Hansard -- Wednesday, February 12, 2003 p.m. -- Vol. 11, No. 2 (HTML)



CONTENTS

	Routine Proceedings
		Page

Introductions by Members		4707

Introduction and First Reading of Bills		4707
	Foresters Act (Bill 5) Hon. M. de Jong

Statements (Standing Order 25B)		4707
	Avalanche victims W. McMahon Community volunteers B. Suffredine Fire at Alpha Processing plant R. Visser

Oral Questions		4709
	Aquaculture industry advisers J. MacPhail Hon. S. Hagen Collection of unpaid sales taxes J. Kwan Hon. B. Barisoff Federal-provincial agreement on health care funding K. Krueger Hon. G. Campbell Heritage Aquaculture licence violation J. MacPhail Hon. S. Hagen

Reports from Committees		4711
	Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, second report B. Lekstrom J. MacPhail

Throne Speech Debate		4712
	B. Bennett J. Bray J. MacPhail B. Suffredine R. Masi D. Jarvis Hon. K. Whittred Hon. C. Clark R. Lee E. Brenzinger K. Stewart

Hon. S. Santori: It is a great pleasure for me to introduce to the House today three special visitors from Singapore. They are Debbie Choy, Ee-leen Tan and Wendy Yap. These three ladies are here to attend a two-day conference sponsored by my ministry, entitled Frontiers of Privacy and Security: New Challenges for a New Century. I would ask all members to join me in giving them a warm welcome to British Columbia.

D. Jarvis: Would the House please welcome a friend of mine, Bob Fearnley, who is a councillor in the city of North Vancouver and also the president of the lower mainland municipalities.

E. Brenzinger: Today I'd like to introduce to the House my two assistants, Marilynn Johnson and Barb Kraushar, who are here from Surrey-Whalley. Would the House please make them welcome.

B. Kerr: We have members of the Sooke Seniors Activity Society here today visiting in the gallery. The son of one of the members of that society, a fellow who was affectionately nicknamed "Fang" by a former Premier, has asked if I would specifically mention his mother, who is here. I'd like the House to welcome the society and also Maude Kierans, who is here today to visit us.

S. Orr: It's my pleasure today to introduce a very, very special person called Judith Armstrong. She's co-president of Operation Trackshoes and a recent recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal for her work with people with mental, physical and medical disabilities. She is a true leader in our community, and I would like this House to make her welcome.

P. Wong: It is a pleasure to have joining us in the House today the board members of Lingnan Elder College, a project assisted by the former Lieutenant-Governor's David Lam Centre to offer courses of cultural and practical interest for Chinese-speaking seniors. They are as follows: Dr. Miriam Yu, president of the college; Mr. Terence C.T. Teng, vice-president; Dr. Ping Cheung Chan; Mr. Siu Foon Wong; Mrs. May Y.M. Lung; Mr. Robert K.P. Chau; and Mr. Anthony S.S. Liad. May the House please make them most welcome.

D. Chutter: With us today in the House is the mayor of Lytton, Chris O'Connor. Would the House please welcome him.

Hon. M. de Jong presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Foresters Act.

Hon. M. de Jong: I move that Bill 5 be introduced and read a first time now.

Hon. M. de Jong: I am honoured to introduce Bill 5, the Foresters Act. This legislation, which members will recall was originally tabled during our last session in the fall, repeals and replaces the existing Foresters Act — which has been in place since 1947 — brings the act up to date and strengthens its provisions dealing with professional accountability.

The Forest and Range Practices Act, passed during the last session, relies on the judgment and accountability of forest professionals to ensure that environmental standards are maintained under a workable, results-based code. One of the keys to meeting this commitment is being able to depend on highly trained, dedicated, accountable professionals to make sound resource management decisions. With this new Foresters Act, the judgment of forest professionals can be relied upon as a cornerstone in the results-based era.

Under the new act, the Association of B.C. Professional Foresters will continue to be responsible for upholding and protecting the public interest by providing expertise in entomology, ecology, hydrology, silviculture, road planning and numerous other areas; planning and approving of all forest activities; assessing the effect of activities on the forest.

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

Bill 5 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.

W. McMahon: While I did not know personally those who lost their lives as a result of the two very tragic avalanches on January 20 and February 1 near Revelstoke, I know that I, as well as the local community, felt a connection to the skiers. They were in our back yard exploring our wilderness and doing something they loved. These events have been devastating, and we have all felt the loss. The communities of Revelstoke and Golden responded immediately with determination to save those trapped and with compas-

sion afterwards as they consoled those who lost friends and family. In particular, I would like to acknowledge all those who worked so diligently on the rescue and recovery. To those on site and those attending in a support role, we are thankful that you were there.
           Avalanches are a naturally occurring event. We know that people make a choice when they go into the back country, and that the risk and the thrill are part of the experience. For those who suggest we regulate the back country, I disagree. It's about education, about knowing how to avoid trouble or what to do if you find yourself in trouble. It's about being prepared. I am hopeful that investigators will be able to determine the cause of the tragedies so that we can work to reduce the risk in the back country. I also believe we all have a responsibility to use our back yard wisely and to educate ourselves before we recreate. By doing this, we will honour the lives of those who have so tragically died.
           Let us pause and remember Naomi Heffler, 25, of Calgary; Dave Finnery, 30, of New Westminster; Craig Kelly, 35, of Nelson; Kathleen Kessler, 39, of Truckee, California; Dennis Yates, 50, of Los Angeles; Ralph Lunsford, 49, of Littleton, Colorado; and Jean-Luc Schwendener of Canmore, Alberta.
           From Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School near Calgary, Alberta: grade 10 students Daniel Arato, Scott Broshko, Jeffrey Trickett, Michael Shaw, Alexander Pattillo, Benjamin Albert and Marissa Staddon.

           B. Suffredine: I rise today to honour two very special people from my riding who recently passed away. Joan Gatzke of Creston and Margaret Jardine of Kaslo were outstanding community volunteers and leaders. It is the tireless work of people like Joan and Margaret that binds these communities together.
           Joan Gatzke was part of the soul of Creston. Her list of volunteer activities is too long to read. Her tireless, dedicated and compassionate spirit touched the lives of so many. Fundraising through rummage sales, bowling tournaments, raffle tickets and bake sales for a handibus, the Blossom Festival, fall fair and Christmas parade were just some of the ways Joan contributed. Joan Gatzke's devotion to a cause made her famous in the Kootenays and beyond.
           In 1991 she developed breast cancer. While hospitalized, she decided to spearhead a campaign to collect pull-tabs from aluminum cans to raise money to purchase special wheelchairs for Creston facilities. She became the tab lady, collecting 4,500 pounds of tabs — enough to buy three specialized wheelchairs — all the while fighting her lengthy battle with cancer. In 2001 Joan and her husband, Ed, were named Creston's co-citizens of the year. Joan Gatzke was a devoted mother and grandmother, wife and volunteer, who drew strength from adversity, contributed tirelessly to her community and should serve as an inspiration to us all.
           Margaret Jardine provided similar inspiration to Kaslo. She moved to Kaslo in 1917 and married Andrew Jardine in 1935. Margaret's generosity of spirit and giving was famous in Kaslo. Family members, friends and complete strangers all benefited from her kindness. She served on the Kaslo hospital board for 31 years and was a life member of Kaslo's hospital auxiliary. She also served many, many years on Kaslo's council. She was a member of the Liberal Party for more than 60 years. Margaret was the unofficial first lady of Kaslo.
           Joan Gatzke and Margaret Jardine were outstanding contributors to their community. They exemplify that building a strong community begins with individual contributions. I am grateful to have known them.

           R. Visser: Last Friday a fire broke out at the Alpha Processing plant, and by early the next morning, the town of Port Hardy had lost its single largest employer. For months the debate has raged on about salmon aquaculture, all of it seemingly oblivious to the fact that the government has built a continuously improving regulatory regime that ensures sustainability for the marine environment and protection for the wild stocks — all of it completely oblivious to the fact that no new expansion has been undertaken.
           The critics still cry foul at every turn. What is most offensive about their tirade is that they ignore the people. Two hundred and seventy folks work at Alpha and are connected to that community. The average age doesn't reach 30. Three-quarters of them are women, and nearly a third of them are first nations. The payroll can reach a little over $600,000 a month, and for those young families this is devastating.
           Yet people always seem to find good from adversity, and the next morning the Alpha employees, as they watched the fire's glow, left Port Hardy for Nanaimo, where they joined the 600 people that were gathering to tell the positive story about aquaculture to the people of British Columbia. The theme of the rally became "Hug somebody from Alpha."
           I'm very proud to represent those people — the workers at the plant, the workers in this industry and all those that live in the North Island's coastal communities. They're the heart of this province, and as the days and weeks unfold, we will all have the pleasure of seeing them pull together and rebuild their plant and their lives.
           I want all of us to learn a lesson from those folks. I especially want those relentless critics of this industry to remember one important fact: there are people whose lives you affect when you misrepresent reality. I want you to remember that it is the people who live and work in the heartlands of this province who allow us to have all that we have. We should thank them. We should support them, and we should help them get on

J. MacPhail: This question is timely. After dismissing hard science warning against the dangers of open-net fish farming and before being forced to resign as a result of a police investigation, the former Fisheries minister gave Monty Little the task of assessing that evidence to report back to the government with recommendations. He plucked Mr. Little from amongst over a dozen members of the Science Council. There's just one problem. The opposition has learned that Mr. Little is the president and founder of Syndel Laboratories, a big chemical and drugs supplier to fish farms.
To the new Minister of Fisheries: how can British Columbians have any trust in the Liberals' handling of the fish farm fiasco when their top scientific adviser stands to benefit from the decision to expand open-net fish farming?

           Hon. S. Hagen: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity of taking the first question in this new session of the House.
           The person mentioned is not the only science provider that we are getting. As a matter of fact, on February 22, 23 and 24 the University of British Columbia is hosting a three-day seminar on a variety of scientific issues. We are bringing in people like Alan Pike from the University of Aberdeen, Al Lewis from UBC, Terry Sutherland from Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Stewart Johnson from NRC, Jens Christian Holst from Norway, Paul Arne Bjorne from Norway, Frank Neilsen from Norway and a host of other experts in the field of salmon aquaculture that are coming here from Norway, Scotland, the United States and Canada.
           I want to assure this House and all British Columbians that this government takes this issue very seriously. The most important salmon on the west coast of Canada, on the coast of British Columbia, is the Atlantic salmon — I mean, it's the wild salmon. Pardon me.

Hon. S. Hagen: It's the wild salmon. Actually, I have a fair amount of experience in dealing with wild salmon, which I'll be pleased to outline to you on a supplementary question.

J. MacPhail: Another conversion on the road to Damascus from this minister. This government appointed Monty Little to head up the B.C. Aquaculture Research and Development Committee. Until they've been caught out on this file so outrightly, he's the man they're relying on. Not only is Mr. Little the president of Syndel Laboratories, he's also a big contributor to the Liberal Party. Syndel Laboratories gave the Liberals $5,000 to help win the last election.
Again to the Minister of Fisheries: why is the president of a company that supplies fish farms with chemicals and drugs, and which gave the Liberals big bucks in the last election, now in charge of providing the government with advice on the dangers of fish farms?

           Hon. S. Hagen: Thank you, and what an opportunity. You know, the member for North Island gave that incredibly great speech about the people who are ousted now from their jobs because of the fire, and hopefully that will be rebuilt.
           Why is it that the NDP dislikes people in our coastal communities so much? Why is it that they are trying to tear down the economy, trying to tear down forestry and trying to tear down aquaculture? Why are they trying to do that? We believe on this side of the House that both salmon industries can coexist on the coast of British Columbia, the wild salmon and aquaculture.
           Now, in answer to the supplementary question. In 1995 to 1997 the previous government did a study called the salmon aquaculture review. It took two years and 1,800 pages. Out of that came 49 recommendations. This government has put in place all but eight of them. The reason eight haven't been is that they have to be put in place by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
           This study was supported by the National Marine Fisheries Service study from Washington State. It was supported by the net-pen salmon farming industry study in the Pacific Northwest. On top of that, the Hon. John Fraser just released his report in November, The Protection of Broughton Archipelago Pink Salmon Stocks. And guess what, Mr. Speaker. Our government is actually implementing his suggestions.

J. MacPhail: I know this minister has enough time handling the file that he had before. He doesn't know what's going on. Clearly, he's completely out of touch with this file. The very studies he named were used to continue the moratorium on fish farming. It isn't the previous government that brought aquaculture into disrepute. It's this government that brought it into disrepute — fully and foremost this government.
British Columbians don't need more studies…

J. MacPhail: …run by fish farm pharmaceutical companies and Liberal backers to tell the minister what he wants to hear. They don't need a minister who blew off scientific warnings as just hysteria. Just a few weeks ago he was naming those very studies as being hysteria. They don't need a minister who's up to his ears in

fish farm money, and they don't need a minister who's been implicated in the same controversy that brought the former minister down.

J. MacPhail: The action that has destroyed public confidence in the aquaculture industry…. Will he take action now to restore public confidence in the fish farm industry and in his government's integrity by stepping down from the Fisheries portfolio?

Hon. S. Hagen: I've got to tell you, Mr. Speaker: last Thursday, as the new minister, I met with the industry and gave them a very strong message. This government expects them to abide by the regulations put in by this government. I met with the environmentalists and told them that, yes, we obviously do care about the environment in the province of British Columbia, but we also care about jobs and people who live in the communities on coastal British Columbia. I also met with the first nations.

Hon. S. Hagen: I also met with the first nations from the Broughton Archipelago, and do you know what? The first nations have invited….

Hon. S. Hagen: I met with the first nations, as I said. As a result of that meeting, the first nations have invited myself as the minister, the Hon. John Fraser and the federal minister, Mr. Thibault, to visit the archipelago, to visit their villages, to visit the net-pen sites. The Hon. John Fraser and I have accepted that invitation. I'm waiting for a letter back from Minister Thibault.
This government believes in the wild salmon, but we think that it can coexist with salmon farms.

J. Kwan: To the Minister of Provincial Revenue: what steps does it take before his ministry files a judgment in the Supreme Court to collect unpaid PST? Can the minister also explain what steps his ministry would take to secure a Supreme Court writ of seizure and sale of assets to collect those taxes?

Hon. B. Barisoff: When the Premier instituted the Ministry of Provincial Revenue, what he wanted to do was make sure that we had the ability to collect outstanding debts that were owing to government. So, in doing that, when people don't pay their debts, we do whatever measures are taken to collect whatever debts are due to government.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant has a supplementary question.

J. Kwan: Perhaps this question is best directed to the Minister of Forests, but I'll ask it again of the Minister of Provincial Revenue.
On July 31, 2002, the Supreme Court of B.C. ordered the sheriff to seize and sell assets belonging to the law firm of De Jong, Derksen and Phipps to cover over $12,000 in unpaid taxes. On August 2, 2002 — two days later — the Supreme Court judgment was cancelled with no explanation. Can the minister tell this House if those unpaid taxes were paid and, if so, when?

K. Krueger: Last week the Premier, along with his provincial and territorial counterparts, met in Ottawa with the Prime Minister to find ways to fix Canada's ailing health care system. At the meeting the federal government agreed to provide the provinces with added resources for health care. Will the Premier please tell British Columbians what this agreement means for them and for the future of our province's health care system?

           Hon. G. Campbell: Last week we did meet as first ministers in Ottawa. The agreement that was reached was very clear. We clearly do not have the dollars from the federal government that we need for a true federal-provincial partnership. However, approximately $500 million a year will be coming to British Columbia over the next three years. About half of that will be used to sustain the current health care system, and an additional half will be used for reforms in the system.
           If I may, I think it's important to note this. Our health care costs are growing at between 7 and 8 percent a year. The dollars that will flow to British Columbia's patients through this new arrangement are not going to be sufficient to meet the full needs of sustainability and reform as they've been identified not just in British Columbia but across the entire country.
           This is a first step, but there is a long way to go, and we will continue to work to build a true partnership between our federal government — and the taxpayers patients send to them — and the provincial government.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Kamloops–North Thompson has a supplementary question.

K. Krueger: Over the last 18 months this government has implemented quite a number of significant

changes to the province's health care system, with more on the way. With last week's announcement, people are wondering if we'll get credit for those changes that we've made. I wonder if the Premier can tell us what impact last week's announcement will have on those changes our government has already taken to address the sustainability of the health care system.

           Hon. G. Campbell: In terms of addressing the long-term sustainability of the system, I think we have to be very clear with everyone. We are a long way from bridging the sustainability gap. The $250 million is roughly 40 percent, maybe, of the challenges that we see in the health care system today for sustaining the system.
           There is about $250 million which is available for reform. That health care reform in home care, in mental health community services, in primary care and in catastrophic pharmaceutical care is very important to us. It's part of what we were putting in place as we moved through the changes to the health care system over the last 18 months.
           Again, these are small steps. They are small steps forward. We believe the new arrangements provide for the flexibility we need to make sure that the dollars flow through to the bedside, where people need it the most. We also believe that there's much more work to be done.
           In terms of the reform package that we've put in place, I want the member opposite to know that this government remains committed to making sure the health care dollars we receive from British Columbians are focused first and foremost on the needs of patients in this province.

           J. MacPhail: We heard from the new Fisheries minister that he wants to do everything in the most legitimate way, according to all of the regulations, in an environmentally sound way.
           Heritage Aquaculture, a fish farm company that contributed generously — another one — to the Fisheries minister's local election campaign, stands accused of violating its permit. It's alleged that Heritage is operating 24 open-net fish farm pens at its operation in the Broughton Archipelago when it's only licensed for 12.
           As the minister is well aware, I know, disease has once again broken out at Heritage, threatening the coming run of pink salmon. The community is demanding that Heritage be shut down to protect pink salmon stocks. The minister has said he wants both to survive — the wild stock and the fish farm stock. Will the minister listen, investigate and shut operations at Heritage to protect consumers and wild salmon from disease?

           Hon. S. Hagen: The member opposite is confused again. She's confusing the sockeye disease, which is spread by wild sockeye to farmed salmon, with the issue in the Broughton Archipelago.
           The company, which she mentioned, was presented with an official warning on January 24 of this year as a result of being in non-compliance. A follow-up inspection has been scheduled to assess the current status of the site. This is coming under the new regulations, which we had to make tougher because the old regulations put in by the previous government weren't tough enough.
           The results of the investigation may lead to one of the following outcomes: the issuance of a violation ticket, recommended charges to Crown counsel, or recommendations for licence suspension or cancellation.

B. Lekstrom: I have the honour to present the second report of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services for the third session of the thirty-seventh parliament respecting the review of the statutory officers.
I would move that the report be taken and read as received.

B. Lekstrom: I would ask leave of the House to suspend the rules to permit the moving of a motion to adopt the report.

B. Lekstrom: At this time I would move that the report be adopted.
Just to touch on this issue, there has been some concern expressed in the concerns of some of the statutory officers, and I'd like to make something very clear. This committee, which is a legislated committee of this House, has made it very clear to the statutory officers that should additional requirements for funding be necessary, they can re-approach the committee to address those concerns. I wanted to make sure that was very clear to not only the statutory officers but all British Columbians should circumstances be needed that way.

J. MacPhail: Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to note — because one couldn't tell from the report — that as a member of this committee, after hearing from all of the legislative officers and deliberating with my colleagues and after a very thorough debate, I voted against this report and the recommendations.

Mr. Speaker: Hon. members, just before we proceed to routine business of the day, I would point out to all members that the long-awaited current edition of the Members' Handbook is on every member's desk. I know that as you put it into the binder, you will peruse every page.

Hon. G. Collins: Mr. Speaker, I call Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne.

           B. Bennett: I move, seconded by the member for Victoria–Beacon Hill, that: "We, Her Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in session assembled, beg leave to thank Your Honour for the gracious speech which Your Honour has addressed to us at the opening of the present session."
           With that, Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to respond to the Speech from the Throne. The Speech from the Throne sets out the government's vision for moving the province forward towards our goal of prosperity for all British Columbians. There is much in the speech that provides hope to rural British Columbians in particular. I will be using my opportunity here today to focus most of my comments about the throne speech on rural B.C.
           The new B.C. heartlands economic strategy and the creation of economic development plans for the regions of the province will give rural regions the opportunity to assess the vast and diverse potential of their regions. I look forward to the Minister of Competition, Science and Enterprise visiting the East Kootenay sometime soon to hear from the people of our region their ideas for renewing prosperity.
           The references in the speech to revitalizing northern and rural transportation infrastructure are also exciting. Major improvements to the Trans-Canada Highway at Kicking Horse Pass are long overdue. The recognition that regional airports are economic engines is also very good news for rural B.C. and particularly the Kootenay region, which is looking forward with great anticipation to the expansion of the Cranbrook Airport.
           New legislation to support action on coalbed methane development, a commitment to offshore oil and gas development by 2010, establishing a B.C. resort task force to promote the development of resort communities across the province, changes to the Small Business Venture Capital Act to increase access to seed capital, new partnerships with first nations to finally get treaty-making on the move and create more certainty for business investment, regional innovation chairs at the colleges of B.C. to foster economic and social research — all of these measures are exciting and bring hope to the people of British Columbia that this government is making progress on its commitments to renew prosperity across all of British Columbia. The speech offers hope that we can bridge the rural-urban economic imbalance that does exist and that has existed in this province for at least two decades.
           I have lived a rural lifestyle for all of my 52 years. I grew up in a town of 3,200 people and lived a good share of my life in the northern Canadian wilderness. Rural-urban differences are not new. This is not a new problem, as some of this government's antagonists would have us believe. It is true that rural B.C. and rural Canada have certainly changed over my lifetime. Many people have moved from rural areas to urban areas because that's where the economic growth and the new jobs have been created.

           Even with the loss of population, rural British Columbia — the economic heartlands of this province — makes an overwhelming contribution to the province's economic health. The Urban Futures Institute informed British Columbians just a while ago of what most rural people have suspected: forestry and mining and agriculture still form the backbone of the provincial economy. The B.C. Progress Board's January 2003 report on the economic heartlands states that in 2001, industries located primarily in rural B.C. were responsible for 72 percent of the value of B.C.'s international goods exports and roughly 60 percent of the province's total exports in goods and services.
           What exactly defines rural? For me, rural refers to the special relationship that rural people unquestionably have with the land. It very often means that the person feeds his or her family from a job or a business that depends on access to the land in rural B.C.
           If we want to open up rural B.C. to all the opportunities that exist for the province, we must give rural British Columbians the freedom to act responsibly as the custodians of the land they know. If there is one trend in public policy that has hurt rural British Columbia over the past decade, it is the trend of former governments to close off access to the primary source of this province's wealth: the land base.
           Rural British Columbia does want high-speed broadband Internet to open up small business, education and health-related opportunities. We do understand the value in developing more diversified rural economies, whether that be tourism, value-added wood enterprises, light manufacturing or real estate developments. But as very clearly established by the B.C. Progress Board and the Urban Futures Institute just in this past year, forestry, mining and agriculture continue to drive the economy in all of British Columbia and especially in the rural parts of the province. Rural B.C. needs growth and diversification in both the resource industries and all the other new opportunities.
           I want to tell a true story in the House today about a choice between opening up opportunities in rural B.C. for new jobs and economic growth or closing those opportunities. There is an area in the southeast corner of this province known as the Flathead Valley. This area contains the highest non-coastal density of grizzly bears in North America. It also contains vast numbers of Rocky Mountain elk, deer, black bear, Rocky Moun-

tain bighorn sheep, mountain goats and all manner of smaller critters. Those who believe that this wealth of wildlife diversity will be lost unless a park is created would like to extend Waterton National Park in from Alberta and take in the Flathead Valley.
           But there is another feature of the Flathead Valley that is also interesting and unknown outside the region. There have been people working and playing in this valley for 100 years. The Flathead Valley was one of the first areas the CPR took ties from. The CPR took millions of trees out of the Elk and Flathead valleys to build the railway across this province. Hunters, anglers, campers, loggers, miners, gas drillers and prospectors have used the Flathead Valley for decades and decades and decades.
           In the 1970s much of the Flathead Valley was infested by a pine beetle epidemic that came in from Montana. Unlike what has happened in B.C. in the 1990s — tragically in northern B.C. — government in the 1970s had the foresight to remove the infested trees from the Flathead immediately, before the plague could spread north through the Elk Valley and over the Rockies. Now, some 30 years later, there is a third-growth forest growing in much of the Flathead Valley.
           Those who claim that people must stay out of these areas also claim that conserving this wilderness can only be achieved by creating another park. "Keep the people out; keep their machines out," is what they say. The Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management is about to put out for public consultation a draft plan of the southern Rocky Mountain management plan. The former government had drawn some lines on the map in the Elk and Flathead valleys just weeks before the last election. They had made a secret deal with their friends, but they had not consulted with most of the people who live in the Elk Valley. This was yet another example of how the last government, the group that now represents itself as being rural advocates, made arbitrary and unilateral top-down decisions about land use that had a job-killing impact on rural communities in this province.
           This government, through the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, gave the right to self-determination back to the rural people of the Elk Valley. Over 40 very diverse groups met and debated and pored over maps and debated some more. In the end, after 11 months, they created a draft plan for responsible, integrated activity and conservation in the Elk and Flathead valleys. This management plan is supported today by the snowmobilers, the local environmentalists, the miners, the ranchers, the hunters, the hikers, the naturalists and the loggers.

           I'm very proud of the way the people of the Elk Valley came together to work for the past year on this plan, and I would say that it's a great example of how rural people understand that we humans are not separate from our natural surroundings. We do not just look at nature from the outside like a tourist in the zoo. We take and use some of the excess trees from the forest. We dig wealth from small holes in the ground, and then we restore the land. We grow food from the soil, and we irrigate, fertilize and do our best to keep out the harmful insects and diseases that threaten our food production.
           This is not a negative relationship with nature. This is the relationship that rural people have always, for all time, had with nature. So when I hear from the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management and the Ministry of Forests that British Columbia will finally have a working forest, roughly 48 percent of our land base, I am overjoyed — finally, a government in B.C. that understands what allows us to live our lives in rural B.C. and to very happily send B.C.'s wealth to the lower mainland, where it is processed, consumed and exported and where it supports thousands of families.
           We need access to the land to find new mineral wealth that we can share with our neighbours in the lower mainland. The Sullivan mine in Kimberley over its 100 years built dozens of hospitals and schools around B.C. It is now gone, with no new mine yet in B.C. to replace it. Where will we find the billions of dollars in tax revenue that the Sullivan mine paid to successive B.C. governments over its 100 years? This government is making some progress. Because of the changes made by the Energy and Mines minister and the Sustainable Resource Management minister, exploration is increasing in B.C. In fact, in my riding of East Kootenay it doubled in the year 2002.
           I know many of my rural colleagues feel the same way I do. We want new mines in our ridings. We want those high-paying jobs for our constituents and the tax revenues, so we can put more into health care and education. Rural British Columbians are asking — we're pleading, I think — those who want to keep us off the land: "Please respect the needs of families in rural British Columbia."
           One particular area of economic diversification that's showing great promise in the Kootenays and elsewhere in rural B.C. — and I'm referring to the explosion of the tourism industry over the last five years…. One thing we have plenty of in the Kootenays is mountains and valleys and lakes and rivers and trails and wildlife. We also have world-class golf courses and world-class ski resorts. Hundreds of billions of dollars have been invested over the past five years in the Kootenays — all new money, all directed towards the growth of the tourism industry. With the expansion of the Cranbrook Airport to create a direct air portal into the Kootenays, market surveys show that European and U.S. tourists will come by the thousands. Governments will collect important increased tax revenues, and tourism will continue to create new jobs in our region.
           A successful Olympic bid would also increase this growth in tourism dramatically. The prospect of a Winter Olympic Games brings hope to the Kootenay region, as it should to all regions of the province. We are excited about the possibility that in 2010, the world will come to B.C. to play and spend their money. We already know from Calgary, from Lillehammer and from Salt Lake City that the potential to grow the tourism

industry will be phenomenal. We know also there are some pre-Olympic training opportunities for rural B.C., and we know that from the positive experience B.C. small business had at Salt Lake City, there will be many, many small business opportunities when we win the bid.
The ski and golf resorts in the Kootenays are already strategizing on how to best exploit the direct European and U.S. charters that will be coming from an expanded Cranbrook Airport. It's just a step for these resorts to strategize on how their fast-growing businesses can also exploit the tourism bonanza that British Columbia will enjoy when we win the bid. We're holding a regional gathering in Cranbrook of people from around the Kootenays on March 19 to strategize on how our region can best exploit all the diverse opportunities that will be opened up by a successful Olympic bid.

           Our government does focus on the economy as one of its main priorities. It's a simple and unavoidable fact that public services decline without a robust economy. I would like, however, to address one of the other top priorities of this government, and that is health care. Last April this government gave the interior health authority the responsibility to manage health care in the East Kootenay. Some of my constituents asked the question — and it is a good and fair question: what do we, the people, stand to gain from all this change to health care in the East Kootenay? Unfortunately, all too often the health authority has been too busy trying to implement the changes and has not responded with a sufficient explanation. So let me say to my constituents and perhaps to other rural British Columbians today that what they stand to gain from these important changes is, first, sustainable health care for us and our children. Sustainability is actually a simple concept, but difficult to implement. If the health care system is sustainable, what that means is that there will be enough revenue to pay the cost of providing service now and in the future. The system we inherited as a government was not sustainable. B.C. taxpayers cannot continue to inject $1 billion of new money into the provincial health care system, as this government just did.
           What else do rural people gain from the changes taking place in health care? Seniors will have more choices to stay at home with support or to move to an assisted-living unit with other seniors for company, communal dining, personal support and health services. Up until now the only option for low-income seniors who need some level of health care service was to go into the hospital or into a long-term residential care institution.
           Finally, the third benefit that all these difficult changes are leading to, which is so often overlooked, is the increased level of specialist care available on a reliable basis to rural patients. The East Kootenay has never had seamless, 24-hour, 365-day-a-year access to core medical specialists. We have never had that. During their ten years the former government refused to make the difficult decisions, the ones that risked the loss of political support but which are nonetheless the right decisions. We have made those decisions, and more and more people are starting to recognize the very positive end goal of these changes.
           Finally, after decades of inertia, this government is putting in the resources for the first time ever to make the East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook a true regional referral centre for all the people in the East Kootenay.
           Change is never easy, but what is most important, and what is often lost in the anxiety brought on by change, is that my constituents in the East Kootenay will receive some very, very important benefits from changes to health care. We know that what we are building can be sustained for our children. We also know that our parents and our grandparents will not be forced to enter an institution before they need to. We have the knowledge that in the near future if any man, woman or child in the East Kootenay needs a core medical specialist, they will know for 100 percent certain that they will not be turned away at the regional hospital.
           The last 18 months have been challenging for all members of this government, and I expect that the next two years will continue to be challenging. Very few people enjoy the prospect of change. In fact, it is probably often the prospect of change and the anxiety about the change that people have the most difficulty with. I respect the anxiety that I hear expressed in my riding, and I am confident that with the additional information promised in the throne speech, the people of rural B.C. will more and more come to realize the benefits of the plan that this government is implementing.
           I say to the people in my riding who are worried about the future: we will work harder to get you the facts in a timely way. When you have the facts, we will work with you so that we understand your concerns.
           The cheerleaders for the status quo are hard at work. Information from our government about what we are really doing and not doing will not be welcomed by them. But the Speech from the Throne is clear. This government will continue to work towards a better, more prosperous British Columbia. We will not spend more than taxpayers can afford to pay, nor will we settle for doing all the same things in the same ways that have not worked in the past. The Speech from the Throne is a strong, bold vision. We will pursue this vision with the commitment and energy that this government has demonstrated to date — and more. We will move British Columbia forward into the prosperous future that all British Columbians want and deserve.

J. Bray: It is indeed my privilege today to second the motion made by the member for East Kootenay. It is an honour again to rise on behalf of the residents of my community, Victoria–Beacon Hill, and respond to the throne speech.
The Lieutenant-Governor has laid out a comprehensive vision for British Columbia. It is not only a

vision that deals with the present but also a vision for our children and grandchildren. As I have done in previous responses to the throne speech, I want to take this opportunity to highlight areas of the throne speech I believe are important to my constituents and to draw attention to those issues my constituents have raised with me since the House was last in session.
           Victoria–Beacon Hill is a dynamic riding. Although the smallest geographic riding in the province, there are many distinct neighbourhoods. James Bay, Fernwood, downtown, Jubilee, Fairfield, Rockland and Vic West all bring distinct perspectives to the issues I deal with as their MLA.
           I agree with the sentiments expressed in the speech. A lot has happened over the past year as the world has struggled to recover from the devastating after-effects of September 11, 2001. We do indeed live in trying, uncertain times of great global change. New solutions are required to cope with the generational challenges that all Canadians are facing in health care, education and other vital social program areas. This throne speech provides the road map to long-term solutions.
           There are fundamental elements to review, and let me start with health care. No area of government is of more concern than the reforming of health care. We must find new ways of dealing with rising health care costs while also increasing access to services, drugs, technology and highly skilled health professionals. This is very important because, of course, the public sometimes doesn't hear this message clearly. It is important to note that in the last year, this government has increased funding for health care by $1.1 billion. However, we must recognize that it's still not enough to keep pace with British Columbians' growing demands, an aging population and rising expectations for ever bigger, better and more expensive health care services.
           In Victoria–Beacon Hill we have a couple of significant health issues that I have been working on with my constituents. As I have mentioned several times in this House, the James Bay Community Project health clinic is a vital health service for the residents in James Bay, many of them seniors. It is funded under a blended funding model which includes population-based funding and fee-for-service. Practices funded under this model are paid for the number of patients cared for and not for the number of services provided. It is part of primary care reform. It is part of the thrust that the provincial governments and the federal governments are working towards, and it is a dynamic source of health care in my riding.
           However, James Bay has had to face the resignation of their doctors over a dispute with the board. Uncertainty over the future of this unique health care centre is very trying for many patients. Many of the residents are seniors, and the lack of access to quality health care is paramount in their lives. I will continue to press for the best funding options available to meet the needs of this community.
           In that vein, the throne speech does outline that later this year, the government will initiate a new strategy for chronic-disease management. I am very pleased to see this. As a member of the Select Standing Committee on Health, we have been recommending that this area receives higher focus. I also want to point out to my colleagues and to the Ministry of Health Planning that the James Bay health clinic is ideally suited to be a lead locale in advancing strategies for chronic-disease management. In fact, over the last three years they have implemented a strategy dealing with diabetes to effectively manage the care for people living with the disease, to reduce the incidence of hospital stays, incorrect drug interactions and other effects of diabetes, and they are moving forward to implement plans to deal with cardiac disease. I want to remind the members that when we're looking for opportunities, the James Bay health clinic is available to take the lead.

           Another key area for my community, and one that has received a lot of attention recently, is the looming crisis in Victoria's downtown core. Together the city, the Vancouver Island health authority and the Victoria police have recently announced a joint strategy to deal with illicit drug use, homelessness and mental health as it pertains to our community. For my riding this means not only downtown but also other residential neighbourhoods such as Fernwood. We often talk about how governments fight with each other, how governments don't get along. I think it's very important to note that there is cooperation among the local authorities to deliver immediate as well as long-term solutions to this problem. The local authorities have asked us for help. They've asked for help from the province. They are looking to the provincial government to be a partner in these solutions. As the MLA for downtown, I will work with ministers to ensure that we do our part to support this collaborative and positive approach.
           Later this week I will be touring downtown with Rev. Al Tysick from the Open Door to see at first hand where the gaps in service are, meet the people living on the street and find solutions to improve their lives by allowing for access to the services that they need, the services that not only will benefit the individuals but in fact will benefit our entire community. I will also be taking the Minister for Mental Health on an evening ride-along with the Victoria city police to see what our police officers must deal with from the perspective of dealing with persons with mental illness. My hope is that by allowing the minister to see the front lines in Victoria, we can identify gaps in service for people with mental illness and that the provincial government, in cooperation and conjunction with the health authority and the city, can deliver real solutions to the needs of these citizens.
           Constituents tell me they want to be more involved in the decisions regarding health care in Victoria. To that end, later this month I'll be holding community consultations in Vic West, Fairfield and Fernwood. These forums will bring the decision-makers from the health sector together with the community for an ex-

change of ideas and information on important local health issues.
           In light of that, I would also like to draw attention…. The throne speech made mention of child care, and I'm very pleased today to see an announcement on child care subsidy — that is, the subsidy that goes to low-income families to help them pay for the cost of child care. The income threshold with which parents are tested for eligibility for child care subsidy has been increased by $100 starting this May. Three thousand more children will be eligible for subsidy, and another 6,000 children will see an increase in their funding. That is significant support for those that are working in our communities, those who are going to school to improve the lives of themselves and their families. I'm very proud that we've responded so quickly to the throne speech by delivering on that promise to improve child care for families in British Columbia.
           One of the issues I hear most frequently from my constituents is the treatment of first nations. That is why I know my constituents will welcome the tone of reconciliation outlined in the throne speech. I agree with the statement that it is up to us to accord first nations the respect, support and social and economic opportunities to which they are entitled.
           Errors have been made in the past. Our institutions have failed aboriginal people across our province. I believe my constituents want the provincial government to make real progress on treaties and to recognize that we must treat each first nation as an individual entity, and that each first nation has its own history, culture, spirituality and wisdom. We often talk about the concept that one size doesn't fit all. Well, that is no more relevant than with first nations. Once we recognize the individuality of each first nation — their distinct language, their oral traditions — and learn from each culture how they relate to their elders and to the earth, then I believe we all can move forward together secure in our uniqueness of spirit but commonality of purpose. I applaud the boldness of the throne speech in addressing this vital area of our provincial lives.
           Another important theme in the throne speech is that of opening up our province to opportunity. I believe one area that is vital and very important to my community is education. That is why I'm so pleased that despite dropping enrolment, our school district will receive the same budget as last year, in effect increasing the funding provided for each student. I am also delighted that Victoria will share in the additional education funding of $50 million recently announced by the Premier. This is a result of savings in the Education ministry and will go directly to helping school districts deal with cost pressures, and it'll mean stronger educational opportunities for our students. I'm very pleased that the Victoria share of these funds is almost $2 million going straight to the needs of students.

           As a member of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, education was a major focus of our recommendations. In fact, I want to reiterate one of our key recommendations from the report: that government give serious consideration to providing additional transitional funding for the K-to-12 education system. During the public hearings, the committee was struck forcibly by how much financial pressure educators working in the K-to-12 system seem to be experiencing as they try to adjust to the new funding formula for school districts. I'm therefore very pleased that government has responded to our committee's work, responded to the views of British Columbians and delivered on the priorities the community has identified, but I do believe more needs to be done.
           The select standing committee also recommended special attention be paid to the school-based funding envelope. These are programs that include school meal programs and youth and family counsellors. I will continue to strongly advocate that funding be allocated for these programs to the end of the school year and not just to the end of the fiscal year of March 31. I will continue to work with the Minister of Children and Family Development to ensure that school-based funding remains a permanent fixture in his budget.
           Another key theme in the throne speech, along the lines of opening up the province, was tourism. As members are well aware and I remind them, tourism is one of the fastest-growing and most exciting aspects of the Victoria economy. I'm very pleased that again we have reinvigorated our commitment to doubling tourism by the year 2010. I know that in working with the provincial government, the city and the regions in the capital area are determined to ensure we help attain that goal. I will continue to work with the Minister of Transportation to ensure that we find support for the Belleville Street terminal, which is our border with our American cousins who come up to visit Victoria.
           I will ensure that we take full advantage of the opportunities that our Olympic bid will provide to not only Vancouver and Whistler but, indeed, the whole province. I know that Vancouver Island is gaining momentum in its excitement towards the bid, is looking for opportunities to support the bid and is looking for opportunities to ensure our residents get full benefit from that opportunity.
           The throne speech spoke of exciting opportunities in the heartlands of our province for providing opportunity and access to our natural resources for the benefit of our communities and first nations and the ability of government to deliver important public services. In general, my constituents would agree with this direction. However, there's a great sensitivity to our environment that my community expresses to me regularly. They want to ensure that economic benefits do not come at the expense of our environment. Therefore, I will be working with government to ensure that the issues my community believes are important are addressed as various economic ministries move forward.
           Specifically, the throne speech identified clean energy sources as a key focal point of the energy plan. I know my community is eager to see progress on Vancouver Island and indeed the whole province in the

development and delivery of clean power. I encourage the government to support these initiatives and encourage the large energy consumers to explore the use of alternative energy sources to the benefit of all. My constituents want to leave an environmentally positive legacy for future generations as well as a strong economic legacy for our children.
           Finally, I wish to speak to an issue that I believe my constituents are eager to see progress on. That's the citizens' assembly. As the throne speech stated, this year your government will put the drafting pen in the hands of the people to shape the future of our parliamentary democracy in the twenty-first century. A citizens' assembly will examine and make recommendations on the crucial issue of electoral reform. British Columbians will have an unprecedented opportunity to review and debate all models available throughout the world for electing their MLAs consistent with our system of responsible government. If the assembly ultimately determines that there is a better model than the current system, that model will be put directly to the people in a referendum to amend our provincial constitution on May 17, 2005.
           The throne speech also identified that a motion will be introduced in this assembly within a few weeks to initiate this process, following the release of the report that was completed by Gordon Gibson. This is a historic situation for Canadian parliamentary history. This is absolutely exciting that the politicians will be removed from the process. It will be the citizens that will make the determination on how they want to see their representatives elected.
           In fact, it reminds me that it was W.H. Auden who said: "There is no such thing as a perfect democratic state good for all time." Our political institutions change even when we're not paying attention to them. But as circumstances change, so, too, will our attention focus from time to time on the need to embrace more consciously the project of political reform.

           As the throne speech highlighted, some reform has already taken place in this House in the last 18 months. We have government caucus committees that allow unprecedented opportunities for private members to have influence on the development of public policy, not just the debating of public policy.
           Select standing committees of the Legislature — some that haven't seen the light of day for 30 years — are now out and travelling the province, hearing from British Columbians and reporting to the Legislature. What's most important is that the Select Standing Committee on Education, the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services and the Select Standing Committee on Health have all had direct impact and positive change in the direction of government policy for the benefit of British Columbians throughout the province. I think that is an outstanding achievement that this parliament is delivering to the people of British Columbia by being open, accessible and accountable.
           The other thing that has gone somewhat under the radar screen is that we've instituted free votes in this Legislature. In fact, they're so common now that people tend not to notice, but private members do speak on behalf of their constituents. On countless occasions since the last election, members have stood up and spoken out on behalf of their constituents. I'm proud to have stood up on more than one occasion to vote on behalf of my constituents in this House. That's the kind of change people want. That's the response they want from their representatives, and I'm proud to be a member of government that has bravely endorsed this, accepted it and moved forward with it. It's what the people want.
           In the elections of 1996 and 2001 we saw results in this Legislature that many felt did not reflect the actual voting preferences of citizens. For me, the fundamental goal of elections is not to serve the need of political parties. The goal of elections is to give citizens a voice in choosing their government. Thus, the urgent question for 1996, 2001 and all elections is this: how do we create a system that better serves all of the people of the province? I will continue to promote a citizens' assembly that will allow ordinary citizens, and not politicians, to decide how they wish to elect their representatives and their government. The main focus of electoral reform is and ought to be not the political party but the voter. Therefore, I am pleased that this progressive first in Canadian history was part of the throne speech.
           British Columbia is poised to make great strides in our economy, delivery of public services and our place in the world. I will continue to work on behalf of my community to ensure their views and interests are represented in the House and in government. The future is ours, and we can help shape what it will be for us and future generations. I'm reminded of a statement a friend once made to me: "Fear of the future is no foundation for a better tomorrow." Therefore, my community looks forward with their eyes firmly fixed on the hope for peace, health and happiness for all those who live in this province.

           J. MacPhail: Welcome back to all of our colleagues for this session — a very important session.
           I rise today in response to the Speech from the Throne — a throne speech that marks the halfway point in this government's mandate, a throne speech that I am sure the Premier had hoped to see delivered under different political, economic and fiscal circumstances.
           After almost two years in power, the economy is not well. The deficit is out of control. More debt is being added to the books than ever before. Our communities are being devastated. Our health and education systems are in decline, and perhaps most importantly, the reputation that the government and the Premier had hoped to build for competence and integrity is in tatters.
           For all their high-flown rhetoric, throne speeches can be useful for the insight they provide into the confidence that a government and its leader have in their

agenda. This throne speech powerfully demonstrates that this government has lost that confidence and doesn't know any longer what to do with its enormous legislative majority now that it is rapidly losing its moral authority.

           Less than two years ago the Premier won an overwhelming mandate on a promise of hope and prosperity, on a promise to restore confidence in the integrity of our political institutions. Not only has that promise not been fulfilled, it's been broken. More than half of British Columbians think that the Premier should resign. More than that think he's lost the moral authority to govern, and more than that think at the very least he is, to put it politely, one who is prone to double standards. How very sad — so much hope, so much promise, so much confidence reduced to a desperate attempt to re-earn trust. Two years after being swept to power, B.C. is a more polarized, a more anxious and a less confident province than it has been in recent memory.
           The Premier promised to change politics, to transcend old divisions and to return integrity. He has failed on all those counts, reinforcing the old patterns of polarization that have infected our political system for far too long. The Premier promised to usher in a new era, but he's delivered more of the same, only now with a hard, right-wing, mean-spirited edge. This is not what British Columbians voted for. This is not what they deserve.
           The opposition — conscious of our past mistakes, aware that now is a time to listen and to learn, and dedicated to setting a new course for our party and province — is committed to delivering the lasting political, economic and social change that British Columbians are demanding. I'm sure many British Columbians expect me and my colleague — indeed, many have asked us — to focus on the Premier's arrest and the criminal charges and penalties that he still must face. There is a tremendous amount of anger, frustration and disappointment with the Premier, but we are going to refrain from doing that.
           A month ago I said that by the Premier's own standards of conduct that he aggressively and vigorously demanded of others over the course of his political career, he had no choice but to resign. He did not make that choice, and so today we are left with a significantly diminished Premier and a government trying to cope with huge public policy questions, having blown much of their political and moral capital defending the criminal behaviour of one man. Those challenges grow with each passing day, but the government has neither the vision nor the moral authority to take them on.
           British Columbia is not the province it was only a few short years ago. We are faced with a whole new set of problems and new opportunities. The forces of globalization and technological innovation have had a profound effect on all societies, none more so than our province. Only a generation ago we were, with some very notable exceptions, a fairly homogenous and in some ways a deeply conservative society. Not any longer. Today British Columbia pulsates with the rhythm and dynamic energy of the entire world. The huge mountains and the vast oceans which once locked us in physically and psychologically are now just points on the map.
           A small, open society with a highly educated workforce, huge natural advantages, diverse and outward looking, British Columbia could not be better positioned to take advantage of the opportunities that the new economy affords. We in British Columbia are wasting that opportunity. Through blind ideological commitment to a failing right-wing economic agenda, the government is wasting B.C.'s opportunity to be an economic leader, to show the world that economic innovation and growth can and must go hand in hand with fairness, compassion and social justice.

           Instead of bringing people together in a common project to build a better, more democratic and more prosperous province, we are dividing people, pitting workers against management, environmentalists against loggers, rural against urban British Columbians, rich against the middle class and the poor. Instead of encouraging the potential of every British Columbian to realize their hopes and dreams and to bridge the gap between who they are and what they want for themselves, we are throwing up as many barriers as we possibly can on their life's journey.
           The government is throwing up obstacles, doing the best it can to crush initiative by making a hard life unbearable. This is economic foolishness, and it's morally reprehensible. It results from the government's ferocious commitment to a right-wing, anti-government ideology, an ideology that seems to have engulfed the Liberal Party, an ideology that gained purchase in reaction to the previous administrations but has gone way too far in the other direction. It's an ideology that is taking B.C. down a path that a growing majority of British Columbians don't care to travel, and it's an ideology that is out of step with the spirit that put our province on the map and the spirit of our times.
           I am the first to admit that governing is difficult. I am the first to admit the mistakes made by the previous government. Too often we played to the lowest common denominator, looking for the easy hit and the quick headline. Too often we declared enemies and polarized issues, believing wrongly that some political advantage would accrue. Then, when things didn't go as planned, we blamed the media. We blamed the communications of the policy instead of the policies themselves.
           I take great pride in many of our government's achievements, but the wonderful good was overwhelmed by the culmination of failures, and we paid a heavy price. You would think, having spent ten years in opposition, that the Liberals would have learned something. But they didn't. They have brought neither stability nor moderation nor thoughtfulness to their task. From forestry to fish farms, from education to the environment, from the economy to the integrity of

those at the cabinet table, the Liberals have brought shame upon their offices and disrepute to their policies.
The Premier about to be sentenced for drunk driving; a minister under police investigation; questions swirling about the relationship of big money, big industry, political influence and the safety of our food and future of our wild salmon stocks; concocted and contradictory stories from the Attorney General about what led to the decision to pay for a judge to smoke in her office; and, of course, the ongoing scandal of the Liberals' class war carried out against the poor, the disabled and the vulnerable…. Why? It's to pay for a massive transfer of wealth from the poor to the super rich, all grounded in an ideology that may excite the academics of the Fraser Institute but is leaving communities across B.C. wondering if they have a future. It's grounded in this outdated, discredited ideology and paid for by this government's campaign backers, the same wealthy corporations, industries and individuals who now benefit from virtually every government decision.
The public is fed up with the perception that governments are bought and paid for by special interests. That's one of the reasons why we have called for the Premier to introduce campaign finance reform that would take the money out of politics and ensure that the public policy decisions are made with the public in mind, not big forest companies, not the multinational fish farm industry, not the wealthiest among us who are the only ones with any of their tax cuts still in their wallets.

           Campaign finance reform is good public policy. It's sensible, it's moderate, and it's doable. That's precisely why this government is unlikely to do anything about it. The Premier has made it clear. He's not going to do anything about campaign finance reform. But I'll repeat my call today, and I hope the Premier's listening. Bring forward a bill that would fundamentally change the perception that political parties are bought and paid for, and the opposition caucus will support it 100 percent.
           The government has also promised massive reforms to the way we extract wealth from our forests. Change is necessary, market reforms included, but once again the Liberals are putting the primacy of markets ahead of the needs of communities, tearing up the social contract upon which this province was built, with little thought to the ruined communities they will leave in their wake.
           Rural B.C. is hurting. A change of name, to the heartland B.C., won't change a thing unless this government takes action. Rural B.C. is hurting. It's hurting in a way we haven't seen since the 1930s. Those are not my words; those are the words of the old-timers I've met with in the communities throughout rural B.C. At precisely the moment they are most in need, the Liberals have walked in and closed their schools, shut down their courthouses, locked their hospital emergency room doors, put liens on many of their homes and said, in essence: "You're on your own. Good luck. Life is tough. Let's hope we get the Olympics. Maybe you'll get lucky, and some tourists will find themselves your way — not by a train. Maybe they'll stumble upon your community."
           Now in this throne speech, adding insult to injuries, the Liberals have renamed the interior, as I've said, the heartland, as if that will solve the problems they've created. What's the point of paying taxes? What's the point of participating in our province's political and civic life if that's all a government can do for you when times are as tough as they've been in generations? With almost every seat in the province, interior residents are wondering what on earth their Liberal MLAs are doing. Who is standing up for them? As the politicians draw up their plans for change, who is at the table to remind them that there are stories, there are lives, there are families and dreams built over generations behind every number and in every graph and chart? Who is there to say that while we may need to change the way we arrive at a price for our trees, we cannot forget the value of those trees to our communities?

Rural British Columbians know that change is coming. They know that change is required, but they also know that it will all be for naught unless their needs — and not some abstract market principle — are the centre of the new balance that is struck. These British Columbians are the very ones that are joining together under the community forest solutions banner to consult, to listen and to develop new solutions that embrace the need to change in a way that remains true to communities' enduring values.

           We can also expect, finally, to see in this session this government's plan for what is euphemistically known as the community charter, but what everybody knows to be a blueprint for downloading provincial costs and tax powers onto municipalities as the province gets out of the business of governing. We saw that in the announcement of the fees changes by the open cabinet last Friday — upping all sorts of fees but claiming, on the other hand, that they were going to remove a whole bunch of fees. Well, it turns out they're not actually removing those fees. They're downloading them onto other agencies at the local level — another little spin by the Liberal open cabinet meetings. Is the taxpayer getting rid of those fees? Not at all. They'll just be charged by a different local agency, and that's just the beginning of what the community charter will mean for taxpayers in this province.
           This session, with close to half their mandate behind them, the government will no longer be able to blame others for their failures. The health care system is worse, much worse, than it was two years ago. Public education is in serious decline. Affordable day care is out of reach for thousands of working people, thousands of working parents who have seen their subsidies reduced. Seniors to this day are still being moved around from care home to care home in a botched and dishonest effort to build cheap and unsatisfactory assisted-living beds.
           The environment is in trouble, with polluters getting special treatment and special access, and the econ-

omy still sputters along waiting for the miracle of trickle-down economics to work its promised magic. The Liberals have certainly delivered change: short-term, ill-conceived and hurried change to cope with the reckless tax giveaway that has, sadly, driven every decision since their first day in office. Instead of the lasting, thoughtful reform of our institutions that was promised, the Liberals have veered off in a direction that few expected and that certainly wasn't disclosed.
In the process, British Columbians have seen the enduring values that define our province sacrificed in countless ways and small injustices to pay the price of one big mistake, a mistake born from a narrow and oversimplistic idea of what it takes to prosper in an era of lasting change. Lasting change, enduring values — these are the principles, I believe, that this government, any government, must use as their compass in an era where the only constant is uncertainty.

With war on the horizon, we cannot even be certain what the next few weeks will bring. How long will the war last? How many lives will be lost? What will it do to our fragile economy? We don't know the answers. All we can know for sure is that at times like this, we need to return to first principles, to those enduring values that centre our moral vision: peace, humanity, civility, tolerance and compassion — values that are now more important than ever, and values that desperately need to find renewed expression in our political and civil life.
I don't for a moment think that anyone in this room is anything but committed to those values, but still I think that many have forgotten them — maybe momentarily; I hope not forever. Forgotten by a government that rode to power on the promise of change and that thought that's all they had to deliver. Forgotten by a government that had one big idea — tax cuts — but no smaller, more practical ideas and certainly no backup plan if things went wrong. Forgotten by a government for whom ideology always seems to trump common sense.

The throne speech talks repeatedly about opening up. If the Premier and his government were serious about demonstrating change, demonstrating the compassion the Premier has asked British Columbians for…. If the Premier is serious about regaining public trust, credibility and the moral authority he has squandered, he would do just that: open up — open up and listen to the thousands of British Columbians who are crying out for the government they thought they voted for. We hear from them every day — British Columbians who openly admit that they voted against our former government, British Columbians who voted for change but not this kind of change.
The coming session promises to be a tough one. I will certainly not hold back my critique of the government. My colleague and I will continue to put forward constructive, positive solutions to the serious challenges facing our economy, our forest industry, our rural communities, our health care system and our schools. But I want to say in closing that although we disagree passionately about the direction this province is taking, I sincerely wish the Premier, his cabinet and his caucus the best. Governing is not easy. I know that from experience. I think the Premier has finally realized that it will not be as easy as he fantasized it would be when he was in opposition. But good government requires listening to those you govern. This government needs to do a better job of that. It's not too late to start.

           B. Suffredine: It's an honour to rise in response to the Speech from the Throne. Opening up the heartlands to opportunity is what we need in the Kootenays.
           When I was elected in May of 2001, I knew that the choices that I and the others would have to face in order to reverse a decade of mismanagement would not be easy. In that decade of decline the debt owed by the province doubled. The commitments made by the former government would have seen the annual deficit grow to $7 billion within a few years unless we took action.
           We acted. It hasn't been easy. I've worried about the effects some of the things we've done have had on people where I live and on people I know. I've noticed in that short time that I have a lot more grey hair. But in the end, I think it will all be worth it.
           On the way home from Victoria recently, I had time to reflect. One thing that struck me was how easy it can be to lose sight of the underlying problems in this province that prompted me to run for office and that prompted voters across this province to sweep this government into power. We had a sluggish economy that forced many people to watch their children move away to find work.
           The underlying problem was poor fiscal management of B.C. For decades previous governments had recorded deficit after deficit budget that grew our debt to an enormous amount and eventually made us a have-not province, qualifying us for federal equalization payments. British Columbia has a debt of $38 billion. That's alarming, but the worst part is that the interest payments on that debt cost us $7.2 million every single day of the week. That's just interest; it doesn't touch the principal. For most people that number is just too large to comprehend. The most difficult part is that our children and grandchildren will have to pay this back. They deserve better. That's why fundamental change to spending tax dollars has been necessary.
           We're sticking to a plan to balance the budget and stop digging ourselves further into debt. It involves spending money responsibly while stimulating the economy to increase government revenues. It's not an easy task, and it will take time, but it's the right thing to do. British Columbia has more resources and greater potential than any Canadian province. We should have a thriving economy with our rich resources. That's why I'm so pleased that the government understands the

value of the heartlands. We who live in the heartlands know the true economic strength is there in our people and our resources. There are opportunities in mining, forestry, high-tech and tourism that can and will bring jobs to the people throughout the province if they have the chance.

           Opening opportunities in the mining sector can help mining reach its full potential in the Kootenays. Recently I received some information on a development of a mining project near New Denver. This project was originally begun in the 1980s by a company known as BP Resources. It's called the Willa project. Millions of dollars were spent many years ago on the Willa proving up a body of gold-, copper- and silver-bearing ore. Sadly, that project was abandoned during the era of the NDP. Now it has a chance to proceed if we create a friendly business environment. Mining produces the best-paying jobs of all sectors. This project alone could produce up to 90 jobs, and the ore is to be trucked to Goldstream to be processed in an already existing mill, so the environmental impact will be minimal. If this project proceeds, the whole Arrow Lakes and Slocan region will benefit.
           Our plan is working. Business and investors have renewed confidence. We have a long way to go, but the direction we are headed in is the right one. Recently the promoter of the Willa project, Mr. John Chapman, who has a successful history in mining development, was quoted about the attitude to mining in B.C. after the last government. He said, "B.C. has been classed as a place for the mining industry to stay away from, right down there with Russia as far as investment attractiveness," according to the annual survey of mining companies released last month by the Fraser Institute. But with the more business-friendly Liberal government now in power, he's hoping for a change in the business mining climate.
           I also read in the Province this morning about a Nelson company, Pacific Insight Electronics, that is making a foray into manufacturing components for energy-efficient hybrid electric cars. Against the odds, this ingenious company has grown in Nelson over the years, producing automatic headlight controls. This new venture, I hope, will cause them to prosper further and provide hundreds more jobs over the hundreds it already provides. The heartlands strategy to provide them with access to high-speed broadband will help.
           Responsible spending and economic growth are a formula for success. We must stay focused on this plan so future generations will not inherit a legacy of debt. We must make it possible for investors to do business here in a way that respects the environment without creating needless obstacles.
           In the Kootenays development of a transportation strategy is the key to success, so I was very pleased to hear that the first stage of an integrated provincial transportation plan is ready. Whether you're in tourism, mining, forestry, manufacturing or whether you're working or retired, you need access. I'm thrilled that the development of a strategic transportation plan that takes into account provincial needs is proceeding.
           Last year, in order to reduce expenses and meet budget requirements, there were several reductions in inland ferry services, and legislation was passed to enable tolling. Those were difficult times. As the summer progressed, it became apparent that there was a consequence to that for tourism and industry that materialized in the Arrow Lakes and that was not predictable. Traffic volumes were higher than in any previous year, and lineups at Galena Bay and Shelter Bay stretched for miles. People turned around and went home, and trucks were rerouted. All of that had a cost. A great deal of work has been done since. I am now optimistic that the provincial transportation strategy will soon resolve these issues and create new opportunities for tourism, mining and forestry. I hope this plan empowers people in the heartlands to participate in planning and committing improvements to transportation within our region.
           The dedication of gasoline tax revenues to transportation improvements is a welcome announcement. For too long people have felt that these taxes go into the black hole known as general revenue with no accountability. I hope that dedicated funding of transportation will eliminate the need for tolls and let local people help direct the investment of funds where they can do the most good.
           We need to open up the heartland communities of the Kootenays, like Nelson, Creston, Kaslo, Silverton, Nakusp and Salmo. We need to develop tourism opportunities of all kinds in the region. The Kootenays are the most spectacular place on earth to visit. Winter and summer tourism abounds. We really have something to sell.

           Let me give you a few examples. You can ski at Whitewater or Baldface basin or heli-ski with Canadian Mountain Holidays at Nakusp. You can golf at any one of a dozen or more golf courses designed for people from professionals to amateurs. You can fish for trophy rainbow, Dolly Varden or kokanee in Kootenay, Slocan or Arrow lakes. You could bask in the hot springs at Ainsworth Hot Springs, Nakusp or Halcyon. You can curl in the Midsummer World Bonspiel at Nelson. You can hang-glide if you want from Buchanan Lookout at Kaslo or Mount Lavina near New Denver. You could mountain-bike up the historic Burlington Northern railway or the Kettle Valley Railway.
           You can hike or mountain-climb at Kokanee Glacier or Valhalla Park. You can prospect almost anywhere. You can even birdwatch at the 17,000-acre Creston Valley Wildlife Centre or canoe up the Silvery Slocan. We have a wealth of tourism opportunities, and those are just a few.
           In forestry, I welcome the establishment of a working land base. The working forest is not what some people think. It is simply the designation of an area of land upon which we accept that forestry is a priority use. It allows other compatible uses. It gives certainty to an industry that in the past has suffered under the

vagaries of needless uncertainty. The working forest will create new opportunities for us in Nelson-Creston.
           The move to a market-based stumpage system is also welcome news. Since the election we have been plagued by the softwood lumber dispute. It is a result of protectionist actions by U.S. producers. Of course, it is possible that because our system of stumpage is so complex, virtually no one really understands it, and that lends itself to a dispute like this.
           A shift to a market-based system that people understand will create opportunities for value-added producers who previously had trouble obtaining a source of product. In the past six months alone I have spoken to producers who make things like wooden airplane parts, teepee poles, wainscot panelling or fence posts. Most of them said they could not get a wood supply. Some only wanted salvaged wood, but the system did not enable them to buy it. Some complained that the present system made it so they could not get a supply of any wood at almost any price that was realistic.
           The new system will create opportunity for any producer willing to pay a reasonable market price to obtain the supply necessary. It will also assist in bringing long-term stability to the softwood market, as a simple system that is market-based and easily understood will help avoid future disputes.
           The plan to restrict log exports from Crown land is also a welcome announcement. I am painfully aware of abuses in exports that are currently occurring. Sometimes the most value can be obtained by exporting a log to build something like a log home or use it as a pole or a piling. It isn't cut into dimension lumber to do that. The definition of poles, pilings and logs is so vague. However, that wood being shipped across our borders, under the description of poles or pilings, goes directly to mills in Washington State to be cut into dimension lumber.
           I've heard this complaint regularly in Creston — that dozens of trucks daily go across the border under that description. I personally followed one truck to the border about a week ago, which was hauling half-peeled logs that were clearly neither poles nor pilings and were destined for a sawmill. This abuse must stop so we can open up opportunities for British Columbians to process this wood.
           The announcement that child day care spaces will be increased is welcome indeed, and I look forward to more detail in the days and weeks to come. Quality child care is important in Nelson-Creston. Recent uncertainties about child care must be overcome. Parents need quality day care; children need quality day care. I'm pleased that we intend to deliver that quality child care.

The announcement that earnings exemptions for the disabled are to rise is a particular pleasure. Shortly after the election — in fact, arising out of a contact I had during the election — I had been working with a fine local lady named Margaret Patterson who explained to me that in the over 20 years that she has been on disability, the earnings exemption for people like her who suffer disabilities and can never hope to be fully self-supporting had never been adjusted. As she put it: "Every time the minimum wage goes up, I work for less per hour." I had discussions with Minister Coell, who listened and in the last budget acted to raise the earnings exemption for all people on disability to a flat $300 per month, so that all people like Margaret got the benefit of that. While that was welcome news, it still makes life for the disabled financially challenging. They cannot be expected to ever be completely independent, so anything we can afford to do to give them a better life is personally satisfying for me. Any news that the disabled can look forward to a better life and a better earnings exemption to help them survive is welcome.
There are many more things in the throne speech that I would like to cover, but I think I'll hold it at that for now. We will open up this province to the world and continue to show the world that British Columbia is indeed a wonderful place to live and work. Moreover, the choices we are taking today and the opportunities we are developing will lay the foundation for our children and grandchildren to enjoy this legacy.

           R. Masi: I'm very pleased to rise today to participate in this throne speech debate. Just under two years ago this government was granted a resounding mandate from the people of British Columbia. All across our great province and in my own constituency of Delta North people agreed it was time for a government that was dedicated to restoring openness, accountability, fiscal responsibility, economic renewal, a first-class education system and a health care organization dedicated to the needs of our patients.
           Since that election this government, from the Premier on down, has been committed to delivering on our promises and to delivering on the potential of our great province. Along the way we as a government have been faced with some very tough choices and even tougher decisions. At times these decisions have generated spirited public debate, but rest assured these decisions have been taken because they were the right thing to do, not because they were politically expedient. That takes leadership. It takes fortitude and foresight, and it takes determination to make the right decision.
           We have made tremendous progress since June of 2001. B.C.'s economy is responding to our leadership after a decade of neglect and indifference. Recent economic indicators show the year-over-year increase in the number of jobs created here in B.C. from December 2001 to December 2002 was 81,000 — the third-highest increase in all of Canada and well ahead of the national average. Housing starts in 2002 were up 26½ percent over 2001, well over the national experience and surpassing forecasts generated by the province, CMHC and our Economic Forecast Council. Closer to home, the port of Vancouver recorded a 27 percent increase in its container traffic over last year — yet another con-

crete example of how our economic growth policies are bearing fruit.
This government has moved boldly on many fronts with a vision of providing a new era of hope and prosperity for British Columbia. This Speech from the Throne continues building on our positive agenda. Over the course of the past 20 months, we have protected our funding for education and implemented much-needed reform to our education system. We've not only protected the funding for our health care system, we've increased it by some $1.1 billion to $10.4 billion, now accounting for a record 41 cents of every provincial dollar spent this year. As well, we're moving forward on much-needed electoral reform with the appointment last year of Gordon Gibson to help provide guidance on the critical issue of reforming our electoral system to better reflect the needs of our citizens.

           I was very pleased to note the Attorney General's leadership on this file with his appointment of Gordon Gibson, a man well known to British Columbians for his passionate beliefs in parliamentary democracy and its role in society. Indeed, I suspect that Mr. Gibson would concur with the following description of democracy first advanced by Bertrand Russell, a British philosopher, essayist and social critic. Bertrand Russell states: "Democracy was invented as a device for reconciling government with liberty." Bertrand Russell's observation is a recognition that government without democracy is tyranny; it's dictatorship at its worst. Government without democracy, as a notion of government, was roundly rejected by the Fathers of Confederation, and rightly so. What the founding fathers envisioned was a system of government operating within a representative, as well as a responsible, form of parliamentary democracy. Our founding fathers would also heartily agree that parliamentary procedures and processes are not and should not be static and inflexible. It is imperative that it change in order to accurately reflect the will of the people.
           That's what this government pledged to do in the last election, and it's what the citizens' assembly will be tasked to do in the near future. The citizens' assembly will provide a framework for electoral reform to help ensure that the will of the people is best reflected in the election of their representatives to this Legislature. Along the way I expect that the citizens' assembly will be challenged, and very much challenged, to balance the competing interests of effective citizen participation with that of effective government. With the sound judgment and conviction of all who participate in this process, I believe that this issue, along with others, can and will be resolved.
           Concurrent, however, with the need for electoral reform lies the equally serious issue of parliamentary reform. We need to recognize and applaud the Premier for his personal commitment to reforming the way this Legislature operates. Initiatives such as the fixed calendar dates, as well as the fixed date for the tabling of the budget, were long overdue. Similarly, the establishment of government caucus committees, in which government MLAs serve alongside their cabinet colleagues to review and discuss policy initiatives soon to be adopted as government policy, is an important initiative. For the first time ever in this province MLAs have direct input into the government policy process, ensuring that constituent views on these important issues are reflected in government policy. I believe that we can make further progress with an examination of the legislative process, targeting the role of standing committees, to determine if we can provide them with the flexibility and clout that they deserve in order to better serve the people of this province.
           This government has made tremendous strides in modernizing and updating our education system throughout British Columbia. For instance, the recently proposed amendments to the graduation requirements help ensure that our students are better equipped to meet the rigorous demands of an ever-changing world. Similarly, extending the requirement for physical education to all grades, from kindergarten to grade 12, is a policy direction which is long overdue. As many members know, I was an educator for 35 years, which included teaching physical education and coaching basketball, track and field and associated sports. I believe that I have the firsthand knowledge of the positive impact that physical education has on our students.
           We all know that the advent of computers and computer games, coupled with a proliferation of channels available on television, has helped spawn a nation of youth who are unfortunately choosing more sedentary activities over physical fitness. Indeed, childhood obesity rates have risen sharply across the nation, leading to a corresponding increase in illness and premature death as our children enter adulthood.
           Current research and statistics show that childhood obesity is a national crisis. Examples of some of these types of preventable illness include type 2 diabetes, stroke, coronary heart disease, gall bladder disease and some forms of cancer. We owe it to ourselves and our children to encourage them to adopt a healthy lifestyle, one which they may maintain throughout their natural life, including physical fitness, good nutrition and personal responsibility. This will require a serious change of direction in the organization, implementation and conception of physical and health education in our schools.

At the same time, I am encouraged that the Minister of Education is in the process of developing a much wider program of choice and guidance for young people of all abilities and aptitudes through the implementation of the new Pathways program.
Recently the Minister of Education released a report outlining the progress and challenges facing our aboriginal youth in the public school system. That report highlighted that while the percentage of first nations students who graduated from grade 12 had increased over the past five years from 34 percent to 42 percent, it still fell well short of the provincial average of 77 percent. Clearly, we must do better in encouraging and

ensuring that more first nations youth graduate from grade 12, thus providing them with the additional educational options that they require to compete in society.
           The issue of funding our education system has proved to be problematic for all stakeholders. These are indeed difficult times for the ministry and the school boards across the province, as they grapple with the ever-increasing cost pressures compounded by declining enrolment. Education of our young must be given priority and requires the full support of the government. Navigating the tricky shoals of the fiscal squeeze facing our school districts will be no easy task. We need to find a way to resolve this issue, lest it negatively impact our students.
           I'm gratified to note that again this government has stepped up to the plate and is providing additional funding to our hard-working school trustees across the province. After all, what is more important to the future of our province? I ask the question: what is the difference between our society and Third World societies? The answer is education. Ultimately, we as a government and a society must clearly define our educational goals to meet the obvious challenges of the future. These goals must include advanced and continuing education as well. The government has been actively developing the fiscal and policy framework around which to educate, and to continue to educate, society as it ages.
           The long-awaited announcement last year that Simon Fraser University would be taking over Tech B.C. in Surrey addressed a festering fiscal mess that the previous government callously left behind. The business plan that the former government had developed for Tech B.C. was simply unsustainable and severely compromised the future ability of Tech B.C. to continue. Careful scrutiny by this government, particularly by the Minister of Advanced Education, culminated in the selection of Simon Fraser University as the lead institution now responsible for Tech B.C. This decision has not only contributed greatly to the financial stability of this innovative post-secondary institution but also provided much-needed security to current and future students. It was the right choice to make, and I'm delighted that Simon Fraser University is now operating in Surrey, providing educational choice and options to students from my community of North Delta and from all across British Columbia.
           As well, students from my constituency are equally well served by Kwantlen University College. Indeed, over 25,000 students are involved at four Kwantlen campuses in everything from university-level courses in the arts and commerce to horticulture, nursing and skills training. This broad range of programs helps ensure that local students get the advanced education they need to succeed in today's world. We are fortunate that these two fine institutions are available to students in the south Fraser region right in their own back yard.
           Our world is changing. The challenge for us as government is to develop new structures and frameworks around which we as a society can continue to upgrade our skills and knowledge. That's why this government, through the Ministry of Advanced Education, acted to review and propose new delivery models for training and apprenticeship here in British Columbia. A significant and positive change has been put forward to acknowledge that modular training and competency-based credentials — which reflect the actual skills, knowledge and ability of participants — are important steps to providing more flexibility for students while maintaining the quality, training and credentials that they need.

           All members of this Legislature are keenly aware that our health care system is under tremendous pressure. Chronic underfunding of financial obligations on the part of the federal government placed an untenable fiscal burden on the provincial government. We know that 41 percent of every dollar spent in British Columbia by our government goes to health care. Over $10 billion goes into health care. That's a lot of money. While I was pleased to note last week that Ottawa will be providing some new money for health care, I think it is fair to say that it won't be enough to offset the cost pressures of health. At some point we need to sit down and rethink just how we are going to deliver the quality health care that all British Columbians need and deserve.
           We need to look at different models of delivery, ways with which to develop cost-effective health care right in our own communities. Some months ago the Fraser health authority identified my constituency of North Delta as a top priority for the construction of a community health centre. This health centre would provide primary care to individuals, along with additional services such as physiotherapy and the like. This proposed centre would not be a full-blown hospital but rather one where individuals needing medical care could go for things such as casts, stitches, family consultations and other situations not requiring the full resources of a hospital. I believe this is an idea whose time has come.
           Up and down what is known as the Scott Road corridor, we have 50,000 people in North Delta and a further 50,000 on the Surrey side who would directly benefit from this facility. Once operational, the community health centre not only would greatly improve the delivery of quality health care to these 100,000 people but would also alleviate the significant pressure on the emergency ward at Surrey Memorial Hospital, which is currently ranked the busiest emergency ward in the province and among the top three in Canada. This is an example of the innovative thinking we need if we are to ensure the long-term viability of our health care system.
           The issue of Burns Bog has again been capturing the interest of many people throughout Delta and the lower mainland. I was pleased to note the firm commitment of this government to protecting and preserving Burns Bog as an ecological treasure here in the heart of the lower mainland. I have great expectations that in the near future we will resolve this issue once

and for all. To that end, I offer my strong encouragement to my colleagues the Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection and the Minister of Competition, Science and Enterprise in their efforts to negotiate a satisfactory purchase price from the current owners of the bog. We must continue to press forward and realize the goal of protecting Burns Bog for today and for future generations.
           Finally, I want to address another pressing issue confronting not only my constituency of North Delta but the entire lower mainland. I speak of the South Fraser perimeter road. This proposed highway has been talked about for a long time and for a good reason. The purpose of this major highway is to expedite the movement of goods from the CN Rail terminus, Fraser Port, Roberts Bank, YVR, the Canada–U.S. border crossings and beyond. Currently, the only route for truck traffic along this corridor is to utilize River Road, a road which was designed and built to handle primarily residential traffic along the shoreline of the Fraser River. Construction of the South Fraser perimeter road would alleviate the daily overwhelming pressure currently being experienced by residents along River Road and at the same time would provide trucks with a dedicated route to utilize in moving their goods.
           The GVRD, and more specifically TransLink, has identified this proposal as a critical component of the lower mainland's transportation infrastructure. Coupled with other initiatives such as the new bridge crossing at 200th Street over the Fraser River, the South Fraser perimeter road project would go a long way to greatly improving the total goods and services infrastructure and in turn increase the economic advantages not just for the region but for the province as a whole.
           The Speech from the Throne is a blueprint for our future. It sets out in bold detail the agenda that this government will be pursuing throughout the course of this legislative session and beyond. There is much to be done in order to revitalize the province. The forest industry, the industry that reaches into every corner of British Columbia, must be reformed, revitalized and made more efficient and competitive. The Olympic dream must be achieved not only for economic reasons but to provide a goal of excellence that all British Columbians can strive towards and achieve more than we ever thought possible.

The throne speech is more than mere words. It's a statement, a commitment to the people of British Columbia that we will continue to keep our promises and strive to build a better province for all its citizens.

           D. Jarvis: I rise once again to respond to the government's throne speech. This, I believe, would make it some dozen times or so since I was first elected in 1991. It's a long time. The riding I represent in North Vancouver–Seymour is a very dynamic riding, one that's located in an urban setting. But at the same time, along with the 56,000 citizens or residents it encompasses, it has colleges, chemical plants, farms, shipbuilding, lumber companies, ski recreation areas, fish hatcheries, waste reduction plants, and on and on. The population is growing, and most businesses are doing very well.
           I was mentioning the waste reduction. Just to show you how a business can stay together in the same environment as a residential area, the Newalta recycling plant just expanded to recycle oil containers and oil filters. Within about a three-football…area surrounding it, we have two chemical plants: Sterling Pulp Chemicals and Canadianoxy. We have a concrete company, a lumber company, the Maplewood Bird Sanctuary — well known in there. It just shows you how environment and industry can live together. Proof of it is in the North Vancouver–Seymour riding, which I represent.
           It's been an honour to be the MLA for North Vancouver–Seymour, and I thank my constituents for their overwhelming support over these last years. This Legislature, as I said before, I think is about 102 years old — when it was first constructed. I was just thinking that if I've been here for 12 years and it's about 102, I've lived here approximately 12 percent of the life of this building. Either the building is getting younger, or I'm getting older — one or the other.
           I'm one of only 830 MLAs in the province that served in this building. That's quite a feat when you consider that there are probably over five million people in this province. I think all of us are thankful for that honour.
           I want to tell the government that my constituents still support this government and this party. They do, however, feel that they may have been neglected in some way on the education and transportation aspect. That's what I want to talk about tonight. The schools in my constituency are generally older structures and, as a result, are in desperate need of updating and repair. There was a time when district 44 was considered the best of the best. I'm going to give a talk basically about capital cost funding, not operational expenses. The treasurer and the school trustees have been doing very well on that aspect and handling the problems. We're actually quite pleased that the province gave them another $50 million into the system of the $4.8 billion budget for education.
           Due to the philosophical changes in education over the last ten years, the total funding picture for the North Shore did change. Where school district 44 was considered one of the best systems, it now appears that we have been brought down to the lowest denominator, rather than bringing all the rest of the schools up to the highest denominator where we once were. Something is wrong with this picture.

I say that there is now an obvious lack of capital funding to maintain and repair the schools, as they should have been over this past decade. A great number of our schools are older, pre-1985, and a lot of repairs have been done recently. But capital funding costs, as you can appreciate, are very limited, and while our school board has endeavoured to handle the problem or control the depreciation of these older structures, it's difficult to keep up. But where do they start with the great number of schools? Do you start a

little bit here and a little bit there or repair the most obvious? Where do you start, as I said, when you are restricted with funding of capital dollars? The problem is that there is more need than there is money available.
           This is going to be one of my appeals today. I want to tell the minister that this is not a frivolous situation, and without question it's a very serious one. I've viewed most of the schools in my riding in this last short while, and I've viewed photographs of the others, been down in the crawl spaces and viewed the health inspection reports. In every instance none of us here would expect to live under the conditions presented, let alone send our children out to sit and learn for hours every day under those conditions.
           I won't go into lengthy explanations or examples, but let me relate a few such circumstances. In the crawl spaces of some of the elementary schools, water has been collecting over the years. There are large areas of yellow and orange spores, fungus and mould, and in some cases it's spread into the upper classrooms and even into the closets and wherever, causing respiratory problems, breathing and asthma problems for our youngsters. When some of the children were removed from this environment, their health problems did subside, so there's no question that the condition of some of the schools is very, very bad.
           This is a brief outline of the problems, but it does give you sort of a base idea. Only last week I was in Windsor high school speaking to some grade 11 classes for about three hours. I had a great opportunity to see and hear firsthand from some of the students telling me of the respiratory problems they have in that school and seeing the cockroaches along the wall bases. I saw 24-year-old carpeting in the classrooms that cannot be cleaned anymore, in which mushrooms are growing. In fact, due to the germs and who knows what on the carpeting, during earthquake drills the students are not allowed to get under their desks for protection because of what they might get off the floors.
           This may appear to be humorous in its absurdity, but it's disgusting. It is. There's no just cause in this society that our children should have to face these situations. I'm asking my government to seriously sit down with my school district and flush out all the problems surrounding these schools in district 44 and/or North Vancouver–Seymour that have a deterioration and health maintenance problem. These problems will not go away, and the only cure is more capital funding. This is tough during tight revenue times, believe me. I appreciate it, and they appreciate it. But what is available at this time cannot do what is needed. My school board is more than willing to work with this government. They have been supportive of the government, and now they need the government's support in return. As schools in other jurisdictions built after the 1985 period are able to draw on extra funds when they have problems, I think fair is fair, and so is equality.
           One more problem I want to relate to the government is the sad state of the looming crisis that is coming over the congestion of traffic in the Seymour, Dollarton and the Trans-Canada Highway areas adjacent to the north end of the Second Narrows Bridge. You've heard me talk about this time after time, year after year. It's a problem that's not going away. Over the past years I've repeatedly tried to emphasize to the highways department that if some sort of answer is not forthcoming soon, serious problems are going to occur. Now the clock is ticking faster as the population is growing. Commercial development is increasing, aboriginal bands in the locale are expanding, and the Sea to Sky population expansion is continually growing. Then there's the looming 2010 Olympics.

           What I have mentioned all goes through this area. All the factors are coming down onto a road system that was designed to carry the traffic flows of the 1950s. Traffic out of Seymour only allows three lanes for thousands of vehicles to enter into or to exit the north quadrant of the Trans-Canada Highway and the Second Narrows Bridge. Traffic destined westward to North Vancouver and West Vancouver and to Whistler north enters into this quadrant all at the same time. Emergency vehicles from Seymour cannot get to the hospital during peak times and find themselves unable to move. At the best of times an emergency vehicle would take probably three-quarters of an hour to get to the Deep Cove area. In the morning or evening, as I have said, it is virtually impossible if an emergency vehicle or a system is required.
           Eastbound and westbound traffic directions have four to five lanes backed up as far as three, four or five miles every morning. Now we have an additional factor entering this equation with an aboriginal commercial venture known as Seymour Creek development, which is going to create a potentially serious situation as it is adjacent to this main quadrant off the Second Narrows Bridge. As a result of our previous government's agreement between B.C. Hydro and the Squamish band back in 1986, access off the reserve area into this Trans-Canada Highway quadrant was given in lieu of a transformer being built on the reserve land. The access plan by the highways department will cause serious traffic situations, and traffic coming off the bridge, especially during rush hours, will also be impaired considerably.
           While there is already an access route from the Dollarton, which the highways ministry contends is very dangerous, they have now sat down and redesigned another that is still unacceptable and very dangerous. This same commercial venture by the Squamish band has plans for three or four big box–style ventures in its reserve land, and this will only add or draw traffic from every area you can conceivably think of on the North Shore and cause even more damage.
           This will affect even the three smaller malls in the general area in North Van–Lonsdale and Seymour. Highways estimate that the nearest mall in North Van–Lonsdale already draws about 14 percent of its business from Burnaby. Now with this expansion coming,

the larger mall will only exacerbate the problems in these areas.
           What I briefly express here today is concern for my constituents and needs to be addressed by this government and the Minister of Transportation. While they fully intend to put a new highway system or a program in this province, which is to be commended, I trust that they will consider this area that I've been talking about at the north end of the Second Narrows Bridge to be part of the blending of this new highways program.
           Many of the problems I've expressed today can only be completed by a lot of new revenue, and we need a sustainable monetary funding system from our resources so that we can look after our highways, our education system and our health system. We are poised at this point to see great strides in our economy.
           I'll go back to an old theme of mine that it seems to me at this time, the mining industry is no longer what it used to be. Exploration we had ten years ago is far from coming forth as we had wished, but the basis is there to attract investment.
           Mining is B.C.'s second resource industry, and many of our heartland communities do actually depend on it. As mining goes, so does British Columbia and so do the heartlands of British Columbia. Mining generates billions of revenue dollars, and the tax revenue generated enables us to meet the growing demands of our education and health care costs. Mining is an essential part of any attempt to improve our productivity and our standard of living.

           The task of this government is to send a clear signal that the resources of our province are open, accessible and available in our economic recovery. Lots of people imagine that economic recovery means a new economy just around the corner, one in which knowledge and skills will just simply lift us out of our doldrums. These are inconclusive outcomes, as we know, as we saw early in the nineties when the chairman of the Crown corporations for the previous government said that resources were not necessary for this province to exist, that we could import all of our resources as Japan did and that we could rely on the new economy of the high-tech to keep B.C. afloat. Well, we know that throughout the downward trend of B.C.'s economy in the nineties, ignoring our resource economy is dangerous and foolhardy and that any new economy is good for now and the future, but this is no time to throw out any existing policies that are tried and true.
           Recent information came forward indicating that Canadians and British Columbians, compared to Americans, are becoming poorer as each year passes. Our economic output per person was 85 percent of those in the United States in 1990. Today it's down to 78 percent. During the nineties our income average fell from 88 percent to 76 percent of the U.S. After income tax we fell to 68 percent from 80 percent of that of the U.S. in the last ten years. Things are getting bad. We now have a lesser standard of living than the state of Washington, the state of Oregon and the state of California.
           The experts are saying that the reason for the decline in our standard of living is our anemic productivity growth, our poor economic output per person. Something is wrong, and our standard of living, as I said, is falling below those of the American states below us. They say — well, there are the experts again — that the only way to improve our lives is higher productivity, the know-how to do it. That means better education and training and the gumption to do it. Exploration, investment and development are shying away from this province at the present time unless we continue or accelerate the reduction of regulations that are not necessary, along with the reduction of our personal business tax. Then and only then will we see a significant rise in the commitment of the risk-takers who pursue investment in our province.
           Changes started when this government said in 2001 that this would actually be a major plank of our readjustment of the B.C. economy. That is why mining, one of the highest-paying industries, is seeing an increase in mineral exploration. Now we can see new optimism in the communities. We are cutting red tape, and we have brought forward tax incentives. These changes have caught the attention of the mining community, along with the positive decisions such as this latest one, the Tulsequah Chief, which had lingered around for the last eight years. This government has finally made a decision on it.
           We had a new beginning a few years back with the millennium and a new government for B.C. at the same time. However, all things have not gone that well with respect to the global economy and with our major trader to the south of us, the lesson being that not everything necessarily is good. Now we're able to start again, and with this throne speech you will see that things are going to get better in this province.
           We still have some of those old major handicaps, but we are in a new year, and we intend to bring forward great accomplishments such as the throne speech. You will find out in next week's budget what is ahead of us. We cannot be tentative. We have to do what matters to bring a have-not province, which we have come down to, to be a leader in Canada once again. This is a new start towards a progressive restoring of British Columbia to its leadership position in economy, innovation, education, environment and health care.
           I thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to speak once again to the throne speech.

Hon. K. Whittred: Like my colleague from my neighbouring riding who just spoke, I, too, am delighted to rise this afternoon to respond to this government's vision for opening up British Columbia. On behalf of the citizens of North Vancouver–Lonsdale, I would like to give my colleagues a snapshot of what North Vancouver–Lonsdale is about and to draw some parallels and build some bridges about how opening up British Columbia is also going to be of benefit to the citizens of North Vancouver.

           I think that the name of the riding, North Vancouver–Lonsdale, suggests that Lonsdale is pretty central to the riding, and it is in fact the main street of North Vancouver. It is the centre of finance. It is where the banks are; it is where the shops are. It is where the fire hall and the hospital and all of those things are congregated. It runs north and south. You're going to hear me refer in a few moments to things like the foot of Lonsdale and lower Lonsdale, and these are areas that are very important in the community of North Van.
           Something else that's really important in North Vancouver is something called Lions Gate. In North Vancouver we have not only the Lions Gate Bridge, but we have Lions Gate Hospital and Lions Gate studios. That, of course, tells us that the vision that we see when we look to the north of The Lions is something that is emblematic of my community.
           North Vancouver is a community that is rich in tradition. I'm going to speak in a moment about the new maritime museum that is being developed in what was the old Burrard drydock, an industry that was central to the heart of North Vancouver. I'm going to speak about some of the things that are new on the social front and how North Vancouver is contributing to the benefit of the entire lower mainland in a number of areas.
           Some of the highlights of the last year that I have had the pleasure of participating in were things like the opening of a homeless shelter in my community. I'm very pleased to say that this was a cooperative effort between the government and the city of North Vancouver. I'm further pleased, because it's my belief that communities around the lower mainland have to start to share some of the responsibility for looking after our less fortunate. I'm very pleased that my community has stepped up to the plate and is, in fact, doing that. I was pleased to be able to cut the ribbon at a new building called the Quayside. The Quayside is purpose-built housing for the disabled. There's a number of different people there with a variety of disabilities, some of them developmentally delayed, and it was very refreshing and rewarding to be able to meet these folks and see how they're able to live quite independently.
           Another real pleasure I had was to officiate at the opening of a brand-new child care centre. This is built, very interestingly, in the basement of the Margaret Fulton adult day centre. It was interesting to learn that there is a very close relationship between the very young and the very old, and I'm going to be following that closely to see how that relationship develops.
           I made reference a little bit ago to what I called lower Lonsdale redevelopment. I think that my community is a model of a part of the province that has enjoyed economic expansion. It's a model of a community where we've had building starts. It's a model of a community where we've had new jobs. It's a model of a community where there has been a lot of economic activity.
           We recently had the groundbreaking of a new very, very large apartment complex. This sold out almost immediately. This is a building that will have a number of homes, of apartments. It will also have a community centre and a whole variety of other community and commercial amenities. Along with this, of course, has been the expansion of shopping facilities particularly in the lower Lonsdale area adjacent to the Lonsdale Quay, which is very much contributing to our tourist capacity.
           The other major project that's taking place in that particular area of my community is the major development around what used to be Burrard drydock, and that is a heritage site just east of the Lonsdale Quay. That is where we're going to see a very attractive urban development that will consist of a maritime museum, various tourist attractions, various commercial activities to welcome visitors who come to British Columbia.

           That, in a nutshell, is a little bit of a snapshot of what my community is like at this particular point in time. I'd like to take this opportunity, before I move on to other things, to congratulate a former councillor in the city of North Vancouver, Stella Jo Dean, who has just been awarded the Order of Canada. I would like that on the record, and congratulations to Stella Jo.
           I'd like to move on now to some of the things that were specifically addressed in the government's vision for opening up British Columbia. I was particularly taken with the suggestion that we're going to soon be having a seniors and youth congress, and this is so exciting for a vision for the twenty-first century. It is an imaginative way in which this government can look at the needs for the future not only through the lens of our elders, who have wisdom and experience, but also through the somewhat idealistic dreams of our youth. Too often when we are making arguments about things, we talk about an aging population. It's true. We do have issues in government planning around the fact that our population is aging. But think about it. Think of what good news that is. It's really good that we have more people who are living to be a very old age.
           I'd like to take just a moment within the context of this upcoming seniors and youth congress to think a little bit about what seniors do contribute to our society and, in fact, to our economy. Volunteerism, for example, is a very important component of our economy. Sometimes it's called the fourth sector. The volunteer sector is the fourth sector of the economy, and much of that work is done by seniors, people who have given up their lifelong careers and now work every bit as hard in their communities for simply the rewards of giving back that which they have taken and enjoyed all of their lives. We see this in many ways. They are willing to share their wisdom, to act as mentors. They serve on boards of societies. They serve on boards of economic endeavours. We see this in the Olympic bid committee, for example — a number of people who have a long experience, which they can now share with those who are not as experienced.
           Many seniors, of course, are contributing to the economy because they are helping their children raise their grandchildren. They do this in many ways, every-

thing from contributing to college tuitions to taking kids to the zoo and other activities. Many continue to contribute to the economy by taking part-time jobs which are jobs that would probably not be attractive to anyone who was going to make this a full-time career, but their wisdom and their experience come into play very nicely for some of those kinds of positions.
That leads me into an area we more often talk about, and that is: what about those seniors in our society who do need some support? They are in fact in the minority of the total number, but they are extremely important. It is our role as government, as the government that is committed to providing a health care system that is going to be sustainable over the long haul, that we need to have programs in place that are going to make sure that health care is there not only for today's grandparents but also for the grandchildren.

           I know, because I meet with seniors a lot, that that is what most seniors want. This government, in opening up this dialogue, has gone a long way to making this a program that is in fact going to have very positive outcomes.
           We can look back over the last week and say that we've worked with the federal government to try to address some of the funding issues, to try to ensure that the federal government is stepping up to the plate and assuming its proportional share of funding for health programs. That goes a certain distance, but it doesn't go far enough. That is why this government has taken many steps that will in fact enhance this vision, take this vision of making health care sustainable — not just for now but for the long haul — over the next generation.
           I want to focus in on just one or two of these, because I think there are other opportunities to talk about health care reform. I would like to talk just for a moment about chronic disease management, because this is an area that is so important. We have initiated a strategy where we're looking at managing diseases such as diabetes, such as kidney failure, such as congestive heart failure. If we can find ways that we can manage these diseases, which are chronic and which often affect our older people, we will have gone a long way and taken a major step toward reforming the system and adding to the sustainability.
           The area in which I am working in the Ministry of Health is to pursue independent living options for seniors so that there is a range of choices for people who do need supports. Not everybody needs the same kind of support. We want to be sure there is a vast array of services so that everybody can enjoy the quality of life and the independence they want.
           Finally, there has been a good deal of controversy around the soon-to-be-introduced Fair Pharmacare plan. I believe that when it is introduced, it will be seen as a fair plan. It will be seen as one that will ensure that people will be able to afford their medications. It will be fair to all those who are on the program.
           I would like to move now to the B.C. heartlands economic strategy. I mentioned about my riding having the so-called foot of Lonsdale, the Lonsdale Quay. I call this the window of the province. Any one of us could go and sit and enjoy a coffee on the patio, if you like, at the quay, and we can witness the panorama of the economy of this province go right by us as we sit there and enjoy the afternoon. We can sit there and marvel at the contribution of the heartlands of British Columbia to the urbanized lower mainland. You know, sometimes we in the urbanized lower mainland tend to lose sight of the linkages between the heartlands and those of us who live in that urbanized area.
           I mentioned at the beginning of my remarks how my riding is a little nucleus of economic activity, but that is not true everywhere in the province. We are working — and that is why we have said as a strategy in this vision — to open up this province. We want to be sure that the economic activities in the heartlands are acknowledged and developed.

           Let me give you some examples of this linkage. If we were to start at the Second Narrows Bridge, which is the eastern boundary of my riding, we would see Lynnterm. Lynnterm is a large port that exports lumber, but that port is only active if, in fact, the heartlands are healthy in their economy. For too many months we've seen that Lynnterm has not been busy enough. I am so pleased that we have developed this strategy for developing the economy of the heartlands, because it's not only going to help the heartland, but it's also going to help North Vancouver–Lonsdale.
           If we go down the water a little bit, we come to Neptune Terminals. Neptune is where we have the coal. That coal, of course, comes from the Kootenays, or some of it might come from the north — again, that link to the heartlands.
           Along the water we come to the Lonsdale Quay, and that, of course, is tourism. Tourists by the hundreds come to the Lonsdale Quay in the summertime. We are connected with Vancouver by the SeaBus. That has been something that is very positive to my particular part of the world, and we want to see more. We want to see activities developed that are going to encourage more tourists to come. Perhaps the building around the old Burrard drydock site will be the key to that.
           If we go a bit further along the water, we come to Vancouver Shipyards, which is one of the main shipbuilding industries. It's an industry that builds fishing boats; it builds tugboats. It builds all sorts of things — again, that link with the heartlands of British Columbia and the resource industries. If there is not a healthy fishing industry and if there is not a healthy port industry, then my shipyards, the shipyards that exist in North Vancouver–Lonsdale, will not be healthy.
           We also have B.C. Rail, which is that transportation link to the heartland. We have Vancouver Wharves, which is a bulk terminal that loads sulphur and wood chips and all sorts of things. If anyone needs evidence that the resources of the heartlands are indeed the heartbeat of B.C., they need to look no further than the view from the foot of Lonsdale.

           Finally, I would like to conclude with just a word about the Olympics. The Olympics and our bid for the Olympics, which we're going to find out about in July, are our chance to show off to the world. It's a chance for the dreams of our kids to come true.
           You know, I have a little bit of personal experience with this sort of thing, because when my daughter was very young, she was a gymnast. She was, in fact, an Olympic-calibre gymnast, so she trained at that level. Although she never went to the Olympics, she spent many years involved in that culture of achievement. She had the pleasure and the honour, I suppose, of competing against others who went to the Olympics. She had a teammate who went to the Olympics.
           All of that adds up to a culture of adding to the dreams and the aspirations of our children. In 1988, in the Calgary Olympics, my nephew, who was a little boy at the time, played in the Calgary Stampede band. He had the honour of marching in the Olympic parade, and so he was involved. My best friend's little boy was a cadet at the time of the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, and he had the opportunity to raise the Olympic flag. His cadet corps was involved in that.

The Olympics are not just for the athletes. It's really important for the athletes, but it's also important for our communities. It's the stuff of which dreams are made. I finish by saying, truly, this is our year to shine.

           Hon. C. Clark: I'm delighted to be able to respond to this throne speech. I'm delighted to be able to do that, because it does mark a new beginning for every government when the throne speech is delivered. It sets the markers for the future, for the coming year. It sets out the government's agenda in the clearest possible terms so that British Columbians can understand our vision and where we want to take this province.
           I listened with interest to the Leader of the Opposition when she was talking about the throne speech, because she did talk a little bit about how British Columbia has changed not just in the last year but in the last decade — maybe the last 25 years. On that point I certainly agree with her. British Columbia has changed. This is a dramatically different place from what it was 25 years ago.
           My grandfather was born at Clayoquot Sound in 1899. When his parents came here, they gave up everything they knew to come to British Columbia because they had heard in Scotland — goodness knows how — that this was the place you could make something of yourself.
           In that respect, British Columbia hasn't changed one bit. This is still the place where anybody can come from all over the world and not just make something of themselves but build a future for their children, a better future than they had themselves — futures that wouldn't have been available in their own countries. When we think about that, we should remember that people still today are willing to give up their lives, to risk their lives, to come to British Columbia. People will load themselves into risky container ships in the worst kinds of circumstances and take their children with them just so they can come to this place and to what this place has to offer.
           We are so remarkably lucky to live here. We are so remarkably lucky to live in such a wealthy, diverse place. We should throw our doors wide to people from around the world who want to be part of this province, because that's what's made B.C. great.
           We have built this province on the shoulders of immigrants from all over the world. My forebears were from Scotland. When they came here, they gave up their farms. They gave up their language. They came here thinking they would never — in fact, I don't think they did — ever see any of their relatives again. They did that because this is such a great place to live.
           When I listen to the Leader of the Opposition, all I hear her doing is talking about how tough it is to live in British Columbia, how terrible our education system is, how awful our health care system is and what a shame it is we're going to have to be hosting the Olympics if we should get that privilege. I disagree with her on all counts. I can't wait for the opportunity to welcome the world to British Columbia, for those two billion eyes to be trained on the majesty of our province, for those people — no matter where they live in the world — to be able to have just a moment to think about how lucky we are. If we aren't thinking every moment about how lucky we are, we are missing the boat, because we are darn lucky to live in British Columbia.
           This is the greatest province in the greatest country in the world. We are lucky to live here, not just because it's beautiful, not just because we have vast human resources from all over the world to draw on, but because we've built a great education system and a world-class health care system that is so good that our government felt it was worth investing $1.1 billion in new money over the last year. It's a health care system that people literally would do anything to be a part of, and that is an example for jurisdictions all over the world that are looking to reform.

We have a great health care system. When I hear the Leader of the Opposition running it down day after day after day, all I can say to myself is that she is working actively to undermine confidence in British Columbia. She is doing everything she can to be negative and to try and gain some political advantage by misrepresenting what's really going on out there. Yes, we have challenges in health care, but that's why our government has taken on the reform of the health care system so wholeheartedly.
Our Ministers of Health have been working their tails off to try and reform this health care system. Yes, there are changes we need to make. But do you know what? In Port Moody, Eagle Ridge Hospital has a new CT scanner. For the first time we're going to be trying to maximize our ICU capacity at Eagle Ridge Hospital. We are reducing the waiting lists for the first time in a long time out in my region.

           Our health care system isn't perfect. No one is going to argue that it is. No one is going to say: "Well, gee, we've solved all the problems." Goodness knows, we were left with a few problems. It's true, too, that our demographic shifts in this country and in this province are irresistible. Those are going to pose challenges for us no matter what we do. But our Health ministers, all four of them, have their shoulders to the wheel to try to improve this health care system and to try and keep it the best in the world.
           She stands up and talks about education and what a terrible education system we have. Well, I've got news for her. Our education system isn't just the best in this country; it's one of the best in the world. Students in British Columbia compete nationally and internationally. They bring home gold medals. The largest number of gold medals from the national science fair were brought home by British Columbia students. We score with Finland. We score with Korea on mathematics. We have some of the best mathematics programming, some of the best math teachers and some of the brightest math students in this country and across the world.
           We do extremely well on measures of literacy. We do really well with measures like reading. But it's not perfect. Three out of four kids graduate. That's not enough. We need to do better than that. That's why we are also leading the world in new accountability measures in our education system. We have made this system and are remaking this system into one of the most accountable, probably, in North America — one where parents, citizens and taxpayers will be able to measure how well the education system is doing. They are ultimately the people to whom we're all accountable. They're their kids; they're not our kids. Those kids belong to those parents, not to the government. So surely they're the people to whom we should be accountable.
           Our government has invested in education over the last three years. We have invested $160 million in new dollars in education over the last three years — not an insubstantial amount. The Premier announced that $50 million in new money would be coming into the education system this year. He made that announcement on Monday.
           No one should think that the additional money for education comes without sacrifice in other areas of government. It does. When we came into government, the Premier and our government were very, very clear. Education is our number one priority. Education is an investment in the future. We need to make sure we invest in our children so that they can compete globally — not just so that they can compete globally, though, I should say — and so that we can have the healthiest and highest-functioning and most civil democracy in the world, because that's what education produces. It creates good citizens. It creates participating citizens, and our democracy is founded on that. We need to make sure our citizens are adequately educated.
           It's a tough balance to find when the call on governments is to invest more and more into areas like health care. Sometimes education, as has happened in other jurisdictions, gets shoved off the edge of the desk and gets kind of forgotten in the budgeting process — well, not in British Columbia. We made a conscious decision to make education our number one priority, and when we invested $160 million in new dollars in education, we lived up to that commitment. We're going to keep working to live up to that commitment. That's a lot of money, and it's up to school districts to make sure they spend that money in a way that best benefits the kids in their local jurisdictions.

           But I should say this: when we invested that new money in education, we recognized that maintaining and enhancing the education budget and maintaining and enhancing the health budget meant there were sacrifices elsewhere — that other ministries wouldn't necessarily have the same amount of money to spend. That's what happens when you draw up a list of priorities. When health care and education are at the top of that list of priorities, sometimes it means sacrifices in other places. Those haven't been sacrifices for government. Those have been sacrifices that British Columbians have made — but, I think, sacrifices that ultimately British Columbians will say are going to pay off.
           We have two obligations here. The first one is to protect those social services that are so essential to people across the province. The second one is to make sure that the legacy we leave for our kids isn't one where they have no choices. If we don't get our spending as a government under control, what we'll be doing is leaving them with a legacy of debt that is so big that they don't have any choices left to make. Just the interest costs on our debt are tremendous and growing at a fantastic rate.
           If we don't get that deficit and that debt wrestled down, what will we be leaving for them? They won't have choices about spending more money on education or spending more money on health care. They won't have any choices about whether they want to even be able to maintain some of the ministries that are so important to British Columbians, because we will have made those resource allocation questions for them. We will have decided that our generation is going to use up all the resources allocated for us and all the resources allocated for another generation. I don't think we can do that in good conscience.
           We have a duty to leave kids a legacy that means something, a legacy where they get to make some choices about what they'd like British Columbia to look like. That's what we're trying to do as a government today. When we talk about our enthusiasm for attracting the Olympics, it's not just about sports, and it's not just about getting on TV. It's not just about pride. It's about building British Columbia, about opening up our province to the world. It's about bringing back investment so that people can create good, private sector, family-supporting jobs, ones that will allow people to pay their mortgages and support their families and pay their taxes so that we know we can continue to pay for health care and education.

           In the throne speech, when the government talks about a heartlands strategy, what we mean is a strategy to make sure that British Columbia is viable in the long term. I come from a community that's very urban. There's been a lot of talk in British Columbia about the rural-urban split. Well, I don't see it that way. Our urban communities are so dependent on rural B.C. Sometimes it's easy to forget it, but it seems pretty obvious when you take a good look. Rural British Columbia provides the bread that we all eat every day at our tables down in Port Moody.
           Rural British Columbia has been fuelling this economy since British Columbia began. When my grandfather was born here in 1899…. When his parents came here before that, they came to coastal British Columbia, and it was a thriving place, a place where it seemed like the resources were going to be limitless. Well, we found out differently. Our resources aren't limitless. We need to be good stewards of our environment, and we need to make sure that we log and mine and fish in a sustainable way. Those coastal communities that he came to are in crisis today. Ten years of neglect have meant that mining communities and logging communities and fishing communities across British Columbia are starting to wonder if this will be the year or this will be the decade of their demise.
           When we talk about a heartlands economic strategy, what we're talking about is revitalizing those communities, returning some hope to those small towns that have buttressed our economy and supported our urban growth for all those years. British Columbia isn't a big-town province. British Columbia is a small-town place, and there's nothing wrong with having lots of small towns. There's nothing wrong with knowing all your neighbours or living in a place that's not polluted. There is nothing wrong with knowing your kids can walk to school safely. That's what small-town British Columbia is all about. That's what we support as a government. We want to return some hope and vitality to small-town British Columbia. We want to make sure that those small towns are there in the long run, to make sure that they can…. They contribute so much to support our urban economies.

We are woven together in British Columbia. That divide that people talk about isn't really there. We're all in this together. We're all in British Columbia for the same reason, because this is the finest place in the world in which to live. So when we talk about opening up British Columbia, that's what we mean. We mean: let's make British Columbia again the place where people from all over the world will say, "I want to be a part of that," and where the people who are already here can go anywhere in the world and say again to whoever they meet: "I'm from British Columbia, and I am proud to call that place my home."

R. Lee: It's a privilege for me to respond to the Speech from the Throne again. The throne speech was delivered yesterday on the opening of the fourth session of the thirty-seventh parliament. February is usually the month when the community celebrates the lunar new year. This year is the year of the sheep. May all British Columbians become more creative, artistic and passionate.
The Chinese Canadian community staged many celebrations over the past two weeks, from spring festival dinners attended by over a thousand to fundraising events attended by over 10,000, and from parades attracting tens of thousands of spectators to lunar new year exhibitions attracting over 100,000 British Columbians. We all shared the excitement of the new beginning and the best wishes for prosperity and good health. I'm sure the community was indeed very pleased to have the hon. Lieutenant-Governor and the Premier as guests at many of these events. The celebrations in British Columbia have become larger and larger every year. It's interesting to know we have the largest lunar new year celebration outside Asia.

           British Columbians are also very fortunate to live in a multicultural society where we can enjoy all the cultures of the world. We all enjoy a democratic system where the rule of law and respect for human rights are the norm. This province is blessed with a vast reserve of natural resources and has cultivated numerous local talents, as well as attracted many from the outside. I believe that with appropriate government policies and the right attitude and action, the potential for economic development is tremendous in B.C.
           In the throne speech the government has clearly projected the vision of opening up B.C. for social and economic development. I believe this foresight will guide B.C. towards sustainable growth and prosperity.
           In the past year the government has taken steps to have open dialogues with British Columbians on many subjects of interest. Together with many of my colleagues I've attended the provincial congress, the dialogue on education, the first citizens forum and the provincial congress on transportation infrastructure. These meetings brought together all of B.C.'s MLAs, MPs and Senators, along with the mayors from our province's 15 largest cities, the presidents of the five regional municipal associations, the presidents of the Union of B.C. Municipalities and the first nations leaders, as well as stakeholders in subjects discussed. Opinions were freely expressed, and I believe they have created mutual understanding, respect and goodwill.

In the riding of Burnaby North we also have public meetings and forums to discuss issues of public interest and concern. I've hosted forums on environmental concerns regarding the Chevron refineries, SkyTrain safety issues, education and the police complaint process. Besides public forums, I also arranged dialogues in the constituency office. For example, we had meetings attended by my constituents and TransLink staff to discuss concerns regarding changes of bus routes and brought attention to the congestion around Lougheed Highway and Willingdon Avenue. Just last week we

had a dialogue on education in Burnaby between the executives of the Burnaby Teachers Association, CUPE, school trustees, teachers, parents and my fellow Burnaby MLAs. We have identified priority areas such as community schools and special education as well as aboriginal, ESL and multicultural liaison supports. I am sure that the school trustees will make good use of any additional funds, such as part of the $50 million announced on Monday by the Minister of Education, to match those priorities.
           I am pleased to hear from the throne speech that this government is going to continue to open up our democratic institutions. At least two more provincial dialogues are on the horizon. A dialogue on crime will bring law enforcement expertise and community leaders together to discuss ways to prevent and combat crime. A senior and youth congress will seek input from seniors and youth.
           In Burnaby the community police model has been a success involving the neighbourhood, the merchants, the volunteers and the law enforcement officers. The model has brought many successful stories of crime prevention. It would indeed be helpful for other communities to hear from our experience during the dialogue.
           The wisdom and experience of the seniors could certainly open up the eyes of the younger generation. Last year the Heights Neighbourhood Association in Burnaby organized a series of Tea and Tell gatherings where elementary school students met and interviewed longtime residents about the area in the old days. I attended their impressive exhibition and presentation of the stories and came away with a good feeling, a feeling of just getting down from the Toonerville trolley after a tour of the old Hastings Street commercial area and Capitol Hill.
           The experience of the golden ages is invaluable. I am looking forward to reading the report on the organization of the citizens' assembly by the respected Gordon Gibson. The citizens' assembly is a perfect example of the democracy this government has committed to. It can make proposals that will be voted on by all British Columbians to fundamentally change the system of electing MLAs.
           The throne speech recognizes that education is the key to opening up new worlds of possibility. It indicates that new measures will be taken to improve graduation requirements and ensure that graduates have the skills they need in life after school. I believe that besides the traditional academic subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry and English, it is equally important to cultivate our students in arts such as music and second languages. The provincial graduation requirements and provincial examinations should reflect the importance of these skills. As a gateway to Asia, our youth will benefit tremendously with skills in Asian languages. It goes a long way if one can speak Spanish while doing business in Central and South America. If British Columbia is going to be opening up to the world, we must prepare our younger generation to take up these challenges.

           The universities, colleges and institutes in B.C. have contributed tremendously in teaching, research and development in the past year. Institutes such as Genome B.C. have put our province in the centre of the world in genome research. I am pleased to see that the government has committed to expand the leading-edge endowment fund to administrative funds such as the newly announced B.C. regional innovation chairs.
           In the past years I've attended award ceremonies of the Science Council of B.C., the University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia. The award winners are talented in many widely diverse fields from optics, microelectronics and gas dynamics of fuel cells to HIV/AIDS and brain research. Yes, you can see biologists, ethnobotanists, microbiologists, immunologists, writers and poets excel and be recognized in their areas of excellence. It's exciting to see so many talents contribute to the province and lead in the frontiers of research and development.
           Closer to my constituency of Burnaby North, Dr. Harold Weinberg, founder and director of SFU's brain behaviour laboratory, is in the process of acquiring an MEG machine that can see what's happening inside the brain. This equipment will allow researchers from SFU, UBC and the University of Victoria to explore previously unexplored aspects of Down syndrome. I'm looking forward to seeing the government support this important endeavour.
           Also, as reported in the Vancouver Sun today, SFU professor George Kirczenow has developed what could be the world's smallest electrical switch, a device that could allow future computers to store 10,000 times as much memory as computers today. It's this sort of groundbreaking research that will allow British Columbia to become a world leader in research and development.
           The throne speech recognizes the challenges in health care, yet it also opens up new hope for sustainability and accessibility in this important service. There are programs to promote health prevention and wellness. There will be initiatives such as the new Fair Pharmacare plan, which will be introduced later this month and will benefit most British Columbians living on fixed and lower incomes. It's exciting to know that the vast majority of B.C. families will pay the same or less for their prescription drug costs than they do today, mindful that over the past ten years Pharmacare costs have jumped by 147 percent and are now projected to grow by almost 500 percent over the next 20 years. It's a courageous step for the government to take to reduce the financial burden on low-income British Columbians.
           I'm pleased that this government is going to introduce legislation in the coming year to set up a new community living authority to oversee the design and delivery of services to people with developmental disabilities. I attended a meeting of the Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion in my riding where the Minister of Children and Family Development made the announcement. You could feel the hope and emotions present there that finally there's a minister who's open to ideas, who listens and who has the commit-

ment to the delivery of better services to people with disabilities. An open and inclusive consultation process is very important to facilitate changes.

           Continuing on the theme of opening up, the throne speech outlines how this government, this province, will be opening up recognition and reconciliation with first nations, opening up the Canada–British Columbia partnership, opening up new partnerships with local governments and opening up the province to the world. By admitting errors in the past and taking responsibility to heal the wounds, this government has taken a significant step in reconciliation with first nations. Opportunities in resource and economic development are opening up to mutual benefit. A new era of mutual respect will indeed bring new hope to the aboriginal community and will bring certainty and stability to economic development in the heartlands.
           Of course, many opportunities for cooperation exist in the partnership between the federal government and this provincial government. The throne speech lists the 2010 Olympic bid, the new Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre, the new Gulf Islands national park, the softwood lumber dispute, the pine beetle infestation, the cross-border initiatives, new infrastructures, closing the digital divide, transportation, harmonizing environmental assessment policy and fisheries management, agricultural policy, parks and marine parks, etc.
           What is not mentioned is the importance of immigration policy. Without immigrants, B.C. will see a decline in population, and the demography will further skew to the older age group. We will see more school closures, a smaller number of taxpayers and increased difficulty in sustaining infrastructure developments.
           With the cooperation of the federal government, B.C. can expand the provincial nominee program. By doing so, much-needed professionals, entrepreneurs and investors will be flowing into the province, generating substantial revenue for the province to spend on health care, education and transportation infrastructure. A properly designed provincial nominee program can also alleviate the pressure on the federal immigration programs and reduce the waiting period for immigrants or immigration applicants. It will benefit the economy of British Columbia, reduce the workload of the federal Citizenship and Immigration Department and provide new opportunities to many potential immigrants. So even before opening up B.C. to the world by hosting the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver and Whistler, we can welcome the world to come to live here, to invest, to contribute their knowledge and skills, and to work together with us to build a province second to none in the world.
           This is the year for the government to listen, to learn and to act in the best interests of British Columbians. This is also the year British Columbians can take more control of their destiny and win the world. No doubt this is our time to shine.

           E. Brenzinger: I'm honoured to rise today to respond to the throne speech. The message for British Columbians is one of optimism as it spelled out the government's plans to open up this province to the world and to give every region and community of the province a wealth of new opportunities.
           I know the constituents of Surrey-Whalley are ready to take advantage of those opportunities as we continue to build on the progress we've already made. I'm especially pleased to hear about the dialogue on crime, which will bring together community leaders, MLAs, law enforcement experts and others in pursuit of better ways to prevent and combat crime in our schools and on our streets. It seems that too often these days the media spotlight is on Surrey for yet another incident of crime — most recently, for brutal and cowardly home invasions.
           Constituents in Surrey-Whalley deserve to feel safe in their own community. Sadly, many of these honest, law-abiding citizens are too frightened to leave their homes for fear of being a victim of crime and are frightened to be in their homes in case of home invasions. We cannot and will not stand idly by as our elderly are preyed upon. That's why I was pleased to host a safety meeting to equip seniors with information about personal and home safety. But it is not enough.

           North Surrey has also seen firsthand the serious and costly effects of illicit drugs on our community. Drugs are corrupting our society's human resources potential and are the basis for most criminal activity. The average heavy drug user requires more than $40,000 per year to support his or her habit. Most addicts can't hold down a job, so they often resort to stealing, but stolen property generally sells for only 20 percent of its original cost. This means that an individual must steal $200,000 worth of goods per year to support their habit.
           Crime associated with drugs is a severe problem, and the law must continue to be enforced to protect the victims. However, I think we would all agree that more needs to be done to find and prosecute the real criminals, those bringing the drugs to the streets and preying on some of the most vulnerable in our society. While we need to be diligent with enforcement, we must take steps to minimize the devastating, harmful and costly impact of drugs. Right now taxpayers spend more than $4 on enforcement for every $1 spent on the health response in dealing with illegal drugs.
           Current medical best practices suggest that we need more addiction services and greater implementation of harm reduction services — services that range from providing shelter and hot meals to needle exchanges and safe injection sites. Some of the strategies are there to stop or control the addiction, and others focus on preventing other medical problems attributed to the abuse of drugs, such as HIV and hepatitis C, as these illnesses add an even greater cost burden to our health system. But these are not without controversy.
           Our community has been wrestling with a number of drug issues including prevention, treatment, enforcement and harm reduction. We can move the drug dealers and addicts out of the area, but which commu-

nity will they move to? As a community we must continue to work hard to ensure that neighbourhoods remain safe and that the medical needs of people with addictions are being met. It is certainly no easy feat, but let us not forget that although taking drugs is a choice, drug addiction is an illness and therefore a health care issue. This can guide us in developing the right approach. I will continue to work with our minister responsible for addiction services, the Fraser health authority, our mayor and community groups to ensure that Surrey is getting its fair share of addiction services — in particular, detox facilities — and that those services are available to the people in their community.
           Enforcement and crackdowns are clearly needed in our battle against crime, but they are only part of the solution. We can clamp down on these absentee landlords to deal with crack houses and grow ops, and we can lobby long and hard for a justice system that keeps repeat offenders off the streets. But to get to the root of the problems that have surfaced in Whalley, we need to deal with the numerous social issues that come with being one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada.
           The RCMP plays a vital role in helping to eliminate crime in our community. We depend on them day in and day out. I am pleased to hear there will be legislation introduced this session to help our police better manage and track information on criminals, suspects and sentencing conditions imposed by the courts. It will give police across the province access to a new, high-tech, computer-based system that will certainly enhance public safety.
           Though it may appear that Cleanup Whalley is a new campaign, in fact, the families and residents of my constituency have for many years been working towards building a healthy community. There is no shortage of community pride and spirit in North Surrey. Together with the city of Surrey, district 1 RCMP, Surrey Crime Prevention, victim services, Block Watch and many others, residents will work together to make North Surrey a safer and better place to live. The only way to build a healthy community is if everyone who lives and works there shares the responsibility of keeping it viable now and in the future.
           I would like to congratulate the Whalley business improvement association and their dedicated team, who took on the challenge to develop and promote trade and commerce and encourage special events to attract people and business to our community. That's exactly what Whalley needs more of: viable businesses that help give people back a sense of pride in their community, a place to meet their neighbours and experience the richness of art and culture.

           In fact, I can say there are a number of business people who are interested in locating and building in the Whalley area. I have been meeting with interested parties and with the city of Surrey, and I am very optimistic that over the next few years we will see this area developing into the city centre it was meant to be. The throne speech talked about opening up economic opportunities for all. The changes to the Small Business Venture Capital Act will increase access to seed capital, eliminate red tape and provide funding opportunities for regions just like ours. Our renewed commitment to invite the world and let them know that B.C. is open for business will help us make the most of each and every opportunity.
           Another advocate for our community is the Surrey Chamber of Commerce — one of B.C. 's largest chambers with over 1,100 members. They are doing a tremendous job in representing Surrey businesses on key local issues and in fostering the best business practices to ensure the continued growth and prosperity of the business community in Surrey.
           Last fall we welcomed Simon Fraser University to Surrey central. SFU in Surrey has made tremendous headway in a very short amount of time. The campus looks terrific, and I understand that student enrolment exceeded expectations in the fall. The campus is a tremendous boon to our students, citizens and local economy. SFU's plans to accommodate 5,000 students over the next four years is extremely good news. Students in Surrey and the surrounding areas now have greater choice and accessibility with SFU and Kwantlen University College in Surrey.
           Another enormous opportunity for our community is the 2010 Olympics. I recently had the pleasure of presenting $7,500 in seed funding to the B.C. Speed Skating Association to start two new clubs, one of which is planned for Surrey. The 2010 Olympic Games are a dream for our many young athletes and also an opportunity for the rest of us to take advantage of all that we stand to gain from winning the bid. Not only will the games put B.C. and Surrey on the world stage, the opportunities during these years leading up to the games are only limited by our imagination.
           There is great potential for growth in Surrey-Whalley. We already have in place a transportation infrastructure that includes major highways, SkyTrain and the Fraser Port. But for the fastest-growing city in Canada, much more needs to be done. I am encouraged by words in the throne speech that say that this government is completing a comprehensive transportation plan to revitalize the province's transportation infrastructure to create new economic opportunities. The completion of the South Fraser perimeter road will have a significant impact on the development of Surrey city centre and the surrounding industrial areas.
           I'd like to bring to your attention two of the mills located in Surrey-Whalley: Interfor's Mackenzie Mill, and Mill and Timber Products Ltd. Located on the south banks of the Fraser River in Surrey, Interfor has turned the Mackenzie Mill from an old, inefficient coastal sawmill into a local success story. A mill that probably would have been shut down is now manufacturing custom-cut wood products for customers in B.C. and all around the world. Last year the Mackenzie Mill increased its volume by 70 percent and recently hired 25 additional employees to increase production. Mackenzie is the most competitive long-length mill in B.C.

I recently had the opportunity to tour the Mackenzie Mill, and it made me realize that sometimes we take our most incredible assets for granted. I believe that's the case with our forests. Those of us who live in urban areas forget there is a vibrant resource sector right in the lower mainland providing 120,000 direct and indirect jobs in metro Vancouver alone. But the challenges facing our forestry sector are many, and the resolution of the softwood lumber dispute is absolutely critical to getting this industry back on its feet and people back to work, as many of my colleagues in this House can attest to.

           Another very important and historic mill located in Surrey-Whalley constituency is Mill and Timber Products Ltd., a family-owned western red cedar sawmill with a long history in Surrey. Hard work and perseverance have enabled this company to expand with operations in Port Moody, Richmond and northern Vancouver Island. The company markets its Surrey-made products in Europe, Australia, Asia and throughout the United States. Both mills are examples of how businesses are adapting to the changing dynamics of global markets and domestic pressures. With the promise of forest reforms, continued market diversification and customization, customer support and ongoing employee commitment, they believe there will be many opportunities to sustain whitewood sawmilling.
           The last 19 months have been challenging, as tough decisions needed to be made to put our fiscal house in order, and this government is committed to balancing the budget by 2004-05. As outlined in the throne speech, economic growth is the foundation we build on to sustain our health care system, our top-notch education system 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. The throne speech reflects our commitment to restoring fiscal sanity but also to ensuring that our tax dollars are targeted to help those most in need. Some of these include the following. Earnings exemptions for those with disabilities will rise again in the next fiscal year. A new provincial authority called community living B.C. will oversee the design and delivery of services to people with developmental disabilities, and a new Fair Pharmacare plan will be introduced later this month. Some 280,000 low-income families will pay less than they do now, and for the first time young families with lower incomes will be supported in the drug costs.
           I am also pleased to see that new steps will be taken this year to improve choice and access to child care services as all services are consolidated under the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services. The government is also acting on its commitment to increase emphasis on early childhood intervention programs. Combined with a $20 million increase this year for early childhood development, the government's strategic investments are building a strong foundation for our children. For instance, last year grants between $5,000 and $25,000 were awarded to 122 new and existing programs. These grants helped parents learn to keep children safe and strengthen their developmental health.
           It was a pleasure and an honour to join Minister Reid in presenting a cheque for $25,000 to the Whalley Family Place from the Ministry of Children and Family Development. The facility helps support parents with young children in their parenting efforts by offering a family drop-in program for families with children aged zero to six.
           As we move forward, residents of north Surrey can know that as we build on existing partnerships and forge new ones, this government has a very clear and comprehensive strategy for economic and social renewal. The throne speech demonstrates that this government is putting together a plan, building on the progress we've already made and expanding it even further to make sure that all parts of British Columbia benefit from the strengths and resources of this province.
           I know that the constituents of Surrey-Whalley are ready to take advantage of those opportunities and are willing to do their part to return prosperity to this province. This is the time Surrey-Whalley is going to grow and shine.

K. Stewart: First I'd like to state what a great honour and opportunity it is to speak before the House today to represent the people of Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows. This is a community where at the near part of the last century my grandparents from both sides, and my wife's grandparents, chose to live. Now I'm pleased to say that my adult children, four generations later, are still choosing to live in this fine community.
As an MLA from a lower mainland community, it's often easy to get focused in on just local economic issues. The reality is that a majority of the wealth of our province comes from areas outside the large population centres. The strategy to open up new partnerships with first nations and new investments in transportation infrastructure will ensure that the heartlands economic strategy will allow us in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows to continue with these positive geographic economic partnerships. New opportunities for tourism, sports and recreation and a successful Olympic bid will allow a revitalized forest industry and all that which contributes to the future well-being of all British Columbians. This will be supported by a new B.C. heartlands economic strategy, which includes the development plans to be implemented all across the province.

As a person with an interest in history, the injustices that have occurred to first nations peoples all across Canada are obvious. As painful as it may have been at various junctions of our past, we cannot and must not attempt to rewrite the truths of the past. It is very difficult to reflect back upon history, to grasp the concept of time without having been there. It would be inaccurate to try and judge the past times and actions using today's values, beliefs and knowledge.

           Put in the context of time, as unfair as it seems today, the European colonization of British Columbia was very civil when compared to the Spanish colonization of Mexico at a similar time. It is important that we do not forget the past but utilize this experience in a positive manner to overcome the extensive negative outcomes that have occurred to first nations people in the past.
           I believe that we as a government, with input from the courts, are at a significant and crucial time in our history. We have a window of opportunity to successfully advance not only a positive future and partnership with our first nations peoples but an opportunity to gain a better understanding of that which may allow us to move on from the past injustices — not that we should ever forget the warts of our historical past. We must live for today and plan for a successful future.
           I believe that the statement of the throne speech, the need for respect and reconciliation towards the first nations people, has been made by the provincial government in recognizing these injustices of the past and with the sincere effort to move ahead. This effort will be supported by a three-year, $30 million economic measures fund to help first nations pursue new economic opportunities, and this will be extended for another year. Funding has been approved to support aboriginal involvement in oil and gas, tourism, forestry, aquaculture and, of course, the Olympic bid. The government is working to expand first nations involvement in the comanagement of parks and recreational services.
           In opening up B.C.'s transportation infrastructure, the dialogue from the throne speech was very positive. There is no area in British Columbia that is not desirous of improvements to our transportation system. The movement of goods and people is key to any economic recovery.
           In my riding of Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows, a new Fraser crossing and the development of the Pitt Meadows airport are crucial to local growth and economic opportunity. The throne speech highlights this need.
           Our government is completing a comprehensive transportation plan to revitalize the provincial transportation infrastructure to create new economic opportunities. As I look around our province at the need to move goods to our ports and cities, there are a number of initiatives outlined in the throne speech that will help to improve our economy.
           An integrated rail network will improve service and ensure public ownership of the B.C. Rail lines, beds and rights-of-way. Other infrastructure priorities include the Kicking Horse Canyon to open up the Kootenays and the Columbia Valley to the rest of Canada and all of B.C. Vancouver Island and other B.C. coastal communities will be opened up with greater choice, more competition and better service through an enhanced B.C. Ferry service. The government will ensure that B.C.'s airports become the regional and social economic engines they should be. All of these factors will affect us in Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows.
           The throne speech touches on many of the challenges in education. I am pleased, looking over the past 18 months, that many changes in education have positively affected my community of Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows. School district 42 has benefited greatly from the reform of educational funding. Instead of the past arbitrary system, where no logical justification could be given for the funding they received, now we have a system where this funding is justified and fair and definitely benefits the people of my community. I was very pleased to be part of that change that now gives us our fair share of the education dollar.

           Both education and health care have had dramatic cost increases over the past decade. Many of these costs are the result of rising expenses, while some are the result of inefficiencies we are striving to eliminate. There's been much to say about the recent increases in undergrad tuitions. We see a very large increase in British Columbia in this past year as compared to other provinces, but the reality is that when we look back over the past ten years, British Columbia has had a 50 percent less increase than the average in Canada. Our increase has been 41 percent in the last ten years where in Ontario it's been 123 percent, compared to a Canadian average of 84 percent. Not only are we 50 percent less in the increase, we are still in the bottom three of the costs for similar education in the other provinces. So we're still doing a very good job in keeping those costs to the lowest in all of Canada, into the bottom three.
           In freezing those tuitions over the past ten years, this wasn't really a great service to British Columbia students looking for post-secondary education. The reality is that while these other jurisdictions were slowly increasing their fees as real costs were rising, we in British Columbia chose to ignore the real costs and just add those costs onto debt or to allow for the delivery of these courses to our students to deteriorate. This recent increase now brings us back up where the educators have more funding to deliver the education that is so highly sought after by our students. We will continue to adequately fund these education resources, as our students are our future, and it's very important that we look after them for our future needs in this province.
           There are a number of other initiatives mentioned in the throne speech that support this concept of paying as you go. The other major cost we have been looking at over the past few years is health care. Health care is now at 40 percent of our whole budget. This has gone up significantly in the past ten years. Compounding this will be the aging population that is now moving up in the age groups. We're looking at a situation in British Columbia where 80 percent of the costs of our health care are being used in the first two and the last two years of a person's life. With the added aging population — I'm about somewhere in the middle of that baby boom but looking ahead to those that are 65 — the top of the triangle is starting to move in, the inverted wedge that we're all so familiar with from

David Baxter's great charts. As we look at that, we can only see that the demands on our health care are going to increase, and we have to come to grips with that.
In British Columbia acute care is still rated as one of the best in the world for serious medical emergencies. Not that I'd ever want to get hit by a car, but I don't know of another jurisdiction which will look after you as well as Canada, and British Columbia still leads in Canada in many areas of health care. The ability to have an ambulance service — which, again, is going to be enhanced, as mentioned in the throne speech — to get you from your accident to the hospital, where we have some of the best emergency services in North America…. We don't ask for your blue card first before we service you, and the trauma doctors that we have are, again, some of the best.

Where we have some challenges, aside from keeping up those services, is in the elective and the less serious medical conditions, where there's lots of room for improvement. The difficulty we're faced with is the same as that faced by many other jurisdictions all across Canada, North America and even the world. There is a decreasing supply of doctors. In my riding I know that the number of GPs per thousand is quite low when we look at some other jurisdictions in B.C. and some other lower mainland communities, but when we compare that worldwide, we're still very well served. What we have to look at is a way of enhancing physicians and doctors to come to British Columbia, and I'm pleased to see that we are starting, through our education system, to grow some of our more homegrown doctors with the addition of extra seats in northern British Columbia and at the universities in the lower British Columbia areas, in Victoria and Vancouver.

           The other area where we have some severe challenges is in Pharmacare. A new Fair Pharmacare plan will be introduced later this month. Some 28,000 low-income families will pay less than they do now, and for the first time young families with lower incomes will be supported in their drug costs. The vast majority of British Columbia families will pay the same or less than they do for their prescription drugs. These rising costs of pharmaceuticals have had a dramatic impact on the cost of our health care, but they also have had a dramatic increase on the benefits to our citizens. One example that came up last year…. I had a couple of citizens in my riding that were very concerned about what was going to happen to Remicade once it came off the experimental area and into the listed. I'm pleased to report that Remicade, which is a drug that severely reduces the effects of arthritis and has an opportunity to change the lives of many people using it, has been listed. This is a wonderful drug, but at a cost of $20,000 to $30,000 a patient per year…. This is a significant cost. How many other drugs and gene therapies are out there on the horizon for cancer patients and Alzheimer patients? These new drugs will have a very positive effect on our lives, but they are not free. The new Fair Pharmacare plan will give us the ability to deal with these advancements and their related costs.
           Another area that was covered in the throne speech was the issue of our forests and some of the changes that will be happening to our forests. Again, being from a lower mainland community where I don't think there is any logging in my riding at this current time — to the east there's a bit — you wonder what effect the forest industry would have. It has a very significant impact on my community. Interfor's Hammond Cedar mill is one of the largest cedar mills in British Columbia, and it relies on those forests for those logs. It creates 300 jobs in our community and the spinoff effects from that. Anyone who knows what 300 high-paying jobs do to your community knows it's an industry that we must ensure continues. When we look around our province and say, "Well, we're just down here in the lower mainland, and that doesn't have an impact on us…." It has a significant impact.
           The same with the fishing industry. We are on the Fraser River, and there is a number of fishermen that are concerned about the hours. It used to be days and weeks of fishing they get. Now it's the amount of hours they get in a season. I'm pleased to see the initiatives being taken to preserve those fisheries. Contrary to popular belief, this government has taken many initiatives in working with the federal government to ensure that we can enhance the fisheries, both the native stock and of course the farmed fish, which was mentioned today in an earlier comment by our member from North Island — how important that is to some of the communities in the northern Island and in the coastal communities.
           Another topic mentioned in the Speech from the Throne: there will be a dialogue on crime that will bring together community leaders, MLAs, law enforcement experts and others in pursuit of better ways to prevent and combat crime in B.C. schools and on its streets. It further adds that meanwhile a new high-tech, community computer-based system will be available to police across the province to help them manage and track information on criminals, suspects and sentencing conditions.
           There's nothing, as mentioned by the member from Whalley, that gets to the community as quickly and raises as much angst as violent crime. In our community we're unfortunate to have had in the past few years a couple of very brutal murders. This has a very serious impact, especially on the feelings of seniors and those home at night by themselves, when they have to worry about safety in their own homes. It's now given that there are certain parts of the community you don't want to go out in at night. The fact is that you certainly should be safe in your own home.
           Given my past experience in juvenile crime — that is, as a counsellor in the juvenile criminal area, I must add — one of the things I found is that making the punishment for the crime as severe as the crime is a good way to start. I think one of the things that we've allowed to slip over a number of years is that when we looked at things like breaking and entering and car thefts, they were just misdemeanours. I can't think of anything that would be more terrifying than for a

person who's vulnerable to either wake up in the middle of the night or walk into the hallway of their house and find a stranger there with a club or a stick or a knife — or even a gun in these days.

           I think what we have to look at is to try to rebalance that focus between crime and punishment. I'm glad to see that we are having this dialogue on crime. Youth crime is definitely an area that has been getting a lot of attention lately. I know that at the end of this month we are having a forum on youth in my community. I know youth crime is going to be one of the areas that will be discussed. Fortunately, we have a very innovative, community-based program in youth diversion that has worked very successfully, and we're certainly encouraged by both the Attorney General and the Solicitor General in the focus towards that.
           I'm also pleased to note that we're having a seniors and youth congress that will be organized provincially, and that works quite well with some of the seniors' forums I've had in the past and that I will continue to have in the future. The seniors, as we've noticed recently, are taking a very active role in their communities in expressing their views as to how government should be run, and they're becoming a greater part of our population. It's imperative that we have the wisdom and advice from these people who have had their experiences for a much greater time than some of us. Again, I am pleased to support that.
           Noting the time, I think I'll just make a few more comments today, and then we can possibly continue on tomorrow.
           I'd just like to say, again, how pleased I was with the number of new initiatives in the throne speech and how the view of optimism is now starting to move within my community, and I can feel it within the House. We as a government had to do some things over the past 18 months to correct the course of where the last government had taken us, a direction that was not putting us in the direction we'd like to be going that would allow for long-term viability of a community, a government and a province. Now we can start to see some of these positive outcomes starting to affect us.
           Again, noting the time, I would move adjournment of the debate until tomorrow and hopefully continue at that time.

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Official Report of

DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY