[ Page 2091 ]

The House met at 10:07 a.m.

Prayers.

F. Gingell: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to raise my point of privilege. I believe that I can establish a prima facie case, on the face of the record, that the member for Saanich South breached the privileges of this House by misleading this assembly. I have attempted to keep my presentation brief and non-argumentative, in accordance with the rules.

Should a committee to investigate be struck, I will bring evidence that I believe establishes that the misleading was deliberate.

Interjection.

F. Gingell: Mr. Speaker, true indeed -- not in my notes the second time around, but further evidence has come since the last time I raised this subject. The issue is the revised forecast for the 1995-96 fiscal year, tabled by the member as part of the budget estimates for 1996-97. This revised forecast showed a surplus for '95-96 of $16 million. Included in the revenue information is corporation income tax of $1.315 billion, which amount was overstated by $90 million.

The accounting policy of this province is determined by Treasury Board. For your information, as exhibit 1, I attach a copy of page B10 of the 1995-96 Public Accounts, which summarizes these policies. I can assure the Speaker that the wording is the same in the previous year's accounts. Note that section 1(c) states: "Revenue. All revenues are recorded on an accrual basis except when accruals cannot be determined with a reasonable degree of certainty or when the estimation is impractical. The exception is corporate income tax, which is recorded on a cash basis."

I attach as exhibit 2 an excerpt of the 1996 estimates, wherein the revised forecast of corporation income taxes for the '95-96 fiscal was reported at $1.315 billion. Note that this forecast was tabled on June 26 by the member for Saanich South, a full 87 days after the end of the fiscal year.

I attach, as exhibit 3, page B31 of Public Accounts for the fiscal year '95-96, which shows that the actual corporation income tax income for the year was $1.225 billion, a full $90 million short of the government's revised forecast.

I attach, as exhibit 4, page 10 of the 1996 budget report, which indicates that an estimate of unassessed and unreceived taxes had been included in the revised forecast.

These documents show that the revised forecast budget surplus of $16 million reported for 1995-96 was not only incorrect but contrary to the accounting policy and practices of this government. They contravened their own accounting policy in their determination to report a surplus. Of all the income sources, corporation income tax is the one that is not subject to forecast or estimation after the fiscal year is over; it's simply the amount of money they have received. It is clearly the responsibility and duty of the minister to ensure that financial statements and other information are accurate to the best of his information, and conform to the accounting practices and policies determined by Treasury Board.

From the documents I have tabled today, I believe that I have made a prima facie case of breach of privilege. The same facts, of course, are applicable and relevant to the revised forecast tabled on April 30 by the former member for Oak Bay-Gordon Head. I am prepared, Mr. Speaker, to move the necessary motion, should you find a prima facie case exists.

The Speaker: I thank the member for his comments and recognize the Government House Leader.

Hon. J. MacPhail: Thank you, hon. Speaker -- and I appreciate the presentation of the hon. member opposite.

There is no question that he is a quick study. He learned from his last errors, in terms of making the same presentation to you last year. I do want to say, though, that these documents were available to the hon. member when he made that presentation to you last time. And, of course, you, hon. Speaker, ruled against it. There was not a prima facie case.

It's a very interesting presentation. It's one that I know the hon. member has a great deal of expertise in, in determining accounting practices. He is very interested in that. He sometimes confuses private corporations with public accounting policies, with the ability to forecast. He also confuses. . . .

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order, members, please.

Hon. J. MacPhail: He also confuses. . . .

The Speaker: Excuse me, minister. Clearly, one of the most important matters we ever have to discuss in this chamber is the matter of privilege, and surely at a time like that we can all extend courtesy from one side to the other and, indeed, hear what submissions are being made.

Minister, please proceed.

Hon. J. MacPhail: The confusion of the hon. member in terms of Treasury Board policy and accounting practices rests in the documents that the hon. member has presented in his case. I would merely say to you, hon. Speaker, that while it is an interesting discussion that the hon. member once again brings forward, in their attempt to somehow put the final touches on a case they have lost over and over and over, you have already made a ruling on this. There are rulings from July '93. There are rulings from February 1984, May 1, 1984; and March 19, 1986, in the Speaker's determination that a prima facie case has to be presented before there can be any move forward to the full House debating the motion of privilege.

These are not new documents. These documents were available before. While I agree, from a distance, that the hon. member may have his own view about accounting practices and the policies of Treasury Board, he simply isn't right.

[10:15]

The Speaker: On the matter of privilege, Opposition House Leader?

Interjection.

The Speaker: I would remind the member that the practice in terms of privilege motions is point-counterpoint, but I will entertain his comment.

[ Page 2092 ]

G. Farrell-Collins: I'd be glad to hear yet another counterpoint from the government if they choose to do so. I will be very brief in stating that the member knows not of which she speaks.

The Speaker: I'm sorry, member. I am going to cut this off because, as I say, our practice here is that on a privilege motion, we have the point made by the person raising the matter of privilege; we have a response to the matter of privilege. We do not have a debate. Notwithstanding the member's comment that the government may also have another kick at the can, that is all we allow on a privilege debate -- point-counterpoint; end of discussion. At this point, it is now the Chair's responsibility -- I'm sorry, member -- to adjudicate the material presented and make a ruling accordingly.

Interjections.

The Speaker: This is not a debate, members. We have two sides presenting their particular cases, and that is the end of the matter.

Interjection.

The Speaker: I'm sorry, member for Delta South. I am assuming you are going to be on the same matter, unless this is a point of order.

F. Gingell: Mr. Speaker, I wonder if I'm allowed to say one sentence to clarify or deal with the statement made. . .

The Speaker: No, I'm sorry, member.

F. Gingell: . . .by the House Leader, which is incorrect.

The Speaker: Delta South, I'm sorry. Delta South, you are out of order.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Delta South, you are out of order.

Interjections.

The Speaker: I hope members will all see now precisely the reason for the ruling. The ruling is in order to maintain some level of civility and possible resolution of debate, rather than simply one side arguing and pointing fingers at the other. That's the reason for the ruling, and I'm chastising the member for Delta South for persisting when I told him he was out of order. I dearly hope that will not happen again, and that is the end of the matter.

I'm now going to go to. . . .

Interjection.

The Speaker: Thank you, member, I appreciate that.

I'm now going to go to the member for Matsqui on another motion of privilege, I believe.

M. de Jong: Hon. Speaker, you will recall that yesterday I did seek to reserve my right to proceed on a privilege motion, and I seek leave to do that now. I have some material to support the motion I intend to bring, and I would like to table that and the supporting documentation with you, as well as a summary of the brief comments that I have in support of the motion I'm bringing today.

I will be explaining to you why, in my view, the materials establish a prima facie case, again, for the argument that the member for Saanich South and the former Finance minister and member for Oak Bay-Gordon Head, Ms. Cull, deliberately and wilfully misled this assembly by claiming specifically in this House that the 1996-97 budget would have a surplus of $87 million, when important and clear ministry documents that I have tabled with you -- all obtained through freedom-of-information channels in October last year, after this House had adjourned -- were projecting a deficit. I'm going to refer to a couple of the 11 specific documents I've included in the package submitted to you.

There is the Treasury Board memo dated February 1995 referring to "emerging fiscal problems," and the memo states that the "problem is that a fairly large deficit -- $600 million to $800 million -- is likely" for the 1996-97 budget. That is contained at tab 1 of the materials I have provided. At tab 6 there is the Finance ministry document entitled "1996-97 Budget: How It's Shaping Up," and it points to a deficit of between $500 million and $1 billion. At tab 8 is the document that I direct your attention to, a Treasury Board memo dated March 8, 1996, declaring "Economy Tanks in Fourth Quarter: 1996 Forecast at Risk."

Despite those and other documents that I have submitted to you, Mr. Speaker -- despite those warnings -- the former member for Oak Bay-Gordon Head introduced a budget stating that she had eliminated the deficit "completely, producing a surplus. This year we have a second consecutive surplus." Those were her words on April 28, 1996.

We have obtained, and it is contained at tab 10 of the documents I have submitted, the Ministry of Finance's transition documents prepared to brief the new Finance minister, the member for Saanich South. It is dated May 22, 1996. These documents state: "The $87 million surplus shown for 1996-97 will be difficult to achieve. A deficit of $1.038 billion is now expected." That document, again, is dated May 22, 1996.

Last summer, on June 26, 1996, the member for Saanich South continued the charade begun by his predecessor and stood up in this House and projected an $87 million surplus. His words were: "Our budget accomplishes all this, hon. Speaker, while projecting a surplus of $87 million. . . ." In the face of all of the documents I have referred to, I am making these submissions today, seeking that a committee be struck to examine the member's conduct to determine whether he has, as I believe, purposely and deliberately misled this House, thereby breaching the privileges of this House.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order, hon. members, please. I must hear the member's case. Please proceed, hon. member.

M. de Jong: This House functions -- and it only functions, as you yourself have pointed out on several occasions -- when all hon. members can rely on the validity and truthfulness of what we are being told.

Hon. J. MacPhail: Point of order. The member has been doing extremely well in keeping to prima facie. He's moving quickly, as he is wont to do, into argument.

[ Page 2093 ]

The Speaker: I am sure the member will take that caution. Please proceed, hon. member -- and I am assuming you are wrapping up quickly.

M. de Jong: I am, and I always take the Government House Leader's cautions seriously -- even when she is wearing red.

This place functions when we can rely upon what we are being told. My submission to you is that in this case that has not happened, and that a committee must be struck to examine the conduct and the comments of the member for Saanich South. The prima facie case is made out in the documents we have submitted to you, obtained last fall via freedom of information. In my humble submission, they represent a compelling and prima facie case for striking the committee that is being requested today.

Hon. J. MacPhail: I thank the member opposite for his thoughtful presentation. I note that the documents presented are about one-tenth of the documents that the hon. member got last October, in terms of freedom of information that he refers to. So I would appreciate it if they would actually submit to you, hon. Speaker, all of the documents they received under freedom of information at that time and that they be part of the prima facie case.

It is interesting to note that the documents they refer to. . . . Really, without the understanding of how a budgeting process is done, because of their lack of experience in government, somehow these documents get interpreted. . . .

Interjections.

The Speaker: Hon. members, no comment is required from the Chair, I'm sure. Please let us hear one another.

Hon. J. MacPhail: You know, this is not new debate, hon. Speaker. This party opposite has been debating this issue for the last nine months. It would have been easier to have a baby in the time that it's taken them to reach success in making this argument. The debate has been in the public domain, and we've had the debate in this House over and over. The documents presented are one-tenth of the documents upon which government relies. The hon. member for Saanich South has explained to the members opposite, both publicly and privately, the documents about how a budget is put together. The fact of the matter is that these members opposite know full well -- or should know full well -- about the nature of the forest industry revenues, corporate income tax revenues, and oil and gas revenues.

G. Farrell-Collins: On a point of order, I would pass the member's previous caution back to her that she is now tending toward argumentation.

Hon. J. MacPhail: Fair enough.

There is a requirement to rely on the full expertise of how budgets are put together and how Treasury Board policy applies, etc. My point is that these documents have been chosen, I'm sure with great selectivity, to avoid the other matters which I bring to the hon. member's attention right now, in terms of forest industry revenue.

The member for Saanich South is on record, both publicly and in Hansard, with responses in terms of the prima facie case that was attempted to be put forward by the member opposite. It is important that you examine the record of Hansard and examine the record of documents that need to be tabled in whole. I would take that opportunity to ensure that all of those documents, not the selected few, are before you.

The Speaker: I want to thank all members for their submissions. As is the practice in this House, the Chair will take all of those matters under consideration, review the evidence and make a report as quickly as humanly possible.

Hon. J. MacPhail: I would take this time to advise the House that we will be sitting tomorrow, Wednesday. I call Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne.

J. Kwan: 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 Honour for the gracious speech which Your Honour has addressed to us at the opening of the present session."

Hon. Speaker and hon. members, I am proud to move this Speech from the Throne. The throne speech delivered by the hon. Lieutenant-Governor began by paying tribute to various British Columbians. One of those people mentioned, Bruce Eriksen, was a friend and an inspiration to many residents of Vancouver-Mount Pleasant. Bruce was known as a fighter for equality and justice. He was a man with integrity and tenacity. In his quest for humanity, he brought dignity, respect and recognition to low-income people.

In Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, Bruce Eriksen will always be remembered as the man who transformed skid row into a neighbourhood called the downtown east side. While I and many others grieve his loss, I am comforted to know that Bruce Eriksen Place at Main and Hastings, a social housing project for urban singles, financed by our government, will be the symbol of the spirit of Bruce Eriksen. His legacy as the champion for the poor will continue to flourish in the hearts of all the people whose lives he touched.

In addition to recognizing that the heart and soul of British Columbia rests on the pool of resourceful and dynamic people in this province, the throne speech also recognized the importance of the strategic geographic location of this province. British Columbia is increasingly being recognized as the natural gateway in North America to the Pacific Rim. By being chosen as the host province of the APEC conference in this Year of the Asia-Pacific, British Columbians have the unique opportunity to showcase to 35 countries the social, economic and cultural talents of Canadians.

Parallel in importance to the APEC conference is the fourth World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention. Again, as the host province of this important event, vast opportunities will be provided to British Columbians to highlight our talents, services and products to the Asia-Pacific.

Additional cultural and business activities will occupy the corridors of our diverse communities, especially in Chinatown -- a heritage district of international interest located in the heart of Vancouver-Mount Pleasant. These upcoming events reaffirm British Columbia's pivotal role within the economies of the Asia-Pacific and create increased business opportunities for our province in the future.

[10:30]

The importance of British Columbia within the

[ Page 2094 ]

global economy was recognized when the hon. Premier was invited as the only North American to speak at the Europe-East Asia Economic Summit in November 1996. During this visit to Hong Kong in Guangdong province, B.C.'s sister province in the People's Republic of China, the Premier and I worked hard to promote and elevate the status of British Columbia. Indeed, British Columbia is a province that is blessed with many advantages: its rich, dynamic people; its strategic geographic location; its abundant natural resources; and its stunning natural beauty, to name just a few. In order to maximize these strengths, our government has chosen to focus the legislative agenda on creating and sustaining decent-paying jobs, enhancing our health care and education systems, protecting our environment, and entrenching the principle of equality and justice.

On the issue of jobs, our government believes the best solution to most social problems is access to decent-paying jobs. The heart of fostering self-confidence, pride and dignity is to ensure that all individuals have choices and opportunities to be self-sufficient. I am proud that British Columbia has led the country in job creation over the last five years. Our government has made and will continue to make important moves in a range of areas, including forestry, fisheries, tourism, film and the construction industries.

Two significant achievements that will ensure the viability of our forest sector are the softwood lumber agreement with the United States and progressive environmental measures. Our actions taken to preserve, protect and enhance this natural resource include the completion of the forest inventory review, a comprehensive Forest Practices Code and the establishment of Forest Renewal B.C. To further build on this work, our government is committed to a jobs and timber accord that will create new job opportunities by stimulating value-added production in the forest industry. We are targeting to create 21,000 new forest sector jobs by the year. . . .

Interjections.

J. Kwan: I must digress for a moment. You know, it's actually quite amazing that the people of British Columbia elect all of us to represent them. I hesitate to think -- for all the people who are in the gallery today, all the folks who are watching us and the behaviour of the members opposite -- of what shame they must feel. The creation of jobs is one of the most important things for everybody in this province, yet it appears that members opposite want to make a mockery of every government effort in creating jobs. The creation of 21,000 new forest sector jobs by the year 2001 is an ambitious target, and our government is committed to creating 21,000 new forest sector jobs.

Fisheries is another vital natural resource in British Columbia. Our government will continue to be vigorous and forceful in demanding a fair, effective salmon treaty. We will continue to seek an agreement with Ottawa to expand provincial leadership and responsibility in fish conservation and management. In this legislative session, our government will bring in legislation designed to conserve our fish stocks by protecting fish habitat. In other sectors, legislation will be introduced to maximize the supply of hydroelectric power to create jobs that will strengthen our economy and benefit all British Columbians. Partnerships will be created with business, community and government to facilitate further development in the tourism sector. Action will be taken to support the film industry, so that increased opportunities will be afforded to local talent in this fast-growing industry. Last year alone, thousands of British Columbians were directly employed in $537 million worth of productions.

Legislative changes will also be made to support the construction sector. In recognizing the diverse communities that make up British Columbia, our government is committed to developing regional job strategies to meet local needs and local priorities. Projects such as the redevelopment of Woodward's, the trade and convention centre, the Lions Gate Bridge, the education capital plan, the hospital expansions and health facility improvements, the restructuring of Canadian Airlines and many others contribute significantly to creating vibrant, sustainable and healthy communities throughout British Columbia. Our government will continue to build our province by investing in British Columbia.

As we strengthen our infrastructure and pursue economic growth, we must take care to protect our environment. In the area of environmental protection, I am proud that British Columbia is a leader in the creation of new parks, the protection of wilderness and the improvement of forest practices. These combined efforts have contributed to improving the conservation of our ecosystems for future generations. This record will be built on in this legislative session. Legislation will be brought in to protect approximately 70 more parks. Emphasis will be placed on protecting marine ecosystems in order to conserve our fish stocks. New measures will be introduced to safeguard our air and water quality.

Action will be taken to expand the deposit-and-refund system for beverage containers, thus combining the goals of environmental stewardship and job creation. This legislation will allow for the expansion of projects like United We Can, a recycling pilot project in my riding, where the work of binners is recognized and rewarded. This is an important project, as it reduces materials in the landfill and extends work to people who may have been deemed unemployable. Indeed, our government is committed to a broad range of job creation initiatives to meet the needs of each unique community. To afford opportunities for self-sufficiency is an important component in creating healthy communities.

The health of our communities must also be nurtured by a solid medicare system. Our government recognizes that medicare is one of the most important services offered by the government. We will defend B.C. from two-tier, Americanized health care and will move the focus of health care delivery from crisis intervention to prevention. To achieve this goal, we must lay the groundwork to expand, not reduce, the scope of our system to include vital areas of home and community care, and legislation to underline the province's commitment to medicare by redirecting costs from administration to health care services, by ensuring that we all have access to medical services no matter where we live, by developing programs to ensure that consumers get the medicine they need and by focusing on preventive strategies by challenging the tobacco industry. Our government knows protecting our health care system is vital to the sanctity of being Canadian.

Equally important is the enhancement of our educational system. Education and training opportunities are Canada's greatest lever of class and wealth. We need to commit to education that supports continuous learning so that all British Columbians, particularly our young people, have the skills they need to find decent jobs in the competitive global economy. I am proud that our government added tens of thousands of spaces to our public schools and 9,000 new post-secondary spaces, along with the continuation of freezing tuition fees to protect access to education.

[ Page 2095 ]

In addition to educational tools, we need to work with students, teachers and parents to provide training, apprenticeships and advanced education in the aboriginal community, where the suicide rate, the teen pregnancy rate, the school dropout rate, the unemployment and the incarceration rates are unacceptably higher than in any other community. These opportunities are vital to the survival of the original owners of this land. For the aboriginal people, who are rightly demanding that we negotiate the treaties necessary to end their second-class status, our government is committed to working towards bringing the Nisga'a treaty process to a successful conclusion and to begin working on other agreements.

Instead of a system that traps people in poverty, we need to give people the tools and support they need to enhance their quality of life, to build better lives for themselves and for their families. Our children and youth deserve the chance for a secure, prosperous and fulfilling future. Targeting high levels of youth unemployment, our government has initiated programs to generate 12,000 new jobs for youth in the coming year. This work needs to be coupled with initiatives to break the poverty cycle. I am proud that British Columbia led the way in creating a child benefit for working parents with low incomes and modest incomes.

Our government will continue to provide leadership by ensuring that all levels of government work together to fight child poverty by supporting low-income families, whether on welfare or in the workforce, and it will continue to push for a new national program to wipe out child poverty. Additionally, we will bring in important measures to strengthen the province's ability to enforce child support orders and combat domestic violence. By addressing the needs of women, we are also safeguarding the needs of children. By investing in children and youth, we are investing in the future of British Columbia. The vision of this government is to build on our strength. Our government is committed to working in harmony with the people of British Columbia, young and old, from all walks of life and from all backgrounds, to enrich our lives.

[10:45]

Hon. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to summarize my speech in Cantonese. [Cantonese spoken.]

I am delighted to move the throne speech. The throne speech addressed many important issues, and it is going to ensure that all members of the House work hard in creating a better future for all British Columbians. Jobs are vitally important to all of us in our self-sufficiency, our dignity and pride. And I am very proud of this government, which will work relentlessly in all sectors to ensure that we all have opportunities and choices in the future.

The Speaker: I thank the member for her comments and recognize now the member for North Vancouver-Lonsdale, who, I understand, has an introduction.

K. Whittred: Seated in the gallery today are 45 air cadets from my riding of North Vancouver-Lonsdale. They are accompanied by their training officer, Mr. Alguire. Would the House please join me in making them welcome.

B. Goodacre: It is indeed a privilege and an honour for me to rise today to second the Speech from the Throne. As a member for the northwesternmost and largest riding in this province, this Speech from the Throne contains many things very relevant to the well-being and the future of my riding. The focus. . . .

Interjections.

B. Goodacre: The casino in Carcross is in the Yukon, but it's close.

The thing about this speech that is most relevant to my particular part of the world, of course, is the strong emphasis on resources and the environment and first nations.

T. Nebbeling: And jobs in Alberta.

B. Goodacre: Thank you, member.

I want to rise to pay tribute to the government today for showing great courage in the direction that we have chosen for this province. Now, government has to play a very big role in the future of this province, and our government has shown a willingness to take on that role: the role of creator of opportunity, the role of leveller of opportunities. We realize that in this economy there is a main focus on jobs.

Interjections.

B. Goodacre: Listen to these guys.

The greatest need facing our economy today is the need for work for our young people. We're faced with a situation in the western world right now where the world of work is constantly evolving, constantly changing. For those people opposite who are thinking of taking up reading as an occupation sometime in the future, yes, there are some wonderful things being said about the future of work. We have been blessed to have great thinkers like Jeremy Rifkin visit our province and share with us some very deep and thoughtful perspectives about the future of work. And this government is taking these concerns very seriously.

As you look through the Speech from the Throne, you will find in that document a concern for young people. You will find in there a commitment to private and public investment in the future of this province. In particular, I would draw this House's attention to three particular initiatives: the Asia Pacific Initiative mentioned by my colleague from Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, as well as the initiative with construction workers, a move towards greater apprenticeship development in that industry -- something that has been sadly lacking in the past -- and also a new initiative in the film industry.

In my riding we are blessed with some of the most wonderful scenery on the entire face of the earth. Those of you who get the opportunity to see nature films from time to time will recognize that my particular corner of the world has attracted moviemakers and cinematographers from around the world, and it continues to do so. We certainly look forward to more development in that area over the coming years.

Interjection.

B. Goodacre: If the eastern part of the province were as gorgeous as the western part, of course, they would see more of this as well.

Our commitment is also to small business. We are going to have a second year in a row of tax relief for small business, recognizing as we do that small business is, in fact, the engine of job development in this province. Another boon to small business, of course, is our commitment to continually keep the minimum wage in line with the cost of living.

Interjection.

[ Page 2096 ]

B. Goodacre: The commitment to the fair-wage policy -- thank you very much, member opposite -- and to the minimum-wage policy has led to job growth in this province through the fact that the people who are in the lower income levels have more disposable income than in jurisdictions where the minimum wage does not allow them any discretionary income whatsoever.

The regional jobs strategy is an innovation in this particular speech that would probably be lost on the other side, but this government does have a commitment to regional development. As you look around at who is sitting at this side of the Legislature, you will understand that resource-dependent communities have faith that the party that has formed government will in fact be the party that will represent their interests, and the regional jobs strategy is developed to do just that. As we move into the twenty-first century, this government will take the necessary steps to ensure that jobs from the resources of this province will be there for the people who live in those regions and in my region.

Interjection.

B. Goodacre: My goodness! These people across the way are absolutely fixated on our sister province. I'm sure they would be welcome there.

Another issue that this government takes seriously -- and the people opposite less so -- is the environment, sustainable development. This government has taken environmental protection as its number one priority.

Interjection.

B. Goodacre: Thank you for raising that -- absolutely wonderful.

With population growth in British Columbia, we have to take very strong measures to ensure that as we provide the economic opportunities for a growing population, we do not sacrifice our environment in so doing. In this throne speech, this government has once again shown a strong commitment to the environment of this province.

Interjection.

B. Goodacre: The Forest Practices Code, far from. . . . The members opposite understand very little about anything and have no understanding whatsoever that the future of the resource-dependent communities of this province depends on protection of the ecosystems, upon which we depend for future resources. If we had followed the rape-and-plunder policies of the members opposite, we would have no future in the resource-dependent communities. Thanks to our government, we do have a future. Stream rehabilitation was unheard of until we started bringing in decent legislation. The Forest Practices Code has brought us light-years forward in our ability to protect not only the forest resource but also the valuable fisheries resource that depends on fish-bearing streams where the forest industry operates. In the past we have neglected to ensure that the streams of this province have been protected. That oversight has been taken care of. We are looking for better policies in the future from this government, and this throne speech is bringing us in that direction.

In the area of waste management, I am very happy to see in the throne speech that something that will help us in our small towns in the north is the beverage container policy. We're going to be improving it so that we can divert beverage containers away from landfills and into the recycling stream. I'm really happy to see that in our throne speech.

[11:00]

Interjections.

B. Goodacre: Mr. Speaker, it's very interesting to give a speech where half the House doesn't really quite know what we're talking about.

Interjections.

B. Goodacre: Let me rephrase that last comment, Mr. Speaker -- slightly less than half of this House.

Let me now talk a bit about the Nisga'a treaty. For those members opposite who are unaware, the Nisga'a are a first nation living in the Nass Valley, in the northern part of this province. We are now in the process of finalizing a treaty with the Nisga'a nation. Hopefully, that treaty will come before this House in the not too distant future, and I certainly hope that the members of this House have the good sense to pay attention to the historic significance of that document and treat it accordingly -- and to treaty-making in general. The members opposite continue to show a tremendous lack of awareness about what is contained in the treaty with the Nisga'a that we're dealing with. I encourage each and every member opposite in the House to take the time to avail themselves of the necessary information to form a qualified judgment on that treaty.

With respect to other treaties in this province, the throne speech has pointed in a direction that we are going to continue, along the road to making fair and just treaties in this province. One of the big things we really have to pay attention to, as we move forward in the treaties -- and this is bearing in mind the tremendous need among first nations in this province for social development -- is the capacity-building necessary for these communities to take unto themselves the self-governing possibilities that treaties offer. As time progresses, let's all hope that we have the ability and the good sense to work with the first nations of this province to alleviate some of those horrible social statistics that we're faced with each and every day of our lives.

An Hon. Member: And they will get worse with gambling.

B. Goodacre: We have some really strong messages coming from the other side that are not entirely inaccurate. I congratulate the member for West Vancouver-Garibaldi for being so aware of certain aspects of life in this province and would encourage him to widen his knowledge thereof.

On the whole question of the future of first nations in this province, it has to be built on a partnership of recognition and respect -- indeed, respect for the role that first nations can play in the stewardship of the future of this province.

Let me now turn my attention to the issue that was raised across the House: one law for all. Now, any person living in the country of Canada, knowing anything about the constitution of this great land -- the constitution for which thousands have died -- would recognize that this is a land of opportunity and diversity. This is a land that accepts and respects all. This is not a land that forces one point of view on all people in the country. This is a land of diversity, and our strength is in our diversity.

[ Page 2097 ]

Mr. Speaker, the young people of British Columbia are indeed our future. We have a very interesting paradox facing society at this time. Simultaneously, you will find high levels of both optimism and despair amongst young people surveyed today. It's a very disconcerting disparity between those young people who feel very comfortable about the future and those young people who do not.

As we all recognize, education is indeed the gateway to change for young people. This government, more so than any other government in North America at this time, is doing in education those kinds of positive things that will lead to a future for the young people of this province. This throne speech reiterates the guarantee for youth in this province. The effectiveness of this guarantee is going to be proven through the commitment of this government to the young people of the province, and I don't for a minute doubt that the young people three years from now are going to be the strong beneficiaries of four years of very powerful and good government. The involvement of young people is not only in the world of work but also in the world of decision-making. The Youth Forum that will be held again this year with the Premier is our commitment to the young people of this province that they are important to this government and will continue to be important.

Before we move off the subject of youth, Mr. Speaker, let me point out to the House as a point of information that 65 percent of the membership of first nations in this province are under the age of 25. We have a very interesting challenge in front of us in dealing with a demographic situation in that community that is presenting some special opportunities as well as some special challenges, inasmuch as a large percentage of these young people are not living in their home communities but are living in urban areas. The matters referred to in this throne speech indicate that progress in this area is something we can all look forward to.

Now let me direct my attention to the families of this province and again congratulate this government for showing leadership to the country of Canada in providing extra support to the working poor through the family bonus. The Ministry for Children and Families is providing some hope for the future for the families of this province, especially those families who are faced with circumstances at this point in time that are making it difficult for them to cope from day to day.

The whole question of families, poverty and substance abuse leads us again to the question of family violence. Through its throne speech, this government is addressing the question of family violence. The time for zero tolerance for family violence is long overdue in this province, and I trust we will see positive progress made in that area over the coming months and years. Along with. . . .

Interjections.

B. Goodacre: It's the part on family violence. Just read the page there.

Interjection.

B. Goodacre: Thank you, Mr. Member for Matsqui.

To bring some light to the member's question, the ministries responsible for families and children and for women's equality have been developing effective programs for the treatment of abusive males. They have been developing excellent programs for counselling families who are under threat. These programs are obviously going to continue and will hopefully be strengthened in the coming months. As we all know, families form the basis of our society, and without healthy families, of course, we cannot have a healthy society.

In closing, I again want to thank the government for bringing forward a most excellent blueprint for the coming year and the coming session. I trust that as the days go on, the members opposite will come to recognize that if they really want to contribute to British Columbia, they will get on with the job of supporting some of this absolutely wonderful direction we're taking in making B.C. a more positive place to be and live and raise our children.

G. Campbell: I appreciate the opportunity to respond to the throne speech, which was tabled by the government yesterday. I have to tell you that I think this is an important chamber we all sit in and stand in and have a chance to speak in and discuss public issues and public policy. I have now had an opportunity to respond to a number of throne speeches, and I look at the throne speech as a time when government can actually lay out a course of action and a vision for the province.

Unfortunately, what we had from the government yesterday was more of the same old rhetoric, the same old ideas, the same old confusion about where they're going and why they're going there, what they're doing and why they're doing it. Unfortunately for the people of British Columbia, this government has not listened and has not learned through a period of time that I think has been unprecedented in the history of the province.

[11:15]

We are fortunate to be standing and to be sitting here today, because we were elected in a democratic society. This government has done more to undermine our democratic institutions in British Columbia than has any government in the history of the province. When this throne speech came out, I would have expected that this government would have understood that it is wrong to gag British Columbians to stop them from participating in the political process. I would have thought that this government would have immediately come forward and said they planned legislation to repeal the gag laws that have tried to silence British Columbians. This side of the House will not stand for the silencing of British Columbians, and you can count on us bringing up the voices of British Columbians, day in and day out, from across this province, in an effort to make this government listen and learn.

This government introduced a gag law that was meant to stop political parties from fully participating in the public process. This government introduced an election act that was intended to stop full discussion of all public issues that take place. This throne speech is just another example of a government that tries to hide their true intent from British Columbians, a government that does not understand their responsibility to give British Columbians a right to participate in their public institutions and public activities.

This government is also now talking about restricting access to freedom of information, and the Deputy Premier dares to claim that it's because the opposition -- imagine that, the opposition -- is actually trying to find out what is going on in the heads of this government. Imagine trying to find out what the financial circumstances of this province are. Imagine trying to get to the bottom of two successive budgets that were clearly drafted to mislead the people of British Columbia.

[ Page 2098 ]

The government dares to rail at the wretched media that tries to hold them to account and to find out what's going on, so that people in their constituencies can hear what in fact is taking place in the back rooms where the big deals are being made by this government. This government says we've got to restrict that right. Of the requests for freedom of information, 93 percent come from citizens of British Columbia, and we will fight to maintain their access to information in the province.

This government has spent its time narrowing people's opportunities to participate. They have spent their time narrowing the information that is available. When freedom of information was introduced, there was a great deal of hope on all sides of the House, I think, with regard to what it might offer. What it did was create a whole new industry -- the whiteout industry -- in the province. Severing has become a common practice throughout government as they work to try to restrict the access to information, not just of the opposition and the media but of the 93 percent of the people who make requests -- individual citizens in this province who demand to be heard and to know what's taking place with them.

We have a situation with this throne speech where, in fact, the government has not outlined its plans, and we heard it immediately after the throne speech -- the confusion that was brought forward by the Premier of the province about what sorts of plans they have.

I look across the chamber, and I see a number of faces -- not that many right now -- that in fact used to believe in some public principles. I look across this chamber at members on the opposite side who used to stand up for what they believed in. What I find today, when I look across, is that they're all willing to be silent. The member for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, who said consistently as a city councillor that she was opposed to the expansion of gambling in British Columbia, sits there mute and allows the government to expand gambling and to foist it onto the people of British Columbia.

I stand here today and look across at the empty chair of the minister, the MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville, who wrote a damning tract against the expansion of gambling in the province, and he sits in cabinet and says: "Let's expand it. Let's go out and expand it."

We sit today in the House, and we hear that the government is concerned about tobacco addiction. I take my hat off to the government for that concern, and we wait to see what kind of legislation they may bring in on that. But it makes no sense to be a government that says we are going to try to stop an addiction that has come and befouled not just the people but the public health of the province, and at the same time be an advocate for the expansion of a clearly addictive behaviour that will cause problems to the families -- which the member for Bulkley Valley-Stikine talked about -- that will wreak havoc on community after community in the province, and which the government itself has now admitted they will really have no control over, once the expansion of gambling is introduced.

The fact of the matter is that this government is confused, and the people of British Columbia demand that this government listen. They demand that they be heard, and this side of the House will make sure that their voices are heard as we go through this session.

There's no discussion in the throne document about no-fault insurance, about the restriction of victims' rights or about restricting people's access to the courts -- again, because on that side of the House you all know what's best for people. They don't really need rights. Aren't those rights inconvenient? Isn't that what you on that side of the House believe? We certainly hope it isn't what you believe. We hope you will stand up for victims' rights. We hope you will stand up for their right to access to the courts, and we hope you will stop the government from introducing any form of no-fault insurance in British Columbia.

There are a number of issues that are touched on in the throne speech, probably none more important than the impact of the government's decisions on the families of this province, region after region, town after town. The government continues to trot out its rhetoric and talk about jobs, when we know that the primary blueprint of this government for jobs in the future is a book called The End of Work. Little did we know, when we saw the member for Bulkley Valley-Stikine reading The End of Work last year in the House, that he was going to be informing the government about what they should do. And little did we or his citizens in Smithers, Burns Lake or Hazelton understand at that time that he meant the end of work in the forest industry, the end of work in the mining industry and the end of work for young people in the province.

I can tell you that if this government continues to pursue the policies that they have pursued, it will mean the end of work. It will mean the end of mortgage-supporting jobs for the people of this province. It will mean the end of small business in British Columbia. It will mean the end of the quality public health care system and the quality public education system that we demand and that British Columbians deserve. Our side of the House will fight to make sure that this government does not end work in British Columbia, but that we provide more and more jobs to the people in every community of the province in the years ahead.

I have much more to say about this throne speech. It is a throne speech that is bereft of ideas. It has no vision whatsoever and offers no hope to the people of British Columbia. People in this province know it's not what this government says; they know it's what happens -- what this government does. And what they've seen in the past is that what the government says and what it does are two opposite things.

In this House, we are going to try to remind people on that side of the House of the principles on which they ran -- the principles and the ideas they undertook, the commitments they made to their constituents -- and we hope they will work to restore the trust of their constituents in our public institutions. I believe it's critical that we have a full debate on this throne speech. I will have much more to say at a later date, but I'd like to move adjournment now, until that time.

The Speaker: The motion before you is adjournment of the debate.

Motion approved.

G. Janssen: I ask leave of the House to make an introduction.

Leave granted.

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G. Janssen: We have with us today 44 visitors from Alberni's A.W. Neill School, grade 9, from their leadership and government class, and I'm sure they enjoyed the speech and rhetoric from the Leader of the Opposition today. I ask the House to make them all welcome.

G. Farrell-Collins: I, too, would ask leave to make an introduction.

Leave granted.

G. Farrell-Collins: I know the member can't see them from his side, but I notice in the gallery a group of what I believe are air cadets. I don't know who they are, but I know what they do. As a pilot, I would like to welcome them to this House, and I ask all members to help us make them welcome.

Tabling Documents

Hon. D. Streifel: With respect to the motions of privilege this morning, on behalf of the Government House Leader, I table these documents.

I move this House do now adjourn.

Motion approved.

The House adjourned at 11:26 a.m.

Copyright © 1997: Queen's Printer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada