Hansard -- Volume 3, Number 3 -- Thursday, February 14, 2002

The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.
The printed version remains the official version.

Official Report of

DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY



CONTENTS

	Routine Proceedings
		Page

Tabling Documents		1083
	Auditor General 2001-02 Report No. 4, Monitoring the Government's Finances

Throne Speech Debate (continued)
	T. Bhullar	1083
	H. Bloy	1084
	Hon. S. Bond	1086
	J. Bray	1088
	G. Trumper	1091
	E. Brenzinger	1093
	S. Brice	1094

Mr. Speaker: Hon. members, I have the honour to present the auditor general's 2001-02 report No. 4, Monitoring the Government's Finances.

T. Bhullar: Mr. Speaker, again, it is indeed an honour and a privilege to stand before you in this unique institution. The rules and the procedures of this institution have evolved over centuries. However, there has been one constant, and that is that this institution is the foundation of democracy. Our ancestors toiled to preserve this system so that we could cherish democratic rights that they enjoyed. It is our duty to preserve the system that we inherited.

This government cherishes democracy, and we have witnessed the further democratization by this administration. The public witnesses, on a monthly basis, televised cabinet meetings. Prior to this time, save and except those in cabinet, no one knew what took place. Now we have all been able to witness the interaction of the executive council. By the introduction of open cabinet meetings, British Columbians are able to see what legislation is under consideration as well as the legislative process in work.

In addition, this government has introduced free votes to private members. Members are now able to vote their conscience. We saw this just recently with the member from the Peace River country. He was not condemned but complimented for voting his conscience. I must say that these are bold initiatives by a bold government, and I'm proud of this government.

I believe the Speech from the Throne is the cornerstone of our democracy. It is an opportunity for the government to appeal directly to the population it serves, to offer a chance for leadership today and a vision for tomorrow. I'm proud to tell you that this throne speech told me that these responsibilities this government is taking are very serious.

The challenges of restoring the economy are real. When we first took office, it became clear that the province was operating outside its means. It became clear that falling energy prices and the runaway spending habits of the previous ten years would create growing deficits. The forecast only grew dimmer as the softwood lumber dispute devastated our precious forest sector, and the horrors of September 11 continue to weigh heavy on the global economy and the economy at home.

There is no formal training to serve in this institution, nor is there time for dress rehearsals. Often tough decisions must be made and decisive action taken. This government is prepared to face making the tough decisions that it must. It does so in the interests of all British Columbians. We must remember at all times that we must act in the interest of British Columbians and future British Columbians. In other words, the public interest is broader than those residing in British Columbia today. We must think of future generations of British Columbians such as our children and great-grandchildren. This government will not reach into our children's pockets to pay for our debts.

From time to time, the media will report on the latest poll and inform the public that the government has lost support. With respect to the media, those that run government by polls are timorous and not prepared to make the tough decisions that must be made. This government is of the firm belief that developing public policy is not a popularity contest. The decisions that this government must render are not easy, but they are ones that are necessary if we are to preserve our health care system and educational institutions.

I am proud of this government's commitment to balance the budget by 2004-05 and restore sound fiscal management. It is leadership that is long overdue. My words should not be misconstrued to mean that this government is heartless ? quite the contrary. Like myself, my colleagues often think about the impact of our decisions on all British Columbians. Sometimes we have restless nights, but we know that at the current rate of government spending we will jeopardize our health care system that we cherish so much.

We have a responsibility to structure the delivery of health care services in a way that will ensure that we can keep providing services into the future. The Minister of Health Services has worked very hard to address the fiscal pressures he faces. His work is not an enviable task, and I applaud him for his dedication. Already we have started on a new course for public health care. With restructuring of health authorities, we have administrative bodies that make sense. The new health authorities will be able to better direct resources to patient care, and the people of Surrey-Newton — namely, my constituency — are now better able to hold them accountable. I take great pride in this government for its commitment to make patient care its top priority.

It is always easier to be an armchair government and sit back and criticize. The detractors of this government always forget to applaud the government's achievements and initiatives. One initiative, recently announced, was the lifting of the moratorium on fish farming. While seeking input as Deputy Chair of the

Finance Committee, I was in Prince Rupert, where the town welcomed fish farming. Not only did the town welcome fish farming, the townspeople were in favour of oil exploration.

This government has undertaken an Energy Policy Task Force. A report is due from this body next month. If the government permits oil drilling, it will ensure a supply of energy for British Columbians and the creation of much-needed jobs along British Columbia's coast.

Mr. Speaker, I'm thrilled to inform you that Surrey-Newton has greatly benefited from the surge of new construction. Several new homes are being built in the Chimney Heights area, along with a new school that I was honoured to open last September. To open this school, I rang an old school bell which we obtained from the Royal B.C. Museum. It brought a tear to my eye, ringing this bell.

The government is pursuing a bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler, perhaps one of the finest ski resorts in the world. It is estimated that if we are awarded the Olympics, combined with the expanded convention centre in Vancouver, the games would generate up to $10 billion in economic activity and 228,000 jobs. The tourist boom would be tremendous.

I represent the constituency of Surrey-Newton. Last week the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Technical University of British Columbia ended. After months of hard work and reviewing several options, the Minister of Advanced Education announced that Simon Fraser University will assume Tech B.C.'s students and programs. This is great news for Surrey, and the minister must be commended for bringing SFU to Surrey. I can see this option provides the most certainty for students and faculty and, at the same time, is fiscally responsible in keeping with this government's commitments.

No longer will businesses receive subsidies. It is not for the government to sponsor a business. If that business is not self-sufficient, there is no point in throwing good money after bad. We saw what happened with Skeena Cellulose.

Small businesses are the engine of our economy, and this government has pledged itself to ensuring that regulatory obstacles that interfere with the ability to operate efficiently will be reviewed. In this respect, the government has the Minister of State for Deregulation reviewing all legislation with the goal of reducing the regulatory burden on B.C. businesses by one-third within the next 2½ years. I have known the Minister of State for Deregulation for some 15 years. We went to school together. Mr. Speaker, he will not fail in his objective.

Finally, as outlined in the throne speech, this government is displaying dynamic leadership in very troubling times. It is clear that the status quo is no longer good enough. Change is never easy, yet more than ever, fundamental change is necessary. This government will lead this province forward to new fields of hope and opportunity.

H. Bloy: Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to be standing here today. I hope you heard our Premier give his state-of-the-province address last night. What I saw in the Premier's address was strength and vision. It is this strength and vision that will lead this province out of ten years of decay. That is why I am proud to be part of this team, and that's why I'm excited to be part of this team. Thank you, Mr. Premier, for your strength and vision, and thank you for allowing me to be part of your team.

Today I rise in reply to the Speech from the Throne. Richard Hooker once said: "Change is not made without inconvenience, even from worse to better." This is the change that needs to be considered when British Columbians examine the Speech from the Throne. The speech spoke of great changes that this government plans to make in the several months ahead to put British Columbia back on track.

Today I would like to speak about how these changes will benefit all British Columbians in my riding of Burquitlam by examining the three pillars of the throne speech. Furthermore, I would like to provide some encouraging words to all British Columbians to stand behind us through the difficult times so that we may see the light at the end together.

We have all had a chance to get our feet wet, so to speak, in the political arena and in government. What amazes me are both the vision and the conviction of this government. When I sat here and listened to the Speech from the Throne, I was excited about our future.

Revitalizing the economy. Two years ago when I looked at the thought of seeking a nomination to run provincially, I thought long and hard about what I could change and wanted to change in British Columbia. At the end of the day my choices and my answers kept returning to the economy. As a small business owner, I had seen firsthand how the government in British Columbia punished success, stunted growth and cost the province thousands of jobs with its negative attitude towards the economy and small business.

When someone in the future asks me about my time in government and asks if I accomplished what I set out to do, I know it will be an easy answer: an emphatic yes. This government has outlined a plan to get the economy back on track, and I know its plan will work. It encourages growth, rewards success and, almost as importantly, changes the role of government into a supporter of the economy rather than a dead weight. It is a plan that I am both excited and proud to be part of.

The throne speech outlined some major initiatives that this government plans to undertake to turn the economy around. These include changes to the Workers Compensation Act, the community charter, the Premier's round table on business and the Olympic bid. The Olympic bid alone will benefit all British Columbians, and it will also benefit my riding of Burquitlam with proposed new facilities at Simon Fraser University.

The four items I have listed are but a few of the exciting ventures that were outlined in the Speech from the Throne. We have previously outlined over 400,000 regulations that we as a government plan on reducing by one-third over the term of our government. We want business in this province to concentrate on business and not the unnecessary rules and regulations that hinder business.

British Columbia has long been thirsty for initiatives such as these. I've had a number of constituents come to me with cases — how they have tried to muddle their way through the WCB system. In some extreme cases there are people who have been fighting the system for 20 years. That's not right, and this government plans to change that.

I have small businesses that will benefit from the Premier's round table. In fact, my community office is surrounded by small businesses, all of which want to see the government eliminate red tape so that they can create jobs in B.C.

Restoring sound fiscal management. This is perhaps the most telling sign of why British Columbians endorsed this government in the last election. It's funny that as a taxpayer, you are expected to balance your home chequebook, yet that expectation does not apply to government. That all changed on May 16, 2001. In the throne speech our government reaffirmed its commitment to balancing the budget, eliminating government waste and returning sound fiscal management to British Columbia.

With a fiscally responsible government, the obvious beneficiary is the people of British Columbia. We want to be able to fund all aspects of many of the social programs that help and assist all the people of British Columbia. However, you cannot pay for these programs without money. The government cannot, like it has in the past, continue to pay for programs it does not have the money for. This government has promised that it will turn the economy and the government around, and I believe it will. When it does, the funding will be available for the government to invest in programs.

Putting patients, students and people first. This government realizes that the road ahead is not easy. While changes are being made, we should not lose focus on what is important, and that is patients, students and people.

Patients are the cornerstone of this government's focus as we begin to repair the health care system. We cannot go on as we have in the past. I have had many complaints from constituents about the time they've had to wait for services in the emergency room and the time they have had to wait for surgery.

The health care system cannot be fixed by dumping more money into an already exhausted and outdated method. We will fix the system, but while we are in the process of doing that, we have made and continue to make a commitment to the people who need the care now. We started this process by allowing the health authorities to manage the system. The last government took away the right of hospital administrators to manage and gave it to the nurses union. The health care system was so rigid that a patient on the third floor had to be moved to the fifth floor in order to have a nurse from that floor attend that patient. The nurses were not allowed to move from floor to floor or section to section within a hospital. That is ridiculous.

The last government's love-in with the union cost patient care millions and millions of health care dollars. It was lost to patient care. That needs to end, and that is a priority of this government: to return the focus of health care back to the patient.

Students in British Columbia need to be paramount in our future deliberations. In my riding of Burquitlam there's a number of elementary schools. I have a high school. I have Simon Fraser University. A new high school will be built in the Burnaby southeast sector.

This government is committed to funding education. For elementary schools and high schools, the government has offered changes to the School Act to provide accountability within the system and greater flexibility for students and parents. Furthermore, through the new funding formula, school districts will be able to decide how they feel the money should be spent rather than the government painting one brush stroke for all. Each area and region is different, and the people on the ground should make the decision on how the district can best be served. The people on the ground, Mr. Speaker, are the students, the parents, the teachers, the school trustees, the administrators.

Again, we had to allow the school administration the ability to manage and not the unions. We cannot allow the unions to have the inflexible, rigid control that the last government gave to them. We have to stand up against the unions who are intimidating their own members who disagree with them. This intimidation and blackmail has to end now.

The tuition freeze has hurt post-secondary school education over the past six years. I have met with several students from Simon Fraser University who fully support the new changes for the individual institutions to set fees. The students I have met want to finish their education within a reasonable amount of time. It is now taking students between five and six years to complete a four-year degree because they could not get the courses that they needed and when they needed them. The cost of tuition is but a small portion of the total cost of education. When students have to pay an extra two years of food, rent and student union fees, not to mention the two years of earning ability that is taken away from them…. We hope to change this with the new changes. We will change this with the new changes.

There are always some people who believe that "free" is the only word. I believe, and I know this government believes, that "fair" is the only word. That's what this government will be in dealing with patients and students — fair to all.

The people in British Columbia elected this government based on their pledge to protect those who are in need. Employment assistance dollars will go to those

who need them the most. We will create a culture of employment and self-sufficiency. We will amend our child protection legislation. We will modernize the Residential Tenancy Act. All of these initiatives will help British Columbians and ensure that they, too, will prosper in a new British Columbia.

At the end of the day, we must remind ourselves of the mandate that we were given for change. It is often said that the only people in the world who like change are babies with dirty diapers. Change is not easy, but that makes it no less necessary.

British Columbians elected this government to make change as outlined in yesterday's throne speech. They did not elect us to endorse the status quo. I would not be here, and I'm sure many of us would not be here, if the status quo was good enough.

I would encourage members in this House, and all British Columbians, to give these changes a chance. We cannot promise that it will be easy, nor are we making such overtures. However, we do promise that with our vision, our ideas and our conviction, B.C. can be great again.

Before I close, I would just like to talk about my commitment to community and to the many volunteers that make Burquitlam a great place to live. I wanted to quote from my maiden speech:

I would like to announce that this Saturday, February 16, will be my official office opening. The office opening will be between 12 and 4 in the afternoon with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. I invite everyone in my riding and area and every member in this House to come by and meet the many community groups that will be accessing my office, and to assist them in cutting the ribbon.

Hon. S. Bond: I am indeed honoured to rise in the House today to respond to our government's throne speech.

With a significant legislative agenda this session, I know that we are going to have our work cut out for us, but I know and recognize the strengths and talents of the colleagues that I work with, and I know that we are more than up to the task. I am very excited about the opportunities that we have to reinvigorate this province's economy and get B.C. back on track again. While the throne speech outlines a very ambitious plan for the coming weeks and months, I am inspired by the fact that this will be a historic undertaking of change in this province. Many of the endeavours that we have proposed are bold and decisive. However, I also believe that each of the changes that we will make will be reflected by a thoughtful, policy-driven approach and by those principles that are important to British Columbians.

Earlier this year our government conducted a very thorough review of each and every program and initiative across government. We often asked ourselves…. We looked at the questions in this way: what should government be doing? Should government be doing this? Could we deliver this service better or more efficiently? Are we addressing a compelling public interest through this program? Many of the results of that core review process are reflected in the throne speech.

This legislative session will bring us a step closer to completing the strategic shifts that we announced during our core review and in our service plan summaries and thus a step closer to restoring a climate of hope, optimism and opportunity in British Columbia.

Mr. Speaker, as we heard in the throne speech, this government's central mission is to revitalize the economy as quickly as possible. Over the course of this legislative session and beyond, we will continue to take steps to make the economy more competitive, diversified and attractive to investors. The independent B.C. Progress Board will issue its first report within the next few weeks to hold government accountable for the progress that we will make in the economy.

Changes to the Employment Standards Act, the Workers Compensation Act and the Labour Relations Code will be initiated in this next year to provide greater flexibility, fairness and efficiency for employers and employees alike.

We've made a significant commitment to reducing red tape, and so changes to the Company Act will cut red tape, improve efficiency and encourage growth in our economy.

The Premier will lead a series of round tables on small business that will invite small business owners, operators and entrepreneurs to offer their input and advice to government. Small business is the heart of British Columbia. It is critical that we work with them to remove barriers to growth and expansion.

Public-private partnerships will be explored to spur more private sector investment in transportation and highways, information technology, housing, land and resource development, health support services and facilities, and education infrastructure. This is an exciting opportunity. It's a chance for us to maximize the use of our limited resources and look for incredibly creative ways to enhance the services to communities all around the province.

In the forest industry a shift will be made towards market-based stumpage, and the complex challenge of forest policy reform will be tackled. The government has committed to streamlining the Forest Practices Code to make it more results-oriented, cost-effective and workable on the ground, while maintaining the same standard of environmental protection. In my own

riding of Prince George–Mount Robson, these kinds of changes will have tremendous impact. The forest industry is key. It's so important to the economic well-being of communities in my region. Reform of this industry proposed by our government is great news for forestry companies, workers and their families in Prince George–Mount Robson. This reform is essential and long overdue.

This kind of sweeping change is essential to the future well-being of our province. We must make big adjustments in order to recover from ten long years of fiscal mismanagement by the previous government. This mismanagement has left our province lagging behind its competitors and has forced our government to make some very difficult but necessary choices. We simply cannot continue to pay for all of the programs and services that we can't afford. These decisions are never easy, but they are necessary. We cannot in good conscience mortgage our children's future. In order to protect and ensure those services, the services in health care and education that are important for your family and my family, we must make difficult decisions. Even though it will be difficult, our government is committed to balancing the budget by 2004-05.

Over the next three years all ministries, excluding Health and Education, will experience an average reduction of 25 percent in their budgets. That, to me, demonstrates very clearly and powerfully how committed this government is to protecting the services to students and patients in British Columbia. However, because it is our top priority, the government increased health care funding this year by $200 million beyond the amount we promised to maintain. As we committed in New Era, health and education budgets will continue to be protected.

In an effort to get our fiscal house in order, the costs we can avoid, we will. We will look at new and innovative ways to deliver services that are more cost-effective. We will have to thoughtfully and strategically phase out the less vital programs while making every effort to protect the most vulnerable in our society. There is no doubt that these changes will be difficult and sometimes painful. Communities in my own riding, particularly small communities like the village of McBride, have felt the impact of program reductions first hand. However, I believe that these circumstances can be perceived as an opportunity for us to work with those small communities and to work hard on their behalf to give them opportunities to look at new and innovative ways to grow and prosper over the coming years.

I am proud of the constituents in my riding, and while the impact has been felt, they demonstrate the kind of entrepreneurial spirit that will guide our province. They will help us as we emerge from the economic rut that we find ourselves in, and they will help us set the stage for future success. Despite their challenges, my constituents are already working on plans and thinking about how indeed we can work together to try to help them deal with the challenges that we face.

Now, more than ever, we have the chance to be creative and help communities attract businesses to every region of this province. Businesses that may not have considered coming to British Columbia in the past now recognize that we are open for business and that we welcome and encourage their investment. We must seize the opportunity to diversify our traditional economies. We must look at the areas of tourism, technology, research, value-added manufacturing and much more.

Mr. Speaker, the future of British Columbia lies in our hands. Now is not the time to sit back and wait for things to get better. We must proactively and aggressively pursue our agenda for change. I know the people of my riding and indeed the people of British Columbia are up to the task. British Columbians told us unequivocally in the last election: "It's time to persevere, to take these very necessary steps." We will not shy away from what needs to be done even though some groups will be vocal and aggressive in their opposition. Change is always challenging, but our government has set out its plan for British Columbia, and we will stay the course.

British Columbians should take heart that their government shares their commitment to public health care and education. Even during this time of fiscal restraint we have protected budgets to each of these ministries. However, as we heard in the throne speech, there is no greater or more pressing challenge than the need to save and renew public health care. Funding simply cannot keep up with the cost pressures needed to simply maintain service levels let alone improve patient care. Improving health care will require major structural reforms. In the short term we may have to face some sacrifices in order to make those long-term improvements in patient care.

What we have done already, despite what you hear, has created a sense of excitement and optimism as people within health authorities begin to work together to create the solutions that are necessary. I know that in my riding the work that's being done is thorough, and it is exciting, and it will lead to an improvement in patient care not only in Prince George–Mount Robson but in the province of British Columbia.

These health care reforms are critical. We must ensure that our health care system is sustainable and reliable so that our families, our parents and our neighbours will have access to quality health care when they need it most. This session, measures will be introduced to reduce costs from things like duplication, administrative overlaps and overly prescriptive regulatory regimes.

The Community Care Facility Act will be improved, and through new legislation and the allocation of greater resources, we will strengthen the protection of drinking water and groundwater.

As the Minister of Advanced Education, I understand very clearly and am very excited about the commitment that our government has made to education.

We believe that education is the key to our future prosperity, whether in the classroom or through the use of long-distance technology, co-op education or skills and trades training. We believe that these different educational experiences equip our citizens with the skills and knowledge they require to discover, to create and to build our province's future successes.

Common to the changes that we are making in both K-to-12 and post-secondary education is a focus on putting students first and giving them flexibility and choice when it comes to their education. In K-to-12, we will make changes to the School Act aimed at improving student achievement through better system accountability and increased flexibility and choice for both parents and students.

As well, a long-overdue new school funding formula will give school districts a better chance to plan. They will have the opportunity through three-year funding allocations that are fairer and better aligned with student populations and classroom costs. In post-secondary education, as the minister responsible, I will restore autonomy over the setting of tuition back where it belongs — with the post-secondary institutions. I'm excited about the opportunity to introduce legislation that will expand degree-granting opportunities, both public and private, to give students more choice and more flexibility.

This is great news for students, because we recognize that every student learns differently and that each has unique needs and circumstances. More choice for students means they will have access to a wider range of opportunities, whether that's on-line, part-time or something completely different — something we haven't even imagined yet.

In conclusion, I am happy to rise today and voice my support for the government's throne speech. I am looking forward to our ambitious legislative agenda over the coming weeks and, more importantly, to implementing the commitments our government made to British Columbians. While these changes may be challenging, we are convinced they are the right things to do.

We will get the economy back on track. We will make B.C. an attractive place to invest, and we will put students, patients and clients — those most in need in this province — at the top of our agenda. I am confident the decisions we make in this Legislature will continue to strengthen and reinvigorate this province. I look forward to working with my colleagues in this House as we continue to work on behalf of the citizens of British Columbia.

J. Bray: It is indeed an honour to again rise and respond to the throne speech in this wonderful place as the MLA for Victoria–Beacon Hill. The constituency, as you all know, includes the legislative precincts, something we're very proud of here in Victoria. I'm very excited about the throne speech. I'm very excited about the plan it lays out for this province and for my community, and I'm very encouraged that it has the right balance between the economy and improving services for those most in need.

Mr. Speaker, this is my second opportunity to respond to a throne speech. In my maiden speech, as you may remember, I spoke about the closeness of the election in Victoria–Beacon Hill, which highlighted for me and for others the great diversity of my riding, the great diversity of opinion. Victoria–Beacon Hill is certainly a lively, vibrant and politically active constituency, and I'm proud to be the MLA for the riding.

One of the commitments I made during my response to the throne speech was to hold town hall meetings to work to ensure that I bring government closer to the community and the community closer to government. It was an opportunity for my constituents to voice their concerns and their opinions in an open forum to me, their elected official, as well as to the community at large. I am proud to have held them, and I will continue to do so over the coming year.

There are several initiatives in the throne speech that I would like to speak to. First, I must make mention of some of the things that have occurred in my community since my previous response to the throne speech. In the first session of this parliament, we passed several significant pieces of legislation.

We allowed for parents to be more fully involved in their schools through volunteering. We restored workers' rights to secret ballots for certification and decertification and to negotiate their own collective agreements without the imposition of sectoral bargaining. We passed merit employment legislation.

We restored education as an essential service, something we have seen was very important in the months that followed. We established fixed election dates so that all our constituents know when they can hold us accountable and to ensure that we don't engage in the silly political activities that have happened in the past leading up to elections.

Mr. Speaker, these were all welcomed in my community and are already paving the way for better delivery of services and a more attractive place for investment. That first session was a time of great excitement in my constituency, as government delivered on all of its 90-day commitments.

In the intervening months, government has had to deal with several difficult situations and has had to make some difficult decisions. Some of these decisions have had an impact on my constituency. We listen sometimes to the members of the opposition who criticize us for making decisions lightly. Well, let me say right now that I know that myself and every one of my colleagues have struggled with those decisions, are working hard to make the best decisions, have had a lot of sleepless nights — not because these decisions are easy, but because they are extremely difficult, because they deal with real people and because we know we need to make those decisions.

In my riding one of the ones that had an impact, of course, was the workforce adjustment strategy, which is managing a three-year reduction and revitalization

of B.C.'s public service. It's estimated that in my constituency and in my community of Victoria beyond my constituency, there'll be up to 800 persons who may be laid off over the coming year. There's no question that has an impact. Certainly, it has an impact on the individuals and their families. It was not a decision that was made lightly.

As a civil servant myself, having worked for the Ministry of Human Resources, I know the impact that is going to have on someone who may be laid off. I know about the impact that will have on people who are still at the worksite. I'm committed to continuing to work with constituents who may be affected by the workforce adjustment strategy in my community office to ensure that they have access to all the services to which they might be entitled.

I need to say something now, especially in light of the comments the member for Vancouver-Hastings made yesterday in this place. The workforce adjustment strategy was not something that was decided last year prior to the general election. Some have suggested that it was a long-range plan. I can assure them that it was not.

The realities of this province, as outlined in the throne speech, are clear, and those were not visible to us prior to the election or even after the election. These realities were compounded by a general economic slowdown and of course the aftermath of the terrible events of September 11. When we moved forward with the workforce adjustment strategy, it was not some long-range plan. It was a reaction to realities that we had to do to ensure we deliver the services in the most cost-effective way on behalf of taxpayers, patients, students, clients and workers.

I take great pride in this government, in its openness and its accountability, and I conduct myself accordingly. The member for Vancouver-Hastings suggested yesterday in her speech that I somehow misled or was not telling people the truth during the last election. In this House I will always accept debate on policy, always accept debate on legislation. But I will not accept debate on my personal integrity from that member or any other member of this House. I stand by my comments during the last election, and I stand by them since.

Also, three weekends ago we passed three significant pieces of legislation. Two of them dealt with the ongoing, lingering teachers' dispute of ten months. While I have heard from some teachers who don't like having a settlement imposed upon them, I have heard from other teachers who are pleased that that issue is over. I've heard from lots of parents who are pleased that we have done something that they do not believe any other government would ever have the courage to do. That was taking the issue of class size out of bargaining, out of the realm where it could be traded in or out in exchange for wages and benefits.

These types of matters will now be dealt with by all who care about children: parents, administrators, trustees, volunteers and teachers. The public education system belongs to all, and they now have a direct say on those critical education policy issues. It was the right thing to do, and I am proud that this government did what it did.

Also in those two bills were measures that dealt with existing labour agreements. I must again say that while I agreed with the outcomes these bills will achieve, I had some concern about the process. Therefore, I did, in this House, vote against several sections of those bills — those sections I felt would have a significant impact or potential impact on employees. It was the most difficult decision of my political career so far, but I felt that I served my constituents who are concerned about access to health care and access to education, and I served those who were concerned about opening up existing agreements.

I'm proud to be part of a government that allows free votes, allows members to exercise their vote on behalf of their constituents and/or their personal beliefs, and I'm proud to have exercised that right in this House.

After this difficult period I now want to focus, though, on the bright future that we heard in the throne speech. The throne speech sets out a bold and dynamic plan for this province, a bold and dynamic set of legislative initiatives. Many of these are a direct result of our election commitments found in the New Era document.

They include making the Workers Compensation Board more responsive to workers and employers. I'm sure I speak for many in this House that my community office deals with as many issues with the Workers Compensation Board as almost all other issues combined. We deal with them on behalf of workers who may spend…. I have one client who spent eight years dealing with the Workers Compensation Board and never once actually met a person — only voice mail or letters. I've dealt with small businesses trying to expand their employment and trying to be part of the economic vibrancy of my community, which are thwarted by unwieldy regulations that add unreasonable costs to their ability to hire new people — especially, in my community, young people. I'm delighted that we're going to deal positively with that institution.

We're improving opportunities for mineral exploration and access to Crown lands. In urban centres we rely on the communities that need to deal with natural resources and Crown lands, and I am very encouraged that we are going to tackle this complex issue now through the development of a comprehensive energy policy plan and a land use plan that will make sure it benefits all British Columbians.

We will be working to streamline the Forest Practices Code — not to weaken environmental standards but to improve the results of those standards. We will sponsor the first provincial congress, which will happen later on this month, to bring all elected officials from the federal, provincial and municipal levels together to talk about B.C. issues in a non-partisan way and develop strategies to move those B.C. issues forward. It is a bold step. It's never been done before. It's

critical for us on the west coast to work with all levels of government to ensure that provincial issues matter on the national stage. These are actions we committed to, and these are actions we are now taking.

I now want to focus, if I can, on some of the key initiatives identified in the throne speech that I think are particularly important for Victoria–Beacon Hill. We are moving to make B.C. a more attractive place for investment, a better place for investment. In Victoria we're already seeing the benefits of that. The Marriott hotel chain, just a few blocks from these chambers, will be building a new $90 million hotel that will create construction jobs, supply jobs and permanent jobs within the hotel itself.

The unemployment rate in Victoria is seasonally adjusted at 6.2 percent. That is the lowest in British Columbia, and it is well below the national average. In fact, despite the North American economic slowdown over the last year, our unemployment rate here in Victoria has actually dropped by one-half percent. This community is strong, it has tremendous capacity, and it is poised to become the economic leader of this province. The throne speech highlights the path that we must take to get this province back on track. I'm proud to say that Victoria is poised to lead the way.

The tax cuts introduced last year that our colleagues from the opposition like to chide about so frequently have had a significant impact in my community. In fact, over half of the retail merchants in Victoria who responded to a retailer survey indicated that their sales were better this Christmas than they were the Christmas before — and that despite the economic slowdown.

Last year housing starts in the Victoria area were up 45 percent from the previous year. Car sales were also up. Why is this, Mr. Speaker? It's because the tax cuts that this government introduced last July, coupled with those that were introduced by the federal government, have added over $3 billion into the pockets of consumers in this province. These are consumers who have decided not to participate in the economic slowdown. They have decided not to participate in the recession, and that is why we already have strong signs of economic growth and recovery in this province.

Let me say very clearly: we said last year that tax cuts would work. We have the evidence that tax cuts are working for all British Columbians in all regions of this province, and I'm very proud that we brought those in.

The throne speech also spoke of our commitment to reduce the regulatory burden in this province. In Victoria, small business is critical to ensuring that we have a strong economy for all. Small business in this community is encouraged by our commitment to reducing unnecessary red tape, because it will allow them to focus their energies on the business they do. It will allow them to spend money on their businesses, not meeting unnecessary government burdens and regulations. It will improve their ability to actually increase employment because they are able to increase their productivity. Small business is critical to Victoria, and I suspect it's critical to every constituency in this province.

The Premier's Technology Council is putting a major focus on our goal of making B.C. one of the top ten technology centres by the year 2006. In Victoria, high-tech is an exciting, fast-growing segment of our diversifying economy. With our two incredible post-secondary institutions, Camosun College and University of Victoria, along with our mature student campus at Royal Roads, we have a steady supply of the best-trained, high-tech graduates that you're going to find anywhere. The world is taking notice. Many companies are moving here. They're investing in high-tech right here. They're bringing in high-tech startups and are making the South Island the leader in high technology.

Of course, Victoria is one of the most beautiful places anywhere in the world, and tourism is a cornerstone of our economy here in the South Island. Despite the aftermath of September 11, Victoria's tourism industry is still growing. In fact, in November and December last year — after those tragic events — our hotel bookings were up from the previous November and December, and that is because we have a tourism sector here that is responsive, that is active and that is involved. They reacted positively after those terrible events, changed their strategy, went down to our American neighbours and told them that Victoria is clean, it's green and it's safe. Mr. Speaker, our American friends made the visit up here.

This year for tourism promises to be the best ever. Not that I want to brag about our Canadian dollar in its current state, but the reality is that for tourism that is an advantage for our American neighbours.

The royal visit — Her Majesty and her Golden Jubilee coming to Victoria in October — promises to ensure that Victoria's tourism season for 2002 will be the best ever. We're leading the province in tourism, because we have such a beautiful place to visit.

Our commitment, as mentioned in the throne speech, to ensuring that we secure the Olympic bid for 2010 will put the world spotlight on British Columbia. We saw the positive effects of Expo 86. Pursuing this Olympic bid will ensure that the world once again casts a positive eye on British Columbia, and nowhere will that be more positive than here in Victoria.

I have focused quite a bit on the economy in my response to the throne speech, because it's critical for the other issues that were addressed in the throne speech. I have mentioned previously in this place the importance of youth and families in my riding of Victoria–Beacon Hill. As a parent myself, I recognize the significant contribution many community groups in my riding provide to families.

The keys to a strong community are strong and vital social services. My community cares deeply about those services, about providing for them, creating new ones and improving the ones that we have. My community cares deeply about people who are affected by illness, low income, isolation, abuse, substance abuse and mental illness. My community works hard on its

own to help improve the social determinants of health by working to improve educational opportunities for our young, employment opportunities for our marginalized, housing for our seniors and those with disabilities, and socialization of all of our citizens.

The reality is — and this is not an ideological reality — that in order to provide those kinds of social services, we have to have a revenue stream that can pay for them. I know our commitment to social services is strong. I wouldn't be here if it weren't. I know we will deliver real services — not services that have titles to them, not programs that may or may not actually deliver but have been around so long that we continue to renew the contracts, but real services — to people in the community that make a positive difference for those individuals and for our community. We need to have that strong private sector investment to ensure that those happen.

I also know that here in Victoria many groups, such as the Social Planning Council, are making the shift to where a community meets to solve its own needs and the issues that it faces. Government, in this model, is one of the players rather than the sole solver of all the problems society may face. In this regard, my community is perhaps ahead of many other jurisdictions in making this shift where a community comes together and assesses the assets that it has in the public, non-profit and private sectors and develops the solutions that will improve life for all in the community.

That is what makes the strategic shifts in ministries such as Children and Family Development so exciting. They will move the solutions for our young people, for the community, back to the community, back to where it belongs. Government cannot be the sole solver of all the problems. Government cannot be the one that fixes everything. It takes a village; it takes a community. Our strategic shifts are going to put that responsibility and that empowerment back into the community.

In this fashion, the community will find solutions for its own unique problems. This is a great improvement from the top-down centralized model that imposed rigid policies that often didn't fit any particular community. It is because of this shift that I will continue to work with the outstanding community agencies in my riding, such as the James Bay Community Project, the Fernwood health coalition, the YM-YWCA, the Belfry Theatre, Rock Solid and the other community groups that promote the concept of community helping community.

The throne speech delivers on our commitments to get our fiscal house in order. It is clear, and it sets the direction. It also does not shy away from the tough decisions we will have to make, but it holds the promise of a bright future where B.C. again will be the leader — not just in economy, not just in natural resources, not just in tourism, but also in leading-edge social policy development that the rest of the world will come and emulate.

My commitment to my constituents is clear, and I am proud, now that I have been the MLA for eight-plus months, to talk about the services that my office delivers. My constituency assistants, Mike Demers and Dianne Clement, provide outstanding community service to any and all that call, write, fax, e-mail or walk in the door. Our office is open to serve, and we provide that top-notch service. I'm proud of the staff that work there, because they truly are important figures in our community.

Let me close off my debate, Mr. Speaker, by continuing my commitment to this government and to the people of Victoria–Beacon Hill. I'll continue to hold public meetings. I will continue to voice the concerns and compliments I hear from my constituents. I will continue to support such community assets as the James Bay Community Project and the Boys and Girls Clubs. I'll also continue to work and support the newly created harbour authority, which will bring a working harbour back to Victoria — local control, local management so that we can make local decisions for the best intentions of our community. And I will continue to work with our vibrant community associations and neighbourhoods: James Bay, Jubilee, Fernwood, Vic West, Rockland. This is a great community that I represent, and I am very proud of that.

I want to congratulate the Premier, our cabinet and every single one of our colleagues for helping us set the course we must take.

G. Trumper: It is a privilege today to rise to speak to the throne speech. First of all, I would like to commend the Premier on his speech last night. I believe that British Columbians need to know the facts. They do not need issues to be glossed over. The Premier laid it out very clearly as to where we are today and where we are going. I take great pride in the fact that the Premier is our leader and is able to give the facts to the province, to the people, so that they do understand the need for the decisions that we have had and are going to make.

The throne speech lays out where we are today and where we want to go in the next three and a half years. We were elected in May of 2001 to make decisions to put the affairs of this province back in order and to make decisions that would not necessarily be popular with some groups. We have all been living, for the past 20 years, beyond our means.

I tried to explain that to students who came into my office not long ago, when we had the teachers dispute. I tried to explain to them — some of their parents have been unemployed for some considerable time due to the downturn in the forest industry and are on UI — that you have a budget at home. When that money is gone, you go to your credit cards. Like many people, your credit cards are maxed out, and it's really difficult to move from there on. I explained how difficult it was, probably, for their parents, who are unemployed in the forest industry, to pay out $100 or $150 for the running shoes they want and how difficult it is for the parents to say: "We're not able to do that right now."

That's where this province is. I'm going to talk about one of the communities that I represent as the

MLA. I have a very diverse region. I go from the east coast, where many people are retired — there are also young people coming in, and new schools are having to be built — to the centre of the Island, where I have an industrial base and where so many people are out of work, and way out to the west coast, where aquaculture is becoming a real staple of their economy. They are so pleased to see the changes that we have made for fish farming.

I want to talk about the one community that is suffering at the moment. One of the major issues facing us in British Columbia is the softwood lumber dispute. Now, I have lived in a community for 30 years that has seen the ups and downs of this industry, the valleys and the peaks. When I came to this community 30 years ago, it was amazing to see all the recreational vehicles and boats that every other house in the community seemed to have. We then had the highest per-capita income in Canada. Gradually, that has been eroded.

Over the past few years we have lost 4,000 forestry jobs out of 6,000 in the region. That meant that there were other jobs that went: the support services and other businesses that worked 18 hours a day with no vacations and no benefits to keep their doors open and to survive. Many of them did not survive.

Now we are faced with the fact that the free trade agreement that Canada and the United States signed does not seem to stand up with our neighbours to the south. I do want to commend the Minister of Forests for his strong stand on this issue. I know, with the direction that we are taking with this government, that our resource industries will once again be strong and will be the backbone of British Columbia.

In our region, in the forest industry, we have learned that we all have to work together to solve our problems. The forest industry realized over the last few years that the industry and its employees had to sit down and work together to survive. We could no longer have lockouts or wildcat strikes. We did have the reputation for wildcat strikes, for being the first out and the last back in.

All the people involved realized that they had to work together. We as British Columbians have to learn to work together and to look at the issues. All of us have to set aside our special interests and work toward that goal. We must have people working in their chosen professions, working in business free from intimidation and actions because they have not agreed with the mandate of the particular group that they live with. That is just not acceptable to a democratic society in British Columbia and in Canada.

I want to speak about health care. In the throne speech what we wanted to see in health care was laid out. It is dear to my heart because I and my family came to this country to work in health care. We have seen its advances, but we have also seen the huge demands that are now made. In the last 15 years my family certainly has had more than its fair share of the health care that is available.

The changes that we have had to make, however, have been very difficult. They had to be made to make sure that our health care system will survive and it will not continue to be on life support as it is now. It must put patients first.

I want to say that the decisions we had to make in some of these issues were very difficult ones for me, recognizing that many of my constituents have very strong views on the issue. But you know that you have to look at the big picture and you have to decide which is most important. The most important issue in the whole of the health care situation is the patient. The patient has to come first.

It is a privilege to stand here and to know that we are on the right road to bring prosperity back to British Columbia. One of the biggest problems in my region is that poverty is the biggest health hazard. High unemployment in the forest and fishing industries has caused much of this. Markets in the world have caused some of these problems, and also past decisions by previous governments. When resource industries are not working, all communities in British Columbia suffer. The plan of this government lays the groundwork to improve this situation.

The economy of this province will turn around to enable us to provide the services we need. Patients and students will always be put first. School districts, colleges and universities now have the ability to set the direction they want, to provide the best training and education for the students and to provide the programs that they need when they want them.

So often we hear of students in university taking their courses and finding that they're not able, in whichever year it is, to take the necessary courses they want. There just isn't enough room. The freeze on student fees over the last few years has not enabled the universities to provide those programs when the students needed them nor, at the same time, were they always necessarily able to provide the quality that they needed. We want to make sure that our universities and colleges in British Columbia are the best — that they have the best lecturers, the best facilities and the best resources — so that students coming out at the end of their programs will be the best-qualified people in Canada.

I want to be able to stand here in four years' time and say that the people in my riding are employed and that first nations have treaties and are working with the rest of British Columbia to enable them to have employment and to be successful. We know that we are going forward with the referendum this spring, which will give guidance to the government as to where we go with treaties. Treaties are very important — very important — to British Columbia and to the people that they most affect. At the same time, I want to make sure that those people and our aboriginal people have the opportunities that everyone has: to have employment and education.

We want to make sure that we're working with them to enable that to happen. I know that in my

community there are partnerships between non-aboriginal and aboriginal groups in the forest industry and the fishing industry. We see many aboriginals taking part in the expanding aquaculture industry on the west coast.

The direction that we, the government, are taking to encourage investment by removing taxes from small business and industry has already enabled us to move forward. I've had many positive comments made by small business. They are now employing. Small businesses, which at one time maybe had only three people working, are now able to employ another individual due to the tax relief that they have received.

Mr. Speaker, with the talent and dedication of the people in this Legislature today and the leadership that we have, we will make British Columbia number one again. I believe in accountability, affordability and accessibility in government. That is what we're doing.

One of my personal goals, while I am here, is to make government more accountable and to restore citizens' faith in government. We are on the right course, and I am proud to be part of this team. I know that in four years' time we are going to be able to look back and say: "We did the job we were elected for, and there is a great future for our children and grandchildren."

E. Brenzinger: I am honoured to rise today to respond to the throne speech. I would like to highlight how our government's direction will affect not only the province but particularly my riding, Surrey-Whalley.

The economic fortunes of Whalley have been allowed to stagnate for too long. The first rays of optimism are now here. New businesses are looking at Whalley and seeing the potential of this gem in the heart of Surrey. For too long Whalley was allowed to languish under a blanket of indifference, but with the strong support of business, government and community leaders, a new business improvement association in Surrey-Whalley has been created.

In fact, the meeting held Tuesday this week brought together representatives from the municipal, federal and provincial governments, business owners, RCMP, community service organizations and the Surrey Chamber of Commerce, who were all determined in their commitment to the economic revitalization of Whalley.

Another boost to the economic fortunes of Surrey-Whalley is approval by cabinet of the proposal that will see Simon Fraser University assume responsibility for Tech B.C., using the existing campus at Surrey Place Mall. That will benefit the city of Surrey and its residents, both economically and socially. Surrey, the second-largest city in B.C., now has a university.

This proposal was produced after an extensive review of many business plans from Tech B.C. and other educational institutions. It meets the criteria set by this government to put students first. It is fiscally responsible and sustainable. I was tremendously impressed with the passion of students, educators and residents of Whalley who took the time to contact my office and share their visions and concerns for the survival of Tech B.C. The innovation at Tech B.C. will live on with the SFU proposal, which will continue to offer Tech B.C. programs and eventually integrate these with SFU degree offerings. The solution provided through the SFU proposal is a great example of collaboration resulting in the certainty we need to build a top-notch advanced education system. Surrey will reap the benefits.

Technology has changed the world around us, and the pace of that change is accelerating and continues to impact almost every corner of our society. It was only yesterday that we were introduced to the term "the information superhighway," and we were dazzled by the ability to retrieve and share information with others. Now, only a few short years later, the information superhighway is evolving into the application expressway. This means that B.C. has an opportunity to open up new lanes for job creation in our province.

The Internet used to be about viewing, but it is about doing. There is a great opportunity to develop web-based applications which are marketable worldwide. The Internet as a global marketplace is best suited to communities with a global perspective and a highly skilled workforce — a force that speaks many languages and is cognizant of the nuances and customs related to communities around the globe. British Columbia is well positioned to reap the benefits of companies, both domestic and international, which recognize that our workforce is skilled and diverse in culture and language.

Within my own riding, Surrey-Whalley, companies reflecting this workforce demographic are developing cutting-edge technologies that are attracting international attention and inward investment to British Columbia. For example, my staff are using a new technology called cell-paging to communicate by text directly to my or any cell phone from the Internet. This technology has been developed by a Surrey-based corporation.

The expertise of this company has also been utilized by another technology company in Surrey to create yet another cutting-edge technology: a Web-based commitment management system that will allow everyone to do contracts and agreements over the Internet in a safe and secure manner. This company is attracting international attention and private investment into our province, which in turn creates new jobs and more opportunities for the creation of more leading-edge technology.

On Monday of this week I was thrilled to be part of the announcement, opening a new customer interaction centre in Whalley, along with the mayor of Surrey, Doug McCallum, and the Hon. Rick Thorpe, Minister of Competition, Science and Enterprise. RMH Teleservices International Inc. will open its second call centre facility in B.C. in Whalley. This facility is expected to be fully operational in May 2002 and will provide employment for up to 1,000 residents in the Surrey area. It will be an inbound call centre, which will initially ac-

commodate 400 Web-enabled workstations. Many of the representatives filling these stations will be multilingual.

RMH Teleservices is a leading provider of customer relationship management service and e-commerce solutions for major corporations in the technology, telecommunications, financial services, insurance, transportation and logistics industries. Having RMH Teleservices deciding to locate in Whalley is a direct result of the community working with private-public partnerships that we want to see throughout B.C.

As outlined in the throne speech, economic growth is the foundation that we build on to sustain our health care system, our top-notch education systems, and the various other programs and services that British Columbia's most vulnerable need. We must ensure that our economy is competitive, diverse and attractive to investors.

Our economy has been battered by five economic factors that have impeded our ability to grow fiscally: the slowdown of the Asian markets, the American recession, weaker commodity prices, the softwood lumber dispute and the horrific events of September 11.

Some of the initiatives our government is taking to re-establish B.C. as an economic leader in North America were outlined in the throne speech on Tuesday. I would like to focus on a few that will impact my riding of Surrey-Whalley.

The commitment our government has made to private-public partnerships to spur investment in transportation and highways may finally result in the commitment needed for the South Fraser perimeter road.

The initiation of change to the Employment Standards Act, the Labour Relations Code and, in particular, the Workers Compensation Act is welcome news to many people living in the riding of Surrey-Whalley.

The lumber and forest companies and their employees will welcome the shift of focus toward market-based stumpage and forest policy reform. Our government's commitment to reform the Forest Practices Code, making it more results-oriented, cost-effective and feasible, will be a welcome change to industry.

As our economy recovers, though, we must still deal with the structural deficit problem left to us by the previous government. The spending reductions our government has been forced to make are painful decisions. We understand that, but after a decade of free spending, British Columbians know now there is no more money. They know and understand that government must tighten our collective fiscal belt and trim the budget. They also know that if we stay the course, there will be a more prosperous future for us all.

The government is committed by law to balancing the budget by 2004-05 and will spell out how it's going to do that on February 19. In this difficult environment, we have no alternative but to try as best we can to balance the books, remaining committed to the long-term improvement of services for women, children and families. I will ensure that our government makes every effort to protect those most vulnerable and minimize the impact on them from these funding reductions. We want to focus on putting patients, students and people first.

I have the honour to sit on the Select Standing Committee on Education. Public hearings on education in B.C. were held throughout November and December of last year. The select standing committee is in the process of drafting its report. What I found in community after community we visited was that parents wanted better system accountability. Parents and students also demanded increased flexibility and choice when it comes to education.

As a mother of three children, one of whom is still in the public education system, I share the respect many people have for teachers. Teachers are charged with the challenging and serious task of shaping our children's future. Most teachers are hard-working professionals who are interested in putting students first. We value them.

The new school funding formula to be introduced this session will ensure that local school boards are able to plan for their district's individual needs and requirements with three-year funding allocations, which are fairer and directed toward community student population and classroom costs.

On February 11, 2002, our government gave post-secondary institutes in British Columbia the responsibility of setting their tuition fees. Institutions, working together with the students they serve, are in the best position to decide what level of fees is fair, reasonable and affordable. Our government expects these decisions will be made in an appropriate and responsible manner, taking into consideration the hidden costs that many students must deal with.

Mr. Speaker, the changes set out in the throne speech are bold. Many people will say that they are dramatic, perhaps even too dramatic. Many people with special interests will say that we are going too far. "Take baby steps. Wait and see. Don't rock the boat." That is exactly what has been done for the last ten years, and look where it has brought us.

The previous government imposed cumbersome and costly restrictions that put union interests above patients and students. These restrictions have prevented the many dedicated and caring service providers from being able to plan and manage resources where they are needed most.

Taxpayers expect and demand that their government restore sound fiscal management. They want their tax dollars to be managed prudently and efficiently, as they have had to do with their household budgets. They want their tax dollars to provide the best service possible with each dollar spent. That is what the government will do, as set out in the throne speech. Difficult decisions are never easy, but these measures are essential to revitalize prosperity, protect patient care and build a strong future for our province.

S. Brice: It is a distinct honour to be the representative from Saanich South and to rise in this House and reply to the Speech from the Throne. This custom of

members addressing the issues raised in the Speech from the Throne is well established in our legislative history and is a time-honoured tradition, one which I might say I take great pride in being a part of.

For this third session of the thirty-seventh parliament, this opportunity is particularly important. History will show that the initiatives announced in this Speech from the Throne will fundamentally change the way in which government is delivered to the people of British Columbia. These changes are in direct response to the wishes of British Columbians who know that for our province to prosper, there needs to be a government structure in place that is current, responsive and financially responsible.

Now, the structure of government in and of itself is very unlikely the reason that most of us chose to serve in these chambers and to be drawn to public service. We didn't come here with anything to do about government structure; we came here on people issues. We came to represent the people in our constituency, the children in our schools, and particularly those with special needs, and young adults looking to get education and training. We came to represent our seniors, our parents and our neighbours. We came to ensure a strong sustainable health care system. For those of us able to represent the needs of our families, major change is needed to the structure of government, and that is why this structure is so important not in and of itself but because of what it can produce.

Having said this, change is always difficult in that the known carries with it a certain degree of comfort. However, with an unsustainable debt load and increasing expectations, there needs to be thoughtful and reasoned adjustment to the programs and the very structure of government. The initiatives outlined in the Speech from the Throne meet the test of this challenge and meet our obligation to govern in the best interests of all British Columbians.

As I listened to the Speech from the Throne, I was constantly reminded about our mission, our central mission to revitalize the economy as quickly as possible. I was reminded that without a vibrant economy, we would be destined to provide inadequate services, inadequate health care, inadequate education, inadequate social programs.

For us to keep the faith with those children, with those seniors and with those neighbours who we committed to represent…. To fight for these services with any sincerity, with any honesty, one has to acknowledge that revitalizing B.C.'s economy must be our mission. We must adhere to the plan, which will turn our provincial economy around. This, of course, requires considerable change — that word again: change. Change is always resisted, because those who have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo will use the levers of jealousy and fear to achieve their ends.

Critics may suggest that it's a struggle between the rich and the poor or between the young and the old or even between the abled and the disabled. The politics of driving wedges is not new. It is also not helpful. All of us in this House — and I say all of us, from both parties — have an obligation to assist the public in understanding the changes which must be made. We have an obligation to resist the forces that will use this time to pit British Columbians against each other. We take on this challenge to revitalize our economy. It is our obligation to the people who elected us to make these changes. We will make the economy more competitive, diversified and attractive to investors.

This throne speech is a message of hope ? hope based on facts and details, not vague platitudes and unrealistic promises. Our government, with the support of British Columbians, will work toward that date when our budget is balanced and the future of vital programs such as health care and education is secure.

I was particularly pleased to hear the reference in the throne speech to the role that small business will be asked to play in our recovery plan. Later this spring the Premier will lead a series of round tables on small business. He will invite small business owners, operators and entrepreneurs to offer their advice and share their expertise. This initiative of the Premier acknowledges the fact that small businesses are by far the biggest job creators in our economy.

Over the past eight years, as executive director of the Better Business Bureau, I spent every day with small business operators. I developed an enormous respect for their resourcefulness and creativity. I saw people put all their savings on the line and work hard to produce their products, market their services, meet their payrolls, pay their taxes, buy their licences, grow their businesses and hopefully have enough at the end of the month to provide for their own families. These small business operators are the working people of British Columbia.

In some circles, the term "B.C.'s working people" has become code only for people working under collective agreements. Yes, union members are valuable working people, but they are not the only ones entitled to carry the designation "working men and women." Thousands of working British Columbians, both employees and business owners, put in long hours and have virtually no guarantees and precious few benefits. To these hard-working British Columbians it is, quite frankly, an insult to be excluded from the union definition of working men and women. When union leaders say they speak for the working men and women of this province, I say: "This government speaks and acts for all the working people of this province."

The basic need of every business is to make a profit. Only then can it provide jobs and earnings for employees. In some circles, making a profit may be seen as a vice. Successful businesses that make profits and invest in the province allow us to provide those vital services that drew us all to public service. The Premier's round tables will give small business owners and entrepreneurs an opportunity to define the

barriers to expansion and opportunities for growth. As small businesses grow, we all benefit.

There is very good news in this speech for small business. Changes to the Employment Standards Act, the Workers Compensation Act and the Labour Code will provide greater flexibility and fairness to both employers and employees.

As pointed out in the Speech from the Throne, nowhere has small business shown greater success for expansion and potential for growth than in the technology centre. My colleague the member for Victoria–Beacon Hill elaborated earlier on the number of institutions that are so critical in our community of greater Victoria, helping support the high-tech industry.

In my constituency of Saanich South there is a remarkable centre that is becoming the most dynamic campus for high-tech companies. The Vancouver Island Technology Park is a cutting-edge, environmentally astute centre and good, good news for the economic future of the capital region. All the amenities and synergies that are critical to the success of the high-tech industry are embodied at the Vancouver Island Advanced Technology Centre.

Recently it was announced that the highly respected entrepreneur Peter Berrang has brought his company, Epic Biosonics, into the centre. Their products, the components for cochlear implants, are the future in restoring hearing to the profoundly deaf. Epic Biosonics recently signed a significant contract with a company in Innsbruck, Austria, and this one company, Epic Biosonics, expects to hire 500 employees within the next decade. This company and many more compatible companies in the technology park will provide good-paying jobs and contribute to the economic revitalization of greater Victoria and Vancouver Island.

Vancouver Island Technology Park is strategically located in the riding of Saanich South, adjacent to Camosun College, the Pacific Forestry Centre and the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific. The cooperative synergy of all these organizations has focused world eyes on this technology park. The park is the first project in Canada to achieve certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

There are many examples in this government's plan that will complement the positive impact business has on our provincial economy. Changes to the Company Act will cut red tape, improve efficiency and encourage growth in the economy. Changes to the forest industry will see a shift towards market-based stumpage, and forest policy reforms will be tackled. The impact of the forest industry on our economic well-being is so crucial that this challenge must be met, and it will be met.

The throne speech is a speech of hope — hope, promise and opportunity. British Columbians heard this message, and they are confident that they have elected a government that is up to the challenge. I know we are up to the challenge.

This legislative session will be watched by our citizens, people from other provinces and, indeed, people from other countries. There is a tremendous well of support for what we are doing here in British Columbia. Quite frankly, people are cheering us on. They're cheering us on for our children and for all British Columbians. We will not let them down; we will succeed.

S. Brice: Having noted the hour, I would suggest that we adjourn debate and leave that to your discretion.