[ Page 7415 ]

The House met at 10:03 a.m.

Prayers.

J. Sawicki: One of the many benefits of living in a multicultural province, as we do, is acknowledging in this House certain days that are really important to our various ethnic communities. Today I'm pleased to have with us in the gallery three members of the Polish community here in Victoria. They are: Pani Irena Batanda, who is the president of the Polish White Eagle Club; Pani Renata Rzyski, instructor of the Young Polish dancers, Klacukcsz; and Pan. Ludwik Dombrowski, caretaker of the Polish White Eagle Hall.

They are here to celebrate one of the most important and proud events in Polish history: the passing of the constitution of 1791 -- the very first codified democratic constitution in Europe. As democratically elected members in our modern-day parliament, I'm sure that members would like to join me in welcoming our guests and acknowledging this time of celebration in the Polish Canadian community.

Hon. J. Pullinger: I would like to acknowledge another celebration today. One of the members of this House has aged a year and is marking that today. Today is the birthday of the member for Comox Valley, and I want everybody to join me in wishing her a happy birthday.

R. Masi: It's my pleasure today to introduce one of our prominent school trustees from the district of Delta, John O'Neal.

E. Walsh: I'd like to introduce five constituents of mine who are joining us here in the precinct today. I'd like to welcome Evelyn Cutts, Richard Pinotti, Barry MacDonald and Roy McLean, and a very loyal constituent of mine, Laura Kirkhope. Would the House please make them welcome.

F. Gingell: I would like to introduce the other Delta school trustee who is here. We decided to split them this morning. It's my pleasure and privilege to introduce to the House and ask you all to make welcome Mr. Dale Saip.

Standing Order 35 Motion

Matters must be urgent and of recent occurrence to qualify under standing order 35. In the Chair's opinion, the issue of compensation for all hepatitis C victims infected by tainted blood has been an ongoing question. This in effect removes the matter from the purview of standing order 35. The emergence of new information -- namely, the adoption of a motion by the National Assembly of Quebec on this issue, the support received by the Ontario Minister of Health and the federal Health minister's statement that he is closing this file -- does not in itself make the matter one of urgency. I further note that yesterday the Minister of Health also made a statement in the House outlining the position of the government of British Columbia on the matter of full compensation for all people infected with hepatitis C by tainted blood.

Guided by practice in this House and specifically by a ruling of the Chair earlier this week, on April 28, the member's application does not qualify under standing order 35.

Introduction of Bills

OCCUPIERS LIABILITY
AMENDMENT ACT, 1998

Hon. C. McGregor: I move that the bill be introduced and read a first time now.

Hon. Speaker, this bill amends the Occupiers Liability Act to reduce the duty of care owed to non-paying recreationalists on certain defined classes of undeveloped land and recreational trails. These amendments will facilitate the completion of the Trans Canada Trail project. The Trans Canada Trail vision is to establish a 15,000-kilometre, multiple-use corridor across Canada by July 1, 2000. This government has identified the Trans Canada Trail as a millennium project. We are committed to connecting our 1,500-kilometre portion by the year 2000.

These amendments will encourage private landowners to allow recreational trail use on their land and will assist in securing the agreement of local governments for the operation and maintenance of local portions of the trail. These amendments have long been requested by private landowners, recreationalists, local governments and business groups -- British Columbians from all walks of life. Our government is proud to respond to these requests in a manner which equitably balances the rights and obligations between landowners and non-paying recreationalists. I commend this bill for your consideration and urge its passage.

I move that the bill be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Bill 16 introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

WASTE MANAGEMENT
AMENDMENT ACT, 1998

Hon. C. McGregor: I move that the bill be introduced and read a first time now.

Hon. Speaker, this bill amends the Waste Management Act to provide regional districts with enhanced powers to implement approved solid waste management plans. These powers are required so that regional districts can ensure that municipal solid waste and recyclable material is managed in a responsible manner. These amendments will provide regional districts with explicit powers that will enable them to effec-

[ Page 7416 ]

In addition, the amendments delegate to the greater Vancouver regional district the permitting process for private sites managing municipal solid waste within the regional district. These changes will streamline the permitting process and ensure that industry has a one-window approach to site regulation within the GVRD. I commend this bill for your consideration and urge its passage.

I move that the bill be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Bill 17 introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Orders of the Day

Private Members' Statements

EMPOWERING YOUTH AND COMMUNITIES

When I was a young person growing up in Victoria -- in fact, in the constituency I now represent -- things were different in those days. It seemed to be a much closer-knit community, a much closer-knit neighbourhood. Where I grew up, families knew each other. There wasn't the same mobility of people moving around to different parts of the province and different parts of the country. Communities looked after kids and young people, and there was a sense of a larger sort of family structure. Those days have changed. We put much more pressure on -- and have to apply far more resources to -- our education system to fill and backfill some of those things that, when I was a young person, were done by the local community, the local neighbourhood: watching over people; keeping an eye on kids in the neighbourhood; offering counselling and advice; mentorship from your neighbour or your uncle who lived on the other side of town, and those kinds of things.

I don't want to dwell too much on the changes today. Rather, it's time to focus on some of the positive initiatives that we are involved in with youth and community and to try to shift a little bit from many of the negative issues that we currently see in the media. So often these days we open up the newspaper or look at television and see young people in difficult situations, acting inappropriately in the community. I think there's a sense out there that all young people are like that. I know -- and I'm sure all the members of this House know -- that that is not the case.

Youth Week is an important week; it's a week when we can celebrate the achievements of young people. Today I want to talk a little bit about that and about some of the things that the government of British Columbia has been doing to offer some support to youth, given that the support from neighbourhood communities has diminished somewhat -- to offer some support for young people to get involved in their communities and for the communities to be able to assist young people through some of the difficult things that they have to deal with.

[10:15]

The members should know -- it's quite interesting, actually -- that this group was recently performing in Grande Prairie, Alberta. Members may wonder why a group from British Columbia was performing in Grande Prairie, Alberta, and they may wonder who paid for that performance. They were there at the request of the Alberta RCMP detachment in Grande Prairie, paid for by the Alberta government -- for them to be in attendance to teach young people in Alberta how to take a stand against violence and crime. Alberta doesn't have that program. I think it's really a credit to British Columbia and to British Columbia's young people that we have such a program and that we were able to offer it to Alberta in this instance. Of course, I'd encourage Alberta to get on the program and develop their own initiative so that they can actually empower some of their young people to get involved in these very, very positive initiatives that we're experiencing in British Columbia.

Recently we've seen the media take some very, very negative stands around young people, and that translates out, sort of notionally, that young people are very difficult in communities. There's a lot of stress out there in terms of community. I'm pleased to see that in recent days our local paper in Victoria, the Times Colonist, is actually portraying young people in a positive light. I think there's a really positive role for the media to play. When young people are involved in community initiatives and are taking ownership of their communities, it's really very important that the media, we as members of the Legislative Assembly and other leaders in the community get behind and support those young people when they take those kinds of initiatives.

So often people sit at home and read the paper and see these negative occurrences -- bullying and fights and those kinds of issues -- and they worry individually about what to do about those situations. They worry at home individually. Really, I think what they need to do is come together collectively as a community, somewhat like the neighbourhood that I was involved in when I grew up.

In Victoria we recently did just that kind of program, and it was a very, very positive initiative. It was around the National Little League park in Victoria. There had been a lot of graffiti and vandalism occurring there. We were able to pull together. . . . People worked together in the community: the National Little League executive and the parents of the kids, coupled with CUPE Local 50, the city of Victoria outside workers -- who actually look after parks and public amenities in the community in Victoria. The group also brought in a

[ Page 7417 ]

I want to say that when I called up Lansdowne school and talked to Ali Duncan and Hamilton Muirhead, the co-chairs of the students' council, there was absolutely no hesitation from those young people to get involved in this initiative. There were more than 12 young people out there for two days cleaning up that park, working with city workers who were volunteering their time and with the national Little League folks who've been wrestling with vandalism and graffiti for a long, long time, and they really came together.

The Speaker: Hon. member, your time is now up. The red light means your time is up.

S. Orcherton: It's absolutely up?

The Speaker: Yes. You have some moments later to add some more.

S. Orcherton: I look forward to the remarks from the member opposite.

The Speaker: I recognize the hon. member for Chilliwack.

B. Penner: It's a privilege for me as the youngest member of the official opposition to take part in this debate.

Interjections.

B. Penner: But I am getting older, day after day.

I agree with the member for Victoria-Hillside that youth are often unfairly given a bad rap in today's society. They're stereotyped, they're picked on, and they're blamed for many of today's problems. I believe that in many ways, today's youth are no different from the youth of a decade ago, 20 years ago or perhaps even 200 years ago. What is different, obviously, is the environment in which they're being raised and in which they live. I also remember, as the member opposite does, growing up in a community -- which I now represent -- that was much more closely knit. I think that has to do with the time pressures that all of us are facing, trying to make a living and make ends meet. Increasingly, people just don't have the time to spend with their neighbours and to get involved in community events.

But there are positive things that are occurring in our communities. For example, in Chilliwack we also have Nights Alive that occurs and involves young people in a positive endeavour. In addition, there's an innovative program at Sardis Secondary School, the school that I attended not that many years ago. They've started a program called Eddie Rockets. Every second Friday night, the young people, supervised by a couple of teachers -- but it's the young people who work to organize and put on the event -- host what's essentially a teen nightclub that does not have any alcohol and, of course, has a zero tolerance policy for anybody who may be under the influence of narcotics. This has become a very successful and much anticipated weekend activity for young people not just at Sardis Secondary but across the entire community. They sell soft drinks and charge a small cover charge to recoup some of their costs, and they do make a profit. In addition to giving the young people practical work experience in organizing and putting on an event, supervising it, providing security, looking after soft drinks and those types of things, the proceeds are used to help fund volunteer work and relief work outside of Canada. I know that a number of young people sponsored by this program recently visited Mexico and participated in some relief work. So that's a positive example of what can happen when you have leadership from some very inspired teachers at Sardis Secondary School giving up some of their free time, but primarily of the tremendous energy that our young people have and their very remarkable abilities, even at a young age, to organize events like that and to work productively.

I think it is important to acknowledge that British Columbia is just about the only province where our youth population is growing. The rest of Canada is seeing a significant decrease in its youth population. Since 1989 the youth population in British Columbia has increased by over 12.6 percent. That means we now have almost 500,000 youth in our province, and I'm defining youth as young people between the ages of 15 and 24.

This presents British Columbia with both a challenge and a tremendous opportunity compared to the rest of Canada. Whereas other provinces are seeing the greying of their populations, putting an obvious strain on their health programs and raising questions about the future sustainability of the Canada Pension Plan, we in British Columbia do not have this problem to the same extent. A young population, provided they are able to find meaningful employment, will be paying the taxes necessary to support social programs that we have all come to rely upon. However, without sufficient employment opportunities, this potential advantage for British Columbia may become a liability. Indeed, all is not well in British Columbia. According to the most recent statistics from StatsCan, the youth unemployment rate in British Columbia reached 18.6 percent in March of 1998. That's up almost 5 percent in just over two years, so the trend is not very encouraging.

We obviously have to take some dramatic steps to turn that problem around and to start creating meaningful long-term employment for young people in British Columbia. I think youth need more than just empty promises; they need a more focused education. I believe we need to focus on practical job experience and expand our co-op programs, and to complete that with skills training and private sector partnerships and apprentice programs. Above all else, what is needed is a government that encourages the private sector to create meaningful long-term employment, so that they have something to look forward to. Young people need these jobs to help pay for their education, to help repay their student loans, and to pay for rent and tuition. They need jobs to unleash their potential; they don't need any more empty promises.

S. Orcherton: I thank the member for Chilliwack for his comments. It is true that youth unemployment is up -- it's a very serious problem and a very big challenge -- but members should know that it is up worldwide. It is a worldwide issue. I'm pleased to hear the member say that we need more apprenticeship programs and cooperative education programs and those kinds of initiatives. That's why in fact we're moving in that direction as a government in British Columbia. I agree that we need to do that, and we will continue to do that.

The member mentioned the Nights Alive program, a government initiative which I mentioned in my remarks --

[ Page 7418 ]

In closing my remarks, this is really an issue of ownership over a community -- both by young people and by all people in the community. I challenge the members, as we go into this weekend and then into Youth Week, to stop and speak to young people in their communities this weekend and next week. Stop and say hello to them on the street corner; make them feel included in the community. So often we and others in our community stereotype young people, as if there's going to be a problem. There may be some violence; there may be some negative things occurring. We shouldn't do that. We really should stop and say, "Hello, good morning" to young people on the street corner, engage them in discussion, make them feel included, make them feel empowered in their community. That's really what it is all about in terms of empowering youth and people in our communities.

I thank the member for his remarks and look forward to working with him in a positive fashion to deal with many of the issues that are facing young people and our community.

C. Clark: I seek leave to make an introduction.

Leave granted.

C. Clark: I see in the gallery that joining us is Doug Walker, who is the former chair of the school board in New Westminster and also the executive director of the B.C. Wildlife Federation, a group which I had the privilege to work with when I was Environment critic. I hope the House will make him welcome.

PUBLIC EDUCATION AT
THE CROSSROADS

It is timely and appropriate to address these issues on this day, given that the B.C. school trustees are meeting in Victoria for their annual meeting and that it is Public Education Advocacy Day. Our trustees, of course, are elected across this province in 59 school districts. With provincewide bargaining and the purse strings controlled by Victoria, their ability to govern at the local level and to render accountability has been diluted.

Parents in particular and taxpayers in general call for and deserve more say in governance and more accountability. There are initiatives in many jurisdictions to empower school councils to not simply act in an advisory capacity -- what we in B.C. call parent advisory councils. Examples are in New Zealand, which has just recently elected 14,000 trustees to 2,700 individual school councils, and in Alberta, which elects parents to its councils. New Brunswick does likewise. The same is true in Newfoundland and Ontario. Site-based management, as it is more commonly known south of the border, is practised in many American states. The control of schools in England and Wales passed from what we call school boards to the school site in the Education Reform Act of 1988. So, hon. Speaker, what I am describing and suggesting is not new and, in various forms, is current in many jurisdictions.

More importantly than where school councils exist or how they are formulated is the matter of what management responsibilities they exercise in a school. Our current pacts are just that, advisory in nature. A school council would be the school's board of directors, but not on a day-to-day management basis. The council would perform all or some of the following functions: manage the annual school budget; property management; hire personnel, including the principal; assist in developing school policies to promote the learning environment; produce an annual report that accounts for the school's performance during the year; and develop school improvement plans, including curriculum and capital improvements. Day-to-day management responsibilities would remain with the principal and administrative staff. The principal would be a director of the school.

[10:30]

Supporters of locally elected school district trustees will express concern over authority given to school councils. In particular, they will argue that such councils will lead to the demise of school boards as we know them. Alberta has addressed this issue in an interesting fashion by creating regional consortiums. Within a region -- or what we would call a school district -- in Alberta, a board is comprised of elected trustees, superintendents, secretary-treasurers, representatives from the local teachers' association, and university and college representatives from within the region.

As an MLA, I receive many comments on the administration of public schools, and I know that my colleagues on both sides of this House do likewise. Also, as a taxpayer, I have concerns about how we spend our education dollars. As a parent -- and perhaps this is the most passionate word for us all, or certainly for those who have had children in the system -- I have personal opinions about how my children's schools are managed. We need to gather that array of opinions and approaches together and ask ourselves if different methods can be developed. I think they can.

Hon. Speaker, change is never easy, but the status quo is not always healthy. A full public debate on the role of school boards, school councils, the provincial government and the administration of public education would be welcomed by many and should be supported by all. On this Public Education Advocacy Day, I invite all members of this House to pause and think about how we can approach the governments and the accountability of our public system in a new fashion

[ Page 7419 ]

M. Sihota: This is the best of times for education in British Columbia. In fact, what's happening in this province with regards to education is historic. Let's take a look at what's happened here in British Columbia just in the past few months and the unprecedented, almost breathtaking, decisions that have been made by government: $370 million allocated this week to create 1,000 new classrooms from kindergarten to grade 3, for young students throughout British Columbia. Unbelievable! That $370 million is on top of the $338 million that has been allocated by this government in this budget to create 17,200 new spaces for students. This year alone, we're going to see the construction of nine new schools in British Columbia. We're going to see the expansion of 64 schools in British Columbia and major renovations of two schools in British Columbia -- an unprecedented commitment of capital.

Yes, it is increasing our debt -- there are those who would oppose it -- but for the benefit of future generations and for children. We're committing $105 million this year to hire 700 new teachers to provide education directly to students in classrooms across British Columbia. And that's not all. There's a commitment to increase that number to 1,200 over the next three years, to make sure that we're putting classroom teachers in the classroom to provide quality education for students across British Columbia. There's a commitment -- a $31.2 million commitment this year alone -- to halve the number of portables in schools across British Columbia, and to reduce that number by 1,500 by the year 2002. Through an unprecedented and historic collective agreement, we made a commitment to reduce the size of K-to-3 classes -- to reduce classroom size down to 18 students by the time that agreement expires. Again, it's unprecedented. Whereas other provinces across this country are eliminating kindergarten, what we're doing is putting more teachers in smaller classrooms to provide quality education for students from kindergarten to grade 3.

Through that agreement, we have funded not only reductions in class size but special education counsellors and librarians, which are desperately needed to fill those gaps in the educational system. In the last few days, $2 million was announced to provide for computers to link up schools with the most modern computers that are possible. On top of that, $123 million was committed by the government only a few weeks ago for the provincial learning network, to make sure that every school, whether it's in Fort St. John, Surrey, Esquimalt or Prince Rupert, provides students similar access to computer-based education -- unbelievable, historic and unprecedented.

There is no doubt that the governance system for education in this province is working. It's working because this government is backing up school boards, parents and educators, and it's providing the resources and giving them the tools to provide first-class education. Let's make this very clear: British Columbians do not want charter schools, as the hon. member would suggest. British Columbians don't want to follow the system that exists in New Brunswick, nor do they want to eliminate school boards. What they want is a government that is passionately committed to post-secondary and basic education in this province, and under the leadership of this Premier and this Minister of Education, that is precisely what they're getting. Just ask my buddy Doug; I'm sure he'll agree.

The Speaker: I recognize, in final reply, the hon. member for West Vancouver-Capilano.

J. Dalton: Thank you, hon. Speaker. In the wise words of Casey Stengel, it's déjà vu all over again. I think we heard those comments last week, both from the Education minister and from the member for Esquimalt-Metchosin.

Discussion of education reform is vital; we don't need to reinvent the wheel, however. What we must do is seriously consider how we want public schools and public education administered. Locally elected school boards can still be an important component of a new way of doing things. I say that if we truly believe in and speak for local control, start with the schools through effective councils, create regional consortiums comprised of school and district trustees, and let Victoria continue its role as paymaster and provincial curriculum centre. The school will be the centre of the public school universe, not an ancillary end product. Victoria will be the overseer of the product, not its determiner and ruler. Regional consortiums will provide support for both, without influencing either.

I see this regional body as being very important, as it can keep a community of schools in touch with each other and with provincial initiatives. Independent schools in B.C. do not operate in a vacuum, and I would not want public schools, in a new arrangement, to do so either. Parents, in particular, want more say in the public education system. They bring experience, interest and commitment to their children's schools. Often this commitment lasts beyond the years of their children actually being in the school. I believe that an important component of an effective site-based management council or board of directors is the involvement of the community in general.

Public schools are operated by significant public dollars, and we must continue to search for ways to spend these dollars more effectively. A board of directors of a school, accountable to the district and to the Ministry of Education, can serve the community and the public system effectively. That has been evidenced, for example, by an inner-city school in Los Angeles, which was quickly transformed from a disadvantaged into an advantaged school.

Too often what we see in the public system is a lack of accountability and problems with affordability. I believe that my discussions with parents and teachers confirm that we all want to improve the public school system. A school council management system is worthy of examination to address those issues.

Hon. M. Farnworth: I ask leave to make an introduction.

Leave granted.

Hon. M. Farnworth: In the gallery today, visiting from Bramblewood Elementary School, one of 15 new schools built in my riding in the last five years, are 30 students and their teacher, Mr. Wong. Would the House please make them welcome.

The Speaker: For the third private member's statement, I recognize the member for Surrey-Whalley.

SAFETY AND CHOICES IN
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE

[ Page 7420 ]

However, I got a call from a woman up in Kelowna; it was a very disturbing call. It was a call asking for help to deal with the issues in her community, because her community -- I don't think it is too strong to say -- was under attack by individuals with very strong points of view threatening the right of women to that choice. What I'd like to do in my statement is sketch out some of the concern that has been shared with me, to seriously make the point of the threat that is in front of us in British Columbia and to call on the Liberals to stand up with their. . . .

The Speaker: Hon. member, the rules suggest that anything that is highly partisan is not part of the spirit and intent of private members' statements. Any mention of any individuals or groups of members in the House is also part of that intent. I 'm sure you can adjust your remarks to accommodate that.

J. Smallwood: Thank you, hon. Speaker. I believe this is a non-partisan issue and that the opposition has taken a strong position, so I don't believe that this will be contentious for them.

But let me sketch out the history in this province with respect to Kelowna and the Vernon Jubilee Hospital. Back not much more than a month ago, there was a fake bomb left in the parking lot. At the same time, a letter campaign went out, seeking to identify physicians and other health care professionals that were involved in or providing abortion services. This has to be viewed in the context of three unsolved shootings of physicians in Canada -- to say nothing of what is happening in the United States.

What I want to draw attention to is that the people that were involved with the letter-writing campaign are people that have identified themselves with the Kelowna Right to Life Society, an association that has the largest membership in the Pro-Life Society of B.C. It's important to keep that in mind as I sketch this out. The Kelowna Right to Life Society executive director, Ted Gerk, is the same gentleman that put forward a freedom-of-information request back in '94 that was turned down by our privacy commissioner -- indicating that it was a violation of the service provider's right to privacy and that indeed it could be conceived as a threat if those names were disclosed.

[10:45]

Prior to this most recent campaign, there was a visit from a gentleman by the name of Mark Crutcher, a marketing executive and the founder of Life Dynamics in Texas. The connection between Texas and the Kelowna group is one that seriously concerns me. I want to sketch out the activity of the Texas group.

Mark Crutcher, who was up in B.C. and held a private organizing meeting for the Kelowna group, has a long history. As I said, he's the founder of that organization, an organization that has been involved with a number of legal campaigns in the United States to try to bring health care professionals that provide abortions to their knees. He has also been involved with campaigns to target 1-800 numbers to block access of individuals to information about abortion clinics. He has also been involved in a letter-writing campaign, using the exact same format that was used to target health care professionals in Kelowna.

The most distressing thing about that letter campaign, using the exact same format -- the exact same words in Texas and throughout the United States -- was the subversive nature of this campaign, where they misled people into providing very personal information. Then, while telling them that the correspondence was confidential, they had secret codes on the letters disclosing the source of that very private information. So I think that the ties are very clear with the American group, and I am more than happy to continue with the description and the concerns laid out.

The Speaker: I recognize now the hon. member for Langley in reply.

L. Stephens: I'm very pleased to rise this morning to respond to the member opposite on a serious and important issue for all women in British Columbia. I want to assure the members opposite, the people of the Okanagan and, indeed, people in all parts of British Columbia that the official opposition has been very clear on our position. We unequivocally support the federal and the provincial laws -- the laws of our province and our nation. Indeed, our Health critic has reiterated this very recently in the provincial media and has also spoken to her local health boards in the Okanagan and to her community at large.

Our position is very clear: public safety is paramount -- public safety for women, for doctors, for other health care providers and for all members of the public. I know from comments that members opposite have made that they don't condone -- and certainly we don't condone -- any violence, intimidation or harassment by any persons or groups. Women have the right to access legal medical procedures, whatever they may be. As a party and a caucus we support the current laws, and there are no plans to change our position. I want to assure the members opposite and individuals around the province that we consider this a serious issue as well. Safety is paramount and obeying the laws of the land is paramount as well.

J. Smallwood: The strategy counselled by Life Dynamics is one of spying, disinformation, covert action and, many fear, assistance to those actually calling for murder. The organization I've referenced, with links to the most radical wing of these right-wing organizations, has been up in Kelowna and has been counselling the Kelowna pro-life organization, as they have been involved with some of the leadership in the Campaign Life Coalition here in B.C.

Let me read to you an excerpt from a booklet that went along with the letters I referenced. This booklet is called "Bottom Feeders." It's identified as a joke book for that move-

[ Page 7421 ]

These are the links between that organization and some of the leadership that have defined the future for the anti-choice movement here in B.C. and Canada. They have recognized that they are at a pivotal point in their campaigns because Operation Rescue has not worked, and there is a need to look at a new, more defined strategy to change the opinions of governments and those providing legal services.

Hon. Speaker, I think it's important that all leadership stands up and denounces these activities. It's important for the leadership in this House to not only denounce these activities but make it very clear that they stand on the side of women and service providers and on the side of the need for that legal service to be unencumbered. I am very concerned that at this time it has been made public that there are meetings being organized by the leadership of those organizations with the opposition.

The Speaker: Hon. member, you know the rules; you understand the rules. I'm prepared to read them to you: ". . .highly partisan remarks that negatively reflect on individual members or groups of members in the House have not been regarded as falling within the spirit and intent. . . ." I've taken up a little bit of your time, but I'm sure your closing two words will understand that point.

J. Smallwood: Thank you, hon. Speaker. This issue is crucial for British Columbia, and it's time for us all to stand up and be counted.

The Speaker: I recognize now the hon. member for Port Moody-Burnaby Mountain with our final private member's statement.

CARING COMMUNITIES

Volunteerism provides each of us with an opportunity to contribute to our communities. It gives the volunteers themselves a sense of purpose, a sense that they belong in their community and a sense that they can do something helpful for the other people that they live with. It connects us to each other. I would suggest that it's essential to a healthy community. That feeling of connectedness, the sense that each of us is responsible for one another, that we can help one another, that each of us -- as a reminder -- has a responsibility to help one another, that those of us who are fortunate have a responsibility to help those in our community who are less fortunate and that those who are less fortunate also have just as much opportunity, right and duty to help the rest of us. . . . They also have a place to help each other. Those people who are sometimes less valued in society because they may be less blessed also have value, and they can offer that value by volunteering.

That, to me, is essential to the fabric of our society and our communities. That's what makes places like Burnaby, where I grew up, a great place to live. My mother, to speak from my personal experience, founded what's now one of the largest volunteer agencies in Burnaby. It's called the Burnaby Family Life Institute. She founded it in a church basement with her local minister, because she believed that there were too many young people out there who were brought up in families where they didn't learn how to parent. When those young moms, mostly, became parents themselves, they didn't have parenting skills to make sure that their children grew up healthy.

What she did was start an organization that was dedicated to helping young moms learn how to be good parents. What can be more essential than that? What can be more important than that? Ensuring that children are raised in healthy families, with good parents who care about them, who love them and who are able to give them the direction that they need to grow up healthy and happy, and be net contributors to our society? What could be more essential than that?

The reason she started this organization in Burnaby is because she saw a need. It was as simple as that. She saw a need that wasn't being fulfilled. She saw young parents who were growing up, who were bringing up their own children and who weren't necessarily able to do a very good job of it. She saw that that was a problem. What did she do? She pitched in, she found a few volunteers, and she started a non-profit agency. All it took was for her to see a need and to act on it.

That's what volunteering is about. That's the value of volunteers. In every community in British Columbia there are people who see needs that aren't being fulfilled. Rather than saying, "I think that this need should be fulfilled by government; I think that what we need is a million bucks and 25 civil servants, and then we can go meet this need," what they say is: "I can do it. I have the skills, I have the energy, I have the commitment, and I am going to go fill that need. I'm going to get a few people together, and I'm going to make sure that we build something out of it." There are literally thousands of agencies in British Columbia that started that way -- agencies that operate on a shoestring, with almost no money from government, or very little, and build amazing projects out of it.

I'll give you another example. In Coquitlam there is a society called the Step-by-Step Child Development Society. What they do is have a child care centre that delivers early intervention. They do occupational therapy and physical therapy for special needs children. They provide counselling for parents of special needs children, which is sorely needed. And this organization started out with a few volunteers. They got a little bit of government money, and then they went beyond that and built a child care centre -- which is almost entirely dependent on money that they fundraise. There are lots of children in that community who would not be getting care otherwise. They would not be getting the kind of care that they need.

There are other agencies that do provide care for special needs children, but not like the Step-by-Step Child Develop-

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What I would like to encourage everyone to do today is encourage the growth of these grass-roots community organizations -- encourage them to thrive. The more of those that we have, the healthier our communities will be. The more places volunteers have to get involved, the healthier all of our society will become.

W. Hartley: Hon. Speaker, I seek leave to make an introduction.

Leave granted.

W. Hartley: In the galleries today we have visiting us, all the way from California, some 60 young visitors, with some adults and their teacher, Mr. Heinrich. They're from the Mesa Grande Academy in Calimesa, California. Would the members please welcome them.

E. Gillespie: It gives me great pleasure to rise and make some additional comments on the comments offered by the member for Port Moody-Burnaby Mountain. I'm very pleased to rise on this very important topic, as volunteerism has always been a part of my life and of the family I grew up in. I recognize volunteerism as really a very, very strong component of the history of the development of the social programs that we enjoy in Canada and in British Columbia.

The history of volunteerism is the history of the expression of public concern over issues that those in the public see and recognize a need to address. Issues like poverty, health care and education are now broadly addressed through many government programs. But initially, those very important issues were taken on by groups of volunteers, particularly in the Victorian era.

We move from programs that begin with a very important, strident volunteer base into programs that become an accepted part of government service. We moved from home-based, volunteer-driven schools in British Columbia to the provincewide school system we celebrate today. From groups of volunteers going door-to-door to bring relief to the poor, we move to social programs that have a broader base than that. Above and beyond all of this, we could never begin to address social needs without the continuing support of volunteers.

The work of volunteers changes over time. Sometimes volunteers begin a program that then becomes publicly acceptable, and then they move on to something else. Sometimes the work of volunteers is to continue on and support those important government programs.

I noted the comments of the member about the Burnaby Family Life Institute. I was reminded of the Comox Valley Child Development Centre, a volunteer-born and volunteer-driven organization that grew to address the needs of children with developmental difficulties. That centre -- along with the whole movement across the province -- recognized the change in thinking and the need to move from a facility-based program to a community-based program, where children could be integrated into community programs and yet still be assured of the services they need on an individual basis. That child development centre has made the difficult and challenging transition from a facility base to a community base, and I look forward to continuing to see the volunteer activity that supports that centre.

I look, too, at the work of health care societies that support our many health care facilities across the province, whether they be hospitals, extended-care facilities, long term care facilities or home-based programs. Again we see a change in organization, a change in thinking. Volunteers continue to provide the broad base of support, but perhaps in other ways -- through health care societies, regional health boards and community health councils, where volunteers perform an integral role.

Volunteers will continue to be -- and will always be -- necessary to support our health care system. In recognition of the contribution of volunteers, the Premier has appointed the Minister of Human Resources as the province's first minister responsible for volunteers and the community services sector. Designating a minister responsible for this important sector recognizes the role that these dedicated individuals and groups play in building stronger and healthier communities.

Many people have asked me what motivates me politically and why I would ever stand for election to a position such as I hold now. That motivation comes purely from a history of community service, the opportunity to volunteer and the opportunity to lead volunteers in their very important work.

I believe the work of government is to support and encourage volunteerism in communities, to move programs from the volunteer domain to the publicly funded domain as is publicly deemed appropriate. Volunteer enterprise will always be an enterprise of new ideas, supporting the public's wishes.

The Speaker: In final reply, the member for Port Moody-Burnaby Mountain.

C. Clark: There clearly are two strains of thought when it comes to volunteers. One is that the work that volunteers do is important and is probably better done by volunteers because in many cases they bring with them a dedication and commitment that isn't otherwise there and because volunteer organizations, even when they do have a professional staff attached to them, are more efficient and more flexible. That's one view.

Another view is that volunteer organizations exist so that they can get something started, and then government can come in, unionize it, take it over and make it less flexible. It can snatch away those volunteer organizations that people have put their hearts and souls into for many, many years. I couldn't disagree with that view more. I have had people tell me that they think volunteers steal work from otherwise unionized employees. I couldn't disagree more. I think that the work that volunteers do is essential. You know, they bring

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Volunteer organizations don't exist just so they can have their work -- their life's work, in some cases -- snatched away by government. Grass-roots community organizations are essential to a healthy society, and we need to encourage them every day.

Hon. Speaker, I would like to close my comments with this thought. We need, as a community, as legislators, to remind ourselves how important it is to keep the volunteer sector thriving, because that's what's keeps our communities healthy -- and that is surely something that we owe to future generations so that they can grow up in a British Columbia where they have hope for the future and can be proud of the province they live in.

Hon. J. Pullinger: I would like to wish everyone in the House a very good weekend. It's going to be a nice sunny weekend, by the looks of it. I'd also like to wish the members opposite a very successful convention this weekend.

With that, I move the House do now adjourn.

Motion approved.

The House adjourned at 11:09 a.m.

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