Hansard -- Monday, February 17, 2003 p.m. -- Vol. 11, No. 6 (HTML)



CONTENTS

	Routine Proceedings
		Page

Introductions by Members		4809

Introduction and First Reading of Bills		4809
	Museum Act (Bill 2) Hon. G. Abbott

Statements (Standing Order 25b)		4809
	Eid-ul-Adha festival J. Nuraney Economic opportunities in North Coast area B. Belsey Olympic spirit team K. Manhas

Oral Questions		4810
	Approval of Tulsequah Chief mine project J. MacPhail Hon. S. Hagen Collection of unpaid sales taxes J. Kwan Hon. B. Barisoff Incident at Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre S. Brice Hon. R. Coleman Addiction services and safe injection sites in Victoria S. Orr Hon. G. Cheema Liberal MLA response to e-mail on education funding J. Kwan Hon. C. Clark Secondary school apprenticeship program B. Penner Hon. S. Bond Hon. C. Clark Role of immigration in B.C. economy J. Nuraney Hon. G. Abbott

Petitions		4813
	J. Bray

Tabling Documents		4813
	Chief electoral officer's annual report, 2002

Throne Speech Debate (continued)		4813
	S. Orr P. Sahota R. Harris J. Wilson K. Manhas Hon. G. Abbott R. Stewart V. Anderson D. Hayer B. Penner

J. Nuraney: It gives me great pleasure today to recognize some of the members of the Ismaili council who are present with us today. We have our president of the council, Mr. Malik Talib, the good doctor Haneef Alibhai, Farah Jinnah, Farid Damji, Iqbal Ahamed and Talib Nur Mohammed. May the House please make them all welcome.

J. Bray: I have the pleasure of introducing two guests to the House today, Terry Colburn and Burl Fischer. Terry has, for those of us in the local community, become a very well-spoken advocate for persons living with mental illness. Terry has appeared in a lot of columns recently in the local paper and is really doing an outstanding job. I'd like to have the House make him and Burl feel very welcome.

B. Locke: It's my privilege to welcome Nina Rivet and Tina Thorpe to the House today. Nina is the sister of Irene Thorpe, and Tina is the daughter. Would the House please make them welcome.

Hon. G. Halsey-Brandt: It's my pleasure to introduce and to recognize Mr. and Mrs. Mahmood Awan, who are in the precinct today. They're here for the celebration of Eid. Mr. Awan has been very active in the city of Richmond and the community safety committee and the intercultural committee and has numerous other responsibilities of bringing our different cultures together. May the House please make them welcome.

Hon. G. Abbott: We have in the gallery today some representatives from one of the really great institutions in British Columbia, certainly one of the great jewels in the provincial crown, the Royal B.C. Museum. The reason why, of course, we have a museum that is world-renowned and which every British Columbian is very proud of is the great leadership that we enjoy at the Royal B.C. Museum. Among the folks in the gallery today are Pauline Rafferty, the chief executive officer of RBCM; Grant Hughes, who is the director of curatorial services; Brent Cooke, who is the director of public programs; Gary Mitchell, who is the provincial archivist; David Mulroney, who is the president of the Friends of the Royal B.C. Museum; and Bill Barkley, who is a former CEO of the museum.
It's appropriate they're all here today, because we are going to shortly be introducing some changes which members of the museum have been looking for, for some ten years. Would the House please make them welcome.

D. Hayer: I am pleased to introduce my wife, Isabelle Martinez Hayer. This is her first time visiting the House, though she has come to the parliament buildings many times. She is my right hand, and she is the one who has always supported me. Would the House please make her welcome.

Mr. Speaker: Hon. members, I have a special guest that I'd like to introduce today. It is my pleasure to advise you that we have a visiting Clerk from another jurisdiction on attachment to our House this week, Mr. John Quirke, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut. This visit is one of a continuing series of attachments whereby our Legislative Assembly hosts Clerks from other jurisdictions. Please join me in welcoming John Quirke to British Columbia and to our House.

Hon. G. Abbott presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Museum Act.

           Hon. G. Abbott: I am pleased to present the Museum Act. This legislation provides the mechanism to the Royal B.C. Museum to successfully respond to the challenges of managing a cultural treasure that is also a significant public attraction. It's a high priority for the museum. In fact, they have been actively seeking this transformation for ten years.
           This change in governance will allow the museum to maintain its international, national and certainly provincial reputation for excellence. It will create new partnerships in communities, increase opportunities for public participation, ensure that British Columbians remain invested in the safekeeping and significance of the museum's ten million specimens and historic treasures, and achieve its vision of improved self-sufficiency through diversified fundraising and endowment funds. By introducing this legislation we're ensuring the museum remains a cultural institution of which we can all be proud, now and for generations to come.
           I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Bill 2 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.

J. Nuraney: Over 1.4 billion Muslims around the world, including seven million in North America and

over 100,000 in British Columbia, celebrate the end of the annual hajj — the pilgrimage to Mecca — with a festival of Eid-ul-Adha, the second of the two major Muslim festivals. Muslims throughout the world celebrate this festival of sacrifice.

As revealed in the Koran, the holy book of Islam, the festival commemorates the prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son as a demonstration of piety and love for the almighty God. However, just before the sacrifice he received a revelation stating he had already fulfilled the mission and instead of his son, a goat was sacrificed. Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated not only as an anniversary of symbolic sacrifice but also as a juncture that links Islamic history with that of other monotheistic faiths — namely, Judaism and Christianity — through the figure of the prophet Abraham.
The Muslim communities of British Columbia will be celebrating this occasion this evening at the Legislature in the lower rotunda, and I invite all the members of the Legislature to please participate.

           B. Belsey: The first time I had the honour of rising in this House, I said that the people of North Coast want to be valued contributors to the recovery of our province's economy. The way to do this is through job creation, by stimulating coastal economies, through recognizing challenges and understanding that not all solutions come from Victoria and go north.
           The good news is that economic opportunity is opening up in my communities. The daily ferry to Prince Rupert is a major commitment, and one that will provide tourism and the industry with certainty and the chance to show off the entire region. This spring we began to welcome cruise ship traffic to Prince Rupert. This winter we started heliskiing in the Bella Coola Valley. We have containerization for the Port of Prince Rupert. This has been identified as an important component of renewal, and it's not only for the Pacific Northwest, but it will be good for the entire north of this province.
           This government has put in place many regulations to govern aquaculture and to ensure that jobs and the environment can co-exist. First nations communities such as Kitkatla and Kitasoo are supportive of the direction this government has taken and appreciate the economic benefits that will come from aquaculture.
           Offshore oil and gas has shown potential to produce revenue that can support education and health care services. It is an opportunity to provide good-paying jobs that will keep families in the northwest. The return of Skeena Cellulose to the private sector, where it belongs and where they can work together — labour and the company — to produce a strong, viable industry….
           This government is not about saying no to the heartlands of B.C. It's not about saying no to mining, aquaculture or forestry. This government is about working with people to give them opportunities to succeed, and I am proud of being part of this government.

K. Manhas: This week B.C.'s first 2010 Olympic spirit team is being launched in the Tri-Cities area. The team is building on a broad base of community leaders and innovators representing all sectors of the region. The Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce and the ARC Arts Council are bringing together local businesses, arts and culture groups, athletes, sports organizations, service groups, multicultural groups, youth, seniors, Paralympians and local governments to show their support to focus on how our region can support the 2010 Winter Olympic bid and, of course, benefit from the Olympics when they are awarded to British Columbia. Their mandate is to embrace the Olympic ideals of sport, culture and sustainability, and to foster it in the tri-cities of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody as well as Anmore and Belcarra.
My riding of Port Coquitlam is the hometown of one of Canada's most inspirational heroes, Terry Fox. Terry Fox was a young man with a dream. His dream inspired a nation and created a legacy of hope around the world. That sense of legacy inspired me and continues to inspire the people in my community. It is that same kind of legacy of hope and spirit that Terry left with us, which this Olympic spirit team believes is a real potential of the 2010 Winter Olympics — a legacy this team intends to be a part of creating for themselves and those who follow.

The Olympics is not just about Vancouver. The team believes that every person in our province has an opportunity if we win the bid to host the Winter Olympics in 2010. We have the opportunity of a lifetime to seize the world stage and create a lasting legacy — a launching pad for Vancouver to become one of the world's great cities and for B.C. to be one of the most recognized and talked-about places in the world. To see what we have to offer is to fall in love with it and to want to be here to experience it.
The team will launch its activities on Thursday at the very appropriate location of the Coquitlam innovation centre, a joint project of various levels of government that is also making dreams come to life. On Thursday people will see the face of the Tri-Cities communities. That face is diverse, and that face is united. It is firmly grounded in community and looks forward to a huge opportunity to show our colours — colours that radiate like Olympic gold.

J. MacPhail: When the Minister of Sustainable Resource Management takes a decision to grant approval

to a mine project in B.C., can he tell this House who knows about that decision prior to his announcement?

J. MacPhail: Maybe I should be a little more specific. Can the minister tell us who knows about a decision to approve a mine before it's made public? Who in industry would know? Which political staff in his office would know? Who at public affairs bureau would know? Which staff in the Premier's office would know? How many would know about a decision to approve a project before the approval is made public?

J. MacPhail: On December 13, 2002, the Minister of Sustainable Resource Management granted approval to Redfern Resources to proceed with the Tulsequah Chief mine project. In the four days preceding that announcement, Redfern stock soared on very heavy trading. A few months earlier, the day before the B.C. environmental assessment office forwarded documents to the Minister of Sustainable Resource Management for a decision on the mine, Redfern stock more than doubled with the volume of 1.3 million shares traded. This is a stock that often didn't trade at all but would suddenly spike just prior to a government decision. Today shareholders in Redfern have filed a complaint with the Canadian securities commission. They are asking for an investigation into insider trading.
Again to the minister: now that he knows the specifics, can he tell this House who he informed of the decision to approve Redfern's proposal to develop the Tulsequah Chief mine before he made the decision public?

J. Kwan: Last week the Minister of Provincial Revenue said the Premier gave him specific instructions to take aggressive measures to collect unpaid taxes. The minister has a number of tools at his disposal to do that. Can he tell this House the difference between a lien and a writ of seizure of sale?

J. Kwan: I'll save the minister the trouble. A writ of seizure is much more serious than a lien. A lien allows the debtor to pay off his or her debt voluntarily once an asset is sold. A writ of seizure orders a sheriff to seize assets against the debtor's will.

Last week the minister said he could not say if the debt owed to the province by the Minister of Forests' former law partner, Philip Derksen, had been paid after it was cancelled on the Minister of Forests's behalf.
Public documents, which I have here, show that the debt remains unpaid, and a lien has been put on Mr. Derksen's assets. Can the minister tell the House why the government didn't refile the writ of seizure with the Supreme Court against Mr. Derksen, the former partner of the Minister of Forests, once they had corrected the name?

Hon. B. Barisoff: I think last week I answered this question of the member opposite that I can't comment on individual cases.

Hon. B. Barisoff: I think the member opposite knows full well that I cannot comment on individual cases. I gave you assurance that we treat all taxpayers fairly and equitably when it comes to collecting moneys for government.

S. Brice: My question is for the Solicitor General. In late January there was a disturbance at the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre on Wilkinson Road in my riding. Media sources reported that the damage to the jail was estimated at $40,000. What can the Solicitor General tell my constituents about this event?

Hon. R. Coleman: It was on the night of January 21 that we had an incident in one of the remand units at Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre. It started at about 10 p.m. It was over within a couple of hours. Some inmates refused to be locked down. They did some damage in the living unit, and the matter was settled peacefully.

S. Brice: I thank you for that background. I understand there was considerable damage. Was there at any point in the incident any danger to the neighbourhood surrounding the institution?

Hon. R. Coleman: No, there was not. Our staff handled this in a very professional manner in cooperation with the Saanich police department. The incident is still under investigation by the police with regard to any possible charges, so I won't comment on the details of that. There is also a review taking place internally to the branch, but at no time was the community at risk.

S. Orr: My question is to the Minister of State for Mental Health. Like many other communities in B.C.,

Victoria faces a growing number of people who require addiction services. However, with limited resources available to support patients that are leaving detox facilities, especially in my riding of Victoria-Hillside, these patients often find themselves back on the street with little or no follow-up. Can the minister explain what actions are being taken to improve addiction services?

Hon. G. Cheema: As of last April, and for the first time, addiction services have been placed within the health care system. The health authorities are now managing addiction services to improve delivery. We found there were not enough resources in Victoria to support patients leaving detoxification centres. To solve this, the Vancouver Island health authority is strengthening its supportive housing resources.
We have just opened two new supportive recovery group homes: one for male patients and one for female patients. We are also starting an intensive day treatment program for men, the first in Victoria. With $6.5 million of new funding for mental health on Vancouver Island, we are also going to see more outreach workers and more supportive living beds in Victoria.

S. Orr: Thank you for that. I'm glad to hear what I just heard. My supplemental is that intravenous drug use and, more importantly, public disposal of needles are on the rise in Victoria. Many of the people I represent believe that the use of these supervised injection sites would help to resolve these problems. To the minister: can he tell my constituents how they can bring a supervised injection site to Victoria?

Hon. G. Cheema: A working group on supervised sites is presently meeting. This group includes representatives from city and police departments of Vancouver and Victoria, health authorities, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control and the Ministry of Health Services. Proposals for the site will be sent to Health Canada to consider the applications. Ultimately, it's up to the individual municipality and the health authorities…

Hon. G. Cheema: …to determine if the supervised injection sites would be appropriate in their area.

           J. Kwan: The opposition caucus has obtained a copy of an e-mail correspondence between a constituent and the MLA for Esquimalt-Metchosin. The constituent writes to the member asking serious questions about the effects of cuts on the Sooke school district — its ability to deliver education for special needs children.
           If I could, I'd like to read from the member's response, and I quote part of it: "Yes, I'm aware of the seriousness of the drinking and driving. The Premier's actions were wrong, and I don't agree with what he did. The Premier has recognized that he made a terrible mistake and has apologized." The letter goes on, but I think you get the flavour.
           To the Minister of Education: is this the response she recommends for all backbench MLAs when they're called to account for her government's failure to deliver quality education?

Hon. C. Clark: Here is the response that I recommend for anyone who inquires about what's going on with education funding. First, we have maintained education funding, even though there is declining enrolment around British Columbia. Second, last year we granted $42 million in new money to school districts. Third, this year we've granted $50 million in new money for school districts. Lastly, the Premier made a public commitment in his address on television to British Columbians last week that we will be committing a further $100 million to our education system to benefit every child in British Columbia.

B. Penner: That's a tough act to follow. My question is to the Minister of Advanced Education. The secondary school apprenticeship program…

B. Penner: …provides 140 Chilliwack students a chance to start an apprenticeship while still attending school. It's truly a great example for the rest of the province, and it's one that I and many members of our community are very proud of. However, I've heard concerns that under the new industry training model, this very successful program may not continue after March 31. I wonder if the Minister of Advanced Education can tell us what the future is for this and other similar programs.

Hon. S. Bond: As we begin to look at a new training model in the province of British Columbia, we

want very much to encourage more participation earlier in the school system. We think the secondary school apprenticeship program is actually a template and a model. It demonstrates flexibility. It encourages the youth of the province to consider a skill or a trade. We expect it to continue, and in fact, we'd like to enhance it as we continue to develop our new model in this province.

B. Penner: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I do, and my supplementary question is for the Minister of Education. As members may well know, B.C. is facing a looming skills shortage. In fact, by 2010 it's projected that the number of people retiring from the workforce will exceed the number of young people entering the workforce. To the Minister of Education: could she tell the people of Chilliwack and, indeed, British Columbia what she is doing to promote trades training in schools?

Hon. C. Clark: It's true we are facing a looming skills crunch in British Columbia. We need to make sure that we value the trades and that kids in our high schools look to the trades as an equally rewarding profession. We need to make sure that our grad requirements reflect the value that we put on it. That's why we're reviewing the grad requirements that are currently in place. We'll be making some announcements about that this spring, and I'm sure it will include some ways that our high school system can place equal value on the trades with other professions.

J. Nuraney: My question is to the Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services. We are very fortunate to have the ethnic diversity that we are experiencing in our province, and increasingly it is becoming our strength. Yet to vitalize and revitalize our economy, we must aim to maximize the benefits of the skills and the abilities that recent immigrants bring with them to our province. Will the Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services tell us what government is doing to ensure that recent immigrants can make the largest possible contribution in revitalizing our economy?

Hon. G. Abbott: The member is certainly correct that we do have some challenges demographically in British Columbia, as we do in the rest of Canada. We are becoming an older society. I know I'm growing older unnaturally quickly these days, and I'm sure other members are as well. But we are becoming an older society. We are experiencing some skills gaps as we see people retire from the workforce, and it is entirely clear that immigration is going to be playing an increasingly important role in economic development in British Columbia in the twenty-first century.
The province is attempting to address the situation, in part, through an instrument called the provincial nominee program. This actually started back in 1999, but notwithstanding the fact that the NDP had a freestanding Ministry of Multiculturalism and Immigration, they weren't able to get it off the ground. I'm happy to say that we have got it off the ground. We are now more than 200 people….

Hon. G. Abbott: More than 200 new British Columbians have gone through the PNP now. They've provided us with doctors, with nurses, with important skills across the province. It's been a tremendous success. All we needed was a new government.

J. Bray: I rise to present a petition signed by 1,015 residents of Victoria. These petitioners oppose the reassessment and reapplication process for disability benefits level 2.

Mr. Speaker: Hon. members, I have the honour to present the 2002 annual report of the chief electoral officer to the Legislative Assembly.

Hon. G. Collins: I call continued debate on Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne.

Mr. Speaker: The Address in Reply continues with the member for Victoria-Hillside.

S. Orr: It is again a great pleasure and honour to rise here today representing the people of Victoria-Hillside and respond to the Speech from the Throne delivered by British Columbia's first-ever female Lieutenant-Governor, the Hon. Iona Campagnolo.

Mr. Speaker: Perhaps, hon. member, we could wait for a moment until members make their way elsewhere.
Please proceed.

S. Orr: Last year in my response to the throne speech, I spoke about it being a historical document, because it was setting out a new course that would change direction for this province. Well, let's look at

that. It's now a year later, and that change in direction is actually happening — 81,000 new jobs. B.C.'s average weekly wage is now the highest in Canada, three times higher than the national average. We have record housing sales, up 27 percent from 2001. Housing starts exceed all forecasts, up 25 percent. Retail sales are up. Wholesale sales are up. Mineral exploration is up. Our ministries are all coming in below or on budget, and the list goes on.
           This wonderful province of ours is starting to break free from a decade of groaning under mismanagement. For a time there I felt sometimes like that little train in that wonderful children's book called The Little Engine That Could, saying: "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can." Now I know we can, because I listened to this throne speech. I heard what is so important to me.
           This throne speech had real meat attached to its bones. We again have a good, solid plan. We have a commitment. We are moving forward. I have listened to my colleagues from across this province respond so enthusiastically to this throne speech because of a wealth of new opportunities for their communities like the new B.C. heartlands economic strategy, revitalizing the forest industry and the mining industry and opening up B.C. 's transportation infrastructure.
           I'm going to interject here and tell the House about my personal experience when I was travelling with the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services on the prebudget consultation tour, listening to the people in those areas about their issues. Transportation was huge, and I witnessed firsthand how desperate they are for new roads. On our way into Fort St. John for a hearing, our bus had to physically move as far over as it could on the road to let this enormous rig pass with its resources needing to get to market. It could barely get by us. That poor driver who was hauling our resources has to put up with those conditions daily. He or she should have safer and better roads to work on. Let's remember that a good chunk of the wealth of this province comes from those areas, and they need to be serviced.
           The throne speech talked about new partnerships with our first nations, and we finally talked about a true understanding and recognition of the injustices of the past. I was very pleased, and I am sure our aboriginal people were too, to hear those words. They have been a long time coming.
           Now, some of my constituents may ask how all of this relates to an urban riding like mine. As I said before, a good chunk of the wealth comes from the heartlands, and certainly, as they grow and the resources of the province grow, all that money flows to every corner of British Columbia. The richer the heartlands are and the richer the heartlands become, the richer we become. My riding is not a resource-dependent community. In fact, we have a good, strong economy. We have low unemployment, a very, very strong real estate market and lots of construction. But we are still in need of the revenues that are generated by those communities.
           Victoria-Hillside is a very diverse and interesting place to live, and whenever I get a chance like this I like to extol the virtues of living in the best place in B.C. We have many parks, and finally, thanks to the municipality of Saanich and their hard-working mayor and council, we've seen the final phase of Rutledge Park completed. We have great trails, many cherished Garry oak groves, golf courses and rec centres. We have history and culture. We have a very active Indo-Canadian community. I, in fact, have three temples in my constituency. We have a Jewish community. The Jewish Community Centre of Victoria is in my constituency, and the synagogue is only 20 feet outside my boundaries. It is, in fact, one of the oldest synagogues in Canada, and they are just completing a wonderful new extension, which should be ready very soon. We had the pleasure of our new rabbi, Harry Brechner, who gave the blessing on opening day.

           I am also happy to welcome into my riding the Victoria Christian Centre Association, which just had its grand opening on January 25 with Pastors Wayne and Penny Smith. They not only serve their congregation; they are also involved in extreme outreach to the rest of the community.
           I have a large Chinese community. Victoria's Chinatown, with its rich history, is in my constituency. We have many Latin, Vietnamese and Iranian people. We have great restaurants, great shopping — just a wonderful mix of cultures. When I listened to the throne speech and indeed the speech the Premier made on Wednesday night, it was with all these people in mind. I listened very intently, because I had to be assured that it covered some of their issues, issues that I deal with daily in my community office.
           I was very pleased at some of the things I heard, like education. I have a declining enrolment. It is interesting to note that since 1998, our student population has plummeted, but we have increased per-student funding by $662. Today we spend $6,455 per student in the province, and next year we are projecting spending $6,506. Last year we put $42 million into education. This year we have put another one-time funding of $50 million and, over the next three years, another $100 million. My school district and my school board know what they need to manage their schools, and we have given them those tools and that autonomy to do this.
           Social issues are being addressed. The social equity package, which includes inner-city schools, school-based counsellors, lunch programs…. These will be funded until the end of this school year and beyond. That is a very important piece and an issue that I have worked on over the past year. I was pleased to hear that.
           Income assistance has dropped by 55,000 people, and 92 percent of people surveyed told us that they had found work or are furthering their education or that their financial situation has changed. We are providing $300 million in job training, and because the caseloads are down, we have been able to focus the resources on those people who need it the most. People with disabilities who are on income assistance, people who are genuinely in need, will now have an earning

exemption of $400 a month. This has doubled over the past two years and is very crucial to those people.
The new Fair Pharmacare plan is to be introduced. Some 280,000 low-income families will now pay less for their drug costs. Many of these families live in my riding, and this will be a great help to them.
In my riding we have a drug problem. Every so often I go out with Chief Battershill for a ride overnight just to see things for myself, and it is a problem. I am fortunate to have a forward-thinking mayor and forward-thinking councillors. Mayor Alan Lowe is addressing this issue before it gets really out of hand, like it has in Vancouver east side. Along with the police chief Paul Battershill, the medical health officer Richard Stanwick and other stakeholders, they came up with a downtown drug strategy which was introduced a couple of weeks ago to look at an integrated approach to deal with these downtown issues. They have already put more police onto the streets, and we are hearing from people that it is working.

           It's very important to understand that 50 to 70 percent of people with mental illness have a substance use disorder. I have found there has been very little support for people leaving detox, and quite often these people are back on the street again and again. What the city is doing links very well with our approach. Funding has now been transferred in its entirety to the health authorities, and for the first time addiction services have been placed within the health care services. Two new recovery group homes have been opened: one for men and one for women. For women, we are now starting an intensive day-treatment program. You know, I want to go back on that because these facts are wrong. I know this stuff really well; so I'm just going to revisit this.
           We've opened two recovery group homes. One has been opened for men, and one has been opened for women, and we are starting an intensive day-treatment program exclusively for men. This has never happened before in Victoria. We have a program for women, and we have a program for men and women, but we've never had a program for men. That is very important. We are also going to see up to half a dozen more outreach workers and more supportive living beds.
           Also, we talked about day care — again, very important to me. Many of my constituents are single working parents. These parents are proud and hard-working, and it is very hard for many of these people to get ahead financially. When you are a single parent putting in a full day's work, and then you have to go home and tend to the children and the housework and the cooking, it's hard. So I am especially pleased that we have raised the child care subsidy income threshold. Would I have liked to see it raised back to where it was? Absolutely. But I believe my constituents can live with this for now as we, as government, start to get our finances in order. We are working very hard to do that right now, and we are starting to see the benefits. We are now starting to live within our means, and as the huge interest payments start to come down and money gets freed up, I will keep working with our government to get the day care subsidy back to its original level.
           We have increased child care spaces very substantially. This is so important because parents now have a choice. In the past we only funded larger day care centres. Now we also fund licensed home day care. This choice is very important because some parents prefer a home environment for their child, and some prefer larger centres because of their facilities. But best of all, the parent can now decide what suits their child.
           Small business — and I have a lion's share in Victoria-Hillside — by all accounts…. The people that I talk to tell me business is good. These people are the ones that see me on the street and call me at my constituency office and at home and say: "Stick with the program. It's working." We have been working very hard to get government out of their way so they can get on with doing their business. If we do get in their way — and sometimes we do — they now feel very comfortable with us as a government to call and let us know, and we get on it right away. These people are truly the backbone of our economy. They're the ones that take the financial risk and the responsibilities.
           Mr. Speaker, I have only skimmed the surface of things that I would like to talk about in my riding. Many things have been achieved, and I have just highlighted some things. It is always my greatest pleasure to talk about my riding, and I thank you for allowing me to do this.

           P. Sahota: It is a pleasure to rise on behalf of my constituents of Burnaby-Edmonds and reply to the throne speech delivered last week.
           The throne speech sets the tone for the future to come. It sets the vision of a government. The message delivered was clear — new approaches, new solutions, new partnerships, new ways of doing things. That was the message delivered in the throne speech.
           I am fortunate to live in Burnaby, where the people are always looking to do things differently and creatively because we are a diverse and vibrant community — diverse and vibrant in business, diverse and vibrant in culture. We have a vibrant board of trade. In 1999 the board of trade had 200 members. Now there are over 700. We have international businesses coexisting with small businesses.

Our technology industry is second to none in B.C. Who hasn't heard of Ballard? Ballard Power is developing environmentally friendly fuel cells that will change the way we think about powering vehicles and appliances. Electronic Arts, Creo, Xantrex, MDS Metro and Delta-Q Technologies all call Burnaby their home. These technology businesses are vital to the strength of B.C.'s communities, and Burnaby is no different. The Premier understands this, and that's why he appointed the Premier's Technology Council, which is co-chaired by Paul Lee of Burnaby based at Electronic Arts Canada. In total the council has three Burnaby members, which I believe is a testament to the importance of

Burnaby's technology industry to the province as a whole.
           We have a thriving film industry in British Columbia, and my constituency is home to two studios that I've had the opportunity to tour: River and MJA studios. I am advised by the owner of River Studios that Scooby-Doo, part 2, will be filmed by his studio in Burnaby. That's great news for my riding.
           Our government believes in the potential of both the high-tech and the film industries. Last year our government kept its commitment to dramatically cut personal income taxes — a decision that's helping B.C. companies attract and retain more knowledge-based, skilled workers. Not only is the government committed to making sure we have a tax regime that helps keep our best and brightest here, but we're also making sure that our post-secondary education system delivers the best and the brightest.
           We in government are very excited about our commitment to double the number of graduates over the next five years. We have already announced that we will be creating 825 new spaces in computer technology, electrical engineering and computer science. Government is creating opportunities for young people, and in turn we're making sure that companies have the access to the skilled workers. This will have a tremendous impact on BCIT, which also calls Burnaby its home.
           We have a vibrant Chinese community in Burnaby. As my colleague from Burnaby North noted last week, it's Chinese New Year, the year of the ram. Thousands of people from the Chinese and non-Chinese community attended several events, celebrations for the Chinese New Year.
           It is indeed a diverse city. All I have to do is walk a few blocks from my office, and the variety of restaurants that are within a ten-to-15-minute walk is amazing. Simba's Grill, Lhy Thai, Baba Sweets, Oliver Twist and Balkan House are just a few that are a few minutes away from my office. Burnaby is a dynamic city. It has an exciting spirit and an energy that has managed to sustain a feeling of community. It is diverse, from the people to the businesses that call Burnaby home.
           We're perfectly situated to take advantage of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic bid. The Olympics would bring unprecedented attention to the province and what it has to offer, particularly in terms of tourism. For our community, there are some benefits that will happen directly during the Olympic Games. For example, Olympic experience shows that hotel and motel accommodation within a two-hour radius of Olympic venues can be expected to be fully booked. Our very own Simon Fraser University will certainly be a very important part of the bid as it offers a venue and site for some of the many 2010 Winter Olympic competitions. We can also expect our local ice surfaces will be used for training facilities for visiting hockey and speed skating teams from other countries as they get ready to compete in the Olympic venues. We can make Burnaby their home during the 2010 games.
           More important than the immediate spinoffs from hosting the games are the long-term benefits that come with the games when they are over and the Olympic flame is long extinguished. Olympic opportunities are about profile, trade and investment, and showcasing our community and country to the world. How do we build on the profile that comes with hosting the Olympic Games? How do we maximize the exposure that comes with a TV audience you measure in the billions? It is estimated that the 2010 games will generate up to $10 billion in economic activity, create 228,000 jobs and result in more than $2 billion in government tax revenue.
           More than two billion people tuned into the opening ceremonies of the 2002 games in Salt Lake City. No marketing budget can buy that much publicity for British Columbia. During Calgary's Olympic year, tourism in Alberta grew by 12 percent, and those gains were retained with an average annual growth of 3.25 percent for the next five post-Olympic years.
           Those in the construction industry and the realtors in my area are also excited, because they know the Olympics will provide a catalyst for the construction of a new convention centre, which will bring more business to B.C. In 2001 we turned down 53 conventions with a spending potential of $146 million. Just today the province announced it was completing the purchase of land for the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre expansion in Coal Harbour. This is fantastic news not only for the Olympic bid but also for the businesses in the lower mainland.
           I, along with many others in Burnaby, am very much looking forward to us winning the 2010 bid. I believe the 2010 Olympics will bring so much to our province. This is an exciting time for us. At the end of the day, the Olympics are about legacies for sport, for businesses and for communities.

           While the city of Burnaby has developed a strong high-tech industry and is ready to take advantage of future economic development through the 2010 bid, we also know that what happens in the resource-based industries also affects Burnaby. We see the contribution of the mining sector and the forestry sector, from the newly approved southeast Burnaby high school to funding for community organizations like the South Burnaby Neighbourhood House to the launch of SkyTrain's new Millennium Line. These things happen because revenue from our natural resources directly contributes to these very important services.
           The fact is that B.C. has a resource-based economy, and forestry is its foundation. When the forestry industry suffers, our ability to pay for important services like health care and education also suffers.
           A lot has been said about the heartlands of this province and the government's heartlands economic strategy. I am lucky to have lived in hugely different parts of the world, having lived in India for ten years and moved to Merritt with my family, and now represent the riding of Burnaby-Edmonds, an urban riding. I know the heartlands are hurting. My family still lives

in Merritt. I know the small towns of British Columbia are hurting. The forest industry isn't thriving as it once was when my father was working in it. When my father first came to this country in the 1960s, he worked in the forest industry and did so for close to 30 years. His paycheque as a forest worker helped pay for the education of his four daughters and helped sustain our family. Those kind of jobs have been dwindling in small-town British Columbia. The government has taken a number of steps which will help restore innovation in our forest practices so that B.C.'s forest industry can compete globally. The first step was the introduction of the Forest and Range Practices Act to establish a results-based, workable forest code to untie the hands of our province's foremost industry and to revitalize an industry that is the backbone of this province.
           We made a commitment to the people of British Columbia that we would give the forest industry the tools it needed so that it would once again be competitive in the global field. The old Forest Practices Code was too costly, too complex and overly prescriptive. Under the NDP a billion dollars' worth of costs were added to doing forestry business in British Columbia. Under the NDP close to 8,000 jobs were lost through the Forest Practices Code. It was also during the NDP era that our forest industry became the highest-cost producer of fibre in the world.
           Every community in B.C. is a forest-dependent community. The Vancouver Board of Trade recently reported that nearly 25 percent of our entire economy is driven by the forest industry. From paper products and transporting forest products on our roads and waterways to sustaining communities and families all over this province, the industry's importance should not be underestimated. The revenues derived from our number one industry help pay for hospitals and for our schools. When our forest industry's held back, we're all held back. For too long it has been held back with a needless regulatory burden and heaps of paperwork. The government has a responsibility to make sure that our forest industry remains competitive, so industry can provide the jobs for the many forest-dependent communities and families.
           British Columbians have long recognized the benefit of being open to the world. Ours is a province built through the strength and hard work of people from different cultures working together. As the B.C. government moves ahead with its new-era agenda, I feel even more optimistic about the changing face of our province. Our policies and the changes we're making are all about openness. We want the creative resources that come from a diverse community drawing from differing perspectives. That's why I believe it is important that we look at the Asian subcontinent as we seek ways to reduce our reliance on the U.S. market. We have to make sure that we never become so reliant on one industry, on a single market, that we feel beholden to it. Let's look at other parts of the globe. Let's diversify this province. With diversity comes strength.
           India and China, with a combined population of over two billion people, are the ideal marketplaces for the forest industry to look at. We know that China has banned logging in its nation, and they're looking to other parts of the world for their wood consumption. The B.C. Liberal government is vigorously pursuing these opportunities.
           The government is pursuing the overseas market not only in forestry but also in other sectors. The Minister of Competition, Science and Enterprise's trade mission to India was an indication that our government is committed to finding partnerships around the globe. The minister was there to promote partnerships between British Columbia's high-tech firms and companies on the subcontinent. Why shouldn't we? We know the Indian subcontinent offers us many opportunities. We know that the industry in India is looking for opportunities to invest in Canada and British Columbia, and we want to capitalize on that. We are making those inroads now with that trade mission and letting the investors abroad know that we want British Columbia to be a technology destination also.
           We know how important the private sector economy is for essential services like health care and education. Revenues from our forests, from the mining sector and from all other sectors such as technology are key to securing funds we need for important services like health care and education.

           In the face of the fast-paced changes taking place around the globe, it is incumbent upon all of us in this House to ask: how do we compete, how do we do it better, and how do we maintain our standard of living? It is important to ask: how can we deliver care in a more efficient and most effective manner? How do we care for our elderly? We are right to ask these questions now, and we're right to look at how to find creative solutions to address these challenges.
           In my own riding we have already begun on the plans in the long-term intermediate care side. As we all know, there is a growing need for assisted-living housing for seniors. I have spoken with many seniors in my riding who agree that the majority of elderly want to keep their independence for as long as possible. Housing projects like the Nikkei Home give seniors the ability to continue to live independently with added support services such as meals, housekeeping, recreation and 24-hour emergency response. Seniors who live in the Nikkei have a home, and their families have peace of mind knowing their loved ones will be taken care of in the best possible way.
           This is the first subsidized, non-profit, supportive-living development of this magnitude in the lower mainland. The partnership between the Nikkei Seniors Health Care and Housing Society, the Fraser health authority and the B.C. Housing Management Commission has proven to be successful, and I believe it can be used as a prototype for future developments around the province. This facility consists of 59 units and is a model of expanded-care options providing the seniors with the alternatives. I'm very pleased this project was built in my community and, in particular, with the partnership of the Japanese community.

           We also know that educating our young people is becoming more of a challenge. How do we provide education to a population that is becoming more and more diverse when more and more of our citizens have English as their second language? How do we make sure everyone still receives education that is second to none? The most recent census statistics show the lower mainland's immigrant population is on the rise. Chinese and South Asians top the list of new immigrants to our area, but the range of people from different origins calling B.C. home is enormous.
           When I first came to Canada as a ten-year-old, I hardly spoke any English and moved directly with my family to Merritt. It was a culture shock. ESL classes were not easy to come by those days, especially in Merritt, but I did have an excellent ESL teacher, Mrs. Turnbull, who helped me tremendously.
           B.C.'s school system was and still is, I believe, second to none, and the support I received from the teachers was incredible. But as many immigrants say, successfully learning a new language and adapting to a new culture takes hard work and perseverance, and it doesn't happen overnight.
           This government takes it seriously, and that's why we have set education as our number one priority. We have protected education funding despite declining enrolments. As the Premier noted in his state-of-the-province address, since 1998 our student populations have plummeted in British Columbia. We have increased the student funding, though. Today we spend $6,455 on each student in our province. We have added $50 million. Another $100 million over three years will be made available to the school districts. We have been able to find savings within the ministry that will now go directly to the students. This year a one-time grant of $50 million was achieved through prudent fiscal management and lower debt-servicing costs. It will be allocated on the basis of student population.
           The community schools in my area, such as Edmonds, Stride Avenue and Second Street, have told me how important it is to maintain the community school programming and the funding. In the Premier's address he informed us that the province would also be funding our inner-city school and community programs to the end of this school year and beyond. Hopefully, this will create the kind of certainty that's required to make sure that our children fully benefit from these programs. It is now up to school districts to decide how they want to spend this additional money and not up to Victoria.
           Our society is diverse and much more welcoming than when my great-uncle first came here in the early 1900s. One thing hasn't changed, though. People from all over the globe still want to come to this country and this province. Look at this government. We truly represent the face of British Columbia. It is a government that elected eight MLAs from the South Asian community. Where else in the western hemisphere has that taken place? Nowhere. Three MLAs from the Chinese community — nowhere else has this taken place in the western hemisphere. You know, this says something about this place called British Columbia. We have people of vision in our community — people who work tirelessly and people who have stayed in British Columbia despite the tough economic challenges faced by them in the previous decade.

People voted for strong and decisive actions to get us out of the mess the NDP government left the province in. And make no mistake. The ten years of mismanagement do not disappear overnight. We were elected to turn this province around, and we will not shy away from our job. We have made the tough decisions that are necessary to restore this province back to its rightful place as the best in Canada. British Columbians deserve nothing less.

           R. Harris: It gives me a great deal of pleasure to stand in the House today to respond to the throne speech. Just a little less than two years ago we received permission from the people of this province to govern. With that permission, though, came the responsibility to honour our commitment to the public, to get B.C. moving again and to bring a sense of hope back to every community across this province.
           Over the decade of the nineties the previous government took this province from being the number one economy in Canada to the last. By 1999, B.C. qualified for transfer payments from the federal government. We had officially become a have-not province within Confederation. Yet during this same period every province in Canada except B.C., including the territories, experienced the largest growth in their economies in history. The lost decade, or decade of despair as it's become known, is well documented. We can never allow such a travesty to happen again here.
           Nowhere were the results of the previous government's policies felt harder than in rural communities. The '96-2000 census confirmed what those of us living in rural B.C. already knew: our economies were shrinking. Our home and land values were dropping. Our young people were being forced to move to Alberta to look for work. We were losing the critical mass of people to maintain our education facilities and support our small businesses. This is the legacy of rural B.C., and over the last 20 months much has been said and written about this trend.
           With this throne speech there is a change in the air for the heartland communities of our province. We as a government have always recognized the roles that every community in B.C. must play if we are to rebuild this province. This throne speech has laid out a priority for our government that will open up and unleash the spirit of every community to start to take advantage of all of the opportunities this province has to offer.
           Twenty months ago the Premier appointed me chair of the northern caucus. Last year I spoke about how I felt that group of MLAs, acting through the northern caucus, had the potential to really make a difference in how rural concerns, priorities and values were represented. Over the last decade we've seen far too many decisions made in Victoria to soothe the ur-

ban conscience at the expense of our rural communities.
           As a caucus we have met and worked with a number of groups to identify and prioritize the needs of the north. We have established a formal working relationship with the northwest treaty tribal group, an organization representing over 60 first nations communities across the northland.
           We sit as one of the directors on the Northwest Corridor Development Corporation, a business and political organization with members in Alberta, B.C. and Alaska. We established working committees on transportation and economic development as well as participated in the annual general meeting of the North Central Municipal Association, an organization representing all of the municipalities and regional districts from 100 Mile House north. I know that they are as pleased as our group to hear our government's focus on a B.C. heartlands economic strategy, a strategy to open up the rural regions of this province.
           The state-of-the-province address by the Premier continued to build on that strategy. The rural transportation plan is exactly what we need. It will start to build the much-needed new roads as well as improve existing highways. The jobs created by these activities will be in the north, but more importantly, the opportunities of these initiatives will directly benefit all of our rural communities.
           The plan for B.C. Rail and the participation of the mayors' council will ensure that B.C. Rail will once again become an economic driver in this province. Projects like the Stewart-Omineca resource road hold tremendous promise for rural communities. This road would create a new east-west connector across the province. It would open up the lower Bowser basin to oil and gas and coalbed methane exploration, extend the life of the Kemess mine as well as bring renewed exploration in this mineral-rich region.
           It would provide the Gitxsan with access to their traditional territories as well as offer new opportunities around tourism. It will bring increased activity and products to the docks in Stewart, helping that community rebuild. It could give the mill at Carnaby potential access to an interior profile of timber, providing it with an opportunity to be a successful employer in the region again.

           The government's commitment to seeing the port in Prince Rupert fully utilized offers tremendous opportunities and excitement for every community along Highway 16. The potential benefits around containerization are staggering. The ability to move products out of the north and into the global marketplace in a cost-effective and timely manner will allow every community along the north line an opportunity to market themselves to the value-added industries — industries that not only complement the existing resource industries but, as well, attract entirely new businesses into the north.
           The daily ferry service from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, as well as the development of the cruise ship dock, will bring a significant increase in tourists right along the corridor, benefiting every community along the highway, whether it's Highway 16, 37 or 97. These recent infrastructure announcements will be beneficial to everyone, whether we live in the Cariboo, the Peace or the northwest. All of us will benefit as these new infrastructure projects begin to open up our heartlands. I know that every member of the northern caucus is excited about the priority and focus that this throne speech places on a B.C. heartlands economic strategy.
           I'd like to take a little time to talk about the changes and opportunities that exist in Skeena, my riding. With the restructuring of health care in the province, in Skeena we are starting to realize the benefits of that reorganization. Retention and recruitment of health care professionals have always been difficult in small towns. The previous government's decision to reduce the number of training seats for LPNs, RNs and doctors, as well as other health care disciplines, had only made a bad situation worse.
           We have, and are putting in place, training recruitment regimes that are dealing with the short-term crisis. But more importantly, it addresses the long-term needs of the province so that future generations will not need to go through what we are experiencing today. We have reintroduced the LPN program at Northwest Community College in Terrace and in 2003 have seen our first graduation class. Most of those students already have placements, and many are in rural hospitals.
           The hospital in Terrace at Mills Memorial and in Prince Rupert are two hospitals that have taken on recent graduates this year. The doctors program at UNBC in Prince George will have doctors using facilities across the north for their training, including the hospitals in Terrace and Kitimat. Experience tells us that professionals who train in rural communities tend to stay and practise there.
           We have introduced a forgivable loan program for nurses and doctors who choose to move and practise in the underserviced areas. We have made our health care professionals the highest paid in Canada and specifically recognize the on-call issues and demands that our rural doctors face. These are just some of the initiatives that specifically recognize the unique problems we have in attracting professionals to rural communities.
           As a result of restructuring the northern health authority, they have alleviated the concerns of the community of Kitimat, as they have set a bed complement level that will ensure the continued specialist complement there is maintained. In Terrace we've seen the introduction of renal dialysis to the northwest. I cannot understate the importance of this service to the region. With diabetes being one of the fastest-growing illnesses in the northwest, families had to either split up or move to Prince George or Vancouver if this procedure was required.
           In my riding, the story of Ruth Magnusson is well known. Ruth and her husband, Chuck, are a retired couple, and they have been living apart for years as a result of Chuck's diabetes. She lives in their home in Terrace, and

Chuck must live in a basement suite in Prince George. But as a result of this service now being made available in Terrace, Chuck will be able to come home.
The introduction of shock therapy to the northwest removes the need to travel to Prince George or Vancouver for this procedure and, again, specifically benefits the people of the northwest. In Terrace last year not only was the number of surgeries up by 17 percent, but more importantly, the types of surgeries were up by 18 percent. This means fewer people having to leave the region for medical procedures either in Vancouver or in any other major centre.
The effects have been profound to say the least. It reduces the need for air ambulance service. It puts less pressure and demand on lower mainland facilities. It reduced the cost to families that would have had to travel outside the region for that treatment or procedure, and it makes it more affordable for family members to be with their loved ones, which creates a healthier situation for everyone. There is still a long way to go and many more hurdles to climb, but this throne speech continues the reforms of health care that are starting to respond to our local needs in a manner that makes sense and is sustainable, as well as affordable.

           This year's throne speech clearly puts the emphasis on getting this province moving again. Nothing could come as better news for the people in my riding of Skeena. If super royalties were the bullets to the mining industry in the seventies, the Windy Craggy decision in the nineties was the bomb that sent the mining industry into full retreat. By the end of the nineties, while B.C. was recognized as one of the top regions for mining potential, we were in fact third from the bottom as a place to invest. Only Wisconsin and P.E.I. were considered less desirable than B.C. to invest in. P.E.I. has no mining, and Wisconsin has a ban on mining. But things are changing.
           Over the last 20 months the changes we have made around taxation, regulation and the permitting process are being recognized. Over the last year exploration investment in the north grew from a low of $6 million in 2001 to over $36 million in 2002. Although this is still a long way from the $116 million we were seeing in 1990, it is a good beginning, and there's every indication that 2003 will be even better.
           Across the northwest the forest industry has been especially hard hit. I am extremely pleased to hear that 2003 will be the year of forestry for our government. Softwood lumber, the poor Asian economy and the uncertainty around SCI have all contributed to the challenges facing the entire northwest, but the issues facing the northwest are as fundamental as they are in every other region of the province. A question of how we take an industry that was the lowest-cost fibre producer in the world in 1990, and now is the highest in North America, to one that is competitive again must be addressed.
           One of the obstacles to investment, whether in the value-added or harvest sectors, has been access to timber. Nowhere has this been more evident than in the northwest. With the new NWBC providing a limited increase in market logging activity, we have seen the emergence of new low-cost players operating in the marketplace. We have seen the creation of open log yards in Terrace. In a forest district with the lowest-value timber profile in the province, their ability to operate successfully is impressive. As market logging increases, the development of local log yards will also increase. It will provide the secure access to timber for the value-added industries. It is this secure access to fibre that has been the obstacle to the growth and development of this sector.
           I am pleased to see our government move to pass forest reforms that will diversify tenure and move us toward a market-based stumpage system that is regionally sensitive and socially responsible. It is especially gratifying to see the province establish a $275 million forest transition fund to help forest workers, contractors, industries and communities deal with the changes that must be made.
           For me, the most important aspect of the throne speech was our government's commitments to finally making real progress with our first nations. First nations communities desire no less for their communities than we do for our own. Their participation in rebuilding the economy of the heartland is not critical; it's essential. Our statement of reconciliation is important. As we move to find that economic equality that is critical to developing respectful relationships, I am proud to be part of a government that takes this first step.
           The throne speech lays out a number of areas that will improve opportunities for first nations. The $30 million economic measures fund will be extended for another year. Revenue-sharing arrangements will be negotiated with the first nations that wish to be involved in revitalizing the forest industry. Our government is committed to involving first nations in comanagement of parks and recreational services. As part of the $7.5 million regional innovation chairs program at B.C. colleges, two of the seats will focus on research into aboriginal early childhood development. Funding has been approved to support aboriginal involvement in oil and gas, tourism and forestry as well as the Olympics bid.
           Over the last two years I've had the pleasure of meeting often with the first nations communities in my riding. I've had the opportunity to hear clearly the dreams they have for themselves, and I have enjoyed the chance to sit down with these communities and support their efforts to develop economic strategies that work for them. They have for far too long been kept out of the mainstream economy that most of us take for granted, and that has to stop.

If we are to create the certainty that the investment community and industry are looking for, we must be forward-thinking and we must be bold. We must have an economic plan that incorporates the views and values of our first nation and non-aboriginal communities alike. We must give their communities a sense of hope and opportunity. We do it not just to create jobs; we do it because it's the right thing to do.

Over the last year all of us have had to make tough decisions, but as we move to create a legacy for our children as great as the one we inherited, this throne speech provides the framework and the vision. I am pleased to be part of a government that has its eye firmly placed on the next generation, not the next election.

           J. Wilson: It's a pleasure this afternoon to be able to address our throne speech. As most of us are aware, the throne speech is a road map that the government is intending to take this province on in the future, and this throne speech is all about opening up British Columbia to reach out in the province and touch every region, every community. That means change. It means a great deal of change in this province, and to a lot of people, change is a scary thing. It's the unknown that they fear. When we make change, as government we are also vulnerable to making mistakes. We recognize that, and we will do our very best to make sure this is done in a manner that doesn't miss the needs of people.
           At this point we have, as government in the last two years, done a great deal. We have started down this road. We recognized that all aspects of government had to be addressed and opened up to make it more accountable and workable for people.
           I think I'll take a moment here and just touch on a few of those. As government itself, we have taken a first step in this province to bring in free votes in the Legislature. We have open cabinet meetings. We have GCCs that are working very well, and we have legislative committees that continue to do ongoing work. Some of these things have not been done yet in other provinces, and they look to B.C. as a leader there.
           We will set up a citizens' assembly to find out what the people of British Columbia feel they need for the best electoral reforms. That's an issue that comes back every election. There are people that are not happy with our present system, so we need to find out what would work better.
           On the social side of things, education is the key to our success and advancement in this province. We recognize that, and it's our number one priority. We have already added in $90 million to the school boards to continue to provide quality education, and in the next three years there will be an additional $100 million going into our education system in this province so that we are successful here. It is extremely important.
           Another area that ranks right up there with education is health care. We have already made some major changes in the way the system is addressed. We have set up health authorities. Those health authorities have been working now for several months, and their focus is to take the taxpayer's dollar that goes into health care and direct it right to the patient level. They've done a lot of work. It's a difficult chore, but we are starting to see the results now.

           It is, as I say, difficult. To get there, it's taken several months to reorganize, because over the last few years the health care system had become a thing that grew. We could throw as much money into it as we wanted to, and it would just consume it as fast as you added it. The end result was that our waiting lists got longer and longer, and patient care continued to deteriorate. Now we see it turning the other way.
           Pharmacare is something that is extremely important to many people, especially those that are seniors and on low income. This government, I would like to say, is bringing in a new plan, and that will provide benefits to 280,000 low-income families. That is a good-news item.
           Child care is another area that affects many young families. Our intention here is to add over 50 percent more spaces so that people who need this service, if they want to continue in education or advance in their work, will have those services available to them.
           Our policing in this province needed some help, and here we have another area that we can help in. We can provide more high-tech to our police forces so that they can better protect the citizens.
           One of the things that has been a real, real problem for a long time in British Columbia is the issue with first nations, and I'm proud to say this is the first government that has addressed this serious problem. It is a complex set of issues, and it has been plaguing us for decades. Finally, we are on the road to doing something about it. One of those things is the maintenance of a $30 million economic measures fund to help those people achieve some of the dreams they would like to, to make money available so that they can pursue their dreams.
           We have an opportunity coming up in 2010, and that's the Olympics. This is a huge opportunity. It will open up B.C. to the world, and it has the potential of doubling the tourist industry in this province. There has been some negative reaction to this, but there will be no part of this province that will not benefit from the Olympics. The benefits will be huge.
           B.C. Rail. That has been a very hot topic in the interior and the north. It's not working as well as it should. We have had meetings with municipalities, municipal leaders and industry, and they tell us it must be put on a more competitive footing. We've embarked on that road to do that, at the same time listening to the people when they say, "Do not privatize B.C. Rail," so we are going to maintain the lines and the beds and the rights-of-way as a Crown resource.
           The ferry system needs to be refocused to make it more competitive, to serve the people in the coastal communities.

In this session, forestry is going to be front and centre on our agenda. It is the most important industry in this province. It has been for a long time and will continue to be. Lately it has got in some serious trouble for a number of reasons, one of those being the softwood lumber dispute. We intend as government to bring in a working forest land base that will provide stability for industry. However, it will also protect the values and the uses that exist out there on that same land base that the forest industry works on.

           There's a whole array of things that have to be dealt with in forestry. We have to address a market-based stumpage system. We need to increase the amount of timber available to small business through an expanded timber sale program, and there are issues like waterbedding, which have had really severe economic impacts on this industry. Cut controls are another area of pertinence. Those have to be dealt with. All of those things have to be addressed this spring. Log exports — we have listened to the people, and the status quo will remain there.
           Through all of these changes that we need to bring about, we will bear in mind that first nations have an interest out there, and they will be asked to become involved in the forest industry. Anytime the changes are made, we want to be able to consider those people. It's just as important that they access some wood and create some of their own economic activity as it is for anyone else.
           All of these things are what we call the B.C. heartlands strategy. It's focused on economic growth in forestry, agriculture, energy, gas and oil, coalbed methane, tourism and new technology. But there's one thing I haven't mentioned — and all of these things rely on it — and that is our transportation system. Without that, none of this is possible. This province has watched our highway infrastructure deteriorate for the last ten or 11 years. It takes a certain amount each year to put into maintenance on our highways just to keep them so that they are in a condition that is safe for use.
           When you forget to maintain something, it's not long until you end up with a road that needs to be replaced, and that is expensive. That costs money, and yes, in order to get there, someone has to pay for it. The users of the highways are the ones that will have to pay for these highway improvements through an increase in their fuel tax, but for the very first time I can ever remember in this province, the money that we collect on our highways is going back into our highways where it's needed.
           That is the key that will make all of this B.C. heartlands strategy a success. As government, we are going to put back $362 million into rehabilitation of rural and remote roads. There will be $210 million for rural and resource roads, because we have to get those resources out, get them to market, and the only way you can do that is if you have a road to haul it on. We also have $37 million earmarked for the gas and oil industry so that they can access their resources out there. It all adds up to $609 million, and that's just the beginning. We can keep right on going from there.

There is another part of this transportation equation that I haven't mentioned, and that's the Port of Prince Rupert. It's the gateway to the world for western Canada — an excellent port. It has to, in our mind, be developed if we are going to succeed in this province. Not only does the north and the interior of British Columbia need that access to foreign markets, but so does the rest of western Canada — Alberta, Saskatchewan. All of the grain that goes out can go that way. We can develop the corridor along Highway 16. It's a gateway to the Asian rim and the rest of the world, but you know, it's also a gateway for the rest of the world to come to British Columbia. And they will.
When I think about us as government and the job, it's really a huge job we've tackled here. We have the resolution to see it through. It sort of reminds me of a supertanker sitting there. You don't turn it on a dime. It takes a few tugboats and a long time to turn that ship around. Well, the ship is turning, and in the next two years that ship will be turned around. Then we will be recovered in this province.

B. Belsey: It gives me pleasure to introduce two people that have joined us from my hometown, Prince Rupert: Steve and Tina Smith. It's especially gratifying to introduce Tina, as her father, Bill Murray, was Speaker of the House many years ago. I wonder if you would all join me in making them welcome.

Mr. Speaker: Address in Reply continues with the member for Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain.

           K. Manhas: Before I begin, I must say it's incredible how time passes. This is now the third Speech from the Throne that I have had the great honour of responding to. Each year I have stood up and reflected not only on how our government's policies held opportunity for my community of Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain but also on the time we are living in. Each time I have reflected on the events and choices facing our time. I've come to the conclusion that we are at a crossroads, and we are still at a crossroads. Our world today looks poised for war. The picture of conflict is muddy and the motives unclear. Security is at stake.
           Here at home we are also at a crossroads. We continue to make adjustments in this province that other jurisdictions in Canada already finished and completed. We face major decisions. At home in this province there is great opportunity. There is opportunity for innovation. There is opportunity to build a strong economic future for my community of Port Coquitlam and Burke Mountain by building the economic base of the Tri-Cities region.
           There's opportunity to open up B.C. by building better transportation infrastructure that can better tie together this incredible province to increase the quality of life for British Columbians and leverage more economic activity in the province. There's also an opportunity to host one of the world's most beloved and hallowed institutions of achievement and human excellence. Almost ten years ago or so a group of British Columbians dreamed of getting the Olympics. It is

2003, and we have an opportunity to host the games in 2010.
We are indeed at an important crossroads. History will judge us on the decisions we make and the paths we choose. The crossroads means that new paths are available. It means that new opportunities are available and that new horizons and opportunities can be opened up.

           Over the course of its history this province has seen tremendous change. The winds of human effort have shaped and sculpted this province to the state it is today. Sometimes those efforts have moved people forward, and sometimes we've been swept back. We have an incredible opportunity now ahead of us. With sustained commitment and belief in our future, we can provide the gusts of change that can lift the people of my riding of Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain and the province to fly and to soar.
           This province started as a land of opportunity for all people who came to it to make it their home, from the earliest of settlers — our aboriginal nations who crossed Bering and prospered in British Columbia as their home — to the seafaring nations who settled later, the British who colonized and the immigrants who came to this place from varying corners at varying times over the last 150 years and more. The reason all these people came and stayed, the reason they all — we all — made British Columbia our home, is because of the opportunity they saw in this province. I truly believe, as the Premier says, that we live in the best province in the best country in the world. The reason people will stay in British Columbia, and the reason people will come to B.C., is because we will again have that opportunity in the province, and the opportunity that built the province will continue to ensure our prosperity.
           Our government laid out a direction for the coming years in our throne speech. Part of that is to open up our province's regions to opportunity. I feel confident that each and every region in this province stands to gain from this direction. My own region is no different.
           We have to decide where we want to be in the future, individually and collectively. We have to dream about where that could be and find a way to make it a reality. It's time to dream those big dreams and reach for lofty goals again in this province. This is way more than just something the government needs to do. As citizens and business owners, as investors and entrepreneurs, as students and teachers, we have to dream those big dreams and have lofty ambitions. We have to think big and remove the problems and the barriers. With confidence and effort we can be bigger and better than any place in the world — be it Boston, San Jose, London, Stockholm, Seattle or Beijing.
           Here in the North Fraser region, in the northeast sector of the lower mainland, we have almost a quarter million people — more than all of greater Victoria. Often overlooked, this is the area of the lower mainland that has the potential to be the next Redmond, Washington, or San Jose, California. In Redmond multibillion-dollar corporations are tucked into the hills and forests of the area, and software companies have sprouted up around Microsoft's international headquarters. The effect has been a natural centre of expertise in and around Redmond, and the growth of secondary industry — suppliers to the major companies — has led to more jobs and more clean industry. Former employees have left and created their own companies. Competitors and collaborators have located there, near the area of action. This has, in effect, created a zone of growth potential, innovation and expertise in software technologies in the Redmond area.

           That is possible — and more — here in the Tri-Cities and the northeast sector of greater Vancouver. Areas like the Mary Hill bypass corridors and the Dominion Triangle can help get us there. Opportunities like Burke Mountain add fuel to the imaginative fires that can help take us there. Burke Mountain has tremendous potential for the area with over 7,000 housing units planned, housing over 25,000 people, and a projected billion dollars injected into the area's economy. The possibilities are huge. Our government has made the land available for that kind of economic development to take place in our community.
           My riding of Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain forms the eastern edge of what many in the area refer to as the Tri-Cities. The Tri-Cities are made up of three cities: Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody. It also tends to refer to the township of Anmore and the village of Belcarra, which sit edging Port Moody.
           The name Tri-Cities came about in or about the 1970s, when the community newspaper owned by David Black's chain was trying to find a name for itself. As many who have lived in the area have discovered, the Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody "anything" is a rather unwieldy name. Although Coquitlam was still officially a district at the time, the newspaper decided to call itself the Tri-City News.
           The other local paper serving the same communities calls itself the Coquitlam Now. It is now simply called the Now, explaining in a byline that it serves the five communities in the area. There is no question that the combined communities make up an interdependent region. The municipalities are separated not by geography but rather by political boundaries.

As the region has grown up in the past two decades from a nearly rural-like setting to a bustling urban centre, so has the number of organizations that serve the area. Many, realizing that there are no longer just three communities, have decided not to use the word Tri-Cities. Last year, at a conference of businesswomen held in the area, the mayor of Port Moody mentioned that his office does not use the term Tri-Cities and discourages its use. Some have begun using terms such as the northeast sector. However, that is commonly used to include all the communities in the northeast quadrant in the GVRD, including Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge. Therefore, it causes some confusion. To add to the identity problem, various other terms have popped up and are being used by local organizations, including Fraser Burrard, Fraser North, North Fraser. In fact, the

Now community paper is not the only local institution without geographic identity as part of its namesake. The local community service organization and food bank are a SHARE family service.
           For too long the area has been divided by multi-jurisdictional boundaries and municipalities, along with the personalities and egos of political actors. We have an opportunity to break past that. In the GVRD's strategic plan the area's dense urban core is to be centred around the Coquitlam town centre; however, all communities feed into that. There is no question there are very strong interdependencies among the municipalities in the region. It is now time to start attracting people and businesses to the area, because the benefits will flow to all cities in the area.
           I bring this to the attention of the House and to the people at this time because I think it's timely that we think about this now, as the area is still maturing as a regional hub. Now is the opportunity to put our community on the map. Vancouver has a strong bid in for the 2010 Winter Olympics. When we win that bid, we have an opportunity to have the world lens drop on British Columbia. In order for the region to achieve its economic potential, it must have a clear identity that draws people, tourism and investment. I'm going to repeat that. In order for the region to achieve its economic potential, it must have a clear identity that draws people, tourism and investment.
           On its own, each municipality has a smaller chance of attracting the attention of the investment community and the world. Most visitors to the area would not know when they moved from one municipality to another. By promoting the development of the entire region, each municipality will benefit. By attracting jobs and investment to the area, we can create a success region. No city can do it alone; together there is strength. By creating a strong centre, each city will see more benefits and investment than by competing with each other. We are part of the global market. It's time for us to work together as a region to promote ourselves to the world.
           We must work together in the region to promote ourselves if we are to promote ourselves to the world. I think the time is now for folks living in the community to brand the region, to find what it is that ties us together so we can sell ourselves. Branding the region does not mean losing the individuality of each municipality. It simply means that attention can be focused to the area. Once the attention is captured and focused in the area, then potential visitors or investors can learn about the municipalities that make it up and the individual qualities each of those municipalities bring to the table.

           I've thought long and hard on what that new branding could be possibly called. For example, one suggestion is a take on the word "foothills." Foothills is defined as the hilly land on the lower slopes of mountains or a hilly region at the base of a mountain range. That seems to perfectly describe the area. It could be branded as Vancouver's foothills, the coastal foothills region, technology coast mountains or just the foothills.
           Whatever it is, we need to brand the strengths of the area — what we are known for or what we could be known for. I encourage individuals and organizations in the area to take up the challenge and begin thinking about how we can create a strong brand for our region. Let's create an identity for the region we can be proud of and a brand that will take us to great heights in the future. With a brand that is identifiable, each municipality can accentuate the individual characteristics that makes them unique, but first we must get the attention of those outside.
           For the sake of argument I will use the term "foothills" for the rest of my speech to indicate our region of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra to sound it out. I'm not biasing the job of branding. Let's just try out the concept.
           Better transportation and transit benefits us all, because it means a better quality of life for our residents and a healthy sustainable environment. It means an increased ability to attract jobs, investment and business to Port Coquitlam and the foothills. It moves us towards a sustainable urban plan where people can live and work in the same community. That is why this government is going to invest substantial dollars over the next three years in improving our transportation plan and our transportation system. Transportation affects us all. We cannot wait to make improvements. We must begin immediately.

           Over the coming year our government will be leveraging other governments and private dollars to build the infrastructure we need. In Port Coquitlam we need fast, reliable access to other areas of the city. We also need good connections to the south Fraser and the Trans-Canada Highway. We need good access to the U.S. and Canadian markets. The foothills are well positioned in the centre of the lower mainland. With proper investment, that will maximize the opportunities we are capable of.
           I've talked to many residents in Port Coquitlam. Consistently I've gotten the message that people don't mind paying a little more if they know they're getting something solid for their money, if they know the money's being used where it should, if it makes their lives easier and saves them time. That is a choice we are given. Not everyone will agree with this. However, roads and transit don't come for free. If we want to build the type of city and province that build opportunity and that we can be proud to leave to future generations, we must invest in it. That is what we need to do. That is the direction this government is taking over the next year. That was outlined in the Speech from the Throne.
           I recently had the opportunity to read to some elementary students at Lincoln Elementary in Port Coquitlam. I thought back to when I was going through that period. I was in grade 7 when Calgary hosted the Winter Olympics. Those Olympics galvanized my

           K. Manhas: I see my colleagues laughing.
           They showed the meaning of commitment and achievement. They kindled pride and spirit and inspired a generation of Canadians to pursue their dreams. I think of the Olympics, and I see and hear things going on around me, and I am amazed at the number of people who get lost in the barriers. Now, I'm not advocating getting caught up with an idea and ignoring the challenges, but let's look at what happened in Calgary when they lit the Olympic flame in 1988. Yes, I am old enough to remember.
           The community and the country got behind Calgary. It lit a flame in our hearts. My parents still use those Petro-Canada Olympic flame glasses. It united the city and its people. People from all around the world watched as the province showcased its assets and focused the world's lens on what they wanted to show off. Investment increased and spirits increased. They were left with the enviable legacies of world-class athletic facilities that allowed more young athletes to train to Olympic gold. In Calgary, Canada won no Olympic gold medals. In Salt Lake City, Canada came in the top five nations for Olympic gold medals. That's what training facilities can do for a country.
           It left the country watching Brian Orser, Elizabeth Manley, Gaetan Boucher, women's curling and men's hockey. In Salt Lake City the Canadian women's hockey team and then the Canadian men's hockey team touched a chord that pulled the entire country together. That dream has ignited the fires of hope in many people that I speak to in my community.
           We have an incredible opportunity to host the Olympics in 2010. We have the opportunity of a lifetime to showcase our city and our province and our innovations to the world, to challenge the most skilled athletes around the world and to inspire scores of young British Columbians and Canadians to excel on their own.
           The Olympic dream is taking flight in the imaginations of people in Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain and throughout the foothills. Arts, culture, business organizations, sports groups, governments, politicians and citizens alike have gotten together to show their support, their pride in their city and their strong support for the Olympics in Vancouver, and to build on the opportunity the Olympics afford.
           The foothills are filled with people who believe in making a difference. We have a wealth of volunteer organizations and individuals who give their time and work hard to shape our community and shape our future. The formation of the 2010 Olympic spirit team is a significant development. Individuals in the community have stood up and said: "This is something that is good. This is something that is great. We are going to do something to make sure that this dream comes true. We're going to take this future into our own hands."
           The Olympic spirit team is built from a broad base of community leaders and innovators representing all sectors of the region. Team members are some of the most enthusiastic, proactive and creative people in our region, whose positive attitudes open minds and community networks. Those open minds and networks help call out the best in our people and our region. The team's mandate is to embrace the Olympic ideals of sport, culture and sustainability and to foster them in the foothills of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra.

           The team's goal is to inspire and develop a community spirit that will shape how the region can support the 2010 Olympics and benefit from them, and that will carry our region forward in the years to come as a unique, creative, profitable and desirable place to live, do business and visit. They're looking at how this region can support the 2010 Olympics to be the most successful ever and the most prolific in its legacy of improved quality-of-life opportunities in British Columbia — how this region, its people, businesses, sports, arts, cultural, environmental and multicultural life and economic development and sustainability can be enhanced. It is encouraging that people in the community are working to build that future.
           I believe that fostering a climate of innovation and ingenuity is our key to developing a competitive advantage in the world market. Our investment in our human capital — the education, training and development of our people — will build the foundation we need to ensure the success of our province. Education is still our number one priority. Although we spend more money on just mandatory interest payments and our health and education budgets combined than everything we collect in revenue to the government, we have still made money available to ensure that children who are growing up in this province will have the kind of education they need to compete in an ever-changing world.
           When we talk about value added, we often refer to the processing of our raw resources in B.C., but before we are truly able to add value to our products, we must ensure that we've added value to our people. Our people and made-in-B.C. innovations will determine our province's future standpoint and stature in the global market. We must each — community leaders, business people, educators and citizens — realize and act on our important role in achieving a future filled with opportunity and prosperity in British Columbia. Our government is continuing to invest in the long-term education and innovation that will ensure our people have great opportunities so that our province succeeds, so that we maintain and develop a competitive edge. That is one of our key strategic plans as outlined in this government's throne speech.
           In fact, innovations fostered in B.C. are already changing the world and creating huge social and economic benefits to the province. Innovations in fuel cell

technology, biotechnology, information technology, telecommunications software and others are creating economic and competitive advantages for B.C.
           The reality is that like begets like. Success attracts further success. The innovative successes in the fields I mentioned are prompting more research and development, attracting more businesses to B.C., and they're generating spinoffs and spinoff ventures. That must be fostered. The ideas have generated knowledge. The knowledge amassed in B.C. will pave the way for new B.C. ventures, create more jobs and build B.C. as a world-class place to invest.
           Changes to the Small Business Venture Capital Act will increase access to the seed capital, eliminate red tape and provide funding opportunities for all regions of the province so those innovations and innovative ideas are allowed to take seed in British Columbia.
           We have tremendous riches in our natural resources, and we must capitalize on that wealth. How we do that depends on our ability to innovate, to sink our teeth in, to find and test different techniques and ideas, different products and solutions. For example, B.C., a province synonymous with its forests, should be a world leader in forestry technology. B.C. should be on the leading edge of the world in advanced wood-processing technologies. We have the natural advantage. Let's use it.
           In this session our government will bring in forest reforms to diversify tenure and move towards market-based stumpage that is regionally sensitive and socially responsible. These measures will ensure that British Columbians get top value for every log harvested from their public forests. More timber will be available for innovative, small local operators through the B.C. timber sales program. That will be good for businesses in Port Coquitlam, throughout the foothills and also for first nations.
           We will be establishing a one-time-only, $275 million forest transformation fund to help forest workers, contractors, industries and communities deal with the changes that must be made.
           I know that young people in this province are looking to this government to turn the table on economic opportunity in this province to establish possibilities for our future. We need to rekindle that free enterprise spirit that made British Columbia the best place in the world to live and raise a family.
           For years B.C. was a place that drove away investment, prior to this government. We need investment in B.C. We need capital and venture capital to realize B.C. is a good investment, and we will invest in the strategies that will make that happen. Investment in B.C. leads to investment in B.C. innovations, which leads to better products and better solutions, greater productivity, greater efficiency and, therefore, not only a better economic situation but an environmentally friendly one too.

The direction outlined in the government's throne speech continues to pave the way to creating a can-do province that believes in itself and helps itself with regions that complement each other and work together in unison so that B.C. can take its place as a prosperous, leading-edge and thriving province pumping at the centre of a strong and united Canada.

Hon. G. Abbott: Mr. Speaker, it's a pleasure to rise today and join in the response to the Speech from the Throne. This being the first opportunity, I do want to salute you and the Speaker for your continued excellent leadership in this chamber and, of course, in the precincts as well. Thank you for that.
There are a couple of things I would like to talk about today in terms of the throne speech response. I want to talk a little bit about the impact that the programs and initiatives contained in the throne speech will have on my constituency of Shuswap. I also want to talk a little bit about the role of my Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services in delivering some of the key elements that are contained in the throne speech. I also want to take the opportunity — again, this being the first opportunity — to again thank my constituents in Shuswap for the continued honour I enjoy of representing them in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. It is a tremendous honour and one I never want to take for granted. Even with the large turnover that we had in this assembly in the last provincial election, there are still considerably fewer than 1,000 people who have had the opportunity to serve in this chamber since the province joined Confederation over a century ago. It's a great honour that we all enjoy here, and I do want to thank my constituents for that honour.

           Hon. G. Abbott: Yeah. Friendly heckling is always welcome, isn't it, Mr. Speaker?
           It makes me strikingly old, I know, but I'm now in my twenty-fourth year of elected office — not in this chamber but in local and regional and provincial politics. I've had the opportunity to serve for a long time, and I do appreciate that folks in the district of Sicamous, the Columbia-Shuswap regional district and Shuswap have extended me the opportunity to serve for a long time. I've had the opportunity to serve for 16 years as a director and, for ten years of that, as chair of the Columbia-Shuswap district board and about half a dozen years on the council of the district of Sicamous. I've been an opposition MLA in this great chamber and now have the great opportunity to serve as a government MLA as well as a member of the executive council.
           Having been at it now almost 24 years, I know that I'm much closer to the end of my political career than I am to the beginning of it. I don't know whether that career is going to end in 2005 or 2009, but it is something that doesn't concern me particularly. The end of a political career certainly holds no terrors for me. I've had the opportunity in many local and provincial elections to take office. In fact, I must say that a lot better people than me have never had that opportunity, and I

really do appreciate that I've had many and varied opportunities to serve in political office.
There is a life beyond politics, I understand, and someday I hope to explore that and explore some of the opportunities in the private sector and elsewhere — perhaps not too soon. We never know. We never know about that.

           I did have the opportunity over the last few weeks to address some newly elected folks at seminars convened by the Union of B.C. Municipalities — one in Vancouver and one in Penticton. I had the opportunity to speak to them in the context of my role as minister responsible for municipal affairs in the province. Indeed, at the one in Penticton I had newly elected constituents from Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Enderby, Armstrong and Spallumacheen there. What I attempted to do was impart some advice, observations and hard-earned lessons from my years in elected office. I think it was appreciated.
           One principal observation I would make, based on my time in office, is that virtually everyone I have ever met in either local government or provincial government — regardless of political stripe — is in this business to leave their community, region or province a little bit better place when they leave politics than when they arrived in politics. I think that's occasionally something that escapes us.
           People don't go into this business for monetary gain. They make a spectacularly bad choice if they do. They go into this to serve their communities and their province. While we in this chamber may have disagreements between political stripes about how to achieve that better province, people should remember that they step up and serve to make this a better place, not to serve their own interests.
           One of the themes I talked about when I met with the newly elected folks from the UBCM was not something that's original to me, but it's an idea that I talked about a lot when I used to teach political science. That is, politics is the allocation of scarce resources. I think that is currently very true of all levels of government, whether it's local, provincial or federal. I think the notion of politics as the allocation of scarce resources is very much the case today.
           I had the opportunity last Friday to meet with the board of the North Okanagan–Shuswap school district to talk about some of the challenges they face. They've been very good about meeting with me on a regular basis and telling me about the challenges they face as a school district. They do have some very serious challenges. They do have, in their role, some very tough decisions to make.
           One of the reasons why they are going to continue to have difficult decisions to make was contained in a graph they gave me, which I thought was very informative in terms of the challenges ahead. No one can see this graph, obviously, from where they are, but I just note that the graph shows the actual class distribution in school district 83 for 2002-03. It shows 714 students are in grade 12 in Shuswap. In grade 5 there are 577 students, and in kindergarten there are 423 students.
           We find that in terms of the distribution of students, we are going to be faced with continuing smaller and smaller class distribution as we get away from…. My kids, I guess, are the late product of late baby-boomers like me. We're going to see continued reductions, in all probability, in the school population. That's going to be a big challenge for the school districts.

           The fact that there's a smaller number of students won't diminish the expectations that parents have of the education system. For every parent, their child only goes through the education system once, and they appropriately demand the best possible education they can for their child. Indeed, this is a very special time for parents and their kids. I don't remember everything in life, but I still remember my daughter getting on the school bus to go to kindergarten for the first time. It was one of those kind of special moments. She's in fourth-year university now, and I still remember that. For the parents of the 423 kids who are in kindergarten today in Shuswap, they have great expectations of the system. Obviously, we're going to have to work, and the school district's going to have to work, to try to meet the expectations those parents have.
           I'm glad to note from the Premier's recent announcements an additional infusion of $50 million out of the current fiscal year and an additional $100 million on top of that $50 million over the next three years. That's going to go a long way to meeting that demand or those expectations from parents, but it's still going to produce some tough decisions for the board.
           The school district has to do something, as all local governments have to do, which is balance their budgets on an ongoing basis. That's not a discipline, curiously, that provincial governments have imposed on themselves — at least until our government chose to impose the discipline of a balanced budget. We're going to have to make some difficult decisions; local governments are going to have to make some decisions and hopefully move ahead.
           I'm feeling at this point, I'd say, much more optimistic than I have for a long time — certainly since 1996. I think we had a tough 2002 — no question about that. It was certainly one of the toughest years in my life, but I'm feeling renewed and optimistic as we move forward into 2003. I think what we are seeing are the rewards, the benefits, of the kind of fiscal discipline that we have shown in our first 19 months in office and certainly the fiscal discipline the Minister of Finance and the Premier have shown in respect of that. By being fair, by being responsible, we are now in a position to see some of the rewards of good fiscal management in this province.
           Sometimes people liken politics to a roller-coaster, and I'm not sure that the metaphor is entirely appropriate. I know roller-coasters go up and down — no question about that. The one time I was foolish enough to go on one, though, I must say the trip was uniformly terrifying. The only good part that I could see was the

end, so I'm not going to use the roller-coaster metaphor, even though there have certainly been lots of ups and downs. I think, at this point, we are going into a new and better period in our provincial history, and I'm very gratified to be a part of that.
I think we're turning a corner economically. We see, as well, because of turning that corner, the positive programs which were outlined in the throne speech. I fully expect that when we hear the provincial budget from the Finance minister tomorrow, there are going to be lots more reasons to feel optimistic, to be proud of being a British Columbian.
Now, among the elements in the throne speech that I particularly want to note, I was very pleased to see the emphasis on forest reforms. Forestry remains very much the economic backbone of the constituency of Shuswap. Like operators in other parts of the province, excessive regulation and excessive taxation under the former regime have contributed, in some cases, to chronic losses. I'm very proud to be part of a government that's brought in a new Forest Practices Code that's eliminated a lot of that unnecessary burden on our forest industry. I'm proud to be a part of a government that's set about to protect the continuing harvesting of portions of the province through working forest legislation. I think that's a huge step ahead. I'm very confident that the Minister of Forests, when he introduces new forest legislation into the province, will see the forest industry — not only in Shuswap but across the province — once again be the dynamic, competitive industry that we all want to see forestry be in British Columbia.

           I was also very pleased to see in the throne speech a lot of emphasis on transportation, because certainly in the Shuswap this has been a huge issue over recent years. Obviously, there is lots of public concern around the Trans-Canada Highway, the need to undertake strategic improvements in a number of areas along the Trans-Canada Highway so that it is a safer highway not only for people who live in British Columbia but for the many people who visit this province on an annual basis. I was delighted to see the emphasis.
           Obviously, with the new dedicated funds for the gasoline tax, 3.5 cents, we are going to have some opportunities to accelerate a number of highways projects which would otherwise be waiting a long time — things like the Kicking Horse Pass, which the Premier on a few occasions now has told us is the number one provincial transportation priority. I strongly salute that. Kicking Horse Pass is widely acknowledged to be one of the most dangerous stretches of highway in the entire nation. I'm delighted that we're going to be able to move forward with that project based on the dedicated fund.
           I know there are a lot of transportation projects — I'm sure there are in all the constituencies of this province — but the Swan Lake interchange is very important to people in Armstrong, Spallumcheen and Vernon. There are smaller projects, a bridge at Swansea Point over Hummingbird Creek and so on. We have been able, through the 3.5 cent levy, to create a fund that will allow us to proceed with those important transportation infrastructure projects without throwing it — as, again, the former government did — into the laps of our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to pay for it. It's a great plan, and I'm proud that we are moving forward with it.
           I also wanted to talk a little bit today about a number of the areas in which the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services helps deliver key elements in the throne speech. My ministry — Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services — helps enrich the province in a broad range of areas. For example, we're responsible for municipal affairs in this province. We have a number of initiatives that are underway, certainly most notably the community charter which the Minister of State for Community Charter is leading.
           In housing we have undertaken a very important partnership, I think, with the Ministry of Health to undertake Independent Living B.C. Over the next four or five years we will see the construction of 5,000 new units for low-income frail elderly in the province. It is a huge undertaking, a huge commitment on the part of our government, to ensure that every elderly citizen — particularly low-income, frail elderly — has the kind of housing they need in this province to ensure that they aren't obliged to, for example, find themselves in institutional care inappropriately or in acute care beds. So that's an important partnership and an important new-era commitment that we are delivering.
           The Minister of State for Women's Equality — I'm sure she's going to be telling the House in due course about programs in her area. In immigration and multiculturalism we've got important work underway with the federal government. In arts and culture programs we've got a lot of exciting stuff going on — heritage programs, safety engineering, fire commissioner. All of these are important areas in the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services.

I wanted particularly to talk about two areas of the ministry, sports and aboriginal services, because they are certainly featured in the throne speech. Before I do that, I want to salute the very exceptional public servants in the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services who I have the great fortune to work with on a daily basis.
I've had the good fortune in my 24 years to work with a number of exceptional public servants. We had a great team at the Columbia-Shuswap regional district. I'm particularly grateful for the opportunity that I have to work with folks in the ministry who are not only knowledgable and capable and skilful in the way they undertake their duties, but they are…. I think just as importantly or perhaps more so, they are very excited, very enthusiastic and very hard-working. They are, I think, appreciative of being part of a team that is delivering many exciting new initiatives to the people of British Columbia. We too often take for granted the work that our public servants do, and I don't want to

overlook them in this case. We have great people in the ministry, and they are part of a great team that delivers some very important initiatives for the people of British Columbia.
Among those, I want to talk about sports a little bit. Sports has always been a very important part of my life and continues…

Hon. G. Abbott: Yes, I'm quite a basketball player, although never drafted in the NBA and never taller than 5 foot 10 ½, which limited my…. And I can't jump, either, but apart from those few inadequacies, I do love sports.

           Hon. G. Abbott: Yes, indeed. The friendly heckling is coming fast and furious here now, Mr. Speaker, and I'll try to ignore it for a time so that I can get through my remarks.
           Sports has always been an important part of my life, and I'm delighted to have the opportunity to be the minister responsible for amateur sports in the province. Among the things we do, of course, is support the family of games in the province: the Seniors Games, the B.C. Winter Games, the B.C. Summer Games, the B.C. Northern Games, the disabled games and so on. They are a great family of events both from building excellence in sports but also from the perspective of broadening participation in sport in this province, both of which are critical goals.
           The family of games, though, is also linked in many ways to the 2010 bid, which I think is a tremendously exciting possibility for the province. I'm very confident that on July 3 it will be confirmed that Vancouver-Whistler is going to be the site of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. That will be a tremendous achievement, a huge event for Vancouver-Whistler, but it's also going to be a tremendous achievement and a huge event for all of British Columbia, including the Shuswap. It is going to be an opportunity to showcase our fabulous province to the world. There's no event more exciting than the 2010 games and no greater opportunity to show the world what we can do here and the tremendous assets that we have in this province. It's going to have economic development benefits that are certainly going to spill over to all parts of the province.
           Importantly, a critical component in the bid is the addition of more recreational facilities for the province. Our young athletes, particularly our competitive young athletes, are going to have access to training facilities that they've never had before, and we're going to be able to do this in advance of the games, not just with the games. We are also — and I think this is where Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services comes into play a little bit here as well — going to have an opportunity with the 2010 bid to expand our sport development program in the province of British Columbia. Now, through Sport B.C. and PacificSport, we've got a great network across the province of programs that help to build participation and excellence among our young athletes, and 2010 is going to be an impetus and an opportunity to build on that and have an even stronger sports system in B.C.

           Now, you may know, Mr. Speaker, because you're a knowledgable guy in this area, that the B.C. Summer Games team at the Canada Summer Games and the Winter Games always does better than our population would indicate. That's because we've got a great sports program here in the province, and we're going to build on that. We're going to be even better. That's something that I think we can look forward to.
           I have a son who has dreamed since he was probably three years old about someday representing his province and his nation in the Olympics. He's 19 years old now, but he's still dreaming about that, and he's still skating competitively. I want to see an amateur sport development program that serves him and serves kids who are now three years old, who also have dreams about someday moving from the playground to the podium and serving their province and their nation in that perspective.
           We also want to build, through the 2010 bid, a stronger culture of sport in this province. I'd love to see, particularly because some of the health indices we are getting around childhood obesity and so on are not good…. One of the things I'd love to see grow out of the games is a lifelong love of sport among all of the kids in British Columbia, whether they're participating for fun or they're participating because someday they want to be competitive athletes. It doesn't matter. The lifelong love of sports is something that we really want to build on. We want to expand opportunities for participation, and we want to expand opportunities for excellence. Through the Legacy Now program, which is a key part of the bid, we're going to be able to do that.
           Today I also want to talk a little bit about aboriginal relationships and about aboriginal services in British Columbia. My friend and colleague the Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Treaty Negotiations in the province has, I think, done an excellent job in leading us to a new relationship with aboriginal people, and I salute him for that. He works on areas such as treaties where I'm confident we're going to, after a decade, be seeing some gains, some advances and some new agreements. The throne speech reflected this. He has also been the central force in moving towards reconciliation between the province and its aboriginal communities, and again I salute him for that. He's also initiated an economic measures fund that will go a long way to ensuring that aboriginal people can become a mainstream part of the economy in British Columbia, because that clearly is very important to aboriginal people in this province.
           In my own ministry, the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services, we've got a whole range of exciting initiatives that I think can help

strengthen that renewed relationship between the province and its aboriginal peoples. Among them — and this again is a new-era commitment that we are in the third of four years of delivering — is to double the First Citizens Fund. I understand that the fund was actually created back in W.A.C. Bennett's time, although I can't confirm that. What I do know is that through the process of moving the First Citizens Fund from $36 million to $72 million effective next year, it will open up a range of new program opportunities with which we can work with aboriginal people to help them advance in a number of social and economic areas. Through the First Citizens Fund, for example, we provide student bursaries to help young aboriginal people get the education that they need. Business loans, friendship centres, elders transportation program — all of these are important parts of the First Citizens Fund.
We've got a heritage, language and culture program, as well, that is looking at the Shuswap language first of all — which, again, is going to go a long way to preserving and advancing aboriginal languages in the province.

We've got an aboriginal employment partnership initiative. Through Royal Roads University, the Vancouver Island health authority and the city of Dawson Creek, we're reaching out and building some partnership relationships. We're partnering aboriginal and youth futures in recreation, sport and tourism up in the northwest of our province. Again, it's making a difference in people's lives. Those are just a few of them; there's a lot more. I wish I had more time, but I see the green light is on, so I'm going to have to summarize here. All of these programs are part of the B.C. Liberal government's social justice agenda. We don't just have an economic agenda for this province. We have a social justice agenda for the province of British Columbia as well.
I had the great fortune, some 50 years ago, to be born in this province. I've had the opportunity to be raised here, to be educated here, to have a business here and to raise a family here in the great province of British Columbia. I know the vast potential of this area. I know the boundless resources we have. With the kind of leadership we've had in the throne speech and we'll have with the budget tomorrow, I know that we are much closer today to the day when British Columbia will once again be seen as the envy of this great nation of Canada and the envy of the world.

           R. Stewart: Thank you very much, and thank you to my colleagues for their boundless enthusiasm this afternoon. It's my pleasure today to speak in response to the Speech from the Throne.
           Last year I closed my response with a statement of my hopes for the future, and I want to restate those hopes today. I still look forward to a future when British Columbians will be able to stand, hold their heads high and say: "We've met the challenges. We are now once again leading Canada. We are now once again going to put forward the kind of society in which our children will be able to thrive, a society in which people in every walk of life — public servants, private sector employees, entrepreneurs, children and seniors — will be able to thrive, grow and have a great future." I still look forward to that day, and this throne speech sets out a direction that will help us all achieve that. We're getting there. We still have a long way to go and much work to do, but we're moving this province forward.
           I'm very proud that B.C. is starting to show signs of recovery, of renewal and of a turnaround. The nineties was a decade of horrible decline for this province. Not even the Leader of the Opposition would argue with that statement. In a decade when the rest of this continent saw unprecedented growth, British Columbia was headed in the other direction. Our economy went from the top, in economic terms, to the very bottom.
           When such a thing happens, we have to deal with one of the laws of nature, and it applies economically as it applies in physics: the law of inertia — that once a body is moving in a certain direction, it's very, very hard to turn it around. It's very similar, perhaps, to a large ship moving through the ocean. If it's heading in a specific direction and wants to change directions, it quite often takes many miles for the ship to turn. We're in that situation now, where we've seen the economic inertia that this province was given over the course of ten years of destructive government policy. We're having to turn that economic inertia around. We're having to change the direction that this ship was heading and make it not a sinking ship but one that is going to thrive and reach port. Turning it around has been and remains a challenge.
           Last week the Minister of Human Resources mentioned some of the successes we've seen in the past year — important results, including 81,000 jobs created in British Columbia in 2002; an average weekly wage increase of more than 5 percent, which is the highest increase in Canada since December of 2001; a drop in the income assistance caseload of 22 percent since our government took office; 66,000 fewer British Columbians dependent on income assistance, with most of them finding employment.

But there's much more to do. We must continue to help British Columbians achieve their dreams. We must continue to work to remove the impediments to economic growth and the needless barriers to investment which hurt job creation in this province.
We have seen many companies and entrepreneurs over the past decade that have taken their jobs and investments elsewhere. Surely, B.C. should be the best province in Canada, with the brightest future. We have everything going for us, and we should see companies clamouring to invest in our communities across this province. But we know that over the past decade, that wasn't the case. We will turn that around so that fewer communities in British Columbia will have to face the kinds of challenges that so many communities faced during the nineties with the loss of a major employer.

           Heritage is important in my community, as it is in many communities across the province. I say that because part of our heritage in Maillardville is Fraser Mills, an operation that was more than 100 years old when it was forced to close two years ago because of the decline in the forest industry over the past decade. Both workers and employers attribute this decline to the regulatory structure and other provincial structures that make costs in coastal forestry in British Columbia much higher than in other jurisdictions. The Premier has said that this year is the year B.C. renews its forest sector and puts this important sector back on solid footing. It was because of the forest industry and because of Fraser Mills, in particular, that Maillardville became and remains a francophone community. Coquitlam is currently trying to recognize and preserve some of that heritage at the same time as we work hard to replace the jobs lost in the forest sector in our community.
           In that context, I want to acknowledge the Coquitlam Heritage Society and their support of Heritage Week, February 19 to 23. This dedicated group of volunteers is presenting a special display during Heritage Week in the Mackin House Museum, and I hope that folks can get out to see it. Of course, Festival du Bois is coming on March 8 and 9. This tremendous festival recognizes both the francophone heritage and the forest industry heritage of my community. French Canadian customs and traditions will come alive through music and dance, through demonstrations and food. You don't want to miss the poutine and the tourtière, so I invite you all to come out to Coquitlam's Blue Mountain Park on the weekend of March 8. Wear a tuque, dance a jig and help celebrate B.C.'s francophone heritage.
           If you can't make it to Maillardville on March 8, try the third annual Maple Sugar Festival next weekend, February 19 to 23, in Nanaimo. I know that my colleague the MLA for Nanaimo will be there, as every year, to celebrate the francophone community in his community and in this province. As the MLA responsible for francophone affairs in B.C., I look forward to making the trip over to Nanaimo next weekend for this festival.
           Of course, all of these events and much of what happens in our communities would be impossible without our volunteers, and I want to acknowledge all those who volunteer in our communities in a host of ways — amateur sport, culture, education, the arts, social services, the environment and many other ways. Of course, there are many other voluntary efforts in our communities, and I wanted to bring to the House's attention the Michael Cuccione Skate for a Cure, which last weekend in my riding raised $35,000 for cancer research — money which will be matched by the B.C.'s Children's Hospital. Congratulations to the Michael Cuccione Foundation, the Coquitlam Minor Hockey Association and all the young skaters who committed themselves to this cause and did some outstanding work.
           I also want to mention another young person who is striving for his own achievements. Eric Anderson, a floor hockey athlete, along with many others from my community and across this province, will represent my community in the upcoming B.C. Special Olympic Winter Games, February 20 to 23 in Kamloops. I want to wish Eric and all his fellow athletes great courage, great effort and great success.

           There is one other community volunteer that I want to acknowledge in a special way today. Erna Kok was a dedicated volunteer in our community, a hard-working member of the Coquitlam Kinettes who worked in the schools and community groups of Coquitlam. This young mother started the quilting chapter in Coquitlam. We often hear of our lives on Earth being described as a quilt — that we gather our achievements and our successes, and they form the quilt that is our lives. Well, this young mother of two wonderful children left behind a beautiful quilt when cancer claimed her life all too early last month. I ask the House to acknowledge the passing of a dedicated community volunteer, wife to Roger, and mother: Erna Kok.
           Along with health care, the highest priority of this government is our education system, and education is indeed a very high priority with me. All four of my children are in the K-to-12 school system, and my wife is a teacher in our school district. In British Columbia we have much to be proud of in our schools and our professional teachers, who achieve very good results for our students and for our communities, but we can and should do better. For example, our graduation rate could and should be higher than it is. We cannot rest until each child has every opportunity to succeed in school, to graduate. Yet, particularly in our aboriginal communities in B.C., too many students don't complete their high school. We must turn that around. We must make it so that every British Columbian has every opportunity to graduate from high school.
           Of course, there are many other challenges. The most important one from my perspective is to ensure that every dollar we spend on education is actually directed into the classroom, achieving results for students. Last year, for example, school district 43 embarked upon a review of enrolment in the district to possibly consolidate under-enrolled schools in older areas of Coquitlam. Coquitlam hasn't closed a school in more than 15 years in spite of seriously declining enrolment. As a result, enrolment had fallen significantly in elementary schools in the older areas of south central Coquitlam.
           Today we have about 3,000 empty elementary school seats in the area of the school district that I live in — 3,000 empty seats. That's the equivalent of ten empty schools, more than 100 empty classrooms — heated and maintained, mind you, but empty. In fact, just five elementary schools have, between them, almost 1,000 empty seats. Where does the money come from to heat empty classrooms? From students, of course.
           The taxpayers of B.C. give each school district the funds necessary to educate our children. It's a massive part of government spending, second only to health

care, and it accounts for almost 25 percent of the revenue government takes in to pay for programs. The B.C. government spends more per student on their education than almost any other province in the country, a fact of which we should be very proud. Under the old funding formula, almost all of this money was allocated to specific purposes, and school districts had to spend it in those areas. The spending decisions were made here in Victoria, and many decisions actually put in place disincentives for school boards to use the money efficiently for the education of students.
Well, school districts begged us to change that, and we did. We now give the money directly to school districts, with very few strings attached. School boards are free to make the spending decisions they were elected to make, the education decisions they were elected to make, in the interests of students. We asked only that they work to direct as much of the money as possible into the classroom rather than into administration.

           What we currently face in Coquitlam is some 14 schools that are approximately half empty. Take Montgomery Elementary School, for example. Montgomery Elementary School was built in the late fifties and early sixties at a time when that area of Coquitlam was being developed. The neighbourhood it is built in is quite homogeneous, almost exclusively single-family homes on quarter-acre lots built about 40 years ago. In fact, there is no multi-family housing within a mile of Montgomery, a symptom of some of the land use planning that prevailed when our cities were being built.
           During the sixties and seventies the neighbourhood around Montgomery was teeming with children. This was the neighbourhood I grew up in. Prior to her death last year, my mother still lived in the family home that she and my father built in 1959, one block from Montgomery Elementary School. Of course, today the neighbourhood has aged, and there are very few children to support the local school population.
           Montgomery Elementary is a pretty typical urban school with a capacity of 390. Today it is two-thirds empty with about 120 full-time children and a kindergarten class of 12. There are about 260 empty seats. In the neighbourhood are three other elementary schools that are also partly or mostly empty.
           The school district says that to keep open a two-thirds-empty school like Montgomery, it costs an extra $300,000 a year in addition to the costs of educating the students. For example, school district 43 receives about $700,000 every year to educate the 132 students at Montgomery. By their own numbers, they are spending almost half of that amount outside the classroom to maintain a nearly empty school designed for three times the number of students.
           Last month the school board made the decision to abide by the recommendations of a report that suggested that Montgomery Elementary and two other under-enrolled elementary schools should be closed. In fact, one of those schools has only 68 students from kindergarten through grade 5, presenting enormous challenges to the administration and teaching staff.
           There is no question that this was a tough decision for the school board, a decision that will have significant impacts on the families at Montgomery Elementary, including my own. My two youngest children attend Montgomery Elementary. Come September these two children will have to be enrolled in one of the other schools in the neighbourhood. We're lucky there are three such schools all located within about a kilometre from us, about the same distance as Montgomery is from us. All are well within walking distance, and all three have room to accommodate the students from Montgomery. In fact, one of these schools will likely still be significantly under-enrolled after the changes are made, since enrolment in the neighbourhood is expected to continue to decline for several years.
           Even though it was clearly the right thing to do, we've heard from many groups that closing schools, even a school that is two-thirds empty, is always wrong. We hear that from groups. I've had people tell me that if we just send more money to school district 43, they wouldn't have to close these mostly empty schools. In fact, the old funding formula actually worked to encourage school districts to avoid these fiscally prudent decisions. In some circumstances, if a school had low enrolment, the funding formula would reward the district by giving it extra money so it could avoid the kind of decision that school district 43 has come to make with Montgomery.
           I think the time has come to ensure that we do as the Minister of Education has suggested and put our education dollars into the classroom. However, I think some clarification of her wishes is in order. When the Minister of Education urged school districts to direct the money into the classroom, she meant the classrooms with students in them. No longer can we steal from students in crowded schools only to spend it to heat and clean empty classrooms.
           What about the students? As it was, the principal of Montgomery Elementary actually appeared before the school board at the meeting where they were considering the school consolidation report. The principal, an education professional, asked the school board to please close the school. She described the difficulties she had running a school with so few students and how the extra costs could be much better used in so many other ways to educate students in the school district.

Next year my children will be at a new school. There is no question in my mind that the transition will present challenges to them and other students, but I know they will be better off if we, at every level of government, continue to push to ensure that every dollar the taxpayer entrusts us with gets spent as efficiently as possible for the best results. The part of this issue, as with so many issues we're facing, that concerns me the most is the number of people who are characterizing these closures not as a necessary result of declining enrolment but as a consequence of budget cuts. We didn't cut education funding. In fact, in spite of declining enrolment, we've increased funding to school dis-

tricts. Nonetheless, we hear from some that if the government just sent more money, we wouldn't have to be as careful how we spent it. I'm sure that professional teachers, parents and students join me in supporting this goal of putting all our education dollars toward educating students.
           I also want to speak about our health care system. My mother passed away this past year, and in the course of her illness I got to see our health care system in intimate detail. I'll tell you I felt very fortunate that we live in Canada. The health care system that our parents and grandparents established and developed is a tremendous advantage for Canadians. I saw outstanding health care professionals who are dedicated to patient care and who want to see a system that meets the needs of patients as well as it possibly can. I saw outstanding parts of our health care system, such as the very professional radiation services at the cancer centre at Surrey Memorial Hospital and the palliative ward at St. Mary's Hospital in New Westminster. I saw deeply caring individuals — people who obviously chose health care as a profession because they wanted to help people.
           I want to thank all of those health care professionals, certainly those with whom I came into contact during my mother's illness but all of their colleagues across the province as well, for their dedication and commitment to health care. Many of these health care professionals spoke to me about the kinds of challenges they've seen in the system over the past years, and many spoke of how we might reform our health care system to work better for patients. Most with whom I spoke agree on one thing. You won't fix health care by sending more money. As the member for Okanagan-Vernon said last Thursday, you can't fix health care without changing it. Once again, as with education, we must work hard to ensure that every dollar we spend on health care — and it's almost half of all of government revenues — is spent on achieving the best possible results.
           With both schools and health care, one might think that it would be great if we could avoid the tough decisions. I know that some previous governments went to great lengths to avoid tough decisions. There is no question that if you stay away from those difficult decisions, if you don't consider the enrolment in your schools to make certain that you have the right number of schools to educate your students, if you don't consider the possibility that as enrolment declines, maybe it's time to examine the disruption, admittedly, but still the fiscally prudent response in some circumstances of amalgamating schools…. If you don't do those things, if you don't consider those things, the life of a politician would be a lot easier.
           Sadly, it's possible that few people would protest if we had gone on and continued to do the things that the last government did. Sadly, it's possible that people wouldn't protest if we continued to overspend, if we continued to spend our children's money every year, spending more than we collected, because we as adults wanted more services than we could afford. Sadly, it's possible that no one would protest those kinds of decisions. We saw a lot of those decisions in the past.
           The part that makes me saddest is that it's true. There are a lot of groups out there that ask us to continue down that path — to continue to spend our children's money, their children's money, their grandchildren's money on programs we want today but can't afford.

           Our job in government is to make tough choices. The job of every elected official — local government, school board — is to make tough decisions — decisions that are the right ones but sometimes not necessarily the popular ones.
           I don't like some of the decisions we've had to make. I'll stand here right now and say that I don't like some of the decisions we've had to make as a government. But in saying that, we can't forget the second half of the sentence, because these are decisions we've had to make. I don't like that we've had to make them. I think it would have been nice, pleasant, even the kind of thing that would make people happy — some people happy — if we avoided some of the difficult decisions. We are doing the things we have to do to get this province back on its feet economically and fiscally.
           I want to leave, I want this government to leave and I want my generation to leave our children a future of hope and prosperity, not just a legacy of debt, and there is a future of hope on the horizon. Many of my colleagues have spoken about some of the things that are happening in their ridings that show we are getting a handle on this government. We are managing it well and going forward with the agenda that we set out in our new-era guide. Our New Era document set out an agenda — an ambitious agenda, admittedly, but nonetheless an agenda for change in British Columbia — to make certain we could deliver the kinds of things we would want for our children.
           That's so we could hand them a province that once again was the number one province in Canada economically and fiscally, a province that had social programs but could afford them as well — social programs to make certain that the people of British Columbia were well taken care of. An important part of that is to make certain we could afford them. Therefore, we have to make sure our economy is strong. We have to make certain that the opportunities we want to present them are affordable.
           Part of making certain that we have a strong economy is the tremendous legacy we will achieve when British Columbia is named the host of the 2010 Olympic Games. The countdown is close. We know that the 2010 Olympic Games present tremendous opportunity for British Columbia, for all of the province. Like the Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services, who spoke before me, I, too, have a small amount of athleticism in my background.

I was an athlete at the very first B.C. Summer Games in Penticton in 1978, and our team won a gold medal. I'm a gold medal athlete, no doubt about it. My team went on to win — actually, it was the previous year that we won — a bronze medal at the Canada Summer Games in 1977 in St. John's, Newfoundland.

           R. Stewart: Water polo is a tremendous sport, but more important than how wonderful water polo is as a sport — much more important than that — is how important sport is for students, for children, for all of us, and how important athletic activity is for all the people in this chamber, young and old.
           It is important that our community continue to support athletic activity and that we encourage young people to enter into athletic activity, to enter into competition, to strive to be their very best. I believe that the Olympic Games, when we get them here in British Columbia, will be a big part of making certain that our young people understand the important values they can learn through athletic activity, through athletic competition, through striving to be their best.
           I know that those people who embrace the Olympics — as a competition among countries, as a competition among athletes, as a pure competition among people who are trying to do their very best — support the Olympics in 2010 as I do. I know many people in my community support the Olympic Games and our bid to achieve that goal in 2010. That will move us forward, I believe, in a great many ways — in many of the same ways that this government and its policies are trying to move this province forward — to improve the optimism, to develop a higher sense of optimism, a sense of entrepreneurial spirit that used to be here and that we can bring back to this wonderful province.

The throne speech delivered us part of that sense of hope. We have a lot of work to do in the next three months, and I know that the colleagues here in this House will do that work and make certain that we will be able to deliver to our children the kind of future that they deserve.

           V. Anderson: It's a privilege to stand up after 11½ years in this Legislature and express appreciation for the movement that's taking place as our government struggles with the opportunities in this province.
           First, though, I want to say that I've been listening to the younger people in this Legislature. Having had a birthday last week, I can say I can listen to the younger people in this Legislature as they of all ages have expressed themselves, their enthusiasm and their vitality. I commend the electors of the province for having elected such a fine group of men and women.
           I want to say that I hope many people in the province have had the opportunity to listen to the presentations that have been made in this Legislature in these days. We had a throne speech, but the extension of that throne speech has been the presentations from their own experience of what is happening throughout the province. In all corners we have heard that there are still difficulties to overcome, but there is optimism and promise and hope and not discouragement in the voices of those who speak in this Legislature. It would be very easy to be discouraged because of the context in which we speak.
           Softwood lumber has been a very difficult time for British Columbia and particularly for people in the hinterlands, although in my own riding, along Marine Drive, the mills that have closed and the number of people that have been put out of work just a few blocks from my office are very important.
           We have had September 11, which has had its effect. We have concern around the world with terrorism. No one is sure it won't happen on our own particular doorstep. Just this last weekend we had millions of people and thousands of people in our own communities who walked again for peace. I can remember that it was perhaps 20 years ago that many of us were walking for peace at a different time, in a different place — on the streets of Vancouver and throughout the province and across the country.
           It's unfortunate that this cycle of peace and war seems to follow us again and again. It's something that we need to take very seriously. Peace in the world is something that we have to work at very extensively. War does not bring peace. Peace is only brought about because we learn to share and to care for one another in all parts of the world.
           One of the realities that we have in Canada, and here in British Columbia as well, is that we have never fought a world war on our own soil. We have never even fought a civil war on our own soil here on this coast. We have only had the experience, as many of our men and women did, of devoting ourselves to peace by going overseas. They've gone to many countries of the world to share with them our promise of freedom and opportunity for all people everywhere.

So it's in that context, and it's in the context that there are those who have lost their lives on the roads in our communities. We have recognized that earlier on this day. It's in the context of those who have lost their lives enjoying themselves on the ski hill slopes. It's in the context of many of the businesses that, because of circumstances beyond their control, have gone bankrupt. It's in the context that the changes that have been brought about to improve the future well-being of our community have made difficult choices for many within our community, and they have felt the brunt of that change.
Yet it's important when we speak of that context, as we look to the future, that the first thing we must have is a vision — a vision of where we are going and the goal we are striving to achieve. I would like to read just

a brief section from the throne speech, because it has set out the vision which we have at the present time in this Legislative Assembly.
           I spent most of my time in this Legislature in opposition, being critic in a number of various roles: Municipal Affairs, Housing, Social Services and Aboriginal Affairs. But to change to the other side of the House is still a very difficult task. I liken it to the opportunity, which was mine as I grew up, to attend many curling events in the community where the car bonspiels were born. I always discovered I was a much better curler on the bench than I was on the ice. I was a better critic when I was in the opposition than it's easy to be when you are in government, because there you have to make choices. In the opposition, you don't. You have to suggest choices. That's different from making them and taking the consequences of them, because in most cases there is no absolutely right or absolutely wrong answer in the decisions we have to make. In most cases, when some are benefited by a decision, others will have difficulty because of it, at least until they are able to make the adjustment.
           When we were elected in 2001, we had an opportunity to look at the reality of the province not as we had seen it from the opposition but the way we now were forced to see it as we moved into the inside of the legislative House — looked at its books, looked at its program and looked at its structure.
           One of the first realities that came home to me in making the change was that most of us here were deeply involved in the Gove report, of caring for a concern about a young boy, Matthew Vaudreuil, who lost his life because somewhere, collectively, we were not able to make the right decisions for him. In the process there was a new structure and a new undertaking. One of the comments I heard from one of those involved in the study was that the difficulty was that between the front line and the top of the decision-making ladder, there were eight different layers. So the communication broke down consistently again and again.
           A year later, after the Gove report had been accepted and adopted and changes had been made to improve the system, so to speak, he commented that there are no longer eight layers of communication; there are now something like 12 or 14 layers of communication. New processes had been put in place, but the old ones had not been removed, so we had once again added layer on layer on layer.

           One of the visions of this government was not to repeat that mistake. We came in and began to ask: what are the layers, what are the services, what are the programs, and what are the regulations that no longer have a validity and, instead of helping, are preventing us from really doing the work that needs to be done? There had to be a real restructuring of all of the programs of government.
           The other lesson that came home to us very clearly was from the children's advocate. It came home to us from her not when she was advocate but before she got to be advocate. It was her comment that in the community where she worked as a social community planner in Vancouver, she thought it would be an excellent idea to discover how much money for social services came into the Vancouver area and how they were related and helpful to each other. She set about to discover that. She discovered it was an impossible task, because all of the stovepipe ministries, as she called them, were totally separate from each other. Besides, when you went to look at the accounting system, as to any other system, they all had a different system, a different language, indescribable kinds of relationships. So it wasn't easy, if at all possible, to really get the reality of what was happening.
           The same thing happened when we came into government to discover that there were all of these independent systems operating separately from each other. Not only were there many layers, but there were a lot of separate unrelated programs that needed to be looked at. One of the things I realized when I was critic for Aboriginal Affairs, at the time that we all unanimously had voted on the treaty process, was that almost every ministry of government was dealing with the aboriginal people. When we did our visit across the province on behalf of the First Citizens Fund, which the minister mentioned a few minutes ago, we discovered that all of these different programs from all the different ministries of government were totally unrelated to each other. Many of the ministries didn't know what others were doing in the area of similar concerns.
           A similar experience was there in the community in the whole area of social services. I spent most of my life in non-profit society activities, both in the church and in the larger community. It was a given, out in those communities and in all of those programs, that in order to provide the community services which were needed, you applied to all the ministries of government, both federally and provincially. You applied to each of them and multiplied one grant upon the other. They were well used, but the ministries from which they came didn't understand what you were doing in the process, and that is not efficient or effective for the future.
           Understanding that there needed to be change, a year ago, when the throne speech was presented, it was presented on the basis that we needed to first of all discover and make clear, not only in financial terms but in operational terms, what it was that was actually happening, who was doing it, why they were doing it and where they were doing it, so that we had a picture of the reality of what was going on within the province, to find out the gaps, to find out the overlaps and to find out just the misuse that might be there.
           That first budget and the throne speech of a year ago, at least, was to help and to say we must stabilize, we must get to the bottom line, and we must get to the basic foundation on which we can build. It's like redoing a garden or a house or a yard. There's a lot of cleaning up that needs to be done. My wife will laugh when she hears this, because she's been trying to get me to clean up my files and my boxes for years. I hope she didn't turn on for this particular part of the presentation.

We had to do that. We had to clean up. Theoretically I agree with her, but practically, that's something else. But we had to do that. That's what the presentation in our throne speech and in our budget was last year: to get down to that basic fundamental that every family and every business has to do periodically. That's a hard thing to do. It's hard to throw out the things you're used to, the mementos you have. It's hard to give up the equipment that used to work for you, even though it's now rusty and no longer will cut or serve its useful purpose.
That was last year, and this is this year. This year we have a different approach, because this year we're now working on a firm base. We're now working on a base where we know what is working well, what can be complemented and what needs to be done anew.

Last year, in a sense, we were looking inward into the selfhood of government itself — how it operated in this building and in all its many offices around the province. This year we're looking outward. We're looking across the whole province and saying: "How can we have an integrated program where all of the province begins to benefit by the common reality of what we do together? How can we undertake to share equitably the resources we have to meet the needs of our communities and our people, particularly the needs, first of all, of those who have the greatest need?" That in itself is a shift in our thinking.
Part of the throne speech that I would like to read is about the vision, because I'm sure that in its presentation many people have glossed over this. It went by quickly in its presentation in the Legislature, and it has not been reported on by the media. They picked up the details that come after the vision, not the vision that makes them a reality.

That's the vision. The vision is to give the opportunity for every British Columbian to have the basic well-being in their life which they deserve, as well as their neighbour, stranger or friend. We have that vision there for us as we begin to look at where we're going in this coming year.
As well as the vision, there has to be the how. The how itself has to have a principle as a basis of what that is going to be. The principle that I understand and that again is brought forward in the throne speech is that we need to have a balance in what we do. We need to have a balance in what we do because for as long as I can remember, even before I moved to British Columbia in 1966, there was an imbalance in British Columbia politics. There was the Left and the Right. If I take the scales of justice and portray them for a moment, if you put too much on one side, it goes up on the other side, and if you reverse the flow, it goes the other way on those balances. Those scales of justice in B.C. have been going up and down economically for generations within our province.

           We've always had an unsteady role here, for the last 30 to 40 years. We wanted to break that cycle and say that we can't shift that radically. We have to have the scales of justice that balance out. The money we receive has to equal the money we spend. The service we give in health and education has to meet the needs of the students we give it to. That balance is very important. It's important economically and it's important socially.
           One of the realities of how we operated for many years in British Columbia — and I trust we're going to be able to move beyond that — was that we operated as reactors rather than as responders. I mentioned that before, but I think it's critical to how we live and work with each other. You can tell the difference by the people who have read the throne speech and reacted to it, against the people who read the throne speech and responded to it — a totally different approach. You find it in the media. You find it in everyday conversation.
           In one sense the reaction is to challenge you to do it their way or else, because your way is wrong. The responder, though, says: "I don't agree with some of what you've done. Let's talk about it and see how we can do it differently together." That is a fundamental difference that will make a difference in how we live and work together.
           There is another shift that has come about in our government presentations. It began back in history before we became government. One of the significant messages in the '96 election was to establish as one of the ministries of government a Ministry of Community Development. It was the belief of the Premier-to-be at that time — the Premier who now is — that in order to meet the needs of the people of British Columbia, we must focus on the communities of British Columbia. We must integrate our activities and be supportive of where people live, work and play. That is in their communities.
           Back in opposition he put the community charter on the agenda to focus on a new way of doing political work, government work, within the province — to share with the municipalities the government powers of the Legislature. Because they were closer to the people, they could involve the people, and the people could hold them accountable for what they did. That theory, that belief in community, is fundamental to the whole shift in this government's undertakings — to take the centre of power away from the provincial government and give it back to the people in the communities, where they live on a daily basis, where they talk to each other in the barber shop and in the coffee shop

and on the street, where they make their own decisions.
You have, as the minister was just sharing, the focus on community, aboriginals and women, which is a focus on people living within their communities and working there. You have a focus in Transportation on what goes on within communities. You have a focus in Health on bringing health care and decision-making down to the communities. You have a focus in Education on giving the parents and the people of the community authority and opportunity to make their own decisions. You have a focus in Children and Family Development on moving into the community and having the community's people be involved in what's going on in the community. You have a focus in environment and parks on saying that the community is where people live and share and that they should be much more involved in it. Look at any ministry of the government, and that focus on community is fundamental. Unless one understands that, one will easily misunderstand or misinterpret what is happening.

           When we talk about partnerships, that's equally important. The partnerships that we need in people services, where I have been primarily involved, are the partnerships with the non-profits, with the charitable organizations, with the Scouts, the Cubs, the Girl Guides, the Red Cross, the Cancer Agency and all of the different groups — the lodges and the clubs that all work within the community to undertake their work together. Unless we're working with them, the programs that are needed cannot be accomplished.
           I can remember that prior to the Second World War, most of the programs in the community were done by these agencies I mentioned. The government had very little, if any, involvement with most of the social programs that were involved in those years. Somehow over the years we thought it would be better to transfer this and that program to the government, and that didn't work. It needs to go back, but we need to be in partnership working with each other. We need to help and share with the volunteer community we have the work that needs to be done.
           The sports that were just talked about a few minutes ago are fundamental to that, because it's the community leadership. It's like the coach I had. On his way to the O.K. Store at 7 o'clock in the morning, he was on the track helping us to learn to be sports people. It was the local hockey coach who helped us and got many of the…. I even had a hockey card at one time. I even won a provincial race at one time.

           V. Anderson: Well, I had to be.
           One thing I can't help suggesting. I went into one of my local schools shortly after I was elected — I guess, the second time. One of the high school students wanted to know, and the first question was: "What can an old guy like you do for us?" I said: "You come outside, and I'll run you the race, and I'll beat you." He was about so wide, so short. I looked at him. I calculated I could still beat him. If he had been tall and thin and a hockey coach, I might not have tried that.
           What we need to do as a government is be down in the everyday trenches of where people live and work and play. That's what we're attempting to do in the vision of this government: to have a balance that relates to a community.
           I must say a little bit about my own community, because all of these things are reflected there. As I mentioned earlier, along the industrial area of our community there have been terrific changes. The mills have gone. The harbour board has moved in, and they'll now be using that for barges' areas. It's a whole new shift in that area. The packing plant is gone. Other mills are going out. It's moved from an industrial to a semi-industrial warehouse-office complex. That's one edge of the community.
           In the other part of the community probably a third of the houses that are on almost every block, which were built around 1950 and later, are now being rebuilt into new homes as new people have moved into the community. When I was elected in '91, probably 15 or 16 percent of my community were of Chinese origin, of a variety of relationships, and 8 or 10 percent were of South Asian. Now in the latest census, it's about 42 percent and 18 percent, so the whole community has changed gradually. The reality is that the white Caucasian is the minority in most of the classrooms. But it isn't that you're a minority anymore, because everybody is a majority in our communities now. They share with each other and work with each other, but things change.
           One of the major changes in the school system in our community, for instance, is that sports used to be the big thing both in the school system and in the community centres. It's still important, but it's not the major anymore. Music is the important item — the music in the community centre and in the school. More students are involved in music now than in sports, and they're experts at it. They're doing an excellent job, and they'll make a future of it.

We have to be aware of these things. One of the realities of the changes within our community is that the community centres that were built in the early fifties are now worn out. The Marpole-Oakridge community centre has been renovated. They no longer have their pool, but the centre itself has been renovated. The Sunset Community Centre, at Main Street and 51st Avenue, is in the process of — hopefully — getting infrastructure programs from the federal, provincial and municipal governments to rebuild itself to undertake a combined health, recreational and community service program.
Many changes have taken place in our communities, and these changes are reflected in the throne speech and in the Premier's speech to the province. Others have suggested that there are hundreds of different realities being undertaken in our province, and we need to hear them in total perspective. I simply

want to say we have much to do, and we will make mistakes in doing it, but we are on the way.

           D. Hayer: It is with great honour that I rise today to speak to the throne speech. I want you, Mr. Speaker, and everyone in this House to know that I am thrilled to hear the government's commitment to rebuilding this province's long-neglected transportation infrastructure. Ever since I was elected to office and in fact for many years prior to that when I was directly involved with Surrey Chamber of Commerce, I have championed the cause of transportation improvements, because they mean so much to my constituents of Surrey-Tynehead and to the province as a whole.
           Nothing can improve the business climate in this province more than improvements to the way we move our products, the way we get to work and the way we connect all parts and citizens of British Columbia. An efficient and effective transportation system is the key to the flow of goods, whether it is to and from the province's heartlands, across our borders or shipping over our oceans. The better our transportation system infrastructure, the stronger our economy is and the lower the end cost is to British Columbia consumers.
           Yes, this throne speech inspires me. It tells me that this government is not simply looking at the short term. It is laying the groundwork and planning for our long-term future. This throne speech covered many topics and foretold some very good things that will occur in this province over the coming year and well into the future. That speech, coupled with the Premier's state-of-the-province address the following evening, detailed for all British Columbia where this government's priorities lie and where it will expand precious tax dollars to make things better for all of us.
           I found it very significant that improvements to our border crossings are in the works. These crossings are very important not just to my riding of Surrey-Tynehead but to the entire province. Enormous volumes of goods and services flow both ways, particularly our wood products going south. These improvements are much needed to get these goods flowing smoothly and efficiently, something that isn't happening right now. Any improvements will help.
           What are near and dear to me in relation to these crossings are connector roads to such routes as the Trans-Canada. As you know, the main connector for all these trucks from the Pacific Highway crossing the Trans-Canada Highway and to the rest of the province is 176th Street, a route that flows right through the middle of my riding. Since being elected, I have fought for the expansion to four lanes of 176th Street right from the crossing to the Highway 1 freeway.
           I have often spoken to the mayor of Surrey on these issues. It now appears he is supporting my proposal and my colleagues' proposals 100 percent. Last week Mayor McCallum announced that in conjunction with the federal government, 176th Street will be four-lane all the way from the Pacific Highway crossing to the Trans-Canada. In addition, the 176th Street interchange will play a key role in the development of the already-planned South Fraser perimeter road and a new crossing on the Fraser River expected to link Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows with my riding and other ridings around me.

           I'm really looking forward to this new third crossing. In fact, just last Thursday night I was at the public forum on the project at Tynehead Community Hall, and last year I hosted a well-attended, in-depth public forum on the proposed crossing options. Community input is most important to me.
           When these links are complete the flow of goods particularly between Surrey and Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge and Delta and Langley and the docks along the Fraser River will be vastly improved. That means a stronger economy, a huge saving in time and fuel, and improved traffic safety as big transportation trucks are moved off the urban and rural streets and onto routes designed for those vehicles. A considerable side benefit is that our air quality will benefit as the cars will no longer be sitting idle in traffic jams contributing to the smog. I know these improvements will be a financial challenge for the Minister of Transportation, but I am certain she will do her best to bring about these changes that will benefit all British Columbians.
           I am certain that she also knows there are other major transportation demands in Surrey, the fastest-growing city in the province. Specifically, I'm talking about the freeway interchanges at 160th and 152nd streets, where there are huge commuter bottlenecks every day. In fact, some of my constituents in Fraser Heights tell me it only takes them about five minutes to get to work in the morning, but it can take them up to 45 minutes to get home in the afternoon.
           The biggest item on my wish list of transportation improvements, and the one issue that I have been working on since I was elected, is the twinning of the Port Mann Bridge. I am glad to hear that our mayor has been on the record as supporting this project, even if it means tolls. After all, we all know that there isn't a huge pot of money to dip into today. No decision has been made yet. The ministry is committed to consulting with the communities first before proceeding with this project. I want to put everyone on notice that until the Port Mann Bridge — the province's biggest bottleneck in east-west transportation — is improved, commuters, consumers and commercial transports will continue to incur huge time and dollar losses as they fume and pollute the traffic jam.
           I also know that the Minister of Transportation will soon present a comprehensive plan for the whole province, and I hope the plan will contain most of those projects on my wish list.
What I want to see is a transportation system that will get the people to work and back home to their families quicker, without the stress and frustration brought on by wasted time in traffic congestion.
           As outlined in the Premier's state-of-the-province address the other night, most of the improvements will come on a user-pay basis. I believe this is the right way to go. No one should mind paying for something they

use. If transportation improvements will get their goods to market quicker, and people can get to work faster and home quicker, then they don't mind paying for that. No one likes to pay more taxes, but the government doesn't have much choice when it comes to bringing in more money for things like transportation improvements. While I'm not happy about it, I do support a 3.5-cent-per-litre fuel tax, because in the long run it will get goods to and from businesses quicker and commuters to and from work quicker.
The large infusion of money promised to the forest-related workers and communities is very good news, particularly since I have many constituents with family and friends in those communities who have been really affected by the punitive American tariff. This money will help make 2003 a better year for those who have been hit hard by those duties, and while I know our Forests minister is working very hard to resolve the softwood lumber issue, those funds will provide a much-needed stopgap.
I was also very pleased to hear about a natural resources development plan of developing our offshore oil and gas revenues, of tapping into methane beds or developing further our economy, yet at the same time adding to our natural treasure by creating more marine parks.

           This throne speech also had many more aspects to it, and I simply don't have time to touch them all, but I do think the following does need some comment. As the past president of Surrey Crime Prevention Society, I was encouraged by the planned dialogue on crime to seek better ways to prevent crime in our schools and on our streets. I was also pleased that legislation would be introduced this session to help police, especially Surrey's excellent RCMP members, better manage their tracked information on criminals, suspects and sentencing conditions imposed by the courts.
           This throne speech also talked about creating economic opportunities for all. The changes to the Small Business Venture Capital Act will increase access to seed capital and provide funding opportunities. Our commitment to let the world know that B.C. is open for business will help make the most of each and every opportunity.
           Last fall I was also thrilled when Surrey finally became home to one of Canada's best universities with the establishment of Simon Fraser's Surrey campus. This will benefit all our students who go on to higher education.
           I must also mention the exceptional boost to education that has occurred in the past few days. Not long ago the Education minister announced that a one-time grant of $50 million will be distributed to our schools. Then the Premier announced an additional $100 million over the next three years. That is proof that this government is standing by its promise to have the best education system in Canada for every student.
           I was also encouraged to see that tax dollars are being targeted to help those most in need, such as another increase in the earning exemption for those with disabilities. There is also the new provincial authority called community living B.C., which will oversee the delivery of service to people with developmental disabilities, and the new Pharmacare plan coming later this month, which will see some 280,000 low-income families paying less than they do now. Also, for the first time young families with a low income will be supported in their drug costs.
           I'm also happy that steps will be taken this year to improve access to child care services and that government is acting on its commitment to increase emphasis on early childhood intervention programs — combined, a $20 million increase this year for early childhood development. The government's strategic investment is building a strong foundation for our children.
           The transportation improvements are closest to my heart. The additional $650 million that will flow to improvements over the next three years, I am pleased to see, will be leveraged by an additional $1.7 billion investment from the federal government, the private sector and other partners over this period. In other words, this plan is not just fancy; it is real. It is based on programs that will provide the funding necessary for all those improvements. The real bonus in this is that taxpayer-supported debt will not be increased beyond that anticipated in the February 2002 three-year plan. This vision for our future sees economic stability and growth as key components to these transportation improvements.
           In addition, these improvement projects will create many good-paying jobs, which will boost local, regional and provincial economies. While everyone will see a benefit from this transportation improvement strategy, they will also have a voice in those improvements. Each regional transportation advisory committee is being set up. These committees will develop comprehensive strategies for their regions, and I look forward to being involved in any strategies planned for the lower mainland and particularly for my riding of Surrey-Tynehead.

Finally, I want to touch on what I think is the most significant and most important aspect of any road, highway or transportation improvement: safety. The plan announced in this throne speech and detailed further in the Premier's state-of-the-province address will improve safety for the travelling public. I was also very happy to see planned improvement to the Kicking Horse Canyon section of the Trans-Canada Highway. This particular stretch of road is infamous for its treacherous conditions, which have resulted in tragic accidents. I fully support the government's plan to prioritize this improvement, and I'm especially pleased that the Premier has improved B.C.'s formerly frosty relationship with Ottawa. The federal government now appears to be a more willing partner to share equally in the estimated $670 million cost to upgrade Kicking Horse.
The improved relationship with the federal government may also see significant upgrades to the air-

port, to the border crossing, to the Trans-Canada, to our tourism industry through the new Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre and, lastly, to our 2010 Olympic bid. I believe with all my heart that the bid will be successful and that for our children, our economic strength and our national pride 2010 will be British Columbia's time to shine on the world stage.
This throne speech is full of promises and excitement, especially since so much is covered. Some of it covers topics that I have been working on since I was first elected. I know my constituents will be happy, and I know that at my next morning coffee meeting, which I hold once a month, they will be telling me how thrilled they are with our throne speech. I have found that those monthly forums, which I have been hosting for more than a year and for which I have booked the ABC Restaurant every month right up to April 2005, are an excellent source for constituent input. I ensure that each request is looked into, and I share and discuss them with my colleagues in Victoria.

           B. Penner: I'll begin my address. I may have to break off at some point, noticing the hour, but I would like to begin my response to the throne speech, which — like many other members — I was very gratified to hear.
           I've been reflecting on how many throne speeches I've had the opportunity to hear since becoming a member of this Legislature, and I believe the speech we heard last week was the eighth throne speech I've had a chance to be present for. In my view, it was the best throne speech I've heard yet. That's not just because of some of the particular items that were addressed in the throne speech but because of the general upbeat nature of the speech. It was upbeat, but it also had particulars and specifics attached to it.
           Of course, the thing that jumps out at you is the plan for transportation and the whole plan about opening up the province. We do live in a vast province. We sometimes lose sight of the fact here in British Columbia that we live in a vast geographic space. If you wanted to, on a map you could include California, Oregon and Washington State in British Columbia and still have room left over. It's bigger, I believe, than West Germany.
           British Columbia is an enormous province with very challenging geography. The mountains, the rivers and the vast plateaus in the Chilcotin-Cariboo area all present big logistical challenges, and we can never lose sight of the fact that, especially in a resource-dependent economy, we have to be able to get our goods to market. We have to have adequate, reliable and safe transportation.
           That's why I was so pleased to learn about the plans for improvements to transportation. I believe the Premier has committed to $650 million in new transportation spending over the next three years. Yes, there's some controversy about this being funded at least in part through a new 3½-cent-per-litre fuel tax, but as other speakers have noted, this reflects the basic idea that users should pay for the services they consume. I wholeheartedly endorse that, and while personally I'll probably wince a little bit when filling up my vehicle and paying the extra 3½ cents per litre, I'll know that money is going to a good purpose and will actually result in some tangible benefit. It's not going to be siphoned off — pardon the pun — into general revenue. It'll actually be dedicated back to road and other transportation improvements.
           That's a far cry from what you see in other provinces and, in fact, what you see the federal government doing right in our province with the fuel taxes collected here. I'm advised that on an annual basis, the federal government collects from B.C. motorists on average about $760 million — that's every year — but they only return as much as $30 million in transportation improvements in the province. That's about a 4 percent return on the money that's collected. That other 96 percent goes off to Ottawa to fund things like the gun registry.

           Imagine how much better off we would be if that money, the other 96 percent of that $760 million, was being invested right back into British Columbia for road and transportation improvements. We would not have to increase B.C.'s fuel tax by 3½ cents per litre. Nevertheless, we will have to pay more, but the good news is that we will be getting more.
           For my constituents in Chilliwack-Kent, we won't have to look very far to see the tangible benefits. For example, a couple of months ago I had the honour, along with my colleague the MLA for Chilliwack-Sumas, to announce government funding for the new Yale Road–Vedder Road overpass over Highway 1. This is a project I spoke about in my very first speech here in the Legislature. In the very first speech I had a chance to give as an MLA, I addressed the need for better links between the two halves of our community.
           Chilliwack and our outlying area are split down the middle by the Trans-Canada Highway. In order to try and bridge that gap, we need better links across that highway. That's what the improvements to the Vedder Road–Yale Road overpass will result in.
           I'm hopeful that within the next couple of months, a contract will be signed. Already a call for proposals has been issued. Those proposals obviously will have to be evaluated, and eventually a contract will be signed. I'm hopeful that by the end of the of the year, we'll actually see construction begin. That's a big accomplishment, and I'm very proud to have the opportunity to represent my community as that project goes forward.
           Another project that I see on the horizon and that I'm working with in conjunction with our Minister of Transportation is to see the much-needed improvements to the Trans-Canada Highway just east of Chilliwack between Annis Road and Bridal Falls. There's a series of S-turns in that very short section, which results in a high rate of accidents. In fact, I was just talking to an ambulance attendant earlier today, who told me that he has pulled more bodies out of vehicles from that very short stretch of highway than he cares to remember.

           I've done some more checking, and our Ministry of Transportation advises me that on that short stretch between Annis Road and the Bridal Falls area of the Trans-Canada Highway, the accident rate exceeds the provincial average per kilometre by 55 percent. In human terms that means that between 1996 and 2002, there were a total of 58 motor vehicle accidents involving 54 personal injury claims and two fatalities.
           Clearly, if highway improvements are going to be made, they need to be made not just to facilitate trade and better commerce but also to look after human safety. I'm hopeful that before the end of this session, we as a province will be able to reach an agreement with the federal government on some kind of a funding arrangement to provide for improvements to that stretch of dangerous highway.
           Reflecting on the transportation improvements that are being planned by this government, I can't help but notice what took place in Washington State last year — in fact, for the last several years. Their Legislature has been gridlocked on the issue of finding finances to improve what they all recognize is a major problem with infrastructure and transportation gridlock. It's the key reason that Boeing cited for deciding to move their head office out of Washington State, out of Seattle, to Chicago.
           I can tell you that it's been a huge morale-breaker for people in Washington State to see this corporation that they've long looked up to and that has been their biggest single employer move their head office out of the state. Why did they decide to do that? It was because of no foreseeable correction in terms of gridlock on their highways.
           We're taking leadership. We're going to bite the bullet. Yes, it will cost us some money, but in the long run I believe we really have no choice if we're going to improve our economy and improve the future for all British Columbians.
           Speaking of highways, in the last few months I've been speaking with my colleague, again from Chilliwack-Sumas, and we've come up with an idea for perhaps a new highway on the west side of Harrison Lake. There's already an existing road right-of-way that was built by B.C. Electric, the predecessor of B.C. Hydro. The moniker we've come up with for this proposed highway is the "Sasquatch Highway," which would run along the western shores of Harrison Lake to the north end through the Lillooet valley and come out on Highway 99 just east and north of Pemberton.
           It may sound far-fetched to some who have not heard of this idea before, but I can tell you that the road is already passable. In fact, my colleague and I drove this road in January in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, and it took us about three hours from Chilliwack to get to Pemberton. Along the way you pass some spectacular scenery, great opportunities for resort development — fishing lodges and the like — and some wonderful natural hot springs, as well, that many people already know about at the north end of Harrison Lake.
           Noting the time, I have many other comments I'd like to make, so I will just reserve my place in the speaking order and at this time move adjournment of debate.

In addition to providing transcripts on the Internet, Hansard Services publishes transcripts in print and broadcasts Chamber debates on television.

Official Report of

DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY