment to gender equality and compassion remains firm.
The second statement which caught my ear said that it is a duty and a priority to repair and strengthen the social safety net, especially where it involves children and families. The government is committed to making improvements to the GAIN program to help single parents stay a little longer at home, to review family and child services and to provide more options in child protection matters.
So many governments have talked about women's equality without taking action that would make a real difference. This government has acted on their priority: their priority to bring about gender equality from the very first day they were sworn in. There are seven women in cabinet. Women's centres have been funded to deliver programs to help victims of violence and abuse and to carry on training programs. Yesterday the government committed itself to introduce legislation which will set a framework for pay equity.
I rejoice that this government recognizes the inherent right of aboriginal title and self-government. I will take this message to the first nations in Bulkley Valley-Stikine, to the Tahltans, the Kaskas, the Gitksan Wet'suwet'en, the Tlingits and the Carrier-Sekani. I endorse this government's direction to move land claim litigation out of the courts and onto the negotiation table.
Hon. Speaker, I would like to take this moment to congratulate you on your election as Speaker. Traditionally a member would offer this congratulation earlier, but I felt this was a more appropriate time. I have talked to women representatives in other jurisdictions and parliaments about their experiences, and they have told me of their difficulties feeling comfortable. They have told me that legislatures and governments have a long way to go, but it is a credit to the first four months of this government that I do indeed feel comfortable in this Legislature.
The throne speech also talked about fair and balanced government, and I support this direction. Governments are not elected to take sides. Governments are elected to serve all the people, and this government has made it clear that it intends to serve British Columbia in a fair and balanced manner. Whether we are talking about labour relations, taxation policy, resolution of land claims and other dealings with aboriginal people, or basic human rights, the throne speech lays out a fair and balanced approach.
Hon. Speaker, I am proud of this government's approach to the protection of our environment. This government has taken steps to ensure that the future of British Columbia will indeed be secure. By making some difficult decisions regarding the annual allowable cuts and through amendments to the Forest Act we can look forward to improved forestry practices.
Bulkley Valley-Stikine is reliant on its resources for employment, and this constituency also enjoys the most beautiful wilderness areas of our province. With the establishment of the new commission on resources and environment I feel we can bring a balance to the decision-making process on land use. This is a positive step forward for British Columbia. I am excited with this new government and that it has shown a renewed vigour towards involving all British Columbians in land use decisions.
Hon. Speaker, throughout the coming years you will hear the concerns and needs of Bulkley Valley-Stikine. That constituency will be an equal partner in the development of this fair province. I will ensure that this happens.
The throne speech yesterday laid out a new approach to government. The government has clearly chosen balance and stability over conflict, fairness over favouritism, openness over secretiveness. The government, through the throne speech, has recognized the need to find resolutions to long-standing issues and problems. This shows not only courage but also, I believe, a great deal of common sense, and I applaud the government for it.
Hon. Speaker, I thank you and the members of this assembly for this opportunity to speak of my constituency and my concerns, and I look forward to bringing the voice of Bulkley Valley-Stikine to this assembly throughout this and future sessions.
H. Lali: Hon. Speaker, it with great pride and pleasure that I rise in this chamber today to second the motion of my hon. colleague from Bulkley Valley-Stikine. I too am grateful for the honour given me by my caucus colleagues to second this motion and for my first speech as an elected member of this House.
Hon. Speaker, I would like to begin by first congratulating you on your election as the Speaker of the House. I would also like to extend such congratulations to the member for Vancouver-Burrard for his election as Deputy Speaker. It is interesting to note not only that the Deputy Speaker is the longest-serving member of the present House, but that I was only in grade 3 when he first got elected.
I want to pay tribute to my predecessors, starting with Mr. Bill Hartley, who served the great constituency of Yale-Lillooet for four successive terms in the sixties and early seventies. Even today, no matter where I travel in my large constituency, whether it is Yale and Logan Lake, Princeton and Lillooet, or Merritt and Boston Bar, people everywhere shower him with superlatives as the best grass-roots politician my constituency has ever elected.
Under Mr. David Barrett, Mr. Hartley served as a cabinet minister. He was followed by a very capable Mr. Tom Waterland, who served his entire three terms in the seventies and early eighties as a cabinet minister under Mr. Bill Bennett. After my election, Mr. Waterland said to me: "Harry, you take care of Yale-Lillooet." Well,
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Tom, as I stand here in these chambers, I assure you that I will do my utmost to proudly serve a great constituency which was once affectionately referred to as "Waterland country."
My immediate predecessor, Mr. Jim Rabbitt, followed adeptly in the footsteps of his predecessors and served the people of Yale-Lillooet with much loyalty. He was Minister of Labour and Consumer Affairs in his last year of office, capping a brilliant political career spanning more than 20 years. Incidentally, the year he was elected alderman in the town of Merritt in the sixties, Mr. Rabbitt was the youngest individual in British Columbia to be afforded such an honour.
Hon. Speaker, as the first Punjabi-Canadian to be elected to this honourable position from the constituency of Yale-Lillooet, it is a great honour to follow in the footsteps of such great individuals.
[3:00]
In my many travels throughout Yale-Lillooet, both before and after my election as MLA, my constituents have repeatedly told me that they want a government which is open, fair and honest. They want a government which listens to the concerns and hardships faced by the ordinary working men and women of this province. People in Gold Bridge, Seaton, Portage, Tulameen and Yale are telling me that they want good, secure, quality jobs and a sustainable environment. They want a secure future for their children. People in Hope, Spences Bridge, Ashcroft and Cache Creek want easier access to post-secondary education and health services for themselves and for their children. The people of Boston Bar, Lytton, Merritt and Princeton want a balanced and fair forestry policy that will ensure the longevity of their communities which are so heavily dependent on the sawmilling industry for their economic survival. The people of Logan Lake want fairer labour laws which will allow the process of free collective bargaining to proceed without government intervention. The Punjabi-speaking community of Yale-Lillooet wants a government which is sympathetic to the pains of transition and integration into Canadian society by new immigrants. The aboriginal people in my constituency want a government that will afford them the respect and the dignity which they deserve, so that they can sit as equals at the table and negotiate a just and honourable settlement of the Indian land question.
As you can see, hon. Speaker, it is not much that my constituents ask except bread and butter at their dinner tables and a secure future for their children. I am proud to say that the throne speech yesterday addressed each of these concerns by ensuring open government, putting people first, providing government that is fair and balanced, and building our children's future.
Hon. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity, if I may, to introduce my guests in attendance today, starting with my family: my very supportive wife, Rani; our seven-month-old son, Ajhmair Bhagat, who incidentally was the one who let out a couple of screams yesterday during the throne speech; my brother Chatter Lali and his wife, Resham; my sister Joey Nann and her husband Gurmit; my other sister Joanie Nann and her husband, Mohan; my niece and nephew Rajwant and Jimmy Lali; and my mother, Rattan Kaur Lali, the proud grandmother of 16 grandchildren. My other guests include my good friends Don Olds, a former New Democrat candidate in Yale-Lillooet in 1983; Larry Derrick, my former constituency association president; and Lawrence Lewco, Paulette Davidson and Karen Bigelow, good friends of mine.
Hon. Speaker, I believe that the people of this province do not necessarily want more from their government; they want better. The people expect a clear plan of action on how this government plans to salvage this province from the economic mess we have inherited. The restraint program, from which this province has never recovered, was based on the belief that if relief was given to the private sector, jobs would be created. This never happened. Instead we got economic disaster and unrestrained budgets. Priorities were shifted. By holding back on much-needed services and projects, development and incomes were reduced, business was lost and the private sector suffered.
Under the last administration the business-as-usual attitude continued, which meant that a select few, a privileged few, obtained access to our resources, often at subsidized rates and low interest, with low infrastructure costs and large tax concessions.
The end result of poor fiscal management of past governments is that we are today saddled with a $20 billion provincial debt. However, I am happy to see in the throne speech that the government intends to take a balanced approach to the economy, get our spending priorities right and not spend money which we do not have.
Hon. Speaker, if we really want to take control of our economic future in this province, we have to rebuild our universities and colleges that were gutted by the past government during the restraint years. We have to ensure that our youths are not turned away because there isn't enough space. We must ensure that the ability to pay does not become the criterion for who can attend post-secondary institutions.
Furthermore, I believe in equal opportunity for all and believe the province ought to be doing much more to promote participation in post-secondary education for those in remote areas like Yale-Lillooet. The cost of post-secondary education to all in the province right now is difficult, but the cost to students outside the lower mainland is outrageous -- or should I say beyond Hope or, more appropriately, on the other side of Hells Gate? Not only do students have to bear the cost of accommodation, but they must also pay transportation costs and the emotional costs of being uprooted from their families and friends.
Aside from the educational advantages to students, the creation of universities in interior areas like Kamloops, Nelson and Prince George would give a tremendous boost to the regional economies. Hon. Speaker, it was my heart's delight to hear the commitment from the throne speech to open the interior of British Columbia through the extension of universities in the areas north and east of Hope.
Yale-Lillooet is a microcosm of British Columbia. It is one of British Columbia's 12 original constituencies. It covers almost 30,000 square kilometres and consists of 42 small rural communities spread out throughout the
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rugged landscape. Yale-Lillooet includes eight municipalities, seven hospital boards, four highways districts, four regional districts, three college boards, three forest districts, four federal ridings and many more overlapping service boundaries. In addition, we have 28 aboriginal bands living on 276 reserves and representing almost 5,000 people. We also have nearly 2,000 Indo-Pakistanis, mainly of Sikh origin from the Punjab. Yale-Lillooet has vibrant Chinese and Japanese communities, as well as German, Italian, Basque, Scottish, Irish, English, Ukrainian and other communities of European descent.
As you can see, hon. Speaker, Yale-Lillooet is truly a multicultural mosaic of 35,000 residents. Furthermore, Yale-Lillooet, which boasts the longest mileage of highways of any constituency in the province, has every major highway in British Columbia pass through it, including the Trans-Canada Highway 1, the Coquihalla Highway, the Yellowhead Highway 5, Highway 99, the Hope-Princeton Highway 3, and Highway 97, which is the longest highway in the world, stretching from Alaska to the tip of South America. We also have three major railroads pass through our riding, including Canadian Pacific, Canadian National and B.C. Rail.
We also have five river systems in Yale-Lillooet, represented by the Nicola, the Similkameen, the Coquihalla, the Thompson and the longest river in Canada, the mighty Fraser. The awe-inspiring scenery ranges from rolling grasslands and rugged canyons to unpolluted lakes and snow-capped mountains, which literally touch the sky. And who can forget the majestic Stein Valley near Lytton standing guard over millennia of tradition?
Hon. Speaker, there isn't a place in mainland British Columbia, nay Canada, which one can access without going through Yale-Lillooet. It has been my home for 26 years. Yale-Lillooet is truly the heart and soul of British Columbia. As you can tell, I am proud to be living in Yale-Lillooet, with its peaceful way of life. I am proud to be a British Columbian. There is no other place in the entire world where I would rather live than beautiful, breathtaking British Columbia. I am proud to be a Canadian.
Like any other child, I grew up watching "Hockey Night in Canada," Les Canadiens de Montreal, Jean Beliveau, Yvan Cournoyer, Guy Lafleur et Larry Robinson. And of course, our beloved Vancouver Canucks. And I am just dying to see the Stanley Cup showdown between les Habitants and the Canucks in this year's play-off finals.
Just as I am proud of my Canadian heritage, I am also proud to be a Sikh, having been born and raised in India with Punjabi as my mother tongue. Believe it or not, English is actually my second language.
Hon. Speaker, I have a lot of friends and relatives and acquaintances watching this event on television. I will take this opportunity to say a quick few words in Punjabi, which I will translate into English.
Sat sri akal. Namaste. S11am-alekham. Bahout dooron aaye ha. Aur hindustani mein "bari door se aaye hein." Oh bhee koi din see jadhon is des wich aaon noon sanoon manah see ya ijazat nahin see mildi. Par ajh tusan de char members is parliament which elect hoe hun.
Literally, the words bari doron aaye ha mean: "We have come a long, long way." There was a time when nationals of India were not permitted to immigrate to Canada, but today there sit among you in this Parliament four elected members with origins in India.
If the Komagata Maru affair was a black mark against our proud history as Canadians, today should be marked as a day of crowning glory in multiethnic and multiracial relations. Not only has Canadian society accepted us; we have also accepted Canadian society. The member for Esquimalt-Metchosin, the Minister of Labour and Consumer Affairs, paved the way in 1986, followed by the member for Vancouver-Kensington, the member for Okanagan East and yours truly, the member for Yale-Lillooet.
As I mentioned earlier, hon. Speaker, Yale-Lillooet is a vast land of many resources. However, over the last dozen years Yale-Lillooet has fallen on hard times, with layoffs in the forest industry and closures of mines. As a result, the unemployment rate has consistently remained the highest in the province -- rarely dipping below 15 percent, but almost always remaining around 17 percent. This figure does not take into account the almost 10 percent of the working-age population on welfare in my constituency.
While the lower mainland, lower Island region and Kelowna areas are bursting at the seams with growth -- almost too much growth -- rural British Columbia, with so many small towns and villages spread all over the interior and north, has been sadly neglected in the past. Our forest industry is a shambles. Our highways and bridges are in a desperate state of disrepair. The advent of the Coquihalla Highway has had a tremendous negative effect on the tourism industry in the communities along Highway 3 and the Trans-Canada Highway in my constituency.
Hon. Speaker, I have approached and will continue to approach my cabinet colleagues on the specific issues in my constituency in the next months and years. Whether it is upgrading the bridge at Hope, replacing the one at Lytton or tackling the Whipsaw summit project, the people of Yale-Lillooet can rest knowing that the Minister of Transportation and Highways will receive yet another visit from me on these issues, and on other issues such as downtown revitalization in Lillooet, the B.C. Rail crossing and shooting gallery on Highway 99, the slide between Lytton and Lillooet, danger spots on Highway 97C between Merritt and Logan Lake, upgrading the Hope-Princeton Highway and the Trans-Canada Highway through the Fraser Canyon, downtown revitalization in Logan Lake and numerous other projects.
I will also be talking to the Minister of Tourism to create tourism circle routes in the northern, western and southern parts of my riding, keeping Lillooet, Princeton, Ashcroft and Cache Creek in mind, respectively. I will be approaching the Minister of Economic Development, Small Business and Trade, the minister responsible for B.C. Hydro and the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources to explore the potential
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of the various energy production proposals originating in the Fraser Canyon and the Similkameen.
In addition, I will press the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs to continue to communicate with the first nations people of British Columbia and achieve a negotiated settlement of the Indian land question, so that they may not only end the valley-by-valley conflict in our resource lands but also end the cycle of poverty, take control of their own economic destiny and enjoy a standard of living on par with the rest of Canada.
[3:15]
Furthermore, I will ask the Minister of Forests to establish a fair system of allocation of our forest resources and to halt the export of raw logs out of Yale-Lillooet until the needs of local sawmills have been met first.
There are many more issues which I will be putting forth as time goes on.
Hon. Speaker, I would like to take a few minutes to pay tribute to a lifelong resident of Yale-Lillooet who recently passed away. His name was Allan Collett. Allan Collett was a great British Columbian, and his name is an institution in Merritt, the Nicola Valley and the many communities of the interior. He was the longest-serving mayor of Merritt, serving 27 years, starting in the early fifties. Even though he had not sought re-election since the late seventies, people still thought of Allan Collett as mayor. To this day I have people from other parts of the province ask me if Allan Collett is still mayor. I have many fond memories of him. I was his paper boy in the early seventies. He is sadly missed by everyone who knew him. Mayor Allan Collett, I salute thee.
To the hon. Premier, the chief executive officer of the corporation of British Columbia, for taking on such a huge responsibility and personal sacrifice, I salute thee.
To hon. members of the executive council, your many tasks which keep you very busy -- at least the rest of us backbenchers do get to spend some time with our families -- for taking on your responsibilities, I salute thee.
To the leader of the official opposition and to the leader of the third party, whose jobs as opposition leaders are not only to keep the government honest but also to be true to yourselves, I salute thee.
To government and opposition MLAs -- indeed, all of us who have been elected -- each of us having made many huge sacrifices in our personal lives in order to serve the public for the next four years, thee I salute.
To my wife, Rani, son Ajhmair, my mother, my brothers and their wives, my sisters and their husbands: thank you for always being there for me. To my constituents, my supporters, my friends, my campaign team and my workers: thank you, because I couldn't have done it without you.
A special thanks to all my nieces and nephews: Sarbjit, Ramin, Veena, Tina, Roger, Rajwant, Neil, Jimmy, Parveen, Nindi, Banveer, Michael, Danny, Harminder and Satnam. These were my foot soldiers who did all the folding of leaflets, stuffing envelopes, licking stamps and delivering leaflets door-to-door to almost every household in the constituency, spread over 30,000 square miles -- not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions. I thank you.
I would like to thank God for giving me the courage, the spirit and the will to take on the responsibility of public service.
Last but not least, hon. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to my deceased father, Bhagat Singh Lali, who passed away at the age of 83 on June 1, 1990. My father always encouraged me to achieve great things and was always supportive if I failed. He was very proud of me when I became an alderman. Unfortunately, he never realized his dream of seeing me elected as MLA. To my father, wherever you are -- and I know you are someplace good -- thanks for the memories.
In closing, I would like to thank my caucus colleagues for giving me the opportunity to become the first member of Sikh origin to second the Speech from the Throne. It indeed was a great honour.
G. Wilson: Madam Speaker, as we embark upon this session of legislation, on behalf of the people of British Columbia may I first of all congratulate you in your position as Speaker of this House, and also congratulate the Premier and his colleagues in the formation of this government for the people of British Columbia.
We have heard the agenda laid down in the Speech from the Throne, and there is much in it that requires a great deal of thought, consideration and review. We are at a time when we are at a crossroads in the province of British Columbia, a time when, as has so clearly been articulated from the hon. members on the government side of the House today, the people of British Columbia want to have a new and different approach to government. They want to have a government that is more honest, more open and more direct.
I believe also that we are at a time in British Columbia where there is a need for real leadership and vision. This province, as a component part of this country Canada, is crying out for leadership that will speak out for this province as being an equal partner in a united country. Over the next months and weeks we will be tested sorely on that question.
There is much I would like to say on the question of the Speech from the Throne, far more than I can say in the hour as it grows late today. I would therefore move adjournment of this debate.
G. Wilson moved adjournment of the debate.
Motion approved.
The Speaker tabled the 1990 annual report of the British Columbia Legislative Library.
Hon. G. Clark moved adjournment of the House.
Motion approved.
The House adjourned at 3:23 p.m.
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